Archive for the ‘Excerpt’ Category

A Murder Yule Regret ~ A Bread Shop Mystery by Winnie Archer

Posted: December 1, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
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A Murder Yule Regret

A Bread Shop Mystery

by Winnie Archer

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A Murder Yule Regret (A Bread Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (November 30, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 149673355X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496733559
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08Y69YZKB

Freelance photographer and Yeast of Eden bakery assistant Ivy Culpepper has just scored the job of a lifetime shooting the Dickensian dress-up X-mas party thrown by It Girl film actress Eliza Fox . . . until an unwanted guest appears.

 

A holiday costume party in the sleepy coastal town of Santa Sofia could be just the boost Ivy needs for her fledgling photography business. At the party, Ivy enters a Victorian fantasy come to life, all courtesy of the fabulous Ms. Fox. Ivy gets to play shutterbug while hanging with Scrooge, Marley, the Cratchits, and more classic Dickens characters. But what begins as the best of times turns out to be the very worst for one of the party guests—a tabloid journalist with more enemies than Ebenezer himself.

 

When the man’s body is found sprawled across the jagged rocks below the house, the fingers begin pointing at Eliza. Meanwhile, Ivy gets roped into helping prove the starlet’s innocence. Her festive photos are now official evidence—and the Ghosts of Christmas Present could mean the party for Eliza is over, once and for all.ance photographer and Yeast of Eden bakery assistant Ivy Culpepper has just scored the job of a lifetime shooting the Dickensian dress-up X-mas party thrown by It Girl film actress Eliza Fox . . . until an unwanted guest appears.

 

A holiday costume party in the sleepy coastal town of Santa Sofia could be just the boost Ivy needs for her fledgling photography business. At the party, Ivy enters a Victorian fantasy come to life, all courtesy of the fabulous Ms. Fox. Ivy gets to play shutterbug while hanging with Scrooge, Marley, the Cratchits, and more classic Dickens characters. But what begins as the best of times turns out to be the very worst for one of the party guests—a tabloid journalist with more enemies than Ebenezer himself.

 

When the man’s body is found sprawled across the jagged rocks below the house, the fingers begin pointing at Eliza. Meanwhile, Ivy gets roped into helping prove the starlet’s innocence. Her festive photos are now official evidence—and the Ghosts of Christmas Present could mean the party for Eliza is over, once and for all.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Olaya stood behind the bread table, hands on her hips, her chin lowered. “Maggie, you are here to help me, not to star gaze,” she scolded.

Maggie did her best to look sheepish, but didn’t quite pull it off. Her gaze strayed past the people gathering at the food tables and toward the backyard, still searching for another glimpse of Eliza. “I know but—”

“No,” Olaya said in a tone that brought Maggie’s head back around. Olaya snapped her fingers three times.“I am paying you, yes?”

Maggie nodded.

“Bueno.” And that was it. With five little words, Olaya had made it clear that she expected Maggie to tamp down the fangirl and stay put at the bread table.

Maggie looked appropriately chastised.

“Oh God, the carbs!” a woman said as she took two slices of panettone.

Olaya’s lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile. I suspected that she’d worked a little of her magic, the mere aroma of her bread drawing in the perpetual dieters, making them disregard their carb-counting and caloric intake for the evening, instead giving them the mental boost of satisfying a long-suffering hunger for all things baked.

I knew better than to take too many pictures in the library with all the food being consumed, so I left Maggie and Olaya and drifted back out to the great room. Some of the partygoers had made their way upstairs to the loft. The great room felt manageable now, and I was able to catch people in candid poses just as Nicole had requested. One by one, I took shots of each and every person downstairs, which took a solid hour and a half. Some people were not as photogenic as others. Even though they were candids, I wanted each subject to be shown in their best light. Finally, I headed upstairs to capture the rest. Outside, the ocean had become an inky expanse, a few lights appearing far in the distance. Even with the low lights, the backyard was still dark. It was eerie knowing that with the blackness outside and the bright lights inside, we were all on display.

Not that it was possible for anyone to actually see in. We were on a cliff, after all. I gripped the metal railing and continued upstairs, freezing when a shrill scream cut through the party chatter.

The entire house seemed to have gone mute for a few seconds. I spun around, trying to place the location, realizing suddenly that it was coming from outside. A few of the guests had come to the same conclusion. I raced back down the stairs and through the frozen crowd, joining those who had propelled themselves into action by plowing through the side door. Down the square cement steps.

Onto the patch of grass.

A serving tray lay upside down on the grass, bits of bread and smashed appetizers scattered around it. A young woman, who couldn’t have been older than twenty, backed away from the huge boulders, one hand covering her mouth, the other pointing past the edge of the yard and down over the cliff.

Those of us who had rushed outside moved forward while the girl continued to back up.

“Someb-b-body—” she stammered.

That’s when I noticed her outstretched arm, her finger pointing . . . down.

My heart climbed to my throat as I dropped to my knees and inched forward. Carefully, I peered over the edge. Sure enough, splayed out on the rocks below, was the dark form of a body.

~~~~~

 

About Winner Archer

Winnie Archer is the nationally bestselling author of the Bread Shop Mystery series, and the Magical Dressmaking Mystery series written as Melissa Bourbon. A former middle school English teacher, lives in North Carolina with her educator husband, Carlos, and the youngest of their five children. She can be found online at MelissaBourbon.com.

Author Links: Kensington / Website / Facebook

Purchase Links – Amazon  – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

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GIVEAWAY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 29 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 29 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

November 30 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

November 30 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

December 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

December 1 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

December 2 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 2 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

December 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 3 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

December 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

December 5 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

December 6 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 7 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, RECIPE

December 7 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 9 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

December 9 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

A Painted Lady Inn Mystery ~ Two Many Sleuths by M. K. Scott

Posted: November 23, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Two Many Sleuths organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author M. K. Scott will be awarding a $40 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour and more chances to win.

Two Many Sleuths

by M. K. Scott

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis

Can the Brits and Yanks team up to solve a murder?

What should have been an easy week for small town detective Mark Taber and his amateur sleuth and innkeeper wife, Donna Tolllhouse Taber goes awry when a local garden club member is shot. One of the inn guests, a Scotland Yard detective’s insistence on helping could actually make things worse. Can ruffled feathers be smoothed before the killer strikes again?

Find out in Book Twelve of The Painted Lady Inn Mystery series, Two Many Sleuths.

Enjoy this peek inside:

Both grinned at her as Donna schooled her face into something looking a bit less like shock. She found herself nodding her head as she surveyed their attire. Jeans. Sneakers. Who were they? Did they think she served as a driver? Maybe their driver failed to show on time and thought anyone standing about could be the missing chauffeur. Before Donna could formulate a response to clear up matters, she remember the man had a clipped manner of speaking.

 

Nothing elegant and cultured like the BBC shows, though. “Howard? Elizabeth?”

 

“That’s us,” Elizabeth agreed with a nod.

 

“I’d thought you’d be wearing hats,” Donna uttered the words, then she realized how stupid they sounded.

 

“Wait,” Elizabeth said, then dug into her backpack. She pulled out a red cap with Boston stitched on the front. “I bought this at the last airport. Should I be wearing it?”

 

“No.” The last thing the newly arrived Brits needed was to get the cold shoulder from the southerners who held a grudge almost two hundred years later about the War of Northern Aggression. “Let me show you to the baggage area. How did you recognize me?”

 

Howard puffed out his chest. “I am a Scotland Yard trained detective. Most of the people had already scattered, so, not that many people to choose from. I then subtracted all the airport workers. Finally, I looked for a lush lady.”

 

“Lush lady,” she repeated the words, not liking the sound of them. Either they thought her a heavy drinker or overweight. Sure, she had to buy her clothing in the plus-size department, but only because the garment industry decided to end misses’ sizes at twelve now.

 

“Lush lady. That’s how Mark described you.”

 

Well, someone would be getting a chat tonight. Did he really think of her that way? He’d always assured her he loved her curves and not to change a thing. Was it just nonsense men say to keep their wives from chattering on? A bewildered smile served as her response until she realized a verbal response might be expected. “Lovely.”

Author M. K. Scott

M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind the cozy mystery series, The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries, The Talking Dog Detective Agency, The Way Over the Hill Gang, and Cupid’s Catering Company.

Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities.

The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands on approach. Morgan’s daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple’s dog, Jane, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna’s dog.

All the series are full of quirky characters, humorous shenanigans, along with the occasional murder.

Amazon

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Haunted Ends: Dead In The Water by Elizabeth Price

Posted: November 9, 2021 in Excerpt, giveaways, horror, Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy
Tags: , , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Haunted Ends: Dead In The Water organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Elizabeth Price will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour and more chances to win.

Haunted Ends: Dead In The Water

by Elizabeth Price

Genre: Paranormal Mystery / Horror

Synopsis

The crew of Haunted Ends is diverted from filming their show when a cursed and extremely haunted pirate ship, the Serpents Cross, docks off the coast of San Francisco. After repeated attempts by the Coast Guard to tow the pirate ship back to the sea have left many hospitalized, they call Rocky and Sam to help. The paranormal duo must persuade the Serpents Cross’ phantom captain to leave San Francisco Bay peacefully. However, if the Captain’s requests are not satisfied, he has deadly plans for the citizens of San Francisco.

Amazon

Enjoy this peek inside:

Rocky said then tapped his phone. “Rose, would you believe I was just about to call you. Sam—“

 

He paused, listening to Rose on the phone. “The news? Yes, it’s on in the bar. I was wondering why all the residents were watching. Hold on.” He waved for Sam to follow him into the bar.

 

At the doorway of the bar, he watched one of the televisions. The news was featuring a rather peculiar ship that resembled the Flying Dutchmen.  For some unknown reason the ship had floated into San Francisco Bay.

 

Sam pointed to the television. “That’s what I wanted to call her about. I watched that ship float into the bay around sunrise. I was with Arthur when he saw it and he completely freaked out,” he said, excitement ringing in his voice.

 

“Wait,” Rocky held his hand over the phone’s receiver. “You were with Arthur? That low-unlife? Seriously, Sam, he’s a bad influence. You don’t need to be hanging around that—!”

 

Sam rolled his eyes. “The point is that Arthur knew that ship. He called it the… the…” he smacked his forehead to think, “…the Serpent’s Cross. That’s it!” he exclaimed. “He took off as soon as he saw it, leaving Alexis and me behind. He looked like he had seen the devil,” he added.

 

“Alexis too?” Rocky huffed. “Come on, Sam. You’re floating with the wrong crowd. You’re going to get yourself in trouble,” he groaned.

 

Sam waved him on. “Yes, mom. I’m dead. I could hang out with Al Capone if I wanted. It’s not like I couldn’t get any deader than I already am,” he mentioned. He pointed to the television again. “How about focusing on the real problem. That ship shouldn’t be here let alone be seen by the living.”

 

“Rocky!” Rose screamed through the phone.

 

Rocky placed the phone back to his ear. “Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. No, it’s Sam jabbering on about this ship.”

 

“Jabbering? Do I look like a jabberer to you?” Sam asked a passing spirit. The spirit turned to him, looked him up and down, then continued into the bar to watch the television.

 

 “Sam says that a friend,” Rocky sneered in disgust, “told him that the ship’s name was the Serpent’s Cross. This friend is an old ghost, so I can only assume it’s a really old ship. What was that? Oh, is it Haunted?” He glanced at Sam, who shrugged.

 

“Skeletons were hanging out on the deck, you tell me,” Sam spoke condescendingly back.

 

 Rocky held his hand over the receiver. “Skeletons?” he asked. Sam nodded. “Yeah, we’re not sure. Assume it is. Oh, okay. We can do that. I’ll let you know what we find.” He hung up the phone.

 

“What did she say?” Sam asked.

 

“She wants us to grab Marcus and check it out,” he said, walking back to his room to grab his Haunted Ends gear, T-shirt, and baseball cap.

 

Sam followed Rocky back into the lobby. “Investigate an ancient ship filled with walking skeletons? Is she crazy?”

 

“You already know that answer,” Rocky jabbed back.

 

“Okay, okay, no, seriously, that ship has to be crawling with police and the Coast Guard. How are we going to get on board?” Sam questioned.

 

“Apparently,” Rocky glanced to his left thigh were Sam hovered, “they asked for us by name.”

 

“Of course they would.” Sam paused in the hall while Rocky went inside his room to change. His eyes grew wide and he began to nod slowly as he thought. “What could possibly go wrong talking to a ship full of skeletons?”

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Author Elizabeth Price

Elizabeth Price is best known for her Paranormal Mystery series Haunted Ends, which makes light of the dark side of death. Born in Southern California, Elizabeth has always been drawn to Science Fiction and fantasy stories. Having also lived and worked in haunted buildings for many years, she has a deep interest in the paranormal and anything that goes “BOO!” in the night – with the exception of critics that is.

 

You can connect with Elizabeth on Facebook at facebook.com/authorelizabethprice or on Twitter @Chaosonpaper. You can also visit her website, espwriter.com, to sign up for emails about new releases.

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Murder by Maria DiRico

Posted: November 4, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Murder

A Catering Hall Mystery

by Maria DiRico

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder (A Catering Hall Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (October 26, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496725360
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496725363
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08VFBT9B2

Astoria, Queens, is decorated within an inch of its life for the Christmas season, and Mia Carina is juggling her job at the Belle View catering hall with a case of murder . . .

 

Mia’s busy with a full schedule of events at the family business—among them an over-the-top Nativity-themed first birthday party and a Sweet Sixteen for a teen drama queen. But her personal life is even more challenging. Her estranged mother has returned—and her lifelong friend Jamie has discovered a shocking secret about his past. He’s so angry that he starts hanging out with Lorenzo, who claims to be his long-lost brother—even after it becomes clear that Lorenzo’s story is as fake as a plastic Christmas tree.

 

Then a body turns up among the elves in a Santa’s-workshop lawn display, and amateur sleuth Mia has a buffet of suspects to choose from. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who’s the guilty party . . .

 

Italian recipes included!

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Donny took Mia’s hands in his and squeezed them.

“Mille grazie, Mia. All we ask is that you keep this news to yourself until we meet together to tell Jamie. You can share it with your father. I trust him with my life. But no one else.”

Mia nodded her agreement. A thought occurred to her.

“Does Donny Junior know?” Jamie’s older brother, a textbook goombah who barely made it out of high school, lived to tease his more cerebral little brother and give him grief.

Donny Senior shook his head. “We’re not saying a word to Little Donny until we talk to Jamie.”

“Good. I’m worried he might throw this in Jamie’s face.”

A bookcase suddenly rotated out of place and Donny Junior burst into the room from a secret location, eliciting startled screams from the office occupants. “I would never do that,” Donny Junior declared with passion.

“Donny, what were you thinking?” his angry mother scolded. “You know your father has high blood pressure. You could have given him a stroke.”

“Or me,” Mia said, pouring herself a small shot of Strega. “I know you have a hidden bar, but what the hell is that?” She pointed to a small room behind the faux bookcase.

“It’s a panic room,” Donny Senior said. “We’ve got a few around the place. This one was a birthday present from Aurora.” He glared at his son. “You got a lot of nerve, sneaking up on your family like that.”

Donny Junior returned his father’s glare. Even though he had half a foot on his father, he was often referred to as Little Donny by friends and family. He and “Big Donny” shared the same coloring, muddy brown eyes, and fleshy facial features, making it impossible for anyone to deny that Little Donny was a biological Boldano. “I’ve seen how you all been whispering to each other and shutting up the minute I came into the room. When I heard Mia was coming over by herself, I knew something was up and if you weren’t gonna tell me, I was gonna do whatever it took to find out what was going on.” His expression softened. “Jamie is my brother. I know we’re always on each other, but I love him. And I should be part of this conversation.”

His father began to protest, but Aurora cut him off.

“You’re right, son,” she said. “You should be. We’ll tell Jamie tomorrow night. At Piero’s restaurant. Jamie loves Piero’s mushroom pasta alla carbonara. It’ll make the news go down easier.”

That’s so typically Italian, Mia thought. If there’s a problem, a dish of homemade pasta will solve it. But as far as she was concerned, there wasn’t a pasta dish in the world that would ease Jamie into this revelation.

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About Maria DiRico

Maria DiRico is the pseudonym for Ellen Byron, author of the award winning, USA Today bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries. Born in Queens, New York, she is first-generation Italian-American on her mother’s side and the granddaughter of a low-level Jewish mobster on her father’s side. She grew up visiting the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls, which were run by her Italian mother’s family in Queens and have become the inspiration for her Catering Hall Mystery Series. DiRico has been a writer-producer for hit television series like Wings and Just Shoot Me, and her first play, Graceland, appears in the Best Short Plays collection. She’s a freelance journalist, with over 200 articles published in national magazines, and previously worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

Author Links – Website – Chicks on the Case – Facebook –  Twitter

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound 

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GIVEAWAY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 1 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 1 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – RECIPE

November 1 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

November 2 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 2 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, RECIPE

November 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

November 3 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – My Journey Back – RECIPE  

November 4 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

November 4 – Brooke Blogs – RECIPE

November 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 5 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, EXCERPT

November 5 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 5 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 5 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW

November 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – RECIPE

November 6 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 6 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST,

November 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE

November 7 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

November 7 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

November 7 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris

Posted: October 28, 2021 in Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Divorce Bucket List organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Jennifer Harris will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter.

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour and for more chances to win.

Divorce Bucket List

by Jennifer Harris

Divorce Bucket List: One Woman's Powerful Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing Through Divorce and How You Can Heal Too by [Jennifer Harris]

Synopsis

Divorce Bucket List is a practical and heartfelt guide that effortlessly blends meaningful exercises and reflections with author Jennifer’s personal experiences through the trials and challenges of divorce. Written as a way to empower others to rebuild their lives as they work through the trauma of a divorce, this illuminating guide explores Jennifer’s harrowing journey through divorce, revealing her creation of her Divorce Bucket List – and how it helped her emerge into a happier, healthier, and more emotionally fulfilling chapter of her life.

Perfect for anyone who feels lost, alone, or broken as they struggle through divorce, Divorce Bucket List will help you rediscover yourself and your values, overcome your fear of the future, and learn to love again. With a blend of real-life anecdotes, reflections, and exercises to encourage you to apply a Divorce Bucket List to your unique situation, Jennifer’s story will inspire you to move past your divorce and make the most of this exciting new time in your life.

 

Check out this glimpse inside:

Don’t forget to take some time to appreciate the journey as you go through your divorce or separation. If you’re having one of the most challenging days or are experiencing conflict that you think you can’t get through, then take a step back and look at it and say, “I am so grateful for this part of my journey, because I’m going to learn something from it.” I want you to look at your entire journey, be grateful for all of it, and know that you can learn something from every single thing you experience through this journey. You are going to come through stronger, and you are going to be even better. You’re going to rebuild. You’re going to flourish. You’re going to thrive.

Don’t forget to appreciate the moments. Look at things outside of the moment as you go through it, so that when you are at the point where you feel on top of the world when everything has finally recovered, you’ve rebuilt again, and you’re happy, you will have those memories to know how you got to where you are. You will put your own crown back on as you fall in love with yourself and life again, and maybe, just maybe, you can even help one other person do the same by showing them it can be done.

I want to leave you, the reader—and now my friend—with what I said at the end of that speech in London in hopes that it touches you. No matter where you are in your divorce or separation journey, I want you to know that you are not alone, there is hope, and you can truly thrive in your wildest dreams on the other side. You might be only considering a divorce, you might be in the middle of a messy one, your divorce might be finalized—and you’re ready to move on, or anywhere in between. Wherever your journey currently is, the rest of your book is up to you. It’s up to you to take action, and when you use the tools that I’ve given you and implement your own Divorce Bucket List, I know you will be able to find joy and peace as I, and many others, have.

About Author Jennifer Harris:

Jennifer Harris is an author, speaker, divorce coach, and the creator of the Divorce Bucket List. After experiencing her own traumatic marriage and divorce, she went on to become a highly trained and certified Confidence & Transformation Divorce Coach. With over ten years of coaching experience, she’s passionate about sharing her story of the grief and trauma she experienced and how she developed the Divorce Bucket List to help her move forward. Jennifer is dedicated to inspiring others to achieve their desired outcomes through divorce and rebuild their lives to emerge from their separations into happier, healthier chapters of their lives. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her two wonderful boys.

http://www.DivorceBucketList.com

For More Resources or To Work with Jenn: http://www.Divideguide.com

Facebook / Instagram / Youtube / Tiktok

 

The book is on sale for only $0.99.

Amazon

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Origen: A True Story Of Evil ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: October 25, 2021 in Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Origen: A True Story Of Evil

by  Peter Perry and  Kathleen Sumpton

Genre: True – Crime

My Review

I enjoy true crime stories and this is one I wasn’t familiar with. It took place when I was a teenager and you know how they think they’ll live forever.

I went into this thinking it would be about a serial killer and how he committed his murders and was finally caught. It was about that. But, it also delved into the concept of demons and the devil. Whether their existence was real and how those beliefs might have influenced the perpetrator, Origen, was particularly intriguing for me. Several scenes were very impactful and a couple felt a bit too drawn out. All in all, I never wanted to stop reading the book and went on to research this crime on the computer. I’m sure what the witnesses to this evil went through changed them forever.

4 STARS

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Synopsis

Have you ever come face to face with the devil? In a tapestry of sports, business, and dating, there is an evil presence that is not quite visible to anyone: The Bedroom Strangler. A serial killer that scales fifteen storey buildings, enters through the balcony, and stealthily slithers under the bedroom bed, with the sole intent of raping and murdering innocent women in their sleep. He has been classified as the worst serial killer in Ontario history and Canada’s most dangerous criminal ever, operating at the height of London’s 40 year serial killer period, from 1974 – 1978.

The Bedroom Strangler is a member of a gym. It is the same gym the protagonist managed during the 1970’s. Members of the gym trained and worked out together, never knowing their friend’s true nature. In fact, Mike even introduced the killer to a female member friend at a gym party, a woman who lived in the same building as the murderer; a woman who would become his last victim. As a result of unprecedented tactics by police, Mike ends up becoming part of the investigation—but will he be able to stop this evil predator? It took 40 years to write this story and it’s important to remember that this story is being told by someone who was there.

Origen: A True Story of Evil truly began when Mike’s real-life persona, Peter J. Perry, was just 17 years old. At the time, he was just a student of St. Mary’s College in Sault St. Marie who would carry out heated discussions with a priest, Father Lawlor, about the existence of the devil. Father Lawlor tells him that one day he might meet someone so evil, he will surely know the devil exists, and maybe he will do some good by it. And we will. Part of the proceeds of this novel are being contributed to good causes to respect both the victims and Father Lawlor.

The novel’s title reflects a belief about the dynamic forms of energy as Origen believed that demons can take human form and humans can also be demonized. What follows is inspired by true events. All the names of characters have been changed and many of the events happened, although not all.

This painting of the gym scene, the dating scene, the underground fighting martial arts scene, the psychiatric scene, and Origen’s beliefs may cause you to rethink the devil. If you dare to read the contents of this book, you can come to your own conclusion: Is there more to evil than what we think?

Based on an original screenplay by Peter Perry and Geoff Hart.

Property of the Origen Foundation Inc.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Imagine…

 

You are managing a gym after just graduating from university, working very hard with a staff of thirty and creating a positive atmosphere of energy to motivate and keep members physically fit. Your mission is to create goodwill in the community at the same time as being a role model, because you have an athletic gift. You are an international powerlifting champion, undefeated. As a Canadian powerlifting champion, you become a living legend in your community, with people of all walks of life joining your gym simply to be around your positive vibe.

 

But in the midst of this tapestry of sports, business, and dating, there is an evil presence that is not quite visible to anyone: The Bedroom Strangler. A serial killer that scales as high as fifteen story balconies, only to discreetly slither into the unlocked balcony doors of women unbeknownst, with the sole intent to rape and murder. He has been classified as the worst serial killer in Ontario history and Canada’s most dangerous criminal ever. The Bedroom Strangler was a member of the gym I was managing. He trained and worked out with me and other members, unbeknownst to us his true qualities. He socialized with us. In fact, I introduced him to a female member friend of mine at a gym party, who he then murdered. The Bedroom Strangler incidentally lived in the same building as this friend, who was his last victim.

 

As a result of unprecedented tactics by police, I ended up becoming part of the investigation that stopped this evil predator. Over the years, I questioned why I met someone so evil. I questioned God. Eventually, I came to a conclusion by studying the writings of Origen: do we really understand evil? Can evil be much more than a psychiatric disorder?

 

People are very uncomfortable considering other possibilities. Origen believed that demons can take human form and humans can also be demonized. What follows is inspired by true events. All the names of characters have been changed but many of the events happened, although not all. At the conclusion of this painting of the gym scene, the dating scene, the underground fighting martial arts scene, the powerlifting scene, the bodybuilding scene, the psychiatric scene, and the Origen scene, you can come to your own conclusion: Is there more to evil than what we think? How have we grown to understand evil, through both language and symbolism perpetuated by our surroundings? What, even, is time? Who, or what, represents the greatest way to understand and defeat evil? And, most of all… What is the difference between death and evil?

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About the Authors

PETER J. PERRY’S athletic accomplishments include being an eight-time Canadian open powerlifting champion from 1976-1984. He won the North American powerlifting championship in 1979, and dedicated his trophy to the woman he promised he would dedicate it to in this novel, Jessica. Peter was also the U.S. deadlift champion in 1980, International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Open fifth place in 1982, World Masters level-one drug-free powerlifting champion in 1991, and three-time Canadian Masters Powerlifting champion in the years 1991, 1992 and 1993. Best gym lifts certified by the IPF judge are: squat at 750 lbs, bench press at 450 lbs and deadlift at 775 lbs at a body weight of 208 lbs. Knee wraps and squat suit plus a lifting belt were the only pieces of equipment used.

Peter founded Peter Perry Insurance Agency LTD in 1978 and is still the operating president. The company is a London-based insurance and investment brokerage specializing in RRSPs, tax-free savings accounts, segregated funds, tax shelters, RRIFs & LIFs, creditor proofing, annuities, educational savings plans, GICs, and Mortgage insurances. Being a certified and award-winning independent brokerage allows Peter to custom-tailor financial portfolios to suit the specific needs of the client and easily make amendments as one journeys through the various stages of their life. Peter’s acclaimed background in health and fitness as a drug-free world & Canadian powerlifting champion makes him particularly mindful of retirement, health and long-term planning and incorporating all aspects of life into the advice he provides his clients. Click here to learn more about Peter’s athletic accomplishments.

Some interesting facts about Peter are that he was born in Toronto but grew up in Sault Ste. Marie. He became a St. Mary’s Knight due to his academics and sports and is a graduate of St. Mary’s College in Sault Ste. Marie. He was the manager of Vic Tanny’s gym from 1974 to 1978 before launching his insurance company and beginning a new career path.

 

KATHLEEN ELIZABETH SUMPTON is an advocate for the arts and often works with languages. With a passion for culture and a focus on communications, she is an Author. Poet, and Communications Professional with a primary focus on writing. She has a working background in fourteen different languages.

Her five-year plan is to secure two master’s degrees in English and business, followed by a PhD in English, while running her freelance business.

Her 10-year goal is to publish novels and other works in the genre of satire in order to strengthen communications locally and globally by discussing the proper use of language and terminology.

Her work brings awareness to large societal issues such as the criminal justice system, substance abuse, and mental health, a variety of topics everyone else is too afraid to talk about.

As a representative for members of the community as well as for her own projects, Kathleen hopes to enrich her surroundings with both the beauty and power writing holds. It is now her personal mission in life to provide meaning and entice insight through literature. When she is not busy with her work, you can find Kathleen enjoying the outdoors or spending time with family. Favourite hobbies are working out and people-watching. She operates out of Southern Ontario.

 

CONNECT WITH ORIGEN

Website / Peter Perry – Goodreads  / Goodreads – Origen

ORIGEN PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon / Amazon CA / Kindle / B&N / Book Depository / Smashwords / Apple

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Haunted for generations…… All Is Set Anew by Jim Cheney

Posted: October 20, 2021 in Excerpt, giveaways, Supernatural, suspense, thriller
Tags: , , , ,
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Welcome to  my stop on the virtual book tour for All Is Set Now organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Jim Cheney will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter.

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour and for more chances to win.

All Is Set Anew

by Jim Cheney

Genre: Suspense/ Thriller / Supernatural

Synopsis

A fast-paced examination of loss, survival, and ultimately acceptance of those things we do not understand but must contend with as if our lives depend upon it.

From deep in the rural Tennessee woods, two brothers flee their murderous father only to find that a violent, supernatural force has followed their escape and will haunt their family for multiple generations.

All Is Set Anew is the story of abandonment and its subsequent revenge, set against a backdrop of characters imprisoned by poverty and self-doubt and their struggle to outrun the evil and illness that relentlessly pursues them.

 

Check out this peek inside:

That afternoon Mary found Edgar at the hog pens and she told him that she wanted to speak with him after supper. She spent the rest of the day packing suitcases for her husband and tidying things around the house. LoLo moved about the rooms silently and Mary worried that her decision was poorly chosen each time the woman’s eyes met hers. It was not a critical exchange of glance, but the way that LoLo diverted her eyes too quickly gave Mary a sinking sensation that made her want to ask her what she would do if the decision was hers. Mary’s upbringing had been as pragmatic as it was cultured, so she looked to facts when challenged. They had let a man like Hicks onto the place. Logic told her that he had raped Katherine, although she could not prove it. Her daughter Renee had left with him, although she could not prove that either. Katherine was alive, and while traumatized, Mary believed that she could guide her back to health. If it got out that Katherine had been raped by a man that Renee had run off with, the impact to the family and its reputation would be devastating. And when she imagined her husband’s reaction to any of this, she felt as helpless as someone looking out over an arid field, begging the merciless, baking sky for relief. Katherine will recover, she told herself. She has enough of me in her that she’ll find her way through.

About the Author:

Jim Cheney was raised in North Georgia and has written professionally for more than 25 years. He has been published in media outlets throughout the United States. This is his first novel. He lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife, two boys and three dogs.

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Buy Links: Amazon / B&N

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GIVEAWAY

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Life was good…… What Happens In Denver by Liz Crowe

Posted: September 23, 2021 in Contemporary Romance, Excerpt, giveaways, Humor
Tags: , ,
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What Happens in Denver

by Liz Crowe

Genre: Humorous Contemporary Romance

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Meet Andi Rigby. She and her husband own a famous bar. Andi can mix a cocktail, change a beer keg, soothe ruffled customers, and drink you under the table. Life is good until the day she finds herself divorced and unemployed. After a suitable period of ice-cream and whiskey infused mourning, she heads to a beer conference in Denver on a mission to rediscover her joy and find a new job.

Between fielding gossip, saving a drunk woman from herself, and dodging a hot but ill-advised boozy hookup, the weekend leads to a few surprises. She ends up employed with an unexpected bonus—a new friend. Oh, and the guy she kissed? Turns out her new job includes selling his brewery’s beer. No big deal. Except the bit about him being practically perfect for her at a moment she’s determined to focus on her own success.

A story of new friends, fresh starts, and a side order of romance served up with a nice cold pint.

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Add to Goodreads

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Books2Read

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While delivering a mental lecture about this being not my business and I needed to get some sleep anyway, I saw his lips move but couldn’t hear a damn thing over the din of the place. When his female companion jumped up and threw her napkin down on the table, she almost plowed backward right into me. She wobbled on her teetering high heels, then lurched away and straight into a waiter, whose tray was loaded with salads heavy on kale and entrees heavy on marrow.

I reached out and caught her arm. She was blotto, that much was clear at this close distance. Little Burke Brother—Michael, I recalled—stayed seated, his expression blank during this whole exercise.

Jerk.

A bizarre surge of protectiveness came over me. I took her arm and guided her down the steps. Once we hit the fresh air, she revived enough to peel away from me, drop to her hands and knees, and puke on the sidewalk.

As I held her hair back like some kind of sorority sister, the substantial foot traffic gave us a wide berth, most of them without comment. It was Craft Beer Convention time in Denver. Puking humans were more common than weed stores, at least for a day or two.

While I waited for her to wrap up her worship at the cement altar, I summoned a ride on my phone app, realizing too late I had no idea where she was staying. She probably had a two-star room with a DNA soaked bed and a lovely view of the dumpster, like me. I got a warm, sisterly feeling about her.

I waited while she spit, then rose to her feet.

“Take those off already,” I said, pointing to the black patent leather heels. She did. Her eyes rolled around in their sockets. Her lollipop of a head didn’t want to stay upright. I plunked us down on a conveniently placed sidewalk bench—gotta love Denver—and waited, not sure which would come first, the ride or the second round of the happy hurls.

Luckily, it was the ride.

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Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in Central Illinois. She’s spent her time as a three-continent expat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner and bar manager, and is currently a social media consultant and humane society development director, in addition to being an award-winning author. With stories set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch, inside fictional television stations and successful real estate offices, and even in exotic locales like Istanbul, Turkey, her books are compelling and told with a fresh voice. The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight, at times frustrate, and always linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Reel To Reel by Isla Grey ~ Movie Mistakes From Hollywood’s Favorite Films

Posted: April 28, 2021 in Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: ,
13

Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Reel To Reel organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Isla Grey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.  Don’t forget to enter.

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Reel To Reel

by Isla Grey

Reel to Reel: Movie Mistakes from Hollywood's Favorite Films by [Isla Grey]

Synopsis

Lights, Camera, Action! From the very beginning, the world of cinema has captivated us. We have found ourselves laughing at our favorite comedies, crying when love finally comes to fruition, being beamed to other worlds or battling in the midst of action sequences. While movies might be the perfect entertainment, most have slight imperfections, mistakes, which go unseen, until they’re released and caught by the movie audience. These mistakes don’t detract from the film, and finding them are just as fun as watching the movie. For the past several years, Isla Grey has written a “Movie Mistakes” column for Bellaonline. “Reel to Reel” is a collection of some of those columns, spotlighting the fun goofs found in some of our favorite movies. Can you spot them? Grab the popcorn, sit back, and happy movie watching!

 Enjoy this peek inside

The Notebook

There’s no question–Noah and Allie are in love. Set in two different time periods, the beginning of the pair’s relationship is shown via a notebook an older Noah reads to Allie who is suffering the effects of dementia. Can true love ever be forgotten? Here are a few movie mistakes to look for while watching “The Notebook”.

Near the beginning of the movie, the younger Allie and Noah are at a carnival. After their first encounter, Allie and another man get on the Ferris wheel. The man is holding cotton candy in his right hand. This is noticeable throughout the scene. After Noah has climbed aboard and gets Allie to go out with him, the cotton candy the man was holding is now gone.

After Noah and Allie have watched the movie in the theater, they decide to go for a walk. When they get to the traffic light, Noah tells her how he used to lie in the road and demonstrates for her. At first, Noah is closer to the center of the lane to his left. (This is noticeable in the overhead view.) During the close-up, Noah is now closer to the double lines that run down the middle of the road. This happens again when Allie joins him. At first, they are closer to the center of the lane to their left, but the next view shows them near the double lines.

About Author Isla Grey

Isla Grey is from Central Virginia and at an early age developed a love of movies. She shared many Sunday afternoons watching old favorites with her grandmother that included everything from “Gone with the Wind” and “Rio Bravo” to “Titanic” and “The Mummy”. (Her grandmother may or may not have made fun of her when she covered her eyes during “Anaconda”.)

Working as Bellaonline’s Movie Mistakes editor since 2012 has given Isla the opportunity to indulge in two of her passions—movies and writing.

When Isla isn’t writing or watching movies, most of her time is spent with her ever active daughter and her band of cats. She also enjoys good music, reading biographies and ghost stories and taking quiet strolls.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Amazon

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GIVEAWAY

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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The Scent Of Leaves by Kathryn Trattner ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: January 21, 2021 in Excerpt, Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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The Scent of Leaves

by Kathryn Trattner

Publication date: January 15th 2021
Genres: Adult, Fairy Tales, Retelling

Synopsis

Janet has always dreamed about leaving her small town behind and starting over somewhere fresh. The only thing keeping her going is a photography obsession and her film camera. For her, life is a series of late nights spent working at a local gas station and days earning a final college credit before graduation. But she’s been putting it off for so long she’s starting to feel like it might not happen.

One night Tom appears, charming and handsome, and going out of his way to get to know her. Suddenly he’s everywhere in her small town, appearing and disappearing at odd moments, creeping in on her days and nights. As they spend time together, Janet falling more under his spell each day, she begins to realize that reality is different around Tom. Small things begin to happen, odd occurrences turning into strange events, as Janet is pulled deeper into the mystery surrounding him.

In this modern retelling of the classic Ballad of Tam Lin the world is brought into sharp focus through the lens of a camera. The line between what is and is not real blurs, nature stealing in around the edges, and Janet comes to understand that there is more at stake than just a broken heart.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Another night came and went, smelling like coffee and glass cleaner as she turned the convenience store over to Gary in early morning. The sun had yet to come up, a thin yellow line growing on the horizon, diffusing, and she eyed it as she walked toward her car, wondering what kind of day it would turn out to be.

“Where will you go now?”

She jumped, turning to see Tom leaning against the building.

“How long have you been here?”

“A minute or two. Ryan dropped me off. I was just behind Gary but didn’t want to come in and give you away. I was worried he’d tell your boss you have company every night.”

“Not every night,” she said, shrugging.

“Close enough.” Tom stepped forward, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, shoulders coming forward. “Where will you go?”

“Home.”

He smiled, “Would you like to do something besides go home?”

She could not help it, she smiled too, a creeping delight curling her toes. “Like what?”

“You drive. I’ll navigate.” He moved to the passenger side of her car, hand on the door, waiting for her.

Janet unlocked the car and got in, aware of him sliding in beside her, taking up more air and space than the little car had to spare. She turned it on and rolled down the windows, shooting him a look before backing out of the space. At the edge of the lot, where the street met the gas station, and all roads led away, she paused, waiting for the first direction.

“Left.”

She put the blinker on and turned.

Tom half turned to her, already smiling. “So, tell me what you want to be when you grow up.”

“What?” She laughed, glancing at him and away. The town rolled by, flat background to his intense stare.

“What’re you going to school for? I don’t think you’ve told me.”

“Graphic design.”

“And photography is part of that?”

“It can be but mostly I just stumbled into it.”

“And you love it?”

She smiled. “Yeah, I do.”

“So what’s your end goal then? In a year where do you want to be?”

“Not here.” The answer came out so fast, she hadn’t thought about it, just opened her mouth and there it was, hard and solid truth.

“This place isn’t so bad,” he said.

“You didn’t grow up here.”

“I think I would have liked it if I had.”

“You say that.”

“No really, I think it would have been nice.”

“Everyone here is still talking about how my mom left. It’s been twenty years and they’re still asking if I miss her. They still ask my dad if he’s heard from her. It’s like it happened yesterday for them, still gossiping about it. They don’t have anything better to do. To be fair though they’re also still talking about the one year the pickles exploded at the state fair.”

“She left?”

“Yep, when I was one.”

“I’m sorry.”

He sounded like he meant it, but she did not look at him, not wanting to see pity in his eyes. She stopped at a four-way intersection, looking each direction. “Which way?”

“Left,” he said without hesitation. He did not tell her where they were going. The sun touched her rear-view mirror, throwing light in her eyes, filling the car with reflections. The seen and unseen, the shadows and light dancing over their faces, hiding expressions and masking fears.

After a pause she asked, “What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, in a year where do you want to be?”

“Somewhere with a stage.”

She laughed, “Yeah?”

He nodded. “I grew up in a big town with plays and movies rolling around in my head. I was in all the school plays and a few after high school in local venues. I did performance art in college.”

“You’ve graduated?” she asked.

“No. I’ve got a semester left.”

“Why’d you leave when you were almost finished?” She darted a look at him, watching his face shut down and close up, light shifting over his features.

“I had an offer I couldn’t refuse. It was too good.”

“But it wasn’t?”

He shook his head, turning to look out his window, silence growing between them like lichen, slow and spreading. She drove in it, skin prickling, head buzzing. The sun, though rising, seemed suspended above the horizon and they had crossed the town limits a few miles back. He had chosen farm fields and grassy valleys, open areas, instead of the dark closeness of the trees, the Nantahala National Forest in the other direction. Janet was not sure what else was out here, besides fields and woods, and eventually the next town.

“Here!” Tom shouted, pointing to the right.

“Where?” Janet looked around, fields and low hills rolling past, a few trees but mostly knee-high grass and rocks. But she caught sight of a narrow track leading away from the road, overgrown and faded.

“That dirt track there.”

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to get my car down that.”

The track was more of a path, overgrown and rutted, twisting out of sight.

“You can park on the verge and we’ll walk.”

She pulled over, checking the mirrors for traffic, the engine ticking as she rolled the car windows back up. The road belonged to them, the countryside full of bird song and morning light. She wished she had brought her camera last night, so she would have it now, so she would be able to capture the physical warmth shimmering and thrown up by the dewy grass. She held her breath for an instant, pulling it all inside, keeping it tight against her heart.

He looked at her, understanding, and the smile he gave her was swift but sweet.

“Come on.”

He swung out of the car and she followed, smoothing her shirt as she got out. She felt tired and greasy, the scent of stale coffee on her skin. In the already hot morning, sweat prickled along her hairline. She wished she had known he would be waiting, that she had worn a less faded work shirt and not the baggy jeans she reserved for days she did not care.

But he had not shown up the night before and she had wondered if she would see him again. Or if he would be gone just as suddenly as he had arrived, and realizing that, knowing it, made her realize she was hoping he would show up.

He took her hand as they left the paved road behind, twining their fingers together, pulling her toward the track with long sure strides.

“I come here a lot,” he said, looking down at her. “It’s quiet. I don’t get a lot of alone time generally.”

“No?”

She realized she did not know very much about him. As much as they had talked and he had talked, there was not much about his current situation that he shared. But she felt like she knew parts of him, accepting his presence beside her, wanting him with her.

A shake of his head, lips twisting into ruefulness.

They came around the curve, around the hill, and Janet stopped.

“I didn’t know this was here.”

Shielded from the road a clear pond sparkled in the hollow between hills. Water lilies floated on the surface, dark green leaves and brilliant white blooms. The grass was greener, the blue morning sky above the pond clearer.

“It’s spring fed. You can see where it bubbles up from the rocks in the deeper parts.”

“How did you find it?”

“Someone showed me. I had the same reaction you did. My mouth fell open and I just stood there.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“So are you.”

He smiled, pleasure pouring from him, washing over her. In that moment she would have jumped off a bridge with him. And with that feeling deep down inside she knew she would have flown.

Then he pulled her, jogging for the water, without pausing. She let herself go, following, until they ran into the pond, fully clothed, shoes and all, between waving blossoms and rippling lily pads. Janet laughed, throwing back her head, the sound of it bouncing back. It was cold and water up past her knees, chasing away the sweat from the hot morning. The sun felt different in the little hollow, like liquid gold, soft against her skin.

He kissed her, quick like a habit she never wanted him to break, the pressure of his mouth there and gone. He took her laugh with him, releasing it with his own, leaving her breathless and aware of their bodies, so close, and the quiet of the hollow around them.

“I think this place is magic,” she said.

“It must be. Give me your hands.”

She did and he held her at arm’s length, their arms stretched taut. “At the count of three fall back.”

“We’ll get soaked.”

“We’re already soaked,” he laughed, squeezing her hands tight. “Ready?”

She shook her head no but said, “Ready.”

“One, two–”

He fell back, away from her, his smiling face falling. She let herself go, surrendering to gravity, feeling weight and then water rushing in, filling ears and nose. The bottom of the pond was sandy beneath her hands, a little rocky, and not at all slimy like other ponds she had jumped into as a kid. She squeezed her eyes tight, holding her breath, floundering up. She wiped water from her eyes, pushed hair out of her face. She gasped and laughed.

Opening her eyes, expecting Tom and not seeing him, she turned, sloshing, searching her surroundings. The water rippled, like a stone had been tossed in, like a grown man had cannon balled into it. She waited, expecting him to pop up, gasping for air, slicking his hair back. Birds trilled, making her realize how quiet the hollow had been since they had first stepped into it. The water continued to ripple and move.

“Tom?”

She turned, scanning, brows coming together. The birdsong grew louder, grating, filling her head like a buzz saw. She sloshed forward, hands in the water, moving as if she could part it, feeling for Tom. It was so clear she could see the sandy bottom, the rocks, the water lilies.

The pond was empty.

 

Author Bio:

Kathryn Trattner has loved fairy tales, folk stories, and mythology all of her life. Her hands down favorites have always been East of the Sun, West of the Moon and the story of Persephone and Hades. When not writing or reading she’s traveling as much as possible and taking thousands of photos that probably won’t get edited later. She lives in Oklahoma with her wonderful partner, two very busy children, one of the friendliest dogs ever, and an extremely grumpy cat who doesn’t like anyone at all.

Want to hear about the latest release? Sign up for my newsletter Magical Mundane Madness at kathryn.substack.com

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