Spooked

By Ruby Madden

Clementine, an in-demand sketch artist who needs an escape from her hectic, stressful and busy city life decides to take a much needed one-year sabbatical. She welcomes the chance to move to a small town in the South and inhabit the old, Victorian mansion that was willed to her.

Upon arriving, Clementine meets Gabe, a kindly, considerate and sexy jack-of-all-trades who helped her aunt while she was alive, with the house, doing maintenance, repairs and property upkeep.

Instantly drawn to one another, Clementine wonders if he likes curvy women such as herself while worrying what he might think if he knows she's what's known as a white-witch? A benevolent practitioner of the elements, magic and energy.

Meanwhile, Gabe wonders if Clementine will figure out that he's not exactly mortal or living. That he is in fact, a spook. A ghost.

Ultimately, they will discover a hidden mystery about their unique connection, crossing time and space to reveal the truth. Their enduring love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Manifestiny Entertainment, LLC
• Release date: Jan 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507043738

Book preview

Spooked

by

Ruby Madden

Spook

noun

1. Informal. a ghost; specter.

2. Slang. a ghostwriter.

3. Slang. an eccentric person.

4. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a black person.

5. Slang. an espionage agent; spy.

verb (used with object)

6. to haunt; inhabit or appear in or to as a ghost or specter.

7. Informal. to frighten; scare.

verb (used without object)

8. Informal. to become frightened or scared: ‘The fish spooked at any disturbance in the pool.’

{ Stand-Alone Novella: 18,000 words, 65 eReader pages }

DESCRIPTION: A BBW, Interracial (BWWM), Paranormal & Mystery Romance: Told in 3rd person POV by primary character, Clementine.

Clementine, an in-demand sketch artist who needs an escape from her hectic, stressful and busy city life decides to take a much needed one-year sabbatical. She welcomes the chance to move to a small town in the South and inhabit the old, Victorian mansion, that upon her aunt’s recent passing, was willed to her.

Upon arriving, Clementine meets Gabe, a kindly, considerate and sexy jack-of-all-trades who helped her aunt while she was alive, with the house, doing maintenance, repairs and property upkeep.

Instantly drawn to one another, Clementine wonders if he likes curvy women such as herself while worrying what he might think if he knows she’s what’s known as a white-witch? A benevolent practitioner of the elements, magic and energy.

Meanwhile, Gabe wonders if Clementine will figure out that he’s not exactly mortal or living. That he is in fact, a spook. A ghost.

Ultimately, they will discover a hidden mystery about their unique connection, crossing time and space to reveal the truth. Their enduring love.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Arrival

Chapter Two: Water

Chapter Three: Groceries

Chapter Four: Settling In

Chapter Five: Portal Dream

Chapter Six: Sketch-Book

Chapter Seven: Front Porch

Chapter Eight: Dinner

Chapter Nine: Apparition

Chapter Ten: Nightmare

Chapter Eleven: Imbibing

Chapter Twelve: Reincarnation

Chapter Thirteen: Witching Hour

Author’s Note: It’s in my nature to be playful. It’s also in my nature to push other’s boundaries and open their minds with my storytelling and writing.

It’s my sincere hope that my approach with the socially sensitive material in this story is appreciated with the intent it was written; humbly, respectfully and with some humor to lighten it up.

That said, I fully realize and understand that racial and cultural relations have been challenging, to say the least, over the years. With that in mind, please let it be known that I embrace all diversity, all people and choose to see our common humanity long before I concern myself with any perceived ‘differences’. I, myself have Native American heritage, but none might be the wiser of this due to my appearance, upon meeting me, in person. It would reveal itself in some of my beliefs and spiritual connections.

I’m a well-read, highly educated professional and should anything about this story be found offensive, I will be the first to apologize. I value all insight, feedback and perception. So, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Personally, I’ve been in an interracial relationship and have a close family member who is partnered to someone with similar ancestry as the main character, Clementine. So please know, that although this is new terrain for me in terms of story-telling, it is by no means new to my life.

Happy Reading!

Chapter One

Arrival

Clementine stood on the gravel driveway, looking at the aging Victorian mansion she had inherited from her aunt. An aunt who willed it to her upon her recent passing. A bit in awe, she was wrestling with the full realization that she was now the sole owner of the large home and property.

It was bigger than she recollected. And spookier. Much spookier.

A getaway was a getaway and unlike many people Clementine knew, she could handle the odd vibe of the aging house. As a white-witch, she was more than acquainted with the world behind veils and the realm beyond the visible.

A place unseen, but sensed and felt.

She felt tingles up and down her spine, her sixth sense working overtime while being reintroduced to the presence of her new, temporary residence. A much needed retreat for the autumn season, her favorite time of year.

This place will need some smudging, Clementine thought to herself, wondering about its history.

She sighed, turned around and opened her Volvo’s trunk. She rummaged through her luggage and pulled out two of the biggest bags. She’d leave the rest in the car for now. She was too road-weary to care at the moment. Besides, the home was so remote, who would bother to come see who had arrived to claim the house?

Dragging her bags down the long cobbled brick path, and up the stately stairs to the wrap-around porch, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. A shiver passed through her. Her gut intuitively signaled that something was, off.

She paused and slowly turned around. Who was watching her?

Clementine surveyed the land before her, the huge house and nothing or no one noticeable stood out. In fact, it looked completely desolate. Not even a crow was around. Or a neighbor’s cat. Even that seemed off.

Deciding she’d be safer inside than outside if something or someone was indeed watching her, Clementine hurriedly turned the key in the lock and pushed the front door open. It creaked ever so slightly and immediately, she went into a sneezing fit from the dust stirred up by her entry into the stately house.

Setting down her luggage, closing and then locking the door behind her, she fumbled haphazardly at the