Friday, December 30, 2011


FREEZING POINT 

by Elizabeth Goddard

Romantic Suspense from LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE

When investigative reporter Casey Wilkes unwittingly stumbles upon a smuggling ring, she jeopardizes Homeland Security Jessie Mitchell's covert and his life, as well as her own.

Secrets Under The Ice

Casey Wilkes didn't realize her simple human-interest story would put her life at risk—again. After fleeing her home and journalism job in Portland, she wanted to live under the radar for a while. But when her interviewee starts dodging her questions, her reporter instincts kick in and she finds herself in over her head…

Homeland security agent Jesse Mitchell has been undercover as an ice sculptor for months, trying to infiltrate a smuggling ring. He wants to avoid trouble, and that's just what Casey brings. Now someone has a target set on Casey. Saving her could blow his cover, but leaving her unprotected endangers him even more—especially his heart.

A quick read, lots of action to keep your attention and a sweet love story to end it all. Definitely a great way to spend an evening!! 4 stars –The Suspense Zone

Chapter One

Beautiful…but dangerous.

Jesse finished shoving the last block of dry ice into the back of the specially designed truck—well insulated, yet ventilated to allow for sublimation—the melting that would give off deadly CO2 gas.

The solid form of carbon dioxide would be used to create the snow effect around the ice sculptures along with fog—a mysterious yet stunning display.

He tugged off the gloves used to protect his hands from ice burns or, worse, frostbite. Because his father was a chef and master ice sculptor, Jesse had learned a few techniques of his own, even entering competitions during his college days.

That's what made him the perfect candidate for this covert operation, and the only reason Robert McCoffey, his superior, had pulled Jesse from the desk job and visits to the psychiatrist and put him back into the action. Working as an undercover agent for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jesse had nearly blown his last assignment and thought he'd never get the chance to restore his reputation and career.
But ICE's bulk cash and smuggling division decided Helms Ice and Trucking Company was hot—laundering money for the Mexican cartel—and they wanted someone on the inside. Since the trucking company also had a catering side business specializing in ice sculptures, Jesse was it.

He shoved his hand through his hair. God had some sense of humor.

Miguel grinned as he assisted Jesse in closing off the back of the truck. He signaled to the driver that the truck was ready to go, and it lumbered away from the loading dock.

"You okay today?" Miguel asked.

"Everything's great," Jesse lied. With his superiors breathing down his neck, he had to come up with something and soon. He'd already been working undercover too long for his own good.

"You'd better get back to your hole. You got another gig in a few days." Miguel strode over to a counter and grabbed a pack of cigarettes.

Though Miguel referred to the ice-sculpture competition that Jesse needed to prepare for, Jesse was concerned about a far different gig, and that's what had him on edge today. He was desperate to get in on what he believed would be the next transport of bulk cash. As the truck departed, Jesse fought the tensing in his gut. Could this truck be driving off with millions in cash tucked away behind or in the ice, and Jesse had somehow missed it?

Carlos returned from his break. "We expecting another truck in a few?"

"You're not going anywhere. Jesse's got his own work. You're lucky he was here to cover for you," Miguel said.

Carlos gave a halfhearted snarl. Jesse didn't like the guy. After years spent working undercover assignments, Jesse had learned there were some people you met while undercover that you grew to care about and others you grew to hate. Carlos was someone to hate. He had no doubt that Carlos was capable of much worse than smuggling cash. He might have committed the murder on the loading dock that occurred several months ago, bringing the police down on this place and the cash smuggling operations to a complete halt for a few weeks.

Jesse had to remain and bide his time until things began moving again. Though he had proof of several small transactions, those crimes had already occurred. His goal was to gather intelligence, figure out all the players and be witness to the movement of a large amount of cash—catching them in the act. This would bring stiffer penalties under federal law.

When Carlos's eyes slid toward him, Jesse turned his back on the man. "Later," he said, and headed for the exit.

He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment. Guys like Carlos were the reason Jesse had grown to loathe working undercover. Memories from his last assignment flooded his mind—a man struggling with the thugs of a drug ring Jesse had infiltrated. He'd lived with the nightmare day and night. Jesse could have stepped into the fray, but that would have been kicking his cover in the teeth. He'd almost cracked under the moral dilemma. If only Jesse had gone a little out of his way, he could have prevented the man from strolling around the corner at that precise moment—the exact wrong moment. He would never allow that to happen again.

He promised himself then that once he got out, he'd never go back. In the end, he'd almost blown the mission and been reprimanded before being returned to a desk job. After months living life undercover as a drug runner, learning to walk and talk like them, to avoid the cops, he'd struggled to fit in with his fellow agents again.

What had the psychiatrist told him? "You 're suffering from anxiety and extreme suspiciousness." That he was near the breaking point.

A shiver swept over him when he passed the room-size freezer that took up a quarter of the loading dock. 
At the moment, he felt like he was near the freezing point—if he worked like this for much longer, his heart would turn stone-cold.

Right now, he knew one thing—if he wanted to transfer programs within the agency, he'd have to earn back the respect of his supervisors and the confidence of his fellow agents.

In order to do that he'd have to see this case through and make the bust of these so-called untouchables.
Nothing or no one would stand in his way this time. Nor would he allow anyone to stumble upon Carlos and Miguel on the loading dock. Not again. Not on his watch.

Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.


Read more about Elizabeth Goddard's books at http://elizabethgoddard.com

* * *

The Restorer
-Expanded Edition

Book One in the Sword of Lyric series

By Sharon Hinck

About the book:

Susan Mitchell thought she was an ordinary homemaker.

She was wrong.

Pulled through a portal into another world, she finds a nation waiting for a promised Restorer. Could she be the heroine they are waiting for? She tackles an enemy that is poisoning people's minds, uncovers a corrupt ruling Council, and discovers that God can use her floundering efforts in surprising ways.

This groundbreaking series is now being released in expanded editions, including an in-depth devotion guide, bonus scenes, and other fun extras.
"Because of Sharon Hinck, I have fallen in love with a new genre. The Sword of Lyric series is exactly what Christian fiction should be. Bravo, bravo…and more please!" –Susan May Warren, best-selling author of dozens of CBA novels

"Fresh and compelling. Sharon zigged every time I expected her to zag, and the world she created is full of mystery and suspense and the awe of discovery. But it's the characters who keep you coming back for more".– Robin Parrish, author of Vigilante

From the new back-of-the-book extras:

Bonus Scene after Chapter 4

Tristan:
"She warned me." I tossed back the last swig of clavo and wiped out the mug before tucking it away on a recessed shelf. Not that there was any real need to clean up. The place probably wouldn't see another person for seasons to come. I was stalling, and I knew it.

Kieran leaned against the open doorway, squinting into the distance. "Who warned you of what?"

"My mother. She tried to stop me."

"We all tried to stop you. You did what you had to."

I slung my pack over one shoulder and met Kieran at the door. "She warned me that revenge wouldn't change anything. She begged me to stay in Braide Wood."

Kieran shook his head. "You've got new things to worry about. By the way, she headed toward the center of town."

I sighed. Not the direction I needed to go. "Of course she did." I followed Kieran outside and pulled the door closed.

"I still say you should leave her here and get back to Lyric for some damage control. The Council has probably figured out by now that you aren't where you're supposed to be."

More regret slammed into me. I hadn't cared about what my mother needed, I hadn't cared about the guardians in my command, I hadn't cared about anything but tracking the Rhusican. Every day I'd woken with desperate hope that tore my insides like a rizzid's claws. Hope that confronting the Rhusican would bring me answers. Hope that justice would ease my pain. Hope that I'd be able to talk to the One again without shaking with rage. And now . . . now I just felt empty.

"Hey." Kieran shoved me, a little too hard to be playful. "Stop it. Second guessing makes you weak."

I swatted him aside and tightened my sword belt. "It's not weakness to analyze my choices."

"Choices? You didn't have choices. You told me he attacked you."

"He did. But it was still my sword that took his life. I could have—"

"Let him kill you?" Kieran spit the words out through a clenched jaw.

I took a step back. "What are you so mad at me for?"

"Because you're an idiot. He did more than enough damage, but you insist on making it worse by torturing yourself." Kieran raked a hand through his dark hair, haggard lines deepening on his face.

Another person I hadn't considered. He'd been devastated too. My shoulders slumped. "I wish I could bring her back."

Pain flashed in Kieran's eyes. He turned away and cleared his throat. "Go track down your protégé before she wanders into a clay pit. Although, come to think of it, that would solve a few problems."

With a dry chuckle, he strode down the street, heading toward Hazor. I shook my head, picked up the extra pack I'd assembled, and walked toward the center of town to find Susan. Unlike Kieran, I could dare to hope for a Restorer. After all, what else could explain what we'd both seen? Her crumpled, lifeless body had healed. Still, she seemed awfully small and confused to be of much help. If I were still on speaking terms with the One, I'd ask Him what her appearance meant, but for now I'd hope someone in Braide Wood could figure out what to do with her.

(Copyright Sharon Hinck, 2011. Used with permission. Please do not reproduce.)
For more information about Sharon and her books, visit www.sharonhinck.com

The Restorer-Expanded Edition is available at Marcher Lord Press:

On Kindle:

And on Nook:
__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
For more information on this week's books, join the Chapter a Week Chat group!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Greetings from the authors of Chapter-a-Week!

Dear loyal Chapter-a-Week readers,
I am so thankful for you! Oh, how joyous the news the angels brought all those years ago—a child, born to die, out of love for us. My wish for you this Christmas is that you will know the deep, deep love of Christ anew this coming year. May He fill your longings as He conforms you into the person you were meant to be. If you, like me, are missing loved ones this Christmas I pray His arms will surround you with comfort.  

Warmly,
Traci DePree

Wishing you peace in the chaos, joy in the struggle, and time to reflect on the perfect gift sent from above on that silent, long-ago night. Merry Christmas from the Hunter family!  Denise Hunter

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! Whether it's been a year of trials, a year of joys, or something in between, I pray that this Christmas season will be a time to stop and reflect on the blessings and lessons of the year behind us, and on the hope of new beginnings that Christ offers all of us in this new year ahead. Merry Christmas!
~ Deborah Raney
Wishing all of you a warm and wonderful Christmas 2011. I am so thankful for each and every one of you who buy and read my books, who tell others about them, who visit with me on Facebook, and who send me emails of encouragement. May your New Year be filled to overflowing with good books to read and with the people you love and who love you in return.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin Lee Hatcher

I hope this year has been kind to you and has brought you closer to the Lord for many reasons. May this Christmas season be one of your best. And go ahead--eat that cookie. Life is short.

Trish Perry

Thanks to my readers who have given me such joy with your letters, cards, emails and plane old reading my three novels released this year. I was excited to have a Christmas book to share with you. It's a blessed season and one that I hope blesses you as well. I wish you and your family a joyful Christmas and a new year filled with all good things. Happy Holy-Days.

Gail Gaymer Martin


May the celebration of Jesus birth surprise you this year with fresh insights and new joy
over the infinitely blessed meaning of "God with us."

Stephanie Grace Whitson

To all of the Chapter-a-Week readers, may you have a sweet, sweet Christmas with much time to reflect on the birth of our Savior. Imagine! The one who spoke the world into being lowered himself to becoming a human baby, for the sole purpose of taking the punishment for our sins. It's mind-boggling. Don't miss that shocking reality in all the busy-ness of the season. Merry Christmas!
~Terri Blackstock, Author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Shadow in Serenity

To our beloved readers, who have sent us wonderful encouragement this year. May you be blessed and filled with peace this season when Christ is celebrated.
Hannah Alexander


In preparing for the Christ Child, may you be blessed and humbled by the most precious gift ever given.
Joy! ~Kristen Heitzmann
I'm praying for a blessed Christmas for all of my readers. When the road is
difficult, I pray that stories of struggle and faith will bring
encouragement and inspiration.   –Sharon Hinck

Before we approach the wrapped presents under the Christmas tree this year, I'll be counting the gifts I've already received: a new profession, complete with caring colleagues and enthusiastic readers; a wonderful family whose love is constant; good health (despite a few aches and pains); and the greatest gift of all, the One whose birth we celebrate this season.
Merry Christmas, all.

Richard Mabry
I wish all you Chapter-a-Week readers a very Merry Christmas, and may there be many books under your tree.

Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.
 
Vickie McDonough
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's to all the Chapter-a-Week readers! I'm praying this holiday season brings an exceptionally full cup of blessings to you and your family, and that 2012 proves to be a banner year for us all. Thank you for your continued support of authors--we wouldn't be here without you!

Sincerely,
Alison Strobel

Merry Christmas to each one of you and your families. I hope that the Christmas season and the coming year is wonderful for you and your loved ones.

Margaret Daley
Ellie Quicke and Bea Abbot join me in wishing you a Merry Christmas. They hope that all the books you read in the New Year will leave you with happy memories of hours well spent in the reading of a good story. Both Ellie and Bea will be bringing you new books in 2012; MURDER IN MIND for Ellie in the summer and FALSE ALARM for Bea next winter.
From my heart to yours at this special time of the year...
Veronica Heley

Merry Christmas to readers everywhere! May the season take your breath away with the One True Story that became fact, and may the New Year inspire you to embrace the adventure God is calling you to, with purpose and passion!
Tracy L. Higley       
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and add to it a wish for peace in our world.
Lyn Cote

It is never often enough that writers get to thank our readers for choosing to read our books and so often passing the news on to their friends and families about their delightful find. So this Christmas season, I am wishing you and yours the most blessed of holidays with holy times, all the love and laughter you need and desire, not only now but through the year. I pray for us all that our attitudes of gratitude grow deeper and richer and front and center in our lives. May you be visited with delightful surprises and the absolute knowledge of how much God loves you. Merry Christmas, happy new year and joy filled hearts be yours.
Hugs too,
Lauraine Snelling

"Merry Christmas, everybody! One of the best things about Christmas time is the chance to send out greetings to friends like you. I love sharing stories so 2011 was a good year for me with two new books, Angel Sister and The Blessed. It was also a difficult year with my mother's failing memory and health, but isn't that the way of every year for all of us? Happy times and other more challenging times. I'm thankful the Lord blesses us in all times, and I am so blessed with a wonderful family and many reading friends like you. May you have a beautiful Christmas with every gift wrapped in love. And a blessed and happy New Year too."
Ann H. Gabhart

Thank you to all who have traveled back to Old Testament times with me in the stories of the Wives of King David. I pray God's blessings on each one of you. And from our house to yours, Merry Christmas!

Jill Eileen Smith

Wishing you all the joy of Christmas,
Marta Perry

Merry Christmas to all you wonderful readers of Christian fiction for you are obviously people of taste, wisdom, and insight. May the Lord richly bless you through the season and all next year.
-Gayle Roper

Merry Christmas, reading friends! May God fill your life with His wondrous joy and give you the gift of extra hours for reading in the New Year. Blessings to you and your family!
--Marlo Schalesky

Merry Christmas from Tracey Bateman! To all readers of Christian fiction, thank you for supporting our efforts to bring faith-centered stories of hope and healing. May God bless you this Christmas season and in the coming year and may He be glorified as you live, move and have your being in Him.
Merry Christmas!
Tracey Bateman

Hello my Chapter-a-Week friends, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas 
and a blessed New Year!  One thing I especially love about that week 
between Christmas and New Years is that I can finally slow down and 
READ, something that becomes more of a luxury the busier I get.  My 
wish is that you'll be able to do the same.
 
Thanks so much for your support of Christian fiction throughout the 
year!  May you have a wonderful holiday with time for family, friends, 
and curling up somewhere comfy with a cup of hot chocolate and a 
delicious new book.
 
Blessings,
Mindy Starns Clark

May the Lord's presence and truth be with you this holiday season, and throughout the New Year!
Many Blessings,
Maureen Lang

Dear Readers,

One of the greatest (and most unexpected) blessings about writing are the relationships I've made with you. Thank you not only for reading my books, but for coming alongside me and taking these journeys with me, for embracing these characters like I do. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and God's richest blessings in this New Year.

Warmly,
Tamera Alexander

"Somehow not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you."
 
Thanks for letting me be a part of your life through books! Wishing you a joy-filled celebration of Jesus' birth!
Susan Meissner

Greetings from Kentucky! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and lots of family time.
Susan Page Davis

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Smitten is an anthology about friends written by real life friends Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter.

Synopsis
Four friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country's premier romantic getaway-and each finds her own true love along the way. With Smitten Lumber closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners-Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese--decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They'll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination! As Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese work to save the town, each discovers romance in her own life. Meanwhile, the faith of a little child reminds the whole town what it means to have real faith in the God who is the always and forever Love.

Natalie
By
Colleen Coble

The aroma of the freshly brewed coffee overpowered the less appetizing smell from the drum roaster in the back room. Natalie let her employee Zoe handle the customers at the bar and took the hot beverages to the seating area by the window where she and her friends could see white-topped Sugarcreek Mountain. Spring had come to their part of Vermont, and the sight of the wildflowers on the lower slopes would give her strength.

"So what are we going to do?" she asked, sinking onto the overstuffed leather sofa beside Reese Mackenzie.

"Do? What can we do?" Reese asked. Her blond ponytail gleamed in the shaft of sunlight through the window. She was the practical one in the group. Reese was never afraid of hard work, but while Natalie saw only the end goal, Reese saw the pitfalls right on the path. "We can't make them keep the mill open."

While rumors about the mill had been floating for months, no one had really believed it would fold. The ramifications would be enormous. Natalie's business had been struggling enough without this added blow.

She took a sip of her mocha java. A little bitter. She'd have to tweak the roast a bit next time. "If the mill closes, the town will dry up and blow away. We can't let that happen." If Mountain Perks closed, she didn't know how she would provide for Mia.

And she wasn't leaving Smitten. Not ever. After being yanked from pillar to post with an alcoholic mother until she was ten, Natalie craved the stability she had found here with her aunts and her friends.

Julia Bourne tossed her long hair away from her face to reveal flawless skin that never needed makeup. "This is one of those things outside your control, Nat. I'd guess we'd all better be looking for jobs in Stowe."

Shelby Evans took a sip of her tea and shivered. Her Shih-poo, Penelope, dressed in a fashionable blue-and-white polka dotted shirt, turned around in Shelby's lap and lay down on her navy slacks. "I don't know about you all," Shelby said, "but I wanted my kids to grow up here."

The women had no children of their own—and none of them was even close to thinking about settling down—but that was a moot point for Shelby. She had a storybook ending in mind that included a loving husband and two-point-five children for each of them. Natalie was sure her friend would find that life too.

Natalie moved restlessly. "There has to be something we can do. Some new export. Maple syrup, maybe? We have lots of trees." She glanced at Julia. "What about your New York friends? Maybe you could ask some of your business friends for advice?"

Julia shrugged her slim shoulders. "They know spas. I hardly think a spa is going to save us."

Reese had those thoughtful lines on her forehead. A tiny smile hovered on her full lips, and her hazel eyes showed a plan was forming. "We don't have time for exports, but what about imports? Tourists would love us if they'd come visit. We have heart." She took out her ever-present notebook and pen and began to jot down ideas.

"They come to ski in Stowe anyway," Shelby said. "All we have to do is get them here."

Natalie rubbed her forehead where it had begun to ache. "But what do we have to offer that's different from any other town?"

Julia crossed her shapely ankles. "Smitten is cute with its church and all, but cute doesn't bring tourists. I can't even get a decent manicure in this dinky town. People aren't going to pay for ambiance. We need some kind of gimmick."

Reese tapped her pen against her chin. "I have an idea," she said. "Everyone jokes about the town name. Why not capitalize on it?"

"How do you capitalize on a name like Smitten?"

"What does Smitten make you think of?" Reese asked. "Love, right? What if we turn the town into a place for honeymooners?"

Julia snickered and nodded toward the man striding past outside the window. "I have a feeling Carson would have something to say about that. He hated all the jokes about his name in high school."

Natalie followed the angle of Julia's nod. Her gut clenched the way it always did when she saw Carson Smitten. He was a man who attracted female attention wherever he went. He looked like his lumberjack great-grandfather, with his broad shoulders and closely- cropped dark hair.

Natalie dug a paper and pen from her purse, a Brighton that Julia had given her for her last birthday. "There needs to be a cohesive plan. What would this love town look like? Besides romantic songs playing over speakers around town."

"The honeymooners won't spend all their time in their rooms," Reese said, her eyes gleaming. "We offer great outdoor activities. The skiing here is as good as anywhere in the country. People just don't know about us." She gestured toward the mountain. "And look at that view."

This was not going to be an easy sell to Carson Smitten. Natalie stared out the window again and watched the man yank on the door to his hardware store in his usual confident way. She had no doubt she could convince the rest of the town over his objections. After all, what did they have to lose?


Excerpt © Colleen Coble, 2011. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.


 
Visit Colleen's website at www.colleencoble.com

Monday, December 12, 2011

Mistletoe Mayhem


Mistletoe Mayhem
Novella in anthology entitled Season of Danger


Love Inspired Romantic Suspense – December 2011


A romance-shy veterinarian and a widowed health inspector hunt the killer who used mistletoe extract to poison pets and people in a Tennessee mountain town.


After being jilted by her fiancé, Kelly Granger buries her broken heart in her work as a veterinarian in her home town of Abbottsville, Tennessee, located in the Great Smoky Mountains. She and her assistant, Tim Hallock, battle to save community pets from a violent and mysterious illness. Is this sickness a danger to humans? Her question is answered when state health inspector Matt Bennett is sent to investigate local eating establishments, including Kelly’s sister’s restaurant, for the cause of poisoning among the patrons. Kelly refuses to believe that her sister served toxic mistletoe extract to her customers—yet mounting evidence points in that direction. Kelly puts herself in harm’s way, facing down a vicious dog and even more vicious people, to uncover a common denominator between the human and animal illnesses. Matt has his hands full keeping up with her, as well as proving himself worthy of her trust—and hopefully, her love. Unless she has her heart set on her veterinary assistant, Tim Hallock. The question won’t matter if his investigation sends Kelly’s sister to jail. She’ll never have anything to do with him then. They need to uncover the truth. But will the answer cost them more than their romance? Will it cost them their lives?



CHAPTER ONE


Kelly Granger stared into Nick Milton’s bloodshot eyes and suppressed a shiver. It wouldn’t do to betray her fear of him, any more than to give that advantage to a wild animal.


Beefy face taut, Nick leaned toward her over the counter of the veterinary clinic’s reception area. “If my dog don’t perk up and shake off that drug you pumped into him, I’ll come lookin’ for you. He’s been layin’ around all afternoon, worthless as a tick.”


The slurred words betrayed the alcohol he pickled himself in daily. How did Chelsea live with this guy?


“Mr. Milton, Brutus’s behavior posed a danger to himself, the staff and other animals. In order to give him his check-up and vaccinations, it was necessary to administer a mild sedative first. I assure you, he will be himself by morning, barring a little stiffness in the vaccination site, which will also disappear.”


There, she’d delivered a reasonable explanation, and her voice didn’t even quiver. If she’d discovered any sign of abuse on Nick’s Doberman, she would have turned the dog over to the SPCA to get the animal away from his disgusting owner.


“Highfalutin, la-de-da doctor!” Nick shook a ham-sized fist in her face. “I’m holdin’ you to them words.”


Kelly gripped the edge of the counter. She would not back away. This creep might have a reputation for temper, but she was not going to be cowed. This was her clinic, and she’d done nothing wrong . . . except send her assistant, Tim Hallock, home early. Tim might be half Nick’s size, but at least he could have called the cops.


Nick turned and stomped out the door, admitting a burst of chill air, which washed over Kelly. She allowed herself a shiver. Some people needed a muzzle and leash more than their pets. She wouldn’t mind calling the police to let them know that Nick Milton was driving drunk again, except he wasn’t driving.


The Milton’s beat-up van sat in a parking spot outside the clinic’s picture window. Nick’s son, Greg, perched behind the wheel. Kelly’s glance met the teenager’s, and kid offered his usual juvenile leer. She marched to the door and turned the deadbolt as the van chugged out of the parking lot, spewing dark smoke from its tailpipe.


Releasing a breath, she looked out the picture window, which revealed a panorama of white-topped mountain ridges looming over the struggling business district. Even with Christmas nearly upon them, traffic was thin this early evening. Vehicle headlights vied with the twinkle of Christmas lights adorning the facades of buildings. Thankfully, no one seemed headed for the veterinary clinic. She’d dealt with enough excitement for one day.


Brutus had been the easiest patient—a routine well-check. Six other pets, cradled by distraught owners—one of them Kelly’s sister—had been presented this afternoon, each animal exhibiting the same awful symptoms. She was keeping most of them overnight on IVs to rehydrate them. Her patients would live, but more by the grace of God than human skill. She’d never seen anything like it and prayed she never would again.


Had Tim remembered to prepare the biological samples for submission to the state lab? They needed to discover what had made the pets so ill.


Kelly headed for the pharmacy, loafers squeaking faintly on the linoleum. Her pharmacy was more like a large closet than a room. The package lay wrapped and labeled on the counter. Kelly smiled. Reliable was Tim’s middle name.


A note in his handwriting sat by the box. She picked it up and read, “Courier service unable to make the pick-up until late tomorrow afternoon. One of the hazards of living in a Tennessee mountain town.”


Kelly groaned. Compared to the frenzy of her Nashville vet school experience, she’d loved returning to the gracious pace of life in Abbottsville, nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. But around here, tomorrow was soon enough for anything to happen. Might as well get home and put her feet up.


On the drive to her modest bungalow, her thoughts refused to wind down. What if the illness was an epidemic—something bacterial . . . or even viral? Or maybe it was as simple as a contaminated batch of pet food? But what if this was a contagion that could affect people? What if . . . Whoa, girl! No point in stressing over what had hit the pets in Abbottsville until the lab returned results.


Darkness had fully fallen when she turned the final corner onto her street. She accelerated and then eased off the gas pedal. What was up with this? The automatic timer on her Christmas lights should have had her place aglow with festive decorations, but the single-story home was dark. A faulty timer? Better than some expensive electrical issue. It wasn’t a power outage. The porch light glowed on the two-story house next door, but no holiday decorations. Probably because her yet-to-be-seen neighbor had moved in only yesterday.


Kelly wheeled the Explorer into the driveway, and the headlights passed over a scene of Christmas decoration carnage strewn across her snow-dusted lawn. What in the world? She halted the SUV at an angle and scanned the mess of tinsel, strings of lights, straw from the crèche and holly and pine garland. Her stomach knotted. Who would do such a thing? Then she spotted the vandal, and her jaw dropped.  

Excerpt. © Jill Elizabeth Nelson, 2011. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.


Available at fine bookstores everywhere, plus outlets at Walmart and Target, as well as on-line bookstores.

For more information and a chance to win a signed copy of the book, drop by http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com, jillelizabethnelson.com.


 CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK NOW!


Merry and Blessed Christmas to All!


Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Jill Elizabeth Nelson is an award-winning author of mystery and suspense. She writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith. Jill speaks regularly at conferences, writer’s groups, library associations, and civic and church groups. When teaching classes for writers, she delights in bringing the “Ahah! moment” to her students, so they can make a new skill their own. Jill and her husband live in rural Minnesota where they raised four children and are currently enjoying their grandchildren. Visit Jill on the web at: www.jillelizabethnelson.com or look her up on Facebook or Twitter:  
 

Friday, December 09, 2011

Mistletoe Mayhem; His Holiday Family

Mistletoe Mayhem
By Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Novella in anthology entitled Season of Danger Love Inspired Romantic Suspense – December 2011

A romance-shy veterinarian and a widowed health inspector hunt the killer who used mistletoe extract to poison pets and people in a Tennessee mountain town. After being jilted by her fiancé, Kelly Granger buries her broken heart in her work as a veterinarian in her home town of Abbottsville, Tennessee, located in the Great Smoky Mountains. She and her assistant, Tim Hallock, battle to save community pets from a violent and mysterious illness. Is this sickness a danger to humans? Her question is answered when state health inspector Matt Bennett is sent to investigate local eating establishments, including Kelly's sister's restaurant, for the cause of poisoning among the patrons. Kelly refuses to believe that her sister served toxic mistletoe extract to her customers—yet mounting evidence points in that direction. Kelly puts herself in harm's way, facing down a vicious dog and even more vicious people, to uncover a common denominator between the human and animal illnesses. Matt has his hands full keeping up with her, as well as proving himself worthy of her trust—and hopefully, her love. Unless she has her heart set on her veterinary assistant, Tim Hallock. The question won't matter if his investigation sends Kelly's sister to jail. She'll never have anything to do with him then. They need to uncover the truth. But will the answer cost them more than their romance? Will it cost them their lives?

CHAPTER ONE

Kelly Granger stared into Nick Milton's bloodshot eyes and suppressed a shiver. It wouldn't do to betray her fear of him, any more than to give that advantage to a wild animal. Beefy face taut, Nick leaned toward her over the counter of the veterinary clinic's reception area. "If my dog don't perk up and shake off that drug you pumped into him, I'll come lookin' for you. He's been layin' around all afternoon, worthless as a tick." The slurred words betrayed the alcohol he pickled himself in daily. How did Chelsea live with this guy? "Mr. Milton, Brutus's behavior posed a danger to himself, the staff and other animals. In order to give him his check-up and vaccinations, it was necessary to administer a mild sedative first. I assure you, he will be himself by morning, barring a little stiffness in the vaccination site, which will also disappear." There, she'd delivered a reasonable explanation, and her voice didn't even quiver. If she'd discovered any sign of abuse on Nick's Doberman, she would have turned the dog over to the SPCA to get the animal away from his disgusting owner. "Highfalutin, la-de-da doctor!" Nick shook a ham-sized fist in her face. "I'm holdin' you to them words." Kelly gripped the edge of the counter. She would not back away. This creep might have a reputation for temper, but she was not going to be cowed. This was her clinic, and she'd done nothing wrong . . . except send her assistant, Tim Hallock, home early. Tim might be half Nick's size, but at least he could have called the cops. Nick turned and stomped out the door, admitting a burst of chill air, which washed over Kelly. She allowed herself a shiver. Some people needed a muzzle and leash more than their pets. She wouldn't mind calling the police to let them know that Nick Milton was driving drunk again, except he wasn't driving. The Milton's beat-up van sat in a parking spot outside the clinic's picture window. Nick's son, Greg, perched behind the wheel. Kelly's glance met the teenager's, and kid offered his usual juvenile leer. She marched to the door and turned the deadbolt as the van chugged out of the parking lot, spewing dark smoke from its tailpipe. Releasing a breath, she looked out the picture window, which revealed a panorama of white-topped mountain ridges looming over the struggling business district. Even with Christmas nearly upon them, traffic was thin this early evening. Vehicle headlights vied with the twinkle of Christmas lights adorning the facades of buildings. Thankfully, no one seemed headed for the veterinary clinic. She'd dealt with enough excitement for one day. Brutus had been the easiest patient—a routine well-check. Six other pets, cradled by distraught owners—one of them Kelly's sister—had been presented this afternoon, each animal exhibiting the same awful symptoms. She was keeping most of them overnight on IVs to rehydrate them. Her patients would live, but more by the grace of God than human skill. She'd never seen anything like it and prayed she never would again. Had Tim remembered to prepare the biological samples for submission to the state lab? They needed to discover what had made the pets so ill. Kelly headed for the pharmacy, loafers squeaking faintly on the linoleum. Her pharmacy was more like a large closet than a room. The package lay wrapped and labeled on the counter. Kelly smiled. Reliable was Tim's middle name. A note in his handwriting sat by the box. She picked it up and read, "Courier service unable to make the pick-up until late tomorrow afternoon. One of the hazards of living in a Tennessee mountain town." Kelly groaned. Compared to the frenzy of her Nashville vet school experience, she'd loved returning to the gracious pace of life in Abbottsville, nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. But around here, tomorrow was soon enough for anything to happen. Might as well get home and put her feet up. On the drive to her modest bungalow, her thoughts refused to wind down. What if the illness was an epidemic—something bacterial . . . or even viral? Or maybe it was as simple as a contaminated batch of pet food? But what if this was a contagion that could affect people? What if . . . Whoa, girl! No point in stressing over what had hit the pets in Abbottsville until the lab returned results. Darkness had fully fallen when she turned the final corner onto her street. She accelerated and then eased off the gas pedal. What was up with this? The automatic timer on her Christmas lights should have had her place aglow with festive decorations, but the single-story home was dark. A faulty timer? Better than some expensive electrical issue. It wasn't a power outage. The porch light glowed on the two-story house next door, but no holiday decorations. Probably because her yet-to-be-seen neighbor had moved in only yesterday. Kelly wheeled the Explorer into the driveway, and the headlights passed over a scene of Christmas decoration carnage strewn across her snow-dusted lawn. What in the world? She halted the SUV at an angle and scanned the mess of tinsel, strings of lights, straw from the crèche and holly and pine garland. Her stomach knotted. Who would do such a thing? Then she spotted the vandal, and her jaw dropped.

Excerpt. © Jill Elizabeth Nelson, 2011.

Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Available at fine bookstores everywhere, plus outlets at Walmart and Target, as well as on-line bookstores.

For more information and a chance to win a signed copy of the book, drop by http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK NOW!

Merry and Blessed Christmas to All! Jill Elizabeth Nelson www.jillelizabethnelson.com


* * *

His Holiday Family

 (1st book in A Town Called Hope Series)

By Margaret Daley
Love Inspired, December 2012 ISBN #978-037387711-9 Margaret Daley's website://http://www.margaretdaley.com

Purchased the book following link on this page: http://www.margaretdaley.com/all-books/

In the aftermath of a hurricane will Kathleen Hart and Gideon O'Brien, two scarred people, find hope and love?

Blurb for His Holiday Family: When Hurricane Naomi tears through a small Mississippi town, a daring rescue unites two heroes. Nurse Kathleen Hart is a single mom racked by guilt over her husband's death. Firefighter Gideon O'Brien—orphaned as a young boy—has lost too many people he cared for. To rise above the storm's devastation, Gideon helps Kathleen and her sons rebuild their home. As Christmas approaches, they discover that even the strongest of storms can't destroy a romance built on the foundation of faith.

Excerpt from His Holiday Family: Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Gideon O'Brien hopped down from Engine Two and assessed the chaos in front of him. Strapping on his air pack, he started toward his captain. A hand gripped his arm and stopped his forward progress. He turned toward the blonde woman who held him, her large blue eyes glistening with tears. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place where he knew her from. His neighbor's daughter, perhaps? "My two sons and my cousin—their babysitter—must still be inside. I don't see them outside with the other tenants." Her voice quivered. She tightened her hand on his arm and scanned the crowd. "I'm Kathleen Hart. My sons are Jared and Kip. I tried Sally's cell but she didn't answer. Please get them out." A tear slipped down her cheek. "Where are they?" Gideon moved toward his captain, his palm at the small of her back, guiding her in the direction he wanted her to go. Yes, he realized, she was his neighbor Ruth Coleman's daughter. "Sally's second-floor apartment is on the east side, the fourth one down on your right. Number 212. Hurry." Her round eyes fastened on the fire consuming the three-story apartment building on Magnolia Street. Gideon paused in front of Captain Fox. "Mrs. Hart says her sons and babysitter are still inside. Pete and I can go in and get them." He looked toward the west end of the large structure where the men of Engine One were fighting the flames eating their way through the top level. "There's still time." "Okay." His captain surveyed the east end. "But hurry. It won't be long before this whole building goes up." The scent of smoke hung heavy in the air. The hissing sound of water hitting Magnolia Street Apartments vied with the roar of the blaze. Gideon turned toward the mother of the two boys. "We'll find them." He gave her a smile then searched the firefighters for Pete. When Gideon found him a few feet away, he covered the distance quickly. "Let's go. There are three people trapped on the second floor. East end." At the main entrance into the building Gideon fixed his mask in place, glancing back at the blonde woman standing near his captain. He had seen that same look of fear and worry many times over his career as a firefighter. He wouldn't let anything happen to her sons and Sally. Gideon switched on his voice amplifier and headed into the furnace with Pete following close behind him. Through the thick cloud suspended from the ceiling in the foyer, the stairs to the second floor loomed. Crouching, he scrambled up the steps. The higher he went, the hotter it became. On the landing, he peered to the right, a wall of steely smoke obscuring his view. To the left, the way he needed to go, the gunmetal gray fog hovered in the hallway, denser at the top. Gideon dropped to his hands and knees and crawled toward Sally's apartment. Sweat coated his body from the adrenaline pumping through him and the soaring temperature. The building groaned. Visibility only three feet in front of him, he hugged the wall, his heart pounding. He sucked air into his lungs, conscious of the limited amount of oxygen in his tank. Calm down. Not much time. In and out. Mindful of every inhalation, he counted the doors they passed in the corridor. One. Two. Three. The next apartment was Sally's. His breathing evened out as he neared his goal. At number 212's door, Gideon tried the handle. Locked. He rose and swung his ax into the wooden obstruction, the sound of it striking its target reverberating in the smoke-filled air. When a big enough hole appeared, Pete reached inside and opened the door. A pearly haze, not as heavy as in the corridor, engulfed the room. His partner rushed into the apartment, Gideon right behind him. In the small foyer, he noticed a large television on in the living room but didn't see anyone in there. "I'll take the left. You the right," Gideon said, making his way down the short hallway to the first bedroom. "Fire department, is anyone here?" His gaze riveted to a double bed. He quickly searched everywhere two young boys might hide. Nothing. For a few seconds a memory intruded into his mind, taking his focus off what needed to be done. He shoved it away, went back in the hall and crossed to the other bedroom. After checking it, he came back out into the corridor and opened the last door to a bathroom. Empty. He pictured his neighbor's daughter next to his captain, waiting for them to bring her sons out safely. The thought that he might not be able to quickened his breathing for a moment. When he met up with Pete in the small entryway, his partner said, "All clear in the kitchen as well as the living and dining rooms." "The same in the bedrooms." "Gideon, Pete, get out. Mrs. Hart sees her children and their babysitter. They just arrived and are safe," his captain's deep gravelly voice came over the radio. "We're on our way." Relieved the two boys and Sally were all right, Gideon and Pete made their way back into the main hallway. The smoke had grown thicker, darker. The crackling and popping sounds of the fire overrode the rumbling noise from the water continually bombarding the structure. A warning went off, signaling Pete only had five minutes of air left in his tank. Our time is running out.