Faith and Fellowship Book Festival
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2020 FEATURED AUTHORS
Kimberla Lawson Roby - The Woman God Created You to Be
Nonfiction
Kimberla Lawson Roby admits that for years, she wasn't being the real woman God created her to be. Yes, she has always loved God and tried her best to honor Him, but what she eventually discovered was that building and maintaining her own personal relationship with God--and making Him her top priority--was the key to finding joy in all areas of her life.
Now, in The Woman God Created You to Be, Kimberla has bravely--and transparently--written about her flaws, fears, and failures, as well as her faith, courage, and successes. Kimberla reminds us that when we trust and depend on God--heart, mind, and soul--He will empower us to do more than we ever thought imaginable. He will help us see that we are more than enough, and that He has already given us everything we need to become the women He created us to be--spiritually, personally, professionally...and beyond.
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Click here to purchase from Amazon
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Other books by Kimberla: A Christmas Prayer, Casting the First Stone, Here and Now, It's a Thin Line, Behind Closed Doors
James L. Rubart - Rooms
On a rainy spring day in Seattle, young software tycoon Micah Taylor receives a cryptic, twenty-five-year-old letter from a great uncle he never knew. It claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast that will turn his world inside out. Suspecting a prank, Micah arrives at Cannon Beach to discover a stunning brand new nine-thousand square foot house. And after meeting Sarah Sabin at a nearby ice cream shop, he has two reasons to visit the beach every weekend.
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When bizarre things start happening in the rooms of the home, Micah suspects they have some connection to his enigmatic new friend, Rick, the town mechanic. But Rick will only say the house is spiritual. This unnerves Micah because his faith slipped away like the tide years ago, and he wants to keep it that way. But as he slowly discovers, the home isn’t just spiritual, it’s a physical manifestation of his soul, which God uses to heal Micah’s darkest wounds and lead him into an astonishing new destiny.
Click here to purchase via Amazon
Other books by James: The Five Times I Met Myself, The Long Journey to Jake Palmer, The Man He Never Was, Book of Days, The Chair
Philip Yancey - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
The human body holds endlessly fascinating secrets. The resilience of skin, the strength and structure of the bones, the dynamic balance of the muscles―your physical being is knit according to a pattern of stunning purpose. Now Gold Medallion winners Fearfully and Wonderfully Made and In His Image have been completely revised and updated to offer a new audience timeless reflections on the body. Join renowned leprosy surgeon Dr. Paul Brand and bestselling writer Philip Yancey on a remarkable journey through inner space―a spellbinding account of medical intervention, pain and healing, and the courage of humanity. Discover here the eternal truths revealed by our seemingly ordinary existence. The human body is a window into the very structure of God's creation and a testament to God's glory.
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Click here to purchase via Amazon
2020 GUEST AUTHORS
Karin Beery - Practically Married
Contemporary Romance
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Her fiancé left her his house—and his roommate. Ashley Johnson moves to northern Michigan to finally meet her fiancé face-to-face, but she arrives in time to go to his funeral. With no home back in Ohio, she decides to stay in what would have been their house, except his cousin Russ lives there too, and Russ has never heard of Ashley. To complicate matters, her fiancé accidentally willed her the family farmhouse. Eager to please everyone and desperate to disappoint no one, she proposes a marriage of convenience that could solve her and Russ’s problems, if they can get past her aunt, his sisters, and an ex-girlfriend.
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Cenell Boch - Living with Double DDs: Surviving Depression and Divorce
Self-help/Motivational
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Cenell shares samples of her private journal entries with the public to encourage, inspire, and motivate us to live our best life. She believes with the Divine, all things are possible and that we can create a life of beauty and purpose no matter the obstacle. Cenell’s life story begins pretty remarkably. Born prematurely (3pounds, 4ounces at birth) in the early 70s, she is the 12th child born to Bertha and Dan Munford. From there her life only gets more interesting as she goes from surviving premature birth to becoming an Ohio beauty queen to meeting Oprah and being on the Oprah Winfrey Show! She discusses her ups and downs (peaks and valleys). Her story about “Living with Double D's” (surviving depression and divorce) and finding peace of mind with “THE BIG GLASS” will tickle your funny bone and give you hope.
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Click here to purchase via Amazon
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Sue Bowles - This Much I Know . . .The Space Between
Nonfiction
Life hurts, and layers of hurt leave us feeling beyond help. Yet, the human spirit won't let us quit. So how do we navigate the distance between hurt and healing?
In "This Much I Know...The Space Between," Sue Bowles shares her pursuit of healing from childhood sexual abuse and other traumas resulting in an eating disorder, constantly struggling to answer the question, "Why?".
"When we're talking about our stories, the space between is that gap, that time of questioning and anger and confusion and doubt and...whatever else you can think of.
It's the gray area of uncertainty, of wondering what the point is." Do you believe you are too far gone for anyone - even God - to be able to make a difference? Do you wonder if your life will ever matter? Find hope in the space between.
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Suzanne Bratcher - The Copper Box
Mystery/Suspense
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Antiques expert Marty Greenlaw returns to Jerome to face the horror that haunts her dreams: Did she kill her little sister twenty-two years ago? Historian Paul Russell is in Jerome to face his own horror: Was the car crash that killed his wife his fault?
Their lives become intertwined when Marty’s grandmother dies on a steep staircase in her vintage Victorian house. As Marty and Paul search the house for a small copper box Marty believes will unlock her memory, accidents begin to happen.
Someone else wants the copper box—someone willing to commit murder to get it. As Marty and Paul face the shadows in the house and in their lives, they must learn to put the past behind to run the race God is calling them to.
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Hallee Bridgeman - Alexandra's Appeal
Christian Romance
Jon falls very quickly in love with Alex’s zest for life and her perspective of the world around her. He steps off of his path to be with her. When forces move against them and rip them apart, he wants to believe God will bring them back together, but it might take a miracle.
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Barbara M. Britton - Lioness: Mahlah's Journey
Biblical Fiction
arbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb released her Historical “Until June” in June of 2020. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America, and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Connect with Barbara on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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James Callen - Grow in the Grace
Nonfiction
Do you yearn for a deeper, richer walk with Jesus but feel your spiritual growth is inconsistent or stagnant? You’re not alone. Struggles that are common for Christians in their walk with Christ today were also were constant struggles for one of Jesus’ closest disciples—Simon Peter. But Jesus didn’t allow Peter to become defeated.
Grow in the Grace, examines Jesus’ interactions with Peter and gleans life-changing spiritual growth applications for today’s Christian. Each chapter reveals scriptural principles to enlighten, inspire, and challenge you. By embracing and implementing these biblical truths, you’ll find yourself releasing strongholds and growing in Christ.
“In this book you will find an excellent guide for your journey with Christ . . . that will indeed sharpen your walk and aid you in living a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.” - Tim C. Guthrie; Pastor and Church Consultant
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Susan Campbell - A Wild & Wonderful Life
Christian Living
Although Jesus doesn’t use the exact words “wild and wonderful,” he does make promises about what a life with him might look like. Your wild life does not have to be defined only by hard, crazy, and difficult circumstances. Wild can also describe a wonderful, exciting, and passionate life. Using seven words—friendship, transformation, love, life, childlike faith, hope and wholehearted—Susan Campbell describes how life is wild for sure: wildly difficult, but also wildly good. No matter what, though, Jesus promises to join you The hope for this book is that when you read it, you will meet Jesus along the way—either for the first time or in a fresh new way. Right where you are, and that makes life wonderful.
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Mary Connealy - Her Secret Song
Historical Western Romance
Reclusive Ursula Nordegren realizes she must overcome her fears of the outside world and treks down Hope Mountain. She finds a badly wounded stranger and realizes God may have used her decision to leave as a way of saving the man.
Wax Mosby was climbing Hope Mountain in part to atone for his terrible choices. When he's wounded during the climb, he’s rescued by a beautiful woman with the voice of an angel.
As both Ursula and Wax find an unlikely bond. And they're joined by Ursula's sisters and the Warden family for a final showdown over the family ranch.
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Pat Jeanne Davis - When Valleys Bloom Again
Historical Romance Fiction
As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Then Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.
Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?
Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home?
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Jarm Del Bocccio - The Heart Changer
Middle-Grade Historical Fiction
Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?
Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission—far beyond what she could imagine.
This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.
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Pia Fitzgerald - WOWW! I CAN Lose Weight
Nonfiction/Self-help
Feel confident and energized while losing weight with this interactive text and journal. WOWW! I CAN Lose Weight gives REAL SOLUTIONS for permanent weight loss, allowing you to feel amazing WHILE working on your wellness wish.
You deserve to:
• Ditch the “Diet Dumpster Mentality”
• Expose and overcome the instant gratification illusion
• Prevent overeating episodes • Eradicate self-sabotaging triggers
• Reboot your confidence and lose weight
Using my WOWW!Factor Power Tools of Wellness ™ weight loss system, experience a fresh and revelatory approach to exiting the weight gain/loss roller coaster for good and living life at the next level.
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David Harder - Persuaded, The Story of Nicodemus
Biblical Fiction
Escaped narrowly after the fall of Jerusalem . . .
Pursued relentlessly by the Sanhedrin . . .
Entrusted covertly with a mission more significant than he had imagined . . .
From the prison colony on Patmos, the Apostle John entrusts Nicodemus with manuscripts for the Christian fellowships increasing throughout the Roman Empire. While transcribing the manuscript, Nicodemus is prompted to recall his former life and his encounter with Yeshua - a man of mystery, a healer, a teacher, and a prophet. It is an encounter that changes everything. Under the cover of darkness, risking his reputation and endangering his life even further, it is here that Nicodemus realizes the world-changing power of the Good News . . . and what being a follower of Yeshua truly means.
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Sandra Merville Hart - A Musket in My Hands
Historical Romance
Callie Jennings reels from her pa’s demand that she marry his friend, a man older than him. Her heart belongs to her soldier hero, Zach. Pa won’t change his mind, and Callie has nowhere else to go. Then her sister, Louisa, proposes a shocking alternative.
Zach Pearson still hears his pa’s scornful word—quitter. He’s determined to make something of himself as a soldier. He’ll serve the Confederacy until they win the war.
If they win the war. Callie and Louisa disguise themselves as soldiers and muster into the Confederate army in the fall of 1864. Times are tough and getting tougher for their Confederacy. For Callie, shooting anyone, especially former countrymen, is out of the question—until truth and love and honor come together on the battlefield.
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Sandee Hemphill - Seeking Through Soaking
Self-help/Nonfiction
Have you experienced soaking? It's the abandonment of all earthly concerns in pursuit of God's presence. To "soak" means to be still in His presence and allow Him to saturate you glory. Soaking isn't worship, nor is it praise or prayer. Soaking involves spending time with the master, wasting your time on Him. If this is your first venture into soaking, this book could be the first step into the adventure of a lifetime. Get a first-hand look into this life-changing experience, and enjoy the intimacy with God you have longed for.
Gina Holder - Forgiven Again
Romantic Suspense
She’s running for governor. He’s a pastor. One secret from the past will put everything they worked to achieve at risk. Annie Staten, now Kathleen Phillips, has dreamed of pursuing a political career and following in her father’s footsteps. But Richard was a hated man during his tenure as governor and now his enemies will stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from winning the election. Ryan Whitestone has loved Annie since high school, but his heart is broken by the woman she has become. When the daughter she gave up for adoption comes back into her life, can he help her heal from her pain and remind her of who she used to be? Will Kathleen be able to forgive herself, put the past behind her, and find love again?
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Cleo Lampos - The Food that Held the World Together
Nonfiction
This researched book tells the story of how the United States developed foods for home, military and international markets. From the chocolate bars for GIs, to the Victory Gardens and home canning on the home front, the stories of Jello, Spam and instant potatoes are covered. Recipes and photos are embedded with iconic quotes. A memorable scrap book.
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Tracey J. Lyons - A Love for Lizzie
Romance
After her father falls ill, Lizzie Miller and her family desperately need help to keep the farm going during harvesttime. Neighbor Paul Burkholder is eager to lend a hand—and to court Lizzie. But Paul has a secret that he fears could push Lizzie away. Can they finally heal from a tragedy in their pasts…and open their hearts to each other?
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Laurie Lucking - Common
YA Fantasy
Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished. Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair. And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince. But Leah’s ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason. Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than a nobleman with his eye on the throne. Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?
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Kathrese McKee - Mardan's Mark
YA Speculative
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She would rather die than fail.
Princess Srilani is honor-bound to rescue the crown prince. Or die trying.
Because she can’t go home empty-handed.
How can she know who to trust when it’s clear they have been betrayed?
When the royal heirs are abducted by pirates, their doom is sealed. They will be executed, or worse, enslaved. Srilani is forced to make unlikely allies and life-and-death choices.
A deadly storm. Impending war. Cutthroat pirates, merciless priests, and marauding soldiers. Can she rescue her siblings and their new friends from this hostile land? Can she save her nation from annihilation? You’ll love Mardan’s Mark, first book of this epic adventure series. Because you can’t help but root for this ragtag group of unlikely heroes on an impossible quest.
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Ane Mulligan
Historical Fiction
Southern women may look as delicate as flowers, but there’s iron in their veins. While the rest of the world has been roaring through the 1920s, times are hardscrabble in rural South Georgia. Widow Maggie Parker is barely surviving while raising her young son alone. Then as banks begin to fail, her father-in-law threatens to take her son and sell off her livelihood—the grocery store her husband left her. Can five Southern women band together, using their wisdom and wiles to stop him and survive the Great Depression?
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David and Diane Munson - North by Starlight
Romantic Suspense
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In North by Starlight, after feisty attorney Madison Stone wins a difficult case, her boss insists she must head to Starlight, Vermont from her D.C. law firm and save the inheritance of Jordan Star, sole heir of his late grandfather’s Star Mountain ski resort. Maddie has just broken up with her former boyfriend, attorney Stewart Dunham, and so plunges herself in work, needing a new challenge.
She races to defeat the claim of this mystery relative, a daughter adopted by his aunt Rosalyn. Instead, she is shocked to discover Stewart, her ex, is the opposing counsel, who is eager to represent the interloper and destroy Maddie’s case. Maddie sharpens her legal skills in trying to outwit Stewart and a greedy mining enterprise bent on changing Starlight forever. She and Jordan form a powerful alliance against geologist Trevor Kirk, and the ensuing legal battle leaves her emotionally vulnerable. In the end, will Maddie save Starlight or will Starlight save Maddie?
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Michèle Olson - Being Ethel
Romantic Suspense
1979 is getting on Piper Penn’s nerves. Struggling to survive past tragedies, she finds comfort in Old Hollywood movies in her native San Francisco. Seeing no reason to adhere to man-made rules after her first-hand look at the ultimate in hypocrisy, Piper does what she wants, and trouble follows.
An unexpected inheritance on a tiny Midwest island in the Straits of Mackinac provides an escape. The mandated stay at the island’s glorious Grand Hotel gives her spirits a much-needed boost, especially when she catches the eye of a handsome groundskeeper. Taking part as an extra during the filming of the island movie Somewhere in Time adds to her excitement about this turn in her life.
When mysterious accusations and headstrong residents send her into a tailspin, she finds friendship from a quirky, I Love Lucy loving nun who challenges her embittered look at life and faith. Can Piper survive the baffling attempts to derail her inheritance before it’s too late or has she fallen for a well-planned ruse while falling in love? “What happens when you combine a love of Lucy, Nora Ephron, Old Hollywood, and the desire for true faith? You embark on an unforgettable 1979 journey to magical, Mackinac Island.” – Author, Michele Olson, Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy)
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Olivia Rae - A Life Renewed
In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, "The Nine Days' Queen" was executed for high treason. But what if she secretly survived? Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves her life away from England. But her benefactor, a powerful German prince, wants to place her on English throne again. Desperate for help, Jane puts her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes. Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for "Bloody Mary" and wants to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn't done with him yet. She forces him to accept one last mission - find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn't the monster, he thought her to be, he faces a devastating decision – will he murder the woman who reigns in his heart?
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Yolonda Tonette Sanders - The Protector
Mystery Suspense
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A successful business owner, Yvonne Braxton is used to being in control of things. As long as life is going the way she wants it, then it's going fine. Not one for taking risks, Yvonne does something different for a change. When she does, she finds herself in a predicament that has the potential to leave her broken beyond repair. Despite her circumstances, Yvonne must find strength to activate a level of faith that she's never had previously. Like children who trust their earthly fathers, Yvonne must trust her heavenly Father. Without faith, she and her family could be destroyed.
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Cindy Thomson - Celtic Song
Historical Fiction
The Celts have always been a people of songs. Stories, legends, and wise sayings were better remembered when put to music. While the melodies may have faded, the wisdom of these songs still rises from mountain, valley, and bog to lift the spirit and encourage the modern wayfarer. While music has always been an integral part of the lives of the people of the British Isles and the diaspora around the world, an exploration of why this is so has seldom been explored. Celtic Song will take readers on a journey to the past through a medium that uplifts the spirit and speaks to the heart.
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Becky Van Vleet - Talitha, The Traveling Skirt
Children's Picture Book
Meet Talitha, a little plaid skirt that likes to travel. Through the years, she visits many two-year-old girls in a special family who wear her to get their pictures taken. But Talitha encounters problems when she least expects them as Tippy, the family dog, follows along. Filled with colorful and detailed illustrations, young children will delight in this heartwarming story about a little skirt’s adventures, inspired by a true family story.
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2020 Panel Moderators
Bettie Boswell-Sidetracked
YA/Children's
Jeremiah works for the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad. But the new steam engine has arrived, and his horses won't be pulling freight down the tracks anymore. Will he be able to adapt change brought about by this new technology, or will he be sidetracked? This 32-page illustrated chapter book will appeal to both reluctant and avid readers who enjoy historical fiction stories. The hi-lo text is perfect for students who need high-interest, low-readability books.
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Click here to purchase from Amazon
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Other books by Bettie: On Cue
Chelsea Elliott - Natalie the Monster Slayer
Children's
Natalie was planning on having a relaxing day, but that was soon disrupted by the scary sounds that woke her up from her deep slumber. Was it a dragon, or a monster, or maybe a bear?! How is she going to face her fears and fight off the scary monsters? Go on an emotion-filled journey with Natalie as she finds her confidence to confront the scary monsters she encounters throughout her home. This book focuses on the emotions a person goes through when they are facing fear and gaining the confidence to be brave. It includes a glossary of the emotions used throughout the story to help kids understand what each of them means and how to identify them in themselves.
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Click here to purchase from Amazon
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Nick G. Giannaras - Justice
Historical Fiction
With his forces gathering strength, Niklas prepares to bring war against his powerful enemies. During the process, he encounters various situations that whittle at the root of his cause and shake the foundation of his faith. Wth so much against him, Niklas may never attain the freedom and justice he desires. Facing his toughest challenges yet, if Niklas does not remain resilient, all hope will be lost.
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Click here to purchase from Amazon and see a list of Nick's other books.
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Maggie Rowe - The Life We Share: 52 Reflections on Journeying Well with God and Others
Nonfiction
This Life We Share is a woman’s guide to living well―from the inner journey of dealing with anxiety and insecurity to the everyday moments of waiting and distraction to practical principles for parenting, grandparenting, and aging. Jesus once said of the woman who anointed his feet, “She did what she could” (Mark 14:8, NIV)―and that is the goal of this book: to provide insights and wisdom for walking through life with the confidence that you’re doing “what you can” to live well for God, love others, and take care of yourself.
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Click here to purchase from Amazon and see a list of Maggie's other books.
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Leslie J. Sherrod - The Man of My Schemes
Fiction
It started at work and then spread to her sister-friends at church: wedding bell fever. For thirty-four-year-old Berry Jenkins, the craze has just begun. Tired of the prying and invasive questions about her lack of a love life, Berry decides to convince everyone she has finally landed the man of her dreams. However, there is one slight problem. Her fantasy man is just that - a complete fantasy and a bold-faced lie. Of course, lies can't last forever and Berry's ploy to pretend she's met the perfect beau quickly spirals out of control.
When her carefully woven web of deception begins to unravel, only a miracle will save her from her fairy-tale romance gone nightmare reality. Facing exposure, Berry fears that the trap she's created for herself is too messy, too tangled - and maybe even too dangerous - for her chance at love to survive.
Hold on for a wild and zany ride as Berry's imaginary man takes on a life of his own, for better...and for worse.
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Click here to purchase from Amazon and see a list of Leslie's other books.
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