Jessica Russell

Nineteen-year-old Peyton Katz has a plan. After working at Deckerd's Drugs for a year, and attending Genesee Valley Community College, Peyton knows exactly what she needs to do: become a nurse, and get a pharmacy technician certificate while she's in school. Only, it's not Deckerd's Drugs anymore. As the newly owned and named Kingston's Pharmacy makes its transition, Peyton soon discovers she has a transition of her own to make and must face a past she wants to keep buried. But when the new owner, Lex Kingston, walks into the pharmacy, her whole world turns upside down. When she meets his blue-gray eyes, they make Peyton want things she thought had been stolen from her, but at the same time remind her of what happened a year ago at her senior ball - an event that changed her life forever. If Peyton reveals the truth, will she be accepted? Or will her scars only run deeper?

Peyton's Playlist

Against the turbulent backdrop of the English Civil War, where political treachery and religious persecution are commonplace, and unlikely romance springs up between Catherine Trefelner, a beautiful villager, and Robert Bradshaw, co-heir to one of Cornwall's richest estates. Staunch Royalists, Robert and his twin brother, Julian, are loyal to the clever, but misguided King Charles, while Catherine's father is a fanatical Puritan, living for the day the Parliamentarian Army unseats the king and makes Royalists conform or seek refuge in France. As Catherine navigates the challenges of her new life as Lady of the Manor, her father constantly threatens vengeance over her marriage to a Royalist. Ever cynical, Julian continues to question Catherine’s motive for marrying his brother, and what follows is a spine-tingling tale of love, hate, revenge, envy, mercy and redemption during one of the most chaotic and unstable times in England’s history. Book Review 1: "A seventeenth-century romance mixed with the mystery of murder is the canvas upon which Russell spins her tale and a heady mix it proves to be! Weaving a delightfully feisty narrative that courts intrigue, she admirably maintains the tone and tenor of the genre, her bygone era lovingly resurrected with an infallible eye for detail and a keen ear for dialogue that pervades throughout. There are the jocularity, craving and indulgence that attests to the timeless allure of historical romance, but this is much more than a captivatingly voyeuristic novel with Russell encouraging reflection on prevailing matters of the heart. Suspense, sexual tension, and love are abundant, but they would be little more than the requisite offerings of romantic fiction if it wasn’t for Russell’s talent for creating wonderfully vibrant characters. First and foremost of which are the recalcitrant Julian Bradshaw and Catherine Trefelner. Their story being one of tragic loss, recovery, love and ultimately acceptance. Immediately enthralling Hot Winter Sun proves an extraordinary debut for Russell and one which will undoubtedly be well received by fans of 17th-century historical romance. It is recommended without reservation!" -- BookViral Book Reviews Book Review 2: "An amazing novel that grabs you and does not let you go!" -- Novelio–Listen to My Words Podcast

Hot Winter Sun

The Bradshaws, who readers first met in Hot Winter Sun, are living a peaceful life in Restoration England, under the gay and clever King Charles II. A season is launched for their unusually beautiful and high-spirited daughter, Julia. However, after an unexpected visit from Philip Lambarth, a bizarre and tragic chain of events is set off, changing Julia's life forever. Too late, Julia realizes the true nature of the man she thought she loved, and broken-hearted, impetuously enters a marriage of convenience. Julia attempts to live quietly and banish the memory of Philip's treachery, when another man captures her heart in a way she never dreamed possible. Being unable to convince Julia to end her unsuitable marriage, he eventually leaves Cornwall for London, and Julia is left devastated and hopeless in a trap of her own making. Madness and murder then stalk this unusual heroine, until an astonishing twist of fate restores the happiness she thought was lost forever. Book Review: "It simmers, bubbles, then boils over!" -- Novelio-Listen to My Words Podcast

Book Two of the Hot Winter Sun Series

Cold Summer Wind

THE COMPELLING STORY OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF THE MOTHER OF AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS ICON, MALCOLM X.SHORTLISTED FOR THE BIOGRAPHERS' CLUB, TONY LOTHIAN PRIZE AND THE RANDOM HOUSE BEST FIRST CHAPTER this story is "told with passion and immediacy" and "a major contribution to Black history".Louise Little was the mother of Malcolm Little, the man who would become the American civil rights icon Malcolm X.Drawing on a wide range of previously unseen sources, The Life of Louise Norton Little tells of Louise's early life in Grenada and journey to Canada and the United States. Louise was a proud and independent black woman. She and her children endured many injustices at the hands of the welfare system.In later life, unfairly judged insane after the birth of her eighth child, she was incarcerated for over 25 years in Kalamazoo State Hospital, until her family eventually secured her release. Malcolm described his hospital visits to Louise as: "trying to walk up the side of a hill of feathers. I looked at her. I listened to her 'talk'. But there was nothing I could do."Despite its tragedies, Louise's story is ultimately one of courage and an abiding sense of civil rights and social justice. These are the values she passed to all of her children and their descendants.25% every book bought contributes to a fund benefitting women of color and to further the legacy of Louise Norton Little. The funding will be administered by her youngest daughter Yvonne Little's daughters.

An Extraordinary Woman: Mother of Malcolm X and His 7 Siblings

The Life of Louise Norton Little

Dan Graham

Dan Graham and Jessica Russell's playful yet thorough Architecture/Astrology considers some of the most important and innovative figures in the world of architecture from an angle few would expect: their star signs.Originally published as a column for Domus magazine, Graham and Russell's book integrates critical analysis with astrology and mythology to offer alternative perspectives on the work and personalities of artist/architects including Frank Gehry (a restless, dreamy Pisces), Eero Saarinen (a dynamic, dramatic Leo) and Le Corbusier (a logical, balanced Libra).With accompanying illustrations by Mieko Meguro, Architecture/Astrology resembles the best sort of architect, one who is at once rigorous and whimsical, with his feet on the ground and his head in the clouds.

Jessica Russell

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