THE HANDLER
The Norwood Nanny Chronicles: Book Two
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The Norwood Nanny Chronicles
The Handler
From domestic duplicity to diplomatic double-crosses, the nanny spies of Norwood have their hands full
In this thrilling and twisty follow-up to author Monica McGurk’s critically acclaimed The Agency, protagonist Bree and her fellow nanny spies from the Norwood Agency –an independent global spy ring fronting as a British college for aspiring nannies to the elite — race against the clock to locate the children kidnapped under her watch during their first inauspicious mission in Turkey. Distrusting each other and facing betrayal at every turn, the trio‘s search leads them to the shocking truth about orphaned Bree’s dead parents and the mission that got them killed when she was still a baby.
Taut and thrilling, The Handler shows what happens when the young women of Norwood Agency exploit stereotypes and weaponize domesticity to influence international events. In doing so, it plumbs motherhood, intergenerational family drama, and the difficult choices facing modern women against a backdrop of some of the greatest diplomatic events of recent history. A portrait of loss and regret wrapped up as a feminist twist on the spy genre, The Handler will leave readers asking themselves, like Bree: just what are they prepared to do in the pursuit of truth?
The Handler Playlists
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Praise for The Handler
The Norwood Nanny Chronicles
The Agency
The Norwood Nanny Chronicles begin...
When American orphan, Bree, arrives at Norwood College—the elite English training ground of nannies to the world’s rich and powerful—she knows that making it through the first year to land a spot in the coveted certificate program is the key to her future. She also knows she can’t go it alone, bonding quickly with her Groupmates: an errant (and broke) nobleman, the son of one of England’s oldest families; the ambitious and whip-smart daughter of a self-made immigrant; and the ditzy, husband-hunting daughter of a disgraced playboy aristocrat. What none of them realize is that there is more to Norwood than meets the eye: the school itself may unlock the secrets of Bree’s own shadowy past, and the classmates’ very lives will depend on their ability to work together to meet the dangers ahead.
The Agency Playlist
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Praise for The Agency
The Archangel Prophecies
Dark Hope
Book One of the Archangel Prophecies
For years, Hope Carmichael, survivor of a shocking child abduction, has lived a sheltered existence under the protection of her fanatically religious father. Now, liberated by her mother, Hope prepares to start life over as a normal kid in an Atlanta, Georgia, high school.
Normal, that is, until Hope meets Michael, a gorgeous emancipated teen with a mysterious past and a strong interest in Hope. And soon, Hope’s life is filled with questions. What’s behind the angry looks Hope gets from Lucas, leader of a gang of students? Who’s responsible for sending Hope a strange valentine inscribed with Bible quotations? How does this relate to the sinister business of human trafficking that operates on the periphery of Hope’s suburban world? And is Michael really a protector, or something more sinister—and just why does he seem so familiar?
In an epic narrative that takes readers from the back streets of Atlanta to the height of Vegas penthouses and beyond, Dark Hope introduces readers to The Archangel Prophecies, a new young adult saga that blends the feeling of Twilight with a vast mythological scope and moral urgency, as well as to Hope Carmichael—a young woman instantly memorable for her endurance, heart, and determination—and Michael, Hope’s dangerous companion who’s fated either to save Hope—or to kill her.
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The Archangel Prophecies
Dark Rising
Can One Person Upend a Prophecy as Old as Time?
Hope Carmichael is on the run. The only question is, from whom? The mark on her neck has branded her as part of an ancient prophecy, the Bearer of the Key. But the Fallen Angels have misunderstood and think Hope is their long-awaited way to regain Heaven by force. Now Hope is chasing down the artifact that could open Heaven's Gates, while seeking to destroy it before the Fallen catch up with her. Will the Triad crime ring track Hope and exact their punishment before she gets the chance? Is the ragtag band of angels surrounding her now there to protect her, or imprison her? And will Michael, the Archangel sworn to defend Heaven at all costs, be forced to deny his love for Hope and take her life, instead, so that the artifact won't fall into enemy hands? The epic narrative introduced in DARK HOPE continues in DARK RISING as Hope crisscrosses some of the most ancient sites in Europe and plumbs the depths of history in search of the truth about the Key, herself, and love. Exploring themes of identity, fate, jealousy, trust, and forgiveness, DARK RISING's mythological scope and moral urgency deepen as we come to understand the choices and consequences faced by a young woman determined to follow her heart and chart her own destiny.
Dark Rising Playlist
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Dark Before Dawn Playlist
The Archangel Prophecies
Dark Before Dawn
It’s darkest before the dawn... and that can be very dark indeed.
Twelve years have passed since Hope Carmichael helped fulfill the ancient prophecy that permitted the Fallen Angels to return, forgiven, to Heaven.
Now a lawyer at twenty-eight, Hope—along with a resurrected Michael, the archangel who loves her—has been presented by Heaven with a choice: one that could either result in Hope never seeing her family again, or the world losing its greatest angelic protector.
At the same time, Hope’s young sister Aurora struggles to help a school friend resolve her dark personal issues, all while being observed by a sinister adversary from Hope’s past, working on a plan for revenge that may soon plunge the entire extended Carmichael family into tragedy.
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About The Author
Award-winning author Monica McGurk likes nothing better than weaving complex, multilayered stories that bring contemporary issues and strong female characters to life through different genres of popular fiction. Her previous work includes three volumes of paranormal YA romance—The Archangel Prophecies: Dark Hope, Dark Rising, and Dark Before Dawn— along with numerous works of fan fiction under the name Consultant by Day. The Handler is the follow-up to her critically acclaimed The Agency, the first novel in The Norwood Nanny Chronicles.
A corporate executive, she now lives in Chicagoland with her husband, Tom, their youngest son, and their dog, Ellie. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and LinkedIn, or on her website: monicamcgurk.com.
What's Monica Reading?
For Teachers
I have worked with activists who are working to end Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) and educators who would like to take that fight into the classroom to design a curriculum that links the reading of the Archangel Prophecies series to Common Core Standards.
If you are a parent, consider taking this to your child’s Language Arts or Literature teacher for integration into lesson plans. (Teens can do this, too!) If you are a teacher, check it out and see how it might integrate with your plans for the year. The best thing is, it is free! In fact, you can download the Chapter-by-Chapter Guide and the Common Core Guide right from this website.
Common Core Guides
Did you know that Dark Hope, Dark Rising, and Dark Before Dawn can be used to meet your Common Core Standards? Download the guides now to learn the different ways that the Archangel Prophecies can be used in your classroom curriculum.
Teacher’s Discussion Guide
Are your students reading Dark Hope? Keep the conversation going by downloading this discussion guide. The questions will get the class talking about themes ranging from human trafficking to empowerment.
End Human Trafficking
Personal Statement
I cannot turn away.
Learning that human trafficking — which is a pretty fancy term for the modern day slave trade — is a problem around the world, and even in my own hometown of Atlanta, was a shock. There are nearly 30 million slaves in the world today — more than any other time in human history. They are sold into bondage to cook, clean, work in mines and fields, and into forced prostitution. That many of them are children sold into sex slavery is heartbreaking. I found out by accident while conducting research for Dark Hope, and once I knew, I felt compelled to act. That is why I am using the release of The Archangel Prophecies to spread the word — because I believe in my heart that other people, once they know, will be compelled to act and end this horrible crime, too.
Please join with me to bring an end to this human suffering:
1) Buy copies of The Archangel Prophecies series, for you, for your friends, for as many people as you can — a portion of proceeds will go toward supporting the partner organizations you see on this page, all of which were hand selected for the quality of the work they do to end human trafficking. And every reader whose eyes are opened to this tragedy can become a powerful voice, advocating for the victims of slavery.
2) Educate yourself — follow the links on this page to the partner sites, where you can learn more about slavery in the United States and around the world.
3) Take action — from writing your congressperson to sharing links on your social media platforms, what you do can spread the word and shine a light on this tragedy, helping to bring it to an end once and for all. See the list below for some suggestions.
Thank you for joining with me to take a stand against slavery and especially against the sexual exploitation of children!
-Monica
Resources
Partner Organizations
Street Grace is a faith-based organization leading churches, community organizations and individual volunteers on a comprehensive path to end domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in Metro Atlanta and throughout the United States.
Our vision: A world in which no child is bought, sold, or used for sex. Our mission: To protect every child’s basic human right to grow up free from the threat of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Contact
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