Kirjahaku

Robin Jones Gunn reveals poignant truths from her life as well as from the lives of women in the Bible as she flips the notion that we are at the mercy of circumstances. She asks, what if God has dreams for you? What if he is accomplishing those dreams in the midst of shattered hopes? When life doesn’t go as expected, it’s easy to feel like a victim. We look at the events that have gone wrong and view our lives as impaired. What if we could see our future as God sees it? Would our view radically change if we understood we are indeed victims rather than of happenstance?God, the Relentless Lover, has vigorously sought you. He has instilled dreams in your heart that are grander than you can imagine. But the route to their fulfillment often is through a path you wouldn't seek. What if God wants to take the hopes that tug at your heart and enliven them? Are you ready to live inside the mysterious joy of being a victim of grace?

Happenstance...or God's Great Plan? She's the bold, free-spirited type. She's cute, she's fun, and she's following God. She's Sierra Jensen, Christy Miller's good friend, ready for her junior year of high school All twelve books in the popular Sierra Jensen series come together in four volumes to reveal the ups and downs of Sierra's incredible God-led journey Volume Two: Paul's voice lives in her memory, but now it's loud, clear, and right behind her in Close Your Eyes . With summer fast approaching, it is Without a Doubt bound to be Sierra's best yet. In With This Ring, she can't help but ponder the meaning of first kisses and lifetime commitments. Close Your Eyes Sierra Jensen has prayed and prayed for the unattainable Paul, but no answers have arrived yet. She hopes a visit with her classmates to a homeless shelter will take her mind off Paul, but guess what? He's working there Finally they talk, and before Sierra knows it, Paul agrees to come over for dinner. Their evening together is perfect--until Randy shows up on Sierra's doorstep Can things get any more confusing? Without a Doubt What could be more fun than a backpacking expedition? Sierra can't wait to go, especially since things in her life have gotten so...complicated. Paul has moved to Scotland, and Randy is moving into Sierra's heart. But just when things start to make sense, Sierra is asked out by Drake--the gorgeous guy her best friend, Amy, likes. How can Sierra even think about Drake when she knows doing so will hurt Amy and Randy? When a freak snowstorm hits, Sierra suddenly realizes what really matters most--but is it too late? With This Ring Sierra is on her way to Southern California for the very best reason of all: a wedding Tracy and Doug's long-awaited I dos are about to happen, and Sierra is eager to join Christy Miller and the rest of their friends. As soon as she arrives, Sierra discovers that everyone seems to be in love--except for her. That's okay...she has what she needs--a gold purity ring from her dad and a vow of her own: to save herself for marriage. But when Sierra returns home, she wonders if her best friend, Amy, has settled for less than God's best. Can Sierra convince her that purity is worth celebrating? Story Behind the Book "After writing the twelve-book Christy Miller series for teens, a new character showed up on the pages of the final novel. Her name was Sierra Jensen, and she was so compelling as a teenage character that readers began asking for a series about Sierra in order to hear more about her life choices. Our family had just moved to Portland at the time, and I found it easy to picture a sixteen-year-old like Sierra shopping at the local vintage clothing stores, hanging out with friends at a garage band concert, and serving at the homeless shelter on weekends." --Robin Jones Gunn

The first twelve books in the popular Christy Miller series are now available in four treasured volumes Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn packs each one with enough action, romance, and drama to keep you reading and wanting more. It all starts the summer Christy vacations on a California beach and meets two friends who change her life forever. But after moving across the country with her family, Christy must begin her sophomore year of high school uncertain where she'll fit in. A red-headed new best friend, a try at cheerleading, a job at a pet store, and expectations for the prom fill Christy's high school years with a string of laughter-and-tears moments. Fireball Katie keeps everyone guessing what she'll do next, and surfer Todd keeps showing up while popular Rick has determined to get her full attention As these memorable years unfold, Christy and her God-loving friends find out what it means to be a "peculiar treasure." Follow Christy Miller as she stays true to her identity in Christ, drawing closer to God for help in realizing her dreams and dealing with her disappointments. Whether you're meeting her for the first time or have known her for years-- Christy Is a Forever Friend Surprise Endings Cheerleading tryouts are coming up, and Christy Miller is giving it all she's got. The competition is tough and some of the girls are just rude, but Christy thinks she has a good chance to make the squad. Meanwhile prom is just around the corner, and Christy hopes her parents will make an exception to their "no dating until sixteen" rule. She'd love to go with Todd to his prom But nothing turns out as Christy had planned. As the surprises keep coming, can Christy respond with grace...and maybe even spring a surprise of her own? Island Dreamer Christy Miller is spending her sixteenth birthday on Maui with her family, Todd, and Paula, her best friend from Wisconsin What could be better? But Christy soon finds that she and Paula don't have as much in common anymore. Paula's obsessed with having a boyfriend...even if it means stealing Todd from Christy Will he choose Paula over her? Or will the islands send Christy dreaming in new directions? A Heart Full of Hope Christy Miller is sixteen, and that means she can finally date Rick has waited months for this, and he has a whole list of dates planned. He's not happy about her early curfews and weekend job, but Christy knows her parents aren't about to negotiate on those points. Really, she's dazzled to be pursued by such a thoughtful guy. So why does she feel overwhelmed? Where does Todd fit into her life now? And can any guy really fulfill all her hopes? Story Behind the Book "The Christy Miller series was actually born when a group of thirteen-year-olds challenged me to write a novel. I'd been questioning the content of their favorite books when they said, 'Why don't you write a book for us' I told them no, I only wrote picture books. But they persisted: 'How hard could it be? We'll even tell you what to write We want a love story with teenagers at the beach.' And there you go. Summer Promise first released seventeen years ago and is now translated into five languages. I continue to hear from readers all over the world, many girls saying that they gave their life to Christ after reading Summer Promise. I love that " --Robin Jones Gunn

The first twelve books in the popular Christy Miller series are now available in four treasured volumes Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn packs each one with enough action, romance, and drama to keep you reading and wanting more. It all starts the summer Christy vacations on a California beach and meets two friends who change her life forever. But after moving across the country with her family, Christy must begin her sophomore year of high school uncertain where she'll fit in. A red-headed new best friend, a try at cheerleading, a job at a pet store, and expectations for the prom fill Christy's high school years with a string of laughter-and-tears moments. Fireball Katie keeps everyone guessing what she'll do next, and surfer Todd keeps showing up while popular Rick has determined to get her full attention As these memorable years unfold, Christy and her God-loving friends find out what it means to be a "peculiar treasure." Follow Christy Miller as she stays true to her identity in Christ, drawing closer to God for help in realizing her dreams and dealing with her disappointments. Whether you're meeting her for the first time or have known her for years-- Christy Is a Forever Friend True Friends What is a true friend? Christy Miller knows she has two of them: Todd and Katie. To show how much she appreciates them, she writes to Todd, who's off surfing in Hawaii, and she agrees to join the ski club with Katie...even though she's scared of skiing Fortunately, Christy and Katie can laugh as they bumble their way around the bunny slopes at Lake Tahoe. But Christy finds herself caught between new friends and her loyalty to Katie. Will Christy find a way to be a true friend when it counts most? And will she ever hear from Todd? Starry Night It's Christmastime, and Christy Miller has so much going on: family time, work, and maybe, just maybe, going to the Rose Bowl Parade with a bunch of friends. If only she could answer Uncle Bob's tough questions. Todd's buddy Doug gives her some insight, and she starts to appreciate him in a whole new way. Rick Doyle shows up again...but is he pursuing Christy or the cutest elf at the mall? Through it all, will Christy find someone special to count the stars with? Seventeen Wishes It's summer, and that means the beach and other adventures. And Christy Miller's best friend, Katie, is always full of ideas. They'll be camp counselors But when Katie can't go, Christy is bewildered and overwhelmed by her fifth-grade girls, who have boundless energy for anything except what Christy wants them to do. Do they even hear a word she says? Soon they're playing matchmaker between Christy and Jaeson, a handsome counselor...and he doesn't seem to mind. When Christy's seventeenth birthday arrives later in the summer, just what will she be wishing for? Story Behind the Book "The Christy Miller series was actually born when a group of thirteen-year-olds challenged me to write a novel. I'd been questioning the content of their favorite books when they said, 'Why don't you write a book for us' I told them no, I only wrote picture books. But they persisted: 'How hard could it be? We'll even tell you what to write We want a love story with teenagers at the beach.' And there you go. Summer Promise first released seventeen years ago and is now translated into five languages. I continue to hear from readers all over the world, many girls saying that they gave their life to Christ after reading Summer Promise. I love that " --Robin Jones Gunn

The first twelve books in the popular Christy Miller series are now available in four treasured volumes Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn packs each one with enough action, romance, and drama to keep you reading and wanting more. It all starts the summer Christy vacations on a California beach and meets two friends who change her life forever. But after moving across the country with her family, Christy must begin her sophomore year of high school uncertain where she'll fit in. A red-headed new best friend, a try at cheerleading, a job at a pet store, and expectations for the prom fill Christy's high school years with a string of laughter-and-tears moments. Fireball Katie keeps everyone guessing what she'll do next, and surfer Todd keeps showing up while popular Rick has determined to get her full attention As these memorable years unfold, Christy and her God-loving friends find out what it means to be a "peculiar treasure." Follow Christy Miller as she stays true to her identity in Christ, drawing closer to God for help in realizing her dreams and dealing with her disappointments. Whether you're meeting her for the first time or have known her for years-- Christy Is a Forever Friend Summer Promise Fourteen-year-old Christy Miller has the dream summer ahead of her in sun-kissed California, staying with her aunt and uncle at their beachfront home. Aunt Marti loves to shop, and those surfers are cute--especially Todd. Christy promised her parents she wouldn't do anything she'd regret later, and some of her beach friends are a little wild. But Todd and his "God-Lover" friends are giving Christy a new image of all things eternal. Can this summer live up to its promise? A Whisper and a Wish Christy's family has moved to California just in time for her sophomore year of high school. But they're not in Newport Beach, where she spent the summer. Instead they're an hour and a half away and Christy has to start all over making friends. Despite an embarrassing escapade at a slumber party, things are going pretty well...until some midnight fun leads to a trip to the police station. Does God really hear every whisper? Does He know our every wish? Then why is it so hard to know who your friends really are? Yours Forever Christy is back at Aunt Marti and Uncle Bob's house on the beach for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's...and Todd is in town, too The cute surfer completely captured Christy's heart last summer, and she's eager to spend every possible minute with him. But soon Christy and her aunt are barely speaking, and it seems like all her friends are mad at her, too--including Todd Is he hers or isn't he? And why would God let things get so tangled? Story Behind the Book "The Christy Miller series was actually born when a group of thirteen-year-olds challenged me to write a novel. I'd been questioning the content of their favorite books when they said, 'Why don't you write a book for us' I told them no, I only wrote picture books. But they persisted: 'How hard could it be? We'll even tell you what to write We want a love story with teenagers at the beach.' And there you go. Summer Promise first released seventeen years ago and is now translated into five languages. I continue to hear from readers all over the world, many girls saying that they gave their life to Christ after reading Summer Promise. I love that " --Robin Jones Gunn

From the author of the best-selling Christy Miller and SisterChicks series comes a new book of community, friendship, and tackling the hard things of life with God and loved ones around a table. Five young moms, including beloved Gunn character Christy Miller, gather to share meals and soon become unlikely best friends. The regular gatherings provide opportunities for the women to reveal their stories, and those life stories endear them to each other. They experience their lives naturally meshing as they raise their children together in community. In Becoming Us the group find ways to challenge, encourage, and help each other become the nurturing mothers they wished they'd had when they were growing up. They unite to be remembered for what they do as moms and not for what was done to them.

From the bestselling author of Becoming Us comes a novel unpacking loss, doubts, friendship, and the hard questions we ask of God and those we love. After her mom passed away, Jennalyn was in the midst of moving, having a baby, and helping her husband work toward his dream job. At the time, she thought she processed the shock and loss, but only now that Jennalyn has two small children, a lovely new home, a lucrative side hustle with her art, and a husband who is always working does she feel the full impact of the loss. Enter an old boyfriend who knew Jennalyn well and who shares many fond memories of her mom. Jennalyn begins to doubt her marriage and all her other life choices ever since her mom passed away. It takes the power of truth, close friends who know her well, and a series of choices at the heart level before Jennalyn can surface from the confusion and see with clarity where her life is headed.

Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn invites women to the shore to refresh their souls as they savor this collection of ocean-inspired stories and reflections. Does your idea of a perfect day include a lazy afternoon under a beach umbrella or a serene oceanside stroll? If the coast seems a million miles away from where you are today, let these engaging stories bring the ocean and all its gifts to you. Author Robin Jones Gunn wants to help you relax, recenter, and be reminded of the places that draw your heart closer to God. Robin shares poignant, humorous, and heartwarming stories inspired by the beach, along with poems, quotes, and Scripture verses to help take your mind off whatever is burdening you and bring your focus back to God. This is your invitation to soul restoration. There’s a place waiting for you by the sea.

Ever since they met as teenagers volunteering at a conference center in Costa Rica 20 years ago, Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden have shared a close friendship, even though they live in different states. They can hardly believe it when their teen dream of traveling to Africa together becomes a reality. It's the trip of a lifetime--but life sure isn't what they thought it would be back when they were young.Along with their suitcases, each woman brings along emotional baggage that weighs heavily on them. Yet the people they meet and the places they experience have the power to change their hearts--but only if they surrender to the lessons God wants to teach them in this unexpected land of emerald tea fields, graceful giraffes, and rambunctious elephants. Pack your bags and get ready for adventure as Robin Jones Gunn invites you on a safari of the heart in this vulnerable exploration of how to move forward in faith even when the future is uncertain.

Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro. "Whoever finds a friend finds a treasure." Italian saying Grace and Claire have formed a close friendship over their love of reading. After many years and many books that provided armchair adventures, the time has come for them to go somewhere instead of only dreaming of someday. Traveling to Venice, Florence, and Bellagio, the Suitcase Sisters find themselves immersed in the magnificent works of art, scrumptious gelato flavors, and endless pasta variations of Italy. And they discover a vulnerability to disclose their struggles in ways they never did at home. As Grace experiences a newfound freedom and confidence in who she is, Claire wrestles with painful memories of her teen years.A special dinner party brings unexpected revelations about faith and God's nearness. Then a life-changing moment on the shores of Lake Lugano causes Grace and Claire to discover they are not just tourists but pilgrims on a path to becoming all God created them to be. Robin Jones Gunn whisks you away to experience the incredible culture of Northern Italy in this inspiring, faith-based contemporary fiction with themes of European travel, midlife adventures, and lifelong friendships, making this a perfect book club selection.

Cousins Nora and Allie are sent to Scotland to claim an inheritance but are hindered by delayed flights and canceled reservations before settling into a picture-perfect cottage. Surprised by an encounter with a man in a kilt and a visit from a nosy neighbor and her five Scottie dogs, the cousins begin to experience life in the village where their grandmother grew up. But a brewing mystery along with more delays make this adventure far different than they expected. Undaunted, the Suitcase Sisters stock up on shortbread from the village bakery and explore the beauty of Scotland in autumn, beginning with a leisurely boat ride on Loch Lomond. Buoyed by laughter and shared childhood memories, they head to the Highlands for a tour of their ancestral castle and a luxurious stay at a resort. An enchanting train ride returns them to the village, where a secret their sweet Gran hid from them all these years comes to light, and a final stop in Edinburgh holds more life-changing revelations for them. On this armchair trek to Scotland, readers will experience a journey of surprises brimming with God's mysterious ways and the unbreakable bonds of family.

Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro. "Whoever finds a friend finds a treasure." Italian saying Grace and Claire have formed a close friendship over their love of reading. After many years and many books that provided armchair adventures, the time has come for them to go somewhere instead of only dreaming of someday. Traveling to Venice, Florence, and Bellagio, the Suitcase Sisters find themselves immersed in the magnificent works of art, scrumptious gelato flavors, and endless pasta variations of Italy. And they discover a vulnerability to disclose their struggles in ways they never did at home. As Grace experiences a newfound freedom and confidence in who she is, Claire wrestles with painful memories of her teen years.A special dinner party brings unexpected revelations about faith and God's nearness. Then a life-changing moment on the shores of Lake Lugano causes Grace and Claire to discover they are not just tourists but pilgrims on a path to becoming all God created them to be. Robin Jones Gunn whisks you away to experience the incredible culture of Northern Italy in this inspiring, faith-based contemporary fiction with themes of European travel, midlife adventures, and lifelong friendships, making this a perfect book club selection.

Can a teenage summer romance really lead to a forever love? Christy and Todd, the memorable couple who met as teens in the Christy Miller series, are now married and life is suddenly full of way more challenges than they expected. Christy shares some news with Todd that could significantly alter their lives. When he doesn't respond the way she hoped, Christy discovers that Todd is facing his own life-changing problems. Will they find a way to come through this tough season closer than ever? Or will the obstacles to their unity and happiness be too overwhelming?

Home of Our HeartsChristy & Todd: The Married Years. Book #2 of 3. When Christy Miller met Todd Spencer the summer she turned fifteen, she only dreamed that theirs would be a forever love. Christy and Todd both made important promises long ago. Todd assured his dad he'd stand with him if his dad ever got remarried. Christy promised her best friend she'd be there for Katie when she walked down the aisle. Both wedding days have arrived, and Christy and Todd couldn't be happier. Neither of them ever guessed that they'd need to fly halfway around the world to keep their promises and participate in the wedding of these two people they love. Plans are made, tickets are bought. They say they are learning to trust God even when the future is uncertain. However, an unexpected phone call uproots Christy and Todd the night before their flight, and a frightening diagnosis leaves the young couple questioning their next decision. Todd reveals hidden hurts from his childhood, and Christy struggles to understand her place with her mother and her aunt. Will the obstacles prevent them from keeping their promises? Or will they draw closer to each other and find a way to celebrate as they discover the deeper meaning of the word "home"?

One More WishChristy & Todd: The Married Years. Book #3 of 3. When Christy Miller met Todd Spencer the summer she turned fifteen, she only dreamed that theirs would be a forever love. As Christy blows out the 26 candles on her birthday cake, she closes her eyes and makes a wish. Could this be the year that she and Todd finally have a baby? They know that everything will change once they have a child. Are they ready for all the adjustments a new little one would bring? Christy isn't sure. On their way home from Sierra's wedding, Todd opens up the discussion of adoption and soon a simple invitation turns into a life-changing season. Christy's patience and understanding are stretched beyond her limits, and she finds herself holding not just one baby in her arms, but two. Everything Christy and Todd thought about family and hospitality shifts as they dare to make one more wish and believe that God's timing is flawless.