Stacy Claflin's Blog, page 11

Where do you turn when your best friend dies? To the one person who understands…his girlfriend.

I step aside and close the closet door, but manage to knock over a decorative box and spill some photos. When I pick them up and start putting them away, the top one catches my attention. It’s a photo of Kade and Sutton kissing at a park. I think I took the picture. I remember loving how cute they were together. The perfect couple.

My stomach clenches. Now, after all Sutton and I have been through together since Kade’s death, seeing her kiss someone else—even Kade, when they were together, when he was alive—feels like a punch to the throat.

I glance over at everyone else. Their attention is still on Sutton and Kade’s parents. I flip through some more pictures. They’re all romantic photos of Kade and Sutton. A few I took, but most are selfies.

My stomach is knotted so tight I can barely breathe.

I’m a horrible person. I shouldn’t feel this way. But I do.

Kade’s parents make their way for the door. I put the photos back and close the closet door, then jump up and say goodbye, trying to ignore my irrational jealousy. I would far rather have Kade back with him and Sutton together than have my current reality.

But that doesn’t change how I feel about Sutton. Kade’s not here, and I’m falling more in love with her with each passing day.

That’s my reality, no matter how much of a selfish jerk that makes me.

I take a deep breath and force myself to shove the photos from my mind, but the images are burned into my memory. All I can see is the two of them kissing.

I’m jealous of my dead best friend. That’s some kind of seriously messed up thinking.

CONTINUE READING

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What could be worse than your boyfriend dying in your arms?

The night of their graduation, a car wreck takes Kade’s life. Sutton’s world is shattered. But then everything spirals out of control when, at his funeral, she discovers she’s pregnant.

She turns to the one person who understands her devastation—Anchor, Kade’s best friend. He pushes past his own anguish to help Sutton navigate her impossible decisions. Feelings and attraction intensify, but so does guilt. Despite the tangled emotions, they manage to fill the Kade-sized hole in each other’s hearts.

Then life hits them with another devastating blow. Anchor and Sutton grew close through tragedy, but this time it could be what ends them… unless they can muster the strength to fight for what they’ve built.

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A blind date, a gorgeous vampire, and a deadly assassin. Just a typical Friday night.

As I stood, surrounded by the woods, the hair on my arms and neck stood on end.

Someone—or something—was watching me.

The moment of truth.

It was little comfort to know that at least I wasn’t going to get mauled to death. Not with my unpredictable newly-found powers.

I listened for a heartbeat to reveal the location of my predator.

Nothing.

The hairs on my arms and neck continued to stand on end. The only times I have felt this was when a vampire was near.

My heart raced, my skin crawled with the sensation of being watched.

I looked around, senses on fire.

Finally, movement.

I took a deep breath, braced myself. My mind might be playing tricks on me, but that was likely wishful thinking.

A vampire had to be causing the distress on my senses.

Rustle, rustle.

My heart nearly gave out.

A small mouse scurried away.

I turned my attention back to the vampire that I was sure was watching me.

By instinct, I crouched a little, gained some confidence. My senses all intensified at once, and I could smell him.

He was definitely there.

My feet moved toward the vampire.

What? No. Stop!

No such luck. My feet had a mind of their own.

I walked directly toward it, as if it was the prey, and I was the predator.

CONTINUE READING…

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A blind date, a gorgeous vampire, and a deadly assassin.

Just a typical Friday night.

Yesterday, my biggest problems were fighting with my sister and getting into my dream college. Today, I’m dealing with destructive new powers and a raging thirst for blood—and both are getting me into serious trouble.

I never believed in the supernatural, but now I can’t escape it. I’ve tried everything to distract myself from the bundle of weird events that is ruining my life, including a blind date with a drop-dead gorgeous guy. Turns out he knows more about my past than I do, including the assassin who has marked me for death.

I thought becoming a blood-sucking child of the night would make me immortal… turns out it just made me a target. With a trained killer after me, I might actually have to trust the know-it-all vampire to help me unlock my powers, before one of us ends up permanently dead.

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One poor decision will haunt her forever…

Sitting in his warm truck across from the park, Chester Woodran watched her walk across the open field. An overhead light turned on as she passed under it in the dusk. Her long, dark hair swished back and forth behind her. She wandered around the playground, walking between the climbers and slides until she stopped in front of the swings.

He had spent hours watching her. Studying her. He knew her almost better than she knew herself.

The moment of truth would arrive soon. She’d come a few minutes early, but he wouldn’t deviate from the schedule. He would act exactly on time. He’d laid the groundwork. He wasn’t going to let her change a thing.

Chester pulled out his phone and scrolled through the pictures, stopping at his favorite. It was the girl in the park for sure, although he couldn’t see the details of her face up close yet. He would have to wait a few minutes.

From the phone, her light brown eyes shone at him. Her shy, almost insecure face smiled sweetly.

His heart sped up at the thought of many weeks of work coming together at long last. The waiting was about to end.

Clenching the steering wheel with all his might, he took several deep breaths to calm himself. Every precaution had been taken. Prepared with painstaking care. There was no chance of anything going wrong so long as he stayed with the plan.

The alarm on his digital wristwatch beeped. He turned it off and then leaned back into the seat, adjusting his over-sized glasses.

It was time.

CONTINUE READING…

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One poor decision will haunt her forever.

Macy Mercer only wants a little independence. Eager to prove herself grown up, she goes to a dark, secluded park. She’s supposed to meet the boy of her dreams who she met online. But the cute fifteen year old was a fantasy, his pictures fake. She finds herself face to face with Chester Woodran, a man capable of murder.

Distraught over his own missing daughter, Chester insists that Macy replace his lost girl. He locks Macy up, withholds food, and roughs her up, demanding that she call him dad. Under duress from his constant threats and mind games, her hold on reality starts to slip. Clinging to her memories is the only way of holding onto her true identity, not believing that she is Chester’s daughter. Otherwise she may never see her family again.

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Returning home might be the last thing she ever does…

It’s after midnight by the time we pull up to the road leading to the long-abandoned house.

The street is exactly as I remember it—well-kept with the enormous homes spread out far from each other. Many are tucked so far back, they can’t be seen from the road.

My family’s house was the first built and is the last on the long street. It’s not hidden from view, but its immense backyard stretches farther than I was allowed to explore as a child.

I pull into the driveway. The structure looms in front of us. Growing up, I rarely had friends over because I was embarrassed by the size.

“It looks haunted,” my niece whispers.

“That’s because it’s dark outside and hasn’t been taken care of. All it needs is some TLC. But we’ll worry about that later. Let’s just get everything inside, then we’ll be free of Richard.” I rub my temples, trying to get rid of the headache that came back after reuniting with him.

“Can’t wait for that.” Ember opens her door.

I dig through my purse for the keychain and stare at the home before getting out. Old memories run through my mind, just as dusty as everything inside must be.

Richard slams his truck’s driver side door. “Let’s get this over with.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

He glares at me.

All I want to do is sleep. But that’s going to be a long time coming.

I march up the cracked walkway and try to ignore the overgrown lawn. As I get closer to the house, I notice peeling paint and thick layers of grime. It’s going to take more work than I imagined, and this is just the outside.

The top lock struggles against the key from so many years of disuse. After a few jiggles, it relents and unlocks. Then

I repeat the process with the lock on the knob. It twists, and I open the door. It creaks in protest.

Out of habit, I reach for the light switch. But then I realize this place is probably without power. Doesn’t sound like anyone has been here since my parents lived here.

But the moment I flip the switch, light flickers on. Nearly all the furniture is covered, and the cloth is caked in dust.

The floor is covered with old muddy footprints that will surely be challenging to get off. The large curved staircase in front of us is exactly as I remember it, though dusty, with its polished wood and ornate wooden railing. I remember running my hands over the carvings countless times as a child.

“You can stare later,” Richard snaps. “Help me get your stuff inside.”

Clearly, he’s as eager to be rid of us as we are of him.

Once his truck is empty, he wipes his hands on his pants. “See you at the funeral. Natasha will be in touch with the details.”

“Are you kidding me?” I press the door so he can’t shut it. “You’re going to plan it without Ember? Me? We’re Claire’s blood.”

“And I’m the husband. I’m in charge.” He slams the door, barely giving me time to jump out of the way.

“I hate him,” Ember mutters as he drives away.

“Can’t say I blame you, especially if he’s always like that.” I remote lock the car and put my arm around her. “Let’s get settled. I’ll call Natasha tomorrow and see if she can’t at least let you help with the memorial.”

Ember shrugs.

I guide her inside and close the door behind us. A small plume of dust puffs out.

We make our way up the creaky stairs. I don’t recall them being so noisy. It sends a shiver down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I silently chastise myself for being so creeped out. It’s the house I grew up in. Nothing more. It just needs some love.

Ember stops, and I nearly run into her.

“You okay?”

She looks around. “Did you hear that?”

I listen, only hearing our breathing. “Hear what?”

“I’m not sure. But it was something.”

“Like I said before, probably rodents. Nobody’s been here in a long time.”

Without a word, we make our way to the second floor.

CONTINUE READING…

THE PERFECT DEATH

A deadly cover-up. A haunted house. Returning home might be the last thing she ever does.

Kenzi Bannon left her painful childhood behind for the glitz and glamour of California. But when her estranged sister commits suicide, she’s forced to return to her abandoned family house. Unexpectedly made guardian to her grieving teenaged niece, Kenzi becomes increasingly convinced her sister’s death was murder.

Devastated by shocking evidence proving Kenzi’s theory, the pair scour the ramshackle house for clues. But when eerie sounds echo through the hallways and the real killer comes after them, she must work fast to unmask the true culprit.

Can Kenzi and her niece get justice for her sister before they follow her into an early grave?

Read today: THE PERFECT DEATH

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He saved her life. She’ll shatter his…

The railroad tracks rumble beneath my pink sneakers, vibrating my entire body along with them. My heart thunders in my chest.

I’m not backing out.

Sunshine beats down on me. It’s early summer, but it’s already proving to be an especially hot one. A rarity for a suburb of Seattle. It’s too bad I won’t be here to enjoy it.

Off to the side, near the shade of the trees, movement distracts me. Something is nearby. I can’t tell what.

And I don’t care.

The rumble of the tracks grows stronger. It’s harder to balance.

My pulse races as the deep-throated horn blares through the air.

Though the driver clearly sees me, the green and yellow machine doesn’t appear to slow.

Good. That’s exactly what I want.

The horn wails again, this time rippling through me.

My right foot slips from the track. I land in the middle of the two long pieces of metal. It’s probably for the best. I’ll be hit by the center of the train. More force to end it all faster.

Squeal! Tssh…

The brakes.

No!

Don’t stop!

Trains take forever to stop. Like half a mile or something. This can still happen.

I do the only thing I can. I burst into a run toward the massive, now-slowing vehicle.

The horn blares again, but I barely notice it. I can’t let the train stop before it reaches me. If I’m going to get anything right in my life, it has to be this.

Now that I’m running, it’s coming toward me faster. My heart pounds harder.

This is it. It’s really going to happen. I can almost count down, but it would be too disappointing to get to zero, only to find out that I’d miscalculated.

The horn now sounds like a constant noise. That driver really wants me off the tracks.

He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.

I’m ready for this.

Something hits me. From the side.

Wait, what?

Now everything is a blur. I’m sailing through the air sideways. Away from the train! It’s leaving my line of sight.

My shoulder hits the ground first. Then my hip and side. My head hits. Hard.

I roll. Dirt and gravel get in my face.

I’m a mess of soil and grass.

The train barrels past.

I missed my train!

“What were you thinking?” demands a male voice from behind.

I spin toward the voice and glare at its owner. The gorgeous face of the owner. His almost-shoulder-length wavy hair is mostly covered by a gray beanie which perfectly matches his plaid flannel shirt.

“What were you thinking?” he repeats.

I jump up and dust rocks and grass from my jeans and shirt. “Me? What about you? Why’d you do that?”

He stands, but doesn’t dust himself off. “You mean why did I save your life?”

“Yeah.” I glower at him. My heart continues racing, but now from anger instead of excitement. “I had it all planned perfectly. Then you show up. The one variable I didn’t take into account. Jerk.”

He shakes his head. “You’re unbelievable. I save your life, and you call me names.”

“I called you a jerk. That’s one name. Learn to count.”

“Why’d you do it?” He adjusts his hat and tilts his head. His eyes are filled more with concern than annoyance now.

The guy is flipping gorgeous, but in the most down-to-earth way imaginable.

It’s infuriating.

“What’s so awful that a pretty girl like you wants to end it all?”

Pretty? Me? The guy obviously needs glasses. Maybe they flew off when he ruined my plans.

“Don’t you have anything to say?”

“Not to you.” I fold my arms.

“Hey, I saved your life. The least you could do is tell me why you were going to throw it all away.”

I sigh as dramatically as I can. Seriously, I really draw it out and even manage a slight eye roll. Maybe I should’ve gone into acting. Too late for that. For anything, really.

There will be another train.

I ignore the hottie and storm toward the tracks. “This time I’m going to get it right.”

He jumps between me and the tracks. “And if I don’t let you?”

“You’re going to try to stop me again?”

“Yeah.” He knits his brows together, clearly daring me to try and stop him.

CONTINUE READING…

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He saved her life. She’ll shatter his.

Kenna Mitchell grew up despised and mistreated by those who should’ve loved and protected her. Now homeless and alone, with pain too heavy to bear, she’s ready to end it all.

Enter Rogan Scott, an up-and-coming rock star with one focus—his band. Out in the woods, looking for song inspiration, he comes across a beautiful girl seconds from ending her life. He saves Kenna, only to face her anger. Intrigued, he pulls her into his world of rock and roll.

But his social circle proves as cruel as the one she left behind. If Rogan can’t show Kenna that life is worth living, the merciless secrets of her past will convince her to finally end it all. And it will rip him apart… unless he proves to her that their love story can have a happy ending.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me explores the depths of grief, forgiveness, and true love.

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The Ultimate Novel Planning Workbook

I’m excited to share the steps I personally use to write a novel in less than a month. Over the course of writing more than 80 books, I’ve learned a LOT about the process of writing – and pre-writing. The planning is the most important part of being able to write a book while saving time on the post-writing process.

Use my sheets to help you fly through the process of planning your novel: Ultimate Novel Planning Workbook

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Girl in Trouble: Read the free thriller today!

★★★★★ “OMG the best book I have read this summer”
★★★★★ “This was so good I’ve read it twice!”
★★★★★“Wow! This story had me up all night with a racing heart!!”

A girl who looked just like Ariana from behind walked away with a balding man in a jean jacket. She had the same blueish-green colored jacket. The same ponytail, too.

It was Ariana.

“No!” Alex burst into a run, terror seizing him.

What was Ari doing? Hadn’t anyone taught her to stay away from strangers?

“Ariana! Stop!” he called.

The man led her around a corner up ahead. It may as well have been miles away.

“Stop them!” Alex shouted.

No one noticed his yelling. Or the man walking away with Ariana.

His throat closed. He forced his legs to move faster. Everything moved too slowly, except for that man and Ariana.

Alex’s pulse raced, making it hard to breathe. He rounded the same corner they had, but now they were out of sight.They could have gone anywhere—the arcade, the food court, or even outside.

His stomach twisted in tight knots. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

He ran over to the man selling tickets. “Did you see a little girl about this high,”—he held his hand to his side, just below his chest—“with dark brown hair full of sparkles?”

“Maybe.” He played with his goatee. “Not sure.”

Alex ran to the arcade and glanced around. No little girls.

He ran outside. Thankfully the bright overhead lights made it easy enough to scan the parking lot.

There they were.

At the far end of the parking lot, Ariana held up her phone as if showing him something on the screen.

“Ari!” he screamed, his voice cutting his throat. “Ariana!”

Neither seemed to hear him.

He burst into a run, his heart pounding against his ribcage. Alex had to dart around parked cars, but finally he neared them. He could see Ari’s profile—it was definitely her.

“Ariana!” He was so close, yet so far. He continued running.

She turned.

The man wrapped an arm around her.

“Help!” Ari called, fear in her eyes.

The man covered her mouth, hoisted her up, and ran.

Alex’s blood turned cold. “Stop!”

He didn’t. In fact, he ran around the corner of the building.

Alex caught up just in time to see the man stuff Ariana into a black SUV. The man jumped inside and slammed the door shut.

Pulse drumming in his ears, Alex ran faster. He got closer to the vehicle, and closer still.

He reached for the door.

The SUV squealed away just as his hand grasped air rather than the handle.

CONTINUE READING…

Read Girl in Trouble FREE today:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W56QBHM/
Other retailers: https://books2read.com/GirlInTrouble

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Ready to Re-Set Your Year? Start off on the right foot for Q2 with HB90

I can hardly believe it’s already March. Are you with me? I had all these lofty goals for the new year, but then life threw in more wrenches. This year is like 2020 Version Two.

Sigh.

But there’s good news! Any day can be a fresh start.

That’s where the HB90 Bootcamp comes in… I’m ready! Are you?

I’ve been following Sarra’s HB90 method for more than a year, and her system has really helped me a lot this year. Sure, things have been going crazy all around me on so many levels, but at least I have a method to get me through the madness!

What exactly is the HB90 Bootcamp? It’s a different planning method – with a community and coaching videos. It runs each quarter, and with Q2 of 2021 upon us (how is that possible??) the next round of bootcamp is nearly here.

This system works, and I wouldn’t recommend it if it didn’t. Like I said above, I’ve been using the HB90 method for over a year now, and it’s totally changed the way I plan. It helps me get and stay focused ... even when life gets in the way.

But more than that, it helps me to get more things done because I don’t get sidetracked by unimportant things. It helps me focus on what’s important to me and my goals. Not what other people say I “should” do, but what fits into my life plan.

It’s flexible enough to work for different personality styles and career goals. 

You discover how to move toward your dream life.

What are you waiting for?

Learn more here…

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Fast-Paced Thrillers Giveaway – Enter to win 50+ thrillers!

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Fresh thrillers for your e-reader – don’t miss these deals!

This is an AMAZING group of authors, of which I’m very honored to be a part. You’re sure to recognize lots of the authors in the promo, so this is a great opportunity to start reading the best of the best in the thriller realm. Thrills. Adventures. Chills. What are you waiting for?

8 Bestselling Authors
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You’ll find my book No Return in the sale for just 99c – that’s a savings of $3! That special price won’t last long, so snag it while you have the chance…

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