Title
Curse of Wolf Falls (The MacKenzie Chronicles Book 3)
Author
Brenda Whiteside
Genre
Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb
Secrets can protect what the truth will destroy.
Elidor MacKenzie has a gift she can't return—the ability to absorb the joy, pain, and suffering of others. She's spent her life running from what she considers her curse. Now, her best friend is dead, and she alone holds the key to an archaeological discovery that could destroy a culture. With newfound inner peace, Elidor has returned home to make amends and guard the secret revelation. But greed-driven scavengers have followed her. Once again, the energies of Joshua will stir the hurricane, with her at the deadly center.
Jules never got over Elidor. Twenty years and a famous journalism career later, he's back in Joshua—and so is his first love. If his heart can stand the torture, he'll risk reviving their relationship. But saving Elidor from herself and the secret she won't give up may be the death of them both.
Excerpt
“Boyd. What on earth are you doing in Joshua?”
He choked. Coughing and sputtering, he leaned away from her.
She handed him the full bottle of beer and waited, her stomach awash in a wave of nausea. A sure sign she read the aura of a person not to be trusted.
After gulping several swallows, wiping a hand over his mouth, he shook his head. “Sorry. You startled me. Elidor? I could ask you the same. What a surprise.”
“Really? I grew up here.”
“What a coincidence. I, uh, have a lot of interest in old mining towns. Marty didn’t need me for a few days, in fact, he said he’d probably let me go. I’d heard about Joshua years ago. Decided now was as good a time as any to check this place out.”
A bitter taste coated her tongue and saliva pooled in her mouth. The lie was as big as the Verde Valley. Marty needed every hand he had with the loss of Cam and her. Never lie to an empath. The internal alarms were strongest when confronted with dishonesty. Why the lie, and why had he come here? “Quite a coincidence.”
Boyd’s face remained neutral and gestured with his bottle. “Can I buy you a beer?”
“No. I’m on my way somewhere.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Are you sure? I’d love to shoot the bull about the dig, or maybe other digs you’ve been on.” He leaned toward her, his beer breath punctuating his words. “In fact, you could clue me in on the best sites to take in for an archaeologist in Joshua.” His speech pattern, fast and clipped, and his invitation increased the revulsion gripping her.
“I really can’t.” She backed away. “I’ve got a full plate today. Enjoy your stay.”
“Hey, maybe we can meet up tomorrow?”
She whirled around.
With one foot on the floor, facing her, he gave the impression he might leap off the stool and come after her. “No, I don’t think so. I’ve got tons to do with my family. Check the historical society. They can give you maps and stuff.”
As she walked away, she focused on getting to the door and out. Her clammy hands gripped the straps of her backpack. Back in the cloud-filtered sunlight, she traversed the few feet to the corner, past the windows, and stopped, hand to chest. She slipped a hand off her pack and clutched at the pendant. More than his evil nature bothered her. Were Boyd’s presence in Joshua, the break-in, and her missing phone linked events? How could he know? She flared her nostrils, inviting the freshness of mother earth’s air to calm her, and crossed the street to the hardware store. Boyd was there when Cam died. He’d seen Cam give her the cell. But how could he have deciphered they held the key to the Mescalero Myth?
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61628189-curse-of-wolf-falls
Author Biography
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery books. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
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