Stories of the American West by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of North and South, “the best historical novelist of our time” (Patricia Cornwell). In these timeless stories of the untamed American West, John Jakes thrillingly portrays the harsh realities of life on the frontier with tales of lawmen in the Sierra Nevada, railroad workers in Kansas, and gamblers on the steamboat River Queen. From a saloon showdown unlike any other and outlaws double-crossing each other to a fur trapper hell-bent on vengeance and a power struggle between medicine men, Jakes’s frontier stories capture the same sweeping historical drama and unforgettable characterizations as his epic novels in the Crown Family Saga, the Kent Family Chronicles, and the North and South Trilogy.   “At the very heart of every Jakes saga is a story that throbs to the beat of history.” —The Cleveland Plain Dealer  This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Jakes including rare images from the author’s personal collection.

For every woman who’s had to choose between the secrets that protect her and the people she loves the most.1892The inheritance should have been theirs. Katherine Arthur and family arrive in Des Moines just in time to collect. The tidy sum would allow them peace of mind and a fulfilling future. But things go awry and Katherine must step up. She becomes the kitchen mistress for the wealthy woman next door, Violet Pendergrass. Katherine’s secret otherworldly intuition, mysterious recipe book, and work ethic, make her the perfect pawn for Violet to use in her pursuits. That is, until Katherine's childhood love, Aleksey Zurchenko, comes to town.Resourceful, shrewd, and tough, Violet sees the value in using Katherine and will stop at nothing to keep her on a leash and her secret safe from the world. Will the formidable Violet and the fear of exposure keep Katherine in line?Love, hope, joy, secrets buried in walls and hearts; all are threatened by those who claim to care about the Arthurs. Can Katherine separate what's right and true from what it takes to survive? Are they even different things?

‘What a page turner!' Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris'A delicious Art Deco novel with a delightfully acerbic heroine.' Marius Gabriel, author of The German Daughter'Original and immersive.' Eva Glyn, author of An Island of SecretsIn a bookshop nestled in the sprawling streets of Lisbon, a shopkeeper leads a double life…Looking for a new start after her father’s death, Lara Hope arrives in Lisbon in search of a family she’s never met.As war storms across Europe, Lara finds solace and belonging in her landlady’s tranquil bookshop in one of the most beautiful corners of the city.But when she witnesses a customer secretly swapping a book, she realises the bookshop is not all it seems. Lara is plunged into a labyrinthine world of mystery and facades, encountering new friends, an unexpected romance, and even royalty… Is she prepared to risk it all for this new life?Readers love The Bookshop of Secrets:'This book was an absolute joy. I didn’t want to finish it.' ?????'I adored this novel and found it hard to put down. The plot unfolds with ease and you easily warm to the characters.'?????'Beautifully written.' ?????'An exceptional read.' ?????

The cleverly intertwined and hauntingly beautiful tales of two women, centuries apart, dealing with grief, revenge and buried secrets. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.' Bestselling author, Jenni KeerA completely haunting, gripping historical novel, perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, and Kate Mosse.‘Totally gripping and atmospheric…’ Bestselling author of The Witch’s Tree, Elena Collins‘You must forever watch your back,’ I spoke the words clearly, though he could not hear me. ‘Come what may, I shall avenge my brother’s death.’Now: When Sarah’s summoned by her godmother to remote Norfolk, she doesn’t want to go. Crossing the bridges where the two rivers meet, said to be haunted by the ghost of a little boy, a large Tudor house looms in front of her. And Sarah’s instantly reminded her of the summer when she last visited. The summer she would like to forget. Which left her unable to ever move forward… Can a person ever recover from the loss of a sibling?1571: Anne Howard, newly-made countess of Arundel, has also lost a sibling. And been dragged from the relative safety of her home in remote Norfolk to London, by her overbearing, manipulative, new father-in-law Thomas Howard; the very person she suspects of killing her beloved only brother. The Howards have greater secrets than this though. Secrets that will lead Anne to a tragedy that will echo down the ages…When Sarah finds a mysterious book of poems in a hidden chamber of her godmother’s house, she is drawn into Anne’s story. Perhaps the mystery will take her mind off her own loss? But – as the flood waters begin to rise under the bridges – is Sarah laying ghosts to rest, or bringing truths to the surface that should stay beneath?Readers love Clare Marchant:‘I was completely hooked by this brilliant timeslip novel. Unmissable!’ Bestselling author, Louise Douglas‘Totally gripping and atmospheric… Breathtaking and beautifully written… Will stay with the reader long after the last page.’ Bestselling author of The Witch’s Tree, Elena Collins‘A haunting tale of one woman’s struggle to be independent at a time when strong women were seen as a threat and dealt with accordingly… Gripped me from the first page and refused to let go.’ Bestselling author, Jenni Keer‘{::}A page turning historical novel that kept me guessing until the very end.’ Bestselling author, Rachel Burton‘I absolutely loved this book… Historical fiction at its best. I loved the two strong women bound by place and history. I read [it] in two sittings, it was hard to put down!’ Reader Review ?????‘Wow!!! I was totally hooked from the very first page… A real page turner!’ Reader Review ?????‘A wonderful timeslip novel, that reminds me of Barbara Erskine… Highly recommended.’ Reader Review ?????‘Captivating… [A] gripping story of courage, resilience, history, triumph, discovery and hard-fought freedom. I highly recommend it!’ Reader Review ?????‘Amazing and fascinating… So atmospheric… So many brilliant twists, and breath-holding moments, I really struggled to put down this fantastic book!’ Reader Review ?????‘An amazing read!… The ending was perfection!’ Reader Review ?????‘I absolutely loved this book… I’ve been in a reading rut recently and this book reignited my love and I finished the whole thing in snatched moments in one day… I loved it.’ Reader Review ?????

What hope does an army of children have against the might of the Mamluks?Brother Foulques de Villaret just wants to stay in Acre and perform his sworn duties. Instead, the young Hospitaller Knight of Saint John must undertake a dangerous journey from the Holy Land to a remote village nestled in the Alps, the "Spine of the World". His mission: buy 500 peasant boys and return them to Acre to be trained as Soldiers of Christ.Pursued across the Mid-Earth Sea by slavers, Brother Foulques and his Army of Children are about to be thrust into a confrontation with the greatest warriors the East has ever known: the Mamluks.To survive, Brother Foulques must turn to risky alliances… and pray that his choices do not lead them all to destruction.With over 600 GOODREADS 5-Star Ratings, Swift's Hospitaller Saga is not to be missed. Action-packed adventure perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom.

She wanted a quiet life—something mafia-free. But that was never going to be Thelma Miles’s story.St. Petersburg, Florida, 1944. When 18-year-old Thelma Miles joins a troupe of swimsuit models on a national war bond tour, she’s sure she’s escaped her dangerous past.Until she realizes she’s stepped straight into the mafia’s lair—and they’re not about to let her walk away.Her new boss, Kathleen Young, is obsessed with climbing the social ladder and more than willing to shove Thelma into the path of Florida’s deadliest crime syndicates. But when Kathleen gets caught in the crossfire, the two form an uneasy alliance and hit the road—running from trouble they can’t quite outdistance.Haunted by flickering premonitions she can’t control, Thelma must navigate not just wartime America, but the brutal power plays and tangled loyalties lurking behind the glamor. Between Kathleen’s ruthless ambition and Thelma’s dangerous second sight, they might just prove that women really can have it all—if they survive the tour.Now if they can just make it to the end without murdering anyone.Else. Without murdering anyone else.“A rollicking debut novel brimming with colorful characters, twists and turns, and—at its heart—women who form an unbreakable bond.” —NYT-bestselling author Jane HellerIf you love the immersive worlds of Beatriz Williams, the complex heroines of Kate Quinn, and the dark wit of Gillian Flynn, you’ll love Florida Girls—Book One of The Queenpin Chronicles.Continue the adventure in Vegas Girls (available now) and Havana Girls (coming June 2025).Discover more from L.L. Kirchner:American Lady Creature (memoir)Blissful Thinking (memoir)Second edition, May 2025.