A comic novel about a Midwestern professor who tries to prop up his failing prospects for happiness by setting out on the Journey of a Lifetime. Louie Hake is forty-three and teaches architectural history at a third-rate college in Michigan. His second marriage is collapsing, and he's facing a potentially disastrous medical diagnosis. In an attempt to fend off what has become a soul-crushing existential crisis, he decides to treat himself to a tour of the world's most breathtaking architectural sites. Perhaps not surprisingly, Louie gets waylaid on his very first stop in Rome--ludicrously, spectacularly so--and fails to reach most of his other destinations. He embarks on a doomed romance with a jilted bride celebrating her ruined marriage plans alone in London. And in the Arctic he finds that turf houses and aluminum sheds don't amount to much of an architectural tradition. But it turns out that there's another sort of architecture there: icebergs the size of cathedrals, bobbing beside a strange and wondrous landscape. It soon becomes clear that Louie's grand journey is less about where his wanderings have taken him and more about where his past encounters with romance have not. Whether pursuing his first wife, or his estranged current wife, or the older woman he kissed just once a quarter-century ago, Louie reveals himself to be endearing, deeply touching, wonderfully ridiculous . . . and destined to find love in all the wrong places.

When Branna O'Donnell heads back to Lake Howling, Oregon, she's not sure what to expect. It's a place that holds plenty of memories, both good and bad, but Branna is determined to find some peace there from the demons of her past. However, she soon realizes that living in a small town again comes with complications, and one of them is named Jake McBride. Once the town golden boy, Dr. McBride has returned from Iraq angry and, like her, shouldering a few emotional scars. They strike sparks off each other from the outset, and Branna knows that if she gives in to the attraction between them it's going to result in a world of pain. The problem is she's not sure how to walk away.

As temporary guardian of her sister's two children, big-city magazine columnist Jenna Gardner is forced to face her past. She isn't in Mirror Lake for long before she realizes that everything has changed. And it's not her past throwing her off-kilter now--it's handsome next-door neighbor, Dev McGuire. Though Dev gets under her skin, he quickly proves himself an excellent father figure for the children. Soon he's encouraging Jenna to believe in second chances. But it'll take a leap of faith to believe that her future just might be in Mirror Lake after all.

Beloved Author Lauraine Snelling Launches New Immigrant Series When Signe, her husband, Rune, and their three boys arrive in Minnesota from Norway to help a relative clear his land of lumber, they dream of owning their own farm and building a life in the New World. But Uncle Einar and Aunt Gird are hard, demanding people, and Signe and her family soon find themselves worked nearly to the bone in order to repay the cost of their voyage. At this rate, they will never have land or a life of their own. Signe tries to trust God but struggles with anger and bitterness. She has left behind the only life she knew, and while it wasn't an easy life, it wasn't as hard as what she now faces. When a new addition to the family arrives, Signe begins to see how God has been watching over them throughout their ordeal. But after all that has happened, can she still believe in the promise of a bright future?

Mallory’s search for happiness leads her to a faraway place. There she finds heartache, betrayal—and danger. Mallory Hammond is determined that no one will stand in the way of her goal—to save a life. She had that chance years ago, and she failed to take it, leaving her adrift and in search of the real meaning of her life. Finally, she meets a man online from a volatile corner of the world who offers her the chance to find that purpose. But she will have to leave everyone she loves behind in order to take it. Tate Webber has loved Mallory for many years. He understands that Mallory will never be happy with him until her deepest heart’s desire is satisfied. When Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfi ll her dreams, Tate begs her not to go but tries to give her the space she needs. Mallory embarks on her dangerous journey only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. And Mallory can only pray that she will make it out alive. Inspired by actual events, The Promise is a riveting love story that asks the question: how far will we go for love? “Takes readers to a place where promises mean something very different than expected, and where her protagonist realizes that the life that needs saving is her own. . . . Wiseman draws readers into a world of deception, danger, and defiance. Readers will feel the anguish of Mallory’s loved ones as they pray for her to make it home.” —Booklist

The greatest joy and fulfillment are within your reach, but they require an enduring Promise to The One…someone you might not expect. It’s not your boss, your spouse, your children, or others—no, the ultimate commitment is The Promise you make to yourself to discover your purpose and gifts and share them with the world. Everyone has been hurt or negatively impacted by broken promises. Promise-breaking and a lack of integrity are symptomatic of the most chronic illness faced by society today. Even though many leadership courses and ethics programs tout “integrity” as a buzzword, few of us are really assessing our own values unless someone calls us out on a discrepancy. But even when others don’t catch on to the façade, when our values aren’t in alignment with our actions and when our actions aren’t consonant with our gifts and passions, we’re left feeling isolated, drained, and depressed. No recognition or acceptance from others can fill the void in the same way as when you keep a Promise to yourself and actually follow through on it. The Promise is the highest level of engagement we commit to in any experience. The Promise is greater than a goal—it’s a sacred commitment. It’s complete dedication to identifying your Signature Moves—the unique talents you’ve been given that, when developed and used to better others’ lives, make you a Legendary Leader. What choices do you make when no one is watching? How do you approach a decision that requires you to let either yourself or someone else down? How do you stay committed to your values, even when the less-rewarding path is more convenient? A renowned speaker and performer who has helped audiences worldwide appreciate what accountability really means, Jason Hewlett shares his program for self-discovery and taking ownership of your gifts in The Promise to The One. His unique three-step method—IDENTIFY • CLARIFY • MAGNIFY—will enable you to pinpoint your strengths, shape them into an identity to which you commit, and develop them so that they can improve others’ lives as well as your own. Filled with Jason’s signature wit and vulnerability as well as actionable exercises, this book will help you refine your character and reach your dreams through the power of kept Promises. Start your journey to living a life of Promise Making and Keeping…beginning with The Promise to The One.

"?All right, let?s go.? Alex saw terror in Howie?s eyes as he took off before Alex could. Howie ran hard, angling back and forth only a little, mostly just getting as far away as afast as he could. Alex was a faster runner, and he could make a few more zigs and zags in his path and still keep up. For a time, it all seemed unnecessary. The two were keeping away from the road, and no one else was nearby. But then bullets began to thump into the plowed ground around them, and suddenly Howie went down. In Far From Home, the third volume of Children of the Promise, Alex Thomas is still battling the Nazi forces. He?s also worried about whether or not he can preserve the lives of the men in his company, especially Howie, a particularly young and inexperienced soldier. But his biggest concern is staying alive for his wife, Anna, in England. In Japan, Wally is still a prisoner of war. Abused by his captors, he?s forced to work long hours in the coal mines. Will he learn from his experience, or will it just make him bitter? Or will he even survive? In Hawaii, Bobbi is hoping for word from her boyfriend, Richard. When she learns that his ship has gone down, she wonders is he?s gone down with it ? and as the days pass, the odds of his survival don?t look good. In Germany, Heinrich Stolz is working as a spy for British Intelligence. But as much as he can, he?s also looking for his missing son, Peter. When he loses his identification papers, he wonders if he can escape from Germany alive. On the home front, stake president Alexander Thomas is becoming wealthy from his weapons factory ? which is actually being run by his wife, Bea. But their teenage daughter La Rue is asserting her independence more and more, and they?re not sure what to do about it. They?re also wondering if they?ll ever be together as a family again. Far From Home is a moving, powerful novel about the effects of adversity, and about the love of family members for each other. If you?re interested in World War II, or if you simply enjoy a great story, you won?t want to miss this third volume of Children of the Promise." -- Amazon.com website.