Alice MacFarlane has once again let her adventurous spirit take her into harm’s way, and it’s up to Annie Dawson to find Alice and pull her out of the dangerous situation.It seems like it was always that way. Back when Annie and Alice were teenagers, Alice seemed to always be getting into one scrape or another. That was when Annie was visiting Stony Point, Maine, and staying with her grandparents, Charlie and Betsy Holden, in their stately Victorian home, Grey Gables. In those innocent days, Alice was the one with the crazy schemes, and Annie was the one who had to judge whether or not the schemes were just too crazy.But those innocent days didn’t leave Alice missing for days.The mystery begins when Annie finds a book in her grandfather’s collection in the attic of Grey Gables—now her home after she inherited it after the death of her grandmother. Written in 1925, the history of the Fuller family includes the story of a mysterious island in South Carolina wrapped up in an ancient curse. When Alice’s friend, Jim Parker—an author and photographer—makes a surprise visit to Stony Point, Annie suggests that Fuller’s Island might make an interesting chapter in his latest book. Annie, Alice and Jim all laugh off the book’s assertion that the island is haunted by ghost dogs after the curse was placed on it by a witch in the 19th century.But it ceases to be fun and games when Alice and Jim go missing after visiting the island. Now it’s up to Annie, Ian Butler—Stony Point’s mayor—and the members of the Hook and Needle Club to save Alice when one of her carefree adventures once again goes awry. Views: 29
'A page-turner... a terrific read' Susan Sallis "A powerful tale of survival and hardship, very well crafted and with strong characters" - Publishing News Broken Rainbows - Book Seven of the Hearts of Gold series by Catrin Collier It is 1942 and, in the wake of America's entry into the war, the small community of Pontypridd suffers its own - not entirely welcome - GI invasion. The South Carolina Regiment billeted on the town soon cuts a swathe through its women, living up to GI's reputation as "over-paid, over-sexed and over here". For Bethan, whose husband is a POW in Germany, and her friend Alma, whose husband is missing, the arrival of the American officers brings new and dangerous friendships. While for Jenny, a bitter young war widow, it is a chance to bury her grief in a series of one-night stands. The women are caught between loyalty to their men folk and the very real attraction of the GIs, and when tragedy strikes... Views: 29
He's turning her fiction into fantasy… Legend has it making out under the MacPherson Castle arch guarantees you will find love. But author Nell MacPherson has a better plan, which is fueling the plot of her next book—tapping into the arch's magic to locate the last piece of a missing family heirloom. And since every book needs a sexy subplot, she'll save some of that magic for hot one-on-one time with her childhood crush…. Secret Service agent Reid Sutherland is determined to protect Nell from the recent threats aimed at her and her family. Which means no fooling around. But damned if the arch isn't doing its thing, because suddenly he and Nell can't keep their hands off each other. With every touch and late-night liaison, they're heading for big trouble…and this time, Nell won't be able to write her way out of it!Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Washington, D.C., present day"I loved your book."Those words were music to any writer's ears, and Nell MacPherson never tired of hearing them. She beamed a smile at the little girl standing in front of her table. "I'm so glad you did."She took the copy of It's All Good the little girl held out to her and opened it to the title page. Her reading and signing at Pages, the bookstore—down the street from her sister Piper's Georgetown apartment—had run overtime. At one point, the line had spilled out into the street. The store's manager was thrilled, but Piper—who'd taken an extended morning break to attend—had glanced at her watch twice in the past fifteen minutes. She probably needed to head back to the office."What's your name?" Nell asked the little girl."Lissa. But I wish it was Ellie like the character in your book. Mommy says I look like her, but you do, too."Lissa was right on both counts, Nell thought. They both had Eleanor Campbell MacPherson's long blond hair and blue eyes."Mommy and I did some research. You're Ellie's great-great-great…" Lissa trailed off to glance up at her mother. "I forgot how many greats.""Way too many," Nell said as she autographed the book. "I always say I'm Ellie and Angus's several-times-great-granddaughter.""Did Ellie really draw all the pretty pictures for your story?""Yes. She was a talented artist. Every one of the illustrations came from her sketchbooks.""And you live in her castle in New York," Lissa said."I grew up there, and I'm going back for a while to finish up another book." That hadn't been her original plan. The federal grant had given her a taste of what it was like to be totally independent, allowing her to travel across the country giving writing workshops to young children in inner city schools. For someone who'd been hovered over by a loving and overprotective family all her life, the past year had been a heady experience—one that she intended to build on.But her sisters' recent adventures on the castle grounds—leading to the discovery of part of Eleanor Campbell's long-missing dowry—had caused Nell to question her plan of finding an apartment in New York City and finishing her second book there. Each of her siblings had discovered one of Eleanor's sapphire earrings. So wasn't it Nell's turn to find the necklace? Not that anyone in her family had suggested it. They had assumed she was returning home to settle in and take the teaching job that nearby Huntleigh College had offered her. But a week ago an anonymous letter had been delivered to her while she was teaching her last set of workshops in Louisville. The sender had used those exact words: It's your turn. Nell had known then that she had to return to the castle and find the rest of Eleanor's sapphires."Are you going to fall in love and kiss him beneath the stone arch that Angus built for Ellie?"Nell reined in her thoughts."Lissa." The pretty woman standing behind the little girl put a hand on her shoulder and sent Nell an apologetic smile. "Thank Ms. MacPherson for signing your book.""Thank you, Ms. MacPherson.""Thank you for coming today, Lissa." Nell leaned a little closer. "Lots of people have kissed their true loves beneath that stone arch. My eldest sister, Adair, has recently become engaged to a man she kissed there. Cam Sutherland, a CIA agent. He's very handsome. And my aunt Vi is going to marry Cam's boss." Then she pointed to Piper who was standing near the door. "See that pretty woman over there?"Lissa nodded."That's my other sister, Piper. She's a defense attorney here in D.C., and she just kissed her true love, FBI agent Duncan Sutherland, beneath the stone arch two weeks ago."Lissa's eyes went wide. "And now they'll all live happily ever after, right?""That's the plan. In the meantime, my sister Adair and my aunt Vi are turning Castle MacPherson into a very popular place to fall in love and then have a wedding." She winked at the little girl. "When you're older and you find your true love, you might want to bring him up there.""Can I, Mommy?" Lissa asked, a thrill in her voice."Can I?""I don't see why not. But I can't see that happening for quite a while."Lissa turned back to Nell. "What about you? Aren't you going to kiss your true love under the stones?""Someday," Nell said. But while her older sisters and her aunt might be ready for happy-ever-afters, Nell had much more she wanted to accomplish first. Finding Eleanor's sapphire necklace and finishing her second book were at the top of her list.The instant Lissa's mother steered her daughter toward the checkout line, Piper crossed to Nell's table. "The Bronwell trial starts on Monday, and my boss is holding a press conference at five o'clock." Piper glanced at her watch. "I can treat you to a quick cup of coffee.""No problem." Nell grabbed her purse and waved at the manager."You're great with the kids," Piper said. "They love talking to you about Eleanor and Angus."She and Piper had nearly reached the door of the shop when a man rode his bike up over the curb and jumped off. A sense of deja vu gripped Nell even before he had entered the store and she had read Instant Delivery on the insignia over his shirt pocket. The anonymous letter she'd received in Louisville had also been hand delivered."I have a letter for Nell MacPherson. Is she still here?" He spoke in a loud voice, his gaze sweeping the room."I'm Nell MacPherson."The relief on his face was instantaneous. "Glad I didn't miss you. I was supposed to get here half an hour ago. The traffic today is worse than usual. If you'll just sign here."As she signed, Nell's mind raced ahead. She hadn't told anyone in her family about the first letter. They would have wanted her to come home to the castle immediately so they could protect her. Worse still, now that her two sisters were involved with agents from the CIA and the FBI, they would have sent someone to hover over her. And the number one person they would have in mind would be Reid Sutherland.Nell intended to avoid that at all cost. She also intended to avert their expectation that she and Reid live happily ever after. Just because her two sisters would soon wed Reid's two brothers didn't mean she had to marry the last triplet. No way was she ready for that fairy-tale ending.This whole year had been about demonstrating to them that she could take care of herself. She took a quick look at the envelope held out to her. It was one of those standard-letter-sized ones used for overnight deliveries. The only return address was for the Instant Delivery office. She accepted it and tucked it under her arm."Aren't you going to open it?" Piper asked as they moved out onto the street."It's probably from my editor.""Why would she send something to the bookstore? She'd simply call you, right? I think you should open it."Curiosity and determination. Those were Piper's most outstanding qualities, and they served her well in her career. She wouldn't rest until she knew what was in the letter.Nell pulled the tab. Inside was one page and the first four sentences matched the message in the first letter.Your mission is to find the sapphire necklace that Eleanor Campbell stole from our family. Your sisters knew where to find the earrings. Now, it's your turn. I'll contact you and tell you how you can return the Stuart sapphires to their rightful owners.Nell's gaze dropped to the last sentence. It was new, and an icy sliver of fear shot up her spine.If you choose again to ignore your mission, someone in your family will die."One for the road," Lance Cabot said with a grin as he assumed the ancient fighting position, arms bent at the elbows and hands flexed.Setting aside the file he was working on, Reid Sutherland stepped out from behind his desk and mirrored his adversary's stance. For seconds they moved in a small circle like dancers, retaking each other's measure."I can teach you the move," Reid offered as he had countless times before. Growing up as the oldest of triplet boys, he'd taken up martial arts as soon as his mother had allowed it. And he'd created the move by using his brothers for practice."Where's the fun in that? I think I've finally figured it out."Reid blocked the kick aimed at his groin. "Maybe not."They were evenly matched in height and weight, and Reid knew from experience that the baggy sweatshirt the man was wearing hid well-honed muscles. Reid was five years younger, so that gave him one advantage. And while four years at West Point and assignments in Bosnia and Iraq had kept his opponent fit, they hadn't provided the training in hand-to-hand combat that the Secret Service required of its agents. Another advantage for Reid. Plus Cabot's four-year stint in the United States Senate, not to mention a wife and two kids, could slow a man down.A well-aimed foot grazed Reid's hip bone, making it sing. He feinted to the right, but the move didn't fool Cabot, and Reid had to dodge another kick. He blocked the next blow but felt it reverberate from his forearm to his shoulder. For two sweaty minutes, Cabot continued to attack, and Reid continued to defend himself.Cabot had one major advantage. He was th... Views: 29
BAILEY MAGUIRE has just been dumped by her third fiancé. She can’t understand what’s so wrong with her that she can’t get a guy to stick around long enough to actually marry her. She’s reasonably attractive, a decent person (unless lying counts against her), and she has money. It just doesn’t make sense. Fretting over how to tell her parents she comes up with a plan. Since her parents have never met Stanley, she decides to get someone to pose as him. Someone her parents will loathe. Someone her parents will be only too happy to find out their daughter has decided not to marry after all. It sounds easy, right? ZEDIDIAH QUINN is trying desperately to keep his head above water, but with a stack of bills a mile high, it hasn’t been easy. He has no regrets helping with his twin nephews’ exorbitant medical bills, but if he doesn’t come up with the kind of cash he needs by the end of the month, he’s going to lose Quinn’s Bar and Grill, the business he built from the ground up. When Quinn overhears Bailey’s plan to dupe her parents with a phony fiancé, he thinks the idea is ludicrous. Although, when he discovers she’s willing to pay an obscene amount of money to the man who helps her, he entertains the idea. Briefly. Later that same night, Bailey shows up at the bar and makes Quinn an offer he can’t refuse. Quinn thinks she’s crazy, but when he realizes the money could actually save his business, he starts having second thoughts. All he has to do is show up for dinner at Bailey’s house, meet her family, act like a jerk, and leave. Simple, right? Wrong. This is where it all starts. Views: 29
A lyrical and authentic book that recounts the story of a border-town family in Brownsville, Texas in the 1980's, as each member of the family desperately tries to assimilate and escape life on the border to become "real" Americans, even at the expense of their shared family history. This is really un-mined territory in the memoir genre that gives in-depth insight into a previously unexplored corner of America. Views: 29
Cassidy Christensen is running.Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable. Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she'll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future. Views: 29
Just an ordinary day before Christmas vacation turns out to be nightmares in the coming weeks. Nature has gone wild and it gets serious worldwide. Views: 29
When it comes to computer programming, Jenn MacLennan is a superhero. Ryan Stone has a business proposition that will put her brilliant mind to good use, but when they meet, their mutual attraction gives him an even better idea. He wants to do more than putting her brains to work. He wants to claim her body, too.This spicy short is 15,000 words of growling, geeky, sex-against-the-wall alpha male erotic romance. Views: 29
Robert Brewster had it all: an apartment in the West Village, a loving girlfriend, a flourishing career.
Then he started seeing them - those little dots that dance before your eyes. Floaters.
At first, he thought they were harmless.
He was wrong.
Whatever they touch suffers an agonizing death.
They strike without warning.
There is no defense.
There is no escape. Views: 29
Vivienne never planned to get lost, when she set out to find the truth about her mother. She also never planned to be chased by wolves, break her arm, or be held prisoner by an enigmatic, scowling, beast of a man. Most of all, she never planned to fall in love. Funny how things change.As the Last Petal Falls is a chance for readers to find out what happens next in the Once Upon a Romance fairy tale series. Views: 29
When Lady Alexandra Calthorpe returns to the Loveland, Colorado, ranch owned by her father, the Duke, she has little idea of how the experience will alter her future. Headstrong and willful, Alex tries to overcome a disastrous marriage in England and be free of the strictures of Victorian society --and become independent of men. That is, until Jesse Makepeace saunters back into her life... Hot-tempered and hot-blooded cowpuncher Jesse Makepeace can't seem to accept that the child he once knew is now the ravishing yet determined woman before him. Fighting rustlers proves a whole lot easier than fighting Alex when he's got to keep more than his temper under control. Arguments abound as Alex pursues her career as an artist and Jesse faces the prejudice of the English social order. The question is, will Loveland live up to its name? Views: 29
