PROLOGUE

He trailed kisses down her neck while he let his hands explore the recesses of her body. Davie shuddered when he found the warmth between her thighs with his fingers. “Am I hurting you?” He was concerned. Even though he had made it a habit not to get involved with any of his partners, she had made him pause. There was something special about this girl; there was something about her that had stayed in his mind ever since their first meeting.

“No…oh, Adam, that feels so good.” Davie kissed him back as she felt her response spiraling toward the unknown. “Adam…Adam…” Her breath caught.

“What Sweetheart?” It was easy to see how excited she had become and it felt good to know that he had that effect on her.

“Adam…” She felt very timid. “I’ve never felt like this before.”

“I’m glad.” He thought of how good it was going to feel when he entered her. “I’m so very glad.”

“Adam…teach me…”

He mated their lips and wrestled his tongue with hers. “What do you want me to teach you?” He smiled against her neck.

“Teach me how to…ooh…” She arched her back and pressed herself into his palm. “How to make it good for you.”

Oh lord, so sweet, he thought as he took a delicate nub into his mouth. “How could it not be good for me? You are so beautiful…”

Davie felt another shudder run through her. “But, I don’t know…Adam, I,” She inhaled sharply as she felt his fingers probing inside her. “Adam…I’ve never…”

For the first time, Adam remained motionless. “Never… what?”

“I’ve…never been with a man before.” She sensed his withdrawal before he actually pulled away.

Adam’s brow was furrowed, “What are you saying, Davie?”

The icy chill that Davie felt left her feeling embarrassed to be lying naked in bed with this man. She pulled the bedsheet over her exposed breasts. “I’ve never been with a man…before”

He sat upright in bed seemingly unaware that he was just as naked as she was. “Are you telling me that you’re a virgin?”

Davie sat up clutching the bed linens tightly to her body. “Yes.”

“Damnation!” Adam got up from the bed angrily. “You couldn’t have told me that before?”

Her eyes welled with tears. “I didn’t know we were going to wind up in your bed…” They had gone out to dinner, again, and a walk in the park. His kisses turned into an invitation back to his apartment. She wasn’t naïve, she knew that they might…get closer, but she was so spellbound by him…

“Dammit Davie! I have never taken a virgin before and I certainly don’t intend to start with you!”

She watched incredulously as he pulled a pair of jeans on. “I’m sorry…I…”  Suddenly Davie felt angry. “If you thought that I thought it was going to be some kind of commitment, you don’t need to worry. I got carried away…don’t worry, it won’t happen again.” She stood taking the bedsheet with her to cover herself. “If you don’t mind giving me some privacy, I’ll get dressed.”

Her anger made him feel contrite and he responded in much gentler tones. “I’ll take you home as soon as you’re ready.”

“Don’t bother! I’ll manage on my own.” She stared at the bedroom door pointedly, but he didn’t budge. “Fine!” Davie dropped the linen to the floor and picked up her clothing.

Earlier, Adam’s body had felt as cold as if he had been blasted with icy water, but as he got another glimpse of her astonishingly beautiful naked body again, he was happy he had donned his pants to hide his reaction. “I…I’m sorry”, he turned his back to her. “I…I just can’t be…the first…”

“What?!”

“I’m sorry…” He left the room.

  Audio, Print & E-book

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NOOK

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SMASHWORDS

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JUST BROWSING THE INTERNET AND FOUND A FEW  TERRIFIC QUOTES

 

“The 21st Century has begun as an era of uncertainty, with a heightened focus on security and public safety.” ~ Gavin Newsom

~~~~~

“While on a ladder, never step back to admire your work.” ~ OSHA

~~~~~

“The best lightning rod for your protection is your own spine.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

~~~~~

“Anger is a legitimate feeling, one often designed for self-protection.” ~ Kimberlee Roth

~~~~~

“To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.” ~ Barbara Bush

He really was trying to be helpful, thought Jake. Still, something was bothering him about the information the guy was handing them. It was almost like he was trying to be too helpful.

Jake berated himself for thinking poorly about Larkin, after all, with everything he had witnessed that night it was no wonder that he wanted the bastard caught. At least that was what he had told the detectives. He had even come in voluntarily to answer questions, they didn’t have to ask him to be there.

He let the other team members ask the questions while he quietly made notes. But when Larkin couldn’t, or wouldn’t, get specific enough about which bar he and the mysterious John had picked the girls up in, Jake voiced his dissatisfaction with an impatient sigh and a snort. And he got a disapproving look from his superior for that.

“I don’t remember, we went to several nightspots, I don’t remember which one we were in when we met Holly and Beth. All I know it was somewhere in Westchester.” He whined. Larkin fixed his watery eyes on Jake. “I am so sorry, I really wish I could remember.”

Jake excused himself from the room, he’d get the notes from the rest of the interview from one of the detectives.

Larkin had worked with a police artist and now Jake had a sketch of the perp. He also had a photo of Holly and an artist’s sketch based on a reconstruction of Beth’s face. He sent those pictures over the wire to the local Westchester police along with a list of the clubs Andrew had named. Now if only someone would recognize the missing man and give them some clue as to his whereabouts.

Meanwhile he had pulled several missing persons files on descriptions matching the two girls; sometimes the victim’s identity was an important lead as to who the murderer was. There were a few files that came close, but so far nothing had matched.  Jake was suspicious by nature, and in this business it was best to check out everything, so he ran any information he had on Andrew Larkin through the computers as well. The man came up squeaky clean.

It irritated Jake that Larkin didn’t have even a traffic violation on his record. Something about Larkin bothered Jake and he was hoping to find something out about him that would justify his dislike of the other man. He just couldn’t figure it out.

The forensics team had found evidence that the car found at the scene was the same vehicle that had carried the two girls and Larkin. There were inconclusive signs of a fourth person. Only Larkin’s prints were on the steering wheel but that only confirmed the story that he had related to them. The carpeted floor mats were filthy and it seemed impossible to get a clean copy of any shoe prints. The well-worn cloth-covered seats didn’t give up much evidence either.

The team was thorough about collecting any evidence from the car in the hopes that they might get some leads on the identities of the other three occupants. The tires were well worn but scrapings were made from the treads to see if there was any telltale substance that might lead them to a garage, industrial parking lot, construction site or anywhere that Larkin might not have remembered driving to that night.

The lab techs collected shoeprints and fingerprints from all the responding emergency service workers and had diligently weeded those out of the prints found in the cabin. It was time consuming but necessary. Still, although they were able to pick up another man’s shoe prints, they had nothing else to go on.

Curiously neither of the girls seemed to have carried a purse with them, at least they didn’t have one at the crime scene. Both female victims had been dressed in similar gauzy robes with no underwear or footwear. What should have been their normal street clothes were missing and Jake wondered if the absent man had taken those items with him as some sort of perverted souvenir. It wasn’t unusual for the police to find a victim’s personal effects among a killer’s treasured possessions, a trophy collection of sorts.

Without any hard evidence, the trail was already feeling cold. Jake was frustrated at the lack of clues. The crime was definitely one of the more heinous he had ever encountered, he rarely felt as jolted as he did now. He couldn’t explain the strange foreboding he had about this case or the frantic need to solve it immediately.

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Final Sin was an
Honorable Mention in the Fiction Category of the 
2010 NY Book Festival 

To purchase:

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AMAZON PRINT

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B&N PRINT

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Although there are a lot of people who are unclear about if they need to comply with this new General Data Protection Regulation due to go into effect on May 25, a few things are clear — even if you are not based in the UK, if there is any possibility that you are doing ANY marketing to the UK, you need to comply. Fortunately several of my books have sold in the UK (thank you all so much) and I know my blog and website have been accessed from there as well. Based on what I have heard I need to take the appropriate steps to ensure I am in compliance.

My blog and my website offers me “analytics”, I know the regions where people have checked in, the dates and referring URLs… I do not receive individual usage information. I do not share any of the non-descript information that I receive (except for an occasional brag in general that my blog is being checked out around the world. I do not share any of your information with anyone and have NO intention of doing so.

People visit my pages on social media sites like FaceBook and Twitter. Aside from generic analytics I have no more information that what you have decided to make public. Anything I post or receive through these networks is being conducted under their own GDPR compliance.

For more professional info on GDPR, you can read this article GDPR Summary.

Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting me. Readers and friends are like manna to an author!


After His Lucky Charm this is Tom’s Story…

It was already night when he got back home, but he had to go pay a visit somewhere. Tom had only been at Joyce’s grave a few times. In the beginning it was just too painful. Now, it was just not something he ever got used to doing. After attending the funeral for the young state trooper though, Joyce was pulling at him. He stopped at the local grocery store and bought a small bouquet of flowers from the produce rack.

He knew where the grave was even though it had been a while. Tom arranged the flowers in front of her headstone and then sat on the wet grass. He leaned his head against the cold marble. There was a full moon above that played games with the lighting in the cemetery. He was alone. It was after hours and he really wasn’t supposed to be there but he didn’t want to have this conversation with anyone else around.

“Hey babe, I’m sorry it’s been so long. You’re probably pissed, I know…” Tom heard the silence and felt the cool breeze. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. They finally found the guy who hurt you… I am so sorry for all that you went through. Hey Joyce, I almost killed him, but someone else beat me to it. I did beat him up though and put him in the hospital.” He thought of all the trouble he had gotten into being accused of killing Dunlop. “Okay, maybe I wouldn’t have killed him. But I wanted to…”

He closed his eyes and remembered a time when they were tumbling around behind the football field tickling each other. She had accidentally swung and hit him in the lip. She was so upset because his lip bled. He teased her and made so much fun of her that day. “Hey, I saw your folks and your baby sister. Kristen looks so much like you. It really threw me when I first saw her, I almost thought it was you. Cat was also amazed at the resemblance.” He swallowed and let his words be absorbed in the night. “Remember how we both were so frustrated because Cat and Stephanie were such pains in the butt to us and how we swore they’d never grow up? Well Steph’s in Iraq in the marines. And Cat’s a mom! Do you believe it? Wow.”

Tears came to his eyes as he remembered seeing her casket lowered into the ground. He felt like his heart had turned ice cold that day. “Life has gone on all around us babe. So many things have changed… So many things.” He put his hand on the marble headstone and wished he could feel some life force or something. Tom had heard stories from people who claimed it happened to them. The stone was cold and still.

“Joyce, I met someone. I fell in love with her, but I don’t know if I am ever going to see her again. She walked away from me. But I love her. Her name is Alli. But I swear my heart can feel again.”

There was no explanation for it, no reason to believe it. An incredible calm feeling engulfed Tom suddenly. He sat upright and looked at the headstone. His fingers traced the little cherub that was engraved in the stone. He just felt as if Joyce had smiled for him. “I want to find her. I want to marry her and have a family with her. I don’t know where to start looking but I know I don’t want to lose her too.” He leaned his forehead against the stone and closed his eyes tightly against the tears. “I think you understand. Thank you.”

Tom sat in the darkness remembering Joyce’s love, remembering the way Alli made him feel. It was several minutes before he spoke again. He was sure that Joyce was filling him with hope for a future. He almost swore he could hear her voice telling him to live and love.

Somehow he knew that Joyce liked Alli. Finally he got to his knees and faced Joyce’s name engraved on the stone. “I love you babe. I always will, that’s never going to die.” But it was good that he could love again. Joyce was happy for him, he was sure of it. He just had to find Alli. “Thank you.” He placed a kiss on the top of the headstone. “Good bye.”

Within the Law

KINDLE  ~  B&N  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  APPLE

 JUST BROWSING THE INTERNET AND FOUND A FEW  TERRIFIC QUOTES

 

Rainbows apologize for angry skies. ~ Sylvia Voirol

~~~~~

I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness. ~ Adeline Knapp

~~~~~

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” ~ Vivian Greene

~~~~~

“Don’t let the rain drive you to the wrong shelter; the shade can turn out to be your protector and also your destroyer, and sometimes the rain is the perfect protector from the rain.” ~ Michael Bassey Johnson

~~~~~

“You can dance in the storm. Don’t wait for the rain to be over before because it might take too long. You can do it now. Wherever you are, right now, you can start, right now; this very moment.” ~  Israelmore Ayivor

Hi everyone, first of all, Happy Mothers’ Day to ALL Nurturers!

This weekend we’ve been celebrating my books that feature strong MOM figures on my FaceBook Author Page — These books are listed below (with some buy links.

Today’s excerpt is from Within the Law. Of all the Moms I’ve written about my personal favorite is Sylvia Hughes, mom to Tom Hughes (Within the Law) and Aunt/Step-mom to Caitlyn Smythe (His Lucky Charm); Sylvia is fierce, protective and loving of both her children, no matter what age they are, and at the same time she understands they are grown adults with lives of their own (fortunately she has her own love affair with her husband Walter to keep her busy).

This excerpt is the first time that Sylvia is meeting Alli, Tom’s fiancee.

“Calm down sweetheart.” Alli was surprised about how nervous Tom was about his parents coming to visit.

“No. You don’t understand. My mother is going to come in here and look for something wrong. She won’t stop until she finds it.” He was checking all the surfaces for dust even though Alli had spent all of the day before cleaning.

“You are driving yourself crazy.”

“My mother will drive me crazy.”

“I spoke with Caitlyn yesterday. She said your mom isn’t as bad as you make her out to be.”

“Well Cat can say that. She’s a few hundred miles away.” He stopped and looked at Alli. “You two are getting pretty chummy. I don’t know if that means trouble for me?”

“You worry too much.” Alli left the room. He hoped he hadn’t insulted her.

Tom plumped the pillows on the sofa… again. He had to admit, Alli had done a nice job scrubbing the house. He was grateful because she really understood how important it was to him. She had never even grumbled about it. He was using his sleeve to wipe a possible smudge off of a glass panel on the curio cabinet when he heard Alli coming back down the stairs.

“Babe, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” He stood silently when he saw what she was wearing. “Now, that’s really not fair. I’ve got to wear that to work.” And he knew he would never get over the vision of her wearing his uniform shirt and nothing else but a pair of flimsy panties and a delicate diamond engagement ring. The shirt was left unbuttoned.

“Your cousin said you needed to be distracted if you got too nervous.”

“I’m distracted.”

“Good.” She went into his arms. “Now you just need to relax…”

His breath was slow and steady. “I think I know just what I need to relax,” He spread the shirt open and pulled her to him. He bent to kiss her.

They heard the front door open. “Tommy! Come help your father with the suitcases.”

Alli stepped back and pulled the shirt closed. Her eyes were wide. “They’re early!”

“Uh, yeah…” He blew out a big breath. “I’ll be right there ma.” He called back.

“I have to get upstairs.”

“I’ll keep them distracted.” He did his best to compose himself and then he went to greet his mother. He made sure to hug his mom and swing her around so that her back was to the stairs. “Hi ma. You got here early.”

“Your father decided to push on through instead of stopping at a decent hour last night.” She started to look around. “So where is this Alli of yours?”

He saw Alli run up the stairs and he did his best to hide a smirk. “She’s uh, upstairs changing. She’ll be right down.” Tom turned to the door. “Let me go help dad.”

Just a few minutes later, Alli was coming down the stairs dressed neatly in a casual light blue pants suit. She was fully composed. Her hair was combed perfectly. And her smile was indescribable. Tom marveled at how quickly she put herself together.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, I am so glad to meet you. Tom has told me so many nice things about you.”

Sylvia Hughes laughed. “Now I know you’re fibbing child.”

Alli smiled. “He’s also told me nice things.” She stressed the word “also”.

Walter Hughes poked his son in the side. “She’s good.”

“Ma, dad, this is Alli Davis, the woman I plan to marry.” Tom was proud of her.

“There’s a pot of coffee and muffins in the kitchen if you’re hungry.” Alli offered.

“Sounds lovely.” Sylvia led the way. When she stepped into the kitchen, Tom noticed her looking around. “I see you’ve made a few changes…”

Tom groaned inwardly. “Alli is a really good cook ma.” He prepared himself for her onslaught.

She noticed the microwave. “It’s about time you modernized a little Tommy.” Tom almost dropped. He had been prepared for only criticism. Yet, when he thought about it, his parents were both always very supportive of him. Maybe, he thought, he was just being a little paranoid.

It wasn’t until they were seated at the table enjoying their coffee and muffins that Sylvia did start in about their living arrangements.

“Ma, we’re both adults…” This was an age-old argument between them. It would probably be the same argument no matter what age he was.

“You are not married yet. You know how I feel about that. I don’t approve of that under my roof.”

He counted to ten, very quickly, before answering. Tom looked directly at his mother. “Ma, fortunately this is my roof… Remember? I bought this house from you and dad.”

Alli started to say something to Tom when Walter put his hand on hers and shook his head. She stayed quiet. Walter winked at her.

Sylvia glared at her son. “Well, why don’t you just move the wedding date up then? That would solve everything.”

“Ma, we set the date and we are sticking with it. We have been making all of our plans on that date. There are people who will be coming in from out of town. I am not going to make them change their plans. And we are living here together. That’s it. I hope that you can accept that while you are visiting us.”

Sylvia was silent for a long time. Finally she turned to Alli, “For your sake, not his, I hope that when your babies grow up, they are more mindful of your feelings.” She looked like she was ready to pout. “Children should respect their parents. You’ll know what I mean when you have your own.”

Alli gave Tom a desperate look. He looked at her apologetically. She squared her shoulders. “Uh, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Hughes, we want you to know up front… I can’t have kids.” She braced herself.

“What do you mean you can’t have kids?” His mother frowned.

“There was an accident and… I was left unable to have children.”

“You can’t get pregnant?”

“No ma’am.” Alli bit her lip. Tom reached across to take her hand.

Sylvia looked at her and then Tom. “Well, we want more grandchildren. You had better do something about that. Adopt.”

Hyphema

KINDLE  ~  B&N  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  APPLE

Hostage Heart

KINDLE  ~  B&N  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  APPLE

Courage of the Heart

KINDLE  ~  B&N  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  APPLE

Within the Law

KINDLE  ~  B&N  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  APPLE

A Chaunce of Riches

KINDLE  ~  B&N  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  APPLE

Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

KINDLE  ~  B&N  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  APPLE

 

 JUST BROWSING THE INTERNET AND FOUND A FEW  TERRIFIC QUOTES

“When my mother had to get dinner for 8 she’d just make enough for 16 and only serve half.” ~  Gracie Allen

~~~~~

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” ~ Theodore Hesburgh

~~~~~

“When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.”
~ Erma Bombeck

~~~~~

“Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein

~~~~~

“There is only one pretty child in the world and every mother has it.”
~ Chinese Proverb

FREE Download 

Ipema di Chelle Cordero

traduzione in italiano di Elisabetta Colona

Ipema: sanguinamento dell’occhio causato da un trauma… Matt Garratti, un paramedico di New York, si trasferisce con sua moglie e suo figlio nel Nord Carolina per fare il lavoro dei suoi sogni come medico di volo. Pakistana di origine, Sudah, sua moglie, riceve sguardi taglienti e commenti brutali dai nuovi vicini… Matt si chiede se stia inseguendo i suoi sogni o portando la sua famiglia in un incubo da cui non potrebbero più svegliarsi.

Il libro sarà presto disponibile!
(coming soon)

Reviews of Hyphema

“In Hyphema, author Chelle Cordero meets headlong a number of real problems facing her characters. She doesn’t sugar-coat cultural differences and prejudice. The series of incidents and the deaths faced by Matt and Sudah cause them to face these problems and gives the love story a depth well-done.” —Janet Lane Walters

“Ms. Cordero tackles such amazingly current topics-hate, prejudice, fear of the different, with such enjoyable, suspenseful, and well-researched background, that this reader will be following her closely to see what she writes next. Each medical scene resonates with reality, and each chapter flows into the next with a flutter in the pit of the stomach for what is coming, as well as what has been.” —Brian Davidson

Hyphema is also available in Spanish

 JUST BROWSING THE INTERNET AND FOUND A FEW  TERRIFIC QUOTES

 

“Small business people are people with goals and values that can’t be calculated on a profit and loss statement.” ~ Linda McMahon

~~~~~

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” ~ Mother Teresa

~~~~~

“Always wake up with a smile knowing that today you are going to have fun accomplishing what others are too afraid to do.” ~ Mark Cuban

~~~~~

“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value”
~ Albert Einstein

~~~~~

““It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci

Celebrating
National Small Business
Week 2018

Living, Breathing, Writing

My Weekly Writing Workshop  (Living, Breathing, Writing) for Kindle has been discontinued. But you don’t have to miss out, go to https://amzn.to/2Tj06HG for a copy of 60+ Days to Live, Breathe, & Write