When a beggar gets no help from anybody, even at the synagogue, he offers to use the buttons on his coat to make bone button borscht for everyone in the village, in a retelling of an old folktale reset in a small Jewish village.
From New York Times Bestselling Author Penelope Sky comes a darkly twisted tale of debt, repayment, and violence. Follow Pearl's story of betrayal, damnation, and redemption, as she struggles to overcome her situation and growing feelings for her captor, Crow. I owe him a debt. A big one. The payment can't be settled with money or favors. He only wants one thing. Me. Every action gets a reward. A button. Once I fill his jar with three hundred and sixty-five buttons, he'll let me go. He'll let me walk away. But I have to earn every single one. By submitting to the darkest, cruelest, and most beautiful man I've ever known. "5 dark ★★★★★s! Pearl clearly has gone through hell and more... this story is so breathtaking !!!! I am awed by her defiance, gallantry, and great fortitude! As far as Crow is concerned, under his savageness, there are shreds of compassion and humanity" -Goodreads Reviewer "Haunting, disturbing, emotionally tormenting and oh so dark! I loved Pearl's strength and bravery. I got lost in Crow's complexity and fell in love with the man behind the mask. Being a fan of the dark, this definitely ticked all the right boxes for me." -Goodreads Reviewer "I read A LOT of books and this series will always be my favorite. Crow and Pearl. I fell in love with both of them. Penelope Sky knows how to develop her characters and does it very well. The story never gets boring. This would make a great mini-series for television!" -Amazon Reviewer "Good golly, Miss Molly! At first, I was apprehensive about reading this book, but ... it is truly a work of art. When I find a book that's this good I end up staying awake till 4 in the morning because I just can't put it away till my hubby makes me. This book makes you a little stronger and gives worth to the reason why you should never stop fighting for yourself. I would recommend it to anyone." -Amazon Reviewer Trigger Warning: Not for the faint of heart.
This woman used to be my slave. But now she means more to me. More than she should. I've done unforgivable things to her, treated her like livestock I bought at the market. I made her tend to my needs without question. To make up for it, I should let her go. But even now I can't. Instead, I want her to marry me. Whether she wants to or not.
When her sister Margot turns up dead in her own needlecraft store in Excelsior, Minnesota, Betsy Devonshire launches her own investigation into the murder, uncovering an array of suspects ranging from an ambitious former employee to a greedy landlord.