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| Category: |
Romance |
Publisher: |
PublishAmerica
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ISBN-10: |
1588517152 |
Type: |
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| Pages: |
188 |
Copyright: |
Oct 1 2001 |
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Fiction |
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Twelve years ago, a murderer wanted Megan Hardy alive. Now, he wants her dead. Will she remember his face before it’s too late?
Twelve years ago, Megan Hardy came home to find her sister brutally murdered. Now, she is leading a peaceful and contented life. Until, she begins to have dreams that bring her closer and closer to seeing the face of a killer….
Twelve years ago, Will Kincaid was Megan’s closest friend. Unable to deal with Megan’s agony after her sister’s murder, he left town and never returned. Now, he has come back to face the ghosts, and the girl, he left behind….
Suddenly, people Megan cares for are being killed. With each murder, the murderer sends her a message. In her mind, the pieces are falling into place. She knows she recognized the killer, but will she remember his face, before it’s too late?
As the killer closes in, Megan and Will must face the fact that the feelings they once had for each other have never gone away, but, are growing stronger with each day.
Excerpt
Prologue
August 1988
The dog days of summer had settled over the countryside like a heavy woolen blanket. Movement and sound were rare this time of year. It always seemed that even the animals who inhabited the forest around the houses found cooler endeavors: no squirrels scampered playfully around the trees; no birds sang.
The humans were much the same. They hid in their houses with the air conditioners humming to keep out the sweltering heat of late August. The air was too heavy and too hot to worry with the grass that needed mowing or the last of the summer harvest that hung from the plants in their gardens.
The teenagers who inhabited the small, southern town of Stuart, Florida, found respite from the heat at the lake five miles from town. Some lazed around on blankets spread beneath the shade of the huge oak trees dotting the bank. Others dove into the clear cool water and washed away the sweat and grime of summer.
Their days were bittersweet now, as they faced the end of their last carefree summer. They had graduated this past June, and they knew that soon they would have to take their places in the world.
Most of them, like Jenny Tucker and Les Charles would stay here in town, getting jobs and settling down. Will Kincaid and a few others would live in Stuart while they went to college in Gainesville an hour away. Megan Hardy was the only one of them who would be leaving town. It was a sudden decision, not known to any of them until last week, but they were trying to make the best of it. When she had told them, with tears in her eyes, that she was leaving in two weeks, her friends had vowed to send her away with memories of the best summer they had ever had.
As the afternoon began to wane, the crowd of teenagers around the lake began to pack up their belongings and head to their cars. Music blared from the car stereos and the shrieks of laughter and teasing filled the clearing. They piled into the cars and headed to their various destinations, those without cars hitching rides with those who were privileged enough to be driving.
No one, neither the people who escaped from the heat inside their homes, nor the teenagers who made their exodus from the lake, heard the cries of the woman. None of them heard as she begged for her life or the lives of her children. None of them heard her screams as they echoed around the countryside.
They only heard the silence that followed.
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Reader Reviews for "Flowers for Megan"
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| Reviewed by Midwest Book Review |
7/5/2002 |
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Will Kinkaid was born exactly three hours before Megan Hardy in their tiny, safe Florida hometown. Through the years of childhood, they live as next door neighbors, share birthdays and holidays, and are such inseparable friends that everyone calls them "the twins". By their last year of high school, Will has moved beyond that, to thinking of his long time friend and confidant in far less platonic terms. But instead of easing into the more adult stage of their relationship as Will hopes, the friends encounter horror unimaginable.
After a day of swimming with their friends, Megan returns home to find her sister, niece and nephew murdered in a blood soaked bedroom. Will is right behind her, drawn into the gory scene by Megan's screams. Neither of them fare well in the aftermath of bloody murder. Megan grieves incessantly and withdraws into a near catatonic silence that lands her in a mental hospital. Will, in typical male fashion, denies the horror, tamps it down inside his mind. And every time he sees the grieving Megan, his heart and spirit break a little more for what might have been between them. Will knows he won't survive the sorrow or the memories very long, so he moves away from family and Megan. Twelve years later, he returns.
Neither Will nor Megan expect their youthful ties to be intact, but both pick up where they left off without missing a beat. They still share an easy camaraderie, a special brand of humor and a kinship that goes beyond explaining. And the teenage ardor Will tried to hide when they were younger rapidly becomes the openly desirous kisses, looks and touches of a man in love. Just when I was settling into the relationship and hoping it would work this time, a whole new set of murders begin. Monstrous, inexplicable murders. And Megan starts receiving gifts accompanied by flowers, just like the flowers that arrived the day her sister, niece and nephew were murdered.
"Roses for funerals, flowers for Megan"
A murderer so far gone in madness thinks and speaks those words aloud in a quest to separate her from anyone who might keep them apart. The demented monster kills with a message in mind, murders according to well laid plan. It soon becomes apparent, as both Will and others struggle to protect her, that the killer plans to drive Megan insane or be the instrument of her death, or maybe both.
Ms. Marlow really told this story well, with words that raced across each page in a style I found quite pleasing. Her characters were believable and charismatic. The relationship of Will and Megan was detailed realistically, with honest feelings and emotions. The author knew what she was doing from start to finish of this story. Any reader who likes mystery, suspense, or romance should enjoy this book immensely.
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| Reviewed by Kaye |
5/8/2002 |
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| I read your post all the time and I find them very interesting. So I decided to visit your page. The excerpt was very descriptive, detailed, and suspenseful I love your style! |
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| Reviewed by Elaine Bunbury |
5/6/2002 |
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This excerpt from your book has captured my attention - I want to read more.
Elaine Bunbury |
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| Reviewed by Angie McKenzie |
1/6/2002 |
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| The first chapter had me hooked. I could not put it down until I had finished the whole book! Great terminology, easy to follow! |
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| Reviewed by Laurel Johnson |
12/12/2001 |
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| Well crafted words that lead the reader headlong into the action. I could hear the sounds, feel the heat, and cringed with my thoughts of what was hidden behind the scenes. |
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| Reviewed by Santiago Stella |
12/9/2001 |
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Congratulations Gloria,
From what I have read, I can see that you have the gift of the written word. I feel that the story takes the reader immediately to enjoy the easy living of the country side in a small town. What a setting to start an unexpected tragedy and a drama!
Your book will be a definitive success!Sincerely,
Santiago V. Stella
Author of
"A Warrior on His Path"
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| Reviewed by Paul Morin |
11/8/2001 |
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| Congratulations on this accomplishment Gloria! Your exquisite excerpt drew me in. I wish you the very best in all that you do. |
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| Reviewed by Kathy Bosworth |
11/7/2001 |
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| As a reader, I was immediately drawn into the story. Very descriptive. I want to read more. Great job Gloria. |
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| Reviewed by Darla |
11/2/2001 |
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| The book seems amazing and intriguing. I can not wait until it is published and I can read the entire book, cover to cover. |
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| Reviewed by Pearl (mom) |
10/30/2001 |
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| I was not only truly impressed with the terminology and descriptive wording in her book preview, I was even touched by the author's background information. Can't wait to get the completed book in my hands!!! |
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| Reviewed by JAMES HEETER |
10/29/2001 |
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| THE BOOK IS AWESOME.COULDN'T STOP READING IT. HOPE TO READ MORE NOVELS WRITTEN BY HER. |
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| Reviewed by Christy French |
10/25/2001 |
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Wow! I can't wait until this book comes out. Talk about grabbing my attention - I wanted more! I love the descriptive phraseology. This is a very talented author and I hope we see more from her
Christy French
"Chasing Horses" |
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