RISING ACTION – serie

At age 30, Maya Golden was living a charmed life. She was an award-winning sports reporter, a loyal wife, and a new mom. Privately, she was battling addiction, perfectionism, dissociation disorders, and rage due to sexual abuse endured at the hands of her cousin and many other predators. But Maya wants to change. So, on a family road trip back to her Texas hometown she is ready to put an end to the secrets that threaten her marriage and her career. Three separate moments of divine intervention ultimately saved Maya's life. From a suicide plan to the treatment facility to launching a non-profit organization - Maya's story chronicles and dissects her journey to find purpose out of the trauma.

Something is wrong in Bunker, Illinois. Nora Grace Moon thought her toughest challenge this semester would be managing her OCD, but when her deceased roommate turns up as a reanimated corpse, her world starts to collapse. When her uncle sends her a cryptic message, Nora realizes it must be a call for help. She reaches out to fellow gamer Wesley for advice, a US Marshal with real-life skills for tactical survival, not just in-game. They venture out into a world that is growing more and more deadly by the moment - not only are the undead spreading, but other humans are taking advantage of the societal breakdown. And unknown to Nora and Wesley, they have been targeted by an ancient archeological society who will stop at nothing until they have what Nora has: an artifact that will unleash a new world order of the undead. IRL is a paranormal thriller about leaving the online world and dealing with things 'In Real Life.'

Detective Ryan Boone thought the simple jewelry heist was an open and shut case. That is until he discovers an unknown drug, and this minor crime he was investigating may be tied to a string of seemingly unconnected murders. Meanwhile, Mel Parker, unscrupulous leader of a less-than-legal high-end escort service, stumbles across the same pills. On top of protecting her 'investment,' she has her own reasons for attempting to unravel the mystery behind the medication. Ryan knows someone has the answers he seeks, and Mel can't come forward. To complicate things further, five other women are implicated in the murders despite most having never met. As the trail turns up as many mysteries as resolutions, Ryan and Mel must discover the twisted connection before someone else ends up dead. For fans of The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, and When You Find Me by P. J. Vernon, Twisted will have you questioning the motive behind the murders and how exactly one can be found guilty when the evidence doesn't add up.

Mae Roberts is certain her new life in the suburbs with her family will be everything she's always wanted. That is, until one of the mothers from her daughters' school goes missing. Mae never thought she would fit in amongst the beautiful and rich mothers at Riverpark Elementary. Though, when she's accepted into their clique and they ask her to be a part of their unofficial neighborhood watch, Mae finds herself slipping more and more into a world of odd dinner parties, secrets and lies, and even rumors of suicide attempts. It's only when one of the Riverpark Moms disappears, and then another, that Mae must decide what's more important - fitting in or uncovering the truth. A fresh take on belonging, obsession and schoolyard politics, Burlington is a domestic suspense that delves into the realities of parenthood and fitting in, and the roles we're sometimes forced to take.

Truth hides where the past refuses to stay buried. Recently fired and adrift, Charlotte Boyd agrees to oversee renovations on her parents' small-town summer home that holds a tragic past. After discovering an enthralling diary hidden amidst junk the previous owners left behind, Charlotte connects with the author -- a troubled teen named Lark Peters who died by suicide at the house sixteen years ago. When an unsettling incident forces Charlotte to seek refuge at the local pub, regulars, including the police, warn her of Lark's older brother, Darryl, who has become a recluse since Lark's death, and may know more than he's letting on. But Charlotte sees a side of Darryl others don't, being an outsider herself. In a search to uncover the truth, Charlotte must question those closest to Lark and reconcile her own past trauma. Because if Lark was actually murdered, then whoever is responsible might be lurking in Charlotte's own backyard.

US Senator Oliver Michaels of Maine campaigned on the hopes of changing Washington. One year after becoming the youngest senator in Congress, Oliver finds himself disheartened by systemic bureaucracy, partisan finger-pointing, the power of lobbyists, and the collapse of his marriage. When New York Times reporter Alex Broussard shows up at his office, Oliver is presented with a shocking corruption scheme involving two congressmen, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a chemical manufacturer. With this real opportunity to clean up dirty DC politics, Alex reignites Oliver's pledge to help people lost in messy legislative battles and abandoned by government in sacrifice zones. Yet, lofty political aspirations aren't the only things burning with passion. Working side by side, Alex and Oliver, once an item in college, realize feelings still linger for one another. Alex and Oliver's efforts to expose the unlawful plot also uncovers the fact that they are pawns in a rigged game hosted by those who will do anything to keep their positions of power and their wallets padded - even kill. The stakes continuously rise, putting Alex, Oliver, and their family and friends in grave danger. Each must decide what's more important; the safety of their loved ones or the health of the public.

She hadn't turned 40 yet, and already she was over it... Dumped. Pregnant. Fired. For best friends Carmen and Ally, the approach of their 40th birthdays is anything but a celebration. Yet, it might be exactly what they need to set their lives on the right path.  In the bustling heart of New York, Carmen has it all - a high-profile career, a loving family, and a home straight out of a magazine. But as her 40th looms, her life begins to unravel. A surprise pregnancy, a shocking job loss, and the unwelcome sight of crow's feet force her to rethink her perfect life and what it means to truly have it all. Meanwhile, in the quiet of Maine, Carmen's best friend Ally, a spirited marine biologist, confronts her own crisis as she faces the fallout from a doomed affair with her boss. With her romantic life in shambles and her professional life no better, Ally relocates to Portland, Oregon, hoping for a fresh start and one last chance at love. As their individual journeys to happiness lead them in different directions, the strength of their friendship is tested. Tragedy strikes, bringing hidden resentments to the surface and forcing them to confront their past - and each other. In the process, they must answer a pivotal question: Are their best years really behind them, or is turning 40 just the beginning of their greatest adventures?

Detective Ryan Boone just can't let this case go. While the mystery behind the robbery and murders in Twisted was uncovered a few months back, there is still a very large loose thread that Boone desperately wishes to tie up. He convinces his superiors to allow him to travel to Ottawa, where he's uncovered a lead into a conspiracy that hints what happened in Toronto has nation-wide, and horrific, implications. Former detective Cora Porter has moved to forensics, but when a strange case involving a murder, a runaway, and a case of mistaken identity hits close to home, she squeezes her way into the investigation. It also doesn't help that a certain visiting detective has caught her eye, and is also willing to work with her on the case. Their suspect, Blaine Roche, always seems to be one step ahead of Ryan and Cora. What they don't know is that he's not just trying to evade arrest, but take down the conspiracy for his own purposes. Given he's already a wanted man, Blaine is willing to do whatever it takes to get revenge. He has nothing else to lose ... or so he thinks. Wicked picks up where Twisted left off, but in a new location and with several new twists.