HEBBY ROMAN'S WEST TEXAS CHRISTMAS TRILOGY!

I love hosting friends on my blog. Hebby Roman and I have known each other for twenty years. Of course, we were only children when we met. ☺I enjoy her writing and think you will too. This year she’s completing a Christmas trilogy. The first book, HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS, was published last year. This year, she’s added LET IT BE CHRISTMAS and A MISTLETOE CHRISTMAS.

LET IT BE CHRISTMAS Blurb:

After losing both her parents, Lindsay MacKillian has been living with her Aunt Minerva in Boston, learning to be a lady. When her unscrupulous fiancé gets her in the family way and absconds, she escapes home to Langtry, Texas to hide her shame.

Bart Houghton, a professional gambler, wants to quit his old profession and become a rancher, giving the MacKillian’s ranch a much needed infusion of capital. But he didn’t count on marrying Chad’s sister as part of the deal. And to make matters worse, Lindsay doesn’t approve of his former profession and believes he is unworthy as a husband.

Lindsay and Bart, despite their differences and having a marriage in name only, can’t help but being attracted to each other. As their attraction matures, they have to face the obstacles of their pasts. Can Lindsay put aside her preconceived notions about Bart? Is Bart ready to settle down and give Lindsay the family she wants?

LET IT BE CHRISTMAS Excerpt:

The crowd roared, and a fresh wave of panic washed over Lindsay. Unable to catch a glimpse of her pet through the dense mob, she had no idea what the crowd was shouting at, but she feared Bruno, Judge Roy Bean’s captive bear, was mauling Minnie, her beloved puppy, and the mob was cheering on the bear with their drunken approval. 

    Vaulting from the mare’s back, Lindsay forgot about Bart in her frenzy to reach her dog. With tears clouding her vision, she rushed forward, cursing in French and slapping at the mass of men. She pushed to the front of the mob and stared… and smelled. The scent of rotting vegetation filled her nostrils, wafting from the moth-eaten brown bear, Bruno.

    Bruno squatted on his haunches with his huge paws dangling in front of him. His pig-like snout drooped forward onto his massive chest, snuffling the air. Minnie ran circles around the bear, yelping at him. Bruno, half-drunk on beer, just watched the little dog with glazed eyes, shaking his head to clear away the buzz of flies.

    Lindsay’s stomach roiled and bile filled her throat. Her initial terror melted away, to be replaced by embarrassment and dismay. Her dog didn’t appear to be in any immediate danger, but she certainly was making a spectacle of herself. She could imagine what her brother would say when he saw her pet’s antics.

Lulled by the bear's passivity, she broke away from the crowd, intent upon retrieving her pet.

    But her sudden movement was a mistake.

    Bruno came to life, rearing up. He swatted at her, his broken and dirty claws slicing through the air. Cringing and closing her eyes against the inevitable impact, she felt the breath leave her lungs as she was grabbed from behind and rolled to the ground. The onlookers jeered, making ribald suggestions.                    

The bear advanced, snapping the end of his chain taut. Minnie was unperturbed, sitting back on her haunches and posturing with her best begging stance.

    Dirt scrapped against Lindsay’s back as she was hauled away from the bear’s reach. Dazed, she looked up to see Bart’s face, covered in perspiration, looming over her.  Mortified, she pushed at his chest with the palms of her hands and struggled to rise, amidst more suggestive taunts from the crowd about newly-weds.

    “Don’t struggle. Don’t give them a show.” His strong arms pinned her to the ground. “Are you all right, Lindsay?” he whispered and shook his head. “I mean the babe and all? If there had been any other way…”

    She could only nod.        

   It was a moment suspended in time. The nasty mob faded. Her senses centered on Bart. Their hearts pounded as one, curiously synchronized, and their breaths mingled, lightly caressing. The tensile strength of his arms, and the warmth of his embrace enfolded her. 

She melted against him, pliant to his touch, blood surging through her veins.  

    “Minnie’s fine, but we'll need the Judge to get her away from Bruno. Do you understand?” he asked.

    She heard his words as if from far away, they tumbled through her mind but failed to make an impression. Her body’s reaction to him filled her senses.

    Bart’s light-blue eyes drilled into hers. He shook her and repeated, “Lindsay, do you understand me?”

    The urgency in his voice finally penetrated to her. The low murmur of the mob swelled into a roar. Turning her head from Bart’s disturbing gaze, the world above her took on a razor-sharp clarity. She nodded.

    He exhaled. “Good.”

He released her and rolled to one side and then got to his feet. The hot July air felt suddenly cold on her skin without Bart’s body covering her.

    Leaning down, he grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet, announcing, “Show’s over, folks. Where’s Judge Bean?”

A MISTLETOE CHRISTMAS Blurb:

Ginny Brown is a poor seamstress’ daughter who worships the ground Chad MacKillian walks on... from afar. For as long as she can remember, she’s been in love with the prominent rancher. Befriended by Chad’s sister, Ginny overcomes her shyness when Chad finally notices her.

Unknown to Ginny or his sister, Chad is already engaged to the neighboring rancher’s daughter, but their engagement is a business arrangement. The more time Chad spends with Ginny, the more he questions his future plans. Torn between honoring his engagement and his growing feelings for Ginny, he avoids making a decision.

When Chad’s fiancée catches him kissing Ginny beneath the mistletoe, she breaks their engagement. Chad is relieved to be free, but Ginny is humiliated and has had enough of his inconstancy. Faced with losing Ginny and fighting off outlaws bent on revenge, Chad begs Ginny to marry him. But can Chad convince Ginny he really loves her and is eager for her to be his wife?

Hebby Roman, Author

Hebby Roman is the multi-published, Amazon best-selling author of both historical and contemporary romances. Her first contemporary romance, SUMMER DREAMS, was the launch title for Encanto, a print line featuring Latino romances. And her re-published e-book, SUMMER DREAMS, was #1 in Amazon fiction and romance. Her medieval historical romance, THE PRINCESS AND THE TEMPLAR, was selected for the Amazon Encore program and was #1 in medieval fiction.

She was selected for the Romantic Times "Texas Author" award, and she won a national Harlequin contest. Her book, BORDER HEAT, was a Los Angeles Times Book Festival selection. Her contemporary romance, TO DANCE AGAIN, was a 2016 RONE Finalist.

She is blessed to have all her family living close by in north Texas, including her two granddaughters, Mackenzie Reese and Presley Davis. Hebby lives in Arlington, Texas with her husband, Luis, and maltipoo, Maximillian.

You can find all her books at Amazon.  Or visit her website or Facebook.

Don't forget the first in the trilogy, A HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS.