Summary:
From Amazon Bestselling Author Michele E. Gwynn (Once Upon a Midnight, Oct, 2016 Amazon US; The Winter Wishes Collection, March 2017 Amazon UK) comes a collection of 3 disturbing tales that walks the line between this world and the next.
A Slow Awakening
Premiering in this set, A Slow Awakening is a nightmare happening in real time. Frances Baker is an old woman living alone. Afraid of the dark and of storms she must brave both one dreary, frightful night. Waiting for it all to pass, she awakens to a situation far more terrifying. Unable to move or even speak, she is trapped inside her own body with no way to call for help. As the storm rages on, the demons from her past prey upon the vulnerable woman, dragging her down into a memory buried deep, one best left forgotten. Throughout the night, her life passes before her mind's eye, taunting her and daring Frances to face up to her own mistakes all the while praying for morning to come, and for help to arrive.
Cavanaugh Road
Previously published in Guardian of Dreams from Paper Gold Publishing. "A life for a life. Someone must pay the toll."
On a stormy afternoon in 1951, tragedy strikes ending the dreams of a teenage girl along a lonely stretch of country road in Fort Smith, Arkansas. With the truth hidden, twenty years later, another life meets its fate on Cavanaugh Road. Jake Williams has little time left to enjoy his freedom. The threat of the draft looms as his eighteenth birthday passes. With his older brother and his best friend already deployed to Vietnam, each day is a gift. He has his job at the diner and his brand new, used Javelin. The only thing missing is a girlfriend. One night, Jake spies a pretty blonde outside of the diner, but before he can reach her side, she disappears without a trace. Intrigued, he decides to find out who the new girl is, but fate steps in, delivering devastating news to his family, and issuing a summons he can’t ignore. Despairing and desperate, he takes off down Cavanaugh Road where a near-death car wreck changes his life. It’s there, injured and shaken, that Jake comes face to face with his destiny. The beautiful girl, the one who has captured his heart, is suddenly there to save him. She promises to take him home. But things are not what they seem, and long-held secrets begin to unravel right under Jake’s nose, within his own family. As his days grow shorter, the mystery deepens, and the answers lie around the bend, in an old family plot, on Cavanaugh Road.
Split
Previously published as a standalone.
A car accident left Jennifer Jones alive, but killed her parents. Survivor’s guilt and grief strangles her soul while the continued abuse from her fiancé, Aaron, breaks her spirit. Without warning, she snaps. Free from the moorings that bind her to the rational world, Jennifer finds that stepping across the line, and committing cold-blooded murder means she no longer needs to follow anyone’s rules but her own - but has she gone too far? Now that she’s tasted the heady power of controlling her own destiny, she can’t stop!
Down the rabbit hole she goes into a realm of psychotic darkness so deep, she may never find her way out again! As her world begins to spin out of control, she’s haunted by her misdeeds, and pushed further over the edge. The struggle to hold it together is tearing her apart, and if she can’t find her way back from the dark abyss, Jennifer will split from reality for good!
A Slow Awakening
Trapped, Unable to move, and all Alone…
All was quiet. The rain had ceased to fall. The winds died down. The only sound she could detect was the windup clock on the bedside table. She turned to look at the time. Nothing happened.
Again, she tried to turn her head. Her mind said turn, but her neck refused to obey. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.
Afraid, Frances tried sitting up. The view remained the same. Just the ceiling. She stilled, assessing her whole body.
Wiggle your toes! she told herself. Nothing moved. There was no pain, no…nothing. She felt nothing, physically, at least. Inside, she was panicking.
She concentrated, focusing on moving any part of her body. Fingers, knees, shoulders. There was no response. Not even a twitch. She screamed, but no sound came forth. Her mouth did not open.
Dear God, I’ve had a stroke! What will I do? What can I do?
Panic took over, and fear engulfed her. She was paralyzed, with no way to call for help.
She tried to determine the exact time. It had been around 10:00 when she’d fallen asleep. Unsure how long she’d slept, she figured it couldn’t have been more than three or four hours, so it might be around one or two in the morning. Jack was supposed to come around to fix her leaking bathroom sink, sometime in the mid-morning hours. He had a key so she wasn’t worried he’d leave if she couldn’t get up to answer. It was good to know help would eventually arrive, but in the meantime, she was stuck in her bed, unable to rise if needed, to go to the bathroom, to shout for help.
She wanted to cry, but her body betrayed her yet again, refusing to shed a single tear. There was nothing for it except to wait, and see if perhaps her motor skills would return, even if just a little bit. It was the only hope she had besides being found by her son-in-law seven to eight hours from now. She let her mind drift.
Author Bio:
Michele E. Gwynn is an Amazon Bestselling Multigenre Author of Crime/Detective books, Sci-Fi/Horror books, and Paranormal/Supernatural books in San Antonio. She previously wrote for newspapers, magazines, and online websites like Examiner.com (under the categories of Film, Animal Rights, and Sex and Relationships), Alwayz Therro Magazine, FashionErotica Digital, and more. As a journalist, she's covered news and events, and conducted countless celebrity interviews.
She has three series currently with several stand-alones, and more books coming! As if that weren't enough, she has published adult short stories under the pen name Xaviera Snow.
She resides in the small town of Schertz, Texas on the northeast side of San Antonio with her four felines who so graciously allow her to reside in their home.
Summary:
The Kommissar is back, and going rogue in St. Petersburg! A new lead on a cold case, one that has haunted Heinz, and nearly cost him his career now offers a path to redemption. A ledger containing the names of abducted girls recovered from the Vledelets during the Ivchencko affair offers renewed hope. With the wedding to his partner-turned-love of his life, Birgitta Mahler, drawing near, Detective Heinz must find a way to close the door on his guilt once and for all. But will his decision to investigate the disappearance of Marlessa Schubert lead him to an answer he can live with or an early grave? All roads lead to one destination, Warehouse 214, and one man, Vladimir Breshnev, known to his enemies as ‘the Butcher’, and to Interpol as the leader of the Russian mafia. Unsanctioned, and on his own, Heinz pursues his demons. When he fails to check in, his protégé, Officer Elsa Kreiss, must call in a dangerous favor. If she succeeds, Heinz will make it to the church on time, but if she fails, he’ll arrive in a box.
“I have your papers.” She pulled a packet out of her shoulder bag, and shoved it across the table at him. “Don’t open it here. Just put it in the seat next to you. Inside is your new passport. Your name is Martin Lintz, and you are an Austrian school teacher. You teach mathematics to ten year olds. Your birthdate remains the same for ease in remembering should anyone ask, and your address is your old house where you grew up.”
Heinz’s eyebrows shot up. “And how do you know that address?”
She shrugged. “I know everything about you. Faust provided most of it, the rest I dug up on my own.”
“Christ, there’s just no privacy anymore.” He shook his head.
She remained unfazed. “No, none. You will find a new cellular inside. It’s clean and registered to Martin Lintz. You can call whoever you need to, and it will route through your other account. “There is also a baggage tag for your suitcase. You can pick up your ticket to Saint Petersburg at the Air Baltic counter.” She held out her hand.
Heinz looked at it. “What?” he asked.
“Hand over your phone and passport. You can’t take them with you. They will give you away should you be caught.”
“I’m just supposed to leave my personal phone and passport with you? How will I get them back?”
“I will express mail them to Faust as soon as I leave here. They’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”
Joseph sighed. He wasn’t happy about turning over his personal information to this young woman, but it was also obvious that she already had all that since she freely admitted to digging around in his business. He pulled the phone and passport out of his pocket and handed them over.
“Now, in addition to the new phone, there is also Russian currency so you don’t need to stop anywhere to exchange. The amount is five thousand Euros in rubles. You have something for me?”
“Oh, yes.” Heinz reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the thick envelope, handing it over.
She held it in both hands, weighing it. When she was satisfied, she got up. “Thank you.” She turned to leave.
“Wait!” Joseph sat straight, watching her.
“What?”
“That’s it?” He was shocked at their short exchange.
“What more did you expect?”
That got him. What did I expect? He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it all just seemed rather abrupt.”
“I got the distinct impression that you, yourself, didn’t care for bullshit.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets, her face absent any emotion.
“I suppose not. Never mind. Thank you.” He dismissed the girl.
Exposed: The Education of Sarah Brown #1 Summary:
Sarah Brown sets out on a journey to sensual self-discovery and falls face first into danger. In Barcelona, Anthony de Luca, a renowned travel author and photographer, unleashes the full force of his charm that threatens to steal her heart, a prize he openly admits he doesn’t want. Still, she can’t resist him, and finds herself experiencing the heights of ecstasy and the lows of heartbreak as her lover leaves without a word. In Berlin, Paul Christiansen, a handsome Dutch Lothario with a sordid past, works his wiles to seduce her body while in the shadows, a predator stalks a young boy close to Sarah determined to get what he wants or kill anyone who gets in his way. One of her two lovers has led a dangerous criminal straight to her door, but which one, and who can she trust?
The Evolution of Elsa Kreiss #2 Summary:
What happens when Berlin's premiere dominatrix trades in her whip for a badge and gun? She discovers she cannot completely escape her past. With the help of the detective who saved her little brother’s life, Elsa Kreiss enters the police academy, expecting her world to now be far safer. Instead, it only becomes more dangerous!
An unsolved case of three missing girls from Charlottenburg pulls her mentor, Kommissar Joseph Heinz, back into the dark abyss just as he realizes he’s in love with his partner, Birgitta Mahler. While he searches for a killer, she fights an attraction to a very sexy bad boy. Lukas Trommler is everything she likes in a man; cocky, confident, and hot. An art buyer at a local gallery, Lukas exudes culture with an edge of danger. He invites her into his world where she comes face to face with a familiar monster, Yuri Ivchencko, one of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the world with ties to the Russian mafia and human trafficking. His obsession with the sick and twisted side of human nature expressed in art offends Elsa, who doesn’t hesitate to say so. Her outburst lands her squarely on his radar. When Elsa is reported missing, Heinz must put aside his case to rescue his protégé. The operation brings him face to face with a man from his past, the evil Russian he believes responsible for the cold case that haunts him still.
The stakes are high as they race to save several young women now at the mercy of a sadistic billionaire now bound for St. Petersburg, The fate of those kidnapped, should Elsa and Heinz fail, will be worse than death.
📘📘Sign up for my newsletter📘📘 Extra!!! As an added bonus for all my Beliners, I will be offering the Prequel to The Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series, The Making of Herman Faust, to ALL of my current and NEW Newsletter Subscribers. This novella WILL NOT be available anywhere else. It is EXCLUSIVE to my dedicated subscribers. The Making of Herman Faust will be available in May, 2017.
Author Bio:
Michele E. Gwynn is an Amazon Bestselling Multigenre Author of Crime/Detective books, Sci-Fi/Horror books, and Paranormal/Supernatural books in San Antonio. She previously wrote for newspapers, magazines, and online websites like Examiner.com (under the categories of Film, Animal Rights, and Sex and Relationships), Alwayz Therro Magazine, FashionErotica Digital, and more. As a journalist, she's covered news and events, and conducted countless celebrity interviews.
She has three series currently with several stand-alones, and more books coming! As if that weren't enough, she has published adult short stories under the pen name Xaviera Snow.
She resides in the small town of Schertz, Texas on the northeast side of San Antonio with her four felines who so graciously allow her to reside in their home.
Jennifer Theriot hails from the Great State of Texas. She is a career woman, working as CFO of a Texas based real estate investment firm by day and does her writing at nights and on weekends. In her limited spare time, Jennifer enjoys being outdoors; preferably somewhere on a beach curled up with a good book. Spending time with family and friends, listening to music, watching a baseball game and enjoying a good bottle of wine are usually on her to-do lists. She’s mom to three grown children and ‘MiMi’ to three (soon to be four) grandkids – all of whom she adores!
Diane Rinella Enjoying San Francisco as a backdrop, the ghosts in Diane Rinella's one hundred and fifty-year old Victorian home augment the chorus in her head. With insomnia as their catalyst, these voices have become multifarious characters that haunt her well into the sun's crowning hours, refusing to let go until they have manipulated her into succumbing to their whims. Her experiences as an actress, business owner, artisan cake designer, software project manager, Internet radio disc jockey, vintage rock 'n' roll journalist/fan girl, and lover of dark and quirky personalities influence her idiosyncratic writing.
Cherime MacFarlane
Although born in New Orleans, Cherime MacFarlane am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here since 1977. I have seen -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and I live in a cabin. I have used a fishwheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and roadie. I have cut firewood on shares. I worked as a cocktail waitress during pipeline days in a small lodge on the Richardson Highway.
My second husband, a Scot from Glasgow, was the love of my life. When I write Scots dialect, I personally experienced hearing it from my in laws. When my husband got on the phone to Scotland, after 5 seconds I could barely understand a word.
We moved to Wasilla to get warm. It barely drops past -25 degrees here in the winter. I became a paralegal and worked for over 26 years for the same firm.
Alaska is my home. I never thought I would love it so much, I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. My love and I were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years. I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with and was my biggest fan.
Michele E Gwynn
Michele E. Gwynn is a freelance journalist in San Antonio. She writes for newspapers, magazines, and online websites like Examiner.com (under the categories of Film, Animal Rights, and Sex and Relationships), Alwayz Therro Magazine, FashionErotica Digital, and more. She also edits websites and books.
Gwynn has published several books and has three series currently; the Kriminal Erotic Series (crime/detective for 18+); The Harvest Trilogy (Horror/Sci-Fi #UFO series inspired by a true event); and the Angelic Hosts Series (supernatural action/adventure, romance YA & NA). She also has a new Contemporary Romance Short Story - Waiting a Lifetime. Coming to Amazon soon (2015) are the third books in all three series, and her first darkly romantic paranormal vampire novel (title not yet released). The new year will see the publishing of the first full novel in her new series, The Ghosts of Cardiff, Murder in the Vale: The Mystery at Llandaff Cathedral, and the long-anticipated second children's book, The Cat Who Cooked Spaghetti.
RE Hargrave
R.E. Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX where she prides herself on being a domestic engineer. Married to her high school sweetheart, together they are raising three children from elementary age to college age. She is an avid reader, a sometimes quilter and now, a writer. Other hobbies include gardening and a love of a music.
A native 'mutt,' Hargrave has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories on location in South Carolina and Texas, but its anybody's guess as to what the genre will be!
Nikki Lynn Barrett
I'm an avid lover of books. I've been writing as far back as I can remember, completing my first "book" by fifth grade in one of those one subject spiral notebooks. I have a passion for music, photography, jewelry and all things creative. I live in Arizona with my husband and son, but dream of being somewhere much colder and stormier. For now, I'll have to live that life through my characters and stick it out with the summer heat.
Jami Brumfield
Jami Brumfield has a passion for the paranormal, supernatural, and mythological worlds for most of her life. She believes there is a kernel of truth in every story and loves playing detective to discover what that hidden truth is. She has written most of her life. She started with poems and short stories, then graduated to journalism working for online websites. It was only a natural progression that her love of writing and her passion for the unknown would combine. Her books are a product of that union. She lives in Arizona with her amazing husband and two fur-babies, Maximus and Zeus.
Melanie James
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, Melanie James spent 14 years as an IT systems administrator before tiring of the hustle and bustle of the technology world. She's doing what she loves, by writing paranormal comedy, steamy paranormal, and contemporary romance books. Melanie has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Leadership and Development, with a minor in Women's Studies. She is working on her Master's Degree in Adult Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Melanie is married to a wonderful man who supports her dreams and goals. She has two children, three step-children, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and an adorable grand-baby.
Teri Riggs
As a child, Teri Riggs made up her own bedtime stories. When her children came along, Teri always tweaked the fairy tales she told her daughters, giving them a bit more punch and better endings when needed.
Now she spends her days turning her ideas into books. She lives in Marietta, GA with her husband.
She writes romantic suspense.
Jennifer Bryan Yarbrough
Jennifer Bryan Yarbrough is the author of the Porter Kingston Series. Lost and Found is her first published novel in this series. Other books in the series are Found By Love (Book 2), Found at Last (Book 3) and her recently released book, Eden's Kiss (Book 4).
Jennifer also writes under the name J B Yarbrough for teens. You can check out her short story under that name, The Tree House, on Amazon.com.
Jennifer currently resides in Oklahoma where she was born and raised and lives with her husband and 3 children. When she isn't writing she is spending time with her family or reading and finding new authors to love.
Kelly Cozzone
Kelly Cozzone was born in New Martinsville, WV. After spending 15 years in Myrtle Beach, SC, she finally made it back to her adopted hometown, Austin, TX.
When Kelly isn't writing the mystery stories she loves, she is following her beloved Texas Longhorns. An avid football fan, she spends her fall months rooting on her favorite teams.
In addition to being an author, Kelly writes for Examiner.com and shares her thoughts and stories that strike a chord in her on her blog. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women.
Kelly has been happily married to her husband for 20 years and has three children who are her life.
Authors: Julie Elizabeth Powell, R.E. Hargrave, Michele E. Gwynn, Ruby West
Kim Faulks, Cleve Sylcox Ella Medler, Stephanie Nett, Holly Barbo
Kelly Cozzone, Sarah Dalton, Cherime MacFarlane, Samantha Jacobey
Genre: Suspense/Horror/Thriller
Expected Release Date: March 1, 2016
***Warning: RATED MA 18+ for mature content, violence,
graphic sexual situations, vulgar language. Not suitable for
anyone under the age of 18. Reader discretion is advised.***
Summary:
MARCH MADNESS as you’ve NEVER seen it… 15 COMPLETE NOVELS AND NOVELLAS FROM YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS IN ONE PRETTY PACKAGE.
Kick off Spring 2016 with a collection of macabre, suspenseful, and disturbing thriller/horror stories from around the globe. From murder in Vegas to deadly obsessions and down dark rabbit holes so deep, you may never find your way out again. Each story will have you biting your nails, and both fearing and anticipating turning the page! The suspense might just kill you.
A mix of previously-released stories and never-before seen tales, this set holds fifteen new worlds to explore — fifteen incredible experiences to bombard your senses, fifteen sets of characters to love, hate, and run from — Who could ask for more?
Stories Included:
13 by Julie Elizabeth Powell
What is found within the depths of the human soul? Does wickedness linger, as if the Devil’s thumb is ready to pluck the strings of certain choices? And with the strumming, just how far will Evil spread?
13 is the story of random souls pitted against the tragedy of the modern world. What is their connection, if any? Nameless; are these merely humans whose weaknesses force them to commit heinous crimes, or demons under the skin, aware of their sins yet indifferent to the outcome?
Will they decipher the unknown and make it out alive?
Who is watching, what is the end?
13 examines the modern world, its failings, its image, its ever increasing race to destruction – its collapse of values meant to further mankind rather than annihilate. It questions choices, peering into the distorted ethics and morals of where humanity stands today, what it has lost and whether or not there is any hope for the future. If morals have become simplistic and vague, tainted intellectually and rigid, can it only give rise to succumbing to personal motives and flaws, focussing only on self-preservation? Or is it a result of what has been lost in the face of progress? Where such ideology needs re-evaluating; where tradition, continuity, conservation, stability and constraints on behaviour have great value...maybe progress is the expression of ruin after all?
13 wallows in horror, not only in blood but the psychological neglect of why the modern world must be wary of its way forward and not succumb to self-interests, where greed, amongst other negative traits, is personified to such an extent that nothing is left to save us.
13 could be seen as a résumé of failures, yet, for those who read it, maybe it will filter enough into consciousness that the tide may be turned. Or perhaps Destiny has other ideas?
Warning: strong language and scenes of violence /horror/drugs/sex
Slots by R.E. Hargrave
You know the saying, ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’ . . . well, that’s not always true. Three travelers find themselves running to Sin City in an attempt to right a wrong, only to have it backfire—in a big way. Rated NC-17 for extremely graphic scenes. Please heed warning inside.
Warnings: First off, the musical inspiration for this horrific short story came from God Speed You Black Emperor, Dark Lotus, Type O Negative, and Alkaline Trio. If you are a child, elderly, or have a heart condition, then this story is probably not for you. If you cannot handle torture scenes and/or have a weak stomach, why are you here? This story is not for you. If you have any problems with language, nudity (and descriptions of such), drugs, forced sexual acts (including gore porn), maiming, torture, forced humiliation, self-mutilation, vomit, urine, blood, snakes, character death and more . . . then I cannot stress enough that this story is not for you.
Split by Michele E. Gwynn
Jennifer Jones suffered the loss of her parents in a car accident. Heaped upon her grief and survivor’s guilt is a debilitating layer of domestic abuse from her fiancé, Aaron. It’s all too much, and without warning, she snaps. Free from the moorings that bind us all to rational boundaries, Jennifer finds that stepping across the line and committing murder means she no longer needs to follow anyone’s rules but her own, but has she gone too far? Now that she’s tasted the heady power of controlling her own destiny, she can’t stop!
Down the rabbit hole she goes into a realm of psychotic darkness so deep, she may never find her way out again! Is murder Jennifer’s new reality or has reality skewed, tilting on its axis, writing its own story? Reality is in the eye of the deceiver, after all. Is this new reality real or has Jennifer Jones split?
No Caller ID by Ruby West
Jerome's all charm, no substance. At best, he's a talented womanizer. His wife leads a long list of women scorned by him, and one of them carries a deep grudge.
When his life takes a downward spiral, in a blur of binge drinking and hookups, the calls start. Someone's playing a tantalizing game with him, but who?
Secrets Room by Kim Faulks
Be prepared for the most haunting horror and suspense novel to hit the shelf in years…
What would you do if you woke in a room filled with strangers, with no memory of how you got there, and no way out?
Morgan Drimmel wakes to find herself in the midst of this nightmare. The gouged, blood-splattered walls scream of terror and torture, and the unrelenting light that shines between the cracks in the walls fills her with dread.
When the others in the room wake, they form alliances, and Morgan finds herself drawn to rogue biker Slade Rivers. But dependence, for her, has always come with a deadly price.
Those inside the room have secrets too; dark secrets they will go to any length to keep from getting out. When evil rears its ugly head, Morgan will not only have to fight to survive—she will also have to trust.
This is THE book you shouldn't pass up!
Blood Crow by Cleve Sylcox
As Confederate and Union forces clash in and around the Missouri community of St. Charles, Constance McAdams fights a war of her own. Her mind has been fractured, her heart ravaged, and her soul nearly torn from its very existence. Her husband, Gavin, threatened by a corrupt sheriff and judge, is the binding that holds her together. With a blessing from an old Choctaw woman as her only weapon, she spirals into a maddening world of crows and spirits as she fights the forces pressing in around her.
Blood is Power by Ella Medler
In this second installment of his story, Nick Hunter proceeds to track down and eliminate every person involved in his son's kidnap. But where will the chase end? And has he bitten off more than he can chew? Nick discovers a tangled net of human trafficking and corruption, and world-class players with a penchant for disturbed obsessions. Gritty, dark, chock-full of suspense. Don't start reading if you cannot finish it in one sitting.
Duplicitous by Stephanie Nett
It was meant to be an easy job; go to my sister’s and update their security system. My sister’s husband is handsome and rich and she lives the epitome of a perfect life. As I work, Reese drops a bombshell and things begin to spiral out of control at a rate far faster than I’m comfortable with. After waking covered in blood, I’m left to piece together the mystery of what happened before I go mad. Or die trying.
A Crystal Snowflake by Holly Barbo
When Chayse’s friend is murdered before he can get protective custody, she and her department in Homeland Security are thrust into a race to stop a destructive cyber worm from wiping out all bank and stock market records during the Christmas break. The good news is there is an inoculating code which will stop the worm. The bad news is it is hidden in a special crystal concealed in the sculpted walls of a beautiful ice hotel in the lapland region of Sweden and the terrorists are searching for it too. As the snow flurries of November becomes frozen December each side rush to find the crystal…with entirely different goals. Will the Christmas holiday bring destruction for western financial systems?
Lost Shadows by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Not only had Adam lost his parents in a car crash, but he’d also forgotten who he was. Pamela is haunted by the patient who was murdered by her father. Barbara and Mike have mysterious secrets. Harry seeks solace at the bottom of a glass. And why is Mildred so afraid? While Helen’s mind gathers dust, Lizzie mourns the loss of her, and her husband. Both Penny and Jane are frantic to find their daughters, if in different ways. Rick wonders what to do about his family. And who is William?
Most are strangers, all are haunted by darkness – does this unite them, or is it something they must do that will free them?
Will they find what is lost?
Tropical Nightmares by Kelly Cozzone
Surviving numerous attempts on their lives including the explosion that rocked Tropical Dreams, David Murphy and Tiana Alexander started to rebuild their lives. Living on the beautiful and tranquil island of St. Lucia, they tried not to let the ugliness of Robert Dubose invade every aspect of their lives. They knew he was coming and wouldn't stop until someone was dead.
Robert Dubose planned every second of his revenge against David and Tiana down to the littlest detail. This time he was leaving nothing to chance. Bringing a partner in on the plan almost guarantees his success.
Can David and Tiana once again defeat Dubose or will he finally get his revenge? Will Dubose and his hidden partner finally succeed in killing them? Can David forgive himself for failing Tiana or will their love be another casualty?
Dirty Business by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Gavin Bloom and Alex Moore run an online magazine for an adult market; although each insists it has to be within the limits of not only the law but to their sense of decency. Gavin is on the edge of developing a revolutionary turn for that very magazine, a programme that will no doubt secure the business, maybe forever.
Amidst the excitement and enjoyment of its success, however, is the mysterious and heinous murder of one of their own.
Who can have done it? And why?
And who is the woman fastened by a chain to a wall?
Follow the twists and turns and perhaps you can solve the puzzle before they do.
Warning: some strong language, violence and moderate scenes of a sexual nature.
My Daylight Monsters by Sarah Dalton
I always thought my demons came out in the day, rather than at night. I’ve never been scared of the dark. I’ve only ever been scared of real things: getting ill, having injections, physical pain… death. Those are my monsters, not ghosts or vampires or whatever else can hide under your bed at night.
I was wrong.
The dark makes everything worse.
When 17-year-old Mary Hades is admitted by her parents to a psychiatric unit, her worst nightmares are confirmed. How can she get better in a place that fills her with dread? Her friendships with the other patients — her wacky roommate Lacey, her protector Mo, and the mysterious, green-eyed Johnny — begin to fill her with hope, until she realizes that people in the hospital are dying without explanation. Something sinister stalks the corridors, and it’s up to Mary to stop it. But the closer she gets to the answer, the more perilous her situation becomes, and Mary discovers the only way to get out alive is to confront the things that scare her most.
North by Northeast by Cherime MacFarlane
Without her he is alone in the world. Letting his wife go alone to Seattle, Washington to display her paintings in an invitation only show is difficult. But he has commitments to fulfill. Unease turns to fear when she doesn't answer his call. The "sight" tells him something is horribly wrong. An inept investigator, an obsessed fan and three friends all come together in a tight tale of a race into British Columbia's Pacific Coast as a husband tries to save the only thing he ever wanted, his wife.
Captive (Book 1 of A New Life Series) by Samantha Jacobey
A New Life Series is an epic adventure. TORI FARRELL's life IS one wild story... escaped from a biker gang and running from drug lords... used by the FBI and hoping to protect her present from her past... IT'S DARK - IT'S BRUTAL, and it's WORTH EVERY MINUTE OF IT!! (Mature read, 18+ for graphic sexual content and violence, including rape)
Author Bios:
Julie Elizabeth Powell
I cannot ignore my dreams, so many of them, with names and places and ideas that spark my imagination and compel me to write; to create stories, whether fantasy or horror, or mystery or psychological thriller or murder or even humour and adventure. So, my garden is sown, flourishing, with all manner of growth, and still the dreams come.
Julie Elizabeth Powell, my soul lingering within my imagination; maybe you’ll join me?
RE Hargrave
R.E. Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX where she prides herself on being a domestic engineer. Married to her high school sweetheart, together they are raising three children from elementary age to college age. She is an avid reader, a sometimes quilter and now, a writer. Other hobbies include gardening and a love of a music.
A native 'mutt,' Hargrave has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories on location in South Carolina and Texas, but its anybody's guess as to what the genre will be!
Michele E Gwynn
Michele E. Gwynn is a freelance journalist in San Antonio. She writes for newspapers, magazines, and online websites like Examiner.com (under the categories of Film, Animal Rights, and Sex and Relationships), Alwayz Therro Magazine, FashionErotica Digital, and more. She also edits websites and books.
Gwynn has published several books and has three series currently; the Kriminal Erotic Series (crime/detective for 18+); The Harvest Trilogy (Horror/Sci-Fi #UFO series inspired by a true event); and the Angelic Hosts Series (supernatural action/adventure, romance YA & NA). She also has a new Contemporary Romance Short Story - Waiting a Lifetime. Coming to Amazon soon (2015) are the third books in all three series, and her first darkly romantic paranormal vampire novel (title not yet released). The new year will see the publishing of the first full novel in her new series, The Ghosts of Cardiff, Murder in the Vale: The Mystery at Llandaff Cathedral, and the long-anticipated second children's book, The Cat Who Cooked Spaghetti.
For discriminating bibliophiles, there is also a science fiction short published in a charity book for which all funds raised will help build a new library: Tales and Poems from Universal City, Texas (Synthesis by Michele E. Gwynn)
As if that weren't enough, she has published adult short stories under the pen name Xaviera Snow. (On Amazon.com)
Much of her career has been spent interviewing all manner of celebrities for Examiner.com, and hometown newspaper and magazines. Life has been kind, and these interviews can be found on her blog. She resides in the small town of Schertz, Texas on the northeast side of San Antonio with her four felines who so graciously allow her to reside in their home.
Ruby West
Ruby West writes dark erotica with a quirky edge. She has a penchant for revenge tales. Be warned: if you think you know dark, think again... Kim Faulks
I have been an avid reader for longer than I can remember, desiring the darker, edgier works of Bram Stoker, Stephen King, Dean Koontz. I first started writing in High School giving that away when my first attempt was nothing more than dribble. I wish now that I kept at it, pursued it with a hunger that I currently possess.
Writing is my passion, it is what fuels the fires inside of me and it is an all-or-nothing furnace that keeps me up at all hours.
I am married to a wonderful supportive husband, I have 2 wonderful kids and the best friends that I have waited some 35 odd years to meet. Cleve Sylcox
Cleve Sylcox has been writing short stories most of his life. He writes in a variety of genres with an emphasis on the strange and bizarre. His works include a fascinating story of angels and demons called Nicboth, where he combines biblical knowledge with his gift of imagination. Death, In Gravely Falls is another of his combinations where he infuses a tale of murder with UFO's. Some of his best short stories are in Bedeviled - Tales of the Macabre. His Sci Fi, Nucor - Season of the Moons, is an action packed ride into the heart of humankind. He also wrote stories in five Anthologies. Whatever your taste he has something for you.
Elle Medler
Ella Medler is a U.K. author and free-lance editor. She writes fiction in more than one genre, in a seemingly vain attempt to slow down her overactive brain enough to write non-fiction on subjects she knows a thing or two about. She also does not believe in the starchy use of English, and ignores the type of rule that doesn’t allow for a sentence to be finished in a preposition. Her books are action-driven, and well-developed characters are her forte. Loves: freedom. Hates: her inner censor.
Stephanie Nett
Stephanie grew up in a small town in east central Wisconsin where she still resides. Though she's been writing since grade school, it was just a couple of years ago (September 2013) that her first published work was released. She is diligently fighting a feisty muse to bring you more. Currently, she has no less than five works in progress, with several more waiting to be started. Through her love of writing, she hopes to bring the worlds she envisions to life very soon.
Lover of Grimm's Fairy Tales, reading, and romance, she is a full time, single mother raising a 14 year old and a 4 year old. Obsessed with the notion of "Happily Ever After," she is working to overcome some real life difficulty with domestic abuse.
Stay tuned to learn more about this hardworking woman whose love of history, psychology, and art plays prominently in her work.
Holly Barbo
Holly Barbo's world is shaped by her love of family, the beauty of the natural world and an irrepressible creative drive. She has always been curious and sees life through questions. These four characteristics color her writing voice and her stories frequently evolve from her asking "What if....?" Her tales tend to have non-urban settings with nature contributing to the plot, building discordant themes inside a seemingly peaceful refrain.
Holly weaves alternative worlds with threads from today.
Kelly Cozzone
Kelly Cozzone was born in New Martinsville, WV. After spending 15 years in Myrtle Beach, SC, she finally made it back to her adopted hometown, Austin, TX.
When Kelly isn't writing the mystery stories she loves, she is following her beloved Texas Longhorns. An avid football fan, she spends her fall months rooting on her favorite teams.
In addition to being an author, Kelly writes for Examiner.com and shares her thoughts and stories that strike a chord in her on her blog. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women.
Kelly has been happily married to her husband for 20 years and has three children who are her life.
Sarah Dalton
Sarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination.
She has been an avid reader for most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.
Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, PANK magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. She is the author of the popular YA dystopia series The Blemished, Amazon bestselling YA horror series Mary Hades, and YA fantasy series White Hart.
Cherime MacFarlane
Although born in New Orleans, Cherime MacFarlane am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here since 1977. I have seen -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and I live in a cabin. I have used a fishwheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and roadie. I have cut firewood on shares. I worked as a cocktail waitress during pipeline days in a small lodge on the Richardson Highway.
My second husband, a Scot from Glasgow, was the love of my life. When I write Scots dialect, I personally experienced hearing it from my in laws. When my husband got on the phone to Scotland, after 5 seconds I could barely understand a word.
We moved to Wasilla to get warm. It barely drops past -25 degrees here in the winter. I became a paralegal and worked for over 26 years for the same firm.
Alaska is my home. I never thought I would love it so much, I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. My love and I were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years. I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with and was my biggest fan.
Samantha Jacobey
Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never met a stranger and take up conversations any where at any time. I work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the middle of the night.
I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my significant other, and many friends as well.
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of course, there will be many more stories to come.
A Slow Awakening
Cavanaugh Road
Split
She concentrated, focusing on moving any part of her body. Fingers, knees, shoulders. There was no response. Not even a twitch. She screamed, but no sound came forth. Her mouth did not open.
Author Bio:
