Bøger af Donna Ball

Eco-terrorists threaten Dogleg Island in this thrilling new installment from the award-winning author of Flash in the Dark. The peaceful Gulf Coast community of Dogleg Island has almost returned to normal after the terrifying battle with a drug cartel six months ago. However, there have been a lot of changes on Dogleg Island, and not all of them benign. Police Chief Aggie Malone and her canine assistant Flash are glad to be back to the ordinary business of small-town policing again, but their move into their new office is not entirely without its challenges. Old ghosts haunt the hallways of their new headquarters as they struggle to overcome the memories of its tragic past. While Aggie and her husband Grady excitedly await the birth of their first child, Grady is faced with an unexpected career change. Old friends are leaving, while others are coming home. Flash, whose self-appointed job it is to make sense of the ways of the world, finds all the changes exciting. Aggie is not so sure. In the midst of all this, the beaches of Dogleg Island are targeted by a group of environmental activists who insist upon exercising their right to peaceful protest in the most disruptive ways possible. When a series of apparently harmless break-ins result in the theft of explosives, Aggie begins to suspect the environmentalists are not as peaceful as they appear. And when a man is murdered, Aggie and Flash know that it's only a matter of time before the troubles on Dogleg escalate into a crisis. And they are right. Somewhere on the island a violent terrorist lurks, and it's up to Aggie, Flash and Grady to find him before he makes his next move. The problem is that only one person knows his identity, and that person may be even more dangerous than the terrorist. As the clock ticks down toward disaster, Aggie and Flash find themselves caught up in a desperate guessing game... one in which one wrong move could prove deadly.

Come home to Ladybug Farm, the place for everyone who has ever had a friend... or a dream. Four years have passed since best friends Cici, Bridget and Lindsay left the suburbs for an old mansion in the Shenandoah Valley. They've survived broken plumbing, leaky roofs, and marauding sheep. They've faced fire, hail, snow, and financial set-backs. Yet somehow through it all they've managed not only to build a home, but a family. And now, much to their amazement, all their dreams seem to be coming true. The vineyard has been restored and Ladybug Farm Winery is on the verge of bottling its first vintage. Their friends Paul and Derrick are building a house next door. High school and college graduations are just around the corner for the two young people they have shepherded for the past four years. Life couldn't be more perfect. But Ladybug Farm still holds a few surprises for them all... Someone is getting married. Someone is keeping a monumental secret. And someone is leaving Ladybug Farm forever. Vintage Ladybug Farm is Ladybug Farm at its best: heartwarming, heartbreaking; filled with compassion, humor and hope. Welcome back to Ladybug Farm, where dreams never die. Praise for the Ladybug Farm series: "A must read." --Examiner.com "Absolutely delectable" --Publisher's Weekly "This delightful series continues to engross me with its wit and charm." --Beyond Her Book "A hilarious and heart-warming story" --North Carolina Pilot "A wonderful novel with wonderful characters" --Reader to Reader

The first in the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series... "An exciting, original, and suspense-laden whodunit..." --Midwest Book Review As a native of the small town of Hansonville, North Carolina, and a wilderness rescue worker, Raine Stockton knows the Smoky Mountains as well as anyone could, but she gave up her Search and Rescue work after a tragic loss. Now she reluctantly returns to active duty to help find a young child who has been kidnapped and taken deep into the wilderness. But as Raine's young golden retriever, Cisco, picks up the trail, his enthusiasm fails to make up for his lack of experience, and their first foray into the forest results in disaster...and the discover of the kidnapper-- shot dead. Suspecting there's more to the case than meets the eye, Raine struggles to overcome her personal demons, turns her search in new directions... and learns to trust Cisco to lead the way.

Praise for the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery Series "An exciting, original and suspense-laden whodunit... A simply fabulous mystery starring a likeable, dedicated heroine..." --Midwest Book Review "A delightful protagonist...a well-crafted mystery." --Romantic Times "There can't be too many golden retrievers in mystery fiction for my taste." --Deadly Pleasures Book Six in the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery Series January is known as the dead season in the small Smoky mountain community of Hanover County, North Carolina. For dog trainer and wilderness expert Raine Stockton, who hasn't had a client in six month, this season has been deader than most. When the New Day Wilderness Program for Troubled Teens offers her a job leading a group of students on a winter camping expedition as part of their rehabilitation program, Raine jumps at the chance-- particularly since it means she will be able to take her golden retriever, Cisco, with her. But something is not right at New Day, and Raine and Cisco soon find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, suspicion and sabotage. As the group moves deeper into the wilderness beneath steadily worsening weather, Raine begins to fear she and Cisco may soon find themselves trapped on the mountainside... with a killer.

"A must read." --Examiner.com Christmas on Ladybug Farm is a short novel with a bonus holiday recipe section! 'Twas the Night Before Christmas... It's Christmas Eve, and Cici, Bridget and Lindsay are busy preparing for their annual holiday party. The tree is sparkling, the turkey is roasting, the stockings are hung and the eggnog is chilled. The scene is set for the perfect Christmas... with one or two exceptions. The entire state is in the midst of a heat wave. No one can find any mistletoe. The Christmas tree lights keep exploding, and, perhaps worst of all, something has gone terribly wrong with Ida Mae's fruitcakes. It wouldn't be Ladybug Farm if everything went according to plan, and as the ladies deal with one mishap after another, they remember Christmases past, laughter shared, and lessons learned. But when nightfall descends upon Ladybug Farm and one of their own still has not come home, they begin to worry that this Christmas will be one to remember for all the wrong reasons. All they can do is cling to each other as they watch and wait ... and pray for miracle. Praise for the Ladybug Farm series: "Donna Ball has created a delightful world in her Ladybug Farm novels. Her characters are lively and endearing, and readers will feel a longing to join the girls on the front porch in the evenings as they reminisce about the day's activities." --Fresh Fiction "A delight to read" --Book Binge "Once you've traveled down that long road to Ladybug Farm, it's hard to leave." --Georgia Mountain Laurel "Here's to Ladybug Farm!" --Beyond Her Book "Absolutely delectable" --Publisher's Weekly

A Christmas Raine Stockton Dog Mystery "An exciting, original and suspense-laden whodunit...A simply fabulous mystery starring a likeable, dedicated heroine..." --Midwest Book Review on the Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries It's Christmas time, and for Raine Stockton and her Search and Rescue dog, Cisco, Hansonville, North Carolina is just like a Norman Rockwell painting-- except for the rash of thefts of baby Jesus figurines from nativity scenes, an abandoned box of golden retriever puppies that someone leaves beside her mailbox, and a mysterious gift from one of Cisco's a grateful admirers. Raine already has her hands full with her own misbehaving pooches, unexpected house guests, and a complicated new relationship. But when a newborn is abandoned in the manger of the town's living nativity and Raine walks in on what appears to be the scene of a murder, she has more to worry about than keeping the Christmas spirit alive. More Praise for the Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries " An intriguing heroine, a twisty tale, a riveting finale, and a golden retriever to die for. [This book] will delight mystery fans and enchant dog lovers." ---Carolyn Hart "Has everything--wonderful characters, surprising twists, great dialogue. Donna Ball knows dogs, knows the Smoky Mountains, and knows how to write a page turner. I loved it." --Beverly Connor "Very entertaining... combines a likeable heroine and a fascinating mystery... a story of suspense with humor and tenderness." --Carlene Thompson "There can't be too many golden retrievers in mystery fiction for my taste." --Deadly Pleasures "A delightful protagonist....a well-crafted mystery" --Romantic Times

Bridget's Blueberry Scones... Miss Emily's Brunswick Stew... Ida Mae's Fruit Cake... These are some of the seventy-plus recipes from Donna Ball's beloved "Ladybug Farm" series of novels that are included in this novelty collector's recipe book. Organized according to seasons, rather than traditional food categories, this book emphasizes the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients that should bring out the best in any home cook. Pithy advice from Ida Mae and Bridget, along with memories from the previous Ladybug Farm books, are designed to bring a smile to the table, along with a great new dish or two.

Have you ever done anything you're ashamed of? For popular talk show host Jessamine Cray, it started as just another piece of slightly weird fan mail: a single typed line on an unsigned sheet of paper that reads: Have you ever done anything you're ashamed of? No one takes it as a threat until the second communication comes, and then the third... a blood-stained prom dress, a disfigured photograph from a high school year book, copies of private papers to which no one but Jess should have had access. Every celebrity's worst nightmare has come true for Jessamine Cray: she is being stalked, and shame is her terrorist's secret weapon. Old friends, former lovers, guests on her talk show, colleagues and family members... no one is safe from suspicion, and everyone has a motive-even Jess herself. As the police investigation turns its spotlight on Jess herself and uncovers her most deeply buried secrets, Jess can only watch in helpless horror as her tormentor's diabolical plan unfolds. First he will shatter her trust, then he will shake her peace of mind ... and then he will come for her. And by the time she sees him coming, it will be too late.

"A simply fabulous mystery starring a likeable, dedicated heroine..." --Midwest Book Review "A delightful protagonist..." --Romantic Times Raine's old boyfriend Andy Fontana is back in town... and at the top of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. With a fortune in diamonds hidden somewhere in the wilderness, several recent acts of ecoterrorism and an unsolved murder laid at Andy's door, the feds turn to Raine Stockton, with her unsurpassed knowledge of the mountains and her reputation as a wilderness tracker, to help bring Andy to justice. The only problem is that Raine still believes Andy is innocent... With the help of Cisco, her golden retriever, Raine must uncover the truth about the man she once loved and uncover a killer in the process.

For dog trainer and search-and-rescue volunteer Raine Stockton the last few months have been marked by murder, danger, and betrayal. A luxury vacation to the Caribbean resort island of St. Bart's sounds like the perfect antidote for stress, particularly since it includes three of her favorite traveling companions: boyfriend Miles, his daughter Melanie, and Raine's happy-go-lucky golden retriever Cisco. But even in paradise, trouble finds them. An American actress has suffered a fatal diving accident, and someone close to Miles appears to have been involved. As more and more people from Miles's past surface, he and Raine are drawn reluctantly into a murder investigation. Raine, far more comfortable in her native North Carolina mountains than in this foreign culture surrounded by the baffling behavior of the rich and famous, is at a distinct disadvantage. But Raine faces her worst fears when someone she loves goes missing, and she is forced to navigate unfamiliar terrain in an alien land to track down a killer. And this time, even Cisco can't help her. "There can't be too many golden retrievers in mystery fiction for my taste." -- Deadly Pleasures

In this eagerly anticipated spin off from Donna Ball's beloved Ladybug Farm series, Paul Slater and Derrick Anderson set about opening the Hummingbird House B&B with their usual style and flair, only to find that they may have taken on more than they bargained for. Despite constant coaching from their friends Cici, Bridget and Lindsay, they don't seem to be able to do anything right. Before they know how it happened, they are at odds with their teenage housekeeper, overwhelmed by a zany spiritualist who seems determined to take over their lives, and, most horrifying of all, on the wrong side of the law. But while they wrestle with one misfortune after another, forces are at work behind the scenes that have put unrelated strangers on the road to The Hummingbird House, where accidents become destiny, defeat is transformed into victory, and all that is required for a miracle is an open heart. Welcome to The Hummingbird House, where you may not find what you expect, but you'll always find what you need. Praise for Donna Ball's Ladybug Farm series: "A must read." --Examiner.com "Absolutely delectable" --Publisher's Weekly "Hilarious and heartwarming" --North Carolina Pilot

A weekend competition turns deadly in this seventh Raine Stockton Dog Mystery. Dog trainer Raine Stockton and her happy-go-lucky golden retriever Cisco have been looking forward to the opening weekend of AKC competitive agility all winter. They travel to the low country of South Carolina to compete against some of the top dogs in the southeast for blue ribbons, squeaky toys, and perhaps even that elusive title of High in Trial. But even in this carefree atmosphere of high-spirited dogs and dedicated owners ambition runs high, and when one of the competitors is found brutally murdered it begins to look as though corruption might have penetrated even this last bastion of decency and sportsmanship, the AKC. While Raine and Cisco stalk a killer, a twenty-year old mystery is unfolding back home that will have devastating consequences for Raine and those she loves, and every hour that passes brings a deadly threat closer. "A simply fabulous mystery starring a likeable, deciated heroine..." --Midwest Book Review "A delightful protagonist... a well-crafted mystery." --Romantic Times

A powerful new series from the author of the Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries... Almost two years ago the sleepy little community of Dogleg Island was the scene of one of the most brutal crimes in Florida history. The only eye witnesses were a border collie puppy and a police officer. Since that time Flash has grown from a puppy into a vital part of the Dogleg Island Police Department, and has lived happily with the two people who rescued him on that horrible night: Deputy Sheriff Ryan Grady and Police Chief Aggie Malone. Now the trial of the century is about to begin. The defendant, accused of slaughtering his parents in their beach home, maintains his innocence. Aggie and Ryan, the top witnesses for the prosecution, know he is lying. But only Flash knows the truth. And with another murder to solve, a tangle of conflicting evidence to sort out, and a brutal storm on the way, the truth may come too late... for all of them.

The Fourth of July in the Smoky Mountain community of Hanover County, North Carolina means parades, picnics and fireworks. For dog trainer Raine Stockton and her high-spirited golden retriever Cisco it also means a chance to show off their repertoire of tracking, agility and obedience skills at Camp Bowser Wowser, a weekend retreat for dogs and kids less than an hour from home. But there's a new dog in town, and Raine and Cisco find themselves unexpectedly upstaged by a flashy K-9 addition to the sheriff's department. Belgian Malinois Nike and her handler, Jolene, are part of a new government-funded program for law-enforcement agencies, and though Raine admires Nike's talent almost as much as she resents Jolene's arrogance, she can't help wondering why the Department of Homeland Security would send such an expensive gift to their sleepy little mountain community. Sheriff Buck Lawson has his hands full with an upcoming election, a bizarre murder, and a special appearance by a celebrity politician at the Fourth of July parade, and he is not about to look a gift horse-or dog-in the mouth. But when things go horribly wrong at Camp Bowser Wowser, the scattered puzzle pieces begin to form a terrifying picture. In a desperate battle against an enemy whose face they can't even see, Raine, Jolene, Cisco, Nike and Buck must work together and reach for depths of courage they never knew they had to defend their way of life, and save the lives of those they love.

When Bridget, Cici and Lindsay left behind their safe suburban lives for a stately old mansion in the Shenandoah Valley, they redefined the concept of family. The friends, like the house, have faced many challenges and undergone major changes over the years. But the one thing they never imagined was that one day they would be expanding their house of women to make room for a husband. A second marriage in midlife is never easy, and Lindsay and Dominic know they will be facing their share of adjustments when they begin their life together. But she has the Vera Wang; she has a famous style columnist as her wedding planner; her best friend is the most popular caterer in the county, and she is marrying the love of her life. What could possibly go wrong? When the wedding takes place at Ladybug Farm, the answer is: almost anything. The three friends have weathered many storms together, but this one could shake the foundation of their life together. Only when they are faced with the loss of someone they all hold dear do they come to a renewed appreciation for the depth of their devotion to each other, the power of love, and the real meaning of family.

From the award-winning author also known as Rebecca Flanders comes: House Husbands Inc... This sounded like the answer to busy executive Kendra Phillips' prayers. Her house was falling apart, her lawn was overgrown, there were squirrels in her fireplace and she was wearing her last clean blouse. She needed more than help, she needed a wife! Business entrepreneur Michael Drake promised to take care of all of that, and more. He would manage her finances, cook her meals, clean her house, take care of her lawn, and even feed her cat-- all for a fee, of course. All she had to do was turn herself over completely to him. This was the most tempting offer Kendra had had in a long time. But if doing the dishes was the beginning of foreplay, what kind of fireworks would explode between them at the end of the day?

Book #14 in the best selling Raine Stockton dog mystery series.--cover note.

At the annual Hansonville, North Carolina Founder's Day Festival, dog trainer and Humane Society volunteer Raine Stockton sets up a booth to raise funds for the local animal shelter. When a stranger wanders into the booth with his young daughter and their beautiful black Lab, the peaceful afternoon is turned upside down. Within moments the man is arrested for murder, his child is placed in foster care, and Raine finds herself the temporary custodian of what may well be the most valuable dog in the world. Raine soon discovers that the arrested man is a famous scientist she greatly admires, and that her foster dog, Bongo, is one of an elite group of dogs bred and trained by the scientist to detect concealed microtechnology. Bongo's talents go far beyond that, however, putting his life and the lives of others in danger. The ensuing chaos leaves Raine shaken to her core and questioning herself and everything she has ever believed.

"Hollywood has come to the scenic Smoky Mountain community of Hanover County, and dog trainer Raine Stockton can't resist the opportunity when her dogs are offered a chance at a role in the film. Naturally, she expects her showy golden retriever, Cisco, to win the part, but Cisco's impetuous nature does him in, and the role goes to her twin Australian Shepherds, Mischief and Magic. For the first time in his young life, Cisco is left behind. Film-making turns out not to be as exciting as Raine had expected, and the only upside to the long, mostly boring days is the new friend she makes on the set, a stuntwoman by the name of Dallas McKenzie. But it doesn't take Raine long to discover that Dallas is a woman of secrets and lies, and trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes. The set is plagued by accidents and vandalism, and Dallas always seems to be at the center of everything that goes wrong. But even Raine can't imagine how wrong things have yet to go. Meanwhile, Raine agrees to investigate a case for her lawyer friend Sonny involving a service dog who is accused of biting a child. The case seems open and shut until Cisco, who is beginning to show some talent as a medical alert dog, sniffs out evidence that throws previous theories into disarray--and may shed some light into the mysterious happenings on the movie set. But when Cisco and Raine start to track down answers, they find murder instead. In a world where nothing is what it seems, it's up to Raine and Cisco to find the truth ... before it's too late."--Amazon.com.

There's nothing like family during the holidays... unless one of those family members is in jail, and you're the cop who was responsible for putting him there. Police Chief Aggie Malone is facing her first Christmas as a married woman, and hoping for a relatively uneventful holiday in the quiet Gulf Coast community of Dogleg Island where she and her perspicacious border collie Flash are in charge of keeping the peace. She is still trying to find her place in the big, boisterous Grady family, but unlike Flash-and her own husband, Deputy Sheriff Ryan Grady-Aggie does not see the appeal of the holiday, and the magic of the season is completely lost on her. The old-fashioned Christmas Grady has planned for his bride begins to unravel when Aggie's investigation into a homicide hit-and-run leads to the arrest of her own brother-in-law and exposes a crime syndicate that's responsible for spreading millions in counterfeit bills throughout the southeast. A police informant turns up dead, and evidence suggests his murder may be the result of corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement. Flash, who is an expert at putting things together, understands that all these pieces of the puzzle are related, and with Aggie's help they'll soon be able to see the big picture. But not even Flash can foresee the demons their search for the truth will unearth. When the shadows from the past reach forward to cloud their future, Aggie, Grady, and Flash find the limits of their loyalty tested, even as they discover the lengths to which they will go to protect the ones they love. Praise for Donna Ball: "A major talent of the genre" --Publisher's Weekly "Refreshing and compelling " --Library Journal

No one knows the mountains of North Carolina like Raine Stockton and her search and rescue dog, Cisco. When they are called in to search for an elderly man who has wandered away from home it seems like a routine mission, until Raine looks through her binoculars and sees something she wasn't supposed to see. A dead man is very much alive, a felon is walking around free, and Raine is the only person who can testify to the fact. The problem is that no one takes her claims seriously...except the person who wants her dead. Unwillingly thrust into the midst of an unpleasant child custody battle and a hotly contested political race, Raine finds herself questioning her own judgment and uncertain who to trust. Is she suffering from PTSD, or has a nightmare from her past materialized to haunt her? The police tell her one thing, her common sense tells her another. But when murder strikes too close to home, the hypothetical question becomes all too real, and no one is above suspicion: not the man Raine loves, not the man she once married, not even Raine herself. And they all must choose how far they're willing to go to protect the ones they love. In this thrilling conclusion to the trilogy that includes HOME OF THE BRAVE, DOG DAYS and LAND OF THE FREE, Raine and Cisco face their biggest challenge yet, and when it is over nothing will ever be the same.

"Still recovering from the traumatic events of the past year, newlyweds Aggie Malone, police chief of Dogleg Island, and Deputy Sheriff Ryan Grady are looking forward to a carefree day of picnics, pirates and buried treasure with their precocious--and uncannily perceptive-- border collie, Flash. But when Flash discovers a body in a shallow grave on the deserted Wild Horse Island Nature Preserve, a tangled knot of conspiracy, murder and deception begins to unfold, revealing that the things that are buried are often the most dangerous and the only pirates you have to fear are the ones that live next door."--Page 4 of cover.

"Paul and Derrick have hit their stride with the Hummingbird House Bed and Breakfast, a destination of distinction in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Guests are coming from all over the country to enjoy their Christmas weekend extravaganza, featuring sleigh rides, champagne suppers, holiday concerts and spa treatments. Of course there are a few glitches: twenty Christmas trees to be decorated in less than a week, an absentee massage therapist, and-- perhaps most distressing of all --the unexpected presence of three school-age children in the Hummingbird House, courtesy of their saucy young housekeeper Purline"--

"A simply fabulous mystery starring a likable, dedicated heroine..." --- Midwest Book Review The dog days of summer bring murder to the Smoky Mountains in this tenth installment of the best-selling Raine Stockton Dog Mystery Series. For Raine Stockton, owner and proprietor of Dog Daze Boarding and Training, August is the busiest time of year. She has all she can handle with a kennel full of dogs, a very strange new employee, and a personal life that seems to be falling apart at the seams. The last thing she needs is another complication. But when she takes in a gorgeous white golden retriever that was found covered in blood and wandering alone in a national park, the complications have only begun. When the new dog escapes during the night, the search for her leads Raine and her irascible search-and-rescue dog, Cisco, to the scene of a tragic accident at the bottom of a gorge. But was it an accident, or a well-planned murder? The answer to that question draws Raine into a dangerous intrigue in which she doesn't know who to trust... one that will turn an afternoon at the fair into a deadly ordeal, and could end up costing Raine her life.