When people speak of horse racing, most would immediately say the horses were thoroughbreds. So, we have thoroughbred racing, but did you know that, over short distances, there is a horse that has been clocked faster than the thoroughbred? Over a straight course of a quarter mile (hence the name). the American Quarter Horse has been clocked at 55 mph. We can easily imagine that speed in our car, but a horse has no windshield. Races of 550 yards or less are run on straight courses; one or part of one turn may be used in the lengthier (“hook”) races.
Are Quarter Horses really faster than Thoroughbreds?
Quarter Horses averaged faster speeds than Thoroughbreds even when Thoroughbreds were raced at a distance (402 m) similar to Quarter Horse races. … In short races, both breeds accelerate throughout the race. Arabians, despite being known for endurance, had slowed by the end of the race.
They are races in which the purse consists of nomination, and/or starting fees, plus money added by the track or sponsor.
These races generally attract the highest quality horses and are abbreviated by the name of the stakes. For example: Allamerfut 1 meaning All American Futurity (G1).
Graded races are the premier stakes races, whereby a Grade 1 (G1), Grade 2 (G2) or Grade 3 (G3), designate the class of horses participating.
The size of purse, amount of added money and the historical significance of the race also are determining factors in the grade status.
Grade 1 (G1) is the highest designation.
Some stakes races are restricted to horses bred in a particular state or to horses by participating stallions.
Some restricted races are graded, whereby a restricted Grade 1 (RG1), restricted Grade 2 (RG2) or restricted Grade 3 (RG3) designate the class of horses participating.
Handicap Races
These races feature better-quality horses to which the racing secretary or track handicapper assigns weights designed to equalize the winning chances of entrants.
The better horses get higher weights to enable a horse with a lesser record to have a chance at winning. The designation HDCP is utilized.
Claiming Races
Claiming races are the most common, constituting approximately 70 percent of all races run.
In these races, horses are entered for a specific price and can be purchased or “claimed” by any licensed owner at the track for that price.
This tends to equalize the class or competition in these races.
An owner who has a $25,000 horse is not going to put him in a race with a field of $5,000 claimers for fear that someone would claim his horse at a greatly reduced value.
These races are designated by the claiming price (5000). A “C” in front of the claiming price in the past performance line means the horse was claimed in that race.
Allowance Races
An allowance race is a non-claiming race for better quality or more lightly raced horses.
These races generally offer higher purses than claiming races.
Eligibility requirements and conditions are similar to those of claiming races, and weight allowances are given based on winnings and/or number or type of wins in a given time.
These races are designated by ALW plus the purse (ALW12500).
Maiden Races
Maiden (MDN) races are limited to horses that have never won a race.
There are two types of maiden races: “Maiden Special Weights” for better horses and “Maiden Claiming,” which is designated by the claiming price (MD5000).
Trial
A trial (TRL) race is designed to determine the qualifiers for a final, based on the fastest qualifying times or order of finish.
A TRL might be run as a purse race, or it might be run without a purse.
The Triple Crown of Quarter-Horse Racing is a series held at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. The series includes the Kansas Futurity (June), Rainbow Futurity (July), and All-American futurity – where purses are worth up to $1 million.
In The Texas Cowboy, Ash (the hero) returns to Texas after being raised in England. He finds that his father has been breeding racing Quarter Horses. Trish (the heroine) is passionately devoted to these horses, and she’s afraid that Ash will sell the quarter horses and bring his thoroughbreds from England. Speaking as a horsewoman, I know what a big conflict this is, but I’m not sure people who aren’t devoted to them will see it. Do you think that this is a big deal between a woman and a man?
When Ash Colter was twelve, his mother divorced his cattle baron father and whisked him away to raise in her native England. Sixteen years later, when his father dies, he inherits Marathon Ranch. Running a 1,000-acre spread famous for the best Black Angus cattle in the great state of Texas is the biggest challenge he’s ever faced…until he meets a pert, pretty, and sassy ranch hand who seems to have her own agenda for his ranch. Unfortunately, she makes his spurs go jingle-jangle-jingle like no one else ever has!
Trish Owens is a real cowgirl, a loner, and, though she’d never admit it, a little lonely. When the “English Cowboy” appears on the scene, her entire way of life is threatened, not only her job, but her beloved Quarter horses. She’s sure he plans to import his thoroughbreds from England. Worst of all is the chemistry sizzling between them. He makes feelings she thought long dead awaken.
Can these two unwilling allies set aside their differences to put Marathon Ranch in the Winner’s Circle…and to fall in love?
His ex-girlfriend shrugged, a coy smile toying with her lips. His mobile buzzed for a text. As he typed in his code, her arms locked around his neck, every inch of her welded against him. Hot and wet, her mouth closed over his. Her tongue teased until his lips parted, then slipped into him. She rubbed her lush breasts on his chest.“Ash,” she moaned, her hands probing beneath his t-shirt. “I’ve missed you.”
He found himself comparing Trish’s kiss to Dorothy’s. An unbidden image of his cowgirl’s small breasts, the taste of them, the exciting feel of them, flashed in his mind. He broke away, backed into a filigreed screen, and sent it humming. Struggling for control, he sucked in a deep breath, straightened his shirt, and crossed his arms over the silver Marathon logo.
“Ash.” Eyes hooded, she leveled a hot gaze at him. “I want you.”
A Cardinal hopped across the window ledge. Danita said if you saw a red bird, make a wish. If he’d flown by the time you opened your eyes, your wish would come true. A gecko darted across the window. He closed his eyes. Downstairs a clock chimed seven. When he opened his eyes, the red bird had flown. His wish would come true. Not for a month, for sure.
“You want the man I used to be.” He took her face in his hands. “I’m not that man anymore.”
“You are. What’s wrong with you?” She stroked his back in long, fluid strokes.
“I’ve changed.” He broke away, lifting a case to the bed. “That’s all.”
Her bold hand caressed his equipment. A very wicked, very suggestive smile parted her lips. By action and word, she’d left no doubt what she wanted. Was it because she was jealous of Trish? Did she think where there’s smoke, there’s fire? Dorothy was determined to seduce him. He was as set that she would not.
He caught her groping hand. “I do not wish to return to work with an erection.”
“It’s that girl.” A zipper on the case screeched as she jerked the tabs.
“What girl?” He flung an exasperated gesture. “It has nothing to do with a woman. I have a ranch to run.”
“Ash, I’m hurt.” She pouted a trembling lip. “You can’t tell me you work every hour of every day. Am I going to be alone my entire stay?”
“Dorothy, don’t be hurt.” He stroked a hand down her arm. “You won’t be alone the entire visit. Let’s take this slow, shall we? We’ve been apart for a long time now.”
“Only a month and two days. Not that I’m counting.” Tears sparkled in her blue eyes. “It is that girl. You’ve been shagging her, and I’m no longer welcome.”
He wouldn’t lie and deny his feelings for Trish, so he told a half-truth. “It’s not like that at all. Trish works here.”
She nodded, turning away. “She was too rude and crude to me for it ‘not to be like that’. I’ve never seen the doxy, and she attacked me.”
“She did not. She was ill.”
“Yeah right.” She whipped around to glare at him, her hands fisted for a temper tantrum.
He dreaded the tears. June was going to be a long, tedious month. And perhaps require a cold shower or two, resisting Dorothy’s brand of flirting.
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The Texas Cowboy was released by Magnolia Blossom Publishing on January 17, 2022, and of all things, my internet was down and I couldn’t promote on social media or even on my own blog!
When Ash Colter was twelve, his mother divorced his cattle baron father and whisked him away to raise in her native England. Sixteen years later, when his father dies, he inherits Marathon Ranch. Running a 1,000-acre spread famous for the best Black Angus cattle in the great state of Texas is the biggest challenge he’s ever faced…until he meets a pert, pretty, and sassy ranch hand who seems to have her own agenda for his ranch. Unfortunately, she makes his spurs go jingle-jangle-jingle like no one else ever has!
Trish Owens is a real cowgirl, a loner, and, though she’d never admit it, a little lonely. When the “English Cowboy” appears on the scene, her entire way of life is threatened, not only her job, but her beloved Quarter horses. She’s sure he plans to import his thoroughbreds from England. Worse of all is the chemistry sizzling between them. He makes feelings she thought long dead awaken.
Can these two unwilling allies set aside their differences to put Marathon Ranch in the Winner’s Circle…and to fall in love?
EXCERPT:
Finally, when he was almost blind from straining his eyes, the stand of oaks Charlie had mentioned reared up out of the torrential rain. A horse trumpeted, the sound echoing, and Pomegranate answered with s force that shook Ash in the saddle. Relief flooded him. He cued his horse into a faster canter. It was a risky bid for a few minutes, but by now desperation had become a fever.
“Charlie? Charlie, is that you?” Trish shouted to be heard above the storm. “I’m here by the water oaks. Charlie!”
Ash saw movement in the deluge and realized that it was Trish, waving an arm. “Ash,” he called, swiveling in the saddle and grabbing his flashlight from his saddlebags. “It’s Ash. Charlie’s searching south.”
Pomegranate slid to a halt at the edge of the stand of trees. At first glance, Ash could only see Dusty, gleaming wetly in the flashlight beam. A bedraggled Trish struggled up from beside the palomino. His heart wrenched at the sight of her. He swung from the saddle and, looping the reins over his arm, aimed the flashlight and rushed toward her. He was still annoyed and frowning, but thrilled and relieved to see her. Relief won in the end, and he smiled broadly, rain washing over his lips.
“Trish, thank God.” He tried to curb the emotion in his voice but failed.
She tossed him a smile. “Damn, if I’m not glad to see you, cowboy.”
His cowgirl with wet hair clinging to her face and sodden clothes was…beautiful, even in the rain. She gripped a cotton rope tied to a blue nylon halter fastened over Dusty’s bridle. One thing for sure, her horse wasn’t going anywhere without her. She’d probably stopped when the young stallion spooked at the lightning. Taking shelter was the right decision. Otherwise, they could have both been seriously injured, Dusty’s leg broken…or perhaps Trish injured in a fall. The dripping trees had provided scant protection. The cowgirl and her racehorse were drenched and a bit muddy but, thank goodness, neither was harmed.
He cupped her face between index finger and thumb. “You’re a sight for sore eyes yourself, cowgirl. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
She settled the slick leather of the reins and the sodden cotton lead rope securely in her grip. “Stay close. He’s more than a little spooked by the thunder and lightning. That’s why I stopped. Have you ever seen anything like this rain! I was afraid we’d drown.”
“It’s a gutter washer, as your buddy Charlie called it.” Through the rain, he gazed into her eyes. “He’s very worried about you, Trish.”
“How about you?” She met his gaze, daring him to look away…or to lie. “Are you worried about me?”
“I wouldn’t be standing here in this balmy little sprinkle if I weren’t.”
There was a noticeable pause before she said, “I’m starved. I don’t suppose you have servants back there in the darkness with a four-course meal or something.”
He turned, fishing in the saddlebags behind his saddle. “How about some fine cheese crackers as a starter, ma’am?”
I’m so excited and immensely humbled that I get to share The Inventor’s Heart with y’all. This story was truly a labor of love.
My heroine, Julia Forrester, is dyslexic. Now, the book takes place in 1885, so they didn’t call it that back then. A doctor in Germany termed it “word blindness”.
I’m a special education teacher, and Julia’s story is very dear to my heart. Her feelings of uselessness, of embarrassment, etc., are what my students battle every day. I shed tears while writing this book, let me tell you.
As luck would have it, sweet Julia is in love with the town genius, Alex Davis. But when she realizes he loves her in return, she gets scared. She feels her academic weaknesses would be a burden to him and rejects his proposal. Which causes Alex to take on the fight of his life, proving to Julia that she is, in fact, quite brilliant.
This was the book I was writing when my publisher went out of business a year ago.
You can imagine the sadness I felt, as Alex and Julia’s story is VERY important to me. I wanted this one in the hands of readers so badly. But now, I didn’t know what to do…
I wondered if I should keep writing.
I agonized over it, because I wasn’t sure if I could publish a book on my own. And, quite frankly, I wasn’t sure if I was even doing the right thing. Writing takes time. As does publishing. Then marketing…well…that job never stops. I also had my day job to contend with, which can be pretty demanding. And writing takes time away from my family.
So, I wondered if it was all worth it.
And then, about one month after my publisher went out of business, something happened…
My fabulous editor sent me the following message:
“I wanted to thank you. I’ve struggled with reading all my life and your book got me to thinking about color again. I discovered I can actually change the color of the page in Word. I finally figured out a way to make editing easier for me. But it helps with my writing, as well. I actually look forward to writing now!”
My joy was immense, let me tell you. I mean, I have tears now reading this. Goodness! So…her message sealed it for me. I was going to figure out how to self-publish come Hell or high water.
Blurb
Pike’s Run, Texas, 1885
Alex Davis has just returned to Pike’s Run, Texas, from Yale with a fabulous invention that could revolutionize the use of electricity. He can’t wait to show his work to his family and his dearest friend in the world, Julia Forrester. But from the first day he arrives home, Julia avoids him. He doesn’t understand and tries everything he can think of to spend time with her, but he fails.
Julia Forrester has loved Alex Davis since their school days. He was her confidante and her champion whenever she struggled with her studies. She helped him with his inventions, spending as many of her free hours as possible with him. She’d thought he’d loved her, but when he went off to college without her, her heart broke. And the infrequency of his letters proved his feelings didn’t match hers. Now that he has returned, she is determined to move on with her life. She has written a symphony, and she won’t let past hopes and dreams overtake her again.
But Alex won’t give up, and when Julia confesses the reason for her distant attitude, the “Genius of Pike’s Run” realizes his stupidity. He is in love with Julia and will now move Heaven and Earth to have her. But he is battling more than her distrust. Julia has another reason to keep away from Alex, and he sets out to fix it. Will the “genius” be able to prove his theory?
Excerpt
“You don’t want to stay here with me? Why?” Alex tried to calm his rising anger, but hurt at her obvious want to escape him overruled his will. “You prefer to be caught under the mistletoe and kissed by every fellow in town?”
Julia reared back. “I want no such thing!” she declared, trying to tug her hand free of his.
He would not let go. “Could’ve fooled me. Fitzsimmons practically had you off your feet. And Hollister is married and lingered entirely too long when he grabbed you.”
With force, she tried to yank free, but he was having none of it.
“It’s just a game,” she argued with a scowl. “I didn’t plan it, and I can’t control how any of the men kiss me.” She lifted her chin. “Besides, it’s all in good fun.”
Fun? Every embrace had torn him inside out. “None of them should have touched you. You’re my friend.”
“What does that mean?” she asked, her voice rising. “I belong to you?”
He almost shouted the affirmative, but he controlled the overwhelming feeling of possession. Instead, he kept quiet, not knowing how to explain his statement.
“You’ve been gone for five years, and I have other friends. Am I supposed to sit on a shelf waiting for you to come home?” She glared up at him.
Was she considering stepping out with someone? Jealousy roared inside him. “You think another man is better for you than me?”
“Emmet might have swept me off my feet, but at least he paid attention to me, at least he seemed to be interested in me, at least—”
Unable to take her compliments of another man a second longer, he yanked her forward and slammed his lips on hers. As desire engulfed him, he plundered her mouth, snaking an arm around her waist and pulling her up against him.
She moaned, and the sound spurred him on. He shoved his tongue inside, demanding she open for him, needing to prove that he was the man she wanted. He turned her and shoved her up against the wall, and she let out a whimper as she ran her fingers through his hair.
A shudder went through him, and he drank from her, never wanting to let her go. How had he not understood that her arms were his safe place? Why hadn’t he ever realized his best friend could set him on fire? His heart pounded hard, echoing in his ears and making him sing with life.
Born and raised in Texas, I had to make the state the setting for my first series. From the food to the fun, like floating the rivers, it is the fire in my blood that inspires me. My family and friends take center stage in my books. My sisters and best friends are my heroines, and my husband created my favorite hero. Love and family are the point of my stories, and I seek to entertain, relieve stress, and inspire people. Books can take one on a journey that one can relive over and over. I am extremely grateful to those authors who did that very thing for me. I learned and I fell in love with their words and characters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
The Cowboy’s Embrace came about because, when I introduced Deacon in book three of the series, I fell in love with him. He was strong, steady and smart. Really smart. Because he was the only one in book three who knew that trickery was afoot!
I had to give him a book. He deserved a true love. But what would his story be?
I have to say I took some time developing his match. She had to be someone righteous, honest and unafraid. She had to be able to stand next to Deacon and be her own person. Enter Lily Spero…the girl he abandoned in a park in Houston.
Now, before you get confused, he had his reasons for leaving her. So don’t hate him. Read his story and learn how these two triumph over a great evil. If you read it, know that my favorite part is how Lily steals the walking cane from the villain on the white horse and what happens after it.
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He abandoned her to face the world alone. Now that she’s with him again, can she forgive him?
THE COWBOY’S EMBRACE
Fate brings his greatest regret back into his life…
Back Cover Burb
Lily Spero is searching for her stolen heritage, for a place in the world that is all her own. Sixteen years ago, she lost her parents and siblings to a villain on a white horse. Since, she’s hungered for family, for that love she’d once known. When she visits the Swinging A Ranch, her past collides with her present, opening wounds long buried and shockingly creating hope where none had been before.
Deacon Tolbert is the foreman and a contributing partner to the Swinging A Ranch. He’s carved a niche in the world all his own, finally feeling worthy of the goodness he’s found for himself. But when Lily Spero arrives, the girl he abandoned years ago, he’s forced to face the most gut-wrenching moment of his life.
Despite the pain, love surprises them and blossoms, bringing hope for the future. But the villain from the past comes to haunt them, to steal what they’re trying to build. Deacon and Lily must brave vile evil in order to stay together, and fight with all they have to keep the promises they made to each other.
Excerpt
He would come back soon. He would. He wouldn’t leave her here.
Lily assessed the park with its strong oaks and maples and winding packed dirt paths. She bit her lip and worked hard not to cry. She was a big girl. She was eleven, and he’d asked her to be brave while he was gone.
As she hid in the shade, she sank down to the grass, huddled against a trunk and hoped no one noticed a frightened, stranded, black girl. Where was he? What was taking so long? He only went to find food for them.
Morning turned into noon. People came. Some to eat their lunches on blankets they spread on the ground. Others to walk the picturesque paths. She pulled her knees into her chest and buried her nose in her dirt-caked pinafore. It had been yellow once. A pretty color as bright as the sun.
As she rocked back and forth, she prayed. She repeated over and over the words her mother had taught her. With her eyes clamped shut and her lips moving without ceasing, she implored to Heaven for Deacon to return.
But hours passed. Faces swam before her, asking her questions, giving her food. She couldn’t answer the nice strangers. Just gazed down the path, hoping, waiting, her heart dying.
Where are you? Please come. Please come back.
She silently begged to see his familiar form, dressed in overalls and a threadbare work shirt, coming around the bend to carry her away. But he didn’t come. And the kind people didn’t leave. They took her home with them, and Lily didn’t argue, even though their pale skin struck uncertainty in her heart. She couldn’t think. Deacon, she grieved.
And his name was the pained whisper on her lips every night, the perpetual cold ache in her heart…that could never be filled.
Born and raised in Texas, I had to make the state the setting for my first series. From the food to the fun, like floating the rivers, it is the fire in my blood that inspires me. My family and friends take center stage in my books. My sisters and best friends are my heroines, and my husband created my favorite hero. Love and family are the point of my stories, and I seek to entertain, relieve stress, and inspire people. Books can take one on a journey that one can relive over and over. I am extremely grateful to those authors who did that very thing for me. I learned and I fell in love with their words and characters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Stay tuned for Anne’s Contest! — Chance to Win a $50 Gift Card!
Sometimes it takes losing everything…
True Shanahan must be the unluckiest woman in the world. Either that or she’s cursed. After another failed relationship, True leaves Dallas with a broken heart and new attitude. It’s time to walk on the wild side. But when she makes a wrong turn and ends up in Bluebird, Texas, the only man she wants is anything but reckless.
…to find all you’ve ever wanted.
Ritter Malone is the town’s favorite son and has the local hero awards to prove it. Seems he’s always in the right place at the right time. But when he crosses paths with True, his life takes a turn he never sees coming. Her songwriting skills may be questionable, but her ability to turn him inside out is indisputable.
Welcome to Bluebird, Texas.
Where a chance meeting gives two people a chance at love.
He gasped. “What have you done to me?”
Excerpt:
She rocked forward and buried her face in the hollow of his neck. “You’ve heard of the Seven Wonders of the World? I located your seven wondrous erogenous zones.”
“Pretty sure I came close to dying.”
She giggled. “If you weren’t in such good physical condition, I would have stopped at number four. But I was pretty sure you’d survive them all.”
“Pretty sure?”
“Yeah. It was a risk I was willing to take. And—it paid off. You seemed to enjoy it.”
He laughed. “Not sure enjoy is the right word. Damn, True. You’re something.”
She sat up straight. “I don’t want to be something. I want to be everything.”
He pulled her close and whispered against her lips. “You’re all I want. Need. Ever dreamed of. You are my everything.”
Ann Everett writes about small-town Texas where the women are sassy enough to say what they want, and the men are panty-melting hot with plenty of southern charm.
She’s an Amazon bestselling author. She’s won awards. She’s a top reviewer on a major writing website, and a regular speaker at Wordwyse Exposytions. No need to bore you with the details. Here are ten things about her more interesting than accolades.
She’s married to her high school sweetheart.
She loves shopping at thrift stores.
She doesn’t remember her first kiss.
She hates talking on the telephone.
A really sharp pencil makes her happy.
She secretly wants to get a tattoo.
She believes everyone should own a pair of cowboy boots.
She’s thankful wrinkles aren’t painful.
She sucks at math.
~~~~~~~
Now for the contest: Anne is running a contest to?
Ann is giving away five awesome prize packages. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win one of the prize packages. You may find the tour locations here. About True:
Sometimes it takes losing everything… True Shanahan must be the unluckiest woman in the world. Either that or she’s cursed. After another failed relationship, True leaves Dallas with a broken heart and new attitude. It’s time to walk on the wild side. But when she makes a wrong turn and ends up in Bluebird, Texas, the only man she wants is anything but reckless …to find all you’ve ever wanted. Ritter Malone is the town’s favorite son and has the local hero awards to prove it. Seems he’s always in the right place at the right time. But when he crosses paths with True, his life takes a turn he never sees coming. Her songwriting skills may be questionable, but her ability to turn him inside out is indisputable. Welcome to Bluebird, Texas. Where a chance meeting gives two people a chance at love.
When Ritter arrived at the gym, he spotted Cole jumping rope. He stopped and glanced at the wall clock. “You’re late. Roommate didn’t have you tied up, did she?”
“Very funny. We got a dog. Stayed up playing with him. I hit the snooze one time too many.”
Cole ran a towel over his face, then his lips curled. “That’s not good.”
“What? Getting a puppy?”
“Naw. The we in that sentence sounds like a contract extension.”
Ritter stretched. “I won’t lie. I’ve gone home to an empty house so long, thought having someone there would drive me nuts, but it hasn’t—for the most part.”
Cole stepped on the nearest treadmill, turned it on, and ran a steady pace. “I gotta hand it to you. You’ve managed to sleep with her and keep your hands to yourself. Or have you?”
Ritter climbed onto the machine next to Cole’s and matched his stride. No need to confess he hadn’t exactly resisted, but he’d not passed second base—by much. Had it not been for the phone call, he would have hit a home run. He’d had the wood for it. “No.”
“Come on. No way you haven’t hit that. Especially after what you told me about her coming on to you.”
“That’s why I can’t let her stay. My resistance is wearing thin.”
Ritter and Cole’s phones sounded a text at the same time. Ritter read his, then shot Cole a look. “Turns out, we’re off this afternoon.”
Cole dropped his cell back into the cupholder. “I’ve never been to New Jersey. You?”
“Nope but looks like the storm is calling us there.”
Award winning author, Ann Everett embraces her small town upbringing and thinks Texans are some of the funniest people on earth. When speaking to writing groups, businesses, book clubs, and non-profit organizations, she incorporates her special brand of wit, making her programs on marketing, self-publishing, and the benefits of laughter, informative and fun.
Boots, hats and old saddles…four novellas by four authors of different romantic fiction, all focused on love and romance with, perhaps, a bit of lust thrown in for good measure, ahem, make that good time! Available from Gilded Dragonfly Books at http://a.co/cNOrWql
This month I’m celebrating two new releases, one from The Wild Rose Press:
Autumn Hartley purchases Allen Hall at a steal, but the northern lass gets far more than a beautiful plantation in the South Carolina Low Country. The house comes complete with its own ghost, a handsome and charming Civil War General—for the Confederacy. The stage is set for another civil conflict.
John Sibley Allen died in battle from a wound in the back, the bullet fired by the turncoat, Beauregard Dudley. The traitor’s reincarnation is Autumn the Interloper’s first dinner guest. Sib bedevils her date and annoys her with fleeting, phantom touches, certain he can frighten her away as he did previous purchasers. As time marches on, her resident ghost becomes more appealing while her suitor, Beau, pales in comparison. Autumn finds her ability to love didn’t perish in the divorce that sent her south seeking a fresh start.
After over a century in the hereafter, Sib discovers he is falling for none other than the feisty Yankee girl, but what future could a modern woman and an old-fashioned ghost possibly hope for?
Cowboys!! The Cowboys of Clark’s Folly from Gilded Dragonfly Publishing. Welcome to Clark’s Folly, Texas, a town where you will find cowboys to lust over. Each of the four novellas will make you fall in love. The cowboys are tough, but so are the women who tame them.If you love Cowboys, you don’t want to miss these sexy, sensual stories. Take a fantasy trip to Texas and find the cowboy of your dreams.
Texas has been baking in a drought since the floods. Temps in the 100s with indexes well over that.
Last night I awoke to the sound of thunder–great rumbles of it. Not daring to hope it would actually rain, I returned to my dreams. This morning when I awoke, it had rained! Blessed moisture! I’m sitting looking at my watered grass and hoping for rain, rain all day. At least with a cloudy sky, there is promise.
Has anyone else suffered drought conditions and fantastic heat?