Sherry Morris's Blog, page 19

Sale on Sherry Silver's Indie Books at Kobo!

Like eBooks? Have a PC, Mac, Tablet, Android Phone, iPhone or ereader? Sherry Silver's Indie eBooks are on sale for Only $1.49 at Kobo! Stock up and laugh before the sale ends.

Top Books Persuasive Lips Only $1.49!
In World War II Washington, Miss Della Davis toils on the night shift in the President's typing pool. She likes the quiet as she goes about transcribing sensitive documents into an embarrassingly erotic government code. She also likes a certain Secret Service Agent Jones, who frequents her lonely office with a debonair smile and a sack of hamburgers. But Della wants more. She yearns for intrigue and danger. To be a woman for her country. Agent Jones has one thing on his mind--to make Della forget about her career and yearn only for him. He sets up an elaborate sting. Will she take the bait or are women the smarter sex?eBook:  Kobo


The Immaculate Deception
  Only $1.49!
After her SUV meets the business end of a deer, Oh-Donna is pulled into an exciting dreamland far away from her peon job and selfish siblings--where mystery, murder and romance take over. Her debonair angel takes her time traveling through the sordid pasts of her Secret Service Agent mother and her genius medical researcher father--who was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Oh-Donna discovers she is the first baby born from an ovarian transplant. She must sleuth out the dark secrets of her D.N.A. and close an unsolved murder. 
 eBook:  Kobo


 Devil in the Deep Blue Sea  Only $1.49! Sail off with Jeanie in this women's fiction story with a paranormal twist. She is a shy child of the 70's, aching for attention. Surviving a near-drowning incident while babysitting with a friend, Jeanie tells no one. She buries the incident deep within her. Fifteen years later, Jeanie is married with a little girl of her own. She makes sure to dote on her own daughter, giving her all the love and recognition that her inner child still craves. Flying on a lavish vacation with her elderly mother, there is mechanical trouble. Jeanie must finally come face to face with the Devil in the Deep Blue Sea. This is the first short story Sherry Silver wrote.  eBook:   Kobo 
   
 
The Master Manipulator
  Only $1.49! After her father's death, socialite Tammy Payne returns to her suburban Washington, DC apartment to find she's been evicted. Realizing her black sheep sister Donna had control over the finances and must have cut her off, Tammy storms Donna's Virginia townhouse. Something is not right. The dog is emaciated. Donna is sprawled out in a coma.
What Tammy doesn't realize is that Donna is in a special dreamland far from her miserable life, peon job and selfish siblings. A debonair dream weaver is romancing Donna through her family's sordid pasts, where mystery, romance and karma collide.

Their pompous brother, Judge Perry Payne, knows a family secret. He is playing both sisters against themselves in a dirty diabolical scheme which will net him billions--if it works out in the end. eBook:   Kobo 


Fully Involved Fire
Only $1.49!
 Have a tall drink of water handy to put out the fire when you read Fully Involved Fire, a poignant story of the after effects of September 11th. Johnny Newman is one of New York City’s finest; the Fire Department's most eligible bachelor. He’s been in love with his best friend’s widow for years. Johnny feels he has given her enough time to get over Brandon, but will his playboy reputation ruin his chances? Susan Cervini is caught up in trying to locate a missing cousin through a website for an aging pop star. When Susan begins to have irrational feelings for her best friend, Johnny, she is afraid she will ruin their friendship, but she can’t seem to stop feeling an overpowering need for his touch. Can they have a torrid affair and go back to being friends, or will the feelings they have for each other change Susan’s mind about love and marriage again? Johnny Newman is a real American hero; strong in his beliefs, dedicated to helping others, and loyal to the woman he loves above all others. He is sexy but unaware of his appeal, chivalrous without being conscious of it, and a wonderful friend; the way he unselfishly dedicates himself to Susan’s needs. She is a very caring woman who is afraid of losing again. Her restoration of faith was a long and hard journey but was well worth the wait. Her love for Johnny is a beautiful thing to behold, culminating in a climactic coming together.    eBook:  Kobo
 Inappropriate  Only $1.49! By day, Sandra plucks trash off Cocoa Beach, points tourists to the restrooms and sometimes discovers dead bodies. By night, she’s a cozy mystery author wannabe. Sandra has an aversion to cops, one homicide detective in particular. They have nothing in common except pheromones. She was eighteen the first time he kissed her and the last. Five years ago, he answered his cell and ran off to work, leaving her panting on the kitchen table with a hurricane looming.
 
Lieutenant Hottie is married to his career. He moved up the ranks early and engrossed himself in bringing murderers to justice. Serious relationships are out of the question, he’s too busy and not interested. The only woman he wants is off limits. He has built a wall around his heart and won’t let himself be hurt again. Sandra is attending a writers conference aboard private rail cars. It was organized by the wife of a popular televangelist. The writers are traveling alongside devout Christians on their cross-country crusade. Sandra's loving but hyper-critical mother has finagled a ticket to ride. The morning before departure, Sandra finds a dead sailor on the beach. On the train, Sandra must keep her lips off Lieutenant Hottie and unmask the murderer before another soul derails. All Aboard!
 eBook:    Kobo 
Houseguest
  Only $1.49!
Do you have an e-pal across the world that you've "known" for years? Ever wonder what it would be like if you met one day, face-to-face? From someone who's been there, I implore of you, don't! Wendy and I had great fun over the years, bantering on a Bee Gees fan emailing loop. She was such a fun girl. When she said she was coming to visit for three weeks, my family met the REAL Wendy.   eBook:  Kobo
  
Hundred Dollar Bill  Only $1.49! The year is 1945. Roosevelt is President. World War II is coming to a head. Thieves, spies and other wise guys are working everywhere…including in branches of the U.S. government.Chloe Lambert is a sweet little thing whom mothers love to love and sailors love to pinch. She's also a sharp-tongued Secret Service agent—a Secret Service agent who has been framed for murder by a band of counterfeiters.Mike Taurus, also an agent, is tough as nails, cool as ice and devilishly handsome. He also has a past with Chloe. As the two of them make a mad dash from Washington, D.C. to Miami Beach, they'll stop at nothing to solve this monumental caper. It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself!eBook:   Kobo

99 Cents Sale on Sherry Silver's Indie Books at Kobo!

Like eBooks? Have a PC, Mac, Tablet, Android Phone, iPhone or ereader? Sherry Silver's Indie eBooks are on sale for Only 99 Cents at Kobo! Stock up and laugh before the sale ends.

Top Books Persuasive LipsOnly 99 cents!
In World War II Washington, Miss Della Davis toils on the night shift in the President's typing pool. She likes the quiet as she goes about transcribing sensitive documents into an embarrassingly erotic government code. She also likes a certain Secret Service Agent Jones, who frequents her lonely office with a debonair smile and a sack of hamburgers. But Della wants more. She yearns for intrigue and danger. To be a woman for her country. Agent Jones has one thing on his mind--to make Della forget about her career and yearn only for him. He sets up an elaborate sting. Will she take the bait or are women the smarter sex?eBook:  Kobo


The Immaculate Deception
 Only 99 cents!After her SUV meets the business end of a deer, Oh-Donna is pulled into an exciting dreamland far away from her peon job and selfish siblings--where mystery, murder and romance take over. Her debonair angel takes her time traveling through the sordid pasts of her Secret Service Agent mother and her genius medical researcher father--who was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Oh-Donna discovers she is the first baby born from an ovarian transplant. She must sleuth out the dark secrets of her D.N.A. and close an unsolved murder.  eBook:  Kobo


 Devil in the Deep Blue Sea Only 99 cents!Sail off with Jeanie in this women's fiction story with a paranormal twist. She is a shy child of the 70's, aching for attention. Surviving a near-drowning incident while babysitting with a friend, Jeanie tells no one. She buries the incident deep within her. Fifteen years later, Jeanie is married with a little girl of her own. She makes sure to dote on her own daughter, giving her all the love and recognition that her inner child still craves. Flying on a lavish vacation with her elderly mother, there is mechanical trouble. Jeanie must finally come face to face with the Devil in the Deep Blue Sea. This is the first short story Sherry Silver wrote.  eBook:   Kobo 
   
 The Master Manipulator Only 99 cents!After her father's death, socialite Tammy Payne returns to her suburban Washington, DC apartment to find she's been evicted. Realizing her black sheep sister Donna had control over the finances and must have cut her off, Tammy storms Donna's Virginia townhouse. Something is not right. The dog is emaciated. Donna is sprawled out in a coma.
What Tammy doesn't realize is that Donna is in a special dreamland far from her miserable life, peon job and selfish siblings. A debonair dream weaver is romancing Donna through her family's sordid pasts, where mystery, romance and karma collide.

Their pompous brother, Judge Perry Payne, knows a family secret. He is playing both sisters against themselves in a dirty diabolical scheme which will net him billions--if it works out in the end. eBook:   Kobo 

Fully Involved Fire
Only 99 cents! Have a tall drink of water handy to put out the fire when you read Fully Involved Fire, a poignant story of the after effects of September 11th. Johnny Newman is one of New York City’s finest; the Fire Department's most eligible bachelor. He’s been in love with his best friend’s widow for years. Johnny feels he has given her enough time to get over Brandon, but will his playboy reputation ruin his chances? Susan Cervini is caught up in trying to locate a missing cousin through a website for an aging pop star. When Susan begins to have irrational feelings for her best friend, Johnny, she is afraid she will ruin their friendship, but she can’t seem to stop feeling an overpowering need for his touch. Can they have a torrid affair and go back to being friends, or will the feelings they have for each other change Susan’s mind about love and marriage again? Johnny Newman is a real American hero; strong in his beliefs, dedicated to helping others, and loyal to the woman he loves above all others. He is sexy but unaware of his appeal, chivalrous without being conscious of it, and a wonderful friend; the way he unselfishly dedicates himself to Susan’s needs. She is a very caring woman who is afraid of losing again. Her restoration of faith was a long and hard journey but was well worth the wait. Her love for Johnny is a beautiful thing to behold, culminating in a climactic coming together.    eBook:  Kobo
 Inappropriate Only 99 cents!By day, Sandra plucks trash off Cocoa Beach, points tourists to the restrooms and sometimes discovers dead bodies. By night, she’s a cozy mystery author wannabe. Sandra has an aversion to cops, one homicide detective in particular. They have nothing in common except pheromones. She was eighteen the first time he kissed her and the last. Five years ago, he answered his cell and ran off to work, leaving her panting on the kitchen table with a hurricane looming.
 Lieutenant Hottie is married to his career. He moved up the ranks early and engrossed himself in bringing murderers to justice. Serious relationships are out of the question, he’s too busy and not interested. The only woman he wants is off limits. He has built a wall around his heart and won’t let himself be hurt again. Sandra is attending a writers conference aboard private rail cars. It was organized by the wife of a popular televangelist. The writers are traveling alongside devout Christians on their cross-country crusade. Sandra's loving but hyper-critical mother has finagled a ticket to ride. The morning before departure, Sandra finds a dead sailor on the beach. On the train, Sandra must keep her lips off Lieutenant Hottie and unmask the murderer before another soul derails. All Aboard! eBook:    Kobo 
Houseguest FREE!Do you have an e-pal across the world that you've "known" for years? Ever wonder what it would be like if you met one day, face-to-face? From someone who's been there, I implore of you, don't! Wendy and I had great fun over the years, bantering on a Bee Gees fan emailing loop. She was such a fun girl. When she said she was coming to visit for three weeks, my family met the REAL Wendy.   eBook:  Kobo
  
Hundred Dollar Bill Only 99 cents!The year is 1945. Roosevelt is President. World War II is coming to a head. Thieves, spies and other wise guys are working everywhere…including in branches of the U.S. government.Chloe Lambert is a sweet little thing whom mothers love to love and sailors love to pinch. She's also a sharp-tongued Secret Service agent—a Secret Service agent who has been framed for murder by a band of counterfeiters.Mike Taurus, also an agent, is tough as nails, cool as ice and devilishly handsome. He also has a past with Chloe. As the two of them make a mad dash from Washington, D.C. to Miami Beach, they'll stop at nothing to solve this monumental caper. It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself!eBook:   Kobo

Sale on Sherry Silver's Indie Nook Books!

Got Nook? How about a tablet, phone or computer that you read ePub files on? Sherry Silver is having a sale on all of her Indie Nook books. Only $1.49! Available to U.S. and U.K. readers. For a limited time. Stock up and read!

Top Books Persuasive Lips Only $1.49!
In World War II Washington, Miss Della Davis toils on the night shift in the President's typing pool. She likes the quiet as she goes about transcribing sensitive documents into an embarrassingly erotic government code. She also likes a certain Secret Service Agent Jones, who frequents her lonely office with a debonair smile and a sack of hamburgers. But Della wants more. She yearns for intrigue and danger. To be a woman for her country. Agent Jones has one thing on his mind--to make Della forget about her career and yearn only for him. He sets up an elaborate sting. Will she take the bait or are women the smarter sex?U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook 

The Immaculate Deception
  Only $1.49! After her SUV meets the business end of a deer, Oh-Donna is pulled into an exciting dreamland far away from her peon job and selfish siblings--where mystery, murder and romance take over. Her debonair angel takes her time traveling through the sordid pasts of her Secret Service Agent mother and her genius medical researcher father--who was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Oh-Donna discovers she is the first baby born from an ovarian transplant. She must sleuth out the dark secrets of her D.N.A. and close an unsolved murder. U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook 

Devil in the Deep Blue Sea  Only $1.49! Sail off with Jeanie in this women's fiction story with a paranormal twist. She is a shy child of the 70's, aching for attention. Surviving a near-drowning incident while babysitting with a friend, Jeanie tells no one. She buries the incident deep within her. Fifteen years later, Jeanie is married with a little girl of her own. She makes sure to dote on her own daughter, giving her all the love and recognition that her inner child still craves. Flying on a lavish vacation with her elderly mother, there is mechanical trouble. Jeanie must finally come face to face with the Devil in the Deep Blue Sea. This is the first short story Sherry Silver wrote. United States US eBook:   Nook  
 United Kingdom UK eBook:   Nook 


The Master Manipulator  Only $1.49! After her father's death, socialite Tammy Payne returns to her suburban Washington, DC apartment to find she's been evicted. Realizing her black sheep sister Donna had control over the finances and must have cut her off, Tammy storms Donna's Virginia townhouse. Something is not right. The dog is emaciated. Donna is sprawled out in a coma.
What Tammy doesn't realize is that Donna is in a special dreamland far from her miserable life, peon job and selfish siblings. A debonair dream weaver is romancing Donna through her family's sordid pasts, where mystery, romance and karma collide.

Their pompous brother, Judge Perry Payne, knows a family secret. He is playing both sisters against themselves in a dirty diabolical scheme which will net him billions--if it works out in the end.U.S. eBook:   Nook  
U.K. eBook:  Nook   

Fully Involved Fire
Only $1.49!  Have a tall drink of water handy to put out the fire when you read Fully Involved Fire, a poignant story of the after effects of September 11th. Johnny Newman is one of New York City’s finest; the Fire Department's most eligible bachelor. He’s been in love with his best friend’s widow for years. Johnny feels he has given her enough time to get over Brandon, but will his playboy reputation ruin his chances? Susan Cervini is caught up in trying to locate a missing cousin through a website for an aging pop star. When Susan begins to have irrational feelings for her best friend, Johnny, she is afraid she will ruin their friendship, but she can’t seem to stop feeling an overpowering need for his touch. Can they have a torrid affair and go back to being friends, or will the feelings they have for each other change Susan’s mind about love and marriage again? Johnny Newman is a real American hero; strong in his beliefs, dedicated to helping others, and loyal to the woman he loves above all others. He is sexy but unaware of his appeal, chivalrous without being conscious of it, and a wonderful friend; the way he unselfishly dedicates himself to Susan’s needs. She is a very caring woman who is afraid of losing again. Her restoration of faith was a long and hard journey but was well worth the wait. Her love for Johnny is a beautiful thing to behold, culminating in a climactic coming together.  United States US eBook:   Nook  
   United Kingdom UK eBook:  Nook   Inappropriate  Only $1.49! By day, Sandra plucks trash off Cocoa Beach, points tourists to the restrooms and sometimes discovers dead bodies. By night, she’s a cozy mystery author wannabe. Sandra has an aversion to cops, one homicide detective in particular. They have nothing in common except pheromones. She was eighteen the first time he kissed her and the last. Five years ago, he answered his cell and ran off to work, leaving her panting on the kitchen table with a hurricane looming.
  Lieutenant Hottie is married to his career. He moved up the ranks early and engrossed himself in bringing murderers to justice. Serious relationships are out of the question, he’s too busy and not interested. The only woman he wants is off limits. He has built a wall around his heart and won’t let himself be hurt again. Sandra is attending a writers conference aboard private rail cars. It was organized by the wife of a popular televangelist. The writers are traveling alongside devout Christians on their cross-country crusade. Sandra's loving but hyper-critical mother has finagled a ticket to ride. The morning before departure, Sandra finds a dead sailor on the beach. On the train, Sandra must keep her lips off Lieutenant Hottie and unmask the murderer before another soul derails. All Aboard!U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook  
Houseguest Only $1.49! Do you have an e-pal across the world that you've "known" for years? Ever wonder what it would be like if you met one day, face-to-face? From someone who's been there, I implore of you, don't! Wendy and I had great fun over the years, bantering on a Bee Gees fan emailing loop. She was such a fun girl. When she said she was coming to visit for three weeks, my family met the REAL Wendy. US United States eBook:  Nook
 
Hundred Dollar Bill  Only $1.49! The year is 1945. Roosevelt is President. World War II is coming to a head. Thieves, spies and other wise guys are working everywhere…including in branches of the U.S. government.Chloe Lambert is a sweet little thing whom mothers love to love and sailors love to pinch. She's also a sharp-tongued Secret Service agent—a Secret Service agent who has been framed for murder by a band of counterfeiters.Mike Taurus, also an agent, is tough as nails, cool as ice and devilishly handsome. He also has a past with Chloe. As the two of them make a mad dash from Washington, D.C. to Miami Beach, they'll stop at nothing to solve this monumental caper. It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself!U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook    

 
 

99 Cents Sale on Sherry Silver's Indie Nook Books!

Got Nook? How about a tablet, phone or computer that you read ePub files on? Sherry Silver is having a sale on all of her Indie Nook books. Only 99 Cents! Available to U.S. and U.K. readers. For a limited time. Stock up and read!

Top Books Persuasive LipsOnly 99 cents!
In World War II Washington, Miss Della Davis toils on the night shift in the President's typing pool. She likes the quiet as she goes about transcribing sensitive documents into an embarrassingly erotic government code. She also likes a certain Secret Service Agent Jones, who frequents her lonely office with a debonair smile and a sack of hamburgers. But Della wants more. She yearns for intrigue and danger. To be a woman for her country. Agent Jones has one thing on his mind--to make Della forget about her career and yearn only for him. He sets up an elaborate sting. Will she take the bait or are women the smarter sex?U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook 

The Immaculate Deception Only 99 cents!After her SUV meets the business end of a deer, Oh-Donna is pulled into an exciting dreamland far away from her peon job and selfish siblings--where mystery, murder and romance take over. Her debonair angel takes her time traveling through the sordid pasts of her Secret Service Agent mother and her genius medical researcher father--who was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Oh-Donna discovers she is the first baby born from an ovarian transplant. She must sleuth out the dark secrets of her D.N.A. and close an unsolved murder. U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook 

Devil in the Deep Blue Sea Only 99 cents!Sail off with Jeanie in this women's fiction story with a paranormal twist. She is a shy child of the 70's, aching for attention. Surviving a near-drowning incident while babysitting with a friend, Jeanie tells no one. She buries the incident deep within her. Fifteen years later, Jeanie is married with a little girl of her own. She makes sure to dote on her own daughter, giving her all the love and recognition that her inner child still craves. Flying on a lavish vacation with her elderly mother, there is mechanical trouble. Jeanie must finally come face to face with the Devil in the Deep Blue Sea. This is the first short story Sherry Silver wrote. United States US eBook:   Nook  
 United Kingdom UK eBook:   Nook 

The Master Manipulator Only 99 cents!After her father's death, socialite Tammy Payne returns to her suburban Washington, DC apartment to find she's been evicted. Realizing her black sheep sister Donna had control over the finances and must have cut her off, Tammy storms Donna's Virginia townhouse. Something is not right. The dog is emaciated. Donna is sprawled out in a coma.
What Tammy doesn't realize is that Donna is in a special dreamland far from her miserable life, peon job and selfish siblings. A debonair dream weaver is romancing Donna through her family's sordid pasts, where mystery, romance and karma collide.

Their pompous brother, Judge Perry Payne, knows a family secret. He is playing both sisters against themselves in a dirty diabolical scheme which will net him billions--if it works out in the end.U.S. eBook:   Nook  
U.K. eBook:  Nook   
Fully Involved Fire
Only 99 cents! Have a tall drink of water handy to put out the fire when you read Fully Involved Fire, a poignant story of the after effects of September 11th. Johnny Newman is one of New York City’s finest; the Fire Department's most eligible bachelor. He’s been in love with his best friend’s widow for years. Johnny feels he has given her enough time to get over Brandon, but will his playboy reputation ruin his chances? Susan Cervini is caught up in trying to locate a missing cousin through a website for an aging pop star. When Susan begins to have irrational feelings for her best friend, Johnny, she is afraid she will ruin their friendship, but she can’t seem to stop feeling an overpowering need for his touch. Can they have a torrid affair and go back to being friends, or will the feelings they have for each other change Susan’s mind about love and marriage again? Johnny Newman is a real American hero; strong in his beliefs, dedicated to helping others, and loyal to the woman he loves above all others. He is sexy but unaware of his appeal, chivalrous without being conscious of it, and a wonderful friend; the way he unselfishly dedicates himself to Susan’s needs. She is a very caring woman who is afraid of losing again. Her restoration of faith was a long and hard journey but was well worth the wait. Her love for Johnny is a beautiful thing to behold, culminating in a climactic coming together.  United States US eBook:   Nook  
   United Kingdom UK eBook:  Nook   Inappropriate Only 99 cents!By day, Sandra plucks trash off Cocoa Beach, points tourists to the restrooms and sometimes discovers dead bodies. By night, she’s a cozy mystery author wannabe. Sandra has an aversion to cops, one homicide detective in particular. They have nothing in common except pheromones. She was eighteen the first time he kissed her and the last. Five years ago, he answered his cell and ran off to work, leaving her panting on the kitchen table with a hurricane looming.  Lieutenant Hottie is married to his career. He moved up the ranks early and engrossed himself in bringing murderers to justice. Serious relationships are out of the question, he’s too busy and not interested. The only woman he wants is off limits. He has built a wall around his heart and won’t let himself be hurt again. Sandra is attending a writers conference aboard private rail cars. It was organized by the wife of a popular televangelist. The writers are traveling alongside devout Christians on their cross-country crusade. Sandra's loving but hyper-critical mother has finagled a ticket to ride. The morning before departure, Sandra finds a dead sailor on the beach. On the train, Sandra must keep her lips off Lieutenant Hottie and unmask the murderer before another soul derails. All Aboard!U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook  HouseguestOnly 99 cents! Do you have an e-pal across the world that you've "known" for years? Ever wonder what it would be like if you met one day, face-to-face? From someone who's been there, I implore of you, don't! Wendy and I had great fun over the years, bantering on a Bee Gees fan emailing loop. She was such a fun girl. When she said she was coming to visit for three weeks, my family met the REAL Wendy. US United States eBook:  Nook
 
Hundred Dollar Bill Only 99 cents!The year is 1945. Roosevelt is President. World War II is coming to a head. Thieves, spies and other wise guys are working everywhere…including in branches of the U.S. government.Chloe Lambert is a sweet little thing whom mothers love to love and sailors love to pinch. She's also a sharp-tongued Secret Service agent—a Secret Service agent who has been framed for murder by a band of counterfeiters.Mike Taurus, also an agent, is tough as nails, cool as ice and devilishly handsome. He also has a past with Chloe. As the two of them make a mad dash from Washington, D.C. to Miami Beach, they'll stop at nothing to solve this monumental caper. It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself!U.S. eBook:   Nook 
U.K. eBook:  Nook    
   

Sale on Sherry Silver's iBooks!

Got Apple? Need to stock up your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch? Have the iTunes iBooks App on your tablet, PC, Mac or cellular phone? Eight of Sherry Silver's hilarious mysteries and romances are available for a limited time at Only $1.49! US and the matching equivalent in every country iBooks are sold!

Top Books
 Fully Involved Fire
Only $1.49!  Have a tall drink of water handy to put out the fire when you read Fully Involved Fire, a poignant story of the after effects of September 11th. Johnny Newman is one of New York City’s finest; the Fire Department's most eligible bachelor. He’s been in love with his best friend’s widow for years. Johnny feels he has given her enough time to get over Brandon, but will his playboy reputation ruin his chances? Susan Cervini is caught up in trying to locate a missing cousin through a website for an aging pop star. When Susan begins to have irrational feelings for her best friend, Johnny, she is afraid she will ruin their friendship, but she can’t seem to stop feeling an overpowering need for his touch. Can they have a torrid affair and go back to being friends, or will the feelings they have for each other change Susan’s mind about love and marriage again? Johnny Newman is a real American hero; strong in his beliefs, dedicated to helping others, and loyal to the woman he loves above all others. He is sexy but unaware of his appeal, chivalrous without being conscious of it, and a wonderful friend; the way he unselfishly dedicates himself to Susan’s needs. She is a very caring woman who is afraid of losing again. Her restoration of faith was a long and hard journey but was well worth the wait. Her love for Johnny is a beautiful thing to behold, culminating in a climactic coming together.  United States US eBook: Apple Australia AU eBook:  AppleBrazil BR eBook:  Apple Canada CA eBook:  AppleGerman DE eBook:   AppleDenmark DK eBook:  Apple
Spain ES eBook:    Apple
France FR eBook:    Apple
Italy IT eBook:    Apple
New Zealand eBook:  Apple
Sweden SE eBook:  Apple 
   United Kingdom UK eBook:  Apple

The Immaculate Deception  Only $1.49! After her SUV meets the business end of a deer, Oh-Donna is pulled into an exciting dreamland far away from her peon job and selfish siblings--where mystery, murder and romance take over. Her debonair angel takes her time traveling through the sordid pasts of her Secret Service Agent mother and her genius medical researcher father--who was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Oh-Donna discovers she is the first baby born from an ovarian transplant. She must sleuth out the dark secrets of her D.N.A. and close an unsolved murder. U.S. eBook: iTunes  
U.K. eBook:   iTunes
Canadian eBook:   iTunes
Persuasive Lips Only $1.49!
In World War II Washington, Miss Della Davis toils on the night shift in the President's typing pool. She likes the quiet as she goes about transcribing sensitive documents into an embarrassingly erotic government code. She also likes a certain Secret Service Agent Jones, who frequents her lonely office with a debonair smile and a sack of hamburgers. But Della wants more. She yearns for intrigue and danger. To be a woman for her country. Agent Jones has one thing on his mind--to make Della forget about her career and yearn only for him. He sets up an elaborate sting. Will she take the bait or are women the smarter sex?U.S. eBook: iTunes 
U.K. eBook:    iTunes
Canadian eBook:   iTunes   Hundred Dollar Bill  Only $1.49! The year is 1945. Roosevelt is President. World War II is coming to a head. Thieves, spies and other wise guys are working everywhere…including in branches of the U.S. government.Chloe Lambert is a sweet little thing whom mothers love to love and sailors love to pinch. She's also a sharp-tongued Secret Service agent—a Secret Service agent who has been framed for murder by a band of counterfeiters.Mike Taurus, also an agent, is tough as nails, cool as ice and devilishly handsome. He also has a past with Chloe. As the two of them make a mad dash from Washington, D.C. to Miami Beach, they'll stop at nothing to solve this monumental caper. It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself!U.S. eBook:  Apple  
U.K. eBook:   Apple
Canadian eBook:  Apple  Houseguest Only $1.49! Do you have an e-pal across the world that you've "known" for years? Ever wonder what it would be like if you met one day, face-to-face? From someone who's been there, I implore of you, don't! Wendy and I had great fun over the years, bantering on a Bee Gees fan emailing loop. She was such a fun girl. When she said she was coming to visit for three weeks, my family met the REAL Wendy.US United States eBook:  AppleUK United Kingdom eBook:  AppleCA Canada eBook: AppleAU Australia eBook:  AppleNZ New Zealand eBook:  Apple Devil in the Deep Blue Sea  Only $1.49! Sail off with Jeanie in this women's fiction story with a paranormal twist. She is a shy child of the 70's, aching for attention. Surviving a near-drowning incident while babysitting with a friend, Jeanie tells no one. She buries the incident deep within her. Fifteen years later, Jeanie is married with a little girl of her own. She makes sure to dote on her own daughter, giving her all the love and recognition that her inner child still craves. Flying on a lavish vacation with her elderly mother, there is mechanical trouble. Jeanie must finally come face to face with the Devil in the Deep Blue Sea. This is the first short story Sherry Silver wrote. United States US eBook: Apple 
Australia AU eBook:  Apple
Brazil BR eBook:   Apple
  Canada CA eBook:    Apple 
Germany DE eBook:    Apple
Spain ES eBook:    Apple 
France FR eBook:   Apple
Italy IT eBook:    Apple
New Zealand NZ eBook:  Apple
 United Kingdom UK eBook:  Apple    Inappropriate  Only $1.49! By day, Sandra plucks trash off Cocoa Beach, points tourists to the restrooms and sometimes discovers dead bodies. By night, she’s a cozy mystery author wannabe. Sandra has an aversion to cops, one homicide detective in particular. They have nothing in common except pheromones. She was eighteen the first time he kissed her and the last. Five years ago, he answered his cell and ran off to work, leaving her panting on the kitchen table with a hurricane looming. Lieutenant Hottie is married to his career. He moved up the ranks early and engrossed himself in bringing murderers to justice. Serious relationships are out of the question, he’s too busy and not interested. The only woman he wants is off limits. He has built a wall around his heart and won’t let himself be hurt again. Sandra is attending a writers conference aboard private rail cars. It was organized by the wife of a popular televangelist. The writers are traveling alongside devout Christians on their cross-country crusade. Sandra's loving but hyper-critical mother has finagled a ticket to ride. The morning before departure, Sandra finds a dead sailor on the beach. On the train, Sandra must keep her lips off Lieutenant Hottie and unmask the murderer before another soul derails. All aboard! U.S. eBook: iTunes 
U.K. eBook:   iTunesCanadian eBook:    iTunes The Master Manipulator Only $1.49! After her father's death, socialite Tammy Payne returns to her suburban Washington, DC apartment to find she's been evicted. Realizing her black sheep sister Donna had control over the finances and must have cut her off, Tammy storms Donna's Virginia townhouse. Something is not right. The dog is emaciated. Donna is sprawled out in a coma.
What Tammy doesn't realize is that Donna is in a special dreamland far from her miserable life, peon job and selfish siblings. A debonair dream weaver is romancing Donna through her family's sordid pasts, where mystery, romance and karma collide.

Their pompous brother, Judge Perry Payne, knows a family secret. He is playing both sisters against themselves in a dirty diabolical scheme which will net him billions--if it works out in the end.U.S. eBook: iTunes  
U.K. eBook:   iTunes
Canadian eBook:  iTunes  

99 Cents Sale on Sherry Silver's iBooks!

Got Apple? Need to stock up your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch? Have the iTunes iBooks App on your tablet, PC, Mac or cellular phone? Eight of Sherry Silver's hilarious mysteries and romances are available for a limited time at Only 99 cents! US and the matching equivalent in every country iBooks are sold!

Top Books
 Fully Involved Fire
Only 99 cents!  Have a tall drink of water handy to put out the fire when you read Fully Involved Fire, a poignant story of the after effects of September 11th. Johnny Newman is one of New York City’s finest; the Fire Department's most eligible bachelor. He’s been in love with his best friend’s widow for years. Johnny feels he has given her enough time to get over Brandon, but will his playboy reputation ruin his chances? Susan Cervini is caught up in trying to locate a missing cousin through a website for an aging pop star. When Susan begins to have irrational feelings for her best friend, Johnny, she is afraid she will ruin their friendship, but she can’t seem to stop feeling an overpowering need for his touch. Can they have a torrid affair and go back to being friends, or will the feelings they have for each other change Susan’s mind about love and marriage again? Johnny Newman is a real American hero; strong in his beliefs, dedicated to helping others, and loyal to the woman he loves above all others. He is sexy but unaware of his appeal, chivalrous without being conscious of it, and a wonderful friend; the way he unselfishly dedicates himself to Susan’s needs. She is a very caring woman who is afraid of losing again. Her restoration of faith was a long and hard journey but was well worth the wait. Her love for Johnny is a beautiful thing to behold, culminating in a climactic coming together.  United States US eBook: Apple Australia AU eBook:  AppleBrazil BR eBook:  Apple Canada CA eBook:  AppleGerman DE eBook:   AppleDenmark DK eBook:  Apple
Spain ES eBook:    Apple
France FR eBook:    Apple
Italy IT eBook:    Apple
New Zealand eBook:  Apple
Sweden SE eBook:  Apple 
   United Kingdom UK eBook:  Apple
The Immaculate Deception  Only 99 cents! After her SUV meets the business end of a deer, Oh-Donna is pulled into an exciting dreamland far away from her peon job and selfish siblings--where mystery, murder and romance take over. Her debonair angel takes her time traveling through the sordid pasts of her Secret Service Agent mother and her genius medical researcher father--who was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Oh-Donna discovers she is the first baby born from an ovarian transplant. She must sleuth out the dark secrets of her D.N.A. and close an unsolved murder. U.S. eBook: iTunes  
U.K. eBook:   iTunes
Canadian eBook:   iTunes
Persuasive Lips Only 99 cents!
In World War II Washington, Miss Della Davis toils on the night shift in the President's typing pool. She likes the quiet as she goes about transcribing sensitive documents into an embarrassingly erotic government code. She also likes a certain Secret Service Agent Jones, who frequents her lonely office with a debonair smile and a sack of hamburgers. But Della wants more. She yearns for intrigue and danger. To be a woman for her country. Agent Jones has one thing on his mind--to make Della forget about her career and yearn only for him. He sets up an elaborate sting. Will she take the bait or are women the smarter sex?U.S. eBook: iTunes 
U.K. eBook:    iTunes
Canadian eBook:   iTunes   Hundred Dollar Bill  Only 99 cents! The year is 1945. Roosevelt is President. World War II is coming to a head. Thieves, spies and other wise guys are working everywhere…including in branches of the U.S. government.Chloe Lambert is a sweet little thing whom mothers love to love and sailors love to pinch. She's also a sharp-tongued Secret Service agent—a Secret Service agent who has been framed for murder by a band of counterfeiters.Mike Taurus, also an agent, is tough as nails, cool as ice and devilishly handsome. He also has a past with Chloe. As the two of them make a mad dash from Washington, D.C. to Miami Beach, they'll stop at nothing to solve this monumental caper. It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself!U.S. eBook:  Apple  
U.K. eBook:   Apple
Canadian eBook:  Apple  Houseguest Only 99 cents!  Do you have an e-pal across the world that you've "known" for years? Ever wonder what it would be like if you met one day, face-to-face? From someone who's been there, I implore of you, don't! Wendy and I had great fun over the years, bantering on a Bee Gees fan emailing loop. She was such a fun girl. When she said she was coming to visit for three weeks, my family met the REAL Wendy.US United States eBook:  AppleUK United Kingdom eBook:  AppleCA Canada eBook: AppleAU Australia eBook:  AppleNZ New Zealand eBook:  Apple Devil in the Deep Blue Sea  Only 99 cents! Sail off with Jeanie in this women's fiction story with a paranormal twist. She is a shy child of the 70's, aching for attention. Surviving a near-drowning incident while babysitting with a friend, Jeanie tells no one. She buries the incident deep within her. Fifteen years later, Jeanie is married with a little girl of her own. She makes sure to dote on her own daughter, giving her all the love and recognition that her inner child still craves. Flying on a lavish vacation with her elderly mother, there is mechanical trouble. Jeanie must finally come face to face with the Devil in the Deep Blue Sea. This is the first short story Sherry Silver wrote. United States US eBook: Apple 
Australia AU eBook:  Apple
Brazil BR eBook:   Apple
  Canada CA eBook:    Apple 
Germany DE eBook:    Apple
Spain ES eBook:    Apple 
France FR eBook:   Apple
Italy IT eBook:    Apple
New Zealand NZ eBook:  Apple
 United Kingdom UK eBook:  Apple    Inappropriate  Only 99 cents! By day, Sandra plucks trash off Cocoa Beach, points tourists to the restrooms and sometimes discovers dead bodies. By night, she’s a cozy mystery author wannabe. Sandra has an aversion to cops, one homicide detective in particular. They have nothing in common except pheromones. She was eighteen the first time he kissed her and the last. Five years ago, he answered his cell and ran off to work, leaving her panting on the kitchen table with a hurricane looming. Lieutenant Hottie is married to his career. He moved up the ranks early and engrossed himself in bringing murderers to justice. Serious relationships are out of the question, he’s too busy and not interested. The only woman he wants is off limits. He has built a wall around his heart and won’t let himself be hurt again. Sandra is attending a writers conference aboard private rail cars. It was organized by the wife of a popular televangelist. The writers are traveling alongside devout Christians on their cross-country crusade. Sandra's loving but hyper-critical mother has finagled a ticket to ride. The morning before departure, Sandra finds a dead sailor on the beach. On the train, Sandra must keep her lips off Lieutenant Hottie and unmask the murderer before another soul derails. All aboard! U.S. eBook: iTunes 
U.K. eBook:   iTunesCanadian eBook:    iTunes The Master Manipulator  Only 99 cents! After her father's death, socialite Tammy Payne returns to her suburban Washington, DC apartment to find she's been evicted. Realizing her black sheep sister Donna had control over the finances and must have cut her off, Tammy storms Donna's Virginia townhouse. Something is not right. The dog is emaciated. Donna is sprawled out in a coma.
What Tammy doesn't realize is that Donna is in a special dreamland far from her miserable life, peon job and selfish siblings. A debonair dream weaver is romancing Donna through her family's sordid pasts, where mystery, romance and karma collide.

Their pompous brother, Judge Perry Payne, knows a family secret. He is playing both sisters against themselves in a dirty diabolical scheme which will net him billions--if it works out in the end.U.S. eBook: iTunes  
U.K. eBook:   iTunes
Canadian eBook:  iTunes  

Video Book Review: Persuasive Lips

Persuasive LipsBy Sherry Silver Prequel to The Good Girls of Washington Series U.S. eBook: iTunes  ARe  Diesel  Kindle  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords   Sony
U.K. eBook:  Nook  Kindle  iTunes
Canadian eBook:  Sony  Kindle  iTunes 
  Story Summary:In World War II Washington, Miss Della Davis toils on the night shift in the President's typing pool. She likes the quiet as she goes about transcribing sensitive documents into an embarrassingly erotic government code. She also likes a certain Secret Service Agent Jones, who frequents her lonely office with a debonair smile and a sack of hamburgers. But Della wants more. She yearns for intrigue and danger. To be a woman for her country. Agent Jones has one thing on his mind--to make Della forget about her career and yearn only for him. He sets up an elaborate sting. Will she take the bait or are women the smarter sex?

Excerpt:

July 1944, The White House, Washington, D.C.
Miss Della Davis yanked the pages from her well worn Royal typewriter and separated four onion skin papers from the carbons. She slipped the documents into a manila inter-agency envelope and shoved it into her grey metal out-basket. A breeze wafted in from the huge Palladian window. She leaned her long neck back and inhaled. Finally some relief from subtropical summer in the District of Columbia.

She pulled a picture postcard from the corner of her desk blotter. A photo of the snowcapped Swiss Alps. She flipped it over. 
Dear Della,The chocolate and cheese are delightfully divine and so are the gentlemen. I think of you every time I see a cuckoo clock. Wish you were here. Smooches, Gert.
Della sighed. Her cousin Gertrude lived the life she dreamed of. A secretary for the state department. A different embassy every year. Gertrude was seeing the world, experiencing everything Della longed to. 
She glanced at the calendar. July second. They should be posting the interagency transfers soon. Della squeezed her eyes shut. Please don’t let them pass over me again. One of these days, she’d get a good government job that let her see the world too. But not as a secretary in a foreign embassy. A position with the Office of Strategic Services. She would dabble in intrigue. Della longed to be a secret agent. A spy. Code Cracker. A woman for her country. 
Bending down, she fished her navy blue pumps from under her desk and shoved her swollen rayon-stockinged feet inside. Damned war. All nylon was now used to make parachutes. These ugly rayon stockings were tight at the ankles and baggy at the knees, and though her legs were admittedly chubby, she did not have disproportionately fat ankles. She stood up and stretched, yawning. 
As she made her way over to the window, distant footsteps on the marble floor approached from the corridor. After checking her brown hair in the reflection back from the glass, tucking an errant strand back into the chignon, Della peered out at the big summer moon illuminating the White House lawn. Two young marines patrolled the grounds. She watched as Fala, the President’s mischievous little black Scottish terrier, sniffed around the trees, accompanied by Mr. Roosevelt’s Oriental valet. 
The footsteps arrived. 
Della’s heartbeat quickened. She inhaled deeply as her mouth watered. The greasy aroma of hamburgers wafted sensuously, beckoning the twenty-two year old secretary. 

“Hello, Miss Davis.”
Smoothing her wrinkled floral shirtdress, she turned toward Secret Service Agent Ashley Jones. Damn he was a looker in his navy pinstriped suit. Around six feet tall. Blond crew cut. Impossibly blue eyes. Broad shoulders vee-ing down to a trim waist. And single.
“Good evening officer. It appears to be a beautiful night out there. Is it?”
“Hot and muggy. Full moon. Mother’s Day.”
Della loved his deep voice. So masculine and full of testosterone. Whenever he spoke, she smoldered. 
She on the other hand, had a meek voice that tended to crack. “It’s not Mother’s Day.”
“Sure it is. First payday of the month. That means the liquor stores are doing a bustling business. Add the full moon and that means trouble.”
“But why the Mother’s Day reference?”
“Copper speak. When the fistfights and robberies and fornication ends, some will be crying for their mommies.”
Della tried not to screw her face up. Not the kind of conversation she was interested in having with such an eligible bachelor. “What’s in the sack?”
“Come closer and you can touch it.”
She blinked her long brown lashes which felt like they had clumped from the mascara she’d brushed on thirteen hours earlier. Miss Davis sashayed her voluptuous body across the tan carpeted floor. Stopping in front of him, very close, she looked up into those dreamy pools of blue that he was ogling her with. She felt his hot breath as he parted his lips, revealing slightly crooked front teeth. A guy with an overbite. Oh they were the best kind of kissers. 
Agent Jones grasped her hand, rubbing her wrist with his thumb. 
Miss Davis felt weak at the knees. 
“Have they posted the transfer list yet?” he asked.
“No,” she lamented.
“Well, everything crossed you’ll get the position you want. But I’m sure going to miss you...” 
Della blinked and smiled. “Thanks.” She snatched the paper bag from him and turned, spilling the contents out onto her desk blotter. Eight little bundles wrapped in newsprint tumbled out. Rolling her eyes and smiling demurely, she sensually unwrapped a tiny hamburger with onions and catsup on a roll. The hungry secretary paused to admire and inhale the aroma of the heavenly feast.
“Come on now, don’t be hoggish. I haven’t seen the boss yet.” He teased.
“You’re too late. Mr. Roosevelt is upstairs having cocktails with the Hitchcocks. Done with business for tonight.”
“How do I know you’re not pulling my leg, just so you can gobble all of my burgers?”
She giggled and plopped down in her rolling desk chair, propelling it back far enough to cross her long legs. She glanced up to see Jones enjoying the show.
Della made yum noises as she took tiny bites, savoring the salty greasy meat. The little fried onions had just the right crunch. She made eye contact with Agent Jones as she licked her lips and ran a finger across her bare skin peeking from the square neckline of her summer linen dress. 
“Thanks.” She wiped her hands with a pink cotton hankie.
“Have another,” he offered.
“No. I’ve got work to do.” She loaded the remaining hamburgers into the sack and stapled the top shut. To keep her from eating another. She handed it to Agent Jones. “Here you go. I know how much the President appreciates you sneaking these little heart attacks in a sack to him. That diet the doctor has him on makes him mighty cranky. I can’t see as I blame him. I mean, gee, he’s the leader of the free world and some peon doctor is telling him to eat poached skinless chicken and celery sticks.”
“I agree. Poor guy. How come you always pull the late shift?”
“Low girl on the totem pole. Besides, I like working after hours. I can get so much more accomplished. The phone doesn’t ring; the other secretaries aren’t here to gab drivel.” 
“Gab drivel?”
“You know how they get. Going on and on about shoes or recipes or men.”
“And you’re not interested in shoes or recipes or men...”
“Exactly. I’m focused on my career. Advancement. I’m serious about serving my country.” She glanced wistfully at the postcard.
He said, “Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around. Just the other day, Rosie the Riveter was in here eating burgers with me. And now she’s been promoted to screwing--”
Fala yelped as if in pain then barked insistently outside the window. Miss Davis and Agent Jones hurried over and peered out. They observed two marines chasing a figure across the lawn. 
Agent Jones exited the office and ran outside.
Della pulled her top desk drawer open and removed a pair of scissors. She haphazardly chopped the used carbon paper and crumpled it into the drab green metal waste basket, shoving it way to the bottom, covering it with benign trash. 
She snatched the inter-agency envelope and made a beeline for the map room. Before she could reach the hallway, a sharp pain hit her in the back. Della froze. She turned her head. No one was in the room. Slowly reaching her right hand over her left shoulder, she felt the sticky liquid. Pulling her hand in front of her face, she screamed at the sight of her own blood.
Focus! Focus, Della Davis. President Roosevelt is upstairs. Must get him to safety. First, sound the alarm. She ran to her phone and picked it up.
“Good evening, this is Beth, how may I direct your call?”
“Beth! It’s Miss Davis. Loose Lips Sink Ships in my office. He’s upstairs in the family gathering area. I think.” Her voice cracked.  
U.S. eBook: iTunes  ARe  Diesel  Kindle  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords   SonyU.K. eBook:  Nook  Kindle  iTunesCanadian eBook:  Sony  Kindle  iTunes 

Book Review: Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations by Peter Evans and Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations by Peter Evans and Ava Gardner
As usual, I sampled close to 100 books before deciding to purchase this for my vacation read. Even though I did read the sample, I had it in my mind this was a biography of Ava Gardner. As I read the book, I realized it was 50% Ava and 50% about what the author went through writing this book. I am an author, so I found the process Mr. Evans endured in interviewing, writing and trying to sell this book fascinating. Just as it was starting to get monotonous, something incredible happened and I was shocked at the abrupt surprise ending, even though the hints had been there all along.

I highly recommend this book to all writers and Ava Gardner historians. I don't think the general reader who wants a standard biography of Miss Gardner will be completely satisfied at this incomplete attempt.

If you are a writer at any point in your career, no matter what you write, this is a must-read book. It could happen to you.

Chapter Two: INAPPROPRIATE

  "I enjoyed the comedic scenes about writers and their creative struggles."--David K. Stone Read Chapter One Here 
Inappropriateby Sherry SilverU.S. eBook: iTunes  ARe  Diesel  Kindle  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords  SonyU.S. Paperback: Amazon  Barnes and Noble  CreateSpace  Books A Million
U.K. eBook:  Nook  Kindle  iTunes
U.K. Paperback:  Amazon 
Canadian eBook:  Sony  Kindle  iTunes
Canadian Paperback:  Amazon  Story Summary:By day, Sandra plucks trash off Cocoa Beach, points tourists to the restrooms and sometimes discovers dead bodies. By night, she’s a cozy mystery author wannabe. Sandra has an aversion to cops, one homicide detective in particular. They have nothing in common except pheromones. She was eighteen the first time he kissed her and the last. Five years ago, he answered his cell and ran off to work, leaving her panting on the kitchen table with a hurricane looming.
Lieutenant Hottie is married to his career. He moved up the ranks early and engrossed himself in bringing murderers to justice. Serious relationships are out of the question, he’s too busy and not interested. The only woman he wants is off limits. He has built a wall around his heart and won’t let himself be hurt again.
Sandra is attending a writers conference aboard private rail cars. It was organized by the wife of a popular televangelist. The writers are traveling alongside devout Christians on their cross-country crusade. Sandra's loving but hyper-critical mother has finagled a ticket to ride. The morning before departure, Sandra finds a dead sailor on the beach. On the train, Sandra must keep her lips off Lieutenant Hottie and unmask the murderer before another soul derails. All aboard! 
Chapter Two
As I rose and repositioned my belongings the crowd of writers and crusaders parted. Mom propelled her luggage cart toward me stacked with a green steamer trunk, a three piece Pepto-Bismol pink luggage set, travel ironing board, portable DVD player and a box of groceries. She was dressed in her signature over-sixty-Floridian-chic: a knit twin set embroidered, beaded and sequined with flamingos; matching green Capri's with bugle beading at the hem and pockets; wedge-heeled lime leather sandals; wraparound sunglasses and a lime green visor. She had pulled her blonde hair into a ponytail.
I looked just like Mom with the only exception being she carried a voluptuous extra thirty pounds. The outfit would be very cute on her, if she were over sixty. But she was only forty-six. She had married my dad when she was eighteen and they had five kids in five years. Two sets of identical twin boys then singleton me.
I couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t get me sent to my room so I just smiled really big.
Mom blew me a kiss.
“All aboard!” 
I turned my head to see my brother Andy dressed in a navy blue conductor’s uniform. He was a member of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. I had forgotten he had volunteered for this adventure. Out of all my brothers, Andy was the kindest to me so at least I wouldn’t have to worry about our sibling bickering drowning out the train whistle.
I was sure he wasn’t any happier than I that Mom had tagged along.
New York Times bestselling horror author, Hazel Hatchet, a.k.a. Hack ‘em up Hazel, shoved past me, her ample hip bumping my arm as she adjusted the straw cowgirl hat over her close-cropped afro. Her long amber and sterling silver earrings swung heavily to and fro. Hazel grabbed the handrail on the green iron steps and grunted. Andy gripped onto her arm and hoisted her aboard.
I stepped back closer to the station and took my first good look at the train. The last three cars were painted or more likely wrapped in a cabbage rose print. Pink orange, yellow and white everywhere. In front of them were several cars plastered with Pastor Eugene Donaldson’s toothy face. “The Crusade of Peace” was painted in gold leaf.
Ahead of those cars were tired brown and gray North American Passenger Railway baggage and passenger cars. I couldn’t see the diesel locomotives.
I marched toward the train dragging my duffle bag.
“Hi, Sandra,” sniffled Weepy Wendy, an anorexic trauma nurse practitioner who had wallowed in the throes of woe the entire time we’d been acquainted. She wrote romantic comedy. “I had such a bad night at work. There is this really mean Dr. Fruiterman and he kept yelling at me. I knocked over a tray of sterile instruments and–”
“Hi, Wendy! I’m so sorry you had a rough night. Life is just not fair. Can’t wait to hear all about your latest work-in-progress.” Oh shoot! Why did I say that? I always found it very uncomfortable conversing with her. I never could come up with the right words to help her feel better. Some people must want to be miserable.
Staring at her hair, my brother helped Wendy up the steps. Once she had boarded he shook his head. Wendy’s frizzy locks were dyed black with thick stripes of white woven in. Think Cruella DeVille on a bad hair day. I shuddered, imagining accident and heart attack victims opening their eyes to see Nurse Wendy standing over them.
I was so excited and anxious to ride the rails again. Andy always invited me along whenever there was a special steam train excursion in the region. He invited the whole family but they all were too caught up in their own egos and imagined troubles to be transported to a gentler time. Even his twin, Matt. They were identical in looks but not personality. That’s how I told them apart. Matt was the 5’10” blond with the sneer. Andy was the 5’10” blond with the twinkle in his eye.
A North American Passenger Railway employee sashayed by with a big brown take-out bag from the Olive Garden. I wanted to mug her. I was so hungry. Maybe I could chat her up and she’d offer me a breadstick.
A loud whistle and thunderous roar sped by on the other track. Must’ve been a freight train though I couldn’t see it because our train was blocking the view.
It was my turn to climb onboard but I backed up and beckoned the next writer to go on before me. I didn’t want to be caught in the aisle behind Weepy Wendy and have to hear about her latest bad luck. She’d make a perfect mate for Matt. What was I thinking? No, please no. I didn’t want to have her sniffling around at every family gathering.
I rolled my eyes as Andy turned on the charm for exotic Matilda Irwin, a.k.a. Tabloid Tilly, an Aussie photo journalist here on some kind of youth working visa. Matilda was of Chinese, Aborigine and probably English prison camp origin. Men seemed to find Matilda irresistible. I couldn’t stand her. I’ll think up a reason later.
I enjoyed an evil grin while she flirted and finally wiggled aboard.
Andy shuffled luggage around, shoving it further away from the door. I was fascinated by the stacks of crap people brought with them. Suitcases and snacks I could understand. But the step ladder, potted Norfolk Island pine tree, fireplace tools, bird cage, litter box, cushioned toilet seat, laundry detergent and chlorine bleach were a bit quirky.
“Sis, why didn’t you tell me Mom was coming?”
“I didn’t know! Honest! She just showed up. This is going to be a miserable trip.” I whined.
“Why? I mean other than the obvious.”
“She doesn’t know I’m a writer,” I whispered. I left my luggage with him and climbed the three steps.
Everyone made a right so I followed them and took a seat midway down a highly polished cherry conference table. I counted sixteen leather chairs.
As the remaining passengers flitted in, no one sat next to me on either side.
Elderly body builder Bicep Betty, of yellow polka dot bikini fame, reposed directly across from me snapping her black bubble gum. Every book she wrote was full of kink and husband homicide. No wonder she was an old maid…and had a cult following.
Most of the faces were familiar to me and I looked forward to becoming acquainted with the newbies.
My best bud, Dina Devers, a moderately successful eBook author, stumbled in last. She wrote steamy romance. I found her books to be hilarious but didn’t dare let on.
The story around town was that Dina didn’t get enough oxygen at birth and as a result, while her intellect was normal, she was freakishly happy and strangely giddy at inappropriate times.
Dina tripped over the hem of her long leaf-green broomstick skirt and grabbed the back of a chair to catch herself. It rolled out and spun to one side. She plopped down in it and giggled, finger fluffing her cute strawberry blonde curls.
I thought it was so weird to find free rolling chairs on a moving train. Somebody might be seriously injured.
“Welcome to the GOOS Express,” Rosemary announced. “I’m so delighted we all could take this little working vacation along the rails.”
The ladies applauded and thanked her profusely. Very excited about the chance to interact with other writers, learn from the speakers and pitch my books to agents and editors, I smiled and clapped.
The whistle tooted twice and the train lurched forward. The chairs jerked sideways. Some of the ladies gasped. I stuck my arms over my head and enjoyed the ride.
A voice broadcast over the public address system: “Good afternoon, ladies. This is your conductor Andrew Faire. We have departed exactly on time at 2:57. Our scheduled arrival in Washington, DC is at 8:46 tomorrow morning barring any unforeseen glitches. You’ll notice the train stop from time to time to allow freight traffic to pass through or to make a regularly scheduled stop for the North American Passenger Railway. Please do not place anything in the toilets but the supplied toilet paper as the plumbing system is very sensitive and if one clogs then all toilets in the car will back up. In the evangelists’ lounge there are over-the-counter pain relievers, sleeping aids, cold and allergy formulas and motion sickness medications available for purchase as well as a limited selection of toiletry items. If we can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me or my fellow volunteer crew members from the Central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society:  Big Marc Clinger and Jimmy Tamales. Enjoy your conference.”
“Ladies, if you will open your folders you’ll find the packet with our speaker schedule,” said Rosemary. “Unfortunately, our keynote speaker Tony O’Rourke, the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen police procedurals including The Naked Detective, has been unavoidably detained. He hopes to join us later in the trip, although that shall pose a problem with sleeping accommodations. We only have allotted room for two speakers per day. They each travel with us until the next big hub stop.”
I perused the schedule:  Orlando to DC to Chicago to Albuquerque to Los Angeles. I couldn’t wait to dip my big toe in the Pacific Ocean for the very first time.
Rosemary opened a cardboard box and passed hardcover copies of Tony O’Rourke’s latest release down the table. I nearly squealed. My favorite author. He was the reason I became a writer. I took one and flipped to the back and searched the last few pages then the first few. No photo or any about the author page.
I envisioned a white-haired portly recluse clad in a golden smoking jacket with leather patches on the elbows. He relit his pipe as he navigated the narrow path to the desk through a jungle of ceiling-high crumpled white paper. He hunted and pecked on an old Remington typewriter in his family’s dank Irish castle. Tony O’Rourke, gifted genius. My idol.
“Nevertheless,” Madame President Rosemary continued, “Our first speaker is aboard, Anna Deerstalker. A science fiction author and online writing coach. She will present a workshop on the richness of conflict, precisely at 6:00 P.M.”
I glanced at Tinker Bell. It was nearly 3:30. I shook the pixie dust as I flung my hand in the air and waved.
“Yes, do you have a question?” asked Rosemary.
“When is dinner served?”
“There is not time to prepare and serve a formal meal this evening. There will be hors d’oeuvres available throughout the trip in the parlor car at the end of the train. Feel free to indulge yourselves.”
My stomach burned. I hadn’t ingested anything today but the three Hershey’s Kisses I snatched out of the candy jar on Igor’s desk. That’s what I get for skipping breakfast, and then the darned floater set me behind schedule so I didn’t eat lunch. I should call the lieutenant about that soon…
 “Ladies, we have a few rules here. No smoking, alcohol or recreational drugs allowed. No wireless internet devices. No cell phones,” said Rosemary.
Dina raised her hand.
“Yes?” asked Rosemary.
“What about our portable word processors?”
“Of course you can keep whatever technology you use to write. Laptop computers, electric typewriters, word processors, etc. Just be sure you disable any wireless connections. We have much work to do.”
She held the cardboard box up. “I’ll pass this along. Empty all banned items into the box.”
I watched incredulously as the ladies sucked up to her and thought it such a good idea to help us focus on our craft. No way would I store my phone in the box. I’d just pretend I didn’t bring…
The Pink Panther jazzed from my shorts pocket.
Everyone looked at me. I sighed and pulled my phone out. I missed the call. Mom. I switched it off and gingerly placed it in the box. Just as well, I didn’t need Mom pestering me.
Then I remembered what had happened that morning. Waves lapping the happy corpse crashed in my mind. As the box slid down the table past me, I said, “No, wait. I need my phone. I discovered a dead body today and the police may need to contact me.”
The business car fell silent except for the chug-a-chug of the train.
Bicep Betty blew a big black bubble, popped it with her pen then whispered to Tabloid Tilly. Tilly locked eyes with me as she fondled her camera. There was something witchy about that girl from down under and I didn’t trust her. I kept my composure, glanced down at Tinker Bell and shook some pixie dust.     
“Sandra, you really do need to get a proper job and stop cavorting with the underworld.” Rosemary voiced what some were no doubt thinking.
“That poor lost soul. I’ll bet no one stops to think about how terrifying it must be for the victim in the horrific moments before being murdered,” Weepy Wendyboo-hooed.
“Of course we do,” Pat-the-Pirate squawked. “We all do. We’re writers.” 
Pat wasa popular historical adventure novelist with a ruddy wrinkled face, wooden leg and a glass eye.
Dina kicked back her chair and clopped over to me. “Who, what, where, when and how? Do tell!”
“I discovered him washed up on the beach this morning. In front of the Copacabana—”
“It was Ricco!”  Dina blurted.
“Ricco?”  I asked.
“You know, Tony shot him because he was jealous Ricco had made a move on his girl Lola at the Copacabana.”
I grinned and shook my head. “I didn’t find any yellow feathers in the sand. You should audition for the show where you need to know the correct song lyrics.”
I turned toward the others. “Anyhow, he was a good-looking young sailor and I’ve probably revealed more than I should have.”
Clear packaging tape screamed like fingernails on a chalkboard as Rosemarysealed the box. Chico, her Cuban-American pool boy/hairdresser/paid companion, carted it off. With my phone inside. My plea hadn’t impressed her.
“Ladies, please begin your daily writing. If you did not come prepared, or if your writing apparatus is packed in your luggage then help yourselves to one of the journals on the credenza. Pens and sharp pencils, too. No more chit-chat please. We need a silent and peaceful atmosphere for our muses to run wild and free.”
I plodded over to the credenza and selected a very high-end journal bound in pink leather. I decided to use a pencil so I snatched a metallic gold number two. I gazed out the window at the cumulonimbus clouds layering themselves in the sky. It looked like rain.
I returned to my seat, opened the journal and wrote on the inside of the cover:
The Case of the Adorable Plumber
By Dixie London
At the top of the first page I wrote:
Chapter One
It was a dark and stormy afternoon in Fredericksburg, Virginia. More American lives had been lost here in the Civil War than in any other town in any other war. As I climbed out of my old brown pickup truck, thunder exploded like a Union soldier’s cannonball…
* * *
I was surprised how easily the words spewed forth. I had no life-long interest in the Civil War and had never visited the battlefields and cemeteries of Fredericksburg, but I had done my homework. I loved learning new things, which I passed along to others through my books. Well, I would pass them along once they were published. But I had to finish one of them first. Perhaps The Case of the Adorable Plumber might just be my break-out novel.
The clickty-clacking of the train, the white noise of the air circulating system and the sound of some of the other ladies typing orchestrated a very stimulating melody.
I was way into chapter three when my stomach began growling out loud. I really needed to get to those hors d’oeuvres. I glanced at Tinker Bell. 5:41. I shook her pixie dust as I stood and pushed my chair under the table. “Do we select our own rooms?”  It felt good to stretch my legs. I wiggled my toes inside my sneakers.
Rosemary and the other writers looked up and then checked their watches. “My, how time flies when you are lost in your own little personal writing bubble. All right, ladies, I think we should wrap it up now.”  She sorted through some papers on the table. “I have a list here. The crew has delivered your luggage to your compartments.” Rosemary shuffled papers. “Sandra Compartment A. Wendy is in B. Betty you get Compartment C. Pat…”
Great! We each get private rooms. Or broom closets. I wondered how large and opulent they were. As Rosemary droned on with our room assignments, images of fairytale castle bedchambers danced in my mind. Yeah, I knew we were on a train and only so much can be done in limited space but still I had high hopes.
“Your rooms are right through the door near where you came in.” Rosemary motioned toward it. “Make sure you grasp the handrails in the vestibule between the train cars. We don’t want anyone getting injured here on the GOOS express, now do we…?” 
When she finally finished, I blurted, “Where are the hors d’oeuvres?”
“They are in the last car. In the parlor area next to the restroom. Help yourselves. I do hope you like the selections.”  Rosemary flashed her porcelain white teeth stained with fuchsia lipstick.
That was the cue for everyone to give her their deepest gratitude. We did. Then we headed for our compartments.
I stepped into mine. Darn. It wasn’t a fairytale castle bedchamber. But the retro Art Deco opulence was very tasteful.
It had mahogany paneled walls, a brass sconce and a little oscillating fan up in the corner near the ceiling. There was a small wash basin and mirror near the pocket aisle door. A wall-length oval window on the outside wall was flanked with a plush red velvet arm chair and a large red velvet sofa which apparently converted into a bed at night. The light scent of roses wafted in the air. Rosemary was great with details.
My duffle bag was stuffed almost under the sofa. I noticed an unfamiliar tapestry carpet bag stowed upon a shelf above the chair my cooler was tucked under. A newspaper stood crisply folded in a vertical holder on the window and two bottles of water glistening with condensation beckoned in the cup holders.
I counted three doors.
I smiled and tried the door apparently leading into the next compartment. Locked. Good. I didn’t need Weepy Wendy boo-hooing in at all hours. I opened the closet door. There was a stepladder folded inside. I shut the door.
I rubbed my arms and glanced up at the little fan. I’d have to figure out where to switch it off.
I pivoted and opened the bathroom door. And screamed. So did the lady sitting on the toilet.

U.S. eBook: iTunes  ARe  Diesel  Kindle  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords  SonyU.S. Paperback: Amazon  Barnes and Noble  CreateSpace  Books A Million
U.K. eBook:  Nook  Kindle  iTunes
U.K. Paperback:  Amazon 
Canadian eBook:  Sony  Kindle  iTunes
Canadian Paperback:  Amazon

Chapter Two: THE IMMACULATE DECEPTION

A Stand-Alone Book in The Good Girls of Washington Series Read Chapter One Here   The Immaculate DeceptionBy Sherry Silver
U.S. eBook: iTunes  ARe  Diesel  Kindle  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords  SonyU.S. Paperback: Amazon  Barnes and Noble  CreateSpace  Books A Million
U.K. eBook:  Nook  Kindle  iTunes
U.K. Paperback:  Amazon
Canadian eBook:  Sony  Kindle  iTunes
Canadian Paperback:  Amazon      Book Summary:After her SUV meets the business end of a deer, Oh-Donna is pulled into an exciting dreamland far away from her peon job and selfish siblings--where mystery, murder and romance take over. Her debonair angel takes her time traveling through the sordid pasts of her Secret Service Agent mother and her genius medical researcher father--who was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Oh-Donna discovers she is the first baby born from an ovarian transplant. She must sleuth out the dark secrets of her D.N.A. and close an unsolved murder.  Chapter Two  A t that very instant, I felt a force field enveloping me. The best way I can describe it would be a tingling sensation with a mix of adrenaline, endorphins, laughter, inebriation and orgasm. It started at the top of my head and then split down both sides, wrapping my body in a glorious package. What was going on? I didn’t even believe in destiny. So how come I was so sure something wonderful was about to happen? I smiled. I smiled so hard my face hurt. I couldn’t help it. I felt like a sublime dumbstruck ingénue. His grin answered mine, radiating a sense of total approval. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t concerned about my physical shortcomings. I sized him up. He was wearing a gray overcoat, matching fedora, nice trousers and shoes. The man was holding a paper sack and was looking at me looking him over. He eyed me up and down, his gaze lingering in all the usual spots. It had been so long since anyone had leered at me. And his grin just grew larger. He seemed to genuinely like what he saw. And so did I. Finally the stranger spoke, in a low gentle voice, with a hint of an English accent. “Hello, Cinderella. Do you know me?” “Should I? I mean…I feel like I’ve dreamed you into life.” I sighed. “Something like that.” “Do you know me?” I asked, searching his face, not knowing whether to hope he did or hope he didn’t. “Of course.” I stuttered, “Who are you?” In the sweetest, knowingest voice I’d ever heard, he said, “I’m your mate. Your soul mate across history.” He took my hand into his and kissed it. I thought I was going to swoon. I felt like I’d yearned for this moment all my life. I didn’t know what to expect but he was so much more than I expected. I was overwhelmed. Wait. This guy must be a nut. What exactly did he mean he was my soul mate across history? That was the most preposterous come-on line I’d ever heard. My mate? Did he mean in a sexual way? Well, not that I minded. He was very hot. For some reason I couldn’t explain, I wanted to believe him. My mate…across history. Did that mean I was born into the wrong generation? Was that why I was so different from the rest of my family? I felt a very strong connection coming from him. A warm and fuzzy feeling that rubbed me in just the right places. He stuck his hand inside of the paper bag and pulled out a hamburger. “Hungry, Donna?” “Yes.” I grabbed the burger, removed the patty from the bun and gobbled just the meat. “Here, have another.” He handed me a second small hot burger and snatched the empty buns from me. Tearing them into tiny pieces, he lined the bread on the bridge railing. He plucked a third burger from the bag and joined me in snacking. “What are you doing out on such a treacherous night, Cinderella?” I thought about it for a while. I remembered trying on Momma’s fur coat and looking at her pictures. I wondered where she was. I had been waiting for her at her house. Perry had said that he had locked her up in a mental hospital and that she had escaped and killed Daddy. Damn him. Poor Momma. I had to find her. “I’m looking for my mother, Mrs. Payne.” Wait, silly. I’m dreaming in 1945. “Um, maybe you know her by Chloe Lambert?” “Right. Girl Secret Service agent. Works over at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.” This was getting really weird. Maybe I’d lost my mind, maybe I’d fractured my skull during the accident. I had to be dreaming. But in my dream, I could actually taste the ketchup. Grease was dripping down the side of my face. What a burger! This guy was still staring at me. He was so cute. My stomach started fluttering. What color hair would he have under that hat? He interrupted my thoughts. “So would you like me to accompany you?” “Sure, why not. Where’re we off to?” “I thought you’re looking for your mum?” A pair of fat ravens landed on the railing and pecked at the bread. I began shivering. Snowflakes dropped down in big swirls. They spun around in the glow of the gas lamps. “Button up your frock, love. You shouldn’t be gadding about…um, nude…in this kind of weather.” “Nude?” I felt the snow melting on my tummy. Oh my gosh, I’m not wearing anything under this fur coat! My numb fingers fought to shove the silk buttons through the loops. Great, just great. Now he’s seen the finer parts of my anatomy, all bandaged and bruised. Wait a minute, where is the new dressing I taped on the wound? I began rubbing my shoulder and chest. He said, “Need any help?” I looked at him. “What?” I had smooth, completely healed skin. No scar. I buttoned the top button. He winked and threw the hamburger wrappers and sack in a wire trash bin. He playfully tipped the brim of his fedora and offered me his arm. I entwined mine and we began walking, back toward Washington. Wait a minute. I stopped. I was stumble-galloping. “How’d you lose a heel?” he asked me. “Don’t know.” I turned around and saw the heel sticking out of the grate in the sidewalk. “I guess it broke off.” “Well, we’ll not get far like this.” Before I could process the situation, he hoisted me off the ground and over his shoulder. My hair flopped down. All I could see was his backside and the cobblestone sidewalk. “Hey, what’s with the caveman carry?” I asked. The blood rushing to my head felt kind of nice. I got a little high. My mate laughed in a low deep voice. “Fireman’s carry, love.” “Oh.” I burped. And blushed. What am I doing embarrassing myself in my own darned dream? Leave it to me. “What’d you say?” “I didn’t say anything, I just belched.” “Oh.” He started patting my rear end. “Hey!” “Sorry, I thought you needed to be burped.” He laughed. So did I. This apparition was a fun boy. The blood rushed out of my arms. I was hanging on to the hem of his overcoat. Felt itchy, like wool. I flailed my right arm up and swatted his fedora off. “Hey, what did you go and do that for?” He stopped and set me down. I brushed the hair from my face. “You’re a blond.” I smiled. “And so are you.” “I like your flat-top haircut.” “I like your curly-top haircut.” “Well, then it’s settled. We are blond soul mates through history. Come on. Let’s go and find my mother.” The wind picked up. And dream boy picked me back up. This guy was strong. Couldn’t wait to see his muscles. Nah, with my luck, I’d wake up before I could even get a kiss in the dark. My mate walked. He set me down again. I fixed up my hair and squinted around. Washington loomed dark under a heavy cloud cover. He said, “This is it. The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing.” “Sounds boring. What do they do in there? Print up invitations to Internal Revenue Service parties or something?” “Nah, nothing that exciting. They just print new United States currency in there.” “Currency? You mean dollars?” He nodded affirmatively. “Sweet. Well, thanks, let’s go in and get my mother.” “It’s oh–one hundred hours. She doesn’t work in the middle of the night.” I noticed a light approaching from the center of the street. It grew brighter. I listened to the squeal of the brakes. My apparition boy had unbuttoned his overcoat. He fumbled in his left front trouser pocket. “Need any help?” I grinned. He raised his eyebrows. “Some other time, love. I’m just fishing for these.” He produced two round wooden objects. “Streetcar tokens.” “But they paved over the tracks decades ago…” “What?” he asked. Why would a streetcar be running after midnight? Better not scare this hunk away with boring questions. “Oh nothing.” He helped me up the steps. I plopped down on the hard wooden bench right behind the driver. My mate settled next to me and slipped his arm around my shoulders. He smelled so good. Very manly, like he’d just showered with a strong refreshing deodorant soap. I leaned my head on his shoulder and cuddled right up. I was so tired. ~*~ Great. Now I heard the “Donna” song, my nickname song, resonating through the trolley car. I covered my ears. I didn’t want this extraordinarily dreamy man to hear it. If he would call me anything, then not “Oh-Donna”. A loud wooden thump woke me. I reluctantly opened my eyes. Darn it, I saw the lone light bulb with the brown shoestring pull. My dream was over. I let out a big disappointed sigh. Didn’t get to kiss him. I was back in the real world and my reality sucked. I heard voices out in the rec room. It sounded like Spanish. Spanish…and…Tammy. Just great. I sat up. “Owww!” My pain rushed back with fury. The closet door flew open. My sister asked, “What’re you doing…lurking back in there? Perry said you found the body. What, did ya spend the night in the closet? You’re so freaky, Oh-Donna.” “Nice to see you again too, Sis.” I looked at her. Tammy was about ninety-five pounds of tawny-complected toned muscle, makeup and satiny jet-black hair. Implants and Botox in just the right places. She really was gorgeous…on the outside. “What time is it? And what day is it?” Tammy screwed her little forehead up and said, “It’s after five p.m. on Tuesday. You look like crap. What happened to your face? Cut yourself shaving? Isn’t that Mom’s blouse? And what’s with the pants? Retro orderly? Ya look like a bag lady, Oh-Donna.” I plodded past her into the rec room. Two men were occupied setting up the Dracula box. Daddy’s coffin. Daddy’s dead body was in there. Heat rose from my feet, up my legs, through my torso and into my face. Oh no. I knew this sensation. The room commenced spinning. My stomach went along for the ride. Shouldn’t have had those hamburgers. Wait a minute, that was just a dream. I didn’t have anything in my stomach to throw up. I tried swallowing it down. I was so hot. Everything around me was swirling and then everything went dark. I came to, with cold water dripping off my face where Tammy had evidently thrown it. She hovered over me with a tea-stained floral plastic tumbler. I wiped my palm across my face. “Why didn’t you just shove my head in the toilet?” “Get up, Oh-Donna. Why’d you faint? You always were the little sissy-girl. I know you can’t be pregnant.” She shot a look toward the Latino men as if to humiliate me. “You need to vacuum upstairs and dust before the food gets here.” I sat up, trying to sling water droplets at Tammy. “I can’t believe you’re having an Irish wake… And what’s Daddy doing here? Did they finish embalming him that quick?” “Embalming costs money.” I was so confused. “But-but didn’t the coroner order an autopsy?” “He was old, it was his time to go.” “But-but Perry made accusations about foul play. He said the police were coming to process the scene. Did they? If so, the coroner would perform a postmortem exam and prove Perry wrong. Was Daddy autopsied?” “I don’t know anything about a police investigation. I haven’t seen or talked to any cops. And you know good and well that we Paynes do not believe in autopsies.” If no autopsy had been performed and the body had been released to the family, then quite obviously the authorities thought he died of natural causes. “Then you agree there was no crime. Daddy just had a heart attack.” “Whatever. He’s dead.” I lurched up, gritting my teeth on the pain. The men were gone. I shuddered and turned my back to the coffin. Tammy sashayed over to it. I hated that thing. It basically terrified me. I heard a creaky squeak as she opened the lid. “Look at what a good job I did on his makeup.” “No!” I bolted upstairs. My sister chased me, laughing. Tammy said, “I’m sorry, hon. I know you were his favorite.” I was his favorite? Excuse me, but you are the one he gushed over, going on and on about all of your great achievements, how you did so and so’s makeup in the blockbuster movie du jour. And then after you switched careers, he’d gossip about Senator so and so’s abs you six-packed. Tammy said, “The viewing is from seven until nine. You need to get the place spiffed up before the mourners arrive. And change your clothes, huh?” “But-but the attendants left. They can’t legally leave the body.” The doorbell rang. Tammy sailed down the three red-carpeted steps to the landing. She turned to me and said, “Of course not. Those were plumbers working on Mrs. Meddlestein’s place. I had them set up the Dracula box for me. Daddy’s not actually inside but the mourners won’t know. It’ll save us money. Let me and Perry know how the viewing went.” Tammy opened the front door. A fast food deliveryman from Kentucky Fried Chicken gripped a large cardboard box. He had an orange turban, a long gray beard with a handlebar moustache and black basset hound eyes. Tammy told him, “Take the food downstairs. The lady up over there will pay you.” Then she wiggled past him. Grinning with bright yellow jumbled teeth, he turned his head and leered at my sister. All right, that’s enough. I stumbled down the steps and grabbed a large side of mashed potatoes from the box. I lobbed it at Tammy. Whoo hoo! Potatoed her right in her pretty black ponytail. She screamed. Who was the sissy-girl now? I shoved back inside and slammed the door in the poor delivery guy’s face. Okay, that wasn’t nice. I reached back through the wrought iron railing and felt around inside my orange plastic hospital goody bag. I fished out a five. I opened the door and handed it to the guy. “Sorry, but I didn’t order this food. Here’s for your trouble.” He insisted, “You must pay!” “Take it up with Mrs. Potato Head.” I shut the door and locked it. I slumped down on the slate landing. My anger gave way to a tirade of tears. Daddy, oh Daddy… I love you. Why now? Why did you do this to me? I know you didn’t love me the way you loved Perry and Tammy. But that’s okay. I still loved you. I tried to come and referee the fight you had with Momma on Thursday. But I was in an accident and I couldn’t get to you any sooner than I did. I don’t even know what really happened. Did Momma really turn that deep freezer over on you? Is that what killed you or was it your heart? Momma wouldn’t do that, would she? Where is Momma? Oh Momma, come and hug me and make it all better. Momma, please Momma? The doorbell forced me to my knees. I peeked through the waist-high peephole. Daddy had drilled it for me when we moved in, so I could see through it. I was about five or six years old at the time and frequently left home alone. Perry was a teenager, off on his own fun. Tammy had a special babysitter she went to, called Mommy Kay. There was a cop outside. Perry’s technician probably. Bet he’d ask me more unpleasant questions about Daddy and Momma, investigate the crime scene and all that stuff. I was so tired. I didn’t want to deal with any more questions right now. I was in no shape to blindly defend Momma though I had no doubt she was innocent. There was no murder scene here, therefore no evidence that needed processing. I fled down the basement stairs. The Dracula box momentarily stunned me. I hid in the walk-in closet. No more Perry, no more Tammy. I just wanted to be left alone for a change. I could still hear the cop pounding on the front door. Just go and give me some space, will ya? I breathed with my mouth open in the dark mustiness. My fingers were greasy from handling the potatoes. I laughed, enjoying the mental picture. Should’ve thrown the hot brown gravy too. Hmm, no more knocking or ringing. I swatted in the dark and felt the soft shoestring. I yanked the light on. Looking around, I realized Momma’s sable coat was missing. I knew I had been wearing it when I fell asleep. I opened the black steamer trunk again. After I’d rifled through layers of oddities, no coat materialized. So I opened the closet door and peeked into the rec room. Spotting the coffin, I decided to stay put. This was just too creepy. Surreal, sad and sickening. Oh my God, Momma is in Saint Christopher’s Mental Hospital! I have to get her out. And if she really had been committed to the nut house, she would still be there because she didn’t escape and murder Daddy, because he wasn’t murdered. I couldn’t believe that Perry tossed his own mother into a mental institution. Well, okay, so his real mother was the slightly famous movie actress from the forties and fifties, Vera Blandings, but my mother had raised him lovingly as her own. She worked so hard, trying to do right by that boy. No, Momma hadn’t played opposite Cary Grant in a Hitchcock flick, like Vera Blandings had, but she was a darned good woman. Wait a minute, I shouldn’t be so hard on Perry. He was an orphan now. His mother Vera had been murdered when he was just a teenager and now our daddy had passed on too. Maybe he wasn’t thinking straight in his grief and that’s why he accused Momma of murder. But that was no excuse for putting Momma away. And what was that stupid story of his, what happened on Thursday, when Daddy called me and said Momma was trying to kill him? Something about a bent cane. And then, four days later, I found Daddy pinned underneath a deep freezer. His deep freezer. And it wasn’t that big. Just about four feet all ways, tall, wide and deep. A small chest-type freezer. Heavy though. It had a brown paneling finish, to match the paneled basement. Daddy had it plugged in at the end of the hallway. He was always putting food in there while Momma slept, telling me that she had the Alzheimer’s disease, buying too much. She didn’t have Alzheimer’s. She just never accepted that her nest was empty. She always bought enough to feed a family of five. If anyone had a mental problem, it was Daddy. I strongly suspected he was a pathological liar. I looked up the definition once. It was a synonym for sociopath. Calling him a liar to myself was one thing. I would never believe my father was a sociopath though. That word was frightening. Every time I came to visit, he’d always call me downstairs and try to load me up with bags of frozen lettuce, shredded cheese and meat that was three years past the “best if used by” date. Frozen lettuce. The salad bowl incident. What a nightmare. Momma had taken her annual Palm Springs spa trip. She’d been treating herself to this yearly respite the same week every year for as long as I could remember. The first week in August. The day after she returned, I received a frantic call from Daddy. Asking me if I had the salad bowl. Momma accused Daddy of giving away her things to his girlfriend while she was gone. Nonagenarian Daddy had a girlfriend? What was Momma thinking? And what was the girlfriend thinking if she in fact existed? Momma threw him out, had the locks changed and burned his Army discharge papers, his medical license and his autographed photo of Marilyn Monroe. Perry took him in for a night and then dumped Daddy on my front stoop. Daddy followed me around, crying and telling horribly twisted secrets of Momma’s past, which I didn’t want to hear and didn’t believe. Blackmail, booze, espionage, counterfeiting, crimes against nature, you name it. He was un-shut-up-able. I couldn’t stand the unrelenting emotional devastation he forced upon me. Trying once again to manipulate me into doing whatever master scheme he had in mind. I stuck him on a plane to California, where some of his people lived. And I felt immediate guilt. He was my father after all. I was duty-bound to love him no matter what. I kept thinking that if I loved him long enough, hard enough, he would someday realize that I was a good girl and be proud of me and love me the way he doted on Tammy and Perry. Why didn’t Daddy love me? He made the rounds of his siblings in California. His youngest brother Howard finally had enough and flew Daddy back home. Momma let him back in. But wouldn’t give him a key. I heard music. The melody of Dean Martin’s sixties hit “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime”. Yeah, I guess they did. But why in the world did Chloe Lambert marry Dr. Nathan Payne? They bickered my whole life. Had separate bedrooms too. I never witnessed them kissing, not once. And how come they would never reveal the exact year they got married? I knew their anniversary was February twenty-ninth but what year? Leap day… And why did they adopt Tammy? I was still a baby when they brought Tammy into our home. She was only fourteen months older than me. What, were they disappointed in me? The music was getting louder. And why did Tammy and Perry get everything they asked for, the never-grateful children that they were? And then there was me, their only biological child together. Or wasn’t I? If I were to believe any of Daddy’s salacious whispers, Momma had had affairs with Poppa San at the Chinese restaurant, the entire gang of Frank Sinatra’s “Rat Pack”, including Sammy Davis Jr., the “Negro” as Daddy called him, and even President John F. Kennedy when she was working in the White House. And lest I forget his latest mind game, telling me Momma wasn’t my real mother. As if I could be the natural daughter of a movie star who had died before I was born. Probably Daddy’s lifelong fascination with Marilyn Monroe had taken over his final moments… No, he was just trying to play one last trick on me. I ran my fingers over my face then shook my head. Daddy loved telling stories about when he met Marilyn. His first wife Vera had been cast together with her in a movie. Bus Stop? No, maybe it was How To Marry a Millionaire? Hey, perhaps I was JFK and MM’s love child. That’s why I never even received a pittance, I would be coming into my inheritance one of these days. I giggled. Oh it felt good to laugh, punch-drunk on emotion. ~♥~ The music was different now. Dooley Wilson’s song “As Time Goes By” from the forties movie Casablanca. Where was it coming from? I stumbled around the corner and under the stairs. I felt the wind picking up. Sucking me in. All I could see was a beautiful shade of green. Dark Georgetown green, nearly black. The irresistible forward momentum propelled me into a tunnel. I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I was walking up a wooden ramp with handrails on both sides. I tugged open a door and stepped inside a huge closet full of canned tuna, onions, potatoes, flour, sugar and Maxwell House coffee. A pantry. I opened another door. That fella from my dream was seated at a butcher-block counter. I was so happy to see him again. This was the first time I dreamed about the same thing twice. Talk about a dream lover. Perhaps I’d get a chance to kiss him in this one. I said, “Hey you, come over here and step right into my dream again.” Grinning, my soul mate hopped off the wooden stool and buttoned his crisp black tuxedo jacket. “I’ve been waiting for you, Cinderella.” My stomach growled. I scanned the huge industrial kitchen. Uniformed cooks, waiters and waitresses—or were they butlers and maids?—bustled around. The place really sizzled. And it smelled heavenly. I closed my eyes and sniffed roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon and baked Alaska. All right, so baked Alaska had no real aroma, it was just ice cream covered in meringue, but hey, it was my dream. “Come on, love, let’s check your coat.” “Huh?” I glanced down at the sable coat I was wearing. Good, it turned up. Momma would kill me if I lost her coat. He grasped my arm and escorted me outside. A vivid full moon illuminated the night. Shimmering stars mesmerized me. We strolled on a massive brick driveway and into the porticoed entrance of the White House. Cars dropped people at the steps. A line formed as invitations were verified. He scooted me around the queue. The invitation checkers nodded to my mate. We sauntered right past them all. Oh the marble…the grand staircase…the chandeliers. Just like I’d imagined. We meandered to the cloakroom. Dream boy unbuttoned my coat. Hey, naked at the White House? What the heck, this was my dream. Our eyes locked as his long fingers tenderly undid each button. I shivered as he softly brushed my bare shoulders while removing the frock. He handed it to the coat check girl. My soul mate leaned down and whispered, “Breathtaking, Donna.” I squeezed my eyes shut and then open, before nervously checking to see if I was wearing anything. I heaved a sigh of relief upon the sight of my powder blue taffeta ball gown. Strapless, low-necked and cinched nicely at the waist and then full and sassy to the floor. I kicked out one foot to see a sparkly silver pump. I kicked the other foot out. Good, two shoes, both had heels and they matched. He presented me with a corsage, white baby roses around a small blue carnation. I allowed him to pin it on me. He smelled really good. Soap. I heard his breathing deepen as he slid one finger inside my cleavage in order to fasten the big teardrop-shaped pearl-headed pin. I exhaled. He smiled and offered his arm. We traipsed into the gala dining room. Waiters scurried about, fussing with place settings and floral arrangements. “Hungry, love?” my mate whispered in my ear. “Sure. Got any hamburgers?” “Not tonight. Do you like shrimp?” “Yes, I adore shrimp.” He grabbed a silver serving tray from a young African American waitress. She said, “Agent, these are for the guests.” “Katherine, I’m escorting Miss Donna tonight and she needs nourishment.” Katherine looked at me and rolled her eyes. “Sorry, Miss Donna. He’s always snatchin’ goodies. Would you be wantin’ some champagne to wash them down with? How about a tray of cheeses and crackers too?” “No crackers, I’m on a low-carb diet.” “What’s a low-carb diet?” Katherine asked. My mate said, “She eats meat.” Sure I ate meat. Wouldn’t mind eating some of his right now. I blushed. Katherine’s eyes bulged. “I’ll be back with some drinks and cheeses. Why don’t you all make yourselves comfy up in the second-floor gathering area?” My mate laughed and watched the pretty girl walk away. I felt a ping of jealousy. He had said he was my mate. Did that mean literally man-woman mating or did I misinterpret and he meant mate as in friend, pal? He carried the tray of jumbo shrimp and escorted me to the elevator. We nibbled while being transported to the second floor. “Katherine-the-maid called you Agent. Are you?” “Yes.” “What kind of agent? Secret agent, IRS agent, ticket agent, real estate agent, talent agent or literary agent?” Dream boy shoved a big chilled shrimp between my lips and said in an oh-so-sexy whisper, “Secret agent, at your service, sweetheart.” Gosh, that whisper sent down shivers down my spine. He brushed the hair back from my ear first and I nearly squealed in anticipation of his lips touching my skin. The elevator doors opened to an informal gathering area, with a big Palladian window at the end of a hallway. “The family living quarters are right through that door.” He gestured with his hand. He had long, strong fingers. No rings. No telltale tan line either. Good. “Oh we should go.” I turned to get back on the elevator but the doors had shut. I tried to find a button to push. “Relax, it’s okay, I work here.” “But…” I couldn’t think of any reason why we needed to leave, even though I felt like there should be one. I followed my mate over to an oval mahogany coffee table, where he placed the tray. He motioned for me to sit on a red velvet sofa. I did. He switched on a large radio and tuned in a station. The host announced the next song, “Technicolor Dreams” by the Hugh Gibb orchestra. Dream boy reached for my hand. I stood and he led me out to the center of the hallway. He slid one hand around my waist and squeezed my hand with his other one. We floated around to the movie musical song. I felt like Ginger Rogers in one of those nineteen-forties movies. I loved dancing and somehow tonight I seemed proficient at it. He was an amazing partner. I couldn’t help giggling when he dipped me. The song ended. Dream boy kept swaying as the station break came on. He asked, “Where have you been all my life?” Yes, it was just a clichéd pick-up line like in the movies. But he made it sound so real. I couldn’t think of anything to say in response. I focused on his full lips. They inched down closer to mine. Closer… Shoot. I felt eyes watching me. Katherine cleared her throat. “Cheeses without crackers, deviled eggs and a popped bottle of champagne are on the table.” She handed us each a bubbly-filled glass. “It taste like duck water but they don’t give Miz Stoneburner a good ’nuff budget. Call the kitchen if you be needin’ another bottle.” My man told her, “Thanks, doll.” Katherine departed in the elevator. He smiled at me and raised his glass. “May our dreams always be in Technicolor.” We clinked glasses and intertwined our arms. As I brought the goblet to my lips in slow motion, a red rubber playground ball knocked it out of my hand. He said, “Play dead! I’ll be right back. Don’t you move now.” I dropped to the floor, curled into the fetal position and covered my head. People scurried around, red balls flying. I peeked to see Vera Blandings run past me, propelling a rolling desk chair with a top hat on the seat. The hat appeared to be full of eggs. Vera Blandings? Daddy’s first wife, Perry’s biological momma and Cary Grant’s co-star in Hitchcock’s classic Mother May I? Why was I dreaming about her? I stayed as still as I could but I developed a cramp in my foot and had to take off one shoe. I glanced around, everything appeared to have calmed down and I was alone. I shook my foot like a dog. “All clear. The drill was successful.” My secret agent man knelt down and grasped my stockinged foot. He drew both of his thumbs up and down the middle bottom. It felt so good it was amazing I didn’t come. He read my face and appeared very pleased with himself. “There, does that feel better?” “Yes…” I cooed. As he slipped my sparkly silver shoe back on, I noticed the opaque stockings. I screwed my face up. They weren’t sexy and didn’t fit so well. Tight at the ankles. And I didn’t have thick ankles. “What’s wrong, love?” “The stockings. I don’t like ’em. How come they aren’t silk or even nylon?” “Nylon? They don’t make ’em anymore. All nylon is being sewn into parachutes for the war.” Oh right, I was dreaming in the forties, World War Two and all that stuff. My mate helped me up. “Did you say something about a drill?” “Yes, all White House employees practice evacuating the President in case of attack. There have been recent credible threats… Um, I won’t elaborate.” “Did I just see Vera Blandings, the movie star, run through here pushing a hat full of eggs on a rolling chair?” “Probably. Movie star? No. Vera is presently President Roosevelt’s personal secretary.” “But she’s my daddy’s first wife. And my half-brother Perry’s mother.” “Not at this moment in time.” Dream boy popped a deviled egg in his mouth. “Sit down. Eat.” I did. The cheese tray was beautifully arranged. Waffle-cut cheddar, small discs of Gouda and tiny triangles of Swiss. The White House, the food, this great guy… This dream really couldn’t get much better. I was having more fun than I ever remembered in my real life. I dipped a shrimp in cocktail sauce and devoured it. I washed it down with champagne. “President Roosevelt? Oh of course, that makes sense now. The hat with the eggs in it represents the President, she has to be careful that it doesn’t fall off and he doesn’t get hurt. And the chair is because of his polio.” He nodded to my cleavage. Normally I’d be mock offended but after all, this was my mate. Dream boy kept topping up my champagne. “You’re trying to get me drunk, aren’t you?” He drained the last drop from the bottle and licked the green glass rim provocatively. “I assure you, Cinderella, my intentions are honorable.” “Drat.” We both laughed. I set my ever-filled glass on the coffee table. I cocked my head, smiled at him and asked, “What’s your name?” He looked as though he was trying to suppress a grin. The resulting expression was adorable. “Well?” “I told you, I’m your soul mate.” I hiccupped and patted my lips. I really was in no shape for metaphysical discussions. “Yeah, I know. My soul mate across history. Whatever that is. Let’s just keep it simple to begin with, handsome. So come on now, what is my soul mate’s name?” “Jones.” “Well, Mr. Jones, I am very pleased to meet you. Now what’s your first name?” “I’m not at liberty to reveal it…at this point in time, love.” I laughed and shook my head. As I exhaled, I sighed. “Okay, I’ll play along. Jones is a fine, strong name. My roommate’s name is Jones.” “Is it now?” he grimaced. I nodded. “I take that as a very good sign that we will get along famously, you and I. Why are you suddenly sullen? My roommate is a woman, Ashley Jones. I’m not living with a man, for heaven’s sake. As a matter of fact we haven’t even met face-to-face yet, we have different schedules.” “No, love, I am not jealous of your roommate. It’s just… We need to enjoy every moment we have together.” “So smile.” He did. I stood up. “Leaving so soon, love?” “Huh? Oh no, I don’t want to leave. Not at all. Just need to use the necessary room.” “The closest toilet is through that doorway and make a left.” He pointed to where he’d told me the private family living quarters were. “I can’t go in there.” “Sure you can, love. Follow me.” And so I did. U.S. eBook: iTunes  ARe  Diesel  Kindle  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords  SonyU.S. Paperback: Amazon  Barnes and Noble  CreateSpace  Books A Million
U.K. eBook:  Nook  Kindle  iTunes
U.K. Paperback:  Amazon
Canadian eBook:  Sony  Kindle  iTunes
Canadian Paperback:  Amazon