An Uncertain Destiny--At Last!

This book has been a long time coming. Originally written over twenty years ago, the book has been shopped by two different agents, rejected more times than I can count and edited over and over again. The final product is a sweeping historical saga in the tradition of Margaret Mitchell and Kathleen Woodiwiss, if I may be so bold as to compare myself to those masters of the genre. The growing relationship between Nicholas and Megan pit family, faith and duty against an all consuming love. Set during a traumatic time in our history, Salem, Massachusetts at the height of the witchcraft trials provides the backdrop for the story. Historic figures mix with fictional characters in a way I hope will appeal to both fans of romance and students of history. I'm extremely proud of this book and hope everyone who reads it will feel my passion. Here's a sample. Enjoy!

He reined the horse to a stop before her cabin but held firm when she tried to slide down. The moon rose above the trees, shedding delicate light across the yard. Nicholas rested his cheek against her hair.

“I wish it had been me instead of Penny,” he whispered in her ear.

Her body quivered. “It was a careless thing to do.”

Need surged. “I want to kiss you, Megan. You can’t imagine how much.” His lips moved along her neck, caressing the smooth column. “Would it be so wrong?”

“Yes.” Her voice lacked conviction.

“It doesn’t feel wrong.” Longing held him in a vice that made him forget his responsibilities. When he stroked her cheek, the skin was soft beneath his fingers. Her warm body pressed against his.

“It feels right. Too right.” A telling quaver shook her voice as she leaned into him.

That was all it took. He kissed her, his lips slanting over hers. Turning her more fully in his arms, he buried his fingers in her hair and drank her sweetness. The first kiss was followed by a second and a third. When the mare shifted beneath him, he forced himself to release her.

Megan pushed against him and slid to the ground. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Moonlight gleamed on the white skin at the base of her neck as she stared at her feet. He wanted to kiss the vulnerable patch, run his tongue along the angled jaw. Cursing softly, he squeezed his eyes closed. “I’m sorry. I wish…”

“So do I.”

Before he could answer, she ran across the porch, wrenched open the door and slammed it closed. The solid thud echoed in the night. With a second curse, he wheeled his horse and galloped out of the clearing.

Get your Kindle copy now on Amazon! Paperback version coming soon.

Spring Sale!

We'll Never Tell is on sale for five days only--April 14-18--for .99 cents! This is the first book in the Secrets of Ravenswood trilogy. If you like fast paced action in a small town setting, give it a try. This is a Kindle Countdown Deal, so the book is available only on Amazon. Click HERE to get your copy.

Here's a short excerpt:

“Sadie’s found something.” Ethan maneuvered upstream, avoiding the worst of the debris. The dog stood still, ears perked, body quivering. He stopped. “Jesus.”

“Oh, no.” Sam hurried to reach him. “Is it the hiker?”

“Not the one we’re looking for.”

She stood beside him, and the breath squeezed out of her lungs. The rounded top of a skull was visible in the rubble below. Rib bones protruded from the earth. Spots danced in front of her eyes, and she forced herself to breathe before she spoke. “Not Barry Rutledge, but the remains look human.”

“Back, Sadie,” Ethan said, and the dog obediently retreated a few paces. He lowered himself the last few yards into the narrow crevice between the rocks, staying clear of the remains. “The flash flood must have uncovered her.”

Sam’s feet slipped in the loose soil, and she landed on her knees. “A woman?” Her gaze flew to the exposed bones. “What makes you say that?”

He squatted beside her and pointed. “See the bit of material showing through the loose rock. Looks like some kind of synthetic fabric, maybe from a jacket.”

Sam stared at the dirty piece of material. A hint of color was visible under the grime. “Pink,” she whispered.

“Most men don’t wear pink jackets.”

Champagne Flutes & Cowboy Boots!

What’s your idea of the perfect date? Candlelight and wine in an elegant restaurant with a sauve and sexy man? Or an outdoor barbecue and a beer with a rough and ready cowboy? Today we have the best of both worlds for you. Margo Hoornstra brings you her hero, Jonah Colt, a military veteran turned judge, while I'm sharing my cowboy hero, Cole Matheson.

Asking For Trouble by Jannine Gallant

Asking For Trouble is Free February 18-22 Only! Click HERE.

Daycare owner, Miranda O’Neill isn’t looking for a miracle. But that’s what it’ll take to convince Cole Matheson the American Dream isn’t a trap designed to suck the life out of a man. She wants a house with a white picket fence and babies of her own. He’s perfectly content claiming his aging hound as his only dependent. Six months before, they’d admitted love wasn’t enough and parted ways. But when Cole finds himself in charge of his nephew for the ten longest days of his life, he asks Miranda to put aside her heartache to jump into the fray. Will a demon in a diaper bring them together—or tear them apart forever?

“So, how was your day?”

Miranda turned away from the sun sinking below the horizon in a burst of gold and crimson, and regarded him with a sober expression. Taking the beer he offered, she nodded her thanks. “Pretty typical. One skinned knee, two leaking diapers, and twelve finger-painted masterpieces. And I did call the local paper about placing an ad for a new employee.”

“That’s good.” He took a swallow of beer and eyed her steadily. “What’s bugging you, then, besides the fact I left you stranded with Jackson?”

“I was a little pissed, but I’m over it. What I’m not over is this.” She spread her arms wide. “You and me, hanging out like an old married couple discussing our day.” She placed her beer on the table then pressed a hand to her breasts. “It isn’t helping, Cole. It’s making me want something I can’t have.”

He reared back. “I want it, too.”

“No, you only want part of it.” She pointed at Jackson who’d crawled into the grass to sit near Tucker. The boy threw dandelions into the air and giggled when they showered down on the dog. Miranda’s eyes clouded. “I want it all.”

“Maybe…”

“No maybe.” Swinging around, she crossed the patio. “I’ll go make a salad, and we won’t talk about this again.”

Cole stared after her departing back, and to his amazement, tears burned his eyes. He loved Miranda with an intensity that shook him to his soul. But was it enough to forgo his freedom?

Only If You Dare by Margo Hoornstra

Buy it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or the Wild Rose Press

All the pleasures and none of the pain, that’s what Cynthia Buckingham wants in a relationship these days. A one-night stand with Jonah Colt seems to fit that bill perfectly. Besides, her true passion is helping victims of PTSD reclaim their lives. Waking up after spending the night with a woman he barely knows, Jonah is stunned to realize sex for the sake of sex isn’t enough for him anymore. All he wants is to put the ravages of a military past behind him to focus on a peaceful civilian life. Will he allow himself to accept Cynthia’s help—and win her love?

From the very beginning, Jonah made the evening perfect. Taking them around to her side of the car, getting her safely settled and shut inside before he took his place behind the wheel. Then reversed the process after they arrived at Cornell’s, a high priced seafood restaurant, with the very best shrimp cocktail ever created.

“My favorite place. But how did you know?”

He paused to take her hand as they approached the entrance. “Let’s just say I used my powers of observation.”

Their evening together was wonderful to say the least. So why did an unusual sense of regret slide through her every time she and Jonah took a short break from laughing?

Because their time together like this, like a normal, happy couple who enjoyed each other’s company—outside the bedroom as well as in—would soon end?

Then what?

Had she so diverted from the no strings and no commitments plan she had laid out for the rest of her life? Who knew if she had the ability to pull it off?

If she concentrated hard enough, she could see them going on this way for years. When she allowed herself to imagine the two of them together beyond the one night stand that had drifted on for the better part of a few weeks now. Truth was, she could see them together, but not too clearly.

Life’s simple pleasures. That’s what she intended to share with Jonah Colt. Life’s simple pleasures. And none of its pain.

Margo Hoornstra hails from the Midwest, land of the—this year at least—never ending snow storms. It’s beautiful to look at but has put a crimp in her second love besides writing, long walks outdoors. Here’s where you can find out more about Margo:

Website     Blog     Facebook     Twitter

I live in beautiful Lake Tahoe where I enjoy hiking and snowshoeing in the woods around my home. My stories are set in small towns and reflect the beauty of nature. Here’s where you can find out more about me:

Website     Facebook     Twitter

Honky Tonk Hearts Blog Hop!

Gus Rankin owner of
The Lonesome Steer HonkyTonk

Ladies, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking old Gus, owner of The Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk, couldn’t have brought together all the lonely, broken hearts that he did. But I’m here to tell you I have. Not only do I have the pictures of these couples in my office to prove it, but there’s been a whole series of romances written about the men and women who found love at The Lonesome Steer. And just like every one of my couples, each of these romances is a keeper.

The authors of these books have put together a Valentine Blog Hop, an easy way for you to get a sneak peak at every story. Each stop will feature an excerpt that takes place in The Lonesome Steer. And there are prizes to put a bounce in your Texan Two-Step. To be eligible to win, visit each blog link below and leave a comment. The more hop stops you visit and comment on, the more chances YOU have to win a $50 gift card to The Wild Rose Press. In addition, the publisher has provided a second grand prize of a $25 gift card to The Wild Rose Press and a TWRP Mug for a random commenter (sorry, US visitors only for the mug prize). Some of the ladies will also be giving away their own personal prizes. So whatcha waitin’ for? Happy hoppin’! 

Sing to Me, Cowboy by LauriRobinson          Honky Tonk Man by Sylvie Kay

Lonesome Cowboy by Stacy Dawn                 Cowboy-sexyby Donna Michaels
A Song for Sophie by MacKenzie Crowne       The Morning After by Brenda Whiteside

Those Violet Eyes by Vonnie Davis                  Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis
Lost Memories by Sherri Thomas

Nothing But Trouble by Jannine Gallant

First the blurb:

Chase Paladin avoids commitment like a patch of stinging nettles. He's seen how love can trample a man, and he doesn't plan to get hitched—ever. But when Honor Jackson walks into his life, hell-bent on keeping her distance, she turns his convictions inside out.

One look at the too-handsome cowboy with laughing green eyes and a killer smile, and Honor knows he's nothing but trouble. She's come to Redemption, Texas to help an old friend, not to let another man charm her into certain heartache.

But every time she turns around, Chase is there, and the closer they get, the more she fears he'll break her heart. So when anonymous threats make it clear that someone in Redemption wants her gone, Honor is ready to oblige. Only now Chase isn’t certain he can live without her. 

Will two wary hearts take a chance on love before it's too late?

Now the Excerpt:

   Chase sat and took a long pull on his beer. “Maybe not. Do you want to leave?”
   “Why would I want to do that? Just because a bunch of your ex-girlfriends are here—”
   “Only three of them.”
   She ignored his interruption and drained her glass. “I’m drinking vodka for courage. We’re going to sing.”
   “We are?” He glanced to the stage where a cowboy wearing a battered hat and alligator boots stood at the front of the crowd, murdering a Willy Nelson tune. “Guess I couldn’t sound worse than he does.”
   When the last tortured notes ended, Honor pulled him up on stage and flipped through the list. “We need a duet—Leather and Lace. Oh God, I love that song. Do you know it?”
   The way she was clutching his arm and smiling into his eyes, he would have sung just about anything. “I think I can manage.”
   Her voice was pure and beautiful. Listening to her croon the melody put a lump in his throat, and he swallowed against it. He choked out lyrics that asked a question. Could she love a man like him? He wasn’t sure of the answer, and God help him, he didn’t think sleeping with Honor was going to be enough. He wanted more.
   She sang of love and need, giving and taking. Her voice trailed off to hoots and cheers and stomping feet, but her gaze never left his. What he saw in her eyes left him feeling gut punched.
   He dragged in a breath and led her from the stage. “That was something.”
   “Yes it was.”

Buy links for Nothing But Trouble are on my Website, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Please leave a comment for a chance to win one of our grand prizes! As an added bonus, Nothing But Trouble has a sequel. Asking For Trouble is currently available on Amazon only and will be FREE February 18-22. Please download and enjoy!

Final Free Days for We'll Never Tell

In case you missed the news, He'll Never Know, the final book in my Secrets of Ravenswood trilogy, is now available on Amazon. To celebrate its release, We'll Never Tell is free for its final two days, May 1st and 2nd. I hope you'll enjoy all three books in the series. Just click on the titles below to download the books.

We'll Never Tell

He'll Never Know

She'll Never Rest

He'll Never Know Available Now!

He'll Never Know, the third and final book in the Secrets of Ravenswood trilogy, is now available at Amazon. I'm very excited to have this series complete and hope you'll enjoy all three stories!

For the sake of his children, Shane Warren is determined to make a fresh start in Ravenswood, high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But pulling himself out of the dark place his wife’s tragic death left him in isn’t easy—until he meets Juliette Shaw. Her beauty and sparkle give him a reason to believe in second chances.

Juliette is deeply attracted to the man she's hired to remodel her home. Not only is he gorgeous, he’s genuinely nice. But Juliette has been hurt before, and taking another chance on love isn’t part of her game plan, not when the secret she holds close to her heart cost her one failed marriage.

While Shane and Juliette struggle with trust and vulnerability, a threat neither could have anticipated draws near, jeopardizing any chance at happiness.

We'll Never Tell - Free April 1-3!

We'll Never Tell, the first book in my Secrets of Ravenswood trilogy, is free today through Wednesday on Amazon! I hope you'll download this story of love and murder... Just click here.

The book begins with three young girls witnessing a murder...and continues when the body turns up seventeen years later. Here's the opening excerpt. Happy reading!

“My mom will kill me if she finds out about this, Sam. Camping in a graveyard is just asking for trouble.”

Samantha Beaumont ducked beneath the low limb of a fir tree before glancing over her shoulder at her friend. Moonlight filtered through the forest, casting shadows across the tense set of Darby Kincade’s shoulders.

“Your mom won’t know if you don’t tell her. And, hey, if she does kill you, at least you’ll be in the right place.”

“Ha, ha, you’re a riot.”

“How come you’re so grumpy? Are you afraid of ghosts?”

“Who cares about ghosts? I’m more afraid we’ll get eaten by a bear.” Juliette Shaw’s voice quavered, and she edged closer to Sam. “They won’t even know where to look for our bodies.”

“Don’t be a chicken. Bears are more scared of us than we are of them.”

“Doubtful, seriously doubtful,” Darby said and slapped at a mosquito.

Sam rolled her eyes and plunged through the thimbleberry bushes. They’d lost the trail a half mile back, but she knew where she was going. The abandoned graveyard—if you could call a handful of toppled headstones a graveyard—was directly below Prophet Point. Even at night, the peak was visible, a dark shadow looming over the town of Ravenswood, nestled high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

“We could have simply camped in your backyard if you’re so in love with the idea of sleeping with bugs,” Juliette said. “You didn’t have to drag us all the way up here.”

“Where’s the fun in that? Summer’s been a major bore since school let out. Anyway, Wyatt dared me.”

Darby stopped walking and fisted her hands on her hips. “I should have known there was a reason for this. Your brother’s an idiot.”

“Yep, a complete moron, but you have to admit this is more exciting than a sleepover at one of our houses.” Sam hesitated at a thick stand of pine trees. Maybe they needed to head a little more to the north.

“If you call getting eaten by mosquitoes fun.” Juliette waved her hands in front of her face.

“I have repellent in my backpack.”

“Can we put some on? I don’t want to get covered in bites.”

Sam slid the pack off her shoulders. It hit the ground with a thump. “Good idea. We should have sprayed down before we left the house.”

“What was that?” Darby asked in loud whisper.

Sam’s head snapped up, and her hand clenched around the can of bug repellent. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“Shhh, it sounded like voices.”

“I bet it’s Wyatt, trying to scare us,” Juliette whispered.

“Well, it’s working,” Darby whispered back.

A female voice echoed through the night, speaking rapidly like the tinny squawk of a blue jay, rising in pitch. A lower voice answered, more controlled, but something about it sent a shiver down Sam’s spine.