The Haunting on Palm Court
Isle of Palms Suspense
Book One
Stephanie Edwards
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal
Date of Publication: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 9781735169101
ASIN: B089QXJHPV
Number of pages: 252
Word Count: 69,786
Cover Artist: Stephanie Edwards
Tagline: He refused to leave her alone, even after his death
Book Description:
After Blake Nelson catches her abusive fiancé, Parker, with another woman, she seeks serenity at her late grandmother’s beach cottage. He follows Blake to the island and attempts to kill her, but instead, he dies in an accident while fleeing the police.
His malevolent spirit returns to the cottage to finish what he started. The haunting intensifies when Blake reconnects with her first love, Clint. Will Blake discover how to banish Parker before it’s too late?
Excerpt:
The last bit of winter wind pierced her flesh as she put on the cardigan. She sat down on the worn decking boards on the widow’s walk. Pulling the sweater down over her knees, she allowed the waves to impart their healing magic, calming her as much as possible.
Once she had experienced all the bitter wind she could handle, Blake went back downstairs. She caught her reflection in the foyer mirror. Her eyes swollen and red, and her skin chapped from the wind. Nancy reached out to comfort Blake.
“I’m staying with you tonight. You shouldn’t be alone. By the way, Clint is sleeping in his patrol car in the driveway.â€
“Please tell him to go home,†Blake said.
Nancy walked outside for a moment. When she returned, she put her hands on her hips. “He refuses to leave you.†She gave Blake a meaningful wink, but Blake was in no place to pick up on hints, regardless of their level of subtlety.
“Goodnight, Nancy. Thanks for staying with me.†Blake walked upstairs to her room.
She squirmed in bed for hours. Parker had hurt her; still, his death saddened her.
After falling into a fitful sleep, her unrest turned into a series of disturbing dreams and frightening images. In a state between nightmare and wakefulness, she woke in a cold sweat, with a pounding headache. A prickly sensation tingled across her body. She turned. Parker lay behind her, smirking. Paralyzed with fear, Blake sat frozen in her bed, staring at him. His wasn’t the first spirit she’d seen, not by a longshot. But seeing him, her heartrate sped up, and her breathing turned shallow.
His face illuminated by the light of the full moon, Parker smiled and traced the outline of her face with his index finger. He leaned in to kiss her, but she jumped out of bed. He began inching toward her, but Blake flipped the mattress onto the floor.
Blake turned on the lamp on her bedside table. When her eyes adjusted, Parker had disappeared. She bent over to check under her bed, jumping when she accidentally stepped on one of Willow’s squeaky toys. She breathed a sigh of relief when she kicked aside the plush stuffed animal.
Someone knocked on her bedroom door. She called out, “Yes?â€
“What’s the matter?†Nancy asked.
Blake opened the door. Nancy rubbed her eyes. “I had a nightmare that Parker was in bed with me,†Blake said. “When I woke up, he was there. It’s the creepiest feeling I’ve ever experienced.†She shivered.
Nancy gasped and placed her hands on her cheeks. “Oh, my word! Are you all right?â€
“I’m frightened, but I’m okay.â€
Blake’s chest caved inward. Over the past year, she had faced some traumatic, life-altering events. As an empath, Blake was no stranger to interacting with spirits, but Parker’s was the first who had frightened her.
“Will he come back? If he does, how will we get rid of him?â€
Nancy hugged her but didn’t say a word, unusual for her. She had to be hiding something.
“What aren’t you telling me?†Blake demanded.
Nancy put her finger to her lips. “It’s a long story for another day, but you’re not alone in seeing spirits. It’s part of your family’s past, and mine for that matter. Just trust me, it’ll be okay.â€
Blake threw her hands into the air. “But…â€
Nancy shook her head. “Shh, honey. Not right now. Please calm down. It’s late. Get some rest. We’ll take care of Parker all in good time.â€
Emotional and physical exhaustion had taken its toll on Blake. She returned to her bed but did not sleep for the rest of the night. Every time she drifted off, Parker’s dead eyes stared at her, boring a hole into her soul.
About the Author:
Stephanie Edwards has been writing professionally since she landed her first newspaper column at the age of 13. Her love for the Lowcountry, the Atlantic Ocean and a good ghost story inspired her to write her first book. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Ron, and their adorable dog, Shadow.
Website: www.stephedwardswrites.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/steph_a_edwards
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/StephEdwardsWrites/
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