Books with author Mary Ellen Bryan

Tessa Abbott’s life is finally respectable, with employment and her own place to live, albeit only one room, when her father comes home to die. With his last breaths, he tells her to find her inheritance in his suits, that he has provided for her future with them.A poor seamstress in London in 1814 can use all the help she could get, so she searches his clothes. Indeed, just as he promised, she finds a treasure hidden there, gems and jewelry—and letters—but it takes her no time at all to realize everything is stolen. In her neighborhood, if she is found with such items she risks arrest or death. She decides to atone for her father’s thievery and save her own neck by returning the items as soon as she can identify who they belong to, but she will need help. Her only possibility is a name in a stolen letter that she recognizes: Blake Glover, now Lord Warrenby, a frequent visitor to the shop, as his mother is a client. He is more likely to turn her in than help, but he has always been kind when he shows up to collect his mother and sister from their shopping. That, she knows, is a rare quality. It's a risk she has to take.Blake has vowed never to abuse his position against the defenseless, but the beautiful young seamstress at his mother's favorite modiste threatens his willpower. There is something about her that hints of a background higher than the position she holds. When his biggest temptation shows up with her impossible quest, he struggles to believe her claim of innocence. Worse yet, the letter she gives back to him reveals a secret only he knew, one he can never reveal to anyone. Now this impoverished seamstress who threatens his own vows knows it, and asks his help in her reckless plan to make amends.Who is this beautiful young woman? Is Tessa as innocent as she appears? He hopes so, because something is growing between them, something that he can't bear to lose.

When a puppy goes to the pet store so he can find a special family to take him home, hes understandably nervous. But then he sees all the other puppies, kittens, fish, and birds playing. Hes happy to join everyone.When he wakes up from a nap, he looks out the pet store window and sees a beautiful little girl staring at him. Next to her is a man with a friendly face who calls the little girl KC. Is this going to be his new family, the puppy wonders.When the puppy arrives at his new home, he begins to investigate and meets everyone in his new family. Theres even a little boy thats just his size to play with. The pup does some more investigating and his new mom tells him his name is Tanner Dog. You are a good boy Tanner Dog. We love you, she tells him.Tanner Dogthe private investigatordoesnt know it yet, but there will be plenty more mysteries to explore, and in the future, hell have some help from the professor cat next door, Mr. Vlad.

When Tanner Dog meets the cat next door, they decide to go to explore the park.Mr. Vlad the cat knows that not all dogs and cats get along, and at first hes careful with his new friend. When Tanner Dog asks Mr. Vlad if he wants to go back to the park, Mr. Vlad says he needs to check his work schedule.Thats when Tanner Dog learns that Mr. Vlad is a professor of knowledge who spends most of his time reading books from the library.Tanner Dog tells Mr. Vlad that hes a private investigator, and that the two of them should team up to investigate mysteries. You can do the research from your library books. Then together we can understand things we are curious about! he says.Mr. Vlad agrees, and the first mystery they investigate is, What is a best friend? The question leads to a series of adventures that ends with a startling answer that will change their lives forever.