Recent Additions August - November 2013

 Recent Additions to Library

August - November 2013

 

 

REFERENCE

 

The interactivity and ease-of-use of eBible™ combined with the wealth of material available from John MacArthur provide a powerful electronic library!

• Easily find the truths of God's word through verse-by-verse teachings of the Bible
• Over 50 books, commentaries, study guides, and daily devotions
• Customize searches, word studies, prayer lists, and your own Bible reading plan
• Includes Dr. MacArthur's personal selection from Nelson's Bible Reference Library
• What use to take hours of study and research can now be done in minutes!
• Utilizes the Libronix Digital Library System.

  If you had to name the greatest preachers of the last 50 years, one name that would quickly rise to the top would be J. Vernon McGee. His ministry has touched literally millions. McGee began teaching "Through the Bible" in 1967. After retiring from the pastorate, he set up radio headquarters in Pasadena, and the radio ministry expanded rapidly. Today the program airs on over 400 stations each day in the United States and Canada, is heard in more than 100 languages around the world, and is broadcast worldwide via the internet. The J. Vernon McGee Electronic Bible Study Library continues to be one of the top sellers in CBA.

The aim of The New Testament from 26 Translations is to combine in one volume the complete King James text and the most significant variations from 25 later translations. The entire text of the King James Version appears phrase-by-phrase in bold type, followed in each instance by significant and illuminating variations from the other translations. Each translated portion is coded for immediate recognition. The New Testament from 26 Translations: * Selects from the many translations words and turns of phrase which add to the King James Version. * Offers a concise commentary on the New Testament through a comparison of the various translations. * Consolidates into one convenient volume the varying shades of meaning from 25 important versions. * Is a unique tool for Bible study.

  How do we know the Bible is God's Word? What is sin and where did it come from? How is Jesus fully God and fully man?
What are spiritual gifts? When and how will Christ return?

If you've asked questions like these, then 'systematic theology' is no abstract term. It's an approach to finding answers every Christian needs to know.

Bible Doctrine takes a highly commended upper-level textbook on systematic theology and makes it accessible to the average reader. Abridged from Wayne Grudem's award-winning Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine covers the same essentials of the faith, giving you a firm grasp on seven key topics:

The Doctrine of the Word of God
The Doctrine of God
The Doctrine of Man
The Doctrine of Christ
The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption
The Doctrine of the Church
The Doctrine of the Future

Like Systematic Theology, this book is marked by its clarity, its strong scriptural emphasis, its thoroughness in scope and detail, and its treatment of such timely topics as spiritual warfare and the gifts of the Spirit. But you don't need to have had several years of Bible school to reap the full benefits of Bible Doctrine. It's easy to understand--and it's packed with solid, biblical answers to your most important questions.

 

NON-FICTION

 The Gospel costs nothing. You can't earn it or buy it. It can only be received as a free gift compliments of God's grace. It doesn't cost anything, but it demands everything. It demands that we go 'all in,' a term that simply means placing all that you have into God's hands. Pushing it all in. And that's where we get stuck—spiritual no man's land. We're afraid that if we go all in that we might miss out on what this life has to offer. It's not true. The only thing you'll miss out on is everything God has to offer. And the good news is this: if you don't hold out on God, God won't hold out on you. Readers will find Batterson's writing filled with his customary vivid, contemporary illustrations as well as biblical characters like Shamgar and Elisha and Jonathan and . . . Judas.
No one has ever sacrificed anything for God. If you always get back more than you gave up, have you sacrificed anything at all? The eternal reward always outweighs the temporal sacrifice. At the end of the day, our greatest regret will be whatever we didn't give back to God. What we didn't push back across the table to Him. Eternity will reveal that holding out is losing out.
The message of All In is simple: if Jesus is not Lord of all then Jesus is not Lord at all. It's all or nothing. It's now or never. Kneeling at the foot of cross of Christ and surrendering to His Lordship is a radical act of dethroning yourself and enthroning Christ as King. It's also an act of disowning yourself. Nothing belongs to you. Not even you.

Batterson writes, for many years, I thought I was following Jesus. I wasn't. I had invited Jesus to follow me. I call it inverted Christianity. And it's a subtle form of selfishness that masquerades as spirituality. That's when I sold out and bought in. When did we start believing that the gospel is an insurance plan? It's a daring plan. Jesus did not die just to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.'

 No one looks at growing older quite like Martha Bolton. Whether she's contemplating why some people turn cantankerous as they age, suggesting songs and books for the middle years, or looking at the benefits of shrinking, she keeps readers laughing out loud. And when readers are laughing the loudest, she'll touch them with a moving or poignant observation to remind them about the value of life. This new book from the full-time comedy writer follows in the wake of It's Always Darkest Before the Fridge Door Opens and the bestselling Didn't My Skin Used to Fit? 

 Whether Martha Bolton is contemplating whether or not there will be carbs in heaven or why she's growing her own turtle neck, she'll leave readers laughing out loud as they recognize the truth in her hilarious take on aging. Her fans crave each chapter just as they crave one more piece of chocolate. This veteran comedy writer adds occasional touching and poignant stories that remind readers what life is all about.

 Martha Bolton's observations about life and growing older nail what everyone feels but can't express. "Who Put All This Sand in My Hourglass Figure," "When I Am Old I Shall Be Purple," and "Allow Me to Repeat Myself...Again" are just a few of the topics her fans--both new and old--will be laughing at as they nod in agreement. To complete her memorable recipe, Martha mixes in an ample sampling of poignant, touching stories, reminding readers what life is about and what is truly important.

 Do you go for the chocolate when life gets you down?

You're not alone. When we feel stressed and overwhelmed, sometimes we just need a little chocolate. Now.

With wit and wisdom, Karen Scalf Linamen offers you fifteen low-calorie and fat-free ways to lift your spirits. This outrageously funny "joy enhancement" manual just for women combines humorous observations and road-tested insight. From the hilarious to the poignant, Karen gives you more than a dozen joy boosters, stress busters, hope builders, quick fixes, and long-term solutions designed to help you experience a positive difference in your life.

So pick up your favorite chocolate confection and settle down with Just Hand Over the Chocolate and No One Will Get Hurt. It's good for you.

Karen Scalf Linamen is a mother of two and the author or coauthor of several books, including Chocolatherapy and a series of children's picture books. Dubbed "the queen of good humor and common sense" by the Literary Guild, Karen lives with her family in Colorado Springs and speaks all over the country. She hides her chocolate wrappers in the piano.

Do you ever feel like a sock being tossed in the spin cycle of life? Have you ever wished straitjackets were made in the newest fall colors? Or ended the day with your sanity in a body bag? Then let Karen Linamen usher you into a place where hilarity and healing go hand in hand. In the tradition of her best-sellers Just Hand Over the Chocolate and No One Will Get Hurt and Sometimes I Wake Up Grumpy...and Sometimes I Let Him Sleep, Karen moves seamlessly between wit and wisdom as she outlines fourteen things you can do to experience greater joy, purpose, and passion -- even when life feels crazy! Hang on to your funny bone, because you're about to discover: why a harem of live chickens makes a perfect gift for any occasion, what kind of woman could get both her lips caught in a car door, plus 23 ways to make new friends, how to forgive yourself for something you really regret, the rewards of taking the one hundred smile challenge. In the process, you'll learn that, even when life is at its craziest, it's never too late to reclaim important things you might have lost along the way -- like your sanity, your sense of humor, and even your faith.
 

Calories are only half of the weight-loss equation ... welcome to the other half.

In The Thin Commandments Diet, Dr. Stephen Gullo lets you in on his unique weight-loss program that has a success rate that is many times higher than the national average. His two-part approach replaces willpower with strategy and deprivation dining with great-tasting gourmet fare.

In the first part, he reveals his strategy secrets — the 10 Thin Commandments — including:

• Think historically, not just calorically — identify trigger foods that can undermine your weight loss.
• 
  
• Slips should teach you, not defeat you — uncover the "24-hour secret" and never gain weight from binging again.
• 
  
• The problem may be in the food, not in you — learn the strategies to take control of your favorite foods.

In the second part, Dr. Gullo outlines his simple diet which will put you on the shortest path to safe and rapid weight loss — without depriving you of the foods you love. He takes the guesswork out of dieting and offers a program that helps melt pounds away quickly and easily.

 
 You know Ruth’s story. Now meet her in person. And prepare to be changed.

Walk with Ruth as she travels from Moab to Bethlehem, certain of her calling, yet uncertain of her future. Hold Naomi’s hand and watch love put the pieces of her broken life back together. And hang out with Boaz, their kinsman-redeemer, who blesses both women and honors God, big time.

With best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs by your side, you’ll tarry in the corners of their ancient houses, listen to their conversations, and consider every word of every verse until you can say, “I totally get the book of Ruth. And I see what God is trying to teach me through this rags-to-riches redemption story—he has a plan for my life.”

Girl, does he ever!

Think of it as time travel without gimmicks, gizmos, or a DeLorean: a novel approach to Bible study that leaps from past to present, gleaning timeless truths that speak to the heart.



 

As you read this book, there are a few things you have to understand: 95 percent of my stories are truthful. Every member of the Robertson family has the God- given gift of storytelling. Hey, when you’ve sat in a duck blind for more than half of your life, you have to figure out some way to pass the time! It’s better than looking at Willie and Jase for six hours! Many of the stories I like to tell happened when I was a young boy or when I was in Vietnam. At my age, a few of the details are cloudy, but I’ll recollect the coming stories as best I can. Hey, just remember it isn’t a lie if you think it’s true! It’s up to you, the reader, to figure out what’s truth and what’s fiction. Best of luck with that, Jack! May the force be with you.

Hey, another thing you have to know: my stories are kind of like my vocabulary. You might have noticed I like to say “hey” quite a bit. “Hey” can mean anything. It can mean “yes,” it can mean “maybe,” and it can mean “no.” Hey, it could mean “next week.” The bottom line is, you have to understand “hey” to understand me.

And if you know anything about Silas Merritt Robertson, you know I’m a hard rascal to figure out.

 

 Losing weight has never been easier or more fun than with Leslie Sansone's WALK AWAY THE POUNDS. For over twenty-five years, Leslie has helped more women get off the couch and onto their feet than anyone else in the fitness industry. Her secret? If you can walk, you can achieve the weight-loss goals you dream about...with none of the intimidation or negative messages that have stopped you from succeeding before. Whether you are a beginner or have been walking with Leslie for years, whether you are a teen or a senior or somewhere in between, you will see results. You will lose real weight, and keep it off-twenty pounds, forty, sixty, or even more. All you need is fifteen minutes a day for starters, two feet, and a willing attitude. There is no fancy equipment to buy, no fad diet to follow, and no fitness club to join. The revolutionary program in WALK AWAY THE POUNDS is designed to keep everybody on the path to success, especially those who have never been able to complete a weight-loss plan before. It's a simpler approach to fitness, one that can change your life. Leslie's step-by-step workbook format sets up the program day by day. You just wake up, flip open the book, and follow the directions. You'll get a combination of in-home walking (that's right, you can do it right from the comfort of your own living room!), simple strength training, motivational breakthroughs, and commonsense advice to help you burn fat, tone muscle, reduce stress, avoid illness, shake off the blues, and boost your energy level sky high. It's never been easier. Women all across America have dropped between 20 and 150 pounds with Leslie Sansone. Now you can too!

BIOGRAPHY

 

 
 Stepping onto the American Idol™ stage just weeks after his first wife’s unexpected death, Danny Gokey experienced both the pinnacle of hope and the depth of despair. But his story began long before that. Danny’s dreams began to form when he was a child, only to take a turn he never could have predicted. As life unfolded, he learned that true purpose is found in relationships, and destiny is sometimes born out of our darkest moments.

Now Danny wants you to embrace that same promise of hope. In this book, he shares his experiences in the high and low moments and offers compelling, hard-won wisdom to help you reach beyond your greatest challenges. Whether you struggle with relationships, loss, anger, self-esteem, or doubt that your dreams can come true, Danny’s down-to-earth encouragement and positive outlook will transform your life and reveal how you can move toward hope and take the next step to truly making a difference.

FICTION

 

Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment---and her interventionist is found dead at the airport---Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.

Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily's life, Barbara maintains her daughter's innocence. But does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs, but as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope he's wrong about Emily.

The mysteries intensify as everyone's panic grows: Did Emily's obsession with drugs lead her to commit murder---or is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?

In this gripping novel of intrigue and suspense, bestselling author Terri Blackstock delivers the up-all-night drama that readers around the world have come to expect from her.

 To read Gail Godwin is to touch the very core of human experience. With inimitable grace and aching emotional precision, Godwin probes our own complexities in characters whose lives oscillate between success and struggle, stoic resolve and quixotic temptation, bitter disappointment and small, sacred joys. Now with Evensong, she again translates our everyday existence into soul-touching truths as she brings to brilliantly realized life the people of a small Smoky Mountain town--and a woman whose world is indelibly altered by them.

 The Chance

Years ago, the day before Ellie moved from Georgia to California, she and her best friend Nolan sat beneath the Spanish moss of an ancient oak tree and wrote letters to each other, sealing them in a rusty old metal box. The plan was to return eleven years later and read them in 2013, the year Nolan’s time traveling books say all the mysteries of the world will be understood.

Now, as that date approaches, much has changed. Ellie, bereft of the faith she grew up with, is a single mom living in a tired apartment and trying to make ends meet. Nolan, now an NBA star, has dealt with terrible personal tragedies that fueled his faith and athletic drive in equal measure. Ever since his father and coach succumbed to a heart attack, Nolan has suffered from a transcendent loneliness. Drowning in an ocean of grief, he often thinks about Ellie and the innocence of their childhood days together.

As Ellie and Nolan move toward the possibility of a reunion at the oak tree, Molly and Ryan, the central characters from author Karen Kingsbury’s previous novel The Bridge, return in their own ongoing story. Written by the “Queen of Christian Fiction” (Time) with eloquence and grace, The Chance is a beautiful tale of heart-wrenching loss, the power of faith, and the wounds that only love can heal.

 A Moment of Weakness

Had they found each other again after all these years, only to lose everything that matters most?

As children, Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman were best friends—until scandal drove them apart. Then, one golden summer, they find each other again.  Through endless days they share their hearts and souls and dreams of forever.  Then, in a moment of weakness, they make a decision that will tear them apart for nearly a decade.

In their own separate corners of the country, Jade and Tanner have become fighters for religious freedom. Now Jade’s unfaithful husband is determined to destroy her in a custody battle that will rock the nation and shake people’s understanding of faith and freedom. Could Jade lose her only child because of her faith? Only one man can help her in her darkest hour. And only one old woman knows the secret about that summer and the truth that can set them all free.

Shades of Blue

Brad Cutler, twenty-eight, is a rising star at his New York ad agency, about to marry the girl of his dreams. Anyone would agree he has it all ... a great career, a beautiful and loving fiancee, and a fairy tale life ahead of him—when memories of a high school girlfriend begin to torment him. Lost innocence and one very difficult choice flood his conscience, and he is no longer sure what the future will bring except for this: He must find his old love and make amends. Haunted by the past and confused about the future, he turns to God seeking forgiveness and redemption.

Three people must work through the repercussions of a decision made long ago before any of them can look toward a new future.

  Between Sundays

Bestselling author Kingsbury (Forever; Sunrise) sets her first hardcover novel in the world of professional football. Derrick Anderson, a retiring quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, promised his dying son that he would win a Super Bowl for him. His hope may rest on upcoming star Aaron Hill, who is beginning to find the glitz and glamour of life at the top meaningless. To complicate things, there's a young foster child named Cory who believes that Aaron is his dad and is determined to get his point across, and sparks fly (of course) between Aaron and Megan, Cory's foster mother. Kingsbury's fans can probably guess exactly how the story will turn out, but will still enjoy the ride. Woven into the light inspirational romance is a message about the needs of foster children, inspired by Alex Smith's work with the foster care system-Smith is the real-life 49ers' quarterback and penned the foreword. The writing at times plods, and everything is simple, sometimes unbelievably so-the story, the dialogue, the characters' Christian faith. But Kingsbury's fans like her novels sweet, and this one may motivate them to get involved and make a difference with some of the neediest kids. 

Halfway to Forever

You wept with them as they were Waiting for Morning
You shared their Moment of Weakness
Now they face the greatest struggles of their lives.

Matt and Hannah Bronzan have found a new life in the face of devastating loss.  Together with Hannah’s daughter, Jenny, they are finally moving forward—toward the adoption of a little girl. A younger sister for Jenny, a daughter for them to love and raise together. But just when the dream seems to be coming true, disaster strikes. Can Hannah survive the loss of another daughter?

Jade and Tanner Eastman love the Bronzans. Matt and Tanner are partners in a successful religious freedom law firm, and the two couples share a great deal. Not the least of which has been Jade and Tanner’s struggle to have children.  When they discover Jade is pregnant, their joy is boundless. Until the joyous event becomes a threat to Jade’s very life. Will Tanner come through decades of loneliness only to face losing Jade one final time?

Caught in a desperate battle against all that threatens to derail their faith and sideline their futures, these four struggle together to depend daily on God, regardless of what comes against them, as they journey halfway to forever.

The Inn at Angel Island

The New York Times bestselling authors present a new series set on an island a stone's skip away from Cape Light...

Welcome to Angel Island, not far from the shores of Cape Light. It's said to harbor angels that help guide the lost, that sometimes lead them right back to where they began...

Liza Martin arrives on Angel Island to sell the inn she and her brother inherited from their aunt, so she can bolt back to her busy life in Boston. But back home awaits a broken marriage and an unstable career. The more time she spends on Angel Island, and with every local she meets, the more she finds herself enjoying the tranquility of the place. Her new friends don't want to see her sell the inn to developers who will ruin the island's charm. There is much for her to resolve before her departure- and it is going to take a band of angels to mend her broken wings and redirect her soul.

 

The Inn at Angel Island is officially open for business, and owner Liza Martin has booked her first major event-a June wedding. Jennifer, the bride, met her fiancé on the island when they were teenagers, and she's always dreamed of being married at the Inn. Liza wants to make sure that Jennifer has a perfect wedding day, but she soon notices tension between the bride and groom and begins to wonder: What good is the most spectacular setting or cake if the love between the couple isn't as beautiful and strong?

Liza is hoping everything will come together, but on the day of the wedding a storm rolls in-and the groom is nowhere to be found. Everything is going wrong, and Liza realizes that it will take nothing short of a miracle to make this wedding a success. Then again, if you have faith and love, Angel Island is just the sort of place where miracles can happen.

 In Apollyon, the individual members of the Tribulation Force find themselves distraught at personal problems, as well as the destructive forces of evil that are steadily taking over their world. Buck Williams and his wife must decide whether or not to have a child in a world that is rapidly ending, and Rayford Steele questions whether his wife is a true believer. Hattie, Nicolae's former mistress, is approaching the birth of their child with fear and and uncertainty. As believers prepare to gather in a massive rally, God unleashes a plague of locusts to destroy those who do not carry His seal on their foreheads.

 The horrors of the Tribulation are over, and Jesus Christ has set up his perfect kingdom on earth. Believers all around the world enjoy a newly perfected relationship with their Lord, and the earth itself is transformed. Yet evil still lurks in the hearts of the unbelieving. As the Millennium draws to a close, the final generation of the unrepentant prepares to mount a new offensive against the Lord Himself—sparking the final and ultimate conflict from which only one side will emerge the eternal victor.

 

Come home to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania—the beloved setting where Beverly Lewis's celebrated Amish novels began—with new characters and new stories of drama, romance, and the ties that draw people together.

When Jodi Winfield comes to Lancaster to house-sit, the last thing she expects to find is a disheveled little girl alone on the side of the road. The young teacher is mystified when she learns there have been no reports of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.

Then Jodi turns her attention to Hickory Hollow—and the cloistered world of the Old Order Amish—in search of answers.
 
 Former Black Ops specialist-turned-CIA operative Jonathan Keene is investigating the disappearance of border agents along the US/Mexico border when hes called to join a battle against an enemy no one saw coming. . .yet waits right at Americas doorstep.


Dynah Carey knew where her life was headed. Engaged to a wonderful man, the daughter of doting parents, a faithful child of God, she has it all. Then the unthinkable happens: Dynah’s perfect life is irrevocably changed by a rape that results in an unwanted pregnancy. Her family is torn apart and her seemingly rock-solid faith is pushed to the limits as she faces the most momentous choice of her life: to embrace or to end the life within her. This is ultimately a tale of three women, as Dynah’s plight forces both her mother and her grandmother to face the choices they made. Written with balance and compassion, The Atonement Child brings a new perspective to the most controversial topic of our times.

CHILDREN

 Yes, you might wonder what these creatures may have in common. In this early nonfiction reader that is part of the "Silly Millies" series, kids will pick up some interesting facts, and probably enjoy a laugh at the comparisons. As the amusing watercolor illustrations show—a moose and a goose both like water plants. Bees and manatees both dance, but the former appears to dance for fun while the latter is imparting valuable information about the last food source. The matchings continue with some really unusual and creative comparisons—a gorilla and a chinchilla, a sloth and a moth, a cockatoo and a kangaroo, a warthog and a bullfrog. Look for the humor in the pictures ranging from a gorilla bedding down with a pair of teddy bears to the cockatoo and kangaroo sharing Mom's pouch. The book concludes with notes to parents with tips to encourage and promote reading skills

 

YOUTH

 

Chased by thieves through roaring rapids, over a killer waterfall, and into the hands of primitive jungle natives!

This isn't exactly what Dad had in mind when he took his son on a missions trip to the South American rain forest. But he should have known better. After all, we are talking about Wally-If-Anything-Can-Go-Wrong-It-Will McDoogle.

My Life as Crocodile Junk Food keeps readers laughing as Wally stumbles into a whole new set of impossible (and man-eating) predicaments . . . Until he finally understands the need and joy of sharing Jesus Christ with others.

  Dorkoid Wally McDoogle has never looked so cool! This special edition gives readers all of the McDoogle out-of-control humor in a hip, hardcover format with never-before-seen wacky illustrations. My Life As a Broken Bungee Cord keeps readers on the edge of their seats as one calamity builds upon another until, with his life on the line, Wally learns what it means to fully put his trust in God. If they're adding to their complete Wally collection or just starting a new one, this upgraded edition is a must for every young reader's library.

Take another hilarious romp through Wally's incredible worlds as he learns the importance of trusting God even when things don't make sense. For just a few days, Wally gets to run his life his way. Meaning, he can do or be or have whatever he wants. But soon catastrophe piles upon catastrophe, and Wally begs God for things to go back the way they were.
 

Although adoption has taken them out of the New Jersey institution where they grew up, eleven-year-old T.J. and his younger brother Moondance remain involved with their friend Mop's relentless attempts to become adopted herself and to wreak revenge on their baseball rivals the obnoxious Eagles.

 

WOW! This time Lily's really on the adventure of a lifetime. How many girls like her get the opportunity to experience life in a different culture? For sure, not a whole lot! When Lily's father becomes a visiting fellow at Oxford University in England, the family tags along. As usual, she 'dives' right into the thick of things. Lily wants to make the most of her stay in Oxford and wastes no time sinking her teeth into the culture. She quickly develops a British accent, discovers the Church of England, and learns that God lives in the details of everyday life. She winds up developing some unlikely friendships that ultimately teach her lifelong lessons she'll never forget. But in the end, her adventures strengthen her relationship with God as she realizes, more than ever, there are many possibilities for walking her spiritual path in Christ.

 Gr 4-7-In this first book in a new series, 13-year-old DJ Randall dreams of owning a horse and competing in the Olympics. DJ is a self-sufficient young woman who holds an afterschool job grooming horses, sweeping stables, and teaching younger equestrians in exchange for riding time. Because of her concern with paying back her grandmother for special jumping lessons, she and her friend Amy advertize that they will bring a pony to birthday parties to offer children rides. DJ's prayers to God for guidance are not obtrusive and fit her personality. Yet she has her stubborn, sarcastic, and hurtful ways of dealing with her mother, who is frequently away on business. Snelling has a good ear for teen dialogue. However, readers may be put off by the unexpected subplot involving James, a mere acquaintance mentioned at the beginning of the book, and his drunken, abusive father. There's a pat conclusion, which wraps everything up in a mere four pages. A satisfying story for those looking for fiction with inspirational values.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA 

 DJ Randall and her mom, Lindy, are struggling to build a happy family life now that Gran has remarried and moved away, but the situation seems hopeless. Faced with an empty house and mounting responsibilities, DJ is nearly ready to run away again!

But even as DJ's relationship with her mother seems to be falling apart, her life at the Briones Riding Academy is looking up. At long last, DJ can resume jumping classes—and on her own horse, Major!

Suddenly, her mom drops a bombshell—she's considering accepting a position with a company in Los Angeles. DJ is devastated. If they move, she may not be able to keep Major!

DJ finally has her horse—but for how long?

A new job for her mother and a possible move to another city threaten to part DJ from her horse. 

 When Lindy Randall announces her engagement to Robert Crowder, DJ is floored. How can her mother even consider taking on a husband and twin boys when she is only now beginning to get along with the family she has?

DJ turns to her training at Briones Riding Academy to forget her troubles, but life at the Academy has acquired an ugly edge—no thanks to Tony Andrada. The academy newcomer has singled out DJ's friend Hilary as the target for his cruel racist remarks, and it's gotten so bad, Hilary is ready to call it quits.

Desperate, DJ resolves to find a way to end her problems at home and the Academy for good—but will her plans have a disastrous effect on her performance in the show-ring?

Is DJ ready to face the challenges before her?

Fourteen-year-old DJ seeks God's guidance about a riding school students's overt racism as well as about her mother's surprise announcement of plans to remarry. 

 

DJ's summer is in full swing. Every day she heads to Riding Academy to train with Herndon. Now that Herndon belongs to her, DJ struggles through learning his habits and tricks. She misses the friendship she shared with Major and wonders if she and Herndon will ever connect in the same way. But after two weeks at the U.S. Equestrian Team's training camp, DJ finally feels they're making progress. They arrive home just in time for another show, but she's barely there when a midnight barn fire endangers Herndon and the other horses. Can DJ overcome her deep-seated fears in time to save her horse?

While rescuing Herndon and other horses from a burning barn, fifteen-year-old DJ suffers serious injuries but also finds that God has answered her prayer to overcome a life-long fear of fire.

DVD

Troubled baseball all-star Cory Brand (Scott Elrod) is suspended from his team following a high-profile DUI, and struggles to turn his life around while attending a 12-step program and coaching a youth baseball team in his small hometown. At first, Cory can't wait to wrap up treatment and get back on the diamond. But the more time the reluctant coach spends with his eager young players, the greater his love of the game grows. Meanwhile, as Cory seeks to redeem himself through the grace of God, a long-lost love offers new hope for a better future.