Tuesday, August 31, 2021

River's Journey by Ryan Jo Summers

 


Winds of Destiny, book 1

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: 03-08-2021

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press


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River Gallagher loves three things-- her family, Frank Finn, and her hometown. Her property management career is going great, or at least it was until Calder Finn arrives in town. His rash plan threatens her and the future of everyone in Sweetwater Harbor, NC.

Calder Finn returns home to settle his father's estate. But not only is his father still alive, he has a wild and beautiful guardian. River not only threatens Calder's intention for a quick escape, she also questions his beliefs. Something very few people have ever done before. Tempers flare and personalities clash until an uneasy alliance is forged... at least temporarily.



Excerpt

River stretched and yawned, reaching out to pet the dogs. 

Pepper peered at her, panting. 

“Where’s Salt?” Rolling out of bed and tugging on her robe, she headed for the living room, Pepper trotting at her heels. Reaching the doorway, she slammed to a halt, one hand going to her chest. 

Bathed in the morning glow, Calder sat at the window, looking out beyond the harbor. 

Salty curled in his lap. 

The scene was altogether tender and poignant. Then, she spotted the envelope gripped in his hand, and she knew Frank’s letter to his son had been as emotional as hers. 

Swallowing hard, she nodded to the terrier at her feet and stepped into the room. Crossing to the chair, she waited until Calder looked up. “Hi,” she greeted him. “New buddy?” She flicked a finger at Salty. 

“He just hopped up here on his own.” 

“I don’t doubt it. It’s hard to make him do anything he doesn’t want to do. He was a real challenge to obedience train.” She gazed out over the harbor. “Looks like it might be a nice day out.” 

She saw his shrug in the glass reflection, and her heart twisted in sympathy. 

“Are you okay?” She turned back toward him, and Salty took an unconscious step forward. 

He nodded. “Yeah, just thinking. You know.” 

“Yes, I know.” Frank’s letter had a way of making one stop and think, a lot. She rested a hand on his shoulder for a moment. “Do you have any plans for the day?” 

“Not at the moment.” 

“How about I go make breakfast? Then after showers, we can figure out the day’s game plan.” 

“Sure.” 

River took her time, first running Pepper out for a short walk. Salty would move when he wanted to, and she would bet not until Calder got up. Finished with the Scottish terrier, she went into the kitchen, looking around. Eggs, pancakes, or waffles, what should she make? 

Pausing, she braced her hands against the counter, suddenly out of breath. Why was the sight of Calder sitting by the window, bathed in dawning light, so gripping? Enough to leave her almost trembling and breathless? 

Could the reason be because every time she looked into his eyes, she saw the eyes of his father instead? She supposed that was possible. Or was she seeing the man young Calder had grown into? 

Maybe she needed a diversion. Maybe she had been spending too much time with him. The last few days they had hardy been apart. Well, he had his rental car back now, so she was free of the transportation duties. Not that she minded them, of course. And her plan to take him around to the area residents no doubt gave him some other things to hopefully think about, beyond his dad’s letter. But now maybe she needed to return to her other duties. 

She hauled sausage and eggs out of the fridge, certain she had the perfect diversion for herself. 

About the Author

Ryan Jo Summers lives in Western North Carolina. Her first published non-fiction came in 2007 with articles for local, and eventually national, and on-line magazines. In 2012 she released her first fiction novel with a small press publisher. Since then, she has released countless articles and over a dozen novels and novellas with assorted publishers. She also released two self-published books.

Ryan Jo comes from a family of wordsmiths. Her dad is a songwriter, and his aunt wrote poetry. Ryan’s style in fiction writing would broadly be labeled as clean, sweet romance, but she stretches fingers out into the assorted sub-genres. On several occasions she weaves threads from different sub-genres into one book. Wholesome, sweet titles would include “Beside Still Waters”, “Cinnamon’s Courageous Heart”, and “Rainbows in the Moonlight”. Her multiple-genre threaded titles comprise of “Chasing the Painted Skies”, “September’s Song", and “Wild Whispers”.

Ryan Jo’s other passion beyond writing is animals. She has worked as a veterinary technician, director in a non-profit rescue shelter, provided foster care, and more recently she worked as a dog walker and boarding service. She has a menagerie of rescued pets who keep her company and offer inspiration. Her rom-com book, “It Happened at the Park” was largely written during the time she and her collie, Ty, visited the community dog park. She has two dogs saved from traumatic origins, feral cats who adapted to the house cat lifestyle like Garfield took to lasagna, a bonded pair of bunnies, a flock of chickens, fish, and a talkative parrot who is currently in his “trying twenties’ stage.

Ryan Jo bought a century-old mountain cottage and when she’s not writing or working, she enjoys restoring the Victorian echoes inside and creating flower and vegetable gardens outside.  Other interests include houseplants, baking and cooking—because the cutting and blending is therapeutic - working bent and wiggly word-find puzzles, exploring the nearby national forests, and of course, reading. While she lives land-locked in the mountains, she dreams of packing up her dogs and going to the beach.

 

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Purchase Links

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Friday, August 27, 2021

SALE ON ALEXANDRA'S AWAKENING!

 By Caroline Clemmons

 

In the first book of the Pearson Grove Series, MAIL ORDR MORIAH, Alexandra Novak was not heroic. In fact, she was a spiteful brat.  Since then, life has shaken her world and forced her to realize how selfish she’d been. Don’t you love it when the bad girl turns good? I hope you do, because she is the heroine in ALEXANDRA’S AWAKENING, book 2 of the Pearson Grove Series. The book is on sale for 99¢ from today through Monday midnight, August 30.


 

Here’s the blurb:

 

A wealthy woman forced to change...

A heroic sheriff standing his ground...

The danger that unites them…

 

Alexandra Novak has been raised in wealth and is used to having whatever she wishes. Her parents have spoiled her and she’d begun to believe it her right. A fire that destroys her family home and almost costs her mother’s life starts Alexandra to rethink her values. When her father’s revelation shatters her world, she is determined to do whatever necessary to make her father happy—even if it means being nice to that girl he’s brought into their home.

 

Virgil Witt is the best sheriff Pearson Grove has had. Under his leadership, crime is at an all-time low. He has reconciled himself to the fact that he is destined to live alone except for his dog. Maybe that’s best since his job is a dangerous one. He can’t understand why Alexandra chases him, especially not after he’s explained he has no money.

When danger strikes the Novak family, can Virgil solve the problem in time? How can Alexandra convince Virgil she has changed? Can the two of them work together or will her need for the best resurface?

Here’s the buy link at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Alexandras-Awakening-Pearson-Grove-Book-ebook/dp/B07QN87L13/

 

Here’s an excerpt:

Alexandra crept until she was several houses away then hurried to the footbridge over Pearson Creek. She leaned on the railing and let out all her frustration, disappointment, and resentment. With her arms crossed on the rail and her head pillowed on them, she didn’t know how long she sobbed.

“Here, now. Nothing’s as bad as that. You mustn’t jump.” Strong arms gently pulled her away from the rail.

As if being caught here wasn’t bad enough, she recognized that voice. “I wasn’t going to jump, Sheriff Witt. Can’t a person have any privacy?”

“Miss Novak? This is not an area of town for a woman like you to be out alone in the evening. What are you doing here?”

“That’s none of your business. Besides, I thought you prided yourself that the town was safe.” How could she explain such a humiliating incident?

He turned her to face him but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“Alex… Miss Novak, I can’t force you to explain, but as sheriff of Pearson Grove, your safety is very much my business. In general, Pearson Grove is a safe town. All it takes is one bad person to assault you. You understand why I can’t leave you here alone. I’ll walk you home.”

“I can’t go home with my face all red and blotchy. What if someone sees me on the way?” She broke out in a new wave of sobbing and rested her head on the sheriff’s chest.

His arms came around her, patting and caressing her back. “Nothing is as bad as all that. What or who has you so upset?”

“Papa… Papa and Ron are at that girl… that Lula’s house. Why are they there? What is the attraction that she offers that Mama and I don’t? Why did they lie and say they were going to the Lodge? Oh, it’s too horrible to contemplate.” She couldn’t stop the new round of sobbing against his broad chest.

His embrace tightened and she thought he kissed her hair near her temple. Before she could process that intimacy, he continued, “Instead of worrying, why don’t you ask your father?”

“Ask him? Admit that I’ve been following him? How can I do that? He’d be hurt and angry. What would Mama think if she knew? Poor Mama.”

“Would asking him for an explanation be so bad? Could hearing any reasons possibly be worse than the way you feel now?”

She heaved a heavy sigh. “I guess not, but I don’t know if I can bring myself to confront them.”

Still holding her close, Virgil chuckled, his mouth near her ear. “I believe you can do whatever you set your mind to do. Come on,” he pulled away and handed her a handkerchief, “Dry your eyes so I can walk you home.”

Alexandra dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose. When she cried her face got all blotchy red and she imagined that’s how she looked now. She pulled the shawl further forward over her face, hoping it shielded her features from prying eyes in case they met anyone on the way home. With a deep breath, she stiffened her spine and held her head erect.

“I’m ready, Sheriff.” She took his arm as if he were leading her in most formal circumstances.

“Miss Novak, please don’t come down this way again alone at night. I come this way every evening. I’d be happy to escort you wherever you wish to go.”

“I’ve seen more than enough of this part of town and have no wish to ever come here again. But, I thank you for your offer.”

They strolled toward her house with the sheriff stopping once in a while to make sure a door was locked.

“Do you always rattle doorknobs like that?”

“That’s another part of my job. I ensure that no one forgot to lock his door and that no one broke in. Since I’ve been sheriff, the crime rate in town has gone down. I intend to keep it that way.”

“Do the businessmen know you do this?”

“They certainly do and they’re all in favor. It’s especially important if someone’s in a hurry and forgets to lock up. I don’t want any invitations issued for burglars to help themselves.”

“I only know about the bank and I know Papa and Ron always make sure everything is locked. I bet you’ve never found their door unlocked.”

“Nope, not even once. You’d be surprised at some I have found open.”

“Such as?”

“To quote you, Miss Novak, that’s none of your business.”

The nerve of him, talking to her like that. “Virgil Witt, you are the orneriest man.”

“Thank you. The sheriff’s not supposed to be a sweet pushover. People are supposed to be a little bit afraid of me.”

“Ha, like when you shoveled the snow from old Mr. Althoff’s walk last winter, that kind of fear? Oh, and when you repaired Mrs. Whittenberg’s front porch, that must have terrorized her.” If there were brighter light from the lamp post she’d be sure, but she thought he blushed.

His free hand tugged at his collar. “Well, I do community service you know. That’s part of my job too.”

“Phfft, I don’t think it is. I remember reading the requirements for the sheriff. You’re only to keep the peace and not break laws and to be fair so that everyone gets the same treatment. I suppose you do that even though you’re a lot friendlier to some than others.”

“I have friends I like to associate with when I can.”

“Like the Fergusons.”

“Yes, Scott’s been a friend since he moved here and now Moriah is a friend as well. I also know people I never want to be around unless I absolutely have to.”

“Like me.”

His steps faltered. “M-Miss Novak, why would you say such a thing?”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that every time you see me, you turn and go the other way. I guess partly you’re mad at me for breaking the engagement with Scott.”

“Not at all. You two should never have been engaged in the first place.”

“Why would you say that?” Before he could answer, she held up her hand. “No, wait, now that I think about it, you ran when you saw me before Scott and I stepped out together, much less were engaged. What did I ever do to make you dislike me so strongly?”

He spluttered a bit before he said, “I-I don’t dislike you, Miss Novak, so please don’t think I do. Here we are at your home’s front door. I’ll bid you goodnight.” He tipped his hat and turned to leave.

She fisted her hands on her hips. “There you go, running away again as if I were some sort of monster who frightened you.”

He turned back and faced her, a scowl on his face. “I do not run away in fear when I see anyone, Miss Novak, is that clear?”

She took a step his way. “What would you call the way you turn tail every time you see me?”

He sent her a wry grin. “Merely self preservation, ma’am.” He bowed and tipped his hat. “Goodnight.”

 


While you're here, why don't you follow me on BookBub? Here's the link: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caroline-clemmons


Don't forget that THEODOSIA: A Proxy Mail-Order Bride, is available now for only $2.99 or free in Kindle Unlimited. The print version is awaiting Amazon's approval. THEODOSIA is a sweet western historical romance set in 1878.

https://www.amazon.com/Theodosia-Proxy-mail-Order-Bride-ebook/dp/B09BD7RKXF

Stay safe and keep reading!

 

 

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Where the Trees Know You By Kerri Merriam Buckton

 Where the Trees Know You 

 


By Kerri Merriam-Buckton


 

Synopsis of the book: 


Rowan is still reeling from the discovery of her husband's affair and their subsequent separation. She is grappling with her new identity as a single woman and wondering how to move forward, when a message from the past thought to be long gone returns to her. This, along with her family's urging, convinces her to get away from it all and travel back to Ireland, a land she has always felt drawn to, and a place she remembers being truly happy. But this trip will become more than something to lift Rowan's spirits. It will teach her lessons in love, forgiveness, saving oneself, and the true meaning of home. 


Excerpt


He brought our hands up, entwining his fingers with my own, and placed his free hand on the small of my back.  I put mine on the back of his right shoulder, and we held each other in a dancer's embrace. As we began slowly moving with the music, I stared at his chest in front of me, not daring to look up. This was the closest we had been since he leaned in to kiss my cheek the night before. Now though, he held me in his arms.  

We continued swaying together to the melody, me still staring straight ahead, when I felt Declan squeeze my hand. I lifted my head to look at him. Our eyes met and held. Then seemingly in unison, slowly, bit by bit, he lowered his face to mine, and I lifted my face to meet his. We inched closer and closer together until finally, our lips met. 



 

 



 

About the Author: 

Kerri Merriam-Buckton grew up in the town on Saugeen Shores, alongside beautiful Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada. When she's not writing, she devotes her time to her husband and three children and dreams of traveling the world and discovering new stories. Where The Trees Know You, is her first novel. 

 

 

Website: 

kerrimbuckton.com 

Email: