The poetry of Chris Cook is evidence of a fine mind at work, a collection of poems that never settles for the obvious. His work probes the apathy and alienation of his generation, wielding poetics like a cudgel to extract the essential from the incoherence of pop culture vapidity that we have accepted as our metaphor. Startlingly honest, unafraid of humor, these poems force you to sit down and take notice. -Cheeni Rao

"Owning a strip club isn't the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police checking up on him regularly, twenty-nine year old Cain is starting to second guess his silent mission to save these women. That is, until a tiny angel named Charlie walks through his door. Blonde and brown-eyed, sweet as can be, this dancer's sad smile opens up old wounds. She reminds him so much of Penny. As much as Cain tries to avoid being that creepy strip club boss who dates his staff, he can't help but be attracted to Charlie. As he grows closer to her, waiting for her to turn her life around, he discovers that she's headed down a dangerous path, the same one that claimed the other important women in his life"--

Discover the growth that’s possible when we understand our authentic selves as God intended by exploring more deeply the Enneagram tool, paired with profound scriptural insights. “This book is a gem. It’s one of the top five books I recommend on the Enneagram.”—Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Road Back to You “An accessible, biblical and practical roadmap for anyone who wants to live fully into their true, authentic, God-given identity. I highly recommend it!”—Brenda Salter McNeil, author of Becoming Brave The Enneagram—a system of nine interconnected personality types—has been developed over many years to offer opportunities for personal development and provide a foundation for understanding others. Now a certified Enneagram coach shows how a scriptural perspective can lead us to a path of freedom. In Self to Lose, Self to Find, Marilyn Vancil unpacks our human dilemma, sets the scriptural foundation, explores the nine Enneagram personalities, and shows us practical ways to have a more meaningful life and healthier relationships. At its best, the Enneagram doesn't merely describe who we are, but shows us why we do what we do. It invites us to see the innate gifts and inclinations of our original design—the person we were before trials and traumas began to shape us. It also reveals the strategies and false narratives that keep us from becoming who we're truly meant to be. Vancil offers a compelling biblical case for the Enneagram by drawing from John 12:24, which describes how we, like seeds, construct a protective coat that helps us survive in a world where we encounter challenges and insecurities. But for us to truly live a fruitful life, we must allow the protective coat to soften and fall away in order to grow. This is what sets Vancil apart as both a seasoned Enneagram expert and a spiritual director: Within a scriptural context, she demonstrates how the Enneagram can be a vehicle for growth and transformation by laying out the realities of each Enneagram type, affirming the inherent genius of each type, showcasing the unhealthy tendencies of each type's false self, and illuminating the undeniable path to freedom for each one. Combining rich biblical wisdom with Enneagram wisdom and real-life experiences, this compelling resource is a must for anyone who longs for a happier, freer life.

Welcome to the UnReal Marriage series volume two—four MORE books featuring Black Queens that are looking for short-term love and find forever with their deliciously handsome white boys. Enjoy books five through eight of the UnReal Marriage books in this limited edition boxed set. It’s sure to sate all of your contemporary romance cravings in one collection. Titles included are… The Actor’s Fake Fiancé The Lord’s Fake Fiancé The Producer’s Fake Fiancé The Publisher’s Fake Fiancé Looking for your next BWWM read? Look no further! One-click this interracial romance boxed set.

New Zealand's most extraordinary literary everyman—poet, novelist, critic, activist. C. K. Stead told the story of his first twenty-three years in South-West of Eden. In this second volume of his memoirs, Stead takes us from the moment he left New Zealand for a job in rural Australia, through study abroad, writing and a university career, until he left the University of Auckland to write full time aged fifty-three. It is a tumultuous tale of literary friends and foes (Curnow and Baxter, A. S. Byatt and Barry Humphries, and many more) and of navigating a personal and political life through the social change of the 1960s and 70s. And, at its heart, it is an account of a remarkable life among books—of writing and reading, critics and authors, students and professors. From Booloominbah to Menton, The New Poetic to All Visitors Ashore, from Vietnam to the Springbok Tour, C. K. Stead's You Have a Lot to Lose takes readers on a remarkable voyage through New Zealand's intellectual and cultural history.

When sixteen-year-old Zeke expresses romantic interest in his best friend Imogen, her unexpected reaction sends their relationship into a tailspin.