A Winter 2024 PenCraft Best Book Awards Winner - Nonfiction, Memoir
A 2023 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A work of great emotional power. -Kirkus
Van Dusen's brisk debut is equally heart-warming and motivating, as no matter what life throws at her Van Dusen never stops running after her goals.... Fans of upbeat business memoirs will be engaged as Van Dusen sets the pace. -BookLife by Publishers Weekly
There are a lot of valuable lessons to be learned from Lori's story... I liked how this book didn't just focus on her wins but talked about the challenges she faced. The book is no fluff... -Seattle Book Review
Running with Grace is [Lori Van Dusen's] story of triumphs and defeats, told to inspire the reader to never give up. -Readers' Favorite
Nothing about Lori Van Dusen's childhood indicated she'd become one of the nation's top independent financial advisors. She was born prematurely on the wrong side of the tracks and with a genetic blood disorder. Her parents divorced when she and her twin brother were less than a year old. But her big, boisterous, loving Italian family, led by her beloved grandfather, a first-generation American with only an eighth-grade education, taught her that the only limitations in life are those we impose on ourselves.
As a young person, Lori wanted to sing on Broadway, not manage money on Wall Street. But in 1986, this quiet, serious young woman walked into the rough-and-tumble, eat-what-you-kill world of Shearson Lehman Brothers and never looked back. She fought her way to the top by thinking outside the box and working her ass off despite the jeers, insults, and sideways glances. Her secret weapon? A need to prove herself so strong she could outwork anyone.
But Lori's trajectory to the top was not a straight, upward line; it was a rollercoaster. She hit the pinnacle of success only to have it ripped away in a legal battle with one of the biggest banks in the world. She was raped by a PhD candidate at Harvard, swindled by a business partner, and battled two life-altering medical diagnoses. None of that, though, would compare to having the two people she loved most in the world taken way too soon.
Despite the fear and pain, Lori remained hopeful and resilient. In this memorable, poignant, and inspiring memoir, she shares her lowest lows and highest highs as well as hard-earned wisdom from her bumpy personal, professional, and spiritual journey. Life was never meant to be fair, she learned, but we must keep running with grace if we are to find purpose and joy in the face of adversity.
Anyone who enjoyed [the] thrilling tales of Indiana Jones will enjoy this book... -David A. McCormick
The Saudi king is dying, and a successor must be chosen from the next generation, the grandsons of the assassinated Abdul Aziz and the founder of the kingdom. One prince, His Royal Highness Rashid Abdul Aziz is determined to rule, but royal blood is not enough. He needs to demonstrate he is worthy of the crown. If his wife can find the first Qur'an, used by the Prophet, Prince Rashid will be the next king. The prince fears, however, that the exquisite find won't be enough. Secretly, he orders terrorists to eliminate his half-brothers and cousins.
Rashid needs someone he can trust. He asks Amy Prowers, to assist his wife, Princess Hassa, on the excavation and to validate the finding. Though Amy is not an archaeologist, her aunt's private international organization, the Committee, has access to experts in the ancient city of Ubar in the Empty Quarter. Eager to help her deceased husband's friend, Prince Rashid, Amy arrives and discovers there is more at stake than ancient cultures.
The kingdom is a breeding ground for a new generation of terrorists. A secret sect called the Black Princes put Amy's life at risk as she becomes a participant in her friend's quest for the Saudi throne.
2021 Annie McDonnell Memorial Literary Award Finalist
2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards Finalist for Paranormal Division
2020 Publisher's Weekly BookLife Prize Quarter Finalist for Fiction
2020 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Silver Medalist for Paranormal Fiction
I am always on the lookout for exciting new writers, and once I started reading Charleston Green by Stephanie Alexander, I was captivated. This novel leaves the reader entranced; the writing is skillful and clever and funny. I highly recommend this book. -New York Times Bestselling Author Elin Hilderbrand
With humor, heart and a heaping helping of Southern Charm, Charleston Green brings an entirely new meaning to the term 'unwanted house guests.' Tipsy is a lovable, flawed, complex heroine that readers will root for from the first page to the last-and pitch-perfect storytelling will leave fans begging for a sequel. This is Stephanie Alexander at her best! -USA Today Bestselling Author of Feels Like Falling, Kristy Woodson Harvey
If Tipsy Collins learned one thing from her divorce, it's that everyone in Charleston is a little crazy-even if they're already dead.
Tipsy, a gifted artist, cannot ignore her nutty friends or her vindictive ex-husband, but as a lifelong reluctant clairvoyant, she's always avoided dead people. When Tipsy and her three children move into the house on Bennett Street, she realizes some ghosts won't be ignored.
Till death do us part didn't pan out for Jane and Henry Mott, who've haunted the house for nearly a century. Tipsy's marriage was downright felicitous when compared to Jane and Henry's ill-fated union. Jane believes Henry killed her and then himself, and Henry vehemently denies both accusations. Unfortunately, neither phantom remembers that afternoon in 1923. Tipsy doesn't know whether to side with Jane, who seems to be hiding something under her southern belle charm, or Henry, a mercurial creative genius. Jane and Henry draw Tipsy into their conundrum, and she uncovers secrets long concealed under layers of good manners, broken promises and soupy Lowcountry air. Living with ghosts, however, takes a toll on her health, and possibly even her sanity. As she struggles to forge a new path for herself and her children, Tipsy has a chance to set Jane and Henry free, and release the ghosts of her own past.
A Celtic warrior princess accused of treason for aiding her enemy lover must win back her father's love and trust.
In the rich and vibrant tale, Author Linnea Tanner continues the story of Catrin and Marcellus that began with the award-winning novel APOLLO'S RAVEN in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings Series. Book 2: DAGGER'S DESTINY sweeps you into an epic tale of forbidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia.
War looms over 24 AD Britannia where rival tribal rulers fight each other for power and the Romans threaten to invade to settle their political differences. King Amren accuses his daughter, Catrin, of treason for aiding the Roman enemy and her lover, Marcellus. The ultimate punishment is death unless she can redeem herself. She must prove loyalty to her father by forsaking Marcellus and defending their kingdom-even to the death. Forged into a warrior, she must overcome tribulations and make the right decisions on her quest to break the curse that foretells her banished half-brother and the Roman Empire will destroy their kingdom.
Yet, when Catrin again reunites with Marcellus, she is torn between her love for him and duty to King Amren. She must ultimately face her greatest challenger who could destroy her life, freedom, and humanity.
Will Catrin finally break the ancient prophecy that looms over her kingdom? Will she abandon her forbidden love for Marcellus to win back her father's trust and love? Can King Amren balance his brutality to maintain power with the love he feels for Catrin?
It's time to make a mess, said Emily.
Would-be movie producer Emily Bennett didn't believe the legend of a lost movie, starring James Dean and John Wayne. But when she meets two uncannily talented celebrity impersonators-Jimmy Riley and Tom Duke Manfredo, and stumbles upon the elusive film editor who stole the master negative of Showdown, it dispels her doubts, fills her with a courage she didn't know she had, and she sets out to complete the movie.
But as Emily and her stars prepare for day one of shooting, they find themselves entangled in a complex love triangle with Oedipal undertones, mirroring their own past lives and off-screen dynamics. As doubts about their ruthless director, Solange Borugian, surface, Jimmy's and Duke's friendship is turned upside down, while Emily and her brother Ben, struggle with their own unresolved issues and are forced to confront their dying father.
On location in Arizona, amidst Apache holy grounds and the magic of day-for-night shooting, the lines between past and present blur and the flawed characters' backstories intertwine into a tumultuous finale that exposes their hidden animosities, demons, and loves.
CHRISTMASTIME 1939: Prequel to the Christmastime Series introduces the reader to the world of Christmastime. Set in Brooklyn, we meet the young widow Lillian Hapsey and her two sons, Tommy and Gabriel. Even though the Christmas season is just around the corner, Lillian has no Christmas spirit. Alone, unhappy with her job, and plagued by financial concerns, Christmas has become a burden to her. Overshadowing everything is the war in Europe. Despite the setbacks, Lillian is determined to give her sons a happy Christmas. Can she rekindle her girlhood love for the holiday season? Rediscovering her touchstone just might be the key to unlocking the excitement and magic of Christmas.
Christmastime 1940: A Love Story, Book One in the series, is set in New York City against the backdrop of impending war. It tells of the unlikely romance of a struggling young mother who is trying to make a fresh start in life and a man who has lost his connection to humanity.
The curmudgeonly Charles Drooms is content with his life as the owner of a successful accounting firm. However, when the beautiful widow, Lillian Hapsey, and her two young sons move down the hall from him, his narrow world is shaken. Three converging forces - Lillian, the Christmas season, and a mysterious little boy - combine to stir up powerful memories, forcing Drooms to make a life-altering decision.
2020 Colorado Authors' League Finalist
2020 Book Excellence Awards Finalist
Kim's words, ripped from her diary, are raw, painting a picture of the excruciating anguish that so many left behind by the physical departing of a loved one express. -Duck White-Petteruti, Founder, Domus Pacis Family Respite
It will give you, the reader, permission to remember, never forget, and to slowly live from the place of heart again. -Patty L. Luckenbach, MA, DD, associate minister and author of I Only Walk On Water When It Rains
The grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one is crippling. In Feeling Left Behind, author Kim Murdock relates and empathizes with that pain because she's been there. She knows what it feels like to be woefully blindsided by music or at the grocery store, to reconsider the future alone, and to connect with a person who is no longer alive. You will relate to her chapters as she describes:
This is not a step-by-step guide on how to grieve. Kim outlines every detail of her experience as well as the experiences of her widow/widower friends to show you that you are not alone. You are normal. And you deserve as much time as possible to figure out how to survive in your own way.
In previous books, Fred the snake got squished and mended, went to school and welcomed Jungle Jim and forest friends. In this fourth book, Fred and his pals take a trip to downtown Charleston, SC, to view the historic sites, like the Market, Rainbow Row, and Fort Sumter. They enjoy a bumpy carriage ride, the aquarium, and the children's museum. Join the fun and learn about this famous city with Fred the friendly snake!
This book, The Revelation Rainbow, is the end of a forty-year quest by the author to find answers to the questions generated by his Biblically un-informed scholarship that shrouds rather than unveils the great truths of this Holy Spirit directed work of our Lord. Hundreds of students of Revelation have been left in a bewildered state because certain scholars approach the book with a human mindset, instead of a Spirit-led mindset. Instead of looking at Revelation as The Divine Apocalypse, they try to humanize and literalize the book as a study of human secular history, leaving the student with a complicated scheme of things that do not make sense.
Having met these students, Christian Kingdom Broadcasting founder Mr. Charles Doughty was greatly distressed to see them turn from God's Word (especially Revelation) altogether. Subjects like the Antichrist, Millennium, Mark of the Beast, Rapture, Tribulation and Left Behind are just some of the end-time twists causing confusion.
If you are a member of a blended family, this is the handbook to enable your estate plan to assure that your financial wealth will lead to your family's future well-being. Read it, follow its wisdom and practices, and smile. -James (Jay) E. Hughes Jr, Author of Complete Family Wealth and Family: The Compact Among Generations
As parents, we spend our lives caring and providing for our children. However, many of us lack the foresight to create a plan that will ensure our children are supported even after we are gone. Parents neglect to handle their estates and affairs during their lifetime and leave their grieving children drowning in paperwork and tough decisions. It is even more demanding and grueling for stepchildren and members of blending families to sort through these estates. As a member of a blended family himself, tax attorney Paul Hood has pooled his personal and professional knowledge to create this comprehensive guide to estate planning for blended families. In Yours, Mine & Ours, Hood offers real-world advice while cover crucial topics such as:
When nearly 70% of estate plans yield unfavorable results for the family, the need for a meticulous estate plan cannot be overstated. Hood's guide to estate planning will allow individuals to rest assured that their families are provided for thoroughly.
A YUMMY marriage is made of two whole people who can connect in fun ways, as well as in deep and meaningful ways. They are best friends and playful lovers, too. Did you know:
Sometimes when a couple hits bottom in their marriage it is an opportunity to turn things around and move in a better direction. You can learn how to be the agent of change in your marriage and create a life that is happier and healthier for both of you. Learn to be a positive role model for yourself and for your children.
Create a YUMMY marriage today!
In the final book of The Christmastime Series, the war is over. After years of grueling combat, heavy losses, and heartbreak, the first Christmas after the war promises to be a memorable one. Millions of servicemen are hoping to make it home in time for Christmas. Lillian Drooms anxiously awaits the return of Charles, fearing a final disaster. Izzy has opened a line of communication to Red, but what her future holds remains a mystery. On Kate's farm, her eldest son has made it home--but will her other two sons return from the Pacific? Ursula lives in dread of Friedrich's impending departure and wonders if she'll ever see him again. And unexpectedly, Jessica gives her heart to a returning soldier, only to be rejected by him. Can this first Christmas after the war be a happy one?
Five Stars...The fourth and final installment of the Tipsy Collins series...beautifully wraps up the characters' journeys with a blend of paranormal intrigue and life lessons... -Readers' Favorite
Things have been going great for Tipsy Collins, the Lowcountry's favorite clairvoyant artistic genius. Her kids are happy and healthy, she's producing and selling her celebrated paintings, and she's engaged to the love of her life, psychiatrist Scott Brandt. Everyone in Tipsy's life seems content, except Henry Mott, her mercurial supernatural roommate and wannabe literary virtuoso.
Henry has been brooding for over a century, but lately, his discontent has gone into overdrive. His famous temper is out of control and he can't write a single sentence. Henry's malaise and its accompanying destruction threaten to complicate Tipsy and Scott's family blending while her ex-husband haplessly navigates a second marriage crisis. As Henry slowly loses his mind, a series of unexplainable events has Tipsy combing through ghostly memories, meeting new friends and reuniting with old ones, exploring and testing the supernatural limits, and, as always, learning some priceless life lessons.
True Indigo is the highly anticipated fourth and final installment in the award-winning Tipsy Collins Series.
2020 Mom's Choice Award Winner
A delightful read. -- Readers' Favorite
...thoroughly entertaining delightful scripted rhyming story about the rodeo and the bonds of friendship. -- Children's Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review
Little Rosie Rodeo loves to race as fast as she can to win the prize: those sparkly buckles. She couldn't do this without the help of her horse B-Bar, who's also her best friend. Together they race for those buckles that twinkle like stars. This delightful rhyming story teaches children about the rodeo, dedication, and the special bonds of friendship.
There has always been something magical about the relationship between little girls and their equine friends. Little Rosie Rodeo captures that bond perfectly and tells an inspiring story of two best friends--a little girl and her horse. --Kent L. Sturman, Direction, ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy
A delightful story that showcases rodeo lifestyle and explores the love and bonds our children share with their horses. --Annie Walker, Executive Director, National Little Britches Rodeo Association
Carson finds himself in a new house with a new family trying to navigate how to potty train. He has help from his new sister Maya and the wise neighbor dog Rex along the way.
Even though he has accidents, he learns that it's a process, and potty training doesn't happen overnight.
There's joy to be had when learning and experiencing new adventures!
Gold Medalist for Paranormal Fiction in the 2021 Reader's Favorite Contest
Charleston's favorite ghost-talking divorcée returns in Alexander's latest supernatural mystery... A well-told, deeply felt addition to a ghostly mystery series. - Kirkus
... a highly engaging paranormal mystery filled with frolic, fun, and genuine nail-biting moments... a really fresh take on the paranormal genre, setting this novel apart from others.... - Readers' Favorite
Clairvoyant single mom Tipsy Collins is easing into a post-divorce new normal. She's solved a century-old murder mystery and brought peace to her house. She's rebuilding her artistic career and co-parenting with her ornery ex-husband. She's hopeful that her boyfriend is Mr. Right. Mercurial phantom Henry Mott still haunts her house, but he's become a dear friend. Tipsy plans to return to her lifelong habit of ignoring restless spirits.
A series of sudden financial and personal setbacks leave her feeling like she's back to square one, until a new friendship offers unexpected financial salvation. Ivy More has been haunting a Sullivan's Island cottage since the 1940s. Ivy's eccentric granddaughter, Pamella Brewton, will pay big bucks if Tipsy can figure out how to free her moody, volatile Meemaw. It turns out there was more to Ivy's death than a simple swan dive off the dock at low tide. To complicate matters, Ivy had a secret lover. Shockingly, he's someone Tipsy has seen before.
As Tipsy struggles with heartbreak, her ex-husband's shenanigans, and a growing sense of frustration with life, she turns to Henry for help solving Ivy's mystery. She finds herself learning from her brooding housemate, but also from Ivy, who has far more in common with Tipsy than either of them expect.
Rays story as an Undercover Agent is legendary. -Joaquin Jack Garcia, NYT Bestselling Auhtor of Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family
Broken Shield is the remarkable narrative of a young, inexperienced agent who became the primary undercover agent of one of the FBI's largest police corruption investigations.
Ray Morrow's fascination with justice and the FBI started as a young boy and was the catalyst for being a major part of the historic undercover operation, SHIRON. The physical and emotional toll that it took upon him and his new family brings to light the devastation that comes with the corruption living inside our justice system.
After years as the primary undercover agent in the Cleveland Police Department, a city previously unfamiliar to him, he was called to lead his biggest operation yet; the undercover investigation was the most important look into police corruption in Cleveland's history. While gathering evidence that police officers have been accepting payments from illegal casinos and drug shipments, Morrow battles his own doubts and little experience. He also finds himself surrounded by threats not only armed with weapons but with the power and technology of modern policing.
Five Stars...Stephanie Alexander has perfected the cozy paranormal genre with the Tipsy Collins Series, and [Palmetto Rose] triumphs in every aspect....engaging and mysterious...the character development of Tipsy, her clients, and her new love interest was... superbly realistic and light-hearted. -Readers' Favorite
Clairvoyant single mom Tipsy Collins spent the last year focused on her kids and her artistic endeavors. No dating. No fighting with her irascible ex-husband. No ghostly shenanigans. Life is drama free, but it feels stagnant, personally and professionally.
Enter a new supernatural mystery and a new beau, both replete with potential complications. After her teenage daughter ends up in the psychiatric ward, domineering retired executive Jillian Yates hires Tipsy to rid her historic Charleston mansion of spirits. The Victorian ghost-in-residence, Thomas Bonneau, is a charmer, but Tipsy senses something hiding behind his unusual amiability. In the meantime, her unexpected romance with psychiatrist Scott Brandt-her ex-in-law-stokes her former husband's wrath.
Tipsy struggles to trust her heart, and friends and loved ones-living and dead-offer support as old insecurities threaten to keep her moribund. In order to truly blossom, Tipsy must conquer her fear of life's thorns.
Palmetto Rose is the highly anticipated third installment in Stephanie Alexander's award winning Tipsy Collins Series.