A polemic against love that is “engagingly acerbic ... extremely funny.... A deft indictment of the marital ideal, as well as a celebration of the dissent that constitutes adultery, delivered in pointed daggers of prose” (The New Yorker). Who would dream of being against love? No one. Love is, as everyone knows, a mysterious and all-controlling force, with vast power over our thoughts and life decisions. But is there something a bit worrisome about all this uniformity of opinion? Is this the one subject about which no disagreement will be entertained, about which one truth alone is permissible? Consider that the most powerful organized religions produce the occasional heretic; every ideology has its apostates; even sacred cows find their butchers. Except for love. Hence the necessity for a polemic against it. A polemic is designed to be the prose equivalent of a small explosive device placed under your E-Z-Boy lounger. It won’t injure you (well not severely); it’s just supposed to shake things up and rattle a few convictions.

It’s been a decade since Ava MacDaniel stepped foot on her uncle’s Utah ranch; a decade since she followed her work-obsessed mother to Paris without looking back. Now, as an upand- coming New York painter, Ava’s days are filled with galas on the arm of her gorgeous publicist boyfriend. When she finally gets a chance to open a gallery for underserved artists, Ava’s life couldn’t look more perfect. But her dream comes with a catch: making peace with the estranged family she left behind. Macy Paxton has spent her whole life on the picturesque Utah land. Though she never forgave her cousin for abandoning her, she eventually found love in Ben, a charming soldier. But after Ben went missing during a special forces operation, Macy never quite recovered. Ava’s convinced she’ll please everyone and be back to her life in a New York minute. But when facing the shadows of her past leads her to a captivating stranger, everything becomes more complicated. In her stunning debut novel, Frederic weaves a journey of love, loss, and the bonds of sisterhood. Sometimes, the perfect future can only be found in the broken pieces of the past.

A collection of poems about marriage by one of our most celebrated poets.

This compelling collection gathers together articles previously published in "The Christian Century" from 1996 to 2008. The result is a cohesive book that unerringly points away from pettiness and selfishness and toward the love Christians are called to exemplify.

Marriage is hard work. Two independent lives are merging. Two different mindsets are colliding. Two different people are learning. But marriage can also be one of life's greatest gifts--just take it from David and Tamela Mann. The Manns have delighted and inspired audiences through music, a string of plays and movies, and several television series, including Meet the Browns, The Manns, and Mann & Wife, and after 30+ years of marriage, the Manns are more in love than ever. Now, they're finally ready to share how they've been able to keep that spark burning all these years. Join David and Tamela as they share the day-to-day challenges, successes, and joys that happen behind the scenes, teaching you how to: Put forgiveness, laughter, intimacy, and faith at the center of your relationship Embrace hope, no matter what obstacles you're facing Find the blessings in your own story Praise for Us Against the World: "When I think about David and Tam and the love they share, all the horrible things I've heard about marriage are chipped away--and in their place, slivers of light and hope shine through. Their type of love, guided by honor and respect, is what can heal couples. David and Tamela are here to offer their love and wisdom in Us Against the World. Their experience, understanding, faith, and love are invaluable. Take heart." --Tyler Perry, award-winning actor, director, and producer

'Because a life lived in fear is equal to no life at all' This is the uncompromising vision of Jehnny Beth and Johnny Hostile. Fearless and highly erotic, these stories delight in ideas of sexual transgression and liberation, offering a window onto a world where anything is permitted, and everything is safe. As each of Jehnny Beth and Johnny Hostile's characters break from the bonds of acceptability and enter a darkness of desire, submission and sex, they discover their own humanity, a place where they can truly be free. A manifesto in the form of erotic photography, monologues and dialogues, Johnny Hostile's stimulating photography punctuates Jehnny Beth's seductive prose. Collapsing the barriers between sex an art while examining the universal values of human existence and consciousness through uninhibited desire, C.A.L.M. established Jehnny Beth and Johnny Hostile as two of the bravest and most provocative voices in fiction and erotic art today. The full collection of Johnny Hostile's photography is featured in a limited-edition hard cover art book of C.A.L.M.

Gripping True Story of War and Romance, Hope and Miracles When the odds are impossible, love goes to work. In this thrilling true-life story, readers follow the path of friendship that grows into a romance that spans continents and survives devastating hardship. Craig Keener, a respected white scholar, was cautious after a broken relationship. Médine, a well-educated African woman, met Craig through a campus ministry and the two became friends. Long after they parted for their respective worlds, Craig realized his love for her and began the arduous--and often supernatural--journey to be reunited. Médine faced terror and disease as a refugee in the war-torn Congo; Craig did not know most days if she was alive or dead. Their tender story of love beating the odds inspires readers to believe that God's own great love for each of us will always overcome.