THE SERPENT IN THE STONE coming to audiobook!

I am thrilled to announce that, at long last, THE SERPENT IN THE STONE will be coming out in audiobook. Narrator Alex Riley has not only broken the "Curse of the Gifted Series," but she has delivered a lively, wonderful reading I'm sure you'll enjoy. I'll post here once the audiobook is released. In the meantime, read below to learn more about the story!

About THE SERPENT IN THE STONE:

Some secrets are deadly.

Sara Markham is used to secrets. She has two of her own: her paranormal powers, and her father's unsolved murder twenty years ago. The first is a secret she can't divulge, and the other she yearns to unravel.

When her archaeology firm is tapped to excavate a ruin in Shetland, Sara accepts eagerly, hoping it will help solve the mystery of her father's death. But she doesn't anticipate Ian Waverly, a wildlife biologist whose questions worry her even as his rugged magnetism fascinates her. Ian's more connected to her gifts than she knows, and far more than he wants to admit.

Enemies on sight, Ian and Sara struggle to fight the attraction that blazes between them. But when they are confronted with a decades-old web of lies and corruption, they discover the truth: only together can they heal the heartaches brought by the very darkest of secrets.

Excerpt from THE SERPENT IN THE STONE:

"What - exactly - are you?" Ian demanded.

Alarm bells clanged at the hostility in his voice. Sara had to force her voice past them. "You've seen me shapeshift. I can read minds sometimes."

"I've got time for the long version." He put the necklace back into his pocket. The shuttered look on his face raised panicky flutters in her belly.

She drew a long breath. "Telekinesis. I caught you with telekinesis."

"How did you get telekinesis?"

"It's not like they hand it out in stores! It just happened one day. I didn't know what it was, and I was too scared to tell my parents. I was afraid of it for a long time."

"When did your father die? How did he die?"

Her thoughts flew to the amulet in Ian's pocket. "What has any of this got to do with my father?"

"Maybe nothing. Could be more. This stuff might be genetic."

Icy dread crawled across her skin. "I'm done talking to you."

Quick as lightning, he reached forward and snatched the boat keys from the ignition. "This necklace has to be important if you're willing to risk being shot to fix it, Sara. That's not even going there about you risking me being shot at. You're not getting it back until you talk."

She felt naked. Worse than she had at the inlet. Then, she'd seen desire in his eyes.

Now, she saw only hatred. "This isn't about me," she said, startled. "It's about you."

"Never mind me," he snapped.

"What is it?" she asked. "What happened to you?"

"How did your father die?"

Pain and betrayal surged anew through every cell in her body, and that little girl from twenty years ago gave a silent wail of outrage. "He. Was. Murdered."

Thistle Dew, A Writer's Dream

 

Anyone who has ever met me knows how much I love a house with an old soul. They also know writing feeds something within me. I found both this past weekend at Thistle Dew, a bed and breakfast owned by Andrea and Walter Kaczor. Andrea and Walt are two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Andrea, a fellow writer, opened the B&B up to fellow authors several years ago for weekend writing retreats. She and her husband purchased the property and have spent the past several years turning it into the charming getaway it is.

The original stone house was built in 1809 by land agent James Sheldon. Today, the property at Thistle Dew encompasses nearly 300 acres of rolling hills, ponds, a tennis court, barn, cabin, and countless little hideaways fit for walking, exploring, or sitting in peaceful silence. It's full of antiques brimming with history and patina. It is a perfect place to soak in the quiet and let your imagination flow.

I had the distinct pleasure of sharing this wonderful weekend with a handful of other author friends. We each made a meal for part of the weekend, and shared great conversations as well as peaceful nights under the stars. Andrea and Walt explained some of Thistle Dew's rich history, from its beginnings as a tavern and carriage house to hosting officers during the War of 1812. They invited me to explore the property at my leisure, and when indoors, I wandered the house checking out all the interesting collectibles and antiques.

Outside, it is just as much a feast for the senses. Wildlife is everywhere, from deer roaming the fields to birds and pollinators of every variety. Andrea and Walt's dog, Lowca (pronounced "WOLF-ka" and meaning "hunter" in Polish), is the unofficial greeter and host to everyone who stays at Thistle Dew.

Our final evening at Thistle Dew ended with a beautiful rainbow, then sunset. Andrea and Walt saw us off the next morning with goodbyes and invitations to visit again, and I don't doubt I will. It's rare to go away and feel immediately at home where you land, but Thistle Dew is definitely that sort of place. I'm so glad I finally made it there!