Jake Taylor is a simple guy of simple pleasures. Family-focused and happy to help, he's proud of his little community in Gunner, East Tennessee. A good son, a dedicated brother, a loyal friend, and an honest man - that's all he strives to be. Ray Cooper can't wait to get out. Hungry for more and ready for freedom, he works hard and keeps to himself while maintaining the eye on the goal - move out and disappear. Any ties he has to Gunner are nothing but reminders of how the world is stacked against him. Ray and Jake don't so much crash into each other's lives as they slowly ease in. But their plans for how the rest of their lives look like don't match, and Ray's past is an ever-looming threat. They shouldn't make sense together, but maybe they do. So what now?

With the Deorun War behind them, Finn and Tannix are looking forward to some time to finally relax. Until Tannix's brother Tandrin points out that other noble families are going to start pressuring Tannix to pick one of their daughters to lead West Draulin as his wife. Luckily, Tandrin has a solution-they can't pressure him if Tannix isn't around. And so, Tandrin decides to make Tannix an ambassador and sends him to visit the kingdoms along the Northern Coast. With the knights in tow, as well as some allies from Deorun and Navire, Tannix and Finn head out. Along the way, they learn about different cultures and see new sights, while improving relations between Zianna and the Northern countries. They meet plenty of new people, as well as some old friends. And maybe, some old enemies.

The uneasy stalemate between Zianna and Deorun is holding. Finn accompanies Tannix on a diplomatic mission to the Queendom of Navire, to ask Queen Avaloni if she will ally with Zianna when the fighting truly starts. Finn knows he's going to be left behind when Tannix and the knights join the army. He's determined to make every moment before then matter. Not only with Tannix, but with his two vastly different families-the thieves and the knights. When the time comes and Tannix and the men ride off, Finn expects to face months of uncertainty. Nervously waiting for news from the front and treasuring every letter Tannix manages to write. But Finn has a habit of ending up in the middle of things. The war is no exception.

'You'll be imprisoned for a year and a day.' The next words caught in my throat. Finn looked so defenceless, so harmless. His arms were tied back and I wanted to step forward and cut the ropes. I wanted to order the guards away, and I wanted to pull Finn out of the rain. I wanted to brush his dripping hair out of his eyes and kiss him. I would protect him, but I had to be smart. So I cleared my throat, and before I could get caught up in my thoughts again, I finished Finn's sentence. 'And then, you'll be executed.' ---- While Finn waits in prison, Tannix works to prove he's innocent. Unexpected challenges get in his way, including missing documents, the royal spymaster, and politics. With Tandrin's help, Tannix tries to navigate these obstacles as well as figure out his new place as a favourite Champion. In the lower city, Baisan also struggles to come to terms with what has happened, and how his world is continuing to change. *Takes place between Without a King and An Aimless War

A year and a day is a long time to think about a single kiss. But that's what Finn thought about, every day, until finally Tannix rescues him and sweeps him off to West Draulin. Finn quickly realizes that he likes West Draulin. He likes the good food and the expensive clothing. He even likes Tannix's knights. West Draulin seems like a place he'll really enjoy living. Until one night, when everything changes. The kingdom of Zianna finds itself at war. And Finn learns that being in a relationship with a lord isn't going to simply be the life of luxury he was starting to enjoy.

Growing up on the streets of Zianna made Finn very good at a lot of things - pick pocketing, gambling, and generally sneaking around. He didn't mean to befriend Tannix, one of the richest young lords in the Kingdom. He certainly didn't mean to discover a plot to kill the King. Luckily his unique skill set, if not very law-abiding, might be exactly what is needed. Unfortunately, Tannix isn't entirely thrilled with his methods, and for some reason Finn actually cares about his opinion. Is there more to their friendship than he realizes? Greatest Thief Series book 1 Available for purchase at friesenpress.com

The Wanderlust is sailing south. Four new countries to visit, and nothing is going to stop them. Not rumours of pirates or stories of tropical storms. But despite the new lands and languages, something is off. Tanden isn't quite himself, struggling with a painful anniversary and unsure of what his future will hold once they've visited every country on the continent. Soren does his best to support him, but isn't sure what Tanden needs. Even if he can't help Tanden, Soren is learning more about what he's capable of, both as a husband and a first mate. Unfortunately, Tanden might need to lose himself before discovering who he really is.

Soren didn't realize how much he loved exploring new places until he met Tanden. Tanden didn't realize how much he needed a partner until he met Soren. Their first year together was an adventure neither of them had expected. A good adventure, until the fire. Ever since the fire, Tanden and Soren have been sailing up and down the coast, revisiting the Northern countries. They've been to them all, except for one, and it's a bit of a mystery-Sunland. For two men who love sailing, exploring landlocked Sunland is going to be a challenge. But any challenge will be worth it to be the first people from Zianna to properly visit Sunland in over four hundred years. They leave the Wanderlust to their crew, find a good guide, and head out. They're excited to learn more about the country, it's people, their culture and language. And while they're at it, they might learn more about their relationship, and what part they each play in the game.

Lord Tanden is finally free. Free from his family's obligations, free to sail around the world, free to explore. It's all he's ever wanted, to be allowed to experience everything life has to offer, away from the stuffy meeting halls of his childhood. To indulge his wanderlust. However, wanderlust isn't the only thing he's after. Captain Tanden is rich, he's charming, and he's handsome. He knows he can get the prettiest girl or the most attractive man in every port. Yet, he knows that none of them will hold his interest for long. He's always moved quickly, from one country to the next, from one lover to someone else. No one can keep up, but he doesn't mind. Tanden's life and adventures are a game he's destined to play on his own. But then he meets Soren in a bar, and things change. Soren isn't just an excellent sailor and fantastic candidate for first mate, he might be capable of keeping up. He might be the only person willing to play Tanden's game.

[This story will become free on DECEMBER 13TH, 2024] Isaiah always had his focus set on school and baseball, but when he meets August, he suddenly begins questioning more than just his lack of a social life. ***** As the star of his high school baseball team, Isaiah Carr is looking forward to senior year. While not the most popular of guys, he's got his friends, he's a shoo-in for a baseball scholarship, and he's perfectly content sitting on the sidelines when it comes to his social life. However, when he meets August, a strange but cute boy with a prosthetic leg, there's no denying the connection between them. From friends to more, the two begin to grow a relationship that balances the troubles of their pasts with the hopefulness and acceptance of a future. [[word count: 90,000-100,000 words]] Cover designed by Eva I. WATTY'S 2020 YA WINNER