In this third book in the adventures of Tess and Max, internationally bestselling author Amy Ephron takes readers to London at Christmastime, where a new fantastical journey awaits.It's Christmastime, and Tess and Max are back with their Aunt Evie, this time at a lovely hotel in London. As they wait for their parents to arrive, they enjoy the nearby snow-covered Hyde Park, even taking a horse and carriage ride along its curving paths. When Tess befriends a mysterious boy named Colin at teatime, though, she inadvertently starts them off on their next adventure. Following Colin up to his suite on the eighth floor, Tess and Max emerge from the elevator in what looks like a 1920s costume party. But is there more to Colin and his hotel suite than meets the eye? And how is the cat's eye marble that Max found — which looks eerily similar to the crystal at the top of their carriage driver's cane — connected?Internationally bestselling author Amy Ephron...

This companion to Castle In the Mist features a mysterious carnival, an ominous psychic, and a wind that whisks Tess and Max away from their vacation in Devon, England. Which fantastical world will they find this time?A year after discovering the wonderous castle in the mist, Tess and Max are back in England for another summer with their Aunt Evie—this time in a rented house in the seaside town of Devon. And while Evie is delighted to explore the antique shops, Tess and Max are much more excited about the traveling carnival that's come to town. There are rides, games, animals, acrobats, and a hall of mirrors. There is even a psychic, with a beautiful wagon all her own.In a visit to the psychic's wagon, while Tess is being hypnotized, the wagon starts to move. Before Tess can shake herself out of the hypnosis, before Max can do anything, they're traveling—along with the rest of the carnival—too quickly for the two of them to jump out. But...

In the tradition of Half Magic, Alice in Wonderland, and the writing of E.L. Konigsburg, a novel about the excitement, and the dangers, of wishing.Tess and her brother, Max, are sent for the summer to their aunt's sleepy village in the English countryside, where excitement is as rare as a good wifi signal. So when Tess stumbles upon an old brass key that unlocks an ornately carved gate, attached to a strangely invisible wall, she jumps at the chance for adventure. And the world beyond the gate doesn't disappoint. She finds rose gardens, a maze made of hedges, and a boy named William who is just as lonely as she is. But at William's castle, strange things begin to happen. Carnival games are paid for in wishes, dreams seem to come alive, and then there's William's eerie warning: Beware of the hawthorn trees. A warning that chills Tess to the bone. In a magical, fantasy world that blurs the line between reality and imagination, readers are...

Review“The tales are variously charming, funny, poignant, and even hair-raising, as when [Ephron] finds herself spending an afternoon with Manson family alumna Squeaky Fromme.” (Jewish Journal of Los Angeles )“Well-written, empathetic, and a joy.” (BookLoons Reviews )“A frothy, lighthearted, often witty collection of essays about marriage, motherhood and the power of a good piece of jewelry.” (Shelf Awareness )“Actively intelligent and utterly descriptive, Amy Ephron always makes you feel as if you’re right there with her feeling what she’s feeling and seeing what she’s seeing… Loose Diamonds is a sincerely-written book…that you shouldn’t miss.” (BookRoom Reviews )“All of these fascinating experiences and relationships described in Loose Diamonds add to the richness of this loosely woven set of essays. Ms. Ephron’s thoughts on marriage, divorce as well as her ‘Tips for Women getting a Divorce’ are written with wit and panache.” (Laura Shultz, New York Journal of Books )“In Loose Diamonds, Ephron offers a deeply honest and compelling look at the events that made her the woman she is today.” (The Daily Beast )“She is an expert at introspection as entertainment...the collection masters brevity and range.” (Claire Howorth, The Daily )“The pages turn themselves...Not only do the essays stand up on their own, the overarching themes unravel (Julia Gazdag, Hello Giggles )“This is a great women’s interest title, appealing to lovers of Ephron’s historical fiction and to fans of humorous essays alike.” (Annie Bostrom, Booklist )“Her honest approach to her good and not-so-good relationships might be just the thing for anyone feeling sorry about themselves.” (Morgan Murrell, Harper's Bazaar ) About the AuthorAmy Ephron is the bestselling author of the acclaimed novels One Sunday Morning and A Cup of Tea. Her magazine pieces and essays have appeared in Vogue; Saveur; House Beautiful; the National Lampoon; the Los Angeles Times; the Huffington Post; Defamer; her own online magazine, One for the Table; and various other print and online publications. She recently directed a short film, Chloe@3AM, which was featured at the American Cinematheque’s Focus on Female Directors Short Film Showcase in January 2011. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan Rader, and any of their five children who happen to drop in.