The Author of Riveting Books about Resilient Contemporary and Historical Women
Just Launched
Just Launched
Failed by tradition. Awake to new possibilities. When they lose their innocence, will these young women become fierce warriors for future generations?
The Netherlands, 17th Century. The Maid knows fortune is a harsh mistress. When her father’s sudden death reveals the family’s supposed wealth is a lie, she puts on a brave face when her impoverished status turns her suitor’s eyes elsewhere. And despite her yearning to study herbalism, she volunteers to go into service as a maid to make ends meet.
The Inspector’s Daughter feels safe in her insulated world. But after she meets her new handmaiden, her soul remembers the lessons to dream big she learned at her mama’s knee. And as they form a bond of sisterhood over the unfairness of their subservient position in society, her belief in justice becomes a flaming torch.
Hurt when a noble writes to request her lady’s hand, The Maid is certain their friendship is about to shatter. But while The Inspector’s Daughter is prepared to take on a wife’s role, she refuses to allow her bosom companion to be torn from her life.
Can two untried juffrouwen spread their wings together?
The revised 2nd edition of The Inspector’s Daughter and the Maid is a thought-provoking romantic historical fiction. If you like women who defy the rules, subverted expectations, and fascinating settings, then you’ll love Marlene F. Cheng’s heartfelt tale.
TWO GIFTS
when you join the
FAN CLUB
Tess’ Scribbler
This is Tess’ scribbler that she had in grade school, at the one-room schoolhouse, on the Canadian prairies, just post World War Two. She had it with her on the Alaskan cruise where she included her poems and comments from that time. It’s interesting to note that the female RCMP found an empty page and pasted in the last rose of summer.
Sign up for my newsletters to receive Tess’ Scribbler as a special gift.
The Turret
Before Fiza appeared in Black Pansies, to practice English, she wrote, The Turret—the first place she called her own, after leaving South Sudan and coming to Sweden.
It’s a wonderful introduction to Fiza. A must read before you read Black Pansies. It isn’t for sale. It’s my gift to readers.
You can claim the GIFT when you join the Reader’s Fan Club.
Remember, it’s written by a young lady who had a horrendous childhood and is trying to adapt to a strange new country in an adopted family.
Launched
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![Fragments of Tess]()
She’s clinging to a tenuous hope. But her endless river of despair could drown her last chance at freedom.
If you like deeply flawed protagonists, honest depictions of mental illness, and hopeful silver linings, then you’ll love Marlene F. Cheng’s unraveling of truth.
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![Secrets & Truths]()
She saved a hockey hero’s career. When their doctor-patient relationship crosses the line, will off-the-ice chemistry burn up their worlds?
If you like tormented heroines, romance with risk, and deep moral quandaries, then you’ll adore Marlene Cheng’s riveting read.
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![Devotion & Loss]()
She aches to redraw fate’s hand. When she’s trapped under a mountain of pain, can hope help her survive?
If you like characters bound by duty, lyrical prose, and sweeping tales of honor, then you’ll adore Marlene F. Cheng’s timeless romance.
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![Twists & Fate]()
Haunted by the embers of passion. Will the wishes of the dead guide her to a fragile happy ending?
If you like spiritual ponderings and journeys to the innermost yearnings of the heart, then you’ll adore Marlene F. Cheng’s twining pathway toward fate.
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![Contempt & Trust]()
They’ve stuck together through thick and thin. Will a callous warlord sever a connection she cherishes?
If you like enduring relationships, epistolary novels, and global perspectives, then you’ll adore Marlene F. Cheng’s ode to feminine bonds.
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![Black Pansies]()
Fiza, an adoptee from South Sudan, finds it impossible to accept love and to give it.
Although she has everything a young lady would desire--a supportive family and friends, a rewarding career, a well-appointed turret, where she lives independently—she feels empty.
Riveting books about resilient contemporary and historical women
The gripping series, Their Hearts’ Desires; the 17th century historical novel, The Inspector’s Daughter; the 2nd World War Period, women’s biography, The Many Layered Skirt, and the compelling women’s fiction, Fragments of Tess, explore the depth and dimensions of human life. So intimate are the human encounters, they unravel the thread of one’s being. The unforgettable characters will illuminate hearts, the secret place where we all live.
“Marlene Cheng’s voice is evocative throughout as the characters view their world, return to their roots, and steep themselves in their chosen lives and cultural inheritances...”
— Publishers Daily Reviews
“Twist & Fate is a fantastic journey that takes readers to the innermost corners of the human heart.”
— Readers’ Favorite
“I thoroughly enjoyed Contempt & Trust from start to finish. I couldn't put it down and couldn't wait to see what happened to the pair of friends. I loved following them throughout their lives. This is a story I won't be forgetting!”
— Clare Appezzato, Editorial Board of WordWorks Magazine, Federation of BC Writers