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When the invitation comes for a new life and urgency calls for better opportunities, how does one answer?
History is peopled with those who have left the comfort of the known world to embark on journeys where their footprints have left permanent markers on the future. Against impossible odds they have followed their dreams, trusting in the unseen providence that births a new land from the womb of the old world behind them, and in their journeying, they come to realize that everything that exists has needed their participation. Their lives already lived are held in reverence by those who come after and who hold them up like beacons illuminating the wide and timeless expanse of eternity.
In Journey of Hope, three young women leave Independence, Missouri in the spring of 1852 on a wagon train bound for the Oregon territory. Brenna and her family are Irish immigrants. Rebecca travels with her large family from Iowa. Emily is a young bride traveling with her husband, Ernest. Daily life on the wagon train is challenging. Cholera is rampant, crime not unheard of, and death is an ever present visitor.
Messing With The Billionaire (Maid In Miami Book 1) (affiliate link)
When a case of mistaken identity goes too far…can this billionaire win the trust of a woman who thinks she loves the gardener?
TJ: Buying a winter home in Miami Beach has its benefits. Not only did I escape the pressure of being a hedge fund manager in New York, but when my housekeeping team shows up and an adorable bubbly blonde is in charge, I find I like the tropical sun even more. Sure, I let her believe I’m the gardener because the mistake was amusing, and she was amazing. I obviously planned to tell her when she says yes to our first date, but…I didn’t. For once, a woman is really into me without the trappings of my wealth and status. But the joke’s on me when feelings get real and telling her the truth could wreck the best thing I’ve ever had.
Lilly: It’s official. I’ve met the perfect guy. At least, he seems perfect. He might not be the best landscaper in Miami, but he looks great in a sweaty t-shirt out on the lawns of my client’s mansion.
The Last Roman: Exile (affiliate link)
Some debts you cannot repay, even if you live forever…
Seasoned imperial officer Marcus Sempronius Gracchus leads the 9th Roman Legion into a bloody battle against a fierce barbarian tribe. It’s a battle he won’t survive.
When he awakens three days later, clawing his way from a shallow grave, Marcus must face the reality of his new existence. He will never see the afterlife–but that won’t stop him from dying time and again over the next 2,000 years.
But Marcus is not the only one cursed with eternal life, and they are determined to bring the world crashing to its knees. Forced to confront the only brother he has ever known, can Marcus prevent the inevitable and find redemption?
Life On The Mississippi (affiliate link)
A Soldier Finds Grace(affiliate link)
Matthew Finley and William Sawyer have become fast friends as they face the realities of being US soldiers in 1944 Germany. One dark, cloudy night, with everything to lose, they face an enemy-populated Hürtgen Forest. But Matthew has brought a weapon more powerful than any gun could ever be. He has brought his faith.
Matthew’s sister, Grace, is a combat nurse working in a fast-paced field hospital along the front lines. She finds herself constantly saying small prayers for the men in her care. She always feels that her prayers are heard, until one day when she gets two letters with life-changing news.
As William and Matthew plot out coordinates for a special mission, the two men are walking ever closer to a moment that can never be changed. But, as William will soon find out, one ending is only the spark to a new beginning.
Wax part 1 (affiliate link)
Rachel has always wanted to meet her mother, the woman who abandoned her outside a hospital many years ago. But as she arrives at the mysterious Harlham Hall, will she come to regret her decision?
At first, Harlham Hall seems to be an unlikely prospect. A strange old man lives in the cluttered rooms, constantly fussing over his collection of old phonograph recordings. Drifting from one fractured memory to the next, Bernard Hartmann is barely able to remember his name, yet he’s haunted by strange noises and by a presence that mostly lurks in the shadows.
What really happened to Evelyn Cassidy all those years ago? Has she been hiding from her daughter, or trying to protect her? And why does a young girl wait in the forest, seemingly trapped in a series of terrifying encounters?
The Vendetta Defense: A Rosato & Associates Novel (affiliate link)
The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden (affiliate link)
Bill Alexander had no idea his simple dream of having a vegetable garden and small orchard in his backyard would lead him into life-and-death battles with groundhogs, webworms, weeds, and weather; midnight expeditions in the dead of winter to dig up fresh thyme; and skirmishes with neighbors who feed the deer and other vermin. Not to mention the vacations that had to be planned around the harvest, the near electrocution of the tree man, the limitations of his own middle-aged body, and the pity of his wife and kids.
When Alexander runs a cost-benefit analysis, adding up everything from the live animal trap to the Velcro tomato wraps, and then amortizing it over the life of his garden, it comes as quite a shock to learn that it cost a staggering $64 to grow each one of his beloved Brandywine tomatoes. But as any gardener will tell you, you can’t put a price on the unparalleled pleasures of providing fresh food for your family.
From the bestselling author of Woe Is I: A guide to grammar fundamentals that’s sympathetic to the struggling writer and often just plain funny” (The Seattle Times).
Whether you need to improve your skills for work or school, or aspire to the Great American Novel, a grounding in grammar, spelling, and punctuation is essential—not just to make you look like a professional but to communicate effectively in emails, essays, or anything you need to write.
This painless, practical book is filled with short, snappy chapters, crystal-clear examples, and a “playful sense of humor” (The New York Times Book Review)—covering everything from “Pronoun Pileups” and “Verbs That Zing” to “What to Do When You’re Stuck.” With these simple, straightforward tips, you can learn how to sort your thoughts and make sentences that make sense.
The Do-It-Yourself Cookbook: Can It, Cure It, Churn It, Brew It (affiliate link)
Trust the test kitchen experts to guide you through more than 100 foolproof kitchen projects—from pickling and canning to making your own home-brewed ale
Why buy it when you can make it?
Pantry Staples: For the freshest, best results, make your own ketchup, hot sauce, and vanilla extract. For the adventurous, there’s sriracha, harissa, and wine vinegar.
Jams and Jellies: Preserve the seasons with orange marmalade, strawberry jam, and apple butter, while wine jelly and bacon jam are great year-round options.
Pickled Favorites: Get your pickle fix with classics like bread-and-butters and sour dills, plus test kitchen favorites like dilly beans, giardiniera, and kimchi.
The Dairy Best: Making fresh cheeses like ricotta and goat cheese, churning butter, preparing yogurt, and even making soy milk (for tofu) are simpler than you think.
Charcuterie at Home: From artisanal pancetta, prosciutto, pâtés, and terrines to everyday favorites like bacon, chorizo, and beef jerky, our recipes have the carnivore covered.
How to Keep People from Pushing Your Buttons (affiliate link)
Learn to stop letting people and situations upset you and start enjoying life in this classic self-help book by a respected pioneer of psychotherapy.
Life can get tough. From unemployment—or overwork—to divorce or remarriage, the challenges of newly blended families, not to mention everyday hassles, stress can feel non-stop. To top it off, technology confronts us with a barrage of seemingly urgent tasks 24/7. It’s no wonder things and people can make you lose your cool. In this landmark book you’ll find a very specific, powerful skill set designed to help you keep any scenario from pushing your buttons—and it works.
Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), created by world-renowned therapist Dr. Albert Ellis, provides you with realistic, simple, proven techniques that will significantly reduce your stress levels and help you react effectively, whether the circumstances are professional or personal.
Tea & Treachery (Tea by the Sea Mysteries Book 1) (affiliate link)
As the proud proprietor and head pastry chef of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on the picturesque bluffs of Cape Cod, Lily Roberts has her hands full, often literally. But nothing keeps her busier than steering her sassy grandmother, Rose, away from trouble. Rose operates the grand old Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily’s tea shop. But an aggressive real estate developer, Jack Ford, is pushing hard to rezone nearby land, with an eye toward building a sprawling golf resort, which would drive Rose and Lily out of business.
Tempers are already steaming, but things really get sticky when Ford is found dead at the foot of Rose’s property and the police think she had something to do with his dramatic demise. So Lily starts her own investigation and discovers Ford’s been brewing bad blood all over town. Now, it’s down to Lily to stir up some clues, sift through the suspects, and uncover the real killer before Rose is left holding the tea bag.
… See the rest of today ‘s Book Picks here on page 2Page 2