Secrets Lurking in Pinecrest By T. E. Killian Series Book 2 A Cozy Mystery With A Forest Service Investigator Main Character!

 

Sunday morning in Pinecrest brought a calm serenity, as families made their way to the little church nestled against the backdrop of tall pines and towering mountains. For Mary, it was a cherished routine to attend the service with her best friend Abby. As they entered the church foyer, familiar hymns filled the air coming from speakers on the walls. Mary exchanged warm greetings with familiar faces. The two women took their usual seats, and as they settled in, Mary’s eyes caught something unexpected — Mike, accompanied by his parents, finding seats not too far away. The coincidence brought a gentle smile to Mary’s face. She hadn’t expected to see Mike at church. Yes, she knew his parents were members, but this was the first time she’d seen him there. After the service, as the congregation dispersed, Mary lingered for a moment, scanning the crowd. It didn’t take long for her gaze to find Mike and his parents. With a subtle nod to Abby, she made her way toward them, hoping to catch Mike before he left the church. “Good morning,” Mary greeted, the words carrying the warmth of familiarity. “Mike, I’m glad to see you here this morning.” Mary noticed that Mike’s parents looked at each other, then stepped over to where Abby was standing. Mike’s eyes met hers, a hint of surprise giving way to a welcoming smile. “I guess I’d forgotten that you came here.” Mike’s parents were now exchanging pleasantries with Abby. As conversations flowed seamlessly, they all began making their way into the foyer. Once they were there, Preston met Abby, and they approached Mary and Mike. Abby, always the one to make plans on the spur of the moment, suggested, “Why don’t we all go to The Supper Club for dinner? It’s been a while since we’ve all sat down together.” The idea met with unanimous agreement, and soon, the group made their way to The Supper Club. The bell above the entrance jingled lightly as they stepped inside, greeted by the comforting aroma of home-style meals, which the restaurant always served on Sunday afternoons. In the foyer, as they waited for a table, the four younger people were standing together. “So, what brings you to church today, Mike?” Mary asked, her tone light and curious. Mike chuckled, his eyes reflecting a sense of ease. “Just felt like a good day to be here. Sometimes, it’s nice to step into a quieter space.” Abby chimed in, “Well, we’re glad you joined us. Church, then lunch—it’s like a Pinecrest tradition.” She turned to her fiancé and said, “And, of course, it’s a much more pleasant experience now that Preston is the pastor.” Mike’s parents decided that instead of trying to get a table for six, they took one table and the four younger ones took another table nearby. Seated at a corner table, menus in hand, the group settled into the easy banter that came with years of friendship and community bonds. The conversation flowed seamlessly, blending tales of the week’s events with plans for the upcoming ones. Mike, Mary, Abby, and Preston found themselves in a moment where they set aside the trials of the week for the simplicity of shared company and the comforting clatter of plates and cutlery. The restaurant, with its warm ambience and the comforting aroma associated with it, became a haven for shared stories and laughter. Seated around a corner table were Mary, Mike, Abby, and Preston, their conversations weaving seamlessly between tales of the week’s events and the subtle beauty of Pinecrest life.

Once they finished their meals and laughter echoed, the talk shifted. The air around Mike seemed heavy, a cloud of concern settling in his eyes. Abby, perceptive as always, gently prodded, “What’s on your mind, Mike? You seem a bit troubled.” Mike sighed, glancing briefly at Mary before meeting Abby’s eyes. “It’s my fiancée, Celina. I’m worried about her. She came here Friday and left for home early this morning. I’m afraid she just doesn’t like it here. She was unhappy the whole time she was in Pinecrest.” Abby, always the caring friend, leaned in. “Was she angry when she left?” He hesitated, as if wrestling with unspoken thoughts. “I’m not sure. She said she needed to go home early. She was staying at my parents’ house and before I could get there this morning, she was gone without even saying goodbye.” Preston, the pastor with an innate sense of empathy, spoke softly, “Relationships can be challenging, especially when big changes are involved. Have you talked to her about it?” Mike nodded, his gaze drifting to Mary for a moment before returning to the group. “I tried, but she wouldn’t talk about it. I just want her to be happy, but I don’t know if Pinecrest is the place for her.” As the afternoon progressed, they left The Supper Club, the cool October air greeting them as they stepped outside. Abby and Preston, ever the thoughtful friends, suggested dropping Mary off at her trailer. As they stood outside her door, Abby’s eyes gleamed with a conspiratorial glint. “Mary, spill it. What’s going on between you and Mike?” Mary, surprised, tried to cover it up. “Nothing, really. We’re just friends and you know he’s engaged.” Abby wasn’t buying it. “Come on, Mary. I’ve known you too long to believe that. There’s something more there, isn’t there?” Preston, with a gentle smile, added, “Abby’s right. We’ve seen the way you two look at each other. There’s a connection that doesn’t need words to confirm.” Mary, feeling a bit embarrassed, shrugged. “We’re just friends. But it hurts to know he’s engaged.” Abby, with an arched eyebrow, pressed on. “And if he wasn’t engaged?” Mary hesitated, her thoughts flickering between Mike and Marcus. “It’s complicated, Abby. You know Marcus is interested, and I’m just not sure...” Abby interrupted, “I really don’t think Marcus is the problem. Is he Mary?” Mary nodded, the admission hanging in the air. “He’s a great guy, but it’s just not the same.” Preston, always the wise counselor, offered, “Life is too short to settle for something that doesn’t make your heart race. Maybe it’s time to have an honest conversation with both of them.” As Abby and Preston departed, leaving Mary alone with her thoughts, she didn’t like the lonely feeling that overcame her. The trailer, usually a haven, felt like a confining space. She paced, pondering the tangled threads of her emotions. Marcus was kind, reliable, and interested in her. Yet, whenever her thoughts drifted to a future, it was Mike’s face that emerged. The connection they shared, the unspoken moments — all those thoughts lingered in her heart. As the night came on, Mary sat by the window, watching the shadows play on the quiet streets of Pinecrest. The weight of her feelings and the uncertainty of the path ahead left her restless. The sound of the wind in the pines outside seemed to echo the murmurings of her heart. Marcus, the safe choice, needed her full attention. Mike, engaged and troubled, existed in a realm of unspoken possibilities. In the quiet solitude of her trailer, Mary found herself at a crossroads, torn between the steady rhythm of the familiar and the uncharted melody of something more.

~~~

Mary had held a secret love for Mike since their teens when all of them were part of the same group of students graduating... Mike went on to become a ranger and had moved to a new assigned area where after a number of years, he became engaged to a young woman living there. Mike had returned through the years, as Pinecrest Station was his home base and by then Mary had started working for the Station as dispatcher, and anything else needed. She enjoyed the job...

But her best friend, Ashley was now engaged and both were thinking about just how different it would be once she married--to the new pastor, no less, which meant that she'd be called to be involved even more at church. Ashley knew of Mary's first love, but kept on her, suggesting that she needed to forget him, and start dating more often. And so when she was asked to go to dinner, she went! And enjoyed it... What she didn't know that when Mike came back and saw Mary at the Station, she was quite changed from his memory... In fact, he couldn't stop looking...

Mike was now an investigator and was called on to deal with illegal aspects that were slightly beyond the normal duties of rangers... In fact, when he got back into Pinecrest, he quickly was told to be on the lookout for poachers that had been seen in the area. Mike would be patrolling throughout the forest, based upon reported sightings... He was busy, so he was caught off guard when his fiance came to visit without prior notice. He was living in a trailer, so she had to be hosted at his parents home. There really wasn't any place where she could stay and be happy. Nor was she thrilled to realize that her normal fine dining activities with Mike were at locations where home cooking was the routine... Everybody could tell that she was unhappy; however, Mike had been transferred to Pinecrest and would probably remain for at least 3 years...She ultimately decided that she wasn't willing to share Mike's life if it meant it would be in Pinecrest...Somehow, it didn't bother Mike as much as he thought it would...

And when the first dance of the season came in Pinecrest, it seemed just natural that the "new" foursome, which matched Mary and Mike, was fine for everybody, especially Mary... You know, she never did tell him that she'd been in love with him since she was 15... LOL

So, soon the investigation of poaching gets even more of a problem when there was news that drugs also were being passed through their little town... and Mike as the Forest Service Investigator, was right in the middle of it... And, while he was dealing with all of that, a surprise occurred in Mike's life. His first wife had died and he was awarded total custody for his beautiful daughter... This latter event brought the entire town into the lives of this brand new threesome, resulting in one of the most heartwarming stories that the town had ever celebrated! Enjoy! And, if you liked this story, type in T. E. Killian in the search box in the right column for 3 equally delightful books!

GABixlerReviews

Wonderful Fantasy Ghost/Time Travel Mystery by Casi McLean

At the base of the Chestatee River, North Georgia, May 24, 1865 

Isabelle O’Neal wiggled her toes in the squishy mud. A cool trickle seeped through, soothing her swollen feet. She loved sitting by the water’s edge, watching the ebb and flow sparkle reflected sunbeams across the river. But today necessity took precedence over pleasure. Her very life hung in the balance. She squeezed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath filled with the scent of spring flowers drifting on the breeze. Holding the air a moment before slowly releasing, she centered her thoughts. In the distance, pounding hooves tromped across firm Georgia clay, breaking through the mid-morning silence. Stiffening at the approaching danger, she pressed splayed fingers against the ground to gauge the threat. She listened, attentive to their pace and direction. The hoof beats were closing in despite her evasive tactics. Shadowing the creek to confuse her pursuers averted capture, but only briefly. She had little time for pampering wounds or resting tired legs. She must forge ahead with haste. Scooping cool water over her feet, Izzy rinsed away soft sludge comforting the blisters that burned and bit at her toes. She blotted the dampness then winced in pain. Thankful she borrowed more suitable apparel from a random clothesline and abandoned her crinolines when she took to the road, she hastily ripped her undergarment into strips and wrapped the tender injuries...

A soft crunch rustled behind her, and a hand slid over her mouth and nose. Izzy had no time to counter. She screamed––but no sound escaped the suffocating grip. No plea for help. No air. Squirming and yanking, she struggled, desperate to free herself, but to no avail. Trapped body to body, she fought for air, unable to see her assailant. The odor of sweat laced with tobacco and spirits heaved her stomach, causing the whirling in her head to spin faster and deeper, until the sunlight narrowed into tiny stars against a midnight sky––then faded into darkness. 

**** 

Lake Lanier GA, May 24, 2018  (Abingdon Manor)
Gazing across the lush, green forest edging his property, Attaway York stood on his front porch. Twilight dusted the evening sky, fireflies awakened, twinkling like tiny stars to light their flight through the darkening woodland. He relished the sounds, from crickets chirping and birds warbling to animals rustling through the forest. The unfamiliar whispers of nature he’d missed as a child. Though this solitude suited him, he dreamed of more.

For two years he’d labored on this land, restored the old abandoned estate to the splendor Abingdon Manor once held. But a burning desire to fill his home with children’s laughter and the love of a good woman weren’t likely to occur in such an isolated existence. He glanced downward at Prince’s slightly cocked head, the deep bronze eyes staring back as if the dog understood his mood. “Not totally alone, am I, boy?” York squatted and scratched the chocolate lab’s neck. “I have you…and friends, too.” 

Prince woofed, his tail wagging, and he nudged at his master.

“Ready for our walk?” York treaded down the porch steps with an unleashed Prince pacing beside him step by step. He enjoyed his evening walks with his dog. The treks provided a time for reflection and to ponder for new tomorrows. Tonight, he headed toward his favorite jaunt...

Through darkness, his gaze followed a pale blue haze, swishing through the brushwood toward the beach. A soft glow sparkled like an energized cloud. “Rrrrrrrr.” Prince warned again. 

“Hush, boy,” York whispered, inching toward the haze, Prince at his side. But the mist dimmed as they approached. Within the cloud, York could see a blurred image of a young woman. “Wait.” He paused and reached his hand toward the shimmer. “I won’t hurt you.”

“You see me?” Her hollow voice stuttered and she jerked as if taken aback. “Yes. Of course. Do you need help?” He stared at her translucent image, edging closer, confused, but not fearful. The young woman was little more than a child. Dressed in a long, tattered white shirt and little else, she wore her hair in a fat golden brown braid that fell over her left shoulder. 

“I’ve seen you here before, watched you and your dog.” 

“Yes. We enjoy walking along the beach.” He smiled and glanced at his pet. “Say hello, boy. We have a new friend.” He looked toward the woman again. “This is Prince. And I am York. Who are you?”

The young girl shivered. “Izzy,” she muttered. “I mean Isabelle. Isabelle O’Neal.”

~~~

Between the Shadows:

Lake Lanier Mysteries

Lake Laneir

By Casi McLean

It was 1845, and Isabelle was home alone at the family estate where only she and her brother remained. The Civil War was over but there was still danger from soldiers and others who were traveling home or to find a new location to work...maybe even to find some of the riches they felt they were due...

Izzy heard the many travelers heading her way and knew she could only be safe if she ran, but they had heard her as well and started the chase. She had no choice but to run, in the water as much as possible to hide her path. What happened to her that day was now part of history...or was it?

For in the year, 2018, Attaway York was also in those same woods where Izzy was running for her life... And he saw her...

Izzy had been out walking, caught in a place where she could not escape. Each time she walked around, she was soon back in a small hidden place that she was unable to leave. York and his dog Prince watched her, for she seemed to need help, her clothes were old and torn and she seemed somehow, translucent. But York's only thought was to help her and moved closer, introducing himself and Prince. Izzy seemed surprised that he could see her... and though she was afraid, she also moved closer, reaching out her arm to touch him lightly.

A soft glow sizzled around her like a protective sheath, but the moment they touched, the radiance eclipsed and Isabelle stood before him.

Very Cool, right?! I was totally hooked by that time, and still enjoying the beautiful scene, where York, who was looking for someone to share his newly restored home, was suddenly seeing a lovely young lady appear before him! OK, she happened to be dead, but that didn't stop the relationship developing! Loving it, with the feeling of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir..."

The Tesseract, Tess for short––named in 

honor of Drew’s favorite childhood story, 

A Wrinkle In Time––was an

 artificial intelligence with

 the capability of wrinkling 

time to connect past to future.

~~~

And just think! The adventure has barely begun! For now readers get to meet Tess...

So before you begin to wonder who Tess is, like I did, we soon find that she is the time machine built by the matriarch of the family who is now near death. Kenzi and her father are using the time machine, when required. And this is the time! Their friend York has talked with Izzy and has figured out that the only way to free her from where she has been imprisoned since her death, is to try to free her in her own time!

Let it begin! Using all the modern technology of today's world, they are able to figure out exactly where they should travel to. York and Kenzi are soon in 1845...and the soldiers who chased Izzy are still there. Soon one has captured Kenzi and took the horse they had found at the home and rode off with her. In the meantime, Izzy's brother returns home, finds York--and Izzy gone. The hunt begins and readers  follow each of the three as they deal with danger from the soldiers, stolen gold, finding the location where Izzy might have been taken--all in time to hopefully save Izzy from what happened to her! With romance as well!

This was my first time reading McLean, but she provides the type of paranormal, mystical, spooky tale I enjoy. The series doesn't seem to keep the same characters from book to book, but rather the mystic lake atmosphere. I enjoyed it enough that I went out to pick up the first book as well.

So, what we have is paranormal events that move characters in time, and Tess allowed other characters to travel there and hopefully help, without changing history... At the same time, we meet a wonderful set of characters with "first-love" tendencies which magically add to the final climax of the tale, which both didn't and did surprise me...Very cool and a lovely conclusion for everybody. Even the story of Kenzi's grandparents was a love story in itself... I loved the whole tale and happily escaped from reality for hours! If my words sound interesting to you, I highly recommend you check out Casi McLean. Her creative imagination, her detail to fine points of her story as well as continuity and use of seeming coincident was a joy in itself. Well worth finding her as a new author to follow!


GABixlerReviews

Award winning author, Casi McLean, pens novels to stir the soul with romance, suspense, and a sprinkle of magic. Her writing crosses genres from ethereal, captivating shorts with eerie twist endings to believable time slips, mystical plots, and sensual romantic suspense.

Known for enchanting stories with magical description, McLean entices readers with fascinating hooks to hold them captive in storylines they can't put down. Her romance entwines strong, believable heroines with delicious, hot heroes to tempt the deepest desires, then fans the flames, sweeping readers into their innermost romantic fantasies.

With suspenseful settings and lovable characters you'll devour, you'll see, hear, and feel the magical eeriness of one fateful night. You'll swear time travel could happen, be mystified by other worldly images, and feel the heat of romantic suspense, but most of all you'll want more.

Casi's latest series enters the realm of political thrillers with Reign Of Fire, exclusively found in the #1 bestselling, romantic suspense boxset, Love Under Fire.  

Her three-book, time slip, romantic suspense, Lake Lanier Mysteries, hit the stands running with book #1, Beneath The Lake, winner of the 2016 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for BEST Romantic Suspense. Watch the trailer on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvf0IC4ndBw

Beyond The Mist, book #2 in her romantic time slip treasure chest, is a stunning tribute to the victims and first responders of the 911 World Trade Center terrorist attack. Here is the trailer link: https://youtu.be/Bj6ySTh_7xI

Between The Shadows brings the saga full circle with an amazing time slip to 1865 and a search for the Confederate gold. 

Uniquely qualified to write self-help and inspiration, Casi tops the scale with her powerful memoir, Wingless Butterfly: Healing The Broken Child Within, sharing an inspirational message of courage, tenacity, and hope, displaying her unique ability to excel in nonfiction and self-help as well as fiction.

Discover the magic, with Casi McLean books: http://CasiMclean.com

A Great Personal Mystery--Searching for Your Mother's Youth! Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman...Added to My Personal 2014 Favorites!

Town Reappeared in Georgia During 2007 Drought...

Elliott's eyebrows were furrowed together as if he was struggling to ask  a delicate question. "Where exactly in Huntley did she want to be...put to rest?" I noticed that people didn't like to use the words "scattered" or "sprinkled" when talking about human remains. But there was really no other good description.
"She requested that half be put over a grave in the cemetery; we're thinking that's probably her parents, and the other half in Lake Huntley"
And all you know is that she's from Huntley?"
I nodded. 
"So not Tillman? I mean you're here, in Tillman," His voice had gotten very quiet.
"No, it was definitely Huntley. But this is the biggest town in Huntley County so I figured this was the best place to start?
Elliott turned his whole body toward me, getting my full attention. "Olivia, how much do you know about Lake Huntley?"
I shrugged, "Nothing really. Why?
"Well, it's just that...Where do I start? First of all, there are no natural lakes in Georgia. None of any size anyway. All of these lakes were created by dams. You know, for power production or reservoirs. Especially as the population grew after the war. They would dam up a river and create the lakes. Like this one. This lake was built in the nineteen sixties by the TVA, and sometimes, when creating these lakes, property got flooded. This is one of those lakes. Lake Huntley actually has a whole flooded town underneath it.
I pulled my feet out of the water, suddenly feeling terrified of what could be underneath me floating just out of reach...

Elliott put his hand on mine, the way someone would when preparing to deliver bad news. "The town of Huntley, Georgia, was flooded when they built the lake. It's not here anymore. It's under there." He pointed to the water...

~~~

Cancel the Wedding

By Carolyn T. Digman

Children are born into a nuclear family which becomes their total support for love. But when a member of that family is no longer there, it must result in an emptiness, an awareness of change that shouldn't have happened. We all feel it, especially, when our parents die. Time had past and her father had also died. But one final thing needed to be done per their mother's request...

Her mother had asked that her two daughters, together, scatter her ashes in two different places in Huntley, Georgia. Both were surprised and dismayed. They knew she had been from Georgia, but as far as they were aware, she had never returned. Why would she want to go back to her home town now?

A mere twenty-four hours after jumping up at
dinner and surprising myself by announcing
this litt e road trip, Logan and I were taking the
exit to Tillman, Georgia.
Tillman was the largest town in Huntley County,
Georgia. Technically it was the only town in
Huntley County, Georgia. Our mother had told
us she grew up in Huntley, That was really all we
knew. I had every intention of finding out more.
Huntley County was tucked up in the norrhern
corner of Georgia and it was a nearly eleven-
hour drive from D.C.
When Logan volunteered to come with me,
I wasn't so sure I wanted a drama-filled
fourteen-year-old girl riding shotgun for my
sabbatical. But having her along for the ride
felt right, she was a good traveling partner

It had been a year and they still had not taken care of their mother's last wish. So, when Olivia's fiance announced, thinking it would be a great surprise--he had scheduled the church for their wedding--Olivia had panicked and decided that now was the time for her to head for Georgia... Her sister wasn't able to just take off, so her daughter Logan quite happily volunteered...

"There's the inn," Logan pointed to one of the largest
buildings facing the main square. The James Oglethorpe
Inn was a redbrick three-story building on the western edge of the square...I pulled up and a man, well actually a teenager, in an oversized valet jacket ran out to meet me as I opened the door.
"Good Evening Ma'am. Are you checking in?"
"Yes, I am. May I leave the car here while I register?" The boy didn't answer me, as he was very busy checking out Logan. With his mouth hanging open every so slightly, Logan was returning the favor.,,
~~~

Olivia had already been depressed--she hated her job, her boss...and she was beginning to have even more doubts about marrying Leo... The wedding had been cancelled because of the death in the family and little by little, they were spending more time and energy with their respective jobs than with each other. Leo had started talking about needing her to attend certain business meetings or events of the law firm where he was trying to move up. Olivia felt he was marrying to ensure he fit into the proper partnership mo--being married... Aside from the urgency in which she left, she really had been totally surprised when they had read her mother's short statement. If she had such strong ties to this place, why hadn't she ever talked about it... And had their father known what she wanted?

Very soon after arriving a young teenager had spotted Logan and quickly sought her out, much to Logan's liking. So when he suggested they sit by the lake in a private area the Inn used, they were grateful. Until Elliott showed up and led them through another story... Actually he was Graham's brother and also the town's newspaper owner. And, just like Graham, he quickly took a liking to Olivia. Even to the point that, he left for a few days  and finally got out of an earlier entanglement.
That was the time for Olivia to tell him about Leo, but she couldn't bring herself, especially since she hadn't settled things with him. Still, he may have admitted only to herself, but her decision to stay in Tillman, Georgia, was partly because of Elliott. While they had a rough beginning, they became closer and Olivia realized that she had never felt such joy, such a feeling of being alive, since she had met Elliott.

Plus Elliott was quite willing to help her with her investigation, claiming that it could lead to a story he could use...


Obviously, the first thing he had to share with her was that Huntley, Georgia, no longer existed! The town her mother had grown up in was not totally underwater... She had already left when they actually filled the lake. People who had to leave were even starting to claim that they had once lived in Atlantis! But for many, it was hard to realize that their home place was now underwater...

One lady in particular who was part of "The Society" of the town immediately had asked if Olivia was of the Hartley Rutledges... That her grandfather had been a prominent judged, that they had been major land holders in the area...and, that...her mother had once been married and had a child... Olivia had kept her sister Georgia up to date by phone...but when it was discovered that the girls had probably been named after twins that their mother Janie, had grown up with--George and Oliver--the mystery had become almost overwhelming

Plan on having a box of Kleenex handy... I realize that most of us know very little about their parents' early lives, but to learn that your mother had once had a totally different family. Well, that's not a small detail...right? On the other hand, there was at least one thing they did alike--Olivia learned that she had one left a note, Cancel the Wedding...

 Of course, you know to expect some type of climatic ending when Leo meets Eliott... But the story that most affected the sisters was, of course, about their mother and father...And Olivia refused to even consider leaving until she had discovered everything, including about what had happened to their former home and the lands that had once belonged to the Harley Rutledges...


Logan, who I forgot was even in the room with us, shouted, "Whoa!" I jumped awayfrom Elliott as he simultaneously slammed both of his hands on the table.
My heart was pounding as I looked at her and waited for her to fill us in on
whatever was so important that it ruined the little moment we were having. Or
maybe saved us from the moment we were having. I started chewing on my pen
again. "What Lo!"
She looked back and forth between Elliott and me. "I found an article about that floating church steeple and there's a picture of it in the lake.  You know, the haunted one. Guess where the church used to be." She looked back and forth between us again. I didn't really care where the church used to be. I wanted to know what Elliott was about to say to me. Logan read from the article, "On the disputed land between the Forrest property and Rutledge Ridge. That's us, right? Rutledge Ridge."

~~~

"I'm a lot of trouble, You may not want
to get stuck with me."
"That's where you're wrong. I do want
to get stuck with you..."

Carolyn Dingman might not have planned it visually like I have...but it seemed to me that Olivia had gotten right into the middle of a spider web and no matter which way she turned, the spider was spinning another way to keep her caught. She became so caught up in her mother's life that she was able to effectively ignore the one that had planned with Leo... And readers will understand that she felt she should talk to him personally...and that she should do that before she talked more with Elliott... I was impressed with what finally happened and that every single hanging thread of discovery was cleared up until Olivia was actually back to planning for her future!

I'm never quite sure why one book versus another strikes a cord with me...maybe in this case, it was different since I rarely read romance...and it really was the element of mystery that kept me enthralled.  I just had to add it to my top favorites for the year... It's intriguing, family oriented, yet, a very personal look at how human relationships get all twisted and caught with no seemingly easy way to get out of trouble. This is a double love story! And only Georgia and Olivia could complete the story for their mother... I loved this one!

GABixlerReviews

Carolyn T. Dingman grew up as a nomadic military brat often making up stories that the adults referred to as “lies.” She is now a grown-up and hardly ever lies anymore unless she’s writing fiction where it is considered socially acceptable.

She attended Clemson University in South Carolina, which in no way prepared her for a career in writing, but it did inspire a good deal of the names used in her debut novel, CANCEL THE WEDDING (HarperCollins, Aug 5, 2014).

Carolyn lives in her adopted hometown of Atlanta with her husband and their two daughters. She volunteers too much, eats too much chocolate, and prefers beer over wine.