WATTYS WINNER 2020 Two interconnected murders, 64 years apart. One woman's search for truth and identity. Readers' comments: 'a masterpiece', 'impeccably written', 'amazing', 'superbly crafted page-turner', 'hauntingly beautiful', 'tremendous plot and character development', 'one of a kind', 'fantastic story telling', 'loved this book', 'a wonderful read", 'absolutely beautiful', 'brought tears to my eyes' and many more Wattys judging panel: 'This is VERY good. We were HOOKED from the beginning, and the writing and plot hold up throughout. This is a very unique, polished, well-written and well-researched piece.' Plot Set partly in rural England, partly on the sun-kissed coast of southerm Italy, The Painted Altar is a murder mystery mixed with romantic and historical elements (World War Two). Given away at two days old, Mary Rice has spent her life in the shadows. When discovering the suspicious circumstances surrounding her biological mother's death, she embarks on a journey which will shine a light not only on the truth but also on her own identity. Brief extract Suddenly, the door had inched open, half a wrinkled face visible behind the tautened chain. "Hello. Who is it?" The words I was going to say had of course been well-rehearsed, repeated over and over in my mind like a mantra, but now that the moment had arrived I found myself struggling to remember them. "Mrs Harvey... I think that you might... well, that you might be..." The door closed, then slowly opened once more, the chain this time unlatched. And there she was before me - half a metre away, within arm's reach. Thin lips gradually crooking upwards at each corner like the slow beatific kindling of a summer's dawn. "Oh yes love, I know who you are." Length: 70,000 words About the author: Originally from England but for the last 16 years I've been living in Italy. I hope therefore that the Italian aspects of the novel will have a certain gloss of authenticity.

//He saved her life, Forgetting his own.// (Completed)

Rebel Simmons was just a girl who was dealt a shitty hand in the game of life. Despite her harsh and abusive upbringing, she worked hard, and studied harder. With an IQ of 252. she's a certified genius and is working towards her Masters Degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University. When tough times hit and she's desperate for money, she steals $5 Million from an offshore bank account. Little did she know she was stealing from the most ruthless Mafia Boss in the world: Dante Vino. • MATURE THEMES 18+ • Cover designed by Holly Thurston

After being abducted by a sadistic sociopath, Reign O'Connor devises a plan to make her captor's son fall in love with her in order to aid in her escape. Nineteen-year-old Reign O'Connor has begun to rebuild her life after her mother's death-thriving as a dedicated student at the San Francisco Art Institute, shining on stage in theatre productions, and basking in the warmth of her adoring boyfriend. But when she steps out of her dorm one innocent Sunday morning, she has no idea fate is about to upend everything she knows. Reign is abducted by Dane Donavon, a sadistic collector of young women he calls his "dolls." Imprisoned in Dane's basement---forced to endure isolation in individual, chained rooms---Reign becomes one of many victims under his cruel control. Dane's twenty-year-old son, Avery, acts as both caretaker and captive; while Avery's chains are psychological, he remains powerless under his father's authority. Gentle by nature, Avery seeks to comfort the imprisoned girls, quietly insisting he is nothing like Dane. Reign, determined to survive, sees Avery's vulnerability as her only hope and crafts a daring plan: make Avery fall in love with her and secure her escape. But as their bond grows, Reign must face the reality that darkness runs deeper than she ever imagined---and that the line between savior and captor may be more blurred than she's willing to believe.

Deadly assassins Allegra and Ace have been trying in vain to kill each other for years. With a mutual enemy threatening their mafias, they find themselves in an unexpected alliance, and soon discover killing each other isn't the only temptation they need to resist... ****** Allegra Grey is poised to be the next great American mafia leader, and she's more than living up to the name. A skilled assassin, there's only one target who's ever gotten away from her-suave, sinfully handsome Ace De Luca, heir to the Italian mafia and the Greys' biggest rival. When both mafias are faced with a dangerous threat, they're forced to work together to protect their families, and unexpected sparks fly. Allegra definitely isn't one to sleep with the enemy, especially an arrogant womanizer like Ace. But there's an undeniable electricity between them and Allegra's not sure it's all hatred. Ace may be bad news, but Allegra's never been afraid of a little danger. As the fire they're playing with grows to a scorching blaze, one thing is clear: trying to kill each other may have been difficult, but resisting this intense chemistry will be impossible. [[Word count: 100,000 - 150,000]] Cover designed by Regina Dionela Content/trigger warning: Contains mature themes, violence and gore

✔ #1 Exchange - April 22, 2020 ✔ #1 Overseas - April 30, 2020 It was officially break-up season. What else could seven ex-boyfriends mean? Especially when they all dumped the same girl ― Melissa Connery. If that didn't put her off boys, we don't know what can. So when Mel goes on an Exchange program unexpectedly to Scotland because of a stupid dare, why does she find herself stuck rooming with a smoldering, world class model? Not to mention he was also a world class jerk! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ © Copyright 2020 by South East. All Rights Reserved.

Following the birth of her first child, Cordelia Waters suffers from a severe postpartum psychosis. When six months later, her baby goes missing, Cordelia becomes the prime suspect. Cordelia Waters appears to have the perfect life---a thriving career, a loving marriage to Weston, and a spacious home in the suburbs. United in their ambitions, Cordelia and Weston have always agreed on everything, especially on choosing a child-free existence. That harmony shatters when Cordelia unexpectedly learns she is pregnant. While Weston embraces fatherhood with joy, Cordelia's world is upended by the reality she never wanted. ​Six months after the birth of their daughter Emerald, tragedy strikes: Emerald vanishes from her crib without a trace. As the search unfolds, unsettling questions arise. What happened to Emerald? Why does Cordelia struggle to recall the events of that morning? Suspicion builds as Cordelia's story unravels, and Weston fears the worst---that his wife, battling her own instability, may be responsible for the disappearance. ​Facing mounting pressure and desperate to clear her name, Cordelia launches her own investigation into Emerald's disappearance. She knows that proving her innocence is her only hope. But as the authorities dig deeper, long buried secrets resurface, and Cordelia's grip on reality is tested. Soon, everyone---Weston, the police, and even Cordelia herself---begins to question what is true and what is imagined. ​This psychological suspense novel explores motherhood, marriage, memory, and the complexities of mental health, weaving an intense narrative that challenges every assumption Cordelia---and the reader---holds.

While investigating the chilling deaths of three teenage girls in the remote town of Briarwood, Detective Evan O'Riley is drawn into the unsolved mysteries of a notorious 1960s serial killer. Three sixteen-year-old girls have plunged from the roof of their school. The question lingers: did they jump, or were they pushed? Tasked with uncovering the truth, Evan O'Riley---seasoned by years of crime-solving in Riverton---arrives in Briarwood, determined to discover whether he's facing triple homicide or a heartbreaking suicide. As he delves into the case, Evan uncovers unsettling whispers about the town's infamous SAD Killer, whose string of brutal murders left Briarwood haunted---and whose identity was never discovered. Fifty years later, the ghosts of the past resurface as Evan combs through long-buried evidence, tracks down survivors, and seeks out old investigators tied to the original crimes. Driven to find answers for both the present and the past, Evan is relentless in his pursuit of justice. But as old secrets come to light and the investigation intensifies, Evan realizes the SAD Killer's legacy isn't as distant as he believed---the danger may be closer than anyone imagines.

FBI agent Alexander Donovan never thought his job was easy, but it was still something he enjoyed doing. At least until he was assigned to catch Zakary Jameson. An insane man with a bizarre ability killing for an unknown reason, Jameson always was a step ahead. Always playing a little game of cat and mouse. But...why? Why would a man of a seemingly perfect background go on a killing streak with unlinked, random victims? As Donovan discovers the truth, he wishes he had never accepted the case. Cover by @TheCivilWars