Books published by Light Messages

It's 2003, nearly 30 years after the Vietnam War...Blanche "e;Bang"e; Murninghan is sitting on the dock of the Peel ‘n Eat Pier on Santa Maria Island, sipping an excellent draft and wiggling her fishing pole after an elusive sheepshead. It's hot out and the sun is shining. She doesn't see the woman eyeing her from the fishing hut-not until she appears at Blanche's side and forever disrupts Blanche's peaceful idyll in this quiet Gulf coast town.The woman is Jean McMahon and she needs Blanche's help-her amateur sleuthing skills have become local legend after she helped solve the murder of a friend and dodge some drug-dealing land developers. Jean needs a good dose of that Blanche determination and doggedness. It's not a simple favor Jean asks. Will Blanche go to Vietnam with her and look for Jean's mother?It's as if Jean has ripped a new hole in Blanche's heart. Her father was killed in Vietnam, and she's never gotten much history from her beloved grandmother and mother on the subject. Jean's request grows on her. Blanche wants the truth...Blanche and Jean don't stop once they land in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, and ex-pat "e;Stick"e; Dahlkamp makes sure of that. They pick up the search together. The three cross the rice paddies on Stick's Honda Dream to Ben Tre and My Tho, old stomping grounds for Stick, a former Ninth Infantry Division Riverine and now bar owner of the popular, The Follies. He's got friends in jungle towns who might help, and indeed they do. And don't. Blanche begins to wonder if he's running them off the road.They trace Jean's mother's steps around South Vietnam, to where she met Hank McMahon, an infantry scout with the old Americal division. They meet more than one shady character who thinks it better to let things lie, deep and peaceful, just the way that they were after the horror of war passed. But Blanche's stubbornness beats down the door. She is looking for Jean's mother, and following her father's trail. He left without a trace.

After a near brush with death, Maddie Arnette heads to the charming coastal town of Cape Mayson, North Carolina, to heal. She temporarily trades in her microphone for a paddleboard. But when she finds a dead man floating in the water, her sabbatical turns into a quest for the truth.When the police call the death an accidental drowning, Maddie is not convinced. Everyone in the small town seems to know something about what happened, and they all seem scared. Maddie is determined to unravel the complicated web of secrets.Wherever she turns, she seems to find unearth a new, uncomfortable truth. This even seeps into her personal life when new evidence comes to light about her mother's murder. Maddie's father has spent decades in prison for the crime, and she grows increasingly suspicious that he might be innocent. Maddie must continue to confront the ghosts of her past as she seeks justice for two men: one in a watery grave and one behind bars.Fans of Megan Miranda and Kimberly McCreight will be captivated by Maddie's unrelenting search for the truth.

Capitalizing on a peaceful protest for Native American rights, a small, extremist militia swiftly seizes Alcatraz Island and holds more than 200 people hostage. Their demand: return all lands taken from Indigenous Peoples through broken treaties, or an armada of drones will render the San Francisco Bay Area a glowing ruin, uninhabitable for decades. Former Mossad assassin Danya Biton and her friend Toby Riddle are thrown headlong into the conflict. As the authorities debate the cost of acquiescing to the demands versus the loss of civilian lives, Danya-on the run from agencies on both sides of the Atlantic-offers the only hope for rescuing the hostages and preventing an unprecedented disaster... but she may have to sacrifice herself to save the others.PRAISE FOR DAVE EDLUND"Edlund is right at home with his bestselling brethren, Brad Thor and Brad Taylor." - Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong series"belongs on the shelf with the best military fiction out there" -James Rollins, #1 New York Times authorof international thrillers"compulsively readable" -Publishers Weekly"action on almost every page" -Foreword Reviews"Edlund's lean prose and whipsmart dialogue propel readers... at a breathtaking pace." -K.J. Howe, international bestselling author of Skyjack"required reading for any thriller aficionado" -Steve Berry, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author"plenty of heart-racing action" -San Francisco Book ReviewFans of Jon Land's Caitlin Strong series and of James Rollin's Seichan will identify with and devour the Danya Biton series.

Maddie's past is about to catch up to her...Maddie Arnette has built her whole life around the narrative that her father murdered her mother. When a woman in the grocery store claims that Maddie's father did not kill her mother, the revelation forces the journalist toward a reckoning.Is it possible that her father has sat in prison for almost forty years for a crime he did not commit? And if he didn't do it, who did?Maddie barely has time to absorb this earth-shattering news when she is called to report on what appears to be a suicide. Tilly Dawson is found shot to death on her driveway, a gun by her side. But right away something about the situation doesn't feel right to Maddie. Before long, the tough television reporter finds herself delving once more into a dark world of violence, secrets and intrigue.Maddie's journey to find the truth in her own life parallels her journey to seek justice for Tilly. This time around Maddie must put her own life on the line to guarantee that the truth will prevail.Lies that Bind is book two of the gripping Maddie Arnette crime novels by Amanda Lamb, a veteran television crime reporter, author, and blogger for an award-winning NBC affiliate in the southeast. Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone or in order of publication. Amanda Lamb has published ten books in dramatically different genres from true crimes to touching and humorous memoirs to children's books. From murder cases to motherhood, Amanda examines life through the lens of a curious journalist who is constantly observing and documenting.Fans of Megan Miranda's All the Missing Girls and Kimberly McCreight's A Good Marriage will be captivated by Maddie's fight in Lies that Bind.

When Blanche "Bang" Murninghan visits an exhibit of ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico City, she sees that all is not ancient. One of the mummies has a pink hair clip embedded in its hay-like do, and the texture of the skin is not quite right. Blanche, a part-time journalist, starts to dig for some answers and gets tangled in the mystery of the mummy at the Palacio Nacional. Her cousin and traveling companion, Haasi Hakla, aids and abets-and puts the reins on Blanche. All the while, the two eat and drink their way across the city, following one hunch after another with a cast of colorful characters that include a prescient elderly chilanga, an amiable overworked detective, and a stunning doctor of shady deeds. The cousins are willing to risk kidnapping and attempted murder to get at the truth-but first, Blanche stops for another excellent beer and Haasi delights in one more taco al pastor.

"Edlund is right at home with his bestselling brethren, Brad Thor and Brad Taylor." -Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong seriesA routine demonstration for the Department of Defense turns deadly when Peter Savage's latest cutting-edge weapon is stolen and the commander of The Strategic Global Intervention Team, James Nicolaou, is framed for murder.When he sets out to rescue his dear friend Commander Nicolaou-the subject of a nationwide dragnet with orders to shoot to kill-Peter crosses paths with a radical militia. The Cascadia Independence Movement aspires to succeed where others have failed and split off the Pacific Northwest as an independent nation-and they'll eliminate the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House if that's what it takes.With his faithful canine companion, Peter crisscrosses the northwest in a race against time to save his friend and avert a political coup the likes of which haven't been witnessed since the Lincoln assassination plot.PRAISE FOR THE PETER SAVAGE NOVELS"I would follow Peter Savage into any firefight." -James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of The Demon Crown"compulsively readable" -Publishers Weekly"action on almost every page" -Foreword Reviews"required reading for any thriller aficionado" -Steve Berry, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author"plenty of heart-racing action" -San Francisco Book Review"Edlund's lean prose and whipsmart dialogue propel readers through this frighteningly realistic thriller at a breathtaking pace." -K.J. Howe, international bestselling author of SkyjackPETER SAVAGE NOVELS IN ORDEREach Peter Savage novel can be read as a stand-alone.1. Crossing Savage2. Relentless Savage3. Deadly Savage4. Hunting Savage5. Guarding Savage6. Lethal Savage7. Valiant Savage

Blanche "Bang" Murninghan is a part-time journalist with writer's block and a penchant for walking the beach on her beloved Santa Maria Island. When land-grabbing tycoons arrive from Chicago and threaten to buy up Tuna Street, including her beachfront cottage, her seemingly idyllic life begins to unravel. Blanche finds herself in a tailspin, flabbergasted that so many things can go so wrong, so fast.When her dear friend is found murdered in the parking lot of the marina, Blanche begins digging into his death. With her friends Liza and Hassi by her side, she stumbles into a pit of greed, murder, drug running, and kidnapping. Blanche has survived her fair share of storms on Santa Maria Island, but this one might just be her last.

When his father died, Milton learned that grief was a primary color of life. That truth is as old as the human story, but was new to him. The Color of Together explores the metaphor more fully, looking at the primary colors of life, which he names as grief, grace, and gratitude, and then expanding the palette to describe some of the other hues that make us human. The book is a conversation between his personal stories, authors who have been mentors from the page, biblical accounts, and a variety of metaphors that allow us to see the colors of life in different lights and contexts.

Maddie Arnette traded in her hard-news crime reporting for feel-good features after her husband's death. Her lifelong addiction to the dark side of journalism, finds her back into the crime scene when when Suzanne Parker falls to the pavement in front of Maddie during a marathon and whispers "my husband is trying to kill me."

"Vibrant street scenes, swift pacing, and Nicole's steely nerve make The Entitled an entertaining adventure." - Foreword Reviews"Nicole Graves is the best fictional sleuth to come down the pike since Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone." -Laura Levine, bestselling author of the Jaine Austen MysteriesTravel to London and retrieve Abigail Fletcher, a 17-year-old in a study abroad program at the prestigious King's College in London. The assignment sounds simple enough.But Abigail's return is put on indefinite hold when she's charged with the murder of her boyfriend, a former student at King's. Nicole believes Abigail has been framed, but the victim's tight-knit circle of friends and relatives are most unwilling to talk to an American detective. Further complicating the case, is Abigail's defiant and uncooperative demeanor.As evidence stacks up against Abigail, Nicole discovers that she herself has become the next target. Nicole's first solo case abroad as a private detective has just turned a lot more deadly than she ever anticipated.The Nicole Graves Mysteries have been compared to the mysteries of Mary Higgins Clark and praised for contributing to the "women-driven mystery field with panache" (Foreword Reviews) as well as for their "hold-onto-the-bar roller coaster" plots (RT Book Reviews).Kirkus Reviews concluded, "Boyarsky's weightless complications expertly combine menace with bling, making the heroine's adventures both nightmarish and dreamy." And Foreword Reviews has fallen for the "tough and likable protagonist Nicole Graves" while Midwest Book Review praises the "exquisite tension" throughout the story.

A heartfelt story about believing in oneself. In Abigail and the Royal Thread, Papa tells his grandson Billy, dejected over his inability to hit a baseball, the memorable story of a young 18th century Scottish farm lass named Abigail Rutherford who learns that the combination of hard work, determination, and belief in oneself can make dreams come true.The Rutherfords, while poor, are respected for the superior wool, thread, and cloth they make. One day they receive the opportunity of a lifetime: to own the land they now live on in return for weaving a tunic for King James I of England. The problem is they have a short amount of time in which to complete this gigantic task. The entire family works together, but it appears they will fail until Abigail takes her mother's advice, devotes herself to quickly mastering a nearly impossible skill, and believes with all her heart and soul that she and her family, working together, can meet the deadline.

Billy's family is going to move, and he wants none of it. He loves his home, and he loves his Papa's stories. When they move, he and his grandfather will live far apart from one another. But, as Papa tells Billy, "I'll always have a story for ye."The touching, historical story of Isobel's New World traces the MacDougald family's move from Scotland to North Carolina, and in doing so traces the journey of thousands of Scots. Leaving behind a beloved land, embarking on a risky journey, and settling in a far away place--all for the hope of a fresh start and bright future. It's the story of Isobel, the story of Scottish immigrants, and the story of America.Isobel's New World teaches children that while moving can be a scary thing, home is with family. And when family sticks together, everything else seems to fall in place.

This beautifully illustrated book inspires children to discover the extraordinary potential within themselves; it's a celebration of resilience, purpose, and the power of embracing one's inherent gifts.In The Man Who Saved The King, Papa shares with little Billy the wonderful story of William who struggled with his size and strength as a child. As William grows into a man, the burden he once carried becomes the very thing that saves a king and shapes the destiny of Scotland.Woven around the historical narrative of William Rule and King Robert the Bruce, this enchanting story invites young readers to travel through the scenic landscapes of ancient Scotland, teaching a timeless lesson, that everyone is born with a unique purpose.

Intimate and intensely personal, the forty-five first-person narratives contained in Real Birth: Women Share Their Stories offer readers a window into the complex and emotionally exciting experience of childbirth. Women from a full range of socioeconomic backgrounds and circumstances recount the childbirth choices they've made and the ways those choices have played themselves out in the real life contexts of their everyday lives. Readers meet women from all over the country who speak to us directly--no interviewer intrudes, no judgments intrude, and no single method of childbirth is advocated. Instead, these women offer us their candid experiences, presented clearly and unflinchingly.Medically reviewed by physicians Dr. Richard Randolph for the first edition and Dr. Deborah Morris for this second edition, Real Birth offers readers a plethora of correct information as well the kind of real scoop that other books and health care professionals are often reluctant to reveal. The result is a well-grounded book that reaches across the boundaries of childbirth literature.Real Birth is introduced by Ariel Gore, journalist, editor, writer, and founding editor/publisher of Hip Mama, an Alternative Press Award-winning publication about the culture of motherhood. Also included are an extensive glossary of medical terms, a thoroughly researched selective bibliography, and a list of resources of interest to pregnant women and new moms.

As a newly minted private investigator, Nicole Graves expects to take on legal cases for corporate clients. But when her client's son, Brad Rexton, is killed trying to protect his wife, Ashley, from a home invasion-turned-kidnapping, the firm is hired to investigate. Nicole soon discovers that Ashley is not the person she claims to be, but her real identity remains a mystery.Meanwhile, a long-delayed and undesired inheritance is finally deposited into Nicole's bank account. Within a few days, someone dear to Nicole is kidnapped in the same manner as Ashley. The perpetrators demand Nicole's full inheritance as ransom. She's willing to hand the money over but finds it's not so easy. The kidnappers have an uncanny ability to track her every move, and they suspect a trap. When their most terrifying threat is delivered to her door, Nicole is faced with a terrible choice: Should she count on the police or risk going it alone?

Two men, one driven to the edge of sanity by heart-breaking losses, the other craving revenge, conspire to reshape America and bring her population to its knees.

"My hands aren't the same handsas before.Even my friends feel different."Piano prodigy Claire Fairchild, 14, has always known music would be her life. So when she has the opportunity to enter a prestigious contest, she goes all in-until she realizes she's also competing against Juan, a close childhood friend and one of the most talented musicians she knows. It doesn't help that her thoughts about him are turning romantic. When Claire and her family receive a devastating blow from Batten disease, her world enters a tailspin. Claire decides her musical goals no longer seem relevant. She can't reconcile the joy that music would bring to her life while her brothers succumb to an early and ugly death. Her decision puts everything at risk: her friendship with Juan, her parents' expectations, and her own happiness.After Claire accompanies a friend on a school newspaper assignment, she meets a centenarian with a surprising musical past and only one regret in life. Claire knows something in her life has to change before it's too late, but she's not sure she has the courage to take the next step.

The truth is elusive in Liar LiarNicole Graves finds herself in the crosshairs when she reluctantly agrees to babysit a witness in a high-profile rape trial. Mary Ellen Barnes is suing her university's star quarterback for rape when the authorities won't act. In the court of public opinion, Mary Ellen appears to be the quintessential, pious, good girl. But her lies and mysterious comings and goings lead Nicole to suspect that she's not what she seems.It isn't just Mary Ellen who's acting suspiciously. No one wants to own up to the truth in Liar Liar, not even Nicole, whose fiancé begs her not to look into the case. But when the witness goes missing during the trial, Nicole is caught up in a tangle of lies that turns deadly. After the investigator assigned to the case fails to do his job, Nicole is determined to find the killer on her own, no matter the risks.

Ten-year-old Pearl Wallace is living in the mountains of rural Tennessee in the depths of the Great Depression. Emily Weston, a missionary, has come to "lift the poor hillbillies out of their ignorance and misery." When murder, fire, and heartbreak threaten those they love, Pearl and Emily must confront the hate and bigotry of their neighbors.

When the orphaned Anung sets out on his vision quest, he sees clearly that his purpose in life is to find the greatest chief of all and tell him of the many acts of kindness the mothers and fathers of the village have given to Anung. When the people of his village learn of the vision, they are proud of him. For every man of the village loves Anung as his son. Every woman is his mother. They believe Gitche Manitou, the great creator, has chosen their son for a special journey.In his quest to find the greatest chief, Anung travels through the 13 tribes of the First Nations, across forests, plains, water, and desert. Along the way, he is accompanied by Turtle, the interpreter of all languages. He finds friends in the most unlikely of places-a squirrel's nest, a mother bear's den, and a city filled with people from every tribe. At each stop, Anung and his drum sing of his mothers and fathers and his quest to meet the greatest chief.What Anung finds at the end of his journey will both surprise and thrill readers of all ages. This ancient legend, told in the beautifully poetic style of Carl Nordgren, begs to be read aloud and savored. Appropriate for all ages.

In his evocative debut novel Carl Nordgren weaves an ambitious tale about the power of dreams, the hope of new beginnings, and the dangers of ghosts who haunt our past.In The 53rd Parallel, book one of the River of Lakes series, Brian Burke emigrates from 1950s West Ireland to the wilderness of Northwest Ontario with his partner Maureen O'Toole. He's been exiled from his village, and she is running from her IRA past. The dreams of an Ojibway clan elder bring the Irish to the sacred place on the River, where they build The Great Lodge of Innish Cove. The dreams tell of a white man who will destroy the River and another who will protect it. While the Ojibway believe Brian and Maureen are the River's guardians, Maureen's IRA connections and the construction of a pulp mill upstream threaten to destroy the newly created Eden before it even begins.Under the watchful eye of a warrior spirit, the clan and their Irish companions risk all they love to protect the River and the promises it holds for their future. The fates of the two groups will intertwine as both seek to ward off the encroachment of the modern world. In The 53rd Parallel readers will find a rich tapestry that weaves together the literary influences of such giants as Peter Matthiessen, Ken Kesey, Jack London, and Ernest Hemingway (whose son appears in Book 2 of the River of Lakes series).

Peace Seekers is written for imperfect people seeking inner peace in an imperfect world. The book looks at three Biblical stories that reveal both paths and roadblocks to experiencing the peace that is embedded in the Christian message of grace. The book argues that the Christian life is so challenging that only one person has ever lived it. But the good news is that only one person had to in order for its benefits to be experienced by many. It is not about "do" its about "done." Peace Seekers should be especially helpful for people who struggle with guilt, shame, and an overly sensitive conscience as well as for those who seek to minister to such people. The author is a pastor with three decades of pastoral teaching experience who has spent his years in ministry drinking from the well of God's grace in Christ and proclaiming it to others.

The most widely used introduction to Haitian Creole.A simple guide to Haitian Creole for English speaking people.The basic elements of Creole grammar and vocabulary in sixteen easy lessons. How to pronounce Creole words. Simple exercises with translation keys. Dictionary of 4,700 Creole < - > English words.In less than an hour a day the short lessons will have you speaking basic Creole in about a week. You will learn key Creole words, how to pronounce those words, and how to put those words together into useful sentences.This book is ideal for those who will visit or work in Haiti and desire to communicate with her people."Creole Made Easy gets everything right. It's exactly the vocabulary and concepts you need, clearly explained, in just enough depth." -Carlo Diy, HaitiHub.comAn audio pronunciation guide is available separately as MP3 files or a 2 CD set.