Showing results by narrator "Ann Richardson" in All Categories

Jane Withersteen, a sincere and faithful young Mormon woman, is persecuted by members of her own church. The as yet unmarried Withersteen has inherited a large and rich piece of property from her father. Elder Tull, an older church leader with several wives already, wants to marry her, but she does not want to marry him. She refuses him and is subsequently beset by troubles as Tull and his men wage a secret vindictive campaign against her.

It’s springtime, and septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins is celebrating new blooms and old books. To her delight, the Georgia Antiquarian Book Society has brought its annual fair to Catalpa Springs in honor of Cleo’s gentleman friend, respected antiquarian bookseller and restorer, Henry Lafayette. But trouble rolls in with the fair when a flirtatious book scout makes the rounds, charming ladies of a certain age out of prized books.

Though often taken for granted, the modern American public defender is a recent invention with a surprisingly contentious history - one that offers insights not only about the "carceral state" but also about the contours and compromises of 20th-century liberalism.

A heat wave grips Cape Cod, but the attendees of the So Noir literary retreat don't allow the hot weather to dampen their enthusiasm. They roam the halls of Castleton Manor in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts, wearing trench coats and fedoras, just like their favorite fictional private eyes. Librarian Faith Newberry gets herself in a jam when she agrees to deliver a lecture about the detective code. It's not exactly duck soup to grab the audience's attention, but Watson, her devoted feline companion, listens attentively.

When it comes to happiness rankings, Finland always scores near the top. Many Finnish phenomena set the bar high: the best education system, gender equality, a flourishing welfare state, sisu or bull-headed pluck. Behind all of these accomplishments lies a Finnish ability to stay calm, healthy and content in a riptide of endless tasks and temptations. The ability comes from the practice of "kalsarikanni" translated as pantsdrunk. Peel off your clothes down to your underwear. Place savory or sweet snacks within reach alongside your bed or sofa.

Ten years ago Virginia Catron and Bailey Callihan had to get married, but they loved each other fiercely and adored their son when he came into their lives. Fate dealt them a cruel blow when their infant son was snatched in a grocery store. Their new marriage couldn't withstand the strain and when it became clear their baby would not be found, they divorced, brokenhearted and grief stricken. They haven't seen each other since their divorce was finalized. The story opens when word arrives that their son has been found… alive.

Remarkable Hope reveals a pattern of hope where individuals were surprised by Jesus in drastic ways after they placed their hope in him and were-at first-disappointed. Their stories show his work was rarely what they anticipated. As we observe Christ's faithful commitment to these Biblical characters who hoped in him, we are wowed by his unseen plan. We are comforted by his orchestration of circumstances and revived by his enduring presence. Remarkable Hope helps us gladly declare, like the apostle Paul, that "our hope does not disappoint us."

Life is unpredictable. One day your journey is calm and effortless. Next day it's full of potholes. Why not take God's hand and walk this road together as fresh answers to your challenges are revealed? Lisa Are Wulf, an award-winning author, has walked this path too. She offers encouragement and a clear way forward, strengthening your special bond with Jesus. Reaching for God's Hand features 40 short reflections, soothing bible verses and prayers, plus a quiet time with God.

Some say that whenever it snows in Charleston, God is giving a miracle to his most favorite of places. So, I reckon, the blizzard that bleached the entire sky that December must have been a blessing of epic proportions. It was certainly a miracle that I’d forgotten my cell phone after giving my Christmas Eve sermon, and had to race back to the sanctuary in order to retrieve it.

In Captives: How Stolen People Changed the World archaeologist Catherine M. Cameron provides an eye-opening comparative study of the profound impact captives of warfare and raiding have had on small-scale societies through time. Cameron provides a new point of orientation for archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, and other scholars by illuminating the impact that captive-taking and enslavement have had on cultural change, with important implications for understanding the past.

Carolina Brown couldn’t be more different than her mama if she tried - and truthfully most of us believe she worked hard at precisely that. She worked hard at everything else, too, and set off to college to accomplish big things in the wide world. Unfortunately, God called her right back to Charleston when her mama suffered a near fatal accident that left her requiring round the clock care.

Mixing personal history, interviewee voices, and academic theory from the fields of care work, the sociology of work, medical sociology, and nursing, Taking Care of Our Own introduces us to the hidden world of family caregivers. By taking a multidimensional approach, Sherry N. Mong seeks to understand and analyze the types of skilled work that family caregivers do, the processes through which they learn and negotiate these new skills, and the meanings that both caregivers and nurses attach to their care work.

We are all so busy nowadays, and tackling all those to-do lists can leave us drained, worn down, and lacking energy. When you take a deeper look inside, you will also discover patterns, old habits, and past events blocking self-growth. Life coach extraordinaire, KJ Landis, helps identify how, why, and where we got stuck in the first place, and how we can utilize past trauma and drama as a springboard to becoming our most authentic, vibrant selves.

Word has it that every awkward young lady sent to Mrs. Hester Poitevant’s Mayfair Academy inevitably becomes marriage material. With her students going on to have any eligible bachelor they wish, Hester is able to live comfortably and in the background. And no one knows that under the guise of a stuffy widow, she is a beautiful woman who has never been married.

Riley McKinley adores Christmas. But this year, instead of decking the halls, she's chasing a career-defining deal away from home. Sebastian Rockwell, on the other hand, is a total grinch, who'd rather be out playing in the snow than taking part in a frenzy of festivities. When a devastating avalanche traps them together, it will have them questioning the meaning of the holidays. Could an unexpected romance redefine the spirit of the season for them both?

When Louise Gordon left her small Alaskan hometown, she vowed to keep those snow-touched memories—and a certain heartbreak—far behind her. But a call from the past tugs her back, with every intention of making it a whirlwind visit to settle an estate. Easy in, easy out, without so much as a glance at the one who once shattered her dreams. Brady Rockwell, on the other hand, has his cowboy boots firmly planted in Alaska's soil. The star rodeo rider has seen many horizons but always felt the shadow of the one that got away. In a town where everyone knows everyone, it's hard not to think of her.

Welcome to Charleston, South Carolina, where the local pastor saved a very special litter of Chihuahuas and put them to work as a tiny therapy dogs. Each puppy helps to create a miracle in the lives of the women who foster them, bringing healing, redemption, and of course, love.

How we read and interpret the Bible with children may mean the difference between whether or not it will continue to be an important source for their faith development as they become young adults. We want to teach them in ways that they don't have to unlearn later.

As October slides into November, Cody Bay enjoys a few rare moments of peace. Finally able to focus on her personal projects, Cody Moore sets out to start renovations on the Bay. December's Christmas rush is but a breath away, and with the trouble following them around at every turn, she needs to be ready. But Cody's hopes for a quiet November are soon shattered. The last guest to arrive at the Inn brings with them chaos anew.

Arlene is running from her old life. While driving a desert road in the middle of nowhere, her car breaks down, forcing her to seek refuge in a small diner. Diner owner Joe strikes a tentative deal with Arlene: in exchange for waitressing one night, he will cover the repairs to her car. On the surface things appear legitimate, but Arlene can't shake the feeling there's something off about Joe and his cliché diner.