STORIES OF INTRIGUE, ROMANCE, AND FAITH

Thank you for visiting this page. I imagine we share an interest in unusual historical stories — stories of adventure, romance, and inspiration. If that’s the case, scroll through the previews of the three books in the  Dragonfly Trilogy, set in mid-nineteenth century Japan (after the early action  in New York and Shanghai). Get ready to enter a riveting world, where East meets West.

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For eBook or Paperback

(Buy at Amazon)

Book One

“The Year of the Barbarian delivers a perfect blend of adventure, political intrigue, and an epic clash of culture!”

Elizabeth Camden, recipient of the Rita®, Christy, and Carol awards.

Sumi Taguchi, a samurai’s daughter, eagerly anticipates the arrival of foreigners from the West and the end of Japan’s centuries-long isolation from the world. Maybe these foreigners—if they turn out to be truly civilized—will bring answers to life’s troublesome riddles. But to be free to meet these newcomers, she must first avoid a nightmarish betrothal and the fallout from her rash curiosity.

The young New York merchant, John Cardiff, risks his inheritance by sailing to the far side of the world. His fascination with Japan leads to a tantalizing, but dangerous trading venture. As trouble mounts, he dreads the shipwreck not only of his sail ship but also of his life.

Book Two

Deadly conspiracies and thorny Japanese traditions war against an American diplomat and a samurai’s daughter. Can their budding romance survive?

In 1859, the Americans finally cracked the door to Nagasaki’s centuries-old isolation. Sumi Taguchi, the daughter of a samurai, can hardly wait to investigate the outside world. But if she pursues her fondest desires, she must disobey her family’s elder and accept the dangerous consequences. Yet what can she do when her heart says to hold on to her forbidden dreams?

John Cardiff, Nagasaki’s first American consul, aims to make a fortune and marry his New York fiancée. But first, he must establish his trading company and navigate Japan’s strange culture. He expected his stay in Japan to be eye-opening and adventurous, but he didn’t plan on an irresistible draw toward the Japanese people and his beautiful tutor, Sumi.

An anti-foreign samurai threatens not only John and Sumi’s chance for romance but also their lives. Yet the fanatic may find his opponents are not the weaklings he imagined.

For eBook or Paperback

(Buy at Amazon)

For eBook or Paperback

(Available at Amazon)

Book Three

John Cardiff, the first American consul in Nagasaki, never imagines his mother could lie to get her way. Sumi struggles in reconciling her beliefs and her culture, striving not to disgrace her family or be arrested. Chief Inspector Sato blames Westerners, especially John, for his family’s tragedy.

What will happen to Sumi and John as they try to overcome the pitfalls?

Cover designs: The Killion Group

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