Books with author Sam Lawrence

When teenage martial arts champion Flower Green competes in the 2020 Olympic Games, her dream of representing her country and winning gold in tae kwon do comes true. Once the excitement fades, she is at loose ends-she won the ultimate prize, so where does she go from there? Against his better judgement, her teacher and mentor, Freddy, reveals that there is only one place he can direct her to learn the highest level of martial arts. The problem is, she will have to leave her family behind and travel halfway across the world alone to face cruelty and harsh conditions under the guidance of Chin, a bitter and unyielding master. As her training pushes her farther than she thought she could ever go, Flower slowly wins over the old man with her dedication and resilience. But will it be enough to allow her to compete in the Dance of Dragons tournament, a secret society of the most skilled and deadly fighters in the world?...

Although he was left in charge to care for his siblings while their mother was gone, his intention was to leave them only briefly. it was then from a distance he was witness to the violent destruction of the family’s home. The devastating guilt he felt prompted his perilous wanderings which lead him to the discovery of his golden needle. With a newfound sense of self-worth and confidence, his further travels bring him to his smart and beautiful she-beetle friend, Jewell. After an encounter with a large and intimidating June bug, they learn that Rass is not the only one with a heartbreaking past. Plans develop that will require the employment of a legion of characters to overcome the often times dire consequences of being a bug in a man’s world.

Conveyed through the eyes of a teenage girl, Waking Up Eighty is a short story illustrating the power of both contentment and patience. In a life stricken with confusion and the never-ending struggle between parent and child, sixteen-year-old Kara finds herself in the midst of a compromising position. After a family meeting is set, she faces a decision. What will be the outcome? And will the means justify the end?Hi, I’m Shola Lawrence, mother of three and the author of Waking Up Eighty. I wrote this story to demonstrate the fleeting nature of life as we know it and the importance of patience, whatever our age. Kara’s character is the culmination of a struggle with patience and the pent-up emotions so many of us face on a daily basis. Her journey to adulthood illustrates that finding contentment with who you are and what you’re surrounded with isn’t always an easy journey.Waking Up Eighty offers a penetrating insight into the mind of a teenage girl. In a sense, it’s the ultimate guide to contentment...if ever such a guide existed.

Every four hundred years, an all-powerful being is born. Known as the Mystic, this magical entity must maintain the balance of all realms and save the world in an ultimate battle. For those within the magical realms, the role of the Mystic is legendary. However, the Mystic has been born in the human realm. She’s not only unaware of her unique destiny, she’s missing. Time is running out. Even if she’s found, no human has ever stood against a demonic realm and lived. FBI agent, Kate Smith, has spent her entire life hiding from her psychic abilities. As much as she despises being different, she admits they’ve helped her solve some of the most brutal cases. But her latest assignment has her doubting herself. It’s like nothing she’s encountered before, and the gifts she’s grown to rely on aren’t working. Visions haunt her dreams, and questions about her destiny plague her. Worse yet, the answers she discovers are even more terrifying. For twenty-eight years, Xander Montgomery has searched for the only being who can save all realms. But it’s not easy finding someone unaware of who she is, and being stuck in the human realm isn’t helping his disposition. As a Guardian, he has one mission—protect the Mystic. When Kate and Xander finally meet, he’s convinced of one thing. If he can’t persuade the strong-willed stranger to follow him on a deadly quest, the world is doomed.

On New Year's Eve, Jinx literally falls down a flight of stairs and into the strong, surfer-boy arms of Jamie, her brother's friend and the cutest boy to wear Tiger sneakers and drive a BMW. Meanwhile, her best pal Liberty has returned, ready for more mischief. This semester, the must-haves include new friendships with triplets Olga, Masha, and Irinia, and their mysterious, handsome bodyguard who makes sure they don't get into any trouble - or at least don't get caught. School starts and Jinx remains fascinated by Jamie. She giddily awaits the moment when she can swerve with her dream boy. When the girls sneak out to attend the wildest bash of the year, it could turn out to be the end of their good times at Stagmount...