Ann Pratley
Genre:
Skills:
Branch:
Otago/Southland
Location:
Publications:
Amethyst of Youth
Forbidden Conflicts Series - Book 1
The youngest member of the Stonewarden family, Charlotte (Charlie), is 18 years old. As with everyone in her family when they reach that age, she's been told that when she turns 19, she'll be recruited into the family business. She has her warning that she has one year to do anything else she wishes to do - travel, study, work. Whatever she wants to do, she has 365 days to do it. On her next birthday, her life will effectively stop being her own.
But Charlie wants nothing to do with the business. The youngest of six, with five older brothers, she wants a different life. Maybe if the family business was something normal like a retail shop or a business centred around trade, she'd feel differently. There are people who say that her family's long term history of robbing from the rich and providing to the poor is a good thing. To her, all she can see is that they are thieves. Plain and simple.
Her view is further secured when she and her older brother, Max, are shot at in a local supermarket. Seeing Max lying in blood and later lying unmoving in hospital in a coma, pushes her further in her resolve to find a way to not take part in the activities of her father and brothers.
At the shootout she is saved by a checkout operator, Ash. Whilst building their friendship Charlie will learn things about her family that she didn't particularly wish to know. She will hear more and more that she can't share with Ash, and the more she learns, the wider the gap will become.
In years she's young, but having lost her mother when she was only 9 years old, Charlie has an older soul. The possibilities she'll be presented with during her one final year of her own, will push her in her considerations of how she really wants her life to be.
She wants one thing. Her strict ex-military father wants another. The dynamics of her new friendship will pull her in a third direction.
How will she choose what's right for her? And what would she have to do to break free from the chains that she can see her father wants to place around her for the rest of her life?
Ruby of Law
Forbidden Conflicts Series - Book 2
For generations, the Leadbetters have lived off crime. For as long as any of them know, fathers and mothers have taught sons and daughters how to succeed in the criminal world, primarily through theft.
Phillip Leadbetter is 29 and has devoted his whole life so far to doing what his father and mother have told him to do. The sacrifice for doing that is that he still lives at home and hasn't yet met anyone who he believes could accept the man that he is because of his family.
One night a potential tragedy brings him into the path of Daisy, an up and coming professional in the legal sector. Seeing him as her knight in shining armor, she can't stop thinking about the rugged guy who saved her. She's also very pleased when fate brings their paths to cross again.
Getting to know one another, both leave out the most important details about who they are. She doesn't want him to know she's a lawyer. He doesn't want to tell her about his family and their long history of criminal activity.
How then will things turn when they meet up in a courthouse, each learning in that moment who the other really is? How will they deal with the fact that she is on one side of the law, and he is very definitely on the other?
Diamond of War
Forbidden Conflicts Series - Book 3
For the first time in the long histories of two families, a night is coming when both will be present with their eyes on the same prize.
On one side is a family who work theft with precision. They have the charisma and charm to create an image … an illusion. When they're around, something can be there one minute and gone the next, never to be seen again.
On the other side is a family with members who are rash, impatient and violent. They won't pretend to be what they're not and they waste no time on such things as charm.
On one night a clash of methods will result in an explosion of destiny and devastation for one family. Out of the horrific result a friendship that has been slowly creeping up on two young people from opposing sides, will reveal much. It's an unlikely friendship that will heighten and flourish. The unthinkable happening will change both parties enough to make it easy for them to finally find common ground.
A new night of intense emotion and sadness combines with new discoveries about the supermarket shooting of the year earlier. How will that impact the new friendship being formed?
Sapphire of Prejudice
Forbidden Conflicts Series - Book 4
Greg and Rhett. They've grown up together since they were teenagers. They've fought together. They've stolen together. They've even loved women together. But something deeper has existed in one of them for years. He's hidden it well. Being part of the great Leadbetter gang and family, the prejudice of certain situations has always been loudly expressed by many of its members - too many, and certainly enough to make anyone fearful of what would happen if feelings were revealed and brought out into the open.
A night has passed when finally, in a moment of wondering if he'd survive till morning, Rhett's taken the chance and kissed the person of his desire. Given their circumstances, what can they do, and where can they go?
Meanwhile, as Phillip Leadbetter continues on his path of happiness with his Daisy, someone from her past has grown obsessed with her and wants her back. To what degree will he put into effect a plan to get her back, and get Phillip out of her life forever?
Emerald of Wisdom
Forbidden Conflicts Series - Book 5
When Mitchell Stonewarden lost his wife to cancer more than a decade ago, he vowed never to give his heart to anyone else. With all of his children now adults and a new generation of Stonewardens having already begun, he's finally started to wonder - does he really want to be alone for the rest of his life? The handover of the family business to his oldest son, Vic, has seemed to be free of difficulty or issues - but has it? Mitchell knows little of his oldest son's private life away from the family. He's surprised by what is brought to his attention that he had no idea about.
While Mitchell finally starts to consider moving on into a new chapter of his life, another of his sons - Max - is on his own path of discovery in life and in love. Previously well-known as 'Romeo' to his family and peers, he begins to wonder if Christy - a surprising addition to his life - has become more important to him than any other young woman he's ever met. When her work at a homeless shelter tests the boundaries of her safety, Max's commitment to her is tested. As always, he wonders if he will, indeed, end up hurting her.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the Leadbetter family is shattered by an unexpected turn of events that leaves Stacey wondering if she is going to lose the man she's loved for more than three decades. Mark Leadbetter has been her lover, the father of her children, and an incredible husband that she's leaned on through the good and the bad. They brought five children into the world. They've already buried one. The thought of Mark not being in her life anymore is almost more than she can bear. Is she destined to be left alone without him by her side? If so, how could she possibly cope?