Showing results by author "Melina Druga" in All Categories

1918 — The year the war ended, and a new battle began. In the final volume of Melina Druga’s powerful nonfiction series, 1918 captures the dramatic close of the Great War and the global tragedy that followed. As Allied forces push Germany to surrender and the Armistice is signed on Nov. 11, North America erupts in celebration. Through vivid newspaper accounts, readers witness the joy in Ottawa, Winnipeg, New York and Chicago — and the heartbreak of families mourning those who would never return. Yet amid the jubilation, another enemy spreads: the deadly Spanish flu pandemic that kills...

The war that changes everything. Melina Druga’s Where Poppies Grow brings together three sweeping novels that trace the emotional and human cost of the First World War through the eyes of those who lived it and survived its aftermath. Angel of Mercy – 1914. Newlywed nurse Hettie Steward defies convention to join the Canadian Army Nursing Service. As war rages across Europe, she learns that courage takes many forms and that love can be both a burden and a balm. Those Left Behind – While Hettie serves overseas, her family must endure the war from the home front. Through letters and loss...

1917 — the year the Great War became truly global. 1917 captures the pivotal moment when the United States joined the conflict and Canada proved its strength on the battlefield. Through the words of contemporary newspapers, author Melina Druga chronicles the year that changed everything for North America. As President Woodrow Wilson leads the United States into war, the nation debates patriotism, pacifism and preparedness. Across the border, Canadian troops achieve a stunning victory at Vimy Ridge, a moment later hailed as the country’s coming of age. Druga’s narrative brings to life ...

Two nations. One war. The headlines that shaped a continent. 1915 continues Melina Druga’s gripping chronicle of North America’s journey through the Great War, told through the headlines of the day. As Europe descends deeper into conflict, Canadian soldiers face the horrors of Ypres and the birth of modern warfare, gas attacks, trench battles, and immense sacrifice. The United States remains officially neutral, its newspapers fiercely debating whether to intervene or stand apart. Through authentic reporting and first-hand accounts, Druga reveals how propaganda, patriotism and fear ...

One DNA test. One shocking truth. One family forever changed. In Family Upheaval, the sixth installment of The Rock Star’s Wife series, Cassandra Hardwick thinks she finally has her life under control — until a casual DNA test uncovers a secret that threatens everything she believes about herself and her family. As the truth unravels, Cassandra must confront questions she never imagined asking about her past, her family and the life she’s built. With her children growing more independent and her marriage stretched thin by fame and distance, she struggles to protect the people she ...

Two hearts. One unforgettable summer. When burned-out rock legend Devon Dixson retreats to a quiet Michigan beach town to salvage his crumbling career, love isn’t part of the plan. But when he collides, literally and emotionally, with Paige Purdy, a spirited small-town shop owner, sparks fly in ways neither of them expects. She’s sworn off heartbreak. He’s running from fame. Together, they ignite a chemistry hotter than a summer sunset. As Devon rediscovers his passion for music, Paige starts to believe she deserves a love story of her own. But when the reality rears its ugly head, ...

Some gifts can’t be wrapped — and some wounds can’t be ignored. After a DNA test reveals a life-changing family secret, Chris Economos finds himself in a familiar role — the peacemaker. He and his siblings are struggling, his parents are distant, and the holiday spirit that once filled their lives feels out of reach, but as Christmas approaches, Chris is determined to hold the family together. Between decorating the tree, hosting gatherings and smoothing over emotional rifts, the Economos clan learns that even the strongest families can bend under the weight of truth. But sometimes,...

Sometimes the love you walked away from is the one you were meant to find again. Alexis McNeil built a quiet life after heartbreak, one focused on her work and her son Cody. The last thing she expects is to spend any length of time with rock star Chase Wheeler, the man she never stopped loving and the reason she stopped believing in happily-ever-afters. Years ago, Chase made the biggest mistake of his life when he let Alexis go. Now fate, in the form of his grandmother’s terminal illness, has brought them back together. The spark between them is as strong as ever, but so are the memories ...

Two nations. One war. Five years that changed the world forever. In A Tale of Two Nations: Canada, U.S. and WWI, author Melina Druga presents a groundbreaking chronicle of the Great War told through the headlines, editorials and voices of the time. This five-volume collection — 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918 — captures how North America experienced World War I as it unfolded, one front page at a time. Through authentic newspaper reports from both sides of the border, readers witness how Canada fought under the British flag while the United States remained neutral, debated intervention...

Love doesn’t end after the wedding — it just gets more complicated. In Sex & Surprises, book five in The Rock Star’s Wife series, Cassandra Hardwick is juggling her writing career, two children and the unpredictable rhythms of fame. When her husband, Nat, finally slows down from life on tour, their passion reignites in unexpected and exhilarating ways. But life has other plans. A surprise pregnancy, and the emotional and physical changes that come with it, forces Cassandra to confront her fears, her marriage and her sense of identity. Can she balance love, ambition, and motherhood ...

When the world stopped, her family’s story kept unfolding. In The Pandemic Diaries, book seven of The Rock Star’s Wife series, Cassandra Hardwick finds herself navigating the uncharted territory of lockdown life. With her rock-star husband grounded and their restless children under one roof, Cassandra begins to chronicle the chaos, heartbreak and humor of a world turned upside down. But quarantine does more than slow life down. But isolation forces truths to surface. Are Nat’s touring days behind him? What’s going on their daughter’s boyfriend? And will life ever be the same again...

In Adjustment Year, the powerful conclusion to Melina Druga’s the Echoes of the Great War Trilogy, nurse Hettie Taylor and her husband, Alfred, return to a world that feels both familiar and foreign. The Great War may have ended, but its shadows linger in every home, heart and memory. Set in 1919 Canada, this deeply emotional historical novel explores how soldiers and nurses, families and friends, must learn to live again after years defined by conflict and loss. Hettie’s calling as a healer remains, but she faces new challenges as she rebuilds her life alongside Alfred — a man ...

Before she was the rock star’s wife, Cassandra learned love isn’t a fairy tale and “Mr. Right” might not exist. In Mr. Right is a Myth, the second book in The Rock Star’s Wife series, Cassandra moves into adulthood determined to find passion, success and a sense of self. College life brings freedom, new friendships and men who promise more than they deliver. From charming classmates to complicated lovers, she begins to realize that attraction doesn’t always equal connection and love doesn’t fix what’s broken inside. As Cassandra navigates heartbreak, temptation and loss, she...

Fame, passion, and heartbreak — Cassandra’s next chapter comes with a price. In Rock Star Romance, the third book in The Rock Star’s Wife series, Cassandra steps into a new world of fame, music and temptation. When she meets a charismatic musician who lives for the stage, their chemistry is instant, and their connection impossible to ignore. But life in the spotlight isn’t as glamorous as it seems. As Cassandra’s world expands, so do the risks to her heart, her future, and her sense of self. Torn between ambition and emotion, she must decide whether love can survive under the ...

Step back in time to a decade when crime ran rampant and justice was anything but certain. In Heinous: Forgotten Murders From the 1910s, author Melina Druga resurrects 18 shocking, long-forgotten murder cases from the early twentieth century — stories once splashed across newspaper headlines, now buried in the archives of time. Through original newspaper accounts and painstaking research, Druga reveals a dark side of the 1910s: brutal ax murders, chilling family slayings and desperate crimes of passion that rattled small towns across North America. Step back into an era before forensic ...

One woman’s courage will change everything. Angel of Mercy transports readers to 1914 Canada, where the world is on the brink of war and one young woman must choose between love and purpose. Henrietta “Hettie” Steward dreams of continuing her work as a nurse, but society — and her husband — expect her to abandon her career for domestic life. When war erupts in Europe and her husband enlists, Hettie defies convention and joins the Canadian Army Nursing Service. Thrust into a world of courage, heartbreak and sacrifice, she witnesses the devastating cost of battle while fighting her ...

Are you a business owner? A freelancer? A stay-at-home mom? Are you still working a nine-to-five job, but dream of working for yourself? There is great joy and risk to becoming an entrepreneur. When Women Become Business Owners provides solid business and faith-based advice from 22 real female entrepreneurs. Find wisdom, inspiration, and encouragement for those times when you may find road blocks or fear trying to snatch your dream away.

Before the Great War, there were the women who built the legacy. Spanning nearly a century of Canadian history, The Trail Blazers tells the stories of the generations of women whose courage, compassion, and endurance shaped the family at the heart of the Echoes of the Great War Trilogy. From the rugged wilds of pioneer Ontario to the dawn of a new nation, these three novellas explore the strength it takes to survive, love, and hope in a changing world. Journey of Hope – 1829: A young woman travels hundreds of miles to start anew, finding resilience and faith along the way. Rose’s ...

1916 — The year that tested nations, leaders, and the limits of endurance. 1916 continues Melina Druga’s vivid exploration of World War I through the headlines that shaped North America. As the Great War grinds on, the year 1916 tests nations’ resolve. In Canada, soldiers endure unimaginable losses at the Battle of the Somme where tanks debut and an entire generation is scarred. Meanwhile, across the border, Americans fiercely debate neutrality, nationalism and the re-election of President Woodrow Wilson who promises to “keep us out of the war.” Through authentic newspaper reports...

Two nations. One world at war. History told through their headlines. 1914 transports readers to the tense summer when the world changed forever. Through the lens of original newspaper reports, Melina Druga reveals how the United States and Canada experienced the outbreak of World War I — one nation choosing neutrality, the other bound by empire to fight. From the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to Canada’s rapid mobilization and America’s cautious distance, this meticulously researched work brings history to life through the words of journalists who were there. Readers will ...