Time: the late nineteenth century. Place: the city of New York, a mecca for the ambitious and the corrupt where the poor barely survive on the wages for their fourteen-hour work day. Crime is at its highest, higher than it will be in all of the city’s history. Nevertheless, the burgeoning city is alive with possibilities. This is the setting for a different kind of coming-of-age story. Sixteen-year-old Rivka Lenski, a recent Russian Jewish immigrant and orphan, cannot even read or write English. Her days are spent on survival.

When her coworker and friend Frieda Baum is found murdered in a house of assignation on Allen Street, Rivka pledges to find the murderer and bring justice to her friend’s devastated family. Rivka’s search to find her friend’s killer leads Rivka deeper into the diverse and complex world of late nineteenth-century New York, a world rife with corruption, racism, and crime yet filled with colorful characters like the criminal lawyers Hummel and Howe and Mother Mandelbaum, the head of organized crime in the city. Rivka’s search brings her face to face with the intertwined worlds of this New York, from the glorious mansions of Grammercy Park to the haunts of ambitious prostitutes and entertainers, into the lives of women who love each other as well as informants and pickpockets while growing stronger and more aware of a world she had never before noticed. Through her unexpected friendship with Mercy, a maid in the house where her friend Frieda died, Rivka learns how to read and write and about the cruelty of racism in her new land. In searching for a murderer, Rivka learns to become a detective and an American. $9.99 on Kindle.

Daniel Summerhill gets up one day and walks out of his college class. This novel takes place in the chaotic year of 1970 in Greenwich Village.

Daniel is confused. He has to face the draft, angry parents, newly-liberated girlfriends, and total uncertainty about his future.

Carefully, he decides to explore being a writer. He gets advice and meets a variety of famous and rebellious people. There is the painter who lives in a treehouse, figures in the music business, writers among the Beatniks and others.

Trying to find his self and be true to it, Daniel struggles to write, to find love, and to understand his own mixed-up feelings about himself.
Free on Kindle.

In her latest work, “The Human Trial” author Audrey Gale merges three genres: historical fiction, medical thriller and coming-of-age story, cast with imperfect, relatable characters.

After an agonizing climb to earn his pathology specialty from Harvard Medical, early discoveries in the microscopic realms threaten not only Dr. Randall Archer’s hard-won place in the field of medicine, but his very life. As the Great Depression presses down around him, Archer teeters at the edge of a precipice. He must choose between his hard-won career and the sacred oaths he took as a doctor and scientist—before all his choices are lost forever.
$0.99 on Kindle.

In an era where the line between faith and power is as thin as a sword’s edge, one man’s journey will define not only his fate but the destiny of a continent.

From the bustling streets of Granada to the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean, Miguel’s quest to reach Rome and secure a papal pardon for the archbishop will take him to the farthest corners of the known world. Kidnapped by ruthless pirates, forced to fight in the scorching deserts of North Africa, and entangled in the schemes of kings, queens, cardinals, and corsairs, Miguel’s resolve is tested at every turn.

Set against the backdrop of the Spanish conquest of the New World and the rise of the Renaissance, The Conquest of Liberty is a sweeping tale of adventure, faith and eternal struggle for liberty.

The novel also delves into ambitious exploits of the Spanish conquistadors. Among them is Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the bold explorer who carved his way through the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European to lay eyes on the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Yet, even as Balboa’s name is etched into history, he is betrayed by those who envy his success. Through treachery and false accusations, this once-great man is condemned and executed, a grim reminder of the relentless struggle for power that defined the era.

A sweeping tale of courage, betrayal, and the unyielding quest for liberty, The Conquest of Liberty paints a vivid portrait of a world in turmoil, where heroes are forged in the fires of adversity and liberty is a prize fought for with blood and steel. Free on Kindle.

When Light Breaks Through takes us through the witch trials and beyond to tell a compelling, expansive story of what happened in Salem Village. In 1692, Ann Putnam is a ringleader in the witch trials that bring devastation to the village and bitter divisions among its people. In 1697, Joseph Green takes on the ministry that no one else wants and sets about healing the village. Together they will make an appeal to the community that defines its nature forever. Free on Kindle.

A young woman of Asian/American parentage has lived in seven different countries and is anxious to find a place she could call home. An unusual sale of rare medieval manuscripts sends her and Nathan—an art journalist who moonlights as a doctor—on a quest into the dark world of stolen art.

For Clarissa, these ancient manuscripts elicit cherished memories of children’s picture books her mother read to her, nourishing a passion for art.

When their earnest search for clues whisper of old thieves and lead to the unexpected, they raise more questions about an esoteric sometimes unscrupulous art world that defy easy answers.

Will this quest reward Clarissa with the sense of home she longs for? This cross-genre literary tale of self-discovery, art mystery, travel, and love is based on the actual theft by an American soldier of illuminated manuscripts during World War II. $4.99 on Kindle.

Tamacn follows the seemingly harmless journey of Karl Albert Ludwig von Seebach and his companion, Carl August Bolle, through the wild, untamed heart of Costa Rica in December 1864. The story begins in the bustling port city of Puerto Limn and takes readers deep into the rainforests and jungles, ultimately leading to the mysterious Tamacn volcano, also known as Rincn de la Vieja.

Led by a team of local guides, they find themselves battling against Costa Rica itself, encountering not only the natural dangers of the junglejaguars, treacherous terrain, and the ever-present threat of diseasebut also the supernatural. Spirits and eerie phenomena challenge their courage and sanity, particularly during their harrowing experiences near the Tamacn volcano.

Back in Puerto Limn, readers are immersed in the rich history and cultural diversity of this vibrant port city, a tapestry, woven from indigenous peoples, Afro-Caribbean descendants, and immigrants from around the world. The city paints a vivid backdrop to the explorers’ preparations for their Tamacn adventure.

Tamacn is a tale of adventure, discovery, and the indomitable human spirit. It captures the essence of exploration in the 19th century, blending historical accuracy with riveting fiction. Through Karl’s and Carl’s eyes, readers will experience the awe-inspiring beauty and concealed perils of Costa Rica, a land that leaves an indelible impression on all who dare to uncover its secrets. $0.99 on Kindle.

Guests are gathered at a villa in the Tuscan countryside to celebrate a betrothal that would unite two powerful Florentine families. The joyful atmosphere is shattered when the groom-to-be is discovered murdered.

Florentine Security Commission member Nico Argenti is charged with finding the killer. His investigation exposes Nico and his colleagues to the jealous motives of guests and a chain of interconnected crimes. Each revelation in the case, ranging from bribery and theft to tax fraud and assault, contributes to its growing complexity.

Is simply identifying the killer enough to guarantee that he will face the consequences?

Deadly Rivalries is the sixth book in the award-winning Nico Argenti Renaissance mystery series and may be read standalone.
$0.99 on Kindle.

1930s Chicago, spirits are still talking through Gregory Davenport– only this time their warnings are ominous. At the Hair of the Dog Club, Letty Carlyle thought she had left her past behind, but when her dangerous ex-boyfriend Mikey OShea arrives in the city, she knows trouble isn’t far behind.

It all starts when maid Rose Flanagan discovers Samuel Insull, monopoly owner of the powerful utility company Commonwealth Edison, has been unable to avoid bankruptcy. Worried that the news will cause a run on the banks, setting the city the state on fire, a notorious bank owner enlists Mikey OShea and elusive One-Arm Nettles to silence Rose and her sister Grace, using whatever means necessary.

But when Mikey gets to Chicago, he has set his sights on revenge instead of protecting Mauros bank. Desperate to pay back Letty, who shot and left him for dead years ago, Mikey is on a rampage.

Meanwhile, One-Arm Nettles finds himself torn between his criminal past and the possibility of redemption. Will Nettles change his ways to protect Letty and Grace, or will he succumb to his dark side, allowing Mikey to exploit them in his chaotic killing spree through Chicago.

Seamlessly blending the gripping intensity of political intrigue and gangster drama with a touch of traditional romance, this thrilling sequel to Hair of the Dog sweeps readers into a world of suspense and danger. With its captivating mix of mystery, sances, and atmospheric charm, Return to Hair of the Dog is a compelling read that will transport fans of Sarah Penner and CJ Archer on a heart-pounding journey through the shadowy streets of 1930s Chicago. $0.99 on Kindle.