Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 116

New Book: JENNIFER, Quarry Hall 11

Excerpt:

"Hey," Roger said, putting down his carton. "Sorry. But what's with him?" He pointed.
The hairs on Jennifer's neck prickled as she turned and saw her companion sitting with his head raised, ears pricked far forward, eyes wide and staring as if he could see through the closed door that led to the parking lot.
"Just a second," she said, when Elizabeth asked what was going on. She got up and walked to the hotel room door, with Puck so close against her side, he almost knocked her off her stride. She turned off the lights in the room, then making her motions as delicate as possible, for silence, she slid the security chain off and eased the door open.
A dark, hooded shape hunched down in the shadow cast by her Jeep, parked against the sidewalk in front of her room door. The shape was reaching under the running board on the driver's side. Jennifer flicked her hand down in a gesture she always equated with the starter flag in a horse race. Silent, Puck leaped. Two bounds took him across the sidewalk. His claws scraped on the cement once, and he was on the man just as the hooded figure raised his head.
Jennifer loved the shrieks that Puck could raise in the throats of crooks caught in the act. She leaped out after him, reaching for the flash of silver that flew from the man's hand. If it was a gun, she wanted it in her control, rather than risk the crook snatching it up again.

New Release!! JENNIFER, Quarry Hall book 11

Now available from Desert Breeze Publishing:

JENNIFER
Quarry Hall Book 11

When Buddy Coltrane returns to attack the family he abandoned three years before, Quarry Hall gets involved.
Jennifer is assigned to investigate the situation surrounding Daria Coltrane and her children. She must trick Buddy into acting, so they can deal with him. A technological trap springs shut, indicating criminal mastermind Genghis is directing Buddy's actions. Jennifer convinces Daria to flee and start a new life.
Time and again, they can't seem to evade their pursuers. A chance encounter with friends from her Air Force childhood, who rally to help, reminds Jennifer of all she has lost. One of them, though, has a grudge against her, and he helps Buddy catch up with them.

Daria and her children are in danger from Quarry Hall's enemies. Jennifer willingly puts herself in the line of fire because as she says, "It's what we do." But will it be enough?

BLADE OF INNOCENCE, Highlander the TV series fan fiction

Excerpt from Chapter 3 of the fan novel now available on Wattpad:
Colorado, 1875            "You think I cheated you?" Josh Clay stepped back from the table and rested one hand on the grip of the Colt in one holster.  He loved his twin Colt revolvers more than his sword.
            Four of the five other men at the table opened their mouths, as if to answer.  Fury gleamed in their eyes, but no one said a word.
            The Klinkerman brothers were the dirtiest, hardest characters MacLeod had met since he and Josh had come west two years ago.  As someone who had changed his name a few times to escape trouble, MacLeod doubted their last name was actually Klinkerman -- nor that they were brothers, or even blood relations.  He had gone trapping for eight days to throw a scare into Josh, who was particularly nasty now that his whiskey had run out again.  Josh could always be driven to his knees with the thought of being alone, since Eleanor had died.  When MacLeod came back with a good haul of pelts, he found Josh, five stone jugs of corn liquor and the Klinkerman brothers waiting in the cabin.  The strangers called Josh their new partner and welcomed MacLeod to the partnership a little too eagerly.  MacLeod wondered what Josh had told them about him.

            "I think you were four bottles into your evening's fun when you bought that," MacLeod said with a forced grin, to break the tensing silence. 
            He was in no mood to be caught in the middle of a shoot-out and find out the hard way that having his head blown off at close range was the same as having it taken off at the neck with a sword.

Book of the Week: KATHRYN, Quarry Hall #3

Excerpt:

"Those." He pointed at the shoes the custodian had given her."Oh. Sorry." She went to one knee and started to untie the paint-spattered sneakers."No, you ought to keep them." Pastor Small bent down and caught hold of her arm, tugging her upright again. "Four years ago, our youth group put together a time capsule as a joke when they renovated their classroom. Those are my shoes. It was quite a mess, with all the painting we did. We had a great time." He winked. "Those shoes should be in a locked metal box three feet underground, sealed in plastic wrap and cement.""You're kidding." Kathryn felt a chill race up her back, but it was a good chill."Plus," he continued with a lopsided smile, "we don't have a custodian right now. The deacons and trustees and the ladies mission groups and other committees take turns with the upkeep and cleaning. The place hasn't looked this good in years..." Pastor Small tried to laugh. "Whoever -- or whatever -- helped you, he wanted you to be here. Who am I to argue?"

Book of the Week: KATHRYN, Quarry Hall #3

Excerpt:

Regina muttered her farewell and scrambled into the truck. Kathryn stayed leaning against the front of the truck, scratching Bea behind the ears and talking with Pastor Small. She knew her companion wanted to get out of there, but she also knew the minister had questions. He had been patient and helpful and accepted what she told him. She couldn't repay him any other way except with as many answers as she could safely give."I really appreciate this," she said. "Not many people these days will help strangers with such a flimsy explanation.""That isn't reason enough?" Pastor Small laughed and gestured over his shoulder at the white steeple with the gray metal cross on top."It should be, but--" She decided not to get into that area.Sometimes the nastiest, most uncooperative people she had run across in her journeys were people who claimed to be Christians. Nine times out of ten, they based their long lists of what a "real" Christian should be on their own opinions and schemes to earn their way into heaven, and never checked what the Bible said."What really convinced you? Back when we were talking in the sanctuary, there was a moment when I thought you were going to throw us out or call the police, then you changed your mind."

The War Room

BOOKSIGNINGS!!!!

Besides the book festival December 2, in Columbus, I've been invited to participate in 2 signings coming up very soon.

NOVEMBER 11
New and Olde Pages Book Shoppe
856 Union Blvd, Englewood, OH 45322

From 1-4 pm


November 18
Around About Books
8 W Main St, Troy, OH 45373
1-4 pm also
Look for both these bookstores on FACEBOOK, for more information about the booksignings, and especially the community event taking place in Troy on the same day.
It's gonna be fun!Hope to see you there!(Hint: bring lots of $$ for books. They make great Christmas presents!)

Book of the Week: KATHRYN, Quarry Hall #3

The next three weeks will feature Quarry Hall books, because in November, JENNIFER, Quarry Hall #11, will be released from Desert Breeze Publishing.
Book #3: KATHRYN
Kathryn's retreat for relaxation and contemplation is interrupted to take a fugitive to safety, beyond the reach of authorities who may be compromised. The injured woman knows her name is Regina, but not why people were shooting at her. The journey to reach a friend in the FBI is complicated when Kathryn's illness requires frequent stops, permitting Regina's pursuers to nip at their heels.
When the mountains interfere with cell reception, and she can't stop long enough to make a call for help and advice, Kathryn has only her companion dog, her own wits, and prayer to depend on. Deception waits around every corner and Regina's attitude tests Kathryn's sympathy and her faith.

Off the Bookshelf: TORN, by Amanda Hocking

YA fantasy here, with enough of an intricately built world, I admit to having some trouble getting "into" it by the first book I read NOT being the first book.

Does that make any sense?

I picked up easily enough on the dynamics, the warring factions, the history of the heroine, without feeling like I had to wade through annoying data dumps. Yet there was always this sense of having missed out on inside information that everyone else knew. It interfered with being able to lose myself in the story.

However, that is MY problem, not the fault of the writer.

Wendy discovered in a previous book that she was a Changeling -- a baby born to another family, a Human family (mansklig) is taken , and a Trylle baby is left in his or her place, to be raised by them. Which apparently led to some real problems for Wendy and her unwilling -- drafted, shanghaied? -- mother and brother. Now she is "home," with her real mother, who just happens to be the queen, so Wendy has a lot of catching up to do, to prepare to take her mother's place.

This book just dumps more unpleasant surprises on her. Including politics and political marriage pressure. Ugh. And then there's this guy she thinks she loves, who is being all disgustingly noble and trying to discourage her, and he's just confusing her. Then this guy named Loki shows up who's charming and urges her to run away with him, but he kind of works for the bad guys ... Yeah, who can resist a handsome charming bad boy? I have to wonder if this book was written before or after Tom Hiddleston smirked his way across the big screen... (Yeah, I could look it up but I'm not gonna. Doesn't matter. This Loki belongs to the author, not Marvel.)

I had heard about Amanda Hocking for several years, and finally got hold of one of her books. I wish I had started at the beginning, though. And when I make a serious dent of depletion in my to-be-read pile (think the Leaning Tower, ready to bury me) I definitely have the first Trylle book on my hunt-and-devour list.

BLADE OF INNOCENCE, Highlander the TV series fan fiction

Excerpt from Chapter 2 of the fan novel now available on Wattpad:
            "Good morning!"  the young woman sang out.  Her wide-boned face glowed from scrubbing and no make-up.  Her long hair was pulled back in a single braid, hanging over her shoulder almost to her waist.  She slung a blue motorcycle helmet into the corner by the stairs and tossed a heavy key ring into it.
            "You forgot something, Darcy," Duncan said, crossing the room to the wall rack where three katanas hung on display.
            "Next time.  I promise."  She grinned at him, nearly  upside down as she bent over to unlace her boots.
            "That's what you said last time.  How can I judge your technique if I can't see the sword you've been practicing with?"
            In the doorway, Amanda cocked an eyebrow and took a closer look at this girl.

            "I didn't promise, last time." Darcy stood and levered her boot off her left foot with the toe of her right boot.  "I always keep my promises."
            "That's good."  Duncan tossed the katana across the intervening space.
            Darcy swooped up underneath it and caught it with a resounding smack against her palm.  Grinning, she toed off her socks and advanced onto the practice mats.  She shifted her grip to two-handed and held the sword parallel with the floor, chest-level, waiting.
            "That's Amanda, by the way," Duncan said, gesturing toward the office door with his chin.
            "Hi," Darcy said, never taking her eyes off her teacher.
            "Hi yourself," Amanda murmured.  She took a long sip of coffee.  Then grimaced  --  it was black.
            "She just got in from -- where did you just get in from?" he continued, grinning.
            "Don't try to distract me, Duncan," Darcy said with a chuckle.  "It worked last time, but it won't work again."
            "She's such a good student.  You might learn something from her, Amanda."
            "Yeah, thanks."  Amanda tugged her shirt straight, slid down to the floor and settled down cross-legged to watch.

Book of the Week: ANNE, Quarry Hall #2

Excerpt:

"What're you --""Just let me give you my card. It has a number you can call for help. That's what we do. We help people. Even dumb ones." She grinned wider, and pulled out her wallet. The keys came with it, falling to the ground with a jangle-splash sound."How about you give me all your money and I let you keep the truck and we call it quits?" he said, his voice shaking a little. The gun lowered a tiny bit more. Still not low enough to suit Anne. She had a mental image of the gun going off, the bullet bouncing off the pavement and hitting her somewhere totally embarrassing.The grocery store door squeaked open, distracting them both. He turned a little, raising his gun. Argus growled."Argus --""Hey, what's going on over there?" a man shouted. He stepped out into the parking lot lights, revealing himself as tall, balding, dressed in dark slacks, white shirt, and the long red apron the store workers wore."Don't tell them anything!" the gunman demanded, his hand shaking now. He took a step backwards and pointed the gun at Anne.Argus leaped, aiming for the gunman's chest, to knock him to the ground as trained."No! Down!" she screamed.