#SaturdaySpotlight is on Kara O'Neal & The Christmas Bride!

 

Good Morning and Welcome Back to another edition of Saturday Spotlight where we're featuring Christmas books through Jan 11th!

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.

Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.

When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.

Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night! Visit Kara O’Neal at www.karaoneal.com.

Find and Follow Kare at the links below...

Website –  www.karaoneal.com

Bookbub –  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kara-o-neal

Amazon –  http://www.amazon.com/Kara-ONeal/e/B00FL19TH8/

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/

X –  https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor

Pinterest –  https://www.pinterest.com/karaoneal7/

Goodreads –  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278350.Kara_O_Neal

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/loveandletters7/

Sounds like a book you wouldn't want to miss and at only $.99¢ it's a steal! Get your copy today at Amazon or other online retailers.

Thank you SO much, Kara for sharing your book with us today.

Friends, you can check out Kara's previous posts by searching the blog, she's got a ton of wonderful books for historical romance lovers!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll check back weekly for another great Christmas Romance and in 2025 for more Saturday Spotlights!

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Kara O'Neal @KaraOnealAuthor & The Princess's Knight!

Good Morning,

Our guest today needs no introduction. Instead, I'm going to turn the spotlight on and let Kara take over....

THE PRINCESS’S KNIGHT is book 17 in the TEXAS BRIDES OF PIKE’S RUN series. And it almost never existed.

I started writing the Texas Brides series in the year 2000 and had no plans to give a story to Madeline Talbut. Because…well…Madeline is the “mean girl”, and I had every intention of keeping her that way.

Except as I went through the series, little tidbits popped up about her, and she ends up with a backstory that is pretty heartbreaking. I felt for her. I thought, “Well, perhaps she does deserve redemption.”

But I hadn’t any idea who her hero ought to be.

Then I wrote book 8 – THE EDITOR’S KISSES – and Carl Dawson, a sixteen-year-old, know-it-all who preferred a wandering life to getting hitched declared that he’d never settle down, least of all with someone like Madeline.

And that was it. THE PRINCESS’S KNIGHT was born.

I enjoyed messing up Carl’s plans, and I really enjoyed watching Madeline redeem herself. That was something I didn’t know if I could tackle correctly. I feel as if Madeline’s arc is well-done, but readers will have to tell me the truth!

Blurb: Pike’s Run, Texas, 1890

Carl Dawson finds himself in a Georgia prison with only one way out – get Madeline Talbut, the viperous ice princess and his childhood nemesis, home to Pike’s Run, or lose a year of his life in jail. He takes the deal and finds her playing hostess on a magnificent showboat.

Madeline Talbut has a past she’d like to forget, and she can do that while taking care of the guests aboard the Princess. But, as she sails the mighty Mississippi, a newcomer infiltrates her space, shaking up her heart, awakening the desire she’d thought dormant and reminding her that the past must be dealt with.

Carl learns there is more to Madeline than he’d once thought, and she’s becoming more important to him than he wants. But he must hide his identity from her, or she might not return to Texas and all the pain it holds. And, even worse, if she discovers who Carl really is, he might lose her. Forever.

Excerpt: “Miss Talbut has taken on all my duties aboard the Princess,” Mrs. Cole explained to Carl, “and I’m so grateful to her. And, as you can imagine, I can’t have anything happening to her.” She sniffed, then with care, she smoothed the hair at Madeline’s temple. “Tell me, Mr. Dawson, what do you do for a living?”

Not an odd question, but he felt it was going to lead somewhere. But what could he reveal without giving away who he was? He continued to sense it was better that Madeline not know his connection to her. At least, not yet. “I don’t have a profession. I travel, do odd jobs here and there.”

Mrs. Cole smiled at him. “And save damsels in distress everywhere you go, I bet.”

He’d aided ladies, yes, but not everywhere.

“I’m quite certain you’re nothing but a gentleman. A true knight,” Mrs. Cole remarked, while Madeline shifted uncomfortably.

“I try, ma’am,” Carl answered.

Mrs. Cole removed her hand from Madeline’s tightly linked fingers and leaned forward. “I have complete faith that you do, and I must ask for your assistance.” She gazed at him in earnest. “Would you watch over Miss Talbut for me? Be her protector while she carries out her duties?”

Well…damn it all. Relief poured through him. He glanced at Madeline again and saw her lips had pinched, and she looked ready to argue. But…she didn’t. Another revelation.

“I’ll pay you, of course, and it’s temporary. My husband will get better, and no one would dare harm Miss Talbut when he is present.” Mrs. Cole gave a sharp nod to emphasize her statement.

He studied Madeline for a brief second, realized she would abhor him guarding her. But did he have any other choice? “I’ll take the job.”

“Wonderful!” Mrs. Cole exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

Madeline looked ready to spit nails.

Well, he’d seen her tantrums. He could handle them.

Award-winning author, Kara O’Neal is a teacher and lives in Texas with her husband and three children She write stories with strong family ties, lots of romance and guaranteed happy endings! You can find out about Kara and her writing and connect with her on her Website, Blog, FaceBook, Twitter, Amazon, GoodReads, B&N, Pinterest, and BookBub.

Get more information on the Pike's Run series and sneak peek into the characters as well as exclusive content on The Story Continues Blog.

Get your copy of The Princess's Knight HERE and check out Kara's series by reading her other posts HERE.

Wonderful premise and excerpt, Kara! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with this latest edition to your marvelous series.

Until next week for Wednesday Words with Friends and/or Saturday Spotlight, take care and God Bless, Friends!

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts AHA Featured Author Judy Ann Davis

Well here we are again, welcoming another brand new (to me) author to our blog.

Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, PA. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications and has written for industry and education throughout her career.

Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines, and anthologies, and have received numerous awards.

When Judy Ann is not behind a computer, you can find her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are
few.

She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc. and Romance Writers of America, and lives in Central Pennsylvania. Connect with Judy at the following locations...

Website: www.judyanndavis.com
Blog:  www.judyanndavis.blogspot.com
Twitter: JudyAnnDavis4 https://twitter.com/JudyAnnDavis4
Facebook: Judy Ann Davis
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Judy-Ann-Davis/561285450554606?ref=hl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4353662.Judy_Ann_Davis

Now let's find out about Judy's book.....

How did “Under Starry Skies” by Judy Ann Davis come about? Since the author had worked in adult education and understood the value of reading and writing for all adults, the story of school teacher Maria O’Donnell teaching Indian Two Bears to read and write in 1875 seemed plausible for a storyline. Two Bears was a minor but favorite and humorous character in her first book, “Red Fox Woman.” She felt she had to bring him back in the sequel because her readers fell in love with him and his humorous and wily disposition. They also fell in love with the youngest Ashmore brother, Tydall, who's the story's hero.

Blurb:
Hired as the town’s school teacher, Maria O’Donnell and her sister Abigail arrive in the Colorado Territory in 1875, only to find the uncle they were to stay with has been murdered.
Rancher Tye Ashmore is content with life until he meets quiet and beautiful Maria. He falls in love at first sight, but her reluctance to jeopardize her teaching position by accepting his marriage proposal only makes him more determined to make her part of his life.

When their lives are threatened by gunshots and a gunnysack of dangerous wildlife, Tye believes he is the target of an unknown enemy. Not until Maria receives written threats urging her to leave does she realize she might be the target instead of the handsome rancher.
With the help of Tye, Abigail, and a wily Indian called Two Bears, Maria works to uncover her uncle’s killer and put aside her fears. But will she discover happiness and true love under Colorado’s starry skies?

Snippet:
Two Bears reached out and laid a hand on her trembling ones to still her. “Listen closely. You must tell Tye Ashmore and those you trust. You must always carry a weapon with you. Do not take chances. Do not be foolish. Foolish men are the first to die. Take a different path to the school each morning. We need to find your enemy.”

“I don’t know how.” Maria gave a choked, desperate laugh. She watched Two Bears stare with a hawklike gaze at the forest leading to the stable of the manse, then let his eyes encircle the entire wooded area at the edge of the yard.


Finally he spoke in a calm steady voice. “Enemies are not always wise enemies. They get careless. Then we will find him. . .or he will reveal himself.”

Wow..sounds like a really great book from The Wild Rose Press! Get your copy today at Amazon

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll return each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Fall #RomanticTravel with Anita Philmar

Good Morning Friends!

Today we welcome Anita Philmar back to our blog, this time as part of the Fall Romantic Travel blog exchange.

Anita has been here several times in the past, for other blog exchanges so she is no stranger to us. Although her normal genre is erotic romance, today Anita and I are pleased to bring to your attention a brand new collection of sweet to sensual cowboy ghost stories.

Sounds like a whole other country right LOL!

Anyway without further ado....here's Anita....

I believe visiting wineries is a great way to have a short romantic escape. Almost every state has a few and most are affordable, running anywhere from free to $20 for a tasting.

While in Nebraska where McKee’s Ghost story takes place, I had a chance to visit a few. As you can see by the picture, it’s a great to unwind and relax.

~*~  ~*~  ~*~

Nebraska is certainly on my "to visit" list Anita!

Now let's find out a little more about Anita's contribution to this collection, The Good, The Bad and the Ghostly.....

Blurb for McKee’s Ghost

His fiancée called off their engagement after be accosted by a ghost in his house.

      

Now, a beautiful ghost detective has shown up at his ranch, saying his brother has hired her to take care of the unwanted spirit.

Konnor McKee is more than happy with PSI Agent Ruth Oliva Wilson. One look and he was hooked. Now, if he can only get some help from a ghost, he might be able to secure himself a bride after all.

With the return of his ex-fiancee, his life is turn upside down by an angry ghost, a vindictive woman and a sexy medium. Konnor doesn’t know which way to turn.

Can he get everyone out of this alive and marry the PSI Agent?

Or has he lost all hope of a happy future because of the ruthless ghost of one of his ancestors?   

Excerpt:

Somehow, Konnor must have realized her inability to stand. Because one minute, Ruth stood before him, the next he’d swept her up in his embrace. “My, but you are a tiny thing.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and worked to clear her vision while her head still spun in circles. “What are you doing?”

“Carrying you upstairs. A pint-sized woman like you must be exhausted from your trip. What time did you start out?” Konnor walked up the stairs without giving her a chance to demand that he release her.

Her gaze narrowed in on the strong column of his neck. The word determined joined the stubborn tag she’d used to describe him. Nonetheless, she appreciated his assistance. The ache in her feet eased, and she snuggled closer, letting his strength revive hers. Still the man was being awful forward. She needed to remind him she expected to be treated as a professional, not his lover. “I’m not exactly sure when the train left Omaha, they were running late.”

“Omaha?” He paused outside a doorway and released her legs. Her body swung against his. He tightened his hold on her waist and drew her into his chest. “That means you’ve been traveling all day.”

“Yes, after I got to Shelton. I managed to get a ride with a couple who let me off about two or three miles down the road from your house.” She recalled the older man and his wife. They had encouraged her to go home with them and pay a visit to Konnor tomorrow after she’d given herself an opportunity to rest. She smiled. “Mr. and Mrs. Stout. They said they didn’t live too far from here.”

“Yes, they have a place near my parents.” He continued to examine her. A frown formed on his mouth and brow, each leveling out into a straight line. “And I’m sure they stopped by there to tell them I have a visitor. Which means, we might have a problem when they find out you’re staying here alone with me.”

“Why? I’m here on assignment.” Ruth had run into this situation before and understood how her bunking at a client’s home inspired rumors. “It’s not like anything is going on between us. I’m a respected agent.”

He squeezed her tighter against his chest and lowered his head. His eyes alight with desire, he whispered against her lips, “Wrong. One look and I was smitten. Now, holding you in my arms, I’m ready—”

~*~  ~*~  ~*~

Hmmm....sounds pretty spicy to me! You can purchase The Good, The Bad and The Ghostly at Amazon.

Now let's find out a little more about Anita...

Anita Philmar likes to create stories that push the limit. A writer by day and a dreamer by night she wants her readers to see the world in a new way.

Influenced by old movies, she likes to develop places where anything can happen and where special moments come to life in a great read.

Naughty or Nice?

Read her books and decide.

Website:  http://www.anitaphilmar.com/

Blog: http://www.anitaphilmar.blogspot.com/

FB: www.facebook.com/anita.philmar

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anitaphilmar

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Anita-Philmar/e/B002BMBE8C

Well friends, hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll return weekly for Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlight and Tuesday Treasures!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

Special Guest - David Golden

It is my pleasure to introduce to you a very special guest today, western author, David Golden. I was shocked and surprised that this man lives in a neighboring town and from what I discovered about Mr. Golden, he deserves every bit of success God blesses him with.


Dr. Carol Wood, PhD tells David's story.....Until his twenties when his knees went bad, David Golden lived the modern cowboy's life in the rodeo. After that career was cut short, he traveled all over the country (and a few foreign countries) as a pipeline and nuclear welder. "It allowed me to see the remote places around the nation. It was different from just visiting the metro areas," he says.

In 1992, multiple sclerosis prevented him from working, but David did not allow the fact that he is legally blind from the MS to stop him from going back to school at forty years old and pursuing a successful college career with a minor in English, which is how I met him where he enrolled in a class I teach in British literature.

David told me, "Everyday I can wake up and see a reflection in the mirror is going to be a pretty good day! If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have saved more money and took better care of myself."

I was impressed by the way David surmounted the difficulties MS and his blindness caused, and I am proud that he has now tried his hand at novels--successfully!" noted Dr. Carol Wood, a Retired English Professor from McNeese State University.

David's four children are Phillip "Flip", the late great Kenzie Golden-Roden (February 26,1979-February 7, 2006), the late great Aaron (August 10, 1982 -November 14, 2004), and of course Jake! He has two grandsons, too: Coy and Dawson.

David said, "I love my kids very much and in such a tumultuous world we live in today, I am proud of the way my children have turned out to be successful adults. I hope, and pray my grandchildren do as well."

David has authored 5 books - My Prodigal Brother, Shanghaied in New Orleans, Slumber in Sioux City, Tied up in Tonawanda and Ignorant in Idaho. All of his books are not a series but an on-going saga. They are about, Garrett Stone, a prominent ranch owner in Monntana who has a care-free foot-loose brother John who is constantly getting into misdemeaner type trouble throughout the country. Garrett has to travel to rescue his brther every time.


The 6 foot-four- inch, blue-eyed, and broad shouldered cowboy falls in love with a beautiful black-haired waitress named Becky. Her aunt has had a stroke , so she, her mom, and her son have to travel the country to find specialists doctors to treat her aunt. Somehow, she always manages to beat Garrett to where he has to go to bail out his brother. The two want-a-be lovers try their best to nurture a long-term relationship but to no avail.


Each book is independantly written, so you do not have to read them in order to enjoy them. They are written in the early 1890s but each on has a "hook". Something is chronologically out of order, and it is up to the reader to find it!



David will be traveling to Boise, ID July 31 - August 2nd to do book signings on a holiday train where a Wild West skit will be performed. The signings start at 2:30.

What an inspiration! If you're a fan of western's please check out David's website and find out how/where to purchase his books.

David may not be able to comment because he is on the road to Idaho, but I'm sure he'd appreciate your words of encouragement either here or email him at: davidwgolden@juno.com

Until later....Be Blessed!
PamT