Books published by publisher Desert Sky Press

A gruesome puzzle. A twisted killer. A determined detective. Who will win the game? Frank, fierce and fearless, Detective Sydney Valentine has never been afraid to ask difficult questions. But when a social worker is found brutally murdered with three Scrabble tiles stuffed in her mouth, she knows the answers will be far from easy to find. Sydney's investigation leads her to a disturbing blast from her past: a date-rape predator who attacked her friend Allison at college. Could he be the killer? He got away once before. Maybe now she'll be able to bring him to justice. Then more shocking murders reveal more cryptic clues and the puzzle gets harder to untangle. And when the killer turns their attention to those closest to Sydney, solving the mystery is the only way to protect the people she loves. The murderer is playing a deadly game and Sydney can't afford to lose. Does she have what it takes to catch this sadistic serial killer? Or will the killer catch her first? If you're a fan of police procedural novels with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end, you'll love the Sydney Valentine Mysteries.

“Sometimes people disappear into the North and are never heard from again.”When her papá doesn’t return, twelve year old Ixchel, a Maya from the Yucatan, resolves to leave home and make her way across the treacherous border into the United States to find him. Chel relies on an inexperienced smuggler and faces unknown dangers in a border tunnel. Frightened but resourceful, she is driven by hope, love for her father, and her dream of going to school.“Ixchel’s story, told with honesty and sympathy, will stir readers’ hearts.”-Eve Bunting, award winning author of more than 250 children’s books.

Join the ultimate treasure hunt today...The Reward: A magical artifact with the power to change worlds. Those weary of magic & monsters need not apply...My name is Jack Wilde and up until recently, I had the perfect life. This all came crashing down around me in epic proportions when I discovered an antique compass. It turns out, the compass has a mind of its own and decided that moment was a good time to return home, taking me along with it. Now I am in an insane new world called Feira, where magic and monsters are very real. I shouldn’t have been able to get here in the first place and my only hope of getting home is to find the most powerful artifact in this world, the Sana Artifact. The only clue is the riddle written on the back of the dumb compass that brought me here. To make matters worse, the ruler of northern Feria , King Sephtis, has discovered the compasses existence and dispatched his bloody left hand, Lord Wrath, to acquire it by any means necessary. At least I have a few new friends to help keep me out of trouble.Dove is a mysterious Healer, with the ability to heal any ailment or injury. Her vast knowledge of spell work and the Old Language is worth her weight in gold, but I can’t shake the feeling she is hiding something is. Then there is Soren, a vengeful sailor with a magical ship and crew. He is an Omni, a class of magic specializing crafting objects imbued with magical abilities. Soren is searching for something and there is no limit to how far he will go.This is the ultimate treasure hunt and we each have our own need for the Sana Artifact, but one thing is for certain. . . I will do whatever it takes to get home. I just hope to remain the same person in the process.Spinderlocke is a fantasy adventure about friendship, love and loss. If you are fans of the magical systems and friendship of Harry Potter, the vivid worlds of Kristen Cashore’s Graceling Realm series, the high stakes of the Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha series, or the epic journey of the Hobbit, you may enjoy reading this fantasy adventure tale.

I’ve been told I always think the worst of people. I believe "the worst" is the most honest part of all of us.I'm Detective Sydney Valentine and my next case begins when I arrive at the grisly crime scene of a murdered social worker.When the nude, mutilated body of a juvenile court judge is found in a park, and a single mother is slayed by a hit and run driver, I discover that someone with a sinister connection to Child Protective Services is killing people and leaving cryptic clues behind.As I hunt for the perpetrator, the target on my back grows. I must protect myself, my family, and other potential victims before the killer strikes again.I have no choice.I might not get a second chance.What are readers saying?★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Nice twist at the end! If you are a true mystery fan, you will definitely like this book. Good start to a new series."★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "This book had me from page 1."★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Really fantastic! Kept me guessing, trying to figure out who the killer was. I thought I had it figured out but at the end the author threw me a monkey wrench!!!"★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Gimme a little ASS-KICKING music. Author is a great wordsmith. I like a real BADA$$ protagonist and she gives us one."★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Strong characters, tight plot keeps you guessing until the end. Knowing WHO dunit is a surprise you don't expect or see coming.”★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I am on my third book by this author and love every one of them and can't put them down. I love these books. Hate the thought of finishing the third one already. Hope she writes many more of these. A very talented author."★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I've read a lot of whodunits, but this mystery had me guessing throughout the entire book. I read til 4 a.m. because I couldn't put it down; I just had to know who the murderer was. I didn't figure it out til the very last pages and that's what makes a great story. This is the first time I've read this author and I must say, "Hats off to you, Ms. Davis. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!"★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “I couldn't put it down! The characters were easy to relate to. I would recommend this to everyone.”★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Okay...if you love eve dallas, of the JD Robb series, then you will f$!/=ING love this book!!!! Let me tell you she is like Eve Dallas, on steroids... cannot be happier to have read this book!”★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “This is my first Danielle L. Davis book and she just gained a new fan! I became immersed in the story, constantly trying to figure out who the killer might be and what the scrabble letters, left at each scene, spelled out. The storyline was unique, held my attention so well that I found myself reading well into the wee hours of the morning. The characters were well developed, quirky & interesting. I really liked the sarcasm, side remarks and banter between Detective Valentine and Bernie. After finishing The Protector I can't wait to read more in this series!”★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “OMG! Ms. Davis thank you for writing this amazing book! I read this book in two days. I love when I read a book and the author makes it difficult to figure out the ending. I was not expecting that ending!”★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “WOW! Excellent story, just when you had everything figured out, the end of the story comes and you find out that you are wrong! Highly recommend this book for people who think that they can figure out how things end!”

“Sometimes people disappear into the North and are never heard from again.”When her papá doesn’t return, twelve year old Ixchel, a Maya from the Yucatan, resolves to leave home and make her way across the treacherous border into the United States to find him. Chel relies on an inexperienced smuggler and faces unknown dangers in a border tunnel. Frightened but resourceful, she is driven by hope, love for her father, and her dream of going to school.“Ixchel’s story, told with honesty and sympathy, will stir readers’ hearts.”-Eve Bunting, award winning author of more than 250 children’s books.

Alexander had loved Lydia, but then he'd nearly killed her. This is his vampire curse. His dark origin. Now, he is forced to run from the human world and everything he knows. Newly emerged, and terrified of his increasing powers, there is only one place that can save him, Bathory Academy; home to the descendants of history's most infamous vampires. A place where legends become truth. Thrust into the luxurious and magical world of the vampire, Alexander soon learns that some students will stop at nothing to claim the future throne of the vampire realm... or to secure their own immortality. But Alexander isn't interested in crowns and thrones, he just wants the answer to one question. Does he still have a heart, or is he now a monster, fated to destroy anyone he ever loves? * * * * *WHAT READERS FROM THE FAN GROUP ARE SAYING: "I literally couldn't put it down. I was totally sucked in to all the different character threads." "Alexander Augustine is my new book boyfriend. Fight me!" "This is such a rich universe, and it's so difficult to pick a #team." "I loved the ecological angle in the book, it was a really cool and unique addition." "Charlotte Bathory is my new girl crush! She's so wicked, she's fabulous." "Wow, and I thought my sister was evil!" * * * * *A thrilling new Young Adult series that twists and plays with the old world vampire tales. Written by the international bestselling author, Katie M. John, the 'Dark Origins' series promises you a seductive escape into the rich and complex world of the next generation of vampires as they fight for power, glory, and most importantly, love. It is the perfect read for lovers of Meyer's 'Twilight' saga, and Wolff's 'The Crave Series' ***Please note this title is a full 75k novel development from a previous short novella by the same name from the Bathory Academy series. It is multiple POV. There are scenes of horror, and sexual relationships that may not be suitable for younger YA readers. Recommended mature 13+ It is written in British English.

Waiting For a Ribbon is a story of hope and survival. Following several devastating and catastrophic events, Katherine attempted suicide, not once but twice. During her second attempt, a powerful near death experience saves her life. She is told that there is a purpose for her life. She makes a miraculous recovery and now devotes her life to promoting suicide prevention and awareness. She is an ardent advocate for fighting the stigma that surrounds the issue of suicide.

“I Get a Clue” is a mystery. Actually, Libby Carlsen is involved in more than one. When you are eleven-going-on-twelve, there is more than one mystery going on in your life. Is God watching over her? And her parents, have they thought their decision through? Libby thinks not! Her parents are going to the mission field, but they have sent her to Edinburgh, Scotland, to live with her grandmother at her B&B. Big-city Edinburgh is so different from Libby’s home in the suburbs of California. Is she in over her head? Will she be happy in Edinburgh? Will she make friends? When Libby meets Phil, a street-savvy neighborhood girl, she thinks her BFF problem may be solved. But Phil loves “drama.” She reveals that she’s been snooping around the local bakery and thinks someone is sabotaging it. She wants Libby to help her investigate. Libby has overheard things at the B&B. She suspects Phil just might be right. Sleuthing turns out to be thrilling, but it has its downside—false leads and encounters with the police. Sleuthing also has its dangers …

BEWARE THE SPECKLED EGG.BEWARE THE MAN WHO HOLDS IT.FOR WHEN IT HATCHES,DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD BEGINS.Osbert has lived most of his life in the church, working for the nuns, setting out the placemats, and visiting his parents' graveside. And he's always longed for the chance to see his mom and dad one last time.And that's when the strange man appears in the belfry and offers Os an egg – an egg he claims holds the legendary Phoenix. Once the Phoenix hatches, a single feather is rumored to bring life back to the dead.But when the egg does hatch, Os finds something much worse has arrived: an ancient terror that threatens to destroy not only his village, but also the known world. Now Os and his sparrowhawk have until sundown to stop the rampaging beast and save everyone they know and love.

Contains 60 interior illustrations, in black and white in paperback and color on Kindle. In the endless skies of a planet with no surface, a birdlike queer girl named Coda sails alone. Her mother is an absent addict, and her best friend has vanished. Just when she's at her most aimless, the sun god appears to Coda in a storm, granting her visions of other worlds, the ability to see across the electromagnetic spectrum, and a divine mission.Elsewhere, a primate named Ran is leaving his forest home for the first time. His older brother, desperate to start a family, is uprooting their lives to move to the city on the coast--where the racial majority walks upright, eats only meat, and builds awe-inspiring spacecraft. As Ran adjusts to culture shock, his sole bright spot is the dream of flying.Phoenix Dawn is a tale of first contact between worlds, the struggle to empathize with people who live--and love--in unfamiliar ways, and the crises of faith that arise from meeting one's gods firsthand.

Jet-lagged, after the long flight from the States, Libby Carlsen trips over her sister’s suitcase and stumbles into a mystery. Actually more than one. Big-city Edinburgh is so different from Libby’s home in California. Is she up to all the changes? Will she make friends? And then there’s the conversation she accidentally overhears between her aunt and Mr. MacLeod, the owner of the local bakery. Could someone really be trying to hurt his business? It seems unlikely and yet . . . Philippa, a neighborhood girl with a flair for the dramatic, is certain SOMETHING is going on at the bakery. She wants Libby to help her investigate. Sleuthing turns out to be edge-of-your-seat exciting, but it has its downside—false leads and embarrassing setbacks. Sleuthing also can be dangerous . . .

Libby, Malcolm, and Roopa, the kids from I Get a Clue, are back! Edinburgh’s young sleuths are up to their eyeballs in a new mystery/adventure. Libby and Malcolm are on Mr. MacLeod’s catering crew for an event at Lintwhite, Lord Blackford’s country manor house. The job is going well until Libby trips, spilling a tray of desserts on a guest. Minutes later, it is discovered that a valuable antique has been stolen from Lord Blackford’s collection. His Lordship suspects the catering crew of being involved. He particularly suspects Libby. The police come and question everyone, but arrest no one. Back at Gran’s, Libby hopes the whole unhappy incident is behind her. She soon discovers, however, that she is involved and more than she could ever imagine.