"Istanbul Crossing" is not just a thriller but a powerful exploration of identity, courage, and the human spirit. Smith's ability to weave a narrative that is both thrilling and deeply humane makes this novel a standout read.— Alan Warren, bestselling author and host of House of Mystery and Inside Writing radio shows.In this coming-of-age literary thriller, Ahdaf, a gay Syrian refugee, after watching his c...

**For lovers of crime fiction and the allure of the Greek islands, Fire on the Island is the perfect summer read.** "Smith offers the perfect blend of intrigue, romance, and travelogue."**—Publishers Weekly **FIRE ON THE ISLAND is a playful, romantic thriller set in contemporary Greece, with a gay Greek-American FBI agent, who is undercover on the island to investigate a series of mysterious fires. Set against the very real refugee crisis ...

**** "Sharply drawn characters, rich dialogue, and a clever conclusion bode well for any sequel." —Publishers Weekly **** “Smith skillfully bridges police procedural and espionage fiction, crafting a show-stealing sense of place** and realistically pairing the threats of underworld crime and destabilized regimes.” -- Booklist **For International Espionage Fans of Alan Furst and Daniel Silva, a new thriller set in post-Soviet era Po...

"Ever since the release of Amadeus, the concept of writing historical fiction based on the golden age of classical music has flourished… Frankly speaking, many of them are outstripped by this new riveting book. 5 out of 5 Stars"—ManhattanBookReview.comMeeting Mozart: A Novel Drawn From the Secret Diaries of Lorenzo Da Ponte is a deftly plotted and richly detailed historical novel that spans generations and involves Mozart, mysteries, masquerades, opera, and spies. It brings to ligh...

A Love Affair Inspiring the World's Most Unforgettable OperasExperience the intense, lifelong love affair between Giuseppe Verdi and Giuseppina Strepponi, the brilliant and seductive soprano who shaped his legacy. As his muse, lover, and wife, Strepponi was the inspiration behind Verdi's most iconic works, including La Traviata and Aida. Her influence was pivotal, as she became the architect of his creative triumphs and the heart of his operatic genius.Set ...

Set against the very real refugee crisis on the beautiful, sun-drenched Greek islands, Fire on the Island paints a nuanced and loving portrait of a community in crisis while shedding light on the challenges of life in contemporary Greece.After a string of mysterious fires breaks out on a small Greek island, undercover FBI agent Nick Damigos arrives to investigate, showing up just in time to save a beloved truffle-sniffing dog from the most recent inferno. ...

It sure wasn’t Ronnie’s Choice to move from the only town he had ever known and comfortable school to find himself immersed in a very different town and strange new school. Ronnie rapidly discovers that the focus is clearly on him as the new kid while he is slipping into the life of an outcast and bully target. Fortunately, fate provides an opportunity for the new kid when his average trumpet playing in the old school’s awesome band is better than this new band has ever heard and Ronnie ea...

In "American Historical and Literary Curiosities: Second Series, Complete," J. Jay Smith presents a captivating compilation that stitches together the rich tapestry of American literary history and intriguing anecdotes. Written in a meticulous and engaging style, this work explores the lesser-known tales and curiosities that have shaped American literature, drawing on a wide array of sources from the colonial period to the 19th century. Smith's carefully curated collection not only enterta...

To most people, he's cold. Aloof. Unreachable.He's the alluring, strange guy with striking features, but endless mystery. His family just relocated to a foreign country. Now he's navigating uncharted territory on top of his demons. He seeks to blend in, avoid drawing attention and speaks very little.Eva is the warm, bubbly neighbour from across the street with a killer smile and undeniable persuasion. From day one, she's enchanted by his presence, yet he seems to live in hi...

It is 1992 in Warsaw, Poland, and the communist era has just ended. A series of grisly murders suddenly becomes an international case when it's feared that the victims may have been couriers smuggling nuclear material out of the defunct Soviet Union. The FBI sends an agent to help with the investigation. When he learns that a Russian physicist who designed a portable atomic bomb has disappeared, the race is on to find him—and the bomb—before it ends up in the wrong hands. Smith’s depiction...

Navigating constantly changing social and familial relationships, the characters in M. Jay Smith’s stories strive to hold everything together and stay true to their convictions in the process.Cantaloupe! brings us nine juicy stories about trying (and failing) to do the right thing – about yearning to stay true to yourself in a culture that demands compromise. With razor-sharp prose and a bit of slapstick humour, M. Jay Smith contemplates how identities smudge into each oth...

Unlike film guides that list films alphabetically, give production facts, and offer rather dry descriptions, this book is designed to help people better understand themselves, their loved ones, and their romantic situations… or lack thereof. Scientific studies show that couples who watch romantic movies together and then discuss them and their feelings about them have a much higher “stay-together rate” than couples who enter traditional therapy. This fun and colorful rom-com movie guide ca...