T. I. Lowe's gritty yet tender and uplifting tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart . . . then heal it in the best possible way.

Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.

Scratching out a living on the family's tobacco farm is as tough as it gets. Just when it seems she might have something more waiting for her -- with the son of a wealthy local family who she's crushed on for years -- her father makes a choice that will crack wide-open the family's secrets and lead to a public reckoning. Purchase at https://amzn.to/30eay45.

"A Road Trip to Remember"
by Judith Keim

A fun and memorable road trip between grandmother and granddaughter brings about surprises and love as they discover new possibilities for everything they've ever wanted.

Aggie and her granddaughter Blythe drive to Florida, stopping to see old college friends along the way -- particularly Donovan Bailey, the man she'd thought she'd marry. Aggie's son and his wife, Blythe's difficult stepmother, can't find out.

All goes well until Aggie falls while dancing with Donovan. Then Blythe's father is seriously injured in an automobile accident. Blythe and Logan Pierce, Donovan's young assistant, do their best to step in for them at work, fighting their mutual attraction. A fun novel from a prolific author. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3kBE4dB.

"EVE-o"
by Danielle Gomes

Would you sacrifice a few lives to potentially save millions?

When a team of scientists discovers the deadly consequences of a human gene they dub "the evolution gene," they quickly realize that the human race is on the brink of extinction.

As pandemic after pandemic ravages the world, symptomatic of the looming eradication of all humankind, this team heads to the Amazon for one last chance to save humanity. While the modern world is on the verge of total collapse, salvation lies in a forgotten time. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3goseTY.

"Adam Names the Insects"
by Janice Dixon

A great read for the young and the young at heart, "Adam Names the Insects" (with a little help from Eve) is a whimsical telling of an old story. The author takes the reader through a child-like excursion in the Garden of Eden in which Adam inspects the various insects and pronounces each name. He uses the sense of smell to name the stink bug and the sense of sound to name the Bzzz. Readers delight in the clever back and forth between Adam and Eve.

The book has been described as "a clever, refreshing, glimpse into the lives of two delightfully dissimilar individuals tasked with naming the insects." Come along and enjoy the journey. Purchase at http://bit.ly/3kd9OFK.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

"Lost in Paris"
by Elizabeth Thompson

When a deed to an apartment in Paris turns up in an old attic trunk, an estranged mother and daughter must reunite to uncover the secret life of a family matriarch -- perfect for fans of "The Little Paris Bookshop" and "The Beekeeper's Daughter."

A heartwarming and charming saga set in the City of Lights, "Lost in Paris" is an unforgettable celebration of family and the love between a mother and a daughter. New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins calls it "a luscious, layered story of inheritance, heartbreak, reinvention, and family. I adored this book." Purchase at https://amzn.to/3pQXOuH.

"The Lockhart Women"
by Mary Camarillo

Brenda Lockhart's family has been living well beyond their means for too long when Brenda's husband leaves them and the family's economic situation declines. Daughter Peggy thinks she's heading to college, until her father offers her a job sorting mail while she attends community college instead. Daughter Allison can't believe her luck that California golden boy Kevin has fallen in love with her.

Meanwhile, the chatter about the O.J. Simpson murder case is always on, a media frenzy that underscores domestic violence against women and race and class divisions. Brenda thinks O.J. has been framed. Both daughters are more interested in their own lives -- until Peggy notices bruises Allison can't explain. Purchase at https://amzn.to/2MA3DPd.

"A House with Holes"
by Denise Mast Broadwater

With their marriage on the line, this risky rehab could cost more than savings. Can a devoted pair rebuild their dream out of a nightmare?

Denise Broadwater thought she lived on strong foundations. But when she and her husband took on an ambitious remodeling of a Charleston, S.C., classic in a crime-ridden neighborhood, the cracks in her resolve started to show. And after a brick shattered their front window, she feared they'd bitten off more than they could chew.

In this powerful warts-and-all memoir, Broadwater lays bare the tests and triumphs of restoration and close living. With insightful marital wisdom, she'll lead you through an unforgettable tale of reinvention. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3chbR7X.

"Pace's Post: Ramblings of Wisdom from a Middle-Aged Doc"
by Victor M. Pace, MD

Written by a family medicine physician with 29 years of medical experiences and 55 years of life experiences, this book is a compilation of values, ideas, and journeys.

The chapters are independent of each other and are intended to be enjoyed by all adolescent and adult readers. Topics include: traveling, hobbies, activities, family time, philosophical ideals, and much more. Some of the chapter titles are: "Risk Taking," "Technology Then & Now," "Why Everyone Should Visit My Hometown," "The Love Of Pets," "My Journey Through Racism," and "The Value Of Journaling." It's all here wrapped up in one book. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3rOa3ZN.

NOTE: BookBites is a continuing series bringing readers information and ideas for their next read. For more reading ideas, visit BookTrib.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter. 

Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital or emergency department, according to the American Heart Association. When someone experiences cardiac arrest, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can make the difference between life and death. In fact, immediate CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival.

Many people still think that effective CPR involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as well as chest compressions, and they may be hesitant to perform it, but that is not the case.

Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as the conventional CPR for cardiac arrests in the home, office, or in public places in the first few minutes until more advanced help arrives.

"By equipping people with Hands-Only CPR training, they learn how easy the technique is and there is a comfort level that will help them overcome concerns that cause hesitation to act in an emergency," say Raina Merchant, Chair, American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care.

Hands-only CPR includes just two simple steps.

- First, call 911.

- Second, push hard and fast in the center of the chest of the individual having a cardiac arrest. How hard to push? At least 2 inches. How fast? That's easy. Use the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute. For example, the classic disco hit, "Stayin' Alive" can help you stay on pace, but anything with a similar tempo will do.

To help promote the lifesaving value of Hands-Only CPR, the American Heart Association has partnered with the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc., in a public service campaign, "The Power is in Your Hands," to encourage everyone to learn Hands-Only CPR.

"Approximately 70 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home, and CPR can double or even triple chances of survival if performed immediately," said Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., Chief Health Officer at Anthem, Inc. "Together with the American Heart Association, the Anthem Foundation remains focused on working to increase the number of people who learn Hands-Only CPR. By providing greater access to training we can help increase the number of people who are prepared to respond in case of an emergency and for some, that could mean saving the life of someone they love."

The American Heart Association offers a 90-second livestream instructional video demonstration of Hands-Only CPR, as well as a new CPR first-aid app that anyone can download onto a phone.

Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr for more information.

Not that long ago, "sustainability" in the business world was defined as being able to stay afloat even in trying economic times. But these days, when Greta Thunberg may be the most famous Swede since Ingrid Bergman, it's taken on a whole different meaning - what the Harvard Business School describes as efforts to "positively impact the environment and/or society."

Of course, some businesses, like Whirlpool Corporation, have been ahead of the game, and are now setting even higher new targets to tackle climate change.

"We established our first office for sustainability over 50 years ago," said Marc Bitzer, the company's chairman and CEO.

1. Achieving Net-Zero Carbon Emissions in Plants and Operations By 2030

That's the updated commitment to environmental sustainability that the world's leading kitchen and laundry appliance company just announced this month.

To get there, the company has been installing even more wind turbines and solar panels to help power its sites and distribution centers with renewable energy. (It's already one of the Fortune 500's largest U.S. on-site users of wind energy.)

And it's improving efficiency across more than 30 of its manufacturing sites and distribution centers around the world though retrofits.

2. Greening Homes Through VPPAs

That's Virtual Power Purchase Agreements for the uninitiated. Or in other words, agreements signed with energy companies to help fund wind and solar farms to generate renewable energy for the grid.

Whirlpool Corporation's first VPPA project broke ground in Texas in early January. It promises to be the first of many such projects helping to cleanly power not just its own sites but also local homes.

That's right, ordinary people's homes.

3.Innovative Household Products

It shouldn't surprise anyone that U.S. News & World Report named four innovative Whirlpool brand products among the best refrigerators, dryers and washing machines of 2021. Yes, they look great. But they're also designed to be extremely energy and water efficient.

In fact, Whirlpool Corporation has already reduced the emissions linked to its products in use by 60 percent since 2005 and has committed to lowering them by an additional 20 percent by 2030 from a 2016 baseline.

One fun fact for you: Dishwashers save three to four times the water compared to hand washing your dishes. And, hey, they save you about 30 minutes each time too.

4.Helping Even You Reduce Waste Material

Not content that more than 70 percent of its manufacturing sites are already zero waste to landfill, the company aims to make that 100 percent by 2022.

Plus, to tackle other environmental challenges like plastic pollution, it's ramping up the use of recycled or reused materials in its appliances. And guess what? Those high-performance recycled plastics Whirlpool Corporation started to employ in its products means it's making use of you own waste.

"Sarana and the Dark King "
by Ivy Keating

The ruthless king of Bounten controlled a Valomere - a magical creature that connects with one person and obeys their commands - with the magic to cause instant death. To further his power, he embarked on a quest to find tarilium, the strongest metal known to exist. 

In pursuit of the precious resource, he ravaged his own villages before planning to invade the other kingdoms. Only one thing could stop his reign of terror -- a commoner with a secret past and a powerful Valomere of her own. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3d537Cz.

"The Trial of Billy the Kid"
by David G. Thomas

Biographies of Billy the Kid have provided extensive -- and fascinating -- details on his life, but only a few paragraphs on his trial for murder and the events leading up to that trial. The result sealed his fate, yet Billy's trial is the least written about, and, until this book, the least known event of Billy's adult life.

For the first time, get the answers to these questions: Was the trial fair? What were the charges? What kind of defense did Billy present? Did he have witnesses standing for him? Who testified against him? What action by the trial judge virtually guaranteed his conviction? Purchase at https://amzn.to/3vBFOse.

"Lake Roland"
by C. Roloson Reese

Some childhood mysteries cast long shadows. Tom O'Malley spent a lifetime trying to escape the one covering his world. His idyllic childhood with his inseparable pal, Mark, is upended when his friend mysteriously disappears one night.

Mark's whereabouts become a decades-long unsolvable question that haunts Tom's world as he copes with and later overcomes the bitterness of a friendship's baffling evaporation. The anguish he experiences prepares him well for a world filled with uncertainties, not the least of which includes love and redemption. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3ehdaGl.

"Purpose and Possibilities: How to Transform Your Life"
by Elaine J. Brzycki and Henry G. Brzycki

By exploring their life's purposes, the authors have created possibilities for people to create happy, healthy, and flourishing lives. Because of the work, people in over 50 countries are prioritizing mental health and well-being in their own individual lives, their families, schools, colleges and universities, and communities. Ideas on how to see and achieve your unique potentials in life; heal yourself from past traumas; transition to a new stage in life that is thriving and successful; connect with your innate passion to make a unique difference; see and feel the power of your hopes and dreams.

This book meets the needs of our times for impactful mental health and well-being techniques. Capturing nearly 40 years of counseling expertise and course and program development for individuals, couples, families, and schools, Elaine and Henry Brzycki have produced a book of resources that will transform your life. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3uzrwY4.

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However, after years of making their own travel arrangements online, many potential travelers are rediscovering the value of a professional travel advisor to identify and navigate the variety and shifting safety protocols of post-pandemic travel.

"We are dealing with a fragmented travel landscape with shifting public health protocols and entry restrictions that are constantly changing," says Brianna Glenn, owner and travel designer at milkandhoneytravels.com, a boutique travel service that designs custom vacations.

"Travelers don't need the added stress of trying to navigate this new maze on their own, a good travel advisor can smooth the way and get their trip off to a great start," she adds.

"For example, I just had a honeymoon trip that had their outbound flight delayed due to weather and they missed their connecting flight to Frankfurt on their way to Croatia. We stepped in and worked with United to rebook their flights, secure a hotel inside the Frankfurt airport since they were not able to leave the transit area and adjust their hotel booking and airport transfers in Dubrovnik without them having to worry about a thing."

Results of a survey by the travel industry website Skift showed that almost half of Americans planning post-pandemic travel plan to use travel advisors.

Some key benefits of engaging a professional travel advisor to plan your post-pandemic trip include:

- Preparation upfront. An old wedding planning adage says, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Especially in the post-pandemic landscape, a good plan is essential, and a professional advisor, like a good wedding planner, can make sure that everything is set up in advance.

Advance planning includes knowing what to expect at your destination regarding safety protocols such as masking requirements and testing or quarantine requirements.

- Backup if you need it. Upscale travelers are seeking peace of mind and expertise as they plan the often complex and exotic trips they have dreamed about during more than a year of staying at home. The more complex the trip, the more important it is to have a knowledgeable advocate in your corner if something goes wrong or if safety regulations should suddenly change.

Professional travel advisors can help with purchasing travel insurance to recoup costs in case of cancellation due to COVID and with negotiating refunds if reservations, flights, cruises, or other travel-related activities are cancelled.

"There is a big difference between people who love to travel, and people who love to plan travel," Ms. Glenn says.

"Ultimately, we save you hours of time and energy so you can focus on the things that matter most to you," she emphasizes.

Visit milkandhoneytravels.com to learn how professional travel advisors can help make your post-pandemic getaway flow smoothly.