The Secret Journey

When her father Alexander is murdered, Lisa's safe, carefree world unravels. At 16, her only escape is to flee from the mayhem and chaos that promises to come crashing down on her very being. From her wicked mother. From her drunken stepbrother. And from the greedy church. The year was 1,000 AD.

Bright and clever, she becomes the eyes and ears of her papa's many enterprises. Lisa is his confidant and the son he desires as an heir. Afraid for his own daughter's future, Alexander shares a plan for her to follow upon his death.

Within days of Alexander's murder, the plan is put into motion. The map created for her has instructions and a special key. It will guide Lisa hundreds of miles from her papa's villa in Marseilles to Paris, where his business partner Ezra lived.

Her possessions were the tunic on her back, a cloak, Papa's jeweled dagger, and the coin that he asked her to hide away. And a mysterious voice that forewarns and guides her.

Lisa's travel mode was her feet.

Her stepbrother follows her in hot pursuit, filled with anger, hate, and revenge. Fredric's desire is to rightfully assume his inherited status as heir-a status that requires items whose whereabouts only Lisa knows.

Will Lisa get to Paris? Will Ezra welcome and help her? Will she discover who killed Papa? Will the Voice that invades her sleep continue to guide her? Will she ever feel safe and loved again?

The Secret Journey is Book 1 of the Harmonie Series, followed by Book 2 The Secret Hamlet, Book 3 The Secret Rise, and Book 4, The Secret Awakening.

Brian Barnes retired from the construction industry and combined his love of history with storytelling. The Secret Journey started as a "what if" story and is his debut novel.

Judith Briles is the author of 43 books in the nonfiction genre. The Secret Journey is her first fiction joint adventure with Brian Barnes. Her website is TheBookShepherd.com.