When Doubt Creeps In: A Harry Bronson Suspense Thriller
Page 23
“It’s not my place to tell her.”
“Thank you.” Mike ran his fingers through his hair. “I realize she needs to know. One day, I’ll tell her, but not now.”
The doorbell rang. “That’s probably Ellen.”
Mike bolted to the door. When he saw her, he wrapped her tightly in his arms. “Oh, Ellie. You’re the love of my life.”
She looked up at him. “Ellie?”
“That’s my new, special name for you. Ellie. Do you like it?”
“Love it,” she said.
The back door opened and Honey came bouncing in and greeted everyone. Carol had gone to get pizza, and she had taken Honey with her.
As they sat down to eat, Mike said, “I returned to work yesterday.”
Bronson helped himself to another slice of pepperoni pizza with onions. “You had mentioned that. How did it go?”
“Not well. Everyone tried to act normal, but they couldn’t. I knew they were talking about me behind my back. I don’t blame them. I realized it’s never going to be the same. Eventually, it’ll get to the point that I either quit or be fired.” Mike set his pizza down and focused on Ellen. “I turned in my resignation early this morning before visiting Adela.”
Ellen reached for Mike’s hand and squeezed it. “Are you okay?”
Mike remained quiet. He nodded. “It was time.” He wiped his hands with a napkin. “Now we can get married and live happily ever after.”
Ellen’s eyes widened. “Mike, is that a proposal?”
Mike shrugged. “A sloppy one, I suppose. But still a proposal.” He looked down at her hand that still covered his. He turned his hand so that now he held her hand. “Ellie, would you marry me, again?”
The sparkle in her eyes revealed her emotion. She leaned over and kissed him. “You bet. I’ll put all of my stuff for sale in Pennsylvania and move back home.”
Mike’s face lit up. “Yeah? You’ll do that?”
“If you can put your job behind you for me, I can do the same.”
Bronson raised his coffee and offered a toast.
Honey released a small, happy howl.
Bronson gave her a pepperoni.
Did you enjoy reading this book?
If so, I’d appreciate it very much if you wrote an honest review. It doesn’t have to be anything long and complicated. Just a simple statement that you liked the book and what you found interesting about it—or for that matter, why you didn’t like the book.
Anywhere you post the review will help spread the word about this book’s release. But I will appreciate an Amazon review. Here’s the direct link:
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Please help me fulfill my dream. A review goes a long way to help sell books.
Thanks! I really appreciate it!
L. C. Hayden
Would you like a free Harry Bronson short story book?
I’d love to send it to you. Simply follow this link:
https://BookHip.com/PJTXZF
Want to read more Bronson books?
Check out Bronson’s previous adventure:
When Memory Fails
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R7X3YQL/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
What happens when you lose your memory and others are depending on you?
When Sandra Sechrest discovers the terrible secret about her family’s ancestors, she’s determined to right the wrongs. She seeks Bronson, a retired cop’s help. They along with Bronson’s nephew travel to a ghost town in Colorado to unearth the secrets buried there. But Sandra’s family led by the evil Bobbi Lazzarone will do anything to guarantee that Sandra fails—anything, including murder.
Suddenly Sandra, Daniel, and Bronson are thrown into a world filled with deception and danger. Bronson swears to protect the young couple at all costs, but when the house he’s at explodes, Bronson is left for dead, and Daniel and Sandra are forced to fend for themselves. When Bronson regains consciousness, he can’t remember who he is, where he’s at, and why he’s there. Will he regain his memory in time to save Daniel and Sandra? Or has he finally met his match When Memory Fails?
Kudos
People say that it takes a village to raise a kid. They also say that every book is an author’s child. Expending on those two thoughts, it takes a village to write a book. Yes, definitely, the writing process is a lonesome effort. But the creation, the perfecting, and the publishing of a book—that’s where the village comes in. Therefore, if you had a hand in this book, consider yourself thanked.
Having said that, there are some folks I’d like to individually thank. Ellen Biebesheimer and Mike Hoover, for allowing me to use your names; Fran, the best critique partner in the world; Rich, my husband who always supports me, no matter what; and finally Honey—yes, Honey, the dog. She went to wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge and we miss her terribly. But her adventures and tricks continue to show up in this book as well as future Bronson books.
Then there’s Shadow, our new basenji. Some of the things I write about in the Bronson books are really Shadow’s doings although Honey is taking credit for them.
An especial thanks goes to the beta readers and the members of my Dream Team, the wonderful folks who offered to read the manuscript in progress and provided helpful information that made this book so much better. Thank you so much for this invaluable service. The book is so much better because of you.
Last, but not least, a million thanks goes to all my readers. Without you, I wouldn’t have a reason to write. I appreciate your support and loyalty. I couldn’t make it without you. I love hearing from you. Contact me through my website at www.lchayden.com. While you’re there, sign up to receive my newsletter and get some free goodies.
If you’re not my Facebook friend, please befriend me at www.facebook.com/lc.hayden.3 and like my author Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MysteriesbyHayden/?fref-ts.
List of L. C. Hayden’s books
Harry Bronson Mystery Series
When Doubt Creeps In
When Memory Fails
What Lies Beyond the Fence
When the Past Haunts You
When Death Intervenes
Why Casey Had to Die
Novels featuring Harry Bronson
What Others Know (Part 2)
When Colette Died (Part 1) (Bronson not featured)
Where Secrets Lie
Who’s Susan?
End of the Road, a Bronson Short Story
When Bronson and Darkness Collide, Box Set 1 (e-books only)
Aimee Brent Mystery Series
Vengeance in my Heart
ILL Conceived
Standalone Thriller
Secrets of the Tunnels
Inspirational
Nonfiction:
Angels and Miracles Abound
Angels Around Us
When Angels Touch You
Angel Trilogy, Box Set 1 (e-books only)
Fiction:
Bell-Shaped Flowers
Children’s picture books:
Puppy Dog and His Bone
What Am I? What Am I?
Paranormal
The Drums of Gerald Hurd
Writing Advice
Help! I Want to Write
Contributed to
A Second Helping of Murder (a cookbook)
Haunted Highways (collection of haunted places in Texas)
Edited and compiled
Breaking & Entering: The Road to Success (a Sisters in Crime how-to guide)
Stories from 2 Centuries, a Collection of Writings (by senior citizens)
Random Thoughts, a Collection of Writings (by senior citizens)
What Readers Are Saying . . .
About When Doubt Creeps In
The chapters are very pacy, strong characters, intrigue, and goals.
Bella Ellwood-Clayton—Australia
I loved the book! It flows really well and the Reader-in-Me wants more pages to turn.
Barbara Sheridan
You've created great characters that have gotten under my skin.
Frances Fletcher—New York
Excellent writing, as always—very suspenseful, interesting to watch the action unfold.
Jan Matthews
I absolutely devoured the chapters. I loved the storyline and the characters really drew me in. I couldn't make myself stop reading. I love this type of non-stop action.
Kathie Hamilton—California
The storyline immediately caught my attention. The intrigue and twists are compelling.
Janice Kahler
When Doubt Creeps In is a fun read. I wanted to keep reading more.
Kaye Forest—Texas
About When Memory Fails
What an action-packed rush! What a wild adventure! The author incorporates incredible pacing throughout the book. As a reader, I was very much engaged.
Sarah E. Burr
New York
This installment in the series is a real edge-of-the-seat ride!
Catherine Dilts
Author of the Rock Shop Mysteries and Survive Or Die
About What Lies Beyond the Fence
Overall a very good read. Good catchy opening. Lots of suspense and good character development. Possibly the best Bronson book in the series.
Richard Schwein
FBI Special Agent in Charge, retired
Author of the Ben Douglas Series
What Lies Beyond the Fence is a very engaging book. The details took me to places far and beyond the written word. Hayden is certainly skillful at weaving, and intertwining the characters into a very suspenseful plot, or was that plots? She is a gifted writer that kept me wanting to continue reading into the wee hours of the night. I highly recommend this fabulous book.
Jean Addis
North Carolina
About the other Harry Bronson books:
When the Past Haunts You, When Death Intervenes, Why Casey Had to Die, others
I absolutely fell in love with Harry Bronson. I’m in a book club and we all love the Bronson Series so very much. Thank you for writing these books.
Trinity Barnett
Pennsylvania
Settle into a comfortable reading chair and prepare for plot twists and surprises!
Molly Weston
Meritorious Mysteries
About Secrets of the Tunnels
Secrets of the Tunnels is a terrific book. I love every-thing Hayden writes.
Shan Giraud
Texas
About the Aimee Brent Series:
Vengeance in My Heart, ILL Conceived
The series is full of colorful characters you’ll remember. It’s a smorgasbord of suspense, with a good dollop of romance.
Valerie Stocking
New Mexico
About the Miracle and Angels Series:
Touch of an Angel’s Wing
Angels and Miracles Abound, Angels Around Us, When Angels Touch You
The series sucked me in right from the start and left me in a perpetual state of goose bumps. The writing is beautiful. I marvel at the smoothness of the transitions.
Kathleen Chalmers
About the Children’s Picture Books
Puppy Dog and His Bone, What Am I? What Am I?
The pictures are sooooo cute … my little brother’s favorite ... Big hit!
Amazon Reviews
When Doubt Creeps In
Copyright 2021
by
L. C. Hayden
ASIN: B08YNQNM88
Angel’s Trumpet Press
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electrical or mechanical, including photography, recording, or by any information or retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in reviews.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to a real person, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
About the Author
L. C. Hayden is the creator of the popular Harry Bronson Thriller Series. Prior releases have won several major awards. What Lies Beyond the Fence was a finalist for the Best Suspense Novel for Killer’s Nashville’s Silver Falchion Award as well as the Reader’s Choice Award. When the Past Haunts You, a thriller that hit the Kindle Police Procedural #2 Best Seller List, was a finalist for Left Coast Crimes’ Watson Award for Best Characters. A previous Bronson release, Why Casey Had to Die, became an Agatha Award Finalist for Best Novel and a Pennsylvania Top 40 Pick.
Besides the Bronson Series, Hayden has penned a standalone thriller, Secrets of the Tunnels, and also the Aimee Brent Mystery Series. All of these books contain that edge of the seat suspense and unexpected twists Hayden is known for.
Her non-mysteries include a series about miracles and angels. The books are spiritually uplifting.
Hayden’s other works include two children’s books and several others in various genres.
Besides being an accomplished author, Hayden is a popular speaker. She has done workshops and school presentations, has spoken to clubs and organizations, and has worked at several major cruise lines speaking about writing while cruising all over the world. From October 2006 to October 2007, Hayden hosted Mystery Writers of America’s only talk show, Murder Must Air.
Please check out L. C. Hayden’s books at www.tinyurl.com/LCHaydenbooks and visit her website at www.lchayden.com. She loves hearing from her readers.
Bronson’s Honey
Honey may be Bronson’s dog, but she’s also ours. Here my husband, Rich, and I enjoy a time with her.
Introducing Shadow (Honey in the book) doing what he enjoys doing: looking at us from the other side of the couch.
Thank you for reading my book!
Please don’t forget to review it:
http://www.Amazon.com/review/create-review?&asin=B08YNQNM88
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I sincerely appreciate it.