Shannon here: Anne Greene shares an excerpt from her Historical Romance, Spur of the Moment Bride. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for a copy A Christmas Belle. Deadline: Aug 26th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Anne:
Excerpt from Spur of the Moment Bride by Anne Greene:
The stage driver halted his four horses with a screech of brakes and huffing of animals, their breath wafting clouds in the cool air.
The driver slammed down from his high perch to stand before her. He tipped his dusty hat. “Ma’am, are you boarding?”
Brown eyes stared at her above a face smothered in black whiskers.
She swished her long skirts to brush off as much of the dust as she could. “Yes, I am,” she managed before she sneezed into her handkerchief.
“Sorry about the dust. I failed to see you standing there.” He tied the two handfuls of reins he held to the hitching post. “We don’t stop here long. I’ll get this luggage loaded.” He turned toward her, long-lashed brown eyes wide. “Are these all yours?”
“Yes. I’m planning to stay in Laramie for a period of time.”
He nodded and yelled to the man riding shotgun. “Uri, catch these will ya?” He tossed her heavy bag laden with books up to the other man kneeling on the top of the coach as if her luggage weighed no more than a sack of flour.
Well, she shouldn’t stand here with her mouth hanging open. She closed her lips. None of her rejected
beaus could have loaded her belongings without breaking into a sweat. He was so efficient. Well, of course, this was the man’s job, so he was accustomed to tossing heavy items to the compartment above the coach. She need not be surprised. And yet, she stood, her brain registering his strength and ability. True, he was tall and the distance wasn’t so far for him. And his mackinaw hid his build, but he must be somewhat muscular to heave her trunk up on one shoulder when Moses and Caleb had lugged it to the wagon and jimmied the big trunk aboard as if the leather box weighed as much as a steamship. How beautiful to watch the man in action. But she must not stare. T’wasn’t lady like.
“Are you ready, Miss?”
Why he wasn’t even breathing hard. “Yes, I am.”
He opened the stagecoach door for her.
She gathered up her skirts and tried to set her boot on the first high step.
He held out his hand and all but heaved her up into the coach.
She looked back down at him. “What is your name, Sir?”
He lifted dark eyebrows above dangerous-looking brown eyes. “Zach Tyler, Ma’am.”
Even his resonant voice stirred her blood. Her heart tripped faster. Blue blazes, had she been hoping to hear he was Corky Callahan? She settled herself inside the coach on the leather seat. Well, God had been known to work miracles. But usually He didn’t place the perfect man right in her path. Though after Papa’s mandate, she’d asked Him to. He could have done just that for her, knowing she’d been in somewhat a frenzy lately. Anyway, despite the dense collection of whiskers, Mr. Tyler appeared to be too good-looking.
Her future husband had to be ugly.
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 book – Spur of the Moment Bride – with Fifty States – Wyoming Collection:
Heiress Abby Hollister’s Papa demands she stop toying with young men’s hearts and marry within a month or be disinherited. After reading an ad for a mail-order bride in untamed Laramie, Wyoming, Abby makes a list of characteristics she expects for her husband and sets off to claim the perfect mate and secure her personal fortune.
Stage coach driver, Zach Tyler likes his exciting job where he outsmarts robbers and Indians and keeps the stage running regardless of weather, break-downs, and ornery passengers. But passenger Abby Hollister proves to be an unusual challenge. He protects her on the journey to Laramie, but in that town women are as scarce as a bird’s nest in a cuckoo clock, and men go crazy when the beauty arrives seeking a husband.
Questions For Readers: Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you think God gives you a heads-up that this just might be the right spouse for you? Or if you could choose any time in history to be alive, what time frame would you choose?
Come back August 18th for Donna Schlachter!
yes I do
Me too. I knew the moment I met my dh that he was the one.
Even though I had seen my husband play basketball at my high school, it was only as an underclassman watching an someone two classes ahead of me
When we actually interacted one night at a ballgame during my Senior year that I thought “This is someone special”. And yes, I think that God saved him for me!
I just finished Anne’s A Groom for Christmas and I would love the chance to read this.
Thanks for this giveaway!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Connie, love to meet my readers wherever I can. So glad you enjoy my books. Good to hear from you.
I do believe in love at first sight. Forty- three years ago I met a really special guy. We will celebrate our forty-second anniversary this fall.
mauback55 at gmail dot com
Congratulations, Melanie! That is very special.
If I could choose a time frame, it would be the early 1900’s. I would definitely miss all of the modern conveniences though.
But if we didn’t know about the conveniences, would we miss them?? I would have loved to have lived in a simpler, more romantic time as well. But only if I were rich back then. Ha ha. Don’t need to be rich now, but back then women did a lot of hard work. Not sure I want to use my muscles that much.
So true! My mom has told stories of her mom and the work that she had to do. My mom was born in 1927 and had 7 older siblings and two younger. My grandparents had a farm and they all had to pitch in to help!
Not sure about instantly knowing about someone. I think the mid 1800’s would be a very interesting period of time, with the westward movement, but I would hate to not have modern medical advances.
I agree. Medicine back then was pretty primitive. Many babies died and a good many mamas died in child birth. But the food was healthier and so was the exercise, so maybe it evened out.
I would love to go back to the time when my parent’s met each other for the first time. This was during WWII. She was a waitress and he was in the restaurant eating dinner.
I do believe in love at first sight. I saw my husband across the school campus and said to myself, That’s the guy I’m going to marry.
As for a time in history. I like now. I’m a modern convenience kind of gal.
I have a winner! Connie Saunders won the drawing. I appreciate Anne for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.