The story begins with Annelisa Grace-Betterman, 25, sneaking out of the hospital, where she was recovering from rheumatic fever, to rescue her infant son from kidnappers. She is Graced as Locator, and can find people by listening for their heartbeats.
It continues on with no shortage of adventure. The Grace family members want to mind their own business, but they attract trouble in the forms of a serial arsonist, ill-intentioned Time Gypsies, and a race of people called Atherlings who have no consciences and threaten the family's well-being.
Throughout the book, they work on this project. The family owns an uncharted private island off the coast of Miami called Cinq Terras. The two women call upon Graced relatives and friends, and a few who know how to use Seminole magic and Louisiana voodoo, to secure Cinq Terras and make it impermeable to intruders.
Of course, with the war going on, there are rescue missions galore all over the world: Lima, Leningrad, Berlin.
Closer to home, there is heartache. Characters suffer from the aftermath of adultery, the misery of knowing a loved one is lost forever, and the horror of finding out about a child's most painful secret.
Still, there are good times. The Grace family loves to celebrate, although they try to keep it low-key, of course, due to the war. The book ends with a Christmas Ball, and the characters learn that when Seers and Russian Protectors advise against having hundreds of people over due to security risks, it might not hurt to listen.
I live in Windermere, Florida with my husband and three children. I started writing in January of 2016, not long after my husband retired and took over the automotive wholesale fleet leasing business I've had since 1991 (Courtney Leasing, Inc.). I went to the University of Florida, where I earned a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in secondary education. I enjoy writing children's book, and have nine in my picture book series, Tales of Bark Story Land, plus two stand alone picture books. I have two middle grade books, both featuring sixth grade girl main characters. My tagline is NSR: Never Stop Reading. |