Welcome to my stop on the book blast for the paranormal mystery novel House of Ashes by Loretta Marion. This book blast was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt for you. There's also a giveaway at the bottom of this post. You can view the other stops here. Happy reading!
Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it's by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter―but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.
Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help―until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their identities. Cassie is devastated, but determined to discover what's happened to the young couple...even as digging into their disappearance starts to uncover family secrets of her own. Despite warnings from her childhood friend, now the local Chief of Police―as well as an FBI agent who pushes the boundaries of professionalism―Cassie can't help following the trail of clues (and eerie signals from the old house itself) to unravel the mystery. But can she do so before her family's dark curse destroys everything in its path?
Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books-a-Million * Indiebound * Kobo
---
Excerpt:
Eighty years ago ~ Whale Rock, Massachusetts ~ Cape Cod Bay
Friday, December 13th
The fire bell was ringing, and someone yelled in through the tavern door, “There’s a fire up on the north end! Battersea Bluffs. We need all the hands we can get!”
“No, it can’t be,” Percy whispered. The Bluffs was his home. He leapt from the barstool and ran for the street, bumping into a stranger as he passed through the tavern door. The man’s eyes were ominously familiar to him, but with more pressing concerns, there was no time to bring to memory why. He had to get home to Celeste.
It sickened him to see the flames as his Ford pickup rounded the top of Lavender Hill. How hard he and Celeste had worked to build this house, a grand Victorian with a widow’s walk and a proud front porch facing out to sea. Fire trucks were already there, and men he’d known these many years were working hard to contain the blaze.
As he ran toward the house, it came to him who the stranger in the tavern had been, and later one of the firefighters would recount that Percy had screamed: “Damn that lighterman’s curse. Damn you to hell, Robert Toomey!” Nobody was quick enough to keep Percy Mitchell from entering the inferno. Moments later he emerged, his clothing and hair afire, carrying a charred human form. Any man would have been delirious from the pain, but as the firefighters looked on in shocked disbelief, Percy walked with a purposeful bearing and a swift gait toward the bluffs. A few men chased after their friend, but before anyone could stop him, Percy reached the ledge and cried out, “I am not finished!”
And then, with his already dead wife in his arms, he hurled them both into Cape Cod Bay.
---
About the Author:
A true bibliophile, Loretta Marion's affection for the written word began in childhood and followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she crafted award winning marketing and advertising copy and educational brochures. She then applied her writing skills as a volunteer, establishing a Legacy Story program for hospice patients, which inspired her to create her own fictional stories. Her debut novel, The Fool's Truth, was a twisty mystery with whispers of romance. Her newest novel, HOUSE OF ASHES – A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, is the first in a series published by Crooked Lane Books.
When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador”.
---
Giveaway:
Loretta Marion will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter after the tour. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour here, and comment on a different stop each day to increase your chances of winning. Good luck!
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for featuring HOUSE OF ASHES during release week, Heather! The Goddess Fish Book Blast tour has been lots of fun and I've enjoyed connecting with readers. I will be checking back later in the day to answer questions.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome <3
DeleteSounds like my kind of book!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteMy question for the author is where do you get your ideas for your books.
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Darlene - thank you! There are kernels for ideas everywhere. Whenever I see something intriguing, I jot it down in one of my many notebooks. These become the source for many story ideas. Plus, I have a very active imagination, which comes in handy when writing fiction!
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone who stopped by on this tour stop. I appreciate the interest!
ReplyDeleteWoot Woot! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty cover
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance. This book sounds really interesting...and I do like the cover.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds interesting, thanks. Nice book cover too.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read! ~ Jaime Minter
ReplyDeleteI have loved seeing all the lovely comments! Thank you so much for a great stop on the book tour! HAPPY READING!
ReplyDeleteI like the cover! It sounds like a really good book.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great mystery.... intriguing...
ReplyDeleteI shared this and reviewed it. I loved it.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I saw it, Sherry! I so appreciate your lovely words about HOUSE OF ASHES. Positive reviews are extremely helpful in getting a book noticed and I can't thank you enough!
DeleteSounds like an awesome read.
ReplyDeleteI hope you check it out!
DeleteThis sounds so good, i love the cover
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI was born in Rhode Island. I was the daughter of a Navy man. I came to Charleston, SC when I was 4 years old, so all I really remember are pictures of us in our snowsuits. I really enjoy your writings. (jozywails@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteWhere in Rhode Island? Charleston is a beautiful city! And much warmer. Thank you so much for the sweet comment. It makes my day to read this!
DeleteNewport, Rhode Island. Thank you for asking. (jozywails@gmail.com)
DeleteTwenty minutes away! Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteHow old were you when you started writing
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed creating with words, going back to childhood. It was the writing aspect that I enjoyed most throughout my career. However, writing a novel wasn't something I tackled - or even knew I wanted to do - until I was well into adulthood.
DeleteSounds like a interesting book
ReplyDelete