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    The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series)
    The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series)
    The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series)
    Ebook129 pages1 hour

    The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series)

    By Deena Remiel

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Camille Dutton learned early in life Satan was not to be trifled with. Escaping his evil clutches as a child, he’s come back with a vengeance for her now.

    Derek Galloway’s inquisitive nature has led him to be an award-winning investigative reporter and straight into the path of pure evil.

    When a child vanishes from a sleepy island town, Camille, its subdued librarian, becomes embroiled in Derek’s investigation. A satanic cult has plans for the child, while Satan has plans for Camille and the rest of the world. Amidst evil of the most supernatural and human kind, Derek and Camille find a shred of light and goodness in the form of their budding relationship.
    First in the Book Waitress Series, the portal between Hell and Earth will be torn asunder, and it will take everything Camille and Derek have and then some to close it. Satan won’t go down easy, but nothing worth everything comes without a price.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDeena Remiel
    Release dateAug 24, 2012
    ISBN9781476135434
    The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series)
    Author

    Deena Remiel

    It was the mystique of Arizona’s history and landscape that called to Deena and catapulted her career as a USA Today Bestselling Author. When she’s not writing urban fantasy or paranormal romance in the wee, small hours of the morning or in the deep, dark of night, Deena teaches language arts to gifted middle school students. She currently lives in Mesa, but New Jersey will always tug at her heartstrings.

    Read more from Deena Remiel

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    Reviews for The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series)

    3.5/5

    12 ratings3 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Ok quick read. Got it as a freebie on amazon. Start of a series. Basically a satanist cult has a small town completely controlled. Enter new librarian and a investigative reporter. The writing was good but the main reason I removed some stars was 1) it didn't make me want to immediately get the next one and 2) there were a few times I just didn't understand why the characters would do the things they did. Plot was a bit thin.
    • 2/5
      Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book, and I really wanted to. I gave up.
    • 4/5
      Love that the main character is a librarian and a book lover. Combined with the supernatural elements, this is the perfect book for me.

      I like Camille, the main character. The Satan worshippers she encounters are truly evil and scary. The story takes place on an island, which has a small population and limited access. Apparently, a large portion of the residents are evil, and have been for generations. The action is fast paced and exciting. It was a little hard for me to believe that no one on the island was aware of the presence of the cult. The cult members that we meet seem very unpleasant. Didn't anyone notice what they were up to? And a child sacrifice every 6 years? It seems that would have drawn more attention.

      So this is the first book in a proposed new series. It could be interesting. I will have to see how it turns out.

    Book preview

    The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series) - Deena Remiel

    The Book Waitress

    By Deena Remiel

    The Book Waitress

    By Deena Remiel

    Copyright ©2012 by Deena Remiel

    Smashwords Edition

    Cover Art by Scott Carpenter

    The Book Waitress is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher and/or author, except for brief quotations used in critical articles or reviews.

    Published by Firewalker Press

    Dedication

    To my favorite book waitress, Jamie Everett

    Acknowledgements

    Where do I begin to thank all the people that helped put this series together? I shall begin with my husband and kids, who suffer through days of seeing my body on the couch, but know I’m not really there. My aunt and uncle have been invaluable, giving me a hideaway when I needed it for some serious laying down of words. My friends, Amber, Belinda, Kris, and all my girls who fight for keeps… they are my army against self-doubt.

    When I decided that my female lead would be a librarian, I didn’t need to go far to research. I’d spent a year working as one! But I also checked my rememberings with Miranda Wyatt Mills, and she helped validate my memories. I knew that as time went by, I would need help with keeping The Book Waitress fan page thriving, and Kristina Haecker stepped right up to the plate. I don’t know what I’d do without her. Whatever would I do without my dear editor, Nicole Hicks? When others cringe at editing, with her as my editor, I look forward to it.

    Finally, I must thank all of my wonderful fans and friends who have embraced my stories time and again. It is for you that I write and create these fantastical worlds.

    Table Of Contents

    Chapter One

    Chapter Two

    Chapter Three

    Chapter Four

    Chapter Five

    Chapter Six

    Chapter Seven

    Chapter Eight

    Chapter Nine

    Chapter Ten

    Chapter Eleven

    Chapter One

    Watch your step there, young lady. A deep, raspy voice broke through Camille Dutton’s frantic mind. Just up those stairs to the upper deck. It’ll be about eight minutes to the island once we shove off. Enjoy your trip.

    Thank you. Eight minutes? It might as well be eight years! Ignoring the nausea threatening to erupt and drown the ferry before it even left the dock, she smiled graciously. The weather-beaten gentleman, the deckhand, she supposed, nodded at her with a crinkled smile and ushered the next person onboard. With every step she climbed up the steep metal stairs, she repeated a mantra to soothe unsettled nerves.

    It’s not forever. It’s not forever. Finding an opening at the bow of the ferry, she took up temporary residence against the railing, and dropped the heavily laden backpack from her shoulder to the deck. The churning clouds mirrored her dark mood and hovered dangerously low over the expanse of water. Eight minutes of deep, dark wetness would now separate her from the life Camille had known for twenty-four years. She’d never been further than eighty miles from her home. She didn’t need to travel far; not when she had thousands of books at her disposal to take her wherever she wanted to go.

    Her involuntary transfer to the Shelter Island Library, or forced exile as she preferred to call it, would last only as long as it took to find a permanent librarian. Her boss had promised, and she vowed to hold him to it. With her parents recently passed, she longed to stay in the house where they’d infused her life with cherished moments. This upheaval at work made their absence all the more painful to bear.

    Shelter Island seemed the antithesis of its name. Camille had been lovingly sheltered by her parents and insulated within the comforting walls of her town’s library. She’d read all of the books repeatedly, from cover to cover. Going to this unknown town, living in a strange home, and working at an unfamiliar library left her feeling exposed to more than just the elements. It invited all manner of creature born to lay siege on her well-constructed fortress of solitude.

    The ferry’s whistle blew as its engines kicked on and thrust the boat into the Sound. She gasped and closed her eyes, pressing fingers against the cold steel that kept her from jumping ship. A gusty breeze whipped her ponytail into a frenzy of curls that slapped at her neck and cheeks. Eyes smarted and watered as a rush of air assaulted her face. She couldn’t bear to watch as her life receded into the horizon. Looking forward was just as painful, and she pondered what lay ahead.

    Laughter broke through her misery as two young children raced about playing tag. The raucous offered her a few moments of reverie, thinking back fondly on her own childhood antics. She chuckled lightly. Oh, to be so young and happy-go-lucky! I remember having that carefree exuberance…once upon a time. If only she could find a tenth of the fearlessness she’d had as a child, she would take on this latest challenge with all the ferocity of a lioness. Instead, she’d allowed it to wither and die along with those she’d mournfully laid to rest.

    Maybe it wouldn’t be as horrible a transition as she envisioned. Maybe her anxiety skewed her perception of reality. She read enough psychology books to know for certain, and gave herself an amateur diagnosis—borderline agoraphobic with a possible detachment disorder. Who was she kidding? I’m just plain socially awkward and can’t stand crowds.

    Getting moved to Shelter Island, then, should be a dream come true. The population for most of the year hovered at around three thousand but shot up during the summer. The library, with its historic pedigree, offered her the opportunity to read books that no other library had in its possession. But something didn’t feel right. Out of all the other librarians, those who were much more outgoing than she, why had they picked her?

    Jolted from her musings by the arrogant blast of the horn, she trudged over to the stairwell and conducted her death march to the gate as the boat docked. People nudged passed her with disregard, waving at friends or family, she supposed, who waited onshore and shouted greetings of welcome. Not one person among them had come for her. She hadn’t expected anyone because she didn’t arrange for a pick up. Admittedly, she hadn’t exactly planned well for this move. Denial and no one to snap her out of it came to bite her in the butt. Hoisting the monstrosity of a backpack onto her shoulder, she mustered all the fortitude she had within her, brokered a smile, and walked off the ferry to find a cab and her new home.

    ***

    Camille slipped her hand inside her jacket pocket and pulled out a crinkled note with an address scrawled on it. She looked at it, peered at the house through the cab window, and sighed. Yup, this is now home. It fit her mood perfectly. Overgrown shrubbery and weeds surrounded the front yard of unkempt grass. Rotted stairs led up to a small wooden porch with a pair of rocking chairs set on either side of the front door.

    We’re here, Miss. Need help with your bag?

    Oh, no. Thank you, I’ll manage. She fished inside her pocketbook for her wallet and keys to the house. How much will that be?

    Ten dollars and fifty cents.

    Here’s fifteen. Keep the change. She thrust the bills into his hand and put her wallet away.

    Thanks. You ever need to get somewhere in a hurry, call me. Here’s my card. He handed her a bright yellow business card and smiled.

    Will do. The cab door creaked as she opened it, and screeched even louder as it closed. As she stood on the sidewalk, the cabbie tore off up the road, leaving her to size up the remainder of the house’s exterior.

    "Can’t judge a book by its cover, Cammy." No, but it sure tells a lot about what’s inside.

    The roof and siding looked to be in good condition, and the sea foam green shingles complimented the greenery of the Dogwood trees on the property. All in all, for a rental, she rated it three stars. She’d tackle the overgrown bushes and weeds eventually. She decided standing outside only delayed her complete transition to her new life. Swinging the key ring on her finger, she marched up the path to the front door, praying the inside would be a bit more appealing.

    Here goes everything, she mumbled, and turned the key in the lock. The house seemed to sigh with a whoosh of air as she opened the door.

    She made a quick scan of the space before her and smiled genuinely for the first time that day. What a charming space! Scooting further into the room, she fell in love. The style of the fully furnished cottage pleased her sense of whimsy. An oversized, white couch and chair flanked a small fireplace, its mantel loaded with knick-knacks of fairies, goblins, elves, and gnome statuettes. She inspected each one, their unique designs reminding her of

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