Build resilient faith in the next generation with the new CSB Teen Study Bible.
Featuring a unique Q&A style study approach, devotionals for personal growth, and topical articles on complex faith questions, this Bible equips students to connect Scripture to their everyday life.
Endorsed by Shane Pruitt, the CSB Teen Study Bible is an ideal study Bible for student ministries to buy in bulk, with three economical hardcover editions available.
This Bible is the perfect gift for every student—it’s durable, a convenient size to carry, and includes content written specifically for their generation.
Robust study helps and practical devotions make this Bible great for students who want to go deeper in Bible study.
Students are growing up in a world in which AI and social media parade as truth. There’s no more vital moment than now to present Scripture’s truth in a way that is easy to find for teens, preteens, and their parents.
Push back on deconstruction by equipping your students to search God’s Word on their own, starting today.
What are the questions keeping your students up at night? This Bible can help.
I enjoyed going over the CSB Teen Study Bible: Asking & Answering Questions About the God's Word. At the beginning of each Biblical chapter, there is an Introduction that includes: Who Wrote It?, When It Was Written?, Why Does It Matter?, and Where Should I Look For Christ?. Sprinkled throughout the chapters, there are commentaries that may help answer questions that a teen may have about the text, which I really found interesting to read. There are a LOT of footnotes, also, that can help, as well.
CSB Teen Study Bible: Asking & Answering Questions About the God's Word is definitely getting five stars from me. I believe it will make a great gift for any teen. A perfect addition for the upcoming Holiday season.
I received CSB Teen Study Bible: Asking & Answering Questions About the God's Word from Lifeway Christian Resources, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Disclosure:
Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
Giveaway:
1 GRAND PRIZE giveaway of the CSB Teen Study Bible Bundle (retail value of approx. $149.99)
Qualifications: Giveaway winners must be a US resident.
To enter: Entrants must fill out THIS FORM (there’s no other way to enter) by 10/20)
Bundle contents: 1 CSB Teen Study Bible (Blue Hardcover), a CSB Backpack, a CSB Sweatshirt, Yeti, Journal, and Pen.
In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.
In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.
Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.
Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…
Dana Mentink is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion for excellence in mystery/suspense. She was honored to receive the Author of the Year award from West Coast Christian Writers. A California native, she’s written over sixty titles for the general and Christian markets in the suspense, lighthearted romance, and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Revell.
More from Dana
Ice cream or pie? Cake or cookies? Beach or mountains? The answer for me is always, “Yes!” I’m a restless soul, I suppose, but I’ve never been able to choose one delight over the other. I’m that way with writing too. I started my career in mystery and sidestepped to suspense. It’d be so much easier to stick with one genre but no. Dana Mentink has to write both, it seems. I attended a Harlequin anniversary celebration in Toronto a couple of years ago and listened to the editors discuss their futures wishes. Tina James mentioned she’d like to see an “Only Murders in the Building” type book or maybe a historical mystery. Whammo! The idea hit me like a train. What about both? An Only Murders in the Building/Downton Abbey type mashup? The series idea was born. Lots of twists and turns? Check. Humor? Check? An unlikely crime solving trio? You bet! I’m truly thrilled to have been allowed to step back into mystery land. I hope you’ll enjoy the results!
Many of us do not consciously design our lives. We drift into routines and patterns shaped by habits, past experiences, and external expectations. Over time, those unexamined patterns can create a quiet but persistent sense of misalignment, even as our lives generate meaningful external validation.
In Life Plan: Living by Design, Not Default, Rich Harris provides a practical framework for living with greater clarity, balance, and intention. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and a written annual life-planning practice he has followed for three decades, Harris explains why change is hard, how subconscious patterns shape our behavior and decisions, and what it takes to create lasting alignment between who you are and how you live.
Rather than relying on inspiration alone, Life Plan introduces a structured life-planning process designed to help readers clarify priorities, interrupt autopilot thinking, and align daily actions with deeper values and long-term goals. Through accessible behavioral science, personal stories, real-world examples, and end-of-chapter "Thought to Action" exercises, readers learn how to reflect more honestly, decide more intentionally, and build habits that support meaningful change and true alignment.
More than motivational sound bites or traditional self-help platitudes, Life Plan offers a grounded, thoughtful guide to designing a life that reflects what matters most to you.
Rich Harris is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and founder of Life Plan, a platform dedicated to helping people live with greater purpose, clarity, and intention. For nearly thirty years he has completed an annual written life plan that aligns his actions with his values. He currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and twins.
Book Title: BEST IN MURDER (A Mac Faraday Mystery #15) by Lauren Carr
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +)
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: Oct 13, 2026
Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr's books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
"Pedigreed dogs, rich owners, cutthroat competition, enormous egos, several murders, a stolen diamond dog collar, a missing Irish Wolfhound show dog, a disgruntled cop, and a criminally inclined biker with a vicious poodle all come together in this tale. As each new element dropped in my lap, I was pulled in further until it was impossible to put the book down. I consumed it."- Marilyn R. Wilson, Book Reviewer and Author
Book Description:
One Collar. Two Dead. Total Chaos.
When a priceless platinum-and-diamond collar vanishes at the Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational—Best in Show at the Spencer Inn, it looks like the ultimate high-society theft. But when two women connected to the glittering event are murdered in quick succession, the case explodes into something far more deadly.
Mac Faraday and his troublemaking German Shepherd, Gnarly, dive headfirst into the glamorous, cutthroat world of championship dog shows. Amidst perfectly groomed champions worth small fortunes, ruthless competitors, and million-dollar egos, the trail leads to a missing Irish Wolfhound whose value goes well beyond his blue-blood pedigree.
As tensions rise between Spencer PD and the county sheriff’s office, Mac’s team races to untangle a web of greed, betrayal, and long-buried secrets—all while the elegant resort descends into delightful canine chaos. With show dogs of every shape and size turning the Spencer Inn into their personal playground, Gnarly does what he does best: stir up trouble and sniff out the truth.
Fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed with four-legged mischief, Best in Murder proves that in the high-stakes world of Best in Show, the biggest prizes come with the deadliest risks.
One Locked Cottage. One Framed Dog. Two Four-Legged Detectives on the Case.
When beloved local Frieda Selleck is found mauled to death in her locked cottage, all evidence points to her gentle, arthritic Goldendoodle service dog, Michelangelo. But Mac Faraday refuses to believe the obvious. With help from his irrepressible German Shepherd, Gnarly, Mac must prove the loyal service dog was framed for murder.
Just days before the glamorous Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational descends on the Spencer Inn, Frieda—a sharp-eyed woman with a reputation for “psychic” visions—had handed Mac a sealed envelope containing clues to her own killer. Now, with doors locked from the inside, no signs of forced entry, and a hidden wall safe emptied of cash and gold, Mac and Gnarly race against time to uncover the truth.
Joined by an unlikely four-legged partner in Michelangelo, the canine detective squad follows a trail of family secrets, phony smiles, suspicious alibis, and a desperate climb down a steep wooded hillside. As the pieces fall into place, Mac discovers that even the shiniest “golden child” can hide a dark heart.
A fast-paced, twist-filled cozy mystery packed with humor, heart, and plenty of doggy mischief. Perfect for fans of the Mac Faraday series!
“Who Framed Michelangelo?” is an exclusive prequel short story set at the Spencer Inn the week before the events of Best in Murder (Mac Faraday Mystery #15, coming October 13, 2026).
Meet the Author:
Lauren Carr is the author of over thirty acclaimed mystery novels, with more than half a million copies sold worldwide. Her fast-paced series—the Mac Faraday Mysteries, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and more—blend twists, suspense, humor, and unforgettable characters (including clever German shepherds!).
It's Murder, My Son organically hit #1 in Mystery on Amazon, and her books consistently rank in the Top 20 Police Procedurals in the US and international markets.
A popular speaker and publishing consultant, Lauren lives on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV, with her husband and three spoiled rotten German shepherds.
Assigned topic: the review that launched Best in Murder.
Every so often a review lands in my inbox and I can hear the reader tapping the page.
After Shadow of Murder came out, one of those notes said, in so many words: lovely book, Lauren, but where was Gnarly? I wanted more of the dog.
Fair. Completely fair. Gnarly has been stealing scenes since It’s Murder, My Son. He has run for mayor. He has been accused of crimes he did and did not commit. He has an opinion about everyone who walks through Spencer Manor, and he is usually right. If a reader finishes a Mac Faraday mystery and feels shortchanged on German shepherd, I have not done my job.
So I asked the only question that mattered: how do you get more Gnarly without turning the book into a picture calendar with a murder stapled to the back?
A dog show.
Not a cute little park-day agility class. Best in Show. The Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational, held at the Spencer Inn, which is already the most overqualified hotel in western Maryland. Champions worth small fortunes. Handlers who have not slept. Owners who talk about bloodlines the way other people talk about stock portfolios. A platinum-and-diamond collar that should never have left the safe. And one missing Irish Wolfhound whose value has nothing to do with his haircut.
Drop Gnarly into that, and you do not have to invent mischief. Mischief arrives on a leather lead and demands a grooming appointment.
I will confess something that will not surprise anyone who lives with shepherds: I did not have to stretch to write the four-legged chaos. I live on a mountain in Harpers Ferry with a pack that believes the house is a shared custody arrangement. They do not care that I have a deadline. They care that someone opened a bag of something interesting in the kitchen. Gnarly is fiction. The attitude is research.
What I did have to invent—and this is the fun part—was the collision. Mac Faraday still thinks like a homicide detective, even when he is standing next to a judge’s table and a standard poodle with a better stylist than I will ever have. David is trying to keep order in a county that has developed an unfortunate habit of collecting bodies. The Inn is full of people who smile for the cameras and lie in the hallway. And Gnarly, who has never once read a kennel-club rulebook, treats the whole event as his personal playground.
That is the premise of Best in Murder in one sentence: give the dog the room he asked for, then lock the doors.
I know some readers worry that a dog-show mystery will go soft. I write murder mysteries. Someone dies. More than one someone, if I am being honest, which I try to be except when I am plotting. The rhinestones do not cancel the crime scene. They just make it louder.
If you are new to Mac Faraday, you do not need fourteen books of homework. You need a retired detective, a resort town that cannot stay quiet, and a German shepherd who has never met a situation he could not make worse and then solve. If you have been with us since the beginning, you already know Gnarly does not share the spotlight. He rents it out and keeps the deposit.
The reader who asked for more Gnarly may regret the request when the Spencer Inn starts sounding like a kennel at feeding time. I do not. I took the note. I booked the show. And I let the dog off the lead.
Best in Murder is out October 13. Pack a lint roller.
My Review:
Lauren Carr has become my go to for when I am looking for an entertaining mystery. Her A Mac Faraday Mystery series has been one of my top favorite series. It was an honor to have the opportunity to read the newest and fifteenth installment called, Best in Murder. I have come to the conclusion that my favorite Lauren Carr is always the most current one I have read. It is so hard to choose! I loved catching up with Gnarly and Mac Faraday once again. This duo always has a way making me giggle throughout their stories. This time around they are having to solve a mystery at a kennel club dog show. I was often wondering of who done it. Once I think I knew what had happened, a twist is thrown in and I was left guessing again. I thought it was a great book to read and a perfect way to spend a cold, rainy day. Loved it.
I am going to give Best in Murder a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read fun filled mysteries, especially those that involved our beloved canine friends. I really am hoping there will be more to come from A Mac Faraday Mystery series for several more years. Mac has become like family for me. I can not wait to see what else Lauren Carr has in store for this clan in the future.
I received a paperback copy of Lauren Carr's Best in Murder from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
An unforgettable journey of faith, courage, and personal transformation
Swept into the treacherous French-allied territories of eighteenth-century Canada, a young English translator embarks on a dangerous quest through the wilderness to uncover the fate of his captive sister in this tale of survival, faith, and self-discovery.
Gideon Bates must confront his deepest fears, navigate complex tribal politics, and forge unlikely alliances as he searches for his sister seized during a devastating raid. Torn between his father’s missionary ambitions and his own yearning for freedom, Gideon’s journey will test his courage, challenge his faith, and lead to an unexpected reckoning with his past.
Rich in historical detail, The Missing Captive is a tale of love, loss, and the indomitable power of the human spirit. Don’t miss this saga of courage, self-discovery, and the transformative journey of one man in a time of colonial upheaval. It is a historical adventure that will captivate fans of colonial American history and transport you to a bygone era.
George Lapin is a beginning writer with a focus on Christian Historical Fiction. His first book titled The Missing Captive is set in early colonial America in a tumultuous period decades prior to the French and Indian War. The story explores the struggles, faith and resilience of the individuals in this time period. With a passion for history and Christian values, George’s writing offers a unique perspective on the lives of early Americans and the spiritual challenges they faced.
George retired as a construction executive and discovered that he had a desire to write fiction. He possesses a vivid imagination and believes that he can use that gift to write an intricate plot.
George realized that most of the historical fiction novels he read centered on the French and Indian War or later. It seemed that there was such a rich history in early colonial America that was being overlooked, so George decided to write about that time period with all of its political and religious conflicts. The changes in North America during this era could help produce an interesting story.
More from George
I tried to make the story protagonist, Gideon Bates, unique in a different sort of humorous way. Born into a Puritan Missionary Family in early America, Gideon’s mother raised him to aide others when they were in need.
Gideon had no desire to be a missionary but desired to be in the military. He learned many fighting moves from his uncle who was currently a ranger in the New England Militia. He also participated in village wrestling matches and usually won.
However, whenever he got into a fight and the foe was vanquished, Gideon’s mother’s teaching kicked in. He would attempt to help his foe recover by giving him a helping hand or leaving a little money for lunch.
I found that The Missing Captive: The Deep Commitment to Share the Gospel in Early Colonial America by George Lapin was a wonderful read. I enjoyed going back in time to colonial North America and taking this adventure with Gideon as he searches for his sister. The author obviously did his research in writing this book. The historical details made this story seem more real and made me feel as though I was part of it. A wonderful tale of faith, love, loss and courage.
I am going to give The Missing Captive: The Deep Commitment to Share the Gospel in Early Colonial America five stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean historical fiction. I would love to read more like this one from George Lapin in the future.
I received a paperback copy of George Lapin's The Missing Captive: The Deep Commitment to Share the Gospel in Early Colonial America from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Two strangers. One beach house. Zero plans to share it.
Tessa Trask expects a quiet summer restoring a friend’s beach house—not waking up to an intruder and defending herself as best she can. Wyatt Henry isn’t a burglar, though. He’s just as surprised to find her there—and just as determined to stay.
Under protest, the two agree to an uneasy truce. Tessa is creative and spontaneous. Wyatt is disciplined and guarded. Keeping their distance should be easy…until a surprise visitor arrives and turns their temporary arrangement into something far more complicated.
As sun-soaked days lead to deeper conversations, irritation softens into a fragile peace and grows into something worth protecting. While Tessa begins to trust God’s leading for her future, Wyatt wrestles with a past that makes trust feel dangerous.
Are their growing feelings worth the risk—or is walking away the only safe choice?
Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. She’s written seven novels and one novella. Forever Free, won the Faith, Love, & Hope Reader’s Choice Award for 2025. Beach House Rescue is her newest release. She and her husband live in North Carolina and delight in visiting their two daughters, twin sons, and new daughter-in-law.
More from Hope
Have you ever heard of Vinegar Pie? This interesting dessert is Tessa Trask’s snack in the first scene of Beach House Rescue.
Vinegar Pie is a real dessert created generations ago when creative cooks didn’t always have fresh ingredients like lemons. Sometimes they were also called “desperation pies.” They’re similar to chess pies in texture and in their use of whatever ingredients the cook could find in the pantry.
The pie became very popular during the Great Depression when money and ingredients were scarce, but Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about her mother’s vinegar pie in Little House in the Big Woods.
Even though I grew up in the South, I’d never tasted this pie until I visited my parents after I’d moved to Pittsburgh, PA. A local shop was called Vinegar Pie, and I was intrigued. The store sold southern items and baked goods, among them Vinegar Pie. I tried a slice and enjoyed it!
Don’t worry. The pie doesn’t taste like a pickle. The flavor teases the taste buds with the tang of lemon and offsets the sweetness of the sugar.
Here’s a recipe if you’re intrigued, too.
Vinegar Pie
Ingredients:
4 large eggs 1 ¼ C sugar 2 T vinegar (apple cider or white) ¼ C butter, melted and cooled 1 T all-purpose flour 1 regular pie crust (not deep dish)
Directions:
Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 350. Use beans or baking weights to keep the crust from puffing up.
While the crust bakes, make the filling. Whisk the eggs and sugar until combined.
While continuing to whisk, drizzle in the cooled butter and add the vinegar.
Pour into the crust (after removing the weights) and bake for 30-35 minutes. The filling should just be set. If it’s a little jiggly, but golden brown on top, the filling will firm up as it cools.
Enjoy straight or with some whipped cream or ice cream. Tessa, Wyatt, and Skylee would take theirs with ice cream, for sure!
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