She was born to save what he is sworn to destroy.

Indira’s stopped believing in magic and considers herself a lapsed Wiccan. Then she dreams of being sacrificed to an ancient Babylonian god—thrown from a cliff with her two sisters, their arms bound behind them… and wakes with real rope burns on her wrists.

International media sensation Natalie Collins is an eighteen-year-old Olympic swimmer, who has dedicated her whole life to her career. But when her best friend and relay teammate, Annie, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Natalie's world spirals out of control. A public meltdown exposes her addiction, leading her to The Dunes, an unconventional rehab in the California desert. At The Dunes, Natalie meets a diverse group of individuals, each with their own struggles and stories.

Mitch, a young counselor who all the girls’ crush on, encourages her to write letters to Annie, helping her process her emotions. Through one-sided letters Natalie relays stories about Dr. Blaine, an enigmatic psychiatrist, and Tillie, a nurturing counselor. Among the residents, Natalie befriends Staci, an aspiring artist and heroin addict, and Fiona, a former beauty queen recovering from human trafficking. She also takes on Missy, the rehab bully and her minions, but finds allies in Gia, a former gangster, and Cassidy, a meth addict who believes she lives in a television.

As Natalie navigates her new environment, she reflects on her life in limbo “on the outside.” Her father's remarriage to Mommy New Boobs, her mother's churning of her bank accounts and her toxic relationship with Racer, her ex-boyfriend. Through observing others Natalie learns that everyone has their own battles. Inspired by the resilience of those around her, Natalie begins to see life as a gift and the attempts to rebuild her life and career.

"Treading Water" is a story of struggle, redemption, and the power of human connection. From the depths of addiction to the surface of hope.

A richly crafted debut from a strong new voice in fantasy. Book one in The Orphan's Code gives us fierce, relatable characters, and a noble quest to root for. You will remember C.R.R. Hillin.

HE CAME FROM NOTHING.

With sheer force of will, Kayo’s brother Liam managed to crawl from the gutters and free himself from parents who treated him like a slave, an orphanage that treated him like a prisoner, and an entire city that turned their backs on him. From nothing, he rose to become a vigilante who brought justice to the corrupt and greedy when no one else would, wielding fire and steel to give everyone, from the city guard to the tyrant king, what they deserved. He stood up for the poor, the outcast, and the downtrodden, and they crowned him as the Beggar’s King.

Morticia Smith—a dark, reclusive “I do dead people” mortician—is stuck in a rut. She’s dying for a change and desperately wants a family of her own, but is no good with the living. Using Sybil as an alias, she falls for a surly brooding writer she meets on the Internet with a penchant for Bourbon, whose name is Collin Quin. Little does she know he’s her favorite thriller author, the famous Oliver King.

When Collin suddenly wants to meet in person, Morticia agrees in a moment of brave desperation, then chickens out after he shows up. She claims to be Sybil’s cousin and states that Sybil ran off with the Fed Ex guy. Collin sticks around to write while waiting for Sybil to return and gets to know Morticia in the process.