Released in August, 2016
from Lake Union Publishing
Available now
THE WHISKEY SEA
Running rum, she'll risk her life--and her heart.
Motherless and destitute, Frieda Hope grows up during Prohibition determined to make a better life for herself and her sister, Bea. The girls are taken in by a kindly fisherman named Silver, and Frieda begins to feel at home whenever she is on the water. When Silver sells his fishing boat to WWI veteran Sam Hicks, thinking Sam would be a fine husband for Frieda, she’s outraged. But Frieda manages to talk Sam into teaching her to repair boat engines instead, so she has a trade of her own and won’t have to marry.
Frieda quickly discovers that a mechanic’s wages won’t support Bea and Silver, so she joins a team of rumrunners, speeding into dangerous waters to transport illegal liquor. Frieda becomes swept up in the lucrative, risky work—and swept off her feet by a handsome Ivy Leaguer who’s in it just for fun.
As danger mounts and her own feelings threaten to drown her, can Frieda find her way back to solid ground—and to a love that will sustain her?
An exciting new historical novel set during the 1920s
THE UNCERTAIN SEASON
In hurricane-ravaged Galveston, a storm of betrayal is brewing.
Nineteen-year-old Grace's golden age is just beginning. She and her mother live a privileged life. Beautiful and talented, Grace is looking forward to a pleasant summer celebrating her engagement to a wealthy young gentleman.
But when her lovely, charming, and disgraced cousin Etta arrives, Grace finds her place in society--and in her mother's heart--threatened. Etta enchants everyone as she maneuvers to secure a station in Galveston's upper echelons. Grace, in a reckless moment, reveals Etta's scandalous past, and as punishment, she's sent to work in Galveston's back alleys, helping the poor. There, a silent waif known only as Miss Girl opens Grace's eyes to new love and purpose. She's determined to save this girl who lost her entire family in the hurricane and now slips along the shadows of the unfinished seawall with a mysterious resolve.
Soon, the lives of the three young women will converge as betrayal, mistaken identity, and a family secret sweep them toward a future that defies all expectations.
A new novel set during the aftermath of the infamous 1900 storm.
Questions for Discussion
1. Etta Rahn is perhaps the most complicated character in the novel. Did you experience sympathy for her, or to you, was she the villain in this story?
2. What did you think of Grace and Jonathan's relationship, and how did it change over the course of the story?
3. Bernadette is another complex character featured in this novel. Did you understand why she kept a family secret for so long, given the prejudices of the day?
4. This story would not have been possible without the author learning about the true story of a Miss Girl who appeared in Galveston during the construction of the seawall. What, to you, does she represent? Is hers a tragic story or an enigma?
5. This novel gives a glimpse into the lives of the poorest citizens of Galveston as well as some of its wealthiest. What were the strengths and weaknesses of both groups?
6. How did you feel about Grace's punishment when she was sent to work in the alleys, and did your feelings change? How did the experience change Grace?
7. Betrayal is a recurrent theme in this novel. Which betrayal was the most destructive, and which betrayal was, in the end, the most beneficial?
8. Grace's intentions toward The Girl were good and meant to be helpful. How did Grace help and/or hurt The Girl?
9. When Grace's feelings for Ira began to change, how did you feel about it? How was her relationship with Ira different from her relationship with Jonathan?
10. In your opinion, could Grace's faith in her mother ever be restored? Should it ever be restored?