Most Popular Books by Emily Smith

In a culture obsessed with happiness, this wise, stirring book points the way toward a richer, more satisfying life. Too many of us believe that the search for meaning is an esoteric pursuit—that you have to travel to a distant monastery or page through dusty volumes to discover life’s secrets. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us—right here, right now. To explore how we can craft lives of meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith synthesizes a kaleidoscopic array of sources—from psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, and neuroscientists to figures in literature and history such as George Eliot, Viktor Frankl, Aristotle, and the Buddha. Drawing on this research, Smith shows us how cultivating connections to others, identifying and working toward a purpose, telling stories about our place in the world, and seeking out mystery can immeasurably deepen our lives. To bring what she calls the four pillars of meaning to life, Smith visits a tight-knit fishing village in the Chesapeake Bay, stargazes in West Texas, attends a dinner where young people gather to share their experiences of profound loss, and more. She also introduces us to compelling seekers of meaning—from the drug kingpin who finds his purpose in helping people get fit to the artist who draws on her Hindu upbringing to create arresting photographs. And she explores how we might begin to build a culture that leaves space for introspection and awe, cultivates a sense of community, and imbues our lives with meaning. Inspiring and story-driven, The Power of Meaning will strike a profound chord in anyone seeking a life that matters.

Eight-year-old Isabel feels her mother no longer cares about her because she has no time or energy even to listen when Isa tries to share her sadness about being unpopular, her jealousy over her new baby sister, and, most importantly, her fear that her mother''s cancer will come back.

What does it mean to love your neighbor in today''s fraught, divided world? Join Dr. Emily Smith, global health expert and creator of the popular Facebook page Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist, as she dives into what loving your neighbor--as illustrated in the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan--truly means. Combining Dr. Smith''s expertise as a scientist with her deep Christian faith while drawing from her journey from small-town Texas to a prestigious university, The Science of the Good Samaritan shares fascinating stories from Dr. Smith''s life and the lives of other inspiring people around the world to show us how to: Find shared values with people from different backgrounds, faiths, and cultures than our own Reach outside our immediate circles to bring in those on the margins Redefine our concept of "neighbor" and love our neighbors in more practical and global ways Bridge the gaps of society''s disparities and inequities You can help reimagine and create a better world--and it all starts with authentically loving your neighbor.

Fate intervenes on behalf of love when characters are unexpectedly stuck together. With too much time and an irresistible attraction anything could happen. Flight paramedic Ryland Matthews and pilot Tess Goodwin have an uncomplicated past that included a no-strings tryst before they went their separate ways and never looked back. That is, until a medical emergency and an unlikely coincidence leaves them grounded together in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but relive history and ignite the passion neither can forget.

The Girl on the Bathroom Floor is a raw and unflinching look at the moments most never share, the ones behind closed doors, on the bathroom floor, in your car, or hidden in the closet—where pain, fear, and grief seem to hit hardest. It''s also a promise that, even there, you are still tenderly held by a God who grieves with you and offers you hope through suffering even when everything else is falling apart. Amber Smith, wife of former country music artist, Granger Smith invites you into the most vulnerable spaces of her life, behind the closed doors where she wrestled with the traumatic and heartbreaking death of their three-year-old son, River. Amber opens the door to the unseen pain and the relentless ache following his death, the countless tears shed in private, along with the soul altering aftermath of a life forever changed. But even before River''s tragic passing, Amber was no stranger to tears on the bathroom floor. From the pressures of motherhood, family members experiencing addiction, broken relationships, and feelings of helplessness while watching loved ones suffer, Amber explores what to do when faced with all the types of pain that can drive you to your knees. For the one who wants to: discover where God is in a world of hurt; navigate private pain with grace and grit; find hope and joy in the midst of suffering; and uncover the power of faith through the darkest of times Amber offers her story of despair but not defeat, to illustrate how grief does not have to separate you from hope or joy. In fact, it can lead you to it. This book aims to serve as a compass for those feeling unseen and undone, pointing towards the true source of profound healing, our Savior Jesus. The Girl on the Bathroom Floor sheds light on the dark shadows of hurt so many endure, offering hope through your season of sorrow.

Fate intervenes on behalf of love when characters are unexpectedly stuck together. With too much time and an irresistible attraction anything could happen. In EF5 by Kris Bryant, wedding photographer Alyssa Bates is running late to a job she desperately needs when officer Katy Emerson pulls her over for speeding. She gets a warning from the sexy woman in uniform and the sirens alerting them to an approaching tornado. Their only option is to shelter in an abandoned diner where they must resist temptation and fight for their lives. In Trapped Tycoon by Amanda Radley, trainee investor Clara Foster spends her weekend at the office catching up on paperwork when the ice queen owner Francesca Burford arrives. Francesca doesn’t know who the shy employee is, and she doesn’t much care, until they attempt to leave the office at the same time and get trapped in an elevator. In Wings Over Boston by Emily Smith, flight paramedic Ryland Matthews and pilot Tess Goodwin have an uncomplicated past that included a no-strings tryst before they went their separate ways and never looked back. That is, until a medical emergency and an unlikely coincidence leaves them grounded together in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but relive history and ignite the passion neither can forget.

Physician assistant Pierce Parker wants nothing more than to find true love, but after a series of heartbreaks and lackluster first dates, she’s beginning to question if such a thing even exists. That is, until she begins working with Dr. Cassidy Sullivan, a new emergency medicine resident. Their chemistry makes Pierce start to believe all her dreams will come true, but a secret from Cassidy’s past may end the fairy tale before it gets to happily ever after. For Pierce and Cassidy, the risk of heartbreak may be too high a price for the chance at love.

Has Kaya entered a safe haven from catastrophe, or somewhere much darker? Kaya has no memory of her life before she arrived in Attica a decade ago with her adopted brother, Wes. They were seeking shelter in the small community of survivors from something far sinister outside its walls. But Attica is a prison of its own, where life is tightly controlled through oppressive rules and rituals. When Wes starts acting strangely and then dies, Kaya wonders if he’d remembered something significant from his past. She herself is curious about who the familiar yet mysterious man is that appears in her dreams, stirring her memories. As Kaya’s questions about Attica and her own past grow, she discovers that nothing—and no one—is as it seems. But will uncovering the truth about Attica—and herself—set her free . . . or destroy her? A gripping, spine-chilling, and thought-provoking speculative thriller with a mind-blowing twist, perfect for fans of Blake Crouch, The Tomorrow Project, and A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw.

Paramedic Connor Haus is good at two things—saving lives on the streets of Boston and holding her past against every firefighter she meets. The tragic loss of her partner, Kam, has left her bitter and angry, her work and fellow-EMT Jake O’Harrigan the only pieces of her life she still cares about. Until rookie firefighter Logan Curtis moves to town, and onto Connor’s scene, and threatens to rattle the walls Connor has long since put up. Hotshot Logan has never had a problem getting women to notice her. But when Connor trips her radar, she realizes Connor may be more than just another notch on her bedpost. But how could anyone compete with Kam’s memory? Sometimes, you have to wait until after the fire to see just what’s worth saving.

In the vein of Kathleen Barber and Julia Heaberlin comes an electrifying debut suspense that pits the inhabitants of a small town against each other. Nine years ago, July Weaver’s little sister was one of the first victims of the Pacific Lake Killer, a serial killer in Georgia. When other girls began to disappear and were found dead, it was July’s testimony that put her own father into prison for the crimes. After the sentencing, she fled to Nashville to focus on her music career and to try to forget the horrible past. But when her brother tries to kill himself, July is forced to come back home and reunite with her four remaining siblings. What she isn’t expecting is to uncover new evidence that makes her question everything that happened to her sister nine years ago. Is it possible that July blamed the wrong person? Is it possible that the Pacific Lake Killer is still out there? As the linchpin to the case against her father—and the reason the Pacific Lake Killer case is closed—July knows it isn’t long before the killer will set their eyes back on her. If they’re really still out there.

Time has never been an issue for Carter McKenna and Sadie Maron. It just took them both nearly fifteen years to realize it. Now Carter is tired of waiting, and the two have begun their newest chapter—planning a wedding. Carter, a talented musician, has always traveled the beaten path. But when she discovers the wedding Sadie is hoping for may be a little out of their price range, she realizes she needs to recruit the help of her wealthy father. Unfortunately, her father’s money comes with a price she may not be able to afford. But as Sadie continues to blissfully plan the wedding she’s always dreamed of, Carter proves to herself just how much she’s willing to give for the woman she loves.