I received a sweet and awesome 5-star review for The Legend of Stuckey’s Bridge from Trudi LoPreto at Readers’ Favorite.

“Lori Crane has written a nail-biter that will keep you up all night. This is a five star winner and Lori Crane is a must-read author.”

You just can’t get any better than that! I’m tickled. You can read the entire review HERE. 

I was so excited to read it, because honestly, I’ve been working so hard on my next book, that I haven’t thought much about Old Man Stuckey and his exploits. Old Man Stuckey was a serial killer. He was a sociopath. He was pure evil. However, he had a confident swagger about him that made most women swoon in his presence. Here’s a snippet about one of his conquests. This is one of my favorite scenes from the book. Enjoy!

Scene: Stuckey’s Inn, 1900, Mississippi, the young lady refers to him as Mr. Mason for he didn’t tell her his real name, as usual.

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He found her on the front porch, sitting in a rocking chair with her laced-up boots propped up on the railing. She was gently pushing the chair back and forth with her foot and staring down into a book on her lap.

He watched her from the doorway for a while. The sun was shining on the railing, and her skirt had risen above the height of her boots. He could see a couple inches of her bare leg and longed to see more. He hadn’t had the pleasure of a woman’s company for quite some time, and he wanted to take her right then and there on the porch in the sunshine. He wanted to see the expression on her face in the light of day as he pushed that dress all the way up to her hips.

“I see you found the books I left out for you.” He grinned as he sauntered across the porch, his boots clicking on the old wood planks.

“Yes, I did. Thank you very much.” She smiled up at him with stunning blue eyes, and when she met his gaze, he thought he would explode with desire.

“Which one did you choose?” He strolled in front of her and leaned his back against the porch post, close enough to touch her bare leg.

She simultaneously pulled her boots down from the railing and flipped the cover closed. She read, “A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle.”

“Ah, Sherlock Holmes.”

“Have you read it, sir?”

“Yes, I have. I love a good mystery. I believe he has another book also.”

“Yes, The Sign of Four.” She smiled. “Do you like to read, Mr. Mason?”

“I love to read, Miss Summers.” He gazed deeply into her eyes, realizing by the fire glowing there that it would not be girlish innocence he was about to find.

She blushed and looked down at the book.

Oh, this is a game she likes to play. “Why do you look away from me?”

“I…um…I just don’t feel comfortable.”

“With the way I look at you?”

She glanced up at him through her long eyelashes and did not answer.

“Don’t you know how beautiful you are?”

She blushed and looked down again.

He was enjoying this game. Time to increase the stakes. Softly he said, “Victoria.”

She looked up at him.

He wanted this girl, and knew exactly what she needed to hear. “You are undoubtedly the loveliest woman I have ever seen, and I’m deeply honored just to be in your presence.”

She was speechless as she gazed into his eyes. This time she did not blush or look away. The game was over.

“May I kiss you?” he whispered.

She did not answer.

He took that as a yes.

He gently took the book from her lap, placed it on the side table, and pulled her to her feet. She did not resist. He wrapped his hand around her, placing his palm on the small of her back, and he gently pulled her toward him. Their lips met and she responded to his kiss, placing her hands on his chest. He kissed her deeper. She didn’t waver. He pulled the pin from her hair, letting it fall down to her waist. He wrapped his fingers in it and firmly pulled her head back so he could kiss her neck. He put his other hand on her upper back and pulled her closer to him, feeling her snug bodice press against his chest. He held her there for a moment, then whispered into her ear, “Thank you.”

He released her.

She stood there, dumbstruck and unmoving, like a mule wearing a frosted blue satin dress.

“Would you like some tea, Victoria?” He grinned and strutted across the porch, back into the house.

It was like taking candy from a baby.

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The Legend of Stuckey’s Bridge is available at Amazon.com and all online book retailers.