Anne Greene – Romantic Excerpt – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Anne Greene shares a romantic excerpt from her Historical Romance Novella, A Groom for Christmas. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for a copy. Deadline: Aug 12th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Anne:

          Excerpt from A Groom for Christmas by Anne Greene:

Setup -Felicity advertised for a husband and received a great many responses. She and Jed go to dinner together at the boardinghouse:

“Say, what about that feller who’s staying in the downstairs corner bedroom? I’ve been studyin’ him, and he seems like a good Christian man. I see him at church every Sunday.”

She frowned. “I don’t know. There’s something about him that irritates me every time I see him.” And why not? Ben had not so much as walked her to the new church after she’d dropped a wagonload of hints. Those sky-blue eyes barely acknowledged her when he breezed into the general store to buy provisions. Ben had only gotten excited when she dropped everything dear Mrs. Baxter ordered into a jumbled pile in front of the sweet lady, and rushed to wait on him.

But he’d gotten plenty animated choosing which gold-mining pan he wanted. He’d chosen one of each. She sighed. He hadn’t picked up on her hint of the picnic lunch, the carriage ride, or the pie auction. She’d spent all her spare time baking that pie. Ben had no interest in her.

“The feller’s tall. He’s so clean and brown, looks like he’s been scrubbed with saddle soap. But you ask him where he’s from and where he’s aheadin’, he turns as dangerous as being’ up a creek with a grizzly. But otherwise, he’s right smart to talk with.”

“Perhaps that’s why I don’t like him.” Or more likely because he ignored her smiles and attempts at revealing her interest.

“But jist take another look. He favors one of them men in a mail-order catalogue.”

“Oh, he’s handsome all right, with that dark, wavy hair and those brooding blue eyes. But he givesthe impression he’s not interested in land in the Oregon Territory. He’s got Gold Rush Fever.

What a happy day for her if she could order a man out of the catalogue. A mail-order groom. That’s what she needed. One who fit all her criteria. She could check off all the things she wanted in a man…and mail him back if he didn’t suit her needs. She thinned her lips. But, darn if she wouldn’t order one who looked just like Benjamin.

She and Jed entered the dining room. Every chair at the double-trestle table held someone except for three empty seats at the far end. Jed seated her and hunkered down across from her, leaving the chair at the end for whoever came in late.

She glanced around the table. Of course, the missing boarder had to be the dar-haired cowboy. “Do you recall his name?” She’d already gone so far as to embroider his name on her pillow slips. Well, Papa always said, ‘Dreams never amount to much. Just get your hopes high until someone comes along and stomps them into the ground.’ Still, a blue-embroidered BEN on her pillow winked at her each night before she closed her eyes.

“Ben Bonneville. Cain’t think why I didn’t mention him to you as a possible. Seems to me he fits the bill, unless he’s on the doge from the law.” Jed glanced over his shoulder at the door. “Here he comes. Now don’t you go acting as prim as a preacher’s wife at a prayer meetin’. I’m thinkin’ this Benjamin might be jist the man we’re alookin’ fer.”

Felicity’s cheeks heated. Too bad Ben didn’t think so.

About Anne: My home is in the quaint antiquing town of McKinney, Texas, just a few miles north of Dallas. My dear husband is a retired Colonel, Army Special Forces. My little brown and white Shih Tzu, Lily Valentine, shares my writing space, curled at my feet. I have four beautiful, talented children, and eight grandchildren who keep me running.

I’ve traveled in every location of each book I’ve written, and each book is a book of my heart. Besides my first love, writing, I enjoy travel, art, sports, reading, sailing, snorkeling, movies, and way too many other things to mention. Life is good. Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” Whether writing contemporary or historical, my books celebrate the abundant life Jesus gives.

     I’ve written several other novellas. The novella, AVOIDING THE MISTLETOE, is included in the Mistletoe, Jingle Bells, and Second Chances Collection. My novella KEARA’S ESCAPE is included in the Orphan Train/Spinster Collection. DAREDEVILS is included in the North Carolina, 50 States Collection. SPUR OF THE MOMENT BRIDE is included in the Wyoming, 50 States Collection. A CHRISTMAS BELLE, is included in the Christmas Mail Order Angels anthology. THE MARRIAGE BROKER AND THE MORTICIAN is included in The California Gold Rush Romance Collection. My novellas, A FOOL FOR LOVE, A GROOM FOR CHRISTMAS, and A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY are stand-alone novellas.

      Moody Press published my first book, TRAIL OF TEARS. I love writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. My Women of Courage series spotlights heroic women of World War II. You might want to begin with the first book ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS. Read my private investigating series, Handcuffed In Texas. The first book is RED IS FOR ROOKIE. Enjoy my award-winning Scottish historical romances, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE and MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT. I hope my stories transport you to awesome new worlds and touch your heart to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Learn more and connect:

Anne’s Website                  Anne’s Facebook                 Anne’s Twitter                  Anne’s Pinterest

Anne on Bookfun                 Anne’s Blog                    Anne on Bookbub

About the novella – A Groom for Christmas: Felicity Daniel’s father dies, leaving her stranded at Ft. Laramie one-third of the way to homestead 640 acres in the Oregon Territory. She has money and supplies to continue her journey, but a woman alone cannot claim the free land. So, she advertises for a husband. Ben Bonneville’s got massive debt and Gold Rush fever and heads to California. But at Ft. Laramie he’s robbed of everything he owns except for the clothes on his back. His only recourse is to take Felicity as his wife. At the fork in the trail, will he help her homestead or will she help him dig for gold? Or will they separate? Can these two very different people with very different goals find happiness together?

Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now: Anne’s Amazon Page

Question for Readers: Do you like to celebrate Christmas in July? If you do, how do you celebrate?

Come back August 8th for Dana R. Lynn!