Luke Saxon's got no family left. Sophie Kane's family can hardly be packed into one house at Christmas time. He's got $22.83 and a 2003 Ford pickup to his name. She's got a bakery that she's poured her blood, sweat, and tears into that's going under anyway.
They met by chance on a cold December eve, unknowing they're tied together by mutual acquaintances, a couple neither of them have the easiest past with. In a moment of potentially idiotic Christmas spirit, she offers him a place to stay.
That very night, they discover an old, mysterious ring that's not all it appears to be. In fact, it might just be the key piece of evidence in a decades-cold series of murders. But as they try to solve the past, the present is throwing plenty of things their way, too. Can two wildly different people reconcile their oppositions? More importantly, can they do it before it's too late?
(Cover by ExiledRanger)
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
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Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.