Today it is my pleasure to bring Kara O'Neal back with her historical romance, The Christmas Bride.
Take it away, Kara....
When I wrote MR. PIERCE’S HERO, I fell in love with Alfred Taylor. He is a secondary character in the story and returns to Pike’s Run to help his sister with her troubles. He’s quite formidable, and his reasons for being gone so long made my heart ache for him.
So…I had to give him a happy beginning. And that happens in THE CHRISTMAS BRIDE.
I dedicated THE CHRISTMAS BRIDE to my grandparents. The heroine, Truly Cunningham, reminds me a little of my grandmother, and my grandma and grandpa got married on Christmas Day. (It was the only day my grandpa didn’t have to work.)
This was a lovely, short story that gives two very lonely and sorrowful people hope during one of the most joyous times of the year. Alfred and Truly are wonderful characters and tugged consistently on my heart strings. You’ll love them!
BLURB: Truly Cunningham flees after her fiancé jilts her for her sister. With nowhere to go, she ends up in Pike’s Run, Texas, hiding in the town’s opulent Royal Hotel. As she nurses her pain, finding no comfort in the Christmas season, she is slowly running out of funds. She must find a way to support herself or return to Dallas where her sister is the wife Truly had planned to be.
Alfred Taylor, manager of the Royal Hotel, hates Christmas. The decorations. The celebrations. The presents. All of it. And he must help the Ladies’ Auxiliary put on the Christmas Eve social. The only bright spot is the presence of a new guest, Truly Cunningham. She is beautiful, mysterious, and warming parts of his heart he thought dead.
When Truly asks for a position in his hotel as hostess of the establishment, Alfred immediately hires her. Which becomes dangerous. He can’t stay away from her, and even worse, wants to spill his secrets. Will he lose his one chance at happiness, or will Christmas finally give him the hope it promises?
EXCERPT: When Truly reached the foyer of the hotel, people hastened about, all with things to do and places to go. She had no such joy. Pain pressed on her breast, making it difficult to breathe. At what point would the knife in her back and heart stop twisting?
She blinked, clearing away threatening, hated, vile tears. No more. Never again.
Before entering the dining room, her gaze caught on Alfred Taylor. He stood at the desk, his head bowed over a ledger. His suit coat molded to his broad shoulders. His vest hugged his torso. His brown beard couldn’t hide the angled jawline.
He was a gorgeous man.
When he looked up, she averted her eyes and quickened her steps. What did his handsomeness matter? Henry had been attractive. Beautiful, really. Which had been one of the problems.
A waitress led Truly to her usual table near the French doors that led to one of the verandahs. The fire blazed in the hearth near the entrance, brass sconces hung from the white, oak paneling, linen covered all the tables, while china and crystal gleamed in the light streaming through the many exits to the luxurious porch.
Truly didn’t need to see a menu, but she took one anyway. Did the employees of the Royal Hotel wonder why she, a single female with no escort, was still here? Did Mr. Taylor wonder?
She hoped not. But…if he did, would he pry? Would he tell her she needed to move on? How long could someone stay in a hotel?
Pike’s Run had a boardinghouse, but she’d been so comfortable she hadn’t wanted to move. And she felt hidden here. There was so much activity she got lost in the shuffle. Well, rather, she hoped she got lost.
After ordering oatmeal, biscuits and coffee, Truly sat with her hands folded in her lap.
A man approached her table. He doffed his hat and smiled. “Ma’am, may I keep you company?”
She opened her mouth to refuse, but before she could, Mr. Taylor appeared.
“McClain?”
The gentleman frowned. “What is it?”
Mr. Taylor jerked his head toward the foyer. “I’ve got some information to pass along to you.”
With an irritated expression, Mr. McClain excused himself and strode toward the exit.
Before following his guest, Mr. Taylor locked gazes with Truly. A gentle light shone from his warm, brown eyes. He gave her a polite nod.
Surprise moved through her as he left. Had he interfered only to protect her from whoever Mr. McClain was? Perhaps his heart was as perfect as his face and form.
But she wouldn’t determine the answer. Because it didn’t matter.
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