letters in time novel #1
2022 Winner of Gold Medal in the Bookfest Awards - First Place in Historical Fiction – Mystery
When Emma Chase, a kindergarten teacher, moves to a quaint Cottage on land once known as Waterwood Plantation and finds an antique plantation desk, a unique adventure begins connecting the past and present.
A letter dated 1862 appears on the desk declaring undying love and a plea for Emma to reply. Who is the Emma he searches for? Is the desk haunted by this letter-writer named Daniel? Does she believe in ghosts? Should she respond?
When the police arrive to investigate a murder, she wonders if there is a connection?
When Emma writes Dear Sir, she is soon caught up in the search for treasure, killers who will stop at nothing, and greed dating back to the Civil War. Does Daniel hold the secret that can save her from a murderer?
With historic St. Michaels, Maryland as the backdrop, Letters in Time combines a complicated mystery and surprising historical notes with a dash of romance.
Letters in Time is the first novel in the IN TIME series of historical fiction mysteries with a dash of romance set in St. Michaels on the Maryland Eastern Shore, named in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz.
Diaries in Time Novel #2
Diaries in Time is a tale of love lost and found, secrets buried and revealed, and the intricate patterns a person’s choices can weave through time.
Emma Chase, still captivated by her ghostly correspondence with Daniel, discovers his mysterious presence is not the only one lingering at Waterwood House. Led by the ghostly letters and hidden diaries of the long-ago mistress of the Civil War plantation, Emma uncovers family secrets and a truth buried in the mid-1800s from prying eyes is brought to light today.
With emotions running high, Emma learns love and passion can pit sister against sister, husband against wife. Choices made – then and now – often ignite red-hot emotions and even lead to murder.
Diaries in Time combines a complicated mystery and surprising Civil War historical facts with a dash of romance.
Second novel in the IN-TIME series, winner of the Bookfest Awards Gold Medal for Best Fiction Series (2023). Diaries in Time also won the Bookfest Awards Gold Medal for Best Historical Fiction-Mystery (2023).
messages in time novel #3
Messages in Time brings an unexpected visitor to the doorstep of Emma Chase’s Cottage, drawing her into a mystery that spans more than a century. A Civil War artifact holds the key...if she can find it.
Guided by letters written by the ghostly mistress of Waterwood Plantation, Emma discovers a dangerous link between past and present: family secrets and a truth long buried from prying eyes. Choices made – then and now – ignite red-hot emotions turning sister against sister, husband against wife.
With the clock ticking, Emma must navigate the twists and turns of the search from an antique auction house, historians eager for prestige … and murder.
Third novel in the IN-TIME series, winner of the Bookfest Awards Gold Medal for Best Fiction Series (2023).
PORTRAITS IN TIME NOVEL #4
Now living in the heart of picturesque Chesapeake Bay Country, Emma Chase is drawn into a treasure hunt when a reporter rekindles interest in an old chest rumored hidden on the old Waterwood Plantation. She finds clues in the fine portraits still hanging in Waterwood House. They lead her deeper into the history of the estate, uncovering dark secrets of murder, greed, and deceit. TJ, the property owner, is outraged.
The treasure hunt quickly transforms into a dangerous game of life and death: First, an old skeleton is uncovered, then a young woman's body is found in a nearby unmarked grave. Are the two connected? When Emma writes to her ghostly friend, mistress of Waterwood in Civil War times, the response is disturbing. She wonders if two murders were committed at Waterwood?
Suspicion grows and TJ Ross, the owner and Emma’s close friend, becomes the prime murder suspect. She is determined to prove his innocence. With the modern killer on the loose, can Emma unearth the truth before it's too late?
Rich in Maryland Eastern Shore history and quirky, original characters, Waterwood hides secrets of murder, greed, and deceit.
Fourth novel in the IN-TIME series, winner of the Bookfest Awards Gold Medal for Best Fiction Series (2023).
stillness in time novella Book #5
This novella is part of the IN TIME Series that includes:
- Letters in Time
- Diaries in Time
- Messages in Time
- Portraits in Time
- Devoted in Time
Emma’s mind is filled with questions about her future, her recovery from the accident, and her ability to teach children again. She can barely hear herself think let alone come up with good answers.
Then life sends little Rosie running into Emma’s world at the Cottage. After witnessing a murder, the police are desperate to know what the child saw, but Rosie has stopped talking. Police think Emma can help. Emma isn’t so sure, but she follows her instincts. Will those instincts save them both from the killer?
Devoted in time Book #6
Emma once more delves into the mysteries of Waterwood Plantation’s past in "Devoted in Time," the sixth installment of the captivating series that has earned Gold Medal recognition for Best Historical Fiction.
A chilling discovery of a skull catapults TJ and Emma into a web of secrets surrounding the Man-in-the-Field, known as Gideon. Who was he? Why was he laid to rest in an unmarked grave more than a century ago? As Emma seeks answers, she uncovers a labyrinth of betrayal spanning from the Civil War era to the present day.
In a story interwoven with historical fiction, mystery, and romance, Emma grapples with the shadows of the past that threaten the present. But as she inches closer to the truth, she realizes some secrets are best left buried—as they may hold the power to unravel lives.
Emma’s journey shows emotions run deep, danger lurks in unexpected places, and the past refuses to stay silent. Will the pursuit of truth lead Emma down a path fraught with peril, or will it ultimately unlock the secrets that have haunted Waterwood for generations?