New Release — Deadly as the Driven Snow (A Calendar Clan Mystery Book 2) by Agnes Alexander

When a mortally wounded man turns up on the back porch of newlyweds June and Jason Striker, they know the honeymoon is definitely over. As Sheriff of Edison County, Jason can’t let a killer snowstorm stop him from trying to find the perpetrator of this crime—and June, a novice private investigator, is determined to help.

But the mystery deepens when other murdered victims are tossed out around the small North Carolina town, and a man tries to break in to the Striker household. What do these dead men have in common—or is some kind of message being sent? 

It all becomes dangerously personal when June and Jason’s home is attacked, and they must go into hiding to survive. Can they beat the clock to discover the killer’s motive before he strikes again? Or will their marriage end quickly, as DEADLY AS THE DRIVEN SNOW…

EXCERPT

     I turned from the window and let my mind come back to the present on this icy February day. I also let out a sigh of relief because the subject of Honduras had been dropped, at least for the time being. I busied myself putting the dirty breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. As I bent over to fill the slot on the door with liquid soap, Dingo came sauntering into the room. He stretched and twisted around my leg. I closed the dishwasher, then reached down and rubbed his long gray hair. He purred, and I knew he was asking for something to eat. The shower turned off, so I started the dishwasher and turned to the cat.

     “Come on, boy,” I said and headed for the laundry room which is connected to the mud room where our back door is located. Though we mostly come into the house from the side which leads into the garage, when Jason has muddy boots he comes in the back door, so he can deposit them there. This door leads to a glassed-in porch with another door and four steps down to the yard. I crossed this small room to get to the laundry room where I keep food for Dingo and Buzzy, Jason’s cat. After our marriage, we tried for a few weeks to make Buzzy an indoor cat, but he would have nothing to do with it. Jason ended up building him a fleece-lined house and we put a cat door in the garage, so he could come and go as he pleased. I’ve noticed that he’s staying in the garage more and more since the weather has turned cold.

     Dingo jumped in front of me and slid his body through his cat door into the laundry room. I had to wait until he wiggled his fat behind through the opening before I could open the big door and go inside. “I’ll get you fed then I’ll go feed Buzz,” I said. Though I know he ignores me, I talk to him anyway.

     Just as I took the can of food from the cabinet beside the washer, I heard a loud knock on the door leading outside. I left the laundry room door open and went to glance out the glass panels on the top half of the outside door. The blinds were closed, and I couldn’t see anything. I set the cat food down and moved to open the blinds, wondering who could be at our door so early on such a bad day.

I screamed and jumped back in horror as I looked at a man’s bloody face plastered against the glass. I think the man was trying to tell me something, but I wasn’t about to open the door.

      

New Release — Blue Ridge Murder (A Calendar Clan Mystery Book 1) by Agnes Alexander

Wounded in a drug buy gone wrong, June March, a fledgling private detective, is forced to go home to her parents’ farm to recover. Her close-knit family is rocked when her ne’er-do-well brother-in-law, Roger, is murdered, after his part in a bank robbery. In the small community of Edison, North Carolina, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, secrets are hard to keep—even one as dangerous as murder. When June’s sister, April, is accused of killing her husband, June will do whatever she must to prove her sister’s innocence.

County Sheriff Jason Striker, an old school mate of June’s, is dead serious about bringing the murderer to justice. But how can he find the killer and keep June safe when she insists on being part of the investigation? Nothing has changed since high school—June is still as determined as ever, and she still has a firm hold on Jason’s heart.

June tries to hold old feelings at bay, but somehow, the boy from yesterday has become the man of her dreams—and she’s not about to let him go. With the killer still on the loose, Jason knows that June’s expertise will be invaluable in helping him solve the case—and she’s not about to back away from doing just that. Identifying the killer can mean the death of them both, as a small-town’s secrets protect one of its own…one who committed this BLUE RIDGE MURDER…

EXCERPT

     The well-built man in a sheriff’s uniform looked more like he was dressed for dancing at a bridal shower than he did as an official of the state and my former classmate. Though I did think he filled out the uniform well, I’d always thought he was just pretending in his job. Maybe it was because while we were in school, he’d always looked more like a big, tall, baby-faced ten- year-old than he did a rough, tough football player—and now, sheriff.

     “I hear you folks have a little problem.” He stepped to the middle of the room and glanced at my broken leg. He didn’t mention it, but he did arch his left eyebrow.

     “Yes,” May said. “You should go pick up Roger. He was one of the bank robbers today.”

     “What makes you think he robbed the bank, May?” His voice was more surprised than questioning.

     “Because he told me he did,” April chimed in.

     “She had to escape with the children. He threatened them,” May explained.

     “Let’s go talk on the porch so the children won’t hear,” April suggested.

     Jason glanced at the kids and nodded. April, May and I followed him to the porch. Mom stayed with the children. I took my place in the rocking chair again and everyone found seats, including Jason.

     “Now,” he said. “Let’s start at the beginning, April. Tell me what happened.”

     

New Release - SAVED BY THE PINK FLAMINGO by Linda LaRoque - #FireStarPress #RomanticSuspense @prairierosepub

Can one dinner with an obsessive client tear a marriage apart?

Laurel Thorne has been happily married to her husband, Boyd, for twenty years, but when he forgets their anniversary, she’s more than hurt—she’s angry. Though he’s tied up having dinner with an important client, Meredith Baxter, the picture that someone anonymously sends Laurel says that maybe the dinner wasn’t “all” business.

Laurel packs her art supplies, her clothes, and her dog, then hits the road—alone—in the old retro family travel trailer, known as The Pink Flamingo. After years of devoting her attention to her husband, her college-age twins, and her home, it’s time to see if she can still follow her own dreams of becoming the artist she’s always hoped to be.

But her alone time turns deadly when Boyd’s deranged client decides that he’s the man for her—not for Laurel—and there’s only one way to fix that. Laurel must die.  Though the travel trailer has been a haven for her to regain her perspective, can that sanctuary provide what she needs to salvage her marriage—and stay alive? Laurel must keep her wits about her as the crazed Meredith Baxter attempts an all-out assault. Now that she knows what’s truly important, will Laurel be SAVED BY THE PINK FLAMINGO?

EXCERPT

Laurel remained still as Boyd climbed into bed. His clean male scent, combined with the after-shave he wore, teased her senses. He slipped one arm under her, the other around her to spoon her next to his body. He placed a kiss on the back of her neck. "Honey, I'm so sorry." His voice hoarse, he added, "Please, forgive me. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Gasping for air, to keep from crying, she managed to whisper, "I'll always forgive you, but forgetting is much harder. I'm not sure right now if I can do that. Forget trying to make it up. I don't want you to."

He released a sigh of disappointment...she guessed.

Sure, she could say, "It's all right. Don't worry about it." But why? It would be a lie. It hurt to think this day wasn't as special to him as it was for her; that he wasn't as romantic as he'd been even two years ago. Had she let herself go? Yes, she'd put on five pounds in the last couple of years, and she'd not had her hair styled in a while. Silver threads were scattered throughout the dark strands, but she liked the look. Maybe he didn't.

New Release -- Second Chance Dreams by Agnes Alexander

 A Coverton Mills Romance Book 2

All of Jude Winslow’s friends know he avoids politicians and preachers. Enter widow, Kay Littleton, a US Senator who has no idea about his feelings. Her occupation isn’t talked about when she comes to Coverton Mills to visit her nephew. When Jude comes to the Parker farm to help fight a barn fire, he meets Kay and falls for the tiny woman on sight. After giving his heart, he feels betrayed when he learns she’s a politician.

As much in love as he and she both are, Kay can’t understand why he rejects her. Knowing there is nothing else she can do to change his mind, she gives up her dream of retiring to North Carolina. Then a secret letter is found that changes everything.

EXCERPT

     “Jude Winslow, I can’t believe you said that.” Mavis Parker rolled her brown eyes at him, then looked at her husband. “Can you, Neil?”
     “I can believe he said it, but I can’t believe he believes it,” Neil replied. “It might sound okay in theory, but in real life it’d never work.”
     “I disagree with both of you,” Jude said as he stretched his long legs out in front of him. “I think it’d work as well as anything else. Look at all the people who’re divorced and they dated their spouse for months and sometimes for years before getting married.”
     “That may be true, but to marry a perfect stranger can’t be the answer. I don’t care how you slice it. I still say it’d never work.” Neil shook his head at Jude. “Man, I’d hate to marry a woman I didn’t know. Why, I’ve known Mavis since we were kids and she still baffles me, at times. A stranger would be impossible to figure out.”

     

New Release -- Stalking her Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 1) by Agnes Alexander

At a book signing, Heather Masterson, a successful mystery author, comes face-to-face with a successful rancher who bears the name of one of her fictional characters. The “real” Alex Hargrove is fascinated by Heather, and she is just as captivated by him. 

They both believe that they are fated for one another as their feelings evolve quickly, and a simple friendship becomes love in a short period of time. 

But in a diabolical mystery plot of her own, Rachelle Albright, an unstable alcoholic fan of Heather’s, has a different idea of the way this story should come to a close. She fancies herself in love with the fictional Alex—and the only way to have him for herself is to rid the world of Heather. 

A storybook ending doesn’t seem possible for Heather as Rachelle enlists the aid of a man from the past who’s out to settle the score with Alex. How can there be a happy-ever-after ending for Heather when someone is STALKING HER DREAMS…

EXCERPT:

     Standing in the living room of her apartment, Rachelle Al-bright poured herself another glass of whisky and reread the letter from the publisher.
     Through gritted teeth she uttered several oaths, followed by, “Why can’t they let me write a book about Alex Hargrove? Why is that Masterson bitch the only one who can write his stories? I know more about him than she does. I love him.” She took a swallow of whiskey. “Why couldn’t they publish the book I wrote making him fall in love with a woman named Rachelle? I still had him fighting crime and making women swoon, but he loved Rachelle so much he left the other women alone and came back to her.”
     She downed the rest of the whiskey and poured another glass. “It’s all your fault, Heather Masterson. If you weren’t in the picture I bet they’d want somebody to write more Alex Hargrove books ...” Her voice trailed off and a thought began to form in her mind.

     After two more glasses of whiskey, a toothy grin spread across her face. Things would work out fine. She only had to rid the world of Heather Masterson.

      

Trade Paperback available at CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/7576192

Soon to be at Amazon

New Release -- PROTECTING HER HEART by Diana Tobin

After years on the run from her past, Rose Kelley is happily settled in Webster, Maine. Content to stay in the background for safety’s sake, she has learned to hide any hint of being a young, vibrant woman.  But when she finds a dead animal on her porch, she fears her abusive stepfather has found her, despite her precautions.   Though Rose has learned not to trust anyone, she must turn to the one man who can help her—the local game warden.

Drew Zimenski has dedicated his life to making a difference wherever he can—and being a game warden enables him to do just that.  Rose Kelley needs his help, but she is a puzzle to him—she goes out of her way to hide her beauty, but his body is on red hot alert every time they come into contact.  A gruesome discovery at her house has Drew charging in like a knight in flannel armor—and he’s determined to save the lady from whatever she’s running from.

Drew’s need to protect Rose becomes all-consuming, but his fear of failure holds him back. Will Rose’s love be enough for Drew to see the man he truly is?   

EXCERPT:

     Game Warden Zimenski followed Ethan to the back of the house where a blue tarp was tented over a sawhorse.  Ethan removed the tarp and stepped back with a motion of his hand to what lay beneath.
     Drew stepped closer.  Not the most gruesome sight he’d seen, but not a pleasant way to start the day, either.  “You got kids, Ethan?”  Too many footprints trampled the snow between the patio and a house closer to the lake.
     “Yes, two daughters.  The youngest was looking for the cat this morning.  Fortunately, one of my guys found it first.”  When Drew gave him a narrowed look, he added, “My hockey players.”  Ethan gestured toward the guest house.  “I coach the Wolves, and we billet a few of the players.  They’ve been sleeping in the guest house, but come up to the main house for meals.  The plumbing isn’t finished in the guest house, so we’ve been leaving the back door unlocked so the boys can get in.  Depending on what you tell me, that’s going to come to a stop until my contractor gets the work done.”
     “That explains all the footprints,” Drew nodded to the snow-covered ground.  “An animal killed your pet.”  He straightened to stare into Ethan’s eyes.  “A two-legged animal.”

     

NEW RELEASE--BEYOND THE FIRE BY CHERYL PIERSON-- AND GIVEAWAY

Two broken hearts find a second chance at love…if they can survive…

When Kendi Morgan witnesses an attempted murder near her home one stormy November night, she makes the only choice her heart will allow: she has to help the victim. But bringing the handsome stranger into her home traps her in the middle of a deadly drug war.

Wounded DEA agent Jackson Taylor is a man with nothing to lose and nothing to fear—until he falls for the beautiful woman who risks everything to save his life.

With his cover blown, Jackson knows he’s all that stands between Kendi and Benito Sanchez, a powerful drug cartel lord. Sanchez swears his vengeance, vowing to see Jackson and Kendi both dead.

Love comes fast when there may be only hours left…can it survive? Or will Jackson sacrifice his partner’s life—along with his own—in exchange for Kendi’s safety? Does a future exist for them BEYOND THE FIRE…


I'm so thrilled to have BEYOND THE FIRE "out there"--again. Yes, this is a re-release, but it's also been retitled. Published a few years back with another company as TEMPTATION'S TOUCH, it's now got a brand new title, cover, and edit--and it's ready to go! This story officially kicks off our MEN IN UNIFORM line with a sizzlin' hot undercover DEA agent and a beautiful divorcee who just happens to save his life!

Y'all know how I love my wounded heroes? Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite! What would you do if you found a strange man being murdered on your property? Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a FREE DIGITAL COPY OF BEYOND THE FIRE!

Kendi Morgan thinks she's witnessed a murder, but when she comes closer, she sees the "victim" still lives...barely! Can she get him back to her house? Well, let's see...

FROM BEYOND THE FIRE:

“Think you can make it?”

He nodded, putting his hand out to her. “I’ll make it.” There was no doubt in his tone. Kendi let him hold on to her as he stood up, then slipped under his shoulder. He was taller by a good six inches, and had to lean down for support. He favored his side, his fingers absently going to his ribs on the left. Kendi wondered if they were broken.

“This way,” she murmured, taking a step. She felt his solid weight pull at her with each step, knowing he was doing his best to keep up and not lag behind. They had made it up the slippery creek bank and across the small clearing, when she felt his steps flagging even more. She slowed to accommodate him. His breath was harsh and labored in her ear.

“I don’t even know your name,” she said. The least of my worries. She felt it was important, but didn’t know why. Come morning, she was going to see he got to the hospital—one way or another. He needed more care than she could give him.

“Jackson...Taylor.” He stopped, reaching out to support himself against the trunk of a nearby oak tree. He stood for a few moments, leaning heavily against it, trying to catch his breath. “You wonderin’ what to—to put on the tombstone?”

“No,” she responded, moving close as he reached to put an arm across her shoulders once more. “Wondering who to tell the ambulance driver they’re taking to the hospital—”

“Kendi, no.” He stopped, trying to look into her face. She was immediately sorry she’d said anything. “Don’t call...911.”

“But—”

“Promise me, Kendi.”

He was so adamant, so fierce in his demand, Kendi immediately nodded. “Okay. I won’t. I promise. If you’ll—”

As if he’d read her mind, he interrupted her quickly. “I will. I-I’ll explain—” He broke off, cursing under his breath, but Kendi knew it wasn’t aimed at her. His tone was raspy with pain.

“Just a little farther, Jackson.”

He smiled, and when he spoke, she heard the amusement in his tone, though she couldn’t see his face. “Call me Jack. And don’t be so scared.” After a moment, he added, “You’re actin’ like...a girl.”

“I am a girl, in case you hadn’t noticed,” she answered sharply, but there was a hint of mirth in her voice.

“Yeah...I noticed all right.”

Kendi wanted to remark she didn’t know how, seeing as how she was dressed—in a man’s flannel shirt and blue jeans. But she closed her mouth before she said anything, remembering once more that she didn’t have a bra on. The rain had soaked the cotton flannel, plastering it to every curve of her body.

The laughter in his voice was overridden by the pain, but it was there. Kendi was certain that, even as wounded and battered as he was, nothing escaped Jackson Taylor.

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