D.L. Finn’s #newrelease A VOICE IN THE SILENCE

Ciao, amici! Today I’m happy to invite friend, fellow author, and Story Empire colleague D.L. Finn back to my blog. I trust most of you are familiar with her and her work. For those of you who aren’t, you’ll find her down-to-earth nature and whimsical imagination impossible to resist. Today, she’s here to discuss her latest release, A Voice in the Silence. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome.

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Thank you for having me on your amazing blog, Staci, to share the release of “A Voice in the Silence.”

A dog, cat, and rat are characters in A Voice in the Silence and are based on my pets. Our family has been blessed with many amazing dogs. Our first pup Butch, a collie-mix, went everywhere with us and loved to play hide and seek with my husband. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body. Cher was a black-lab shelter rescue who had the sweetest disposition, even after she lost her vision. Bear was our 175-pound lab/rottie mix. I gave up on taking him for walks, because he didn’t like any strange men near me. Beast, a shepard-mix, was a neighbor’s dog but he thought he belonged to us. Eventually, Beast became a part of our household when his owners moved away. Then came our high-energy lab, Hermie who loved to wander but was always a gentleman.

All these pups are now a part of the forest they so loved to explore, but we still have Sara, Hermie’s other half. She is a 13-year-old shepard-mix who was always great at finding skunks and treeing bears. Now that her body doesn’t work like it used to, she has become my constant companion.

All these dogs ran through my mind when I wrote from Charlie’s POV. Charlie is a loving representation of all the dogs I’ve loved—with a sprinkle of something extra.

Fun Finn Facts

1. I have always wanted to write a book where animals could talk.
2. The power shutdowns for fire danger are something we deal with here.

Blurb

Drea Burr has experienced more than her share of loss when a stray dog, cat, and rat enter her life. Although the animals start to mend her broken heart, there is something very unusual about them. During a snowstorm, Drea discovers a chilling set of footprints leading to her front window. Both the police and a ghostly messenger warn her about a killer stalking widows. Help comes from her late husband’s best friend, Adam Hale. As the two try to discover answers, more questions arise—about a killer, ghosts, and animals experimented on in a lab.

Can Drea and Adam survive the threats coming from so many directions and save themselves and the animals they’ve grown to love? Or will more tragedy destroy her second chance at happiness? Find out in this thrilling, cozy paranormal adventure.

Excerpt

A slight breeze wove through the pine trees, making them sway to nature’s song, but Drea and the dog didn’t join in the flowing movement. Instead, they maintained a tense pose, as if studying each other from a safe distance.

Drea made the first slow movement of setting her newspaper down. “Are you lost?”

The beautiful brown eyes pulled her in. It was like they could peer into her soul. There was no threat or fear in those eyes as the fluffy dog sat down. Encouraged, Drea stepped back into the garage and grabbed the pink leash and collar still hanging on the wall. The dog watched her every move with a slow tail wag.

A can of dog food she hadn’t donated to the shelter yet caught her eye. “Hungry?”

It wagged its tail harder.

She opened the can and shook the smelly chunks onto a white paper plate she kept under the cans. Holding the offering, she moved cautiously to the dog. Using a soft tone and a smile, she kept moving forward. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

The dog blinked and nodded as if it understood her. The sun fully abandoned the sky, leaving behind the encroaching darkness lit by a half moon. But the sadness that had weighed her down seeped out into the night with each step she took toward the pup. She wished she’d brought a flashlight, but the evening offered its remaining luminescence. Soon she was within a foot of the dog. The posture and build indicated a golden retriever mix like her Lady, but this was a male, and he was beautiful.

“I don’t recognize you. I know all the neighbor’s dogs. You have a home?”

The dog blinked and shook his head as her feet crunched through the dry pine needles. The sound reminded her of when Robbie would place bubble wrap on the ground and gleefully jump on it. She would clean them up—tomorrow. As she got closer, the dog’s condition was more apparent. He hadn’t eaten in a while.

“Here, this used to be Lady’s food. I lost her a little while ago.”

He licked his snout as though he understood. Smart dog.

“No collar. Maybe you have a chip.”

She set the food down and backed away. He lunged toward the plate and wiped it clean in seconds, then sat down, licking his chops. She inched her way toward him. Each step toward the mutt brought him closer to her heart, which was beating like she’d run a marathon. She slowly reached out and rubbed his fur. The dog didn’t flinch. In fact, a small sigh escaped him. Drea gently searched for injuries. Other than a small gash on his neck, he appeared healthy and wasn’t afraid.

“You must have someone who loves you. What happened?”

She wished the dog could answer.

Amazon Purchase Link US
Amazon Purchase Link UK

Author Bio

D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include adult fiction, poetry, a unique autobiography, and children’s books. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | D.L. Finn blog | Amazon Page

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MY REVIEW:

This One Has It All

Most authors would be hard-pressed to take all the elements this book has and come up with a cohesive premise for a story. But somehow, D.L. Finn managed to do it. Not only did she tie all the threads together at the end, she wove a beautiful word tapestry as she did so.

Grief and isolation are powerful concepts addressed in this story. We begin with Drea, a widow who has recently buried her companion pets and said goodbye to her son because his wife dragged him away from her. She’s lost every relationship that matters to her.

Finding stray pets on her property saves her. But with their arrival comes problems.

Drea discovers the animals aren’t the only ones hanging around her home. She’s got definitive proof that someone’s been stalking her. Someone who has killed before. And now she’s a target.

There are sci-fi and supernatural elements that reveal themselves in organic ways. (I won’t post any information to spoil the story.) There’s also a potential for a romantic happily-ever-after for the grieving woman, if she’s able to put aside her past. So many elements fill these pages, and once the action ramps up, we’re treated to one twist after another.

The characters are among some of my favorites in recent novels. The world-building is solid, and the plot advances logically despite the many surprises.

If you’re a fan of paranormal mysteries with a sci-fi element and bits of romance woven in—who can say no to that, as there’s something for everyone—then you’d enjoy The Voice in the Silence.

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I’m such an animal lover, so this one really speaks to me. I couldn’t wait for its release and read it in one day.

I hope you’ll share Denise’s announcement to your friends and join me in offering her congratulations by leaving a comment below. Before you leave, I invite you to click on some of the links, most especially the purchase link for A Voice in the Silence. Grazie!