Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 40 books in 2025
Progress so far: 25 / 40 63%