Showing results by narrator "Hollis McCarthy" in All Categories

My name's Nadia, and I'm the shadow agent of the High Queen of the Elves. When an Elven lord is assassinated with a bullet forged from magical iron, the High Queen sends me to track down the source. But the bullet is just a small part of a much larger hoard. And to claim that hoard, the enemies of humanity and the Elves will wipe out anyone who stands in their path. Starting with me....

With summer on the way, Rory is looking forward to relaxing at the beach between her latest set of magical exams. A mysterious beast appearing from the sea and terrifying everyone was not part of her plan. Rory's cousin Cass, who responds to anything involving magical beasts by instantly making friends with it, is the first to take an interest. But this beastie seems to have no intention of playing nice, and between her cousin's antics and Aunt Candace's unending hunt for a good story, Rory has her hands full trying to stop her relatives from running headlong into danger.

My name is Nadia, and I’m a shadow agent of the High Queen of the Elves. I don’t have many friends, but I look after the ones I do have...and I pay my debts. So when Hakon Valborg’s teenaged granddaughter Lydia is arrested for the murder of her computer science teacher, I agree to help. But there’s more going on here than just murder.

Life is good for Rory Hawthorn. She's progressing well in her magical lessons, and is also finally unearthing her father's long-kept secrets. If not for the Grim Reaper trying to interfere in her love life, things would be perfect. Until the Grim Reaper goes missing, at the same time as a lethal curse is set loose in Ivory Beach, which leaves even Rory's family stumped.

Ever-turbulent humanity has reached out to the stars and found itself challenged by several “exosapient” species whose motivations are as unusual as their physical forms. But no world is defined just by the characters who occupy center stage. Lost Signals digs deep into the lives - and struggles - of those beyond the spotlight by bringing together 20 new voices and new stories.

When Aunt Candace is nominated for a literary award, Rory and her family are thrilled that the library is chosen to host the ceremony. But the night ends in disaster when the organiser of the event turns up dead. Needless to say, since the group of suspects all write about murders for a living, finding the culprit will be tricky. With her best friend also dealing with her newfound vampire nature and her dad's secrets on the brink of coming to the surface, Rory has her work cut out. Can she find the culprit among the guests before another victim is claimed?

He’s heralded around the world as a romantic icon. The last thing he needs is to fall in love. King Eduardo diTalora is riding a popularity high, thanks to his political acumen, his charitable endeavors, and above all, the storybook romance he had with his late wife, Queen Aletta. He plans to use that goodwill in the best way possible, to push long-term projects that will benefit his country. When Claire Peyton, the new American ambassador, pitches a project of her own, Eduardo wonders if it’s possible to find love a second time.

The world knows him as Prince Perfect. She’s about to discover the truth. Prince Federico diTalora is all too aware of his dreaded nickname: Prince Perfect. He’s spent his life guarding his reputation, cognizant of the duty he owes his country and its citizens. But as a widower with two rambunctious boys, the strain of being an ideal son, father, and prince has pushed him to the breaking point.

A male - and royal - Eliza Doolittle meets a female Professor Higgins. Having completed his military service, Prince Marco diTalora of San Rimini wants only one thing on his return home: His freedom. He has good reason for avoiding the public eye, and little interest in his father’s plans to immerse him in royal life. In the hours before his brother’s high-profile wedding, he dodges the media hordes for a few hours of respite.

When Princess Isabella diTalora needs an expert to study the ancient artifacts hidden beneath the royal palace, she’s determined to hire the best: Nick Black, a mysterious collector who knows San Rimini’s medieval era better than anyone. Nick Black knows San Rimini’s history for good reason. He lived it. In fact, he was once known as Domenico of Bollazio, a powerful knight pledged to San Rimini’s king. But he was cursed for his ambition and will never know peace - or mortality - until he can solve the riddle of his enchantment.

Jennifer Allen is on a mission to assist refugees, not to be swept away by a fairy tale prince. Even if the prince in question is a drop-dead sexy billionaire. When Prince Antony diTalora visits her camp, she’s certain it’s a publicity stunt and keeps him at arm’s length. But when he invites her to the palace to speak about her work, it brings her beliefs into question and has her looking at Prince Charming in a whole new light.

Daniela D’Ambrosio is the most trusted employee of Sarcaccia’s Queen Fabrizia, managing the queen’s schedule and ensuring she never makes a misstep in public. But when Fabrizia sends Daniela to organize the belongings of San Rimini’s late queen for a charity auction, Daniela finds a locked closet full of treasure, a suspicious king, and an attractive handyman who seems strangely familiar.

Evalina Voll is a simple farm girl who dreams of one day becoming a dragon rider. The only problem is there hasn’t been a female dragon rider chosen in almost fifty years. One day, a rare red-and-black dragon is found injured in a meadow near her home. The events that follow propel Evalina on an adventure of a lifetime. Evalina finds herself far from home in King’s Citadel, training to be a dragon rider. Whispers of a dark prophecy puts Evalina and the land of Eryieth at great risk.

Caina Amalas is a Ghost nightfighter, one of the Emperor's elite spies and assassins. And though she remains anonymous, already legends grow around her. Whispers speak of the Ghost nightfighter who stopped the fire of the gods from consuming Rasadda, who defeated sorcerers of terrible power, who liberated slaves and threw down cruel lords.

Caina is now a Ghost nightfighter, with the cunning of an elite spy and the skill of a master assassin. But this time, it might take more than that to keep her alive. Caina has been sent to hunt a murderous pyromancer, a master of fiery sorcery, and she soon discovers that more is at stake than just a few murders. Because if she doesn't find the pyromancer soon, the entire world might burn. Starting with her.

When her life is torn apart by sorcery and murder, young Caina Amalas joins the Ghosts, the legendary spies and assassins of the emperor of Nighmar. She learns the secrets of disguise and stealth, of assassination and infiltration. But even that might not be enough to save her. For the evil that destroyed her family seeks to devour the entire world....

When a retired mobster ends up murdered and one of her grandmother’s best friends is the last one to see him alive, Lexy Baker can kiss her plans to spend an uneventful summer dreaming about her upcoming wedding to detective Jack Perillo good-bye. Lexy agrees to help her grandmother's octogenarian Ladies' Detective Club solve the murder. But while Lexy is busy juggling her bakery, her grandmother, and the hunky FBI agent sent to investigate the murder, Jack seems to be spending a lot of time with his shapely, blonde ex-girlfriend who suddenly arrives in town.

When Lexy Baker temporarily fills in for the pastry chef at a lakeside resort, it seems like a great way to combine business and pleasure...until the head chef ends up with a knife through his chest and Lexy is found bending over the body. Suddenly, she finds herself in a race against time and battling a quirky dessert-devouring detective to find the real killer in a long line of suspects. Was it the extravagant spouse? The suspiciously acting sous-chef? The mysterious motorcycle gang?

Until she stumbles across the dead body of judge Amanda Scott-Saunders. ? What starts out as a bad day for Lexy becomes even worse when the police discover the judge was strangled with Lexy's apron. Now Lexy's sitting at the top of the suspect list with a motive, means and opportunity...but no solid alibi. Lexy soon finds herself in a race against time to find the real killer before she ends up disqualified from the contest, or worse, in jail. But that's no easy task. There's a bakery competition full of suspects who all hated the victim and have a $100,000 motive for murder. And then there's the gorgeous, smart police detective who has mysterious ties to Lexy's boyfriend and thinks Lexy is the killer.

Pancho Barnes was a force of nature, a woman who lived a big, messy, colorful, unconventional life. She ran through three fortunes, four husbands, and countless lovers. She outflew Amelia Earhart, outsmarted Howard Hughes, outdrank the Mexican Army, and outmaneuvered the US government. In The Happy Bottom Riding Club, award-winning author Lauren Kessler tells the story of a high-spirited, headstrong woman who was proud of her successes, unabashed by her failures, and the architect of her own legend.