When his life comes apart, will the center hold? Chris Walker has everything. A career, a beautiful fiancée, a promising ministry opportunity, and a faith instilled in him from a young age. But when a revelation about his family comes to light at his grandmother’s funeral, Chris finds himself facing questions he didn’t even know he had about…well, everything. Fighting a battle within and without from those that don’t understand his sudden doubts, Chris seeks refuge in a weekend with his grandfather to ask the tough questions and sort through the issues where faith meets life and disillusionment collides with truth. For those searching for the historic Christian faith that is relevant to life today, or for those who believe that a completely new faith is called for, Clear Winter Nights is a stirring story about faith, forgiveness, and the distinctiveness of Christianity. Through a powerful narrative and engaging dialogue, Trevin Wax shows the relevance of unchanging truth in an ever-changing world.

Who needs mistletoe? Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once . . . Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas.

"You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel...Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the world around you fade." —from If On A Winter's Night a Traveler Italo Calvino's stunning classic imagines a novel capable of endless possibilities in an intricately crafted, spellbinding story about writing and reading. If on a Winter's Night a Traveler is a feat of striking ingenuity and intelligence, exploring how our reading choices can shape and transform our lives. Originally published in 1979, Italo Calvino's singular novel crafted a postmodern narrative like never seen before—offering not one novel but ten, each with a different plot, style, ambience, and author, and each interrupted at a moment of suspense. Together, the stories form a labyrinth of literature known and unknown, alive and extinct, through which two readers pursue the story lines that intrigue them and try to read each other. Deeply profound and surprisingly romantic, this classic is a beautiful meditation on the transformative power of reading and the ways we make meaning in our lives. "Calvino is a wizard...There is no halting [this book's] metamorphoses." —New York Times Review of Books

What started as a simple, late night stroll for a man who needed to clear his head from the hassles of the season turned into a life-changing moment. This enchanting and endearing Christmas tale invites you to take a closer look at the wise men, Mary and Joseph, and even the Christ child himself. Freshly repackaged with updated art throughout, A Walk One Winter Night will open your eyes to the joy and wonder you can experience this holiday season.

The Bear Mountain days are cold, but the nights are steamy.... Allie Fairchild made a mistake when she moved to Montana. Her rental is a mess, her coworkers at the trauma center are hostile, and her handsome landlord, Dex Belmont, is far from charming. But just when she's about to throw in the towel, life in Bear Mountain takes a surprisingly sexy turn.... BookShots Flames Original romances presented by James Patterson Novels you can devour in a few hours Impossible to stop reading

More than 75 satisfying recipes to warm body and soul as you snuggle up against the cold by the fireside. Winter is the perfect time to stay indoors and prepare comforting home-cooked meals. Lizzie Kamenetzky takes her inspiration from snow-covered mountains, ski towns, and cozy winter cabins, to bring you recipes that are perfect for snuggling up against the cold in front of a crackling log fire. Enjoy these delicious recipes from dawn till dusk. Start your day with coffee and a sugar-dusted breakfast bake, still warm from the oven. Rustle up a hearty winter salad or serve a bowl of steaming soup for lunch, as you look forward to a satisfying plate of dumplings, or a rich casserole come the evening. Create creamy gratins, tasty supper skillets, slow-cooked meats, and deep-filled pies, or entertain your friends with a traditional cheese fondue. Finish your indulgent meal with a rustic fruit tart, or a baked soufflé spiked with a little warming winter spirit. Whatever your craving, you will find the perfect recipe to satisfy it here, as winter food has never been so comforting or delicious.

Grieving over the loss of his love, werewolf Bowen MacRieve enjoys a passionate encounter with his enemy, the witch Mariketa the Awaited, but when sinister forces threaten her life, Bowen must use all his skills to keep her alive.

Before Father Patrick Bergquist moved to Alaska, he imagined himself spending his free evenings wrapped in a warm quilt, reading novel after novel during the long arctic winters. Those idealized expectations were met with the unavoidable reality of winter's harshness, a pervasive darkness that made it neither realistic nor helpful to merely wait out the winter and hope for spring." And yet, says Bergquist, this is what we as a Catholic Church are tempted to do in the enduring darkness of the sexual abuse crisis. We want to wrap ourselves in the secure blanket of tradition and memory, thinking that this crisis too will pass-or worse still, that it has already passed. Bergquist admits he is "but a simple parish priest, no saint and surely no scholar." But it is precisely his perspective as a parish priest that gives rise to his poetic and prophetic voice. He speaks from his heart, soul, and experience in a way few others have done. He names and validates the pain and fear, the hopes and dreams that so many of us share. The Long Dark Winter's Night is both realistic and helpful. Patrick Bergquist was ordained in 1990. He is a diocesan priest of the Missionary Diocese of Northern Alaska and has been pastor of St. Raphael Catholic parish in Fairbanks since 1998. "

The holidays in Cordina are always laced with romance and mystery... The Royal Rake. The Playboy Prince. Ever the ladies' man, Prince Bennett of Cordina has always happily lived up to his public reputation with an element of recklessness. When a distant relative, Lady Hannah Rothchild, arrives in Cordina as a hired companion to his sister, Bennett couldn't be less interested in his modest, academic cousin. Still, he sees something of a challenge in this lovely stranger. With Christmas approaching, Bennett and Hannah are drawn together and, try as they might, the two cannot ignore the attraction growing between them. But Hannah has a secret, and the Cordina palace is not as safe as it once was. She must retain her privacy to protect herself...and Bennett. Even if Bennett is finally willing to risk his heart, their love couldn't be anything more than a fleeting Christmas romance...could it? Previously published.

Soup nights are a stress-free way to bring friends together. The host provides two or three pots of soup, while the guests bring their own dishes and silverware, and perhaps a salad or some bread. Neighbors get to know each other by name and people of all ages can connect and socialize. This practical guide encourages you to start your own soup group, with scores of recipes for soups and sides that your friends will be lining up to taste.