Who would have thought lightning could bestow such an unusual and unwanted gift?

This newfound ability to sense when someone is about to die has turned my once-ordinary existence into a thrilling and unpredictable rollercoaster. Each day is filled with a mixture of anticipation, fear, and the constant need to stay one step ahead. Not only do I have this to contend with, but I also have a preoccupation with the local crime boss.

Carlisle Hallen is tall, dark, and handsome, with a side of deadly. The man hasn’t left my mind since he came to my rescue the night my car was struck by lightning. Did I mention that he is tall, dark, and handsome? His presence alone sends shivers down my spine, and I find myself drawn to him. But beneath his captivating exterior lies a mysterious aura that both intrigues and unnerves me.

As the man in question drives by, I let out a heavy sigh before turning to survey my business. The newly opened Coffee Bean has been a success so far in my hometown of Sugar Briar, Tennessee. My father unofficially runs the town with the mayor as his puppet, so I find it refreshing to be away from all the underhand dealings that goes on in my family’s home.

The bell on the door jingles, which is a good distraction from my morning musings. My best friend, Penelope, grins as she drops her purse and then her jacket on a table by the door. “You need to stop looking in that direction,” she says, a frown creasing her brow before her face breaks into a grin. “We have some wedding planning to do.”

My stomach drops at her words. It drops further when she reaches into her purse and pulls out a binder covered in wedding dresses and flowers. She alone knows how I feel about the whole wedding thing, so I don’t know why she chose today to get me organized. Being railroaded into marriage is the last thing I want, but I can’t bring myself to voice my concerns again. I take a deep breath and force a smile. “Let’s see what you have in there.”

I check my watch to make sure we actually have time, then pull out a chair to sit next to her. I’ve known Pen since high school, and she never changes. She always jumps into a situation before she thinks about the consequences. I wouldn’t change anything about her. Well, maybe have her a little less organized.

“I thought I’d wear black,” I mutter as she shows me pictures of fluffy white dresses.

“Be serious, Talla!”

“I just think black would be more appropriate for the occasion,” I explain, knowing if I marry Trevor, I will be miserable.

Pen gives me a playful grin, knowing exactly what I mean. “You always have a way of keeping things interesting,” she chuckles, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “But let’s give these white dresses a chance, who knows, it might be a pleasant surprise!”

Saved by the bell!

Mrs. Sommers walks slowly into Coffee Bean. The elderly woman is in her nineties and knows everything about everyone. I quickly get up and rush over to help her into her usual seat by the window. It only takes a second, but the moment I touch her wrist, I’m hit with a vision of her dead on the sidewalk.

My heart drops to my feet as I meet Penelope’s gaze over Mrs. Sommer’s head.

And this is just the beginning of my day…

Dead and a Praline Latte, A Tallulah James Mystery Book #1
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Release: February 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Best friends Tallulah and Penelope always seem to get into trouble in their sleepy Tennessee community of Sugar Briar. It doesn’t help that Tallulah has an uncanny sense of when someone is about to die. She had no business being outside during a lightning storm. Who would have thought lightning could bestow such an unusual and unwanted gift?

The town is under three feet of snow for the first time in decades, which is driving the residents insane. It doesn’t take long for Tallulah and Penelope to get themselves into some crazy shenanigans as they try to find George Forester before his upcoming murder.

But their snooping could gain them the unwanted attention from the Hallen brothers, Carlisle and Jessop, who run the criminal underworld in town. Tallulah and Penelope must tread carefully or risk falling into something they won’t be able to recover from.

Meet the author
While I’m the author of the Tallulah James Mystery Series and over seventy novels, my alter ego, Atlee Soren, writes fantasy adventure/romance. I’m originally from the United Kingdom, but my family has called Ireland home since 2010. Connect with Lexi at lexibuchanan.net.