Saturday, March 31, 2012

New Book Release: The Handy Religion Answer Book

The Handy Religion Answer Book by John Renard

Providing detailed descriptions of the beliefs, rituals, history, and organization of the world’s eight major religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto, this fully revised and updated edition is an easy-to-use comparative guide for anyone seeking basic religious literacy. Clearly and eloquently written by a scholar with more than 40 years of study and teaching experience, The Handy Religion Answer Book is organized into chapters on each major religion and contains a wealth of information about their history, beliefs, symbols, membership, leaders, observances, and customs. The reference answers more than 800 questions, such as What is the significance of the Star of David? How did so many different Christian churches come into being? What is the importance of the month of Ramadan? What is an Ayatollah? and Do Taoists believe in heaven and hell?, as well as new questions concerning religion and violence and suborganizations that claim affiliation with the major faith communities. A glossary of religious terminology, maps of the general coverage areas for each religion, and suggestions for further reading are also included.

New Book Release: Loving Eden

Loving Eden by Lee Brazil

Eden St. Cyr wants to let the boy who's crushing on him down easy. Drew Harris wants to protect his son from what he considers a disastrous relationship. Neither of them counted on being attracted to the other.

Eden St. Cyr has wandering feet. He shuffles around the country from place to place and college to college, changing majors and lovers at whim. When Bailey Harris starts following him home, mooning around, and showing signs of affection, Eden hatches a plan to let the kid down lightly before he leaves for the next semester, the next college, and the next lover.

Drew Harris is stunned at the changes in his son. His responsible, dependable, cheerful boy has become a moody, despondent, irresponsible teenager. Drew knows exactly who to blame too. When Eden doesn't return his phone calls, he's forced to be a little more devious in his plans to get the bad influence out of his son's life.

An unexpected attraction derails both men from their plans, but when Bailey walks in at the least appropriate time, can things be put right?

New Book Release: Growing Wings Self-Discovery Workbook

Growing Wings Self-Discovery Workbook-Vol.2: 18 Workshops to a Better Life: Exploring the Multi-Faceted Self by Susan Kalior

Growing Wings Self Discovery Workbook: Exploring the Multi-Faceted Self is designed for the individual, group, or class to step behind self-image and behold the many psychological facets and dimensions that make up his or her human being. These workshops are for the true explorers of human nature, for those who seek to understand the underpinnings of who they are deep within, beyond social programming.

Only when we peer into ourselves and see what is going on in there can we begin to notice and appreciate the complex kaleidoscopic design that shapes our personality. In this, it becomes apparent that what we refer to as "I" is not by any means simplistic. Everyone is complicated and so unique that no outer world advice, way, philosophy, or religion can be one hundred percent right for anyone. And yet, the ambiguity of our own complexity often drives us outward to adopt other people's ideas, idioms, philosophies, or religions that at least, in part, resonate with who we think we are.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

New Book Release: Devil's Tavern 1: Invitation

Devil's Tavern 1: Invitation by Crymsyn Hart

Even the fallen have wings.

Emera runs The Denizen, a place where the wicked come to be spanked and whipped. All she longs for is someone to love. When she starts receiving gifts and strange invitations, she begins to wonder who has an interest in her.

Keenan has searched for Emera for centuries. Even though he wants to barge into the Den and rescue her, he has to be sure that she is still the pure angel he remembers. If not, he will have to do the impossible.

In order to free Emera from the service of her demon lord, Keenan has to slay her Master. Sebastian is on to both of them and will stop at nothing to keep Emera with him.

New Book Release: Afterburn

Afterburn by Sonia Hightower

Their love burns hot, but will it stay fueled?

Crystal is an enlisted mechanic with a tragic past. Grant is an officer and a pilot with a broken heart. When faced with a difficult decision, will Crystal choose wisely or lose the best thing that ever happened to her?

The love between them burns hot, but their relationship won't stay fueled if they can't beat the obstacles that stand in their way. Besides breaking the fraternization rules, Grant and Crystal have the difference of race between them…but can they prove to the rest of the world, and to each other, that love is color blind?

Afterburn is about overcoming one's past, not judging others, learning to forgive, and what it's like to be a woman in a "man's world."

New Book Release: We're Missing the Point

We're Missing the Point: What's Wrong with the Orthodox Jewish Community and How to Fix It by Rabbi Gidon Rothstein

We're Missing the Point: What's Wrong with the Orthodox Jewish Community and How to Fix It argues that many communities of Orthodox Jews today have lost sight of basic, indispensable aspects of what it means to be a Jew. Building from sources that should be unequivocal and unarguable, Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein shows how a Judaism more focused on the core essentials would express itself differently from what we see today, in directing us more insistently toward a certain type of a God-centered focus, while also laying out many areas of autonomy and personal choice we similarly neglect. Working his way from sources to practical suggestions, Gidon Rothstein lays out a vision for how Jews can get back at least to making progress on the main road God wanted, instead of stumbling down side alleys.