Showing results by narrator "Shannon Nicole Locke" in All Categories

Lily doesn’t remember her death, or even her reawakening, but she knows this: the sun is to be feared, words are her salvation, and—above all—the bench facing the playground is hers. She is the pin holding the hands of the clock, watching the world move and change around her while she remains fixed, lonely, and unchanged... until a boy takes a seat beside her.

Victoria Berman is coming home. She's coming home from a failure, from an embarrassment and shame that she doesn't want to share with her family, and is looking for solace in her long-time confidant, her brother Hudson.

A woman, her cat, and a murder. Who will crack the case? Sheila and her amateur sleuth friends or Whiskers and his animal friends?" Paradise Cove is, well, paradise. Pretty cottages line the quiet beach where waves wash gently onto sugar-white sand. Sunsets paint the sky each evening and gentle sea breezes blow across the dunes into the quaint downtown. Whiskers wears a shiny police badge on his pet collar, and he earned it, but when he tries to tell humans what he’s uncovered in his investigations they think he wants food or a belly rub.

The end of the world? That’s the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters and deep philosophical exercises in school. No need to sweat it. So when 16-year-old Tess’ doomsday-dad builds a bomb shelter in their suburban backyard, everyone thinks he’s gone crazy—until fire rains down from the sky, sinking whole cities into colossal craters and setting much of the world ablaze.

Surviving an apocalypse sucks. It totally does. Instead of counting herself lucky to be alive, Tess struggles to find the will to keep placing one foot in front of the other, especially when the most she ever had to worry about before the meteor catastrophe was whether she’d have a date to prom. Climbing mountains—again—dealing with the lack of food, clean water, and wondering what the point of it all is doesn’t feel much like luck at all. More like punishment.

Dawson Rhinehart doesn't want to deal with the Wildlife Conservation Officer, but Caroline Thompson isn't going away. Will he burn all the bridges between them before he realizes just how sweet a relationship with her could be? Dawson has always been the strong, silent type, managing the books and the administrative burdens of his family's sprawling Texas ranch in Three Rivers. Determined to prove his worth, Dawson is meticulous in keeping everything lined up and running well. He's got almost no experience with women, but plenty with horses, dogs, and the wild crows who bring him gifts.

Macy never expected to find the love of her life in high school—at an 1800s pioneer reenactment camp, no less—but that's precisely where she met Nate. She was a private school kid reluctantly attending camp for the first time with her single dad. Nate was from a large, homeschooling family that enjoyed going every year. Their unlikely friendship soon developed into a romantic relationship that had them dreaming of a future together—until Macy unexpectedly called things off in college.

Zia would give anything to be a typical teenager…again. Heck, she’d settle for being a vampire or smelly werewolf, but a member of the walking dead? The lowliest of all the monsters? No way! Nothing is worse than being a skin-sloughing, limb-losing, maggot-housing, brain-craving undead girl. Nothing. It wouldn’t be so bad if humans didn’t insist on “Living Impaireds” wearing bands to keep their insatiable appetites in check. And if LIs want to coexist with humans, then rules must be followed, no matter how ludicrous they might seem.

Everyone knows Nolan Hill as the legendary quarterback of the Chicago Bobcats - two-time Super Bowl champ and heartthrob to countless fans. But to Lottie Thompson, he's just the stubborn pain in the ass who refuses her physio treatment. She's worked hard to command respect in a male-dominated industry, and she's not about to let a 6ft, too-handsome-for-his-own-good football player run all over her.

Melissa Sneedle never thought she’d be the failure in her family, but that's exactly what happened when her professor told Melissa her magic was inept. The only thing left for this failed witch are normal people—or "normies", as they're called around here—and forgetting all about why magic was so important to begin with.

It’s the end of Emma’s sophomore year at Dinswood Academy, and that means only one thing: summer vacation! “Glamping” sounds exciting and Emma can’t wait to join Martha and Sebastian’s families at a local campground, especially when she learns that Doug will be joining them. When Emma and the gang hear about a local legend, they are intrigued. According to the story, a family mysteriously disappeared twelve years ago and rumor has it that the abandoned house is haunted. When the teens learn that Hampton House is near their campsite, they decide to investigate—unaware that danger lies ahead.

Ellie Vanderwick has hair-raising problems, and we're not just talking about her unruly locks! Yoga may ease the tension, but when it comes to dead bodies, she needs more than just downward dog. Her life may seem imperfect without friends, family, or a stable job, but she's got her trusty VW Microbus named Mona and her loyal piggy companion, Penelope. Unfortunately, her hair is a different story. It's like magic, but not the kind she likes! Her hair can go berserk at any moment, transforming into curls, bright purple, or even limp strands.

Ian Ross has worked hard all his life, and finally, he’s seeing the results: a prosperous ranch in Wise River, Montana, with a beautiful home he shares with his elderly parents, plus a sweet and pretty Mail Order Bride on the way. But when his newly built home, the pride of Ross Hollow Ranch, burns down overnight, everything goes sour. Suddenly, Ian is back where he started, scrounging for supplies, and living in a hastily built shack. The last thing he wants or needs is the responsibility of a wife in the middle of winter.

Jeffrey's and Cindy's parents are college professors and believe that there is a thousand-year-old mystery regarding Vikings in Massachusetts right here in Doubloon Cove, Massachusetts. But their peers ridicule them, so they are too afraid to pursue it. So it is up to Jeffrey, Cindy, Steven, and his brother Frederick to solve the case. But they must battle dangerous caverns, their own fears, and must learn to work as a team, all while being chased by crooks who have their own agenda.

Melissa Sneedle recently escaped her magical town and went headfirst into owning and operating her own bookstore in the normal world. She'd love nothing more than to live a calm life but the trouble with running away from life's pressures is they always find a way to catch up to you. With strange surges of power showing up in her spells, Melissa begins to realize she may be out of her element and causing danger to everyone around her. If she doesn't figure out how to control her power soon, she may cause a lot more trouble than a wonky spell here and there.

With no family of my own, my college roommate invites me to spend the holidays with her family. In this strange new town, I finally feel like I’m part of a family, but the strange dreams of faces I’ve never met follow me there.

Ellie's detective days may have seemed like a gutter ball, but she's about to knock down some serious pins. Whether she likes it or not. Just when she thinks she can take a break from sleuthing, a new murder mystery rolls her way. Ellie must strike fast to bring the killer to justice. But that's not all she's got on her plate. She's also teaching a lively group of bachelorette ladies to belly dance, dealing with her magical mane acting up, and training for the local Trot-n-Tater race.

When a woman went missing years ago, the official report claimed she was a victim of Deadman's Falls. But her family is convinced there's more to the story. Enter Ellie — back in Cliff Haven after an enlightening trip to Argentina — who finds herself caught up in a new mystery when new evidence is revealed in the case. Ellie's sleuthing partner, Xander, joins her on what was supposed to be a simple hike in the state park. But as they venture deeper into the wilderness, the sparks between them begin to fly.

Hollywood has come to Cliff Haven, and with it, a whole new cast of characters and drama. The annual Christmas play is in full swing, but this year, someone won't be taking their final bow. Ellie Vanderwick has only one line in the play, but even that proves to be a challenge when she finds herself struggling to speak it. With her magical mane causing chaos and a visitor who claims to know about her family, Ellie's got a lot on her plate.

The winter chill has settled over Cliff Haven, but Ellie has found a way to heat things up—by teaching tango classes! Between perfecting her dance moves and coming to terms with yet another family member disappearing from her life, Ellie is trying to maintain some sense of normalcy.