Jule n "Jude" Tholet has survival in his DNA. His father, Cleon, lived through imprisonment and torture during Pinochet's military coup in Chile. His mother, Penny, risked everything to gain her husband's freedom and flee the country with their newborn son. But as a closeted gay teenager growing up in Vancouver, Jude is targeted by a neighborhood bully called El C ndor, culminating in a vicious hate crime that forces the Tholets to flee their country again.Jude cautiously rebuilds his life in Seattle, becoming an accomplished pianist, but his his wings have been clipped and he cannot seem to soar in his relationships. Only family remains a constant source of strength and joy, until a DNA test reveals something that shocks all the Tholets: Jude is not their child.

Stunned by the test results, the Tholets must dig into their painful past, re-examine their lives in 1973 Santiago and the events surrounding Jude's birth story. It's a tale rooted in South America's Operation Condor. It spreads through Pinochet's terrifying regime of detention camps, torture, disappeared civilians and stolen children. The journey forces Penny Tholet to confront the gaps in her memory while Cleon must re-live an ordeal he's long kept hidden away in a secret world. The tale ends with Jude digging through his genetic code in a quest to find his biological parents. Are they alive? Or are they among Los Desaparecidos--the Disappeared Ones?

Suanne Laqueur's third book in the Venery series explores the desperate acts of love made in times of war, and the many ways family can be defined.

About the Author
Laqueur, Suanne: - A former professional dancer and teacher, Suanne Laqueur went from choreographing music to choreographing words. Becoming an avid reader, cook and gardener, she started her blog EatsReadsThinks in 2010 and published her debut novel, The Man I Love, in 2014. Her fourth novel An Exaltation of Larks was the grand prize winner in the 2017 Writer's Digest Book Awards and took first place in the 2019 North Street Book Prize. Laqueur graduated from Alfred University with a double major in dance and theater. She taught at the Carol Bierman School of Ballet Arts in Croton-on-Hudson for ten years, while working as a business analyst for Verizon. She now works in publishing and lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two children.

It's time for Christmas in Seagrove

Are you ready to catch up with your favorite characters on the tiny lowcountry island of Seagrove, SC?

When we last left off, there was a big wedding and an addition to the family. But, what happens when a new resident moves to town and shakes things up?And what will everyone do when a familiar face shows up and creates chaos during the holidays?

Click to start reading book 6 in this USA Bestselling series

The violent death of a friend plunges Helen Lightholder into another case of danger and deceit as she struggles to unravel the truth behind the grisly killing. With her own past continuing to haunt her, Helen works to uncover the ultimate answer behind the mystery that has plagued her since the beginning.

Return to the quaint - and deadly - village of Brookminster a final time for the dramatic conclusion to Helen's adventures.

Death returns to the country ...

A quite country life continues to elude Helen Lightholder, as she wrestles with her recent bereavement. When the grisly murder of a nameless vagabond shocks the local community, Helen sets out to unearth the truth behind the inexplicable killing.

But Bookminster hides secrets almost as old as it's 14th century market place, and the village's inhabitants will do anything to thwart a prying outsider. Helen's snooping at a convalescent home for wounded soldiers leads to an apparent dead end, even as other obstacles loom in her path. With Inspector Graves blocking her investigation at every turn and a mysterious, shadowy figure continuing to dog her steps, can Helen unmask the most dangerous killer she has ever faced?

Death, and Helen Lightholder, return to Brookminster with the murder of the village vicar. As Helen investigates the ghastly crime, she soon finds herself a suspect of the local police. To clear her name and protect her friends, Helen must discover the truth and outwit a devious killer. But Helen's personal life is not without its own mysteries and one of them continues to stalk her in the shadows...

Murder. Spies. Treason. Shadowy secrets lurk beneath the surface of an idyllic country village...

When Helen Lightholder's world is shattered by the death of her husband during the London Blitz, she escapes to the countryside, hoping to leave the war behind her. But managing an inherited property in a quaint Gloucestershire village turns out to be more perilous than she expects.

Cozy little Brookminster isn't the peaceful haven Helen dreamed of, and it isn't long before she discovers that, even here, dark threats and dangerous secrets await. As family duty compels her to meddle in a police investigation into the suspicious death of a relative, she finds herself at odds with the local inspector.

Can Helen bring justice to her little corner of the country, while war rages on in the greater world outside? Or will her investigation make her the next target of a fiendish killer who has everything to lose?

Death comes unexpectedly ...

With the suspicious death of a young woman in the village, Helen Lightholder finds herself once again delving into the menacing shadows that lurk beneath the pleasant surface of sunny Bookminster. Her search for suspects and motives leads her to a prisoner of war camp on the outskirts of the village, but could the real danger lie even closer to home?

Meanwhile, two very different men vie for Helen's heart, but neither can take the place of the husband she lost. As a series of break-ins leave her feeling unsafe in her home and shop, Helen has to decide whether or not to continue in the "quiet" life she has found in the country.

All the secrets Helen Lightholder has been working to uncover are about to be revealed, as Helen travels to London. Seeking out a colleague of her late husband's, she delves into a murky world of spies and treason, becoming entangled in a web of danger and intrigue.

Meanwhile, dark happenings back in Bookminster end with the murder of a local man. Once again, Helen is called upon to assist Inspector Graves in an investigation, but can she focus on the present when the mysteries of her past beckon?

“A fun and spunky heroine, a plot involving an old castle in Strasbourg make this a fast-paced, delightful read.” —Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author

“An exciting mystery with engaging characters. It kept me guessing to the end!” —Clare Broyles, co-author of Wild Irish Rose

In this sixth book of the series, Clive and Henrietta return to Europe in an attempt to resurrect their failed honeymoon. While in London, they are approached by their old friend, Inspector John Hartle, who convinces them to search for the missing panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, a famous Renaissance painting, of which Hitler’s top men are also in pursuit.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, Oldrich Exley threatens to cut off financial support for the entire Von Harmon brood if Elsie continues with her plan to marry Gunther—a situation made worse by the sudden appearance of one Heinrich Meyer, who claims to be little Anna’s father and threatens to take her away. Desperate, Elsie seeks the help of Clive’s sister, Julia, who is herself the victim of domestic abuse and who has fallen under the spell of a handsome Texas millionaire bent on acquiring a rare painting from the Howard collection.

Clive and Henrietta’s search takes them to Chateau du Freudeneck in Strasbourg, France—the ancient seat of the Von Harmons and home to three eccentric distant relatives. What begins as a wild goose chase turns decidedly more deadly when several Nazi officers also arrive at the chateau in search of a “valuable item.” When Henrietta and Clive attempt to flee after Henrietta uncovers a shocking truth, they are forced to trust themselves to a suspicious French servant who seems all-too willing to help...

Author Bio:

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as "Novel Notes of Local Lore," a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago's forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn't have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade.
 
Shop the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

Self-published with She Writes Press

Murder and intrigue on the Arabian Sea...

When Rose Beckingham sets sail for England in the summer of 1926, she brings more than souvenirs from her years in India. She carries the memory of a family tragedy and a secret so terrible it could destroy the new life she hopes to build in London.

But Rose isn't the only passenger aboard the RMS Star of India with something to hide. Halfway across the Arabian Sea, death strikes and a murderer begins a deadly game only Rose can hope to end.

With a mysterious Frenchman haunting her steps, can Rose outrun her past? And can she stay alive long enough to decipher the clues left by a taunting killer? Or will murder call again before the first port?

A sinister plot unveiled...

Rose Beckingham's pursuit of an international assassin leads her to New York City, where she reunites with her cousins from London. But danger follows Rose across the Atlantic and it's not long before she must confront shadows from her past.

As she races against time to save a life, will the arrival of a familiar face hinder her investigation or offer a vital clue?

Will Imari fall like every sulaziér before her?

In a desperate attempt to save King Jeric's life, Imari drew upon the power from the Tree of Wisdom, hidden deep within the forsaken lands of Sol Velor. But Imari could not have known that by doing so, she would also free Zussa-the Great Deceiver-who had been bound between worlds since the beginning of time.

Thus freed, and now using Azir Mubarék as a vessel, Zussa will stop at nothing to exact her final revenge: to unravel the world as it is written.

With Trier destroyed and so many Sol Velorians and Liagé now under Zussa's employ, it seems the Five Provinces are doomed to Zussa's insatiable wrath. Jeric and Imari's only hope is to return to Corinth, to gather whatever fighting men will help, but Jeric hasn't been home in over two months. He can't possibly know what awaits him there, or if he still has a throne.

Regardless of what they find, Imari soon comes to realize that her particular gifting as a sulaziér is crucial in their inevitable fight against Zussa. The only problem is that her flute-her talla-is broken, and she can't channel Shah power properly without it. Jeric has miraculously discovered a new talla, but using it might come with a price that Imari is not willing to pay.

Sometimes your life is split by a single decision. I've spent every day of the last seven years regretting mine: he left, and I didn't follow. A thousand letters went unanswered, my words like petals in the wind, spinning away into nothing, taking me with them. But now he's back.I barely recognize the man he's become, but I can still see a glimmer of the boy who asked me to be his forever, the boy I walked away from when I was young and afraid. Maybe if he'd come home under better circumstances, he could speak to me without anger in his voice. Maybe if I'd said yes all those years ago, he'd look at me without the weight of rejection in his eyes. Maybe if things were different, we would have had a chance. One regretted decision sent him away. One painful journey brought him back to me. I only wish I could keep him.*A contemporary romance inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion*

Shortlisted for the 2020 US Selfies Book Award

Shelf Unbound's Shelf Unbound's #2 Top 100 Notable Indie Award - 2019

"Irish twins navigate late-1940s Minnesota and their turbulent relationship in debut author Welch’s genuine story of family loyalty, misfortune, and potential. Welch steadily traces the two young women’s desire to forge their own lives, often hindered by shame, silence, guilt, and the stifling confines of societal expectations. Readers will be inspired by Shannon and Eliza’s persistence and heart." —Publishers Weekly

"In A Thread So Fine, Susan Welch has written a beautiful story of sisters, history and love." —Tara Conklin, NYT Bestselling author of The Last Romantics

St. Paul, Minnesota, 1946: Introspective Shannon Malone and her more popular sister Eliza are Irish twins and best friends. As little girls, they relied on each other for companionship and affection as their mother remained distant, beating back the demons of her own mysterious childhood. As womanhood approaches, both look forward to promising--though different--futures. But when tragedy rocks the Malone family, secrets bloom and one sister leaves, possibly forever. The other, physically and emotionally scarred, vows to hold the invisible thread that runs deeply between them. In the course of her journey, she discovers a child with a hidden past, the love of a good man, and the true meaning of family. But is it enough to bring her sister home?

August 1926

Jack and Ham's first solo case is placed on pause just as the tale of a treasure is brought to light. As the case progresses, Vi and Rita dive in, and somehow it becomes a competition between the two couples. Things, however, take a sideways turn and the couples must unite and work together to protect all they hold dear.

Book TWENTY-THREE in the Violet Carlyle Mysteries. Are you ready for the roaring twenties? You'll love Vi, her patient husband Jack, her indulgent twin Vic, and their friends. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy mystery with a fun peek into life in the life of a bright young thing. No swearing, graphic scenes, or cliffhangers.

Up next: A Cozy Little Murder

“This is a wonderfully-written, engaging story with excellent character treatment and a thrilling mystery.” —Independent Book Publishers Association

Murder is never far from this sexy couple...even during the holidays!

Their honeymoon abruptly ended by the untimely death of Alcott Howard, Clive and Henrietta return to Highbury, where Clive discovers all is not as it should be. Increasingly convinced that his father’s death was not an accident, Clive launches his own investigation, despite his mother’s belief that he has become “mentally disturbed” with grief. Henrietta eventually joins forces with Clive on their first real case, which becomes darker—and deadlier—than they imagined as they get closer to the truth behind Alcott’s troubled affairs.

Meanwhile, Henrietta’s sister, Elsie, begins, at Henrietta’s orchestration, to take classes at a women’s college—an attempt to evade her troubles and prevent any further romantic temptations. When she meets a bookish German custodian at the school, however, he challenges her to think for herself...even as she discovers some shocking secrets about his past life.

More Reviews:

2021 IPPY Awards Gold Winner in Fiction Book Series 
2019 Chanticleer Awards First Place Winner in Mystery and Mayhem and Romance (Chatelaine) 
2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Gold Winner in Mystery and Thriller
2020 National Indie Excellence Awards Winner in Regional Fiction – Midwest, Finalist in Cross Genre, and Finalist in Mystery
2019 Readers' Favorite Awards Honorable Mention in Historical Mystery
2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Romance and Best Series
2020 Illinois Women's Press Association Awards First Place Winner in Fiction 
2019 Shelf Unbound Top 100 Notable Indie
2020 Pulpwood Queen Bonus Book Selection

“Another triumph in a gorgeously romantic, but also seriously compelling mystery series.” —Readers' Favorite

“Entertaining.... Composed of large dollops of romance and a soupcon of mystery, this confection will appeal.” —Publishers Weekly

“Cox draws textured visuals of a 1930s Chicago mansion replete with cherrywood drink carts, embroidered goose down pillows, brand new wireless radios, Worth gowns, Rothschild coats, and the music of Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. It puts us back in the romantically turbulent 1930s Chicago. This engaging story charms us.” ―BookTrib

“One only has to watch Michelle Cox’s rapid and ongoing rise to the national literary stage to realize her skills and talents.” ―Carolyn Breckinridge, author of Kaleidoscope Jane

“In this fourth novel of the series, murder, mystery, delicious romance, adventurous romp, and lush writing are all here, with an added depth and poignancy as the series’ beloved characters struggle to come to terms with the real meaning of love, loyalty and self-determination.” ―Barbara Stark Nemon, author of Hard Cider

“The writing is excellent with superb storytelling and great character building. I'm totally invested in this series, in the world of Henrietta, Clive, and their respective families. I feel like these novels could be turned into a TV miniseries.” ―Library of Clean Reads

Author Bio:

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as "Novel Notes of Local Lore," a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago's forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn't have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade.
 
Shop the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

Self-published with She Writes Press

A Web of Secrets brings Roberta Kagan's riveting historical WW2 series: Jews, The Third Reich, and a Web of Secrets to a deservedly climactic end.

As Hitler's murderous reign inches steadily towards a disastrous end, the intricate web of secrets woven by each character begins to unravel.

Oskar, handsome but terrifying, is on the verge of madness.

What torments him so?

What dark secrets are buried deep within Kara's loving heart?

Anka's affection for her husband Ludwig is all but gone. Will he turn to the ever-open arms of a secret life?

And...

What about Abram? Will he find a way to keep his vow to God? Will he ever be with his family again?

When a woman's body is found floating off Cape Cod, a young reporter stumbles onto a mystery that goes back centuries.
"A strange death sets a tourist town on edge in this taut thriller" - Kirkus Reviews

A young reporter is sent to Cape Cod to follow up on the body of an unidentified woman found floating near the town of Chatham. Cape Cod has been the site of thousands of shipwrecks leaving the sandy shore littered with debris, legends, and ghost stories. Stacie's editors encourage her to dig into the mix of Chatham's quirky residents and to write about the mysteries surrounding the old Monomoy Point Lighthouse. On a lark, she makes a nighttime visit to the lighthouse with a young charter boat captain and in the process, stumbles tragically into a dark mystery that forces her to question her sanity and the truth buried in a legend.

"Don't come looking for me... I have to end this..."

Is death as final as it seems? Some believe that a person's spirit never dies.
And for Paxton Arrington, his wife's spirit lives on in his memories, in his moments of grief, and at times in his moments of hopelessness.
To this day, the search for the truth behind her death continues to propel him forward.

Paxton never believed the official story... He knew Veronica had been murdered. But he'd been short on evidence to support that belief and for several years, he'd found himself treading water, both with the case of his wife's death and with the pain of his greatest loss.

But then a shocking murder and a mysterious email kick started the investigation into her death once more.

While following a trail of clues left by his long dead wife, Paxton finds himself embroiled in a game of cat and mouse against an unknown adversary who is willing to do anything to keep their secrets buried. But what Paxton finds at the end of that trail proved even more elusive and shocking than he had ever imagined...

Old foes emerge to stop him, while new friends help Paxton along the way to discover what happened to his wife that cold autumn night.
Finding the truth will require him to confront the darkest parts of himself.
Getting the answers he's been looking for, might force him to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Darkness has a way of eluding the light.
Nothing is ever simple.
But one questions remains...
What is the price of truth and vengeance?

“Fantastic...vivid...A lively read with tons to offer fans of women's drama and nostalgic fiction everywhere.” —Readers’ Favorite

It’s the swingin’ 70’s–a time of change, when singers sang about making life better by being there for others. Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” became an anthem for the women’s movement while other songs like Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” offered comfort to people. This was a time for spreading peace and love.

In 1973, Wendy, a recently separated woman, discovers a new life when she starts her own business and becomes part of the bar scene. The once conservative Wendy makes major changes to her lifestyle, including her involvement with a number of men.

Wendy’s life becomes complicated with the different men she sees, combined with her estranged husband’s continual reappearance. She turns to drugs to help her relax and escape, creating a downward spiral that only her best friend can save her from.

More Reviews:

“This character-driven slice-of-life drama...explores love, friendship, self-esteem, heartbreak, trust, and healing as its hero rebuilds her life and rediscovers the power of friendship.” —BookLife

“A Woman in Search Of... is a beautiful story of a woman trying to navigate life on her own terms.” —San Diego City Book Reviews

Author Bio:

Lynne Brightman Horn graduated from Cal-State Long Beach, majoring in drama and English. She taught for the Los Angeles Unified School District for 10 years and was also a teacher and Education Coordinator at the Conservation Corps of Long Beach for 10 years. Lynne is the author of two books, The Glass Birds and A Woman in Search Of... She also wrote a short story that was turned into a play that was performed at a community college. Lynne spends her time reading, writing, gardening and enjoying her family and friends.

May 1926

Violet and Jack have gone to the country with their friends. They've decided to dive into the joys of a country life for the summer. Swimming and fishing with a large dose of napping.

While they're enjoying the spring, Vi gets pulled into helping to plan a May Day celebration. She anticipates organizing games and possibly judging scones or flower bouquets. What she doesn't envision is to stumble over a body and be pulled into the most unexpected of murder investigations.

“Smart and funny, After Happily Ever After is an exciting debut.” —Laura Dave, international best-selling author of The Last Thing He Told Me

Maggie Dolin is forty-five and isn't dealing with getting older very well. Seventeen years ago, she gave up her job in publishing to raise her daughter, Gia—but now her only child is about to leave for college, and Maggie isn't sure what her new purpose will be. She's been the caretaker and nurturer for so long that she can't even remember the last time someone took care of her. She wishes Jim, her husband of nineteen years, would take that role on—but he's been distracted and disconnected, and she's convinced he's hiding something from her. Her self-involved, judgmental mother and resentful brother, meanwhile, are certainly no help, and her father—the only person in her life who's always been there for her and asked nothing in return—is dealing with increasingly serious health issues, leaving Maggie without her rock.

As all these stressors pile on, a chance meeting with a younger man causes Maggie to act in a way that is completely out of character for her. As she gets deeper in, she's forced to make some big decisions about what she wants and deserves—decisions that could change her life forever.

After Happily Ever After deals with love, marriage, family, the empty nest, aging parents and what happens when they all come crashing down at the same time.

Awards:

2022 Eric Hoffer Book Awards Honorable Mention in Commercial Fiction
2022 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorite in Contemporary Novel
2022 Reader Views Literary Awards Silver Winner in General Fiction/Novel
2022 Reader Views Literary Awards Silver Award Winner in General Fiction/Novel
2022 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorite in Contemporary Novel
One of Popsugar's Best Books of 2021
2021 Top Shelf Awards Runner Up in Fiction (Women’s)
2021 Literary Titan Book Awards Silver Winner
2021 Firebird Award Winner in multiple categories, including Contemporary Novel and Marriage
2021 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in Marriage
2021 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women's Fiction
2021 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Realistic
2021 Hollywood Book Awards Honorable Mention in General Fiction
2021 NYC Big Book Awards Winner in Marriage
2021 NYC Big Book Awards Distinguished Favorite in New Fiction (First-time published)
2021 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women’s Fiction

More Reviews:

"A soon-to-be empty nester learning to love herself one blunder at a time. After Happily Ever After is delightful..." —Foreword Reviews

“Rasmussen is a freelance journalist and former TV sitcom writer and the latter is evident in the novel’s sharp, funny dialogue and Maggie’s wry, observational narration.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Leslie A. Rasmussen has written a fiction story that most women can relate to in one way or another with compassion and love. After Happily Ever After is a wonderful read that will not disappoint. I highly recommend After Happily Ever After to women both young and old.” —Readers' Favorite

“Leslie A. Rasmussen’s After Happily Ever After gives voice to many women in the ‘sandwich generation’—and the voice is a funny one.” —Leslie Lehr, prize-winning author of A Boob’s Life and What a Mother Knows

“With warm tenderness, peppered with humor throughout, Leslie A. Rasmussen has written a novel of fresh, relatable characters, easy to root for and easy to know. Anyone juggling the lives of loved ones while navigating their own will recognize the protagonist as she struggles to find the missing parts of a so-called life that turns out to be…herself.” —Sande Boritz Berger, author of Split Level and The Sweetness

“After Happily Ever After is a road map for every empty nester whose marriage has lost its spark. You can’t help but see yourself on these pages.” —Adrienne Barbeau, actress and author of There are Worse Things I Could Do and the Vampyres of Hollywood series

“This book takes a very real look at the complex lives of forty-something women who are torn between their duties to all family members while still trying to fulfill their own desires. The characters ring true, and although there are heavy themes, the book manages to be very funny at times and also a fast, easy, read. Many women will see a lot of themselves in Maggie and will enjoy seeing how her circumstances and decisions will play out.” —Seattle Book Review

“Written with honesty and humor and grit, Leslie A. Rasmussen’s wonderful debut novel is filled with poignant and truth and so much clever. Yes, you will cry, and yes, you will laugh out loud and…fall in love with this book.” —Amy Ferris, best-selling author, screenwriter, and playwright 

“Author Leslie A. Rasmussen peppers the story with humor and sarcasm, making Maggie, the protagonist, likeable and easy to identify with. Her breezy writing style is entertaining, but there’s real meaning beneath her attitude. If you like women’s fiction, After Happily Ever After is worth your time.” —Story Circle Book Reviews 

Author Bio:

Leslie A. Rasmussen was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated with a bachelor's in communications from UCLA and went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, and Ralph Macchio, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. Later, she earned a master's degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Most recently, Leslie has written personal essays for online magazines such as Huffington Post, Maria Shriver, and SheKnows. She loves dogs and besides having two adorable Labradors, she volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter in Burbank, California. Leslie lives in Los Angeles and has two sons, and a husband she's been with since college. This is her debut novel. She lives in Los Angeles.

 

Independently published with She Writes Press

Independent Publisher Book Awards - Silver Medal Winner - Best Regional Fiction

Eric Hoffer Award Finalist

National Indie Excellence Awards Winner - Literary Fiction

Beck Valley Books 1st Place Winner

"...a well-written story set authentically in a historic place and time, around an intricate plot which includes most of the elements that provide for a good "soap opera," or a book that would be accepted by Oprah Winfrey" —Historical Novel Society

A love story wrapped in historical drama...In the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous 1948 "killing smog," headstrong nurse Rose Pavlesic tends to her family and neighbors. Efficient and precise, she's created a life that reflects everything she missed growing up as an orphan. She's even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from the love of her life, Henry, her dutiful children, and large extended family. When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose's nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she's not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family-and the whole town-splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family's healing begin? Will love be enough?

About the Author:
After the Fog is the second novel by bestselling Kindle author Kathleen Shoop. Her debut novel, The Last Letter, garnered multiple awards in 2011. A Language Arts Coach with a Ph.D. in Reading Education, Kathleen lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

 

A love forbidden by family. A feud spanning generations.

A woman still yearning for freedom.

Twenty years after she was driven away from her family and the only man she ever truly loved, Jo Devereux has returned to the small Irish village where she grew up. And this time, she wants answers.

What happened to her family during the Irish Civil War? Did her great-uncle's best friend really shoot him dead? And what did this "war of the brothers" mean for mothers, sisters and daughters?

Searching through papers bequeathed by her estranged mother, Jo uncovers astonishing truths about her grandmother and great-aunt - secrets of a cold-blooded murder with consequences that ricocheted down the generations into her own life.

Urged on by Rory O'Donovan, her lost love and the son of her family's sworn enemies, Jo is tempted to reignite the fires of rebellion. Can she ever go back to the life she'd made for herself in San Francisco? Or will what she's learning about her heritage incite her to cast off caution - and claim what should have been hers?

In this heart-breaking saga about a young woman, her doomed lover, and the war-torn history that threatens to destroy their future as well as their past, you'll find almost 600 pages of romance, revenge and redemption by the bestselling and award-winning author Orna Ross.

Save 50% in this special bundle deal!

About the Author
Ross, Orna: - One of the 100 most influential people in publishing. The Bookseller ORNA ROSS is an award-winning Irish novelist and poet--and an international advocate for independent authors. She writes and publishes a wide range of books: inspirational poetry, literary-historical fiction, and publishing guides. A vegan, mindful runner, daily meditator and f-r-e-e-writer, Orna lives and works in London. When not writing, she runs the global non-profit Alliance of Independent Authors, ALLi (ally with an i) with Philip, her husband and co-director.