Books with author Patricia Bracewell

A rich tale of power and forbidden love revolving around a young medieval queenIn 1002, fifteen­-year-old Emma of Normandy crosses the Narrow Sea to wed the much older King Athelred of England, whom she meets for the first time at the church door. Thrust into an unfamiliar and treacherous court, with a husband who mistrusts her, stepsons who resent her and a bewitching rival who covets her crown, Emma must defend herself against her enemies and secure her status as queen by bearing a son.Determined to outmaneuver her adversaries, Emma forges alliances with influential men at court and wins the affection of the English people. But her growing love for a man who is not her husband and the imminent threat of a Viking invasion jeopardize both her crown and her life.Based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Shadow on the Crown introduces readers to a fascinating, overlooked period of history and an unforgettable heroine whose quest to find her place in the world will resonate with modern readers.

A rich tale of power and forbidden love revolving around a young medieval queenIn 1002, fifteen­-year-old Emma of Normandy crosses the Narrow Sea to wed the much older King Athelred of England, whom she meets for the first time at the church door. Thrust into an unfamiliar and treacherous court, with a husband who mistrusts her, stepsons who resent her and a bewitching rival who covets her crown, Emma must defend herself against her enemies and secure her status as queen by bearing a son. Determined to outmaneuver her adversaries, Emma forges alliances with influential men at court and wins the affection of the English people. But her growing love for a man who is not her husband and the imminent threat of a Viking invasion jeopardize both her crown and her life. Based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Shadow on the Crown introduces readers to a fascinating, overlooked period of history and an unforgettable heroine whose quest to find her place in the world will resonate with modern readers.

From House to HomeNever in my life would I have imagined I’d be homeless. But here I am, fifteen and sleeping on a park bench with nothing but the clothes on my back, twelve dollars in my pocket, and a backpack full of useless school books.It’s incredible how fast things can change. One minute I’m walking home from the bus stop, and the next my mother is being carted off by the police for drug- dealing and I am left with no family to take me in.Just as I resolve myself to entering a group home full of bullies and cockroaches, my principal finds a peculiar name on my emergency contact list. That’s when my world totally changes and I am thrust into a situation completely beyond my control.And to top it off – I do have family! Turns out my mother lied to me all my life. And that’s not all she lied about. Unbelievable!From Good to BadAunt Kari glances toward the sound of the ringing phone with a puzzled expression. She looks back at the two of us, shrugs, and then rushes into the kitchen to grab it before it goes to voicemail.I stop and listen for a second. Nothing big, just polite conversation. I continue sweeping, thinking it’s probably someone trying to sell eco-friendly cleaning products or something. But then, her voice rises in a very Un-Aunt Kari like tone.“What? . . . This can’t be happening,” she cries. “There’s no way I’m letting her go back there.”At the mere tone of her voice, my heart drops into my tennis shoes. The subconscious threat that has hovered in the back of my mind suddenly leaps into my chest. My stomach squeezes into a ball at the realization — I’m the her she’s speaking of. I drop the broom, and it bounces to the carpet, making only a muffled thump. Still, Uncle Derek glances over at me. Evidently, he hasn’t heard the conversation going on in the other room.That’s when I realize the inevitable has happened … My mother is out of jail.From Lies to Truth“Guess who’s back at school this year?” Amy asks before I get a chance to sit down.“Who?” I don’t know why I inquire, because I’m sure I don't know who she’s talking about, anyway.She leans in closer to me — so close, I can smell the cheeseburger she just took a bite of. “Josie Mendez,” she whispers so softly I can barely hear her.Who in the world is that and why would I care? I stare at her politely puzzled. Wait a minute. Why does that name sound familiar?“Hey, slugger. What’s the big secret?” Chris walks up behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. That’s when it hits me. Like a plug that’s been pulled in a sink with an open drain — Josie Mendez. The girl who accused Chris of raping her when he was a freshman.“The Josie Mendez?” I turn around to see Chris’s brows tighten into rigid lines. “His Josie Mendez?”“What about her? Haven’t we already—”“She’s back.”Girl UnbrokenAs I stare at the off-white ceiling of the ambulance, my body is numb, my eyes blurred. Tight straps confine me to yet another prison — a gurney. For my own protection, they said. The muffled blare of sirens echo in my ears. But even after all I’ve been through, all I can think about is that strange, haunting voice — The girl on the other side of the door. It ricochets off the sides of my skull.I’m not going to leave you, she whispered from the other side of my prison cell. The police are on their way. It was so gentle, caring, so self-assured. What’s your name? she asked. Mine is Karina.How could she be so calm? Soon the monster would be back, and he would do to her what he’d done to me. I wanted to scream at her to run. Get out of there as fast as she could, but she was my only hope. Hope for what? There was nothing left to hope for. Still . . .

All her life, Saffire Tipton had heard stories from her Grandpa Joe about a place where Kings ruled, magic flourished, and strange creatures roamed the land. But those were just stories. At least that’s what she thought until she found herself in the world of Elysia. When Prince Wallace finds a strange girl in the forbidden forest caught up in Bramble Weed, he enters inside to arrest her. No one was granted access into the forest without permission from the Queen of the Flitterlings. As with any world, Elysia is not without conflict of its own and Saffire is not welcomed by all. Join the adventure with Saffire as she meets flying Flitterlings, tough Jabbers, meddling Krags, and learns about the alluring Electra.

Never in my life would I have imagined I’d be homeless. But here I am, fifteen and sleeping on a park bench with nothing but the clothes on my back, twelve dollars in my pocket, and a backpack full of useless school books. It’s incredible how fast things can change. One minute I’m walking home from the bus stop, and the next my mother is being carted off by the police for drug- dealing and I am left with no family to take me in. Just as I resolve myself to entering a group home full of bullies and cockroaches, my principal finds a peculiar name on my emergency contact list. That’s when my world totally changes and I am thrust into a situation completely beyond my control. And to top it off – I do have family! Turns out my mother lied to me all my life. And that’s not all she lied about. Unbelievable!Books in the Karina's Journey SeriesFrom House to HomeFrom Good to BadFrom Lies to TruthGirl Unbroken - A Novella

“Guess who’s back at school this year?” Amy asks before I get a chance to sit down.“Who?” I don’t know why I inquire, because I’m sure I don't know who she’s talking about, anyway.She leans in closer to me — so close, I can smell the cheeseburger she just took a bite of. “Josie Mendez,” she whispers so softly I can barely hear her.Who in the world is that and why would I care? I stare at her politely puzzled. Wait a minute. Why does that name sound familiar?“Hey, slugger. What’s the big secret?” Chris walks up behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. That’s when it hits me. Like a plug that’s been pulled in a sink with an open drain — Josie Mendez. The girl who accused Chris of raping her when he was a freshman.“The Josie Mendez?” I turn around to see Chris’s brows tighten into rigid lines. “His Josie Mendez?”“What about her? Haven’t we already—”“She’s back.” Books in the Karina's Journey SeriesFrom House to HomeFrom Good to BadFrom Lies to TruthGirl Unbroken - A Novella

Aunt Kari glances toward the sound of the ringing phone with a puzzled expression. She looks back at the two of us, shrugs, and then rushes into the kitchen to grab it before it goes to voicemail. I stop and listen for a second. Nothing big, just polite conversation. I continue sweeping, thinking it’s probably someone trying to sell eco-friendly cleaning products or something. But then, her voice rises in a very Un-Aunt Kari like tone. “What? . . . This can’t be happening,” she cries. “There’s no way I’m letting her go back there.” At the mere tone of her voice, my heart drops into my tennis shoes. The subconscious threat that has hovered in the back of my mind suddenly leaps into my chest. My stomach squeezes into a ball at the realization — I’m the her she’s speaking of. I drop the broom, and it bounces to the carpet, making only a muffled thump. Still, Uncle Derek glances over at me. Evidently, he hasn’t heard the conversation going on in the other room.That’s when I realize the inevitable has happened … My mother is out of jail. Books in the Karina's Journey SeriesFrom House to HomeFrom Good to BadFrom Lies to TruthGirl Unbroken - A Novella

As I stare at the off-white ceiling of the ambulance, my body is numb, my eyes blurred. Tight straps confine me to yet another prison — a gurney. For my own protection, they said. The muffled blare of sirens echo in my ears. But even after all I’ve been through, all I can think about is that strange, haunting voice — The girl on the other side of the door. It ricochets off the sides of my skull. I’m not going to leave you, she whispered from the other side of my prison cell. The police are on their way. It was so gentle, caring, so self-assured. What’s your name? she asked. Mine is Karina.How could she be so calm? Soon the monster would be back, and he would do to her what he’d done to me. I wanted to scream at her to run. Get out of there as fast as she could, but she was my only hope. Hope for what? There was nothing left to hope for. Still . . .Books in the Karina's Journey SeriesFrom House to HomeFrom Good to BadFrom Lies to TruthGirl Unbroken - A Novella

William McGee, commonly known as Willy, was a thin, frail seven-year-old boy who wore glasses. Children often picked on Willy because of the way he looked, but Willy never let that bother him. He had something the other kids didn't have: a magic pirate captain's hat and a great imagination. By placing the hat on his head, Willy discovered that he could transform himself into Captain Williby, embarking on exciting adventures.

William McGee, commonly known as Willy, was a thin, frail seven-year-old boy who wore glasses. Children often picked on Willy because of the way he looked, but Willy never let that bother him. He had something the other kids didn’t have: a magic pirate captain’s hat and a great imagination. By placing the hat on his head, Willy discovered that he could transform himself into Captain Williby, embarking on exciting adventures.