A thought-provoking novel about forgiveness and love…and so much more. When Megan Juddman learns that "friendly fire" killed her husband in the Gulf War, guilt and bitterness consume her—guilt over a shameful secret she harbors and bitterness over a suspected government cover-up. After escaping to her hometown, in eastern Washington, she meets Tharon Marsh, a decorated officer in the Gulf War who has also come to the valley to bury a painful past. Their friendship grows towards something deeper until Megan discovers Tharon's terrible secret: he ordered the fire that killed her husband. Their personal turmoil increases when the disasters of the September 11, World Trade Center attacks, thrust the country into a new war and Tharon is recalled to active duty. Tension reaches the breaking point when, over Megan's protests, her troubled eighteen-year-old son enlists. Will Megan be able to relinquish her hold on the past and find a way to forgive?

Things Aren’t Always How They Appear! Guy Jones is about to burst his buttons. He just won the biggest case of his career and is being hailed by his law partners. But his wife, Ellen, is consumed with her quirky, needy friends and misses his victory dinner. Little does she know that Kinsey Abbott, Guy’s pretty legal secretary, is more than happy to keep him company. Communication between the Joneses rapidly deteriorates when Ellen’s stubborn loyalty to an Iranian couple lands her in the FBI’s spotlight—and Guy’s bad graces. Guy soon discovers Kinsey’s dark side, which inevitably pulls him into a web of danger and deceit. He decides not to tell Ellen. But it’s going to cost him. Who is my neighbor? Guy Jones is about to burst his buttons. He just won the biggest case of his career and is being hailed by his law partners. But his wife, Ellen, is so consumed with her quirky, needy friends that she misses his victory dinner—and bright, beautiful legal secretary Kinsey Abbott is only too glad to keep him company. When a fishing boat full of explosives is seized near Seaport, Ellen’s stubborn loyalty to her Iranian friends lands her in the FBI’s spotlight—and Guy’s bad graces. But when Guy encounters Kinsey’s dark side, a lot more than the Joneses’ marriage is threatened! Amid danger, deceit, and violence, Guy and Ellen clash over a key issue: Who is worth befriending—and who deserves loyalty under fire? “As if pulled from today’s headlines, this novel touches on the fear that overtakes a town when rumors of terrorists are afoot. Filled with unexpected twists, Eye of the Beholder held me captive until the very end.” —Traci DePree Author of Aprons on a Clothesline “Eye of the Beholder enticed me from the first page with familiar and beloved people. Then it took a twist that both delighted and convicted me. This visit to Seaport will change your life.” —Janelle Clare Schneider, Author Story Behind the Book “My novels don’t come to me ahead of time; each book flows off the tips of my fingers as I sit down and begin to ‘feel’ the issues deep inside myself. For me, the most intriguing aspect of my writing style is that I don’t plan and outline the stories. I turn my fingers loose and get inside the characters and instinctively know where I need to go. After all the suspense is said and done, my hope is that each story will give us pause. That in the deepest part of our souls, we’ll embrace the depth of what it means to be believers and then be moved to share its powerful simplicity with those who struggle without hope. I want Eye of the Beholder to take readers inside my characters’ hearts and minds so they will take an honest look at whether they show favoritism to people of higher social standing. I want them to realize a person’s intrinsic value has nothing to do with social class.” —Kathy Herman

WHAT IF SOMEONE STEALS MY IDEA? Beginning novelists often fear that if they tell anyone their idea someone else will take it and go make millions of dollars. And so aspiring writers hold their ideas close to their vests-sometimes not even writing them down. The members of ChiLibris, all multi-published Christian novelists, remember when they had the same fear. Something they've all discovered is that it isn't the idea that is so unique-since the same basic stories are told again and again, and we never tire of hearing them. What's unique is the expression of those ideas. To show new writers that they can relax about their ideas-and to simply celebrate the diversity of their storytelling gifts-the members of ChiLibris undertook this book. Each writer made something different from the same basic idea. Each of the 21 short stories in this book uses the same five elements: THE FIRST LINE: THE WIND WAS PICKING UP. MISTAKEN IDENTITY PURSUIT AT A NOTED LANDMARK UNUSUAL FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THE LAST LINE: SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DID.

The first book in the Seaport Suspense series Ellen Jones, first introduced in the Baxter series, is enjoying a leisurely lunch at a Seaport restaurant when she overhears a private conversation at the table next to her—and disturbing accusations involving the husband of a woman she has recently befriended. But as Ellen digs through old newspaper articles and stumbles onto information too frightening to keep to herself, will she become enmeshed in speculation and gossip—or will she take the lead and become a catalyst for truth and healing?

Nothing seems beyond a doubt when Bree opens a cold-case file...with clues too close for comfort. Arson. Theft. Murder. When Bree Nichols discovers a corpse in her own basement, a whirlwind investigation usher an unbidden danger to all she holds dear. Wihout safe haven in her lighthouse home-or in the arms of her new love-the young widow struggles to free her family from the tentacles of an age-old crime that strikes at the heart of Rock Harbor.

A fantasy novel in an alternate world. Lizbeth, Bennu, Len, and Angie are misfits, and they know it. They are often overlooked and ostracized for being overweight, short, airheaded, or wearing coke-bottle glasses. When bullies inflict a wound to Len's head, the four friends find themselves suddenly thrust into an alternative dimension—the realm of Welken, an idyllic kingdom under attack by Morphane the Soul Swallower. The noble defender Piers urges the four to aid his beleaguered land. But their insecurities hold them back until several mysterious adventures reveal that the weaknesses so disdained in their own world are weapons of great power in Welken. Victory is far from certain, however, as the enemy resorts to shape-shifting and deception, finally storming the Welkeners with an army of slaves. Unless the misfits find the courage to wield their weapons and turn the battle, Welken will fall into the death grip of Morphane.

Spokane-based author and award-winning photographer Charles Gurche has been capturing Washington's wonderland of wildflowers on film for years. In this practical guide, he now reveals his favorite places to witness the state's unparalleled floral shows. Through his detailed trail descriptions and gorgeous full-color images, Gurche spotlights the state's 50 best day hikes for wildflower viewing. These excursions, located throughout the state, enable hikers of all fitness levels to experience Washington's diverse backcountry at its finest -- and to identify its many colorful and intriguing wildflower species. Driving directions deliver hikers to each trailhead, and color maps illustrate the trail routes. Washington's Best Wildflower Hikes is the ultimate guide for outdoor enthusiasts who wish to discover where to go for their next wildflower trek, what trailside species they are likely to encounter, and when to catch Washington's floral gems in peak bloom. Book jacket.