A Cape May Diamond


Larry Enright - 2012
    I’ll never forget that day. The Vietnam War had ended with the fall of Saigon that April, and the world was mired in one of its worst recessions ever. Unemployment in the United States was nearly nine percent, inflation even higher, and leadership lacking. The Watergate scandal had cast a smear across American politics, resulting in Richard Nixon’s resignation in August 1974 to avoid impeachment, and his successor’s immediately pardoning him to close the book on an unhappy chapter in U.S. history.It was not a good time for anyone and a particularly hard time for the old Victorian town of Cape May. The crown jewel of the New Jersey shore had fallen into neglect and disrepair and was dying a slow death. Once the elegant summer home to presidents and kings, it had become the last refuge of the deposed.That’s where I met Tom Ryan. Tom was a king, or so he would have you believe, but unlike Richard Nixon, when Tom was dethroned, he wasn’t sent home with a slap on the wrist. He was sent to prison. He was a convicted draft dodger, but one of the lucky ones released early by President Ford as part of his mass clemency after Nixon’s pardon. The problem was, Tom had nowhere to go when he got out, so he took the money his dad mailed to him and spent it on a bus ticket to get as far away as possible to a place where nobody cared who he was or what he had done, a place where nobody cared about anything. That place was Cape May.As hard a time as it was for everyone, it was harder for me because that was the day I met Tom Ryan. I should have turned and walked away. I knew it when he first looked at me, but I didn’t, not my first mistake, but one that would make Monday, May 19th, 1975 the hardest day of my life. This is the story of how Tom Ryan and I met and how things never quite work out the way you think. You might find a love story in here somewhere. You might not. You might find a message hidden in one of the nickel pop bottles collected by the beachcombers from some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world. You might even find a little mystery, but life is a mystery, isn’t it?

City Boy


Jean Thompson - 2004
    The city is theirs to enjoy as Jack struggles to pursue a writing career and Chloe works downtown, applying herself to the world of high finance. While Jack aspires to be the perfect husband, his own self-doubts and Chloe's office flirtations cast shadows. Jealousy and misbehavior undermine their notions of themselves and of each other, and their lives take on uncomfortable parallels with the volatile, chaotic existence of their raffish, menacing neighbors. In the intense heat of one Chicago summer, Jack and Chloe's marriage roils into a queasy chemistry of vanity, lust, and greed. Thompson writes with piercing insight and emotional truth, setting off literary fireworks.

Always and Forever


Zoe Matthews - 2017
    None of them are interested in marrying at the moment, so their grandfather takes things into his own hands. He met his wife through an arranged marriage and they had over sixty years together; why not do the same for his grandchildren? In this first book, Quinn is the oldest of the cousins, he decides to use some information his grandfather finds through a Christian online dating service about a woman named Grace. As they get to know each other through emails, he decides to propose. They can both help each other out, he with her young daughter and she with his plans to start a new business. But will this marriage be one of convenience like Quinn suggests or will it turn into love?

The Crash of 5201


Denny Allen - 2011
    However on it's flight to Eilson air force base in Alaska the flight was anything but routine. Plagued with one problem after another the plane was finally forced down in a mountainous region in Northeast Alaskas interior.. For three Airmen that survived the crash now found themselves alone in a very wild and hostile land. They survived the crash, but now can they survive the great Alaska wild. After giving up any rescue, the three Airman knew their only chance of survival was to walk out on their own. They had no idea how this was going to turn out..They new if thy didn't Find help by the winter they wouldn't survive the up to minus 50 degree temperatures, and without weapons.they couldn't defend them selfs. Also, starvation was a big concern. The author of this book did a lot hunting moose and caribou in this part of Alaska, so he knows first hand how wild and unforgiving this land can be.

Nearly


Deborah Raney - 2016
    In this loving small-town community where her beloved grandmother resides, she attempts to cast aside the memories of her troubled childhood. Michael Meredith finds worth as a nursing care home administrator. Until an unwelcome investigation concerning suspicious deaths among the home’s residents threatens his career and his integrity. In the midst of this crisis, friendship blooms and deepens between Michael and Claire—until an agonizing secret is revealed. One that may tear the delicate fabric of their love. Is their faith strong enough to survive their astonishing discovery? Deborah Raney has woven an intriguing tale… Her characters breathe life as they struggle with deep, heartfelt needs. What I loved most was the message that hidden sins and a painful past cannot be stuffed away and forgotten without the cleansing power of God's forgiveness. —an amazon.com reviewer This novel was originally published as Kindred Bond. It has been expanded and updated from the original edition.

In the Dismal Swamp


Patrick Balester - 2008
    He is quickly disappointed when a dead body turns up floating in the Great Dismal Swamp. And this is not just any dead body. Ashley Myrtle was the wife of a prominent local politician. Greg soon discovers that Ashley, an apparent drowning victim, may have been murdered. Unfortunately, no one wants to believe him. The mayor, the woman's husband, an old boyfriend and even her coworkers seem eager to rule her death an accidental drowning. With help from a reluctant FBI agent, Greg follows a trail of small town secrets and lies to discover what really happened on that cold spring day. Refusing to give up, he discovers a vital clue deep in the swamp that leads to the killer. But justice won't be served until he can prove it was a case of murder.

After They Go


J. Mercer - 2018
    The second stunted by her sister's shadow. The youngest propelled by desperation. Gwen is the oldest of four children in the Aaldenberg family, and the one who seems to have it all. She's also most desperate to escape. Betta, having nursed their dying grandpa for the past three years, is anxious for Gwen to go, so she can finally have reins to the family business. And Esmerelda, viciously determined to follow in Gwen's footsteps, vies for popularity as a freshman in high school, only to learn she must sell her soul, reputation, and most prized possession for acceptance. When Gwen's fiancé moves to town, Gwen does her best to resign herself to a local life, while Betta struggles for meaning without the store. In order to carve out a place for herself, Betta must decide to what lengths she'll go in order to become her own person, and Gwen must decide what's more important: her sister or her future. Can this family pull through their disappointment, jealousy, and regret? Or will they cling so tightly to their desires that it ruins them?

Diary of a Valiant Wolf (Book 1): Steve’s Wolves (An Unofficial Minecraft Book for Kids Ages 9 - 12 (Preteen)


Mark Mulle - 2015
    They live in wolf packs, and will do anything to protect their group. But what most players don’t know is that wolves have many stories to tell as well. Boris is a brave wolf who lives a peaceful life in this blocky world along with his wife and two cubs, doing his best to protect his family and to provide for them. But his normal life is about to change when Boris witnesses a bright light coming from the woods during a rainy day, and decides to investigate the area. To his surprise, Boris finds a strange creature living inside a wooden box, with a wolf as its pet. This two-legged creature is capable of creating items out of thin air and can remove and place blocks anywhere. Now, Boris must find out what the creature is doing there, and why the wolf is living with it and behaving like his guard. Read Boris’ diary and discover what is going to happen next in this epic adventure through the world of Minecraft. This unofficial Minecraft book is not authorized, endorsed or sponsored by Microsoft Corp., Mojang AB, Notch Development AB or any other person or entity owning or controlling the rights of the Minecraft name, trademark or copyrights. All characters, names, places and other aspects of the game described herein are trademarked and owned by their respective owners. Minecraft®/ /TM & ©2009-2016 Mojang/Notch.