Jace Riley and Audrey Mills had a tender and irresistibly passionate romance...until Audrey shattered his heart. Years later, she still can't stop thinking about him. They shared kisses that she'll never forget, and one brief, explosive encounter that she wishes she could. But no boy could rescue Audrey from her nightmarish home life, so she rescued herself, got through college and got into graduate school...only to find herself at the same school as Jace and his identical twin brother, Jaxon, who has his own complicated history with her. It takes only one glimpse of Audrey's long legs and brown eyes for Jace to ache for her once more. Yet he's determined not to fall for her again. She ripped apart his heart and betrayed his brother...or so he thought. But what if Jace made a terrible mistake about Audrey? And what if he has one last chance to fix it? Revised edition: This edition of Beautiful Broken Mess includes editorial revisions.
Hard-partying college student Emerson Moore never lets anyone close, until Jaxon Riley moves in next door. Can she handle a real relationship or will breaking her rules lead to a broken heart?
Lane Parker has suffered a terrible loss, and, burdened by secrets he won't tell his closest friends, he finally gets the phone call he's been waiting for. Raegan Hayes is a spirited fighter and survivor-- and she's furious at Lane, her former employer, after their paths cross at a police station and he accuses her of betrayal. Now, they both must move forward to get past the tragic incident that tore them apart long ago. But the more time Lane spends with Raegan, the more he becomes drawn to her ... and the more his passion overpowers his hostility. Can a new beginning transform their relationship from suspicion-filled to steamy?
How do you turn your struggles into strengths? Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God’s Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ. In her long-awaited book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God’s strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted. In In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with him have saved her from the devil’s prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely “fixed” on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances. Sheila Walsh acts as our guardian in In the Middle of the Mess as she shows us we’re not alone in our struggles, guides us through a courageous journey of self-discovery, and reminds us where to find hope, comfort, and strength in tough times.
‘This is a strong, character-driven story from a talented playwright and novelist, which tackles some hefty issues with lightness and humour. It is an impressive debut.’ Books+Publishing Since Ava lost Kelly, things haven’t been going so well. Even before she gets thrown out of school for shouting at the principal, there’s the simmering rage and all the weird destructive choices. The only thing going right for Ava is her job at Magic Kebab. Which is where she meets Gideon. Skinny, shy, anxious Gideon. A mad poet and collector of vinyl records with an aversion to social media. He lives in his head. She lives in her grief. The only people who can help them move on with their lives are each other. The winner of the 2016 Text Prize, Beautiful Mess is funny and sad and a bit screwed up and romantic and absolutely real. In other words, a lot like life. Claire Christian is a novelist and playwright who lives in Brisbane. She has had three plays published by Playlab, and her play Bloom was shortlisted for the Griffin Award in 2009. She was one of YWCA Queensland’s 125 leading women of 2013. ‘A book full of heart and hope. Claire Christian’s voice leaps off the page, brimming with energy and verve.’ Judges' comments, Readings Young Adult Book Prize ‘A raw, affecting coming-of-age story that starts a conversation about mental health.' Readings ‘Beautiful Mess is a powerful, poignant novel about love, loss, and learning that even though we might feel cracked or broke at times, we are still beautiful...Claire Christian must be commended for tackling some of the most confronting themes in YA with sincerity and heart.’ Written Word Worlds ‘An engrossing read that brings together Ava and Gideon, two emotionally flawed and troubled characters not unlike Libby and Jack in Jennifer Niven’s Holding Up the Universe or Eleanor and Park of Rainbow Rowell’s book of the same title.’ Readings ‘Beautiful Mess tackles young adult issues head on, but with a lightness of touch that lifts it from the dark topics it explores. A debut novel with memorable, authentic characters that touch your heart, float into your life and leave you wanting more.’ Magpies ‘A truly touching story of young people trying to navigate their way through real problems. I highly recommend this novel and congratulate Claire on a great debut.’ Lamont Books ‘Claire is such a lovely bubble of positivity. I'm excited to see what she brings to Aussie YA.' Danielle Binks, Alpha Reader Beautiful Mess is a stunning read. Claire Christian has delivered a raw and moving debut with beautifully flawed, well-drawn characters who you can’t help but fall in love with.’ Gabrielle Tozer ‘Claire Christian delivers an honest and searing depiction of the flow-on effects of grief...A book with a lot of heart and hope and a useful compass for teens facing similar issues.’ Kids’ Book Review ‘Bittersweet and funny...A beautiful book with important words to say about mental health, love and brokenness.’ Paper Fury ‘Beautiful Mess is a wonderful reflection of complexities of adolescence. Palpable, poignant and captivating, the narration of two adolescents finding moments of solace in one another. Claire Christian is a captivating, compassionate and remarkable debut author composing a narrative that will linger long after the final page.’ Diva Booknerd ‘Beautiful Mess is the most sensitive explanation of depression and how it affects lives that I have ever read. If you read any other book and felt a bit uncomfortable about the depiction of depression, read this one and understand more. Recommend it to your teenagers, your students, your friends with teen kids. It might help them understand and recognise themselves in some of the pages.’ The Sapling ‘Tender and insightful...An enlightened look at youth suicide and mental health.’ New Zealand Herald ‘Claire has created an authentic and informative book for young adults, while also an enjoyable read.’ Tea in the Treetops ‘The characterisation is strong and works wonderfully with the sinuous dialogue. In these darkened lives there are some light and funny moments, cleverly crafted by Claire Christian...All libraries for young adults should stock at least one copy of this book.’ Reading Time ‘A raw, beautifully written story that sensitively tackles grief, suicide, self-harm and first sexual experience.’ NZ Women’s Weekly ‘A funny and sad rom-com that doesn’t sugar-coat the grittier parts of teenage angst.’ Readings Best Young Adult Books 2017 ‘The issues that are tackled in this book are important...Anxiety and depression, self-harm, suicide and grief are covered without making it feel like that’s all the book was written to do.’ Boffins Books ‘Beautiful Mess doesn’t shy away from how rough the teen years can be, but also demonstrates the possibilities of healing and provides quite a few laughs to boot.’ Readings 'The characters are engaging, and their emotional struggles are palpable...While the majority of the plot is dark and grim, support from caring adults and siblings brings about an ending that is realistic and hopeful. VERDICT Recommended for most public library young adult collections.’ School Library Journal ‘Tender and absorbing, this debut novel from Australia tackles challenging topics...with an open and loving hand. It deals with myriad emotions and allows the healing process to be organic. The sweetness of the characters rises above the darkness they carry, and their honest desire for acceptance...will resonate with a wide range of readers.’ Booklist
Remember the places you touched me. Ben touched seven parts of Mira Cillo: her palm, hair, chest, cheek, lips, throat, and heart. It was the last one that broke her. After Mira's death, she sends Ben on a quest to find notes she left him in the seven places where they touched—notes that explain why she and her sister, Francesca, drowned themselves in the quarry lake. How Ben interprets those notes has everything to do with the way he was touched by a bad coach years ago. But the truth behind the girls’ suicides is far more complicated, involving a dangerous infatuation, a deadly miracle, and a crushing lie. BEAUTIFUL BROKEN GIRLS is a stunning release from Kim Savage, the author of the critically acclaimed After the Woods.
Turning Tragedy into Triumph Do you ever feel stuck? Overwhelmed by fear? Do you worry that if people really knew the secrets you hide, they wouldn't want you? Do you wonder why you're even here? The things you hate about your life are the very things that excite God most. Your past doesn't repel Him and your present doesn't intimidate Him--because He knows what He can do with them! The places where you feel hopeless are exactly what He wants to redeem and fill with beauty, dignity, and strength. He has a plan for your pain. A wonderful intention for your failures. A purpose for your hardest, darkest stories. In Broken and Beautiful, Christine Soule shares the message of hope as she tells how God took the pieces of her own broken life--childhood abuse, poverty, human trafficking, and more--and turned them all into breathtaking joy and purpose. Told with honesty and humor, this is the story of a drug-addicted stripper's transformation into an exuberant Jesus lover with a passion for meeting others in their journey and watching God's love mend them together.
Find beauty and hope by facing and dealing with the messiness of family life. The family is an imperfect institution. Broken people become broken parents who make broken families. But actually, broken is normal and exactly where God wants us. In The Beauty of Broken, Elisa Morgan, one of today’s most respected female Christian leaders, for the first time shares her very personal story of brokenness—from her first family of origin to the second, represented by her husband and two grown children. Over the years, Elisa’s family struggled privately with issues many parents must face, including: alcoholism and drug addiction infertility and adoption teen pregnancy and abortion divorce, homosexuality, and death Each story layers onto the next to reveal the brokenness that comes into our lives without invitation. “We’ve bought into the myth of the perfect family,” says Elisa. “Formulaic promises about the family may have originated in well-meaning intentions, but such thinking isn’t realistic. It’s not helpful. It’s not even kind.” Instead she offers hope in the form of “broken family values” that allow parents to grow and thrive with God. Values such as commitment, humility, relinquishment, and respect carry us to new places of understanding. Owning our brokenness shapes us into God’s best idea for us and enables us to discover the beauty in ourselves and each member of our family.
Life is messy. It isn't a color-within-the-lines exercise. It's a wild and outrageous invitation full of uncertain outcomes. The mess of life is both inevitable and unexpected. It is filled with delightful mysteries and frustrating predicaments. In our disposable culture, we throw broken things away. So, what will we do with broken people, broken relationships, broken institutions, broken families, and of course, our very own broken selves? We are all broken and wounded. This book is about putting our lives back together, and allowing ourselves to be put back together, when life doesn't turn out as we expected it to. Based on his own heart-wrenching personal journals, Matthew Kelly shares how the worst three years of his life affected him, by exploring this question: Can someone who has been broken be healed and become more beautiful and more lovable than ever before? The answer will fill you with hope. There has never been a more urgent need for us to attend to what is happening within us. This is quite simply the right book at the right time.
Being a mom is hard. Being a young mom has unique challenges. From a teen mom herself, Teen Mom speaks to your heart, sharing insight, encouragement, and practical advice to help you create a better life for yourself and your child. Everything changes the day you discover you're going to be a mom. It's not just yourself that you think about--you have a child to care for, too. While you wouldn't trade your child for the world, some days are just hard. Baby-daddy drama, dealing with your parents, and worries about school, work, and your future slam you. Your friends can't relate to your little family, and you wonder if God has turned His back on you, too. Tricia Goyer understands. A mom at age 17, Tricia remembers what it felt like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and she's here to help you through it too. In this book, she pours out her heart and shares practical advice on: Making decisions about work and school Dealing with changing relationships with friends Finding support as a single mom Relating to the baby daddy Handling hard days . . . and more! You are the great mom your child deserves! And you are stronger than you think. This book was previously titled Life Interrupted.
