Running From Mercy

The story of Jonah the prophet is familiar to us. It's full of unforgettable images, ironic twists and turns, and dramatic encounters between humanity, nature, and God. Most importantly, it is a microcosm of the human story. Your story. My story. The story of Jonah. In these pages, you will meet a prophet not so different from yourself. The prophet's rebellious spirit is astounding, but more astounding still is the surprising grace of God. The same God who relentlessly pursued Jonah and who relentlessly pursued the Ninevites is pursuing you. May this story cause you to rest in his unstoppable grace.

Pam always said that it would take an act of congress to get her to go back home to Mercy, Georgia, but all that's really called for is the death of her twin sister, Paris. Suddenly she's eating her words and sneaking back into town like a thief in the night, trying to lay low and not draw too much attention to herself. When she left Mercy, she was an orphan with a wild and loose reputation that had as much truth to it as it did falsehood. Fast-forward eighteen years, and Pam is a celebrity recording artist with money to burn and a reputation for being curiously reclusive. Nothing about Mercy's quiet, tree-lined streets and old-fashioned way of life welcomes Pam home. Like most small towns, Mercy seems like a safe place to live, but Pam knows different. It isn't just the little town she grew up in; it's the place where she lived her worst nightmare. Things have changed, but then again, they've remained the same, and the longer Pam stays in Mercy, the faster things spin out of control. The people she calls friends turn out to be her worst enemies, the people she considers family turn out to be wolves in sheep's clothing, and the truth about the life she lives is exposed for the lie that it really is. Everyone wants to know why Pam ran from Mercy, and they're about to find out.

“Dark family secrets, the lore of the sea, and a tender, protective friendship between women all converge in The Speed of Mercy, an unusual and surprising story set in idyllic rural Nova Scotia. With subtle humour, Conlin picks the locks on the long-closed doors of two families and bares the ugly, painful skeletons everyone knew were there but chose to hide.” — Sylvia D. Hamilton, author of And I Alone Escaped To Tell You The Speed of Mercy captures the unbearable cost of childhood betrayal and what happens when history is suppressed, our past is forgotten — yet finding the truth can change the future. Christy Ann Conlin rips into the myths and stereotypes about older women and those on the edge of conventional society to reveal the timeless gift of mercy in this feminist tour de force. “Christy Ann Conlin is a conjurer: of place, people, and the haunting past. I was instantly caught up in the darkly mysterious world and indelible characters she has brought to life. Gripping, suspenseful, and lyrically written, The Speed of Mercy caught me by the throat and didn’t let go.” — Alix Ohlin, Scotiabank Giller Prize–shortlisted author of Dual Citizens

When Jesus asked us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and visit the imprisoned, he didn’t mean it literally, right? Kerry Weber, a modern, young, single woman in New York City sets out to see if she can practice the Corporal Works of Mercy in an authentic, personal, meaningful manner while maintaining a full, robust, regular life. Weber, a lay Catholic, explores the Works of Mercy in the real world, with a gut-level honesty and transparency that people of urban, country, and suburban locales alike can relate to. Mercy in the City is for anyone who is struggling to live in a meaningful, merciful way amid the pressures of “real life.” For those who feel they are already overscheduled and too busy, for those who assume that they are not “religious enough” to practice the Works of Mercy, for those who worry that they are alone in their efforts to live an authentic life, Mercy in the City proves that by living as people for others, we learn to connect as people of faith.

No matter how far we run, we can't outrun the Gospel. Trust me, I've tried. I spent over forty years wandering through the sinful wilderness, until I humbly accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, my Redeemer, and my Friend. This autobiography is brutally honest and, at times, transparent to a fault. My motivation for sharing my personal testimony is not to feed my flesh or to embarrass myself but to glorify God, His kingdom, and his never-ending acts of agape love. It is my opinion that I was the worst type of addict because I was not homeless, a beggar, or what your mind's eye imagines. I was a father, a husband, and business owner and, quite possibly, the one sitting next to you at a restaurant/bar, a movie theater, or even church. We need to appreciate that no matter what we have done or failed to do, we are never too far from God's outreach. I have felt the thickness and glory of God on more than one occasion and can testify that it is complete joy, and my tens of thousands of dollars on narcotics can't even compare. Whether you are a nonbeliever, a new believer, or a seasoned Christian, I believe you will find this book useful during your spiritual walk. Through personal examples, it is my intention to show you how God uses people, places, and events to get His message across. I know this to be fact because He took a broken drug addict soul and transformed me into a child of the Most High God. I have included my email address on the cover so you can have author access to any comments or questions.

Aric Prince is an All-American high school football star with a body built like a Greek god and hair so beautiful he could sell shampoo by the boatloads. The only problem is that Aric’s also a rich, arrogant, and gigantic prick. Nothing but filth and insults come out of his smirking mouth, constantly reminding me that poor, trailer park trash girls like myself don’t belong in his pretentious academy. Aric and his best friends all think they’re untouchable. But the cocky bastard is finally going down this year. I’ve hit the motherload of blackmail on the jerk, pun intended, and I can’t wait to give him exactly what he deserves. Aric Prince’s reign at the academy is coming to an end. Before I’m done with him, he’ll be on his knees, begging for mercy. WHILE BEG FOR MERCY IS A HIGH SCHOOL BULLY ROMANCE, IT CONTAINS DARK THEMES, EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT, AND GRAPHIC LANGUAGE THAT IS INTENDED FOR MATURE READERS.

The Heartwarming Drama Continues in the Song of Blessing Series Anji Baard Moen, a recent widow, returns from Norway with her children. She quickly settles back into life in Blessing, teaching Norwegian history in the high school and writing articles for the Blessing Gazette. When tragedy strikes, Anji steps in to run the newspaper and soon finds a kindred spirit in the widower who owns the printing press. As they spend time together, Anji wonders if there's something more than friendship growing between them. But Anji has also caught the eye of a recent arrival to Blessing. He has put his carpentry skills to good use on the town's building projects, including Anji's house. But Anji is torn between her feelings of loyalty to someone who needs her and the chance to build a new life with this intriguing newcomer. Where will her choice take her?