Ruby J. Gonzales moved forward while she cared for the multiple-colored irises, wide bright sunflower plants, and other colorful bright splashes of nature’s infinite beauty. “You plant a garden because you believe in the future. You punch a hole in the soft dirt with your finger and drop a seed in it because you believe in tomorrow. You can’t see what’s going on under the dirt, but you water what you can’t see, believing that one day you’ll see the fruit of your work.” My dear wonderful Mom was a warm and caring woman, a gentle soul with intense faith and overwhelming love—a woman whose integrity was her trademark, whose only habit was to mix love and truth with honesty, and offered her consejos throughout my life that, now as an adult, I refer to often and still hold close to my heart. I have chosen to honor my Mom and document her teaching in the hope that as they have helped me through difficult times, her wisdom, grace, love, and compassion will be a part of the next generation and they too will witness what faith and trust in God looks like and how important love for family is. I dedicate this book to the first woman I ever loved, my Mom. —El Alto Moreno

My Pecan Tree is very special. From November through January, my Pecan tree and I spent many years and many, many pleasant hours together in our large backyard, harvesting pecans and gaining insights into man's true and divine relationship with God. One day, as I gathered the delicious nuts that had fallen, I realized my daily experiences hunting and finding pecans required me to have patience and creativity and a sense of humor-all qualities required to lead a truly harmonious and successful spiritual life. Excited to share my inspiration, Lessons from the Pecan Tree was born! Lessons from the Pecan Tree is a compilation of themed articles expanding on my discoveries "happening under the tree" that can be applied to positively enhance an individual's daily living experiences and social relationships. Each article is linked to a specific verse from the King James Version of the Bible and is truly the expression of "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). Whether reading "lessons" in one sitting or randomly, my wish is that every reader will experience their own nature's moments and discover their very own very special "Pecan Tree."

Written in a manner suitable for a popular audience and including color photographs and recipes for some common uses of the nut, Pecan: America’s Native Nut Tree gathers scientific, historical, and anecdotal information to present a comprehensive view of the largely unknown story of the pecan. From the first written record of it made by the Spaniard Cabeza de Vaca in 1528 to its nineteenth-century domestication and its current development into a multimillion dollar crop, the pecan tree has been broadly appreciated for its nutritious nuts and its beautiful wood. In Pecan: America’s Native Nut Tree, Lenny Wells explores the rich and fascinating story of one of North America’s few native crops, long an iconic staple of southern foods and landscapes. Fueled largely by a booming international interest in the pecan, new discoveries about the remarkable health benefits of the nut, and a renewed enthusiasm for the crop in the United States, the pecan is currently experiencing a renaissance with the revitalization of America’s pecan industry. The crop’s transformation into a vital component of the US agricultural economy has taken many surprising and serendipitous twists along the way. Following the ravages of cotton farming, the pecan tree and its orchard ecosystem helped to heal the rural southern landscape. Today, pecan production offers a unique form of agriculture that can enhance biodiversity and protect the soil in a sustainable and productive manner. Among the many colorful anecdotes that make the book fascinating reading are the story of André Pénicaut’s introduction of the pecan to Europe, the development of a Latin name based on historical descriptions of the same plant over time, the use of explosives in planting orchard trees, the accidental discovery of zinc as an important micronutrient, and the birth of “kudzu clubs” in the 1940s promoting the weed as a cover crop in pecan orchards. **Published in cooperation with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ellis Brothers Pecan, Inc., and The Mason Pecans Group**

Sometimes coming home can heal a broken heart. Dewey Hennessey left Louisiana and Michael Arceneaux, the love of her life, with so many questions unanswered. Now, fourteen years after Dewey went “gone pecan,” her grandmother delivers an ultimatum—return to Louisiana and make things right or she’ll never speak to her again. Can Dewey leave her high-profile job in Hollywood, even if it means restoring her broken heart? And even though Michael has forged ahead with his life, he can’t deny having Dewey back in town will make his life complete. But can he get past the pain she caused fourteen long years ago. The Cajun Embassy series follows three Columbia journalism coeds homesick for Louisiana who find comfort in a bowl of Cajun gumbo. Each book—Ticket to Paradise, Damn Yankees, and Gone Pecan—follows these dedicated friends as they make their way into the world. Because love—and a good gumbo—cures everything. BOOK DETAILS • Contemporary romance, set in Southern Louisiana • Book Three of Cherie’s The Cajun Embassy series • A full-length novel of approximately 90,000 words (about 365 printed book pages) • R-rated content: Steamy love scenes! Books by Cherie Claire: The Cajun Embassy Ticket to Paradise Damn Yankees Gone Pecan The Cajuns historical saga Emilie Rose Gabrielle Delphine A Cajun Dream The Letter (novella) Carnival Confessions: A Mardi Gras Novella The Viola Valentine Mystery Series A Ghost of a Chance Ghost Town Trace of a Ghost Ghost Trippin’ Give Up the Ghost The Ghost is Clear (novella) Ghost Fever Ghost Lights Non-fiction titles by Cheré Coen: Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets with Jude Bradley Exploring Cajun Country: A Tour of Historic Acadiana Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History

Annie Sullivan was little more than a half-blind orphan with a fiery tongue when she arrived at Ivy Green in 1887. Desperate for work, she'd taken on a seemingly impossible job-teaching a child who was deaf, blind, and as ferocious as any wild animal. But if anyone was a match for Helen Keller, it was the girl who'd been nicknamed Miss Spitfire. In her efforts to reach Helen's mind, Annie lost teeth to the girl's raging blows, but she never lost faith in her ability to triumph. Told in first person, Annie Sullivan's past, her brazen determination, and her connection to the girl who would call her Teacher are vividly depicted in this powerful novel.

From New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox Sometimes Verity Long would like to forget that she lives with the ghost of a 1920s gangster. But the reluctant housemates must once again work together when a dead detective blackmails Frankie into helping him solve a Great Gatsby-era cold case. Before she can say “bathtub gin,” Verity is dragged straight into a raging, otherworldly house party. Worse, every guest is hiding something. Meanwhile, Ellis Wydell, Verity’s living, breathing boyfriend needs Verity’s help with a police case of his own. After a dead body is discovered near the pecan orchard, Verity gives her insights, thinking her job is done. But when mysterious pecan pies start arriving at her house, she wonders who might be thanking her…or stalking her. Between hard-living ghosts and sugar-laden desserts, Verity has her work cut out for her. But will she uncover the secrets behind the pecan pies and dead guys? Or has she stumbled upon a recipe for disaster? What Reviewers are saying… 5 Stars! “I could not put this down.” 5 Stars! “The setting was in a fabulous mansion with glamorous characters, the story was complex, and as usual Verity and Frankie were up to their ears in suspects.” 5 Stars! “I had such a difficult time holding back the tears. It hit me to the core and felt like I was sitting there witnessing it all myself instead of reading about it. I went back and re-read the ending over and over!” 5 Stars! “One of the best series I've ever read.” Rating: Clean and Wholesome Paranormal Cozy Mystery Romance (with a cute pet skunk!)

Her Charmed Pie Shoppe is open for business, but baker Ella Mae LeFaye is about to discover solving a murder is not as easy as pie… Owning the Charmed Pie Shoppe and serving enchanted treats in the magical town of Havenwood, Georgia, seemed like a little slice of heaven for Ella Mae LeFaye. But now her hopes for both a lasting romance with Hugh Dylan and business success are starting to seem like pie in the sky, and Ella’s left wondering: Where has the magic gone? When an enchanted grove is set ablaze, Ella realizes she has more grave problems. With her magic waning, she’s going to have to sleuth from scratch to stop an arsonist who has no respect for sacred ground—or human life…