So What's One More Ghost? by Debby Grahl

An ancestor’s tale of betrayal, murder, and a stolen fortune in silver leads Elise Baxter to Max Holt’s Victorian inn. She is reluctantly, though irresistibly, attracted to Max. 

Leery of loving again, Max lets passion overrule caution, tumbling them into an erotic encounter. 

Guided by ghosts and opposed by an evil presence, the couple searches for the treasure. But there are others who will stop at nothing to unlock the mystery of the Silver Crescent.

 

                       The backstory features a group of miners in Leadville, Colorado.

    For my first blog with Paranormal Romantics, I’d like to tell you about my first published book, The Silver Crescent. I love old haunted houses, and I enjoy using ghosts and witches in my stories. So what better than a pair of Victorian ghosts in need of help? My setting was my home state of Michigan in the beautiful Irish Hills. This is an area of small towns, late nineteenth-century homes, and wonderful ghost stories.

    With eager anticipation, I sent the MS of The Silver Crescent off to a small publisher who responded with the comment, “You have a good story if you could write it.” Ouch! I worked on her suggestions and sent it back. This time she thought it was great, except she wanted me to make the ghosts mean. 

    For me, as a writer, I can’t change characters' personalities at will. They are who they are. I told her this, but she insisted I have a mean ghost. So I had to create an entire new ghost character. This can be challenging because you can’t just plop an additional character in anywhere. They must blend in with the story. By the time I was done, I’d added fifteen-thousand words. The editor was right; the mean ghost definitely added to the story. 

    This small press has closed, and I have regained my rights to the book. Like other writers, rereading our first work can make us cringe as all the no-no's in writing jump out at us. I’m going to revamp the story, and hopefully my editor with Wild Rose Press will love it, and it will be reborn.

 

 Excerpt:

Cedar Bend, Michigan 1900

 The bullet slammed into Cyrus Mosby’s chest. The pain was quick and sharp. A dream-like sensation came over him as his body crumpled to the floor. His eyes fell upon his wife’s portrait. With his last breath, he whispered, “Virginia.”

“Cyrus, my love, I’m here.”

Cyrus opened his eyes. Confused, he stared at his beautiful wife, kneeling next to him, silver tears streaming down her translucent face. “Virginia?”

“Yes, love, it’s me.”

Cyrus took her outstretched hand and slowly sat up. Weightless, he floated upward until once again he stood. “Virginia, I don’t understand. What’s happened? How can you be here?”

Virginia brushed away her tears. “I couldn’t leave you. I’ve been waiting for you to join me, but I never expected it to happen like this. Cyrus, I’m so sorry. I had no idea of the evil that lurked within him.”

Still bewildered, Cyrus glanced around his library: tall bookcases holding leather- bound books neatly arranged, the large mahogany desk where moments before he’d been sitting, an Oriental rug now stained with the blood of three men. His own lifeless body lay at his feet. And here was Virginia, dead these past five years, standing in front of him. Tentatively he reached out his hand and touched her face. His fingers brushed across air that felt cool and thick. “I've truly joined you in death? Or am I dreaming?”

Ghosts of Yuletide Past by Jane Kindred

It’s that time of year again. I’m watching my Christmas ghost stories: A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. I have several copies of ACC (my goal is to own every version ever made), and I watch all of them every year, from the 1951 Scrooge with Alastair Sim (hands-down, the best traditional version) to A Muppet Christmas Carol (which is honestly the best version, period) to Bill Murray’s quintessentially 1980s Scrooged to the I'm-not-crying-you're-crying Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol. I wish there were more of them. And I wish there were more winter holiday ghost stories in general.

I understand it’s a British tradition—Brits, feel free to weigh in on this—to enjoy ghost stories around this time of year (particularly on Christmas Eve), of which Dickens Carol is the most famous example. In thinking about why ghost stories might be particularly associated with this time of year, as opposed to at Halloween, as is the custom in the US, I happened upon my own blog post from December 2017, talking about the research for The Dragon’s Hunt, Book 3 in my Sisters in Sin series, which has to do with The Wild Hunt.

Leo Ström, the hero in that book, was Swedish (a thousand-year-old Swedish Viking, to be exact), so his Wild Hunt tradition came from the Norse legends. Odin’s Hunt rides at the time of year when the veil between the living and the dead is considered to be at its thinnest, from Álfablót (the Norse equivalent of the Day of the Dead around Halloween time) through Yuletide, a twelve-day festival starting with the Winter Solstice—from whence came The Twelve Days of Christmas. But there are other Wild Hunt traditions, such as the Welsh tradition, over which my half-Welsh hero, Oliver, in Kindling the Darkness bonded with Leo.

To follow that meandering tangent back to where I started, it occurred to me that maybe the pagan response to the darkest quarter of the year—that feeling of being in the presence of the dead during the thinning of the veil—was one of the inspirations for the tradition of Christmas ghost stories. Christmas, after all, is really just appropriated Yuletide. Sorry, Christians, but it is; Jesus was born in June. But it’s okay. We pagans understand why you like our stuff. ;) As much as the holiday has been sugarcoated, it’s still about whistling past the graveyard and hanging little twinkling lights to ward off the darkness and offer up sacrifices to ensure the return of the sun.

Whatever the reason, I wish ghost-stories-at-Yuletide was a bigger thing in the US—and that paranormal romance had more Christmas ghosts. Maybe it’s time to write my own holiday haunt.

By the way, if you’re looking for a Christmas-themed paranormal romance, The Dragon’s Hunt is set at Christmastime in Sedona, Arizona (and it’s lovely there). The Carlisle sisters are all big fans of the Yuletide holiday, whatever anyone wants to call it, and there are trees and lights and wassail. Psst, Hallmark, maybe you’d like a nice paranormal Christmas movie for your lovely channel? My agent is Sara Megibow at KT Literary. ;)

For more holiday-themed paranormal romance, see Abigail Owen's post about the Christmas After Dark anthology, featuring her story "The Wolf I Want for Christmas."

* I typo-ed this as The Dragon’s Hung at first, and now I have an idea for a Leo Ström erotic short. Ha.

Good Bones on Sale for 99 Cents

Still Moments Magazine Novel of the Year

on sale for 99 cents until March 1

Good Bones

by L. A. Kelley

If the living won’t get justice for the dead, who will?

No matter how challenging the case, psychologist Katherine Fleming never shirks from helping a patient confront a painful issue. Her keen powers of observation and compassionate nature have eased many troubled souls, but a homicide detective with a buried secret of his own stirs more than just clinical interest.

The first time Detective Jake Sumner spied the old house, he sensed the good bones. Little did he know the purchase of the property included an unusual tenant far from resting in peace. Can the new psychologist in town help him treat a ghostly trauma case or is his growing attraction to Katherine Fleming best left buried?  

With the aid of a mysterious white cat and a mystical mirror, Katherine and Jake join forces to solve a murder. Can they stop a killer from claiming the next victim or will their investigation only lead them six feet under?

Excerpt

Jake flicked on the light. Other than faded floral wallpaper, the single decoration on the walls was a large antique gilded mirror. The glass was old, dotted with hazy black splotches where the reflective silver coating had worn away. Katherine’s image was blurred and barely recognizable. She ran a finger over the window sill, and it came away covered in dust. “Your tenant is a lousy housekeeper. This room doesn’t seem as if anyone has been in here in years.”

“Yeah,” Jake murmured. “It’s not her thing.”

“I don’t understand,” said Katherine. “Where is she?” Without warning, the temperature plummeted. Katherine shivered, hugging her arms to her chest. “Why is it so cold?”

Jake’s lips pressed together in a thin, tight line, his gaze fixed on the mirror.

Click…click…click…click.

The lamp flicked on and off. Katherine’s pulse soared. “Detective?”

Jake glowered at the lamp, his face red with anger. He grabbed Katherine’s arm. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have brought you here—”

The French doors slammed shut. From outside came a muted thud as the front door closed as well. Katherine shrugged off Jake’s grip. “W-what are you doing? This isn’t funny.”

“It’s not me.” He peered at the mirror. “I’m sorry, Dr. Fleming. This is a bad idea. We should go now.”

Don’t leave me.                          

“W-who said that?” Katherine turned around to face the mirror. Her eyes widened in horror as the black splotches slid toward the center of the glass. “Trick.” Katherine clutched at her shirt. “It must be a trick.”

The blotches whirled together. A misty shape formed. Arms…legs…now torso…now head…an image of a person appeared from inside the gilded frame. Facial features blurred beyond recognition, but the body was definitely female. Katherine’s legs refused to move, a scream died on her lips. Shaking, she raised a trembling arm. Instead of mimicking her movement, the reflection remained rooted in place. “T-that’s not me.”

A plaintive whisper filled the air. Help.

A blast of frigid wind whipped the curtains and knocked Katherine into Jake. With the sound of breaking glass, a vaporous arm separated from the mirror and reached toward her.

Help me…

“Out now!” Jake dragged Katherine across the room. He yanked open the parlor doors and shoved her into the foyer.

Please…

The unearthly plea followed Katherine out of the house.

Pllleeeaaassseee…

Jake slammed the front door shut behind them. The muted cry faded away.

Author Bio

I write fantasy and science fiction adventures with humor, and a little romance because life is dull without them. I don’t write either sexy naughty bits or gore so your mama would approve, but do add a touch of cheeky sass so maybe she wouldn’t. The South is home; a place where the heat and humidity have driven everyone slightly mad. In my spare time I call in Bigfoot sightings to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. They are heartily sick of hearing from me.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Bones-L-Kelley-ebook/dp/B06XX7FQR8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Amazon (CA)

https://www.amazon.ca/Good-Bones-L-Kelley-ebook/dp/B06XX7FQR8/ref=sr_1_24?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1549481228&sr=1-24

ibooks

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn1509214305

Barnes & Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-bones-l-a-kelley/1126084029?ean=2940157477851

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/good-bones-9

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/L_A_Kelley_Good_Bones?id=hCbdDgAAQBAJ&hl=en

Audio coming for the holidays By Reservation Only

Since my book does have a ghost I'm including it here. By Reservation Only, the first book in the Deerbourne Inn Series will be available in Audio for the holidays. It was a learning experience to pick a reader, then listen to each chapter read by someone else. It takes time and I just finished with a relieved sigh. I think it sounds great. Hopefully my readers will agree.

BuyLink: http://a.co/d/atQwzPx

By Reservation Only, Book One in the Deerbourne Inn Series, is an ongoing saga about the people who visit or live at the Inn. the stories vary from contemporary romance to historical romance, a ghost story and a mystery. and thats only the start. http://a.co/d/atQwzPx

The second book, Hope's Dream (Deerbourne Inn) by Peggy Jaeger 

Link: http://a.co/d/gu5d0Kaby  is out November 5

Buy links:

Amazon //WildRose Press // Kobo 

You can connect with Barbara here:

website // Blog // Amazon // Facebook // Google + // Pinterest 

#cover By reservation Only from Barbara Edwards

Celebrate with me! I have my book cover for By Reservation Only with the Wild Rose Press. You might wonder why I’m mentioning a contemporary here, but it fits. The story line has a ghost haunting the Deerbourne Inn.

The publication date is undecided, but will be soon.

By Reservation Only is Book One in the Deerbourne Inn Series, an ongoing saga about the people who visit or live at the Inn. the stories vary from contemporary romance to historical romance, a ghost story and a mystery. and thats only the start.

I’m looking forward to reading all of them.

The Deerbourne Inn is in Vermont. a small town near all the area attractions. Do you ski? Fish? Hike? Like Fall foliage? Hunt antiques? There is something for everyone. 

Plan on visiting. 

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

 blog: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter  https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards

Work is writing by Barbara Edwards

 I need a subplot. A nice ghost is appropriate I think. I don’t want to talk about the story I have in the works. I don’t like to go into depth because I’ve found it dries up my juices. 

So I need a ghost. but what kind? 

To fit the story it needs to be gentle. No screaming in the middle of the night. No throwing items at the hero. No shivers or chills, well maybe some. After all a ghost should affect the people around it.

So I’m leaning toward a girlish laugh when no-one is there. A touch from a cold slender hand. I want the reader to wonder why this ghost is haunting this place. I don’t want any of the obvious reasons. No young female died here. No missing persons from this house. 

So why is she here? Oh, I already know but I’m not going to tell you yet. I need to build the story to support her presence. 

I can picture her. A sweet smile, slender, youthful, and energetic. She runs through the house, plays under the trees and in the garden. 

My hero doesn’t believe in ghosts and the house has no history of haunting. So what has my hero uncovered?

I have to keep working on this story. She’s got me hooked.

So back to the keyboard.

 Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

 blog: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter  https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards

Back East!

In mid-January (new year, new decisions, right?), I decided on a big life change. I was going home…

Back East. Back to South Carolina. Back to the red clay soil of the Piedmont area and the only family I have left.

So, I began looking around for a new home.  First, I had to sell my house in Texas, and that happened lightning quick.  We listed it on the MLS Friday night and by Monday—with the realtor’s sign never having gone up—it was under contract at above listing price!  Now, I’m in a pickle.  In approximately a month, I’ll have nowhere to go.

The housing market in my hometown of Anderson, SC is really tight now. It’s definitely a seller’s market. I lost 5 houses before I could get a contract in on them.  There was a house in the area of town where I wanted to buy, a brick ranch with a side sunroom ad a turquoise door.  I thought it was really cute, but never had interest in looking at it because I thought it was too small…not that I need a palace…but the rooms appeared smallish in the listing photos.

In mid-February, I went home to look at houses.  I still didn’t want to look at this one.  For the space,  I thought it was overpriced.  I went back to Texas ‘empty-handed’.  Finally, my realtor talked me into sending my aunt to look at the little brick house.

She loved it!

It has a marvelous chef’s kitchen, for one thing, and it was much bigger than I thought.   So then the negotiations began.  The long-and-short of it, several offers and counteroffers flew back and forth, but in the end, I have a contract on the brick house right beside a big Baptist church separated by a tall, white picket fence.

Next post will most likely be from the Palmetto State.

But this is a Paranormal Romance blog.  Well, I have 3 paranormal romances now available in audio:

Love For Sale is about Christian and March.  March is a disenchanted dreamer. Christian is her dream man, but…inside he’s all circuits and wires while outside he is perfectly human and programmed to love her unconditionally.

Morgan D’Arcy: A Vampyre Rhapsody is an anthology of stories told by my favorite of my characters. Morgan is an English lord, a concert pianist...and a vampire.

Love for Sale and Rhapsody are read by a woman with a lovely British accent and are enchanting to listen to.  Here are the links:

https://www.amazon.com/Morgan-DArcy-A-Vampyre-Rhapsody/dp/B078YXTZ4F/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1517030935&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Love-for-Sale/dp/B0792MRQWC/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1517030963&sr=1-3

Her General in Gray is a ghostly love story. Think the Ghost and Mrs. Muir. 

https://www.amazon.com/Her-General-in-Gray/dp/B076M7JS24/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1517037876&sr=8-1

Can you believe it is March already?!

A Christmas Ghost by Barbara Edwards

Ghosts are appropriate for Halloween and I do have a ghost story. Recently  I’ve been writing about my paranormal Rhodes End series, but my Christmas novella features the ghost of a dog who doesn’t want to leave her mistress alone. It is based on memories of my Dixie who sent her days keeping me from becoming a hermit. She’d demand a walk. Taking me out of my house to enjoy the fresh air and get some exercise. She’d sleep on my feet, keeping them warm while I wrote. 

I didn’t really think about my companion passing away and when she was diagnosed with cancer, it broke my heart. She was in terrible pain, but I didn’t want to let her go. It took me a week but I finally made the wrenching decision to send her over the rainbow bridge.

Dixie’s Gift

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092- 

Buy Links: http://a.co/hvdAjFY

https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3671-dixie-s-gift.html

Author: Barbara Edwards

Blurb: Ellen Carter deeply grieves for her husband Dan, but at least she still has Dixie, her beloved Malinois. However, soon Dixie leaves her too. But the faithful dog cannot rest easy in heaven while her mistress is unhappy. Dixie pleads with the Archangel Michael to let her send help, and intercedes for Ellen in the only way she can. But will Ellen get the message, and more importantly, will she accept Dixie's gift?

Sexy newcomer Michael Burke can barely take enough time from his successful restaurant for a decent night's sleep, let alone romance. Still, he is intrigued by the beautiful widow and can't resist entering her shop. Sparks fly, and when Ellen has an accident in a snowstorm, he comes to her rescue. Trapped by a blizzard and aided by Dixie's Gift, Ellen and Michael find more than shelter--they find love.

Cover artist: Debbie Taylor 

Excerpt:

He brushed a wisp of her hair from her cheek. It clung like spider silk to his fingers.

He rubbed the strand and his heart raced. When her lips parted, he bent forward to taste their soft curve.

Sweet, so sweet, he thought as her mouth melded with his. His hands slowly slid from her slender shoulders to her waist. Soft as a feather, she sighed. Her curves fit against his hard chest like matching puzzle pieces.

The lights blinked, dimmed, and then flared back on.

Comments:

Dixie's Gift tugs at your heart, and though the snow threatens, you can't help but be warmed by this sweet story. A must read! -- Kara O'Neal, Author

"Dog lovers, do not read this book . . . without a box of tissues nearby. A touching story of love and compassion." - Diane Burton, author of the Outer Rim series.

"Delightful. . .Barbara Edwards weaves a heartwarming holiday tale of rediscovering love after the death of a spouse and the loss of a beloved pet. It's a refreshing story with a theme of joy and peace and filled with engaging characters. And who can resist a romantic winter setting with lots and lots of snow?" ~ Judy Ann Davis, Author and Educator

Dixie’s Gift by Barbara Edwards is a gift of a read. Sweet, romantic, poignant, and touching, it will bring a lump to your throat and satisfaction to your heart. If you don't shed a tear, you're a robot." ~ Award winning author Alicia Dean

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

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Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

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GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards

My only ghost story by Barbara Edwards

Ghosts are appropriate for Halloween and I do have a ghost story. Recently  I’ve been writing about my paranormal Rhodes End series, but my Christmas novella features the ghost of a dog who doesn’t want to leave her mistress alone. It is based on memories of my Dixie who sent her days keeping me from becoming a hermit. She’d demand a walk. Taking me out of my house to enjoy the fresh air and get some exercise. She’d sleep on my feet, keeping them warm while I wrote. 

I didn’t really think about my companion passing away and when she was diagnosed with cancer, it broke my heart. She was in terrible pain, but I didn’t want to let her go. It took me a week but I finally made the wrenching decision to send her over the rainbow bridge.

In Dixie's memory, I wrote Dixie's Gift.

Dixie’s Gift

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092- 

Buy Links: http://a.co/hvdAjFY

https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3671-dixie-s-gift.html

Author: Barbara Edwards

Blurb: Ellen Carter deeply grieves for her husband Dan, but at least she still has Dixie, her beloved Malinois. However, soon Dixie leaves her too. But the faithful dog cannot rest easy in heaven while her mistress is unhappy. Dixie pleads with the Archangel Michael to let her send help, and intercedes for Ellen in the only way she can. But will Ellen get the message, and more importantly, will she accept Dixie's gift?

Sexy newcomer Michael Burke can barely take enough time from his successful restaurant for a decent night's sleep, let alone romance. Still, he is intrigued by the beautiful widow and can't resist entering her shop. Sparks fly, and when Ellen has an accident in a snowstorm, he comes to her rescue. Trapped by a blizzard and aided by Dixie's Gift, Ellen and Michael find more than shelter--they find love.

Cover artist: Debbie Taylor 

Excerpt:

He brushed a wisp of her hair from her cheek. It clung like spider silk to his fingers.

He rubbed the strand and his heart raced. When her lips parted, he bent forward to taste their soft curve.

Sweet, so sweet, he thought as her mouth melded with his. His hands slowly slid from her slender shoulders to her waist. Soft as a feather, she sighed. Her curves fit against his hard chest like matching puzzle pieces.

The lights blinked, dimmed, and then flared back on.

Comments:

Dixie's Gift tugs at your heart, and though the snow threatens, you can't help but be warmed by this sweet story. A must read! -- Kara O'Neal, Author

"Dog lovers, do not read this book . . . without a box of tissues nearby. A touching story of love and compassion." - Diane Burton, author of the Outer Rim series.

"Delightful. . .Barbara Edwards weaves a heartwarming holiday tale of rediscovering love after the death of a spouse and the loss of a beloved pet. It's a refreshing story with a theme of joy and peace and filled with engaging characters. And who can resist a romantic winter setting with lots and lots of snow?" ~ Judy Ann Davis, Author and Educator

Dixie’s Gift by Barbara Edwards is a gift of a read. Sweet, romantic, poignant, and touching, it will bring a lump to your throat and satisfaction to your heart. If you don't shed a tear, you're a robot." ~ Award winning author Alicia Dean

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

Blog http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter  https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards

#Ghosts by Guest Leah St. James

I love reading stories about vampires and shape shifters, mermaids and other mythical creatures. Who doesn’t!? But when it comes to writing, I tend to go with the gold standard—ghosts.

My fascination with ghosts started at an early age, in mystery books and TV, but mostly in my real-life ghost experiences...or so I imagined as I sat around the campfire at the Girl Scouts’ Camp Nomoco, deep in the woods of Central Jersey. The sky pitch black, girls’ faces glowing eerily in the illumination of their flashlights held under their chins, and the thought of the ghost of Mr. Nomoco himself on the prowl. Legend told  how he roamed the woods at night, searching for wayward Girl Scouts! And once he found them? ... I still shiver as I think about it! Later, after we’d gone to our tents, I’d invariably have to make a trip to the latrine. I remember racing through the dark woods to escape Nomoco’s clutches. (It was probably a distance of about 25 feet, but hey, I was 10 years old.)

For many of us, there’s something fun about being scared. According to articles I’ve read, you have to know that you’re not in any real danger to enjoy the feeling of fright. Like when you go through a haunted house at an amusement park, you know it’s all staged. The enjoyment apparently comes from the kick of the flight-or-fight hormones, followed by that almost instantaneous comprehension that you’re not in any real danger.

Another article I read speculated that we need that come-down effect on a psychological level, not just physical. That we push ourselves to experience fear so we can have an accompanying sense of satisfaction at having survived and vanquished that fear. I’m not sure I buy that one, but I do like scary stories, and ghosts provide the perfect scare-inducing medium. (Sorry..I love puns.) Throw in a romance, and even more fun is in store.

That’s what my goal was in writing Adrienne’s Ghost, a romantic suspense novella about the discovery of a body in the basement of FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. I wanted creepy, suspenseful. and romantic rolled into one.  

Here’s the opening scene:

Jackson Yates wasn't easily spooked, but even he succumbed to a shiver of apprehension when he stepped onto Floor 3B of the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover Building. The air smelled of rotted paper and dust, and simmered with a cold clamminess that plastered an instant sheen of sweat to his neck. Overhead, a light flickered and buzzed, its life forces waning into oblivion. Somewhere in the dim depths, voices echoed, hushed and eerie.

Jack is about to find out that the body belongs to none other than agent recruit Adrienne Garza who had disappeared shortly before graduating the Academy.

Later, when someone–or some thing–that sounds just like Adrienne speaks to him in the deep, dark recesses of the echoing space, he fears he’s hallucinating and calls on the help of paranormal psychologist Rachael Sullivan to help him sort fact from fiction. (Cue the love story!)

In this scene, Jackson leads Rachael to the scene of the crime.

Rachael moved to the center of the taped‑off area, closed her eyes, and waited.

After several minutes of silence, Yates chuckled and said, “Yeah, good luck with that.”

“What?” Her eyes opened to see him watching her, arms crossed over his chest, mouth twisted in a half-smile, eyebrows lifted in obvious amusement.

“You really think you can conjure up her spirit?”

Lifting a shoulder, she said, “Maybe.” Even as she admitted it, the ridiculousness of her theory struck her, and her mouth scrunched with the effort to hold back a laugh. “I'm sorry. I don't mean to make light, but I got a sudden mental picture of antennae rising out of my head.”

“Yeah, me too. Only my vision has you in costume.” His half-smile turned into a grin, and he laughed in a tone so teasing, so engaging, she shivered with the warm tingle that ran up her spine, out to her fingertips.

“Really.” She crossed her arms in a pose mimicking his. “And what would that be?”

Before he could answer, the room chilled, instantly, as if they'd passed into a freezer container. Their gazes locked, wide-eyed.

“This is it, the cold I mentioned to you.”

“Shh.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Wait.” ...

An aroma of amber and musk, strong and pungent yet not unpleasant, whooshed into the room, and along with it, a humming, a kind of energy Rachael had never before felt. Like a pulse. A heartbeat. ...

A frigid tingling filled the air, hovered overhead, and settled in front of them. The energy materialized, less than five feet away. A hazy image of someone dressed in khakis and a blue polo. The image firmed, took form. A pale, oval face, skin as smooth as melted caramel. Huge brown eyes, filled with despair, and torment. The apparition reached in slow motion, its hand slender, ringless, beseeching¼

Adrienne’s Ghost

Do you believe in ghosts? FBI Agent Jackson Yates never had . . . until now.

Paranormal psychologist Rachael Sullivan has spent her adult years searching for the knowledge of life after death.

Joined by forces beyond their control, beyond their understanding, together they seek a killer. Together they encounter . . . Adrienne’s Ghost.

Amazon: http://a.co/2GRII4Z

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adriennes‑ghost‑leah‑st‑james/1107017554?ean=2940014813709

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/adriennes‑ghost/id905804969?ls=1&mt=11

Leah is a worrier, a self-described neurotic who tends to imagine the worst-case scenario in response to brewing troubles. She hasn’t decided if this leaning toward the dark side is what draws her to write edgy, gritty stories, or if the suspenseful mysteries and Gothic romances that filled her childhood bookshelves somehow imprinted their shadows on her psyche.  Despite (or maybe because of) this propensity for infusing her fiction with murder and mayhem, she still craves those happily-ever-after endings and the romance of everlasting love.

You can read more about Leah at www.leahstjames.com

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