A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING

 

by

 

Stephanie Raffelock

 

 

Genre: Inspirational / Spiritual / Essays / Self-Help

Publisher: She Writes Press

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

Number of Pages: 119 pages

 

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All around us, older women flourish in industry, entertainment, and politics. Do they know something that we don’t, or are we all just trying to figure it out? For so many of us, our hearts and minds still feel that we are twenty-something young women who can take on the world. But in our bodies, the flexibility and strength that were once taken for granted are far from how we remember them. Every day we have to rise above the creaky joints and achy knees to earn the opportunity of moving through the world with a modicum of grace.

Yet we do rise, because it’s a privilege to grow old, and every single day is a gift. Peter Pan’s mantra was, “Never grow up”; our collective mantra should be, “Never stop growing.” This collection of user-friendly stories, essays, and philosophies invites readers to celebrate whatever age they are with a sense of joy and purpose and with a spirit of gratitude.

 

 

 

 

  Amazon ┃ IndieBound

 

 

Praise

 

“Where are the elders? The wise women, the crones, the guardians of truth here to gently, lovingly, and playfully guide us towards the fulfillment of our collective destiny? It turns out that they are right here, in our midst, and Stephanie Raffelock is showcasing the reclamation of aging as a moment of becoming, no longer a dreaded withering into insignificance. A Delightful Little Book on Aging lays down new and beautiful tracks for the journey into our richest, deepest, and wildest years.” – Kelly Brogan, MD, author of the New York Times bestseller A Mind of Your Own

 

“A helpful, uplifting work for readers handling the challenges of growing older.” – Kirkus Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

This is an introspective book about aging as a person, especially as a woman, and is a book meant to be savored and reflected upon.  We all feel what the author has felt at one time or another whether we are over 60 or under 60.  This is a crazy world and we have to learn how to adapt and cope so that we don’t make ourselves crazy in the process.

This book is divided into four sections that address different aspects of how to age gracefully.  The sections are Grief, Reclamation, Vision, and Laughter.  Grief is letting go of ideas of what it means to be young or what you believe youth means from the outside. Reclamation is reclaiming who you are and perhaps past hobbies or interests that might be a new outlet for you. Vision is becoming engaged in life and perhaps taking what you reclaimed and make it your own.  And laughter really doesn’t need much explanation – it is celebrating life and not letting the little things bring you down.

There are many ideas that are repeated and to me, that means you need to take note of those things because they are important.  Exercise is one of those that is repeated many times and I can understand that because if you stay active you are able to do more things that keep you young.  I like how the author doesn’t say you need to be in a gym or lifting weights – just walk.

“None of us are in it alone. We are moving toward the sunset together, and on that horizon eternity lingers. May we all embrace living fully, with unabashed joy and appreciation for this path of transition.”

No matter your age, we all need to sit back and enjoy life and those that are in our life.  You never know what tomorrow will bring and by enjoying the simple pleasures in life and those around us, we make our days more fruitful and blessed.

“You don’t need a PhD to see that the personas we craft for social media are all rainbows and unicorns. It’s as though the struggles of our lives are shameful and must be kept secret. We need places (probably not social media) to give air to what it means to be human. Too much energy convincing everyone of how positive you are while holding sorrow in abeyance can turn a person numb.”

“Social media is not reality. Be real. Be vulnerable. Be authentic, and be yourself…and don’t waste too much time on social media.”

These two passages resonated with me especially in the crazy times we live in today. Many times I don’t want to even log into Facebook, Twitter, or even read/watch the news because of the negativity and the hate that I see many show towards one another.  It saddens my heart that many do not want to have civil conversations with someone they don’t agree with about the hot button topics.  But if we communicate with each other on an equal playing field, we may discover some information we didn’t know before, and perhaps our viewpoint will change or we will have a better understanding of how others think.

“What we shed are the “things” that gather dust – the things that bind, the things that have become clutter. The new skin is made of of the intangible – purpose, meaning, connection, joy, and love.”

This statement is so true and relevant.  We have become a world of consumers and these purchases bog us down.  What is really important is the experiences and relationships we have with others.  This is a good reminder for me to not worry about “things” and to enjoy life and the relationships with my friends and family.

“Taking full deep breaths slows everything down. I close my eyes and breathe deeply ten times. With each exhale I say to myself, “thank you.” And isn’t “thank you” a beautiful prayer to whisper throughout the day?”

I am a big believer in taking deep breaths to calms and center myself.  I never thought about saying Thank You while doing this and it makes sense.  We are thanking the universe for providing for us.  I plan to do this next time I need some calming breaths.

There are so many parts of this book that I enjoyed, from her frank discussions about life to sharing stories that touch your heart.  I especially enjoyed a story about six teenage young women that were at a pool helping a friend through a tough time.  From the outside, you might think that they are shallow or vapid young women, but if you look past appearances and listen to conversations, you might find the truth is the complete opposite.

Here are some of my other favorite lines from the book:

“I worked with my hairstylist so I could stop dying my hair. Now it’s turning silver. I prefer the word “silver” over “gray” because silver sparkles, and I think that women our age sparkle.”

“Love, even the size of a parakeet’s heart, is eternal.”

“The conclusion was that we fear insignificance.”

“I have accepted that, in order to be successful, I need failure.”

“As the plane landed, all the babies stopped crying. Clearly the whole thing had been planned. They had probably met at the changing table in one of the airport restooms and plotted their little baby tyranny.”

 

Overall this was a delightful book and there are many nuggets of wisdom to take with you as you continue on through life.  I think many could learn a little something from this book and I plan to share it with my girlfriends because I feel like they will learn something from this book.

We give this book 4 1/2 paws up and suggest picking up a copy for yourself and your friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Raffelock is the author of A Delightful Little Book on Aging  (She Writes Press, April 2020). A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, she has penned articles for numerous publications, including the Aspen Times, the Rogue Valley Messenger, Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, and SixtyandMe.com. Stephanie is part of the positive-aging movement, which encourages viewing age as a beautiful and noble passage, the fruition of years that birth wisdom and deep gratitude for all of life.  She’s a recent transplant to Austin, Texas, where she enjoys life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever, Jeter (yes, named after the great Yankee shortstop).

 

 

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS: Signed hardcover copy of A Delightful Little Book on Aging

+ a set of 50 pocket inspirations

 

ONE WINNER: A set of 50 pocket inspirations

 

JULY 7-19, 2020

 

(US ONLY)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

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7/9/20	Notable Quotable	That’s What She’s Reading
7/9/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
7/10/20	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
7/10/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
7/11/20	Author Video	All the Ups and Downs
7/12/20	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/13/20	Author Interview	Texas Book Lover
7/13/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
7/14/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
7/15/20	Podcast	The Clueless Gent
7/15/20	Review	Kelly Well Read
7/16/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
7/17/20	Guest Post	Missus Gonzo
7/17/20	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
7/18/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
7/18/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight

 

 

 

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Still Knife Painting (A Paint & Shine Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (June 30, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Miranda Trent has set up a sweet life in a scenic corner of Appalachia—until she stumbles across the trail of a killer . . .

After inheriting her uncle’s Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky—smack dab in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest—Miranda comes up with a perfect business plan for summer tourists: pairing outdoor painting classes with sips of local moonshine, followed by a mouthwatering sampler of the best in southern cooking.

To Miranda’s delight, Paint & Shine is a total success—until someone kills the cook. As the town’s outsider, suspicion naturally falls on Miranda. Murdering the best biscuit baker of Red River Gorge is a high crime in these parts. Miranda will have to prove her innocence before she’s moved from farmhouse to jail cell faster than she can say “white lightning” . . .

 

 

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Review

 

Merriment, Moonshine, and Murder – not exactly what you expect to find on a cultural tour in Kentucky.

This is a new series and I found it to be intriguing.  Set in Kentucky near the Daniel Boone National Park, I could imagine the hikes they took to Lover’s Leap, the small town with nosy citizens, properties set apart where cell service was sparse, and fascinating relationships between the various characters.  I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere with Miranda and the rest of the gang.  I could picture the mountains, the forest, and the small town with a few shops and businesses to frequent.  I really liked Miranda’s business – Paint & Shine.  I don’t know a lot about painting or moonshine but this is a tour I would check out.

The mystery is who killed Mrs. Childers and why.  Miranda had an argument with her (and maybe a few others) about serving moonshine and educating guests about its history.  While some of those might have had personal issues with alcohol, it surprised me how close minded some of these people were in reality.  The potential pool of killers is small, but who would have a motive to kill her?  When the truth is revealed, it was not surprising, but at the same time, it was amazing that a secret could be kept for all those years.  I suspected the killer but had no idea why this character would want to kill anyone.

The characters provided twists to the story and added background.  While Miranda might have visited the town growing up, she had a lot to learn about her uncle’s connection to the town and how these people played into his life and even Miranda’s.  I chuckled at the one police officer that had a weak stomach and was a bit of a bumbling character.  Not knowing much about the police in Kentucky, the tension between the Lexington police and those in the sheriff’s department in Wolfe County, was based on an old rivalry.  This could cause some issues in getting murders solved if there is not a common desire to work together.

I think there might be the beginning of a love interest for Miranda with Austin, the local Forest Ranger.  He seems very level headed and would be a good balancing character for Miranda.

Overall a good start to a new series and I look forward to seeing what develops next.  We give this 4 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

“You don’t find love, it finds you. It’s got a little bit to do with destiny, fate and what’s written in the stars.” Anais Nin

A hopeless romantic.
A cynical web show producer.
An unscrupulous cameraman.
A sleazy businessman.
An aspiring actress.
A womanizing best friend.
A scheming ex-girlfriend.
A commitment-phobic roommate.
An unlucky-in-love buddy.

These lives intersect when an average guy is awed by a gorgeous mystery woman on a New York subway and vows to meet her.

 

 

 

**Book releases July 14th, 2020, but you can pre-order now**

 

 

Review

 

How far would you go to find the person that captures your eye across a room or a crowded subway?  This book covers just that very thing but is it so Ryan can find this one woman or is it for ratings of an online magazine/celebrity gossip news source?

Ryan is a kind and endearing soul and it isn’t hard to see why anyone would be attracted to him.  He comes across as that perfect guy, but no one is perfect and I think Ryan’s downfall is he doesn’t realize that he doesn’t want this mystery woman when Angie has captured his interest and possibly his heart.

Angie was burned by a past relationship and when she agrees to help Ryan find this mystery woman, he is just another job.  That is until they spend hours scrolling through videos of those that have responded to his plea.  It doesn’t take long before she realizes the person that Ryan is and falls in love but takes a back seat to this work project.

This is a story of the search for a perfect relationship and sometimes you don’t know what you right under your nose until you lose it and then are miserable wanting it back.

I enjoyed the banter between Ryan and Angie and the addition of their friends/roommate/co-workers just rounded the story out.  Josie is a true friend and has her own ideas about men and relationships which is a boon to Angie when she has her rollercoaster moments.  Diego and Luke provide some great comic relief but are also Ryan’s support system.  There is a side story with Luke and Josie that I think would make a great book, so maybe the author has that the works?  We can hope!  Ryan’s younger sister is a hoot.  She knows her brother well and likes to poke fun at him when the situation arises.

But no story has all likable characters.  Barry is the sleazeball owner of Gossip Monger and is all about the dollar and using anyone and everyone to pull in higher ratings for his shows.  Frankie is Ryan’s ex-girlfriend who wants to try and get back with Ryan for the publicity.  You could say she is Barry’s dream come true!  Harlan is a character that is on the fence.  He could go either way – slimeball or friend.

I enjoyed the banter between the characters and watching Ryan and Angie’s story develop.  It wasn’t a smooth road but it all works out in the end.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lisa Becker is an award-winning romance writer who spends her time like she spends her money – on books and margaritas. As Lisa’s grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a tush.” Lisa is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach, California with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for anyone!

 

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Synopsis

 

A tragic mystery blending sleuthing and spirituality

​An exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture, Winter of the Wolf follows Bean, an empathic and spiritually evolved fifteen-year-old, who is determined to unravel the mystery of her brother Sam’s death. Though all evidence points to a suicide, her heart and intuition compel her to dig deeper. With help from her friend Julie, they retrace Sam’s steps, delve into his Inuit beliefs, and reconnect with their spiritual beliefs to uncover clues beyond material understanding.

Both tragic and heartwarming, this twisting novel draws you into Bean’s world as she struggles with grief, navigates high school dramas, and learns to open her heart in order to see the true nature of the people around her. Winter of the Wolf is about seeking the truth—no matter how painful—in order to see the full picture.

In this novel, environmentalist and award-winning author, Martha Handler, brings together two important pieces of her life—the death of her best friend’s son and her work as president of the Wolf Conservation Center—to tell an empathetic and powerful story with undeniable messages.

 

 

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Praise for Winter of the Wolf

 

“Martha’s gut wrenching and captivating story may be a work of fiction, but it hauntingly hits home. I felt like I was reading my worst nightmare.”  –Stephanie Ruhle, NBC News

“Handler takes us deep inside one family’s tragedy and shows us how our spiritual beliefs can guide us at our deepest moments of grief. As we travel with fifteen-year-old Bean, through the loss of her beloved brother Sam, we see how friendship, trust, and deeply held beliefs help her navigate the painful aftermath of his death. In a mystery that races forward, Handler shows us the power of sibling love to endure forever.  –Lisa Heffernan, Author of Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults

“All great books open our minds, broaden our visions and strengthen our convictions, and Martha Hunt Handler’s Winter of the Wolf does all three brilliantly. Much like a wolf, 15-year-old Bean follows her intuition, desperate and determined to prove her beloved brother did not choose to end his life. As readers follow her emotional and spiritual journey, they will, undoubtedly, begin to question their own beliefs about life and death and our interconnectedness of all spiritual beings. A breathtaking read from start to finish.”  –Hélène Grimaud, Founder of the Wolf Conservation Center, world-renowned musical artist, writer, and human rights activist

“A true literary masterpiece.  Martha Hunt Handler takes us on an ‘edge of your seat’ thriller, We find ourselves arriving at the fearless collision course between perceptions we hold, and forgives within. A double take on life’s purpose, spirituality, and the distance unconditional love is forced to take through a journey of unfathomable pain, to the bright light we all hold within us.”  –Wendy Diamond, Best Selling Author, TV personality, animal advocate, and founder of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

“Let Winter of the Wolf take you on a journey of the soul to unearth the truth to set you free.”  –Emme, Supermodel and social reformer

“Winter of the Wolf is a compelling, heartfelt tale based on a story close to the author’s heart. She takes what is a difficult subject and weaves a captivating story about life, death, grief and gratitude.  A must read for any age.”  –Mary Ellen Keating, Former Senior Vice President of Communications, Barnes & Noble, Inc.

“What we attempt to capture in our photographs, Martha Hunt Handler portrays with her words in a heartbreaking story that reminds us of our interconnectedness with all that is living and breathing on our planet.”  –Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier, Co-Founders of SeaLegacy, world renowned nature photographers and filmmakers

“Heart-warming and unflinching, Winter of the Wolf explores one family’s struggle to face the complex nature of death and loss. A timely and important tale for all ages, it offers a powerful message of hope for our lives.” –Kristen Wolf, Bestselling author of The Way: A Girl Who Dared to Rise

“Winter Of The Wolf takes you on an amazing and emotional journey through suicide and spiritual discovery.”  –Bria Neff, Teen wildlife artist and advocate

 

 

Guest Post

 

Inspiration for the Plot of Winter of the Wolf

 

By Martha Hunt Handler

 

In 2001, when I was 42, I received a call that rocked my world. My childhood best friend, Gretchen, had just found her 12-year-old son Brendan hanging from a belt in his bedroom. Almost immediately, I felt myself shutting down. I couldn’t process the loss of such a young soul, and I had no clue how to comfort Gretchen. Growing up, she and I were exceptionally spiritual, thanks to the daily teachings of our mothers. We understood that souls, as pure energy, cannot be lost nor destroyed, but only change form. We also believed that each of our lifetimes is part of a long journey that ultimately contribute to our soul’s growth. But when Brendan passed, none of our beliefs seem to make any sense. What could Brendan possibly have learned or accomplished in his short lifetime?

Needing a place to put all my agonizing questions and thoughts, I began to journal. But I was getting nowhere. Brendan’s death still felt like a very dark and mysterious hole. Dark, because neither Gretchen or I was having any luck contacting Brendan, and mysterious because, despite the compelling evidence, Gretchen was adamant that he hadn’t taken his own life, and I trusted her instincts.

About four months later, I began to hear Brendan’s voice. He was requesting that I write a fictionalized account of his story, which sounded absurd. I exclusively wrote non-fiction pieces as an environmental consultant and, more recently, as a magazine columnist and supporter of the Wolf Conservation Center. I didn’t have a clue how to write fiction nor did I believe I had the talent for such an endeavor. And, even if I did, I didn’t know Brendan’s story; I didn’t understand why he was no longer with us. So, what did he want me to write?

A few weeks later, while cleaning out an old chest of my childhood keepsakes, I came across a book I’d written and illustrated when I was seven years old. It brought back a profound and sad memory. I’d spent all evening alone in my room that night as I conceived of this original tale of a runaway bunny. When finished, I presented it to my father and proudly proclaimed that I was going to be a writer when I grew up. Instead of congratulating me, he laughed and told me that writing stories wouldn’t pay the bills. I was devastated, but I didn’t have it in me to challenge him. But now, I wondered if Brendan wasn’t right. Perhaps writing fiction had been my destiny all along.

One of the more important themes in my novel is encouraging young people (and adults) to trust their instincts and not letting others dissuade them from their deep knowing of themselves. When we’re young, we’re incredibly susceptible and vulnerable to the opinions of others. This, and the fact that we feel pressure to “fit in,” results in us hiding or suppressing those unique and magical parts of ourselves, which results in many of us never reaching our full potential.

Remembering this sad incident helped launch my writing. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I dug in, showed up, and wrote as if I were on a mission. I attempted to tell the story from a bunch of different angles but finally settled on having the protagonist be a sister who loses her older brother. Once I found my protagonist and nailed her voice, the story began to come together, just as Brendan had promised.

It has been a long and winding road writing Winter of the Wolf, but it has been the journey of a lifetime for me. In the beginning, I just wanted to get the story out as quickly as possible, because it was painful to sit day after day in the heavy aftermath of a child’s death. But the more I let myself go into the pain, the more light I began to see. So, though it’s a story that begins in a place of profound grief, it moves to a place of profound gratitude.

Though I still can’t tell you what Brendan accomplished in his lifetime, in his afterlife, he helped me re-believe and re-discover my innate storytelling talents, and for this, I will always be grateful.

 

 

About the Author

 

Martha Hunt Handler grew up in northern Illinois dreaming about wolves and has always understood that her role in this lifetime is to tell stories and be a voice for nature. She has been an environmental consultant, a magazine columnist, an actress, and a polar explorer, among other occupations. She has also driven across the country in an 18-wheeler and been a grand-prize winner of The Newlywed Game.

Soon after she and her family relocated from Los Angeles to South Salem, New York, she began to hear wolves in her backyard. This was the start of her twenty-plus-year career as an advocate for wolves at the Wolf Conservation Center, where she currently serves as Board President. When not up near the wolves and her rescue pups, she can be found in New York City with her husband and four adult children.

This is her first novel but definitely not her last.

 

 

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Relentless in Texas

 

by Kari Lynn Dell

 

Publication Date: 6/30/2020

 

Synopsis

 

There’s a reason they call this cowboy relentless

Gil Sanchez was once rodeo’s biggest and baddest hotshot. Now he’s thirteen years sober and finally free of the pain that ended his skyrocketing career. Given one last, near-miraculous shot to claw his way back to rodeo glory, he can’t let fantasies of happily-ever-after dull his razor edge…but Carmelita White Fox is every dream he’s never let himself have.

And from the moment he saw the spark of challenge in her eyes, he hasn’t been able to look away.

Carma may come from a Blackfeet family noted for its healing abilities, but even she knows better than to try to fix this scarred, cynical, and incredibly sexy cowboy. Yet she’s the only one who can reach past Gil’s jaded armor, and the fiercely loyal heart buried beneath the biting cynicism is impossible to resist. Gil needs Carma just as much as she needs him, but as the pressure builds and the spotlight intensifies, they’ll have to fight like hell to save the one thing neither can live without.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

If following Carmelita was a bad idea, it was going to be one of the more interesting mistakes Gil had made. He didn’t just want her. He craved her…and that rarely boded well for him. But just this one time…

When the back door of the bar thumped shut behind them, Carmelita stopped and dragged in a long, deep breath. Her words came out in puffs of vapor. “God, that was suffocating.”

The closeness of the overcrowded bar? The argument with her cousin? The attention? “Why did you come?”

“My grandmother volunteered my services. Fund-raisers are the worst, though. Everyone is so…” Her hands fluttered in a broad circle, encompassing the tearful out­pourings of gratitude that marked benefits.

“You’re used to being in the spotlight.”

“I prefer an audience to a crowd,” she said flatly. And the difference was in the separation. She could walk off a stage without interacting with the masses.

She tipped her head back to gaze into the heavens and her body language slowly shifted, as if she was drawing in the stillness. When she started off through the parking lot, she once again moved with fluid grace. Gil matched her stride, closing the space between them so his coat sleeve swished against hers.

“Bing told me about you, and introduced me to your… friend,” she said.

With that slight hesitation, she summed up Gil’s uncer­tainty about his relationship with Hank, past and future. “I’m his sponsor,” he corrected stiffly.

“Mmm.” A sound that translated to if that’s what you want to tell yourself. “We lack many things up here on the rez, but we do not have a shortage of recovering addicts.”

“I watched Hank grow up. I understand him.”

She angled a searching glance beneath lowered lashes. “I see.”

Yes, she did. There was something in the way she looked at him—through him—that made him want to both hide and move closer. He did neither. The breeze caught her hair, sending a strand fluttering and carrying the scent of pine needles and snow down from the mountains. He swung around to face her as they stopped beside the door to his truck, and when he looked into her eyes, he felt as if he was losing his balance, falling into one of the bottomless mountain lakes—only much warmer. He could just keep sinking and sinking…

She caught him, pressing her hands flat against his chest, but her smile was tinged with regret. “I wish I could stay. You and I would be very good together, I think.”

The image of Carmelita naked and lush under his hands sent heat shuddering through him. Then he regis­tered what she was saying.

“You’re leaving?” Gil frowned at her in disbelief.

The hitch of her shoulder set the moonlight shimmer­ing through her hair. “I can’t leave my grandparents with a sick baby.”

“His mother didn’t seem overly concerned.” Gil’s voice was harsh, along with his judgment of her charming cousin. Even when he’d been regularly popping Vicodin like breath mints, he’d managed to stay clean on the weekends he’d had his son.

Carmelita smoothed her palms over the front of his jacket. “Next time?”

“I won’t be back.”

She angled her head to give him another searching look, then nodded. “You’re taking Hank home. That explains it.”

“What?”

“This.” Her hand moved down, pressing with unerring accuracy over the clutch in his gut. She reached up with the other to brush cool fingers over the knot of tension in his forehead. “And this.”

He wanted to lean into that touch—into her—and let her wipe his mind clean for a few hours.

“I’m sorry I can’t do more.” She stroked a blissful circle on his temple. “But I can give you something for that headache.”

“A fistful of ibuprofen?”

“A promise.” Her eyes were steady, her tone certain. “Hank will be fine. He’s stronger than you think, and what­ever you’re keeping from him, he’ll understand it was for the best. So will the others.”

Gil jerked his head back. “I never said anything to Bing about that.”

Her hands fell away and she angled her gaze upward, eyes going distant. In the Panhandle the stars were painted on the sky. Here it seemed as if they were standing among them.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I just feel it. But I’m almost always right.”

Without warning, she tipped onto her toes and pressed her mouth to his. Her lips were cool, but at the touch of her tongue the glowing embers they’d been gathering between them burst into flame, whooshing through him like a prairie fire. His thoughts, the last of his reservations, the ability to think at all were consumed by a wall of heat. He gripped the lapels of her coat to drag her hard against him, and she fisted her hands in the sides of his jacket, pressing even closer. Her tongue slid over his, the friction setting off more sparks.

A palpable shudder ran through her. She braced her hands on his shoulders, slowly, inexorably separating her mouth from his. Then she smiled, a copper-skinned Madonna with fathomless eyes, and pressed a palm over his thundering heart. “You should get some rest, Gil Sanchez. You’ve got a long drive tomorrow.”

 

***

Excerpted from Relentless in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell. © 2020 by Kari Lynn Dell. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

Kari Lynn Dell is a ranch-raised Montana cowgirl who attended her first rodeo at two weeks old and has existed in a state of horse-induced poverty ever since. She lives on the Blackfeet Reservation in her parents’ bunkhouse along with her husband, her son, and Max the Cowdog, with a tipi on her lawn, Glacier National Park on her doorstep and Canada within spitting distance. Her debut novel, The Long Ride Home, was published in 2015. She also writes a ranch and rodeo humor column for several regional newspapers and a national agricultural publication.

 

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Synopsis

 

Growing up in Reading, Michael Bond never thought of himself as a writer. He quit school at the age of 14, served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and later went on to work as a cameraman for the BBC. Struggling to tap into something more creative, the inspiration came to him after an unexpected trip to a toy shop, where he bought the last bear on the shelf for his wife. This would later become Paddington Bear.

More Than Marmalade: Michael Bond and the Story of Paddington Bear (Chicago Review Press; March 3, 2020; Ages 9 to 12), by Rosanne Tolin, is the untold story of Paddington Bear’s author Michael Bond. This middle-grade biography uncovers the many important elements that inspired the Paddington story, including Bond’s early life, world history and the cultural events of the 1950s. Kids will be captivated as they learn about the true events—such as WWII and the refugee crisis—that influenced many of the details in the series, events that are still relevant to this day.

Aiming to shine a hopeful light on what we can learn from the past, the book captures the care that went into Bond’s creation of Paddington Bear and how Paddington has become a timeless, beloved character in both children’s literature and film. Chockfull of whimsy, heartfelt anecdotes and charming takeaways, the book captures the loving relationship between Bond and his protagonist. Tolin explains how this relationship soon spanned nationwide, as Paddington went on to win the hearts of families across the world.

A story of perseverance and imagination, More Than Marmalade will inspire young readers, telling the unlikely success story of a brave displaced bear and his writer. Along with plenty of pictures of Michael and his personal Paddington Bear, kids will learn about life as it was during the 1950s.

 

 

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Review

 

Most everyone knows Paddington bear from either the books, the stuffed animal, or the movies.  But how many know the story behind Paddington Bear?

This biography about Michael Bond is well researched from the bibliography listed at the back and it is obvious the author took great care in creating this book.  While this book is aimed at middle-grade, it can be ready by anyone and I found it endearing and educational at the same time.  This book follows the life of Michael Bond from his early years until his passing.  It reflects his thoughts and emotions during WWII and what he observed including the children that would show up in his town with name tags hanging from them.  Many of the families took in multiple children to keep them safe from the unrest in their country.  These children were scared of what might happen to them or their families and I’m sure it was a huge adjustment for them.  This experience made an impact on Michael and is part of how Paddington came to be years later.

Here are a few of my favorite lines:

“My father’s motto was, “The most precious gift you can bestow on a child is your time.””

“I could have pasted my room with rejection slips,” he later said. “But I never gave up.”

 

This book showcases one of the world’s beloved bears and is well worth the read.  If you have a child that needs to read a biography, this would be a wonderful one for them to read especially if they are familiar with Paddington Bear.  Even if they are not, it will most likely spur interest in the lovable bear.  If you are a teacher, this would be a wonderful classroom addition.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

An experienced and well-respected journalist, Rosanne Tolin is the creator and editor of the ALA award-winning children’s e-zine and website Imagination Café. Tolin is also the former managing editor of Guideposts for Kids magazine and the Guideposts for Kids website. She lives in Chesterton, Indiana.

 

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Witch Hunt (A Full Moon Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (June 30, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Murder isn’t always crystal-clear . . . especially when the prime suspect discovers she’s a witch.

Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s “voodoo shop,” the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1.

But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . .

 

 

 

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Guest Post

 

In my new series, The Full Moon Mysteries, my character Violet Mooney runs a crystal shop in cozy North Harbor, Connecticut. Owning and operating a crystal shop is my dream job – aside from writing, of course – so it was the perfect choice for Violet. It also fits with her story. She’s had a talent since she was very young on choosing the right healing stones for family and friends. She always assumed it was just that, a talent. But when Violet finds out that she’s a witch, she begins to understand that her powers, even though they were largely dormant, were enhancing her abilities to pick the perfect stone all along to help others heal.

For me, crystals are a huge part of my writing practice. I rely on my stones for the various moods I’m in as I put a book together. From setting up stones around my writing desk to sleeping with them under my pillow to help me work out problems or plot holes in my sleep, I totally rely on them as much as food or water – possibly even more.

Here are a few of my favorites:

 

Amazonite – for the nervous system, positively impacts focus and concentration

Blue quartz – for mental clarity, focus, and creativity; also promotes organization

Carnelian – for career (a power stone!) and a great self-motivator

Clear quartz – clears the mind of distracting thoughts and mental chatter

Lepidolite – for balancing mood swings and helping with meditation

Howlite – for sleep and grounding

Sodalite – for communication, memory, organization, and inspiration

 

Of course, this is only a few from my list. I am officially a crystal addict, and the more stones I learn about, the more I want to add to my collection. The best part is, it’s all in the name of research.

 

 

About the Author

Cate Conte is the alter ego of Liz Mugavero. Liz is the author of the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series from Kensington Books, the first of which was an Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. Cate is the author of the new Full Moon Mysteries for Kensington and writes the Cat Cafe Mystery series for Minotaur Books. As you can imagine, her canine and feline rescues demand the best organic food and treats around. She is a member of Sisters in Crime National, Sisters in Crime New England, Mystery Writers of America, and the Cat Writers’ Association. She currently lives in Connecticut.

 

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A Cowboy State of Mind

 

by Jennie Marts

 

Publication Date: 6/30/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

The town of Creedence, Colorado, gets involved in horse rescue in bestseller Jennie Marts’ brilliant new series

Zane Taylor has a gift for communicating with animals, particularly horses, but he’s at a loss when it comes to women. He’s a scarred and battered loner who has sworn off love—except he can’t seem to stay away from Bryn Callahan.

Bryn Callahan has a heart for strays, as evidenced by the assembly of abandoned animals that have found their way to her doorstep. But she is through trying to save damaged men. She vows to date only nice guys, which is a category that does not include Zane Taylor. Too bad he’s the one who sets her pulse racing every time she’s around him.

A chance encounter with a horse headed for slaughter brings Zane and Bryn together. Although starting a horse rescue ranch wasn’t in the plan, now Zane and Bryn have a chance to save not just the animals, but maybe each other…

 

 

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Excerpt

 

The still-nameless dog jumped into the cab as Zane Taylor opened the door of his pickup, and he absently patted its head and rubbed behind its ears. The dog leaned into him and got that blissed-out look on its face, and Zane’s tension eased a little as it always did when he interacted with an animal. The late spring sun warmed Zane’s back, and as soon as he turned his attention away from the dog, he felt the weight of the decision he bore on his shoulders. His former boss, Maggie, had been nagging him to come back to his old job on her Montana ranch. She’d taken in a herd of wild stallions, and she needed him. He’d gotten by so far with vague replies, but it was time to give her an answer. Time to get back on the road and out of Creedence. Except the reason he was so fired up to leave was also the reason he wasn’t ready to walk away.

He shrugged the soreness from his shoulders. He’d had a good morning with Rebel, the headstrong black stallion he’d been working with for weeks now. Maybe the horse could feel the warmth in the air as well. Although it was Colorado, so they could still get a snowstorm or two before spring reluctantly slid into summer.

“Nice job today, horse whisperer,” Logan Rivers, his current boss, and friend, hollered from the corral where he was putting another horse through the paces.

Zane waved a hand in his direction, ignoring the comment, as he turned the engine over and pulled the door shut. He wasn’t fond of the nickname, even though Logan had been using it since they were in high school and working summers at Logan’s family’s ranch.

Zane could admit grudgingly that he did have a gift with horses, especially the dangerous or wild ones, somehow connecting with the animals better than he ever did with people.

The black-and-white border collie mix rested her head on Zane’s leg, and he stroked her neck as he drove toward Creedence, where no one was a stranger and everyone knew not just your business, but your cousin’s as well.

He lowered the windows and turned on the radio, contemplating the errands he needed to run after he grabbed a plate of biscuits and gravy at the diner. The thought made his mouth water. So did the thought of hopefully seeing a certain blond waitress who had been taking up way too many of his thoughts these last few months.

He slowed, his brow furrowing, as he recognized that same waitress’s car sitting empty on the side of the road. The car was an old nondescript blue sedan, but there was no mistaking the colorful bumper stickers stuck to the trunk. A bright blue one read “What if the hokey-pokey really is what it’s all about?” and the hot-pink one above the back taillight read “It was me. I let the dogs out.”

His heart rate quickened as his gaze went from the empty vehicle to a hundred yards up the road, where a woman walked along the side of the highway, her ponytail bouncing with each step and a light-colored dog keeping pace at her heels. Which was pretty impressive, in and of itself, since the dog had only three legs.

But then, everything about Bryn Callahan was kind of bouncy, and she was just as impressive as her dog. The woman was always upbeat and positive. Even now, with her car sitting busted on the side of the road, her steps still seemed to spring, and the bright sunlight glinted off her blond hair.

He drove past the abandoned car and onto the dirt shoulder as he slowed to a stop beside her. “Need a ride?”

She turned, her expression wary, then her face broke into a grin, and it was like the sun shining through the clouds after a rainstorm.

“Hey, Zane,” she said, the smile reaching all the way into her voice as she grasped the door handle. She looked steadily into his eyes, her gaze never wavering, never sliding sideways to stare at the three-inch, jagged scar starting at the corner of his eye and slicing down his cheek. Most people couldn’t keep their eyes off it, but Bryn acted as if it wasn’t there at all. “I sure do. I was supposed to start my shift at the diner ten minutes ago.”

She opened the door, and the dog bounded in, hitting the floorboards, then springing onto the seat to wiggle and sniff noses with the border collie. They could have powered a wind farm, the way their tails were wagging and their little butts were shaking.

“Hey, Lucky.” He leaned in as the dog leapt over the collie’s back and into Zane’s lap, where it proceeded to drench his face in fevered licks and puppy kisses. Lucky was like a hyper three-legged Tigger as he bounced from Zane’s lap back to the collie, over to Bryn, and back to Zane.

“Lucky, get off him,” Bryn scolded. She tried to push her way into the truck as she got her own slobbery reception from the collie.

Zane chuckled and grabbed her hand to help her into the cab. But his laugh stuck in his throat as heat shot down his spine and his mouth went dry. He swallowed and tried to focus on assisting her, instead of staring at the area of bare skin he glimpsed as the top of her dress buckled and gaped from her movement. It was just the side of her neck, but it was the exact spot he’d spent too much time thinking about kissing.

“Silly mutts.” She laughed as she tossed her backpack on the floor and plopped into the seat. Her hand was soft, but her grip was solid, and for a moment, he wondered what would happen if he didn’t let go. “Wow, what a greeting,” she said, as she released his hand to buckle herself in.

Zane’s eyes were drawn to her legs like bees to honey. The woman had great legs, already tan, and muscular and shapely from her work at the diner. Her white cross-trainers were scuffed with the red dirt from the road, and she had a smudge of dust across one ankle that Zane was severely tempted to reach down and brush away so he could let his fingers linger on her skin.

Bryn wore a pink waitress dress, the kind that zips up the front, with a white collar and a little breast pocket, and the fabric hugged her curvy figure in all the right spots. For just a moment, Zane imagined pulling down that zipper—with his teeth. His back started to sweat just thinking about it.

Simmer down, man. He took a deep breath, utilizing the stress-reducing exercise he’d learned in the military, and tried to think of something witty to say. He didn’t usually let himself get carried away with those kinds of fantasies. But he didn’t usually have Bryn in his truck, filling his cab with the sound of her easy laughter and the scent of her skin—traces of honeysuckle and vanilla and the smell of fresh sheets off the line on a warm summer day.

“That dog is serious about kissing. I haven’t had that much action in months.” He winked, then laughed with her, pulling his hand back to ruffle Lucky’s ears as the dog settled into the seat next to the collie. He tried to play it off like a joke, to settle his pounding heart, when what he really wanted to do was pull her into his lap and kiss her face and throat the way Lucky had done to him. Well, not exactly the same way.

Bryn snorted and scratched the ears of the collie, who was softly whining as she pressed into Bryn’s shoulder. “He’s just happy to see you. It’s been a while, ya know?”

“Yeah, I know.” It had, in fact, been months since he’d seen her.

“Well, Lucky has noticed you haven’t been around much.” She dropped her gaze and her voice as she focused on petting the dog. “We both have.”

Both?

“Are you saying you missed me?”

“I didn’t say missed. I said noticed.”

His shoulders slumped. Of course she hadn’t missed him.

She playfully nudged his elbow, and he felt the heat of her skin against his arm.

“Of course I missed you. You all but disappeared after the great Christmas pie bake-off in December.”

He chuckled as he shook his head. “I still can’t believe we made fifteen pies in four hours.”

“I still can’t believe you wore a frilly apron with a glittery cupcake on the front.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What other kind of cupcake is there? And I liked that glittery color. I’m thinking of having it added to the paint job on my truck.”

A laugh burst from her. “I dare you to.”

He let his voice drop and offered her what he hoped was a flirtatious grin. “I do enjoy a good dare.”

She chuckled, then lowered her gaze to the dog’s shoulder, where she scratched its fur. “So, why didn’t I hear from you? Was it something I said or did?”

Yeah, it was everything you did—everything that made me want and hope and wish for something more. “Nah. I was going to call you, but we got real busy at the ranch. Then I heard you started dating some rough-stock cowboy, and I didn’t want to overstep.”

“Is it overstepping to be my friend?”

He cocked his head, eyeing her. “Is that what you want me to be? Your friend?”

“Of course. I didn’t give you my number for you to not call me.”

Wrong question, dumbass. Should have asked her if all she wanted was to be his friend. He offered her a shrug. “I’m not much of a talker.”

“That’s perfect. Because I can talk up a blue streak, and I’m always on the lookout for a good listener.”

He chuckled. “I can do that. I can probably even throw in an occasional grunt of agreement just so you know I’m paying attention.”

She giggled softly, and the sound swirled in his chest, melting into him like molasses on a warm pancake. “That sounds great.”

 

Excerpted from Cowboy State of Mind by Jennie Marts. © 2020 by Jennie Marts. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennie Marts is the USA Today bestselling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. She is living her own happily ever after with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet that loves to tweet to the oldies, in the mountains of Colorado.

 

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GATES OF MARS

 

The Halo Trilogy #1

 

by

 

CLARK HAYS AND KATHLEEN McFALL

 

 

Genre: Science Fiction / Detective (hard-boiled)

Publisher:  Pumpjack Press on Facebook

Date of Publication: June 16, 2020

Number of Pages: 336

 

 

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IN THE AGE OF SURVEILLANCE, HOW CAN A PERSON GO MISSING? 

The year is 2187. Crucial Larsen, a veteran of the brutal Consolidation Wars, is working as a labor cop on Earth. The planet is a toxic dump and billions of people are miserable, but so what? It’s none of his business. He’s finally living a good life, or good enough. But then Essential, his beloved kid sister, disappears on Mars. When Halo—the all-powerful artificial-intelligence overseeing Earth and Mars on behalf of the ruling Five Families—can’t (or won’t) locate his sister, Crucial races up-universe to find her.

In the Choke, the frigid, airless expanse outside the luxury domes, Crucial uncovers a deadly secret from Essential’s past that threatens to shatter his apathetic existence … and both planets. Blending science fiction with the classic, hard-boiled detective story, Gates of Mars is a page-turning, futuristic thrill-ride featuring a gritty, irreverent anti-hero, Crucial Larsen. The first book of the Halo Trilogy, Gates of Mars is the eighth novel by award-winning authors, Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall.

 

 

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Praise

 

“An indelible introduction to an interplanetary saga and its sublime characters.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The authors’ imaginations again run wild, this time a science fiction/detective series looking at what our lives may hold in the not too distant future if everything that can go wrong does go wrong. And they’ve done it with their trademark undercurrent of humor that lifts an otherwise dreary future into something resembling—do I dare say?—hope. Their best work to date. And the giraffes? You’ll have to read Gates of Mars to find out. I’m already wishing they could write faster.” —Renee Struthers, East Oregonian newspaper 

“With twists and turns true to some of the best noir detective pieces—but with an other-world setting and futuristic society—along with psychological insights and connections, Gates of Mars is a riveting, unexpected story, filled with intrigue and change. Sci-fi and detective story readers alike with find Gates of Mars one of a kind, worthy of avid pursuit.” —Midwest Book Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIVE QUESTIONS with Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays

 

 

What’s the premise of the new novel?

 

Set in 2187, Gates of Mars blends science fiction with a classic, hard-boiled detective story. Crucial Larsen, forty-one, a veteran of the brutal Consolidation Wars, is working as a labor cop on Earth. The planet is a toxic dump, and billions of people are miserable, but he doesn’t care—not his business. It took him a long time to get to the good life, or a good-enough life. But then Essential, his beloved kid sister, wins the Mars labor lottery. After only a week on the red planet, she disappears. When Halo—the all-powerful artificial-intelligence overseeing Earth and Mars on behalf of the ruling Five Families—can’t (or won’t) locate his sister, Crucial races up-universe to find her. In the Choke, the frigid, airless expanse outside the luxury Martian domes, Crucial uncovers a deadly secret from Essential’s past that threatens to shatter his apathetic existence … and both planets.

 

Why write about Mars now?

 

One of the coolest things about being a writer is you get to indulge your interests. The information beaming back to Earth from NASA’s Rover exploration, especially about the geologic features and the possibility of ancient water on the planet (beyond the current ice), is fascinating. Combine this curiosity with the fact that a handful of billionaires are deploying an enormous amount of personal treasure to meet their scientific fantasy of Mars colonization, and we were hooked.

 

Why tackle the rise of monopolies in your world-building?

 

At a certain market size, monopolies (and the wealth they generate for individuals) will be (are?) equivalent to nation-states in terms of their influence on the global stage. Right now, we are seeing a rise of monopolies across all markets. In Gates of Mars, we combine the current plutocratic fascination with Mars colonization with this market consolidation into monopolies and jump forward a century or so. In this imagined future, family-controlled monopolies get bigger and bigger, own more and more capital, and roll up small and mid-size businesses until the inevitable occurs. Militia-backed war becomes a means of negotiation for market territory, and eventually the monopolies are the government, de facto or otherwise. At the same time, climate change worsens, the temperature rises, and pandemics have their way with humans, creating successive waves of climate and virus migrations. Earth is a hot mess. Simultaneously, the potential for Mars colonization becomes a reality and, naturally, only the uber-wealthy ruling families can afford to go, so they abandon Earth to create a “gated community” on the red planet.

 

Sounds doomsday. Is it a warning?

 

Gates of Mars is fiction, and our overriding goal is to entertain our readers with a fun, futuristic thrill ride. But if readers see a glimpse of a bleak and probable future that, if we act now, could be crushed, that would be a good outcome. Although admittedly, we are alarmed by what seems like possible movement in this direction, given the now-worldwide collapse of small and mid-sized businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the move to seize power by a variety of totalitarian actors.

 

You’ve written award-winning alt-history and horror novels and are consistently called out for your humor. Is Gates of Mars funny?

 

Very funny (we hope). And irreverent. A bit uplifting, even. The story is told from the perspective of Crucial Larsen, a battle-weary, caustic, gritty mess. In addition to looking for his kid sister, his trip up-universe will force him to see the one woman he can’t ever seem to get over. She’s a revered scientist who is genetically recreating, among other creatures, giraffes.

 

 

 

 

 

Clark and Kathleen wrote their first book together in 1999 as a test for marriage. They passed.

Gates of Mars is their eighth co-authored book.

 

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS: One Winner: First edition copy of A Very Unusual Romance 

 

One Winner: All four books in The Cowboy and the Vampire Collection 

 

June 29-July 8, 2020

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily.

 

Or, visit the blogs directly

 

 

6/29/20	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
6/29/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
6/29/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
6/30/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
6/30/20	Review	Sybrina’s Book Blog
7/1/20	Author Interview	StoreyBook Reviews
7/1/20	Review	Book Bustle
7/2/20	Excerpt	All the Ups and Downs
7/2/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/3/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
7/3/20	Review	Bibliotica

 

 

 

 

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The Rebel Wears Plaid

 

by Eliza Knight

 

Publication Date: 6/30/2020

 

Synopsis

 

Toran Fraser encounters a mysterious rebel, and he can’t resist being recruited to her cause…

Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites. On a late-night mission, he’s intercepted by a woman known only as “Mistress J,” who’s determined to put Prince Charlie back on the throne of Scotland. Toran can’t resist her appeal—especially with her pistol pointed at his heart—and suddenly finds himself joining the rebellion…

By day, highborn Jenny Mackintosh runs her estate in the Highlands. By night, she’s one of Prince Charlie’s Angels—a band of Jacobite rebels. Scoffing at mortal danger, she raises coin, delivers weapons, and recruits soldiers for the rebellion. When she encounters a handsome Highlander who is clearly on the run, she is more than a little intrigued. She isn’t expecting to be his enemy…

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Toran jerked around. Suddenly, figures melted out from the shadows. Scots, but in the dark and dressed as they were, he couldn’t make out what clan they hailed from. At the center of the five men stood a lass. Aye, she wore trews and had her hair up under a cap, wisps of golden strands peeking through, but there was no hiding the curves beneath her shirt and waistcoat. In the moonlight filtering through the trees, she looked bonnie—high, arching cheekbones, a mouth that puckered into a frown. But what struck him most was the spark of fire in her gaze. Her eyes reflected the light of the moon, almost making her look like she was glowing.

And the muzzle of her pistol was pointed right at him. Outlaws… Of all the bloody luck. He reached for his own pistol tucked into his belt.

“Dinna move,” the lass said. Her voice was throaty, sensual. “Else I put a bullet through your heart.”

A slow grin formed on Toran’s face. “What’s to say I won’t put a bullet in yours first?”

The lass looked down at Archie and then flicked her gaze back to his. “Ye’re outnumbered. Let’s say ye were willing to pull your weapon before I took my shot, and then ye were to waste your bullet, there’d be five more cutting through ye before ye were able to see the result.” Again, she looked at Archie. “And your friend doesna seem like he will be much help.”

“We’re verra close to the English garrison, lass. Any shot ye make will be a beacon to the dragoons lurking about. And trust me, there are hundreds of them headed this way as we speak.”

“Is that so?” She glanced at Archie once more. “A prison break? So ye two are rebels, aye?”

Toran didn’t answer. Let her come to her own conclusions.

“We have horses.” She kept her gaze on his, and he had the intense urge to draw closer. “Ye and your friend can have one when we return to my camp—for a price. Why not donate your coin to the cause and join us? We’ve a need for more rebels.”

Toran did not want to join her. Now, if she’d asked him to join her for some mutual warmth under a plaid, that would be another story. Then again, she had a point about the bullets. And he truly did not want to die.

“I’m guessing from your current circumstances ye are in need of a helping hand, sir.” Her voice was smooth, even melodic, but still filled with authority. And considering that she was the one speaking, she certainly gave the impression that she was the one in charge. Fascinating.

A group of men led by a woman? Not a common thing, and intensely intriguing. Whoever she was, she had ballocks as full of steel as his own. And if he weren’t trapped in the woods with her, a hundred redcoats on his tail, he might have asked her to join him for a dram.

“Who are ye?” Toran asked.

A soft laugh escaped her, and her hand waved dismissively. “Not yet, sir. Ye’ll have to prove yourself first.”

Prove himself? He gritted his teeth. “All right, we’ll join ye.” There really was no other choice. He and Archie needed a quick escape, and her horse would provide that. Just because he was taking her up on the offer now didn’t mean he had to stick it out. In fact, as soon as he could, he’d steal the horse and somehow get Archie back to Fraser lands where he could make certain the rest of his family was safe from Boyd.

“Good.” She nodded to Dirk. “Search them for weapons, and then help the wounded man onto your horse.”

Toran stood still for the inspection, gritting his teeth as his weapons were removed. “I’ve said we’d join ye. Why then are ye treating me like a prisoner?”

The lass cocked her head to the side, a slight grin curling her upper lip. “We must first see that ye are trustworthy.” With an added challenge echoing in her words, she said, “Ye can ride with me. And dinna try any tricks, else ye find yourself verra dead.”

The lass didn’t beat around the bush, and there was no hint of humor in her tone at all. She meant what she said.

Toran climbed onto the back of her horse, his cold, wet body flush to her warmer, dry back. Beneath the icy exterior was a lass full of lush curves. Mo chreach… Good heavens, but she felt good. Hesitantly, he placed an arm around her waist.

She shuddered. “Blast, but ye’re soaked,” she hissed. “Ye should have warned me. And ye smell like the devil’s own chamber pot.”

Toran chuckled. “A hazard of escape, lass.”

Her back straightened, and she leaned forward, away from him. “Ye can call me Mistress J.”

Mistress J? Why did that sound familiar?

“And ye are?” she urged.

“I’m called Toran,” he said slowly as realization struck him. The night had taken a very interesting turn. For he was holding onto the woman he suspected might be responsible for his mother’s death.

 

Excerpted from The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight. © 2020 by Eliza Knight. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

ELIZA KNIGHT is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical romances. Under the name E. Knight, she’s known for riveting tales that cross landscapes around the world. When not reading, writing, or researching, she chases after her three children. In her spare time she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, and visiting with family and friends. She lives in Maryland.

 

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