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Sunday, May 17, 2015
Author Spotlight - Tainted Dreams by Christi Corbett
I always love to help launch a new book and today I'm thrilled to welcome Christi Corbett as she celebrates the release of her new historical western romance, TAINTED DREAMS, a sequel to her award-winning novel, Along the Way Home.
They survived the Oregon Trail, but claiming a legacy would be their biggest challenge yet.
Blurb:
"Hey
there!" Jake said. Raising his left leg, he ignored the resulting twinge
of pain and shoved the stranger aside with his boot heel. "Watch it!"
Christi Corbett,
winner of the 2013 RONE Award for Best American Historical novel, lives in a
small town in Oregon with her husband and their twin children. The home's
location holds a special place in her writing life; it stands just six hundred
feet from the original Applegate Trail and the view from her back door is a
hill travelers looked upon years ago as they explored the Oregon Territory and
beyond.
They survived the Oregon Trail, but claiming a legacy would be their biggest challenge yet.Blurb:
Sometimes, the end
justifies the means…
Kate Davis arrived
into Oregon City transformed from a pampered daughter of fortune into a
determined woman with a plan--fulfill her father's dream of starting a horse
ranch in Oregon Territory. She quickly discovers
a harsh truth--even thousands of miles from home, on an unsettled land America
doesn't yet own or govern, gender still takes precedence over ability. Refusing
to be ruled once again by the stifling laws and societal norms she'd escaped by
leaving Virginia, Kate begins creatively claiming what is rightfully hers. Until a visit to the
land office changes everything.
Jake Fitzpatrick
guided Kate across the Oregon Trail, and fell in love with her along the way.
Now he wants to marry her and build a life together, but a ruthless man from
Jake's past threatens to reveal a dark secret, and destroy everything he's
worked so hard to achieve.
Excerpt: (Jake,
Kate, and two people they rescued on the Oregon Trail, William and Margaret, have
entered Oregon City. They are looking for the hotel.)
At the end of the
block a man burst from the saloon and stumbled into the street, stopping mere
inches from Jake's horse, Plug. Instead of backing away, the man lurched
forward and reached for Jake's saddle horn.
 |
| RONE Award Winner |
The man drew back and
stared at him, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused. He raised an unsteady finger,
slurred an unintelligible response, and then fell face-first into a patch of
mud.
"Drunken
fool," Jake muttered, then faced the others. "Let's keep
moving."
High-pitched
squealing foiled his plan.
On the upper deck of
the saloon a horde of harlots stood clustered together, giggling and shrieking
as they pointed toward him. Clenching his jaw, he focused on the street ahead,
all the while hoping Kate didn't notice one woman in particular who'd separated
herself from the others and was now hanging over the railing, calling him by
name.
Jake pressed his boot
heels into Plug's side, urging him to a steady trot. Thankfully the others
followed and they quickly left the saloon behind.
Minutes later, Kate
motioned to the end of the street. "William, we're running out of road and
I still don't see a hotel."
William pulled a
rumpled paper from his pocket. He studied it briefly and then eyed the
surrounding buildings. "My uncle sent me a rough sketch of where it's
located, but there are so many new buildings, it's useless. Jake, do you know
where it's at?"
Jake shook his head.
"There wasn't a hotel the last time I was here."
"Perhaps one of
those men sitting in front of the apothecary would know?" Margaret
suggested.
"We'll find it
ourselves," Jake replied. He led the group around the corner and onto the
next street.
Buildings, so new
their fresh pine scent still hung in the air, lined one side of the street
while the other side held only two—an enormous livery and a two-story building
with the word Hotel prominently displayed on a white sign with black lettering.
A matching sign beside a light-rimmed window read Rooms Available by the Day
or Week.
They dismounted,
secured their horses to the empty hitching posts in front of the hotel, and
headed for the door. William reached for the glass knob, then turned to the
others with a worried frown.
"I haven't seen
my uncle in over seven years, so I don't know what to expect. Though from what
I've observed so far, living out west doesn't seem to improve manners."
He
stepped inside and ushered Margaret and Kate through the doorway. Jake followed
them, then stopped cold.
Behind the hotel's
front desk sat Theodore Martin—the one man Jake never wanted to see again as
long as he lived.
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Smashwords
About the Author:
Christi Corbett,
winner of the 2013 RONE Award for Best American Historical novel, lives in a
small town in Oregon with her husband and their twin children. The home's
location holds a special place in her writing life; it stands just six hundred
feet from the original Applegate Trail and the view from her back door is a
hill travelers looked upon years ago as they explored the Oregon Territory and
beyond.
Connect with Christi:
Friday, May 15, 2015
Author Spotlight - Holding Back by Helen Pollard
Today, I'm thrilled to host fellow Clean Reads (formally Astraea Press) author, Helen Pollard. We're talking about Helen's new contemporary romance, HOLDING BACK.
The last thing
they're looking for is love …
Laura Matheson is a natural at avoiding romance, so when she
is drawn to mystery guest Daniel Stone while helping out at her friends' hotel
in Portugal, she assumes all she needs is a little extra willpower.
Daniel is at the hotel on business. The demands of work and
a manipulative ex-girlfriend mean he doesn't have the time or energy for
romance, but Laura is a distraction he finds hard to ignore.
As they negotiate a minefield of misunderstandings and
mutual attraction, will they both continue to hold back? Or will they finally
allow love into their lives?
Excerpt Chapter
One:
"Excuse me. You've picked up the wrong bag."
Deep and decisive, the voice startled Laura from behind as
she loaded her luggage onto her hard-won airport trolley.
"No, I don't think so." She swung round to confront
the voice's owner. Unnerved to find him towering over her, she took a step
back, stumbling over her trolley in the process.
With lightning speed, he reached out to catch her arm, his
grip strong as he helped her regain her balance. When she was upright again,
she took in piercing blue eyes, thick dark brown hair, a hint of stubble on a
tanned face—and felt an immediate jolt of attraction.
Laura ignored it. "I can manage, thank you," she
snapped, thinking she wouldn't have tripped if he hadn't surprised her like
that.
He released his hold and raised an eyebrow. "As I said,
you have my bag."
Pushing away long strands of chestnut-brown hair that had
dared escape their ponytail, Laura returned his gaze.
"No, this is definitely mine." She was hot,
harassed, and late. The last thing she needed was a futile argument over her
own luggage!
"Would you mind if I check?"
"Help yourself." Unable to disguise her impatience,
Laura waved at it, adding, "But I am in a hurry." She winced at the
hostile tone in her voice, but she really didn't have time for this. Tapping
her foot in irritation, she waited to be proved right as he crouched over her
trolley.
"Would you care to look?" he asked.
Laura's foot stopped tapping. Recognizing undisguised triumph
on his face, she read the label over his shoulder with trepidation, but there
it was in black and white—Daniel Stone, London Gatwick to Porto. The heat that
rose in her cheeks seemed to burn right through her skin.
"But it's the same as mine!" she blustered,
watching with embarrassment as he hoisted the heavy bag from the trolley with
ease.
"It's hardly a unique design," he commented,
shrugging broad shoulders. "If you weren't in such a tearing hurry, you
might have spotted your own on the carousel."
Laura spun around to see her bag riding forlornly around with
the few that were left. Mortified, she opened her mouth to apologize.
But he spoke first. "Personally, I would advocate that
old saying 'More haste, less speed.'" His tone softened a little as he
added, "I'm sorry, but you're not the only hot, tired person whose flight
was delayed, you know." And off he strolled through the terminal, his bag
flung over his shoulder, without a backward glance.
About Helen:
Helen
Pollard writes contemporary romance with old-fashioned heart. She believes
there will always be a place for romantic fiction, no matter how fast-paced and
cynical the world becomes. Readers still
A
Yorkshire lass, Helen is married, with two teenagers and a psychotic cat. When she's
not working or writing, it goes without saying that she loves to read. She also
enjoys a good coffee in a quiet bookshop, and appreciates the company of family
and close friends.
Connect with Helen:
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