I just
received print copies of my forthcoming novel and want to offer several of
them to readers. My latest novel,
THE
INHERITANCE, will be published by Intrigue Publishing on December 1st.
The novel is a mystery that combines elements of the cozy with romance and
suspense. As of now, the novel is available as a Kindle book on Amazon for
pre-order as well as in a print edition:
Also available
from:
as well as
many other booksellers including the publisher.
Here is a
little about the novel:
Jennifer Stoddard, a
thirty-five-year-old widow with an eight-year-old son, receives a surprising
letter which will change her life. Jennifer’s grandmother has passed away and
named Jen as sole heir to her estate. To claim her inheritance she must return
to Bloomingvale, the town in the Midwest where she grew
up. Jen is informed by her grandmother’s attorney that to inherit she must meet
the condition of living in her grandmother’s house for two years. Since the
estate is substantial, she agrees. However, there are those who will stop at
nothing to make certain that Jennifer does not inherit.
Excerpt:
Late that afternoon as Jen left the
house and started to drive away, a strange sound whizzed across the open front
car windows from the driver’s side through the passenger side. She was startled
by the sound. Her heart began to pound. Jen glanced over at the thicket of
overgrown shrubs and trees to the side of the grounds that led back into
woodlands. Had the sound been a bullet? If so, it had nearly hit her. Her hands
shook on the driver’s wheel as she took off at high speed.
One block away she heard the police
siren and saw the flashing lights. She groaned. Not again! He signaled with his
hand, pointing his index finger for her to pull over. It was all she could do
not to burst into tears.
Grant Coleman
approached the car like a gunfighter in a spaghetti western. “I thought you
learned something the first time,” he said. “Guess I was wrong. License and
registration.” He held out his hand with a bored, impatient gesture.
“I have a very
good reason for speeding.”
The smile was more
of a smirk. The man was infuriating! “I’ve heard them all, but you can try.”
“As I left my
grandmother’s house, a bullet passed through my car. I had the windows rolled
down. So they weren’t broken, but it just missed hitting me.”
He stared at her.
“Maybe it was a kid with a Beebe gun. Are you certain it was a bullet breezing
by you? How familiar are you with weapons?”
“Not familiar at
all, but I know what I heard.” Jen swallowed hard. “I think someone might have
intended to shoot me.”
He let out a loud
laugh. “In Bloomingvale? I doubt that very much.”
“So you’re not
taking this seriously?” She folded her arms over her chest.
“Admit it. You’re
just looking for an excuse to keep me from writing you another ticket.” His
intense gray eyes bore into her like the steel blade of a dagger.
Jen raised her
chin and stiffened her spine. “You are so wrong. Why don’t you check the area
near the house, just to see if you can find anything.”
“Waste of time.”
He leaned toward her and she felt his breath on her cheek which caused her to
shiver. “Tell you what I will do though. I won’t write you a ticket this time
because that’s the most creative excuse I’ve ever heard.”
“So glad I managed
to amuse you,” she said.
Jen watched him
drive off. He was probably still laughing, the sexy jerk. Several people had
come out of their houses and were staring at her. Jen managed to restart her
car and drove off before others gathered. She certainly didn’t want to make a
spectacle of herself. Letting out a shaky breath, Jen wasn’t certain now if
she’d really heard what she thought she had. A professional law enforcement
officer didn’t think anything of it. She supposed it might have been nothing at
all. Maybe it was a child with a Beebe gun as he suggested. But try as hard as
she might, Jen couldn’t convince herself.
Book Giveaway
Info:
If you would
like a print copy of this novel, leave a comment which includes an e-mail
address and you will be included in the giveaway. Several winners will be chosen at random and
contacted no later than November 25th. Sorry, but for this print
edition giveaway I’m limiting to U.S.
I'd love to read it! (you have my email) Chris V.
ReplyDeleteNoted, Christine.
ReplyDeleteYou are one of my favorite authors -- I would love to receive a copy of your new work.
ReplyDeleteEmail....timagor2@aol.com
Thank you, Betty. I appreciate your support.
DeleteGood Morning Ms. Jacqueline. Congrats on the new book.I've already pre-ordered from Amazon. Can't wait to read. Wishing you many sales.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita, I hope you enjoy the novel!
DeleteJacqueline, your book sounds wonderful. Wish I had time to read it, but my stack is too tall and with holidays coming, would have to delay reviewing it until spring. Oddly enough, an older woman here in our small Oklahoma town did much the same thing. She willed her large old home to a niece, but the beneficiary had to live in the house for two years in order to inherit it. The inheritor was single and sought legal counsel as she did not want to give up her small, cozy, familiar home. Could she live in hers and just maintain the larger one? No, the Will said specifically that she had to physically live in the house. She stayed a year, then yielded. The estate sold it to a family about six months before the boiler in the basement exploded. The family got out and the home was repaired, but sits unoccupied these seven or eight years later.
ReplyDeleteSharon,
DeleteWhat an interesting story! Just shows truth is stranger than fiction.
Jacquie, this is my favorite kind of book! Congrats on the new publication!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bobbi!
DeleteI always enjoy your well-crafted books, Jacqui and this one sounds like another winner! Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. You're in the drawing.
ReplyDelete