by Jana DeLeon
“Seems only fitting,” she said, and smiled at the two of them. “Since this is how it all started.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, a light began to form above them. It was small at first, like a candle on the ceiling of the room, but then it began to grow wider, and it dipped down, lower, lower, until it was past the second-floor landing and entering the first floor. Helena stared at the light, amazed by its beauty, by the warmth inside, and she squeezed Maryse’s and Hank’s hands as it began to pour over her body.
“I love you all. Be happy and well,” she said, then slowly faded away.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my critique partners Cari Manderscheid, Cindy Taylor, and Colleen Gleason for your sound advice and for just listening to me complain. Thanks to my daily chat buddy, Leslie Langtry, who can make even the worst things funny. Thanks to Jimmie, Donna, and Katianne Morris, for your continued support and for pushing my books. Thanks to my unofficial assistant, Tracey Stanley, for making sure I eat breakfast and get to work on time and for talking about my books to anyone who will listen. Thanks to RWA and DARA for the education you provide and always looking out for a writer’s best interest. Thanks to the cover artist—this cover blows me away! Thanks to my editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, for always making my books better and working to get the perfect cover. And special thanks to my agent, Kristin Nelson, for always pushing me to extend myself and believing that I can.
Praise for Jana Deleon!
MISCHIEF IN MUDBUG
“Mischief in Mudbug is full of fun, action, and enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning. All of the characters are well written and drive the story, but Helena’s ghost gets me every time. Ms. DeLeon does a great job keeping you wondering what’s going to happen next. If you’re looking for some giggles and surprises mixed with some romance this one’s for you.”
—Night Owl Romance
“…a delight to read. By combining realistic, rich characters with an attention-holding plotline, Jana DeLeon has created a book that will satisfy any palate.”
—Once Upon a Romance
“Lighthearted and very funny at times, Mischief in Mudbug moves along at a breakneck pace…A breezy mystery with romance overtones that will keep you turning the pages.”
—Fresh Fiction
TROUBLE IN MUDBUG
“DeLeon brings her spunky style to a novel that’s plenty of fun to read. The characters are easy to indentify with and demonstrate their multifaceted personalities in their actions and words. DeLeon is excellent at weaving comedy, suspense, and spicy romance into one compelling story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Funny and exciting, DeLeon manages to keep you guessing and laughing from start to finish…I would recommend this to anyone.”
—Night Owl Romance
“Interesting characters and a fun and entertaining mystery make Trouble in Mudbug a novel I highly recommend.”
—Romance Reviews Today
UNLUCKY
“The quirky characters keep the action moving and I’m sure Mallory has been sitting next to me every time I go to the casino.”
—Barbara Vey, Publishers Weekly Beyond Her Book Blog
“With original, smart and comedic writing, DeLeon delivers a three-dimensional hero and heroine, a community of offbeat secondary characters, a complex and intriguing plot with a hint of paranormal and a fascinating peek into the world of casino poker.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Ms. DeLeon provides a great plot and a lot of mystery. The heat that sizzles off Mallory and Jake keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. And right when you think you have it all figured out, you realize you don’t. Things are never as they seem on the bayou!”
—The Romance Reader’s Connection
RUMBLE ON THE BAYOU
“Rumble on the Bayou is a wonderful, poignant and fun mystery…Filled with likable and interesting individuals, this first-rate debut novel is a truly fantastic read.”
—RT Book Reviews; Reviewers Choice Nominee
“Jana DeLeon’s debut had me chuckling from the opening pages, and I never stopped laughing. It’s a fresh, fast-paced, fabulously funny mystery where sexy blondes have brains, small towns swarm with crazy characters, and everyone’s afraid of the gators!”
—Diana Peterfreund, author of Secret Society Girl
“Debut author Jana DeLeon has created a whole passel of down-to-earth, wonderful characters, and a pageturning, interesting mystery. Rumble on the Bayou is a perfect blend of secrets, intrigue, romance and laughter.”
—Affaire de Coeur
Other books by Jana DeLeon:
MISCHIEF IN MUDBUG
TROUBLE IN MUDBUG
UNLUCKY
RUMBLE ON THE BAYOU
Copyright
LOVE SPELL®
July 2010
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2010 by Jana DeLeon
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0901-6
The name “Love Spell” and its logo are trademarks of Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
Visit us online at www.dorchesterpub.com.