Top Five Pick, 2016, jennyredbug.com When the owner of an atheist bookshop falls for the girl who works in the moviehouse across the street, he has no idea what he's getting into. Jasmina is the survivor of a toxically religious upbringing, and has managed to escape only by losing her original identity and, when the pressure gets too much, etching a staircase of cuts into her arm. When Paul discovers a missing person flyer with a picture of a twelve-year-old Jasmina, the psychological fireworks are about the begin. A mind-bending thriller from the author of Frosted Glass.

     Worn down by his string of affairs she has no self-confidence, no self-respect and the only thing that keeps her going is watching her son, Jude, turn into a talented artist. But the 60th anniversary of a D-Day exercise triggers chance meetings which prove unlikely catalysts for change. First there’s Corbin, the American soldier who she runs into as she’s walking on the cliffs. He is charming and has a quaintness about him, calling her an ‘English rose’. Then there’s George the war veteran, who comes to dine at the pub, and his son Mark. George fascinates Marie with his first-hand accounts of the war, whilst Mark proves helpful in making sense of the pub’s financial situation. And there’s Paxton. Another American soldier with an uncanny resemblance to Corbin. Young, fit and very attractive, Marie finds him hard to resist. But little does she know Paxton is also battling some inner demons. As the heat of the summer intensifies, so do the issues in Marie’s life. Why is Corbin so elusive? Why is the pub struggling to make ends meet? Why has Jude suddenly become so withdrawn and unhappy? Can she help Paxton open up and begin to deal with his pain? Or will she be shackled to the pub and her increasingly spiteful husband forever? But as events unfold, Marie finally realises that she is not trapped, but stuck, and that it is down to her to get her life moving again. Perfectly blending the complexities of twenty-first century life with the dramatic history of World War Two, Another You is a charming tale that will warm your heart. Praise for Jane Cable 'A fascinating exploration of how the past can affect the present. The language in this book is so fresh and vivid that it sweeps the reader up and away and deposits her on the beautiful Studland Bay where this story is set.' – bestselling author Rosanna Ley ‘Brilliantly interweaves the Second World War with the present day’ – bestselling author Holly Kinsella Jane Cable writes romance stories with a strong element of mystery and suspense. Her first novel, The Cheesemaker’s House, was a finalist in The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition and won the Words for the Wounded Independent Book of the Year Award in 2015.

     At home and in school, she is a child that any mother would be proud of — and Eleanor Craig was immensely proud of her oldest daughter. But just as Ann is about to graduate with honors from an Ivy League university, Eleanor receives a phone call that sends her world crashing down. Ann has suffered a mental breakdown. Anxious to help her daughter, Eleanor encourages Ann to be admitted to a prestigious psychiatric hospital, hoping that this will help her daughter find her former self. For a while, it seems like Ann is improving — finally recovered, she is released from hospital and seems ready to resume her old life that was so full of promise. Briefly full of hope, Eleanor is devastated when Ann suffers a relapse — only the first of many illusions to be shattered as Ann’s life becomes a downward spiral of anorexia and drug addiction. As time goes on Eleanor can’t help but feel that Ann is slipping further and further away, into a place where not even the people who love her most can reach her. For Eleanor, a famed therapist-teacher who specialises in working with emotionally impaired young people, Ann’s troubled life is a heartbreaking irony. In The Moon Is Broken, Eleanor Craig speaks to the heart of every parent who has ever loved — and lost — a child. It is a heart-wrenching story about one’s mother’s unwavering courage and commitment to her child. Praise for Eleanor Craig “Poignant. Tender. Heartbreaking. I wish I had Eleanor Craig’s courage. A book every mother should read. It will break your heart — and put it back together again.” — Mary MacCracken, author of A Circle of Children “A poignant account of a young person’s struggle to grow up in our complex and dangerous society. This important, compelling book should be read by mothers and daughters everywhere.” — Lesley Koplow, author of Where Rag Dolls Hide Their Faces: A Story of Troubled Children Eleanor Craig, a therapist and teacher, has chronicled her work with children in P.S. Your Not Listening; One, Two, Three: The Story of Matt, A Feral Child; and If We Could Hear the Grass Grow. She lives and works in Connecticut, where she has a private therapy practice.

    After a good night's rest, she decides to catch up with her close friends, aka, The Garden Girls at their favorite hangout, Dot's Restaurant. There's just one small problem. As Gloria pulls into the small town of Belhaven, she finds Dot's place swarming with cops and the restaurant itself taped off with crime scene tape. Someone at the restaurant has been poisoned after eating Dot's famous Chicken 'n Dumplings! Dot and her husband Ray, are devastated and now must try to clear their name. When they ask Gloria to help, she jumps right into detective-mode and is hot on the trail of another killer. The list of suspects widens as Gloria uncovers a pile of motives - some from residents in their own little town. Desperate to clear her good friends' names, she discovers the killer may be a little too close for comfort. BOOK 5: Eye Spy "Garden Girl" Gloria Rutherford is having a bad day. A really bad day. Just when she thinks it couldn't possibly get any worse, it does. The sleepy little town of Belhaven has just been invaded by a swarm of federal authorities sent to investigate the local post office and it's postmaster, who just so happens to be one of Gloria's best friends, Ruth. When Ruth is put on temporary leave pending the outcome of the investigation, she asks Gloria if she can come and stay with her until the crisis is over. Gloria doesn't have the heart to turn her down. With Ruth underfoot and the uncertainty of not knowing how long the "official investigation" might take, Gloria has never been more motivated to solve a mystery! Knowing she'll need every trick up her sleeve, plus a little help from her friends and from the other Garden Girls, she'll do whatever it takes to help her friend and save her own sanity! Can she get Ruth back to work and her cozy life back to normal - or will Gloria have a new, permanent houseguest? BOOK 6: Magnolia Mansion Mysteries There's no place like home! But what if "home" happens to be the town's mysterious, rundown, mansion? At least that's what young Andrea Malone keeps asking herself ever since she bought the vacant, dilapidated house months ago. Determined to put down roots in the cozy little town of Belhaven, she gets busy managing the much-needed renovations in order to revive the old house and restore it to the grandiose mansion it once was. With the renovations nearly complete, the mysterious house begins to reveal secrets from its troubled past. On the same day that her quirky parents arrive in town for a visit, Andrea makes a shocking discovery that has her questioning if she should spend another night in the house. She calls on her friend and amateur sleuth, Gloria Rutherford, to help her get to the bottom of the mysteries that surround the mansion. The more clues Gloria uncovers, the deeper the mysteries get.

    Known by his followers as the Great Elder, he walks a blurred line between genius and madness and has graced his subjects with the most extraordinary discovery in the history of science. But he'll do anything to keep his discovery a secret, including the use of murderous henchmen like Vic Cappetti.As Jacob's curiosity lures him deeper into a dangerous web, he learns the truth behind the Great Elder's plans and finds himself caught in a life or death struggle that could very well lead to the extinction of mankind."Cavignano brings wonderful characterization of people and places to his lightning-paced fantasy thriller ... Boston neighborhoods are impeccably portrayed ... A gleefully hard-boiled urban fantasy that lights up Boston's mean streets." - Kirkus Reviews"A wildly entertaining book ... [that] delivers a deliciously compelling villain ... [and] plot twists until the very end." -bestthrillers.com

     A friend pulls out a Ouija board and asks you to play. It's just a game, right? But when the Ouija board reveals a secret you've never disclosed, then "the spirit" asks you to warn his living sister that she is about to be murdered. What would you do? This is the scenario that tragically entangles the lives of Max Allen, Carla Cecil and Bradford Doss. Max is a disgraced fallen country music star trying to survive his ignominy by escaping to the islands to find a new direction and purpose for his life. In the islands, he meets and falls in love with, Michelle, a beautiful cruise ship dancer. Bradford Doss, is a revered Texas State Court Judge. He is also a serial murderer. Carla Cecil, is a child genius. At 13 she is the youngest person to ever attend Rice University, the spirit's living sister and tragically... the judges next prey.

     This fast-paced novel focuses upon the life of the primary character, Lady Sophia Somerville, who begins life as the daughter of the charismatic but unscrupulous Earl Nigel Somerville and his wife, the breathtaking, but rage-prone Countess Pamela Somerville. Sophia’s journey of growth begins with her attendance at The Ashwick Park School, followed by her much anticipated debutante season, both of which become watershed moments in her life. Written in the first person, this book is rich in historical detail about the fascinating era in which she lives, and the reader experiences those tumultuous times through Sophia’s eyes. Willow Grove Abbey is a love story which faces tremendous obstacles due to Sophia’s parent’s refusal to give their blessing to a marriage between their daughter and the man she adores, physician and RAF Group Captain, Spencer Stanton. It is also the story of her relationship with school mate and dearest friend, Edwina Phillips, which takes the reader from the joyous times of youth in the 1930’s to heartbreaking betrayal. The interaction between these two individuals forms the core of this character-driven book. Lastly, it is the story of a highly esteemed British family, which appears to be the epitome of grace, charm and dignity, when in reality, they are intensely flawed. Sophia struggles with her lifelong need for parental approval versus her emerging values and morals, while long held family secrets emerge and threaten to destroy the Somerville family. She is faced with an untenable decision... whether to hold fast to her values and accept permanent estrangement from her family, or continue to be the dependent, young girl her parents have always insisted that she be. As she grows, she is faced with the daunting challenge of attempting to comprehend, forgive, and unconditionally love her profoundly imperfect family. .

    Montana, 1985. When seven-year-old Ryan Novak suddenly disappears from his home in a small rural town, Detective Newton picks up the case. Convinced that the boy’s grandfather - school janitor and former woodsman Bill O’Donnell - knows what happened to the boy, Newton’s growing obsession with his only suspect begins to take its toll. Winter. Montana, 2010. Twenty-five years later and, in the final days of Newton’s tarnished career, Bill O’Donnell is found murdered. Newton’s successor, a city-toughened young Texan detective named Ward, is the lead investigator. As Newton readies himself for retirement, Ward draws him back into the mystery he couldn’t solve. Can they find the old man’s killer and finally uncover the truth about what really happened to Ryan? The silence is about to be shattered. An End to a Silence is book 1 in a 3 part US crime novel series. Watch out for books 2 and 3 in the series.

    Owner of the Teasen & Pleasen Hair Salon in the heart of Louisiana, she’s used to big hair, Southern style, and tall tales of the latest town scandal. But her quiet life is turned on its head when Savannah finds an upstanding member of the community murdered outside her salon in cold blood. Savannah investigates, only to find that her pleasant, cute town is just a façade, and that there’s more deception than truth in the lives of its residents. As the case intensifies, Savannah finds herself dealing with a bad blowout, a man who might lose a limb, and a woman scorned, leading to a firefight the village of Knockemstiff will never forget. Desperate Housewives marries GCB in this exciting murder mystery full of humor, suspense, and moonshine. Readers will be laughing aloud and gasping in shock while enjoying A Hair Raising Blowout, the first book in a stunning new thriller series by Constance Barker.

    From the ruins of this cataclysm, a race of beings emerged from the sea bestowing knowledge and culture upon humanity, saving us from our selfish drive toward extinction. Some say this race were “ancient aliens” who came to assist our evolution.But what if they weren’t alien at all? What if they evolved right here on Earth, alongside humans . . . and they are still here? And, what if the World’s governments already know?***Kelly Graham is a narcissistic self-assured freelance photographer specializing in underwater assignments. While on a project in the Amazon with his best friend, Chris D'Souza, a mysterious and beautiful government official, Freya Nilsson, enters Kelly’s life and turns it upside down. Her simple request to retrieve a strange object from deep underwater puts him in the middle of an international conspiracy. A conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history.www.childrenofthefifthsun.com

    A drug bust at a sex orgy forces a life change and a chance to start again in a new place where nobody knows her. But will her inner demons drive her back on a path of self-destruction? Like Milly Siobhan Russell is pretty and smart. Unlike Milly, she has all the advantages of a loving family. But is she too about to risk everything? From Perth, Western Australia, to a love story in Scotland and a vicious murder in a cheap motel in London; no relationship is safe, most are troubled. Lies and half-truths are told, the truth often far away, until a startling revelation reveals everything. You will never see it coming. This is the only crime thriller you will need to read this year.

    A Christmas short story of 10,000 involving all the old members of the team.DI Lorne Simpkins and her partner DS Pete Childs encounter a dangerous gang of Santas who plan on creating havoc on the streets of London on Christmas Eve.Pete is persuaded to go undercover to foil the gang's audacious plan.

    Out of desperation, Ruby responds to an ad, hoping this could be the answer to her prayers. Running out of plan, she took the risks and traveled out West with her daughter to meet her anonymous husband and courageously face their unknown future. Why is a blackberry patch so important to them? Will she get through the challenges that will test her strong faith? Where had Matthew been the past couple of days that had him terribly injured? Feel at home and get comfy in their small humble cabin where you can collect chickens eggs and berries at the barn to make a perfect pancake for breakfast, milk the cows and make some cheese and butter for lunch, and get cozy in the fireplace at night. Y'all get to know Mr. Matthew Allen's, a strong, well-built man with a long beard covering his lips. Pete, his dark and mysterious friend who's always giving Ruby the chills and that sweet Eliza, her beloved daughter who's always eager to help them with the chores. ....“a story of hope, fear, romance, suspense and true love.”.... While this book is part of a romance series, it can definitely be read as a standalone book.Kat Carson: #1 Best Seller in Historical #1 Best Seller in Religious #1 Best Seller in Religion & Spirituality ALWAYS FREE on Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime Kat Carson’s Clean and Wholesome novelette American mail order bride historical Western book romance series are enjoyment for all ages from Teen & Young Adult to a more mature audience.

    The DSF mission of protecting and recovering art and artifacts means combating Centaur, a shadowy international crime syndicate. ON DEADLY GROUND Desperate to save her brother, museum director Kate Fontaine must work with Max Rivera, the ex-military guide she doesn’t trust to return a precious Mayan artifact to its temple, but when desire flares between them, outrunning international black-market smugglers and an earthquake seems simple compared to risking their hearts. RING OF TRUTH Recovering crown jewels could get the FBI off Cortez Jones’s back, but he needs the help of Mara Marton who blames his jewel-thief father for destroying her family. Mara wants this chance to prove her father's innocence, but how can she trust Cort? Sparks fly as they race black-market smugglers to the jewels. There's no turning back, once their lives—and their heart are on the line. CLEOPATRA'S NECKLACE Thomas Devlin must recover Cleopatra’s necklace, but when the smugglers pursue his old flame, he jets to her aid. Cleo's involvement with the necklace’s forger sends her on the run. She knows Thomas will protect her but will he crush her love again? As they race against time, they learn more is at stake than recovering the antiquity. The peril escalates, and so does the risk to their hearts. AT LAST (A DEVLIN WEDDING NOVELLA) Owing her brother and his bride, maid of honor Andie Devlin is determined to make their wedding perfect. She’s falling for Mike Pagano but fears he’ll judge her wild-child past. He wants to keep her safe from an attack threatening the wedding, but more than that, he wants her in his arms. When she learns her brother assigned him as her bodyguard, she pushes him away … leaving her vulnerable.

    In that moment, she understood the nature of her life: an outlier."In 1883, a young Chinese woman is sold by her father to human traffickers and forcibly taken from her family and home in the mountains of Hunan. Facing brutality and deprivation, Ya Zhen must forge within herself a core of strength that will allow her to survive. Her journey ends thousands of miles and a continent away when she’s purchased in San Francisco as an indentured prostitute and taken to Eureka, a rugged and remote area of coastal California. This fledgling outpost—a coarse place filled with lumber mills, brothels, churches, and saloons—is bounded by ocean on one side and heavy redwood forests everywhere else.In Eureka, another woman, Rose Allen, doesn’t quite fit in. Big-hearted, but hard-headed and outspoken, Rose struggles against the prejudices and social expectations of her Victorian neighbors and acquaintances—especially after she falls in love with the Chinese shopkeeper, Bai Lum. When she learns that several Chinese women are kept as virtual slaves at Salyer’s Hotel, Rose joins forces with a small group of friends who are determined to help Ya Zhen escape her grim incarceration. But even as they devise a plan to get her free, a terrible accident precipitates the upheaval of the entire town, and tension mounts as the clock begins ticking for everyone.With a rich cast of unforgettable characters both fictional and historical, Chasing Down the Moon is based on true events that tore a community apart. This gripping historical fiction and literary love story will break your heart, give you reason to hope, and ultimately make you believe in the resilience of the human spirit.