Literary Nonfiction. California Interest. Women's Studies. Film. Memoir. THE BIG LOVE is a Hollywood nightmare. It tells the story of Errol Flynn--a fading, alcoholic movie star--and the underage dancer-actress Beverly Aadland. The narrator? Beverly Aadland's fame-worshiping mother Mrs. Florence Aadland, who spurs the relationship on. There is nothing subtle or sympathetic about this memoir: It is outrageous, grotesque, surreal, notorious--an intimate look at Hollywood exploitation and decay. On the one hand, THE BIG LOVE depicts the deterioration of Errol Flynn, an actor who is quickly losing relevance after years of playing irresistible swashbucklers in films such as Captain Blood (1935) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). He is riddled with medical problems, drinking himself to death. On the other hand, there is Mrs. Florence Aadland, also an alcoholic, an uncultured stage mother psychotically pushing her daughter Beverly forward even at the cost of her own marriage. A bizarre, seedy time capsule of the 1950s, THE BIG LOVE is the long-lost literary sister of Barbara Payton's I AM NOT ASHAMED. And, after languishing out of print for years, it is ready to shock brand new audiences with its absurd humor, villainous characters, and sickly dissipation.

“I look to Scott for wisdom and leadership and he has delivered both with Big Love. This book opened my heart and mind and I’m forever grateful.” — Glennon Doyle, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Love Warrior What happens when you fully commit yourself to love? Endless good, insists Scott Stabile, who found that out by overcoming plenty of bad. His parents were murdered when he was fourteen. Nine years later, his brother died of a heroin overdose. Soon after that, Scott joined a cult that dominated his life for thirteen years before he summoned the courage to walk away. In Big Love, his insightful and refreshingly honest collection of personal essays, Scott relates these profound experiences as well as everyday struggles and triumphs in ways that are universally applicable, uplifting, and laugh-out-loud funny. Whether silencing shame, rebounding after failure, or moving forward despite fears, Scott shares hard-won insights that consistently return readers to love, both of themselves and others.

Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (third place, first-time author). Popular blogger Kathryn Whitaker is a Dr Pepper super fan, Aggie-loving, type A mom of six with a personality the size of her native Texas. The stressful premature birth of her fifth child threw her orderly world into chaos and ultimately led her to rethink her priorities. In Live Big, Love Bigger, Whitaker shares her journey and challenges readers to understand that they, too, can live a life of authenticity with joy-filled purpose, love, and faith. Along the way, she’ll help readers see that choosing to say no is the only way they’ll be able to say yes to what matters most—Jesus. It’s not every family who would plan a week-long Texas barbecue pilgrimage for a family of eight, much less expand the idea to a multi-month quest to experience the state, eat amazing food, and visit some awesome religious sites along the way. But Whitaker did it—when she decided imperfect family road trips trumped a vacation at a luxury resort. “Barbecue encouraged us to hit the road, while Jesus met us at every single stop along the way—proof that he loves brisket as much as we do, right?” Ditching the fancy vacation was one way Whitaker learned to give up control and say no to perfectionism and over-achievement in order to live a new, more intentional life and discover what God truly has in store for her family. Whitaker’s sassy authenticity will make readers laugh—and cry—while encouraging them to be honest about mistakes in every area of their life, embrace them, and find a way to let God redeem it all.

One of Real Simple's Best Books of 2018 Liam Jones was the love of Juliet’s life. He was her brother’s best friend, then her best friend, then the father of her little boy. In those shining weeks after Zac was born, she had never been happier and neither had Liam. And then one night, Liam disappeared without a trace. Ten-year-old Zac Hutchinson collects facts: octopuses have three hearts, Usain Bolt is the fastest man on earth. But no one will tell him what happened to his father and where he went. When Juliet, inadvertently admits that his father is the only man she's ever loved, Zac decides he is going to find him and deliver his mom the happily ever after she deserves. But Liam left for a reason, and as Zac searches for clues of his father, Juliet begins to rebuild what shattered so many years ago. An unforgettable, heart-stopping story of the secrets we keep and of love in all of its many forms.

Hilarious and heartbreaking, combining the emotional incisiveness of Jane Austen with the up-to-the-minute frankness of "Sex and the City," Dunn's latest work will be the passing must-read novel of the summer.

Featuring over 100 Southern recipes alongside “heartwarming” anecdotes, this cookbook is “a celebration of Southern hospitality, local ingredients and good cooking” (Chef Emeril Lagasse). When Heather Earnhardt opened her tiny, magical café, The Wandering Goose, in Seattle, she infused a little Southern comfort into the heart of a city that’s skies are often gray. Her specialty is biscuits, slathered with butter and homemade jam, piled high with fried chicken and bread-and-butter pickles, or country ham and an over-easy egg. In Big Food Big Love, this “red-dirt girl” shares stories from her childhood in the South and 130 recipes that contain a satisfying mix of nostalgic and traditional Southern favorites. Served up with a side of Southern charm, this is genuinely good and unfussy food that’s meant to be eaten with family and friends.

In this eagerly anticipated guide for parents, grandparents, and caregivers of little ones, Jean Thomason, known as the lively Miss PattyCake character, shares her insights gleaned from more than twenty years in children's ministry. Sharing God's Big Love with Little Lives will affirm that God has put a child or children in your life on purpose. Using Scripture, humorous anecdotes, and insightful research, Jean equips you with fresh ideas and enthusiastic encouragement to help guide your kids as they grow into all God has created them to be. This book is a spiritual toolkit you can refer to again and again. "I know of no one with a greater understanding of how to reach the hearts of little ones than Jean. She embraces this as a high calling and the fruit she has to share will enrich your life." -- Sheila Walsh, Author, Recording Artist, Speaker (Women of Faith) "This is a terrific message from a trusted source. Families will be encouraged, instructed, and empowered!" -- Max Lucado, Pastor and Best-Selling Author

A whimsical tale with vibrant and colorful illustrations that call to the child in all of us to take an interactive adventure: As the story moves through a magical land named Snappety Foo Pah, little creatures known as Pinkleys discover how the power of love works to embrace those who are different and often hard to understand. It is a story that promises to touch the hearts of all who are willing to peek inside its colorful pages.

This book is about the authors journey over a six-year period experiencing heaven in ways she never experienced heaven before, realizing that heaven is not limited by our human concept of heaven. If we open our hearts and shut down our heads, we can experience heavens awesome love, support, comfort, and even humor and fun.