Circle of Fire (Book 2)
Circle of Fire (Book 2)
A month after an anonymous quilt took first place at the County Fair in Milan, Maine, the town is still whispering. They call us vigilantes. We call ourselves a quilting bee. For school counselor Tess Collaretti and the eight women who gather with her every Thursday night, it depends on who you ask.
Then the fires start.
As an ice storm closes in and the lights go dark, the Circle must decide how far it will go for people the system forgot, and what it might cost them. Meanwhile, someone is breaking into the winter camps, the bottle donations keep vanishing, and Molly the moose is missing.
By the Winter Carnival, a new quilt will hang over Milan. This one will tell a story some people would rather keep buried.
Volume and Reseller discounts available - call 207-642-5400
Published November 2026. ISBN: 979-8-9968628-6-3
Praise for Circle of Fire
“I fell in love with your book from the very first page and was immediately drawn into the Circle of Fire. It has been a long time since a novel pulled me in so deeply and made me feel as though I were experiencing the story firsthand. It was refreshing to read a book about a difficult subject that focused on the positivity of community, camaraderie, and nature, rather than graphic detail.” ~ Joanne Roy, Member of The Maine Chickadee Quilters Guild of Bridgton, Maine
“As an educator, a police officer, and an advocate for strong women in a small town, I saw every part of myself in this book. The author pulls you straight into the emotions of each of these women. It’s the struggle of working for justice when the law draws hard lines, the balance of conscience against a call to action.” ~ Melanie Craig, Education Administrator and former law enforcement officer
Circle of Friends (original novel)
Some nights, the phone rings and everything changes — and Tess answers. In this gripping, true-to-life account of a small Maine town, a school counselor and eight friends form a women-led circle to confront abuse, corruption, and the systems that fail the vulnerable in their town. Some people call them vigilantes. They call themselves a quilting bee. Either way, the bad guys in their small Maine town don’t stand a chance as the community finally decides enough is enough.
For readers of true-crime-adjacent memoir and community justice stories, this intimate, action-driven narrative blends heartfelt character work with high-stakes interventions. Buy now to follow the quilted clues, midnight mirror confrontations, and a community that finally decides enough is enough.
Volume and Reseller discounts available - call 207-642-5400
Published July 2026. ISBN: 979-8-993027494
Praise for Circle of Friends
“As an educator, a police officer, and an advocate for strong women in a small town, I saw every part of myself in this book. I know firsthand what it is to face a broken system and feel that helplessness — and the author pulls you straight into the emotions of each of these women. It's the struggle of working for justice when the law draws hard lines, the balance of conscience against a call to action. Circle of Friends will light a fire in you and make you reflect on your own moral compass. It sucks you in and has you believing a difference CAN be made. But at what cost?
~ Melanie Craig, Education Administrator and former law enforcement officer
“Who hasn’t dreamed of payback when she sees people being hurt or taken advantage of? Circle of Friends is an entertaining look at how a group of women work together to punish people who have hurt women, children, and the community they love. Nothing says retribution like women in ski masks who have all the right moves!”
~ Anne Gass, Maine author of We Demand: The Suffrage Road Trip
“Circle of Friends is a heartfelt story filled with strong female friendships, humor, and the unmistakable charm of Maine. The characters felt genuine and relatable, drawing me in from the very first page. I found myself laughing, tearing up, and cheering them on throughout their journey. A captivating page-turner that beautifully celebrates friendship, resilience, and finding light through life’s ups and downs. I couldn’t put it down!”
~ Deana Dominicus, Millennial, (Beta Reader)
Theresa L. Allocca, MA, CAS, LPC (Ret.), is a retired school counselor and licensed professional counselor with over 23 years of experience walking alongside children and families through some of life's most difficult challenges. Raised in a small town, she brings both clinical expertise and a deeply personal lens to the stories she tells. Theresa lives in Poland Spring, Maine. Like her main character, she finds her best thinking on a long bike tour, needle in hand, or out on the water in a kayak. Circle of Friends is her debut novel - intending to be an 8-book series.
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