In 1949, four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, begin meeting to eat dim sum, play mahjong, and talk. United in shared loss and hope, they call themselves the Joy Luck Club. With wit and wisdom, Amy Tan examines the sometimes painful, often tender, and always deep connection between these four women and their American-born daughters. As each reveals her secrets, trying to unravel the truth about her life, the strings become more tangled, more entwined...

From #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci comes a moving family drama about learning to love again after heartbreak and loss.ONE SUMMERIt\'s almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care for them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country. Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie\'s death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie\'s childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begin to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In her most powerful novel yet, acclaimed author Lisa See returns to the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy. Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the Communist regime. Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives. BONUS: This edition contains a Dreams of Joy discussion guide.

Joy Candellaro once loved Christmas more than any other time of the year. Now, as the holiday approaches, she is at a crossroads in her life; recently divorced and alone, she can’t summon the old enthusiasm for celebrating. So without telling anyone, she buys a ticket and boards a plane bound for the beautiful Pacific Northwest. When an unexpected detour takes her deep into the woods of the Olympic rainforest, Joy makes a bold decision to leave her ordinary life behind--to just walk away--and thus begins an adventure unlike any she could have imagined. In the small town of Rain Valley, six-year-old Bobby O’Shea is facing his first Christmas without a mother. Unable to handle the loss, Bobby has closed himself off from the world, talking only to his invisible best friend. His father Daniel is beside himself, desperate to help his son cope. Yet when the little boy meets Joy, these two unlikely souls form a deep and powerful bond. In helping Bobby and Daniel heal, Joy finds herself again. But not everything is as it seems in quiet Rain Valley, and in an instant, Joy’s world is ripped apart, and her heart is broken. On a magical Christmas Eve, a night of impossible dreams and unexpected chances, Joy must find the courage to believe in a love--and a family--that can’t possibly exist, and go in search of what she wants . . . and the new life only she can find.

With her world falling apart, the last thing Deana Jones expected was to find a sexy, compelling stranger in her house. Lorgin knew Deana belonged with him, and now he must convince her of their shared destiny and that his passion will take her beyond the stars.

**An American woman struggles with the genital mutilation she endured as a child in Africa in a *New York Times* bestseller “as compelling as *The Color Purple*” (*San Francisco Chronicle*).** In Tashi’s tribe, the Olinka, young girls undergo female genital mutilation as an initiation into the community. Tashi manages to avoid this fate at first, but when pressed by tribal leaders, she submits. Years later, married and living in America as Evelyn Johnson, Tashi’s inner pain emerges. As she questions why such a terrifying, disfiguring sacrifice was required, she sorts through the many levels of subjugation with which she’s been burdened over the years. In *Possessing the Secret of Joy*, Alice Walker exposes the abhorrent practice of female genital mutilation in an unforgettable, moving novel. *This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alice Walker including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.*

The Extraordinary New York Times Bestseller In California's central valley, five women and one man join to discuss Jane Austen's novels. Over the six months they get together, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens. With her eye for the frailties of human behavior and her ear for the absurdities of social intercourse, Karen Joy Fowler has never been wittier nor her characters more appealing. The result is a delicious dissection of modern relationships. Dedicated Austenites will delight in unearthing the echoes of Austen that run through the novel, but most readers will simply enjoy the vision and voice that, despite two centuries of separation, unite two great writers of brilliant social comedy.

The author of The Jane Austen Book Club presents another highly inventive novel--one that ensnares readers in cunning deceptions, challenging them to separate the truth from fiction.

Lizzie Hayes, a member of the San Francisco elite, is a seemingly docile, middle-aged spinster praised for her volunteer work with the Ladies Relief and Protection Society Home, or "The Brown Ark". All she needs is the spark that will liberate her from the ruling conventions. When the wealthy and well-connected, but ill-reputed Mary Ellen Pleasant shows up at the Brown Ark, Lizzie is drawn to her. It is the beautiful, but mysterious Mary Ellen, an outcast among the women of the elite because of her notorious past and her involvement in voodoo, who will eventually hold the key to unlocking Lizzie's rebellious nature. Loosely based in historical fact, Sister Noon is a wryly funny, playfully mysterious, and totally subversive novel from this "fine writer" whose "language dazzles" (San Francisco Chronicle).

In a world where women hold all the power, a titled man can do little but accept his fate -- that his sole purpose is to secure a good match -- and hope his "bed price" is high enough. Jorlan Reynard has every trait necessary for that price -- he is staggeringly handsome. Irresistible. Wildly sensual. But he is also impossibly willful.The brash male refuses to be taken by just any woman merely because she can afford him. Only one -- the Marquelle Green Tamryn -- can claim him. In a bold move, the powerful aristocrat marries him, offering him the security of her name and position, But there are forces conspiring against her, and the Marquelle must summon all her considerable influence to fight for their survival. However, he is not only a passionate lover, but an unexpectedly powerful ally...and soon, the full truth of his remarkable abilities will begin to be revealed to all -- in the "Ritual of Proof."

Once again the narrator finds his life in danger while trying to learn more about why the Sasquatch have chosen not to become a part of the greater society. Are the Big Foot not able to understand the risks they take in refusing to conform?If you have come to dislike Herbert Jamison after reading this story, wait until you read what he's done in "Shame On You" coming up next. He gets more disgusting

Do we really need to buy twenty-four pencils? a student asked. -No, not just twenty-four pencils, but rather twenty-four sharpened pencils, the lecturer replied.Point of a pencil, is a short story about a creative writing class, in which the lecturer tells the students that she requires each of them to arrive at the class with twenty-four sharpened pencils. The students question this number, but soon the point she made is brought home to the class, when those students that did not follow her instruction begin to run out of ink, break the point of the only pencil they've brought with them, or lose the lead out of their clutch pencils.Its just a short story about how a lecturer can inspire a class to write more interestingly and use their imaginations.

In her moving and elegant new collection, New York Times bestseller Karen Joy Fowler writes about John Wilkes Booth's younger brother, a one-winged man, a California cult, and a pair of twins, and she digs into our past, present, and future in the quiet, witty, and incisive way only she can. The sinister and the magical are always lurking just below the surface: for a mother who invents a fairy-tale world for her son in "Halfway People"; for Edwin Booth in "Edwin's Ghost," haunted by his fame as "America's Hamlet" and his brother's terrible actions; for Norah, a rebellious teenager facing torture in "The Pelican Bar" as she confronts Mama Strong, the sadistic boss of a rehabilitation facility; for the narrator recounting her descent in "What I Didn't See." With clear and insightful prose, Fowler's stories measure the human capacities for hope and despair, brutality and kindness. This collection, which includes two Nebula Award winners, is sure to delight readers, even as it pulls the rug out from underneath them.

In this exquisite new novel by bestselling writer Elizabeth Berg, a young woman falls in love -- and learns how sorrow can lead to an understanding of joy. Katie, the narrator, has relocated to Missouri with her distant, occasionally abusive father, and she feels very much alone: her much-loved mother is dead; her new school is unaccepting of her; and her only friends fall far short of being ideal companions. When she accidentally falls through the ice while skating, she meets Jimmy. He is handsome, far older than she, and married, but she is entranced. As their relationship unfolds, so too does Katie's awareness of the pain and intensity first love can bring. Beautifully written in Berg's irresistible voice, Joy School portrays the soaring happiness of real love, the deep despair one can feel when it goes unrequited, and the stubbornness of hope that will not let us let go. Here also is recognition that love can come in many forms and offer many different things. Joy School illuminates, too, how the things that hurt the most can sometimes teach us the lessons that really matter. About Durable Goods, Elizabeth Berg's first novel, Andre Dubus said, "Elizabeth Berg writes with humor and a big heart about resilience, loneliness, love and hope. And the transcendence that redeems." The same will be said of Joy School, Elizabeth Berg's most luminous novel to date. From the Hardcover edition.

Nina begged Phillippe not to reveal her identity before she danced on stage for the people at the village. He agreed, providing they ended both of their dancing careers by performing one final pas de deux together.In the end this performance proved to be a fitting ending to both of their dancing careers, as they felt they could now move on with their lives, hopefully still as a couple.This is a love story about how two people who were once ballet dancing partners, meet again under unusual circumstances, while working at a retirement village.To begin with they feel awkward and don't communicate, since they had parted after a silly quarrel. But once they realize that they have moved on and that they still love each other, they decide to put aside their former grievances and to dance one final pas de duex together.The performance takes place on New year's Eve at the retirement village and this proves to be fitting finale to both of their dancing careers.Note: A Pas de deux is a partnership between two dancers.

What would you do if you payed mother a surprise visit at Christmas and discovered all the gifts the family had sent her over the last five years displayed on her dining room table, - all unused and with the wrapping paper close by.Hopefully you'd handle the situation with care the way Leanne did and not turn the situation into a screaming match that would get your mother's back up.Sandra has a secret that her daughter Leanne finds out about when she pays her a surprise visit just before Christmas. To Leanne's surprise, she finds out that her mother has never used any of her gifts over the last five years, but rather re-wrapped them and kept them in her memory box. A box that she opens again each year at Christmas and the re-wraps the gifts again until the following Christmas.Later, Sandra tells her daughter that she has been doing this ever since the rest of the family moved to Australia and left her to fend for herself. Leanne gets cross because it was Sandra's choice to remain behind and they had often begged her to come. But she also knows that as she needs to take her mother back home with her now, she will have to handle the situation with care, -and not mention the gift episode or any of Sandra;s neighbours complaints to them about her mothers behaviour. This is why Leanne makes up her mind to tell Sandra that she won't mention the gift episode to the others, -as long as she returns to Oz with her. But in the end she doesn't even need to do this, as Sandra makes up her own mind to go back to Australia with her.A happy Christmas story that is based on a true story.

"A great, fun, romping collection of stories." —San Francisco Book Review "This volume's diverse list of well-known and rising stars . . . makes it a welcome addition to the 'Best American' series." —Washington Post "A powerful collection that is worth your time, attention, and love." —Tor In its inaugural edition, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy featured a diverse array of authors, stories, and sources. John Joseph Adams scours the magazine racks and websites to find the very best stories, and this year's guest editor, Karen Joy Fowler, is sure to curate a collection that encompasses all corners of the genres. As the best-selling author of both The Jane Austen Book Club and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, Fowler knows firsthand just how different one author's writing can be from work to work, and she will bring that literary sensibility to her selections. However, she is...

Susan's mother tells her that she was once a spy for MI6 during the cold war and that she believes her life is now in danger, as she has recognized a man lurking around in the village. Susan finds this hard to believe, but after she realizes just how scared her mother really is, she decides to do whatever it takes to keep her mother safe.When Susan's mother's secret life as a spy for MI6 during the cold war, spills over into Susan's life, she is unprepared for the devastating effect this has on their lives for many years to come. To begin with, her mother tells her that she suspects that her life is in danger. then she says she has seen an old enemy from the cold war lurking around in the village. she also says she thinks other men might be involved as well, due to the number of enemies she made during that time. Susan questions why they'd come after her mother so many years later, but her mother assures her that they are men who have huge grudges against her, for what she did during the cold war.her mother then places five encrypted emails on her laptop, and tells Susan that if she receives a certain sms from her, she must send off the emails immediately. But as Susan doubts if anything will come of this,she is surprised one morning to receive an sms giving her the 'send' instruction.after she has sent off the emails, she gets into her car and drives to her mothers house, but on the way there, she finds her mother sitting at a bus stop down the road from her house. when she asks her what she is doing there, she realizes her mother is in a terrible state and unable to talk about what has happened to her.Susan then drives up to the house and finds that the police are already there, while at the house, there are signs that a terrible battle took place.The police tell Susan they have discovered three bodies and that there is plenty of blood all over the place. they also say that MI6 will be taking over the case and that they will possibly have some answers for her. the police then try to persuade Susan to get her mother to talk to them, as they are convinced that she must have seen what happened, but they soon realize that her mother is not in a fit state of mind to give them a statement.When MI6 arrives, they tell Susan her mother was definitely involved, due to the manner in which she cleaned up after herself and by the measures she took to ensure that the local police did not suspect her involvement. They then go on to explain what her mother once did for her country and Susan is amazed that her kind, gentle mother, could ever have been such an incredibly brave spy.MI6 later takes them to a safe house, but after a time, Susan and her mother decide that they will be better off if they leave England and hide out elsewhere. they decide to make their way to a small Greek island, where they become absorbed into the local community.Susan later marries a local man called Jorge and they have two children that her mother dotes on. for the most part they are happy and they live pleasant carefree lives, but once in a while,Susan begins to feel edgy and starts to imagine seeing suspicious looking men lurking around in the village. At these times, she remains at home in hiding, until the feeling has passed. then one day when she has a conversation with her mother about her suspicions, she realizes that her mother still feels afraid that someone will come after her, even now..So on days when things do not seem quite right with their world, Susan stations herself on a rock far out in the ocean, where she fervently prays, as she watches the waves while they wash onto the pristine white shore. then only when all her fears for their safety have been washed away, does she return home to her family.

Brought to you by Grey Mouse Publishing and the authors of ASMSG, A World of Joy is a collection of holiday-themed shorts. It is a Yule-tide celebration of joy, hope, renewal, and love. With stories from multiple holiday traditions, geared towards all audiences, this anthology is meant to infuse the reader with the holiday spirit of good cheer.Brought to you by Grey Mouse Publishing and the authors of ASMSG, A World of Joy is a collection of holiday-themed shorts. It is a Yule-tide celebration of joy, hope, renewal, and love. With stories from multiple holiday traditions, geared towards all audiences, this anthology is meant to infuse the reader with the holiday spirit of good cheer.TIME—Andrew LennonANGELS OF CHRISTMAS—Carole McKeeTHE FIRST HOLIDAY—Claudia BurgoaMASON AND BESS AT CHRISTMAS—Diane MajorWEEKEND WIFE—Elizabeth Rye (AKA Grace Rellie)ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS…—Genevieve DeweySANTA’S CHRISTMAS SURPRISE—Ginny BryceAXE MAN—Jessica KnaussTOMMY’S GIFT—James J. MurrayFROM SADNESS TO JOY—Joseph AckermanCHRISTMAS MEMORIES OF ROME—Judith WorksANOTHER CHRISTMAS CAROL—Juliet KincaidSANTA’S VISIT—Kirstin PulioffTHE TICKING RING—K.N. LeeTHE SNOW PERSON—Lorna DounaevaONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS—Ludy PireelBLEAK CHRISTMAS—Marcy G. DyerCHRISTMAS COOKIES— Gwendolyn MichelleCHRISTMAS ON CALL— Olga Núñez MiretJOHNNY’S JOURNEY AND REUNION—Oscar Wager IIAN ANGEL FOR MAGGIE—Rebecca VanceTHE CHRISTMAS ANGEL—Susan Hawthorne

Some things are done for one reason, and one reason only. Also, there is fire, and cigarettes, and a bounty hunter, and other tagged words :DI have 19 Minutes left, to read the secret code from an unknown person's mind, to safeguard my girlfriend Nisha! I can do that and only i can do that, I am Mind traveler! They found me and they followed me, and now i need to read the code from that unknown person! I have to start my travel in this crowded Indian railway station, and i have only one clue, that he is an American! Me too! Time is running, every seconds count for me and i need to be smart in my mind travelling to read and jump in to another one's mind to safeguard my Nisha! Will I succeed?!

It's 1939, and all across Europe the Nazis are coming for Jews and anti-fascists. The only way to avoid being imprisoned or murdered is to assume a new identity. For that, people are desperate for papers. And for that, the underground needs forgers. In Paris, Sarah, a young Jewish artist originally from Berlin, along with her music teacher and father figure, Mr. Lieb, meet Cesar, a Spanish Republican who knows well the brutality of fleeing fascism. He soon recognizes Sarah's gift. She will become the underground's new forger. When the war reaches Paris, the trio joins thousands of other refugees in a chaotic exodus south. In Marseille, they're received by friends, but they're also now part of a resistance the government is actively hunting. Sarah, now Simone, continues her forgery work in the shadows, expertly creating false papers that will mean the difference between life and a horrifying death for many. When Mr. Lieb is arrested and imprisoned in Les...

Never again would Jacob Tucker celebrate Christmas, not after the tragedy, it wasn’t a subject to even be discussed.Tally May Jones needed a life that was more than just helping out at her father's haberdashery store in their dusty small town on the East Coast. She believed she had found it when she saw the advertisement from Jacob Tucker a rancher from Cedar Fields. But life as Mrs Jacob Tucker was not at all as she had dreamed. Yes, he was a handsome man - handsome beyond expectations, but he was cold-hearted and seemed only to want a bride to fill the role of housekeeper in his home. Tally was homesick and lonely. She was thankful for the company of Ellie the daughter of the ranch’s right hand man and Jacob’s friend, Pete.Tally is almost at her wit’s end living the lie that her life out West has become, when she is called upon to help Ellie and Pete. She knows it is wrong to keep secrets from her husband, but she also understands the fear those around her have for her husband. He could be unreasonable and unfathomable. And Tally was kept in the dark as to his secrets, causing her to not understand his hardheartedness.With Christmas fast approaching Jacob turns even more cold, what could be done to thaw his heart?Was it possible for an innocent to break down the walls of grief thrown up by a brave man to shield himself from love and hurt? Could the promise of a newborn heal the wounds etched deep in the soul of a man who had lost all he once loved?

The adventure of the kingdom begins with the invitationFrom the unseen realm of the King of kings with supernatural beings and mythical creatures, a mystical invitation is sent. The very shy Alli, completely unaware of the King's grand plan, believes the invitation is for a simple hike to some king's castle with the promise of adventure and a banquet at the end. She doesn't realize it's packed with magical experiences, waterfalls, hidden caves, forests, and strange creatures. She never imagined there would be enemies to fight, challenges to be faced, and battles to be won.Will she accept the Great King's invitation?

Angel stumbles into church one day and ends up a First Lady when she catches the preacher's eye, heart and soul. She is unchurched, timid, shy; just a babe in Christ trying to figure out what this God thing is all about, and at the same time, how to be a pastor's wife. She's on the right path, until a church mother puts up a road block. All Angel wants to do is try to get into heaven, but first she'll have to go through the pit of hell Mother Calloway puts her through with her un-Christ-like antics.Try as she might, Angel just can't seem to handle Mother Calloway on her own. Some devils are just too big for one angel to take on alone. That's why First Lady Arykah hops on the first thing smokin' to go rescue her friend from the pits of hell. The Olivia Pope of the Kingdom is on a mission to put order in the house of the Lord. What Lady Arykah doesn't know is that Mother Calloway has backup too—the whole dang church! Angel is relying on a wing and a prayer to win this...

Tricked into indentured servitude by false pretenses, Joy Richards finds herself working for an abusive innkeeper. She has been forced to leave behind something she's loved - training horses. Her life is so destitute, she feels God has forsaken her. Joy makes one last attempt to cry out to Him. A kind stranger steps in to take her away to heal from her past.But what about the family she left behind?Andrew Lloyd-Foxx abhors injustice. He is an avid abolitionist and a man of action. Returning home from anti-slavery discussions, he brings the terrified, filthy barmaid to his stud-farm in the country. His orderly, quiet life is turned upside down by her presence.

From the Man Booker finalist and bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves comes an epic and intimate novel about the family behind one of the most infamous figures in American history: John Wilkes Booth.In 1822, a secret family moves into a secret cabin some thirty miles northeast of Baltimore, to farm, to hide, and to bear ten children over the course of the next sixteen years. Junius Booth—breadwinner, celebrated Shakespearean actor, and master of the house in more ways than one—is at once a mesmerizing talent and a man of terrifying instability. One by one the children arrive, as year by year, the country draws frighteningly closer to the boiling point of secession and civil war. As the tenor of the world shifts, the Booths emerge from their hidden lives to cement their place as one of the country’s leading theatrical families. But behind the curtains of the many stages they have graced, multiple...

When eleven-year-old Jayla finds out that her mother used to be a Double Dutch champion, she's stunned. Her mom, who's on doctor's orders to lower her blood pressure, could move like that?!? Jayla decides to follow in her mom's footsteps, thinking that maybe double Dutch can make her stand out in her big, quirky family. As she puts together a team at school and prepares to compete, Jayla finds that Double Dutch is about a lot more than jumping rope—and it just might change her life in ways she never imagined. Full of hilarious family dynamics and plenty of jump rope action, Jayla Jumps In follows one girl's quest to get her mom healthy and find her place in her community.

A girl with a passion for science and a boy who dreams of writing fantasy novels must figure out how to get along now that their parents are dating in this lively, endearing novel.Sutton is having robot problems. Her mini-bot is supposed to be able to get through a maze in under a minute, but she must have gotten something wrong in the coding. Which is frustrating for a science-minded girl like Sutton—almost as frustrating as the fact that her mother probably won't be home in time for Sutton's tenth birthday. Luis spends his days writing thrilling stories about brave kids, but there's only so much inspiration you can find when you're stuck inside all day. He's allergic to bees, afraid of dogs, and has an overprotective mom to boot. So Luis can only dream of daring adventures in the wild. Sutton and Luis couldn't be more different from each other. Except now that their parents are dating, these two have to find some common ground. Will they be able...

Joe didn't actually realize that he was searching for his birthday gifts, as his grandfather asked him to help him find a key as well as a ball of string that he had misplaced, but in unraveling these clues and searching for these objects, he discovered a bicycle and some computer games as well.Joe's birthday was coming up, but instead of just giving him his presents, his grandfather who was a detective, gave him some clues to search for instead. His grandfather also spun him a story about a lost key and an illusive ball of string and along the way Joe managed to unravel the clues and also find a bicycle and some cool computer games.

Bianca’s Joy: Rose Island Book 3

The stunning new novel from the author of The Woolgrower's Companion, whom the Australian Women's Weekly described as 'a wonderful new voice in literary rural fiction'.A scandalous secret. A deadly fire. An agonizing choice.Australia 1948. As a young woman running Amiens, a sizeable sheep station in New South Wales, Kate Dowd knows she's expected to fail. And her grazier neighbour is doing his best to ensure she does, attacking her method of burning off to repel a bushfire. But fire risk is just one of her problems. Kate cannot lose Amiens, or give in to her estranged husband Jack's demands to sell. Because the farm is her livelihood and the only protection she can offer her half-sister Pearl, as the Aborigines Welfare Board threatens to take her away.Ostracised by the local community for even acknowledging Pearl, Kate cannot risk another scandal. Which means turning her back on her wartime lover, Luca...

There was a lot going on in the lives of the praise team members at Renaissance church; and worship pastor Mark was starting to find out how messy the lives of church people could be. As their stories intertwine and collide, will their passions and addictions destroy the team and the church, or will their faith bring them (and Mark) through the fire?Mark Flanders was the worship pastor at Renaissance church, and was responsible for the upcoming Christmas special. There was a lot going on in the lives of his team members though; and Mark was starting to find out how messy the lives of church people could be. As their stories intertwine and collide, will their passions and addictions destroy the team and the church, or will their faith bring them (and Mark) through the fire? When all is said and done, will they be singing a dirge of regret or a song of joy?

Holiday matchmakers are full of surprises...Her surprise inheritancecould make them a family.It's a plot twist actress Kate LeClair never anticipated: becoming guardian to toddler triplets. But with guidance from experienced single dad Jacob Dawson, she and the boys can move on by Christmas. Pastor Jacob can't ask Kate to swap stage lights for small-town Minnesota—even if he's falling for her. But these tiny matchmakers might prove she's found the only role she really wants...

Rejected by society, she finds what she's been looking for. And more... Miss Joie James is a dangerous combination of inquisitive and innocence. After trusting one man she shouldn't have, she's caught up in a scandal. Being sent to stay with her elderly aunt seems a horrible way to spend Christmas, bored senseless at the country estate, when all she really craves is adventure. Alas, fate intervenes when the weather forces her carriage to layover at an inn in a small village. There, Joie gets much more than she bargained for when she's incorrectly identified as a French spy. Driven to prove himself, forced to choose between his heart and his head. Lieutenant Reginald Talley cannot make a mess of his first real mission for the Crown. Tasked with convincing a beautiful female spy to help him gain Napoleon's trust, he eagerly awaits the clandestine meeting in a smuggling town inn–too eagerly he...

Do you dare set foot in Spooking?** It's the terrible town on the hideous hill -- and Joy Wells is a proud resident. A fan of classic horror stories, Joy is convinced that famous author E. A. Peugeot based his spine-tingling tales on Spooking. Take the eerie similarities between the nearby swamp and the setting of his masterpiece, "The Bawl of the Bog Fiend." Could the story be true? Could the bog fiend be on the loose?Things become truly horrifying when Joy learns that Darlington, the despicable suburban city where she is forced to go to school, is planning to build a water park over her beloved bog. It is up to her to safeguard the endangered area and its secrets. Little does she know that there is someone determined to destroy not only the bog but the town of Spooking itself -- and anyone who dares stand in his way.Age Level: 8 and up

She's in trouble. He wants to protect her. But can she ever trust again?Rachael Milano is running away from love when she meets Jack Williams.  He seems safe, but her instincts had been wrong in the past and she isn't going to make the same mistake twice. Jack never believed in love at first sight, until the night the beautiful stranger came out from the rain and into his restaurant. But it wasn't until he noticed the bruise that made him want to protect her from the monster she ran from. Jack knows he can help Rachael, but will her heart learn to trust him?

An ancestry that draws hateful glances. A heart that still dreams of happiness. When his protector becomes his tyrant, can he break free?Baltimore, 2014. Abdul Ali Rahmani aches with shame. Used to bearing the brunt of people's judgment, the Afghan immigrant can't reconcile his love for his charming boyfriend with the bruises the man leaves on his face. So when a handsome activist's flirtatious exchange offers solace, he goes against his beliefs and enters into a secret tryst.Drowning in guilt over the brief affair, Abdul struggles to reset his personal compass even as a racially motivated shooting twists his adopted city into a minefield. But his firm conviction that the troubles he's facing are fair payment for the sins of his past keeps drawing him back to his beau's punishing fists.Can Abdul conquer his demons and unlock his true inner strength?Stolen Moments of Joy is a gripping contemporary LGBT novel. If you like heroes who...

Widely respected in the so-called “mainstream” for her New York Times bestselling novels, Karen Joy Fowler is also a formidable, often controversial, and always exuberant presence in Science Fiction. Here she debuts a provocative new story written especially for this series. Set in the days of Darwin, “The Science of Herself” is a marvelous hybrid of SF and historical fiction: the almost-true story of England’s first female paleontologist who took on the Victorian old-boy establishment armed with only her own fierce intelligence—and an arsenal of dino bones. Plus... “The Pelican Bar,” a homely tale of family ties that makes Guantánamo look like summer camp; “The Further Adventures of the Invisible Man,” a droll tale of sports, shoplifting and teen sex; and “The Motherhood Statement,” a quietly angry upending of easy assumptions that shows off Fowler’s deep radicalism and impatience with conservative homilies and liberal pieties alike. And Featuring: our Outspoken Interview in which Fowler prophesies California’s fate, reveals the role of bad movies in good marriages, and intimates that girls just want to have fun (which means make trouble).

Life after work no longer conjures up images of couples wandering the malls, playing golf, and taking endless Caribbean cruises. As baby boomers reach their 50s and 60s, they are redefining what it means to retire. Many of them are still choosing to work or create a whole new life entirely. What they crave is vitality, joy, and meaning in their lives. Author David Borchard has been helping adults rejuvenate their careers and lives for 30 years. In The Joy of Retirement, he shows readers how to reinvent themselves and achieve the kind of fulfillment and meaning in their lives they have always dreamed of. Now, readers can start crafting their future and discovering their passions with advice on topics such as: finding new interests that make the most of their unique talents planning their lifestyle at 50+ assessing what transitions they are ready and willing to make defining priorities and goals establishing their criteria for success mastering the...

A meeting between a mysterious man and a devout woman leads to an intimate conversation about faith and doubt, life and death, on a cold Halloween night.A meeting between a mysterious man and a devout woman leads to an intimate conversation about faith and doubt, life and death, on a cold Halloween night. Will the two strangers, within the walls of a cathedral, find pain or forgiveness?

From the bestselling author of Mallawindy and the Woody Creek series comes a story of love and survival. Lori Smyth-Owen isn't your average teenager - as you'd expect from the only girl in a family of twelve. Or they were a family, until their father took his own life to escape his bed-bound wife, too obese to leave her room.But for Lori and the remaining brothers, there is no escape from their volatile, mentally unstable mother. They raise themselves away from the gaze of the authorities, realising that though abandoned, they are now in charge. They can control everything, including their mother's food intake.In time, their mother emerges, after losing two-thirds of her body weight. But does she bring with her the seed of hope for a better future, or will all hell break loose?'The texture of the writing as well as the mind-boggling plots give her books a fatally addictive attraction' Saturday Age

In her first novel since The Quick and the Dead (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), the legendary writer takes us into an uncertain landscape after an environmental apocalypse, a world in which only the man-made has value, but some still wish to salvage the authentic. "She practices . . . camouflage, except that instead of adapting to its environment, Williams’s imagination, by remaining true to itself, reveals new colorations in the ecology around her.” —A.O. Scott, The New York Times Book ReviewKhristen is a teenager who, her mother believes, was marked by greatness as a baby when she died for a moment and then came back to life. After Khristen’s failing boarding school for gifted teens closes its doors, and she finds that her mother has disappeared, she ranges across the dead landscape and washes up at a “resort” on the shores of a...

He was looking for an A.W.O.L. elf, not a date with the kitten foster-mom who was one of his suspects.Somebody messed up and let a prototype escape from North Pole Unlimited's top secret Toys-and-Research division. Now P.I. Decker Harkness has the contract to track it down. He's not exactly sure what E.L.V.I.S does, but he's hot on the trail.Joy McCall has her hands full of foster animals and pet treats at Kitten Caboodle, but she's not too busy to notice strange goings-on at the pet shelter where she works.When their paths cross during a triple kitten-napping, Decker and Joy will have to work together to close their cases. Will everyone make it home to celebrate a merry Christmas together? Only Santa knows. North Pole Unlimited Romances:Decker and JoyHollis and IvyNick and Eve

An unexpected encounter... An extraordinary discovery... Welcome back to the town of Evergreen. Katie, an author struggling to write her second novel, heads to Evergreen, Vermont for a holiday retreat—only to get an assignment to write an article about the town. On the train, she meets Ben, a former big-city reporter who's now a librarian in Evergreen. Katie's initially skeptical about Evergreen's love of Christmas; the place seems too good to be true. Meanwhile, Ben's wary of Katie's intentions. He's protective of his small town, and he knows all too well how cynical the media can be. Then a hunt for a fifty-year-old time capsule leads to a remarkable discovery. As Katie and Ben get caught up in the community's past and present, they both begin to envision new possibilities for the future. This feel-good Christmas romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Cranberry Crostini.

A romance writer decides to take some time to seclude herself in a cabin, so she can finish up her latest masterpiece. But when a publisher dressed as Santa Claus ends up arriving during a snowstorm, she experiences something that she has only experienced through the characters in her novels.

A reimagining of Little Women set in 1942, when the United States is suddenly embroiled in the second World War, this story, told from each March sister's point of view, is one of grief, love, and self-discovery.In the fall of 1942, the United States is still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. While the US starts sending troops to the front, the March family of Concord, Massachusetts grieves their own enormous loss: the death of their daughter, Beth. Under the strain of their grief, Beth's remaining sisters fracture, each going their own way with Jo nursing her wounds and building planes in Connecticut, Meg holding down the home front with Marmee, and Amy living a secret life as a Red Cross volunteer in London—the same city where one Mr. Theodore Laurence is stationed as an army pilot.Each March sister's point of view is written by a separate author, three in prose and Beth's in verse, still holding the family...

She's jumping into a drastic change of lifestyle. He's determined to help her see everything she's been missing ...Joy Maxwell has a life people envy. An upscale Los Angeles condo, designer clothes, a big following on Instagram, and looks other women would die for. But it's not easy being in the public eye, and when her career as an influencer starts to go south, Joy goes north—to the small coastal town of Cambria, where she plans to blog about her new, minimalist lifestyle, hoping to parlay it into a book deal.Nix Landry sees the tiny house he built with his own hands as more than a place to live—it's a statement about sustainability, simplicity, and being present for what's important in life. When Joy applies to be his tenant, he's skeptical that this woman with her designer shoes and her salon hairstyle will last more than a week. But the more he gets to know her, the more he takes it as a challenge to show her how much more fulfilling life can...

Maggie Stovall is trapped inside a person she’s spent years carefully crafting. Now the truth about who she is—and what she’s done—is bursting to the surface and sending Maggie into a spiral of despair. Will she walk away from everything, or can Maggie allow God to take her to a place of ultimate honesty—before it’s too late? Maggie Stovall. One of the golden people. She has it all together. At least on the surface… Ben Stovall. Godly husband. Successful attorney. Has no idea of the darkness about to overtake his life… Amanda Joy. Child of society. Abused, broken, thrown away. But her trust in God is still alive… When Joy Came to Stay* is the heart-wrenching story of one woman’s descent into the shadows of depression, her husband’s search for understanding, and a precious child’s unwavering faith. "Kingsbury’s poignant tale of a lost and broken family and how they experience God’s miraculous healing is a sure guarantee to bring hope and joy to her readers." —Melody Carlson, bestselling author, Diary of a Teenage Girl series "A thought-provoking account of the battle of depression in a believer’s life. It leaves no doubt that God is loving, merciful, and faithful." —Nancy Moser, author, The Mustard Seed series Story Behind the Book “Each of my novels is a piece of my heart. Where Yesterday Lives was my first-ever novel, and as such it is somewhat autobiographical. The childhood story of Ellen Barrett, her love for her parents and siblings, is my story—though her current story and struggles are fictional. On Every Side sheds light on the struggle for religious freedom in today’s climate; something I am passionate about. Finally, When Joy Came to Stay is the story of one woman’s battle against depression and the secrets of her past.” —Karen Kingsbury

When does never turn into happily ever after in the search for love?Top accountant of Manzanita Imports in Sacramento, Ted Abbott stopped participating in the love game after he turned thirty quite a few years ago. He's not tempted by the cute young new hires or the product reps his loyal staff suggest he ask out on a date.Chicago contractor Matt Patterson is on the verge of giving up too. He's worked his way up from apprentice carpenter to co-owner of a thriving business. At forty-something, he's considered a lucky catch for anybody looking for a sugar daddy, which he knows only too well.The chance of them meeting is nil until Matt's uncle who lived in Sacramento dies and leaves his estate to his nephew. After they meet in a dilapidated bar called The Roost, could their paths actually merge and become one?

Yamini Redewill is an Uber driver in San Francisco—one of a growing number of rideshare drivers around the world. What makes her unique is that she's a seventy-nine-year-old single woman who views her Uber driving as a form of spiritual practice! The Joy of Uber Driving chronicles the unexpected corkscrew twists and turns Redewill encounters on the road to love and happiness. How could she know that all those fabulous dreams she cherished as a younger woman were just illusions on the way to reality and would vanish like dust in the wind? But ultimately, her wild ride through life—which includes obsessive love on Catalina; sex, drugs, and alcohol in Hollywood; eleven years of celibacy in Buddhism, and Tantric sex and spirituality in India—helps her wend her way to her authentic self and to creative fulfillment in the winter of her life. In The Joy of Uber Driving, Redewill shares the wisdom that comes from living a full life of heart-centered passion, as well...

An original collection of short rhymed poems (31 to be exact) with full color 'Fair Use' images about spreading joy. If the words are enhanced by the images, the words may just change the reader and the way you may think about the images in a new and profound way. You too, may just become a Spatter-er of Joy!An original collection of short rhymed poems (31 to be exact) with full color 'Fair Use' images about spreading joy. If the words are enhanced by the images, the words may just change the reader and the way you may think about the images in a new and profound way. You too, may just become a Spatter-er of Joy! This collection is a: "Rhymer' Primer of 31 days of poems to Spatter Joy for every day of any year." Something as inexplicable and undefined as "joy" is meant to be spattered. What cost can be placed on such a wonderful and precious thing as "joy?" It must then be FREELY shared! This collection is a gift and it is meant to be given to anyone, for FREE!

From the author of the acclaimed Blood Water Paint, a new contemporary YA novel in prose and verse about a girl struggling with guilt and a desire for revenge after her sister's rapist escapes with no prison time.Em Morales's older sister was raped by another student after a frat party. A jury eventually found the rapist guilty on all counts—a remarkable verdict that Em felt more than a little responsible for, since she was her sister's strongest advocate on social media during the trial. Her passion and outspokenness helped dissuade the DA from settling for a plea deal. Em's family would have real justice. But the victory is short-lived. In a matter of minutes, justice vanishes as the judge turns the Morales family's world upside down again by sentencing the rapist to no prison time. While her family is stunned, Em is literally sick with rage and guilt. To make matters worse, a news clip of her saying that the sentence "makes me want to use a fucking...

Kelly James has been handed a raw deal in life. When she is forced to give up Bear, the cat she'd recently adopted, it's just one more heartache to add to the pile. To the outside world, Logan Spencer has it all, great looks, a killer body, a loving family, and any woman she wants with a snap of her fingers. When Logan agrees to take Bear, she promises him a good home and Kelly plenty of opportunities to visit him. It isn't long before Kelly looks forward to seeing Logan almost as much as Bear. Logan seems so far out of her league that Kelly is sure she's headed for even more heartache if she doesn't keep her feelings under wraps. But there is much more to Logan than meets the eye and something special in Kelly that Kelly doesn't see in herself.Opposites really can attract, and as Kelly and Logan work together to create a loving home for Bear, they just might find one for themselves as well.

Reverend Joy Norton is a timid city girl, and she’s never been the primary priest in any parish. When her bishop sends her out to a remote back-country church, she doubts both her ability and her suitability. Those doubts grow when she hears of the mysterious death of her predecessor. But from the first encounter with her congregation -- having her little car rescued from a muddy ditch, she finds herself deeply involved with her parishioners and touched by their qualities and eccentricities. Which makes it worse for her to think that one of the people she’s coming to care for murdered the previous priest…

One trip could change everything... When Landon went out for a drink with his coworkers, he wasn't expecting to meet the man of his dreams. Or to be plunged into a world he thought was just myth. "Finding His Heart" is a MM PNR with a HEA for 18+ readers. It is the first in a series of short stories centered around the bar Ax to the Heart.

From a bracing new voice comes this life-affirming memoir of a daughter making and remaking her life in her mother's image.Sifting gingerly through memories of her late mother, brilliant newcomer Sarah McColl has penned an indelible tribute to the joy and pain of loving well. Even as her own marriage splinters, McColl drops everything when her mother is diagnosed with cancer, returning to the family farmhouse and laboring over elaborate meals in the hopes of nourishing her back to health. In a series of vibrant vignettes—lipstick applied, novels read, imperfect cakes baked—McColl reveals a woman of endless charm and infinite love for her unruly brood of children.Mining the dual losses of both her young marriage and her beloved mother, McColl confronts her identity as a woman, walking lightly in the footsteps of the woman who came before her and clinging fast to the joy she left behind. With candor reminiscent of classics like C. S. Lewis's A Grief...

In this "beautifully written. . . real page-turner" (The Guardian) of a novel, Jonathan Lee brings together an eclectic group of characters whose lives are upended by a baffling tragedy.Just as she is about to make partner at a prestigious law firm, a talented young lawyer, Joy Stephens, plummets forty feet from a viewing platform to the office floor. Did she fall? Or did she jump? As the events leading up to this shocking event unfold from the perspectives of multiple people in Joy’s life—her husband, her colleagues, even her personal trainer—what emerges is a fraught narrative of interlocking secrets in which everyone is hiding something.Lee masterfully peels back the truth, bringing long-buried truths—not only about Joy, but about her colleagues and her family—to light in this thrilling novel about the tumultuous lives that exist just below the surface.

With his green and gold eyes, silken hair, and purring voice, the stunning captive chained to the wall is exactly what Jenise needs. And he is hers to take or so she believes.

Scared of spiders? This short story will help you to overcome this fear and maybe you'll even begin to take an interest in the spiders in your garden and document your findings. Its all about how a little bit of knowledge can change our perceptions of the things we fear most.Lola, the spider lady, came to the club to introduce the women to the world of spiders. She knew she would have to win them over by telling them about some of the interesting techniques that spiders used to catch their prey but it threw her a bit when one woman screamed at the sight of a big hairy spider and another person got up and ran from the room. Trying harder now, she showed them some slides and soon a few of the women came over to view Goldie, the big hairy spider that had initially scared them.The woman who had run from the room returned and soon asked a few questions and in no time at all she became Lola's biggest fan and even started a spider diary of her own. Here she recorded the activities of the spiders in her own garden and also introduced her family to the world of spiders.So if you have a fear of spiders, this short story might help you to overcome it.

She needs a bodyguard, but not the one who refused her body nine years ago. Sexy former Special Forces soldier? Devante Torrez. High school crush who left her humiliated? Also Dev. Last person she wants as her bodyguard? Yep...you guessed it. Shelby Diamond has a stalker, and her Senator father enlists family friend and former Special Forces soldier, Devante Torrez, to be her protector. If she must have someone watch over her in close quarters, she'd prefer anyone other than the man who rejected her and never looked back—especially since she can't get the noble jerk out of her mind. After a career ending injury forces him out of the military, Dev doesn't trust himself to keep her safe from the stalker, or himself, because he wants her as much now as he did when she offered her sixteen-year-old self to him on a silver platter—or a pink princess bed, as it were. When the stalker grows bolder and gets much too close...

There is only one thing a woman can think of when looking at a man like him. Sex. But Lilac never guesses that bringing a stray cat into her home will soon have her stroking the most wanted man in 1811 London.

Nearly a year has passed since Scott and Bailey’s Christmas wedding. Now they are expecting joy in the form of twins! The day arrives for the opening of Barkley House, a missionary retreat provided by Bailey’s inheritance, but an unspeakable evil descends upon Bailey as she awaits her ride to the opening ceremony. Scott can’t find her. Shocking revelations accompany Bailey’s ordeal. Will she ever find joy again?

Richard Herley's introduction: Here are ten short pieces of non-fiction, some about reading and writing; most have already appeared on my blog. I hope you enjoy them.Years of planning and preparations are finally culminating in the unification of the two countries of Gelendan and Treymayne. The year of Phoenix’s eighteenth birthday will mark the end of their rocky histories of blood-magic and the Order and the beginning of a new era. Being the figurehead of this momentous occasion comes naturally to Phoenix, but unsettling rumors have begun to swirl that portray her abilities in a negative light. Putting these out of her mind, she must act the Princess she is to host the lavish festivities that are her birthday party. While floating down the Great River in their moving celebration, their yacht makes an exciting discovery: They come across another ship, from a far off and unknown empire. With the heralds of the empire within the city walls, it is easy to forget rumors of the Princess reading minds. But when men start getting attacked through a power of the mind, it is more than the Princess’s reputation on the line…The Empire Trilogy is a follow-on to the BloodRunes Trilogy and The Forgotten Trilogy in the Eleventh World Saga, but may also be enjoyed on its own. For more information, please visit LauraRCole.com

Meet the Cooke family. Our narrator is Rosemary Cooke. As a child, she never stopped talking; now that she's started college, she has wrapped herself in silence: the silence of intentional forgetting, of protective cover. Rosemary is now an only child, but she used to have a sister the same age as her, and an older brother. Both are now gone—vanished from her life. Her once lively mother is a shell of her former self, her clever and imperious father now a distant, brooding man. And there was something unique about Rosemary's sister, Fern. You'll have to find out for yourself what it is that makes her unhappy family unlike any other.

High school teacher Emily Sanders's bucket list didn't include getting divorced and starting a new job in a new city. Those challenges pale, however, when her mother dies and Emily finds herself caring for her sister who has Down syndrome.When Emily meets Andi Marino she thinks she's found a new best friend, just the right kind of fun and caring person to keep her from spending every weekend alone. So when Emily discovers she's a lesbian and wants to explore her feelings for women, Andi seems like the perfect social guide. Except Emily doesn't know that Andi has been attracted to her from the start and is fast falling in love with her. Caught up in exploring her sexuality, will Emily see the only woman she needs is right in front of her?

The first historically comprehensive Native poetry anthology, without which no study of American poetry is complete.United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo gathers the work of more than 160 poets, representing nearly 100 indigenous nations, into one momentous volume. This landmark anthology celebrates the indigenous peoples of North America, the first poets of this country, whose literary traditions stretch back centuries.Opening with a blessing from Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday, the book contains powerful introductions from contributing editors who represent the five geographically organized sections. Each section begins with a poem from the massive libraries of oral literatures and closes with emerging poets, ranging from Eleazar, a seventeenth-century Native student at Harvard, to Jake Skeets, a young Dinéh poet born in 1991, and including renowned writers such as Natalie Diaz, Tommy Pico, Layli Long Soldier, and Ray Young Bear....

In this encouraging book, Pope Francis explores the meaning of true joy and offers an inspiring message: even in dark times, the light of hope can shine bright.  The past few years have been extremely challenging, but even in dark times, the light of joy can shine bright.   True joy, says Pope Francis, is not a fleeting sentiment or a short-term solution to suffering; it springs from a solid hope that nothing and no one can take away.   A Gift of Joy and Hope is an invitation to embrace authentic beauty and a reminder to be open to encountering God, even in the midst of challenges. In this inspiring collection, Pope Francis encourages readers to change attitudes that exclude others; to reveal the deep dissatisfaction we all hide; and to overcome life’s challenges with courage and faith. He also challenges readers to hope without pessimism or doubt, to hope even in the midst of anxiety, to recognize the beauty all...

From Betty Smith, author of the beloved American classic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, comes an unsentimental yet radiant and powerfully uplifting tale of young love and marriage.In 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, Carl Brown and Annie McGairy meet and fall in love. Though only eighteen, Annie travels alone halfway across the country to the Midwestern university where Carl is studying law—and there they marry. But Carl and Annie's first year together is much more difficult than they anticipated as they find themselves in a faraway place with little money and few friends. With hardship and poverty weighing heavily upon them, they come to realize that their greatest sources of strength, loyalty, and love, will help them make it through. A moving and unforgettable story, Joy in the Morning is "a glad affirmation that love can accomplish the impossible." (Chicago Tribune)

Kelsie Newman meets the man of her dreams at the beginning of a really, really bad day, so excuse her for not recognizing him. Good thing she's a smart girl and a quick learner. When he rescues her from her Good Samaritan act gone bad later that same day, she doesn't make the same mistake twice.After a stolen, illicit night of passion, will Victoria's life ever be the same again?Freshly dumped by her boyfriend, and thinking more and more about the things she has to do with her life before it's too late, Victoria is having a bad day at work. Alexander Reigns, dashing billionaire and gorgeously handsome boss of Victoria, has too much on his mind; an upcoming divorce with a wife he does not love, and the stresses of business are taking a heavy toll. But he'll soon find a distraction... One teary night of soul-searching, unlikely bonding between maid and master, and forbidden passions is enough to change both their lives in cataclysmic ways. Will Alexander do the right thing and commit to his unborn child? And will the birth of their baby uncover strengths and passions neither of them knew they had? One thing is for sure; it will be worth it in the end...

Have you ever wondered what the Old Testament—especially the Old Testament law—has to do with your Christian life? You are not alone. Some Christian leaders believe we should cast off the Old Testament now that we have the New. Carmen Joy Imes disagrees.In this warm, accessible volume, Imes takes readers back to Sinai, the ancient mountain where Israel met their God, and explains the meaning of events there. She argues that we've misunderstood the command about "taking the Lord's name in vain." Instead, Imes says that this command is about "bearing God's name," a theme that continues throughout the rest of Scripture. Readers will revisit the story of Israel as they trudge through the wilderness from a grueling past to a promising future. The story of Israel turns out to be our story too, and you'll discover why Sinai still matters as you follow Jesus today.

When a quilt shop owner finds a former Marine's journal, she longs to heal his heart... When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she's surprised to find a soldier's journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries. Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He's always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires helps him put out the demons within him. He's embracing his life in Pine Hill, Ky, and strives to call a truce with his past. When Sophie shows at the fire hall with his journal from when he'd first returned stateside, Cole can't believe it was in the box he'd donated. The book is old news and he tells her to trash it. Sophie and Aaron are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it's hard for Aaron to let down his guard,...