Jan Scarbrough's Ghost Mountain Ranch May Be a Bootiful Place to Stay!

Joining us today is Romance Gem author Jan Scarbrough to tell us a little bit about herself and her new Ghost Mountain Ranch box set. Let's start with Jan...


So, Jan, when did your love for writing start?

I had a motivating ninth-grade English teacher who encouraged me. For one assignment, we researched a career that interested us. I picked freelance writer. At that time, I doubted that I could even write a novel, let alone make any money doing it.

What is something you struggle with when you write?

Good books need conflict almost on every page. I’m not someone who likes conflict, so coming up with bad things to happen to my characters is hard.


Give us a brief glimpse at your road to publication.

I was an RWA Golden Heart finalist, but it didn’t lead to the publication of that book. After the prerequisite rejection letters, I finally sold a 50,000-word novel to Kensington for the Precious Gems series. This was before eBooks, of course. However, I “sold” my Golden Heart book to an eBook company. DUH. This was BEFORE eBook readers. I pulled the book (Tangled Memories) and it was published in paperback. Around 2006, I published eBooks with a small press. That’s where I learned to meet deadlines, work with an editor, and improve my writing. Finally, in 2013 after several small presses went out of business, I began to self-publish my books with the help of my techy husband. My first two published books are available today. They are KENTUCKY FLAME and TANGLED MEMORIES.

Do you have hobbies that you’d like to share?

My nine-year-old daughter begged for horseback riding lessons, and six months later I started taking lessons. That was a long time ago because she now has children of her own! I ride American Saddlebred horses. They are people horses. I love the history of the breed because they were “American Made.” Usually, I take a weekly riding lesson because I don’t own a horse. One of my all-time dreams was to own a horse. Over my lifetime, I’ve owned three! I’ve been treated for cancer in 2022, and my goal is to return to riding lessons.

Info about American Saddlebreds: https://www.asha.net/aboutus/theamericansaddlebred/


Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets?


I am married with two children and two stepchildren. Together, my husband and I have ten grandchildren—only one is a girl! Currently, I have a pesky cat named Folly. This summer we lost our beloved Pembroke Welsh Corgis. So, I went to the humane society just to look around. Of course, I spotted amber eyes who begged for a home. My husband agreed, so we brought home a red tick coonhound!! We knew nothing about coonhounds. Her first week she killed a backyard raccoon. She was a coonhound after all! Bella has turned out to be a super sweet dog and a welcome addition to our family.

Jan and Bella

Thanks for sharing yourself with us, Jan!

YOU CAN FIND JAN HERE:

https://janscarbrough.com/

https://twitter.com/romancerider

https://allauthor.com/author/JanScarbrough/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jan-Scarbrough/author/B001K8768A

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-scarbrough

https://www.facebook.com/Romancerider

Newsletter signup (free ebook) https://dl.bookfunnel.com/egu96mi9qf


Now let's find out about the Ghost Mountain Ranch box set...

Will the revelation of more shocking secrets from the past destroy their hopes for the future? The Ghost Mountain Ranch series is a good blend of mystery and romance.

DARBY: What is the truth behind the death of Darby’s mother? When the past once again intrudes on the present, will Darby do what she’s always done—what her mother did—and run away? Grief and secrets had torn Darby and Hank apart once. Given a second chance at love, will the revelation of more shocking secrets from the past destroy their hopes for the future?

SLADE: Someone knows the truth about the part Ghost Mountain Ranch played in Laurie’s life, and the terrible consequences of that past. But when the ghosts of the past threaten the lives of the living, will their growing attraction be enough to protect Slade and Laurie?

KELSEY: But something dark is happening at Ghost Mountain Ranch, where the past is reaching out in dangerous ways to haunt the living. Max is not only stirring up old feelings in Kelsey, but old secrets of the ranch’s inhabitants. Secrets someone might be willing to kill to keep. Can they finally lay the old ghosts to rest, or will the echoes of a decades-old murder destroy their second chance at love?



"Kudos to Jan Scarbrough for keeping the characters interesting and the plot twists intriguing from the first book to the last."

YOU CAN PURCHASE THE GHOST MOUNTAIN RANCH BOX SET HERE:

https://books2read.com/GhostMountainRanch

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3vHieeS

It's been great having you as our guest today, Jan! Please come back whenever you want! Have a wonderful day, all! :)

Meet Our Gentleman Caller ~ GENTRY! New Historical Romance From Caroline Clemmons!

  Happy Friday, everyone! Another work week in the books and a few days off to recover. Why not recover with some reading material? With that in mind, I've brought on another fellow Romance Gem, the lovely Caroline Clemmons. And she brought with her the handsome hero of her latest historical romance, Gentry. Let's get to know him...

So, Gentry. Let's start with an easy one...tell me about yourself. What is your occupation? Why? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

Hello, there. Sure nice of you to ask me here.
My name is Gentry McRae, and I’m co-owner of the Bar MM Ranch in Harrigan Springs, Texas. That’s in Harrigan County in the Texas Hill Country, next to Bandera and Medina Counties. I’m easygoing and slow to anger—but that sure doesn’t mean I won’t stand up for myself or my friends and family. While I was fighting for the Union Army in the war from 1861-65, I’d dreamed of getting away from all the destruction, going west, and owning a ranch. The Bar MM Ranch far surpasses those dreams. I’m a lucky man.

What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My parents were loving and kind people always willing to lend a hand to any needy neighbor or
stranger. My brothers, Craig and Quinn, and I were taught to work hard and think things through. We lived in northwest Georgia but signed up for the Union Army together. We were soon separated, and I’ve been hoping to find them ever since. Mama and Papa taught by example which has stuck with me. We learned we have a responsibility to work hard, share with others, and be an asset to the community.

That's admirable. Tell me, what is your earliest childhood memory?

The first thing that comes to mind is sitting around the kitchen table at dinner, listening to our parents talk, and then us boys telling them about our day. Recalling at the same time is playing with my brothers—we were too full of energy and mischief to keep it bottled up inside. We sure were happy growing up.

What tangible object would symbolize you? 

You ought to ask my wife or our three ranch hands or our cook. You’d probably get a different answer from each one, though, so I’ll try to choose. Let me think here a bit ... hmmm, guess you could say I’m like one of the willow trees down by the creek. You can push me and I’ll bend, but I won’t break. Instead, I’ll stand firmly rooted on the ranch I love.

Now tell me about Heidi. How did you two meet? What was your first impression of her?

That’s kind of sad, because my partner ordered Heidi as his mail order bride—with his
grandmother and a matchmaker’s help—from his hometown in Bavaria. But, my partner, who was also my best friend, died four days before his mail order bride arrived. He willed her a fourth of the ranch and me the rest. He also willed me his bride! I have to admit that poleaxed me. At first, I was mad at him and wanted to refuse. After a bit of ranting, I admitted I had to propose to her. Lucky for me she agreed.

Thank you, Gentry! Now let's hear more about your story...

Blurb ~

Nothing much riles Gentry McRae. He works hard on the ranch he co-owns with his immigrant best friend, and is content with his life. He’s proud of all they’ve accomplished in the ten years since the war. That is, until his partner dies and leaves a fourth of the ranch to his mail-order bride—and wills the bride to Gentry. “Now just a doggone minute, I don’t plan to marry for years!” But, a single woman can’t reside on a ranch where four men live without ruining her reputation. What’s a good man to do, except marry the woman when she arrives?

 

Heidi Roth has been spurned for being too plainspoken and too tall. In addition, her sister constantly makes fun of her for those reasons. That’s why—with many doubts—she’s willing to travel for months from Germany to Texas to marry a man who once lived in her town. When she arrives, she learns her prospective groom is dead, but left her his share of a ranch. She has serious doubts, but agrees to wed Gentry to protect her reputation. Sure enough, from the next day, one event after the other happens to complicate her life.

Excerpt ~

“If there’s anything you need from town before Saturday, tell me now.”

She shook her head. “I just want to be where my surroundings are not moving.”

He clicked the reins and they turned onto a road that ran beside a river. “I can understand that. Although I don’t remember when exactly you started your trip, I know you traveled a long time to get here. How long since you left home?”

“Over three months, but it seems much longer. Usually, I am not one to complain or get bored, but I found traveling so long very tiresome. Perhaps it is different if one is on a luxury ocean vessel, but I was on a smaller, very plain ship crossing the Atlantic. In New York, I changed to one even smaller to take me here. Being confined soon bored me, but I never tired of watching the sea.”

He chuckled. “I hope you saw your fill because there are only creeks and this river.”

She thought she should reassure him she was content with this setting. “The river is pretty. I do prefer being on land to sailing on a ship in all kinds of weather.”

He looked at her and raised his eyebrows. “Did you come through storms?”

“Mostly we had good weather. Several rains kept us in our staterooms. One terrible storm blew us off course and delayed the trip. That one terrified me and the other passengers. I was certain we would sink.” The memory sent shivers down her spine. She rubbed her arms, hoping to push away the fear she had felt.

“I’m glad you survived and arrived here in Harrigan’s Springs.”

His comment surprised her. Even if he was not sincere, hearing him speak the nice words boosted her spirits. “That is a kind thing to say. Thank you.”

They rode in silence for quite a while. He appeared concentrating on the road ahead, but surely he had driven this so many times he could do it easily. Besides, the horses probably knew the way.

“You didn’t tell me how Johann died.”

“He tried to rope a longhorn bull, but it gored him then stomped on him before we could rescue Joe.” He scrubbed a hand across his face as if wiping away something. “I’ll never forget that scene. I see it again and again in nightmares.”

“What is a longhorn bull?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t see some from the stagecoach. In a few minutes, you’ll see some longhorns grazing. You’ll know them when you see them. The one that gored Joe had six-foot horns.”

She gasped, imagining what horns that long could do to a person. She couldn’t picture such an animal. She wished her Texas books had illustrations.

YOU CAN GET GENTRY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6YN6QHK

 

Bio ~

Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error, she writes about handsome heroes, feisty women, and scheming villains in a tiny office surrounded by research books and mementos. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their pets, two indoor cats and a dog.

The over seventy titles she has created have made her a Top 100 Amazon historical author, a bestselling author, and won awards. She writes sweet to sensual romances, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. In addition to her series, she has written single titles and contributed to multi-author series and box sets. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading, dining in restaurants, browsing antique malls, delving into genealogy, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap.

Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Join her and other readers at Caroline’s Cuties, a Facebook readers group for special excerpts, exchanging ideas, contests, giveaways, recipes, and talking to like-minded people about books and other fun things.

Click on her Amazon Author Page for a complete list of her books and follow her there.

Follow her on BookBub.

To stay up-to-date with her releases and contests, subscribe to Caroline’s newsletter here and receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS THE BRIDE, a humorous historical wedding disaster that ends happily—but you knew it would, didn’t you?

 

 Seventy books? Wow!

Thanks for joining us today, Caroline!

 

 

To Be A Cowboy, Or Not To Be A Cowboy? by Romance Gem Kathleen Lawless

Hi, all! We have a guest post today from Romance Gem friend Kathleen Lawless, so without further ado...

When is a Cowboy not a Cowboy?

Merriam Webster defines ‘cowboy’ as an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks.

Then I saw this other definition: One having qualities (such as recklessness, aggressiveness, or independence) popularly associated with cowboys.

Lightbulb Moment!

Thus inspired, I created Blaze, a daredevil stuntman who wears leather chaps and rides a Harley instead of a horse. And like any cowboy who loses his ability to rope and ride due to an accident, Blaze has to reinvent himself after a failed stunt nearly kills him. Which is when we meet him.

Excerpt ~ 

“You’re early.” Kaitlin opened the door to see a man clad in dusty, formfitting leather, his shaggy caramel-colored hair badly in need of a trim. She stepped back a pace. “Come on in. Let’s see what you look like under all that road dust.’’

The stranger stepped past her and into the front hall. “You must be Kaitlin. Steve said—’’

“My brother knows I can’t resist a challenge.’’ Kaitlin circled the man, eyes narrowed as she inspected him from all angles. Actually, in the right clothes, this one should clean up quite nicely. And he did possess a certain undeniable something.

“One good thing. We should be able to fit you off the rack. There’s no time to wait for custom-tailoring.” Broad shoulders tapered to lean hips, which were hugged by a modern-day version of cowboy chaps in supple-looking black leather.

“But those chaps. The look is all wrong unless you’re auditioning for a cowboy commercial.” The garment in question sheathed him like an intimate glove, up over snakeskin boots to hug an impossibly long length of leg, before ending in a V of faded denim below his belt. The scrap of exposed denim was the exact same shade as his eyes. Realizing where her gaze lingered, she looked away and hoped she wasn’t blushing.

He rocked back on his heels and crossed his arms over his impressive chest. One side of his mouth quirked up in an endearing half-smile. “I wasn’t expecting an audition.”

Dead silence hung between them and Kaitlin felt herself flush. Weren’t people supposed to outgrow adolescent blushing? Apparently not her. Even her ears were burning. “Somehow, I get the feeling you’re not my brother’s friend/wannabe model I was expecting.”

“Is that what he told you?” The newcomer braced one shoulder against the doorframe as if he had every right to be there, thumbs hooked in the pockets of his jacket. His half-smile turned into the real thing. The change in expression deepened the grooves in his cheeks and gave him a lazy look that matched his careless pose.

His smile was addictive and Kaitlin caught herself starting to smile back.

“How about I introduce myself properly? The name’s Blaze.” Lazily his right

hand stretched toward her, broad and sun-browned with a faint line of scars

visible across the first two knuckles. “I’m your date for the weekend.”

One Fantasy Fall is on sale in the US for only 99cents this week. Grab your copy here!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096CRGV1L/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3


Oh, my gosh! If that isn't the best tease ever! I'm going to get my copy; you should too!


Here's the official blurb...

Blurb~

He’s every woman’s heart throb, and all wrong for her.

When a world-famous stuntman shows up at her door, Kaitlin is taken aback to learn Blaze is her ‘fake date’ for a charity fundraiser. She feels like the true charity case, for she’s been dreading attending the event where she’s sure to run into her ex-husband and his girl toy. But showing up with Blaze? On the other hand, being seen with him could do wonders for her new PR career. The press is hungry for an update on what he’s been up to since his last stunt ended in disaster.

When Blaze’s stunt career is stalled by a life-changing accident, he’s wary of the press in general and PR people in particular. But he has a soft heart for the underdog and something about Kaitlin sparks feelings, especially when they join forces to find a housing solution for a group of young people with no other place to go.

Because of her past, Kaitlin avoids anything that smacks of extreme sports, and Blaze represents everything she dislikes about the risk-taking lifestyle. But when a catastrophe with their housing project sees him once more put his life on the line to perform a death-defying stunt, she has to decide. Will her fears hold her back or can she leap alongside him into the future?

Bio ~

USA Today Bestselling author Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her many alpha male heroes.

Her hero, Steele, in HER UNDERCOVER COWBOY, is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was wooed by a man called Steel— while he’s not a cowboy, he is an alpha male and her forever hero. Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After.

Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Newsletter to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers. http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1



AMAZON | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB


Thank you so much for guesting today, Kathleen!

Romance Gem Liz Flaherty Is Bringing Color To Our World With LIFE'S TOO SHORT FOR WHITE WALLS

Good morning, all! What crazy weather have you got cooking today? We've had a little bit of everything lately--rain, snow, hail, high winds... Well, luckily we have books to distract us from such things. I speaking of books, (see that smooth segue?) today the wonderful Liz Flaherty is joining us with her new release, LIFE'S TOO SHORT FOR WHITE WALLS. We'll find out more about that, but first, let's get to know Liz better.

[Make sure to enter her giveaway below!]

When did your love for writing start?

I always said it started when I was nine and my aunt let me type on her portable Royal typewriter. I created a terrible story in which I misspelled consciousness. However, it has lately come to me that in the first grade, I felt a story in my Dick and Jane reader ended incorrectly and that my ending would have been much better. I still think it would have been, so, to answer the question, I was six.

What is something you struggle with when you write?

I struggle most with freshness. Since I like the sound of my own voice—gasp!—I think I don’t try to improve it or change it up. While I like it to be recognizable by readers, I truly fear Good grief, all her books are alike! Syndrome. (It’s a real thing—I just made it up.)

Where do you live? Where would you love to live?

I live in the cornfields of central Indiana, five or six miles from where I grew up. I love it here, politics aside (way aside.) That being said, on my first trip to Vermont after our youngest kids moved there, I knew I was home. I’m convinced it’s where I was meant to live, but someone took a wrong turn somewhere. If I had no one but myself to consider, I would move there tomorrow. However, I like having people besides myself to consider, so it’s not happening.

If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be?

I used to have one! Prior to cell phones, I had a CB because I drove 20-some miles to work and my husband worried less if I was “online.” My handle, since I was a postal worker, was Letter Lady.

What was the last song you listened to in your digital library?

“Sweet Baby James.” I love James Taylor. A lot.

What one thing (modern convenience) could you not live without?

No question about it—the computer. I’ve written 20-some books. Without the computer, I undoubtedly would have stopped midway through the first one. Oh, I would have a ton of handwritten manuscripts under the bed, but even in the last century, I don’t think there was an editor alive who’d have welcomed them. 😊

Thanks for sharing yourself with us, Liz! Now let's find out more about LIFE'S TOO SHORT FOR WHITE WALLS...

I worry a lot about my stories sounding alike, my heroines being paper-doll-cutouts of each other. I’m afraid I’ve written too many heroes with dimples in their left cheeks. Do I have too many people with crooked grins, one raised eyebrow, or a shrug that somehow defines their personalities?

I hope not, but a few of the things that are the same from book to book are starting over, new beginnings, home, friendships, tenderness. And I’m good with that.

They are there in Life’s Too Short for White Walls, when forty-something Joss Murphy and Ezra McIntire find themselves in the same place, but searching for different things. They know a few things about themselves by now—Joss is determined she will have color wherever she goes and Ez is committed to always being one step ahead of things that are dangerous or hurtful to anyone around him. 

Blurb ~

Still reeling from her divorce, Joss Murphy flees to Banjo Bend, Kentucky, where she'd been safe and happy as a child. The family farm is now a campground. Weary and discouraged, she talks owner Ezra McIntire into renting her a not-quite-ready cabin.

With PTSD keeping him company, Ez thrives on the seclusion of the campground. The redhead in Cabin Three adds suggestions to his improvement plans, urging color and vibrancy where there was none.

Neither is looking for love, yet the attraction they share is undeniable. Can the comfort of campfires, hayrides, and sweet kisses bring these two lost souls together?

Excerpt ~

Joss stopped under the canopy of trees that led back to the campground, opening her car window so she could breathe in the scent of early autumn. It was a hard thing for a person as busy as she’d always been to stare the future in the face with no idea what she was going to do with it. She would give herself time to decide, time to take more deep breaths and get over the feeling of dread that seemed to accompany her everywhere. Although she didn’t have enough money to last forever, it would carry her for a while.

She looked up at the trees, noting that the colors of the leaves were already changing and that the air smelled different—it wasn’t just the day’s lack of humidity. It was, she supposed, the scent of things dying, but she wasn’t going to think of it that way. To her, it was going to be all about starting over. Starting new in this beloved place that still felt like home.

HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN BUY LIFE'S TOO SHORT FOR WHITE WALLS:

B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lifes-too-short-for-white-walls-liz-flaherty/1140917290?ean=2940160796727

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09QXPBGG2/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i4

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/lifes-too-short-for-white-walls/id1606569657

Bio~

Liz Flaherty is rather bewildered by where she’s at in life. She doesn’t feel…er…elderly, but the truth is that she is. The Magnificent Seven grands have grown up on her, her own kids are all now older than she is, and her husband Duane has the same firm hold on her heart he’s always had. And it’s all good.

HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND LIZ:

http://lizflaherty.net/

http://www.facebook.com/lizkflaherty

https://twitter.com/LizFlaherty1

Newsletter signup: http://eepurl.com/df7dhP

Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SHAMROCKS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND from Romance Gem Lucinda Race

Top o' the mornin' to ya! And talk about the luck of the Irish, lucky you is getting a chance to go back to Last Chance Beach with Romance Gem Lucinda Race's SHAMROCKS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND! Let's find out more...

Blurb ~

Battered, broken, and looking for solitude smoke jumper Tric heads to Last Chance Beach and without warning walks into Kelly's cottage. She knows from experience this is the best place for him to recover and she'll share her safe haven with him. Will a bit of Irish luck and a matchmaking uncle give them a chance to find love?



Tric Ryan has spent the majority of his adult life jumping out of airplanes and into infernos. That is until a fateful jump nearly ends his career as a smokejumper. Badly in need of a change, he drives to Last Chance Beach to recover. A short respite at Shamrock Cottage promises him the solitude he needs to recoup or to figure out how he’ll face a future without the dangerous job he loves.

Kelly O’Malley moved to Last Chance Beach after a broken heart. She’s living in her uncle’s rental, Shamrock Cottage, after a fire destroys her home. Brandishing a skillet she’s ready to defend her safe haven from the battered and bruised man in her living room. A quick call to her uncle confirms the mix-up, and that he’s accidentally rented the cottage to both Tric and her for an open-ended stay. When they both agree they can share the spacious vacation home, sparks are sure to fly.

Kelly helps Tric recover with easy walks on the beach and friendship. Will the magic of Last Chance Beach, with a dash of luck from the Irish, heal the heartaches Kelly and Tric carry and help them find the love and a future they both deserve? After all, Shamrocks are a girl’s best friend.

Excerpt ~

Kelly O’Malley crept down the hallway of Shamrock Cottage, her heart pounding in her chest. The early morning sun streamed through the skylights and the hardwood floor was cool against her bare feet on this late-January morning. The weight of her cell phone was comforting in her sweatpants pocket.

Who the heck was in her house?

She slid along the wall like she had seen in those movies on television where the girl sleuth was stalking the unknown. Dramatic much? When she reached the end of the hall, she peeked around the corner, her gaze sweeping the open space of the living and dining rooms and kitchen. Standing in front of the sliding glass doors, looking out over the ocean, was a very tall man, even by her standards, as Kelly was tapping six feet herself. With a backpack over one shoulder and an enormous canvas duffel bag at his feet, he leaned heavily on a cane.

She tiptoed to the counter and grabbed the cast iron skillet, being careful not to make a sound. If he’d heard her, he hadn’t moved.

She raised the skillet to shoulder height, clutching it with two hands for good swinging leverage. “What are you doing in my house?”

The man slowly turned, grimaced, clutched his leg, and held up his other hand with the cane dangling from it. “What are you doing in my rental?” Confusion and pain clouded his eyes. “I promise I can’t hurt you.” He gestured to his leg. “Recovering from surgery and exhausted from a long drive.”

She didn’t lower her makeshift weapon but instead looked him over from head to toe. He was ruggedly handsome but did look road weary. “Rental?”

“Yes, well, actually this place belongs to a friend of my uncle, who’s a fire chief in Chicago. I signed the agreement on Rental Direct.” He shifted his backpack on his shoulder. “I can show you the agreement on my laptop.”

Well, that was the company her aunt and uncle used to rent their cottage, but that was before her house had burned to the ground in November and left her homeless.

“Who’s your uncle?”

He’d better come up with the right names or she’d call the police to escort him out and then change the code for the door lock. That thought caused her to frown; she’d changed it at the beginning of December.

“John Bannon, and he’s friends with Kevin O’Malley and his wife. I can’t remember her name.”

Well, that was her uncle. She kept holding the skillet with one hand and with the other withdrew her cell. “Joan. Her name is Joan. I’m going to give him a call and I’ll put it on speakerphone.”

“Good idea.” He took a slow, halting step toward her and a flash of agony washed over his face.

She softened but still brandished the skillet even though her arm was beginning to tremble. She lowered it. “No funny business.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Promise.” He gestured to a chair. “Mind if I sit?”

She pointed to a stool on the other side of the breakfast bar. Kelly didn’t want to look like she was a pushover, but his face was stark white and the last thing she wanted was for him to collapse.

TO PURCHASE SHAMROCKS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND:

https://books2read.com/Shamrocks

Bio ~ 

Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of romantic fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading romance novels and getting lost in the hope they represent. While her friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, her dreams were to become a writer—a romance novelist.

As life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to turn to her true passion. After developing the storyline for The Loudon Series, it was time to start living her dream. Her fingers practically fly over computer keys she weaves stories about strong women and the men who love them. 

Lucinda lives with her husband and their two little dogs, a miniature longhair dachshund and a shitzu mix rescue, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she's not at her day job, she’s immersed in her fictional worlds. And if she’s not writing romance novels, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on. It’s too bad her husband doesn’t cook, but a very good thing he loves takeout.

Thank you for joining us today, Lucinda! It's been great having you!

Let Nancy Fraser Tell You A Story ~ ONCE UPON AN ANGEL...

 

Good morning! Is it snowy in your neck of the woods? Maybe you need a sweet romance to keep you warm. And I've got just the thing for you... Please help me welcome back Romance Gem Nancy Fraser with her new release, ONCE UPON AN ANGEL! Let's find out more...

Blurb ~

Ariel’s an angel-in-training who has only one task she must complete to earn her wings—help the man she left behind find true love. She’s tried twice before, and failed. Or, did she?

 

Mark is a newly arrived soul in Heaven, one who was taken far too soon. He’ll need Ariel’s help to acclimate to his new, and totally surprising, surroundings.

 

Rick misses Ariel, yet is determined to move on with his life. Can this new barista at his favorite coffee shop be the woman he’s waited for?

 

Sabrina’s totally head over heels for the handsome Vice Principal, Rick. Yet, she comes with some hefty baggage. Can they make it work?

 

And, what has the archangel Gabriel done to hasten this double romance along?

 

Trigger warning: this story also contains two scenes that reference traumatic events surrounding children and schools. Please be advised that if this is something that may cause discomfort, you may wish to skip this book.

 

Excerpt ~

Ariel Pearce stood at the front of the assembled group, doing her best to covertly study the six newbies there for orientation. They sat still as statues in their seats, the only indication they were even awake shown in the way their gazes darted around the open space, taking it all in. Their expressions were a mixture of confusion and wonder. Glancing down at her notes, she prepared herself for the slew of questions she often had to field. Whether she wanted to or not.

She was about to begin her standard welcome speech when the door opened and Gabe—her direct supervisor—came through.

Oh great. Another impromptu performance evaluation.

It wasn’t until he’d come forward that Ariel realized Gabe wasn’t alone. Another man followed closely behind, his focus moving right and left; a look of utter disbelief rearranging his otherwise pleasing features.

“Oh good,” Gabe said, his deep voice filled with calm. “You’ve not started yet. I have a late arrival for orientation.”

Gabe motioned the young man to a nearby seat. Rather than turn and leave, Gabe settled into the chair at his side.

Drawing a breath for strength, Ariel launched into her presentation. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to your first day. My name is Ariel, and I’ll be leading orientation. Today we’ll cover the rules, our expectations, and I’ll answer your questions to the best of my ability.”

Whispers flitted through the room like a buzzing of bumblebees.

What? They weren’t expecting “rules”?

“Before I begin,” Ariel continued, “how about we go around the room and everyone tell us a bit about yourselves. Perhaps you can talk about your family, or a previous occupation. Whatever you’d like to share.”

When she motioned to the front row, a kindly looking, gray haired woman rose slowly to her feet.

“My name is Harriett. I’m a grandmother of five. I love to bake and used to work as an auditor for an insurance company. However, I’ve been retired for seven years.”

Once Harriet sat down, the young man next to her stood.

“My name’s Jeremy. I just graduated high school and was hoping to start trade school next spring. I enjoy playing video games and hanging with my buddies.”

One by one, they went around the room until they finally reached the man to Gabe’s left.

“And, you are?” Ariel prompted.

He raised his head and met her gaze. Yet, unlike the others, he remained seated. “My name is Mark. I am... was... a schoolteacher before...” His words drifted off.

Ariel knew better than to press for more.

“Thank you all for sharing. Once we’re done here, everyone will be assigned a mentor who will give them a more personalized tour. The overall expectations and rules are simple. We expect you to complete any assignments you’re given. We expect that you’ll attend to your personal space and keep it neat and clean. More importantly, we expect everyone will follow the golden rule of ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.”

“That’s it?” Harriet asked. “Surely there’s more.”

Ariel offered the anxious woman a smile. “That’s all there is to it, Harriet.” Ariel paused a moment before asking, “Does anyone else have a question?”

When no one raised their hand, Ariel breathed a sigh of relief. She hated the questions. Sometimes there were just no acceptable answers. “Well then, we’ll adjourn to the reception room next door where you will be introduced to your mentor.”

She raised her head and looked out across the room one last time, and let the importance of her next words sink into her very soul.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Heaven.”

One-by-one, the newly deceased filtered into the adjoining room, eager to meet their assigned guide. Only Gabe and Mark remained behind. Hesitantly, Ariel approached.

“Wonderful job, as always, Ariel,” Gabe complimented as she drew close.

“I’ll need to find another mentor,” she said once she’d stopped at Gabe’s side. “I’d only planned for six arrivals.”

“That won’t be necessary, Ariel. I’ve decided to have you work with Mark.”

“Me?” Ariel squeaked. She hadn’t been on mentoring duty in at least two years.

“Yes. You,” Gabe responded, his voice wrapping firmly around the two simple words.

“Of course. I’d be happy to be Mark’s guide.” Nobody argued with or questioned Gabe. She wasn’t about to be the first one to try.

“Here’s his intake information,” Gabe said, handing her the single piece of paper, the gold calligraphy exquisite in its perfection. Rising to his feet, he told them, “I’ll leave the two of you to get acquainted.”

Once Gabe left, Ariel scanned the form quickly, her attention drawn to the final few lines. “You were a teacher in Baltimore,” she said, meeting Mark’s dark stare. “So was I. Elementary though, not high school. Ages ago.”

“How long was ‘ages ago’?” Mark asked.

“Five years as of next February.”

He grew quiet, pensive, as if he were mentally calculating events and dates. Subconsciously, she supposed, he ran a trembling hand across his chest and glanced down at his black shirt and sport jacket, before coming back to meet her gaze.

“Peterson Elementary?” Mark finally asked. When she nodded, he drew a breath and added, “It makes sense, now.”

“What makes sense?”

“Why your boss chose you to be my mentor. We obviously have something in common.”

“Yes, I guess we do,” she agreed. “Gabe’s good at matching newly arrived souls with the right guide.”

“Gabe, is it? He never told me his name.”

Ariel stifled her urge to laugh. “Yeah, he’s reluctant about introducing himself. He goes out of his way to avoid intimidating people.”

A look of confusion furrowed Mark’s brow. “Intimidating? How?”

“Most new arrivals get star struck and nervous when they realize they’ve come face-to-face with the Archangel Gabriel.”

“Arch... Jeez, Louise.”

This time Ariel did laugh. “Exactly.”

Bio ~

Nancy Fraser a Top 100 best-selling and award-winning author.

She's also the granddaughter of a Methodist minister known for his fire-and-brimstone approach to his faith. Nancy has brought some of his spirit into her Christian romances. And, her own off-beat sense of humor to her clean & wholesome books.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

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Thank you, Nancy, for joining us and sharing your latest romance! Best wishes for you and ONCE UPON AN ANGEL!