AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ellie was excited about two new tenants coming into the art center. One built birdhouses, another made wind chimes. The holidays were around the corner, and the center was bustling with shoppers, all in anticipation of the tree-lighting celebration. Cullen was busy trying to get things done for impatient customers. Luna was her usual ball of fire, lending advice for holiday decorating and creating a little holiday magic for her special clientele. The big holiday festival was on the horizon, and it included a date with Marshal Christopher Gaines.
Colette and Max spent a few more days at Cobblestone Hill, planning their next adventure. Clive offered Colette a job at his law firm. She would have to move back to Boston, but the opportunity to move back home made her very happy. Her parents were still there, and Max had friends. Her relationship with Logan was blossoming. He helped her find a nice, comfortable, ranch-style house in a good neighborhood with an excellent school. Once Randolph’s will was read, Clive gave her an envelope with a check for $100,000. “This is from Randolph. It was not a bequest, since he could not have you mentioned in the will and also witness his signature. That would be a conflict of interest. So he instructed me to transfer this money to you after his will was read. And, in addition, he set up a college fund for Max with a deposit of $50,000.” Colette was over the moon. She knew for certain that Randolph had been truly watching over her and her son.
Rowena and Arthur remained in jail as the charges of fraud, tax evasion, and embezzlement were stacked against them.
And Rowena verified what she had always thought was true—orange was not a good color for her.
Weaving a thread of suspense into her trademark powerful storytelling, #1New York Timesbestselling author Fern Michaels delivers a compelling new novel about a woman who learns that her new life may not be all it appears . . .
Anna Campbell is ready to take her first tentative steps back into the world after widowhood. On a singles cruise, she meets divorced professor Ryan Robertson, and the sparks between them are undeniable. Back home in West Texas, Anna and Ryan continue their romance, and Anna decides it’s time for their families to meet.
But the idyllic relationships Anna is hoping for are quickly thrown into doubt. Ryan and his children may not be all she thinks they are. And as the situation grows more desperate, Anna must reach deep within and draw on all her courage and self-reliance to fight for the family and home she deserves . . .
In this stirring new novel, acclaimed #1New York Timesbestselling author Fern Michaels delves into the remarkable ways in which moments of crises can lead to our greatest acts of courage . . .
When Carol Ann “CJ” Jansen lost her beloved older brother, Kick, in a boating accident, she came adrift. Kick had taken on the role of caring for his little sister after their parents were killed in a car crash. Inheriting half his fortune has left CJ financially secure—yet needing a purpose. As administrative assistant to powerful congressman Snapper Lewis, she’s immersed herself in the exciting and often tumultuous world of politics.
But suddenly, the career that anchors her life is threatened. CJ stumbles upon information that could implicate her boss in corruption. When the congressman dies of an apparent suicide, the closer CJ gets to uncovering the truth, exposing one shocking secret after another, the more she wonders if she’s also in jeopardy.
Moving to a small New England town for her own protection, CJ gradually begins to engage with her new surroundings. Her blossoming friendship with the owner of a charter fishing boat offers the promise of much more. But before she can claim happiness, CJ must navigate a course through all her doubts and fears, and trust that this time, the water that took so much from her might just lead her safely home . . .
THE TRUTH WILL RISE
Tessa Jamison couldn’t have imagined anything worse than losing her beloved twin girls and husband—until she was convicted of their murder. For years she has counted off the days in Florida’s Correctional Center for Women. Proving her innocence holds little appeal now that her family’s gone. But on one extraordinary day, her lawyers announce that Tessa’s conviction has been overturned due to a technicality, and she’s released on bail to await a new trial.
Tessa retreats to the small tropical island owned by her late husband’s pharmaceutical company. There, she begins to gather knowledge about her case. For the first time since her nightmare began, Tessa feels a sense of purpose in working to finally expose the truth and avenge her lost family. One by one, the guilty will be led to justice, and Tessa can gain closure. But will she be able to learn the whole truth at last . . . and reclaim her freedom and her future?
#1New York Timesbestselling author Fern Michaels weaves a powerful story of betrayal, courage, and starting over ...
From her silver Mercedes to her designer kitchen, Molly’s life is gleaming and beautiful—at least on the surface. But no one in her exclusive neighborhood in Goldenhills, Massachusetts, knows what living with her demanding husband Tanner is really like. They know even less about the life she left behind in Florida almost two decades ago.
Back then, Molly was Maddy Carmichael, living with her twin brother and neglectful mother in a run-down trailer park amid the orange groves of Florida. After the terrible events of her high school prom night, Molly fled north and reinvented herself. Now the veneer of Molly’s polished existence is finally cracking—and Molly must find the strength to become the woman she once hoped to be.
Chapter One
North Carolina
Cullen Bodman was a typical, clean-cut, all-American guy. He was nearly six feet tall, with sandy-brown hair and green eyes. True to his name, he was a “good-looking lad.” He had a lean and trim build. Physically fit. Woodworking had made his biceps the envy of most of the guys at the gym. They were toned and sinewy, something that came from physical labor rather than barbells. He loved to work with his hands. Build things. But his parents had encouraged him to get his degree in business administration. “You can take that anywhere” was his father’s advice.
He was right to a certain extent, but working in the business world was not anything for which Cullen had any real desire. He wanted to be enthusiastic about his work, something he shared with his sister. They were both creative and sensitive; and they felt smothered if they couldn’t express themselves. However, unlike his sister, Cullen often disguised his compassionate and sympathetic side. He needed to be levelheaded. Responsible. But underneath the cool, contemplative exterior was a kind, considerate, and tender man. It had been a long inner quest to be able to merge the two.
Now, at thirty-five, he could look forward to something exciting.Notlooking at spreadsheets and tracking costs per project. Other people’s projects. Bor. Ing. Butthis?Thiswas exhilarating. Even with the financial risks involved in starting a new business, he was happy to wake up to a new day every morning.
Cullen was equally thrilled to have his sister working in close proximity. Growing up, he had always been his sister’s protector. He knew she could take care of herself, but he also knew that she had a kind, vulnerable soul. Her empathy could lead her down paths where people did not appreciate her generosity.
Funny. Despite being psychic, she very often found herself bailing people out of tight messes while getting herself into one. He thought of the adage about the shoemaker’s kids who have no shoes. He recalled the time when one of her college roommates needed to borrow some cash. Luna couldn’t get to the bank and foolishly gave her roommate her ATM card. Luna had no reason not to trust her. They had been roommates for almost four years. But the next morning, she discovered that her roommate had cleaned out her account and skipped town. Cullen gave her the $3,000 she had stupidly let slip through her hands without a lecture or reprimand.
Or the time when someone spray painted big, black letters on Luna’s apartment door with the wordsWeirdo.Luna-tic!
It took several days of interrogating the neighborhood and looking at whatever surveillance video was available, but Cullen finally identified the graffiti artist and tracked him down. It took little convincing from Cullen for the Keith Haring wannabe to decide he would be retiring his can of spray paint.
Cullen smiled to himself recalling the confrontation. The kid was around twelve years old. Cullen followed him home from school. When Cullen rang the doorbell, a very tough-looking woman with a large mole on her chin answered. A large black hair, the size of a cat whisker, protruded from the mole. It completely caught Cullen off guard, and he almost burst out laughing. Instead, he regrouped and began his lecture. “Mrs. Rector, your son defaced my sister’s front door.”
She immediately became defensive, but Cullen put an abrupt halt to her tirade. “While my sister may have beliefs different from yours, I can assure you she is not weird. In fact, she is a highly spiritually evolved human being. Much more than I can say for you, given your lack of tolerance. I don’t know what you are teaching your children, but if I so much as see your son, or any member of your family, near my sister again, you will wish you lived in another country. Harassment and hate are not welcome here.” He stared her down. “Do I make myself clear?” Her lower lip twitched as the mole danced up and down on her face.
Mrs. Rector answered with a meek, “Crystal.” Cullen turned on his heel, eager to leave the scene before he burst out laughing. With that mole on her face and her hair wrapped up in a babushka, she reminded him ofStrega Nona, the famous award-winning children’s book by Tomie dePaola. It had once been banned for showing witchcraft and differences in spirituality in a positive light.How ironic, he thought.Luna will certainly get a big kick out of this.
Throughout high school and college, Cullen and Luna had remained close. Neither had married nor entered into a committed relationship. At least not for any length of time. Luna would give Cullen her take on the latest girlfriend. One time, it resulted in a heated argument when Luna warned Cullen that Nora was a cheater. “You have no proof of that,” he bellowed.
