Master of Illusion—Book One
Historical Fiction —Mystery, crime, romance, OPERA, Phan Fiction
Historical Fiction —Mystery, crime, romance, OPERA, Phan Fiction
**Winner of the Silver Medal for Historical Literature Fiction (Modern) 2014 Global Ebook Awards**
Murder, Magic, Music and Obsession: Master of Illusion follows the lives of childhood comrades, Angel and Elise, as they run hand in hand from a history of treachery, heartache and crippling abuse. Under the mask of exceptional talent and in the name of justice, they each grapple with their own damaged version of love and loyalty, while fiercely protecting their terrible secrets.
Set in the operatic era of 19th century France, talented dancer Elise is discovered by the eminent Opéra Français and is whisked away from a simple life to fulfil her dreams of becoming prima ballerina. Her path is forever changed the day she rescues the disfigured, amnesic genius—Angel—from a life of abandonment and mistreatment. Angel's obsessions define him: his emulation of the Phantom of the Opera coupled with a latent dark side develop into a fervent passion for a young soprano. Cast under Angel's charming spell, Elise assumes the role of his protector and nurturer—only to discover that she, too, wields powers of her own: persuasion and contrivance.
In trying to reach the pinnacle of operatic success, Angel and Elise are faced with the challenge of defining justice, love and self-acceptance. Through abandonment, Angel knows only one form of love— obsession; and Elise, whose purity lies in ruins at the hands of evil, is raped of her capacity for romantic love.
Can they fulfil their childhood dreams without blood on their hands? ...
Master of Illusion—Book Two
Historical Fiction —Mystery, romance, OPERA, Paris, Phan Fiction
Historical Fiction —Mystery, romance, OPERA, Paris, Phan Fiction
It is Paris, 1892. The story of the tormented genius, Angel, and his childhood friend, Elise, continues in an entanglement of secrets and subterfuge. The young girl who once graced the stage as prima ballerina now directs the highly successful Opéra Magique as Madame Dupont, where audiences flock to be cast under the spell of the Master of Illusion and his fairy-like assistant, Sprite.
Walking the fine line required to keep in abeyance the forbidden passions of her star and her goddaughter, the beautiful comtesse de Villefontaine, Madame Dupont uses all her ingenuity to divert the jealous rage of the comte and the suspicions of the Police Chief, Captain Moreau.
Few people know the truth behind the Master's identity, yet one of them is about to give him away. As their opera house and lives are suddenly plunged into unthinkable tragedy, fate thrusts Angel and Elise—the Master and Madame—onto a new path of discovery, where they battle choices of life and death, of courage and sacrifice, as they finally discover the answers to questions they have yearned for since childhood.
In discovering the truth of the past, the truth about the Master and the truth about love, do they find the solace they so crave?
Angel of Song—Book Three
Historical Fiction — World War I Romance, paris, France
Historical Fiction — World War I Romance, paris, France
** BRONZE MEDALIST Modern Historical Literature Fiction 2016 GEA **
Born into the halcyon era of the Belle Époque, Parisian debutante Angelique de Villefontaine has been shielded all her young life by her influential guardian, the marquis du Bois, and his life-long companion, Madame Dupont. Despite the protection of her mentors, the allure of her ethereal beauty and surpassing talent cannot be restrained, and Angelique's life becomes a frenetic whirl of performance and social engagement, peppered with the seduction of fame and adulation. Though she has a voice of an angel, she is not without her demons.
Unbeknownst to Angelique, her guardian is frantically attempting to bring the antiquated French Military into the twentieth century. Acutely aware of growing political tensions and paranoia sweeping Europe, the marquis' efforts are rebuffed. Despairing, he sends his protégé on a mission hitherto unthinkable. Oblivious to this seething political clime, Angelique embarks on the most important tour of her budding career, only to be turned back by a murder that plunges the world into darkness.
Rendered hysterical by the horrors of war, Angelique rallies to help the wounded. Amidst rumours of an angel whose voice can inspire, soothe and heal, an eminent general makes an astonishing request. And the marquis must use all his ingenuity to protect his ward from enemies, both within their own military and without.
In the particular hell of the trenches, soldiers sacrifice their lives to hold their posts against insurmountable odds; and as the French search for inspiration to counter the nihilistic policy of an implacable enemy, they find they already have a secret weapon—their own Angel of Song.
Guardian Angel—Book Four
historical fiction—World war ii, adventure, romance, french resistance
historical fiction—World war ii, adventure, romance, french resistance
Ten-year-old French singer Nicolas de Beaulieu seems to have it all in the rigours and depression of the 1930s: money, social status, fame. But as he grows up, he becomes no stranger to grief and loss.
World War II begins and Nicolas finds himself in deadly peril, hunted by the Nazis. His already complicated relationship with the girl he loves takes a new direction when France surrenders to Germany, and they fight a different kind of war as part of la Résistance.
Hidden in the fastness of their mountain stronghold, every day is a battle of wits, courage and endurance as they fight to survive and undermine the overwhelming might of the Nazi war machine. And it appears the Nazis have the upper hand until salvation comes from an unexpected source ...
Winter at Medora Downs
Romantic Suspense—Cosy Mystery, Outback Australia, Clean Romance
Romantic Suspense—Cosy Mystery, Outback Australia, Clean Romance
Sarah, a young Sydney schoolteacher, plans to escape her violent and controlling fiancé, David, by disappearing into the Outback in search of a new life as governess to two orphaned children who live on a remote cattle station in Western Queensland, known as Medora Downs. Everyone she meets there seems friendly and welcoming, even the somewhat enigmatic, yet devastatingly handsome station owner—Devin Mainwaring.
All too soon, Sarah discovers that all is not as it seems in this remote paradise. As she becomes entangled in a triangle of love and jealousy, life quickly unravels. Sarah finds herself the victim of a series of deadly accidents, seemingly designed to eradicate her from the picture. Despite the best efforts of her watchful protectors, one thing is clear: Sarah must discover who is determined to kill her or die in the process.
A crack team of Outback detectives is put on the case. Although the evidence seems to be pointing in an obvious direction, there's one surprisingly brilliant mind who is onto the would-be murderer.
Can they save Sarah before she becomes just another statistic, and will she finally find the love she so deserves?
Wild Kingdom
Romantic Suspense—Western Romance, Outback Australia, Clean Romance
Romantic Suspense—Western Romance, Outback Australia, Clean Romance
Sudden tragedy places Laura’s life on a new and unexpected path, leading her on a journey back to her roots at a remote cattle station in the Gulf of Carpentaria. While she expects to find the long-lost sanctuary of her childhood, she is instead greeted with chaos and a dream set in ruins.
Laura finds herself burdened with the unyielding task of rebuilding her great-uncle’s cattle station, where the anticipated struggles of this harsh environment are superseded by a more imminent danger in the form of a cunning, daring stock thief who will stop at nothing to break her.
Strong-willed and determined, Laura digs in her heels to battle all obstacles in order to keep the station afloat. But all too soon, she faces the greatest challenge of all: desperately trying to stop herself from falling for the one man she can’t be sure she can trust.
Is Laura in love with a traitor, and is she being set-up to fail?
Secrets of the Rock
Romantic Suspense—Outback Romance, Clean Romance, Murder Mystery
Romantic Suspense—Outback Romance, Clean Romance, Murder Mystery
Secrets of the Rock picks up from award-winning novel Winter at Medora Downs a decade later ... Following in the footsteps of her best friend Sarah at Medora Downs, Jo resigns from her job in Sydney and moves to an Outback Queensland station, called Emerald Hills to become governess for a bright, gifted boy named William.
Soon, she discovers a hideaway at Rainbow Rock—special to both her and her charge. But they aren’t the only ones in on the secrets of the rock. Unwittingly, Jo has walked in on an underground drug cartel, and with a surprise new romance, she has no idea how dangerously entwined the secrets of the rock are.
Will the Secrets of the Rock bring true love or cost Jo her life?