Heart of Stone Adventures

Former Royal Fool Malfred Murd let himself get disgruntled, disgraced, and dismissed. Now a penniless exile- whose self-appointed magpie advisor Corvinalias is leading him further into perdition day by day- Fred takes a gamble that might win back a little of his former glory. All he has to do is trick a sweet, batty old lady into thinking he can work magic. But, the lady is Dame Elsebet de Whellen, proud ruler of a technologically advanced country that's poised between survival and destruction. Sweet she may be, but she's also armed, deadly, and crazy enough to drag Fred along with her on the desperate rescue mission that will decide the future of her people.

For a former Fool, the road to glory is lumpy, bumpy and full of pitfalls! A year after the events of Fool's Proof, Malfred Murd is no longer a Fool, royal or otherwise. He's a newly minted nobleman- who can't help plunging back into his own special brew of trouble. This time he's taken on a task that's outrageous even for him: becoming an undercover officer, out to bust the biggest crime boss in a vast and decadent city. Will it win him the attention of a certain maddeningly inaccessible Lady... or get him packed at the bottom of a barrel? Follow Fred, Corvinalias, the other characters we met in "Fool's Proof"- and a dazzling collection of new ones- on a journey through a world blending equal parts comedy, crime novel and adventure: heroic, horrific and hilarious.

When a mysterious enemy looms large, the Kingdom's secret weapon is Murd... Malfred Murd! Finding himself still alive is the former jester's first clue that his fate has taken yet another unexpected bounce. Quicker than you can say "Utmost Secret", our unlikely hero is reunited with his magpie advisor... his two greatest frenemies... and the woman who's best at breaking his heart... for an international espionage mission with a foppish, Foolish twist. Exotic locales. Sensuous strangers. The cover persona Agent Murd was born to play. All these and more lie in wait- but the stakes are as high as the mountains hiding a sinister country from the rest of the blissfully ignorant world. Because the enemy has a weapon never before imagined, and only our operatives can stop them from unleashing a new and horrific kind of war.

NOW A NATIONAL BESTSELLER! Rediscover the joy, power, and intimacy of prayer in On Our Knees, a forty-day devotional that illuminates the power of being with God-inspired by Dove Award-winning worship music artist Phil Wickham's song "Battle Belongs." Phil Wickham's On Our Knees: 40 Days to Living Boldly in Prayer explores biblical stories from Genesis to Revelation to learn about prayer from the heroes of our faith, including Moses, King David, and many more. How did these "heroes of the faith" pray? How did Jesus teach us to pray? Each entry in On Our Knees helps readers establish their own daily prayer routines, ultimately encouraging the lifelong practice of prayer as a means of connecting with and better understanding God. The devotional includes a suggested passage of scripture and Phil's reflections on the reading, a daily prayer and prayer practice to encourage spiritual growth, and a set of reflection questions to help the reader go deeper in his or her prayer journey. This devotional highlights: Jesus's teachings on prayer Prayer as the foundation for faith Finding intimacy with God Following God's path for our lives Praying with boldness and courage, while also in humility and honesty Letting go of anxiety and fear On Our Knees brings readers into a deeper intimacy with Jesus, encouraging a habit of prayer that can last a lifetime and cultivate a closer relationship with God.