HEEDLESS. STUBBORN. DISGRACED.

Small town Illinois, 1870: Desperate to avoid marriage, Nell Lillington refuses to divulge the name of her child's father and accepts her stepfather's decision that the baby be born at a Poor Farm and discreetly adopted.

Until an unused padded cell is opened and two small bodies fall out.

Nell is the only resident of the Poor Farm who is convinced the unwed mother and her baby were murdered, and rethinks her decision to abandon her own child to fate. But even if she manages to escape the Poor Farm with her baby, she may have no safe place to hide.

Four small-town neighbors, one fixer-upper, and a decades-old secret that could change everything...

Quinn Whittle made a big mistake.

She bought an old house in a new town... sight unseen. But it's not only the house that has a history. So does Quinn, and her new neighbors are starting to clue in...

Annette Best's realty business is struggling. Then a new face comes to town, and she sees an opportunity to save her company (and along with it, her marriage)... as long as the homebuyer doesn't poke around under the floorboards.

Judith Banks is freshly single but too fed up to date. Or so she thinks. Then her new neighbor hires a local handyman, and she's taken... but only if he doesn't ask about Judith's past.

Beverly Castle had it all. Now she's lost everything, and all that's keeping her going is her job with the Harbor Herald... until an unlikely friendship hatches on her very own street.

If you enjoy women's fiction with a touch of romance and an undercurrent of mystery, you will fall in love with Harbor Hills, the newest saga by USA TODAY bestselling author Elizabeth Bromke. Romance, secrets and mystery, family ties and female friendships abound in this heartwarming saga about four women who find friendship right next door.

Welcome to Harbor Hills, Michigan, where four neighbors find they have more in common than a small-town street and more secrets than they know what to do with...

When a new neighbor moves onto the block, Beverly Castle is curious. The woman, Quinn, has a daughter, like Beverly. And like Beverly's, the neighbors' mother-daughter relationship appears... fragile. Hoping to preserve the peace on Apple Hill Lane, Beverly decides to keep her questions to herself. Until a secret from the past comes rearing its head. The thing is, the secret has less to do with Quinn and more to do with every other woman who lives on Apple Hill Lane.

Can Beverly, Quinn, Annette, and Judith coexist on the same cul du sac? Or will the women behind white picket fences keep their welcome baskets to themselves?

- - -

Romance, secrets and mystery, family ties and female friendships abound in this heartwarming saga about four women who find friendship right next door.



These stories are best enjoyed in chronological order as follows:

The House on Apple Hill Lane

The House with the Blue Front Door

The House Around the Corner

The House on Crab Tree Court

The House that Christmas Built

The Howards don't know who I really am, but I'm learning all their secrets.

It seems like the perfect job. The wages are great, and accommodation is provided within the walls of an actual mansion. Not many little girls dream of becoming a maid, but this is an opportunity for me to get back on my feet. And to revisit my past...

But the strict housekeeper, Mrs Huxley, watches my every move, emerging from the shadows when I least expect her. And Lord Howard's son, Alex, takes an interest in me. I'm drawn to him because I know he's bad for me. There's a general atmosphere of unease at Highwood Hall, from the narrow tunnels laced throughout the sprawling house, to the abandoned north wing, rumoured to be haunted.

No one outside the hall knows where I work and yet a gift box arrives. One tug of the pretty ribbon unveils a miniature doll version of me trapped inside a dollhouse. In this scene I'm dead, lying in a pool of red paint at the bottom of the perfectly recreated staircase.

Someone sent this threatening package to me, but who?

And what do they want?

All I know is that nothing is what it seems here. And now I know what the Howards are hiding, I could be in grave danger...

Rebecca meets Gone Girl in this atmospheric thriller by Sarah A. Denzil, the million-copy bestselling author of Silent Child.

Read what everyone's saying about The Housemaid:

"A poignant, deliciously dark novel which kept me gripped." Vikki Patis, author of Girl, Lost, ★★★★★

"As the story unfolds and secrets unfurl, it leaves you gasping for breath!" Netgalley reviewer, ★★★★★

"An excellent mind-bending story tricking your thoughts in all directions!" Netgalley reviewer, ★★★★★

"One of the creepiest, craziest books I have read this year." Goodreads reviewer, ★★★★★

"Twists & turns aplenty with a killer of an ending!" - Goodreads reviewer, ★★★★★

"Amazing book. Truly a Denzil thriller, you never guess what's coming!" - Goodreads reviewer, ★★★★★

"This took so many turns my head is still spinning! The characters are so well developed I feel like I know each of them. Such a great read!" - Netgalley reviewer, ★★★★★

"...a fast-paced read with great descriptions of the European cities and countryside. I bonded with Amy and the writing flowed smoothly. An enjoyable book." —Readers' Favorite

"...an unforgettable read...the thrilling plot, profound historical facts, and perilous missions in The Hunt for Raubgold are sure to keep readers engaged for hours." —Seattle Book Review

In a current day suspense thriller, The Hunt for Raubgold is a story of mystery, intrigue, and the quest of millions who have searched for Raubgold—the gold Germany confiscated in World War II. In book three of the bestselling Amy Prowers series, Katherine Burlake reveals where the past becomes the present.

Nothing brings out the blood in a search as much as the word gold. This gold is different. It represents the souls of the millions of people who were killed in

WWII. The war ended seventy-five years ago, but the search for the gold has never ended.

Governments, treasure seekers, and political splinter groups have failed, since World War II, to find all the gold confiscated from concentration camps and other countries Germany occupied. Today the gold could be worth over a billion dollars to whoever finds it.

• Is it somewhere in Germany or another country?
• Was it destroyed during the war or lost?
• Is the missing gold only a myth?

Amy Prowers's husband was obsessed with finding it. Did he leave clues behind before his mysterious death? A bag hidden for 20 years is uncovered by an avalanche that destroyed a wall in her home. In it is a map and journal. Now Amy intends to find the gold and vindicate his search.

Author Bio:

Katherine Burlake qualified as one of the first women Air Force Officers to attend the Air Force Navy Intelligence School and serve in the Vietnam War. Living in Thailand, England, and Germany led her to the Department of State and Broadcasting Board of Governors reporting on embassy operations globally. She has traveled to over 130 countries including Afghanistan and Iraq. Her vast experiences plus her four years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia bring in the trench action to her engaging novels. Colorado is now her home.

Shop the Amy Prowers Thriller series

From the award-winning author of The Last Getaway comes a thought-provoking story of intrigue and suspense.

Paula Hickman watches the man with whom she shares a dark history move in across the street. Will he unpack their secrets as well?

Stunned to see that the man's new wife is perfectly identical to her, Paula struggles to maintain her sanity, unable to rely on her own perception of events. When a murder rocks their seaside city of Santa Monica, nobody is certain, not even Paula, if she is the killer.

As media attention amplifies and detectives close in, Paula is forced to face both her past and present demons--no easy task when you can no longer trust your own thoughts.

Aleja is the most celebrated young woman on Corazon, an ancient and mystical island where laws and traditions are carved in stone. For one cycle of the moon Corazon's leaders will give Aleja extravagant gifts, hold feasts in her honor, and when the new moon rises they will take her life.

Aleja is a Daughter, a woman raised from childhood to serve the goddess Queen that rules Corazon. Every generation one Daughter is chosen to give her body to be the Vessel of the Queen's spirit. Aleja accepts the honor willingly until she discovers her sacrifice will not be for the good of Corazon's people, but for a lie that keeps them slaves to a sinister cabal.

Rather than accept her fate, Aleja fights back against her captors. In order to survive, Aleja must reject everything about the world she thought she knew, and learn that even rules in stone can be broken.

Author Bio:
T.E. Dickason is a writer and teacher from the D.C. area. He has a love for all things sci-fi and fantasy, and can frequently be found lost in thought whenever the opportunity presents itself. He has published the short story "It Was Metal" for the It Was Metal comic omnibus and is currently working on a sequel to The Illusion Queen. In his spare time he indulges in his passion for silent films by drawing portraits of silent films stars.

 

The House of Crimson & Clover continues in the third volume, The Illusions of Eventide.

The mystic awakens.

Nicolas' life is painted by betrayal.

Stinging disloyalty from the two people he loves most leads to overwhelming loss, and an existence devoid of purpose.

He takes a note out of Ana's playbook and flees the pain, ending up at his family's holiday home in the Gulf of Mexico.

Instead of solitude he finds Mercy, a breathtaking woman with many layers of secrets and a stubborn refusal to answer any of his reasonable questions.

Mercy needs Nicolas, but he can never know the truth: that she is not a woman at all, but a being thousands of years old, at the end of a journey she needs his unwitting help to complete.

But in her presence, Nicolas' own dormant magic starts to surface.

Magic he was never supposed to get back.

Magic that awakens beings more ancient-and dangerous-than Mercy.

The House of Crimson and Clover Series
This is the recommended reading order for the series.
Volume I: The Storm and the Darkness
Volume II: Shattered
Volume III: The Illusions of Eventide
Volume IV: Bound
Volume V: Midnight Dynasty
Volume VI: Asunder
Volume VII: Empire of Shadows
Volume VIII: Myths of Midwinter
Volume IX: The Hinterland Veil
Volume X: The Secrets Amongst the Cypress
Volume XI: Within the Garden of Twilight
Volume XII: House of Dusk, House of Dawn

The Saga of Crimson & Clover
A sprawling dynasty. An ancient bloodline. A world of magic and mayhem.

Welcome to the Saga of Crimson & Clover, where all series within are linked but can be equally enjoyed on their own.

For content warnings, please visit sarahmcradit.com.

About the Author
Sarah is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Paranormal Southern Gothic series, The House of Crimson & Clover, born of her combined passion for New Orleans, and the mysterious complexity of human nature. Her work has been described as rich, emotive, and highly dimensional. An unabashed geek, Sarah enjoys studying obscure subjects like the Plantagenet and Ptolemaic dynasties, and settling debates on provocative Tolkien topics such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, Sarah has visited over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration (though New Orleans is where her heart rests). She's a self-professed expert at crafting original songs to sing to her very patient pets, and a seasoned professional at finding ways to humiliate herself (bonus points if it happens in public). When at home in Oregon, her husband and best friend, James, is very kind about indulging her love of fast German cars and expensive lattes. Connect with Sarah: Official Website: http: //www.sarahmcradit.com Facebook: http: //www.facebook.com/houseofcrimsonandclover Google +: google.com/+SarahMCradit Twitter: @thewritersarah

“…a women’s fiction novel of epic proportions…undoubtedly one of the best novels I have read this year.” —Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite

As a girl on the brink of womanhood in 1960s India, Shanti Bamzai has big dreams. Rather than enter into an arranged marriage like her sister, Shanti embarks on a journey into the unknown, leaving her family home behind for an education and a chance to chart her own destiny. While India experiences an upheaval of cultural and societal changes as old-world traditions collide with the modern global era, Shanti navigates college, a marriage of her own choosing, and motherhood, fighting a constant battle between the pressures of traditional expectations and her own burning desire to be an artist and an independent woman. A move to America presents exciting new opportunities, but Shanti is disappointed to find herself still hemmed in by the restrictions of her Indian upbringing. As her children become adults and her marriage becomes a shell of what it once was, Shanti must find the courage to step out of her husband's shadow and into the life she's always dreamed of.

More Reviews & Awards:

2017 Indie Excellence Books Award Multicultural Finalist

2017 Winner Next Generation Indie Book Award Multicultural Finalist

2017 Readers’ Favorite Award, 5 Stars

"The novel is rich in content and the writing is exceptional…An excellent book, providing a rich and authentic look into Indian society and culture., and I highly recommend it." —Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

“In her debut novel, The Immigrant Wife, Madhu B. Wangu brings to life a mysterious time and place. Wangu creates rich, dynamic images of India, comparable to her watercolors, evoking every sense. The indigenous sights, sounds, and smells are so vivid that I swear I could find my way to Shanti’s home. Wangu’s style is gentle and quiet like the protagonist, and deeply powerful. This tale of love and nurturing, loss and growth, and transformation will stay with readers long after they finish the novel.” —Kathleen Shoop, award-winning author of The Last Letter and After the Fog

 “This book is an experience worth treasuring. Readers who are fascinated by Indian culture, or who wish to challenge the biased traditions of a society, would enjoy Madhu’s work.” —Ankita Shukla for Readers’ Favorite

Author Bio:
Founder of the Mindful Writes Groups and Retreats, Madhu Bazaz Wangu is an author and meditation instructor. Her CDs, Meditations for Mindful Writers I & II guide and inspire writers of all levels to tap  into their creative flow and delve deeper into their writing. Her essays on Hindu and Buddhist art have appeared in anthologies in India and the United States.

 

Day by day, century by century, the past cries out to the future: "Do not set aside my beauty, my desires, and my carefully-constructed truths, even as you try to take my precious child to some impossible shore." - from the Prologue.

Named one of the Best 100 Indie Books of 2021 by Kirkus Reviews!

"Grand visions...the stories are capacious and sweeping... pitch-perfect...Zasada's yarns captivate."-Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

"...Closely linked short stories that form a whole far greater than the sum of their parts. Each layer of The Impossible Shore draws the reader deeper than the one before. An extraordinary, intricately crafted work of literature, The Impossible Shore is highly recommended."-Midwest Book Review

In this Story Cycle of closely linked and exquisitely wrought tales, entire philosophical systems arise and fall along with the characters. A man in Central Park envisions a daunting, snow-capped mountain rising up in place of The Dakota. A rock star dreams of Heaven and Hell. A minor Pakistani official tries to imagine The West. A successful CFO tries to pass his fortune to a sailor. An unprepared heir explores the deepest possibilities of "more." A college professor speaks with the dead. Lovers move first into, and then out of worlds they create together. Again and again, as we move closer to The Impossible Shore, the unreachable comes almost within our grasp.

The song "Stop Asking" by Josh Silvera, was based on The Productions of Time, one of the key works in the cycle. See www.impossibleshore.com

Author Marc Porter Zasada is perhaps best known for his six years of "Urban Man" commentaries on NPR station KCRW in Los Angeles, but he has had many careers: newspaper editor, book editor, theatre and classical music reviewer, essayist, and high-tech marketing executive at leading global companies. His articles and stories have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, the Antioch Review, The Florida Review, Big Fiction, and many other venues. Marc was one of seven founding members of the Bay Area Book Awards. He now makes his home in Southern California. The Impossible Shore is his first full-length work of fiction. Learn more at www.impossibleshore.com

A sordid scandal rocks the Glass household and threatens to ruin Matt's family unless he can suppress it. But after word gets out, and a rare magical coronet is stolen, he and India find themselves scrambling to recover the heirloom and suppress the gossip before reputations are ruined.

To make matters worse, someone is sending threatening letters to the magicians of London, stirring up trouble between the artless and magicians. Tensions are rising, but India and Matt choose not to investigate - until the author of the letters is assaulted.

As if they don't have enough on their plate, Willie is jailed. The reason for her arrest is...complicated.

It should be a happy time for India and Matt, but forces beyond their control conspire to ruin their future. A distraction from their troubles comes in the form of murder.

When the editor of The Weekly Gazette is killed, controversial journalist and ink magician Oscar Barratt asks India and Matt to investigate. As the recipient of threatening letters written on magic paper, he believes he was the intended target. With suspects ranging from Oscar's brother to guild masters and London's elite, India and Matt have a lot of investigating to do.

But the more they dig, the more dark secrets they uncover. Secrets that involve blackmail and an exclusive club of magic collectors who want to preserve the value of their collections. When one of the secrets can give India and Matt the future they desire, will they give in to blackmail or sacrifice their happiness?

Saving a rundown seaside resort makes dealing with bridezillas look like a piece of cake.

Achieving her dream career as a wedding planner hasn't been easy, but Zoe's sacrifices are about to pay off. Unfortunately, her carefully crafted life is knocked off course when her elderly landlord Celia is hospitalized, and Zoe learns that their home, the former Inn at Willa Bay, is in jeopardy.

Her friend Meg left a prestigious chef position in the city when she returned home after her mother got sick. Now that her mother is healthy again, is it time for Meg to follow her own dreams?

Another friend, Cassie, never expected to be a single mother, but she's making things work—until an old rival returns to Willa Bay, threatening her much-needed job as a pastry chef at a local lodge.

Across the country, Shawn has just finished renovating a turn-of-the-century house when a phone call from a mystery woman brings him back to Washington State.

News of Celia's accident ripples through the community and reveals a long-hidden secret that brings all of them together. In the process of changing the fate of the historic Inn at Willa Bay, they discover the healing power of friendship, family, and love—and a pathway to an exciting new future.

Escape to scenic Willa Bay in this heartwarming USA Today Bestseller by the author of the Candle Beach series

 

Harboring a fugitive is dangerous enough. Falling in love with her could mean the end of his dreams-and his life.

After nearly ten years in the army, Hamish Campbell is ready to settle in and call a place home. His sights are set on Dalmore House, the Campbell family estate seized by the Crown after the '45 uprising. To have any chance at all of regaining it, Hamish must not only find the money to pay off the estate's debts but persuade the man who has charge of it to relinquish the property into the hands of a Jacobite's son. With the help of his brother-in-arms, Hamish finds employment at an inn near to Dalmore's overseer, putting him in an ideal location to seek the man's favor.

Ava MacMorran cannot marry Angus MacKinnon. Any fate would be preferable. Escaping her father's threats of force, Ava sets out for the home of the childhood friend she knows will help her-perhaps even marry her. But when the merchant meant to take her there is nowhere to be found and Ava is mistaken for a long-awaited inn servant, she determines to go along with the misconception until she can be rescued by her friend.

With Ava ignorant of Hamish's goals and Hamish unaware that he is harboring the fugitive daughter of the lynchpin of his plan, attachment between them deepens and the threat of discovery looms large, making a satisfactory outcome seem all but impossible.

The Innkeeper and the Fugitive is a clean romance and the third book in the Tales from the Highlands series. For greatest enjoyment, it is strongly recommended that the books be read in order.

A sweet-as-pie teacher. A hometown hero. And the local B&B, complete with innkeeper's quarters...

Fresh on the heels of a broken engagement and a dead-end subbing gig, would-be English teacher Greta Houston goes home for the summer. She needs to recharge, and the farm town is just the place. Friday night fish frys and dusty back roads bring her down to earth, but Hickory Grove is only a pit stop on Greta's way back to the big city. Then she gets an interview... with the last place she'd ever thought to apply.

Football coach Luke Hart has too much on his plate. After moving to Hickory Grove to be closer to his ailing grandmother, he spends his days teaching, coaching, and volunteering at church. Life is good, until Mamaw Hart passes away, leaving him with a daunting heirloom: The Hickory Grove Inn. Luke needs help to run the place, or else he'll have to sell the one thing that connects him to his past.

Take a trip to the heart of America and fall in love with Hickory Grove's quirky residents who work hard, enjoy the simple life, and always put love first. Each title is a standalone read.

The Schoolhouse: Book One

The Christmas House: Book Two

The Farmhouse: Book Three

The Innkeeper's House: Book Four

The Quilting House: Book Five

Can you inspire your team hearts and minds every day? If you can your organization will become one of the best in the world, and your team will perform at heights you never imagine. Harvard Business School gathered data from assessments of more than 50,000 leaders, and the ability to inspire stood out as one of the most critical competencies.Inspiration creates the highest levels of engagement, it is what separates the best leaders from everyone else, and it is what employees want most in their leaders. The Inspirational Leader, Inspire Your Team To Believe In The Impossible was written to help all leaders successfully navigate all the disruptions in today fiercely competitive world; we need a new generation of leaders who care deeply for the well-being of their team and who understand that their people are the heart of their leadership. Whether you are the leader of a large, medium or small organization; a Teacher, a V.P., CEO, Father, Mother, Police Officer, or Hustler; this book was written to help you inspire your team to believe in the impossible. Each chapter in this book will push you to become the leader you were destined to be; a leader of influence, a leader of value, a leader of vision and most importantly, an inspirational leader.

An unconventional blend of memoir, art history, and social criticism which manages to be funny, moving, and controversial all at the same time.

This is the entertaining and personal story of a forty-something woman who decides to become an artist and discovers just how much society is involved in our creative lives. She finds powerful social pressure, not only in the art world but among artists and even in our everyday world, to work and think and speak about art in the accepted way... and that way assumes you are an extrovert.

In art (and beyond), there seems to be universal belief in the importance of spontaneity, originality, and self-expression. We laugh at and yet are impressed by artspeak. We cultivate the mystique around art but also encourage amateurs that everybody is an artist. Most of all, we insist that art is for communication.

Why are these ideas so important in art? Where did they come from? Why does everybody believe in them so powerfully? Downey relates self-deprecating stories of how she came up against each one, and then dives deep investigating these questions.

The art world's focus on these ideas sounds harmless, but Downey shows us how closely they are tied to our society's Extrovert Ideal, and how today's assumptions about artists make the art world an unwelcoming place for introverts.

Sharing stories of hilariously uncomfortable art classes and the ups and downs of faux painting jobs, The Introverted Artist is a vicarious experience in becoming an artist, while also being a short education in lesser-known tidbits of art history that made the art world what it is today.

This book will make you question everything you've always taken for granted about being an artist, and will inspire you to think deeply about what an "artist" really is.

War has broken out in Alluria ...and we are losing.Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer are faced with a choice; they can either stay home, trying to live their old lives, or travel back to Alluria and help their friend, Ariel, fight the armies of the dreaded Shadowlord. But what can three teenagers do? If they are to save the kingdom of Chalon they must discover the identity of a deadly assassin before it's too late, battling barbarian hordes, ogres, and even a dragon along the way. They discover an ancient prophecy that foretells the coming of three outlanders who are destined to battle the forces of evil for the fate of Alluria. Can the trio rise to the occasion? Are they truly the heroes of prophecy? It's a race against time to save a world from falling into darkness.

Beatrice is going back home to Coral Island after decades away.

She’s starting her life over after her husband broke the news of his affair moments before their anniversary party and vow renewal.

His revelation derails her. Her children have left home and she’d always imagined she and her husband would travel and grow old together. But now she’s unsure of where her life is headed.

With nowhere left to turn, she goes home to Coral Island to visit her estranged father. She stays in the old beach cottage from her childhood years and uncovers a hidden roll of fifty-year-old undeveloped photos. Who put them there and why?

Will she find answers and purpose on the island, rekindling old friendships and rediscovering a long-lost love? Or will she be driven back to the city and her failed marriage?

The perfect beach read, this women’s divorce fiction novel will take you on a heartwarming journey of renewal with its cast of endearing characters and scenic coastal vistas.

Author Bio:

Lilly Mirren is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and three children. She always dreamed of being a writer​ and is now living that dream. When she's not writing, she's chasing her children, doing housework or spending time with friends.

Her books combine heartwarming storylines with achingly realistic characters readers can't get enough of. Her debut series, The Waratah Inn, set in the delightful Cabarita Beach, hit the USA Today Bestseller list and since then, has touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers across the globe.

Shop the Coral Beach series

Eveleigh's Books is a staple on the island and has been for years, but a newcomer to the island might bring the shop's downfall.

Evie's book club friends are the people in the world she relies on most. But when one of the newer members finds herself confronted with her past, the rest of the club will do what they can to help, endangering the existence of the bookshop without realising it.

When Charmaine's past comes calling, she reverts to her old way of living - running and hiding. She's not used to having friends. But on Coral Island, everyone is a friend. And this time Charmaine will find that being part of a close knit community is the one thing that will save her.

Penny and Rowan are newlyweds, but their new lifestyle comes with challenges neither one of them is used to facing. Can their marriage withstand the tension or will it be over before it's really begun?

Dani brings her boyfriend home to the island to meet her family, but he's not the sort of son-in-law Beatrice ever imagined she'd have. Will she be able to welcome and accept this stranger into her family, or will she inadvertently push her daughter away?

The Coral Island series is full of family drama, sweet romance, renewal, mystery, and friendship. This is the fifth book in the series and ends on a cliff hanger. Be sure to read books 1-4, before starting this one.

2021 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist, Mystery

2020 BookLife Prize Finalist, Mystery/Thriller

"Set in 1928, Cooper's promising debut and series launch introduces aspiring opera singer Penelope Harris...Cooper reveals intriguing secrets about her lead that make the prospect of future books welcome. Fans of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher will enjoy Penelope's adventures." —Publisher’s Weekly

"…an engrossing and polished historical mystery that wins high marks for authentic settings, a multi-layered plot, and vibrant characters enhanced by clever dialogue and differentiating voices. Set in 1928, descriptions and vernacular phrasing reminds the reader of time and place but never gets trite.” —Mary Amati, BookLife 

"The Jade Tiger transports the reader to the 1920s, when opera singers and adept piano players graced high-end social events...The 1920s atmosphere, the well-developed characters, and the murder-mystery thread make this novel a worthy read." —InD'Tale Magazine

 

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1928. The Big Apple teems with the glitter of Bright Young Things, Prohibition, and scofflaws—the perfect place for Penelope Harris to start her life over.

As a former opera singer turned Shanghai nightclub owner, she's seen and done a lot, maybe too much. With any luck, she'll leave more than The Jade Tiger casino behind her—a murdered husband, a blackmailing torch singer, and Thom Lund, the ex-cop who stole her heart. But Penelope has never had that kind of luck; her past is already waiting for her in New York.

When someone murders her chiseling blackmailer at an out-of-control party and Thom is accused of the crime, Penelope must face down her darkest memories to prove his innocence. Is the murderer her cousin Charles, suckered into a hasty marriage by Penelope's blackmailer? Or is it Penelope's over-protective mother, who can't remember a thing after a blow to the head? Or was it Thom after all, ready to commit murder to save Penelope from the blackmailer's wicked plans?

Among the opulent mansions of the obscenely wealthy and the grit of a Hell's Kitchen speakeasy, Penelope and Thom must navigate double-crosses, bad liquor, bootleggers, and dark, obsessive love to find the murderer before the past reaches out to put a noose around both their necks. 

 

Author Bio:

E.W. Cooper is the author of the award winning Penelope Harris historical mystery series—The Jade Tiger and Murder at the Met. A lifelong fan of classic whodunit mysteries and Grand Opera, Ms. Cooper lives quietly with her partner, children, three dogs, and one cat in a very noisy house in South Texas.

Shop the Penelope Harris Mysteries series

Does love conquer all? Nell's not so sure.

Adjusting to wedlock isn't easy for a woman whose initial aversion to the married state took her to the Poor Farm. When a tragedy out of the blue prompts her to repay past debts, her charitable instincts threaten to wreck her happy new life. What does she really want-and what does she really need?

Attraction to an old friend shakes Tess's world. Can she change his indifference to love?

Martin struggles with demons from his own past as he oversees the rebuilding of the store and the creation of a new home. Will his ambitions hurt those he loves the most?

Young Sarah faces the antagonist who knows the secret that might ruin her future.

Join the beloved characters from the House of Closed Doors series as we bridge the years between Nell's story and Sarah's, interweaving stories of love and despair, darkness and light in the turbulent Chicago of the late 1870s.

About the Author
Steen, Jane: - Jane Steen grew up in England but lived in Belgium and the United States as an adult, before returning to the UK in 2016. Her corporate writing career included translation, editorial guidance for lawyers, contract drafting, writing fundraising appeals, marketing for realtors, and freelancing as a communications consultant. Jane is an independent writer of historical fiction, concentrating on the Victorian mystery sub-genre. She is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, the Historical Novel Society, Novelists, Inc., and the Society of Authors.

An ancient family diary. A timely prophecy. An epic conclusion.

As Sylvia prepares to meet Gabe's parents for the first time, the last thing she needs is for her long-lost father to cause trouble. While his answers to her questions finally bring clarity, they also usher in danger.

But that's not all her elusive father brings into Sylvia's life. His treasured gift of an ancient journal passed down through the generations, connects her to the past with its mystical spells and captivating stories. Yet it's the cryptic prophecy written on magical pages that capture Sylvia's attention, hinting at a destiny entwined with Gabe's. Does it relate to the threat of abduction that has dogged him for months?

The world's fascination with his miraculous survival has drawn unwanted attention, leading to desperate attempts to unravel the secrets behind his extraordinary abilities. When these efforts fail, his enemies resort to drastic measures, targeting Sylvia to lure Gabe into their clutches.

Despite her caution, Sylvia realizes she may have inadvertently placed Gabe in danger. Has his luck finally run out?

Only time will reveal the truth.

An assassin haunted by his past. Two young refugees out of their depth and in need of his special talents. John Milton is no stranger to the world's seedy underbelly. But when the former British Secret Service agent comes up against a ruthless human trafficking ring, he'll have to fight harder than ever to conquer the evil in his path. After Milton meets a refugee who lost a sister to people smugglers, he travels through war-torn Libya and the murkiest parts of Italy and France to get the girl back. As enemies watch his every move, Milton confronts a group of Albanian pimps and smugglers so dangerous, they could easily make this mission his last. The Jungle is a gripping standalone thriller in Mark Dawson's bestselling John Milton series. With cinematic set pieces, characters you'll grow to love, and edge-of-your-seat action, it's easy to see why Dawson's books have been downloaded more than one million times and optioned for a big screen film franchise. Buy The Jungle to watch "the British Jack Reacher" get pushed to the brink today.