It Was A Dark and Stormy Night Part Five

Well, at least he was out of the car while she was in..

But, what else was in the car!  Clutching the broken stiletto, Ellie wondered who to use it on first... JT Norman or whatever had just brushed against her leg?

She looked at JT and then back to the floorboard of the sports car.  It was so dark she couldn’t see anything, just hear the movement of something.  She took a step back, then another, and another.

JT, all sinister in his white mask - which seemed to glow in the dark! - came around the car.  Somehow, when she wasn’t looking, he’d managed to put on white gloves.  They glowed just like his mask.

Great, if he strangled her, there’d be no fingerprints!

She stepped back again and bumped into another car. It was slightly warm to her touch.  How many did he have?

“She’s a little shy right now,” JT said, starting to circle the car.  “I have her in costume.  We were in town picking it up, and I decided to dress her up right away.  When we rescued you, she was tucked under the seat sulking.”

Ellie’s feet wouldn’t move.

The hand holding the stiletto felt frozen, maybe from the chill of the room or maybe from fear.

“Come on, Mina,” he coaxed.  “Your sisters are inside.”  To Ellie, he said, “Mina’s the only one who likes to travel.  She likes people, too.”

At that moment, a rustling sounded and a black cat, wearing a bat mask and little body suit with bat wings stepped out to curl around his feet.

Ellie started to relax, just a little.

“I like doing the unusual”  JT said.  His smile was wickedly handsome.  “Speaking of unusual...”

He switched off the flashlight, plunging them into darkness.   The car Ellie leaned against rumbled a bit, as if someone had turned on a tiny motor.  It’s headlights clicked on, loud in the silence of the garage.

Ellie gasped, pushed herself away, and saw that she’d been leaning against a hearse.

A hearse that now had it’s motor running, headlights on, and no driver. 

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT--HALLOWEEN SERIAL CHAPTER FOUR

It was a Dark and Stormy night—Halloween Serial Chapter Four by Terri Reed

          “No, no. Light would be good.” Ellie grappled with the door handle and pulled. The side door popped open and she scrambled out, through her striped stockings the cold cement floor turned her toes to popsicles.

JT flipped the lock on the glove box, reached inside and withdrew a slim, sliver object that glinted in the car’s dome light.

She gasped. Was that a knife?  

She backed away from the car with her stiletto at the ready.  Wildly she glanced around the mammoth sized garage for a place to hide, but the car’s interior light did nothing to dispel the black abyss of the garage.  She didn’t know what dangers hid in the shadows. Better to face the threat she could see.

JT unfolded himself from the car and stood.  He was tall, very tall.  Taller than Ellie, which under normal circumstances would have delighted her, but right now, his towering frame intimidated and threatened.  If she screamed would anyone hear her?

Thunder crashed out side, rattling the garage door as if clamoring to get in. Or was something trying to get out?

He shut his door and rounded the rear of the car, his long legs carrying him toward her. Heart hammering against her ribs, she swallowed, backing up another step, moving farther into the gloom. 

             JT reached inside the car behind the passenger seat.

She watched in fascination as he withdrew a long black cape, swirled it out and fastened the sheet of fabric around his broad shoulders.  Only now did she realize he wore a tux that fit his frame well.  All he needed were fangs.   

He pushed the passenger side door closed, throwing them into complete darkness. Then she heard a click and a beam of light illuminated JT with a garish glow, making the angles and planes of his handsome face sharper.
“Oops, I almost forgot.” JT reached inside a deep pocket within the cape, withdrew a white mask and slid it over his face, then held out a hand. “Come to me.”

Oh, boy.  Isn’t that was what Dracula said to his victims right before he…Something rubbed against her leg. She squealed and jumped.  “Something is in here. It just touched me.”
A rumbling laughed emanated from JT.  “Don’t worry, she won’t hurt you.”

            “What won’t hurt me?” Ellie whispered.

Feature Book: Rocky Mountain Dreams by Danica Favorite

How exciting to hear from Joseph Stone 

the hero from Rocky Mountain Dreams 

a November 2014

release from Love Inspired Historical Romance .

Here's what you can expect to read!

HIS SURPRISE SISTER 

The last thing Joseph Stone expects to discover upon arriving in Leadville, Colorado, is a newfound little sister. Hoping to find his late father's silver mine and hopefully keep his siblings back home out of an orphanage, Joseph needs an ally. The preacher's lovely daughter agrees to care for the little girl. She's just not as willing to trust the prospector…. 

Annabelle Lassiter has seen what men do in pursuit of riches. Yet for all the hardship he's known, Joseph still shows tenderness and warmth. Annabelle's plan has long been to leave Leadville far behind. But Joseph's quest for silver could cost them a more precious dream—one of family, love and new beginnings….

And now for the interview:

1.  Joseph, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

There’s not really much to tell. I get up in the morning, I do what I have to do for my family, and I go to bed. I suppose if you asked one of my sisters, they’d tell you about the time I let them dress me up in one of Ma’s dresses to cheer her up. Of course, that was before Ma died, and things haven’t been the same since.

2.  What do you do for fun?
Fun? I wish I knew the meaning of the word. My fiancée, Annabelle, is helping me change that, but until I met her and we went through the wild ride that happens in our story, I didn’t have a whole lot of time for fun. I suppose I’ll be making up for lost time now that Annabelle is in my life.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Paying bills. It seems like there’s always something I have to choose not to pay because there’s not enough money. I don’t know what’s worse, not following through on your obligations, or having to tell one of the little ones they have to do without. 

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

Letting my family down, not being able to provide for them, or having them taken away from me. I know our situation isn’t ideal, but all we have is each other, and as the eldest, it’s my duty to make sure everyone is taken care of.

5.  What do you want out of life?
For my family to be happy and secure. We don’t need anything fancy, but I’d sure like for everyone to have what they need and for my sisters to be able to take off some of the load of raising the rest of my siblings.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?
Well, if you guessed family, you’d have guessed right. I think that’s probably pretty obvious by now. Though I suppose I have to say my faith as well. Meeting the Lassiters has shown me the importance of not just relying on myself to take care of my family, but of also relying on the Lord as well.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Wow, that’s really a hard question. Honestly, I feel like I’ve been through so many changes over the course of my story that I’d really like a break from all that changing. I suppose, though, I would like to learn more about defending myself and my family. There were times in the story that I felt really inadequate in being able to do anything to protect them, and even though I know our ultimate protection is from the Lord, I’d sure like to be better equipped should danger come knocking.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

We used to have a farm, but all those animals were farm animals, I never really saw them as pets. Once we lost the farm, there was no money or space for animals. However, Nugget has been asking for a kitten, and I just know that one of these days she’ll catch me during a weak moment and I’ll give in.

9. Can you tell us a little interesting tidbit about the time period you live in?

I don’t know if this counts as little, in my day, Leadville was the second largest city in Colorado. We even had telephone service between businesses and mines, far earlier than many parts of the country. Of course, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, since some of the wealthiest families in America got their start in Leadville.

Danica says, "Thanks for Stopping By!" 

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night-Halloween Serial Chapter Three

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night—Halloween Serial Chapter Three

By Margaret Daley

“Norman?” The word squeaked out of Ellie’s mouth as she thought of the movie Psycho. Norman Bates? She gripped the handle of the door, prepared to jump from the moving car if need be.

“JT Norman. I’m new in town and late for the party. And you are?”

“Ellie Autumn. I’ve lived here all my life and late for the party.”

As he slowed the sports car, a garage door on the side of the house lifted. The headlights and a dim overhead light illuminated the dark shadows. JT pulled inside and turned off the engine. The sound of the garage door closing filled the quiet. Ellie glanced back and watched it trap her inside with a man in a faintly lit, cavernous garage.

A streak of lightning struck some place nearby, immediately followed by a loud clash of thunder. It shook the air. Ellie gasped, swinging around to look at the man only two feet from her. His dark, dark eyes drilled into her with an intensity that stole her breath.

“You okay?” he asked in a rich, smooth voice.

“I don’t like thunderstorms. Sleepy Holler seems to be a magnet for them. I’d planned to leave…” Her words faded into the silence as the headlights clicked off and the garage went totally dark. Her candy-corn gel nails dug into the door handle. “What just happened?” She fumbled in her handbag on the floor by her feet for one of her black Louboutin stilettos to use as a weapon if this man tried—

He opened his car door, and a bright light flooded the interior. “It seems that the electricity went off.”

When he reached toward her, she shrank back as much as she could, finally grasping the stiletto.

He gestured toward the glove box. “There’s a flashlight in there. We’ll need it to see.” His compelling gaze locked with hers. “Unless you prefer sitting out here in the dark until the electricity is restored.” 

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night - Halloween Serial Chapter Two by Teri Wilson

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night – Halloween Serial Chapter Two

Teri Wilson

“Oh.” Ellie glanced at the foreboding mansion at the top of the hill and really wished it didn’t look so much like the house in the movie Psycho. “Actually, yes. I’m going to the party.”

“Super. Climb on in.” Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome grinned. At least she assumed he was tall. It was kind of hard to tell since he was behind the wheel of a fancy sports car. But he wasn’t giving off a Norman Bates vibe, and for now, that would have to be good enough. Her Louboutins weren’t going to fix themselves.

“Thank you,” she said, folding herself into the passenger seat.

“You’re welcome.” His grin widened, revealing a most charming set of dimples, and he shifted the car into drive.

Ellie tried not to stare. She really did. But now that she’d gotten a closer look at him, she couldn’t help but notice how very much he looked like Ryan Gosling. That had to be a good sign, right?

She swallowed and aimed her gaze out the windshield. The storm had really picked up. Rain pounded against the glass, and the trees outside bent sideways in the wind. Trick-or-treaters went scurrying for cover. By the time they crested the hill, the rain-slicked sidewalks were deserted.

A chill snaked its way up Ellie’s spine. She’d be glad once she was safe inside the grand house and out of this eerie weather.

But when the car reached the sweeping, circular drive, it didn’t stop. Ellie pressed her palm against the window and cast a longing glance at the mansion.

Don’t panic. He lives here. He’s probably taking you to a separate, private entrance.

She forced her lips into a brave smile. “Thank you again for the ride, Mr…um…I’m sorry, I don’t think I caught your name.”

He arched a brow and gave her a sideways glance that sent butterflies swarming in her belly. “You can call me Norman.”

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night—Halloween Serial Chapter One

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night—Halloween Serial Chapter One

Lenora Worth

It was a dark and stormy night. Ellie Autumn was late for the big Halloween party since her orange VW bug had broken down on Spirit Road. Wanting to be fashionably late, not REALLY late, Ellie hurried along the narrow ribbon of a road that wound up to the big house on the bluff just outside of town.

Unfortunately, she’d broken a heel on one of her black Louboutin stilettoes. Hard to walk with one flat heel and one five-inch heel. Forced to carry her shoes in her stunning midnight black handbag, Ellie could feel each pebble and stick against her black and white striped tights.

“I’m going to this party, no matter what,” she said into the eerie wind. Everyone in Sleepy Holler wanted to meet the man who’d purchased the deserted Maze mansion and renovated it into a really nice but kind of creepy home. Ellie especially wanted to meet him since he had one quality she loved in a man. He was single.

Ellie checked her bright candy-corn gel nails and ignored the little kids running around like munchkins.(Her perfect manicure matched her car and the pumpkin-shaped sequins on her black dress.) Wishing she’d remembered to put a little more gas in the VW, Ellie sighed. “I need help. I shouldn’t be walking alone on this dark, tree-shadowed road. I’m TSTL!”

     A sleek black sportscar pulled up and stopped. The passenger-side door opened with a creak. “May I give you a ride?”

Ellie glanced into the car, her eyes meeting those of the man at the wheel. “I don’t accept rides with strangers.”

Not even handsome, dark-haired strangers with incredibly gentle but deeply dark brown eyes.

“I live up there,” he said with a smile. “That is where you’re headed, right?”

Pumpkin Pie Time!

Missy Tippens, here. Before we know it, it will be time for Thanksgiving! And I thought I'd share one of my holiday recipes with you.

Okay, I know by sharing my pumpkin pie recipe I'll be setting myself up for teasing by you who probably create your own recipes and may even grow your own pumpkins. :)  I'm admitting to you now, I use the recipe on the can of pumpkin and buy a refrigerated crust! :)

But why mess with something that never fails to please my family?

So, here we go...

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Put your pie crust in the pie pan. I use the Pillsbury roll up crusts. They're the store-bought brand I've found that's closest to homemade.

Look! I made those ridges with my own fingers! So it's practically homemade!

Next, follow the directions on the can of Libby's pumpkin! This is from the Libby's site. :)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell 
• Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

POUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving. 

Notes from Missy...

Don't over-bake. The pie may not look quite done but it will set up once you take it out.

Also, don't go too heavy on the cloves! I actually use about 1-1/2 or 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice in place of the 3 spices.

Don't mess up and use sweetened condensed milk by accident (yeah, experience talking).

Now I'm craving pie! Not much longer...

This post originally appeared at the Yankee-Belle Cafe blog.

Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com

FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW: The Guy Next Door by Missy Tippens

From Friend to…Fiancé?  

Stalwart and steady, Darcy O'Malley has been by Luke Jordan's side since childhood. She has seen him through trials and tragedies, romances and breakups. They've been everything to each other—except boyfriend and girlfriend. Why ruin a good thing? What Luke can't explain, however, is why suddenly Darcy's presence is making his heart beat so hard. Something has changed since he left Appleton, and it's making him uneasy. Is it possible his best friend is meant to be something more? Dare he risk their perfect friendship in the hopes of finding his perfect wife?

Stalwart and steady, Darcy O'Malley has  been by Luke Jordan's side since childhood. She has seen him through trials and  tragedies, romances and breakups. They've been everything to each other—except boyfriend and girlfriend. Why ruin a good thing? What Luke can't explain, however,  is why suddenly Darcy's presence is making his heart beat so hard. Something has  changed since he left Appleton, and it's making him uneasy. Is it possible his best friend is meant to be something more?  Dare he risk their perfect friendship in the hopes of finding his perfect wife?

Interview:

How exciting to have Darcy O'Malley, the heroine from The Guy Next Door written by Missy Tippens, an October 2014 release from Love Inspired Romance .

1. Darcy, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I guess the most interesting would be that I'm a microbiologist. I've been working in the lab at my local hospital, and I love my work!

2.  What do you do for fun?

Since I also work an extra part-time job, I don't have much free time. But I do like to read when I get a minute.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I don't deal well with conflict with friends or family. I tend to not want to talk about it.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

As a teenager, I was teased a lot about being a bookworm. I wasn't popular, and other than my next door neighbor, Luke, I didn't have many friends. So I've always feared being…invisible. I've been afraid I would never have someone to love me, to cherish me.

5.  What is the most important thing to you?

Loyalty.

6.  Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

I do read when I can, and love to read romance novels.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I'd love to learn to speak my mind like my sister Chloe.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

No pets since I'm not home much. But someday, I would love to have one! I'd love a dog or a cat.

9. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I would love to go back to the 1600's to be there when Van Leeuwenhoek first looked under a primitive microscope to discover microorganisms.

Friday Sisterhood with Rhonda Gibson

Family Status: I am married with two grown children and two granddaughters 

What Is Your Favorite Beverage: in the summer, Diet Doctor Pepper and In the winter, Hot chocolate. Although, I have to give up the diet dr. pepper so I guess I'll switch back to tea :)

What Is Your Favorite Food: I love all foods but when going out to eat I prefer, General Tso Chicken or Burritos... Home cookin? Mom's meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and hot rolls

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time: I love to read. I read everything except... Horror. Lately, I've taken to reading lots of YA 

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life: My mother, I believe she has shaped me into the woman I am today.

First Book You Fell in Love With: A children's book called: How Fletcher Was Hatched

A Book You Wish You’d Written: The Harry Potter Series, I love those books and wish I'd come up with a similar idea :)

First Book Published:  A Novella called, A Love Of A Life time from the Barbour collection Scraps Of Love

Most Recent Book: His Chosen Bride, a Love Inspired Historical, that came out in May from Harlequin

Out Next: A Pony Express Christmas my first Christmas Love Inspired Historical coming out November 2014

How Many Have You Written: A Pony Express Christmas will be my 16th title in print and my 5th LIH. I am soooo blessed! 

What Do You Know Now That You Wish You’d Known Then: To enjoy every step of every day and trust God to direct those steps. Everyday is new. What seems like a big deal today, is small potatoes tomorrow.

What is Your Favorite Bible Story: I love Noah's ark and like to look at it from the view of Noah's wife. Little is said about her but I can just imagine what her thoughts and life "might" have been like.

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse: This changes from time to time: Right now it is Proverbs 3:4-7

What is Your Favorite Hymn: Amazing Grace

What is an Ongoing Prayer Request You Have: That God will continue to use me and that I will be the example of Him that He intended.