This brilliantly reported, unforgettable true story reveals how one of the most monstrous sexual criminals in the history of the Mormon church preyed on his victims even as he was protected by the church elders who knew of his behavior. When Seattle attorney Tim Kosnoff agreed to listen to an eighteen-year-old man who claimed to have been molested by his Mormon Sunday school teacher, he had no idea he was embarking on a quest for justice on behalf of multiple victims or that the battle would consume years of his life and pit him against the vast, powerful, and unrepentant Mormon church itself. As Kosnoff began to investigate the case, he discovered that the Sunday school teacher, a mysterious figure named Frank Curtis, possessed a long and violent prison record before he was welcomed into the church, where he became a respected elder entrusted with the care of prepubescent Mormon boys. Through Lisa Davis’s deft storytelling, two astonishing narratives unfold. The first shows how Brother Curtis ingratiated himself into the lives of young boys from working-class Mormon families where money was tight, and was accepted by mothers and fathers who saw in him a kindly uncle or grandfather figure who enjoyed the blessing of the church. Having gained the families’ trust, Curtis became fiendishly helpful, offering to supervise trips or overnights out of the sight of parents, when he could manipulate his victims or ply them with alcohol. The other narrative is a real-life legal thriller. As Davis shows, Kosnoff and his partners tirelessly assembled the case against the church, sifting through records, tracking down victims, and convincing them to testify about Brother Curtis’s acts. What began as a case of one plaintiff turned into a complex web stretching across multiple states. Joined by what would become a team of attorneys and investigators, Kosnoff found himself up against one of the most insular institutions in the United States: the secretive and powerful Mormon church. The amazing legal case at the heart of The Sins of Brother Curtis shows how the church’s elite, well-funded team of attorneys claimed the church was protected under the Constitution from revealing that Curtis had molested a number of Mormon boys. Yet Kosnoff and his devoted legal team (which included a female investigator adept at getting parents of victims to talk to her) succeeded in forcing the church to reveal that it knew about Curtis and ultimately achieved a successful settlement. Emotionally powerful page by page, The Sins of Brother Curtis delivers a redemptive reading experience in which the truth, no matter how painful and hidden, is told at last and justice is hard won. This is a remarkable story, all true.

Every day, both adults and children are victimized in unhealthy relationships. Domestic and child abuse have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as potential escapes from abuse at home were stripped away. Abuse is a raging global issue; however, with enough research, policy, and social activism, society can aid in the prevention of child and domestic abuse. The Research Anthology on Child and Domestic Abuse and Its Prevention discusses the prevalence of domestic abuse as well as the exploitation of children both at home and beyond. It further presents emerging practices in technology, social work, and criminology to prevent the further exploitation and victimization of adults and children in abusive situations. Covering topics such as foster children, gender-based violence, and trauma analysis, this major reference work is an indispensable resource for social workers, lawmakers, government organizations, non-profit organizations, psychologists, therapists, sociologists, libraries, students and educators of higher education, criminologists, leaders in law enforcement, researchers, and academicians.

Glen of Loch Trool. Spring 1808. Davina McKie is a bonny lass of seventeen, as clever as they come and a gifted musician. Unable to speak since childhood, she is doted on by her belligerent younger brothers, Will and Sandy, who vow to protect their silent sister. When the lads are forced to depart the glen, Jamie McKie intends to brighten his daughter’s summer by escorting Davina to the Isle of Arran. Her cousins make her welcome at the manse, and the parish delights in hearing their talented fiddler. But when she catches the eye of a handsome young Highlander on Midsummer Eve, sheltered Davina is unprepared for the shocking events that follow. A timeless story of passion and revenge, of lost innocence and shattered dreams, Grace in Thine Eyes explores the sorrow of unspeakable shame and the gift of immeasurable grace. A Reader’s Guide and Scottish Glossary Are Included

Two brothers fight to claim one father’s blessing. Two sisters long to claim one man’s heart. In the autumn of 1788, amid the moors and glens of the Scottish Lowlands, two brothers and two sisters each embark on a painful journey of discovery. Jamie and Evan McKie both want their father Alec’s flocks and lands, yet only one brother will inherit Glentrool. Leana and Rose McBride both yearn to catch the eye of the same handsome lad, yet only one sister will be his bride. A thorny love triangle emerges, plagued by lies and deception, jealousy and desire, hidden secrets and broken promises. Brimming with passion and drama, Thorn in My Heart brings the past to vibrant life, revealing spiritual truths that transcend time and penetrate the deepest places of the heart.

The war is over, but predators hunt the city streets. The Allied Classes may have won the war, but there are new problems to solve. With Producers officially off the menu and refusing to go back to the encampments, food is scarce. Homelessness and violence are taking over the city, and they still need to discover who is trafficking young Servants and Guards. But monsters lurk in the shadows of the city and to catch them sacrifices must be made. If you enjoy science fiction fantasy stories in a future, dystopian world with human-animal hybrids, werewolf type creatures, mutants, hybrids, monsters and snarky sidekicks, you'll love this book.

The Spragues of rural Cedar County, Missouri, missed the Civil War until their oldest son, Jesse, answered a remark from a drunk southern sympathizer who wore revenge. Soon after, his father is shot by a group of confederates scouts. With the help of his special needs friend, Rooney, the two youngsters maintain the farm until Franklin recovers. The next summer after Jesse taking his girl, Sissy, home from a brush arbor church service, a group of southern sympathizers ambush him. Jesse escapes with the help of Rooney and leaves the county. Having two friends in the Union Army is southern Missouri, Jesse decides to travel there. On his journey, the youngster meets a drummer and a young lady, Lena. Chauncey, the drummer, and Jesse barely escape a group of Confederate raiders returning from a foray. Jesse makes it Monett and is hired as a scout. Back in Cedar County, Rooney misses his friend and when Sissy dies, he decides to go find Jesse and tell him of her death. When he reaches Monett, he discovers Jesse was wounded and taken to Arkansas to be executed as a spy. Rooney's purpose is clear: he will rescue Jesse, nurse back to health and take him back to Cedar County.