Louise M. Gouge – Romantic Excerpt – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Louise M. Gouge shares her love for writing Historical Romance, plus an excerpt from her latest release. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for one print copy of an anthology including Cowboy Seeks a Bride and Sherri Shackleford’s, The Engagement Bargain to a U. S. resident. Deadline: Aug 21st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Louise:

I love writing historical romance novels and have had twenty-three of them published by traditional publishers, along with my three self-published books. When I found out Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical imprint would be republishing one of my 2015 LIH novels, I was thrilled. Cowboy Seeks a Bride was the second of six books in my Four Stones Ranch series about a Colorado ranching family, and it is paired with Sherri Shackelford’s The Engagement Bargain.

Please take a peek at this two-book anthology at one of those links and perhaps be inspired to purchase these delightful romances. To further entice you, please enjoy this short scene in which my hero and heroine are learning more about each other and all the things they have in common. Will Rand be able to win over Marybeth, despite her determination not to marry a man who is handy with a gun?

Excerpt from Cowboy Seeks a Bride by Louise M. Gouge:

Rand wished he hadn’t let Marybeth’s song get to him. After all, he’d insisted that she sing, and she did it very well. Yet when would he be able to put his gunfight behind him, to stop wishing he’d never “learned to carry a gun,” and just enjoy life? In the back of his mind, he knew Dathan Hardison’s appearance in Esperanza was part of the problem.

Lord, I need Your help. It’s not fair to Marybeth for me to get all melancholy like this. He straightened his shoulders and inhaled deeply of the fragrant wheat field on their left. Soon it would be harvest time, a time that promised survival through the coming winter. Before the geese flew south or the passes were blocked by snow, he needed to survive this winter of his soul.

“I’ve been trying to think what’s wrong with that song.” He forced cheer into his voice.

“Oh?” She turned sad eyes in his direction.

“And I’ve figured it out. It’s all about sorrow.” He enjoyed the way she blinked in confusion.

“Of course it is. Poor Johnny comes home from war wounded and unable to care for his wife and child.” She bit her lip as if sorry she’d said that.

“That’s where you have it all wrong.” He smirked. “This is the version we sang when our Boston boys—and my father—returned from fighting in the South.” He launched into a spirited song with the same melody. “When Johnny comes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah; when Johnny comes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah. The men will cheer, and the boys will shout; the ladies they will all turn out. And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.”

By the time he reached the hurrahs, she’d joined in singing with a gusto that matched his own. As the buggy rolled across Main Street toward Mrs. Foster’s Pike Street home, they were both laughing together like old friends.

“If it’s not too bold of me to say, we make beautiful music together, Miss O’Brien.” He salted his words with a bit of the Irish brogue he’d learned from his friend Seamus.

“Aye, that we do, Mr. O’Northam.” Her merry mood gave her face a pretty glow. “Do you play an instrument of any kind to accompany us?”

“No. I never had the time to learn.” And regretted it now. Was it too late to take up the guitar or accordion, the instruments that had always attracted his interest?

“I’ll just have to teach you. Then you can leave ranching behind and go on the road as an entertainer.”

Now he let out a hearty guffaw. What a delightful young lady. He could spend the rest of his life getting to know her. If she would have him.

In a nutshell, here is the conflict between my hero and heroine:

Marybeth O’Brien is everything rancher Randall Northam seeks in a wife…if she’d only say “I do.” Although his family paid for her train ticket West with the understanding the two would marry, Rand won’t pressure her to set a date. Especially since he suspects she’s learned about his reckless past. Who would want to marry an untamed cowboy like him? 

Marybeth won’t marry until she locates her long-lost brother. And when Rand agrees to help her with her search, she can’t deny her surprisingly warm feelings toward her prospective groom. Could this honorable cowboy show her he’s the husband she never knew she wanted?

About Louise: Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes contemporary and historical romance fiction, winning the prestigious IRCA in 2005 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She also placed in the Laurel Wreath contest in 2012. A former college English and humanities professor, Louise is a member of the Christian PEN and has been copyediting for well-known authors for fifteen years. Learn more & connect:

Louise’s Blog             Louise’s Facebook             Louise’s Bookbub

About the book – Cowboy Seeks a Bride: Marybeth O’Malley is everything rancher Randall Northam seeks in a wife…if only she’d say “I do.” But Marybeth won’t marry until she locates her long-lost brother. When Rand agrees to help her with her search, she can’t deny her surprisingly warm feelings toward her prospective groom. Could this untamed but honorable cowboy show her he’s the husband she never knew she wanted?

Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win?

Get your copy now!     

Cowboy Seeks a Bride – Amazon          Cowboy Seeks a Bride – Love Inspired

Question for Readers: Can you find the discrepancy between this post and what is posted about this book on Amazon? You may have to expand the Amazon book description.

Come back Aug 17th for Marji Laine!