About Dr. Lizzi’s other books…

Unpretentious, Eminently Readable Contemporary and Historical Fiction… and Veterinary Fiction and Nonfiction!

Number one bestselling historical fiction author Deborah Challinor says of Lizzi’s historicals:

“Very descriptive, rich with research woven into the narrative, fairly informal and therefore eminently readable.”

Lizzi’s awarded historical and contemporary suspense, women’s, YA, and veterinary fiction have an equestrian flair, part and parcel of her other life as an equine veterinarian and carriage competitor.

LIZZI'S SAMPLER FICT 2024

The Long Trails Series

The Long Trails historical fiction sagas follow a growing list of dashing heroes and heroines from the wilderness of 1860 Utah to Colonial New Zealand, Historical Scotland, and Tsarist Russia. Not necessarily in that order!

Can an orphan, with only her Mustang and a Cossack sword, survive alone on the frontier?

From the deserts of Utah, through the gold mines of California, to the turbulent wilderness of Colonial New Zealand, Aleksandra rides, loves, and fights—with only her Cossack skills to keep her alive.  Historical Western Family Saga: Books 1-3.

A Long Trail Rolling was the Winner of:

2016 True West Magazine’s Best Western Romance

2015 RWNZ Koru Award

2014 RWNZ Pacific Hearts Award

The Long Trails SeriesBook One: A Long Trail Rolling

A dangerous job. Is it a convenient escape route…

             or a death trap?

UTAH TERRITORY, 1860. Alone. Aleksandra has spent her whole life training for the inevitable. So when a brutal Cossack tracks down and kills her father, she knows what she must do. Now orphaned, she flees, disguised as a Pony Express rider to keep her pa’s killer from discovering their family’s secret.

Xavier has kept the world, especially women, at arms-length since he ran from his troubles as heir to his Californio rancho family. As a Pony Express Station Keeper, having a girl riding the Pony out of his station wasn’t ever part of his plans… but somehow it happened, blackmail being what it is. Curiously, he didn’t want to let this one out of his sight.

They begin to let each other into their hearts, but the cards are stacking against them as the minutes tick by and Aleks rides full speed into the Indian Paiute War. Can they learn to trust in time to escape the Indians, evade the killer, and save both their love and Aleksandra’s family legacy?

Book Two: The Hills of Gold Unchanging

As the Civil War rages, secessionists menace California. The Confederates want the state and they’ll stop at nothing to they’ll stop at nothing to take it.

UTAH TERRITORY, 1860. On a wagon train headed for the Golden State, Aleksandra makes a dangerous enemy of a gun-running Confederate when she fights her way out of his unwelcome embrace.

After a late-night poker game, Xavier’s new friends realize he’s heard too much to be allowed to live.

Embroiled in the Confederates’ fight to drag the new state from the Union and make it their own, can Aleks and Xavier survive? The secessionists mean business.

A Sea of Green UnfoldingBook Three: A Sea of Green Unfolding

They set sail for the peace and calm of New Zealand, but they hadn’t counted on murderers, mutineers, and a land war in paradise.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AND NEW ZEALAND, 1863. Aleksandra and Xavier have finally found happiness on their Rancho de las Pulgas, but tragedy and death strike far too soon. Sickened further by the U.S. government’s treatment of their Native American friends, they only want out. Of everything.

They are thrown a lifeline by an old friend of Xavier’s from the California goldfields. This Gustavus von Tempsky, with his shadowed past, is now a newspaperman in Coromandel, New Zealand. His invitation draws them to a new start, with a part to play in the development of the peaceful young country—but by the time they arrive in Aotearoa, everything has changed.

Aleks thought mutineers and scoundrels aboard ship were the worst of their worries, but she hadn’t planned on disembarking into a turbulent wilderness and befriending the helpful local Māori, only to find von Tempsky leading the colonial troops into the bush against the natives who’d saved her life.

The Once Upon a Vet School Series

In the Once Upon a Vet School series, you’ll find the tale of a gutsy equestrian who dreamed of becoming a vet—her life on the way and beyond. Did YOU ever dream of becoming a vet?

Drama and humor abound as Lena pursues her childhood dream of becoming an equine vet—and beyond—in this unique series of six independent sequences:

Three books are currently available in in the series (in the middle, of course, I wrote them started before I knew they were a series…). See below for the whole planned series!

Fifty Miles at a BreathFifty Miles at a Breath

Horses bring them together and their future looks rosy—it’s the present they can’t handle.

When equine veterinary student Lena and veteran pilot Blake fall in love, vet school and the past intrude. Add in a long-distance relationship, and things get just plain hard. A grueling endurance race forces them to draw on their strengths and face their fears—together.

The Once Upon a Vet School SeriesLena Takes a Foal

She needs help… he needs to stay away…

Lena’s got a problem—one that might prevent her from graduating. When her horse flips over and lands on her, it has to be the dashing resident, Kit, who finds her. Luckily, she’s sworn off relationships after her last debacle and sea-green eyes and rugged good looks are the last things on her mind. Besides, to a veterinary school faculty, relationships between residents and students are like oil and water.

They just don’t mix.

Greener Pastures Calling

A new country, a great job, and a good Kiwi bloke. Life couldn’t be better.

Until it gets worse.

Newly emigrated to New Zealand, Lena wants a ‘good Kiwi bloke’, but they’re elusive as their nocturnal namesake. Nigel’s avoiding females, unless they’re cows, horses, or his mother after his first marriage. Sparks fly when  they meet—but not the first time, over the dirty instruments in a filthy cowshed. They seem to be made for each other, until Nigel remembers where he first saw her. And then the questions start.

Upcoming Books and Series

The Odin in Covid Series

Odin can’t go to his grandma’s New Zealand farm, but look what he’d do if he could!

Odin usually goes to grandma and grandpa’s farm to stay every Friday, but when COVID-19 hits New Zealand, Odin can’t go to the farm or see his friends anymore because of the lockdown! What will he miss on the farm? Check out Odin in Lockdown: on the Farm and Odin in Lockdown: at the Farmhouse to see what he would have gotten up to if he had been able to visit!

The Odin in Lockdown books will be Kiwi and international treasures which will be sure to be favourites in years to come, long after lockdown is a distant memory.

Every book in the series has at least one recipe which your child or grandchild can make along with you, plus find your link to a YouTube video showing Grandma making the recipe to show you and your young ones just how Odin and Grandma would have made it!

Read Aloud: Come along with Odin for the rhyming, rollicking read-aloud story!

Early Reader:  Read along with Odin in this early-reader version, created for those children reading picture books!

The Tatiana Series

(with links to The Long Trails series)

Book One: Tatiana I

Stableman’s daughter Tatiana rises to glamorous heights by her equestrienne abilities—but the tsar’s glittering attention is not always gold.

MOSKVA, RUSSIA 1842. Tatiana and her husband Vladimir become pawns in the emperor’s pursuit of a coveted secret weapon. While Tatiana and their infant son are placed under house arrest, Vladimir must recover the weapon or lose his wife and young son. With the odds mounting against them, can they find each other again—half a world away?  

The series is set from early 1860s Moscow through to 1860s USA, the series comprises three (Matthew says four…) novels. Book One: Tatiana I

The Somewhere Series

(also with links to The Long Trails series)

Book One: Somewhere Called Home

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS 1813. Lachlann is disowned for refusing to become clan tacksman after his father and heads for the city, alone, to build a life for himself and his beloved Annis. Annis’ waiting turns to despair when her mother buys safety during the clearance of their village—leaving Annis at the mercy of the laird’s degenerate son. Lachlann emerges from the hell of Waterloo wanting only to see Annis again… and his father. 

The three-novel saga continues as the pair journey south, searching for a home, following their kin through England, through the sugar cane islands and to the Civil War-torn United States. Book One: Somewhere Called Home

The Long Trails, Tatiana, and Somewhere series will meet up in a searing conclusion…

The Once Upon a Vet School Planned series:

Drama and humour abound as Lena pursues her childhood dream of becoming an equine vet—and beyond—in this unique series of six independent sequences:

Cameos are placed on the covers of the books in each sequence for reader orientation.

~Junior Years~           junior years image                                                                      

After Lena hears she needs good grades to become a veterinarian, things start to get tricky. Even her pony doesn’t get out unscathed. (Middle Grade) USA 19721976. Series of four books.

~High School Days ~High school years image

When your high school counsellor says vet school’s too hard for you and your HS sweetheart offers you a dream life of farming, writing, and babies, what do you do? Is vet school really the be-all, end-all? (Young Adult) USA 19761979. Series of four books.

~College Nightscollege nights image

How can you have a life when you need an A in every class for four years to get into vet school… on top of 800 hours vet practice work? Something’s got to give. (Young Adult and up) USA 19801984. Series of four books.

~Vet School 24/7~

Now they’re in, the pressure for grades is off and vet school social life is upon them… there’s only the tsunami of 200 years of veterinary knowledge to pack into their heads. Can Lena and her friends stay afloat? (Young Adult and up) USA 19841988. Series of four books.

~Practice Time~

Finally graduated, prima ballerinas of the university, Lena and her vet school classmates disperse to far-flung practices… and real life. What could possibly go wrong? Late nights on-call, mud, blood, and finally, a light at the end of the tunnel… unfortunately, it’s only the penlight of a dictatorial vet technician in Lena’s eyes after she passed out on the floor. (Women’s Rural Fiction with Romantic Elements) USA & New Zealand 19882012. Series of four books.