Showing results by narrator "Laural Merlington" in All Categories

Many scholars have come to think of the European Christian mission to the Americas as an inevitable success. But in its early period it was very much on the brink of failure. In 1576, Indigenous Mexican communities suffered a catastrophic epidemic that took almost two million lives and simultaneously left the colonial church in ruins. In the crisis and its immediate aftermath, Spanish missionaries and surviving pueblos de indios held radically different visions for the future of Christianity in the Americas.

When Judith's son Alexander announces that he; his wife, Marla; their daughter, Olivia (age five); and their two sons, Isaac (age two) and Toby (four months); will be staying with her and her husband for 90 days while their house was being renovated, Judy doesn't know quite how to respond.

Sometimes the truth hides where no one expects to find it.Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed Linda—his second wife and Joanne’sbest friend—six years ago. But Baxter, a church elder and beloved member ofthe town, walks the streets a free man. The police tell Joanne to leave wellenough...

In Fern Michaels’s extraordinary, inspiring New York Times bestseller, an overweight woman sets out to improve her life by losing fifty-five pounds—and ends up changing much more than her dress size! Rosie Gardener fell under the spell of handsome Kent Bliss, and not even her best friend...

From bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick comes this relational story about a close-knit group of five women and their pursuit of life goals. You’ll be encouraged and entertained!In the tradition of Neta Jackson’s Yada Yada Prayer Group series, Kirkpatrick invites you into the lives of five...

NYPD sergeant Kathleen Mallory is drawn to place far away from home. In a small town in Louisiana, she steps off the train. Within the hour, one man has been assaulted, another has had a heart attack, a third has been murdered, and Mallory is in jail, though she nothing to do with any of these three events. She is there for an entirely different purpose. Seventeen years earlier, Mallory's mother died in this town, stoned to death by a mob, and the six-year-old Mallory had disappeared, to reappear on the streets of New York.

In this inspirational follow-up to the beloved Things I Want My Daughters to Know, lifestyle philosopher Alexandra Stoddard reflects on the lessons she's learned from her daughters and offers further thoughts and words of wisdom garnered from her own life. A mother, a grandmother, and the author...

Phoebe Hoban, author of definitive biographies of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Alice Neel, now turns her attention to Lucian Freud, the grandson of Sigmund and one of the greatest painters England has produced. Lucian Freud: Eyes Wide Open is the first biography to assess Freud’s work and life, showing how the two converge.

After years of trying to become pregnant without success, Rachel Dawson and her husband Thomas felt their dreams had finally come true the day they brought home their newly adopted twin babies. Though the lawyer Baron Bell who arranged for the surrogate mother charged a hefty six-figure fee, one glance into the eyes of their precious children told them it was all worth it - until the birth mother reappeared, first demanding more money, then the twins themselves.

Bringing together New York Times best-selling authors Jack Canfield, Marci Shimoff, Chris Attwood, and Janet Bray Attwood, along with some of the best and brightest up-and-coming self-help authors of today, Pearls of Wisdom: 30 Inspirational Ideas to Live Your Best Life Now ! offers an eclectic mix of suggestions for transforming your life immediately. Every chapter contains a fresh idea for a positive life change, and each is as diverse as the cast of authors who have come together to create this unique book.

Bestselling recovery author Karen Casey looks at stories of people who grew up in dysfunctional families and "the good stuff" that can, ironically, come from the experience. She interviews survivors who emerged from the fires of turbulent households affected by abuse, addiction, or other problems, and reveals how they came to process their often-harrowing personal trials and, against the odds, triumph over their difficulties—using skills they honed in response to their childhoods.

Artist Lexie McCain spends her days literally weaving the story of her life into a gorgeous tapestry. But on Monday nights, she walks to the Corner Bar, drinks a Killian’s, and answers the same question every week from Sam the bartender: “One thing?” She starts with her name, then her cottage, slowly moving on to the devastating tragedies that tore her life apart.

The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know is an accessible, nonpartisan overview of the causes, politics, and treatments tied to the most devastating health crisis of our time. Its comprehensive approach and Q&A format offer listeners a practical path to understanding the epidemic from all sides: the basic science of opioids; the nature of addiction; the underlying reasons for the opioid epidemic; effective approaches to helping individuals, families, communities, and national policy; and common myths related to opioid addiction.

A novel of immense power, Wuthering Heights is filled with the raw beauty of the English moors and a deep compassion for the conflicting destinies of men and women. The novel begins with Lockwood, a tenant who takes up residence close to Wuthering Heights. His landlord, Mr. Heathcliff, proves to be surly, unfriendly, and rude. When Lockwood discovers a mildewed book with the names Catherine Earnshaw, Catherine Heathcliff, and Catherine Linton scratched on its cover, he begins to read, sojourning on a strange tale that proves irresistible. The heart-wrenching story he discovers about stubborn Cathy and wild-as-the-wind Heathcliff has been a favorite since its original publication in 1848.

It’s been a year and a half since the women of the Sisterhood received their presidential pardons, but the freedom they craved has come at a high price. The lucrative positions handed out to them by the Global Securities company have turned out to be golden handcuffs - scattering them around the world, cutting off communication, and leaving them in miserable isolation. But a homecoming at the old Virginia farmhouse is marred by the hijacking of Nikki and Kathryn’s private jet.....

Fading into the background isn’t the Sisterhood way. Even after all the adventures they’ve shared, the courageous, close-knit heroines of Fern Michaels' New York Times best-selling series are always ready to embrace another challenge…All good things must come to an end. But Myra Rutledge isn’t ready to put the Sisterhood - the stalwart band of friends who’ve become legendary for meting out their own brand of justice - behind her just yet. Though she loves her beautiful home and her husband, Charles, Myra can’t deny that she’s restless. And as it turns out, she’s not the only one longing to dust off her gold shield and get back in action.

Thanks to a presidential pardon, the Sisterhood can put their fugitive days behind them and resume their lives in peace. Still, all the women admit that lately things are a little too calm and peaceful. Meeting up for the first time in months to celebrate Kathryn’s birthday — in the City of Sin, no less — seems like the perfect antidote.

"Can grief last for a person's whole life?" That is the question Carrie struggles to answer after the sudden death of her husband. She also mourns the death of their love - an emotional erosion that began long before her husband's heart gave out. Complicating matters is Carrie's mother, Dana, a snobbish yet sympathetic woman who tries to do what she thinks best.

In this new collection, Richard Thomas has crafted 14 stories that push the boundaries of dark fiction in an intoxicating, piercing blend of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Equally provocative and profound, each story is masterfully woven with transgressive themes that burrow beneath the skin.

With the explosion of the older adult population, this important book explores the opportunities and challenges that this presents for the Christian community. Amy Hanson challenges us to let go of many old stereotypes regarding aging and embrace a new paradigm that sees older adults as active, healthy, and capable of making significant contributions. The author shows church leaders how they can unleash the power of the baby boomer population to strengthen their congregations.