“A love story, a sports novel, and a psychological thriller all rolled into one. What grabbed me most was how naturally the danger builds. At first, Bess is simply trying to find her place on the ice and in her personal life, but little by little everything begins to close in around her. The 1970s college atmosphere and women’s hockey setting give the book a personality all its own."
“Every time I thought I knew what would happen next, Townsend pulled the rug out from under me. Just when you think Snow Madness is a story about love, ambition, and college life, it becomes something far more dangerous. The twists are shocking, the characters feel real, and the mounting tension is almost unbearable. I couldn't put it down!"
Nothing scares Bess Larimer. Except Todd Tillman.
It's 1977, and Bess Larimer is a force to be reckoned with.
A fearless hockey player who earned her stripes competing against boys, Bess wins a full scholarship to prestigious Whitfield College, where she quickly becomes the star of its newly formed women's hockey team. On the ice, she's unstoppable. Off the ice, her love life is anything but simple.
Between her rugged Canadian coach, a charming campus heartbreaker, and a beautiful teammate who awakened unexpected desires, Bess is discovering that love can be a dangerous game.
But nothing prepares her for Todd Tillman.
Quiet, intelligent, and seemingly harmless, Todd appears to be just another college freshman. Yet within hours of their first date, Bess is so terrified that she escapes through a bathroom window.
Her instincts have exposed something no one else has ever seen: Todd is a psychopath hiding behind a carefully constructed mask of normalcy.
And he knows she knows.
As Todd's carefully controlled world begins to crumble, his obsession with Bess turns deadly. Now the fearless young woman who never backed down from a fight faces an opponent unlike any she's ever encountered.
On the ice, Bess plays to win. Now she's playing to survive.
But when obsession turns deadly, there are no rules, no referees—and no guarantee she'll survive.
“A sizzling blend of passion, betrayal, and international intrigue, Kat’s Secret Recipe whisks readers through a whirlwind of romance, murder, gourmet innovation—and espionage. Nancy Townsend serves up a deliciously addictive tale of love, loss, and second chances that will leave you craving the next installment.””
“Smart, sexy, and utterly unputdownable—Kat’s Secret Recipe is a masterclass in romantic suspense. With unforgettable characters, razor-sharp twists, and heart-pounding stakes, Nancy Townsend stirs up a story that’s equal parts heat and heart. This is the start of something big.”
A single kiss sets off a chain reaction of betrayal, murder, espionage—and a food empire built on secrets.
Kat and Alex have danced around desire for years. But one night in Tacoma, it all ignites. By morning, nothing will ever be the same.
Back home, chaos explodes. Alex’s wife is miraculously pregnant after years of secondary infertility. Kat’s new husband—a beloved cop—is murdered. And Alex is the prime suspect.
As celebrity attorney Frank Fletcher fights to clear his name, Kat launches a bold new culinary venture fueled by her late husband’s life insurance and one electrifying idea: a forgotten centuries-old cuisine that could change today’s food industry forever.
But passion and danger don’t stay buried. After a whirlwind wedding in Tuscany, billionaire Carl Treadwell recruits Alex for a covert team of civilian operatives. His first mission? Infiltrate a terrorist ring in Algeria. His biggest threat? Agatha—an irresistible double agent who doesn’t care who she destroys.
Meanwhile, back home, disaster strikes again. A devastating medical error leaves Alex’s daughters motherless, and the baby in the NICU might not even be his. As custody battles, family betrayals, and deadly secrets unfold, Kat and Alex must face the unthinkable.
Then Kat is arrested for her husband’s murder.
Alex learns the truth about his own father.
And Carl Treadwell calls with a new mission that could shatter everything.
It’s a battle for survival.
ABOUT
THE
AUTHOR
Nancy Townsend is the author of the Carl Treadwell Series—an emotionally rich, fast-paced collection of novels that blend romance, espionage, and suspense. At the center of each story is a strong, complex heroine whose life is upended by secrets, danger, and the mysterious presence of Carl Treadwell—a man who appears across generations, beloved by some, despised by others.
Nancy holds an English Writing degree and studied novel writing at the prestigious Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. Before becoming a novelist, she spent her career as a marketing and public relations copywriter, helping small businesses, professionals, and political figures craft compelling stories of their own.
She’s been married for over 30 years, has two adult children, and lives in Glen Cove, New York—where her eighth-generation grandmother (yes, the ghost who appears in her books!) helped found the city back in 1668.
Coming Soon:
Topless in Nashville (November 2026)
Harlem Heyday
On the horizon:
• Mayhem At The Castle
• Your Inner Joy