RELEASE DAY FOR MAIL-ORDER VICTORIA

Release day is here for MAIL-ORDER VICTORIA, Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies book 7. I hope you will read and enjoy Victoria’s story. In my opinion, she’s a lovely person who is determined to give her daughter a good life. Greg Hardy is a good man who wants to protect his children and his ranch. However, they have different ideas of how to accomplish their goal. 

You can find this at the Universal Amazon link https://mybook.to/Victoria

If you prefer to order via the U.S. Amazon link, it’s https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Widows-Brides-Secret-Babies-ebook/dp/B086DFCDRB

Here’s the summary:

She has to protect her baby . . .

He is desperate for help . . .

Trouble preys on their livelihood . . .

Widow Victoria Bailey is desperate to prevent her in-laws from gaining custody of her eighteen-month-old daughter. If becoming a mail-order bride is her only option, she’ll take the risk. At least on a Texas ranch she’ll have quiet and peace. She doesn’t have time to let the groom know she’s bringing her daughter. Surely no man can object to one perfect little girl.

Widower Greg Hardy is desperate to get help with his home and his children. He needs to be pursuing whoever is rustling his cattle. A mail-order bride seems to be exactly what he needs but should he keep his children a secret? To insure he doesn’t scare off a prospective wife, he omits the fact that he has five children aged from eight months to twelve years old. 

Their marriage starts with misunderstanding. They decide to work together to fight against a common foe. Will the fight take a toll on their fragile happiness?

And here’s an excerpt of Victoria preparing for a bad storm when her new husband and his ranch hands are off chasing rustlers:

The excited whinnies of horses captured Victoria’s attention. She went to the window to see if someone was outside. Instead, she saw the dark cloud bank approaching. She raced to Cindy’s room.

“There’s a bad storm coming. The clouds look as if they contain hail or worse. Please watch the children while I put up the chickens and try to get the horses into the barn.”

The girl laid aside her book. “I can take care of the chickens. Sid can watch the other children.”

She laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Cindy, if this is a really bad storm and it hits while I’m outside, you’ll need to get the babies and Martha into the cellar. You’re the only one besides me who can manage that. I know I can depend on you. Frankie can get down the steps on his own with you watching. I’ll take Sid with me.”

She slipped into the boys’ room and saw that Sid was awake. “Come with me quickly, please.”

“What’s wrong?” He shoved his feet into his boots and followed her.

She hurried down the hall. “There’s a storm coming that might have hail in it and I’d hate for the hens to be injured or so frightened they quit laying eggs. I’ll get the horses into the barn if I can.”

Sid kept up with her. “The other horses will follow better if you bring in the bay stallion. He’s the leader.”

Wind blew in gusts, whipping up dust from the yard and molding her skirts against her. Greenish tinted air carried a heavy scent of moisture. She didn’t know about Texas weather, but in Atlanta these conditions meant one devil of a storm was on the way.

“I’ll get the horses while you get the hens. Can you do that?”

The boy hurried as they raced across the yard. “I’ve done it before.”

Victoria had ridden since she was eight but she’d never handled a frightened horse. She opened the barn door to the paddock and tried to whistle. Failing that, she turned and hunted a container. Using a bucket filled with oats, she cajoled the bay into the barn.

As Sid predicted, some of the other horses followed. There weren’t enough stalls for all the animals. To keep those she’d lured into the barn from leaving, she penned them by moving hay bales and barrels into their path. Both dogs were upset but fortunately wanted to remain inside the barn.

She ran out to the paddock and slapped a horse on the rump. Using the apron she’d removed, she shooed the stragglers toward the barn. Sid appeared and helped. He removed his shirt and waved it to drive the horses

The wind increased and pushed at her. Sid appeared to have trouble staying upright and the wind whipped his shirt from his hands. The airborne shirt caught on the fence and he grabbed it.

 Thunder rumbled and lightning shot across the sky not far in the distance. The storm moved rapidly their way. Soon it would be directly over them.

She and the boy got the horses inside and shut the barn door. She was breathless and rested her back against the door briefly. Would Greg and his ranch hands be all right?

“The milk cows are safe in here. What about the pigs? What does your father do to protect them?”

He buttoned his shirt. “We don’t do anything. They’re smart enough to go into the covered part of their sty. It’s like a small barn.”

Raindrops fell outside—large ones. Or was it hail? They couldn’t delay.

She put her arm around the boy’s shoulder. “We have to get to the house and into the cellar. Let’s hurry. When I open the barn door, you run for the house and go straight to the cellar. If Cindy doesn’t have the others there tell her to get them there now. I’ll secure the barn and be right behind you.”

Had water been given the animals? Feed to the milk cows and chickens? They were safe and she didn’t dare delay any longer. Deafening thunder rumbled overhead. Dark clouds released a downpour. By the time she reached the porch’s shelter, she was drenched.

MAIL-ORDER VICTORIA is part of a multi-author project (MAP) but is stand-alone. Being involved in these projects with several other authors is good for me. It takes me back to working for a newspaper when I was given an assignment and told how long to make it and the deadline. Although for a MAP I’m given parameters by the series creator, I get to write what I want within those guidelines.

I hope you’ll give MAIL-ORDER VICTORIA a chance and will enjoy it. I love writing and will continue as long as readers enjoy my work.