Ava & Claire

Beyond the footlights, a new callingPhiladelphia, 1949. For Thelma Kimber, dance isn't just a passion; it's the very thing that saved her, a triumph over a crippling childhood illness. She has fought for her place in the spotlight, but when a devastating diagnosis threatens to steal it all, she's forced to confront a terrifying question: if she isn't a dancer, who is she?As her dreams shatter, a bold new opportunity beckons. With a director's intriguing offer and the unwavering support of her closest friends, Thelma steps onto a different kind of stage, discovering a surprising new talent and the true cost of independence.But the journey is fraught with obstacles. To build her new life, Thelma must learn to trust her instincts and redefine success on her own terms, even as it challenges her hard-won freedom.Shifting Stages is a powerful, emotional journey for fans of historical women's fiction. Explore one woman's resilience as she redefines her destiny amidst the vibrant backdrop of post-war Philadelphia and bustling New York City. As an only child, Karen Heenan learned early that boredom was the ultimate enemy. Since discovering books, she has rarely been without one in her hand and several more in her head. Her first series, The Tudor Court, stemmed from a lifelong interest in British history, but she's now turned her focus closer to home and is writing stories set in and around her native Philadelphia.She lives in Lansdowne, PA, just outside Philadelphia, where she grows much of her own food, makes her own clothes, and generally confuses the neighbors. She is accompanied on her quest for self-sufficiency by a very patient husband and an ever-changing number of cats.One constant: she is always writing her next book. Follow her online at karenheenan.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive a free novella and updates on what's next.

Coming Home: The Ava & Claire Collection contains the text of the previously published Coming Apart, Coming Closer, and Coming Together, plus two bonus short stories not available elsewhere. ♥♥♥♥Coming Apart No one knows you like a sister. Ava has always been poor, so she doesn't think the Great Depression will change anything. But when her mother dies and her coal miner husband loses his job, Ava's certainty falters. The last thing she needs is a letter from her estranged sister, asking for the impossible. Claire has everything she could ever want, except the child she promised her husband. When her sister's life falls apart, she reaches out to help - and finds the missing piece of her own marriage. With everything at stake, Ava must choose: give up one child to save the rest or keep the family together and risk losing it all? Coming Closer It's hard to leave the past behind. Recently widowed Ava has moved to Philadelphia, determined to start over. With her children and blossoming career as a dressmaker taking up all her time, she's not ready for charming, persistent Max Byrne, even if he is a family friend and her daughter's doctor. But he shows up at every turn, making it impossible for Ava to ignore him – and worse yet, she's not sure she wants to. Claire is torn between pride in her sister's self- reliance and finding a way to pay back the debt she owes her. When an unexpected meeting in Washington DC gives Claire the chance to make change on an even larger scale, she jumps at the opportunity - abandoning her family duties in pursuit of good works. The sisters find themselves on opposite sides: while Claire neglects her family for greater causes, Ava considers sacrificing everything for hers. As they confront their pasts and take on new challenges, will they be able to overcome their differences and remember that family always comes first?Coming Together Every marriage is different. And family is more than blood. Ava and Claire have moved on from the traumatic events of 1934 - while Ava has decided at last to marry patient Max Byrne and allow love back into her life, Claire and her husband have gone to France to repair their relationship. Harry encounters an old friend in Paris and offers to assist two Jewish refugees trying to flee a continent on the verge of war. Back in Philadelphia, Ava navigates the challenges of being a doctor's wife while maintaining her independence. When Max becomes involved with recent refugees coming to his clinic, their lives intertwine with Harry Warriner's larger project. In a time of tremendous upheaval, can the sisters find the strength to embrace the ever-changing relationships of marriage and family? Ava and Claire will discover that love and family can transcend blood and that true courage is not measured in action, but in the heart. Two sisters, two paths, one unyielding love. Buy Coming Home today and experience an emotional journey that resonates across generations. As an only child, Karen Heenan learned early that boredom was the ultimate enemy. Since discovering books, she has rarely been without one in her hand and several more in her head. Her first series, The Tudor Court, stemmed from a lifelong interest in British history, but she's now turned her focus closer to home and is writing stories set in and around her native Philadelphia.She lives in Lansdowne, PA, just outside Philadelphia, where she grows much of her own food, makes her own clothes, and generally confuses the neighbors. She is accompanied on her quest for self-sufficiency by a very patient husband and an ever-changing number of cats.One constant: she is always writing her next book. Follow her online at karenheenan.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive a free novella and updates on what's next.