Set against the tempestuous backdrop of Ancient Rome in the final days of Caesar...comes the stunning love story of a man and a woman who defy destiny to follow their hearts—only to be swept up in a forbidden and all-consuming passion.She is Julia Casca, a young noblewoman pledged against her will to the sacred order of Vestal Virgins...dedicated to a life of eternal chastity. He is Marcus Demeter, the powerful centurion and war hero sworn to protect Julius Caesar...betrayed by his own desperate desires.As a land seething with intrigue and treachery erupts in murder—turning honorable allies into deadly enemies—Julia and Marcus become lovers in an explosive liaison that rocks Rome and could destroy them both...About the AuthorI am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of JANE EYRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS and GONE WITH THE WIND and REBECCA and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you. A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all - at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book- or pick up a Kindle- and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless. Views: 42
It is 1746. Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebellion has been crushed, and his loyal followers, bound to recover a vast missing treasure, flee murderous soldiers and bounty hunters across strife-torn England. And in the center of this violent storm, the lovely Penelope Montgomery lives a virtual prisoner of her scheming uncle and his cruel wife. She knows nothing of their cold plot to make her innocence a gift to Captain Rolan Otton, whose startling handsomeness barely conceals a ruthless villainy. She dreams only of Quentin Chandler–-the man who won her love in childhood, who now claims the awakening passions of her womanhood.And soon destiny will surprise them both as they are reunited in a desperate flight to restore the missing treasure, bring honor back to England, and savor at last the sweet rewards of their longing, loving hearts. Views: 42
Paris, 1926. Newspaper reporter Toby Keats, a veteran of the Great War and the only American in Paris who doesn’t know Hemingway, has lived a quiet life—until one day he comes into possession of a rare eighteenth-century automate, a very strange and somewhat scandalous mechanical duck. Highly sought after by an enigmatic American banker, European criminals, and the charming young American Elsie Short, the duck is rumored to hold the key to opening a new frontier in weapons technology for the German army, now beginning to threaten Europe once more. Haunted with his nightmarish past in the War, Toby pursues the truth behind the duck.From the boites of the Left Bank to the dark prehistoric caverns of southern France, The Paris Deadline is a story of love, suspense, and mystery in a world stumbling toward catastrophe. Views: 42
In 1638 two English friends, Daniel Vanderus and Robert Blake, sailed home from the war-torn Dutch Republic. The two had met while riding as pistoleers in the Dutch Militia. Pistoleers were mounted skirmishers who targetted the Empire's officers. As their ship rowed up the River Great Ouse towards Ely, a girl's call for help linked their futures to Oliver, the tithe collector of Ely. Views: 42
"One of the most anticipated YA debuts of 2018, Brightly Burning is a gothic, romantic mystery with hints of Jane Eyre, Marissa Meyer, and Kiera Cass." -Entertainment WeeklyA romantic, cinematic, richly-imagined retelling of the classic Jane Eyre set in space, about seventeen-year-old Stella Ainsley, a mechanic who takes a governess job on board the private ship, the Rochester and falls in the love with the ship's mysterious and troubled captain. For Marissa Meyer and Kiera Cass fans. Seventeen-year-old Stella Ainsley wants just one thing: to go somewhere—anywhere—else. Her home is a floundering spaceship that offers few prospects, having been orbiting an ice-encased Earth for two hundred years. When a private ship hires her as a governess, Stella jumps at the chance. The captain of the Rochester, nineteen-year-old Hugo Fairfax, is notorious throughout the fleet for being a moody recluse and a drunk. But with... Views: 42
A dozen years have passed since a massive storm forced our heroes to find a new home in Kingman, Kansas. Our survivors create a community where people can live and thrive, of course with its own unique defenses. When Max and Isis beckon the distant Mothers and Hungerers and they do not come, their only choice is to seek them out and destroy them where they stand, but evil has another plan ... Views: 42
In the post-apocolyptic world of the Defiance Motorcycle Club, the reluctant truce between Defiance and Keller's Compound is about to cause problems for Rebel. He's charged with keeping an eye on Keller's top assassin, Declan, when he's chosen to move into the Defiance MC. Rebel knows he won't be able to hide his feelings for Declan, not when the danger hits this close to home. Views: 41
Sophie and her friends accidently awaken a hibernating hedgehog in the sixth book of The Adventures of Sophie Mouse!Winter has finally arrived in Silverlake Forest and Sophie and her friends are having some snowy fun! While playing one day, they accidentally wake a hedgehog named Pippa who has been hibernating all winter. Though Pippa is a little foggy at first, Sophie, Hattie, and Owen show her all the fun things to do in wintertime. There’s ice skating on the pond, sledding down snowy hills, snow-animals to build, and so much more! The only problem is now that Pippa’s awake, will she ever be able to get back to sleep? With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Adventures of Sophie Mouse chapter books are perfect for beginning readers. Views: 41
Join Sam Force on a fast-paced adventure through Egypt that's part National Treasure and part Indiana Jones with the start to a brand-new series packed with puzzles and clues for readers to figure out along the way!When Sam Force goes to Egypt to spend the summer with his uncle Jasper, he's ready for the usual vacation filled with museums and lessons about the pharaohs and ancient gods. Instead, Sam arrives at the airport and learns that his uncle is missing and wanted by the police. After narrowly escaping his own arrest, Sam sets off to find his uncle using the series of clues that Jasper left behind. But a group of mysterious men are hot on his trail, and Sam knows they're willing to do whatever it takes to track down Jasper and whatever Jasper was looking for. Now all Sam has to do is find it first. With the help of his new friends Hadi and Mary, and by using the knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and culture that he once hated, Sam... Views: 41
Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's east coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: this could be one very long night.They have no idea just how right they are.Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives.Review"Two high school seniors re-evaluate their failed friendship under dangerous circumstances. Benedis-Grab alternates between the two girls' perspectives; nearly every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, keeping tension high. The action and high stakes should keep readers engaged." --Publishers Weekly"Quickly paced and without a dull moment, Benedis-Grab manages to write a disturbing, yet entertaining, novel that will entrance future readers. Budding young romance adds an extra touch to the already thriving story line, and the will to survive makes this an inspiring read. I recommend The Girl in the Wall to readers addicted to fast-paced storytelling and action. Benedis-Grab's novel is a must-read." --Blogcritics.org"In so many books, when the author tries to tell the story in alternating voices it can quickly become confusing. In The Girl in the Wall it works. Each girl has her own voice and you can easily distinguish them both. Once I started, I could hardly put them down. Daphne Benedis-Grab is definitely an author on my to-watch list." --Mel's Reading Blog"This book was so intense! I sped through it in one sitting. It's one of the few YA thrillers I've ever really enjoyed." --I'd So Rather Be Reading blog"Quickly paced and without a dull moment, Benedis-Grab manages to write a disturbing, yet entertaining novel that will entrance future readers. Budding young romance adds an extra touch to the already thriving story line, and the will to survive makes this an inspiring read. I recommend The Girl in the Wall to readers addicted to fast-paced storytelling and action." --Confessions of a Book Addict blog"The Girl in the Wall is an action-packed novel that will make your heartbeats go crazy while craving to read more and more. I was so captivated by this story that I spent hours completely lost in it trying to bring myself to stop, but well, I couldn't. I highly recommend it. You should absolutely get it as soon as it comes out." --Stories After Twelve blog"Four stars! The Girl in the Wall was everything I hoped it would be and it sounds like Merit Press has a hit on their hands! You're definitely going to want to check out this action-packed thriller this Christmas." --Panda Reads blogThis contemporary YA novel packs a punch. Using alternating perspectives - one of my favorite devices! - Benedis-Grab weaves a compelling, scary tale of one fateful night in the lives of two former best friends. Also, it's gratifying to see teenage girl characters kicking butt while also patching up their friendship." --Persephone Magazine"One of the things that I loved about this book was that the main two characters, Sera and Ariel, change as they learn more about themselves and face the challenges ahead of them. Just as I expected from the beginning, The Girl In The Wall kept me very entertained." --Tumbling Books blogAbout the AuthorDaphne Benedis-Grab earned an MFA from The New School in creative writing and her thesis became her first book for teens, Alive and Well in Prague, New York. She has built houses for Habitat for Humanity and taught adult literacy classes, and now lives in New York City with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled cat. Views: 41
Brayden Hayes is all work and no play. Meeting one woman is all it takes to finally force himself to find a balance between work on the ice and relationships away from it. If there's one thing Brayden is sure of, it's that he wants to keep her around and make their time together worthwhile.Deanna Mitchell hops from guy to guy because she doesn't want to settle for just anyone. She has made a lot of mistakes, but deciding to see Brayden is not one of them. She thinks. What she feels around him makes her think he could be the one.While Deanna remains unsure, Brayden is going all in and he's ready to face whatever problems arise. Together, they discover that finding a balance isn't hard when you're with the right person. Views: 41
