Books

Russian River

THEY CHASED FREEDOM. PERIL, ROMANCE AND HEARTBREAK CAME ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

Throwing off the chains of Tsarist Russia, a father and son pursue a dream of personal liberation and a vision greater than themselves in a series of struggles that play out against the raw canvas of ambition, amorality and racism that was the California Gold Rush. It’s the mid-1800s. Stepan Kenin is a war hero and revolutionary exiled by the Tsar to a colony clinging to the coast of Northern California. His break for freedom leads to a reunion with his son Dmitri twenty-five years in the making. But freedom, they learn all too soon, demands sacrifice. Dmitri battles corruption in San Francisco and lawlessness in the gold mines of the Sierra foothills while finding love with a woman whose secret could destroy their hopes for a measure of peace and happiness.

“The sweep of history and intimate lives.”

Combustion

HUMANITY’S DARKER INSTINCTS CAN BE FAR MORE EXPLOSIVE THAN ANY ROCKET FUEL. . .

In eight weeks, flamboyant space billionaire Roy Vikander will launch on behalf of NASA a manned rocket on a goodwill mission to the Chinese space station, Shenguang–“divine light.” It’s a fixture in the sky that many regard with trepidation as the latest manifestation of the Asian superpower’s aggressive nationalism. For the American president, the mission promises political redemption. For FBI agent Tim Wyeth, those eight weeks will turn into the ordeal of a lifetime as he battles the twin demons of espionage and eco-terror while fighting to save his daughter’s soul.

“Mysterious, suspenseful and thrilling.”

The Last Safe Place

TRUST NO ONE. . .

Eliamma is a teenaged Syrian refugee on the run in Vienna. She’s being hunted and she’s alone. When an accidental encounter brings her under the protection of American art forger Rob Kingston, the consequences are unexpected and devastating. The time is now, as waves of men, women and children sweep across Europe, desperate to escape the chaos and horrors of a war-scoured Middle East. It’s an upheaval unprecedented since the end of World War Two. Among Austrians and their European neighbors, compassion is fighting a losing battle with fear. Into this cauldron plunges Eliamma, a Damascene Christian hoping to find sanctuary in Sweden. She and Kingston clash the moment they set eyes on each other, and together they spin a relationship based on half-truths, lies and cover-ups. Almost too late, they discover they’re also each other’s savior.

“A deep and exciting novel. . . Truly an enjoyable page turner!”

The Devil in Dreamland

NAZI SPIES. BOGART. BEDLAM.
HOLLYWOOD, 1942.

A stagehand saddled with a bad leg, Ben Kaline would much rather be overseas fighting the Nazis than working on the set of CASABLANCA. But a German spymaster whose lair is the movie capital of the world is planning acts of sabotage so devastating they could bring the U.S. war industry to its knees. Ben may be the only man capable of stopping him–with a little help from Bogie. . .

“Full of atmosphere, complete with more than a couple of red herrings, the DEVIL IN DREAMLAND is a sweet read.”

Decatur’s Dig

HISTORY IS EVERYTHING…

For more than five centuries, the Portuguese have revered Vasco da Gama for his discovery of the sea route to India, an achievement that forged an empire and changed the world. But what if one of the most famous “facts” in history rested on a bedrock of deception? Would one person—a young woman whose passion is excavating shipwrecks and whose personal life is in turmoil—have even the slightest chance of uncovering the truth? Catherine Decatur is about to find out. The American archaeologist is working in Lisbon when she stumbles onto a conspiracy to steal priceless artifacts from the remains of a mystery ship that may have been commanded by da Gama himself. Despite her mistrust of men, she unites with her ex-lover on a quest that promises to lead them to the greatest relic of all. All too soon they become the quarry of not only powerful criminals but implacable agents of a government bent on preserving its secrets at any cost. Catherine’s adversaries are ruthless enough to use her own father as a weapon against her, but they underestimate her devotion to the truth, a devotion she’s willing to die for—twice. . .

“A very fast-paced book with lots of action and history.”

Beranek’s Stand

American archaeologist Charles Beranek is on the verge of unearthing an ancient masterpiece of engineering that will compel scholars to revise their list of the world’s great wonders. There’s only one problem — the dig is in Iran. When Islamic extremists move to arrest Beranek and his students on trumped-up charges of stealing priceless relics, they take refuge in the remnants of a clifftop stronghold. They endure violence and betrayal, but — the odds be damned — Beranek isn’t about to give up until the ruins yield their final secret. In the end, Beranek must confront a question with profound implications: Who really owns the world’s ancient treasures? The people who inherited them or humanity itself?

“A novel that grips you from the beginning and doesn’t let go.”