Christy Reece has long been one of my favorite authors (she's a pretty awesome person, too!). Later this month (April 30), her new book, Midnight Secrets, arrives under her new pen name, Ella Grace. To tide us over, I nabbed us a short excerpt of Midnight Secrets — and we can look forward to an interview with Christy/Ella at the end of the month.

To get you oriented, here's the cover blurb for Midnight Secrets (courtesy of publisher Ballantine Books):

For fans of Maya Banks, Allison Brennan and Lori Foster, a thrilling new romantic suspense novel from Ella Grace.

At the stroke of midnight, the heat begins …

On a hot Southern night, with a storm on the horizon, a family is shattered. Three beautiful daughters — Savannah, Samantha and Sabrina Wilde — go on with their lives, each significantly changed, as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Ala. Until Midnight calls them home.


And here's the excerpt from Midnight Secrets:

Dusk was falling as Savannah entered downtown Midnight. It was summertime, which meant shopkeepers stayed open an hour later than winter months. Since it was going on eight o'clock, blinds were being drawn, door locks were clicking, and Open signs were being switched to Closed. Her timing couldn't have been worse.

If she had wanted to avoid the attention her arrival would create, she should have waited at least an hour later when the town was almost shut down with the exception of gas stations and restaurants. She could see glimpses of curious faces peeking through those closed blinds. Of course everyone already knew she was coming. Within minutes of notifying the housekeeping service with her request to deliver some fresh food and staples to the kitchen, dozens of people knew of her impending arrival. Within an hour, no doubt everyone knew. News traveled faster than a runaway zipper in this town…there were few secrets in Midnight. And since the whole town knew, that meant Zach knew, too.

Breath came from her in small spurts and her heart thudded heavily against her chest—almost like a panic attack. Ten years had passed. She was a different person now. The confidence and strength she had lacked back then, she now possessed in abundance. And though she knew little to nothing about the adult Zach, she had heard he'd seen active battle. War changes a person. Sometimes it brings out the best, other times the worst. How had it changed him?

As usual, when she allowed herself to think about Zach, she wondered how their lives would have been different if he had kept his promise. Would it have changed things? Would they still be together or would he have eventually broken her heart anyway? Had he thought he was doing the kind thing by going cold turkey? Who knows, maybe he had been right. She would never know. Maybe he wouldn't have been the strong, emotional rock she had needed back then.

Three more blocks and she'd be on Wildefire Lane. So far, she had recognized no one. Hopefully her luck would hold. A good night's sleep would give her the energy boost to face whatever came her way tomorrow.

The instant she made a left onto Magnolia Avenue, she knew she had made a mistake. Not only were two patrol cars and an ambulance blocking her way, a crowd of twenty or more stood in the middle of the road. All eyes were focused on Gertie's Wash and Wait, a business that had been there as long as she could remember.

Knowing if she didn't turn around soon, she'd be stuck in the crowd of onlookers, Savannah made a quick swoop into a parking space with the intent of making a u-turn. Halfway into the turn, her foot unconsciously slammed on the brake, jerking the car to a stop. A tall, broad-shouldered man with thick, sandy blond hair was stalking out of the Laundromat. The shock of seeing Zach again was so great, Savannah barely registered the fact that he held a woman in his arms.

Zach cursed softly and creatively. Of all the times for Savannah to arrive. Lindsay Milan had been trying to get his attention ever since he'd come back to town. When she'd collapsed into his arms at the sound of a firecracker going off, it was as close as he'd ever been to touching her. The woman was twice divorced and was working hard to find number three. He had avoided her advances thus far, but when she had crumpled against him, he'd had no choice but to catch her. He'd almost believed she had fainted until he saw the small triumphant smile curving her mouth. Though he was tempted to set her down immediately, he'd decided to carry her outside first. Now he wished he had followed his first instinct, especially since Lindsay's thin arms gripped his neck so tight, she was almost strangling him.

Lowering the woman's feet to the sidewalk outside the Laundromat, Zach did his best to let her go. Lindsay wasn't having it. Her hold on his neck still tight, she leaned forward as if to kiss him. Zach jerked back, pulling at the fingers she had wrapped around his neck. The kiss she had intended for his mouth landed with a thud against his chest.

Exasperated, Zach grabbed Lindsay's shoulder and pushed her away.

"Get your hands off her."

Aw hell. Bad enough to have this woman throw herself at him every time he turned around, to make matters worse, she was Clark Dayton's sister.

Zach turned to face Dayton. "She passed out. You need to get her to a doctor."

"That true, Lindsay?"

"I just felt dizzy for a minute. I'm fine." She grimaced a strained smile up at Zach. "Zach was just being kind."

Clark issued a sound between a grunt and a growl. "Let's go home, girl." His hand, large, with thick fingers, wrapped around his sister's thin arm and flexed. A brief wince of pain flickered across Lindsay's face.

Remembering some rumors of abuse from years ago, Zach eyed the two speculatively. Was this the reason she threw herself at any available man? She'd come back to live with her family after her second divorce. An adult living back at home wasn't fun. Coupled with an overbearing, possibly abusive brother, it would be hell.

"I think it'd be a good idea for someone at the hospital to take a look at you."

Dayton pulled at his sister's arm again. "She said she was fine."

"Nevertheless, I think it would be a good idea."

Catching the eye of an EMT, Zach jerked his head toward Lindsay. "Mrs. Milan needs some medical attention."

Before Dayton could grumble another protest, Zach said, "Take the patrol car and follow behind the ambulance."

The EMT led Lindsay toward the ambulance; Dayton gave Zach another cold look and then clomped after them.

Zach turned and addressed the small crowd of onlookers. "Show's over, folks."

"But what happened, Chief?" a male voice called out.

"Somebody thought it'd be a good idea to throw some fireworks in the clothes dryers."

Their curiosity satisfied, most everyone turned away. A few stragglers moved several yards up the sidewalk. Finally the path was clear. A royal blue Mustang convertible sat in the middle of the road and behind the wheel was Savannah Wilde, staring at him. The light was dimming but he could make out her features. Her hair was still long…looked like it was pulled back, away from her face, in that prim, neat style she used to favor.

The familiar gut punch, one he hadn't felt since he'd last seen her, kicked him like a mule, almost taking his breath. Their eyes locked briefly, Zach didn't move. He'd wait. Go over and talk to her later, let her know he'd be keeping an eye out for her, per her boss's request. Having their first conversation in ten years in front of nosey and gossiping townspeople wasn't a good idea.

He acknowledged her presence with a jerk of his head and turned away. He still had work to do here.

Savannah pressed on the gas pedal and shot forward, wincing as she narrowly missed hitting a group of people. Great. Not only had she stared at Zach like a drooling idiot, she had almost injured five or so of the town's citizens.

"Way to avoid getting noticed, Savannah," she muttered.

Zach had seen her…their eyes had made contact. And she'd gotten nothing from him other than a grim nod. She released a long shaky breath. Well, what had she expected? For him to run toward her with arms outstretched, declaring his love, along with an apology and an explanation? No, course not. There was nothing he could say or do to change the past. Still, whether she wanted to admit it or not, his cool, barely there acknowledgment stung.

She didn't spare a glance at the giant fountain in the middle of the town square—which used to be one of her favorite places in Midnight. Designed to look like a Mimosa tree in full bloom, the limbs sprayed glistening water from tiny holes, making them look like Mimosa petals. At night it was even more spectacular with lights making the petals appear pink. When she lived here, it was rare for her to come to town and not stop to throw a penny into the fountain and make a wish. When they were dating, she and Zach would sometimes sit on a bench beside the fountain and talk for hours. Maybe that was the reason she couldn't stand to look at it.

At last, she turned onto Wildefire Lane. Pulling into the drive, Savannah shifted into park and stared blankly ahead. That brief encounter with Zach had cracked the calm, impenetrable façade she'd worked so hard to develop for the last 450 miles. Now she felt open and exposed…vulnerable.

Her sigh weary, she opened the car door. Then, purse in one hand, keys in the other, she pulled herself from the car and stood in place, stretching her back and neck. Diversionary tactics. She was shoring herself up. When she'd been hundreds of miles away, it had been much easier to convince herself she was prepared for this upcoming emotional rollercoaster. Now that she was here, the stark truth smacked her in the face. Memories emerged, denting and penetrating her ever-present defense shield.

The porch lights glowed brightly…set to automatically come on at dusk. Timers inside the mansion turned lights on and off at different times during the evening. The giant house looked warm, inviting, classically beautiful…and filled with love. At one time, that's exactly what it had been—or so she had thought.

Memories, uninvited but inevitable, flooded her mind. She and her sisters had been at camp when it had happened. Their grandfather had arrived to break the news and bring them home. She still remembered her surprise and then immediate anxiety of seeing him there. Instantly, she had known something was wrong. How Daniel Wilde had been able to hold it together still amazed her. Not only had he been grieving for the loss of his son and daughter-in-law, but he had to deal with the knowledge that his son was a murderer. He'd had to put his grief on hold to be there for his granddaughters.

Eighteen years ago, she and her sisters had left home excited, happy and secure ten year olds…their only concern was having a good time. One day later, they had returned traumatized and devastated, their whole world crashing around them.

Shaking herself from the unhelpful introspection, Savannah pulled the small overnight bag from the trunk. She'd take her larger suitcase out tomorrow, when she had more energy. The minute she slid the key into the lock and turned the knob, more memories swamped her. Grim determination kept her feet moving forward.

She threw her keys on the table beside the door, briefly noting that the lilies in the vase were fresh. Twice a week, a local florist placed lilies, her grandmother's favorite flower, throughout the house. It was something her grandmother, Camille Wilde, had adopted when she was newly married. Her husband Daniel had kept that tradition even after she died. Neither Savannah nor her sisters had the heart to discontinue the custom.

She walked across the shiny hardwood floor and then up the winding mahogany staircase, smiling faintly at the memory of sliding down the banister and bruising her bottom when she had landed abruptly halfway across the foyer. She quickly squelched the other part of that memory. The one where her father had laughingly picked her up and hugged her hard until she stopped crying.

When she got to the top of the stairs, she turned around on the landing and peered down into the grand old house. The expected desolation didn't come. This was a beautiful home and deserved to have a family love it the way she and her family once had. Despite the difficult days ahead of her, she was suddenly glad she had come home. This was the final step in putting the past behind her. After seeing Zach's reaction, it was obvious he'd done that, too.

The ringing of the doorbell had her running down the stairs again. She had hoped to have one night alone before the inevitable visiting began. Of course, maybe if she had been able to sneak in without being seen, that could have happened.

Shrugging tiredly, Savannah opened the door. The polite smile of welcome froze on her face as she stared at her visitor.

To find out more about Christy/Ella and her books, you can visit her website,