Books published by publisher Lake Press

Santina Pietra is seventeen and in medieval San Gimignano, daughters of merchants are expected to marry. But Santina cares only for Calandrino, a brilliant young scholar who is preoccupied with his ancient alchemical texts. Soon Santina meets Trotula, the village midwife, who might or might not be a strega, or witch. Trotula challenges her to forget Calandrino and become the woman she is meant to be. Some say she is a victim of the midwife’s spell, but Santina is determined to follow in Trotula’s footsteps even as calamities strike. The setting is 14th century Italy, yet in Santina contemporary readers will discover a strong-minded young woman whose search for meaning echoes their own. Alchemy’s Daughter is the author’s second novel.

Hell hath no fury as an android spurned.The remnants of humanity and newly awakened, sentient androids of Novae Terrae have come to an uneasy truce. Robotics scientist Harley Harris has sorted out his relationship issues, leaving behind an angry former partner.Will the peace hold after the androids come to the artificial intelligence-driven conclusion that humans are inferior and unnecessary?Will humanity survive?

Some people go to great lengths to fit in. But how far is too far? After her parent's divorce, sixteen-year-old Wren Newmann is forced to move from a small California town to her grandmother's vineyard, where she's convinced she'll die a shriveled, wine-country virgin. Her dad's gone AWOL, her mom's hooking up with anything in pants, and her best friend has found the love of her life. Apart from the annoying but cute Greek farmhand Panayis, who doesn't appear to notice her awkwardness or thunder thighs, Wren's life has hit an all-time low. That is until her own dating life improves unexpectedly when Jay, Wren's long-time country crush, notices her. Yet it's as if people don't want her to be happy, with their warnings and advice that perhaps Jay isn't the right guy for her. But they don't know, and Wren's done being Beached Whale Girl. She's determined to become social, skinny, and sexy, because Jay wants her--every part of her. Though her anxiety and secret purging sessions sing another warning that she finds hard to ignore. And when a series of personal tragedies strikes, Wren's life is flipped upside down and she's left to pick up the pieces of her broken relationships. Now, she must find the inner strength to decide if the illusion of being loved is worth sacrificing her health, and maybe even her life. Described as "unflinching and authentic," WITHIN AND WITHOUT is a stunning debut that touches on a teenage girl's emotionally haunting journey to self acceptance "that will stay with you long after you turn the last page."

Return to the Celtic magic that began with the suspenseful, award-winning novel Circle of Nine – Beltany . . .Descended from a legendary Celtic tribe that guards the secrets of the ancient stone circles, the Quinn women have a great responsibility to protect their pagan rituals and way of life. As members of the formidable Circle of Nine, they celebrate the holidays of the year from Yule to Samhain, keeping the traditions of the Tuatha de Danann alive through the centuries against insurmountable odds. We first met these women in Circle of Nine – Beltany, and now a set of three novellas reveals more of their engaging stories. In Bressa's Banishment, the power struggle between Father Banan and village healer Bressa Gormley unfolds amidst accusations of treachery, heresy, and murder. Can the Circle of Nine protect their trusted healer and the path of the Tuatha against a growing religious fervor?

The exciting conclusion to the first four books in the Luza series. Trust no one. Keira is compelled to travel alone after a series of betrayals. She seeks Waliyah, the Great Mother, who is the only one that can help find her parents. Meanwhile, Sohon’s ambitions reach beyond his kingdom forcing Riley to make the ultimate decision that will impact not only him, but Luza as well.

Soon to be Queen, Princess Adelaide, has gone rogue. At least her country thinks so. In reality, Addie needs time to decide if she should follow her heart or follow her country's outdated expectations. Desperate to stay out of the public eye until she can figure out what to do, she takes a job as a pastry chef at a historic bed & breakfast in Holly Grove, Vermont. Only problem: she only knows how to bake one thing. And worse, her ex-fiancé works across the street at the local coffee house. Suddenly hiding in plain sight is the least of her worries.As a classically trained pastry chef, Lucas Bishop has studied all over the world and is about to launch his first cookbook. Before it hits the shelves, he needs every eatery in and around Holly Grove to sign off on an exclusivity clause--agreeing not to bake any of the featured recipes for at least a year. When he realizes his ex-fiancé is not only working at the B&B across the street, but has made his signature cookie--everything he's worked for could go up in smoke.Their close proximity is risky, but Addie devises a plan: if Lucas teachers her how to bake--while keeping her real life under wraps--she’ll make sure the B&B’s owner signs his much needed waiver. Old feelings resurface and she is forced to choose between serving her country or being a part of a life Lucas has built after their split. Ultimately they must decide where their loyalty lies--with their families or each other.

Following on from their near capture at the hands of Bilal and his followers, Keira, Riley and Luza make a daring escape and cross a lake to seek refuge with the faeries. Despite their attempts to remain focused on their task, the friends are finding it difficult and must use all their combined resourcefulness to persevere. Riley is struggling to keep a number of potentially damaging secrets which could completely unravel their journey, while Luza is recovering from her injuries and the poison given to her by Bilal’s dog. She knows that she must somehow regain her strength in time to fulfill the prophecy, but, like Riley, the fox also knows more than she’s telling and it could cost Keira dearly.Meanwhile, Keira has a brief reunion with her father and must come to terms with the new found knowledge that her life has changed forever. Accepting it, and her new task, is a different matter however, and she isn’t sure if she will have the strength to do what is asked of her. Can the three friends be prepared before Bilal returns to seek his revenge? Will they fulfill the prophecy or will the forces of Sohon win the war over Lane, his daughter and all that is good in the forest?

Return to the Celtic magic that began with the suspenseful, award-winning novel Circle of Nine – Beltany . . .Descended from a legendary Celtic tribe that guards the secrets of the ancient stone circles, the Quinn women have a great responsibility to protect their pagan rituals and way of life. As members of the formidable Circle of Nine, they celebrate the holidays of the year from Yule to Samhain, keeping the traditions of the Tuatha de Danann alive through the centuries against insurmountable odds. We first met these women in Circle of Nine – Beltany, and now a set of three novellas reveals more of their engaging stories. In Phoebe's Mission, when an evil force on a quest for ultimate power threatens the Circle of Nine, Phoebe Quinn must leave Ireland for the first time and travel to the United States to protect their way of life. Along the way, she meets the handsome Macklin Scott, taking her mission, and possibly her future, on a far different course than expected.

Ten year old Elizabeth is tall for her age and she's outgrown her bike. Her parents get her a new bicycle for her birthday - one that is a little big, a little old-fashioned, and very special. Elizabeth names her new bike Betty and gives Betty a heart because all living things have a heart - and Betty is definitely alive.Bicycle Betty is the story of the life of a very special bicycle - a life filled with twists and turns, excitement and danger, sadness and happy times. Bicycle Betty takes you on a ride you won't forget.

Fashion in the Time of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) was a hand written thirty-four page document on eight inch by twelve inch lined British school tablet paper with thirty-one separate drawings on white paper by Melinda Camber Porter. Each drawing was cut out and glued into document. The seventeen page document on two sides was bound by pink yarn tied through two holes on the left side as the binding. Melinda Camber Porter wrote and illustrated this book as a school report in Second Grade (Class 2), where she attended The City of London School for Girls. Her teacher (unnamed) gave her a grade of A and commented, ‘Where did you find such descriptive material.’ We will never know, but Melinda’s reference material appears to originate from the great British fashion writer and illustrator of the 1930s, Dion Clayton Calthrop, who wrote and illustrate many books on English fashion from 1050 A.D. to 1750 A.D. This publication, Fashion in the Time of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) is typed from the original hand written text and includes reproductions of Melinda Camber Porter’s original drawings. The book encourages young women and men to sketch and write about their favorite fashions and inspirations. The book also serves as a piece of history for The City of London School for Girls, and includes photos and awards of Melinda Camber Porter in the appendices. The City of London School for Girls has moved twice since the early 1960s as many records from Melinda’s time at the school (1958-1971) are no longer available. Mr. Robbie Lyle, who had known Melinda Camber Porter since their Oxford University days, provides background in the Foreward on the clothing in the time of Queen Elizabeth I and memories of Melinda Camber Porter.

All she ever wanted was a chance to settle down in one place.Thistle Nettlebottom knows her life isn't exactly normal. She travels the country with her secretive mother and bestselling author grandmother in a pink RV going from book signings to crazy research trips. She's never been to public school or had a boyfriend, but she can pick a lock and hotwire a car. One day the phone rings and they set a course to a tiny town that's not on any maps. Suddenly, Thistle finds her whole life changing.She's finally found the home she's been searching for.Thistle soon realizes that Desire isn't like other towns and she's not like other girls. The family she trusted has lied to her about everything her entire life and the things she doesn't know about herself could cost her everything. Her legacy as one of the most powerful witches the town has ever seen has made her enemies that have been waiting patiently for a chance to destroy her. Thistle needs to learn to use her powers to protect herself before they succeed.Be careful what you wish for.Thistle has a power unique even among the magic wielding witches of Desire. She can wish things into existence. At first she enjoys the freedom of having everything her heart desires, but she soon realizes that her power comes at a terrible price. She's losing her grip on her sanity at a time when she can't afford any weakness. Her enemies are closing in quickly, but she might not have the strength to save herself.