Winter's Journey

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Was the man she loved an enigmatic hitchhiker or a murderer? To keep the bank from repossessing her eighteen-wheeler, Baby Blue, and putting her and her daughter, Tessa, on the street, Loretta Brennan takes a dangerous job driving it into Wyoming with a winter storm approaching. All alone she worries if she can make the deadline and navigate the roads since her driving partner husband died the year before in an accident. On her way, she feels sorry for and picks up a hitchhiker. Sam Emerson. Charismatically handsome, his moodiness hides a dark past that includes a dead girlfriend and a murder charge. Snow, a series of trucker murders and a sinister truck begin to haunt them on their route. She suspects Sam's aligned with the killer even as she experiences feelings for him. Is Sam a good man down on his luck or is she falling in love with a murderer? In the end it'll take a heroic show of love to prove to her that he is who he claims to be.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Audiobook, Suspense

198 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2008

About the author

About Kathryn Meyer Griffith 2023
Since childhood I’ve been an artist, and have worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over fifty-one years ago now, and have had thirty-five (romantic horror, horror novels, romantic SF horror, romantic suspense, romantic time travel, historical romance, thrillers, one non-fiction short story collection, dinosaur books, and murder mysteries) previous novels and thirteen short stories published from various traditional publishers since 1984. But I’ve gone into self-publishing in a big way since 2012; and upon getting all my previous books’ full rights back for the first time in 36 years, have self-published all of them. My seven Dinosaur Lake novels and Spookie Town Murder Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Ghosts Beneath Us, Witches Among Us, What Lies Beneath the Graves, All Those Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned, and Echoes of Other Times) are my best-sellers.
I was married to Russell for over forty-three years; have a son, two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. I live in a small quaint town in Illinois. I have a quirky cat, Sasha, and we live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk/classic rock singer in my youth with my late brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.
2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *Finalist* for her horror novel The Last Vampire ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS * Finalist * for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*All Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s books can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/ld4jlow
*All her Audible.com audio books here:
http://tinyurl.com/oz7c4or

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:
Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forged, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Horror category), Witches, Witches II: Apocalypse, Witches plus Witches II: Apocalypse, The Nameless One erotic horror short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper (The First Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Things Slip Away (The Second Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Ghosts Beneath Us (The Third Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Witches Among Us (The Fourth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), What Lies Beneath the Graves (The Fifth Spookie Town Murder Mystery; sixth, All Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned (the seventh Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Echoes of Other Times (the eighth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, A Time of Demons and Angels, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Six Spooky Short Stories Collection, Forever and Always Romantic Novella, Night Carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising, Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation and Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars, Dinosaur Lake V: Survivors, Dinosaur Lake VI: The Alien Connection, Dinosaur Lake VII: The Aliens Return, Memories of My Childhood, and Christmas Magic 1959.

Her Websites:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynG64
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Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Kathryn-M...
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Reviews

[Patricia Furstenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loretta Brennan is widowed and mom to 11 years old Tessa, interested in computers.
To make meets end, Loretta decides to take on a risky job for the National Carriers, using her truck she has to transport a load or oranges from Oklahoma to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
It is winter and the weather forecast predicts heavy snow and winds and Loretta has to drive alone as she was left without a partner when her husband passed away, a few years ago. But she is determined to make it to Cheyenne on time so that she will receive the bonus which will save her from her financial situation she is in.
Problems arise on the road and she is forced by dangerous circumstances to take a driving partner, Sam Emerson.
Was this the right decision or will she regret it as they get involved in a series of murders along the way.
Could Sam be involved and will Loretta ever see her daughter again?

Favorite quote: "If it was love it could wait, and if it were truly love it wouldn't go away."

[Chocalicious Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about a widow and single mom, Loretta, and a handsome stranger (Sam) as they try to outsmart a serial killer! It still baffles me that she’d pick up a hitchhiker, but, hey – it’s fiction. 

Despite that, this was a nail biting, chilling listen. Loretta was a rounded, well-developed character who was a trucker – very different, indeed! The attraction between the H and h was almost immediate and the tension there was palpable.

The suspense kept building as truck drivers were murdered along the way, and Sam kept doing things to heighten the readers’ suspicion. Just as you started to trust him, he’d do something suspicious. Their romance builds, though, and we were drawn into the world of truckers and life on the road. Very eye-opening. I appreciated learning about this.

This was a great mix of romance and suspense that kept me guessing for a long time. I enjoyed it. The narration was also good. Great distinction with the different voices.

A 4.5/5 listen. Recommended! Good job, as usual, Ms. Griffith.

*I received a free audiobook from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.*

[Stephanie Jenkins Ortiz Cerrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Kathryn Meyer Griffith but will not be my last. Griffith just shot up to the top of my list of favorite new to me authors of 2020. This is a murder mystery book that will keep you guessing on who the serial killer is.

Loretta Brennan is a single mom, a widowed truck driver that accepts a load headed to the dangerous roads of Wyoming when a blizzard is in the forecast. She has to get this load of oranges to it's destination on time to save her home and to hopefully secure a position with one of the best trucking companies in the country. She's taking the load on the very same roads that took her husbands life the year before in the same kind of conditions.

At a truck stop along the way Loretta begins to have trouble with her truck and is checking out her engine when along comes a handsome hitchhiker that offers a helping hand. After he secured and  replaces the oil filter on Loretta's truck she decides to offer the stranger a ride to Cheyenne in exchange for his help. After all, he is a licensed truck driver that can help her get her load to Cheyenne in time to get her pay and bonus. She not only offers Sam Emerson a ride but a job as her partner in trucking this load to Wyoming. Sparks begin to fly between Loretta and Sam but Loretta can't help but begin to suspect that Sam may be a serial killer or a man partnered up with the killer. Not only do truckers start dying at the very stops that Loretta and Sam have just made but they're being terrorized by an unmarked beat up old white eighteen wheeler. The odds keep stacking up against Loretta and Sam as the miles pass on their way to Cheyenne.

Excellent, action packed, page-turner of a book! A must read if you like murder-mystery, thriller, who-done-it novels!

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loretta Brennan is offered a job to transport oranges to Wyoming. If she makes it in the time allotted she will get a bonus but a bad winter storm is expected so she has to be careful. At a truck stop she is accosted by another trucker but is "rescued" by hitchhiker Sam Emerson. She offers him a ride to Wyoming with her and finds out he has a CDL and can help her drive. Meanwhile, someone is killing truckers and someone seems intent on her not making it.

I actually liked this. Not real heavy on romance but it is there. I know some truckers and felt like the writer did good describing their lifestyle. I think I will surly read more by this author soon.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. A female truck driver who lost her husband on the road, now has to drive the same road under the same conditions to make enough money to keep her business. A tale of bravery under uncertain circumstances.

[Charlene Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling in more ways than one

Mystery, danger, and human interaction just filled the pages. The characters were written pretty good but a little inconsistency with Sam. It added to the mystery so I guess it was intentional. All and all, a decent story.

[James palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great stoo

This was a great story but as a truckers wife an e
Eighteen wheeled uses diesel not gas it mentions she bgased up the truck ! Kept me thinking Sam was not so good

[Salliewt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the heroine being a trucker and learning more about freight trucks. Mystery and romance were fine. Loretta’s suspicions about Sam were understandable, but also became repetitive as the story went along. Clean Christian fiction.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very original story line. Interesting characters. I was never quite sure where this story was going. Refreshing and eye opening. A good perspective on what life is like for all in the trucking industry.

[Karen Crosiar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat...loved the suspense and the twists and turns

[Lillian Casciano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter's Journey.

Enjoyed the book! Cute story, even tho, suspenseful!
I am interested in reading more novels written by Kathryn Meyer Griffith..Kudos!

[Chris Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read very absorbing some nice twists that keep you guessing all finished off with a lovely happy feel good ending.

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

Count put it down. Lots of suspense and you are kept guessing the whole book..
Looking forward to reading her other books.

[Isaac (Ike) Standifird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story line. Kept my interest all the way, no dead spots. And i like the fact that we were just dropped at the climax, we got a little bit of life after the climax.

[Karen Eller Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Sam's secretive ways were misleading.
Story moved along at a good pace until the end and then it went wild.

[Dasha]

Lo dejo en el capítulo cuatro. Quizás más adelante retome la lectura. Me llama la atención la trama pero no me está enganchando.

[Debbie Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story, kept my interest, but could not get into or care about the characters. Enjoying or liking the characters makes all the difference for me when reading and enjoying a book.

[Bobby J McDaniel Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd Book of Hers I have read in the Last Month. Just like the other 2 this was a good Murder Mystery. She has Become one Favorite Authors 2nd only to "King" Horror Mystery Himself. I looking forfoward to reading & Listen to more of Her Books.

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Kathryn Meyer Griffith
Published By: Eternal Press
Age Recommend: 16+
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
"Winter's Journey" by Kathryn Meyer Griffith was a very good thriller that will keep you turning the pages. After Loretta Brennan's husband (Jed)had died she desperate needed money for her last payment, the balloon payment that was due on her "Baby Blue" rig, her home and the well being of her daughter, Tessa.
Getting a call from the trucking company, Loretta excepted a job (since she was a truck driver) with a bonus to deliver oranges to Cheyenne, WY. This was a very risky job due to the bad weather on the mountain roads but again Loretta need the
money.
Loretta being a female independent trucker was off on the job and soon she started to have problems ...first with her big rig Baby Blue ...then accosted by a truck driver...then she got help from a hitchhiker...Sam Emerson.... Was Loretta falling for Sam? ....then a series of murders start happening.. maybe this was Sam...so she leave a note on the cops car .... and this story gets even more exciting with every page turned. There are a lot of questions to be asked and answered.

Will Sergeant Wilder believe this hitchhiker... Sam Emerson is not the killer? Will they find Loretta before something horrible happens to her? Was Sam in love with Loretta and did she have feeling for him? The Sergeant Wilder and Sam later went to look for Loretta and the weather was now a blizzard.

Now Loretta is thinking about Sam and what had happened to him after she left on at the truck stop. Had Sam be arrested? Now she was still having problems again with her 'Baby Blue truck... someone had cut 2 of her tires...Who had a grudge against Loretta? Had Sam come and did this to Loretta? There are a lot of questions that needed to be answered but Loretta still left the truck stop and only had a few hour left to get to Cheyenne. Now a 'white freight liner truck' was trailing Loretta too close. What was she to do? Loretta now realized she should not have left the last truck stop....
There is No escape...She was being trailed very closely...deeply into the mountains.
I don't want to give away any more so..... Now you are going to have to read the novel to find out what is happening with Loretta and Sam. Will Loretta get out of this nightmare and back to her daughter and sister safely? Will she see Sam again? Will she make it to Cheyenne? Did any this mess have anything to do with Loretta's husband Jed?

Ms. Griffith characters were off the chart....all were so good and really made this story! This is a great suspenseful story and you will soon know just who the hero is in this wonderful read. "Winter's Journey" was well written, suspenseful with mystery and even some romance. I would definitely recommend this novel as a good read.



Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read, not at all what I expected. Loretta is a very strong woman, she is definitely a great character. I loved seeing her journey and her strength throughout the story.

Truthfully, she has several "too stupid to live" moments. It mystified me that at every opportunity to share information with the authorities she balked. If there is a series killer out there and suddenly something strange is happening at home, you better believe I would mention it to the cops. There is no such thing as coincidence!

I really liked the interactions with Sam and the progress of their relationship. The feelings come rather quickly, you can see the threads of connection and attraction developing. It is often muddled with events that make it hard to trust the feelings.

I was a touch annoyed of how every time you start to trust Sam things occur to make him suspicious again. The mixed narrative helps you know what the real deal is with him. Most of the book is from Loretta's POV, but the glimpses into Sam help to move things along. I always prefer to know what everybody is thinking and feeling.

The story feels more like a standard fiction than a romance. Not a lot of frills here, but it has a genuine atmosphere. This is the first book I have read with a lady trucker, it was a refreshing turn. I was fascinated with the whole culture of truckers. I never realized that it was such a small world on the road.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kimberly Henrie, who has a very smooth read. She really has a great connection with the book and the characters feel real. She has a fabulous pace that makes the story move, even in the slower moments. Great texture in her voice and distinct characters. I will definitely look at more of her work!

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It is a slower read that takes it's time unraveling. I loved discovering this new world.

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All ratings, opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Jo Webnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loretta is a trucker’s widow with a child to support and bills to pay. It is easy to emphazine with her. The accident that killed her husband was bizarre. While he changed a tire on his truck, someone ran over him. The driver and truck that caused the accident were never found.
When Loretta is offered a job, by a large company with an exceptional reputation, she is overjoyed .Than, she sees the problems. Two years ago her husband was killed on the same route, it’s winter, the deadline is almost impossible, the cargo is fragile, and a blizzard is on the way. While reading, I wanted to shout, don’t do it! Knowing it’s her big chance, she agrees to take the run from Oklahoma to Wyoming.
From the start she’s plagued with mechanical problems and harassed by another driver. When he grabs her, a tall cowboy steps out of the shadows and rescues her. Sam Emerson needs a ride, and Loretta needs another driver.
When truck drivers are murdered, she starts doubting Sam. Is she riding with a serial killer that has already stolen her heart?
This is an easy read that has a good flow. It provides a sweet and tender romance while keeping you on the edge of your chair. Winter’s Journey has a totally different setting that shows us the dangerous life of a trucker. I don’t want to give away the plot, but when someone tries to kill them, your imagination puts you in the driver’s seat.
I liked the way the author weaved her story and developed her characters. It kept me reading late into the night. Sam is a hero whose shoes you would like to put under your bed. Loretta is beautiful, and a woman to admire. This book offers romance, suspense and a glimpse into a life filled with danger. After reading this book, I have a lot more respect for the men and women who supply America.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audible version of this book.
I very much enjoyed the narrator's voice.

This is an interesting story about a woman who has to make a delivery over dangerous roads in terrible weather conditions to provide for her daughter and pay off her truck. Along the way she meets a stranger and takes him on as her driving partner, without knowing much about him. It is the only way to make her deadline.
It also seems that in places she stops along her route, truck drivers are being murdered.
She seems to be the only connection tying the murders together - or is it her new partner?

Each scene is well written. I could picture the action in my mind.
The reader is never certain what is being left unsaid between the characters.
You can just feel there is more than you are learning at each point in the book.
It keeps you interested all the way to the end.

I would recommend this to both males and females.
While there is romance, it is not over the top and does not distract from the crime aspects of the story.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting mix of truck driving lifestyle and a serial killer mystery. This book was so suspenseful and I loved it! The story hooked me right away and never let up. I really like when a book can keep you guessing the whole time. Loretta is a strong main character, and felt very real to me. I could easily see myself in her shoes throughout the story as she tries to decide whether to trust her heart or not. The narrator was perfect for this audiobook, and helped to bring the story to life. I enjoyed this audiobook so much! I can't wait to check out more of this author's work.
I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. One of the things that appealed to me about this book is that it is about a female truck driver. I know a female truck driver, and I have always been so captivated by the stories that she told of the times she was on the road. This book is neat because it allows an inside look at what truck drivers go through. Not only that, but this book is filled with suspense and mystery. It kept me on the edge of me seat. Along with suspense and mystery, there is an element of romance between characters, as well as doubts in new relationships, which we can all relate to. I think this book is great for those who like suspense, and I highly recommend it.

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book which will keep you guessing and spellbound, Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s, Winter’s Journey is a perfect choice.
From the first chapter I was hooked, but as each chapter flew by I couldn’t stop.
A widowed mom truck driver makes her 1st trip back to Wyoming after her husband’s brutal murder, she’s very apprehensive. As murders begin happening at each truck stop where she stops, she begins to worry if the hitchhiker she picked up is involved.
To add more stress on the situation a white Freight-liner semi is tailgating her and showing road rage.
Are these three things coincidental or part of the same nightmare she’s about to come face to face with on this run?

[Deedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one.Loretta takes a dangerous job to be able to keep her rig and her daughter provided for.Someone does not want her to make it.She picks up a hitchhiker who she isn't sure if she can trust or not.Kimberly Henrie narrates nicely.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

[Susie Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the suspense in this story. I spent the whole time that I was listening guessing and wanting to know who is doing it and why. Strong characters. Great narration. Will be on the lookout for more books by Kathryn Meyer Griffith and the narrator Kimberly Henrie.