Lady Odelia's Secret


Book Description

Do you ever really know your family? In the 1880s a sixth daughter learns not to ask for much, even if she’s the daughter of an earl. Even if she married the richest man in her corner of Sussex. Even if she’s now a widow with a splendid Georgian mansion. Lady Helena Whitcombe is still trying to adjust to widowhood and reconcile her family loyalties with her desires when her artist sister Odelia makes a startling suggestion. Why not make her mark on the house that’s now all hers, by commissioning a magnificent work of art from one of London’s most celebrated painters? Lady Odelia invites Helena into the seductive world of medieval fantasies and fairy tales she has inhabited since Helena was a child. But when a shocking series of events exposes the destructive reality of a great artist’s unusual lifestyle, Helena and her lady’s maid Guttridge are called on to help—or is it to interfere? Looming danger, the risk of scandal, and competing loyalties force Helena to re-evaluate her relationship with the sister she’s always loved the most. What is Lady Odelia’s secret? Find out in this gripping continuation of the Scott-De Quincy Mysteries, a story that blends mystery and historical detail with Downton Abbey-style saga as the truths about Helena’s aristocratic family unfold. Read it now before the secret gets out!




Lady Helena Investigates


Book Description

A reluctant lady sleuth finds she's investigating her own family. 1881, Sussex. With a drowned husband—the second love lost—an overbearing family, no longed-for child, and the responsibility of a huge baroque mansion, it's not surprising Lady Helena Whitcombe is overwhelmed. When attractive, mysterious, French physician Armand Fortier disturbs her first weeks of mourning with his theory of murder, Helena's reluctant and ineffective attempts at investigation are hardly life-changing—until the resulting revival in her long-abandoned herbalist studies bring her into confrontation with her past and her family's. Can Lady Helena survive bereavement the second time around? Can she stand up to her six siblings' assumption of the right to control her new life as a widow? And what role will Fortier—who, as a physician, is a most unsuitable companion for an earl's daughter—play in her investigations? Every family has its secrets. The Scott-De Quincy family has more than most.




Too Big to Miss


Book Description

Too big to miss—that's Odelia Grey. A never-married, middle-aged, plus-sized woman who makes no excuses for her weight, she's not super woman just a mere mortal standing on the precipice of menopause, trying to cruise in an ill-fitting bra. She struggles with her relationships, her crazy family, and her crazier boss. And then there's her knack for being in close proximity to dead people... When her close friend Sophie London commits suicide in front of an online web-cam by putting a gun in her mouth and pulling the trigger, Odelia's life is changed forever. Sophie, a plus-sized activist and inspiration to imperfect women, is the last person anyone would ever have expected to end her own life. Suspecting foul play, Odelia is determined to get to the bottom of her friend's death. Odelia's search for the truth takes her from southern California strip malls to the world of live web-cam porn to the ritzy enclave of Corona del Mar. Praise: "I'd like to spend more time with Sue Ann Jaffarian's Odelia, a plus-size fat-liberationist with a handsome wheelchair-bound lover. Odelia...does not hesitate to give justice a small, well-plotted forward shove at every opportunity."—The New York Times "[Odelia] is an intriguing character, a true counter against stereotype, who demonstrates that life can be good, even in a world where thin is always in."—Booklist "Balancing her professional skills as a paralegal with her self-doubt as a sleuth, Odelia is one of the most believable amateur detectives in recent fiction. Beautifully plotted and carefully crafted, this is a marvelous start to an exciting new series. Strongly recommended."—Library Journal "With a cast of diverse characters, an intriguing plot, and a credible heroine, this is an enjoyable read."—Mystery Scene "Plus-size reading pleasure—try this one on!"—Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author "Sue Ann Jaffarian does a masterful job in creating the character of a plus-size woman, with different shades of angst, humor, verve, and sensualness. Once you get to know Odelia Grey, you'll love her. I know I do."— Naomi Hirahara, Edgar-winning author of Snakeskin Shamisen "Too Big To Miss is too good to miss, a fun-filled romp that introduces the delightful Odelia Grey and leaves you anxious for more of her. Odelia's definitely worth her weight in reading enjoyment."—Robert S. Levinson, author of Ask a Dead Man, Hot Paint, and The Elvis and Marilyn Affair "A plus-sized thumbs up. Jaffarian's a new sharpshooter in crime fiction, so set your sights on this Odelia Grey mystery for a tightly coiled intrigue that targets a sexy shocker."—Brian M. Wiprud, award-winning author of Pipsqueak and Stuffed "On one level, Too Big To Miss is a classic, fast-paced mystery; on another, it's a passport into a world we either inhabit or live next-door to, but rarely see in popular fiction. Sue Ann Jaffarian breaks rules and breaks ground, with humor, insight and compassion."—Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony and Macavity Award winning author of Dating Dead Men and Dating is Murder




The House of Closed Doors


Book Description

Heedless. Stubborn. Disgraced. Small town Illinois, 1870: "My stepfather was not particularly fond of me to begin with, and now that he'd found out about the baby, he was foaming at the mouth" Desperate to avoid marriage, Nell Lillington refuses to divulge the name of her child's father and accepts her stepfather's decision that the baby be born at a Poor Farm and discreetly adopted. Until an unused padded cell is opened and two small bodies fall out. Nell is the only resident of the Poor Farm who is convinced the unwed mother and her baby were murdered, and rethinks her decision to abandon her own child to fate. But even if she manages to escape the Poor Farm with her baby she may have no safe place to run to.




Lady Odelia's Secret


Book Description

Do you ever really know your family? Lady Helena Whitcombe is adjusting to widowhood, trying to reconcile her family loyalties with her desires, when her artist sister Odelia makes a startling suggestion. Why not make her mark on the house that's now all hers, by commissioning a magnifi cent work of art from one of London's most celebrated painters? Lady Odelia invites Helena into the seductive world of medieval fantasies and fairy tales she has inhabited since Helena was a child. But when a shocking series of events exposes the destructive reality of a great artist's unusual lifestyle, Helena and her lady's maid Guttridge are called on to help-or is it to interfere? Looming danger, the risk of scandal, and competing loyalties force Helena to re-evaluate her relationship with the sister she's always loved the most.




Mama Does Time


Book Description

"Who knew that a who-dun-it would not only keep you guessing—but have you laughing! Deborah Sharp is the new Edna Buchanan."—Hoda Kotb, co-anchor of NBC's Today show Meet Mama: a true Southern woman with impeccable manners, sherbet-colored pantsuits, and four prior husbands, able to serve sweet tea and sidestep alligator attacks with equal aplomb. Mama's antics—especially her penchant for finding trouble — drive her daughters Mace, Maddie, and Marty to distraction. One night, while settling in to look for ex-beaus on COPS, Mace gets a frantic call from her mother. This time, the trouble is real: Mama found a body in the trunk of her turquoise convertible and the police think she's the killer. It doesn't help that the handsome detective assigned to the case seems determined to prove Mama's guilt or that the cowboy who broke Mace's heart shows up at the local Booze & 'n' Breeze in the midst of the investigation. Before their mama lands in prison—just like an embarrassing lyric from a country-western song—Mace and her sisters must find the real culprit. TV APPEARANCES NBC's Today Show from November 4, 2008 Mayor's Book Talk" from January 14, 2009 NBC6 "South Florida Today" from July 17, 2009 NBC's Today Show from August 4, 2009 Praise: "Mama Does Time is a humorous, touching reflection on familial love and politics."—Mystery Scene Magazine "With a strong, funny heroine, colorful characters, and a look at a part of Florida the tourists rarely see, Deborah Sharp has an engaging new series. Make sure Mama Does Time does time on your bookshelf."—Elaine Viets, author of Clubbed to Death: a Dead-End Job Mystery "Not since the late Anne George has there been such laugh-out-loud Southern fried fun. Deborah Sharp's Mama Does Time is a hilarious page turner with crisp and intelligent writing."—Sue Ann Jaffarian, author of the Odelia Grey Mystery series "Deborah Sharp's witty way with words makes Mama Does Time as much fun as a down-home visit with your quirky Florida cousins."—Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries "Colorful characters and a segment of Florida seldom seen by tourists evoke a Southern Sisters feeling in this very well written Southern fried epic...A winner."—BookBitch.com "The author's surname—Sharp—is an apt adjective to describe her writing. Her characters crackle off the page."—Cozy Library "Deborah Sharp has an eye for character...She's funny, perceptive, and entertaining. What more can a cozy reader ask for?"—Reviewing the Evidence "Newcomer Deborah Sharp will knock your socks off with this clever cozy mystery."—Fresh Fiction




The Bridal Quest


Book Description

Lady Irene Wyngate has sworn she'll never marry, keeping suitors at bay with her caustic tongue. But there is one man she can't scare: Gideon, long-lost heir to the Earl of Radbourne. He was kidnapped as a child and grew up tough on the London streets. And though he's been restored to his family, he is still more at home in gambling dens than stately ballrooms. Irene isn't attracted to Gideon, or so she says when matchmaker Francesca Haughston asks for her help to civilize him for marriage. After all, he is a true rogue with a dubious past—a handsome rogue, she has to admit. But as she reluctantly begins to yield to love, wicked family secrets come to light…with devastating consequences for the reluctant lovers.




Educating Caroline


Book Description

With The Princess Diaries author Meg Cabot’s sparkling wit, this Victorian romance follows a young woman looking for lessons in love—now with a stunning new cover. Lady Caroline Linford is horrified to discover her fiancé, the Marquis of Winchilsea, in the arms of another woman. Unfortunately, the rest of Victorian society doesn’t seem to understand the betrayal. Such extracurriculars are par for the course—society believes there is certainly no reason for Caroline to cancel their imminent wedding. But Caroline is determined to make sure that the man she is to marry will desire only her, so she enlists the best teacher in the art of romance: London’s most notorious rake, Braden Granville. As their passionate tutelage begins, sparks fly and the lines between teacher and student get increasingly blurred. Now there is just one last lesson to learn: on the subject of true love, the heart chooses its own unpredictable ways.




Purrfect Murder


Book Description

There's something special about Max. He may look like your regular ginger flabby tabby, but unlike most tabbies, he can actually communicate with his human, reporter for the Hampton Cove Gazette Odelia Poole. Max takes a keen interest in the goings-on in their small town, by snooping around with his best friends Dooley, a not-too-bright ragamuffin, and Harriet, a gorgeous white Persian. Their regular visits to the police station, the barbershop and the doctor's office provide them with those precious and exclusive scoops that have made Odelia the number one reporter in town.But when suddenly the body of a bestselling writer is discovered buried in the last Long Island outhouse, and a new policeman arrives in town to solve the murder, it looks like things are about to change in Hampton Cove. Detective Chase Kingsley doesn't take kindly to nosy reporters like Odelia snooping around his crime scene or interviewing his suspects. And to make matters worse, he's got a cat of his own in Brutus, a buff, black bully, who, just like his owner, likes to lay down the law. Soon Brutus isn't just restricting access to the police station, but he's putting the moves on Harriet, breaking up the band.Now it's all Odelia, Max and Dooley can do to try and solve the murder, in spite of Detective Kingsley's and Brutus's protestations, and show the overbearing cop and his bullyragging feline how things are done in Hampton Cove. Will Odelia find the killer before Detective Kingsley does? And will Max prevent Brutus from moving in on his territory and taking over the town? Find out in Purrfect Murder, the first book in the new Mysteries of Max series.




Find a Husband After 35


Book Description

Fate is late! For women 35 to 95, it’s time to get proactive if you want to find a husband. The rules for finding the right mate change later in life, as there are fewer eligible men and fewer opportunities to meet them. Now successful dating coach Rachel Greenwald shares her proven 15-step action program based on simple marketing tactics she learned at Harvard Business School. These innovative and smart tactics will empower any woman to find a husband quickly and efficiently–and not just any husband: a wonderful husband. In this practical no-nonsense guide, Greenwald tells women how to package their assets, develop a personal brand, leverage niche marketing, use direct mail and telemarketing to get the word out, establish a husband-hunting budget, and hold quarterly performance reviews to assess the results. She also shows women how to use these strategies in the world of online dating and how to avoid common pitfalls. Greenwald’s 15 steps form a unique and effective plan for any woman who wants to jump-start her dating life and enrich her portfolio of potential husbands.