New Releases by Lurlene McDaniel

Melissa Austin has always worked hard to make things go her way, and now she''s determined to have the best junior year ever. Everything appears to look promising as usual...until she receives the devastating news that she has cancer. Despite denying the doctor''s diagnosis at first, Melissa quickly realizes that her illness is growing worse and so she agrees to start treatment. At the hospital, she finds unexpected friendship and love through Ric, another cancer patient who turns out to be the only other person who can truly understand what she''s going through. Together, Melissa and Ric learn how to find the inner strength to face the mysteries of living and dying every day. This is an inspirational story by the bestselling author Lurlene McDaniel that is perfect for fans of The Fault in Our Stars.

"Readers will swoon over this story of love despite impossible odds."--Romantic Times From the author of Don''t Die, My Love comes this young adult novel that intertwines a family saga with a grand love story. This novel stands alone or can be read as the companion to The Year of Luminous Love and Wishes and Dreams. For fans of Sarah Dessen''s The Moon and More and Ann Brashares''s Forever in Blue. Ciana Beauchamp hasn''t seen or heard from Jon Mercer in months. Until now. He''s back in Windemere to see her. Deep down Ciana is filled with joy and relief. She has never stopped loving him. It''s proof of Jon''s love that he has returned, but what will their future be? When tragedy strikes, almost no one in town is left unscathed. Tragedy has a way of bringing people together, but it can also tear them apart. Ciana can hardly face her choices, but she knows she must, and there are now people who she can turn to if only she is willing.

For fans of John Green''s The Fault in Our Stars, this inspirational novel is set in Tennessee horse country, as well as the historic cities and picturesque countryside of Italy. As the story unfolds, three girls, recently graduated from high school, plan the next phase of their lives while dealing with complicated issues. Author Lurlene McDaniel subtly explores the many types of love--including love for one''s family and friends, and intimate love--and the sacrifices the girls face.

This heartfelt digital original short story by Lurlene McDaniel features many of the same characters connected to her poignant contemporary novels The Year of Luminous Love and The Year of Chasing Dreams. When Ciana Beauchamp awakens from a dream about Jon Mercer, her initial happy thoughts are muddied by the reality that they haven''t talked in months. Indeed, Ciana has no idea where Jon is. Her emotions are confused as she both longs for him and is infuriated with him. Jon has put distance between them. He’s off riding broncos on the rodeo circuit. But the miles don''t stop thoughts of Ciana from swirling in his head. He knows he must come to a decision about what to do with his life if he is to reconnect with her. Lurlene McDaniel offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of two people who are deeply in love but must overcome their pride to come together again.

You don''t know me, but I know about you.... I can''t make you live longer, I can stop you form hurting. But I can give you one wish, as someone did for me. Three letters. Three last wishes. In Mother, Help Me Live, Sarah discovers that her birth mother, whom she''s never known, is the one person who may have the bone marrow she needs to survive. When Sarah journeys to find her mother, she learns the real meaning of family. Let Him Live tells the story of Megan''s friendship with Donovan, who is hoping to receive a liver transplant. Megan helps make Donovan''s wish for his mother and little brother come true, along the way, Megan comes to understand true giving. In Sixteen and Dying, when Anne finds out that a blood transfusion she had seven years ago has made her future uncertain, being given one wish helps her face her pain. She chooses to spend the summer with her father on a ranch out west—and there she meets someone who will change her life.

Three of Lurlene McDaniel''s bestselling novels in one volume. Readers will relate to the compassion and strength of the characters as they piece their lives back together after tragedy strikes. Letting Go of Lisa Nathan Malone has been home schooled his whole life. He hasn''t spent much time with kids his own age, let alone dated. Now that his mother is busy with his new twin sisters, he must enroll at the local high school for his senior year. On the first day of school a girl catches his eye. Lisa is a loner and doesn''t care what anybody thinks of her. Nathan is intrigued. When he and Lisa finally start spending time together, he is the happiest he''s ever been. But Lisa has a tragic secret and when she decides to deal with it herself, Nathan has to make a choice. Can he ever let go of Lisa? Saving Jessica Jessica McMillan and Jeremy Travino are a perfect couple. When they met in high school, Jessica''s upbeat spirit helped Jeremy to see that there must be a reason he was spared in the car accident that killed his brother. But now Jessica has been diagnosed with kidney failure. Her only hope is a kidney transplant but no one in her family is a match. Jeremy can''t watch another person he loves die. He believes that his life was spared so he could save Jessica by donating a kidney. But his parents are terrified of losing their only child. Will Jeremy go against his parents'' wishes to do what he must to save Jessica? Telling Christina Goodbye Trisha Thompson and her best friend, Christina, are having a great senior year. Trisha and her boyfriend are making plans to attend Indiana University, and Christina received a scholarship to the University of Vermont. Everything would be perfect if only Trisha got along with Christina''s controlling boyfriend, Tucker, who is trying to convince Christina not to go away for college. Their lives are forever changed when one night Tucker drives them all home from a basketball game. He hits black ice and the car overturns. Tucker walks away with barely a scratch, but Trisha is injured, Cody is in a coma, and Christina is dead. Those that are left must learn to heal, in order for their lives to move on.

Together again. It''s been a year since Katie O''Roark, Chelsea James, and Lacey Duval shared a special summer at Jenny House. The girls have each spent the year struggling to fit into the world of the healthy. Now they''re back, this time as "big sisters" to a new group of girls who also face life-threatening illnesses. But even as the friends strive to help their "little sisters" face the future together, they must separately confront their own expectations. Katie must decide between an old flame and an exciting scholarship far from home. Chelsea must overcome her fear of romance. And Lacey must convince the boy that she loves that the feelings for him can be trusted. When tragedy strikes Jenny House, each of the girls knows that things can never be the same again. Will Lacey, Chelsea, and Katie find a way to carry on the legacy of the Jenny House? Can their special friendship endure when they go their separate ways?

Out of control - that''s how Lacey Duval feels in almost every aspect of her life. There''s nothing she can do about her parents divorce, there''s nothing she can do about the death of her young friend, there''s nothing she can do about having diabetes - that''s what Lacey believes. After a special summer at Jenny House, Lacey is determined to put her problems behind her. When she returns to high school, she is driven to become a part of the in crowd and win the attention of gorgeous Todd Larson. But Lacey thinks fitting in means losing weight and hiding her diabetes. She starts skipping means and experimenting with her medication - sometimes ignoring it all together. Her friends from the summer caution her to face her problems before catastrophe strikes. Is it too late to stop the destructive process Lacey has set in motion?

Julie Ellis and Luke Muldenhower have always been the perfect high school sweethearts. Luke is a talented football player set to receive an athletic scholarship to a top college, and Julie is prepared to follow wherever he goes. When Luke is unexpectedly diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, however, their relationship will be tested beyond anything they''ve ever experienced before. In this national bestseller, Lurlene McDaniel expertly weaves a heart-wrenching story of enduring love that is perfect for fans of The Fault in Our Stars.

The doctors assure Erin Bennett and her parents that they can''t find a physical cause for her headaches. But the throbbing, violent pain is so intense that Erin knows she needs help. Even landing the lead in the senior musical opposite David Devlin, the good-looking, popular guy everyone else is wild about, doesn''t give Erin much pleasure. In fact, she finds David so annoying that her headaches are getting worse. Erin knows that the headaches started just after the death of her younger sister, Amy, one year ago. She though her grieving was over, but somehow the headaches must be connected to Amy. The therapist Erin starts seeing begins to help her deal with her pain, but what is it about David that triggers Erin''s violent reaction?

Sometimes Carrie Blake feels she just can''t stand life''s problems or pain. At fifteen, she''s had leukemia for three years, and although the disease is in remission, she''s never sure when things might change. Her parents, whose bitter divoce has left Carrie feeling torn between them, don''t seem to understand how much harder they make her daily life. When Carrie meets Keith Gardner at a cancer support group, everything seems brighter. Keith and his loving supportive family are wonderful to Carrie. Then Keith''s illness worsens and he knows he can no longer fight off dying. Armed with love of family and friends, Keith chooses to participate in a hospice program, which allows him to remain at home instead of in the hospital. Carrie feels helpless as she watches Keith slip away. Will Keith''s courage help Carrie to face her own uncertain future?

Leah has never been more in need of support, so Ethan chooses to leave his Amish life on the farm to move in with Leah and her family. However, once he arrives, they both realize that Ethan''s Amish values are quite different from those of Leah''s complex "American" world. Worlds collide in this heart-rending conclusion to the bestselling Angels Trilogy as Leah and Ethan must finally determine whether love will be enough to overcome their differences.

A story of finding hope in the unlikeliest of places, perfect for fans of Five Feet Apart—both the book and movie—looking for their next read! Sixteen-year-old Kara Fischer has cystic fibrosis and only months to live. But the close-knit bond she develops with Vince, who also has the disease, helps her come to terms with her own illness. Given one last wish, Kara wonders if miracles could really happen.

Jory Delaney has always had lots of money. But there''s one thing she knows she cannot buy--and that''s her best friend Melissa''s life. Although Melissa''s leukemia is in remission, it''s hard for both girls to hold on to the possibility of a very bright future. When Melissa''s health begins to deteriorate, Jory watches her friend''s courageous battle and is overwhelmed by a sense of loss. Distanced from her parents, Jory grows closer to Melissa''s mother and older brother, Michael, as they give each other untold strength in the face of tragedy. As she grapples with the unfairness of Melissa''s imminenet death, can Jory find a way to turn her anger into the hope and inspiration that Melissa wanted to leave behind?

Katie O''Roark is thrilled to learn that Jenny House is being rebuilt. After the fire last year, Katie thought she could never return to the camp, where she spent the summers with teens like her who faced medical odds stacked against them. But thanks to Richard Holloway''s efforts, Katie and her longtime friends Lacey and Chelsea will work as counselors once again. They''ll be joined by Megan, Morgan, and Eric, who are newcomers to Jenny House but who have experienced the generosity of One Last Wish Foundation. It''s not until Katie arrives at camp that she discovers that Josh Martel, her former boyfriend, is also a counselor. Being near Josh again brings back a flood of old emotions for Katie. And when Josh confronts unexpected adversity, Katie knows she has to work out her feelings for him. Through the heart transplant she underwent years ago, Katie miraculously received a gift of new life. Now she must discover how to make the most of that precious gift and choose her future.

Carley Mattea thinks that boys only like girls who are pretty - especially boys as popular and handsome as Kyle Westin. Scarred by a facial deformity, she believes that Kyle would never have fallen for her if it hadn''t been for the chemistry accident that left him temporarily blind. When Kyle discovers that his sight will soon be restored, Carley can''t help but worry about his reaction when he sees her face for the first time. Will Kyle''s feelings prove to be more than skin-deep?

Having lived in remission of leukemia for five years, Dawn was able to hide her sickness from her friends, but when another medical crisis causes her to be partially paralyzed, Dawn worries how she will handle this obvious condition as a high school student. Original. 60,000 first printing.

Told in letters, journal entries, e-mails, doctors’ reports, and instant messages, the heartbreaking story of an aspiring ballet dancer battling leukemia. From: Melinda Skye To: Readers Subject: Jesse Hi! I can’t believe it. What a surprise from Jesse. When he got my e-mail about being accepted by the Washington School of Classical Dance’s summer program, he called to congratulate me! I loved hearing his voice. We’ve been friends forever–could it turn into something more? Melinda From: Jesse Rose To: Readers Subject: Melinda I couldn’t believe the news. Melinda is so young! How could she be sick? How did she get leukemia? She’s got to get better. She’s got to. Jesse

If no one meant for it to happen, should someone be guilty?Analise: She knows the roads and feels secure riding her bike.Laurie: When asked out by Quin, Laurie is happy. Then his car hits something. Later, Laurie realizes there is a way to get Quin to date her.Quin: Because Quin is athletically gifted, his father expects him to get a scholarship. Nothing is to get in his way of college, athletics, money, and success. When he realizes what has happened, he decides he must not let it ruin his future.Jeremy: It''s been the perfect relationship with Analise. Little does Jeremy realize that the beautiful wood he carves will be used for something for Analise.As the lives of people who never wanted to hurt others intersect, harsh realities of choices that cannot be changed are explored.

Nothing in April Lancaster''s future seems certain as she battles a brain tumor that doctors say is inoperable. The hospital is the last place she would expect to find love - until she meets Mark Gianni. Mark is handsome and charming, and he also has terminal Cystic Fibrosis. Despite initial reservations, the two quickly fall in love and plan to spend the rest of their lives together...no matter how long that may be. When a sudden accident aggravates Mark''s condition, April must make a decision that will change the course of her life forever. This is a heartbreaking story by bestselling author Lurlene McDaniel that is perfect for fans of The Fault in Our Stars.

In this compelling sequel to Angel of Mercy, Amber Barlow finds herself following in her sister footsteps to Uganda for missionary work. She quickly realizes upon arrival that transitioning from her wealthy lifestyle in Miami to the shocking conditions she witnesses in Uganda will be much more difficult than she had even anticipated. Luckily, she makes a friend in Boyce Callihan, a fellow volunteer from Alabama whose charm and humor help her adjust to her new life. In this inspirational story of transformation, bestselling author Lurlene McDaniel eloquently explores the depth and power of selfless love.

In first grade, twins Alexis and Adam wrote down what they wanted to be when they grew up and put it in their teacher’s time capsule. Now entering their senior year in high school, they are surprised to find out what they wrote: Alexis wanted to “help people” and Adam wanted to be a fireman. But that was before Adam got sick and their family fell apart. Adam’s leukemia is now in remission but, sadly, so is the twins’ family. Their mother and father are always working—not only don’t they have time for Alexis and Adam, they don’t have time for each other. Alexis can’t even convince them to take a weekend off for one last family vacation to Disney World. No one is prepared when Adam gets sick again, but this time Alexis is not alone. Adam’s illness reunites the family. And Alexis discovers that the time capsule predictions weren’t so far off the mark.

Heather Barlow has always been idealistic, and now she''s finally ready to make a difference by setting sail to Uganda for a medical mission trip. Upon arrival, however, Heather realizes that she is unprepared to face the disease, famine, and misery she encounters everywhere. The overcrowded refugee camps and orphanages seem overwhelming until she meets Ian McCollum, who is also working with the medical staff. Ian is the only one who can see beyond the horror and help Heather change the world by helping one person at a time - even at great cost to one''s own self. Bestselling author Lurlene McDaniel expertly crafts a heart-wrenching story of love and sacrifice in this prequel to Angel of Hope.

When Amy''s car accident results in the death of her little sister, she finds it difficult to move on and manage her anger, especially when she is in the presence of a certain boy with whom she is performing in the school musical.

A collection of two novels about sixteen-year-old Melissa Austin.

Being sixteen means all kinds of freedom—driving on your own, going to the mall with friends, dating. But Dawn Rochelle can''t feel free because of the fear that her cancer will return. Maybe her greatest freedom can only come when she has the courage to live—when she has no time to cry.

Thirteen is supposed to be a great age—dances, cheerleading, boys—but she never thought it would also include cancer. Dawn Rochelle is about to face the toughest fight of her life—a fight she has to win. Otherwise, she has only six months to live.

Fourteen-year-old Dawn Rochelle has had a busy year. She''s been to summer camp and she''s helped her brother make plans for his wedding. And Dawn has been in remission from the leukemia that threatened her life. Now she''s sick again and waiting to hear the news. Has the cancer come back? Will she live to celebrate her fifteenth birthday?

Fifteen-year-old Dawn Rochelle has survived cancer not once, but twice. No one knows the battle better than she does. That''s why Dawn agrees to be a camp counselor for young kids with cancer—the same camp she and her best friend Sandy had attended. Now Sandy is gone. Can Dawn handle the memories? How can she help the kids if she is still hurting so much?

Retraces the history of the One Last Wish Foundation, introducing readers to JWC, her battle to survive, her struggles with family, and her desire to leave something lasting behind.