Thursday, February 13, 2025

Have a sneak peek between the covers of Mary L. Schmidt's intriguing, evocative novel — Heart of Evergreen #RomanticSuspense #Crime #RecommendedReading



Heart of Evergreen

by Mary L. Schmidt


He had become a liability and Dmitry had to protect himself. He would not take his own life like the general. Yes, he was heavily trained in special tactics, and yes, his own oligarch money sat nicely in a Swiss bank account under a holding company that was untouchable. Russia could do absolutely nothing about his Swiss bank account. Yet he WAS touchable!!! Even though he, himself had never once killed anyone, he had been complicit by his position between those who ordered hits and those who carried them out. Thus, he packed a bag and drove his luxurious SUV down to Denver, to the Federal Center, and asked at the gate for Director James Tilson, that he, Dmitry Ivanov, had top-secret information for him. One of the guards radioed inside and spoke with the director. Director Tilson informed the guards that two members of his team would go to the gate and escort Dmitry Ivanov inside. Dmitry had to turn himself in if he wanted to live!


It was the last Thursday in May, a lovely day in the mountains, and he wondered if he would ever see the mountains again...or daylight, for that matter...or Susan Davis...he'd come to love her...at age 30, his budding romance with Suz, a gorgeous 25-year-old, green-eyed redhead who was a perfect angel...his angel...she painted like an angel...in watercolor...he would never see her again...he'd come to love her...love...True Love...now that part of his life was over...again...he wouldn't see any of the people he'd come to know and truly cared about during his time spent in Evergreen...so many regrets...he'd come to care deeply for the children as well...he was racked with grief for what was not to be...and for his numerous regrets...



Praise for Mary L. Schmidt:


'Mary Schmidt delivers another suspense-filled story with her newest release, Heart of Evergreen.'

~ Cindy McDonald, 5* Amazon review


'I like how Mary L. Schmidt weaves her story in and out of Dimitry's life-threatening challenges, and the everyday domesticity of the folks in Evergreen. Will they all meet again? And, most importantly, will Dmitry ever again reunite with his one true love, Suz? Give this warm-hearted, yet suspenseful, book a read and find out!'
~ Adele Royce, 5* Amazon review


'Heart of Evergreen is an evocative tale that will captivate readers who enjoy romantic family sagas infused with elements of crime, desire, and emotional complexity.'

~ Book Reviewer, 5* Goodreads review




Read an Excerpt from Heart of Evergreen:

“Dmitry was a liability!!! He WAS touchable!!! Dmitry turned himself in at the Denver Federal Center gate with top-secret information for Director General James Tilson.”

One of the guards radioed inside and spoke with the general, then two special agents came out and walked Dmitry Ivanov, minus the bag he’d packed, into the Denver Federal Center.

He was checked for weapons and anything that he could use as a weapon, after which, both agents escorted him inside a stark room with two chairs and one table for discussion and probable interrogation by General Tilson.

General Tilson looked Dmitry in the eye and stared. He had come to know this man over the last year, but friends they were not, neither were they enemies, mutual acquaintances, yes.

They’d even dined as guests in the same home of mutual friends several times in the last year. He’d always known there was more to Dmitry than he’d let on. This should be interesting, to say the least.

Most spies and secret agents were detained and interrogated in Washington, DC. This move by the general was not normal by any means, but General Tilson had collected intelligence on Dmitry for most of the last year and he knew Dmitry better than anyone in DC.

Therefore, with his electronic recorder turned on ‘record mode’ (a green light that didn’t record), and placed on the table, General Tilson began, “Why are you here, Mr. Ivanov?”

With a huge sigh, Dmitry stated in a calm and collected voice, “I’m the same man you already know. I’m a Russian oligarch, and I love and collect quality art of all kinds. Every single day, I enjoy the finer things life has to offer.

“I’ve come to know many people and I fought to not like them, but I failed. The Leawood family has taught me how a family should behave and be real, so loving, kind, and honest. The same for the Smith and Manse families. Even you, General Tilson.

“Yet, just as a coin has two sides, so do I. I’m willing and able to impart upon you and your team top-secret intelligence and plans in exchange for sanctuary in this facility.

“I’ve become a liability to my native Russia, and I want to live, not die, at the hands of one of my compatriots. I prefer the United States.” Dmitry suddenly stopped speaking as he measured the look on the general’s face.

“How can you prove to me that you have actual intelligence worth knowing? How can you prove to me that your life is in danger?” The general pointedly asked.

General Tilson wanted proof that Dmitry knew intelligence, he wanted to know why Dmitry thought he was a target to take out, and he wanted the name(s), if possible, of the one who had marked him as a potential threat to Russia, a potential “hit” for another Russian to take him out, the names of known associates, and what and how he’d come to know so much about the United States.

“I have intelligence that will help you find the people you seek regarding the microchips that are planted inside wooden frames while paintings are on display in gallery showings in London.” Dmitry watched for a reaction from the general. None was forthcoming. General Tilson was formidable by far, and that gave Dmitry comfort. He knew the general to be a fair and honest man.

He trusted no one in Russia…they were out for themselves and what they could gain…not a care for life…not a care for anything but lining their pockets…the atrocities he’d witnessed in the past were beyond horrific…what the elite in Russia wanted…only the billionaires dared to control this goal…and they could well afford it…Dmitry had billions himself…a true oligarch…yet he also had real human feelings… the biggest regret was not seeing Suz even one last time…he’d finally found true love…love he’d never thought was possible…she’d taught him true love…how caring and honest she was…and now he’d let her down big time…so many regrets…too many regrets to count…

“Please, do go on, Mr. Ivanov. I can’t help you if you don’t give me enough intelligence, so I know you do have knowledge. You are completely safe - for now. At this time, it remains unknown if you will be given protection until you give me more to work with.” General Tilson checked the recording device, and it was still working as it should (a fake device), as was the electronic microphone in the overhead light.

The general liked those he interrogated to think he had the one recording device. The general made it look like it was all he used, and if a suspect became irate and busted it, thinking that nothing remained of the interrogation, to think the general had zero on the person, the better Tilson liked it. A bit old school, yes, but it’d proved useful more than once, and had garnered additional intelligence he might not have obtained, if he’d not used it.

“I know that Scotland Yard caught Olga Pasternack on a spy camera that was jointly set up by Scotland Yard, the United States, Canada, General Ness, and the Brigadier General at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

“She was caught reframing a small landscape painting that already had a frame, with a new one that contained a microchip, just so a certain oligarch would buy said painting no matter the price. I do not know the name of this oligarch.

“Furthermore, I also know that on General Ness’s order, via the commander-in-chief - your president, and the Brigadier General at Ramstein Air Base flew Olga Pasternack to Denver along with the frame that contained a microchip carefully sealed in a locked, shiny, silver Halliburton case.

“Additionally, I know that a Russian agent infiltrated Scotland Yard. The same agent who informed me via a coded email about Olga Pasternack, and the fact that she is now back in Russia. The same Russian agent with Scotland Yard was caught and is now in prison, I think.

“Those two were the only ones who sent me coded emails. Is that enough, General Tilson? You want to know what I know. I know for sure that I want to live and there could be a hit man already in Colorado.”
 
This time Dmitry knew that General Tilson had heard enough and that he, Dmitry, was authentic, since no one in the United States outside of General Ness and his top men, General Tilson and his top men, the president, and the Brigadier General at Ramstein Air Base knew this intelligence.

General Tilson stood up and stated in a matter-of-fact voice, “I need to make a phone call, Mr. Ivanov. Please wait patiently until I get back to this room. You are safe right now. No one can get to you here.” With that General Tilson left the room.

Banner (c) Mary L. Schmidt




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Mary L. Schmidt



Mary L. Schmidt writes under the name of S. Jackson along with her husband, Michael, pen name A Raymond, and Mary L. Schmidt.

She grew up in a small Kansas (USA) town and has lived in more than one state since then. At this time, Ms. Schmidt and her husband split their time between Kansas and Colorado (they love the mountains and off-road 4-wheeling). Traveling is one of their most favorite things to do and she always has a book or even three books to read, in the same week.

Books have always been her thing. It seemed like every time she turned around, a new library card was needed due to the current one being stamped completed. Diving into a delightful book made any day perfect and you would be surprised at the number of books she has read over and over. She drew paper dolls and clothes for them, and with watercolor as her medium when painting scenes, especially flowers. She continued with art in high school exploring a wide variety of arts and loved it! Her creative side loves to be an amateur "shutterbug" and they have an online art gallery.

In college, she went into the sciences of all things and received a bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing. Her nursing career was phenomenally successful, and she hung up her nursing hat in December 2012.

She has written fifty-four books with others in various stages of production, and she is included in four anthologies. Time spent with family is what she and her husband, Michael, cherish.


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