Wednesday, July 16, 2025

How About a Chill in the Summer Heat? By Reggi Allder

Stay Safe on Hot Summer Days. Five Summer Safety Tips Below.  

Be careful. Some people will do anything for Dangerous Money. Book Three in the Dangerous Series by Reggi Allder 5 Stars-A darn good read. The romantic suspense thrill ride will take you away. Dangerous Sisters coming next


Whether it involves business or family, everyone has a secret in their life, even if they aren’t aware of it. That’s the premise in Dangerous Money- Buy link


When my heroine realizes her dream job, she’s thrown into the world of the super-rich and the ruthless and finds herself surrounded by a web of lies.

A caterer, she’s given the job to plan the birthday party for a billionaire software developer. Money is no object and only the best is acceptable. But before the evening is over the man is poisoned and she is the prime suspect.

She’s stunned when the police believe she’d kill a man she only met once. A reporter, looking for an exclusive story to revive his career, is her only possible ally. Can she trust a man who’s only interested in his job? Not only that, why is someone trying to kill her? 

Excerpt: Chapter One, Dangerous Money by Reggi Allder 

 In the midnight gloom of a residential street in Carmel, California, business owner Kathryn Carlyle watched the city’s dim lights from the back seat of a speeding police car. She gasped for air as dread tightened her throat. This can’t be happening to me.

The catering van driven to billionaire software developer Conner Harrison’s birthday party had been impounded by the police as evidence. She rubbed her throbbing temples to release the pain accumulated there.

Two blocks from her beachfront condo, she snatched a breath of air. “Please stop. I have to get out.”

The middle-aged officer guided the patrol car to the curb. “We’re not finished with you. Go, but don’t leave town.”

He’d probably been waiting all night to use that cliché. Don’t leave town. She almost laughed, except nothing funny had happened tonight.

She exited the car and inhaled the sea breeze as it rustled her hair. It was a welcome change from the stifling atmosphere that contaminated the police station where she’d spent the last few hours. How long before the officer came back to arrest her?

Relieved to return to her safe neighborhood, she took a deeper breath, kicked off her black leather pumps, and sat on a driftwood log overlooking the serene bay.

She swallowed as nausea swirled in her stomach. The fact that she hadn't eaten since breakfast didn’t help. Because she was always nervous before an event, she’d planned to eat after Mr. Harrison’s party. Now he hovered near death. The thought of eating brought bile to the back of her throat. Why did the authorities think she’d poisoned a man she’d only met once?

A nightmare had snared her and was holding her in its grip. When Mr. Harrison died, the charge against her would be murder in the first degree.

As the realization crept through her, she tensed. Two deep breaths calmed her but didn’t stop the headache from forming over her right eye.

True, she’d had the opportunity to poison him, but no motive. She only met him because he’d asked her to cater his birthday party. With his death, there was nothing to gain and a lot to lose; her reputation, her business, her life.

In the morning, the police would sort out the truth of her innocence. Still, adrenaline caused her heart to race. She rubbed her temples and tried not to think anymore.

A gust of wind circled her. She shivered and folded her arms in front of her. Damn. Her suit jacket was still in the patrol car.

Kathryn stood, brushed the sand from the back of her skirt, and picked up her high heels and shoulder bag. Time to go home. Sleep was doubtful, but at least she’d put up her sore feet.

Leaves crunched somewhere in the shadows of the nearby trees, she squinted into the darkness but didn’t see anyone. Even so, fear gripped her.

She forced her swollen feet back into her pumps and walked quickly up the dimly lit street. The click of her heels echoed in the quiet night air. The desire to flee from an unknown danger increased the speed of her footsteps.

The street was empty, except for a black truck parked at the curb. The pickup’s engine revved. The cab light was on and cast an eerie glow on the driver’s face. He smiled at her.

As she thought about waving to let him know the headlights were off, the vehicle drove straight at her. It jumped the curb, sideswiped her, and sent her flying.

With a thud, she landed on the muddy front lawn of a neighboring condominium. The sound of the engine faded as the vehicle disappeared.

She lay motionless on the ground. Cold mud oozed into the fabric of her skirt. A twinge jabbed her and terror banged against her rib cage.

Overriding the sense of shock was her need to go home where she’d be safe. She grabbed the strap of her purse and attempted to stand. Pain shot through her hip and down her leg. She fell back into the mud.

A man dressed in black came out of the darkness and stood over her. Before she could cry out, he bent down and covered her mouth with his huge hand. 

“Don’t scream. You’ll wake the whole neighborhood.”  Buy Link Dangerous Money

Remember to follow me on Amazon  , BookBub , FaceBook , BlueSky , 
Please leave a comment for a chance to win a novella. T
hanks, Reggi Allder!

Five Safety Tips for Keeping Safe in the Sun: 

 1 Stay out of the sun during the hottest time of the day 10 am to 4 pm.

2 Wear sun block and reapply every few hours or when you go into the water.

Do not use sun block on babies under six months of age, instead keep babies in the shade. 

4 Remember to protect your eyes from the sun. If you use sun glasses be sure they are UV protected and if you can, wear a hat. This is good for babies too.  

5 Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. 

 Dangerous Web  is book one in the Dangerous Series by Reggi Allder 

“Non-stop suspense from the first chapter to the end!” “A fast-paced read, like a suspense film!” 

Emma lives a quiet life. When the past returns to threaten her present, is the key to her safety the man offering protection? Does he have secrets that will put her in greater danger?

Buy now

Dangerous Web

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Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Need a Heartwarming Beach Read? by Reggi Allder

                                    Take books with you on vacation.

The Sierra Creek Series Book one buy link: Her Country Heart

 
There are many who can't wait for summer to go on vacation, me included. Being in the Northern Hemisphere, July is one of the the most popular months to take a vacation. The weather is great and the beaches are beckoning. Of course, a cool mountain lake would do as well. What is your preference?

Lots of people go to amusement parks and that's great. But for our family, we like the idea of few less people around and  a chance to enjoy the out of doors. As I'm a camera buff, I enjoy taking photos of nature, whether it is flora or fauna. Deer and rabbits are favorites, but the ones I'm fondest of are birds. I have a few of the bald eagle, song birds, and black birds. I want a chance to catch the Great Horned Owl with my lens. I saw a beautiful one. He sat on a post and stared at me. But by the time I got my camera, he was just flying away. Still, what an amazing wingspan. Below is a great horned owl. A beautiful photo, but not one of mine.

Great Horned Owl

One of the kids got a photo of a brown bear fishing for salmon in a wild stream.  I'm not showing it because it was from a distance. Of course when the bear looked in our direction, we backed away and left the area. Better safe than sorry. :)

 When I go on vacation, I will have books and a camera with me.

Do you have a favorite hobby or  vacation spot? Please leave a comment below.

 I hope you will take an eBook or paperback with you wherever you go, even if you decide to stay home for a stay-cation. :) 

 Excerpt: Our Country Heart Sierra Creek Series Book 3 Buy Link

“At loose ends.” The saying had no meaning until today. Vanna Danelavich surveyed the California town of Sierra Creek spreading out in a vista before her. In the small village, brick and stucco houses dotted the landscape and surrounded the main street shopping area, where no big box stores were allowed.

From the knoll where she stood, the morning sun glistened on the bell tower of the church where her best friend was married a week ago.

This time yesterday, she was working a temp job at the preschool. The teacher returned today, after being on maternity leave. Now Vanna confronted an uncertain future with few prospects in the rural community, where jobs were scarce, and opportunities limited. Still, it was her hometown.

Tired of being anonymous in Los Angeles, she’d thought of Sierra Creek, population five thousand, and longed for close friends, clean air and little traffic. In LA, with a population of over ten million, finding a friend to say good morning to was often impossible as people lived in a huge geographical area and met only by appointment.

Heat, smog, and gridlock were the only things LA residents could rely on. She might have tolerated those but for a disastrous relationship that left her shaken. Then her mother had a health scare and needed her. It seemed the right time to leave Los Angeles. So, at twenty-seven, she gave up her unrealistic dream of being an actress in Hollywood and came home.

She returned to the place of her birth and a better quality of life should have fallen into place. Too bad reality is never as perfect as a person’s desire. Vanna laughed without humor. She was home now. She’d better make the best of things in Sierra Creek because living in Los Angeles was over.

Could witnessing her best friend’s marriage, and seeing Amy so happy, after years of struggle, be the catalyst for her musing? Vanna had reveled in the joy Amy Long found with Wyatt Cameron, but she couldn’t escape the realization of her own empty personal life.

With a groan, she turned toward Main Street and Sophie’s Ice Cream Parlor. Today, it was her turn to open her mother’s shop. Just then, a sleek black sports car drove down the street. The car parked near the courthouse and a handsome, well-built, brown-haired, man left the vehicle and jogged up the steps to the entrance and disappeared inside.

Not many strangers in this community. Who could he be?  

Our Country Heart Buy link

 

 Thanks for stopping by. Please come again.

Follow Reggi Allder

Links

Amazon 

 Reggi's blog

BookBub 

FaceBook 

Bluesky 

 Suspense: Dangerous Series  four books by Reggi Allder

Dangerous Web Book 1 Dangerous Series by Reggi Allder

 Sierra Creek Series four books by Reggi Allder

MFRW Author Blog Badge Her Country Heart Book 1