 Quite a few years ago, I had a stalker. This was a guy who I had dated. When I broke up with him, he became determined and would call (landline) and not hang up. If I talked to him, he'd threaten my family. Once he followed me when I got off work and would jump out of his car at stoplights and try to get into mine. Frankly, it was terrifying. I can't imagine a worse feeling. When author Evan Purcell wrote about a woman who was being followed, it triggered my own fears. But it happens. Women (and men) are targeted. People don't take no for an answer. In FOLLOWED BY FEAR, Sydney is trying to start over after the death of her husband. She's moved away and only wants to move on. But someone is stalking her. Thank goodness, she has a hot police officer who can protect her. (I did contact the police and they reached out to the person and spoke with him, letting him know about the consequences if he didn't stop.) FOLLOWED BY FEAR is a gripping story with romance and danger. It's a great read! And out now! blurb: A city girl needs the help of a small-town sheriff to stop her stalker. Harper’s Bend is the perfect small town, especially on Halloween. Filled with friendly locals and rural traditions, Sydney views this place as her only chance to take back her life and flee from the mysterious stalker who’s been after her since the death of her husband. She didn’t expect the danger to follow her, and she definitely didn’t expect to develop such an instant connection to local sheriff, Preston Blacker. He’s standoffish, and treats her more like a problem to solve than an actual person. There’s a reason for his distance, though, and Sydney realizes that she’s not the only one struggling with a dark past. As the stalker’s efforts escalate, Sydney and Preston must work together to find out who is following them. But can they keep their emotions in check long enough to save themselves? Followed by Fear is a romantic suspense story where the heroine finds protection in the arms of a complicated hero while surrounded by the holiday trappings of rural New Mexico. It’s perfect for fans of the high-stakes thrills of Cassie Miles and the quirky small towns of Maddie Day. EXCERPT As the truck’s motor rumbled to life and led them into the cornfield, Sydney held on to the side of the truck. Her knuckles were white. So was her complexion. “You know,” she said, “this is a very perverse thing to do to a girl with a stalker.” Preston gestured toward a scarecrow that was reaching out to them. “See, I disagree,” he said. “I think fake scares help us process the real ones.” The two girls sitting next to them screamed in unison as a zombie ran out of the field, waving his green arms around like a cartoon character. “See that guy?” Preston continued. “You know he isn’t really going to eat your flesh.” He waved at the zombie. “Good job, Ernie! Nice makeup.” The zombie, apparently named Ernie, stopped running and gave Preston a big thumbs-up. Sydney laughed and eased her death grip on the side of the truck. “You really do know everybody in this town, don’t you?” “Even the undead,” Preston answered. They rode deeper into the field. Three zombies, two scarecrows, and one laughing witch-woman later, the truck entered a clearing that had been decorated to look like an abandoned nuclear site. They passed big, rusted cans with oozing, glow-in-the-dark toxic waste. Sydney leaned over the side of the truck to see what was inside the cans. She wanted to know how they were glowing. When her face got a little too close to the can, a neon green zombie popped out and screamed at her. Sydney jumped back, falling into Preston’s arms. She was speechless for a second. Then she started laughing harder than she’d laughed in months. “It feels good, right?” Preston asked. She wiped the tears from her eyes. “It does. Who knew?” Buy Links: |
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