A woman fleeing her past finds more than she bargains for in a new suspense series by New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank.

A woman on the run with no one to trust.

With the ink barely dry on her new identity, Cary Moore just wants to disappear...but fate has other plans.

Broken down car, next to nothing in her bank account, Carly is stuck in a Smoky Mountain town that time has forgotten. Drum is riddled with secrets and outsiders are eyed with distrust. Still, it isn't until she witnesses a cold-blooded murder in a darkened parking lot, that she realizes she's escaped one nightmare, only to land in another.

As the clock ticks down and more bodies pile up, Carly doesn't know who to trust. If she doesn't stop the killers, they just might stop her...permanently.

”Henrietta and Inspector Howard are the best pair of sleuths I've come across in ages. A fantastic start to what is sure to be a long running series.” ―Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author
 
Henrietta Von Harmon works as a 26 girl at a corner bar on Chicago's northwest side. It's 1935, but things still aren't looking up since the big crash and her father's subsequent suicide, leaving Henrietta to care for her antagonistic mother and younger siblings.
 
Henrietta is eventually persuaded to take a job as a taxi dancer at a local dance hall―and just when she's beginning to enjoy herself, the floor matron turns up dead. When aloof Inspector Clive Howard appears on the scene, Henrietta agrees to go undercover for him―and is plunged into Chicago's grittier underworld.
 
Meanwhile, she's still busy playing mother hen to her younger siblings, as well as to pesky neighborhood boy Stanley, who believes himself in love with her and keeps popping up in the most unlikely places, determined to keep Henrietta safe―even from the Inspector, if need be. Despite his efforts, however, and his penchant for messing up the Inspector's investigation, the lovely Henrietta and the impenetrable Inspector find themselves drawn to each other in most unsuitable ways.

More Reviews:

2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards): Gold Winner in Book Series – Fiction
2017 IPPY Awards: Gold Mystery Winner
2016 Readers Favorite: Gold Mystery Winner
2016 Foreword Indies: Gold Mystery Winner
2016 Foreword Indies: Romance Finalist
2016 Shelf Unbound: Top 100 Notable Indie
2016 Chanticleer Awards: Mystery and Mayhem 1st place Winner
2016 USA Best Book Awards: Fiction Romance Finalist
2016 Beverly Hills Book Awards: Regional Fiction Winner – Midwest
2016 Next Generation Indies: Romance Finalist
2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Finalist in Series
2016 Reader Views: Historical Fiction Winner; Regional Winner – Great Lakes; Tyler Tichelaar Award

”Henrietta and Clive are a sexy, endearing, and downright fun pair of sleuths. Readers will not see the final twist coming.” ―Library Journal

“Fans of spunky, historical heroines will love Henrietta Von Harmon.” ―Booklist

“Cox’s use of literary detail brings scenes into full focus as the reader anxiously races through the pages of this deliciously written cloak and dagger affair. A delightful story.” ―Readers’ Favorite

“A Girl Like You is very intriguing, well-written, and the plot very entertaining. Readers will be drawn into the sights, smells, and seedy side of Chicago.” ―Reader Views

“Even if a mystery didn’t enfold, this would be a thoroughly satisfying novel…. The embedded mystery, however, takes this book to another level, a feat of successful merging of genres.” ―Chanticleer Reviews

“Chicago in the 1930s: Be still, our history-obsessed hearts. Dashing inspector Clive Howard convinces Henrietta Von Harmon to go undercover in Chicago’s dark underworld of crime, and her mission for evidence leads to an undeniable romance sure to leave readers swooning.” ―Bookstr, Top 5 Historical Fiction Reads for Romance Lovers

“Here is another wonderful mystery series set between the wars that is less Maisie Dobbs and more Amory Ames (albeit with a lower class main character) or Kate Shackleton but should appeal to fans of all between the wars mysteries or even just fiction for that matter.” ―ReadSpace

“As the two continue to sleuth together, Henrietta realizes that the most difficult thing to keep under wraps might be her heart.” ―Buzzfeed, 5 Historical Mysteries for Romance Lovers

“The authentic setting rich in cinematic detail of Chicago during The Great Depression is the perfect backdrop for a plethora of vivid characters in Michele Cox’s novel A Girl Like You. A highly entertaining mystery.” ―Sande Boritz Berger, author of The Sweetness

“Anyone who enjoys a well-written romantic mystery set in a gritty time and place will enjoy A Girl Like You.” ―M.A. Adler, author of In the Shadow of Lies

“The book’s cast of additional characters, headed by Inspector Howard, accompanies Henrietta through a murder, a dangerous job, and touching reminders that life turns on small intimacies. This engaging book bodes well for the following works in the series!” ―Barbara Stark-Nemon, author of Even in Darkness

*Listed as a “Top Read” by PopSugar, Elle, Buzzfeed, Brit&Co, Culturalist, Redbook, Bookstr, Bustle, Shelf Unbound, and many others*
 
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

Now that the Inn at Willa Bay is well on its way to becoming a premier wedding destination in the Pacific Northwest, chef Meg Briggs hopes it's finally time for her to realize her own dream—converting the old barn on the property into a first class restaurant. However, the barn has been a dumping ground for resort castoffs for years and renovations seem a far off prospect. Can a mysterious journal she finds while cleaning out the barn help her find contentment and happiness in unexpected places?

Taylor loves his job as the head chef at a local lodge, but after Meg and the others quit their jobs there, it's not quite the same. He misses his family in Southern California and maybe it's time to consider a big move.

Tia's found her groove as an event coordinator at the Inn, and things are looking up—until tragedy strikes. Her parents don't think she can make it on her own in Willa Bay, and maybe she can't.

Samantha's made a life-changing decision, but as she tries to move on, life keeps handing her lemons. Improving her future is going to take a brand new outlook and willingness to try new things.

Debbie wants nothing more than to spend quality time with her grandkids and immerse herself in her crafting projects. But, the needs of her family always come first—until some devastating news changes her perspective.

Heather Parker has stayed home in Moonbeam longer than she ever thought possible. Which makes it really hard to keep avoiding Jesse...

Eventually they come to a mutual truce.

... and then a bit more.

But a surprise from the past threatens everything. Secrets come tumbling out and everyone is shocked by what Heather has hidden from them. From Jesse. From her cousin. From her mother.

A secret that threatens to tear apart Heather's relationship with everyone she cares about.

Continue on in the Moonbeam Bay series and see what the Parker women are up to. And just how many more secrets does this family have?

MOONBEAM BAY - the series

The Parker Women - Book One

The Parker Cafe - Book Two

A Heather Parker Original - Book Three

The Parker Family Secret - Book Four

Grace Parker's Peach Pie - Book Five

The Perks of Being a Parker - Book Six

“A Horse Brought Us Here is a book in a class all its own. Readers who enjoy historical fiction or period piece fiction will enjoy this superb novel about a tragedy that shakes a small town and changes the lives of those in it forever.” —Seattle Book Review

“Author Dershie McDevitt beautifully captures the essence and spirit of small town America in the 1950s in this well-written novel that builds tension steadily.” —Readers’ Favorite

Excitement grows all day Friday in the quiet Wyoming cattle town of Juniper as cheerleaders and football players ready themselves for the biggest football game of the year. When the Homecoming Parade finally wends its way down Main Street, everyone strains to see who's been chosen Homecoming Queen. They clap delightedly when they spot BJ Bonniface in her pink strapless formal sitting high on the back of the big Buick convertible, though no one is surprised. She's the popular steady girlfriend of star quarterback, Rob Hitchcock. Life continues to unwind as life is expected to on such iconic weekends. The home team even wins the game. But on Monday morning, Juniper High is shaken to its foundations when the announcement is made that the Homecoming Queen is dead.

“Act as if nothing has changed,” advises the Dean of Women. “Carry on as normal for the good of the school.” But there are those in the student body who doubt that BJ died from a bee sting. How are they to carry on? Her best friend, Nella Fortune, and her boyfriend, Rob, have private and personal reasons to question the story, but there is no one to go to and nothing to be done. Both will sleepwalk through the rest of their senior years, consumed with what they know and what they cannot tell. But the clock is ticking. How long can such a secret be kept?

In A Horse Brought Us Here, Dershie masterfully weaves the tapestry of small-town fiction into a tense, disturbing story. She invites readers to travel back to a time when life looked simple but often was not. With every turn of the page, she evokes our nostalgia for a time in the West when some of life's mysteries may have been best kept buried.

Author Bio:

Dershie McDevitt, a lifelong writer, holds an MLA from UNC, Asheville where she won The Wilma Dykeman Award for excellence in nonfiction writing. Her popular Callahan Banks Mystery Series (including Just Holler Bloody Murder and Perils of a Pregnant Sleuth) follows nature lover, biology professor and crime solver Callahan Banks through suspenseful southern whodunits on a South Carolina barrier island. Dershie and her husband, Larry, live outside of Asheville, North Carolina. They have three adult children, four perfect grandchildren and share their mountain valley home with rescue pooch, Sassafras, and a particularly bossy cat named Orphan Annie.

Twenty-four years after losing her daughter in a tragic accident, Carol Denman has finally made peace with Katie's father. But releasing her ex-husband from blame and facing how deeply she held herself responsible were only the first steps in Carol's journey toward peace.

With the pain of her failed first marriage behind her, Carol is determined to mend her broken relationship with her mother. But she soon discovers she isn't the only one who has been hanging on to bitterness. A road trip to face the past leads Carol's mother, Judith, to unearth the seeds of past mistakes and deep resentments in ways neither of them would expect.

The roots of family animosity run deep and thick. While Judith seems hesitant to start digging, Carol commits to pruning away the thorns of the past so she no longer has to live a life without flowers.

About the Author
Bolden, Marci: - As a teen, Marci Bolden skipped over young adult books and jumped right into reading romance novels. She never left. Marci lives in the Midwest with her husband, two teenaged kiddos, and numerous rescue pets. If she had an ounce of will power, Marci would embrace healthy living but until cupcakes and wine are no longer available at the local grocery store, she'll put that ambition on hold and appease her guilt by reading self-help books and promising to join a gym soon. Visit her here: http: //www.marcibolden.com/

"A Life Without Regrets is the perfect ending to a perfect series." Dauntless Novels

"This is a book I will think about for a long time." Bookbubbe

"Not just for women's fiction fans, but for everyone who enjoys a heroine who digs deep to find the ability to survive and flourish with grace." PW Reader

Since losing her husband, Tobias, in a tragic accident, Carol Denman has been on a journey of self-growth. She's taken steps to finally grieve her daughter's death, forgive her first husband, and mend her broken relationship with her mother. The one heartbreak she can't seem to come to terms with is losing her husband.

As Carol continues her travels, family, old friends, and new confidants want to help her heal. However, this is a path Carol must travel alone. She knows her husband would want her to be happy again. She just has to figure out how to move forward.

Carol must dig deep to find a way back to the peace and happiness she once had in her life with Tobias. Coming to terms with being a widow isn't going to be easy, but with the support from her loved ones and a few strangers, Carol embarks on her most poignant journey yet-finding a life without regrets.

Carol Denman divorced her husband over twenty years ago and has never looked back. But on the day before their daughter's thirtieth birthday, John barges back into Carol's life with a request that threatens the fragile stability she has built.

John Bowman is sick. Very sick. While he still can, he has some amends to make and some promises to fulfill. But to do that, he not only needs his ex-wife's agreement...he needs her.

With the past hovering between them like a ghost, Carol and John embark on a decades-overdue road trip. Together they plunge back into a life without water...but which may ultimately set them free.

About the Author
Bolden, Marci: - As a teen, Marci Bolden skipped over young adult books and jumped right into reading romance novels. She never left. Marci lives in the Midwest with her husband, two teenaged kiddos, and numerous rescue pets. If she had an ounce of will power, Marci would embrace healthy living but until cupcakes and wine are no longer available at the local grocery store, she'll put that ambition on hold and appease her guilt by reading self-help books and promising to join a gym soon.

'Til death do us part...

They say every action you take has a series of consequences. And that death is an inevitable end.
There is truth to all of that, but for a price.
The precious thing you lost, might just find its way back to you...

Fourteen years ago, Blake Wilder's life turned into one of tragedy.
In an instant she lost her family... Her parents murdered, and her sister taken.
At the age of 22, Blake joined the FBI in hopes of discovering the truth behind the mysteries of her past.
Now, she is called to a homicide scene involving a brutal murder of a male victim.
But, what started out as a simple case turns into one that involves a sadistic killer that preys on young women.
And the further Blake dives into the case the more she realizes that the killer has a dark and twisted fantasy life of romance and courtship.

And with his eighth victim already in his grasp, it's up to her to get into the man's head and figure him out before the clock runs out on this girl and he moves onto his ninth victim.

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
What ever you do, don't let him catch you.

“This addicting historical fiction novel will have you wishing you could have experienced 1930s Chicago.” ―Buzzfeed

In this second book of the series, Henrietta and Clive delightfully rewrite Pride and Prejudice—with a hint of mystery!

Newly engaged, Clive and Henrietta now begin the difficult task of meeting each other’s family. “Difficult” because Clive has neglected to tell Henrietta that he is in fact the heir to the Howard estate and fortune, and Henrietta has just discovered that her mother has been hiding secrets about her past as well. When Clive brings Henrietta to the family estate to meet his parents, they are less than enthused about his impoverished intended. Left alone in this extravagant new world when Clive returns to the city, Henrietta finds herself more at home with the servants than his family, much to the disapproval of Mrs. Howard—and soon gets caught up in the disappearance of an elderly servant’s ring, not realizing that in doing so she has become part of a bigger, darker plot.

As Clive and Henrietta attempt to discover the truth in the two very different worlds unraveling around them, they both begin to wonder: Are they meant for each other after all?

More Reviews:

“Henrietta and Inspector Howard make a charming odd couple in A Ring of Truth, mixing mystery and romance in a fizzy 1930s cocktail.” ―Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author

“The crème de la crème of historical fiction.” ―Brit+Co

“Brimming with dark plot on every page, this unpredictable literary thrill ride will transport you to the heart of 1930s Chicago and the love story of a lifetime.” ―POPSUGAR

“Light romance with witty writing, while still maintaining a somber and serious story, this book is a delight.” ―Independent Book Publishers Association

“The characters are well-drawn, with depth. Cox builds anticipation by foreshadowing issues that will come up in future volumes of the series. Hen and Clive’s romance is real and touching.” ―Historical Novel Society

“Once that glass slipper fits, how hard is it for Cinderella to adapt to life as the princess after so long as the scullery maid? And how many people are just itching for her to fail? A Ring of Truth features the same well-developed characters, adding depth and complexity to the story, while also giving readers that same “you are there” feeling of a walk back in time.” ―Chanticleer Reviews

“A Ring of Truth is the second book in the delightful Henrietta and Inspector Howard series, but there's plenty to dive straight into even if you haven't read the last one.” ―Bustle

“There’s a lot to love about the bloodhound couple at the center of this cozy mystery.” ―Foreword Reviews

“The second book of this mystery series is laced with fiery romance so delicious every reader will struggle to put it down. If you devoured Pride and Prejudice, this love story will get your heart beating just as fast.” ―Redbook

“A 1930s Chicagoan love story with a heavy dose of thrilling mystery―we bet we have your attention. If you aren’t already addicted to Clive and Henrietta’s epic love story we recommend you indulge your imagination with the first book and then move on to A Ring of Truth―the absolutely unputdownable sequel that centers around Clive’s mysterious fortune and strange wrath of his affluent family.” ―Bookstr

“Set in the 1930s, this romantic mystery combines the teetering elegance of Downton Abbey and the staid traditions of Pride and Prejudice with a bit of spunk and determination that suggest Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs.” ―Booklist

“An engaging and effective romp rich with historical details.” ―Kirkus

“A sensational story with an exciting setting that readers will enjoy navigating.... Clive and Henrietta are well-developed, real, and memorable. They are an incredible pair of sleuths and the reader learns to care about them as they are eager to see what happens at the end. A Ring of Truth features great writing with exceptional dialogues and a plot that is swiftly paced, driven by a strong conflict.” ―Readers' Favorite

“Cox does an excellent job of bringing the 1930s to life with the Chicago setting and details true to the era. The couple’s chemistry is endearing, and the background stories, colorful characters, and vividly described scenes also add a lot to the authenticity of the drama.” ―Reader Views

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

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?

"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?

The second book in the four book USA Today bestselling Magnolia Steele Mystery series.

Magnolia may have escaped arrest for murder, but her troubles are far from behind her. She's still haunted by two things from her past-her father's disappearance when she was a teen, and the other...well, her memories of a serial killer have returned, but it's best left where it belongs-in the past.

Needing closure, Magnolia decides to look into her father's cold case. Though the town gossips are convinced he ran away with his client's wife and money, she has always suspected foul play. Talking to a few of his old acquaintances seems harmless enough-until the man she's arranged to meet turns up dead. There's evidence someone murdered him to keep him quiet, and she realizes that whatever conspiracy her father was mixed up in is far from over; it's entering its second act.

If Magnolia keeps digging, she's not sure she can trust her own mother to help her, let alone her new friends and the police detective who's eager to woo her, but after years of running, she's ready to stand her ground.

"One is immersed in this epic story immediately and effortlessly... The main characters are so well-drawn that you feel you have heard about them in your own life." - The Evening Herald

A death in the present-a killing in the past.

After twenty years away, Jo Devereux flies home to Ireland for her mother's funeral -- the mother she hasn't spoken to for more than two decades.

Every minute there reminds her of all the reasons she left and she has no desire to reacquaint herself with her home village. Or with Rory O'Donovan, the only man she ever loved, who still lives there.

Then, she reads her mother's will.

Her inheritance is a chest full of letters and journals, written by her grandmother and great-aunt. In them, Jo discovers a legacy of poison and hatred that has laid waste to the lives of four generations of women.

It began with a simple yearning for Irish Freedom that exploded into a horrific and bloody civil war. Neighbor turned against neighbor, brother against brother, daughters against fathers, family against family-- leaving a legacy of lies, deceit, and murder.

As Jo unearths the bitter, buried history she shares with Rory, it is clear their love was doomed from the start.

Can she stay true to both her heart and her heritage? Or will she endure the same fate as all the women in her family?

Read Orna Ross's sweeping saga of love, loss, and redemption, today.

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.

“Riveting and consuming—I loved it and anxiously look forward to the next book in the series!” —Goodreads

After her third broken engagement, Gianna Campbell comes home to help with the family business and to heal her heart, only to realize that she has become the town joke—dubbed the runaway fiancé. If that wasn't bad enough, who should show up in town but her former crush Zach Barrington, a man who has other reasons to hate her.

Zach returns to Whisper Lake not only for a job opportunity but also for a chance at personal redemption. The last person he wants to see is Gianna, who once got him kicked out of the only place that made him feel whole. But when an accident sends her into the lake, their first face-to-face meeting in years leaves them both breathless.

And suddenly the past feels a lot closer...

Zach and Gianna back away as fast as they come together, both wary of more danger to their damaged hearts. But their search for a truth leads them to surprising secrets, life-changing revelations, heartbreaking emotion, and the chance for a love more powerful than they ever imagined. Can they trust each other the second time around?

 

Author Bio:

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 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. 

Shop the Whisper Lake Series

Shop all Barbara Freethy books

 

Set in the early 1900s, Among the Beautiful Beasts is the untold story of the early life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, known in her later years as a tireless activist for the Florida Everglades. After a childhood spent in New England estranged from her father and bewildered by her mother, who fades into madness, Marjory marries a swindler thirty years her senior. The marriage nearly destroys her, but Marjory finds the courage to move to Miami, where she is reunited with her father and begins a new life as a journalist in that bustling, booming frontier town. Buoyed by a growing sense of independence and an affair with a rival journalist, Marjory embraces a life lived at the intersection of the untamed Everglades and the rapacious urban development that threatens it. When the demands of a man once again begin to swallow Marjory's own desires and dreams, she sees herself in the vulnerable, inimitable Everglades and is forced to decide whether to commit to a life of subjugation or leap into the wild unknown. Told in chapters that alternate between an urgent midnight chase through the wetlands and extensive narrative flashbacks, Among the Beautiful Beasts is at once suspenseful and deeply reflective.

Author Bio:
Lori McMullen grew up in unincorporated Dade County, outside of Miami, and now lives with her family in Chicago. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, and her short fiction has appeared in the Tampa Review and Slush Pile magazine. Among the Beautiful Beasts is her first novel.

 

 Independently published with She Writes Press

Midnight treasure hunts, fancy-dress parties, and a blue-blooded murder . . .

November, 1923. Olive's school chum, Gigi, invites Olive to London because Gigi's dotty grandmother fears for her life--or so she's said to Gigi. However Olive is surprised to find that the dowager is far from muddled. The sharp and imperious matriarch refuses to admit to her worries and sends Olive on her way.

Without a client or case, Olive is swept into the glittering lifestyle of the "fast set," and their decadent excess. But then among the cocktails and champagne, a murderer strikes during a frivolous party game, and Olive realizes the dowager's fears were well-founded.

Can Olive unmask the upper crust culprit before the party's over for a Bright Young Person?

An Old Money Murder in Mayfair is the fifth installment in the popular High Society Lady Detective series from USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett. Join Olive and her dapper sleuthing partner, Jasper, as they navigate the extravagant parties of the Bright Young People as well as their own budding relationship . . .

About the Author
Rosett, Sara: - USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunits. She loves reading Golden Age mysteries, watching Jane Austen adaptions, and travel. She is the author of the High Society Lady Detective historical mystery series as well as three contemporary cozy series: the Murder on Location series, the On the Run series, and the Ellie Avery series. Sara also teaches an online course, How to Outline A Cozy Mystery, and is the author of How to Write a Series. Publishers Weekly called Sara's books enchanting, well-executed, and sparkling. Sara loves to get new stamps in her passport and considers dark chocolate a daily requirement. Find out more at SaraRosett.com.

The strange appearance of a mummy at a conference sets off a chain of events with repercussions that go far beyond the staid world of academia. A suspicious death, a secret code, and a powerful sect combine to intimately connect the past to the present.

As in the previous Charlotte Anthony mysteries, the action takes place in Elm Grove and features characters both new and familiar. Charlotte's daughter, Ellis, returns to the typical small Midwestern town much more grown up than when she left, attracting the attention of both Tread, the scion of a political dynasty, and the handsome and slightly mysterious Selim. But she is plagued by an inexplicable sense of dread-and wonders if the answer lies in mysticism.

Charlotte again teams up with Detective Barnes to solve the present-day crimes, with the hope that she will finally unravel the remaining mysteries of her partner Donovan's colorful ancestry.

An Uncharted Corpse is the fourth installment of the Charlotte Anthony Mystery series, preceded by An Uncollected Death, An Unexamined Wife, and An Undisclosed Vocation.

Broke, friendless, and career in freefall - can a murder get her life back on track? Things appear to be looking up for Charlotte when she is offered a new editing job. Finding her new boss battered and left for dead on her first day, however, was most definitely not in the job description. She turns amateur sleuth in an attempt to continue with her editing assigment but complications set in from the start. The notebooks that she needs are well hidden and the only clues to their whereabouts are extremely cryptic. To add to Charlotte's problems, she is not the only one with an interest in the notebooks. The town's criminal element will stop at nothing, up to and including murder, to get their hands on the prize.

About the Author
Meg is a long-time nonfiction writer, most recently of The Minimalist Woman blog and its related self-help and cookbooks. She now focuses almost exclusively on fiction, and has written and published two mysteries, An Uncollected Death and An Unexamined Wife. A third, An Undisclosed Location, is slated for release in Summer of 2015. Meg has an MA in English. She lives in Northwest Indiana with her husband, writer and photographer Steve Johnson. .

Is love worth killing for? In the second book of the Charlotte Anthony series, plans for an idyllic holiday in Aspen are disrupted by the discovery of a dead professor in his lab full of suspicious-looking plants. Once again, Charlotte joins forces with Detective Barnes to solve a murder that is anything but straightforward. Potential motives and suspects are many and the prof's complicated love life only adds to the confusion. Her investigation reveals unexpected connections between husbands, wives, friends, and lovers, and between past and future events. But information can be deadly, and Charlotte's discoveries put both herself and her friends in great danger. As if all of this this wasn't enough, Charlotte is swept off her feet by the most unlikely of suitors.

About the Author
Meg is a long time nonfiction writer, most recently of The Minimalist Woman blog and its related self-help and cookbooks. She now focuses almost exclusively on fiction, and has written and published two mysteries, An Uncollected Death and An Unexamined Wife. A third, An Undisclosed Location, is slated for release in Summer of 2015. Meg has an MA in English. She lives in Northwest Indiana with her husband, writer and photographer Steve Johnson. Contact: megwolfewrites@gmail.com Web: megwolfe.com

An oddly dressed corpse turns up in an unexpected place, and Charlotte fears that the small midwestern town of Elm Grove has a much darker side than she had ever imagined.

Enter the Divine Wrath-who are certainly not to be taken lightly but are they really as frightening as their name suggests? Or are the residents of Elm Grove just an unwitting PR machine for the group?

Hypocrisy, both institutional and personal, comes under the microscope, forcing Charlotte to confront her own version of it when events start to hit all too close to home.

Charlotte and Detective Barnes, along with the usual assist from the ever-supportive Elm Grove community, work tirelessly to solve the mystery of the victim's death and the onslaught of crimes that follow it.

An Uninvited Quest is the fifth installment of the Charlotte Anthony Mystery series: An Uncollected Death, An Unexamined Wife, An Undisclosed Vocation, and An Uncharted Corpse.

"Poignant, bittersweet and satisfying, Back Forever sustains the plausible fantasy-to-reality charm of Bring Me Back." —Manic Readers

Christopher Penman and Claire Abby know very well that their break-up was the ultimate test of their love. Now back together, they're looking only to the future. Christopher's band is making a run at it after a long hiatus. Claire lands a magazine job she never dreamed of. Only a ring on Claire's finger and a baby on the way could make their new life more complete, and Chris is determined they'll have it all.

But when her college-bound daughter starts pushing the limits and they get news about Claire's dad that shakes her to the core, Chris and Claire's picture-perfect plans unravel. Only love can get them through the tests they never saw coming. Back together was one thing, but can they hold on to forever?

More Reviews:

“I fell even more in love with Claire, Chris and Sam in Back Forever than I thought was possible.” —Book Crush

"With Back Forever, Karen Booth delivered the perfect sequel to Chris and Claire's story, and the perfect story for any fan of contemporary romance to fall in love with!" —Hesperia Loves Books (5 Stars)

"Back Forever is the perfect sequel to Bring Me Back. All of the characters grow and blossom." —Scandalicious Book Reviews

"I delighted in every bit of Back Forever." —Bookworm Brandee (5 Stars)

"Chris and Claire's love story is phenomenal. Intense-sexy-fun." —Sassy Girl Books

"I had high expectations for this book and it totally lived up to them." —A Little Fiction of Every Flavor (5 Stars)

"Wow...Karen Booth did it again and couldn't have given a better ending to Claire and Christopher's journey." —For the Love of Books

"These books are unlike anything I've ever read...two wonderfully written real characters that are so very, very different from each other but by sheer will, want to be together and find a way to make that happen." —Toot's Book Reviews

"Back Forever was a magnificent love story." —Cruising Susan Book Reviews

"I ended Back Forever feeling fulfilled and complete and with a huge grin on my face. These are characters that stay with you, and a story which I will sure to be re-reading many times!" —A Reading Nurse

Author Bio:
Karen Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music, Judy Blume, and the films of John Hughes. A former music-industry exec, Karen writes smart, steamy contemporary romance—big city loves stories and rock star romances. When Karen isn't creating fictional musicians, she's listening to everything from Otis Redding to Duran Duran to Tokyo Police Club with her kids, honing her Southern cooking skills (she makes some mean collard greens), or sweet-talking her astoundingly supportive husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails.

From New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio comes the much-anticipated sequel to The Beach Cottage.

Winding to the sea is a nearly hidden dirt road. Acres of wooded forest engulf it. Reaching skyward alongside that road are towering trees, their branches gloved in icy white. In the middle of winter, few turn onto this tucked-away Connecticut road. Truthfully, most wouldn't know it leads to a secluded beach community.

Mack Martinelli sure does, though. He fell even more in love with his wife Avery there.

As Mack steers his pickup down the frost-heaved road, night settles in. Salt air presses close. It's been a long time, but he's finally ready to come Back to the Beach Cottage.

Have a seaside seat with the beach friends in this irresistible novel from New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio.

Blue skies and smooth seas return to the coastal community of Stony Point. Until a new arrival in this little New England beach town sets forth a competition like no other. As the temperature rises beneath the summer sun, so do the antics and good-natured fun.

Join Jason Barlow, Maris, Kyle, Elsa and the rest of the gang for another unforgettable season at the shore. The sound of gulls and lapping waves are calling you to the page ... for a summer read that's purely Beach Bliss.

About the Author
Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel.

New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio invites you to spend the summer by the sea, in a quaint New England beach town where friends and love await just outside the cottage doors.

Celia Gray finds herself house-sitting a silver-shingled cottage at Stony Point. She arrives with her guitar, a few staging jobs ... and a bit of summertime sadness. That is, until an unforgettable group of beach friends draws her in like a breath of salt air.

Sal DeLuca heard the words in a dream: Take me to the sea. So after a decade of demanding work, he takes his first vacation in years. Trading in his suit and tie for blue jeans and boat shoes, Sal unexpectedly arrives at his mother's shabby inn on the Connecticut shore, winding his way into the lives and hearts of the close-knit beach community.

When Stony Point's two wash-ashores, Sal and Celia, meet, some say it's a match made in beach-heaven. And so begins a sweet seaside summer ... forging friendships, adventures and new love. But all is not at ease in the gentle sea breeze as a dark secret turns the tide for the Stony Point crew.

Beach Blues is a novel bringing you right to its secluded fishing shack and weathered boardwalk, to its wooden rowboat and lantern-lit porches. A novel that welcomes you, as much as it may break your heart.

About the Author
Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Blues comes a novel of summers you never forget and friendships that never fade.

After a heartbreaking summer on the Connecticut shore, a group of beach friends is as adrift as an unmoored rowboat. When a dismayed Jason Barlow drives as far away from the sea as he can, leaving behind his wife, Maris, as well as their stately cottage on the bluff, that news hits like a sudden wave. Gathering over an intimate meal in a coastal diner, the friends make a solemn pact to lean on each other and not make any more rash decisions.

Which is all well and good, until each friend wavers--testing relationships, commitments, and especially love in the little beach community of Stony Point. But can the magic of the weathered boardwalk, whispering lagoon grasses, and sweet salt air cure what ails them?

Like a swaying seashell wind chime, Beach Breeze is a book that leaves echoes of summer's sweetness and sadness, long after the last page is turned.

About the Author
Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel.

Mike's ready to pop the question to Clara...

But, when news of a secret baby surfaces, will it ruin his plans for engagement?

Clara is happy in her relationship with Mike, but there's a major shift in focus when her sister shows up with bad news.

Solomons Island is a small and peaceful place, with lots of love to go around. At the café, Clara's best friend, Mackenzie, is running the business as if it were her own, while balancing the busy life of a single mother. Her daughter is happy and so are her customers at work. If only she could translate that same level of happiness in her relationship with Bill. They've been dating for a while, but she's ready to take things to the next level. As they discuss their future, will she discover that Bill's heart is in a different place?

Mike's business, Lighthouse Tours, wouldn't be the same without Ms. Mae and Jonathan. These two prove that it's possible to work together and be married, and they do it very well. But at home, Jonathan and Mae still bump heads every now and again as they learn to merge households as Mr. and Mrs. Middleton.

There's nothing everyone wants more than a happily ever after. Join the characters of Solomons Island as they aim to fulfill their desire for love in the third book of the series, Beachfront Embrace.

About the Author
Gilcrest, Michele: - Michele Gilcrest is an author of women's fiction and family sagas with a touch of sweet romance. She was born in the north but spent many years living in Georgia. Traveling the world and finally settling in a small town community has given her so many fun experiences to write about in her books. Her favorite settings, often displayed in her books, are beach towns and small-town communities. Michele's biggest inspiration is faith and family. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction. She's known for spending hours in the bookstore with a hot cup of coffee. There's nothing like reading a good book that takes you on an adventure. When she's not writing, she spends quality time with her husband and her little Yorkie.

She's single, out of a job, and has a week to decide what to do with her life.

Clara's boss, Joan Russell, was a wealthy owner of a beachfront mansion, who recently passed away. Joan's estranged family members have stepped in, eager to collect their inheritance and dismiss Clara of her duties.

Clara dedicated the last ten years of her life to serving Mrs. Russell as her housekeeper and dear friend. Her services are terminated, and it's now time for her to start life over again. As she prepares to move out of her living quarters, there are many thoughts to consider. What will she do with her career? Where will she live? Clara knew she would have to face these questions eventually, but she didn't expect her time with Mrs. Russell to come to such an abrupt end.

With the clock winding down, will Clara find a job and make a new life for herself on Solomons Island? Will she ever settle down and have an opportunity at love again? Or will Clara have to do the unthinkable and return home to a family who barely cares for her existence?

Embark on a journey of new beginnings and pick up your copy today!

About the Author
Gilcrest, Michele: - Michele Gilcrest is an author of women's fiction and family sagas with a touch of sweet romance. She was born in the north but spent many years living in Georgia. Traveling the world and finally settling in a small town community has given her so many fun experiences to write about in her books. Her favorite settings, often displayed in her books, are beach towns and small-town communities. Michele's biggest inspiration is faith and family. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction. She's known for spending hours in the bookstore with a hot cup of coffee. There's nothing like reading a good book that takes you on an adventure. When she's not writing, she spends quality time with her husband and her little yorkie.

She's forty-eight, single, and falling head over heels for Mike, her new boss.

He's equally intrigued, but will circumstances deem their love to be permissible or forbidden?

In book two of the Solomons Island series, Clara is ready to move forward from her year of loss and pain, and she's ready to ignite a new flame. However, she may find herself faced with a few stumbling blocks along the way.

As luck would have it, there's a secret from Clara's past that manages to resurface at the most inconvenient time. If not handled carefully this secret could cost her inheritance, and another chance at love.

Then, there's the question of maintaining a certain level of professionalism while falling completely, deeply, and hopelessly in love with her boss, Mike Sanders.

Will Clara overcome these significant challenges to finally experience her happily ever after?

The story wouldn't be complete without checking in with the other employees who work alongside Clara at the Lighthouse company. The continuation of Ms. Mae's love story is sure to give you butterflies as she turns up the heat with her longtime friend, and now lover, Jonathan.

Pull up a beach chair and enjoy book two of the Solomons Island series - a sweet, romantic beach read!

About the Author
Gilcrest, Michele: - Michele Gilcrest is an author of women's fiction and family sagas with a touch of sweet romance. She was born in the north but spent many years living in Georgia. Traveling the world and finally settling in a small town community has given her so many fun experiences to write about in her books. Her favorite settings, often displayed in her books, are beach towns and small-town communities. Michele's biggest inspiration is faith and family. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction. She's known for spending hours in the bookstore with a hot cup of coffee. There's nothing like reading a good book that takes you on an adventure. When she's not writing, she spends quality time with her husband and her little Yorkie.