“Spanning the decade of the 1980s, this story of a relationship’s rise and later complications is interwoven with the big news events of that time, including the emergence of yuppies and the AIDS epidemic. Dwight takes her time setting up the romance, focusing on deeply developing Mercedes as an introspective character with a bent toward the philosophical….A lucid…tale of a troubled marriage from a promising author.”
―Kirkus Reviews

“This dramatic and intoxicating novel about how far a mother will go to protect her child will completely seize heartbeats until the last page is read.”
―Working Mother magazine

“Jennifer Dwight’s first novel, The Tolling of Mercedes Bell, will captivate readers from the first page and hold them until the very last. Her ability to capture and portray vivid characters and deliver intense action will result in readers not being able to put the book down.”
―Reader Views Book Awards

“Author Jennifer Dwight takes us on a journey exploring honesty, lies, courage and the power of secrets when they cause complete and utter destruction of someone’s life. Full of surprises with impressive twists, having an insider’s knowledge of the world of law makes it even better. Much like the 80’s, this is a plot showing the world’s subtle indifferences to some of the largest problems, at the time, that the globe had ever seen.”
―Suspense magazine

“Jennifer Dwight crafts a hauntingly realistic story in her debut novel…. [She] does an excellent job of slowly mixing deception and ambiguity within her well-developed characters through the use of dialogue….Although Dwight’s third person narrative incorporates a balanced combination of history and various themes within romantic environs, it is truly first and foremost a story of survival and courage. Dwight keeps her plot constantly flowing by building tension within evasive and unanticipated scenes….The Tolling of Mercedes Bell is an unforgettable page-turner―a must read by all!”
―San Francisco Book Review

“This tale that spans 10 years is crafted to fit the locale, the San Francisco Bay Area, the era, the 1980s to the 90s, and the human foibles of a rich array of characters carefully structured and revealed by author Jennifer Dwight . . . The biggest shift from the minor key of the musical score, yes this is movie material, comes when Mercedes has realized her goal of steady employment at a law firm; however, what follows is eye opening to say the least!”
―Portland Book Review, 4.5 star review

“Romance takes a compellingly dark turn.”
―The Reading Room

“The Tolling of Mercedes Bell, set in San Francisco amid the excess of the eighties, is the suspenseful story of a single mother caught up in a love-turned-lethal. Jennifer Dwight’s skillfully crafted characters and descriptions linger long after the last page, but the novel’s revelation is that our greatest flaw may not be how we deceive others, but how we deceive ourselves―and risk paying the ultimate price.”
―Kristen Harnisch, award-winning author of The Vintner’s Daughter and The California Wife

“In her stunning novel, Jennifer Dwight serves a Bay Area banquet of fashion, food, fraud, and fear deliciously combined and relentlessly plated, page-on-page, with cultured sensitivity and appreciation for the tenuousness of truth and of life. Throughout, her heroine Mercedes Bell cleaves to love and truth, to probity and law as antidotes to the violence, shock, and deception of married life. This work never falters. Its trajectory, entirely direct, trills with both charm and surprise. The reader, as I did, will applaud from page one to the very last chapter the tolling of Mercedes’s bell.”
―Tim Jollymore, author of Observation Hill and the award-winning Listener in the Snow

“The Tolling of Mercedes Bell is Jennifer Dwight’s masterful suspense novel about gripping intrigues spawned in a fictional California law firm in the 1980s. The true-to-life details of this finely wrought tale arise from Dwight’s inside knowledge of law firms, and draw the reader into paralegal Mercedes Bell’s struggle for survival at the hands of a gifted con-artist and attorney, Jack Soutane. This compelling work is a must-read for anyone who has worked in the law or who wants an unforgettable taste of the San Francisco Bay Area during a troubled time. The characters and message of the book will remain long after the last page is read.”
―Chere Estrin, author of Paralegal Career Guide, The Successful Paralegal Job Search Guide, Everything You Need to Know About Marketing Your Paralegal Program, and Hot Jobs & Amazing Careers: Smart Moves for Paralegals; President and Co-founder of The Organization of Legal Professionals

“The flow of the story, from page to page, chapter to chapter, is superb . . . The title, itself, is a clever play on words . . . The book will satisfy anyone who enjoys mystery and intrigue, with light romance thrown in for color . . . Flashbacks are used well . . . I would jump tall buildings in a single bound to find another book by this author! . . . It will be an understatement to say I like the book. This one has ‘winner’ all over it!”
―29th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Judge, 2017

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“In the moving novel The Untended, a community’s grit, hardiness, and sense of unity become apparent, even as its citizens struggle with addiction.”—Foreword Clarion Reviews

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“A must-read for anyone who loves stories full of dynamic and well-fleshed-out female characters. . . . Women’s fiction, suspense, or drama readers won’t want to miss this book. . . . one of those stories that lingers with you, and prompts you to reflect on the events that shape who you are.”—Readers’ Favorite, FIVE STARS

“I couldn’t put this one down! A smart, absorbing contemporary novel with a touch of magic, Where You Once Belonged is a must-read for anyone who loves to root for the underdog. Lorna Graham has gifted her readers with an expertly paced, riveting examination of power structures, justice, and what constitutes a true happy ending. Readers will love these characters!”—L. Alison Heller, author of The Neighbor’s Secret, The Never Never Sisters and The Love Wars

“Compelling and timely, Where You Once Belonged is a gripping story of an executive’s journey back to her past and toward an awareness of her current, flawed self. As she did in her first novel, Lorna Graham uses the supernatural to excellent effect, with historical characters holding modernity to account.”—Daphne Uviller, author of This Was Not The Plan

“Where You Once Belonged is a brilliant tale of abandonment, betrayal, and friendship that winds back and forth in time, illuminating the ways in which a woman’s past have tragically affected her present. Mysticism lends its hand, and life-shaping misunderstandings surface­—leading to truths that bring clarity and grace. Lorna Graham’s writing is mesmerizing, empathetic, and so absorbing that readers will find this novel impossible to put down.”—Karen Uhlmann, author of Intersections

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“Jayne Mills’s Bottom of the Breath is about struggle and acceptance, secrets and losses—and also both frank and hopeful, a willing and wise embrace of what is.”—Michelle Wildgen, author of Wine People

“Finely crafted and emotionally rich, Bottom of the Breath is a captivating debut from a fresh voice in fiction . . . ”—Deborah Sharp, author of the Mace Bauer Mystery Series

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“Nicole Bokat has once again weaved together scintillating storytelling with gorgeous prose. Will End in Fire is a haunting poetic thriller.”
—Judy Batalion, New York Times best-selling author of The Light of Days

“I blazed through Bokat’s fiery, fast-paced new thriller in a single sitting. Navigating the perilous terrain of sibling rivalry, arson, addiction, rape culture, climate change, and a pandemic, the novel’s riveting twists are driven by the questions: Who can Ellie Stone trust? What will it take for her to trust herself? What is the price if she doesn’t? You’ll turn these stunning pages with your heart pounding and your hands on fire.”
—Tess Callahan, author of April and Oliver and Dawnland

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“Fans of Tracy Chevalier and Kate Atkinson will love being immersed in the detail-driven historical atmosphere, while hard-boiled mystery fans will thoroughly enjoy being led by our whip-smart and street-savvy heroine through the maze of clues leading to a shocking final plot twist.”
—Chicago Book Review, 5 stars

“Aficionados of historical fiction and the Jane Benjamin series will be delighted . . . The novel is an excellent read, with sympathetic characters and set in a place and time that leaps off the page.”
—San Francisco Book Review, 5 stars

“Mirroring ongoing misogyny, racial discrimination, and economic challenges women continue to face today, Poster Girl takes readers behind the scenes to experience the toll exacted on women who dared to break molds in the 1940s. A five-star read. Highly recommended.”
—Ashley E. Sweeney, author of Hardland, Answer Creek, and Eliza Waite

“A cracking plot, exquisite detail, and grand cast of characters.”
—Catriona McPherson, author of In Place of Fear

“Jane Benjamin has come into her own in this third book of the series. A fast-paced story that had me turning pages long into the night. Highly recommend!”
—Michelle Cox, author of The Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

“A can’t-put-it-down kind of book . . . every moment perfectly crafted to keep the reader turning pages to the gripping end.”
—Laurie Buchanan, author of The Sean McPherson Series

“A high-wire, ripped-from-vintage-headlines series-ender.”
—Gretchen Cherington, author of The Butcher, the Embezzler, and the Fall Guy

“A historically accurate, action-packed adventure, making WWII era intrigue and sexual and racial discrimination feel contemporary.”
—Maren Cooper, author of Behind the Lies

“Casts an observant eye on the misogyny, racism, and classism of the time, allowing the reader to witness that not much has changed.”
—Mary Camarillo, author of The Lockhart Women

“A page-turner that delivers a strong message for our time: we must take care of each other. I absolutely loved this novel.”
—Debra Thomas, author of Luz

“Weaves challenging and timeless social issues into a story about people we grow to care about while maintaining tension and suspense—you won’t put this one down.”
—Anastasia Zeidek, author of Blurred Fates

Praise for Tomboy:

“A wonderful story full of nuance and character.”
—Sheldon Siegel, NYT and USA Today best-selling author of the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez series

Praise for Copy Boy:

“Smart, lively, and suspenseful, this is Raymond Chandler for feminists.”
—Sharma Shields, author of The Cassandra

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“A playbook for how to seed a revolution, The Third Way is thought-provoking, illuminating, and inspiring. It captivated me from page one and left me thinking meaningful social change is possible. Arden is my favorite kind of protagonist: passionate, determined, and brave enough to take on the ‘C’ word (yes, capitalism).”
—Carrie Firestone, author of The Unlikelies and Dress Coded and community organizer of ForwardCT

“In this impressive first novel, Aimee Hoben provides a clear-eyed, propulsive, and morally complex look at the systems that vie to hold our country a corporate hostage. The Third Way’s Arden Firth is as winning and knowable a character as I’ve encountered in some time. This is such a bold debut.”
—Daniel Torday, author of Boomer1 and The Last Flight of Poxl West

“An intriguing thought experiment. The role of large corporations in our society, and the question of who decides about that role, has never been more important.”
—Jeff Clements, president of American Promise and author of Corporations Are Not People: Reclaiming Democracy From Big Money & Global Corporations

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“A woman’s seemingly perfect life unravels in this debut novel that explores what happens when past traumas resurface. . . . will keep readers glued to the page . . . The author’s tale is as chilling as it is affecting. . . . A hypnotic page-turner . . .”
—Kirkus Reviews

“In the haunting and finely written Blurred Fates, Anastasia Zadeik unravels themes of adultery, jealousy, crimes of passion, betrayal, loss, and guilt. It’s impossible to not keep turning the pages, as Zadeik’s voice leads us deeper and deeper into a compulsively readable plot that takes the reader from a place of shock and horror to understanding and clarity. Zadeik has written a psychological thriller that is touching, troubling, and ultimately a story of redemption.”
—Donna Brown Agins, NAACP Image Award–nominated author of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: Legendary First Lady and Maya Angelou: Diversity Makes for a Rich Tapestry

“This story of a woman struggling to overcome the abuse of her childhood unfolded slowly in layers that kept me engaged until the end. The questions raised by Kathryn’s struggles will resonate with all readers: How do we overcome the abuses of our past? Can one ever rise above the circumstances of her childhood? Whom do we love, and why? In Blurred Fates, the devastating effects of adultery, abuse, abandonment, suicide, and unrequited love collide to create a gripping, well-told narrative.”
—Tabitha Forney, author of Paper Airplanes

“Zadeik’s piercing, gut-wrenching, and gripping story about a fractured marriage, buried family secrets, and a woman fighting to regain her life is a remarkable debut that will keep you riveted until the last page.”
—Jamie Freveletti, internationally best-selling and award-winning author of Blood Run 

“Blurred Fates is a beautifully written debut novel. It teaches us about love, betrayal, secrets, and the courage to speak the truth . . . whatever the consequences.”
—Sondra Helene, author of Appearances

“Blurred Fates is at once thrilling and unexpected, with twists and turns that will keep you turning the page well into the night. I couldn’t put it down. It’s also an important commentary on mental health and a window into what it’s like to suffer from PTSD. Brava to debut author Anastasia Zadeik for this compelling first novel.”
—Jeniffer Thompson, host of The Premise podcast

“Blurred Fates is an unerring portrayal of the realities of trauma survival in an enthralling tale of tragedy, love, and betrayal. Broken family, sexual assault, infidelity, and ulterior motives—turning each page makes you cringe, gasp, then breathe and repeat. Zadeik’s elegance on the page is captivating from start to finish.”
—Amelia Zachry, author of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood 

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