Rama spent her childhood visiting Hindu shrines. She wanted a home. But no. the family wandered until death left Rama alone. Twenty years old, erudite and womanly, Rama arrived in Calcutta. She met her husband and was content until death again destroyed her life. A single parent, Rama crossed the water to England and the United States, educated herself, and returned to India a Christian. Ready to open a school for child widows, Rama faced prejudice. Could she be trusted? At every point, Rama pushed against a labyrinth of isolating false starts. Engulfed by controversy, without resources, and determined to fight death, Rama built a home for famine victims. Would this be her labyrinth's center or another dead end?

It's 1883, and newspapers are flying off the shelves in Calcutta, Edinburgh and London. Mary Pigot, lady superintendent of the Scottish Female Mission in Calcutta, has been charged by The Reverend William Hastie with mismanagement and immorality, and she's fighting back!
After ten years of hard work growing the mission, raising funds and educating women, Mary's career is now in ruins. With nothing to lose, she takes her case to the Calcutta High Court and sues Hastie for malicious libel. A woman publicly suing a man! It's just the type of scandal that sells lots of newspapers.
Based on actual events, Two Coins takes readers into Justice William Norris' steamy courtroom in the middle of monsoon season. The scandal engulfs the entire missionary community, destroying almost everyone involved. Will Mary prevail?

Seventh century England is a hodgepodge of warring Anglo-Saxon states filled with shifting alliances and treacherous grabs for royal power. Kings rise and fall, depending on Woden's Luck. Northumbria, the damp kingdom north of the River Humber, is a state riven with rivalries and kings determined to expand at any cost.

Women have no obvious role in a warrior society, but by using their wits, four women—two queens and two abbesses—make monumental changes. One woman marries a pagan king and successfully converts him to Christianity before he dies in battle. One becomes the most powerful abbess in Northumbria and holds the Great Synod at Whitby Abbey, which brings the kingdom back to the Roman Church. Another becomes queen and keeps political alliances strong despite different religious denominations. The fourth woman ushers in a new age by negotiating with kings and churchmen to establish one united church in the Northumbrian kingdom.

Based on true events and people, this is the story of Northumbria through the eyes of the most important women of their time.

Three Weddings — Two Rival Families

Richard Derby, a young man of modest prospects, made his living at sea until he retired to establish a merchant house. With one exception, his sons followed in his footsteps. Hasket Derby remained in Salem learning the business.

Richard’s daughter Mary married George Crowninshield; his son Hasket married George’s sister Eliza. Against the backdrop of tensions between Great Britain and her American colonies, George and Hasket built their trading empires. After Americans gained independence in 1783, their sons sailed everywhere trade took place from the West Indies to the Baltic Sea, from Isle de France to Batavia, India, and China.

Inspired by true events, this is the story of two rival families who made their fortunes in the new United States of America.

Book 2 in the Salem Stories series.In 1790 the United States has a new Constitution. George Washington presides as the first elected president. Abroad, France and Britain are at war. And by 1795 seafaring Americans are accosted on the high seas by French privateers and British naval ships.

Tensions rise as American merchants continue to trade. Among them, Hasket Derby and Captain George Crowninshield busily build maritime empires while their sons seek a new way forward.

Captain Elias Derby — Grew the Derby family business in Isle de France and India. Back in Salem, he’s ready to enter his father’s business. But Hasket Derby isn’t a man to relinquish control.
Edward Crowninshield — Seeks obscurity in Marblehead until his father forces him to return to the sea.
Captain Geordie Crowninshield — Sails Crowninshield family ships to ports from the West Indies to East Asia until his father calls him back to shore.
Captain Jacob Crowninshield — Brings the first elephant to America and makes his fortune.
Captain Nathaniel Silsbee — Defies every obstacle to rise from obscurity to captain his own ship.
Meanwhile, women shape their roles in new ways.

Eliza Derby — Builds the largest mansion in New England.
Lizzie Rowell — Arrives in Salem with desperation, determination, and dreams.
Sarah Gardner — Bakes a bride cake before she’s a bride.
Inspired by real people and true events, this is a story about early America.