Anthology of my favorite books, many of which have been read and re-read. I hope something here piques your interest so that I can share my passion for these special books!
They Loved to Laugh
by Kathryn Worth
Tears and laughter alternate in this novel of a young girl's growth to womanhood in the 1830's. 16-year-old orphan Martitia Howland has been transplanted into a Quaker farm family of five intimidating sons and one disapproving daughter. As Martitia runs their gauntlet, she begins to bloom. Valiantly she acquires the skills they expect of her, and discovers other gifts all her own. Her achievements earn respect in the end and more, her heart's true love. (Synopsis from Bethlehembooks.com)
Under A War-Torn Sky
by L.M. Elliot
It's packed with action, intrigue, and suspense, but this novel celebrates acts of kindness and heroism without glorifying war. American Henry Forester, a young flier with the RAF during World War II, is a complex mix of insecurities, unresolved feelings about his punitive father, and heroic aspiration. On his thirteenth bombing mission, he is shot down, having no idea where he has landed. His journey back through Nazi-occupied Europe and his involvement with members of the French resistance are depicted with chilling realism. Small details (bike wheels in France were made of wood because the Germans had confiscated all the rubber) add both credibility and appeal to this gripping adventure, inspired by stories told to the author by her father. An afterword concerns the resistance movement. (Synopsis by Booklist)
A Troubled Peace
by L.M. Elliot (Sequel to Under A War-Torn Sky)
World War II may be ending, but the conflict still rages for nineteen-year-old bomber pilot Henry Forester. After returning home to Virginia he is still reliving his struggles, and can’t stop worrying about the safety of those who helped him escape— most of all, one French boy, Pierre, who may have lost everything because of Henry. When he returns to France to find Pierre, Henry is staggered by the consequences of war. Amid starvation, cities devastated by Allied bombing, and the shocking return of concentration camp survivors, Henry must embark on a brave search for a lost boy and a fight to find his own peace. (Back cover synopsis)
The Mitford Series
by Jan Karon
The Silver Chalice
by Thomas Costain
The colorful, passionate world of early Christianity comes to vivid life in this story of Basil of Antioch. Basil, a sensitive artisan, is purchased from slavery and commissioned to create a decorative casting for the Chalice that Jesus used at the Last Supper. Basil travels to Jerusalem, Greece, and Rome, meets the apostles, braves the perils of persecution, and finally makes a fateful choice that allows him to "see" Jesus. The dramatic plot, compelling characters and spiritual depth of The Silver Chalice made it one of the most popular historical novels of the twentieth century. (Back cover synopsis)
All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All, Every Living Thing
by James Herriot
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by Elizabeth George Speare
Kit has grown up on the island of Barbados, loved and pampered by her grandfather. But after his death, Kit must leave. It's not proper for a sixteen-year-old girl to live by herself. She's heard stories about her aunt and uncle who live in the colony of Connecticut. These are the only relatives Kit knows of. So, alone and desperate, she sets sail to live with them in New England. When she arrives, Kit is shocked by the gray, damp landscape, but even more stunned by the Puritanical lifestyle of her uncle's household. Fitting in is not easy -- until she meets Hannah Tupper, an older woman who lives alone and is the only person who lets Kit be herself. But the colonists believe Hannah is a witch. If they discover Kit is her friend, they will think the same of her. Kit must choose: should she abandon her only friend, or stand by her and risk losing everything? (Back cover synopsis)
Homeless Bird
by Gloria Whelan
Koly's parents have arranged a marriage for their only daughter and now, like many girls her age in India, she will leave home forever. She yearns to flee, but tradition dictates that it's too late to turn back. On her wedding day, Koly's fate is sealed. Caught up in a current of tradition that threatens to sweep her toward a terrifying fate, Koly finds herself cast out, lost in a strange and cruel world. But sometimes, courage and hope can be more powerful than tradition, and fate can be taken into into one's own hands. (Back cover synopsis)
A Tangled Web
by L.M. Montgomery
Over the years sixty members of the Dark family and sixty Penhallows have married one another--but not without their share of fighting and feuding. Now Aunt Becky, the eccentric old matriarch of the clan, has bequeathed her prized possession: a legendary heirloom jug. But the name of the jug's new owner will not be revealed for one year. In the next twelve months beautiful Gay Penhallow's handsome fiance Noel Gibson leaves her for sly and seductive Nan Penhallow; reckless Peter Penhallow and lovely Donna Dark, who have hated each other since childhood, are inexplicably brought together by the jug; Hugh and Joscelyn Dark, separated on their wedding night ten years ago for reasons never revealed, find a second chance--all watched over by the mysterious Moon Man, who has the gift of second sight. Then comes the night when Aunt Becky's wishes will be revealed...and the family is in for the biggest surprise of all. (Back cover synopsis)
Trapped in Hitler's Hell
by Anita Dittman
Anita Dittman was just a little girl when the winds of Hitler and Nazism began to blow through Germany. Raised by her Jewish mother, she first heard about Jesus when she was just six years old. By the time she was eight, she came to believe that He was her Messiah. By the time she was 10, the war had begun. Trapped in Hitler's Hell is the true account of holocaust horror but also of God's miraculous mercy on a young girl who spent her teen-age years desperately fighting for survival yet learning to trust in the One she had come to love. You will never read another story like this one, and you will be changed forever through the life of this courageous and lovely young woman. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
by Rachel Field
Hitty is a doll of great charm and character. It is indeed a privilege to publish her memoirs, which, besides being full of the most thrilling adventures on land and sea, also reveal her delightful personality. One glance at her portrait will show that she is no ordinary doll. Hitty, or Mehitable as she was really named, was made in the early 1800s for Phoebe Preble, a little girl from Maine. Young Phoebe was very proud of her beautiful doll and took her everywhere, even on a long sailing trip in a whaler. This is the story of Hitty's years with Phoebe, and the many that follow in the life of a well-loved doll. (Product description)
Understood Betsy
by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
The insightful story of how an over-protected girl becomes a self-confident young woman.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Hiding Place
by Corrie Ten Boom
Tilly
by Frank Peretti
"Kathy looked at the little gravestone again. Now she could see it clearly. It bore just that one name: Tilly. . . . She couldn't take her eyes away. She didn't want to. She stooped down to look.Only one date. Only one. Nine years ago."
Kathy and Dan Ross are just like any other young couple. No one would ever imagine what secrets lie buried in their souls until Kathy is captivated by that simple name on a tiny gravestone and their lives are changed forever. Originally presented as a radio drama on Focus on the Family, Tilly is a deeply moving novel-an unforgettable story of life, love, and Christ's forgiveness. (Product description)
Caddie Woodlawn
by Carol Ryrie Brink
The adventures of an eleven-year-old tomboy growing up on the Wisconsin frontier in the mid-nineteenth century. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Magical Melons
by Carol Ryrie Brink (Sequel to Caddie Woodlawn)
Caddie and her five siblings wash sheep, help build a neighbor's house, and adopy baby animals inthis delightful sequel to the Newbery Medal book, Caddie Woodlawn. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Mine Eyes Have Seen
by Ann Rinaldi
From a popular historical novelist comes the riveting story of the Harper's Ferry raid and seen through the eyes of John Brown's daughter, Annie, who served as a lookout. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Twice Freed
by Patricia St. John
Onesimus is a slave. Eirene is a rich merchant's daughter. Onesimus longs to gain his freedom and Eirene's love. However, he doesn't realize where true freedom lies. He wants nothing to do with Jesus Christ. His master, Philemon, may follow the teachings of the Christ and his apostle Paul... but Onesimus has other plans. (Product description)
Chapters: My Growth as a Writer
by Lois Duncan
The author recounts the experiences from her childhood, adolescence, and marriage which have been incorporated into her fictional stories and poems. (Product description)
A Little Princess
by Francis Hodgson Burnett
A Little Princess tells the story of young Sara Crewe, privileged daughter of a wealthy diamond merchant. All the other girls at Miss Minchin's school treat Sara as if she truly were a princess. But when Captain Crewe's fortune is sadly lost, Sara's luck changes. Suddenly, she is treated no better than a scullery maid. Her own fierce determination to maintain her dignity and remain a princess inside has intrigued and delighted readers for more than a hundred years. (From the Product description)
Behind the Bedroom Wall
by Laura Williams
In 1939, ten-year-old Korinna Rehme becomes a member of her local Jungmaedel, a Nazi youth group. She believes that Hitler is helping the world by dealing with what he calls the "Jewish problem." When Korinna discovers that her parents are secretly hiding Jews in their house and helping them to escape the city, she is shocked. And her loyalties are put to an extreme test when a neighbor tips off the Gestapo. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Cheaper by the Dozen
by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Carey
No growing pains have ever been more hilarious than those suffered loudly by the riotous Gilbreth clan. First there are a dozen red-haired, freckle-faced kids to contend with. Then there's Dad, a famous efficiency expert who believes a family can be run just like a factory. Finally there's Mother, his partner in everything except discipline. How they all survive such escapades as forgetting Frank Jr. in a roadside restaurant or going on a first date with Dad in the backseat or having their tonsils removed en masse will keep you in stitches. You can be sure they're not only cheaper, they're funnier by the dozen. (Product description)
Belles On Their Toes
by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Carey
Life is very different now in the rambling Gilbreth house.When the youngest was two and the oldest eighteen, Dad died and Mother bravely took over his business. Now, to keep the family together, everyone has to pitch in and pinch pennies. The resourceful clan rises to every crisis with a marvelous sense of fun -- whether it's battling chicken pox, giving the boot to an unwelcome boyfriend, or even meeting the President. And the few distasteful things they can't overcome -- like castor oil -- they swallow with good humor and good grace. Belles on Their Toes is a warm, wonderful, and entertaining sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen. (Product description)
The Anne of Green Gables Series
by L.M. Montgomery
The Chronicles of Narnia Series
by C. S. Lewis
From Jo March's Attic: Stories of Intrigue and Suspense
by Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott, like her beloved character Jo March, supported herself and her family by writing these anonymous thrillers for popular magazines. Nine of her recently discovered stories are included in this volume. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The Redheaded Princess
by Ann Rinaldi
Growing up, Elizabeth fears she can never be Queen. Although she is the King's daughter, no woman can ever hope to rule over men in England, especially when her mother has been executed for treason. For all her royal blood, Elizabeth's life is fraught with danger and uncertainty. Sometimes she is welcome in the royal court; other times she is cast out into the countryside. With her position constantly changing, the Princess must navigate a sea of shifting loyalties and dangerous affections. At stake is her life—for beheading is not uncommon among the factions that war for the Crown. (Product description)
The Secret of the Ruby Ring
by Yvonne MacGrory
Lucy, a rather spoiled almost-eleven-year-old, gets a very special birthday present from her grandmother. This gift, a star ruby ring, has been passed down for generations through Lucy's family. The evening before her birthday, Lucy accidently discovers the magical secret of the ring:The secret of this Ruby Ring is that two wishes it can bringTwisting the ring and making her first wish, Lucy finds herself transported to a far away time, that of Ireland in 1885, a time of unrest, evictions, and boycotting. At first, Lucy is intrigued by Langley Castle and its inhabitants, but soon she misses her family and friends. When she decides to use her second wish to go home, Lucy discovers that the ring has disappeared. Can Lucy convince young Robert that she is from another age? Will he help her retrieve the ruby ring, or will Lucy be trapped forever in a bygone age? (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Mara, Daughter of the Nile
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Mara is a proud and beautiful slave girl who yearns for freedom. In order to gain it, she finds herself playing the dangerous role of double spy for two arch enemies - each of whom supports a contender for the throne of Egypt. Against her will, Mara finds herself falling in love with one of her masters, the noble Sheftu, and she starts to believe in his plans of restoring Thutmose III to the throne. But just when Mara is ready to offer Sheftu her help and her heart, her duplicity is discovered, and a battle ensues in which both Mara's life and the fate of Egypt are at stake. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The Blue Door
by Ann Rinaldi (3rd book in the Quilt Trilogy)
Amanda Videau had no idea what adventures she'd find on the journey North. But she never expected this... After witnessing a crime, she goes into hiding, disguising herself as a worker in her great-grandfather's textile mill. For the first time in her life, Amanda must work to survive. And that means experiencing the horrible working conditions of the mill firsthand. Now, as Amanda fights for her newfound rights, she must also try to heal generations of deep Chelmsford family wounds. And that means facing the man behind the blue door--the man who tore apart the family quilt so many years ago. (Synopsis by Goodreads)
Or Give Me Death: A Novel of Patrick Henry's Family
by Ann Rinaldi
With their father away most of the time advocating independence for the American colonies, the children of Patrick Henry try to raise themselves, manage the family plantation, and care for their mentally ill mother. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The Coffin Quilt: The Feud Between the Hatfields and the McCoys
by Ann Rinaldi
Teenager Fanny McCoy grows up in the midst of a longstanding neighborhood war in this novel that brings to life the archetypal American family feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys — a legendary episode in history. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The Staircase
by Ann Rinaldi
Who really built the miraculous staircase in the Chapel of Loretto in Santa Fe? How could Lizzy Enders's father leave her in a girls school run by the Sisters of Loretto in Santa Fe? She's surrounded by Catholics, who pray to Saint Joseph and whose saints keep watch over her-and she's Methodist! Taunted by the other boarders, Lizzy befriends a wandering carpenter named Jose, who with just three tools--and his unflagging faith--builds a staircase to the choir loft of the new chapel. Through their friendship, Lizzy discovers the inner strength to forgive and to trust. Working from the legend of the "miraculous" staircase in the Chapel of Loretto in Santa Fe, Ann Rinaldi skillfully blends the mystery surrounding the builder of the staircase with the daily trials of a young girl growing up in the 1870s. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
An independent-minded young maid tells the story of social-climber Peggy Shippen and how she influenced Benedict Arnold’s betrayal of the Patriot forces. Revolutionary Philadelphia is brought to life as Becca seeks to find her “missing pieces” while exploring the complicated issues of the war between the impoverished independence men and the decadent British Tories.
The Scarlet Pimpernel
by Baroness Emmuuska Orczy
An irresistible blend of romance, intrigue, and suspense, this timeless historical adventure recalls the terror following the French Revolution, when mobs ruled the streets of Paris and hundreds of royals were condemned to face the guillotine daily. The only hope of many was a courageous leader who spirited aristocrats across the Channel to England and safety. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Calico Captive
by Elizabeth George Speare
In the year 1754, the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, is shattered by the terrifying cries of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day that had promised new happiness, finds herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War. It is a harrowing march north. Miriam can only force herself to the next stopping place, the next small portion of food, the next icy stream to be crossed. At the end of the trail waits a life of hard work and, perhaps, even a life of slavery. Mingled with her thoughts of Phineas Whitney, her sweetheart on his way to Harvard, is the crying of her sister’s baby, Captive, born on the trail. Miriam and her companions finally reach Montreal, a city of shifting loyalties filled with the intrigue of war, and here, by a sudden twist of fortune, Miriam meets the prominent Du Quesne family, who introduce her to a life she has never imagined. Based on an actual narrative diary published in 1807, Calico Captive skillfully reenacts an absorbing facet of history. (Product description)
The Perilous Gard
by Elizabeth Marie Pope
Exiled and enslaved against her will -- can Kate outwit her captors? Because her sister Alicia sent an inpulsive letter to Queen Mary, Kate Sutton, lady-in-waiting to Princess Elizabeth, has been exiled. Sent to Elvenwood, "The Perilous Guard," Kate is intrigued by the master of the isolated castle, Sir Geoffrey Heron, and his strangely silent brother, Christopher. Elvenwood is shrouded in secrets that no one will explain to Kate, so she sets out to find soem answers on her own. But her curiosity almost kills her, for she stumbles upon the otherworldly province of the secret residents of the land around Elvenwood - the People of the Hill. And the People want to make Kate a slave for life. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The Last Sin Eater
by Francine Rivers
All that matters for Cadi Forbes is finding the one man who can set her free from the sin that plagues her, the sin that has stolen her mother's love from her and made her wish she could flee life and its terrible injustice. But Cadi doesn't know that the “sin eater” is seeking as well. Before their journeys are over, Cadi and the sin eater must face themselves, each other, and the One who will demand everything from them in exchange for the answers they seek. A captivating tale of suffering, seeking, and redemption. (Product description)
A Voice in the Wind
by Francine Rivers (1st in the Mark of the Lion Series)
This first book in the classic best-selling Mark of the Lion series brings readers back to the first century and introduces them to a character they will never forget—Hadassah. Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, a young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome. (Product description)
An Echo in the Darkness
by Francine Rivers (2nd book in the Mark of the Lion Series)
Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul. (Product description)
As Sure as the Dawn
by Francine Rivers (3rd book in the Mark of the Lion Series)
Atretes, a German barbarian who has won his freedom in the Roman arena, finds his life changed forever by an encounter with a young Christian woman. Atretes vows to move heaven and earth to find his son--the baby he thought was dead, and take him back to Germany. Only one thing stands in his way: Rizpah, the Christian widow who has cared for the child since his birth. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The Reb and the Redcoats
by Constance Savery
In an interesting turnabout, the Revolutionary War is seen through the eyes of a British family to whom an American prisoner of war has been entrusted. Technically the young prisoner is in Uncle Lawrence's custody, but the children soon forge a forbidden friendship with him after he nearly dies in an attempted escape. He becomes the Reb and they, his Redcoats. But when they learn of some events leading to his coming to Europe, even Uncle Lawrence, embittered by the unjust death of a friend in America, thaws toward him-but this doesn't stop the Reb from scheming to escape. Constance Savery deftly weaves themes of trust and forgiveness into an interesting plot with likeable characters. (Synopsis from bethlehembooks.com)
Enemy Brothers
by Constance Savery
British airman Dym Ingleford is convinced that the young German prisoner, Max Eckermann, is his brother Anthony who was kidnapped years before. Raised in the Nazi ideology, Tony has by chance tumbled into British hands. Dym has brought him back, at least temporarily, to the family he neither remembers nor will acknowledge as his own. As Tony keeps attempting to escape, his stubborn anger is whittled away by the patient kindness he finds at the White Priory. Then, just as he is resigning himself to stay with this English family, a new chance suddenly opens for him to return home-to Germany! (Synopsis from bethlehembooks.com)
The Borrowed House
by Hilda Van Stockum
When Janna is suddenly summoned from Germany to join her actor parents in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, she is shocked by the Dutch hatred for the Germans. Her favorite Nordic tales and Hitler Youth indoctrination have not prepared her for the complexities of living in a house requisitioned by a military friend of her parents; or for the violence she sees on the streets. With her parents preoccupied by their perplexing adult world of careers and relationships, Janna is lonely and full of unwelcome questions. It is the house itself which begins to provide real, if painful, answers to Janna's bewilderment-but not before it adds its own set of mysteries to solve. A well-developed, true-to-life tale for teenagers. (Synopsis from bethlehembooks.com)
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House Series
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The "Dear America" Diary Series
by Assorted Authors
The "Royal Diaries" Series
by Assorted Authors
Little Men
by Louisa May Alcott
Eight Cousins
by Louisa May Alcott
A shy orphan blossoms among her spirited relatives in this captivating novel by the author of Little Women. Readers of all ages treasure its tales of friendship, kindness, and courage. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
Rose In Bloom
by Louisa May Alcott
In the sequel to "Eight Cousins", Rose Campbell returns to the "Aunt Hill" after two years of travelling around the world. Suddenly, she is surrounded by male admirers, all expecting her to marry them. But before she marries, Rose is determined to establish herself as an independent woman. (Product description)
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
by Aurthur Conan Doyle
Secret Keeper: The Delicate Power of Modesty
by Dannah Gresh
With Victoria's Secret now targeting 18-24 year-olds with the PINK line, and Abercrombie & Fitch successfully selling clothing through a catalog available only to those 18 and over, the need for a clear voice on modesty has never been greater. In this reformatted edition of Dannah Gresh's bestselling book on modesty, teen and twenty-something young women are given actual pictures and examples of modern clothing-a modesty fashion show, of sorts. Dannah's approach to explaining the critical nature of modest is both cool and relevant. The photos will also show the girls how to take the 'Truth or Bare Fashion Tests.' In essence, this will provide concrete, 'how-to' modest dressing skills. (Product description)
Vienna Prelude
by Brock and Bodie Thoene (1st in the Zion Covenant Series)
Opening in 1936, the Zion Covenant series tells the courageous and compelling stories of those who risk everything to stand against the growing tide of Nazi terrorism that is sweeping through central Europe under the dangerous and deceitful guise of Hitler's Third Reich. (Product description)
Ashes of Roses
by Mary Jane Auch
Sixteen-year-old Margaret Rose Nolan, newly arrived from Ireland, finds work at New York City's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory shortly before the 1911 fire in which 146 employees died. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The "Martha Years" Series
by Melissa Wiley
The "Charlotte Years" Series
by Melissa Wiley
The "Caroline Years" Series
Assorted authors
With Lee in Virginia
by G.A. Henty
Vincent Wingfield returns home to Virginia after four years of school in England to find conditions in the South and the country unsettled. War breaks out, and Vincent goes to fight for the South. Henty's gripping story weaves Vincent's adventures with the real life events of the Civil War giving a rare glimpse of this struggle from a Southern perspective. This book teaches history as it entertains and celebrates family loyalty, honor, bravery, and determination. (Product description)
The Robe
by Lloyd C. Douglas
The book explores the aftermath of the crucifixion thru the experiences of Marcellus Gallio, the Roman tribune who commanded the unit in charge. Prince Gaius sends Marcellus to take command of the Roman garrison at Minoa, a port city in S. Palestine. Marcellus is accompanied by his slave Demetrius. Marcellus & other soldiers throw dice to see who'll take Jesus' Robe. Marcellus wins & asks Demetrius to take care of the Robe. Following the crucifixion, Marcellus takes part in a banquet attended by Pontius Pilate. During the banquet, a drunken centurion insists that Marcellus wear the robe. Marcellus goes on a journey, following the path Jesus took & meets people whose lives he'd affected. Thru this journey, both the tribune & the reader are challenged to question various norms they've embraced. (From the Goodreads' synopsis)
The Tinker's Daughter
by Wendy Lawton
John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, only mentioned one of his children in his memoirs - Mary. Born blind, her story still intrigues us today. Mary developed a fierce determination for independence despite her disability after years of proving she was not hindered by her blindness. Only when she admits she needs help does she tap into the Source of all strength. (Product description)
The Hallelujah Lass
by Wendy Lawton
The fifth book in the Daughters of the Faith Series, The Hallelujah Lass tells the story of Eliza Shirley, a 16-year-old girl who traveled from England to pioneer the work of the Salvation Army in the United States. The Daughters of the Faith Series gives teens fascinating character-building stories of real girls from history who did extraordinary things for God. (Product description)
Shadow of His Hand
by Wendy Lawton
Young Anita Dittman's world crumbles as Hitler begins his rise to power in Germany, but because she's a Christian and only half-Jewish, Anita feels sure she and her family are safe from 'the Final Solution.' She couldn't have been more wrong. Shadow of His Hand is an inspirational young adult historical fiction book based on the real-life story of Anita Dittman, a Holocaust survivor. It follows her struggle against Nazi persecution and her growth in her relationship with God through the worst of times. (Product description)
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens
This darkly satiric indictment of the social ills of Victorian London tells the story of a young orphan who becomes involved with a gang of criminals.
The Secret Adversary
by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie's popular detective team Tommy and Tuppence make their first appearance in this novel, in which the duo is hired to find a woman who disappeared with sensitive government documents but soon find themselves drawn into a complicated web of intrigue, intelligence agents, dubious identities, missing government papers, false clues, and danger.
One Thousand Gifts
by Ann Voskamp
Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. 'How,' Ann wondered, 'do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long--and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?' In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It's only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted...a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved--by God. Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!
