Showing posts with label phillips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phillips. Show all posts

Friday, December 2, 2016

Release Day Blitz: The Winter Wishes Collection Box Set

Title: The Wishes Collection
Authors: EM Denning, Ella Medler, Holly Barbo
Regina Morris, Michele E Gwynn, Julie Elizabeth Powell
TJ Chapman, MB Feeney, SM Phillips, Jess Mountifield
Kendra Hale, Marty Wilcox, Suzy Stewart Dubot, Patti Roberts
Genre: Christmas Holiday Romances
Release Date: November 29, 2016

**Currently 99cents**
Summary:
Christmas Heartwarming Stories Box Set — Complete Books Anthology — Hot New Release — Vacation Reading Package — Perfect Holiday Gift Idea

15 COMPLETE NOVELS AND NOVELLAS FROM YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS

THE WINTER WISHES COLLECTION is an outstanding collection of heartwarming, inspiring and uplifting stories, each of them hand-picked for your enjoyment. 15 winter adventures, 15 heroes to root for, 15 moving tales of winter wonder to warm your soul on cold winter nights. The perfect companion for late nights on the sofa, the perfect gift to those who enjoy a good read. Add it to your favorite kindle with one click now.

This box set includes a mix of already released and totally new novels and novellas, all complete works. Those books which are part of a series can be enjoyed fully without the need to read the complete series (though there is a chance you might develop story-addiction issues—for that, we apologize).

Stories Included:
All I want for Christmas by EM Denning
When Nash discovers that his co-worker, Aubrey, is about to spend Christmas alone, he invites her to spend the holiday with him and his family. The arrangement is mutually beneficial; she gets a real holiday, and Nash, a buffer from his mother’s relentless match-making. When Nash introduces Aubrey to his parents, she does more than provide him with a buffer. She provides him with a girlfriend—herself. Nash is surprised but he figures it’s only for a few days. Once Christmas is over and they’re back home, they can break up and everything will go back to normal. At least that's the plan. Will they be able to pull it off?

Frozen Heart by Ella Medler
Quiet and listless, the glass heart sat hidden under layers of unremarkable clutter, its secret safe. The human hands had touched it often through the strata of debris, but until now, had never uncovered it fully. At last, the yellow duster cut through the grime, and the heart began to shift. It would most likely have frozen over again, up on its high shelf, if the cat’s careless pouncing hadn’t made if fall into a box full of tinsel. This is how the history of time and place began to change – with the story of the frozen heart.


Treasured Legacy by Holly Barbo
With dwindling time, Leone uses the last of her strength to share important family history with her only living relative: her grandson David. Despite her final request to not sell the family heirlooms, David and Anne look into it because of their desperate need for money. But the pieces have secrets, and the young couple finds themselves in unexpected danger.


Taking Chances by Regina Morris
Heartwarming, sweet romantic short story about a soldier wounded in battle who finds love where he least expects it. Amputee Corporal Tommy Johnson is rehabbing in a VA hospital near his small hometown in Texas and hiding from everyone, but a nice surprise of events helps him to have his happily ever after.


Sophie's Wish by Michele E Gwynn
A child of destiny, Sophie Fairchild’s origins were a mystery to her parents, Nanette and Charles. Unable to conceive on their own, Nanette had prayed to God every day at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre located on the Rue du Chevalier-de-Barre in Paris that He would bless her and her husband with a child. Found on their doorstep one winter morning tucked away in a wicker basket, surrounded by two fat cats and several doves, Sophie was the answer to their prayers. Five years later, the Fairchild’s find themselves once again wondering from where and whom Sophie came. 


After bringing home countless animals from stray cats to injured birds, she has now befriended a homeless girl with no family of her own. Dogged by tragedy, the young girl experiences heartbreaking loss. Stalked by darkness, she enters the Basilica seeking change to buy bread, but ‘borrowing’ from the donation box turns disastrous. Sophie watches as a child with sticky fingers runs out of the church as if the very devil himself was in hot pursuit. Concerned, she takes off after her, finding her hiding in a dark alley. Still, Sophie knows she has nothing to fear, and once again, she brings home a homeless stray determined to help, unaware that darkness follows. With Christmas fast approaching, Sophie seeks a way to give her new friend, Cecilia, a very special gift…with the help of an angel or three. But will she be safe from the prophesy that her kind act has put into play?

Knowing Jack by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Twelve-year-old Jack knows they shouldn’t go, but is unable to persuade his parents not to take the planned trip to the Lake District, England. Something was going to happen, but what? The weird feelings he had were always so fuzzy and they didn’t always make sense. Maybe it was just because he’d have to spend time with his pampered cousin, Rosie? Anyway, it was nearly Christmas and what could go wrong with just staying in some cabin in the woods? He was being stupid…all he had to do was ignore the way his belly churned and his head pounded. He might be wrong after all. This mystery adventure tale will drag you into the depths of an icy landscape where you may be afraid to breathe.


One Small Voice by TJ Chapman
While on a much-needed vacation, Sophie discovers that it's not easy to leave work behind... and that this time, she doesn't really mind. An endearing tale of trust, growth and love... all because of one special little girl and one little word.


While You Were Asleep by MB Feeney
When Jared Keating is admitted into hospital after being beaten up and left for dead, his family and friends wait for him to wake up. In the hopes he can hear them, they all spend a little time with him, recalling memories of good times with him, letting him know that they can’t live without him in their lives.


Anger and sadness overwhelm them when they come face to face with the reason Jared is in a coma, but they soon understand that no one is to blame other than his ruthless attackers.

Will he wake up? Will he still be ‘Jared’ if he does?

Christmas Down Under by SM Phillips

The Slave Who'd Never Been Kissed by Jess Mountifield
Dylan's crew is coming together and he's adjusting to his role as their Ship Captain, but he's still a few hands down from a full compliment. He knows he needs more recruits and to encourage his current members to bond, but can he stoop so low as to buy slaves? And how will his crew respond if he does?


Ever since her parents died, life has been tough for Auraylia, and she knows it won't be long before she's sold into a rich man's harem. Can she persuade a United Federations Captain that she is worth buying and fulfil her dream of going into space?


Wishing Upon a Christmas Star by Kendra Hale
For Saskia and Neil Kingswell, their five children and partners, and numerous grandchildren, the Christmas season has always been the happiest time of the year. The season of family, love, harmony, and wedding anniversaries. When what should have been yet another joyous Christmas is cruelly shattered by the spiteful incitement of their son-in-law, Frank Booker, the whole family falls apart. All except Frank struggle to come to terms with what happened.


The family’s guiding light is the constant reminder of the love they share. And thus, they cautiously and slowly commence to rebuild destroyed bridges, and forgive each other and themselves, too. While the family slowly reunites, the dreadful secret which Marjory, Frank’s wife, had been forced to suffer for years, comes to light. And she, too, together with her children, starts the process of healing, and rebirth.

As another Christmas season dawns, the family brimming with hope and love, gathers at Oak-on-the-Hill, the Kingswell family home… to discover that their fondest dreams were granted when they wished upon a Christmas star.

Winter's Spark by Marty Wilcox
From the heartbreaking tragedy that claimed her husband to the stunning news she’s pregnant, Mary Shelley tries to put her broken life back together and prepare for the new life she carries inside her. It all goes well on her New England farm until a brutal nor’easter hits the area. 


Dreams of her husband and something unknown plague her sleep until the storm sends her a stranger who appears mysteriously just as she needs him.

Is Brent Novak her savior or is there something else brewing in the storm? Only time and the spring thaw will tell.


Hope in Winter by Suzy Stewart Dubot
Disfigured veteran from the Napoleonic Wars, Duncan MacGregor is luckier than most ex-soldiers. He works as an estate manager for an absentee owner - except, owner and family aren’t going to be absentee any longer. Christmas is coming and so are they! What will it take to thaw a cold heart?


About Three Authors: Whoever Said Love was Easy by Pattie Roberts
"WHOEVER SAID LOVE WAS EASY?" Not Becky Jensen!


BECKY JENSEN'S FACEBOOK STATUS UPDATE: I hate cancer! I hate my cheating boyfriend! I hate my best friend! I Hate Christmas! 

When Becky’s mother died on Christmas Eve a year ago, Becky stopped believing in Christmas. 

When Becky’s father remarried four weeks ago, Becky stopped believing in family. 

An hour ago, when Becky caught her boyfriend kissing her best friend, Becky stopped believing in love. 
Heartbroken, Becky makes a wish that changes her life forever… The very next day, she is boarding a plane at Heathrow airport and flying halfway across the world to interview three authors. The authors, all friends since their twenties, are now in their fifties. 

Not only does Becky learn about the lives of these three incredible women, she also learns a lot about herself. 

Becky also discovers that all families have their secrets, and hers is no exception.

Christmas Past by Julie Elizabeth Powell
What was Christmas? How did it start? And why was it now banned? Why had the Elders decided it would only cause trouble, that its roots were based on something that only caused wars...those that had destroyed the Old Earth?


Some disagree, and maybe can change things before it’s too late for humankind.

Or maybe it’s already too late.





Author Bios:
EM Denning
E. M. Denning is a writer from British Columbia. She loves her family and her animals and anything cute and fuzzy. She was born a hopeless romantic and when she’s not writing romance, she’s probably reading it. She loves love.

Ella Medler
Ella Medler is a U.K. author and editor. She writes fiction in many genres 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.

Holly Barbo
Holly'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. Holly's stories are mostly in non-urban settings and usually have some focus on nature, building discordant themes inside a seemingly peaceful refrain.

My motto: Weaving Alternative Worlds with Threads From Today.

Regina Morris
Regina Morris I am the author of the sensual paranormal romances that make up the COLONY series where a covert team of sexy vampires protect the President.

I love paranormal romances featuring vampires, but my personal taste is light-hearted and humorous – not horrific and gory.

I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and two children. I enjoy meeting with my monthly critique writing groups and meeting other writers in the Austin area through the WLT events.

I have lived in many different parts of the world. I graduated high school in Germany and I attended the University of Texas at Austin where I received a degree in Computer Science with a minor in math.

Besides writing, I am an amateur portrait and sports photographer. After enjoying a career in the software engineering business, I discovered that writing is in my blood, and had to put pen to paper!

Michele E Gwynn
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. 

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?

MB Feeney
M. B. Feeney is an army brat who finally settled down in Birmingham, UK with her other half, two kids and a dog. Currently at university studying for her BA (Hons) in primary teaching, she procrastinates on her assignments by listening to music of all genres and trying to get ‘just one more paragraph’ written on whichever WIP is open. She is also a serious doodler and chocoholic. Writing has been her one true love ever since she could spell, and publishing is the final culmination of her hard work and ambition.

Her publishing career began with two novellas, and she currently has multiple projects under way whilst Honour, a compilation of her own military based shorts, was released in November 2013 and her short novel, The One That Got Away was released February 2015. Always having something on the go can often lead to block which eventually gets dissolved by good music and an even better book.

Her main reason for writing is to not only give her readers enjoyment, but also to create a story and characters that stay with readers long after the book is finished, and possibly make someone stop and think “what if...”

SM Phillips
S.M Phillips is a fun loving mum from Manchester. When she’s not busy writing, you’ll most likely find her head buried deep inside her kindle with a cup of coffee in hand. Talk to her when she’s reading and things could get pretty colourful, pretty fast, just ask her Hubby.

She is a lover of chocolate, especially if it has peanut butter inside and loves a good cocktail or two. She often wonders if she should spend more time buying shoes, but then she remembers her never ending TBR list and realises that money can be spent on more important things… Books.

Jess Mountifield
Jess was born in the quaint village of Woodbridge in the Uk, has spent some of her childhood in the States and now resides in the beautiful Roman city of Bath. She lives with her husband Phil and her very dapsy cat, Pleaides. Jess can often be found either in a cafe, grinning behind a large mug of hot chocolate, at her desk, getting annoyed with her cat for sitting on her keyboard, or on her comfy corner sofa with friends, enjoying her high definition tv and surround sound system.

Jess likes playing massively multiplayer on-line games and has written fan fiction for Entropia. Her choose your own adventure story, written under the penname Marie Woodell, covers a romance about two in game characters. She also runs Flight Productions, a film production company, with a fellow writer. Jess' role is managing script writing and she's involved with a science fiction twitter project, a television fantasy drama and a feature film. She also has a clothing company where she produces her own original designs in a gothic style.

Kendra Hale
For Kendra, who has lived in Canada, the USA and on the European Continent, Great Britain, or the UK, will always be home. Her love for the UK is apparent in The Snow Crystals, and her other/future books, which are all set here. Kendra’s knowledge and life-long interest in the world of antiques, collectibles and such, finds its way into her writing. She writes fiction in different genres.

Marty Wilcox
Marty Wilcox Hello and welcome to my world of writing, herding cats and trying to work a few hours a week to support my cat "habit". I was born and raised in Anderson Indiana. Where is that, you may ask? Once home to the headquarters of Guide Lamp and Delco Remy. Still home to the fastest quarter mile track in the country!

Suzy Stewart Dubot
An Anglo/American who has lived in France for over 30 years, she discovered her real desire to write in 2010. It is a passion that has had her writing ever since.  From October 2012 to March 2014, she lived with family in London, England. Writing, not unlike singing, follows her wherever she lives.

Before retiring, a variety of jobs have filled her time. Some of the more interesting have been : Art & Crafts teacher, Bartender, Marketing Assistant for N° 1 World Yacht Charterers (Moorings), Beaux Arts Model, Secretary to the French Haflinger Association...

With her daughters, she is a vegetarian and a supporter of animal rights! She is also an admirer of William Wilberforce. (If you should read her book 'The Viscount's Midsummer Mistress' you will see that she has devoted some paragraphs to the subject in Regency times.)

Patti Roberts
Patti Roberts was born in Brisbane, Australia, but soon moved to Darwin in the Northern Territory with her parents and two sisters. Her son Luke was born in Darwin in 1980. Although Patti now lives in Cairns, Queensland, she still considers Darwin her hometown. When Patti is not writing, she is busy pursuing her other passion, which is designing book covers and formatting for other authors.


EM Denning
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
B&N  /  GOOGLE+  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS

Ella Medler
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE

Holly Barbo
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
NEWSLETTER  /  PINTEREST  /  KOBO
B&N  /  iTUNES  /  SOCIETY6  /  SCRIBD

Regina Morris
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE

Michele E Gwynn
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM  /  BOOKBUB  /  B&N
TUMBLR  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS

Julie Elizabeth Powell
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE

MB Feeney
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  BLOG  /  B&N
KOBO  /  iTUNES  /  AMAZON  /  GOODERADS

SM Phillips
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  BLOG

Jess Mountifield
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE

Kendra Hale
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  BLOG

Marty Wilcox

Suzy Stewart Dubot
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
AMAZON  /  GOODREADS

Patti Roberts
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE



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Friday, February 19, 2016

Between Good and Evil by R Michael Phillips

Title: Between Good and Evil
Author: R Michael Phillips
Series: Auburn Notch Mystery #1
Genre: Mystery
Release Date: January 24, 2016
Publisher: Sunbury Press
Summary:
With a broad smile and slight wrinkles at the corners of your eyes you snap shut your suitcase and grab the sunscreen without ever entertaining the notion murderers go on vacation too. What adds a chilling dimension to the idea is they look just like any other tourist in plaid shorts and a golf shirt until you catch a glimpse of the terrifying evil hidden behind their Foster Grants. It’s not something you’re likely to forget, especially once they look up over the postcard rack and realize you’re the one that got away.

Promise Flynn was an overly impulsive Metro Detective whose disregard for procedure finally resulted in her being shot and left for dead during an investigation. To repair her bruised ego and splintered confidence she abandons the callous dark alleys of Chicago to patrol the quiet, birch-lined streets of Auburn Notch—a favorite vacation spot of her youth. For two years everything was idyllic, until the body of a young girl found in the abandoned asylum outside of town awakens the insecurities she thought her new life would insulate her from. As the new Sheriff she begins her investigation refusing to accept the similarities between the young woman’s death and her own case, oblivious to being unexpectedly recognized and penciled in at the top of a clever murderer’s To-Do list. Her internal struggle intensifies when a discredited crime reporter from the past suspiciously arrives in town to resurrect his threadbare reputation, along with an FBI agent chasing down a lead in a cold case. Both men quickly become entangled in Flynn's investigation and her attempts to finally put her past to rest. Flynn reluctantly accepts the murder might be the work of the two men responsible for her hasty departure from Chicago, but Agent MacGregor insists the evidence points to a man he’s been chasing. As the rising current of her past threatens to pull her under, Flynn finds herself unprepared for option three.


The festivities in town were slowly petering out as the eleven o’clock hour approached. The earlier-packed sidewalks along the main drag, crowded with assorted craft and food vendors, were opening back up in ten-foot sections at a time as booths were disassembled. The trendy watering holes were still flush with business. The locals shuffled through the crowds grumbling about quieter times, while the newly of-age drinkers were busy testing the waters and carving out a space for themselves at the bar. The clusters gathered around family activities had diminished proportionately with the ages of the children attached to the extended arms of their parents. CafΓ©s and eateries were cleaning up after a long day of serving sandwiches, dinners, sweets, and coffee to an overwhelming flock of locals and out-of-towners in for the festival. The assortment of local college students hired for the event were busy wiping down tables, eagerly anticipating a second wave of good tips. About another thirty minutes they figured, as soon as the parents washed the cotton candy and ice cream off all the little faces and they were nestled snugly beneath their covers. “Promise,” a shrill voice called out from one of the tables on the sidewalk in front of the Auburn Coffee House. “Sheriff Flynn, do you have a minute?” As Sheriff Flynn approached the coffee house, she couldn’t help but notice Mrs. Johnson seated at one of the tables on the sidewalk. Policing the festival activities and the swelling of the population proved a long and tiring three days. Chitchat remained at the bottom of her list of things to do at that moment. She had hoped her hastened step, lowered head, and obvious intention of ignoring any recognition of her would give the impression of being off on police business. She paused, looking over the tops of the crowd, hoping to see some sort of minor criminal activity going on. Nothing major, she thought to herself. Public urination would work. Littering. A dog walker not scooping. Anything? Her thoughts eventually drifted to the possibility of a shootout in front of the bank as not being such a bad option at that moment. It wasn’t to be. She caught a glimpse of Mrs. Johnson out of the corner of her eye still waving. Not a distraction in sight. This town is too damn law abiding. “Sheriff Promise Mary Flynn,” called out Mrs. Johnson, as if addressing a petulant child. “I’ve got a matter we need to discuss.” Sheriff Flynn tucked her hopes of a shootout away and walked over to the table. She took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, I didn’t see you there. You see, I’m on my way—” “Nonsense,” replied Mrs. Johnson cordially but firmly. “There is always a moment for two civil servants to compare notes. Besides, you have a whole department to handle the day-to-day policing of this fine town.” Mrs. Johnson paused, looked out over her reading glasses at the sheriff, giving the attractive, tall blond the onceover. “You know, it wouldn’t break any laws if you did something with your hair other than stuffing it under that hat.” She gave a petite snort to signal the end of her analyzing glance. “With a little eye shadow, I would imagine some men might even find you attractive.” Sheriff Flynn clenched her teeth into what might be construed as a smile and groaned. Forget the bank, a shootout right here will work just fine. “If this is about the missing money from the swim club account, Hank has been quietly looking into it. I can assure you—” “No. No. No!” Mrs. Johnson replied, looking around and making sure no one was listening. “Please keep your voice down. I don’t want anyone to know I’ve asked you to look into that.” Promise bit her inside cheek, continuing the conversation through clenched teeth. “Is there something else on your mind, Alice?” “Yes. There is something much more urgent I believe we need to discuss,” said Alice Johnson. She pushed out the chair across from her with her foot, giving a nod of direction to the sheriff. “Have a seat, this will only take a minute. It’s the well-being of our citizenry at stake, and I know it’s as much a priority to you as it is to me.” There was no escape. Short of an actual crime being committed at that very moment right in front of them, Flynn had no choice but to sit, smile, and listen to what the councilwoman had on her mind. “Well-being of the citizenry? I’m not sure I understand.” The councilwoman pulled a green folder from her oversized canvas tote, placing it down on the table in front of Flynn. “As you can tell by these photos, I’ve made an extensive investigation of that dangerous curve out by the old asylum. This photo here,” she continued, nudging one of the photos out from the pile, “is of particular interest. You see that guardrail? I kicked it a few times, and it broke clean away from the support going into the ground. It’s that way along the entire length of the curve. It’s a deathtrap. I know this is a highway department matter, but I can’t stand by when a potential hazard to the fine people of this town is being ignored.” Sheriff Flynn picked up the photo, making a careful examination of the evidence. “Those temporary barricades should be just fine.” She pointed to one in particular in the photo. “Like this one you had to move in order to get close enough to kick the guardrail. As long as no one moves them again, these will certainly protect the fine citizens of Auburn Notch.” Promise paused for a moment. “I believe there is also a sign directing people to use the fire access road as an alternative. It’s just up around the bend from that curve.” “Nobody is going to use that narrow, dirt road. I certainly wouldn’t. Besides, most people don’t even know it’s there.” “Well, I’m not sure what else I can do. At this point it’s a matter between you and the highway department.” “Luke Sanders said he has money appropriated to replace the old guardrail in the new budget, but his department has a few other matters higher on his priority list.” Councilwoman Johnson tidied up the pile of photos and slipped them and the folder back into her tote. “Those wooden barricades might be fine to block off a parade route, but a speeding car will go right through them and over that embankment.” Sheriff Flynn rose from her seat, eyeing her deputy coming in her direction at a hastened pace. No matter what he wants, she thought to herself, it was going to be an important matter in need of my immediate attention. “Everyone knows how treacherous that stretch of road is. I can’t image anyone speeding around that curve. If it will make you happy, I’ll talk to Luke and see if we can’t get a few more caution signs posted further down the road in both directions until his men can get out there. In the meantime, try not to kick it anymore.” Councilwoman Johnson’s eyes narrowed at the insinuation. She responded with a grunt and a halfhearted smile. “Thank you, Promise, I knew I could count on your support.” Sheriff Flynn nodded. She felt a light tap on her shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, ladies.” “What is it, Hank?” replied the sheriff brightly; uncharacteristically appreciating his interruption whether or not it turned out to be his usual bellyaching about something he would have done differently. “It may be nothing, Sheriff,” replied Hank, turning the sheriff away from the table and speaking quietly, “but we got a report there’s a lit candle in a second floor window of the old mental hospital. I’ll take care of it, I just wanted to let you know I’m goin’ up there.” Sheriff Flynn didn’t respond. A quick gasp stole her voice. She glanced passed Hank, her eyes rolling upward following the tree line. There, perched on a granite crag a thousand or so feet in elevation above the town, were the weathered edges of slate gables piercing the silhouette of a tired length of pine trees. Where the spikes and dips clustered together were a fair representation of the past health of such a grand structure, the sharp drop-off to a flat, indigo tree line is deathly expressive of its sudden and tragic end. Little more than the discarded shell of how it once appeared, there remained a slight whisper of evil in its squalid halls. To Promise, this evil had a different voice. A voice she never wanted to hear again. “It’s those damn kids,” moaned Mrs. Johnson, her hearing as acute as rumor had it. “You know, that group that walks around here dressed in black with those God-awful tattoos and piercings. Vampires, that’s what I say they are. Black shirts. Black pants. Black boots. Skulking about at night. Always up to no good. What decent child has coal-black hair with a white streak running down the left side? Up to no good, that’s what I say. I’ve a mind to call their parents in front of the next council meeting . . .” “Are you okay, Sheriff?” Hank whispered under Mrs. Johnson’s rant. Sheriff Flynn’s eyes remained fixed on the asylum. The chill running up her spine muffled any recognition of what her deputy was saying. She could feel a dull ache rising in her left shoulder. Not again. It can’t be. It can’t be. “Did you hear me, Promise?” interrupted Councilwoman Johnson. “It’s those kids. Those vampires. Those damn—” Sheriff Flynn raised her hand, shaking off the panicked look she hoped went unnoticed. She took a deep breath, tempering her response. “We don’t know anything yet, Alice. As for your vampires, I don’t think this town has seen a bit of trouble from any of those kids. They just express themselves a little differently than you and I.” She hesitated, trying to hold the words back. The next remark went off like the snap of a mousetrap. “And if dressing in black was a crime, they’d be sharing a cell with you. If you’ll excuse me, I think I better go out and see what’s going on. I’ll make it a point to find you tomorrow after I speak to Luke. Nice seeing you, Alice.” Mrs. Johnson replied with a carping grunt. Before she could mount her rebuttal, Sheriff Flynn and Hank were in the patrol car heading out of town on Interstate 93 toward the abandoned mental hospital. “What are you looking at?” asked Sheriff Flynn, giving a quick glance over at Hank. “If dressing in black was a crime?” “Yeah, I’m probably gonna regret that.” Hank paused, trying to get a read on the sheriff’s expression. She actually looked spooked. They had been working together for two years. Two irritating years, according to Hank. Auburn Notch certainly isn’t a hub of criminal activity, just the usual share of traffic tickets and the occasional dead body due to a house fire or accident. Nothing ever happened that would warrant the mayor appointing some out-of-town, big-city detective as sheriff instead of him. He had the town council’s ear and wasn’t bashful about letting them know he was suspicious about her past. Hank was convinced it was only a matter of time before he would uncover the information he needed to replace his boss behind the big desk in the sheriff’s office. For the time being, she was sheriff, and he just had to deal with it. Promise Flynn might be some out-of-town detective, but she spent many years vacationing in Auburn Notch with her family. One thing she learned back then, there are no secrets in a small New England town. She was very much aware of Hank’s resentment from her first day on the job and decided to let him dig around all he wanted. Just to make it interesting, she also put him in charge of the swim club investigation. She already had a good read on what transpired, but giving the investigation to Hank would flush out his true character. If he’s half the cop he tells people he is, he should have no problem putting the pieces together. It will also test his loyalty. Flynn had a feeling at least two prominent people might be involved with the missing money, and one of them is a close friend of Hanks. If he comes up empty, writing traffic tickets in a small town is going to be the extent of his law enforcement career. Until then, she’ll just have to continue to ignore him tugging at the rug under her boots. “So why are you tagging along? I said I’d handle it.” Flynn’s mind was elsewhere. By the time she realized he was talking to her, Hank tried another approach to get an answer. “Just kids. That’s all,” Hank huffed. “What is?” “The candle in the window of the asylum. I chase those damn kids outta there once a week. You didn’t have to come along. It’s probably nothing. Just a candle in the window of an old building.” Sheriff Flynn looked over at Hank, her lips drawn tightly closed. She shook her head and looked back through the windshield at the dark road ahead. “It’s never just a candle.”


Author Bio:
Michael is a classically trained artist turned mystery writer. By combining his creative talents with a passion for mysteries he conceived his first series—The Ernie Bisquets Mysteries. It introduced Ernie Bisquets, a retired London pickpocket who decided he was going to assist the London police with there most difficult cases—whether they want his help or not. Michael has completed 3 books in the series, and has plans for at least five additional books.

Michael travels a bit, especially to Great Britain, but also has a fondness for New England. He spent many winters in the shadow of the White Mountains, skiing and enjoying the beautiful countryside. Those fond memories are the backdrop now for the new Auburn Notch Mysteries being published by Sunbury Press. The main character is Sheriff Promise Flynn—an ex-metro detective who left a dark past and her big-city detective shield behind and moved to a small New England town. What follows is anything but therapeutic.

When he’s not painting or writing Michael is an avid antique collector, filling his current home—an 1894 Queen Ann Victorian he, his wife, and son are restoring—with an assortment of antiques from around the world. Michael also enjoys cooking, working in the garden, and playing in the yard with their two rescues, Beau and Pup.


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