Shannon here: Historical Romance author, Darlene Franklin shares a romantic excerpt from her latest title, To Riches Again. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for a copy. Deadline: May 6th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Darlene:
How do your hero and heroine meet?
Elyssa Philbin was a wealthy New York socialite until Black Monday destroyed her family fortune—and brought about his parents’ deaths. Newly orphaned, Elyssa finds refuge and purpose by working with the city’s needy children. She becomes the chaperone of the last orphan train and decides to make a new start at the last stop on the line—Plainview, Kansas.
Bill Ward was rich in land and love until his wife and infant child died. He opens his heart to adopt two of New York’s orphans—and God promises him a wife in the bargain.
Only on the day that the orphans are supposed to arrive, an emergency keeps Bill on the farm. The following is the excerpt about the first encounter between Elyssa and Bill:
From To Riches Again
He slowed down by the train station and found it empty, just as he’d thought he would. Two blocks later he reached the Venables’ house. A woman sat on the porch. She didn’t belong in Plainview any more than the children who arrived on the trains. Her fancy dress would look out of place in a farm kitchen about as much as his prize bull would fit in church.
Everything about her sang grace, confidence, beauty—qualities he greatly admired. She’s the one. Your wife.
Bill whipped around although he knew exactly who was speaking. God had put together everything he had ever dreamed about and created her especially for him. Or, he hoped so. Time would tell.
The truck sputtered as Bill turned the engine off and the woman shifted to look in his direction. She stood and came forward a few steps. “You must be Mr. Ward. The man who thought something else was more important than meeting his children.”
About Darlene: Best-selling hybrid author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. This year she expects to reach fifty unique titles in print and she’s also contributed to more than twenty nonfiction titles. Her column, “The View Through my Door,” appears monthly in Bookfun Magazine. Her most recent titles are The Pony Express Romance Collection, Love’s Compass, and To Riches Again. Learn more and connect:
Darlene’s Facebook Darlene’s Amazon author page Darlene’s Twitter
About the book – Tor Riches Again: 
A year ago, life was full of promise.
Elyssa Philbin partied with the rest of New York’s elite, not worrying about anything beyond her newest dress.
Ian and Bridge McDonnell, although part of a poverty-stricken family, lived secure in their parents’ love. Bill Ward looked forward to a prosperous crop, a new baby, and his loving wife.
Everything changed before the calendar turned to 1930.
To Riches Again chronicles Elyssa and Bill’s return to wholeness after they have both lost everything, and gained much more—thanks in part to two orphan children.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Purchase now: To Riches Again
Come back May 2nd for Janalyn Voigt!
sounds like a great book!
Shelia, thanks for stopping by! Good luck.
Oooh! I want to read this one!
Andrea, there’s going to be a collection of orphan train novellas–so if you don’t win, be on the lookout.
Don’t enter me as I have read this book this week and I have to say I LOVE this book. The Orphan trains in itself fascinate me as being an Aussie we don’t really hear about this. This is a lovely story.
Thanks, Jenny
Sounds like my kind of book, thank you for the chance to win a copy!
wfnren at aol dot com
Hi Wendy, I’m excited that the Spinster Orphan Train collection will be released tomorrow or Tuesday! Good luck with this drawing.
This sounds like a wonderful story. Elyssa didn’t mince any words at their first meeting though. I can hardly wait to find out the rest of the story. Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway.
Donna, I know! Occasionally I’ll read something I wrote and think, “Boy, that’s good!”
I have a winner! Andrea Stephens won the drawing. I appreciate Darlene for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.