Frank Kinkaid is every woman's dream-come-true-handsome, powerful, sophisticated, and very, very rich. A dream-come-true, that is, until he becomes her worst nightmare. For under this charismatic facade lies a man obsessed by the need to control, a man who regards women as objects to possess, to exploit, and to use to his own advantage, a man driven by heartless cruelty. For the magnetic Kinkaid, armed with shrewdness and charm, money and women seem easy to come by. But will one of these women, drawn in by fate, ultimately prove to be his demise? One storm-filled day in late April, the exquisitely stunning Laura O'Malley quite literally runs into Frank Kinkaid. Kinkaid has always loved beautiful women, comparing them to a fine thoroughbred or a rare piece of art. He immediately aspires to make Laura his own. She, on the other hand, is taken by both Kinkaid's charm and good looks and is soon caught up by this handsome and charismatic stranger who charms and beguiles her. Little does she realize the consequences that lie ahead. Annie Ross is a young and naïve girl struggling to make it through her last year of college after a failed romance that has left her torn and broken. Coming from simple and provincial roots and a strict religious upbringing, she seems utterly unaware of her striking appeal and sexual allure to a man like Frank Kinkaid. Her loneliness and naiveté combine to make her an easy and vulnerable target for Kinkaid who sweeps her into a world she has only read about. Her life will change in a way she could never have imagined. Samantha Jessup grew up the hard way and learned early on that you had to fight for your place in the world. Ambitious and driven, Samantha has developed into a tough-minded, uncompromising businesswoman. Although strong-willed and highly successful, even she is no match for the cunning Frank Kinkaid and the destruction he brings into her life. But on a dark and turbulent summer night, in the wake of a violent storm brought in on a hot westerly wind, Frank Kinkaid will finally pay for his sins, will finally meet his destiny. The question is, "Who will become his executioner?"
About the Author: I have always loved the mystique of the written word. My very earliest memories of books are now merely elusive images lost in the hazy mists of childhood. However, I can clearly mark that space in time when the world of literature opened up to me in a very real and concrete way. I was eight years old, third grade, when my teacher opened a book in class one day entitled THE GHOST OF BLACKWOOD HALL by Carolyn Keene. Yes, it was one of the Nancy Drew amateur sleuth series. As she read, I was suddenly whisked away into a land of adventure and intrigue--a magical, mystical journey into another place and time. That was my first love affair with the written word, and that love continues even now. For me, creating my own tapestries with words was a natural spin-off from reading the works of others. Writing became a means of expressing all of the thoughts and feelings and dreams and emotions that I harbored within myself--a place where all things were possible and my imagination could run free and wild. I wrote primarily for myself, a source of self-satisfaction, from journals to essays to short stories to finally my first novel, RAIN OF TERROR. As RAIN OF TERROR, Book 1 in the Blacklick Valley Mystery Series, exemplifies, I have a proclivity toward the mystery genre. The twists and turns in plot, the questions, the clues, the suspense, the final revelations, the challenge of bringing it all together captivate even me because often I'm not certain where my characters will take me. The story is set in the mountains of western Pennsylvania where I was born and raised. I tried to stay true to the authenticity of the scenery, the climate, and the culture of the area--all deeply embedded in my memory and experience. I am now about to release Book 2 in the series entitled A REASON TO KILL, which should be out in early October. Of course, the book is another mystery, a gripping tale of suspense and romance which will also address some important social issues of our time. On a personal note, I graduated cum laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Education along with a concentration in the Social Sciences. Although I have taught at various educational levels, my most recent teaching assignment was at Webster College in Tampa, Florida, where I currently live. When I'm not writing or reading, my life revolves around my family, my little dog Toby, my numerous cats, cooking, and gardening--the quiet passions that seem to define me.