Saturday Snippet: She Needs You to Teach Her

A little bit of a different banner because this book has barely been announced. 

The following snippet comes from the start of the novel, 

Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom 

Book 18 in the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog authors' series, 

Sweetheart of Jubilee Springs

          ...Annie held no grudges against Mr. Blakely. He had treated her with a reasonable degree of courtesy one in service could expect from an employer. At least, he had never trapped her in a secluded corner and tried to force himself on her like his daughter's fiancé, Andrew Sopworth, had.

          Annie welcomed him into their apartment even though her face had flamed with embarrassment because of their mean living quarters. Fortunately, even though her mam pursed her lips, uncertain of the wisdom of allowing Annie’s former employer to visit, she also greeted him.  However, Mr. Blakely did not seem to notice or mind their apartment. The request, and the offer he gave her that day filled her spirit with light and confidence in a bright future instead of the dreary cloud of failure and despair that had engulfed her since being falsely accused and dismissed by Mrs. Hamilton’s housekeeper. 

          Delphinia wanted her. She now lived in Colorado and had married—not to one of the miners with whom she had been corresponding, but to a man who owned a furniture store. He came from an Albany, New York family similar in station to the Blakelys. Her father, after realizing his daughter’s former fiancé was the scoundrel both Delphinia and Annie knew him to be, decided to release half her dowry to his new son-in-law. Actually, to Delphinia, he admitted, since her husband assured him she would be better suited to handle the investments than he would be. 

          However, Delphinia’s new husband did not have servants. For a wedding gift, she had asked Mr. Blakely to contact Annie and request—beg, he admitted with a smile—for her to come to Jubilee Springs, Colorado to work there as her maid. With the scarcity of women in the high mountain mining town, Delphinia had no prospects of finding someone already living there. She had complete confidence in Annie’s ability and honesty. He assured Annie that Delphinia promised, if for any reason Annie did not like Colorado or working for her, she would give Annie a generous severance pay, a train ticket back to New York, and another letter of recommendation. 

          Mr. Blakely had to explain the meaning of severance pay to Annie. All she knew was, when people in service were dismissed, they were lucky if they received the full wages owed to them before they were cast out to find other work the best they could. Delphinia’s offer to pay her in addition to any wages she earned, and a ticket back home if she did not like Colorado, left her stunned. Mr. Blakely did not allow her much time to muse over it as he continued talking. 

          “My daughter recognizes that, with the shortage of marriageable women in the region, she may not have you long before some young man claims your  affection and offers you marriage. Before that happens, she needs you to teach her how to cook and clean.”

 

Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom 

is currently on pre-order and scheduled to be released on October 23, 2019.

Please CLICK HERE to find the book description and purchase link.

 

To read about Annie and her sister, Kate, before this book begins, as well as be introduced to the groom, Michael O’Hare, you may enjoy reading  

Dead Set Delphinia 

while you are waiting for the publication date for Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom. Please CLICK HERE to find that book link.

Cover Reveal: TWO SISTERS AND THE CHRISTMAS GROOM

Below I am happy to share my cover for my latest book to be published 
October 23, 2019, 

Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom

 

This is Book 18 in the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog series,

Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs

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I will give my readers their choice in how to view the cover.

First, if you like puzzles,


CLICK HERE:

35 Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom

and solve the online 35 piece puzzle.

If you choose to view it right away, scroll down to see my cover for

Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom

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 For the book description and pre-order purchase link, please CLICK HERE.

This book is a romance involving Annie Flanagan, who once worked as a maid for the Blakely family in New York City, and her sister, Kate. Annie helped Delphinia leave home to travel to Jubilee Springs. In exchange, Delphinia left with Annie the name and address of the Colorado Bridal Agency for her to give to Kate. To read about Annie leading up to his book, you may enjoy reading 

Dead Set Delphinia.

For that book description and purchase link, 

please CLICK HERE.

Book Review: MERCER BELLES

Today I am featuring a Western anthology, 

Mercer's Belles 

a Timeless Western Collection 

including novellas by Heather B. Moore, Teri Harman, and Linda Carroll-Bradd 

About Mercer's Belles:

When Mr. Mercer sends out a call for single women to travel to Seattle for teaching positions and the potential of forming marriages, 45 answer his call, becoming Mercer's Belles.

The following collection is based on true events during the 1860s:

ONE DANCE by Heather B. Moore:
When Harriet Silverman arrives in Seattle for a fresh start and a new teaching position, the last person she expects is to meet is a fisherman who seems to be every place she turns. As she gets to know Caleb Munns, Harriet discovers they are a perfect match--for friendship. They both have solid reasons for not pursuing marriage. But as their paths continue to cross, Harriet begins to see a completely different future than she imagined.

A JOURNEY TO LOVE by Teri Harman:
Cora, a nurse and surgeon's assistant who learned her skills during the war, joins Mercer's expedition in hopes of finding a job in the West. She's a widow and does not want to marry again. When she meets Albert, a surgeon who is traveling on board the Continental, she finds herself intrigued. Yet, Albert's determined to open his own practice in Seattle, make it a success, and has no plans to look for a wife. But the more time Cora and Albert spend together on the voyage, the more they are drawn to each other.

A FARAWAY LIFE by Linda Carroll-Bradd:
Teacher Sorcha Geraghty yearns for a fresh start after the death of her beau and a factory accident maimed her hand. Asa Mercer’s call for teachers for Washington Territory provides a new opportunity, and she joins his ocean-going expedition. Upon arrival, she learns of the expectation for the women to become wives to the many bachelors. Sorcha needs a new plan and fast. Logging manager Lang Ingemar wants a teacher to provide basic English instruction to his Swedish-speaking crew and keep them out of trouble when they go to Seattle. When he convinces Miss Geraghty to relocate to the logging camp, he has no idea the ways his life will be changed. 

My book review:

For historical context, these two voyages from the East to Seattle, Washington, took place around the end of the Civil War. The first group of single women arrived in 1864. The second group arrived in 1866.

One Dance –

Among the first group of Mercer’s Belles to arrive in Seattle was Harriet. The author did an excellent job of developing her character as a formal woman, not overly social, slightly beyond what was considered the usual marriage age. Mercer’s plan for bringing teachers to Seattle appealed to her, but she sought independence, not the prospect of marriage which was the the other part of Mercer’s plan. I love how the author set up the romance with Harriet creating a splash as she arrives in Seattle. As she finds herself dealing with the disquiet of women-hungry men, Caleb, a rough and tumble fisherman, who was one of the few men not interested in seeking a wife, dove in to rescue her in more ways than one. Delightful story.

A Journey to Love – 

The Civil War is over. I felt a great empathy for Cora, a woman in what was considered a man’s occupation, as joins Mercer’s second group of women bound for Seattle hoping the need for medical care in Seattle will be great enough for the residents to overcome their prejudices against women in the field of medicine. Albert, a war-time surgeon, joins the group to work as an assistant physician on the ship, plus he plans to open a practice in Seattle. He meets Cora whom he knew only by her reputation as a battlefield surgeon’s assistant.  I enjoyed how this couple overcame all efforts to keep them apart and prevent Cora from using her knowledge to help the sick on board. Many interesting details come to light in this book, not only about the primary physician on the ship, but Mercer himself. The author set the scene well and described the characters so I could picture them easily. This romance held my interest throughout.

A Faraway Life – 

As always, Linda Carroll-Bradd brought unique, well-researched details to her story that added depth and color to an already great romance. Sorcha came to Seattle to teach, but had never dreamed she would be asked to teach hulking, grown Swedish loggers how to speak English. Mindful of the employment needs of her seamstress cousin she convinced to come with her, she agrees to give the position a try after she learns the job comes with a lovely, well-appointed cabin large enough for the two women. It requires an entire change of approach to her teaching methods, but she accepts the challenge. The author introduced the reader to basic Swedish phrases and culture, logging, and Sorcha’s lovely Celtic harp. This was a lovely sweet romance about overcoming fears and self-consciousness.

Mercer’s Belles is available on Amazon. PLEASE CLICK HERE.