The Hacker Pushes Her Luck

by Heather Horrocks

  THANKS AGAIN...

  For your time and interest, and for telling your friends about my books. If you’d like to know more about my other books, that section is just a page or two away.

  Happy tales, Heather Horrocks

  www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com

  Book Club Questions

  1

  “White hat” hackers are also called “ethical” hackers. Do you think what they do is ethical and valuable? Or do you consider any hacking bad? Is it acceptable under certain circumstances?

  2

  Losing your memory would be horrible in many ways, but what do you think would be the hardest thing about it? (For me, it would be forgetting people I love.)

  3

  Jingle grants sanctuary to Sugar. Sanctuary has been used for centuries — and it’s now being used again in sanctuary cities. Without getting too political (definitely do not insult the person next to you, even if they disagree with you), are you for or against modern sanctuary cities? And why?

  4

  There are flocks of birds, gaggles of geese, murders of crows, congregations of alligators, bevies of deer, rhumbas of rattlesnakes. If I were to name a group of girls, I’d call it a giggle of girls. Crocodile groups have two names, depending whether they’re in the water (a float of crocodiles) or on land (a bask of crocodiles). Those are interesting in that they describe what the crocodiles are doing (floating or basking). Do you know of any other animals with two names for their group?

  5

  Have you ever experienced a coincidence or serendipity that amazed you? Do you want to share that story?

  6

  Hurray! There’s now a second dragon in the world! Join in the celebration! What would you rather do? Watch the fireworks at Hooves and Horns Unicorn Ranch? Try to eat the new dragon-sized sundae at Cake and Scream (you can share)? Attend the party in Town Square with rides on the studio’s Steampunk Dragon Kite? (Or all three?) Have fun.

  7

  Would you have agreed to let your egg go to the hospital? Or would you have wanted to protect it yourself?

  8

  Ginnie seems kind of cold when Jareth suggests she share one of her wishes. I imagine genies who could grant a person’s fondest dream would get lots of requests, just like lottery winners do. What would you (as a genie) do if someone asked you to grant a wish that you didn’t feel was “worthy” — but the requestor did? Would you do what Ginnie did and tell people a little white lie — that you’d already granted all of your wishes?

  9

  Ginnie’s been saving the only three wishes she can ever grant, but when she sees Sugar’s pain, she offers to use one of her wishes to restore Sugar’s memory. What do you know about Ginnie because of this? Do you think her friendship with Sugar will be stronger because of it?

  10

  Walter already experienced great grief by marrying a human who only lived a normal human life span. If you were a nearly immortal being who was centuries old, would you avoid marrying humans, too? Or figure you would want to have the love while they were alive?

  About the Author

  Heather Horrocks is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous funny, PG-rated books and series (Moonchuckle Bay paranormal romances, Chick Flick Clique and Christmas Street romantic comedies, a novel in the unprecedented American Mail-Order Bride series, Who-Dun-Him Inn and Bad Mothers Club cozy mysteries, and Women Who Knew inspirational books) plus an upcoming series for writers, sharing her unique character interview and amazing book-in-a-day system developed by plotting nearly a hundred books with Diane Darcy, each in one day. She is also the founder of Word Garden Press, a niche publisher of PG-rated fiction and non-fiction. She’s currently working with a talented screenwriter/producer on the first book in her Christmas Street series, Bah, Humbug!

  Raised overseas for her first seventeen years, she hid under the bed with her mother during a South American coup, waterskied through an oil slick in the Persian Gulf, partied with a Kuwaiti princess classmate, flew in and out of the blacked-out Cairo airport mere moments before it was bombed during the Six Day War, rode a camel (and ate a camel steak), crossed the finish line first at Utah's Miller Motorsports Park, and walked on hot coals — without getting burned! — at a firewalk workshop!

  She loves anyone who can make her laugh, which explains why she adores her witty husband, her funny friends and sisters, Anne George mysteries and Molly Harper romances, and her cute little dog Gus. She loves to cook for friends, siblings, and especially her children and their families. She and her husband reside in Utah. You can find her online at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.

  Books by Heather Horrocks

  MOONCHUCKLE BAY Paranormal Romances (in order):

  Jingle Belle (free here), The Artist Cries Wolf, The Bridesmaid Earns Her Wings, The Director Gets a Grip, The Fireman Finds His Flame, Elvis Gets His Groove Back, The Hacker Pushes Her Luck, The Contestant Flies Off the Handle (May 31, 2017)

  CHRISTMAS STREET Romantic Comedies (in order):

  Bah, Humbug!, Kissing Santa, The Naughty List, Love on Christmas Street (#1, 2, & 3), Deck the Malls

  CHICK FLICK CLIQUE Romantic Comedies (in order):

  Pride and Precipitation, A Hound Dog Named Elvis, Regally Blonde, A Pink Dog Named Fluffy (formerly titled Puppy Love), My Spare Lady, Movie Night at Candy’s Cafe (#1, 2, & 3), A Bulldog Named Desire, Fifty Shades of Greystoke, While You Were Stranded, Romancing the Clone (2016), Davidson and Goliath

  WHO-DUN-HIM INN Cozy Mysteries (in order):

  Snowed Inn, Inn the Doghouse, Inn the Family Way, Laugh Yourself to Death at the Who-Dun-Him Inn (#1, 2, & 3), The Czech’s Inn the Mail #4 (2016)

  BAD MOTHERS CLUB Cozy Mystery Series:

  Murder is Misunderstood #1

  INSPIRATIONAL:

  Women Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, Women and Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, Women Who Knew the Great Jehovah (2016)

  AMERICAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDE:

  Violet: Bride of North Dakota

  OTHERS:

  How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini, Old Maid of Honor, Baby Mine

  Receive a FREE STORY for signing up for Heather’s New Release Newsletter at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com

  Acknowledgments

  As always, thanks to USA Today bestselling author DIANE DARCY. I love our plotting days and the adorable books we make appear out of thin air! It’s like we’re magic or something!

  My knowledgeable sweetie, MARK HORROCKS, for the great explanation of what would really happen in an IT security setting, which was more reasonable than what I had to begin with.

  My amazing editors — ANISSA WALL of AnissaEdits.com and THERESA CROUSE of Magical Words Editing. You ladies rock!

  My fantastic beta readers — Lori Hocker Carson, Marsha Sensel, Megan Deem Gillan, Sara Mar, and Shauna Leigh Best. Thanks for loving my books!

  Copyright © 2017 Heather Horrocks

  www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com

  Word Garden Press

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content.

  Cover Art Copyrights

  Retro Theater Marquee © 2016 KeithBishop (istockphoto.com)

  Woman Baking Cookies - Copyright © 2017 Volha Hlinskaya (istockphoto.com)

  Handsome Business Man - Copyright © 2017 HeyHeyDesigns (istockphoto.com)

  Set of Easter Eggs - Copyright © 2017 Prikhnenko (istockphoto.com)

  Broken Egg With Surprise Inside - Copyright © 2017 hanaschwarz (istockphoto.com)

  Pumpkin Pie Copyright © 2017 wmiran (istockphoto.com)

  (Background) - Copyright © 2016 (istockphoto.com)

  Inside Graphics Copyrights

  Halloween © luplupme (istockphoto.com)

  Monster At The Window © Dean Murray (istockphoto.com)

  All Rights Reserved

  This includes the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part
of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions.

  Work of Fiction

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Receive a free novella and updates on new books released by Heather Horrocks at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com

  Excerpt:

  Jingle Belle

  Moonchuckle Bay Prequel #0.5

  Get this book free here.

  Jingle has a bounty hunter on her trail!

  When her controlling uncle plans snow pixie Jingle Belle’s unwanted marriage to a much older man, she flees Snowville. Determined to marry only for love, she boards the Blizzard Express to create a new life for herself. Nicholas is hired to deliver her to her groom — but when he comes face to face with the beautiful faedy, he wants to keep her for his own. Can he keep her safe? And will she forgive him if she learns what he’s done?

  Chapter One ~ A Surprise Party

  THE MAGIC WORKED! FINALLY!

  Jingle Belle’s heart sang with jubilation as she watched the flash of light that signaled she’d gotten it right.

  After three years of work in her mother’s laboratory, Jingle had perfected her snow magic!

  She held the cone high as she spun around the room. Little sparkles of blue light flashed off the snow — a flavor that would fix a person’s blue mood and make them feel happier.

  She took another bite. It was delicious — and her own mood shifted even higher.

  Now she could help people feel better the way her mother had encouraged her to do before her death. Her mother had been gifted in pixie magic, and Jingle had finally accomplished something her mother would be proud of. If only she could show her what she’d done.

  At a knock on the laboratory door, she froze. She exchanged a glance with her pure white Arctic fox, Snowball, and then said, “Yes?”

  Her uncle’s voice called out, his tone pleasant for a change, “Jingle, I’ve come to escort you to the dinner table.”

  He couldn’t come into the room unless she allowed it, because her mother had warded the door against everyone except the two of them. This was a snow pixie’s magical lab. Not all pixies had magic. Her uncle didn’t. He had arrogance and control issues. He may have moved into her parents’ home after her mother died, claiming the home and duchy as his own now that he was Jingle’s guardian, but he still couldn’t come into this room. And that infuriated him.

  Which made Jingle wish she could just stay inside forever — but he could make her life miserable if she didn’t obey him. “All right. Let me set my things down, and I’ll be right out.”

  “Hurry, dear.” His voice had a quality of barely controlled patience.

  She set the cone down in the special holder that could corral five cones at once. This special magical snow melted at a much slower rate than normal shaved ice — this one wouldn’t start to drip until late tomorrow evening.

  She wiped her fingers on a damp towel and blew out a breath. Shaking her arms and lifting her shoulders, she prepared herself to talk with her uncle, the Duke of Snowville, control freak of the century.

  Snowball sent a thought to her: Be careful. He is not to be trusted.

  I know it, and I will, Jingle sent back. Will you wait here for me? Otherwise he might see you.

  I will wait.

  She unlocked the door and opened it.

  Her uncle smiled down at her, but she didn’t trust that smile. Usually that meant he was planning something she wouldn’t like.

  She didn’t normally go into people’s heads, even though she could, but when others were feeling strong emotions, sometimes she found herself sucked into their minds before she realized it. That happened now. He was definitely happy about something, but she couldn’t make out what it was.

  Oh well, perhaps later. Happy was good, right?

  He held out his arm, she put her hand on it, and he walked her toward the formal dining room — a room that could seat fifty guests.

  Cook had prepared a feast, undoubtably keeping her five assistants busy all afternoon. There was enough food here for twenty, and yet it was just Jingle and her uncle here.

  The butler pulled out a seat for her. She smiled at him and said, “Thank you, Arnold.”

  He smiled back. “You’re very welcome, Miss Jingle.”

  Then Arnold pulled out a chair for the Duke, who ignored him entirely. The butler went to stand alongside the wall and await the next order.

  She hated how the household staff had grown so stiff and fearful. Not at all like the happy people they’d been when her mother was still here.

  The serving girls brought out platters filled with breads and cheeses, and then her favorite soup, a sweet, chilled strawberry soup.

  Jingle ate, watching her uncle warily. He ate, ignoring her for the most part.

  After the second course was brought out, a succulent steamed fish with vegetables, he looked at her and said, “I’ve been thinking. You’ll be twenty-one in two weeks, Jingle, and it’s time for you to begin thinking of marriage.”

  If you’d like the rest (for free), just click here.

  Excerpt: The Contestant Flies Off the Handle

  Moonchuckle Bay #7

  She wants After-World peace — and free broom parking!

  Cara O’Sullivan is a witch with a mission: win the Paranormal Beauty Pageant thereby regaining possession of the magical Runestones for her family. She’d never have agreed in a million years if she’d known that the vampire who’d rejected her years earlier aboard a cruise ship lived in Moonchuckle Bay. Isaac Murphy can’t believe it when his lifemate shows up after ten years on the MIA list. He’d met her when she was too young to marry, and had to take a step back and let her finish growing up. But when she’d completely disappeared, he’d had years to regret letting her go. Can these two let go of past hurts and get together again? Or has that ship sailed?

  CHAPTER ONE

  “COUNT ME OUT.” CARA O’SULLIVAN stared at her assembled family of stubborn Irish earth witches. “I’m not going!”

  They stared right back — her grandmother, parents, and three sisters.

  When they didn’t say anything else, Cara said, “I have three older sisters who are much prettier than I am. If we absolutely have to win the prize, then send one of them.”

  Her father shook his head sadly, “We can’t. There’s a stipulation that the pageant participants must be single, neither married nor engaged.”

  Cara raised a shoulder. “Yes, and all four of us are single, neither married nor engaged.”

  Her oldest sister, Mary, looked sheepish. “Patrick asked me to wed him last night, Cara. I said yes.” She raised her hand to display a ring there.

  Shocked, Cara said, “I thought you thought of Patrick as a friend and brother and nothing more. You’ve told me that enough times.”

  Her sister’s face took on a smitten look. “Last night, everything changed between us.”

  Cara motioned to her two other sisters, Sophie and Ruby. “Then send one of them.”

  Her two remaining sisters held up their hands to display rings there, as well.

  Disoriented, Cara stared at them. “Are you trying to tell me you’re also engaged? Because that’s impossible.”

  “Impossible?” Sophie frowned. “Are you saying no man would want to marry me? Because Conor has asked for my hand in marriage.”

  Their father nodded. “He has.”

  Cara shook her head, feeling picked on. No, she felt gaslighted. “No, I’m saying that this is starting to feel like a setup.”

  Cara turned to her parents. “I don’t know why they’re do
ing this, but I can’t go. Not to Moonchuckle Bay.”

  “Oh, yes,” Ruby said knowingly. “The man from the cruise.”

  “Shut up!” Cara snapped. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

  “Why not?” Grandma O’Sullivan asked quietly. “It’s been ten years. Surely you can be in his proximity for a few weeks in pursuit of our heirloom runestones.”

  Her father took her hand and looked down at her. “Cara, a chroí.” His endearment for his daughters was the Irish Gaelic my heart. “Can you not see that we must get those runestones back? None of you can have full power until they are returned to us?”

  Cara felt the truth of his words, and they weighed down her heart. “But cannot any of my sisters put aside their engagements for just a few weeks? Seriously, we have a better chance of winning them back if the prettier sisters are there. This is a beauty pageant, after all.”

  He put an arm around her. “You are the one chosen to go. Don’t fight it.”

  Disbelieving, she stared at her three newly engaged sisters, her mother, her grandmother, and then back up at her father.

  Her family were earth witches, and they’d been without the power of their runestones for nearly seven years now. She yearned to get hers back, to feel the power flow fully through her once again.