Katherine Reay

Amid literature and lattes, three women come together and find that sharing one's journey with best friends makes life richer.

The Printed Letter Bookshop

When an anonymous benefactor offers to put Samantha Moore through school, with the stipulation that she write frequent letters to him on her progress, Sam finds safety in the letters as her program and her peers force her to confront her past.

Dear Mr. Knightley

Uncovering a dark family secret sends one woman on the journey of a lifetime--through the history of Britain's WWII spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris--in an effort to understand her past, save her family, and shape her future. Caroline Payne thinks it's just another day of work until she receives a call from Mat Hammond, an old college friend and historian. But pleasantries are cut short. Mat has uncovered a scandalous secret kept buried for decades: In World War II, Caroline's British great-aunt betrayed family and country to marry her German lover. Determined to find answers and save her family's reputation, Caroline flies to the old family house in London. She and Mat discover diaries and letters that reveal her grandmother and great-aunt were known as the "Waite sisters." Popular and witty, they came of age during the interwar years, a time of peace and luxury filled with dances, jazz clubs, and romance. The buoyant tone of the correspondence soon yields to sadder revelations as the sisters grow apart and one leaves home to join the glittering fashion scene of Paris, despite rumblings of a coming world war. Each letter brings more questions. Was Caroline's great-aunt actually a traitor and Nazi collaborator, or is there a more complex truth buried in the past? Together, Caroline and Mat uncover stories of spies and secrets, love and heartbreak, and the events of one fateful evening in 1941 that changed everything. In this rich historical novel from award-winning author Katherine Reay, a young woman is tasked with writing the next chapter of her family's story. But Caroline must choose whether to embrace a love of her own and proceed with caution if the decades-old wounds of a family are to heal without tearing them even further apart.

The London House

In the small town of Winsome, Illinois, two people discover the confusing, complex, and beautiful nature of friendship.

Of Literature and Lattes

After years of following her best friend's lead, Mary Davies finds a whimsical trip back to Austen's Regency England paves the way towards a new future. Mary Davies lives and works in Austin, Texas, as an industrial engineer. She has an orderly and productive life, a job and colleagues that she enjoys--particularly a certain adorable, intelligent, and hilarious consultant. But something is missing for Mary. When her estranged and emotionally fragile childhood friend Isabel Dwyer offers Mary a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in Bath, Mary reluctantly agrees to come along, in hopes that the holiday will shake up her quiet life in just the right ways. But Mary gets more than she bargained for when Isabel loses her memory and fully believes that she lives in Regency England. Mary becomes dependent on a household of strangers to take care of Isabel until she wakes up. With Mary in charge and surrounded by new friends, Isabel rests and enjoys the leisure of a Regency lady. But life gets even more complicated when Mary makes the discovery that her life and Isabel's have intersected in more ways that she knew, and she finds herself caught between who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who stands between them. Outings are undertaken, misunderstandings play out, and dancing ensues as this triangle works out their lives and hearts among a company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation.

The Austen Escape

With her passion for her restaurant sliding, chef Elizabeth leaves New York for Seattle and the bedside of her sister Jane, who has been diagnosed with cancer, and finds peace in a burgeoning relationship with Jane's coworker Nick.

Lizzy and Jane

When a rare-books dealer goes to England, she discovers more than just the famous writing haunts—she discovers how to love and be loved in today's modern world. Victoria Seward makes a living finding rare books through means that aren't always on the up-and-up. But if it makes the clients happy, who is she really hurting? After all, everything always turns out all right in the end. At least it does in her favorite books, the ones her absent father sends every year on her birthday, no matter where he is. When her unorthodox behavior ruins her relationship with her boyfriend James, Victoria knows something has to change—she has to change. Enter Helen, a wealthy client seeking a companion for her trip to England to purchase antiques, and who just happens to be James's grandmother. Helen has secrets of her own, secrets that help her relate to Victoria more than anyone can guess. As Victoria and Helen travel across England, Victoria suspects there is more to this trip than Helen lets on. When Helen's health falters, Victoria reaches out to James, reigniting feelings that were never truly extinguished. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, when hidden offenses rise to the surface. Victoria's happy ending is within reach—if she can step out of the literary world and into the life that's been waiting for her all along.

The Brontd Plot

"Emily Price, art restorer and would-be artist, finds herself in Atlanta, restoring objects recovered from a house fire. As she strives to make all the pieces of her life fit, secure a gallery opening for her own art, and care for her sister and mother, she finds herself enthralled by Chef Benito Hillam, who is in town from Italy visiting his brother Joseph, Emily's boss. Ben spends all his time cooking and repeatedly proposing marriage to Emily. When she calls his bluff and accepts, Emily follows Ben home to Italy"--

A Portrait of Emily Price

Two courageous female spies, one with MI6 and the other with CIA during the Cold War in Moscow, must work together before the KGB closes in and destroys them both.

A Shadow in Moscow

Becky Powell

A gripping story of grace, faith, and triumph for a woman whose world shattered hours after her husband's suicide. Becky Powell faced the unthinkable on May 16, 2013. Her husband Mark called and said, "I've done something terrible." Within hours, she learned that he had taken his own life and, over a period of several years, millions of dollars from friends and colleagues. Everything she believed to be true, the very fiber of her marriage, was called into question. Within a week, rather than planning carpool runs and volunteer fundraisers, she owed almost one hundred creditors millions of dollars and had her own team of ten lawyers. She was also the subject of open FBI, SEC and DOJ investigations--and faced potential criminal charges. And, although she instantly denounced every cent of Mark's $15M in life insurance and promised to repay every penny taken, her lawyers knew that in reality she faced years of court battles and lawsuits, and possible jail time. Yet from that first horrific moment, God was there. He showed up in His Word, in Becky's friends, in her lawyers and in the generosity of those around her. He worked miracles. CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and others covered the first moment, but what about the last? What about the story in which God gives your next breath because you can't find it on your own? What about the story of a mom and three kids trying to make sense of their pasts, present and future while living under a microscope? Awful Beautiful Life is Becky's journey through the two years surrounding Mark's death and how she overcame. It came down to a loving God who surrounded her, a present and dedicated family, and friends, who made her life, offered her sanctuary and showed up for her and her kids in tangible ways. This is a story of remarkable grit, strength, and what the Body of Christ in action looks like.

When God Shows Up in the Midst of Tragedy

Awful Beautiful Life

Near the end of the Cold War, a CIA code breaker discovers a symbol she recognizes from her childhood, which launches her across the world to the heart of Berlin just before the wall comes tumbling down.

A Cold War Novel

The Berlin Letters

Rebecca Powell

A gripping story of grace, faith, and triumph for a woman whose world shattered hours after her husband's suicide. Rebecca Powell faced the unthinkable on May 13, 2013. Her husband Mark called and said, "I've done something terrible." Within hours, she learned that he had taken his own life and, over a period of several years, millions of dollars from friends and colleagues. Everything she believed to be true, the very fiber of her marriage, was called into question. Within a week, rather than planning carpool runs and volunteer fundraisers, she owed almost one hundred creditors millions of dollars and had her own team of ten lawyers. She was also the subject of open FBI, SEC and DOJ investigations-and faced potential criminal charges. And, although she instantly denounced every cent of Mark's $15M in life insurance and promised to repay every penny taken, her lawyers knew that in reality she faced years of court battles and lawsuits, and possible jail time. Yet from that first horrific moment, God was there. He showed up in his Word, in Rebecca's friends, in her lawyers and in the generosity of those around her. He worked miracles. CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others covered the first moment, but what about the last? What about the story in which God gives your next breath because you can't find it on your own? What about the story of a mom and three kids trying to make sense of their pasts, present and future while living under a microscope? AWFUL BEAUTIFUL LIFE is Rebecca's journey through the two years surrounding Mark's death and how she overcame. It came down to a loving God who surrounded her, a present and dedicated family, and friends, who made her life, offered her sanctuary and showed up for her and her kids in tangible ways. This is a story of remarkable grit, strength and what the Body of Christ in action looks like.

Bestselling author Katherine Reay returns with an unforgettable tale of the Cold War and a CIA code breaker who risks everything to free her father from an East German prison. From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past decoding messages from World War II. Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain. When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive. As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived, for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol. A Cold War novel that takes readers to the heart of Berlin to witness both the early and final days of the Berlin Wall Stand-alone novel Book length: approximately 107,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs

In the thick of the Cold War, a betrayal at the highest level risks the lives of two courageous female spies: MI6’s best Soviet agent and the CIA’s newest Moscow recruit. Vienna, 1954 After losing everyone she loves in the final days of World War II, Ingrid Bauer agrees to a hasty marriage with a gentle Soviet embassy worker and follows him home to Moscow. But nothing within the Soviet Union’s totalitarian regime is what it seems, including her new husband, whom Ingrid suspects works for the KGB. Inspired by her daughter’s birth, Ingrid risks everything and reaches out in hope to the one country she understands and trusts—Britain, the country of her mother’s birth. She begins passing intelligence to MI6, navigating a world of secrets and lies, light and shadow. Moscow, 1980 A student in the Foreign Studies Initiative, Anya Kadinova finishes her degree at Georgetown University and boards a flight home to Moscow, leaving behind the man she loves and a country she’s grown to respect. Though raised by dedicated and loyal Soviet parents, Anya soon questions an increasingly oppressive and paranoid regime at the height of the Cold War. Then the KGB murders her best friend and Anya chooses her side. Working in a military research lab, she relays Soviet plans and schematics to the CIA in an effort to end the 1980s arms race. The past catches up to the present when an unprecedented act of treachery threatens all agents operating within Eastern Europe, and both Ingrid and Anya find themselves in a race for their lives against time and the KGB. “Eloquently portrays the incredible contributions of women in history, the extraordinary depths of love, and, perhaps most important, the true cost of freedom.” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil An exciting story of two brave female spies in Cold War Moscow Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Geachte Mr. Knightley

‘Geachte Mr. Knightley’ van Katherine Reay is een heerlijk, hartverwarmende briefroman. De slimme twintiger Samantha Moore is opgegroeid in een weeshuis en heeft niets voor zichzelf. Studeren is een oude droom die ze allang heeft opgegeven en ze slijt haar dagen achter de toonbank bij een Starbucks. Ze weet dan ook niet wat haar overkomt als een stichting haar een studiebeurs aanbiedt. Het enige wat van haar wordt verwacht, is dat ze de mysterieuze oprichter van de stichting op de hoogte houdt van haar vorderingen. Hoewel Sam bindingsangst heeft, mensen doorgaans uit de weg gaat en vlucht in het citeren van Jane Austen-romans als iemand te dichtbij komt, voelt ze zich vreemd vrij in haar brieven aan deze Mr. Knightley, die ze nog nooit heeft ontmoet... Of toch wel? Katherine Reay laat zich graag inspireren door Jane Austen en haar tijdgenoten, maar geeft een geheel eigen en eigentijdse twist aan deze klassiekers.

"Becky Powell faced the unthinkable on May 16, 2013. Her husband Mark called and said, "I've done something terrible." Within hours, she learned that he had taken his own life and, over a period of several years, millions of dollars from friends and colleagues. Everything she believed to be true, the very fiber of her marriage, was called into question. Within a week, rather than planning carpool runs and volunteer fund-raisers, she owed almost one hundred creditors millions of collars and had her own team of ten lawyers. She was also the subject of open FBI, SEC, and DOJ investigations-- and faced potential criminal charges. And, although she instantly denounced every cent of Mark's $15 million in life insurance and promised to repay every penny taken, her lawyers knew that in reality she faced years of court battles and lawsuits, and possible jail time. Yet from that first horrific moment, God was there. He showed up in his Word, in Becky's fricnes, in her lawyers, and in the generosity of those around her. He worked miracles. CNBC, the Wall street Journal, Forbes, and others covered the first moment, but what about the last? What about the story in which God gives your next breath because you can't find it on your own? What about the story of a mom and three kids trying to make sense of their pasts, present, and future while living under a microscope? "Awful beautiful life" is Becky's journey through the two years surrounding Mark's death and how she overcame. It came down to a loving God who surrounded her, a present and dedicated family, and friends who made her life, offered her sanctuary, and showed up for her and her kids in tangible ways. This is a story of remarkable grit, strength, and what the Body of Christ in action looks like."--

‘Het geheime recept voor familie’ van Katherine Reay is een roman over twee zussen en hun passie voor koken. Wat is belangrijker: de band met je familie of je eigen dromen achterna gaan? Vijftien jaar geleden trok Lizzy weg uit haar geboorteplaats om haar grote droom te volgen: chefkok worden van een restaurant in New York. Nu lijkt haar culinaire talent echter te verdwijnen, en ze vlucht terug naar haar geboorteplaats Seattle, waar ze ontdekt dat haar zus ziek is en chemotherapie moet ondergaan. Lizzy besluit haar zus te helpen door gezonde maaltijden voor haar te gaan maken. Maar dan meldt haar oude baas zich weer... Kiest ze voor haar nieuwe familieleven of voor haar oude droomleven in New York? Van Katherine Reay verschenen eerder ‘Geachte mr. Knightley’ en ‘Een portret van Emily Price’. Met haar boeken won ze meerdere prijzen.

Het geheime recept voor familie

The Printed Letter Bookshop One of Madeline Cullen’s happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened her heart toward her once-treasured aunt—and the now struggling bookshop left in her care. “Powerful, enchanting, and spirited, this novel will delight.” —Patti Callahan, USA TODAY bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis “The Printed Letter Bookshop is a captivating story of good books, a testament to the beauty of new beginnings, and a sweet reminder of the power of friendship.” —Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration Of Literature and Lattes Return to the cozy and delightful town of Winsome, where two people discover the grace of letting go and the joy found in unexpected change. After fleeing her hometown three years earlier, Alyssa Harrison never planned to return. Then the Silicon Valley start-up she worked for collapsed and turned her world upside down. She is broke, under FBI investigation, and without a place to go. Having exhausted every option, she comes home to Winsome, Illinois, to regroup and move on as quickly as possible. Yet, as friends and family welcome her back, Alyssa begins to see a place for herself in this small Midwestern community. “In her ode to small towns and second chances, Katherine Reay writes with affection and insight about the finer things in life.” —Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party “The town of Winsome reminds me of Jan Karon’s Mitford, with its endearing characters, complex lives, and surprises where you don’t expect them.” —Lauren K. Denton, bestselling author of The Hideaway “Of Literature and Lattes delivers a story with details so vivid you can feel the fabric slipping between your fingers, characters so rich they could slide into the booth across from you, and a message so hopeful and redemptive it will linger in your mind long after you turn the final page.” —Melissa Ferguson, author of The Dating Charade Two full-length novels Sweet and thoughtful contemporary reads Includes discussion questions and a recommended reading list from the author

The Printed Letter Bookshop and Of Literature and Lattes

A Katherine Reay Collection: The Winsome Novels

Now available in one volume—three novels by Katherine Reay! Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy & Jane, The Brontë Plot Dear Mr. Knightley Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others—namely, her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story—by giving that story to a complete stranger. Lizzy & Jane Elizabeth left her family’s home in Seattle fifteen years ago to pursue her lifelong dream—chefing her own restaurant in New York City. Jane stayed behind to raise a family. Estranged since their mother’s death many years ago, the circumstances of their lives are about to bring them together once again. The Brontë Plot When a rare-books dealer goes to England, she discovers more than just the famous writing haunts—she discovers how to love and be loved in today’s modern world. “Katherine Reay’s Dear Mr. Knightley kept me up until 2:00 a.m.; I simply couldn’t put it down.” —Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon a Tower

Katherine Reay

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