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It's National Romance Month!

She's out to prove that there's no such thing as choosing happiness.

Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn't exist in her life—and never will.

As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she's supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and her research. Forever.

But on her thirtieth birthday, Isadora does something completely out of character. The young woman who never does anything "on a whim" makes an impulse purchase of a magazine featuring a silly article detailing "Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy"—which includes everything from smiling at strangers to exercising for endorphins to giving in to your chocolate cravings. Isadora decides to create her own secret research project—proving the writer of the ridiculous piece wrong.

As Isadora gets deeper into her research—and meets a handsome professor along the way—she's stunned to discover that maybe, just maybe, she's proving herself wrong. Perhaps there's actually something to this happiness concept, and possibly there's something to be said for loosening up and letting life take you somewhere . . . happy.

• Christian women's fiction
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: 100,000 words
• Perfect for fans of Rachel Linden, Gail Honeyman, and Linda Holmes
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

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God is omnipresent—meaning He's here, there, everywhere all at the same time—so no matter what you're going through today or worried about facing tomorrow, He is closer than you can imagine, and His presence changes everything.

The God of creation cares deeply about every detail of our personal lives. He's in charge of every galaxy and has named every star. He also knows about the hurts in our hearts and the hairs on our heads. He's near and far. His glory fills the universe, and yet He's up close and involved.

Though we believe in our minds that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present, sometimes we don't feel his closeness. How can we walk boldly in our faith, expecting Him to draw near to us as we draw near to Him, as promised in the book of James? In Closer Than Your Next Breath, bestselling author, speaker, and radio host Susie Larson helps readers experience God's trustworthiness and love—even when they feel far from Him. In this book, readers will explore these questions and more:

• How do I know if I'm hearing the voice of God?
• Is feeling good the same as feeling God?
• Is there anything I can do when God seems silent?
• How should God's presence impact me?

There's nothing like God's presence in our lives, but sometimes we chase the sensational and miss the supernatural. Worship services, retreats or conferences, and mountaintop experiences are great, but too often we rush right by the nuanced, miraculous ways God shows up in our story every day. When we pursue the heart of God through the Word of God, that's when we experience the presence of God—and it makes all the difference in our lives.

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If we really believed that God knowing was enough—and left it there—our questions, worries, and angst over life's struggles would find more than temporary relief.

Many of us wake up every day with looming anxieties over our future and a weariness we can't shake. We have more questions than answers and live with difficult daily realities and secrets we feel we cannot share. The question remains for most believers: How can I fix it, make sense of it, or solve it?

Enter God Knows: a guidebook to lead the modern believer to a place of release, relief, and reliance upon the omniscience of God.

God is doing his job well: the justice, the plan, the working together for our good even when we can't see or understand. The problem is not God. Learn to release what has been burdening you and watch His plan for your life unfold.

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Is it just me? Am I the only one who's lonely? Am I the only one without friends?

If you've ever asked yourself these questions, Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston, founders of the widely popular "Sister, I Am with You," community, are raising their hands to say, "Yeah, us too." And they want to encourage, equip, and reassure you that you have what it takes to build the kind of friendships you want.

Loneliness doesn't care what age you are, how many Instagram followers you have, or where you call home. It doesn't care how "put together" you appear to the outside world. We have a collective wound that only authentic sisterhood can heal.

With real-life vulnerability and "I've been there, too" wisdom about building deep and satisfying friendships, Amy and Jess unpack the lies we've been told about friendship and show you how to:

• break free from unhealthy habits that keep you from experiencing real connection
• find the confidence to live freely and without fear of rejection
• be a good friend even though you can't be a perfect one
• heal from a friend breakup--and find the courage to try again
• intentionally pursue friends in everyday life

You deserve a community of loving, supportive, there-for-you friends. If you're ready to change the way you think about friendship, let I'll Be There (But I'll Be Wearing Sweatpants) be your new go-to guide for navigating the ups and downs of everyday life with your nearest and dearest. Let's start making friendship a priority--together.

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On September 29, 2006, Michael Monsoor and two SEAL snipers watched vigilantly for enemy activity from their rooftop post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. When a grenade thrown from insurgents bounced off Michael's chest, he could have escaped. Instead, he threw himself onto the live grenade, shielding his fellow soldiers from the immediate explosion. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice.

As George Monsoor (Michael's father) and Rose Rea show us in Defend Us in Battle, Michael had prepared for this selfless act all his life—a life that inspires us to have a similar generosity of heart. This fast-paced, compelling biography

• tells the true story of a quiet boy from California who achieved his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL and saved numerous lives throughout his deployment
• recounts how Michael's childhood of asthma and being bullied made him a staunch defender of justice and passionate about never quitting
• draws on interviews, military documents, and eyewitness accounts to detail Michael's remarkable military career and devotion to God and others
• is perfect for readers of fans biographies such as Unbroken, as well as for anyone eager to remember that this world still has heroes

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Michael received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart for his years serving his country. But his greatest legacy is in the hearts of those he inspired to live, and even die, for the sake of brotherly love.

Photos and award images are included in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

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Celebrate Father's Day with a preview of Luke Russert's new book: Look for Me There.

In Look for Me There, Luke Russert traverses terrain both physical and deeply personal. On his journey to some of the world's most stunning destinations, he visits the internal places of grief, family, faith, ambition, and purpose—with intense self-reflection, honesty, and courage."—Savannah Guthrie, coanchor of Today

"Look for me there," news legend Tim Russert would tell his son, Luke, when confirming a pickup spot at an airport, sporting event, or rock concert. After Tim died unexpectedly, Luke kept looking for his father, following in Tim's footsteps and carving out a highly successful career at NBC News. After eight years covering politics on television, Luke realized he had no good answer as to why he was chasing his father's legacy. As the son of two accomplished parents—his mother is journalist Maureen Orth of Vanity Fair—Luke felt the pressure of high expectations but suddenly decided to leave the familiar path behind.

Instead, Luke set out on his own to find answers. What began as several open-ended months of travel to decompress and reassess morphed into a three-plus-year odyssey across six continents to discover the world and, ultimately, to find himself.

Chronicling the important lessons and historical understandings Luke discovered from his travels, Look for Me There is both the vivid narrative of that journey and the emotional story of a young man taking charge of his life, reexamining his relationship with his parents, and finally grieving his larger-than-life father, who died too young.

For anyone uncertain about the direction of their life or unsure of how to move forward after a loss, Look for Me There is a poignant reflection that offers encouragement to examine our choices, take risks, and discover our truest selves.

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Amazing Grace, a biography that reads like a novel, reveals John Newton's dramatic, and at times traumatic, story of sin and salvation and ultimate conviction to speak out against slavery. His story speaks to the brokenness within us all and our need for God's amazing grace.

Amazing Grace is a rags-to-riches story that charts the many ways a young man squanders opportunities and experiences misery and poverty, only to unexpectedly rise to a level of respectability and privilege. This dramatic retelling of his life story, which feels like a novel, is a tale of romance, in which young love sparks wild and impulsive actions, only to be followed by years of seemingly hopeless longing, before eventually being crowned by a long and happy marriage. Lastly, it is a story of grace of a youth who rejects God repeatedly, loses himself in a downward spiral of unbelief and immoral behavior, only to be rescued by divine mercy that reaches deeper than he could ever have imagined.

Newton's story is shocking, and Amazing Grace does not try to airbrush or excuse his faults. There are glaring contradictions in the life of a ship's captain who retreats to his cabin to study his Bible and write tender love letters to his wife while hundreds of slaves lie in chains in the hold below. But the profound lessons from his life are applicable to us today, helping us to:

• Struggle well when life doesn't match up to expectations.
• Be honest and open about our stories that are shameful or just too hard to resolve.
• Understand that God's work in our lives is ongoing.
• Seek a deeper, more personal faith, awakening to the gospel message and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Since John Newton's death, every generation has found a way of connecting with his story. Today is no different, for in these days of extreme polarization when beliefs about race, church, and politics have all become deeply divisive in society, we need grace more than ever. We need stories that talk about the human condition, stories that are soaked in the relentless love of God and his forgiveness of sins.

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June 3, 2023 is both National Trails Day & World Bicylce Day, and we have just the book for you!

Sean Dietrich's writing in "You Are My Sunshine" is a blend of literary humor and southern wit.

In this true-life tale, master storyteller Sean Dietrich--also known as the beloved columnist and creator of the blog and podcast "Sean of the South"--shares the hilarious, touching, and sometimes terrifying story of the long bike ride him and his wife, Jamie took to conquer two of the nation's intense bike trails, totaling over 300 miles.

Enjoy Sean and Jamie's engaging and emotional story, plus humorous moments, and deep insights, and maybe scroll back through Sean's Instagram to see pictures of the couple on their journey.

You Are My Sunshine will capture your heart and remind you of the importance of keeping your promises and what matters most in life.

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May is Latino Books Month and we're spotlighting The Memory Index by Julian R. Vaca.

In a world where memories are like currency, dreams can be a complicated business. In an alternative 1987, a disease ravages human memories. There is no cure, only artificial recall. The lucky ones--the recollectors--need the treatment only once a day. Freya Izquierdo isn't lucky. The high school senior is a "degen" who needs artificial recall several times a day. Plagued by blinding half-memories that take her to her knees, she's desperate to remember everything that will help her investigate her father's violent death. When her sleuthing almost lands her in jail, a shadowy school dean selects her to attend his Foxtail Academy, where five hundred students will trial a new tech said to make artificial recall obsolete. She's the only degen on campus. Why was she chosen? Freya is nothing like the other students, not even her new friends Ollie, Chase, and the alluring Fletcher Cohen. Definitely not at all like the students who start to vanish, one by one. And nothing like the mysterious Dean Mendelsohn, who has a bunker deep in the woods behind the school. Nothing can prepare Freya and her friends for the truth of what that bunker holds. And what kind of memories she'll have to access to survive it.

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"There are heroes among us, and Dr. Calvin Sun is one of them. Read this book." -Lisa Ling, journalist

The Monsoon Diaries is the firsthand account of Dr. Calvin Sun, an emergency room doctor who worked tirelessly on the front lines in multiple hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drawing upon the lessons he learned from his adventures traveling to more than 190 countries in ten years, as well as from the grief he experienced as a teen when his father died, Dr. Sun shares his journey, from growing up as a young Asian American in New York to his calling first to medical school and then to the open road.

He believes that the fight for a better world creates meaning when all feels meaningless, and he hopes that telling his story will help readers reframe this tragic moment in our lifetimes into possibility, with the goal of building a more empathetic society.

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