Witch's Gambit

Book excerpt: Leah Shay is a charming attractive thirtyish young woman with a hidden, dark secret. Posing as an aspiring singer bound for Hollywood, her true agenda--finding a sire to further her coven's line of witches--slowly reveals itself. Dark spells, hypnotic trances, and other tools of witchcraft are unleashed upon innocent townspeople who fall prey to her devious plans. Leah's target, Jack Wainwright, is an established photographer and author haunted by his war experiences. Complicating the witch's plans for him are his devoutly religious loving wife and his mistress, who becomes a sexual distraction for the witch. Confronting Leah and insinuating herself among the characters throughout the twists and turns of the plot is Punk, a teenage girl who was orphaned in years past by the witch. Drawn into the conflict are an eclectic mix of local townspeople ranging from schoolteachers and a waitress to Hells Angels and the town's constabulary. They are all eventually mustered by Punk to confront witchery in its evilest of forms. Descriptive panoramas of California's coastline and countryside weave through all facets of the book. Riveting big wave surfing, motorcycle chases, and other modern-day adventures color the pages and add additional excitement to this intriguing tale.