Epilogue
I awoke feeling refreshed, invigorated almost. I hadn’t felt like this in the morning in a long, long time.
I thought about my date this evening with Dr. Samuel Winston. I hadn’t been on a date in years and had no idea what I would wear. A trip to a wonderful boutique was in order.
I had done all I could do for Benjamin Winston and for my father during his illness.
My life needed to move forward, out of the past.
The thought excited me like nothing had in a long time.
I raised my toothbrush to my reflection in the mirror in a sort of toast.
To my future. In the land of the living.
QUANTUM ROULETTE
Chris Holmes
1
“Who found the body?” Sheriff’s Detective Ken Salazar eyed the corpse slumped backward in the chair, mentally calculating the bullet’s path from the hole drilled into the man’s forehead to its explosion out the back of the skull.
“A lost hiker heard a gunshot and called 911.” The blonde Forensic Investigator looked up. “Deputies forced entry about an hour ago.”
Salazar traced in his mind the slug’s probable course out the back of the skull to the opposite wall. He followed his nose and found the bullet embedded in the wood paneling amidst a splatter of blood, brains and metal.
“Time of death?” he asked.
Pam Mundy, the FI, knelt beside the corpse’s chair, her ponytail draped over her left shoulder, leaving her neck exposed above the hem of her V-neck scrub suit.
She caught the gleam in the detective’s eyes and reddened, but maintained her composure. “TOD ninety minutes ago, tops,” she answered evenly. “But take a look at this...”
Salazar squinted as he bent down to inspect an electronic device, about the size of a cell phone, taped to the left arm of the chair. “Looks like a...a...”
Pam rolled her eyes. “It’s a garage door opener, Pug. That’s what it is. I’ve got two of them at home. $29.95 from Home Depot.”
Salazar chuckled. Pug! He’d resented the moniker at first. But in a professional unit as tight as a police squad, you didn’t get to pick your own handle; it was chosen for you by the group.
“Of course it’s a garage door opener.” How would I know? He lived in a bachelor apartment and parked his car in an open bay.
He flexed a forefinger over the opener’s action button, poised to push it.
“Don’t touch that, Pug!”
Behind him Skip Mulcahy stabbed a bony finger at him, tension creasing his freckled forehead. His Celtic hair, more rust-colored than red, fell in waves to his shoulders. Though he was a paunchy, forty-something surfer who refused to grow up, he had a solid rep as a criminalist.
The two men inspected a .38 caliber revolver clamped to a small table about six feet in front of the corpse.
Skip couldn’t stop staring at the gun.
Salazar arched an eyebrow. “What?”
“All six bullets still chambered.”
The detective flipped open his notebook. “You think someone fired it then re-loaded?”
Skip tugged at his ear. “We’ll have to see what ballistics says—but I don’t think this gun has been fired recently.”
“How’s that possible?” Salazar took a step backward.
Skip shook his head. “Can’t say. It’s just what it is, dude.”
“What’s that?” Salazar pointed to a black device, about the size of a shoe box, taped to the table next to the gun, a power cord snaking from it to a wall outlet. A green LCD light stared unblinking from it toward the garage door opener.
“Not sure, Pug, but I think that’s how the gun was triggered.”
Skip fingered a second electrical cord, this one connecting the black box to a small motorized winch clamped just behind the gun. A thin metal rod ran from the winch to the revolver, a small spring connecting the rod to a loop of metal around the trigger.
Salazar pulled out his notebook, clicked his pen once, and began to write. But he paused, looked from gun to corpse and back, then clicked the pen twice again, finally scribbling something on the blank page.
He glanced up and caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror by the front door. Reflexively, he straightened his tie and ran a hand through his short-cropped hair. Once jet black, it now—like weeds in an otherwise perfect lawn—sprouted clumps of gray. A jutting jaw stood out pugnaciously. (He had actually boxed—with some success—in college.) But the wearying effects of age and life’s mileage had changed his smooth Latin face into a pallette of crowsfeet, worry lines, and wrinkles. And the deviated nasal septum, never straightened properly after a fight, would forever mark him as a pug. His next birthday would be another ‘0,’ this one the big 5-0. Retirement was just around the next corner. Thank God for retirement!
He clucked his tongue and pointed to the black box. “Just an easier way to do it, Skip?”
“You mean easier than just eating the gun? Having to pull the trigger yourself?”
“Right. With this set-up, you just push the button on the garage door opener, which sends a signal to the...the...”
“The black box?”
“Right. It must power the winch motor, which pulls the rod and triggers the gun. BANG!”
Skip scratched his scrub-bearded chin. “Maybe. But I still don’t get the point of this black box. A simple antenna on the winch motor could activate it directly by a signal from the garage door opener.”
“Right. Why such a complex system for such a simple task?”
Salazar nodded. “Unless...unless there’s more to this gadget than meets the eye...”
Pam broke in. “Are you guys sure this was a suicide? I mean, if the weapon hasn’t been fired…?”
Salazar shrugged and arched another black eyebrow, higher this time. “What else could it be?”
“No suicide note.” Pam looked him straight in the eye. “Have you ever worked a suicide case without a note, Pug?”
“No. You’re right. It’s practically unheard of.” He rubbed his chin. “But maybe there wasn’t anyone this guy wanted to leave a note for.” He looked around the sparsely furnished, dimly lit room. “I mean look at this place. A couple of rooms, a single bathroom. More a cabin than a house.”
Skip agreed. “It is pretty damned remote.”
“Remote! Hell, I took two wrong turns before I found that gravel road outside. The nearest neighbor must be a couple miles away. And the nearest grocery store is—”
“3.4 miles, exactly.” Pam blinked her green eyes. “I measured it with my GPS on the way in.”
“What’s your point, Pug?” Skip asked.
“Simply that this guy was a recluse. He didn’t WANT to be found. I bet that phone over there doesn’t work, there’s no mail on the table and probably none in the box.”
“Right on all counts,” Skip answered
“If that lost hiker hadn’t stumbled onto this place just at the moment the gun fired, this guy would still be sitting here with a hole in his head, getting riper by the minute.”
“I suppose so...” Pam looked dubious. “But I still don’t get it.”
“Me neither,” Skip chimed in.
Salazar shrugged. “Let’s get the body to the ME. And this black box...whatever it is...to the Crime Lab.”
“Roger that.” Skip gave him a mock salute. “But there’s one more thing.”
What now! Pug glanced at his watch: 4:00 p.m. on a chilly, overcast November day. The weather was as gloomy as this damned house!
But he followed Skip to a wall-mounted digital clock, with a built-in calendar and a broken glass face. His shoes crunched on slivers of glass, and when he looked down, he noted a small hammer amidst the shards.
“The date and time appear to have been frozen the moment it was broken,” Skip explained. “2:30 p.m., October 28. A week ago.”
“What do you make of it?” Salazar asked.
“I dunno, Pug. What do you make of it?”
“Don’t have a clue.”
Pam stopped them. She pointed to the gun. “What’s that spring on the trigger rod for?”
“That’s easy,” Skip answered. “Once the gun is fired, it keeps tension on the trigger...”
“Right...in case you want to refire it.”
Skip started to speak but nothing came out.
“Right.” Pam’s voice brimmed with sarcasm. “Just in case he wanted to shoot himself in the head a second time. Or maybe a third.”
Skip peered closer at the triggering mechanism. “Then what is the purpose of this damned thing?”
Salazar chewed on his lip while he clicked his pen and put it away. “Maybe Pam’s right,” he finally said. “Maybe this wasn’t a suicide after all.”
Skip could only stare at him.
“Maybe it just looks that way.”
2
Pug pushed through the swinging double doors into the autopsy room of the County Morgue. A shiver crawled up his spine. Why do they always keep it so damned cold in here?
“To retard decomposition,” he’d been told, “not to conserve electricity.”
He grabbed a pair of latex gloves from the dispenser mounted on the wall and walked to the only table currently occupied.
The pathologist looked up. “Hi Pug.”
It was Jack Youngblood, the Medical Examiner himself. Salazar had learned a lot about this ME over the years, mostly that he was a loner; more comfortable here in the morgue than the in coffee shop; more at ease around dead bodies than living women. But then there was that office gossip about an on-again, off-again romance with one of the FIs...
“Whatcha got there, doc?” Salazar asked.
“A dead body,” Youngblood said through his face mask.
Yuk! Yuk. Always the wise guy. “C’mon doc. Give.” He winked at Pam Mundy standing at the foot of the table taking notes. Her hair was piled on top of her head in some sort of up-do, her eyes as wine-dark as an Irish sea, her face a rictus of attention.
Youngblood sighed. “An old dead guy. That’s what we got here, Pug. An old dead guy with a bullet hole in his head.”
“Right.”
“The only other postmortem finding—” Youngblood closed the gaping Y-incision—“is that most of this guy’s brain is gone out the back of his skull. But I guess you knew that already, huh?”
“Yeah.” Salazar shrugged off the wisecrack.
“And,” Youngblood continued, “the man does look markedly dehydrated—and a bit malnourished.”
“How long since he had food and water?” Pam asked.
“A week. Maybe ten days.”
“But that doesn’t fit with my TOD of less than twenty-four hours ago,” she protested. Doubt furrowed her brow. “You don’t mean he just sat in that chair for a week or more before pulling the trigger...I mean pushing that button?”
Youngblood pulled down his mask. “I dunno about that. I only know what I can observe. And as they say—” he winked and headed for the door—“dead men tell no tales, but their bodies do.”
Salazar clicked his pen and opened his notebook. He looked at Pam and asked, “What do we know about this guy...about the man, I mean.”
She read from her notes. “I ran his prints through CODIS. No hits. But I did find a wallet in the back bedroom dresser with a couple of IDs inside.”
“And?”
“Robert Walker Jackson. Age seventy-two. A retired professor of philosophy at UCSD. Lived in La Jolla near the University for twenty-five years...before that I don’t know.”
“What about that place up in the hills where we found him?”
“Bought it for cash a year ago after selling his La Jolla property. No other employment since retiring. Bank records show plenty of money in savings, and he was getting a generous pension from the University.”
“What was he doing up there all alone?”
“Can’t tell from the records. But I found some well-worn hiking boots and a stout walking stick on the back porch. Maybe he was just an outdoor type.”
“Maybe he was a damned hermit!”
“Maybe.”
“Family?”
“He’s been a widower for twenty years. I couldn’t find a Will, but I contacted the University. The department secretary remembered seeing him at a few faculty functions after he retired. But then nothing. She said he had only one living relative: a daughter in Phoenix. She thought they’d been estranged for some time.”
“Any contact info for the daughter?”
“I got a phone number and will ask her to come in for an interview and to ID the body.” She closed the file. “The professor had a P.O. box, but nothing was in it except a few overdue bills. The postal clerk said he hadn’t seen the man in almost a month.”
Salazar exhaled slowly. “Sad way to end up, huh?”
“Maybe that’s how he wanted it.”
Pug shook his head. “Maybe. Let’s see what ballistics has to say about that black box.” He clicked his tongue. “And about the gun that was never fired but still managed to kill him.”
“One more thing,” Pam said. “I asked the University what his academic interests were.”
“And?”
“In addition to his doctorate in philosophy, he also held a master’s degree in physics. He was deeply interested in the philosophy of science. Especially, they said, in the ‘nature of consciousness.’”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She shrugged and led the way out.
3
Ishmael Markov, Chief Ballistic Technician, enthusiastically greeted them when they came through the door to the Crime Lab. A big man, Markov’s bushy eyebrows—which met in the middle—deep-set, piercing black eyes, and olive complexion betrayed his Slavic background.
“Hi Maele,” Salazar said. (No one could handle ‘Ishmael’ on a daily basis. Thus ‘Maele’ – pronounced MAY-Lee–became the phonetic compromise.)
The man was so excited he grabbed Salazar’s elbow with one hand and pumped his hand with the other.
“Here, here. You come!” Maele said, eyes glowing like hot coals. “Everything set. Very interesting, this one.” He flashed a toothy smile and headed across the room.
Salazar winked at Pam and followed.
At the Ballistic Test Fire area, the two visitors saw the same .38 caliber revolver from the crime scene, this time mounted over a sand-filled test pit, Skip Mulcahy’s evidence tag still attached to the trigger guard. The weapon appeared fully loaded and ready to fire.
~ * ~
Skip himself stood next to the test pit and waved to the new arrivals, his hearing protection muffs draped around his neck.
“I fire one round earlier,” Maele explained, “to test for match with bullet from house.”
“And?” Salazar asked.
“Perfect match. This gun fire fatal bullet.”
“Right.
“Next, I unload weapon, check all bullets. No blanks. Firing mechanism in working order.”
Salazar nodded. “Proves the gun works, that it’s the one that killed the victim, and that the other bullets are all live rounds.”
Skip rubbed his hands together. “This should be good.”
Everyone donned protective ear muffs.
Maele fingered the gun’s trigger and fired.
Bang!
Maele looked at his visitors. “Is normal, okay?”
Salazar agreed. “Yup. Works just like it’s supposed to.”
Maele next connected the triggering apparatus Skip had brought back from the crime scene: metal rod and spring; power winch and black box; the same garage door opener, set up—precisely as Pug remembered it—on a table six feet away. One power cord connected the winch and the black box, and a second led from the black box into an a.c. outlet.
“Ready?” Maele’s eyes swept the circle of observers. He pushed the button on the garage door opener.
No bang.
He pushed again.
Still nothing from the revolver.
Salazar crouched to eye level behind the gun and locked his gaze on the cylinder. “Once more, Maele,” he requested.
Maele pushed the button. No bang; the chamber never moved.
Pug took off his ear muffs.
Maele placed a finger to his lips. “You all listen now,” he said softly. “Listen very carefully.”
He pushed the button. Again, no bang or chamber rotation. But this time everyone heard a distinct click.
“Misfire?” Salazar asked?
Maele shook his head. “No. That is sound of electricity hitting closed relay switch in black box.” He punched the button twice more. Two more clicks.
Skip nodded. “The signal’s not getting relayed to the winch motor. So the trigger’s not getting pulled.” He winked at Pam. “Not even once.”
“But you watch again,” Maele insisted. He deftly removed the black box from the firing loop and replaced it with a simple antenna attached to the winch. “Ear muffs on, please.” He punched the button twice in rapid succession.
Bang! Bang!
Salazar started to say something, but Maele stared him into silence while he re-inserted the black box back into the firing loop. Again, he punched the button.
Bang!
“What the hell!” Double arched detective eyebrows.
Pam inhaled sharply.
“Whoa!” Skip whispered.
“That very weird, huh?” Maele rubbed a bushy eyebrow with the back of his wrist.
Salazar placed his hands, palm down, onto the black box, trying to discern—through vibration, warmth or telepathy—what was going on inside. “What is this damned thing?” he swore. “Some sort of electrical Russian roulette?”
Maele grinned. “Rusky roulette alright. With six bullets in gun!”
4
Twenty-four hours later, Pug’s boringly white government sedan boiled up dust along the gravel road leading to the crime-scene house in Alpine, a hillside community on the eastern edge of San Diego. The sky was leaden, the day sullen gray again.
Pug paid more attention to the area this time, and to the house itself. It was set back from the road along a path overgrown with bushy laurel sumac, white-tipped sage, and salmon-colored poison oak. Scotch pines, scrub oaks and California sycamores framed the house, almost hiding it from view. He understood now why the sound of a gunshot might have been the only clue a chance passerby would have had that any other soul was in the neighborhood.
He was greeted at the front door by a pale-faced, middle-aged woman with red-rimmed eyes. Mousey brown hair pulled tightly back, face wrinkled, mouth turned down in a permanent frown, she eyed him through the screen door.
He’d first met this woman at the morgue when she came to ID her father’s body, merely nodding when the ME pulled back the sheet.
“You have to say it,” Dr. Youngblood told her gently.
“Yes. That is my father. As I remember him.”
~ * ~
She pushed open the screen door. “Come in, detective. I’ve been expecting you.”
“Thank you.” Salazar did a quick survey of the main room. It looked a lot different this time, cluttered with packing boxes, file folders and old clothes.
“Sharon,” she said, the thinnest of smiles creasing her lips. “Please call me Sharon. I’m just here to gather some of my father’s possessions before I decide what to do with the place.”
“You’re his sole heir?”
“My father was an only child—as was I, as far as I know. Since he died in testate, the State will automatically do a search for others, but I don’t think they’ll find any.”
“Tell me about your father,” Salazar coaxed. “What sort of man was he?”
“He was addicted to his work. That was all he really cared about. I never saw much of him when I was growing up. And after the divorce, only a couple more times.”
“Letters? Emails?”
She shook her head. “He was a stranger to me most of my life.”
Salazar rubbed his chin. “Was he a man of faith?”
She looked up, startled. “Why, no, he was an atheist. I once asked him why we never went to church like other families. He said that when you become a scientist, you have to give up the idea of a personal God.”
“Did he by any chance believe in—” how to phrase this?— “in the paranormal?”
Her eyes widened. “You mean like ghosts...ESP... channeling...life after death? That sort of stuff?”
Salazar pulled out his notes to refresh his memory. “His department secretary said he was interested in...” he read the words verbatim...“the ‘nature of consciousness.’” He snapped the notebook shut. “Do you know anything about that?”
She shook her head.
“One last question. “Do you know if your father was in good health? I mean, he was seventy-two. Did he have any medical conditions you know about?”
“No.” She pointed to a row of backpacks, rucksacks and canteens hanging on hooks by the front door. “He loved to be alone. He fancied himself a modern day Thoreau, hiking and backpacking in the wilderness with just his thoughts for company. Even when I was a little girl, he’d go off by himself for days.” She pointed a finger to the ceiling. “But wait…!” She went to a small table and returned with a single sheet of paper. “Here’s a doctor’s bill. They sent it to me when he didn’t pay. I was the only beneficiary on his medical insurance policy.” She handed it over. “It’s for an office visit a year ago.”
Salazar jotted down the physician’s name and address. “Mind if I follow up on this?”
“Not at all.”
“Thank you,” he said. “And I’m sorry for your loss.”
She shook his hand. “Can I make burial arrangements now?”
“Oh! I’m sorry. Didn’t they tell you at the morgue?”
“Tell me what?”
“The ME won’t release the body while there’s still an on-going investigation.”
Her face showed the first emotion he’d seen: eyes widened, nostrils flared.
He anticipated her next question. “We’re still not sure whether your father’s death was a suicide, an accident, or...” He hesitated.
“Murder? You think he could have been murdered?”
Pug couldn’t reveal the mysterious details of the case, which might be known only to the killer, if it was indeed a homicide: the fully loaded gun, the broken clock, the unexplained dehydration. And the black box. Especially the black box.
He could only say, “Check with the M.E.’s office tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll be releasing the body soon.”
On his way back down the dirt road, his cell phone chirped. It was Maele from ballistics.
~ * ~
“Crime Lab guys couldn’t figure out that black box of yours either. And they don’t want to take it apart; maybe mess it up somehow. This important evidence, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay. I tell them to send to Physics Lab at University. Let those guys play with it.”
“Thanks, Maele.” He hung up and thumbed Pam Mundy’s number. “Do me a favor, will ya?”
“If I can.”
“I got a name and address for our victim’s private doctor. Pay him a visit. See what you can find out.”
“Sure.”
“Shouldn’t be any medical privacy issues since the guy’s dead. And I have verbal permission from his only living relative.”
“I’ll call you if I turn up anything. Where you headed?”
“The University.”
She chuckled. “About time you got some education. Hope you get an A.”
5
The name and title on the door read: Peter Eckman, Ph.D., Chairman, Department of Philosophy. Pug entered, walked across the room, and reached for a hand outstretched across a cluttered desk—a firm grip from a lean, rangy guy who couldn’t have been fifty years old, or at least didn’t look like it.
“We spoke on the phone,” Salazar said, sizing up the man: fair skin, sandy hair and blue-green eyes denoted Scandanavian genes for sure. In fact, he was wearing jeans: blue jeans and a T-shirt.
“Sorry about the clothes, detective.” Ekman motioned him to a chair. “I’ve just been for a run, and you told me this was urgent—something about the death of Professor Jackson?”
Salazar ‘scoped out the office some more. Not the academic digs he’d imagined. It looked and felt more like a den or home study. Shelves full of books and journals, to be sure. But also an extensive collection of sports memorabilia, a TV monitor, a stereo playing soft classic music. And a cat! A cat curled up in an upholstered chair.
“Schroedinger.”
The detective cocked an ear. “Pardon me?”
“The cat. That’s its name. Schroedinger.” Clasping his hands behind his neck, Eckman leaned back in his chair, an impish smile smeared across his handsome face.
Salazar didn’t get the joke, so he got right to business. “I’m sorry about your colleague’s death. Did you know him well?”
“Not really. I’ve been here only a few years. Professor Jackson was near retirement by then.”
“What was your overall impression of him?”
“A thinker. A very profound thinker.”
“So I gather. But what about the man?”
“He kept to himself—kept inside himself. He published of course—have to in this business. And he shouldered his share of teaching and committee assignments. But he was much more comfortable with ideas than with people.” He leaned forward and tapped the eraser end of a pencil on a lined yellow pad.
Salazar pressed. “I’m told he was particularly interested in the ‘nature of consciousness.’”
“That’s a hot topic in philosophy right now. Part of the broader discipline of the Philosophy of Physics.”
“Philosophy of Physics?” Pug grunted. “Sounds like an oxymoron to me.”
Eckman laughed easily. “It goes to the relationship between mind and body.” He tapped the eraser on the pad again, then looked at Salazar. “Did you take history and philosophy courses in college, detective?”
“Sure. I read Plato, Aristotle...and those other guys.”
“Ahh! The ancient Greeks. Theirs was a very concrete world. Only four substances—fire, water, earth and air—were needed to explain all of nature. This left them free to think about other, grander things, like ethics, politics, government, and the individual’s relationship to the state.”
“Democracy. They gave us democracy.”
“More. They gave us the idea of democracy.” He leaned forward on his desk. “And with Euclid, Aristotle and Ptolemy, they also gave us scientific inquiry, the seed from which grew the classical physics of Newton, Leibnitz, Galileo and others in the 17th and 18th centuries—and even Einstein’s thought experiments two hundred years later.”
“‘Classical’ physics? What is that?”
“Where everything in nature must obey the laws of physics: Gravity, electromagnetism, and the laws of motion, to name but a few. Even the mind was thought to obey these laws. But then the curtain was lifted—just a little—by Rene Descartes, when he opined, Cogito ergo sum.”
“‘I think, therefore I am.’” Salazar clicked his pen twice. “My Catholic schooling. The nuns practically beat Latin into me.”
“I’m a Lutheran.”
They shared a chuckle.
“With these three words,” Eckman continued, “Descartes forever separated the mind and all its processes from the merely organic organ which gives it birth: the brain.”
Salazar scratched his ear. “Do you believe that?”
He nodded. “Neuroscientists who’ve studied this phenomena cannot explain how a lump of gray matter, with nothing but bioelectrical processes, can produce a Picasso painting, a Shubert symphony—or even our present discussion. There must be something more to the mind, they contend, something beyond the merely physical brain.”
Salazar scribbled a note. “Go on.”
“The tenets of Classical physics were challenged by the discovery of the quantum nature of matter in the 1920s and 30s.”
“The quantum nature of matter?” Salazar felt his own very average brain beginning to ache.
“Take light itself. It has a wave-particle duality that produces some very spooky results. It can be either a wave or a particle—is, in fact, both a wave and a particle. For example, when you shine a flashlight, or take an x-ray, you’re observing the wave effect.” He paused, glancing closely at Salazar. “You up for more?”
“Why not?”
“In a famous experiment, light beams shined through a slit in a solid wall are detected as waves further on. But single photons fired one at a time through a double slit in the same wall, are also detected as waves.”
“So how can you tell which it is?”
“We can only guess, based on probability. Certainty, if that’s what you’re after, is just a crapshoot until the damned thing is actually measured.”
“What about larger objects?”
“They probably generate quantum waves as well. They’re just much harder to measure.”
“You mean like objects like—” Salazar looked at the sleeping Schroedinger—“cats?”
Eckman smiled. “And probably bowling balls, mice and men too!”
“What’s that mean?”
“In 1935, Erwin Schroedinger, a theoretical physicist, designed what is probably the most famous thought experiment in the history of science, now dubbed ‘Schroedinger’s Cat.’ It was a test of the principal of Superposition, a mixing of wave forms or particle states, a mixture which only ends when you actually measure them.”
“Seems pretty far-fetched.”
“Schroedinger thought so too. That’s why he dreamed up the experiment: to slam the proponents of superposition.”
Salazar smiled. “This is all fascinating stuff. But what’s all this got to do with Professor Jackson?”
“It goes to that quantum ‘nature of consciousness’ stuff you mentioned. Professor Jackson thought, along with many others, that consciousness exists in some energy form separate from the brain. Maybe electrons in the brain generate their own quantum waves, creating their own quantum world.”
“You’re beginning to sound like Shirley MacLaine, doc.”
Eckman didn’t laugh. “Near death experiences cannot be verified experimentally. But they are so numerous and so extensive they deserve to be taken seriously.”
Salazar had heard enough. His head was about to explode. “Quantum physics, quantum mind, quantum consciousness. Next you’ll be telling me there’s even a quantum form of suicide!”
Eckman didn’t answer. He just looked into his hands.
Oh, my God! An idea as fantastic as a quantum wave itself crashed into Salazar’s consciousness. He shook hands with the Eckman and hurried out. He had to see a man about a box.
A black box!
6
Skip Mulcahey was waiting for him at the University Physics Lab.
“Mind if I join you, Pug? I figured this would be your next stop.”
Salazar pointed to the door. “After you.”
They were met by Dr. Dan Merriman, a black man whose muscular build bulged the chest of his lab coat. He wouldn’t have seemed out of place in the locker room of a professional football team.
After introductions, the scientist led them to a bench with the black box—cover off—from the Alpine house.
“This is quite a gadget you’ve got here,” Merriman said. “Where’d you get it?”
Pug shook his head. “Sorry, that’s confidential.”
“It’s not just a simple junction box, is it?” Skip asked.
The physicist chuckled. “Heavens, no! I’ve never seen anything quite like it. What’s it for?”
Another shake of the detective’s head. “Can you just tell us how it works, please?”
Merriman slipped one hand into the lab coat. “First, it uses commercially available products. I’ve just never seen them connected this way before.”
“Please, go on,” Salazar urged.
“The short answer is that this box generates, then detects, the spin of a single electron.”
“The spin?”
“Yup. Either up or down. Opposites, but related—like the two poles of a magnet.”
“Got it,” Skip said. “Spin-up or spin-down.”
“This transistor here—” Merriman pointed to a small component—“generates the electrons one at a time...”
Pug clicked his pen. “It can do that? Generate just a single electron.”
“Sure. And detecting it isn’t hard either.”
“But...?”
“Detecting the spin, that’s tough. But it can be done. This other gadget—” he pointed again—“measures the difference between the two spin states of the electron: if spin-down, a small current is generated in the transistor; if spin-up, no current.”
“What happens to the current?” Skip asked.
The scientist shrugged. “Whatever you want it for. In this set-up, it’s boosted by a small transformer and sent out through the power cord.”
Salazar glanced at Skip. Both knew what its purpose was: to activate a winch, which pulled a rod connected to the trigger of a .38 revolver.
Skip raised a finger. “Wait a minute. How can a single electron be in two states—spin up and spin down—at the same time?”
Pug knew the answer to that one. He’d just barely learned it. “Superposition,” he answered. “The mixing of waves or particle spins.”
“Quite right, detective!” the physicist said. “Good for you. In the quantum world, the spin-up and spin-down states do both exist at the same time in a single electron.”
“Until it’s actually measured, neither spin state is favored.” Like in the Schroedinger’s Cat thought experiment.”
“Correct again, detective.”
Pug remembered the Ballistics Lab demonstration. That was it! Spin up, click—no bang. Spin down, current—bang!
It was starting to make sense. Sort of. But why such an elaborate gadget just to kill yourself? What was he missing? He thanked the physicist, nodded at Skip, then headed back to his office.
Maybe Pam had turned up something to fill in the blanks.
~ * ~
He was busy at his computer when a voice startled him. He pried his eyeballs off the screen and swiveled around. Pam was standing at his elbow.
“Hi Pug.”
She had her hair down today, falling in soft curls to her shoulders. Her smile was as inviting as a Greek Siren. And just as dangerous!
“What’s up?” he asked.
She sat in the chair next to his desk and crossed her legs. “I’ve got the medical information you asked for.”
He leaned back. “Let’s hear it.”
“I interviewed his physician—Dr. Gupta. He was reluctant at first, but relented when I told him the man was dead and this was a police investigation.”
“Tell me his specialty’s not psychiatry!”
“Family Practice. For about thirty years.”
“What about our case?”
“The Professor was in quite good health but had signs of early Alzheimers.”
“How did he take that?”
“Not well. But then, who would? He said his ability to think clearly had sustained him over the years; that he’d given up marriage, family and most social contacts to pursue his ideas.”
She looked up. “Dr. Gupta copied down what Jackson said next: ‘I’d rather be without my life, than without my mind.’”
“That’s worrisome.”
“Yes, the doctor thought so too. Said he asked about family, clergy, or other community support groups. The professor just shook his head.”
“Was he suicidal?”
“No. Nothing specific. And he didn’t appear clinically depressed. Just sad at the cruel blow fate had dealt him.”
“I can understand that.”
“Dr. Gupta gave him a prescription for Aricept and asked him to return in three months. Jackson just said he’d be fine.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. Except for one unrelated matter. I found a life insurance policy at the Alpine house. Didn’t think much about it at the time, but after the interview with Dr. Gupta, I read it more carefully.”
“And?”
“Only one beneficiary.”
“His daughter?”
“Yes. And one thing more.”
“Yeah?”
“It doesn’t pay out for suicides.”
7
“Hi Pug...Skip...Pam.” Jack Youngblood waved them all into his office. “Have a seat.”
The three investigators trooped into the ME’s office and took the chairs forming a semi-circle in front of the desk. Staring back from the wall behind the desk were glass-framed diplomas, medical licenses, board certifications, residency certificates, and photos of Youngblood with important people in medicine—testimonials to his twenty-five years’ experience in forensic pathology.
Salazar studied Youngblood as he brought them coffee and snacks: tall and lean; a head full of brown hair (with enough gray to look distinguished but not so much to look old); hazel brown eyes that never rested; and more than a few facial wrinkles and creases, badges to the struggle with his personal demons.
Youngblood looked from one face to the other. “I need a final disposition on the Jackson case. The Sheriff’s after me to wrap it up, the daughter wants to bury her father, and a reporter from the Union Tribune has been snooping around. Seems he’s got wind of some...ahh...unusual aspects of this case.”
All heads turned to Salazar.
“So, what was it, Pug? Suicide, homicide or accident?”
Salazar opened a manila file folder in his lap, shuffled some papers, and took a deep breath.
“Skip ruled out homicide,” he began, “from the evidence collected at the scene itself: no fingerprints on the gun except the professor’s, no evidence of a struggle, and no known motive.”
“Okay. Then suicide or accident?”
“I don’t think the man planned to kill himself, though he knew the risks involved in what was essentially an experiment.”
“Experiment? You think it was an experiment?” Youngblood grabbed a pencil off the desk. “He may have used an elaborate gadget to do it, but the man aimed a loaded gun at his head. How could there be any doubt about his purpose? He set up the system himself—very deliberately made all the connections. That wasn’t accidental. And every chamber of the weapon was loaded. No accident there, either.”
“I know it sounds crazy, doc. But I think the professor was playing a game of roulette. Quantum roulette. He thought he had surrounded himself with a perfect quantum system—generated by an electron spin detector and completely isolated from all outside influences. The ‘accident’ part occurred when the lost hiker heard the gunshot and called 911. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Youngblood wasn’t buying it. “I don’t see how discovery by the hiker made any difference. Jackson couldn’t have known he’d be detected when he pushed the button to fire the revolver.”
“Exactly! “He didn’t know the hiker’s intrusion had caused his quantum system to collapse.”
Youngblood sniffed and peered over half-lenses. “Please explain, detective.”
Salazar sighed. “The quantum world is largely unfathomable to the human mind, though mathematics seems able to describe it well enough. At its core is the principle of superposition—”
“I know about that,” Youngblood interrupted. “You’re talking about the bizarre mixture of the many states of a quantum particle—its spin, angular momentum, or energy.”
Pug continued. “The corollary to Superposition is Entanglement. They’re not exactly the same...but yet they are...”
Youngblood stood and started pacing behind his desk. “What’s that?”
Pug hurried on. “Imagine if you could generate a single electron with only one spin state—say, spin-up. Then somewhere across the universe a corresponding electron with spin-down would instantly appear. Even if the two particles were separated by light years of space.”
Youngblood stopped pacing. “Wait a minute. Einstein showed that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. It’s the universe’s absolute speed limit. So, how can the second particle instantly appear light years away?”
“Nobody knows. But numerous experiments from particle accelerators seem to back it up.”
Youngblood rubbed his chin. “Yeah?”
“And an MIT scientist has recently shown if you could somehow sever this entanglement, each particle would revert to its unique, independent characteristics.”
“Like spin direction?”
“Yup. They call it a ‘quantum after-life.’”
Youngblood scratched his head. “But it’s a long way from a quantum particle to a human being.”
“Not as far as you might think, doc.”
“Merely a quantum leap,” Skip Mulcahy said dryly.
Pug groaned then soldiered on. “And there are those three pesky facts in this case that just won’t go away.”
Youngblood leaned back. “Okay, Pug. Put it all together for me. Make your case.”
Salazar took a deep breath and began. “I think our professor was seeking quantum immortality.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not totally sure. And while we may not believe it, I think Professor Jackson did—which is all that matters.”
He searched his colleagues’ faces.
“Go on, Pug,” Youngblood said, his tone softer.
“I have no evidence for this, beyond what we discovered during our investigation. But it appears the Professor subscribed to the ‘Many-Worlds’ theory of quantum physics.”
“‘Many-Worlds?’” Pam asked. “Is that like parallel universes?”
“I don’t think so. The theory, proposed in the 1950s, is a further extension of the principle of superposition. It postulates that every outcome of a quantum event exists in its own world. This results in an infinite number of parallel universes.”
“Again, I ask,” Youngblood said, “what has this got to do with real people?”
“Superposition and entanglement should apply to us as well. As long as we are part of a quantum system.”
“Do you believe that, Pug?”
“Doesn’t matter what I believe. Professor Jackson believed it. And he went to great effort to create such a quantum system—that little black box with its electron spin detector—and isolate it from the rest of our world. He believed he was in an intimate quantum relationship with that electron every time he pushed the button.”
Skip smiled. “I know some women I’d like to have that kind of relationship with.”
Youngblood ignored him. “But he must have known the risks of such an experiment.”
“He had Alzheimer’s disease, and he knew the risks of that,” Pam broke in. “He couldn’t bear the thought of losing his mental faculties and becoming a burden on others when he’d lived his entire life independently.”
Salazar nodded. “I also think he wanted to take one last swing at this idea, put it to a live test, not just leave it as a thought experiment.”
“To go where no man has gone before, huh?” Youngblood said. “My apologies to Captain Kirk.”
“Well, if he was right, the moment he pushed that button, he would be in both alive and dead worlds simultaneously—like Schroedinger’s cat. If the gun did fire, he’d be without awareness of himself...at least in that world. But if he remained aware of his existence, he had to be alive. When he pushed the button again, the same thing would happen. And again. Every time he pushed the button. Since only someone aware of his existence could continue to push the button, he would have achieved immortality. Quantum immortality.”
“Fascinating.” Youngblood picked up a pencil. “But what about the fully loaded gun?”
“I think he fully loaded the gun because he wanted to leave nothing to chance except the spin of the electron.”
The room was silent for a long time.
“The broken clock was perhaps a signal...”
“A signal? To whom?”
“To us. A clue to what he was trying to achieve. And maybe, in some way, a proof that the ‘Many-Worlds’ idea was valid. He broke the clock just before he pushed the button to document when he’d actually begun the experiment.”
A full week before his death?” Pam looked shocked.
“I think he’d been pushing that button continuously all week—and his body’s dehydration and malnutrition are further proof of that.”
“I’ve heard enough,” Youngblood said abruptly, sitting upright. “It’s time to wrap this up. The bottom line is that the man did kill himself.”
“Only in this world. And only because that lost hiker came along and severed the entanglement.”
“Maybe so, Pug, but it’s the only world we have. I’m willing to accept that it was a failed experiment, that the professor didn’t deliberately take his own life. I’m ruling it an accidental death.”
Salazar nodded. Youngblood was the ME. But he couldn’t shake a final thought: had the professor truly—irrevocably—died. Or was he still out there, in some other form, in some other universe?
8
The case was closed.
Pug kept repeating the words to himself, each time more forcefully.
The damned case was closed!
Two weeks had passed already. The daughter had buried her father, Dr. Youngblood had made his decision, and Pug had filed his own report. It was time to move on. Time to let it go.
But IT wouldn’t let HIM go. Like the ghost of Hamlet’s father, it nagged at him without mercy.
He glanced up from his desk. Busy squad bay. Everyone with new cases, new challenges. They weren’t obsessed. Not like he was.
The case was abso-frigging-lutely closed!
He clicked his pen in rat-a-tat succession, then flung it down. It might cost him his job, his career, his pension. But he would damn well do it anyway!
The case may be officially closed. But it wasn’t over yet. Not for him.
He lunged out of his chair and made for the parking lot.
~ * ~
It took him forty minutes to get to Alpine, another fifteen to reach the old crime scene. It was well past dark when he finally got there.
He crept up to the house and illuminated the inside with a flashlight through a window. Empty. No furniture; no objects d’art; no dishes in the sink. It was as empty and dark as a black hole.
He hauled his equipment from the SUV, easily defeated the front door lock, then lugged the gear inside: a folding card-table and director’s chair, and a battery-powered lamp—all items from his own patio. With exquisite care, he re-created exactly the scene he’d observed in the house almost three weeks earlier. (He’d ‘borrowed’ the garage door opener, black box, and winch from the Sheriff’s evidence room. “Additional forensic tests,” he explained to the deputy working there, who really didn’t give a damn as long as he had a signature on the log.)
He plugged the black box into the same wall outlet and connected it to the winch and metal triggering rod. He mounted his own .38 caliber revolver on the card table and aimed it forehead high at the empty folding chair. This time the gun was loaded with blank rounds instead of live cartridges. Finally, when the black box was warm to the touch, he was ready.
He switched off the lamp, listened and watched again.
No sound. No light. Nothing penetrated his little quantum world.
He knelt next to the chair and pushed the button.
Nothing happened.
No bang!
Even with blanks, the gun should have discharged if the electron was spin-down.
Not even a click.
Should have at least been a click if the electron was spin-up.
There was neither.
Salazar re-checked the components and all the connections. Everything looked the same as when he first saw them; the same as the set-up in the Ballistics Lab.
He pushed the button again.
Nothing.
He straightened up, hands on his hips. “What the hell!”
The cell phone’s chirp startled him: an incoming text message.
“Damn! Forgot to turn it off.” He thumbed the ‘Open’ button.
“Hello,” the message read.
“Who is this?” he sent back.
A grainy image slowly accumulated on the screen. Salazar drew a sharp breath as he recognized the blurry but unmistakable visage of Professor Jackson staring back at him.
“I was once Robert Walker Jackson,” the caption read.
Eyebrows crawling like caterpillars up his forehead, Pug texted back, “Is that you, Skip? Is this your idea of a joke?”
“I was Robert Walker Jackson,” the message repeated.
“C’mon! Who is this?”
Silence.
“Professor Jackson is dead. How can you be him?” Pug demanded.
“All that he once was, I am now.”
Best to humor the prankster. “WHERE, exactly, are you, Professor?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you still alive?”
“I am aware of my thoughts.”
“Why are you here?”
“Why are you here? This was my house.”
Try another approach. “Why didn’t the gun fire? Or at least click?”
“Because there was no quantum event generated by the transistor?”
“Why not?”
“Because that action remains with me. Not with you. And not with the black box.”
With shaky hands, Pug typed back, “Is there anything else?”
“Yes, there is a message.”
“From whom?”
“I can’t answer that.”
Pug hesitated. Did he really want to read this? Gooseflesh crept down his arms. “What is the message?”
“The experiment was a success. Tell everyone that Professor Jackson was right.”
The cell phone went suddenly dark. The connection had been severed from the other end.
Pug stood motionless in the dark for many beats of his rapidly thumping heart, then finally walked to the wall and slid down it.
A wave of relief washed over him.
It was finally over.
Now, the case—his case—was finally closed.
Praise for
Highland Press Books!
Updated! Through its collection of descriptive phrases, The Millennium Phrase Book by Rebecca Andrews offers writers concrete examples of rich and evocative descriptions. Browsing through its pages offers a jumpstart to the imagination, helping authors deepen the intensity of scenes and enhance their own writing.
~ Tami Cowden, Author
~ * ~
The Man of Her Dreams by Leanne Burroughs is a delightful dip in the waters that bear ancient Viking ships from blood-soaked beaches to life-changing love. From modern day Florida to the days of the formidable Norse conquerors, Burroughs introduces us to Agnar and Miranda—two of the most unlikeliest lovers in any century. Miranda is tossed into a time and world far from her own, tethered to reality by a handsome Viking. Agnar catches a beautiful woman in the act of harming his ship—would she do any less to his life or his heart? Their love might have been kindled by the prayers of many, but it ignites through to-the-death battles, a desperate search for lost little ones, and the binding together of two broken people God chooses to bless despite their pasts. The Man of Her Dreams will have you looking for an ‘unnasta’ of your own.
~ Aysel Arwen, author
~ * ~
My Dream Came True – I have enjoyed all of Leanne Burroughs’ romance books. The newest, My Dream Came True, is certainly one of her best. Could not put it down. Anyone that is familiar with Viking lore will love it. There is also a Christian version (The Man of Her Dreams). I cannot wait for the next ones about Agnar’s brothers and sisters.
~ Jessie Lee Lindsey, Amazon
~ * ~
Highland Wishes by Leanne Burroughs. The storyline, set in a time when tension was high between England and Scotland, is a fast-paced tale. This reviewer was easily captivated by the story and was enthralled by it until the end. The reader will laugh and cry, feel all the pain, torment and disillusionment felt by both main characters, but also the joy and love they felt. Ms. Burroughs has crafted a well-researched story that gives a glimpse into Scotland during a time when there was upheaval and war for independence. This reviewer commends her for a wonderful job done.
~ Dawn Roberto, Love Romances
(Also available – the Christian version – Highland Miracle)
~ * ~
Her Highland Rogue – Laughter, tears and love shine through this wonderful novel. This reviewer was amazed at Leanne Burroughs' depth and perception in this storyline. Her wonderful way with words plays itself through each page like a lyrical note and will captivate the reader till the very end. Read Her Highland Rogue and be transported to a time full of mystery and promise of a future. This reviewer is highly recommending this book for those who enjoy an engrossing Scottish tale full of humor, love and laughter.
~ Dawn Roberto, Love Romances
(Also – the Christian version – Her Highland Destiny)
~ * ~
Highland Miracle by Leanne Burroughs - Wonderfully written, with vibrant characters, this story is a masterpiece of historical fiction. Readers will be impressed with the amount of research the author has done. She has creatively mixed actual people with fictitious ones, thereby allowing the reader to enter into this momentous period of history. The anguish and adventure of this war becomes very real, as it provides the reasoning behind the characters' words and actions.
~ Joyce Handzo, In the Library Reviews
~ * ~
Her Highland Destiny – Another must read! Another great book by Leanne Burroughs. I loved that even though the novel was based on different main characters she still included the main characters from Highland Miracle. Once again the characters and setting are brought to life!! Leanne is a truly gifted author.
~ Kim Teele, Amazon
~ * ~
Always…Only You - Leanne Burroughs has done it again. Each of her stories is beautiful...breathtaking. You feel like you're right in her stories. Taking part in each one. I highly recommend this book of romance novellas for your keeper shelf.
~ Tina Roughton, Amazon
~ * ~
On A Cold Winter’s Night - The stories were good and heartwarming. I like the Novella type stories and mostly historical. This had a combination of all.
~ Sandy, Amazon
~ * ~
Within every heart lies a flame of hope, a dream of true love, a glimmering thought that the goodness of life is far, far larger than the challenges and adversities arriving in every life. Flames of Gold deserves to be enjoyed in any season, guaranteeing that real holiday spirit endures within the gifts of faith, hope and love personified in these engaging, spirited stories!
~ Viviane Crystal, Crystal Reviews
~ * ~
Christmas is a magical time and these talented authors answer the question of what happens when Christmas Wishes come true in this incredible anthology. What a joy to read such splendid stories!
~ Debbie, CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
~ * ~
Comfort and Joy – Don’t have time to read? With this you do. What a delightful read. I didn’t want to put the book own. Consisting of short novellas, it gives you the chance to stop and get on with whatever you have to do to prepare for the holiday season. Great read. Thanks, ladies.
~ Tina, Amazon
~ * ~
Hot Cocoa for the Heart – Everything you want in a Christmas anthology. All 5 stories – 5 star enjoyable. Each is a genuine little novel, featuring a happy ending, a dash of inspiration, and a well written story. All are heartwarming inspirational love stories with happy endings. All make great Christmas reads.
~ Vince, Amazon
~ * ~
I don't think the reader will find a better compilation of mouth-watering short romantic love stories than in Recipe for Love! This is a highly recommended volume—perfect for beaches, doctor's offices, or anywhere you've a few minutes to read.
~ Marilyn Rondeau, Reviewers International Organization
~ * ~
Holiday in the Heart (Anthology) - Stories that would put even Scrooge into the Christmas spirit. It doesn’t matter what type of romance genre you prefer. This book has a little bit of everything. I strongly suggest you put on something comfortable, brew up something hot (tea, coffee or cocoa will do), light up a fire, settle down somewhere quiet and begin reading this anthology.
~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
~ * ~
Legend says that if you wish with all your heart upon the rare blue moon, your wishes were sure to come true. Blue Moon Magic is a perfect read for late at night or during your commute to work. It offers narratives to tempt your heart. If you do not have the time to finish a full-length novel, and hate stopping in the middle of a loving tale, I highly recommend grabbing this book.
~ Kim Swiderski, Writers Unlimited Reviewer
~ * ~
Legend has it that a blue moon is enchanted. What happens when talented authors utilize this theme to create enthralling stories of love? Readers will find a wide variety of time periods and styles showcased in this superb anthology. Blue Moon Enchantment is sure to offer a little bit of something for everyone!
~ Debbie, CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
~ * ~
Love Under the Mistletoe is a fun anthology that infuses the beauty of the season with fun characters and unforgettable situations. This is one of those books you can read year round and still derive great pleasure from each of the charming stories. A wonderful compilation of holiday stories.
~ Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies
~ * ~
No Law Against Love (Anthology) - If you have ever found yourself rolling your eyes at some of the more stupid laws, then you are going to adore this novel. A stellar anthology that had me laughing, sighing in pleasure, believing in magic, and left me begging for more! This is one novel that will go directly to my ‘Keeper’ shelf, to be read over and over again. Very highly recommended!
~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
~ * ~
Seasons of Love – Great Regency collection. I loved this collection of short stories so much. Each brought something different that made for a very enjoyable read. All of these stories are also clean romances so if hot and heavy isn’t your thing, this is the perfect collection for you.
~ E. Wright, Amazon
~ * ~
The Necklace by Amy Corwin - I don't read historicals that often but am glad I picked this one up. Be ready for a lot of dry wit and humor. Ms. Corwin gives you a generous dose. This is an interesting mix of history, romance and mystery in which the hero finds himself knee-deep in trouble and a growing affection for a woman who thinks she has given up on men.
~Bobbye R. Terry, Amazon
~ * ~
Sometimes I'm just in the mood for a fun, lighthearted read. Casual Curses & Meticulous Magic by Lee Roland fit the bill perfectly. This is one of those books that will make you smile, laugh, and just make your day a touch lighter.
The secret world of magic and witches was intriguing, though with someone like Mel, I wonder how they managed to keep it a secret. I loved the large cast of secondary characters, from ghosts to a poetic demon to a man-hungry plant. These characters made the book so much fun and quite interesting as well.
~ Cymberle, Amazon
~ * ~
To Woo A Lady – Erin E.M. Hatton has written a series of short stories covering Regency England and the historical standards and expectations that existed then. I especially liked how she made her characters vulnerable, yet strong. There are no wilting wallflowers here. The men are strong, stubborn and even a bit understanding about the women’s expectations and the realities of the times and world they live in. The author's storylines are believable, enjoyable to read, and take you to a world of time past, with all its warts and pimples as well as beautiful homes and good times at public functions. It's not all peaches and cream, but it's real.
~Aloe, Long and Short Reviews
~ * ~
The List by Velvet Vaughn - This was the perfect mix. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. A great romantic mystery I was surprised with the ending. So many different levels of mystery.
~ Indiana GMA, Amazon
~ * ~
Cat O’ Nine Tales by Deborah MacGillivray. Enchanting tales from the most wicked, award-winning author today. Spellbinding! A treat for all.
~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
~ * ~
In Sunshine or In Shadow (First book in the Claddagh series) - If you adore the stormy heroes of ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Jane Eyre’ (and who doesn't?) you'll be entranced by Owens' passionate story of Ireland after the Great Famine, and David Burke - a man from America with a hidden past and a secret name. Only one woman, the fiery, luscious Siobhan, can unlock the bonds that imprison him. Highly recommended for those who love classic romance and an action-packed story.
~ Best Selling Author, Maggie Davis, AKA Katherine Deauxville
~ * ~
Coming Home - A heartwarming visit to a nineteenth century Irish village filled with memorable characters, post-famine intrigue, and bittersweet romance. (Second book in The
Claddagh series)
~ Pat McDermott, author
~ * ~
A real page turner! I just finished reading Playing for Keeps and I have to tell you that I think this just may be Cynthia Owens’ best book to date. I am a big fan of her Claddagh series books. I especially felt connected to this book. It was a great romance, a lively story and very well-written. (Third book in The Claddagh series)
~ Liz, Amazon
~ * ~
Cynthia Owens is an excellent storyteller and Deceptive Hearts has everything a read needs. This author wrote a touching story with loving characters with high emotions! I loved her two main characters Shane MacDermott and Lydia Daniels. Shane was one of those Wild Geese, Irish young men, forced to leave Ireland for America; he was also a hero of the Irish Brigade. This historical Irish story was very well written, filled with suspense, tenderness, intrigue and love! She is a high quality writer and one of my favorite authors for Irish romances! I could not put it down. Ms. Owens's books never disappoint me! (First book in the Wild Geese series)
~ Mirabelle, Amazon
~*~
Keeper of the Light – Cynthia Owens has done it again. I got captivated by her Irish historical romance. She has me hooked to her series. I loved her two main characters Cathal Donnelly, an Irish rebel and Laura Bainbridge, a British young lady. You will need to read their beautiful story to get all the details. Ms. Owens is an author that pulls me into her story and I can't put it down. It's fast-paced, very well written and a breathtaking Irish romance! Let yourself be carried away by Owens’ strong characters and fascinating story filled with tenderness and passion. (Second book in The Wild Geese series.)
~ Nicole Laverdure, Amazon
~*~
Rape of the Soul - Dawn Thompson's characters are unforgettable. Deep, promising and suspenseful. Around every corner was something you didn't know was going to happen. If you love a sense of history in a book, then I suggest reading this book!
~ Paranormal Romance Reviews
~ * ~
A Season for Romance – a collection of stories written by the very talented, Amy Blizzard - is truly the perfect mix of sentiment and heartfelt joy of what Christmastime brings. I very much enjoyed each individual story and the characters each one introduced me to. I feel anyone who reads this collection can relate to at least one character as they all come from different backgrounds and walks of life, and each one can also remind you of someone you may know in your life that you think of around the holidays.
~ Kat220, Amazon
~ * ~
All Wrapped Up – I bought this book last week to read a few Christmas stories. I’ll probably pull it out once more to read before the season ends.
~ Victoria Pinder, Amazon
~ * ~
Twist of Time – These are all fun stories. I loved all of them and if you enjoy time travel, you will love them, too. Well done and almost believable. I highly recommend these.
~ Jo, Amazon
~ * ~
Timing Is Everything by Annette Olson - A fun Western Romance with a nice dose of suspense. Highly readable, and highly recommended.
~ Michael Angel, Author
~ * ~
Christmas Kisses - Exactly the kind of book I like to read. Full of feel-good Christmas cheer!
~ Reads A Lot, Amazon
~ * ~
On The Wild Side - Gerri Bowen is a master at writing Regency romances that really entertain. No boring drawing room drama here. On The Wild Side is a series of six short stories telling of the romantic struggles of men and women who have something special in their blood. Each one has a special gift. And sometimes those gifts get in the way of their finding true love. I found the premise fresh and the paranormal elements (wood nymphs and such) different in this book than any other I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
~ Teresa J. Reasor
~ * ~
Audrey’s Love by Gerri Bowen - This was a very entertaining read. It made me laugh and cry and kept me on the edge of my seat. The author gave this story an interesting twist in how it played out...you will see what i mean. I recommend this book for any time travel romance fans out there. Enjoy.
~ Amazon.com
~ * ~
For Love of Gwynneth by Gerri Bowen - The author has a gentle winning style and feel for the period that kept me turning pages on this lazy weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed her story. This is my first Bowen book, but it won't be my last. A delightful tale that goes on my keeper shelf.
~ Diane M. Thompson, Amazon
~ * ~
Court of Love by Cynthia Breeding - This delicious anthology of convention-bucking heroines in three separate time periods will delight anyone who likes Jane Austen, but wishes to peek under Mr. Darcy’s clothes. Although the historical accuracy of this collection is a bit suspect and the plotlines are wrapped up with slightly alarming speed, each story features a woman with a unique personality and an independent soul, not to mention some very sexy men in breeches. Perfect bedtime reading for lovers of spicy historical romance.
~ Jaysen Scott, Romantic Times
~ * ~
In Fate of Camelot, Cynthia Breeding develops the Arthur-Lancelot-Gwenhwyfar relationship. She does not gloss over the difficulties of Gwenhwyfar's role as queen and as woman, but rather develops them to give the reader a vision of a woman who lives her role as queen and lover with all that she is.
~ Merri, Merrimon Books
~ * ~
Cynthia Breeding's Prelude to Camelot is a lovely and fascinating read, a book worthy of being shelved with my Arthuriana fiction and non-fiction. (Second book in Breeding’s Camelot series.)
~ Brenda Thatcher, Mystique Books
~ * ~
Camelot’s Enchantment by Cynthia Breeding is a highly original and captivating tale! (Third book in Breeding’s Camelot series.)
~ Joy Nash, USA Today Best Seller
~ * ~
From betrayal, to broken hearts, to finding love again, Second Time Around has a story for just about anyone. These fine ladies created stories that will always stay fresh in my heart; ones I will treasure forever.
~ Cherokee, Coffee Time Romance & More
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All I Want for Christmas Is You (Anthology) - A warm cup of romance is just the thing for a chill winter evening... This is a compulsively readable anthology of short romance. Highly recommended.
~Michael Angel, Author
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I loved it! Curl up with three dashing, sexy pirates and three daring women in three delightful romances. The Last Pirates makes for great reading. You'll be wanting more from Cynthia Breeding—I know I will!
~ Sandra Madden, Best Selling Author
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If you want original medieval romance, captivating heroines, sexy heroes, stories of adventure, fantasy, and poignant love, Cynthia Breeding's Lochs and Lasses has it all!
~ Ann Major, USA Today Bestselling Author
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Portal of Dragons by Cynthia Breeding – Five stars. Good, good.
~ Robin Barksdale, Amazon
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Charades by Polly McCrillis – Great love story! I couldn't put this book down! Loved it! Romance and mystery. Action and passion. This book takes you through all of them. Reese and Ethan are an unlikely pair and would never have crossed paths were it not for his missing sister and nephew. He grew up with wealth, she in foster homes. Their growing feelings for each other intensify throughout this descriptive story.
~ Jackie Loehr, Amazon
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Hopscotch – A real page turner! Couldn’t put it down. Had to find out what happened next. Would they catch the serial killer before he strikes again? As always, Polly McCrillis does not let us down. Her talented, descriptive writing makes the reader feel like he or she is right there in the story witnessing what is happening. Can’t wait to read more from this officer.
~ Kindle Customer, Amazon
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Love is in the air. Love and Silver Bells is a combination of four stories that touch the heart of any reader. Each story has its own tale and captivates the heart with humor, heartbreak, and the undeniable joy of love. Each story, diverse in colloquial dialogue and narration, brings life to the mind and spirit of any and everyone. You can’t make one story your favorite—it would be impossible. This book left me wanting to fall in love again and again. I have never enjoyed short stories that were endlessly available. The creativity of each author kept me wanting more. I especially enjoyed the moments where I could visualize every scene, every expression, and every heartfelt emotion. Thank you for such a wonderful read.
~ Wanda N. Stanley, Author
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Detours – A reader’s feast! If you like a variety of unique plots, settings, and characters, you will love this anthology of short stories. Polly McCrillis is an excellent wordsmith, making it possible for the reader to experience the story almost as well as if he or she were in the story with the characters.
~ Kindle Customer, Amazon
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Almost Taken by Isabel Mere takes the reader on an exciting adventure. Ava Fychon, who is highly spirited and stubborn, will win the respect of the readers for her courage and determination. Deran Morissey, the Earl of Atherton, who is rumored in the beginning to be an ice king, not caring about anyone, will prove how wrong people’s perceptions can be. Almost Taken is an emotionally moving historical romance that I highly recommend.
~ Anita, The Romance Studio
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Isabel Mere’s skill with words and the turn of a phrase makes Almost Guilty a joy to read. Her characters reach out and pull the reader into the trials, tribulations, simple pleasures, and sensual joy that they enjoy. Ms. Mere unravels the tangled web of murder, smuggling, kidnapping, hatred and faithless friends, while weaving a web of caring, sensual love that leaves a special joy and hope in the reader’s heart.
~ Camellia, Long and Short Reviews
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Almost Forsaken - Saved of sure death by another servant of the royal family, Mei resents being a servant in the royal household and dreams of escaping. Her savior, Hayden, has been a servant for years and also yearns for freedom. She is a spitfire and he's falling in love with her. Will they survive to escape? A villain, a hero and plenty of action. I loved this book and the way Isabel Mere wove the threads together to create a page turning story that I couldn't put down! Thanks for another good read Isabel Mere!
~ Jackie Loehr, Amazon
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Almost Silenced by Isabel Mere - Interesting romance. Both main characters are of European heritage, not usual leads for an historical romance set in England. Adding to this mix a deaf child gives a depth not always present in romances. An enjoyable read that I gladly recommend to others.
~ Le-Anne Shirley, Western Australia
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Almost Denied by Isabel Mere was such a breath of fresh air! Historical accuracy, romance, music, and suspense. It is all there. I cheered the hero, hated the villain, held my breath in suspenseful scenes. Once you begin the book, you can’t put it down. Ms. Mere’s detail to historical accuracy leads the reader to a time long past with incredible results. Now that I have the entire set, I will be revisiting each book in her ‘Almost’ series one by delicious one and enjoying every delectable moment.
~ Lana M., Amazon
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Almost Perfect by Isabel Mere – The level of historical accuracy leads the reader to a time long past that you know is accurate. Her style of writing captivates your attention, and it is very hard to put down her books. There are many secondary characters that I hope she writes their story. Talk about an amazing author. I highly recommend her books to everyone!
~ Grandma of Awesomeness, Amazon
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Madrigal: A Novel of Gaston LeRoux’s The Phantom of the Opera - Ms. Linforth has written a love story sure to please Phantom fans old and new alike.
~ Amanda Ashley, NYT Best-selling author
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Abendlied: A Novel of Gaston LeRoux’s The Phantom of the Opera – Madrigal continues. Jennifer Linforth has written another noteworthy tale about the Phantom. I enjoyed how the author takes the reader back to Erik’s life below the opera house to unfold a new tale with the Phantom’s friendship with Comte Philippe de Chagny.
~Karen Michelle Nutt, PRN Reviews
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Rondeau: A Novel of Gaston LeRoux’s The Phantom of the Opera - Rondeau is the stunning end to a wonderfully penned trilogy by Jennifer Linforth. Each book had me remembering why I empathized with and loved Erik so much over the years, despised Christine for not being able to see behind the Phantom's mask to Erik, and hated Raoul for destroying Erik's chances for happiness. Ms. Linforth has done a superb job of staying true to Leroux's original madman of a Phantom while showing the heartbroken man who lay behind the mask.
~Night Owl Romance
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Luck of the Draw by Teryl Oswald – Full of twists. This is an enjoyable read. It takes some time and attention because of its array of characters and the surprising depth even among some secondary characters. Friendship, compassion, and grief all play an important role. She’s a dedicated daughter and exasperated (or angry) wife. One unlikely event promises to change Amanda Cash’s world. Who she is has as much to do with the outcome as anything. This is a well-devised plot, with exceptional characters and unforgettable twists.
~ Long and Short Reviews
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A Cry From the Cold – Page turning excitement! Ann Merritt has managed to create a beautiful love story that is full of twists and turns that made it hard for this reader to put it down. The unlikely pairing of the Alaskan recluse and the police officer he rescues from a fatal bush pilot’s crash in the middle of the Alaskan winter, sets up what turns out to be one of the most romantic couplings in my memory. Ann writes with a powerful narrative that will translate beautifully into a deeply human love story.
~ Bart Patton, Amazon
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Winds of Fire by Ann Merritt – The setting and characters were spot on and the storyline was engaging. The author did a good job depicting the work of the clandestine services while weaving a believable suspense/romance plot around a lush setting. It was a flowing, pleasurable read in a genre where many books sound forced.
~ Jo Lamas, Amazon
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He Planted A Garden by Gloria Tarver – This is a really good book. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone.
~ Bobbie Crutchfield, Amazon
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Cave of Terror by Amber Dawn Bell - Highly entertaining and fun, Cave of Terror was impossible to put down. Delightfully funny with a true sense of teenagers, Cheyenne is believable and her emotional struggles are on par with most teens. The author gave just enough background to understand the workings of her vampires. Ms. Bell has done an admirable job of telling a story suitable for young adults.
~ Dawnie, Fallen Angel Reviews
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Love and Noël by Amber Dawn Bell – I love it! I cried, laughed, and enjoyed every minute. Reading it again for the third time, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
~ Amber Seelkie, Amazon
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Heart’s Affections by Molly Zenk – This isn’t a romance in the typical genre fiction sense, but instead it is the true romance of John Keats and Fanny Brawne. Rarely have I ever been brought to tears by a novel as I was after reading this story. Ms. Zenk has produced a shining gem to be proud of for years and years to come. This is one of the most heart-touching stories I’ve read in a very long time.
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Chasing Byron by Molly Zenk is a page turner of a Regency book not only because of the engaging characters, but also by the lovely prose. Reading this book was a jolly fun time all through the eyes of Miss Woodhouse, yet also one that touches the heart.
~Orange Blossom, Long and Short Reviews
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Like the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Dark Well of Decision is a grand adventure with a likable girl who is a little like all of us. Zoe’s insecurities are realistically drawn and her struggle with both her faith and the new direction her life will take is poignant. The references to the Bible and the teachings presented are appropriately captured. Author Anne Kimberly is an author to watch; her gift for penning a grand childhood adventure is a great one. This Young Adult is well worth the time and money spent.
~Lettetia, Coffee Time Romance
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Into the Woods by R.R. Smythe - This Young Adult Fantasy will send chills down your spine. I, as the reader, followed Callum and witnessed everything he and his friends went through as they attempted to decipher the messages. Each time Callum deciphered one of the four messages, some villagers awakened. Through the eyes of Ellsbeth, I saw the other sleepers wander, make mistakes, and be released from the Netherwood, leaving Ellsbeth alone. Excellent reading for any age of fantasy fans!
~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
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Brynn Chapman will captivate the reader with intricate details, a mystery that ensnares the reader and characters that will touch their hearts. By the end of the first chapter, this reviewer was enthralled with Bride of Blackbeard. It’s a compelling tale of sorrow, pain, love, and hate. Each of the people Costanza encounters on her journey has an experience to share, drawing in the reader more. Ms. Chapman sketches a story that tugs at the heartstrings. I believe many will be touched in some way by this extraordinary book that leaves much thought.
~ Cherokee, Coffee Time Romance
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Ladybugs and Fireflies by Cheryl Alldredge - Simply put, this is a very entertaining story. The backdrop is great—a real southern small-town flavor. There's a few fun unexpected twists, quips and fun, but readers will want to read this for the wonderful characters and the depth of feelings you'll share as you go.
~ Snapdragon, Long and Short Reviews
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Sweet Salvation by Lis’Anne Harris is a fabulous Georgian romance that will leave readers begging for more.
~ Virginia Henley, NYT Best-Selling Authors
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Sweet Liberation Adventure, a determined heroine and a handsome hero, what more can you ask for? A recommended read! Lis'Anne Harris is added to my list of favorite Historical romance writers!
~ Wend Petzler, Amazon
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Saving Tampa - What if you knew something horrible was going to happen but you could prevent it? Would you tell someone? What if you saw it in a vision and had no proof? Would you risk your credibility to come forward? These are the questions at the heart of Saving Tampa, an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller from Jo Webnar.
~ Mairead Walpole, Reviews by Crystal
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Hidden Death - If you're looking for a good mystery with a twist of romance, this book just might be what you're wanting. With some books, it's easy to figure out who did it. Not this book! Jo Webnar kept me on the edge of my seat, not sure who was the bad guy and needing to find out. Loved it.
~ Long and Short Reviews
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I adore this Scottish historical romance! Blood on the Tartan by Chris Holmes has more history than some historical romances—but never dry history! Readers will find themselves completely immersed in the scene, the history and the characters. This intricate historical detail emanates from the story itself, heightening the suspense and the reader's understanding of the history in a vivid manner as if it were current and present. Blood On The Tartan is a must read for romance and historical fiction lovers of Scottish heritage.
~Merri, Merrimon Reviews
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The Mosquito Tapes - Nobody tells a bio-terror story better than Chris Holmes. And like all of Chris Holmes’ books, this one begins well—when San Diego County Chief Medical Examiner Jack Youngblood discovers a strange mosquito in the pocket of a murder victim. Taut, tingly, and downright scary, The Mosquito Tapes will keep you reading well into the night.
~ Ben F. Small, Author
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The Garden of Evil - Chris Holmes’s novel is a modern day cat and mouse, no...cobra and mongoose investigation, with the stakes more personal and deadly as the adversaries find themselves continually within striking distance. The weapon – food – is one of man’s most basic needs.
~ John Sylvester, FBI Agent (Ret.)
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The Medusa Strain by Chris Holmes - Race with government and civilian virus chasers as they trace how the plague disease travels from Iraq throughout the United States. This thriller incorporates the very best of military, government and civilian disease centers, and political knowledge. The author takes the time to leave your teeth on edge in parting with his knowledgeable reassurances in the epilogue that this bio-weapon technology is with us today. The Medusa Strain really could happen!
~The Heartland Review
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Spores, Plagues and History – The Story of Anthrax – With this (non-fiction) book, Dr. Chris Holmes traces the known history of anthrax, from Moses to Saddam Hussein. He shows us how it has caused problems for millennia and tracks its beginnings as a weapon. He caps the past with frightening accounts of the very recent uses of anthrax, even leaving us with several unknowns about where we will go next, and if we can or will be able to handle the next outbreak.
~ Journal of Emergency Medicine
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Ah, the memories that Operation: L.O.V.E. brings to mind. As an Air Force nurse who married an Air Force fighter pilot, I relived the days of glory through each and every story. While covering all the military branches, each story holds a special spark of its own that readers will love!
~ Lori Avocato, Best Selling Author
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An anthology by amazing women with character and grace—incredible writers, wonderful stories about our US Military! For Your Heart Only is not to be missed!
~ Heather Graham, NYT Best Seller
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Holiday Op – Get ready for special operations men the way you’ve never seen them before. For holiday adventures you’ll never forget, be sure to treat yourself to this wonderful collection by Avocato, Nina, Elizabeth, DeVane, and DeAngelo.
~ Christina Skye, Author
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When the Vow Breaks by Judith Leigh - This book is about a woman who fights breast cancer. The storyline dealt with the commitment between a man and a woman, with a true belief of God. The intrigue was that of finding a rock to lean upon through faith in God. Not only did she learn to lean on her relationship with Him, but she also learned how to forgive her husband. This is a great look at not only a breast cancer survivor, but also a couple whose commitment to each other through their faith grew stronger. It is an easy read and one I highly recommend.
~ Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio
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A Father’s Hope by Judith Leigh – Sweet. A nice tale with surprises. I really enjoyed the setting and the interaction. And of course I’m a wounded hero romance.
~ Amazon Customer
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The Heart of Christmas is an anthology of four stories beautifully built upon foundations of hope, prayer and faith. In Cheryl Norman's, "The Christmas Prayer", a widower and his daughter are given the unexpected gift of Noelle Barker. If only she believed in herself enough to think she would make a fine mother. "Away In the Manger' by Susan Sweet, is a heart wrenching and heartwarming tale of two families, one with an ill child and a father who struggles with his faith. In Judith Leigh’s, “Yuletide Miracle,” a grandfather's search for the granddaughter he's never known leads him to discovering love, faith and unending kindness in the small town of Mistletoe, Tennessee. “The Christmas Conflict” by Patty Howell, unveils a woman whose trust in God is tenuous and a man whose hardships and losses have only served to strengthen his faith in his creator. “The Heart of Christmas” offers stories that emphasize the core significance of the Christmas season.
~ Polly M, Amazon
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Christmas Blessings - I had the privilege of meeting many of these wonderful characters in last year's anthology which made reading Christmas Blessings all the more poignant. Knowing that Christmas is about love, forgiveness and new beginnings, these stories are right on the money with modern day vignettes of characters we can all relate to, even if you may not be a traditional romance reader! This book is a fun, fast read and a marvelous gift for those readers on your list! Bravo to Highland Press for putting together another awesome collection.
~ Nancy Quatrano, Amazon
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Romance on Route 66 by Judith Leigh and Cheryl Norman - Norman and Leigh break the romance speed limit on America's historic roadway.
~ Anne Krist, Ecataromance, Reviewers’ Choice Award Winner
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Static Resistance and Rose - An enticing, fresh voice. Lee Roland knows how to capture your heart.
~ Kelley St. John, National Readers Choice Award Winner
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Eyes of Love by Katherine Deauxville - A Romantic Times Best Historical Fantasy - I read this book when it came out, then lost my copy. So delighted to find this again. It's funny, it's romantic, it's a really great read!
~ Victoria Devlin, Amazon
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The Crystal Heart by Katherine Deauxville brims with ribald humor and authentic historical detail. Enjoy!
~ Virginia Henley, NY Times bestselling author
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Southern Fried Trouble - Katherine Deauxville is at the top of her form with mayhem, sizzle and murder.
~ Nan Ryan, NY Times Best-Selling Author
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Beats A Wild Heart - In the ancient, Celtic land of Cornwall, Emma Hayward searched for a myth and found truth. The legend of the black cat of Bodmin Moor is a well-known Cornish legend. Jean Adams has merged the essence of myth and romance into a fascinating story which catches the imagination. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded at a smooth and steady pace with Emma and Seth appearing as real people who feel an instant attraction for one another. At first the story appears to be straightforward, but as it evolves mystery, love and intrigue intervene to make a vibrant story with hidden depths. Once you start reading you won't be able to put this book down.
~ Orchid, Long and Short Reviews
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A Heated Romance by Candace Gold - A fascinating romantic suspense tells the story of Marcie O'Dwyer, a female firefighter who has had to struggle to prove herself. While the first part of the book seems to focus on the romance and Marcie's daily life, the second part transitions into a suspense novel as Marcie witnesses something suspicious at one of the fires. Her life is endangered by what she possibly knows and I found myself anticipating the outcome almost as much as Marcie.
~ Lilac, Long and Short Reviews
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A Twist of Fate by Candace Gold - The story had quite an unexpected turn of events one that no one would suspect. The author did a terrific job in keeping the reader in suspense from beginning to end.
~ Susan, Amazon
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Rebel Heart - Jannine Corti Petska used a myriad of emotions to tell this story and the reader quickly becomes entranced in the ways Courtney’s stubborn attitude works to her advantage in surviving this disastrous beginning to her new life. This is a wonderful rendition of a different type which is a welcome addition to the historical romance genre. I believe that you will enjoy this story; I know I did!
~ Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio
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Brides of the West by Michèle Ann Young, Kimberly Ivey, and Billie Warren Chai - All three of the stories in this wonderful anthology are based on women who gambled their future in blindly accepting complete strangers for husbands. It was a different era when a woman must have a husband to survive and all three authors wrote exceptional stories featuring fascinating and gutsy heroines and the men who loved them. For an engrossing read with splendid original stories I highly encourage readers to pick up a copy of this marvelous anthology.
~ Marilyn Rondeau, Reviewers International Organization
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Love on a Harley is an amazing romantic anthology. Each story was heartwarming, tear jerking, and perfect. Lost love, rekindling love, and learning to love are all expressed within these pages beautifully. I couldn’t ask for a better romance anthology; each author brings that sensual, longing sort of love that every woman dreams of.
~ Crystal, Crystal Book Reviews
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No Law Against Love 2 - I’m sure you’ve heard about some of those silly laws, right? Well, this anthology shows us that sometimes those silly laws can bring just the right people together. I highly recommend this anthology. Each story is a gem and each author has certainly given their readers value for money.
~ Valerie, Love Romances and More
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