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Category: Excerpts

A crisp, wintry wind #MFRWhooks

Secrets abound in Benson's Bakery. A crazed Santa wants something valuable hidden inside the building, and only two things stand in his way...Jake and Sara.

 

When Sara Henderson receives threatening letters just days before Christmas, she asks sexy bread baker Jake Benson for help. Jake is more than happy to provide the muscle to keep the beautiful cake decorator from harm, but he has an ulterior motive--to steal a kiss under the mistletoe. Sara wants that kiss as much as he does, but first they have a mystery to solve.

 

Will they find out who is stalking Sara, or will Santa succeed in stealing Christmas?

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Excerpt

She stopped short. Of all the vehicles parked behind the bakery, hers was the only one with a sheet of paper fluttering beneath the wiper blade. Fear danced along Sara Henderson’s nerve endings, shooting her pulse into overdrive as she trudged toward her blue 300C. Would this be another threat? And did these mysterious notes have anything to do with why Jerry died?

 

Seven weeks had passed since her boss, Jerry Benson, was murdered—apparently he interrupted a robbery attempt at the bakery. Sadness stole through her. Upon his passing, he left Sara fifty percent interest in the business, and the other half went to his grandson Jake. The police, as of yet, had no leads and everyone at the bakery was on edge.

 

A crisp, wintry wind buffeted her face and she tugged the collar of her coat a little tighter in the somber morning light. Please let it be a flyer. Footsteps echoed from behind her. She whirled and scanned the shadows, straining to glimpse any movement. A soft ho-ho-ho murmured on the wind. The knot in her stomach coiled tighter.

 

She should return to the bakery. Forget about her purse in the car and the paper on her windshield. Dark ink zigzagged across the glass, leaving an ominous stain on the thick layer of ice. She cast a nervous look around. This was just like the last time, right after Jerry’s funeral. Some crazy person dressed like an elf had mugged her.

 

Another wary glance around the area reminded her of her vulnerability. She blew out a breath. Get the purse get the note. Actually she could ignore the paper, if a brisk breeze didn’t flap the page with noisy persistence. Squaring her shoulders, she unlocked the trunk.

 

Sara grabbed her purse from the back of the trunk and slammed the lid. The constant flutter was a reminder that she still had to read this one, regardless of her apprehension. She stalked to the front of the car and snatched the flyer from the windshield. With trembling fingers, she smoothed the page. Footsteps echoed loudly in the alley. She held her breath and glanced over her shoulder.

 

Nothing. A shaky breath misted from between her lips in the frigid air. Time to get inside. She turned and screamed.

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Stealing Christmas #MFRWhooks

Secrets abound in Benson's Bakery. A crazed Santa wants something valuable hidden inside the building, and only two things stand in his way...Jake and Sara.

 

When Sara Henderson receives threatening letters just days before Christmas, she asks sexy bread baker Jake Benson for help. Jake is more than happy to provide the muscle to keep the beautiful cake decorator from harm, but he has an ulterior motive--to steal a kiss under the mistletoe. Sara wants that kiss as much as he does, but first they have a mystery to solve.

 

Will they find out who is stalking Sara, or will Santa succeed in stealing Christmas?

 

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Excerpt

Once Tori arrived, Sara returned to the office.  Jake stood in the prep area, still up to his elbows in dough.  He glanced up as she walked by. “I’m going with you to the bank.”

 

“You’re behind on the breads. I can take Tori with me or wait until Seth gets back.”

 

“I won’t be that long, Sara.”

 

She faced him.  “Neither will I.”

 

He plopped a portion of dough on a scale, checking the weight before rounding it in a ball.  “I’ll be done by the time you’re finished with the deposit.”

 

She groaned.  He wouldn’t leave her alone until she agreed to his company.  “Fine, I’ll even start the car to give you extra time.”

 

Jake inclined his head and continued his task.  Sara studied the way he manipulated the dough, used the heels of his hands to push the bread away and his strong fingers to fold it over and bring it back.  Over and over, he tugged and pulled, kneading and twisting. For a moment, Sara envisioned him doing the same thing to her, even when he occasionally pinched the dough to see if it was ready.

 

“You’re staring,” he said.

 

She swallowed.  “I wasn’t. How long will the dough take to rise?”

 

“Depends on how much heat and moisture it gets.”

 

“What happens if there’s too much heat and moisture?”  She met and held his gaze.

 

“The dough gets too sticky and it won’t rise as much.”  He never stopped moving his hands.

 

She wondered what would get a rise out of him.  “I-I’ll be in the office.”

 

He rounded the dough.  “I’ll be here.”

 

She spun on her heel and bumped into the door, her face burned when he laughed behind her. Head held high she entered the office and closed the door.  What was she doing thinking about Jake like that? Could he really want to pursue something with her now? She put her hands to her flaming cheeks, glancing through the door window. He still had his eyes on her. She spun away, and leaned against the door, a hand over her racing heart. A faint smile brushed the corners of her mouth as she went to the safe and pulled out the deposit.

 

Ten minutes later Sara had the money bundled, her change order ready, and her coat on.  She stepped out of the office, digging in her purse for her keys. “I’m starting the car.  It’s snowing again.”

 

“Wait for me. I just have to wash my hands.”  Jake placed the last of the dough in loaf pans.

 

“My car is three feet from the door.”  She shook her head. “I’m just warming up the car!”

 

He chuckled.  “I still have to wash my hands.”

 

With a huff, Sara stepped into the back alley and slammed the door.  She paused, thumbing through the jumble of keys for the right one and peered around the drab gray world.  Her car wasn’t exactly three feet from the door, more like thirty. She pulled her hood over her ebony hair and started forward.

 

She was perfectly capable of going to the bank by herself, but now that she was in a winter wonderland alone, her bravado failed.  Sara crunched across the snow, bare asphalt peeking through in spots. The keys jangled as her foot slid on an icy patch. She stuttered stepped and came to a bone-jarring halt. That could’ve been bad, she’d have to throw down more salt. Drawing in a deep breath, she moved forward again.

 

Rough hands seized her jacket.

 

Sara struggled for purchase while jerking away from her assailant.  How could she have been so stupid? Panic turned her limbs to jelly, her breath came in stuttered gasps. She had to get away. His strong grip held her purse and jacket.  She pried at his hands, but he refused to release her. Twisting in his grasp, she stared into his cold eyes, his thin lips curling into a sneer.

 

“Let go!” she shouted.

 

“Give me what I want!”

 

Sara wrenched away from him, ripping her coat.  He struggled to retain his grip, yanking the purse tangled around her arm. If she could get enough room to maneuver she could get away. His fingers slipped. She raised her foot and kicked, her boot connecting with his shin.  He howled, but didn’t release her.

 

He seized her arms, lifting her. Sucking in a breath, she squirmed this way and that to break his hold. Santa’s sleeve fell back. Her eyes fastened on the bit of ink ringing his wrist. She struggled harder. A shriek left her lips and disappeared into the snow. She kicked her legs, hoping to connect with a body part. Nothing but air. He swung her around. She should’ve waited. The door scraped open. He gave her one final, violent shake, dropped her and fled.

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Afraid of ghost? #MFRWhooks

 

Coming Soon!

A Perfect Getaway by Lynn Chantale

Hoping to rekindle the sizzle in their marriage, Harmony Evans plans a romantic getaway. A secluded cabin at Juniper Lake resort is the perfect place to seduce his wife and if he can get in a little ghost hunting, even better.

Jade is more than happy to spend the weekend getting reacquainted with Harmony, without the ghosts, but when their cabin appears haunted and the spectral inhabitants shoves their belongings to the door, she figures it’s time to leave.

No one told them Juniper Lake had a sordid past complete with a serial killer and its own host of earthbound spirits. When the other guests begin to die, the best they can hope for is to survive the night. With a sadistic killer on the loose and bodies piling up, romance will take a backseat to murder.

Excerpt

“It’s haunted.”

Conversation around the large table ceased and all eyes turned to the middle-aged man speaking. His wavy brown hair was riddled with gray, and his eyes were warm and intelligent.

“Professor?” This was from a redhead with way too much cleavage and not enough clothes.

“You heard me, Amber. These grounds are haunted. A grisly murder occurred in the late 1800s and well, from all accounts the souls of the victims never moved on. Staying to either help or harm the occupants of this establishment,” the professor explained.

Harmony raised an eyebrow and glanced at Jade. She shifted in her seat, lowering her spoon to the table.

“Was the murderer ever caught?” This was from a light-skinned boy with a high afro, giving him the appearance of one of those troll dolls from her childhood.

The professor dabbed his mouth with his napkin, leaning back in his chair, almost as if he were pleased with the turn of the conversation.

If his explanation could clarify some of the strange things going on in the cabin, well, she was willing to listen. Jade studied the occupants at the table. Only one other man was present. He wasn’t quite old but he didn’t have the fresh-faced glow of youth either. He hadn’t spoken much, but had more or less watched the others just as she was doing.

“Tyrese?”

The man on her left perked up, giving the professor his full attention. Jade studied the tight set of his jaw. Despite his apparent affability, tension seemed to flow from him. She moved closer to Harmony.

“Are the cameras in place for tonight’s dead time?”

“Dead time?” Harmony said.

She nudged him.

“Yes. The time between two and four or usually three in the morning,” Tyrese answered. His voice was pitched low, causing the listener to lean toward him to hear. Whether this was deliberate or not Jade didn’t like it. Why didn’t the man just speak up?

“We’ve found that’s the time earthbound spirits are most active,” the professor added. “You are more than welcome to join us. There are plenty of monitors to keep an eye on things.”

“How will you know if something is there?” This time Jade glared at her husband. He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m curious.”

She huffed and resumed eating her soup. Not that she wasn’t curious as well, there was just something about this entire group that seemed a little off to her. They seemed a little too cheery, a little too solicitous.

“The owner, our lovely hostess, Sela, has reported cold spots in different rooms or cabins. Items being moved from one end of the room to the other, has even noted laundry being folded. While she finds this to be a fantastic plus, it can be a little disconcerting.”

A chuckle went around the table, but Jade only felt a chill wiggle down her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end. She glanced around and got the distinct impression that someone was watching her.

Low rumbling overhead accompanied the flicker of lights. Jade clutched Harmony’s hand.

“Nothing like a little ambience to go along with a ghost story.” Tyrese chuckled. “Are you afraid of ghosts, Jade?”

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