Mystery/Romantic Suspense
The first
body is found under a trimmed Christmas tree, the second as they ring in the
New Year (1947), the third goes head long out a window. Will a young pediatric nurse determined to make it on her own be able to
care for an infant whose mother was murdered and escape the killer who has
struck again? Can she trust the stalwart village detective with her life and
her heart as he works to catch this killer before somebody else dies?
Pediatric nurse, Katrina Lenart, grew up strong willed and independent
minded, while sharing her mother's flair for high fashion. When the police
chief gives her an orphaned baby to care for, her maternal instincts take over
and she's willing to fight anyone who might not have the infant's best
interests at heart, even the man she's growing to love. After an attempt is
made to kidnap the baby, she and the resolute village detective team up and do
some sleuthing, undercover at a cult as well as at a fancy ball.
Detective Ian Daltry is a widower with a child and is not interested in a
new love. Hunting a killer who stops at nothing has placed him in the position
where he must protect a beautiful young woman he's drawn to. Is there's
something he's overlooked in analyzing the case? Will he find out what that is
before this ruthless murderer kills someone he loves?
Excerpt:
Chapt 5, scene 1
Long Island, New York
Late December, 1946
Katrina wanted
to throw Detective Daltry into a snow bank. The nerve of him, barging into
their house twice in two days, demanding she bundle the baby up and take him into
the cold. How could that man not recall their harrowing, nighttime drive
through the storm of the decade? She tossed her hair back over her shoulder,
and with great difficulty held her tongue.
Momma apparently
had no such reservations. "Detective, what you are doing is very
wrong."
Katrina came up
beside her mother, to show a united front. "This is outrageous." Her
eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest. She hated the tone of
her voice, but this baby wasn't a ping-pong ball to be batted back and forth as
the detective moved forward with his murder case.
He ignored her
and continued addressing her mother.
"I'm sorry,
ma'am." He removed his fedora. "Chief Ferguson has already made the
necessary phone calls and arrangements have been made. I must take Leslie Janos
Bauer with me to the home of his aunt in Bay Shore. The chief would prefer your
daughter come along in an official capacity as a nurse. It's up to her, but I
have to take the baby."
Momma's face
flushed beet-red, a sure sign she'd become enraged. "This is not good for
him… this hustle from place to place."
"With all
due respect, ma'am, a child belongs with his family, if at all possible."
The detective took a step toward Katrina. "Now, will you please fetch the
baby." It wasn't a request.
Katrina made
sure she stood tall. "Yes, I'll get Leslie." She clenched her fists
at her side and jutted her chin. "This is disgraceful. You are using this
infant to solve your murder case. Perhaps your own tragic life experience
clouds your judgment?"
His mouth fell
open and he took a step back.
"If you
have it within your heart, give me one minute. I'll get him ready and get my
coat and boots on." Without giving him a chance to reply, Katrina turned
and stormed up the stairs.
Leslie lay
sleeping in the baby-doll cradle Poppa had made for her when she was a little
girl. Poppa had that kind of talent. He could make anything. In her heart she
knew, he'd figured it would be her baby's bassinet. At least now, it had a real
purpose. She ran a finger over the hand carved leaves in the headboard.
"Milachku,
time to wake up." She took the infant into her arms inhaling the smell of
baby, sweeter than the most expensive imported perfume.
Leslie yawned
and she snuggled her nose in the soft folds of skin between his head and
shoulder, kissing his neck. He cooed, so safe in her arms.
She brought him
to her heart, holding him, rocking him and spoke softly to her reflection in
the mirror above her bureau. "Fat chance I'll ever walk down the aisle or
have a family of my own with the man shortage since the war." Something
deep in the core of her female-self rebelled, a throbbing turbulence, from
which deep hunger erupted.
She stroked
Leslie's cheek and made a funny face. The softness of his skin melted her
heart.
He smiled at her
and kicked.
"I'm so
sorry. I promised I'd protect you and I can't." She forced a smile and
made clucking noises.
He grabbed her
hair and yanked.
"Ouch."
She laughed, removing strands of her hair from his little fist.
A tear escaped and ran down the side of her cheek. "I can do
this." She lifted her chin, sucked in a long breath, wrapped Leslie in a
heavy quilt, and picked up his tote bag.
Author Bio:
Nike Chillemi has been called a crime fictionista due
to her passion for crime fiction. She was an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the
Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011 and 2012 Carol
Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories. She is the
founding board member of the Grace Awards and its Chairman, a reader's choice
awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes book reviews for The
Christian Pulse online magazine. BURNING HEARTS is the first book in the
crime wave that is sweeping the south shore of Long Island in The
Sanctuary Point series, published by Desert Breeze. GOODBYE NOEL, the second
book in the series was released in December, 2011. She is a member of American
Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning).
Reviews/Notices/Awards:
GOODBYE NOEL finaled in the Grace Awards 2011 in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery/Romantic Suspense category.
"Wow! Nike Chillemi knows how to set the hook into readers right from
the first page and refuses to let go. Goodbye Noel is a taut thriller, peopled
with intriguing characters and crafted by an author at the top of her game. Don’t
miss this one!" ~~ Robert Liparulo, Award winning author of THE
13th TRIBE, COMES A HORSEMAN, GERM, and THE DREAMHOUSE KINGS
"All I can say is WOW. I can see how
Ms. Chillemi got her nickname of the Crime Fictionista. She sure does know how
to build a story - and a crime plot... It's heartwarming, gut wrenching, edge
of your seat intriguing, and just plain sweet all rolled into one. Check it out
for yourself, it's a wonderful read!"
~~ Donna B. Snow, Acclaimed
author of DAFFODILS
"Nike, you are such an example of
what one person can do by living full-throttle heart and soul. Goodbye Noel
looks great." ~~ Sibella Giorello, Acclaimed author of the Raleigh Harmon
(FBI) seriees
Why did Nike write GOODBYE NOEL?
I had this idea of a detective who had a moral purpose to seek justice for the murder victim and I saw Det. Ian Daltry as that man. Of course Katrina Lenart had to be his equal in every respect. She had to not only be beautiful, but smart, compassionate, and independent. I wanted to show their growing relationship as a deep one, where honesty, trust, and a shred faith were so important.
Purchase Links:
Amazon (Kindle) http://goo.gl/8KpQ3
Barnes and Noble (Nook) http://goo.gl/vOmnm
