Duchessa Anastasia sneaks away from the family mansion at night in 18th Century Venezia during Carnevale. Giorgio, her cavalier servente, has feelings for her. Anastasia accepts the esteemed courtier, Leandro’s marriage proposal though he fails to disclose an important detail about himself. The royal guards seize Giorgio at the d’Alessi manor. The Crown accuses Giorgio of treason. Capriana, a servant, knows how Giorgio was framed. A conspirator intends to murder her. Anastasia and Leandro investigate Giorgio’s allegations before they are wed. The duchessa is surprised as to whom it leads.
Gail Bishop is a headstrong, driven, single-minded businesswoman, a successful independent professional at only 29 years old. But she still feels empty. Eddie Chase is a fun-loving real-estate agent who made a mint in the boom market, now fast running out of money. And their friends set them up on a blind date, unaware that many years ago, they were once married to each other. Now, both are taken aback by their feelings for each other at a romantic, seaside cottage on Ardor Point, and by the impact this will have on the rest of their lives. This long-languishing relationship that Gail thought was surely dead, could it hold the secret, the meaning of life that she's looking for? A heart-wrenching story of human kindness and love without strings.
"The enjoyable blend of intrigue, lighthearted escapades, and thrilling action brilliantly sets the stage for the series' conclusion. Readers will be thrilled." (Publishers Weekly) The second in an action-packed epic fantasy series: In a world with dragon-fueled magic, master con artist Ardor Benn must infiltrate a centuries-old secret organization to find a missing royal heir. Ardor Benn saved civilization from imminent destruction, but his efforts brought war to the kingdom. It is believed that the rightful rulers have all been assassinated. However, a young heir might have survived. An ancient organization known as The Realm is behind the chaos, working from the shadows. Under the anonymity of masks, information is distributed sparingly. Ard's been hired to infiltrate them, but he's got competition from an old friend. One who's set to prove she's better than the self-proclaimed "Ruse Artist Extraordinaire." If Ard can't find the heir then his world may again approach ruin. Stopping the complete and utter collapse of civilization is quickly becoming Ard's specialty. Kingdom of Grit:The Thousand Deaths of Ardor BennThe Shattered Realm of Ardor BennThe Last Lies of Ardor Benn
In 18th century Milan, a duchessa is thrusted from her horse and into the estate of another esteemed member of the king's court. Lilliana is unable to remember her accident or her identity. Duca Emmanuele notices that Duchessa Rosetta is complacent about their daughter's absence from the House of Montanari. She is unable to remember her accident or identity. Duca Alessandro cares for her. During the duchessa's convalescence, she and the duca grow in affection towards one another. The maidservant, Noemi of the House of Montanari silently volunteers to help locate and retrieve the missing duchessa. Noemi enlists the help of her fellow maidservant, Gabriella. The Crown learns of a conspiracy of a member within the king's court. Some of the ennobled are aware as well. The king and queen gather evidence and secure it in the royal vault. The duca and duchessa are determined to be with one another forever. Duca Emmanuele is right to be concerned for his daughter, for someone has conspired a dastardly plan against the duchessa, but who?
Protests, riots and someone who hides under the flame that scorches the possibility of improving race relations in America during the Civil Rights era. Jacqueline Sadie Thompson is a detective in a coloured precinct in New York. Lieutenant Davidson assigns her and Johnson murder cases which occurred during protests. They visit the scene. Someone tosses a Molotov cocktail where they stand. The building collapses. Thompson's British husband, William rescues her. Her partner suffers a coma. Johnson awakens. He recalls the disturbing notions his wife had concerning racial identity. Thompson faints at the station house and is put on leave. Her husband cares for her. Anderson, another detective, furthers their investigations. Johnson convinces one of his cousins to retrieve a book. The detective is aloof and does not disclose to anyone what he saw before the explosion. Jacqueline deduces a portion of it. Protests, riots and someone who hides under the flame that scorches the possibility of improving race relations in America during the Civil Rights era. Jacqueline Sadie Thompson is a detective in a coloured precinct in New York. Lieutenant Davidson assigns her and Johnson murder cases which occurred during protests. They visit the scene. Someone tosses a Molotov cocktail where they stand. The building collapses. Thompson's British husband, William rescues her. Her partner suffers a coma. Johnson awakens. He recalls the disturbing notions his wife had concerning racial identity. Thompson faints at the station house and is put on leave. Her husband cares for her. Anderson, another detective, furthers their investigations. Johnson convinces one of his cousins to retrieve a book. The detective is aloof and does not disclose to anyone what he saw before the explosion. Jacqueline deduces a portion of it. She is determined to solve the case. Her husband is determined to protect her. Who do they both need protection from?
Wilhemina is a coloured detective in 1950s Atlanta, Georgia. She is married to Charles, an Anglo-Brit. Lieutenant Carmichael sends her and Detective Arthur Dobson undercover at the Society's annual baking competition to investigate a murder committed during the preliminaries. There is more at stake for than a blue ribbon prize. Wilhemina presents herself as a baker. Arthur is a judge. Dorothy is an associate of the Society and a contestant. She uses allegations of Communism to progress her way through the competition until she realizes that she has been socially disposed of by the Society. Dankworth notices that the baker Marceline plays with 'light'. A vagrant outside the Society's building is stabbed. He is more important than most would think. One baker is poisoned the first day of the competition. Another dies after engaging in a fight with a competitor. Wilhemina learns of this light and is able to communicate with Charles while he is at work. She realizes that the method of death in her cases is atypical. The detectives seem to be no closer to solving the case, until the winner of the competition is announced.
Three world exists, Udharīa, (X)ūpraeth and Ubraeī. The Udharīan princess, Eleyanra, wants to marry the (X)ūpraethī prince who left to mitigate a pending war with the third. Thauses marries Nuraī. He helps her discover her gifts. A Seeker of Light conjures an opening between Udharīa and Ubraeī. Eleyanra find rebels in Thauses’ world and conjures an eclipse to subdue the People of the Sun and Light and its Crown. Thauses and Nuraī enter the bridge in order to save all worlds. They are guided, but only destiny will determine if their plan will work.
Thauses, Nuraī and the Morningstar trek to Ubraeī to visit the sacred place. The encapsulated waters and solar are to learn of the regenerated sun to stabilize the New Sun of (X)ūpraeth. Nuraī 's relic summons Thauses and Nuraī to Udharīa. Aueneiss betrays the Crown. Queen Raī and King Vhileum are now in an ethereal slumber. Thauses and Nuraī travel throughout their universe with their dragon, using the disc and the Morningstar to capture humiliated Aueneiss. He escapes to the Udharīan firmament. Nuraī confronts Aueneiss. Death. Thauses and Nuraī capture and kill Euphranaĭ. The Crown spares one of death after she has redeemed herself—for now. The rightful ones are to take their place upon the Udharīan thrones.
