Early Fiction

“Its miracle and its enigma are within the worlds of inner alchemy of the Age of Enlightenment.” Sunday Times A-Ma Alchemy of Love, is a Historical Novel set in the 17th century Chinese Macao, where History is like the Playing the Glass Bead Game with Pythagoras. “A bridge builder between East and West, following ancient archaeological findings, she often dives into the historic settings more than 2,000 years back in time. In her novel, Ama: Playing the Glass Bead Game with Pythagoras, the 53-year-old author makes a bold swerve into less traveled territory. She chooses for her ...

For new girl Darrell Rivers, there are friends to be made, pranks to be played and fun to be had at Malory Towers in Enid Blyton's best-loved boarding school series. In audiobook seven, Darrell has left Malory Towers, and her sister Felicity takes over as head girl. But the other girls are determined to cause trouble. Will Freddie and June ever stop playing tricks? And what's Amy's strange family secret? Expect more drama at Malory Towers!

What really happened at Hackham Heath that made Halt a hero to the entire Kingdom? This is the prequel Ranger's Apprentice fans have been waiting for. When the former Baron Morgarath escaped to avoid punishment for treason, an uneasy peace fell on Araluen. But the Rangers know Morgarath will be planning his next move, and there are rumours he has recruited an army of savage, inhuman creatures. Newly crowned King Duncan must prepare for war.

Set in the hardscrabble landscape of early 1900s Oklahoma, but timeless in its sensibility, Prairie Fever traces the dynamic between two sisters: the pragmatic Lorena and the chimerical Elise. Their connection to each other supersedes all else, until the arrival of a schoolteacher sunders the sisters' relationship as they both begin to fall for him. Expansive and intimate, with poetic intensity and deadpan humor, Prairie Fever tells the story of characters tested as much by life on the prairie as they are by their own churning hearts.

Dave Brandstetter's afternoon does not begin well: His ex-boyfriend picks him up at the airport, and the ride home - in bumper-to-bumper Los Angeles traffic - is one long argument between them. The insurance investigator's day gets worse when he finds a man - bloody, rain-soaked, and ice cold - lying on his porch, killed by a stab wound while Dave was out of town. There is a serial killer loose in Los Angeles, and this man is his sixth victim. Like the others, he had already been marked for death - by the unforgiving plague known as AIDS.

A detective mystery crime thriller set in London during the early 20th century. On a fateful morning in June 1912, the quiet, ominous streets of London reveal a sinister secret to Mullins, a hardworking sub-editor for the Watchman newspaper. As he finishes a late shift, an encounter with Policeman Etheridge drags him into a chilling murder investigation. The victim is an unidentified man, discovered with a clue that leads Mullins into the depths of a mystery brimming with deceit, scandal, and peril. Determined to uncover the truth, Mullins partners with the named individual on the cryptic ...

A historical fiction book set in the English countryside during the early 20th century. “The Lost Drifter” follows the story of Peter, a young artist and former convict, who has taken to living life as a wandering piper after being released from prison for a crime he didn't commit. Initially sentenced for forgery and embezzlement, Peter had taken the fall to protect a friend. Set against the backdrop of idyllic rural England, the narrative delves deep into Peter's internal and external journey as he navigates life post-incarceration, blending moments of introspection with encounters ...

A humorous adventure book set in Cape Cod and Cashmere-on-the-Hudson during the early 1900s. The serene, coastal town of Orham, Massachusetts, is about to be turned upside down by a series of mysterious letters, unexpected adventures, and comical misadventures. Captain Jonadab Wixon and Barzilla Wingate are two unassuming residents who find themselves invited to a wedding at Dillamead House, Cashmere-on-the-Hudson. This seemingly ordinary event quickly spirals into a whirlwind of humorous incidents and unexpected encounters. Enter Peter T. Brown, a charismatic and persuasive character who ...

Based on a true story, Onesimus is the tale of a young, unhappy slave who lived during the first century Roman Empire. The world is a highly structured society of deities, slaves, masters, prostitutes, government corruption, soldiers—with little opportunity to move out of one’s role. But he has a plan to become free and make something of himself—until he is betrayed. His response leads him on a path of danger, deceit, and discovery until he comes into contact with a famous leader of a young new religion based on the Jewish faith. What he finds will test his will and his courage, and ...

One mistake cost him everything. Building a new life might give him a second chance at love. Thomas Bray came to Gloucester to escape his disgrace in Plymouth Colony, not to find his future. The skilled carpenter seeks redemption through hard work until he meets Mary Wilson—a founding family's daughter who sees beyond his painful past. As Thomas builds a canal vital to the settlement's future, Mary challenges the barriers around his heart. But when a wealthy merchant pursues her and whispers from Plymouth resurface, Thomas must decide: retreat again or finally fight for the love he ...

The year is 1902, and the world is changing with the new century. Twenty-one-year-old Ava Stanley, the daughter of two celebrated Arcane Taxonomists, has much to live up to—however scarce her magical abilities may be. While her parents draw power from spectacular birds and megafauna, Ava’s connection to the natural world is much smaller, stemming from the microscopic. This is useful in her quest to become a doctor, as she studies the burgeoning links between bacteria and disease, but it means Ava’s power itself is also smaller.

Nancy's first book report is sure to be bedazzling. After all, she is the second-best artist in her class. She is using beads, fringe, and a fancy border for the cover. And she is writing about Sacajawea, a true-life heroine. What could go wrong? Join Nancy as she learns that you can't judge a book report by its cover! This newest addition to the Fancy Nancy series will delight listeners young and old.

Meet Nancy, who believes that more is always better when it comes to fancy.... In this story, Fancy Nancy is faced with a tutu dilemma - that’s a fancy way of saying she doesn’t know what to do!

THE LADY OF THE LAKE —-The mystery of Lake Ronkonkoma Legends such as The Loch Ness Monster, Atlantis, Big Foot, and the Bermuda Triangle, the Lady of the Lake on Long Island have mystified people for centuries. As the story goes, an Indian princess became romantically involved with an English woodcutter who toiled across the lake from the Indian camp. When her father, Chief of the Setauket Tribe, discovered her love affair with the English settler, he forbid her from seeing him again. Saddened with depression, the princess rowed to the deepest part of Lake Ronkonkoma and took her own ...

A drama book set in New York City during the early 20th century. Step into a world where love and tragedy entwine against the vibrant backdrop of New York's theater scene. "The Dagger of De Colombo" invites you to unravel the secrets of aristocratic playwright Maxime De Colombo, who must confront the dark shadows of his lineage and the devastating secrets of those he loves. With the murder of his dear friend's father, Alfred Marceau, leaving a blood-stained mark on their lives, Maxime and Florence are pushed into a whirlwind of intrigue, conspiracy, and heartbreaking choices that will test ...

The only thing Abi ever wanted was a proper family. So when she falls pregnant by an Australian exchange student in London, she cannot pack up her old life in Croydon fast enough, to start all over in Sydney and make her own family. It is not until she arrives, with three-week-old Jude in tow, that Abi realises Stu is not quite ready to be a father after all. And he is the only person she knows in this hot, dazzling, confusing city, where the job of making friends is turning out to be harder than she thought.

What Shall We Do Today? A Space Adventure Perfect for classroom read-alouds and early readers ages 6-9! Join curious Imani, enthusiastic Tommy, and knowledgeable Maya on an exciting educational adventure celebrating five special days at once! When the children embark on a school field trip to a space exhibition, they discover the wonders of International Day of Human Space Flight while enjoying grilled cheese sandwiches, sampling licorice, embracing their wild side, and making time to read. In this engaging story for elementary readers: Children learn about Yuri Gagarin's historic first ...

Coming of age can happen at the strangest times. For Anders Hill, long ensconced in "the land of steady habits" - the affluent hamlets of Connecticut that dot the commuter rail line - it's finally time to reap the rewards of a sensible life. Into his 60s and newly retired, his grown sons' college tuitions paid in full, Anders finds the contentment he's been promised is still just out of reach. So he decides he's had enough of steady habits: he leaves his wife, buys a condo, and waits for freedom to transform him.

JoJo is helping Mommy and Daddy with the new twins. But they look the same! How will JoJo tell the twins apart? JoJo’s plan will keep you laughing.

Best-selling author Jasper Fforde begins an effervescent new series. It's Easter in Reading - a bad time for eggs - and no one can remember the last sunny day. Humpty Dumpty, well-known nursery favourite, large egg, ex-convict and former millionaire philanthropist, is found shattered beneath a wall in a shabby area of town.