Small Town

We tend to associate small town economic development with the decline of the rural United States--empty houses, shuttered shops and rusting factories. A common diagnosis of sluggish small town recovery is their lack of lifestyle amenities that attract new residents and businesses. Yet many small towns have shown progress and potential in recent years. This collection of recent articles by experts presents stories of small-town America's struggle and describes innovations and practices behind successful revivals.

This work is an in-depth, on-the-ground examination of how prisons impact rural communities, including a revealing study of two rural communities that have chosen prisons as an economic development strategy. A recent study by the Urban Institute estimates that one-third of all counties in the United States house a prison, and that our prison and jail population is now over 2.1 million. Another report indicates that more than 97 percent of all U.S. prisoners are eventually released, and communities are absorbing nearly 650,000 formerly incarcerated individuals each year. These figures are particularly alarming considering the fact that rural communities are using prisons as economic development vehicles without fully understanding the effects of these jails on the area. This book is the result of author Eric J. Williams' ground-level research about the effects of prisons upon two rural American communities that lobbied to host maximum security prisons. Through hundreds of interviews conducted while living in Florence, Colorado, and Beeville, Texas, Williams offers the perspective of local residents on all sides of the issue, as well as a social history told mainly from the standpoint of those who lobbied for the prisons.

"This 1885 novella, which reappeared in 1973 under the editorship of the late Italo Calvino, was the most celebrated work of a pseudonymous Italian writer who may remind contemporary readers of an edgier, funnier George Sand . . . A trailblazing work, in its way, and a most welcome rediscovery." —Kirkus Reviews Denza Dellara is a clumsy Cinderella too big for her hand-me-downs, saddled with a family that frustrates her hopes, and in love with a gargantuan Prince Charming who woos and then betrays her. An engaging Frog Prince appears, and though he has an enormous wart on his forehead, he can end her daydreaming and save her from impending spinsterhood . . . if she lets him.

Welcome to Charm Cove, Maine – where the Good are Wicked, and the Wicked are Good… or maybe not. Nothing is ever as it seems, at least not in Charm Cove, Maine. Moira Wicked—yes, that’s actually her name—moves away in the hopes she can escape her fate, or destiny, or something along those lines. She yearns to lead a normal life. A few years away teaches her one glaring lesson. It’s incredibly difficult to be normal when your first name means destiny, your last name isWicked, and you actually docome from a family legendary for its witchy ways. Trying to keep her powers under wraps in the real world is a tad tricky. A love spell gone sideways sets in motion her return to Charm Cove for a spell. As bad luck would have it, or fate if you’d rather, she’s home for one single day when a body turns up floating in the town fountain. The oh-so-charming Charm Cove is turned upside down. Meanwhile, tourists are crowding its picturesque streets, and magic is being bottled up and sold as health remedies. Moira finds herself in the thick of the murder investigation, all the while trying to hold her nosy family and destiny at bay. Destiny comes in the form of Liam Good. A Wicked is fated to fall in love with a Good once every century. No pressure or anything. Take a visit to Charm Cove, where Wicked meets Good and where you just might find there’s almost always more than meets the eye.

A swoon-worthy romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix! Opposites attract in a big way when an ex-military pilots rescues a sassy Southern chef in small town Alaska. Daphne is everything I don’t need, and she makes me crazy in all the wrong ways. This princess does not belong in the wilderness. Or, so I think. But then, thought is hard to come by around Daphne. Between flying tourists all over Alaska’s skies, hotshot firefighting on the side, and raising my sixteen-year old sister, I don’t have time for anything, much less for a woman. But time’s been laughing at me ever since Daphne showed up. I can’t get her out of my mind, and my control has fled the building. Oh, and I’m her boss. One night, just one night, I let things go too far. Now, all bets are off. Keywords: Daphne & Flynn’s story is perfect for readers who love small town romance, military heroes, sassy heroines, opposites attract, workplace/boss romance, slow burn, emotional romance with a dash of angst, plenty of steam and swoon, and a grumpy hero with a protective streak as big as Alaska. *A full-length, standalone romance.

Indulge in this FREE dark mafia romance series starter by USA Today Bestselling contemporary billionaire romance author Summer Cooper. In a small town burdened by secrets, Marie lives a life bound by duty and sacrifice. Her days revolve around caring for her sick and abusive mother, the only love she knows that will never be returned. But when a mysterious out-of-towner named Matteo arrives, everything changes. Ignoring her mother's warnings about men, Marie is drawn to Matteo's enigmatic charm and seductive presence. As a member of the mafia, Matteo embodies danger and intrigue, igniting a fire within Marie that she never knew existed. With him, she finds the attention and affection she has always yearned for. However, beneath Matteo's irresistible exterior lies a secret that could unravel everything they've built. As Marie dives deeper into his intoxicating world, she must confront the consequences of her choices and Matteo's secret. The reading order of this series is as follows: 1. Mafia's Dirty Secret 2. Mafia's Fake Bride 3. Mafia's Final Play This book is sizzling hot book (and not suitable for prudish readers), perfect for readers who relish the sensuous and captivating works of Luna Mason, Eva Winners, Parker S. Huntington, Nicole Fox and TL Swan.

Firefighters, grumpy heroes & smart, sassy heroines! Dive into 3 swoony, small town romances in this collection from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix! This Crazy Love Rule #1: Do not fall for your brother’s best friend. Rule # 2: Absolutely do not fall for your brother’s best friend. Rule # 3: Don’t break the rules. Jackson Stone is hot—like burn-down-buildings kind of hot. He’s also my brother’s best friend, and the memory of one kiss with him years ago still might get to me. Maybe. But I am not looking for a second chance. Wait For Me A swoony single father, small town romance. One firefighter and the unexpected heroine who rocks his world. My priorities are my daughter and my job as a first responder. Romance isn’t even on the radar. Until one little package changes everything. In a single mind-blowing hour, I end up with a package meant for Valentina Smith, and I find out she’s innocent. I won’t even mention what’s in that package. Break My Fall My rules: No players. No flirts. No cocky jerks. My exception: Dawson Marsh. Dawson might be every girl’s crush in this small town, but not mine. I can appreciate him from a distance, and that suits me fine. Except that one time he kissed me. Up close and personal. Once is a mistake. But the second time? Sublime. These stories are perfect for readers who love small town romance, firefighters, second chances, friends to lovers, smart sassy heroines, frenemies to lovers, hate to love, opposites attract, slow burn, emotional romances with a dash of angst, plenty of swoon, and protective grumpy heroes. *Three full-length, standalone romances.

This book started as a result of four ordinary people seeing something wrong in their small tourist community and tried to right it. Who would have thought that our government would subject its own people to the damaging emissions of the oil and gas industry? This book is about the fight of four people fighting the oil companies and the Local, State and Federal governmental agencies charged with protecting its citizens. It is seen through the eyes of one of the group, who has had a stroke and contributed to the "fight" by sending out hundreds of email newsletters almost weekly. The fight to save a community's way of life was marred with disillusionment and frustration, but they continued to fight. In Lewiston and surrounding area there are roughly 5000 gas and oil wells along with their associated facilities. The particular offloading facility the group focused on was emitting illegal amounts of Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Dioxide and no one was stopping them. Lewiston was downwind from this facility most days. The local, state and federal governments were fighting us. They threw up road blocks every way we turned as if they didn't want us to know what was really going on. Why? Because of the many lies that the group uncovered as to what was really happening at the facility. Local citizens were looking the other way. Others were calling us crazy or to just leave the problem alone! Did they have oil/gas wells on their property, possibly collecting royalties? The group has hundreds of pages of transcripts, videotapes and photographs to prove otherwise. The Citizens Against Environmental Destruction, as we came to call ourselves, were fighting an uphill battle, but battle we did and are continuing to do to save our lives and our community. Too many health problems. Too many deaths. Why? Read and hope this never happens to your community. The knowledge of how our government works to protect us (they don´t) was so disappointing.