“But how? I ask again.” Alexis was tapping her fork.
“We had a party,” Annie said smugly.
“And?” Everyone was almost out of their seats.
“And ... my dear friend and world-renowned gemologist Lincoln was admiring Eleanor’s jewelry,” Annie continued. “As he was being so effusive, I was snapping photos.”
“Two days later, Lincoln had the replicas ready.”
“Then we told her we were having a showing of unique pieces of jewelry and asked if she would be interested in participating,” Myra added.
“And?” More urging from the group. Even the dogs were starting to get impatient and began to yowl.
“And, well, we put her jewels on display with some of mine, and a few pieces Lincoln brought in. We made the switch just before the showing, while Eleanor was in the other room having a cocktail,” Annie went on. “So Eleanor went home with paste instead of jewels.”
“I don’t get it,” Nikki said with a puzzled look. “How will she find out?”
“This afternoon, Lloyd’s of London called her and said they needed a current appraisal for her insurance. That, my dear, would require her to take them to a jeweler,” Annie added.
“Imagine her surprise when the appraiser tells her they are worth absolutely nothing!” Myra smiled.
High fives, fist pumps, and screams of laughter filled the dining room.
“What about the real jewelry? What happened to that?” Nikki asked.
“Let’s just say there’s enough food at the animal shelter to last them a couple of years.”
BITTER PILL
No one weaves a story as well as beloved New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels. In the latest in the Sisterhood series, a team of unscrupulous doctors is profiting from others’ distress—but these loyal friends know just the cure ...
For the Sisterhood, there’s a special satisfaction that comes with helping a friend in need, especially when it’s someone as dear as Charlotte Hansen. Myra Rutledge’s childhood friend has spent tens of thousands of dollars on remedies to boost longevity. But far from improving her health, the medications seem to be destroying it.
Myra becomes suspicious of the trio of doctors in charge of the program, especially once the Sisterhood’s investigations reveal that one patient has died, and another lapsed into a coma. While those in their care suffer, the three doctors—located in London, Aspen, and New York—all enjoy indulgent lifestyles and extravagant toys. But justice is always the best medicine—and no one dispenses it better than the Sisterhood ...
TRUTH AND JUSTICE
The Sisterhood: a group of women from all walks of life bound by friendship and a quest for justice. Armed with vast resources, top-notch expertise, and a loyal network of allies around the globe, the Sisterhood will not rest until every wrong is made right.
When Alexis Thorn and Joe Esposito encounter a young woman sobbing alone in a restaurant, they step into action and offer their comfort and sympathy. They soon learn that the woman’s husband was recently killed in action in Afghanistan. Before he reported for duty, they took steps to preserve their chances of having children. But when Bella visits the fertility clinic, she discovers her eggs are no longer there—and the circumstances are beyond suspicious.
Heartbroken at this tale of shattered hopes, Alexis recruits the Sisterhood to investigate. Soon they uncover a con artist on an obsessive mission. Tracking the culprit behind such a cruel scheme won’t be easy. But with their combined grit, courage, and determination to overcome any obstacle, the Sisterhood will make sure that this story ends on a note of triumph ...
NO WAY OUT
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels comes a brand-new novel that blends her rich, character-driven storytelling with a hint of suspense, as a reclusive young woman struggles to piece her life back together....
Ellie Bowman barely remembers the incident that put her into a coma. When she awoke, filled with unease, all she knew for certain was that her boyfriend, Rick, was missing. She knew she needed to get away from her old life and recover in safety. With the proceeds of a video game she helped develop, Ellie starts over in rural Missouri, working from her cottage and trusting no one except her friend and business partner.
Yet even in this quiet small town, it’s impossible to completely isolate herself. Especially when a curious eight-year-old boy, smitten with Ellie’s pup, stops by every day to talk to him over the fence. Little by little, Ellie is being drawn back into the world through the neighbors and community around her, realizing that everyone has their own fears and obstacles to contend with.
But when Ellie hears that Rick has resurfaced, her nightmares return, and with them, small snippets of memory. No one has heard from Rick since before the incident, so why is he back now? Ellie wants to move forward with her life, but first she must find the courage to look into her past, no matter what she finds there ...
HIDDEN
A Lost and Found Novel
In the first in a brand-new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels, brother and sister Cullan and Luna Bodman are drawn into a dangerous mystery through an antique with a complicated past....
At first glance, few would guess that Luna and Cullan Bodman are siblings. Cullan, efficient and serious, is rarely out of a business suit. Luna reads palms and tarot cards, and loves flowing skirts and dangling jewelry that matches her unconventional spirit. Still, her artistic eye is an asset to the family’s furniture restoration business.
When Cullan stumbles across something unexpected in a piece he just acquired, and a client of Luna’s reveals more than they should in a reading, the two put aside their differences to right a wrong. At stake is the future of a billion-dollar corporation, and as Luna and Cullan quickly discover, there are people who will stop at nothing to get what they believe they’re owed....
Turn the page for a sneak peek at Fear Thy Neighbor by Fern Michaels!
Prologue
Ohio, 2010