New Release — Patrice’s Shame (The Barlow Wives Book 3) by Agnes Alexander

Beautiful Patrice Dickerson is all too happy to leave Philadelphia to claim half of a ranch in Wyoming—an unexpected windfall from an aunt she never knew. But the catch is, the other half has been left to a man that Patrice has never met. Patrice can think of nothing but the new start this gift means for her—to outrun the shame that has threatened her all her life. Her mother, a well-known prostitute, has lately been pressing Patrice to join her in “the business” with threats of letting everyone know Patrice is her daughter—and Patrice lives in fear that her society friends will discover who she really is. 

 Gavin Barlow has suddenly found himself the owner of half of the Hopewell Ranch—a spread that adjoins the Barlow family land. When the new joint owner from back East arrives, Gavin plans to ask him to sell out. A ranch the size of the Hopewell spread would expand the Barlow holdings significantly. Surely, an Eastern dandy will be eager to sell… 

 But when Patrice arrives in Wyoming, Gavin is unprepared for her haughty demeanor. He never expected his “partner” to be a woman—and a rude one, at that! His hopes to buy her out are dashed in the face of her self-importance—a façade to hide her secrets. 

 An accident steals Patrice’s memory. Who is she, and why is she in Wyoming? Her sweet personality is totally opposite the Patrice that Gavin has come to know and be wary of—but which “Patrice” is the real one? As their relationship blossoms into true love, each of them hopes for a life together on the ranch they’ve inherited, but is it possible? 

Patrice’s mother follows her to Wyoming with an evil plan of her own, threatening to expose Patrice’s background to Gavin. Can they still find true love in spite of PATRICE’S SHAME?

EXCERPT

     Patrice shook her head. Were these people crazy? Who in the world would voluntarily let a horse throw him in such a manner? Didn’t he realize he could be killed?

     She shrugged. If someone had to lose their life, let it be Gavin Barlow. That way, she would own this ranch alone, wouldn’t she? Then, when she sold, she’d have twice the money.

     After touring the rest of the first floor, she turned and headed upstairs. In the hall, she hesitated in front of Gavin’s door. Wondering if the man’s room would be as unkempt as he seemed to be, she opened the door. Knowing no one would be the wiser, she bit her lip and stepped inside, expecting a mess.

     Instead, the room was not only tidy, but the bed had been made and there were no clothes strewn around. A pair of boots sat by the chair at the window and a stack of books lay on the table beside the chair. At least that tells me the man can read.

     She was about to reach for the wardrobe door when a deep voice said, “Looking for something, your highness?”

     She jumped and whirled around. “I…uh…I…”

     “Go right ahead and search the place, if you like. Since I tore my britches and it’d be indecent if I kept wearing them, all I intend to do is put on another pair. If you want to watch me do that, I have no objection.”

     As she ran out of the room, she heard Gavin laughing. 

      

New Release -- Banking on Temperance (Cotillion Ball Saga Book 3) by Becky Lower

When beautiful Temperance Jones and her mother enter Basil Fitzpatrick’s St. Louis bank, the handsome ladies’ man believes he’ll only be conducting a monetary transaction for the down-on-their-luck Jones family.  But Fate intervenes, and that first meeting becomes so much more to both Temperance and Basil.

 Dying of consumption, Preacher Jones extracts a promise from his daughter Temperance that she will do whatever it takes to get the rest of the large family to Oregon. With the threat of civil war looming, he wants to see his sons safely away from conflict.

With Basil’s help, the Jones family begins to put down roots, and the faraway dream of traveling on to Oregon loses its luster for everyone but Temperance.  She knows she must go on, no matter what—if not for her promise to her father, then to protect her own heart from Basil—for she has loved him since the moment they met.

Is Basil ready for a permanent commitment? To love Temperance would mean taking on the burden of providing for her mother and siblings, as well—a tall order for a man who, up to now, has only looked out for himself. Drawn to the tiny spitfire like a magnet, Basil must decide if he’ll let Temperance travel the Oregon Trail with another man, or will he gladly spend the rest of his life BANKING ON TEMPERANCE?

EXCERPT

     “I may have a solution, at least temporarily.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “My brother-in-law, Joseph, has an old soddy house on his family’s property and he’s willing to let you use it at no cost. It’s very crude and small, and needs some repair, but it will at least provide some shelter for your husband. Would you care to see it?”

     Martha’s eyes filled with tears. “It would be a god-send, however crude. Of course, I want to see it.”

     “All right, then. After the bank closes today, I’ll take you there. Joseph’s family has a horse farm and it so happens several of his stock are in the livery right now. We can borrow one of them and ride out together. There’s no sense in moving the wagon until you make certain you can live there.”

     Basil and Martha strode back to the wagon where the children were standing. Martha stood in front of them as she addressed Basil. “Blessings upon you, sir. Our family is sure fortunate we met you the minute we pulled into town. I’ll see you this afternoon.”

     “For the sake of propriety, it may be best if Temperance joins us, too. I’ll bring an extra horse.”

     The stricken look on Temperance’s face brought a grin to Basil’s. This was going to be fun.

     

New Release -- Her Forever Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 3) by Agnes Alexander

Handsome ranch owner, Seth Armstrong, has been trapped in a loveless marriage for too many years to count—until his crazed wife, Eve, decides to murder him and their son, Hunter. Though Seth had tried before to negotiate divorce, Eve has threatened him numerous times with keeping their three children from him—something Seth couldn’t live with. Now, he and Hunter have barely survived being gunned down by the woman he should have left years before.

During a separation when his children were young, Seth met and fell in love with Julia Halsey, a woman who understood Seth better than anyone, and loved him too much to see him hurt. She disappeared from his life once she realized Eve meant what she said—but Julia had no idea she was pregnant when she decided to uncomplicate things for the man she loved. 

Years later, when Seth’s two sons’ paths cross in a most unlikely way, Julia comes back into his life again. But will their former lives apart—and the people they’ve known—allow them the happiness they so richly deserve after so many years of separation? 

Someone is out to hurt Julia, her son, and even Seth and his family—but who? And why? Even though Seth and Julia only want to put their patchwork family together as one after all this time, someone is determined to keep Julia from realizing HER FOREVER DREAMS…

EXCERPT:

The second week after Christmas nonsubscribers to The Coverton Mills Gazette rushed out to buy a copy so they could read the sensational story of the paper’s owners. Everyone in town was talking about the fact that Eve Armstrong had gone berserk and shot her husband and her son. Nobody knew why.
Father Saves Son COVERTON MILLS— On January 4, 54-year-old Seth Armstrong, local businessman and co-owner of the Coverton Mills Gazette, jumped in front of his son and saved Hunter Armstrong’s life. 

Hunter Armstrong, 24, is co-owner, editor and publisher of the Gazette.
According to witnesses, Armstrong and his son were looking over the new equestrian facility at Armstrong Farm when Eve Armstrong, 53, walked in and opened fire on her husband and son with a hand gun.

The first bullet caught Hunter in the right shoulder. His father then jumped in front of him and was hit by the next three shots. One landed in his left side, one grazed his right temple, and the third shattered his right hip. He is listed in critical condition at Memorial Hospital.
According to horse trainer, Theo Beeler, he and two other hands rushed into the barn to see what was happening.

When Eve Armstrong saw them, she ran out, got into her Cadillac, and sped away. No motive has been given for the assault.

The incident is under investigation.

January 7, a new headline appeared.
Eve Armstrong Found Dead COVERTON MILLS—The body of Eve Armstrong, 53, was discovered last night in a secluded area near Rightway Lake. She died of an apparent self-inflicted bullet wound to the head.

Mrs. Armsrong’s body was discovered in the late afternoon by Clete Atkins who was rabbit hunting in the nearby woods. She was being sought for the attempted murders of her son, Hunter Armstrong, and her husband, Seth Armstrong, who remains in a coma at Memorial Hospital.

January 10, a short headline announced the interment.
Eve Armstrong Interred COVERTON MILLS— In a private ceremony, Eve Armstrong, 53, was laid to rest in Coverton Mills Memorial Gardens.

Surviving are her husband of 34 years, Seth Armstrong; three children: Ashley Armstrong Bradshaw of Atlanta, Jessica Armstrong, and Hunter Armstrong of Coverton Mills. Also surviving are two grandchildren.


The day after the interment, Seth Armstrong began to awake from his coma.