On Elise Friedman's eighth birthday, she lost her mother and any connection to her mysterious past. Raised by her loving stepfather, Elise has spent years trying to learn the truth about her mother, Catrina, and her birth family in Germany, but still knows very little. Now a young woman in college, ... (more)

The first time Leia pulled the lever on the slot machine she hadn't felt much, other than maybe a twinge of guilt, knowing how much her husband despised any kind of gambling. After all, she'd just been killing time while nursing a busted leg at the slopes. Several months, thousands of clicks and ... (more)