Cherie Colyer's Blog, page 29
March 23, 2021
A Quick Chat with Jennifer Wick Contemporary Romance Author
Can you tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your heroine’s bed?
Meg has been moving around a lot, for reasons the reader will learn as she reads the story. Therefore, under her bed you’d find her suitcase. She’s always prepared to leave quickly, as much as she’d love to stay where she is. Inside the suitcase is her bank book, which lists exactly how much money she has, as well as the amount she needs to pay back so she can finally be free. The third thing, also in her suitcase, is an old gossip magazine. It’s there to remind her about her past life, what she lost, and why she’ll never go back to that life again.
What is your favorite genre and why?
I absolutely love reading historical romance. The clothes, the houses, the different customs. They all transport me away from the world today and provide me with an escape.
Where were you born/grew up?
I was born in New York City, but have lived in New Jersey all of my life, except for college, when I was in St. Louis, MO. College in the Midwest taught me to lose my accent (except when I’m emotional), and opened my eyes to a different way of life—a little slower, a little friendlier, and absolutely no bagels. J As much as I loved my time there, I found work in New York, so I returned to New Jersey to live. My husband followed me and we’ve lived here, raising our daughters, ever since.
A Reckless HeartReleases March 29thGenre: Contemporary romanceHeat level: Spicy/Steamy
BlurbMeg Thurgood, former society girl, took the blame for her friend and paid a steep price. Now all she wants is solitude and a chance to rebuild her life. She thinks she's found that in an isolated house she rents from a mysterious stranger.
Simon McAlter has hidden in his house on the coast of Maine since a fire left him scarred. A successful landscape architect who conducts his business and teaches his classes remotely, he's lost his inspiration and is trying to pretend he's not lonely.
Simon's new neighbor is more than he bargained for. When he learns Meg's secret, will he retreat into the shadows or will he learn to see past the surface and trust in Meg's love?
Buy links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Goodreads | BookBub
Excerpt
Nervous laughter bubbled in her chest. They’d been close before and held hands. Granted, he’d covered hers on the ladder, but still. It wasn’t the first time they touched. Why was this different? She remembered the sensations when he’d covered her hand on the roof— warmth and roughness and safety. And she wanted it. She bumped her hand against his, on purpose, to feel his skin. It wasn’t smooth like hers. Its texture, unique to him, fascinated her. A moment later, he rubbed his arm against her.
Was it accidental, too? She snuck a glance at his profile. Although his hair blocked most of his face, she’d swear when the wind blew it, a ghost of a smile hovered, like they shared a private joke. Her belly warmed, and the air between their knuckles, where they almost touched, crackled with electricity.
The next time their bodies touched, she slipped her hand through his elbow. His body jolted before he pressed her arm against his side, and they walked to the curve of the shore connected.
When they stopped, they watched the waves lap over the rocks, their froth sputtering into the cracks.
“This is the only place I’ve ever not felt alone,” he whispered.
“How long have you been alone?”
“Too long,” he replied. “This is the only place I’ve ever felt seen.”
“I can’t imagine you invisible,” he said.
“When “It Girls” and camera bulbs surround you, it’s easy to fade into the background.”
The sky and water darkened as the light faded, and she shivered in the chill air. Her hand grew icy as he pulled away from her. As she was about to complain, a weight landed on her shoulders. His arm drew her close. He remained still, as if he waited to see if she’d object. Instead, she leaned against his side. Heat emanated from him, and tingles ran through her body. A desire to turn into him, to press her body against his, to kiss him, overwhelmed her. He positioned her in front of him and rested his chin on the top of her head. His heart beat against her back. A soft moan escaped her lips, and they both froze. All of a sudden, she was aware of how close she was. His jacket was warm from his body and smelled like him.
About the author: Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight, and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Connect with Jennifer Wick:Website | Facebook | Newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub
March 20, 2021
Release Party: Rival by Jennifer Lane
Title: RivalsAuthor: Jennifer LaneGenre: Sports RomanceRelease Date: March 19, 2021Cover Design: Dan Irons, Designs by Irons 
“I embrace my rival. But only to strangle him.”~Jean Racine
After landing her dream job as head volleyball coach at Ohio State University, Lauren Chase’s career has become a nightmare. Her only hope of saving her job is to recruit a star player to her team. Too bad the player’s twin has signed a football scholarship for OSU’s chief rival, Michigan. And too bad Michigan coach, Jeremy Trent, sends sparks through Lauren every time they cross paths. But no way will she pursue an attraction to a man who represents the university she hates.
Jeremy detests his boss, and he hopes that signing the nation’s #1 recruit is the ticket he needs to become a head coach himself one day. Lauren Chase is already a head coach, and Jeremy has to admit that she intrigues the hell out of him. He wants to know why her performance has tanked after winning a national championship. He wants to see beneath Lauren’s fast pace and dirty mouth. But he can’t get with a Buckeye, right?
Maybe rivals don’t have to remain enemies. Maybe they can learn to appreciate their opponent’s strengths. And, if they’re lucky—if they excel at the game—maybe rivals can bring out the very best in each other.
"Absolutely loved this book. The rivalry was spot on. This book has it all, humor, love and sports." ~Michelle from Besties & Books
"The uncanny portrayal of recruiting high-profile athletes in Rivals completely transported me into the story. I became so invested in Lauren Chase's success! When Coach Chase met Coach Trent, the chance of finding love on the recruiting trail turned into such a charming contest--a game more meaningful than they could ever imagine on the court or field." ~Gwynn Harrison, Head Swim Coach, Bridgewater College
"Fun read that captures the best of the greatest sports rivalry in the midst of a smoldering romance."~Kevin Kropf
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Psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane invites you to her world of sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist!
Jen fell in love with sports at a young age and competed in swimming and volleyball in college. She went on to become the Honda Award Winner for Division III Athlete of the Year. She still gets high from the smell of chlorine and the satisfaction of smashing a beautiful volleyball set.
Jen’s latest novel is Rivals, a romance between coaches from rival universities. Her Blocked trilogy also explores the transformation from hate to love. Particularly in this time of division, Jen’s favorite theme is finding common ground.
A romantic suspense trilogy (The Conduct Series) and a psychological thriller (Twin Sacrifice) complete Jen’s collection of stories. She calls Ohio home and shares writing space with her two trusted feline collaborators: Tuxedo and Tessa.
Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time, she likes to exercise and visit her amazing sisters in Chicago and Hilton Head.
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March 18, 2021
The Electric Girl Book Blitz
The Electric Girl
Christine Hart
Publication date: March 15th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Polly Michaels is trying to forget that her mom has cancer. She keeps busy at school and plods through a normal social life. Until a freak electrical storm and a unicorn appear in the orchard next to her house.
Sy’kai wakes on an orchard floor to the smell of rotting cherries and wet earth. She doesn’t know where she is—or what she is—but she knows something is hunting her.
Polly recruits her friends to find the mysterious creature she saw from her window while Sy’kai, a confused shape-shifting endling from another dimension tries to piece her mind back together. Once the human girls find Sy’kai (whom they nickname Psyche) the mystery unravels and the danger facing all of them comes into focus.
A gritty struggle ranges throughout the girls’ rural hometown and in the wild terrain around it. All while two questions hang over their heads. Can an alien deliver a miracle for a human mother? Can a group of teens defeat an interdimensional demon?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
—
EXCERPT:
End of Chapter 1
Polly crept softly downstairs and into the vaulted kitchen. In the window behind the double sink, her mom’s stained-glass butterfly reflected a glint of moonlight. Her gaze darted from the window to the sliding glass doors across the room, behind a small round oak table. A greasy takeout box and two plates of chicken bones on the counter—her mom’s only half-eaten—glistened in the faint light. She paused next to the table, gripped the padded back of a dining chair, and leaned toward the glass door. She peered out, across the backyard and into the orchard.
A large beacon of light flickered in the trees. It moved, as if floating. No, not floating—walking. The intense glow, marked by dark strips of trunk and branch, moved at a measured pace. She squinted, trying to make out an outline of . . . whatever it was that meandered through the trees.
It’s an animal. It has to be!
She lifted the latch on the sliding glass door and gently opened it. Chilly night air rushed in, smelling of ozone and the earth. Her flannel nightgown billowed in the breeze. She placed a bare foot on the smooth concrete of the patio. The cold was sharp and shot straight through Polly, causing her to gasp, but she forced herself to keep moving. She stepped all the way out and slid the door back into place, almost closing it but not quite.
The roving light in the orchard had grown larger. It was weaving between the dark rows of trees in the distance. The undulating pace of it . . . it wasn’t human. Whatever it was, it was moving—walking, she thought, but not on two legs.
Polly put one foot in front of the other, compelled by her need to know. She crossed the backyard, reaching the bumpy bare earth of the orchard floor. She steadied herself against a tree trunk as adrenaline raced through her veins. She leaned into the tree, hoping to conceal her figure without losing sight of the creature, whatever it was.
She waited, watching in both awe and terror as the glowing animal came closer. The creature made no sound at all. Polly watched, eyes trained on the glow itself, until finally she could make out a shape—a long, muscular torso flexed above four knobby legs. Pointed ears flickered.
It’s a horse! A white mare! Oh my god, she’s so bright.
The horse turned its head, flashing a spiraled horn—unmistakable against the dark branches around them.
NO WAY!
“Polly? Are you out there?” she heard her mom call. She turned to see her mom’s silhouette standing in the kitchen. Her mom flicked on a light, spilling yellow across the yard. Polly whipped around to see the unicorn again, but the orchard had grown dark, full of silent indigo trees.
The glowing animal was gone.
Author Bio:
Award-winning author Christine Hart lives on BC's beautiful West Coast. She loves writing about places and spaces with rich history and visually fascinating elements as a backdrop for the surreal and spectacular.
Christine has an undergraduate degree in writing and literature, along with a professional background in communications and design. She is a member of the Federation of BC Writers and SF Canada.
When not writing, she breaks stuff and makes stuff - in that order - for the Etsy shop Sleepless Storyteller.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest
GIVEAWAY!
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March 16, 2021
A Quick Chat with author Robert Herold
Please help me welcome Robert Herold, author of Moonlight Becomes You and the Eldola Project to my blog.
What inspired you to write this book?
As noted in my bio, I’ve thought werewolves were cool ever since I was a pup. Creating a novel around one was the next best thing to my childhood dream of becoming one! I also remember reading a piece in the Horror Writers of America handbook on writing horror, that there hasn’t been a definitive werewolf novel. I thought I’d take a stab, er, sink my teeth into the challenge as it were. I would very much like to make a significant contribution to the canon of horror writing.
What are you reading?
I’m rereading a horror novel that I first read many years ago, The Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber. There is a witch in my Eidola Project novels and I wanted to reacquaint myself with some of the best books in the witch genre. BTW, it’s a great novel!
Tell us something unique/quirky about yourself.
I collect Mexican Lobby Cards for famous horror movies. I have about a dozen, some of which are autographed by famous writers (Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, and Richard Matheson, author of I Am Legend). Why Mexican? They are much cheaper than their English language counterparts!
Thanks, Robert, for stopping!
Moonlight Becomes You by Robert HeroldGenre: Supernatural HorrorHeat level: R
Blurb
The Eidola Project travels to Petersburg, Virginia, to investigate a series of murders in the Black community—rumored to be caused by a werewolf. Once there, danger comes from all quarters. Not only do they face threats from the supernatural, the KKK objects to the team's activities, and the group is falling apart. Can they overcome their human frailties to defeat the evil that surrounds them?
Moonlight Becomes You earned two first place wins from the Southeastern Writers Association, including Best Novel!
Buy LinksAmazon Amazon CA Amazon UKBarnes and Noble Apple Goodreads BookbubExcerpt
Doc Curtis fought for every reserve of strength and managed to quicken his pace. He could hear them shouting behind him and dared not look back, fearing it might slow him just that much more.
He made it through the field and emerged onto a rough access road running between the cultivated land on one side and the woods on the other. The doctor dashed across the dirt road and through the weeds and scrub bordering its opposite side. The trees stood twenty yards ahead. He would make it, find a thick trunk to hide behind, and fire a warning shot. If he could drive them off, it would be best. If not, he would do what needed to be done. Life had reduced itself to its most basic terms: kill or be killed.
Just five yards from the trees, a gigantic black beast bounded from the woods and landed before him. The doctor skittered to a stop, and his feet went out from beneath him. The creature stepped closer, looming. Its eyes glowed red, and the skin around its muzzle drew back, revealing a mouthful of sharp canine teeth.
The Klan had come at him in two directions, the doctor realized.
He raised his pistol and fired into the snarling face above him.
Don't miss Eldola Project
About the author:The supernatural has always had the allure of forbidden fruit, ever since my mother refused to allow me, as a boy, to watch creature features on late night TV. She caved-in. (Well, not literally!)
As a child, fresh snow provided me the opportunity to walk out onto neighbor’s lawns halfway and make paw prints with my fingers as far as I could stretch. I would retrace the paw and boot prints, then fetch the neighbor kids and point out that someone turned into a werewolf on their front lawn! (They were skeptical.)
I have pursued many interests over the years, but the supernatural always called to me. You could say that I was haunted. Finally, following the siren’s call, I wrote The Eidola Project, based on a germ of an idea I had as a teenager.
Ultimately, I hope my books give you the creeps, and I mean that in the best way possible!
Connect with author Robert Herold
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March 11, 2021
Shake off Winter Doldrums Book Festival
Are you suffering from the winter doldrums? I’ve discovered the cure at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Shake Off Winter Doldrums Book Festival. 28 books featured plus a chance to win one of the following:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) Gift Card
Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) Gift Card
I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book, Damned When I Didn't , was featured on March 10, 2021 . Wait until you read my cure for winter doldrums. You won’t want to miss it.
Bookmark this festival and tell your friends:
https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/shake-off-winter-doldrums
Then I have a second giveaway for you!Click here to enter.
March 9, 2021
A Quick Chat with Author Julie Howard
I'm thrilled to be chatting with Julie Howard, author of the Wild Crime and Spirited Quest series. Plus, she shared an excerpt from Spirit in Time, the third book in the Spirited Quest mysteries. So without further ado...
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
Spirit in Time is set in 1872 Sacramento, California, a city where I lived for about ten years. I’m a fifth generation Californian (although I now live in Idaho), and have always been intrigued by the state’s history. What a dynamic place! Sacramento saw gold miners, railroad barons, brothel madams, and immigrant workers – all elements that come to play in this new novel. The main character, Jillian Winchester, is a ghost hunter who is kidnapped back in time by a mysterious spirit. She not only has to find her way back to her own time, but also must uncover the mystery of who a man in a famous painting really is. Many of the places in the novel are inspired by real locations and a few famous names pop up. Anyone familiar with California will recognize a few of the places, which is part of the fun.
What are you reading?
I’m rereading The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd in preparation to reading its sequel The Rebels of Ireland. I read this first book years ago and am not sure why I didn’t read the second book then. The beauty of these two books is, firstly, they are each 800 pages, so I know I have weeks of reading time secured. Second of all, Rutherfurd is a wonderful author who brings the past alive in his historical fiction. I’ve read everything else written by him.
Tell us something about yourself and how you became an author.
Like many authors, writing books is something I’ve always wanted to do. I started writing fiction about ten years ago, poorly at first, but I took a couple of classes, attended seminars, read books on craft, and slowly gained some skills. I had a headstart because I worked as a journalist and already knew how to write and capture good quotes/dialogue. Fiction, however, is a different beast and I still needed to learn about plot, story arcs, internal and external conflicts, and so many other pieces to fiction writing. Spirit in Time is my seventh published book and I’m nearly done with the next one. I still feel like I’m learning, and likely always will, but it’s certainly more fun now.
Spirit in Time is the third in the Spirited Quest mysteries. The first two books, Spirited Quest and House of Seven Spirits, are on sale for 99 cents this week.
Spirit in Time Genre: Historical time travel
Blurb
Time travel isn't real. It can't be real. But ghost-blogger Jillian Winchester discovers otherwise when an enigmatic spirit conveys her to 1872 to do his bidding.
Jillian finds herself employed as a maid in Sacramento, in an elegant mansion with a famous painting. The artwork reveals another mystery: Why does the man within look exactly like her boyfriend, Mason Chandler?
Morality and sin live side by side, not only in the picture, but also within her. As her transgressions escalate, she races the clock to find the man in the painting, and hunt down a spirit with a disconcerting gift.
But will time be her friend or foe?
Buy links
Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Bookbub | Goodreads
Excerpt
“Are you a ghost?” A young girl stood where the guard had been only minutes before. She spoke matter- of-factly, her dark eyes alive with curiosity.
The house was still whole, she was alive, and the world hadn’t ended. Jillian scanned the room for damage, then blinked. This must be a dream. The long dining table—bare just moments ago—was now laid for a meal. Glasses sat upright, forks and spoons lined up in perfect order, and a tall flower arrangement appeared unscathed. A crystal chandelier above the table remained perfectly still.
The guard and Asian man were nowhere in sight.
The girl, dressed neatly in a calf-length white pinafore embellished with pink ribbons, didn’t appear rattled by the cataclysmic jolt.
“What happened?” Jillian asked, still crouched on her knees. “Are you okay?”
“You don’t belong here. Mother will be angry.”
Even though the floor had ceased to shake, the roiling continued in her head. Might this very real looking girl be a spirit? Most apparitions wavered in some manner, their appearances paler and less there than the tangible world around them. This child appeared solid in every way, from the tips of her shiny chestnut hair to the toes of her lace-up black shoes.
About the author
Julie Howard is the author of the Wild Crime and Spirited Quest series. She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. She is a member of the Idaho Writers Guild, editor of the Potato Soup Journal, and founder of the Boise chapter of Shut Up & Write.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | InstagramGoodreads | Amazon | Bookbub
March 2, 2021
It's a Birthday Celebration
Hi, and thanks for stopping by!
March is my birthday month... yep, I'm celebrating all month! And I thought it would be fun if I did the giving. But first, let me share a fun fact about myself and my family. I’m not much of a cake person, and interestingly enough neither is my husband, and our boys stopped eating cake when they got older. But we each have a favorite treat. For me, it’s banana cream pie. When forced to, I'll even share. (I really shouldn't eat the entire pie by myself.) Do you like cake, or are you like my family and have a different favorite treat?
Onto the fun! For my birthday, one lucky winner will receive an autographed copy of one of my young adult novels (winner's choice). The winner will be randomly selected on March 30th. But this is a month-long celebration, so on March 9th, 16th, and 23rd, I'll randomly select a name from Rafflecopter entries. That person will win an eBook (mobi or epub) of one of my young adult novels (also winner's choice).
Due to postage cost, the autographed copy is restricted to U.S. residents only.No restrictions on eBooks.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please help spread the word about the celebration by sharing via social media. Thanks!!
February 23, 2021
Guest Post: Author Randy Overbeck
Hi everyone!
I hope you enjoyed the Crimson at Cape May trailer. I'm thrilled to welcome Randy Overback to my blog.
Who Needs Love Anyway?
A reader interested in the novels in my Haunted Shores Mysteries sent me a question via email. “I heard you say at the author talk say that these are ghost story and mysteries, but you said they are also love stories. Can you clue me in on that part of the stories?”
Technically, each of the titles is listed as a mystery and suspense with romantic elements, but the love story is far more than some afterthought. In fact, the romance strand is actually what drives both narratives.
My hero, Darrell Henshaw, was been cheated on by his fiancé in his home town and traveled six hundred miles to get away from his checkered romantic past. When he lands on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, he runs into a beautiful, redheaded young woman who captures his heart.
Of course, being a guy, he can’t help but throw a few wrenches into this relationship, although, to be fair, he is dealing with a few complicating factors in his life—like ghosts that won’t stop haunting him, a mystery or two he needs to solve and some very powerful people who are trying to get him fired or worse, killed. You get the idea. He has a lot going on and the romance is smack dab in the middle of it all.
Here are few comments from readers about the romantic part of story.
· “There’s a great romance story weaved into all this. I loved Erin. She was no shrinking violet when it came to digging into the investigation by his side. She was the perfect partner for Darrell.”—an Amazon reviewer.
· “And then there is Erin. Darrell is not looking for love again, but she has caught his eye and just might be the one to thaw his heart.”—an Amazon reviewer
· “The romance was sweet and just added to the overall feel of the story.”—a Goodreads reader
So I’d like to suggest if you’re looking for a read with a love story between two very real and fallible people, but you’d also like a little suspense with your romance, enjoy solving an unusual whodunnit, and maybe even appreciate a chill running down your spine, then I’d humbly suggest you check out either of the two Haunted Shores Mysteries, Blood on the Chesapeake and Crimson at Cape May. I don’t think you’re be disappointed.
Blood on the Chesapeake
Blurb: Wilshire, Maryland, a quaint shore town on the Chesapeake, promises Darrell Henshaw a new start in life and a second chance at love. That is, until he learns the town hides an ugly secret. A thirty-year-old murder in the high school. And a frightening ghost stalking his new office. Burned by an earlier encounter with the spirit world, Darrell doesn't want to get involved, but when the desperate ghost hounds him, he concedes. Assisted by his new love, he follows a trail that leads to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and even the Klu Klux Klan. Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he's willing to risk his life--and the life of the woman he loves--to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.
AmazonAudible
Crimson at Cape May (The Haunted Shores Mysteries #2)
No matter how far you run, you can never really escape a haunted past.
Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach, and paranormal sensitive—learned this lesson the hard way. With his job gone and few options, he heads for Cape May to coach a summer football camp. The resort town, with gorgeous beaches, rich history and famous Victorian mansions, might just be the getaway he needs. Only, no one told him Cape May is the most haunted seaport on the East Coast. One resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, stalks Darrell, begging for his help.
He can’t refuse.
Joining forces with Cassie, a street-wise teen and another sensitive, he investigates the bride’s death and discovers her murder is connected to a far greater horror. But can Darrell and Cassie expose those behind the crimes before they end up being the killer’s next victims?
AmazonBarnes and NobleCRIMSON AT CAPE MAY
EXCERPT
Why would this woman pursue him?
Now a safe distance away, he studied her. She was thin, with a small, drawn face of pasty skin, and he would’ve guessed her to be about his age, mid-twenties. But there was something about her, something that made him shiver. Did she have a black eye? Were those cuts on her cheek? Why hadn’t he noticed those before, when he passed her on the Promenade?
He sped up, the street crowded, congested with tourists. Normally, the jostling bodies would’ve given him the creeps, but today he was grateful for the numbers so he could blend in.
Not sure where he was headed—except away from his boardinghouse—he kept up a brisk pace. He hurried past the legendary Inn of Cape May, with its ornate, white period architecture and four stories of ancient rooms facing the beach. Any other time, he’d be thinking about taking Erin there. The place had an interesting old-time vibe. That is, if she still wanted anything to do with him. But he didn’t have time for that now. He kept moving.
As he turned back onto Beach Avenue again, the sight of the beautiful blue ocean across the road struck him and he stopped for a moment, then chanced a peek back around the corner. No sign of his stalker.
He reduced his pace, easing past a beach shop, and saw his reflection in the store front. That gave him an idea. Ahead, he spied a coffee shop with two long windows facing the street, the panes so sparkling clean he could see the image of the sun hanging over the ocean in the glass. As he walked along, he turned his head to catch his image and, when he was far enough along, he glanced sideways at the window. Trailing behind him, he could make out, reflected in the glass, only two people, a gray-haired couple. No one else. He took a few more steps, watching and slowing a little, and exhaled. He’d lost her.
He turned and studied the man and woman, who’d paused to examine the restaurant menu posted next to the door. A few feet beyond the couple stood the woman. Darrell’s gaze darted. The couple. The woman. The coffee shop window. Back to her. The petite young woman in the tattered white dress stood hunched not more than ten feet away. Darrell searched for her reflection in the glass. There was not even a shimmer.
Oh no. Not again.
The side of the young woman’s face was beaten and bloodied. Her exposed neck bore a long, ugly purple bruise. The torn dress now had blood seeping across her torso and down her right leg. He looked back. Still nothing in the window. The hairs on his neck stood up.
“What do you want?”
In unison, the pair turned, peered behind and then back at Darrell. The man said, “Son, there’s no one there.”
Darrell kept staring and as he watched, the young woman walked through the older couple and stopped in front of him. This close up, her one deep blue eye—the one not blackened—seemed vacant and carried an emptiness that frightened Darrell. She again extended both pale hands, blood now covering them and dripping off her fingertips. Mesmerized, Darrell watched as fat crimson drops splattered red onto the gray sidewalk.
In her soft voice, she said again, “Please, help me. Help us.”
Darrell shook his head violently. “No. Hell, no. Not again.” Last time almost killed him.
About the author
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker, capturing state and national accolades for his work. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, Blood on the Chesapeake (2019)and Crimson at Cape May (2020) have earned five star reviews and garnered top awards and recognition from sites such as Literary Titan, ReadersFavorite.com, ReaderViews.com and N. N. Lights Bookheaven. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.
Connect with author
The Cyan Huntres Book Blitz
Book Blitz!
The Cyan Huntress (Prophecy of Caerleon 1) by: USA Today Bestselling Author, Krystal Pena! Genre: YA Fantasy Release Date: June 29th 2021
Summary: She will avenge her husband’s death, even if she must kill every knight in Caerleon to learn who betrayed him.
Anwyn thought she would finally enjoy comfort and happiness when she married a traveling psychic--that is, until Uthyr Pendragon unleashed a war on all magic-users and had her new husband burned alive.
She’s determined to wreak her revenge, until a Druid boy’s prophecy convinces her to put aside her personal vendetta and learn to hunt the ones who want her dead--harder to do when she’s captured and taken to Caerleon to be tried as a sorceress.
Now, if she can escape with the help of Caradoc, a man whose secrets rival Anwyn’s, she will have to fulfill her vow of revenge while on the run and attempting to find the one leader who can unite three broken kingdoms under a single banner.
Assuming, of course, she can protect herself from burning at the stake, safeguard her heart from the enigmatic Caradoc, and complete her training as the Cyan Huntress.
Fans of Jeffe Kennedy, Grace Draven, and Laura Thalassa will love the blend of Arthurian legend and exciting action in this romantic fantasy adventure!
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Author Bio:
USA Today
bestselling author Krystal Pena resides with her four children near Boston, MA. She writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy and fantasy, and enjoys writing stories about strong women who overcome the greatest obstacles to achieve their dreams or goals. Many of her characters reflect her and the adversities she has overcome, which she wants to relay in her writing to empower the young women of generations to come. Many of her stories have roots in ancient ideals and folklore, and she loves hiding alternate meanings or symbolism in her writing.Aside from writing, Krystal enjoys photography, archery, horseback riding and MMA. She loves history and art, and frequents historical sites and art galleries in her spare time. Above all else, she loves being at home, baking and cooking with her children, visiting her family and reading bedtime stories.
She works as a personal assistant to other authors by day and writes late into the night, a strong cup of coffee always within reach.
Krystal is also one-half of USA Today bestseller KM McKenna, which she shares with New York Times bestselling author Margo Bond Collins in writing YA/NA fantasy. She enjoys working alongside Margo as both co-author and PA.
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February 16, 2021
Love Leads the Way Release Week
Love Leads the Wayby Margot JohnsonPublisher: Wild Rose PressGenre: Sweet Contemporary RomanceBlurb
She coaches him in team leadership, but do they both need lessons in love?
Single mom Tessa Shore runs a successful leadership program at work and supports a mother with dementia. She can handle any challenge in her jam-packed schedule as long as nothing spins out of control…especially her feelings.
Engineer Mark Delaney is an expert on pipelines at the same company, but his interpersonal skills need a makeover. Advancing to an executive job requires enrollment in a leadership course he doesn't think he needs.
When their professional and personal issues entangle, life at the office gets a lot more complicated. Romance is impossible…or is it?
Available February 17, 2021On sales for $2.99
Amazon
Excerpt
Pacing around Crescent Park in moonlight trimmed with stars, Mark breathed fresh air and slowed his erratic heartbeats from the shock of Tessa’s invitation. Apparently, the woman who directed the class with the precision of an air-traffic controller could flex…at least, a little. She wanted to spend extra time with him, and he couldn’t refuse.
“I didn’t think we’d bump into other participants at this late hour.” She hugged tighter her windbreaker against the cool breeze. “We won’t mix business and pleasure. I’m strictly off duty, and so are you.”
“Okay, Tessa, whatever you say.” Zipping higher his jacket, he strode and sniffed moisture riding the wind. Guilt tiptoed around his collar, and he couldn’t escape the feeling this outing was a bad idea. He should avoid her, except in class, yet he accepted her invitation. But why did she break her own rule and contact him? “If I can’t discuss work, can I ask you a personal question?” He admired her profile with pert nose tipped to the sky, breathing the fresh night air.
“I guess so since I’m the woman who persuades everyone else to dish.” She laughed and brushed a curl from her cheek.
Streetlights alternated with a full moon to light the pathway. Their footsteps crunched on gravel, and their murmured voices broke the peaceful silence.
“Ready.” She tucked her hands in jacket pockets.
“Is Mr. Shore waiting at home?” He winced at his forward question. No sense beating around the bush. He shouldn’t pine for someone else’s wife.
“You weren’t kidding. Your question is fairly personal.” She laughed and twisted toward him. “No, I don’t have a mister. But, as you know, I’m the mom of a beautiful daughter.”
“So you’re divorced.” His heart jumped. She was available, too. A relationship was not impossible.
She shook her head. “I was engaged once, but my personality got in the way.” She accelerated and lengthened her strides.
“Oh?” He swallowed and fought the overwhelming urge to sweep her into his arms.
Margot Johnson on Love Leads the Way
For many years, I worked in a busy corporate environment, and I left a leadership role in human resources and communications to focus on writing. Now instead of guiding employees, I create characters who have minds of their own!
In LOVE LEADS THE WAY, Tessa coaches Mark in leadership, but they both need lessons in love! I hope you have fun with these clashing coworkers as they discover where love leads.
The story is fiction but draws on some of my experiences at work and at home. I’d love to have lunch with Tessa and compare notes on office gossip, single parenting, family quirks, and cute golden retrievers. One key difference is I didn’t meet my handsome husband at work!
Tessa and Mark both support a mother with dementia which brings some tough but also light moments. My late dad died of complications from Alzheimer’s, so that part of the book is close to my heart. He was a journalist who always encouraged me to read and write.
My characters love dogs, and my loyal, old golden retriever, Sophie, is the inspiration for the adorable dogs in my books.
When not writing, I love to travel. One of my more unusual adventures was appearing on the TV game show Let’s Make a Deal where I almost won a car! You can often find me reading a good book for my monthly book club while munching on a large bowl of popcorn.
Interesting/unique fact about book:
I’d love to have lunch with Tessa and compare notes about leadership, single parenthood, family, and golden retrievers. The book is fiction, but Tessa and I share a lot in common.
Fact about Margot:
I always dreamed of becoming an author, and I left a leadership role in human resources and communications to focus on writing
Don't miss Love Takes Flighton sale for .99 cents!Buy on Amazon.
About the Author
Margot Johnson grew up in a family of writers and has always loved books and writing.
She is the author of LOVE TAKES FLIGHT and her new release LOVE LEADS THE WAY. Before turning her focus to the fun writing life, Margot held leadership roles in human resources and communications. Her motto is "Dream big and work hard."
When not writing, she loves to connect with family and friends, volunteer with SK Writers Guild, and walk at least 10,000 steps a day (except when it's minus 40!) She lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada with her amazing husband and beloved golden retriever.
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