Books by Vicki Hopkins

Ann Seddon knew at an early age that her aristocratic parents would arrange an advantageous match on her behalf. Nuptials of convenience blended family fortunes and kept bloodlines pure. When her parents suggest John Broadhurst, the Marquess of Dorchester, as a potential mate, Ann dislikes their choice. Even though he appears dashingly handsome, she finds him to be a boorish and aloof man. Ann harbors a dark premonition that one day the marquess will break her heart. After beginning their married life together, her fears are realized as she is engulfed by a world of secrets, betrayal, and danger at Blythe Court.

Described as hell on earth, Manchester in 1866 was the hub of industrialization in England. Its chimneys rose high above the landscape, spewing out smoke from the factories. While men, women, and children spun cotton in the mills, bricklayers built the workhouses, warehouses, and terraced residences of the city. They were skilled in their craft but also experts in enforcing the rules of their union demands, hoping to escape the bondage of serfdom to gain a better life.Born into obscurity and a descendant of men who slung mortar from their trowels as a trade, William Leighton, swore that one day he would rise above his poverty-ridden class. The means in which he chose to climb out the slums differed from his brother, who believed that violence was the only way to bring about change and close the gap between laborers and masters. The clash of siblings in Toil Under the Sun creates the foundation of family and is the first book in a saga that spans three generations.

The Phantom of the Opera is a chilling tale interlaced with darkness, despair, love, and redemption. Originally penned by Gaston Leroux, the book is classic literature. Leroux weaves the tale of a deformed man living in isolation underneath the Paris Opera House, who desperately loves a beautiful girl named Christine Daaé. The masked man has many names-Phantom of the Opera, Opera Ghost, Angel of Music, and Erik. He is a broken soul who yearns for beauty, but lives in hell. His desperate search for love takes him down a road of obsession and violence, and the cry of his despair echoes in our hearts. "All I wanted was to be loved for myself." Lessons from The Phantom of the Opera steps behind the scenes and examines the symbolism hidden in the characters, emotions, sets, and events. The book leads its readers on an emotional journey studying the motivations of the characters and the numerous symbols hidden throughout the Opera House. It examines not only Leroux's original work, but also analyzes the play and movie. As a result, lessons and life applications emerge from a timeless masterpiece for everyone to enjoy.

Another chapter in the life of the infamous Phantom of the Opera continues, as he leaves Paris and moves to Malta in search of a new beginning. Clothed in secrecy, he purchases the Royal Opera House in Valletta, which has been destroyed by a devastating fire. In an attempt to bury the pain of his past, the burned-out shell becomes his new obsession and driving force to live. He is determined to resurrect the structure from ashes and return it to glory.After years of hard work, the gala reopening is a huge triumph. The Phantom is convinced he has reached the pinnacle of success in life. In search of amusement, he takes on a new student, which leads him down a path of romance, mystery, and danger that challenges his life to the core.Will he survive the obstacles he encounters or will this finally be his undoing and death?

The year is 1878, and the setting is Paris, France. It's a place of privilege and comfort for the rich, but one of heartache and struggle for the poor. Upon the death of her father, a young girl is thrown from the comforts of middle-class life into the terror of homelessness on the streets of Paris. Without family or friends, she struggles to survive. Her journey takes her from charity houses to the grueling life of a laundress. When her plight becomes unbearable, she is enticed by the mistress of the most famous brothel in France to live in luxury and service her aristocratic clientele. She succumbs to a life of prostitution, and her virginity is sold to a handsome English Lord. His jaded character is tested when he meets his purchase and receives more than he bargained for in the price of her virginity.