Return to the Bay is here! Official release date 6/18/2016 Caribbean Heat left Cleo in a peculiar spot with friends La Tige and Kacy. Return to the Bay picks up at the moment book V left off. Baby Girls is back... Her desire to catch a stone-cold killer has lured her back into the line of fire. Danger from the past haunts her, and in order to survive, she must make unlikely allies, and maybe allow a deadly enemy past her guard. Old friends and new adversaries surface and a mystery must be solved. All that glitters is not gold, and a badge is no guarantee of honesty... Baby Girl must lay to rest dead ghosts before she can return to the Caribbean, and the heat of Raul's waiting arms. Preorder Links: Amazon Other Online Retailers Excerpt Along with the steady layer of fog was a breeze that never seemed to quit. It whipped my pony tail across his face, then down again. He opened the bag and jiggled, slight tinge of fear perked in my belly followed by relief when only a couple gems fell out into his hand. He furrowed his brows in confusion. “I’ll see what I can find out. I don’t see how this is related to your case.” His eyes flashing past mine and focusing on something behind me. He refused to look me in the eye. “In my world, you never know.” I leaned my back against the pier, allowing my hair to whip in varying directions. He turned to leave, but I hadn’t dropped the bomb yet. “Weeber. One more thing?” He stopped in his tracks and turned while I pulled the tiara out of my purse and handed it to him. He shifted his eyes away from me just to hide the wetness behind them as he gently grabbed the tiara from my hand. “You remember that?” “I’ll check this out too,” he softly muttered. “I asked if you remembered it?” I demanded. He turned on his heels and left, using the noise of the sea lions to cover my words. My ribs still a bit sore I allowed him to get a head start on me. I wasn’t in a hurry. I’d placed another small GPS device inside the Crown bag mixed with the stones. It wouldn’t buy me a lot of time, but it would get me off the pier and on the road behind him before he discovered it. I hated driving, but it was a necessary evil today. GPS and my phone led me directly to Weeber, who was a few cars ahead on a motorcycle. He certainly wasn’t going to be playing with stones on that, so I kept several cars between us, knowing I had plenty of time. I watched from a distance as he pulled up to an apartment building, not in the best part of San Francisco, and hopped off his bike. With my phone I zoomed in and watched him walk up a flight of steps and into an apartment. I tucked my hair into a 49ers’ ball cap and traced his steps. I lowered my head and gingerly walked up the staircase. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I was glad I had turned the ringer off before starting my top secret operation. It was La Tige. “Hello,” I answered, keeping one eye plastered in the direction of Weeber’s apartment. “Talked to Han. They found a body fits Alberto’s description.” “I’m on my way.” Weeber would have to wait. The Box Set - Books I - IV is on sale now through 6/17 for the remarkable low price of .99! Buy Links! Caribbean Heat Baby Girl V Buy Links
0 Comments
The Calm Before the Storm Evan's Sins is more than a psychological thriller. The research and astrology in the book is sound. The chapters and most of the book were written before any of the charts came into the picture. Evan's character was fully developed before I had a copy of his natal chart. The accuracy of the charts compared to the dates is mind blowing.
Read more about the astrology Who is Whobeda? The Calm Before the Storm - Nail-biting Murder Mystery Suspense The Calm Before the Storm Evan's Sins is now available in audio narrated by Robert P. Jellison. He is phenomenal and adds the extra touch expected in an audio book. Listen to a sample here Read along while you listen. Chapter 8 Southern Hospitality Evan stood on the beach facing the Tates’ house. Heavy winds rushed against his bulky frame. He turned to face the ocean, taking in Chloe’s magnificence. Her powerful gusts dared to lay him flat. Water sprayed across his body. He felt a hand against his back. “What are you doin’ out here? This storm is comin’ in strong.” Evan looked at the dark-haired man the blond cop called Jim. “These winds beatin’ against the house and all. Thought I’d take you up on yer offer, gettin’ scary.” Jim wasn’t sure what to think. He couldn’t imagine anyone dumb enough to wander the beach during a hurricane. “Why don’t you come inside?” he shouted through the blustering winds. “Thank ya, sir,” said Evan as he followed Jim. Once inside, a squall blew through, assaulting the house with rain. Jim bolted the door behind them. Evan followed Jim from the entryway into a large room. A few shelves with shells and other knickknacks hung beside an entertainment center to his right. Several family photos clung to the other walls. A hallway was straight across from him and an archway leading to another room stood to his right. “You never been through one a these have ya?” “No, sir.” “Like I said, we got plenty a room.” Ely and Evie ran to their daddy. “Who’s he?” asked Evie. Jim picked up his son. “His name is Nyle.” “Hi Nyle,” said Evie, unsure of the man. “I wanna play with Ely.” “Fine boys you got,” Evan said as Evie ran to his brother’s side. Can’t wait till you’re all asleep. “Take a seat. You thirsty? My wife makes the best homemade lemonade.” “That’d be great.” “Boys why don’t you ask mommy to bring us five glasses of lemonade?” Evie narrowed his eyes at the stranger then skipped to the kitchen with his brother. “Mom, Dad found someone outside…” “I don’t like him,” piped Evie. Lilly laughed inwardly at her youngest son. He always spoke his mind. “Evie, that’s rude. Our house is sturdy as it gets. He probably didn’t realize how bad storms get around here.” She wasn’t sure she believed her own words. Who would comb the beach during a hurricane? The boys carried the drinks to the living room. Ely handed one to the stranger. Eilida sobbed from her crib. Hearing her whimper, Lilly went to her daughter and lifted her up, her stuffed monkey dangling from Eilida’s tiny hand. Eilida buried her head into her mom’s comforting shoulder. It would be a long night, Eilida hated storms and seldom slept through them. With Eilida on her hip, Lilly joined her family in the living room. The weatherman droned on about the storm. Rain bands now approaching Billows Hollow - expected to head further south… Chloe updated to Category 3. “Mighty bad storm out there, glad it’s a headin’ south,” said Evan. Eilida lifted her head off her mother’s shoulder, hearing the stranger’s voice. She looked at him and screamed loud enough to break a mirror. In his eyes she saw deep pits of blackness, an empty void and a black ring encircling him. Waves of terror needled up the little girl’s spine. What a pleasant surprise, a daughter too. This family is perfect. Evan admired the little girl’s brown ringlets and pudgy round face and fingers. Visions of his sister swam into view. Emily, the one that got away… Stop, stop! Eilida carries around a stupid looking monkey just as Emily always drug around her smelly blanket. Get in control! He pushed down the beast inside, but not for long. Unable to ignore her daughter’s scream of horror. Lilly apologized, “I’m sorry, she just woke from her nap. She hates storms.” “I got her babe.” Jim took his daughter in his arms. She buried her head and monkey, Sandy, into his chest unwilling to peek at the stranger. A heavy wind gust pelted the house. The lights flickered then went out. The boards across the windows let in no light. Inside the house was black as a midnight cat. In the darkness, Eilida’s fear increased and she clung to her father, grasping his arms as tight as possible. Using the darkness to his advantage, Evan slipped crushed sleeping pills into Jim and Lilly’s lemonade sitting beside his on the oak coffee table. He mushed the baggie into his pocket only seconds before Lilly grabbed a flashlight from the drawer beneath an end table. She flicked the on button and a stream of light illuminated the room. Ely ran to it and made hand gestures. “Look Eilida, a duck.” Eilida lifted her head, holding Sandy up to her face, and peered at her brother. He continued making shadow figures. Her brother’s silliness tugged at the corners of her lips, turning into a smile. Lilly went through the house, lighting the candles she set up earlier. Losing electricity, even from a normal summer thunder storm, was common. She expected to lose electricity and knew it wouldn’t be back on for days. Jim invested in a generator but wouldn’t use it until after the storm. Lilly walked into the living room as Eilida climbed off her dad’s lap and joined Evie on the floor, watching their brother’s shadow display. “I want a turn Ely. Let me try.” Ely showed Evie how to make hand shadows and Eilida chuckled. For the moment she forgot the stranger. “Dinner’s ready and we better eat it now while it’s hot,” voiced Lilly, grabbing her lemonade and taking a sip. Ely took Eilida’s hand, and they ran into the kitchen, Evie and Lilly right behind them. Jim picked up his lemonade and turned to Evan. “Join us. My wife is a right fine cook and always makes more than enough.” Evan stumbled over his words, attempting to make himself less threatening. “I do… don’t wanna upset your daughter again.” “Nonsense. Eilida doesn’t like storms and is always wary of new people. She’ll be fine.” “Thank you. Do you have a washroom? I’d like to clean up before I eat.” Jim directed Evan to the restroom and walked into the kitchen to join his family for dinner. Evan pretended to use the restroom then walked back to the living room and slipped crushed sleeping pills into Ely and Evie’s lemonade. Ely walked into the living room as Evan dusted the powdery residue off his hands. “You comin’, sir? Mommy made lots to eat,” said Ely as he looked up at the stranger and picked up his and Evie’s glasses. “Sure am. Your dad says your mom is a right fine cook.” Evan saw glimpses of himself flicker in the boy as he responded. He followed the boy into the kitchen and took the empty seat. His eyes looked through the Tates’ envisioning his drunk father slamming another beer, his mother twisting her dishwater blond ringlets while his corny little sister hung onto her germ infested blanket. And his brother - the son they liked… He shook the images from his head. Not time, not time. The family, plus Evan, ate dinner by candlelight. The flames caused shadows to bounce on the walls. Eilida snuggled Sandy close and tried not to glance at the stranger but she couldn’t ignore the creeping, disfigured shadow on the wall behind him. Its arms, tendrils of black, unfurled to reveal a shiny object dripping in red. Eilida watched in horror as the shadow moved towards her mother seated beside her. She twisted in her high chair, eyes wide as flying saucers. She wanted to scream, tried to scream, but her vocal chords buckled and no sound escaped her lips.
Caribbean Heat is here! Book V in the Baby Girl Series.
Blurb: Baby Girl believes she has finally found her safe harbour and her Paradise in the beautiful Caribbean Island of St. Thomas, far from her dark and dangerous past. And then she gets a phone call and a call for help from La Tige, the one man she cannot refuse. La Tige is on his way to Puerto Rico, but not for a vacation. He has been hired to track a vicious "black widow" killer believed to be on a cruise ship about to dock in San Juan. Only Cleo’s unusual talents can bring her close to this cunning manipulator, and as the web of deceit tightens, everyone becomes a suspect, even the luscious and disturbing Raul. Cleo must untangle this deadly web, even as mysterious connections from her past threaten her fragile hopes for a new life and a happier future. Preorder ebook links: Amazon iBooks smashwords Kobo Barnes and Noble Caribbean Heat is also available in paperback! Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win an autographed copy or another fabulous book! Several authors have donated! Evan O’Conner isn’t a normal child. His father’s alcoholism and mother’s abuse drives him to concoct a plan to rid his life of them permanently. The night is fraught with a horrendous storm, thunder and lightning as the beast inside him is born. Even in her death his mother won’t leave. She haunts his subconscious as he attempts over and over to kill her. Evan meets his match when Officer Burkhalder enters the picture. One of her closest friends and his family fall victim to violent deaths during the worst hurricane Billows Hollow has ever seen. With only a sketch she learns the identity of the perpetrator and digs into his life, pries into his past – hunting him. Will she stop him? Or will somebody else? Trailer Buy Links: Amazon Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au Smashwords Google Play Kobo Barnes and Noble iBooks Excerpt: Evan entered a wooden shed filled with yard equipment, tools and deck furniture the owners wanted locked away when the winds kicked and howled. He edged against the wall, sliding his body through a narrow gap between folded lawn chairs and cushions. Evan leaned his bulky torso against the slats, turned sideways and peered through the dirt caked window with binoculars at the surrounding neighborhood. A Ford Explorer parked several paces up the road caught his attention, someone sat inside it. He adjusted the binoculars and the driver’s auburn mane flooded his vision. When she reached towards something in the back seat he recognized her oval face and slender nose. “Carrot Top Cop,” he whispered. His first thought, she’d traded in her Billows Hollow badge for Fradenton but her casual T-shirt said otherwise. For the next couple hours he observed and waited. His mind curious, why is she here? When she crept out of the vehicle he used the opportunity to sneak towards it, pulling a black baseball cap over his head. The passenger side door unlocked, he opened it, studying the contents laying across the seat. A map, the street marked with a red X, and his family’s address scribbled next to the X. Beneath the map lay a sketch and a red pen. Without picking up the sketch he stared into the familiar face, his face. His mind zoomed backwards in time, attempting to piece together what evidence she might have. He shaved his body, used a condom, and kept hold of his knife. He left the girl alive. Did she talk? Impossible. She was too young. Then he remembered the girl from the bar. He left her alive too. He cringed at his immature mistakes. Impressed with Carrot Top Cop’s skills, he needed a good adversary. Burkhalder’s open soda filled the space of the driver’s seat cup holder. Evan dipped his hand into his front pocket, pulling out a small bottle. He squeezed three drops from the bottle into her drink. The crunching of footsteps walking towards the car startled him out of his thoughts. He eased the door closed and slid downward against the side of the SUV as Burkhalder hopped back into the driver’s seat. Then he edged his way around the vehicle, stopping by the passenger side back tire. His blade nestled between the waistband of his pants and his back. Evan needed to be sure she couldn’t follow him, his sleeping serum wouldn’t work fast enough. He jammed the tip of his blade into her tire and twisted. His heart threatening to jump out of his chest. Sweat beaded on his forehead as anger roiled inside him. He crouch-walked towards the closest bushes and used the oleanders for cover. Parting the pink flowers, he peered towards her vehicle, and regained control of his anger. His plans for the family ruined. He ran through the ungated yards until he came upon his nondescript silver CRV. He pulled his hat off and tossed it into the back seat as he drove, glimpsing a flash of red in his rear-view. Evan sniggered, knowing the more energy she exerted the faster her heart pumped forcing the drugs to circulate through her body at a quicker rate.
+++++
The bushes behind her SUV rustled, catching her attention. She grabbed her soda, gulping it down, her eyes fixated on the bush. Something glistened behind it, then a burst of black cloth. She readied her gun. Whoever it was ran through the yard. She cocked the door open, pushed her back against the vehicle, holding her gun with both hands towards the sky and slid alongside it. Her eyes darting from side to side. She jumped around the bush - empty. The cranking of an engine resonated inside her eardrums. A squall passed overhead, blowing tree branches and leaves, obscuring her vision. A small silver car pulled away from the road. At the sight, her legs pounded the earth, trying to get the plate number. Blinking through the heavy downpour, she attempted to read the license plate CL or CI, her vision blurred before she could read it. She bent forward, rested her hands on her knees, attempting to catch her breath. She lifted her head, still panting, her head dizzy. The trees and houses swirled through her mind and she collapsed to the ground. Rain pounding her body, small tree limbs whipping through the air. Author Bio: Elle Klass is the author of mystery, suspense, and contemporary fiction. Her works include As Snow Falls, Eye of the Storm Eilida’s Tragedy, and the Baby Girl series. Her work Eye of the Storm Eilida’s Tragedy is a Reader’s Favorite Fiction-Paranormal Finalist in the 2015 Reader’s Favorite Awards. She is a night-owl where her imagination feeds off shadows, and creaks in the attic. Visit her website at https://elleklass.weebly.com. Read Elle's interview with Whobeda, who has a guest spot in the novel when she does Evan's Natal Chart. A short lady with a bob strolled out of Ms. Renard’s room. Eilida looked at Sage, smiles plastered across their faces. “Our turn!” voiced a giddy Sage. Eilida took Sage’s hand and they marched into the room like two schoolgirls. No crystal balls or tarot cards, instead a full figured Patrice, her fiery hair curled just above her shoulders. But they weren’t there to see a gypsy and have their palms read. “Ms. Renard. It’s so wonderful to meet you. I follow your stuff.” As the words dropped from her mouth she felt stupid. Follow, she’s going to think I’m a stalker. Eilida and Sage talked with Patrice a few minutes. Her round figure reminded Eilida of her mother, warm red hair and confidence further eased Eilida’s nervous stomach. Once she had their dates, times and places of birth, she typed everything in and the computer generated their charts. Eilida’s flew off the printer first. Ms. Renard looked from it to Eilida then slid it to the side as she studied Sage’s. She laid it in front of them and explained the position of the planets and their meanings. Sage’s horoscope was filled with happiness, longevity, and success. When it came time for Eilida’s, she laid the natal chart on the table facing Eilida and sucked in her breath. Eilida’s eyes went directly to the blue triangle in the center. “We call this blue triangle a yod or the finger of god.” “What does it mean?” “A fated life, but let’s get through all of it before you decide what that means. This blue line ties Pluto in the 3rd house to the Sun in the eighth house. This implies that you crave powerful experiences and are attracted to the unfathomable. You commonly hide your interests, except from your closest friends and family. Uranus and Neptune in the fourth house indicate your home life, growing up may have been unstable in some way. You may be searching for an ideal home. The darkness in your eyes reveals the truth in these words.” “I love my family but I’ve always felt like an outsider except with my grandmother, umm… until she passed. Sage feels more like family than my parents sometimes.” Patrice’s bubbling personality spilled over. “At your age, most of us feel that way.” Eilida’s anxiety eased again as Patrice continued. “Mercury in Taurus and in the 8th house show you tend to be very methodical and have an interest in investigating the supernatural.” Eilida’s lips curled into a smile. Her interest in Astrology centered on her interest in the “otherworldly” “Pluto in Scorpio, the twelve year group you’re both part of, loves mystery and the macabre.” Both girls chuckled, they lived off zombie and suspense flicks. Patrice smiled, then her face grew stoic. “There is something in your past, maybe a natural disaster that changed the course of your life. It might be related in some way to the death of your grandmother.” Zombie-like, Eilida lifted her chart from the table and stood to leave. The dragonflies morphed into dragons breathing fire into her innards, aching to get free. As Eilida exited the door the chatter and noise in the convention center quieted as her mind focused on something in your past. What could possibly be in her past? Her parents were the most “normal” people she’d ever met and she had a picture perfect childhood, no siblings, everything she needed and most of what she wanted. Her parents and grandmother spoiled her. Yet a feeling she didn’t quite belong always lingered in the back of her mind, followed by a sinking feeling of dread in her belly. She turned and took a step back into the room, asking another question. “Is all the bad stuff in my past? Does my future look better?” “Here’s my card, feel free to call.” Eilida noted her solemn expression. Eilida lay in bed tossing and turning all night. Her mind a flutter of curiosity and fear, replaying Patrice’s words over and over, ‘a fated life… there is something in your past’. Her fascination of mystery drove her imagination. The man in her nightmares flashed in static against her fleshy brain. Light glittered from her pile of clothes on the floor. Her pendant! She reached down and clutched the pendant, cradling it in her hand. Peace bathed her body and she fell into a restful sleep. Follow Elle Blog website Goodreads Sign up for mailing list
Baby Girl Box Set book trailer courtesy of Ashley's Addictive Book Promotions. I love this trailer it really sets the perfect tone for the series. Enjoy and share!
Today is a big day for me. It marks the first day of the Baby Girl Books re-release! The books have added scenes and chapters. I've spent hundreds of painstaking hours pouring over edits and rewrites. As a wonderful surprise author Manuela Cardiga made new book covers for each book. I'm thrilled and hope you'll take the time to visit Amazon or Smashwords. The books will be available elsewhere soon.
Huge thanks to all Baby Girl's fans because you've made this possible. Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Baby-Girl-Boo…/…/B00GYP1DXS/ Amazon U.K.- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginning-Baby-Girl-Bo…/…/B00GYP1DXS Smashwords- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/469708 |
AuthorI don't think it's possible for creativity to be a negative thing. Archives
November 2021
Categories
All
|