The Mystery Stone
Victoria Marswell
Publication date: February 8th 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Supernatural stones. Ancient rituals. Mysterious ruins. Nothing unusual for the Hillestad siblings. Until…
Jeanette Hillestad receives news of her brother’s disappearance during his recent archaeological expedition and must travel to Kinsale, Ireland. She enlists the help of a local Irishman, Conlin Murphy, who’s adamant about staying out of her rescue mission for the safety of his teenage daughter.
But when relic hunters attack Jeanette, and Conlin discovers a map, they team up to search for her brother. The clues lead them on an international, life-threatening chase from Ireland to Old Quebec, and Montreal to New Hampshire.
While on the run, Jeanette and Conlin’s bond deepens with their undeniable attraction, which complicates matters.
Now, they need a greater force to survive the dangerous people willing to kill for the Mystery Stone. The consequences of her brother’s actions challenge their beliefs and may cost Jeanette to sacrifice everything.
Read an Excerpt
Conlin rolled out of the sheets, placed his bare feet on the floor and scraped a palm over his face. The comforter slid from his back as he stood from the bed, shirtless and wearing sweatpants. Jeanette remained motionless and opened her mouth, yet nothing came out. Her gaze meandered along his defined pectorals and abdominal muscles. He glanced up, wrinkling his brows, and she averted his stare. Why did she keep finding it difficult to concentrate around Conlin? Maybe because his blue eyes drew her in deeper than a body of water and with certain pronunciations of words, his accent crooned a sweeter tune than any too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral Irish lullaby.
“Sleep well?” she asked.
“Can’t complain.” He tugged at the bedding, straightening the blankets. “Yerself?”
“Yeah, all things considered.”
“You’re meeting Geron the day, yeah?”
She picked up her handbag off the desk chair and dug out her notebook, flipping to the second page. “At 12:30 p.m. in the park at Plaines d’Abraham.”
“I’m coming with you.”
Jeanette’s lids trembled downward, and she bit the inside of her mouth. “I appreciate the offer, but that’s not a good idea.”
“Without the authorities involved, you need to consider the dangers of walking into a situation where he has the upper hand. You’ve experienced firsthand the people working with him, and they have no problem using physical force.”
Conlin presented another valid point, and he didn’t even know about the encounter at Montmorency Falls. She bumped a fist against her chin. “For your safety, please stay away.”
“How about I watch from a distance and only intervene if an emergency arises?”
Jeanette searched his mien. The intensity of his stare revealed a genuine care, and the thought of him keeping watch from a distance raised her internal temperature. Managing her job, balancing everyday life, the challenging relationship with her parents and worrying about Tom while maintaining an image of perfection for Brian depleted her strength. Conlin expressing concern without negating her choices filled her with an inexplicable comfort only he provided. Although she’d never lead them into any more trouble.
“I’ve already subjected you and Saoirse—”
“She can wait in the suite.”
“I’m not staying at the hotel by meself.” Saoirse strolled across the room in jeans, a maroon sweater and her hair wrapped in a towel, piled atop of her head.
“Ya will if it means you’ll be safe.” He pointed his forefinger at her. She exaggerated an eye roll and dumped her pajamas on the sofa.
Conlin grabbed his robe and faced Jeanette. “There isn’t much I can do against weapons, but I’m here if you need anything. I don’t want ya to get hurt.”
A lightness spread throughout her limbs, and she held a breath for a second. “Oh, the hotel delivered your clean laundry. I hung it on the hook beside the shower.” He gave a sole nod and continued toward the bathroom.
Jeanette stared at the handwritten location for her meeting. Conlin’s reassuring words permeated her heart yet reiterated the reason she declined the suggestion of him following. Remaining out of sight, but observing the appointment supplied a sense of peace and protected him from the potential use of a gun again. No, the risks outweighed the benefits and she would go alone. Jeanette had every intention of preventing Conlin from sustaining injuries, or worse, at any cost.
Victoria Marswell is a romance suspense author. She started writing poetry and short stories in her early teens. Victoria majored in biblical studies at Hope International University and incorporates inspirational Christian themes into her writings. She’s a world traveler and sets her stories in the locations she visits. At 17, she traveled to Germany and Austria where she was inspired to write her debut novel, The Counterfeiter’s Daughter. Victoria continues to travel the world, creating and writing romantic and thrilling adventures. She lived in Orange County, CA. for 38 years and currently resides in Portsmouth, NH.
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