In the town of Black Oak, nothing is ever what it seems. Besides the wrangling local country-types, the city is marred by a history of indiscretions, murders, and no-named civilians perpetrating as heroes. But beneath the surface of this "run of the mill," Midwestern locale lurks a pervasive past that is about to come full circle: like a blazing blood moon.
Mark is an unassuming trucker who has fallen for a beautiful clerk working at a “Mom & Pop” store named Sharon, and nothing else in the world matters more than stealing her heart. But after making a run into the Bayou to deliver a package, destiny steps in and serves him a plate of "the unexpected," which sparks the flames of wickedness that will set his hometown ablaze. And as the secrets buried in this town begin to unearth, the truth will fan those burning flames until there is nothing left but ashes and chaos.
In the end, the only mystery left to solve will be if this is isolated to one town or involve the fate of the entire world...
FOREWORD REVIEW: "...full of interesting characters who hold attention...the secrets of their home are a binding force that brings the tale together."
CLARION RATING: 4/5 "In the fantasy novel Black Oak, citizens across two ears reckon with strange creatures among them."
Sharon couldn’t
contain her laughter. The conversation seemed to be leading to a much more
relaxed place for Mark, and that had to be a good sign. Sharon playfully pushed
Mark and prodded him on. “Tell me the story your mom told you, silly,” she
said. ”What was it about?”
“Okay. Now I
know this might sound kind of crazy to you, but she would tell me about these
wild beasts in the Black Oaks.”
“Are you
serious?” asked Sharon.
Mark nodded.
“Very.”
“Well, to be
honest, I’ve heard that story over a million times too.”
“Word?”
“Yeah. What, you
thought you were the only one it was told to? This is Wichita, Mark. Everyone
here has heard that story before. My dad used to tell my cousin and me that
story every weekend and virtually every day she was sleeping over during the
summer. He said that the forest was run by wild animals with long fangs and
claws that could rip a man to shreds with one swing. Said they’d harvest your
heart for food and drink your blood like wine.”
“Word? Like
werewolves?” Mark asked.
“Yeah. Sorta. I
remember how my mom would lean against the threshold of my room, listening with
a serious look on her face as if the story my dad was telling us was the truth.
And no matter how many times it was told to me, it would always sound the same.
Wild beasts, murderous rampages and mysterious sightings in Kansas, especially
in the Black Oak Forest. I brushed it off as a myth because it always sounded
like some werewolf story to me. But some people say the stories are real
because they’ve been told for over a hundred years in Wichita. Who knows, maybe
it all could be the truth. But I never have nor do I now give it too much
thought. I tend to put my faith in what I can see, and I’ve never seen anything
like what my father and others describe in those stories.”
“Me either,”
said Mark.
“Well, I tend to
live by one rule when it comes to wives’ tales. If it doesn’t happen to me,
it’s not real. So since neither of us has ever seen one before, they don’t
exist. And that means it was just a story. Something to tell unruly kids, like
you and me, to keep us in line.”
About the Author:
Titus Murphy was born and raised on the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana. From a small child, there was an overarching desire for Titus to do one thing: win. His drive and determination drove him to succeed. Armed with a strong mind, a quick wit, and a sharp tongue, he set out to emblaze his mark on everyone he would encounter. Unknown to him were the overwhelming obstacles and seemingly insurmountable tragedy he would have to endure. From this devastation came a resolve fueled by an uncompromising commitment that resonates through every aspect of his life. Forced from the city he knew and loved, Titus relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. It was there his desire and commitment came together resolutely to birth a dream that had long been held in his heart. Oblivious to detraction, and beyond all doubt, Titus would become an author. From the streets of New Orleans that marked his life, to the ink-graced pages upon which he now pours his soul, Titus Murphy has come to show the world that he is truly…something more.
The Queen of Harlem Commandments is the first book by Michelle Smalls, a Harlem powerhouse who turned her pain into prosperity by following a code of conduct she first learned living the life of a street boss. Ms. Smalls's journey is not unlike many young women of color living in the inner cities that learn early in life how to rise above pain, loss, and disappointment.
Through it all, the Queen made no excuses. Instead, she made commandments.
This book shares Ms. Smalls' moments of heartache, triumphs, betrayal, and disloyalty. She believes in order to survive and be successful in the hustle of life, you must respect the Code and follow the Commandments.
Book Tagline: Bri intends to work for her father, but ghosts, an old high school flame, a downtrodden best bud, and a deceitful tormenter play havoc with her future.
Series Tagline: On missions to rescue those spirits left behind. Murder, mystery, and mayhem abound...
Book Description:
Bri’s intent—to work for her father, but ghosts, an old high school sweetheart, a downtrodden best bud, and a deceitful tormenter play havoc with her future.
Kyle broke it off with Bri before college but realizes he still harbors unrequited feelings for her. Then he discovers Bri’s ability and wants to keep her close, not just for himself, but as an asset for Spectral Paranormal Investigations.
Ghosts rely on Bri, Kyle confuses her, the best bud requires stability, and the bully deserves a punch in the face until they join forces on a mission to rescue the paranormal—those spirits left behind. Murder, mystery, and mayhem abound…in ghost-form.
“He-e-e Ha-a-a.”
Max cackled like a wild man as the boat veered off, rooster-tailing water spray
and slamming turbulent waves into the raft.
Trembles shook
my hands and body. What the hell is wrong with him?
I closed my eyes
and took a few deep breaths to relax. Warm tingles thrummed against my sternum
from the quartz on my necklace, giving me a heads-up that my ghost friends were
near.
“He’s gone,
little missy,” Martin said. “Off to the other side of the lake.”
Gloria’s fingers
clasped the stone through her blouse. “Is your stone vibrating like mine? I
touched it, thought of you, and here we are.” She stared at me.
I climbed the
ladder and sat across from them, stretching my legs in front of me for the warm
sunshine. “I’ll have to try touching my stone and thinking of you. See if I can
call you to me.”
She nodded then
turned to Martin. “When’s the last time we sat by water?” Gloria slid her body
closer to him.
“Now, girl,
don’t you be gettin’ any crazy ideas.” He chuckled and wrapped his arm around
Gloria’s shoulder then turned his attention to me. “We want answers about what
happened. Neither of us remembers it, nothing other than a truck rammed into
the back of the Olds. It scared the heck out of us, so we turned off the main
road and drove down a dirt path into the woods, hoping to hide. Then we saw
lights coming fast behind us.”
“It’s a constant
loop we live over and over, ending with the truck following us and crashing
into the back of the car. The sound is like a grand clap of thunder.” Gloria
sniffled, but there were no tears. Ghosts didn’t cry real tears. Martin rubbed
her back.
“We blackout or
something.” Martin looked across the water but seemed unfocused. “I wake up
outside the car, and a few minutes after, Gloria is beside me. We got stuck
next to the Olds, doing the same thing over and over.”
Apparitions
didn’t usually possess recall of being stuck in a loop. They simply lived it
over and over as if for the first time, every time. What was different for
these two? Maybe our crystal connection brought the change in their loop and
opened their acknowledgment to it?
“I’ve got a
friend coming to stay with me. He’s got mad internet skills. I think he can
help research, figure out a few things. Maybe find out who followed you and
why.”
A boat motor
revved behind me, I folded my legs to my chest, preparing for impact.
“Kyle, wanna
ski?” Max hollered. He zipped past and stopped next to Kyle’s dock.
Kyle stared in
my direction and waved, and I waved back. Max sneered.
How long was
Kyle out there? All he saw was my backside while I chatted with Martin and
Gloria. When I turned around to pick up where we left off, Martin and Gloria
had disappeared.
Another Excerpt
Shifter Shakedown
By S. Peters-Davis
I stood fifteen feet away from where the oversized wolf and bear fought, slashing and biting. The steady wind through the trees hid my scent. With any luck, they would kill each other. I readied my crossbow for just in case and adjusted my stance for a shot, until the wolf flew into the air, knocking me flat on my backside. My vision blurred, and my brain buzzed into dizzy-mode. My eyes closed on automatic as I concentrated on not losing consciousness.
“Are you all right, Miss?” asked a deep, rugged voice. Warm fingers grasped my hands in an electrifying grip. “Let me help you.”
Tagline: With eternity on the line, is love worth the risk?
Book Description:
Ness, a demi-demon with a conscience, just wanted a peaceful afternoon in the Forest of Immortals. But Elias, a reckless mortal, went and spoiled it. Not that he wanted to be chased by psychotic vampires.
After saving his life, Ness agrees to help him find his estranged father and his Pack. But that means facing Nolan, the werewolf ex that holds her heart.
Now, Ness must decide. Use Elias to forget Nolan at the cost of his soul or crawl back to her ex and hope he still wants her even though she broke his heart.
But in a world sprinkled with immortals, broken hearts might be the least of their worries.
Fans of gritty fiction, compelling romance, and imaginative takes on magic and the afterlife will love this dark supernatural high fantasy romance.
Tagline: By night she walks with spirits. By day they turn her world upside down.
Book Description:
Tamar Steele, a successful medium for a paranormal investigative team, should be happy with her life—but life seems to be against her. Her psychic field is being mysteriously blocked, causing her physical pain and, worse, making it more and more difficult for her to come, creating stress in her relationship with long-term boyfriend Jason.
But then, during the filming of a paranormal TV show, Tamar picks up on Leslie, the recently murdered sister of her co-worker Hana—who later tells her the murderer was in the room with them. Knowing the best way to enhance her psychic ability is through sex, Tamar must rekindle her troubled relationship with Jason and rebuild their passion as she fights to solve the murder. Can she find the killer in time?
Jeanne
Adams, Morgan Brice, Caren Crane, Nancy Northcott
Publisher:
Rickety Bookshelf Press
Genre:
PNR, Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Date
of Publication: 9/25/20
ASIN
: B08JZJ69YN
Come to western England’s Welsh
Marches and the wickedly, spookily fun Halloween Ball at Caynham Castle. Let
the Earl of Caynham and his fiancé welcome you into Halloween fun.
Lovers from Cape May, New Jersey,
take a Halloween holiday at the magnificent Caynham Castle in Secrets
and Ciphers. As their love and trust deepens, they also stumble across
and solve a 700 year old mystery! Enjoy this M/M Romance with Morgan Brice’s
Erik and Ben from Treasure Trail.
Follow an archeologist witch from
Idaho as she tangles with a sexy photographer from the witchiest town in
America, Jeanne Adams’s Haven Harbor, Massachusetts. In Trouble Under the Tower,
they discover a hidden chapel, fend off thieves, and help put a dark entity to
rest. Somewhere in all that trouble, love sneaks in!
In Mr. Never Again, spies
from Nancy Northcott’s Arachnid Agency come to Caynham Castle to guard a
weapons designer and her family. When her son goes missing, her loyalty may be
at risk. Hunting for him offers Blaine and Dana a second chance at love if
they’re brave enough to take it.
In Caren Crane’s tale, Murky
Waters, a landscape architect from Massachusetts finds much more than
he expects, both in a floral designer from his friend’s shop, and in the woods
south of Caynham Castle. Discovery of an evil waterborne spirit threatens the
new love he has found, unless his lover figures out how to set him free.
Four spooky, witchy,
spirit-filled stories set against the stunning background of Caynham Castle’s
epic Halloween Ball and Bonfire Night!
Have you ever
had that creepy sensation that someone was behind you when you look in the
mirror…?
Carrie Benton
kicked off her shoes, did a little twirl around her bedroom, and sank gladly
into the armchair beside the bay window that looked out onto the street. She
gazed down dreamily at the road below, still seeing Gerald’s tanned face
smiling down at her, still feeling the gentle touch of his hand against her
arm. She decided there and then that it had been the perfect evening. Nothing
could mar this, she mused, and it would be even better in the morning when he
came to collect her for breakfast and they would share the whole day, not just
the evening.
Tosca chose that
moment to make his entrance, his pitiful meow shaking her out of the dream
world she was currently in. Carrie gathered the cat into her arms. ‘Hi there,
cattykins, who’s hungry then?’ she crooned into his fur. He arched his back and
playfully shot his paw at her. She giggled and set him down on the bed where he
regarded her with an air of suspicion.
‘I am going to
fix you some food,’ she teased, ‘right after I wash my face and get my dressing
gown on. You’ll just have to wait a while.’
Carrie switched
on the en-suite bathroom light and hummed to herself as she picked up the
facial wash from the shelf. She heard Tosca scratching the coverlet of her bed
in what she assumed was act frustration at being thwarted out of his food. ‘Not
long,’ she sang out, ‘Then I’ll get you your dinner and I’ll tell you all about
Gerald and our date.’
Carrie heard
Tosca hiss as if to say,’ Damn your date, just fix me some food!’ and she heard
a soft plop as the cat jumped off the bed. A minute later she shivered as she
felt a sharp cold draft blowing through the bathroom. Darn cat, she thought, he
must have squeezed through the bedroom door to the landing and left the door
open.
Carrie smeared
the facial wash over her face, mixing it with water from the tap. The soapsuds
bubbled on her skin. As she splashed warm water on her face, she thought she
heard someone behind her. She looked up into the mirror, her face dripping
water. Gerald stood there, framed in the
entrance to the bathroom. She peered at him through a veil of soapy tears,
thinking at first it was a trick of the light, or perhaps some water in the
eyes making her vision blurry and unstable. It was only when she felt the quick
bloody pain across her throat and smelt the scent of his Brut aftershave mixed
with her blood that she realised, too late, it was Gerald and that her dream
date had just turned into a nightmare.
Tagline: To save Ev and Tag, Brittany must master the powerful magic of a goddess to stop a sorcerer from raising the Goddess of Carnage from manifesting through the cauldron.
Book Description:
Brittany is a long way from the scared witch who watched a necromancer murder her mother. She’s grown and more powerful than even she realized as the sorceress she truly is. But all the magic in the world doesn’t mean anything if her best friend and werewolf, Everett Cooper, rejects her again. How many times can a person’s heart break? Brittany isn’t willing to find out. So, when another werewolf asks her out on an actual date, she jumps at the invitation.
Caught between two werewolves, Brittany will need all her friends when one of the pack goes missing. But nothing is ever easy, and magic has a cost that they may not be willing to pay. A trail of disappearances follow in Brittany’s wake, as someone tracks her every magical movement. But to what purpose? To what end?
Brittany has been powerful.
Brittany has been patient.
Now, will Brittany be enough to save her friends . . . and the world?
Carina Tranquilli, the star of my Tranquilli Bloodline series, owns two dance clubs and has been known to mix a wicked cocktail. Here’s one of her favorites, plus a savory appetizer she likes to eat with it. Enjoy while watching your favorite spooky movies or reading a spooky tale…
The Bloody Carina
* 1-2 oz. vodka (optional)
* 4 oz. tomato juice (Carina prefers V-8)
* ½ - 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce (Carina makes her own!)
Tagline: Once you’ve done the most unforgivable thing, what will you do next?
Book Description:
In the first full-length
collection of her edgy, award-winning short stories, Loren Rhoads punctures the
boundaries between horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction in a maelstrom of
sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll.
Ghosts, succubi, naiads,
vampires, the Wild Hunt, and the worst predator in the woods stalk these pages,
alongside human monsters who follow their cravings past sanity or sense.
I can’t help it . . . from the
extensive decorating (too many orange tubs to count!) to the ghoulish
appetizers (including skull Jell-O molds!) . . . I love it all!! But for sake
of space, I’ll condense my bump in the night and howl at the moon passions into
a list of favorite things.
Tagline: Max and Charlotte return for the explosive conclusion of the “By Moonlight” series . . . and the stakes have never been higher!
Book Description:
He’s the Promised One
A Mobster’s attack dog turned legitimate business powerhouse, Max Savoie is the reluctant leader of New Orleans’ shapeshifter clan. They’ve kept to anonymous shadows, working and living unnoticed by the human world until their new Shifter King’s past draws dangerous outsiders who threaten all.
She’s the Protector
A fiercely determined NOPD detective, Charlotte Caissie has sworn to defend her beloved city and her unborn child from both criminals and otherworldly factions at war. While standing boldly at the side of her mate/husband, secrets from the past return to shake the foundation of her beliefs.
They Have a Problem
Walking a marital tight rope between opposite worlds, Max and Cee Cee’s paths place truth and trust at odds when outside threats force enemies to become allies. The time to take a stand for their family and their future is at hand. Time to rise together for the survival of all they love!
Max hadn’t
visited that dark portion of his past for a very long time. Why now? Because of
the life his mate carried? Or were the dangerous shadows of unfinished business
reaching out from a swampy grave, a reminder of things he’d rather forget?
A rocking
chair’s familiar creak. He tensed and twisted anxiously in the throes of his
dream. Icy fingers of caution and loss clutched his chest as eyes darted behind
closed lids. Unable to deny his desire to look again upon the worn elegance of
his mother’s features, he faced his dread the way he’d addressed his life, with
a cautious, reluctant need to know the truth . . . of who and what he was.
Shadows, like
those long-ago secrets, hung thick, revealing little of the dark head bent over
the child Marie Savoie held in arms both protective and comforting. Max wished
she’d look up to feed time-starved memories, craving the gentle curve of her
smile and loving warmth in her gaze. He settled for the steadying croon of a
voice from the past.
“What is it,
Max? Another bad dream? They can’t harm you.”
As much as he
loved her, then and now, he’d never quite believed that assurance. Bad things
existed beyond the rusty gate imprisoning his youthful curiosity within their
overgrown yard for the first five years of his life. He knew because he was one
of them, a child of the unnatural world. All he’d wanted was to find his place
within it. But his mother had hidden that knowledge from him, just as she’d
kept the outside away for as long as she could
“Mama, what’s
wrong with me?” that small voice sobbed.
The rocker
continued to complain as she stroked the child’s black hair. Her tender gesture
failed to calm either boy or the man he’d become.
“Nothing’s wrong
with you, Max. You’re perfect. They just don’t understand, so they fear you.
That’s why you must be careful to never let them see the truth.”
“What truth?” he’d
pleaded. “Mama, tell me!”
Low and soft,
Max repeated from where he watched, decades away, “Mama, tell me.”
She brushed a
kiss across the top of the child’s flushed brow then slowly straightened,
turning toward Max Savoie, a surreal voyeur from the future she’d never see.
Her gaze swam with tears like liquid silver before flaring bright, then hot.
Then red.
“Max,” she
crooned, “you’re just like me.”
About the Author:
Nancy Gideon is the award-winning bestseller of over 70 romances ranging from historical, Regency, and series contemporary suspense to dark paranormal and horror, with a couple of produced screenplays and non-fiction writing books tossed into the mix. Newly retired from 20 years as a legal assistant, she feeds a Netflix addiction along with all things fur, fin, and fowl, and dotes on her grandguy. She’s also written under the pseudonyms Dana Ransom, Rosalyn West, and Lauren Giddings.
Paranormal movies are on my
family’s binge-list for Halloween month.
Here are our top picks for you this year. Enjoy!
1. Alien (1979) - That first glimpse of the alien… Aaaah!
Sigourney Weaver rocks.
2. The Lost Boys (1987) - Naughty
vampires. A must-see, dark-comedy horror cult classic.
3. The Shining (1980) - Seriously
spooky hotel. Psychological horror both riveting and haunting.
4. Poltergeist (1982) - A majorly
haunted house. That bathroom mirror scene…shudder!
5. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
- Freddy Kreuger and those claws...don’t fall asleep! Ah!
6. The Ring (2002) / Ringu (1998)
- A cursed videotape…creepy crawling girl!
7. Candyman (1992) - Urban
legends can be super scary! Don’t say his name…
8. Cloverfield (2008) – A monster
in NYC! A struggle to survive, seen via handheld camera.
9. Shaun of the Dead (2004) -
Zombies! Super funny, a little scary and 100% worth a watch.
10. The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
- Horror comedy at its finest from the fab Joss Whedon. For example: “Yeah, uh, I had to dismember that guy with a
trowel. What have you been up to?” and, “Hey, shh, no. I totally get it. I’m
sorry I let you get attacked by a werewolf and then ended the world.”
Listen to my reading of an Excerpt of Jealousy's a Witch
What is Paranormal Women’s Fiction,
Anyway?
A Conversation with Louisa West
Buffy. Sookie Stackhouse. Elena
Gilbert. Bella Swan. If you know one or all of these characters, then there’s a
pretty good chance that you like to read paranormal romance. These women range
between being kick-ass, plucky, and just plain special—but there’s another
thing they all have in common: really hot supernatural love interests. I’m the
first to admit that there’s nothing I love better than a Buffy re-watch, or
curling up with a Charlaine Harris novel to whittle my time away in a land
where Eric Northman exists. But as I get older (sigh), I find myself wanting
more out of my paranormal romance.
I want to relate.
I want to feel as though my real-life
struggles of bills, and raising a child, and the body-image issues I have are
real for the characters I’m reading as well. I want to be able to laugh because
I’m not the only one who has problems with her neighbors, or can never fold a
fitted sheet (that’s another kind of witchcraft, friends!), or because sex
after twenty can sometimes be a little awkward and hilarious at the same time.
Life after 35 just gets even more real. At best, you start thinking about
long-term plans for your retirement. At worst, you need to be careful about how
many cups of coffee you have before you drive to the grocery store fifteen
minutes down the road.
Paranormal Women’s Fiction is a
rising genre thanks to the collective efforts of a group of women known colloquially
online as ‘The Fab13’. The
genre touches on what it’s like for ‘mature’ heroines to get by in a modern
world, with all the hurdles that life throws in their paths. These women are
dealing with issues like divorce, potential homelessness, toxic relationships,
and other really gritty, grown-up stuff. But the sparkling platter that these
themes are served on comes in the form of literal magical circumstances, witty
one-liners, love interests that are hotter than Hades and women who are
empowered to not only move forward but to do so while coming fully into their
own power.
Typically, the heroines of these
books are over forty. It’s kind of that golden age where you’ve lived enough of
life to know what’s what, but also you’ve seen enough to know that you just
don’t have the time or energy to put up with any more crap from anyone. It also
means that you’re probably not as perky or unwrinkled as you once were (if you
are, leave your skin-care and exercise routines in the comments below!). For
me, reading these books and getting to know these women who not only face who
they are but fly that Older and Fabulous flag proudly has been an absolute joy.
So it made sense that my next
series would be written in the same vein.
The main character in my Midlife
in Mosswood series is Rosemary Bell, a thirty-nine year old mom who finds the
courage to finally leave a toxic relationship. While she’s petrified of
starting over again, Rosie and her young daughter Maggie soon settle into the
slow rhythm of life in a small town. Rosie is resilient hard-working, and
desperate to raise her daughter right. She’s also emotionally damaged,
untrusting, and determined to hold everyone except Maggie at arm’s length.
Throughout the series Rosie must face not only her past with her ex, but also
her family history. She learns how to be a better mom, and how to navigate the
challenges of living in a small town when you’re obviously different and more
than a little out of your depth. And she also finds a way forward for herself,
finding out that she’s actually a witch and that there’s possibly and handsome
Irish witch King in her future.
The Paranormal Women’s Fiction
genre has set up new expectations for books about older women written by older
women. I’m thrilled to be part of it!
Jealousy’s a Witch
Midlife in Mosswood
Book Two
Louisa West
Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Louisa West
Date of Publication: September 30, 2020
ASIN: B087KYLF3N
Number of pages: 170 (eBook)
Word Count: 50,000
Cover Artist: Louisa West
Book Description:
She thought the thriller part of her life was behind her. But when the man she’s falling for has a sinister secret, she’s no longer sure whether he’s a trick or a treat.
Rosemary Bell is a witch for Halloween… and every other day of the year. And that’s not even the weirdest thing about her life. Her ex-husband is a turtle, her daughter Maggie's new best friend is an imaginary kangaroo, and the guy sleeping on her couch is a King—as well as her fated lover.
Just as she’s starting to fall for Declan, Rosie gets spooked by a revelation that leaves her wondering whether she is really meant to be his Queen. And as a new houseguest quickly proves, promises don’t always mean forever. When a sexy choir girl arrives in town with her eyes set on Rosie’s King and crown, she will have to decide for herself what her destiny is, and soon.
Struggling between caring for Declan and caring for herself, Rosie has better luck advising her friends what to do about their love lives than tending to her own. But when Maggie goes missing on All Hallow’s Eve, Rosie is forced to admit that jealousy’s a witch - literally!
The Good Witch meets Hocus Pocus in this short novel about stepping into new shoes, choosing who you’re going to be, and never letting fear decide your fate, even on Halloween.
Jealousy’s a Witch is the second book in the heartwarming new Midlife in Mosswood series by Louisa West. Available exclusive to Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.
The sounds of
the hot summer afternoon seemed dulled by the arrival of Tammy. She looked
sheepishly between Declan and Rosie, her knuckles tight around the laundry bag
of clothes she held like Santa Claus’ sack over one pudgy shoulder.
“I hope I’m not
imposin’,” she said softly, even though it was clear that she knew she was.
“Only that...well!” Unshed tears suddenly welled in her eyes, and she tried a
combination of blinking and fanning her wedding-ring devoid hand in front of
her face to stop them from falling.
Declan looked
from Rosie to Tammy and then back again, as though trying to weigh up how
useful he might be in a situation like this versus how much damage he might
cause by way of a poorly timed and probably inappropriate joke. “I think I
better check on the painting crew,” he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck
as he took off for less emotional turf.
Rosie crossed
over to the table, set down the potato salad she had been carrying. “Why don’t
you have a seat and I’ll pour us some lemonade,” she suggested. Tammy nodded
mutely, swiping at the tears now streaking down her face. Two sips of lemonade
seemed to give her the confidence she needed to carry through with the story.
“I’m so sorry to
barge in on y’all like this,” she sniffled, “but I didn’t know where else to
go.”
Rosie thought
back to the day Tammy had rolled up to the cottage as part of Prissy’s
entourage. She had seemed like the only genuine woman out of the three. Rosie
had felt terrible when Tammy had seen her husband Terry making a pass at her the
day he’d come out to the cottage to ‘offer his services’ as a handyman. She
hadn’t seen her since that day, but it didn’t look like things had improved for
her any.
“You don’t need
to apologize,” Rosie told her, “so let’s get that out of the way right-quick.
We’re havin’ a cook-out, and you’re officially invited.”
Tammy offered a
weak smile in return, sipping her lemonade. “Thank you.”
Rosie smiled
back. “You’re welcome. Now,” she added, glancing up at the cottage. “I feel
duty-bound to tell you that at any minute we’re likely to be infiltrated by a
rush of starving teenage boys, an Irishman with a huge appetite, a girl who can
put away three hotdogs in one sitting, and a turtle that—”
“—a turtle?”
“Long story,”
Rosie grinned.
About the Author:
Author by day, Netflix connoisseur by night.
Louisa likes Pina Coladas and gettin’ caught in the rain. Determined to empty her brain of stories, she writes across several genres including fantasy, speculative fiction, contemporary and historical fiction, and romance.
She lives in Mandurah, Western Australia, and drinks more coffee than is good for her. When she’s not writing or researching projects, Louisa enjoys spending time with her family, and Harriet The Great (Dane). Hobbies include playing video games, watching copious amounts of tv, and various craft-related initiatives.
She strongly believes that the truth is still out there.
