KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site, so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
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OBSESSION
A Hightower Mountain Novel
BY JUDITH LUKE
Blurb
Dallas veterinarian, Gabe Sanders lives each day as though it were his last. He barely survived the arsonist’s fire that destroyed his home and killed his dog. However, the psychotic woman never went to jail, but was afforded a stay in posh sanatorium. With his burns nearly healed, he is starting over in the tiny town of Bantry, Wyoming. His brother’s massive ranch is a horse rescue with a well-equipped veterinary clinic.
Until she was twenty-three, Raven Tower thought her last name was McKay. But five years ago, her mother Nancy was arrested for murdering Josh Tower’s wife Susan and others who stood in her way. Before they took her away, she confessed that Raven was his daughter. But she is being harassed with notes left on her pickup in town and at horse shows, blaming her for not stopping the murders.
On a daily ride in the forest Gabe rescues a horse from a vicious bear. He brings the injured horse back to his clinic. He discovers that the beautiful stallion belongs to Raven Tower of Hightower Ranch. When Gabe begins dating Raven things get complicated. The grizzly bear from a private preserve is still loose. The deranged woman is obsessed and determined to take him down however she can. Before long, threats to both Gabe and Raven escalate. Will Gabe be able to protect himself and Raven and the new life he’s built?
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OBSESSION
A Hightower Mountain Novel
BY JUDITH LUKE
Excerpt
Chapter One
He ran a hand over his left shoulder where the scar still throbbed, a constant reminder of the fire that changed his life. Maryanne Price, the spoiled beautiful wife of a wealthy investor, had tons of time on her hands. Constant calls from the woman, claiming one of their horses needed to be examined, turned out to be false alarms.
She wanted to play—with him. Tall, long auburn hair, and model perfect, she would arrive at the barn, dressed in leather or very revealing outfits. One time, she stripped naked in the stall of the horse he was examining. Maryanne had screaming tantrums when he refused her advances. He feared she was seriously unbalanced.
The woman was absolutely stunning. And yes, he had to throttle the dizzying current racing through him as she offered herself to him so blatantly. If she hadn’t been the wife of a very wealthy, hi-profile customer, he might have taken her up on her advances. At the time he had no idea his decision to be noble would nearly kill him.
Trying to be diplomatic, Gabe made the excuse to her husband, Anton Price, that he had too many clients and his was the farthest farm from his office. He told Anton that another vet would be taking over.
Poor choice.
In retaliation, a furious Maryanne set his house on fire. Firefighters barely got him out in time. But his poor dog succumbed to the smoke. When his security cameras showed her in the act, she tearfully confessed. She didn’t think it would burn down the whole house. Just a little fire to show him how angry she was. She even sent cards and flowers to him at the burn center.
Temporary insanity, her lawyer claimed. A mental obsession. No jail time. Anton’s money and influence aided in committing her to a posh mental hospital. But for how long? And then what? Fear and anger knotted within him as he thought about her ever getting released. She had nearly killed him the first time. Would she try a second time?
About Author Judith Luke…
Judith Luke wrote stories from the time she could form the letters. As she grew older, writing episodes about favorite television shows and books entertained her creative muse. About forty years ago she wrote her first novel, Secrets of the Heart. She held on to that novel while she continued to write. Finally, with the encouragement of two of her critique partners, she published her first novel in 2021.
Judith lives in northeastern Florida with her husband and canine administrator, Toby. In between golf and MahJongg, she writes. She called Colorado home for most of her adult life. When she bought two horses for her children to ride, she didn’t realize it would grow to a herd of registered Paint horses, lessons for herself, training for her horses, and lots of travel to shows. Driving to Wyoming to visit family and enjoying the wide-open land was the creative inspiration for the fictional ranching community called Bantry, Wyoming and the mountain formations for her Hightower Mountain Series.
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Links to Judith’s websites, blogs, books, #ad etc.:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MkPxgg
If you enjoyed the story, please let others know by leaving a review on Amazon.
View Judith’s other books at https://www.amazon.com/judithluke
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Thanks, Judith, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
Obsession sounds and looks like a good read.
You’re a new author to me so looking forward to trying your books 📚 in print format
This sounds like a fantastic read! You are a new author to me. I’m going to check out your books.
Good morning, Judith, and welcome back to Karen’s Killer Book Bench. I love obsession suspense novels. They’re rife with tension and angst and danger. This sounds like another wonderful read. Thanks for sharing your book with us today! BTW, LOVE the cover. Evocative.
Well now, what tangled webs…A misappropriation of the classic quote but it fits…
Thank, Judith and Karen
Oh, I definitely want to read this! One of my favorite types of books.
Looking forward to reading this.