Lisa Samson

Scotty Dawn tries to make sense of the world and her life as she travels to movie sets with her mother and writes a blog called "Hollywood Nobody."

A Novel

Hollywood Nobody

It’s a wonder tobehold what happens when love moves in . . . Former child starFiona Hume deserted the movie biz a decade ago--right after she left rehab. Shelanded in Baltimore, bought a dilapidated old mansion downtown, and hatcheddreams of restoring it into a masterpiece, complete with a studio for herself.She would disappear from public view and live an artist’s life. That was the plan. Ten years later,Fiona’s huge house is filled with junk purchased at thrift stores, haggled overat yard sales, or picked up from the side of the road. Each piece was destinedfor an art project . . . but all she’s got so far is a piece of twine with someantique buttons threaded down its length. She’s thirty-twoyears old and still recognizable, but Fiona’s money has finally run out. She’sgotten pretty desperate, too, and in her desperation she’s willing to do almostanything for money. Almost. So it is that she comes to rent out the maid’squarters to a local blacksmith named Josia Yeu. Josia is everything Fionaisn’t: gregarious, peaceful, in control without controlling . . . in short,happy. As the light from the maid’s quarters begins to permeate the dank roomsof Fiona’s world, something else begins to transform as well—something insideFiona. Something even she can see is beautiful. "Samson is in top page-turner form . . . The end isthoroughly satisfying in that old-fashioned, can't-let-the-characters-go kindof way." —Publishers Weekly "Samson is a trulygifted writer who shows how the everyday mess of a life can be transformed intosomething beautiful." —Romantic Times, 4 1/2 stars TOP PICK!

A Thing of Beauty

Romancing Hollywood nobody.

After years of traveling to movie sets with her grandmother, seventeen-year-old Scotty Dawn reunites with her father and together they search for her mother and for answers to their questions about faith.

Goodbye, Hollywood Nobody

Finding Hollywood nobody.

After her husband of thirty-five years dies unexpectedly, Pearly Laurel finds she cannot go on and considers suicide, but after she uncovers her husband's last "wish list," she vows to complete these goals, plus four of her own, before arranging her own d

The Living End

Women of the sandwich generation--squeezed between the demands of raising young children and caring for an aging parent--build uncommonly deep friendships and faith.

Club Sandwich

Devoid of romantic prospects, Valentine enjoys a deepening friendship with a quadriplegic companion and learns the story of a scarred local with mysterious ties to a traveling circus.

Embrace Me

After the death of their parents, Georgia Bishop, a could-be jazz great who has thrown her life away for a life centered around the bottle, and her cousin Fairly Godfrey, who pushes down her love of children in exchange for living the good life as a design consultant in New York, realize how far they have come from their God-given purposes, and when they face the most difficult choices of their lives, only the power of grace can bring them freedom. Original.

Straight Up

Ty Samson

Having lived a life of plenty in suburban America, Lisa and her daughter Ty thought they were traveling to Africa to minister to the people and chronicle the AIDS crisis devastating the continent. Instead, they experienced a life-changing, soul-rattling journey.

A Mother & Daughter's Journey from the American Dream to the Kingdom of God

Love Mercy

Characters you'll laugh and cry with, in situations you'll relate to instantly, light up this heart-tugging story about a miracle among female friends from competing churches which could happen anywhere.

The Church Ladies

Quaker Summer

In Lisa Samson's moving novel, the wife of a popular televangelist discovers a family secret that threatens to destroy her marriage and her husband's ministry.

Songbird

Always the Wedding Coordinator, Never the Bride. Fifteen years after the mysterious disappearance of Ted, her childhood sweetheart, gutsy and daring Lillie Bauer–bungee-jumper, book addict, and delightfully offbeat coordinator of “extreme” high-concept weddings–is ready to find love again. Yet as she boldly but reluctantly braves a disastrous dating scene in her search for a husband, quirky Lillie is caught between two contrasting images of married life: the rich, lifelong partnership shared by her parents and the troubled marriage of her younger sister, Tacy. Faced with long-buried feelings, fears for Tacy, and concerns about her father’s failing health, Lillie finds strength in an unlikely and peculiar community of loved ones, including Cristoff, her epileptic, florist business partner; Pleasance, a sassy African American clothing designer; and Lillie’s strong Hungarian Grandma Erzsébet. But when Lillie stumbles across a danger that threatens those she loves most, she will need more than friends and family–she will need a miracle.

Tiger Lillie

When her aunt shows up homeless on her doorstep, Sara suspects anything but a miracle. Sara’s an artist with a supportive husband and a house that folks on her block admire outright. But she’s restless and bored with life. Then her legendary Aunt Bel shows up, wearing a smile after years without a word. Twenty years ago, fresh out of college, Bel left for a summer missions trip and never returned. Now she’s on Sara’s doorstep, looking for a place to crash. Sara can’t say no to family, even if she hasn’t seen Bel since she was a nine-year-old girl. But saying yes to Bel turns Sara’s whole precariously-balanced life upside down. The enigmatic Bel gives Sara’s family and their community a jolt of fresh thinking and clarity. But Bel is hiding something. Though she won’t talk about it, Sara soon learns that Bel has been through a hellish ordeal. And she has the burn marks to prove it. "[Samson's] gift for creating unique, flawed character elevates this book above others. Each line has so much truth, and readers will likely ponder different passages long after finishing." —Romantic Times Review, TOP PICK! 4 1/2 stars "Samson’s quirky characters will have readers laughing, crying, and shaking their heads in disbelief, sometimes all at the same time. This uplifting read . . . will attract fans of women’s fiction and especially works by authors Sarah Jio, Anne Tyler, and Alice Hoffman." —Library Journal

Runaway Saint

After surviving the unthinkable, one young woman finds healing in nature, friendship, and a surprising kind of love. Lovely and winsome May Seymour graduated from college with the world at her feet and no idea what to do with it. A spontaneous mission trip to Africa brought great surprise—love—and a strong sense of purpose. But in loving others there, she encountered a severe tragedy that left her deeply wounded. She comes to heal at the farm of Claudius Borne—a sweet, kind old man who understands plants and animals far better than people. And his farm becomes May’s home. There on the farm, May renews a friendship with an old college flame named Eli whose path has taken unexpected turns too. As May tries to convince Eli to grab hold of life once again, he begins to pull May from her sheltered existence. Like old Claudius’s farm in Spring, May begins to blossom back into life. But no resurrection ever comes without sacrifice—and this sacrifice will forever transform May. Thoughtful, inspirational readStand-alone novelFrom the author of Embrace Me, Quaker Summer, and The Passion of Mary-Margaret

Resurrection in May

Always the wedding coordinator, Lillie Bauer makes brides' dreams come true, but when it comes to her own love life, she's never the bride. Fifteen years after the mysterious disappearance of her childhood sweetheart, Ted, Lillie --bungee-jumper, book addict, and delightfully offbeat coordinator of “extreme” high-concept weddings--is ready to find love again. As she boldly but reluctantly braves a disastrous dating scene, Lillie is caught between two images of married life-- the rich, lifelong partnership shared by her parents and the troubled marriage of her younger sister, Tacy. Faced with long-buried feelings, fears for Tacy, and concerns about her father’s failing health, Lillie finds strength in an unlikely community of loved ones, including Cristoff, her epileptic, florist business partner; Pleasance, a sassy clothing designer; and her Hungarian Grandma Erzsébet. When Lillie stumbles across a danger that threatens those she loves most, she'll need more than friends and family to get through it– she's going to need a miracle.

It’s a wonder to behold what happens when love moves in . . . Former child star Fiona Hume deserted the movie biz a decade ago—right after she left rehab. She landed in Baltimore, bought a dilapidated old mansion downtown, and hatched dreams of restoring it into a masterpiece, complete with a studio for herself. She would disappear from public view and live an artist’s life. That was the plan. Ten years later, Fiona’s huge house is filled with junk purchased at thrift stores, haggled over at yard sales, or picked up from the side of the road. Each piece was destined for an art project . . . but all she’s got so far is a piece of twine with some antique buttons threaded down its length. She’s thirty-two years old and still recognizable, but Fiona’s money has finally run out. She’s gotten pretty desperate, too, and in her desperation she’s willing to do almost anything for money. Almost. So it is that she comes to rent out the maid’s quarters to a local blacksmith named Josia Yeu. Josia is everything Fiona isn’t: gregarious, peaceful, in control without controlling . . . in short, happy. As the light from the maid’s quarters begins to permeate the dank rooms of Fiona’s world, something else begins to transform as well—something inside Fiona. Something even she can see is beautiful.

Sometimes you have to go a little bit crazy to discover the life you were meant to live. Heather Curridge is coming unhinged. And people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything--a mansion on a lake, a loving son, a heart-surgeon husband--yet still feels miserable inside? When Heather spends the summer with two ancient Quaker sisters and a crusty nun running a downtown homeless shelter, she finds herself at a crossroads. Life turns upside down for Heather in a Quaker Summer. “One of the most powerful voices in Christian fiction, Samson delivers ...a staggering examination of the Christian conscience.” –Publishers Weekly

When Johanna is tested by a life-threatening affliction, she must learn to place her trust in the mysterious knight--and in a God whose tender mercy is new to her. The Warrior's Bride is a stirring story of hope, healing, and steadfast love.

Lisa Samson

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