This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Jigsaw Puzzle: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3b6a16956609
Noah Miller is shocked to learn that an unknown great uncle has named him heir to the family fortune, including the residence known as Gable House. Built by Noah’s fifth-back grandfather, the house is ripe with family secrets and unusual occurrences.
Maggie Shephard has spent the past ten years researching the history of Willow-By-The-Sea, including that of her own ancestors. Considered an authority on New England history, she’s often sought out as a consultant. When Noah Miller asks for her help in acquainting him with both the house and his ancestors, she jumps at the chance to share her knowledge with the handsome architect.
Noah and Maggie have an immediate attraction to one another, made even more so by the time they spend together researching the Gable family history. The fact that each Gable male died an untimely and gruesome death, leads Noah and Maggie on a quest for the truth in hopes of setting a murderous spirit free.
Read an Excerpt
Maggie Shephard raised her head and scanned the dozen or so people spread out around the library’s common area. Most were tourists, one or two were students from the nearby college, and then there was...him. While the others wore faded jeans and sweatshirts, he was dressed in a three-piece charcoal gray suit, likely costing more than her student loan payments. His dark brown hair held a hint of silver at the temples, the well-styled cut barely grazing the collar of his white dress shirt.
Totally out of place, he sat at the back of the room, his gaze intense and laser-focused on her.
She dropped her attention to her notes and back on her closing. “For those of you with questions, I’ll be around for another hour or so. Thank you so much for joining me for today’s presentation. Don’t forget to take a pamphlet from the back table as you exit the library.”
Maggie gathered her papers and then stepped down from the podium. When she looked up, he was there. “May I help you?”
He stuck out his hand. “I’m Noah Miller. Mr. Gallagher from Gallagher, Hastings, and West told me you were the ranking expert on all things related to the area’s history.”
She forced a faint smile to her lips, and placed her hand in his, immediately aware of the warmth his touch generated. The almost instantaneous reaction left her both surprised and intrigued.
“I’m flattered. Mr. Gallagher called earlier to say you’d be stopping by. I hope you didn’t mind sitting through the presentation.”
“No, I found it very interesting, in fact.”
“Mr. Gallagher also mentioned you are the new owner of Gable House.” When he nodded, she added, “I have to tell you, when we heard there was an heir, we were shocked to say the least.”
He shot her a quizzical look. “Why? Is the idea of my great uncle having family that surprising?”
“Truthfully? Yes. Your great uncle was a recluse. The few in town, most of them now in their eighties or nineties, who knew Henry Hastings in his younger years, don’t recall him ever mentioning family of any sort.”
“He had a will, so surely someone knew.”
She shrugged. “No doubt the will was many years old. I don’t think Henry had left the house in over a decade.”
“What about daily necessities?”
“The members of the historical society took turns running his errands. He had a housekeeping service come in every once in awhile. As a matter of fact, I believe it was one of their employees who discovered...uh—”
He raised his hand, interrupting her muddled explanation. “It’s okay. I’m aware of the circumstances of his death.”
“I don’t think anyone was surprised to hear he was gone,” she told him. “Especially given the history surrounding Gable House.”
His eyebrows arched, giving her a wider glimpse of his chocolate brown eyes, her comment obviously piquing his interest.
“History? What history?”
“Surely your immediate family has filled you in on some of the details.”
His expression hardened. His otherwise very attractive features pinching into a deep frown. “I have no immediate family, Miss...uh...”
“Shephard,” she filled in. “Maggie Shephard.”
He gave a curt nod. “Yes, of course. Gallagher gave me your name. Sorry. This whole situation has been a revelation to say the least, and a weird one at that.”
“Have you been to the house yet?” she asked.
“No. I have an appointment with a realtor at three.” He paused, and then asked, “Would you be willing to join me? I’d be happy to pay you for your time.”
“I don’t—”
“It would be nice to have an historian’s perspective on the future of the property.”
She had to admit, she was tempted, if only to see Noah Miller’s reaction to his great uncle’s home. “Okay, I can spare some time.”
“Shall I pick you up here at the library?” he asked.
Her first instinct was to accept. After all, Noah Miller was an extremely handsome man. And a welcome change from the locals she’d been fending off for years. However, he was also an unknown, a stranger in a small town where everyone knew everyone else.
“I can meet you there. I also live in Willow-By-The-Sea, within walking distance of your great uncle’s home.”
His rather docile expression lifted into a half-smile. “Well, then, I truly am getting first-hand expertise. A valuable commodity when you’re in unfamiliar territory.”
My Review:
Noah Miller learns that he has inherited a house, Gable House to be exact, from a great grandfather that he never knew about. Noah goes to take a look at what he has inherited and meets librarian Maggie Shephard. Maggie loves history and books so has took it upon herself to learn all she can about her ancestors and New England history.Noah not knowing anything about Gable House or his ancestors hears that Maggie is an expert and ask her to tell him about the house and his ancestors. When asked Maggie loving history jumps at the opportunity to tell her stories while getting the chance to spend time in the old house.After hearing Maggie’s stories they start to think about all the things that has occurred in the house and the way each and everyone one died and start to see a pattern developing. Their quest for the truth about how each and everyone who died in the house reveals secret after secret until the last one is revealed with the turning of the last page.When Maggie and Noah first meet sparks start to fly. It is sort like love at first sight kind of thingy. The more time they spend together the more they want to be together. Their time spent together causes Maggie to be late for work something that she has not been in the habit of doing before she met Noah.The Secrets of Gable House is a short read with lots of suspense and mystery from the first page that had me hooked. The Secrets of Gable House may be a short read but it definitely reads like a full length novel with many twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more. I can’t wait to read more of the Lost Souls series.The Secrets of Gable House is definitely one book that I highly recommend to all mystery and suspense fans. One click your copy of The Secrets of Gable House today!
About the Author:
NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for two publishers, and has recently thrown her hat into the self-publishing ring. She has published over thirty-five books in full-length, novella, and short format.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
Social Media:
Buy the book for only $0.99
Giveaway:
$15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
2 comments:
Thank you for hosting, and for your review!
Thank you for hosting and for the lovely review. I'll be back later to check for comments.
Post a Comment