"Once upon a time, in a tiny village tucked right up against the castle of the King, there sat a small house, and in that house lived a boy named William.He was happier than most boys his age because early in life he had discovered the thing that made his breath come quick and his heart skip. For over the fireplace, hanging in its plain leather scabbard, was a long and broad sword of just that type you'd expect to find in a great adventure. This was no ordinary sword as might do fo...

There lived a boy once, a very long time ago, whose name was Joshua. He grew up in the country, on a small farm far from the noise and close air of the city, and though he was a boy, he worked a man's day, so he was quite strong…Part IIn which Joshua comes to a very big, very important understanding.One day, this Joshua was at work in the fields loading bundles of grain onto a wagon when a peddler, leading a mule that pulled a wagon piled high with all manner of thin...

"...Joshua would not put away his talk. 'And you, Eliah Ben Elam?' he went on. 'What would you offer Messiah should he come before the dawn?'Eliah raised himself as if to scold the youth for his impudence, but stopped suddenly, just as the harsh words were coming. He glared beyond the boys, beyond the hills toward Bethlehem, and thought for a long moment, searching. Then he said heavily, "I have nothing left for Messiah. For he has already taken everything from me.'"Eliah's ...

Imagine that you wake one morning and everything you have come to know is gone. Your home and car, place of business, even loved ones, are all gone. How would you survive?On leave from the U.S. Marine Corps, Jason Black considered himself fortunate the morning an unnatural catastrophic wind devastated Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite concerns for a distant fiance, Jason holes up with other survivors in the ruins of a warehouse. Among the survivors, Kelly "Rocky" López is an attrac...

Lured by the promise of "real" freedom and a new town to call their own, sharecroppers Ezekial Harban and his three daughters leave behind remnants of slavery in the war-torn south and set off for Nicodemus, Kansas. When they arrive, they are shocked to see that little of what they were promised actually exists. Many head back home, but Ezekial and his daughters are determined to build a new life in the stark territory. Dr. Boyle, a newly arrived doctor in neighboring Hill City, ...

(Book 1 in The Fallen Chronicles)Lyla Evans just wants to be left alone; to fly under the radar and not attract attention. After seventeen years, she knows how the game is played. Her parents are hardly ever home, and when they do show up, they're quick to anger and even quicker with their fists. With foster care comes the threat of being separated from her two younger siblings, and Lyla would die before allowing that to happen. She's learned to keep her head down and depend on no ...

THE BRIDE’S SECOND CHANCETwo years ago, Olivia Shea was trying on her wedding gown, dreaming of marriage and motherhood. But her fisherman fiancé was lost at sea and Olivia fled, unable to stay in the New England fishing village. Now she’s back in Fairport, determined to face her fears by working on a whale boat tour. But the charter’s captain is the sole survivor of her fiancé’s ill-fated voyage-a man of danger and memories.Jonathan Barrotta’s scars from t...

Johanna Ilg has lived her entire life in Main Amana, one of the seven villages inhabited by devout Christians who believe in cooperative living, a simple lifestyle, and faithful service to God. Although she's always longed to see the outside world, Johanna believes her future is rooted in the community. But when she learns a troubling secret, the world she thought she knew is shattered and she is forced to make difficult choices about a new life and the man she left behind.Berta Sc...

She feels God nudging her toward ministry, but what options are there for a young single woman?Emily Evans has a hard time getting herself to class on time, much less figuring out God's will for her life. Then, to her surprise, she feels that God is calling her into full-time Christian service. She expects the Lord will also provide her with a companion to share her life and ministry, but Emily does not want to marry any of the available young men. She squares her shoulders and dec...

“I came to America expecting to be married.” Clara Johanson had a ticket to America and a photograph of a blond, curly-haired, blue-eyed man to prove her point. But when she arrived in Soldahl, North Dakota, the man who met her at the train station, Dag Weinlander, was definitely not blond and, to make matters worse, he obviously hadnt bathed in days. At least she knew she would see the joy in her sisters face when she surprised her by arriving at her Soldahl home. As Clara began her unexpect...

Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She's a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal's surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her.The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine's ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would caterwaul him into his parents' life. No ...

The Greatest Gift digital sampler includes selected excerpts from six books by New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado. They offer a glimpse into the content of these titles and the heart of the greatest gift of all time. Peek inside these books to find the perfect gift to share with someone you love this Christmas season. Excerpts are from Max on Life, Outlive Your Life, No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, When God Whispers Your Name, Grace for the Mom...