Falsely accused of treason against the Empire, Princess Yekaterina Petrova finds shelter in her homeland of Mir. Though she is amongst friends once more, the Imperial Regent remains unshakeable in his conviction that she is guilty of attempting to assassinate the Emperor. Now, one of the largest armies ever assembled in the Empire's history prepares to march upon Mir, under orders to deliver the so-called "Traitor Princess" to justice at all costs. With the rest of the Empire descending into civil war, the people of Mir can rely on none but themselves. Lady Ladislava Chernova doubts her capacity to contribute to the defence of the realm, and increasingly finds herself struggling with her sentiments towards her Princess, but remains just as devoted to her as ever. Lady Beatrice Willows, the confident and wise Court Sorceress of Mir, is no stranger to guiding the kingdom through myriad ordeals, but the Regent's threat may finally prove to be the one that is beyond her abilties, not least when he may not be the greatest source of danger. Father Maxim Drozdov, a humble priest, has no experience in the worlds of politics and warfare, but when his peaceful hometown becomes a critical site to the war effort, his peaceful life is shattered, and he finds himself more involved in the conflict that he ever imagined. Will Yekaterina and her allies prevail against the insurmountable odds arrayed against them? Or does her kingdom have no choice but to accept total subjugation?

Lottie needs a break and her inspiration back, so she launches herself into a quiet coastal town and--quite literally--into Leigh's life. As they try to save a summer camp, Lottie begins to rediscover her spark--and the kind of love she never thought she'd find. ***** Lottie Fitzpatrick is a star. She's glamorous, untouchable, and unstoppable. After her sold-out world tour ends in nasty burnout and terrible writer's block, she seeks refuge in a small, coastal town in Massachusetts to find her voice. She doesn't expect to get roped into volunteering at a struggling summer music camp or to be working with Leigh Flores, the snarky, quiet counselor who has no time for superstars. She's not particularly impressed, but Lottie is too charming. Lottie cares. As the camp's days blur into late-night jamming and songwriting sessions, what starts as a creative reset and mental health break begins to feel like something deeper. It demands bravery. Lottie isn't sure if she's ready to be seen. With real life pulling her back toward the spotlight Leigh has never chased, they'll have to decide if their connection can survive after summer ends. ***** WARM HANDS #2 © 2025 caterina george // all rights reserved