New Release -- Hero Spell (Liberty Valley, Yesterday and Today) by Josie Malone

When pony farm manager Audra Dawson sets her mind to something, she sees it done! Though her life is filled with “everything horses,” the Silver Lake Pony Ranch in Everett, Washington, is not her only interest—not by a long shot. She has set her sights on the man of her dreams—a man she adores, despite the fact he has other plans. He sees Audra as a friend, potential sister-in-law, and a woman more capable than most Army generals—a cross between Gunga-Din and Alexander the Great—but not someone he wants to be involved with romantically. 

The arrival of Doctor Joe Watkins, a handsome, self-absorbed veterinarian who is also considered a leading authority on equines, makes Audra sit up and take notice. Their reunion is anything but congenial, as Audra orders Joe around like he's a would-be cowboy who just stepped out of a drugstore. But without realizing it, she awakens Joe to his selfish ways and brings him “back” to humanity once more with feelings he’d forgotten he had, and a determination to match her own. Tensions increase, but Joe is set on making Audra his—he needs her as much as she needs him. Sometimes, in the strangest possible ways, dreams do come true!

EXCERPT

     Daylight faded fast and the moon would soon rise. Homicide Detective, Beth Chambers-Morgan sat on her gray Arabian, Tigger, studying the steep hill and the boot-prints in the mud. Her German shepherd, Luke, sniffed at the trail then trotted back to stand next to the stallion, whining softly. The horse pawed before backing up ten feet. She felt the tension in his body and knew he’d bolt in the opposite direction, given the opportunity.

     She glanced at her brother-in-law who sat on a strawberry roan gelding next to her. “You don’t have to do this, Kyle. I trust the cops on the other side to capture that low-life, Smith.”

     “I want to see your world and know for myself he’s under lock and key.” A frown creased Kyle’s forehead. “If it doesn’t work, I’ll come home the next time the door is open.”

     “I don’t know that I can open it for you,” Beth said. “It may take both me and the Guardian in the future. And I don’t know who she is. All I can do is tell you again to see my father, Will Dawson. Tell him that I’m all right and ask him for help. Maybe, he will be able to help find the Guardian. He knows more than he acts like he does.”

     Kyle nodded. “I’ll find him as soon as I arrive.”

  “Fair enough.” Beth leaned over to hug him. “I promise I’ll try to bring you home on the next Friday the 13^th, but it won’t be until September 2013. That will give you a little more than a year. See to it Smith gets arrested and stands trial for his crimes, at least the ones in the twenty-first century. Don’t tell anyone other than Will where you really come from.”

     “You’ve told me that three times already. They’ll think I’m crazier than a bedbug if I let anyone know where I started life."