Anne Patrick's Blog, page 3

Winter Nights Scavenger Hunt Feb 10-15

Welcome everyone!  For the chance to win a PDF of my book Out of the Darkness, just leave your contact info in the comment section.  Thanks for joining the scavenger hunt and good luck.SCAVENGER LIST Cute White Puppy in a CupLeaves with the word LOVE cut into themDish of Colorful CandiesA Pencil with a note that says "You Make My Heart Glow"Heart shaped pocket watch hanging in the trees.TO SEE PHOTOS OF WHAT THESE IMAGES LOOK LIKE, GO TO THE MAIN PAGE FOUND HERE: Gliterary Girl 

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Grand Prize Rafflecode:http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/14518033/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/r...

New Release Feb 11th - Secrets

After being wounded in combat, Army veteran Caleb Malone returns to the states and takes a job in his brother's private investigations agency. His first solo assignment is a simple 'snap a few photos of a cheating fiancé case'. But as Caleb learned in the army, nothing is ever that simple.  Hired by the father of the future bride, Caleb quickly realizes someone wants the woman dead.

Single mother, Abby Hughes is no stranger to heartache. After her firefighter husband was killed doing what he loved, she was forced to become both mother and father to her two boys. Working as a real estate agent in the family business, Abby has been entrusted to land one of the biggest sales the firm has ever had. The town of Keaton needs Criswell Industries to open their new factory there to boost its dwindling economy.
When Abby finally gets close to landing the deal, she learns she has some deadly competition, and as she and Caleb unravels the mystery behind the mysterious rival her whole world begins to collapse. 

Excerpt:
Caleb peered through night vision binoculars at the beautiful brunette walking to the silver Lexus. Memories of recon missions in Iraq and Afghanistan flashed in his mind. The difference now was he didn't get paid nearly enough, and instead of gaining intelligence of what the insurgents were up to, he was doing surveillance for an overly protective father.A car engine soared to life nearby. Shifting the binoculars up the deserted street, he spotted a dark green four-door sedan pull quickly from the curve without its lights. What's this joker up to? Caleb looked back at the woman. In one hand, she held a phone to her ear, the other rummaged through her purse. Come on lady pay attention.Caleb moved from behind the tree and started towards her. The always-present ache in his right thigh began to throb. He ignored it and took off in a lop-sided run. The green sedan sped towards her. He knew he wasn't going to make it. "Get out of the way!"The woman sprinted to the front of the Lexus.The black-tinted glass on the sedan slid down, revealing a flash of silver.Caleb dove at her waist and tackled her to the ground. Pop… Pop… then the sound of breaking glass. Caleb glanced up at the fleeing car and caught a glimpse of the dark ski mask as the car disappeared around the corner. The woman shook violently in his arms. He helped her up and guided her to a wooden bench a few feet from her car. "You okay?"She nodded her head, looking at him with a blank stare. Removing his cellphone from his jeans pocket, he dialed 9-1-1.Within minutes, two patrol cars came to a screeching halt in front of them. "Anyone hurt?" the older of the two police officers asked."She's shaken but unharmed.""Did you get a good look at the car?""It was a dark green Camry. Four-door. I didn't get a tag number.""I'll put a BOLO out on it."The younger officer sat beside her. "Are you alright, Abby?""Yeah." She smoothed her hand over her grey slacks and looked up at Caleb. "Thanks to you."         "I was just in the right place at the right time."

Petie McCarty's Angel to the Rescue

BlurbAngel to the Rescue, is the second of the Rescue Angel Romances -- action/adventure love stories with an angel hidden in the plot. The angel's identity is not revealed until the finale -- unless the reader figures it out first.
In Angel to the Rescue, child psychologist Rachel Kelly isn't quite sure how to handle her newest client -- a six-year-old boy who says he can talk to angels and one is coming to help Rachel. She already has her hands full of trouble this Christmas season, and things quickly take a turn for the worse when a stalker crashes Rachel's Christmas party and takes her young clients hostage.
Police negotiator, Lt. Jake Dillon, walked away from his fiancée Rachel when she suddenly balked at having kids. His kids. Yet as the hostage crisis erupts, Rachel calls Jake first. Now he has a choice to make -- stand back and wait for the cavalry to save Rachel or step in quickly and try to save her himself. Time is running out, and Jake may be their only chance for rescue.
Unless Rachel's little angel-spying client is telling the truth…
ExcerptRachel slid into the Publix parking lot on her way home from work. She'd picked the store close to her office rather than the one near the cottage, anxious to get the chore over with as soon as possible. She pulled out her list and collected the items on it in regimented fashion, aisle by aisle, doubling back only twice.
She checked her voicemails while waiting patiently in the long line at the checkout counter. Breathing a sigh of relief when the bag boy put the last sack in her cart, she wheeled toward the exit and froze.
Jake stood right next to the exit, plastic bag in hand and staring at her with nary a smile.
There were dark circles beneath his eyes. Hadn't he been sleeping? His hair looked tousled like he'd just run his fingers through it, and his clothes had a five-o'clock-mussed look to them.
He looked spectacular to Rachel.
His eyebrows rose. He was waiting for her.
She pushed her cart slowly forward, taking deep breaths to steady her heart rate.
"Since this isn't our Publix, I'm assuming you stopped on your way home from work," he said when she reached his side.
Our Publix? Had he even realized he'd said that?
"You're right," she replied. "So why are you here?"
"My apartment's just around the corner."
Ouch.
That simple statement shouldn't hurt -- she knew he had an apartment around here -- but it did. She nodded.
"I'll help you out." He gently nudged her hands off the cart handle and took over, setting his own bag on top of her stack.
Rachel paced alongside the grocery cart as they moved through the electronic door and was suddenly thankful for her parking spot at the end of the far row. She would have a few extra moments to be with him. How pitiful was that? She eased a step closer, anxious to inhale his unique scent of soap, aftershave, and pure Jake.
He glanced over and caught her staring. She felt her cheeks flush and hoped he didn't notice.
"Jake, look out!" She grabbed the cart to stop it just short of a car backing out.
He smiled his sexy crooked Jake-smile. "Guess I should keep my eyes on the road."
Her heart ka-thumped inside her chest. "At least till we get to the car."
He grinned.
Had she just flirted with him? Had it been that easy to get past the trauma for a few brief minutes?
Sooner than she would have liked, he pulled the grocery cart up at her Honda and helped stow her bags in the trunk, leaving his in the cart.
"Thanks for helping me," Rachel said.
"I'm glad you decided to stop at this Publix tonight."
"You are?"
"Yeah, I'm glad I got to see you." Jake brushed a knuckle gently across her cheek leaving a streak of tingly nerve endings in its wake.
"But I thought you wanted… I mean, I haven't heard from you in…" She cleared her throat. "…a long time. I thought you might've… "
Why couldn't she manage to finish a sentence tonight? Bad enough she felt pathetic, now she sounded pathetic.
"You thought I might've what?"
She swallowed hard. "Might've found someone else by now."
He stared intently for a long moment. "After all we meant to each other, you thought I'd go right out and grab a new girlfriend, just like that?" His mouth hardened to a thin line.
She hadn't meant to rile him. The last thing she wanted to do was fight with him. Without thinking, she reached up and brushed two fingers gently across his lips, wanting that sensuous mouth to smile at her again.
She startled him, and he jerked at her touch. She whisked her fingers away. "Sorry, I didn't want you to be mad."
His gaze trapped hers, his pupils expanding until little of the brilliant green remained. "There's no new girlfriend, Rachel," he said gruffly.
"No?"
He slowly shook his head, his now-dark eyes tracking hers. He seemed closer than he'd been a minute earlier.
She exhaled hard. "Not yet anyway."
He frowned.
Why had she said that?
"No, not yet," he said flatly.
"I'm glad," she said quickly.
Screw pride.
"Are you?"
He was definitely closer now. If she eased forward just a few inches, she could press her lips to his, feel that certain sizzle that always flared when they touched. But Jake had walked out on her. His move -- though she ached with the want to hold him, if only for a second.
"Yes. Very glad. I don't want you to find someone else--"
His lips brushed hers into silence, sweeping gently across as though seeking permission, the touch just light enough to make her lean in for more. He didn't miss the movement and kissed her again, his lips settling against hers and nibbling at her lower lip.
The sensuous teasing had her knees growing weak, and she grabbed the placket of his dress shirt to steady herself.
He didn't miss that movement either, and he put his palms to her cheeks to deepen the kiss.
Rachel felt dizzy and twisted her knuckles into his shirt to keep him close. She didn't care if they were kissing in front of God and everybody. If Jake wanted to throw her down here in the middle of the Publix parking lot, she was ready. She could always shop at Winn-Dixie.
http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/angel-to-the-rescue-epub/
About Petie McCartyPetie earned a zoology degree from the University of Central Florida and has worked as an aquatic biologist for most of her career. She even spent two years surveying Florida lakes and streams by airboat. Petie is a member of Romance Writers of America, and she shares homes in Tennessee and Florida with her horticulturist husband, a spoiled-rotten English Springer spaniel, and a noisy Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameo appearance in Angel to the Rescue.
Visit Petie's web site online at http://www.petiemccarty.com or her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty.

A Christmas Bonus By Patty Froese

Book BlurbWhen Millie's boss asks her to work over Christmas, she's hesitant to give him any more overtime. She has plans for her life that include quitting this job and starting her own photography business, and she promises herself to quit by New Years.
Andrew Holmes has no desire to go back to his tiny hometown for the holidays, but his manipulative grandfather gives him an ultimatum that he just can't refuse. So in order to get the last project of the year finished in time, he asks his assistant, Millie, to make the trip with him.
With a disgruntled brother, a sister-in-law struggling with infertility and a little boy who shows up claiming that one of the Holmes men is his father, Christmas is about to get complicated...
Buy link:http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com...
Excerpt"So, Millie says she'd like to stay," Andrew announced.
"Good." Louise shot her a smile. "Do you like fruitcake, Millie?"
"I think so." Mille sank into a seat next to her boss.
"Me, too..." Louise disappeared into the fridge, her voice meandering out from the chilly depths. "Except I always hate the fruit in it. So I just make the cake. But the cake is rather dry."
"It's more like a Christmas cracker," Andrew murmured, and Millie repressed a laugh.
The dense, dry confection that landed with a heavy thud on the tabletop looked nothing like the fruitcake she'd seen in the past.
"Guests first." Louise announced cheerfully, and when Millie shot Andrew a "help me" look, he pointed under the table.
"Give it to the dog," he mouthed.
The dog? So far, Millie hadn't seen a dog in the house, and when she slowly raised the plastic tablecloth to peer under the table, she was met with the biggest canine face she'd ever seen in her life. Stifling a yelp of shock, she turned her ashen face towards Andrew.
"That's Edgar," Andrew said.
"Edgar?"
He nodded. "Get used to him." When she turned her attention to the plate deposited in front of her, Andrew leaned in and murmured in her ear. "Thanks for coming, by the way."
Author BioPatty Froese writes from Alberta, Canada, where the winters are long and cold. This suits her just fine, since it gives her plenty of time to write and she can enjoy the snow from the right side of the window. She has her degree in English Literature and has written in other genres, but she particularly enjoys writing romance.
Patty also writes for Harlequin Love Inspired under the name Patricia Johns.http://pattyfroese.com

December Book Giveaway

In December I'll be giving away 4 print copies. To enter just drop me a line via the contact form on my website.  Please choose from the following titles: 

Fire Investigator Sadie McGregor is called to her hometown of Emerald Point, Missouri to investigate a suspicious fire which claimed the life of a local college student. By appearance the fire looks accidental. What Sadie and the handsome new police chief discover will not only affect those close to them, but will rock the entire community and may cost one of them their life.  








Former combat medic Kory Wagner has been in four war zones, served three tours in Iraq, survived countless firefights, RPG’s, IED’s and even a helicopter crash. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case.

Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired to find her sister's killer, was found dead in a building Kory owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?


When the skeletal remains of three young women are discovered on the vacation estate of a U.S. Senator, the local sheriff enlists the help of Special Agent Gabe Landry and a local forensic sketch artist to help him solve the murders. As a profiler, Gabe knows his skills are useless until they discover the identity of the victims.
That’s where the beautiful and talented Mackayla Kensington comes in. Mackayla is all too familiar with the heartache of not knowing the fate of a loved one. The brutal murder of her own daughter is the driving force behind her determination to bring closure to families missing loved ones. Using her artistry skills, Mackayla works frantically to put faces to the skulls so that their identities can be revealed and the killer can be caught. When the killer realizes how good she is, it appears she may be the next to die.



District Judge Katie McKinley takes her career very seriously. No one knows that better than her old childhood friend and first love, Graham Bishop. Her ruling cost him his family’s ranch. So it’s no surprise when an attempt is made on her life that the sheriff turns his suspicions to Graham. As the two rekindle their love for one another, Katie refuses to believe Graham is guilty. But what if she’s wrong?






Dr. Erin Jacobs is making a name for herself in the sports world. Drawing on her own life experiences, she encourages and inspires athletes to recover from career ending injuries. So why would someone want to hurt the good doctor? Detective Logan Sinclair is determined to find that answer. He’s been mesmerized by Erin from the moment she found him and his partner shot in an alleyway. Since that night their lives have never been the same. Will Logan be able to solve the puzzle of who wants Erin out of the way before it’s too late? And if so what impact will those answers have on their lives?







 Detective Morgan Reynolds thought her nightmare was over when serial killer Gerald ‘The Slasher’ Tate was sent to prison for her husband’s murder. But she was wrong. The Slasher has escaped and he’s making it even more personal this time. Tate has kidnapped her son and is giving her 72 hours to find the answers he wants or Jared dies.
 






Single mother Jenny Holloway has her hands full running a 1200-acre ranch, and keeping her daredevil son out of the emergency room.  So when her foreman suggests she hire on his son Gil Montgomery, who just got home from the war, Jenny jumps at the opportunity of having another skilled cowboy around. Gil was used to taking orders, even from women.  What he wasn’t prepared for was the feelings this little firecracker of a woman triggered in him.  Jenny is a lot like the bronco she’s rescued and is now trying to break.  The unexpected death of her husband has left her jaded and afraid to risk her heart getting broken again.  Somehow, he has to gain her trust and prove that he isn’t going anywhere.





Widower’s Maggie O’Brien and Carson Jennings are both on a journey to rediscover who they are. Maggie, an adventurous former pastor’s wife of thirty-nine years, hopes to find closure in the place she and her husband spent their honeymoon. Carson, a retired judge, is living his lifelong dream of traveling across the U.S. in his RV. When their paths cross in the tranquil setting of Mason Springs, New Mexico, love is the last thing that either of them expects to find.

Amy Lignor's Tallent & Lowery Series

With their second battle behind them, Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery find themselves still knee-deep in hell. What should’ve ended with a celebration of passion wrapped in each other’s arms becomes a nightmare once more, as a mysterious man demands Leah to return home, or else her beloved father will be found at the bottom of the sea.
Scrambling to figure out what’s happened Tallent & Lowery walk in on a family that has literally gone insane: A mother filled with accusations, three sisters who wish them nothing but certain death, and a frightening story of a blood-red eye that leads to a puzzle with immense repercussions. The woman named Anippe who readers questioned in The Sapphire Storm is back, with an item in her possession that will have Tallent & Lowery heading out on an adventure based on pure emotion and ultimate fear – where victory may just depend on their willingness to sacrifice each other.
The time has come for Tallent & Lowery to go head-to-head with the mysterious voice from 13, as a villain is unveiled…and a war begins!
___Praise:In a world of legend and mythology where does one find the truth? In a world of academia how does one find faith? They say that behind every great man stands a greater woman . . . Behind every hero stands a Hero's companion. Blood is thicker than water, but which will prevail.

The Hero's Companion is filled with shadows and reality, lies and truth, heaven and hell. Talent and Lowery must navigate them all if they are to survive their newest adventure.

When we think of historical thrillers with a biblical, epic twist; the names of Dan Brown and James Rollins come to mind. Move over boys, there is a new name at the top of the list and HER name is Amy Lignor! – J.M. LeDuc, Author of “Cornerstone”___Another Homerun in the ‘Tallent & Lowery’ Adventures! – Curse of the Bibliophilehttp://curseofthebibliophile.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-heros-companion-by-amy-lignor.html____________________The Hero’s Companion is THE BOOK OF THE WEEK!!! http://angiesdiary.com/bookoftheweek-web/054-botwoct272013.htmlAbduction and strange maps, mysterious locations and intriguing players, Tallent and Lowery… Amy Lignor has, once again, put together a story that will turn up your anxiety level and have you wringing your hands until the very end. Lignor has hit literary paydirt with “The Hero’s Companion” and her Tallent & Lowery series. —DJ Weaver, co-author of “Collecting Innocents”
An Unprecedented THIRD TOP PICK in a ROW! From Night Owl Reviews!I have to say that Ms. Lignor has done it again in providing her fans with a heart-stopping third installment of the Tallent & Lowery series. Right from the start, my heart was pounding in my chest from all the intrigue and adventure that awaited me. - Night Owl Reviews, 'TOP PICK'                                                                           ___This series just keeps getting better and better. This is a definite nail-bitter that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. When is the next book coming out? I can’t wait! – The Feathered Quill___Tallent and Lowery are brilliant once again as Amy Lignor pens another electrifying exploit for all hard-core adventure fans. “The Hero’s Companion” is action and adventure gold… not to be missed! —DJ Weaver, co-author of “Collecting Innocents”___In the third novel of her epic series, Amy Lignor has done it again with The Hero’s Companion! She transports the reader as they go on yet another unique, killer adventure with the unforgettable duo of Tallent and Lowery. As always, perfection on a page. THIS is THE author when it comes to serving up the best of the best. Amy Lignor delivers sheer suspense delight. –Diane Lunsford, Author of “Echo Ranch”___I was SHOCKED, drawn into the world of intrigue, and had to remind myself to breathe…THAT was Page One! - Mark Adduci, Suspense Magazine___Purchase Links:
Amazon Ebook:http://www.amazon.com/The-Heros-Companion-Tallent-Lowery-ebook/dp/B00G3C1JOU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382457485&sr=8-2&keywords=the+heros+companion+amy+lignorBarnes & Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-heros-companion-amy-lignor/1117208238?ean=2940148733423Amazon Paperback:http://www.amazon.com/Heros-Companion-Tallent-Lowery-Volume/dp/0615907164/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382553093&sr=8-1&keywords=the+heros+companion+amy+lignor+paperbackSmashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369808
Series Synopsis' 13:

In 1902, in a dark room on the fifth floor of Carnegie Hall, thirteen people came together to continue a tradition that had been set in stone thousands of years before.

In 2012, Leah Tallent is Head of Research at the New York Public Library. Stoic and stable, brilliant and cynical, she has forever enjoyed her existence among the book stacks. But even with her unparalleled intellect, there was no way to know that on the historic steps between America's famous lions, she would become involved with a crazy man on a fanatical quest.

Gareth Lowery has spent his life searching for the ultimate artifact that he is certain exists. His life's pursuit has been to retrieve twelve keys hidden by men whose job it was to protect the single biggest secret ever kept. To find the keys he must enlist the help of an unwilling guide who, unfortunately, knows much more than he bargained for.

From the first page to the last word, this fantastic duo become immersed in a whirlwind treasure hunt with historical and passionate repercussions. From the strange and eerie Winchester House to the blustery darkness of Loch Ness, Gareth and Leah will quickly learn that the theory of duality is correct: For every bad there is a good and, for Heaven, there most assuredly exists...Hell.

-----------------

The Sapphire Storm:

After going up against a man who believed he was the Devil, himself, the beloved characters from 13 - Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery - are beyond exhausted. Now they are about to embark on the most terrifying journey imaginable…a trip to meet Leah’s parents.

When Leah arrives where the ‘home fires burn,’ her sarcasm burns even brighter, while Gareth Lowery - the handsome adventurer - uses his charm to sway the ‘odd’ Tallent clan. But when a frightening call from Gareth’s sister arrives telling him that her love has disappeared, the daring duo is soon running away from one horrific situation directly into another. A new puzzle from the past has come to life. Following clues left behind, the courageous couple becomes embedded in a world filled with liars, killers and greed.

And when the riddle of a famous ‘Bard’ is solved, a strange woman appears who has far more in common with Leah than she can possibly imagine! The heart-stopping suspense of this new quest takes them from Coptic Cairo to the magical world of Petra, in search of a cave deep underground that once housed a true ‘Illuminator.’

Yet again, they must find the answers and stay one step ahead of true villains who are determined to make sure that – this time – Tallent & Lowery do not survive.
-------------------
The Hero's Companion:

With their second battle behind them, Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery find themselves still knee-deep in hell. What should’ve ended with a celebration of passion wrapped in each other’s arms becomes a nightmare once more, as a mysterious man demands Leah to return home, or else her beloved father will be found at the bottom of the sea.

Scrambling to figure out what’s happened Tallent & Lowery walk in on a family that has literally gone insane: A mother filled with accusations, three sisters who wish them nothing but certain death, and a frightening story of a blood-red eye that leads to a puzzle with immense repercussions. The woman named Anippe who readers questioned in The Sapphire Storm is back, with an item in her possession that will have Tallent & Lowery heading out on an adventure based on pure emotion and ultimate fear – where victory may just depend on their willingness to sacrifice each other.

The time has come for Tallent & Lowery to go head-to-head with the mysterious voice from 13, as a villain is unveiled…and a war begins!

Book Sale!

During the month of October I've slashed the price of three of my books from $3.99 to only .99!

Dr. Erin Jacobs is making a name for herself in the sports world. Drawing on her own life experiences, she encourages and inspires athletes to recover from career ending injuries. So why would someone want to hurt the good doctor? Detective Logan Sinclair is determined to find that answer. He’s been mesmerized by Erin from the moment she found him and his partner shot in an alleyway. Since that night their lives have never been the same. Will Logan be able to solve the puzzle of who wants Erin out of the way before it’s too late? And if so what impact will those answers have on their lives?

Purchase from Amazon for only .99 cents!









Detective Morgan Reynolds thought her nightmare was over when serial killer Gerald ‘The Slasher’ Tate was sent to prison for her husband’s murder. But she was wrong. The Slasher has escaped and he’s making it even more personal this time. Tate has kidnapped her son and is giving her 72 hours to find the answers he wants or Jared dies.

Purchase from Amazon for only .99 cents!

 







Widower’s Maggie O’Brien and Carson Jennings are both on a journey to rediscover who they are. Maggie, an adventurous former pastor’s wife of thirty-nine years, hopes to find closure in the place she and her husband spent their honeymoon. Carson, a retired judge, is living his lifelong dream of traveling across the U.S. in his RV. When their paths cross in the tranquil setting of Mason Springs, New Mexico, love is the last thing that either of them expects to find.

Purchase from Amazon for only .99 cents!




 

Book Tour - In the Shadow of Revenge

Partners in Crime is pleased to presentIn the Shadow of Revengeby Patricia Haleon Tour September 1-30, 2013
Follow the tour here: http://www.partnersincrimetours.net/2013/06/in-shadow-of-revenge-by-patricia-hale.html
Book DetailsGenre: Mystery/SuspensePublished by: Carina PressPublication Date: July 15, 2013Number of Pages: 280ISBN: 978-14268-9584-5Purchase Links: 
     

 Purchase Links: 
      Synopsis: Everybody thought brilliant Cecily would leave dead-end Miller's Falls for something better. But a two-decades-old tragedy locks her in place. Few understand the fierce bond that Cecily and Amelia share with Hilary, who was assaulted one summer as the two other girls watched helplessly. It's a bond of love and guilt…and a desire for vengeance that cuts clear to the bone.
So Assistant DA Cecily Minos waits, eager to see the guy in her courtroom. When Amelia meets a man who has the tattoo the girls remember seeing that day, they think they've finally caught a break. But the police refuse to reopen the case, and it's up to Cecily and Amelia to pursue their suspect.
Their investigation soon uncovers secrets best left buried. But the law is slow, and they've waited long enough for revenge…
Excerpt:My lungs were tight as fists and the voice inside my head said run, but my legs couldn’t be trusted. Standing up wouldn’t have gotten me out of there, it would only have drawn attention to the pee that was warm in my shorts and it might have gotten Hilary killed if he was serious about running that blade across her neck.
All of a sudden the man stood and keeping his back to us, lowered the kerchief and put a cigarette in his mouth. Hilary never moved though I saw her blink. She was looking at something far away like she was somewhere else entirely and I hoped that that was true so she wouldn’t have to know what happened. He pulled his baseball hat low over his face the same way it’d been when we first climbed into the railcar and without ever looking at us he jumped to the ground and walked away.
“Stay here,” I’d told Amelia, though I knew she wasn’t going anywhere. And I ran. I ran faster than I’d ever run not even caring about the pee burning the inside of my legs. I’d taken the woods instead of the path, running in the opposite direction from the way he’d gone. My legs were scraped and bleeding by the time I’d reached the road and the stitch in my side had made it almost impossible to breath, but I just kept thinking of Hilary laying there and I couldn’t stop until I was pulling open my own back door. I ran into the kitchen and through the house until I found my mother kneeling beside her bed, rosary beads draped around her prayerful hands like a spider web. I stood in the doorway and looked at her, imagined wrapping my arms around her neck and her drawing me in, holding me. I imagined feeling safe. She glanced at me standing there then dismissed me with a nod of her head, knee deep in Jesus. I turned and ran for the telephone.Author Bio: Patricia Hale is a graduate of the MFA program at Goddard College in Vermont. She is a member of Sister’s in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, NH Writer’s Project and Maine Writer’s and Publisher’s Alliance. Her essays and articles have appeared in New England literary magazines and the anthology, My Heart’s First Steps. When not writing, she enjoys hiking with her dogs and kayaking on the lakes near her home. Patricia lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two German shepherds.Catch Up With the Author:     www.patriciahale.org

Join my Street Team!

I feel extremely blessed to be able to write and share my work but, as any writer will tell you, promotion is the hardest part of our job.  If only there were more hours in the day.  As a reader, you can help.  If you've read some of my books and have enjoyed them, help spread the word.  Join my Street Team.
The benefits of being on my Street Team....*Access to my private yahoo group where you can read exclusive excerpts, take part in Q&A's, and have access to exclusive links to private pages on my website containing character profiles and/or photos I used for inspiration when I created the characters and locations of a story etc.
*Be a betta reader - Read an upcoming release months before it's official release.
*Exclusive contests – Autographed print copies, free downloads, or Amazon Gift Certificates.
*Exclusive opportunities to host me on a blog tour or interview.
*Receive a package of swag (bookmarks, postcards & brochures etc).

What do you have to do....Members of my Street Team wouldn't be asked to do EVERYTHING on these lists. Only do whatever feels comfortable to you.
In Person...
*Talk my books up and share promo material with friends and family.
•Buy my books the first week of release, which helps it get on the bestseller lists.
•Ask your local library to order my books.
•If my books aren't on the shelves, ask the bookseller to order it.
•Take promo materials sent to you to your local stores, place them with the booksellers. You can leave them with libraries and even at coffee shops.
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Online.....
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Out of the Darkness Excerpt

FBI profiler Alex Michaels’ life was shattered when a sadistic serial killer murdered her twin sister and left Alex with a career ending injury. Hoping to put the past behind her, she sets off across country with a truck driver she barely knows.

Royce McIntire knows Alex is on the run from something or someone, but he doesn’t care. He’s fallen in love with her and is finally getting his life back on track and wants to win back custody of his son.

The killer is hot on Alex’s trail though, determined to find the one victim who got away. As more bodies turn up dead Alex has no choice but to tell Royce who she really is. Will the love that has blossomed between them be strong enough to sustain them, or will the killer get to Alex before they even have a chance to find out?

Excerpt: 

Royce balanced the two Styrofoam containers in one hand and rapped on the door of the motel room. He heard a brief rustling on the other side before the door opened the length of the security chain. "You said six-thirty, it's not even six yet."Before he had a chance to answer, the chain was removed and the door opened. Alex was wearing a short-sleeved blue silk robe that hung just below her calves. "Forgive my disposition. I'm a real bear before my first cup." She relieved him of one of the coffees then turned and headed toward the bathroom. "Be out in a minute.""Take your time." He moved to the round table situated in the corner of the room and set the containers down. At the sound of the shower he glanced toward the bathroom. He had been quick to notice the brilliant pink scar down the length of her right arm. It explained the awkward handshake. He'd seen enough scars to know it wasn't the typical surgical scar, and wondered how she'd gotten it.He glanced around the motel room; several pieces of clothes lay scattered on the queen size bed. It looked as if she'd had a hard time deciding what to wear. He stepped closer to the bed, noticing the designer labels. He thought back to the story she'd given last night, explaining her situation. He didn't believe for a minute that her car had broken down or that she was meeting friends in California. If that were the case, she would have taken a bus. Only a desperate person would strike out across country with a perfect stranger. "You can sit down, you know." He turned at her words to find her fully dressed in tan khakis and a long sleeved purple blouse. She wore very little makeup, and wet locks of hair spilled across her shoulders."I was just about to. Hope you're in the mood for bagels and scrambled eggs."Towel drying her hair with her left hand, she glanced up briefly and smiled. Using her foot, she pulled out a chair and took a seat. Then it dawned on him that it wasn't indecision she'd struggled with while deciding what to wear, but convenience.As he sat across from her he was tempted to ask about the injury of her right arm, but decided against it. Instead, he opened one of the containers and slid it toward her. "Seeing as how you didn't eat last night in the truck stop, I figured you'd be hungry.""You were watching me?"The look he got was more of surprise than alarm. "No more than you were watching me.""So, where is it that you live in New Mexico?" He smiled at her attempt to change the subject. "A little town called Alamosa. Except for the Dairy Queen, nothing's changed there in the last five years.""Sounds quaint.""I suppose." He watched as she struggled with the fork in her left hand. Considering the brightness of the scar, the injury was a recent one.As if sensing his gaze, she looked up. "So how big is this quaint little town of yours?""Three thousand maybe. Another two thousand scattered around the county.""Do you live in town?""I've got about a hundred acres on the outskirts, just enough room to ride the horses. My business is located on the property as well, which makes it handy. We're sort of in the middle of nowhere. Tucumcari is the closest major city, about sixty miles. Santa Rosa's a little further.""Then it's in the northeast section of the state?"He nodded. "You've been to New Mexico?""A few years ago. I remember it was hot." She pushed her container toward him. "You want my eggs?"He scraped the eggs out and placed the container back on the table. She quickly picked it up with her left hand and tossed it in the wastebasket to her right."I couldn't help noticing the scar on your arm. How'd you get it?" he finally asked, seeing as how she was being so talkative.Alex moved to the bed and gathered up her clothes, placing them back into the suitcase. For a second he wasn't sure if she would answer. "I had an accident a few weeks ago," she said softly.Since he couldn't see her face, he wasn't sure if his question had made her uncomfortable or if she was just in a hurry to leave. Either way, he wasn't giving up. "Were the tendons damaged, is that why you can't use your hand?""Yes.""Shouldn't you be taking physical therapy or something?""Probably." She piled her bags on the made up bed and then glanced over her shoulder at him. "You ready?""You don't like to talk much about yourself, do you?""What's the point? By tonight we'll have gone our separate ways."He didn't argue. It was obvious she had secrets she wanted to keep, which was fine with him. He had enough problems of his own that remained unsolved. That settled, he stepped forward and grabbed her bags. "After you."Available from these locations:http://www.amazon.com/Out-of-the-Darkness-ebook/dp/B00E36EFQ2http://www.christianbook.com/out-of-the-darkness-ebook/anne-patrick/9781612523422/pd/42662EBhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-the-darkness-anne-patrick/1029826917http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/patrick-anne/