He’s spent most of his life on the ranch of his kindly guardians, Mr. and Mrs. Reese, herding sheep alone in the mountains. But while the Reeses treat him like a son, Horace can’t shake the shame he feels from being abandoned by his parents. He decides to leave the only loving home he’s known to prove his worth by training to become a boxer.Mr. Reese is holding on to a way of life that is no longer sustainable. He’s a seventy-two-year-old rancher with a bad back. He’s not sure how he’ll keep things going without Horace but he knows the boy must find his own way.Coming down from the mountains of Nevada to the unforgiving desert heat of Tucson, Horace finds a trainer and begins to get fights. His journey to become a champion brings him to boxing rings of Mexico and finally, to the seedy streets of Las Vegas, where Horace learns he can’t change who he is or outrun his destiny.Willy Vlautin writes from America’s soul, chronicling the lives of those who are downtrodden and forgotten with profound tenderness. Don’t Skip Out on Me is a beautiful, wrenching story about one man’s search for identity and belonging that will make you consider those around you differently.

    They include Willie himself, who knows what really happened, and his father, desperately trying to reach the town jail to see his son one last time; the prosecuting lawyer, haunted by being forced to seek the death penalty against his convictions, and his wife, who believes Willie to be innocent; the priest who has become a friend to Willie; and a mother whose only son is fighting in the Pacific, bent on befriending her black neighbours in defiance of her husband.In this exceptionally powerful novel, Elizabeth Winthrop explores matters of justice, racism and the death penalty in a fresh, subtle and profoundly affecting way. Her kaleidoscopic narrative allows us to inhabit the lives of her characters and see them for what they are - complex individuals, making fateful choices we might not condone, but can understand.

    From there, they traveled across the Pacific to Japan, and then on to occupied France, landing in that country on the very day that Germany declared war on the United States. Their epic adventure had suddenly taken a dark turn. Wolfgang Wergin and Herbie Haupt were American citizens, though German by birth. Both had lived in America since the age of five, yet now they were given a choice by German officials. They could join a Nazi sabotage mission heading back to the United States to blow up aluminum factories, or they could be drafted into the German army and sent to the Russian front. One of these young men chose the first option, and one the second. Only one of them would survive. While this fragment of history is mostly forgotten today, the episode became one of the most sensational news stories of its time, garnering intense national interest. "Enemies: A War Story" is a fictionalized version of this true story, sticking as close to the facts as possible. This is a novel that raises challenging questions about the meanings of patriotism, justice, and American morality during difficult times.

    The CIA has learned that the Kremlin is about to launch a sophisticated propaganda operation aimed at discrediting and disrupting the United States and ultimately restoring Russia to great nation status. Intercepted intelligence suggests that the operation will hinge on a single, breaking news event in Eastern Europe, supported by a sustained campaign of disinformation and cyberattacks. Code-named the "Children’s Game"--a chess stratagem that leads to checkmate in four moves--it was probably conceived by a Russian billionaire and former FSB officer named Andrei Turov. For years Turov has been developing the infrastructure for a new kind of warfare that exploits weaknesses in western democracies and manipulates public opinion. His organization offers the Kremlin plausible deniability. But the United States has its own secret weapon: Christopher Niles, a former CIA intelligence officer, who understands Turov's ambitions and capabilities. It falls to him and his small team--composed of his journalist half-brother Jon, a special forces operative he would trust with his life, and Anna Carpenter, a resourceful US senator with deep roots in the intelligence community--to unravel Turov's plot and restore truth to a world spiraling into chaos.The Children's Game is a frighteningly realistic, timely thriller that delves into the secret corners of Vladimir Putin's Russia, exploring the shifting world order and the murky realm of US-Russia relations.

    She has to get back to Boston before her dad loses all common sense and sells the family house. But plane tickets cost money—something Olive gravely lacks.With the help of Brander, the fussy youth group worship leader, and Jazz, a mysterious girl with a passion for all things Hawaiian, Olive lands a summer job at the Shave Ice Shack and launches a scheme to buy a plane ticket home before the end of the summer.But when Jazz reveals a painful secret, Olive’s plans are challenged. Jazz needs money. A lot of it. Olive and Brander are determined to help their friend but, when their fundraising efforts are thwarted, Olive is caught in the middle. To help Jazz means giving up her ticket home. And time is running out.

    Surviving a sweatshop in lower Manhattan, a chance job with a Long Island elitefamily opens up her world. Invited in, up to a point, she unwittingly, albeit precariously, crossesthe social divide with her now open heart which puts all she worked for in jeopardy.What a truly wonderful story! I’ve read it three times, and with eachreading I find myself caring about the fabulous characters and theirlives even more.”— P. J. Alderman, New York Times Bestselling Author“From the riveting opening . . . until its gripping conclusion, this enthrallingnovel vividly portrays the desperate times of German immigrantslanding at Ellis Island in 1905. A timely read . . . it illuminates the issuesthat we are experiencing a century later. . .Phillips reminds us that love,light, and perseverance can help us find a way to overcome almost anyobstacle.”  — Chanticleer Reviews"A Beguiling Novel... Readers will be satisfied by this novel's fast-paced plotting and its memorable characters."    — Publishers WeeklyAUTHOR: GREGORY ERICH PHILLIPSISBN: ISBN 13 978-1-64058-011-4FORMAT: 5.5 X 8.5 PAPERBACKPAGES: 309PRICE: $18.95AVAILABLE: INGRAM BOOKSPUBLISHER: LIMA CONCORDIA contact: www.gregoryerichphillips.com

    He doesn’t have the time or interest, but her father’s influence reaches far and wide. He has no choice.Claire is a strong-willed, independent woman traveling from Philadelphia to Bareglen Creek with two purposes: to comfort her sister after the recent loss of her husband, and ultimately convince her sister and brother to return home to Philadelphia — where they belong. She’s also running from a proposal from Edward Woodbury, one of the most sought-after bachelors in Philadelphia — well, sought after by every woman but her, that is.Sheriff Sully has preconceived notions about Claire, and 'annoyed' doesn’t even begin to cover how he feels about being tasked with protecting her. After Claire arrives, he finds himself creating a list of all the things he admires about her, and he’s surprised by the fact he wants to get to know her better. He wants to add more items to the ever-growing list of things he admires, but she’ll leave Bareglen Creek in less than four weeks unless he can give her a reason to stay.Claire finds herself intrigued by the handsome and intelligent Sheriff, yet chagrined that her father tasked him with her protection. She’s quite capable of taking care of herself—why won’t anyone listen to the fact that she doesn’t need a man for that?Or does she?When danger strikes at the heart of Bareglen Creek, and events begin swirling out of control, Claire wonders if she’s made a mistake. Her immediate attraction to Sheriff Sully shocks her, and she has no idea what to do with feelings awakened inside her, let alone with the danger that threatens.Will Sheriff Sully and Claire discover that some things in life are worth fighting for — and potentially risking your life for — before it is too late?Join Sheriff Sully and Claire on a whirlwind journey that includes danger, intrigue, kidnappings, Indians, Cowboys, and more.HERO HEARTS is a multi-author series featuring both historical westerns and contemporary Christian romance. Join Annie Boone, Hayley Wescott and Kate Cambridge in a world unlike any other; a world where Heroes are honored with unforgettable characters and beautiful, Christian love stories.The authors of this series are committed to writing stories of faith, hope, and love centered in fictional heroes who sacrifice daily to protect and save. A mix of historical and modern-day.

    In the years since the first settlers arrived, looking to build new lives, the township of Grafton has flourished. Together, European immigrants, Native Americans, indentured servants, and former slaves have established a tight-knit community.As time passes and America becomes a nation, Grafton is swept up in the tumult of the outside world. The Cherokees are rounded up and driven west. The Civil War leaves a long shadow. Newcomers make their mark, fortunes are won and lost, and loyalties are tested in the march of history.

    Will she finally find what she is looking for? The American Civil war has torn Alice Cleary’s family apart, and cast the children amongst what friends and relations would have them. And though Alice appreciates the home she and her younger brother, Will, have had with her aunt and uncle, when they pressure her to marry an older man for their benefit, she flees to the sanctuary of the church. There, sister Agnes helps to set Alice’s feet on a path that will lead her across the country. In Kansas, Will finds a place on their sister Louisa’s farm, but times are hard and as much as she craves the security of her own people, there is no place for Alice. Her journey lies onward, in the wilds of New Mexico. After navigating risk and peril, Alice comes into her own. She knows her own mind – and her own heart. But when it is broken, will Alice have the strength and courage to remain true to herself?

    Now the arc of that achievement appears in one definitive volume. Set in the seedy corners of Key West, the remote shore towns of the Bahamas, and McGuane's hallmark Big Sky country, with its vast and unforgiving landscape, these are stories of people on the fringes of society, whose twisted pasts meddle with their chances for companionship. Moving from the hilarious to the tragic and back again, McGuane writes about familial dysfunction, emotional failure, and American loneliness, celebrating the human ability to persist through life's absurdities.

    When she begins to notice words jumping off the page, she's determined not to spend the rest of her life in the lab. Everything goes awry when her plan to intentionally fail her test backfires —badly. Can she make her escape with only her wits and her newfound reading skills? And will she make it in the big world outside the lab's walls? This is a short story prequel to The Kitten Files mystery series, and takes place several weeks before "The Case of the Tabloid Tattler." Average read time is approximately 20 minutes.

    Through months of wandering homeless through the cities, small towns, and the landscape of Appalachia, the trio have grown into a kind of desperate family, a family driven by exploitation and abuse. A family that Rain must escape.When she meets Stratton Bryant, a widower living alone in an old east Tennessee farmhouse, Rain is given the chance to see a bigger world and find herself a place within it. But Wolf will not let her part easily. When he demands loyalty and obedience, the only way out is through an episode of violence that will leave everyone involved permanently damaged.A harrowing story of choice and sacrifice, In the House of Wilderness is a novel about the modern South and how we fight through hardship and grief to find a way home.“Charles Dodd White writes with grace and beauty, and In the House of Wilderness delivers with a resounding blow, as he skillfully balances that which lies beneath and that which shows its sometimes courageous and sometimes brutal face. Each sentence is a melody that carries you with care from the first word to the last.”—Michael Farris Smith, author of Desperation Road and Rivers“Novels this savage and soulful come along rarely, but In the House of Wilderness delivers both in spades. This book rocked me to the core. With dazzling prose and mythical characters, especially Rain, Charles Dodd White has crafted a masterpiece.”—Andrew Hilleman, author of World, Chase Me Down

    But after her mom gets remarried and moves them to Texas, everything changes. Thanks to her star football player stepbrother, her family is football obsessed. And thanks to a new conditioning program, the middle school football team starts to take classes at her dance studio—the only place Brooklyn felt like she belonged.She has a chance to escape if she can get into her dream high school, The Texas School of the Arts, where she’ll be able to pursue her passion for dance. Brooklyn just has to get through the big All-City showcase first, where a ton of scouts will be there, including one from TSOTA.But when Brooklyn’s dance partner gets injured, she has to turn to an unexpected ally—Logan, a boy on the middle school football team—to help her get through the showcase. With some fancy footwork, teamwork and a little understanding, can Brooklyn make her mark, and dance her way onto a bigger stage?

    This beautifully written novel, which earned a starred review from Kirkus, is built around not only a gradually resolving mystery, but by fully fleshed-out characters, particularly the strong-willed and sharp-witted Lee. It is a breath of fresh air to see someone of Lee's standing achieve career and personal success as an older single woman who grieves the recent loss of her husband, but continues her daily routine of law and karate, fighting tooth and nail to prove her client not guilty. (Note: The author, Jeanne Winer, is herself a longtime defense attorney in Boulder, Colorado, and a black-belt karate expert.)

    You’ll be swept into the Christmas spirit with the endearing stories tucked inside these pages. The storylines range from family to romance to the bond of community, with settings scattered across America and beyond.Behold the beauty of the Savior’s birth with this gathering of stories that warm the soul and bless the heart.

    As the boys try to escape the grim reality of the violent streets―i.e. “the concrete”―in different ways―Isaac through basketball, Miles though music―the novel shifts back and forth in time, in the process revealing the story of an entangled community plagued by trauma and death, trying to confront the ghosts of its past, and seize a better life. A multi-point-of-view work of realistic and often graphic literary fiction, The Concrete is a striking debut that grapples with the effects of childhood trauma on teens, lost dreams, human sexuality, and the difficulties of marriage.

     In 1910, at the historic height of the massive Eastern European immigration wave to the New World, Pincus decides to leave behind his pregnant wife, and three small children, in order to seek a new life for his family in the burgeoning Lower East Side of Manhattan. On his traumatic voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on the SS Amerika steamship, Pincus meets Jakob Adler, a young man running from an accidental murder of a notorious crime boss in Warsaw. The story also explores the challenges of pregnant Clara Potasznik as she does her best to protect her family, while the bloodiest battles of World War I explode within miles of her family home, a small village called Krzywcza. Moshe, the young son of Pincus and Clara Potasznik, discovers his divine ability to foretell dire events, and to offer real comfort those in pain, taking the reader into the wisdom and mystery surrounding the ancient Jewish mysticism, known as Kabbalah. A Cobbler’s Tale is a story of a family’s survival against tremendous odds.

    A teacher, new to town, is making a difference in the lives of children. A state trooper takes his job seriously and makes a difference every day. April Summers meets widowed Officer Clay Barber in an official capacity when he pulls her over for speeding and she finds out he's the father of two of her students. Before she can stop herself, she gives him a piece of her mind about being an absent father. In response, he writes her a ticket. As these two find a way to work together for the best interest of his children, they learn more about each other. They're drawn to each other more than either wants to give in to. But when they spend a lovely evening together in a special restaurant decorated for a magical Christmas season a relationship buds and blooms. Things are moving fast as April and Clay fall in love. When their love is threatened will they be able to find a way to stay together or will their relationship be cut short? This sweet small town romance is filled with Christmas cheer and clean and wholesome romance. _____ HERO HEARTS is a multi-author series featuring both historical westerns and contemporary Christian romance. Join Annie Boone, Hayley Wescott, Natlie Dean, Cat McGill, Terri Grace, and Kate Cambridge in a world unlike any other; a world where Heroes are honored with unforgettable characters and beautiful, Christian love stories. The authors of this series are committed to writing stories of faith, hope, and love centered in fictional heroes who sacrifice daily to protect and save. A mix of historical and modern-day. **The HERO HEARTS series books can be read in any order.

    This collection of seven connected stories set in the Ozarks explores the relationships between people and place and the changing culture of rural America where now, with a growing crime culture, characters are forced to reevaluate their sense of right and wrong.

    . ."In dystopian America, with civil unrest and wars among the states, illegal activity is rampant and only the strongest survive. Reese Burns is one of the strong fighters. He doesn’t need Jesus to fight, either.Ezekiel, a ten-year-old child living in a fight dome, insists he get the answer about the story of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Reese sets out to find the boy the best gift he’s capable of giving. The story of Jesus. The story only brings Reese pain at first, but then he’s forced to make a choice when a miracle happens. Can Reese choose faith in an unseen God in the midst of chaos?An Infidel Books short story prequel.

    A teenage bicycle thief searching for a kidnapped boy. An aging actor fighting against the erasure of his past.This science-fiction collection follows a diverse cast of characters struggling to live under the weight of their demons. As their lives intersect, they desperately seek escape and redemption from their own earthbound circumstances. Juxtaposing moments of wrenching tragedy with humanity and grace, Thalassa is a stunning and unflinching work that questions our very existence.

    When is a suicide not a suicide? When it's murder. Hired by a wealthy widow to investigate her husband's mysterious death, private detective Charlie Doherty finds himself face to face with not only some of the most powerful people in New York City, but the most evil men in the world. A riveting new novel of historical thrills.

    . . this novel is like ‘Lord of the Flies’ with a better ending, a story I will never forget." - MARK SULLIVAN, author of Amazon #1 best seller BENEATH A SCARLET SKY and five New York Times #1 best sellers with James Patterson. Based on the incredible true story of an unequaled disaster, Hold Strong is a triumphant tale of love, faith, and courage against all odds. October 1944. After two and a half years as an American POW in the Philippines, Sam knows how to survive. But when Japanese captors force Sam and eighteen-hundred other prisoners into the hold of a crowded cargo ship, everything changes. Meanwhile, the head of the U.S. code-breaking unit in Hawaii, Jasper Holmes, intercepts a message about a Japanese convoy and its cargo. Holmes forwards the target details to Commander Ed Blakely aboard the USS Shark II submarine, patrolling the South China Sea. What happens next is so explosive, so shocking, the truth stayed secret for decades. Caught in a drama of epic scale, Sam battles outer trials and inner demons. Can he get home to his fiancé, Sarah? Will he find freedom and forgiveness? Anchored in historical facts, HOLD STRONG sweeps along at breakneck speed. Fans of BENEATH A SCARLET SKY, THE NIGHTINGALE, and UNBROKEN will enjoy this soaring testament to the human spirit.

    Caleb and Ginny put everything they have into their little inn, keeping their own pains hidden from their guests. But when a poor young couple gets stranded at their inn on Christmas Eve in the middle of a blizzard, Ginny knows they can't turn them away, even though they are completely booked for the holiday. However, letting them stay will push her strength to the limits and churn the deep wells of sadness inside her.This heart-warming but wrenching novelette explores the events of the Nativity story, while simultaneously delving deep into the painful world of infertility.

    Crossing paths with her childhood crush was not on the list. Yet when Daniel Rogers, a young mute man, reappears in her life, the friendship that once blossomed between them is rekindled. Daniel is mesmerized by this sweet girl who has a heart for deaf and mute children. But is it wrong of him to want to know her better, considering his inability? The last thing he wants to become is another charity case.Follow these two young people through a summer of discovery as they learn valuable truths about friendship and love – a love that speaks not from the lips but from the heart.

    As the French and Indians wage brutal warfare on the English settlers, Allen embarks on a treacherous journey to free his captive sister and her friend. With little hope of survival and even less for success, Allen knows he needs God to do the impossible. But if God is able to do all things, why does everything seem to be going wrong?

    But what can she do to help them?A short story.

    It's getting there that's hard.For no one is this more true than high school senior, Michelle "Elle" Conner. Elle is a simple, hard working girl from a small town in the middle of East Jesus Nowhere. Cast as a secondary character in her own life, Elle lives in the constant shadow of her annoying twin sisters. Her mother's cold shoulder coupled with her father's absence leaves Elle feeling isolated in her own home. Her one escape is waitressing at the local pie shop, Hap-PIE-ly Ever After.Despite her hardships, a surprising accident during senior year turns everything on its ear. Once upon a time she was nobody, but perhaps her fairytale is closer than she thinks.

    He's smart, tough, and best of all, careful on the job. But none of those skills seem to help him when a shadowy group starts taking his life apart piece by piece.First Jake comes home to find a dead body in his gun safe. He thinks it's a warning--and when you drag people back to jail for a living, the list of people who want to send that kind of message is very long indeed. With backup from his sister Frankie, an arms dealer and dapper criminal, Jake plunges into the Idaho underworld, confronting everyone from brutal Aryan assassins to cops who want his whole family in jail.But as Jake soon discovers, those threats are small-time compared to the group that's really after him. And nothing--not bounty hunting, not even all his years in Iraq--can prepare him for what's coming next. Jake's about to become a player in the most dangerous game ever invented...Boise Longpig Hunting Club is a wild ride into the dark heart of the American dream, where even the most brutal desires can be fulfilled for a price, and nobody is safe from the rich and powerful.

    A flash fiction prequel to Martin Hospitality. Can be read in any order.Read for FREE only through subscription to Abigayle Claire's bi-monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/co5SCr

    I had never known what it was to see God’s goodness through the most difficult of circumstances. I had never known that to truly be brave, you must trust the Lord, because I had never been asked to truly be brave.” Corey Schreiber didn’t want to learn those things—not like he did, anyway. It’s hard enough to deploy back-to-back without your friends—or you—becoming part of the casualties. Corey can learn pretty quickly to trust the Lord on the battlefield. Will he trust God with his broken heart? This is a military novel written by a daughter of a vet who is gifted in research. You will find that she compels your attention throughout the 300+ pages as she exalts Christ. Vets, family of vets, first responders, and anyone who is a patriot will lose themselves in this story.

    Hell-bent on revenge, the brothers delivered their own merciless payback.Three years later, something sheds new light on Rachel’s murder and it requires the brothers to drive across Texas to Oklahoma on a new mission of vengeance that’ll finally bring them closure. After an incident forces them to take back roads to elude the cops, they get stranded along a hunting ground patrolled by a family looking for fresh meat to feed their hunger for flesh. In a race against the clock, Ray and Eric must fight their way out of the backwoods of Texas and still make it across state lines to accomplish their plan of revenge . . . all before one very large—and pissed off—family secret is unleashed to stop them.

    With no plans beyond a Christmas escape, she drives out to the lodge. Can she bottle up the peace and joy that she finds in this special place to help her face the challenges she may have in the upcoming year?

    Gifts. And so much more.When her beloved grandmother suffers a heart attack, Olivia pours her love, fear, and grief into a new quilting project, rekindling the passion they once shared. But only through a very special Christmas does she come to see the true significance of her gifts . . . and the legacy they carry.

    The smartest, scariest, and most surprising book I've read in ages." —Pinckney Benedict The Black Palace—some have called it a hidden fortress, others a labyrinth of myth, a trackless mystery. And even the witches, who built it and keep it shut, fear that through the ages it has come alive. But tonight, a sleek field agent in the Witchfinders Union, DiFranco, leads her supernatural SWAT team on a raid inside to find one of their own, bringing along a witch’s young maidservant as their prisoner-guide. Yet once across that uncanny threshold, they must confront another world of grand secrets, where strange destinies are woven with theirs, where other desires are at work. They soon learn that you don’t get into the Black Palace unless it wants you in, and the same goes for getting out.

    When Jaimie and her brother discover a hollow place in a half-dead tree, she and her friends decide it’s the perfect dead drop for their amateur spy-ring. As time goes on, the messages Jaimie receives become harder to decipher. Is one of her friends a real spy? Or is something even stranger going on?This is a short story (approx. 26 minutes average reading time).

    "Mike Guardia’s beautifully illustrated new children’s book 'World War II Night Before Christmas' shares a heartfelt glimpse into the sacrifices Allied troops made during World War II, along with a joyful dose of Christmas spirit. " - Big Blend Radio and TV Magazine