âConsider this a warning.â
Lately, nurse Monica Grant feels sheâs being watched. Followed. And then she receives a threatening letterâaccompanied by a dead snake. If she doesnât stop her plans to open a free childrenâs clinic, sheâll end up dead, too. Terrified, Monica turns to former lawman Shaun OâNeillâwho believes the same madman murdered his own sister five years before. She understands how much it means to the handsome, heart-guarding man to save herâand her dream. Even if he has to lure a deadly stalker out of the shadowsâstraight toward himself.
âCreeps like stalkers enjoy watching. He wouldnât have put that snake there and not stuck around to see your reaction.â
Shaun turned from the window and his eyes caught hers. âMonica, that snake definitely wasnât there when we arrived a few minutes ago.â
A violent shiver passed over her entire body. She swallowed, trying to get hold of herself.
Shaun looked outside again. Monicaâs stalker had been only a few feet away. The stalker had been watching themâhad been watching Monica. This was the kind of man he hatedâsomeone who thought he had the right to play with othersâ lives. The frustration of dealing with men like this had made him quit the border patrol, had made him feel like a cop who couldnât hack it.
Well, heâd catch this man. And maybe it would heal what was broken inside him so he could do his job again.
CAMY TANG
writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Originally from Hawaii, she worked as a biologist for nine years, but now she writes full-time. She is a staff worker for her San Jose church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service, which specializes in book doctoring. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her ownâ¦), the writing journey, Asiana and anything else that comes to mind. Visit her website, www.camytang.com.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Love Inspired!
2012 is a very special year for us. It marks the fifteenth anniversary of Love Inspired Books. Hard to believe that fifteen years ago, we first began publishing our warm and wonderful inspirational romances.
Back in 1997, we offered readers three books a month. Since then weâve expanded quite a bit! In addition to the heartwarming contemporary romances of Love Inspired, we have the exciting romantic suspenses of Love Inspired Suspense, and the adventurous historical romances of Love Inspired Historical. Whatever your reading preference, weâve got fourteen books a month for you to choose from now!
Throughout the year weâll be celebrating in several different ways. Look for books by bestselling authors whoâve been writing for us since the beginning, stories by brand-new authors you wonât want to miss, special miniseries in all three lines, reissues of top authors, and much, much more.
This is our way of thanking you for reading Love Inspired books. We know our uplifting stories of hope, faith and love touch your hearts as much as they touch ours.
Join us in celebrating fifteen amazing years of inspirational romance!
Blessings,
Melissa Endlich and Tina James
Senior Editors of Love Inspired Books
Much thanks to Danica Favorite for making my stalker creepier, to Lisa Buffaloe for your invaluable information on stalkers, and Cathy Richmond for help with physical therapy for stroke patients. You guys rock!
Thanks to my editor, Tina James, for simply being stellar. A big hug to my agent, Wendy Lawton, for praying for me.
This book is dedicated to my #1 Hawaii fan club, Mom and Dadâs friends.
* * *
But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
âPsalms 74:12
ONE
Someone was watching her.
Monica Grant glanced around the bustling central plaza in downtown Sonoma, California, and rubbed the back of her neck, but the ugly, prickly feeling wouldnât go away. She remembered the well-worn phrase from her Nancy Drew booksââthe hair stood up on the back of her neckââbut sheâd never realized how true it was. Until now.
She couldnât actually see anyone looking at herâthere were tourists strolling around Sonoma City Hall and the fountain, cars driving slowly around the square, shoppers stepping in and out of the quaint shops. A few locals across the street noticed her looking at them and waved hello. She waved back with a smile, recognizing them as staff from a nearby restaurant. The Grant familyâs successful day spa, Joy Luck Life, had helped bring even more activity to the small tourist town, and all of her family was acquainted with most of the local business owners and staff.