One by one, a horror film director, a judge, and a newspaper publisher meet brutal deaths. A link exists between them, and the deaths have only begun ….Archeologist Michael Rempart finds himself pitted against ancient demons and modern conspirators when a dying priest gives him a powerful artifact—a pearl said to have granted Genghis Khan the power, eight centuries ago, to lead his Mongol warriors across the steppes to the gates of Vienna.The artifact has set off centuries of war and destruction as it conjures demons to play upon men’s strongest ambitions and cruelest desires. Michael realizes the so-called pearl is a philosopher's stone, the prime agent of alchemy. As much as he would like to ignore the artifact, when he sees horrific deaths and experiences, first-hand, diabolical possession and affliction, he has no choice but to act.The dark legends are true. To stop the artifact's evil Michael must follow a path along the Old Silk...

A break-up. An act of kindness. And the consequences turn deadly. Inspector Rebecca Mayfield returns to homicide after being place on administrative leave, but she's assigned to desk duty. While she seethes at this latest restriction, boyfriend Richie Amalfi can't believe she'd gone back there to work after all that has happened. He's even more furious when the former partner who caused her to nearly be killed reappears seeking forgiveness. Not only is Rebecca's personal life in complete turmoil, but someone is killing women who join an online dating site. Rebecca becomes involved when a friend is accused of the murders, making her restricted duties intolerable. Can she continue to watch from her desk, doing nothing, or will she dare to go rogue without Richie or the SFPD watching her back? Rebecca faces life-altering decisions in the latest not-to-be-missed installment of this best-selling mystery series....

A murder. Missing children. And the crimes have only begun.As Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield investigates the murder of a young delivery man and the disappearance of his two children, she discovers something is seriously wrong inside San Francisco's homicide bureau. And dangerous.Boyfriend Richie Amalfi is convinced Rebecca is the target of someone with position and power in the city's government. But who? And why? All he knows is that the situation is sinister and deadly.As Rebecca becomes more embroiled in an investigation with surprising and far-reaching tentacles, it's up to Richie to stop the threat against her. He must use every weapon he has, including people with dubious ties to well-placed politicians, to learn what's happening, and what to do about it. But then, some of the very people he thinks are targeting Rebecca become targets themselves. Don't miss Seven O'Clock Target, as Rebecca and Richie...

A long-lost diary, a rare book of ghost stories, and unrelenting nightmares combine to send archeologist Michael Rempart on a forbidden journey into the occult and his own past.When Michael returns to his family home after more than a decade-long absence, he is rocked by the emotion and intensity of the memories it awakens. His father is reclusive, secretive, and obsessed with alchemy and its secrets—secrets that Michael possesses. He believes the way to end this sudden onslaught of nightmares is to confront his disturbing past.But he soon learns he isn't the only one under attack. Others in his life are also being tormented by demonic nightmares that turn into a deadly reality. Forces from this world and other realms threaten madness and death unless they obtain the powerful, ancient secrets in Michael's possession. Their violence creates an urgency Michael cannot ignore. The key to defeating them seems to lie in a land of dreams inhabited...

Gourmet cook Angie Amalfi has big plans for her life as a soon-to-be married woman, but between nervous kitchen remodelers, clever murderers, and possibly ghosts, nothing is going as planned. Angie hopes a romantic evening out with her fiancé, HomicideInspector Paavo Smith, will bring a welcome reprieve from the hectic pace ofremodeling the older house that she and Paavo bought in hopes of making itmove-in ready before their upcoming wedding. But circumstances--worldly andseemingly other-worldy--conspire against her. Not the least of which is hernewest acquaintance, a lonely heiress, who quickly involves Angie in theheiress's bizarre family history of indiscretions, high finances, and murder.  Angie suspects the key to all the weirdness going on with the family lies in the mansion that is now in her new friend's hands--a place that,if it isn't haunted, certainly looks as if it should be. Angie drags several old cohorts into the fray to help her newest pal, but as the situation gets murkier, Angie soon wonders if she'll ever see her own happy ending. **

A Dash of DarknessFor once Angie Amalfi's newest culinary venture, "Comical Cakes," seems to be a roaring success! There's nothing funny, however, about her homicide detective boyfriend Paavo Smith's latest case. Paavo's investigating a series of baffling murders that may be rooted in satanic ritual. And when Angie is called upon to deliver a humorous confection to the mysterious owner of a decadent after-hours goth club, the inquisitive gourmet baker suddenly finds herself up to her neck in the demonic business. it gets harder to focus on pastry alone when strange "accidents" and desecrations to her delectable, fresh-baked creations begin occurring with frightening regularity. And if Angie can't help Paavo track down a maniacal serial killer with an obsessively unhealthy interest in her, she might end up as devil's food of a different kind.

After talking her way into a job on a pompous, third-rate chef's radio call-in-show, Angie Amalfi has visions of a new career to go along with her hot, new romance with Paavo Smith, a gorgeous homocide detective.When a successful and much-envied restauranteur is poisoned however, Angie finds the case far more interesting than trying to make her pretentious boss sound good. Some cooks might shy away from such a sizzling case, but Angie can take the heat and stay in the kitchen.

Gourmet cook Angie Amalfi-Smith is starting a new phase of her life with a husband and a home to call her own. But one old problem still plagues her: finding a job, or business, or anything, that will make her days productive and rewarding. When she stumbles upon a fresh idea for a livelihood with her best friend, Connie, her culinary prospects begin looking up. But no sooner does she think that than her exciting new career takes a dangerous turn. Someone has apparently become obsessed with interfering in it. And now, with Satanic revelers, snarky sisters, suspicious friends, and possibly a serial killer on the loose, Angie wonders if, this time, her goose may be cooked ... for good. **About the Author Joanne Pence is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author of the Angie Amalfi and Rebecca Mayfield mysteries as well as historical fiction, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, a fantasy, and a supernatural suspense. Her novels present a variety of times, places, and reading experiences from mysterious to thrilling, emotional to lightly humorous, as well as powerful tales of times long past. To find out more information about her and her books, please visit http://www.joannepence.com. 

Gourmet cook Angie Amalfi-Smith is starting a new phase of her life with a husband and a home to call her own. But one old problem still plagues her: finding a job, or business, or anything, that will make her days productive and rewarding. When she stumbles upon a fresh idea for a livelihood with her best friend, Connie, her culinary prospects begin looking up. But no sooner does she think that than her exciting new career takes a dangerous turn. Someone has apparently become obsessed with interfering in it. And now, with Satanic revelers, snarky sisters, suspicious friends, and possibly a serial killer on the loose, Angie wonders if, this time, her goose may be cooked ... for good. **About the Author Joanne Pence is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author of the Angie Amalfi and Rebecca Mayfield mysteries as well as historical fiction, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, a fantasy, and a supernatural suspense. Her novels present a variety of times, places, and reading experiences from mysterious to thrilling, emotional to lightly humorous, as well as powerful tales of times long past. To find out more information about her and her books, please visit http://www.joannepence.com. 

ReviewChef Angelina Amalfi is looking forward to a week at a new resort hotel on the remote Northern California coast. She's been hired to assist the owner of a new Bed and Breakfast to develope a nutritious and tasty vegetarian menu. Besides, the secluded hideaway should be just the place to further her romance with San Francisco homicide detective Paavo Smith. Unfortunately, Angie's dream weekend turns into a disaster from the moment she shows up at the historic mansion, which hasn't exactly been renovated as she was lead to believe. The investors aren't exactly what Angie pictured either. An aging hippy, his beautiful and solemn sister, a dingy heiress, a channeler and a self-styled guru are only some of the quirky personalities Angie has to deal with. Not to mention the ghosts of past residents. As tensions rise between the owners of the business, a rainstorm maroons them at the inn. Angie and Paavo are stuck in a leaky, drafty old house with the warring investors and at least one killer. Hardly Angie's idea of a romantic weekend with her sweetie. To top it off, the mastermind behind the inn has stocked the larder with soybeans and little else. Angie's Cordon Bleu training is for naught when all she has to work with are a few tired vegetables and soy milk. Angie and Paavo work against the clock to unmask the killer before no one is left to dig out after the storm.A nice balance of romance and suspense, tension and humor! Joanne Pence paints her scenes with a masterful hand. The house is a living, breathing part of the story! A classic mystery with lots of wit and romance thrown in!Annette Carney -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary TimesAbout the AuthorJoanne Pence was born and raised in San Francisco. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a master's degree in journalism, Joanne has taught school in Japan, written for magazines, and worked for the federal government. She now lives in Idaho with her family, which includes a multitude of pets.

Angie Amalfi's wedding--her Big Day--is on the verge of becoming her Big Mess. She had planned every detail of the day with the utmost care, wanting everything to be perfect. But now people across the city are literally dying to put the wedding on hold. A crazed killer here, a bumped off bride there. In her mind, nothing less than a criminal conspiracy must be at work to keep her wedding from being where and when she wants it. Angie's fiance, San Francisco Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith, the entire SFPD Homicide Squad, her friends and family all jump into the fray to help save her wedding plans. But as dangers and catastrophes grow faster than yeast-overloaded bread dough, Angie can't help but wonder if her Big Day will turn into her Biggest Disaster ever.

Gourmet cook Angie Amalfi has big plans for her life as a soon-to-be married woman, but between nervous kitchen remodelers, clever murderers, and possibly ghosts, nothing is going as planned. Angie hopes a romantic evening out with her fiancé, HomicideInspector Paavo Smith, will bring a welcome reprieve from the hectic pace ofremodeling the older house that she and Paavo bought in hopes of making itmove-in ready before their upcoming wedding. But circumstances--worldly andseemingly other-worldy--conspire against her. Not the least of which is hernewest acquaintance, a lonely heiress, who quickly involves Angie in theheiress's bizarre family history of indiscretions, high finances, and murder.  Angie suspects the key to all the weirdness going on with the family lies in the mansion that is now in her new friend's hands--a place that,if it isn't haunted, certainly looks as if it should be. Angie drags several old cohorts into the fray to help her newest pal, but as the situation gets murkier, Angie soon wonders if she'll ever see her own happy ending. **

In this 6th delightful culinary mystery from Joanne Pence, dilettante chef Angie Amalfi plans a romantic cruise with her hunky boyfriend, but hits rough water when murder becomes part of the itinerary.Food writer and culinary entrepreneur Angie Amalfi imagined a high seas cruise aboard a ship bound for Acapulco with her homicide detective boyfriend Paavo Smith would be heaven. With no crowds or pending police business, it might even provide Paavo the perfect opportunity to propose.But Angie's "Love Boat" fantasy starts springing leaks almost immediately, beginning with the cook's bizarre attempt to jump ship...in the middle of the ocean! Add an oddball collection of fellow passengers, yawningly unimaginative onboard meals, Paavo's increasingly bizarre behavior, and the fact that someone's been rifling through her luggage, and Angie's soon ready to leap overboard herself. But it's not until she offers to help out in the galley and murder is abruptly added to the menu that...