Waiting on the Thunder
by Lorna Tedder
Fiction · Standalone Southern Gothic Romantic Suspense
Secrets, murder, and the stormy pull of second chances in a Southern small town.
Description
When Meg McGhee returns to her uncle’s crumbling Alabama farm, she’s prepared for judgmental neighbors and memories she’d rather forget—not for a violent ex-husband, a string of murders, and a stranger claiming her inheritance is his by lease. Evan Duran, a former cop with his own haunted past, is hiding out on the property, hunting a killer who has already claimed several women in Little Hope. His first order of business? Convince Meg to get out of town before she becomes the next victim.
But Meg isn’t leaving. She’s fought too hard to reclaim her life to run again, and she’s not about to be scared off her only refuge. As the summer storm closes in, desire and distrust crackle between them, even as the danger grows deadlier. To survive, Meg must decide who to trust—while Evan must face the one thing he fears most: failing to protect the woman who’s become far more than a distraction.
Genre
- Primary: Romantic Suspense
- Secondary: Small-Town Mystery
- Niche: Christian-leaning Southern Gothic Romance
Tone
- Tense
- Atmospheric
- Intimate
- Gritty
- Hopeful
- Emotional
Tropes
- Return-to-hometown under a cloud of secrets
- Protective but reluctant hero
- Her house / his house conflict
- Small-town danger with an active killer
- Second-chance self-discovery after heartbreak
Why You’ll Love It
You’ll be swept into a sultry, storm-charged Southern town where the air is thick with secrets, the chemistry between Meg and Evan sparks with every glance, and the threat outside the door is as real as the one inside her heart. It’s a story of standing your ground when everything—and everyone—tries to push you out, finding trust in the most unlikely place, and daring to hope for love again in the shadow of danger.
Trigger / Sensitivity Warnings
- On-page sexual harassment and coercion attempts
- Domestic abuse (verbal, emotional, physical – past and present threats)
- Murder of women, including implied sexual violence
- Threats of lethal violence (guns, physical force)
- Stalking and home invasion
- Strong depictions of fear and trauma response
About the Author
Lorna Tedder is a non-denominational minister, volunteer grief counselor, and full-time writer after a long career in public service. She writes fiction that crosses genres — from paranormal thrillers to romantic suspense to speculative women’s fiction — and non-fiction on spirituality, manifestation, grief, and personal growth. She lives in the Florida Panhandle with her family.