Welcome to Jasorassic Park by Bill Amend, 128 pages

 

rental person who does nothing by Shoji Morimoto, 192 pages

 I'm starting a service... available for any situation in which all you want is a person to be there. Maybe there's a restaurant you want to go to, but you feel awkward going on your own.

Maybe a game you want to play, but you're one person short.

Or perhaps you'd like someone to keep a space in the park for your cherry blossom viewing party…

Shoji Morimoto was constantly being told by his boss, "It makes no difference whether you’re here or not," and that his presence contributed nothing to the company. Morimoto began to wonder whether a person who "does nothing" could still have actual value and a place in the world. Perhaps he could turn "doing nothing" into a service? With one tweet, Rental Person was born.

Rental Person provides a fascinating service to the lonely and socially anxious. This book details thousands of his true-life adventures:
• Accompanying a divorcee to her favorite restaurant
• Waving goodbye to a client from the train platform
• Sitting in the courtroom during a client’s trial
• Supporting a client during a difficult surgery

Rental Person is dependable, nonjudgmental and committed to remaining a stranger, and the curious encounters he shares are revelatory about both Japanese society and human psychology.

In Rental Person Who Does Nothing, Morimoto chronicles his extraordinary experiences in his unique line of work and reflects on how we consider relationships, jobs and family in our search for meaningful connection and purpose in life.

Lies, Damned Lies, And History by Jodi Taylor, 347 pages

 'I've done some stupid things in my time. I've been reckless. I've broken a few rules. But never before have I ruined so many lives or left such a trail of destruction behind me.'

As Max would be the first to admit, she's never been one for rules. They tend to happen to other people. But this time she's gone too far and everyone is paying the price.

Grounded until the end of time, how can she ever put things right?

All the Feels by Olivia Dade, 348 pages

 Alexander Woodroe has it all. Charm. Sex appeal. Wealth. Fame. A starring role as Cupid on TV’s biggest show, God of the Gates. But the showrunners have wrecked his character, he’s dogged by old demons, and his post-show future remains uncertain. When all that reckless emotion explodes into a bar fight, the tabloids and public agree: his star is falling.

Enter Lauren Clegg, the former ER therapist hired to keep him in line. Compared to her previous work, watching over handsome but impulsive Alex shouldn’t be especially difficult. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to keep her professional remove and her heart intact, especially when she discovers the reasons behind his recklessness…not to mention his Cupid fanfiction habit.

When another scandal lands Alex in major hot water and costs Lauren her job, she’ll have to choose between protecting him and offering him what he really wants—her. But he’s determined to keep his improbably short, impossibly stubborn, and extremely endearing minder in his life any way he can. And on a road trip up the California coast together, he intends to show her exactly what a falling star will do to catch the woman he loves: anything at all.

Say Hello to Cactus Flats by Bill Amend, 128 pages

 In this FoxTrot collection, the Fox family's offbeat vacation into the desert descends into chaos as the members of the family cope with an order (through the drive-in window) for two million cheeseburgers, a broken Nintendo, bikini shopping, and other perils of modern life.

Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #314, 181 pages

 TWO BRAND NEW STORIES! First, in “Blast Master’s Big Move,” Captain Hero has received a tip that an evil villain called Blast Master is planning a big move—but no one knows what it is or when it’s going to happen! It’s up to Captain Hero to recruit the rest of the Superteens, along with a few more heroes, to stop this from happening—but how can they stop something if they have no clue what it is?! Then, in “Evil is as Evil Does,” Fly-Girl has thwarted Evilheart’s robbery plans! Or has she? Everyone knows that Reggie’s superhero counterpart is equal parts hero and villain—so was he trying to commit a crime or stop one from happening?

Ghosts of the Ozarks by Bruce Carlson, 161 pages

 So, Lilly Woods was not to meet her neighbors, .........at least not in this world. And, what of Carl Williams? Does he, yet today, journey through time to lose his life yet again and again 'neath the thundering hooves of that herd of cattle south of Eureka Springs? Somewhere an old Indian who never quite accepted the tools of modem living watches over the church garden near the little town of Mansfield. Does that garden, in the still of the night, get tended now and then by an old man with a turtle shell hoe? And throughout our beautiful Ozarks, things happen yet today ...... things born of the passions, loves, and lives of folks from generations ago. Oh, but if these mountains and hills could speak!!

Some Awfully Tame But kinda funny stories about early Missouri's Ladies of the Evening by Bruce Carlson, 169 pages

 Missouri's Ladies-Of-The-Evening is a book about those girls back around the turn of the century who practiced that age-old profession in Missouri. This isn't a book of passion, lust, or heavy breathing. It's simply a collection of stories about incidents, situations, and people of a couple of generations ago. These aren't profound stories of historical significance or cosmic importance. They're just stories that would have gotten lost if I hadn't gotten 'em down here. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed collecting and writing them.

Tales From Missouri by V. G. Taylor, 135 pages

 Old tales of Missouri's past.

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #122, 181 pages

 TWO BRAND NEW STORIES! First, in “LODGEstacle Course,” Mr. Lodge is sponsoring the Riverdale Summer Obstacle Course Race. When Archie promises to take Veronica on a date if he wins, Mr. Lodge does everything he can to make sure Archie loses! Then, in “The Different Drummer,” Archie finds Trula Twyst, of all people, playing drums with a band in a local club! Even more, Trula is playing the kit in Jughead’s own distinctive style! Archie knows that Trula often uses her considerable brains and talents to try to get under Jughead’s skin, so now it’s up to him to stop her from encountering Jughead. Will Trula finally allow Jughead to march to the beat of his own drum?

Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #306, 181 pages

 TWO BRAND NEW STORIES!!! First, in "Sunny with a Chance of Rescue," Betty and Veronica meet up for their favorite summer activity, scoping out the annual lifeguard trials on the beach and checking out the cute guys training to become lifeguards for the season! This year, they get a mischievous idea... why not take some action instead of just spectating like they always do? Will they catch the eye of a cute lifeguard, or end up in deep water? Then, in "Mall Madness," Pepper and Josie are shopping for new bathing suits in a local mall. All is going relatively well (better for Josie than Pepper) until Melody shows up. As soon as the local boys hear that Melody is trying on bathing suits, the store and mall are soon overwhelmed by thousands of teenage boys!

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #130, 180 pages

 TWO BRAND NEW STORIES! First, in “Spring Breaking and Entering,” Pureheart and Fly-Girl’s plans for a fun spring break are foiled by the arrival of two villains, Smash & Grab! But will Pureheart be able to resist the allure of beach time in order to solve a crime? Then, in “Can’t Top This,” Inferno is hot on the (balloon) tail of villain Kennel Kween, as the evildoer takes to the skies in a hot air balloon! Will he be able to take her down (literally!)?

Lilith by Nikki Marmery, 338 pages

 In the tradition of Madeline Miller and Claire North, Lilith is the story of the first woman, who was expelled from Paradise for disobedience. In this retelling of the Hebrew myth [NM1] that justified and explained woman's subjection to man, Lilith will have her revenge - however long it takes.

In the Garden of Eden, at the beginning of time, an outrageous lie is born: that women are inferior.

Lilith and Adam are equal and happy in the Garden of Eden. Until Adam decides Lilith should submit to his will and lie beneath him. She refuses - and is banished forever from Paradise.

Demonized and sidelined, Lilith watches in fury as God creates Eve, the woman who accepts her submission. But Lilith has a secret: she has already tasted the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Endowed with Wisdom, she knows why Asherah - God's wife and equal, the Queen of Heaven - is missing. Lilith has a plan: she will rescue Eve, find Asherah, restore balance to the world and regain her rightful place in Paradise.

Lilith's quest for justice drives her throughout history, from the ziggurats of Ancient Sumer to the court of Israel's Queen Jezebel, and to the side of a radical preacher in Roman Judea. In the modern age, as she observes the catastrophic consequences of a world built on inequality, Lilith finally understands what must be done to correct the wrong done to women - and all humankind - at the beginning of time.

Inspired by ancient myths and suppressed scriptures, Lilith is a thought-provoking and ambitious novel with an evocative literary voice and a triumphantly engaging heroine.

Beautiful Joe by Marshall Saunders, 254 pages

 Based on true events, Beautiful Joe tells the story of a dog that is rescued from the hands of a cruel master who removes his ears and tail in a fit of anger. The Morris family comes to his aid and carefully nurses the dog back to health, giving him the name, Beautiful Joe. Originally published in 1894, it is told from the perspective of Joe himself, who quickly finds that he is in the company of many other animals that the Morrises have saved from harm. They firmly believe that every creature has the right a to full and happy life. Despite his horrible, early experiences he falls in love with his adopted family and becomes a loyal and trustworthy companion.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman, 601 pages

 A high society amateur detective at the heart of Regency London uses her wits and invisibility as an ‘old maid’ to protect other women in a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman.

Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.
 
The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.

Back in London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.

The Twelve Days of Murder by Andreina Cordani, 378 pages

 Eight friends created the exclusive Masquerade Murder Society while in college. The murders they solved were fictional—until their final masquerade, when one of the group disappeared. Twelve years later, the remaining members are invited to a reunion in the Scottish Highlands . . .

Twelve years ago, eight friends ran an exclusive group at The Masquerade Murder Society. The mysteries they solved may have been grisly, and brilliantly staged, but they were always fictional—until their final Christmas Masquerade, when one of the group disappeared, never to be seen again.

Now our young, privileged cast of old university friends are summoned to the depths of Scotland for a Christmas-themed masquerade party. But all are hiding something deep below the surface that could make or break their careers. Charley is a struggling actress who has always been on the periphery of this high-flying group, but has decided to reunite with her frenemies on the promise of career help if she joins the old cast for one last weekend.

When they arrive each is assigned a new identity themed around the "Twelve Days of Christmas"—they become Lady Partridge or Mr. Gold; Lord Leapworth or Doctor Swan. The game begins, and it feels just like old times. Until the next morning, when Lady Partridge is found hanging—dead—from a pear tree.

It quickly becomes clear that in this game the murder will be all too real, and the story is bringing long-hidden secrets to the surface. Will Charley’s discerning eye and outsider status allow her to uncover the truth, or will she, too, fall prey to the murderer among them?

If the group hopes to win the game and survive until Christmas morning, they will need to face the truth about their history together and who they have become—and what really happened on that fateful night twelve years before.

How Do I Un-Remember This? Unfortunately True Stories by Danny Pellegrino, 250 pages

 Growing up in small-town Ohio isn't easy, particularly when you're a closeted gay kid surrounded by... no one openly gay. Luckily, Danny Pellegrino grew up in the 90s, coming of age when the internet opened up a whole new world for a curious kid itching for life outside of Midwest suburbia. Danny escaped the pains of growing up by submerging himself in a sea of pop culture—bingeing The Nanny until he had the confidence of Fran Fine, belting out Brandy songs until his heartaches were healed, or watching every semi-clothed Ryan Phillippe scene known to man.

Now, as a successful podcaster interviewing the same iconic personalities that he idolized as a kid, Danny's life has only become more entertaining and delightfully chaotic.

Heartfelt and hilarious, How Do I Un-Remember This? is a collection of real-life stories exploring Danny's journey from feeling like the only gay kid in Ohio to becoming a big-time podcaster in Los Angeles, and all the amusing moments life threw at him in between. With remarkable honesty and his trademark humor, Danny discusses his struggles alongside his love for all things pop culture in a way that is equally emotional and uplifting. And of course, it's all sprinkled with a little 90s nostalgia and a whole lot of comedy.

Archie Jumbo Comics #340, 183 pages

 TWO BRAND NEW STORIES! First, in “Power Pet Peeves,” the Superteens get word that a handful of supervillains are loose in Riverdale. As the team goes to stop these villains, the Power Pets tag along unnoticed. But when our teen superheroes come face-to-face with a villainous bank robber, the Power Pets leap into action! Then, in "Penny Makes Sense!” Intrepid investigator Penny Parker is on an important find Archie’s missing book report! Hey, in Riverdale, anything can be exciting!

Betty and Veronica Digest #140, 125 pages

 

Betty and Veronica Double Digest #41, 256 pages

 

Betty and Veronica Double Digest #109, 256 pages

 

Laugh Digest Magazine #111, 96 pages

 

Laugh Digest #110, 96 pages

 

Archie Jumbo Comics #326, 182 pages

 TWO BRAND NEW “SnoBoard Games” Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and Reggie are on a snowboarding trip in the mountains. While watching the Winter Olympics on TV in the lounge, Reggie brags that his snowboarding skills rival the professionals. Archie is skeptical, but when Reggie impresses the girls with flips and other tricks on the slope, Archie becomes jealous. Does Archie have what it takes to outdo Reggie on the “Monster Slope,” the scariest, most dangerous slope on the mountain? Or will it be a total wipeout?

Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno, 256 pages

 Every family is complicated, and the Benedettos are no exception. A few years after a reality show skyrocketed them to pop culture fame, the five twenty-something sisters are living together in their parent’s crumbling McMansion, almost broke and teetering toward rock bottom. Their fortunes brighten when Charlie Bingley, the dashing star of Captain Fantastic, moves into the neighborhood with Will Darcy, his best friend from Juilliard, in tow. Charlie immediately falls for warm and lovely June, the oldest Benedetto sister. While the Benedetto’s flighty matriarch, Cinta, brashly encourages the potential match, there are plenty of others determined to steer Charlie away from this ridiculous family of reality show has-beens.

Lilly Benedetto, the sensible second oldest sister, is all too aware that her family is viewed as a spectacle. She usually doesn’t care what the world thinks because she faces deeper sorrows. And she most certainly does not have the patience for the likes of Will Darcy, a man plagued by his own private demons. Lilly finds Will to be stuck-up, arrogant, and judgmental. Will thinks Lilly is loud, brash, and defensive. But while the two clash at every turn, they can’t seem to stay away from each other.

Katie Cotugno brings a big, boisterous cast of characters to life in this deliciously sprawling Los Angeles story—a thoroughly fresh and modern tale about a family that’s “famous for being famous,” the ways that preconceived notions make fools of us all, and how unexpected romance can bloom despite the odds.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone, 418 pages

 Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction.

Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom.

But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee.

And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor.

The Core of an Onion: Peeling the Rarest Common Food- Featuring More Than 100 Historical Recipes by Mark Kurlansky, 226 pages

 From the New York Times- bestselling author of Cod and Salt , a delectable look at the cultural, historical, and gastronomical layers of one of the world's most beloved culinary staples - featuring original illustrations and recipes from around the world.

As Julia Child once said, “It is hard to imagine a civilization without onions.”

Historically, she's been right-and not just in the kitchen. Flourishing in just about every climate and culture around the world, onions have provided the essential basis not only for sautés, stews, and sauces, but for medicines, metaphors, and folklore. Now they're Kurlansky's most flavorful infatuation yet as he sets out to explore how and why the crop reigns from Italy to India and everywhere in between.

Featuring historical images and his own pen-and-ink drawings, Kurlansky begins with the science and history of the only sulfuric acid–spewing plant, then digs through its twenty varieties and the cultures built around them. Entering the kitchen, Kurlansky celebrates the raw, roasted, creamed, marinated, and pickled. Including a recipe section featuring more than one hundred dishes from around the world, The Core of an Onion shares the secrets to celebrated Parisian chef Alain Senderens's onion soup eaten to cure late-night drunkenness; Hemingway's raw onion and peanut butter sandwich; and the Gibson, a debonair gin martini garnished with a pickled onion.

Just as the scent of sautéed onions will lure anyone to the kitchen, The Core of an Onion is sure to draw readers into their savory stories at first taste.

The Return of Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse, 176 pages

 While Bertie Wooster is away at school, Jeeves temporarily becomes butler to the impoverished Lord Towcester, whose financial and romantic troubles need Jeeves' immediate attention.

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, 223 pages

 ‘Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe,’ declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, ‘would be doing the world at large a favour!’ It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth. And one which was to come back and haunt the clergyman just a few hours later – when the colonel was found shot dead in the clergyman’s study. But as Miss Marple soon discovers, the whole village seems to have had a motive to kill Colonel Protheroe.

Food at Sea: Shipboard Cuisine from Ancient to Modern Times by Stephen Spalding, 280 pages

 Food at Shipboard Cuisine from Ancient to Modern Times traces the preservation, preparation, and consumption of food at sea, over a period of several thousand years, and in a variety of cultures. The book traces the development of cooking aboard in ancient and medieval times, through the development of seafaring traditions of storing and preparing food on the world’s seas and oceans.

Following a largely chronological format, Simon Spalding shows how the raw materials, cooking and eating equipments, and methods of preparation of seafarers have both reflected the shoreside practices of their cultures, and differed from them. The economies of whole countries have developed around foods that could survive long trips by sea, and new technologies have evolved to expand the available food choices at sea.

Changes in ship construction and propulsion have compelled changes in food at sea, and Spalding’s book explores these changes in cargo ships, passenger ships, warships, and other types over the centuries in fascinating depth of detail. Selected passages from songs and poems, quotes from seafarers famous and obscure, and new insights into culinary history all add spice to the tale.

Blame it on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod, 290 pages

 US-based Elle is a social-media influencer. But sometimes online attention isn't all it seems from the outside; with a family who are constantly on the move, and so-called friends putting pressure on her to increase her following, she decides to swap places with one of her followers for the holidays.

Holly lives in a small village in England, and LOVES christmas more than anything else. Nothing is going to get in the way of this year being the BEST Christmas ever . . . Nothing! But when her mum announces she's selling their house, and Woody decides they should go on a "break", her plans for the perfect Christmas start to crumble like overbaked gingerbread people.

Will swapping with Elle be Holly's perfect opportunity to escape? And far from home, will they both find all they want for Christmas?