We in the Northern Hemisphere are struggling with the summer heat. According to reports, spring is the most popular season. Still, a good percentage of the people asked, like summer best. Do you have a favorite season?
We look forward to summer—going to beaches, mountain lakes, picnics, and barbecues.
My family enjoys anything that has to do with the water, swimming, kayaking, etc. Though I enjoy going to the beach and watching the ocean, if I’m going to swim, I like the freshwater of a lake or a creek. I’ve even put scenes in my books with the characters going to a local swimming hole as I did when I was a child.
My hubby and I always bring books to read when we are on vacation. When it’s hot, I like the chill of a good suspense novel.
5 Tips for summer
1. If possible, stay
out of the sun during the hottest time of the day 10 am to 4 pm or at least
cover up and wear a hat.
2. Wear sunblock and reapply every few hours if you go into the water. Be sure your children are protected with sunblock when they are old enough. Do not use it on babies under six months of age and keep the babies in the shade.
3. Remember to protect your eyes from the sun. If you use sunglasses be sure they are UV protected.
4. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated—very important.
5 Always bring hats for you and the rest of the family.
For animal owners: remember to keep cool water available for them at all times and make sure they can stay in the shade. Bring them into the house when possible.
“If you love small towns, second chances, old flames and real to life characters, the Sierra Creek Series Books are for you!” Reggi Allder's Her Country Heart
NEED A CHILL ON A HOT DAY? SHATTERED RULES By Reggi Allder A NEW EDITION and NOW IN PAPERBACK TOO!
Customer Reviews: “Intense! A gripping thriller!” “If you like stories filled with romance and suspense, you'll love this book!”
"Excellent, gripping,
riveting, exciting thriller! Highly recommend!!!" #RomanticSuspense, #Thriller,
#Mystery, #SnipetSunday, #Snipsun #TheBayArea #Carmel
A
student, FBI agent and a spy, what do they have in common? They all have a secret to keep. Shattered Ruled
Excerpt Chapter 1
The sound of the doorbell broke the late-night silence. Kelly Shaw woke with a start, sat up in bed, and squinted to see the alarm clock. Eleven forty-five.
The bell buzzed again.
Out of bed, she adjusted her short blue cotton nightgown and rushed to the bedroom window. A brown delivery van idled in the dimly lit driveway. Maybe the airline had finally found her sister’s lost suitcase. She threw on her robe and ran from the room.
In the foyer, she flipped on the overhead porch light and peered out the sidelight window. A tall man in a brown uniform smiled at her.
“You’re working late,” she shouted through the glass.
“You’re the last delivery.”
“Leave it on the porch.”
“I need a signature.”
“Okay.”
When the tumblers on the deadbolt lock turned, the front door flew open and the man lunged at her, slamming her against the foyer wall. Before she could scream, the intruder grabbed her by the throat.
“Yell and you’re dead.”
She held her hand tightly against her mouth to push back a scream.
A smaller man rushed into the house and jogged down the hall toward the kitchen.
The man holding her loosened his grasp.
“Get out,” she whispered. “Get out of my house.”
“Shut up.”
“What do you want?”
Muscular, with black hair and a tanned complexion, the stranger glared at her. “Where the hell is it?”
“Where is what?”
“Wrong answer.” He twisted her arm. “Tell me.”
She whimpered.
With a smile, he yanked her to him. His body heat burned through her thin cotton robe. She coughed as warm cigarette breath played across her face. His black eyes gazed downward and gawked at her breasts.
Fear pulsed in her.
The sound of slamming cupboard doors and breaking glass came from the kitchen.
The smaller man poked his head out of the kitchen doorway. The odor of French coffee beans and Italian spices wafted from the room. “Nothing in there.” He ran down the hall toward the bedrooms.
The stranger yanked her into the hallway.
If she could break free, she’d run out the front door.
As if he heard her thinking, he tightened his grip.
She screamed.
He slapped her. “If you don’t keep quiet I’ll kill you now.”
Now? Did that mean he was going to kill her later? She closed her eyes. Don’t panic. Don’t panic.
He pushed her forward.
She stumbled into her bedroom and gasped as her mattress was thrown against the wall by the smaller man. He pulled out a switchblade knife, slit it open and ripped out the stuffing. Then he jerked open the dresser drawers and dumped the contents onto the beige pile carpet.
Liquid dripped from an open perfume bottle and the fragrance of roses filled the room.
The clothes from her closet were tossed onto the bedroom floor.
The intruder held the knife to her neck. “Give it to me or I’ll cut you.”
She trembled, afraid to speak with the knife at her throat.
“I could slit your gullet and bury your body. No one would be the wiser.” He moved the knife from her neck.
She gulped for air.
He pushed her from him, then ripped a photograph of her late father off the wall. He looked inside the frame and tossed it and the photo onto the floor, crushing it under his booted feet.
“No.” She grabbed the mangled photo and held it to her.
He seized her with one hand. With the other, he rifled through her things.
Johnny Vega must have sent these guys. She shouldn’t have come home tonight.
Naïve, she’d gotten mixed up with Johnny, then learned he was a wise guy, a “made man,” cunning and vicious. Careful in her escape from him, she’d been sure there was time to come to the house, gather her belongings and get a good night’s sleep before he realized she’d left him.
Wrong. Her hands tingled and her heart thundered in her ears. With a deep breath, she fought against her growing panic.
If the men didn’t find what they wanted, she’d be dead soon. Play for time. “Tell me what you’re looking for. Maybe I can find it for you.”
“No more games. Give it up and I won’t kill you.”
He relaxed his hold for a second. She broke free and ran from the room.
Just as she reached for the front doorknob, the intruder caught her.
“Bitch!”
He pulled her into the living room as the smaller man dismantled the room. Down stuffing from the couch flew in the air as he slit open the pillows.
The man holding her pressed his hard body against hers. Then he rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand and ran his fingers through her hair.
“Blonde silk.” He grinned for the first time.
She swallowed bile as a chill ran down her back.
“Bad things happen to little girls who steal,” he whispered in her ear.
With one swift movement, he covered her lips with his. The odor of his pungent cologne sent nausea swirling in her. Hot breath and coarse stubble scraped against her face.
She bit him. He slapped her. She almost lost her balance and leaned against a wall for support.
A drop of blood formed on his split lip.
“This has been fun, Kelly, but you have to give it up.” He held her chin and turned her face toward him. “Listen, bitch. I’m not leaving until I get it. If you’re alive when I leave or you’re dead, I don’t care. Make it easy on yourself.”
Kelly kicked him and sprinted for the front door, yelling all the way. She had the front door open when he grabbed her.
Just then, sirens blared; the noise drowned out her screams.
“Someone called the cops.” The smaller guy sprinted out of the front door.
“I’ll be back. You can run, but you can’t hide from me.” The attacker raised his hand. “Next time I get what I want or I’ll kill you and I’ll kill your sister too.”
He shoved her from him with such force she flew back and hit the foyer wall. With a moan, she crumpled to the floor, the sound ceased and light became dark.
