It's 1559. A young woman painter is given the honor of traveling to Michelangelo's Roman workshop to learn from the Maestro himself. Only men are allowed to draw the naked figure, so she can merely observe from afar the lush works of art that Michelangelo sculpts and paints from life. Sheltered and yet gifted with extraordinary talent, she yearns to capture all that life and beauty in her own art. But after a scandal involving one of Michelangelo's students, she flees Rome and fears she has doomed herself and her family. The Creation of Eve is a riveting novel based on the true but little- known story of Sofonisba Anguissola, the first renowned female artist of the Renaissance. After Sofi's flight from Rome, her family eagerly accepts an invitation from fearsome King Felipe II of Spain for her to become lady-in-waiting and painting instructor to his young bride. The Spanish court is a nest of intrigue and gossip, where a whiff of impropriety can bring ruin. Hopelessly bound by the rules and restrictions of her position, Sofi yearns only to paint. And yet the young Queen needs Sofi's help in other matters- inexperiences as she is, the Queen not only fails to catch the King's eye, but she fails to give him an heir, both of which are crimes that could result in her banishment. Sofi guides her in how best to win the heart of the King, but the Queen is too young, and too romantic, to be satisfied. Soon, Sofi becomes embroiled in a love triangle involving the Queen, the King, and the King's illegitimate half brother, Don Juan. And if the crime of displeasing the King is banishment, the crime of cuckolding him must surely be death. Combining art, drama, and history from the Golden Age of Spain, The Creation of Eve is an expansive, original, and addictively entertaining novel that asks the question: Can you ever truly know another person's heart? Views: 56
n days of old, deep in the dark woods, Druidess Seren discovers a wolf shape shifting into the bare, muscular Celtic God, Gwydion. Seren’s mind turns from the Samhain feast to wicked thoughts of feasting on Gwydion’s yummy goodies. Will this new found love last beyond a Samhain tryst to survive the ultimate long distant relationship of a god in the otherworld and a woman on earth? Is the love Gwydion and Seren share strong enough to overcome the social barrier between an immortal god and a mortal woman? Will a warning of danger from beyond the grave destroy the sensual magic brewing between the wolf and the druidess? Views: 56
Two women vow to bring a killer to justice.Deputy Andrea Sullivan had hoped to leave the horrors of Los Angeles behind her, but the serial murders of college students in peaceful, picturesque Sedona is her nightmare case to solve. The complexities stretch local resources to the limit, and the FBI joins the case with Agent Cameron Ross in the lead.The crime scenes are covered with the trademark signs of the fiendish Patrick Doe, whose handiwork has been investigated by Dallas detective Tori Hunter and others. But where Hunter failed Cameron intends to win. She will break the case, find justice and go on her way. No distractions.Unfortunately, Deputy Sullivan is very distracting. And Patrick Doe has other plans.Bestselling, award-winning Gerri Hill presents the turmoil of unbidden passion combined with heart-pounding suspense in a compelling story inspired by her own Hunter's Way. Views: 56
A chilling and explosive tale of revenge set in the Middle East from acclaimed suspense novelist Peter Abrahams, aka Spencer Quinn, author of the Chet and Bernie Mysteries After his unit is decimated in the Israeli war, Lieutenant Isaac Rehv returns to Haifa to find his family savagely murdered. Torn apart with grief and rage, he vows that his enemies—and the enemies of Israel—will pay. Months later, Rehv, who is a former literary scholar and professor of Arabic literature, has moved to America and is waiting tables at a local café in Manhattan. There, a chance encounter with a member of the Israeli resistance called Haganah and a botched assassination attempt will sow the seeds of a brilliantly orchestrated revenge plot. As Rehv prepares to unleash his secret weapon on an unsuspecting Islamic world, a terrorist watch group, led by a former CIA agent named Krebs, follows his every move. But Krebs may be too late to prevent the coming... Views: 56
AN URSULA BLANCHARD MYSTERY AT QUEEN ELIZABETH I’S COURT Views: 56
When Tessa's best friend Noelle disappears right before the start of eighth grade, Tessa's life changes completely--she shies away from her other friends and stops eating in the cafeteria. Now, two years later, Noelle has escaped her captivity and is coming home, in one piece but not exactly intact, and definitely different. Tessa's life is about to change again as she tries to revive the best-friendship the two girls had shared before Noelle--now Elle--was kidnapped; puts up a futile resistance to the charming new guy at school; pursues her passion for photography while trying to build the bravado to show her photos to the public; and tries to balance her desire to protect and shelter Elle with the necessity to live her own life and put herself first."Tense! The constant push and pull of friendship, pain, love, and jealousy is beautifully drawn. A definite must read." -- Jay Asher Views: 55
Shortlisted, 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize (South East Asia and Pacific) for Best First Book.A brilliant new take on the road novel from an exciting Australian debut author.A teenage girl hitches a ride with an older man travelling through middle America. Their relationship is not sexual but may become so; in any case the disapproval they encounter makes no distinction. But in this small, charmed world of backroads, front seats, motels and diners the young woman believes they are safe.Lyrical, earthy, laced with sly humour and sharp observation, Kirsten Reed's critically acclaimed debut is an irresistible journey through the shining, translucent moment at the end of childhood.'Fresh and exciting, full of energy and originality, both shocking and deeply felt...For those who care about intelligent, stylish narratives you are in for one hell of a ride.' Daily Mirror Views: 55
New from the national bestselling author of The Saddlemaker's Wife and the Agatha Award-winning Benni Harper mystery series.After being widowed, Love Mercy Johnson has come to terms with her life in Morro Bay, California. She spends her time writing columns for a regional magazine, helping her in-laws work their ranch, and trying to move on. But her dreams of reconciliation with her long-estranged grandchildren come true when her eighteen-year- old brokenhearted granddaughter, Rett, unexpectedly shows up. Together they struggle to co-exist while confronting old resentments and painful memories. When a family crisis forges an unexpected connection between the two grieving women, they must discover if by working together, they can change their lives, and the lives of those they love, for the better. Views: 55
Perdita James is thrilled with her new job, until a personality quiz reveals she's an attention-seeking peacock! Her boss, Edward Merrick, is a panther-forceful, decisive and more than a little ruthless. Perdita's head tells her to ignore her attraction and work hard for a promotion. But somehow, whenever she's with single-dad Ed, she feels anything but professional. She's becoming crazy about her boss! Views: 55
