11 December 2022

Meet the Character Day: Chatting with Larry from Killer in Wolf’s Clothing By Kelli A. Wilkins Character Interview!

 

www.KelliWilkins.com

This “Meet the Character Day” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each “Behind the Scenes” blog, I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. 

The “Meet the Character Day” blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances. Warning: blogs may contain spoilers.

Today we’re chatting with Larry, one of the heroes from Kelli’s gay paranormal romance, Killer in Wolf’s Clothing. Let’s get to know him better…

Hi Larry. Before we get started, could you tell readers about the book?

Sure. This super-hot gay paranormal/shifter romance is a fun look at the werewolf legend and blends mystery, danger, humor, and sizzling love scenes. There are lots of twists and turns—and a serial killer! Here’s the summary and links:

Killer in Wolf’s Clothing

A super aggressive Alpha male, a serial killer, and a visit to a kinky sex club… What has Larry gotten himself into?

When Larry learns that his boyfriend Greg changes into another man during the full moon, he has a hard time accepting it—until he meets Deke, Greg’s alternate Alpha personality.

Deke doesn’t play nice and has no time for games. He only wants two things—to get laid and to get revenge against the arsonist who murdered his friends. Finally free from Greg’s restraints, Deke is ready for action, and Larry is more than willing to submit to Deke’s needs.

Together, Larry and Deke set out to find the killer. Their hunt takes them to an all-night Alpha sex club where things heat up for the two of them. But when Larry unwittingly falls into the clutches of the murderer, it’s up to Deke—and Greg—to save him before it’s too late.


Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3V9VWW

All other platforms: https://www.books2read.com/u/mYRB6x 

***

Please give readers a little background about where you are when the story opens.

When the story begins, my partner Greg and I are having an argument. I’m accusing him of having an affair because he’s been acting strange and goes away once a month. He won’t tell me where he goes or what he does, so naturally, I’m suspicious. 

One night, I staked out his house and learned he was lying to me. He didn’t go anywhere. When I confront him, he insists he isn’t cheating on me. I call him a liar and tell him we’re done. As much as I love him, I can’t handle dishonesty. Then Greg confessed something that floored me. He said he wasn’t cheating on me with another guy—he said he became another guy—and he’s a werewolf.

How did you react?

How would anyone react? I thought he was crazy, or lying, or both. I couldn’t take it seriously; I mean, come on, of all the excuses in the world… who would fall for that? I told him it was bullshit and he needed professional help. 

Greg explained that he thought he was going crazy too and had already talked to psychiatrists. He was having blackouts and thought he had a multiple personality disorder, but nobody believed him. So, he made a video of himself changing from cute, sweet Greg, into Deke. He said he literally changed into a different person (like the Incredible Hulk.) I told him he was lying. Then he asked me if I wanted to see the video!

And? Did he really transform? What did you think of that?

Yes! He really transformed into a different person! I was so stunned I didn’t know what to say or do. One minute Greg was there, and then the next, he turned into this guy, Deke. 

Greg and I had a long talk and he explained how he got into this unusual situation (I won’t give away those details now, it’s all explained in the book), and we worked everything out between us. Then of course, I decided I had to see things for myself. That’s when I met Deke.

Tell us about your first meet with Deke. What’s he like?

When I learned Greg changed, I snuck back to his house and discovered Deke. Or rather, he discovered me. Deke really is a completely different person from Greg. He’s gruff, assertive, sexually demanding (in a good way) and absolutely gorgeous. Deke and I talked, and he told me he’s pissed at Greg for keeping him locked up and preventing him from having a life. Now that Deke was free, he wanted to find the person who killed his friends.

The story is more than a romance. It’s also a blend of danger and mystery. You and Deke set out to find a killer. Can you talk about that?

Sure. Deke (and Greg) used to live in California, and one night an Alpha sex club burned down, killing almost everyone. Deke knows it wasn’t an accident and wants to find the killer. When the story opens, there have been several “Moonlight Murders” taking place around town and Greg (and Deke) thinks it’s a rogue Alphaand the same guywho torched the club.

Deke and I play detective and try to track down the psycho. I don’t want to give away too much of the story and spoil the ending in case people haven’t read the book. But I can say we find out who’s responsible for the current murders and the arson in California.

Did you sometimes want to strangle Kelli for making your life difficult in the book?

Yes, without a doubt! I was captured by a serial killer and held captive (while naked, no less). Thanks, Kelli! Of course, it was a crucial part of the story, and Kelli knew what she was doing when she wrote those scenes. Obviously things worked out okay. (After all, I am alive.)

For the most part, I didn’t mind the other things she put me through with Deke (being subservient to him—in and out of the bedroom). I was okay with it, and I like aggressive men. Overall, Greg and Deke and I went through a lot of emotional heartache in the book. But we worked it out in the end.

The book has very explicit, super-hot sex scenes. Care to comment on them?

Well, to quote Deke, he likes two things: to eat and screwand he does a lot of both in this book. Yes, there’s plenty of gay sex in the story, and later Deke and I visit a sex club for Alpha males. (Another thanks for Kelli!) The sex scenes were included to contrast the difference between Greg and Deke, and also show what horny animals Deke (and the other Alphas) are. Kelli created the Alpha male sex club for a specific reason (I can’t divulge why here) but if you’ve read the book, you’ll understand, and it will make perfect sense. 

Without giving away any secrets, can we assume there’s a HEA ending, and the killer gets caught?

Yes. The book has a happy ending and leaves everyone in a good place. Kelli included an epilogue that wrapped up everything and hinted at the future. As for the killeryes, justice was served. I’m happy to say the book got some great reviews… 

Praise for Killer in Wolf's Clothing...
 

“4 stars! Killer in Wolf's Clothing offers a different and very creative take on werewolves. I loved the whole concept. Two very different people sharing a body that changes too. Hot, sexy, and a little kinky, this one tells a very engaging story. Larry and Greg are great as a couple but Larry and Deke really smolder. The transformation of Greg into Deke is detailed and the whole idea just pulls you in. Add a crazy serial killer and a werewolf sex club to the mix and you a wild ride. Great fun!” - Emma, Night Owl Reviews

"Killer in Wolf’s Clothing was a delight to read. Deke is so different from Greg in his sexual needs and desires. Larry enjoyed both men for different reasons. Then trouble brewed and they all had to work together. Kelli A. Wilkins has penned a tale that will heat your blood and increase your heart rate as you become immersed in the hot love scenes and the terror of the murderer. Killer in Wolf’s Clothing shows that you never know who your neighbor is." - Sensual Reads

“4 stars! Killer in Wolf's Clothing is a quick fun read that will hook you from the beginning. A bit different than I'm used to regarding werewolves, but I totally enjoyed the book. Recommended for all who like the horror genre with a twist of fun.” - Susan, Sweet-n-Sassi.blogspot 

Anything else you’d like to add about Kelli and her books?

Kelli has also written two other gay romances. A Secret Match takes place in the world of professional wrestling. Four Days with Jack is about two best friends who fall in love at a tropical resort. I’m looking forward to reading them and seeing what adventures those characters get into. Kelli always has interesting plots and unique (and sexy) heroes!

Currently, Kelli is working on another gay romance, and she released In Another World earlier this year. This novel is a M/F paranormal mystery/romance that includes a gay character. Readers can check out her straight contemporary and historical romances (some also have gay secondary characters) on her site www.kelliwilkins.com. She’s written several horror and sci-fi stories that look interesting.

Thank you for letting me chat today. I hope everyone reads Killer in Wolf’s Clothing. If you missed any blog in this series, you can catch up here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog

And visit Kelli’s Facebook page for her gay romances: https://www.facebook.com/GayRomancesbyKelliAWilkins/ 


Cheers!

Larry

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. 

Her latest novel, In Another World, was published in 2022. This contemporary mystery/romance is set in the world of the paranormal.

She released two horror shorts, More Than I Bargained For and Silent Sentinel in 2021. 

Like to write? Check out Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing. This fun and innovative guide to journaling is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking prompts designed to get you writing about your feelings and emotions. 

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links. 



10 December 2022

Frozen by Lies by @marthasweeneyauthor Book Blitz! #marthasweeney #FrozenbyLies #XpressoTours⁣⁣ @XpressoTours⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

 

Frozen by Lies
Martha Sweeney


(Sleigh Riders, #1)
Publication date: December 6th 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

BESTSELLING author Martha Sweeney presents her first paranormal romance/fantasy series (Sleigh Riders) that features bikers, swearing, spiked hot chocolate, magic, innuendos and so much more.

The bitter fault of one caused the magic from within to wither and die.

A feud has ensued for many generations, leaving most from both the Frost Clan and the Klaus Clan unaware of its origin. What happens when Noelle Frost and Nikolaus Klaus find themselves drawn to each other? Will their worlds collide, destroying everything in their wake? Or, do they have the power to bridge the ancient chasm and restore balance to the world?

This is NOT your average holiday story and NOT for the faint of heart.

Goodreads / Amazon

https://books2read.com/FrozenbyLies

EXCERPT:

“He is gorgeous!” Hope squeals from behind Noelle.

Spinning around sharply, she replies, “He’s okay.”

“Okay?” Hope balks. “You were practically drooling over him.”

“I was not.” Noelle scoffs, moving toward the sidewalk.

“It’s okay. He was doing the same with you,” she giggles. “Now, I know why your family was being odd.”

“They’re odd whenever a guy talks to me,” Noelle reminds.

Hope takes a sip of her drink and shakes her head. “Not if they know who he is.”

Noelle’s brows furrow. “What do you mean?” She looks back in the direction of Nikolaus’ departure.

“You’re from a biker community,” Hope scoffs. “How do you not know?”

“Know what?” Noelle sips her eggnog, inspecting the cup a second later. “This isn’t too bad. I could probably do a mix with this and my hot chocolate.”

“That would be a fun experiment,” Hope agrees. “We can try it tonight if you’d like.” She consumes more of her drink, then adds, “The Sleighers…as in the Sleigh Riders.”

Noelle’s becomes slack jaw as her steps come to a halt, staring dumbfoundedly at her friend. She’s heard whispers of the Sleighers from her cousins, but didn’t believe them. She always thought that they were a made-up nemesis to make her cousins and the Blades seem like bigger men.

“You okay?” Hope asks when she realizes that Noelle is no longer by her side.

“Are you shitting me?” she mutters.

“Nope. It was obvious.”

“How?”

Hope giggles. “You didn’t see the emblem on his jacket?”

Noelle tries to remember if he was wearing a jacket just now and the other night.

“Of course you didn’t,” Hope muses. “Silly me.”

“What?”

“You were too busy ogling him to notice,” she declares.

“I wasn’t ogling him.”

“Yeah…you were. You two were practically making out.”

“We didn’t touch,” Noelle reminds.

“Didn’t need too,” Hope states. “It was all in both your eyes.”

Noelle shakes her head, trying to map out everything that has happened since the other night. “Are you sure?”

“You both were smitten.”

“No.” Noelle huffs. “I’m talking about him being a Sleigher.”

“Yep. Why?”

Noelle looks back over her shoulder. “That can’t be.”

“Why not?”

“He wasn’t on a bike,” Noelle states. “He was driving a truck.”

“He said he was heading back to Alyona,” Hope reminds. “Exactly where the Sleighers are from.”

Noelle lets out a nervous giggle, shocked and amused by the revelation.

“So, what did you two talk about?” Hope pries as they make their way back to the house.

“Nothing,” Noelle lies.

“That didn’t seem like nothing,” Hope states. “But, then again, you two were ogling each other quiet a bit.”

Noelle lets out a heavy breath.

“It would be poetic and…ironic,” Hope declares.

“What would?”

“Ironic…maybe…but, I’m sure there’s a better word for the situation,” Hope says more to herself.

“What are you talking about?”

“You two meeting and falling in love,” Hope coos.

“We aren’t in love,” Noelle counters. “I don’t know the guy.”

With a singsongy tone, Hope hums, “Odder things have happened.”

“You’re not going to let me live this down, are you?”

“Nope,” she says cheerfully. “I’ve never seen you look at a guy like that before.”

“How did I look at him?”

Hope grins and snips her drink. “Like a woman in love.”

“I’m not in love!”

“Well…at least some lust,” Hope snickers. “I thought, for a second, you two were going to do more than make out.”

Noelle rolls her eyes. “Just don’t ever say anything to anyone in my family.”

“Who am I going to tell?” she replies.

“I’m serious, Hope.”

“So, you are smitten.”

“No,” Noelle denies. “I just don’t want the drama. There’s always plenty of that with my family…more so this time of the year.”

“It’ll make a great story for the kids and grandkids,” Hope muses.

“Fuck,” Noelle huffs.

“I’m just messing with you,” Hope claims.

Noelle shakes her head.

“Do you think he has a cute brother or cousin?”

Noelle laughs hard enough that it almost brings a tear to her eye. Hope watches her, perplexed by what was said to make her react in such a way.

“What about Josiah?”

Hope shrugs. “Maybe a Sleigher is the best way to lure him out and get him to finally ask me out.”

“Or, maybe you’ll fall for your own Sleigher,” Noelle goads.

Hope considers the option. “I’m open to love wherever it may be. I’m twenty-five and need more in my life.”

Noelle snickers. “If you married a Sleighers, and the whispers are true, then we wouldn’t be able to be friends. You know that, right?”

“What are you talking about?” she asks.

“Blades and Sleighers are rivals.”

Hope abruptly stops walking. “That’s not funny.”


Martha Sweeney is a BESTSELLING author who writes in a variety of genres: romance (contemporary, romcom, suspense, paranormal and historical), suspense, fantasy, thriller, coloring books, and soon, science fiction. She strives to push herself as a storyteller with each new tale and hopes to push her readers outside of their comfort zone whether it be genre or the stories themselves.

With a B.S. in Psychology, Martha utilizes her knowledge of human and animal behavior successfully in the business world and in her writing to present realistic characters and situations. She's been creative since she was little, always drawing, coloring or making crafts, so her venture into being an author was a natural transition.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

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Signed copy of Frozen by Lies + $25 B&N gift card

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Book 2 in the For the Boys series by @written.word.nerd Book Blitz! #OntheLine #AmandaChaperon #XpressoTours⁣⁣ @XpressoTours⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

 

On the Line
Amanda Chaperon


(For the Boys, #2)
Publication date: December 9th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Two years ago, professional hockey player Mitch Frambough and headhunter Lexie Monroe met on a late-October night and sparks flew. They fell hard for each other, and everyone thought they were endgame.

But now they’re not together.

In fact, they don’t even live in the same state.

When Mitch was traded from the Warriors to the Los Angeles Knights, his entire life changed with one phone call. His relationship with Lexie was in ruins, and the only way he could prevent further heartbreak was to leave Michigan without a backwards glance. Except, when his life is once again upended in a split second, he finds himself back in the Mitten. Surprisingly, everyone welcomes him home with open arms. Everyone except the one person he desperately wants: Lexie.

Lexie has never believed in love, and for good reason. The one time she gave it a shot—her relationship with Mitch—it ended in disaster. Now she’s washed her hands of the whole thing: love, relationships, him. Having him clear across the country helped. But when he returns to Detroit, everyone in her life is begging her to give him another chance. The only problem is Mitch doesn’t seem interested. Plus, she’d be stupid to let him close enough to break her again.

Call it karma or the gods or fate, but something has drawn these two back together. And now it’s time for them to choose: either they put their hearts on the line again, or they walk away for good this time.

After all, how often does love get a second chance?

AGE RANGE: 18+

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Please note this book contains an alcoholic parent, traumatic injury, using alcohol and sex as a bandaid for emotional pain, emotionally unavailable parents/issues of abandonment, strong language, and explicit sex.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

“Look…” he said, unsure of how to begin. It had been a very long time since he’d had a conversation like this, and this might be the most important of them all. There had never been so much on the line. If he couldn’t get Lexie to see his side of things and understand that even if they hadn’t officially labeled anything, they were as-good-as in a relationship, he didn’t know what he would do. Because if this conversation didn’t go well, he would likely lose her completely.

And that was unacceptable.

“I’m just gonna say it. I’m crazy about you. And this,” he gestured between their naked bodies, “isn’t enough for me anymore, and I think you feel the same.”

“I don’t,” she said, propping herself on her elbow to turn away from him, but Mitch held fast, wrapping his arm tighter around her. She wasn’t going to get away that easy.

“And I don’t believe you.” He sat up and rolled so she was trapped under him. “Lexie, this hasn’t been just sex for us in a long time. It’s been seven months since we met. Why are you still lying to yourself? And me? You’re only hurting us both right now, honey,” he said, tracing his fingers along her cheekbone and jaw.

“Because I don’t know how to do this!” She shoved him so abruptly that the sheer surprise of it had Mitch sitting back on his heels, giving her the opening she needed to put some distance between them.

“And you think I do?”

“I think you’re a lot better at deeply emotional relationships than I am,” she whispered, hanging her head.

Hopping off the bed, Mitch moved so he was standing in front of her, struck by how strange it was to have such a serious conversation when they were both completely naked.

But if that’s what it took to make this woman his girlfriend, his everything, then so be it.

“Lexie, honey,” he said, scooping her hair out of her face and lifting her chin to gaze into the golden depths of her eyes. “We’ve been doing this relationship thing for months without putting the actual label on it. You realize that, don’t you?”


Amanda Chaperon realized her passion for books, and for writing, at a young age. Growing up, she was rarely found without a book in her hands, a hobby she carried into adulthood. After joining bookstagram in 2020, she felt the pull to try her hand at novel writing. FOR THE BOYS is her first novel, but it won’t be her last.

She currently lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with her two-year-old Golden Retriever, and is a legal secretary by day. You can follow her on Instagram at @written.word.nerd.

Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram

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Ebook copy of both For the Boys and On the Line 

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The Socialite's Guide to Murder (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery) by S. K. Golden Book Tour!

 

About The Socialite's Guide to Murder

 

The Socialite's Guide to Murder (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)

Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting - New York City, 1958 

Crooked Lane Books (October 11, 2022) 

Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages 

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639101764

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639101764 

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09Q7XM28Y

The hotel was her refuge, but scandal is afoot—and a killer stalks the halls in this charming series debut perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver.

 

It’s 1958 and Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy has not left the Pinnacle Hotel in fourteen months. She suffers from agoraphobia, and what’s more, it’s her father’s hotel, and everything she needs is there. Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, she discovered her mother dead in a Manhattan alleyway fifteen years earlier. Now she’s finding trouble inside her sanctuary. At a party for artist Billie Bell, his newest work is stolen, and Evelyn’s fake boyfriend (and real best friend), movie star Henry Fox, is accused of the theft. But just as Evelyn sets out to prove Henry’s innocence, she finds Billie Bell dead.

 

The murder weapon links the crime to the hotel’s chief of security. But why would he use a knife with his initials on the handle? With her beloved home in disarray, Evelyn joins up with hotel employee (and her secret crush) Mac Cooper to get to the bottom of the case.

 

As Mac picks locks and Evelyn snoops around the hotel, they discover the walls around them contain more secrets than they previously knew. Now, Evelyn must force herself to leave the hotel to follow the clues—but when she and Mac set off to chase a lead, their car crashes and they barely escape with their lives. Someone snipped Evelyn’s brake lines, and now the stakes have become dangerously high.

 

Evelyn’s knack for sleuthing—and her playful imagination—are always hard at work, and she throws an elaborate party at the hotel where every guest is a suspect. But will the killer emerge from the glamorous lineup? If not, Evelyn just might find herself…next in line for murder.


Sarah K Golden is the author of the cozy mystery Murder at the Pinnacle Hotel. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. She graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now. She is currently working on book two in the Evelyn Murphy series.

Author Links Purchase Links: 
PenguinRandomHouse - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 5 – Reading Reality – REVIEW
December 5 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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Signed, hardcover copy of book, plus a bookmark, a pen, and a sticker. US Only.

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Kepler-186f by Rachel Ford New Release Blitz! @ninestarpress @indigomarketingdesign #LGBTQIA+

 

Title:  Kepler-186f

Author: Rachel Ford

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 12/06/2022

Heat Level: 1 - No Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 106200

Genre: Science Fiction, LGBTQIA+, science fiction, action/adventure, alien planet/alien creatures, space travelers, other-world, planetary settlement, lesbian, light romance, barbarians, cannibal vs. non-cannibal tribes, suspense, fear of other, combat/weapons/guns, military, scientists, illness/disease

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The Genesis mission promised a new start on Kepler-186f. A new start for Captain Nikkole Johnson, and a new start for humanity. 

An elite soldier recruited to protect settlers on the new world, Johnson wakes from cryosleep to find that the mission went sideways thousands of years ago. 

Most of the original crew has vanished. Those who remain know no more than she. Strange voices whisper in the trees and on the winds. Monsters attack in the night to carry off the survivors. To save what’s left of the mission, Johnson must discover what happened in the first place. 

Before the ghosts of the past erase any chance of a future.

 

Kepler-186f
Rachel Ford © 2022
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One
I was first aware of sound. Not an individual sound, but the faint hum of nothing in particular. And then light registered, dim and somewhere behind closed lids.

Slowly, very slowly, the sounds became distinct and morphed into something recognizable.

Droplets fell slowly. Drip. Drip. Drip.

The rustle of the wind, like pages moving far away.

A quiet, consistent mechanical clicking. Tick. Tick. Tick.

My mind felt foggy, as if waking from a deep sleep. I registered the sounds but couldn’t place them. They puzzled me, but vaguely. I couldn’t focus enough for anything more than vague confusion.

Feeling flowed back. My extremities were chilled through. My head throbbed, and fire seemed to course through my veins. I felt a slab of some sort underneath my prone form. A cold slab. Was it stone? Maybe. I couldn’t be sure.

And before I knew it, the world went dark again.

I started back to semiconsciousness as an icy droplet splattered against my face. Sucking in a great gasp of air didn’t quench the burning in my lungs. My eyes opened to an unfamiliar scene, and I drew in breath after shaking breath as I tried to remember what was going on. But my brain was sluggish and my memory slower yet.

So I concentrated on what I could see. I was outside, it seemed, staring into a starless burgundy sky. Rain was falling, the dripping sound heavier than I remembered. But, aside from the occasional splash, I wasn’t wet.

I wasn’t outside after all. Where am I? I squinted at the sky, trying to clear my vision. It was dark, not so much that I couldn’t see, but dark all the same. Still, I could make out the explosion of raindrops above me as the forces of gravity propelled each watery projectile into an invisible barrier.

Splat. Splat. Splat.

Glass. There’s glass overhead. I was in a building. That was something, at least. How I had gotten here was another story. My memories weren’t clear. I seemed to have an inkling of what had happened last, but it was elusive, slipping out of reach every time I came near to seizing it.

I had to get my bearings. I knew that much. I tried to sit up. For a moment, it seemed as if my body wouldn’t cooperate. It wasn’t weakness, exactly, but the same sort of haze that clouded my brain…then, with a sweeping sense of vertigo, the muscles in my arms and torso gave in, and I was upright.

Only after the nausea had abated did I notice the medical apparatus. Various tubes ran to and from me. A flash of panic swept me. What is this? What happened to me?

But instinct took over and buried the fear. I was an Army Ranger. I didn’t panic.

Captain Nikkole Johnson. The name returned, as if it had never been gone. I am Captain Nikkole Johnson.

That realization still didn’t explain the equipment or the room. It seemed to be some sort of hospital, though it was difficult to see much through the dimness of a late dusk. But I could make out a little by the glow of a dial here and a screen there. And the sounds of beeping and whirring supplemented my visual perceptions.

The angle puzzled me—it seemed as if all the room were leaning on its side, and I, alone, and the cold metal bed upon which I sat, remained level with the earth.

My presence here confused me further. Had I taken an injury? How? Where?

Or—worse yet—had I been captured by the enemy?

No. That couldn’t be. The war was over. I had survived, been decorated, and reassigned.

Reassigned. That was it, wasn’t it? The mission, this is all part of the mission. I frowned, trying to remember what mission. But my head wouldn’t cooperate.

It was as though I had cobwebs on my brain. I could almost feel them. And the air felt so thin, so very thin. I seemed starved for oxygen.

No wonder I’m having such a hard time remembering. I needed to get up, get out of this room, get away from…whatever this was.

I pulled at the tubing, wincing as each piece of the apparatus broke loose, then dangled my legs over the side of the bed and promptly tumbled into a heap.

Some while later, I woke up for a third time, shivering violently. All had gone dark, save the green and blue displays of machinery around me. I was soaked to the bone. The occasional splattering I’d observed earlier I now recognized to be rain coming through a broken window. And I’d collapsed directly beneath the breach in a wet pile of stone and glass.

In this last bout of unconsciousness, the numbing effects of my long sleep had worn off. I remembered the mission, the room, and why I was here. And so, I knew where here was.

Not a hospital. Not a ward or a clinic. I’d woken in a cryochamber onboard the USS-Genesis II. I’d gone to sleep in this chamber on June 2nd, 2093. The fact that I was awake now, with icy sheets of rain pouring down my back, meant the mission had been a success. I was home.

My new home. Kepler-186f.

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NineStar Press | Books2Read

Meet the Author

Award-winning author Rachel Ford is a software engineer by day, and a writer most of the rest of the time. She is a Trekkie, a video gamer, and a dog parent, owned by a Great Pyrenees named Elim Garak and a mutt of many kinds named Fox (for the inspired reason that he looks like a fox).

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09 December 2022

Local Girl Missing by J A Baker Book Review! #LocalGirlMissing #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks


 Missing without trace...


When local woman Deborah goes missing, her colleagues Adrian, Yvonne and Merriel are all left in shock. Gossip around the office begins to swirl – what could have happened to Deborah? Is she dead or alive? And who could be responsible for her disappearance?

Everyone is terrified that they could be next…except the one person who has all the answers. The last person people expect.

Because Deborah is being held captive by a monster, a psychopath. But not a stranger… it’s someone she knows all too well…

Don't miss the brand-new thriller by J.A. Baker! Perfect for fans of Sue Watson, Valerie Keogh and K.L. Slater.

What people are saying about J.A. Baker...

'Superbly written with a cast of crazy characters who will make you look differently at your co-workers from now on.’ Bestselling author Valerie Keogh

'Fast-paced, riveting thriller. Gripped until the last page!' Bestselling author Diana Wilkinson

'A twisty, creepy story expertly told. Perfect for reading on dark winter evenings…with the doors double locked and bolted. Highly recommended!' Bestselling author Amanda James


J. A. Baker was born and brought up in the Northeast of England and Undercurrent was her debut novel, making it into the Top 100 on Amazon.

When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long-suffering husband.


Local Girl Missing is due for release in December 2022.

My Thoughts

I read this book in two sittings, that said it caught my interest right from the first page. Local Girl Missing is about just that a local girl missing. Deborah wakes up not knowing where she is or what has happened to her. All she knows is that she is tied and gagged. 

This is a character driven story, all colleagues of Deborah's. They all work in an office setting, and each have their own baggage, abusive relationships, childhoods that left a lot to be desired etc. 

Each chapter is told in a different character's point of view. Adrien, the only male in the group has a woman stalking him. Yvonne and Merriel tell us about their childhoods. All the while Deborah is desperately trying to figure out why she was taken. She knows who her abductor is, someone she had thought she knew and trusted. Soon there is another woman abducted and between the two of them they try to escape.

This story had a lot of anger amongst the characters, each for different reasons. I loved it. It kept my attention and hard as I tried, I could not figure out the bad guy, or woman in this case. A story that keeps you thinking long after you turn the last page, thinking, ahh I knew who the abductor was all along!

I think if you want to read a psychological thriller that is a bit different, then you should read this one. I give it 4.5 stars! 

I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.




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