Camy Tang's Blog, page 104

Winner and excerpt - Hide and Seek by Lynette Eason

The winner of

Hide and Seek
by Lynette Eason
is
Sybil M.

Congratulations! (I've emailed you. Please email me at camy {at] camytang[dot}com if you didn’t get the email message.)

I know the rest of you are crying into your tomato basil mozzarella salad that you didn’t win. Cheer up! Order the book!

SHE WON'T GIVE UP Erica James has spent the past three years as a skip tracer, hunting down others and hoping one day it will lead to her kidnapped daughter. Now she has a new suspect—Max Powell's missing sister. Max, a private investigator, has found evidence that connects the two missing girls, and together, he and Erica search for answers. The closer they get to finding answers, the stronger their feelings for each other become. But the kidnapper will stop at nothing—including murder—to keep them from finding Erica's daughter. Family Reunions: Bringing loved ones back together
Excerpt of chapter one:

Searching for a crack house had not been in Erica James's plans for the evening. However, Detective Katie Randall had uttered the one sentence that could send her into one of the worst neighborhoods in the city.

"We've found new evidence in Molly's disappearance."

Erica let the words ring through her mind as she drove, looking for the address of the crack house that had been raided two days ago.

New evidence. New evidence.

"It's been three years," Erica exclaimed. "What possibly could have come to light now?" she'd asked, hating the shak-iness in her voice, the desperate hope that she knew was carved on her face.

Detective Katie Randall had shown her a photograph of a crime scene. Even now, Erica's fingers curled around the steering wheel as she remembered the little outfit clearly pictured amidst the trash and rubble.

The outfit three-year-old Molly had been wearing when she'd disappeared from the day-care field trip to the zoo. Erica touched the picture with a shaking finger.

"That's her hair bow."

"We got a fingerprint from it. A girl by the name of Lydia Powell. Her prints are in the system for a shoplifting charge two years ago."

"So what does she say? Did you ask her about Molly?"

"We haven't been able to find her," Katie admitted.

"Then I will."

Now, two days later, on a cold Tuesday evening, Erica glanced at the sky. The sun would set in about ten minutes and she still hadn't found the address.

In this dark, dank part of town.

Drug deals on one corner, the selling of bodies and souls on the other. Her heart shuddered at the thought of her child being in the middle of all of this. And yet at the same time, her heart ached for the innocents trapped in this cycle of crime and abuse. For those who wanted out, but didn't know how to accomplish that. Or were too young to try.

Narrowed, suspicious eyes followed her progress down the trash-strewn street. The sun crept lower and her pulse picked up a notch.

As daylight disappeared so did the people on the street. One by one, everyone in a yard or on a porch made their way behind a closed, locked door.

She hadn't counted on it being dark by the time she got here. Then again, she hadn't counted on the place being so hard to find, either. Her GPS had led her down one street and up another until she was so twisted around she'd never find her way back out.

For the first time since Katie had told her the news, fear started to replace the hope she'd allowed herself to feel. She'd taken the information and run with it. Straight into one of the most dangerous parts of town.

What was she doing? Was she crazy?

After another hesitant second, she picked up the phone and dialed her brother, Brandon. Nerves on edge, she watched the street as she waited for him to answer. Finally, she heard,

"Hello?"

"I think I've gone and done something stupid."

"Who, you? You're kidding." He didn't sound concerned—or surprised.

With good reason, she had to silently admit. She bit her lip. "No, Brandon, this time I'm serious."

That got his attention. "What is it? What's wrong?"

The mechanical voice from the GPS told her, "Turn left and your destination will be on the right." Erica rolled to a stop and looked to her left.

Brandon said, "Where are you?"

"Five sixty-seven Patton Street."

"Patton Street! Are you crazy?"

Now she heard the concern. "Yes, I think so. If I stay in my car and wait, will you meet me here?" Uneasy and on alert, she glanced around, felt unseen eyes watching her every movement. "Because while I'm not comfortable here, I'm not leaving yet, either."

She heard him muttering and thought she heard the words "crazy woman" in there somewhere. "I'm getting you home and then you're going into a safe occupation like accounting or—"

As Brandon continued his tirade, Erica chewed her bottom lip and tuned him out. Brandon worked with her at Finding the Lost, an organization dedicated to finding missing children she'd started after Molly disappeared. Erica, Brandon and Jordan—Brandon's best friend who'd needed a job and came highly recommended—worked together to find children who disappeared either through criminal activity such as kidnapping, or because they ran away.

Erica glanced in the rearview mirror and saw two rough-looking characters headed her way. Her stomach flipped. She whispered, "Oh, yeah, bad idea. Bad, bad idea." She had her self-defense training and her weapon, but—

"Bad idea is right. What made you decide to go there?" he demanded.

"New information about Molly's disappearance," she said with her eyes still on the rearview mirror.

Brandon paused then sighed, a small breath of understanding. "Ah."

Erica had to admit having a good working relationship with several police officers afforded her information she'd otherwise have trouble getting. Katie was her friend and Erica had proved herself trustworthy over the past couple of years. Which was why she now found herself in a possibly very bad situation.

A police cruiser rolled past on the street perpendicular to hers and the two figures behind her took off. She blew out a relieved breath, looked at her GPS one more time and turned left. And there it was.

"Give me about fifteen minutes," Brandon said. "Stay put."

The house she wanted loomed ahead on her right. She pulled to the curb two houses down and cut her engine, then her lights. The street lay empty, quiet as a tomb. She had a perfect view of the front of the house.

Night approached, sneaking in as though even it was reluctant to be found in this area of town.

"Erica? Did you hear me?"

"I heard you. I'll be waiting. A cop drove by and scared away the riffraff."

"If you're determined to stay, stay in the car with the doors locked. I mean it."

"Okay."

She had every intention of staying hunkered down in the front seat and waiting for Brandon to get there.

Until she caught a glimpse of a slim figure in a hoodie, hunched over and slinking down the street toward the deserted house.

Erica's stomach twisted. She reached for the weapon she'd earned the right to carry in a concealed holster, but on second glance, the person didn't look to be a threat. Male or female? She couldn't tell.

Erica glanced at the clock, then back. The figure shot a look over a thin shoulder every so often. Finally, under one of the few working streetlights, Erica caught a glimpse of a pale face and scared eyes that flicked in every direction, watchful and jumpy. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen and walked with quick jerky steps, shoulders bowed, arms crossed protectively across her stomach as though she wanted to make herself as small as possible.

Excitement spun inside Erica. This girl looked familiar. Could it be Lydia?

Did she need help? She kept looking over her shoulder.

Was someone behind her? Following her?

Erica watched for a few minutes until the girl disappeared around the side of the house. She put her hand on the door handle. If that was Lydia, she couldn't let her get away. She started to get out of the vehicle and stopped when she caught sight of another figure who had emerged from the shadows. He trailed the young girl, his steps quick and hurried.

Dread centered itself in the middle of her stomach. This didn't look good. Her fingers tightened on the handle, everything in her wanting to leap from the car. But she'd promised Brandon she'd wait.

When a shrill scream rent the night air, she could wait no longer. Erica threw open the door and raced toward the dark house.

Private investigator Max Powell shifted his eyes toward the older-model Ford Taurus parked on the street and leaned forward over the steering wheel as though that would give him a better view.

The car's open door and empty driver's seat set his nerves on edge. That didn't bode well. His gut tensed. Was his sister in that house? He'd gotten word from one of his street sources that she'd been here last night and would probably be back tonight. Max had rushed over to see if he could intercept her.

Max got out of his truck and peered inside the empty Ford. Relieved to see no evidence of foul play, he walked toward the house, his head swiveling in all directions, trying to discern whether there was a threat nearby or just someone who'd broken down and went looking for help.

Neither was a good option for the owner in this neighborhood.

Two feet away from the front porch steps, he stopped and checked the area one more time. The hair on the back of his neck stood at attention and adrenaline shot through his veins. He didn't have a good feeling about this—at all.

The brief thought that he should call one of his cop buddies flashed through his mind. But he wanted to find Lydia first, have a chance to talk to her before they found her.

He'd take his chances on going in alone.

He pulled his weapon and headed toward the front door.

Erica turned the corner around the back of the house and stopped. The door hung on one hinge, the darkness yawning beyond it now silent. In fact, it was so quiet, Erica wondered if it was possible she'd imagined the scream.

No. That had been real enough. Erica pictured the young girl she'd seen walking down the street. Her destination had been this house. Had that been her scream?

Her heart kicked into overdrive, pounding hard enough to make her gasp.

She swallowed hard and looked around. She couldn't just stand here waiting for Brandon. Where was he? What if the girl needed help?

Nausea swirled in the pit of her stomach as she looked back at the house and thought about her precious baby being held in such a place.

A crack house.

One that kept its secrets hidden, maybe forever lost, her daughter's whereabouts never to be revealed. Had Molly cried for her, expecting her mama to come rushing in to save her?

The girl in the hoodie was someone's baby. And she might need help.

Tears clogged her throat even as she put one foot in front of the other to enter the black hole of a doorway. She hadn't been able to save Molly, but maybe she could help someone else's child.

She slipped just inside and moved to the left. The kitchen. The rancid smell of unwashed bodies, rotten food and…other odors she couldn't identify assaulted her.

Doing her best to ignore the offense to her nose, she listened. And heard nothing but her own ragged breathing. Erica moved farther inside. The moonlight sliced through the kitchen window to her left, casting shadows on the walls. Shadows that danced and mocked her. Should she call out?

Just as she opened her mouth, a creaking sound reached her ears. A thump sounded from down the hall, a scuffle. A muffled curse.

"Help!" a high scared voice called.

Erica dashed through the kitchen and into the hall. She tripped over the debris on the floor and managed to catch herself before she fell. Glass crunched beneath her feet, but she didn't stop. Light pierced the darkness behind her, illuminating the filth surrounding her.

"Hey! Who's in here?"

The deep male voice coming from behind her penetrated Erica's fear even as she rounded the corner into the nearest bedroom only to come to a screeching halt.

A male in his midthirties had the girl by the throat with his left hand, a knife in his right. The girl's fingers clawed at his hand.

"Stop it!" Erica yelled. "Get away from her!"

Running footsteps sounded behind her. Erica moved and placed her back to the wall so she could see who entered the room, but she didn't want to take her eyes off the scene in front of her.

The attacker froze then shoved the crying young woman away from him and stepped toward Erica, knife raised, his eyes darting toward the door then back to her.

Adrenaline flowed, fear pulsed and she swallowed hard as she felt for the weapon in the holster just under her left arm.

In all the situations she'd found herself over the past three years, never once had she been forced to pull her gun.

It looked like tonight might be the night.

In the moonlight, she could make out the man's harsh features: glittering dark eyes and a scar that curved from the corner of his right eye to his jaw.

She shivered, notched her chin and demanded, "Leave her alone!"

"Stay outta this, lady, or you'll be sorry," he snarled.

"Drop the knife! Now!"

Erica whirled to see a man, weapon drawn and aimed at the young man in the torn jeans and black sweatshirt.

Blue lights flickered and flashed against the walls as backup arrived. The attacker licked his lips, shifted his feet.

"Drop it!" the man yelled again. The knife clattered to the floor. Erica nearly wilted with relief. "Up against the wall!" he shouted.

More footsteps sounded in the hallway as the man spoke into his cell phone. Erica's head spun as she watched the young girl's terrified eyes snap to the man then to the window.

Before Erica could call out, the young teen ran to the window and climbed out.

"No! Lydia! Come back."

The man's shout hung on the empty air. Erica raced for the window, the breeze blowing back her blazer. "Police! Hands in the air!"

She spun, shocked to see an officer's weapon trained on her.
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Also, don’t forget that it’s Free Book Friday over at Harlequin.com--if you order two or more books, you’ll get their weekly featured book for free!

This week, the featured book is: McKettrick's Heart by Linda Lael Miller (Harlequin HQN)

I’m giving away SUSHI FOR ONE at the Love Inspired Authors blog

Head over to the Love Inspired Authors blog for a giveaway of Sushi for One! 10 copies being given away!

Interview and giveaway - HIDE AND SEEK by Lynette Eason

Today I have an interview with romantic suspense author Lynette Eason!

About Lynette:

Greenville, SC native, Lynette Eason is the best selling, award winning author of the Women of Justice Series and the Deadly Reunions series. Since 2007, she has written/contracted thirty-three books and three novella/short stories. Currently, she writes for Revell and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. She has won several awards and was a finalist in the prestigious Carol Awards for 2011 and 2013. She was also a finalist in the 2013 ECPA Book Awards. Her most recent book, When A Secret Kills hit #12 on the CBA Bestseller list for the month of June 2013. Lynette is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). Lynette can be found online at www.lynetteeason.com and www.facebook.com/lynette.eason and @lynetteeason on Twitter.

And now, here’s me and Lynette!

1) What gave you the idea for HIDE AND SEEK?

I get asked a lot where I get my ideas. I honestly don’t always know. They just come to me. LOL. I knew I wanted to write a series involving characters who find lost children. Hence Finding the Lost, Inc. was established. I also knew I needed to diversify the story lines, meaning they had to be different enough to be interesting, yet all deal with missing children. Book 1 is Hide and Seek. The heroine’s daughter was kidnapped three years ago and she became a skiptracer to do whatever it took to find her. In Book 2, CHRISTMAS COVER UP, the heroine is a police detective whose sister was kidnapped fourteen years ago. She became a detective to find her sister but has hit nothing but dead ends. She hires Finding the Lost, Inc to get involved. In book 3 which doesn’t have a title yet, the heroine IS the missing child who wants to find her family.

2) If your heroine had a favorite dessert, what would it be and why?

Chocolate cake. Very simple, yet absolutely delicious. She might even go a little crazy and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

3) If your hero could have any car, what would he choose and why?

My hero’s not really into material things. He’s not flashy, but he does admire a good set of wheels. He would probably choose a king cab truck that would be big enough for the instant family he’s going marry but serviceable and dependable. He also would use the truck to help others if they needed it.

4) What was your favorite/funnest scene to write in HIDE AND SEEK?

Probably the ending. I always enjoy the tense moments where the heroine or hero is in trouble and rescue is on the way. I also love the villain reveal. That moment when the reader goes: “So he/she’s the bad guy!” Love those kind of scenes.

Camy, thanks for having me! These were fun questions to ask. I hope your blog readers enjoy them also. I have a question for those interested in entering the contest: What are your favorite kind of characters? What kinds of occupations do you like to read about?

Thanks again, Camy!

Camy: Thanks for being here today, Lynette!

Lynette is also giving away FIVE COPIES of her Love Inspired Suspense!

Hide and Seek
by Lynette Eason

SHE WON'T GIVE UP Erica James has spent the past three years as a skip tracer, hunting down others and hoping one day it will lead to her kidnapped daughter. Now she has a new suspect—Max Powell's missing sister. Max, a private investigator, has found evidence that connects the two missing girls, and together, he and Erica search for answers. The closer they get to finding answers, the stronger their feelings for each other become. But the kidnapper will stop at nothing—including murder—to keep them from finding Erica's daughter. 
To enter:

You must join my email newsletter to be eligible for this contest. Fill out the form below. Be sure to read the rules.

Extra Twitter entries: Get one extra entry per day if you tweet about this giveaway:
@camytang is giving away a copy of Lynette Eason’s Love Inspired Suspense HIDE AND SEEK! http://is.gd/2dPOp6
(Be sure to include @camytang so I can see your tweet and give you your extra entry.)

Extra Facebook entries: Get one extra entry per day if you share this Facebook post on your own Facebook profile and/or page: https://www.facebook.com/CamyTangAuthor/posts/10151533292117620
(Be sure you share the post at the link above--go to the link and then click "share". Make sure you set the privacy of your share to “public” so I can see that you shared it and give you your extra entry even if I’m not on your friends list.)

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Review: Harmony Guide: Lace & Eyelets: 250 Stitches to Knit

Harmony Guide: Lace & Eyelets: 250 Stitches to Knit by Erika Knight

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I'm impressed at the number of different lace patterns here. There are some that are truly unique. Some are similar to each other, but I haven't yet seen any that are too alike.

I have only two things I don't like about this book:

1) Some of the samples of the lace patterns were knit with too small a needle or the samples weren't stretched enough before photographing, because the pattern is very hard to discern. Several pattern samples look very scrunched up and it's hard to know if the pattern is appropriate for the project I'm doing.

2) There doesn't seem to be any organization to how the patterns were listed in the book. They're not grouped by type, by number of rows, by multiples of stitches, by suggested yarn gauge, or even by name. Whenever I need a pattern, I have to page through the entire book. There isn't even an index listing all the patterns so if I'm looking for a particular one, again I have to page through the entire book.

Sometimes I'm browsing through the book, looking for a pattern appropriate for the project I'm considering, but many times I find myself wanting to find a particular pattern and I have to page through the entire book looking for it. It's very frustrating. I'm rather surprised, because Interweave magazines tend to be very high quality and I expected better organization of a stitch guide. I'm also a little surprised they haven't come out with an ebook version by now. If they had, I'd definitely buy it because it would make it easier to search the book.

Overall, LOTS of really good patterns, but not my favorite knitting book because of the frustration factor.



View all my reviews

Review: Is It Just Me?

Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Absolutely. Hilarious. The audiobook version is a must.

I adore Miranda! I wish I could buy her TV show here in the states!



View all my reviews

Winner and excerpt - Dangerous Waters by Sandra Robbins

The winner of
Dangerous Waters
by Sandra Robbins
Is
Amy C.

Congratulations! (I've emailed you. Please email me at camy {at] camytang[dot}com if you didn’t get the email message.)

I know the rest of you are crying into your tomato basil mozzarella salad that you didn’t win. Cheer up! Order the book!

SOME SECRETS ARE MEANT TO STAY BURIED Laura Webber is determined to uncover the truth behind her parents' murders. But after being interviewed about the unsolved case, she's abducted and dumped in the Mississippi River with a warning to stop digging up the past. With her life in jeopardy, she knows that her former fiancé, Brad Austin, is the only person she can turn to for help. The cold-case detective has spent years trying to forget Laura, yet he can't turn her away. But before Brad can wrap her in his protection, will their reunion be cut short by a killer threatening to silence Laura forever? The Cold Case Files: Uncovering secrets of the past
Excerpt of chapter one:

Even though Laura Webber had watched the prerecorded television interview on the six o'clock news, she couldn't wait to see the repeat at ten. She'd spent the time between the broadcasts finishing up paperwork in her office at the hospital, and then switched on the television to catch it again on the late news. She stared at her pale face on the screen and wondered how her friend and roommate, Grace Kincaid, had ever talked her into doing that interview.

She'd promised herself when she'd returned to Memphis she wouldn't dredge up the memories she'd lived with for the past nineteen years. And yet, there she was on the most watched television station in the city telling how her parents had died in a car bomb explosion when she was ten years old.

Grace, ever the professional reporter, stared into the camera to close the interview. "The deaths of Lawrence Webber and his wife, Madeline, are one of the many unsolved cases that have prompted local authorities to establish a new Cold Case unit within the police department. The Webbers are but one family who hopes they will soon have answers concerning the fates of their loved ones. I am Grace Kincaid reporting for WKIZ-TV. Thank you for watching."

Laura pressed the remote to switch off the television, leaned forward and folded her arms on her desk. At first she hadn't wanted to do the interview. The memory of seeing the car bomb explode and engulf her parents in flames still haunted her. Grace had reasoned with her that people needed to be reminded that a federal prosecutor and his wife had been murdered while his children watched, and she was right. It felt good to know she had told her parents' story.

She glanced at the clock and jumped to her feet. Time to get home. If she was to make it to her early appointments with clients at Cornerstone Clinic in the morning, she needed some sleep. She grabbed her purse hanging on the back of her chair and slid its strap over her shoulder. A chill rippled down her spine as a thought flashed in her mind. The next hospital shift wouldn't occur for another hour. The parking lot would be deserted this late.

Her chin dipped against her chest, and she covered her face with her hands. Through the years she'd thought of what she'd lost that summer day years ago when her parents' car exploded, but it was what she'd gained that kept her awake at nights—the fear that someone was watching her and her brother, just waiting for the chance to annihilate her entire family.

After a moment, she took a deep breath, switched off her office lights and headed for the parking lot. Before stepping outside the hospital, she peered through the door's glass at the dark shadows covering the asphalt beyond the exit. Several streetlights appeared to be out of order. She squinted into the distance trying to remember where she'd parked her car. With the lot filled when she arrived earlier this afternoon, she hadn't been able to get her spot near the building. Scanning the area, she finally spotted her vehicle underneath one of the poles that burned brightly. The distance between where she stood and her car seemed to grow as she stared at it. After a moment she squared her shoulders, stepped from the building and walked toward her car. Her gaze didn't waver as she moved.

Halfway to her destination, the sound of a car door closing echoed across the parking lot, and she froze in place. She cast a glance around but didn't see anyone. A footstep echoed off the asphalt. Was it her imagination, or was someone out there?

She dug in her purse for her keys as she bolted toward her car. Without warning an arm circled her waist and squeezed the breath from her. A hand clamped a cloth over her mouth and nose, blocking the scream rising in her throat. Twisting and kicking, she tried to loosen her attacker's grip, but it was no use. Dizziness swept over her, and she struggled against it. But there was nothing to ward off the darkness that enveloped her.

Disoriented, she awoke with a start. Where was she? How long had she been out? She strained to catch a glimpse of something in the inky darkness that surrounded her, but she could see nothing. She blinked, and her eyelashes brushed against something.

She lay on her side, her arms behind her back. With a tug, she tried to pull her hands to her chest, but something cut into her wrists. She moaned in pain as the truth began to seep into her head. She couldn't see because a blindfold covered her eyes, and she couldn't move because her hands were tied behind her back.

What had happened? Bits and pieces of memory trickled into her brain. The hospital—she had left after watching the interview on TV and walked toward her car. But she didn't recall getting in it.

Then she remembered a cloth over her nose, a man's arm around her waist. Fear rose in her throat. She had broken the first rule she gave crime victims in her counseling sessions—always be mindful of your surroundings. But she hadn't been. Not until it was too late.

Now she lay blindfolded and bound somewhere. She stilled and listened for any clue that might give a hint of her surroundings. The steady hum of an engine and the slapping of tires on pavement answered her question. She was in some kind of vehicle heading toward an unknown destination.

She strained to pull her hands free, but it was no use. Her head jerked at the sharp slap to her face. "It's no use, Laura," a man's voice whispered in her ear. "You can't get loose."

The smell of tobacco and alcohol assaulted her nostrils and she gagged. Then cold fear shot through her veins. He knew her name. This was no random abduction. It was personal.

"Wh-what do you want with me?" Her dry throat burned so that the words were barely more than a whisper.

"I want to talk to you about your television interview."

Her heart pounded, and she tried to swallow but her mouth had gone dry. "Wh-what about it?"

Something sharp nicked the skin beneath her chin. Laura tried to pull back from the knife's tip, but the man pressed it closer. "Some people I know don't want you talking about what happened. They think it's better to bury the past. What do you think?"

Tears rolled down her face. "What are you going to do to me?"

He laughed, and the sound sent chill bumps down her spine. "I'm going to make sure you don't talk to anybody else about that car bomb that killed your parents. Your search for answers is going to stop tonight. Understand?"

There was no denying what his words insinuated. He intended to kill her. Her body shook, but she pushed back the groans that rumbled in her throat. The vehicle came to a stop, and another man's voice cut through the silence. "We're here. Get it over with quick."

Before she realized what was happening, she was jerked from the vehicle and stood upright. A man's hand grasped her upper arm so tightly she thought it might cut off her circulation. He reached behind and yanked the ties from her around her hands. She pulled her hands up and rubbed her wrists.

Her knees threatened to collapse at the nudge of a gun against her back. "Now walk forward," he muttered. "And don't look back. Just walk."

"P-please," she begged.

"Walk," he snarled and pushed her forward.

Laura took a hesitant step and then another. Cold water seeped through the soles of her shoes, but she stumbled on. Her heart beat faster every time she moved. Would this step be her last?

A sound like water lapping against a shore reached her ears, and she shuddered at the familiar sound. He had brought her to the bank of the Mississippi River. Now she understood. A shot in the back, and her body would float downriver toward the Gulf of Mexico and never be seen again.

She clenched her fists and thought of her brother, Mark, his wife, Betsy, and their new daughter, Amanda, on Ocracoke Island. She'd never see them again. "God," she whispered, "watch over my family. Don't let them grieve for me."

Cold water rolled over her feet, and she hesitated. "Keep walking," the voice yelled.

She took another step and knew she now stood in the river. She inched forward until the water reached her knees, but the shot still didn't come. Suddenly a motor cranked and tires squealed. She held her breath and waited, but nothing happened.

With shaking hands she reached up, pulled the blindfold from her eyes and turned to stare to her left. The lights of Memphis blinked in the distance. The bridge that connected the city to Arkansas lit the night, and she could see cars whizzing along its roadway. It only took her a moment to figure out that she'd been brought to the northern end of Mud Island.

She turned slowly and stared behind her. There was no one there, and no vehicle sat at the side of the road. With tears streaming down her face she waded out of the water and collapsed on her hands and knees on the riverbank. A combination of fear and relief surged through her body, and she gulped great breaths of air into her lungs.

The melody of "Can't Help Falling in Love," her favorite Elvis song and the ringtone on her cell phone, pierced the darkness. She stumbled to her feet and headed toward the sound. Her purse lay in the grass about ten feet from the water's edge.

She pulled her phone from the purse and rammed it to her ear. "Hello?"

The voice that had chilled her in the vehicle drifted into her ear. "This was a warning, Laura. Let the past go, or next time you won't be so lucky." She cringed at the evil chuckle ringing in her ear. "Be sure and check the local news in the morning. They say history repeats itself. Just make sure it doesn't happen to you, too."

The caller disconnected. Laura pulled the phone from her ear and stared at it. After a moment she sank to her knees again, wrapped her arms around her waist and wailed until she was exhausted. Then she pushed to her feet and began to walk toward the lights of Memphis.

Brad Austin yawned and rubbed the back of his neck as he strode down the hall at police headquarters. He'd been up all night, and he was exhausted. But there was no time to rest. He hadn't thought this job as one of the detectives heading the new Cold Case unit would be as demanding as his former detective job, but so far it had kept him even busier.

He glanced at his watch and frowned. 7:00 a.m. He'd been at the hospital since eleven last night. If Seth and Alex, his partners, were in the office, he'd bring them up to speed on the Nathan Carson lead before he headed back to either the hospital or to the medical examiner's office, depending on whether Carson lived or died.

As Brad walked past the break room, he smelled coffee. That's what he needed right now. He stepped inside, poured himself a cup and sipped the hot liquid as he thought back over the events of the past few days.

Three days ago he'd received a telephone call from a man who identified himself as Nathan Carson, longtime accountant for a local crime family headed by Tony Lynch. Brad had been interested immediately because every cop in town wanted to take down the Lynch organization. Now with Tony retired and living in Florida, a new leader had risen from the ranks, but so far his identity had remained a secret.

At first Brad had been skeptical, but when Carson offered to identify the new leader of the family, he became interested. In addition, Carson also claimed to have information about the five-year-old cold case of a murdered undercover policeman for the Drug Task Force found on the banks of the Mississippi River in Memphis. He hinted at knowing what the officer had discovered shortly before he was killed. That statement had been enough to convince Brad this could be the lead he'd been waiting for.

Only the police and the FBI who'd been called in after the murder knew about the officer's last message to his superiors before his death. He'd discovered that drugs were but one of the Lynch family's businesses. Another was the transportation and sale of illegal aliens along the Mississippi.

Carson had promised to meet with Brad at his office today. That wasn't going to happen now because Nathan Carson's car had exploded in a ball of flames last night when he'd turned the ignition in the parking garage of the office building where he worked. Now he fought for his life in one of the city's best trauma units.

Brad narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He didn't believe in coincidences. What were the odds that two cold cases with suspected ties to the Lynch organization could be connected by a car bomb? The bomb squad had the remains of last night's bomb right now, and he could hardly wait to find out if it bore any resemblance to the one that had killed federal prosecutor Lawrence Webber and his wife nineteen years ago.

That case was another of the files that had been turned over to him when he'd taken this new job, and for personal reasons he'd like to see it solved more than any other. He drained the last drop of his coffee and threw the disposable cup in the trash before he headed down the hall.

As he approached his office, a uniformed officer stepped out and closed the door. "Good morning, Officer Johnson," Brad said. "What can I do for you this morning?"

The man jerked his thumb toward the closed door. "Late last night patrol picked up a woman they spotted walking from the direction of the boat ramp on Mud Island. They brought her to the station, but she insisted she could only talk to you. I just left her in your office."

"What she was doing out there alone late at night?"

The officer shook his head. "I have no idea. Wouldn't tell us a thing except she had information about one of your cold cases." He glanced down at his watch. "I'm off duty, and I'm ready to go home."

"I wish I could go home," Brad said with a sigh. "But it looks like my day is off to a good start. Are Seth and Alex in yet?"

"Didn't see 'em."

"Well, thanks for bringing the woman down here. I'll see what she wants."

Brad opened the door and stepped into the office. The woman sat slumped over the desk in his cubicle. Her head was buried in her crossed arms on top of the desk, and she didn't stir as he closed the door. She appeared to be sound asleep.

He cleared his throat, but she didn't move. He waited a moment before he crossed to where she sat and stopped beside her. "May I help you?" he asked.

A soft snore was the only response he received.

Brad grasped her shoulder and gave a gentle shake. "May I help you?" he repeated in a louder voice.

A scream tore from her mouth, and she jumped to her feet. She recoiled against the desk and stared at him with wild eyes. Then she relaxed and let out a long breath. "Oh, thank goodness, it's you, Brad."

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Guest and giveaway - Dangerous Waters by Sandra Robbins

Today my guest is Love Inspired Suspense author Sandra Robbins!

About Sandra:

Sandra Robbins, former teacher and principal, is an award winning multi-published author of Christian fiction who lives with her husband in Tennessee. Angel of the Cove, her first book in the Harvest House Publishers historical romance series Smoky Mountain Dreams, released in August, 2012, and was recently named the 2013 winner in the Single Title Inspirational Category of the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. This award is given by the Birmingham Southern Magic Chapter of Romance Writers of America for excellence in writing romance. In addition in 2013 her Love Inspired Suspense books Shattered Identity and Fatal Disclosure were both awarded the HOLT Medallion in different categories of the Virginia Romance Writers of America contest to honor outstanding literary talent.

Dangerous Waters the first book in her Cold Case Files Series released the first of August and will be followed by Beyond These Hills, the third book in her Smoky Mountain Dream series in September.

To find out more about Sandra and her books, visit her at her website at http://sandrarobbins.net or email her at sandra@sandrarobbins.net.

And now, here’s Sandra!

My Kind of Town


I've lived in the South all my life. I love the drawl of the voices I hear every day and the friendly attitude of the people around me. It makes you feel good to drive down the road and be greeted with a wave or a nod by the drivers of the cars you meet. It doesn't matter whether you know the person or not. It's polite to acknowledge them.

When I began to write, I decided to set my stories in the South. The latest book, the first in a three book series titled The Cold Case files, that released this week is Dangerous Waters, and its set in Memphis, Tennessee. I lived in Memphis for a few years, and I loved that city. It's still one of my favorite places to visit. I go there to shop or to see a play or just enjoy being in the city. A few months ago, I attended the Broadway touring company of the musical Memphis and got to see it in my favorite theater, The Memphis Orpheum. It thrilled me to hear the lead actor sing “Memphis in My Soul” because I kind of felt the soul of Memphis when I wrote Dangerous Waters.

Even if you’ve ever been to Memphis, you probably know it sits on the Mississippi River, and that great river is very important to the plot of my story. Of course you can’t visit to the town that gave us the blues without going to Beale Street or taking a tour of the old Sun studios where Elvis recorded or seeing Stax Records that gave us soul music. Then there’s Graceland where Elvis lived, and the National Civil Rights Museum where Martin Luther King was assassinated.

So if you haven’t been to Memphis, I hope my book will give you an introduction to a beautiful city. And then come on down, have some of Memphis’s famous bar-b-cued ribs, take a stroll down Beale Street, and spend a lazy afternoon watching Old Man River roll by.

Camy: Thanks for being here, Sandra!

Sandra’s also giving away a copy of her latest release!

Dangerous Waters
by Sandra Robbins

SOME SECRETS ARE MEANT TO STAY BURIED Laura Webber is determined to uncover the truth behind her parents' murders. But after being interviewed about the unsolved case, she's abducted and dumped in the Mississippi River with a warning to stop digging up the past. With her life in jeopardy, she knows that her former fiancé, Brad Austin, is the only person she can turn to for help. The cold-case detective has spent years trying to forget Laura, yet he can't turn her away. But before Brad can wrap her in his protection, will their reunion be cut short by a killer threatening to silence Laura forever? The Cold Case Files: Uncovering secrets of the past
To enter:

You must join my email newsletter to be eligible for this contest--go to my website, and look for the purple chair to sign up for my newsletter. Then fill out the form below. Be sure to read the rules.

Extra Twitter entries: Get one extra entry per day if you tweet about this giveaway:
Christian romantic suspense giveaway @camytang Sandra Robbin’s Love Inspired Suspense DANGEROUS WATERS! http://is.gd/T1Ht2j
(Be sure to include @camytang so I can see your tweet and give you your extra entry.)

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(Be sure you share the post at the link above--go to the link and then click "share". Make sure you set the privacy of your share to “public” so I can see that you shared it and give you your extra entry even if I’m not on your friends list.)

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Excerpt - Fatal Inheritance by Sandra Orchard

Fatal Inheritance
by Sandra Orchard

"YOU DON'T BELONG HERE." Someone wants to stop Becki Graw from claiming her inheritance. Police officer Joshua Rayne is just as determined to keep his beautiful neighbor safe. She may not be the tomboy Josh remembers, but she's just as stubborn. Becki is intent on keeping her grandparents' remote farmhouse—no matter the danger. Becki's feelings for her childhood crush may be rekindled, but she's seen too much to risk opening her heart. As the threats against Becki escalate, the list of suspects grows longer. Josh must convince Becki to trust him with her heart—and her life—before a madman ends their chance at happiness…permanently.
Excerpt of chapter one:

At the sight of her grandparents' old farmhouse, with its wide front porch and empty rocking chairs, Becki Graw blinked back bittersweet tears. All her life she'd longed to live in Serenity's beautiful countryside, but not like this. She stopped at the roadside mailbox and grabbed the mail—a single letter addressed to her. No return address.

That's strange. Who would know to write to her here? She slid her thumb under the flap and pulled out the single typewritten page.

You don't belong here.

Her heart jolted at the cold, black words. Who—

She crushed the note in her fist. Sarah. Becki floored the gas and veered into the driveway, then punched her sister's number on her cell phone.

Sarah answered on the first ring.

"You've sunk to new lows," Becki fumed.

"I warned you I'd go to the lawyer if you didn't agree to sell and split everything fifty-fifty. You should've listened to me."

Becki ground to a stop in front of the white two-story willed to her by Gran and Gramps. It wasn't as if they hadn't left her sister anything. She'd gotten most of the liquid assets, not to mention all the financial help when her husband was in law school. Even if Becki sold the house, Sarah probably wouldn't come out that much further ahead.

While Becki would lose the only place that had ever felt like home.

She looked at the darkened windows and empty porch and swallowed a rush of grief. "I'm talking about the note."

"What note? I didn't send any note."

"Right. Because people are lining up to scare me out of here."

To think she'd once idolized her beautiful older sister. No more. At twenty-seven, Becki could finally see Sarah for who she really was—a spoiled trophy wife as materialistic and money-grubbing as her flashy lawyer husband. "Gran and Gramps wanted this house to stay in the family, and I'm here to stay whether you like it or not." Becki punched the power button and jumped from her packed-to-the-roof car.

Inhaling the sweet scent of summer in Ontario's farm country, she shoved Sarah's threats from her mind and turned to the home she loved so dearly.

If only the carbon-monoxide detector had worked the way it was supposed to, Gran and Gramps would be bustling outside to wrap her in their arms this very moment.

Becki scrunched her eyes closed as memories flooded her mind. Swinging from the barn loft into a pile of hay. Fishing in the creek with Gramps. Collecting fragrant bouquets of bouncing bets for Gran. Her summers here had been her happiest. More than once she'd begged to be allowed to live here always.

But not like this—not without them. She pressed her arm against the ache in her chest.

The sun dipped behind the trees with a splash of brilliant reds and purples as if Gramps himself was painting a welcome-home banner across the sky.

I can do this. I want to do this.

Let Sarah call her crazy for quitting her admin job and giving up the lease on her apartment. So what if she'd never find a husband in the boonies? Maybe she didn't want one. If Sarah's and Mom's unhappy marriage experiences were anything to go by, she was better off single.

Besides, Sarah didn't really care whether Becki found a husband or a decent job in Serenity. All she cared about was squeezing more inheritance out of their grandparents' estate.

Indignant-sounding meows drifted from the weathered hipped-roof barn behind the house.

Kittens! Memories of laughter-filled afternoons playing with each summer's new litter propelled her feet toward the barn. The light was fading fast, but from the way Mama Cat carried on, Becki would have no trouble finding them.

The meowing stopped.

She hurried past the enormous sliding door and pushed through the regular door next to it.

A flight of barn swallows swooped out a hole in the roof.

She paused while her eyes adjusted to the dim light slanting through the gaps in the weathered boards.

A yowl sounded from the back of the barn, but instead of a cat, her gaze lit on Gramps's 1913 Cadillac. Oh, wow! How could she have forgotten about Gramps's antique in here?

She drew in a deep breath. Now it was hers, along with everything else at the farm.

Sadness gripped her. Riding in the old car wouldn't be the same without Gramps at the wheel. She just wanted her grandparents back.

She picked her way around the farm implements, her gaze tracking to the car every few seconds. How she'd loved riding with Gran and Gramps, all dressed up in old-fashioned clothes, to the church's anniversary Sunday celebration.

Becki danced her fingers over the hood and marveled at how little dust coated it even after all these weeks. Gramps had always taken such pride in keeping it polished.

A soft mew whispered from the shadows.

Grateful for the distraction, Becki rounded the car. "Here, kitty."

A thunk sounded behind her. Heart pounding, she whirled on her heel. A puff of dust floated up from around a block of wood on the floor.

She peered up at the hayloft, thinking a cat must have knocked it down. The dust and smell of moldy hay scratched her lungs.

Movement flashed in her peripheral vision. Something big. Much bigger than a cat.

She ducked behind an upturned wheelbarrow and squinted into the shadows. "Hello." She took a deep breath, forced her voice louder. "Anyone there?"

A faint echo taunted her.

She strained to listen for movement, but she couldn't hear anything over the roar of blood pulsing past her ears. She edged around the wheelbarrow and scanned the other direction.

Something shuffled behind her. She spun toward the sound. "Who's there?" A figure lunged out of the shadows, swinging a hunk of wood.

She thrust up her arms.

The wood glanced off and slammed into the side of her head.

White light exploded in her vision. She dropped to her knees, tasting blood. The ground rushed toward her.

Swishing whispered past her ears as blackness swallowed her.

Becki gripped her pounding head. What happened?

She opened one eye. The sight of a strange, shadowy room jerked her fully awake. Unfamiliar smells assaulted her. Dirt. And…

She froze. Now she remembered. Gramps's barn. Someone had hit her.

She lifted her head a few inches and waited for the ringing in her ears to subside. She rolled onto her back and peered up at the loft. Was that where he'd been hiding?

Out of nowhere a beam of light flashed over the hood of the car.

She swallowed a scream.

The beam jigged across the barn wall, casting ghoulish shadows.

Hide. She had to hide. Pain rocketed through her head the instant she tried to rise. Gritting her teeth, she dragged herself away from the car—the first place he'd look. Only…why'd he leave, then come back?

She shrank behind an old tractor tire. The reason couldn't be good.

"Bec? You in here?" Joshua Rayne called into his neighbor's barn.

A gasp came from somewhere in the shadows. He rushed forward. "Bec?"

"Over here."

Josh jerked his flashlight beam toward the tentative response. Bec sat huddled behind a tractor tire, her face chalky-white.

Lowering the beam, he hurried to her. "What happened? Why are you hiding back here?"

"You scared me."

His heart kicked at the crack in her voice. "I'm sorry." He clasped her hand. Her fingers were far more delicate than those of the freckled tomboy she'd been the last time he'd found her hiding in this barn. He tugged her to her feet. "I saw the barn door open and—"

She swayed and clutched her head.

"What's wrong?" He directed his flashlight beam toward her face.

Shielding her eyes, she leaned back against the tractor tire with a moan and soothed her swollen lower lip with the tip of her tongue. "Someone hit me."

"Hit you?" Apparently that car he'd seen hightail it out of the farmer's lane a minute ago hadn't been just a couple of teens looking for a place to park as he'd supposed. He scanned her head for signs of trauma. "Are you okay?"

She pushed his light away. "I will be when you get that out of my eyes."

Josh redirected his flashlight to the floor.

A four-foot length of timber lay on the ground a few feet away.

"Did you see who hit you?"

"I just saw a shadowy figure."

"Tall? Short? Fat? Skinny?"

"I don't know." Bec clutched her head again. "Your average-size shadow."

He needed to get her inside and check her over properly. Irritability could be a sign of a concussion. He quickly swept his flashlight in widening circles. "Why'd you come in here in the dark?"

"I heard cats meowing and hoped to find kittens."

Of course. Same old Becki.

She stepped past him and stroked the hood of her grandfather's old Cadillac. "Then I saw Gramps's car."

At the emotion in her voice, Josh's breath hitched. Her grandfather had had a way of making troubles seem not so bad. The hours he and Josh had spent together tinkering on the "old gal" had been a lifeline after his mother had up and left Serenity without so much as a backward glance. But he couldn't help Josh through this loss.

Josh forced his mind back to the present, to his police training. "Did you hear or see anything that could help us identify who hit you?"

She started to shake her head, then winced.

Josh resisted the urge to wrap an arm around her shoulders and instead directed his flashlight at the items a thief might have been after. Nothing appeared to be missing, but he couldn't be sure until daylight.

Misty twined herself around his legs, purring. He lifted her into his arms and scratched her chin. "I guess you're looking for your supper, huh?" He turned to Bec, remembering how much she'd adored the cats as a kid. "I've been feeding them since your grandparents." He lowered Misty to the ground and let the explanation trail off rather than dredge up her loss. He pointed his flashlight at a box beneath the car. "The kittens are under there."

Her delighted squeal tugged a grin to his lips—his first since finding her grandparents' lifeless bodies.

He tugged the box out from under the car.

Bec sat cross-legged on the floor and gathered the kittens into her arms.

Josh chuckled. She hadn't changed a bit. For all her tomboy ways, she was still a soft touch. He gave Misty fresh food and water and then looked around as best he could without leaving Bec in total darkness. If only the barn had overhead lighting, he might find some clue as to who she'd surprised. Most likely kids out for a lark. He hadn't recognized the car he'd spotted as belonging to any of their usual troublemakers. He wished he'd gotten the license plate number.

Josh let his gaze settle back on Bec. Seeing her delight in the wiggling kittens, he could almost feel the years strip away to when they were both kids and life was carefree.

She winced, her forehead creasing.

"Hey, we'd better get you inside. Take a look at that bump. You might need to see a doctor."

A frown curved her lips, but she returned the kittens to the box and pushed it back under the car, which told him more than words would how lousy she felt. When she was a kid, not even promises of chocolate cake and ice cream had been incentive enough to drag her away from the squirming fur balls.

He didn't miss the way she braced her hand on the car fender to pull herself up, either. He moved to her side and, lighting the floor ahead of them, guided her with a light touch to the small of her back. "Do you feel nauseous?"

"A little. But I haven't eaten since lunch."

Outside the barn, he steered her toward his place. "Did you lose consciousness after you were hit?"

"I'm not sure. I think, maybe. Everything went black for a second or two."

"You probably have a concussion. I can do a few tests to see if you should go to the hospital."

She walked a little taller. "I'm fine really. I just need a couple of painkillers. All the doctor's going to do is tell me to go home and take it easy."

"Humor me."

She squinted up at him, then at the tree line that separated their properties and abruptly stopped. "Hey, where are you taking me?"

"To my house. You said you hadn't eaten, right?"

"You don't have to feed me."

"You're in no condition to cook. Besides, it'll be nice to have someone to eat with." Life had been too quiet around here since her grandparents' deaths.

"I don't want to put you out," she protested.

He nudged her forward. "It's no imposition."

She wavered a moment but soon started walking again. "Gramps told me you took over your parents' place after your dad died. Did you still tinker with Gramps on the old car?"

"Yup. Went with them on one of those organized tours they were always taking, too. Saw some cool places most tourists don't get to see."

"I wish I could've gone on one. Gramps said he'd take me when I turned thirteen, but that's when Mom left Dad, and I never got to come back for any more summers."

He steered her around his truck in the driveway. "Yeah, come to think of it, life got pretty quiet around here without you girls."

She swatted him.

He let out an oomph and clutched his gut. "Very funny."

He smiled to himself and mentally ticked off two of his concussion tests. Nothing wrong with Bec's memory or her aim.

He led her to the side of the house and pulled out his key.

"Feel like a steak?"

"Yuck."

"You're kidding? You still prefer a burger to steak?"

"Yup."

He pushed open the door, flicked on the light and motioned her in ahead of him. "What a cheap date. Guys must love you."

She squirmed past him into the kitchen, then hesitated, her gaze flagging about, pausing briefly on his Home Is Where the Heart Is plaque, then stealing his way. She looked more uneasy than a suspect in custody.

But unlike with his suspects, he felt strangely sad seeing her this way. "Have a seat at the table while I light the barbecue." He returned a moment later to find her nuzzling his three-legged pooch.

She spluttered at its exuberant kisses and wiped off the slobber with the back of her hand. "What's his name?"

"Tripod."

"I should have guessed. He moves amazingly quick for having only three legs."

Josh filled Tripod's dish, and the pooch demonstrated just how quick. "While the barbecue heats up, let's take a look at this bump of yours."

She finger combed her hair as if only just realizing how messy it was.

He resisted the urge to tease. Her honey-brown corkscrew curls had always poked out every which way and been peppered with hay or leaves or twigs, depending on where she'd last played.

Dropping her hand, she fidgeted under his perusal. "That bad, huh?"

"I didn't say anything."

She rolled her eyes. "You didn't have to."

He didn't bother to hide his grin. "Show me where you got hit."

She leaned forward and pointed to the back of her head.

He palpated the area. Her hair was incredibly soft and smelled faintly like citrus. "That's some goose egg." He reached into his catchall drawer and pulled out a penlight. "Look at me."

Her shimmering brown eyes turned to him, framed by the longest lashes he'd ever seen. Natural, too.

Her head tilted. "You planning to do something with that light?"

"Patience," he muttered at being caught staring. He flicked the penlight on and flashed it across each eye. "They look good. Equal and reactive."

"Why, thank you, Josh," she drawled, batting those long lashes. "That's the most romantic thing a man's ever said about my eyes."

"What?" He blinked, glimpsed her smirk and gave her a nudge. "You're cute, Bec." He tossed the penlight back into the drawer. "Now, stand up, arms out from your sides, and touch each hand to your nose."

She stood and obeyed his directions effortlessly.

"Okay, take a seat." He opened the cupboard next to the sink and grabbed a glass and the bottle of painkillers. He tipped two from the bottle, filled the glass with water and handed them to Bec. "Take these, and if you want, you can lie down on the sofa until supper's ready."

She planted her palms on the table and pushed to her feet. "I can't let you cook alone," she protested, then immediately clutched the side of her head.

"As stubborn as ever, I see." He scooped her into his arms and gently lowered her onto the sofa. "Rest. That's an order."
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Also, don’t forget that it’s Free Book Friday over at Harlequin.com--if you order two or more books, you’ll get their weekly featured book for free!

This week, the featured book is: The Deputy Gets Her Man by Stella Bagwell (Special Edition)

Grace Livingston Hill romances free on Google Books

I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses. And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel.

I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love.

And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fascinating! GLH wrote from before 1900 through the 1940s, and her books reflect what was, to her, “current” culture. Reading from her characters’ points of view about the flappers of the 20s to both world wars is really interesting to me.

Her books have been reprinted several times, mostly recently in paperback forms by Bantam, Tyndale, and Barbour. But I discovered a few years ago that some of her older books are now out of copyright and so the scanned ebooks are available for free on Google Books.

Google Books has both .epub and .pdf files available for you to download. The .epub versions can be read on any ebook reader, but they were created by processing the .pdf file with a word recognition software to translate it into a book file and there are often typos because the process isn’t perfect.

I like to download the .pdf files because those are the actual scanned pages from the original hardcover books, and when I read it on my computer or if I sideload it onto my Nook, it’s almost like holding the original hardcover book in my hands, minus the silverfish and weak binding and weird library smell. :)

(If you have a Kindle, you can send the .epub version to Amazon to email to your Kindle. I’m not certain how to sideload .pdf files to your Kindle, but I know it’s possible.)

I thought I’d link to the free GLH books I found on Google Books in case any of you would like to read them!

Aunt Crete’s Emancipation

Meek, work-worn Aunt Crete didn't mind staying home while her sister and niece hurried off to the seashore for a holiday with their high-society friends. The thought of having her other sister's son, Donald, all to herself brought unaccustomed happiness to Aunt Crete's heart. But how was she going to explain Carrie and Luella's rude departure to the man they had scorned as a "backwoods cousin," even though none of them had ever met him. Ah well, Aunt Crete knew she would love Donald, no matter what.

But the man who comes knocking on Aunt Crete's door is tall and handsome -- and it quickly becomes clear that the disapproving Carrie and selfish Luella have made a decision they will come to regret. Aunt Crete alone enters the fairytale world her benevolent nephew has come to offer.…

The Grace Livingston Hill website has a great feature with more information about the book and the time period, which was sometime before 1910:
http://www.gracelivingstonhill.com/aunt-cretes-emancipation-feature.html

I read this one a long time ago and remember really enjoying it. It’s not a romance per se, but it’s a sweet book.

A Chautauqua Idyl

Grace’s first published book was A Chautauqua Idyll. Published in 1887, Grace wrote the book in an effort to earn enough money to take the family to the Chautauqua Lake program in New York when her father’s health had forced them to move to Florida. It was the beginning of a long and productive writing career.

I haven’t read this one, yet, but I was happy to get an ebook copy since it’s hard to find in paperback.

The City of Fire

Lynn, the beautiful daughter of a small town minister, is deeply troubled by the barrier which has come between her and her former playmate, Mark. When Billy engages in a thoughtless prank in which Mark is mistaken for the son of a wealthy family, he is kidnapped and taken to a secluded house in the mountains. But that same night, when the lover of Mark's friend Cherry is shot and killed, Mark is accused of the murder, and cannot prove an alibi. Billy is afraid to tell the truth, but he alone can save Mark from this black affair. Will Lynn's faith be enough to bring strength and shine a beacon of light and truth onto Mark's most uncertain faith? Lamp Post is proud to present it's Fiction: Inspired series - timeless, inspirational books for all lovers of fiction who want to feel good about the books they read.

This was originally published in 1922. I can’t remember if I read this one or not. Oh well! I guess I’ll read it again! :)

Cloudy Jewel

Gentle, lovely Julia Cloud has devoted her life to caring for others. Now, after her invalid mother's death, she is without the financial means to live on her own. But she dreads accepting her selfish younger sister's offer to go and live with her and take care of her demanding children.

Then, just when Julia resigns herself to a bleak future as a servant in her sister's home, something amazing happens! Julia's lively young niece and nephew, her deceased brother's children, turn up on her doorstep with a thrilling proposition. Suddenly Julia is thrown into an exciting adventure--and she discovers more happiness and love than she ever dreamed she could have!

I remember reading this one a long time ago and absolutely loving it! It was published in 1920.

Dawn of the Morning

Though Dawn lived in a world of affluence, she couldn't find the comfort and love she so desperately needed. Her stepmother despised her, and her father ignored her. Then one day they came to her with shocking news: she was to be married--to the man of their choice.

Now it was Dawn's wedding day. She knew she should be filled with joy and anticipation. Instead, all she felt was hopelessness. For Dawn had finally found a man she could love, a man who seemed to understand her deepest thoughts and most-cherished feelings.

A man who was her fiance's brother .. .

I was really glad to get this on ebook because this was one book I didn’t have--I just never was able to find a copy at my library or at used book stores. This was published in 1911.

The Enchanted Barn

Thanks to daughter Shirley's courage and resourcefulness, the homeless Hollisters were able to transform a deserted stone barn into a delightful residence. Their ingenuity even astounded the rich young landlord, Sidney Graham, who found the place a new haven of happiness, especially when Shirley was there. But his glad willingness to help them renovate worried her Shirley could never accept charity, and she feared that he would one day forsake them and return to his world of wealth now that she was falling helplessly in love with him.

One of my FAVORITE GLH books out of all the ones I’ve read!!! It was published in 1918.

The Finding of Jasper Holt

That fateful night of the train crash their lives became entwined. And, despite the wild stories of Jasper Holt's past, young Jean Grayson's heart would never belong to anyone but this handsome stranger who had saved her life. But Jasper knew her family would forbid their love, so he made a promise to her that would one day prove his virtue to all those who swore to keep them apart.…

This is another book where I never managed to get a paperback copy so I was glad to get this on ebook! This was published in 1916.

The Girl from Montana

A family tragedy leaves Elizabeth alone in the vast Montana wilderness fleeing for her life from a man who desires to possess her. Along her perilous journey she meets a mysterious lost traveler on a path of his own. Elizabeth's journey to reunite with her family becomes on of danger, friendship and of learning who the Lord to whom she prays really is. As she makes her way East...will she find the home she is longing for and the love she has always desired?

I had a copy of this book in a Barbour anthology but haven’t read it yet. This was published in 1908.

Lo, Michael

When Michael was a homeless waif roaming New York's back alleys, he risked his life to save the life of another child, beautiful Starr Endicott. This act of devotion to a girl he worshiped from afar changed the course of his life forever, for Starr's grateful father sent him away to a fine school where Michael grew into a handsome, well-educated man of deep convictions.

Then he returned to New York, intent on repaying his benefactor and helping the loyal street kids who had been his only family. But from the first moment he saw Starr again, he knew he was helplessly in love. Believing he was not worthy of her, Michael vowed never to press his suit . . . until danger in the form of a vile, scheming suitor forced him to risk everything to save Starr once again.

This was one of the first GLH books I read and I really liked it, especially with the way it depicted the time period. This was published in 1913.

The Man of the Desert

Living a life of privilege, Hazel Radcliffe yearned for more. When circumstances find her lost and alone in the untamed Arizona desert, Hazel is surprised to find that her senses are awakened by the gentle kindness of a handsome stranger. Even more surprising is what she has found - love. And yet, Hazel realizes that the life of this gentle missionary is worlds away from her own, a world that she must return to. Can she ever return to her pampered and sheltered life after feeling like she is finally alive? Will she ever be able to fit in to the life of this man who has dedicated himself to God's service in a barren land? Hazel knows it is time for the greatest journey of her life, but will she be brave enough to take it?

I can’t remember if I read this or not. This was published in 1914.

Marcia Schuyler

When Marcia Schuyler's beautiful and selfish older sister, Kate, abandons handsome David Spafford at the wedding altar, Marcia offers to take Kate's place. Her offer is accepted, and Marcia finds herself married to a man she hardly knows.

Though David shows Marcia every kindness, she is painfully aware that he still loves her sister--a fact that strikes deep, since Marcia has begun to truly love her husband. Then Kate returns, and she is determined to win David back--no matter what it takes or who it hurts.

Now Marcia must fight to save her marriage and the man she loves from a desperate web of lies and deceit.

I absolutely loved this book, and the two related ones, Phoebe Deane and Miranda. This was published in 1908.

The Mystery of Mary

When a beautiful young woman approaches wealthy Tryon Dunham at a train station and tells him she is in danger, he agrees to see her to safety. Then, before he can learn any more about her other than that her name is Mary and she is running to Chicago, she is gone.

But Tryon cannot forget Mary's beautiful face and spirit. Soon he finds himself trying desperately to solve the mystery that surrounds her . . . a mystery that could overwhelm them both. And he determines to discover the true identity of the young woman he longs to protect--and love.

I remember I read and liked this one, although I don’t remember much else about it. This was published in 1912.

The Obsession of Victoria Gracen

The straight-laced little town of Roslyn was shocked when Victoria Gracen welcomed young Dick into her home. What would a gentle, lovely young woman want with a reckless trouble-maker? Especially one who had no plans to reform. So when Victoria tried to tame the boy's wild ways with tenderness and faith, no one believed she'd succeed. But they hadn't counted on one thing: only a heart of steel could resist Victoria Gracen!

I never read this book because I never got a copy before I got the ebook. This was published in 1915.

Phoebe Deane

Beautiful young Phoebe was desperate! Cruel and cunning Hiram Greene had declared his intention to marry her. At first, Phoebe didn't take Hiram seriously. After all, he couldn't force her into marriage. -- Then Hiram launched a shrewd campaign of deceit and lies about Phoebe. Soon everyone around her, even her family, seemed determined to make her give in to Hiram. Could she stop when Hiram had started before it was too late? Or would she lose everything--her freedom, her happiness, and her wonderful new friendship with handsome Nathaniel Graham?

Loved this, almost as much as I loved Marcia Schuyler! The story of Miranda continues in Miranda which unfortunately isn’t available as a free ebook. This was published in 1909.

The Search

In the uncertainty of a country on the brink of World War, the spirited and privileged Ruth Macdonald is drawn to a lonely soldier by poignant and sweet childhood memories of first love. John Cameron - a man whose soul is in turmoil over finding a love that surpasses all understanding, opens his heart to her only to have their newfound faith and love threatened by the treachery of an evil man who is determined to call Ruth his own...and by the desperate war that threatens them all. Can John find faith in the unseen God that has he has searched for? And can he claim the love of the beautiful girl who has awakened his lonely heart?

I read and liked this one, especially in the setting of World War I. This was published in 1919.

The Tryst

Patricia Merrill thought she was being adventurous when she ran off to New York, took a new name and a job as companion to an old woman. Her family would never be able to find her now. Then she and her employer took a trip to a charming hotel in the South. To her dismay, Patty discovered that a childhood friend, John Treeves, was staying there too. Perhaps he would tell her family where she was! She knew she must keep her identity concealed--so she pretended not to know him. But it wasn't long before John's sympathetic heart and gentle understanding won her over. And Patty was ready to embark upon the greatest adventure of her life.

I didn’t like this one as much as some of her other stories, but it was still very entertaining. This was published in 1921.

A Voice in the Wilderness

Margaret Earle is ready to conquer the world...one schoolhouse at a time. Armed with her training, her ideals and her plucky optimism, Margaret sets off for the barren Arizona desert only to find herself stranded and alone. At the mercy of Lance Gardley, a handsome cowboy who comes to her aide, she begins her journey of love with the small town of Ashland and it's inhabitants. And yet, in the midst of new friendships and schoolbook lessons, Margaret finds herself caught in a web of lies and deceit spun by the very people she has come to minister to. A deceit so great it threatens the very way of life of these small town people and to destroy the sweet beginnings of love with the handsome cowboy who has become her rock. Can Margaret and Lance overcome the lies that threaten to destroy them? And will they learn to turn to each other and to their strength in God to overcome?

I remember this was one of the first books by GLH that was set out west, so it was a little different from what I was used to, but it was a fun read. This was published in 1916.

The War Romance of the Salvation Army

A battered Army truck lurches down a muddy road that's been gutted with shell holes. In the back of the truck, a group of young women draw closer together, trying to encourage each other. Several flinch at the sounds of bombs exploding and machine-gun fire all around them. They all grab frantically at the sides of the truck as it tosses them about.

Yet, despite their fear and apprehension, the women are determined not to turn back. They will reach the wounded American soldiers -- for the soldiers' lives are in their hands!

Step into the world of the dedicated Salvation Army women ... women who went to the front lines of WWI ... women who calmed fears, bathed wounds, and uttered the prayers that led thousands of men to salvation ... women whose courage knew no bounds -- even if it meant death.

I haven’t read this one because it’s not a novel, it’s a book about the Salvation Army. This was published in 1919.

The Witness

A powerful story of grace from the pen of Grace Livingston Hill. Star athlete, student, and fraternity president, Paul Courtland watches while a college classmate falls to an untimely death. Struck by his own part in the tragedy, he seeks solace in the classmate's peaceful room-and in the faith he has discovered. A friend introduces him to a young woman who is certain to bring him out of his somber mood- and into trouble. After yet another tragedy, Paul must choose: to follow his emotions or his faith. Will his choice even matter to those around him?

This was a rather obvious allegory of Paul, but it’s also one of GLH’s most spiritual books. I wasn’t as interested since it’s light on romance, but it’s still a good book. This was published in 1917.