Wednesday, November 14, 2018

A curse on Cape Cod - House of Ashes by Loretta Marion - #Mystery #NewEngland #Giveaway

House of Ashes cover

Blurb

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?


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”.




Barnes&Noble:





Loretta Marion will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 comments:

Lisabet Sarai said...

As a former New England resident I find your cover, and your theme, very evocative, Loretta.

I hope your tour brings you many new readers.

Loretta Marion said...

Thank you, Lisabet! I'm curious to know - where in New England? So glad you are taking part in the Book Blast for HOUSE OF ASHES! The cover artist did a wonderful job capturing the essence of the book. I appreciate the good wishes!
I will be checking back later in the day to answer questions.

Michelle said...

I'm a bookaholic and started my book reading journey being read to by my mother Loretta so your name caught my attention. I love a great mystery & loved your blurb on the House of Ashes definitely to be added to my TBR pile...purrpurrkoshkamb (at)aol(dot)com

Loretta Marion said...

Thank you for sharing the special memory, Michelle. There are not that many Lorettas out there! I hope you enjoy your time in Whale Rock!

ELF said...

Chilling excerpt! Thanks for sharing and good luck with the tour!

Loretta Marion said...

Thank you for the good wishes!

Colleen C. said...

Happy Blog Tour! Thanks for sharing!

Loretta Marion said...

Thank you all! It's been a fun stop on the tour!

Ashley Anne said...

Wow!! That sounds awesome!! I have to read this and see what the curse is!

Loretta Marion said...

I hope you enjoy your time in Whale Rock, Ashley!

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