Best Selling Books by Melody Carlson

Elizabeth Martin and her two children have finally reached the Oregon Country. But Eli Kincade, the wagon train scout who captured her heart, has chosen to continue life on the trail.

If you lived in a different place and had a different job, couldn''t you have a different life? Ginny Masters manages a popular boutique hotel in Seattle and manages it with aplomb. But the daily challenges and irritations of a fast-paced job and a demanding boss are starting to get to her. Jacqueline Potter manages her grandfather''s fishing lodge in Idaho because it was the only job she could find after graduating with her hospitality degree. She''s grateful for the work but longs for a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan life she''s just not going to find in this backwoods town. The solution to both their problems seems obvious. Just for the summer, they''ll swap jobs and lifestyles--and even love interests. But they''ll soon find that there''s more to finding happiness than just switching up the scenery. "Readers will root for both Ginny and Jacqueline in this heartwarming tale from Carlson."--Library Journal starred review "Two career-focused women swap hospitality jobs and chaos ensues in the jovial latest from Carlson. Her lighthearted take on an old trope charms."--Publishers Weekly

These brief, yet powerful devotions from bestselling author Melody Carlson breathe new life into Scripture for teen readers.

Paige Forrester shocks the fashion world with her engagement to designer Dylan Marceau, resulting in more responsibility for Erin and possible changes to the direction of their popular TV show.

If your vision led you straight into the fire, would you follow it anyway? Samantha’s brother, Zach, is finally home after a ninety-day rehab for his meth addiction, and life seems to be getting back to normal. That is, until Sam starts having dreams about dangerous situations involving drugs. But her visions are so vague that she doesn’t know who needs help. Of course she’s worried about Zach staying clean, especially since he’s hanging with the wrong crowd. But the whole school seems to be buzzing about drugs, and Sam doesn’t know who’s using and who’s not. What is wrong with these people anyway? Then Sam has a vision of a burning cabin, and this time someone has been shot. Convinced that Zach is involved somehow, Sam chooses to leave Detective Ebony Hamilton out of the loop. If Zach really is involved, this will land him in jail for sure! But her own investigation is getting too hot to handle, and Sam must decide whether to risk getting Zach in trouble with the law– or ultimately risk his life.

Readers have enjoyed Melody Carlson''s Christmas novels for years. Now six of these beloved stories are available in two handsome value-priced 3-in-1 editions. The Joy of Christmas includes An Irish Christmas, The Christmas Dog, and All I Have to Give. The Treasure of Christmas includes The Christmas Bus, Angels in the Snow, and The Gift of Christmas Present. Perfect as gifts, these volumes will be cherished parts of the holiday season for years to come.

For Colleen, life is spinning out of control. She just lost her husband, and her relationship with her young adult son Jamie is crumbling. Should she confess to him the secret that has been haunting her for twenty years? Jamie has a few secrets of his own. When he announces his plans to join the military, Colleen decides it''s time for the two of them to take a trip together--to Ireland. The truth they discover there could fulfill both their dreams in a way neither ever thought possible. An Irish Christmas is a captivating story of love, deception, and secret passions, from popular and prolific author Melody Carlson.

High school senior Miranda Sanchez wants to change her boring life and, despite the concerns of her friend Sammy, she decides to become a "wild child," until her partying ends up in disaster.

As One Marriage Begins, Five Others Are Put to the Test. Drawn to Lakeside Inn from a variety of locations as diverse as they are, Elizabeth Anderson, Suzette Burke, Ingrid Campbell, Margaret Simpson, and Laura Fairbanks–the bride’s aunt, family friend, bridesmaid, grandmother of the bride, and sister of the groom–seemingly share little more than their collective joy for the couple marrying at the mountain resort. During the course of one unforgettable day, however, each woman reaches a point of reckoning in her own most intimate relationship. As their stories unfold, the women of necessity turn to one another–upholding each other through the pain of postpartum depression, doubts about an upcoming wedding, the discovery of a husband’s affair, reflections on the ups and downs of life as a war bride, and plans to end a 25-year marriage. Through it all, their connection with one another deepens and grows, as does their understanding of themselves and of the healing power of love, perseverance, and friendship.

"Maggie Carpenter and her son, Spencer, are finally beginning to feel settled in their new community. Then one day Spencer discovers a runaway girl. Leah has been looking for her biological father and has come to a dead-end in Pine Mountain. In the middle of a medical crisis in Maggie''s family, staggering news about Leah''s father comes to light. Is reconciliation possible? Will Leah find the sanctuary she is looking for? And what does the future hold for Spencer and Maggie?"--

The Ski Trip Is the Least of Their Worries Follow Morgan, Amy, Carlie, and Emily as they navigate grown up issues while trying to still have fun and friends just like any other kids. Raising Faith: Morgan trusts God to provide her with ski trip funds and works hard to earn the needed money. But when everything blocks her efforts, from her school activities to her grandmother’s life-threatening heart attack, it’s a test of faith against the odds. Run Away: As the ski trip nears, Emily’s mom flees her abusive ex-husband and whisks Emily away to somewhere unknown. The girls fear for their friend as Emily struggles with hard lessons in forgiveness.

A small town is surprised by a newcomer who opens a very unusual Christmas shop where customers find more than they bargained for.

A perfect Mother''s Day gift, "Three Days" captures Mary''s story as she grew from a young, vulnerable girl to a grown woman witnessing Jesus'' agonizing death and then, miraculously, His resurrection.

Mix six teenage girls and one ‘60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boardinghome. Add boys and dating, a little high-school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two . . . and you’ve got The Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson’s new chick lit series for young adults!New York DebutThe New Year promises to be lively for the Carter House girls. No sooner does the calendar page turn and the girls are forced to confront a whole load of difficulties. There is constant pressure from Mrs. Carter as the household prepares to participate in the high stakes Spring Fashion Week in New York City. Competition flares from all directions as the girls vie for top billing, premium outfits, and attention from favorite guys. Stresses mount and some personal challenges grow into serious problems. Will the girls survive the big city experience and the even bigger trials that come along with it?

When Paige and Erin Forrester are offered their own TV show, sisterly bonds are tested as the girls learn that it takes two to keep their once-in-a-lifetime project afloat in the first book in a new, dynamic fashion-themed series.

Paige and Erin Forrester head to London, England, where Paige will appear on one of Britain''s top television shows, as the global attention surrounding their fashion-focused reality television show reveals the benefits and perils of stardom.

After a Winter Ball that was a mix of fun and worry, seventeen-year-old DJ sets aside her hope for a quiet Christmas and joins Taylor in Las Vegas, although she fears she will do nothing but try to keep her roommate out of trouble.

DANGER IN THE DUNES In a deserted area of a beach town, Leah Hampton is helpless against the stranger trying to drag her away at gunpoint. But a handsome man comes to her rescue, risking his life for her. Suddenly, she and Jon Wilson are being hunted by very powerful, dangerous people. Why? Could she have been a target for the human trafficking ring that Jon''s mother suspects is taking over the tiny town? Leah and the brave, love-shy man who saved her are now being framed for their pursuer''s crimes. Hiding out among the fog-shrouded dunes, Leah and Jon must outsmart the ringleader before they''re silenced forever.

Seventeen-year-old Rachel is longing for a bit of normalcy. After taking a summer job away from home, she meets a good-looking Australian boy with a similar appreciation for church, family, and a more conservative lifestyle. But before she knows it, Rachel finds herself isolated, afraid, and over her head in a religion that doesn’t want to let her go.

Sliding into the Rabbit Hole… Would She Ever Return? On the surface, Alice Laxton seems no different from any other college girl: bright, inquisitive, excited about the life ahead of her. But for years, a genetic time bomb has been ticking away. Because of Alice’s near-genius intelligence, teachers and counselors have always made excuses for her “little idiosyncrasies.” But during a stress-filled senior year at college, a new world of voices, visions, and unexplainable “knowledge” causes Alice to begin to lose her grip on reality. As Alice’s schizophrenia progresses, she experiences a disturbing religious “awakening,” believing that God and angels and demons are speaking to her. When others attempt to intervene, Alice is subjected to a wide range of “treatments” even more frightening and painful than her illness. Powerfully raw and brutally honest, Finding Alice is a story of individual suffering and hope, a family’s shared ordeal, and a search for true mental and spiritual healing.

A journalist and her hometown friend risk their lives to expose danger and corruption on the Oregon coast. From the award-winning author of No One to Trust. Returning home for her father’s funeral, big-city reporter Megan McCallister is brutally attacked—confirming her suspicions that her father’s mysterious death was no accident. But only her childhood friend, Garret Larsson, believes her theory. The teenager she once knew has grown into a brave, honorable man . . . but can he keep her alive long enough to find the truth? Garret needs Megan to leave town, but he wants her to stay. He knows about the secrets her newspaperman father uncovered and the dangerous exposé he was writing. And now Megan has vowed to finish her father’s final article. Someone’s determined to kill the story—and Megan along with it—but he’ll have to go through Garret first. Praise for Melody Carlson “No one writes clean contemporary romance quite like Melody Carlson.” —Library Journal “A sweet toast to second chances.” —Booklist “This sweet romance satisfies.” —Publishers Weekly

Written by bestselling author melody carlson. Meet Morgan, Amy, Carlie, and Emily. They all live in the trailer park at 622 Harbor View in tiny Boscoe Bay, Oregon. Proximity made them friends, but a desire to make the world a better place—and a willingness to work at it—keeps them together. In the first book of this new series, Project: Girl Power,bullies knock Emily from her bike on her way home from school, so the girls start walking together because there’s safety in numbers. With help from other people in the park, they set out to beautify Harbor View. In book two, Project: Mystery Bus, the girls begin summer by working to clean and restore their bus to use as a clubhouse. And thus begins the Rainbow Club. In book three, Project: Rescue Chelsea, Carlie makes a new friend. Chelsea Landers lives in a mansion and isn’t always very kind. Carlie would like a best friend, but will Chelsea fit in with her other friends? In book four, Project: Take Charge, the girls decide to take action when they find out their town’s only city park has been vandalized and may soon be turned into a parking lot. MELODY CARLSON In sixth grade, Melody Carlson helped start a school newspaper called The BuccaNews (her school’s mascot was a Buccaneer—argh!). As editor of this paper, she wrote most of the material herself, creating goofy phony bylines to hide the fact that the school newspaper was mostly a one-“man” show. She lives in Sisters, OR. Visit her at www.MelodyCarlson.com

Kim’s World Turns Upside Down When Kim’s mom is diagnosed with cancer, Natalie steps in, as true friends will do, to round up hundreds of people to pray for Mrs. Peterson’s healing. Her health begins to improve, and Kim’s love life begins to flourish…but with a non-Christian. Natalie warns Kim to break off the relationship, but is that just because she’s jealous? Or is God trying to speak to Kim through Natalie’s counsel? When her mom’s health suddenly declines again, Kim blames herself. Maybe she never should have become involved with Matthew, especially as she’s tempted to give in to his pressure to have sex. Kim’s faith is hanging in the balance. She wants to believe that prayer will prevail, but the obstacles seem so big… Thursday, December 29 My dad and I are both feeling a little torn about Mom right now. On one hand, we all act like everything is just peachy, perfectly normal. But at the same time, it’s like we’re walking on eggshells too. Like we’re all thinking the same thing–is this our last Christmas all together? Kim Peterson’s mom has stage four ovarian cancer, and Kim’s done enough research online to know the odds are dismal. But Kim and her best friend, Natalie McCabe, and a lot of other people are praying that God will heal her mom. Kim’s mom makes her promise that she’ll continue with life as normal: Nat, youth group, violin, her Just Ask Jamie newspaper column, even hanging out with Matthew. But how can life be normal with cancer hanging over your head like a dark cloud? And then she’s getting flak from Natalie because Matthew’s not a Christian, and Nat’s afraid he’ll drag Kim down. But Nat’s dating life isn’t exactly smooth sailing, either. Both girls are praying a lot–and waiting to find out what’s meant to be. Reader’s guide included Story Behind the Book “My teenage years remain vivid in my mind. It was a turbulent time, full of sharp contrasts–love and hate, pain and pleasure, trust and doubt. Then, just as I reached my peak of questioning, rebelling, and seeking, I found God. And I found Him in a really big way! My life turned completely around and has, thankfully, never turned back. Hopefully this story will touch and change hearts–speaking to teen girls right where they live, reminding readers that God is alive and well and ready to be intimately involved in their lives right now!” –Melody Carlson

Rita Jansen is living her dream as a hairstylist in Hollywood when her father calls with news that her mother has suffered a stroke. When she gets home to Chicago, Rita finds her mother is healing but facing a long recovery. Worse, without being able to run their family-owned salon, her mother could lose the business. Rita decides to help, but she only has until Valentine''s Day to come up with a plan. As Rita takes her mother''s place at work, the nearby skating rink she loved as a child brings back fond memories. Rita also finds herself renewing friendships with her childhood best friend, Marley, as well as her classmate Johnny. Although they now lead such seemingly different lives, Rita is surprised by how well she and Johnny connect and how far he will go to help her. Though Rita believes Johnny is only being kind, with romance kindling in the air and on the ice, their friendship may just fall into something more.

Sophie is starting a new school year. Shopping for it with her best friend should be fun, but nothing seems to fit, which is a major issue to a high school girl. But her biggest problem is the secret she''s keeping. And she''s about to find out that she won''t be able to keep things under wraps for much longer. This page-turning novel explores the tangled web of choices, secrets, and love that all teen girls navigate. Melody Carlson enjoys a huge audience of teen readers. Now, Revell presents another new stunning story from an author who understands teen girls right where they are.

As Mrs. Carter becomes increasingly distracted by General Harding, her boardinghouse girls find more opportunities to get into trouble, especially during a weekend getaway to a luxurious Vermont ski lodge, to which some of the girls have invited boys.

As Anna tries to give her husband the perfect Christmas gift despite serious obstacles, the magic of Christmas is working its way into their lives. And what each of them unwraps for Christmas will surprise everyone.

With six teenage girls living under one roof, things are bound to get interesting. Mix six teenaged girls and one ’60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add guys and dating, a little high-school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two ... and you’ve got The Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson’s new chick lit series for young adults!The Carter House experiences a shake-up as one of its own returns home after an unnerving disappearing act. Then, friction grows as a school Homecoming Queen race heats up, turning friends and housemates against one another. DJ, Eliza, Taylor, Kriti, Rhiannon, and Casey show they have plenty of lessons to learn as the votes roll in. Some grow smarter and closer to God, while others seem to make the same mistakes over again. Despite all their differences and disagreements, the Carter House girls continue to grow together, forging a bond that strengthens through hardship. Hearts CAN change and friendship paves the way for at least one girl to move closer to God.

Once upon a time in a little town on the Oregon coast lived four Lindas--all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever. Decades later, they''re all back home in Clifden and reinventing their lives, but the holidays bring a whole new set of challenges. Abby''s new B&B is getting bad reviews and husband Paul is acting strange. Still grieving for her mom, Caroline is remodeling the family home, but boyfriend Mitch keeps pressuring her to go away with him. Artist Marley, distracted by a friend''s family drama (and a touch of jealousy), can''t find her creative groove. And Janie''s drug-addicted daughter has just appeared up on her doorstep. When a long-planned New Year''s cruise turns into a bumpy ride, they learn once again that, in your fifties, friends aren''t just for fun--they''re a necessity!

Thirty-something Gretchen Hanover is stuck. Seeking solace from a broken heart, she traded her wedding plans for home improvement shows and ice cream—but she knows she can’t live on Ben and Jerry’s forever. She also knows that her enthusiastic Lab puppy has outgrown her tiny apartment. The perfect patch for Gretchen’s dilapidated plans? She’ll become a first-time house-flipper. As ideas go, it’s daring and genius. She’ll take out a short-term loan, buy a fixer-upper, renovate it, resell it, and use the profit for an adorable house of her own. What could be easier? But Gretchen’s plans to flip quickly flop when the house turns out to be in worse shape than she expected. She is relying on her retired contractor-father, but he wants to draw in his carpenter friend Noah Campbell. And although Noah is handy with tools, Gretchen isn’t so sure about the baggage he brings with him. Will she be able to loosen her grip on the tools when it seems Noah may be her only help? A whimsical look at color swatches, mismatched curtain rods, and the building of relationships, A Mile in My Flip-Flops reminds us that it takes faith to renovate the heart, as well as the home.

Written by bestselling author Melody Carlson. Meet Morgan, Amy, Carlie, and Emily. They all live in the trailer park at 622 Harbor View in tiny Boscoe Bay, Oregon. Proximity made them friends, but a desire to make the world a better place—and a willingness to work at it—keeps them together. In the first book of this series, Project: Girl Power,bullies knock Emily from her bike on her way home from school, so the girls start walking together because there’s safety in numbers. With help from other people in the park, they set out to beautify Harbor View. In book two, Project: Mystery Bus, the girls begin summer by working to clean and restore their bus to use as a clubhouse. And thus begins the Rainbow Club.

From bestselling author Melody Carlson comes a series about four friends determined to change their lives … and their world: Morgan, Amy, Carlie, and Emily—The Girls of Harbor View. Each of the eight ebooks in this complete collection contains unique stories about the girls, their friendship and faith, and their desires to make their lives and their world a better place. Girl Power: The four friends meet and band together against some local bullies. In doing so, they decide to work together to transform and rejuvenate the trailer park where they live—only to have their work destroyed. Mystery Bus: The girls’ trailer park renovations are rewarded when the landlord gives them an old, abandoned bus to fix up and use as a clubhouse—where they discover old albums, journals, and secrets someone left behind. Rescue Chelsea: When Carlie invites a new girl to join the club, no one seems safe from the backstabbing, betrayal, and hurt. The girls must somehow rescue their friendships before the group is destroyed forever. Take Charge: When vandals wreck the local park, the authorities threaten to turn it into a parking lot. The girls take action to save it, but a powerful woman with unknown intentions may ruin everything. Raising Faith: Morgan trusts God to provide her ski trip funds and works hard to earn the needed money. But when everything blocks her efforts, from her school activities to her grandmother’s life-threatening heart attack, it’s a test of faith against the odds. Run Away: As the ski trip nears, Emily’s mom flees her abusive ex-husband and whisks Emily away to somewhere unknown. The girls fear for their friend as Emily struggles with hard lessons in forgiveness. Ski Trip: The girls finally hit the slopes, but events take a downturn when some of them go completely boy crazy. Carlie, however, won’t have anything to do with the boys—or her flirtatious friends. Instead, she gets obsessed with snowboarding, and only after a dangerous accident do the girls discover what really matters in relationships. Secret Admirer: Valentine’s Day approaches, and along with it the school dance. Amy has a secret admirer leaving her notes, and she mistakenly sets her heart on the wrong boy. When her crush becomes public, Amy is devastated and humiliated. Her world falls apart, until she concocts a plan to transform the day.

Sometimes Aster just wants to be like all her friends. Why can''t she have a normal life? Teen fans of Melody Carlson will love her newest novel.

Christmas miracles can come from unlikely sources, including a stray dog and a bereaved cat. Humorous and heartwarming, this 2-in-1 Christmas collection from bestselling author Melody Carlson is the perfect gift for pet lovers and anyone in whose heart Christmas holds a special place. The Christmas Dog Betty Kowalski isn''t looking forward to the holidays. She just can''t seem to find Christmas in her heart. Maybe it''s because her husband is gone. Maybe it''s because she''s missing her children. Or maybe it has something to do with her obnoxious new neighbor, who seems to be tearing his house apart and rearranging it on the lawn. But when a mangy dog appears at her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn what Christmas is really all about. The Christmas Cat After years abroad, Garrison Brown finds himself at the home of his beloved grandmother who has just passed away. He must sort out her belongings, including six cats who need new homes. While he hopes to dispense with the task quickly--especially since he is severely allergic to cats--his grandmother''s instructions don''t allow for speed. She has left some challenging requirements for the future homes of her furry friends. Can he match the cats with the perfect new owners? And is it possible that he might meet his own match along the way?

The miraculous power of prayer—to protect, guide, and heal—plays an important role in the sixth adventure of the Girls of 622 Harbor View. Fleeing her abusive ex-husband, Emily’s mother packs up her two children and disappears down a rainy Oregon highway. Emily’s friends are devastated—they haven’t even been on the ski trip yet!—and they’re worried. But what can they do?

Kim faces many changes her senior year in high school, including Nat''s hasty wedding, childbirth, and ultimate decision about the baby, the first holidays without her mother, new problems for cousin Maya, and a significant surprise from her past.

When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it''s not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process. A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He''s not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them. But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow? With her signature heart and touches of humor, fan favorite Melody Carlson pens a story of two delightfully eccentric characters who get a second chance at life and love.