Death Checks Inn: Aspen Valley Inn Series, #1

By Sara Robbins

The Aspen Valley Inn Series are light mysteries with a touch of romance centered around a charming Colorado Bed & Breakfast.

Death Checks Inn Book #1

 

Finally, Lacey Washburn is ready for the grand opening celebration of The Aspen Valley Inn. There are only a couple of problems. First, the dead man at the bottom of the stairs actually died seven years ago. Second, Lacey had sworn off men forever, so why is she so interested in the handsome sheriff that was investigating the murder. Each book is a stand alone story but together they provide  increased storyline and character development for Lacey and Charlotte fans.

 

This is a novella of approximately 25,000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Plan C Publishing
• Release date: Jun 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497780279

Book preview

DEATH CHECKS INN

SARA ROBBINS

Chapter 1

What do you mean, there’s a problem? Lacey Washburn asked, not even trying to hide her exasperation.

She was standing outside in the walled patio area of her soon to be opened Inn. She hoped her Inn would be opening soon, but in order for that to happen this problem had to be resolved.

She had hired Dan Smith, a local handyman to enclose and lay a stone patio with brick pathways in what she would call the Sanctuary. Here in this peaceful area, her guests could watch either the sunrise or sunset since this location had an unobstructed view of Pikes Peak. There was also a hot tub spa and spacious outdoor dining area. This area would accommodate either large gatherings or quiet romantic dinners for two.

However, right now, Dan was explaining some issue with the stonework that would delay the completion of the sanctuary for another week. Another week she did not have to spare. She had sunk every dime from her severance package into this endeavor and really needed to get the Inn opened and making money.

She ran her hands thru her hair and said, Dan, just tell me what we can do to get this done.

Dan mumbled, Well, I’ll have to order the grout and that will take a couple of days and then a couple of days to let it set, I’d say probably in ten days it’ll be ready.

That won’t work; our grand opening is exactly one week from today! Sara reminded him. 

Well, I could do it faster but I’d have to hire help and that will cost you, he added.

Frustrated and stressed Lacey advised him, Please do whatever is necessary to finish it in time.

Aspen Valley Inn was an adobe style building that sat on top of a knoll surrounded by beautiful scenery. It was located very near the small town of Elkville. Rural but only twenty-five miles from the large city of Colorado Springs and forty-seven miles from the gambling town of Cripple Creek. Its location was practical but she hoped that the gorgeous views of America’s mountain, Pike’s Peak, and the pampering she planned to bestow on every guest would ensure its success. It was also advantageous that this was really the only Bed & Breakfast type business in this area.

She was also working with her younger sister, Charlotte, to get the Inn opened. After this business was established, they would launch an event center. Charlotte would be the event coordinator and continue to help with the Inn. They would start this phase as soon as funds and interested customers allowed.

She needed to focus on first things first; she had to get this place ready for her grand opening next week. So far, she had only booked two of the four available suites at the Inn. She reminded herself that she had only gotten those by steeply discounting what she had thought were reasonable rates. Oh well, she told herself, sometimes you have to lose money to make money.

She went inside and plopped herself into one of the huge chairs in the reception lounge. She looked around with a critical eye. There were comfortable chairs and sofas positioned cozily by the huge stone fireplace.

She planned to use a beautiful, antique table to lay out wine and appetizers. She hoped that these occasional refreshments would encourage her guests to linger and mingle with each other.

She had arranged pamphlets of local attractions in a display on the opposite wall. The display looked very inviting. The Broadmoor Hotel, Molly Kathleen Mine and bike tours up to Pike’s Peak and many other attractions made one want to explore.

Of course, for the historians, antiquing opportunities were plentiful. For the gambling aficionados there was always Cripple Creek. She hoped she had thought of everything to make this endeavor a success.

Only ten short years ago, she had been a newly graduated finance/business major from the University of Colorado. The world was her oyster and she could not wait to pry it open and find the pearl! She was excited to be engaged to the love of her life, Bryan Thompson. Every major company in the Colorado Springs business arena was recruiting her for their team. She had been on top of the world. That world stopped spinning when she found out that Bryan had been unfaithful with more than one attractive woman. He had even been with a few of her so-called friends.

Just weeks before their wedding he pleaded, But you are the only one I love, doesn’t that matter?

She had thought about it, really thought about it, and yes, it did matter, damn it. She cancelled the wedding and accepted a job with a family owned bank that she thought would provide the camaraderie and distraction she needed to move past the hurt and betrayal.

She soon discovered that there was no security or permanence in that world either. The financial crisis hit the country. She had lost her job eighteen months ago. She was devastated; she had poured all of her energy and passion into her work. Her co-workers and clients had felt like family.

Yes, she dated occasionally, but as the song said, she kept a close watch on that heart of hers. She even wore an amulet around her neck that stated those very lyrics from the old Johnny Cash ballad.

She felt lost without the structure and purpose she had relied upon. She took a good hard look at her choices, and her life. The generous severance package she had received made starting her own business feasible. That, and her younger sister, Charlotte’s, promise to build and grow the business with her helped her decide to make the leap.

She loved meeting and taking care of people. Getting into the hospitality industry seemed a good fit. First, they would open a charming Inn. Later, they had big plans to include an event center. This expansion would provide enough profit and challenge for both of them.

She had paid close attention to even the tiniest detail during the massive renovation of the Inn. Everything was just as she dreamed it. She hoped that all of this would turn out to be a good decision and not a colossal mistake!

Chapter 2

With only three days until the grand opening of Aspen Valley Inn, Lacey was nervous. She now had three reservations for the Inn and fifty RSVPS’ to the grand opening reception.

Handyman Dan was almost finished with the sanctuary. Although there had been extra expense that she had not budgeted for, the sanctuary was Lacey’s favorite amenity. It was worth every penny. She had spent more than a few evenings ensconced on one of the comfortable chaise lounges near the fire pit watching Mother Nature’s dramatic end of day curtain call. Pink, gold and deep rose vied with each other to color the sky. The sun completed its leisurely dance before dropping out of sight behind the mountain peak. This, she thought, is what people will pay for.

The excited voice of her sister, Charlotte, interrupted her musings.

Only three more days, can you believe it? she exclaimed.

Lacey hurried to give her sister a

Reviews for Death Checks Inn

[tracyj914 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A quick read with twists and turns. The characters are well done and you rapidly come to cheer for and worry about them. I look forward to reading more books in this series to find out what becomes of. The main characters. The end was another unexpected twist.

[angiesangels · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A summary of this book is not even really in order. The theory behind the book was good and the description to get you to read the book was good...the book itself...yeah, not so much. The summary written to get you "suckered" in to read the book did just that for me. It sounded like a great tale of mystery with some romance twisted in to the bottom line. I found a few things wrong with this book, which surprised me being that it was a shorter read. First off, and perhaps most annoying, were all the typos I found. Normally I would not make a big deal about this, but there were so many that it became a type of "game" for me to see how many were upcoming in my read. However, I can't justify my opinion as it being a book horrible or unlikable book just because of spelling errors and such. I could have gotten over them if the book would have blown my socks off. I just didn't get that either. It seemed that they mystery was underlying the romance part of the book. Now, perhaps I looked at the summary wrong and that was the way it was supposed to be, but even so, when I see a romantic suspense type book I expect a bit more suspense than was given in this book. Even though this was a very short read, I found it to just draw out for me. I am not sure if it was just me, or it really was the book. I can say this, the characters were decent, but they would not be near enough to make me want to read on in this series. I will not be a future reader of this series.3/5 Stars

[cyderry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lacey Washburn is ready for the grand opening of her Bed and Breakfast but all does not go well especially when a dead body is found at the bottom of the stairs the first night. Feeling that she needs to solve the apparent murder to protect her investment, Lacey with her sister Charlotte work to find the murderer.A cute little start for a new series.