Growing up in a crime-infested neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, D. W. Gutridge suffered physical and psychological abuse that caused him to doubt his inherent self-worth. There was nothing positive to drive his life until he walked down the street one day-and right into a miracle. A girl smiled. And she smiled with such effervescence that his life was forever changed. In this emotional and sincere memoir, D. W. Gutridge looks back on meeting Jackie Dee, the girl of his dreams. During that brief encounter more than thirty-five years ago, he received a vision of the two of them together-for life, and that vision gave him a purpose and focus he'd never before known. During the next few years, as D. W. Gutridge struggled to make his desires known to Jackie, a tug-of-war developed between his beautiful love for her and the harsh environment around him, pulling him into a life of violence, alcohol, and drugs. But through it all, he was unwilling to give up on the girl of his dreams. Captured by a Smile touches on life issues and events we all encounter, including our first kiss, our first love, and our first heartbreak. D. W. Gutridge's extraordinary story of unparalleled love and redemption brings us hope.

Growing up in a crime-infested neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, D. W. Gutridge suffered physical and psychological abuse that caused him to doubt his inherent self-worth. There was nothing positive to drive his life until he walked down the street one day-and right into a miracle. A girl smiled. And she smiled with such effervescence that his life was forever changed. In this emotional and sincere memoir, D. W. Gutridge looks back on meeting Jackie Dee, the girl of his dreams. During that brief encounter more than thirty-five years ago, he received a vision of the two of them together-for life, and that vision gave him a purpose and focus he'd never before known. During the next few years, as D. W. Gutridge struggled to make his desires known to Jackie, a tug-of-war developed between his beautiful love for her and the harsh environment around him, pulling him into a life of violence, alcohol, and drugs. But through it all, he was unwilling to give up on the girl of his dreams. Captured by a Smile touches on life issues and events we all encounter, including our first kiss, our first love, and our first heartbreak. D. W. Gutridge's extraordinary story of unparalleled love and redemption brings us hope.

The inspiring, dramatic, and heartwarming true account of an escaped convict and his wife of thirty-five plus years who never knew his secret, which captured the imaginations of millions on Humans of New York. Bobby and Cheryl Love were living in Brooklyn, happily married for decades, when the FBI and NYPD appeared at their door and demanded to know from Bobby, in front of his shocked wife and children: "What is your name? No, what's your real name?" Bobby's thirty-eight-year secret was out. As a Black child in the Jim Crow South, Bobby found himself in legal trouble before his 14th birthday. Sparked by the desperation he felt in the face of limited options and the pull of the streets, Bobby became a master thief. He soon found himself facing a thirty-year prison sentence. But Bobby was smarter than his jailers. He escaped, fled to New York, changed his name, and started a new life as "Bobby Love." During that time, he worked multiple jobs to support his wife and their growing family, coached Little League, attended church, took his kids to Disneyland, and led an otherwise normal life. Then it all came crashing down. With the drama of a jailbreak story and the incredible tension of a life lived in hiding, The Redemption of Bobby Love is an unbelievable but true account of building a life from scratch, the pain of festering secrets in marriage, and the unbreakable bonds of faith and love that keep a family together.

Adapted from the Persian by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani based on translations by Violette and Ali Nakhjavani, these poems testify to the courage and the despair, the misery and the hopes of thousands of Iranians struggling to survive conditions of extreme oppression.

This book is 100% created by the author. No AI was used. She's convinced marriage only brings pain. But she has no choice. Dodge City, Kansas, 1877. Adelaide Markham is one of four female prisoners sitting in Dodge City Jail. The sheriff offers them a choice. Either sit in jail until the circuit judge sobers up enough to hear their cases, or get on the wagon train traveling to Santa Fe as mail order brides. A recent widow who just lost her child, Adelaide prefers marriage to jail, but wants no part of motherhood. The pain is too great. Miles Ryan has been threatened by the wagon train master that he and his two recalcitrant daughters will be left behind at Fort Dodge if he doesn’t find a wife to control the girls. Miles takes one look at Adelaide and decides she’s for him. Unfortunately, it’s not until the deed is done that she learns she is a mother once again.

Anne is the owner of the shipping company Paw Print when the ship she is on is taken over by what she thinks are pirates. Anne learns that her beloved cats lives are in danger. She must pull out all the stops to save them. The captain of the privateers is totally intrigued by this beauty. Thomas sets out to teach her that her place in the world is at his side, but Thomas has a lot to learn about Anne.