Haunting Cripple Creek, Colorado
On Highway 67, at the base of Pike’s Peak, southwest of Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek sits at an elevation of 9,500 feet. There are mine shafts, head frames, miner’s cabins long abandoned tumbling down. A lonely stone fireplace may be all that’s left of a miners home. Standing among the rubble might cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end. A brief visit to one of the abandoned cabins still standing, gives you a window into what it was like back in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s.
Cripple Creek, Colorado was the land of opportunity beckoning men from across land and sea to claim their fortune in the gold fields. Most of the men came from the east where they were farmers and had little knowledge of gold mining. Pikes Peak or Bust was their battle cry, it was painted on covered wagons and carts. But the Rocky Mountains didn’t give up its gold easily, buried deep in the mountain, it was fifty years after the first wave of gold fever hit that the mountain gave up its gold.
Many prospectors lost everything they had, some even their lives in the pursuit of gold. With the tales of fires, (Cripple Creek burned to the ground twice in 1896) floods, mining accidents, general lawlessness in the beginning then bloody battles between mine owners and labor unions, it’s no wonder stories abound of ghosts haunting this historic town that once boasted one murder a day.
So let’s take a closer look at those ghosts. First up, The Hotel St. Nicholas boasts a colorful history. Today its spectacular view of Cripple Creek, 15 guest rooms, furnished with elegance of a bygone era and one restored historic miner's cottage still includes tales of the supernatural and unexplained. Originally built as a hospital that served the flood victims in the region in the late nineteenth century, it also served as a home for the Sisters of Mercy. As time went on, the hospital served prospectors and their families and then expanded adding a ward for the mentally ill. The hospital closed in the 1970’s. St. Nicholas is rumored to be haunted by several spirits including children, former patients of the mental ward, nuns and an old cantankerous miner.
For more information see http://hotelstnicholas.com/hsnspirits.html
A Magic Redemption
A Demon’s Witch Series
Book Five
Tena Stetler
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: 12-5-18
ISBN: 978-1-5092-2343-5
ASIN: B07JVN4DYD
Number of pages: 322
Word Count: 80,585
Cover Artist: Kristian Norris
Tagline: Even with magic, finding your place in the world proves more difficult than imagined especially when someone is out for revenge.
Book Description:
Synn, a demon, carries extraordinary magic and power, but there is more within her than she dreams. Kidnapped as a child, her captors murdered her family and forced her into training as a warrior assassin.
When an assignment goes horribly wrong, she finds herself at the mercy of the friends and family of her intended target. Offering valuable information in exchange for protection, she gains her freedom, but it is not without its challenges.
Gavin Shaughnessy is the publican at his family’s Irish pub. He is certain Synn is meant to be his and isn’t bothered by her past. He must find a way to convince her their future together is stronger than the dark memories that haunt her dreams.
When her past comes calling for revenge, will their love survive the raging inferno she brings down upon them? Or will the searing path of destruction destroy all they hold dear.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/lELj0amtkk8
Excerpt:
The
road to her cottage took them by the pub. He didn’t want to spoil a great day
by stopping by Shaughnessy’s. But he had a nagging feeling that was exactly
what he was supposed to do. Prior experience taught him nothing but trouble
would come if he ignored his gut. “Mind if we stop by the pub on the way home.
Storm can stay in the truck for a few minutes. I want to make sure—”
“Everything
is all right?”
“Of
course it’s all right. I’ve taken time off before.” Gavin bristled. “I had a
life before—” He stopped mid-sentence. No way was he going to spoil this day.
She
shifted in her seat to face him. “Before what? Me? Before your sister married
an assassin? Or Brandy became engaged to a vampire? Before your world came
crashing down amid demons, vampires, witches, and world ending shit?” She
paused, closed her eyes, and leaned her head against the seat again. “I didn’t
mean that. I’ve been on edge since the dream—nightmare—premonition. Call it
what you want. Today was a nice reprieve. But when we hit the edge of town—what’d
you call ’em—” she tapped her temple. “My spidey senses went off.” She
shivered.
About the Author:
Tena Stetler is a
best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance. She has an over-active
imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the
chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends. After many years as a
paralegal, then an IT Manager, she decided to live out her dream of pursuing a
publishing career.
With the Rocky
Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide
array of witches, shapeshifters, demons, faeries, and gryphons, with a Navy
SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical
kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel,
adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion
animals to round out the tales.
Colorado is home;
shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot
and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent
kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado
outdoors. During the winter you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a
mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn. Visit Tena’s website at
tenastetler.com where you’ll find links to all of her books, blog and pictures
of recent travels and setting of her books.
Website: http://www.tenastetler.com
Authors’ Secret’s Blog - http://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/
My Say What Blog - http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author
Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/TenaStetler
The Wild Rose Press: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/1264_tena-stetler
Newsletter: http://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler
Tribber - http://triberr.com/TenaStetler
Thank you for hosting A Magic Redemption's Spooktacular. I appreciated your efforts!
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