This heart-wrenching, unflinchingly honest memoir follows a woman's search to reclaim her lost faith, against all odds—perfect for fans of Lauren Winner and Kate Bowler. Donna Freitas wants to believe. Raised Catholic, she sang songs about Jesus as a child and lived in a house where nuns and priests were regular guests, yet she found herself questioning the faith of her family, examining the reasons none of it added up, and distancing herself from the God of Christianity. Despite her questions—or perhaps because of them—she made a career out of trying to understand God, pursuing a PhD in religion. But even as she taught college students about mystics, theologians, and others who wrestled with God, she was never able to embrace a faith of her own. In this searingly honest and deeply personal book, Freitas retraces her roundabout path up and out of the wilderness toward hope, and her dogged—and ongoing—search for faith. She talks about her experience with the Catholic abuse scandal, about being embraced as a speaker at hundreds of evangelical colleges, about how the death of her mother and the loss of her marriage made her question everything she thought she knew about love, how she cannot reconcile the ways the concept of God makes absolutely no sense, and how she cannot stop trying to believe, despite it all. Real, raw, and beautifully written, Wishful Thinking is a powerful story about the author’s search for belief in God and about finding God in the most unexpected places.

Free-spirited artist Stormy Jones-Smythe was raised by two talented Wizard fathers but never showed the slightest hint of magical abilities. Which is why she's totally surprised when three famous fairy godmothers show up at her door to tell her she's one of them. Surprised, and none too happy. The godmothers are fugitives, framed for treason, and the last thing the magical Council wants is another fairy godmother going rogue. Hence Stormy's new full-time Guard, Hunter Merrick. Stormy quickly realizes she's not going to escape Hunter's watch...and before long, she's not sure she wants to. But her freedom depends on her ability to expose the plot against the godmothers, and that means getting control of her magic. Despite the growing chemistry between them, Hunter is fiercely loyal to the Council—and duty-bound to keep Stormy from doing either of those things. But he didn't count on Stormy's irrepressible exuberance and passion for life. Before long, even Hunter isn't sure which side he's on, and he can't contain Stormy either way. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Jennifer Sharpe is a divorced mother of two with a problem just about any working parent can relate to: her boss expects her to work as though she doesn’t have children, and her children want her to care for them as though she doesn’t have a boss. But when, through a fateful coincidence, a brilliant physicist comes into possession of Jennifer’s phone and decides to play fairy godmother, installing a miraculous time-travel app called Wishful Thinking, Jennifer suddenly finds herself in possession of what seems like the answer to the impossible dream of having it all: an app that lets her be in more than one place at the same time. With the app, Jennifer goes quickly from zero to hero in every part of her life: she is super-worker, the last to leave her office every night; she is super-mom, the first to arrive at pickup every afternoon; and she even becomes super-girlfriend, dating a musician who thinks she has unlimited childcare and a flexible job. But Jennifer soon finds herself facing questions that adding more hours to her day can’t answer. Why does she feel busier and more harried than ever? Is she aging faster than everyone around her? How can she be a good worker, mother, and partner when she can’t be honest with anybody in her life? And most important, when choosing to be with your children, at work, or with your partner doesn’t involve sacrifice, do those choices lose their meaning? Wishful Thinking is a modern-day fairy tale in which one woman learns to overcome the challenges—and appreciate the joys—of living life in real time.

Louise wishes she could be slim, pretty, and popular. So she can’t believe it when it seems her wish is coming true. If only it didn't all cost so much . . . Dara wishes she could go back in time, and change everything. But she's married now, and nothing can change that. Can it? Rosie wishes she knew how to make her children happy. Even though they're both grown up with their own lives, they seem to need her more than ever. Three very different women, about to make a journey that will change their lives forever. You should be careful what you wish for . . .

Giggle your way through this whimsical look back at the authors strategy behind insuring Santa gets her "real" Christmas list.

Three friends cheat on a math test and get away with it -- until a strange substitute teacher starts asking questions.

"The instrument in my hand is a pen of freedom. The pen is mighty for it can declare things that are true. The mighty pen has the power to influence for good or incite evil. It creates in the mind of a reader intent and purpose.Ideas will flow from the heart and mind. Down the arm and through the wiggling hand to the end of the pen and onto the paper, where the journey begins. Not all pens are alike. But they are all at the disposal of the hand that picks them up. As long as there is ink in the pen work can be done. A working pen means ideas can be shared, feelings conveyed, and notes written. People can feel chastised, praised, bored or entertained with a few swipes of a pen. Notes can be verbose or they can be terse. Pen, paper, words and intent combine to change the world or just a perception of it. History was made and continues to change with just the swipe of a pen."

Georgie: gorgeous, glamorous and successful. But her bank balance is a molehill and her credit card bill a mountain. Lin: the gap between her dreams and reality is as wide as the Grand Canyon -- not ideal when you're a single mother. Cookie: smart and sassy, but all too aware that fairy tales don't happen for those not heroine-shaped. For these three women life just isn't turning out as planned. Working in publishing -- the parties, book launches and long lunches -- isn't nearly as glamorous as it sounds. And each is aware of something missing in their lives. So when the opportunity comes for them to wish for something, they jump at the chance. For where there's a wish, there's a way, especially with a little help from your friends ...

Fans of Aladdin can enter a whole new world—on the road to Broadway! Actress Kelly Reilly has always found success in her tough career, bolstered by her true-blue boyfriend, Rob Cornell. But when Rob accepts a role in New York City without a word of discussion, Kelly is thrown for a loop. Rescue soon arrives in the form of a brass lamp, complete with a gender-bending, wish-granting genie. Alas, Kelly’s first wish goes dramatically awry. Kelly is desperate to right that wrong—and to get her love life back on track while she advances her career. Can she negotiate her genie’s trickster ways? Or will her hopes only add up to wishful thinking? The As You Wish Series (each volume can be read on its own, and the series can be read in any order): "Wishful Thinking" (Kelly Reilly) Act One, Wish One (Kira Franklin) Wishing in the Wings (Becca Morris) Wish Upon a Star (Erin Hollister) If you like paranormal romance, urban fantasy, humorous fantasy, light fantasy, romcoms (romantic comedy), chicklit, genies, magic lamps (magic lanterns), Broadway, theater, musicals, drama, actors, actresses, acting, or Minneapolis, Minnesota, then this is the book for you! 010323mfm