New Releases by Diane Moody

"In the spring of 1957, Jacob Versteeg is graduating from high school at the top of his class. Quite an accomplishment for a guy who spent his young childhood in a German concentration camp. When the war ended, he was adopted by Huub Versteeg, a kind fellow POW at Bergen-Belsen who had taken him under his wing. For ten years Jacob grew up in Chicago surrounded by the love of his new family, including Danny and Anya McClain and their two young children. In fact, he has thrived. But Jacob still struggles to understand the void left in his heart by his German parents who discarded him at the doorstep of war. After his first year at Wheaton College, Jacob joins a summer study course in West Germany. There, he realizes he must gather his courage to overcome his past if he’s ever to complete his long journey from war.

A murder in Braxton, Tennessee? Poor little town. If it''s not one thing, it''s another. An untimely death under nefarious circumstances spawns an odd lineup of potential suspects. Who killed one of Braxton''s favorite sons?New resident and pastor Peyton Gellar has already conducted more than his share of funerals for such a small town, but this one hits close to home.Aubrey Evans, in town for her father''s funeral, is concerned by her mother''s state of mind. With the help of the handsome new pastor, Aubrey extends her visit to help her mother, and finds herself drawn into the local intrigue.A fateful baptism, an estranged brother, a mysterious button, and a Vegas showgirl. Once again the stage is set.

The small town charm of Braxton is under siege by vandals who are out to paint the town-literally. As residents take sides and tensions rise, both law enforcement and politicians butt heads as they search for the pesky taggers.Meanwhile, photographer Gevin Parker finds himself unexpectedly smitten by the wedding singer who stepped in at the last minute to sing at his sister''s wedding. A recent Belmont graduate, Emily Randolph is an aspiring singer-songwriter with bittersweet ties to Braxton''s namesake family. But when the town''s most valuable artifact goes missing-a sword dating back to the American Revolution-she and Gevin embark on a journey to help solve the mysterious disappearance. A priceless missing sword, a rash of troubling graffiti, a budding romance, and a cast of characters, old and new. Once again, the stage is set.

Tiny Braxton, Tennessee, is a quiet, tight-knit community wrapped around an old town square just a stone''s throw from Nashville. But when the town''s most prominent citizen is found dead at the base of its water tower, news of Peter Lanham''s apparent suicide roars through town like a massive tsunami.Peter, the handsome, beloved CEO of Lanham''s Fine Foods, had taken a small, family-owned grocery store founded in 1927, and grew it into a successful national chain. With most of Braxton''s residents employed by Lanham''s corporate headquarters, word of Peter''s demise left them searching for answers. What could possibly have made him take a swan dive off that tower?Julie Parker is convinced he didn''t. As receptionist at Lanham''s executive office suite, she''s determined to find out what really happened to her boss. An aspiring actor who also stars as "The Lanham Girl" in the company''s TV commercials, Julie prides herself on her perceptive observations and people-skills. Who better to find out what happened to Peter up on that water tower?Matt Bryson, on assignment as a rookie Special Agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, isn''t about to let the attractive receptionist intrude on his first case. She may be a hometown insider, but he''s perfectly capable of solving the case without "Miss Marple" screwing up his investigation.A perfect setting, a cast of oddball characters, and just enough drama to raise lots of suspicion. The stage is set.

In the summer of 1977, Shelby Colter moved back to Memphis, Tennessee hoping to make a fresh start after breaking off her engagement. Working as a patient representative hostess at Baptist Memorial Hospital - the world''s largest private hospital - she''s thrilled with her new job, assisting patients with their non-medical needs. She has to laugh at her colorful co-workers who constantly chat about Elvis-sightings. After all, Baptist was "Elvis''s hospital."Shelby hits the ground running, taking care of her patients, getting to know her new friends, and bumping into ... Dr. Tucker Thompson? Who knew that annoying kid who used to hang out with her big brother was now a resident at BMH? Little Chubby Tucker - a compassionate, handsome doctor?As the summer rolls along, three people she loves face life-threatening situations, drawing Shelby back to her faith. And then one night, in a hospital prayer room, she pours out her heart to a most unexpected visitor.*Previously published as Blue Like Elvis

In the third book in Diane Moody''s bestselling WWII trilogy, Dutch war bride Anya Versteeg McClain is struggling to adapt to her new life in America. Her husband Danny, a former B-17 pilot, is troubled by her rollercoaster moods, but vows to do whatever he can to make her happy. Little did he know that would mean letting her go again. When an unexpected telegram requires her return to Holland, she leaves with a conflicted heart. Danny can only hope and pray she''ll come back to him. There in her homeland, Anya makes an astounding discovery that alters the course of her life. From the Ashes of War concludes the compelling story of a family''s journey from the heartache of war to the promise of hope and healing.

The long awaited sequel to Diane Moody''s, Of Windmills and War. When the war finally ended in May of 1945, Lieutenant Danny McClain made good on his promise to come back for Anya in Holland. He expected her to put up a fight, but instead found her exhausted and utterly broken. Maybe it was unfair, asking her to marry him when she was so vulnerable. But this much he knew: he would spend a lifetime helping to make her whole again. The war had taken everything from Anya--her family, her friends, her home, her faith. She clung to the walls she''d fortressed around her heart, but what future did she have apart from Danny? At least she wouldn''t be alone anymore. Or so she thought. When the American troops demobilize, Danny is sent home, forced to leave Anya behind in England. There she must wait with the other 70,000 war brides for passage to America. As England picks up the pieces of war''s debris in the months that follow, Anya shares a flat with three other war brides in London and rediscovers the healing bond of friendships. Once again, Danny and Anya find themselves oceans apart, their marriage confined to little more than the handwritten pages of their letters while wondering if the shadow of war will ever diminish.

"Author Lucy Alexander''s Teacup Novellas were inspired by a collection of vintage teacups her Aunt Lucille bequeathed to her. As the five plot lines play out in her mind, Lucy experiences her own love story via UPS. A story within a story, if you will." -- website.

The rumblings of war in distant countries mattered little to Danny McClain. Growing up in Chicago, his world revolved around after-school jobs, a rescued beagle, his pen pal in Holland, and the Cubs'' chance to go to the World Series. Then, in December of 1941, during his first year at Northwestern University, news of the attack on Pearl Harbor hit much too close to home. After a series of unexpected events over the next couple of years, Danny found himself in the co-pilot seat of a B-17, stationed with the 390th Bomb Group in Framlingham, England. Anya Versteeg had been just a teenager when Hitler''s troops invaded her homeland of Holland in May of 1940. Forced to grow up much too fast, the feisty preacher''s daughter eagerly immersed herself in the Dutch Resistance and its many efforts to thwart the enemy. Certain that God had turned His back on Holland, she closed her heart and did whatever she had to do to save her country before it was too late. By 1945, the people of Occupied Holland were starving. Cut off from the outside world in retaliation for their failed attempt to oust the Germans invaders, the Dutch had no food, no electricity, no fuel, and little hope of surviving. Thousands were dying every day. Then, just days before the war ended, help came to The Netherlands like manna from heaven. Operation Chowhound held special meaning for Lieutenant Danny McClain. Somewhere below in the battered land of tulips and windmills was the girl who needed rescuing-after rescuing so many others. And he would move heaven and earth to find her.

Do you remember where you were the day Elvis died? I do. I know exactly where I was. I was there. In the spring of 1977, Shelby Colter moved back to Memphis, Tennessee hoping to make a fresh start after breaking off her engagement. Working as a patient representative hostess at Baptist Memorial Hospital--the world''s largest private hospital--she''s thrilled with her new job, assisting patients with their non-medical needs. She has to laugh at her colorful co-workers who constantly chat about Elvis-sightings. After all, Baptist Memorial was "Elvis''s hospital." Shelby hits the ground running, taking care of her patients, getting to know her new friends, and bumping into . . . Dr. Tucker Thompson? Who knew that annoying kid who used to hang out with her big brother was now a resident at Baptist Memorial Hospital? Little Chubby Tucker--a compassionate, handsome doctor? As the summer rolls along, three people she loves face life-threatening situations, drawing Shelby back to her faith. And then one night, in a hospital prayer room, she pours out her heart to a most unexpected visitor . . . Blue Like Elvis is loosely based on the author''s real-life experiences while working at Baptist Memorial Hospital in the summer of 1977. While most of the novel is fiction, the setting of Shelby''s adventures are based on the author''s memories of those days in Memphis leading up to that unforgettable day . . . the day Elvis died.

A story about a small octopus named Molly and her survival techniques and defense against human trash.

Sometimes the best Christmas presents aren''t found under the tree . . . Working late on Christmas Eve, college senior Hannah Brooks is in the midst of a full-blown pity party. When a last-minute customer brimming with holiday spirit invites her to a candlelight service and a late-night family dinner, Hannah reluctantly accepts. She has no idea this kindhearted woman is the mother of Jason McKenzie - leader singer of Out of the Blue, the hottest band in the country - and Hannah''s childhood idol. The evening ends with an innocent kiss (sans mistletoe) as Hannah is swept away by Jason''s unpretentious manner. Over the holidays Hannah and Jason''s relationship grows, but when turmoil and tragedy strike at the very heart of his famous band, their newfound love is put to the test in the glare of the paparazzi spotlight. Throughout her rollercoaster of experiences with Jason and his friends, Hannah comes face to face with her own beliefs. Who knew she could learn more about prayer and faith by hanging out with a bunch of rock stars than she ever learned in church? The author first wrote Blue Christmas as a gift for her then-teenage daughter in honor of her affection for a wildly popular band in the late 90s. The short story grew into a full-length novel, eventually surfacing on one of the band''s fan fiction websites where it became quite a phenomenon. More than 80,000 readers stopped by to read the story, with over 1000 of them sending personal emails to the author who still enjoys reading them today. Though the story''s details have been changed, its band and all characters now fictional, the story line remains the same. Author Diane Moody has dedicated Blue Christmas to her now-grown daughter, Hannah Moody Schmitt.

What could possibly drive a pastor''s wife to run away from home? After years of frustration from life in a church fishbowl, Annie McGregor walks away from it all and boards a plane for Colorado. She has no way of knowing her college sweetheart is headed to the same cabin in the Rockies, terrified and gravely wounded. Their unexpected reunion couldn''t have come at a worse time. Or could it? Bewildered that God would allow Michael Dean to walk back into her life, Annie pleads with Him to keep her heart true to her husband and her family. God answers her prayer, but in a way she would never expect. Written by a former pastor''s wife, Annie''s story provides a rare look inside the family life of those in the ministry, particularly the unique pressures on those who marry men of God.

Ive read several books about prayer over the years but this one is by far my favorite! Diane is a gifted writer who will help you uncover so many misconceptions youve picked up which have damaged your prayer life over the years. I cant tell you how many ah-ha moments I had in the midst of this enlightening, inspiring, read. Ive been inspired to start an entire new prayer journey! Pete Wilson, pastor of Cross Point Community Church, Nashville, Tennessee