She wants cheerful fires, snow-filled landscapes and pleasant company, all of which seems entirely possible. But her dreams of a perfect Christmas are thrown into chaos with the arrival of Sylvia Morwell, a girl who is universally disliked by everybody who knows her. Unfortunately, that includes most of Harry's guests and suddenly, the atmosphere could could be cut with a knife! As uncomfortable as this may be, things take a turn for the worst when her unwelcome house guest is murdered, done to death with a poisoned plum pie. Once again Harry, Aubrey, Charlie and Darcy must delve deep to discover the killer that lurks in their midst. And they must move fast before Harry's Christmas is entirely ruined!

    Her old nightmare is back. And now the timid kindergarten teacher is convinced that someone is following her--watching her every move. It could just be coincidence that she and the chillingly memorable man seem to show up at all the same places. Perhaps her paranoia is just a result of her deep fear of change. After all, so much has changed in her life recently. To make matters worse, Laura is now supposed to travel halfway across the country to take possession of a family estate she has inherited. As unnerved as she is with her 'stalker' in St. Louis, the plantation in Virginia seems even more frightening to Laura. And what is a Mormon girl going to do with miles of tobacco crop?But then again, maybe the family estate holds the secret to why Laura's parents would never talk about their past. In hopes of finding clues to this mystery, Laura packs her bags and catches a bus to Bufordville, a tiny town with more than its fair share of rumors, suspicions, and deadly secrets. Then panic sets in as Laura finds her returning nightmare is, in fact, a twenty-year-old reality--a reality that could very well repeat itself."

    1943: Tucked away in the idyllic hills south of Florence, the Rosatis, an Italian family of noble lineage, believe that the walls of their ancient villa will keep them safe from the war raging across Europe. Eighteen-year-old Cristina spends her days swimming in the pool, playing with her young niece and nephew, and wandering aimlessly amid the estate’s gardens and olive groves. But when two soldiers, a German and an Italian, arrive at the villa asking to see an ancient Etruscan burial site, the Rosatis’ bucolic tranquility is shattered. A young German lieutenant begins to court Cristina, the Nazis descend upon the estate demanding hospitality, and what was once their sanctuary becomes their prison. 1955: Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, has her own demons. A beautiful woman, Serafina carefully hides her scars along with her haunting memories of the war. But when she is assigned to a gruesome new case—a serial killer targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood—Serafina finds herself digging into a past that involves both the victims and her own tragic history. Set against an exquisitely rendered Italian countryside, The Light in the Ruins unveils a breathtaking story of moral paradox, human frailty, and the mysterious ways of the heart.

    He has returned from his annual pilgrimage to a graveyard in Wales. Now he hopes to take refuge from his memories by heading an archeological dig in the village of Wytchlow. It is a simple project -- checking for ancient relics before a land developer levels the earth -- until a woman with an all-too-familiar face stumbles into the path of his car.Bobby Redhead bears a striking resemblance to a woman he loved and tragically lost years ago. Bobby cannot understand the emotions she evokes in Patrick, but she can sense his deep suffering. What has he done that he cannot forgive? And why is Bobby so drawn to him?As Bobby reaches out, Patrick retreats into silence and shadows, focusing obsessively on the dig. They are hunting ancient Roman mosaics, but there is something more tantalizing in the soil of Wytchlow. It is only a myth, a local folktale, a song sung one night in a pub by an otherwise mute man. The story goes that a Saxon girl called the German Queen has been buried close by. The only evidence is the old song, but it is enough to capture Patrick's imagination as nothing has in years.It has also captured the unwanted interest of a television producer fascinated with Patrick's past. Yet nothing will deter Patrick from the project -- not the television hype, nor the developer's greed, nor the bittersweet relationship of working so close to Bobby. As centuries fall away, the Saxon warrior woman lost to time is suddenly as vividly alive to Patrick as the woman standing beside him. As Patrick struggles with the unforgivable tragedy he cannot forget, he senses a connection between Bobby and the lost queen and discovers his destiny is powerfully entwined with them both. Beneath the shadows of a timeless moon, under layers of earth that have protected her secrets, can the fragile bones of a royal matriarch heal the hearts of those who would dare free her?

    Perfect for fans of "Downton Abbey," it's the story of an aristocratic family, a house, a mysterious death, and a way of life that vanished forever, told in flashback by a woman who witnessed it all.The novel is full of secrets - some revealed, others hidden forever, reminiscent of the romantic suspense of Daphne du Maurier. It's also a meditation on memory and the devastation of war and a beautifully rendered window into a fascinating time in history.

    Includes three full-length novels in the McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series: Shattered (Book 4) Imperfect (Book 5) Ruined (Book 6)! This box set will be enjoyed more if you've read the first three books in the series (Vulnerable, Fearless, and Broken). Book 4: Shattered Beth and Shane's story continues in this new installment of the McIntyre Security Bodyguard series. After the death of Beth's childhood abductor, Howard Kline, Beth and Shane are free to begin their life together. ​ Beth's future is looking bright. She's loving her new job at the bookstore and she has an engagement ring on her finger. Everything is perfect until Shane's former girlfriend, Luciana Morelli, enters the picture determined to ruin Shane's chance at happiness. Luciana will stop at nothing to destroy Shane's future, including threatening the life of the one person he can't live without. Fans of Lia and Jonah (from Broken, book 3), Cooper, Sam, and Jamie will enjoy seeing their favorite characters playing significant roles in this installment as well. Book 5: Imperfect (can be read standalone) After illness left me permanently scarred, my husband found solace in another woman's arms. So, I left him to start over. But it seems I'm the only one ready to move on. Not even a restraining order can protect me from my ex. But the sexy former Navy SEAL next door can. Despite my new neighbor's war injuries, he's lethal. And I come to find out I'm not the only one hiding scars. Series Book 6: Ruined (can be read standalone) Finally! Sam and Cooper's long-awaited story is here... a second chance gay romance, with a guaranteed HEA. Sam... Coming out of the closet was easy. Falling in love with a man twice my age was not. Cooper grew up old-school, hiding his true self. He may be the love of my life, but I can't be his dirty little secret any longer. He needs to man up and claim me if he wants to keep me. Just when I think we're finally making progress, his past comes back to bite him with a vengeance. His old demons might just want to kill him, literally. But not if I have anything to say about it. I'll gladly bleed for him. ************************************************ MORE BOOKS BY APRIL WILSON McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series 1. Vulnerable 2. Fearless 2.5 Shane (a novella) 3. Broken 4. Shattered 5. Imperfect 6. Ruined 7. Hostage McIntyre Security Protectors Series 1. Redeemed 2. Regret (coming early 2019) ... and lots more. Stay tuned!

    Alan Powell, unexpectedly dies, he arrives to find that his billionaire father's assets have all been frozen and that he is without a place to go. His father's assistant, Echo Frost, offers Ryan a place to stay while he tracks down the money. After Echo is fired, she begins receiving cryptic emails from Ryan's dead father which lead them into a maze of mystery. As the attraction between them grows, Ryan and Echo band together to find out what secret is so important that someone would be willing to kill to keep it under wraps, and when Echo is kidnapped, Ryan is forced into action in order to rescue her from people who are willing to kill to get their hands on his father's research. Will he find her or will time run out on the Seal son's secrets? * This is a super steamy alpha billionaire bad boy romance standalone novel *

    He’s got it all... except for the one thing he wants most: Walker's Island. There's only one problem: Great Grandfather's will stipulates he must marry by his 27th birthday to receive his inheritance. He only has 6 weeks until the deadline. Rory Shepard grew up on Walker's Island. For so long she's been alone with only her three aunts except for summers spent with her childhood friend, Gabe Stevenson.  Now she's running scared. Someone has gone to great lengths to bring fear to their normally safe Island. Rory is desperate for help. Will being forced together tear Gabe and Rory apart, or will it instead throw them towards true love? If you like strong but wounded heroes and feisty but scarred heroines, you'll adore this love story. This is a marriage-of-convenience, second chance sweet romance with a happily ever after that's sure to make you fall in love all over again!

    But strange occurrences threaten her safety, and he vows to protect her. Determined to ignore him, she rolls her eyes and focuses on her baking. But as the ovens heat up, so does the danger level she faces and irresistible pull to be closer to Reel. Tweedle will have to hang up her apron long enough to stay alive. But can she solve the mystery before Reel Thurman becomes too tempting to avoid?

    No cliffhangers. Epic action, drama, suspense, clean romance, and happy ever afters. Highly rated authors.PART ONE: Shadow PromiseCade Montgomery will always carry the guilt for the men who died on his watch, and he will stop at nothing to find the people responsible. When Piper Collins, his former foster sister and the woman who stole his heart more than ten years ago, resurfaces, things get complicated.Piper Collins left the FBI after her fiancé died three years ago, to find his killer. That search leads her to Atlanta and back to Cade, the man who broke her heart when he left and never returned. When Cade meets with two men who are working for a known drug lord at the bar where she’s working undercover, Piper is disappointed to find he turned to a life of crime instead of being the man of conviction she used to know. But things aren’t adding up, and Piper hopes that, with his help, her fiancé’s killer will be brought to justice.PART TWO: Shadow SecretCruz Ortiz is no longer the man he used to be. After being taken hostage and almost beaten to death by a Venezuelan drug lord, Cruz joins Shadow Force with a new face, a new identity, and a death certificate for his old self. When Shadow Force is tasked with sending someone in undercover, Cruz is the obvious choice.Lydia Ayala is content with her life as a nurse practitioner in the slums of Miami. Sure, her patients tend to be gang members and drug dealers, but she’s confident she’s making a difference in the world. When she’s kidnapped and forced into a marriage, she plans to find a way out of the death sentence. But Cruz Ortiz keeps a watchful eye on her, and her chances to make a break are growing smaller, while the wedding is drawing closer.PART THREE: Shadow FlightRyder Blake is grateful Shadow Force scooped him up before he died a slow death at his desk at the CIA headquarters. After running for his life during a long-term undercover op, Ryder is convinced he’s put his clandestine days behind him. But when a large shipment of drugs and guns goes missing and the Russian Mafia boss who tried to have him killed is implicated, Ryder agrees to take on his old persona and enter a string of underground fights. Only, Jolie Phillips, the office manager for Shadow Force and a woman determined to be an operative, is assigned to the case with him, and Ryder is not a happy camper.A new organization comes to light as Ryder and Jolie travel around the southeast. As they get closer to the answers, the danger escalates, and Ryder and Jolie are running for their lives.PART FOUR: Shadow RescueFormer army and explosives expert Oscar Cortada is rumored to have one or two screws loose due to his infatuation with making things go Boom! But when he and the team stumble upon a container of women, Oscar is tormented by his memories. Oscar volunteers for the job to help Shadow Force uncover the missing people.Ivy Bell never stopped loving her husband while she pursued a career in acting and modeling. Still, after eleven years apart, it seemed they would never find their way back to each other. But when a new role opens up in Atlanta and Ivy arrives on set, she realizes things aren’t what they seem.PART FIVE: Shadow RedemptionLevi Slater has fought crime since his time with the DEA, but never before has he encountered a more evil and sinister group than the Los Caballeros del Camino, The Knights of the Way.Dr. Drew Bellamy has one objective: keep her son safe. But when she’s taken from outside her home and given an ultimatum, she finds herself scrambling and forcing her way out of captivity. When she runs smack into Levi Slater in the woods outside the compound where she was held, she faces a decision—trust him with her and her son’s life or go it alone.

    Jackson Crawford is trained to deal with madness, murder, and mayhem but what he’s not trained to deal with is a sexy red-haired vixen who’s been pushed on him as his help for this assignment. Roxanne Storm isn’t a secret agent and she certainly doesn’t have any special forces skills. But she knows the insides of the deadly business that Jackson needs to have access to. She’ll use her body, mind and street knowledge to help the two of them make the best of their partnership. Together, Jackson and Roxanne, just might be able to infiltrate this deadly group and bring home the woman that they are after. But only if the two of them can get past their differences without killing each other. - Get this entire Suspenseful Alpha Billionaire Bad Boy series for a limited time -

    Years have passed since the initial success of Frankie's debut novel and she has spent her career trying to live up to the expectations. Now, after a particularly scathing review of her most recent work, alongside a very public breakdown, she needs to recharge and get re-inspired.Then Gilly appears. A precocious young admirer eager to make friends, Gilly seems determined to insinuate herself into Frankie's solitary life. But there's something about the young woman that gives Frankie pause. How much of what Gilly tells her is the truth? As a series of lies and revelations emerge, the lives of these two women will be tragically altered as the catastrophic 1966 flooding of Venice ravages the city.Suspenseful and transporting, Christine Mangan's Palace of the Drowned brings the mystery of Venice to life while delivering a twisted tale of ambition and human nature.

    As John unravels the mystery and trails the killer across Missouri, he finds himself caught in the web of David's twisted psychological schemes. The terror increases when Emily Dolon, the woman both John and David have loved since childhood, becomes the target of David's macabre mind games.Trapped between his duty of solving the case and his devotion to his best friend, John struggles to find the truth, knowing he must execute justice, even if it costs him lifelong loyalties or his own life. Blind Evil is a taut psychological thriller that explores the dark place where sanity and madness collide.

    Along the way, Jennifer and her family will discover the true meaning of trust and friendship as they learn to open their hearts to love.The Sea Breeze Cottage. A La Jolla Cove Series is a heartwarming, edgy, and all-around entertaining read filled with romance, excitement, intrigue, butterflies, and adventure.This must-read book rekindles hope after a tragic loss, trust after bitter heartache, shows that life lessons are learned throughout your life and that finding your soulmate has no time or age limit.An ageless inspiring adventure romance that can be enjoyed by everyone.La Jolla, a hilly sea-side coastal town, perched along the rugged shores of the Pacific Ocean forms part of the city of San Diego. Having spent the summers there with her Aunt, it was the place Jennifer had called home as a young girl. It had always been a place filled with the happiest of memories and times for Jennifer. Even as an adult, La Jolla was Jennifer’s haven and place to recuperate from the fast-paced world of New York where she had moved to so she could pursue her career after law school.Now a single mother of three children and a messy divorce behind her, her safe haven is scarred by a tragic accident that rips a hole in her world. Not only does she lose someone she loves dearly, but she unwittingly gets tangled up in a web of betrayal, mystery, and lies.The Sea Breeze Cottage. Book 1 is the first in a series of sun, mystery, and romance. Join Jennifer, her family, and friends as they learn that even the closest of families have secrets. Get tangled in the many twists and turns Jennifer, along with her family, starts to unravel as they dig up buried family pasts to reveal shocking revelations.Fall in love with each of the characters as they each play their part in the mysteries of the cove. Follow them through their heartaches, betrayals, and adventures as they find a way to open their hearts and let true love in.

    Former seamstress Clara Blackwood seems to have found happiness at last. Now a blissfully married baroness, she is mistress of a grand estate. But soon a mysterious summons shatters her contented life. Clara grew up believing that her mother’s family had disowned them. But now the grandmother she never knew is on her deathbed and anxious to disclose vital family secrets before it’s too late—for Clara’s unborn child may be cursed with a horrible fate. When Clara and her husband, Atticus, arrive at dismal Thurnley Hall, they find intrigue brewing. Her boorish uncle, Horace Burleigh, is greedy for her wealth and desperate to protect the family’s mysteries. Superstitious fear of Atticus torments the hulking Romanian servant, Grigore, and even the soft-spoken young ward, Victor Lynch, may have secret motives for getting close to Clara and her husband. When her grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances, Clara feels compelled to investigate. And when Atticus vanishes mysteriously, she must draw on all her strength and determination to find him before his time runs out… before her life can be cursed once more. Fans of the Gothic romances of Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Barbara Michaels won't want to miss this thrilling, romantic sequel to With This Curse, in which Clara faces new challenges and dangers. Just Book Talk gives Cursed Once More five stars and calls it “another exciting adventure . . . [with] a rich cast of spooky and strange characters.” And be sure not to miss Nocturne for a Widow , in which Clara's former employer, vivacious actress Sybil Ingram, is plunged into adventure in a haunted house in the Hudson River Valley.