My amazing editors, ANISSA WALL of AnissaEdits.com and THERESA CROUSE of Magical Words Editing. Thanks to both of you for waving your magic wands over my words.
My last-minute-but-read-it-anyway beta readers, KATHERINE WARD and CHRISTINE HELLEWELL JENSEN.
CHRIS FOX, whose books Write to Market and Launch to Market made me take a flying leap out of my comfort zone and face a lot of fears.
My sister SEPTEMBER WEEKS, for helping me realize that “all the jokers and aces are coming my way”.
Thanks to two 5-star reviewers of The Artist Cries Wolf who have a clever way with words— JESSIE C, who called my townsfolk “townsmonsters,” and an anonymous KINDLE CUSTOMER, who labeled the content as including “smelly trolls.” I loved both of those images so much that I just had to add them into my series and book descriptions. Thanks!
Copyright © 2016 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)
(Pixie) Pretty Purple Fairy - Copyright © 2016 Sylphe_7 (istockphoto.com)
Businessman - Copyright © 2016 skalapendra (istockphoto.com)
Tiara - Copyright © 2016 blue67 (istockphoto.com)
(Bat) Halloween Gargoyle - Copyright © 2016 ved007 (istockphoto.com)
Background - Copyright © 2016 (istockphoto.com)
Inside Graphics Copyrights
Halloween © 2016 luplupme (istockphoto.com)
Monster At The Window © 2016 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.
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Excerpt: Jingle Belle
Moonchuckle Bay Prequel #0.5
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Jingle has a bounty hunter on her trail!
When her controlling uncle plans Jingle’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 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 magical lab. Not all the 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.”
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Excerpt: The Vampire Gets a Grip
Moonchuckle Bay Romantic Comedy #3
She may have sunk her fangs into something she can’t handle!
Famous for directing many of the Creature Feature films her family’s Moonchuckle Bay Studios is famous for, vampire Bianca Rossi wants to branch out into paranormal romances. Her brothers reluctantly agree, but insist she hire several specific people, including Blake Gladwell, a key grip with a great reputation. Blake is thrilled to jump on the job, as he doesn’t want to accept the lucrative contract befor
e him now that his ex-wife is starring in the film. He doesn’t believe in love at first sight — until he meets his new boss. He wants romance, but she’s all business. Will a saboteur on the set and her reluctance to get involved put a stop to this romance? Or will this reluctant vampire finally get a grip?
CHAPTER ONE
“YOU’RE OUT OF THE WILL AGAIN.” Over the Bluetooth earpiece came an evil villain laugh, followed by, “It’s all mine.”
Blake Gladwell shook his head at his parents’ non-existent support of his career choice, and asked his brother, “What heinous thing did I do this week?”
“Mom found out you’ll be doing, and I quote...” Steven raised his voice in a mediocre imitation of their mother, “...one of those vulgar romance movies.”
“I guess I should have gone to work for them like they wanted.” His parents had expected him to join their big family business based in his hometown of Austin, Texas. Gladwell Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Steven had, but the prospect had held absolutely no interest for him.
Unfortunately, following his dream had made him an outcast in his family, with rare occasions. The year he’d been part of the team that won a Technical Achievement Academy Award for accomplishments contributing to the progress of the motion picture industry — he’d helped develop an innovative new way to filter light for special effect shots — his parents had sent him a congratulations card that contained a plea for him to return to his roots and their business. He still had the printed Oscar certificate detailing the achievement and listing his name among the group and he also had the card from his parents. They sat in frames on the same shelf of his house.
There pretty much disapproved of everything he did.
He didn’t know if the will actually changed as often as Steven claimed, but he knew his brother got a kick out of teasing him about it. The pharmaceutical-enhanced inheritance would be significant, and his parents dangled it like a carrot in front of him.
“No. You’d hate working here, bro. You wouldn’t last a week and you know it.”
“Hey, you’ve done it. And the folks actually want to spend time with you.”
“I’m a science nerd. Of course I like playing with living organisms and manipulating them to find cures for drugs.”
“You make it sound like a glamorous career.”
“And you like creating movies and you’re good at it. You get to mess around with equipment and solve problems during filming. And didn’t you tell me you’ve got a reputation as a good luck charm on sets? Where’d that come from, anyhow?”
“Yup.” Blake laughed. “My first big film was Walk the Line with Reese Witherspoon and Joacquin Phoenix. After Reese took home the Best Actress Oscar — along with a slew of other awards — she called me her good luck charm — and the reputation just kind of stuck.”
“Then keep making movies. Mom and Dad may be able to keep you from inheriting officially, but they can’t stop me from sharing the money with you after they’re gone.”
“Thanks, bro. I appreciate your loyalty.” His parents certainly had none for him, and that hurt.
He heard his brother let out a deep breath. “Mom wants me to ask you if you’re aware that Miranda got remarried two weeks ago?”
Miranda. What a painful experience that had been. He tried to look at it as an extreme learning experience.
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Thanks again!
You’re amazing!
Heather Horrocks
www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com
The Bridesmaid Earns Her Wings Page 14
