Don't miss the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post!
Western Wishes
By
Susan Horsnell
Sweet/Christian Western
Date Published: 2 February 2020
Abigail Miller helps run her mother’s diner in the town of Hopeful, Colorado.
How could any man possibly be interested in her when she considers herself too tall, too plain and not curvy enough? Ahead of curls which refuse to be tamed also don’t help.
Working from sun up to sundown, with the exception of Sunday mornings off to attend church, doesn’t leave much time for courting, so she is resigned to her fate of being left a spinster.
Will a wish made at the town well during a full moon ever be answered?
Max Long is the eldest son of a well-respected ranching family. His sister is Abigail’s best friend and also a friend to both him and his brother. He’d never thought of the tall, beautiful lady in that way.
Overhearing a conversation, he wonders if his feelings for Abigail could run deeper than mere friendship?
How will Max react when Abigail’s life is in danger?
Can the wishing well work its magic and bring her home safely?
Will a wish made at the town well during a full moon ever be answered?
My eyes were drawn to the sway of her shapely hips as Abigail stomped off to the kitchen. I wondered what I’d said to upset her; there was no doubt that I had. I’d known the woman long enough to know when she was unhappy about something. The change in her eyes when I’d mentioned Mildred had been noticeable – at least to me. Anger and jealousy had both clouded her gorgeous amber orbs. But why?
Abigail and I had known each other since she’d started school, her and Rowan had become instant friends and spent most of their free time together. The two girls had been stuck to each other like bees to molasses and were always under my feet out at the ranch. It saddened me to watch as their friendship became distanced through no fault of their own.
Since Abigail’s father had died, her visits to the ranch had come to a stop. Every waking hour seemed to be spent helping her mother in the diner and she was left with no time for social activities. I understood the fact she was needed by her mother, but it saddened me just the same. A young woman as beautiful as Abigail should have been out enjoying herself, stepping out with a beau. Heck, she should have been hitched with little ones by now as I’d told her.
Why did the thought of Abigail being with a man send bolts of jealousy raging through me? I had no interest in anything other than friendship with her. Or did I? I swear the woman tied my thinking in knots.
Saturday nights, when I had supper at the diner and at church on Sundays were the only times we managed to speak a few words to each other and I hated the thought I might have upset her. I resolved to take her aside at church the following day and find out what it was I’d said wrong.
Interview with Susan Horsnell
Please tell us about growing up. Siblings? Locale?
I grew up on the
Northern Beaches area of Sydney NSW Australia. I am the eldest and have a
brother a little less than 2 years younger and a sister 15 years younger than
me.
I was first put on
stage at 2 years old and from there, progressed to pantomimes, club
performances and a weekly television show. My talent was tap dance, clog and
song and dance but I did also perform ballet and at the age of 12 was selected
to join the Australian Ballet Junior Program. I stayed until I was accepted
into nursing 2 months before my 16th birthday. Although I enjoyed
dance and competitions, I did not like the pressure to achieve which was placed
on me.
At school I was an A
level student and excelled in English and History. I participated in the Duke
of Edinburgh Award scheme, obtaining Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. It was
through the voluntary aspect of this which led me into Nursing. I volunteered
at the local hospital in CSSD (Central Sterilising) and helping the ‘Pink
Ladies.’ Interacting with patients became a passion and there was no doubt
about what I was meant to do.
For the years of my
training, I resided in the nurse’s quarters within the hospital grounds. This
was compulsory for 1st year nurses and I chose to stay on. I was
hospital based trained not academic trained.
I was a nurse for 37 years before retiring - primarily
Theatre (operating room), ER and Gerantology. My husband is a Commodore (Rear Admiral for US
peeps) in the RAN so we have pretty much lived everywhere
in Australia and had a posting to Papua New Guinea for 3 1/2 years. Because of
our constant moving - 28 moves in 40 years, I picked up nursing work in various
areas including working with the newly blinded and their families to teach them
techniques to live their lives. Most of my stories are from personal
experience.
Were you the shy kid or the tomboy?
Tomboy, not a shy bone
in my body.
Married, single? Children?
 |
| The Horsnells |
Hubby and I married at 18 years old and are coming up to 46
years married. We have 2 sons - eldest is 44. an Architectural Engineer and CEO
of a company in Sydney where he lives with his wife of 21 years and their
children - girls 18 and 13 and a boy 10. Youngest son is 40, an Environmental
Scientist with his own company and he lives with his wife of 15 years in
Melbourne. They have a girl aged 13 and boy aged 10. Our 18 year old
granddaughter has just been accepted into University to study a Science Degree
and Veterinary Science Degree – she is on the way to realising her dream of
becoming a Vet.
When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax
and recharge?
Reading and travel
How long have you been writing?
I have always penned made up stories but began publishing in 2013
Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music,
solitude? PC or laptop?
I hand write all my stories before typing on either a
laptop or desktop. I sit out in the living room with hubby, he watches
television while I work. I have the uncanny ability to shut out all noise.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Pantser
Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do
you write daily?
Writing for me is a passion, not something I have to
do like a job. I usually write every day but don’t set word goals or publishing
goals. My stories are as long as they need to be and I publish once they are
properly polished.
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise
readers.
I did a pantomime with
Mae West
What advice would you give to unpublished authors?
The same as I give our
grandchildren. Follow your heart and your dreams regardless of what anyone
says.
What has helped you in your writing career?
I have a couple of
authors I am very close to and they have helped me a great deal. I also have a
line editor – Robyn Corcoran and Proofreader – Leanne Rogers who are also very
close friends. I have no idea what I would do without these two ladies. My
success is very much theirs also.
What do you hope your writing brings to readers?
Variety. I write so many different romance
sub-genres – Sweet Western, Steamy Western, Contemporary, M/M, Outback
Australian, City Australian, MMF and I even have a shapeshifter. I use my
experiences in each of my books. I truly hope readers can lose themselves in my
stories and be captivated by the words.
 |
| Susan Horsnell, Author |
I live in sunny Queensland, Australia and retired after 37 years of Nursing.
My husband of 45 years, together with our elderly Jack Russell Terrier and extremely opinionated 26-year-old Cockatiel, enjoy exploring the country.
When we are at home, we spend our time renovating our home.
I write a variety of stories including Western Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, Male/Male, Menage and Shapeshifter.
Each book has a strong focus on storyline with romantic interest building throughout.
I explore real-life issues from kids on the streets to motorcycle wars and put my own twist on each one.
Also presenting Midnight Sons!
Don't miss the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post!
Sam's Folly
Midnight Sons Book 1
by
Carmen DeSousa
Genre: Romantic Suspense
When a bigwig fight promoter needs someone to search for his missing fiancée, he hires expert tracker Sam Belgarde and his search dogs. Sam is more than a little reluctant. His family’s company, Search and Rescue Alaska, is in financial trouble, though, so if searching for a spoiled socialite will save it, then he’s willing to break the rules—just this once.
After witnessing a murder, Nora Molina needs to get away—fast—and her best hope to escape without her passport is Alaska. A native of Argentina, Nora’s accustomed to harsh winters and high elevation, so she gets more than a little irritated when some tracker thinks she needs rescuing. Even if he is get-out sexy. And even if he’s the guy she stood up before leaving town. It’s going to be a long few days.
When an unexpected storm rolls in, Sam and Nora find themselves in each other’s arms—to keep warm. Things get a little too hot when it’s clear someone wants the two of them to stay lost—permanently.
Alex's Atonement
Midnight Sons Book 2
Alex Belgarde has carried the culpability of his father’s death for more than ten years. Every year, as his family’s company falls deeper into debt, the guilt eats away more of his soul until there’s only one answer. Prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his father’s legacy, Alex takes off on a frigid winter day with no radio and very little fuel in his seaplane. He’s using up the last of his reserve tank, preparing to drop from the sky, when he sees plane wreckage below.
Irene Rose has spent her life chasing her dream. But after a possible terminal diagnosis, she realizes how lonely her life has become and is ready to forgive her sister and beg for her family’s forgiveness. Instead of arriving on the island of her birth, Irene finds herself stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. Unbeknownst to her, the pilot for the plane she chartered was a drug runner, so he didn’t alert authorities as they crashed.
While Alex’s illogical idea to save his father’s company is thwarted because of his obligation to help others, he finds purpose in offering aid to the beautiful and intelligent Irene. The attraction is mutual until Irene persuades Alex to tell her the real reason he can’t simply fly them to safety or call for help. Now the two castaways will have to fight the harsh winter elements, as well as the drug smugglers who lost their cargo in the wreck, if they want to make it home alive. Not easy tasks when Irene refuses to trust Alex to get her home safely. She simply can’t get over the fact that as talented, tough, and tantalizing as he is that he was going to throw his life away when hers will probably be cut short. For the first time in his life, Alex will have to face his demons instead of running from them in order to win the girl and prove to himself that he’s a real hero.
Vince's Chance
Midnight Sons Book 3
Vince Kolya inherited only one trait from his biological father: a need to be on the sea. The rest of his life he has tried to emulate what he learned from his unofficial adopted family, the Belgardes: dedicating his life to helping others instead of abusing them. Unfortunately, he’s yet to find a woman who wants the same things he does in life. It’s bad enough that his wife left him, but she also failed to make his boat payments while he was on a three-month stint. Giving up on relationships, Vince throws himself into working with his family’s search & rescue team. Highest on his to-do list, though, is saving money to buy another boat so he can get back on the water, away from the reminders of his abusive past.
Now that her father is dead and buried, Valery Yura is coming home to her beloved state of Alaska in hopes that moving her troubled son to the place where she grew up will transform him into the loving young man he once was. The last thing she needs is a distraction, especially when it comes in the form of the gorgeous man she’s loved her entire life—Vince. A few too many drinks and sexy dancing on the dock, and she’s repeating ancient history, a situation she can’t allow, so she runs from his bed. When her son goes missing after a fishing excursion, Valery feels that the authorities aren’t doing everything possible. Although she’s resigned herself to never seeing Vince again, she needs his help.
As much as Vince tries to hold onto his feelings of anger and abandonment, knowing it’s paramount to protecting his heart, he finds himself falling deeper and deeper for Valery as they search for her lost son. The only way to win her love is to be her hero and find her son, but that hope fades when the authorities call off the search. Determined to give Valery closure and win back her heart, Vince embarks on an all-out manhunt for the missing boy. What he discovers, though, might be a death warrant for him and the woman he can’t lose again.
 |
| Carmen DeSousa, Author |
Carmen DeSousa's stories overflow with romance, suspense, a hint of humor and, of course, a few Kleenex moments. After all, what would a great story be without an emotional event setting the stage? All of her novels are sensual but not erotic, gripping but not graphic, and will make you cry, laugh, love, and hope. Although some of her books include supernatural or ghostly beings, her stories dance on the edge of make believe.
As most authors, Carmen blames her leap into a full-time career as a professional writer on her love of reading. She states that reading has always been an escape for her. When life was rough as a child, she could always disappear into a book. But she found something else too... She discovered that writing out her thoughts was therapeutic. Not only could she create hope for her protagonists, but she could also do away with her antagonists--legally.
Carmen currently lives in "The Heart of Arizona" with her husband of twenty-nine years and a very spoiled "rescued" calico they lovingly refer to as "Baby Kitty," even though she's twelve years old. Carmen and her husband love to experience different areas, so they move a lot. They've lived on both of Florida's coasts: Cocoa Beach and Tampa Bay; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Bullhead City, Arizona, the Northern Central Valley of California, and now Arizona's high desert. They're always looking for their next adventure, so they travel every chance they get. If you've read about a place in one of Carmen's stories, she's been there!
Most of her novels share her favorite hobbies, mostly, anything to do with the great outdoors. Both Carmen and her husband not only write, but also love to read outside--or a coffee shop if it's raining. And if the weather is really nice, they enjoy kayaking and hiking. Carmen says they rarely spend their days off at a movie theater or the mall. In fact, she hates shopping, and her husband would rather do anything than take her to a movie when she's already read the book.
Swag Pack
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