Saturday Snippet: A Dark Figure Loomed Over Her

The following snippet is from 

 A Bride for Quentin  

by Zina Abbott

Mistaken Identity Mail Order Brides Book 8

Her eyes popped open and she struggled to keep her breathing even. She clamped her teeth over her tongue to prevent any sound from escaping her lips. Something had disturbed her sleep. Did a breeze ruffle her bedroom curtain? As she continued to listen, she kept her body still.

          Above her, the ceiling of her bedroom revealed nothing but the nighttime darkness. Lying on her back, she waited for her eyes to adjust so what little ambient light might have entered through the window. Hearing the creak of one of the floorboards, she tensed. Was it due to the house settling as the air outside cooled, or was someone in the room? Slowly, she turned her head toward the window.

          Immediately, a dark figure loomed over her, blocking any light entering from outside. A hand smelling of dirt and horse clamped over her mouth.

          “Not a word, missy. You want nothing to happen to the old lady in the next room, you won’t scream or nothing.”

          Fear shot through her and she began to tremble. Who are you? What do you want? She clutched the edge of the bedsheet and bunched it together as she pulled her hands beneath her chin.

          “Not going to hurt you, though I wouldn’t mind having a little fun with a sweet little thing like you. You’re a pretty one, from what I seen. I got my orders, though, and they include you being delivered in one piece. Soon as you do what you’re told, I’ll be on my way.”

          She forced her chin up and turned her face away. What do you want? The man responded by pressing his hand more firmly over her mouth and nose, making it more difficult to breathe.

          Her eyes staring in the blankness of the dark, she listened as the sound of something rubbing against her windowsill ended with a soft thud on her floor.

          “You got her yet? What you want me to do now?”

          Although the words were whispered, in the quiet of a sleeping world, she heard them clearly.

          “Hold it down.” The annoyed hiss came from her captor. “Soon as she writes her note, we’ll pack up everything personal and haul it out of here. He was very clear. We make it look like she left on her own.”

To find the book description and purchase link for 

A Bride for Quentin, please CLICK HERE. 

 

    TODAY ONLY! 

To celebrate the release of A Bride for Quentin, I am offering the Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs book that comes before this story, and includes Quentin as a tertiary character, Kate's Railroad Chef, for free.

To find the book description and purchase link, please

CLICK HERE.

 

 Enjoy this great collection of over 70 summer reads which includes my free sampler of several of my published books. My sampler also includes a sneak peek at my upcoming book, A Bride for Quentin.

Please CLICK HERE to find the special offer

Christian Romance Giveaways are All I Want for Summer Vacation.

Check out this new series, 

Old Timey Holiday Kitchen 

A multi-author series sponsored by the Sweet Americana Book Club featuring

Eleven books written by nine authors will be published every two weeks, just in time for the holidays.

Each book contains a sweet holiday romance and an old-fashioned recipe for your reading and cooking pleasure.

To find the series page on Amazon, please CLICK HERE.

 

 

Saturday Snippet: Go Home. Make Some Chicken Soup

With the publication of A Bride for Quentin scheduled for next week, which tells about Quentin, the telegraph operator's romance, today's snippet shares a scene between Quentin and Garland McAllister, the ticket agent, from

Kate's Railroad Chef

Train Wreck in Jubilee Springs Book 3

         He cringed as the door between his and Quentin’s office opened. Already, his friend had urged him—rather intensely—to go home for the day. Most of the explanations about what happened and the state of the situation had been taken care of on Saturday, the morning after the wreck. Garland, after only a few hours of sleep, had stumbled into his job and told people what was appropriate for them to hear—mainly that the railroad did not anticipate regular train service again until the Monday after Christmas.

          What he did not share was that Joe Hodges was fussing around like a mother hen over the locomotive that still needed to be dragged into his repair shop to be checked for hairline cracks or other damage that would make it unsafe. The construction crew still needed to remove the derailed cars and check the track. There would be little that needed to be done by him, and Quentin already offered to cover for him in the event people came in asking questions.

          Still, Garland did not feel right about leaving work, especially with Mr. Underwood still out of town.

          “I hope it was worth it to you to go out to the site of the wreck, especially if you end up down at Doc’s fighting pneumonia.”

          Garland glared at his friend and sniffed. Holding Kate Flanagan in my arms, even for those few minutes, was worth the risk of becoming sick with pneumonia.

          “You know there won’t be anything going east until after they check out that engine and clear those cars off the rails.” Quentin snapped his ear toward his office as the telegraph key started clacking. He quickly turned back to Garland. “Go home. Make some chicken soup or something. Otherwise, stay in bed instead of coming down here where you’ll make everyone else sick.”

          Garland stared at the door that Quentin closed behind him as he disappeared to copy down the message. He might have a point. No one else needs this wretched illness.

To find the book description and purchase link for 

Kate's Railroad Chef, please CLICK HERE.

 

A Bride for Quentin is available for preorder.

You may read the book description and link by CLICKING HERE.

 Enjoy this great collection of over 70 summer reads which includes my free sampler of several of my published books. My sampler also includes a sneak peek at my upcoming book, A Bride for Quentin.

Please CLICK HERE to find the special offer

Christian Romance Giveaways are All I Want for Summer Vacation.

 

 

This past week, the Sweet Americana Book Club on Facebook announced a new multi-author series it is sponsoring titled OLD TIMEY HOLIDAY KITCHEN. I'll be sharing more about this series in the future. 

Today, I wish to share my cover for Figgy Pudding by Francine that was revealed during the event. It is currently on preorder and will be released on November 22, 2021. 

 

To find the book description and link, please CLICK HERE.

 

 

Saturday Snippet: She Discouraged Anyone from Sitting Next to Her

The following snippet is taken from 

Mail Order Blythe 

Secret Baby Dilemma Book 8 

 

          As she listened to the sounds of Mr. Morgan stowing his belongings in the rack across the aisle, Blythe glanced at her carpetbag she left sitting on the bench between her and the window. She did so to discourage anyone from sitting next to her. She might have been comfortable if Mr. Morgan asked. A small part of her knew she would welcome it. However, his presence across the aisle was more appropriate.

          Blythe raised her gaze upward as the clatter of more footsteps reached her ears. Mr. Morgan’s two companions now stood in the aisle in front of her seat.

          “So, Eli, this is how it is? You prefer the company of this lovely lady to us, do you?” The man of medium height and build with golden brown hair smiled. “No offense, miss. We saw you earlier with our friend, but he failed to make introductions.

 

 

 

To find the book description and purchase link for 

Mail Order Blythe, please CLICK HERE.

 

A Bride for Quentin is available for preorder.

You may read the book description and link by CLICKING HERE.

 Enjoy this great collection of summer reads which includes my free sampler of several of my published books. My sampler also includes a sneak peek at my upcoming book, A Bride for Quentin.

Please CLICK HERE to find the special offer

Christian Romance Giveaways are All I Want for Summer Vacation.