Stacy Claflin's Blog, page 21
August 28, 2019
Reading FICTION is Good for You!
You read that right! Grabbing your favorite novel and sinking into a soft chair with cup of coffee or tea is more than an indulgence – it’s actually good for you.
August 25, 2019
Second chances can be so sweet…
She’s determined to stay single, but everyone else is determined to see her married.
Maggie Kendrick is trying to start over in the enchanting beach town where she spent her summers growing up. Life has thrown her one too many wrenches, and now she’s resolved to move on—without a man.
Aunt Lucille has made it her life’s mission to see Maggie walk down the aisle. Everyone knows it too, as Lucille has tried to set Maggie up with every available bachelor in Indigo Bay.
Canyon Leblanc was Maggie’s first love, and he just returned to town. Sparks start flying again—stronger than ever. Distance has definitely made their hearts grow fonder, but Canyon has spent the last seven years living a wild and destructive lifestyle, and that reputation labels him a less-than-desirable catch.
Maggie and Canyon see past each other’s situations, but nobody in town wants them to get together, least of all Aunt Lucille. Friends, family, and even an enemy work hard to keep them apart.
Will Maggie open her heart to love again despite the many obstacles, or will the single life prove to be her best option?
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google Play
Read an exclusive excerpt here.
If you enjoy 2nd Chance Romances, don’t miss the newest Indigo Bay books…
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August 24, 2019
He saved her life… She’ll shatter his.
He’s on the road to fame. She’s at the end of the line. A chance meeting will change everything.
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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.
Rogan saves Kenna, only to face her anger. Intrigued by her reactions and motivations, he devotes himself to getting to know the real Kenna Mitchell. Turns out, she doesn’t even know herself. Soon their tenuous friendship blossoms into love, and Rogan pulls her into his world of rock and roll. But his social circle proves as cruel as the one she left behind.
As everything spirals out of control, Kenna discovers a shocking secret about her past. With each new lie uncovered, she’s gutted worse than before. She rallies every time—until she learns a painful detail she’s certain she’ll never recover from.
Can Rogan show Kenna that life is worth living, or will the merciless truths of her life convince her to finally end it all?
AVAILABLE AT:
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Excerpt
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Kenna
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.
Why does he have to be so attractive? It’s aggravating.
I clench my fists. “I’ve fought off guys bigger than you.”
He arches a brow. “Really?”
“You’d better believe it. Wanna try me?” I step closer, ready to kick him where the sun doesn’t shine for messing up my plans. I should be all over those tracks, yet here I am just arguing with a mysterious guy who shows up out of nowhere.
He steps back with a little laugh. “Okay, I believe you. Hey, why don’t we grab something to eat?”
I just stare at him. He can’t be for real. “You want to get some lunch? After this?”
“I’m hungry. Aren’t you?”
“Doesn’t matter. I didn’t bring any money.” I need to get rid of him so I can catch the next train. It’ll be another fifteen minutes. Yes, I checked. Just in case something went wrong. I’m prepared.
He shrugs. “I have money. Come on.”
It takes me a moment to realize what he said. “Now you want to pay for my meal?”
“Yeah. Come on.”
“What? Am I your charity case for the day?”
He doesn’t move a muscle.
My stomach growls. Loudly.
He chuckles and rubs the light dusting of facial hair across his cheeks. “Sounds like you could use something to eat.”
“What I need is the next train!”
Why did I admit that to him?
“Let’s get something to eat. You don’t even have to tell me why you’re out here. Just eat the food, and sit there being furious at me for saving your life. Sound like a plan?”
I clench my jaw, not wanting to give into him. My stomach rumbles again. Why did he have to bring up food?
“Well?” The corners of his perfect mouth twitch. He finds me amusing.
“Fine.” I may as well get a meal for my trouble.
There will be other trains. And looking at this guy won’t be the worst way to spend my last hour.
AVAILABLE AT:
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August 22, 2019
A blind date, a gorgeous vampire & a deadly assassin
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.
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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.
READ IT FREE TODAY:
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
Start the exciting saga today!
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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.
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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.
READ IT FREE TODAY:
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
Start the exciting saga today!
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August 20, 2019
Girl in Trouble: Three Thrilling Novels!
For the first time ever, the first three books in the exciting Alex Mercer series are available in one page-turning bundle!
Follow Alex Mercer as he fights to save his daughter from a ruthless kidnapper, stands against a deadly cult leader, and fights someone who wants him dead.
Girl in Trouble: He gave up his daughter years ago, but now he’ll risk his life to save hers.
Turn Back Time: A dangerous cult disbanded years ago. Now they’re back, and they want revenge.
Little Lies: He’s dedicated his life to saving missing children, but will it be enough to save himself?
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Excerpt
The rickety wooden boat swayed slightly as the tall man sat, clutching the edge. He watched as the girl’s body sank lower and lower until it was completely underwater and out of sight.
She hadn’t been the one.
He’d been sure she was, but once again, he’d been proven wrong.
He waited until the bubbles stopped.
It was over.
Until next year.
Then it would be time to find the next girl. Would she finally be the one?
He grew tired. Exhausted, really. Not enough to stop his search, though. He needed to right the wrong from so many years ago.
Next year would be thirty years.
Thirty.
That was a big anniversary.
Perhaps next year’s girl would be the one he’d waited so long for. Year thirty could be when he finally received his big payoff. He was starting to get too old for this. His shoulder ached.
Everything would be made right.
Next year would be his year.
All he needed was just a little patience.
He had a full year to plan everything out.
The tall man glanced back out at the still lake.
Another lake, another girl, another year.
When would all this finally end? Would everything finally be as it should?
Next year. It had to be next year. No, it would be.
He grabbed the oars and rowed back to the shore, already making plans for next Halloween.
August 18, 2019
New Release: Mermaid’s Wish (Dark Sea Academy #3)
This is the third part of the Dark Sea Academy trilogy, and if you haven’t read Mermaid’s Song, you’ll want to do that first. The following description contains spoilers for the first books…
Every other princess prepares to rule her kingdom after her father’s death. Me? I have to get ready to rule all underwater kingdoms—after being forced to kill my father.
I already fulfilled the prophecy once. Kind of. I have no interest in killing again.
But no one asked what I want.
It’s this stupid Queen Sirena prophecy. My father is obsessed. And he’s the king, so he gets what he wants. Namely me, embracing a destiny I fear.
As I come to terms with my new reality, I find myself alone, cut off from my best friend and boyfriend and unable to convince my parents this is all a terrible idea.
My father, the king, wants me to kill him. He’s set plans in motion to make it happen.
I’m too weak to refuse. And hopefully too strong to succeed.
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August 16, 2019
Romance, Romance, and More Romance…
Fill your reader with more romance than you could possibly read before summer ends.
August 1, 2019
Girl in Trouble (An Alex Mercer Thriller)
He gave up his daughter years ago, but now he’ll risk his life to save hers…
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Alex Mercer is no stranger to kidnappings. The emotional scars still run deep from his sister’s disappearance years earlier. His daughter Ariana remains safe long after her adoption, and he cherishes the few times a year he gets to see her. The joy is palpable when he takes her on their first one-on-one outing. At least until he pauses to answer a text and Ariana disappears…
Wracked with guilt and determined to find answers, Alex teams up with an unlikely ally at the police department. As the clues reveal a pattern of missing girls, the kidnapping case becomes a race against time to save Ariana. What cost is Alex willing to pay to keep his daughter alive?
Girl in Trouble is the first book in a series of thrilling stand-alone novels spun off from the USA Today bestselling Gone Trilogy. If you like heart-pounding suspense, page-turning action, and characters you’ll never forget, then you’ll love Stacy Claflin’s engrossing new series.
Read for FREE: Amazon | Kobo | Google | Apple | Nook
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Check out the rest of the series here…
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July 31, 2019
#BeachRead: Sweet Complications (An Indigo Bay Second Chance Romance)
He can have any woman he wants… except her.
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NFL quarterback Dylan Manley’s life revolves around his career and the fame associated with it. He’s only back in Indigo Bay to help with a fundraiser in memory of his best friend. But then finds he has to work with Brooke—the one person who has always made him trip over his own feet.
Brooke Davenport is a far cry from the girl next door who left town years ago. Focused on her political aspirations and still recovering from the loss of her doting brother, she wants nothing more than to return to DC for good. But first she has to get through the fundraiser with Dylan, who she blames for her brother’s death.
When a family emergency pulls Brooke’s parents out of town, the success of the fundraiser depends on Brooke and Dylan. He’ll do whatever it takes to show her he’s a new man, but every attempt only makes him look worse. If he can’t make things right, he’ll lose her forever.
Sweet Complications is part of the Indigo Bay Second Chance Romance series. Each book is written by a different bestselling romance author.
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