Secrets of the Ravine
The MacKenzie Chronicles Book 1
by Brenda Whiteside
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Lies
can haunt, but the truth will kill.
Magpie
MacKenzie doesn’t believe in coincidence. But when a ringer for her
long-dead love walks into her life the same day skeletal remains are
unearthed, she’s convinced the universe is sending her a message.
Fearing her father will be accused of the crime, Magpie will do
whatever it takes to find the truth. Even risk her heart on this
familiar stranger who may hold critical clues to the unsolved
mystery.
While visiting purportedly haunted Joshua, Arizona,
lawyer Zack Peartree is instantly drawn to the free-wheeling
shopkeeper. His attraction propels him on a collision course between
past and present where digging up secrets could prove fatal.
Using
decades-old clues and Zack’s déjà vu moments, the couple embark
on a treacherous race to prove her father’s innocence before Magpie
becomes the next victim. Can they save her from a murderous fate, or
will love be the final casualty?
Mystery on Spirit Mountain
The MacKenzie Chronicles Book 2
The
past never sleeps, and the truth never dies.
Only
Harlan MacKenzie can sense the troubled history of the Big Purple
House. When he's hired to restore the historic mansion, he doesn't
foresee the insidious secrets—secrets that entangle his family in
deceit and murder.
Phaedra is selling the house that has been
in her family for decades. As her friends-to-lovers relationship with
Harlan escalates, she’s forced to choose between her way of life or
his, even though she risks losing him forever.
After a
stranger comes to town, weaving her web of deception, hell-bent on
correcting an old grievance connected to the house, dark revelations
of the past implode the present. Harlan and Phaedra are plunged into
a dangerous mystery, risking their love, their future, and their
lives.
Curse Of Wolf Falls
The MacKenzie Chronicles Book 3
Secrets can protect what the truth will destroy.
Elidor
MacKenzie has a gift she can't return—the ability to absorb the
joy, pain, and suffering of others. She's spent her life running from
what she considers her curse. Now, her best friend is dead, and she
alone holds the key to an archaeological discovery that could destroy
a culture. With newfound inner peace, Elidor has returned home to
make amends and guard the secret revelation. But greed-driven
scavengers have followed her. Once again, the energies of Joshua will
stir the hurricane, with her at the deadly center.
Jules never
got over Elidor. Twenty years and a famous journalism career later,
he's back in Joshua—and so is his first love. If his heart can
stand the torture, he'll risk reviving their relationship. But saving
Elidor from herself and the secret she won't give up may be the death
of them both.
With Jules by her side, Elidor is determined to
outrun the scavengers, guard the secret, and renew their love. But
fate is coming after her, and there's nowhere the couple can hide.
EXCERPT FOR SECRETS OF THE RAVINE
Zac picked up the sack with the music box. “Are you the owner of this great store?”
“I am.” She returned his smile. “Magpie MacKenzie. And you are?”
“Zac Peartree. Is that your real name?”
Accustomed to his reaction, she gave her standard reply. “It’s a long story.”
“One I’m sure I’d enjoy hearing. Will you be working at your mercantile all weekend?”
She swallowed down the recurring flutter. “Mostly.”
“You all should have a drink at the Apparition Room tonight, the bar below the Copper Mountain Hotel own the block.” Phaedra finished stuffing paper around the sculpture for protection and then handed the box to the man with the redhead. “Our very own Magpie MacKenzie will be singing.”
Magpie scuffed a boot against her friend’s foot to quiet her.
“She’s on at eight.”
The blonde clapped her hands. “Great. Sounds fun.”
“I guess that means we’ll see you later, Magpie.” Zac followed his friends but peered over his shoulder with an unreadable expression before he disappeared out the door and into the chilly wind.
Slightly lightheaded, Magpie braced herself on the counter. “Honestly, Phaedra, I could—”
“Now, Mags, you haven’t been this tongue-tied over a guy in years.” She retrieved her purse from behind the counter where she’d set it when she came in. “I need to get going, and you need to enjoy the quivers that guy is giving you. I’d guess he’s only thirty or close to it, but what the hell, he’s hot. Every man should fill his jeans like that, not to mention his shoulders.” She stopped by the door. “You two looked at each other as if—”
“As if we know each other?”
“Know each other? I agree he bore a resemblance to Mark, but that’s all.”
“Really? Sacrebleu, Phaedra. When I stared into that face, I saw Mark…a soul…from twenty-eight years ago.” The soul of someone she’d loved.
Who might have been a murderer…or worse, murdered by my father.
EXCERPT FOR MYSTERY ON SPIRIT MOUNTAIN
“Why all this sudden interest in the family tree?” Magpie asked.
“When I went to the Historical Society to do some research on the Big Purple House, the name Lambert came up.”
“Research? What kind of research?”
“I wanted to know more about the history of the house.” An engine raced on the street outside. Harlan gazed out the window. “To help me get a feel for the renovations.”
“Do you always do that?”
“No.”
“Why now?” She cocked her head, inquisitive as ever. His sister always had a million questions about everything. The pesky bird whose name she bore fit her.
“It’s hard to explain.” He’d made a giant leap confessing to his dad about the clear feelings he absorbed from inanimate objects and houses. He’d never been able to confide in Magpie. Her self-assuredness battered his.
“Try me.”
“I’m not real inspired.” And I’ll leave it at that. “Dad thought it would help if I knew more history on the house. I found out Lilac Hersey’s maiden name was Lambert.”
“Sacrebleu!”
“Yeah, I thought so too. Dad might know something, but I wasn’t sure I should ask him about Mom’s relatives. Wanda volunteered to do some more digging for me. Said to check back with her.”
“She’s great with historical research. But ask Dad.”
“You think?” The bell on the door jangled, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Phaedra enter the shop.
“Hey, looks like the gang’s all here.” She strolled closer.
He took in a heady whiff of her rose oil. “You following me? Checking up on my progress?”
“You’re so suspicious.” She bumped him with her hip. “Actually, I did see your truck and decided to stop. Maybe I should start paying you by the hour.”
“Oh man. Another stab. You’re full of them.” He returned her bump, squatting to make it hip to hip. Her blue eyes twinkled like crystals. A strand of white hair hung along her cheek, threatening to stick to her glossy pink lips. He caught it with a finger, trailing his knuckle along her cheek. And he was lost in her gaze.
Until Magpie cleared her throat.
Phaedra blinked, and a noise somewhere between a gasp and a sigh parted her lips.
EXCERPTS FOR CURSE OF WOLF FALLS
Suspense
Elidor snuggled under the covers in Juanita’s guest room. The air conditioner hummed, sending air over the bed chilly enough to warrant a fluffy comforter. Heaven. The evening with her friend and mentor left her relaxed and drowsy. She just might get the best night of sleep she’d had since Cam died. She’d be well rested for the long drive…home…yes, home. For the first time in forever, this trip felt like she was honestly going home. Staying in Joshua for more than a few days had never been peaceful for her. But with Juanita’s teachings, the possibility shone brighter than the moonbeams flooding through the thin curtains on the window.
Her dad’s smiling face carried her into a half-wake state. He’d be so—
A noise outside. A shadow across her window.
She sat. A wave of nausea gripped her midsection.
Her car alarm shattered the night. Juanita appeared at her bedroom door, a shotgun in her hands. “Stay put.”
A moment passed before Elidor gathered her wits and jumped from the bed. Her friend was headed outside with a shotgun? She scooped her cell and car keys from the bedside table. As she bounded through the living room, she punched in 9-1-1, but when she saw Juanita standing on the front steps, front door open, and merely surveying the yard, she stopped before hitting send.
“Should I call the cops?” She joined Juanita on the porch.
“No. If someone was here, he’s long gone. I suppose it might’ve been javelinas. Could’ve bumped your car.”
Her friend left the porch, walking toward her Cruiser in the driveway. She followed, scanning the yard. She’d rather not come upon the nasty creatures without warning. Yet she had an uneasy feeling that some other form of nasty creature was responsible.
“I don’t know, Juanita.” She circled the car, checking if any of the doors or windows had been tampered with. “As I was falling asleep, I thought I saw or felt…”
“You wouldn’t be targeted for any reason, would you?” Her friend’s voice remained quiet, not accusing, but Elidor sensed deeper feelings in the older woman.
“Targeted? Me?” Her insides shivered. “No. No reason.”
“Your mind was wandering, perhaps, seeing your sleep world.” Juanita’s gaze questioned, but her lips didn’t ask.
Keeping the Mescalero Myth secret required total silence about it. If Juanita suspected, even she would not speak the words. Only Cam and Elidor knew, and her best friend took his knowledge to the hereafter.
Romance
My turn. Speak, Elidor.
“Hi, Julien.” She couldn’t bring herself to use her name of endearment for him, Jules. She didn’t really know him anymore, did she? “I heard you were in town. I’m sorry Snuff isn’t doing well.” Without thinking, she touched his arm. Emotions flooded her like a tsunami rolling toward her core. She jerked her hand back to her lap, not bothering to take the time to analyze if they were her emotions or his.
“I’d ask you to join us, but we’re about done.” Annette caught her eye, seeming to sense her discomfort.
Thank you.
“That’s okay.” He uttered a light cough. She remembered he did that when nervous. “I’m here for a takeout order. Uncle Jeff had a craving.”
“How’s he doing?” her dad asked. “He seemed pretty spry when I stopped by yesterday.”
He shook his head, one brow arched as if in wonder. “I don’t know what to make of him sometimes. Since I’ve been back, he seems to be growing stronger.” He shrugged. “He’s an enigma for sure.”
“You bring him joy.” The explanation appeared obvious to Elidor. Having his nephew in his personal space, sharing what life he had left renewed Snuff’s will to live. Julien’s eyes revealed the mutual pleasure he shared in return.
“I do love the old hippie.” He smiled.
The label he’d called his uncle when he came to live with him over two decades ago brought back happy memories and made her chuckle.
“I better pick up the order and get it back to Uncle Jeff before it goes cold.” He glanced at each of them, his gaze resting on her. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Could she be anything more? She managed a nod. They were strangers, regardless of their past. No matter what her heart told her.
Suspense
“Boyd. What on earth are you doing in Joshua?”
He choked. Coughing and sputtering, he leaned away from her.
She handed him the full bottle of beer and waited, her stomach awash in a wave of nausea. A sure sign she read the aura of a person not to be trusted.
After gulping several swallows, wiping a hand over his mouth, he shook his head. “Sorry. You startled me. Elidor? I could ask you the same. What a surprise.”
“Really? I grew up here.”
“What a coincidence. I, uh, have a lot of interest in old mining towns. Marty didn’t need me for a few days, in fact, he said he’d probably let me go. I’d heard about Joshua years ago. Decided now was as good a time as any to check this place out.”
A bitter taste coated her tongue and saliva pooled in her mouth. The lie was as big as the Verde Valley. Marty needed every hand he had with the loss of Cam and her. Never lie to an empath. The internal alarms were strongest when confronted with dishonesty. Why the lie, and why had he come here? “Quite a coincidence.”
Boyd’s face remained neutral and gestured with his bottle. “Can I buy you a beer?”
“No. I’m on my way somewhere.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Are you sure? I’d love to shoot the bull about the dig, or maybe other digs you’ve been on.” He leaned toward her, his beer breath punctuating his words. “In fact, you could clue me in on the best sites to take in for an archaeologist in Joshua.” His speech pattern, fast and clipped, and his invitation increased the revulsion gripping her.
“I really can’t.” She backed away. “I’ve got a full plate today. Enjoy your stay.”
“Hey, maybe we can meet up tomorrow?”
She whirled around.
With one foot on the floor, facing her, he gave the impression he might leap off the stool and come after her. “No, I don’t think so. I’ve got tons to do with my family. Check the historical society. They can give you maps and stuff.”
As she walked away, she focused on getting to the door and out. Her clammy hands gripped the straps of her backpack. Back in the cloud-filtered sunlight, she traversed the few feet to the corner, past the windows, and stopped, hand to chest. She slipped a hand off her pack and clutched at the pendant. More than his evil nature bothered her. Were Boyd’s presence in Joshua, the break-in, and her missing phone linked events? How could he know? She flared her nostrils, inviting the freshness of mother earth’s air to calm her, and crossed the street to the hardware store. Boyd was there when Cam died. He’d seen Cam give her the cell. But how could he have deciphered they held the key to the Mescalero Myth?
Suspense
A scraping noise jerked her attention from the page. She stilled, paralyzed. A click. Oh God. She set the letter on the bed, pushed back the covers, and swung shaky legs over the side of the bed, her feet light on the floor.
Another click. Her heart battered her ribcage. Her mind raced. She’d left her backpack in the kitchen with her cell in the side pocket.
What to do?
She darted a glance around for something to use as a weapon. Nothing. She sucked air through her nose and padded to the living room, her leg nerves twitching. The monkey clock. Sidestepping to the bookshelf, she kept her attention toward the kitchen archway. She hadn’t left the oven hood light on. But the noise definitely came from outside the kitchen door. She had to surprise him before he got in and overpowered her. Fear formed a lump in her throat. Someone worked at the lock. She swallowed hard and closed her fingers around the heavy, ceramic clock. Gritting her teeth so hard her temples ached, she willed her feet to move. Shuffling in silence, the weight of the monkey strained her biceps.
Darkness filled the curtained window on the door. But she knew. A black heart lurked on the other side.
She inhaled, exhaled inaudible breaths through her nose and padded closer. The door creaked. She raised the clock. The door whispered open. A shadowed figure loomed. With a grunt, she lunged forward, stepping onto the landing, and slammed the clock into his chest. He cried out. She slipped on the wet boards, falling into him.
And then he was gone.
Dizzy, confused, she wriggled empty hands. On her butt, grasping the wooden bracings, she peeked between the slats of the stair railing. A shadowy figure lay prone on the ground below.
Romance
These last three months were akin to an awakening. Coming home presented the ultimate test. Being with her family, seeing Julien, and now the letters, pointed to the possibility she could once again claim the joy of her young childhood, before her mother died. Maybe.
After tucking the read letter back inside her backpack, she lifted the last envelope marked for her to read when she reached her sixteenth birthday. She closed her eyes, called up her memory to her sixteenth year. With Harlan living in Phoenix and Magpie at school in Flagstaff, she and her dad had the house to themselves. They were close. Other than the typical teenage angst, which wasn’t always so typical for her, life was happy. Separating her emotions from her best friends’ problems presented a challenge she couldn’t always manage. So right, Mom. And she met Julien that year.
She opened her eyes, slipped her index finger under the flap, and tore the envelope open.
My lovely young woman, my daughter,
Womanhood is upon you. As you navigate these tumultuous waters, love will find you and send you into a new ocean of emotions. Perhaps you have already experienced the pangs of love. If so, I wish for you that your clairsentient abilities have not gotten in your way but have helped and enriched your relationship.
“If only.” She’d nearly drowned in that ocean of emotions. If she fell in love’s waters again, could she swim in those emotions without drowning? Treading water might be worth the risk when it came to love. “But will I find another Julien?”
“Highly unlikely,” Julien answered.
Suspense/Romance
He frowned. “That’s a heavy secret.”
“Yeah. Boyd found out, or at least suspected. He was there when Cam died. The cave isn’t impossible to find, but the wealth in the cave lies at the end of several twisty paths which we stored the coordinates for on Cam’s phone. I’m sure someday, someone will discover it. If we did, others can too. But we didn’t want to be the ones to endanger a centuries-old sacred site and disrupt a culture. Cam’s last words to me were to guard the phone and don’t trust anyone. Boyd must have figured out what Cam meant. Boyd’s the one who trashed the apartment, and when he didn’t find the phone, came back to…I’m guessing…make me give it to him.”
Julien’s arms and legs tensed. “Now Marty is here to pick up where Boyd left off?”
“Marty possibly has skeletons in his closet.” She hesitated. She didn’t want her empathic ways to come between her and Julien again, but… Hell. It’s who I am—I embrace it, you embrace it. “He does. I can read that much about him. I have no doubt he isn’t an honest person, but I can’t believe he had anything to do with Boyd’s actions. His heart isn’t black.”
“But?”
“I don’t know. He thinks someone who works for him has information on how to find the Mescalero Myth. I think he came here fishing to see if I might be the source. Since I left so abruptly, he suspects me. I guess.”
“Mon dieu, Ellie, you’re in danger! Where’s the phone?”
“I don’t have it. I took out the SIM card and threw the phone away. Marty wants to find the burial grounds, but I don’t think he’s the type to do much more than he has—come here and pump me. If I didn’t convince him that I know nothing, I at least put doubt in his mind. He had to leave today and get back to the dig.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Ellie, you have me worried.”
I was born and raised in Arizona and have been in and out of the state all my life. My favorite area of the state is from central to north. We live in the high desert, and we’re only thirty minutes away from the pines of the Mogollon Rim, which means snow in the winter. I’m inspired by this part of Arizona. The MacKenzie Chronicles is set in present-day Joshua, Arizona—an 1800s mining community-turned-ghost-town, reborn hippie haven, and now tourist town clinging to the side of Spirit Mountain The past always plays a part in the present.
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of mystery romance and suspense. She's penned a couple of historicals and straight romance, but she's found villains and danger make a good story that much better. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
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Thanks for the spotlight on the tour. And wow you posted all of my excerpts! I'm happy to report Curse of Wolf Falls is getting 5 star reviews already. So thrilling! Thanks again! Good luck to all the readers who enter the giveaway.
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