by Philip Eliot | Jun 10, 2025 | Mystery |
It’s “great fun” when a baker’s dozen of Golden Age authors collaborate on a whodunit—including Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and G. K. Chesterton (The Guardian). Originally published in 1931, The Floating Admiral is a classic literary collaboration by members of the Detection Club, in which each chapter is written by a different mystery author, with G. K. Chesterton adding a prologue after the novel was completed. Each writer was tasked with building on what the previous writer created, without ignoring or avoiding whatever plot points had come before. Although Anthony Berkeley wrote the definitive conclusion to the mystery in his final chapter, the writers all provided their own individual solutions, each in a sealed envelope, which appear in the appendix. In the words of Dorothy L. Sayers in her introduction, the spirit of the project was that of a “detection game,” for the amusement of the authors—and their readers. In the sleepy English seaside village of Whynmouth, an old sailor discovers a corpse floating serenely in a rowboat owned by the local vicar. The victim has been stabbed in the chest. It falls to Inspector Rudge to solve this most baffling mystery, in which not only the identity of the killer but the identity of the victim is called into question. The Floating Admiral includes contributions by Canon Victor L. Whitechurch, G. D. H. and Margaret Cole, Henry Wade, Agatha Christie, John Rhode, Milward Kennedy, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ronald A. Knox, Freeman Wills Crofts, Edgar Jepson, Clemence Dane, and Anthony Berkeley. “I was . . . hugely entertained by the virtuoso displays of mental gymnastics, which kept me guessing all the way.” —The Guardian
by Philip Eliot | Jun 10, 2025 | Historical Romance |
Time doesn’t heal. Time bends.Debut author Sarah K. Trainor crafts a lyrical, mesmerizing tale about the choices we make when time itself hangs in the balance, and captures a singular type of loneliness as we follow an imperfect main character. Perfect for fans of the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, Scott Alexander Howard’s The Other Valley, V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic and Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter, Time is a Room is a spellbinding journey through the nature of time, destiny, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.In a world where time is malleable and reality splinters into infinite possibilities, Eliza’s ordinary life is shattered when her boyfriend mysteriously vanishes. Enter Alden, an enigmatic man who offers her a deal: he’ll help find Connor if she agrees to become his apprentice in Epoch, a town that exists outside of time itself.As Eliza develops her nascent ability to see through the threads of time and parallel realities, she discovers a shadowy force has been systematically eliminating people from existence, collapsing entire universes in its wake. Caught between her growing feelings for Alden, her friendship with the charming scientist Sid, and her desperate search for Connor, Eliza must navigate a web of loyalties and deception to discover where her true destiny lies.This is the first of two books in The Doyen Series.What readers had to say:“Dreamy writing.”“I struggled to put it down.”“The concept alone is so creative.”“Beautifully written.”“Has the feel of older classics.”“Confidently carves out its own identity in the genre.”“Evocative.””A poetic and introspective novel that explores themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The writing is lyrical and reflective, with moments of profound beauty.”
by Philip Eliot | Jun 10, 2025 | Romantic Comedy |
A must-read strangers to lovers, only one bed, sorchingly addictive romance. Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Christina Lauren and Hannah Grace!Two strangers. One Bed…After three months of travelling, all entrepreneur Connor Preston wants to do is return to his holiday home in the South of France, sink into his own bed and shut the world out temporarily. The last thing he expects is to find a stark-naked woman already there….Forced by her business partner to take a break in her sumptuous French farmhouse, workaholic Josie Marchpane wasn’t anticipating company either. So imagine her shock when six foot four inches of pure muscle with a disturbingly sexy smile stranger and apparent co-owner of the house walks in and tells her to leave!Knowing she has every right to be there, Josie stands her ground, she’s not about to give up without a fight. Because Josie plays to win. The problem? Connor does, too. And with only one bed between them, things are about to get interesting….PRAISE FOR CHRISTY MCKELLEN‘I just loved it – the perfect amount of heart, heat and humour in this pacy, racy romance read’ Sandy Barker????? ‘There is no one like Christy McKellen for fun, flirty and sexy romance with a lot of heart and deep emotional insight’ – Jessica Gilmore’This has all the sizzling vibes of a fun, page-turning, will they/won’t they romance. Had me hooked!’ Jo Lyons????? ‘It’s sexy, laugh-out-loud funny, and just the right dose of heartfelt moments. Definitely recommend! ‘ Reader Review????? ‘This book ticked every box for me on what I like in a romance.’ Reader Review????? ‘LOOOOVE THIS BOOK! It’s so funny and the plot and storyline keep you in it. Would highly recommend.’ Reader Review
by Philip Eliot | Jun 10, 2025 | Cozy Mystery |
The first two books in the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series: Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun–When Anastasia Pollack’s husband permanently cashes in his chips at a roulette table in Vegas, her comfortable middle-class life craps out. She’s left with two teenage sons, a mountain of debt, and her hateful, cane-wielding Communist mother-in-law. Not to mention stunned disbelief over her late husband’s secret gambling addiction, and the loan shark who’s demanding fifty thousand dollars. Anastasia’s job as crafts editor for a magazine proves no respite when she discovers a dead body glued to her office chair. The victim, fashion editor Marlys Vandenburg, collected enemies and ex-lovers like Jimmy Choos on her ruthless climb to editor-in-chief. But when evidence surfaces of an illicit affair between Marlys and Anastasia’s husband, Anastasia becomes the number one suspect. Death by Killer Mop Doll–Overdue bills and constant mother vs. mother-in-law battles at home are bad enough. But crafts editor Anastasia Pollack’s stress level is maxed out when she and her fellow American Woman editors get roped into unpaid gigs for a revamped morning TV show. Before the glue is dry on Anastasia’s mop dolls, morning TV turns crime drama when the studio is trashed and the producer is murdered. Former co-hosts Vince and Monica—sleazy D-list celebrities—stand out among a lengthy lineup of suspects, all furious over the show’s new format. And Anastasia has no clue her snooping has landed her directly in the killer’s unforgiving spotlight. Craft projects included.
by Philip Eliot | Jun 10, 2025 | Romantic Comedy |
Eve is Miss Independence incarnate. She can juggle work, school and a fixer-upper house just fine with a little help from YouTube. Well, she could, if her beloved cat, Thor, would stop getting into trouble—like getting stuck behind the walls. Thankfully, handymen make house calls at ridiculous-o’clock in the morning.Enter Brent who not only has all the power tools she needs, he looks like the God Thor. A mountain of muscle with movie-star hair, shining green eyes, and a perfectly scruffed, chiseled jaw. Just great. She doesn’t have time for all the lusty neediness rising where it should not be rising. Eve reminds herself and her weakening knees that she’s a strong, independent woman determined to make it without anyone’s help. But as more renovation and cat-astrophes pile on, she finds her fingers doing the walking to call Brent to her rescue.And she has to decide if keeping him at arm’s length fits her life plan, or if it’s the biggest miscalculation she’s ever made.It doesn’t help Thor seems to be in cahoots with Brent when it comes to foisting romance on her.An opposites attract, laugh out loud, romantic comedy. Oh, and one very naughty Maine Coon cat.
