The Heart of Joy
Large Print Edition: See Other Formats for regular print bookDenver, Colorado, 1914Joy Michaels, grieving mother and widow, resides in an aging but remarkable Denver home: a beautiful, three-story Victorian/Queen Anne mansion resplendent with towers, turrets, peaks, and gables and known locally as Palmer House. Palmer House-a most extraordinary refuge for young women rescued from prostitution. Joy and her mother, Rose Thoresen, share the responsibilities of ministering to and mentoring the young women who live under Palmer House's roof. But now Joy faces an agonizing decision: Should she remain true to the memory of her first love or open her heart to the possibility of new love? "I will always love you, Grant," Joy whispered, "but God has called you away, and now I must follow the path he has laid before me-even if it is not what either of us would have chosen, had we been given such a choice." A Prairie Heritage: Book 1: A Rose Blooms TwiceBook 2: Wild Heart on the PrairieBook 3: Joy on This MountainBook 4: The Captive WithinBook 5: StolenBook 6: Lost Are FoundBook 7: All God's PromisesBook 8: The Heart of Joy-A Short StoryBook 9: Rose of RiverBend "Vikki writes the kind of faith-filled fiction that hooks you within the first few pages, will not let you go until you have finished, and leaves you wishing for more."-Janis Braun, Seattle, Washington "Her books are not just for 'chicks'! I was amazed how engrossed I became in the lives of Vikki's characters, and how much I could relate to their situations."-Ed Dunne, Los Angeles "Be prepared to put life on hold. That's all I have to say!"-Rebecca H., New Jersey "You will laugh, you will cry but, most of all, you will be uplifted."-LaTisha Holland, St. Augustine, FL
Trust Me With Your Heart, Cowboy
A cowboy bent on discovering the truth. A woman with nothing to hide... except her forbidden torch for the younger man whose family her father hurt.Ryder Cavanagh yearns to be seen as more than a tagalong kid brother, so he invites his law-student buddy to assess rumors involving his stepbrothers' uncle. Ryder doesn't stand a chance with the suspect's beautiful daughter, anyway. Ryder is several years younger, and then there's the family connection.But Carey Anderson is not immune to the unassuming cowboy. She's back in Jewel Lake to be near cousins and friends, to escape the continuing fallout of her parents' spectacular divorce, and to daydream about Ryder. Who cares about three years age difference when they're both in their twenties? Making the first move feels risky, but it might be worth it.Fragile trust comes to a crashing halt when Carey discovers the investigation Ryder can't derail. Is justice more important than love and trust?Cavanagh Cowboys Romance Join the Cavanagh brothers as they rope in romance in this Montana Ranches Christian romance series!1. Marry Me for Real, Cowboy2. Give Me Another Chance, Cowboy3. Let Me off Easy, Cowboy4. Kiss Me Like You Mean It, Cowboy5. Choose Me for Always, Cowboy6. Trust Me With Your Heart, Cowboy Join USA Today bestselling author Valerie Comer in this delightful Christian cowboy romance series!
Henry
Henry was the product of poverty and of drug abuse. Despite the world Henry was born into, God had different plans for him. Pastor Kyle would have never dreamed the day Henry walked into his Youth room that he would be a big part of this great plan. God would take them both on a journey that would teach them about how big the Father's love is and about what it means to be a family.
Winter Skye
Skye Ray had the kind of childhood that nightmaresare made of before her loving aunt and uncleadopted her and her older sister Sunny. After manyturbulent years, Skye is finally on track andpursuing her dream of completing her degree andbecoming a professional artist. She's determined tofocus on her goals, but when she meets PeterKoury, Skye wonders if perhaps her dreams couldinclude the tall, dark, and unequivocally appealinggrad student and glass artist. Peter Koury's last relationship was a disaster andhe's sworn to focus on his art career. Battling hisown tumultuous past, Peter is determined to poureverything into his sculptures. But when he meetsSkye, he finds it hard to resist her striking beautyand quirky charm. Blown away by her talent andpassionate nature, Peter might just have to rethinkhis views about love.
My Christmas Story
"My Christmas Story" is the author's perspective of the real-life views and experiences of some of the participants in the first Christmas, including beautiful poignant illustrations. Written for his grandchildren, it is a great read for all ages as we imagine that time that is so well known but can seem not of our world today. This book illustrates the "humanness" of Christmas and of those who we think we know so well, but really only fleetingly. It brings a historical story into today's setting.
The Song of the Nightingale
When her entire family is murdered, a young palestinian girl is forced to pretend to be a man simply to survive. She buries her name, her identity, her past...but has she buried it so far it can't be found, even by herself?The girl now-known as Dusty is soon caught up in a whirlwind of violence and drama as the Crusades rage around her, and her turmoil rages within.And then her path crosses with the handsome and persistent Will Scarlett, a man determined to unlock every hidden secret she's buried deep. Yet how can she allow him to know who she truly is when she won't even acknowledge her past herself?
Return to the Covenant
This enthralling novel-history picks up where the internationally acclaimed best-selling Bulala left off and takes the reader on a highly entertaining and informative ride through the South Africa of the tumultuous 20th Century. You will laugh, cry, marvel, mourn and rejoice at the twists and turns in the narrative of this fast-paced sequel, which broaches the start of the 21st Century. Many of the characters, heroes, heroines, saints and villains featured in Bulala continue on their life's journey; some to glory, others to perdition. Enjoy!
The Buddhist CEO
Hamish's chance encounter with a Buddhist monk has a profound effect on his life. He dreams of becoming a monk one day, but he loves his family deeply, and at work his compassionate leadership unexpectedly makes him CEO of a struggling nonprofit. Over the years, he strives to apply Buddhism to everything he does, often seeking peace, solitude, and everyday answers at a Buddhist monastery.On the face of it, Hamish is successful, and satisfied with his efforts to square the material with the spiritual. But behind the scenes, staff plot against him, and mysterious physical symptoms force a spiritual reckoning. Is it possible for the Buddhist CEO to face these challenges and stay true to his core values and beliefs?
Miracles at Christmas
"Miracles at Christmas" is a very moving and touching novel about family and friends dealing with various trials and an illness, and experiencing the love of God as He touches their lives.
The King's Daughters
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Interrupted Bridal Journey
Maryanne's Interrupted Bridal Journey Part 1Maryanne had been raised by her aunt, somewhat reclusively. Without any male suitors even knowing about her, let alone showing any interest, she decides to offer herself as a mail-order bride. Thomas is a successful businessman on the other side of the country, who up to now has had no inclination to get married. He now feels the need, however, and contacts a mail-order bridal agency. Upon receiving details of Maryanne from the agency, he writes to her and makes an offer of marriage. Maryanne finds Thomas's letters dull and devoid of any spark, but at the urging of her aunt, decides to accept his offer anyway. She boards the train to travel to San Francisco to join him, on which she meets a couple who happen to know Thomas. She extracts from them, more by omission than anything else, the fact that Thomas really is rather staid. Into the mix is thrown a soldier, Peter, who arrives in Maryanne's compartment abruptly during a Shawnee ambush. They are immediately attracted to each other, and after a whirlwind romance aboard the train, with Peter showing her various things outside her experience, including taking her onto the roof of a car, which then goes through a tunnel, he proposes to her, and she accepts, all the while understanding that Peter will not be able to provide for her nearly as well as Thomas would have been able. But she thinks that love will find a way. She and Thomas get married and set up home in Omaha, and seem blissfully happy. Maryanne falls pregnant, and she feels that things cannot get any better. Maryanne Resumes Her Journey Part 2However, will love really find a way? Will Peter carry on his loving ways once a baby arrives? Will Thomas take all of this lying down?" After Peter sweeps Maryanne off her feet, she scraps her plans to meet Thomas, her arranged husband, in San Francisco, marries Peter instead, and sets up home in Omaha. The marriage is idyllic, and when she falls pregnant after a while, she feels her happiness is complete. After being initially indifferent to Albert's arrival, Peter warms to him, and Maryanne assumes that life couldn't get better. However, fate has a few lessons in store for her. When two tragedies strike, in relatively quick succession, Maryanne has cause to re-evaluate her life completely, and finally wonder whether she should resume her interrupted journey to San Francisco. Will Thomas take her back? Does she deserve happiness after disappointing him so much?As her aunt points out to her when they meet again - you cannot make your children's mistakes for them, you have to let them make them themselves.
The Lost Gospel of Lazarus
A powerful tale inspired by the biblical Raising of Lazarus.What if your beloved friend brings you back from the dead, and you see nothing of any afterlife? And what if that friend is Yeshua, the mystic who will come to be known as Jesus? His miracles are stirring the authorities in Jerusalem, and Lazarus finds himself scrambling after his childhood companion during Passion Week, the turbulent final chapter in Yeshua's life. Meanwhile Lazarus struggles to return to his work and family, feeling a great sense of fragility and lost identity since his return to the living world. He can't help but wonder if he was resurrected to save Yeshua in his time of dire need...Richard Zimler's impeccably researched novel draws you into to Roman-controlled Jerusalem, the Jewish communities within it and the permeating Greek cultural influences. A cast of biblical figures, from Mary and Joseph to Mary Magdalene, are restored to their roots. Zimler brings us a fascinating, exciting and highly moving read.
Virgin & Child
Patrick, the first Irish Pope, is sure of many things: his faith, the sanctity of life, that he is a man, that he is celibate.Then all he's held true is cast into doubt.How can he act as the moral heart of the church when his convictions falter and his secrets threaten to destroy all he's achieved? Catholicism and modern morality are held in tension, and Pope Patrick must make once unimaginable choices. When the truth begins to emerge, the Vatican wants him silenced. The Pope's sheltered existence becomes a race of life and death.
The Pilgrims' Daughters
"Late one night as I sat by my fire and read a familiar book, I found myself overcome by sleep, and as I dreamed, I saw the book before me coming to life before my eyes, transporting me from my living room to a world both familiar and foreign..." Written in the style of John Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress, The Pilgrims' Daughters follows two girls named Christian and Faithful as they set out from the City of Desolation and follow the straight, narrow path to the Celestial City.
Christian's Mistake
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
The Hustings
Veronica Emma-Mae Husting has reinvented herself more than once in a chase for elusive happiness. Ronnie finally comes home but experiences a near-death accident that forces her to face the past, present, and possible future during a visit to the afterlife. She learns what's important without totally abandoning the riches she's always adored. After reconnecting with Ware Treallor, the true love of her life and father of her only daughter, Ronnie works to strengthen her family presence but discovers how much she's missed. The Hustings: Ronnie's Resurrection journeys through Ronnie's life in California and her fight to avoid addiction to prescription drugs, a threat facilitated by a decision to marry for wealth. Family secrets continue to surface as Ware and Ronnie reestablish the Husting estate that haunts them with tragedies that affect their children and grandchildren. Ware's grown son and daughter by another marriage react to their father's truths differently. Both are challenged to be with the person they love for reasons that vary as greatly as the family's misfortunes. Ware discovers mysteries surrounding his sister, Betty's, involvement in Ronnie's broken past, and he takes drastic actions to bring Betty to the place she belongs. This novel brings each character to their intended home.
The Hustings
Veronica Emma-Mae Husting has reinvented herself more than once in a chase for elusive happiness. Ronnie finally comes home but experiences a near-death accident that forces her to face the past, present, and possible future during a visit to the afterlife. She learns what's important without totally abandoning the riches she's always adored. After reconnecting with Ware Treallor, the true love of her life and father of her only daughter, Ronnie works to strengthen her family presence but discovers how much she's missed. The Hustings: Ronnie's Resurrection journeys through Ronnie's life in California and her fight to avoid addiction to prescription drugs, a threat facilitated by a decision to marry for wealth. Family secrets continue to surface as Ware and Ronnie reestablish the Husting estate that haunts them with tragedies that affect their children and grandchildren. Ware's grown son and daughter by another marriage react to their father's truths differently. Both are challenged to be with the person they love for reasons that vary as greatly as the family's misfortunes. Ware discovers mysteries surrounding his sister, Betty's, involvement in Ronnie's broken past, and he takes drastic actions to bring Betty to the place she belongs. This novel brings each character to their intended home.
Fugitives from Justice
Historical and action-packed, award-winning author Reg Quist delivers book two in a series that details the adventures that define and stretch a young lawman. At the request of the state administrator, Rory Jamison is assigned with putting together a census of the county-in preparation for the organizational vote that will determine Rory's future as County Sheriff.But as a vicious gang passes through in an attempt to reach the railway and holds up a local bank, Rory gets tangled up in a hostage situation that sees a ranch family thrown into despair as their lives are put on the line.With determination-and the voice of his dead father reminding him of his duty-Rory dives headfirst into a perilous situation with an unforeseen outcome.Full of deception, frontier action, and desolate pursuits, Rory is on a steadfast mission to end his county's violence once and for all...while protecting the innocent lives of those caught in the crossfire.
A Beast as Dark as Night
Once, there was the Truth which shone as pure as Gold.Then, came a Beast who devoured Winter's lights. 'Twas Gold versus PoisonDarkness versus LightKing versus BeastDay verses Night A Beast as Dark as Night is the epic finale to The Winter Souls Series, a Christmas themed collection with holiday myths and folklore. Ideal for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms by Meredith Rusu and Ashleigh Powell. Praise for the Winter Souls Series: "Wow, I loved this book! It was gripping, fast paced, and full of action, yet not lacking in heart. Highly recommend for young YA readers upwards."- USA Today Bestselling author Alice Ivinya "It's the Chronicles of Narnia meets Harry Potter. This fantastic winter tale is the perfect blend of classic portal fantasy and the magic world co-existing with our own. It's a beautiful reminder of what is truly important in life."- USA Today Bestselling author Astrid V. J. "Fans of Chronicles of Narnia will be thrilled with this new wintery adventure!"- Nikki Mitchell, author of Nightshade Forest "Whimsical, action-packed, clean, and completely immersive."- Goodreads Review
Purplynd
Somewhere far away in space and time, there is a planet called Purplynd.The beings who inhabit Purplynd and think themselves the most intelligent, are called purple. Purple are like people in every way except a few. But these small differences are the keys to their survival and perhaps our own. An infant is left at a daycare on the edge of the capital city and the past and present begin a battle for the future. Like the baby boy born in that Bethlehem barn, the child is destined to defeat the evil powers in the world but only if he can survive the many threats to his life and find the right mate. But purple are not the only living, thinking parts of the planet and the ancient past enters the present to engage an unfinished battle. Purplynd is the first book of an allegorical trilogy. It is a love story wrapped in a mysterious contest between good and evil. This is a spiritual journey without religion. It is an opportunity to imagine how to destroy evil without corrupting good.
Year Of Our Lord
What happens when Christians pledge to do as Jesus would do for one year? Charles M. Sheldon told the original version of the story, in 1896, in the classic novel, In His Steps. Now, more than a century later, David Heeren posits the same question in a different atmosphere with surprising results.A group of Floridians who take the pledge see their lives heading in unexpected new directions. Some find romance and adventure. Others face danger and suspense in the midst of a powerful hurricane. All have their faith tested in heart-rending ways ranging from spousal infidelity and loss of income to false arrest and forcible seizure of their children.The Lord works in mysterious ways, even in the midst of the storm, for the accomplishment of His purposes in their lives.
Where Love is, There God is Also
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
T.O.P. the Olive Press
WORKBOOK EDITION COURSE T.O.P.?The Olive Press and T.O.P.?The Olive Press Workbook Edition is designed and dedicated to enriching humanity related to human suffering(s). This textbook attempts to define and encapsulates the theology of pain, suffering(s), and pressures associated with humanity, the cost for the anointing power, and the process for its divine purpose. The author explores issues and problems related to pain, pressures, suffering, and distresses faced daily using Biblical principles, godly application through the navigation of the "Word of God," that will enlighten and impact your thought processes. This Christian education study is an excellent tool for Christian, clinical or pastoral counselors, anyone doing helping the ministry in faith-based community roles, the entire community of care, licensed professionals, the five-fold ministry (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teachers), Christian leaders, lay church members or caregivers that impart sound biblical principles and possess psychosocial insight that minister to hurting or suffering persons, and that can help facilitate personal wholeness (mind, body, spirit). This textbook and workbook edition is ideal for those who have a call to missionary work/ministry. Additionally, the T.O.P. textbook and workbook edition can be used to equip students as an excellent teaching tool for seminaries, colleges, or universities relevant to the primary studies in Christian counseling, psychology, or theology. What is more, T.O.P Workbook has been created for individuals and theological institutions with a distinct burden to effectively minister to those who are hurting in the world today?and desire to gain a deeper knowledge base in the area of Biblical counseling that will enlighten and give leadership guidance to counselees whereby turning their hurts into hope, healing, encouragement, joy, and empowerment. Based on her personal experience and professional background in this field, the author gives vital information to those seeking to heighten his or her counseling skills and with the suggested earning of four (4) university credit units. WORKBOOK EDITION COVERS THE TOPICS 1. Topics listed in the Table of Contents 2. Topics embedded within the textbook: T.O.P. -THE olive PRESS...The Cost of the Anointing Power! 3. Topics are contained within all appendices.
Where Love is, There God is Also
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Looking Backwards
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
The Knights of the Cross
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Looking Backwards
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
The Knights of the Cross
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
DAWN of OPPRESSION
DAWN of OPPRESSION: America's Last Days by D.I. Telbat is Book Two of the Last Dawn Series, a Christian Post-apocalyptic, End Times Novel.Twenty-one years after the collapse of America, the land has fallen to the evil Appalachian Federation, based in NYC. Christians who refuse to comply with new religious policies are arrested and executed. Chancellor Obrador, leader of the Federation, expects no one to challenge his harsh treatment of so many undesirables. Except he's made one terrible mistake: COIL has infiltrated his administration, and their new strategist is someone he least expects. COIL rises from the ashes. In the shadows of New York City, Corban Dowler applies his tradecraft now as an aging man. Although he seems to be working alone to protect hundreds of Christians across the region, God provides unlikely allies to work beside him. And one of those allies is at the top of the ruthless government. Brian Steelman has returned from the West to face his past within the Federation. He has hunted and captured more Christians for the government than any other, and the chancellor will do anything to put his top killer back into action. But an underground revolt must be squashed before it spreads further. The leading culprit is a mysterious woman whose code name is Radiant Shade, and the chancellor wants her dead! Heartbreak and anguish plague the land, but where God's people refuse to be silenced, His light shines. Corban Dowler is one of those lights, beside his blind daughter, Jenna, who bears a secret that could cost them their lives. Through examples of self-sacrifice and coded communications, the elite COIL operatives understand that though they are isolated from one another, they are united by their Savior, Jesus Christ. There is little hope for believers across the country, unless COIL's next generation of agents stands against an enemy the likes of which the land has never seen before. Operation Esther may be their only hope . . . In America's last days, only the steadfast will survive! Dawn of Oppression is a 118,000-word apocalyptic novel. Book Three, Dawn of Subjection, follows next in the series.
Pope Dreams
Pope Anthony is dead. But then, on the night of his funeral, each cardinal has a dream in which they meet the next Pope. Their dreams reflect their own personal interests and desires, as all dreams do, but only the two Irish cardinals recognise the Pope in their dreams as one Peter MacDonald, a married father of six and a lay pastoral councillor active in the Dublin Archdiocese. The cardinals' decision on how to respond to this miraculous revelation could change the Roman Catholic Church for ever.Pope Dreams: Pope Peter the Improbable is a satirical novel exploring the juxtaposition between the doctrinal Church hierarchy who promote themselves as the conduit to a puppet-master God, and their progressive congregations who recognise a universal God that inextricably connects everyone and everything. In his first novel, Stephen D'Agata uses comedy and satire to expose the Pope and cardinals as only mere mortals who do not have a monopoly deciding on moral and social values - and could learn a thing or two from their humble congregations.
The Treasure of Granzella Ranch
Sometimes we find a treasure. Sometimes a treasure finds us. The Granzella family ranch is in trouble and the family members are propelled into romance, danger, and adventure by the hope of treasure. Four generations of acquiring land and forging the Granzella Ranch olive oil business were in jeopardy. Could Sherre Granzella, an accomplished woman known professionally as "The Fixer," choreograph a plan that would bring them through the next olive oil harvest and back to financial health?It was comforting for Sherre to return to the family estate after professional victory and personal defeat.After her failed marriage, Sherre finds solace when she moves into her Grandpa Bob's one hundred year-old farmhouse. She feels securely surrounded by love. Her mother's house is just up the hill. Her sister's, family is only an olive orchard away.In the California Gold Country, Sherre reinstates Sunday family dinners and reconnects with old friends, some of whom were in love with her before she left, and with whom she may have a second chance at love.But, the consolation of Sherre's homecoming is disrupted when she meets Darian, a man of questionable character, who is courting her recently widowed mother. Joan Bannan has crafted an intriguing story that lures readers into a tale of renewed family relationships, second chances, and treasure. A taste of The Treasure of Granzella Ranch: "So, Sherre, you've met Darian?""Um sort of. Hello, Darian?" In spite of a disturbing energy she felt from Darian, Sherre was pleased to see her mother more radiant than she could remember. She was certainly happier than the last time they were together at her father's funeral nine months ago. The sadness on Francesca's face had lifted. Sherre was pleased that her mom could find happiness, but leery of this man who was closer in age to her own age than to her mother's. He was, reportedly, only four years older than Deidre. She knew, of course, that these negative feelings were predictable. It was challenging to accept anyone replacing her father in her mother's affections, but she felt more mistrustful than resentful."So you are the accomplished Sherre, the fixer maven." He gave her a skeptical, yet flirty stare, "Coming home to save the family ranch."
The World Behind
Lent is a time of preparation; it is a time in which we focus on examining our lives and reflecting on the Passion of Christ. Join Evergreen with his great dreams, and how they came to pass, but really not in the way he hoped. Spend a moment with a kind lady who embroidered a piece of linen for an infant boy she would only meet, years later in the unlikeliest of circumstances; and then tread with a proud, successful man who felt the 'disgrace' of walking with a 'prisoner' condemned to die upon a cross. Three short stories and five simple poems - all dedicated to that Rock who is the reason why we have hope and faith, even in our darkest moments, when we hit rock bottom.
Cloaked
Little Red Riding Hood... re-imagined. Mary Rose feels uneasy around Mr. Linden from the moment she meets him on the stagecoach ride to her grandmother's ranch in Wyoming Territory. But he works for her grandmother, so that means he's trustworthy, doesn't it? Everyone else seems to view him as honest and respectable, and Mary Rose wonders if she's overreacting. She tries to ignore her suspicions until one night, she discovers his real reason for being at the ranch. Now, if she's going to save her grandmother -- and herself -- she's going to need to run faster than she's ever run before.
The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch
10 year old Benedict has been moved from one foster home to another, and he's hated every one. When he arrives at Sunshine Ranch, he doesn't bother unpacking. What's the point? But his new foster parents and siblings are very different from what he's become used to. David and Martha Credence strive to instill love and Christian values in their family and it inspires hope in each child. Benedict is not into "religion," but Sunshine Ranch is the home he's secretly been yearning for. Still, he fears it's all just a little too good to be true, and his sentiments are validated when he learns that they may lose Sunshine Ranch. Can the Credence children help save the Ranch? Will faith keep them together? Or will Benedict's dream be shattered?The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch is a story about a family devoted to God. It relays the personal journeys of all the Credence foster children and their struggles to overcome past and present pain and adversity.In this novel, the confidence of the devoted is challenged, but an even deeper understanding of God and His love are revealed. "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:12-13The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch has received the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval.
Laynie Portland, Retired Spy
"Retirement" means something altogether different to a spy. It means someone in authority over you has decided that "coming in from the cold" is out of the question. It means you'd better run. Laynie Portland has masqueraded as Swedish citizen Linn矇a Olander for more than two decades, the last seven years as companion to Vassili Aleksandrovich Petroff, senior technology advisor to the Secretary of the Russian Federation's Security Council. Life as Petroff's mistress is lonely and difficult, even brutal, for Petroff has a pathological need to master what is "his." But the woman Petroff knows as "Linn矇a" is not the compliant, deferential woman he believes her to be. She is Laynie Portland-spy extraordinaire-and Laynie has stolen a wealth of secrets from Petroff and fed the treasure to her Marstead agency handlers. As Petroff's abuse intensifies, Laynie fears for her life, and she petitions her agency to pull her out. Instead, her agency declares that she is too well-placed to decommission. Laynie is dismayed to learn that her Marstead chain of command would rather risk her death under Petroff's hand than lose the valuable intel she provides. Out of options and faced with no viable alternative, Laynie runs. Enraged by her betrayal, Petroff vows to capture and punish her, a certain death sentence. And when Laynie disobeys orders, Marstead issues her a "retirement package"-a short walk off the deck of a ferry into the icy black rollers of the Baltic Sea. Pursued by Russian assassins and hunted by her own agency, Laynie scrambles, fights, and claws her way toward freedom-although she knows that it is only a matter of time before her pursuers overtake her. Desperate and despairing, Laynie is stunned to sense a higher presence at work, acting on her behalf. Could it be the God in whom her sister, Kari, trusts? No. Why would he help me, Laynie asks herself, given the life I have lived? Laynie PortlandBook 1: Laynie Portland, Spy Rising-The PrequelBook 2: Laynie Portland, Retired SpyBook 3: Laynie Portland, Renegade SpyBook 4: Laynie Portland, Spy Resurrected, 06.02.2020
Loving Lydia
Two Southerners thrown together by the Union army. He's on a quest for vengeance. She's determined to preserve her family.Lydia Gibson's life is overturned when the Union Army invades her hometown and burns down the cotton mill where she and her stepdaughter worked. Even worse, she and the other workers are arrested and sent to Marietta, where they wait for the army to send them north.Confederate Sergeant Seth Morgan finally reaches Marietta to check on his family, but the last thing he expects is to meet a woman who sparks attraction he thought he'd never feel again. Unfortunately, she's a Yankee prisoner and being sent north to Louisville, Kentucky.Seth is forced to return to his unit in Virginia, and he never anticipated their next meeting would be when he's taken to Louisville as a prisoner. While Seth searches the Confederate ranks for the man who murdered his wife, Lydia implores him to ask after her missing nephew. Neither one expects just how far the search will take them, or what they'll discover along the way.
The Christmas List
Jack and Karen Hoyle make a living in the hardwood forests of Tennessee, but as Christmas nears, they lose their only means to provide for their four young children. Devastated with their desperate circumstances and facing the reality that there will be no gifts this year, they must trust God. When their youngest child, Hoodoo, asks a simple question before Christmas Eve, God's response will teach the whole family about His love and care for them. This heartwarming holiday story based on true events will inspire you to believe in miracles and the power of prayer and faith in hard times.
A Fisherman Called Simon
Simon was a loyal son, a selfless brother, a faithful husband, a loving father, a trustworthy friend, and a skillful fisherman, as well as a natural leader - long before he ever met Jesus of Nazareth. He put the needs of others before his own.He led with his heart; often before he engaged his head. Some might call him impetuous, but others would say impassioned. He was the only one willing to step out of the boat and walk on the water. He alone drew his sword to defend his Master. But this same man failed in a moment of fear and denied his Lord.This is the story of a fisherman called Simon, upon whose confession Jesus said He would build His church. Consider this one who followed Jesus to his Savior's cross ... and subsequently to his own..Consider his story - the portion you may already know ... and the rest of the story that could have been.
Bridges
Facing an empty nest for the first time since the death of her husband, Dan, three years ago, Tess Everett immerses herself in volunteer work for the Winterset public parks, home of the famous covered bridges of Madison County, Iowa. But when former resident J.W. McRae shows up at one of the bridges with paintbrushes and easel, sparks fly-because J.W. was once married to Tess's late friend Char. Worse, J.W. was a deadbeat dad to Char's son, Wynn-then a college student-who Tess and Dan took under their wings after his mom's death.J.W. hopes to make amends with his son now that there's a new little granddaughter in the picture. But when Tess agrees to rent the backyard garage apartment to J.W., hoping to be a bridge to reconcile father and son, sparks of a different kind are kindled. As their friendship grows, Tess and J.W. must discover if what they have together is worth rearranging their entire lives for. And whether they can build bridges that will mend broken relationships.Bridges is quintessential Deborah Raney: small town charm, a gentle, compelling love story, and enchanting secondary characters. Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of Colors of Truth
Guarding What Remains
Eleanor's heart quickened at Teddy's menacing growl. She dropped next to the tri-colored Australian Shepherd and soothed his bristling fur. She followed his gaze into the pines. "What do you see there, boy?" He growled again and bared his teeth, eyes focused on something in the woods. Little does Elanor know the evil hiding in the woods that morning. But hours later, in the hot morning sun, as she and her family gather hay for their dairy farm, plumes of smoke rise in the distance. They arrive to find their large log home and barn fully engulfed in flames. Their savings, hidden in a milk can-gone. And so is Teddy! It is the Summer of 1931, the Great Depression is in full swing, and millions of people are out of work. Two weeks after the fire, Eleanor and her siblings help her father load the farm truck with donations of food and clothes from neighbors and friends, and mattresses purchased from the sale of milk cows. After one last stop at the farm, they head to the big city. Over the next year, Eleanor battles guilt for what she saw, but didn't stop. As her mother sinks into depression, Eleanor is determined to guard what remains of her family. She works to help provide food and clothing as they face homelessness, bitter cold, and discrimination. "This one of those stories that reaches out and tugs at your heart...a novel that is good for your soul..." Panner, Bookbub If you liked Kristin Hannah's The Four Winds, Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train, and Elizabeth Hardinger's All the Forgivenesses, you'll enjoy Guarding What Remains. Buy Now! What readers are saying about Guarding What Remains: "...an unforgettable read!" "...a powerful story of pain and forgiveness, human frailty and resilience, temptation and grace, hopelessness and steadfast love." "...I couldn't put it down..." "Poignant. Heart wrenching. Must read." "...What a roller coaster ride of emotions...such a full, rich story..." "A beautiful and well-researched novel of the Depression..." "...This book offers hope in the midst of life's struggles..." ".... I laughed, cried, cheered and pondered my faith..." "The author reels you in from the start and does not let go until the last page. A great variety of believable characters that you can't help but root for them..."
Bible Jumper
Sam struggles with what faith and what his purpose is in life, so he travels back to Bible times where he meets various people who help him learn about faith, the gifts God gives us and what our calling is in life. Is Sam going crazy or is God allowing him to time travel? This book explores all of those questions we all have in a fun way. I'm Johnny B, I grew up in the small town of Schenectady NY. I love all things movies but ironically Im not a big book reader. I have never had the desire to write a book before until recently when God gave me an idea for this story and where He wanted it to go. This book practically wrote itself with full inspiration given by God.
Divine Encounters
Divine Encounters is a collection of inspirational short stories with the full intention of drawing you closer to God, as you discover life and some of its solutions through the characters as their stories unfold before you. Feelings of joy, heartache, amusement, fear, forgiveness and grace are but a few of the emotions captured in the stories. Sharon McDougle is a native Texan living in the metro Houston area. Her faith and family are her priorities and her loves. Her husband was the most ardent fan of her writing, encouraging her through the dark days of writer's dry spell. After losing him just shy of their 50th anniversary, Sharon took the steps to publish her first book of short stories. It is her prayer that the writing will make you smile, cry, laugh, lift you up and draw you closer to God. Your own Divine Encounters.
