Showing results by narrator "J B" in All Categories

In 2012, Mormon General Authority Marlin K. Jensen acknowledged that members are leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "in droves". Access to the internet is often credited and blamed for this mass exodus, where members learn about problematic doctrines and cover-ups of LDS history. Many are happy as Mormons. And many are not. Those who leave, and those doubters who stay face struggles that few others can understand.

Annaleigh Bartow has one goal in mind. Save the last remaining examples of her grandfather’s stonemasonry work. Unfortunately, that work is part of an old hotel scheduled for demolition. And she’s not the only one out to get a piece of it. When her attempt is thwarted by some ruthless thugs, an unexpected hero comes to her rescue. One who both frightens and fascinates her. One who will change her life in ways she can’t imagine.

Luna Matsya is a local celebrity as a trendsetting hairstylist, but she’d prefer to spread her fin in a nice body of water rather than make a big splash around town. She’s starting to believe that her ability to live and walk among mortals is more of a curse rather than a blessing. Especially now that the flashy tent from a touring magic show is blocking her lake. Where’s a mermaid to swim when the slightest mistake can put her in the spotlight?

Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes 10 short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play about topics like gentrification, acceptance, untimely death, coming out, and poverty, and ranging in genre from contemporary realistic fiction to adventure and romance. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and color outside the lines.

Minx Marksman - daughter of a Supermodel and a famous Rocker - wants nothing more than a normal, crazy-free life. One more nannying gig will earn her enough to achieve her dream of small cottage on the coast. That last job brings her to Nocturne Falls where she's surprised to find out it's Halloween everyday. Not so much on the normal, but high on the adorable. Baby Gus and Uncle Hottie - aka Tim Johnson - seem to be a walk in the park at first. The flirty infant and the nerdy, glasses wearing cutie grab her heart from the start. She's falling fast for both guys.

The world as we know it is gone. The ice caps have melted and shifted south, devastating the northern territories and eradicating major cities such as New York and London, which are now underwater and frozen. Humans died off during an epidemic prior to the ice disaster, and many more died during the floods at the start of this new ice age. These events have forced vampires out of hiding. In order to ensure that their food source wouldn't completely die off, the vampires have sequestered the remaining humans into farms and taken control of all that remains of civilization.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus reveals the story behind the man we all know. In this children's fantasy story, baby Claus is discovered in a forest by a supreme immortal and placed in the care of a lioness and later a wood nymph. Claus is kind towards children and spends his time making toys for them, but not everyone is pleased with his activities and will do all they can to make it stop. The story by L.

Martin is an old cobbler with a good trade, but he has had a hard life. His soul is now embittered against God. When he hears a mysterious voice calling him in the middle of the night, his soul seems to lighten and awaken to answer the call.

The lectures address-in chronological sequence-a series of major works that have shaped the ongoing development of Western thought both in their own right and in cultural dialogue with other traditions. In the process, the course engages many of the most perennial and far-reaching questions that we face in our daily lives.

Huckleberry Finn is the original American maverick. He chooses the things that feel the most comfortable for him, regardless of what others may say. But when he is forced to flee his home, and comes into company with Jim, a runaway slave, his sound heart collides with his ill-trained conscience.

Thirty years after their first adventures in The Three Musketeers, we find Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan in very different situations. Athos has settled down at his own estate. Porthos married a rich widow, and is now a Baron. Aramis joined a monastery, and is now the Bishop of Vannes. D'Artagnan alone remains a Musketeer for the king, and is now captain of the very force he so longed to join all those years ago. In The Man in the Iron Mask, Dumas develops his Musketeers into probing, multifaceted characters.

When a student arrives in a small town, seeking a quiet place where he can study in peace, he rents an old mansion where a notorious hanging judge once lived. But once he begins receiving regular nightly visits by an enormous rat with malevolent eyes, he soon discovers why the locals fear the judge’s house.

Widely regarded as “the most popular western novel of all time”, Zane Grey’s adventure set in the sunbaked deserts of southern Utah is an unparallelled classic. When Jane Withersteen, a wealthy Mormon, is pressured to become Elder Tull’s third polygamous wife, she resists. Gunslinger Jim Lassiter rolls into town on a mission of his own. Jane hires him to help resist the powers that be in her efforts to extend help to everyone in need, regardless of religion or creed.

This innovative and wildly funny read-aloud by award-winning humorist/actor B.J. Novak will turn any reader into a comedian. You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here’s how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading...

In Legends, Lore, & Longings, a curated treasury of short fiction, classic American authors spin tales that blur the line between myth and memory, past and present.

Step into the glowing world of Everkind, where Little Renee of Sunshine and her fairy daughters discover that even small adventures can lead to big heart lessons. This collection brings together three magical tales filled with laughter, wonder, and gentle wisdom for growing hearts. In A Recipe for Trouble: The Whisperberry Pie, Peyton and Penelope learn that patience can be just as important as sugar when enchanted berries start singing and the pie takes on a life of its own.

In Golden Threads, fifteen extraordinary women share the pivotal moments that have shaped their lives — stories of courage, healing, and self-discovery. From overcoming profound personal loss to embracing unexpected adventures, each woman in this collection uniquely reflects on the golden threads of wisdom that run through their journeys. Through their vulnerability and strength, they invite you to discover your threads of connection and resilience. This is more than just a collection of life stories. It is a testament to the power of shared wisdom and the bonds that unite us as women.

A mysterious city. A cryptic leader. A deranged prisoner. Blind followers. A life saved. A plot thwarted. An ally gained. And still, Victor Wells is marked for death. Upon their arrival in the city to the south, Victor and team enter an environment unlike anything they’ve ever experienced—a place free from crime, strife, or division. Ville is a system of coexistence, lead by an enigmatic man known simply as “The Chairman,” whom the citizens of Ville trust and adore.

Andrew is a neurotic young man who is socially inept and keeps to himself. On the outside, he’s quirky, unassuming and usually placed in the “friends category”. On the inside, though, he observes, judges... and wants to be dominated. Overtime at work causes him to catch a later bus, with different passengers. An unappealing couple argue loudly and capture Andrew’s attention. When he overhears more than he bargains for... he winds up in his first BDSM encounter!

On Alien Love Island, the days are hot, but the nights are scorching. So about getting voted off this reality dating show...maybe now I don't want to. Except the island's mysteries keep coming, and despite the raw attraction I feel toward Maxx, and the blossoming warmth in my heart for him, I think he might be hiding something from me.