Cornerstone

A prince in search of his missing brother. Two sisters tucked away in a snowy wood trying to live in peace. When their paths cross, they find not all in the wood is as it seems. When their father the king is assassinated in the palace courtyard, Frederick Belvare can do nothing to stop his older brother Matthias from plunging into the Blackwald forest after their father's assassins to bring justice and to retrieve his stolen crown. Only the Crown Prince does not return, and Prince Frederick must go to the Blackwald to bring his brother back. He enlists the help of his father's knights and sets off into the Blackwald, but rumors lurk of strange men and monstrous bear tracks in the snow. Rosalind Everwright and her mother and sister only want peace. Secluded in their little cottage in the Blackwald, they've found for themselves a refuge from the painful past, that is until Rosalind finds a man wounded in the snow. The Everwrights take him in to their care. The huntsman seems to be more than he's letting on, and with his arrival what little peace they've found is shattered. Neither Prince Frederick or Rosalind know who to trust in the snowy wood, but one misstep may cost them their lives, for not all in the wood is as it seems. A Noble Life is a NA Christian fantasy of Snow White and Rose Red retelling and is Book #14 in the Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone. A child of the mountains, C. K. Heartwing feels most at home in the woods of Appalachia. She's a follower of Christ with a love for God's creation that has been nurtured by her years spent caring for animals and roaming her family's woods. That love for God's creation and her love for learning acquired as a homeschool student have led her to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Aside from veterinary medicine, writing has been her greatest passion. When not studying, she mostly writes fantasy and historical fiction, but she also occasionally ventures off into other genres, such as mystery, contemporary, and romance. Regardless of the genre, her greatest goal is to write stories that give glory to God and that shine His Light in the darkness. When not studying or writing, she can be found gardening, hiking, practicing her violin, working on one of her various creative projects (of which she has too many), curled up with a book, or spending time with her family and dogs.

To help her miserable sister, Princess Liesel must survive the elements, danger…and her grumpy guard. Princess Liesel's older sister, Verena, hasn't smiled in years. Desperate to improve her low spirits, the king declares that the man who can make Verena laugh will earn her hand in marriage. But his plan seems doomed to failure from the start. Each unsuccessful attempt only makes Verena more despondent, and a set of mysterious masked suitors raises suspicions about a plot by an enemy prince. When Liesel discovers her sister still harbors feelings for a guard who was sent away years before, she embarks on a desperate quest to find him, both for the sake of Verena's future happiness and their kingdom's safety. As increasingly dangerous challenges hinder Liesel's journey, she begins to wonder if they're more than coincidence. Will she and her travel companions even make it to Verena's former guard, let alone convince him to return with them? With each impediment drawing her closer to her own surly knight, more than just her sister's happily-ever-after may be hanging in the balance. A Noble Purpose is a New Adult Christian fantasy Hans, Who Made the Princess Laugh retelling and is Book #1 in the Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone. Laurie Lucking has always loved diving into imaginary worlds through books, but didn't start writing her own stories until she left her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. After growing up in Wisconsin, she hopped the border into Minnesota to attend St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota Law School, and she continues to make Minnesota her home with her husband and two young sons. When she gets a break from playing super heroes and driving wind-up cars, Laurie enjoys reading, singing, connecting with other moms, and writing young adult fantasy, always with a central love story to satisfy her inner romantic. Visit www.laurielucking.com to find out more.

Raid a dragon's hoard for her dowry? It seemed like a good idea at the time... Madelena isn't in love with her friend Armando, but his marriage proposal offers the security she needs. She sympathizes with him-his father insists Armando must either find a bride or join the army. Armando would rather become a husband than a soldier, but his ugly face has scared away all other eligible ladies despite his family's wealth. Although she harbors only friendship for Armando, Madelena agrees to marry him on one condition: she insists on acquiring a dowry worthy of his family's noble standing in the land of Costa Nueva. But as a humble stablemaid, Madelena has no idea how to find such wealth. That's when the talking burro Terco mentions he's heard how to find a dragon's treasure. Javier, Armando's younger brother, has loved Madelena in silence for years. When he learns of their impending marriage, he offers to help her find the treasure, even though succeeding may cost him the chance to spend his future with her. Together, they face a dangerous wilderness, a charming bandit, and a dragon's lair, forcing Javier to confront his feelings and Madelena to re-evaluate her heart. A Noble Companion is a New Adult non-magical Christian fantasy retelling of The Ugly Duckling, book #6 in The Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone. Born only a few miles from where Jesse James robbed his first train, Rachel Kovaciny has loved westerns all her life. She says they're where her imagination feels most at home. A Christian wife and mother, Rachel homeschools her children. In her spare time, she writes a newspaper column on Old West history for the Prairie Times. Her book "My Rock and My Refuge" was the 2023 WILLA Literary Award Finalist in Young Adult Fiction and Nonfiction and the 2023 PenCraft Awards second place winner for Christian Historical Fiction. Her book "Cloaked" was a finalist for the 2018 Peacemaker Awards for Best Western YA/Children's Fiction.

A servant protecting her sister, a prince desperate to wed, and a reluctant union to save their kingdom. For three long years after losing her home in the Crylmar attacks, twenty-two-year-old Annette Beaumont has worked hard to keep her family together. But when her papa's debt to the crown is called into question, and she and her sister are sent to serve at the castle until it's paid, she's drawn into a plot that threatens everything she's worked for. Shunned and hated, Prince Laurent Villeneuve is running out of time to find a bride before he forfeits his right to the throne. But to stop his treacherous uncle from seizing power and aligning with the enemy, he must overcome his kingdom's hatred, and somehow win the affections of the stubborn servant who becomes his last chance. As tensions rise and threats loom, both must learn to work together, softening their hearts and setting aside their differences. When time runs out, what will they sacrifice to save their kingdom from ruin? And what if that sacrifice changes everything? A Noble Grace is a New Adult non-magical Christian fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, book #3 in The Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone. E. G. Bella is a bookworm-turned-author with a passion for cheesy puns, colorful characters, and contagious faith. She writes stories infused with adventure, hope, and just enough humor, and strives to craft memorable and page-turning tales the whole family can enjoy. When she's not writing, thinking about writing, or gushing about her stories to her patient husband, Bella can be found sipping warm coffee, reading emotional books, and harmonizing with the radio. Sometimes all at once. You can visit her at www.egbella.com, where she blogs regularly about life, writing, and what she's learning about both.