From a double-wide trailer on a farm in Georgia to the 2016 Miss America pageant, Betty Cantrell was not a likely contender for the crown. She won by being herself—mistakes and all. Miss Unlikely takes you through Betty’s unconventional childhood, the surprising pageant journey, an incredible year as Miss America, a fairytale wedding, and everything in between. She offers wisdom on school, boys, self-esteem, choices, disappointments, insecurities, mentors, cyberbullies, and more. Behind-the-scenes moments and previously untold stories show how her faith and family ultimately carried her through difficult times. Betty’s personal and sincere account will remind you the only way to get where you want to go is through God’s unique plan. Find confidence in being you, and turn your dreams into reality.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an exquisite love story about Queenie Hennessy, the remarkable friend who inspired Harold’s cross-country journey. “This lovely book is full of joy. Much more than the story of a woman’s enduring love for an ordinary, flawed man, it’s an ode to messy, imperfect, glorious, unsung humanity.”—The Washington Post A runaway international bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry followed its unassuming hero on an incredible journey as he traveled the length of England on foot—a journey spurred by a simple letter from his old friend Queenie Hennessy, writing from a hospice to say goodbye. Harold believed that as long as he kept walking, Queenie would live. What he didn’t know was that his decision to walk had caused her both alarm and fear. How could she wait? What would she say? Forced to confront the past, Queenie realizes she must write again. In this poignant parallel story to Harold’s saga, acclaimed author Rachel Joyce brings Queenie Hennessy’s voice into sharp focus. Setting pen to paper, Queenie makes a journey of her own, a journey that is even bigger than Harold’s; one word after another, she promises to confess long-buried truths—about her modest childhood, her studies at Oxford, the heartbreak that brought her to Kingsbridge and to loving Harold, her friendship with his son, the solace she has found in a garden by the sea. And, finally, the devastating secret she has kept from Harold for all these years. A wise, tender, layered novel that gathers tremendous emotional force, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy underscores the resilience of the human spirit, beautifully illuminating the small yet pivotal moments that can change a person’s life.
Every Reason to Fail is unlike anything you've ever read. It's not a history book, but it's full of old history-and new history-from cover to cover, and with historic people and airplanes to boot! It's not a mystery book, but it's full of genuine suspense and intrigue. It's not an aviation book, but in it you will get a glimpse into the real world of aviation and aviators that few will ever be fortunate enough to experience. It's not a geography book, but The Crew will take you to places you've probably never heard of, and few will ever go. It's not a self-help book, but in it you might find the inspiration to attempt something worthwhile that seems impossible. It's not an adventure book, but the tale is about an adventure like few in modern history. It's not a military book, but it's full of military history and it's main characters are old warbirds. It's not a book on project management, but you will learn many things about how NOT to run a major project...and why those things don't matter if you get the main things right. It's not a math book, but...it's just not a math book. So there's that. The mission seemed simple enough. Completely restore a 75-year-old historic DC-3 and fly her from Montana to France for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Starting with no volunteers and no money. In under a year. With a crew that had only a few hours of experience flying one. Ride along with author and pilot Bryan Douglass, the rest of the flight crew, the volunteers, paratroopers, World War II veterans, and others on this inspirational story of an impossible dream that almost didn't come true. The underdog of the D-Day Squadron faced insurmountable odds, constant delays and a shortage of nearly everything except determination. The idea of crossing the north Atlantic in a 75-year-old, newly restored airplane only a few hours after her first flight would terrify most, but you'll meet the people who believed it co
Readers of Emma Chase are sure to fall for bestselling author Cassie Mae’s All About Love series! In No Interest in Love, Hollywood’s hottest young actor hits the road to chase his big break—and discovers a leading lady where he least expected. When Jace Carver snags a minor part in his buddy’s zombie flick, he suddenly starts getting noticed all over the place. Even Hollywood megastar Carletta Ocean—known for her extensive “research” with her male co-stars—wants Jace for her new rom-com. The role could be a game-changer . . . if Jace nails the audition. As Jace’s agent, Shaylene Kwak is all business, and isn’t about to let her favorite client blow this opportunity. Since their college years, Shay has been immune to Jace’s charm and rock-hard body. But long hours in close company have a way of wearing down even the best defenses, and when their platonic teasing turns into serious flirting, Jace and Shay are no longer able to resist what’s been right in front of them the entire time. Shay knows Jace’s love-’em-and-leave-’em history with women. She’s not about to be just another notch in his belt. And it’s true, Jace has never wanted more than a one-night stand—until now. But at the end of the line, he’s got a choice: sleep with Carletta and seal the deal, or risk his career for a shot at true love with Shay. Praise for No Interest in Love “With the sassy, fun and lively No Interest in Love, Cassie Mae delivers an entertaining read.”—New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde “Yet another winner from Cassie Mae! Sexy, sweet, and wonderfully clever, No Interest In Love solidifies her spot on my auto-buy list!”—USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne “Endearing . . . [Jace and Shay] will win readers’ hearts. Mae’s use of slapstick and popular culture makes this one stand out.”—Library Journal (starred review) “Satisfying . . . The expansive relationship between Jace and Shay draws on the best elements of . . . romantic comedies.”—Publishers Weekly “With the combination of Cassie Mae’s voice, a hero you just want to tackle-hug, and all the emotions stirred by No Interest in Love, I completely fell in love with this story!”—Cecy Robson, award-winning author of Once Kissed “Featuring a fun road trip full of hot sex, great laughs, and an unconventional romance that will leave you sighing, No Interest in Love is a heartfelt and hilarious read!”—Christi Barth, author of Risking It All “A fun, flirty, friends-to-lovers romance that will leave you sighing with delight.”—Beth Yarnall, author of Vindicate “If Cassie Mae’s books are all as good as this one, I’m going to be in reader’s heaven going through her catalog.”—The Romance Factor “I really did enjoy this book and would recommend it to others. I believe any romance fan would enjoy it.”—Platypire Reviews “Cassie Mae is just one of those authors whose next book I’m going to read. Period.”—The Character Therapist “For those of you who don’t know, I love Cassie Mae and her stories. I love her romances. I love her characters, and the plots. So, it’s really no surprise that I quite enjoyed No Interest in Love.”—The Book Babe’s Reads Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
Dolly Parton's success as a performer and pop culture phenomenon has overshadowed her achievements as a songwriter. But she sees herself as a songwriter first, and with good reason. Parton's compositions like "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" have become American standards with an impact far beyond country music. Lydia R. Hamessley's expert analysis and Parton’s characteristically straightforward input inform this comprehensive look at the process, influences, and themes that have shaped the superstar's songwriting artistry. Hamessley reveals how Parton’s loving, hardscrabble childhood in the Smoky Mountains provided the musical language, rhythms, and memories of old-time music that resonate in so many of her songs. Hamessley further provides an understanding of how Parton combines her cultural and musical heritage with an artisan’s sense of craft and design to compose eloquent, painfully honest, and gripping songs about women's lives, poverty, heartbreak, inspiration, and love. Filled with insights on hit songs and less familiar gems, Unlikely Angel covers the full arc of Dolly Parton's career and offers an unprecedented look at the creative force behind the image.
There’s no roadmap for these rivals. I've landed the role of a lifetime on the other side of the country, and I've got a measly five days to get there. Easy peasy, right? Wrong. My agent, in her infinite wisdom, suggests we hit the road ahead of an impending storm that's about to shut down all flights. I have no clue what she's smoking, considering my struggling career is the only thing keeping hers afloat. But now that our grand road trip has turned into a nightmare in the middle of nowhere, Nevada, we're stuck figuring this mess out together. Otherwise, I can kiss my big break goodbye. Roadside Romance was originally published as Not Your Average Road Trip
It has become generally accepted wisdom that democracies do not go to war against each other. However, there are significant differences between democratic states in terms of their approach to war and security policy in general. This edited book offers a broad examination of how democratic preferences and norms are relevant to security policy beyond the decision of whether to go to war. It therefore offers a fresh understanding of state behaviour in the security realm. The contributors discuss such issues as defence policy, air war, cluster bombs, non-lethal weapons, weapons of mass destruction, democratic and non-democratic nuclear weapon states’ transparency, and the political and ideological background of the ongoing ‘Revolution in Military Affairs’. It has become generally accepted wisdom that democracies do not go to war against each other. However, there are significant differences between democratic states in terms of their approach to war and security policy in general.
