tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25512295840273459382024-03-14T02:42:31.689-07:00Linda S. Prather--New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author/Paranormal InvestigatorNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author ~ ~ ~
writing and streams of consciousnessLinda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.comBlogger434125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-43232150441721470792020-01-23T09:42:00.001-08:002020-01-23T09:42:14.855-08:00NEW RELEASE! $.99 for a limited time or free on Kindle Unlimited<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="999" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLXE_WPRmvk/Xg529s5WZ-I/AAAAAAAABxQ/2yMEPCzz5LQqHkA_1Efq7dSSYpGaychugCPcBGAYYCw/s320/wouldyoudieforher-final.jpg" width="199" /><a href="https://books2read.com/u/b5QdM7" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div><br />
Release day is always nerve wracking for authors. But when you wake up to an early review that blows you away--it puts it all in perspective.<br />
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<b><a class="a-size-base a-link-normal review-title a-color-base review-title-content a-text-bold" crime="" data-hook="review-title" fiction="" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2NG47EJ03FI45/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B083F5HNQW" powerful="" psychological="" span=""></a>Riveting Powerful Psychological Crime Fiction</b><br />
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<span 13px="" arial="" ember="" font-size:="" mazon="" quot="" sans-serif="">Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this psychological crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.</span><br />
<br style=font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /> <span style=font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">WOW! Gripping, riveting, powerful ... there aren't enough adjectives to describe this tale of how far a mother will go to save her child .... and what a man will do to avenge his twin sister's torture and death.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /> <span style=font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dakota Dale is a woman who has come back from the brink of insanity. Abducted by Christian Salyer, she was held for a year, tortured in unimaginable ways. She 'thinks' she shot and killed him ... but did she really? Christian's body was never found. Her memory is flawed .... and more women are dying.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /> <span style=font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dakota is following the trail of bodies ... with one thing in mind. She will kill him .... he took something away from her besides her sanity .. he took her child.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /> <span style=font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Gabriel Browne lost his twin sister to the same monster who took Dakota. He doesn't believe Christian is dead ... and he wants to use Dakota as bait.</span><br />
<br style=font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /> <span style=font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well written, riveting story, unforgettable characters, with totally unpredictable ending ... this one checks all the boxes for me. My emotions were all over the place as the reader is taken back through Dakota's memories of what she endured .... and how she fought back. The ending totally blew me away.</span><br />
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</span> <span style=font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I truly don't have words to express how emotional this review left me, but many thanks to the reviewer, Linda Strong. This was a highly emotional book for me to write and you got it, so it made all my earlier tears worthwhile.</span><br />
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</span> <span style=font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">$.99 <a href="https://books2read.com/u/b5QdM7" target="_blank">@amazon</a> Or read for free on Kindle Unlimited</span><br />
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</span>Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-70882251632636839842020-01-02T15:58:00.000-08:002020-01-02T15:58:08.194-08:00The Most Heart-Wrenching Psychological Thriller You'll Read This Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLXE_WPRmvk/Xg529s5WZ-I/AAAAAAAABxM/GIZ3oc_6fggFzoVtwvd-ou2KqvOpdtAkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wouldyoudieforher-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="999" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLXE_WPRmvk/Xg529s5WZ-I/AAAAAAAABxM/GIZ3oc_6fggFzoVtwvd-ou2KqvOpdtAkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wouldyoudieforher-final.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://books2read.com/u/b5QdM7" target="_blank">Available during pre-order for $.99</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">PROLOGUE</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Desperate to block out the screams in the distance, I covered my ears and closed my eyes. “Please, God, please make him stop.”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">I’d never believed in prayer, but the screams stopped, or at least I couldn’t hear them anymore.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“See what happens when you make me angry, Dakota?” </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">I hadn’t heard him come in. I kept my eyes closed as I huddled in the far corner of the cage. A key clicked in the lock. His footsteps approached. </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Look at me!” He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at his blood-soaked clothes. “She suffered your pain.” He squeezed harder. “Say, ‘Thank you, Christian.’”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Another part of my soul died as her blood dripped from my chin. “Thank you, Christian.”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><u>SOME OF MY FAVORITE EXCERPTS</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">CHAPTER THREE</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Crimson is such a beautiful color, don’t you think?”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">The knife slid from my shoulder to my right breast, leaving a tiny trail of blood drops.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“So beautiful against that snowy-white background.” He laughed softly. “It’s the color of my rage.” His eyes darkened as the knife continued its trail down my abdomen. “You made me angry, Dakota. You shouldn’t have done that.”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">CHAPTER SIX</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">I cringed as the door was flung open. Each time he’d entered, I’d gone through a new hell. My stomach somersaulted as he pushed the metal stretcher in front of him. “This is why you should never make me angry, love. I do such horrible things when you make me angry.”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">The contortions of her face told me the pain she’d suffered. “Please, Christian, take it away.”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Sorry, darling. I have to go out for a while. Might be gone a day or so.” He patted the bloody head. “I didn’t want you to get lonely. The lovely Simone will keep you company while I’m gone.” </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Browne isn’t a local.” Max shuffled sheets of paper while I sipped my coffee. “He moved here last year from New York. He was a detective with the New York Police Department.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“That makes more sense. I thought he seemed like a big-city cop.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Max nodded. “Four years ago, his twin sister, Colleen Browne, was kidnapped. Browne was working a murder case. They used her as leverage to back him off.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“What happened?”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">“He found the murderer and put a bullet between his eyes.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“They
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;">Release Date 1/23/2020</b></span></div>
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-37689785942761307992019-10-06T09:09:00.001-07:002019-10-06T09:09:26.440-07:00New Release - Heartless Intent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8VMhQGciIOE/XZoL4SNhALI/AAAAAAAABwM/HsL7wRnWtU4U4rnGtyBv7BrsSANQ_4ysQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/4%2B-%2Bheartless%2Bintent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8VMhQGciIOE/XZoL4SNhALI/AAAAAAAABwM/HsL7wRnWtU4U4rnGtyBv7BrsSANQ_4ysQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4%2B-%2Bheartless%2Bintent.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Chapter One - Excerpt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "georgia";">A gust of wind ruffled the leaves, carrying with it the scent of death, abandoned dreams, and a flock of crows. Monday mornings were always bad, but standing on the edge of the riverbank, with a storm brewing overhead, made it worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Dang, Kacy, it hurts me just to look at that.” Detective Dave Capello ran a hand through his hair and turned away from the naked bodies dangling from the lower limb of a huge oak tree and swaying in the morning breeze drifting in from the Chicago River. “Why do we keep winding up with all the sicko perps out there?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Nature of the job, partner.” I studied the ground around the tree. “Ladder indentations. Whoever hung them wasn’t tall enough to just throw the ropes over the tree limb. Copious amounts of bleach poured over the bodies, ropes and around the area. Either the perpetrator wasn’t taking any chances on leaving anything that would identify him behind, or he was trying to keep animals away until the bodies were found.” I stepped aside just in time to miss bird droppings. “Not that it helped much with the birds.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“May be the nature of the job, but you’d think just once, Park would give the crazy cases to Sims and Gardner,” Dave grumbled as he pulled out his notepad and pen. “Male and female victim, approximately late thirties or early forties, although with their heads covered, I could be wrong about that. Access to site most likely by boat.” He stepped closer to the bodies. “Bruising around necks, and from the holes in their chests, I’d estimate their hearts have been removed.” He grimaced. “Along with another vital part of the male anatomy. Not enough blood here to be the murder site.” He shook his head and jotted a few notes. “Probably bled out before they got here. Your turn.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Hanging is usually associated with justice, revenge, and shaming. The fact the killer left them nude and covered their faces also points toward shaming.” I studied the bodies and sighed. My stomach was flip-flopping, and icy fingers trickled down the back of my neck and spine. “The heart removal makes it highly personal, as does the removal of the <i>vital</i> penis and testicles you’re avoiding mentioning.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">Dave groaned and turned away from the scene as I continued. “It could be that whoever did this wanted the world to see their shame and consider them heartless.” I grinned at Dave. “As well as wanting the world to know the guy was dickless.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Jesus, Lang.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">I turned toward the sound of boat motors. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Commander</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> did have a knack for giving us all the cases involving the crazies. “We’ll have to wait on Myriah for cause of death and identification.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">Dave came to stand beside me on the bank as we waited for the boats to dock. “You heard from Greg?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "georgia";">“No.” I didn’t elaborate, hoping Dave would take the hint. I didn’t want to discuss my failing relationship any more than he wanted to discuss the male victim’s castration. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">The first boat docked, and three officers joined us on the riverbank. I was glad to see Officer John Tedrow in charge. He was a good officer and easy to work with. “We’ll split up and comb the area. We’re looking for clothes, wallets, purses, shoes, or personal items, as well as”—I pointed to the victims—“missing hearts and private parts.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Damn.” Officer Tedrow, like Dave and his fellow officers, avoided looking directly at the male victim. “How long do you think they’ve been out here?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Not long. A couple of fishermen spotted them at five this morning. Probably late last night.” A clue, although a useless one. The killer had placed the bodies in an area with high early-morning boat traffic, wanting them to be discovered quickly.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Lots of coyotes around here, along with a few bobcats. If the body parts were here, they may not be now.” Tedrow issued orders to the other two officers as the second boat docked. “We’ll start out covering a quarter mile in each direction.” He nodded toward the dark clouds gathering overhead as the wind picked up. “I doubt we’ll have time for much more than that before the storm hits.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Thanks, John. We’ll join you after we’ve had a word with Myriah. I’d rather we were all back on high ground before it gets vicious.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">Myriah suited up, smiled, and walked our way. “You know they’re beginning to call you the gruesome twosome, don’t you?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“I’m sure we’ve been called worse. Besides, it’s not our fault if Park always gives us the weirdoes.” I returned her smile. “Dave is having a bit of trouble with this one.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">Myriah surveyed the bodies as the photographer took pictures. She waved her crew forward and chuckled. “I can see why it might bother him. We’d best cut them down, bag them up, and move them before the rain hits. There’s no way we could set a tent up out here. With the lack of any serious blood spill beneath them, this definitely isn’t the murder site.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Dave and I came to the same conclusion. We’re going to have a quick look around, then check out the boat docks to see if anyone rented a boat yesterday afternoon and didn’t return it last night. Let us know as soon as you have an ID.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "georgia";">Myriah nodded, turning her attention to the task at hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">I placed my hands on my hips, studying the directions Tedrow and the other officers had taken. The area was hilly and forested. Unless the killer had a reason to want us to discover the missing body parts, they were most likely at the bottom of the river. “What do you think, Dave?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“I think we’re wasting our time here. Would have taken him a while to get the bodies in place, pour the Clorox over them, then clean up his mess. If he didn’t leave so much as an empty bottle behind, I doubt we’re going to find anything.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Kacy, you’d better take a look at this.” Myriah had removed the covering over the man’s head. “And I’ve got an ID for you.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "georgia";">The word <i>pedophile </i>had been carved in the man’s forehead. That could explain the missing penis. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Who is he?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Thomas Wilcott. Senator Wilcott’s son.” She knelt beside the woman’s body and removed the cloth. “Damn, I was hoping I was wrong. It’s his wife, Trina Wilcott.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.</span></i><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";"> The phrase echoed inside my head as I stared at the woman’s mutilated face and head. “Do they have children?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">Myriah nodded. “Two. A fourteen-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia";">“Put the covers back on, Myriah, and don’t allow any more pictures until you’re back at the morgue. If this leaks out, we’ll all be in hot water.” I glanced at Dave. “We’d better give Park a heads-up. There’s going to be more than one storm brewing before the day is over.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "georgia";"><br />
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</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "georgia";">Book 4 in the Detective Kacy Lang series. Can be read as a standalone. Grab your copy now! <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3yvQdB" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Entire series available on Kindle Unlimited.</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;"><br />
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-86376783097095181292019-10-04T08:45:00.000-07:002019-10-04T08:45:02.076-07:00Book Review = Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine<br />
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Wow! This is my first book by Rachel Caine and I was totally blown away. Most books, even those I love I can close my kindle when I'm exhausted and go to sleep. Not this one!She kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the very end and then--yeah, then she has me begging to know what's next.<br />
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Gina Royal is on the run, not from her serial killer husband who is in prison on death row, but from a group of internet trolls that believe she's as guilty as he was. Changing her name and the names of her children she continues to hide out in small towns hoping to finally find one that feels like home.<br />
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The house on Stillhouse Lake is perfect--until the body of a young woman drifts up from the bottom of the lake. She's been murdered--exactly as her ex-husband killed his victims. Gina prepares to run, but it's too late. She's on the police radar and her identity has been blown. The trolls are coming and they're out for blood.<br />
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A fabulous 5* read which will leave you gasping.Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-76501806145153278502019-10-01T08:12:00.003-07:002019-10-01T08:28:31.676-07:00Killer Crime Fiction<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSeFLg9uu6g/XZNnVtcSzFI/AAAAAAAAAY0/iWM5Ua6RlkIELZJqnEPvTcsYnyzwg1xRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9d75f175-379c-48b1-b004-99d603543ae6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" height="132" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSeFLg9uu6g/XZNnVtcSzFI/AAAAAAAAAY0/iWM5Ua6RlkIELZJqnEPvTcsYnyzwg1xRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9d75f175-379c-48b1-b004-99d603543ae6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Only 2 days left to grab some amazing bargains from 16 crime thriller authors. Check it out here! </span><a href="https://storyoriginapp.com/to/3FcMy0H"><span style="font-size: large;">Killer Crime Fiction</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Below are just a few of the participating authors:</span><br />
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</span>Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-7193919177088642952019-06-17T08:16:00.001-07:002019-06-17T08:16:20.833-07:00Query/Synopsis Writing & Example<span style="color: white;">Everyone hates writing a query letter/synopsis. How much do you tell? Did I tell too much, or too little? Most submission guidelines with have a limit on how much you should write. It may be two pages, or 200 to 300 words, but always try to stick to their guidelines. Below is a query/synopsis I wrote for Honorable Death. I did not use this, as I had already published the book and actually did it for fun, and to see if I could actually write one I liked. I hope it gives you some ideas for you own.</span><br />
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</span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">I would love to submit Honorable Death for your consideration. It is a 63,435 word detective crime thriller. It is book 1 in a 3 book series. All three books are written and have been edited, and I’m currently working on the next three.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">Honorable Death <span style="font-family: "verdana";">is written in first person, and revolves around Detective Kacy Lang and her partner, Dave Capello. A unique team as Kacy is a wildfire and Dave is what the other detectives considered over the hill. The novel is set in Chicago and begins with the discovery of Kacy’s twin brother’s tortured and mutilated body. Kacy and Kyle were adopted at birth by rich parents who really didn’t want them. Growing up unloved took its toll, and Kacy devoted her life to law enforcement, while Kyle took the opposite path of drugs and thugs. The investigation of Kyle’s death leads to the discovery of black market baby sales, slave trade and prostitution. Kacy’s life is in danger and her adoptive parents are at the top of her suspect list. The novel is interspersed with colorful characters from law enforcement and the drug world. Kacy learns that Kyle had a daughter and must do everything she can to find her and protect her from the people who killed her brother. When a fellow officer is killed they turn up the heat with drug raids and arrest of gang leaders. Kacy learns her real father is legal counsel for the Colombian cartel. The novel is filled with twists, turns and concludes in a deadly showdown between Kacy, her partners, and the woman behind it all, her brother’s sister-in-law.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: white;">The book has received praise from early ARC readers as well as the editor and proofreader, who called it<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana";">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: white;">Everything a detective novel should be--gripping, clever, and filled with deep characters. Brilliant but troubled detective Kacy Lang and her partner, Dave Capello, aren't the perfect detectives, but they're the perfect team. The history of their relationship is every bit as intriguing as the murder they're trying to solve." - Stefanie B., Red Adept Line Editor<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Honorable Death is a multilayered, fast-paced archaeological dig of a mystery, with well-developed characters and a well-constructed plot well worth reading." Laura B., Proofreader, Red Adept Publishing<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">I have been both published and self-published since 2006. I am a New York Times and USA Today best selling author. My backlist includes twelve novels, all presently self-published. These include paranormal murder mysteries, legal thrillers, crime thrillers, psychological thrillers, and one romance. I have worked with the judicial system since 1997, first as a legal secretary, then a free lance court reporter and official reporter for criminal court. I have also worked closely with local law enforcement on murder cases and putting together evidence for local prosecutors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: white;">The manuscript is complete and available at your request.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: white;">Linda S. Prather, Author</span></div><span style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.5pt;"><br />
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$.99/99p<br />
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<a href="http://books2read.com/u/3JyejQ?fbclid=IwAR2sOWGFGYHWbM8dmCI41HR2k28-1M1-4SM37lgc9WJbB61E3nCTP9eQQC0" target="_blank">Amazon</a>Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-63884256254129501812019-06-15T06:35:00.001-07:002019-06-15T06:35:37.179-07:00Interspersed with colorful characters!This series has been one of my favorites to write. The characters have a unique relationship that made them fun to get to know. If you love detective stories, don't miss this one.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Honorable Death</b><br />
<br />
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">CHAPTER ONE<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Jesus,
Kacy, it’ll be a bugger identifying this one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Under
normal circumstances, my partner, Dave Capello, would have had a point. The
body had washed up from the icy depths of the Chicago River near the fork of
Eleanor and Loomis, and the call had come in minutes before quitting time. Dave
had wanted to ignore it. For once, I wished I’d listened to him. A blowtorch
had been used on the face, and all the fingers were missing. The angles of the
arms and legs told me bones had been broken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I didn’t
need the ME to tell me the identity. Nor did I need to see the small skull
tattoo above his left ankle to verify it. Kyle and I had never shared the twin
bond in life, but as I stared down at his tortured and mutilated body, I
realized a part of me was missing. I’d never considered it a vital part—until
now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">$.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited <a href="http://books2read.com/u/3JyejQ?fbclid=IwAR2PeCE8dnuCD_AWKOLHrE1vD7ZAn5ASnnzIkfhPcB7IWXEKCn_D2Otih3Q" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<b>Dishonorable Death</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CHAPTER ONE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’ve
reached the residence of Detective Kacy Lang. I can’t come to the phone right
now because it’s Saturday. My first day off in two months, and I don’t give a
big rat’s ass who’s dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Giggles
came through the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Jesus,
Lang, you’re a potty mouth even on your birthday.” Dave Capello chuckled
softly. “Martha and the girls wanted to say happy birthday before they catch
the plane to visit Grandma and Grandpa.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Happy
birthday, Aunt Kacy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Aww…
you guys are so sweet. Thank you. Have fun on your trip.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We
will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
held the phone away from my ear as more giggles and a few squeals erupted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Settle
down back there!” Dave yelled. “You free for dinner? Buy you a burger?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
hated lying to Dave. My plans for the day were to do absolutely nothing except
wallow in misery. In my case, misery did not love company. “Sorry, partner, but
I have a date.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“A
date? With who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s
whom, and that falls under need to know.” I could hear Martha’s laughter in the
background. She loved it when I put Dave in his place. “You don’t need to know.
See you Monday.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
ended the call before he could go into full interrogation mode, picked up my
fresh cup of hazelnut coffee, and headed for my favorite spot on the back
porch. I’d spent the last hour pulling weeds and rubbing my lower back. Weeks
of work and a thousand dollars had turned the small patch into what my
psychiatrist called a meditation garden. Propping my feet on the ottoman, I
leaned back in the chair. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bastard should
have called it a chiropractor garden with all the damn weeds I have to
constantly pull.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">$2.99 or Free on Kindle Unlimited<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <a href="http://mybook.to/AmzDisHonorableDeath?fbclid=IwAR247JvzC3c5p9YcjGIaMKB-EP4dsCEiFdR5p7JM0epBIpd9m2c76jWIYAE" target="_blank">Amazon</a></i></span></div>
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Justifiable Death - Now Available For Pre-Order<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">CHAPTER ONE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Seriously,
Lang, you named your dog Butter?” Dave Capello rolled his eyes as I slipped
into the passenger seat and buckled my seatbelt. “What kind of name is that for
a dog?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“He
likes it. Besides, Greg has Popcorn.” I grinned. “You know, Popcorn and
Butter?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Jesus.”
Dave honked the horn. “What’s taking Stevens so long?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“I
stuck my tongue down his throat and ripped his clothes off. He’s still getting
dressed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“I
think I liked it better before you two started dating.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“We’re
not dating. We’re just friends with benefits.” I turned away, so Dave couldn’t
see the laughter in my eyes. “You told me to get laid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Dave
switched the subject, a telling red flush creeping up his neck. “Did Park say
what he wanted?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“No,
just that he wanted to see us first thing this morning.” Greg came out the front
door, two tiny balls of fluff nipping at his heels. “Park said he’d explain
when we got there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“How’s
your gut?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">I
frowned. “My gut?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Yeah,
your gut. Something bad coming down or just your everyday murder waiting on
us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Greg
climbed in the back seat and Dave backed out of the drive. My sixth sense
wasn’t kicking in, but I knew why he was asking. “I think we’re good this
time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“I
hope so.” Dave said. “Sick of demons and crazy serial killers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">I
met Greg’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Dave thinks I’m psychic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Greg
laughed. “Cool, give me the lottery numbers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">It was nice to have the three of us back to normal. Greg and I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">were</i> just friends at the moment. Having
his mother watch our dogs while we worked was the only benefit either of us was
getting. Greg wanted to change that, and if I were honest with myself, so did
I. The memory of the one kiss we’d shared still crept up on me at odd times,
creating a burning need I wasn’t ready to satisfy. “Relax, Dave. I don’t think
anyone is trying to kill me this time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“No
spooks on the horizon?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">“Can’t
promise that, partner. There’s always crazies on the horizon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">We
finished the drive in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. The cases
that crossed our desk were mentally and emotionally draining, but when it
became personal it was a thousand times worse, and the last two cases had been
very personal. First, my twin brother’s murder. Then, a serial killer and his
twisted brother who almost killed the three of us. I’d only been back on the
streets a month, and it would be nice if Park had a simple case of greed or
jealousy. Something easy to solve, and understandable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">$2.99 <a href="http://books2read.com/u/3GxjvL" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<br />Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-40460842792932687652019-04-20T03:10:00.000-07:002019-04-20T03:10:35.251-07:00New Release and $.99 sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah, this one brings back memories. The first book I ever published, originally published by Echelon Press in 2006. Just $.99 for two days.<br />
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If you love mysteries and thrillers with a touch of paranormal, similar to Kay Hooper's novels (by the way I love Kay Hooper and have most of her novels), then I think you'll enjoy this one. Just $.99<br />
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Enjoy the discounts and Happy Reading!<br />
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<br />Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-54328178229217292342019-04-10T14:59:00.000-07:002019-04-10T14:59:05.908-07:00Everything A Detective Novel Should Be! Read Chapter One.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Everything a detective novel should be--gripping, clever, and filled with deep characters.</h2>
<b>Detective Kacy Lang wasn't surprised when the body of her twin brother washed up from the icy depths of the Chicago River. She'd known since the day she graduated from the academy that one day he'd wind up on her beat, and she'd have to arrest him... or kill him. She could accept the fact he'd been murdered. What she couldn't accept was the massive torture he'd endured before his death. Someone would pay for that.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A multilayered, fast-paced archaeological dig of a mystery.</span></h2>
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Now Available for pre-order: <a href="http://books2read.com/u/3JyejQ?fbclid=IwAR3o3npipFG9x9SH2Eb4Om6ixYVtyzk6r9elC5AHZis2WXEvVj1H0XDN4HU" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">CHAPTER ONE<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Jesus, Kacy, it’ll be a bugger identifying this one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Under normal circumstances, my partner, Dave Capello, would have had a point. The body had washed up from the icy depths of the Chicago River near the fork of Eleanor and Loomis, and the call had come in minutes before quitting time. Dave had wanted to ignore it. For once, I wished I’d listened to him. A blowtorch had been used on the face, and all the fingers were missing. The angles of the arms and legs told me bones had been broken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I didn’t need the ME to tell me the identity. Nor did I need to see the small skull tattoo above his left ankle to verify it. Kyle and I had never shared the twin bond in life, but as I stared down at his tortured and mutilated body, I realized a part of me was missing. I’d never considered it a vital part—until now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Police officers, firemen, and two other detectives from Cook County had responded to the call. Dave and I weren’t needed, and I had a lot to do before the commander took me off the case. “Let’s go, Dave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What do you mean? We just got here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I strode toward the Ford sedan parked at the edge of the street, with Dave huffing to keep up. “We’re off the case. The victim’s name is Kyle Lang. He’s my twin brother.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave said that a lot, and at times, I wondered if it was a habit or a prayer for insight on bad cases. Perhaps he simply found it preferable to the trash that often came out of my mouth. Solving this case wouldn’t take a lot of insight. Kyle had been working with Chicago’s drug dealers, thieves, and murderers for over ten years. We’d both known since the day I graduated from the academy that one day, he would wind up on my beat, and I would have to arrest him, shoot him, or bury him. I took comfort from the fact it was the latter. Arresting him would have been hard and shooting him even harder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’ll drive.” Dave took the keys I was absently tossing from hand to hand as I stared at the huge snowflakes falling. In a few hours, the roads would be covered, and careless motorists would be slamming into each other. With Christmas three weeks away, the rush to find the perfect present for loved ones had become more important than life itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I studied the surrounding area, my thoughts turning back to Kyle. <i>What was he doing here? Did he live here? </i>I tossed aside the idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Many of the residents were of Asian descent, living in the small studio apartments and single-family homes that lined the streets. Even the historic homes built before 1939 had been converted into two-bedroom and three-bedroom rental units. The neighborhood was fairly expensive compared to other real estate and was inhabited by those who liked to walk. Kyle had never been a walker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How long have we been partners?” Dave interrupted my thoughts, started the car, and turned up the heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Five years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How come I didn’t know you had a twin brother?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A tinge of hurt echoed in his voice. Dave believed I was an orphan with no family in or near Chicago. For the last five years, he’d invited me to dinners and summer barbeques with him, Martha and the girls. He’d taken it upon himself to act as both my partner and big brother. He’d even set me up with a few of his friends on disastrous first and only dates. He deserved a truthful answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“When I entered the academy, Kyle was getting a taste of thug life. The last I heard from him, he was running with high-class drug dealers. I didn’t tell you because someday you might have had to kill him, and if you knew he was my brother, you’d hesitate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How about your parents? Are they still alive?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yes.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave wouldn’t let me off that easy. My parents were impossible to explain. Some things in life had to be seen to be believed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You know the commander will turn this case over to Sims and Gardner.” Dave headed toward town. “They couldn’t find their own shadows on a sunny day. What say we check out your brother’s place? See if we can find any clues pointing to where he was killed and why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Good partners anticipated each other’s next move. That Kyle had been murdered wasn’t a huge surprise. The torture they’d put him through before cutting his throat pissed me off. Someone would answer for that. Officially, I couldn’t investigate the case. Unofficially, I wouldn’t stop until I found the bastards responsible. “I don’t know where he was living, but I know someone who might.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Which way?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“West Englewood. Take a right after you cross the railroad tracks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave’s hands tightened on the wheel. It wasn’t dark yet, but it would be close by the time we got there. The neighborhood we were about to enter was known for violence, gang warfare, poverty, and despair. Fortunately for us, the real fun didn’t begin until after midnight. I figured if anyone knew where Kyle had been living or what he’d been up to, his childhood friend Simon “Mouse” Wilson would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The car bounced over the railroad tracks, and Dave took a right. “Which house?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Last one on the left.” I jerked my Glock from the shoulder holster and clicked off the safety. “Looks like company is headed his way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And they ain’t carrying a cake.” Dave pressed down on the gas and flipped on the lights and sirens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The two men who had climbed out of the black Lexus made a beeline for the car doors, and the vehicle screeched off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I hoped that would work, but in this neighborhood, you never know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Smart thinking.” I kept my eyes on the back of the house. As I’d suspected, Mouse had been watching and made a run for it. “Dumb shit,” I cursed softly as I leapt from the car before Dave brought it to a full stop. “Stop right there, Mouse, or I swear I’ll put a bullet in your ass.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He dropped a small suitcase and raised his hands above his head. “Kacy?” He turned slowly, squinting. “Kacy Lang, is that you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I motioned to the car. “Grab your suitcase and get in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mouse took a quick look over his shoulder in the direction the Lexus had taken, grabbed his case, and scurried to the car. “I can’t go to jail, Kacy. They have people there. You put me in jail, and I’ll be dead in less than an hour.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I opened the back door and waited until Simon slid across the seat, then climbed in beside him. “We’re not taking you to jail. I want to know where Kyle was living and what he was up to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mouse swallowed hard and peered out the back windshield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave did a U-turn and headed out of the neighborhood. The element of surprise had scared off the hoodlums, but they would be back, armed with serious firepower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Who were those guys?” Dave asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Simon’s nose twitched—one of the reasons he’d earned the name Mouse in grade school. His tiny four-foot-two-inch frame and ratty brown hair that no amount of gel kept in place finished the picture. Kyle had taken him under his wing and protected him from most of the bullying. I’d always been proud of Kyle for that—until the drugs. I shook off the memories and turned my attention back to Simon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Dave asked you a question, Mouse.” I poked him in the side with the Glock. “Answer it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I don’t know. Goons. They’re looking for Kyle, but I swear I don’t know where he is.” His eyes were tiny pinpoints in the dusky light. His voice was a whine that was already grating on my nerves. “You gotta believe me, Kacy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I shook my head. “They’re not looking for Kyle, because they’ve already found him. His body washed up in the river about an hour ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The information sent Simon into a frenzy of panic. “Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.” He sank down in the seat, a small dribble of saliva rolling down his chin. Worse than that, he pissed all over our car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It’s a little late for either you or Kyle to be calling on God. Where was he staying? And what are those guys looking for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Kyle wouldn’t tell me. He said it was something big. I don’t know his address, but I can take you there. It’s on Fremont. He was crashing with a hooker.” Simon was talking fast, squeaking out his words. He grabbed my arm. “I do this for you, you gotta protect me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I shook off the hand, tempted to shoot him, as a whiff of ammonia filled the car. I met Dave’s gaze in the rearview mirror and nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My hopes of finding the hooker alive or anything of value at Kyle’s residence faded a half block from Fremont. The car radio squawked out, requesting assistance at 107 Fremont, where the body of a woman had been found in an apartment building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You want to respond?” Dave asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We’re off duty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They’re moving fast, Kacy. What do you want to do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bury my head in the sand and let everybody that walks by kick my ass.</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Where were you headed, Simon?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He shrugged, slinking lower in the seat. “I was gonna find you. Let you know Kyle was in trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I poked him with the Glock again. “Do you have a place to go, Simon?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He shook his head and whimpered. I wanted to tell Dave to pull to the side of the road, kick him out, and let him fend for himself. I wanted to… but knew in my heart, I couldn’t live with myself if I did. “You still have a key for that safe house on Trent, Dave?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah. Was getting ready to turn it over. They’ll ask for it tomorrow or the next day, at the latest. He should be okay at least for tonight. Give us time to figure something else out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I punched Simon on the arm—hard. “You’ve got twenty-four hours to think of a place to go. After that, you’re on your own.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You gotta get me some money. Can’t go nowhere without money. You owe me that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rage flowed through my blood, hot and volatile. “I don’t owe you a damn thing, Simon. If I’d let Kyle be killed the last time he got in trouble, he wouldn’t have been tortured for hours before they finally slit his throat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave turned in to the driveway of a small frame house and drove the car around to the rear. “I’ll unlock the door.” He leveled a glare at Simon. “I’m not giving you the key. If you’re smart, you’ll stay inside and keep the noise down. Anybody finds you here, we don’t know you.” He opened the back door. “Get out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Simon sent me a pleading look before exiting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pity was the only emotion I could drum up for him as he scampered after Dave. “I’ll check on you in the morning.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Simon didn’t answer, and I stepped out of the car to wait for Dave, breathing in the cold night air. It felt good against my face, cooling off my rage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Did you call that guy Mouse?” Dave walked up to stand beside me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah.” I opened the passenger door, climbed in, and fastened my seat belt. “Appropriate, don’t you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He slammed my door and headed for the driver’s side. He was still muttering as he climbed in. “Little bastard pissed in my car. I ought to go back in there and wring his neck.” He rolled down his window, finding the freezing wind preferable to the stench of urine. “Where to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As much as I hated the idea, my parents had to be told. Sims and Gardner might be jokes, but the ME was the best in the state, and she would have an identity soon. Kyle’s DNA was in the system. “Drop me off at my house. You need to head in and let the commander know what’s going on. He’ll be pissed that we didn’t call it in immediately.” I gave him a sheepish grin and lifted one shoulder. “You can tell him you had to console me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave chuckled. “Be a cold day when he buys that crap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I didn’t have to point out the absurdity of Dave’s statement but did anyway. “It is a cold day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You should have been a comedian. You know what I mean. We need to go tell your parents. You want to give me the address, or do I have to look it up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagining Dave inside my parents’ house was the first glimmer of humor in an otherwise bleak day. “Glencoe on the North Side. They’ve got a small lakefront mansion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He shot me a quizzical glance. “You got rich family and never told me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You won’t like them. They’re ASBB.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave frowned, tsked, then frowned again as he tried to figure out what kind of disease I was talking about. I could put him out of his misery or let him suffer a little longer. I smiled, deciding to let him suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He traveled another block before the curiosity was too much. “What the hell is ASBB?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“A selfish bitch and bastard. Or a selfish bastard and bitch. I’ll let you decide.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave remained quiet. He had a great family, and I was sure he thought I was joking. So close to Christmas, Kyle’s death would be an inconvenience. I’d received my yearly invitation to their annual Christmas celebration, along with strict instructions to have my hair done and dress appropriately. They didn’t want me to embarrass them again this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I closed my eyes. An image flashed through my mind of my father’s jaw setting and my mother’s face screwing up in disgust when I told them the news about Kyle. Having to plan and attend a funeral for their only son at this time of year would infuriate them. Kyle had never done anything right, and now he couldn’t even find a convenient time to get himself killed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Expelling a deep breath, I opened my eyes and stared at the lights twinkling along our route. Odds were they would have the body frozen until after the New Year’s festivities then hold a small ceremony with no one but the three of us present. If they bothered to come at all. At least if I had died they could have pretended to grieve as their friends would have seen my job as respectable, even if it was below the social standing of the Lange family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dave broke the silence. “Your family really that bad?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Trust me, Dave. You’ll have to see it to believe it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-65283328119990018622019-03-25T08:59:00.003-07:002019-03-25T08:59:53.330-07:00Book Review - Good Girl Gone Bad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is actually my first book by Emmy Ellis, but it definitely won't be my last. I'd only read one chapter when I knew, wow, I love this author's style. Although I wouldn't call this a complicated book, there are a lot of characters who play a main part--just what I love in a book. So let's take a look at the characters.<br />
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Kane - A homicide DI determined to put a drug dealer behind bars. A good-hearted man, with a partner he doesn't know what to do with. Richard has a problem, but he refuses to share it with Kane, and continues to make investigations difficult and Kane's life miserable.<br />
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Charlotte - Trapped in an abusive relationship, closed off from family and with only one friend, an older man she can talk to, when her boyfriend allows it. Lonely, sick of her life, Charlotte hooks up for a one-nighter, not realizing her pickup would want more. Would he turn out to be her savior, or the final straw in a relationship that has only one ending--her death.<br />
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Debbie - A 15 year old daydreamer, convinced she's found the love of her life. She knows her parents will never approve, and her friends will scoff at her, but she's convinced this is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Finally catching his attention she makes a late evening date. Will it be everything she's ever dreamed of? Or will it be her worst nightmare?<br />
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The Killer - Here you delve into the mind of a madman. I can't say much more without spoilers, and I would hate to do that as finding out the truth, and working through the clues is all part of the fun.<br />
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This book could truly be labeled with so many different labels. A thriller that keeps you flipping pages and on the edge. A mystery, as the clues are there, but you have to follow them all the way to the end. It could also fall under drama. Not the irritating type of drama, but the page-turning type of drama. Fabulously written with emotion and a great plot. Definitely a 5* read for me.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Good-Girl-Gone-Bad-Barnett-ebook/dp/B07JN59GP4/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Good+Girl+Gone+Bad&qid=1553529377&s=gateway&sr=8-6" target="_blank">Amazon and Kindle Unlimited</a><br />
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<br />Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-63814702020165498722019-03-25T08:09:00.001-07:002019-03-25T08:09:28.809-07:00Book Review - The Dead Can't Speak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Writing a review without spoilers is difficult sometimes. Especially for a book you truly enjoyed, as you want to share the things that really pulled you in and kept you there. DI Sara Ramsey is a character that's easy to care about, as is her partner, Carla. The homicide unit is a difficult unit in any law enforcement department, and comes with it's own set of unique problems. Low budgets, demanding superiors and long hours, many times without approval for overtime.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the things I love about M. A. Comley's books are her characters are never one-dimensional. They have real lives, with real life problems. Sara's team has real lives with real life problems. They support each other and yet aren't afraid to call each out if it gets too deep.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />In the Dead Can't Speak we have a dastardly villain, with no redeeming qualities. We get an opportunity to meet his victims, women he's used for his own purposes. Women who care about him, and may even be in love with him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><br />If you've followed Sara's story with No Right To Kill and Deadly Blow, you're up to date on her husband's murder. If not, I highly recommend you start with No Right to Kill and get to know Sara. She's waited a long time for her husband's murderer to be brought to justice, and now it seems she's finally going to get her wish. But will the price she has to pay be too high? Will it destroy her career and her personal life? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><br />Add to the mixture her husband's still grieving family and their demands on Sara's time. And seriously, what's up with his brother, Donald? </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><br />A fantastic character driven thriller/mystery. Love the neighbors, and I look forward to a long running series on this one. All three books are available at Amazon and also available on Kindle Unlimited.</span><br />
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<a href="https://smarturl.it/NoRightToKill?fbclid=IwAR1OnzW7YDHPRjjveo3OdPvW8Ou1nLI1npixRoqqapTGAv6gubdKw6qaQXU" target="_blank">Amazon No Right To Kill</a><br />
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<a href="https://smarturl.it/KillerBlow?fbclid=IwAR2rWpkdetBPbLSN4WltHznGBDPct0tYiJkG72nA-nvhlAlJFarh2PntxoY" target="_blank">Amazon Deadly Blow</a><br />
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<a href="https://smarturl.it/TheDeadCantSpeak?fbclid=IwAR1y7OQ-exaOBVQgJgabWIg6wVqGKCS19lMm-AKcBQkDMWhfEL4FUWcWk7M" target="_blank">Amazon The Dead Can't Speak</a><br />
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-56330014766007451052018-03-25T10:19:00.001-07:002018-03-25T10:19:09.712-07:00Book Review - DI Kayli Bright Trilogy by M. A. ComleyI've always loved series, and this is actually my first trilogy. My enjoyment of the characters was definitely increased by the fact all three books were released close in time to each other. A long time fan of the best selling Justice series, and the DI Sally Parker series I couldn't wait to dive into a new character and see if she could measure up to DI Lorne and DI Sally. DI Kayli did not disappoint.<br />
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Book 1 - The Missing Children<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lk63Z8Us7NQ/WrevzvTPVNI/AAAAAAAABlA/NWCrqW1PBeEl0MaCbEP-8TloDI7mpnQ8QCLcBGAs/s1600/TMC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="218" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lk63Z8Us7NQ/WrevzvTPVNI/AAAAAAAABlA/NWCrqW1PBeEl0MaCbEP-8TloDI7mpnQ8QCLcBGAs/s200/TMC.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> When we think of missing children, we naturally think of the parents and the nightmares they must be going through. I loved the fact that in this book we also peeked into the nightmares the law enforcement investigating these crimes have to go through. Our first introduction to DI Kayli Bright and her team. As an officer investigating these crimes, they have to look at all suspects and not worry about stepping on toes, even the toes of the parents. Heartbreaking but true.<br />
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TMC starts with the discovery of a body of a child and quickly leads to the discovery that more children are missing. The subject matter of this one is quite horrifying, and not for the faint-hearted, but those of us who live in the real world, we know it isn't an uncommon thing anywhere in the world. I love the fact that the author treats this with respect for the reader, and doesn't include a lot of sensationalism. I also love the fact we get to share the family lives of Kayli and Dave, making them more real. The book wraps up in a way that is totally satisfying for crime lovers, making it in my opinion a definite 5* read.<br />
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Book 2 - Killer on the Run<br />
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A brilliant story that also incorporates more of Kayli's family life, giving the reader an opportunity to know her intimately, both professionally and personally.<br />
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I have to warn you that this one ends on a cliffhanger, which is why the early release of Book 3 was so important to me as a reader. I'm not a fan of cliffhangers when I have to wait months, or sometimes years to read the next book.<br />
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Killer starts with an automobile accident, and the death of a lovely young woman and the child she's carrying. Most law enforcement officers have a gut instinct they have to listen to, and Kayli is no different. She immediately suspects there was more to this than a car going off the road in a natural accident. Her fears are validated when another accident happens on the same stretch of road. A confusing matter for Kayli and her team, as their prime suspect in the first murder appears to have no connection to the second death. But our killer gets braver, no longer caring if it looks like an accident as more deaths occur. A serial killer, or is there some underlying issue that ties the deaths together?<br />
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Kayli and her team do an excellent job of flushing this one out, and tying up loose ends. Another definite 5* read for those who love crime thrillers and police procedurals.<br />
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Book 3 - Hidden Agenda<br />
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It's difficult to review this one without including spoilers from the first two. I try to never include spoilers in my reviews, so I'll home in on the crime portion and leave most of the family matters for the reader, who like me was waiting for this heartwarming conclusion to Book 2.<br />
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Kayli becomes even more real in this book, as her personal life is shattered, and yet she struggles on to solve the horrendous murder of a young woman. Sarah was well like, and the clues are almost non-existent--or does Kayli really have her mind and heart on the task at hand? The dedication of her team helps her overcome her self-doubts, and the pieces slowly begin to fall in place. With the conclusion of her case, Kayli is forced to take a long look at what is important in her life. Does she continue to struggle with her fears and emotions, or does she leave the force and go after the man she loves?<br />
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An emotional roller coaster with this one, and a definite 5* read for DI Kayli Bright fans. I hope this isn't the last time we see her.<br />
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</span></span> <font-family: amazon="" arial="" ember="" sans-serif=""><span font-size: 13px;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span></font-family:><br />
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</span></span> <span font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. Over one million copies sold world wide. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /> <span font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When I'm not writing crime novels I'm either reading them or going on long walks with my rescue Labrador, Dex.</span><br />
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Love series with strong female characters, crime that reads like true-life, and character driven fiction? Visit Mel's Amazon Page and check out these thrillers!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/M.-A.-Comley/e/B0045YOB9I/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1521989872&sr=8-2-ent" target="_blank">Amazon</a>Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-69906472877577865402018-03-18T05:10:00.002-07:002019-10-01T15:58:45.292-07:00Book Review - Kindred Killers by Graham Smith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEEuFLV8Vjo/Wq5SBtFgwhI/AAAAAAAABkE/SIFvxrmnc1w5j5njG2vVIube7h8MQFTvQCLcBGAs/s1600/kindred%2Bkillers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="352" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEEuFLV8Vjo/Wq5SBtFgwhI/AAAAAAAABkE/SIFvxrmnc1w5j5njG2vVIube7h8MQFTvQCLcBGAs/s200/kindred%2Bkillers.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>This was actually my first book by Graham Smith, and although it can be read as a standalone, I truly wished I'd read the first book before this one. Having read the reviews that talk about character development I feel I missed some things so will take care of that very soon, as I liked Jake Boulder. One of the crucial things for me in book enjoyment is to like the main character. Although extremely flawed in many ways, Jake is also loyal to the people he cares about. That makes him somewhat of a hero in my mind. And he doesn't give up or back down even when his own life is at risk.<br />
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Blurb:<br />
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Jake Boulder's help is requested by his best friend, Alfonse, when his cousin is crucified and burned alive along with his wife and children.<br />
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As Boulder tries to track the heinous killer, a young woman is abducted. Soon her body is discovered and Boulder realizes both murders have something unusual in common.<br />
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With virtually no leads for Boulder to follow, he strives to find a way to get a clue as to the killer's identity. But is he hunting for one killer or more?<br />
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After a young couple are snatched in the middle of the night the case takes a brutal turn. When the FBI is invited to help with the case, Boulder finds himself warned off the investigation.<br />
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When gruesome, and incendiary, footage from a mobile phone is sent to all major US News outlets the pressure to find those responsible for the crimes mounts. But with the authorities against him, can Boulder catch the killer before it's too late?<br />
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Five Stars<br />
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Well written with enough twists and turns to keep you entertained. Although the crimes are gruesome, I did not find the details given over-done for shock and awe purposes. Mr. Smith gives the facts of the murders, and enough details to show just how gruesome they were, without the need for excessive brutal descriptions. I like that in an author. It gives you enough to allow your imagination to finish the pictures.<br />
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I will definitely be reading more of the Jake Boulder series and can recommend this to readers who enjoy crime thrillers as well as mysteries.<br />
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Want to start at the beginning, or look for more books by Graham Smith? Visit his Amazon Author Page for a full list of fast-paced crime thrillers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bW4_969mkXY/Wq5WaNpCtzI/AAAAAAAABkc/N-F-s5vTdvIv5lULfYWjD6A7WvbDnqOxgCLcBGAs/s1600/graham%2Bsmith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="170" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bW4_969mkXY/Wq5WaNpCtzI/AAAAAAAABkc/N-F-s5vTdvIv5lULfYWjD6A7WvbDnqOxgCLcBGAs/s200/graham%2Bsmith.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Graham-Smith/e/B006FTIBBU/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a><br />
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-76126245201903634782018-03-16T07:39:00.002-07:002018-03-16T07:46:21.327-07:00Book Review - My Gift To You by Tracie Delaney<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fE5gLQCxC1c/WqvS7fA5dHI/AAAAAAAABiY/dNyqO6dfJM4X456cJ8O-bpA47T8bx8NowCLcBGAs/s200/My%2BGift%2BTo%2BYou.jpg" width="130" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Gift-You-Tracie-Delaney-ebook/dp/B078XC83S2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Available On Pre-Order Now!</a></div>
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I haven't read a romance novel in years, but after months of crime thrillers and psychological thrillers I needed a change. When Tracie offered this as an ARC I jumped at the chance to crawl out of the darkness and into the light. I am so glad I did.<br />
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It's really difficult to review a great book without giving spoilers that to me would dampen a reader's enjoyment, and I want every reader to enjoy this book as I did.<br />
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For heartbroken Livvy Hayes, the world went dark two years ago when tragedy struck.<br />
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With her life in tatters, she flees to California where an unexpected meeting brings handsome businessman Gabe Mitchell into her life.<br />
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Gabe loves a challenge and Livvy is his newest endeavor. Her broken spirit calls to him, begging to be healed. And who knows, she might be the one to heal him too.<br />
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Can he persuade her to take a chance on him--and convince her that together they have a future?<br />
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Or will fate intervene and destroy them both?<br />
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This is a highly emotional read that will make you laugh, but will also pull at your heartstrings and have you crying, so I suggest a huge box of Kleenex be on hand and within easy reach.<br />
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I totally enjoyed following Livvy and Gabe's romance, as he introduced her to a life she'd never known before. The characters are well developed, witty at times, and the descriptions of the trips he takes her on fascinating. I loved seeing the world through Livvy's eyes.<br />
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If you're a romance fan and not into they have a fight, get back together, have sex and live happily every after--then this book is for you. A compelling drama that will lift your spirits and break your heart at times. I highly recommend it.<br />
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OTHER BOOKS BY TRACIE DELANEY<br />
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Tracie has a large selection of wonderful reads. For more visit her Amazon Author Page.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tracie-Delaney/e/B071XSWCS5/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a>Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-51516656367057259592018-03-01T09:07:00.004-08:002018-03-01T09:07:42.873-08:00If I Were A Teacher In Today's WorldI've heard several teachers talk about quitting or retiring when the laws pass that allow guns in schools. I don't often comment on politics or the gun issues as such comments usually set off volatile reactions among even friends and families. It doesn't seem anyone can agree on a solution, although I think we all would agree there has to be something done. Children have enough to worry about in today's world without having to worry about being killed just to achieve an education. Parents have enough to worry about without having to worry that as they watch their child head off to school it may be the last time they see them. How do we work and function with those ideas planted inside our head? How do children knuckle down, study and learn when every loud noise inside the school causes anxiety?<br />
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That leads me to teachers. How do they function as they watch their classes, trying to determine if one or more of the students is having a bad day? Do their eyes constantly scan the room envisioning places to hide or things they can do to lessen the body count if someone does come in and start shooting? Mine would. And they must worry about their own families, and what would happen to their wives, husbands and children if they had to give up their life to protect their students. I know I would.<br />
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A lot of the teachers I know went into teaching for two reasons--they loved sharing knowledge, and helping to mold young minds for future success. They're good, hard-working, dedicated people. They buy supplies out of their own pockets to make sure their students have what they need. Their hours aren't 9 to 5 or 8 to four. They aren't paid overtime when they have to stay late, or come in early. Not all, but most go out of their way to help a child who may need help with a certain subject, and they encourage, smile, and make sure that child knows he or she is appreciated and they are there to help. A good teacher knows what it takes years for many children to understand--little Johnny doesn't smile often because his teeth are bad, and his home life isn't like the rest of the class. The bruises on his arm didn't come from playing football, and yes, he's angry. A good teacher spots this early, and does his or her best to intervene and make sure little Johnny's time at school at least is filled with encouragement to help him achieve the same goals as those more fortunate.<br />
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Teachers share the same fears we as parents do today. Only in my mind theirs must be worse, as yes I worry about all children, but my first thoughts go to my own. If a teacher has children they must also worry about their own, as well as those that have been entrusted into their care. Their worry is magnified far more than mine, and it's daily now. I can only imagine the stress they're under.<br />
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And now we want them to carry guns? We want to make them responsible for shooting possibly a child or young adult they've taught, encouraged, cared about for years? Or maybe they're going to have to shoot another staff member. One who is also armed legally, and came in that morning blaming the school and children for his/her failed marriage or just the fact their life sucks today. And where do they keep these guns so that they're readily available if needed and yet out of the reach of children in the school? Do they keep it loaded or once a problem occurs to do they have to try with trembling hands to load the gun? Is anyone thinking about this? Does it do any good to have a gun available if it isn't easily accessible, and if it's easy accessible couldn't a student also get that gun? We used to hear that criminals were dumb--well, they're not. Neither are children. They're going to know where that gun is, and if they wanted to, I'm sure they could find a way to get it.<br />
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I don't know if you've seen how big some of our young people are today, but I can tell you from going into the schools there are some sixth, seventh and eight graders that could easily disarm a teacher and take the gun away from them. I know how to shoot, but I've never aimed a gun at another person. With high anxiety, tears in my eyes and fear in my heart, just how badly are my hands going to shake when I raise that gun? Am I going to hit what I'm shooting at, or another student or staff member near the shooter? There's no way I could function in that type of environment.<br />
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I started this article with "If I were a teacher in today's world". I'm raising a 10 year old grandchild, and I'm facing the possibility that eventually guns may be carried by teachers in his school. I'm going to be doing a LOT of research on home schooling. So if I were a teacher in today's world I would be talking to my fellow staff members and my family about the possibility of setting up a home school where I could teach children without the necessity of carrying a gun or being around others carrying guns. I would pay to have my grandson go to one of these home schools with a qualified teacher, and I bet there are other parents out there that would be willing to do the same. Not a perfect solution to the problem, no, but it keeps my child as safe as I can possibly make him in today's world. That doesn't make him safe, because we could be sitting at McDonald's and the same thing happen. Do we arm McDonald's employees? We could be at the park and the same thing happen? Do we start carrying guns to the park? And if we do, do we carry assault rifles so we have matching firepower as the shooters? Do we arm all parents when they drop off and pick up their students from school? Do we start carrying guns when we go to a ballgame, shopping or walk the dog? These sound like stupid questions to me, but the idea of putting guns in a school and arming school teachers is far more ludicrous, and far more dangerous.<br />
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I hope that teachers who are thinking about quitting or retiring as these new laws come closer to passing will consider the idea of home schooling which will allow them to continue in the field they love without the anxiety and stress of seeing guns toted around their place of employment. I hope our government opens their eyes and their minds and outlaws assault rifles and passes stricter laws on who can buy a handgun. Will that solve the problem? No, it won't completely solve the problem, but it should lower the death toll if a shooting does occur. There's no way to stop senseless violence, as the person compelled to commit it will find a way. Our problem is we make it easy for them to find that way and the weapons to do it with. And now we're going to make those weapons available in the very places we've tried so desperately hard to keep them out of. Never again will someone have to sneak a gun into school--it's already there.<br />
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<br />Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-483256493149707092017-11-11T01:58:00.004-08:002017-11-11T01:58:20.933-08:00Book Review - Heroic Justice, M. A. Comley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A long-time fan of DI Lorne Warner and the Justice series, and more recently a fan of the DI Hero Nelson series I was thrilled when Mel announced she was combining the two characters for a new novel. Both characters have strong personalities, and both are willing to step outside the boundaries when necessary. Would they be able to work together?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Due to family problems I was a little late on starting my ARC and had the advantage of reading other reviews which touted this as Ms. Comley's best book yet. This made me even more eager to dive in with a fresh cup of coffee and bury myself in the pages. In my opinion it was going to be hard for her to top my two favorite reads--Dubious Justice and Cold Case from the DI Sally Parker series. Those two books left an emotional impact with me that kept me thinking of them long after I finished the books, and they still remain at the top of my list for favorite reads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To coin a British phrase I did find Heroic Justice 'bloody brilliant'. As an author myself I may notice things that I wouldn't perhaps just reading a good book. I'm not a huge fan of narrative and love character driven fiction. Heroic did not disappoint. At times I felt I was in the room with the characters listening to the conversation as Ms. Comley weaved in background for both characters so seamlessly that I was awe struck. Absolutely brilliant! Readers who have never opened a Justice book or a Hero book will still feel they know the characters intimately. Readers who have followed these characters as I have will thoroughly enjoy the revisiting of the past through conversation, not an info dump. Can I saw 'brilliant' again?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In today's world serial killers are more the norm than the exception. Often to find them you have to understand their motives. Both Lorne and Hero do an excellent job of delving deep into the few clues the killer leaves behind. Having experienced tragedy in their own lives their compassion for the victims and their families is heart-warming. An excellent police procedural.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I would definitely tag this a five star read for lovers of crime, police procedure and fast-paced thrillers. I loved seeing Lorne and her husband, Tony, working together and hope that becomes more of the norm in future novels. I can't imagine working with my husband, but the mutual respect Tony and Lorne have for each other, and the skills each possesses makes them a perfect working couple. So often we get a one-sided few of characters and experience only their work, but Ms. Comley is delightful in her ability to show the many facets--even flaws--of each character, including the antagonist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I recommend setting aside some time before you start, as once you get involved you're not going to want to stop reading until the very last page...and even then you may find yourself thinking about this book. Available for pre-order now. Release date--11/13/17.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Happy Reading!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="http://hyperurl.co/czvz7v" target="_blank">http://hyperurl.co/czvz7v</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">KOBO <a href="https://goo.gl/nsMTAK" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> https://goo.gl/nsMTAK</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Google Play <a href="https://smarturl.it/khj328" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://smarturl.it/khj328 </a></span><br />
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-25972439392472850562017-11-09T04:33:00.002-08:002017-11-09T04:33:59.372-08:00Love Mysteries, Thrillers, Suspense? Unique presents from the author?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bGWAnFK4MEo/WgRJT_Qr2_I/AAAAAAAABeI/XOxSFUVjbc4VytaR4QQ4jFQM9dJmakIFACLcBGAs/s1600/Mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bGWAnFK4MEo/WgRJT_Qr2_I/AAAAAAAABeI/XOxSFUVjbc4VytaR4QQ4jFQM9dJmakIFACLcBGAs/s320/Mary.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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One of my favorite things with fans and new readers is to design and offer unique prizes as keepsakes. If you love mysteries, thrillers, suspense novels and special gifts from the author then sign up for my newsletter at: <a href="http://lindasprather.com/">lindasprather.com</a></div>
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Christmas is just around the bend and I'll be choosing 10 lucky winners for keychains and necklaces of their favorite book of mine.<br />
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Newest Release!<br />
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Just $.99/99p on <a href="http://getbook.at/The13thVictim" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-8296105973624946762017-11-08T09:57:00.000-08:002017-11-08T09:57:08.854-08:00Some people deserve to die...some are worth dying for. $.99/99p <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All releases are exciting, but I’m super-excited about this one because I fell in love with the characters. I believe every woman or even man who has been traumatized by a situation will have an empathy with Andi and her struggles to overcome the demons in her head, left by a man who kidnapped and tortured her for three days. Her belief in a young girl’s story, even against the odds, and determination to help her no matter the personal cost gives you an insight into her character. Her side kick, Shamus O’Conner is witty, loyal and the kind of true friend we all wish for in life.<br />
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Blurb: <br />
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Ten years ago, Andi Carter was abducted by her lover’s partner, Richard Thomas, and tortured for three days. Rescued by the man she believed responsible, Andi lost everything: the man she loved, her promising future as an investigative reporter and her memory of the weeks leading up to her torture.</div>
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<em 0px="" baseline="" margin:="" padding:="" vertical-align:="">“Tell me what I want to know and I won’t hurt you again.”</em></div>
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Thomas’s voice haunted her dreams, sending her into the pits of depression to seek solace in a bottle of whiskey until a young woman reaches out for help. Twelve young girls have been brutally murdered, their bodies hidden beneath concrete structures. The thirteenth victim is fighting back the only way she knows how, and telling their story to the one person she believes will listen. <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I killed a man yesterday, and today I’m going to kill another one.”</em></div>
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<a 0px="" baseline="" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" margin:="" name="_Toc497234082" padding:="" vertical-align:=""></a>PROLOGUE</h1>
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“Tell me what I want to know, and I won’t hurt you again.”</div>
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Andi Carter stared into the deep-green eyes of Richard Thomas as she tried to collect enough saliva to swallow. Pain had dulled her senses, and her throat was raw from screaming. She wasn’t sure she could speak, or if she did somehow manage to utter a few words if they would be coherent. “I don’t… I don’t know what you want… to know,” she whispered.</div>
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Thomas sighed as he followed her gaze to the door leading out of the basement. “Still think Jerry is going to barge through that door and save you, Andi? He isn’t, you know. In fact, dear old Jerry is the reason you’re here. He’s the one who told me what you were up to.”</div>
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A burning river of rage flowed through her, much like the sensation from the whiskey he kept forcing her to drink, but instead of dulling her senses, it cleared her mind. <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He’s going to kill me anyway. </em>“Jerry Palano is a good cop. Scum like you would never understand that. If he told you anything it was because he was your partner and he trusted you.”</div>
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He flashed his even white teeth, but the green of his eyes darkened. “That’s my Andi, spirited and loyal to the end. Would you like a drink?” He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table. “If you spill it, you know it’s going to hurt.” He inserted the tip of the bottle between her lips. “Drink up now, like a good girl. Then we’ll talk some more.”</div>
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Andi tilted her head back, guzzling the alcohol. Tears ran freely down her face as a tiny stream of alcohol dripped from her chin onto the raw, blistered flesh of her legs. The pain was excruciating, and she struggled not to scream as she continued to drink, praying for oblivion.</div>
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Only when the bottle was empty did Thomas pull it away and pick up the scalpel. “Tell me what I want to know, and I won’t hurt you again.”</div>
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“Gambini! Gambini was running young girls. I was going to expose him.” She began to slur her words, which sounded as if they came from a long way off. “Please. Please just kill me.”</div>
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Thomas began to laugh, his roar filling the damp, musty room. “I can’t believe that crap actually works.” He leaned in close, his breath hot on her cheek as he whispered, “I’m not going to kill you, Andi, but you’re going to wish I had.”</div>
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His threat seeped through the alcohol-induced fog as bile rose in her throat. A tiny pinpoint of satisfaction surged through her as she opened her mouth and spewed vomit on both of them.</div>
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“Son of a bitch.” Thomas leapt up, knocking over his chair. “You’ll pay for that, Carter.”</div>
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Andi tried to smile, but the acidity of the vomit had reignited the pain from her cuts and burns. She began to tremble, her breath coming in short gasps as she watched his hands clench and unclench. Three days as his captive had convinced her of one thing—Thomas was crazy. His moods swung from euphoric enjoyment of torturing her to angry depression, and occasionally to apologetic sympathy for having caused her pain. <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t really want to die.</em></div>
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Thomas pushed the table bearing his torture instruments into her view and lit the blowtorch. “You shouldn’t have done that, Andi. I was going to let you go.”</div>
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“Please don’t, Richard. I told you what you wanted to know. You promised you wouldn’t hurt me again.” She struggled against the ropes binding her arms and legs.</div>
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He studied her, tilting his head to the side. “I did, didn’t I?” His lips puckered as he turned off the torch. “Perhaps I’ll give you some time to think about your apology.” He leaned in close, staring directly into her eyes. “Your punishment will depend on just how well you can beg.”</div>
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Sobs shook her body as she watched him leave, the heavy steel door slamming behind him. The alcohol had dulled the pain in her body, but not the emotional devastation of realizing Jerry wasn’t going to save her. <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He betrayed me.</em></div>
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Time passed as she drifted in and out of consciousness until a scraping noise at the door jerked her wide awake. The door slowly swung open and Stuart Gambini peered inside.</div>
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“Jesus.” He crossed the room and knelt in front of her then grabbed the scalpel on the table and quickly cut the ropes around her wrists and ankles. “I’m gonna get you out of here. Can you walk?”</div>
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“Why? You’re just going to kill me anyway. Do it here,” Andi croaked out. Her mind was still fuzzy, but she was pretty sure Gambini was the reason she was here.</div>
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Gambini frowned, took off his jacket, and lifted her from the chair. “We can talk about that later. Here, wrap this around you. Patrick is waiting for us at the top of the stairs.” He slipped her arms through the sleeves and pulled the coat up around her shoulders.</div>
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“How did you find me?” Andi leaned against him, taking a step toward the door, leaving small smears of blood on the floor from her swollen feet.</div>
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“I’ve had my girls watching Thomas. This is the only place he kept coming back to.” Stuart placed an arm around her and half lifted, half dragged her toward the door. “We don’t have a lot of time.”</div>
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She placed her right foot on the first step. Taking a deep breath, she raised her left foot and put it on the second step. “Where are you taking me?”</div>
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“Put your arm around my neck.” Stuart tightened his hold around her waist, placed an arm under her legs, and picked her up. “We’ll hide you at the boarding house for the time being.”</div>
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Andi leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder. “I need to call the <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tribune</em>. I was on a case, and they must be going crazy wondering what happened to me.”</div>
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“You’re old news. They gave up on finding you after the first three weeks.”</div>
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“Three weeks? I’ve only been missing three days.”</div>
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Stuart grunted as he took the last step. “Honey, you’ve been missing for over a month.”</div>
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Darkness closed in around her. <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A month? What the hell did Thomas do to me before he tortured me?</em></div>
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$.99/99p or Free with KU</div>
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<a href="http://getbook.at/The13thVictim" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amazon</a></div>
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-9653250974967876112017-10-05T12:22:00.000-07:002017-10-05T12:22:45.060-07:00Close to Louisville, KY - Stop by and say hi at the fabulous Imadjinn Book Fair & Expo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Love books and looking for something fun to do this weekend? Stop by the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Louisville, Kentucky. I'll be there and would love to meet fans and make new friends. </div>
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<br />Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-35601098711534771802017-10-03T05:21:00.000-07:002017-10-03T05:21:18.809-07:00The 13th Victim - #TuesdayTease<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdiUhLGBVj8/WdN-pjx0kaI/AAAAAAAABb0/BmYsyc_urmw2Zi-qts9oL7uayO5l0gJQwCLcBGAs/s1600/Rebels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdiUhLGBVj8/WdN-pjx0kaI/AAAAAAAABb0/BmYsyc_urmw2Zi-qts9oL7uayO5l0gJQwCLcBGAs/s200/Rebels.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
It's been a long time since I had two books coming out back to back. The 13th Victim is now in the hands of the final editors and should be available by late October or early November. The beginning and I hope not the end of a new series starring Andi Carter, an investigative reporter, and Shamus O'Conner, her apprentice. The relationship between Andi and Shamus was a true joy to write, and no it isn't a romantic relationship. Here's a little teaser to wet your appetite. As any author knows, this may change slightly after the final edits and proofreads.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PROLOGUE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Tell
me what I want to know and I won’t hurt you again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Andi
Carter stared into the deep green eyes of Richard Thomas as she tried to
collect enough saliva to swallow. Pain
had dulled her senses, and her throat was raw from screaming. She wasn’t sure
she could speak, or if she did somehow manage to utter a few words if they
would be coherent. “I don’t…I don’t know
what you want…to know,” she whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thomas
sighed as he followed her gaze to the door leading out of the basement. “Still
think Jerry is going to barge through that door and save you, Andi? He isn't,
you know. In fact, dear old Jerry is the reason you're here. He's the one who
told me what you were up to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
burning river of rage flowed through her, much like the sensation from the
whiskey he kept feeding her, but instead of dulling her senses it cleared her
mind. <i>He's going to kill me anyway. “</i>Jerry Palano is a good cop. Scum
like you would never understand that. If he told you anything it was because he
was your partner and he trusted you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
white teeth flashed, but the green of his eyes darkened. “That's my Andi,
spirited and loyal to the end. Would you like a drink?” He reached for the
bottle of whiskey on the table. “If you spill it, you know it’s going to hurt.”
He inserted the tip of the bottle between her lips. “Drink up now, like a good
girl. Then we’ll talk some more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Andi
tilted her head back, guzzling the alcohol. Tears ran freely down her face as a
tiny stream of alcohol dripped from her chin onto the raw blistered flesh of
her legs. The pain was excruciating and she struggled not to scream as she
continued to drink, praying for oblivion.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Only
when the bottle was empty did Thomas pull it away and pick up the scalpel. “Tell
me what I want to know and I won’t hurt you again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Gambini! Gambini was running young girls. I was going
to expose him.” Her words began to slur, and came from a long way off. “Please.
Please just kill me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thomas
began to laugh, his roar filling the damp, musty room. “I can't believe that crap
actually works.” He leaned in close, his breath hot on her cheek as he
whispered, “I'm not going to kill you, Andi, but you're going to wish I had.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
threat seeped through the alcohol induced fog as bile rose in her throat. A
tiny pinpoint of satisfaction surged through her as she opened her mouth and
spewed vomit on both of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Son
of a bitch.” Thomas leapt up, knocking over his chair. “You'll pay for that,
Carter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Andi
tried to smile, but the acidity of the vomit had reignited the pain from her
cuts and burns. She began to tremble, her breath coming in short gasps as she
watched his hands clench and unclench. Three days as his captive had convinced
her of one thing—Thomas was crazy. His moods swung from euphoric enjoyment of
torturing her physically and mentally to angry depression and occasionally to
apologetic sympathy for having caused her pain. <i>I don't really want to die.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thomas
pushed the table bearing his torture instruments into her view and lit the
blowtorch. “You shouldn't have done that, Andi. I was going to let you go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Please
don't, Richard. I told you what you wanted to know. You promised you wouldn't
hurt me again.” She struggled against the ropes binding her arms and legs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
studied her, tilting his head to the side. “I did, didn't I?” His lips puckered
as he turned off the torch. “Perhaps I'll give you some time to think about
your apology.” He leaned in close, staring directly into her eyes. “Your
punishment will depend on just how well you can beg.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sobs
shook her body as she watched him leave, the heavy steel door slamming behind
him. The alcohol had dulled the pain in her body, but not the emotional
devastation of realizing Jerry wasn't going to save her. <i>He betrayed me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Time
passed as she drifted in and out of consciousness until a scraping noise at the
door jerked her wide awake. The door slowly swung open and Stuart Gambini
peered inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Jesus.”
He crossed the room and knelt in front of her grabbing the scalpel on the table
and quickly cutting the ropes around her wrists and ankles. “I'm gonna get you
out of here. Can you walk?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why?
You’re just going to kill me anyway. Do it here.” Andi croaked out. Her mind
was still fuzzy, but she was pretty sure Gambini was the reason she was here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gambini
frowned, took off his jacket and lifted her from the chair. “We can talk about
that later. Here, wrap this around you. Patrick is waiting for us at the top of
the stairs.” He slipped her arms through the sleeves and pulled the coat up
around her shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How
did you find me?” Andi leaned against him, taking a step toward the door, a
small trail of blood dripping from her swollen feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I've
had my girls watching Thomas. This is the only place he kept coming back to.”
Stuart placed an arm around her and half lifted, half dragged her toward the
door. “We don't have a lot of time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Placing
her right foot on the first step Andi took a deep breath as she raised her left
foot and placed it on the second step. “Where are you taking me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Put
your arm around my neck.” Stuart tightened his hold around her waist, placed an
arm under her legs and picked her up. “We'll hide you at the boarding house for
the time being.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Andi
leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder. “I need to call the
Tribune. I was on a case and they must be going crazy wondering what happened
to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You're
old news. They gave up on finding you after the first three weeks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Three
weeks? I've only been missing three days.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stuart
grunted as he took the last step. “Honey, you've been missing for over a month.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Darkness
closed in around her. <i>A month? What the
hell did Thomas do to me before he tortured me?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-80040675925012458222017-10-01T03:52:00.000-07:002017-10-01T03:52:39.740-07:00Sneak Peek! #SundaySampleAs promised, here's a sneak peek at the Prologue and Chapter 1 of Innocent Blood. Enjoy your Sunday, and happy reading!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PROLOGUE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
Redmond woke to the sound of a door softly closing. She tossed off the covers
and made her way to the window, welcoming the reprieve from her dark,
disturbing dreams. <i>At least it wasn’t a
vision. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her
brother Jules stood outlined in the moonlight, his fists clenched at his sides.
A well of sadness opened up inside her at the sight of him standing there with
his head bowed. If her dreams were dark and disturbing, his would be a thousand
times worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
rummaged through her chest and donned shorts and a T-shirt. It was already warm,
and the day ahead promised to be blistering. Since they were both awake, they
might as well talk about what was bothering them. She tiptoed down the hall, through
the kitchen, and out the back door. If he woke, Jake would demand to know what
was bothering her, and she didn’t honestly know. Her dreams were most likely
the product of her grandfather’s call for help with an issue on the
reservation. He’d reminded her of her duty to her people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her people. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Strange that Grandfather
should put it that way. He’d constantly criticized her and her brothers and
shouted more than once that they weren’t true Choctaw. He’d belittled their mother
right up until the day of her death. Loki shook off the emotions churning in
her gut. Grandfather was an old man now, and hating him would only hurt her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Hey.”
She approached Jules slowly, aware that at times he walked in his sleep. “Bad
dreams?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jules
picked up a rock and threw it into the trees that surrounded the back of the
property. “Horrible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Want
to talk about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
shook his head. “I’m sorry I woke you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Placing
an arm around his waist, she stood with him, just watching the beauty of the early
morning breeze gently swaying the trees. “You didn’t wake me, but even if you
did, I’m glad. My dreams weren’t very pleasant, either.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Maybe
you shouldn’t go to the reservation today. After the way they treated us, you
don’t owe them anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
sighed and dropped her arm. “Is that what’s bothering you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Frustration
overwhelmed her. For years Jules hadn’t said a word, trapped in his own mind
with a horror he didn’t know how to express. All that had changed last year
when she’d brought Jake to Grandpa Zachery’s farm to heal after his wife’s
murder. What was supposed to be a vacation turned into a fight for their life
against a madman and his mother, but for Jules it had been a miracle of sorts.
They’d managed to save Grace, a thirteen-year-old who had been kidnapped and
abused by the serial killers, and her month-old baby, Hope. And Grace had
helped Jules heal. The two of them shared a bond that few people would ever
understand. “I can’t help you, Jules, if you won’t talk to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Talking
won’t change it, Loki. You and I both know that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No,
but sometimes it helps to share things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why
do we call this the Redmond Farm?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
chuckled. “Because Grandpa loved our mother so much that when she married our
father, he changed the name of the farm. Sometimes I think he did it just to
piss off Grandfather Redmond.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“There’s
something evil about Grandfather Redmond, Loki. Don’t trust him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
didn’t before, and I’m not going to now.” She studied Jules’s face, looking for
clues about what was truly behind his pain. “If there’s something you know
about what’s going on at the reservation, you should tell me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Have
you ever known something was wrong but you didn’t know what it was or how to
stop it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
dropped to the ground, hugged her knees to her chest, and patted the spot
beside her. “You know how my visions work. I get images or feelings, and it’s
always after something horrible has happened. I can never stop it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jules
finally sat beside her. “Some of the spirits are angry. Some are very sad. They
say innocent blood has been shed, and the blood of more innocents will be shed
in the coming days.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Have
you talked to Grace about this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“She
feels the same thing. I think she knows more, but she’s not ready to share it
yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do
you know when this is supposed to happen?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
shuddered. She and Dadron were leaving for the reservation first thing this morning.
The sun began to rise, but it did nothing to dispel the chill sinking into her
bones and encompassing her. “Does this have anything to do with Grandfather?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jules stood, brushed off his jeans, and walked
toward the forest. His voice was sad and filled with pain. “No, but you should
tell Jake you love him before you leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CHAPTER
ONE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
early morning sun blazed down on the small ravine as Jake Savior knelt beside
Jules Redmond and studied the ground. In a few more hours the heat would be
unbearable. “Anything at all?” Jake asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Nothing.”
Jules stood and wiped the sweat from his brow. “A child couldn’t have gone into
that brush pile without leaving some trace.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jake
removed his neckerchief and wiped his face. “So I guess it was a spirit or
ghost or whatever it is you guys see that the rest of us don’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Loki
doesn’t see spirits.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Well,
she certainly saw something, and it’s happened three times now.” Jake started
the slow climb to the road. It had been a long shot, bringing Jules here, but Jake
felt helpless when it came to the things Loki experienced. This one had upset
her more than usual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Maybe
it was a vision.” Jules followed close on Jake’s heels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Water or beer?” Jake lifted the hatch on the
Highlander and pulled out the cooler. “Is it always this hot here in April?
It’s not even eight o’clock yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Water.
It’s too early for beer.” Jules took the bottle, splashed half of it on his
face, and drank the rest. “The winter was strangely cold, and no, it isn’t
normally this hot in April. Doesn’t bode well for the summer months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jake
popped the top on a can of beer and took a long drink, his eyes scanning the
terrain. “There aren’t any houses anywhere near here in either direction. If
this is a vision of something destined to happen in the future, where would a
child come from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jules
shrugged and grabbed another bottle of water. “Loki’s visions usually come
after something has already happened.” He pointed at the ravine. “But there are
no spirits here. We could have Grace search the computer databases and see if
there were any car wrecks where a family was injured or died and a young girl
survived and ran away. ”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sounds
like a plan.” Jake slammed the hatch. “It’s too hot to stay out here any longer,
and I’m hungry. You want to drive?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
young boy’s face lit up. “Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jake
tossed him the keys. “You’ve got your permit, and you have to learn sometime.”
He held up the beer and grinned. “And I’ve been drinking before breakfast.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jules
adjusted the seat and mirrors, waited for Jake to buckle up, and started the
car. “So what exactly did Loki see?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“A
young girl, maybe five or six years old, running across the road. Loki thinks she
was Choctaw, but she can’t be sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And
you didn’t see her?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Nope.
The first time she screamed <i>stop,</i> I
almost flipped the car in the ditch. Loki ran after her, but she disappeared
into that cluster of brush we just searched.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And
is it always the same time of day?” Jules’s eyes locked on the road in front of
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
never really thought about it, but yeah, it was close to the same time all
three evenings. Dark enough to have the lights on but not totally dark,” Jake
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jake
leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. In the past year, he’d accepted
Loki’s visions, as well as the fact that Jules and Grace saw things no one else
could. For Loki, the visions were simply part of her Choctaw heritage. Grace’s
ability was brought on by trauma and loneliness during the years she was held
captive by a madman and his crazy mother. Jules’s abilities were probably a
combination of his Choctaw heritage and trauma. Jake had learned firsthand what
trauma and grief could do to the human psyche. His friends’ abilities might be preferable
to the insanity that had seized him after his wife’s murder. His heart still
ached for Cara at times, but with Loki’s love, he was healing a little more
each day and building a new life in Mississippi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Have
you heard from Loki and Dadron?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“She
called to say they had arrived. I don’t expect to hear anything else until later.
Cell service out there isn’t the best in the world. She said she’d call if they
were staying overnight.” Jake shot a glance at Loki’s younger brother. Worry
lines wrinkled Jules’s forehead, replacing the earlier gleeful face, and he
gripped the wheel tightly. “Something bothering you, Jules?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Grace
says the spirits are restless, and something terrible is about to happen. She
doesn’t know what, but it has something to do with innocent blood.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And
you think that has something to do with what’s going on on the reservation, or
the kid Loki keeps seeing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
don’t know. I don’t think so, but there are those in the tribe who love and
respect Loki, and those who hate and fear her.” Jules’s voice faltered for a
moment. “The hate is because of me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“She
only promised to listen to what her grandfather had to say. Besides, Dadron is
with her. He’s not going to let anything happen to her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
still don’t think she should have gone there.” Jules turned in to the driveway
leading to the farm. “This is not her fight, and she doesn’t owe Grandfather
anything.” He parked in front of the house, turned off the motor, and handed
the keys to Jake. “Thank you. Tell Grace not to set a place for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Where
are you going?” Jake exited the vehicle quickly, but Jules was already disappearing
into the forest behind the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
door to the farmhouse opened, and Grace came out on the landing. “Let him go,
Jake.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Any
idea where he’s headed?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He
built a sweat lodge yesterday. He’s gone there to fast and pray for those who
are about to die.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">~ ~ ~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
Redmond grabbed the door handle and held on tight as the vehicle hit a pothole.
“With all the money pouring in from the casinos, can’t they do something about
this section?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tim
“Bearclaw” Whitefeather jerked the wheel to avoid another hole. “Politics.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting Dadron’s angry gaze. She understood his
anger as they passed another section of clapboard houses, the yards littered
with empty liquor bottles and piles of trash. They’d left the more prominent
sections of the reservation over an hour ago and were now traveling through the
parts hidden from tourists. She also understood Tim’s comment about politics.
Even here, miles from what was referred to as civilization, the rich got richer
and the poor continued to suffer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tim
pulled into a section of trees and parked. “The basin is about a half mile
through the forest. We’ll walk from here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
motioned for Dadron to hang back as she rushed to catch up with Tim. “Why did
Grandfather want to meet out here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’ll
have to ask him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grabbing
Tim’s arm, she turned him to face her. “I’m asking you. You haven’t said ten
words to us since we got here. We were friends once. And you know how
Grandfather feels about us. Please, tell me what this is about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Nalusa
Falaya.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
can’t be serious.” Loki laughed and shook her head. “Nalusa Falaya is a myth.
Like the boogeyman, something made up by parents to keep the children inside
after dark.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
have two missing hunters, Loki.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“That
doesn’t mean anything. If they’re unfamiliar with the area, they probably just
got lost out here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
found the third hunter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dadron
joined them. “Dead or alive?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tim’s
jaw set in a hard line, and his eyes darkened. “Mostly dead. We’re wasting time,
and your Grandfather doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loki
hung back to walk with Dadron. She really didn’t care what her grandfather
liked or didn’t like. Tim had been her cousin Harry’s best friend all through
childhood. They’d gone through the police academy together, and Tim had joined
the tribal police when Harry had moved to Corpus Christi and joined the police
department there. Living on the reservation kept some of the old myths and
culture alive, but no one believed in Nalusa Falaya. “What do you think he
means by ‘mostly dead’?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Grandfather
asked you to bring Jules with you, didn’t he?” Dadron asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Maybe.”
Loki watched Tim’s back as he stalked away from them. Grandfather hadn’t asked
her to bring Jules, he’d demanded she bring Jules. He’d wanted all three of
them here. “Don’t worry, Dadron. It will be a cold day in hell before they get
their hands on Jules again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-29552324568532558542017-09-30T15:24:00.000-07:002017-09-30T15:25:39.088-07:00NEW! Now Available For Pre-Order - Innocent Blood!The analogy of authoring a book and having a baby has always made me laugh, but in reality it is somewhat similar. Months of planning, plotting, getting to know your characters and finally you're ready to introduce your "new baby" to the world. And you're worried. What if people don't like it? Should I have rewritten that one paragraph? Did I leave any unanswered questions? OMG! Did Tuesday follow Monday?<br />
<br />
Welcome my new baby to the world! Now available for pre-order on Amazon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://getbook.at/InnocentBlood" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oGyrsMgNoeI/WdATQE-laGI/AAAAAAAABbU/gmMx-Wk2QzUf5dlS2RXNHkxu-Ke7wZoXQCLcBGAs/s200/INNOCENT6.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
Loki swore she'd never return to the reservation, but two missing hunters and an ancient Choctaw myth send her and Dadron on a dangerous trek through the wilderness.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile Jake Savior accepts a case to investigate the killings of fellow officers by a Choctaw police officer.<br />
<br />
Are the cases connected?<br />
<br />
They only thing they're sure of is innocent blood has been shed, and more will be shed in the days to come.<br />
<br />
<br />
I often wonder how my characters feel about the parts I give them to play, so I decided I'd ask them just a little bit about how they felt about Innocent Blood.<br />
<br />
<b>Loki:</b> If it weren't for the situation I would have loved the alone with Dadron. But if he calls me momma one more time I'm going to kill him.<br />
<br />
<b>Dadron: </b>I love the wilderness. Loki needs to open her eyes and see that Jules and I are grown up. She doesn't need to protect us anymore. And she did forget our birthday. And not just any birthday, our twenty first birthday.<br />
<br />
<b>Manjael:</b> The Redmonds are a strange lot. They save the lives of those they should kill.<br />
<br />
<b>Jake:</b> Seriously, do I have to get shot or almost killed in every book?<br />
<br />
<b>Harry:</b> You guys really messed up my vacation. No fishing, no hunting, no beer.<br />
<br />
<b>What ARC Reviewers are saying!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sue Kitt McQuaide: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">OMW, Linda Prather delivers outstanding novels EVERY time, I have never been disappointed and Innocent Blood was no exception..... just brilliant!!!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Susan Wallace:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Wow. Absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I love loki. I do hope there is more to come. Highly recommended 5*. Must read.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Julie Simon:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">What a fantastic book!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Kathi Defranc:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Absolutely wonderful story incorporating family ties,love,and desire for riches to the extent of hurting 'loved' ones to keep going.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Kayli:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Innocent Blood was truly an amazing read. I couldn't put it down as I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
Read full reviews on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36312259-innocent-blood?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Stop by tomorrow for a sneak peek at the prologue and Chapter 1.<br />
<br />
Have a lovely evening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-20349643397666158822017-08-05T05:39:00.001-07:002017-08-05T05:39:11.588-07:00Double Jeopardy Blog Tour Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihGdKCF8tGU/WYWZQT7o7tI/AAAAAAAABY8/RosM1lUVAAM9-lD3N-WzfBfebMJyr-vmgCLcBGAs/s1600/51K0xHThVrL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihGdKCF8tGU/WYWZQT7o7tI/AAAAAAAABY8/RosM1lUVAAM9-lD3N-WzfBfebMJyr-vmgCLcBGAs/s320/51K0xHThVrL.jpg" width="209" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">One of the great things about social media is it gives us a chance to sort of meet authors that otherwise we'd never have the opportunity to get to know. M. A. Comley actually introduced me to British writing and British authors, and I moved from there to many British TV police shows. Luther will always be one of my favorite, heart breaking shows to remember. Much like the stories told in movies and television, Mel's books are never one-dimensional. There isn't just a murder, investigation, arrest and end to the book. We get a chance to know the main character, the supporting characters, the families, loves and hates of all those involved, and we get to ride along during the investigation. I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of this blog tour and share my review of Double Jeopardy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><u>DOUBLE JEOPARDY</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Successful entrepreneur, Ross Spalding, has everything to live for; a </span><span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">thriving business, a stunning new home, and a high society wedding to his beautiful fiancee to look forward to in the coming months. That is, until his life comes to an abrupt, gruesome end. DI Hero Nelson and his team need to dig deep to find the reasons behind someone wanting Ross Spalding dead. As more people connected to Ross also die, some in suspicious circumstances, the suspect list grows beyond all expectations, until a major clue presents itself and spins the investigation off in a totally new direction. However, Hero's personal life is also dealt a major blow when his parents are faced with a life or death situation. He is forced to put his personal problems aside when the murderers are revealed and Hero is faced with a tight deadline in which to apprehend them.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><u>MY REVIEW</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
Double Jeopardy is the fourth book in the Hero series, but like all Ms. Comley's books can be read as a stand alone. You're not left hanging at the end waiting for months or sometimes years to find out what really happened. I would recommend you read the other Hero books, but it isn't necessary to read those to thoroughly enjoy this one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I haven't been as big a Hero fan as I am a DI Lorne Warner fan from the Justice series and DI Sally Parker from the Parker series. Perhaps I'm just prone to female leads, but I do love Hero. I quickly became engrossed in his personal and family life, and it was easy for me to feel his pain and heartbreak during certain situations. Double Jeopardy gave me a chance to really get to know Hero better. To meet his wife, mother, father, twin sister and share the love and the pain. I would recommend you keep a box of Kleenex handy when reading this one. I won't share more on that, because with all good books it's difficult to write a great review without giving away spoilers, and as a reader who enjoys finding those things out myself I try to never include spoilers in my reviews.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">One of the things I've loved and hated the most with British TV and British authors is they don't sugar coat life. Crime is ugly, and it's vicious, and not all situations have a happy ending. All of this comes across in every book written by Mel, many of them reading like true crime. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Double Jeopardy captured my attention in the very first scene, and I read it in two sittings, both on the same day, as I simply couldn't put it down until I knew who and why. As with true crime, Mel not only gives you great detectives, teams and families, you also get a chance to know the victims. All characters are well fleshed out, giving you the opportunity to love or hate them. I liked Ross Spalding, but felt in the beginning he might be just a little too good to be true. Was he? You'll have to read the book to find out. I'm not telling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br />
</span></span> I originally thought I knew who and why, but that theory was blown out of the water just a few chapters in and I'm left devouring the pages see to what happens next. So don't get cocky like I sometimes do and think ah, ha, I know who did it. The odds are, that just like me, you're going to be wrong. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I loved being a part of the well thought out, and documented investigation mixed with Hero's personal family struggles, and would rate this another sensational crime/police procedural. I gave it 5 stars, and highly recommend it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x44J55OZYu4/WYWpDFJlg0I/AAAAAAAABZQ/zVE84RCKXP8VcsvbPCb3UbQiR-EEzbxqgCLcBGAs/s1600/M%2BA%2BComley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="166" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x44J55OZYu4/WYWpDFJlg0I/AAAAAAAABZQ/zVE84RCKXP8VcsvbPCb3UbQiR-EEzbxqgCLcBGAs/s200/M%2BA%2BComley.jpg" width="124" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">New York times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career. I'm fortunate to be represented by a top New York agent.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">I share my home with two crazy dogs that like nothing better than to drag their masterful leader (that's me) around the village.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://melcomley.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://melcomley.blogspot.com</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit , serif;"><span style="color: #00635d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Don't Forget To Check Out The Rest Of The Tour</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <br />
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Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-40901753020281597872017-07-06T07:38:00.001-07:002017-07-06T07:38:32.854-07:00Meet The Authors - Lexington Legendary Book Bash<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04Iv02DqnxM/WV5HXDYumVI/AAAAAAAABV0/f--McKxqPTMW91NPn2DLx6G6pXXVWYsygCLcBGAs/s1600/llbb.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="960" height="222" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04Iv02DqnxM/WV5HXDYumVI/AAAAAAAABV0/f--McKxqPTMW91NPn2DLx6G6pXXVWYsygCLcBGAs/s400/llbb.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Saturday - July 8, 2017<br />
Hilton Lexington Suites - Ballroom<br />
245 Lexington Green Circle<br />
Lexington, Kentucky<br />
10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.<br />
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Lots of fun, prizes, meet and greet the authors and pick up some copies of your favorites books autographed by your favorite authors.<br />
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I'll be at table 5 if you love mystery/suspense/crime thrillers and legal thrillers. Stop by and say hi. Something for everyone in all genres, including children's books.<br />
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<br />Linda S. Pratherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551229584027345938.post-82770801169583018662017-05-01T04:59:00.000-07:002017-05-01T04:59:07.313-07:00Cold Case Review - A definite 5* read <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bosses can sometimes be the pits, don't you think? Expecting the impossible. That's how I felt when Sally Parker was handed a ten year old cold case--and given only a few days to solve it, while continuing to work the regular cases that came in. I had to wonder for just a moment if he wanted her to fail. Her team was also shocked, but willing and able to jump in and give it their best.<br />
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One of the most wonderful things about reading Cold Case was the feeling you were there for a ride-a-long with the team. A superb police procedural.<br />
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Anyone connected to the judicial system or law enforcement will grasp immediately the issues related to trying to reconstruct a ten year old murder case. Witnesses forget things, suspects have disappeared, but even worse you have to step on the toes of your fellow officers who originally investigated the crime. Uncovering the mistakes of a fellow officer leads to another dilemma--do you let it go, or turn them in? Sally is faced with all these questions and more.<br />
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Another wonderful thing about reading Cold Case was the true life addition of scenes involving Sally and her team's real life issues. These brief glimpses into the everyday problems of working and living, and having someone target you for revenge, add a special touch to both the characters and the plot. There's nothing one-dimensional about this book. A complex plot with well-developed characters that pulls you in from the very first page, and doesn't let go until the last word.<br />
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Although I tagged this early as a police procedural, I would also have to add the tag thriller due to several very suspenseful moments, and mystery as the ending will both surprise and shock you. Everything a great mystery should do.<br />
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Highly recommended to fans of mystery, thriller, suspense and police procedural--as well as fans of true crime, as it truly reads like true crime. Another excellent addition the the Sally Parker Series. Haven't read any of the earlier books? Check out Wrong Place and No Hiding Place. You won't be disappointed.<br />
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