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.
With Jules by her side, Elidor is determined to outrun the scavengers, guard the secret, and renew their love. But fate is coming after her, and there's nowhere the couple can hide.
Excerpt:
“What’s wrong, Ellie? You aren’t telling me everything. That Boyd guy tried to break in to do what? And now your ex-boss appears out of the blue.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “I can damn near feel apprehension seeping from your pores.”
Were they so in sync? As if twenty years had never passed, the intimacy of their once-upon-a time friendship held her in a tight bond with him. No more lying. She could lay her raw emotion and honesty at his feet. Trust. Share. Confess.
“I haven’t told you my dig partner and best friend, Cam, died falling from a mountain we were climbing the week before I got here.”
“I’m so sorry.” He brushed a curl off her cheek.
“Thanks. He was special.” She allowed herself a moment to think of Cam. He’d be okay with her unloading her secret onto Julien. “But, there’s more. I told you the grant was awarded to find a rumored site, a legend, of a Native American burial ground of untold wealth. Cam and I found it. By accident, actually. We had a few days off and decided to do some camping and exploring of another area. We did some mountain climbing and spotted a rough trail or what looked like it used to be a trail. The average person probably wouldn’t recognize the markings. It led to a cave. One of the many things Cam and I had in common was our love of caves. Long story short, we found the mythical sacred ground.”
“That sounds huge, but something tells me there’s a punch line.”
“Cam and I became friends with a few of the Mescalero Apache whose tribal lands border the park. I became particularly close to Juanita, an elder. I told you about her. So, when we found the sacred ground and realized the location put it partially on park land, we made a decision to not tell anyone for fear the government would redraw the boundaries and confiscate what belongs to the Mescalero.”
He frowned. “That’s a heavy secret.”
“Yeah. Boyd found out, or at least suspected. He was there when Cam died. The cave isn’t impossible to find, but the wealth in the cave lies at the end of several twisty paths which we stored the coordinates for on Cam’s phone. I’m sure someday, someone will discover it. If we did, others can too. But we didn’t want to be the ones to endanger a centuries-old sacred site and disrupt a culture. Cam’s last words to me were to guard the phone and don’t trust anyone. Boyd must have figured out what Cam meant. Boyd’s the one who trashed the apartment, and when he didn’t find the phone, came back to…I’m guessing…make me give it to him.”
Julien’s arms and legs tensed. “Now Marty is here to pick up where Boyd left off?”
“Marty possibly has skeletons in his closet.” She hesitated. She didn’t want her empathic ways to come between her and Julien again, but… Hell. It’s who I am—I embrace it, you embrace it. “He does. I can read that much about him. I have no doubt he isn’t an honest person, but I can’t believe he had anything to do with Boyd’s actions. His heart isn’t black.”
“But?”
“I don’t know. He thinks someone who works for him has information on how to find the Mescalero Myth. I think he came here fishing to see if I might be the source. Since I left so abruptly, he suspects me. I guess.”
“Mon dieu, Ellie, you’re in danger! Where’s the phone?”
“I don’t have it. I took out the SIM card and threw the phone away. Marty wants to find the burial grounds, but I don’t think he’s the type to do much more than he has—come here and pump me. If I didn’t convince him that I know nothing, I at least put doubt in his mind. He had to leave today and get back to the dig.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Ellie, you have me worried.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon US (on sale for $1.99 May 1-8)
Amazon CA
Amazon UK (on sale for $1.99 May 1-8)
Bookbub
Goodreads
What’s your favorite way to combat stress?
If it’s early in the day, I make myself a strong cup of coffee and open a book. If it’s early evening, I pour myself a glass of red wine and open a book. Taking a walk, getting out in nature, and allowing my mind to wander down happy trails is another sure-fire way to relax any time of day.
Why is your featured book a stress busting read?
Curse of Wolf Falls is just far enough off how most of us live to offer escape. But the characters are easy to identify with so the reader can immerse themselves in the lives of people they like. This book has mystery involving secret Indian burial grounds, suspense with villains you will love to hate, emotional tugs with a heroine who’s empathic and intelligent, and romance between two very different people that share a deep connection. Step out of your troubles and into Elidor’s. You’ll find enjoyment and entertainment enough to bust that stress as you follow her twisty path to happiness. Plus, if you’re in Amazon zones US and UK, you can purchase the book on sale. A sale is always good for busting stress. If not, it’s still a good deal.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $20 Amazon gift card
Open internationally.
Runs May 1 – 31, 2024
Drawing will be held on June 3, 2024.
Author Biography:
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, and romance. She writes children’s books with her granddaughter under the names of Brenda Sue and Sadi Belle. She’s a born and bred Arizona native who sets her fictional stories in imaginary, but recognizable, Arizona locations. After marrying, she and her husband lived in six states and two countries, but a few years back they 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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