Evie Kilgaren is a fighter. Abandoned by her mother and with her father long gone, she is left to raise her siblings in dockside Liverpool, as they battle against the coldest winter on record. But she is determined to make a life for herself and create a happy home for what's left of her family.Desperate for work, Evie takes a job at the Tram Tavern under the kindly watch of pub landlady, and pillar of the community, Connie Sharp. But Connie has problems of her own when her quiet life of spinsterhood is upturned with the arrival of a mysterious undercover detective from out of town. When melting ice reveals a body in the canal, things take a turn for the worst for the residents of Reckoner's Row. Who could be responsible for such a brutal attack? And can Evie keep her family safe before they strike again? A gritty, historical family drama full of laughter and tears from the author of Annie Groves' bestsellers including Child of the Mersey and Christmas on the Mersey. Perfect for fans of Lyn Andrews, Katie Flynn and Nadine Dorries.

    But when she meets the enigmatic Phineas Stone, over the body of her husband in the mortuary, her world begins to fall apart.When her late husband’s secrets spill from the grave, and her life is threatened by the leader of London’s most notorious gang, Lucy must find the strength to rise to the challenge. But who can she trust and how is she to stay out of the murderous clutches of London’s most dangerous criminal?

    A painting of the Duke's great-grandfather has been stolen from his private study. But the Duke's concern is not for his ancestor's portrait; hiding in plain sight nearby is another painting of infinitely more value, one that holds the key to one of the country's most famous and best-kept secrets.Dorset believes the thieves took the wrong painting and may return when they realize their error--and when his fears result in murder, Lenox must act quickly to unravel the mystery behind both paintings before tragedy can strike again. As the Dorset family closes ranks to protect its reputation, Lenox uncovers a dark secret that could expose them to unimaginable scandal--and reveals the existence of an artifact, priceless beyond measure, for which the family is willing to risk anything to keep hidden.In this intricately plotted prequel to the Charles Lenox mysteries, the young detective risks his potential career--and his reputation in high society--as he hunts for a criminal mastermind.

    Blood and death are Fiona Mahoney’s trade, and business, as they say, is booming. Dying is the only thing people do with any regularity, and Fiona makes her indecorous living cleaning up after the corpses are carted away. Her childhood best friend, Mary, was the last known victim of Jack the Ripper. It’s been two years since Fiona scrubbed Mary’s blood from the floorboards, and London is no longer buzzing about the Ripper, but Fiona hasn’t forgotten. And she hasn’t stopped searching for Jack. When she’s called to a murder in the middle of the night, Fiona finds a victim mutilated in an eerily similar fashion to those of the Ripper, and only a few doors down from Mary’s old home. The relentless, overbearing, and irritatingly handsome Inspector Grayson Croft warns her away from the case. She might have listened, if she hadn’t found a clue in the blood. A clue that will lead her down a path from which there is no return.As a killer cuts a devastating swath through London, a letter written in blood arrives at her door, and it is only then that Fiona realizes just how perilous her endeavor is. For she has drawn the attention of an obsessive evil, and is no longer the hunter, but the prey. Fiona Mahoney is in the business of blood. But she’s not the only one. With intriguing twists, blood-chilling discoveries, and dazzling prose, USAToday Bestselling author Kerrigan Byrne shows that a woman’s work is never done, even when she is sleuthing out a serial killer.

    When a detective calls in 2002 hoping to solve the case with new information, Kenji takes immediate action to keep the truth from becoming public.In 1967, Kenji’s father, a former general in the Imperial Japanese Army, had more than his fair share of enemies. When a burglar stole his war sword and left a threatening note, it became clear that someone held a nasty grudge. And when the general was found murdered with Kenji holding the same sword over his dead body, Kenji became the prime suspect.Kenji learned who killed his father and knew why, but no one was ever arrested. In 2002, the statute of limitations has already run out. No charges can be brought regardless of the new evidence.

    Her only hope is to bring her account out of overdraft and possibly buy some hens. The problem is that she has so little imagination she uses her neighbors for inspiration. She little expects anyone to realize what she’s done. So when Chronicles of Harper’s Bend becomes a bestseller, her neighbors are questing to find out just who this “Joe Johns” is and punish him. 
 Things escalate beyond what anyone would imagine when one of her prominent characters turns up dead. It seems that the fictional end Georgette had written for the character spurred a real-life murder. Now to find the killer before it is discovered who the author is and she becomes the next victim. Book ONE in The Poison Ink Mysteries. Georgette Marsh might be a quiet wallflower and treated as such, but it’s time for this wallflower to blossom. Are you ready to journey with her as she decides to craft a new life? If so, you’ll love Miss Marsh! For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy historical mystery. No swearing, graphic scenes, or cliffhangers.

    When he dies at her feet she suspects poison, and the police suspect her. But the vital documents Henry had brought with him for the British Government have gone missing, and Military Intelligence now suspect her, too. With the threat of an arrest imminent, Eleanor must prove herself a Bright Young Thing in every sense in order to uncover the real killer. A Poisoning In Piccadilly is a high-spirited romp through 1920s London, featuring fast cars, feisty women, and the men who love them both.

    Ginger Reed, aka Lady Gold, and her adventurous sister-in-law Felicia taking on clients who've got all sorts of troubles. This first volume consists of The Case of the Boy who Vanished and The Case of the Missing Fox Stole.A companion series to Ginger Gold Mysteries, each volume is approximately 20 thousand words or 80 pages. A bite size read perfect for a transit commute home, time spent waiting at an appointment, or to settle into sleep at night. Get your coffee, tea or glass of wine and snuggle in!

    As a newly widowed lady-in-waiting to the very pregnant Queen Eleanor of England, Catrin never expected to return to Wales again. She was definitely unprepared to be confronted with murder when she got there--or to find herself face-to-face with Rhys, the childhood friend she lost twenty years before. Rhys had never intended to return home either, but a lifetime of war has deposited him right back where he started--impoverished and owing service to Catrin's older brother.With Wales having fallen irrevocably to England, and fearful of trusting anyone within the English court of King Edward, Catrin and Rhys join forces against the treachery and intrigue rife within the half-built Caernarfon Castle. And when the murderer strikes again, the task before them becomes increasingly clear: catch the killer, certainly, but also protect their people from a future that is becoming more dangerous and uncertain with every day that passes. Crouchback is the first book in The Welsh Guard Mysteries.

    He receives an unexpected summons to the Queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham in the middle of the night. He fears for his life when he spies the tortured body of an old friend in the palace precincts. His meeting with Walsingham takes an unexpected turn when he is charged to assist a renowned Puritan, John Foxe, in uncovering the secrets of a mysterious cabinet containing an astrological chart and coded message. Together, these claim Elizabeth has a hidden, illegitimate child (an “unknowing maid”) who will be declared to the masses and serve as the focus for an invasion. Constable is swept up in the chase to uncover the identity of the plotters, unaware that he is also under suspicion. He schemes to gain the confidence of the adventurer John Hawkins and a rich merchant. Pressured into taking a role as court physician to pick up unguarded comments from nobles and others, he has become a reluctant intelligencer for Walsingham.Do the stars and cipher speak true, or is there some other malign intent in the complex web of scheming?Constable must race to unravel the threads of political manoeuvring for power before a new-found love and perhaps his own life are forfeit.

     Confronted with class prejudice and the indifference of the authorities, the keen, young detective embarks on a frantic race against time to gather evidence to convict the killers. But when help is offered from an unlikely source, Lavender must make a decision between justice or truth that carries serious consequences for both his career and his friendship with Ned. 'The Death of Irish Nell' is a prequel to the full-length novel, ‘The Willow Marsh Murder’ (publication: February 1st, 2020). Both of them can be read as standalone works of fiction.

     As one of the first female reporters on 1880s Fleet Street, Penny Green has her work cut out. Whether it’s investigating the mysterious death of a friend or reporting on a serial killer in the slums, Penny must rely on her wits and determination to discover the truth. Fortunately she can rely on the help of Inspector James Blakely of Scotland Yard, but will their relationship remain professional? Read The Penny Green Series: Books 1-3 today and discover this entertaining Victorian mystery series. The Penny Green Mystery Series is set in 1880s London. The books can be read in any order: Book 1 - Limelight Book 2 - The Rookery Book 3 - The Maid's Secret Book 4 - The Inventor Book 5 - Curse of the Poppy Book 6 - The Bermondsey Poisoner Book 7 - An Unwelcome Guest Also available: The Penny Green Series: Books 1-3 (The Penny Green Series Boxset Book 1) The Penny Green Series: Books 4-6 (The Penny Green Series Boxset Book 2)

    A tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal in Roman Gaul. It's AD 123 and the sun is shining on southern Gaul. Ex-military medic Ruso and his British wife Tilla are back after a long absence - but it's not the reunion anyone had hoped for. Ruso's brother has left him in charge of a farm he has no idea how to manage, a chronic debt problem and a gaggle of accident-prone small children. Meanwhile his sister Flora has run away to rescue her boyfriend, who's accused of murdering a wealthy guest at a party. Can Ruso and Tilla save the boyfriend from the murder charge - or should they be saving Flora from the boyfriend? Will any of the guests tell the truth about the fatal party before it's too late? And meanwhile, how long can Ruso continue to lie about what's inside the bath house? Don't miss this novella from the author of the New York Times bestseller Medicus.

    In 89 B.C.E., Roman emperor Domitian throws a terrifying banquet for the Senators—one that everyone is certain they won't survive in Lindsey Davis's Invitation to Die: A Novella of Ancient Rome...

    A fledgling reporter. A scandal to die for.New York City, 1919. Lillie Mead mourns the love she lost in the war. But when a wealthy British friend offers her a reporting job across the pond, she hopes accepting will help her rebuild her life. She barely has time to unpack before she’s assigned the scoop of a poisoned socialite’s death…As the clues take a turn for the scandalous, Lillie unearths shocking skeletons in the victim’s closet. But she never expected the threads of the beloved woman’s life to weave with hers. Can Lillie expose the truth before her own death makes the front page?An Unfortunate End is the first book in the Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series. If you like captivating settings, cozy whodunits, and vivid glimpses into the past, then you’ll love Lisa Zumpano’s charming novel. Buy An Unfortunate End to expose secrets and scandals today!

    Hoping to gain some financial independence, she advertises her services as a personal secretary. It is unfortunate that she should discover her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold--explorer, mine magnate and president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers' Club--dead with a knife in his throat.When Inspector Robert Curran is put on the case, he realizes that he has an unusual witness in Harriet. Harriet's keen eye for detail and strong sense of duty interests him, as does her distrust of the police and her traumatic past, which she is at pains to keep secret from the gossips of Singapore society.When a second body is dragged from the canal, Harriet feels compelled to help with the case. She and Curran are soon drawn into a complex web of stolen gemstones and a mysterious gang of thieves who have no qualms about killing again to protect their secrets.

    Independent young Kitty Underhay has been left in charge of her family’s hotel, The Dolphin, on the tranquil English coast. She’s expecting her days at the bustling resort to be filled with comfortable chatter with chambermaids as they polish the mahogany desks and glittering candelabras of the elegant foyer. Everything must be perfect for the arrival of a glamourous jazz singer from Chicago and a masked ball that will be the cultural highlight of the season. But when several rooms are broken into and searched, including Kitty’s own, she quickly realises that something out of the ordinary is afoot at the hotel. Soon rumours are flying in the cozy town that someone is on the hunt for a stolen ruby. A ruby that Kitty’s mother may well have possessed when she herself went missing during the Great War. And when the break-ins are followed by a series of attacks and murders, including of the town’s former mayoress, it seems the perpetrator will stop at nothing to find it. Aided by ex-army captain Matthew Bryant, the Dolphin’s new security officer, Kitty is determined to decipher this mystery and preserve not only the reputation of her hotel, but also the lives of her guests. Is there a cold-blooded killer under her own roof? And what connects the missing jewel to the mystery from Kitty’s own past? A classic page-turning murder mystery! Fans of Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Edmondson and T.E. Kinsey will love this unputdownable whodunnit.

    vivid... gripping. Takes you through a thrilling quest in a violent ancient world." Some secrets are best left unrevealed323 B.C.King Alexander the Great has died without a clear successor and the citizens of a vast empire wait nervously for what comes next. But Captain Deon has other worries—his family will be sold to slavery if he does not clear his debt soon. Desperate, he accepts a mission from Alexander’s wily Royal Secretary in return for a generous reward. All he has to do is steal a papyrus from the King's funeral procession.A papyrus with a stunning secret that can transform the balance of powers that fight for Alexander’s throne.Plunged into the heart of succession wars and thrust between bloody ambitions of greater men, Deon is forced to embark on a dangerous journey and battle those he fears, to decode the ancient clues before time runs out for his family. But the more he learns, the more he realizes that his decisions will decide the life and death of not only his loved ones but also that of millions of innocents.-------- BONUS: Join the newsletter on the author's website to get a free "History behind the book" that sheds light on some of the interesting events after Alexander's death.

     ‘It’s strange, the way fortune deals her hand.’ The year is 1759 and London is shrouded in a cloak of fear. With the constables at the mercy of highwaymen, it’s a perilous time to work the already dangerous streets of Soho. Lizzie Hardwicke makes her living as a prostitute, somewhat protected from the fray as one of Mrs Farley’s girls. But then one of her wealthy customers is found brutally murdered… and Lizzie was the last person to see him alive.Constable William Davenport has no hard evidence against Lizzie but his presence and questions make life increasingly difficult. Desperate to be rid of him and prove her innocence Lizzie turns amateur detective, determined to find the true killer, whatever the cost.Yet as the body count rises Lizzie realises that, just like her, everyone has a secret they will do almost anything to keep buried…

    When Jurgen, a young soldier, turns up on the doorstep of the home, asking if he can take Fabienne to the local dance, the women running the organisation agree, against their better judgement. Soon the young couple are in love.With the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party, comes persecution of anyone seen to be “inferior to the German master race”. This includes children with disabilities and Fabienne and the women flee the Nazi wrath, taking the vulnerable children with them on an epic journey across Germany. Some will survive the Nazi punishments, others will not. But in the background is her relationship with Jurgen. Will he stay loyal or betray her to his masters in the Nazi party?When she hears that her father is in jail, awaiting the death penalty for murder, she is forced to come out of hiding to visit him and make her peace. The risk is enormous, but in doing so, Fabienne learns some extraordinary news, which changes the course of her life.

    But then signs of a burglary are discovered, and Frost senses there’s more to the story than meets the eye – even though the only thing taken was a worthless amateur painting.Then a young girl is abducted outside the school, an infamous gangster fresh from prison arrives in the area, and dead bodies start turning up in the woods. As Frost and his team dig deeper, everything seems to lead back to Ivan Fielding’s murky lifetime of misdeeds.Will they find the answers they need before the dead man’s past puts them all at risk?

    Though seldom strong enough to leave his rooms, his gouty legs never hinder his agile mind. He’s built the most valuable intelligence service in Europe. Now the Bacon brothers are ready to offer it to the patron with the deepest pockets.Then Francis finds a body lying near Anthony’s coach. The clues inside point to Anthony’s secretary. Worse, the murdered man had been spreading rumors that could destroy Anthony’s reputation.Francis thinks his brother did it. Assistant Thomas Clarady thinks the secretary did it. As they investigate, they hear one story after another about what happened. Which is the truth? Can they sort through the lies before disaster strikes?

    Turns. Disappointments. Unexpected Christmas joy. For beautiful, blonde-haired Hazel Ellis, the trip west as a mail-order bride is fraught with uncertainty. She and her sisters have decided that they must leave Boston, where their father’s financial downfall has left them with no marriage prospects in elite Beacon Hill society. Their husbands await them in Colorado so they must go there. Wealthy rancher Harley Wyatt is a man whose cattle and acres mark him as someone of importance in the growing town of Newton. Aloof and used to getting his own way, Harley has secrets he’s unwilling to share with a woman he doesn’t even know. It doesn’t matter she’ll be his wife, she’ll have to earn his trust. He expects her to fulfill her role as Mrs. Wyatt, the wife of the area’s most prosperous rancher. But he offers little insight into what that position entails and timid Hazel is reluctant to ask him. She is equally reluctant to ask him about the identity of the ten-year old girl named Oakley who lives at the ranch. Colorado will prove to be a challenge of the heart for sweet and naïve Hazel. Will the bonds of her new life be powerful enough to overcome the beloved memories of her home back East, particularly as the Christmas season arrives? _____ Home for Christmas… a sweet, romantic journey spanning decades - even centuries - of holiday cheer. There’s no better season than Christmas to look back with gratitude for all the family blessings and forward with anticipation to all the joy to come. A holiday romance or a surprise Christmas wedding that leads to a lifetime of happiness is an irresistible story for a true romantic. Add some snow, hot chocolate, and carols at the piano and you’ll fall in love again and again. Second chances, mail order brides, marriages of convenience – this clean and wholesome series brings all this and so much more. Join our heroes and heroines from proper Regency England to the majestic Rocky Mountains as they find peace, true love, and inspiring Christmas spirit. This multi-author Christmas series is brought to you by these best-selling authors: Joyce Alec Rose Pearson Natalie Dean Bethany Rose Annie Boone Hanna Hart Sophie Mays

    Luckily, she has a dashing hero to assist her. But his puzzling past may tear them apart.Eleanor Blackwood is thrilled to spend time at her best friend’s country estate. Angsley Hall overflows with the breathtaking natural beauty of fields, forests, and a mighty river, as well as with a mystery or two. She’s even more delighted by the unexpected arrival of the man who has secretly captured her heart.Grayson O’Connor is not immune to Eleanor’s charms. True, she still climbs trees and acts rashly, but she also has a quick wit and joyful humor. Yet with his own past cloaked in shadows, he’s not convinced he has the right to pursue this innocent spirit.Amidst a week of drenching squalls, they begin an intriguing treasure hunt based on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Gold Bug. Danger becomes all too real with midnight intruders, shots in the dark, and a perilously swollen river cresting its banks. Unlike Poe’s story of pirate booty, Eleanor and Gray discover the greatest treasure is the precious human heart—theirs to cherish or to tear apart.Engaging characters, attention to period detail, and passionate romance with a touch of intrigue—you’ll find it all in the stories by USA Today bestselling writer Sydney Jane Baily.(Note: This story was first published as part of the USA Today Bestselling Boxed set, The Midnight Hour: All Hallows' Brides, October 2019)

     Captain John Wolfe, known as Mad Jack, has left the army under parental pressure. But fighting is in his blood and he does not take well to civilian life. In his own words he is “going to the devil” and is in Blackhaven to sell a minor property in order to continue on that course. Until his house and his hangover are invaded by the genteel but poverty-stricken James family and their terrifying dog. Linnet James’s chief concern is to make her mother well again. Between that, money worries and caring for her young siblings, she has no time and less inclination to consider marriage. Until she encounters Wolfe. Their meeting is the start of an adventures involving highwaymen, poets, pawnbrokers and thin ice—and sudden, unexpected love. Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

    On a shopping trip to Hamley’s Toy Shop, a kind-hearted stranger gives Emily’s son a Christmas cracker—but when he opens it to reveal a cryptic clue inside, Emily suspects there’s more to the gift than Christmas cheer. By the next day, her suspicions seem well-founded when a Scottish stranger arrives with a heartbreaking tale and an urgent plea for help. He believes his long-lost daughter, kidnapped by her well-meaning grandparents as an infant, may be hidden away somewhere in London. As Colin and Emily trace the clues through the city’s snowy streets, more mysterious crackers arrive to guide their investigation. But who is sending them? What do they mean? Emily and Colin must find the answers as they seek to reunite a father with his beloved daughter by Christmas Eve.

    This one did not... Dahlia Lovell, willful daughter of the Duke of Cottleroy, can only watch as her father uses her as a bargaining chip in his umbrageous business deals. Roger Kingman, ex-Navy Captain and impoverished Duke of Shelthom, is haunted by the unsolved mystery surrounding his parents’ death at sea. His demons are silenced when he meets Lady Dahlia, who holds the key not only to his heart but also to the unexplainable circumstances of his parents' demise. With a suspicious fire breakout and a ghostly island shrouded in mist, Dahlia and Roger must employ every ounce of their wit in order to reclaim their lives and rescue Dahlia’s brother, whose fate seems grimmer by the second… *If you like a realistic yet charming depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then The Hazardous Gamble of the Alluring Duchess is the novel for you. This is Hanna's 19th book, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after. Pick up "The Hazardous Gamble of the Alluring Duchess" today to discover Hanna's new amazing story!

    Grieving widow Ela Longespée is determined to succeed her husband as sheriff of Salisbury, and quickly takes charge of the investigation. She soon finds herself in the thick of a neighborhood scandal and a struggle to maintain her authority. With multiple suspects, can she identify the true killer?

    The capital is simmering with dissent. The conflict is ready to boil over.But Thomas soon has other troubles to contend with. A wealthy merchant, Sir Joseph Venell, is savagely killed; then his partner Sir Hugh Swofford plunges to his death, in the Tallant household.Suspicion falls on Thomas, who is sucked into a mire of treachery and rumour within the City of London. As the merchant struggles to clear his name, he becomes captivated by the enigmatic Elizabeth Seymour, whose passion for astronomy and mathematics is matched only by her addiction to the gaming tables.Pursued by the authorities, Thomas races to unmask the real killer who claims a third victim to implicate him further, toying with his future in a deadly cat and mouse game.In a desperate race against time, Elizabeth applies her powers of logic and deduction to unearth the clues that will point to the killer, but her way is barred by a secret message from the grave.Can she crack its code before Thomas, now a wounded and exhausted fugitive, succumbs to the chase?And, if she succeeds, has Thomas the strength to face his tormentor and win his life and reputation back?Rags of Time is the first book in an engaging and entertaining new historical crime series, set during the upheaval of the 17th Century.

    But when the producer's wife experiences a mysterious illness and another cast member is murdered, it looks like someone doesn't want the show to go on.AWARDS:Romantic Times Top PickReviewer's Choice Awards, finalistTHE DAISY GUMM MAJESTY MYSTERIES, in series orderStrong SpiritsFine SpiritsHigh SpiritsHungry SpiritsGenteel SpiritsAncient SpiritsSpirits RevivedDark SpiritsSpirits OnstageUnsettled SpiritsBruised SpiritsSpirits UnitedSpirits UnearthedShaken SpiritsScarlet Spirits

    What could possibly go wrong?This short story in the USA Today bestselling Victorian San Francisco Mystery series features one of the most beloved characters in the series, as well as giving the reader a tour of the boardinghouse itself. Chronologically, this story come soon after the events in Scholarly Pursuits, so if you don't like spoilers, you might want to wait to read it until you have finished that book.

    It is Midsummer and he is happy to be back at Mennan Castle, but the discovery of the dead body of an unknown man threatens to cast a long shadow over the Carr family. Keen to find answers and relieve tensions at home, Alistair agrees to help the police with their enquiries. But he and his old friend David Grant immediately run into problems. Who could have brutally killed the man and then deliberately hidden his body when no one in town will admit to even knowing his name? Which to Cross and Which to Burn is the second Golden Age mystery featuring Alistair Carr.

    Miss Iris Sparks, quick-witted and impulsive, and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, practical and widowed with a young son, are determined to achieve some independence and do some good in a rapidly changing world.But the promising start to their marriage bureau is threatened when their newest client, Tillie La Salle, is found murdered and the man arrested for the crime is the prospective husband they matched her with. While the police are convinced they have their man, Miss Sparks and Mrs. Bainbridge are not. To clear his name--and to rescue their fledging operation's reputation--Sparks and Bainbridge decide to investigate on their own, using the skills and contacts they've each acquired through life and their individual adventures during the recent war.Little do they know that this will put their very lives at risk.

    When the festivities are interrupted by an urgent call from her employer, she heads straight to London with Tippy in tow only to discover that her great-great-aunt Euphegenia has left her a final bequest—and a mysterious mission. Christmas is a time for magic and miracles and Sugar will need both if she’s to succeed in her quest. This charming Christmas cozy mystery is the third book in the Sugar Martin Vintage Cozy Mysteries set in post-WW2 England.

     When a new acquaintance is charged with murder, Lola calls upon her trio of friends to clear his name. It will mean setting aside cocktail parties, night clubs, and late lie-ins, but Lola is willing to sacrifice much more to save an innocent man. Calling on her sophisticated upbringing as an Englishwoman's daughter and the Get It Done attitude taught by her Texan father, Lola will charm self-righteous hotel clerks, square off with cranky detective inspectors, and even tolerate a pompous German ex-officer to do what she knows is right. Welcome to the Regal Rose Hotel, the new posh and elegant hotel catering to the rich, famous, and eccentric in Jazz Age London. Try the hotel's signature drink, The Rose, at the Portage Club nightclub, dance the night away to the music of Dot and the Four Grooves, and sit with Lola Rose and her companions as they indulge in jazz, cocktails, rumors, and mysteries.

     With squabbling between the sisters, it takes them too long to realize that their new friend is being haunted. Now they’ll have to set aside their fight, discover just why their friend is being haunted, and what they’re going to do about it. Will they rid their friend of the ghost and out themselves as witches? Or will they look away? Join the Wode as they rise up and embrace just who and what they are in this newest historical mystery adventure. Book ONE in The Bright Young Witches Mysteries. Are you ready for the roaring twenties? For a set of other-wordly sisters and their journey to find their place in the world. If so, you’ll love Hester, Evanora, and Circe. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, J. New, 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.

    Shocked to find the estate in ruins, the stables and pastures empty, Phin is even more disturbed to find himself greeted by a beautiful woman pointing a shotgun at him. Celeste Stirling, whose mother died in the same accident that claimed the life of the old duke, has been looking after the estate since his death. Having been persuaded not to shoot him, she agrees to stay on and help Phin restore the estate. The pair also delve into the mystery surrounding the fatal accident. Could it be connected to the family feud that pitted brother against brother sixteen years previously, resulting in Phin being whisked away to America by his father? Will Phin and Celeste be able to fight the growing passion that threatens to engulf them and triumph over devious relatives who will stop at nothing to claim the estate for themselves… Previously published as part of a Regency Romantics’ Boxset

    He'd much prefer to devote himself to sorting out his future. But when a kindly surgeon living on the edge of Aylsham is brutally murdered, and the local coroner does all he can to bring in a verdict of accidental death, Adam knows he has no choice. At first, a grave shortage of direct evidence and the reluctance of the locals to talk freely to someone so far above them socially look set to prevent any progress. Still, Adam persists, drawing on whatever help he can muster from friends and contacts. Even so, progress is slow until more help arrives in the unexpected form of the surgeon’s former housekeeper, Rose Thoday. Can our young doctor accept collaborating on equal terms with a mere woman? What will upper-class society — and Lady Alice — think of him if he does? Adam must grapple with much more than the dispassionate mental challenges he’s been used to. This time, he’s up against against a conspiracy of clever, desperate and ruthless men. All face the gallows if they are brought to justice. One at least will not hesitate to kill again to save himself. This is a contest which may very well cost Adam and Rose their lives.

    With some reluctance, she joins the rest of the glamorous attendees on the veranda for cocktails and dancing until the gala turns grave indeed when one of the guests is murdered. With the sure knowledge there’s a killer among them, Sugar sets out to unearth the secrets that led to the death of a peer of the realm. With the help of a grumpy corgi and a handsome Englishman, she’s on the hunt for a cold-blooded killer and she won’t stop until she gets her man! The second book in the Sugar Martin Vintage Cozy Mysteries set in post-WW2 England.

     The past is catching up with Julia McAllister… 1895, England Julia McAllister may have a murderous past but she is determined it won’t interfere with her future. Julia is a photographer. Yes, it may have been of the peeping-tom striptease variety. But she dreams of capturing vast African plains and wild American vistas. For now, though, she just needs to escape. But her journey is halted almost immediately by the discovery of a woman’s battered body. And when the police ask for the services of a crime scene photographer, she is forced to oblige. Will Julia be able to keep her past a secret? Can she once again unmask a killer? Or will she finally be forced to pay for the crimes of her past…? CAST IRON is the second book in the Julia McAllister Victorian Mystery series: historical romance murder mysteries with a courageous woman sleuth embarking on a traditional British, private investigation in nineteenth-century London. Praise for Marilyn Todd: ‘wry and entertaining’ - Mystery Scene ‘delectably enjoyable’ - Daily Mail ‘Skilfully tangled plot’ - Booklist ‘never boring’ – Kirkus Reviews ‘thoroughly entertaining’ - The Bookseller JULIA MCALLISTER VICTORIAN MYSTERY SERIES BOOK ONE: Snap Shot BOOK TWO: Cast Iron

    And I was about to be reminded of that fact.1970, St Pauls, Bristol. A new decade, and J T Ellington is determined it will be a quiet one. He’s stepped away from the private-eye game to scratch a living, respectable at last, as a school caretaker.Still his nights are full of torment – guilt and ghosts that no prayers will banish – but it’s not until the past comes calling in the unwelcome form of Superintendent Fletcher that J T’s resolve is truly tested.Fletcher has a job for J T – and the hard-nosed cop can’t be refused. A young man, Nikhil Suresh, has disappeared hours before his wedding; rumours abound and his family is distraught. J T is to investigate. With what feels like blood money in his pocket, J T is plunged deep into a demi-monde of vice, violence and forbidden passion. An extraordinary, malevolent enemy is intent on destroying him. Now – seeking survival and redemption – J T must play as dirty and dangerous as those who want him dead.

    When socialite Maisie Frobisher heads off on a cruise to India in search of adventure, little does she know what form it will take. First some jewellery, then an important document goes missing from an ambassador’s cabin. If that document gets into the wrong hands there will be trouble. And it’s definitely in the wrong hands... Maisie already has her suspicions of a fellow-guest at the captain’s table. However, when he turns out to be a police inspector travelling incognito and takes over the investigation, Maisie’s nose is put firmly out of joint. Then a crime of an entirely different kind rears its head, and Maisie finds that the past she is trying to escape from just won’t let her go... With less than two weeks until the ship reaches port, can Maisie put aside her prejudices and learn to work with Inspector Hamilton? Can they trust each other? And most importantly, can they find that document before it causes an international incident? All At Sea is the first book in the Maisie Frobisher Mysteries series, set in the mid-1890s.

    “The Pale Pipesmoker” features Katherine Herrald and Minx Cutter in a tale that takes place during the timeframe of Freedom of the Mask.

    Less than two years earlier, Italian noblewoman Bona Sforza arrived in Poland’s capital from Bari as King Zygmunt’s new bride. She came from Italy accompanied by a splendid entourage, including Contessa Caterina Sanseverino who oversees the ladies of the Queen’s Chamber. Caterina is still adjusting to the life in this northern kingdom of cold winters, unfamiliar customs, and an incomprehensible language when a shocking murder rocks the court on Christmas night. It is followed by another a few days later. The victims have seemingly nothing in common. Gossip, speculation, and suspicion are rife, but the perpetrator remains elusive as the court heads into the New Year. As the official investigation stalls, Caterina—aided by Sebastian Konarski, a junior secretary in the king’s household—sets out to find the killer. With clues beginning to point to the queen’s innermost circle, the pair are soon racing against time to stop another murder. Silent Water is a story of power and its abuse, and the extremes to which a person may go to find redress for justice denied. Although set at the dawn of the Renaissance era, its themes carry uncanny parallels to some of the most topical social issues of the 21st century. "This clever and suspenseful murder mystery casts a fresh and sparkling light on the world beloved by fans of The Tudors and The Borgias. P. K. Adams, author of two previous novels about the twelfth-century healer and mystic Hildegard of Bingen, masterfully brings Renaissance Poland to life without ever losing track of the human passions that drive her characters. A wonderful start to a new series." —C. P. Lesley, author of Song of the Siren and other novels

    She was only fifty-five years old and she was the most important person in their lives. Two weeks before her death, Anne gave Sarah a small box filled with family photos and other memorabilia. While going through the items, Steven and Sarah discover an unusual mystery from the past that must be solved. The two travel to rural Mississippi searching for answers but find more questions about their mother’s heritage. Their search eventually leads to the discovery of an incredible family secret that Anne had kept hidden for decades. When the truth is revealed, Steven and Sarah are amazed at their mother’s courage and strength. Welcome to My Field of Roses.

    He fully expects to encounter trouble along the way, but not in the first hour of his trek, and certainly not in the form of the ravishing, pampered daughter of a prominent Spanish general. Maria Isabella Pedrosa is on the run from a cruel fiancé whose pirate crew will stop at nothing to recapture her. She uses every wile in her extensive repertoire to try to seduce the dashing English lord into helping her escape. With their countries hurtling towards war, they are sworn enemies by association, but that doesn’t stop the attraction kindling between them. Is love strong enough to conquer all in the savage wilderness of the New World, or will their divided loyalties keep them apart…forever? The Lost Colony Series is an epic historical romance saga, based on the Lost Colonists of Roanoke Island. LOST COLONY SERIES Book #1 — Breaking Ties Book #2 — Trail of Crosses Book #3 — Into the Mainland Book #4 — Higher Tides

    Tom and his wife Rita are invited to a Halloween party by influential and reclusive 1930s newspaper mogul Charles Randolph. In Randolph’s mysterious castle perched atop a winding Central Coast hill, Logan encounters an odd array of suspects. These include a film actor, a journalist, a comic, and a lawyer, any of whom might be the killer. Gypsy fortunetelling, Tarot card readings—and most bizarre of all—a séance that ‘materializes’ the spirit of a movie actress whose earlier death Logan had been investigating, immerse Logan into a chilling mixture of dangerous games played against a backdrop of menace and intrigue.

    The Great War. Although the world is at war, Delia Markham is adjusting to her job as a typewriting teacher at the Glennon Normal School in the fall term of 1918. Her new life revolves around teaching future teachers. It isn’t an easy transition from her former assignment as Yeoman (F) in the U. S. Naval Reserve. When the call was made for women to help in the war effort, Delia was one of the first to sign up for a four-year enlistment using a loophole in the language that allowed women to join the service. That loophole relieved men of the clerical duties that kept them from combat. It offered women equal pay and rank for the same work. Thousands rushed forward to fill that gap. To differentiate them from other yeomen, the (f) designation was used. After spending years caring for her parents and ultimately losing them both, joining the service in the spring of 1917 was an exciting opportunity. One she relished for the time she put in as the amanuensis to a high-ranking officer. Her life with the admiral and his wife allowed her to grow, learn new skills, and enjoy new experiences until she was sidelined in the summer of 1918 by an incident that meant the abrupt end of her military career. A career that was as exciting as it was fulfilling. Circumstances and a remaining family connection brought Delia to the Glennon Normal School when other doors were closed to her. She was happy to have the job and her new home with her cousin Hazel, the head chef at the school. But life at the teachers’ training school isn’t quite as exciting as her time in the service. Not until a mystery at Glennon Hall is followed by a murder and Delia finds herself drawn into both. Suddenly, some of the past excitement found its way back into her life.

    Hoping to meet her best friend there, what she finds shocks her to the core: the latter has mysteriously gone missing. While investigating a series of troubling missing girl cases, sheriff Owen Rundel meets the latest victim's best friend. From the moment he sees her, he knows he has to protect those eyes no matter what. But while searching together for the missing girl, Owen’s worst fear becomes real: Hope suddenly goes missing as well… With a dangerous criminal of unknown motives lurking in the shadows, Owen must quickly find Hope before it’s too late, but also save the town from its worst nightmare. *This is Clarice's 2nd novel, a Western historical romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a strong happily ever after. Pick up "The Redemption of a Hunted Bride" today to discover Clarice's fantastic new romance!

     Hettie and Ro married manipulative, lying, money-grubbing pigs. Therefore, they were instant friends. When those philandering dirtbags died, they found themselves the subjects of a murder investigation. Did they kill their husbands? No. Did they joke about it? Maybe. Do they need to find the killer before the crime is pinned on them? They do! Join Hettie and Ro and their growing friendship as they delve into their own lives to find a killer, a best friend, and perhaps a brighter new outlook. Book ONE in The Hettie & Ro Adventures. Are you ready for the roaring twenties? For spunky widows determined to take hold of their lives and learn from their mistakes? Who plan to crash into adventure and come out dancing? If so, you’ll love Hettie and Ro. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, Leighann Dobbs, 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.

    A visit to her irreverent great-aunt, The Dowager Countess of Barton, is just what Lady Felicia needs to restore her old spirit.Oxfordshire is just the ticket, despite her bossy aunt’s determination to match-make, and a surprise invitation to Scorton Hall, home of the Duke of Scorton, is a welcome treat.With her aunt shamelessly trying to throw her onto the path of the dark and handsome Earl of Beaumont, Felicia is certain that love and romance are no longer for her; not even the sparkling blue eyes of the handsome Earl can tempt her.But when the two are the first to discover the lifeless body of a murdered maid, they are thrown together in their attempt to unravel the Secrets of Scorton Hall.Their determination to discover the truth of the murder of poor Daisy Marlow will take them on an adventure through Hertfordshire, the theatre world of Regency London, and finally, Scotland.Can the Earl find love despite all that is revealed, and can Lady Felicia escape the pain of the past and let herself love again?And when they finally uncover the secret, will it draw them together or drive them apart? ˃˃˃ A novel in apx 70,000 words. A clean romance with no cheating and no cliffhangers. Grab your copy today and join Lady Felicia and the Earl in a satisfying whirl of romance and mystery!

    Unlike Lorraine, she could never live up to her father’s expectations. Lorraine was perfect. But a few days before she is murdered, she told Katherine a secret. One that would destroy their family if anyone found out.Michael Johnston fled the scene of the crime, evaded the law and is hiding in an abandoned cabin on the beach. Katherine’s private refuge. When she discovers him there, she fights against him trying to escape until he tells her that Lorraine wasn’t as perfect as she seemed.As Katherine ventures on her own to seek the truth about Lorraine, both she and Michael are pulled deep into the heart of a deadly political plot against the city. And their only way out is to find the real murderer.

    Once she has the means to perpetually power those bodies, she can propel her mechanical horses to worldwide fame. Or create something much more lethal. Her quest for a rare mineral to complete the battery brings her face to face with a clever detective over the body of a dead man.The DetectiveWhen a customs agent is murdered in his warehouse, Scotland Yard assigns their best. Despite his perfect record, Detective Inspector Jacob Howell has grown cynical investigating the dark side of London, until he crosses paths with the brilliant and unexpectedly compassionate inventress. He senses she’s the key to this mystery, but to solve the case he must find her again in the overcrowded city.The KillerSomeone has learned Verity’s secrets. Someone willing to kill to stop her. Can Howell convince her to trust him before the murderer takes her life and her soul?

     Now, twenty years later, Helen is a world-class swimmer, and a medal favorite for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, yet politically naive as the American team arrives in a racially charged, vainglorious Germany, where the Nazi regime is all too happy to use the young woman for political purposes. Caught up in the charismatic approaches of a member of the German press, Helen ignores the warnings of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, a fellow swimmer and Italian American who has personal experience with fascism. She promises herself that once the gold medal is hers, she will speak her mind on the matter of peace between the two great countries. And then, on the eve of her gold medal swim, a chance meeting with an old mentor opens her eyes to the truth, that she is being used as a tool of the Nazi Propaganda Ministry, who vows to ruin her if she doesn’t accept tainted assistance and in return, make a public gesture in support of the regime.

     Welcome to a very flapper evening! Are you ready for the roaring twenties? For spunky young women crafting their own lives? If so, you’ll love Violet, Julia, Edwina, Hettie, Ro, and Lola. Inside, you’ll find several short stories with adventures, cocktails, kisses, and fun. With stories from The Violet Carlyle Mysteries, The Piccadilly Ladies Club Mysteries, the Lola Star series, as well as the brand-new Hettie and Ro Adventures. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy mystery with a fun peek into a an evening with bright young things.

     Welcome to a very flapper holiday! Are you ready for the roaring twenties? For spunky young women crafting their own lives? If so, you’ll love Violet, Rita, Edwina, Julia, and Lola. Inside, you’ll find several short stories with adventures, cocktails, kisses, and fun. With stories from The Violet Carlyle Mysteries, The Piccadilly Ladies Club Mysteries, the Lola Rose series. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy mystery with a fun peek into a an evening with bright young things.

    Gideon faces his first real challenge as death rocks the small town again when the respected judge Hiram Biddle commits suicide. No one is more distraught than Gideon, whom the old judge had befriended as a mentor and hunting partner. Gideon is regarded with suspicion as an outsider: he’s new to town, and Pennsylvania Dutch in the back-country Scotch-Irish settlement. And he found the judge’s body. Making things even tougher is the way the judge’s death stirs up vivid memories of Gideon’s mother’s murder, the trauma that drove him west from his home in the settled Dutch country of eastern Pennsylvania. He had also discovered her body. At first Gideon simply wants to learn why Judge Biddle killed himself. Later, as he finds out more about the judge’s past, he realizes that the judge’s suicide was spurred by much more than the man’s despair. Gideon’s quest soon becomes more complex as it takes him down a dangerous path into the past. A Stranger Here Below is so atmospheric, so compelling and convincing, that readers will taste the grit of the dirt roads, cringe at the unsanitary conditions and medical superstitions that inflame a flu epidemic, and marvel at the immensely arduous task of carrying out an investigation using the primitive tools of the early 1800s. Fergus leaves us breathlessly waiting for the next Gideon Stoltz mystery.

     Julia turns from murder suspect to England’s first crime scene photographer… 1895, London Taking risqué photographs is the only way Julia McAllister can retain her independence as a young widow in London. But one by one, her models are dying — and now she is being framed for their murders. The relentless Inspector Collingwood is on the case and Julia knows he’s watching her every move. With young women still dying, and her own life on the line, Julia must unmask the real killer before it is too late… Can Julia clear her name? Will Collingwood believe her? Or will the dark secrets of her past come back to haunt her…? SNAP SHOT is the first book in the Julia McAllister Victorian Mystery series: historical romance murder mysteries with a courageous woman sleuth embarking on a traditional British, private investigation in nineteenth-century London. Praise for Marilyn Todd: ‘wry and entertaining’ - Mystery Scene ‘delectably enjoyable’ - Daily Mail ‘Skilfully tangled plot’ - Booklist ‘never boring’ – Kirkus Reviews ‘thoroughly entertaining’ - The Bookseller JULIA MCALLISTER VICTORIAN MYSTERY SERIES BOOK ONE: Snap Shot BOOK TWO: Cast Iron

    Thief-taker Simon Westow knows all about lost property. A boy from the workhouse, he now has a comfortable business finding and returning his clients' stolen possessions. But when John Milner, a successful Leeds businessman, seeks out Simon's services to find his kidnapped daughter, Hannah, it's clear he faces a challenge like no other.Accompanied by his enigmatic and capable young assistant, Jane, Simon takes to the dark, shadowy streets of Leeds for information - streets he knows like the back of his hand. But his enquiries lead Simon and Jane into great danger. Could the answers lie in Simon's own past, and an old enemy seeking revenge?

    Her jewellery is missing, savagely torn from her body. Her memoirs, which threaten to expose the indiscretions of the great and the good, are also missing. Frustrated by the chief magistrate’s demand that he drop the investigation into the death of the unknown beggar woman, found savagely raped and beaten and left to die in the outhouse of a Holborn tavern, Dan is determined to get to the bottom of both murders. But as his enquiries take him into both the richest and the foulest places in London, and Townsend’s real reason for requesting his help gradually becomes clear, Dan is forced to face a shocking new reality when the people he loves are targeted by a shadowy and merciless adversary. The investigation has suddenly got personal.

    So why is he reluctant to take the case - is it because it came from the warden of his old college? Once more, it's up to Jonty Stewart to get his partner through the challenge and employ their own, unique, way to finding a solution.

    A brave gentleman, an unlikely governess, an unscrupulous Baron, a truth revealed, an unexpected love. Alice Lambton was not looking for love, and never expected to find it as a governess, especially in the home of the cruel Baron of Waterford and his unhappy young wife Jane, Lady WaterfordFrederick Parch, a legal clerk and house guest of the Baron, is eager to complete his task and return to the peace of his own home in Upper Nettlefold. Yet when Lord Waterford is unbearably brutal to his wife, and devises callous plans for Alice and the wealthy, reclusive Dowager Countess of Dunsmore, Fredrick finds himself unable to remain impartial toward his employer and defends the women at the risk of incurring the Baron’s wrath.Events become dangerous and as Alice and Frederick struggle through the maze of deceit that entangles them, their attraction becomes undeniable, yet must remain unspoken, for fear of wide-reaching repercussions.What has driven the Baron to such cruelty? Can Frederick Parch stop the Baron from perpetrating a terrible deceit? Why is the Dowager Countess of Dunsmore so interested in Alice? Can love find a way through all of the lies of the past and present? Or will destiny force Alice and Frederick apart? If you enjoy clean Regency Romance books you really should add Lydia Pembroke to your reading list.

     Her father, Lord Audley, is determined that she should marry a gentleman of his choice. However, when his favored suitor is one Lord Haddington, Marion finds herself bitterly disappointed. Alexander, the Earl of Haddington, finds himself quite caught up with Lady Marion. Determined that he will not allow himself to feel anything for her, he seeks to court her but holds his emotions back. However, a sudden illness begins to strike Alexander down each time he draws close to Lady Marion. Weak and confused, he does his best to find a remedy but finds himself quite lost. Lady Marion, however, soon realizes that there is more to her suitor’s illness than there first appears. Both she and Lord Haddington are forced to draw close together until the truth is revealed. Will their greatest challenge bring them together or force them apart?

     Struggling each day in the Old Nichol slums, Tessie and Finn dream of life in the New World. When Tessie is attacked by an underworld figure known only as the Angel of Bishopsgate, that dream all but disappears along with her beloved Finn. Desperate to find him, and oblivious to why the Angel wants her dead, Tessie's only clue points home to Dublin and a past long left behind. As the layers of Victorian London unfold around her, how far will Tessie go to challenge the city's most powerful villain and be reunited with Finn? The Angel of Bishopsgate is the first instalment in this exhilarating historical series, drawing you across the world in a fight for survival, love and freedom. Content Advisory: Adult concepts, some violence, some course language.

     Welcome to a very flapper Valentine’s Day! Are you ready for the roaring twenties? For spunky young women crafting their own lives? If so, you’ll love Violet, Julia, Abigail, Evelyn, and Rosemary. Inside, you’ll find four short Valentine’s day adventures, 1920s style including roses, chocolates, kisses, and cocktails. With stories from The Violet Carlyle Mysteries, the Piccadilly Ladies Club Mysteries, the Abigail Dutcher Mysteries, the Jazz & Gin Cozy Mysteries, and The Lillywhite Mysteries. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy mystery with a fun peek into a Valentine’s celebration of a bright young thing.

    Maverick antiquarian Edward Makepeace is the last person anyone would expect to take on a female scholar. And when Lilith joins Edward’s excavation of the Devil’s Ditch near Newmarket, neither of them expect to find a dead butler. Nor, on top of everything else, do they expect to fall in love. 'A Scholarly Application' is the seventh Newmarket Regency by Jan Jones and the third in the Furze House Irregulars series featuring women of spirit, women of courage, women who don't see why, in this male-dominated Regency era, they should not also play their part in bringing wrong-doers to justice.

    A villain with a brothel to fill. Serving murder, mayhem and pies, Verity and the Villain is a romantic adventure set in 1889—on the eve of the Great Seattle Fire, when more than a city is set on fire. After a night of terror, Verity Faye flees New York. Disguised as a boy, she sets sail for a new life in Seattle, but her nightmare, Mr. Steele, follows close behind. Armed with only her chocolates, laced tarts, and wits, Verity sets out to destroy Mr. Steele and his Lucky Island brothel. Trent Michaels is searching for his missing cousin. He can't afford complications - or romance - yet, at every turn he finds Verity Faye. The night before the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, flames spark between Verity and Trent leaving the life they know and the city they love in ashes. Their story reaches forward through time to Bette Michaels, a genealogist, struggling with grief after the sudden death of her husband. Although generations apart, as Bette unravels Verity's story, she learns that a life can be rebuilt - even after everything is lost. Through Verity, Bette discovers that sometimes the only way to find happiness is to steal it. Verity and the Villain is a revamped version of Stealing Mercy. Although it's been tweaked and twisted, a few readers may recognize the original story. Here's what some readers had to say about Stealing Mercy: A spunky heroine and a confident, cocky hero, who could want more? The story was fast paced, and flowed easily. The storyline was excellent and in it was woven a second story of today, looking back. A fun read. * I thoroughly enjoyed STEALING MERCY, a fast-paced novel with an intrepid heroine, richly developed characters, and a plot which grabbed me immediately. It begins with a villain holding a knife in her NY bake shop apartment and goes to Seattle in the 1880s where Mercy takes on the worst sort of predators. I loved the relationship between Trent and Mercy: the initial spark and its evolution. I especially liked the baking tips topping each chapter. I look forward to Kristy Tate's next novel as this one was a treasure. * New author Kristy Tate brings a wicked sense of humor and a fast-paced storyline to her tale of a feisty 1880s piemaker who flees an enemy in New York and finds happiness--along with danger--in Seattle. You can't help rooting for Mercy Faye, who flaunts convention and flings herself into peril, determined to save young women forced to work in a brothel. Her secrets form a barrier between her and the appealing Trent Michaels, but love has a way of breaching the gap. A charming debut! * Well portrayed leads, Mercy and Trent, interact in a historically rich but still real setting. They are swept together in adventure, romance, and intrigue. Great combination. Easy and enjoyable read. Nice to get sucked in and spend some time in the northwest with such likable characters. * What does a fireplace poker, pies & chocolates, a brothel, a ship and expensive jewels have in common? Oh, wait--I almost forgot the Chinese throwing stars! I really enjoyed this story, great movement to the plot and interesting situations throughout. It was easy to buy into the character's struggle. I'll read the next book from Tate as well. * When I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I was hooked on it! Every page drew me deeper into Mercy's world. I wanted to know what she was thinking and what she was going to do next. Each turn in the story made my heart race. Also, being from Seattle myself I loved having the story set there. I would recommend this to anyone! * This was a fantastic book! I loved the character development in this book and the richness of the descriptions of their feelings.

    Millie and Dom Drouillard return with more murder, mayhem, and misadventures in J.v.L. Bell's latest novel, Denver City Justice.The newlyweds are barely settled into wedded bliss when their neighbor the Widow Ferris is found dead with an icicle piercing her cold heart. Suspects abound--Widow Ferris has been blackmailing most of the upstanding citizens of Idaho Springs, including its sheriff. Millie's new husband Dom soon becomes the main suspect and is hauled off to jail for a taste of Denver City justice.Can Millie arrive in Denver City in time? Joined by an unusual ensemble of proper matrons, her best friend Mary--a free black woman--and an Idaho Springs "fancy girl," Millie heads to Denver City willing to do anything to keep Dom from swinging from the end of a rope.Denver City Justice is a historical novel, rich in frontier lore, interesting Colorado history, and endearingly quirky characters.

    Oxford is hosting the English Parliament under the ‘merry monarch’, King Charles II. As politicians and their hangers-on converge on the divided city, an MP is found murdered, triggering tensions that threaten mayhem on the streets. Luke Sandys, Chief Officer of the Oxford Bailiffs, must solve the crime and thwart the plot. On his side is the respect for evidence and logic he absorbed in his student days, as a follower of the new science. On the other, a group of political conspirators are stirring up sectarian hatreds in their scheme to overthrow the Crown.Struggling to protect all he holds dear, Luke leans heavily on his cavalry officer brother, his friends, and his faithful deputy, Robshaw. But he has a secret, which may be clouding his judgement. At the moment of truth, will he choose love or duty?

    S. Quinn, S. G. MacLean and Alison Weir. How do you solve a murder when you are one of the suspects… 1664, London Life should be good for Major Thankful Russell and his new bride, Thomazine. Russell, middle-aged and battle-scarred, isn’t everyone’s idea of the perfect husband for an eligible young woman but the moment Thomazine set eyes on her childhood hero, she knew they were destined for one another. But Russell, a former Roundhead, now working for the King’s intelligence service, was never going to have a simple life in Restoration London. Unable to shake suspicions of his Parliamentarian past, someone seems hell-bent on ruining his reputation — and his life. Whispers about his sister’s violent murder follow him and accusations of treason abound. When more deaths occur Russell finds himself under suspicion. He is ready to escape from the capital, but Thomazine is determined to find the truth and clear the name of the man she loves. But who is the real killer and why are they so keen to frame Russell? More importantly, will they succeed? And has Thomazine’s quest put them all in mortal danger? An Abiding Fire is the first book in the Thomazine and Major Russell Thriller series, compelling historical mysteries with a dash of romance, set in seventeenth century England.

    The young lawyer, Lucius Sestius, takes on what looks like a straightforward defence case but finds that all his lines of enquiry lead to Caesar. When his friends and family are threatened, what can Lucius do to preserve his life and protect his loved ones? Displaying an easy familiarity with the Roman world of two thousand years ago, this is the first novel in a series surrounding the Sestius family and their role in the change from Republic to Empire. Historical figures such as Caesar and Cicero play major roles, and a supporting cast of realistic characters brings the danger, excitement and confusion of the times to life.

    But she arrives to find her rich uncle dead, his fortune missing, and his young, half-Japanese daughter, Koko, placed in her care. If she’s to have any hope of meeting her newfound responsibilities, she’s got to find the missing money. And with the help of handsome (and infuriating!) private detective Tom Gallo, she just might do it. But Kitty isn’t ready for everything the hard-boiled streets of Chicago have to throw at her. She’ll have to test her mettle against an aging socialite who knows more than she’s telling, a scheming aunt who’ll hurt anyone to get what she wants, and a love-struck bootlegger who is almost as charming as he is frightening. Not to mention a killer who isn’t done yet…

    But now someone else has chosen their destiny, and the plane has simply disappeared from the radar screens. With so little information and the terrible prospect that the plane has simply dropped out of the sky, Andrew, who works for the airline, is desperate to follow the trail. Even if fate confirms his worst fears. But will the actions of someone else be one in the eye for male heroics? If you hate 'not knowing', this book will tease you to the end. 'Fast paced drama that kept even me fearing disaster' - Linda Gillatt, author, 'Release the Fear and Fly'

    But when she overhears her father, the stationmaster, talking about arranging a party for their newly-minted underground railway station, she volunteers to help. Although she's intrigued with the handsome assistant stationmaster, Shane MacIntyre, she never expects to fall head-over-heels in love with him. Unfortunately, one tragic accident might derail everything.

    With her daughter's marital woes unacceptable, Lady Adele schemes to end Eleanor's "problems" one of which is her daughter's attachment to a man seven years her junior, a barrister, Lord Henry Faraday. To add insult to injury, Henry has included Eleanor, as an expert chemist (and purveyor of women's creams), in the death of the sanctimonious Baron of Tweedmouth. To help her friend, the cherubic Baron's son, Eleanor must defy family, society, even the man she loves. Louis may well have cracked under the pressure of his harsh, bullying father.

    What is the significance of the phrases left on fresh graves, and which of his fellow students might be a murderer? Also, will he be able to keep up with his homework?