A flip of a card, a throw of the dice, a turn in the road...

Damaris Tilghman loses everything when her father gambles away their home and then commits suicide. She is resigned to becoming a servant to a distant relative, but when she receives an unexpected marriage proposal from wealthy planter Matthew Pope, she wagers her future on the outcome. At first, as their love grows, she thinks she has won the toss.

She soon discovers she has a rival in Zoë, who has convinced her fellow slaves that she is a conjure woman and that it is her orders that must be obeyed. Damaris tries to refute her claim, but the slaves believe Zoë’s lies and her so-called spells.

When her husband puts her aside for the beautiful slave, Damaris wonders if he, too, is under Zoë’s spell - and if her love is strong enough to break it.

"Riverbend is a richly detailed historic thriller of a romance. Ms. Bruney has taken the time to make sure that the backdrop of her noel is accurate for both the time period and location, and it shows with her immersive writing. Damaris’ story is one full of intrigue and hope. Fast paced, it is hard to put down. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way that will keep readers guessing. Ms. Bruney does a wonderful job at touching on many of the time period’s hot topics like slavery and women’s rights. It is an incredibly deep novel that tells the story of a woman’s lifetime. 

"Narrated by the author, Ms. Bruney’s passion for her story comes through in her performance! Her narration is gentle and connected to the work, the emotions felt by the characters coming through strong. There are a few moments when the pacing feels a bit off; awkward paused in the middle of the sentences, and similar quirks. While her voice doesn’t change dramatically for each character, they all still hold a life of their own making them distinct. Overall, it is a wonderful listen! This is a great read for lovers of historical and suspenseful romance!" (Chelsea Anderson, InD’tale Magazine)