Saturday Snippet: I Refrained from Asking

 The following snippet is taken from

Mail Order Penelope

Book 23 in the series,

Widows, Brides & Secret Babies

          While Marcus used the black silk sash to fashion a sling that would also serve to keep pressure on the bandage, from the corner of his eye, he watched Penelope Humphry pull a handkerchief from her sleeve and blot her face.

          “Are you well, Mrs. Humphry?”

          The woman responded by dropping her hand holding the handkerchief in her lap. She looked down and surveyed herself before shaking her head. “I have bloodstains on both the bodice and skirt of my gown. Jeremy’s drool and a bit of snot from when he was crying during the attack are smeared all over my shoulder. The water stain on my skirt looks suspiciously like it came from his diaper. I’m not sure how much will wash out of this silk. Jerry tore the hat from my head, and I’m sure my hair looks a fright.” She stared at the back of the coach as she heaved a sigh. “However, Captain, we’re alive and uninjured. For the time being, my son is safely asleep beneath the bench. I am well.” She turned to face Marcus and lifted her chin. “And, no. I do not yet feel compelled to turn back.”

          “I refrained from asking, Mrs. Humphry.”

          “Thank you. For you see, Captain, at the risk of casting pearls before the swine, since I knew my mother’s remaining time on earth was short, I prayed about where I should go and what I should do once she passed. I knew with a child to take care of, my options were limited.”

          One side of Marcus’s mouth quirked up. “So you are equating me with swine now?”

 Please click on the book title to find the book link for Mail Order Penelope.

To celebrate the recent release of Mail Order Penelope, I am now offering another one of my books, Bargain Bessie, is available for 99 cents through August 20th. PLEASE CLICK HERE.

 

Thank you to all who have left your five star reviews.

Saturday Snippet: Trouble with the Law

The following snippet is taken from

Kendrick by Zina Abbott,

Book 9 in the series, Bachelors & Babies

Also Too Old for Babies in the series,

Too Old in Columbia

          Kendrick rounded his counter and reached for the front window to exchange his handmade “open” sign for the one that said “closed” when the door burst open.

          Jeb stood in the doorway. Instead of entering, the man, standing half in and half out, turned and looked down the road in the direction of Main Street.

          His forehead wrinkled and lips in a grimace, Kendrick waved his arm. “In or out, Jeb. You’re letting in flies. What can I do for you?”

          Jeb took one step inside the door, and then he leaned his body back outside to study something down the street that held his interest one last time. He then entered far enough to close the door behind him. With an eyebrow cocked, he turned to Kendrick. “That’s the sheriff out there, and it looks like there’s another man on the wagon with him. They’re headed this way.”

          “The sheriff? As in, the Sheriff Stuart of Tuolumne County who lives in Sonora?”

          “The same.” Too fast for Kendrick to stop him, Jeb again pulled the door open, stuck his head out for less than two seconds, then pulled his body back in and slammed the door. “They’re coming here, if the direction their eyeballs are focused is any indication. Other man has something shiny on his chest, like a badge or something. Well, what I can see of it, considering the bundle he’s got held tight in his arms. What’d you do to get yourself in trouble with the law?”

 PLEASE CLICK HERE to find the book description and purchase link for Kendrick - Too Old for Babies.

The last Bachelors and Babies book has been published. However, the authors who brought you this series are not finished yet. To get a hint of what is coming next, please join the Bachelors and Babies Reader Group on Facebook by CLICKING HERE.

Saturday Snippet: You Got Money for That, Sugar?

The following snippet is taken from

Mail Order Lorena

Book 17 in the series,

Widows, Brides & Secret Babies

 

          Eustace jerked his head away from her touch. “As delectable as you are, Fancy, I’m still not interested in sampling your charms. Your time would be spent better going after some other man.”

          “Now, sugar, that’s no way to talk to Fancy. You know I only want what’s best for you.” She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “You know our cook you keep watching whenever she comes out in the room? You willing to help her, sugar?”

          Eustace tensed. What is this woman up to? He studied her with hooded eyes and lowered his voice. “Depends.”

          Fancy ran her fingertip along his left jaw as she spoke softly in his right ear. “I need you to order a peach brandy. You got the money for that, sugar?”

.....    “Clyde doesn’t keep his peach brandy out front. He only has a few bottles—for special occasions. They’re locked away in his storeroom. I need to get in there to look for something he’s keeping from Lorena. First, I have to get the key from him.”

          Eustace sensed the woman’s words held truth. He felt his body prepare for a mission. “I’m listening.”

          She rose to her feet. While Fancy trailed her fingers along his chest and across the back of his neck, she slowly moved to his side and leaned over until her lips reached his other ear. “Now, sugar, you see how Rosa and Sabrina are both working on two men to take upstairs? I need to wait until they call Clyde over and get him busy making financial arrangements. That’s when I’ll ask him for the key.”

          Eustace held his body still and his face expressionless, but his mind raced. Whatever is going on, both of the others are in on it.

To find the book description and purchase link for Mail Order Lorena, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Two of my three books in the Widows, Brides and Secret Babies series have been published. Mail Order Penelope is currently on preorder and scheduled for release August 14. Click on the book titles for the book links for all three books:

Mail Order Roslyn                    Mail Order Lorena

              

Mail Order Penelope