(NewsUSA)

"Puzzle Pieces"
by Laurine Adams

Breathtaking, tear jerking and inspiring, this is an amazing story of overcoming and mystical wonder. A little girl is cast aside and neglected, living out every generational curse reserved for her. This goes on until one day she has a Godly encounter that changes her life.

Deciding to change is a step but the process of change is a journey. And every demon assigned to her life had no intent on just letting her leave. With the help of God, the now young lady defeats every demon that had defeated her in her youth. The author believes there are no limitations, to what an individual can become, and each child needs positivity spoken to them each day. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3iid9V5.

"Breathe Deep & Swim"
by Jenna Marcus

Perfect for fans of Gayle Forman's "If I Stay," and Jandy Nelson's "The Sky is Everywhere," this witty and achingly beautiful coming of age story will tackle what it means to be alive, loved, and trusting in a world gone mad.

All 14-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Thomas wants is normalcy. But a global pandemic prevents that. When Wolfgang discovers his father dead from the coronavirus, his world is thrust into more turmoil.

Wolfgang and his 16-year-old brother must avoid foster care. In a cross-country road trip, they seek their only hope: the mother who abandoned them. As they journey for answers, they uncover devastating mysteries about her that they never could have imagined. Can Wolfgang find the courage to "Breathe Deep & Swim?" Purchase at https://amzn.to/3cs81tw.

"Lemons in the Garden of Love"
by Ames Sheldon

It's 1977 and Cassie Lyman, a graduate student in women's history at the University of Minnesota, is struggling to find a topic for her doctoral dissertation. When she discovers a trove of suffrage cartoons, drawings, letters, and diaries at Smith College belonging to Kate Easton, founder of the Birth Control League of Massachusetts in 1916, she believes she has located her subject.

Digging deeper into Kate's life, Cassie learns that she and Kate are related -- closely. Driven to understand why her family has never spoken of Kate, Cassie travels to Cape Ann to attend her sister's shotgun wedding, where she questions her female relatives about Kate. Soon Cassie finds herself facing some of the same challenges that Kate faced. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3ryt02z.

"Death on the Railway"
by Manuel Rose

An erotic, horrific thrill ride you won't be able to put down. A supernatural crime thriller with an element of romance set in a highly stressed, fast-paced world. It will appeal to fans of Stephen King, Robin Cook and Dean Koontz.

Twenty-one-year-old Angelo Russo fall deeply in love with his sister Carina who fears her professional modeling career will be in jeopardy should the salacious secrets of her life be exposed. After a fight with Angelo, she disappears never to be seen alive again. Angelo discovers Carina has been murdered by a psycho serial killer. His crusade to find justice quickly turns into one needing to prove his own innocence. Purchase at https://amzn.to/35d4Wtu.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -You herd it here first, the Illinois State Fair is back again this year, providing a way for skilled young farmers to show off their hard work and demonstrate their expertise in the agricultural industry.

Agricultural education is an important priority for CME Group. During this year's Governor's Sale of Champions, student exhibitors were presented with one-time scholarships totaling $50,000. Each of the ten Grand Champion exhibitors will receive a $5,000 scholarship, which will be used to advance their education. Recipients of the 2021 CME Group scholarships were: Ashtin Guyer (Crawford, IL), Brayden Wilson (LaSalle, IL), Cole Caldwell (Peoria, IL), Edward Hanson (Iroquois, IL), Ella Bobell (Logan, IL), Jess Hawk (DeKalb, IL), Landrey Freeman (Scott, IL), Maddox Horner (Jasper, IL), Nolan Hoge (McDonough, IL) and Owen Pree (Iroquois, IL).

"At CME Group our roots are in agriculture and we understand the critical role that farmers play in fueling the global economy," said Tim Andriesen, Managing Director of Agricultural Products at CME Group. "These students are the among the best and the brightest and we are proud to support them as they further their education and become the next generation of agricultural leaders."

Young ag enthusiasts also demonstrated their knowledge around identifying and managing livestock at this year's Illinois 4-H Livestock Skillathon on August 11th. During the Skillathon, participants were tested on management, equipment identification, breed identification, quality assurance and cattle marketing. CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, spearheaded the cattle marketing portion to assess risk management skills and strategic decision-making abilities.

After intense competition, nine champions each received a $1,000 CME Group scholarship to continue their education. Recipients of the 2021 CME Group Skillathon scholarships were: Alyson Utegg (Grand Ridge, IL), Anna Curley (Good Hope, IL), Cole Paulek (Stonington, IL, Davis Howell (Maroa, IL), Hannah Miller (Chatsworth, IL), Jack Link (Gilson, IL), Lauren Wolters (Aviston, IL), Liam Steward (Mechanicsburg, IL) and Waylen Paulek (Stonington, IL).

(NewsUSA) - Toys for Tots is the nation's flagship children's Christmastime charity, but the Program extends to helping children and families in need year-round. As children gear up for the new school year, the Toys for Tots Literacy Program continues its successful Back to School Books campaign in the hopes of doubling their literacy efforts. Last year, the Program distributed 1.8 million books and this year the Program hopes to distribute over 4 million books.

A key objective of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to play an active role in the development of children by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and communicate effectively. The Toys for Tots Literacy Program, launched in 2008 in partnership with The UPS Store, is one way to meet this goal. The Toys for Tots Literacy Program provides economically disadvantaged children with the books and educational resources that can help them build the confidence and self-esteem that will help them compete academically and succeed in life.

Data show that children who are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, and that the ratio of books per child in some low-income neighborhoods is 1 age-appropriate book for every 300 children.

"This program not only brings the joy of reading to these children, but also serves as an important tool in breaking the cycle of poverty," says Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

Since 2008, the Toys for Tots Literacy Program has provided an average of 2 million books to children, schools, and libraries each year. This year, Toys for Tots is teaming up with organizations such as Rise Augusta and Kids in Need Foundation for opportunities to distribute books to children in need year-round.

Please visit our donation page to support our Back to School Books campaign. https://www.toysfortots.org/backtoschool/Default.aspx. Be sure to follow "Gunny Bear" on the Toys for Tots Facebook and Instagram sites, where the Toys for Tots spokesbear shares more examples of the impact your support makes. Hope is just a book away!

(NewsUSA)

"Faults"
by Orion Gregory

In this riveting murder mystery, as a struggling 24-year-old tennis professional, Sydney Livingstone has never had a game to die for. But all that is set to change during a tournament that serves as a precursor for the prestigious U.S. Open. Someone from her past with a secret vendetta is trying to kill her before she can make a name for herself in the world of tennis.

A bold threat scrawled on her car, followed by a mysterious delivery from a stranger, sets the stage for a wild ride of revenge and murder that will leave you wondering if you can truly trust those around you. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3eZMr1r.

"Holland Park"
by Theresa Jackson

'No...no she was improving when the ambulance arrived. She can't be dead. She just can't!' he sobs while Max looks on with tears in his eyes.

An American girl Morgan has a cardiac arrest while on a family holiday in London with her brother Max and their parents. She is rushed to the nearest hospital but dies suspiciously during the operation. The family demands a full investigation, but nothing takes place.

Ten years later Max completes his final year as a medical student in the U.S.A. and accepts an offer to participate in a residency program in London, where he becomes deeply suspicious of the medical practices of a particular surgeon, who may have operated on his sister. Purchase at https://amzn.to/35XcReB.

"Dreamworms"
by Isaac Petrov

A post-apocalyptic first contact epic -- no-bull sci-fi at its best. The story of a badass woman who meets an alien in her dreams. The story of a world-shaking religious revolution.

December 2399. Civilization has long collapsed -- the legacy of an inescapable disease. Only a religious group has adapted to lifespans of mere 27 years. A happy society, oblivious to its own fragility.

A step away from extinction. Welcome to the history seminar of Professor Miyagi of the University of Lunteren-Deviss. Using the latest 26th century dream sensorial technology, you and your fellow students are about to dive deep into the momentous events when doom was playing dice with humanity. And winning. Purchase at https://amzn.to/2SB19U0.

"Serpent Rising - The Sage of Venom and Flame"
by Victor Acquista

Serena Mendez is an unemployed, pill-popping 21-year-old suffering from nightmares and PTSD. In an effort to confront the root of her childhood trauma, she travels back to the Navajo reservation where it all started.

Accompanied by her geeky friend Bryson, they discover unexplained mysteries pointing to an ancient conflict between the Illuminati and a Luminarian sect with origins to Atlantis -- and she appears to be at the center. With more questions than answers and only a handful of clues, pursued by an unseen foe, Serena embarks on a mystical journey across six continents to learn more.

Winner 2021 International Book Awards Best New Age Fiction. Purchase at https://amzn.to/36rtsaH.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - The past year-and-a-half has brought unprecedented levels of stress to everyone, but parents in particular shouldered an extra load, as children's schedules (and emotions) were turned upside down. In fact, Gallup's 2021 Emotions Report shows that women with young children at home were hit the hardest in terms of pandemic stress and worry.

As the pace of daily life begins to pick up with the back-to-school season, it's more important than ever for busy parents to find a few minutes of 'me' time to decompress every day. Yet, finding the time can be a struggle.

That's exactly why the mental wellness app, Breethe, meets parents (and anyone needing stress relief) where they're at, ensuring that self-care becomes a reality and not just a hopeful wish. Breethe's personalized approach -- which easily integrates self-care into your day instead of just adding another item to the to-do list -- delivers customized, relatable stress relief right to your phone.

"Breethe is personalized for you and your needs. When it comes to wellness and self-care, there is no one-size-fits-all approach," says Breethe co-founder Lynne Goldberg. "The more we can meet someone where they're at in their day and life, the more lives we can change for the better."

Can't sleep? Feeling anxious? The app is designed to figure out why and gets to know its users through a series of quick and easy questions rooted in behavioral science. Then, based on this interaction, it provides personalized recommendations -- including meditation, hypnotherapy sessions, and helpful talks.

Additionally, with the "Customize My Day" tab, Breethe helps users sneak in a few minutes of self-care as they go about their day. Choose from a selection of activities, such as starting the day, doing chores, working out, or falling asleep. By setting the times when you typically do the activities, the app recommends what support would serve you best at that specific time.

Finally, Breethe is all about real help for your life -- it offers relatable tools for (very!) specific everyday situations, such as "Tax Season -- Adulting Is Hard," "My Boss is a Jerk," "My Family Drives Me Nuts," making the app even more accessible, timely and friendly.

This approach differentiates Breethe from other wellness apps because users need not sift through content libraries in search of the right tools. Instead, Breethe provides a personalized experience that delivers the most appropriate content to users on demand, making it the perfect choice for parents (and anyone else) at home and on the go. As the Breethe team explains, "it's like having a best friend and life coach in your pocket."

Visit breethe.com for more information, or follow along at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breetheapp (handle: @breetheapp) and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breetheapp (handle: @breetheapp).