Six Fabulous Mystery/Thrillers Free with Kindle Unlimited

10 Great Kindle Unlimited Romances - Grab a copy now!

Top 10 Hot New Releases on Kindle

$.99 New Release - Introductory Offer through midnight 8/30/13

If you loved Bet you can't...Find Me, you'll love this one. As a gift to my readers I wanted to offer the second book in the Catherine Mans Psychic Suspense novels at a reduced rate. If you haven't read it and want to--it's currently $.99 also. I hope you enjoy it.





What Readers Are Saying:

I've been waiting months for this second book in the Catherine Mans series...but it was well worth the wait. I read Bet You Can't Find Me (Book 1) and really enjoyed it. However, I think I liked Eternal Beauty even more.

I loved the references to Dante Alighieri, and the "bad guy" was so creepy he gave me nightmares. Seriously.

I loved the team work of the special investigators and how each character was fleshed out with his/her own baggage and flaws and talents. (Interesting characters are what make or break a book for me.) I especially loved how the women of the team, Catherine and Rosetta, worked together like a well-oiled machine.

Nothing in this book - the plot, the characters, the motivations - was predictable. If you enjoy mystery-thrillers, you will love Eternal Beauty. Recommended read!

Love Mysteries? Five Great Freebies!

Det. Roland March is a homicide cop on his way out. But when he's the only one at a crime scene to find evidence of a missing female victim, he's given one last chance to prove himself. Before he can crack the case, he's transferred to a new one that has grabbed the spotlight--the disappearance of a famous Houston evangelist's teen daughter.

With the help of a youth pastor with a guilty conscience who navigates the world of church and faith, March is determined to find the missing girls while proving he's still one of Houston's best detectives.


Years and distance kept the memories at bay. But back at home, the past is ready and waiting to haunt her...

Eighteen years have passed since Joy's childhood best friend, Jenny, met her death in a tragic car accident just a few days after their senior prom. A broken Joy left their small Kentucky hometown shortly after--determined never to come back. But when her father's illness forces her to return, she realizes that neither time nor distance have truly healed her troubled soul.

Plagued with nightmares of the accident and crippled by a vague fear whose source she can't identify, Joy realizes that in order to move on she must face the truth behind several disturbing gaps in her memory of that fateful spring. But the only person who can help her is a man she despises--Jenny's erstwhile boyfriend Jeff, now a respected doctor, whose carelessness as a teenager was the cause of Jenny's horrendous death--and Joy's own emotional destruction. Can she ever forgive? She may have no choice but to try. Because both the danger she sensed--and the childhood friendship she treasured--now suddenly seem very much alive...

“LONG TIME COMING is a remarkably well blended romance and mystery, with fascinating shades of the paranormal. The way each layer of Joy's discovery of her forgotten past is revealed is deftly done and exceptionally suspenseful. The relationship between Joy and her parents is heart warming. This one will have you hooked from the first page.” December 2003 Top Pick. Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine

Book #1 of P.B. Ryan’s bestselling historical mystery series featuring Boston governess Nell Sweeney and opium-smoking former battle surgeon Will Hewitt. Long thought to have died during the Civil War, Will is arrested for murder, and it's up to Nell to prove his innocence. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.

“A beautiful combination of entertaining characters, minute historical research, and a powerful evocation of time and place. I’m very glad there will be more to come.” New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly

“P.B. Ryan makes a stunning debut with Still Life With Murder...I can’t wait for the next installment.” Bestselling author Victoria Thompson

“If you like fast moving, accurately drawn, historical mysteries, you won’t go wrong by trying Still Life With Murder.” Reviewing the Evidence

“Still Life With Murder is sheer perfection... gripping... powerful... unforgettable...You’ll know you’ve read one hell of a story after you turn the last page!” Reader to Reader Reviews

"This is the first book in the acclaimed Gilded Age Mysteries series, and has many things to recommend it... a tidy package of well-drawn characters, lively story and historical verisimilitude." MyShelf.com

Live bait makes all the difference.

Sent on a mission to lure Budapest’s vampire Overlord into a trap, Connie Bence is instead caught red-handed by the dark Casanova.

Her employer has concrete proof of the dubious leader’s misdeeds but she is surprised when this ruthless killer, Rurik, offers her protection and rescues her from his own kind. It plants seeds of doubt in her mind and she begins to question his guilt.

Now she is thrown into his world where blackmail determines her every move and where she must betray those she cares about or let them die. The stakes are high. She either puts her trust in Rurik or leads him to his execution.

Love or life.



Scientist Maryse Robicheaux thought that a lot of her problems had gone away with her mother-in-law’s death. The woman was rude, pushy, manipulative and used her considerable wealth to run herd over the entire town of Mudbug, Louisiana.

Unfortunately, death doesn’t slow down Helena one bit.

DEA Agent Luc LeJeune is wondering what his undercover assignment investigating the sexy scientist has gotten him into – especially as it seems someone wants her dead. Keeping his secrets while protecting Maryse proves to be easier than fighting his attraction for the brainy beauty.

Four Great Romance Freebies!

Sometimes fate needs a little hand...

Santa Claus is going to have a rough season... Lauren Alexander is raising her daughter alone. Abandoned by her family for her decision to keep her daughter Kristen, she has done a pretty good job for the last six years. Or she thought she had. That's why she is crushed when little Kristen gives up her wish for a toy or goodie and instead asks Santa for a present for her mother. She wants Santa to bring a Daddy. Delivering Daddies isn't Santa's bag.

But this Santa has a plan...

Kyle Preston knows what it is like to be abandoned too. Luckily he found the support of loving adoptive parents and has turned himself into one of the most successful Real Estate developers in town.

Building a house is easy. Building someone's trust is a whole other story. But with a little helping hand, a little Christmas magic can make all the difference in the world.

Excerpt:

"You don't have to be afraid. This will explain it all. I promise you." He smiled warmly and Lauren wanted to trust him if only to believe in simple kindness.

With shaking hands, she took the piece of paper, warm from being in the pocket close to Kyle's body. She held it up straight so that she could see Kyle while reading the words on the paper.

"Dear Santa..." she read out loud, then read the next part silently. "Oh, no," she groaned.

"I know. That's just how I felt."

Lauren shot him a skeptical glance. "How did you get this?"

"Kristen gave it to me."

"That's impossible. Mrs. Hopkins just helped her with it this afternoon and-"
"And she gave it to me in the Mall," Kyle finished for her.

She looked at him quizzically, still trying to comprehend the course of events leading up to his seizure of her daughter's precious note.

"It's not that hard to figure out, Lauren," Kyle said warmly.

His dark eyes gleamed with the light from the lamppost. He wore no hat to protect his head from the falling snow. Now his hair was filled with powdered flakes, matting it down.

His grin was bright and wide as he informed her, "I'm Santa Claus."


When opposites attract...

The last thing Jenna Landry wants is to fall in love. The former rock musician is getting ready to start a new job and a new life in L.A., and she's only back in her hometown for the summer. Nothing could tempt her to stay any longer than that...not even the sexy doctor next door.

Michael Stone has a reputation for being as cold as ice. So what is it about his free-spirited neighbor that sets him on fire? The strait-laced M.D. has his hands full with his career and his teenage daughter, and even if he were looking for a relationship, he knows Jenna is all wrong for him.

So why does being with her feel so right?

Cross My Heart is a contemporary romance novel of 60,000 words. It's the second book about the Landry family, but it can be read on its own. The newest book in the series, Into Your Arms, is available now!


Alice is all grown up. Running the Mad Hatter's Cupcakery and Tea Shoppe is a delicious job, until fate--and a fairy godmother with a weakness for bad boys--throws her a curveball. Now, Alice is the newest resident of Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter fuels her fantasies and thrills her body with his dark touch.

The Mad Hatter may have a voice and a body made for sex, but he takes no lovers. Ever. But a determined fairy godmother has forced Alice into Wonderland--and his arms. Now, as desire and madness converge, the Hatter must decide if he will fight the fairy godmother's mating--or fight for Alice.

In this new sexy contemporary romance novella from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre, can Noah convince Colbie they are meant to be together in ONE PERFECT NIGHT? Guest starring Mia Sullivan and Rafe Sullivan from Bella Andre’s Sullivan family series, ONE PERFECT NIGHT is 20,000 words / 100 pages.

One touch...One kiss…
The first time Noah Bryant meets Colbie Michaels, they collide at the top of a snowy mountain in California and sparks fly. Swamped by sudden emotion—and a desire she can’t control—Colbie panics. Before he can get her phone number or last name, she’s gone. When they end up serendipitously meeting in Seattle one week later, Noah is certain Colbie is his destiny, and he can’t make the mistake of losing her again.

One night...One forever love…
Colbie wants to believe in a happily-ever-after, but experience tells her falling for Noah is more likely to lead to a broken heart. Only, how can she resist him as he sets out to prove that they’re destined to be together? Especially when he’s intent on fulfilling every last one of her secret desires and he’s willing to keep proving it to her every day...and every sweet and sinful night.

Summer Mood Reads

In the mood for a taut, thrilling ride for justice?



Ready to slow down, relax and fall in love?




How about an afternoon of laughter or just something different?

Prologue -Guaranteed Justice - A Guaranteed Winner!

GUARANTEED JUSTICE

PROLOGUE

Linda Carter glanced the handsome onlooker’s way for what must have been the hundredth time. His broad smile beamed back at her.

Abigail’s elbow connected with her ribs. She winced.

“Girl, does he have the hots for you or what?”

“Behave yourself, Abigail.” Linda blushed. She hoped he wouldn’t notice in the dimmed lights of the nightclub.

After another dig in the ribs, she issued her friend a warning glare.

“Oh my God! He’s coming this way,” Abigail said behind her hand.

Before Linda had the chance to look in his direction, she felt his arm slink around her waist and his hot breath heating up her neck.

“Oh my God” is right!

Abigail drifted away through the crowd. Linda and the hunk danced for the next half an hour or so before they moved over to the bar. He bought the drinks while Linda went to the ladies’ to powder her nose.

She returned and downed her drink in one gulp before he eagerly steered her back onto the dance floor. Was it a coincidence that the music tempo changed to a slow number?

He held her tightly and rubbed his groin against hers. A tingly sensation took over her body as his kisses burned first her earlobe then her cheek.

His hot breath lingered by her ear, and he whispered, “What do you say we get outta here?”

Linda didn’t need asking twice. He was easily the best-looking guy in the club, and he wanted to leave with her. What more could a girl want? She nervously moistened her lips, then nodded her agreement.

He took her by the hand and led her through the heaving club and the main door. She smiled shyly as he shared a private joke with the doorman.

“Where are we going?” Linda asked sheepishly after they reached his Ferrari.

“Thought we’d go back to my place for a nightcap. Is that all right with you?”

She answered him by jumping in the passenger seat. They engaged in light, flirty conversation for the next ten minutes or so before he guided the car into an underground car park. He applied the handbrake, then slid a lazy hand up her thigh. He lingered at the hem of her mini-skirt for a second or two.

Her eyes automatically clenched shut, and she held her breath, anticipating his next movement.

He surprised her by laughing softly and ran his tongue up her right cheek. Linda shuddered as the excitement stirred.

“Not here. Come on,” he told her, his tone sexy and full of promise.

Linda stumbled from the car as if drunk with happiness when he held the door open for her.

“Oops! Steady girl,” she reprimanded herself, pulling her shoulders back. She giggled and asked, words slurred, “You wicked man. Did you slip an extra voddy in my drink?”
His hand covered his chest, and he innocently fluttered his eyelashes at her. “Moi?”
Then he gripped her elbow, and they moved toward the elevator in the corner. The bell tinged, and the doors slid open. With every passing floor, his kisses became hotter and more urgent, until finally, with Linda gasping for air, the doors opened to an illuminated view of London.

“Wow! You live in a penthouse.” She made her way over to the full-length window, her feet sinking into the luxury carpet beneath.

He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Sod the view. I have something crying out for your attention.” His tone was flat.

She felt a stiffness rubbing up and down her backside. She didn’t have to be a genius to figure out what it was.

In a flash he’d turned her to face him. His arms pulled hers behind her. His handsome face had contorted with what appeared to be anger.

Confusion made her ask, “Is something wrong?” Her head swam. Was that the drink or the confusion?

Then she heard a click behind her back and thought she felt cold metal clasp her wrists.

His lips turned up at the corner. “You’ve been begging for this for weeks. Now you’re going to get it.”

Scared, Linda wriggled her arms, trying to release her hands. It dawned on her that they were being restrained by cuffs. “Please, I don’t know what you mean.”

“You know exactly what I mean. Your type take pleasure in leading men on. You prick teaser. Well, I’ll teach you. Take your punishment, or I’ll go after your sister, bitch…”

Linda opened her mouth, but before she got the chance to scream, his mouth roughly claimed hers. His hands tore at the buttons on her silk blouse. Linda squirmed, but his superior strength overpowered her feeble effort.

It wasn’t long before the metallic taste of blood ran between her teeth and down the back of her throat.

His hand thrust up her skirt, and he tore her panties aside. She sucked in a panicked breath.

Everything went black.

* * *

When Linda Carter regained consciousness, she felt dirty. Disgusted. More so with herself than with the bastard who had raped her.

She was lying in an alley. It took her a while to get her bearings and recognise her surroundings. She heard the drunken revellers leaving the nightclub. Even saw a few of the men relieving themselves against the alley walls before they staggered back out onto the high street.

All of them were oblivious to the fact that Linda was in desperate need of medical care.

Please. Somebody please help me!

The attack was a fuzzy image in her mind. When she ran a cautious hand over her limbs, she flinched at the pain her body was in. Her clothes were torn, and her knickers had been removed.

How could she have put herself in such a dangerous position? One minute she was dancing and enjoying herself on the dance floor with her friend; the next she was being led outside by the charmer who had been eyeing her up all evening. Foolishly and against her better judgement, she had allowed him to entice her to leave the safety of the club.

Why did I go with him? When he started to lead her out of the club her inner voice had warned her to be careful, but blinded by his handsome features and charming nature, she had obstinately refused to listen.

Her legs wobbled beneath her as she tried her hardest to get off the cold, damp ground.

Finally she found the strength, with the aid of the knobbly wall behind her, to successfully hoist herself to her feet. The pain forced her to steady herself for a moment. Once she’d caught her breath she hobbled, inching her way slowly up the length of the alley towards the entrance.

Every time she put her left foot on the ground, the pain from her injured ankle surged up her leg and rattled through her aching body. She winced as she battled through the discomfort.

When she finally reached the opening onto the high street, she raised her hand to hail an approaching taxi. She felt relieved when he pulled to a stop in front of her instead of the drunken group messing around about fifty feet ahead, though the screech of tyres in the dimly lit street jangled her frayed nerves.

“Where to, love?” the driver asked. His eyebrows knitted together as he studied her in his rear-view mirror. When she didn’t answer, he turned in his seat. He inhaled in a startled breath and mumbled, “Jesus... I’m taking you to the hospital, right away.”

That was the night Linda Carter’s life changed forever.

 

25 Free Kindle Ebooks - Mystery, Romance, Fantasy and Horror

Prices are always subject to change, so make sure the book is still free.


Mystery and Suspense




Romance



Fantasy



Horror

Grab a slice of homemade pie and a page turning mystery!

Pie, pie, me oh my,
Nothing tastes better, wet, salty and dry,
all at once – oh, well it’s pie.
Apple and pumpkin and mince and black bottom,
I’ll come to your place every day if you’ve got ‘em.
Pie, me oh my, I love piiiiieeeeeee

Have you seen the movie "Michael"? If you haven't and you love a good John Travolta sweet, love story, with a not so normal angel, you should. Great movie, and it makes me want to create some pies.

No-Bake Pie

3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powered sugar
8 oz. frozen dairy topping, thawed
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
dash of cinnamon
1 cup evaporated milk

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar and milk. Beat until smooth. Gently fold in whipped topping. Pour into pie shell. Freeze 4 to 6 hours. Thaw 10 minutes before serving.

Sweet Potato Pie

1 large can sweet potatoes, drained and mashed
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 stick butter
dash of cinnamon
1 cup evaporated milk

Mix all together. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes in buttered casserole dish.

Topping

1 cup crushed corn flakes
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter

Sprinkle over top and bake 15 minutes

Chocolate Chess Pie

2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 Tbsp. flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 stick margarine, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 9" pie crust; if frozen use deep-dish type

Blend cocoa, sugar, and flour. Add margarine and mix well. This must be done as a first step. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add milk and vanilla. Blend. Pour into pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Cherry Macaroon Pie

1 can cherry pie filling
1 9" pie crust
1 egg
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
1 1/4 cup coconut

Pour cherry filling into crust. Beat together egg and milk. Add sugar, flour, sal, almond extract and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in coconut. Pour over pie filling. Bate at 375 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes or until puffed and light brown. Cool before serving.

Million Dollar Pie

1/4 cup lemon juice
1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped nuts
graham cracker crust
1 large can fruit cocktail, drained
1 can pineapple, drained
1 large container Cool whip

Mix ingredients together and pour into crust. Chill at least 4 hours.

Apple Custard Pie

1 3/4 cup sugar
4 cups applesauce
1/2 cup flour
3 eggs
1 stick margarine
1 lemon - add juice to applesauce

Cream sugar, eggs, butter and flour; add applesauce and beat about 2 minutes. Pour into 2 unbaked pie shells and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Strawberry Sour Cream Pie

2 1/2 cups strawberries (sliced)
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 cup sour cream

Mix sugar, flour, and sour cream. Add sliced berries. Pour into unbaked shell and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 and bake an additional 30 minutes.


So grab a piece of pie and a great, page-turning mystery and have a great day!





Also available on B & N, Apple and Kobo

erotic Favoriten von British Autor Tiffany Towers

Kurzbeschreibung

Nineteen-year-old Sian tells her parents she intends working on a ranch during the summer holidays.

Her first encounter with surly cowboy Randy is a strained one. During their first ride out Randy has to rescue Sian after a fall. In her eyes, there's only one way to repay him.

Short story of 6000 words.

Warning over 18s only!

Amazon

Kurzbeschreibung
Setting sail for the first time on the high seas, Amelia Lockhart is on a journey that will alter her life forever.
Against her better judgement, Amelia’s father insists she travels to Ireland to meet her intended. A day into the long journey, the ship comes under attack from ruthless pirates.
Where will Amelia’s frightening encounter end?

6000 words.

Over 18s only.

Amazon

Kurzbeschreibung


When Jenny Saunders is asked by a colleague to accompany him to a business dinner, a man she's had her eye on for years, she finds it impossible to say no.

But something happens on the way to the dinner that turns Jenny's world on its head.

Can Steve successfully show this virgin what she's been missing out on all these years?

Short story 6000 words.

Warning over 18s only.

Amazon

Kurzbeschreibung



Widow Cindy Short lost her husband two years ago and has been without a love interest ever since. But things are about to change. During the night-shift at a supermarket, a stranger tempts and teases her showing her exactly what she's been missing since her husband's death.

A short story of 5000 words.

Warning this is for +18s

Amazon

Kurzbeschreibung


If a stranger walked up to you in a bar and asked, "Fancy a slow comfortable screw?" What would your response be?

Read on to find out what Charlie did next.

A 5000 word short story.

Warning +18s only!


Amazon

Kurzbeschreibung


After her relationship falters, Melissa returns home to her parents only to discover that Tyler, the man she used to be involved with still has feelings for her.
But one thing stands in the way of them rekindling their romance. Tyler is engaged to another woman.
Melissa's troubles don't end there though. At a family barbecue, she has a creepy encounter with a dangerous admirer who doesn't understand the meaning of the word no.

Amazon

Kurzbeschreibung
Purchasing this collection of short stories means you get a 20% discount.
All titles are available as single stories.
Slow Comfortable Screw
If a stranger walked up to you in a bar and asked, "Fancy a slow comfortable screw?" What would your response be?

Read on to find out what Charlie did next.

A 5000 word short story.

Warning +18s only!

He Came By Night
Widow Cindy Short lost her husband two years ago and has been without a love interest ever since. But things are about to change. During the night-shift at a supermarket, a stranger tempts and teases her showing her exactly what she's been missing since her husband's death.

A short story of 5000 words.

Warning this is for +18s
The Virgin’s Tutor
When Jenny Saunders is asked by a colleague to accompany him to a business dinner, a man she's had her eye on for years, she finds it impossible to say no.

But something happens on the way to the dinner that turns Jenny's world on its head.

Can Steve successfully show this virgin what she's been missing out on all these years?

Short story 6000 words.

Warning over 18s only.

Amazon

Kurzbeschreibung


Sally can't think of anything more romantic than losing her virginity while sailing
the Caribbean. But all her plans go awry when the boat is hijacked by modern
day pirates, and the man she's with is unable to defend her.

Now Sally must decide how far she's willing to go to win her freedom.



An erotic thriller of 9000 words.
Over 18s only.

Amazon

The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery

PROLOGUE

Corrine Larson bit her lip, stifling a scream as she turned slightly, struggling to open her eyes. She couldn’t remember if he’d beaten her for one hour or six, but she knew she was dying. Her body begging to shut down. She’d never heard the death rattle, but she recognized it now, deep inside her chest, with each shallow, painful breath.

Managing only a narrow slit with her left eye, she stared at him, conveying her hatred. He’d used her, and because of her, others would die. A small whimper escaped her lips before she could stop it. It wasn’t for her. She didn’t mind dying. Except for. . .

Corrine fought the thoughts threatening to overwhelm her, concentrating on the new pain caused by the salty tears coursing down her face. Her tortured mind honed in on her one satisfaction. That one ray of light in the darkness: She hadn’t told him everything.

Drawing in one last ragged breath, she closed her eye, allowing the feel of the cool damp concrete to soothe her burning body. It was almost over.

He whistled softly, a haunting rendition of I Saw the Light, as he loaded the gun.

Corrine turned her thoughts to Sarah and her child. He would kill them. Or worse. Another whimper escaped her lips. Why? Why hadn’t she just left it alone? Sarah had been safe. Her child had been safe. And now, because her reporter’s nose had sniffed a story they were all going to die.

Emotional pain washed over her in waves, drowning out the physical pain. Hurting even worse. There had to be something she could do. Some way to undo the damage she’d done.

She sifted through her memory, searching, rejecting and searching again. She’d written an article once about a psychic who believed your dying thoughts could travel across time and space, influencing the outcome of events to come. Maybe the psychic was right. Maybe if she tried hard enough she could reach across time and space. Warn Sarah.

Rough hands jerked at her hair, raising her from the bloody warehouse floor. She felt the cold steel pressed against the back of her head, heard the sound of the gun cocking. She’d always thought her dying thoughts would be of Rob or Gavin; instead, she honed on in the image of Sarah and her child. As the bullet shattered her brain, she held the image in her mind and silently screamed, He’s coming Sarah. He wants to destroy you.

# # #

Murder is a sin. You’ll go to hell.

“It wasn’t murder—it was self defense.”

He hated the voice in his head. She was always bitching at him. Always butting in. Preaching. A cruel smile twisted the handsome features. Today it didn’t matter. Today was a day of celebration. Soon he’d have what was rightfully his. All the years of waiting would be over. Whistling softly, he pulled away from the dumpster and parked the car. Just a few little things to finish. Pulling the police cap down low he entered the apartment building.

“Evening officer, can I help you?”

“Just delivering some luggage to Ms. Larson.”

The security guard checked the register. “Looks like Ms. Larson is out this evening.”

“Yeah, I know. She gave me a key and told me to set it inside the door. Working on some big story and needed to meet the mayor or somebody. Don’t know why the city wants to waste the taxpayers’ money and use me as her damn courier, but here I am.”
The guard grinned. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” Shrugging in sympathy, he turned his attention to the crossword puzzle. “Go on up.”

He walked slowly, taking his time. The bitch had been tougher than he’d thought. She’d cost him a whole fucking day. He wouldn’t rush things now, though. Everything had to play out just right. All he had to do was make it look like she’d never left town.

What if she told someone?

The thought enraged him. He cursed softly as he slipped the key into the lock. That was the trouble with women—they talked too damn much.

And she wouldn’t scream, would she?

He clenched his fists. The bitch just wouldn’t scream. A deep ache started inside his groin. No screaming and no satisfaction. Too old. He liked them young, breasts just starting to bud. Like the one he’d glimpsed in the alley on his way in. Maybe she was still there. Maybe. . .

Unclenching his fists, he ignored the voice. It didn’t matter. He had what he wanted. Setting the luggage inside the door, he relocked it and pulled out the faded snapshot from his shirt pocket. He felt it then. Joy. Pure unadulterated joy. She would scream. Scream for every one of the six long years he’d wasted searching for her.
Laughing he placed the photo back inside his pocket. Time could be cruel, but not this time. He’d been given a bonus. Oh, yes, a definite bonus. Maybe he’d let Sarah live and just take the child. He liked that idea.

The throbbing in his groin increased, reminding him he had a mission to complete. Checking his gun, he screwed the silencer into place. The cameras had seen only what he wanted them to see, but the guard would have to be dealt with. He chuckled. Everyone knew about the corruption in the police ranks. The bitch had actually written an article on it. By the time they stopped chasing that lead, he’d be long gone.

The security guard glanced up as the elevator doors opened. “Everything okay, buddy?”
“Everything is just fine now,” he said, raising the gun. He chuckled again at the look of surprise that crossed the guard’s face, right before the bullet pierced his heart.

Murder is a sin.

“I told you, it’s not my fault. She’s the reason I have to kill.”

You like killing.

He whistled as he exited the building and glanced at the dumpster. He didn’t like killing. He was just cleaning up the trash.

Clouds hung low in the sky, threatening to open up any minute. He listened to the whimpers coming from the alley. She was still there. An omen. It really was his lucky day. He approached her slowly, his voice low and gentle. “Aren’t you a little young to be out this late at night?” The girl stopped her whimpering and looked at him. He saw the fear reflected in her deep blue eyes slowly dissipate as she looked at the uniform. She nodded. Smiling, he held out his hand. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
Excitement coursed through his body as she placed her small hand in his. This one would be a screamer. Whistling softly, he buckled her in and brushed the blonde curls away from her face. “Did you know tomorrow is Mother’s Day?”





OTHER BOOKS BY LINDA S. PRATHER

$.99 Labor of Love Book Sale - Horror, Suspense, Mystery and Paranormal

Horror, Suspense, Mystery and Paranormal - not for the faint-hearted:

DEEDS OF MERCY by M.P. McDonald In No Good Deed: Book One in the Mark Taylor Series, Mark Taylor discovers first hand that no good deed goes unpunished when the old camera he found during a freelance job in an Afghanistan bazaar gives him more than great photos. It triggers dreams of disasters. Tragedies that happen exactly as he envisions them. He learns that not only can he see the future, he can change it. In Deeds of Mercy: Book Three, an unexpected visitor from Mark's past brings him unwanted attention from the authorities. Unable to decide who is friend and who is foe, Mark becomes a fugitive from the law, but with thousands of lives at stake, he is forced to put aside his fear of capture, and instead, seek help from his pursuers.

CRUEL JUSTICE by M.A. Comley The headless body of a wealthy widow is discovered decomposing in Chelling Forest. Then a second victim is found. Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins and her partner, DS Pete Childs are assigned the case. Before they can discover the identity of the killer they must make a connection between the two victims. After a third murder, Lorne receives a grisly surprise. Clearly, a vicious serial killer is on a rampage...and Lorne has become the killer's fixation. Lorne can't allow her failing marriage or her new boss--a man with whom she shares a sensuous secret--keep her from focusing on her job. She must catch the macabre murderer, or risk becoming the next victim.

THE DEVIL IN THE WOODS by Heather Graham In this novella by NYT bestseller Heather Graham, Christina Hardy and Jed Braden (The Seance) head down to Miami to help out when there's a death in a friend's family. But the old family residence, in a little known overgrown area of the beach , was filled with legends, especially that of a "devil in the woods." Strange events begin to occur, and the group is left to wonder if the stories they told around campfires on dark nights as children might have some essence of truth. Is murder always committed by men, or does a demon lurk in the mangroves and the water, and prey upon the unwary?

THE UNSEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff A terrifying novel of suspense based on the Rhine parapsychology experiments at Duke University After experiencing a precognitive dream that ends her engagement and changes her life forever, a young psychology professor from California decides to get a fresh start by taking a job at Duke University in North Carolina. She soon becomes obsessed with the files from the world-famous Rhine parapsychology lab experiments, which attempted to prove ESP really exists. Along with a handsome professor, she uncovers troubling cases, including one about a house supposedly haunted by a poltergeist, investigated by another research team in 1965. Unaware that the entire original team ended up insane or dead, the two professors and two exceptionally gifted Duke students move into the abandoned mansion to replicate the investigation, with horrifying results.

THE GIN PALACE by Daniel Judson Declan “Mac” MacManus, some-time PI turned full-time Southampton cabbie, has had to endure much in his young life: the loss of family and friends, grave bodily injuries at the hands of ruthless enemies, and the knowledge that more than a few lives have been shattered by the decisions fate has forced him to make. But nothing of what Mac has encountered—and nothing of what he now knows about his own mysterious past—can compare to what awaits him in the heart-pounding final installment of The Gin Palace Trilogy. On a cold winter night, a troubled woman enters Mac’s cab and within moments sets into motion a series of devastating events that will test the young MacManus to his very soul. As he chases down leads, and his losses once again begin to mount, Mac finds himself dangerously close to a line he swore he’d never cross. And when one utterly unbearable loss threatens to transform him into an avenging angel, it is an unlikely ally—a stranger stalking him like a shadow—that may very well be the difference between Mac’s final act of self-destruction or his ultimate salvation.

THE FOREVER GIRL by Rebecca Hamilton "Whatever you do, fight." Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves. At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her. Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

BET YOU CAN'T FIND ME by Linda Prather
Imagine a killer who can kill at will from a distance. No gun, no weapon. Nothing more than a thought.
Catherine Mans has the ability to see and hear what others can’t. With the help of Homicide Sergeant Cody Allen, she’s turned that talent into a successful profession as a psychic consultant.
But Catherine’s past is coming back to haunt her. Someone is threatening the lives of everyone she loves.

Nine bodies have been discovered, and Catherine is the FBI’s prime suspect. To prove her innocence, she must unravel the secrets of her past, and answer the challenge of a deranged psychic.
Bet you can’t…FIND ME!

Labor of Love - $.99 Book Sale

Five great Kindle Books - FREE

New Release - Foul Justice by M. A. Comley

Foul Justice by Mel Comley

Prologue

Trisha Dobbs cowered in the corner. She wrapped her trembling arms around her two small children and kept her gaze on the three men ransacking her immaculate home. “Don’t hurt us anymore, please!”

The man snarled and ordered, “Get the rope and tie them up.”

Trisha gasped, and he turned to look at her, his eyes narrowed. She quickly averted her eyes, not wishing to annoy the man further. She’d already lashed out at him while trying to protect her son and daughter when the three brutes had forced their way into the house. He had a gash above his right eye where her flailing fist had connected, and she had a gash across her cheek where he’d retaliated without hesitation. She’d sensed, then, that she and her children were in for a rough ride and that the man was used to getting his way with women, one way or another.

“Mummy, I want to go toilet,” little Rebecca said as tears welled in her bright blue eyes. Trisha comforted the child and kissed her forehead reassuringly.

“Sssh, hon, try and hold on. Go through your alphabet to take your mind off it, like I told you. A is for apple, B is for—”

“Shut the fuck up, bitch,” the man snapped, his voice filled with venom.

“I… I’m sorry—” Trisha stopped when the man rushed at her and ripped her daughter from her grasp.

“Mummy!”

“No! I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt my baby.” Trisha sobbed and clung tightly to her two-year-old son, Jacob.

The man picked up Rebecca and roughly dropped her on the large white leather sofa opposite her mother. Trisha soon saw the trickle of yellow liquid drip down the sofa onto the rug below. Sensing danger, she placed a finger to her lips to warn her daughter to keep quiet. Rebecca covered her mouth as her shoulders trembled, and tears cascaded down her flushed cheeks. Too far from her mother’s reach, the four year old was petrified.

The man in charge towered over Trisha, his body blocking the light from the crystal chandelier overhead. “What time will he be home?”

With the man intimidating her, Trisha found it impossible to think properly. She glanced up at the lion head–shaped gold wall clock hanging above the fireplace. “Dave should be home at any minute,” she told him in a quivering voice.

The men had come at eight o’clock, and it was now half past ten. Trisha’s husband always arrived home around eleven on match days when he played at home. He generally declined going for a drink with the rest of the team after work. He was the type who preferred to keep out of the limelight, and he hated the notoriety connected with his job. Given the option, he would choose to be home with his family, unlike most of his teammates, who appeared to revel in fighting off the paparazzi at London’s elite nightclubs.

One of the men tied her arms behind her back before moving on to little Jacob. Her heart went out to her baby, and wanting to protect him, she pleaded, “Stop! He’s only a child. What harm can he do? Please don’t tie him up.”

Appearing uncertain, the man looked over his shoulder at his boss, who glared and nodded for him to continue.

Jacob cried out in pain as the man roughly wrapped the rope around his fragile wrists.

“It’s okay, sweetie. Show Mummy how brave you can be.” Trisha tried to reassure him, hoping to prolong the charade that they were all playing a bizarre game.

Soon both children were sobbing uncontrollably, and Trisha, numb with helplessness, felt as though she’d been stabbed numerous times in the chest. My God, what can I do to get out of this?

“Go upstairs and start on the bedroom. Tear it to pieces if you have to,” the man in charge ordered.

Trisha tried hard not to give anything away with her facial expressions under the man’s intensive stare. She felt confident the gang wouldn’t find the safe tucked under the floorboards in the master bedroom, but considering the mess they’d made of her beautiful home since their arrival, anything was possible.

The man in charge took a step toward her. “If you don’t tell me where the jewellery is, I’m gonna start hurting the kids.”

Knowing she couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer, she sighed. “In the back bedroom.”

“Where?”

“In the wardrobe. On the shelf, there’s a box.”

He leaned close and ran his thumb from one side of his throat to the other. “If you’re tricking me…” Jacob was sitting beside her, and the man yanked the boy’s head back. “He gets it, you hear me?”

“Yes, I understand. My jewellery is in that room. I don’t have much. You think we’re rich, but we’re not. This house is mortgaged to the hilt. All our furniture is on Hire Purchase. Dave doesn’t make the kind of wages reported in the papers, I swear,” she told him between sobs. Stay strong for the kids’ sakes.

“You think I’ve got ‘fucking idiot’ tattooed on my forehead, bitch? What do you take me for?”

“I’m sorry. It’s the truth. You have to believe me.”

“Oh, do I now? You blondes are all the same—thick as shit! You think you can wrap us men around your fingers, don’t ya?”

Trisha remained silent.

The man went into the hallway and shouted up the stairs, “The spare room at the back, in the wardrobe, on the shelf. Let me know when you find something.”

Trisha squeezed her eyes shut and tried to visualise what jewellery she had put in the specific box. Her heart sank when she remembered she’d placed nothing spectacular there. All her best jewellery, Christmas and birthday presents that Dave had bought her, were safely tucked away under the floorboards. She hoped and prayed the children wouldn’t give her away, for all their sakes.

“Something wrong?” The man was in her face again, his eyes glinting with pure evil.

She wanted to be her usual sarcastic self, but the present time wasn’t appropriate. “No. Just hoping Dave returns home soon.”

“So am I,” he said, before releasing a full belly laugh.

A few minutes later, the other two men returned to the living room and handed the box to the man in charge. He threw the glass of brandy he’d poured himself across the room and marched towards her. “Is this it?”

 She gulped. “Yes, I told you, we’re not wealthy. I—”

“That’s bullshit, lady, and we both fuckin’ know it. Where is it? This is your final chance or the kid gets it.”

Words stuck in her throat as the three intruders eyed her with contempt. Suddenly, the man in charge reached out and yanked Jacob to his feet. The man pulled out a knife and placed it against her terrified son’s neck. Trisha watched in horror as the blade sank into her child’s skin, and droplets of blood trailed down onto his white T-shirt, followed by his terrified tears.

“Please! I’ll tell you. Don’t hurt my baby.”

“I’m waiting.”

“In the main bedroom—you have to move the bed—there’s a small safe in the floorboards under the rug.”

He nodded for his men to go back upstairs and check. Seconds later, he received a shout that they’d located it, and seconds after that, little Jacob lay in a heap on the shag carpet, his throat slit from ear to ear.   

Day 6 of Enter to Win a Kindle or $125.00 Gift Card from Amazon

Wow, it's been a great week with some great prizes and I've had a lot of fun. I hope you have too. Just for your information--TOMMORROW WILL BE RECAP DAY! I will post the winners from all six days again tomorrow, and instructions on how to claim your prize if you haven't already. Although there will be no prizes tomorrow you can still make an entry for the Kindle Giveaway. I will also be posting the names of all entrants so you can double check to make sure you're entered.


IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL PRIZES NOT CLAIMED BY SUNDAY 5/29/11 WILL BE FORFEITED AND REDRAWN FOR NEW WINNERS! You will still be in the drawing for the Kindle, but will forfeit the earlier prize.

If you haven't entered before, please check out ENTER TO WIN A KINDLE from Day 1 for Rules.

Today's Prizes are:

1) Alex Knight - What Luck

2) Tim Ellis - Warrior: Scourge of The Steppe

3) Trine Daely - Life Games

4) Debra L. Martin - Quest For Nobility

5) Samantha Fury - Street Justice - Charlie's Angel

6) Stephen Hise - Creepier By The Dozen

8) Gary Hoover - Land of Nod, The Artifact

9) Vickie Johnstone - Kaliedoscope

10) Linda Prather - The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery

Thursday's Tease--Just $.99

Lt. Samantha (Sam) Collins, a firefighter, vanishes after a warehouse fire the week before she was to testify at her estranged husband’s trial for drug charges. The only clue to her disappearance is a firefighter helmet that was left behind at the scene.
Rachel Scott founded Florida Omni Search after her own daughter disappeared when she was four. She has worked with law enforcement agencies all over the United States in locating missing people. Sam’s mother calls Rachel for assistance in locating her daughter. However, the search for Sam takes her on a journey that she never expected.
As she digs deeper into Sam’s past, she finds out more about the marijuana operation that her husband Ken, a former police officer, was involved with.
In her desperate, terrifying search for Sam, Rachel also discovers clues about her own missing daughter, Mallory.
Will she locate Samantha in time and also find out what happened to her own daughter?



I have this one on my TBR list, and having read several excerpts I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it. Check out a sample or buy now!

Amazon