Margaret is not a conventional woman of the early-nineteenth century. She's not interested in pretty dresses and tea parties, but instead longs for adventure in the great outdoors. Margaret convinces her father, William, to seek opportunity in the fur trade business.

They embark on a journey that follows the Louis and Clark route along the Missouri River into Blackfoot country to trade for beaver skins. As she gains freedom from the social structures that bind her in the East, she doesn't anticipate the changes this new life brings. The travelers face an array of challenges from the weather, wild animals, and the native Indian tribes.

Margaret thrives in this wild country, where she catches sight of Taima, the Thunder Horse, who refuses to be caught. Together with Night Hawk, a warrior in the Black Horse Band of the Kainah Blackfoot, they both seek to capture this beautiful, wild horse. Night Hawk believes the elusive Taima will fulfill his dreams. He doesn't expect his plans-or his life-to be complicated by a Long Knife woman with similar dreams.

Margaret, Night Hawk, and Taima gain honor and strength from each other-a strength that is shared with the Black Horse Band-providing a link to the future that could have been.

Confederate Colonel H. Clay King tries to help the widow of his commanding officer when she and her family lose everything by inviting them to move onto his Arkansas plantation. But Mary Eliza Pillow has more in mind than gratitude. The beautiful young widow seduces the married colonel, chases his wife off the property by alleging an affair between Mrs. King and a farm worker, and persuades the colonel to give her the deed to his property. When Colonel King reconsiders that decision, she reminds him of his darkest secret from the War--would his beautiful lover betray him in order to take his property? Refusing to divorce his wife, Colonel King is both relieved and miserable when Mrs. Pillow is persuaded by her family to leave his home. But the ever-determined widow records her deed as she leaves Arkansas, infuriating Colonel King and beginning a path of destruction that ends in murder. Based on a true story, A Serpent Cherished recounts the tangled tale of a nineteenth century woman determined to use any means--lies, scandal, lawsuits--to get what she wants and a vulnerable man driven to do anything to protect his honor.

1595. Puerto Rico. The Aquino Plantation is a world of wealth, tradition, and loyalty to Spain. For sixteen year-old Soledad it is a world of empty rituals and hypocrisy. Until the night she is captured by pirates. The night she meets Captain Luna Negra. Luna Negra is a pirate. He lives in a world of violence and betrayal. His life has been dedicated to the destruction of the Spanish rule. Until he meets Soledad. Now, their lives can no longer be the same. Soledad must face what it means to be a lady of Spain, the fiancee of headstrong Captain Rodrigo de las Rosas, and a silent member of a society trapped in the past. Luna Negra must question his place as the leader of his men, his part in a society that shuns him, and his blind desire for revenge. United in their search for freedom, Soledad and Luna Negra must find their true destiny.

Can you leave the past behind and embrace the future? - A brand new series from Tracy Baines. 'A new saga author has arrived. The Women of Fisher's Wharf is a joy to read' - AnneMarie Brear Great Grimsby, 1912 Newlywed fisherman Alec Hardy decides to make a fresh start with his young wife Letty and move to the thriving fishing port of Grimsby in search of a brighter future. Letty is from farming stock and knows nothing of the hard life as a fishermen's wife but is willing to embrace the challenge with Alec. But where Alec goes, so does his widowed mother, Dorcas and she has trouble coming to terms with taking second place in her son's life. With Alec at sea for weeks on end, the two women clash and Letty seeks escape from her bitter mother-in-law amongst the streets of Fish Dock Wharf. Can Letty help them break free from the shadows of the past or will she be bound by Dorcas' insistence that they cling to the old ways? Praise for Tracy Baines: 'A saga about ambition, hard work, courage ...and spite'. Rosie Clarke I highly recommend this book.' Fenella Miller 'An emotional, entertaining read that had me gripped!' Sheila Riley 'An absorbing saga. I loved it from the very beginning and would highly recommend it...' Elaine Roberts 'Terrific - beautifully written. A well-crafted and satisfying story' Maisie Thomas 'A pleasure from start to finish.' Glenda Young 'an evocative, busy, entertaining read vying with angst, and of course, more than a dollop of tension.' Margaret Graham, Frost Magazine 'Characterisation is one of the book's strong points - the individual characters stay in your mind long after you finish the story.' Barbara Dynes, The Voice'I just loved this book! Molly Walton

Based on extensive research of Cherokee traditions and myths, this mesmerizing historical novel tells of one young woman's quest to find her Cherokee roots. This is also her story of love and of her struggle to achieve her personal goals in the male-dominated society of the 1800's. Deborah Howell, an ambitious reporter, is seeking a human interest story. A captivating Cherokee matriarch tells her own heartwarming love story for the Raleigh newspaper. Deborah, born of mixed blood and raised as a white child, is filled with delight. In the presence of this elderly storyteller her need for her Cherokee family is awakened. She opens her heart and soul to her colleague, George Boone. After their marriage George tries to control her life. Tragedy drives them further apart, but with every crisis Deborah gains strength by returning to her Cherokee family. Finding her Cherokee roots is not the only heart-rending event in this saga. The shaman foretells that the Great Spirit will restore all that was taken away by the evil one. Deborah does not learn the meaning of this prophecy until 16 years later, after her husband's death. possible.

The disagreement between the North and South, which resulted in the deadly exchange of musket and cannon fire, had lasted over three years when Johnson Perry was severely wounded. His soldiering for the Southern States ended in February 1865, with an honorable discharge for medical reasons. He had obediently defended his conviction with spirit and valor since being inducted in January 1863. During his active duty of over two years, he had been wounded three times; contracted the mumps, pneumonia, and typhoid; and continually suffered from chronic diarrhea. He believed in his heart that the reason he survived was because he pledged his word to return to his betrothed, Sally Lou Foster. While wounded on the battlefield in excruciating pain and during long lonely nights of bitter cold and periods of depression and hopelessness, it was always thoughts of Sally Lou that gave him the will to live. More times than he could remember, only the vision of her smile and her letters strengthened his resolve to endure for another day. On his way home to marry Sally Lou, a beautiful young widow, Carrie Butler, gave him shelter from a snowstorm. After a week in her cabin, Johnson Perry's promise to Sally Lou became less important, even though he was taught to honor his word regardless of circumstances. The pain and hardships of war seemed trivial when compared with the torturous decision to continue home to Sally Lou or remain with the widow.