"Frankenstein"--by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley--classic Gothic horror and romance in a story that is both world-famous and increasingly relevant--epic battle between man and monster reaches its greatest pitch as creator tries to destroy his creation--1931 film starring Boris Karloff is still terrifying nearly a century later

  

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein blends Gothic horror and romance in a story that is both world-famous and increasingly relevant.

Frankenstein is a young, idealistic student of natural philosophy who, finding the secret of giving life to matter, creates a living being. The monstrous creation, though tender-hearted and gentle in nature, inspires fear in those who meet him and must hide away from society.  

Increasingly lonely and isolated, the monster becomes embittered and cruel, taking a hideous revenge on his creator. In a dramatic denouement in which Frankenstein pursues his creation to the Arctic in order to destroy him, Mary Shelley reveals the terrifying consequences of playing God.

The epic battle between man and monster reaches its greatest pitch in trying to recreate life. The young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor himself to the very brink. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship ...and horror.  

 

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

 

Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, often known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, and editor of the works of her husband, Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the writer, philosopher, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.

The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.

The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.

  

Frankenstein

Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most memorable monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made (1931). Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster (Karloff) out of lifeless body parts. It's director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel blended with Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity that makes Frankenstein a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time. 

 

Boris Karloff

Along with fellow actors Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price, Boris Karloff is recognized as one of the true icons of horror cinema, and the actor most closely identified with the general public's perception of the "monster" from the classic Mary Shelley book, "Frankenstein". William Henry Pratt was born on November 23, 1887, in Camberwell, London, England, the son of Edward John Pratt Jr., the Deputy Commissioner of Customs Salt and Opium, Northern Division, Indian Salt Revenue Service, and his third wife, Eliza Sarah Millard.

He was educated at London University in anticipation that he would pursue a diplomatic career; however, he emigrated to Canada in 1909 and joined a touring company based out of Ontario and adopted the stage name of "Boris Karloff." He toured back and forth across the USA for over ten years in a variety of low-budget theater shows and eventually ended up in Hollywood, reportedly with very little money to his name. Needing cash to support himself, Karloff secured occasional acting work in the fledgling silent film industry in such pictures as The Deadlier Sex (1920), Omar the Tentmaker (1922), Dynamite Dan (1924) and Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927), in addition to a handful of serials (the majority of which sadly haven't survived). Karloff supplemented his meager film income by working as a truck driver in Los Angeles, which allowed him enough time off to continue to pursue acting roles.

His big break came in 1931 when he was cast as "the monster" in the Universal production of Frankenstein (1931), directed by James Whale, one of the studio's few remaining auteur directors. The aura of mystery surrounding Karloff was highlighted in the opening credits, as he was listed as simply "?". The film was a commercial and critical success for Universal, and Karloff was instantly established as a hot property in Hollywood. He quickly appeared in several other sinister roles, including Scarface (1932) (filmed before Frankenstein (1931)), the black-humored The Old Dark House (1932), as the namesake Oriental villain of the Sax Rohmer novels in The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), as undead Im-Ho-Tep in The Mummy (1932) and the misguided Prof. Morlant in The Ghoul (1933). He thoroughly enjoyed his role as a religious fanatic in John Ford's The Lost Patrol (1934), although contemporary critics described it as a textbook example of overacting.

He donned the signature make-up, neck bolts and asphalt spreader's boots again to play Frankenstein's monster in the sensational The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and the less thrilling Son of Frankenstein (1939). Karloff, on loan to Fox, appeared in one of the best of the Warner Oland Chan entries, Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936), before beginning his own short-lived Mr. Wong detective series. He was a wrongly condemned doctor in Devil's Island (1939), shaven-headed executioner "Mord the Merciless" in Tower of London (1939), another misguided scientist in The Ape (1940), a crazed scientist surrounded by monsters, vampires and werewolves in House of Frankenstein (1944), a murderous cabman in The Body Snatcher (1945) and a Greek general fighting vampirism in the Val Lewton thriller Isle of the Dead (1945).

While Karloff continued appearing in a plethora of films, many of them were not up to the standards of his previous efforts, including appearances in two of the hokey Bud Abbott and Lou Costello monster movies (he had appeared with them in an earlier superior effort, Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff (1949), which theater owners often added his name to the marquee), the low point of the Universal-International horror movie cycle. During the 1950s he was a regular guest on many high-profile TV shows including The Milton Berle Show (1948), Tales of Tomorrow (1951), The Veil (1958), The Donald O'Connor Show (1954), The Red Skelton Hour (1951) and The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956), to name but a few, and he appeared in a mixed bag of films including Sabaka (1954) and Voodoo Island (1957). On Broadway he appeared as the murderous Brewster brother in the hit, "Arsenic and Old Lace" (his role, or the absence of him in it, was amusingly parodied in the film version) and a decade later he enjoyed a long run in "Peter Pan," perfectly cast as "Captain Hook."

His career experienced something of a revival in the 1960s thanks to hosting the TV anthology series Thriller (1960) and indie director Roger Corman, with Karloff contributing wonderful performances in The Raven (1963), The Terror (1963), the ultra-eerie Black Sabbath (1963) and the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired Monster of Terror (1965). Karloff's last great role was as an aging horror movie star confronting a modern-day sniper in the Peter Bogdanovich film Targets (1968). In 1970, he played the blind sculptor Franz Badulescu in Cauldron of Blood (1970), written, produced, and directed by Edward Mann, who had also come to the art of film from stage theater. His TV career was capped off by achieving Christmas immortality as the narrator of Chuck Jones's perennial animated favorite, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966). Three low-budget Mexican-produced horror films starring an ailing Karloff were released in the two years after his death; however, they do no justice to this actor. In retrospect, he never took himself too seriously as an actor and had a tendency to downplay his acting accomplishments. Renowned as a refined, kind and warm-hearted gentleman, with a sincere affection for children and their welfare, Karloff passed away on February 2, 1969 from emphysema. Respectful of his Indian roots and in true Hindu fashion, he was cremated at Guildford Crematorium, Godalming, Surrey, England, where he is commemorated by a plaque in Plot 2 of the Garden of Remembrance.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000472/bio 

"Dracula"--by Bram Stoker--chilling Victorian Era novel is the ultimate Gothic horror, an undying wellspring of modern mythology, and irresistible entertainment--Dracula lives forever in the classics of literature--1931 film version starring Bela Lugosi remains a gold standard for horror films almost 100 years later

Dracula

The popularity of vampires in contemporary culture traces its roots to this 1897 novel: the Transylvanian tale of the bloodthirsty Count Dracula; the naive young English lawyer who becomes his prisoner; the women Count Dracula stalks, including the lawyer's fiancée and her friend; and the amazing Professor Van Helsing and his companions, who try to thwart Dracula's bloodthirsty adventures. Vampires had been wreaking devilment through European folklore for generations before Dracula was published, and others had written vampire novels, but Bram Stoker elevated the nocturnal creature to iconic stature. A classic of Gothic horror, an undying wellspring of modern mythology, and irresistible entertainment, Dracula lives forever in the classics of literature. No stake through the heart or mouthful of garlic can destroy this fantastic Victorian adventure novel. 

Bram Stoker

 

He was born Abraham Stoker in 1847 at 15 Marino Crescent – then as now called "The Crescent" – in Fairview, a coastal suburb of Dublin, Ireland. His parents were Abraham Stoker and the feminist Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornely. Stoker was the third of seven children. Abraham and Charlotte were members of the Clontarf Church of Ireland parish and attended the parish church (St. John the Baptist located on Seafield Road West) with their children, who were both baptised there.

Stoker was an invalid until he started school at the age of seven — when he made a complete and astounding recovery. Of this time, Stoker wrote, "I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years."

After his recovery, he became a normal young man, even excelling as an athlete (he was named University Athlete) at Trinity College, Dublin (1864 – 70), from which he graduated with honours in mathematics. He was auditor of the College Historical Society and president of the University Philosophical Society, where his first paper was on "Sensationalism in Fiction and Society".

In 1876, while employed as a civil servant in Dublin, Stoker wrote a non-fiction book (The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, published 1879) and theatre reviews for The Dublin Mail, a newspaper partly owned by fellow horror writer J. Sheridan Le Fanu. His interest in theatre led to a lifelong friendship with the English actor Henry Irving. He also wrote stories, and in 1872 "The Crystal Cup" was published by the London Society, followed by "The Chain of Destiny" in four parts in The Shamrock.

In 1878 Stoker married Florence Balcombe, a celebrated beauty whose former suitor was Oscar Wilde. The couple moved to London, where Stoker became business manager (at first as acting-manager) of Irving's Lyceum Theatre, a post he held for 27 years. The collaboration with Irving was very important for Stoker and through him he became involved in London's high society, where he met, among other notables, James McNeil Whistler, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the course of Irving's tours, Stoker got the chance to travel around the world.

The Stokers had one son, Irving Noel, who was born on December 31, 1879.

Bram Stoker died in 1912, and was cremated and his ashes placed in a display urn at Golders Green Crematorium. After Irving Noel Stoker's death in 1961, his ashes were added to that urn. The original plan had been to keep his parents' ashes together, but after Florence Stoker's death her ashes were scattered at the Gardens of Rest.

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stoker 

http://www.bramstoker.org

  

Dracula

The original Dracula (1931), starring Bela Lugosi, launched the Hollywood horror genre and defined the iconic look and frightening character of the famed vampire. Towering ominously among the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains, Castle Dracula strikes fear in the hearts of the Transylvanian villagers below. After a naive real estate agent succumbs to the will of Count Dracula, the two head to London where the vampire sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night. The inspiration for hundreds of subsequent remakes and adaptations, this classic film directed by Tod Browning is the signature adaptation of Bram Stoker’s story with its eerie passion, shadowy atmosphere and thrilling cinematography.

Bela Lugosi

 

Bela Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Dezsö Blaskó on October 20, 1882, Lugos, Hungary, Austria-Hungary (now Lugoj, Romania), to Paula de Vojnich and István Blaskó, a banker. He was the youngest of four children. During WWI, he volunteered and was commissioned as an infantry lieutenant, and was wounded three times.

A distinguished stage actor in his native Hungary, Austria-Hungary, he began his stage career in 1901 and started appearing in films during World War I, fleeing to Germany in 1919 as a result of his left-wing political activity (he organized an actors' union). In 1920 he emigrated to the US and made a living as a character actor, shooting to fame when he played Count Dracula in the legendary 1927 Broadway stage adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel. It ran for three years, and was subsequently, and memorably, filmed by Tod Browning in 1931, establishing Lugosi as one of the screen's greatest personifications of pure evil. Also in 1931, he became a U.S. citizen. Sadly, his reputation rapidly declined, mainly because he had been blacklisted by the main studios and had no choice but to accept any part (and script) handed to him, and ended up playing parodies of his greatest role, in low-grade poverty row films. Due to shady blacklisting among the top Hollywood studio executives, he refused to sell out or to compromise his integrity, and therefore ended his career working for the legendary Worst Director of All Time, Edward D. Wood Jr..

Lugosi was married to Ilona Szmik (1917 - 1920), Ilona von Montagh (? - ?), and Lillian Arch (1933 - 1951). He is the father of Bela Lugosi Jr. (1938). Lugosi helped organize the Screen Actors Guild in the mid-'30s, joining as member number 28.

Bela Lugosi died of a heart attack August 16, 1956. He was buried in a Dracula costume, including a cape, but not the ones used in the 1931 film, contrary to popular--but unfounded--rumors. 

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000509/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm 

"Vladimir"--by Julia May Jonas--a provocative, razor-sharp, and timely debut novel about a beloved English professor facing a slew of accusations against her professor husband by former students—a situation that becomes more complicated when she herself develops an obsession of her own...

Vladimir

“When I was a child, I loved old men, and I could tell that they also loved me.”

And so we are introduced to our deliciously incisive narrator: a popular English professor whose charismatic husband at the same small liberal arts college is under investigation for his inappropriate relationships with his former students. The couple have long had a mutual understanding when it comes to their extra-marital pursuits, but with these new allegations, life has become far less comfortable for them both. And when our narrator becomes increasingly infatuated with Vladimir, a celebrated, married young novelist who’s just arrived on campus, their tinder box world comes dangerously close to exploding.

With this bold, edgy, and uncommonly assured debut, author Julia May Jonas takes us into charged territory, where the boundaries of morality bump up against the impulses of the human heart. Propulsive, darkly funny, and wildly entertaining, Vladimir perfectly captures the personal and political minefield of our current moment, exposing the nuances and the grey area between power and desire.

Reviews

 

"Funny, wise and instantly engaging, Vladimir is how I like my thrill rides: brainy and sexy." —Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go Bernadette

 

“Vladimir is a thrilling debut—smart, sharp, and über provocative. I devoured it with fascination and awe.” —Lily King, author of Writers and Lovers

"Vladimir is among the best novels of the past two decades. Astonishing, magnificent, dazzling, deeply moving—and also deeply funny—it reminded me of some of my favorite works of fiction, from The Age of Innocence to Revolutionary Road to Le Divorce. It is the rare novel that I hoped would never, ever end." —Joanna Rakoff, author of My Salinger Year

"A reminder that the best art involves a search for truth. Vladimir is funny, clear, awake, vivi—Amitava Kumar, author of Immigrant, Montana 

“A whip smart and ferociously clever tale of swirling allegiances, literary rivalries, and romantic tripwires detonating hidden mines—Vladimir is an extraordinary debut.” —Adrienne Brodeur, author of Wild Game

 

 

Julia May Jonas

 

Julia May Jonas is a multidisciplinary artist and writer. She is the author of the cycle All Long True American Stories, five new works inspired by five canonical male-experience plays. The ALTAS plays are: A Woman Among Women, We Used to Wear Bonnets & Get High All the Time, Problems Between Sisters, In Which Kim Sparrow Falls Prey to Unfortunate Circumstances, and Untitled Zoo Story Project (Autosaved).

Jonas’ other plays include Time & Motivation for Fitness, Your Own Personal Exegesis, Michigan Murders, Evelyn, Emily Climbs (Machine Méchant), Take Heart, and For Artists Only.

Her work has been presented/developed with The Bushwick Starr, New Georges, Ars Nova, Target Margin, PRELUDE, Playwrights Horizons Theater School, Incubator Arts Center, BRIC, HERE Arts Center, The Great Plains Theatre Conference, Montclair State New Works Initiative, North American Culture Laboratory, JKB Theater at Skidmore College, The Brick Theater, Dixon Place, TerraNova, and others.

Julia lives in NYC and teaches at Skidmore College.

http://www.nellietinder.org/  

"Trick or Treat, You're So Sweet!: A Lift-the-Flap Book"--from Worthykids & Dean Gray--Celebrate Halloween and the little ones who love it with this sweet lift-the-flap board book about Halloween's true hero—its candy!

  

Trick or Treat, You're So Sweet!: A Lift-the-Flap Book

Children love Halloween costumes and candy, and we love seeing them all dressed up, enjoying the spoils of their trick-or-treating. This book's simple lighthearted text celebrates children and their favorite candies, with a mix of humor and sincerity that will appeal to little ones with a sweet tooth—and parents looking for a cute, cozy tale.

Vivid illustrations feature a varied cast of trick-or-treaters, each with his or her candy of choice. As the text expresses affection in a clever-yet-"sweet" way, readers can lift flaps to reveal more Halloween fun. Heartfelt and funny, Trick or Treat, You're So Sweet! will soon be a Halloween favorite.

We create books that are much more than just words and pictures—they're an opportunity for a moment of joy between a child and his or her loved one.

 

Share a book with a child and share a moment of love.

 

https://www.worthykids.com/

 

About the Author

Illustrator Dean Gray is a London-based illustrator who loves creating characters and new worlds for his viewers to connect with. With a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Leeds Arts University, Dean's credits include children's books for publishers such as Penguin Random House, Scholastic, and Macmillan. He finds inspiration in films and animation, book shops, travel, and even sci-fl.

http://www.letsmakestuff.co.uk/home

"Overseas"--by Beatriz Williams--A passionate, sweeping novel of a love that transcends time. New York, 2007: A young Wall Street analyst, Kate Wilson learned to rely on logic and cynicism. So why does she fall so desperately in love with Julian Laurence, a handsome British billionaire with a mysterious past? What she doesn’t know is that he has been waiting for her… the enchanting woman who emerged from the shadows of the Great War to save his life.

 

Overseas

A passionate, sweeping novel of a love that transcends time.

When twenty-something Wall Street analyst Kate Wilson attracts the notice of the legendary Julian Laurence at a business meeting, no one’s more surprised than she is. Julian’s relentless energy and his extraordinary intellect electrify her, but she’s baffled by his sudden interest. Why would this handsome British billionaire "Manhattan’s most eligible bachelor” pursue a pretty but bookish young banker who hasn’t had a boyfriend since college?

The answer is beyond imagining . . . at least at first. Kate and Julian’s story may have begun not in the moneyed world of twenty-first-century Manhattan but in France during World War I, when a mysterious American woman emerged from the shadows of the Western Front to save the life of Captain Julian Laurence Ashford, a celebrated war poet and infantry officer.

Now, in modern-day New York, Kate and Julian must protect themselves from the secrets of the past, and trust in a true love that transcends time and space.

 

Reviews

 

“Outstanding…With a complicated romance, intriguing suspense, a dashing hero, a feisty heroine, and a fantastic but plausible time-travel explanation, this book will hit the mark for readers wanting something exceptional for their summer reading."—Library Journal (starred review)

 "This is a delicious story about the ultimate romantic fantasy: love that triumphs over time and common sense.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

 "A full-throated love story…With [Williams’] gift for humor, snappy dialogue and swooning romance, there's plenty to enjoy and the promise of more enjoyable escapism to come."—Kirkus

 "A sensational debut! OVERSEAS is a heady blend of wit, charm, and romantic sizzle, all wrapped around a tantalizing mystery that will constantly surprise and delight readers."—Anne Fortier, New York Times-bestselling author of Juliet

“Overseas is an irresistible combination of romance, history, and imaginative storytelling. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of World War I and the glittering lights of today’s New York financial world, Beatriz Williams creates a memorable story of a timeless love. . . . I can’t wait to see what she does next!”—Karen White, New York Times–bestselling author of The Beach Trees

 “Overseas is one of those addictive stories that grab you and don’t let go. Beatriz Williams has an amazing storytelling talent. . . . I wanted to crawl into the book and stay there.”—Lauren Willig, New York Times–bestselling author of the Pink Carnation series

 “History meets romance meets suspense! Compelling, original and wildly romantic, Beatriz Williams’ prose is stunning and the plot edge-of-your-seat gripping. OVERSEAS is an absolute triumph—I loved every page.”—Tilly Bagshawe, New York Times-bestselling author of Adored 

 

 

Beatriz Williams

 

Beatriz Williams is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of Our Woman in Moscow, The Summer Wives, Her Last Flight, The Golden Hour, The Secret Life of Violet Grant, A Hundred Summers, and several other works of historical fiction, including three novels in collaboration with fellow bestselling authors Karen White and Lauren Willig. A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA in Finance from Columbia University, Beatriz worked as a communications and corporate strategy consultant in New York and London before she turned her attention to writing novels that combine her passion for history with an obsessive devotion to voice and characterization. Beatriz’s books have won numerous awards, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and appear regularly in bestseller lists around the world.

Born in Seattle, Washington, Beatriz now lives near the Connecticut shore with her husband and four children, where she divides her time between writing and laundry.

http://www.beatrizwilliams.com

 

"Mistletoe in Juneau"--by Dahlia Rose--heartwarming holiday romance from Hallmark and USA Today bestselling author Dahlia Rose that’s perfect for fans of Rochelle Alers and Debbie Macomber (see my review)

 

Mistletoe in Juneau

A heartwarming holiday romance from Hallmark and USA Today bestselling author Dahlia Rose that’s perfect for fans of Rochelle Alers and Debbie Macomber.

Danni’s a social media influencer who’s way out of her element. She sort-of broke up with her boyfriend-slash-manager, and she escaped her fast-paced life in New York to spend Christmas with an old friend in Juneau, Alaska. Danni takes in the beauty of the scenery and the warmth of the community…and she’s drawn to the local sheriff.

Before Declan was the sheriff, he was in the Army. An IED explosion cost him his leg…and his fiancée, who couldn’t deal with the injury. He knows Danni’s a city girl, while he loves the Alaskan wilderness. Could two very different people find what their hearts are looking for?

This feel-good Christmas romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for "Super-Simple, Amazing Chocolate Cake"

 

MY REVIEW:  "Mistletoe in Juneau" is a well-written contemporary holiday romance from author Dahlia Rose and Hallmark Publishing. The author's smooth, fluid, descriptive writing makes for a very enjoyable read. At age thirty, Brooklyn native Danni St. Peters was a social networker and media influencer on the rise. A popular video channel star, she had a legion of followers and a bright future ahead. While she always felt the lack of her family's approval, she still chose to follow her own career path. Her relationship with her producer, Austin Hammond, had evolved from pleasant and professional to something more. Austin, who was always "on", and single-minded when it came to promoting Danni's occupational opportunities and his own best interests, never really seemed to listen to Danni when she spoke her mind. An invitation from her best friend Amy to spend the holidays with Amy and her family in Alaska comes at just the right time. Amy, who is married to an Alaska State Trooper, has a young son and is expecting her second child right at Christmastime. Amy's husband, Mateo, is good friends with his fellow state trooper, Declan Mathias. As a favor to Mathias, Declan picks up Danni at the airport. A former military man who lost a leg in combat, Declan is physically fit and mentally strong, but he is uncomfortable around pretty women--his fiance had rejected him after his injury. The atmosphere is uncomfortable and the conversation between them is stilted on the way to Amy's house. Overjoyed by seeing Amy again, Danni tries to overlook Declan's gruff manner. While Declan and Danni can't help but be thrown into each other's company, they gradually get to know one another, and the initial chill begins to thaw. Amy and her family, and Declan's mother, become as busy as Santa's elves when they start matchmaking for Danni and Declan. Friendship between the two of them begins to turn into something more, but Danni has her work and obligations in New York, and Declan has some personal issues to overcome. Can the spirit of the holidays--along with some Christmas magic--show them a future as bright as all the lights on the Christmas tree? Author Dahlia Rose adds depth to this holiday tale by infusing the story line with insights into the people, culture, and traditions of Alaska. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Book Copy Gratis Hallmark Publishing

 

Dahlia Rose

Dahlia Rose is the USA Today best-selling multi genre author from Urban fantasy to Romance with a hint of Caribbean spice. She was born and raised on the Caribbean island of Barbados and now currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her life revolves around her five kids, who she affectionately nicknamed “The Children of the Corn and her husband and longtime love who is also a honorable retired Army veteran. She has a love of dark fantasy, sci-fi, and the things that go bump in the night. With over seven dozen books published Dahlia has become a reader favorite. Not only because of her writing but her vivacious attitude in talking to her fans online and at various events. Her books feature strong heroines with a Caribbean or African American culture, that is showcased in the vibrancy of her words. Books and writing are her biggest passions, and she hopes to open your imagination to the unknown between the pages of her books.

Website: www.dahliaroseunscripted.com

Blog: www.dahliaroseunscripted.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/author.dahliarose

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dahliarose1029

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/dahlia-rose

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/dahliarose

"The Tobacco Wives"--by Adele Myers--shedding light on the hidden history of women’s activism during the post-war period, at its heart, "The Tobacco Wives" is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth--a vibrant historical debut set in 1946 North Carolina following a young female seamstress who uncovers dangerous truths about Big Tobacco

  

The Tobacco Wives

For the audience of Fiona Davis and Lisa Wingate, a vibrant historical debut set in 1946 North Carolina following a young female seamstress who uncovers dangerous truths about the Big Tobacco empire ruling the American South.

Maddie Sykes is a burgeoning seamstress who’s just arrived in Bright Leaf, North Carolina—the tobacco capital of the South—where her aunt has a thriving sewing business. After years of war rations and shortages, Bright Leaf is a prosperous wonderland in full technicolor bloom, and Maddie is dazzled by the bustle of the crisply uniformed female factory workers, the palatial homes, and, most of all, her aunt’s glossiest clientele: the wives of the powerful tobacco executives.

When a series of unexpected events thrusts Maddie into the role of lead dressmaker for the town’s most influential women, she scrambles to produce their ornate gowns for the biggest party of the season. But she soon learns that Bright Leaf isn’t quite the carefree paradise that it seems: A trail of misfortune follows many of the women, including substantial health problems. Although Maddie is quick to believe that this is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise.

Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn’t know who she can trust—and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds.

Shedding light on the hidden history of women’s activism during the post-war period, at its heart, The Tobacco Wives is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth.

 

Reviews

 

“The Tobacco Wives is a sweep-you-away story with a lush North Carolina setting and a courageous woman at its center. What more do we want from a story than this? Myers’s prose is stitched together as beautifully as the fancy dresses her protagonist Maddie Sykes sews for the elite women of this tobacco town. The question at the heart of this novel trembles with power—what happens when what we know is right conflicts with what we are being told is true? Myers’s story will resonate long after you turn the last page; powerful and authentic, The Tobacco Wives is unforgettable." -- Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah 

“Myers brilliantly seduces us with her setting—a North Carolina town of beautiful socialites, opulent dresses, and elegant soirees—before revealing a terrible secret that threatens the entire community. This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times.” -- Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

"The future in Bright Leaf seems bright for Maddie Sykes and for the local tobacco wives who can’t get enough of Maddie’s glamorous gowns. But beneath the idyllic surface lie dangerous underpinnings and a choice that will test one young woman’s spirit, forcing her to weigh the relative value of profits and people. A beautifully rendered portrait of a young woman finding her courage and her voice."  -- Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

“Adele Myers brings mid-century North Carolina vividly to life in her impressive, beautifully detailed debut novel, The Tobacco Wives, a suspenseful coming-of-age story of a brave young woman’s search for dangerous truths obscured by corporate deceit and betrayal.” -- Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of Resistance Women

“With an atmosphere so thick you could blow it out in smoke rings, Adele Myers vividly conjures post war North Carolina, where ladies wear matching hats and gloves and no one questions the supremacy of the all-powerful tobacco leaf—except one young woman, trying to find her place in the world, torn between conflicting loyalties. A thoroughly immersive and engaging read!” -- Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of Band of Sisters

"The Tobacco Wives is a perfect example of the kind of historical fiction I love best: a story firmly grounded in the past that still feels powerfully resonant today. In Adele Myers's capable hands, post-WW2 North Carolina--the tobacco capital of the South--comes alive in technicolor, with all the glamour of Southern society, as well as a hidden underbelly of dangerous secrets and lies. We're along for the satisfying journey as Maddie Sykes--a plucky 16-year-old who has faced more loss than anyone deserves--learns what she's made of and tries to summon the courage to stand up to people who could make or break the rest of her life. A powerful debut and coming-of-age story rich in pitch-perfect dialogue and detail, The Tobacco Wives will transport you to Big Tobacco's golden age just as it begins to unravel--and remind you that we all have the power to stand up and fight for the things that are right."  -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names and The Forest of Vanishing Stars

“A sparkling debut… Historical fiction fans will be pleased.” -- Publishers Weekly

 

 

Adele Myers

 

 

Adele Myers grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and has a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently works in advertising and lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, son, and their rescue dog Chipper. The Tobacco Wives is her first novel.

https://www.adelemyersauthor.com 

"The Pilot's Daughter"--by Meredith Jaeger--the glitzy days of 1920s New York meet the devastation of those left behind in World War II--inspired by a true Jazz Age murder cold case that captivated the nation, and the fact that more than 72,000 Americans still remain unaccounted for from World War II--a page-turning exploration of the stories we tell ourselves and of how well we can truly know those we love (see my review)

I

The Pilot's Daughter

n the final months of World War II, San Francisco newspaper secretary Ellie Morgan should be planning her wedding and subsequent exit from the newsroom into domestic life. Instead, Ellie, who harbors dreams of having her own column, is using all the skills she's learned as a would-be reporter to try to uncover any scrap of evidence that her missing pilot father is still alive. But when she discovers a stack of love letters from a woman who is not her mother in his possessions, her already fragile world goes into a tailspin, and she vows to find out the truth about the father she loves--and the woman who loved him back.

When Ellie arrives on her aunt Iris's doorstep, clutching a stack of letters and uttering a name Iris hasn't heard in decades, Iris is terrified. She's hidden her past as a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl from her family, and her experiences in New York City in the 1920s could reveal much more than the origin of her brother-in-law's alleged affair. Iris's heady days in the spotlight weren't enough to outshine the darker underbelly of Jazz Age New York, and she's spent the past twenty years believing that her actions in those days led to murder.

Together the two women embark on a cross-country mission to find the truth in the City That Never Sleeps, a journey that just might shatter everything they thought they knew--not only about the past but about their own futures.

Inspired by a true Jazz Age murder cold case that captivated the nation, and the fact that more than 72,000 Americans still remain unaccounted for from World War II, The Pilot's Daughter is a page-turning exploration of the stories we tell ourselves and of how well we can truly know those we love.

MY REVIEW:  Author Meredith Jaeger's superlative storytelling skills are once again on display in "The Pilot's Daughter"--a thrilling historical fiction tale based upon a real-life unsolved murder case from the Jazz Age of the 1920's. As WWII draws to a close, San Francisco newspaper secretary Ellie Morgan dreams of being a featured writer with her own column. When word comes that her military pilot father is missing in action, her instincts and intuition tell her that he may still be alive. As her mother retreats into a world of withdrawal from reality, Ellie begins her own investigation into her father's disappearance. When her father's belongings are finally returned to the family, Ellie discovers a packet of letters from a woman named Lillian, someone who had been very important to her father for a very long time. Her father had been a commercial pilot before the war. Were his frequent absences from home due not just to his flight schedule, but also a part of a secret double life? Shaken by this unwanted discovery, Ellie turns to her beloved Aunt Iris for comfort and answers. However, Iris has secrets of her own, and her answers are not what Ellie expected to hear. Hoping that her past would remain hidden, Iris must now face what she had left behind in New York twenty years ago, and part of that past is the fact that she knew Lillian. Together, Ellie and Iris will embark on a memorable and revelatory road trip that will forever change their lives. When all is revealed, will there be forgiveness and hope for a fresh start? "The Pilot's Daughter" is a compelling "history with mystery" page-turner featuring two appealing female characters who will capture the hearts of readers as they bravely make their way toward the truth.

Book Copy Gratis Dutton Books

Praise for The Pilot's Daughter

"Jaeger’s latest is a beautifully rendered ode to New York City, as well as an engrossing family drama. In Ellie and Iris, she’s created two compassionate, conflicted heroines whose search for the truth resonates in all the best ways. Stirring and powerful."—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

"Wow, wow, wow. What a page turner. The Pilot’s Daughter is the story of two women over two timelines, and the combined secrets that haunt them. I gasped. I cried. I cheered. The Pilot’s Daughter is one of the few books that truly earns the descriptor ‘unputdownable’. Iris and Ellie’s stories will stay with me for a long time." —Sally Hepworth, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister

"Meredith Jaeger proves, yet again, that she is a brilliant storyteller. Layered with drama and danger, The Pilot’s Daughter is historical fiction at its finest. Jaeger masterfully alternates between 1945 San Francisco, where a talented and determined young woman struggles to find her place in a man’s world, and New York City’s glamorous Ziegfeld Theater, circa 1923, where a riveting, decades-old mystery is finally unraveled. The Pilot’s Daughter is a timeless, multigenerational masterpiece that will leave you breathless, hopeful, and deeply satisfied. A triumph of hope and love, forgiveness and empowerment, Jaeger weaves a beautifully rendered tale of romance and redemption that will linger long after the last page is turned. If you’re looking for the perfect blend of history and mystery, look no farther than Meredith Jaeger’s The Pilot’s Daughter. You won’t be disappointed!"—Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List

"Shifting effortlessly between two time periods, Jaeger weaves a poignant and suspenseful tale, building a layered mystery while she draws us deep into the deliciously glitzy and often dangerous world of Jazz Age New York. But it is the tender and endearing bond between Ellie and Iris that is the beating heart of this propulsive novel—their connection so heartfelt and authentic that makes it easy to root for both women as they journey to find answers—and forgiveness. I won’t soon forget Ellie or Iris, and though I raced through the pages to the satisfying end, I did so conflicted—I so didn’t want to give up their company!"—Erika Montgomery, author of A Summer to Remember

"Meredith Jaeger's two previous novels sparked my love affair with historical fiction. The Pilot's Daughter once again showcases her remarkable talent in creating stunning worlds that are so enticing you'll never want to leave. Blending fact and fiction and alternating timelines between the glittering backdrop of the Ziegfeld Follies and the devastating reality of those left behind in World War II, The Pilot's Daughter takes us on an enthralling journey of two women determined to live by their own rules despite the strict societal expectations placed on them. Expertly written with compelling characters and an intriguing mystery begging for answers, this luminous, captivating story inspires, entertains, and completely satisfies." —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

"With a delectable mastery of not just one time period, but two, Meredith Jaeger spins a tantalizing tale of two determined women searching for the truth. Jaeger moves effortlessly between the glittering Jazz Age and the final months of World War II in this richly detailed, propulsive, absorbing read that brings early twentieth century New York to life on the page. From the glamour of the Ziegfeld Follies, to the despair of a daughter whose father is missing in action, Jaeger transports us back in time and straight into the hearts of two conflicted women--Ellie, and her aunt Iris--as they untangle the threads of a complicated past--and an uncertain future. You won't want to put The Pilot's Daughter down until you reach the satisfying end."—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars
 
"I've long been a fan of Meredith Jaeger, and her latest, THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER, is her best work yet. Ambitious Ellie is looking for clues that her missing father, a WWII pilot, is still alive. But amid her search, she discovers he may have harbored a dark secret. Ellie's search begins to intermingle with the scandalous history of her aunt Iris, whose former experience as a showgirl brings us straight into the heart of the 1920s Jazz Age--rife with its own unsolved mystery. In this layered tale of mystery and discovery, Jaeger masterfully develops the characters of two brave women who ultimately find closure by way of determination, self-empowerment, and forgiveness. "—Sarah Penner, New York Times Bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

“The Pilot’s Daughter is a captivating, richly detailed historical novel, following Ellie’s journey as she travels to New York with her aunt Iris to attempt to find out what happened to her missing pilot father in WWII. Meredith Jaeger artfully weaves the glittering but also dark Jazz Age of Iris’s New York, with Ellie’s search for answers there during WWII. An emotional and gorgeously woven story of strong women, fighting for the truth and ultimately, for themselves. I could not put this book down!”—Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of In Another Time and Half Life

"Jaeger has crafted heroines worth rooting for in Ellie, a resourceful young journalist and Iris, a danseuse, who ignore the conventions of the day and strike out on their own journeys only to uncover a link between their family and a cold murder case that rocked the nation. An engrossing and addictive read with glimmering details of the jazz age and the war years, The Pilot's Daughter is one of my favorite books of the year!"—Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of The Next Ship Home and Meet Me in Monaco
 
“From the first chapter of Meredith Jaeger’s The Pilot's Daughter, I plunged into a mystery that wouldn’t let me go until the final page. But it’s the two troubled heroines—Ellie and Iris—who pulled me into the heart of this rich, multigenerational family drama. Readers will enjoy the vicarious journey to both 1920s Manhattan and 1940s San Francisco, as they root for Ellie and Iris along the way. And they'll keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.”—Laura Morelli, USA Today bestselling author of The Night Portrait and The Stolen Lady

"Packed with dark family secrets, the drama and glitz of the Ziegfeld Follies, and a World War II mystery, The Pilot’s Daughter is Meredith Jaeger at her best."—Elise Hooper, author of The Other Alcott

 

Meredith Jaeger

 

Meredith Jaeger is the USA Today bestselling author of THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER, BOARDWALK SUMMER and THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY. She's a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised by a Swiss father and an American mother. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Meredith wrote her debut novel, THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY, while working for a San Francisco startup.

THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER has been called "unputdownable" (NYT bestselling author Sally Hepworth) "stirring and powerful" (NYT bestselling author Fiona Davis) and "historical fiction at its finest" (NYT bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman).

Meredith lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, daughter and crazy rescue dog. Follow her on Instagram @meredithjaegerauthor  

http://www.meredithjaegerauthor.com

 

"The Council of Animals"--by Nick McDonell--a captivating fable for humans of all ages—dreamers and cynics alike—who believe (if nothing else) in the power of timeless storytelling

  

The Council of Animals

“‘Now,’ continued the cat, ‘there is nothing more difficult than changing an animal’s mind. But I will say, in case I can change yours: humans are more useful to us outside our bellies than in.’”

Perhaps.

After The Calamity, the animals thought the humans had managed to do themselves in. But, it turns out, a few are cowering in makeshift villages. So the animals―among them a cat, a dog, a crow, a baboon, a horse, and a bear―have convened to debate whether to help the last human stragglers . . . or to eat them.

Rest assured, there is a happy ending. Sort of.

Featuring illustrations by Steven Tabbutt

 

Reviews

“The book's overall effect . . . beautifully obliterates pigeonholes. The echoes of Animal Farm are many, but here, the main target of social critique is far larger than totalitarianism. . . . As an anthropomorphic folktale, The Council of Animals is concise, clever, and wonderfully conceived. As an allegory of the human condition, it's even better.”―Jason Heller, NPR

Both wildly imaginative and surprisingly funny, with (mostly) endearing characters, this thinly veiled metaphor offers what feels like an appropriate outcome. Tabbutt’s drawings of the animals add to the whimsy and interest of the tale by McDonell (An Expensive Education; The Bodies in Person), which readers of all ages will enjoy. Highly recommended.”―Library Journal

“McDonell's clever, lively prose and snappy pacing propels readers onward. The Council of Animals has the feel of a fable, both a romp with sweetly goofy animal characters and a serious and clear-eyed story about the real world and its dangers. . . . Thought-provoking, captivating, funny, instructive: this is a book for readers who have ever yearned for a little extrahuman wisdom and cheer.”―Shelf Awareness

“The Council of Animals is a delightful fable full of wit and wisdom. Nick McDonell has dreamed up an ingenious mythology for his animals and he portrays them with the charm of Milne or Carroll. McDonell has the rare ability to combine irony with empathy and deliver satire with grace. The result is a timelessly entertaining tale that readers will find inspiring and irresistible."―Simon Rich, author of New Teeth and Ant Farm

"This tale’s ratio of wit to wildness is positively golden. Its subtle logic and frank and tender mischief have somehow left me with the feeling of having witnessed a wake and christening combined―and I’m so very glad I attended."―Helen Oyeyemi, author of What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours

 

Nick McDonell

 

Nick McDonell, born in 1984, is a writer of novels, journalism, and political theory. He studied literature at Harvard and international relations at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford. His fiction has been published in twenty-two languages and appeared on bestseller lists around the world. A film adaptation of his first novel, Twelve, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. His academic work on nomadism―The Civilization of Perpetual Movement―was published in 2016. As a reporter for the London Review of Books, Time, TheNewYorker.com, and Harper’s, Nick has embedded with the United States Army and Marines, the Afghan Special Forces, the African Union Mission to Darfur, and the Iraqi Special Forces. Nick’s book, The Bodies in Person: An Account of Civilian Casualties in American Wars, was published in 2018. Nick is a cofounder of the Zomia Center for the Study of Non-State Spaces, which supports scholarly and humanitarian projects around the world. 

http://www.nickmcdonell.com/

HAPPY 96TH BIRTHDAY TO THE INCOMPARABLE ANGELA LANSBURY!!!--Beauty and the Beast | Angela Lansbury Live Performance

"A Letter to Three Witches"--by Elizabeth Bass--In the sleepy college town of Zenobia, New York, the only supernatural trace on display is the name of Gwen Engel’s business—Abracadabra Odd Job Service. But Gwen’s family has some unusual abilities they’ve been keeping under wraps—until one little letter spells big trouble…

 

A Letter to Three Witches

Bewitched meets Practical Magic in this bubbly, quirky romantic comedy with an enchanted twist from acclaimed author Elizabeth Bass. When romance problems cause their powers to go berserk, a trio of witches whose family was banned from practicing magic risk getting in serious trouble with the Grand Council of Witches. Can they get their magic—and their love lives—in order before it’s too late?  

In the sleepy college town of Zenobia, New York, the only supernatural trace on display is the name of Gwen Engel’s business—Abracadabra Odd Job Service. But Gwen’s family has some unusual abilities they’ve been keeping under wraps—until one little letter spells big trouble…
 
Nearly a century ago, Gwen Engel’s great-great-grandfather cast a spell with catastrophic side-effects. As a result, the Grand Council of Witches forbade his descendants from practicing witchcraft. The Council even planted anonymous snitches called Watchers in the community to report any errant spellcasting…
 
Yet magic may still be alive and not so well in Zenobia. Gwen and her cousins, Trudy and Milo, receive a letter from Gwen’s adopted sister, Tannith, informing them that she’s bewitched one of their partners and will run away with him at the end of the week. While Gwen frets about whether to trust her scientist boyfriend, currently out of town on a beetle-studying trip, she’s worried that local grad student Jeremy is secretly a Watcher doing his own research.
 
Cousin Trudy is so stressed that she accidentally enchants her cupcakes, creating havoc among her bakery customers—and in her marriage. Perhaps it’s time the family took back control and figured out how to harness their powers. How else can Gwen decide whether her growing feelings for Jeremy are real—or the result of too many of Trudy’s cupcakes?

 

                    

 

Elizabeth Bass

 

Elizabeth Bass writes women's fiction under her own name, and as Liz Freeland is the author of the Louise Faulk historical mystery series from Kensington Books, beginning with Murder in Greenwich Village (June 2018). She also wrote many romances under the pseudonym Liz Ireland.

Elizabeth grew up outside a very small town in East Texas. The first loves in her life were animals and Humphrey Bogart. Had it not been for a father who kept the house full of books and some tireless elementary school teachers, she could have happily remained an illiterate rabbit caretaker addicted to black-and-white films on the late late show.

She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, where she writes, freelance edits, and still manages to find time for an old movie on most days.

http://elizabeth-bass.com

Author Sara Driscoll "FBI K-9 Series"--a thrilling suspense series featuring FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and Hawk, her loyal search-and-rescue Labrador

FBI K-9s by Sara Driscoll

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her black Lab Hawk are part of the FBI’s elite Human Scent Evidence Team, part of the Forensic Canine Unit. Their job―find the missing, lost, escaped, or dead. The team as a whole can be deployed at a moment’s notice around the nation to search for missing children, escaped convicts, or to find the victims of natural disaster.

 

 

Under Pressure

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, are drawn into a case that involves a fortune in uncut gems, and an enemy whose power and ruthlessness know no bounds...

Diamonds are no one’s best friend when the jewels in question are smuggled conflict gems. Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, have undertaken many search-and-rescue missions, but this case has an unusual twist. A Philadelphia syndicate is importing diamonds from war-torn African nations and selling them with fake certificates to Stateside dealers. Agent Finn Pierce of the Organized Crime Program is embedded with the syndicate, but being caught with a wire or tracking device would mean instant execution. If Meg, her partner Brian Foster, and their dogs can track Pierce to a deal location, they can break the smuggling chain while maintaining Pierce’s cover.

With the syndicate monitoring every move, it’s a risky operation with more players than Meg and Brian first assumed—on both sides of the law. And when one of their own gets caught in the line of fire, the team embarks on a desperate rescue mission, knowing that mere seconds are all that separate life and death.

 

 

Leave No Trace

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 partner are heading south where it’s hunting season. But this time the prey is human.

One arrow through the heart could be a tragic hunting accident. A second one, within days, looks more like a crime. That’s when Meg Jennings and Brian Foster of the FBI’s Forensic Canine Unit head to Georgia to investigate. With their dogs Hawk and Lacey, Meg and Brian are enlisted to follow the scent of a killer. At first, nothing seems to connect the two victims–a county commissioner and State Patrol officer. But the blood sport around the southern town of Blue Ridge is just beginning.

As the body count rises, the compound bow killer becomes even more elusive, appearing and vanishing like a ghost. However, with each new slaying Meg is beginning to suspect the grim design that’s escalating in the shadows. At its heart, a tragic event that reaches back nearly two centuries in Georgia’s history is now turning Blue Ridge into a hunting ground. But as Meg gets closer to solving the puzzle, the closer she is to stepping into the crosshairs of an elusive murderer with deadly aim, and motives as deep and dark as the woods.

 

No Man's Land

Special Agent Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue dog are on the trail of a killer hiding where others fear to tread…
 
For Meg Jennings and her K-9 companion, Hawk, exploring the ruins of a deserted building is an exciting way to sharpen their skills without the life-or-death stakes they face as part of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team. But deep in the echoing rooms of an abandoned asylum, Hawk finds the body of an elderly woman. The victim couldn’t have made her way into the derelict building on her own. Before forty-eight hours pass, Meg learns of more cases of elders found dead in neglected urban structures.
 
There’s not enough evidence to link the deaths—yet. But Meg scents a pattern, and when she gets word of another senior gone missing, she and Hawk don’t hesitate. Meg is sure a murderer is hunting the elderly, and she can prove it if she can just find a connection. It will take the expert coordination of her whole team, along with help from Clay McCord and Todd Webb, to uncover the means, let alone a motive. And to stop someone who has operated in the dark for so long, Meg will need to risk more than she has to give. 

 

 

Storm Rising

FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 companion confront the fury of nature—and the more dangerous nature of man . . .
 
In the wake of a devastating hurricane, Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—invaluable members of the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team—have been deployed to Virginia Beach. Amid debris and the buried cries for help, the most alarming discovery is yet to come—a teenage girl hiding in the Great Dismal Swamp.
 
Her name is Emma—a disheveled runaway lost to the sordid underbelly of a Virginia sex-trafficking ring. Its leader has disappeared in the chaos—along with other victims. Meg joins forces with Special Agent Walter Van Cleave and uncovers a vast network of abuse rooted in some of the most influential powers in Virginia. Now as Meg’s investigation digs deeper, she’s making some very dangerous enemies. And one by one, they’re coming out of the storm to stop her.  

 

Before It's Too Late

Special Agent Meg Jennings and her trusted search-and-rescue Labrador, Hawk, must race against the clock before a diabolical killer strikes again . . .
 
Somewhere in the Washington, D.C. area, a woman lies helpless in a box. Barely breathing. Buried alive. In Quantico, the FBI receives a coded message from the woman’s abductor. He wants to play a game: decipher the clues, save the girl. The FBI’s top cryptanalysts crack the code and Special Agent Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, scramble to the scene of the crime—too late. But the killer’s game is far from over . . .
 
Another message, another victim. The deadly pattern is repeated—again and again. As the body count mounts, Meg decides to break protocol and bring in her brilliant sister, Cara, a genius at word games, to decipher the kidnapper’s twisted clues. Meg knows she’s risking her career to do it, but she’s determined not to let one more person die under her and Hawk’s watch. If the plan fails, it could bite them in the end. And if it leads to the killer, it could bury them forever.

 

  

Lone Wolf

In the first of a thrilling new series, FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and Hawk, her loyal search-and-rescue Labrador, must race against time as they zero in on one of the deadliest killers in the country . . .
 
Meg and Hawk are part of the FBI’s elite K-9 unit. Hawk can sniff out bodies anywhere—living or dead. When a bomb rips apart a government building in Washington D.C., it takes all of the team’s extensive search-and-rescue training to locate and save the workers and visitors buried beneath the rubble.
 
But even as the duo are hailed as heroes, a bomber remains at large, striking terror in a widening spiral of unpredictability. As more bombs are detonated and the body count escalates, Meg and Hawk are assigned to a task force dedicated to stopping the unseen killer. It will come down to a battle of wits and survival skills between Meg, Hawk, and the bomber they’re tracking to rescue a nation from the brink of chaos. 

Praise for Sara Driscoll’s FBI K-9 novels
 
STORM RISING
“Exceptional . . . Readers will hope this series has a long run.”—Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
 
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
“Before It’s Too Late is a book that should not be read too close to bedtime—this page-turner will keep you up all night!” —Modern Dog
 
“Meg and Hawk prove themselves a formidable team the readers will want to see more of.”—Publishers Weekly
 
Lone Wolf
“A wonderfully readable series launch.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Tense and exciting, Sara Driscoll has created a new power couple, Meg 
and her FBI K-9, Hawk.”—Leo J. Maloney, author of Arch Enemy 

 

Sara Driscoll is the pseudonym for authors Jen J. Danna and Ann Vanderlaan.

http://saradriscollauthor.com

 

 

JEN J. DANNA

 

A scientist specializing in infectious diseases, Jen works as part of a dynamic research group at a cutting-edge Canadian university. However, her true passion lies in indulging her love of the mysterious and thrilling through her writing. With her partner Ann Vanderlaan, Jen writes two series: the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries—suspenseful mysteries with a smart, scientific edge, and the FBI K-9 Mysteries—a new thriller series under the pseudonym Sara Driscoll starring FBI K-9 handler Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue black lab Hawk.

 

http://www.jenjdanna.com/

"The Single Dad's Holiday Match"--by Tanya Agler--Book One in the "Smoky Mountain First Responders Series"--a widowed father raising two young daughters and a single mom with a teenaged son find an unexpected chance for happiness--will their children accept the idea of a blended family

  

The Single Dad's Holiday Match

Tis the season…For unexpected love!

Officer Jonathan Maxwell is just as devoted to his job as he is to his two young daughters, leaving zero time for a social life. Until he meets Brooke Novak. The newly hired community center director is a single parent, too, and also part of his latest investigation. Jonathan needs Brooke’s help if he's going to close his case by Thanksgiving…but she might be the biggest distraction from keeping his mind on his job.

UPCOMING: "The Paramedic's Forever Family: A Clean Romance" (Smoky Mountain First Responders, 2)

Sometimes “just good friends”... Just isn't enough…

Bachelor paramedic Mason Ruddick doesn't know what he'd do without Lindsay Hudson. The widowed mom is his sounding board, his neighbor and, since the death of her husband and his best friend, his lifeline. Only lately, Mason can't stop noticing just how beautiful and special Lindsay is. Or how often he thinks about her. Now Mason's heart is caught between the best friend he lost…and the one he's falling for.

 

Tanya Agler

 

Tanya Agler attended twelve different schools before her family settled in Georgia. After graduating from the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and law, Tanya moved to metro Atlanta where she now lives with her husband, four children, and a Basset Hound.

Her debut Harlequin Heartwarming novel, The Sheriff's Second Chance, will be released in January of 2020 and was the recipient of the 2018 TARA Award in the unpublished category series category.

When she's not writing, she loves watching classic movies (preferably those with Cary Grant) or enjoying a cup of tea alongside a good book.

Visit Tanya at her website www.tanyaagler.com