Laura McDaniel's Books

"A tangled web, a sleuthing adventure, a rekindled romance . . . Walking on Hidden Wings has it all." --Rachel Fordham, author of The Letter Tree

Geneva Ashcroft Hayes's marriage to a newspaper mogul might have been arranged, but the New York socialite is devastated when her husband's plane crashes just a few months after their wedding. When authorities suspect murder, Geneva embarks on a wild mission to uncover the truth and prove she isn’t guilty!

As mysterious notes surface that hint at Geneva's involvement in his death, her resolve only strengthens. With little to guide her except for a detective friend's cryptic list of locations linked to her deceased spouse, she finds herself in a race against time. When that friend also vanishes, Geneva trades her elegant gowns for coveralls and pilot goggles.

Now armed with a new identity and a career as a wingwalker and barnstormer, she travels from town to town in search of clues that will lead her to her missing friend. Yet, Geneva uncovers that her past may not belong to her—what she once considered truth could be nothing more than lies and deception.

"Fans of intelligent mysteries, heart-fluttering romance, and the Roaring Twenties, prepare yourselves—Walking on Hidden Wings will sweep you away to the skies! McDaniel's lyrical prose is a delight, and readers will be captivated by the daring beginnings of aviation. A true gem." --Joanna Barker, author of A Heart Worth Stealing

Walk through the doors to the past with a captivating new series of historical stories filled with romance and adventure. 

Elise Malvern has a tendency to let people down. Her former boyfriend hoped she’d be his bride, while her grandfather wished she would take over the family’s auction company. Mostly, though, she’s disappointed herself. What’s the point of pursuing her passion as a violinist if she is too scared to audition for a seat in the prestigious Pittsburgh Symphony? Her internship at the elegant Heinz Hall places her in the wings of the stage, but never on it. By chance, she stumbles upon an old stage prop—a paste necklace that seems to hold secrets. Trusting her instincts, she seeks help from a childhood friend, who just happens to be country music megastar Pierson Brooks. Their shared history complicates things, especially as they dive deeper into the mystery, intertwining their hearts in unexpected ways. 

A century earlier… 

Sophie Walters dreams of center stage, her name shining on the marquee, and all that jazz. However, breaking into an acting career proves far more challenging than she anticipated. After squandering her chances in Hollywood, she returns to Pittsburgh, reluctantly accepting a minor role in a popular production. Watching her dreams slip away from behind the curtain at the illustrious Loew’s Penn Theatre, she finally gets her moment in the spotlight—but not for her talent. Instead, her rise to fame stems from a terrible mistake. Accused of being a notorious jewel thief known as The Mirage, she finds herself pleading for help from none other than the man she jilted at the altar five years ago, Sterling Monroe.

The one man who could help her must never know her name. 

If Kate Chamberlin can't reveal her true identity to the world, she must settle for sharing only her extraordinary talent. Hired as a musician for KDKA radio, Kate plays everything from sponsors’ jingles to complex sonatas. As long as the whispers around the broadcasting room refer to her as “Killjoy Kate” and not “Catarina the crime boss's daughter,” her life remains safe from danger. 

Or so she thinks. 

When anonymous, violent threats emerge, Kate is cautious about accepting protection from the handsome private investigator, Detective Rhett Jennings. His save-the-world attitude is as charming as his manners, but no one, especially him, can know the gruesome realities of her birth. 

The 1924 Pittsburgh underworld is as complex as it is elusive, and while the dealings of the Salvastanos have dwindled, Rhett Jennings is convinced that the man responsible for his father's death is still at large. However, his personal quest for justice must be set aside when his day job requires him to investigate threats directed at a young radio broadcaster with captivating brown eyes and secretive behavior. 

When danger surrounds them, will the truth of Kate's past become the key to their survival?

Walk through doors to the past with a captivating new series of historical stories that blend romance and adventure. 

As the wedding coordinator for the century-old steamboat, The Belle of Louisville, Devyn Asbury takes immense pride in making others' dreams come true, despite her own engagement sinking like a diamond ring to the depths of the Ohio River. When The Belle becomes a finalist in the Timeless Wedding Venue contest, Devyn is determined to secure the prestigious title, hoping to reclaim some of her professional aspirations. However, she never anticipated the arrival of Chase Jones, bearing a mysterious photo from the 1920s. 

A hundred years earlier, Hattie Louis is as untamed as the rivers that shaped her. As the adopted daughter of a steamboat captain, her responsibilities range from providing entertainment to cooking. When strange occurrences unfold aboard the boat, Hattie resolves to uncover the truth, even if it means getting under the skin of the handsome First Mate, Jack Marshall.

Music lights up her world, but can love truly ignite her heart? In 1928, the air in Pittsburgh is thick with soot from local mills and the lively music from speakeasies. When the manager of The Kelly Club is discovered dead, nightclub singer Vera Pembroke finds herself in a perilous situation. As the sole witness to the crime, she is forced to hide away in the Allegheny Forest under the watch of a stern police sergeant. 

Sergeant Mick Dinelo carries a deep-seated resentment towards Pittsburgh’s underworld, a sentiment rooted in the devastation it brought to his life and heart. Instead of pursuing the notorious gangsters, he is stuck babysitting the headstrong woman who challenges every attempt he makes to ensure her safety. 

Mick and Vera must overcome their differences to unravel the murder that someone desperately wants to keep hidden beneath the soot of Steel City.

Confined behind a secretarial desk at her father’s struggling newspaper, Elissa Tillman yearns for her father and the world to recognize her not just as a suffragette, but as a serious journalist. When a millionaire is murdered, Elissa sees the ideal opportunity to grab the headline and simultaneously save the newspaper. Her father agrees, but there’s a catch. To get her article featured prominently, she must compete for it. Unfortunately, her rival isn’t one of the regular journalists at the newspaper; it’s Cole Parker—the charming man who left Pittsburgh to pursue a high-profile journalism career in New York, leaving a heartbroken Elissa behind. After a series of missteps, Cole returns to the steel city for a job, but all he can think about is winning a second chance with Elissa. The competition his boss creates keeps Cole close to her, but she views him as an adversary, threatening both her dreams and her heart. AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS - Won the RWA Faith, Hope, Love Chapters Touched By Love Award in both Historical Romance and Overall Genre categories. - Finalist in the 2020 ACFW Carol Awards - 2020 INSPY long list.