Teaser Tuesday! ~ The Prophet and the Snow Angel

 

When Navy Seal Team leader, Charlie Stein is paired with Operations Analyst Aria Lockett, he is annoyed. Having the burden of an Analyst on a field mission was not a headache he wanted to endure.

Operations Analyst Aria Lockett has been tracking The White Guard Terrorist cell for years. When they finally get a strong lead on an upcoming attack, she is ready to put an end to their terrorist reign once and for all.

With an imminent attack scheduled for Christmas Day in Rome, the pair must work together to thwart the threat. The unease between them quickly turns to trust and unexpected desire. When the terror cell is alerted to their plan, can they remain focused and save Christmas or will their growing feelings cloud their judgment and destroy the path of hope?

Excerpt

 “Good afternoon, Jean-Paul Krandif. How can I help you?”

“We apologize for taking time out of your busy day. My name is Chris Schoenfelder, and this is my associate Lisa Milam. Your establishment is very beautiful.”

“Thank you, our supporters are very generous, and we have established ourselves as the premiere établissement vinicole of Paris. The tourists love us. Please call me Jean,” he said, leaning against the desk.

“Given your reputation and expansive collection du vin from around the world, I just wanted some insight about the procurement of some rather rare more robust vintages.”

“There is an entire network of dealers and well-known suppliers. Why come to me?” Krandif said. “What business are you in again?”

“Recovery and we were told you are the guy who gets things done."

“How can I help?”

“Well, what we wanna know is, if I wanted to procure and transport canisters of a potentially lethal bioweapon from somewhere, let's say, Germany would you be the guy to talk to?” Stein said. Aria watched Krandif’s reaction closely. He blinked, and his bald head started to perspire. “Would you be that guy?”

“No, I'm afraid not,” Krandif said. “I believe our meeting is over.”

Krandif moved to the door and Stein followed, “all right, thank you for...wait I have a quick question. Do you like Hummers?”

Oh good lord

“Range Rovers, Land cruisers?”

“Mr. Schoenfelder, will you leave the room?

“No!” Stein said, smashing Krandif’s head against the edge of the wooden door. “Should've taken the money, Jean!” Aria immediately moved behind the desk to the computer.

“You broke my nose!” Krandif said.

Stein pulled his weapon from the back of his pants, pointing it at Krandif’s head, “not a word.” Aria wrapped up the laptop, cable, and started searching the desk. “I won't shoot you unless I have to, don’t make me have to because and I’ll feel bad about it. Sit down!” Aria pulled the duct tape out of her bag, tossing it to Stein. Stein proceeded to bind Krandif to the chair. Aria pulled every piece of paper and notebook out of the desk, shoving it into her bag. Then she started on the bookshelf.

“Two nights ago, you had a German visitor, Geoff Vlakin. Why was he here?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, we have guests—” Krandif started, and Stein backhanded him with the gun in his hand. “Understand, it is not my intent to disrupt this little operation you’ve got going on here, Jean. I need to know about Vlakin. Why he was here and the location of the canisters he stole.”

“I don’t—”

“Come on, Jean,” Stein hit the man’s face again. “I can do this all day. Just tell me what I need to know, and we can be on our merry way.”

Aria yanked the books off the shelves uncovering a hard drive and a camera she detached and shoved into her bag, “Stein, we need to go.”

Stein glanced at her and then hit Krandif again, this time pointing his gun at the man’s groin, “Talk to me Jean, or you will be spending Christmas getting reconstructive plastic surgery that may or may not restore your manhood.”

“Fine!” Krandif said. “The man—”

“Vlakin.”

“Yes, Vlakin. He asked me to add a box to my shipment. It seemed harmless,” Krandif said.

“Where?”

“I don’t know. Vlakin put the package on one of the trucks. I didn’t ask which one.”

“Where is the shipment going?”

“Downtown Paris.”

“When?”

“Today,” Krandif said, and Stein rolled his eyes.

“Where are the deliveries for today?” Krandif hesitated, and Stein shot him in the knee. Krandif screamed. “Come on, Jean, you’re making this way too hard.”

“Alright, alright!” Krandif said. “There are three, I de Flore, Les Deux Magots, and Le Secret.” Aria gathered up her bag and moved to the door.

Stein ripped off another piece of tape using it to cover Krandif’s mouth, “thank you for your cooperation. It’s been a pleasure.” Stein met her at the door. “Let’s go.”

Aria followed Stein out of The Ice House without incident. Aria immediately dialed her phone as they dashed to the car. “Wes, we have three potential targets—”

 

Stein got into the car, his mind spinning with the most likely target. All well known Paris café’s. The door next to him closed, and he started to drive. “Three places. All well known, all heavily populated this time of day.”

“He said it was a box which means it the device is small. Likely a low yield,” Aria said, digging into her bag. She pulled out the laptop, inserting a USB drive into the device. “We are dispatching French Hazmat and police to all three locations.”

“Where are we going?”

“Give me a minute,” Aria said, waiting for the encryption key to do its job. The computer unlocked, and she started searching.

“The deliveries are regular. Check the last delivery contents against the deliveries for today. See if there are any anomalies,” Stein said. “There has to be a notation, a change in weight, contents—”

“Stein shut up!” Aria scrolled through the data fervently searching. “If you are getting paid to deliver an important package you are going to assign someone you trust to get it done. Not your usual lackey.”

She found it, the delivery driver for Le Secretonly driver was not on a reoccurring route before today.

“Le Secret, it’s going to Le Secret.”

“We are ten minutes away,” Stein said.

“Go faster,” Aria said, and Stein hit the gas weaving his way through Paris traffic. Aria was back on the phone updating Wes. They hit a traffic jam and came to a stop. “Stein!”

“I’m working on it.” Stein looked around seeing the median between the two sides clear. “Hang on.” He pulled onto the median and hit the gas, seeing a break in the cars he made a left and then a right. He came to a stop at the police barricade. Both he and Aria sprinted toward the chaos of the café evacuation. Stein saw Wes in front of the building. People started falling. One by one they fell like dominos. Stein stepped up his pace and grabbed Aria holding her back.

They watched Wes turn in realization before he fell to the ground.

“No!” Aria screamed.

The Prophet and the Snow Angel is coming this holiday season from eXtasy Books stay tuned for more details!


Come Find Me!

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Exclusive Excerpt - Finders Release Date ~ Oct 4th 2019!

When an expert Demonologist meets a Reality Show Producer on the Ghost Hunting Show Finders, sparks of true love fly so brightly even the Devil takes notice.

Demonologist Luke Melloy has seen the face of pure evil. He's fought it and sent it back to hell. It's what he does. To Claire Westin, ghosts and demons are just great television and good for ratings. When she’s faced with the truth Luke has seen, her reality is turned upside down as the two are swept into dire straits moments after they meet. Desire sparks between the unlikely pair, throwing their hearts into chaos with a love neither of them expected nor wanted.

When the Demon targets an unsuspecting Claire with his wrath, Luke finds his focus split between his oath to God and the awakening of his heart. Together, can they face the ancient evil and defeat it, or will they lose everything?

Find out in Finders – October 4th 2019!
Pre -Order Now~

Finders consisted of a team of eight to ten paranormal investigators. The supporting technical team was four boom operators and four cameramen. Depending on the size of the other locations, they could have more or fewer. For the investigation of Crestwater Church, Craig and Claire had doubled the number of cameras to enable multiple teams to be filming concurrently. In addition to the film equipment, the paranormal team employed a slew of scientific equipment to collect evidence of paranormal activity during the investigation. With the entire team at work, it would take a full day to set up and calibrate all of the necessary equipment.

The flurry of activity continued around her. Team members waved and said hello. Claire nodded, smiling in response. "How are we looking?" she asked Craig.

"Four hours until sundown, six until lights out. We’re right on schedule. I was just about to go around to the back of the church for some B-Roll shots. The foliage is amazing, and the shots I’m getting are phenomenal."

"Is the church open?"

"Yeah, we haven't locked it down for dinner yet."

"Cool, the three Venti Starbucks on the trip here are calling for an exit."

"Gotcha," Craig replied with a smile and a nod.

Claire inhaled the fresh air. Despite the cold, it was invigorating. She drank up the smell of wood, freshly fallen leaves, and dirt. Taking a closer look at the church, she realized the media photos didn't do justice to the immense structure.

Dark redwood covered the fifty-foot face. Jutting into the sky like a dagger, the roof was pointed and peaked ten feet above the face. The aged wood’s hues shifted with the sunlight, and the sway of trees gave the appearance of the inanimate object breathing. Against the backdrop of the autumn leaves, the sight was staggering and breathtaking. Claire ventured to the wide-mouth doorway opening of the church.

Piles of orange and yellow cords looked like snakes spilling out the open windows. The crunching of leaves beneath her feet and the whipping of the wind made her stride a little quicker. Hurrying up the plethora of steps, she lifted the red hot set tape barrier out of the way and pushed open the door.

As she stepped into the vestibule, the stale air stifled her lungs. The solid wooden door closed behind her, but sunlight continued to stream into the enclosed area via the large windows on either side. Thick darkness beyond the sun's reach constricted the expanse. Even the doors were massive, at twice her height, at least. She guessed they were made from solid walnut, from the ancient trees surrounding the church.

A chilling wisp crept within her hair to the back of her neck, like fingers playing with her hair. Claire instinctively turned. Seeing nothing but feeling a shiver up her spine, she took in the surroundings and searched for the bathroom. Eying a promising door, she made a beeline and found salvation.

Thankfully the facilities were in working order. After washing her hands in cold water, Claire dried them on her jeans. Taking a quick look in the cracked mirror, she adjusted her long brown hair tied up in a ponytail, smoothing any unruly strands and bumps before walking back into the vestibule.

The intricately carved stone lining the archway into the nave caught her eye, and she stopped, inspecting it closer. A carved frame of tree limbs with gnarled and knotted extensions bent and twisted around the mouth of the doorway, amazingly delicate and detailed. She could feel the bark beneath her fingertips despite knowing it was carved in stone.

Hearing Pip barking at the door, Claire moved away from the nave archway to the main entrance. Opening it, she saw no sign of her dog. Confused, she walked outside to the steps.

"Pip? Pippy, come!"

The flurry of activity when she’d arrived had ceased. The Finders crew had disappeared, and Claire remembered Craig mentioning dinner. Hearing another bark, she followed the sound.

"Pippy, come!" Claire said, her patience waning. She wasn't used to Pip not obeying her commands. They were going to need to talk. Finally, the dog appeared, sprinting out of the thick brush. She breathed an unconscious sigh of relief.

"Claire?"

Her heart leaped as Pip barked.

She spun toward the voice, seeing nothing but Pip taking off through the open door of the church. "Pippy!"

Claire chased after him, into the vestibule, but saw no sign of him. He barked again. The sound was muffled. He had to be on the other side of the large arched doors leading to the nave. Claire pulled on the slightly open door. It swept back with a whoosh of air and a loud thud, the sound echoing off the brittle walls, and a shower of dust rained down.

"Fuck. Pip, come here!" she yelled, attempting to not choke within the cloud of decay from the ruin.

Seriously?

Claire grabbed her phone, turning on the flashlight feature, utilizing it to explore. She shivered at the feel of invisible hands pulling her deeper into the darkness. Heart thudding and hands shaking, she struggled to remain calm, though her mind told her to run.

High cathedral ceilings jutted up to the heavens. Faded images of angels and cherubs adorned the beams. The pews remained, dust-covered and overrun by spiders. When the light flashed over the stone altar at the head of the room, Claire's heart skipped.

The sound of metal clanked on the floor, and Claire panicked, thinking she’d dropped her keys. Checking her pocket, she found her keys intact. Using her flashlight, she searched the surrounding floor for the source of the noise. Her eyes focused on a large old-fashioned key a few inches from where she stood. Reaching down, she picked it up. The cold metal felt icy in her hand. She examined it closely.

Pip barked. Claire turned, putting the key in her pocket, and realized how far away from the opening she'd traveled. Pip's fur brushed against her legs. She turned, glaring at him. "You and I are going to talk about this."

"Claire!"

She heard her name and turned. A scorched skull atop a body shrouded in black dominated her vision. Claire instinctively raised her arms, stepping back. The floor beneath her cracked before disappearing from beneath her feet. Her body fell. She screamed. The light above quickly faded, and wet darkness engulfed her senses. The impact rendered her immobile while agonizing pain from icy water shocked her entire body.

With her arms flailing, her senses returned. She struggled to kick her legs despite the hardening of her muscles. Up, I need to go up!

Pushing her arms in front of her, willing the blackness away, she prayed for air.

---

* * * * 

Come Find Me!

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Whatcha Watchin' Wednesday ~ Television A to Z - Awesome A's Part Four!

So this is my version of the A to Z Challenge Television Style. I am listing the shows having the biggest impact on me, not necessarily the best shows in each category. I thought they were the best when I was watching them. 

See the whole list of A's Here!

The Americans (2013-Present)

A pair of deep-cover Soviet spies masquerades as a typical DC couple whose children, neighbors, coworkers & friends are completely unaware of their activities. At home, they're the stereotypical parents of stereotypical kids; at work, they pose as travel agents; but at night, they weave a web of confidants, lovers, dupes, and historical figures from the Reagan-era Cold War. The startlingly realistic plot twists force the viewer to consider the real cost of an undeclared war, what it takes to protect one's beliefs -- if it's worth it-- and if it worked for either side. Written by Steve83

For me, this show works simply because of the chemistry of the cast. Kerri Russell and Matthew Rhys are truly magnetic (proven by their off-screen marriage and child in 2016). Without the electricity of these two characters and actors, this show would never have worked. It is a great look at the politics of the Regan years, the cold war and the dirty deeds of both sides in a time when the words Top Secret held real value. 

Stars: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Keidrich Sellati

APB (2016-2017)

 

After witnessing a violent crime, a tech billionaire purchases a troubled police precinct, rebooting it as a private police force. 

I have to admit I enjoyed this show. The mesh of crime fighting and new technology was really interesting to me. The show addressed issues of privacy, a police state, and protection while still wildly entertaining. A great cast of characters, and well-paced writing kept the show moving. According to the latest reports, FOX has canceled APB. If you can catch it on Netflix or Hulu do so, you will not be disappointed.

Stars: Justin Kirk, Natalie Martinez, Taylor Handley

Ally McBeal (1997-2002)

Ally McBeal and Billy Thomas were going steady throughout their childhoods. Ally even followed Billy to Harvard law school despite having no interest in law. But when Billy chose to pursue a career in law away from Ally, their relationship came to an end. In the present, an old classmate of Ally's named Richard Fish gives Ally a job at his law firm, where Billy and his new wife are also working. Ally finds herself in a predicament since she still has feelings for Billy which she's laboring to get over. At the office, Ally puts up with a nosy, gossiping secretary named Elaine, and an oddball lawyer named John Cage never seems to lose a case. At home, Ally's friend and house-mate Renée regularly advises her on her love life. The series follows Ally's trials and tribulations in life through her eyes and caricatures her personal thoughts and fantasies. Written by Ondre Lombard <olombard@lombard.cyberverse.com>

To be honest, I only have a few memories of this show. My Mom adored the program, and so I felt I needed to add it to the list for her. From what I remember this show reinvented the Dramedy. Ally McBeal Incorporated the drama of a soap opera, the realness of a heavy law drama, and the absurdity of comedy into one 47 minute show. Ally McBeal is one of those shows that is a must-watch in scripting, theater, acting and directing classes for its out-of-the-box style, thinking, and dialog. A few have attempted to duplicate, but Ally McBeal was a once in a lifetime phenomenon. An all-star cast who have all gone on to do bigger and better things, it is a show worth watching – experiencing at least once. 

Stars: Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Jane Krakowski

Did I miss any? Please let me know, I would love to hear from you! On to the Badass B's! Get a sneak peek here!

Come Find Me!

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16 Movies I Will Watch With my Teenage Daughter & Son!

In no particular order, all of these are teen appropriate and a must see for the ultimate teen experience!

Sixteen Candles - A young girl's "sweet sixteenth" birthday becomes anything but special as she suffers from every embarrassment.I remember Jake Ryan as the perfect teen guy! The use of bo-hunk is hilarious, and don't forget about the church organist retaining water and the big (or littel) panty reveal! A classic for all teen girls!

Mean Girls - Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George. With Rachel McAdams as the 'mean girl' and Lindsey Lohan as the 'innocent' how can you resist this work of fate? A cult classic by far, Mean Girls is a life lesson.

Grease - Good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance? How else is your teen daughter gonna learn how to sing in high school. This classic pre-cursor to the Disney version has bad words and everything! Your teen will know all the words to Summer Lovin by the very end!

The Breakfast Club - Five high school students, all different stereotypes, meet in detention, where they pour their hearts out to each other, and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought. A diary of the high school clique and teen angst, this is a roller-coaster ride that has real value. I great movie to break into that whole 'lets talk about drugs, safe, sex, crappy grades and well how high school sucks for everyone-- a must have date with your teen!

Freaky Friday - An overworked mother and her daughter do not get along. When they switch bodies, each is forced to adapt to the other's life for one freaky Friday.Sometimes I truly wish this could happen, that my daughter could walk a mile in my shoes. The Hollywood version will have to do!

Clueless - A rich high school student tries to boost a new pupil's popularity, but reckons without affairs of the heart getting in the way. So Adorbs! A class act and totally meant for parent-daughter bonding. You may not have known this, but Clueless is a retelling of Jane Austin's classic, Emma.

Saved! - When a girl attending a Christian high school becomes pregnant,

she finds herself ostracized and demonized, as all of her former friends turn on her.Definitely a good one to watch together this down-to-earth film tackles religious bigotry, teens discovering their place in the world and how difficult the real world can be. Sounds like a downer but is a great film along the lines of Juno. 

Easy-A - A clean-cut high school student relies on the school's rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. Laugh out loud funny, with a great supporting cast the topics are worth watching together and the film does a good job of coming full circle.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite what the principal thinks of that. What can I say I am a child of the 80's and this is a must see!! What kid doesn't want the perfect day off and while certain parts may 'date' the film the concept is still solid great entertainment. 

Scream -  Attempting to cope with her mother's murder, Sydney and her horror movie-obsessed friends are stalked by a murderer who seems to have a hard time letting the past go. Teens are starting to get into horror films, and they are still great date movies. Scream is a funny break in to the real thing. Still fun to watch with popcorn even if it is corny.

10 Things I Hate About You - A new kid must find a guy to date the meanest girl in school, the older sister of the girl he has a crush on, who cannot date until her older sister does. This is a Hollywood adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew' and an instant classic. 

Bend it Like Beckham - The daughter of orthodox Sikh rebels against her parents' traditionalism by

running off to Germany with a football team (soccer in America). This is a great film about family expectations, personal goals, friendship and finding your passion. A wonderful film I highly recommend!

Never Been Kissed - A journalist enrolls in her old high school as part of her research for a story. This is a sweet film about high school regrets and making the most of the years ahead. It is also about having confidence in yourself and that high school does end...really...it does.

Cry Baby - In 1950s Baltimore, a bad-boy with a heart of gold wins the love of a good-girl, whose boyfriend sets out for revenge. Another teen musical, but seriously a riot and loads of fun!

Bring It On - A champion high school cheerleading squad discovers its previous captain stole all their best routines from an inner-city school and must scramble to compete at this year's championships. Full of spunk, fun, dancing and team spirit this a great departure from the normal teen flick with all of the angst and drama included.

Hairspray - Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show. The remake of the cult classic is a joy to watch. Great messages about what used to be and how change happened gradually. Watch for awesome fun and John Travolta as Tray's Mom!! 

So obviously this is NOT a definitive list, so tell me what I missed! I LOVE to hear from my readers, chime in and be heard!

Come Find Me!

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