2014. When skeletal remains are unearthed at her husband's ancestral home, Dr. Quinn Allenby must use her psychic gift to discover what led to Gabe's ancestor's secret burial in an unmarked grave. As Quinn bridges the centuries with the help of a warrior's sword and an amber rosary buried with the skeleton, she stumbles upon a secret about her own past that will cast a new light on everything she's been told about her birth and set her on a quest to discover the truth.1461. Novice Catherine Dancy is forced to leave Holystone Priory when her father summons her home, but when she stops to help a dying knight after the massacre at Towton field, she alters the course of her life forever, and sets off a chain of events that lead to heartbreak and betrayal.

2022 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Silver Medal Winner - Suspense Fiction

“The Fortuna Coin is a very empowering book…. This book will surprise you and leave you breathless.” —Anelynde Smit for Readers' Favorite

Wendy Catalano, a newly remarried mother of four, finds herself, her husband and her children, murder victims of her ex-husband. A family heirloom takes her back in time to the beginning of her relationship with her eventual killer where she's given the magical opportunity to change the future and stop her family's tragic ending. But she isn't aware that she's reliving a tortured life. With only glimpses of the future, Wendy struggles to survive present day, unaware that a bloody and unforgiving destiny awaits her.

The Fortuna Coin is a haunting psychological thriller about domestic abuse, personal choices, and second chances.

More Reviews:

“A gripping drama centered around an abusive relationship, The Fortuna Coin is a thoughtful exploration of domestic abuse and toxic relationships. Author Karen Ann Hopkins presents a raw and authentic portrayal of a woman trapped in a loveless and abusive marriage, showcasing the ways an abuser manipulates their victims to stick by them. The plot is well-paced, and you never see the twists and turns. I found Hopkins's characterization thoroughly compelling. Each character feels well-developed, with complex layers to their personalities that make them utterly absorbing to read. You find yourself rooting for Wendy all the way through. The climax feels bittersweet yet satisfying nonetheless. If you're itching for a well-written, character-driven drama that explores a vital social issue, The Fortuna Coin is the book for you.” —Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

"It's been a long time since I've read a book that was utterly unputdownable." —Wine Cellar Library Book Blog

“I enjoyed The Fortuna Coin immensely. The beginning of the book was incredibly action-packed and suspenseful. Karen Ann Hopkins wrote a beautiful and riveting love story that turns into a nightmare. I also gained a lot of insight into the life of the Amish by reading The Fortuna Coin…” —Marie Steyn for Readers' Favorite

“Readers will become quickly engrossed in The Fortuna Coin’s richly emotional tale of good luck charms, psychic visions, and premonitions…. This urgent, personal thriller combines paranormal and romantic elements as a woman out of time faces an agonizing choice…. Great for fans of Kate White’s The Secrets You Keep, Julie Clark’s The Last Flight.” —BookLife

“The Fortuna Coin is a rare type of story that allows the reader to ponder their own life choices. All the ‘what if’ moments we gather up for ourselves when things don’t go the way we want them to. Karen Ann Hopkins has taken a sensitive subject and created a magical work of fiction.” —Ronél Steyn for Readers' Favorite

Author Bio:

Karen Ann Hopkins writes Amish fiction, mysteries, YA literature, paranormal, dystopian and romance for readers of all ages. She resides in northern Kentucky with her family on a farm that boasts a menagerie of horses, goats, sheep, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, dogs, and cats. Karen rescues and fosters a variety of pets and farm animals, but she also finds time to give riding lessons, coach a youth equestrian drill team, and of course, write. She was inspired to create her first book, Temptation, by the Amish community she lives in. The experiential knowledge she gained through her interactions with her neighbors drove her to create the story of the star-crossed lovers, Rose and Noah.

Shop all Karen Ann Hopkins books

This is the third book in the Nick Lassiter-Skyler International Espionage Series. In Book 1, The Devil's Brigade, Mr. Everyman-Struggling Author Nick Lassiter is introduced and goes to New York hoping to confront the second bestselling author in the world who plagiarized his unpublished novel. Instead, he gets caught up in the middle of a CIA operation with his father Benjamin Brewbaker and former girlfriend Natalie Perkins to take down powerful Russian mobsters. In Book 2, The Coalition, the femme fatal Italian assassin Skyler introduced in Book 1 takes center stage and terminates the U.S. President-elect. As she plays a game of cat-and-mouse with the pursuing authorities, an FBI agent and reporter working together eventually close in on her and in the process uncover a vast right-wing conspiracy to gain control of the U.S. Government. In Book 3, The Fourth Pularchek, Lassiter and Skyler appear together for the first time as major characters. They quickly become embroiled in an international case involving Lassiter's newly discovered biological father, the Polish billionaire and intelligence commander Stanislaw Pularchek, and buried secrets from Europe's World War II past. Their perilous journey takes them from the American capitol to the streets of Warsaw to the murderous gates of Auschwitz to the salt mines and snow-dusted mountain peaks of Austria. But can Lassiter, his adoptive father Brewbaker of the CIA, and his Polish biological father Pularchek work together as a team, and are they prepared for the consequences of stirring up the past? Furthermore, will Skyler be brought to justice for her multiple killings on U.S soil, or will she escape yet again?

A sweet story of friendship and finding love, with all the happy feels.

Megan dreams of making a living as an artist and a small town contest is the chance to make that happen. But insecurities about her unique style make her doubt she has what it takes. Will her best friend's older brother inspire her to follow her inner voice that she is all she needs and the woman he's always loved?

From a New York Times bestselling author, dive into this beach read to see how believing in yourself opens opportunities and leads to true love in THE FRIENDLY COTTAGE.

As someone raised in an orphanage, Carmel knows she should be grateful for a roof over her head and a respectable family, but she would love nothing more than to escape Birr, Co Offaly and get away from her husband, the monosyllabic Bill and his horrible sister forever.

Life as Mrs Sheehan should be bearable, all she had to do was look after the house and cook Bill's meals. She didn't even need to speak to him, in fact, he preferred that she didn't.

But, as her fortieth birthday approaches, Carmel knows the change must be now or never. Her birth mother has offered her a lifeline from beyond the grave in the form of handsome, charming and kind Dr Sharif Khan.

He's offering her a new life in London, one he assures her that her birth mother Dolly would want her to take, but the decision must be hers. A life filled with joy, friendship and the legacy of her mother's enduring love for her awaits.

But can Carmel do it and scandalise the parish? Can she finally realise her own worth and live her life on her own terms?

The Future's Not Ours to See is the next book in the Carmel Sheehan Story.

The third book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling The Wedding Pact series. Libby St. Clair believes in fate-so much so, she's willing to pin everything on a curse a fortune teller placed on her and her two best friends when they were kids. The curse, that each of them will marry before thirty, have a disaster of a wedding, and end up with a man other than her original fianc , has come to fruition for both of her friends, who are now deliriously happy. But Libby's attempt to quick-start the curse by proposing to her wrong-for-her boyfriend ends in a wild dash from the altar. She's rescued by her friend Noah, the only person who understands her impulsive decisions--because he's the same way. Having spent most of his adulthood fleeing responsibility and commitment, Noah McMillan is finally ready to grow up. Of course, figuring out how is still a work in progress. When he realizes he's in love with Libby, he flies to Kansas City to put a stop to her wedding. But Libby's already pulled a runaway bride. Eager to cheer her up and prove that he can be the man she deserves, he takes her on a madcap car trip that will bring them all the way to the City of Sin. In Vegas, those who risk it all either win big or lose everything, so what will happen if Libby and Noah take a gamble on love? The Wedding Pact Series: #1 The Substitute (Megan) #2 The Player (Blair) #3 The Gambler (Libby)

Is it a deliberate trap or just the game of life?

He's lived all his adult life on the banks of the Zambezi River. A safari camp operator but destined to live alone. Despondently returning to Zimbabwe after his brother's wedding, Phillip Crookshank is left ruminating about his future. Until he meets the American...

Falling for the seductive woman's charms, Phillip knows it will only be a brief love affair. As they always are. But Martha has other ideas. Ideas to entrap a man who only has one true love. His passion for Africa.

Trapping Phillip in the only way she can, Martha thinks she has won but has she? Only the gods will decide...

The Game of Life is the thirteenth book in the acclaimed Brigandshaw series where ordinary people's lives play out right before your eyes with Peter Rimmer's unique voice. You feel you are right there too, in the thick of it.

From a USA Today bestselling author, comes a story about three women, one small-town rumor, and a gardening project that's not for the faint of heart.

Lillian Gulch's husband died, and she's ready to be something more than a small-town widow. So, she turns to the only friends she knows: a gardening club she joined years before. The only problem? They think she had something to do with her husband's death.

Betsy Borden is a forty-something who happens to be Gull's Landing's most prolific, single socialite. But if she can't find a way to make friendships (much less relationships) that last, then she's destined to be nothing more than a gossipy spinster forever.

Emily Addams is twenty years old and twice divorced. Now, she is truly ready to start fresh, and the idyllic boardwalk town of Gull's Landing seems perfect. Until she learns that the grass is never greener. Even if the only job available is secretary at Second Street Mortuary.

Female friendships, romance, and mystery-The Garden Guild is a standalone women's fiction that has it all. This heartwarming, quirky story follows three very different women with one common goal: to survive the rumor mill. The only way they can do it? If they stick together.

Each book in Gull's Landing is a standalone women's fiction. These novels are not written sequentially and can be read and enjoyed in any order.

The Summer Society

The Garden Guild

The Country Club

"The author is a gifted storyteller, as this book engages the reader on several levels…Mahkovec has written a story that defies the reader to put it down before the end, and the end is impossible to guess. The Garden House is a slow-paced, insightful novel that I enjoyed very much, the sort of beautifully-written story I associate with literary fiction." —Readers' Favorite

“Mahkovec's prose is sharp and fluid…The premise is a fun one, and Miranda is a finely drawn character...An engrossing, if subdued, psychological tale." —Kirkus 

A story of love, family, and home set among the lush summer evenings of Seattle. Themes of gardens and buried secrets bring to mind the novels of Kate Morton, while the importance of home and family is reminiscent of Maeve Binchy.

When Miranda's two children leave home, her sense of loss is intensified by a void in her own life journey. She has set aside her dreams of becoming an artist for far too long. In an attempt to rekindle the beauty and passion of her youth, she fixes up the garden house as a studio—only to discover her husband has rented it out for the summer to a shy, somewhat mysterious young man.

Soon after his arrival, Miranda begins to have disturbing dreams. Her friends dismiss them. Her husband blames them on the teen shelter Miranda has recently visited. Is she simply experiencing a mid-life crisis? Perhaps empty-nest syndrome? But Miranda is convinced her dreams have meaning, especially when she notices her new tenant's increasingly suspicious behavior.

When her dreams become more urgent, Miranda can no longer ignore her fear that someone is in danger. Is something sinister lurking right outside in her beloved garden?

There's only one way to find out... 

SCROLL FOR SAMPLE!

Author Bio: 

Linda Mahkovec is the author of World War II historical fiction, short stories, and contemporary novels.

Themes of love, family, and home dominate her stories, and though they may be set against the backdrop of war or deal with the disappointments in life, the overarching feel is uplifting and hopeful. Threads that run through her work are the search for beauty and meaning, and the artistic female character—whether she is a painter, a gardener, or simply someone who lives creatively and seeks connection.

Mahkovec was born and raised in a small town in Illinois. She then spent several years in the San Francisco Bay area and Seattle, and for the past thirty years has lived in New York City. She has a PhD in English, specializing in Victorian literature. She has previously published as Agnes Irene.

Book Excerpt:

Chapter 1

Miranda awoke to the darkness of early morning. A barely-there breeze softly swelled the curtains, causing the sheers to billow as if in slow motion. Before going to bed, she had opened the window and parted the curtains, to better hear the sounds of the night and the morning birdsong. But at this hour all was hushed, except for the rhythmic breathing of her husband. The troubling sense of yearning, that of late had kept her company, had awakened with her. She slipped off the comforter, and walked to the window.

She lightly rubbed her bare arms. In the garden below, only the white flowers were visible – cone-shaped hydrangeas, discs of Queen Anne’s lace, full-blossomed peonies – dream flowers of night. They appeared weightless, as if they hovered in timelessness, and would not attach to the stems and root until the fuller light of morning connected them. Further down, the garden house loomed out of the darkness – like the flowers, not yet anchored, still in silent communion with the night. As she rested her eyes on it, almost imperceptibly it shifted – from pale gray to the beginnings of white, gaining in shape and substance as dawn gave way to day. Now she could make out the blue trim, the window boxes. Soon it would stand firm in the bright light of morning.

Everything was right there – in the tenuous linking of night with dawn, in the garden house full of memories, in the flowers and paths of the garden, in the longing that spilled out into it all. It was as if she were looking at a puzzle, and almost had it pieced together while it lingered at the edge of night—but then it completely disappeared with the morning light, as if it had never existed.

Breakfast. She would make breakfast.

She dressed quietly, washed up, and went downstairs. As she got out the eggs, milk, and butter, she tried to brush away the webby sense of discontent that clung about her. A nudging that she should be doing something more now. That her old role had changed and she must also change, or risk slipping into vagueness.

Into a large blue bowl she cracked the eggs, and added milk, vanilla, a touch of sugar. Then she began dipping slices of bread into the mix and placing them in a pan sizzling with butter.

While they browned, she turned on the tea kettle. She reached for the coffee press, and opened the bag of coffee – lifting it to her nose and taking in the rich aroma before measuring it out. The scent alone warmed her to morning, made her eager to begin the day. She took out several oranges and began slicing them to squeeze for juice. While she prepared breakfast, she heard the shower running. She smiled. The scent must have drifted upstairs.

Cooking grounded her, rooted her, in the same way gardening did. And Ben. And the kids. She caught the spray of citrus mixing with the aroma of fresh coffee, and moved more briskly as she began to set the table.

She filled a few ramekins with jams and sour cream, and poured maple syrup into a small beaker. Then she took out a bowl and filled it with strawberries and blueberries. She looked at the table and wanted it to be fuller, richer. She lifted the bright pink kalanchoe from the window shelves, and set it on the table. Too bad the kids weren’t there to enjoy  it. Clara  would  love  the  way  the  flowering plant matched the quilted placemats. And Michael would appreciate the mound of French toast dusted with powdered sugar; he had his father’s love of big breakfasts.

With one hand on the counter, she gazed at the table, secure now in the routines of her kitchen, of good food, of color and light, a prettily laid table. She leaned her head to one side and studied the setting as if it were a painting, and briefly imagined herself sitting at the table, wearing a long kimono-like robe – peacock blue, or perhaps a pattern in pinks and orange.

She glanced down at her sweat pants and t-shirt. Well, they were more practical for cooking, she told herself. Still, she wished she blended more with the arrangement – the one of the table, as well as the one in her head.

Miranda smiled at Ben’s quickness of step coming downstairs. She could always count on his appetite.

“Smells wonderful!” Ben said, entering the kitchen and giving her a quick kiss. He stared at the table. “All this for us? On a weekday?”

Miranda lifted and dropped one shoulder. “I was up early so I thought I’d make breakfast.”

“I’m not complaining.” Ben took his seat at the table and poured the steaming coffee into their cups.

Miranda sat down and looked at the ceiling-to-floor shelves behind Ben, a sort of small green-house that jutted out into the garden. It always filled her with happiness – the photos of the kids among the flowering plants, painted boxes and vases and tiny candles scattered throughout. But this morning, as a backdrop to the breakfast table, it filled her with melancholy.

She took a slice of French toast and poured some maple syrup over it and added a few strawberries. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to cooking for just two.”

“It’ll just take some time,” said Ben, as he drizzled syrup over his French toast.

“I suppose so.”

Ben looked over at Miranda, her tone at odds with the enthusiastic breakfast spread.

“I think I’ll get started on the cupboards and closets,” she said. “Paula has been asking me to hand over any of my old pieces that are gathering dust. I told her with the kids gone, I was going to clean house and get rid of things. She seems to think my old paintings and sculptures will sell at her stores. You know how she can make anything look good. I doubt if they’ll sell, but I guess it’s worth a try.”

“I’m sure she’s right. Your work is great. I always tell you that, but you never believe me.”

“That’s because you’re partial, Ben.”

“Can’t fault me for good taste.”

“Hmm,” Miranda responded with skepticism. “I guess I’ll show her my old stuff, but what I really want to do is set up the studio and get started on some new things.”

“Oh, that reminds me,” said Ben. “I think I found a renter for the garden house for the summer.”

Miranda put her fork down. “I thought we decided against it.”

Ben looked up. “We did? I thought the plan was to rent it out until we were ready to put up that wall, make some of those changes we talked about.”

“Ben, that was months ago. I told you just last week that I wanted to use it as a studio this summer. I want to finish that screen, for one thing. And I haven’t done any painting in years.”

“Miranda, I cut the boards for that screen two years ago.” Ben’s hand hesitated over the berries. Berries or jam? He decided on a few mixed berries and sprinkled them over another piece of French toast.

“I know. And now that I have some time, I can finally finish it.”

“So I’ll tell the guy it’s not available.” He lifted the coffee press and refilled his cup. “Oh, remember to set out Michael’s camping gear if you come across it. He wants us to take it to him the next time we’re down. Apparently, his new girlfriend – Casey? – is a hiker and camper.” He raised his eyebrows at Miranda and grinned. “He sounds pretty happy. Portland was definitely the right choice for him.”

“Caitlin,” said Miranda. She placed an elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand, lightly tapping her lips with her knuckles. She took a deep breath and resumed eating. “No. Don’t tell him.”

Ben raised his head. “Tell who what?”

“The tenant. The guy.”

“Oh. You sure? I thought you just said – ”

“No. That can wait. The rent will help with the renovations.” She took another slice of French toast and spread on some sour cream and raspberry jam. “So who is he?”

“Somebody Doug knows. Or his wife, rather. A teacher or journalist or something.” He looked up, trying to remember if there was anything else he knew about him. “From out East. New York, I think,” he said, as if that summed it all up.

Miranda made a small sound of exasperation. “Is that all you know about him? How old is he? Is he married? Kids? What’s he like? What does he teach?”

Ben drew a blank at each question.

“What’s his name?”

“William. Something. Been teaching for thirty years. I don’t think he’s arriving until next week. I’ll find out more today and let you know.” He tried to read the expression on Miranda’s face—far-off look, slight frown. He had been sure that his news of a tenant would make her happy. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just that – I thought that if we rented it out, it would be nice to have a woman. An artist. Maybe someone with a small child or two. Wouldn’t that be nice? To have kids down there? Just on a temporary basis.”

“You can always turn it into a daycare center if that’s what you want.” His suggestion, as he knew it would be, was met with a sharp glance from Miranda. “I mean it,” he continued. “The kids are gone, and now you finally have some time to do what you want to do. If it’s a daycare you want – ”

“I don’t want to run a daycare.”

“Well,  you  did  a  few  years  ago.  Don’t  you remember? You had plans to – ”

“Well, I  don’t  now. That’s  the  whole  point, Ben. I want to start doing some of the things I’ve been putting off for the last twenty-five years.” As soon  as  the  words  were  out, she  regretted  them. Ben  would  think  she  was  blaming  him  for  why she hadn’t pursued her dreams, even though it had been her idea to leave school when they got married and work while Ben finished his degree.

Ben looked down at his plate, and then up at Miranda. “I know. I’m behind you on that. Just – tell me what it is you want to do, and I’ll help you with it.”

Miranda’s eyes filled with worry. “That’s just it, Ben. I don’t know. I really don’t. How can I have gotten to this age and not know what I want to do?” She glanced about as she searched for an answer. “What if all those things they say about middle age are true? What if I get foggy-brained and too tired to accomplish anything ever again? And I just keep gaining weight and – ”

Ben laughed and leaned over to rub her shoulder. “Aw, c’mon. What are you so worried about? You just keep getting better and better. I never could keep up with you.”

“Ha!  You  haven’t  gained  a  pound.  While I – ” she shook her head at the unfinished thought. “Though  I  do  think  the  dry  cleaner  is  partly  to blame – everything comes back smaller. More coffee?” she asked, preventing any chance of a rebuttal.

Ben smiled and held up his cup. “Take your time and think about the tenant. You can always say no. It’s completely your call.”

She watched him fix another piece of French toast. “No. It’s a good idea. I’m not quite ready to paint or whatever, anyway. It’s going to take me weeks, maybe months, to really clean out closets and organize everything. A tenant makes sense. I’ll work on the garden house today, get it ready for him. It needs a few things.” She heard herself and almost cringed, as if another delay in her plans was exactly what she wanted.

Ben caught the wistful tone behind her words. “Hey – how about dinner tonight?” he asked. “At McMillans – watch the sun set on the lake. You’ll have your hands full today; this way you won’t have to think about cooking.”

“You know me well,” she said, stretching her legs and resting them on his lap. Miranda loved the restaurant’s seasonal menu and always looked forward to a new culinary experience – a fresh way of preparing a vegetable, an unusual combination of herbs or spices, or a completely new dish that she would later try to recreate.

Ben’s phone rang and he glanced at the number. “Sam.”

He chatted with his old friend, rubbing Miranda’s legs as he talked, stopping and starting in pace with the conversation.

Miranda picked a few berries from the bowl, eating them one at a time, and watched Ben, always so  animated  and  energetic. After  all  these  years, she thought, I’m still wild about him. He doesn’t even  have  to  do  anything. He  can  just  sit  there and eat and talk on the phone and laugh – and it all makes me love him so much. He was agreeing to something, raising his eyebrows at her at some good news. She just hoped it didn’t involve fishing.

Ben  speared  one  last  slice  and  shrugged  at Miranda, as if it was so delicious he couldn’t help himself. He poured out some syrup, gave a chuckle, and  nodded  again. “Sounds  good.  I’ll  tell  her – she’ll love it. See ya, buddy.” He slipped the phone into his pocket.

“What will I love?”

“He invited us to his new place on the peninsula.  Another  month  or  so  and  it’ll  be  ready. Doesn’t  that  sound  great?” He  cast  an  imaginary fishing line.

A weak smile formed on her lips.

“Hiking, fishing, sitting around the fire pit at night. He said he’s discovered a local berry farm that you’ll love.”

Miranda smiled at the cozy vision. “That does sound nice.” Dear ole Sam, she thought. Always sure to include something she would enjoy.

Ben took one last bite and scooted his chair from the table. Then he took his jacket from the hall tree and headed out the door.

Miranda followed him outside, rubbing her arms against the chill. “I’ll make a reservation. What time should I say?”

“Better make it 8:00. See you there.” He squeezed her goodbye, intensifying his embrace until he got the laugh he was looking for.

She walked out on the flagstones and watched him drive off. A trip to the peninsula might be a good idea, after all. It would be beautiful there. She loved the deep forest walks, the smell of wood fire at night. And Sam was always good company. Though only ten years older than Ben, Sam was in many ways his mentor. She would always be grateful to him for helping Ben through a tough time. The memory of those years, of the stress Ben was under, still filled her with pain. At one point she feared he was heading for a breakdown. Long hours, corporate politics, an ever-increasing work load. It was Sam who convinced him to leave the firm and work with a smaller architect company. And it had changed their lives.

A weekend with Sam would be good for them. She could walk along the shore while they fished. After all, she’d been wanting to exercise more, get back into shape. Here was her chance. Why did she always meet everything with such resistance? Like the idea of a tenant. That, too, might be a good thing. I used to be more open, more adventurous, she thought. When did that change?

Miranda lifted her face to the sun. She loved the way the garden smelled in the early morning, the earthy dampness from the light Seattle rain, the whiff of pine, the sun just beginning to release a hint of jasmine from the trellis. And if she leaned in close enough to the roses – she cupped her hands around the dewy pinkness, buried her face in the flower, and closed her eyes at such sweetness. She often wished they could move their bed out here, sleep under the stars, put up a little canopy against the rain –

“Hey, neighbor!”

There was Paula, waving to her.

“Good morning!” called Miranda, and crossed over to where Paula was planting flowers along her wooden fence.

Paula stood and held up a potted flower. “Just look at this clematis—it’s as big as a saucer.”

Miranda reached out to touch the pale purple flower. “It’s beautiful.”

“Just got it at the nursery yesterday. They still have some left.”

“I’ll go this morning. I need to get flowers for the window boxes,” she said, gesturing to the garden house. “I think we’ve found a renter for the summer.”

Paula inclined her head. “I thought you were going to use it as a studio.”

“We changed our minds. I want to organize the house first. Then think about what I want to do with the garden house.”

“I  hope  that  doesn’t  mean  you’re  going  to postpone  your  plans  again.  I  remember  a  time when you were always working on some painting or sculpture or something.”

“Yeah, well – that was ages ago.”

“What is it you’re afraid of? What’s stopping you?”

Miranda laughed at the ridiculous notion. “I’m  not  afraid  of  anything,  Paula. It’s  just –  I haven’t done anything for so long, and…”

Paula put a hand on her hip. “Does this have anything to do with turning fifty?”

“No, of course not. No. Not at all. It’s just – I’m not sure if I can tap into that part of myself again. I think it might be gone.”

“I don’t believe that for a moment. It’s in there. You just need to dig.” And with that, she knelt back down and shoved the trowel into the ground. “So who’s the tenant? A young painter with a five-year old child?”

Miranda laughed at the details of her earlier vision. “No, an older man. A teacher.”

“Well,  you  can  still  move  ahead  with  your plans. No reason you can’t paint outside or in the garage.”

“First I want to organize the house. Now that the kids are gone, I can clear out old stuff, get rid of things. And then think about painting or whatever.”

Paula gave a skeptical raise of her eyebrows.

Miranda pushed her foot at a clump of grass along the fence. “I think it will help me to focus, to start with a clean slate. I have so much stuff – old pieces I’ve held onto, half-finished projects. I want to lighten my load, and start fresh, you know? Then maybe by the fall or so I can be ready to really work.”

“Hmm.  Well,  don’t   throw   away   anything without letting me check it out first. The new shop opens  in  a  month. I  need  to  fill  it  up, and  your things would add just the right touch.”

“I doubt if there’s anything you can use, but I’ll start going through things.”

“You really should start on something new, as well. You’ll have the time now.”

“Yeah.” Miranda nodded and looked around. “Well, I better get started with everything. See you later.” She began to walk back to the house.

“Don’t wait too long, Miranda!”

Miranda turned and waited for a final word of reprimand.

But Paula was holding up the pale purple clematis. “They’re sure to go fast.”

Shop all Linda Mahkovec books

The opportunity of a lifetime lands in Peter Cullen's lap and nothing is going to stop him taking full advantage, not even the misgivings of his wife. Cullen's Celtic Cabaret has been flying high, but the real goal, the secret desire of Peter's heart, America, is finally, incredibly, looking like a reality.

The troupe are not at all prepared for what awaits them in prohibition era Atlantic City and they are dazzled by the bright lights. Keeping discipline and ensuring everyone remains focused drives Peter to the edge of his patience, but he soon realises that this is the least of his problems, as the gloss and sheen of the New Jersey shore reveals a dark side, and somehow his cabaret has fallen foul of it.

What begins as a summer of fun, looks to be taking a sinister turn, and Peter is in way over his head. He can possibly survive, all he needs now is the luck of the Irish.

If you enjoyed The Great Gatsby or Boardwalk Empire, you'll love The Gem of Ireland's Crown, the latest instalment of Cullen's Celtic Cabaret.

Eighteen-year-old Jordan Conway has always wanted to help people, but helping seven archangels to achieve their divine duty was never quite what he had in mind...When Jordan is entrusted by the head nun of his orphanage to deliver a mysterious backpack to a New York City address, he comes unexpectedly face-to-face with Archangel Gabriel. Their acquaintance fast uncovers a labyrinth of secrets that connect Jordan's once-normal life to an ancient heavenly prophecy. Now, he must help Gabriel to reunite the archangels before evil forces grow too strong.Soon, Jordan and Gabriel find themselves on a divine quest across the globe, while deep in the pits of Hell, Satan plots his return to earth. To gain control, however, Satan needs the powerful prophetic objects locked safe inside Jordan's backpack-and the devil will stop at nothing to get what he wants.With that notion threatening his only family and the safety of his newfound friends, Jordan must do whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves and help the archangels succeed. If that means sacrificing all he thought he knew to go to war with the devil himself? Bring it on.

Pride. Greed. Lust. Envy. Gluttony. Wrath. Sloth.
The sins that make us our own worst enemy.

And at any given time, we all could fall victim to them.
Fighting those demons at times seems impossible.
Especially when they come to life...

FBI agent Emma Griffin has seen her share of dark and twisted murders.
When she's called onto a new case, Emma finds herself baffled and horrified by the crime scene.
Cream colored tags. Mysterious spirals. Words with seemingly no meaning.
Victims with tags that don't seem to correspond to their "sin".
The "greed" victim is neither wealthy or indulgent and the "gluttony" victim seems to lead a healthy lifestyle.
As Emma dives deeper into the case, other mysteries that impact her life start closing in.
The more truths Emma uncovers the more bizarre turns this "Seven Deadly Sins" case takes, and the more of a target Emma becomes.
As the mystery unfolds, Emma finds that these murders are connected to a part of her past she considered long over...

You can run or hide, but escape is not an option.
In the end the sin of our past turns into demons that will come after all...

When a mysterious package containing a severed hand is left at FBI agent Emma Griffin's doorstep, Emma is suddenly pulled into one of the buried mysteries of her past.

Emma is looking forward to spending the holidays with the family she's built around herself.

Bellamy, Eric, Dean, and Xavier are coming to Sherwood to celebrate the season with her and Sam, and she's looking forward to spending some time relaxing and sharing traditions, old and new.

Before the festivities can begin, she takes a trip to Feathered Nest to bring some closure, but before they can leave, an email brings an uncomfortable reminder that there are always more questions to be answered.

Soon she discovers there is someone wanting to ensure that there is no peace or joy for Emma this year. The reminders of a past she doesn't talk about and twisted gifts leave her in a brutal holiday rush to find the truth that was buried many years ago. Before the Bureau. Before Feathered Nest. Before this life.

This holiday, no matter how far Emma runs, death, disappearances, and mysteries follow.What should be the most wonderful time of the year may turn into a nightmare she can't escape.

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

There are nightmares in this world you cannot escape.For Dean, the haunting of his past is one he cannot leave behind?

How much of the past do you carry with you? It's a question FBI Agent Emma Griffin has dealt with throughout her career. This time is different. Months after a case brought her face to face with her own past and an unresolved disappearance that haunted her, she finds herself delving into the past of one of those closest to her. She learns about the turning moment of Dean's life and the torment that still follows him as they try to find closure for him. The investigation brings up another question possibly more difficult than the first.

What do you believe?

A mountain campground abandoned after years of deaths and disappearances is said to be cursed. Those who trespass there are said to encounter lingering ghosts. Emma doesn't believe in either but is drawn into the darkness of the unsolved cases and how they interweave with her life and the life of those she loves the most. When there's another disappearance, she must shift through what is real, and what isnÕt, to end the inescapable nightmare of the abandoned campground. And to help bring the truth to its mystifying and horror-filled past.

Nothing is as it seems. But one thing is for certain.

The case of the Cursed Lake is not a dream.

It's Dean's worst nightmare.

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

Small towns have secrets. The dark mysteries of Emma's life are ready to be told.

It has been more than a year since Emma Griffin stumbled upon a clue behind the dangerous secrets of her past. Now, she has the answers at her fingertips. The only question is will she survive long enough to find them?

As Greg struggles to recover, Emma keeps watch over him. She's desperate for answers, answers locked inside him. And she will do whatever it takes to keep him safe.

Her dangerous cat and mouse game with Catch Me, leads her to discover more about Dean and how their pasts truly collide. Is she who she has always believed? Or does her uncle know more about her than she would ever want to know?

One thing is for certain, a small town full of deadly secrets still has more to tell.

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

On board an unstoppable train the truth of the past finally unfolds, but will it be at the expense of everyone's life on board the deadly express?

FBI agent Emma Griffin is starting to get her life back on track. But as she gets used to the changes in her career and settling into her personal life, questions about her past continue to haunt her.

When a mysterious letter appears from Feathered Nest asking Emma to help, suspicion arises. She's being lured onto the train and she doesn't know why. But she can't ignore it. This is her fight, and she won't back down.

With Sam on the train an hour behind her, Emma begins the journey. Four hours closed in the train. A strange fellow passenger and a note appearing at her seat send her into an empty passenger car, where she finds the body of a murdered man, and a message addressed to her. Warned not to call police or let the train stop for any reason, Emma is drawn into a sick and twisted game where the painful memories of her family are used to taunt and threaten her.

The minutes tick by, bringing her closer to destruction. A huge storm is brewing, and Emma must face it head on if she wants to survive long enough to learn the hidden secrets of her past.

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

A lifeless body, brought onto shore by the shifting tides. A tranquil setting disguising the darkness behind a puzzling death. While the nature of the world seems undisturbed and billions continue living. There is one that carries with her the memory of the dead. She has no choice but to replay the very beginning.

A beginning and ending that leads her back to Dragon's Island...

For FBI Agent Emma Griffin, making the unsettling link among several cases has propelled her forward to finding the elusive truth. The murder of her ex-boyfriend Greg has haunted her for years and as she spirals closer toward the final answer, she realizes it is more disturbing and painful than she could have ever imagined. Her investigation brings her deep into what he went through during his disappearance. Forcing her to face questions about moments in her past and her future.

Now, the answers that have plagued her nightmares are finally revealing themselves.

But they just might be ones she never wanted.

Every ending gives birth to a new beginning...

Ring. Ring.

"I'm back."

 

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

There are secrets only the dead can tell. And some of these secrets refuse to remain buried.

Since the death of her mother, FBI agent Emma Griffin has devoted her life to uncover the truth behind even the most shocking mysteries.

Now Emma must confront the dangerous, but unavoidable truth behind what she witnessed in the temple. The people behind this secret society call themselves the Order. The Order has committed one too many atrocities to ignore. But their vow of secrets and silence locked behind vaulted doors has made Emma's mission of confronting the truth, almost impossible.

When another mystery resurfaces and death comes knocking close to home, Emma begins to feel entrapped by a maze. A mysterious field with the dead buried beneath. The lives of the past and the present lay on the line. The only way to save them is to fight the terrifying monsters head on. But what do you do when the evil you are fighting lurks in the shadows and refuse to come out?

There is no more running, and you cannot hide.

The only option is to fight like mad to survive.

 

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

Catch me.

The words that taunted FBI Agent Emma Griffin on the blood-soaked train ride from Sherwood continue to follow her.

Drawn to Feathered Nest, she discovers that the horror is far from over and whoever is behind the dare has no intention of his brutal game slowing down any time soon.

While in Feathered Nest, she revisits Cabin 13 to figure out the truth behind the necklace and search for more clues to discover the secret of the dead man that she found on its doorstep.

As she tugs the threads of the mysteries that have haunted her, the life Emma thought she knew starts to unravel around her.

How well did she really know her mother and father?

How much can she trust Greg?

Are the secrets in Feathered Nest really her own?

Lives depend on Emma's skill and instinct. Some she has the chance to save. Others are long lost, but she can ensure they are remembered for what they were.

As she pieces together the stories of her past, she begins to realize they are far bigger than she could have imagined. But only Emma can determine how they end.

There is no turning back now. It is catch or be caught. Hunt or be hunted.

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

 

A shy outcast girl from the rural outskirts of a small town is invited to a girls' sleepover with two other girls.
In the middle of the night a horrific fire erupted.
By the time emergency services arrived, it was too late.
Investigators assumed the parents, their daughter, and her 2 friends died in the home.
But only one body was uncovered, the mother's...

For years FBI Agent Emma Griffin was largely a lone wolf.
She insulated herself from the rest of the world. With very few exceptions.
Now, that has all changed. Opening herself has given her a chosen family she loves.

Working with her cousin Dean has always made her happy, and now she can help someone find a piece of their family that disappeared years ago.
An FBI agent who went undercover and never surfaced.
As they dig deeper into his disappearance, they find a potential connection of that case with the mystery of the 3 girls.
But as bodies connected to the case turn up in odd locations.
Emma struggles to make sense of what happened the night of their last sleepover.

It was just another ordinary night.

And an ordinary meal to accompany it.

A glass of wine, a plate of chicken.

And the sound of the ticking clock.

But then, the unexpected feeling of disorientation seeps in.

Cheryl suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous...

Then something far more unexpected happened.

And in an instant an ordinary night turned into a night full of incomprehensible mysteries.

After witnessing many tragedies throughout her life.

And solving cases that appeared unsolvable.

FBI Agent Emma Griffin learned the importance of following her instincts and questioning everything she sees.

When Bellamy brings a case that involves a sorority sister from Bellamy's past.

Emma finds herself thrown into a case involving a possible mysterious illness.

An illness that took the life of a young woman.

To others, the mystery seems to have solved itself.

But Emma isn't convinced that all is as it appears.

When bizarre cases of similar circumstance arise.

Emma is forced to dig deeper into the young woman's life and break open the people around her.

Tick. Tock. As the clock struck twelve.

Cheryl Collins took her last breath...

Time is an elusive beast. Like death, no one can escape it.

 

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

 

Evil has many faces. This one you will never see coming.

This is the bizarre and shocking case of Lakyn Monroe.
In the midst of filming her show, Lakyn vanished without a trace.
Four months have passed, and the unusual disappearance of the internet celebrity has garnered nationwide attention. With no clues to the reasoning behind her disappearance, the beautiful girl with the world at her feet would soon become just another missing face.

It has been months since the horror of Windsor Island. FBI agent Emma Griffin has fully settled back in Sherwood.

Balancing her time between the Bureau, the local police, and making sense of her ex-boyfriend's mysterious death.

When her cousin Dean shows up for an impromptu visit and brings along a strange missing person's case.

The case of Lakyn Monroe that he still can't untangle, she's willing to help him puzzle it out.

They get drawn into a string of murders and disappearances. Cases that seem unrelated, but as more clues are uncovered, more questions arise.

When the cases start to intertwine leading back to one man.

A "disturbed and unstable" man that is fighting for his life against the executioner's time.

They start to discover the sinister secret behind Lakyn's disappearance.

Faced with an insurmountable opponent, they must fight against the clock to rescue the missing and save innocent lives.

Emma must not only uncover but expose the monsters lurking in the shadows.

 

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

 

"Who are you?"
"I am the unlucky 13..."

Throughout the years FBI agent Emma Griffin had to overcome experiences of trauma and devastating losses.

The loss of her mother and the mysterious death of her ex.

She has spent most of her life trying to bring light to darkness and uncover the disturbing truths that were kept hidden by those who live in the shadows.

In the aftermath of the disturbing Arrow Lake investigation, Emma and Dean find themselves drawn to a missing girl's case from 5 years ago.Ashley Stevenson, a young girl that vanished without a trace.

But when her sudden reappearance leaves far more questions than answers. Stories and lies collide until everyone seems guilty.

Then when the investigation suddenly takes a turn for the worse and they find evidence of human remains. Murdered in cold blood. Emma is then forced to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew.

In this world there are two types of people.
The lucky and the unlucky ones.
The lucky ones live to tell their tale.
The unlucky?
Their story is yet to be told...

 

Author Bio:

A.J. Rivers loves all things mystery and thriller. Growing up in a sleepy small town, A.J. spent her days enthralled in crime solving novels and movies. She started creating stories at a young age to escape and create adventures for herself.

Her thriller novels have elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. When she's not absorbed in a novel or working on her next thriller mystery, her favorite past time is spent with her husky. She finds great inspiration while going on hikes with her dog.

 

Sacrifice, Starvation and Survival.

What will she do to stay alive?

Russia, 1905: Thirteen-year-old Ruth dreams of growing up to marry the boy next door and living peacefully ever after. But when he and her father are forced to flee to America after the Bloody Sunday Massacre, Ruth and the other female members of the family are left behind amid the violence and chaos of revolutionary Russia. Overcoming violence and hunger with a strength she never knew she possessed, Ruth resolves to do what it takes to keep her mother and sister alive-whether it be work, beg or steal.

Then she lands herself in a predicament that threatens to put her own neck in a noose. This time she may not be able to keep them all safe, at least not without sacrificing their love for her and all that makes life worth living.

In this prequel to the award-winning novel, The Girl in the Triangle, author, Joyana Peters, portrays a tight-knit Jewish family fighting to endure at a precarious and crucial time in Russian history. Join the countless readers who can't get enough of Ruth and her story.