This author crafts stories she most enjoys reading, featuring heroines discovering their strengths, purpose, and place in the world, often saving the day in the process. Her narratives weave in romance with a lighter touch, avoiding overly dark or angsty themes. The aim is to provide readers with a 'mini-vacation' through enjoyable and satisfying tales that leave them with a positive mood and a smile.
Plans crafted by princesses can take unexpected turns, leading to unforeseen challenges and adventures. This story explores the complexities of royal life and the unpredictability of fate, showcasing how even the most carefully arranged schemes can spiral out of control, resulting in chaos and growth.
*The pleasure of your company is requested.* Graceful feet tracing courtly steps. Eyes behind jeweled masks meeting across a room of twirling dancers. Gloved hands touching fleetingly-or gripping swords... Anything can happen at a ball. You are invited to enjoy these stories of fancy and fantasy from thirteen authors, framed in the splendor and elegance of a ballroom. Be it at a house party for diplomats and thieves, or Almacks in a side-universe in which the Patronesses have magic, or a medieval festival just after the plague years ... *Prepare to be swept into the enchantment of the dance *
Set in 1901, the story follows seventeen-year-old Grace Boisvert, a dryad who yearns to embrace the modern world and leave her magical heritage behind. With a fresh look and a desire for adventure, she joins her best friend, Alice Roosevelt, for a trip to the opulent Newport, Rhode Island. Amidst the glamour, Grace grapples with her family's caution against human relationships, setting the stage for a tale of self-discovery and the clash between tradition and modernity.
Penelope Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to court her, Pen can't help being distracted from her studies. Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. Even if he halts his mother's evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot?
In 1837 London, Persephone Leland prefers her secret magical studies over societal expectations. Just as the "coming out" season starts, she learns her governess has been kidnapped in a scheme to seize control of Queen Victoria.
From the author of Bewitching Season and Betraying Season comes a brand new regency romance with plenty of intrigue--and magic! Sophie's entrance into London society isn't what she thought it would be: Mama isn't there to guide her. Papa is buried in his work fighting Napoleon. And worst of all, the illness that left her with a limp, unable to dance at the Season's balls, also took away her magic. When the dashing Lord Woodbridge starts showing an interest in Sophie, she wants to believe it's genuine, but she can't be sure he's feeling anything more than pity. Sophie's problems escalate when someone uses magic to attack Papa at the Whistons' ball and it soon becomes clear that all the members of the War Office are being targeted. Can Sophie regain her own powers, find her balance, make a match--and save England? Find out in Marissa Doyle's Courtship and Curses!
Book View Café presents thirteen (of course) brand new (mostly) tales of ghosts, hauntings, and things that might or might not go bump in the night-tales that will inspire an involuntary glance over the shoulder, an unexpected shiver, or an uneasy chuckle. Open this book at your own risk-of a spooky good read. Stories by Alma Alexander - Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff - Chaz Brenchley - Marie Brennan - Brenda W. Clough - Marissa Doyle - Katharine Eliska Kimbriel - Shannon Page - Paul Piper - Steven Popkes - Dave Smeds - Jennifer Stevenson - Jill Zeller
Garland Durrell seeks solace in her Cape Cod home after a painful divorce, hoping to immerse herself in her passion for quilting. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers a wounded man and a small boy washed ashore. With the local police chief showing little interest in their plight, Garland decides to care for the mysterious duo, leading to a journey of healing and self-discovery as she uncovers their secrets and confronts her own emotional scars.
Set against a backdrop of war and espionage, the story weaves together themes of deception and romance, all while incorporating mythical creatures. As tensions rise and secrets unfold, characters navigate a world filled with intrigue and unexpected relationships, making for a captivating tale that unfolds throughout the summer months.