HERE BE NEWS for Monday September 1, 2025

 Monday September 1, 2025 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

Tuesday August 26, 2025: Linda Mooney treats us to Chapter Eight of her Fantasy Romance, THE IMMORTAL.

THE IMMORTAL, a Fantasy Romance by Linda Mooney - Chapter 8, The Receipts

THE IMMORTAL

Chapter 8 - The Receipts

  

          Jonah couldn’t get their recent conversation regarding the land and harvests out of his head. Although he also considered a sixty-five to thirty-five split in profits a fair deal, since Mr. Barnes did all the heavy lifting, somehow he couldn’t shake off the fact that Clea could be getting ripped off.

          “I’m not that gullible, Jonah. He brings me the payout sheet and a check every year. The payout sheet comes directly from the bureau after they’ve weighed each load and tabulated the cost and payment.”

          “No, madam. You may not be gullible, but you are certainly too trusting.” He frowned as he pursed his lips. “If the man’s been hounding you for years to get you to sell your land to him, what’s to stop him from denying you your full percentage? I don’t know how he could be doing it, but I will bet my gold coin he’s been stealing from you all the same. And I aim to discover how.”

          A germ of an idea began to sprout in his mind. It was during lunch when it bloomed.

          “I have to go into town to get a few things from the supermarket. Would you like to go with me? Provide me with a little company?” Clea mentioned. She hastily gave him the option to decline. “Unless you have something else you need to do instead.”

          “I would be delighted to go with you,” he assured her, adding, “I wish I was able to drive us there, but you said that wasn’t allowed since I don’t have a driver’s license.”

          That earned him a sad smile. “Not unless you can produce a birth certificate.”

          Jonah snorted. “Madam, back in those days, only the rich or royalty were given that luxury, and only because their baptisms were sanctioned by the Church. Us lowly peasants had to make do with word of mouth.”

          She stared at him for a few seconds as she pondered something. “Jonah, when is your birthday?”

          He sighed. “I have no idea, Clea. I’ve never celebrated it the way I’ve seen people of late celebrate.”

          “Are you telling me you’ve never celebrated your birthday? Then how do you know how old you are?”

          “I chose a specific time of the year as my cornerstone. Every spring, when the flowers return, and the birds build their nests, and the world awakens from its winter slumber, I add another year to my existence.” He winked at her. “It’s simple science and mathematics.”

          A look akin to pity flashed across her beautiful face but she didn’t respond. Instead, she gathered up her dirty plate and utensils, and took them over to lay them in the sink. He arose from the table to do the same. It wasn’t until he reached for the dish soap that she stopped him.

          “Don’t worry about that now. I’ll wash them when we get back.”

          He went to the back door and held it open for her while she grabbed her purse. After locking the door behind them, he got into the vehicle on the front passenger side.

          “Will you be going into the store with me? Or are you planning to go wandering around town again?” She threw him a quick smile. It broke the somber mood.

          “I was thinking about doing a bit more sightseeing,” he admitted. “If that is all right with you.”

          “Not a problem. Is there anything you need in particular I can pick up for you while I’m at the store?” Clea cast him another quick glance.

          “I am satisfied with the way things stand at the present,” he replied.

          “I’ll take that as a no.”

          When they arrived at the marketplace, Clea checked around them as they exited the vehicle. “Do you have a way to tell time?”

          “In what way, madam?”

          “Like hourly?”

          Jonah pointed to the distant tall steeple visible through the trees. “The church chimes every quarter hour and hour. Just let me know when you prefer me to be back.”

          “I have no idea how long I’ll be. Shall we say…” She peered at her wristwatch. “Meet back here in an hour? If I have a little extra time to spare, I might run over to Dougdales and get Joey a package of socks.” She sighed. “I swear, that kid goes through socks like they’re made of tissue paper.”

          “I have an idea.” Crossing his arms, Jonah braced them on top of the car’s roof and leaned toward her. “If I’m not back within the hour, go ahead and leave without me.” Of course, she started to object, but he quickly waved her off. The instant he did, a knowing smile lit up her face, and she lightly laughed.

          “Of course. You could pop out of here and be home long before I could.” She tossed the purse strap over her head to secure it across her chest. “Is there anywhere in particular you plan to go?”

          “I thought I’d see what catches my attention.”

          “Just going for a stroll?”

“That in itself is a luxury for me. You have to remember, Clea, most of the time when I passed through a town like this, I rarely got to enjoy what the location had to offer. I was too engaged in finding a temporary job that would enable me to get something to eat and a safe place to lay my head.”

She nodded, understanding, her expression suddenly serious again. “One of these days, I’d like to hear of your…exploits. I’d like to hear how you survived all this time.”

“You have my word you shall, Clea. When the time is right.” He straightened. “However, this is not the time. Enjoy your shopping. Until later.”

“Well, enjoy yourself, too. I’ll see you…whenever.” Waggling her fingers at him, she bade him “Toodle-oo!” and walked away.

Jonah watched her until she disappeared from view, then headed straight to the feed store located a short distance away. Ever since Clea had told him about her agreement with her neighbor, he’d kept himself open for any spark of an idea how to pursue it. Passing the feed store gave him that chance.

The woman behind the check-out counter glanced up from her paperwork and smiled. “Yes, sir! How can I help you?”

He graced her with his best smile. “I’m new here in town. Can you please instruct me on how to get to the Farm Bureau? They are the people who buy the farmers’ crops in this area during the harvest, are they not?”

Her smile widened. “Yes, they do, and you’re in luck! It’s not far. When you leave here, turn left, go to the end of the block and turn left again. It’s a small brick building with a sign out front. You can’t miss it.”

Thanking her, Jonah hurried away. He’d caught sight of the sign she’d mentioned when Clea had driven past that intersection, but he had no recollection on how to get there.

Now he knew.

It didn’t take him long to arrive. Inside the small building, he noticed it was basically one room containing three desks sectioned off with a low divider. Two men sat in front of their computers. One was on the telephone. The third desk was empty. The man not on the phone greeted him as he walked in.

“Good afternoon. What can I do for you?”

“Good day, sir. My name is Jonah Cobb. I work for Mrs. Clea Hatch.”

The man, whose nameplate read LEON MAITLAND, nodded but remained silent as he waited for Jonah to get to the point.

Jonah continued. “Her neighbor, Mr. Vince Barnes, tills and plants crops on her land, and they split the profits after every harvest.”

“I know Mr. Barnes very well,” Mr. Maitland admitted.

“Where does he take the harvest?” Jonah inquired.

“To our weigh station over on County Road Fourteen.”

“Is that where he’s paid?”

“No. They give him a weight card, and he brings it here. We run it against the computer files to verify it, and then we cut him a check. Why do you ask?”

“Mrs. Hatch was going over her receipts Mr. Barnes brought to her, and she found she was missing several years’ worth. She wanted me to come here and see if there was any way you could send her copies of the receipts from the past three years.”

The man turned to his computer. “The past three years?”

“Yes, sir.”

He tapped a few buttons. “I don’t see an email address on file for Mrs. Hatch. Would you happen to know it?”

Email address? Rather than admit his ignorance of such a thing, Jonah made another suggestion.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what it would be. She instructed me to have you mail her those receipts. Are you able to put them in the postal?”

Maitland gave him an odd look which Jonah recognized. His peculiar use of certain phrases was often forgiven because of his unusual accent. In this case, as it often was in the past, his difference was dismissed.

The man nodded once. “I can do that.”

Thanking him, Jonah turned to leave when the man stopped him.

“Does she want both sets of receipts for each year?”

“Both? Sets?”

“Yes. According to our records, Mr. Barnes delivers two payloads every season. Does Mrs. Hatch want both sets of receipts?”

“She didn’t mention that to me,” Jonah honestly confessed. “I would say send her both, so I don’t get yelled at.” He threw in a grin, and the man chuckled.

“I understand completely, Mr. Cobb. I’ll get those printed out and in the mail today. She should receive them no later than Friday.”

Thanking him again, Jonah left the farm bureau before the man caught sight of his rising anger.

Two sets of receipts? Since Clea had never mentioned the man paying her twice every year, there was no longer any doubt in his mind that Barnes was paying Clea for one harvest but not for the second one, which he pocketed fully. And thus her neighbor had been depriving her of her fair share that way for quite some time.

“But I won’t mention this to her. Not until the proof arrives in the mail.”

At that point, whatever she wanted to do next, however she wanted to handle the news, he’d be there by her side to back her up.

“This…is going to be interesting,” he murmured as he returned to the parking lot to wait for her.

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED

Linda's Website  

HERE BE NEWS for Monday August 25, 2025

 Monday August 25, 2025 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

Thursday August 21, 2025: PG Forte shares her "summer playlist with us. 

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days

 Okay so, if you recognize the song lyrics in that title it means you're OLD. Or maybe it just means that you obsess over creating the perfect playlist for every occasion. I dunno. But, for me, it's definitely both. And if you're neither old nor obsessed, the lyrics in question come from Nat King Cole:

"Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

You'll wish that summer could always be here"

It's a cute song. One I haven't heard, or even thought about in years. But this summer (fastest summer EVER) I spent a lot of time creating playlists for everything I could think of. My "Summer Playlist" being one of them.  Here's the link, if you want to hear more:

What did you do with YOUR summer vacation? 

HERE BE NEWS for Monday August 18, 2025

 Monday August 18, 2025 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

OPERATION GLASS SLIPPER

Noir Fairy Tales, Book 5

(Based on "Cinderella")

Linda Mooney

Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Word Count: 43.3K

$3.99 e / $10.99 p

https://lindamooney.com/Noir.htm

Marybeth Cendrillon works her life away at her family’s bakery, but two nights a week she gets to be someone else. If her malicious stepmother and stepsisters knew about her other persona, she’d be locked in the attic for good. She lives for the nights when she can transform into Cindra, sultry songstress at Rosie’s Place.

Charles Charmer, co-CEO of Royal Steele, suspects his father, Kingsley Charmer, of dirty dealings and wants to stop him from sullying the family name and possibly ruining the company. There’s a plan to take the man down once and for all, but Charles could be caught in the crosshairs. 

A covert meeting with some of the members of the FBIM ends with Charles seeing Cindra, and he’s enraptured by the doll on stage. He wants her to perform at his father’s upcoming gala because she’d be perfect, and it would give him another chance to hear her voice again. He wasn’t expecting her to be caught in the crosshairs along with him.

With a little magical help, can they both find their happily ever afters?

Warning! Contains cherry tarts, a dangerous mission, magical raw diamonds, showing a little spine, a rope ladder, HEAMS, no go on just cake, and two people finding the courage to save themselves in order to accept each other's love. 

New! Operation Glass Slipper, Noir Fairy Tales, Book 5 (Based on “Cinderella”) by Linda Mooney

New!

Operation Glass Slipper
Noir Fairy Tales, Book 5
Fantasy Romance
(Based on “Cinderella”)
By Linda Mooney
Word Count: 43.3K
$3.99 e / $10.99 p

Marybeth Cendrillon works her life away at her family’s bakery, but two nights a week she gets to be someone else. If her malicious stepmother and stepsisters knew about her other persona, she’d be locked in the attic for good. She lives for the nights when she can transform into Cindra, sultry songstress at Rosie’s Place.

Charles Charmer, co-CEO of Royal Steele, suspects his father, Kingsley Charmer, of dirty dealings and wants to stop him from sullying the family name and possibly ruining the company. There’s a plan to take the man down once and for all, but Charles could be caught in the crosshairs.

A covert meeting with some of the members of the FBIM ends with Charles seeing Cindra, and he’s enraptured by the doll on stage. He wants her to perform at his father’s upcoming gala because she’d be perfect, and it would give him another chance to hear her voice again. He wasn’t expecting her to be caught in the crosshairs along with him.

With a little magical help, can they both find their happily ever afters?

Warning! Contains cherry tarts, a dangerous mission, magical raw diamonds, showing a little spine, a rope ladder, HEAMS, no go on just cake, and two people finding the courage to save themselves in order to accept each other's love.

Excerpt and Buy Links: https://lindamooney.com/Noir.htm 

HERE BE NEWS for Monday August 11, 2025

 Monday August 11, 2025 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

 Now Available as a Box Set!

Time Travel Romances Box Set, Series 1
Fantasy and Sci-Fi
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 151K
$5.99 e

Featuring:

1000 OF YOU

She was traded to him for a weapon.

Traded, as if she was no better than a piece of property. Gova Dov doesn’t know what to expect, but it can’t be as bad as the abuse she’d received at the hands of her last master. Gova has never known kindness like Muam. She soon learns she can trust him, but can he trust someone like her? He’s told her she’s free to leave, but does she want to go? Does he even want her to stay?

ROOG

Scientist Leigh Readon and her colleagues have done the unimaginable. They’ve invented a machine that can transport matter to other platforms of the same machine. When the US government gets wind, they want it shut down immediately, or so they say. In an effort to save the technology from falling into the wrong hands, the group deletes all of the schematics and research information, and Leigh takes the risk of transporting herself to France where one of their landing pads is located.

Only she doesn’t land in the France she expected.

X-TROLLER

Emotionally scarred and physically weary, Dwan is ordered to go forty-seven years into the past in a last ditch effort to find the one man who can help her fight the monsters created decades ago by a company called Lambruchet. Monsters that have since devastated mankind and the world.

Buy Links: https://lindamooney.com/BoxSets.htm

HERE BE NEWS for Monday August 3, 2025

 Monday August 4, 2025 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

Hexes Fly (Caldryn Parliament Book 2)
Jenny Schwartz

https://www.amazon.com/Hexes-Fly-Caldryn-Parliament-Book-ebook/dp/B0DXN1LF23

The Spring Ball on the first Saturday of Caldryn Parliament’s Spring Term is a night of glamour and power.

However, this year the witch clans are feuding, and when rival clans trade curses in the ballroom non-magical bystanders are the victims.

As people transform into animals, burst into unwilling song, or fall into magical slumber Vanda Kavanagh, the Warden of Caldryn Parliament, is suspicious.

The witches claim they never intended to hurt anyone, and Vanda believes them. So, who is using the witches as a stalkinghorse for their own agenda, and what is it that they hope to achieve? Most importantly, why can’t the witches undo their own hexes?

If the spells aren’t broken by the next full moon the curses will be permanent.

Now Available as a Box Set! TIME TRAVEL ROMANCES by Linda Mooney

 Now Available as a Box Set!

Time Travel Romances Box Set, Series 1
Fantasy and Sci-Fi
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 151K
$5.99 e

Featuring:

1000 OF YOU

She was traded to him for a weapon.

Traded, as if she was no better than a piece of property. Gova Dov doesn’t know what to expect, but it can’t be as bad as the abuse she’d received at the hands of her last master. Gova has never known kindness like Muam. She soon learns she can trust him, but can he trust someone like her? He’s told her she’s free to leave, but does she want to go? Does he even want her to stay?

ROOG

Scientist Leigh Readon and her colleagues have done the unimaginable. They’ve invented a machine that can transport matter to other platforms of the same machine. When the US government gets wind, they want it shut down immediately, or so they say. In an effort to save the technology from falling into the wrong hands, the group deletes all of the schematics and research information, and Leigh takes the risk of transporting herself to France where one of their landing pads is located.

Only she doesn’t land in the France she expected.

X-TROLLER

Emotionally scarred and physically weary, Dwan is ordered to go forty-seven years into the past in a last ditch effort to find the one man who can help her fight the monsters created decades ago by a company called Lambruchet. Monsters that have since devastated mankind and the world.

Buy Links: https://lindamooney.com/BoxSets.htm

HERE BE NEWS for Monday July 28, 2025

 Monday July 28, 2025 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

Tuesday July 22, 2025: Linda Mooney treats us to Chapter 7 of her Fantasy Romance, 

THE IMMORTAL.

THE IMMORTAL, a Fantasy Romance by Linda Mooney - Chapter 7, The Bell

THE IMMORTAL

Chapter 7 – The Bell 

          Clea kept her eyes on the narrow road ahead of them. Her mouth continued to tingle from his kiss. Worse, her cheeks and chin tickled where his beard and moustache had grazed her skin. She wanted to reach up and scratch, but doing so would call attention to her face, and she didn’t need his scrutiny.

          He’d kissed her. She’d wanted him to.

          Now came the consequences.

          What do I do now? Will he try to kiss me again? If he does, should I let him? What if he thinks he can try to do more? What if he—

          She forced herself to break away from those thoughts. Yes, he’d kissed her, but only because she’d let him. Because she’d wanted him to. If I’d made any attempt to prevent him from doing it, if I’d held up my hands or turned my head away, he wouldn’t have gone any further. He would have known right then and there that he was not allowed such leniency, and being the gentleman I’ve seen so far, he wouldn’t have tried to do it again. Except…

          As much as she hated to admit it, she was glad he’d kissed her. She’d wanted him to kiss her. The only problem now was…would he do it again? Would she let him if he tried, or would she have second thoughts at the last second?

          She chanced a quick glance over at him. His hands were gripping the steering wheel to the point where his knuckles were white. His focus was entirely on the road, his attention on keeping the truck on the two dirt tracks that paralleled the fence. It was obvious the thought of what he’d just done had been shoved to the back of his mind so he could concentrate on driving.

          “Madam, I believe we’ve found a breach.”

          Clea jerked her gaze back to the view as Jonah slowed the pickup. She spotted the area and quickly judged the extent of the damage. When the truck came to a full stop, she told him to put it in park and turn off the ignition.

          “That is what the P stands for? Park?”

          She threw him a grin as she was stepping out of the cab. “You catch on quick.”

          It didn’t take her long to figure out what needed to be done. “This looks like it won’t be a hard fix. The posts are still solid.” She pushed against the wood beams and found no give. “If we rewrap some wire about these two sections, we should be good.”

          “I noticed some of that same wire in the barn,” Jonah informed her.

          Clea nodded. “I always keep an extra roll or two just for this reason.” She patted the top of the post. Taking a step back, she surveyed the area. “And we’re not far from the house, either.”

          “Is everything on this side of the fence yours, Madam?”

          “Actually, I own both sides.”

          “Then why is there a fence?”

          She pointed to the other field. “I have a deal with Mr. Barnes. His farm is much smaller than mine, and he’s been trying to buy that property from me ever since my husband…” She paused, unable to continue, but Jonah caught on.

          “I take it this Barnes fellow is the same one who picks up Joseph and takes him to school on those days the school bus can’t make it up the road, and you can’t take him yourself. Is that correct? This is the same Mr. Barnes?”

          “Yes. Vince Barnes.”

          “He’s been pressuring you to sell. I understand. But you didn’t bow to the pressure. Land, especially good farm land, is a priceless commodity.” He graced her with a smile that warmed her. “May I ask what kind of deal you struck with the man?”

          “I lease the land to him. He plants and harvests whatever crop he feels will bring the best yield and prices, and we split the profit.”

          A tiny frown creased Jonah’s forehead. “Split the profit in what way, if I may be so bold to inquire?”

          “Sixty-five, thirty-five.”

            “And you get…”

            “Thirty-five percent.”

            “I assume you accept your percentage purely on the honor system?”

            Clea knew that tone and countered it with one of her own. “I’m not that gullible, Jonah. He brings me the cost/payment sheet and a check every year.” When he opened his mouth to comment, she cut him short. “The payout sheet comes directly from the bureau after they’ve weighed and tabulated the payout.”

            “I take it, then, that your cut of the profit is your major source of income?”

            “Yes. I supplement it by selling my extra milk, eggs, and vegetables from the garden to Peete’s Grocers in town.

            She watched as he thoughtfully stroked his beard. The visual of him doing that somehow made her long to be able to do the same thing, and she wondered if the rest of it was as soft as what had tickled her mouth a short while ago.

            Realizing where her mind was going, she put a hard halt on herself. Concentrate on the task. You can always daydream later, she silently berated herself.

            Jonah appeared willing to drop the issue, yet she knew their discussion wasn’t over. She watched as he went over to inspect the break himself.

            “There’s blood on the wires.” Picking at something on one of the barbs, he held it up to her. “Deer hair.”

            “It usually is. They get caught up in the barbs and struggle to free themselves. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t.” She checked the area again. “I believe we’re approximately two hundred yards from the house. Let’s continue and finish making the loop. See if there are any more breaks or repairs needed.” She turned to get into the truck but stopped when she saw him grasping the top of the post, his eyes closed. After a few seconds, he opened them and went to take his place on the driver’s side.

            Fortunately, there were no other places where the fence was broken to the extent where any cattle might escape, although they found several areas where the posts were tilting slightly, enough to where the wire between them sagged.

            “Those posts will need to be straightened,” he commented.

            She agreed. “For now, though, let’s concentrate on getting that one spot fixed first. The rest can wait.”

            Back at the house, he drove them up to the spot where the truck was normally parked. After he turned it off and stepped out of the vehicle, Clea started to scoot over to the driver’s seat when he stopped her.

            “What are you doing?”

            “I’m going to back up closer to the barn so you won’t have to carry that spool of wire so far.”

            To her surprise, he chuckled. “Clea, I don’t need the truck to take the wire out to the spot where I need to make repairs.”

            She continued to stare at him in confusion. He explained at the same time it dawned on her what he intended to do.

            “I know exactly where that section of the fence is located. All I need to do is take hold of the spool and what tools I’ll need, and pop back there.”

            “That’s what you were doing out there when you stood by the post. You were situating yourself, or whatever it is you call it, so you can return to it. And when you’re done, or if you need something else you forgot to take with you the first time…”

            He nodded, smiling. “Precisely, madam. It’s one of the few advantages my curse allows me to have. Now, the one other thing that’s been preying on my mind…”

            Clea felt herself involuntarily stiffening. Why would he bring up the topic of that kiss now?

            Jonah pointed behind him. “Back in town, I passed an antique shop. Are you aware of it?”

            A small sigh of relief escaped her, but she couldn’t deny she was also disappointed. “Yes. That’s Vella’s Antiques. They get a lot of traffic, being right there on Main Street. Antiques are very popular with out-of-towners. What about it?”

            “They have a bell sitting on a pole in front of the store. It has a price tag on it, which indicates to me that it’s for sale.”

            She instantly knew the one he was talking about. “It’s an old church bell that was discovered hanging from a tree after the town was nearly decimated by a tornado several years ago. Since no one knew where it came from, Mr. Vella put it up for sale in front of his store. It’s been rung a couple of times since then to signal an incoming storm, until the town council had one of those emergency sirens erected just off the square.” Clea chuckled. “Why are you interested in that bell?”

            “For several reasons.” His face darkened slightly as his demeanor grew serious. “If for some reason I am out and away from the house, and you are in immediate need of help, you or Joseph can ring that bell for my attention.”

            “And you’ll be able to hear it?”

            He tried to hide his amusement, without success. “Madam, I could be on the other side of the world and I’d hear it. You have my word.”

            Clea pressed her lips together as a surge of feelings she couldn’t identify threatened to overwhelm her. “Th-that’s very sweet of you, Jonah, but I can’t afford to buy that bell, even if I wanted to.”

            “I’m not asking you to purchase it. All I’m asking is for your permission to place the bell here on your property.”

            “How are you going to pay for it?”

            He shook his head. “That’s not for you to worry about. Will you or will you not allow me to bring it here?”

            “Where would you put it?”

            Apparently, he’d been thinking a lot about it, and pointed to a spot midway between the house and the barn, a few feet off the beaten path. “There. It will also be out of the wind that could inadvertently ring it.” Turning back to her, he dropped his voice almost to a whisper. “What say you, Clea? Yay or nay?”

            “I have no problem with you erecting that bell,” she began and got no further.

            Jonah was gone.

            She saw no more of him that day. Concerned he might not stop to eat, she made him a couple of sandwiches, placed them in sandwich bags, and took them out to the barn. As she’d expected, the roll of barbed wire was gone, as well as the toolkit.

            “So where should I leave these?”

            Inspiration struck, and she left the bags tied to the one item he’d be needing still sitting in the barn.

            It was after dark when she heard the faint tolling of a bell. Turning on the back porch light, she went outside to find Jonah standing beside the pole. He was sweaty and weary, but he flashed her a huge smile when she walked outside.

            “Well?” he asked.

            “It’s…impressive.”

            “Wow! I thought I heard a bell!” a voice called out from behind her. Joey hurried outside to join them. “Where’d you get it?” He looked to his mother for the answer, but Jonah explained.

            “I purchased it from the antique shop in town.”

            “Oh! You mean this is the tornado bell?”

            “It’s now our tornado bell,” Jonah gently corrected, his smile never wavering. He pointed to the rope attached to the mechanism. “If there’s ever an instance when you need help, and I’m not around, do not hesitate to ring it. I will hear it and immediately answer.”

            “Wow! Cool!”

            Clea shooed her son back indoors. “Speaking of cool, go bathe yourself in a cool tub of water. It’s almost bedtime, and you have school tomorrow.”

            “Yes, ma’am. Neat bell, Jonah!” Throwing the man a little salute, the boy went back inside the house. Clea watched him enter the house when Jonah spoke again.

            “Thank you for the sandwiches.”

            She smiled. “I figured you’d find them there.”

            “You were that certain I’d return with the bell and be wanting to plant it right then and there, rather than wait to do it tomorrow?”

            She felt her smile widen. “In the few short months you’ve been living here, I’ve come to know you very well, Mr. Cobb. You’re a man of action. If something needs to be done, you don’t put it off. You do it.”

            He never took his eyes off her during the ensuing uncomfortable silence. It felt as though they both were fighting against some strange, magnetic pull that wanted to draw them closer. But the thought of what might happen, and the possibility that Joey might accidentally see it, was enough to make her turn her back on the man and return to the house.

            She ended up cursing herself for her weakness for the rest of the evening

TO BE CONTINUED 

Linda's Website

HERE BE NEWS for Monday July 14, 2025

 Monday July 14, 2025 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:

New!

THE RENTAL

Book 3 – Brady

Sci-Fi/Contemporary Fantasy Romance

by Linda Mooney

Word Count: 26.4K

$2.99 e / $10.99 p 

Brady Hardy was dealt a crap hand in life after a tragic work accident left him short three limbs. Since then it’s been a constant battle, both physically and mentally, to the point where he’s losing the will to keep fighting. But when he learns of the opportunity Rall Rentals provides, the chance to experience life again, there’s a spark of hope.

Gia, Brady’s caregiver, has come to care for Brady more than just what her job requires, and she’s happy to see the light back in his eyes. She’s seen him through his ups and downs, and she hopes the program will bring more ups than he’s had lately, and it does. At first.

Brady is fully invested in the life of his Rental, until he learns of certain proclivities Mr. Reede indulges in that he doesn’t approve of. In fact, after that initial introduction of the man’s bizarre appetites, it’s too much for Brady to stomach. Should he ask for a new Rental? Can he? If he does, will Rall Rentals understand his hesitance to continue?

Maybe life isn’t always greener on the other side, but Gia is determined to help this man who’s come to mean so much to her. Maybe with a little tough love, Brady can regain the will to fight back and live his own life again to the fullest. Whatever the outcome, she’ll be there to encourage him for as long as he’ll let her.

Warning! Contains an odd coincidence, a misunderstanding, a brunch date, Roy, a self-inflated ego, and two people hesitant to admit their true feelings for each other until it's almost too late.

Excerpt and Buy Links: https://lindamooney.com/TheRental.htm