The morning after a storm that snapped tree branches, sent people to their basements and trash cans to the curbs, I was sitting in a line of traffic adjacent to a small family-owned garden store.

A woman out front of the garden shop struggled to untangle flagpole ropes twisted in the storm. Hunched over in an awkward position, she couldn’t ...Read more

In a world increasingly fractured by political ideologies, cultural conflict and racial tension, many are searching for more than slogans — they’re looking for healing rooted in grace and shared humanity. This curated collection of books speaks directly to that hunger. Each work is grounded in a spiritually-based approach to reconciliation, ...Read more

To prepare for her first half-marathon, Kandi Schmitz signed up for a 5K run. Six friends and family members decided to join her.

The race was in Melbourne, Florida, a two-hour drive from Schmitz's home in Loxahatchee, near West Palm Beach. So she decided to make a beach getaway out of it. By the time hotel reservations were made, the entourage...Read more

In Linny Mack’s debut novel "Changing Tides," that’s exactly what happens to Sophie Bennett — and it’s the very wave that might carry her toward a new beginning. Mack delivers an emotionally charged neighbors-to-lovers romance that proves some endings can lead to beautiful beginnings.

The novel opens on an earth-shattering revelation: ...Read more

I find myself still pondering the surprise announcement from Warren Buffett, age 94 and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, that he is retiring because he was "beginning to feel his age."

I keep wanting the man to expand. Specifics on "feeling his age" would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

He did say he noticed he was operating at a different speed...Read more

“There’s no being free on the outside without being free on the inside,” proclaims the Mighty Matthias in Venessa Vida Kelley’s lush and luminous debut novel, "When the Tides Held the Moon." The themes of freedom, agency, self-empowerment, community and resilience play out in a nostalgia-tinged kaleidoscope in this historic romantasy set...Read more

"Cold Burn" is the second book in A.J Landau’s National Parks Thriller series and — after finishing it — I’m rushing to read the first one. Wow! This is one action-packed, page-turning and yet sophisticated thriller where the stakes couldn’t be higher — no less than the future of the world and the fate of all mankind.

It grabs you ...Read more

"Grief and Managing This Inevitable Part of Life" by Michael Dow, beautifully presented through the voice of Nurse Dorothea, is a sensitive, heartfelt and empowering book that offers readers both understanding and tools for coping with one of life’s most difficult challenges — grief. As the second installment in the Nurse Dorothea series, ...Read more

I couldn't get into spring cleaning this year. I couldn't get into fall, winter or summer cleaning either.

My housekeeping may be slipping. There was a time when I cleaned the entire house from top to bottom every week. Now I just write "SEND HELP" in the dust on my desk.

When people come over, see that and ask if everything is all right, I ...Read more

In "The Lost Diary of Mary Magdalene," Johnny Teague brings to life the hidden thoughts and emotions of one of history’s most misunderstood figures.

The story begins with an archaeologist, Giuseppe Campise, stumbling upon a clay pot containing Mary Magdalene’s personal diary in the ruins of Magdala. What should have been a groundbreaking ...Read more

Mac Cheek's dad died of a heart attack at age 56. So as Mac neared that age, he took precautions.

He regularly saw a doctor in his hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina. He knew his cholesterol and blood pressure numbers and took medication to keep them in safe ranges. He enjoyed not only his 57th birthday but also his 60th and 65th.

Then ...Read more

Given their long gestation time, it’s stunning how some novels feel preordained to speak to the moment in which they’re published. "A Town with Half the Lights On" by Page Getz truly is one such book. Which is ironic given that it takes place in 2003, but the quirky, engaging and often maddening town portrayed in the book — Goodnight, ...Read more

It’s been said that “To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving.” Truer words have never been spoken.

This is the essence of Joanne Sherry Mitchell’s latest collection of contemporary poetry, "The Pain We Call Love," in which Mitchell digs into the harsh realities of love.

Love is ...Read more

The first chest pain hit Heather Bardeleben as she pored over a spreadsheet while working late into the evening at her suburban Chicago home.

When her husband, Bill Bardeleben, suggested she lie down, she brushed off the pain with "I'll be fine."

But throughout the evening and night, Heather noticed her arms felt heavy. Meanwhile, the pulse ...Read more

Kathleen Somers’ "Barely Visible: Mothering a Son Through His Misunderstood Autism" is a deeply moving memoir that chronicles one mother’s emotional journey through grief, motherhood and the challenges of raising a neurodivergent child. With unflinching honesty, Somers invites readers into the most intimate corners of her life, offering a ...Read more

I have come to the realization that I do not have the time nor patience for all the high-tech innovations designed to make my life more marvelous. I have all the marvelous I can handle right now.

This morning, I replaced a burned-out kitchen light bulb. It was 9:16 when I started the process. Replacing the old bulb took less than a minute, ...Read more

Joanne Henning’s "Deceptive Images" is a beautifully crafted novel that blends romance, self-discovery and artistic passion into a compelling narrative. Set against the backdrop of the dance world, the story follows Rosa, a determined and talented woman navigating the complexities of her career, relationships and personal growth.

Henning’s ...Read more

With "Another Fine Mess" upon us, now is the perfect time to revisit Lindy Ryan’s chilling Southern horror series. If you haven’t yet stepped into the eerie world of the Evans family, you’re in for a fun, unputdownable experience. These novels are more than ghost stories — they’re a reckoning with history, grief and the ties that ...Read more

Nearly nine months pregnant, Nefertari Nelson-Williams sunk into her sofa after a long Sunday caring for her four kids. She clicked on the TV and flipped to her favorite show of late, TLC's "A Baby Story."

Although she was an experienced mom, watching episodes of pregnancy complications was a good reminder that every birth and baby are ...Read more

A real estate broker, an auctioneer and a columnist walk into a bar. Not really, but the setup is similar. I was standing with two friends, a man who sells real estate and a woman who appraises art and manages auctions. The three of us have known one another and one another’s families for years.

The man immigrated to the U.S. from Central ...Read more