Whispers in the Dark:
Archaeology student Kylie Hafford craves adventure when
she heads to the remote Puebloan ruins of Lost Valley, Colorado, to excavate.
Romance isn’t in her plans, but she soon meets two sexy men: Danesh looks like
a warrior from the Pueblo’s ancient past, and Sean is a charming, playful
tourist. The summer heats up as Kylie uncovers mysteries, secrets, and terrors
in the dark. She’ll need all her strength and wits to survive—and to
save the man she’s come to love.
“This book was a
delight from start to finish!”
Whispers
in the Dark, romantic suspense set in the
Four Corners region of the Southwest, will appeal to fans of Mary Stewart,
Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell. This title stands alone and is not
part of a series. It has 4.2 star-average with 55 reviews.
Last week I shared an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Whispers
in the Dark. Here's another excerpt from a little later in the book:
 |
Hovenweep Castle by Greg Willis
Creative Commons license
|
I finished
the loop well before dark, cleaned up in the restroom, and sat at my picnic
table to eat the second half of the sandwich I’d been keeping in a cooler since
lunch. The block of dry ice would keep my yogurt and cheese sticks cool for a
couple more days. Then I’d be stuck with dried and canned food until I made a
trip into town, something I didn’t relish given that my compact car obviously
wasn’t designed for the rough roads. Well, I hadn’t expected luxury.
I had
expected quiet, though. Yet the night filled with sounds as dusk fell. Birds,
insects, and rustling in the dark. I strained my ears and tried to identify the
sounds. Bird calls were easy enough. That low buzz had to be some kind of
insect, and I convinced myself it was only creepy because I wasn’t used to it.
Rustling in the bushes was harder to dismiss. I forced myself to breathe deeply
and repeated in my mind, Just animals.
Just animals. You’re safe here.
A squirrel
scurried up a tree nearby, proving my point, and I let out a burst of nervous laughter.
I went back
to my deep breathing. I didn’t want to crawl into my tent until I felt
comfortable there, or I knew I’d spend the night imagining monsters sneaking
around the thin protection of my nylon walls. I could sleep in my car, as I had
done several times on the drive out, when I wasn’t sure of my security. But
this campground would be my home for weeks. I had to get used to it, face my
fears until they disappeared. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the cool air
on my skin, the soft breeze.
I heard
voices in the distance and a thump like something being dropped. I told myself
it was good to know others were within hailing distance. I breathed, and
listened, and finally felt my heart slow and my muscles relax. I thought I
might be able to sleep.
A new sound
drifted through the air, and my breath caught in my throat. I heard a soft
sobbing, like a woman crying.
Should I
check it out, see if someone needed help? But no one was calling for help, and
I couldn’t target the sound.
It was
probably some animal or bird, but still, I felt goosebumps prickle my skin. I
went to my car for a sweater, trying to blame the drop in temperature for my
chills.
When I
opened the car door, the overhead light came on, shockingly bright. I jumped
and glanced around, feeling oddly guilty, as if I’d insulted the night. I
grabbed my sweater, closed the door quickly, and stood for a minute waiting for
my eyes to readjust as the darkness pressed around me.
The crying
seemed to ripple in the air, coming from nowhere and everywhere.
***
“This book kept me
turning pages until the end. The plot was full of twists and turns, always
keeping the reader rooting for the heroine. Excellent read!”
Visit all the Book Hooks from #MFRWHooks - You might find
your next great read!
Kris Bock writes novels of
suspense and romance featuring outdoor adventures in Southwestern landscapes.
E-books are available from $.99 to $2.99, or free with Kindle Unlimited. Read
excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit
her Amazon page. The
Southwest Treasure Hunter novels feature feisty heroines and supportive heroes
tracking down mysterious treasures in New Mexico and Arizona. Each book stands
alone, starting with The Mad Monk’s Treasure. Kris’s other
titles include What We Found, a murder
mystery set in small-town New Mexico, and Counterfeits, a suspense
set near Jemez Springs.
No comments:
Post a Comment