The Goddess of the Sea: The Goddess of the Sea, #1

By Kira Parke

Maxine Dashwood's life explodes over the course of one day. Her best friend and resident film-buff, Dev Gupta, convinces her to help him run a hotel by the sea. Love, lust, and betrayal (as well as a hint of the paranormal) will loom large when she runs headlong toward the Goddess of the Sea.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kira Parke
• Release date: Mar 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393938293

Kira Parke

About The Author Kira Parke Kira Jayne Parke was born in Lambeth, England to British and American parents. Work opportunities abroad saw much of Kira's childhood spent in the tropical north of Australia. Kira's father suffered a heart attack and died the day after her eighth birthday. As a coping mechanism, Kira disappeared into creative writing. She would often write the life she wanted for her mother and herself. Before long, Kira was winning writing awards at school, cultivating a lifelong love of fiction. Her young adult life revolved around world travel and writing for travel magazines. Soon, a tumultuous personal life resulted in the seeking of solace in creativity once again. To this day, Kira keeps a low social profile but enjoys connecting with people through the written word.  

Book preview

1

Maxine Dashwood skirted her way around her boss’s office and disappeared into the kitchen. Her afternoon sugar craving was especially strong this day and she was in no state to deny it. Maxine pried the fridge open gently and scanned the shelves until she found the very thing that would satisfy her need for comfort. She rubbed her hands together and cautiously pulled out a red Tupperware container with the name: Krysstahl Wedgewood-Hughes written on the lid. Maxine licked her lips and eased the box open revealing chocolate brownies made by the deft hand of one Krysstahl Wedgewood-Hughes's mother. They smelled heavenly. Easy there, Indiana Jones. You throw me a brownie and I’ll throw you the whip.

Maxine Dashwood spun around to see the lithe figure of her best friend and partner in crime—Dev Gupta—slumped against the kitchen’s door jamb. She blew hair out of her face emphatically. I’ve never seen Temple of Wombs, so your reference is completely lost on me, film-geek.

Firstly: it’s from Raiders. Secondly: I think you know it’s Temple of Doom and you’re just trying to be hurtful. Lastly: you’ve wounded me with your cinematic ignorance. You and me are having another one of my patented film workshops ASAP.

You’re such a wanker. Maxine bit into a gooey confection and moaned appreciatively.

When’s the last time your boyfriend made you look and/or sound like that, Dash?

Num og gor gibness.

You’re so cute when your mouth is full. Reminds me of Jabba the Hutt when he’s scarfing down those green frog things. Also, your life is totally my business. So long as I’m single and bored—you’re my number one project! Lucky you.

Dash swallowed. I’m not going to miss you when you’re gone, you know.

Don’t be like that.

Like what?

All pretend-tough.

You don’t really have to leave do you?

Yeah. At least until I’ve sorted out what to do with The Goddess of the Sea... Woooooooooo! Dev waved his arms around like he was drowning.

Why is the Goddess of the Sea a ghost now?

I dunno. The building is actually haunted, though. Might shoot the next Blair Witch there or something. You have to come!

If Sterrick can get time off. You know I’ll get up there as soon as I can. I love the beach and the tropics and palm trees and shit. It’s so much better than thieving treats to stave off depression.

Sterrick. I still laugh whenever I say your better-half's name.

You really want one of these?

You know I do, woman!

Promise to go back to your desk quietly, like a good little film-school dropout.

Yes ma’am. Dash tossed a brownie in the air and Dev caught it in his mouth. He removed it and looked at her thoughtfully. This is demeaning to both of us. Just don’t get caught!

Out!

DASH’S SUGAR-HIGH LASTED approximately eighteen minutes before she finally fell back to earth with a seismic thump. She stared at her screen filled with the items she had failed to sell and wondered when the company would finally get fed up enough to fire her. A squeal from the kitchen made every head in the office turn at once. A red-faced Krysstahl stormed through the doorway dramatically waving her Tupperware around and huffing like a cartoon wolf. Whoever did this—you know who you are! I’m going to find you and report you! Krysstahl looked in Dash’s direction before stumbling to her desk as though the ordeal had taken its toll on her health.

Dash ducked her head down and wiped crumbs from her chin and Dev winked at her from the end of the row. A sizeable shadow darkened Dash’s desk and she lifted her eyes to see her boss—Lavinia Ladouce—bearing down on her like a fat-faced bulldog with chronic indigestion. A word please, Miss Dashwood. In my office. Thank you. Lavinia spoke with a sort of Morse-code rhythm. Dev had always said that he would record a sample of her speaking one day and make a dance track from it; Dash didn’t feel much like dancing at this precise moment.

The walk to Lavinia’s office always felt long from Dash’s seat at the rear of the telemarketing floor but on this occasion, it felt like she should have packed snacks. Dash felt her stomach lurch as soon as she crossed the threshold into the boss’s Den of Discipline. There was an unadorned desk at the far end and a wall-mounted bookshelf with only two volumes in it, and one of those was the dictionary. I looked at your numbers for the month. Then I looked at your reports for the year. I have to say that they’re not great. You’ve had dwindling figures and they’ve never recovered. We’ve discussed it at length. Dot, dot, dot, dash, dash, dash.

‘Be good if you had a dwindling figure,’ is what Dash wished she had the courage to say. Lavinia— Dash leant forward in her seat.

—Mrs. Ladouce.

Sure. Sorry. I’ma be straight wit’ you: It’s been a tough couple of years. Dash laughed amiably then stopped herself when she caught Mrs. Ladouce’s grim response. Look, I’m in a slump right now. We all have slumps. You have slumps, I’ll bet.

What are you getting at, Miss Dashwood?

I’m just saying that things will improve. It’s like the weather: one day it’s crapulence aplenty and the next day it’s unicorns and rainbows. Give me some time and you’ll see that this bad phase will all blow over. You and me, Lavinia! What a team we’ll be! In her mind, Dash saw this improvised speech as a win.

DASH DROPPED THE LAST of her stress-ball collection into the cardboard box and sighed. Dev materialized beside her, pushing his hands into his pockets then withdrawing them awkwardly. "Dash... I don’t know what to

Reviews for The Goddess of the Sea

[Conan Barbitol · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book! It's funny and fascinating and moves at a good pace (I hate stories that drag!) Really enjoyed it and I'm praying for a sequel!