Jules Westwood lives her days surrounded by the sweetest treats. But there’s no cookie, cake, or muffin that comes close to giving her the same joy she feels when she sees him.
The man who’s a bit rough around the edges with his laidback attitude and carefree lifestyle is exactly what she wants. Because despite what her family believes, Jules is a bit of a rebel.
Beau Easton didn’t know who Jules was when he first approached her, merely believing a date with her would be much more satisfying than the cookies he bought from her bakery. And when he learns she’s a Westwood, the equivalent of royalty in Landing, he wonders if he should take a step back.
But Beau gets a taste of Jules, getting something far sweeter than he ever expected. There isn’t a chance he’ll ever give her up.
Unfortunately, their secret relationship is uncovered, and her family is shocked. But the Westwoods are going to have to come to terms with the couple’s new relationship, because whether they like it or not, Beau’s going to be part of their family forever.
A.K. Evans is a contemporary romance author of over seventy published novels. While she enjoys writing a good romantic suspense novel, Andrea’s favorite books to write have been her extreme sports romances. That might have something to do with the fact that she, along with her husband and two sons, can’t get enough of extreme sports.
Before becoming a writer, Andrea did a brief stint in the insurance and financial services industry and managed her husband’s performance automotive business. That love of extreme sports? She used to drive race cars!
When Andrea isn’t writing, she can be found homeschooling her two sons, doing yoga, snowboarding, reading, or traveling with her family. She and her husband are currently taking road trips throughout the country to visit all 50 states with their boys.
The Ordinary Bruja: Marisol’s Story Johanny Ortega (Las Cerradoras, #1) Publication date: November 1st 2025 Genres: Adult, Horror, Magical Realism, Psychological
The Ordinary Bruja is a haunting and heartfelt coming-of-age novel wrapped in Dominican magical realism and psychological horror.
Marisol Espinal doesn’t believe she’s special. Not when she’s back in her small Ohio hometown, working as a barista, haunted by grief and the girls who once made her life hell. But when mirrors flicker with strange words, cigar smoke curls where no one is smoking, and voices whisper from Hallowthorn Hill, she realizes something darker has always been watching.
The Espinal family magic was buried generations ago-forced into silence by Salvador, the ancestor who bound their power for himself. Now his ghost feeds on fear and doubt, and Marisol is his next target. To survive, she must reclaim her heritage, unearth the truth hidden in her mother’s journal, and face the hill that has been waiting for her all along.
Atmospheric and emotionally charged, The Ordinary Bruja blends generational trauma, identity reclamation, and queer love with a creeping sense of dread. Perfect for fans of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina and Mexican Gothic, this novel asks: What does it cost to embrace every part of yourself-even the parts the world taught you to bury?
“Ten months since she had dropped out and came home, to the place she promised herself she’d never return to. She was bad at keeping promises. That was for sure.”
—
PRAISE for The Ordinary Bruja
“There is spirituality, magic, ghosts, there is plenty of love, there is loss; and above all there is familia, both genetic and of choice.”
“…An impactful horror story that blew me away.”
“This book . . . pushed me to confront my own assumptions about history.”
“You can absolutely feel the anguish Marisol feels at the loss of her mother.”
“I absolutely enjoyed “The Ordinary Bruja”. It was a perfect mix between horror (with a slight humor – thank you early Marisol and her “nope” moments + Kia) and a story that shows you that you need to find your own way, even if everything is pushing you down.”
Author Bio:
Johanny Ortega is a Dominican American author who writes across genres—blending psychological horror, literary fiction, magical realism, and thrillers that punch you right in the gut. Whether writing about haunted hills, generational trauma, or the quiet unraveling of everyday life, her stories center marginalized voices, morally complex women, and the messy truth about survival.
She is the founder of Have a Cup of Johanny, a creative platform where she blogs, podcasts, and advocates for inclusive storytelling. Her award-winning middle-grade and adult fiction has resonated with readers who crave depth, grit, and emotional honesty.
When she’s not writing, she’s raising kids in a blended military family, reading books that wreck her soul in the best way, and saying what others are afraid to.
The Bridge Shanna Hatfield Publication date: October 7th 2025 Genres: Adult, Holiday, Women’s Fiction
One Bridge. Five Strangers. A Christmas Eve That Changes Everything.
On a bridge suspended above the Willamette River, five lives collide for a journey through hope and hardship in a suspenseful, heartwarming tale of courage, connection, and the magic of second chances.
Sergeant Archer Raines has worked every holiday all year for one reason: to finally spend Christmas with his wife. But when a desperate man threatens to jump from Portland’s St. Johns Bridge, Archer’s expert negotiation skills are required to defuse the situation.
Rosalee, a high-powered accountant and mom-to-be, only meant to swing by home for a forgotten phone and client file. Then her car is caught in the chaos on the bridge, she unexpectedly goes into labor, and her carefully planned world begins to unravel amidst the unfolding drama.
Exhausted nurse Nova just wants to make it home for Christmas after too many night shifts. When the pileup halts traffic and Rosalee’s baby is on the way, Nova puts her own plans on hold to help a stranger in need.
Carter, the owner of a busy tow truck business, regrets taking the call to clear the multi-car collision off the bridge. He’d intended to spend the day tackling last-minute holiday errands. Instead, he’s praying the lunatic pointing a gun at him doesn’t pull the trigger.
Fresh out of college and anxious to kick-start his career, Ian’s running late when his car won’t start the morning of his big interview. His rideshare driver turns out to be a captivating girl with a penchant for aggressive driving that narrowly saves them from being part of the wreck on the bridge, sending Ian on an unexpected path of his own.
The Bridge is the perfect uplifting holiday read and a story of how one frozen moment can thaw even the loneliest of hearts.
He’d just stepped outside when he saw a vehicle roaring up the street. The rideshare logo was clearly visible in the passenger-side corner of the windshield. He hoped the maniac driving the small SUV wouldn’t kill him in a fiery crash before they even made it out of the neighborhood.
He lifted a hand as he stepped out to the curb, and the SUV came to a precise stop beside him. All he had to do was open the door and slide into the back seat.
“You’re the dude heading to Magra? Ian Alexander?” the driver asked, giving him a glimpse over her shoulder.
Ian nodded, then cleared his throat. “Yes. I’m Ian. Do you have the address?”
“Got it right here,” she said, then blew a big pink bubble and popped her gum.
He was in the process of buckling his seat belt when she hit the gas and zipped into the street, barely slowed at the corner, and picked up speed as she headed toward the highway.
Ian prayed he’d survive the trip and wouldn’t be so rattled by the experience he’d mess up his interview. He drew in a long breath and inhaled a fragrance reminiscent of spiced cider and warm fires. He didn’t see an air freshener hanging up and wondered if it was just the driver. If so, she smelled amazing.
Head in the game.
Now was not the time to check out a girl. Besides, this one certainly wasn’t his type even if she appeared to be close to his age. From the quick glance she’d given him, he’d concluded she was into goth with her thick, black eyeliner and dark eye shadow, a nose ring, blood-red lipstick, and a dragon earring that encircled her entire ear. She had on fingerless gloves with leather cuffs and a black leather jacket sporting silver studs around the collar. He had no idea what color her hair might have been because it was all stuffed up under a slouchy black velvet hat.
He wondered what she’d look like if she washed her face and dressed in something less biker chic and more … feminine.
Ian almost face-palmed himself. Good grief! He was starting to sound like his parents. He didn’t care if the woman was dressed as one of Santa’s elves as long as she got him to his interview on time, preferably in one piece.
To distract himself from the fact that goth girl seemed to think she was training for the Indy 500 or perhaps to become a New York City cab driver, he rehearsed what he planned to say at the interview. When it felt as though the SUV went around a corner on two wheels, Ian latched onto the handle above the door and held on for dear life. What kind of crazy person was about to get him killed?
“Ever think about becoming a race car driver?” he asked as she barely slowed at a stop sign and took a right onto the highway.
She glanced back at him and smirked. “Only every other day. Unfortunately for you, today is an even day, and I’m practicing.”
Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.
Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.
To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield
Everet Holcomb is cheating with his sister-in-law, Blair, and the two sneak off
for an illicit out of town getaway. While driving down a dark country road,
they hit something and are horrified to discover they’ve killed a young woman.
Panicked, they bury the body instead of calling the police, knowing if their
spouses learn of their affair, they’ll lose everything.
When Everet’s son brings his new girlfriend home for his college graduation
celebration, they notice that something about her seems…off. The odor of dirt
emanates from her, but Everet and Blair are the only ones who can smell it. And
when Everet almost chokes to death for no apparent reason, they start to
wonder…have their misdeeds come back to haunt them?
A Friday the 13th Short Story: 13 authors ~ 13 suspenseful
stories. Murder and mayhem on Friday the 13th…with a new collection released
every year!
Author Alicia Dean hails from Oklahoma, where the wind comes
sweeping down the plain, (sometimes gusting and twisting and ravaging down the
plain…) She is from Moore, affectionately known as Tornado Alley, but now
lives in Edmond.
She’s always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first
romance at the ripe old age of ten. She still has the tattered, pencil-written
copy of ‘Just Pretend,’ titled after one of her favorite Elvis Presley songs
and featuring a hero who looks JUST like Elvis. (Have you guessed, she’s an
Elvis fan?)
Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis
Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her
stories) and watching (or rewatching) her favorite televisions shows like
Dexter, Vampire Diaries, Justified, and Breaking Bad. Some of her favorite
authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley
Pearson, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
Santa’s making a list. He’s checking it twice. And if you’ve been
naughty… run. Because Krampus is real…but the legend never told the whole
story. In this eclectic anthology, multiple authors unleash the Alpine myth in
unexpected ways. He’s a monster. A protector. A lover. A nightmare. Sometimes
charming, sometimes deadly, always unforgettable. From vivid poetry to
spine-tingling terror to sinful spice, every story peels back another layer of
the creature who passes judgment on the naughty ones…and what happens next.
This multi-author collection features stories with varying tones and heat
levels. Graphic content is clearly labeled for your reading pleasure.
ALL proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to Quill Cottage Wildlife, a
501c3 wildlife rehabilitation
Featuring Works By
Jodee Jean Daniels, Luna Nyx Frost, C.L. Hart, Spiros Katsaras, Jayce Maxwell,
J. Noble, Jenna O’Malley, Kay Parquet, Melissa Power, Alyce Reads, E.L.
Summers, Jason M. Spencer, Kyle Thomas, Cass Voit
Excerpt
Crimson Retribution by C. L. Hart
Hashim led Donata to a clear spot where a cluster of trees blocked the wind.
After relieving herself, she returned to his side.
“All right, let’s see the fabulous view you’ve been raving about.”
“Would you like a pair of binoculars?”
“Certainly. I’ve always enjoyed pretending I was a bird flying above the
world.”
“Or an angel,” Hashim proposed.
“I imagine I have a few more miles left in this aging body before God or
whoever calls me home.”
“Darling, you’re always my angel.”
“What are you angling for with all this flattery, Hashim?”
“I’m only trying to make things right, my love. I don’t want a divorce. I love
you, and even though Libby is biologically Javed’s daughter, I’ve always
thought of her as my own.”
“No matter what happens between you and me, you will always be Libby’s father.
I’m open to working things out, but you need to understand that I will not put
up with any more abuse, either verbal or physical, and I won’t abide any more
cheating.”
Hashim handed Donata the binoculars.
“Gaze through your magic spectacles and tell me what appears to your wondering
eyes, my snow queen.”
“I believe this is what Santa sees from his sleigh as he swoops down on a
quiet Christmas Eve night. There are fantastical decorations, and the
multicolored lights make everything look festive.”
“You always had an amazing imagination.”
Hashim reached behind the seat of the sleigh, retrieving an axe.
“Picture being here with Libby on Christmas Eve. Imagine walking out on the
deck with her to marvel at the lights and look for Santa flying overhead.”
“Oh, there’s a house with a life-size Santa on the roof! He and the reindeer
seem so real. Rudolph’s nose flashes bright red, and Santa is waving to the
people below. I can almost hear Christmas carols playing and taste hot spiced
cider.”
About the Author
C. L. Hart, also known as The Terrible Old Woman, is an
editor who writes. She enjoys creating holiday stories with a twist, usually
in either the dark fantasy/horror or sweet romance genres. Her short stories
have appeared in several anthologies, and she has self-published her own works
as well, including four poetry volumes, a novella, a fix-up novel, and several
short stories.
Ms. Hart lives in a tiny town on the Northeastern Colorado plains with her
adult son, cat daughter, and cat grandson. She doesn’t mind cooking, but she
hopes one day to hire elves to do the housework for her.
ARC/Street Team sign ups are NOW OPEN for book two of the Omnis series, The Unknown Daemon!
Joining M.M.’s ARC/Street Team will get you:
-An eARC of The Unknown Daemon -Entered to win one of three physical ARCs -Access to The Coven Discord -Street Team benefits including monthly goodie giveaways and exclusive bonus scenes, first look at character art, & more!
✨️ Witches & Daemons ✨️ Forbidden love ✨️ Morally grey MMC ✨️ Touch her and die ✨️ Good girl goes bad ✨️ Found family + Non-binary rep ✨️ Mysterious Gods
A new path…
After Ena’s bold decision to join Ty in the Underworld, she must navigate her status as the only witch in a society of daemons. Charged with posing as his witch-slave for her own safety, she learns to embrace her dark side, all while grappling with the guilt of her decision to leave her sister and Coven behind.
A growing love…
After waiting for nine years, Ty finally has what he’s always wanted—Ena. As their trust and bond grows, Ty must grapple with his many conflicting responsibilities to his people, to Ena, and to himself. Can he have everything he wants or is hope for the future only a delusion?
An unknown future…
As Ena and Ty work together with daemon and witch allies alike, they must find a way to break the bond to Iblis, setting right that which the witches broke centuries ago. But as they uncover more about the amulet, the ritual, and the very Gods they worship, they find that everything is not as simple as it once seemed. Together, can they forge a new future, for their peoples and themselves, or will their differences forever keep them apart?
Trigger Warnings:
– Animal death in childbirth
– Animal stillbirth
– Violence
– Explicit sexual content (including Dom/sub dynamics)
The only commitment I adhere to is being the best hockey player out there on the ice. That’s why I’m captain of my team and center the top line.
Relationships? Nah, they’re not for me.
But I’m far from a monk. Women flock to me, so I give them what they want—a good time and that’s it.
But now there’s this one girl, Madison Ellery, who I can’t get out of my head. I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone before. What’s even crazier is that I want more from her than just the usual one lusty night.
What is happening to me?
Madison
I want Lennox Foley, and I’m going to get him. But he better not fall for me. I’m too much of a “love ’em and leave ’em” kind of gal.
Even gorgeous Lennox can’t change my ways.
Or can he?
Send help!
Lennox is the story of two perfectly matched people trying to fight fate, and it’s the second novel in the new Glacier Hockey series.
*can be read as a standalone*
S.R. Grey is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Breakaway hockey series, Boys of Winter hockey books, and Men of Fall football novels. Other New Adult and Romantic Suspense works of hers include the Judge Me Not books, the Promises series, the Inevitability duology, A Harbour Falls Mystery trilogy, and the Laid Bare series of novellas.
When not writing Ms. Grey can be found reading, traveling, running, and cheering for her hometown sports teams. Sometimes all at the same time!
Adrian Croft has sacrificed everything to protect his family. But when a
brutal string of murders rock London, he’s briefly distracted from the
ruthless heir of an Irish crime lord—an enemy with ties to Adrian’s
darkest past. With Bow Street floundering and innocent lives at stake, Adrian
steps back into the fray… and the cost is more than he ever expected.
Five months pregnant and desperate to be by her husband’s side, Samantha Croft
returns from her wintry retreat in the country—only to find herself in
the crosshairs of the man determined to destroy her husband. Finn O’Leary
doesn’t care who he has to break to bring Adrian down, and Samantha may be his
most valuable target.
USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in
which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for
happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her
books have been published internationally in numerous languages. With a
fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents,
and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees
of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in
three different countries and in three different dresses.
When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel,
Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking,
gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.
She had a foolproof plan. He thought his future was sealed. Neither of them imagined life would take them down a different path …
Allie
I never planned to live in Elk Lake again, but here I am. I was going to get married, have a great family and career, and then I’d get my happily-ever-after stamped on the passport of my life.
But Brett cheated and got his mistress pregnant with quadruplets. Karma was my consolation and believe me when I tell you, I couldn’t have been more satisfied by the outcome.
Just as I was busy with my fresh start, Noah Riley walked back into my life. I’ve always worshipped my best friend’s older brother, but he never noticed me.
Until that one day …
Noah
What coach gets demoted after taking their high school basketball team all the way to third in the state? Me, that’s who.
I could have gotten any other job in Chicago, but my anger and hurt pride caused me to accept a position at my alma mater. That’s right, I’m the new basketball coach of the Elk Lake Crappies. Don’t think the irony is lost on me.
My goal is to make a splash with my new team, and then have my old school beg to hire me back. Of course, I won’t accept until there’s an appropriate amount of groveling, along with a substantial pay raise.
When I moved to Elk Lake, I never expected to run into my sister’s best friend from childhood.
Who knew Allie Rogers would make me reconsider my dream?
Instead of agreeing that I should be the captain of my own ship, my mother laments, “I always thought your life would turn out like one of those delightful romcoms from the nineteen nineties. You know, single girl meets the love of her life in a quirky, yet totally believable way …”
I’m not sure which movie she’s thinking of as I’ve grown up watching them all with her. On repeat.
“Which Julia Roberts character did you envision me being? If it’s Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman, I’ll have to move to LA and become a sex worker first.” My mom pushes out of my arms and stares at me in horror.
Instead of letting the subject drop, I feel a burst of indignant steam start to build. “If you want me to be like Anna Scott in Knotting Hill, I’ll also have to move to LA, but this time I’ll have to figure out how to become a movie star. Then I’ll need to find an abusive boyfriend so I can cheat on him with a bookstore owner in London.” How does she find these to be believable scenarios?
Hurt tinges her voice as she responds, “What about Jules Potter in My Best Friend’s Wedding?”
“She didn’t even wind up with the guy!” I shout.
“How about the Runaway Bride?” This woman is relentless.
“I would have to get engaged three times so I could dump three men before my true love showed up to write an article about my chaotic life,” I remind her.
My mom’s face screws up in an agonizing expression like she’s painfully wracking her brain. “Maybe not a Julia Roberts movie then. What about Sandra Bullock? Her romcoms were more girl-next-door, which is exactly what you are.”
Raising my hand into the air, I start ticking off fingers. “While You Were Sleeping would involve nearly killing someone in a train accident so I could lie to the victim’s family and fall for his brother. In Miss Congeniality, I’d have to be an FBI agent masquerading as Miss New Jersey. Hope Floats would get me that husband and child you so badly want me to have but said husband would have to dump me on national television before running off with my best friend. Do you want me to go on?” I demand.
Confusion riddles my mom’s features resulting in my feeling an unexpected wave of compassion for her. “I don’t want any of that for you. I just want you to have a beautiful and happy ending to your story.”
“My story is a long way from being over, Mom.” I’m not going to tell her that my vision of the future is nothing like what she’s hoping for. As in, I’m pretty sure I’ll never let myself be vulnerable enough to give love a second chance. I know for certain I will never have my own children. Three lost pregnancies are enough for me to take the hint.
My mother inhales deeply before telling me, “I’m not good at leaving things in the hands of fate.”
“No, you’re not. You’re the worst control freak I know, but that doesn’t mean you’ve been appointed God and get to make all the decisions for my life.”
“I don’t want to make all the decisions. I just want you to start living again!”
“I’m enough on my own, Mom. I don’t have to be a wife to have value.” I can tell I’ve hurt her feelings again, but what else can I do? It’s like we’re two different species with zero understanding of how the other works.
With hands on hips, she demands, “What’s your five-year plan?”
“To still be breathing,” I tell her honestly.
“Do you ever want to get back into publishing?”
I offer a brief shrug. “Can’t say.”
“Do you plan on working at Rosemary’s for the rest of your life?”
“Would there be anything wrong with that? Would you not be able to love me anymore if I don’t get the Hollywood ending you’ve always imagined for me?”
My mom’s face turns bright red, which is a sure indicator she’s about to lose her cool. But instead of screaming at me, she merely turns around and strides out of the dining room like she’s on her way to execute a military coup. Napoleon had nothing on this woman.
I take her reaction to my question to mean that her love is dependent on my capitulation to her vision. Well, too freaking bad, Margaret. I’m not going to try to make you happy when I don’t even know what will make me happy.
My phone pings before I can stand up and clear the remnants of my uneaten breakfast. Picking it up, I click on the message notification and read a text from Lorelai.
Lorelai: Noah is driving me crazy! I’ve been asking him to put my navy-blue cashmere sweater in the mail for a week, and he hasn’t done it. Would you mind going over to my parents’ house and sending it? The key is under the mat.
My nervous system responds by causing me to break out into a cold sweat. I do not want to see Noah Riley. To be honest, I hate that he’s moved back to Elk Lake. There is no place in my life for my childhood crush. He’s part of my past and I will not go out of my way to run into him again.
Having said that, Lorelai is my best friend, and she never asks for anything. Shoot! I’m going to have to do it. I’ll just have to make sure to go when Noah isn’t there.
Author Bio:
Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries — not always in that order.
Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
Death By Mistake Abigail Keam (A Josiah Reynolds Mystery, #22) Publication date: October 13th 2025 Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery
In a world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms, secrets buried in the deep earth are never hidden long.
Josiah has resigned herself to being alone. Her boyfriend, Hunter left her for an old flame, and Josiah vows not to interfere in his life. She cares for the man and wants him to be happy. So, it comes as a shock when Detective Drake informs her that Hunter has been arrested for the murder of his wife, Kathy Wickliffe. Josiah simply can’t believe Hunter would harm another human being. She must uncover the truth—and fast. There’s the law, and there is Josiah’s justice!
The Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series
Death By A HoneyBee
Death By Drowning
Death By Bridle
Death By Bourbon
Death By Lotto
Death by Chocolate
Death by Haunting
Death By Derby
Death By Design
Death By Malice
Death By Drama
Death By Stalking
Death By Deceit
Death By Magic
Death By Shock
Death By Chance
Death By Poison
Death By Greed
Death By Theft
Death By Betrayal
Death By Trauma
Death By Mistake
Death By Mail
AWARDS
2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee
2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee
2017 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Design
2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking
2019 Top 10 Mystery Novels from Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A Blue Moon
2020 Imadjinn Award for Best Mystery – Death By Stalking
2022 Finalist in Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A Full Moon
2022 Finalist the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A New Moon
2022 Death By Chance: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Cozy Mystery
—
EXCERPT:
Hunter Wickliffe woke up. Something had sounded in the night and awakened him. Getting out of bed, he went over to the large double-hung sash window, catching sight of a car racing away around the curve of the driveway to Wickliffe Manor. He could hear the car screech to a stop and then turn onto Old Frankfort Pike. He looked at his watch. It was two twenty-three in the morning.
Donning trousers and flip-flops, Hunter trudged down the hallway and opened the door to his wife’s son, Palley’s bedroom. The bed was messy, but no Palley. He then slogged to Kathy’s room, gently knocked, and opened the bedroom door.
The bed was made, showing no one had slept in it. Odd. His wife usually went to bed around midnight.
After checking the upstairs bathrooms and finding them unoccupied, Hunter went down the grand staircase and searched throughout the entire first floor of his 19th-century home. He couldn’t find either Kathy or Palley.
Hunter checked the decorative ceramic bowl by the open back door and saw Kathy’s keys were there. Stepping into the velvet night, he shouted Kathy’s name.
No one returned his call.
Thinking it strange Kathy was not in the house, Hunter went outside to look for her. Discovering Kathy’s Lexus parked in the driveway, he placed his hand on the hood. Hunter found it cold to the touch, so she had to be on the grounds somewhere. He headed to the stables as he heard the boarded horses acting up. That was always a bad sign.
As he walked down the dark gravel path to the horse barn, a Great Horned Owl hooted in the distance, Black Angus cattle snorted in their pasture, and the crunch-crunch of his flip-flops on the gravel were the only sounds to be heard. The otherwise eerie quiet unnerved Hunter. He made a mental note to get some dogs. Dogs were good indicators of people and things not being in place. They were always aware of the unusual. A dog walking beside him in the dark would give him confidence.
Was he frightened?
Hunter was certainly wary.
Something was definitely off.
He picked up a thick fallen branch from a walnut tree and carried it with him. Closer to the barn, he distinctly heard the horses kicking their stalls and neighing occasionally. Not a good sign. Perhaps a coyote had been sniffing around the stable.
Dropping the branch, Hunter stepped through the side door. Searching for the light switch, he found it and turned on the overhead barn lights. The horses immediately quieted down. He first noticed the pedestal fans, which were supposed to circulate the air on warm nights, were turned off. He looked at his watch again. It was two forty-five. As the night cooled, the fans were programmed to switch off at three.
He stepped to the nearest fan and touched the housing. The metal felt wet. Now what would cause water on the fans? Hunter looked up. The roof wasn’t leaking. Besides, it hadn’t rained.
“What’s going on, ladies?” Hunter asked as he opened the stall doors and checked several horses close to the west entrance until he noticed bales of hay lying in disarray on the floor of the barn’s central aisle. Someone or something had also overturned the sweet feed buckets near the storage closet. A sense of dread filled him.
“Kathy? Kathy, are you here?” Hunter called out.
The only responses were horses nickering. Hunter strained to hear his wife’s response or maybe a faint cry for help. Perhaps she went to check on the horses and fell. He wanted to hear something—anything resembling a human voice.
Certain that something was amiss, Hunter went into the first five stalls and opened the back stall doors to a large paddock, letting the pregnant Thoroughbred mares out. He brought them in only at night to keep coyotes and wandering dogs away from them. Free, the horses ambled over to a water trough for a quick sip of cool water.
The last four stalls contained pleasure horses boarded at the Wickliffe Farm. Hunter slid open the stall door and grabbed the skittish Arabian horse by the halter. “Whoa, girl. Whoa. That’s a good girl.” He opened the back exterior door of the stall and pulled the horse toward the outside. She happily joined the other horses now grazing hay left out for them.
Hunter went to the next stall to check on a Quarter horse when he noticed shiny
splotches of a dark substance on the center aisle’s rubber mat. He squatted down and swiped the dark substance with his finger. The substance was gooey, and as he raised his hand to inspect it, the overhead light illuminated the unmistakable red color. Hunter smelled the red substance and rubbed it between his fingers. As a forensic psychiatrist, he had seen enough dead bodies to know this was coagulated blood!
He jumped up and frantically searched the last stalls. “Kathy! Kathy!” There were two remaining horses, which he quickly pulled into the paddock. It wasn’t until Hunter came to the remaining stall that he discovered Kathy lying on her back with unblinking eyes staring at the ceiling. He quickly checked for a pulse, and when he didn’t discover one, Hunter slid down the wall of the stall in disbelief. Shocked, he sat beside his dead wife and put his head between his hands, moaned, “Oh, Kathy. What did you do? What did you do?”
Author Bio:
Abigail Keam is an award-winning and best-selling author who writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern female beekeeper turned amateur sleuth living in the glamorous world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms.
Besides loving history, Kentucky bourbon and chocolate, Abigail loves honeybees and for many years made her living by selling honey at a farmers’ market like her protagonist, Josiah Reynolds. She is an award-winning beekeeper who has won many honey awards at the Kentucky State Fair including the Barbara Horn Award, which is given to beekeepers who rate a perfect 100 in a honey competition.
Miss Abigail has taken her knowledge of beekeeping to create a fictional beekeeping protagonist, Josiah Reynolds, who solves murder mysteries in the Bluegrass. While Miss Abigail’s novels are for enjoyment, she discusses the importance of a local sustainable food economy and land management for honeybees and other creatures.
She currently lives on the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters.
