Delving beneath Southern California’s popular image as a sunny frontier of leisure and ease, this book tells the dynamic story of the life and labor of Los Angeles’s large working class. In a sweeping narrative that takes into account more than a century of labor history, John H. M. Laslett acknowledges the advantages Southern California’s climate, open spaces, and bucolic character offered to generations of newcomers. At the same time, he demonstrates that—in terms of wages, hours, and conditions of work—L.A. differed very little from America’s other industrial cities. Both fast-paced and sophisticated, Sunshine Was Never Enough shows how labor in all its guises—blue and white collar, industrial, agricultural, and high tech—shaped the neighborhoods, economic policies, racial attitudes, and class perceptions of the City of Angels. Laslett explains how, until the 1930s, many of L.A.’s workers were under the thumb of the Merchants and Manufacturers Association. This conservative organization kept wages low, suppressed trade unions, and made L.A. into the open shop capital of America. By contrast now, at a time when the AFL-CIO is at its lowest ebb—a young generation of Mexican and African American organizers has infused the L.A. movement with renewed strength. These stories of the men and women who pumped oil, loaded ships in San Pedro harbor, built movie sets, assembled aircraft, and in more recent times cleaned hotels and washed cars is a little-known but vital part of Los Angeles history.

Serial killer's message to PI Jake Longly: Two of those seven murders I confessed to are not mine—but I won't tell you which two Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison are confronted with the most bizarre case yet. Serial killer Billy Wayne Baker now denies that two of his seven murders were actually his work. An anonymous benefactor, who believes Billy Wayne's denials, has hired Longly Investigations to prove Billy Wayne right. Billy Wayne had confessed to all seven. Not only did the confessed serial killer have the motive, means, and opportunity for murder, but his DNA was found at each crime scene. Bizarre doesn't quite cover it. Jake and Nicole travel to the small Gulf Coast town of Pine Key, Florida, where three of the murders occurred. The local police, FBI, state prosecutor, and crime lab each did their jobs, uncovered overwhelming evidence of Billy Wayne's guilt—and even extracted a full confession. Is Billy Wayne simply trying to tweak the system to garner another fifteen minutes of fame? It's likely all a game to him, but, if he's being truthful—someone out there is getting away with multiple murders. How? Why? And most importantly, who? Dark clouds loom in the Sunshine State. Perfect for fans of Carl Hiaasen and Janet Evanovich While all of the novels in the Jake Longly Thriller Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is: Deep Six A-List Sunshine State Rigged The OC (coming October 2021)

Can he handle a woman with a baby after all he has lost? Kurt Gilmore, a police detective, lost his wife and baby daughter in a horrendous accident. As a result, he can't stand to be in the same room with a baby, and he hasn't dated at all. Ava LaValley's best friend has just passed away, leaving her to care for her infant daughter. When she seeks help in finding out what happened to her friend, she finds herself speaking with Lt. Gilmore. The two, even though attracted to each other, must both work through their demons. She is getting over being with an abusive Dom, along with adjusting to sudden motherhood. He must learn to accept the baby if he wants a relationship with Ava. Will they be able to put their pasts behind them and make a home for the baby in Ava's care? Publisher's Note: This contemporary romance contains a theme of power exchange.

Mark Burrows is an 'invisible man', a British secret agent adept at moving undetected through the most hostile environments. Summoned for one last mission, he must make contact with Charlie Ashe, his fearsome former colleague and brother-in-law. Ashe has reappeared with a new name and a terrifying new agenda in the Storm Zone, a mysterious region racked by devastating hurricanes and inhabited by cults, criminal gangs and insurgent armies. The mission will force Burrows to question his loyalties and to understand that the greatest danger lies not with his target, but with the forces that seek to control the world around him.

From Saadia Faruqi and Shazleen Khan comes a relatable, funny, and heart-wrenchingly honest graphic novel about Muslim American siblings who must learn how to stop fighting and support each other in a world that is often unkind. It's hard enough being a kid without being teased for a funny sounding name or wearing a hijab. It's even harder when you're constantly fighting your sibling—and Zara and Zeeshan really can't stand each other. During a family trip to Florida, when the bickering, shoving, and insults reach new heights of chaos, their parents sentence them to the worst possible fate— each other’s company! But when the twins find an ailing turtle, it presents a rare opportunity for teamwork—if the two can put their differences aside at last.

"...Chock full of practical ways you can overhaul your approach to branding and customer service. Tony Hartl's tried-and-true list of simple, actionable strategies grew as his took his start-up, Planet Tan, from an enterprise with three locations in Dallas, Texas, to seventeen tanning salons sold for millions of dollars thirteen years later..."--Dust jacket flap.

The long-awaited sequel to THE UNEXPECTED JOY OF BEING SOBER 'Exquisite' - Fearne Cotton, Happy Place 'A paean to the longer-term pleasures of staying booze-free' - The Guardian 'The kind of book that changes lives, and very possibly saves them' - The Lancet Psychiatry 'A reflective, raw and riveting read. A beautiful book on what it takes to root for yourself' - Emma Gannon, Ctrl Alt Delete 'No other author writes about sober living with as much warmth or emotional range as Catherine Gray. Her deep insight into the subtle psychologies of drinking, and of life, means that everything she writes is both utterly relatable and stretches our minds. Hers is a rare wisdom.' - Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK What's it like to give up drinking forever? We know now that being teetotal for one, three, even twelve months brings surprising joys and a recharged body... but nothing has been written about going years deep into being alcohol-free. As Catherine Gray, author of runaway success The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, streaks towards a decade sober, she explores this uncharted territory in her trademark funny, disruptive and warm way. This is a must-read for anyone sober-curious, whether they've put down the bottle yet or not. Praise for The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: 'Fascinating' - Bryony Gordon 'Truthful, modern and real' - Stylist 'Brave, witty and brilliantly written' - Marie Claire 'Gray's tale of going sober is uplifting and inspiring' - Evening Standard 'Not remotely preachy' - Sunday Times 'Jaunty, shrewd and convincing' - Sunday Telegraph 'Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying' - Guardian 'An empathetic, warm and hilarious tale from a hugely likeable human' - The Lancet Psychiatry

The heart-warming and uplifting Sunday Times bestseller from Giovanna Fletcher that will sweep you away this summer 'Beautifully written, heartbreaking and uplifting' 5***** READER REVIEW 'Lovely, very moving. Giovanna's books are very very relatable' LORRAINE KELLY 'Filled with love, sadness, friendship, family and truth! Giovanna brings her characters to life' 5***** READER REVIEW 'This book is beautiful' ZOE BALL It's always darkest before the dawn . . . ________ After Mike loses Pia, his partner of seventeen years, best friends Vicky and Zaza rally round. But the truth is, in Pia's absence, they all need more than a little help . . . Just-engaged Zaza fears the next step. Mum Vicky has lost sight of herself. And Mike can't figure out how to start again. Luckily, Pia left a list of loving instructions to help them cope. Which is why they find themselves trekking in Peru. Stumbling up mountains. Lost in sweltering rainforests. As friendships and hope fray, they cling to their faith in Pia. Soon they learn anything is possible when you're walking on sunshine. ________ 'Such a warm and captivating read. I laughed out loud, I cried and also found myself nodding at times. Thank you Giovanna!' 5***** READER REVIEW 'Heartfelt, uplifting. Her best yet' SUN 'A heartening story of love, loss and friendship. Giovanna's books give you that warm fuzzy feeling' 5***** READER REVIEW Praise for Giovanna Fletcher: 'Tons of charm and genuine warmth' Star 'A heartbreakingly beautiful story about friendship and unrequited love. I was totally and utterly captivated' Paige Toon 'A gorgeous, gloriously romantic read with buckets of charm - I absolutely loved it!' Jill Mansell 'Warm and romantic, this charming read will certainly brighten up your day' Closer 'A gorgeously tender, funny and big-hearted novel with wonderful characters you'll fall in love with' Miranda Dickinson 'Wonderfully warm and cosy. The perfect comfort read to curl-up with and enjoy' Ali McNamara

Kay Duffield's fiancé is about to leave the country, and her own duty with the WAAF is imminent when she becomes a bride. The precious few days she spends with her new husband are quickly forgotten once she starts work as a balloon operator, trained for the heavy work in order to release more men to fight. There she makes friends with shy Emily Bevan, who has left her parents' hill farm in Wales for the first time; down-to-earth Biddy Bachelor, fresh from the horrors of the Liverpool bombing, and spirited Jo Stewart, the rebel among them, whose disregard for authority looks set to land them all in trouble. The girls stay friends through good times and bad, through romantic encounters and, ultimately, tragedy.

For Laila, the road to self discovery leads to shocking revelations, but she'll brave those dark times in order to see the light. When twenty-two-year-old Laila ran away from her controlling boyfriend and her job as a dancer in a Miami strip club, she thought her past had been buried for good. Determined to create a new life for herself in Philadelphia, she meets young and sexy Jordan Maxwell, who is more than willing to help. When Jordan introduces Laila to Poetry Night at a local club, she shines on stage and attracts the interest of an independent record producer. With a bright future just around the corner, Laila quickly discovers she is far from safe. Family secrets suddenly erupt and force her back to Miami, where all of Laila's relationships, old and new, and all of her choices, good and bad, lead her home in a way she could never have imagined.