Cooking the Books ~ Review

When I learned that Bonnie Calhoun had released her debut novel and I had the privilege to review it, I was so excited! I have reviewed for Christian Fiction Blog Alliance under Bonnie's leadership for a few years now and can't say enough about Mrs. Bonnie. She keeps me laughing whether it's an email, or her hilarious Facebook posts! I KNEW her book was going to be nothing short of wonderful... and I was RIGHT ON!

COOKING THE BOOKS is fabulous, funny, and filled with just the right amount of suspense! The mystery will keep you wondering and you will love each character from Sloane, her Aunt Verlene, her Greek boy-friend, Andreas, and all those who visit the bookstore. I highly recommend Cooking the Books! I CANNOT wait to read Bonnie's next book! I can tell she will definitely be one of my favorite authors for sure!

Thank you Bonnie! You did good my friend! Sooo Good!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Cooking The Books Abingdon Press (April 2012) by Bonnie S. Calhoun



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As the Owner/Director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Bonnie has helped use the 220+ blogs of the Alliance to promote many titles on the Christian bestseller list. She also owns and publishes the Christian Fiction Online magazine which is devoted to readers and writers of Christian fiction. She is the Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). At ACFW she was named the ‘Mentor of the Year,’ for 2011, and she is the current President of (CAN) Christian Authors Network. Bonnie is also the Appointment Coordinator for both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference.



In her spare time she is an avid social media junkie, and teaches Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and HTML as recreational occupations. She also has a novel coming out in the Abingdon Quilts of Love series. Her novel Pieces of the Heart will publish August of 2013.



Bonnie and her husband Bob live in a log cabin on 15 acres in upstate area of Binghamton, New York with a dog and cat who consider the humans as wait-staff.





ABOUT THE BOOK

After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also "inherits" a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of little old people from the neighborhood who meet at the store once a week, but never read books, called the Granny Oakleys Book Club; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”



A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, it is discovered someone is out to kill her. Can her life get more crazy?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Cooking The Books, go HERE.



Watch the book video:







If you'd like to read interviews with Bonnie, try these:

Everbody Needs A Little Romance

A Christian Writers World

Novel Rocket

ACFW - Fiction Finder

The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek- Review

About the Book:

Upon his arrival, Butternut Creek Christian Church's newly-minted minister is met by a welcome committee led by Miss Birdie and her friend Mercedes, a.k.a. "the Widows." Their first order of business, to educate him on how things should be done, quickly gives way to a campaign to find him a wife.

When their matchmaking efforts fizzle, the Widows turn to another new bachelor. Amputee and Afghan vet Sam simply wants to be left alone-- a desire that's as good as a red flag to the Widows! Soon they're scheming to pair him up with Willow, his beautiful physical therapist, a divorced mother of two who is afraid of commitment, Perrine's small-town tale is a big-time triumph of gentle humor, fast-paced plot, and wonderfully engaging characters.


About the Author:

A Missouri native, Jane Myers Perrine earned her B.A. from Kansas State University and her M.Ed. in Spanish from the University of Louisville. She was a finalist in the Regency category of the Golden Heart Awards, and her short pieces have appeared in the Houston Chronicle and Woman's World magazine. A high-school Spanish teacher as well as an ordained minister, she currently lives in Texas with her husband, who is the minister of a local Christian church.

My Review

What a wonderful book! All a story could hope for ~ a quaint little town, a young and handsome new Preacher, Adam. Lest we forget the widows, who find it their job to be matchmaker! You will fall in love with Birdie and Mercedes(the Widows) not only do the play matchmaker, but also make sure Adam knows how the church is run. They even become decorators for Adam's parsonage. For this, Adam is so thankful, since he came to town with very little! Willow is a physical therapist, a mom of two, and single! The Widows believe she is the perfect one for Adam. Adam is determined to make his own way and as he settles in, he begins reaching out to those in his community, doing whatever he can with God's help. His heart and compassion will inspire you as he helps others face their troubles.

This is first book in this trilogy and I CANNOT wait for the next one! Heart of a BookWorm definitely gives this
5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥'s!! This was A complete Joy to read! Nothing like laughing out loud while reading your book and having people come up to you, asking about it! I always love to share a great book with others and this one is definitely on the list!

Thank you Sara @ Hatchette Books and Faith Words for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!

The Woman Who Wasn't There ~ Review

The astounding story of Tania Head, whose heartrending account of surviving the World Trade Center attacks made her a celebrity—until it all turned out to be an elaborate hoax.

It was a tale of loss and recovery, of courage and sorrow, of horror and inspiration. Tania Head’s astonishing account of her experience on September 11, 2001—from crawling through the carnage and chaos to escaping the seventy-eighth-floor sky lobby of the burning south tower to losing her fiancé in the collapsed north tower—transformed her into one of the great victims and heroes of that tragic day.
Tania selflessly took on the responsibility of giving a voice and a direction to the burgeoning World Trade Center Survivors’ Network, helping save the “Survivor Stairway” and leading tours at Ground Zero, including taking then-governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, and former mayor Giuliani on the inaugural tour of the WTC site. She even used her own assets to fund charitable events to help survivors heal. But there was something very wrong with Tania’s story—a terrible secret that would break the hearts and challenge the faith of all those she claimed to champion.
Told with the unique insider perspective and authority of Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr., a filmmaker shooting a documentary on the efforts of the Survivors’ Network, and previously one of Tania’s closest friends, The Woman Who Wasn’t There is the story of one of the most audacious and bewildering quests for acclaim in recent memory—one that poses fascinating questions about the essence of morality and the human need for connection at any cost.


Robin Gaby Fisher is the author of New York Times bestseller After the Fire. She is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing and a member of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. She teaches narrative journalism at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr., has made two award-winning films, Idling Brando and The Heart of Steel, and has written screenplays both optioned and in development. The Woman Who Wasn't There documentary is in post-production and is produced by Meredith Viera Productions and Academy Award-winner Ross Kauffman.


My Review:

Not since the true Story of Frank Abagnale Jr. and the way he conned millions of dollars as well as countless people around him, have I been this astounded by such a story.

September 11th will forever be in our minds. The Shock. The Horror. The utter Disbelief. The Heartbreak.

In the days after, America came together in so many powerful ways. People reaching out to one another, helping in whatever ways needed. Introduce Tania Head. She claimed to have been in the South Tower, narrowly escaping as she crawled to safety. She shared that not only had she survived this horrible tragedy, but she lost the love of her life and fiancé' Dave. He was in the North Tower and it took months to receive confirmation of his death. Tania became very active in the World Trade Center Survivors' Network, and became the Network President in 2006. She helped financially, she was able to do things that no one else could, and to meet with those that no one else could. From the outside looking in, Tania was, for all practical purposes, a godsend.

There was only one problem - and that was Tania's story.

The Woman Who Wasn't There could be described using the exact words I shared above - Shocking. Horrifying. Unbelievable. and Heartbreaking, to say the least.

To believe one person could deceive so many, who were already at such a vulnerable state. Losing someone is hard enough but sharing the grief with someone who might have been with your loved one, or who gives a voice to their tragedy,
can bring healing or in the very least, help to begin that process.

Tania Head's deceit will leave you speechless, and yet, looking at all she was able to do for so many affected by this horrible tragedy, will leave you in awe.

I recommend reading this story, especially if you are one who is fascinated with those who are like Tania. Those who create their own scenario, their own world, their own web of lies, yet,to them, it is nothing but the truth. Or is it?


Thank you to Ashley Hewlett with Touchstone Books and Simon & Schuster for allowing me complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Plea Bargain Review and Giveaway!!

About the Book:


Plea bargains may grease the rails of justice, but for Jamie Brock, prosecuting criminals is not about cutting deals. In her three years as assistant DA, she's never plea-bargained a case and vows she never will. But when a powerful defense attorney is indicted for murder and devises a way to bring the entire justice system to a screeching halt, Jamie finds herself at a crossroads. One by one, prisoners begin rejecting deals. Prosecutors are overwhelmed, and felons start walking free on technicalities. To break the logjam and convict her nemesis, Jamie must violate every principle that has guided her young career. But she has little choice. To convict the devil, sometimes you have to cut a deal with one of his demons.

My Thoughts:

Wow Wow wow! This is such an excellent book! In The Last Plea Bargain, Jamie Brock is an Assistant District Attorney.
Years ago, Her mother was murdered and her Father, who also was an Attorney, was shot in their own home. Jamie is determined to make sure justice prevails and that the man, Antoine Marshall, who has been sentenced to the death penalty for these crimes, receives his set punishment. Antoine claims he is innocent, but he has been chosen and identified in a line up by Jamie's father. Did her dad make a mistake and choose the wrong man? Just before the date of the execution Jamie's and her brother make a very painful decision to turn off the life support that has been keeping their father alive. Even though Jamie knew her Father could not respond in any way, she had so hoped to be able to tell him that the man who killed his wife and her mother had finally received his punishment.

Caleb Tate is an attorney who defended Antoine 12 years ago. Now Caleb is wanted for murder. He has been accused of murdering his wife. Of course, he also claims his innocence and will be representing himself. Jamie wants nothing more than to make sure this man is found GUILTY! Caleb is a mastermind and helps create total chaos in just about every area of this story.

Mace James is Antoine's attorney and is working on overturning his conviction and death penalty. He believes wholeheartedly in Antoine's innocence. Mace is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Antoine from taking that final walk to his death. But how far is too far?

When reading The Last Plea Bargain, I had such a difficult time putting it down. I just had to know what was going to happen next. As Randy Singer plays out this story, he does an excellent job keeping you on the edge of your seat ~ or couch, or swing, or wherever it is you might choose to read. :) I connected with each person and had such emotions for all of them. I would root Mace on in his plight to save Antoine, or hurt for Jamie as she went through the highs and lows of this trial. Losing your parent is one of the most difficult things to experience, but when they are murdered, I can only imagine the stress of waiting for that day when justice is served! I would have to say it was Caleb Tate who brought out the not so nice side of me.

If you enjoy mysteries, suspense, and nail biting drama, then you simply CANNOT MISS this one! Heart of a Bookworm feels The Last Plea Bargain is a definite 5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥'s

I am so happy to be able to offer someone a copy of their own!!! If you would like to receive a copy of the Last Plea Bargain please make sure you are a follower of Heart of a Bookworm and also leave a comment on this post, as well as your email so that I can contact you for more information. I will announce the winner of the giveaway on Monday April 2nd!


Thank you Tyndale for allowing me this complimentary issue in exchange for my honest review!

Gabby's Stick-to-it Day ~ Review

About the Book:
Based on Galatians 6:9, this second title in Gabby's series follows little Sophie on her quest to do kind things for her family. But each of Sophie's good intentions results in a great, big mess-and a busy guardian angel as Gabby tries to keep the little girl from harm. Sophie quickly gets frustrated amidst each task and refuses to continue. Little ones will learn an important lesson on perseverance when Gabby whispers words from Galatians 6:9 into Sophie's ear: "Let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Young hearts will also be reminded of God's continual protection over them in the form of angels, just as Gabby protects and encourages Sophie.


About the Author:
Sheila Walsh is a Bible teacher, speaker, singer, and best-selling
author with more than 4 million books sold. Sheila Walsh is the creator of the award-winning Gigi, God's Little Princess® brand, which has sold over 1.5 million units and won two National Retailer's Choice Awards.

As a featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability and humor with God's Word. She resides in Dallas with her husband Barry and son Christian.

My review:

Isn't this just the sweetest cover!?!?! Gabby's Stick-to-it Day is the second book in the "Gabby, God's Little Angel" series. It is a story of Perseverance. I just fell in love with this book and the most important opinion for me came from my Grandaughter, Rylee. Sitting down and reading is definitely one of Rylee's favorite things to do! She absolutely loved this book. She asked to read it over and over! That is when you know it is a winner :)

The illustration is absolutely wonderful! The pictures are soo vibrant and just adorable. Gabby, God's little Angel, watches over Sophie, which can be quite the task at times. Raffles is the Senior Angel, and he gives Gabby Her assignment~ help Sophie understand why it is important not to give up. Whether it is taking care of her sweet little brother, Ian or her precious puppy, Sprinkles, Sophie is quick to give up when things become difficult. I love how Gabby brings God's Word to Sophie to encourage her! The book is based on one of my favorite Scriptures, Galatians 6:9.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone with children ~ Parents, Grandparents, Sunday School Teachers, Daycares! It is simply a wonderful book! Thank you LitFuse for allowing me this complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review!

Twilights Last Gleaming ~ Review

About the Author:

With a strikingly bold, biblical and practical approach to ministry, Dr. Robert Jeffress is one of the country’s most respected evangelical leaders. Making more than 600 guest appearances on various radio and television programs, Dr. Jeffress regularly appears on major mainstream media outlets such as FOX News Channel’s Fox and Friends, The O’Reilly Factor, Cavuto on Business, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN and MSNBC. He also hosts a daily radio program, Pathway to Victory, that is heard nationwide on over 720 stations in major markets such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver and Houston. His weekly television program can be seen on 1,200 television stations and cable systems throughout the nation and in 28 countries around the world.

Dr. Jeffress is the senior pastor of the 11,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, and is currently leading the congregation in a $130 million campaign to re-create its downtown campus. The project is the largest in modern church history and will produce a “spiritual oasis” in the heart of downtown Dallas.

Honored in 2006 by Vision America for his steadfast commitment and boldness in proclaiming the uncompromising Word of God, Dr. Jeffress is also the author of 18 books, including The Solomon Secrets (a 2002 Medallion Finalist), Hell? Yes! and When Forgiveness Doesn’t Make Sense. His newest book, Twilight’s Last Gleaming, was released January 2, 2012 by Worthy Publishing.

Dr. Jeffress graduated with a D.Min. from Southwestern Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary and a B.S. from Baylor University. In May 2010, he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from Dallas Baptist University. In June 2011, he received the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Jeffress and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Julia and Dorothy, and a son-in-law, Ryan Sadler.

You can visit Dr. Jeffress' website here


About the Book:

Economic chaos, spiraling immorality, cultural decay, terrorism and global upheaval have convinced many that we are living in the twilight days of America. Widely respected pastor, author and frequent media commentator Dr. Robert Jeffress agrees, but is quick to add a note of hope and challenge in his latest release, Twilight’s Last Gleaming (Worthy Publishing, January 2012). Although we cannot prevent America’s eventual demise, he asserts, we can postpone it . . . and make a difference for eternity at the same time.

Including a foreword by former governor Mike Huckabee, Twilight’s Last Gleaming offers a bold roadmap to guide readers’ attitudes and actions in these volatile times. “But it is not all doom and gloom,” writes Jeffress. “We have an unprecedented opportunity within our current culture to delay our country’s ultimate dissolution so that we can continue to grow the kingdom. Even if America’s best days are behind her, for American Christians, this can and should be our shining moment.”

The remarkable society whose light once shone as a beacon to the world is dimming. This is the sobering assessment of Robert Jeffress in Twilight’s Last Gleaming, yet he brings with that diagnosis a remarkably redemptive and hope-filled prescription for American believers. With biblical insight and real-world clarity, Jeffress answers for everyone who wonders what can be done right now—within our culture, our churches, our voting booths and our neighborhoods—to hold off America’s ensuing demise. He points a way out of the malaise, calling believers to action—not to restore a fading empire’s glory, but to make an eternal impact on millions of souls.

In Twilight’s Last Gleaming, Jeffress also devotes an entire chapter to a pressing issue on many Americans’ minds: Who should I vote for in the coming presidential election? “If Christians place pragmatism above principle, we may or may not win the election, but we will lose our soul,” states Jeffress. However, Jeffress also suggests that a candidate’s faith is just one issue to consider when voting. Jeffress asserts, “There’s some value to having a non-Christian like Mitt Romney who embraces biblical principles, rather than a professing Christian like Barack Obama who embraces unbiblical principles.” He proposes four questions that every believer should ask himself before selecting a candidate:

· Is the candidate a Christian?

· How would a candidate’s faith impact his policies?

· Do his policies align with the Bible?

· How does he view the Constitution?


With a graceful balance between passivism and extreme activism, Jeffress challenges Christians to be “salt” and “light” in a decaying and darkening culture, standing up against the tide of evil that threatens to engulf America. “We cannot predict God’s ultimate judgment, but we can delay it just like Jonah’s obedience did at Nineveh,” says Jeffress. “But the reason that we’re trying to bide time for our country and prevent its premature decay is not so that we can turn America around, but so that we can preach the Good News.”




My Thoughts:

God's Timing is Perfect and I feel strongly this book coming out right now is just that: HIS Perfect timing! It seems no matter who you are, Believers and/or Non-Believers alike are discussing "The Times" we are in. Certainly, most everyone is talking about this years Election. Christians are realizing we must wake up, take a stand, and be bold for Christ. But, what exactly does that look like?

In Twilights Last Gleaming, Dr. Jeffress addresses these issues and so much more! He defines, very clearly I might add, Tolerance and Judging others. He devotes a whole chapter on "How a Christian should Vote." America has fallen asleep and lost sight of the fact that we were once a Christian Nation NOT a secular nation. We have been Passive and are reaping the consequences. Are you prepared? For what you ask? To be Persecuted and for the End of Times? We are to be Gods people, sharing who HE is and offering HIS Love and Hope to others! Our end times don't have to be a fearful time, but rather an opportunity to share Christ with all of those who don't know HIM! Jeffress offers a challenge to us to take a stand for righteousness, to claim victory over this evil that is threatening our nation.

Some may not agree with all that Jeffress has to say and I would imagine that is just fine with him. I do think, however, that although you might not agree with him in some areas, but in the very least, reading Twilights Last Gleaming did cause you to reevaluate your Christian walk, and just maybe allow your Faith to go deeper. Are we not just like the Israelites who looked to their idols and not to God? Even though HE provided ALL they needed and led them each day morning and night and gave them their food each day? They allowed their flesh to rule, the voices of others to rein, and their disobedience cost them dearly. Let us turn our hearts to the Lord, humble ourselves and Pray! Let us come to a place of repentance and let others see HIS Light, HIS Grace, and experience HIS Salvation!

I highly recommend reading "Twilights Last Gleaming," and when you purchase your copy, you might grab a couple more to pass out to others!


Thank you B&B Media Group for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!

Frantic By Mike Dellosso

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!




You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Mike Dellosso

and the book:

Frantic

Realms (February 7, 2012)

***Special thanks to Jon Wooten of Charisma House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mike Dellosso is the author of numerous novels of suspense, including Darkness Follows, Darlington Woods, and Scream. He is an adjunct professor of writing at Lancaster Bible College and frequent contributor to Christian websites and newsletters. Mike is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers association, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, the Relief Writer’s Network, and FaithWriters, and he plans to join International Thriller Writers. He earned his BA degree from Messiah College and his MBS from Master’s International School of Divinity. He lives in Hanover, PA, with his wife and daughters. Hometown: Hanover, PA





Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Gas station attendant Marny Toogood thinks it’s just another ordinary day on the job until an urgent message from a young girl in the backseat of a car draws him into a daring rescue attempt. Now he is on the run with Esther and William Rose from their insane “uncle” who thinks it is his mission from God to protect William, a boy with incredible faith that gives him supernatural powers.

As they face kidnapping, underground cults, and other evils, can Marny trust the simple faith of a child and stand his ground against a power so twisted?

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99



Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Realms (February 7, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1616384808

ISBN-13: 978-1616384807





AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

 

The night Marny Toogood was born it rained axheads and hammer handles.

  His grandfather made a prediction, said it was an omen of some sort, that it meant Marny’s life would be stormy, full of rain clouds and lightning strikes. Wanting to prove her father wrong, Janie Toogood named her son Marnin, which means “one who brings joy,” instead of the Mitchell she and her husband had agreed on.

 But in spite of Janie’s good intentions, and regardless of what his birth certificate said, Marny’s grandfather was right.

 At the exact time Marny was delivered into this world and his grandfather was portending a dark future, Marny’s father was en route to the hospital from his job at Winden’s Furniture Factory where he was stuck working the graveyard shift. He’d gotten the phone call that Janie was in labor, dropped his hammer, and run out of the plant. Fifteen minutes from the hospital his pickup hit standing water, hydroplaned, and tumbled down a steep embank- ment, landing in a stand of eastern white pines. The coroner said he experienced a quick death; he did not suffer.

 One week after Marny’s birth his grandfather died of a heart attack. He didn’t suffer either.

 Twenty-six years and a couple of lifetimes of hurt later, Marny found himself working at Condon’s Gas ’n Go and living above the garage in a small studio apartment George Condon rented to
 

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Mike Dellosso 

him for two hundred bucks a month. It was nothing special, but it was a place to lay his head at night and dream about the dark cloud that stalked him.

 But his mother had told him every day until the moment she died that behind every rain cloud is the sun, just waiting to shine its light and dry the earth’s tears.

 Marny  held  on  to  that  promise  and  thought  about  it  every night before he succumbed to sleep and entered a world that was as unfriendly and frightening as any fairy tale forest, the place of his dreams, the only place more dark and foreboding than his life.

  On the day reality collided with the world of Marny’s night- mares, it was hotter than blazes, strange for a June day in Maine. The sun sat high in the sky, and waves of heat rolled over the asphalt lot at the Gas ’n Go. The weather kept everyone indoors, which meant business was slow for a Saturday. Marny sat in the garage bay waiting for Mr. Condon to take his turn in checkers and wiped the sweat from his brow.

^{“Man, it’s hot.”}

^{Mr. Condon didn’t look up from the checkerboard. “Ayuh.}

^{Wicked hot. Newsman said it could hit ninety.”}

^{“So it’ll probably get up to ninety-five.”}

^{Mr. Condon rubbed at his white stubble. “Ayuh.”}

^{He was sixty-two and looked it. His leather-tough skin was}

^{creased with deep wrinkles. Lots of smile lines. Marny had worked}

^{for him for two years but had known the old mechanic his whole}

^life.

^{Mr. Condon made his move then squinted at Marny. Behind}

^{him Ed Ricker’s Dodge truck rested on the lift. The transmis-}

^{sion had blown, and Mr. Condon should have been working}

^{on it instead of playing checkers. But old Condon kept his own}

^{schedule. His customers never complained. George Condon was}

^{the best, and cheapest, mechanic around. He’d been getting cars}

^{and trucks through one more Maine winter for forty years.}

^{Marny studied the checkerboard, feeling the weight of Mr.}

^{Condon’s dark eyes on him, and was about to make his move}
 

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Fr antic 

when the bell chimed, signaling someone had pulled up to the pump island. Condon’s was the only full-service station left in the Down East, maybe in the whole state of Maine.

 Despite the heat, Mr. Condon didn’t have one droplet of sweat on his face. “Cah’s waitin’, son.”

 Marny glanced outside at the tendrils of heat wriggling above the lot, then at the checkerboard. “No cheating.”

^{His opponent winked. “No promises.”}

^{Pushing back his chair, Marny stood and wiped more sweat}

^{from his brow, then headed outside.}

^{The car at the pump was a 1990s model Ford Taurus, faded blue}

^{with a few rust spots around the wheel wells. The windows were}

^{rolled down, which probably meant the air-conditioning had quit}

^{working. This was normally not a big deal in Maine, but on a rare}

^{day like this, the driver had to be longing for cool air.}

^{Marny had never seen the vehicle before. The driver was a large}

^{man, thick and broad. He had close-cropped hair and a smooth,}

^{round face. Marny had never seen him before either.}

^{He approached the car and did his best to be friendly. “Mornin’.}

^{Hot one, isn’t it?”}

^{The driver neither smiled nor looked at him. “Fill it up. Regular.”}

^{Marny headed to the rear of the car and noticed a girl in the}

^{backseat. A woman, really, looked to be in her early twenties. She}

^{sat with her hands in her lap, head slightly bowed. As he passed}

^{the rear window she glanced at him, and there was something in}

^{her eyes that spoke of sorrow and doom. Marny recognized the}

^{look because he saw it in his own eyes every night in the mirror.}

^{He smiled, but she quickly diverted her gaze.}

^{As he pumped the gas, Marny watched the girl, studied the}

^{back of her head. She was attractive in a plain way, a natural pret-}

^{tiness that didn’t need any help from cosmetics. Her hair was rich}

^{brown and hung loosely around her shoulders. But it was her eyes}

^{that had captivated him. They were as blue as the summer sky, but}

^{so sad and empty. Marny wondered what the story was between}

^{the man and girl. He was certainly old enough to be her father. He}
 

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Mike Dellosso 

looked stern and callous, maybe even cruel. Marny felt for her, for her unhappiness, her life.

  He caught the man watching him in the side mirror and looked at the pump’s gauge. A second later the nozzle clicked off, and he returned it to the pump. He walked back to the driver’s window. “That’ll be forty-two.”

 While the man fished around in his back pocket for his wallet, Marny glanced at the girl again, but she kept her eyes down on her hands.

 “You folks local?” Marny said, trying to get the man to open up a little.

The driver handed Marny three twenties but said nothing. Marny counted off eighteen dollars in change. “You new in the

area? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. Lately, seems more people have been moving out than in.”

  Still nothing. The man took the money and started the car. Before pulling out he nodded at Marny. There was something in the way he moved his head, the way his eyes sat in their sockets, the way his forehead wrinkled ever so slightly, that made Marny shiver despite the heat.

 The car rolled away from the pump, asphalt sticking to the tires, and exited the lot. Marny watched until it was nearly out of sight, then turned to head back to the garage and Mr. Condon and the game of checkers. But a crumpled piece of paper on the ground where the Taurus had been parked caught his attention. He picked it up and unfurled it. Written in all capital letters was a message:

^{HE’S GOING TO KILL ME}











 

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