New Releases by Brad Smith

A novel about hope, redemption, and getting even, not necessarily in that order Just out of prison for attacking the man who assaulted his sister, Ray Dokes heads back to the small Canadian town where he was raised. Vowing to lie low, he moves in with Pete Culpepper, a Texas cowboy who has always been a grounding influence on Ray, but whose debts are growing faster than his corn. Between roofing houses and watching Pete''s nine-year-old gelding at the races, Ray soon crosses paths with just about everyone in town, including Pete''s new jockey, Chrissie, a tough young woman whose ease with horses is equaled only by her mistrust of people, and Ray''s former lover Etta, who views him with more skepticism than ever. Then there are the hired hands of the Stanton Stables: Dean, a wise guy who embodies the phrase "all hat and no cattle," and his sidekick, Paulie, a simple-hearted man who has a way with animals. And last but not least, there''s Sonny Stanton, the vicious, violent, and spoiled heir of his father''s electronics fortune-and the man Ray spent two years in jail for nearly killing. When the opportunity arises to con Sonny out of some ill-gained wealth-and protect themselves and their homes in the process-everyone''s willing to band together and take a gamble. Surprisingly poignant yet laugh-out-loud funny, All Hat tells a classic story of little guys fighting big guys and reaffirming the meaning of honesty and friendship-and second chances-in the process.

Virgil Cain rents his draft horses to a film crew only to discover the director''s irresponsible nature and a casino owner''s agenda to replace the film''s star, a situation that is further complicated by two murders.

Jack-of-all-trades Virgil Cain gets tangled up in an old crime surfacing from the waters of the Hudson River, in this second novel in a rip-roaring series that started with Red Means Run. Trouble always finds Virgil Cain. Brad smith’s second Virgil Cain novel is fast, funny country-noir action at its best. For Virgil Cain, a day of fishing on the Hudson River yields more than he bargained for when, while pulling up anchor, he hooks on to a mysterious steel cylinder. As word of Virgil’s strange catch spreads around the local marina, it draws the attention of a crooked city cop, who seizes both the cylinder and Virgil’s boat. Soon, an old drug deal gone sour surfaces, and to get to the bottom of it—and to get his boat back—Virgil teams up with a captivating single mom, Dusty, who knows far too much about the cylinder and the pure cocaine it contains. The landscape is soon cluttered with the dealer who claims ownership of the cylinder, his murderous sidekick, and a wild card in the form of a crazy Russian cowboy. Virgil and Dusty find themselves trapped in the middle and desperate for a way out.

Back in the Garden, work was fun. Yet, in today’s fallen world, joy and work are rarely used in the same sentence. But God really does intend for us to find joy in our work. Join Raymond Bakke, Brad Smith, and Bill Hendricks as they explore what the Bible says about the purpose of business and our right to a joyful workplace. No matter where you spend those 50 or 60 hours during the week—whether it’s in business, government, or the nonprofit sector; in church, at home, or anywhere else—God intends for you to find joy in your work. This 10-week study accompanies Joy at Work, a book by Dennis W. Bakke, co-founder and CEO of AES, a worldwide energy giant with 40,000 employees in 31 countries. Shaped by his faith, Bakke recounts his quest to create the most fun workplace ever—using principles established in the Garden. This study provides the biblical map that he used as he charted and led that journey. Starting with the Genesis record of creation and moving through Revelation, this Bible study supplements Joy at Work with: Biblical readings that unveil the principles behind each chapter in Joy at Work A synthesis of theological principles Reflective questions to prepare readers for small-group discussion Questions for small-group discussion Guidelines for immediate and long-term application for business and nonprofit leaders at all levels of corporations and organizations. The Joy at Work experience has the power to profoundly change your workplace and your life.

City Signals Leader Kit contains a ten-week multimedia study that examines the exploding growth and the prominence of global cities in our world. The kit contains three DVDs featuring world-renowned minister and educator Ray Bakke and an interactive workbook by Brad Smith. This study will guide individuals or groups in understanding the theology, principles, and practice of global urban ministry and studying urban themes in church history. The authors equip those who minister within their communities and cities with new ideas and tools for reaching the nations.

Whether you work with the urban poor or the urban powerful; volunteer in a ghetto; work as CEO of a business; live in the "hood"; or focus your ministry on a few people, a neighborhood, or a city to transform the social structure of society--this study will give you new ideas and tools to pursue your calling.

Civil War buffs and con men collide in this wickedly funny, Hiaasen-esque story of old-time relics and modern greed Dock Bass is a carpenter-turned-realtor in upstate New York. He has a social-climbing wife he doesn''t love (or even like), a job he hates, and a rapidly crumbling sense of self-respect and self-worth. Like a lot of people, he yearns for a change. Like very few, he decides to leave his life behind, hit the road, and go looking for it. He finds it in Pennsylvania, of all places. Summoned to Gettysburg by a law firm, he learns that he''s inherited an ancient house from a deceased relative whom he never knew existed. Renovating the place, Dock stumbles upon a treasure trove of Civil War memorabilia squirreled away in an old root cellar, including pictures and possibly even a recording of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg. And in a world where John Kennedy''s golf clubs are worth $750,000, what dollar figure does one place on items connected to the greatest American president at the venue of his most inspiring and memorable speech? Plenty, Dock soon finds out, as he''s forced to defend his new find from the onslaught of collectors, history buffs, and media hounds descending on his doorstep. Fortunately, like Honest Abe himself, he''s the right man for the fight-independent, funny, loyal, and stubborn as a Missouri mule. When the scallywags and opportunists-including an easy-on-the-eyes television reporter with one hell of an attitude-start crawling out of the woodwork, he''ll need all of that. And maybe a little more.

Follow Chris and John as they become interested in soccer and take the first steps on the path to soccer stardom.

An internationally known drug dealer, recently acquitted in court, is murdered and his assailant is convicted. The case is closed until witnesses to the crime begin to turn up dead. Detectives Jeremy Roberts and Lori Ashburn are assigned to the case and they find themselves drawn into a murky world of espionage and rogue government agents. Along the way Roberts deals with the kidnapping of his wife and a near-fatal attack on his partner. As the investigation deepens, Roberts discovers that a serial killer, long hidden behind the iron curtain, is active again. With the help of a private investigator, and an ex-KGB agent now operating with Interpol, Roberts must track down the conspirators that are threatening to subvert the highest court in the land, while protecting his partner from a killer with a personal vendetta.

Legacy is the authors account of the trials he has encountered throughout his life and the lessons he has learned from them.

From the heart of the industry in Grand Valley near Grand Junction, where grapes are grown, to the more remote areas of the state to the popular urban setting of the Front Range, 38 official wineries can be found throughout Colorado. This new edition details each winery, directions on how to find it, and offers an overview of the industry.

Rhymed text and illustrations introduce country antiques in an alphabetic arrangement emphasizing the reasons why antiques should be valued.