New Release: DEAD SET DELPHINIA

Today I am pleased to announce the release of

Dead Set Delphinia

Book 11 and my fourth book in the series,

Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs

About Dead Set Delphinia:

          Being pressured by her father to marry his New York business associate whom she detests, Delphinia Blakewell, using the alias Delia Brownlee, secretly starts a correspondence with two miners in Jubilee Springs she contacted through the Colorado Bridal Agency. After her letters are discovered by her father, her mother sees to it she is confined to her room for three months. Only when she agrees to the wedding they wish for her is she allowed more freedom—freedom that leads to a startling discovery about her fiancé.

          Delphinia flees to Colorado, using another alias, Sarah Brown, only to discover one miner she wrote to married another bride, and the other was killed in a shootout. However, she is dead set on being married and in her own home to avoid what awaits her should her father track her down. She wants to find her own miner to marry, but the owner of the bridal agency has other ideas.

          Bennett Nighy makes furniture for his store in Jubilee Springs. He also makes caskets, and, by default, has assumed the job of town mortician. He enjoys his solitude. He is dead set on not complicating his life by getting married. However, he is terrible at keeping books, helping customers choose the proper furniture pieces, and he could use some help with the town’s decedents. Still, he might have been able to continue muddling through life on his own if only he hadn’t attended the town’s harvest dance.

Excerpt:

Delphinia Blakewell inhaled as deeply as her tightly-cinched corset would allow, pasted a self-confident smile and her face, and strode with purpose towards the counter. The corner of her lips turned up even more as she noticed it was the young clerk manning the counter. He did not look at her with an air of suspicion the way the postmaster did.

          Delphinia spoke to his turned back. “Good morning. Do you have mail for Delia Brownlee?”

          The young man’s shoulders stiffened. He reached for two letters and turned slowly. “Yes, Miss Brownlee, but I’ve been instructed….” His eyes flickered to someone or something behind her on the left side.

          Delphinia knew without looking. Someone had followed her, probably one of her father’s minions. He must be behind her.

          Delphinia reached forward and grabbed the letters out of the clerk’s hands. Undoing her top button on the neckband of her stand-up collar with one hand, she stuffed the letters down her front. She rebuttoned her clothing and twirled around as Emery Garland, one of her father’s assistants, stopped within three feet of her.

          Garland held out his hand. “I’ll take those, Miss Blakewell. I have instructions from your father….”

          “You will not take them, Mr. Garland, unless you plan to assault my person in a public place. They belong to me.”

          The man huffed with irritation. “Miss Blakewell, please do not be difficult.”

          Delphinia raised her voice. “I am not being difficult, Mr. Garland. I am taking care of my personal business in a peaceful manner. It is you who are accosting me, making demands you have no right….”

          “Your personal business, Miss Blakewell? You asked for mail for Delia Brownlee, which is not your name. Your parents wish to know why you are coming to a borough in which you have no business being, and posing as someone you are not, in order to exchange clandestine mail with men of suspicious origins and intents.”

          “With whom I correspond is none of your business, Mr. Garland. And there is nothing in my correspondence that should be viewed as suspicious. It is a private matter, and I will thank you to leave me alone. Go back to my father and tell him he has more important things to worry about than having my every move followed.”

          “Miss Blakewell, Your mother would be mortified if she knew of your conduct today.”

          “Let my mother be mortified. It would serve her right.” Although Delphinia muttered the statement under her breath, she knew Emery Garland heard her.

          “Don’t make me forcefully take them from you. He stepped closer, straightening to his full height in attempt to intimidate her. However, at five feet, eight inches tall, she refused to be intimidated by his height which exceeded hers by only an inch considering the two inch heels on her boots she wore.

          By now, a crowd in the postal building stood around gawking at the scene, hanging onto every word. Delphinia played to them, believing her best chance for safety lay in not being alone with her father’s man. “Forcefully take them in what manner, Mr. Garland? Do you plan to strip me in a public place? To rip my clothing from my body? To illegally take what is mine?” Delphinia turned to the clerk who now watched them open-mouthed, his eyes wide with astonishment. “Quick! Call for the constable. This man intends me harm.”

          Garland snorted with disgust and addressed the clerk. “You’ll do no such thing, young man. My boss, Mr. Franklin Blakewell, is well-known in this city. He has connections with all of New York’s politicians, state and federal. He will not only have your job, but will have your boss’s postmaster position. It was bad enough your postmaster took his position so seriously he refused to hand me these letters directly. Do not make matters worse by interfering with my job of returning Miss Blakewell to her parents.”

          Delphinia watched the young man step back. There would be no help from him. The others in the building looked on with rapt interest until she caught their eye. Then each turned away, unwilling to help. She turned and glared defiantly at her adversary. “You have no right to take me anywhere without my consent. I am of age, Mr. Garland. I have the right to go where I please.”

          Shaking his head, Emery Garland stepped forward and grabbed her elbow. “The way your father sees it, as long as you live under his roof, you follow his rules. He will not be pleased when he hears about this. He does not like you upsetting your mother.” His fingers and thumb pressed on the nerve in her elbow enough to cause her discomfort. She quickly realized if she did not go with him, he would increase the pressure until the pain would become unbearable. 

Dead Set Delphinia is being offered at the release day sale price of $.99 through Sunday, October 1st. After that time, the book will go to its regular price.

Dead Set Delphinia, at just under sixty-seven thousand words, is my first full novel in the series. To purchase Dead Set Delphinia from Amazon, please CLICK HERE.

  

The book is also available on Kindle Unlimited. The print version will be available soon.

I have available three other novellas in the Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs series.

Book 3: Aaron’sAnnulment Bride

Book 6:  Cat's Meow

Book 7:  Bargain Bessie

  ~o0o~ 

To read and enjoy all of the books in the Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs series, please sign up and follow us on Amazon by CLICKING HERE.