2020 PenCraft Award Winner - Adventure Fiction

"...covers more ground and cultural range than most such tales, but retains a classic feel and a solid heart." –IndieReader

Creators of the World, Coyote and the Moon pay special attention to the only survivor of a blazing fire, Tali Nohkati, as the child takes his first steps. At the end of a long journey rich in animal encounters that takes him from the White Land to the Land of the Red Earth, Tali is finally adopted by a tribe.

After saving Nuttah from the sacrifice of the Morning Star, Tali seeks refuge in the mangrove close to Hitchiti the Alligator and Raven the Raven where Cagama the Turtle advises them to go to sea. In the heavenly light of the island of Cagama, they taste the true happiness of starting a family and of living in harmony with a tribe. However, all hell breaks loose as Huracan is unleashed, its violent winds destroying their piece of paradise and taking everything in their path, men and destinies alike...

The first in a contemporary romance suspense series from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Barbara Freethy, set in the coastal California town of Angel’s Bay.

In Angel’s Bay there is a local legend: spirits from an 1800s shipwreck protect the townspeople, bringing about a belief in miracles and an ability of the community to heal wounds and save souls. So when Jenna Davis’s sister left instructions for keeping her daughter, Lexie, safe from her abusive father, Jenna obeyed her late sister’s wishes and took Lexie to Angel’s Bay. For three months, the two live quietly. But when a young woman jumps over the pier into the ocean, Jenna dives in, saving the woman’s life. Now a hero in the eyes of the locals, Jenna tries to lie low, but reporter Reid Tanner is determined to figure out just who she is and what she’s hiding from—without realizing the possible cost.

Torn between two worlds, two men, and two times.

While on a college-sponsored field trip to experience a real archaeology dig, Missouri University student Quinn Cameron is separated from the rest of her class by a heavy fog. A fog that transports her back in time, to 1592. Something that even her 3.8 GPA and sarcastic wit won't be enough to help her survive.

Now she's in a primitive world she has only studied in books. History, she learns, is a far cry from the comfort and security of her former life. And her only safe harbor from politics and violence is Duncan MacGregor, a valiant, brooding, and mysterious Scottish warrior.

Soon, even that security is threatened when she finds herself connected to the dark, mysterious Fae who claims she has a fate to fulfill. He's the only one with information on how she arrived here...but can she trust him to tell her the truth about how to get back?

If you've ever wanted to combine the historical beauty of Outlander with the gritty fantasy of Dark Fever, you're going to be amazed by Miranda Martin's "Mists of the Highlands".

Scroll Up and One-Click "Mists of the Highlands" to start this time-travelling, steamy fantasy romance adventure series today!

The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now it's 1910, and the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to.

There is Olivia, the beautiful elder Davenport daughter, ready to do her duty by getting married . . . until she meets the charismatic civil rights leader Washington DeWight and sparks fly. The younger daughter, Helen, is more interested in fixing cars than falling in love—unless it’s with her sister’s suitor. Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid to the Davenport sisters, dreams of opening her own business—and marrying the one man she could never be with, Olivia and Helen’s brother, John. But Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, also has her sights set on John Davenport, though she can’t seem to keep his interest . . . until family pressure has her scheming to win his heart, just as someone else wins hers.

Inspired by the real-life story of the Patterson family, The Davenports is the tale of four determined and passionate young Black women discovering the courage to steer their own path in life—and love.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner unites three of her most beloved characters—Detective D D Warren, Flora Dane, and Kimberly Quincy—in a twisty new thriller, as they investigate a mysterious murder from the past . . . which points to a dangerous and chilling present-day crime.

FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy and Sergeant Detective D D Warren have built a task force to follow the digital bread crumbs left behind by deceased serial kidnapper Jacob Ness. When a disturbing piece of evidence is discovered in the hills of Georgia, they bring Flora Dane and true-crime savant Keith Edgar to a small town where something seems to be deeply wrong. What at first looks like a Gothic eeriness soon hardens into something much more sinister . . . and they discover that for all the evil Jacob committed while alive, his worst secret is still to be revealed. Quincy and DD must summon their considerable skills and experience to crack the most disturbing case of their careers—and Flora must face her own past directly in the hope of saving others.

"The characters are mature and smart, and the great reveal is a surprise." Marsha Jo, Vine Voice

A woman in black stares at the sea, her body transparent, eyes brimming with tears.

Hoping to get a better look at the woman, psychic medium Addison Lockhart leans out over the manor's windowsill, gasping when she feels an intense pressure pressing down on her back--someone thrusting her forward. She grabs the side of the window to brace herself, but it's too late. She's already falling.

Who is the strange, melancholy woman haunting Blackthorn Manor? And why is someone out to keep Addison from unlocking the manor's darkest secrets?

If you enjoy Neil Gaiman or Nora Roberts and mysteries with a supernatural twist, you'll love this fast-paced, bestselling series by a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Praise for Blackthorn Manor Haunting:

"I couldn't put it down."

"Twists and turns the reader around so masterfully, I was blindsided at the ending."

"Held my interest until the end."

"Twists and turns you won't see coming."

"Spellbinding. Bradshaw is absolutely the best."

He can't stay. She can't let him go.
Halley, stuck covering house-sitting jobs for her self-absorbed mom, has Hollywood dreams but no real life. Until the day covering for her mom leads to a tumble back to London, 1598, where Halley meets a hot, rich earl named Edmund. And accidentally brings him to the 21st century.

Her dull summer just got a whole lot more interesting as she tells Edmund to keep his hands off tech he doesn't understand and a deadly sword he can't use in public brawls. All while trying to keep from falling for him, which definitely can't happen.

Now Halley's job is to get Edmund back where he belongs--while preventing a very scary scientist from suspecting she messed with his time machine. If the evil scientist finds out about Edmund, Edmund's as good as dead. And what might that do to history? Not to mention, Halley would be next in line ...

Summer's not boring anymore.
Halley just needs to keep from getting killed, save Edmund (and history) before it's too late, and not fall for a guy who can't stick around.

No matter how much she want him to.

A THIEF IN TIME is a sweet, clean, time-travel romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers, packed with danger and historical detail.

A beautiful house. A new beginning. The almost perfect neighbours…

When newlyweds Jane and Alex Clarke move into an idyllic house on the quaint Bristol Lane, they are excited for a new beginning in what will be their ‘forever home’.

And when an elderly neighbour welcomes them, she soon becomes a friend. But she grows a little too interested in the couple next door as she sits watching them, day in, day out, from the rocking chair in her window.

Alex says it will be fine. After all, she’s a lonely widow who just wants some company. But when she invites Jane into her home, who knows what she’ll find there…

A dark and gripping domestic thriller, perfect for fans of Shari Lapena and Paula Hawkins.

** Praise for The Widow Next Door **

‘This was a showstopper. I couldn’t put it down, and never wanted it to end. Will be looking for L.A. Detwiler’s next book!’ NetGalley reviewer

‘This creepy thriller had me twisted up in knots of suspense … Fans of B A Paris will love this one!’ NetGalley reviewer

‘It has me hooked from cover to cover. Such an incredible read!’ NetGalley reviewer

‘This book was twisted and brilliant. It gave me chills down my spine.’ NetGalley reviewer

‘A great book to read on the sofa with a cup of tea while it storms outside. I really love domestic psychological thrillers and this book did not let me down!’ NetGalley reviewer

‘Creepy. Thrilling. Suspenseful. I could not put this down!’ NetGalley reviewer

Jessica Stafford was thrust into unwilling notoriety ten months ago, after her last interscholastic debate. Overnight, she became a spokesperson and celebrity for kids everywhere; that’s when all her problems began. Jess was never out to seek fame, what she wanted was to secure the voting rights for fourteen year olds in the next presidential election. 

Scarsdale, New York, March 2041, we meet our protagonist as she’s presented with her latest challenge. How to stop The World Chancellor from removing kids’ sense of freedom; his ideas are nefarious. He plans to deactivate the implanted nano technology in everyone under the age of eighteen. 

Jessica’s fears, insecurities and a strong desire to help, enter a battle of their own until her trusted friends convince her that dethroning this ghoul is the opportunity of a lifetime she’s been waiting for. The world’s nemesis is solely focused on setting back the clock of progress  by overpowering international leaders and disempowering kids worldwide.

They must act quickly before they lose their life-enhancing capabilities. The enigmatic Tomas, has been working behind the scenes to support Jess with the help of her best friend, the indispensable multi-talented Jasmin. Military genius brothers Josef and Stefan, agree to join forces in what was expected to be a brainstorming session. Dahvid, a soft spoken, brilliant tech broker and young mystic, transforms the meeting into a life-altering event as soon as he makes his appearance. Once media sensation, singer/songwriter Sahrit shows up, Jess has no choice but to agree to lead the group. Together, they devise a master plan where music, technology and mysticism will come together to repair the world.

One gains strength from the light. The other devours the night.

Tasked with policing supernaturals found on the wrong side of the Veil, Valkyries have protected Earth from otherworldly influences for centuries. Enhanced by the energy of the Sun and its golden rays, Odin’s elite warrior maidens have long been feared and respected by those who have crossed into this world from other realms.

The hunter becomes the hunted...

Despite her cocky, crass façade, Bryn knows she’s in over her head when she emerges from her crashed Bifrost Jumper to find herself the target of an aggressive Vampire strike team. Without her sisters, her magical weapons, or her powerful tech, fighting even a single Vampire in the dark is a certain death sentence. If the Valkyrie can’t reach the safety of her ship by dusk, she’ll have to face them all.

Bryn will need more than her sassy spirit and Valkyrie strength if she hopes to survive the night. Will the chance meeting of a mysterious young woman, and the help of a cunning rogue Vampire, give her the edge she needs?

★ • ★ • ★

Valkyrie vs. Vampire is an action-packed adventure with a strong female protagonist. It contains elements of both science fiction and fantasy, some sassy butt-kickery, a touch of romance, and a sprinkling of humor. I hope you enjoy it!

⚠ • WARNING: This book contains situations that some readers may find triggering. The story is intended to be fun, but it does contain strong language and violence (shooting firearms, as well as direct physical violence). There are sexual overtones (M/F and F/F), and moments of mind-control (vampiric compulsion).