The rise and increasingly important role of companion animals in our families From homemade meals for our dogs to high-end feline veterinary care, pets are a growing multi-billion-dollar industry in the United States. In Just Like Family, Andrea Laurent-Simpson explores the expanding role of animals in what she calls "the multi-species family," providing a window into a world where almost 95 percent of adults who share their homes with dogs and cats identify-and ultimately treat-their animal companions as legitimate members of their families. With an insightful eye, Laurent-Simpson examines why and how these animals have increasingly become an important part of our households. She highlights their various roles in our lives, including as siblings to our existing children, as animal children themselves, and in some cases, even as grandchildren, particularly as fertility rates decline and a growing number of younger couples choose to live a childfree lifestyle. Ultimately, Laurent-Simpson highlights how animals-and their place in our lives-have changed the structure of the American family in surprising ways. Just Like Family provides a fascinating inside look at our complex relationships with our beloved animal companions in the twenty-first century.

From the top 10 bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife. Two years after losing her husband, Finn, Lexie Turner is still struggling. She knows she needs to move on, but she has no idea where to begin. Packing up her life in London, Lexie heads to the coastal town of Port Kara to spend the summer working out her next move. With only her beloved Labrador for company, it's the perfect place to start again. But life in Port Kara is nothing like Lexie expected! Soon, she finds herself drawn into the close-knit community, unable to hide away. And when she meets local man, Elliott Dorton, Lexie begins to feel her broken heart slowly come back to life... Elliott is kind but adventurous and his job requires him to take risks daily - something Lexie isn't ready to deal with. Can she trust in Elliott and risk her heart breaking a second time, or will their one Cornish summer be all that Lexie can hope for? From Jo Bartlett, the bestselling author of The Cornish Midwives Series, comes another emotional read about second chances and having the courage to grab them with all your heart. Praise for Jo Bartlett: 'I love second chance stories. I love returning home stories. So a book combining both is an absolute winner for me. The Cornish Midwife is simply gorgeous. Stunning setting, wonderful characters, and oozing with warmth. A triumph from Jo Bartlett.' Jessica Redland 'Perfectly written and set in the beating heart of a community, this story is a wonderful slice of Cornish escapism.' Helen J Rolfe

Have you ever wondered about the origins of your ancestors? Are you curious about your ethnicity or race? Have you heard or told stories about your family's past? Would you like to know the science that can help to uncover some of these mysteries? In Who Am I? Identity in the Age of Consumer DNA Testing, communication scholars Anita Kathy Foeman and Bessie Lee Lawton present readers with the most comprehensive and cutting-edge research on DNA and identity construction. They investigate the modern trend of individuals using direct-to-consumer DNA test results to explore and negotiate their personal and social identities. This book explores the numerous misconceptions that exist with regard to race, culture, and ethnicity, and how DNA kits have changed the ways in which race and ethnicity are understood and acted upon in our everyday lives. Featuring groundbreaking research, illuminating case studies, and a compelling analysis of what makes us who we are, Who Am I? is an ideal book for courses in identity, diversity, and other social sciences, including intercultural communication, sociology, anthropology, and psychology.