Bücher veröffentlicht von Van Velzer Press

DISPARATE HOUSEWIVES! The ladies of Mistral Lane have a secret-and someone's found out! Romance novelist Willa Forsyth, step-mom to twins Isis Slade, and former Filipine beauty queen Wandalou Trueheart appear to have it all in the upscale bedroom community of Hydrangea Heights. But since the unforgettable night of Wandalou's bachelorette party, the three best friends find themselves at the mercy of a dark curse and involved in a shocking crime that rocks their upper crust neighborhood. When fellow bestie and sufferer of the werewolf's bite Jessie-Marie Smyth is blackmailed and murdered, the ladies go in search of the killer's identity, learning that more than one resident has secrets of their own. And, always, the threat of the full moon lurks at their backs. When it rises, the beast within is unleashed to howl-often with hilarious results. Will the friends unmask Jessie-Marie's killer? Can they cure the werewolf's curse? Will Isis ever get that accent wall color right? The clock is ticking, for even a housewife who is pure of heart and says her prayers at night could transform into a she-wolf-and deliver one hell of a bite!

Calinda Franklin starts her third year of teaching at the Cooper School with close friends, a sweetheart, and a windfall inheritance. Suddenly, her altruistic plans for her new fortune are thwarted by a narrow-minded town council and a corrupt ski resort. Then, when a student dies in tragic circumstances, it seems like things can't get worse. But they do.The Second Episode in the Cooper School Novels . . . Life Breaking In is a Cozy Mystery that dances right up the line of our difficult modern issues. Is Stella's death a suicide or a murder? Is a construction site on Indigenous land? Two relationships are on the rocks while these and other questions are looming large. All the while the students at the school have to decide if they are safe enough to stay at the school or if they should leave early and go home to their parents.

Based on True Events Deadly secrets & destructive, unintended consequences are unearthed in this coming-of-(s)age story of an unlikely friendship between a teenage girl and a former WWII spy. Some truths are best left unspoken. Ebony Dobbs has problems: unruly hair, not fitting in with the popular kids, figuring out how to pay for college...and a secret she's buried so deeply even she doesn't know the truth. But she also has a kick-butt best friend in Connor Leibovitz, a computer genius expelled from an elite private school for hacking.Ebony reluctantly accompanies her mother on a home health visit, meeting Madame Celeste DeWit, a 97-year-old with a closet full of skeletons from WWII. As Ebony learns the truth about Madame's wartime exploits, she comes to terms with her own past, realizing she and Madame share more than they differ.When Connor uncovers information that implicates Madame's estate manager in a plot to steal the old woman's fortune, the teenagers launch a campaign to protect her, even as Madame's past barrels into the present, threatening to destroy everything in its path. Inspired by real people and places, Steel Butterflies will have you marveling at the beautiful simplicity of true friendship, as well as the courage of women who come face-to-face with determining their future.

Based on True Events - Step back in time and embark on a captivating journey alongside Mary Brewster, a steadfast Christian woman whose unwavering faith and indomitable spirit shaped the destiny of a new world. In this gripping historical fiction, delve into the extraordinary life of Mary Brewster, wife of William Brewster of the famous Mayflower landing of pilgrims in search of religious freedom.As the Mayflower sets sail across uncharted waters, Mary finds herself not merely as a passenger, but as a pillar of strength for her family and fellow travelers. Amidst the harsh trials of the perilous journey, she embodies the essence of a woman's duty, nurturing hope and compassion within the confines of a cramped and tempest-tossed vessel. The tempests of the ocean mirror the storms of life, and Mary's steadfast faith becomes an anchor for those aboard, fortifying them against uncertainty and despair.Within the confines of the ship's quarters, Mary's resilience is tested as she confronts profound loss, physical hardships, and the overwhelming responsibility of being the wife of a religious leader. Alongside William Brewster, she embraces the challenges of the new world, facing harsh winters, unfamiliar cultures, and disease with grace and determination.Through the vividly painted canvas of history, this tale immerses you in the vibrant tapestry of emotions that defined the lives of these early settlers. It sheds light on the forgotten strength of women, whose sacrifices and contributions were the cornerstones of building a better future for generations to come.Mary Brewster's Love Life is an inspiring testament to the power of faith, love (of God, husband, children and neighbors) and perseverance. It celebrates the triumphs and tribulations of a woman who defied the odds, leaving an indelible mark on the pages of history. Join Mary Brewster on an odyssey that will stir your soul and remind you that through faith and courage, even the most challenging voyages can lead to the most extraordinary destinations.

Tassie is not afraid to bare her soul, her freakishly long middle toe, or excess baggage carried around in a designer purse in this debut book inspired by her Greek life. Each chapter is a tidy, humorous story. From the 80s to the 2020s - Yaya''s Big Black Purse covers four generations of a traditional Greek family, focusing on one member''s modern-day struggles as she grows up, grows older, and finally finds her voice-at the same time she''s losing her mind. Growing up Greek-American isn''t easy, but growing older-marriage, motherhood, dog hair and divorce-is even harder.  If you''ve ever said yes to the dress (then had to fit into it), recorded your child''s graduation (with the lens cap on), or struggled to be the perfect wife, mother, and daughter in an imperfect world, you''ll want to reach into Yaya''s Big Black Purse. Because Yaya knew you have to grow up to appreciate how you grew up. And you''re never too old to purse-sue your dreams."Growing up Greek takes a strong constitution. Tassie Kalas knows first-hand. In her debut side-splitting book Yaya''s Big Black Purse, we get a hilarious glimpse of how a nice Greek Girl deals with the foibles of life, Including trying to fit in, pleasing over-protective parents, placating a huge extended family, while at the same time, experiencing motherhood, divorce, and empty nest and a new love.  Kalas'' struggle to break out of the norm yet embrace the culture that made her who she is touches both heart and funny bone. If you''re looking for a an uplifting, coming-of-middle-age romp that entertains and draws you in, Kalas'' book ticks all the boxes."Allia Zobel Nolan, Bestselling Author of Cat Confessions, Laugh Out Loud, What I Like About You & more.

A thousand years ago in west Africa, a hero stopped a sacrifice. He cut off the head of a monster, the head flying into the air. But the Soninke princess was not saved: she was caught in an unfulfilled ritual. She was lost, immortal and unrecognized. A thousand years later a Bamana peasant boy fled his home and was recruited by the spirits to help fulfill a quest traveling a new world, where the French were colonial rulers, then encountering the lost princess. Yet their paths are forced apart. Grounded in the mythology, folklore, and legendary history of the old empires of west Africa (Wagadu and Mali), this novel is set at the dawn of French colonial rule in the territories of Mali and Guinea. Follow this Bamana peasant and the spirits of the bush that are guiding him in this quest. His path leads him on the old trade routes: salt to the south, kola nuts to the north. He discovers the purpose of his quest: to assist the princess of Wagadu who was not sacrificed a thousand years before. In the village of Kri Koro, a new French administrator is in charge. The traditional rulers of the town sought influence, the men used women as pawns; the women sought their own courses and means of influence. Behind the old authority of the Condé was a secret: a theft of power. In Kri Koro, the peasant and the princess meet again ... will they accomplish their goal with the tribal leaders and colonial authority both racing them to the golden secret? Meanwhile, an American has come to west Africa seeking a fortune and travels with a companion from the coast of Guinea to Kri Koro. All paths are set to crash together!

A cozy read of a novel that blends mystery, female detective work and modern situations; this story will take from that cozy feeling of reading around a fireplace to the cold stark facts of poverty and issues only young females have to face ... and then back to the fuzzy familiar world of a good romance trying to click into place. Calinda Franklin''s new teaching job at an upstate New York private secondary school for worthy scholarship students seems idyllic, relieving her dire financial straits and burying her violent past. Yet dormant mysteries threaten the students'' safety and the future of the school. Callie''s complex journey to the truth puts her in the cross-hairs of a sociopath, but even that proves less arduous than healing old emotional scars and opening herself to love.