In 1944, Muriel discarded her friendship with Sanna and concocted a self-centered plot, which gave her what she wanted: Derek VanHousen. That Sanna and Derek were all but publicly engaged didn't deter Muriel. Blindly she plunged into the murky waters of self-gratification, latching on to everything but a clean conscience and peace of mind. Now it is 1964 and Sanna is returning to Dutchville. With his first-love walking the same streets again, will Derek remain true to his wife? Muriel has a tough row ahead if she's going to make what she knows to be fiction (a happy VanHousen marriage) seem real enough to fool Sanna. Muriel has a two-pronged problem: 1) keeping face in a town that remembers her deviousness, and 2) resurrecting the vivacious Young Muriel who snagged her best friend's true love. Life is in disarray for the VanHousen family-while Sanna is as enticing as ever. Sometimes you just can't escape shadows, even shifting shadows . . .

When Devil Cynster and Honoria Wetherby are caught in a comprising position, he offers her marriage, but the spirited Honoria is not about to conform to conventions and decides that solving a mystery and seeing the world is more to her liking, despite her passionate longing for Devil.-NoveList.

Milford loves Sage Eden. She's one of their own, coming home as CEO of the long-awaited hospital. But the small Utah town isn't sure about Sage's husband, Zeke. He brought trouble with him when he did the unthinkable and involved four of Milford's best kids. When a Minnesota railroad scandal with a missing corpse rips across the Rockies and plummets to earth smack-dab in Utah, where else could tracks lead but to Zeke Eden, the mystery writer also-known-as Kiel Nede? The viewpoint from Milford to Rochester is this: Anyone who created as terrifying a hero as Raven Crowley is smart enough to pull off the murder someone dared to lift from the pages of Kiel Nede's latest book. When the body isn't found where his best-seller said it should be, Zeke realizes what really happened. He wishes Raven weren't just a figment of his imagination. Zeke's life derails while he seeks to reveal what only he and the murderer know: The truth.

When Dale Donnahue brought an unmarked box to Rick Dante, he delivered more than the notebook inside itÑhe dumped a nightmare on the Milford, Iowa, Chief of Police. The contents of that taunting notebook point an accusatory finger straight at Chief DanteÑwith the brazen implication that he hasnÕt been doing his job. The cryptic caption on the title page says: Milford, Iowa: Unsolved Murders. The murderer must be a cocky dude with ice flowing through his veins. The notebook contains irrefutable evidence of five seemingly unrelated homicides: five obituaries matched to five signs which incorporate MilfordÕs water tower into their sinister messages. Each sign follows the progression of the countdown to the grand finale: 1 down, 5 to go . . . 2 down, 4 to go . . . Rick and his police force must thaw five cold cases in search of clues. Unless they find the perpetrator of those heinous crimes, the execution of Ò6 down, 0 to goÓ will stun the town. No one will feel safe anymore in Milford, Iowa.

Years ago, Nell Crane built a wall of silence around herself and a serious lie. The barrier held firm until a reporter's sharp mind and pointed questions kicked a hole in it. With the whole wall in danger of giving way, Nell risks full exposure for what she is: a criminal. Ethan Crane is a man of high principles who has believed his wife shares his values and honors honesty and self-discipline. When Nell's illicit act and continuing deceit are revealed, their lives take a devastating blow. Boundaries shatter, trust crumbles. The Cranes wonder if naming their masonry business Rock Solid mocks everything they?ve worked so hard to achieve. Nell must decide her next step. Can she persist in lying, in hopes that doing so will preserve her pride? Or, must she face truth and justice, head-on, and live with the consequences?

A startling pronouncement changes Dutchville's Wedding-of-the-Decade from predictable to unusual. A furtive letter delivered at the reception generates speculation and dismay. Is anyone even thinking about the bride and groom? It's doubtful!