Picture of the Day:
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Coming soon
Available for preorder: eXtasy Books
A victim of stalking, assault, and attempted kidnapping, is she the next designated casualty of her mother’s unconventional past, something more sinister, or both.
Kristen Corbett’s intriguing family history includes uncles with clandestine occupations, and a mother, whose bittersweet past consists of a brutal assault, attempted murder, and ongoing acts of revenge. Except for her mother, the family believes repercussions from her atypical youth are a done deal, until Kristen hooks up with Jered Reardon and comes under attack. The entire family comes together, scrambling to find the perpetrator before taking Kristen’s life becomes the ultimate retaliation.
Everyone suspects Marissa’s last-known enemy has come for payback, but can’t rule out felons with links to the uncles, or anyone from Jered’s ambiguous family history. Even members of both families—Reardons and Corbetts—come under suspicion. It’s not until the two families get together that it becomes obvious, a member of the Reardon family has a connection to Marissa’s past. That discovery leads to the final reckoning—one left standing.
Excerpt:
Riverside, California
Twenty-two years later
Her singing stuttered to a stop, mid-word.
She fumbled with the radio dial, and the music faded, replaced by the rhythmic, intermittent on-and-off ticking of the left-turn indicator. Bottom lip clamped between her teeth, she eased her Mustang into the center turn lane. While she waited for the oncoming traffic to pass, her wide-eyed gaze remained riveted on the scene before her.
That’s their meeting place.
She jockeyed her way through Interstate 215 rush hour traffic for this—that…hell. Clearly, words to describe what she saw weren’t in her vocabulary, the setting so unexpected. Jered said they were meeting at a bar, but this place wasn’t like any bar she’d ever patronized. Uh-huh, the way the bouzhe dictionary of fine architectural design defines it—trendy, upscale, snobbish―damn, conscience sounded suspiciously like her mother. Without a doubt, time to get out more, out of her comfort zone, expand her horizons. And how could she resist such explorations, if the sight before her was an example?
Set back from the street, the one-story structure housed two separate establishments. Each business had small security-screened windows nestled high up on the wall just below the eaves. Windows containing identical red illuminated lettering spelling out beer on tap. What passed for a parking lot was dirt sparsely strewn with gravel. Besides, how could the aesthetics of the adjoining properties not impress her? Lots peppered with dilapidated buildings, once habitable homes, now empty shells. Half the windows boarded up and the other half cavernous holes gaping at the rapidly vanishing urban environment.
Oh yeah, sign me up for the seedy neighborhood tour.
Despite dismay over her bleak observations, lips twitching, she had to give somebody props for a warped sense of humor. As though the visual image of the environment equated to homey and inviting, her destination sported a garish flickering sign that read Cozy Lounge. Conversely, the absurdity of the overall setting was the picturesque backdrop of snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains still visible in the encroaching darkness.
Ooh-kay, the place wasn’t on par with her usual upscale haunts, but suitably located across the road from Norton Air Force Base. Jered said he had business there. Gee, imagine…work-related interests on a military base. First the uncles, now the boyfriend, had she lost her mind or—wait a minute.
She didn’t keep up with military news, but her father, a Weapons Systems Analyst, kept up with armed forces scuttlebutt. His company was government contracted, affiliated with the Naval Weapons Base, officially known as Naval Surface Warfare Center in Norco. Hadn’t her dad mentioned rumors about the Norton Base closing? With that in mind, wasn’t there an article in the Riverside Press Enterprise newspaper about converting the Norton property into the San Bernardino International Airport and business complex? When was that? Heck, before tonight, she’d never had reason to come to this part of San Bernardino. Any scoop about the base wouldn’t have held her interest. But that wasn’t the issue.
If Norton were no longer a military, government installation, why would Jered have business there?
Girl, stop. Don’t even―
“Shit!”
Her fingers curled around the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip, as her head jerked up and her gaze moved to the rearview mirror. Geez, spooked by a honking horn…hell, why not…look around. Derelict outpost, middle of nowhere, sinister car following…isn’t that how horror movies start?
She snorted. She really needed to get back to her own planet.
Brow furrowed, Kristen watched the car behind her—only parking lights on—follow her as she made the turn onto the lot. She couldn’t imagine why the driver was impatient to get to the bar. No headlights seemed a sure sign he or she’d had more than enough to drink. Shrugging, she turned her attention to the zigzag pattern of parked vehicles. The configuration suggested drivers parked wherever they stopped, without regard to traffic flow. Wanting to fit in, she eased into the first vacant space of the acceptable parking pattern and put her gear in park.
The car following hers cruised by. Heavily tinted windows obstructed a clear view of the occupants, but she could distinguish the silhouettes of two figures in the front, and one shadowy outline in the back. The car parked a few spaces away from hers.
Unfamiliar with the type of people-element in the vicinity, and not wanting some macho bozos to hassle her, she waited for the occupants of the other car to emerge. Waiting to see which bar they were going to enter, she intended to let them go in before she exited her car. A moment later, when no one had exited the other vehicle, she turned off her ignition but stayed seated, scrutinizing the area.
In the fading sunlight, the halogen glow of the parking lot lights cast an ominous shadow over the entire parking lot, creating the spectral atmosphere of a ghost town. A chill of apprehension swept her body, but true to character, she ignored her unease, slung her purse over her shoulder, and exited the car. Standing stock-still, she eyed the distance between her car and the bar entrance. All right, it wasn’t far, but she had to maneuver between that hodge-podge of vehicles. A tingling sense of awareness ended her hesitation.
She glanced toward that other car and watched a human form materialize between shadowy vehicle outlines. Getting her ass in gear, she strode toward the front door, scanning the area as she went, but didn’t see Jered’s metallic gray BMW. Maybe he’d parked out back―geez. Why didn’t she think to call his cell before she left home, or before she left her car? Was she that eager to see him? Well hell, after driving all that way, she’d wait fifteen minutes, and then she was out of there.
Now available
CLANDESTINE IMPASSE
A throwaway at birth, ward of the state until adoption, iffy sexual relationships, all interactions devoid of love—an emotion she has no reason to believe exists. He’s a covert federal enforcer, whose private life consists of as-needed sexual hookups. He embraces the lifestyle.
Family crisis brings Vi Leon and Christopher Corbett together. An irrefutable attraction becomes explosive passion. They spend nights satisfying mutual needs, then return to their separate cynical lifestyles, a decision that might cost them their lives, when Vi realizes she’s pregnant. Afraid the nature of his job will put her and the baby at risk, she conceals the pregnancy and birth from him, until fate intervenes.
The son of an alleged crime family has Corbett under surveillance when a personal emergency reunites him and Vi. The man redirects his attention to Vi and discovers her link to Christopher. Verifying her worst fears, not only do Vi and her child become pawns in the deadly subterfuge of Christopher’s operation, killing them is crucial to the crime family’s endgame.
Family crisis brings Vi Leon and Christopher Corbett together. An irrefutable attraction becomes explosive passion. They spend nights satisfying mutual needs, then return to their separate cynical lifestyles, a decision that might cost them their lives, when Vi realizes she’s pregnant. Afraid the nature of his job will put her and the baby at risk, she conceals the pregnancy and birth from him, until fate intervenes.
The son of an alleged crime family has Corbett under surveillance when a personal emergency reunites him and Vi. The man redirects his attention to Vi and discovers her link to Christopher. Verifying her worst fears, not only do Vi and her child become pawns in the deadly subterfuge of Christopher’s operation, killing them is crucial to the crime family’s endgame.
Excerpt:
She opened the kitchen door, was about to step inside, but a sense of unease brought her up short. Something wasn’t right. Apprehension seemed to heighten her senses—is that cologne? Had someone been in her house…was someone still there? Damn, this reminded her of what had happened to Marissa. Did that mean it was her turn, that stalking and terrorizing are contagious, because she didn’t have any known relatives, a discernible past, or enemies. Who would want to terrorize her…oh wait, that car!
It was what…several months ago, outside Marissa’s house. Now she remembered. Hell, she’d forgotten to mention it to the family. Did the car’s occupants follow her home that night, been trailing her ever since, waiting for a chance to use her to get even with Marissa, like the attempt on Tristan? Afraid to reach for the light switch, she backed up, turned in the doorway—a hand clamped over her mouth. A brawny arm circled her body.
The door slammed shut.
It was what…several months ago, outside Marissa’s house. Now she remembered. Hell, she’d forgotten to mention it to the family. Did the car’s occupants follow her home that night, been trailing her ever since, waiting for a chance to use her to get even with Marissa, like the attempt on Tristan? Afraid to reach for the light switch, she backed up, turned in the doorway—a hand clamped over her mouth. A brawny arm circled her body.
The door slammed shut.
Interesting Stuff...maybe
This needs no explanation and a fun read, no matter your gender.
Men Are Just Happier People!
What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress - $5,000. Tux rental - $100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Two pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes - one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier!
NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and Wildman.
EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, outcome the pocket calculators.
MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337 A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife
MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
Ah, children… A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears, hopes, and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
Humor of the Day:
later
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