Wednesday, April 2, 2025

The Devil is in the Details- Guest Blog by P.W. Creighton


Delving into Details

In crafting a narrative extensive emphasis can be placed on sculpting believable worlds from the nothingness of a blank page. A single flaw and the magic is gone, the story fades, dies.

Often a writer will build their world upon the structure of our own. A decisive and easy way to draw in an audience is to give them something that is familiar. A great many writers use this tactic so they can draw on what they know and give their audience something to relate to immediately. Through this method, a writer can focus their attention on building the story without much care to where it takes place in the world.

The reliance on letting the audience infer the believability of the world becomes a linchpin for the story. Even if the writer is creating a world from scratch their reliance on 'reality' and the knowledge of the world determines the audience's immersion within their world. 

"...the devil is in the details..."

In a narrative it is neigh-impossible to create a truly alien or unique world because writers utilize their knowledge of our world as a foundation for that world. This is where flaws can break a story, kill the narrative. Whether by choice or sub-conscious the details of a work are echoes of a writer's knowledge. While this may not be wholly visible to the writer these details are virtually transparent to the audience.

In a crime fiction an author should know that firearms are never called 'guns' but weapons, they should know the weight, the action, procedures. In a colonial romance it should be known that all houses had low ceilings, people ate with knives instead of forks, etc. In a horror, the motive should make sense for the antagonist even if it is never revealed to the audience. The writer should understand the psychology of their characters, they should be true to themselves. A writer must understand that their audience may know more about their world than the writer. Even the slightest details can break the immersion. 

The only way for a writer to overcome these obstacles is through research. Understand the world before they try to extrapolate.

How do you overcome the details?


Trespassing Series
Trespassing 1 - 9
P.W. Creighton

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, Detectives, YA Romance
Date of Publication: 2013 - 2025
Cover Artist: For The Muse Design

Tagline: When the elite own everything and are immune to consequences, trespassing may be the only way to survive…

Series Description:

Cape Cod is a community divided between wealthy socialites who established the town and the working class responsible for running it. Every year it is getting harder for residents to even make a living.

Logan Harrison is an average student attending Nauset High School, he just wants his life to be something more, to mean something. As his sophomore year comes to a close, his world is shattered by a tragic suicide that fractures his friends. In an attempt to understand what happened and deal with the guilt, Logan uncovers a twisted secret that is subtly tearing the community apart with a deadly cost.

When the elite own everything and are immune to consequences, trespassing may be the only way to survive…



Bad Reputation

Trespassing

Book One

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 12-6-2013

ISBN: 978-1492727859

ASIN: B00F0SM1YK

 

Book Description:

 

It's the last day of sophomore year for Logan, just one more day until summer vacation, and the whole school is buzzing. Someone called into the local radio show with an alarming confession, and at Nauset High School it’s all anyone can talk about.

 

Logan is more focused on just making it through the day. He has developed a reputation, and it comes back to haunt him at the worst times, even for those who supposedly know him. He just wants to make it to the end of the year party to kick off summer and ensure his girlfriend, Hailey, doesn't break-up with him. Or his car doesn't breakdown.

 

As the night progresses, Logan learns that secrets will always be exposed, and the cost of those secrets can have a deadly price. Who was responsible for the confession, and will they make it through the night?

 

 

Amazon


 

 

Sunglasses At Night

Trespassing

Book Two

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 2-28-2014

ISBN: 978-1495408649

ASIN: B00IQFF9NO

 

Book Description:

 

A Senator's daughter is dead, Nauset High School and the Sheriff's Department are under fire. They knew something was going to happen and failed to prevent it.

 

Logan is struggling with his loss, and the guilt that he now has to hide from his friends, along with the new secrets that turned the night into horror. As the funeral approaches, more questions are raised that put him in the Senator’s crosshairs. Kayla, the dream girl he met by chance, believes that there is something more going on, and pulls Logan into her world where privilege and entitlement are the norm.

 

Can Logan trust her? Is she who she seems to be? Logan is starting to learn that he isn't the only person who has secrets that he doesn't want revealed.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Cruel Summer

Trespassing

Book Three

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 12-17-2015

ISBN: 978-1519207333

ASIN: B019I12EJ6

 

Book Description:

 

A scandalous party at the County Club has left Logan isolated and alone. His friends, old and new, have fallen victim to the gossip that is now swirling about him.

 

A chance encounter at the beach helps him to realize that he's not quite as alone as he thought, and his new accomplice, Devin, shows him that not everyone wealthy is untrustworthy. She has her own secrets and is willing to confide in Logan in exchange for his help. But trust does not come easy when former friends are involved.

 

When another shocking confession hits the airwaves, Logan begins to suspect that the spiral of death and tragedy is only just beginning. And Logan and Devin may have their own role to play.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

View from a Bridge

Trespassing

Book Four

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 8-2-2024

ISBN: 979-8334551107

ASIN: B0CWMW5592

 

Book Description:

 

Summer is over, it's the start of Junior year but Logan and Devin can't easily move on. Someone else is dead, and they were involved.

 

Logan is trying to protect his new accomplice, Devin, unfortunately, she is also being blackmailed. Not only did someone assault her - they took pictures, and are distributing them through the school. And she isn't the only one. What first seemed like an isolated incident that caused their friend to commit suicide, is now turning into a disturbing trend.

 

A search for answers leads Logan and his friends only to more questions and yet another death. One that they may have caused. Summer may be over, but Logan's problems are just starting.

 

 

Amazon



Everything You Want

Trespassing

Book Five

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication:  8-24-2024

ISBN: 979-8334900066

ASIN: B0DCSS7HT2

 

Book Description:

 

Logan and Devin have confronted the classmate who drugged, assaulted, and humiliated her. Unfortunately, he was murdered in front of them before Devin could get any answers or satisfaction.

 

Now, the Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a Nauset High School star athlete, and Devin is their only suspect. This puts Logan in a race to prove Devin's innocence, before she is locked up and he becomes an accomplice to murder.

 

When a suspicious video surfaces that misrepresents the night of the murder, Logan and Devin realize that they are up against something more sinister than they ever suspected. Logan is determined to clear Devin's name, but his quest for answers may put his own family at risk.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Here’s to the Night

Trespassing

Book Six

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 9-7-2024

ISBN: 979-8335536738

ASIN: B0DFTQRZ2R

 

Book Description:

 

Someone has confessed to the murder of Nausett High School's star athlete, but a seemingly random accident has left the shooter critically injured, leaving Logan and Devin cleared of suspicion, but without answers.

 

When they start to realize that other individuals involved with the murder and assaults have started to go missing, Logan and Devin feel compelled to dig deeper, pulling their new friends and allies along with them. As they discover more connections, they start to learn that there is a mysterious figure coordinating things behind the scenes.

 

Logan, Devin, and their closest friends are starting to learn that the deeper you go, the higher the extremes someone will take to protect themselves. The deaths at Nauset High haven't stopped just yet and the worst is yet to come.

 

 

Amazon

 

 


Never Let You Go

Trespassing

Book Seven

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 11-26-2024

ISBN: 979-8337933115

ASIN: B0DP5G6F2F

 

Book Description:

 

Logan is now starting to realize what he is up against. He is facing some very powerful and wealthy opponents, and even the Sheriff's Department is complicit. When you can't rely on the people hired to keep you safe, who can you rely on?

 

After the drive-by shooting deaths of his friends Logan and his allies have decided to take matters into their own hands. They don't want justice for their lost friends, they want payback. The Sheriff's Department refuses to investigate, but consumed by guilt and anger, Logan will not stop looking for answers.

 

As Logan continues to uncover the secrets of the Cape's elite, he begins to realize the depth of corruption in the community. Exposing secrets to the light can bring answers, but it can also lead to more deaths.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

If You’re Gone

Trespassing

Book Eight

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 12-11-2024

ISBN: 979-8342060714

ASIN: B0DQ6MHCHL

 

Book Description:

 

Logan and Devin finally are starting to feel like they have answers to some of their questions, but corruption in the Sheriff's Department continues to block them from truly understanding what is happening.

 

Finally, fully recovered from their injuries, Logan and Devin decide to dedicate time to their growing relationship but find themselves in the right place and the right time to prevent a deadly car accident. When they learn the identities of the victims, they realize that they are closer than ever to uncovering some of the secrets that led to Scarlett's death and started them on this path of tragedy and murder.

 

Scarlett's secrets take them to the elite and foreboding Nausett Academy - former school to Scarlett, Devin, and Hailey - and the home of their elusive opponent. What Logan finds will give their opponent a name - but will show who can be trusted, who has ulterior motives and what that cost will be.

 

 

Amazon

 

 


Good Girls Go Bad

Trespassing

Book Nine

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 2-13-2025

ISBN: 979-8307541609

ASIN: B0DX55J69L

 

Book Description:

 

After the traumatic events at Nausett Academy and discovering that evidence went missing after it reached the Sheriff's Department, Logan and Devin have decided to go on an extended Spring Break. What's the point in having your own boat if you can't just take off? They are done with dealing with murder, lies, and corruption. They are ready to start a new life, one where no one knows who they are, or their history.

 

When they discover that their friends are being investigated for murdering the no-longer elusive mastermind behind the drugging and blackmail of their peers, they realize that you can't outrun your problems. Logan and Devin are confident that their friends are being framed for murder and are determined to catch the true killer.

 

Logan and Devin may have a name and a face for their opponent, but they are learning that they are always steps ahead of them, and not even death can stop their devious plans.

 

Amazon


Excerpt Good Girls Go Bad – Trespassing 9

The thirty-minute drive from Ocean View down to the gallery had taken less than half the time. It was surprising that no one had complained to send the Sheriff’s Department our way. We had jumped curbs, cut across lawns, and even taken an insane drive through the park to shave off as much time as possible but it still felt like an eternity. Orange streetlights flickered past us as I was able to put my foot down on the straightaway.

Every minute Hailey was flipping between calling and texting without a single response. Even Liz wasn’t responding to her. I completely understood her paranoia. I had felt the same thing when Hailey texted me out of nowhere to apologize. I would’ve ignored it entirely if Scar hadn’t changed my thinking. If things were large enough for us to notice, then there was infinitely more that was hidden.

Last year Jen was just a princess, pretty and bitchy with too much attitude. Everything was beneath her. No matter who she was hanging out with, the attitude never changed. She was miserable and I just kept out of the way. After Scarlett, she had changed, like all of us. She actually was nice and funny. The world was different. I actually cared about her. She wasn’t the closest of friends, but she was a friend now.

The headlights swept over a large gray clapboard building on the corner. The black shingle roof and white trim kept with the Cape-aesthetic, but it was a strange design split between a Cape home and a large boathouse. Serenity Sea Gallery was Jennifer’s burden. Her mom’s gallery was dedicated to local artists and seascape style art, she had opened it ages ago, but it never really was her priority. Much like Jen, it was just an after-thought for her mother.

I took my foot off the gas.

“No!” Hailey snapped at me. “Around back. She uses the backdoor.”

“Right.” I put my foot down again making the engine growl.

The tires screeched as I cranked the wheel to turn us around the corner of the gallery. We swerved through the narrow space between the building and a privacy fence. Standing on the brakes, I cranked the wheel again to spin the Bronco around and face the back cinder-block wall of the gallery. We slid to a stop with a pair of black steel fire-doors directly in the headlights.

Hailey didn’t even wait for us to come to a full stop. She had the door open and was out and moving by the time I took my foot off the parking brake. I didn’t bother shutting it off, instead I copied her and jumping out to sprint for the door.

“Jen?” She called out as she reached the doors trying one side without luck. “Jen?” Hailey called out again as she pulled the second door open. She ducked inside and I was a half-step behind.

“Jennifer?” I called for her.

We entered a darkened area of the gallery filled with metal shelving and wooden crates. Once the door closed to shut out the headlights it took a moment for our eyes to adjust to the room. Somewhere off to one side, the darkness wasn’t nearly as bad.

“Jen?” Hailey tried to hurry through the space but kept bumping into things as she made her way down the aisle. “Jen? Ow. Jen?” I jabbed my hand out in front of her to keep her from banging her head on a crate that was sticking out.

“Jennifer?”

“Jen?” Hailey let out a shriek when she reached the end of the shelves. “Jen!” She darted forward and I kept pace with her. We had reached a prep area with a couple of long counters, tools, and a small office just beyond. There was just enough light from the office to reveal a long shape near the center of the space. “NO!” Jennifer was hanging from the exposed metal rafters. Her bare feet lightly brushed against a work stool that had been knocked over.

I couldn’t manage a sound as the world slowed. Hailey screamed. I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around Jennifer’s legs. Lifting with all my strength had her roughly sitting on my shoulder.

“Get something to cut her down!” I commanded, but Hailey wasn’t moving. “Hailey! Get something! NOW!”

Hailey darted around and came up with some form of wire-cutters. She frantically circled around us before she scrambled up onto the closer workbench. Teetering overhead, she stretched out to cut at the cord above Jen’s head. There were a few seconds of her trying to cut it before Jen fell into my arms.

Jennifer Maack was a Pack girl, pristine, flawless, and small. Not quite as small as Devin but as soon as she fell into my arms, she felt heavier than any of the girls. She was a ragdoll, limp, and hard to balance. I shifted her around until I could carry her in my arms to a clear spot away from anything. As gently as I could, I set her on the cold concrete floor.

“Call 9-1-1,” I said and leaned in to check her. Glancing up, I saw Hailey was a complete wreck crying but still not moving. “HAILEY!” I shouted to get her attention. She finally looked at me. “CALL 9-1-1!”  She gave a quick nod and pulled out her phone.

Leaning in close, I couldn’t see Jennifer’s chest moving and I couldn’t hear her breathing. I untangled the noose to give her more space before I placed my hand on her neck. She was still warm. I fumbled around and thought I felt a pulse, but it was hard to tell.

 



About the Author:

Born in California, P.W. has spent most of his life traveling throughout the US. P.W. draws inspiration from many adventures, turning his strange reality into fiction.

Over the years, P.W. has found himself in many unusual situations, ranging from hanging off an 80 foot cliff-face in New York, to sailing off the coast of Salem, Massachusetts. P.W. has hosted archaeological excavations, and have even reported from the middle of a police stand-off.

When a teacher asked in the second grade what he wanted to be when he grew up, he didn't have an answer. He lets the characters make that decision for him.








Tuesday, April 1, 2025

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AUTHOR MARTY ROPPELT #ADayInTheLife #AuthorLife #Authors




My day generally starts with a thought when the alarm clock goes off at 5:30am:
Already?

I’ve always been a night owl. Mornings are not my friend. But my wife, Becky, teaches art at a high school half an hour’s drive from here. She’s a night owl, too.

So, I start my day by helping her get ready and out the door. I’ll crank up the Keurig for her two cups of coffee (one in a travel mug), make her PB&J and her vanilla yogurt with a Kind bar crumbled in it, all while feeding our two hungry Norwegian Forest cats, Malik and Nala. They are the sweetest creatures on Earth.

So is Becky.

I recently retired, so the day is mostly mine. Oh, sure, I tend to chores and other hiccups over the course of a day. But they’re usually dealt with without drama. 

Thursdays are busiest. That’s when the local pet store receives its delivery of cat food. It’s no small thing. The fair-sized beasts go through four small cans a day of a particular store brand, and if I don’t get there on time, I then must jet off to another store in the chain, and hope they haven’t also run out. 

Then I join the weekly Zoom meeting with my author marketing support group in the late afternoon. And in the early evening I participate in a Bible study, also Zooming.

Thursdays run me a little ragged. And I’m never satisfied with my writing output at the end of the day Thursdays, because life also happens besides my weekly commitments. Take today, for example. Our Keurig coffee maker died a few days ago (poor us!). My sister-in-law found a like-new one in a thrift store, so I had to drive about forty minutes to pick it up. Then to Starbucks to buy Becky a new travel cup (she destroyed hers. Oh well) because they had a clearance sale on them. Then a stop at the grocery store before heading home…

I do the cooking at home by the way, and am happy to do it. I enjoy the kitchen.

My writing work is never far from me, though. Something usually rattles around in my head—the next chapter, a tweak to a character or story line, a reminder to check on my settings to make sure they’re accurate and descriptive without becoming boring. 

Becoming boring is especially a concern of mine. I remember decades ago, reading a certain extremely thick book by a well-known author, which I believe was his last one. He was very, very old. I suppose the publishers thought they could cash in on his fame because, my goodness, I couldn’t get through the whole thing. It was soooooooooo boring! The book read to me like a three inch thick compilation of descriptions. I don’t recall any characters or their actions. That’s not necessarily to pile more dirt on the now long-gone author’s grave so much as it is a reminder to me to not do what he did—the descriptions of his settings, and even of his characters, grew mind-numbing.

The idea is to show, not tell. If I want to describe something, I prefer it to be the description of an action. But I also want to put my characters in a setting my readers can see in their mind’s eye. It’s a delicate balancing act.

So, on a usual day I’ll take a brisk two-to-three mile walk in the morning, possibly a short nap after, and then write. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to write until Becky gets home, usually between 5 and 6pm. Then I spend the evening—and all day Saturday and Sunday—with her. Is it ideal? What’s “ideal?” I get to write, to study and to spend time with my wife and my cats.

I have few complaints. And that’s as close to “ideal” as I feel my days can be.


Last Words: A Supernatural Murder Mystery
Hanson and Brewer Murder Mysteries 
Book One
Marty Roppelt

Genre: Mystery / Supernatural / Horror
Publisher: Dragon Breath Press
Date of Publication: February 7, 2025
ISBN: 979-8985349580 
ASIN: B0D184PVWZ 
Number of pages: 151 
Word Count: 36,241
Cover Artist: Christopher Chambers

Tagline: Some cases cut deeper when the dead refuse to stay buried

Book Description: 

Last Words: A Supernatural Murder Mystery follows Chicago police Detective Myles Hanson as he navigates a world of crime and unsettling revelations. After a nighttime raid on a drug lab ends in a deadly shootout, Myles is convinced to transfer to another unit. His first case in Violent Crimes is unlike any he’s faced before. Maria Peski, a midwife with a quiet life, is savagely murdered.

But that’s not the only mystery haunting him. Myles begins experiencing chilling visions and inexplicable phenomena. He begins to hear the final words of the dead, fragments of unfinished thoughts from those who have passed. As the voices reveal clues no one else can uncover, Myles teams up with his streetwise and relentless partner, Tank Brewer, to piece together the secrets that the dead have left behind.

When a second murder rocks the city with startling similarities, Myles is increasingly pressured to accept that some clues lie beyond the realm of the living. As the line between the supernatural and the real begins to blur, Myles and Tank must untangle a web of deceit, violence, and spectral warnings before the killer strikes again.

Amazon     BN     Apple     Kobo

 

Smashwords     Everand     Fable

 

BOOK TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lU-_D-vPnRU



Excerpt:

Myles paused at the glass doors to the Area North police station. He checked his watch. Then he turned away from the entrance, paced roughly fifteen feet, added several more steps and lit a Marlboro Light. He pulled his jacket collar up to block an unusually crisp September breeze.

A long strip of grass punctuated by an occasional shrub next to the building attempted to soften the structure's strictly functional design. In the courtyard, a few trees stood guard along with a twisting metal sculpture. But the shades in all the windows were drawn, keeping the occupants' minds focused on their tasks. The parking lot spread far in every direction. Several squad cars waited there for their officers to climb in and begin their patrols.

Taking in his surroundings, Myles shook his head. The Nineteenth District Patrol station held more appeal to tourists to Chicago than did this location. A block west of the Nineteenth on West Addison Street sat a busy elevated, or "L," train station, over a century old and still flaunting its original grid of iron spans and frames in the open. Another block further west, Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, buzzed with activity during home stands. Across from the Nineteenth on Addison, a row of shotgun style houses butted up against each other like a knot of sentinels standing shoulder to shoulder. Some bore brownstone façades, some red brick. A thin sheen of grime, car exhaust mostly, the grit of a busy city, covered them. All the dwellings needed power washing or sand blasting.

He knew that locale well, and it charmed even him.

But no tourists visited this spot, the Area North station's locale. A massive tan and brown brick building, Area North dwarfed the Nineteenth. Built in a commercial and industrial zone, the station resembled a Big Box store in spite of the unnaturally planted greenery. If not for the fleet of squad cars in the sprawling lot, visitors might enter the north side's police nexus expecting to buy a hot air fryer or bed linens.

Myles nodded to himself. Area North was all business.

From the corner of his eye, in the window nearest him, Myles spotted the reflection of two women, one short and slight, the other tall and slender. They approached from the parking lot arm-in-arm. The window distorted their shapes, giving them a hot August day shimmer. Their pale complexions suggested a summer spent together indoors. They both dressed for summer, each wearing tie-dyed blouses but no jackets, immune to the cool day. The shorter one put Marla Hines in mind. He recalled how she used to chide him whenever he sneaked out of the Organized Crimes building for a quick smoke. As the pair neared him, they opened their mouths, Myles assumed, to berate him.

"Sorry, ladies," the smoker said. "I'll just put this out." He turned in the women's direction.

They were gone.

Frowning, he swung his head around, scanning the area. Nothing. The parking lot lay empty of everything but vehicles. Two uniformed cops exited the building. But no one passed them heading in.

"Come on, Hanson," he muttered.

He stubbed the cigarette out on the heel of his shoe, deposited it into a nearby trash can and entered the station.


About the Author:

Marty Roppelt lives in Wauconda, Illinois, with his wife Becky. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, his family roots stem from Transylvania. Yes, THAT Transylvania, from where his parents emigrated in the mid 1950's. So of course, Marty enjoys writing in the supernatural / horror genre. In addition to his first novel, Mortal Foe, he has written a series of short paranormal Christmas stories to raise money for St. Herman’s House, a homeless shelter in Cleveland. He also has featured stories in anthologies, Tales from the Dragon's Lair and Holiday Hearth. Marty and Becky enjoy quiet time together with their cats Nala and Malik.










Friday, March 28, 2025

Discussing the Setting- Night Stalker by Jen Colly



The Cities Below

The Cities Below is exactly what you would assume. Vampire cities below the earth. Hidden from the daylight. Without these cities, the vampire species would not be able to thrive. Men, women and children are tucked away from the prying eyes of humans, secluded and safe from demons. Several cities are scattered throughout the globe, but most of my books center around the four major vampire cities in France.

Balinese. The entrance is inside a chateau originally constructed in the 11th century. It provides cover from the world of humans on the outside, and houses the true entrance to Balinese deep in the wine cellar. Like any society, vampires have laws and structure. A hierarchy. The city below the ground is spread out, the vast corridors supported by stone and brick. Some areas are richly decorated with tapestries or mosaics. Others are well kept, though not ornate. Like all other vampire cities, Balinese is protected by well-trained Guardians and guided by a lord and his council.

Valenna is not far from Balinese. A functioning abbey marks the entrance to Valenna, though you'll never make it inside. This city has remained closed for decades, and the Guardians have strict orders to prevent entrance or exit by any means necessary. What they guard is not a treasure, not a gilded city of opulence. They protect a way of life, hide their atrocities, relish their debaucheries, and want no interference from outsiders.

Galbraith is the most remote city, buried deep in the countryside, the entrance marked by an old farm shed wedged into a hillside. Vampires here are more than free to come and go as they please, it just so happens...there's nowhere close by to go.

Talvane...well, we haven't got there yet. This city is absolutely gorgeous. Extravagant. Hints have been dropped suggesting this city is in the heart of Paris, but no details have been given. No spoilers here. That book is coming, and the surprise is fun!


Night Stalker
The Cities Below
Book Six
Jen Colly

Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Date of Publication: March 4th, 2025
ISBN: 9798230571018 
Number of pages: 330
Word Count: 86,000
Cover Artist: Ryan Imbrock

Tagline: He had every intention of crossing a line.

Book Description:

In all honesty, Jake had to give his trip to Paris mixed reviews. Beaten and broken by seemingly invincible men with eerie red eyes marked the low point, but abduction by a sexy, knife-wielding vampire? Better than fireworks on the Fourth of July. She was the best medicine for a wounded man's body and soul. A few busted ribs cost him precious time, but he had to keep moving. Call it vengeance or justice, either way, Jake had a man to kill.

Dulcina had witnessed the destruction left in the wake of demons for far too many years to be rattled by a bloody body. She brought him home and catered to his comfort. Big mistake. The smart-mouth, irritatingly likable man pulled through, and was determined to leave, but with knowledge of other species in his head, the human is a problem.

To stop Jake from escaping, Dulcina promised to help him finish his mission, but the price was steep, and neither were prepared for what they discovered. Secrets are uncovered, and as a Night Stalker charged with protecting all species, Dulcina is forced to make a difficult choice.


Excerpt 1:

Dulcina stepped over him and sat, back propped against the wall with legs bent over top of his outstretched legs. Yes, the space was cramped, but physical contact never bothered her, in any form.

Her home didn’t have room for a comfy chair or a breakfast table, so improvisation was a norm. She took the pizza box and set it down to her left, between them.

“Hungry...pet?” Dulcina asked, just barely avoiding the use of his name.

His eyes narrowed on her, then solidly corrected her. “Jake.”

She smiled. So persistent, this man. Dulcina pointed to the box. “It’s all I’ve got.”

“Not a fan of cold pizza,” he said, more of an easy statement than an objection.

“It isn’t exactly cold. Just not hot.” Dulcina shrugged. “Eat or starve. Your call.”

He grabbed a slice, took note of how she'd folded her slice, and did the same. They sat in silence, which gave her time to watch him from the corner of her eye. When he'd finished his slice, he scanned the room thoughtfully, then seeming resolved, grabbed another slice. What had he been looking for? Perhaps a refrigerator. Interesting. He'd rather eat what he didn't care for than waste food.

He was an observant thing. Practical. Another sliver of begrudging respect surfaced, and Dulcina forced herself to admit this man wasn't nearly as irritating as she'd first assumed. Other than the fact that he needed tending.

Dulcina settled a little deeper into her position against the wall, intending to shut off her brain until this show ended. Futile. Every little movement Jake made drew her attention. He glanced at the last slice in the box. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, practically able to see the war in his mind. Some imagined obligation not to waste food battled with the reality of him being stuffed full, and she could see the signs. Leaning back, he stifled a belch. Why torture himself with more food? Must be a human thing.

Folding the lid on the box closed, she leaned over his legs and tossed it onto the floor. When his questioning gaze met hers, she simply said, “You keep eating and I won't be able to lift your ass at all.”

A grin flashed across his face, and he nodded, unwilling to fight her over something he didn't truly want in the first place. Crossing her arms over her chest, Dulcina stared at the television, avoiding his dashing smile and the things it did to her libido.

For several moments the sound of the TV filled the space between them, and then Jake reached over a rather short distance, and grabbed her foot. Stunned by his impulsive behavior, she met his gaze, subduing the hot flash of wariness at the contact. All he did was grin again.

The heat of his palms wrapping around her chilled foot was a shock to her system, and after the astonishment wore off, she tugged her foot, but the grip of his right hand was far more tenacious than she'd expected. If she'd so desired, she could have easily freed herself from his grip, but she curbed her more violent responses, well aware she could injure him further.

“What are you doing? Let go,” she snapped.

“I haven’t been doing anything for days. I’m finally feeling good enough to move, but I can’t without hurting, and it sucks,” Jake grumbled, flinching slightly as his facial expressions tugged on the scabbed tissue on his lips, the bruises around his eyes. He calmed quickly, lowered his gaze to her foot, and slowly moved his thumb in a circle. “Doing nothing is making me stir crazy. I'm upright, and feeling mostly okay. Just let me have a focus, will ya?”

Dulcina’s jaw nearly dropped at his admission, not to mention the stern scolding. Not because they'd been the most direct words he’d spoken since she’d brought him home, and not at all because he was telling her flat out what he wanted from her, but because she shared those same sentiments. She went positively stir crazy without a focus. Every night. His words resonated with her, and his resolve sparked her interest.

What would he do then, if given free rein to do as he pleased? An experiment seemed in order. Dulcina released the tension in her leg, gave the full weight of it over to his hands.

Jake slowly drew her foot back onto his lap, the positioning more for the benefit of his bruised and cracked ribs than her comfort. Once she adjusted and settled, he pinned her with a ‘pay attention’ gaze and pointed to the TV. Directing her? Interesting. To what end?

Dulcina did as he asked, keeping a sharp eye on him in her peripheral vision. Once he seemed satisfied that she’d obeyed, he set to work on her foot. Jake didn’t watch the TV with her, and he wasn't keen on catching her reaction to his touch. Instead, he truly threw his entire focus into rubbing her foot from ankle to toe.

Sinfully thorough, this man. After he’d taken his time rubbing every inch of her foot with those distracting fingers and drawing bone-melting circles with his thumbs, he cupped his hands around her entire foot with a gentle, firm pressure. The contact was delicious, warming her in a way that had little to do with physical heat.

Jake tapped her shin, and when she looked up, a question on the tip of her tongue, she saw him pointing to the other foot. This was strange. All of it. A man she didn’t know was touching her, taking pains to see to her comfort, while he was still recovering from multiple injuries. This tender, selfless care was something done between mates.

Dulcina flinched. That thought was jarring.


About the Author: 

Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires.

She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, and four rescued cats.