In a neighborhood sharply divided by crime, poverty, and gang violence, the McElhaney Christian Center is a haven for those seeking refuge. The pastor in charge of the community center is proud of his work, but he's feeling his years and finds himself more and more overwhelmed by the demands of social service. The political maneuvering of his fellow board members, coupled with the financial strain of running a non-profit, threaten the future of the organization. When the tensions between rival gangs reach a breaking point in the neighborhood, a fire is set and lives are lost. In the wake of tragedy, the pastor must team up with Detective Michaels, an old college friend, to find out who's responsible-and stop them before they strike again. Little do they know an ancient and sinister force is working against them, manipulating events behind the scenes. When no one is quite who they seem, who will they trust?

In "Along Came Hell, or So I Thought," witness a profound journey of spiritual transformation as one woman grapples with the shocking revelation of her husband's betrayal after forty-four years of marriage. This heart-wrenching narrative delves deep into the core of family trauma, shedding light on the dark corners of sexual abuse within a seemingly normal household. It's a poignant growth book that doesn't just tell a story; it escorts readers through the tumultuous pathways of emotional healing, guided by a steadfast Christian perspective on trauma. As you turn each page, you'll find yourself walking alongside the author, experiencing her despair, confusion, and anger after learning that the man she shared her life with had been molesting their granddaughters. But this is not a journey she walks alone. She finds a way to navigate the stormy seas of betrayal and hurt through conversations, Bible studies, and unexpected Holy Spirit surprises. This narrative is an emblem of hope for anyone seeking books about healing from sexual abuse. "Along Came Hell, or So I Thought" is more than an emotional healing book. It's a testament to the unyielding strength of the human spirit when fortified by faith, addressing sexual abuse in the family with raw honesty while also offering a path to redemption and peace. The author's story illustrates the power of naming one's pain, confronting it head-on, and then handing it over to the higher power of God's love. As you immerse yourself in this powerful account, you'll witness the transformative power of not choosing to bolt but to molt — shedding the layers of pain and emerging renewed and resilient. While everyone's life story differs, this book encapsulates the universal truth that amidst life's most challenging trials, one thing remains constant: God. This book is not just for those who have experienced similar trials but anyone seeking understanding and compassion. It's a beacon of light for those navigating the dark, a guide for the lost, and a message of hope for the broken. "Along Came Hell, or So I Thought," is an essential addition to the canon of emotional healing books, offering a unique blend of personal narrative and divine inspiration that will touch hearts, stir souls, and inspire minds.

USA Today called Jo-Ann Mapson's national bestseller, Bad Girl Creek, "a valentine to oceans of good women who survive bad beginnings and worse men." Now the author, hailed as "one of the most gifted writers of the contemporary urban West" (Los Angeles Times), brings back the hard-luck women of her acclaimed previous novel -- and introduces another indelible character into their midst. "Me, I need a map to tell which town I'm in. I feel like ten miles of bad road, wondering how I got to where I am...." After finally wising up to her drunken rodeo-crooner lover ("Imagine Kevin Costner with an overbite"), Mary Madigan saddles up her twin Border collies and takes her act on the road, leaving miles of heartache and highway behind. Maddy's journey takes her across the South -- singing in and winning one karaoke contest after another -- and inexorably closer to a dreaded showdown with her past. In Oklahoma City, she meets Rick, a journalist haunted by his own ghosts. After he loses his job, he travels to his childhood home to set up camp. When he first runs into Maddy, she gives him the cold shoulder. But he's charming, and persistent, and before Maddy knows it she's got a travel companion and a new lover (with an all-too-familiar set of tricks). Their travels will ultimately bring them to Bad Girl Creek, where the ladies know him as "Rotten Rick" -- because he broke Nance's heart -- and where the waters have already been troubled. Phoebe's pregnancy is life-threatening, Nance's breakup diet has turned dangerously successful, Beryl is still struggling to adjust to life after prison, and HIV-positive Ness is distancing herself from the "healthy" world -- if you can call it that. But these are the Bad Girl Creek ladies: they are resilient. They have character. And, above all, they love each other. The ways they all pull together, cheer each other on through good times and bad, and cope with every curveball life throws at them make up the heart and soul of this powerful new novel, a bighearted book certain to win this exceptional author a new legion of devoted readers.

G'day, Mate! The awesome Australian Outback is one of the beautiful but dangerous settings for this captivating tale of murky intrigue, murder and myths! Read this fascinating tale! It's a ripper, mate! From out of the mists of Aboriginal Dreamtime, a startling discovery is made by a never-do-well Outback opal miner who hauls up a priceless archeological antiquity in a dented barrel of broken dreams. Paleontologists are astounded! One look at what he found is forever burned into the minds of those who see it, setting the stage for a devious web of deceit. Greed and lust change their lives forever! Millions of dollars are at stake! Sally Fletcher, a tall strawberry-blonde Aussie who is a TV news reporter on Vancouver Island, is at a loss for words as her world comes crashing down upon her when someone starts systematically going after her, her grandfather, and her Canadian mother. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that her Australian father is next on somebody's list. Rune Erikson is hot on the trail of a deadly trio of antiquity-stealing snakeheads who slither through the casinos Down Under! Rune wants to keep rolling sevens but the dice keep coming up snake-eyes! Andy, an Outback swagman on a self-healing walkabout through the harsh conditions of the Outback, becomes embroiled in this adventure. This fascinating third novel in a series features the somewhat-jaded but dashing Rune Erikson who rips through the Outback where hardships and timeless feats of courage are legend. Coloured by romance and eroticism, this intrigue lures Rune off his sailing ketch Valhalla at Victoria's Fisherman's Wharf into the swirling myths and legends of Dreamtime in Australia's Outback.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A modern classic of true crime, set in a most beguiling Southern city—now in a 30th anniversary edition with a new afterword by the author “Elegant and wicked . . . might be the first true-crime book that makes the reader want to book a bed and breakfast for an extended weekend at the scene of the crime.”—The New York Times Book Review Shots rang out in Savannah’s grandest mansion in the misty, early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. In this sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative, John Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case. It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman’s Card Club; the turbulent young gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the “soul of pampered self-absorption”; the uproariously funny drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young people dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a sublime and seductive reading experience.

Caught in a web of assassins, Alex Cross enters the final battle with the all-knowing genius who has stalked him and his family for years. Dr. Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson venture into the rugged Montana wilderness—where they will be the prey. They’re not on the job, but on a personal mission. Until they’re attacked by two rival teams of assassins, controlled by the same mastermind who has stalked Alex and his family for years. Darkness falls. The river churns into rapids. Shots ring out through the forest. No backup. No way out. Fear no evil.

On Halloween: the Tricksters came. On Halloween: the Tricksters joked. On Halloween: the Tricksters played pranks. On Halloween: the Tricksters murdered. Now, Logan Parsons and her best friend, Yvette Wyss, must try to survive the night. They are alone, scared, horrified, and about to come face-to-face with an evil far greater than man has ever known. The tricks are about to begin...