Bücher veröffentlicht von Black Rose Writing

"It is rare that the third book in a trilogy is as captivating and page-turning as the first two, but Daughter of Snow and Secrets by Kerry Chaput delivers a special blend of well-developed characters, nail-biting adventure and a satisfying ending to a fabulous series." -Gail Ward Olmsted, author of Landscape of a Marriage1681. Isabelle lives safely in Geneva but travels to the French countryside along secret Huguenot trails to rescue Protestants from the king's vicious dragonnade program. She protects her family from the dangers of battling the Royal Army, but her wild daughter Elizabeth has other ideas. Eager to prove herself, Elizabeth attempts a solo rescue that goes horribly wrong. Isabelle comes out of hiding and travels to Paris while all of France wants her dead.On a dangerous mission to Versailles, old enemies threaten to tear her family apart. She must rely on surprising allies and the daughter she's fought to protect to keep them alive and rescue every Protestant in France.In the final installment of the award-winning Defying the Crown trilogy, Kerry Chaput takes readers on another thrilling adventure through the outlandish world of Paris and Versailles. Daughter of Snow and Secrets immerses you in a breathless tale of danger with a cast of brave, fierce women as they fight for love and freedom. You won't want to miss the stunning conclusion to this riveting historical fiction series.

"One of the major problems children face is low self-esteem, and with books like this , they will learn to appreciate themselves for a young age." -Online Book ClubReaders of Why Won't the Gorillas Dance with Me? will learn to trust their instincts about situations that are heavily influenced by what others may be saying. A wonderful story about not making assumptions about a particular group based solely on what others may say.

On November 4, 1872, Cathleen Kelsey's brother, George, goes missing after being tarred and feathered by a mob in their small Long Island town. Determined to find him and get justice, Cathleen reinvents herself as a detective.Cathleen Kelsey has always been her brother, Charles's, protector. An eccentric, Bohemian poet, Charles is a bit of an oddball in their small, Long Island town. When he goes missing on Election Eve in 1872, Cathleen discovers he has been tarred and feathered after a flirtatious girl accused him of entering her bedroom and molesting her.Cathleen is certain Charlie is innocent. She suspects the girl's fiancé, the wealthy Sam Royals, and his powerful friends are behind the tarring. Realizing the constable is inept, Cathleen reinvents herself as a smart, fearless detective whose quest is to find Charlie and obtain justice. The town divides along class lines: the "Tars" (defending Sam) vs. the "Anti-Tars." Cathleen proves to be remarkably successful in her detective work, unearthing damning evidence about what the national papers are calling the "Crime of the Century." But the closer she gets to the truth, the more her enemies are determined to stop her.

"...a beautifully written tale of strong female relationships that draws you in from the beginning and won't let go. Reading this book is like spending the afternoon with comforting friends. Enjoy the experience." -Diane Dickinson, author of Final TransactionA ghost's antics, a harrowing moose chase, a hypnosis session, and smuggled booze lead to spilled secrets and betrayal, but do they also lead to murder?At a hot springs retreat in Montana, whiskey-swigging Maude, the nearly eighty-year-old chef, longs for the glory days when the retreat hosted martini-sipping celebrities instead of long-haired hippies who refuse to wear deodorant. Brooke, feisty, adventurous, and a bit reckless, proposes a reunion at the retreat with her best friends to get away from the chaos of her life with teenagers and the emotional aftermath of her postponed wedding. One of those friends, Tracy, has devoted her life to her children and her husband despite her excruciating boredom. But a long-held secret could cost her the most important friendships in her life. Haunting the place is a ghost who, in life, dealt with tragedy by turning to prostitution which led to her murder over 100 years ago at the very place they all are staying.What Happens in Montana explores friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness with blunt truth and witty insights. Together, these friends learn to navigate empty nests, infidelity, deception, and poltergeists. Most importantly, they learn their friendship is strong enough to get them through it all.

"An absorbing tale of damaged souls struggling to heal as they track down evil." -Kirkus Reviews"This wildly imaginative psychological thriller is David Shawn Klein's best book yet." -BestThrillers.comTwo damaged souls. A malevolent secret. A risky ruse to unearth the truth that could bring redemption or a brutal end... Philip Raymond grows more desperate by the minute. Suffering from agoraphobia after a tragic misstep led to a scandal and suicide, the former high-level political consultant and novelist needs a big win to restore his reputation and take back his life. Certain that a wealthy recluse has blood on his hands, the emotionally scarred writer hires a brainy beauty to dig up the dirt he requires for a blockbuster exposé.Jesse Carter is haunted. Feeling responsible for her beloved brother's prison murder, the freelance researcher's razor-sharp intellect is no match for her crushing sense of guilt. So despite her reluctance to take a job that's more cloak-and-dagger than fact-finding, the tormented twenty-something signs on after learning the target may be victimizing women.Afraid his young assistant will spook and quit before he gets the goods for his bestseller, Philip withholds vital information as she enters the den of vipers. While Jesse discovers that murder and a near-death cult are just the tip of the iceberg, and one wrong move could be her last.With an insidious plot that reaches as far as the White House, will the pair become casualties of a devious war?And the Dead Shall Live is a nail-biting thriller. If you like smart but flawed protagonists, terrifying stakes, and shocking revelations, then you'll love David Shawn Klein's journey into darkness.Buy And the Dead Shall Live to plunge into danger today!

"Gayle Brown's debut novel unravels a web of secrets and lies that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Buckle up, A Deadly Game is a heart-racing thriller." -Anna St. John, author of Doomed by BloomsWhen local college student, Jaden Pierce, disappears one night playing 'Manhunt in the Woods' with his fraternity brothers, Nicole, an empathetic stay-at-home mom living a blissful life, joins the search party.Combing through the wooded area, Nicole unearths her son Kyle's license and withholds this potential piece of evidence. She trusts him, but a sliver of doubt festers below the surface, thanks to one unresolved incident from middle school and his shady pastime. After he is officially named a person of interest, she must decide what to do next. Unsettled but determined to protect him, Nicole searches for the answers on her own.While probing deeper, surprised by her unethical actions interfering with the investigation, Nicole realizes she's being followed. As the situation deteriorates, she is blindsided by the truth, suddenly shattering her trust in people as well as her entire belief system. Now, unsure who to believe and running out of time, Nicole faces her most challenging moral dilemma: With someone's fate resting in her hands, will she reveal what she's learned or keep it to herself?A Deadly Game is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller raising the question, "How far is a mother willing to go to protect her child?" The constant guessing and unexpected, riveting twists will keep you turning the pages. Don't miss out! Buy your copy today.

"The plot was enthralling and the entire story was interesting to read. I loved the book and I'm on the lookout for the next in the series. I suggest that you read Nadiri: A Novel by Amina Al Sherif. It's highly recommended!" -Reader's Favorite Choice AwardsFollow Hagar Khalifa as she navigates growing up between two worlds.Caught between an American Christian mother and an Egyptian Muslim father, Hagar searches for her identity as she navigates the public Egyptian school system and subsequently the private American one. As she explores the two worlds, she discovers her ambition to immigrate to the United States and join the U.S. Army.As she navigates extreme challenges of growing up between these two worlds, join Hagar in the second novel of the Nadiri series to discover her journey as she becomes a U.S. Army officer, joins a university in the deep American south, and commissions as an Arab American during the Arab Spring and the rise of the so-called Islamic State.

Ever since their mother's disappearance, Aiden and Noah, 13-year-old twins, have been moving from place to place with their detective father, Roger Raven. While Aiden is not too happy about it, Noah sees it as an opportunity to meet new friends.That is, until they arrive in the town of Herisdell for their father's work, a seeming ghost town where its almost always raining.The boys soon find themselves wrapped up in the mysteries of the town including the disappearances of the residents, a boy at school who seems to have a connection to one of the missing people and the strange girl who appeared outside their window within hours of them settling in when no one should have known they had arrived yet.Aiden and Noah are going to have to learn quickly what is going on. For it seems there is more to the town then meets the eye and it's even more dangerous for them then they could have ever imagined.

"Aislinn Givens leaves a settled life in Manhattan for an unsettled life in Singapore. That painting radiates mystery and longing. So does Clifford Garstang's vivid and simmering novel, The Last Bird of Paradise." -John Dalton, author of Heaven Lake and The Inverted ForestTwo women, nearly a century apart, seek to rebuild their lives when they reluctantly leave their homelands. Arriving in Singapore, they find romance in a tropical paradise, but also find they haven't left behind the dangers that caused them to flee.In the aftermath of 9/11 and haunted by the specter of terrorism, Aislinn Givens leaves her New York law practice and joins her husband in Southeast Asia when he takes a job there. Seeking to establish herself in a local law firm, Aislinn begins to understand the historic resentment of foreigners who have exploited the region for centuries. Learning about the turmoil of Singapore's colonial period, she acquires several paintings done by an English artist during World War I that she believes are a warning to her. The artist, Elizabeth Pennington, tells her own tumultuous story through diary entries that come to an end when the war reaches the colony with catastrophic results. In the present, Aislinn and her husband learn tragically that terrorism takes many shapes when they are ensnared by local political upheaval and corruption.In a lyrical blend of historical and contemporary drama, The Last Bird of Paradise explores the consequences of power imbalances-both domestic and geopolitical, against a lush, tropical backdrop. Clifford Garstang, author of the award-winning novel Oliver's Travels, once again draws on his decades of experience in Asia to tell an unforgettable story of romantic intrigue.

"Lena Gibson (the bestselling author of The Edge of Life) lays the tracks into an exciting new post-apocalyptic world where corporate greed controls the necessities of life, one ancient society's trash is today's salvation, and the heart of one heroine can save a country's soul." -D. Lambert, author of Son of No Man seriesLife in SoCal in 2195 is controlled by a corporatocracy.Elsa scavenges twenty-first-century trash, living on the edge of starvation in this ruthless world through her grit and instincts.When she unearths a metal tube containing maps to six Doomsday seed bunkers and a silver key, she dreams of renewable sources of food and a life based on more than subsistence, but GreenCorps will stop at nothing to acquire her find. Accused of theft and beaten half to death, she escapes with a handsome train hopper. They seek the long-lost bunkers, hoping to break GreenCorps' monopoly on food.Along the way, they receive help from a teenage pickpocket, a solitary widow, and a rebel leader. If this rag-tag group of lonely misfits cannot reclaim the tube and find a way to distribute the seeds, GreenCorps will continue to choke out any chance of a better life.Hop aboard this thrilling dystopian train-hopping adventure with Switching Tracks.2024 IndieReader Discovery Award Winner - Dystopian Fiction2024 Maxy Awards Finalist - Sci-Fi & Fantasy2024 Eric Hoffer Awards: Montaigne Medal Finalist2024 Eric Hoffer Awards: Honorable Mention eBook2023 Literary Titan Gold Award Winner

"You'll fall in love with Elvis, the spunky little dog who is an excellent judge of character, and Emily, the compassionate veterinarian-sleuth who rescues him." -Sharon Marchisello, author of Secrets of the GalapagosAs the new owner of the Coral Shores Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Emily Benton is in over her head. When she makes a house call at the home of her client, Mrs. Eliza Klein, she finds the woman's terrier, Elvis, in a state of distress and Mrs. Klein face down on the floor-dead. Emily immediately contacts her brother, Deputy Sheriff Duncan Benton, for help.The cause of death is later determined to be nicotine poisoning, triggering an official murder investigation. Who would want to kill a retired piano teacher best known for her animal charity work?Emily is caught up in the middle of the drama when she brings Elvis into her home. The little terrier's strong canine instincts drag Emily further into the investigation, putting them both at risk. While Emily and her best friend, Anthony, take on the role of amateur sleuths, Emily's brother and his very handsome colleague, Detective Mike Lane, work to uncover the truth and get justice for both Mrs. Klein and Elvis.

The heart-wrenching tale of a family in crisis and the therapist who makes the tough decision to save herself.Every member of the Prescott family struggles with identity issues when the father, Hailey Prescott, leaves the family to live life as a woman, sending them all tumbling into emotions so violent they threaten to tear the family fabric to shreds. When Dr. Cotton Barnes, a happily married psychologist from Raleigh, North Carolina, signs on to treat the family, she is challenged to the edges of her own fragile boundaries as cracks in the veneer of the Prescotts' lives become craters.The family members relate their stories in their chosen voices, each narrative in a different format. Marcus, the youngest, speaks to Cotton through his avatars; Gray, the mother, distances herself by referring to herself in the third person; the oldest child, Janis-a self-avowed loner-uses a defunct social media app; while the middle child, Cheryl, tries to keep everyone personally happy in person; and Hailey, the novelist father, hides behind her journals.The Prescotts take turns breaking down and breaking through a roller coaster of emotions that mirrors what's happening in the Raleigh area: a series of LGBTQ+ hate crimes rocks the community to its core. Telling herself she must save them, Cotton stalks the family, but when Hailey Prescott becomes the latest victim of brutality, Cotton is forced to make a decision that will determine whether she saves her own marriage or the Prescotts. Or herself.Analyzing the Prescotts is the latest from Dawn Reno Langley, a novelist who Foreword Reviews says writes with "authority and fine craftsmanship."

Can a soulless billionaire find a soul? Is it crazy to give away money? Is it ever too late to redeem the loveless life of a selfish, greedy narcissist?Magnus "Killer" Diller is a ruthless real estate developer trying to unload his portfolio of shopping malls. One mall is bleeding money, holding up the deal. His associates urge him to unload it, but he insists on going undercover to root out the conspiracy of tenants trying to steal it from him. What better way to uncover this conspiracy than by becoming the mall Santa? He quickly discovers two things: he's the world's worst Santa, and the mall's "Cookie Lady" is the kind, generous, lovely woman he's dreamed of. Will she speak to him when she discovers he's trying to put her cookie shop out of business?Sanity Clause is modern fable that updates A Christmas Carol with snap and sizzle. Author R. Lee Procter fashions a tale that you'll read out loud to family and friends every holiday season.Pick up Sanity Clause. It's a timeless tale of a hopeless cynic who finds love, redemption, transcendence, and the world's best cookie.

Drawn on the same model and to the same proportions as classic journeys of a hero, this is the story of Clayton Ian McIver.His father worked in the citrus industry before Greening Disease, a bacteria plague-like that of "scorpions of the Earth"-obliterated citrus in Florida, leaving many citizens with no work and less future, while the state filled with up to 2000 strangers a day.They all needed housing and construction of one new residential development after another, annihilating Florida's wild, now no longer vast, natural habitats. Worse, the water, that elixir of life itself, became poisoned by their waste, their run-off.Florida became an endangered species.Clayt McIver and his father knew the water of Florida was becoming poisoned. This is the story of how Clayt and his lady friend, Joleen, became the young heroes who accepted the mission to save the natural environment of Florida.

"This fast-paced, character-driven crime novel will keep you turning pages. A suspenseful and riveting read!" -Susan Sage, author of Dancing In The RingShed Girl is a contemporary crime novel set in the small fictional town of Annie's Court on Washington's northern coast.Annie's Court has a runaway problem. Runaways arrive and then they disappear. Juliet French, an old runaway herself, does tarot readings for petty cash at the Farmers Market. Across the market Tony LeCrosse sells toys. Juliet notices the runaways flock to LeCrosse. Just before they go missing.After witnessing the abduction of a young boy, Detective Benson Picard solicits Juliet's help. Already determined to find the boy, she agrees to Benson's terms. Juliet, a strong female lead, feels the danger in the cards when Tony LeCrosse invites her to a party. He wants her to entertain his guests with tarot readings. Juliet balks at the word "entertain" but agrees anyway. When Kyle shows up at LeCrosse's party, Juliet's spine "turns to stardust and fairies rush in." The two team-up to find the missing kids. But Kyle has secrets of his own.

"Rich and intriguing, My Mary is a compelling look into clinical depression, the trauma of being a Barnardo Home Child, and the heartbreaking story of enduring love." -Renee Cronley, author of BurnoutTeetzel delivers a powerful historical narrative, brimming with idyllic scenes and beautiful imagery of life on a Canadian family farm. This epic tale and enduring love story spans some seventy years and shines light on one woman's life journey as a Barnardo Home Child.January, 1945. Rural Ontario. It's another bleak winter for Mary Thistle. When she receives two successive pieces of bad news, she spirals into a deep melancholia, believing herself a burden to her family. After a failed suicide attempt, Charles, Mary's husband, the one she loves and trusts the most, commits her to a psychiatric hospital. With a timeline of three months looming, Mary rallies, determined to prove herself cured and return home.However, confronting the memories of her past is more difficult than she had expected. And when therapy is paired with electroconvulsive treatments, Mary is left with an outcome she did not bargain for.

"Fast paced, gorgeous world building, more twists and turns than the Hairpins of Montvernier and just as scenic.10/10, high recommended!" -KJ Fieler, author of Shadow RunnerWhen a young couple take a coastal holiday to celebrate with their new baby, they hope to return home with happy memories. Now, it seems they may not return at all. For they have crossed the line into an alternate reality, one which has been taken over by a malevolent and totalitarian sorcerer.The ethereal spirits of these realms need a saviour. Their senses pick up on the arrival of the young family. In particular, the baby. The child was born of magic and the prophecies state that she can defeat this cruel new force. A growth acceleration is administered upon the baby. One of body, mind and soul.This is the tale of Ramona in the Realms. The wizard who did not know she was a wizard... Yet.Along the way, you will meet all manner of characters and visit marvelous and unpredictable places. These realms are a world you will not want to leave.

"Balko's writing is pure magic and it's a must-read for today's divided world." -J.D. Greyson, founder of Move Me PoetryZiplining despite being scared of heights. Learning yoga when you're afraid of downward anything. Facing your strained relationship with your mother.When Olivia writes a ME List, she picks 10 things to get her out of her suburban mom funk. But what she really needs is to figure out how to deal with her next-door neighbor, nemesis, and new boss-Patricia. Patricia is the top realtor in their town and has the perfect life. But when Olivia agrees to be Patricia's assistant, she discovers Patricia's life isn't as perfect as she thought.The Me List is a touching tale about the complexity of friendship, the importance of reserving judgment, and the rocky path that life takes as we get older. Julee Balko brings snark and heart to this journey of self-improvement with a keen eye for flawed characters.Can a list change a life?

"A fantastic work of historical fiction. If I could have scored it higher than five stars, I would have." -ReaderViews.com"Beauty is power," Dr. Rome told her. "And with enough power, one can achieve anything."Straightening noses, trimming eyelids, lifting jowls ... In the year 1907, his revolutionary beauty surgery is considered daring, perhaps dangerous. Still, women want what Dr. Rome promises.Neither is his young assistant, Abigail Platford, immune to Dr. Rome's persuasive charm. Abigail once dreamed of becoming a doctor, though of a much different sort. That dream ended with her father's tragic death from a medical error for which she holds herself responsible. But Dr. Rome, who proudly displays his medical degree from Johns Hopkins, seems to believe in her. If he were willing to act as her mentor, might there still be a chance to fulfill her dream of someday becoming a doctor serving New York City's poor?But something feels terribly wrong, as though an insidious evil is closing in. Broken promises, lies, and intrigues abound. The powerful are threatening to destroy the weak, and a doctor's sacred duty hangs in the balance. Abigail no longer knows who to believe; but with Dr. Rome now her mentor and her lover, she desperately wants to trust him.Even when she discovers that one of their patients has mysteriously disappeared.From bestselling author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard, a suspenseful work of historical fiction grounded in the social and moral issues of the Edwardian era in America. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Book Award (2018). Re-edited Second Edition with Author's Preface.

The tribal council hires Hokee to find missing reservation children. What he discovers is an evil business encompassing all humanity. Kidnapping, pedophilia and human trafficking take Hokee from America to the sands of Sahara where he nearly loses his life.A New York investigative reporter, Gloria Bingham is recruited to help Hokee take down the most successful madam in Paris, enjoying both political and police protection. The police, aided by those whose reputations are in peril, set a trap to kill Hokee and Gloria.Killers are sent to Pocatello, Idaho, where they torture and nearly kill Hilda, Hokee's office manager, to learn his location in order to kill him and Gloria before they can expose the people involved.Leaving a trail of dead bodies from Houston, Texas through Africa and France, Hokee relentlessly searches for the missing Indian children and the power behind human trafficking. Surviving yet another attempt on his life, Hokee returns home to find his his office wrecked and a nearly-dead assistant. With the aid of Curly, his deputy sheriff friend, and Shila a pet wolf, Hokee locates and disposes of the Idaho killers in McCammon's bottomless hole.Gloria's expose' on human trafficking is a success as Hokee realizes the city girl is not meant for Pocatello... He still has Shila, his best friend.

"Sandra Gardner combines drama, comedy, and tragedy in a riveting tale of friendship, deception, and betrayal." -Judith Lechner, author of The Moon Sings BackAfter many years, a serial killer of young women is back again in upstate New York. Philomena Wolff, the host of a crime-solving blog, a psychic gravedigger, and her blog readers are determined to stop him-no matter the danger.Philomena Wolff was 17, walking home from school with her best friend, when her friend disappeared, ending up as one of several young women abducted and murdered in upstate New York by a clever killer who eventually disappeared from the area.Philomena was terrified that the man caught a glimpse of her when he took her friend. Many years later, young women have been ending up dead again.Philomena, now an investigative reporter, hosts a crime-solving blog, "Who Killed Who?" With the help of her friend, a psychic gravedigger, her friend's boyfriend, a P.I., and the blog's readers, Philomena is on a mission to hunt the killer down. Her blog readers are with her, but so is the killer, posting vile notes and vicious threats on the blog.Could the killer be the same one who murdered her friend long ago, trolling for more young women-and Philomena?

The Novelist is the story of Charlotte Clarke, journalist, writer and fictional daughter of the 19th century novelist, Marcus Clarke, whose most popular work is For the Term of His Natural Life.Charlotte challenges herself to write a sequel to her father's celebrated book, twisting her father's ending to suit her beginning-where protagonists Rufus Dawes and Sylvia Vickers survive a supposedly fatal ending in a shipwreck.As a natural sleuth, Charlotte investigates-in the role of journalist for the newspaper-local crimes and their outcomes in court.This alone attracts unwanted company, often putting her life in danger.

"A fast-moving, character-driven tale of spiritual reincarnation." -Dan C. Gunderman, author of Synod, former journalistA terrible accident. Two deaths. A soul who refuses to move on.In her past life, after causing the death of a little boy, Nikki was so devastated that her soul mate promised to murder her in their next life, to make her pay for what she had done. With no knowledge of this, Nikki lives for years as an addict, down on her luck, until she is rescued by Ken, who helps her with all aspects of her recovery. With the help of a few new friends and a cat named Destiny, Nikki turns her life around. What she doesn't know is that someone out there is destined to kill her, and he is watching, his passion for killing her growing stronger each day.The question is: Can an agreement made between two souls be broken, and how far will one soul go to keep a promise made in a desperate attempt to save the other?

Rachel and Talia Fontenot are sisters born into brutal, rural poverty of southeastern Louisiana in the 1960s.Raised with one another until tragic circumstances intervene and they are separated. Talia disappearing into a life of drugs and petty crime, Rachel fleeing to New Orleans. It is now present day and Talia has been missing for many years. Rachel in New Orleans is living what appears to be the perfect life, but underneath she is struggling with constant anxiety, prescription drug abuse and tremendous grief over the loss of her missing sister, as well as her oldest son to an accident several years earlier.One night, she receives a call from a nurse she's not heard from since Hurricane Katrina. The information she is given sets in motion a series of events that will unravel Rachel's life, forcing her to examine her past choices and taking her on a psychologically arduous journey to save her sister.

An engineered virus that attacks the brain leaks from a research lab and spreads quickly, causing infected people to go into psychotic rage. Before almost anyone knows what is happening, a well-armed America is terrorized by a pandemic of violence.Kanetha Wilson-friend of the first victim-is first to recognize that something is not as it seems. She inspires a small cadre of scientists and others into a breakneck, lonely, and lawless mission to identify and stop the murder plague. They must rebel against scientific and political establishments and public opinion hardened against taking pandemics seriously. More importantly, they must stay alive themselves, when crazed murderers might appear anywhere, and when madness might be only a breath away.Set in Orlando, Florida-where tourists from all over can quickly spread contagion-The Murder Plague is a dystopian thriller transpiring not long after the COVID crisis. Scott Michael Powers, author of the UFO-hunt thriller The Roswell Swatch, delivers a fast-paced tale full of suspense, riveting action, high stakes concerns for science and society, and heart.Read The Murder Plague and see what the next genetic engineering accident might cause, and what it might take to stop it.

"[A] provocative work of speculative fiction ... with an irrepressible sense of humor and wit." -Kirkus Reviews"Clever, darkly humorous, beautifully written. Loophole is a wickedly charming urban fantasy that grabs you by the throat with the opening line, surprises you page by page all the way through, then delivers a jaw-dropping yet satisfying resolution." -KJ Fieler, bestselling author of Shadow RunnerImagine a world where all your crimes are written on your face.In Alannah's world, every moral choice she makes changes her physical appearance-for better or worse. Any good deed increases beauty, while any misdeed leaves an immediate, ugly mark. Naturally, she wants to be as good and beautiful as possible-until her habit of finding ways around the rules leads her to discover that people have found devious ways to abuse this system.When she leaves home for a magazine internship in Colorado Springs, Alannah finds her desire to be good challenged in unexpected ways. Over the course of her internship, she has surprising encounters with homeless people, gangsters, politicians, policemen, cute coworkers, illegal makeup traffickers, and more. Before she knows it, she's drawn into a social conflict that endangers not only her entire concept of what it means to be good but also the lives of those she cares about.

Gabriel Staub is a writer adrift in his early 30s whose older sister, Becca, is a brilliant, tempestuous-and world-famous- artist. Gabriel has spent his life in the shadow of Becca's success, and he is haunted by a childhood incident that traumatized her. A chance encounter with an old friend offers him unexpected companionship, but also forces him to confront his painful past.Providence is a story about friendship, art, and memory set amid the contemporary New York of glamorous high-rises and glitzy art galleries, with detours to France, Italy, the Slovak Republic, and the backwoods of the Catskill Mountains. Meditative and searching, the novel tells of coming of age amid loss and solitude.

After progressive world leaders crush the economy, leading to the brink of war, a nanotechnology- enhanced Chinese virus was released on the world. Humanity was swept away by the worst plague in human history, killing 95% of humans on Earth.The plague begins to subside, and survivors peek out at a completely changed world.Mike Broehm leads a neighborhood in Central Kentucky, surrounded by a remarkable cast of characters, to begin rebuilding America based on Founding Father principles. Besides the challenges of obtaining everyday necessities for himself and his neighbors, Mike must navigate his new role as leader of a diverse group of people while dealing with threats of anarchy and the inevitable rise of power-hungry despots.It is a completely new world, without many of the support systems people have depended upon for generations.Fortunately, Mike has the help of several brilliant minds, superior military leadership and training, and people that have studied and understand history. Will this be enough to overcome man's tendency toward savagery in a world without rules or someone to enforce them?