Kara O'neal is not new to us but it's been a couple of years since she's shared Treasures and been in our Spotlight so please welcome her back with her brand new, Pike's Run book, Destiny's Secrets!
Destiny’s Secrets details the closeness of the heroes, who are brothers, and the development of a friendship between the heroines, who are sisters. Jo and Charlotte didn’t know each other existed, and for most of their life, they’ve missed out on that sisterly bond.
This aspect of the story touched my heart a lot. I enjoyed returning Jo and Charlotte to each other, and also relating the relationship between the heroes, Andrew and Ben. It was lovely to showcase the special bonds siblings can cause, and how important they are. I was able to draw on my own personal experiences, which only made me feel closer to my family. It was wonderful!
Andrew and Ben Lonnigan, brothers and private investigators,
have accepted an important case—to reunite the long-lost DuBois daughters with
their rightful inheritance. Abducted from their childhood home in New Orleans
when they were three and two-years-old, Jo and Charlotte were adopted by
separate families.
Andrew heads north to find Josephine Tatum—a pants-wearing,
spitfire veterinarian who challenges his mind and captures his heart. Ben
travels south to find Charlotte Ryan—the financial mind behind her father’s
ranch, with a sweet disposition and, unfortunately, a fiancé.
As the sisters journey toward destiny, Charlotte must guard
her heart against Ben, a man too daring to ever return her love. And Andrew
must hide his feelings from Jo, a woman determined to carve her own path. While
the foursome battle feelings, they must also war with a villain from the
sisters’ past, one with the will and the means to destroy everything the DuBois
daughters hold dear.
Excerpt:
The moonlight shining through the window above the sink
bathed the dark room in a silver glow. He wished he’d brought a lantern in
order to better see her face. Quiet settled around them, and he cleared his
throat. “Did…Did you have a good time?”
“Yes.” She leaned against the counter, putting several feet
of space between them.
“You weren’t scared?”
“I was.”
His mouth tipped up at the corners. “But you went anyway?”
“Yes.”
He tried to imagine her sitting in a saloon and couldn’t
wrap his mind around it. “What’d you do?”
She pushed her hands behind her back. “Played cards.”
“Poker?”
“Yes. The owner found us spots, and we used some of Jo’s
money. I only played two hands because I wasn’t comfortable betting.” She
waited a beat. “That’s not a game someone should learn while using someone
else’s coins.”
He had no reply and ached to move closer to her. He wished
he could gather her in his arms. The last several hours had been pure torture,
and his pulse raced at finally being in the same room with her.
“I also drank some whiskey.”
Her statement had him gaping. “Really?”
She didn’t expand and asked a question of her own. “Is this
what you wanted to speak to me about?”
“No, I…” How in the hell did he begin? Why bring this up
when she so obviously wanted to avoid it? But he couldn’t handle a chasm in
their friendship. Even though he might not see her after Tuesday, he had to fix
the tension between them.
“I’m sorry for what I did,” she blurted. “I shouldn’t have
done it, especially without asking for permission.”
Permission? Her sweetness punched him in the gut. Before he
could respond, she went on.
“I have feelings for you, Ben. Strong ones. I didn’t want
you to know because I’m very aware I’m not a lady you’d ever be interested in,
but I don’t want to hide my regard anymore.” She pushed away from the counter.
“I love you.”
His breath caught at her honesty. Her courage.
“You’re probably confused because I was engaged only a short
time ago, but…” She shook her head. “I didn’t love him. Not like I should have.
I agreed to marry him to give my family some happiness after the death of my
mother.”
Her words came with authority, shocking him into further
silence.
“You came into my life, and you dazzled me. You’re so kind,”
she said with reverence. “So caring. So…handsome. I’m glad I met you. I don’t
regret losing my heart to you, but it’s going to take some work to get it back,
and I need your help with that.”
What did she want of him?
“I need space. Distance.” She took a moment. “I’d appreciate
it if we just said goodbye now.”
Already? Rebellion reared its head like a fire-breathing
dragon.
When she said no more, he realized she waited for his
agreement. How could he give her what she wanted?
But why would he hesitate? Her request should be easy to
grant. He understood it. Respected it.
“Ben?” she prodded.
“Yes,” he rasped.
“Yes? You’ll honor what I’m asking?”
The hopeful, grateful note in her tone was like a knife to his
heart. “Of course.”
Even in the darkness, he easily detected the slump of her
shoulders. “Thank you.”
He couldn’t respond. It was impossible.
She shuffled forward a few steps, and he sensed her looking
at him expectantly.
“So,” he uttered. “This is goodbye, then.”
“Yes.”
He heard her heartache, the tears she tried hard to hold
back. He didn’t want this. He couldn’t lose her already.
“Goodbye,” she said softly, her voice breaking.
He swallowed. “Goodbye.”
One second more, then she swept past him, and he quaked with
the force it took to keep from yanking her into his arms. He didn’t turn as she
walked out of his life.
Bio:
Born and raised in Texas, the state had to be 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. Please visit me
at www.karaoneal.com or connect with me on the following Social Media sites:
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karaoneal7/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kara+o'neal?_requestid=845025
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor
OH NO! Kara! I'm hooked. Got to see what happens now LOL!
Hope you enjoyed Kara's excerpt as much as I did. Destiny's Secrets as well as the other 10 Pike's Run Books can be purchased at Amazon. Yes, you read that right, there are 11 Pike's Run books and if you enjoy Historical Romances, you'll LOVE this series. But don't just take my word for it, find out for yourself with book 1, Welcome Home
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
8 comments:
Kara,
This reads well. Congrats! Wishing you much success with your new novel.
Thanks for the interesting interview. It sounds as though the author captured a historical moment that might have been in her home state. Best wishes for much success.
Thank you so much for having me, Pamela! I enjoyed it, as always! And thank you Jacqueline and Gail for your comments and for visiting!
Awesome excerpt! Best of luck with your new release!
Thank you so much, Marissa! And thank you for visiting!
What a great black moment for the hero! Love it!
Thank you so much, Alina! And thank you for stopping by!
Family is so important. You are fortunate to have such a great relationship with your sibs. Best wishes, Kara.
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