Petty Officer Vera Chu lives her dream of serving aboard a US Coast Guard cutter. Newly assigned to patrols of the treacherous Columbia River Bar only affirms her resolve. Lieutenant Hammond Markson flies his Dolphin rescue helicopter as if it’s a part of himself. Only when a desperate rescue on the storm-tossed Oregon Coast cliffs throws them together do they find out how truly exciting life can be.

Five tales of romance and rescue. At home, the US Coast Guard rescues thousands of civilians up and down our coasts and inland waterways. The smallest US military service also deploys globally. But no waters in the world are more dangerous than the Columbia River Bar in Astoria, Oregon. Come enjoy five tales of romance, saving hearts and souls in the harshest search-and-rescue environment in America. (Includes exclusive author intros for each story—previously published separately.)

Two Amish Tales of Homecoming and Forever Love Amish Rescue by Debby Giusti Englischer Sarah Miller escapes her captor by hiding in the buggy of an Amish carpenter. Joachim Burkholder is her only hope—and donning Plain clothing is the only way to keep safe and find her missing sister. But for Joachim, who’s just returning to the Amish, the forbidden Englischer is trouble. Trapping her kidnapper risks his life, but losing Sarah risks his heart. Courting Her Amish Heart by Mary Davis Returning home after fourteen years in the Englisher world, Kathleen Yoder knows practicing medicine means sacrifice—no Amish man will want a doctor for a wife. Widowed Noah Lambright offers a cottage as her new clinic, seeing how much Kathleen’s skills can help their community. But as their friendship deepens, could love and family become more than a forbidden dream?

"Christians belong in churches--the only places where we can thrive and grow spiritually. In Why Church Matters, Joshua Harris makes this case with wisdom, clarity, and graciousness." --Charles W. Colson Church isn't where we go. It's who we are. We were never meant to live our faith in isolation. The church is the place God uses to grow us, encourage us, and use our gifts for His glory. In this honest, personal, and practical book, Joshua Harris shows you why it's time to say yes to church and how to find the right one for you--the place where you can fall in love with the family of God. Includes: What you miss when you miss church Ten questions to ask before you join How to get more out of the best day of the week What Readers are Saying: "This book shows the place of great honor that church holds in Christ's heart and encourages us to value what He values. I've bought multiple copies to give away." --Mike Neglia; Cork, Ireland "Josh Harris does an excellent job of addressing our impulse to church hop." --Garrett Watkins; Atlanta, Georgia "When our family was in the midst of a transition, Why Church Matters helped us find the right local church. It will do the same for you." --Andrew Hall; Ilderton, Ontario Previously published as Stop Dating the Church

The book demonstrates sociolinguistic patterns at work in Elizabethan ideological conflicts, at a level that shows how those patterns were related to the energies of people's sexuality and their political and religious commitments.

"Sheila speaks to both the heart and habits of the woman who is wife and mother. The lessons in this book are biblical, doable, and affordable!"--Margaret B. Buchanan From advertisements to mommy blogs to Pinterest, scenes of domestic bliss abound, painting a picture of perfection and expectation nearly impossible to live up to. Why can't you work a full-time job, stylishly clothe yourself and your children, plan a party for twelve with handmade decorations, keep your house sparkling clean without chemicals, and bake a gourmet meal in the same day? Everyone else is doing it! For many women, housework has become more than chores that need to be done; it is a symbol of identity. Sheila Wray Gregoire wants to stop that thinking in its tracks and help women back to a life of balance--for their sakes and for their families. She encourages women to shift their focus from housekeeping to relationships and shows them how to foster responsibility and respect in all family members. The second edition retains the helpful, concrete advice on everyday situations such as strategies for tackling chores and budgets and tips on effective communication, while incorporating the wisdom Sheila has gained through her interaction with thousands of readers of her blog and through her speaking ministry over the past ten years. Through the principles in To Love, Honor, and Vacuum, Gregoire promises readers they can grow and thrive in the midst of their hectic lives--even if their circumstances stay the same.

Includes a bonus short story by the author: Reclaimed by the rancher.

Enjoy this steamy long lost love starter by International Bestselling regency author Laura A. Barnes ... And our love will cling forever between the ivy and the thorns… He left soon after they shared their first kiss. She waited for his return. Can two lost souls find their way to love each other? Ivy Mallory spent the past seven years patiently waiting for Marcus Thornhill to return. He took her heart with him when he rejected her love. Over the years, Ivy played the part of the perfect lady enjoying the London seasons. However, when she overheard a treason plot threatening her brother, Ivy got herself kidnapped. When she awakened on the ship of the man who broke her heart, Marcus tempted Ivy with a passion she cannot deny. With her life in danger and the need to save her brother, Ivy must put her trust in Marcus’s hands. When Ivy fell more deeply for him, she wondered if Marcus would refuse her love. Can Ivy risk her heart to loving Marcus again? On his journey home Captain Marcus Thornhill discovered a lady floating unconscious in a lifeboat out in the middle of the open sea. Not just any lady, but the one who captured his heart. While Marcus nursed her back to health, he tried to uncover her secrets. When he unraveled the treason plot that would bring war to their beloved shores of England, Marcus cannot deny his love for Ivy. Can Marcus protect Ivy from harm and convince her of his love? Rescued By the Captain is the first novel in the Romancing the Spies series. For fans of Christi Caldwell, Scarlett Scott, or Sabrina Jeffries, this is a steamy drama set in Regency England reuniting the long lost love between Ivy and Thorn. Unlock Rescued By the Captain to begin reading the historical romance series today!

While flipping through the atlas of Chang Ch'i–yun, one of China's most famous geographers, distinguished translator Bill Porter (Red Pine) developed a curiosity about the southwestern province of China. Dubbed Yun–nan, "South of the Clouds," this was the last area modern China to come under Chinese control. Originally conquered by the Mongols and eventually introduced to foreigners as a vibrant setting for trade, Yun–nan became a critical crossroad connecting East and West. In 1992, Porter left his home in Hong Kong to tour the small towns and major cities of Yun–nan, studying each of their local cultures and larger impacts on the trajectory of Chinese history. Here, he shares his encyclopedic knowledge of the nation's beautiful legacy while introducing new insight about the province's landscapes, people, and recent state of affairs. He visited Bulang Mountain, where the local people had no written language of their own, so they sent their children to live as monks in nearby Tai temples to learn Tai script. He saw women in Lijiang who wore traditional sheepskin jackets that bore seven frogeyes without clear explanation. In Dali, a small town turned urban center, he recalls a massive museum built to show off the city's new wealth, only to have half of its halls left empty and unvisited. The first of a series of three China travel memoirs to be published by Soft Skull, Bill Porter's book tells the incredible story of a spread of land with a thousand years of human history. His remarkable insight and unparalleled understanding of China place this book at the forefront of East Asian travel literature.