It's still cold out there...
When nobody loves you, you have nothing to lose.
Lily Masters is not getting involved with any fake job
scheme covering a sex trafficking operation supposedly cooked up by her
stepbrother, prison guard Art Townsend. Hoping to get help at a friend’s place
deep in the woods of northern Wisconsin before a blizzard, Lily loses her way.
At first, she doesn’t realize how fortunate she is to be found by Cam Taylor, a
poetry-spouting former lit professor. Cam has his own reasons to hide while
writing a biography of his Civil Rights activist grandparents and accidentally
stirs up a cold case murder involving a potential Supreme Court judge. When
trouble follows, either of them is the likely target.
Beneath every story is layer upon layer of trust and lies.
Who can they believe when things go from surreal to devastating?
Amazon Print: http://amzn.to/2fPE5tt
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2ew7YMM
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2fPIAEj
Women’s Fiction
Romantic Suspense
Keywords: racism, prejudice, Wisconsin, suspense, sex
trafficking, prison life, dogs, blizzard, Civil Rights
Theme:
The underlying theme of UnderStory is prejudice—how we look and perceive others and
judge them and ourselves by the way they look, whether we can see the physical
or emotional scars. Lily Masters is born with a genetic condition, Poland’s
syndrome, which colors her world, makes her feel unloved and unwanted, and
although she’s learned to hide her condition and feelings, get a good job and
function in public, she can never again connect with someone who would learn
about her physical problem and reject her. When Lily is rescued by a biracial
Literature professor, Cam Taylor, who is dealing with prejudice on so many
levels, and they are stranded together, she begins to learn not to judge people
and situations by what others say or even by her own standards. Lily and Cam’s
journeys are about learning that shame is a reaction they choose based on
others’ perceptions and standards, not something they have to accept. Learning
to free herself from the bonds of self-loathing, Lily realizes how to be strong
and fight for her family and how to accept love as well as give it. Cam comes
to a peaceful place as he learns to see the world through what is, not through
what he anticipates.
Endorsements:
Lisa
Lickel weaves together a masterful tale of intrigue and romance, and the multilayers of complexity will leave the reader
turning the pages. The characters are well-developed, and overarching themes
involving racism and prejudice will resonate with the reader. The story takes
place in the Midwest—in a small town that harbors a big secret—perhaps more
common than anyone dares to imagine. UnderStory is one of those rare books that’s not only a great
read but makes a statement about what’s most important—in the midst of
depravity, unfairness, and greed.
—Lorilyn
Roberts, award-winning author and founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network
Drugs,
human trafficking, and corruption all play their part in Lisa Lickel’s
atmospheric thriller, UnderStory, but
it’s the characters and the love story you’ll remember most. In some ways, the
book reminded me of the movie Fargo—quirky
locals, investigators facing not only ruthless criminals but also a frozen
winter landscape of snow and ice in an isolated far north town. The blizzard is
the catalyst that brings together two emotionally damaged strangers when Cam
finds the mysterious Lily unconscious near his isolated cabin. When he brings
her inside, he becomes involved in both love and dangers he never expected when
he hid himself away in the woods.
—Robin
Johns Grant, author of Summer’s Winter.
Excerpt
Cam Taylor listened to ice crystals pinging his kitchen
window pane. Too cold to make decent snowflakes.
He’d let his dogs inside last night—early morning—when
they made a ruckus. After filling a water bowl and offering treats, he let them
stay near the woodstove. The mercury plunged way below the fat red zero on the
ancient Wisconsin Bank of the Great North Woods outdoor thermometer. It was really
cold out there in the driving blizzard…not counting wind chill.
He gulped the last of his coffee while he watched the two
animals pace between the kitchen stove
and the front door, restless. They were as mixed up a breed as he. Lear was
mostly retriever, the shelter said, and Iago, part Shepherd with the usual dark
markings, but shorthaired.
“So, you want to show me what you found? Hmm? Maybe some
deer hide we can salvage?” Fatally cold out there, yeah, but a brisk walk
through lashing snow might shake the vapors of the ghosts that clung after his
dreams.
While he dressed for outdoors, he continued to talk to
them. “Better be more exciting than a rabbit, guys.” The white stuff already
heaped six inches deep in places, and he couldn’t tell exactly where his
driveway started. The dogs shot out the door as soon as he opened it. Lear and
Iago howled and acted stupid, pouncing and prancing in the blowing fluff. Cam
lashed his snowshoes to his boots, grabbed his poles, and took off from the
porch steps after them. One deep breath sent him sputtering and rasping. He tied his scarf across his face and
muttered, “Twenty-four below, one gangsta ready to roll…”
Author Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin author who loves books, collects dragons, and writes inspiring fiction. She also writes short stories, feature articles, and radio theater, and loves to encourage new authors through mentoring, speaking, and leading workshops. Lisa is a member of Women Fiction Writers of America, the Council for Wisconsin Writers, the Chicago Writer’s Association, and vice president/instructor for Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc. She is an avid book reviewer and blogger, and a freelance editor. Find more at LisaLickel.com.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lisalickel
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lisajlickel
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lisalickelauthor
Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/2bPxi2X
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