Nothing stays secret in a small town…especially murder.

As the obituary columnist for a small NC mountain newspaper, Tori Mulligan is no stranger to death. But when a real-life murder mystery lands at her feet, she discovers that everyone has secrets—some more deadly than others. The sticky situation is further complicated by a handsome widower, an adorable dog, and a slew of sketchy characters. Can the sassy southern sleuth find “whodunit” without adding herself to the body count?

A runaway bride crashing in my guesthouse is the last thing I need.

I already had perfectly good holiday plans, like glaring at walls and staring moodily into distant horizons because my hockey season is officially down the drain.

And she’s as off-limits as it gets, but she has no car, no money, no job, and no place to stay.

So I’ll let her crash with me for the holidays. With my teammates and her brother already over for the holidays, I’m sure we’ll barely notice her.

After all, how much trouble can one relentlessly cheerful little woman cause?

Plenty.

She’s a single mom with no patience for a playboy until he proves he’s playing for keeps.

Maddie Chester is determined to leave her hometown of Gansett Island, a place that has brought her only bad memories and ugly rumors. Then she’s knocked off her bike on the way to her housekeeping job at McCarthy’s Resort Hotel by Gansett’s “favorite son,” Mac McCarthy.

He’s back in town to help his father with preparations to sell the family resort and has no intention of staying long. When Mac accidentally sends Maddie flying over the handlebars, badly injuring her, he moves in to nurse her back to health and help care for her young son. He soon realizes his plans for a hit-and-run visit to the island are in serious jeopardy, and he just may be “maid” for love.

Ty Vincent needs a short-term wife to convince his grandfather and the Board of Directors of Vincent Oil that he’s changing his carefree ways, so they’ll name him CEO. He gives into one last temptation and ditches an environmental conference in Atlanta to play in Reno. At the airport, karma catches up. The woman who renders aid fibs to keep security and paparazzi from descending on him. She’s brilliant, unemployed, and not his type; a perfect choice for a temporary spouse. Cardiac rehab nurse, Maggie Gray lost her job due to hospital downsizing. A former patient – Ty’s grandfather – offers her a deal to get his grandson under control. Maggie’s pressured into accepting it. She tracks Ty down at the Reno Airport and finds him in the middle of chest issues. Soon she’s eyebrow-deep in a second deal. Lots of chaos and surprises are in store for Ty and Maggie.

A perfect day…

Beck O’Brien is on a roll. Business is good, he’s about to marry a dependable woman who he’ll grow to love, and soon he’ll be picking up a prize filly for his stable. His life feels–secure.

Until Kitty steps in…

Kitty Summer has always looked out for her younger sisters. Today she may have taken that protection a little too far, but goal achieved. The wedding of convenience is off! All would be fine except she’s stranded in Florida with her Grandma Dotty, and with no purse, she’s without a way home. Unless she can get a ride from the no-longer-convenient groom.

There’s a road trip ahead and fences to mend. And when the trio reaches their destination, Beck and Kitty find they may be interested in more than a marriage of convenience…

A jerk of a jester who’s just lost his job.

A fierce old noblewoman about to lose her country.

And the thieving magpie who puts them on a collision course full of laughter, danger and plot twists galore!

Malfred Murd is supremely talented but undeniably abrasive. Freshly booted from his 20-year gig as the Royal Jester, Fred is finding it tough to jingle out a living on the street, even with the dubious help of a sassy talking bird.

He isn’t thinking of the future when rival buskers chase him into a Tekologically advanced country that, like him, lies squarely in the King’s disfavor. He has no idea that the ruler of this country has made plans to save her people— plans that are rapidly unraveling, missing messenger, ominous omen and all.

So when Fred’s flying friend brings him a bag that looks to be full of shinies, his decision to try and wring a little reward money out of the situation doesn’t seem particularly perilous. But surprise! It lands him in the midst of a rescue mission gone horribly, hilariously wrong.