Lynn Miclea's Blog
October 5, 2025
New Book — Home Invasions
★★★ NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS!!! ★★★
Book Five of the
Detective Matt Holden Mystery Series
is now available for pre-orders!
HOME INVASIONS
A Detective Matt Holden Mystery – Book Five
A peaceful residential neighborhood is being terrorized by baffling break-ins where nothing is taken.
The break-ins suddenly escalate into assaults and then murder. Only one clue is left at each crime scene — duct tape on a broken window.
The victims seem to have nothing in common, and the violence continues to escalate.
With almost nothing to go on, Detective Sergeant Matt Holden is desperate to find and catch the serial killer before more innocent people are murdered.
The e-book is now available for pre-order.
The e-book will be delivered to your kindle on 10/25/25, and the paperback version will also be available on 10/25/25.
To order the book, please click here: HOME INVASIONS.
***
This is Book Five of the Detective Matt Holden Mystery series. For those who enjoy detective stories and crime thrillers, you will love this series! These are exciting, dangerous, edge-of-your-seat stories of gripping criminal investigations. The main character is a detective sergeant with the police department, and he is faced with solving a series of horrific crimes, including child abductions, home break-ins, and serial murders.
These books, although part of a series, are all standalone books and can be read in any order.
Please look for the other books in the series.
Child Missing – A child abduction mystery thriller The Marble Murders – A serial killer mystery thriller The Pearl Murders – A serial killer mystery thriller The Photo Murders – A serial killer mystery thriller Home Invasions – A serial killer mystery thrillerIf you love exciting detective crime-thrillers, these books are for you!
If you get this book, I hope you love it! And I would love it if you left a short review on Amazon — that would really help me a lot and be very much appreciated! A big heart-felt thank you!
To order the book, please click here: HOME INVASIONS.
***
Please know I am very grateful for your support!
Thank you all! Have a great autumn!
—————————————–
Copyright © 2025 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please look for all my books on Amazon here or visit my website here for more details about all my books.
May 10, 2025
New Book — Beyond the Edge
★★★ NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS!!! ★★★
Another exciting heart-pounding collection of short-story thrillers!
Now available for pre-orders!
Beyond the Edge
Another exciting collection of thriller short stories!
An exciting and heart-pounding collection of thriller and suspense short stories that keeps you on the edge of your seat and sparks your fears and vulnerabilities. These stories bring you into worlds of danger, chases, killers, abduction, bizarre happenings, baffling powers, strange discoveries, and much more.
Come face to face with killers, murders, strange places, terrifying entities, alien beings, terrifying chases, narrow escapes, intense danger, and eerie visions.
Watch people escape abuse, run for help, fight for their lives, get chased, barely escape, and face terrifying danger.
These stories and much more are in this chilling and exciting collection of thriller and suspense stories.
If you love being kept on the edge of your seat with heart-pounding thrillers and suspense, this book is for you.
The e-book is now available for pre-orders! Both the e-book and paperback will be released on 5/30/25!
To pre-order the e-book, please click here: BEYOND THE EDGE.
***
There are now five exciting, heart-grabbing short-story collections in various genres — sci-fi, thriller/suspense, horror/thriller, romance, and family/intimacy!
To order any of these or find out more about each volume, please click on the following links:
BEYOND THE ABYSS – Science Fiction Thrillers: https://bit.ly/3IXi21N
BEYOND THE EDGE – Thrillers and Suspense: https://amzn.to/44tDt6J
BEYOND TERROR – Thrillers, Horror, and Suspense: https://bit.ly/4cywGKu
BEYOND LOVE – Hot Love and Romance: https://amzn.to/3YAWAbh
BEYOND CONNECTIONS – Family, Relationships, and Intimacy: https://bit.ly/3PGmiGE
These exciting short-story collections containing amazing stories that you don’t want to miss!
If you get any of these books, I hope you love them! And I would love it if you left a short review on Amazon — that would really help me a lot and be very much appreciated! A big heart-felt thank you!
To pre-order the new e-book, BEYOND THE EDGE, please click here: BEYOND THE EDGE.
***
Please know I am very grateful for your support!
Thank you all! Have a great summer!
—————————————–
Copyright © 2025 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please look for all my books on Amazon here or visit my website here for more details about all my books.
May 5, 2025
Kidnapped
A Short Story
Image is from Pixabay
KidnappedA short story by Lynn Miclea
Lilly huddled in the closet, a small blanket covering her, hoping to stay hidden. She wasn’t even sure where she was, but she knew she needed to get out the first chance she could. She desperately wanted to go home.
“Lilly? Are you in your room?” His heavy footsteps sounded on the wooden floor in the hallway outside the bedroom. “Where are you?”
She held the edge of the blanket tightly against her body and kept her breathing shallow.
The man threw open the door to the bedroom and stormed in. “Lilly?” He stomped across the floor, opened the closet door, and peered in. “Are you in here?”
Lilly held her breath. Please don’t find me. Please …
The man stood there for a few minutes and then shut the closet door. Lilly heard his footsteps walk away. Was he really leaving? Or was it a trap to catch her if she came out? She wasn’t sure.
She sat there and waited at least twenty minutes without moving. Then she heard his voice coming from outside the house. “Lilly? I’ll find you, girl, and you won’t be happy when I do.”
Since he was now outside looking for her, she thought this might be a good chance to get away. It might be her only chance. She slowly peeled the blanket off her head, stood up, and opened the closet door. She cautiously peeked out. Nothing. It was quiet in the house.
Lilly slowly walked across the room, trying her best to stay quiet. She absently rubbed her arm and then her cheek, the places where he had punched her. Her stomach clenched. Why did he do that to her? He was mean and cruel, and she hated him.
She wasn’t even sure of his full name. Irving something. She knew he worked with her Uncle Rob, but she didn’t know much about him. Her aunt and uncle were looking after her for a few days while her parents were away. Two days after her parents left, Aunt Edith and Uncle Rob ran to the store. They said they’d be back within the hour and not to open the door.
Shortly after her aunt and uncle left, there was a sudden loud crash. Irving had broken into the house while her aunt and uncle were at the store. Lilly saw him in the living room, his face scrunched up into a mean, threatening glare. She jumped and tried to run to her bedroom, but Irving grabbed her. She screamed, but there was no one there to hear her. He dragged her out of the house. She struggled as hard as she could, but she was no match for him. Irving was strong, and he threw her into the trunk of his car and drove off.
Now she stood in the small house where he had taken her. She shook her head. She didn’t know where she was. And she didn’t even want to think about what he planned to do to her. She knew at only eight years old and being small for her age, she could not fight him off. He was big and strong, and she felt so small and helpless.
Terrified and shaking, Lilly stepped to the small window in the bedroom and peeked out. She didn’t see much from the second floor. Grass and trees. No people.
She ran out of the room and raced down the stairs. She rushed to the front door and hesitated. What if he were right outside waiting for her? She turned and ran to the kitchen where the back door was. She tried the doorknob. The door was locked. Panic set in. How would she get out?
Then she saw a small key on the edge of the kitchen counter. She grabbed that and tried it in the lock. It fit. She turned it and heard the lock click open. She waited a few moments in case he was out there. Then she opened the door a few inches. Nothing.
She opened the door a bit more, just enough to fit through, and she slipped out. She closed the door behind her, and then she paused and listened. Nothing. She ran.
Lilly raced across the yard and climbed over the short fence that surrounded the property. Terrified and desperate, she looked around. She was now in an empty field. There were a few other backyards and houses along the field, but who lived there? Would they help her? Or were they friends of Irving? She had no idea. Where should she go?
She crossed the field and came to a more heavily wooded area. Terrified and lost, she looked around. Maybe she could hide in the trees and he wouldn’t find her there.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and she started running. Her breathing became labored, and she slowed down. She had no idea where she was, but she kept moving, going deeper into the woods. At one point, she stumbled over a large root, but she quickly caught herself and then ran again.
Then she heard his voice, but it sounded far away. “Lilly? Where are you?”
A sob erupted from her. She huddled against a tree and tried to stay quiet, but she could not keep from crying. She collapsed onto the ground and wrapped her arms around herself. Sobs shook her for a few minutes. Finally, her crying eased, and she took a breath and looked around.
It was quiet. He was nowhere around. But she was lost in the woods and had no idea where to go. She couldn’t stay there.
She got up and ran again. Her legs felt stiff and her chest ached. How long could she keep running? Where was she headed? Would anyone ever find her? Would she ever get home again?
Finally, exhausted and terrified, she collapsed behind a large tree. She put her head in her hands and sobbed.
After about ten minutes, she heard voices. Two men were talking. Was one of them Irving? No, she didn’t recognize his voice. She got up and peered around the tree.
Two men, maybe in their twenties, were a short distance away, looking at one tree and talking. Were they safe? Could she trust them? Did they know Irving? Would they help her? Would they hurt her?
Knowing she couldn’t stay there by herself, and Irving would probably find her, she realized she had to trust someone. Lilly hesitated and then cautiously stepped forward. As she took another step away from the tree, she landed on a twig, and it made a loud crack.
The two men stopped talking and looked around, their eyes exploring the area.
“Did you hear that?” one of them said.
“Yes,” the other answered. “Something is in here.”
“An animal?” the first man asked.
Lilly took another step away from the tree, moving into a more open area, and she looked at them.
“Look, it’s a girl,” the second man said. “Hey,” he called to Lilly. “Are you okay?”
Lilly shook her head and started crying again.
The two men rushed over to her. One of the men squatted in front of her. “I’m Ben,” he said. “Are you lost?”
Lilly tried to talk through her tears. “I … I …”
The other man stepped forward. “I’m Josh,” he said. “What’s your name?”
She sniffled. “Lilly.”
“Lilly, are you hurt?” Josh asked.
“No. I … I … was taken here. I need to get away. I was …”
Ben look confused. “You were taken here? By your parents? Where are they?”
“No, no. Someone grabbed me from my home and threw me in the trunk of a car and took me here. I don’t know where I am. I need to get away. I just want to go home. I …”
Josh leaned forward. “We’ll help you. We’ll get you out of here, and then we can call someone for you. Okay?”
Lilly nodded. “The police. Please call the police. I want to go home.”
Josh took out his cell phone and tried it. “There’s no signal here. Maybe we’ll get a signal in the parking lot.” He turned back to Lilly. “Do you know who took you here?”
She bit her lip, afraid to say anything. Finally, she whispered, “Irving.”
Ben gasped. “Damn. I knew that man was bad news. He’s been in the news. He’s done this before.” He shook his head and held out his hand. “Come with us. We won’t hurt you. We’ll make sure you’re safe, Lilly, okay?”
She nodded and took his hand. The men seemed genuine, and she felt that she could trust them. Maybe they really could help her.
They walked around a few trees. “This way,” Ben said. “There’s a path just up ahead, and that will take us to the parking lot. You’ll be fine.”
Lilly nodded. His hand felt warm and comforting, and she began to feel a bit safer.
A few minutes later, they found the dirt path. It was easier walking on the path, and Lilly felt the fear begin to go away. It was almost over.
After a few minutes of walking down the path, she heard Irving’s voice again. “Lilly? Where are you? I’ll find you, Lilly, and you’ll be really sorry when I do. You won’t get away. You hear me?”
She drew in a quick breath, and her hand tightened on Ben’s hand. “That’s him,” she said, her voice wavering.
Ben picked her up and held her to his chest. “We need to get out of here,” he said.
“Let’s go,” Josh answered as he started jogging. The two men ran down the path, Ben holding tightly to Lilly.
Twenty minutes later, the path widened and opened into a dirt and gravel parking area. Ben gently put Lilly down. “You okay?” he asked.
Lilly nodded. “Yes. But I want to go home.”
Josh tried his phone and then nodded. “Good. There’s phone service here,” he said. He pressed a few buttons and looked at Lilly. “We’ll get you help, Lilly.”
As Josh spoke into the phone, Lilly leaned against Ben and trembled. She hoped it would be over soon.
Ben and Josh led Lilly to a bench at the side of the parking area, and they sat down. “The cops are on the way,” Josh said.
Ten minutes later, two police vehicles pulled into the parking area. Four officers got out, and Ben, Josh, and Lilly stood up from the bench. Josh waved at the officers, and the cops approached them.
As three of the officers spoke with Ben and Josh, one of the officers approached Lilly and squatted in front of her. “Hi, I’m Officer Vince Miller,” he said in a soft voice. “What is your name?”
“Lilly,” she said quietly. “Lilly Hanfield.”
“Lilly, can you tell me what happened?”
For thirty minutes, Lilly told him everything that happened, who the man was, what he did, and how it all took place. The officer asked a few questions, and she answered them all.
Finally, Officer Miller stood up. “Lilly, just sit tight here for a couple of minutes, okay?”
She nodded and watched as the officer went to speak with the other three cops. A few minutes later, Officer Miller came back to her. “Lilly, thank you for the information and for answering all my questions. You did a great job, and that was very helpful. We have backup on the way. That means other cops are coming, and they will go to Irving’s house and arrest him. Would you be able to identify him?”
“Yes,” Lilly said, her voice soft.
“Good. He’s done this before, and hopefully this is his last time. We intend to put him away for good.”
A tear ran down Lilly’s cheek. “I hope so,” she whispered.
“Lilly?” Irving’s voice rang out from down the path. “I’ll find you, Lilly. I’m coming for you. You’re gonna be really sorry.” His voice sounded close.
Lilly suddenly felt cold, and she clutched at the cop’s uniform. “That’s him,” she said.
Officer Miller led her behind the police vehicles, and he stood there with her. “Stay here, honey, and I’ll stay here with you.”
Two of the officers ran down the path toward Irving’s voice, and one officer stood in the parking area at the beginning of the path, his weapon in his hand.
Officer Miller spoke on his radio, and Lilly stood at his side, shaking, staring wide-eyed toward the path. Would Irving come bursting out into the parking area to get her?
A few minutes later, the two officers returned to the parking area, holding tightly to Irving. Irving, his hands now handcuffed behind his back, walked between the two officers, as they held onto his arms. Irving’s face looked grim.
Lilly gasped. “That’s him,” she said to Officer Miller. “That’s Irving.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes, absolutely. That’s him.”
“Thank you, honey.” He spoke into the radio again. “We have a positive ID on the suspect, and suspect is now in custody,” he said.
***
Two hours later, Lilly sat on her grandmother’s couch. Her grandma hugged her and held her tight. “You’re safe here, sweetie,” she said. “And if your parents go away for a few days again, you’ll stay with me from now on, okay?”
Lilly nodded. “Thanks, Grandma. I like it here.”
“Your parents are coming back tomorrow, and I’ll let them know what happened.”
Lilly hesitated. “Will they be mad at me?”
Her grandmother hugged her again. “Oh, no, sweetie. They won’t be mad at you. They love you, and they’ll be happy you are safe. This wasn’t your fault. You did nothing wrong.”
Lilly nodded, still feeling a bit shaken by everything that happened.
Her grandma stood up. “Would you like some sugar cookies? Maybe I’ll bake some cookies. Would that help you feel better?”
Lilly smiled. “I like sugar cookies.”
“Me too,” her grandma said. “Cookies always make everything better, don’t they?”
Lilly gave a short giggle as she watched her grandmother bustle around in the kitchen. She felt herself begin to relax. It was finally over. She was safe now.
And her grandma was right. Cookies did make everything better.
—————————————–
Copyright © 2025 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please visit my website here for information on all my published books. Thank you!
And visit my author page on Amazon here to see and order any of my books. Thank you!
April 21, 2025
Professional Self-Hypnosis Scripts
Unleash Your Inner Joy Series
This series contains powerful and effective self-hypnosis scripts which can assist and empower you to bring about improvements in many areas of your life. These help you to be active in your own growth and healing, and it puts effective and easy-to-use tools right at your fingertips, which unleashes your natural inner joy.
These are excellent books for introducing people to self-hypnosis, meditation, visualization, guided imagery, affirmations, growth, expansion, and self-love.
This is a great series for supporting and facilitating your own inner growth and journey on your unique path. Each book in the Unleash Your Inner Joy series focuses on different areas in life that can improve with powerful and effective self-hypnosis scripts and visualizations.
Here is an overview of what is in each of the four books.
Volume 1 – Calmness and Peace. This volume contains 12 self-hypnosis scripts for enhancing calmness, peace, and confidence in your life. These visualizations include, but are not limited to, enhancing calmness and peace, increasing confidence, releasing negativity, memory improvement, test taking, public speaking, sleeping well, and loving who you are.
Volume 2 – Abundance and Inner Growth. This volume contains 12 self-hypnosis scripts for enhancing creativity, abundance, and inner growth. These visualizations include, but are not limited to, boosting creativity, increasing abundance and prosperity, making peace with the past, moving out of depression, forgiving, healing the inner child, reaching your goals, exercise motivation, and weight loss.
Volume 3 – Healing. This volume contains 12 self-hypnosis scripts for enhancing healing of mind, body, and spirit. These visualizations include, but are not limited to, gentle healing, deep healing, clarity and balance, easing of side effects, pain reduction, and preparation for a medical procedure. These visualizations enhance and support healing on many levels – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Volume 4 – Spirituality and Beyond. This volume contains 12 self-hypnosis scripts for enhancing spirituality, wonder, and radiant joy in your life. These visualizations include, but are not limited to, meeting spirit guides, discovering your life’s purpose, renewal with a shaman, being present, chakra clearing and enhancement, receiving a special message, meeting God, and transformation.
Please see below for more detailed information and links to these four books. These books and the hypnotherapy scripts can be used in any order.
Volume 1 – Calmness and Peace
This volume of the “Unleash Your Inner Joy” series contains 12 hypnotherapy scripts for supporting and enhancing calmness, peace, and confidence in your life.
These visualizations include, but are not limited to, enhancing calmness and peace, increasing confidence, releasing negativity, memory improvement, test taking, public speaking, sleeping well, and loving who you are.
These hypnosis scripts and visualizations can help facilitate expansion, growth, empowerment, and healing, particularly in the areas of calmness, peace, and confidence. The guided imagery allows each person to actively participate in the inner healing work, thereby increasing your inherent and natural inner strength and power.
These powerful and effective self-hypnosis scripts can assist and empower you to bring about improvements in the areas of calmness and peace. These visualizations help you to be active in your own growth and healing, and it puts effective and easy-to-use tools right at your fingertips, which unleashes your natural inner joy.
The self-hypnosis scripts in this volume are:
1 – At Peace
2 – Being Calm
3 – Releasing Negativity
4 – Increasing Confidence
5 – Memory Improvement
6 – Exam and Test Taking
7 – Public Speaking
8 – An Excellent Performance
9 – A Great Job Interview
10 – Fall Asleep Easily
11 – Deep and Restful Sleep
12 – Loving Who You Are
To order BOOK 1 – Calmness & Peace – Click Here: BOOK 1
***
Volume 2 – Abundance and Inner Growth
This volume of the “Unleash Your Inner Joy” series contains 12 hypnotherapy scripts for supporting and enhancing creativity, abundance, and inner growth.
These visualizations include, but are not limited to, boosting creativity, increasing abundance and prosperity, moving out of depression, healing the inner child, reaching goals, and weight loss.
These hypnosis scripts and visualizations can help facilitate expansion, growth, empowerment, and healing, particularly in the areas of creativity, abundance, and inner growth. The guided imagery allows each person to actively participate in the inner healing work, thereby increasing your inherent and natural inner strength and power.
These powerful and effective self-hypnosis scripts can assist and empower you to bring about improvements in the areas of creativity, abundance, and inner growth. These hypnotherapy scripts help you to be active in your own growth and healing, and it puts effective and easy-to-use tools right at your fingertips, which unleashes your natural inner joy.
The self-hypnosis scripts in this volume are:
1 – Boosting Creativity
2 – Abundance and Prosperity
3 – From Depression to Joy
4 – Letting Go of Anger
5 – Making Peace with the Past
6 – Embracing Change
7 – Forgiving and Letting Go
8 – Healing the Inner Child
9 – Taking a New Path
10 – Reaching Your Goals
11 – Exercise Motivation
12 – Weight Loss and Love
To order BOOK 2 – Abundance & Growth – Click Here: BOOK 2
***
Volume 3 – Healing
This volume of the “Unleash Your Inner Joy” series contains 12 hypnotherapy scripts for supporting and enhancing healing in your life.
These visualizations include, but are not limited to, deep healing, pain reduction, and enhancing energy. These visualizations enhance and support healing on many levels — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
These hypnosis scripts and visualizations can help facilitate expansion, growth, empowerment, and healing, particularly in the areas of comfort, health, and healing. The guided imagery allows each person to actively participate in the inner healing work, thereby increasing your inherent and natural inner strength and power.
These powerful and effective self-hypnosis scripts can assist and empower you to bring about improvements in the areas of healing on multiple levels. These hypnotherapy scripts help you to be active in your own growth and healing, and it puts effective and easy-to-use tools right at your fingertips, which unleashes your natural inner joy.
The self-hypnosis scripts in this volume are:
1 – Gentle Healing
2 – Vibrant Health
3 – Enhancing Energy Flow
4 – Boosting the Immune System
5 – Relieving Tinnitus
6 – Easing Side Effects of Chemo
7 – Healing for a Debilitating Illness
8 – Healing on a Cellular Level
9 – Pain Reduction
10 – Preparing for a Medical Procedure
11 – Clear and Balanced
12 – Deep and Powerful Healing
To order BOOK 3 – Healing – Click Here: BOOK 3
***
Volume 4 – Spirituality and Beyond
This volume of the “Unleash Your Inner Joy” series contains 12 hypnotherapy scripts for supporting and enhancing spirituality, wonder, and radiant joy in your life.
These visualizations include, but are not limited to, meeting spirit guides, discovering your life’s purpose, renewal, being present, chakra enhancement, receiving a message, meeting God, and transformation.
These hypnosis scripts and visualizations can help facilitate expansion, growth, empowerment, and healing, particularly in the areas of spirituality, inner growth, unfolding, and moving forward on your unique path. The guided imagery allows each person to actively participate in the inner healing work, thereby increasing your inherent and natural inner strength and power.
These powerful and effective self-hypnosis scripts can assist and empower you to bring about improvements in the areas of spirituality, expansion, and renewal. These hypnotherapy scripts help you to be active in your own growth and healing, and it puts effective and easy-to-use tools right at your fingertips, which unleashes your natural inner joy.
The self-hypnosis scripts in this volume are:
1 – Radiating Joy
2 – Gratitude
3 – Being Present
4 – Loving Yourself
5 – Receiving a Message
6 – An Answer for You
7 – Your Inner Guide
8 – Renewal with a Shaman
9 – Discovering Your Purpose
10 – Rainbow Chakra Enrichment
11 – Meeting God
12 – Transformation
To order BOOK 4 – Spirituality & Beyond – Click Here: – BOOK 4
***
Thank you for your interest in these books! If you get them, I hope you love them and find them helpful. And if you can, please leave a short review on Amazon for each book that you get.
Thank you, and I wish you the very best and a life filled with deep inner joy!
—————————————–
Copyright © 2025 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please look for all my books on Amazon here or visit my website here for more details about all my books.
March 5, 2025
New Book — The Photo Murders
★★★ NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS!!! ★★★
Book Four of the
Detective Matt Holden Mystery Series
is now available for pre-orders!
THE PHOTO MURDERS
A Detective Matt Holden Mystery – Book Four
Horrific murders are taking place, and the bodies are being left in a park.
There are no witnesses, and there is very little evidence. One clue is left at each gruesome crime scene — a cryptic note has been placed with each body.
With very little to go on, Detective Sergeant Matt Holden is determined to find the serial killer before more people are viciously murdered.
The e-book is now ready for pre-orders! Print and e-book copies will be released 3/28/25!
Order yours while the price is low! Just $1.99 for the pre-order for a limited time only! Don’t miss out!
Order the e-book now and it will automatically be delivered to your device on March 28, 2025.
The paperback format will also be available March 28, 2025.
To pre-order the e-book, please click here: THE PHOTO MURDERS.
***
This is Book Four of the Detective Matt Holden Mystery series. For those who enjoy detective stories and crime thrillers, you will love this series! There will be many exciting, dangerous, edge-of-your-seat stories of gripping criminal investigations. The main character is a detective sergeant with the police department, and he is faced with solving a series of horrific crimes, including child abductions and serial murders.
These books, although part of a series, are all standalone books and can be read in any order.
If you love exciting detective crime-thrillers, these are for you!
If you get this book, I hope you love it! And I would love it if you left a short review on Amazon — that would really help me a lot and be very much appreciated! A big heart-felt thank you!
To pre-order the e-book, please click here: THE PHOTO MURDERS.
***
Please know I am very grateful for your support!
Thank you all! Have a great spring!
—————————————–
Copyright © 2025 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please look for all my books on Amazon here or visit my website here for more details about all my books.
October 22, 2024
Finally Free
A Short Story
Story based on the image shown — image is from Pixabay
Finally FreeA short story by Lynn Miclea
I reached for the drink, feeling confident I was making the right decision.
It had taken a while to come to this decision. Too long, actually. I should have done this long ago. But I knew it was the right decision. I was determined.
After months of being abused by my boyfriend, it was time to leave. At first it was simply his insults, and then it slowly progressed. The last week, he started pushing me and then slapping me. Then, last night … he had punched me in my stomach and then punched me in the face.
All along, over these past few months, I kept thinking he’d realize what he was doing was wrong and that he’d see how it hurt me. He even apologized a few times, and I thought he’d stop. But no. It kept getting worse. It was escalating. And I knew I had to leave. And I needed to go as soon as possible.
I was not sure how he would take it if I simply walked out. Would he come after me? Hurt me even more? Maybe even kill me? Whatever he would try, it didn’t matter anymore. It was time to leave. It was definitely the right decision.
The next morning, after he went to work, I quickly packed up before I could change my mind, and I walked out the door. I did not leave any note. I just left. It was the only decision I could make to save myself, and it felt so good to leave. Feeling a bit shaky, but confident it was the right thing to do, I drove straight home.
Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I relaxed on the couch in my own apartment. I was glad I had kept my own apartment all this time. I was home now, and I felt safe. I poured myself a glass of wine and took a sip. To better days, I thought to myself as I took another sip. It felt soothing, and I felt myself unwind even further.
In the evening, I turned on the TV. Breaking news showed on the screen. I watched a story about a huge explosion and a fire in a nearby neighborhood. I sat forward with interest, my eyes glued to the screen. The person living there did not survive. Wait … that house was familiar. It was my ex-boyfriend’s house. The house I had just left that morning.
I smiled. It sure couldn’t be the gas that I had left on in the kitchen when I left that morning, could it? I knew he always lit up a cigarette when he first got home from work. But that wouldn’t have anything to do with this explosion, would it?
Nah, it must just be a coincidence.
I smiled again. He couldn’t hurt me anymore.
I took another sip of wine. Yes, it had been the right decision.
—————————————–
Copyright © 2024 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please visit my website here for information on all my published books. Thank you!
And visit my author page on Amazon here to see and order any of my books. Thank you!
October 20, 2024
Autumn Leaves
A Short Story
Story based on the image shown — image is from Pixabay
Autumn LeavesA short story by Lynn Miclea
The sight of the beautiful leaves, with their brilliant fall colors, filled me with nostalgia. My mind drifted back to that sweet, handsome man I was seeing last autumn — Kyle. He was such a kind, caring man, and we were falling in love. I remembered how he always used to get me a surprise gift every week — my favorite flowers, candy, a sweet card … something that would bring a smile to my face. I smiled now, thinking of it.
As the days passed and the weather turned colder, he became a detective and joined the local police department. I was so proud of him and supported him however I could in his new position.
And then a series of home break-ins and murders began in the area. Kyle was afraid I would become a target if we were together, so to protect me, he pulled back and made himself scarce. I didn’t see much of him after that. Oh, how I missed him.
The murders ended, but there was no more Kyle. Had he forgotten me? Lost interest? Moved on? Found someone else? I didn’t know.
Now I looked out my window at the beautiful red and gold leaves. This time of year brought back heart-wrenching memories of the last time we were together. I loved him so much then. I still loved him.
And I loved autumn with the beautiful colors and the crispness in the air. I sipped on my warm spiced cinnamon apple cider. It tasted so good, bringing me warmth, as I drifted in my memories, lost in my yearning for Kyle.
BANG!
The loud noise made me jump. What was that?
It came from the back of the house. My heart pounding in my chest, I stared toward where the noise came from, but I didn’t see anything. Fear raced up my spine.
More banging on the back door. I had to get out. Now!
CRASH!
The window in the back room crashed in. NO!
Shaky, I quickly put the mug of cider down on the counter, grabbed my phone and a house key, and ran out the front door. I stumbled, quickly caught myself, and rushed forward, my heart racing.
I ran to the nearest large tree in the front yard, stepped behind it, and looked back at the house. The hairs on the back of my neck stood out. My hand trembling, I lifted my phone to call 911.
I heard another crash from inside the house. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was too dry. I leaned forward, straining to see.
There — I could see a man inside my house, wearing dark clothes.
Another figure suddenly raced across the back yard and ran behind the house. What was happening?
Then four uniformed police officers rushed down the sidewalk toward me. They raced across my front yard, going toward the house. They ran inside, their guns drawn.
Weak and woozy, I leaned against the tree.
Three minutes later, the police officers came out with a suspect in handcuffs. One officer patted down the suspect, read him his rights, and led him to a patrol car parked on the street one house down.
After securing the suspect in the patrol car, the police officers talked to each other, looking back at my house and around the area. What was going on?
But wait — I knew there was still one other man who had run behind the house.
That man now came out the front door and looked around the yard, searching. His eyes landed on me, and his eyes pierced into mine. Familiar eyes. I knew him.
I did a quick intake of breath. Kyle!
Kyle strode toward me, a familiar smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He approached me and his smile widened. “Hey, Valerie.”
I stared at him for a few moments. “Kyle … what are you …”
“Val, are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Val, I’m so sorry this happened to you, and I’m so sorry I needed to keep a distance all this time.” He shook his head. “Can we talk?”
“Yes, sure. But I don’t understand. What is happening?”
Kyle’s gaze ran over me, checking me all over, and I felt my body grow hot with his gaze, the heat rising in my face.
“First,” he said, his deep, warm voice so familiar. “Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t hurt you?”
“I’m fine, just shaken up. I heard him breaking in at the back, and I ran out the front door.”
“Good.” He nodded, and then his face got serious. “That was the bad guy we’ve been trying to catch all this time. The one who was breaking into houses and killing people. Remember? He had gone out of the area for a bit, and we followed him, and then he came back here. We just tracked him to your house today. I was so worried, but I couldn’t contact you.”
“I understand.” I cleared my throat. “After all this time, I … um … thought maybe you forgot about me.”
“Oh, sweetie, never, not for a second. I needed to protect you and not have any contact. If I contacted you, there would have been a target on your back, and I couldn’t risk that.” He shook his head. “But me forget you? Never. You were the love of my life.” He smiled, a smile that lit up his handsome face and made my belly flip. “You still are.” He suddenly paused and peered into my eyes. “You’re still single, right?”
I chuckled. “Yes. You are the only one for me, Kyle. I always hoped you’d come back. I … I …”
Kyle stepped forward and held me tightly against him. I inhaled his familiar masculine scent and felt myself melt into his arms. Oh, how I missed him.
He pulled back and gazed at me. “Wait here.”
I watched as he met with the other cops. They spoke to each other for a few minutes. Then two of the officers began stringing up yellow crime-scene tape around my house. A third patrol car pulled up and parked, and two officers got out, joining the others.
Kyle came back to me.
“Val,” he murmured, taking my hands. “The danger from this guy is over. I don’t have to keep a distance anymore. I want to be back in your life. We can see each other again and pick up where we left off.” He paused. “If you still want me.”
“Oh god, yes,” I said, flying back into his warm embrace, feeling his arms wrap around me.
He pulled back, his gaze searching my face. Then he slowly moved forward, his soft lips pressing against mine, the kiss growing more passionate.
Finally, he pulled back and gave a short laugh. “Let me call my sergeant and tell him what’s happening. Since I know you, I’ll be pulled off this case. They’ll send another detective to handle this, and forensic techs need to go through your house and collect evidence. But I need to first talk to him. Okay?”
I nodded, and Kyle stepped away to make his phone call.
Five minutes later, he came back. “Okay, two detectives and a team of forensic techs are on the way. Don’t go in the house right now, okay?”
“Okay.”
“The detectives and the cops will need to talk to you and ask you questions.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good. And I’ll help you take care of the house when this is all over. But it’s not safe to stay in the house the way it is now. Do you have another place to stay?” He squeezed my hands. “You can stay with me.”
I felt my body heat up. “I’d like that.”
“I’ll help you pack whatever you need to take.” He smiled. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“We sure do.” I licked my lips as I gazed into his eyes, my whole body yearning for him.
His lips found mine again, and I knew my life and my heart were back on track. I felt safe with him back in my life, despite what had just happened.
A few minutes later, I looked up into the trees at the colorful autumn leaves. Yes, autumn was definitely my favorite time of year.
—————————————–
Copyright © 2024 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please visit my website here for information on all my published books. Thank you!
And visit my author page on Amazon here to see and order any of my books. Thank you!
September 29, 2024
New Book — The Pearl Murders
★★★ NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS!!! ★★★
Book Three of the
Detective Matt Holden Mystery Series
is Now Available for Pre-Orders!
THE PEARL MURDERS
A Detective Matt Holden Mystery – Book Three
A serial killer is murdering young women, violently stabbing them multiple times and leaving them to die.
There are no witnesses. There is very little evidence. Only one clue is left at each crime scene — pearls that are being defiled.
The only thing the victims seem to have in common is that they are wearing pearls. As the detectives investigate these murders, more women keep turning up brutally stabbed to death.
With almost nothing to go on, Detective Sergeant Matt Holden is determined to find and catch the serial killer before more women are viciously murdered.
The e-book is now ready for pre-orders! Print and e-book copies will be released 10/25/24!
Order yours while the price is low! Just $1.99 for the pre-order for a limited time only! Don’t miss out!
Order the e-book now and it will automatically be delivered to your device on October 25, 2024.
The paperback format will also be available October 25, 2024.
To pre-order the e-book, please click here: THE PEARL MURDERS.
***
This is Book Three of the Detective Matt Holden Mystery series. For those who enjoy detective stories and crime thrillers, you will love this series! There will be many exciting, dangerous, edge-of-your-seat stories of gripping criminal investigations. The main character is a detective sergeant with the police department, and he is faced with solving a series of horrific crimes.
These books, although part of a series, are all standalone books and can be read in any order.
Please stay tuned for more mystery crime-thriller books in this series! If you love exciting detective crime-thrillers, these are for you!
If you get this book, I hope you love it! And I would love it if you left a short review on Amazon — that would really help me a lot and be very appreciated! A big heart-felt thank you!
To pre-order this e-book, please click here: THE PEARL MURDERS.
***
Please know I am very grateful for your support!
Thank you all! Have a great autumn!
—————————————–
Copyright © 2024 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please look for all my books on Amazon here or visit my website here for more details about all my books.
July 26, 2024
New Book — The Marble Murders
★★★ NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS!!! ★★★
Book Two of the Detective Matt Holden Mystery Series
is Now Available for Pre-Orders!
THE MARBLE MURDERS
A Detective Matt Holden Mystery – Book Two
A serial killer is terrorizing a peaceful community, brutally murdering young men by shooting them multiple times at point-blank range.
The victims are all killed the same way — a shot to the head, the chest, and sometimes the abdomen. There are no witnesses, and there is very little evidence. The victims seem to have nothing in common.
As the detectives investigate these killings, more young men keep turning up murdered. There is only one baffling clue left at each crime scene — three blue marbles. The detectives follow up every lead, but the killer seems to always be one step ahead.
With almost nothing to go on, Detective Sergeant Matt Holden is desperate to find and catch the serial killer before more young men are viciously murdered.
The e-book is now ready for pre-orders! Print and e-book copies will be released 8/16/24!
Order yours while the price is low! Just $1.99 for the pre-order for a limited time only! Don’t miss out!
Order the e-book now and it will automatically be delivered to your device on August 16, 2024.
To pre-order the e-book, please click here: THE MARBLE MURDERS.
***
This is Book Two of the Detective Matt Holden Mystery series. For those who enjoy detective stories and crime thrillers, you will love this series! There will be many exciting, dangerous, edge-of-your-seat stories of gripping criminal investigations. The main character is a detective sergeant with the police department, and he is faced with solving a series of horrific crimes.
These books, although part of a series, are all standalone books and can be read in any order.
Please stay tuned for more mystery crime-thriller books in this series! If you love exciting detective crime-thrillers, these are for you!
If you get this book, I hope you love it! And I would love it if you left a short review on Amazon — that would really help me a lot and be very appreciated! A big heart-felt thank you!
To pre-order The Marble Murders e-book, please click here!
***
Please know I am very grateful for your support!
Thank you all! Have a great summer!
—————————————–
Copyright © 2024 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please look for all my books on Amazon here or visit my website here for more details about all my books.
July 8, 2024
A Second Chance
A Short Story
Story based on the image shown — image is from Pixabay
A Second ChanceA short story by Lynn Miclea
I carefully picked up the bottle, wondering what message was inside. Was the message important? A call for help? Or something personal? Was I invading someone’s privacy?
After hesitating for a few moments, I opened the bottle and slowly pulled out the yellowed, crinkled paper inside. My hands trembling, I read the words scrawled on the paper.
It was a beautiful love letter that a man had written, pouring out his heart and expressing his love for a woman who had left him. His words deeply touched me, and my heart ached for him.
I reached the end of the eloquent letter and saw he had signed it “Gary.” That struck me odd — that was the name of my ex-boyfriend whom I had broken up with about a year ago. At the time, I left him because I thought he had cheated on me. I later realized I was wrong, but by then it was too late. We had already split up. And I always regretted leaving him. Since then, I often wondered what had happened to him.
I wasn’t sure if this was the same person or if the name was a coincidence, but I thought maybe I’d try reaching out to my ex-boyfriend. Maybe see if he was still around. Maybe he was still single. No matter what, it would be nice just to say hi.
After a bit of research, I found him and called. I reached his voicemail, and his familiar voice filled me with nostalgia and longing. I left a short message saying I had found something of his and thought of him, wondered how he was, and to please call me.
A few minutes after hanging up, I read the letter again. As I read it, I could hear it in Gary’s voice, and I was positive he was the one who had written it. My fingers traced over the written words, and I wished I could go back in time and be with him again.
I wasn’t sure if he would call back, but I was satisfied that at least I had reached out. One day later, Gary called back. My heart quickened at the sound of his voice. He asked if we could meet, and I immediately said yes.
Sitting in the coffee shop two hours later, I gazed into his deep blue eyes and took in his familiar, handsome face. All my feelings of love and longing came rushing back. I was a fool to ever have doubted him. My belly quivered, and I wondered if he was still available and if he would ever take me back. Would we have a chance at love again?
Gary smiled, his eyes crinkling. “I was surprised to hear from you. How have you been?”
I gave a nervous laugh. “I’m fine. It’s been a while.” Why did I feel so nervous?
“You said you found something. What did you find?”
I felt blood rushing into my face. “Um … a bottle with a letter in it.”
Gary’s mouth opened and his face flushed. “You found that?”
“Yes. Yesterday, on the beach.”
He blinked and held my gaze. “I wrote that right after you broke up with me. I …”
“I’m so sorry. I was wrong. That was my fault.” I shook my head. “I should have trusted you. I’m so sorry. I never should have left you.”
His eyes misted. “I never knew why you didn’t believe me. I would never cheat on you. I loved you so much. You were my whole world.” He glanced away, a pink tinge in his cheeks.
I was afraid to ask, but I had to. “Are you still single?”
His gaze came back to me. “Yes. I wasn’t interested in anyone else. I never stopped loving you.”
I swallowed hard. “I still love you, too. I always regretted leaving.”
His face softened, his eyes radiating love. He slowly reached over and took my hand, the familiar warmth of his strong hand enveloping mine. “Can we try again?”
I nodded, feeling a tear run down my cheek. “I would love that.”
His lips curved up in a smile that I always treasured. “I often wondered what happened to that letter.” He shook his head. “I’m glad you found it. And thank you for reaching out to me.”
“It’s amazing that I was on the beach at that time. I guess it’s being in the right place at the right time.” I squeezed his hand. “Your letter really touched me and meant a lot to me. It brought back everything we felt for each other.”
Gary sighed, his eyes roaming over my face. “Thank you for calling and giving us another chance.”
As the waitress came by to take our order, I glanced at Gary. Heat rushed through me. I was already deeply in love with him. That had never gone away. And I would never let him go again.
—————————————–
Copyright © 2024 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.
Please visit my website here for information on all my published books. Thank you!
And visit my author page on Amazon here to see and order any of my books. Thank you!
