Alien Allure: A Garden Girls Cozy Mystery (Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mystery Series Book 23)
Page 17
From past conversations, Gloria knew Liz had given Martin money, purchased expensive toys for him and subsidized his lavish lifestyle. Since Liz’s windfall from the sale of some valuable coins had dwindled and she was forced to budget her money, Martin had developed a wandering eye.
“I forgot to mention, Joe Nelson stopped by here first thing this morning.”
Gloria perked up. “What did he say? I’ve been asking Paul for an update on what happened. All he’ll tell me is Cliff was charged with kidnapping and child endangerment. He’s in jail with no bail until his hearing.”
“From what Joe said, he won’t be out for a very long time.”
“I hope they throw the book at him.” Gloria shuddered as she remembered how the man had almost taken Ryan. “I hate to say it, but if not for Ryan, I don’t think we would’ve caught him.”
“Cliff admitted he made the anonymous call naming Leonard. When he found out the investigators were focusing on the convention, he got nervous and named Leonard,” Ruth said.
“Is that the reason he let the Lakeville boy go?” Helena asked.
“I don’t know. Nelson wouldn’t tell me,” Ruth said. “My guess is he panicked. He knew the heat was closing in, so he decided to let him go and lay low.”
“And now the convention is over.” Ruth handed Helena the keys to the office. “I can turn these back over to you.”
“Thanks,” Helena said. “Are you going to host next year’s convention?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure if the SPEC – space exploration group – is interested in joining us again. Bernie…Bernadette said some of the attendees she spoke with were disappointed there wasn’t more action. They thought it was a little boring.”
Gloria laughed. “They wouldn’t have said that had they been in our shoes.”
“I guess if aliens do exist, they’re not interested in hanging out around here,” Ruth said.
“Maybe the NASCA people scared them off. The aliens felt like they were being spied on,” Helena said. “I hope you do host it. Maybe you should host a NASCA/preppers convention instead.”
“I could.” Ruth eyed Helena thoughtfully. “You know, that’s an idea.”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t have any trouble convincing my husband to let you use the space again at no charge.” Helena warmed to the idea. “I would help you host it.”
“Have you heard from Leonard?” Gloria asked.
“Yeah. He’s home now. He was gonna hang around for another couple of days, but something is going on at Area 51, and he wanted to get back there. I told him how you cracked the abduction case and helped clear his name. He wanted me to make sure I thanked you and said if you ever need his help again, don’t hesitate to call.”
“I might have to take him up on that,” Gloria said. “Now we’re even since he helped clear Liz’s name.”
Ruth tossed her spymobile keys in the air and then caught them. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I could go for a grilled peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich right about now.”
“Me too,” Helena said.
“Dot’s it is,” Gloria said.
“Yes, Dot’s it is.”
The end.
The series continues...Book 24 in the “Garden Girls Cozy Mysteries” series coming soon!
If you enjoyed reading “Alien Allure,” would you please take a moment to leave a review? It would mean so much. Thank you! –Hope Callaghan
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Books in This Series
Garden Girls Cozy Mystery Series
Who Murdered Mr. Malone? Book 1
Grandkids Gone Wild: Book 2
Smoky Mountain Mystery: Book 3
Death by Dumplings: Book 4
Eye Spy: Book 5
Magnolia Mansion Mysteries: Book 6
Missing Milt: Book 7
Bully in the ‘Burbs: Book 8
Fall Girl: Book 9
Home for the Holidays: Book 10
Sun, Sand, and Suspects: Book 11
Look Into My Ice: Book 12
Forget Me Knot: Book 13
Nightmare in Nantucket: Book 14
Greed with Envy: Book 15
Dying for Dollars: Book 16
Stranger Among Us: Book 17
Dash For Cash: Book 18
Arsonist and Lace: Book 19
Court of Corruption: Book 20
Framed in Florida: Book 21
Murder on Summer Lane: Book 22
Alien Allure: Book 23
Book 24: Coming Soon!
Garden Girls Box Set I – (Books 1-3)
Garden Girls Box Set II – (Books 4-6)
Garden Girls Box Set III – (Books 7-9)
Cozy Mysteries 12 Book Box Set: (Garden Girls & Cruise Ship Series)
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Samantha Rite Mystery Series
Heartbroken after her recent divorce, a single mother is persuaded to book a cruise and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly adventure. Will she make it out alive?
Waves of Deception: Book 1
Winds of Deception: Book 2
Tides of Deception: Book 3
Samantha Rite Box Set – (Books 1-3-The Complete Series)
Garden Girls Cozy Mystery Series
A lonely widower finds new purpose for her life when she and her senior friends help solve a murder in their small Midwestern town.
Who Murdered Mr. Malone? Book 1
Grandkids Gone Wild: Book 2
Smoky Mountain Mystery: Book 3
Death by Dumplings: Book 4
Eye Spy: Book 5
Magnolia Mansion Mysteries: Book 6
Missing Milt: Book 7
Bully in the ‘Burbs: Book 8
Fall Girl: Book 9
Home for the Holidays: Book 10
Sun, Sand, and Suspects: Book 11
Look Into My Ice: Book 12
Forget Me Knot: Book 13
Nightmare in Nantucket: Book 14
Greed with Envy: Book 15
Dying for Dollars: Book 16
Stranger Among Us: Book 17
Dash For Cash: Book 18
Arsonist and Lace: Book 19
Court of Corruption: Book 20
Framed in Florida: Book 21
Murder on Summer Lane: Book 22
Alien Allure: Book 23
Book 24: Coming Soon!
Garden Girls Box Set I – (Books 1-3)
Garden Girls Box Set II – (Books 4-6)
Garden Girls Box Set III – (Books 7-9)
Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series
A mother and daughter try to escape their family’s NY mob ties by making a fresh start in Savannah, GA but they soon realize you can run but you can’t hide from the past.
Key to Savannah: Book 1
Road to Savannah: Book 2
Justice in Savannah: Book 3
Swag in Savannah: Book 4
Trouble in Savannah: Book 5
Missing in Savannah: Book 6
Setup in Savannah: Book 7
Merry Masquerade: Book 8
The Family Affair: Book 9
Pirates in Peril: Book 10
Matrimony & Mayhem: Book 11
Swiped in Savannah: Book 12
Turmoil in Savannah: Book 13
Book 14: Coming Soon!
Made in Savannah Box Set I (Books 1-3)
Made in Savannah Box Set II (Books 4-6)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series
A recently divorced senior lands her dream job as Assistant Cruise Director onboard a mega passenger cruise ship and soon discovers she’s got a knack for solving murders.
Starboard Secrets: Book 1
Portside Peril: Book 2
Lethal Lobster: Book 3
Deadly Deception: Book 4
Vanishing Vacationers: Book 5
Cruise Control: Book 6
Killer Karaoke: Book 7
Suite Revenge: Book 8
Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’: Book 9
High Seas Heist: Book 10
Family, Friends and Foes: Book 11
Murder on Main: Book 12
Fatal Flirtation: Book 13
Deadly Delivery: Book 14
Reindeer & Robberies: Book 15
Transatlantic Tragedy: Book 16
Southampton Stalker: Book 17
Book 18: Coming Soon!
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set I (Books 1-3)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set II (Books 4-6)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set III (Books 7-9)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set IV (Books 10-12)
Divine Cozy Mystery Series
After relocating to the tiny town of Divine, Kansas, strange and mysterious things begin to happen to businesswoman, Jo Pepperdine and those around her.
Divine Intervention: Book 1
Divine Secrets: Book 2
Divine Blindside Book 3
Divine Decisions Book 4
Divine Christmas: Book 5
Divine Cozy Mystery Book 6 (Coming Soon!)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Short Stories Series
Twin sisters with completely opposite personalities become amateur sleuths when a dead body is discovered in their recently inherited home in Misery, Mississippi.
Teepees and Trailer Parks: Book 1
Bag of Bones: Book 2
Southern Stalker: Book 3
Two Settle the Score: Book 4
Killer Road Trip: Book 5
Pups in Peril: Book 6
Dying To Get Married-In: Book 7
Deadly Drive-In: Book 8
Secrets of a Stranger: Book 9
Library Lockdown: Book 10
Vandals & Vigilantes: Book 11
Fatal Frolic: Book 12
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set I: (Books 1-4)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set: II: (Books 5-8)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set III: (Books 9-12)
Sweet Southern Sleuths 12 Book Box Set (Entire Series)
Cozy Mystery Collections
Cozy Mysteries Collection (Heart and Holiday Edition)
Cozy Mysteries 12 Book Box Set: (Garden Girls & Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series)
Fall Into Murder 6 Book Fall Themed Cozy Mystery Collection
Audiobooks
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Road to Savannah: Book 2 (Made in Savannah Series)
Justice in Savannah: Book 3 (Made in Savannah Series)
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Cozy Mysteries Cookbook-Recipes from Hope Callaghan Books
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Hope Callaghan is an American author who loves to write clean fiction books, especially Christian Mystery and Cozy Mystery books. She has written more than 70 mystery books (and counting) in six series.
In March 2017, Hope won a Mom’s Choice Award for her book, “Key to Savannah,” Book 1 in the Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series.
Born and raised in a small town in West Michigan, she now lives in Florida with her husband. She is the proud mother of 3 wonderful children.
When she's not doing the thing she loves best - writing books - she enjoys cooking, traveling and reading books.
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Creamy Cajun Alfredo Recipe
Ingredients:
1 – 14 oz. package smoked sausage (ready to eat), cut into ¼ inch slices. (Optional. You can substitute chicken, shrimp or skip altogether.)
12 oz. pasta, cooked (we used rotini)
12 oz. broccoli, steamed / microwaved
(Alfredo Sauce)
½ cup butter (one stick)
1 – 8 oz. package cream cheese
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1/8 tsp. pepper
Directions:
-Cook pasta until al dente.
-While pasta is cooking, sauté sausage in large skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. (stir occasionally)
-After pasta and sausage are cooked, add to pot of Alfredo sauce (recipe below).
Preparing the Alfredo sauce:
-Melt butter in medium size, non-stick saucepan over medium heat.
-Once butter is melted, add garlic powder and Cajun seasoning. Stir.
-Add cream cheese. Stir with wire whisk until smooth.
-Add milk, a little at a time. Continue whisking.
-After cream cheese melts, add parmesan cheese and pepper. Stir thoroughly
-Combine Alfredo sauce, steamed broccoli, sausage and pasta. *
*The sauce will thicken.