A motherless girl hungry for hope . . . and the dream that could be leading her astray. Almost two years have passed since twelve-year-old Allie Granderson’s beloved mother, Mary, disappeared into the wild tornado winds. Her body has never been found. Allie clings to memories of her mother, just as she clings to the broken compass she left behind, the makeshift Nativity scene in the front yard, and her best friend Zach. But even with Zach at her side, the compass on her wrist, and the Nativity right outside the window, Allie cannot help but feel lost in all the growing up that must get done. When the Holy Mother disappears from the yard, Allie’s bewilderment is compounded by the sudden movement of her mother’s compass. Following the needle, Allie and Zach leave the city behind and push into the inky forest on the outskirts of Mattingly. For Allie, the journey is more than a ghost hunt: she is rejoining the mother she lost—and finding herself with each step deeper into the heart of the dark wood. Brimming with lyrical prose and unexpected discoveries, In the Heart of the Dark Wood illustrates the steep transition we all must undergo—the moment we shed our childlike selves and step into the strange territory of adulthood.

A new, broad, comprehensive view of the innovative poetry of the late, great Trappist monk and religious philosopher Thomas Merton. Poet, Trappist monk, religious philosopher, translator, social criticthe late Thomas Merton was all these things. Until now, no selection from his great body of poetry has afforded a comprehensive view of his varied and largely innovative work. In the Dark Before Dawn: New Selected Poems of Thomas Merton is not only double the size of Merton's earlier Selected Poems (1967), it also arranges his poetry thematically and chronologically, so that readers can follow the poet's multifarious interrelated lines of thought as well as his poetic development over the decades, from his college days in the 1930s to his untimely accidental death in Bangkok in 1968 during his personal Eastern pilgrimage. The selections are grouped under eight thematic headings"Geography's Landscapes," "Poems from the Monastery," "Poems of the Sacred," "Songs of Contemplation," "History's Voices: Past and Present," "Engaging the World," "On Being Human," "Merton and Other Languages."

'Smart, sexy, and always romantic' Julia Quinn, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series 'Fabulous' Eloisa James 'For a smart, witty and passionate historical romance, I recommend anything by Sarah MacLean' Lisa Kleypas The second in Sarah MacLean's sensational new Scandal & Scoundrels series . . . all the fun and guilty pleasure of celebrity gossip, with a Regency twist! Lonesome Lily turned Scandalous Siren Miss Lillian Harwood has lived much of her life alone in a gilded cage, longing for love and companionship. When an artist offers her pretty promises and begs her to pose for a scandalous portrait, Lily doesn't hesitate . . . until the lying libertine leaves her in disgrace. With the painting now public, Lily has no choice but to turn to the one man who might save her from ruin. Highland Devil turned Halfhearted Duke The Duke of Warnick loathes all things English, none more so than the aristocracy. It does not matter that the imposing Scotsman has inherited one of the most venerable dukedoms in Britain - he wants nothing to do with it, especially when he discovers that the unwanted title comes with a troublesome ward, one who is far too old and far too beautiful to be his problem. Tartan Comes to Town Warnick arrives in London with a single goal: get the chit married and see her become someone else's problem, then return to a normal, quiet life in Scotland. It's the perfect plan, until Lily declares she'll only marry for love . . . and the Scot finds that there is one thing in England he likes far too much . . . This is the second novel in the Regency romance Scandal & Scoundrels series by New York Time bestselling author Sarah MacLean - perfect for fans of Lisa Kleypas and Eloisa James Scandal & Scoundrel series: The Rogue Not Taken A Scot in the Dark The Day of the Duchess Praise for Sarah MacLean 'Sarah MacLean has reignited the romance genre with a bolder edge' The New Yorker 'Funny, smart, feminist and roastingly hot' BookRiot.com 'Do yourself a favor and discover the compelling magic of Sarah MacLean' Amanda Quick 'MacLean writes with an entirely unique blend of elegance and ferocity that bursts from every page' Entertainment Weekly 'Great chemistry, intelligence and sparkling humor' RT Book Reviews

Find comfort in dark times and grow your trust and faith in God with this inspiring and insightful guide from Lakewood Church pastor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Joel Osteen. All of us will go through dark times that we don't understand: a difficulty with a friend, an unfair situation at work, a financial setback, an unexpected illness, a divorce, or the loss of a loved one. Those types of experiences are part of the human journey. But when we find ourselves in such a place, it's important that we keep a positive perspective. Joel Osteen writes that if we stay in faith and keep a good attitude when we go through challenges, we will not only grow, but we will see how all things work together for our good. Through practical applications and scriptural insight, Blessed in the Darkness focuses on how to draw closer to God and trust Him when life doesn't make sense. If we will go through the dark place in the valley trusting, believing, and knowing that God is still in control, we will come to the table that is already prepared for us, where our cup runs over.

Updated with the latest archaeological research new chapters on the most influential yet widely unrecognised people of the British isles, In Search of the Dark Ages illuminates the fascinating and mysterious centuries between the Romans and the Norman Conquest of 1066. In this new edition, Michael Wood vividly conjures some of the most important people in British history such as Hadrian, a Libyan refugee from the Arab conquests and arguably the most important person of African origin in British history, to Queen Boadicea, the leader of a terrible war of resistance against the Romans. Here too, warts and all, are the Saxon, Viking and Norman kings who laid the political foundations of England: Offa of Mercia, Alfred the Great, Athelstan, and William the Conqueror, whose victory at Hastings in 1066 marked the end of Anglo-Saxon England. Reflecting the latest historical, textual and archaeological research, this revised and updated edition of Michael Wood's classic book overturns preconceptions of the Dark Ages as a shadowy and brutal era, showing them to be a richly exciting and formative period in the history of Britain.

Art in the Dark presents a collection of short stories that come together in a journey that is by turns whimsical, ironic, frightening, and absurd. Much like the passage of life itself, these stories are mysterious and unpredictable. Through analogy and metaphor, author Robert Eichelberg addresses a number of difficult topics-such as love, death, alienation, materialism, war, and politics-from unique new angles, bringing to light aspects of each that may otherwise be difficult to consider. From the opening salvo of "The Only Rule," with its shocking subject and frightening twist, to the gruesome and heartrending tale of Blue in "The Bad Dog," each tale is imbued with at least a hint of the surreal. They remind us that our journey though life is short and that we must embrace every moment-even as we must ultimately let go. These stories transcend the conventional and challenge your perceptions and expectations, leaving you always in awe of the wonders that remain ahead.

Numbers in the Dark is a collection of short stories covering the length of Italo Calvino's extraordinary writing career, from when he was a teenager to shortly before his death. They include witty allegories and wise fables; a town where everything has been forbidden apart from the game of tip-cat; a pitiable tribe watching the flight paths of guided missiles from outside their mud huts; a computer programmer considering the possible sequence of a series of brutal acts; and dialogues with Henry Ford, a Neanderthal and the gloomy, overthrown Montezuma ... Italo Calvino, one of Italy's finest postwar writers, has delighted readers around the world with his deceptively simple, fable-like stories. Calvino was born in Cuba in 1923 and raised in San Remo, Italy; he fought for the Italian Resistance from 1943-45. His major works include Cosmicomics (1968), Invisible Cities (1972), and If on a winter's night a traveler (1979). He died in Siena in1985, of a brain hemorrhage.

A cosmic event and man's insanity murdered Planet Earth but there are few left to mourn its passing. A thick cloud of dust blankets the globe and blocks the life-giving sunlight for years. It is the dawn of a brave new world, a nuclear winter of total darkness and frigid temperatures. Things that go bump in the night usually herald someone's death. Two and four-legged predators stalk the stygian darkness looking for food or someone to enslave. Out of the ashes rises an armored paramilitary group who stands between the weak and defenseless and those who would prey on them

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons in the New York Times bestselling series The Dark Elements. White Hot Kiss: Book 1 Seventeen–year–old Layla just wants to be normal–fit in at school, and go out on a real date with the gorgeous Zayne. Trouble is, Zayne treats Layla like a sister–and Layla is anything but normal. She's half demon, half gargoyle, with abilities no one else possesses. And even though Zayne is a gargoyle, Layla's kiss will kill anything with a soul–including him. Then she meets Roth–a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know her secrets. Trusting Roth could ruin her chances with Zayne–and brand her a traitor. But as Layla discovers she's the sole reason for a violent demon uprising, kissing the enemy suddenly pales in comparison to the looming end of the world. Stone Cold Touch: Book 2 Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life–no easy task for a seventeen–year–old. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off–limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul–stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could. But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla's powers begin to evolve, and she's offered a tantalising taste of what has always been forbidden. Every Last Breath: Book 3 Every choice has consequences–but Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin–the deadliest of demons–has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her...including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city from destruction. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side–and then fight like hell... Includes Bitter Sweet Love novella

A corpse in a country house brings Scotland Yard to an eerily quiet English village, in this tale by a master of British mystery. Cyril Savage has inherited the home of his wealthy and estranged aunt. But before Savage has the chance to discover her fortune, he is struck dead in the cellar of this once grand country house in the strange, nearly deserted village of Plumpton Bois. The police are baffled and—unable to unearth a motive, let alone a killer—call for the assistance of Scotland Yard. Inspector Littlejohn and Inspector Cromwell arrive in Plumpton Bois and find the village, the family, and the house itself full of secrets. The door to a locked room has been bashed open. Savage’s aunt is not nearly as rich as she seemed to be. And now, another body has turned up on Littlejohn’s watch . . .