Darkness Returns

New York Times bestsellingauthorAlexandra Ivy returns to her bestselling and beloved Guardians of Eternity series. More powerful than ever, the Guardians of Eternity are facing their greatest challenge yet: a war within their ranks. Their future is in the hands of one rebel vampire, who must choose between loyalty and love . . . Blessed with an even more compelling allure than most vampires, Chiron has made a fortune in the human world, creating an empire of resorts and casinos. Since the betrayal and imprisonment of his master, he has existed outside the order of the Guardians, trusting no one. But now, the new vampire king has given him a peace offering: a scroll that could free his master. Following the relic’s magic leads him to a demon hotel deep in the Everglades, a lush paradise owned by a mysterious and mesmerizing woman . . . As far as Lilah knows, she’s lived her entire life within the confines of her enchanted estate. Memories of her own past are elusive and cloaked in shadows. Even Chiron can’t figure out exactly what she is, and if her intoxicating beauty is his destiny or an illusion drawing him ever closer to his demise—or perhaps to an even more tormenting choice, between his master and his mate . . .

Introduction “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ― Ernest Hemingway This book is a compilation of my writings. Some will be good, some not so great. This book may bring tears, or it may bring happy feelings. How you see it is up to you. A lot of work went into making this book just the way I wanted it. But in the end it was all worth it, no question. These are my thoughts, my feelings, my insecurities, my darkness. Don’t judge me, I am only human.

The Tragedy of Almightiness encircles the theme of human yearning for omnipotence, as expressed in religion and various ideologies. The central question revolves around the matter of what--in pursuing such an extreme power of the will--man seeks to achieve. While exploring the question, a thought-provoking link is made between religion and atheism; between the Biblical longing for God's promise and the Marxist appeal for man to realize that same promise. Omnipotence must vouch for the fulfilling of the promise, for justice and for man's dream of redemption. However that is not where it ends. The longing for salvation turns out to have a dangerous reverse side to it because it encourages a turning away from the actual world and the all-pervading evil. Omnipotence also facilitates the avenging of such evil. History has shown what this kind of yearning can lead to. The book demonstrates how modernity translates Biblical longings into ideologically justified revengefulness. The description of this process leads to a plea for renewed ethical purpose in life. It is a challenge that also extends to religion. Hence the reason that it is necessary to depart from the idea of omnipotence.

It seems most peculiar; yes, rather strange That a bird, on a bitter branch might remain And more joyfully in winter months, long, Sing an elaborate, even a beautiful song. But such a bird is this one who can write, Who can attest that even though dark as night, His maker has given him a songbook of praise, To endure as a joyful sound, all days that remain. What you are holding is a songbook. It is a different kind of songbook, for it was birthed in the darkest of night and the coldest of winter. And while it is readily in itself an instrument of praise, it also provides a foundation for other song-makers, or, shall we say, those who receive songs from God Most High. For who can sing unless God himself provides song? This is a book for sufferers. It is for those who are enduring affliction or those who just have air filling their lungs from time to time (recognizing that all will invariably suffer). This is a book for those with questions. It is for those who wonder what God (if there is one) is doing as they sit on a branch that scrapes them endlessly with rough and bitter bark. The branch is aflame, crumbling underneath, and ready to give way. How can we find song in such a tormenting and uncertain darkness? How can we be as the rare bird who actually finds reason for song in winter?

"A beautiful reflection of a compassionate heart. A compelling read for lovers of humanity." -Yetunde Fashina-Arebi, Author, Youth Counsellor and Vanguard Newspaper Columnist. This is a well sculpted piece. The author has gone ahead of herself, setting a new standard for lovers of creative writing. -Modupe Marc-Dawodu , CEO, Marcforte Business Consulting The Sun Shall Soon Shine embodies life in its different phases and faces. It sheds a new light on life through the eyes of the author as she glides seamlessly and sometimes sharply through her various life stages. It is a representation of the dreams we all aspire to achieve from the womb, to childhood, as a nation, as individual souls, and through lifes palaver. Hoping The Sun Shall Soon Shine...

Fans of Lisa Jackson, Lucinda Berry, and Kendra Elliot won’t want to miss the New York Times bestselling author’s suspenseful story of a small town with more secrets than residents, and a woman searching for the truth about a long-ago night…as killer prepares to silence her forever. Teenager Lia Porter shouldn’t have been anywhere near the railroad bridge that night. Sneaking home after a party in the fields outside Pike, Wisconsin, she glimpsed a woman in a leather jacket, running in terror. Lia puts the incident from her mind—until a body is found near the same spot fifteen years later, wearing the same jacket. The police rule it a suicide. Lia knows different. The woman she saw was trying to save her own life, not end it. But whatever she was fleeing from found her first . . . The stranger who arrives at Lia’s store shares her suspicions. Hollywood stunt driver Kaden Vaughn has come home to Wisconsin to learn the truth about what happened to his brother’s fiancée years ago. The leather jacket, the timing—he believes the dead woman is Vanna, and that Lia may be the only person who can help. Together they retrace Vanna’s steps, but the more they dig, the darker the secrets become. The killer is still out there, stalking the streets of Pike again, willing to do whatever is necessary to keep the truth locked in mystery. One by one, all those who know something about that night must be silenced, until there is no one left to tell . . . “A fast-paced tale of a small Wisconsin town with dark secrets.” – Publishers Weekly

You've done what you can: you've seen your doctor, made an appointment with a therapist, picked up the prescription for the antidepressant and swallowed that first strange pill. But it can take four to eight weeks for the meds to start to work, and it might take two or more tries before you and your doctor find the ones that work best for you. When you're in the midst of terrible depression, those weeks can feel like an eternity. You just want to feel better now. This book is for those who are in the long night of waiting. It does not promise healing or deliverance; it is not a guide to praying away the depression. It is simply an attempt to sit next to you in the dark while you wait for the light to emerge. Drawing on the wisdom of spiritual figures from the past and present--including Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Barbara Brown Taylor, Bunmi Laditan, and many others--The Long Night is a comforting and inspirational companion for anyone in the midst of depression. Writer, editor, and minister Jessica Kantrowitz has been where you are. As a mentor and friend, she will walk with you on this journey toward life and light.

Doing for the Old Testament what Kittel-Friedrich does for the New, this major, multivolume reference work discusses in depth all the key Hebrew and Aramaic words of the Old Testament. Stressing meaning, each word-study moves from narrow, everyday senses of words toward more significant theological concepts.