Gallows Ascending (Stone Quest Book 2)

Gallows Ascending continues the saga of tracker and pyschic visionary Luke Stone in Book Two of the Stone Quest Series.It has been thirteen years since Luke's confrontation in the desert with his nemesis, black magician Armand Jacobi. Luke's wife Consuelo, whom he met at Eppie Falco's Desert Inn and Café has died, and Luke has placed himself once again in exile. This time, his wanderings have brought him to the seaside village of New Camen, New Hampshire.Into his self-imposed solitude drops Dr. Bethany Rutledge. Accused of the murder of her eight year old daughter, stripped of her license to practice medicine, her marriage to politician Adrian Mountzaire in tatters, Beth Rutledge is haunted nightly by the chilling vision of a young woman's brutal death by hanging.Adding to this mix is the disappearance of an adolescent boy that appears to be centered in the tiny hamlet of New Camen. Then, Adrian Mountzaire turns up dead with his estranged wife Beth Rutledge lying in the sand beside him.Despite his best efforts to resist the temptation, Luke is falling in love with Beth Rutledge, and she with him. Beth has unlocked the frozen reaches of his heart--the heart that was frozen when his beloved Consuelo was taken by breast cancer several years before and he could do nothing to save her.Now, Luke must not only find the lost boy, but find the real killer of Adrian Mountzaire in order to save his beloved from the same fate that haunts her restless dreams.

From the Inside Flap

Read what Amazon and Kindle readers are saying about Leigh Podgorski's debut novel, The Women Debrowska: Jack Maxwell: ...vividly told, weaving together the story of one family and Polish history... a particularly powerful love story from the moment she is whisked away from the bridge to the moment she dies at the age of only 25 from a gunshot wound to the chest... Maureen Serra:...beautiful, powerful, and deeply touching ...a love letter to Poland and to all those who believe in freedom and are willing to take a stand against oppression... Paul G. White...Flowing with great energy and speed... contains passages... of beautiful vivid descriptions. [t]he tale not only of a family but of a nation. I could smell the snow and the blood in the air.... You won't be disappointed. Douglas Glen Clark: Although Podgorski's story begins as personal quest, it quickly evolves into a discovery of Polish heritage and a family tree ravaged by oppression, revolution and a passionate attachment to homeland. Dr. Chris Herron: When the plane crashed...carrying the Polish statesmen...I felt sorrow as if they were brothers of mine. Ms. Podgorski's saga told the story of Polish history in a way that made its memories mine Arpine Ovesypian:...a captivating tale sure to become an instant classic....eloquently crafted plot deviates from tradition and keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat...... And from Ouray's Peak: If you can put this book down after you pick it up, you are a stronger person than I am..., I couldn't stop reading. You won't either. Read this book. (B.R.A.G.H) This is one of the best novels I have read of late. Leigh Podgorski paints a scenic picture of the Colorado mountain country and the Indian reservation in this beautiful, memorable, coming of age story.... I applaud her unique storytelling talent and look forward to more from this author. Thank you Ms. Podgorski, I didn't want the story to end! (Jacqueline Bryant) I read this in one sitting! Gripping story, strong characters..love Leigh's writing style! I recommended her books to all my friends. (Ann)

From the Back Cover

"Murder. Some romance. And of course, uncovering the truth"..."The plot pulled me in... I couldn't wait to finish it"... "if I had to describe one emotion that was significant from beginning to end, it was fear. Even as a reader, you always fear that something is going to go wrong..."It has been thirteen years since Luke's confrontation in the desert with his nemesis, black magician Armand Jacobi. Luke's wife Consuelo, whom he met at Eppie Falco's Desert Inn and Café has died, and Luke has placed himself once again in exile. This time, his wanderings have brought him to the seaside village of New Camen, New Hampshire.Into his self-imposed solitude drops Dr. Bethany Rutledge. Accused of the murder of her eight year old daughter, stripped of her license to practice medicine, her marriage to politician Adrian Mountzaire in tatters, Beth Rutledge is haunted nightly by the chilling vision of a young woman's brutal death by hanging.Adding to this mix is the disappearance of an adolescent boy that appears to be centered in the tiny hamlet of New Camen. Then, Adrian Mountzaire turns up dead with his estranged wife Beth Rutledge lying in the sand beside him.Despite his best efforts to resist the temptation, Luke is falling in love with Beth Rutledge, and she with him. Beth has unlocked the frozen reaches of his heart--the heart that was frozen when his beloved Consuelo was taken by breast cancer several years before and he could do nothing to save her.Now, Luke must not only find the lost boy, but find the real killer of Adrian Mountzaire in order to save his beloved from the save fate that haunts her restless dreams.Gallows Ascending blends the centuries old true life story of Ruth Blay with the fictional murder mystery of Dr. Beth Rutledge and tracker psychic Luke Stone in the second book of the Mystical Stone Quest series.

About the Author

Leigh Podgorski is the author of, plays, screenplays, and novels that reflect her scholarship and fascination with the diverse cultures of the Earth and the mysticism, mythology, symbolism and history that color and influence the universe within and without us. Select titles include: The Women Debrowska Ouray's Peak The Stone Quest. Series: Book One: Desert Chimera Book Two: Gallows Ascending Book Three: Neuri Shape-shifter   Coming in late 2014 and early 2015 Book Four Stone Quest: Redemption: The Long Road Home and Leigh's first romance novel: Western Song, a contemporary western romance.   Receiving a grant from the California Council for the Humanities as well as grants from several California Indian tribes and individual donors, Leigh adapted her play We Are Still Here taken from the oral history of elder Katherine Siva Saubel to a documentary: DVDs available on her web site.   "The film also portrays the Creation mythology of the Cahuilla, performed by a Native American cast, which is well done and sustains viewer interest. There are a lot of important ideas and traditions illuminated here." libraryjournal.com/article/CA6704052.html   Leigh is a retired Assistant Professor of Basic Skills at Glendale Community College.

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