The Front Side of Down: Book 1

By Hallie Harrison

Nadine Gooch is nearly thirty years old and lives the most boring life she can imagine. Her job is mundane, and her only friend is co-worker Deidre whose greatest ambition is the pursuit of a husband. Her parents even maintain the distance towards her that she endured
during childhood.

After a chance meeting with Carol Brinkley, Nadine receives an invitation to attend a
party at Carol’s lavish home. Fate steps in and at the party she is introduced to the dark haired
handsome man named Iriney Dmitriev, who has the inexplicable power to make her feel fear
and desire at the same time. She quickly learns he’s living in the town’s only reputed haunted
house. The house is something out of a Poe tale complete with noises in the night, nightmares,
and strange sightings of a fearless wolf. Ire, as he preferred to be called, laughs off the rumors
about his new home.

Are the rumors about his house on Riley truly just myth, or will Nadine
find as she gets to know Ire, that there is something sinister and true about them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hallie Harrison
• Release date: Jan 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507023037

Book preview

Book One: The Meetings

The cold night air cut through Nadine’s body.  Her legs ached from running, and each breath burned in her chest.  She had never been very athletic, but tonight she ran for her life.  The sounds of feet tearing through the fallen leaves were getting closer.  For every three strides she took, he seemed to gain four. 

Nadine looked to her left, and was just able to make out the old fort she and her cousins played in as kids.  The moonlight was weak with scudding clouds, but she was sure the dark shape was it.  One advantage of being chased through these woods was her knowledge of them.  She grew up here.  She may not have liked sports, but she loved climbing trees and walking through the woods regardless of season.  She spent many hot Virginia summer days within these woods, with a book and a thermos of her Grandmother’s sweet tea. 

Nadine slowed her pace and trotted towards the dilapidated structure.  It seemed to sit crookedly, and there were fallen branches lying across its roof.  Nadine bent her head and shoulders as she entered the fort.  It was a tiny one room structure that her Uncle had hastily built eighteen summers ago.  There were two windows void of glass and an open doorway.  Nadine silently crouched beneath one of the windows and pulled her knees into her chest.  Her ragged breathing seemed like the loudest thing on earth, and she hoped he wouldn’t hear. 

The pounding footsteps were coming nearer.  She could hear them slow and stop; then there was silence. 

NADINE! 

She covered her ears with both hands and a tear slid down her cheek.  His scream was terrifying.  It was unlike anything she had ever heard.  His voice on a good day was deep and sensual.  An ocean of pleasure for the auditory, but he’s enraged scream was pure terror. 

Nadine!  Footsteps crunched through the fallen leaves and a twig snapped just outside the fort.  You don’t understand, Nadine.  Let me help you.

Nadine felt the breath catch in her throat and a constriction of her chest told her that he still held remarkable power over her.  She slowly lowered her hands and leaned her head back.  Less than a minute had passed from when she entered the fort to preserve her life from him; now all she hoped for was that he would speak again.  Six months was all it took for her world to change forever.  Six months was all it took for one word to mean more to her than any other. 

Iriney.   

Nadine Gooch! the shrill cry from behind her made Nadine wince.  The voice was unmistakable.  She closed her eyes momentarily before plastering the best fake smile she could muster on her lips. 

Carol! she said turning around.  Good to see you!   She hoped the smile touched her eyes and wasn’t so obviously fake.  Carol Brinkley wasn’t necessarily a bad woman; she just lacked the depth that Nadine looked for in other people.  She despised anything counterfeit. 

Carol pushed