In book 8 of the USA Today bestselling South Carolina Sunsets series, somebody comes back to Seagrove for the first time in many years. When the town is all abuzz about what's happening at the Willow tree house, what secrets will come out?

Plus, catch up with your favorite characters including Julie, Dawson, Dixie and more!

Veronica Sullivan's seemingly idyllic life gets turned on its head when she confronts her husband about his infidelity. Desperate to maintain his image as the State's District Attorney and salvage their marriage, he proposes a shocking solution-Veronica can indulge in her own affair, but only under his supervision.

As she embarks on this unconventional journey, Veronica meets Ronan, an enigmatic hitman haunted by his past who has a shared interest. They have an unmistakable, unquenchable connection, yet Veronica guards her own secrets closely, especially as a series of unsettling disappearances and murders grip the city. No matter how hard Veronica tries to deny it, there's something about Ronan that keeps making her go back for more...

Veronica and Ronan's passionate affair unfolds into a riveting tale of suspense and dark truths, proving some secrets can never stay buried, no matter how hard you try.

"Carrying a girl
Across the river;
The hazy moon."

Robert glances up from the book of Haiku verse. "That's like us."

"Is it?" I ask with a smile.

Blue shifts on the couch next to me, pressing more weight against my side. Nila and Frank lay together, their limbs intertwined, on the marble floor.

Robert is half in shadow, his green glass shaded reading lamp throwing a pale yellow circle across his lap and chest. A small, leather-bound book lays open in one of his long-fingered, elegant hands.

The last wisps of the sunset, just the palest, most powdery blues and darkest hues of purple, light up the sky and filter through the wall of glass, casting shadows around the living room.

Robert's phone, lying on the table next to him, vibrates, sending a low hum through the quiet, peaceful room. He glances at the screen and then answers it.

"Yes, Brock." Brock is his head of home security and handles the safety and impenetrability of this mansion on Star Island-a refuge for the extremely wealthy in Biscayne Bay, just east of downtown Miami. "I see."

Robert's gaze meets mine, his blue-green eyes narrowing. The fine lines around them deepen. In his fifties, with dark hair silvering at the temples, Robert is an imposing presence. It's not just that he's over six feet tall and well-muscled. Or that he moves with the elegance and speed of a killer, either. There is an aura of power that surrounds Robert Maxim-wafts from him-and demands to be acknowledged.

He closes the book of poems and leaves it on the side table. Blue, Nila, and Frank lift their heads, collars jangling. The puppies look to their father for direction. Eight months old, with gigantic paws, soft features, and keen instincts, they are almost as tall as Blue.

A mutt I adopted back when I lived in New York-a lifetime ago-Blue is the height of a Great Dane with the long, elegant snout of a collie, the thick coat of a wolf, and the markings of a Siberian husky, with one blue eye and one brown. Blue is trained to protect and his offspring are learning...Nila better than Frank.

Frank is a dumb dog-which I love about him. The guy is almost too sweet for the job. Whenever Merl, a dog expert, tries to get him to attack, Frank turns it into a game. Nila, on the other hand, is ruthless, smart, and quick.

Robert hangs up the phone, and Blue leaps off the couch. The puppies scramble to their feet, facing the door.

Robert stands, slipping the phone into his pocket, and crosses to me. He reaches out a hand-the shirt-sleeve rolled up, exposing a strong forearm dusted in dark hair. "Time to go," he says. I twine my fingers with his, and Robert pulls me from the couch, holding me tight as we begin to move.

A heavy fist pounds on the front door, echoing through the large house. My soft-soled sneakers are almost silent on the marble as we begin to jog. The dogs' nails click along with us.

"Homeland Security. Open up!" A man yells, his voice muffled by the large house. Robert presses a button, and a bookshelf slides away, revealing a doorway.

The loud crash of a battering ram striking the front door echoes as Maxim punches a code into the keypad next to the elevator. My heartbeat remains even.

I am not afraid.

P.S. The dog does not die.
**Beware: If you can't handle a few f-bombs, you can't handle this series.**

Los Angeles might be the City of Angels, but Cassie knows better than most how many demons hide in the shadows. With Chicago in their rearview mirror, she and Detective Harris are more determined than ever to uncover the truth about David. And it's finally within reach.

Finding one man in a sea of millions is no easy feat, and Cassie must rely on her abilities more than ever before. Bodies long buried will surface, and her newfound knowledge might change everything she thought she knew about her life back home.

Under the relentless California sun, allies new and old will join Cassie in discovering how far the tendrils of corruption can reach. And when she finally makes it back to Savannah, she finds herself facing off with an adversary that's gone unchecked for far too long.

The sixth installment in the bestselling Cassie Quinn mystery series from Wall Street Journal bestselling author L.T. Ryan & K.M. Rought. A gripping thriller with a touch of the paranormal that will keep you guessing until the last page.

A must-read for fans of Ghost Whisperer and Medium, Gregg Olsen, Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni, Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot, and Mary Burton.

Life is hard, but friends make it better.

Jackie Turner has never felt so invisible. As a top performer, the forty-eight-year-old is shocked when she's passed over for a promotion at work. Has she become irrelevant? It's a bitter pill, but she vows to keep her disappointment to herself as she travels back home to Minnesota for her thirty-year high school reunion. She deserves this unspoiled time to reconnect with her oldest and dearest friends.

Their special friendship kicked off at summer camp when five young girls bonded over butterflies, a troubling accusation, and a simple craft project. They dubbed themselves the Kaleidoscope Girls, and not even their turbulent high school years could tear them apart.

They promised to stay close, but life can thwart even the best of intentions.

Decades later, Jackie realizes she needs her lifelong friends now more than ever. Who better to turn to for advice on navigating the highs and lows of midlife? Her career feels stale, her nest is empty, and her father is fighting a battle he can't win. She needs a fresh start, and together with the rest of the Kaleidoscope Girls, Jackie will hit the road and experience what it feels like to have fun again.

Experience the magic of female friendships in Better with Friends, the first book in The Kaleidoscope Girls women's fiction series. Let Kimberly Diede, best-selling author of the popular Whispering Pines series, give you a glimpse into the early years and bring you along as the next chapters unfold for these five amazing women. Their future journeys will be even richer, thanks to old friends.

Let the Kaleidoscope Girls remind you that the best is yet to come.

"Heartbreaking, tender and romantic. This one tugs on the heartstrings." Karen - Goodreads

Nicole met Ryan when he was a handsome, cocky teenager with a desire to fly high above the clouds. Ryan encouraged Nicole to dream big and promised her a lifetime of happiness, but several years into their lives together, they were faced with obstacles bigger than either had ever imagined. Their love faltered. They lost their way and considered what had once been unthinkable-the end of their forever.

But now fate throws them a curve, an event that forces them back together, that strips their emotions bare and is both terrifying and strangely unifying. For the first time in a long while they have to face each other, and not only talk but also listen, because their lives depend on it-not only their lives, but also the life of their six-year-old son.

Secrets and lies frame a perilous journey to the truth that takes Nicole and Ryan to Angel's Bay, a place where miracles sometimes happen. But in order to get that miracle, Nicole and Ryan must work together and learn how to trust and love each other again. Only then will they be able to save their family and find their way to happily ever after.

Don't miss this emotional, suspenseful, intriguing story that brings one shocking surprise after the next! A tale of family secrets, a mother's desperation, and a love story that gives new meaning to the words second chance romance! If you love a good cry and a book that will keep you guessing, this one is for you! Fans of Nora Roberts, Robyn Carr, Susan Wiggs, and Kristin Hannah will enjoy this stunning novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Barbara Freethy

NOTE: The Callaways Family series offers romance, mystery and family drama in each standalone novel, and the books include some of your favorite storylines: alpha heroes, firefighter romance, girl next door, love at first sight, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine, meet cute, instalove, and second chance at love. Start reading now!

What the readers are saying...

"I loved, loved, loved this book. This author has a way of weaving a love story around chaos. This book takes readers through ups and downs and just when you think you have figured it out, you're thrown for a loop. I loved every second of it." Nicole - Goodreads

"The author has found the perfect balance of mystery and romance in BETWEEN NOW AND FOREVER. And my God, the mystery in this book was just too good - I loved the concept completely. This has to be my favorite book in the Series." Bookish Indulgences

About the Author

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of 41 novels ranging from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Traditionally published for many years, Barbara opened her own publishing company in 2011 and has since sold over 4.8 million copies of her books. Nineteen of her titles have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. In July of 2014, Barbara was named the Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) Bestselling Author of ALL TIME! She was also the first Indie Author to sell over 1 million copies at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

An author known for writing emotional stories about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary situations, Barbara has received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and has also received six nominations for the RITA for Best Single Title Contemporary Romance from Romance Writers of America. She has won the honor twice for her novels Daniel's Gift and The Way Back Home. Barbara recently launched a new contemporary series, The Callaways, featuring a family born to "serve and protect." For more information, visit Barbara's website at www.barbarafreethy.com

Two generations from one family face heartbreak and injustice in this poignant and emotional novel inspired by true events.

Married to her dream man, and with a baby on the way, Dr Mia Sato's life is in perfect order.

When her beloved grandmother has a fall, the photograph clutched in her hand prompts Mia to ask questions her grandmother isn't willing to answer. Then she cries out a confession that rocks Mia to her core and leads her to make a shocking discovery of a past filled with lies, broken families and forced child migration.

Mary Roberts is a poor gutter child living in a council house in 1950's London. When she and her sister are given away to an orphanage by their mother, they could hardly imagine the turn their lives were about to take.

Harry Evans is an orphan who finds himself with Mary and her sister on a ship bound for Australia. To a farm for children, where abuse and neglect are rife. A journey that will change their lives forever, and from which they'll never return.

Based on one of Britain most secret and shameful real-life scandals in which over 100,000 British children were forcibly deported to Canada, South Africa, and Australia over several decades. Lilly Mirren's heartbreaking, captivating and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us that no matter where the journey leads us, our heart will always find its way home to those we love.

For readers of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdad Sings.

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 taxiing her children to various after school activities, visiting her parents at the beach, or drinking coffee with friends.

Her books combine heartwarming storylines with achingly realistic characters readers can't get enough of.

Humanity's Darkest Moments

WITH A FOREWORD BY DR. PHILIP STONE

In Beyond the Darkness: Transformative Journeys Through Dark Tourism, Dr. Chad Scott, multi-category #1 Amazon bestselling author, takes readers on a deeply personal and thought-provoking exploration of some of history's most profound and challenging sites.

From the solemn corridors of Auschwitz to the shadowy depths of the Paris Catacombs and the reflective spaces of Ground Zero, Dr. Scott doesn't just explore the physical remnants of tragedy-he uncovers their emotional and transformative potential. With vivid storytelling and personal reflections, he examines how even the world's darkest chapters can teach us resilience, compassion, and the strength of the human spirit. Far more than a travel memoir, this is a powerful testament to how dark tourism allows us to connect with the past to find meaning in our own lives.

Beyond the Darkness asks questions that linger long after the journey ends:

What can we learn from humanity's most difficult moments?

How do these places help us confront our own struggles, mortality, and capacity for growth?

What does it mean to bear witness to history and come away forever changed?

About the Author
Scott, Chad: - Dr. Chad Scott is a multi-category #1 Amazon bestselling author, seasoned explorer, and licensed psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience in mental health. With a Ph.D. in counseling, Dr. Scott has taught psychology at Bemidji State University and Mesabi Range College, written three impactful nonfiction books, and captivated audiences as a speakerat a variety of conferences and seminars. Dr. Scott combines his expertise in psychology with a passion for transformative travel, focusing on dark tourism-journeys to historically significant and often tragic sites that uncover profound lessons about resilience, healing, and the human spirit. Through his work, he explores the intersections of history, humanity, and personal growth, inspiring readers to reflect on their own challenges and find hope in life's most difficult moments. Having overcome significant challenges with illness, divorce, and anxiety, Dr. Scott brings a hard-earned grit to his writing, offering readers an authentic and inspiring perspective on how adversity shapes our lives. From Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park to Alcatraz and the Tower of London, his experiences reveal how history's darkest moments can spark transformation and renewal. When not writing or traveling, Dr. Scott enjoys flying, outdoor adventures, cheering on local sports teams with friends, and spending time with his loyal Boston Terrier, Duke.

“[An] intimate epic of a debut.” —BookLife by Publishers Weekly

“Highly recommended reading, regardless of your favorite genre; it will stay with you for a long time.” —Readers’ Favorite

“Berelson has a gift for dialogue that rings true to a child’s perspective.” —Seattle Book Review

In the summer of 1976, thirteen-year-old Mary embarks on an unforgettable cross-country journey with her father and younger twin sisters. What begins as an exciting road trip in their beat-up car, Blue Pierre, soon unravels into a chaotic adventure as their father's decisions force them into unexpected situations.

Traveling through iconic American landscapes-from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone and San Francisco-Mary grapples with the growing realization that her father is not the hero she once believed him to be. When the trip takes a disastrous turn in Texas, leaving them stranded, Mary must find the strength to navigate their way home to Ohio, hitchhiking with strangers and confronting the painful truth about family, loyalty, and growing up.

Set against the backdrop of America's Bicentennial celebrations and based on real-life events, Bicentennial Summer is a coming-of-age story about love, disappointment, and the bittersweet journey of understanding the people we cherish most.

Author Bio:
Mary Berelson is a storyteller, adventurer, and lifelong educator. With a 30-year teaching career, she spent 25 years guiding kindergarten and first graders before transitioning to middle school technology. She and her husband raised their two daughters in Truckee, California, where she embraced the beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Now retired, Mary draws inspiration from a life shaped by her Ohio childhood, California adventures, and her roots in Tennessee.Mary enjoys road-tripping in her beloved VW bus, tending her garden, and crafting in her creative space. When she's not writing, she can be found mountain biking with her husband and dog or spending precious time with her new granddaughter. Bicentennial Summer is inspired by a road trip she took with her younger twin sisters and their father during the summer of 1976.

“Fast paced, whip smart, and satisfying. This irresistible beach read crackles with wit.” —Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author of The Beach House series

From the author of the best-selling Liz Talbot Mystery Series comes a novel about family and secrets, and the lengths we'll go to in order to protect both.

Can this charming do-gooder carry the day?

Charleston, SC. Hadley Cooper has a big heart. So when the easygoing private investigator gets a request from a new friend to stake out her husband's extramarital activities, she immediately begins surveillance. And when her client is discovered dead on her kitchen floor, the Southern spitfire is certain the cheater is the culprit ... even though he has the perfect alibi: Hadley herself.

Flustered since she observed the cad four hours away in Greenville at the time of the murder, the determined PI desperately searches for clues to tie him to the crime. But when her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be the lead detective on the case, arrests a handy suspect, Hadley fears a guilty man is about to walk free.

Can this Palmetto State sleuth make an impossible connection to prevent a miscarriage of justice?
With dry wit and delightful dialogue, Susan M. Boyer delivers an eccentric, vegan gumshoe sure to appeal to any fan of Southern women's fiction. With her merry band of sassy friends, Hadley Cooper is a Lowcountry detective you won't soon forget.

Big Trouble on Sullivan's Island is the engaging first book in the Carolina Tales series. If you like strong heroines, quirky sisterhoods, and plenty of Southern charm, then you'll love Susan M. Boyer's wonderful whodunit.

More Reviews:

“With characters that come to life on the page and a perfectly crafted mystery that keeps them turning, Big Trouble on Sullivan's Island is an utterly charming, beautifully atmospheric novel that will transport readers right into the Lowcountry. Susan Boyer's genius lies in her ability to make readers laugh, cry, and gasp—often all in the same chapter! The first book in the new Carolina Tales series, this is a 5-star read that has me counting the days until the next installment! No one is better than Susan Boyer at crafting an unforgettable Southern tale!” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil

“With a savvy heroine with a rich and interesting past, boisterous humor and colorful characters, Big Trouble on Sullivan's Island positively drips with southern charm. This is a highly entertaining mystery you won't want to miss. Hadley is my new favorite private eye!” —Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author of the Fixer-Upper and Bibliophile Mysteries

“A wholesome, entertaining mystery anchored by a PI with plenty of personality.” —Kirkus

“Susan M. Boyer has outdone herself with her newest book, Big Trouble on Sullivan's Island. Steeped in Southern charm and comprised of quirky characters and more than a little sass, the novel is a deftly crafted murder mystery that is at times touching and cleverly humorous. A rare gem.” —Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of The Moonlight Child

“Every word sounds like a molasses-slow coastal Carolina drawl—the real kind, not the cloying, fake TV kind. The characters and the secrets they fight to keep could come from any gathering of women of a certain age in that secret-rich sea island place. The book transported me to languid, sandy days—and made me long to head to the coast.” —Cathy Pickens, author of Carolina True Crime series

Author Bio:

Susan M. Boyer is the USA Today bestselling author of twelve novels. Her debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, won the 2012 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and garnered several other award nominations. Subsequent books have been nominated for various honors, including Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Okra Picks, the 2016 Pat Conroy Beach Music Mystery Prize, and the 2017 Southern Book Prize in Mystery & Detective Fiction.

In this transformative memoir, a man confronts the harsh realities of living with bipolar disorder. Battling suicidal depression, manic episodes, homelessness, and repeated stays in psychiatric hospitals and jails, he reveals his journey through severe mental illness. Despite the turmoil, his life stands as a testament to overcoming immense obstacles and gaining profound spiritual insights.

From a young age, he sought wisdom and meaning, even in the darkest times. Music became his sanctuary, a language to express his soul’s depths. Teaching himself to read music and play the piano at five, and later studying classical guitar in his twenties, music was not just a hobby but a lifeline.

When the storm of his mental illness began to calm with the help of a compassionate doctor, he found stability. This allowed him to pursue a degree in Sociology and become a mentor, sharing his passion for music with others. Despite relentless challenges, he cultivated happiness and gratitude.

His creative spirit flourished as a singer/songwriter at nineteen, and his poetic voice found an audience in his thirties when he began to publish his work. Now, in his fifties, his heart is set on giving hope to others who suffer from mental illness. He is a beacon of belief that with faith in God, one can navigate through the fiercest storms and emerge stronger. His story is a testament to resilience, the transformative power of faith, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

This memoir is not just a recounting of hardships but a powerful narrative of resilience, hope, and the unwavering human spirit. It invites readers to see beyond the challenges of mental illness and embrace the possibility of a fulfilling and meaningful life.

When Hani, an Egyptian diplomat under Akhenaten, is sent to investigate the murder of a useful bandit leader in Syria, he encounters corruption, tangled relationships, and yet more murder. His investigation is complicated by the new king's religious reforms, which have struck Hani's own family to the core. Hani's mission is to amass enough evidence for his superiors to prosecute the wrongdoers despite the king's protection-but not just every superior can be trusted. And maybe not even the king

Kate Murphy is just a nurse and single mom who wants to slip into her forties quietly, and finally lose those last 10 pounds. After a savage attack during her night shift break, Kate is turned into a vampire to save her. Now, she is thrust into a world that she didn't know existed; trying to figure out how to keep her new condition secret from work, kids, and her ex-husband without missing a step. It's funny how the word vampire will make you forget you have a water bill.

Unfortunately, Sorin, the Lord of the city, has sent her on a suicide mission to find the thing that left her for dead before it kills again and he doesn't take "no, thanks" for an answer. Despite knowing she should despise him, the passion he has ignited inside her is hard to control and she is quickly losing the reasons she shouldn't give in...especially when he makes it clear that he wants the same thing.

Kate will need to reach inside herself to find the strength that was always there and finally learn...she was never "just" anything.

About the Author
Nazarei, Lena: - Lena Nazarei is a full-time nurse, mom and doctorate student who used writing as a way to escape the stresses of a global pandemic, responsibilities and ever-growing chaos. She has loved vampires since childhood and decided to write the story she had always wished she could read. This is her debut novel and, since she cannot say goodbye to these characters, it will be the first in a series. In the future she plans to tell the backstories of each of your favorite players to learn what led them to the moment you meet them in Bite Shift. She currently lives in Pittsburgh with her two daughters and a spoiled little dog.

Charlotte Halliwell has a secret. Before she has the chance to reveal it to her sister, Audrey, she's found dead. At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than an accident, until poison is found coursing through Charlotte's body. Audrey hires Sloane Monroe, a sassy, headstrong private investigator. As Sloane works to solve the case, a second body is found. With the killer aware that Sloane will stop at nothing to find him, he tracks her every move. Will Sloane uncover the truth before he strikes again?

About the Author
Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author. Born and raised in Southern California, Cheryl Bradshaw became interested in writing at a young age, but it was almost two decades before she put pen to paper. In 2009 Bradshaw wrote Black Diamond Death (Book One: Sloane Monroe series). Within six weeks it entered the top 100 in two different categories and remained in the top 100 for over a year. Since that time, Bradshaw has written four additional novels in the series, and is busy penning two additional novels this year. In 2013, Bradshaw introduced a new paranormal thriller series: Addison Lockhart, the first book titled Grayson Manor Haunting. Bradshaw is the founder of IWU on Facebook, a writers group with over 2,000 members. In August 2012, Bradshaw was named one of Twitter's seven best authors to follow. In 2013, Bradshaw's novel, Stranger in Town, was chosen as a Shamus Award finalist in the category of best P.I. novel of the year. She was the only female nominated in her category. Cheryl Bradshaw's Novels: Sloane Monroe Series: Black Diamond Death (#1) Murder in Mind (#2) I Have a Secret (#3) Stranger in Town (#4) Bed of Bones (#5) Addison Lockhart Series: Grayson Manor Haunting (#1) Till Death do us Part Novella Murder Series: Whispers of Murder (#1) Echoes of Murder (#2) COMING SOON! For information and updates about Cheryl Bradshaw, visit her at www.cherylbradshaw.com, find her on Facebook on her Cheryl Bradshaw Author Page and follow her on Twitter @cherylbradshaw.

A woman in black stares at the sea, her body transparent, eyes brimming with tears. Hoping to get a better look at the woman, psychic medium Addison Lockhart leans out over the manor's windowsill, gasping when she feels an intense pressure pressing down on her back--someone thrusting her forward. She grabs the side of the window to brace herself, but it's too late. She's already falling. Who is the strange, melancholy woman haunting Blackthorn Manor? And why is someone out to keep Addison from unlocking the manor's darkest secrets?

Blood. It's blood. The dark stain circling Sydney is blood.

No, no, no. I grab my phone, unlock it, navigate to favorites, and touch Mulberry's name without even fully registering the thought.

It rings. How am I going to explain knowing Sydney Rye needs help?

I'm thousands of miles away, stationed on a private island in the middle of the Pacific. And yet-

"Hello?" Mulberry's voice, gravelly with sleep, cuts through my thoughts.

"Sydney is bleeding."

"What?" Mulberry's voice clears as sheets rustle in the background.

A dog barks. I focus on the monitor with the live feed of Sydney's room. Blue is up and going wild. Sydney, her shoulder length hair splayed out on the pillow, the white of the hotel sheets only a few shades lighter than her blanched skin, remains motionless.

I didn't even need to call. The dogs would have alerted Mulberry. Foolish. Careless. Stupid.

"What's going on, Dan?"

I don't answer.

The door between Mulberry and Sydney's rooms flies open-I watch it on the screen and hear the hinges swoosh over the phone line. Reaching out, I slide my finger along the stylus bar to raise the volume. Mulberry stumbles into Sydney's room, unsteady on just his one leg.

She didn't lock the door. That isn't like her. Except it was Mulberry on the other side. A subtle invitation?

"No!" Mulberry's voice echoes between the phone and computer speakers. He lunges toward the bed.

Sydney lies on her back, a dark stain spreading around her hips. Mulberry drops the phone when he grabs her shoulders, his broad back blocking Sydney's face from my view.

I swivel to a different monitor and bring up Mulberry's phone screen. I dial 911. Someone has to. I can always be counted on to do what needs doing. Overstepping saves lives.

"What's your emergency?" the Miami 911 operator asks.

I clench my fist on the glass surface of my desk. Answer her, you idiot. Mulberry doesn't follow my mental command. Fine. I take full control of the phone. "My wife is pregnant and bleeding. We're at the airport Marriott, room 523," I say, my voice even and clear. I say it like it's my baby. Like it's my life. Not something I'm watching on a screen. My eyes flick back to the live feed of her room. "I can't wake her."

Mulberry sits on the edge of the bed, face tear streaked.

Sydney isn't moving.
She isn't moving.
Don't let her die.

P.S. The dog does not die.
**Beware: If you can't handle a few f-bombs, you can't handle this series.**

"A smart, twisty cat-and-mouse revenge tale."

- Robert Dugoni, NY Times Best Selling Author of the Tracy Crosswhite series

An ambitious district attorney. An enemy she can't see. A daughter at risk.

From the author of the award-winning Truth and Other Lies comes a gripping suspense novel about an ambitious prosecutor on the hunt for her sadistic stalker, only to find herself framed for murder when he turns up dead.

Rachel Matthews is used to stress-from the cutthroat world of the district attorney's office to her escalating clashes with her teenage daughter. So when a stranger sends a lavish bouquet with a macabre message and leaves a disturbing video on her doorstep, she's quick to act. Teaming up with an old classmate turned private investigator, she wades through old case files, searching for someone harboring a grudge against her.

But before she has time to pinpoint a suspect, her stalker issues a demand-he wants money, lots of it, or he'll hurt her daughter. In a dangerous gamble, Rachel agrees to meet her stalker on an isolated beach, only to find herself fleeing from a shocking crime scene. Can she solve the puzzle of who wants to destroy her before she loses her family, her career, and her freedom?

Fans of Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent will embrace this taut tale of long-simmering revenge right up to its surprising and twisty climax.

About the Author
Smith, Maggie: - In a career that's included work as a journalist, a psychologist, and the founder of a national art consulting company, Maggie Smith added novelist to her resume with the publication of her debut, Truth and Other Lies, a women's fiction novel set in Chicago and released in March 2022 by Ten16 Press. It won NIEA's Juror Grand Prize, the Star Award for Debut Fiction from Women's Fiction Writers Association, Foreword INDIES Gold Metal for General Fiction, and was selected for the Women's Book Association Great Group Reads.In addition to her writing, Maggie hosts the weekly podcast Hear Us Roar (215+ episodes), blogs monthly for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and is Managing Editor for Chicago Writer's Association Write City E-Zine. She resides in Milwaukee WI with her husband and her aging but still adorable sheltie. Her second novel, a psychological suspense called Blindspot will be released in May 2024.

From Philip C. Quaintrell, author of the popular fantasy series 'The Echoes Saga':

'For lovers of your classic Tolkien, this series has it all' - Alan Coleman - Amazon customer

'Best newcomer to the genre. Philip is up there with Feist and Sanderson' - Philip Spick - Amazon customer

Monsters breed legends... and legends breed monsters. This is the way of things. This is the way of the Ranger.

Turned from the path of the assassin, Asher roams the world no better than a nomad, with naught to offer but his sword and grit. But woe betide the monster that believes his sword and grit will not be enough...

In a twisted chance of fate, the brash actions of Doran Heavybelly - a dwarven hunter with a lot to say - forces Asher back into the world of man. And so the ranger is brought into the light, into the gaze of Illian's greatest crime guilds and onto the lawless island of Dragorn.

A deal must be made, and with a creature far worse than any of the fiends Asher has put to his sword. To save those who cannot save themselves, the ranger must choose between his life and theirs. Should he make such a deal, 'tis not his life that would be forfeit but the man he has worked so hard to become.

In the end, it will all come down to blood and coin...

--

''The Echoes Saga' demonstrates a simple commitment to the power of story' - Stephen Dudley - Amazon customer

Blood in the Low Country, the first of the Atkins Family Low Country Sagas, tells the story of a southern family living in Charleston, South Carolina in 1973. The book follows the lives of Monty Atkins, his wife Rose, and their sons Eli and Walker. Rose's childhood is plagued by poverty, abuse, and tragedy. Determined to prove she's better than her past, she relentlessly pushes her sons to succeed in proper Charleston society. When Rose's oldest son Eli, the product of her first, failed marriage, is accused of murdering his girlfriend Kimberly, Rose fears losing everything. Monty believes his son is innocent and hires a detective to find the killer. But when the murderer is revealed, Monty's marriage and everything he holds true are tested. Can Monty and Rose save their family and confront Rose's demons? Only time will tell. A story of love, faith, and redemption, Blood in the Low Country is a must-read for fans of Southern family sagas.

 

Author Bio:

Paul was born and raised in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Paul and his wife, Lyn, met in college at Georgetown University and were married after Paul graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1988 where Paul embarked on a thirty-year business career before retiring so he could write fiction. Paul and Lyn raised three children together in Phoenix and now live in Charleston, South Carolina.

Blood in the Low Country is Paul Attaway’s debut novel. Writing this book, along with the move to Charleston, is a coming home of sorts, a return to the South. The history and culture of America’s South is rich, complicated, at times comical, sad, tragic, uplifting, and inspiring. Paul hopes that his novels capture even a small bit of this tapestry.

You can learn more about Paul, his upcoming appearances, and his next novel at www.paulattaway.com.

Three years before Serenity Adams was elected sheriff of Blood Rock, she worked the beat in Indianapolis. Among her many arrests, she was instrumental in putting a deranged, yet highly intelligent, child killer behind bars. Now that the murderer has escaped prison, he has only one thing on his mind-to find the woman who captured him, and make her pay.

For the first time ever, Serenity is the one being hunted, and everyone she holds dear is in grave danger in this heart pounding, latest installment of Serenity's Plain Secrets.

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.

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Sheriff Ray Crawford Osborne is in over his head when someone murders the First Lady of Lantz, Texas. Suspects include her persnickety husband who has financial problems; their daughter who bears a lifetime of psychological scars; a businesswoman with a reputation for revenge; a nasty local drunk; a combat veteran who came home from Afghanistan with the kind of battle scars you can't see; the richest man in town who is nursing an open wound; and a young man who had a peculiar relationship with the victim. Osborne may not know much about detective work but he knows the secrets and lies of everyone in town.

About the Author
Evatt, Dls: - Evatt is a retired Texas journalist living in Austin. She spent most of her career in public communication, including on the faculty at Syracuse University.

An idyllic Caribbean island. An exclusive resort. A deceptive façade.

While on holiday in Little Cayman, dive boat operator AJ Bailey expects a peaceful getaway. Nothing sounds better than uniquely-aged rum, crystal-clear water, and world-class diving.

But, beneath the surface, the Bloody Bay Rum Club is hiding a dangerous secret, and when AJ uncovers the truth, things turn deadly.

Bloody Bay Rum Club keeps you on the edge of your seat in book 10 of this exciting series.

Read in series order or as stand-alone books.

Bloody Ties, the newest installment of Serenity's Plain Secrets, is a thrilling and unpredictable adventure of corruption, organized crime, and murder that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

When dead mobsters start turning up in Blood Rock, Sheriff Serenity Adams joins forces with a new recruit, a US marshal, and her ex-partner to solve the cases, but can she trust any of them? Her old partner, Ryan Donavan, is not acting like himself, and Serenity fears he's keeping secrets. For all of his politeness, there's something about Officer Jerome Wilson that doesn't ring true, and Marshall Bryant always has his own agenda. Throw in the Moretti mafia family, a Mexican drug cartel, and a hillbilly moonshine making clan, and Serenity has her hands full. But just as answers come into view, the investigations expand into the Amish community. The sudden return of an ex-Amish man marks more trouble for the sheriff, and local teenagers are once again facing bad luck.

As Serenity grasps at a little normalcy in her personal life, sinister forces descend on her town—and in a race against time, she must unravel the truth before she loses everyone she holds dear.

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 the Serenity’s Plain Secrets series

Shop all Karen Ann Hopkins books

"Experience Bear like you never have before as he is on his own in this action-packed tale of murder, double-crosses, and espionage."--Publisher's description.