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Piranesi

Clarke, Susanna


Bloomsbury presents Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor.<br>WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2021<br>WINNER OF THE KITSCHIES' 2021<br>SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD<br>A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER<br>A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER<br>CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE THE TIMES, GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, DAILY TELEGRAPH, FINANCIAL TIMES, i PAPER, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATOR, TIME MAGAZINE, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, BBC CULTURE, NETGALLEY AND THE CHURCH TIMES<br>The spectacular new novel from the bestselling author of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, 'one of our greatest living authors' New York Magazine<br>Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has.<br>In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls. On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone.<br>Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims?<br>Lost texts must be found; secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous.<br>The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.<br>*****<br>'What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being ... Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box' DAVID MITCHELL<br>'It subverts expectations throughout ... Utterly otherworldly' Guardian<br>'Piranesi astonished me. It is a miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling' MADELINE MILLER<br>'Brilliantly singular' Sunday Times<br>'A gorgeous, spellbinding mystery ... This book is a treasure, washed up upon a forgotten shore, waiting to be discovered' ERIN MORGENSTERN<br>'Head-spinning ... Fully imagined and richly evoked' Telegraph
Date Published:2020

Bloomsbury presents Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor. WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2021 WINNER OF THE KITSCHIES' 2021 SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE THE TIMES, GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, DAILY TELEGRAPH, FINANCIAL TIMES, i PAPER, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATOR, TIME MAGAZINE, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, BBC CULTURE, NETGALLEY AND THE CHURCH TIMES The spectacular new novel from the bestselling author of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, 'one of our greatest living authors' New York Magazine Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has. In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls. On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone. Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims? Lost texts must be found; secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous. The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite. ***** 'What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being ... Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box' DAVID MITCHELL 'It subverts expectations throughout ... Utterly otherworldly' Guardian 'Piranesi astonished me. It is a miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling' MADELINE MILLER 'Brilliantly singular' Sunday Times 'A gorgeous, spellbinding mystery ... This book is a treasure, washed up upon a forgotten shore, waiting to be discovered' ERIN MORGENSTERN 'Head-spinning ... Fully imagined and richly evoked' Telegraph

Date Published:2020

We Have Never Been Woke : The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite

al-Gharbi, Musa


How a new "woke" elite uses the language of social justice to gain more power and status—without helping the marginalized and disadvantaged<br/>Society has never been more egalitarian—in theory. Prejudice is taboo, and diversity is strongly valued. At the same time, social and economic inequality have exploded. In We Have Never Been Woke, Musa al-Gharbi argues that these trends are closely related, each tied to the rise of a new elite—the symbolic capitalists. In education, media, nonprofits, and beyond, members of this elite work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, and are very likely to identify as allies of antiracist, feminist, LGBTQ, and other progressive causes. Their dominant ideology is "wokeness" and, while their commitment to equality is sincere, they actively benefit from and perpetuate the inequalities they decry. Indeed, their egalitarian credentials help them gain more power and status, often at the expense of the marginalized and disadvantaged.<br/>We Have Never Been Woke details how the language of social justice is increasingly used to justify this elite—and to portray the losers in the knowledge economy as deserving their lot because they think or say the "wrong" things about race, gender, and sexuality. Al-Gharbi's point is not to accuse symbolic capitalists of hypocrisy or cynicism. Rather, he examines how their genuine beliefs prevent them from recognizing how they contribute to social problems—or how their actions regularly provoke backlash against the social justice causes they champion.<br/>A powerful critique, We Have Never Been Woke reveals that only by challenging this elite's self-serving narratives can we hope to address social and economic inequality effectively.<br/>"In this important and timely book, Musa al-Gharbi describes the rise of the 'symbolic capitalists,' and how an ideology has evolved to cement their power and restrict entry from outsiders. We Have Never Been Woke effectively addresses a wide readership on this contentious issue."—Tyler Cowen, George Mason University
Date Published:2024

How a new "woke" elite uses the language of social justice to gain more power and status—without helping the marginalized and disadvantaged Society has never been more egalitarian—in theory. Prejudice is taboo, and diversity is strongly valued. At the same time, social and economic inequality have exploded. In We Have Never Been Woke, Musa al-Gharbi argues that these trends are closely related, each tied to the rise of a new elite—the symbolic capitalists. In education, media, nonprofits, and beyond, members of this elite work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, and are very likely to identify as allies of antiracist, feminist, LGBTQ, and other progressive causes. Their dominant ideology is "wokeness" and, while their commitment to equality is sincere, they actively benefit from and perpetuate the inequalities they decry. Indeed, their egalitarian credentials help them gain more power and status, often at the expense of the marginalized and disadvantaged. We Have Never Been Woke details how the language of social justice is increasingly used to justify this elite—and to portray the losers in the knowledge economy as deserving their lot because they think or say the "wrong" things about race, gender, and sexuality. Al-Gharbi's point is not to accuse symbolic capitalists of hypocrisy or cynicism. Rather, he examines how their genuine beliefs prevent them from recognizing how they contribute to social problems—or how their actions regularly provoke backlash against the social justice causes they champion. A powerful critique, We Have Never Been Woke reveals that only by challenging this elite's self-serving narratives can we hope to address social and economic inequality effectively. "In this important and timely book, Musa al-Gharbi describes the rise of the 'symbolic capitalists,' and how an ideology has evolved to cement their power and restrict entry from outsiders. We Have Never Been Woke effectively addresses a wide readership on this contentious issue."—Tyler Cowen, George Mason University

Date Published:2024

Hidden Scars

Hanson, Cheyenne


<p>To the outside world, author Cheyenne Hanson was just another happy kid. She loved her childhood to the fullest. The only difference was that she grew up faster than most kids and got really good at hiding it. Behind closed doors, she was a different person, locked in the captivity of a secret life.</p> <p>In Hidden Scars, she shares how she was a prisoner in her own world, forced to endure extreme abuse and used as nothing more than an object. Although Hanson experienced brainwashing, manipulation, and control, she managed to survive without a visible scratch.</p> <p>The memoir chronicles her life, telling how, in August of 2017, she finally used the voice that had been suppressed for so long and extricated herself from an impossibly dangerous situation. It came with high risk, stomach-wrenching, life-threatening moments but Hanson became a survivor not a victim. Hidden Scars narrates the real account of everything she lived through.</p>
Date Published:2020

To the outside world, author Cheyenne Hanson was just another happy kid. She loved her childhood to the fullest. The only difference was that she grew up faster than most kids and got really good at hiding it. Behind closed doors, she was a different person, locked in the captivity of a secret life. In Hidden Scars, she shares how she was a prisoner in her own world, forced to endure extreme abuse and used as nothing more than an object. Although Hanson experienced brainwashing, manipulation, and control, she managed to survive without a visible scratch. The memoir chronicles her life, telling how, in August of 2017, she finally used the voice that had been suppressed for so long and extricated herself from an impossibly dangerous situation. It came with high risk, stomach-wrenching, life-threatening moments but Hanson became a survivor not a victim. Hidden Scars narrates the real account of everything she lived through.

Date Published:2020

The Present Professor : Authenticity and Transformational Teaching

Norell, Elizabeth A.


In a world where stress is unavoidable—where political turmoil, pandemic fallout, and personal challenges touch everyone—this book offers guidance for cutting through the emotional static that can hold teachers back. A specialist in pedagogical strategies with extensive classroom experience, Elizabeth A. Norell explains how an educator's presence, or authenticity, can be critical to creating transformational spaces for students. And presence, she argues, means uncovering and understanding one's own internal struggles and buried insecurities—stresses often left unconfronted in an academic culture that values knowing over feeling. Presenting the research on how and why such inner work unlocks transformational learning, <I>The Present Professor</I> equips educators with the tools for crafting a more authentic presence in their teaching work.<br/>At a time of crisis in higher education, as teachers struggle to find new ways to relate to, think about, and instruct students, this book holds a key. Implementing more inclusive pedagogies, Norell suggests, requires sorting out our own identities. In short, if we want to create spaces where students have the confidence, comfort, and psychological safety to learn and grow, we have to create spaces where we do, too. <I>The Present Professor</I> is dedicated to that proposition, and to helping educators build that transformational space.
Date Published:2024

In a world where stress is unavoidable—where political turmoil, pandemic fallout, and personal challenges touch everyone—this book offers guidance for cutting through the emotional static that can hold teachers back. A specialist in pedagogical strategies with extensive classroom experience, Elizabeth A. Norell explains how an educator's presence, or authenticity, can be critical to creating transformational spaces for students. And presence, she argues, means uncovering and understanding one's own internal struggles and buried insecurities—stresses often left unconfronted in an academic culture that values knowing over feeling. Presenting the research on how and why such inner work unlocks transformational learning, The Present Professor equips educators with the tools for crafting a more authentic presence in their teaching work. At a time of crisis in higher education, as teachers struggle to find new ways to relate to, think about, and instruct students, this book holds a key. Implementing more inclusive pedagogies, Norell suggests, requires sorting out our own identities. In short, if we want to create spaces where students have the confidence, comfort, and psychological safety to learn and grow, we have to create spaces where we do, too. The Present Professor is dedicated to that proposition, and to helping educators build that transformational space.

Date Published:2024

The Skin Map

Lawhead, Stephen


<p><strong>It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intersecting realities. To unravel the future of the future.</strong></p><p>Kit Livingstone's great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.</p><p>One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code—a roadmap of symbols—that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.</p><p>But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.</p><p>The Bright Empires series—from acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead—is a unique blend of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, adventure like no other.</p><p>"Anything but ordinary . . . Dynamic settings are mixed with unpredictable adventures [and] parallel worlds." —BookPage </p>
Date Published:2010

It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intersecting realities. To unravel the future of the future.Kit Livingstone's great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code—a roadmap of symbols—that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.The Bright Empires series—from acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead—is a unique blend of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, adventure like no other."Anything but ordinary . . . Dynamic settings are mixed with unpredictable adventures [and] parallel worlds." —BookPage

Date Published:2010

Shattered : Alaskan Courage Series, Book 2

Pettrey, Dani


<p><i><b>With All the Evidence Against Him, Only a Sister's Trust Can Save Him Now</b></i></p><p>When her prodigal brother's return to Yancey, Alaska, is shattered by his arrest for murder, Piper McKenna is determined to protect him.</p><p>Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. And he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth puts Landon's career in jeopardy.</p><p>When Piper launches her own investigation, Landon realizes he must protect her from herself—and from whatever complications await as the two follow clues deep into Canada's rugged backcountry. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.</p><p><i>"Enough twists and turns to keep even the most astute suspense lover guessing. </i>Shattered<i> is an entertaining read that's sure to please Dani Pettrey's many fans."</i>—<b>Irene Hannon</b>, bestselling author of the Guardians of Justice series</p>
Date Published:2013

With All the Evidence Against Him, Only a Sister's Trust Can Save Him NowWhen her prodigal brother's return to Yancey, Alaska, is shattered by his arrest for murder, Piper McKenna is determined to protect him.Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. And he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth puts Landon's career in jeopardy.When Piper launches her own investigation, Landon realizes he must protect her from herself—and from whatever complications await as the two follow clues deep into Canada's rugged backcountry. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step."Enough twists and turns to keep even the most astute suspense lover guessing. Shattered is an entertaining read that's sure to please Dani Pettrey's many fans."—Irene Hannon, bestselling author of the Guardians of Justice series

Date Published:2013

So Good They Can't Ignore You : Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

Newport, Cal


<B>In this book with unique perspective, professor Cal Newport debunks the long-held belief that "follow your passion" is good advice, and sets out to discover the reality of how people end up loving their careers.</B><BR /> A focus on passion over skill can be dangerous, leading to anxiety and chronic job hopping. Spending time with professionals who admit to deriving great satisfaction from their work, Newport uncovers the strategies they use and the pitfalls they avoid in developing their compelling careers.<BR /> Cal reveals <B>4 Rules f</B>or falling in love with your job:<BR /> #1: Don't follow your passion<BR /> #2: Be so good they can't ignore you<BR /> #3: Turn down a promotion<BR /> #4: Think small, act big<BR /> Cal Newport's manifesto is mandatory reading for anyone fretting about what to do with their life, or frustrated by their current job situation. <I>So Good They Can't Ignore You</I> provides an evidence-based blueprint for creating work you love, and will change the way you think about careers, happiness, and the crafting of a remarkable life.
Date Published:2012

In this book with unique perspective, professor Cal Newport debunks the long-held belief that "follow your passion" is good advice, and sets out to discover the reality of how people end up loving their careers. A focus on passion over skill can be dangerous, leading to anxiety and chronic job hopping. Spending time with professionals who admit to deriving great satisfaction from their work, Newport uncovers the strategies they use and the pitfalls they avoid in developing their compelling careers. Cal reveals 4 Rules for falling in love with your job: #1: Don't follow your passion #2: Be so good they can't ignore you #3: Turn down a promotion #4: Think small, act big Cal Newport's manifesto is mandatory reading for anyone fretting about what to do with their life, or frustrated by their current job situation. So Good They Can't Ignore You provides an evidence-based blueprint for creating work you love, and will change the way you think about careers, happiness, and the crafting of a remarkable life.

Date Published:2012

Stranded : Alaskan Courage Series, Book 3

Pettrey, Dani


<p><i><b>When Her Friend Goes Missing, Every Minute Counts!</b></i></p><p>Darcy St. James returns to Alaska to join a journalist friend undercover on the trail of a big story. But when Darcy arrives, she finds her friend has disappeared. Troubled by the cruise ship's vague explanation, Darcy uses her cover as a travel reporter to investigate further.</p><p>The last person Gage McKenna expects to see during his summer aboard a cruise ship leading adventure excursions is Darcy. And in typical Darcy fashion, she's digging up more trouble.</p><p>He'd love to just forget her—but something won't let him. And he can't help but worry about her as they are heading into more remote regions of Alaska and eventually into foreign waters. Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they push, the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.</p>
Date Published:2014

When Her Friend Goes Missing, Every Minute Counts!Darcy St. James returns to Alaska to join a journalist friend undercover on the trail of a big story. But when Darcy arrives, she finds her friend has disappeared. Troubled by the cruise ship's vague explanation, Darcy uses her cover as a travel reporter to investigate further.The last person Gage McKenna expects to see during his summer aboard a cruise ship leading adventure excursions is Darcy. And in typical Darcy fashion, she's digging up more trouble.He'd love to just forget her—but something won't let him. And he can't help but worry about her as they are heading into more remote regions of Alaska and eventually into foreign waters. Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they push, the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

Date Published:2014

Silenced : Alaskan Courage Series, Book 4

Pettrey, Dani


<p><b>Jake Knew Something Was Wrong. But He Never Guessed </b><i><b>How</b></i><b> Wrong.</b></p><p>A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again—but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.</p><p>Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.</p>
Date Published:2014

Jake Knew Something Was Wrong. But He Never Guessed How Wrong.A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again—but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.

Date Published:2014

Beyond a Darkened Shore

Leake, Jessica


<p><i><b>Vikings</b></i><b> meets </b><i><b>Frostblood</b></i><b> in this romantic historical fantasy stand-alone from author Jessica Leake.</b></p><p>The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn's kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores.</p><p>The people of Mide have always been safe because of Ciara's unearthly ability to control her enemies' minds and actions. But lately a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn but the entire world.</p><p>Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara's enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he too shares her prophetic visions, she knows he's something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara's strength in battle, the two might have a chance to save their world.</p><p>With evil rising around them, they'll do what it takes to defend the land they love—even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.</p>
Date Published:2019

Vikings meets Frostblood in this romantic historical fantasy stand-alone from author Jessica Leake.The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn's kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores.The people of Mide have always been safe because of Ciara's unearthly ability to control her enemies' minds and actions. But lately a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn but the entire world.Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara's enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he too shares her prophetic visions, she knows he's something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara's strength in battle, the two might have a chance to save their world.With evil rising around them, they'll do what it takes to defend the land they love—even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.

Date Published:2019

The Nature of Small Birds : A Novel

Finkbeiner, Susie


"Finkbeiner has deftly written this narrative of ordinary people finding their way, set against a backdrop of global upheaval and war; the characters are realistic and vibrant. Readers looking for realist family stories with a subtle thread of faith . . .will want to read Finkbeiner's latest."—<b><i>Library Journal</i></b><b> </b>starred review<br/>***<br/>In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When Mindy, one of those children, announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.<br/>Though her father supports Mindy's desire to meet her family of origin, he struggles privately with an unsettling fear that he'll lose the daughter he's poured his heart into. Mindy's mother undergoes the emotional rollercoaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy's sister helps her sort through relics that whisper of the effect the trauma of war has had on their family—but also speak of the beauty of overcoming.<br/>Told through three strong voices in three compelling timelines, <i>The Nature of Small Birds</i> is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.<br/>"A balanced story that's rich with nuance and gentle emotions."—<b><i>Foreword Reviews<br/></i></b><br/>"Readers who enjoy the work of Karen Kingsbury will want to take a look."—<b><i>Publishers Weekly</i></b>
Date Published:2021

"Finkbeiner has deftly written this narrative of ordinary people finding their way, set against a backdrop of global upheaval and war; the characters are realistic and vibrant. Readers looking for realist family stories with a subtle thread of faith . . .will want to read Finkbeiner's latest."—Library Journal starred review *** In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When Mindy, one of those children, announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives. Though her father supports Mindy's desire to meet her family of origin, he struggles privately with an unsettling fear that he'll lose the daughter he's poured his heart into. Mindy's mother undergoes the emotional rollercoaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy's sister helps her sort through relics that whisper of the effect the trauma of war has had on their family—but also speak of the beauty of overcoming. Told through three strong voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code. "A balanced story that's rich with nuance and gentle emotions."—Foreword Reviews "Readers who enjoy the work of Karen Kingsbury will want to take a look."—Publishers Weekly

Date Published:2021

The Trusted Advisor

Maister, David H.


In today's fast-paced networked economy, professionals must work harder than ever to maintain and improve their business skills and knowledge. But technical mastery of one's discipline is not enough, assert professional advisors David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford. The key to professional success, they argue, is the ability to earn the trust and confidence of clients.<br/>In this twentieth anniversary edition, Maister, Green, and Galford enrich our understanding of today's society and illustrate how to be effective communicators in a digital world. Using their model of "the trust equation" they dissect the rational and emotional components of trustworthiness. With precision and clarity, they detail five distinct steps you must take to create a trust-based relationship. Each step—engage, listen, frame, envision, and commit—is richly described in distinct chapters.<br/>This book is "a brilliant reminder for each of us to focus on the needs of those we are serving—clients, customers, colleagues" (Timothy A. Welsh, vice chair, Consumer and Business Banking, US Bancorp). The authors weave together anecdotes, experience, and examples of both their own and others' successes and mistakes to great effect. <I>The Trusted Advisor</I> is essential for anyone who must advise, negotiate, or manage complex relationships with others.
Date Published:2021

In today's fast-paced networked economy, professionals must work harder than ever to maintain and improve their business skills and knowledge. But technical mastery of one's discipline is not enough, assert professional advisors David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford. The key to professional success, they argue, is the ability to earn the trust and confidence of clients. In this twentieth anniversary edition, Maister, Green, and Galford enrich our understanding of today's society and illustrate how to be effective communicators in a digital world. Using their model of "the trust equation" they dissect the rational and emotional components of trustworthiness. With precision and clarity, they detail five distinct steps you must take to create a trust-based relationship. Each step—engage, listen, frame, envision, and commit—is richly described in distinct chapters. This book is "a brilliant reminder for each of us to focus on the needs of those we are serving—clients, customers, colleagues" (Timothy A. Welsh, vice chair, Consumer and Business Banking, US Bancorp). The authors weave together anecdotes, experience, and examples of both their own and others' successes and mistakes to great effect. The Trusted Advisor is essential for anyone who must advise, negotiate, or manage complex relationships with others.

Date Published:2021

Hunger Winter : A World War II Novel

Currie, Rob


<B>The thrilling story of one boy's quest to find his father and protect his younger sister during the great Dutch famine of World War II.</B><br/><I>"Sometimes you have to take a chance, because it's the only chance you have."</I><br/>Thirteen-year-old Dirk has been the man of the house since his papa disappeared while fighting against the Nazis with the Dutch Resistance. When the Gestapo arrests Dirk's older sister, who is also a Resistance fighter, Dirk fears that he and his little sister, Anna, might be next.<br/>With only pockets full of food and his sister asleep in his arms, Dirk runs away to find his father. As Dirk leads Anna across the war-torn Netherlands, from farmyards to work camps, he must rely on his wits and his father's teaching to find his way.
Date Published:2023

The thrilling story of one boy's quest to find his father and protect his younger sister during the great Dutch famine of World War II. "Sometimes you have to take a chance, because it's the only chance you have." Thirteen-year-old Dirk has been the man of the house since his papa disappeared while fighting against the Nazis with the Dutch Resistance. When the Gestapo arrests Dirk's older sister, who is also a Resistance fighter, Dirk fears that he and his little sister, Anna, might be next. With only pockets full of food and his sister asleep in his arms, Dirk runs away to find his father. As Dirk leads Anna across the war-torn Netherlands, from farmyards to work camps, he must rely on his wits and his father's teaching to find his way.

Date Published:2023

Hold for Release

Glick, Heidi


Bitterness \| One will Choose Forgiveness. One will Choose revenge Carlotta Hartman's life is falling apart. Although Carlotta desperately wants a child, her journalist husband just wishes their marriage would go back to the way things used to be before infertility treatments took over their schedule. While volunteering at an animal shelter to fill the void, Carlotta stumbles upon dead animals and a human body. Days later, Jake confesses to an affair with a co-worker. Hurt and confused, Carlotta moves in with her sister. And then things go from bad to perilous. As Jake receives counsel from a pastor, he pledges to woo Carlotta again and piece together their shattered marriage. But as Carlotta rushes out of Jake' s arms, she runs straight into danger. Like the articles Jake writes and holds for release, a psychopath, bent on revenge, vows to hang onto Carlotta until the time is right. In the end, a secret from the past threatens to kill all hopes of a happy future.
Date Published:2023

Bitterness | One will Choose Forgiveness. One will Choose revenge Carlotta Hartman's life is falling apart. Although Carlotta desperately wants a child, her journalist husband just wishes their marriage would go back to the way things used to be before infertility treatments took over their schedule. While volunteering at an animal shelter to fill the void, Carlotta stumbles upon dead animals and a human body. Days later, Jake confesses to an affair with a co-worker. Hurt and confused, Carlotta moves in with her sister. And then things go from bad to perilous. As Jake receives counsel from a pastor, he pledges to woo Carlotta again and piece together their shattered marriage. But as Carlotta rushes out of Jake' s arms, she runs straight into danger. Like the articles Jake writes and holds for release, a psychopath, bent on revenge, vows to hang onto Carlotta until the time is right. In the end, a secret from the past threatens to kill all hopes of a happy future.

Date Published:2023

The Spoon Stealer

Crewe, Lesley


Born into a basket of clean sheets—ruining a perfectly good load of laundry—Emmeline never quite fit in on her family's rural Nova Scotian farm. After suffering multiple losses in the First World War, her family became so heavy with grief, toxicity, and mental illness that Emmeline felt their weight smothering her. And so, she fled across the Atlantic and built her life in England. Now she is retired and living in a small coastal town with her best friend, Vera, an excellent conversationalist. Vera is also a small white dog, and so Emmeline is making an effort to talk to more humans. When she joins a memoir-writing course at the library, her classmates don't know what to make of her. Funny, loud, and with a riveting memoir, she charms the lot. As her past unfolds for her audience, friendships form, a bonus in a rather lonely life. She even shares with them her third-biggest secret: she has liberated hundreds of spoons over her lifetime—from the local library, Cary Grant, Winston Churchill. She is a compulsive spoon stealer. When Emmeline unexpectedly inherits the farm she grew up on, she knows she needs to leave her new friends and go see the farm and what remains of her family one last time. She arrives like a tornado in their lives, an off-kilter Mary Poppins bossing everyone around and getting quite a lot wrong. But with her generosity and hard-earned wisdom, she gets an awful lot right too. A pinball ricocheting between people, offending and inspiring in equal measure, Emmeline, in her final years, believes that a spoonful—perhaps several spoonfuls—of kindness can set to rights the family so broken by loss and secrecy. <i>The Spoon Stealer</i> is a classic Crewe book: full of humour, family secrets, women's friendship, lovable animals, and immense heart.
Date Published:2024

Born into a basket of clean sheets—ruining a perfectly good load of laundry—Emmeline never quite fit in on her family's rural Nova Scotian farm. After suffering multiple losses in the First World War, her family became so heavy with grief, toxicity, and mental illness that Emmeline felt their weight smothering her. And so, she fled across the Atlantic and built her life in England. Now she is retired and living in a small coastal town with her best friend, Vera, an excellent conversationalist. Vera is also a small white dog, and so Emmeline is making an effort to talk to more humans. When she joins a memoir-writing course at the library, her classmates don't know what to make of her. Funny, loud, and with a riveting memoir, she charms the lot. As her past unfolds for her audience, friendships form, a bonus in a rather lonely life. She even shares with them her third-biggest secret: she has liberated hundreds of spoons over her lifetime—from the local library, Cary Grant, Winston Churchill. She is a compulsive spoon stealer. When Emmeline unexpectedly inherits the farm she grew up on, she knows she needs to leave her new friends and go see the farm and what remains of her family one last time. She arrives like a tornado in their lives, an off-kilter Mary Poppins bossing everyone around and getting quite a lot wrong. But with her generosity and hard-earned wisdom, she gets an awful lot right too. A pinball ricocheting between people, offending and inspiring in equal measure, Emmeline, in her final years, believes that a spoonful—perhaps several spoonfuls—of kindness can set to rights the family so broken by loss and secrecy. The Spoon Stealer is a classic Crewe book: full of humour, family secrets, women's friendship, lovable animals, and immense heart.

Date Published:2024

Tim Keller on the Christian Life : The Transforming Power of the Gospel

Smethurst, Matt


A Topic-by-Topic Look at Tim Keller's Best Teaching on Christian Living Pastor and author Timothy Keller (1950–2023) built a lasting legacy in Christian ministry, planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church and cofounding the Gospel Coalition. With sharp biblical insight that has shaped countless church leaders, along with counsel on the Christian life that has stirred and strengthened audiences worldwide, Keller's teaching promises to influence generations to come. Synthesizing Keller's work topic by topic, each chapter of this book highlights a key aspect of the Christian life—covering his views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, intimacy with God, and more. Written by pastor Matt Smethurst, Tim Keller on the Christian Life draws from Keller's nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books to share practical theological insight that will galvanize leaders and laypeople alike. - A Look Back at Tim Keller's Prolific Ministry: Draws from four decades of sermons and 30-plus books, as well as dozens of conference messages and published interviews - Explores Key Theological Topics: Features Keller's insightful instruction on idolatry, grace, justice, prayer, suffering, and more - Accessible: Channels Keller's clear, compelling communication style - Great Gift and Study Resource: Valuable for Christian leaders who hope to learn from Keller's methods, as well as laypeople who want biblical help for everyday life
Date Published:2025

A Topic-by-Topic Look at Tim Keller's Best Teaching on Christian Living Pastor and author Timothy Keller (1950–2023) built a lasting legacy in Christian ministry, planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church and cofounding the Gospel Coalition. With sharp biblical insight that has shaped countless church leaders, along with counsel on the Christian life that has stirred and strengthened audiences worldwide, Keller's teaching promises to influence generations to come. Synthesizing Keller's work topic by topic, each chapter of this book highlights a key aspect of the Christian life—covering his views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, intimacy with God, and more. Written by pastor Matt Smethurst, Tim Keller on the Christian Life draws from Keller's nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books to share practical theological insight that will galvanize leaders and laypeople alike. - A Look Back at Tim Keller's Prolific Ministry: Draws from four decades of sermons and 30-plus books, as well as dozens of conference messages and published interviews - Explores Key Theological Topics: Features Keller's insightful instruction on idolatry, grace, justice, prayer, suffering, and more - Accessible: Channels Keller's clear, compelling communication style - Great Gift and Study Resource: Valuable for Christian leaders who hope to learn from Keller's methods, as well as laypeople who want biblical help for everyday life

Date Published:2025

Tim Keller on the Christian Life : The Transforming Power of the Gospel

Smethurst, Matt


A Topic-by-Topic Look at Tim Keller's Best Teaching on Christian Living Pastor and author Timothy Keller (1950–2023) built a lasting legacy in Christian ministry, planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church and cofounding the Gospel Coalition. With sharp biblical insight that has shaped countless church leaders, along with counsel on the Christian life that has stirred and strengthened audiences worldwide, Keller's teaching promises to influence generations to come. Synthesizing Keller's work topic by topic, each chapter of this audiobook highlights a key aspect of the Christian life—covering his views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, intimacy with God, and more. Written by pastor Matt Smethurst, Tim Keller on the Christian Life draws from Keller's nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books to share practical theological insight that will galvanize leaders and laypeople alike. - A Look Back at Tim Keller's Prolific Ministry: Draws from four decades of sermons and 30-plus books, as well as dozens of conference messages and published interviews - Explores Key Theological Topics: Features Keller's insightful instruction on idolatry, grace, justice, prayer, suffering, and more - Accessible: Channels Keller's clear, compelling communication style - Great Gift and Study Resource: Valuable for Christian leaders who hope to learn from Keller's methods, as well as laypeople who want biblical help for everyday life
Date Published:2025

A Topic-by-Topic Look at Tim Keller's Best Teaching on Christian Living Pastor and author Timothy Keller (1950–2023) built a lasting legacy in Christian ministry, planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church and cofounding the Gospel Coalition. With sharp biblical insight that has shaped countless church leaders, along with counsel on the Christian life that has stirred and strengthened audiences worldwide, Keller's teaching promises to influence generations to come. Synthesizing Keller's work topic by topic, each chapter of this audiobook highlights a key aspect of the Christian life—covering his views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, intimacy with God, and more. Written by pastor Matt Smethurst, Tim Keller on the Christian Life draws from Keller's nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books to share practical theological insight that will galvanize leaders and laypeople alike. - A Look Back at Tim Keller's Prolific Ministry: Draws from four decades of sermons and 30-plus books, as well as dozens of conference messages and published interviews - Explores Key Theological Topics: Features Keller's insightful instruction on idolatry, grace, justice, prayer, suffering, and more - Accessible: Channels Keller's clear, compelling communication style - Great Gift and Study Resource: Valuable for Christian leaders who hope to learn from Keller's methods, as well as laypeople who want biblical help for everyday life

Date Published:2025

The Fault Between Us

Landsem, Stephanie


In this gripping new work of historical fiction from the award-winning author of Code Name Edelweiss, three sisters fight for their lives and for each other amid the danger of a cataclysmic earthquake that rips Yellowstone National Park asunder. 1959. Claire, Bridget, and Frannie Reilly were once as close as sisters can be. Though their mother left when they were young, their loving father raised them with everything they could want. But when Claire marries a handsome cowboy and settles out west, a thousand miles away, the sisters' strong bond begins to unravel. Claire struggles to adjust to a life utterly unlike her upbringing, and surprising revelations about her husband's past make her wonder if she's made a terrible mistake. With a new baby and a shoestring budget, the last thing she needs is her family's interference. Sensing something isn't right, Bridget takes a temporary nursing assignment in Yellowstone, promising her father she'll bring Claire home—with or without her husband. When Frannie, the rebellious youngest sister, is sent along in hopes it will corral her behavior, the Reilly sisters reunite on the eve of a seismic event that rips Yellowstone apart, tests their survival, and exposes the ever-widening rift in their relationship. Based on real events of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake and inspired by true stories, The Fault Between Us is a suspenseful exploration of the bonds of sisterhood, the depths of family drama, and how hidden wounds can only heal when they're brought into the light. - Christian historical fiction based on fascinating historical events - Perfect for fans of Cathy Gohlke or Susan Meissner - Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Date Published:2025

In this gripping new work of historical fiction from the award-winning author of Code Name Edelweiss, three sisters fight for their lives and for each other amid the danger of a cataclysmic earthquake that rips Yellowstone National Park asunder. 1959. Claire, Bridget, and Frannie Reilly were once as close as sisters can be. Though their mother left when they were young, their loving father raised them with everything they could want. But when Claire marries a handsome cowboy and settles out west, a thousand miles away, the sisters' strong bond begins to unravel. Claire struggles to adjust to a life utterly unlike her upbringing, and surprising revelations about her husband's past make her wonder if she's made a terrible mistake. With a new baby and a shoestring budget, the last thing she needs is her family's interference. Sensing something isn't right, Bridget takes a temporary nursing assignment in Yellowstone, promising her father she'll bring Claire home—with or without her husband. When Frannie, the rebellious youngest sister, is sent along in hopes it will corral her behavior, the Reilly sisters reunite on the eve of a seismic event that rips Yellowstone apart, tests their survival, and exposes the ever-widening rift in their relationship. Based on real events of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake and inspired by true stories, The Fault Between Us is a suspenseful exploration of the bonds of sisterhood, the depths of family drama, and how hidden wounds can only heal when they're brought into the light. - Christian historical fiction based on fascinating historical events - Perfect for fans of Cathy Gohlke or Susan Meissner - Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Date Published:2025

The White Octopus Hotel

Bell, Alexandra


<b>Journey to a magical hotel in the Swiss Alps, where two lost souls living in different centuries meet and discover if a second chance awaits them behind its doors.</b><br><i>“Have you travelled a long way?” she asked carefully..</i><br><i>A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “Well, yes,” he said slowly. “Yes, you could say that. But it was worth the wait.”<br></i><br><b> London, 2015.</b> When reclusive art appraiser Eve Shaw shakes the hand of a silver-haired gentleman in her office, the warmth of his palm sends a spark through her.<br>His name is Max Everly—curiously, the same name as Eve’s favorite composer, born one hundred sixteen years prior. And she has the sudden feeling that she’s held his hand before . . . but where, and when?<br><b> The White Octopus Hotel, 1935.</b> In this belle Époque building high in the snowy mountains, Eve and a young Max wander the winding halls, lost in time.<br>Each of them has been through the trenches—Eve through a family accident and Max on the battlefields of the Great War—but for an impossible moment, love and healing are just a room away . . . if only they have the courage to step through the door.
Date Published:2025

Journey to a magical hotel in the Swiss Alps, where two lost souls living in different centuries meet and discover if a second chance awaits them behind its doors. “Have you travelled a long way?” she asked carefully.. A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “Well, yes,” he said slowly. “Yes, you could say that. But it was worth the wait.” London, 2015. When reclusive art appraiser Eve Shaw shakes the hand of a silver-haired gentleman in her office, the warmth of his palm sends a spark through her. His name is Max Everly—curiously, the same name as Eve’s favorite composer, born one hundred sixteen years prior. And she has the sudden feeling that she’s held his hand before . . . but where, and when? The White Octopus Hotel, 1935. In this belle Époque building high in the snowy mountains, Eve and a young Max wander the winding halls, lost in time. Each of them has been through the trenches—Eve through a family accident and Max on the battlefields of the Great War—but for an impossible moment, love and healing are just a room away . . . if only they have the courage to step through the door.

Date Published:2025

Time for Courage

Currie, Rob


<P><B>During WWII, when the Nazis hunt Jewish children, the kids' only hope is help from the Dutch Resistance. But these brave volunteers are outgunned, outmanned, and all they have is each other.</B></P><P>In this sequel to <I>Hunger Winter</I>, thirteen -year-old Dirk and his family move to a farm near Utrecht, Netherlands, in January of 1945. When the Nazis focus on capturing Jewish children to send to gas chambers, Dirk's family intervenes. Their methods include providing ration cards and finding families to hide Jewish children and teens.</P><P>With edge-of-your-seat action and suspense, the reader follows Dirk and his family as they work with the Dutch Resistance to protect the children and battle the zeal and determination of the Gestapo to find the children and send them to their deaths.</P><P>This World War II historical fiction novel for kids features:</P><li><P>Edge-of-your-seat excitement and danger set against the backdrop of the Holocaust</P></li><li><P>Historically accurate accounts of WWII events not normally covered in other books</P></li><li><P>Maps of the Netherlands to help parents and teachers prepare lessons for children about the history of WWII</P></li><P><I>This middle-grade book is an adventure to be read again and again, a story that should not be forgotten.</I></P>
Date Published:2026

During WWII, when the Nazis hunt Jewish children, the kids' only hope is help from the Dutch Resistance. But these brave volunteers are outgunned, outmanned, and all they have is each other.In this sequel to Hunger Winter, thirteen -year-old Dirk and his family move to a farm near Utrecht, Netherlands, in January of 1945. When the Nazis focus on capturing Jewish children to send to gas chambers, Dirk's family intervenes. Their methods include providing ration cards and finding families to hide Jewish children and teens.With edge-of-your-seat action and suspense, the reader follows Dirk and his family as they work with the Dutch Resistance to protect the children and battle the zeal and determination of the Gestapo to find the children and send them to their deaths.This World War II historical fiction novel for kids features:<li>Edge-of-your-seat excitement and danger set against the backdrop of the Holocaust</li><li>Historically accurate accounts of WWII events not normally covered in other books</li><li>Maps of the Netherlands to help parents and teachers prepare lessons for children about the history of WWII</li>This middle-grade book is an adventure to be read again and again, a story that should not be forgotten.

Date Published:2026