I'm thrilled to introduce my upcoming release, Hearts of Julesburg, book 3 in the Hearts of the Pony Express series. Today, we will learn about our heroine, tomorrow the hero, and in part three, about the history of the Pony Express.
My latest Pony Express book releases tomorrow, September 29th, and it’s titled Hearts of Julesburg. As the name suggests, the story is set in the rough and tumble town of Julesburg, Colorado, in 1861.
My main character, Annelise Harper, an orphan, decides the Pony Express is her answer to her longing for adventure. But, of course, they don’t hire girls. So she cuts her hair, dresses like a boy, and is hired.
Today, in America, there are plenty of opportunities for women to perform work once considered for men only, but not so much in 1861. Particularly in the Wild West. But that doesn’t deter Annelise. Her new persona, Andy Adams, is physically able to keep up with her male counterparts in most areas. Since folks didn’t bathe often in those days, she manages to keep her secret until…
Well, that would be a spoiler, wouldn’t it?
You can pre-order the ebook here: https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Julesburg-Pony-Express-Book-ebook/dp/B0C7FDMC4
About Hearts of Julesburg
Can a young woman who wants more adventure, and a young man running from his past, slow down long enough to allow God to intersect their lives?
A Peek Inside the book:
Chapter 1
May 6, 1861
Julesburg, Colorado Territory
Annelise Harper brushed tendrils back from her cheeks as she studied the notices pinned to a board outside Farrell’s Mercantile. She sighed as she studied slips of paper riffling in the baking afternoon breeze. Hogs for sale. Chicken available. A lame horse needed a good home. She sniffed. Money was scarce enough without taking on another to feed that might never carry its weight—no pun intended.
No new job notices. That’s really what she needed. Working as dogsbody to Banker Adams, his wife, and their five brats was no walk in the park. Sure, she’d headed west to find adventure, and instead she’d basically signed on for room and board and three hours off on Thursdays.
She hefted her market basked from one arm to the other. With the little they paid her, she would be saving up until she was ninety until she had enough to leave this town.
This not very nice town.
To accent her thoughts, a wagon filled with beer barrels careened into town, sending dogs, cats, chickens, and those slow enough to be caught in the dirt bath the locals called Main Street, scattering in all directions. The horses snorted, eyes wide, as the driver slashed their backs to encourage the beasts to go faster.
A dray filled to the brim with building materials and pulled by Clydesdales backed out of the alley next to the lumber yard. The driver of the beer wagon hauled on the reins and jammed on the brake. His horses planted their haunches in the dirt to slow, but not in time.
One barrel rolled from its perch at the top of the load, straight down the front of the remaining barrels like it was going down a snow-covered hill. The driver looked over his shoulder, dropped the reins, and put up his hands.
But he wasn’t quick enough.
The full barrel, likely weighing in at twice the driver’s weight—or more—crushed him as though he were a blueberry.
Annelise’s stomach flip-flopped at both the sound and the sight before her. The horses, unnerved at the smell of blood, reared and bucked until the foursome broke free of the wagon. Nipping and biting at each other, they raced down the street, once again sending those in their immediate locale running for safety.
Bile rose in her throat as others walking the streets, hitching their horses, staggering from the saloon, or sauntering the boardwalks continued past. No doubt about it, the driver was dead. Nobody could have survived that weight rolling from a height.
But still—somebody should do something.
Shouldn’t they?
The door to the sheriff’s office opened, and the lanky man donned his hat and hitched at his gunbelt as he neared the accident.
Recently re-elected to his fourth consecutive term, Sheriff Parker was well-loved and well-respected. If Annelise could have voted, she’d have supported him.
He touched the limp hand of the driver that protruded from under the barrel, then shook his head. “He’s a goner.”
Parker called to three men standing nearby. “Come over here and give me a hand, will you?”
Two shook their heads and walked away, but the third nodded. “Sure, for two bucks, I’ll bury him for you, too.”
The sheriff smiled. “You got yourself a deal.”
The pair wrested the barrel to the ground, where it broke open, spilling its contents into the dirt. A drunk staggered through the doors of the nearest saloon, tripped down the two steps leading from the boardwalk to the main street, then fell face down, lapping at the puddle like a dog.
A couple of boys ran past, swatting at the drunk’s feet with sticks, until the sheriff drove them away with a growl and a shake of a clenched fist. Next he hauled the man up by his collar and booted him on his way.
Annelise turned away, unable to watch the morbid actions. The wind lifted the hair on the back of her neck, relieving her of the cloying stickiness. She inhaled deeply, wishing she were anywhere but here.
Here, of course, being the rough and tumble town of Julesburg, Colorado Territory. Home to gangs and robbers and murderers. And that was just a list of the community’s leaders.
A larger sheet of paper dangled from one corner by a pin, and she flipped the page around so she could read it. Probably another farm auction. Or a death notice.
Orphans wanted. Wirey. able to shoot.
Her breath caught in her throat. That described her perfectly.
BOYS ONLY!
Boys? Now what? She’d come west to find adventure. And freedom. Something more than dying a worn-out shell like her mother.
After all, this was 1861, not 1761.
And she was strong. Could do all those things. Well, she’d show them.
Fifteen minutes later, she emerged once again from the mercantile, this time with a package wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. When Mister Adams discovered she’d charged the items to his account, he’d have a conniption. Hopefully, she’d fool the man doing the hiring long enough to earn back the two dollars to repay the loan.
A young boy loitered past, and she stopped him. “Do you know where Banker Adams lives?”
“Yes, Miss.”
She handed over the shopping. “Take this to him, and tell him his slave just quit.”
“Slave, Miss? You ain’t black. You can’t be no slave.”
“Just tell him. He’ll know what it’s about.”
The boy held out a hand. “You payin’ me?”
“No, he’ll do that. And if he doesn’t, keep the basket and contents. It’s worth more’n a dollar.”
The lad nodded and ran off, the hamper banging against his legs. She cringed, glad eggs were not on the list today.
Now, where to don her disguise?
The train depot drew her attention. That would work. They had a washroom there. Within minutes, she’d exchanged her dress and petticoats for the flannel shirt and dungarees. She slipped off her street shoes and put on the men’s boots. Then she checked her reflection in the mirror.
Never curvaceous, the overly large shirt covered her feminine curves. The pants, cinched at the waist with a length of rope she’d also bought, felt strange as the stiff fabric chafed her skin. Now, her hair.
She’d thought to purchase a pair of scissors, and now went to work, cutting her waist-length tendrils to her shoulders. Her mother—God rest her soul—would be horrified. If she cut more off—no, she couldn’t bear to see all of her reddish brown hair, so painstakingly cared for all her life, go into the trash. Instead, she tucked the rest under her hat, then headed to the pony express station at the far end of Main Street.
As she walked, she considered another dilemma—she needed a new name. Andy. Andy Harper. That should work.
Ahead, a line of about ten boys waited. She stepped into place at the rear of the group, assessing each in turn. They all looked healthy enough. That was one requirement listed on the poster. Orphans? Perhaps. Several were dressed as though they were accustomed to at least one parent looking after them.
She knelt, pretending to adjust her cuff, then when nobody was looking, she rubbed her hands in the dirt and then in the knees, backside, and waistband of her dungarees, trying to make them look older than they were. A swipe of her still-dirty hands around her neck and cheeks. No point in looking like she was fresh out of school.
A gruff older man came out of the stage depot. “You all here for the Pony Express jobs?”
Annelise added her voice to the affirmations of the boys ahead of her, then followed the man’s instructions as he led them behind the depot. Hay bales formed a backdrop for six bed sheets hanging down, each with a bull’s eye painted on it.
The man introduced himself. “I’m Old Jim. That’s it. No last name. None you need to know, anyway.” He held out a pistol. “First, we got to make sure you boys can look out for yourselves.”
He beckoned to the first in line. “You got six shots. At least four has to land inside the big circle. One has to land on the eye.”
The first boy, who couldn’t have been more than twelve—well below the threshold fifteen—could barely hold the pistol level. He missed by a mile, was dismissed, and slunk from the yard, shoulders almost enveloping his ears.
By the time Annelise’s turn came, there was one older boy remaining.
Old Jim handed her the gun. Her mouth went dry. But she stepped to the line he’d drawn in the dirt with his toed boot. Leveled the barrel. Drew a deep breath. Sighted the middle of the target. And squeezed the trigger.
She hit half an inch from the center of the bull’s eye.
Old Jim clapped her on the shoulder. “Good job. What did you say your name was?”
“Andy. Harper.”
There. She’d spit it out. And he wasn’t looking at her like she had two heads or three eyes.
In fact, the ease with which that lie had rolled off her tongue startled her.
Scared her, in fact.
She’d told all of about four outright lies in her life to that point, including this one.
Not that she truly wanted to become accustomed to speaking untruths. But needs must.
“Well, Andy, if’n you hit all six shots in that there center, I’ll give you a five-dollar bonus.”
The only remaining candidate for the job straightened, jamming his hands into his pockets. “What about me?”
“Same for you. But I only got one job. So’s you know.”
Annelise nodded. She took aim again and fired rapidly, landing all shots inside the center.
Old Jim grinned. “Not sure I could’a done any better.” He reloaded the pistol, handed it to the last candidate, and stepped back. “Your turn.”
The blond-haired boy, freckles dotting the bridge of his nose—though not as many as her own—spread his feet shoulder-width, held the gun in both hands, and sighted.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The acrid smell of gunpowder tickled her nose, and smoke burned her eyes.
Old Jim nodded. “Good shootin’, boy. Your name?”
“Clint Baker. Sir.”
“Well, Clint Baker. You got three left. Then we move on to horsemanship, if you pass this round.” He jerked his head toward Annelise.
“He already has.”
Clint nods, resumes his stance, and fires the three remaining bullets.
All within the bull’s eye.
Annelise exhaled.
He’s good.
Before today, she’d have asserted she was better than any boy her age. And she had been, so far.
Was she good enough?
About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching writers at any stage of their manuscript. Learn more at https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651
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HISTORICAL
Written in Love series: What happens when a romance writer and a book publisher come together? Love!
Cactus Lil and the City Slicker (Book 1)
A rough-and-tumble cowgirl, “Cactus” Lil Duncan longs for true love, but is afraid to let down her prickly exterior when a city slicker from New York City, with less-than-honorable intentions, tries to win her trust and her hand.
Written in Love (Book 2): Cactus Lil's Big City Debut
Lily and Peter Golding arrive triumphantly in the Big City. But when they learn of Uncle Phillip’s mysterious disappearance, Peter and Lily are pulled into the dark underside of the Big City, then thrust onto the front pages of the newspapers as ‘persons of interest’ in the investigation.
Can they survive the onslaught of attention on themselves, their marriage, and the seedy side of the publishing industry? Can they survive? Period? Or can they discover who is behind this nefarious act, save Uncle Phillip--and themselves?
CONTEMPORARY
IF YOU LIKE MYSTERIES, YOU'LL LOVE THE “BY THE NUMBER OMNIBUS COLLECTIONS”. THREE COMPLETE CARLY TURNQUIST NOVELS IN EACH VOLUME, FOUR VOLUMES IN TOTAL. AVAILABLE HERE
Hearts of the Pony Express series: Follow these brave men and women along the Pony Express Trail as they look for a new future and find much more, thanks to God.
Hollenberg Hearts (Book 1)
A mail order bride. A crippled stationmaster. No way out for either of them—except with each other. Can they surrender their hearts and find true love?
Hollow Hearts (Book 2)
Can a widow and a loner discover a new beginning in the midst of tragedy, or are they bound to remain alone forever?
Hearts of Julesburg (Book 3)
Adventure and freedom—can a pair of Pony Express riders find their way from danger to daring?
Hearts of Midway (Book 4)
Missing horses. A missing Pony Express rider. A sheriff's daughter with a nose for mystery and a penchant for wearing trousers. And a Pony Express rider with a secret. Releases: August 31, 2024. Available for preorder now.
Counting the Days A 31-day devotional for accountants, bookkeepers, and financial folk
Mail-Order Romance series: marriage sight unseen, hoping love comes later. Will these men and women find what they’re looking for?
New Hope Train (Book 1)
John Stewart needs a wife. Mary Johannson needs a home. On her way west, Mary falls in love with another. Now both must choose between commitment and true love.
The Road to Freedom (Book 2)
The Recipe Box Series follows generations of women from the birthing of the United States through to contemporary times. A recipe box is handed down, and our heroines find the answer they need inside this box.
Recipe for Disaster (Book 1)
A spinster, a man looking for family – Can God somehow turn this for good for all?
Cooking Up Trouble (Book 2)
An unsuitable match to satisfy a debt. Can Holly find another solution? An unsuitable calling--a man in the kitchen. Practically unheard of. Can Adam find the strength to step into his purpose in life? Or will Holly and Adam both resist God and make their own way?
A Fresh Start for Elizabeth (Book 3)
Elizabeth Maddock, widow and chef, answers an ad and finds herself in Boulder, Colorado, passing her infant son off as her brother.
Evan Hamden, childless widower, searches for a cure for TB. While drawn to Miss Maddock, he resists falling in love, But when his patients start dying, he doesn’t know who to trust. Certainly not this invisible God Miss Maddock relies on
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Can Evan and Elizabeth discover whether his treatment plan is faulty, or is somebody behind the deaths? Can they trust each other—and God—to reveal the truth? Releases May 28, 2024 -- available for preorder now.
Healing the Wounded Heart series: Follow these brave women as they venture into fields of medicine early in
our country’s history.
Testing Tessa (Book 1)
Can Tessa find a way to heal a wounded heart through loving the father’s son?
Justice for Julia (Book 2)
Should love come before or after marriage? Julia escapes unfounded medical malpractice claims. Josiah hides in a small town in Iowa with his daughter. But will they be willing to settle for a loveless marriage? Can they fool the residents with their subterfuge? Or will their pasts catch up with them?
Prairie Roses Collection: Adventure and romance in a covered wagon setting.
Kate (Book 7 in Prairie Roses Collection 2020)
A prostitute’s daughter, an outlaw’s brother, and a stagecoach robbery—can anything good come out of Deadwood?
Calli (Book 13 in Prairie Roses Collection 2022)
Can God use an orphaned baby to draw an independent woman and a twice-burned man into a family? Or will they all end up alone?
Tina (Book 29 in Prairie Roses Collection 2023)
An orphan left with the responsibility of raising her younger siblings falls for a mining engineer with adventure on his mind. Another steps in with an untenable solution. Is making a bad choice better than making no choice at all? And can God really turn even the worst situation to good for His glory?

The Switchboard Sisterhood series: Brave women travel to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1925 to look for love in a town where men outnumber women 10 to 1. But will they find more than they bargained for?
Juliette (Book 7)
Morgana (Book 13)
A shattered heart, an unplanned pregnancy, a ruined reputation. Can God—and love—repair what was so deceitfully stolen?
Christmas Under Main Street series: Will these entrepreneurial women in Pueblo, Colorado,
overcome the obstacles the men of the town
have thrown at them?
Time Will Tell (Book 2)
Can God reach through the hurts and betrayals of the past to create a new future in time for Christmas?
The Suffrage Spinsters: Tired of being ignored and treated as inferior members of society, the brave women of the mid-1800’s decided to do something about it. They banded together to initiate what is now known as the Suffrage movement – the decades-long fight for women to achieve the right to vote. The stories in this fictional romance series feature strong heroines of this era who were unwilling to give up their collective voice in order to discover true love.
Rollie's Riddle (Book 10)
A senate contender, a suffragette, and stolen money—which is more important?
Theresa's Talent (Book 25) Releases September 2024 -- Preorder!
Faith, freedom, fear – can Theresa and Toby embrace the first two and release themselves of the third?
The Reclusive Man/Hers to Redeem series: every man has a secret. And when a woman has a good reason, she won’t let go until she knows what it is.
Dianna’s Dilemma (Book 18)
In 1881, a female journalist travels to La Junta, Colorado, for one story, but finds another even more intriguing. Will she break her promise and reveal a man in hiding—or will she stay true to her word—and her heart?
David's Difficulty (Book 19 Hers to Redeem)
A secret fear, a secret dream -- can God bring them together?
Thanksgiving Books & Blessings: Gather around the family table with us as we share our blessings and enjoy a little romance along the way.
A Pink Lady Thanksgiving (Book 3 in Series 3, 2020)
A new home, a new name, and a new baby—who is trying to take all three from her? Kate McBride settles into life in Oregon City, Oregon in November 1879, while furthering her dream to solve mysteries. Her first case: find a missing woman. But when somebody seems intent on stopping her, she and Tom must join forces to reveal who is trying to stop them.
Claire (Book 22 of the Rescue Me Mail Order Brides Series)
A young woman running from the mob, a Pinkerton agent running from his heart—can God slow them down enough to spot the gift He’s provided?
Kaihtlyn's Choice (Book 19 of the Courting Chaos series)
A widow heads west to meet her wandering husband in Nugget, Colorado. On her arrival, she learns he died. But he left a gold mine and a will. With a stipulation: She must marry within 30 days. To one of three men he pre-selected before he died. But which man will win her heart? The tinker, the tailor, or the candlestick maker?
Oregon Trail Mysteries: Traveling west in the 1800s wasn’t easy, and neither was settling in Oregon City, Oregon. Join Tom and Kate as they explore the country and solve mysteries.
Kate (Oregon Trail Mysteries Book 1)
A prostitute’s daughter, an outlaw’s brother, and a stagecoach robbery—can anything good come out of Deadwood?
A Pink Lady Thanksgiving (Book 2)
A new home, a new name, and a new baby—who is trying to take all three from her?
Kingston Marchmont flees Australia in search of a new life—and a new opportunity to prove he isn’t the man wrongfully convicted and transported.
Kinsella Jackson struggles to raise her four children following her husband’s mysterious death. Did he jump? Was he pushed? Or was it an accident?
Standalone Books
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A widower and his two daughters; a boy lost in the woods -- all in desperate need of a Christmas miracle.
Misunderstandings, accidents, and outright attacks plague a wagon train heading to California. Can love overcome and create a real family?
Also available in AudioBook format: https://booksinmotion.com/book-author/donna-schlachter/
The Mystery of Christmas Inn, Colorado
Can Matthew find a reason to go on living, and can Edith find someone who wants her for herself, before their Christmas Inn refuge is closed and they are forced to continue their search elsewhere, alone?
An unredeemable woman; a boy-child who simply wants to be loved; and a man-child seeking
answers to his past.
Short Stories, Devotionals,
and More!
Transformation: a 366-day walk through
the Bible in a year
Second Chances and Second Cups
A collection of short stories certain to warm your heart as you read about second chances from a God of second...and third...and fourth chances.
Broken Dreams, Mended Heart: 21 days to the spiritual healing you've always wanted
Broken Dreams, Mended Marriage: 21 days to the marriage you've always wanted
Broken Dreams, Mended Family: 21 days to the family you've always wanted
I Do -- Again: a 30-day devotional for couples in their second or subsequent marriage
Books on Writing
A compilation of essays and articles on many aspects of writing that will prove helpful and encouraging to writers of all levels.
A brand new go-to resource for fiction and non-fiction writers at any stage of your writing career. Helpful articles and essays on ideas, planning, writing, structure, the writing life, encouragement, and a subplot mini-conference.
books by other authors
Kelsey the Christmas Tree, by Gary Vargo, is a sweet story of believing in yourself when it seems impossible.
Full color, great for reading aloud or with.
Bella and The Friendship Sled, by Gary Vargo, is a richly illustrated story that transcends Christmas and time. Sure to be a family favorite.
Jezebelle by HG Ferguson: a gothic horror set in the back country of Alabama, where the line between legend and fact is dulled, and where monsters still live. (warning: R rating for graphic violence and thematic elements. Think Frank Peretti)
By the Numbers series: Join Carly Turnquist in 2002 as she pokes her nose into one mystery after another. Watch as a nudist colony threatens to take over her hometown, then join her as she and hubby Mike travel the country, stopping by Bear Cove, Maine, often enough to still be called residents.
No Accounting For Murder (Book 1)
Most people think accountants are boring. Carly Turnquist is about to prove them wrong. Join Carly, a forensic accountant, as she gets involved with a mystery business that threatens her quiet East Coast town, embezzled money, a missing mayor, and several attempts on her life. Will she live long enough to reveal who the killer is?
There Was a Crooked Man (Book 2)
Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant, is joining husband Mike on a working vacation--working for him, vacation for her--at a dude ranch in New Mexico. First she learns of missing stock and unpaid invoices, then veiled threats and a dead foreman threaten to ruin her trip.
Can Carly figure out who wants to put this family-owned ranch out of business, or will she die trying?
Unbalanced (Book 3)
Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant, is at home in Bear Cove, Maine, happily planning her son's wedding, when she sees a bank robbery. The only problem is that nobody else sees the robbery, and when she tries to investigate, her credibility is called into question. Add into the mix her husband's long-lost brother who disappears, leaving his son behind.
Five and Twenty Blackbirds (Book 4)
Join Carly Turnquist as she accompanies husband Mike to his twenty-fifth college reunion in Arizona. However, a sleepy little town is about to wake up to its first murder in over a hundred years, and Carly's nose for a mystery is on high alert.
Broke, Busted, and Disgusted (Book 5)
Back in Bear Cove, Carly's best friend is being courted by a smarmy stranger, and Mike's latest client is unhappy with him. When the client turns up dead and Mike is nowhere to be found, the police suspect him, and the video and paperwork they have that shows someone matching Mike's description maxed out their credit cards and cleaned out their bank accounts is compelling. But Carly knows her husband couldn't kill anybody. Could he?
Hidden Assets (Book 6)
Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant, responds to a call from her friend, Anne, who is in the middle of a nasty divorce, and travels to Wyoming to help find assets Anne thinks her husband has stolen. But the mystery begins before Carly even arrives when she sees a man thrown off a train. Except there’s no body. Husband Mike uncovers an illegal scam in a computer program he has been asked to upgrade, and then Anne is arrested for her ex’s murder. Can Carly figure out what’s going on, and why a strange couple is digging in Anne’s basement? Or will she disappear along with the artwork, coins, and money?
Petty Cash (Book 7)
Can Carly enjoy a peaceful vacation on Cape Cod, or will a local ghostly legend and a murder keep her too busy to notice what else is going on around her?
A Deadly Dissolution (Book 8)
Carly loses more than daylight when the total lunar eclipse and crime come to town. Can she figure out what’s going on before the suspects escape?
Silent Partner (Book 9)
Carly and Mike take the vacation of a lifetime--an Alaskan cruise. Unfortunately, Carly can't turn off her nose for trouble. Or mystery. Pretty soon she's embroiled with a series of allegations, innuendoes, overheard conversations, and even a shoving match. And before she knows it--a body. Can Carly figure out who the killer is before she ends up floating on an iceberg--or worse?
In the Money
(Book 10)
A million-dollar jackpot, a missing neighbor who won the money, a mysterious investment advice friend, and a cyber-security expert blended together with a dollop of insurance fraud and a smidgeon of gossip—can Carly get to the bottom of it all without ending up sunk in the harbor?
Missing Deposits (Book 11)
Carly looks forward to a vacation when Mike is hired to assist a rancher family in western Colorado catalogue their various mineral rights following the discovery of a large copper field on their property. However, Carly soon learns that the real wealth—and the real danger—aren’t below ground. Someone is out to keep a secret bigger and more profitable than copper. And they’re willing to kill for it.
Risk Management (Book 12)
When Carly is confronted with three terrible monsters, will she survive all three – or will this be her end?
Carly can’t ignore a good mystery. But when her investigations come close to home, she must decide whether to step back or continue, because now her family—and her own life—are at stake. Will she continue? Or will she retire gracefully? Perhaps she can do both.
Mysterious Ink Mystery Bookstore series: Join Margie Hanson, Carly Turnquist’s now-adult granddaughter, as she inherits a mystery bookstore in Edgewater, Colorado. This light-hearted cozy mystery with a dose of romance series is sure to delight you as Margie finds herself in the midst of missing books, murder, hidden secrets, and clandestine affairs. She undoubtedly inherited her grandmother’s sleuthing gene.
The Game is Afoot
(Book 1)
When Great-Aunt Roselda calls, everybody comes running. But by the time Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant, and her now adult granddaughter Margie Hanson arrive, Roselda is dead. Follow Carly on her absolutely final case as she mentors Margie into the finer art of solving a murder.
Little Grey Cells
(Book 2)
During renovations to her inherited house, Margie Hanson, library science graduate, discovers a suitcase with several items, including a wedding album, a baby's bonnet, and a rare manuscript. Who hid them there? And why? And where did two people and a newborn disappear to?
Heavier Than Broken Hearts (Book 3)
Dead men are heavier than broken hearts—at least according to Philip Marlowe, the legendary detective. Margie Hanson discovers a copy of “The Big Sleep” in a box lot of books at an estate sale, and she snags it to sell in her bookstore, along with a spice rack and spices for her kitchen. At home, she discovers neither is what she first thought. Can she solve these two mysteries before somebody succeeds in snuffing her permanently?
Nothing is Easy (Book 4)
Margie hosts a Christmas mystery month, featuring four different mystery books for the month. When a series of murders mimics the plot in the books, and she is the prime suspect, she soon learns that nothing is easy.
Christmas Ridge Romance series: a small town in the Colorado mountains. A community center that is the heart and soul of the town. Can the entire town’s Christmas wish list come true?
A Mommy by Christmas (Book 2)
Standalone Books
Always a Wedding Planner Romance Collection
Business partners Felicity Anderson, the cake baker; Kiki Bell, the seamstress; Cassie Blackthorn, the coordinator; and Chef Saffron Delarosa are best of friends in a town that is a romantic wedding destination for many couples—who work together at Weddings by Design to make every bride’s special day perfect. Could each falling into their own romance be the key to working out their differences and learning to trust each other—and God—with their futures?
A Mistletoe Mystery (Merry Little
Mysteries Anthology)
Christmas trees, cattle—and mayhem. Can Holly & Ivy Christmas figure out who is behind this nefarious deed?
Christmas Past, Christmas Present
A widower and his two daughters; a boy lost in the woods -- all in desperate need of a Christmas miracle.
Can Grace and Luke solve the clues in her grandmother’s scavenger hunt and uncover the truth about their real feelings, or will the tension and their differences in goals and faith drive them apart?
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