Emerald Eyes

by Caroline Langer

Willow D’Agata’s parents had always been distant, but when they die in a car crash, the young woman is truly alone in a mansion built for four generations. The predator entrusted with her protection intensifies Willow’s isolation, even as she fills her home with beguiling ladies and wealthy—sometimes dangerous—men.

Running parallel to Willow’s dark coming of age story is that of Fortunato “Fang the First” D’Agata, her great-grandfather. Banished by his mother as a boy, he mourns his lost family while striving for a life of splendor. Willow inherits the consequences of the partnership Fortunato forms as an ambitious young man at the advent of Prohibition.

Her vow to preserve Fortunato’s legacy costs Willow dearly, compelling her silence, even when the heroic man of her dreams asserts that in an interrogation, she’d tell him everything.

Can Willow break the cycle of control the Bellomos have exerted over her kin for nearly seven decades?

Set in a fictional lakeside community in Central Ohio, this sweeping saga explores power, complicity, trauma, and chosen family.

Fans of The Women, The Spectacular, The Briar Club, and Lessons in Chemistry will cheer for the morally complex matriarchs of Emerald Eyes.

513 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

About the author

Like her Female Main Character, Caroline Langer came of age in Ohio in the 1980s. At mid-life, she evolved beyond a four-decade career in corporate communications to write from the heart. Frustration with the patriarchy drove her to explore the themes of female empowerment, good versus evil, desire, family, friendship, and the emotional complexities of womanhood. 

The result? Her dozen-years-in-the-making debut novel, Emerald Eyes. 

A Jersey Girl through a marriage that is three decades strong, Caroline enjoys aging, reading, living on the lake, travel, hanging out with friends, sipping craft beer / spirits / cocktails / sake, savoring delicious meals, watching live performances of all kinds, and working on her next book. 

Reviews

[Amanda Merino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved this book!! I have so much to say about the novel and its characters, but I'll keep it brief because I believe it's always best to go in blind :)

Emerald Eyes follows the stories of Fortunato D'Agata and his great-granddaughter, starting in the 1920s and 1980s respectively. You'll immediately be able to see the parallels in their lives, as different as their circumstances are, and the similarities in character that connect them across decades. As the timelines connect, the mysteries of the D'Agatas and how they came to have their immense wealth (and lose it!) and influence on their community will become clear.

Willow is the primary protagonist, and you'll get to experience her coming of age in a way that feels very authentic to the naive, sheltered girl she was raised to be, without being grating or exaggerated. I felt proud watching her grow into the woman she was always meant to be throughout this novel!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[A.J. Colucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and extremely well researched this multi generational story features two uniquely interesting characters, Fortunato and his granddaughter Willow. Although born decades apart they both face a life of trials and tribulations and villains you will love to hate. At times I found myself wanting Willow to fight back but that wouldn’t be realistic for this character or thousands of young girls out there who find themselves neglected, abused, and abandoned. Willow lives under the control of an evil, powerful guardian after a life so sheltered she continues falling into a hole so deep, it takes those she really cares about to find the strength to not only win back everything she lost but to seek her revenge as well. Recommended.

[Diana Monsees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerald Eyes by Caroline Langer is a captivating and beautifully written book that really draws you into its world. I enjoyed the characters, the emotional depth, and the way the story kept me interested from beginning to end. Langer does a wonderful job creating a story that feels engaging and memorable, with plenty of moments that make you want to keep reading. Overall, I found Emerald Eyes to be an enjoyable and heartfelt read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling book with an engaging story and memorable characters.

[Niko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I finished it over the course of three days — kept just wanting to read “one more chapter” which turned into two more and then five more…

[Jackie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story held my interest the whole time. Loved the character development to understand Willow’s family dynamics and how she ended up where she was and how to move forward. Appreciate the strong women that gave her the support that allowed her to move forward. So proud of Caroline’s achievement in finishing this novel!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline Langer's debut novel is a sweeping, multi-generational saga focusing on female empowerment and a quest for autonomy. I enjoyed main character Willow's transformation from naive, insecure teenager to badass woman who won't let anything get in her way. Throw in a suburban bordello, flashbacks to Prohibition, and a black panther named Sven, and you have a real page-turner!

[Matthew Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m completely blown away by Caroline Langer’s Emerald Eyes, a family saga that’s told through two generations of the D’Agata family. One of the best novels I’ve read, its writing is engaging, gripping and heartfelt, pulling you into the world of Willow and Fort as they face unbeatable odds and rise above those who harm them. Throughout are strong characters making difficult, sometimes deadly, decisions to survive, blurring the lines between good and evil.

This was a book I could not put down, finishing it in just days, amazing for a slower reader like me. I was in tears at the end as Emerald Eyes left me moved and inspired—a testament to the power of perseverance, legacies and great storytelling. 


I highly recommended Emerald Eyes for anyone who loves generational sagas with sin, heart, suspense and a strong sense of justice.

Note - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kathryn Zukof · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her debut novel Emerald Eyes, Caroline Langer weaves together a tale involving Prohibition, a bordello, mermaids, family drama and a black panther. You may not always agree with the choices made by her two protagonists, but you’ll certainly understand why they made these decisions and you will keep rooting for them to succeed. This is an incredibly engaging read, a page-turner, that will leave you eager to read whatever story Langer tells us next.

[Mason Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerald Eyes sounds like a fascinating family saga with mystery, secrets, and plenty of emotional depth. Willow inheriting a mansion, a fortune, and a complicated family legacy gives the story a lot to explore. The mix of historical drama and a strong female lead definitely caught my attention.

[Theresa Merino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow is one bad ass chick! I loved watching her become this fierce, powerful woman through her own toughness as well as the help of the amazing women around her. I could picture her and her Mermaids in their ‘80s outfits and big hair that I miss so much! She didn’t have it easy - by no stretch of the imagination - but she survived, fought back, and was and made stronger for it!

This family saga had me hooked from the very first read! Getting to learn about the family history and making the connection that Willow was just following in the “family business” was intriguing. I never saw the ending coming and loved it so much!

Quick and easy read! Highly recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan Baracco · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I love seeing a debut author burst onto the fiction genre stage in a bold way, and Caroline has done just that with Emerald Eyes. Her attention to detail and well-researched facts, combined with her masterful storytelling, make this novel a must-read for anyone who loves to be immersed in history with a powerful female protagonist leading the way.