My mystery series features two sophisticated Southern Belles turned amateur sleuths. Ashley Wilkes (yes, you read that right – Mama was besotted with Gone with the Wind – aren’t we all?) is a historic preservationist who restores old homes in 300-year-old Wilmington NC. Her sister Melanie is Wilmington’s star realtor. Every old house has a secret, some in the form of old bones. The bodies just keep turning up. Even in Ashley’s own, lovingly restored 1860’s Queen Anne home.

And then there are the men! They keep turning up too. (Aren’t we grateful they do?) As Ashley observes: There’s nothing like a set of broad manly shoulders to perk up a girl’s libido. Melanie has a thing for the bad boys until successful film producer Cam Jordan sweeps her off her high-heeled Pradas. Ashley can’t decide between that sexy homicide detective Nick Yost or the other sexy man in her life, golden-haired architect Jon Campbell. Which will it be? How about both?

Ashley’s dearest friend is sweet, gentle history professor Benjamin Higgins. There’s nothing about Wilmington’s colorful past that “Binkie” doesn’t know and share with Ashley. That includes old, unsolved crimes that seem to provide clues and motives for the mayhem Ashley encounters on every restoration project.