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.

A 2019 Watty Winner. For fans of Allison Pataki and Philippa Gregory, THE NYMPH OF VERSAILLES is based on the true story of Madame Montespan's rise and fall at the court of King Louis XIV. Being the Sun King's mistress is a coveted position in a court full of greedy courtiers vying for power and Athénaïs de Montespan won't let anything stand in the way of her stealing the king's heart-not even poison. When the king's interest in his mistress Louise begins to wane, Montespan sees the position as a possible escape from her husband's mounting debts and loveless marriage. Her strained friendship with Louise doesn't stop her from charming the king. However keeping his heart is tricky in a court full of plotting beauties eager to have him for themselves, especially with her jealous husband bent on ending her seduction. Then her children's governess becomes an unexpected rival for the king's heart and the only woman who can contend with Montespan. With the court swirling with rumors of poison, Montespan finds herself caught in the web of accusations. Her position with the king begins to crumble as she fights to hold on to the life she's built. Without the king's love, she fears she will lose everything as she falls from grace.

Elliot's partner was his whole world, but after Allan's death, his ghost haunts Elliot's dreams. Everyone tells Elliot to move on, but he isn't sure he can. ***** It's been a year since the love of Elliot's life, Allan, passed away. Everyone thinks he should have recovered after that much time, but Allan still haunts Elliot every night. He struggles to maintain relationships with his family, and despite a coworkers interest he can't summon up the courage to date. Elliot is living for the past, because to live for the present means he'll have to live with a hole in his heart. But the question Elliot has to face chases him through his monotonous days: is mourning Allan with everything he has truly living? [[word count: 40,000-50,000 words]]

Len has found his mate, but there's an unexpected obstacle. He's recessive. Len thought that he would always love Ahote, and all he had to do was grow up and claim him. Before he could come of age and confess his feelings to the man he loved, a Siberian wolf from Russia had beat him to the task. Lost, confused, and not knowing how to handle his dreams being crushed, Len decides to pursue an architecture degree in Toronto to get away from his pack in Alberta when he turned eighteen. That's where he met Adyen. His mate, and recessive werewolf that thinks he's a human. [Wattpad Editor's Pick.]

As an Omega, the lowest-rank werewolf in any pack, Claire is confident her smoking hot Alpha can't be her mate. But she's wrong -- not just about him, but also about her place in the werewolf world. ***** Adopted into a family of Omegas, the lowest-ranking werewolves in the Mistwood Valley pack, eighteen-year-old Claire Masters is more concerned with her schoolwork and her adorable little brother than pandering to pack politics. But when Nathanial Groves, the pack's inescapably attractive Alpha, steps into her life, her entire world is thrown into disarray. Because Claire can't help feeling drawn to him -- irresistibly so -- and it's distracting her from the growing danger looming over her town and her family. A mate is the last thing she has time for, but can Nate be ignored? [[word count: 70,000-80,000 words]]

Belle Morte is now published as a Wattpad Book! As a Wattpad reader, you can access both the Wattpad Original Edition and the Wattpad Books Published Edition upon purchase. Thank you so much for your support! ***** Renie Mayfield volunteers as a blood donor for the Vampire House where her sister disappeared, when she's drawn to the smouldering vampire Edmond Dantès. ***** It's been ten years since vampires came out of the coffin, and now they are the world's biggest celebrities. Renie Mayfield is a new live-in blood donor assigned to the most famous vampire House - Belle Morte. Unlike the other donors though, Renie isn't here for fame and fortune. Her sister disappeared inside the Belle Morte House, and she wants to know why. But she isn't prepared for Edmond Dantès, a smouldering vampire who sets her blood racing. She can't deny their mutual attraction, and their dangerous dance begins. With each step into darkness Renie is drawn further into Edmond's influence, and closer to uncovering Belle Morte's secrets. If she has to choose, would she rather lose her heart or her humanity? (Book 1, the Belle Morte Series) [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]] The sequel, Revelations, is now in Paid: https://www.wattpad.com/story/97728300

#SurvivalRomance #ForcedProximity #Fast-paced ⁍ Winner of the Wattys2020 Award ⁍ Wattpad brought the rights for it, although it already expired this year. (September, 2025.) If you ever take a headless selfie, pray that you don't live in Bastillio. Because in that city, it is the same as receiving a death sentence. It is proof that you are marked for death-a haunted-one who is targeted by a living shadow of eldritch origin which the citizens call the Shade. But when Vergil Torres found out he was a haunted, he was the opposite of scared. Because he knows that the government has built a shelter that has successfully kept haunteds alive for the past decades. But the gruesome and inexplicable death of one of them during their stay in the supposedly safe house renews the horror of the Shade. Vergil, together with his classmate and fellow haunted, the "traditional morena beauty" Cana Bernardo, decided to get to the bottom of it. The two classmates who were indifferent to each other must now work together if they are to survive through the month.

Creatures of the Night is now published as a Wattpad Book! As a Wattpad reader, you can access both the Original Edition and Books Edition upon purchase. Milena, an obedient teenager, has to team up with the supernatural creatures she was taught to fear in order to escape the people she once loved. ***** In a world where humans must hide underground to stay safe from the creatures who roam the night, Milena's life as an outcast is hardly worth noticing. But on the day her village is attacked and her life is spared by the mysterious Elias, Milena is forced to throw everything she thought she knew about her world out the window. Because while Elias looks just as human as she is, he's actually the leader of a pack of wolf shifters, and the bond she feels with him compels her to start asking questions about the things she's been told about the creatures of the night. Because if her village was willing to lie about something like this, what other secrets might they be keeping from her?

A magic-addicted spy trapped in the queen's service must track a princess-turned-assassin in order to earn her freedom, but things get complicated when she falls for the princess she's supposed to capture. ***** Weak. Cursed. That's how seventeen-year-old Kayden Branimir, the realm's deadliest assassin, views herself. Some believe she could save the world with her rare healing magic, but she gave up on her powers long ago after failing to save her best friend. Her life changes when she receives a letter from her supposedly dead twin brother, Alaric, begging to be rescued from rival territory Leodia. For the first time since her friend's accident, Kayden is determined to be the hero, but she must learn to embrace her magic--and herself--along the way. Strange. Unnatural. Those are the words whispered about eighteen-year-old Zara Tait, a Leodian spy addicted to soul-stealing magic. Forced into the queen's service, Zara wants to escape and return home, but she has nothing to offer the queen in exchange for her freedom. When Kayden arrives in Leodia, Zara sees the quiet girl with unique magic as the bargaining chip she needs. But the more she learns of Kayden, the more her feelings grow. Now, Zara must choose between her freedom and the dangerous assassin she hadn't meant to fall for. [2020 Watty Award Winner] Content warning: This story contains mature themes of violence, addiction, abuse, self-harm, and mental illness. Cover by Faera Lane