MOUNTAIN OF DECEPTION

Has Tessa found the man of her dreams?
Or has she fallen for a criminal?

Tessa Cooper, having taken a year long sabbatical from teaching English at a university in order to write a mystery novel, winds up living in the mountains of Tennessee. The last thing on her mind is falling in love. Then she meets the man building the garage behind her cabin. Sexy Silas Newberry is a man with many secrets, and Tessa is determined to find out what they are. But when things start going in the wrong direction, can Silas keep her safe without revealing his biggest secret of all?

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PAPERBACK [EAN 978-1-941278-24-6 | ISBN 1-941278-24-8] 6x9 library trim (156 pages) | Average Price: $11.99

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READ AN EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1:

TESSA Cooper drove through the small town of Yellowwood, Tennessee just outside Smoky Mountains National Park.
The highway ran down what she would call the tourist strip, although, from what she had researched online, not many tourists had discovered Yellowwood yet. Most of them opted for Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge with their many attractions, shops, and hotels.
Her GPS instructed her to turn right at the next road to find the cabin she would be renting for the next twelve months. After the turn, she drove up a long hill before it leveled off where she found the cabin. A car in the driveway with a sign on the side identified its owner, the real estate agent she had been talking with for the past few weeks.
Tessa parked her car and stepped out. An older lady with bright red hair approached. "Tessa Cooper?"
"Yes."
"Oh good. I'm glad you found the cabin. Honey, I'm Claire Borden. We've been talkin' on the phone." Her southern accent was prominent.
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Borden."
"Oh, sweetie, we aren't all that fancy around here. You call me Claire."
"Claire it is, and I'm Tessa."
"Come on in. I'll show you around. I know you're going to love it."
Tessa looked around as she and Claire walked to the house. She could already tell she was going to love living here. The view of the mountains behind the cabin was spectacular. There was another cabin across the road, and she thought she had seen another up the road when she turned into the driveway.
Once inside, Claire showed her all the rooms, and Tessa loved the inside as much as the outside. "Mrs. Borden, the cabin is beautiful. It will be perfect for me to stay in to write my novel," Tessa said.
"Now call me Claire, remember?"
"I'm sorry. Claire."
"I knew you would like it. I have all the paperwork with me and you can move your things in right now." She dug a folder of papers out of her bag, and they sat down at the kitchen table.
Tessa took her time to carefully look over the lease and then signed two copies. "I think that should do it."
Claire signed both copies as well and then gave Tessa one of them. "All utilities are included in the rent, but you'll probably want to buy some wood for the fireplace on those really cold winter nights, or," her lips curled into a smile, "when you have a gentleman caller."
Tessa laughed. "I think I'll just stick to a fire to keep me warm."
"Well, we'll see. Here's my card. Now, if you have any problems, you be sure and call me, you hear? The owners are livin' in Florida now, and I take care of everything for them."
"Thank you." Tessa followed Claire outside.
Just then, a large black pickup truck turned into the gravel driveway and parked next to Tessa's car. The door opened and out stepped a rugged-looking man dressed in a tight T-shirt and jeans. His mane of long brown hair framed the surly expression on his face. A folded handkerchief over his forehead held his hair out of his face. He held a tool belt in his left hand and lifted a big toolbox from the truck bed with his right. His upper arm muscles bulged, and Tessa thought for sure his shirt would rip Hulk style.
"Silas, darlin', come on over here. I want you to meet the new renter." Claire motioned for him to join them. "Silas Newberry, this is Tessa Cooper. She'll be livin' here for the next twelve months while she writes a novel."
Silas wiped his hand on his jeans and looked up at Tessa as he extended his hand. Her gaze traced from his hand and up his arm until their eyes met. The surly expression gone, a smile spread across his dark, tanned face. His blue eyes sparkled.
"Twelve months?" he questioned.
"I'm on a sabbatical from teaching."
"Well, how do you do, ma'am. Welcome to Yellowwood." His voice was deep, but soft with just a tad bit of southern drawl.
She shook his hand, finding it rough. Normal for a man carrying tools, she thought. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you," she replied, probably holding his hand a bit too long. He withdrew first.
"Tessa, Silas is our local handyman. He can build or fix just about anything. He'll probably be around a lot since he's buildin' a storage building out back for the cabin owners," Claire said.
"Oh, a storage building, that's nice."
"I hope my hammering won't interrupt your writing, ma'am."
"No, I'm sure it won't."
How in the world was she going to get any writing done with this handsome man hanging around everyday?
"Well, I better get to work. It was nice meeting you, Miss Cooper."
"Tessa. You might as well call me Tessa since you'll be around a lot."
"Okay, Tessa. Mrs. Borden." He nodded to both and headed to the back of the house.
Both ladies watched him walk away. No doubt Claire was enjoying the view as much as Tessa...

[Copyright ©2023 Carol Preflatish | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]

READ REVIEWS

"MOUNTAIN OF DECEPTION a nice suspense novel about Silas (the poacher) and Tessa (the college professor). Tessa is taking a year-long break to write a novel after the death of her husband. She rents a cabin in the Smoky Mountains and is greeted by the local handy man who is building a shed in the back of her rental. The two quickly are checking each other out but he is quiet and reserved not sharing much detail about his life. She is more of an open book and will tell all about herself. The couple begin dating and Silas reveals some things about himself that shock both us and Tessa. However we listen to him make promises to change his life. There are a few twists and turns for the couple like his dangerous job, his boss and co-workers plus a noisy neighbor who wants to see the two split up. The end of the book is where a lot of the action takes place. The author does a good job showing the respect and love the two share for each other to make the decisions they make plausible." ~ reviewed by Angie J for Twinsie Talk Reviews