Anna Dobrzańska Gadowska Books

In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men.As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

A heart-rending page turner which sweeps from war-torn Europe to Thailand and back again . . . As a child Julia Forrester spent many idyllic hours in the hothouse of Wharton Park estate, where her grandfather tended the exotic flowers. So when a family tragedy strikes, Julia returns to the tranquility of Wharton Park and its hothouse. Recently inherited by charismatic Kit Crawford, the estate is undergoing renovation. This leads to the discovery of an old diary, prompting the pair to seek out Julia's grandmother to learn the truth behind a love affair that almost destroyed Wharton Park. Julia is taken back to the 1940s where the fortunes of young couple Olivia and Harry Crawford will have terrible consequences on generations to come. For as war breaks out Olivia and Harry are cruelly separated . . .

Young widow Lavinia Lake and her partner Tobias March tackle not only mysterious deaths but also their unconventional romantic relationship. Invited to the estate of Lord Beaumont, they anticipate passionate nights together. However, on the first night, instead of Lavinia, Tobias is visited by Aspasia Gray, the fiancée of his former colleague Zachary Elland. Terrified, Aspasia seeks Tobias's help after finding a mysterious ring at her doorstep, rumored to be left by a villain known as Memento Mori. When Lavinia arrives just as Tobias comforts the frightened visitor, she storms off in anger. After calming Aspasia, Tobias visits Lavinia to explain, but their long-awaited romantic evening is interrupted by a chilling scream from outside. Determined to uncover the truth, Lavinia and Tobias suspect a murder, but their host dismisses them from his estate. Undeterred, they continue their investigation while also making time for their love.