What's New at Cross Reference Library - Thrillers, a Murder Mystery and New Novels from Colleen Coble

In The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey, Coast Guard Investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are flown to the scene forty miles from shore to investigate an accident that claimed the life of an oil-rig worker. Tensions aboard the rig are high, and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists just off the rig’s starboard side are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the “plague on the environment” from continuing its work. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating on board about an ancient curse lurking in the depths below. Mounting evidence shows the death might not have been an accident. Was the man killed by one of the activists, or more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only numerous suspects, but also their own haunted past. Just as the case seems about to break open, worse news arrives: a tropical storm has turned their way. Now they’re cut off from any rescue, right where the killer wants them.

Casey Cox is still on the run, fleeing prosecution for a murder she didn’t commit. Dylan Roberts - her most relentless pursuer - is still on her trail, but his secret emails insist he knows the truth and wants to help her. He’s let her escape before when he had her in his grasp, but trust doesn’t come easily. As Casey works to collect evidence about the real murderers, she stumbles on another unbearable injustice: an abused child and a suicidal man who’s also been falsely accused. Casey risks her own safety to right this wrong and protect the little girl from her tormenters. But doing so is risky and may result in her capture - and if she’s captured, she has no doubt she’ll be murdered before she ever steps foot in a jail cell. In Terri Blackstock’s If I’m Found - the riveting sequel to the USA Today bestseller If I Run - evil lurks, drawing Casey out of the shadows, but there is light shining in the darkness.

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family’s blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she’s forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living. Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won’t be enough. When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it’s almost too good to be true. And maybe it is - because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family. The more time Kate spends with Drake and the girls, the more difficult it becomes to hide her attraction to him. But a family crisis isn’t exactly the ideal time to pursue a romance. Set on the beautiful coasts of Maine, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble brings together suspense, romance, and the hope that one day new life will come again.

A seemingly random shooting at her aunt’s coffee farm has left Lani Tagama blind. Now she must learn to navigate in a world of darkness. With the help of an ex-cop named Ben and a half-trained guide dog, Lani begins to regain her former independence. Then Lani and Ben discover that her injury wasn’t caused by a random shooting - it was a botched murder attempt. In Midnight Sea by Colleen Coble, they must work together to discover the identity of the would-be murderer before he strikes again.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Encouragement, Leadership, and Character

Unfortunately life is just hard, and at times it’s downright ugly. Far too many of us are not enjoying life because we are living with broken hearts and shattered dreams. But hope is available, and healing is possible. Through the pages of this book you will discover the power you need to live the life you love. We will uncover your hurts and start your personal journey of healing. With the tools and applications inside Enjoy Today Own Tomorrow by Laine Lawson Craft, you will find practical steps which give purpose to your past and hope for your future. Healing is possible. Discover the power to live the life you love so that you can enjoy today and own tomorrow.

All over the world, woman and girls face starvation, displacement, illiteracy, sexual exploitation and abuse. In fact, statistics show that the world’s most oppressed are overwhelmingly female. Moved by their plight, Kay Marshall Strom and Michele Rickett took a trip across continents to partner with ministries working to help women and interview girls in some of the most difficult places in the world. These pages hold those girls’ stories: stories of deep pain and suffering, inspiring courage, and incredible hope. They are stories of those who discovered their value in God’s eyes, in the midst of cultures that have rejected them. They are stories of rescue and redemption by God working through compassionate people - people like you. The authors of Forgotten Girls invite you to pray and speak on behalf of the millions of women and girls who still need to know how much they’re worth. The authors provide specific, practical steps and prayer points that allow you to get involved as God leads.

Jason Romano learned incredible lessons during his seventeen years as a producer at ESPN - and these fundamentals for success on the field or court work just as well in other spheres of leadership, especially when you add God's direction to the playbook. This collection of compelling, inspiring, and often funny stories in The Uniform of Leadership challenges readers to ask themselves the hard questions. It draws them into introspection and then directs them into action so they can cultivate habits of service and excellence in themselves and in those around them. From Tony Dungy to Darryl Strawberry, Will Ferrell to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, readers will discover how to replicate the principles practiced by some of the most influential leaders in sports and entertainment. And in the end, they'll be able to construct thriving cultures where the people they lead can bloom where they're planted and serve one another. For readers who want to lead meaningful lives - rooted in servant leadership, character, and integrity - and be entertained and inspired by personal, behind the scenes stories about athletes, coaches, and stars, this is a perfect guidebook.

In a world of social media snapshots and cable news sound bites, we’re often more concerned with our outer image than we are with our inner makeup. But in the end integrity trumps image. You can look good on the outside without being good on the inside. If you long to commit yourself to what matters most - the content of your character - join bestselling author James Merritt in Character Still Counts as he explores 13 overlooked traits that form the bedrock of a godly life and good society. Along the way, you’ll encounter surprising role models - flawed people who failed spectacularly, overcame adversity and went on to live lives worth imitating. In a world that has abandoned the virtues and values that matter, this book offers a clarion call to return to a simple message: Character still counts. It always has, it always will.

Everyone who wants to date or get married is looking for someone who’s “hot”. In the language of the world “hot” refers to someone who is attractive, but according to Jeramy Clark (author of the bestseller I Gave Dating a Chance) and his wife and co-author Jerusha Clark, a new definition of the word can provide you with an easy to use standard for applying God’s wisdom in one of the most challenging areas of your life. Find out in He’s Hot, She’s Hot why you should look for someone who is truly H.O.T. (holy, outrageous, trustworthy) and see how you can develop the qualities that will both please the Lord and attract the man or woman of your dreams.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Al & JoAnna Lacy's Dreams of Gold series, new movie A Question of Faith and more!

Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans is the unforgettable story of hope and the source of the wisdom MaryAnne Parkin shared with Richard in The Christmas Box. With the help of David Parkin’s diary, Richard discovers the mystery of the timepiece and the significance of MaryAnne’s request.

Narnia - where the woods are thick and cool, where talking beasts are called to life… a new world where the adventure begins. Enter the enchanted world of Narnia for the first time in The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. Digory and Polly meet and become friends one old, wet summer in London. Their lives burst into adventure when Digory’s uncle Andrew, who thinks he is a magician, sends them hurtling to somewhere else. They find their way to Narnia, newborn from the Lion’s song, and encounter the evil sorceress Jadis before they finally return home.

Three families find themselves at a crossroads, questioning their faith and the God that guides their lives in A Question of Faith. As each family member deals with their issues their worlds start to intertwine. This leads to a chain of events, which unknowingly brings the three families closer and closer together. Will the families give in to the loss, pain and uncertainty that has shattered their lives, or will they find the tie that binds them all together through hope, trust, redemption, and goodwill?

Jim Bannon is a young farmer, a fine Christian man in love with Alyssa Rose McGuire, the daughter of a wealthy banker in Cheyenne in 1875. Her father wants her to marry a Christian, of course… but a wealthy Christian. So when the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory are opened for gold prospecting, Jim stakes a claim, hoping to strike it rich enough to win Alyssa’s hand with her father’s approval. Thousands of people converge on the Black Hills, seeking gold for everything from medical bills to oil investments. Jim realizes he’s in a mission field among the prospectors - and even the Sioux Indians. But will he ever find enough gold to marry his beloved Alyssa Rose and satisfy her father? Find out in The Forbidden Hills by Al & JoAnna Lacy.

Gold is flowing out of Canada’s Yukon Territory, and broad-shouldered Matt Holden and his parents join the thousands of people flocking north. To reach the gold fields, they take the Chilkoot Trail and a grueling climb up the icy Golden Stairs over Chilkoot Pass. With threats ranging from drunken violence to deadly avalanche, Matt has his hands full protecting those around him. Along the way, Matt meets Martha Bray and her lovely daughter Livia, who’ve come from San Francisco searching for their missing husband and father. He left for the Yukon months ago, but there’s been no word… and even the Mounties could find no trace of him. Will Martha and Livia ever find him? And who will find their hearts’ desires - or eternal riches - in the frozen land beyond the Golden Stairs? Find out in The Golden Stairs by Al & JoAnna Lacy.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - New Novels from Natalie Walters and Others + More New Kids’ Books

Orphaned by the Civil War, the daughter of a plantation owner and a former slave have worked hard to keep Katie’s plantation going, all the while hiding the fact that they are alone. Now the girls face new threats to their way of life: mounting floodwaters and mounting danger from thieves. When a long-lost relative appears, he disappears as suddenly, taking their closely guarded secret with him. But this man has a secret of his own - one that will change them all forever. In a black and white world, it’s the inside that counts in The Color of Your Skin Ain’t The Color of Your Heart by Michael Phillips.

After a personal tragedy, Piper Boone retreats to her childhood home - a secluded mansion for the wealthy Boone family, who are practically American royalty. When catastrophe strikes, her family is put in the spotlight, and the line between victim and suspect gets blurred. Tucker Landry is drawn to Piper in the midst of the trauma, but the connections being made to her family might prove to be their undoing. With a hurricane beating down on the private island, there isn’t much time to find answers. In Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks, the truth will determine whether she lives or dies.

In the little town of Walton, Georgia in Natalie Walters’ novel Living Lies, everybody knows your name - but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five year old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body. Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason - to do her job and get out. But in Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters, when her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian’s only hope for finding the truth - and the next big story - is small town law enforcement’s lanky poster boy Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called the Watcher force Vivian to fight for answers - and her life.

When a big wind goes whoosh, Skunk is afraid and needs a friend. Braving the storm to check on his best pal, Raccoon comes for a visit and brings a big surprise - supplies to build a kite. Skunk and Raccoon invite the rest of their friends to come fly it with them, because some things are better to do with more than just two. And even though the wind still blows, Skunk discovers there’s no reason to be afraid in A Windy Spring Day by Wendy Dunham.

The First Easter by Carol Heyer, in simple words and a gentle conversational style, tells of the tragic events of the last week of Jesus’ life and the glorious first Easter Day. Young children will find this to be a perfect first book for understanding Easter. Heyer’s illustrations, with their rich and brilliant colors, will appeal to readers of all ages as they enter the Jesus’ world and become a participant in the events of the first Easter.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Lots of New Books for Kids!

Adventures With The King is a series of picture books for children ages 4 to 8 by Sheri Rose Shepherd that will help them understand their identity in God and their relationship with Him. Each book conveys a single Bible principle in a fun way and ends with "A Letter from My King" (God's message to the child) and a "Treasure of Truth" (an applicable Bible verse).

1. In The Lord's Army, Jake tries to force his dog to be part of his "army." When Jake's dad comes home from his military assignment, he teaches Jake that the best leaders lead like Jesus.

2. In A Hero's Prayer, Carter wants to be a superhero so he can help others. After giving his snack to a girl who couldn't afford to buy her favorite treat, Isaac learns that he already is a hero, because true heroes have hearts like God's.

3. In God, Where Are You?, Emmy Joy wonders why she can't see God and decides to invite Him to her birthday party. She learns that she can see God in everything He's created and that He is always with her.

4. In A Princess' Prayer, Elise longs to be a princess with a sparkly crown and beautiful dress and asks God to make her a real princess. She learns that she already is a real princess because she is the daughter of the King of kings.

Every little girl dreams of being a princess. And for the one who trusts in God, the Word heralds a most beautiful truth: She is the chosen daughter of the King of all kings. She is a true princess! The Little Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd is a majestic gift for that special young one in your life - personal letters written from her King. Each day a new letter will inspire her to live and act like the radiant princess she is!

Big and small, short and tall, fluffy and prickly . . . these playmates of all shapes and sizes are the best of friends. Share some giggles with your little one about how fun friendships and differences can be in God Bless My Friends by Hannah C. Hall.

The cuddly bear brothers and sister are back! I Love You Even When by Donna Keith, with a comforting message of unconditional love even when you do something wrong, tells a story with the bear brothers and sister through sweet rhyming text and cozy illustrations from the same author and illustrator as I Love You All the Same.

Join Elizabeth and the Camp Club Girls as they embark on a series of clue-filled adventures and crack the case in this entertaining and action packed 4-in-1 mystery collection written by Renae Brunbaugh Green.

1. What’s really going on at Camp Discovery Lake? When Alexis, Bailey, Elizabeth, Sydney, McKenzie, and Kate end up as roommates at summer camp, they soon suspect there’s more going on than crafts and Bible quizzes. Will the put the puzzling pieces together before time runs out?

2. What’s so important about a missing bag of marbles? Elizabeth and McKenzie are roped into a mystery as big as Texas, when a strange man shows up in town, asking about a special tip left to a waitress thirty years ago. Will their skills be a match for this mixed up mystery?

3. Is foul play to blame for the strange string of unfortunate events that threaten the River City Cruise Boat business? While helping out with ministry activities at the Fiesta Noche Del Rio on the Riverwalk, Kate and Elizabeth investigate! Will the girls reveal the source of the trouble before the River City Cruise Boat business goes bust?

4. Who’s the thief responsible for stealing a valuable Gibson guitar? Elizabeth and Bailey investigate the case in Music City. With only a handful of clues, will the girls be successful in turning up the missing music maker and returning the guitar to its rightful owner?

   Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
   and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - New novels from Colleen Coble, Janice Cantore and more

In The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine in 1989. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year - and until now, Claire didn’t know she had ever been missing. But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface… despite her parents’ best efforts to keep them forgotten. Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year. With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire’s very life depends on unscrambling her past… even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone - maybe everyone - is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years in Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble. But when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point. Mallory believes her father was murdered, and her childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left without a word years ago. When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life and her beloved teenage daughter, their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her fathers’ killer - it is also about finding herself again, and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

A beautiful woman stands by the side of the road, barefoot and bleeding, a child in her arms. Someone just tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t even recognize him if she saw his face. She doesn’t even remember her own name. A suburban cop surveys a kitchen in disarray - a woman and child missing, a chilling note. This crime scene is unlike any he has ever seen. The man who calls himself Gideon waits and plans. He sees himself as a destroyer of evil, one who rids the world of abominations. He has already killed five, and he will kill again. And somewhere in the wilderness, in a secret geocache near where the wild swans gather, lies the unspeakable clue that links them all together. Michigan’s rugged and beautiful Upper Peninsula is the setting for Haven of Swans by Colleen Coble, an absorbing tale about love and loss, beauty and terror, grievous sins and second chances.

For Havyn Powell, growing up on her grandfather’s dairy outside the 1904 gold-rush boomtown of Nome, Alaska, offered all she needed. She had the love of her mother, two sisters, and grandfather. But now Havyn realizes the stability of her life may soon vanish. Havyn is determined to find a way to keep the family together, but her grandfather’s health is declining and everyone seems to be holding secrets from one another, including the handsome, dark-haired stranger who recently arrived. When tragedy strikes, Havyn and her sisters plan to use their beautiful voices and musical talents to perform and earn money at a local roadhouse. They’re an immediate hit, and it looks like the plan will save their family. But will they realize the peril before it’s too late? Will the secrets that have been hidden for so long prove to destroy their happiness? Find out in Forever Hidden by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse.

As goes the man, so goes the family, the church, the nation. Every statistic, from porn to paternity to divorce to detention rates, shouts with astounding clarity: “Men are in trouble!” Men are struggling not to slip into superficial, self-indulgent secularism when so many on every side are running in that direction. The need is urgent and the time is now for real revival in the hearts of men. If you are seeking a path forward - an action to get some traction in a better direction - Act Like Men by James MacDonald is that path. Men want to be challenged and stretched, tested to their limits of who we are. That’s how God designed us. If you know you’re not the man God created you to be, if your relationship with God is far from transforming your life, if you don’t even have a clue what the next steps should look like - it’s time for you to take a step toward living out God’s calling.

In Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore, a possible serial killer may be stalking elderly women in Long Beach, California. Homicide detective Abby Hart’s best lead is Luke Murphy, a irritating private investigator who saw a suspect flee the scene of the latest homicide. But as she works with the handsome PI to unravel the serial killer case, she must also confront the spark between them. When Abby discovers that the most recent victim is related to the governor, she’s anxious to talk to him about a cold case that’s personal to her, one Luke is interested in as well. As she learns more about the restaurant fire that took her parents’ lives years ago, Abby discovers why Luke is so invested in finding the ones responsible. With everyone else telling her to walk away from the case, Abby and Luke search for evidence buried beneath years of deceit… and soon realize that someone will do anything to make sure this case remains cold.

After months of investigating the brutal homicide of a young girl, Detective Abby Hart finally has the evidence she needs. But when the arrest goes terribly wrong, Abby begins to doubt her future as a police officer. As she wrestles with conflicting emotions, old questions about the fire that took her parents’ lives come back to haunt her. “There is proof” - PI Luke Murphy can’t stop thinking about what Abby’s former partner, Asa Foster, mumbled just before he died. When Luke uncovers a clue to the murder of Abby’s parents and his own uncle, he’s reluctant to tell Abby, despite his growing feelings for the beautiful detective. A decade-old abduction case brings Luke and Abby together, but will his secret tear them apart? Find out in Burning Proof by Janice Cantore.

In Crisis Shot by Janice Cantore, Tess O’Rourke dreams of becoming the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way… until the night she responds to a call and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press. Winning over the residents of Rogue’s Hollow might be more difficult than adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small, backwater town. Especially when her closest friend, the pastor’s wife, goes missing and the woman’s cousin is found shot. Tess finds an ally in Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Logan, but as they track down Rogue’s Hollow’s first murderer, she worries that she’s breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him.

Bible prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock is noticing a dangerous trend: the nation of Iran remains in the newspaper headlines for all the wrong reasons. In Showdown with Iran, he reveals why this rogue nation is so dangerous and how that connects to what the Bible says about what’s to come while encouraging readers to remain alert, aware, and hopeful as the end times near. He tackles questions such as: Does Iran still plan to wipe Israel off the map? What does this mean for the future of the Middle East? Where does Iran stand in Bible prophecy? What will be the role of the United States in Bible prophecy? The warning of what will happen is not new. In the book of Ezekiel, the Bible records a multitude of predictions about the region then known as Persia as well as about the nation of Israel. These ancient prophecies foretell an end time rise of Iran, as well as Turkey. But are the prophecies still unfulfilled today?

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Life Advice, Novels from Michael Phillips and more

What is the secret to your relational happiness and meaning? You want a life that is real and meaningful - we all do. Today’s culture offers its own prescription to find that meaning, and the church offers another. Yet in The Deceivers by Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler, Sarah Milford and Ryan Ortiz are caught in the middle. They’ve discovered that what the world promises isn’t that fulfilling, but neither is their experience in the church. That’s about to change. Sarah, Ryan, and others in their youth group are about to embrace a certain truth about God that will forever change their lives. That is until Ratsbane, a hideous demon from hell, marshals his forces to deceive them into believing a lie - a lie that will keep that truth forever hidden.

Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry in Betsy St. Amant’s novel All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes. At twenty six, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana, still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie’s bakery, still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree… and still single. But when Lucas Brannen, Kat’s best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary, and a job at a famous bakery in New York. As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. He wants the best for Kat, but the only thing he wants for himself is suddenly in danger of slipping away.

Have you ever wondered, '“Do I have to get past my weaknesses before God can use me?” The answer is no! In Hidden Potential, Wendy Pope explores the life of a fearful murderer on the run with a speech problem and anger issues - also known as Moses - to show us God’s power and grace. Through Moses’ story, Wendy helps us see how we can be faithful, even when we are afraid, included in God’s plan, even with our faults, useful, even when we’ve failed, and valuable, even when we feel damaged. This book includes discussion, reflection, and Bible study questions along with powerful, real life stories from other women to remind each of us that we are a worthwhile possibility.

Meet Denver, raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana until he escaped the “man” in the 1960’s by hopping a train. Non-trusting, uneducated, and violent, he spent another 18 years on the streets of Dallas and Fort Worth. Meet Ron Hall, a self-made millionaire in the world of high priced art deals -- concerned with fast cars, beautiful women, and fancy clothes. And the woman who changed their lives, Miss Debbie. She helped the homeless and gave of herself to all of God’s people and had a way of knowing how to listen and helping others talk and be found – until cancer strikes. Same Kind of Different as Me is a tale told in two unique voices – Ron Hall & Denver Moore – weaving two completely different life experiences into one common journey where both men learn that whether they are rich, or poor, or something in between, this earth is not our final resting place. Bonus material in this special movie edition include a new epilogue with updates on the authors since the release of the original book, how it got made, and the incredible experiences while filming in Jackson, MS, as well as photos from the movie set.

Hattie McNair chronicles the adventures of the residents of the FairAcres retirement community while her own writing career gains momentum in Over The Hill: Notes from the Pasture by Effie Leland Wilder.

When Loni Ford is informed that she has inherited property in the Shetland Islands, she laughs. She wants nothing more than to sell it and be done with it. But when she arrives in the North Sea enclave, she is stunned to find that The Cottage (by Michael Phillips) is not at all what she expected - nor is David Tulloch, the man most of the islanders believe to be the rightful heir. The locals could hardly be more surprised that the heir is a woman, let alone an American. Loni, in turn, finds the islanders quaint and a bit behind the times. Expecting David to be as provincial as the rest of his clan, she discovers that there is far more to the man that meets the eye. And there is something about the peaceful atmosphere of the place - and the character of its most prominent citizen - that soon gets under her skin. Beneath the peaceful surface, however, change is threatening the island of Whales Reef. David’s cousin Hardy Tulloch, whose claim to the inheritance now in Loni’s hands was backed by oil investors, has not been deterred in his aim to control the island. But his co-conspirators have plans of their own, plans that put Loni’s very life in danger.

Loni Ford’s unexpected inheritance of substantial real estate - not to mention a title - in the Shetland Islands has caused more than a stir in the quiet fishing hamlet of Whales Reef. How can life ever be the same with an outsider - and a woman at that - laying such a pivotal role in the life of this traditional community? But it isn’t just the locals who have deep misgivings about the current situation. Loni herself never imagined this in her wildest dreams and wonders whether she’s cut out for it. Loni would hardly let herself acknowledge that she’s falling in love - with Whales Reef, with its hardy people, and with local chieftain David Tulloch, whose inheritance she has usurped, at least in the eyes of some. Or has she merely been seduced by the simple, peaceful way of life that exists here? Yet life in Whales Reef is rarely without drama. Deep rifts exist between certain lifelong neighbors, and when a dead body is discovered, suspicion is cast in the direction of the Tulloch family. How Loni and David face up to this challenge will profoundly shape their relationship, as well as the future of the island in The Legacy by Michael Phillips.

On a wintry October night, a mysterious letter was left at the base of the angel monument which overlooks the grave of Andrea Parkin, the only child of David and MaryAne Parkin. In The Letter, the unforgettable conclusion to the Christmas Box collection, Richard Paul Evans writes “I discovered the letter in the winter of 1949 pressed between the pages of a diary that belonged to the child’s father, and at first glace, I regarded it as of little consequence. It was only after I had read the diary that I learned of the letter’s great significance and the events it set in motion.” It is within the final pages of this beautiful novel that David and MaryAne Parkin face love’s greatest challenge. And in finding love’s truest meaning, they learn the lessons that are echoed throughout the Christmas Box story.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - New DVDs and Medieval Fiction from Melanie Dickerson

Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her - a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand the emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny in The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf le Wyse, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made ever worse by the proximity of the lord’s bailiff - a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord le Wyse. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and in The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed.

Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother’s jealousy and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie’s one chance at freedom - but can she trust another person to keep her safe? Gabe defied his parents, Rose and Wilhelm, by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl’s inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible, he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven they find help, but they also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now in The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson they must not only protect each other from the dangers around them, they must also protect their hearts.

Small towns have long memories, and the people of Dogwood, West Virginia, will never forgive Will Hatfield for what happened. Still he returns, intent on pursuing the only woman he has ever loved - only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. Karin has buried her shattered dreams by settling for a faithful husband whose emotional distance leaves her isolated. Loaded with guilt she tries to raise three children and survive the best she can. In Dogwood by Chris Fabry, the secrets of Will and Karin’s past begin to emerge through Danny Boyd, a young boy who wishes he hadn’t survived the tragedy that knit those two together - as well as tore them apart. But the trigger that will lay bare their past and force them to face it is the unlikely figure of Ruthie Bowles, a withered, wiry old woman whose prying and persistence forces unexpected consequences.

Tired of getting history from a dusty old book? In a fast, fun style all his own, Dave Stotts explores history in Drive Thru History: New York and New Jersey and Washington’s Warriors. Learn about New York’s Freedom Trail, the place of George Washington’s inauguration and much more! This jam-packed series also includes stories on Saratoga, West Point and the Revolutionary War battles of Trenton and Princeton. As always, Dave includes the Christian influences that have shaped history.

This isn’t your typical tour of ruins and dusty artifacts. It’s history as exciting today as it was 2000 years ago! Ride along with host Dave Stotts in another installment of the award winning Drive Thru History video series, as he takes a fast-paced drive through American history. Drive Thru History: Discovering America’s Founders, based on the work of leading Christian historian David Barton, will take you to Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Virginia to learn about the life and times of the Adams Family: John, Abigail and John Quincy; the Benjamins: Franklin, Rush, and Banneker; and other Revolutionary heroes like George Washington, Haym Salomon and Noah Webster. Come along for the ride to discover how faith and commitment to God and Country contributed to the founding of our nation!

For the first time ever, the greatest story ever told is being presented as a multi-season show. The Chosen: Season One from VidAngel Studios digs deeper into the backstories and context of the people and events of the gospels. This first season of the #1 highest crowd-funded media project of all time introduces you to Biblical figures such as Simon Peter, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, Matthew and Jesus in a way never before seen on film.

Last Ounce of Courage is an intergenerational story about family, free expression, and taking a stand for cherished principles. A family is struck by tragedy when a young man dies in combat overseas, leaving behind a wife and young son. Years later the fallen soldier’s father, Bob Revere, serves as mayor of a small town where powerful Washington interests seek to stamp out religious expression. The soldier’s son, now a young man, inspires his grandfather to take a stand for the ideals and traditional values that our heroes in uniform sacrifice everything to protect. In honor of his son, Revere embarks on a personal mission to reignite the latent patriotism and faith of his fellow citizens and reassert the cherished rights guaranteed to all Americans.

He is Risen is the story of the greatest miracle of all - the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Sorrow and despair at the Lord’s crucifixion become complete joy and love as the disciples behold their resurrected Master three days later. The events of the real story of Easter teach of the atonement and resurrection, providing hope to Christians all around the world.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Encouragement, Inspiration and Captivating Fiction

CIA officer Talie Inger may have reconciled with the man who assassinated her father, but that doesn’t mean she wants him hovering over her every move and unearthing the painful past she’s trying to put behind her. Still, she’ll need him - and the help of his star grifter, Valkyrie - if she hopes to infiltrate the Jungle, the first ever crowdsourced crime syndicate, to rescue a group of kidnapped refugee children. But as Talia and her elite team of thieves con their way into the heart of the Jungle, inching ever close to syndicate boss The White Lion, she’ll run right up against the ragged edge of her family’s dark past. In this game of cat and mouse in Chasing the White Lion by James R. Hannibal, it’s win… or die. And in times like that, it’s always good to have someone watching your back.

Software engineer Beck Easton is a secret member of the National Security Agency. He is also ready to give up his double life when an unexpected assignment - and the captivating Angela Brower - change his plans. Following the trail of an Al-Qaeda operative, Beck uncovers a plot that could kill thousands. Suddenly an already perilous assignment turns into a race against time, complicated by Angela’s presence and Beck’s growing attraction to her. Caught in a web of intrigue and danger, Angela and Beck must join forces to stop a deadly enemy before it’s too late. Tom Morrisey’s taut pageturner Dark Fathom takes you deep into a world of espionage, ocean diving adventure.

Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility and those associated with them are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia, but danger lurks in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers begin to suspect a young boy left in her care might be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement Asylum offer permanent refuge? Also in A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green, militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate his hard-won farm near Asylum, but he soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young French woman who recently arrived from Paris, they are drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.

Thirty years in the making, Audacious is a deep dive into the message that has compelled Beth Moore to serve women around the globe. Glancing over the years of ministry behind her and strengthening her resolve to the call before her, she came to the realization that her vision for women was incomplete. It lacked something they were aching for. Something Jesus was longing for. Beth Moore identifies that missing link by digging through Scripture, unearthing life experiences, and spotlighting a turning point with the capacity to infuse any life with holy passion and purpose. What was missing? Well, lets just say it’s audacious and it’s for all of us. And it’s the path to the life you were born to live.

We all have those days: when small problems become crises, when doubt begins to overwhelm faith, when exhaustion hits and depression colors the world black. Fact is, the daily grind of life is not going away! Since we cannot escape it, we must find a way to live beyond it. And the book of Psalms holds the answers, offering words of surpassing strength and comfort for those difficult and demanding times. In Living the Psalms, Charles R. Swindoll explores such pressing themes as fear of the unknown, discouragement and worry, how to handle difficult people, and what to do when God is silent. Through twenty six engaging weeks in the Word, one of Christianity’s foremost pastors will guide you not just to read the Psalms but to live them - reminding you of a grace that never fails and a God who is constantly at work to transform the daily grind into a daily miracle.

Everyone knows how to be joyful in the peaks of life. When all your fondest hopes and wildest dreams come true, and your heart nearly explodes with happiness, it’s easy to feel joyful. But what about the valleys? When nothing seems to go your way? When everything is falling apart? When God is silent and you feel all alone? Where does joy fit into those moments? In Choose Joy, acclaimed author and Christian leader Kay Warren shares the path to experiencing soul-satisfying joy no matter what you’re going through. Joy is deeper than happiness, lasts longer than excitement, and it is more satisfying than pleasure and thrills. Joy is richer. Fuller. And it’s far more accessible than you’ve thought. Joy comes from God… and it can be yours!

Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda focuses on the lives of fifty two prominent and not so prominent women in Scripture to help you approach the story of salvation with fresh eyes. The updated and expanded edition of this bestselling book features refinements and new material designed to enhance its usefulness for both personal devotions and group study. It offers a unique devotional program, combining five elements: inspiration, background information, Bible study, Bible promises and prayer. Each week quickly becomes a personal or group retreat focused on the life of a particular woman. Vital and deeply human, the women in this book encourage through their failures as well as their successes. You’ll see how God acts in surprising and wonderful ways to draw them - and you - to Himself.

God’s people are hiding in plain sight. Tens of millions of Christians live in China today, leading double lives to hide from a government that relentlessly persecutes them. By day, he was a teacher in a communist school; by night, he was a preacher in an underground house church network. This edge of your seat book tells the true story of Bob Fu’s conversion to Christianity, his arrest and imprisonment for starting an illegal house church, his harrowing escape, and his subsequent rise to prominence in the United States as an advocate for his oppressed brethren. God’s Double Agent will inspire you to boldly proclaim and live out your faith in a world that is at times indifferent, and at other times murderously hostile, to those who spread the gospel.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Frank Peretti, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Anne Graham Lotz, and Gloria Gaither

From acclaimed Christian thriller author Frank Peretti: They operate undercover. Blink and you’ll miss them. They could be anyone, anywhere… even the person walking by you right now. They’re the Veritas Project team - but only a handful of people know who they really are. Elijah and Elisha are teenage twins who, along with their parents, have been secretly commissioned by the President to investigate strange mysteries that delve into the paranormal and supernatural. Their job is to find out not only what happened, but why - the veritas (Latin for truth) behind the seemingly impossible phenomena. In Nightmare Academy, what was once a normal fifteen year old boy has suddenly become nothing. His whole mind seems to have been erased. Now he only stares into space and whispers two ominous words - “Nightmare Academy” - and the only way to solve the case is for Elijah and Elisha to step inside his nightmare. In The Hangman’s Curse, three popular student athletes lie in incoherent comas with loss of muscle coordination, severe paranoia, and hallucinations. It’s whispered that they’re the victims of Abel Frye, a ghost that’s haunted the school since a student hanged himself there in the 1930’s. Now the hangman’s curse is spreading, and students are running scared. The Veritas Project is headed to Washington, looking for answers to the recent appearance of a ghostly figure with a glowing hawk perched on his shoulder. Is this Abel Frye’s ghost, a dark angel… or something else? And who is responsible for the bizarre hangman symbol that suddenly appears scrawled on the victims’ lockers?

Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him. He has been allowed to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions - first, he must make a sincere apology to each person he’s hurt, and second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused. Simple, Luke thinks. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lasting effects his careless actions have caused isn’t so simple - in fact, it’s gut-wrenching - and his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm, and Luke’s clumsy efforts to befriend her only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. Her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge in Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Schoolteacher Mollie Graber has come to Stoney Ridge for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke Schrock, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she’s the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child’s heart and knit them back together. Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights, but what she gets are sleepless nights and police at the door. There’s only one thing that breaks through the girls’ hard shells - an interest in horses. Reluctantly and skeptically, horse trainer Sam Schrock gets drawn into Mollie’s chaotic life. What he didn’t expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches in his own heart… just in time. Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the little Amish community of Stoney Ridge for a touching story of the power of love in Stitches in Time.

What Are Christmas and Easter All About? by John R. Cross explains the most important story in the Holy Bible - it’s a story that tells us the purpose behind Christmas and Easter. However, this book doesn’t stop with the stories of these two festivals. It explains much more - it tells us the Bible’s answers to life, death and life after death, and it helps us understand what the Bible is all about.

What began fifty years ago, when two high school English teachers in a small Indiana farm community began writing songs to express their beliefs and experiences, has become a collection of standards that declare the faith and assurance of millions. As the Gaither’s voices have traveled across the world, their songs have traveled into people’s hearts and homes. In this once in a lifetime treasury Something Beautiful, Gloria Gaither shares the very personal stories and events that inspired over a hundred of their most beloved songs. The sources of inspiration are frequently surprising: from a single blade of grass, a tornado ravaged farm, a toddler's bad day, an extra long session on a lawn mower, and a K-Mart wedding ring have come songs of profound spiritual insight. In each Gaither song is a kernel of truth that gives comfort for the broken, encouragement for the weary, vision for the creative, or direction for the adventuresome. In short, Gaither songs give sustenance for the journey of life.

It’s finally here: a comprehensive source of practical, trustworthy, biblically based answers to the tough questions commonly asked by recently married couples - all in one accessible volume. Written by Focus on the Family counselors who bring timely help to thousands of couples every year, The Complete Guide to the First Five Years of Marriage is designed to help spouses build a strong foundation for a lifetime partnership that’s filled with genuine love and joy. It can be read from beginning to end or as needed for specific, practical answers. Discover how to keep your marriage burning bright with love, romance and lasting commitment.

When we call ourselves Christians, we expect that our love for Jesus, our hunger for His presence, our urgent longing to see Him again will be a constant, motivating force in our lives. Yet sometimes the longing becomes complacency, and we sleep through opportunities to be with Him. Anne Graham Lotz knows from personal experience that it’s then, as we’re drifting in comfortable complacency, that we most need a wake up call - a jolt that pushes us to seek out a revival of our passion for Jesus that began as blazing fire but has died down to an ineffective glow. The revival we need now is not a tent meeting or a series of church services designed to save the lost… it’s something completely different - authentic, personal revival. In I Saw the Lord, Anne shares the revival lessons she has carried to audiences throughout the world, showing you how you can experience an authentic, deeper, richer relationship with God in a life-changing, fire-blazing revival.

Have three minutes to spare? You’ll find the spiritual pick-me-up you desire in 3-Minute Devotions for Women. Written especially for the woman’s heart, this delightful daily devotional packs a powerful dose of comfort, encouragement, and inspiration into just-right-sized readings for women on the go. The first minute gives you Scripture to meditate on, the second minute provides a short devotional reading, and the third minute has a prayer to jump-start your conversation with God.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.