The Edge of the Sword Series

A determined young woman carves a place for herself in her country's history and in the heart of its future king, but risks breaking her own. Born the daughter of goatherds in the Granite Mountains of Berush, Sashia longs for greater challenge and adventure. Her active mind constantly gets her into trouble. Unable to stand by while others suffer, Sashia intervenes, often with unintended results. When an itinerant healer and his wife discover Sashia and offer her an apprenticeship, she jumps at the chance to sate her curiosity of the natural world and change her future. Heir to the throne of Berush, Cyrus is strong, decisive, and a born leader. He longs for a wife who will share his vision for the country--a wife of his choosing, not his father's. Sashia catches his eye, but even a handsome prince finds capturing her heart a challenge. Life is uncertain, and Sashia soon finds she cannot control every outcome. Used to relying on logic and her own resourcefulness, no amount of training can prepare her for the choices that lie ahead. She struggles to shape her destiny in a patriarchal society where polygamy is legal and women are subject to their fathers or a spouse. As Berush is threatened by enemies from without and within, Sashia's creativity, stubbornness, and tenacity place her in a perfect position to both save lives and affect the course of the entire country. The consequences of her decisions will reverberate for generations. Slight of frame, but fierce in heart, Sashia will need every ounce of strength she possesses to live her dreams and win a future of love and happiness.

When a battle-hardened warrior falls for a beautiful, foreign landowner, he finds change does not come easily. Neither do second chances. Darius is a seasoned soldier serving as general of his brother's army. Tensions between Berush and the neighboring countries of Artylia and Cerecia are high and war looms on the horizon. Renowned for his skill as a swordsman and a leader in battle, Darius vows to protect his country and wreak vengeance on its enemies, but the toll is heavy. Violent dreams torment him at night, and a red haze of anger often clouds his judgment.  Concerned for his brother's well-being, King Cyrus sends Darius on a diplomatic assignment, but the warrior prince is not used to peaceful missions. He is used to getting his own way, often at the point of a sword. Love is certainly not on his agenda. Supporting his brother and keeping his people safe, whatever the cost, are his only priorities, until he meets Lady Eemya--a beautiful, confident woman with a will to match his own.  Darius quickly realizes that what he wants cannot be taken, it can only be given. He must convince this genteel, Artylian landholder that he is more than the wild animal he seems. To do so, he must look deep into his own heart, confront the darkness he has allowed to fester there, and find that his worst enemy is himself. But can Darius defeat what torments him and win Eemya's heart at the same time?

Lydima is only good at one thing: attracting and entertaining men. From a young age, her beauty drew unwanted attention, and she learned to turn it to her advantage. However, no one seems able to see beyond her outward appearance and love the woman on the inside. Weary of being used, Lydima accepts Lady Eemya's offer to manage the holding of Freosyd while she is away. Unfortunately, her reputation precedes her, and overcoming prejudices proves challenging. Fever ravages the island, orphaned children cry for help, and a festering evil has far-reaching consequences. Lydima must find the strength and wisdom to deal with dire situations for which she is completely unprepared. Will earning respect as a leader be as hard as learning to value herself? Can she leave the past behind and open her heart to the future? The Cerecians are concocting even more devious weapons, and Stelan is caught up in a dangerous mission from which he may not return alive. Can he escape Cerecia carrying valuable military secrets, or will his attraction for a beautiful, mysterious spy be his downfall? Peril, intrigue, and romance abound in this third installment of The Edge of the Sword!

Nothing lasts forever. Marriages, dynasties, and empires rise to glory and crumble into dust. Only those who fight to the end will prevail. After the secret of his magic fire potion was stolen and his closest ally killed, King Chysh is out for revenge. Unfortunately for him, his ruthless tactics and poor leadership have created many enemies. While the Chief and his band of smugglers foment rebellion, Chysh's own sister considers turning against him, and unknown entities plot behind the scenes. The normally docile Bashalis has turned into a rebellious teenager. In spite of her sheltered life and limited eyesight, she attempts to escape from her domineering brother and become her own person. As she struggles to find the confidence and courage to defy him and find her own path, Chysh's opposition hopes to use her as a pawn, not knowing how extreme the king's response will be when his younger sister becomes a threat. Stelan and Talia are experiencing tension in their marriage and cannot pinpoint the source of their communication problems. Is it their language and background differences, fallout from their battle injuries and traumatic experiences, or something deeper? How can two people who love each other so much still be unhappy? A new threat endangering their lives could bring them back together or drive them farther apart. To ensure the safety of their loved ones, everyone faces tougher choices than they ever expected. Assassins, explosions, battles, and intrigue abound in this quest to determine who sits on the querulous throne of Cerecia.

A deposed king and his displaced sister embark on a journey to an unknown destination in the care of a mysterious servant and discover the most difficult terrain to cross is that of the mind. Princess Bashalis has chosen to go into exile with her brother, the deposed, former king of Cerecia. They are required by the new monarch to travel with a handler who will monitor them and prevent Chysh from undermining the current regime from afar. Their former servant, Hatch, volunteers for the job. It is soon apparent that he is more than he seems, and his loyalties lie elsewhere. Bashalis' musical ability and easy-going manners recommend her to everyone's affections wherever she goes. Her talents are in high demand, and more than one man becomes enamored by her charms. However, her family's murderous background held no examples of marital bliss for her to use as a standard, making true love difficult to recognize. Chysh is plagued by depression and hopelessness, as all he has ever striven for is lost to him. He alternates between wallowing in his despair or lashing out in anger. With nothing left to live for, his sole purpose is to care for his sister, but his controlling nature constantly gets the better of him. Can he and Bashalis find a home where they feel welcome and content? Follow them on their journey to discover true peace and belonging.

Duty requires him to protect his people and eliminate the enemy, but love has other plans. Captain Halem was only a boy when the Breakers invaded Berush, but he has harbored hatred for them ever since. They are his enemies—enemies he has trained his entire career to defeat. When a company of Breakers ambushes him at a spring, he wreaks vengeance without hesitation until a fiery warrior with midnight eyes faints at his feet. Tasked with a dangerous mission, Obsidian must succeed, no matter the cost. As a member of a mercenary tribe, death would be preferable to failing to fulfill a contract. Injured and alone, she perseveres, but a stubborn Berushese soldier stands in her way. Near death when he finds her, Halem must choose to help Obsidian or lose the only chance he has to discover the Breakers' plans. Barely able to communicate due to their language barrier, her blatant pragmatism and his rigid views of honor make clashes inevitable. Can two people from such different backgrounds ever reach an accord, or will their opposing loyalties require the ultimate sacrifice? Surrounded by lies, treachery, and murder, Obsidian and Halem must decide who they can trust, or they will lose everything. Meanwhile, the Breaker army ravages the plains, depleting the natural resources and leaving destruction in their wake. Chysh and Van prepare the tribes of the Great Desert for battle with small hope of success. To avoid a devastating war, Chysh offers the Breakers a challenge, but it may cost him more than he wants to pay. When faced with a hard decision, will he slip into his old ways or will his limited Magi training guide him to the right path? Find out in Captain of the Sand. CW: medieval violence, amputation, off-screen torture, discussion of abstinence and sexual identity (not explicit), innuendo, low-spice fade-to-black romance, references to slavery