A professor invites a colleague from the art department to his home to view a painting he has kept secret for decades in Susan Vreeland's powerful historical novel, Girl in Hyacinth Blue. The professor swears it's a Vermeer -- but why exactly has he kept it hidden so long? The reasons unfold in a gripping sequence of stories that trace ownership of the work back to Amsterdam during World War II and still further to the moment of the painting's inception.

Welcome to the Grand Masquerade Ball for the Wyrde...and Wondrous! It's time to party like it's 1820, and you know what that means. Rout cakes and punch, satins and silks, and flirting on the balcony under a star-washed sky. Decorous. Genteel. Lovely. Nobody knows who's throwing this bash, but who cares? It's the party of the century, and everyone who's anyone is going to be there. Including, astonishingly, the Werths. Famous recluses they may be, but who can resist a mystery and a waltz? Not that everyone's on their best behaviour. There's a jewel thief in the wings with an eye for diamonds, and somebody's been mad enough to turn Gussie loose, to boot. It's going to be a party to die for. Hopefully not literally, but with the Werths, you never know... The weird and wonderful Werths are back — and letting their hair down in style! WARNING, this adventure contains: cotillions and cravats...

Edward Steele is at last on his way home and determined to be in Collingbourne before Christmas-but that was before he met Denley and Osborne. Sailing from Africa to England, Edward meets these two very different men aboard ship. Osborne chooses to ignore everyone while Denley and Edward find themselves much together. But as their journey continues, Denley begins to feel unwell. By the time the ship stops in Lisbon, Portugal, he is very sick indeed. Not able to ignore his traveling companion's plight, Edward abandons his goal of going home and disembarks with Denley and Osborne. He never dreams that his association with them will lead to the mysterious Nicola Bettencourt, a woman who captivates and confounds him in equal measures.

A brand-new Egyptian novel from the master of adventure fiction, Wilbur Smith. In the heart of EgyptUnder the watchful eye of the GodsA new power is rising In the city of Lahun, Hui lives an enchanted life. The favoured son of a doting father, and ruler-in-waiting of the great city, his fate is set. But behind the beautiful façades a sinister evil is plotting. Craving power and embittered by jealousy, Hui's stepmother, the great sorceress Ipsetnofret, and Hui's own brother Qen, orchestrate the downfall of Hui's father, condemning Hui and seizing power in the city.Cast out and alone, Hui finds himself a captive of a skilled and powerful army of outlaws, the Hyksos. Determined to seek vengeance for the death of his father and rescue his sister, Ipwet, Hui swears his allegiance to these enemies of Egypt. Through them he learns the art of war, learning how to fight and becoming an envied charioteer.But soon Hui...

He's a warrior with a shattered future.Will past mistakes prevent his acceptingthe one woman who might mend his broken soul?Kellen Brooks is a broken man. Leaving his position in Special Forces three years earlier, he fought hard to build a new life and heal his damaged body. Working for his close friend, Boone Macklin, gives him purpose and a reason to focus on the future. Nothing else matters except soothing his wounded soul and reclaiming the family ranch.Bethany Hutchison is determined to reach her goal of being accepted into law school. Working as a paralegal in a prestigious firm, combined with hours of classwork, takes all her time. Other than daily runs, nothing else could fit into her already packed schedule.Kell's early morning runs on the high school track, strengthen his recovering body and clear his mind. Nothing interferes with each day's goal, until a beautiful, leggy blonde sprints onto the...

Hosted by the Contessa della Trieste, an opulent Carnevale ball in Venice takes a terrifying turn for American book critic Jordan Riley. As festivity turns into frenzy, Jordan is rescued by a powerful man disguised as a wolf. But was the mayhem she witnessed - the blood, the fangs, the screams - truly just entertainment, or something far more sinister? From a deconsecrated Venetian church to a secret society in New Orleans, Jordan is led on a nightmare journey to the razor's edge of reality. Her mysterious saviour is always a shadow behind her, both tormenting and tantalising her, as Jordan discovers a world of predators and survivors, a new order of vampires - and an eternal hunger that threatens to consume her.

A forgotten night. A stolen child. And a stranger who feels all too familiar. Waking up alone after a drunken night with a stranger in Gretna Green, CLAUDIA DAVENPORT, sister to Viscount Ashwood, finds herself still unmarried...and with child. In order to preserve her reputation, her brother sends her to a remote estate so she can give birth in secret and then return to society, unscathed...but heartbroken. However, when her child is kidnapped, Claudia can no longer deny the bond that connects her to her son. Alone, she sets out to discover his whereabouts...and her path crosses that of a stranger, who feels all too familiar. After marrying an English lass in Gretna Green, GARRETT MACDRUMMOND returns to their room at the inn the next morning only to find her gone. Duty-bound to return to his clan in the Scottish Highlands, he counts the days until he can travel to England to find her. However, when he finally does discover her, he is shocked...

A girl with a passion for science and a boy who dreams of writing fantasy novels must figure out how to get along now that their parents are dating in this lively, endearing novel.Sutton is having robot problems. Her mini-bot is supposed to be able to get through a maze in under a minute, but she must have gotten something wrong in the coding. Which is frustrating for a science-minded girl like Sutton—almost as frustrating as the fact that her mother probably won't be home in time for Sutton's tenth birthday. Luis spends his days writing thrilling stories about brave kids, but there's only so much inspiration you can find when you're stuck inside all day. He's allergic to bees, afraid of dogs, and has an overprotective mom to boot. So Luis can only dream of daring adventures in the wild. Sutton and Luis couldn't be more different from each other. Except now that their parents are dating, these two have to find some common ground. Will they be able...