Download or read book The Sins of Brother Curtis written by Lisa Davis and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-03-15 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This brilliantly reported, unforgettable true story reveals how one of the most monstrous sexual criminals in the history of the Mormon church preyed on his victims even as he was protected by the church elders who knew of his behavior. When Seattle attorney Tim Kosnoff agreed to listen to an eighteen-year-old man who claimed to have been molested by his Mormon Sunday school teacher, he had no idea he was embarking on a quest for justice on behalf of multiple victims or that the battle would consume years of his life and pit him against the vast, powerful, and unrepentant Mormon church itself. As Kosnoff began to investigate the case, he discovered that the Sunday school teacher, a mysterious figure named Frank Curtis, possessed a long and violent prison record before he was welcomed into the church, where he became a respected elder entrusted with the care of prepubescent Mormon boys. Through Lisa Davis’s deft storytelling, two astonishing narratives unfold. The first shows how Brother Curtis ingratiated himself into the lives of young boys from working-class Mormon families where money was tight, and was accepted by mothers and fathers who saw in him a kindly uncle or grandfather figure who enjoyed the blessing of the church. Having gained the families’ trust, Curtis became fiendishly helpful, offering to supervise trips or overnights out of the sight of parents, when he could manipulate his victims or ply them with alcohol. The other narrative is a real-life legal thriller. As Davis shows, Kosnoff and his partners tirelessly assembled the case against the church, sifting through records, tracking down victims, and convincing them to testify about Brother Curtis’s acts. What began as a case of one plaintiff turned into a complex web stretching across multiple states. Joined by what would become a team of attorneys and investigators, Kosnoff found himself up against one of the most insular institutions in the United States: the secretive and powerful Mormon church. The amazing legal case at the heart of The Sins of Brother Curtis shows how the church’s elite, well-funded team of attorneys claimed the church was protected under the Constitution from revealing that Curtis had molested a number of Mormon boys. Yet Kosnoff and his devoted legal team (which included a female investigator adept at getting parents of victims to talk to her) succeeded in forcing the church to reveal that it knew about Curtis and ultimately achieved a successful settlement. Emotionally powerful page by page, The Sins of Brother Curtis delivers a redemptive reading experience in which the truth, no matter how painful and hidden, is told at last and justice is hard won. This is a remarkable story, all true.

Download or read book Grace in Thine Eyes written by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2009-05-20 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Glen of Loch Trool. Spring 1808. Davina McKie is a bonny lass of seventeen, as clever as they come and a gifted musician. Unable to speak since childhood, she is doted on by her belligerent younger brothers, Will and Sandy, who vow to protect their silent sister. When the lads are forced to depart the glen, Jamie McKie intends to brighten his daughter’s summer by escorting Davina to the Isle of Arran. Her cousins make her welcome at the manse, and the parish delights in hearing their talented fiddler. But when she catches the eye of a handsome young Highlander on Midsummer Eve, sheltered Davina is unprepared for the shocking events that follow. A timeless story of passion and revenge, of lost innocence and shattered dreams, Grace in Thine Eyes explores the sorrow of unspeakable shame and the gift of immeasurable grace. A Reader’s Guide and Scottish Glossary Are Included

Download or read book Embrace Grace written by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2009-07-08 with total page 165 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn to let go of your guilt, fear, and regret by turning to God in this book by the bestselling author of Bad Girls of the Bible. The forgiven life. The grace-filled life. It begins with an embrace. Wherever you are spiritually, whatever you have been through emotionally, you are already enfolded in the arms of One who believes in you, supports you, treasures you. He is waiting for you to embrace him in return. To accept the gift he's offering you. To listen for the whispered words you've longed a lifetime to hear: You are loved. All is forgiven.

Download or read book To the Fullest written by Lorraine Bracco and published by Rodale Books. This book was released on 2015-04-07 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lorraine Bracco is one of the world's most dynamic actresses, but when she reached her fifties, she felt she was losing her luster. During the long illnesses of her parents, she began to gain weight and felt her energy and self-confidence take a dive. Watching her parents die within 9 days of each other was her wake-up call to take charge of her life. She made a commitment to herself to stay healthy. In To the Fullest, Bracco presents her Clean Up Your Act Program, a comprehensive plan to help women over 40 look and feel younger. The program includes an intensive liver cleanse to reboot the body to start fresh on the path to optimal health by eliminating gluten, sugar, eggs, and dairy. Two weeks of meal plans and a varied list of meals and snacks illustrate that hunger is not part of the program and that eating clean has endless flavorful options. Her Clean Up Your Act Diet, which follows the cleanse, will help you lose pounds and deliver supercharged energy. Bracco adds her own mouthwatering recipes to ease the transition to clean eating and suggests an abundance of satisfying breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. She gradually lost 35 pounds and has kept it off. The book also includes testimonials gathered from women who have participated in Rodale's 6-week test panel. With winning honesty, Bracco provides the perfect combination of humor, comfort, and motivational support that women need to rise to life's challenges. From attitude adjustments to style tips, from finding new passions to making movement a habit, her advice and personal insights both inspire and entertain.

Download or read book Thorn in My Heart written by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2003-03-18 with total page 498 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two brothers fight to claim one father’s blessing. Two sisters long to claim one man’s heart. In the autumn of 1788, amid the moors and glens of the Scottish Lowlands, two brothers and two sisters each embark on a painful journey of discovery. Jamie and Evan McKie both want their father Alec’s flocks and lands, yet only one brother will inherit Glentrool. Leana and Rose McBride both yearn to catch the eye of the same handsome lad, yet only one sister will be his bride. A thorny love triangle emerges, plagued by lies and deception, jealousy and desire, hidden secrets and broken promises. Brimming with passion and drama, Thorn in My Heart brings the past to vibrant life, revealing spiritual truths that transcend time and penetrate the deepest places of the heart.

Download or read book Latter Gay Saints written by Gerald S. Argetsinger and published by Lethe Press. This book was released on 2013 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Latter-Gay Saints brings together twenty-five exemplary short works depicting a variety of perspectives of what it means to be both Mormon and queer. Some portray characters determined to reconcile their sexuality with the Mormon faith in accordance with its constantly evolving teachings and policies. The majority present the realities of queer Mormons who have come to terms with their sexuality in a variety of alternative ways. Others are written from outside the Mormon community, commenting on often strange encounters with Mormons who are gay. These stories are also of value for the broader GLBT community revealing similarities that people of faith, regardless of which faith, face in attempting to negotiate their religious heritage with their homosexuality. Some in the GLBT community find a way, while others do not, leaving their faith or having it ripped from them. They are all individuals searching for answers to life's puzzles.

Download or read book Between Heaven and the Real World written by Steven Curtis Chapman and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2017-03-07 with total page 474 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For decades, Steven Curtis Chapman's music and message have brought hope and inspiration to millions around the world. Now, for the first time, Steven openly shares the experiences that have shaped him, his faith, and his music in a life that has included incredible highs and faith-shaking lows. Readers will be captivated by this exclusive look into Steven's childhood and challenging family dynamic growing up, how that led to music and early days on the road, his wild ride to the top of the charts, his relationship with wife Mary Beth, and the growth of their family through births and adoptions. In addition to inside stories from his days of youth to his notable career, including the background to some of his best-loved songs, readers will walk with Steven down the devastating road of loss after the tragic death of five-year-old daughter Maria. And they'll experience his return to the stage after doubting he could ever sing again. Poignant, gut-wrenchingly honest, yet always hopeful, Steven offers no sugary solutions to life's toughest questions. Yet out of the brokenness, he continues to trust God to one day fix what is unfixable in this life. This backstage look at the down-to-earth superstar they've come to love will touch fans' lives and fill their hearts with hope. Includes black-and-white photos throughout.

Download or read book Why I Disagree with All Five Points of Calvinism written by Dr Curtis Hutson and published by Sword of the Lord Publishers. This book was released on 2000-08 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Ohio written by Stephen Markley and published by Simon & Schuster. This book was released on 2019-06-04 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Extraordinary...beautifully precise...[an] earnestly ambitious debut.” —The New York Times Book Review “A wild, angry, and devastating masterpiece of a book.” —NPR “[A] descendent of the Dickensian ‘social novel’ by way of Jonathan Franzen: epic fiction that lays bare contemporary culture clashes, showing us who we are and how we got here.” —O, The Oprah Magazine “A book that has stayed with me ever since I put it down.” —Seth Meyers, host of Late Night with Seth Meyers One sweltering night in 2013, four former high school classmates converge on their hometown in northeastern Ohio. There’s Bill Ashcraft, a passionate, drug-abusing young activist whose flailing ambitions have taken him from Cambodia to Zuccotti Park to post-BP New Orleans, and now back home with a mysterious package strapped to the undercarriage of his truck; Stacey Moore, a doctoral candidate reluctantly confronting her family and the mother of her best friend and first love, whose disappearance spurs the mystery at the heart of the novel; Dan Eaton, a shy veteran of three tours in Iraq, home for a dinner date with the high school sweetheart he’s tried desperately to forget; and the beautiful, fragile Tina Ross, whose rendezvous with the washed-up captain of the football team triggers the novel’s shocking climax. Set over the course of a single evening, Ohio toggles between the perspectives of these unforgettable characters as they unearth dark secrets, revisit old regrets and uncover—and compound—bitter betrayals. Before the evening is through, these narratives converge masterfully to reveal a mystery so dark and shocking it will take your breath away.

Download or read book The Graybar Hotel written by Curtis Dawkins and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-07-04 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In Curtis Dawkins's first short story collection, he offers a window into prison life through the eyes of his narrators and their cellmates. Dawkins reveals the idiosyncrasies, tedium, and desperation of long-term incarceration--he describes men who struggle to keep their souls alive despite the challenges they face. In 'A Human Number, ' a man spends his days collect-calling strangers just to hear the sounds of the outside world. In '573543,' an inmate recalls his descent into addiction as his prison softball team gears up for an annual tournament against another unit. In 'Leche Quemada, ' an inmate is released and finds freedom more complex and baffling then he expected. Dawkins's stories are funny and sad, filled with unforgettable detail--the barter system based on calligraphy-ink tattoos, handmade cards, and cigarettes; a single dandelion smuggled in from the rec yard; candy made from powdered milk, water, sugar, and hot sauce. His characters are nuanced and sympathetic, despite their obvious flaws. The Graybar Hotel tells moving, human stories about men enduring impossible circumstances."--

Download or read book Belly written by Lisa Selin Davis and published by Little, Brown. This book was released on 2010-02-27 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: - BELLY marks the arrival of a talented young writer whose assured debut has the perfect blend of humor and poignancy.- Lisa Selin Davis gives us an engaging story of fatherhood, daughters and family ties that will undoubtedly have wide appeal.

Download or read book Whence Came a Prince written by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2009-01-21 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Prodigal Hero…A Perilous Journey Home The Scottish Lowlands, Summer 1790 Jamie McKie is determined to return to his ancestral home in Glen Trool and claim his inheritance—a harrowing journey that will test the depth of his courage and the strength of his sword. Haunted by a shameful past and wrestling with an uncertain future, Jamie must outwit his devious Uncle Lachlan and confront the two men he most fears: Evan, the brother whose inheritance he stole, and Alec, the father whom he blatantly deceived. Jamie faces a perilous journey of the heart as well: Two sisters each stake a tender claim on his affections. Quiet, gentle Leana is the mother of his firstborn. Her spirited younger sister, Rose, is expecting his second child. Honor and duty prevail but not without heartache, as Jamie prepares to fight for all he holds dear.

Download or read book Mine Is the Night written by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2011-03-15 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York Times bestseller SHE LOST EVERYTHING SHE LOVED. HE HAD EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED. BUT COULD SHE FIND THE COURAGE TO TRUST HIM? Stepping from a battered coach on a rainy April eve, newly widowed Elisabeth Kerr must begin again, without husband or title, property or fortune. She is unafraid of work and gifted with a needle, but how will she stitch together the tattered remnants of her life? And who will mend her heart, torn asunder by betrayal and deception? Elisabeth has not come to Selkirk alone. Her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, is a woman undone, having buried her husband, her sons, and any promise of grandchildren. Dependent upon a distant cousin with meager resources, Marjory dreads the future almost as much as she regrets the past. Yet joy still comes knocking, and hope is often found in unexpected places. Then a worthy hero steps forward, rekindling a spark of hope. Will he risk his reputation to defend two women labeled as traitors to the Crown? Or will a wealthy beauty, untainted by scandal, capture his affections? The heartrending journey of the Kerr women comes to a glorious finish in Mine Is the Night, a sparkling gem of redemption and restoration set in eighteenth-century Scotland.

Download or read book Shunned written by Linda A. Curtis and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-04-17 with total page 335 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Jehovah’s Witness’ Painful but Liberating Realization that She Must Give Up Her Faith “An inherently compelling and candidly revealing memoir . . . an extraordinary, riveting and unreservedly recommended read from first page to last.” —Midwest Book Review Linda Curtis was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and is an unquestioning true believer who has knocked on doors from the time she was nine years old. Like other Witnesses, she has been discouraged from pursuing a career, higher education, or even voting, and her friendships are limited to the Witness community. Then one day, at age thirty-three, she knocks on a door—and a coworker she deeply respects answers the door. To their mutual consternation she launches into her usual spiel, but this time, for the first time ever, the message sounds hollow. In the months that follow, Curtis tries hard to overcome the doubts that spring from that doorstep encounter, knowing they could upend her “safe” existence. But ultimately, unable to reconcile her incredulity, she leaves her religion and divorces her Witness husband—a choice for which she is shunned by the entire community, including all members of her immediate family. Shunned follows Linda as she steps into a world she was taught to fear and discovers what is possible when we stay true to our hearts, even when it means disappointing those we love. “. . . a moving portrait of one woman's life as a Jehovah's Witness and her painful but liberating realization that she must give up her faith.” ―Publishers Weekly “Curtis’s story reads as true to life . . . it will resonate across faith lines.” —Foreword Reviews “A profound, at times fascinating, personal transformation told with meticulous detail.” —Kirkus Reviews “...a riveting story, a page-turner, a magnificent contribution, and a book you will never forget.” —Lynne Twist, global activist and author of The Soul of Money “A wonderful book that is about so much more than the Jehovah’s Witnesses.” —Adair Lara, longtime columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle “...brilliant, respectful, insightful and most of all hopeful.” ―Openly Bookish Readers of Educated and Leaving the Witness will resonate with Linda Curtis’ moving and courageous account of personal transformation. Order your copy today and begin reading this disturbing, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring memoir.

Download or read book Research Anthology on Child and Domestic Abuse and Its Prevention written by Management Association, Information Resources and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2022-03-11 with total page 964 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every day, both adults and children are victimized in unhealthy relationships. Domestic and child abuse have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as potential escapes from abuse at home were stripped away. Abuse is a raging global issue; however, with enough research, policy, and social activism, society can aid in the prevention of child and domestic abuse. The Research Anthology on Child and Domestic Abuse and Its Prevention discusses the prevalence of domestic abuse as well as the exploitation of children both at home and beyond. It further presents emerging practices in technology, social work, and criminology to prevent the further exploitation and victimization of adults and children in abusive situations. Covering topics such as foster children, gender-based violence, and trauma analysis, this major reference work is an indispensable resource for social workers, lawmakers, government organizations, non-profit organizations, psychologists, therapists, sociologists, libraries, students and educators of higher education, criminologists, leaders in law enforcement, researchers, and academicians.

Download or read book Bad Girls of the Bible written by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2013-07-16 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ten of the Bible’s best-known femmes fatales parade across the pages of this popular and unforgettable study with situations that sound oh-so-familiar. Women everywhere marvel at those “good girls” in Scripture–Sarah, Mary, Esther–but on most days, that’s not who they see when they look in the mirror. Most women (if they’re honest) see the selfishness of Sapphira or the deception of Delilah. They catch of glimpse of Jezebel’s take-charge pride or Eve’s disastrous disobedience. Like Bathsheba, Herodias, and the rest, today’s modern woman is surrounded by temptations, exhausted by the demands of daily living, and burdened by her own desires. So what’s a good girl to do? Learn from their lives, says beloved Bible study teacher and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs, and choose a better path. Whether they were “Bad to the Bone,” “Bad for a Season, but Not Forever” or only “Bad for a Moment,” these infamous sisters show women how not to handle the challenges of life. With her trademark humor and encouragement, Higgs combines a contemporary retelling of the stories of these “other women” in Scripture with a solid, verse-by-verse study to teach us how to avoid their tragic mistakes and joyfully embrace grace. Let these Bad Girls show you why studying the Bible has never been more fun! Includes Discussion Questions and Study Guide

Download or read book Fair Is the Rose written by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2004-03-16 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Scottish Lowlands, October 1789. A year has come and gone since Jamie McKie fled for his life, arriving at Auchengray in search of sanctuary and a bonny wife. Young Rose McBride, as fair a lass as any in Scotland, dearly loves her handsome cousin—but so does her older sister, Leana. Determined to have Jamie all to herself, Rose puts in motion one desperate plan after another, enlisting the aid of Lillias Brown, a wise woman—a wutch, some say—still keen on the old ways. Impetuous Rose ignores the cruel whispers that travel up and down the parish hills, never dreaming of the tragic consequences that await her. Her sister, Leana, clings to her hard-won sense of peace and assurance by a slender thread of faith. Day and night, Leana’s hours are apent caring for wee Ian and praying that her future will hold more promise than her past. Jamie McKie is busy making his own plans to return home to Glentrool and claim his inheritance. To do so means facing Evan, the brother whose blessing he stole, and Alec, the father whom he ruthlessly deceived. It is a perilous journey that will test the depth of his courage, the strength of his sword, and the tenacity of his vow to honor Almighty God, no matter the cost.