It is with great pleasure that I shine a Spotlight On Tracey Smith and her latest release Cedar Hollow :)
Title: Cedar Hollow
Author: Tracey Smith
Release Date: May 7th 2013
Cassidy
St. Claire still wasn't sure what she'd been hoping to find when she began the
search for her birth parents, but all she’d uncovered was a bunch of death
certificates and one ailing great-uncle who’d finally kicked the bucket last
week. Since Cassidy is the last surviving member of the family that means his
estate, a small seaside bed and breakfast in New Hampshire, has been left to
her. An odd stipulation in his Will requires that she appear in person to
inherit the property. Cassidy isn't very hopeful that this weekend trip will
lead to anything more than a momentary distraction from her busy life, and an
excuse to take her convertible for a long drive up the coast.
She
certainly isn't prepared for Mr. Tall Handsome and Brooding; Ben Riley has been
running the bed and breakfast for the last several years, and he is definitely
less than welcoming. His instant dislike for her is staggering, but his
penetrating green eyes burn with a dangerous mixture of hostility and
attraction.Within
days of her arrival an attempt is made on her life and then another. Suddenly
Cassidy finds herself trying to unravel the mysteries of the past, while
outrunning the dangers of the present and finally turning to the strong,
protective arms of Ben Riley and a future she'd never imagined.
Meet the author
I grew up
in Southern California, but as a teenager moved with my family to a small town
in Arkansas. It was there that I met my husband, who had also recently moved to
the state. Fate brought us both to that same small town and into each other’s
lives and it is where we remain today raising our two children and living out
our happily ever after. As you can probably tell I’m a hopeless romantic.
I began
my writing career in 2009 with the publication of my first novel Love’s Fate,
which quickly grew into a romantic series. Since that first day that I sat down
to write I haven’t been able to stop. Writing is my passion and has become a
necessary part of my life. My new release, Cedar Hollow, is a romantic suspense
novel.
Here's a teaser...
Chapter One
She drove
up I-95 with the top down. The wind whipped through her long blonde hair and
she enjoyed the feel of having it loose, rather than pulled tight. Her scalp
thanked her for the reprieve. It was a perfect summer day, with the warm sun
shining down on her pale skin. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d
taken the time to enjoy the feel of the sunshine, too many hours spent indoors.
This was
why she’d chosen to drive up the east coast rather than fly. In the two years
since she’d bought her Miata coupe convertible she’d yet to take it for a drive
with the top down. It was about time. She needed this. She needed a break.
As she
listened to Mick Jagger sing about how you can’t always get what you want, the
familiar ping of her cell phone interrupted the radio. The irony was not lost
on her. She pressed a button on the console.
“Cassidy
St. Claire.” She answered.
“Ms. St.
Claire, its Roger. I’m so sorry to bother you on your vacation.”
“I don’t
take vacations, Roger.”
“Of course,
Ma’am. Well nevertheless I wouldn’t be bothering you unless it was of the
utmost urgency.”
“Get to
the point, Roger.” Cassidy smiled to herself, everything was of the utmost
urgency to Roger.
“It’s Mr. Belfour, Ma’am. He’s trying to back out
of the deal.” Poor Roger sounded as if he was at his wits end.
“Has he
told you this?” Cassidy questioned calmly.
“Well no,
Ma’am, not in so many words. But Carl Jenkins from accounting was at the Tavern
Golf Club having dinner last night and Mr. Belfour was there as well. Carl
overheard him talking about how he was regretting his decision to sell the
hotel, and that perhaps he might hold onto it a little longer until his
grandson was old enough to take over. Then this morning Mr. Belfour called
requesting a meeting with you. I’m not sure what to do, Ma’am.”
“Set the
meeting.”Cassidy instructed matter-of-factly.
“But,
Ma’am, aren’t you on your way to New Hampshire?”
“I am.”
Cassidy confirmed. “Set the meeting with Mr. Belfour for tomorrow morning at
the Grand Highlander, private dining room. Full spread breakfast buffet,
mimosas, full staff on hand. I want Mr. Belfour waited on hand and foot, five
star treatment. Have Rebecca Gardner meet him, then deliver a message to
Rebecca that I’m running late and that I insist they start breakfast without
me. Once Mr. Belfour has had his breakfast and has enjoyed the royal treatment
deliver another message that I’ve been held up and must reschedule our meeting.
That should buy enough time until I get back on Monday.”
“Yes,
Ma’am, I’ll call Ms. Gardner and let her know right away.”The relief in Roger’s
voice was evident. The poor boy had way too much anxiety for someone so young,
but Cassidy still felt confident in her choice to bring him on as an intern.
His knack for picking up gossip was unprecedented and in the business world
reliable gossip was as good as gold.
“Good
work, Roger, I’ll see you Monday.”
“Enjoy
your weekend, Ms. St. Claire.”
Cassidy
clicked off and once again the music flowed through the car speakers, this time
it was the Eagles living it up at the Hotel California. She loved the classics.
Cassidy turned it up and sang along as she sped along the highway. It wasn’t
long before her phone pinged again.
“Cassidy
St. Claire.”
“Cassi,
are you seriously going to make me have breakfast with Mr.
Can’t-keep-my-hands-to-myself!” Rebecca was not happy with her.
“Becca,
he’s an important client. We need that property for the new resort. It’s just
breakfast.”
“I swear
if he tries to grab my ass one more time…”
“You’ll
tactfully avoid it like you always do.” Cassidy finished the statement for her.
“He’s a
perverted old man!”
“Who owns
a prime piece of real estate.” Cassidy reminded her.
“I know,
I know. What’s the deal with the old goat? Why are we doing the whole wine and
dine routine again, I thought this one was in the bag.”
“It’s
never in the bag until the contract is signed. Mr. Belfour just needs a little
reminder of what the good life will be like once he has all that money in his
pocket and isn’t being weighed down by a failing hotel. And who better to
remind him than an attractive young woman who has a nice ass.” Cassidy laughed.
“Easy to
say when it’s not your ass.” Rebecca mumbled.
“I just
need you to stall him until I get back. I’ll seal the deal on Monday and we can
be done with Mr. Grabby-hands.”
“Thank
God! So you really think you’ll be able to wrap this up by Monday?” Rebecca
asked, switching topics.
“I don’t
see why not. I’m not really sure why the executor insisted that I sign the
documents in person, but I am curious to take a look at this bed and breakfast.
Who knows, it might be a prime spot. But if it’s not worthwhile then I’ll just
arrange for the sale of the property and be done with this whole mess.”
Cassidy
wasn’t really hopeful that this would lead to anything other than a weekend
distraction and a chance to take her Miata for a long drive. She was already
regretting her decision to try to find her biological family. She wasn’t really
sure what she’d been looking for when she started the search for her birth
parents, but all it led to were a bunch of death certificates and one ailing
great uncle, who finally kicked the bucket last week. Since Cassidy was
apparently the only other surviving member of the family that meant his estate
went to her. He was by no means wealthy, but he had been the owner of a small
seaside bed and breakfast, which now apparently belonged to her.
“Do you
think you have any other family up there?”
“No. If
there was any other family the inheritance wouldn’t be going to me.”
“Oh, I guess
that’s true. Well try to relax a little, have some fun. You know, do whatever
they do in New Hampshire.”
“Thanks,
Becca, see you Monday.”
Cassidy
clicked off and once again music flooded the car. This time Carly Simon was
wrongfully accusing her of being vain, which was ridiculous because in fact she
didn’t think the song was about her at all.
She
finally pulled into Cedar Hollow just as the sun was setting. It was a
picturesque little New England town, with small shops lining a main street that
looked like it belonged in another time. Cassidy traveled down the narrow road,
noting that most of the shops were closing with the setting sun. Upon closer
inspection she realized that the shops were not touristy gift shops, but rather
functional businesses. The downtown strip consisted of a hardware store,
grocery, pharmacy, post office and beauty salon. All of which apparently closed
at sundown. This little town definitely could not support the tourism that one
of her resorts attracted, she thought to herself as she slipped into
acquisitions mode.
She
pulled into a small corner diner, one of the few establishments staying open,
and as she raised the roof of her convertible she couldn’t help but notice the
customers inside with their faces plastered to the plate glass window. She
wasn’t sure if they were staring at her or the car.
She
stepped out of the car and self-consciously stretched out her sore muscles, it
had been a long seventeen hour drive up from Chicago. As she walked into the
diner some of the customers had the decency to look away, some did not. She
used the rubber band that was around her wrist to pull her hair up into a pony
tail then twisted it into a messy bun.
“Welcome
to Jenny’s, Miss. Go ahead and grab yourself a booth.” The plump, middle-aged
waitress behind the counter gestured to the booths along the window.
Cassidy
nodded and seated herself in the first booth, squirming a little on the hard
wooden bench seat. She couldn’t wait to slip into a warm bath and relax.
“You’re not from around here.” A younger waitress
observed as she came over to the table and smiled down at Cassidy.
“No I’m
not.” Cassidy confirmed, apparently they didn’t see too many new faces in this
small town.
“I’m
Melissa.” The waitress told her smiling kindly. Melissa’s pale blonde hair was
pulled into a high ponytail which gave her a youthful appearance that was only
betrayed by the crinkles around her eyes when she smiled. Cassidy estimated her
to be in her mid-thirties.
“Cassidy
St. Claire.”
“Oh I
heard about you, you’re here to shut down the old Miller place.” Several
customers turned in their seats to listen, not so discreetly.
“Well,
um, I’m not really sure what I’m going to do with it yet.” Cassidy said
honestly. “I only just found out about it last week.”
“Belongs
to Ben Riley.” A crackly old voice rose above the crowd and Cassidy turned to
see where it had come from.
A grisly
old man sat at the counter, his long grey hair and beard forming a wiry halo
around his heavily lined face. “Old Man Miller hasn’t run that place in years.
It’s Ben Riley who’s been putting his sweat and tears into that place. He’s the
one who you’re going to be putting out when you close it down.” The old man
continued looking at Cassidy with cold milky eyes.
“I’m not
here to put anybody out.” Cassidy assured the room, because at this point every
eye in the restaurant was on her.
“Leave
the girl alone, Arlis.” The older waitress reprimanded, but she eyed Cassidy
warily.
“Don’t mind them.” Melissa whispered. “Can I get
you something?” She asked taking out her order pad.
“What’s
good?” Cassidy asked looking over the hand-written menu.
“The
turkey and gravy is tonight’s special.” Melissa shrugged.
“Sounds
good, I’ll have that.” Cassidy agreed.
As soon
as Melissa left the table Cassidy pulled out her phone to check her email. She
could feel the other patrons watching her every move, but she kept her eyes
locked on the screen until Melissa had returned with the food.
Cassidy
ate quickly, more eager than ever to just get this weekend over with and get
out of this creepy little town. After she finished, Melissa gave her directions
to the bed and breakfast. She headed out of town with her mind made up, tonight
she would stay at the bed and breakfast, then tomorrow morning she would meet
with Mr. Woodard, the executor of the will, to sign whatever papers were
required to acquire and then sell the property. Then she was going to get the
hell out of dodge.
Cassidy
followed the directions out of the valley where Cedar Hollow was located and
traveled up a narrow mountain road. The gravel road eventually turned into a
single lane dirt road. There were no street lights, no city lights, no houses
on this lonely little road. The woods around her were so tightly packed she began
to feel claustrophobic. She felt completely isolated and it was creeping her
out.
Finally
she reached the end of the road and a large dark three story Victorian-style
house loomed in front of her. It was too dark to see anything other than the
imposing outline of the structure, complete with turrets and spires. It looked
like a haunted house. She pulled up shining her headlights across the wide
front porch. A single dingy yellow porch light had been left on, otherwise she
was surrounded by complete darkness. As she stepped out of the car she could
faintly hear the ocean surf off to the right in the distance, but it was too
dark to see anything beyond the glow of her headlights.
Slowly
she made her way up to the front of the house, feeling like an intruder. This
was not the welcoming hotel atmosphere that she was used to. This was dark, and
private, and creepy. She walked up the creaky steps and something rustled in
the bushes next to the porch making her jump and hurry the rest of the way to
the front door. Hesitantly she knocked.
She stood
on the threshold trying not to feel like the first victim in a B-rated horror
movie. She heard heavy footsteps inside and her breathing accelerated as she
watched the handle slowly turn. She had no idea what was going to greet her on
the other side of that door.
The
Chosen One watched as the sleek black convertible pulled up to the house. The
time of reckoning had come. It was finally going to be over. It must be done.
Chapter Two
“You must
be Ben Riley.” Cassidy said brightly trying to hide her shock. Her imagination
had conjured the image of a crusty old loner living in this haunted house on a
hill. She had not been prepared for Mr. Tall, Handsome, and Brooding. He glared
back at her for what felt like an eternity, but in reality was probably only a
few seconds.....
