In this regular series for 2026, you are invited to share an excerpt of 400 to 500 words from any book you have written you would like to give a boost to.
This feature is for any author who has been promoted on Smorgasbord previously.
Please read full details of how to participate at the end of the post and I will respond to your emails as soon as possible.
The aim of the series
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- To showcase any of your books you would like to give a boost to.
- To gain more reviews for the book.
- Promote a selection of your other books that are available
Today the excerpt is from a The Edge of Too Late by Jan Sikes, part of a collaborative series by authors of The Story Empire. Eight multi-genre stories covering two hundred years in the history of The Harbor Pointe Inn
About the Book
The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.
What’s the point of having it all when you have no one to share it with?
Brandon Miller has his dream job, financial security, and he’s madly in love. Only one thing is missing—a commitment.
Angela Cooper’s ex-husband left her with deep scars, souring her on the concept of marriage. She’s not interested in a do-over. Not with Brandon or anyone. Her heart is locked securely away behind a thick wall.
With a ring in his pocket and hope in his heart, Brandon arranges a romantic getaway to the historic Harbor Pointe Inn, where he plans to pop the question.
Before they reach the inn, Angela’s got her camera in hand and ghosts on her mind. But they arrive to find a much more tangible horror.
Accident or foul play?
Someone is up to no good, and Angela is the next target. When suspects can be worldly or otherworldly, danger and secrets lurk everywhere.
Poised at the perilous edge of too late, Angela and Brandon face the fight of their lives.
An excerpt from the book
Angi shuddered as the figure plummeted toward the ocean. Why could no one else see it? The couples around them stared, then looked away as if embarrassed for her.
Brandon tightened his grip.
It stung that he didn’t believe her. For a brief instant, she thought about the woman in the dining room. Her husband didn’t believe her either. Did Bran think she was hallucinating? Was she?
Captain Duke poked his head out of the wheelhouse. “Everything okay out here?”
Angi pointed. “Sir, I just saw a woman jump from the lighthouse into the ocean.” She fought to stop trembling.
“Oh, matey. You’ve seen Viv.”
“Viv?” Angi turned out of Brandon’s arms to face the captain. “She’s real?”
“Well, she was a hundred years ago. Some say Vivian O’Shea committed suicide, but other accounts state she was swept off the widow’s walk by a ferocious gale while watching for the return of her lover’s ship during a massive storm.”
Angi gripped Brandon’s arm so hard her nails dug into his flesh. But she couldn’t let go.
“That’s one of the ghosts I read about. But I swear I saw her.”
“You and lots of others,” Captain Duke rubbed a hand across his forehead.
“So, you don’t think I’m crazy?”
He laughed. “Not crazy at all.” He swept a dramatic arm around the group. “Anyone else see Viv?”
No one replied, but there were hushed whispers.
“Well, I’ve seen her lots of times, always around this same spot and especially close to a full moon.” He nodded toward Angi. “So, you’re not crazy at all. Maybe gifted, but not crazy.” He ducked back into the wheelhouse to navigate the boat toward the dock.
Brandon hugged her tight. “See. You’re not imagining things. The ghost is real. I wish I could see it.” He rubbed small circles on her back. “Like Captain Duke said, you have a gift.”
“Or curse,” she mumbled into his shirt.
Thank goodness the captain verified her sighting regardless of whether anyone else had seen the woman plunge into the ocean. At least she wasn’t completely bonkers. While she’d seen orbs and mists before, Vivian was the first fully formed ghost figure she’d seen.
Her wish had come true, yet she’d be lying if she didn’t admit to being shaken by the sight.
She turned away from the lighthouse and took deep, slow, deliberate breaths. This trip was turning out to have some drastic ups and downs. The day had been so carefree and wonderful, but now she fought to suppress strangling emotions. Thank goodness it wasn’t a real live person. There was no way she could stand to watch someone die, especially by suicide.
Brandon tugged her back to the bench they’d vacated. “Relax, babe. Everything’s okay.”
Angi forced a smile. “Some ghost hunter I am, huh? I almost wish I couldn’t see things like that. Now I’m apprehensive about going up inside the lighthouse tomorrow.”
©Jan Sikes The Edge of Too Late
One of the reviews for the book
This entertaining novella from Jan Sikes has it all: Romance, ghosts, a crazy man, a dangerous womaniser, and lots of tension in the midst of a beguiling, beautiful setting.
The story starts out with a deceptively slow pace and allows the tension to mount gradually until it explodes in the last 30% of the book. And the narrative is full of wonderfully descriptive writing, which pulls you right in to the read. Below are a couple of lines that stood out for me …
‘When she pressed the shutter button, the doe raised her head and froze, leaves dangling from her mouth.’ … This detailed description brings the scene alive so well, and I loved it.
And …
‘He’d never been so desperate for news. Nor so fearful of it.’ … One of the best descriptions of fear and angst, which shows rather than tells the emotional turmoil of the character.
While this story contains violence, most of it happens off page, thus making this a fun, tension-filled read with a touch of the supernatural, and a young couple in love, without being at all traumatic. This is a gripping tale that has something for everyone, and it gets 5 stars from me, which means it’s good enough to lure any reader into pulling an all-nighter to finish it. Go and buy this book! And while you’re at it, check out other works by the versatile Jan Sikes.
Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
A small selection of other books by Jan Sikes
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Website: Jan Sikes – Goodreads: Jan on Goodreads – Twitter: @rijanjks – Bluesky: Jksikes-author
About Jan Sikes
I’ve been an avid reader all my life. There’s nothing I love more than losing myself in a story.
Oddly enough, I had no ambition to be a writer. But I wound up in mid-life with a story that begged to be told. Not just any story, but a true story that rivaled any fiction creation. Through fictitious characters, the tale came to life in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books. Not satisfied to stop with the books, I released music CDs of original music matching the time period of each story segment. In conclusion, to bring the story full circle, I published a book of poetry and art. I was done.
Wrong!
The story ideas keep coming, and I don’t intend to turn off the creative fountain. I have now written numerous short stories, a series of paranormal romances and a series of historical fiction.
I love all things metaphysical and often include those aspects in my stories.
I am an dedicated fan of Texas music and grandmother of five beautiful souls. I reside in North Texas.
Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books… Sally
What will be in the post and how to get in touch
- I will top and tail the post in the usual way with your other books and links, bio, photo and social media.
- I will also select one of the reviews from Amazon or Goodreads for the book.
- Please share a book that has reviews to select from.
- This series is open to all authors who have previously been featured in the promotions on Smorgasbord.
- I do have a younger readership for the book posts so please consider that when selecting your excerpt.
- I suggest an excerpt of around 400 to 500 words that you feel would encourage a reader to buy the book, or a poem that you feel best reflects the theme of your collection.
- No need to send the cover as I will have that or will access from Amazon.
- Please send your excerpt to sallygcronin@gmail.com
- I only ask that authors share the link to their social media and respond to each comment individually as a matter of courtesy.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Smorgasbord Blog Magazine 
