Sunday Share: Perpetual Emotions, by Jamie Salsbury

Hello to Jamie Salsbury today, visiting with Perpetual Emotions, her second book in the Albert and Anne Series. This is a continuing series, so here's the blurb for the first book.

Perpetual Love: A 1860s historical romance. Based in the territory of Nevada, Anne is a guest with her father at Albert Stuart's family ranch. Albert dreads having to entertain yet another of his father's friends' daughters. However, he is blown away with Anne for when the two meet it is as though two worlds collided. They become inseperable. Anne's father however, has his own agenda and is determined that neither of the young lovers will ruin it for him.

Perpetual Emotions, by Jamie Salisbury

Genre: Historical western romance
Heat Level: sweet to sensual

The continuing story of Albert and Anne, Perpetual Emotions picks up with the couple settling into their new life as husband and wife. Both headstrong, their love and determination lead them on the road of life as they attempt to establish their roles within their marriage.
The book is filled with twists and turns, both good and bad.
Anne's father reappears; this time determined to get his hands on the money she's inherited. By any means. . .

EXCERPT:

“That’s good,” the doctor began, “you need to rest. Now let’s take a look at you and see how you’re doing.”

     Peter had her slip her dress off and began his examination. When he finished, he began, “Your face is looking much better, in a few days the discoloration will be completely gone. Your head is healing well, and the bruises on your arms are much better. I see your wrists are still chaffed; keep using the cream I left for you. Otherwise, you are doing extremely well; you do not have to stay in bed anymore. You may move around the house as long as you don’t overdo. No riding for a while, other than in a carriage, and slowly you can resume your normal routine.”

     “Thank you, Peter, I am feeling much better,” she said.

     “But remember, any headaches or dizziness, come and see me immediately,” the doctor cautioned.

     “She will,” Albert promised.

     “Well, I’m finished here, I’ve sick people to see,” the doctor said, smiling.

     “I’ll walk you out,” Albert told him.

     Once outside Peter asked, “Has she recalled anything?”

     “No, she hasn’t mentioned a thing. I thought that was why she was so restless last night, possibly recalling that day, but she didn’t mention it when she woke up.”

     “Gradually it will come back and hopefully it won’t be too traumatic for her. I can tell she is more relaxed today than she was yesterday. She feels safe and secure here with you and that is what she needs. Let her begin to return to her normal activities, just do not let her overdo, she is still weak. It’s also time you got back to your routine, Albert. Anne is going to be fine. I feel she is well enough that I don’t need to stop by anymore. However, I’d like to see her in my office in two weeks,” the doctor told him.

     When Albert returned to their room, Anne was all ready up, opening windows, and straightening the room.

     “Just what do you think you’re doing?” he asked.

     “Straightening up in here a bit, Peter said I could resume my normal routine,” she answered.

     “He said you could begin doing things, he didn’t mean to jump out of bed and start tearing through the house,” he cautioned.

     Putting her arms around Albert’s neck she told him, “I am not tearing through the house. Now calm down, you heard Peter, I’m doing fine.”

     “Yes, my dear, I heard him say that you could gradually return to your normal routine. When I walked Peter out, I took the liberty of telling Mary she could go back to Sky Valley. I’m sure my family would like to see her and I can see to our needs,” he said, adding, “We’ll be alone tonight.”

     “Mmmm,” she murmured, nibbling on his ear, “yes, we must do as Peter said and get back to our normal routine.”

     “But for now, I want you to lie back down, Peter interrupted your nap,” Albert told her.

     “I’m not tired, Albert,” she replied.

     “You need to get your strength back and the only way that is going to happen is if you rest. You don’t have to sleep.”

     “Alright, I will, if you will join me, you need to sleep more than I, you’re exhausted. I wouldn’t be able to rest knowing you weren’t,” she countered.

     “Alright, you win, I’ll lie down with you for a while,” he said, slipping off his boots before joining her on the bed.

     Thirty minutes later, Anne lay there wide-awake, staring at the ceiling. Albert however, was sound asleep, his arm around her, his head on her shoulder. It had taken him all of five minutes to fall asleep.

     I would love a cup of tea, she thought, lying there. I could slip downstairs and have a cup before Albert wakes. He’ll never even know I was gone.

     Deciding upon a course of action, she slowly slipped from his grasp, gently laying his head upon her pillow. Taking her time descending the stairs, she barely made it to the kitchen before a bellowing voice resounded throughout the house, ”Anne, damn it!” followed by footsteps coming down the stairs…fast.

     Anne braced herself for the scolding she knew was inevitable. Meeting him at the kitchen door, she rushed to explain, “Albert, I was thirsty…I wanted some tea. You were sleeping well for the first time and I didn’t want…”

     “Enough! You promised you’d rest and the second my back is turned…”he said, his face dark with anger.

     “Your back wasn’t turned, she explained, trying to assuage his anger, “you were sleeping …I didn’t want to disturb you for something I could get for myself, I’m sorry I worried you.”

     “Damn it Anne! For once couldn’t you just do as I ask?”

     “There is no need to shout and curse, Albert. I admit I should have…” she began.

     “I don’t seem to get your attention unless I raise my voice,” he roared, interrupting her.

     “Now that is enough Albert! There is no need for you to rant and rave like this. I was only thinking of you.”

     “You weren’t thinking of me, if you were you would have done as I asked,” he pointed out. “Can’t you understand that you are still very weak? What if you had gotten on the stairs, become light-headed, and fell? You could have been hurt…”

     “But, I didn’t,” she said calmly.

     “Damn it! Don’t you hear what I am saying?” he raged.

     “Yes dear, I can hear you and there is a good chance everyone for miles around can hear you also. I said I was sorry, I did not want to bother you when for the first time in days, and you were actually relaxed and sleeping soundly. Now you’ve made your point and we should move on,” she replied.

     “Anne, when are you going to learn that there are times, and this is one of them, that you must do as I say, whether you like it or not.”

     “You best stop right there, Albert Stuart,” she warned, her temper rising. “You do not tell me what to do, just as I would never dream of telling you what to do. I didn’t fall down the steps, I have no headaches, no dizziness, and I am fine! But if you don’t stop your bellowing, I am going to develop a headache!”

     “You are just too independent for your own good,” he said, muttering under his breath.

     “Excuse me? I don’t believe I heard you correctly,” she replied.

     “I said you were too damn independent for your own good!”

     “You once told me you loved my independence. That you found it refreshing for a woman to be so…” she reminded him.

     “I know what I said,” he interrupted, “that was then, this is now. You are now my wife and I will make the decisions regarding your well-being. It’s time you started listening to me and doing as I say.”

     “I will not be dictated to by you or anyone else! I love you with everything in me, but I must tell you Albert, you are being unreasonable. You are making a big deal out of something very trivial…”

     “Trivial?” he said, raising his voice again. “It is not trivial that my wife refuses to listen to me regarding her well-being.”

     Knowing if this went any further, they would have a full-blown argument; Anne decided to take a different path with him. Moving closer, she slipped her arms around his waist, looking up at him she began, “Albert, I do listen to you and value your advice. It is silly for both of us to get so upset over something so insignificant.”

     As he started to reply, she placed her fingers over his lips telling him, “I’m sorry, you’re right, I shouldn’t have come down here alone this soon. I’m sorry that I upset you so, I didn’t mean to.”

     Albert stood staring at her in silence. She had left him nothing else to say, he knew that she was trying to defuse the situation and his temper soon cooled. As he held her he said, “No more little escapades Anne. I want you well and that can’t happen if you are reckless.”

~*~

About Jamie: "I have always written, it was something that came naturally. Fortunately later on in life, it served well in my professional careers. I was raised primarily in the Pacific Northwest, but also lived in South America growing up. Now as an adult, I currently reside in North Georgia. I love to travel, hike, cycle, anything equestrian and photography."

Author web site:   http://jamiesalisbury.webs.com/
Author Blog site: http://www.jamiesalisburyauthor.blogspot.com

Where to get your copy of Perpetual Emotions:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Emotions-Albert-Anne-ebook/dp/B0072II3PC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328115571&sr=8-1 

Nook:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perpetual-emotions-jamie-salisbury/1108453578?ean=2940014061940&itm=1&usri=perpetual+emotions+by+jamie+salisbury 

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/121611  

Thanks again for being here today Jamie! Best of luck with your newest release and wishing you much success. :)

Have a great week, everyone!

Stacey Joy Netzel

Sunday Share: Deadly Obsession, by Kristine Cayne + Giveaway

Welcome Kristine Cayne! Thank you for being here and sharing an excerpt and ebook giveaway of Deadly Obsession.

DEADLY OBSESSION, by Kristine Cayne

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Heat Level: Spicy

When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer…

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream…

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.

EXCERPT:
“Lift your outside knee and anchor your leg with your foot.” Lauren checked the scene through the camera lens. Then she adjusted the position of his raised knee, angling it toward the edge of the bed.

Although her touch was light, Nic’s skin burned where her hand wrapped around his knee. He wanted her to slide her fingers higher ….

Rein it in, lover boy. With the stalker breathing down his neck, jealous of the women around him, the timing couldn’t be worse. He wanted to get to know Lauren, not get her killed.

Oblivious to her effect on him, Lauren backed away. “Perfect. Now raise your right arm and grab the headboard.” She reached into one of her cargo pockets. “I’m going to hand you a knife. Hold it in your left hand and place the blade flat on your left thigh.”

“Lorna dear, is that really necessary?” Vivian asked, her voice coated with high-fructose corn syrup.

Lauren made a face. “The shot won’t work without the knife.”

Nic glanced at Vivian and frowned. “Lauren knows what she’s doing. She’s a professional.”

Vivian flashed him a broad smile, then turned to Lauren. “Of course she is, darling.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice like venom from a viper’s fangs.

“Viv, play nice.” She wanted the best for him, but if she didn’t tone it down, she’d ruin the shoot.

Lauren unsheathed a long silver bayonet and handed it to him. As he followed her instructions, she checked the composition of the shot. A frown marred her forehead.

“I’m not getting this right, am I?” he asked.

“Almost. But the knife needs to be higher.” As she leaned over his shoulder, she very slowly slid her hand along his leg, pulling his hand higher until the blade lay diagonally along his upper thigh, pointing to his groin. He sucked in a breath. His muscles quivered under the warmth of her hand, so close to where he wanted it to be. “I won’t hurt you,” she said in her low sexy voice.

“Too late for that, ma chère.” He groaned at the thought of her hand on him.

Her face coloring, she snatched her hand back and returned to her camera. “Perfect,” she said, taking shots from different angles. Out of nowhere, a wave of exhaustion crashed over him. He yawned widely and his eyelids drooped. “Hey, Nic. You okay?”

“Just tired. Vivian, could you get me some more coffee?”

“Whatever you need, darling,” Vivian said as she refilled his cup. “How much longer will this take, Lorna?

Rolling her eyes, Lauren turned to Nic. “Just a few more shots, then we’re done.” She walked around the bed. “Lie on your side, please.”

Grinning, he grabbed the pillow and placed it under his head as if settling down for the night. Now that was an idea. He was so damn tired.

“Maybe you could rest your elbow on the pillow and hold your head up?”

Trying to get some more hands-on action, he placed his hand behind his neck, crooking his head back at an awkward angle. When she shook her head, Nic swallowed a laugh. She set her camera on the nightstand and tugged on his shoulder to pull it forward. He resisted and, when she let go, rolled onto his back. Eyes closed, he lay there, waiting.

Lauren shook his shoulder. “Nic.”

He opened his eyes and met her concerned gaze. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d spent most of the night watching TV, but still…

He’d never fallen asleep on the job.

A loud commotion in the hallway startled him. Heart pounding, he jack-knifed in the bed. The door flew open and slammed against the wall. Without waiting to see who it was, he jumped up and pulled Lauren back. With the bed between her and the door, he pushed her to the floor. If the assailant had a gun, she’d be safe. Feet apart, fists clenched, he turned to face the intruder.

Relief crashed over Nic when he recognized several members of the paparazzi squeezing into the room. He helped Lauren to her feet. Her eyes were glazed with confusion. Coming here without a bodyguard had been more than stupid; it had been irresponsible. The reporters would wonder why he’d reacted so aggressively, and he absolutely didn’t want them to catch wind of his troubles with the stalker. He owed it to Vivian to turn this near fiasco into a photo op.

There was only one solution. With a resigned sigh, he pulled Lauren close, crushing her breasts against his chest.

“Oh no, you don’t,” she hissed. “I’m not one of your Paparazzi Girls.”

She wasn’t happy, but what could he do? Nic The Lover always found a Paparazzi Girl when cameras were around. His gaze darted between her and the photographers. He arched a brow.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Do it.”

He bent down and brushed his lips against hers. For the first few seconds, she didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away, either. Then, on a sigh, she leaned into him and her arms locked around his neck. His tongue darted out to taste her bottom lip. Mmm… cherry—his new favorite flavor. When her mouth opened, he didn’t hesitate.

He dove in. And drowned.

He’d meant this to be a quick kiss, only he couldn’t stop. His lips traced a path to her throat. Cupping her bottom with his hands, he lifted her up, grinding against her. She moaned. It was a beautiful sound, one he definitely wanted to hear again.

A loud noise pierced the fog of his lust. He raised his head from where he’d been nuzzling Lauren’s apple-scented neck to tell whoever it was to f*** off, but as the sexual haze cleared, he swallowed the words. The paparazzi had gathered around, applauding and calling out crude encouragements. Some snapped photos while others rolled film. Shit. He’d pay for this f***-up and so would she.

(Excerpt from Deadly Obsession copyright © 2012 Kristine Cayne)

~*~

Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.

The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series, beginning with Deadly Obsession, are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.

Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.

Deadly Obsession is available in print and/or e-book format at the following retailers:

Amazon ebook (http://amzn.com/B006SP32Q0)

Amazon print (http://amzn.com/0984903402)

Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006SP32Q0)

Barnes and Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-obsession-kristine-cayne/1108117594?ean=2940013699441&itm=1&usri=deadly+obsession+cayne)

Smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/119155)

All Romance eBooks (http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deadlyobsession-668769-149.html)

Kobo (http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Deadly-Obsession/book-NknqJYU8LECdKUfPmCdabA/page1.html)

iTunes USA: USA: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9780984903412

Where to find Kristine Cayne:

New Releases List: (http://site.kristinecayne.com/Newsletter.html) or (https://www.facebook.com/KristineCayneAuthor?sk=app_100265896690345)
Website/blog at (htttp://www.kristinecayne.com)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/KristineCayneAuthor)
Twitter (http://twitter.com/KristineCayne)
Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5428452.Kristine_Cayne)

Awesome excerpt, Kristen!  Thank you very much for being here! Readers don't forget to comment and leave your email contact for your chance to win an ebook copy of Deadly Obsession. Kristen will pick a winner on Wednesday.

Have a wonderful week!

Stacey Joy Netzel

Sunday Share: The Knight and Maggie's Baby, by Lisa Mondello

Today Lisa Mondello is sharing an excerpt of The Knight and Maggie’s Baby plus she’s giving away a copy to one commenter. Read the excerpt and you’ll definitely want to get in on a chance for a copy of this book! (Or better yet, buy a copy right away and start reading.)

The Knight and Maggie's Baby, by Lisa Mondello

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat level: sensual

Amazon, BN, KOBO

Sometimes fate needs a little help…

Jonah Wallace knows what it’s like to grow up without love. Despite having more money than the Queen of England, his childhood was cold and stale as he grew up in boarding schools. He’s dedicated his life to helping homeless and displaced children find the love and support they need by creating the Haven House Foundation, work that resulted in him being Knighted by the Queen.

Now that he’s living in America, his work is going along just fine…until his grandfather gives fate a little nudge by insisting he take a wife before he can inherit.

Coffee shop owner, Maggie Bonelli, is pregnant and the baby’s dad has gone AWOL. She knows too well the pain of growing up without a daddy. So when Jonah Wallace comes into her shop proposing marriage for a year, she takes him up on his offer, even if it’s only for a year. Live in a mansion and give her baby a name and a daddy to call his/her own. But can they keep their perfect arraignment strictly business…or will fate’s helping hand bring them love at last?

EXCERPT:

“Jonah?”  Maggie's voice was just a breath above a whisper, sheer music to his ears.

“Yes, Maggie, it's me.”

Her hands flew to her eyes and she rubbed them with the heels of her palms before looking up at him again.  “For a minute I thought I was dreaming.”

Jonah couldn't help but smile, and wondered what kind of dreams she was having to make her look so peaceful and angelic when he'd first come into the room.  Was she dreaming of him?  Of the baby?  Of the life she'd have once she and the baby had left him?

A fire began to brew deep in his gut.  He wanted to think she'd been dreaming about him.  Just as he'd spent all his time doing lately. 

“I'm sorry I woke you,” he said, absorbing the space between the closet and the bed. 

He was by her side in an instant, sitting beside her on the bed.  He wasn't quite sure how he'd gotten from point A to B, but there he was, reaching out to her because he couldn't help himself.  He needed to touch her.  Now that she was awake, it was like an invitation.  One he couldn't refuse.

“No, don't apologize.  I...”  She buried her face in her hands.

On impulse, he saddled up beside her in the middle of the big bed, gently pulling her hands away from her face.

“Maggie?  What is it?”

She shook her head.  “I shouldn't be here.” 

She was trembling.  When Jonah tilted her chin up to look at her, tears streamed down her cheeks, and his heart nearly shattered.  Oh, God, he never should have gone to England and left her alone.

Frantically brushing her hair away from her face, he said, “What's happened?  Why are you crying?”

She sniffed, taking in big gulps of air in an effort to control herself, but she lost the battle and wailed, “I'm fa-a-a-a-ttt!”

“Wha, what are you talking about?”

“I came...in...to...your room tonight.”  Maggie sniffed a few more times and hiccupped some sobs back before going on.  “I didn't have anything...comfortable to wear...anymore and I thought...”

Jonah glanced down at her clothes and for the first time realized that Maggie was wearing one of his white dress shirts.  She was naked beneath his shirt!  Even as pregnant as she was the shirt left room to spare and hung dangerously low off her bare shoulders.  The sleeves were cuffed a few times and bagged on her arms.  

Jonah's insides jumped into overdrive, making his groin grow hard.  He couldn't believe just how impossibly sexy Maggie could be eight months pregnant wearing a plain white cotton shirt.  He longed to run his hand over her thighs like he'd dreamed of doing so many times when he'd lain awake at night in this very room without her.  And now she was here, in his bed and naked beneath his shirt.   Oh, Lord, have mercy!

Trying to ignore his aching arousal, he stated the obvious.  “Of course you're going to get bigger.  You're pregnant.” 

She threw him a cynical look and sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.  “No kidding.  It's kind of hard for me to forget.”

He couldn't help but laugh, but stopped the instant her sobs erupted again.  He scooped her into his arms. 

She wailed against his bare shoulder.  “I came in here tonight because I...nothing fit me and I thought...I'd be able to fit into one of your shirts.”

“That's okay.  You look...”  Oh, Lord, he was in trouble.  What could he possibly tell her that would help?  Hey, Maggie, you're the sexiest creature I've ever seen and you're driving me insane right now?  My whole body is tight and aching because I want to make love to you?  Right now.  I want to be inside you right this damned minute! 

Somehow he didn't think telling her the truth was going to help.

“Huge!  That's what I look like,” she finally said.  “I'm big and fat and-”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Look at me.  I'm as big as a house!” she sobbed, throwing her hands down the front of her to reveal her ample belly.

Jonah pulled her back into a tight embrace, reveling in the feeling of her body so close to his, feeling the swells of her full breasts press against his bare chest, knowing that nothing lay between them now but the thin cotton of his dress shirt.  It was driving him insane.  And right now, he decided sanity was way over rated.

With her head tucked under his chin, he chuckled at the lunacy of it.  She didn't have a clue what she did to him. 

“Maggie, I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.”

“Believe me, I do.  I'm getting so wide I'm filling up the mirror.”

“Don't be like that.”

“How can I not?  How can you possibly look at me and not be completely turned off?”

A wry grin tugged at his mouth.  “Were you hoping I would be turned on?”

Pulling away, she averted her gaze.  Even in the darkness, he could tell she was blushing.  And he wondered just how much of her body was blushing.  Oh, how he wanted to know.

She sniffed back another sob and flipped a lock of hair behind her ear.  But it was no use, with her head bent down it fell back into her face.

Jonah tipped her chin up, then brushed his fingers along her jaw.  “Because if that's the case, then you got your wish.”

~*~

Dear Readers:

Most of the time we read romances where the love scenes are between a man and a woman and the woman is NOT pregnant.  I don't know many woman who feel their sexy best when they're 8 months pregnant, and the heroine in The Knight and Maggie's Baby is no different.  I recall being pregnant and not being able to see my feet.  This is where Maggie's at in this scene.  And the way Sir Jonah Wallace handles it is...oh, so sweet.  Makes me fall in love with him all over again!  Here is a very touching and loving scene from The Knight and Maggie's Baby.

The Knight and Maggie's Baby is Book 3 in my Fate with a Helping Hands series, also available as a BOX SET.

     The Knight and Maggie's Baby Book 3 (Fate with a Helping Hand)
     The Marriage Contract Book 2 (Fate with a Helping Hand)
     All I Want for Christmas is You Book 1 (Fate with a Helping Hand) .99 cent

Where to find Lisa: http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com

Leave a comment or question (and contact email, please) for Lisa and you could win a copy of THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE’S BABY! She will pick a winner on Wednesday.

Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Lisa.  Have a great week!

Stacey Joy Netzel

Sunday Share: The Rodeo Man's Daughter, by Barbara White Daille + giveaway

Award-winning Harlequin author Barbara White Daille is with us today. Welcome, Barbara! I have to say, after reading this excerpt, redemption stories are right up my alley and I’m going to have to get a copy on my Nook. You pretty much hooked me with the first two lines and it just got better from there.

I hope you have a great blog tour and am happy to be hosting you here! 

Without further ado, here’s The Rodeo Man's Daughter, by Barbara White Daille.

Genre:  Short Contemporary Romance

Heat level:  Sweet

Buy links: Harlequin, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

After growing up dirt-poor and looked down upon by folks in town, Caleb Cantrell took off while he was still a teen, headed for fame and fortune.  A near-fatal injury destroys his rodeo dreams, and he returns to his hometown with the goal of settling scores with the folks who’d done him wrong and then leaving them all behind for good.  Despite his rocky reunion with his high-school sweetheart, he finds his interest in her still going strong.  All of a sudden, he's got a hankering to hang around.  

~~~

The Rodeo Man's Daughter excerpt:

A long memory made for bad company when a man had too much time on his hands. Especially when those hands held a sizable number of grudges.

Caleb Cantrell eased up on the gas pedal of the pickup truck he'd rented earlier that morning at the airport. He cut the engine and stepped down from the cab, his worn boots hitting the ground and raising a cloud of dust. First time in ten years he'd set foot in Flagman's Folly, New Mexico, and the layer of dirt that now marked him made it seem as if he'd never left.

Yet he'd come a hell of a long way since then.

Here on the outskirts of town, he stood and stared across the unpaved road at the place he'd once had to call home. After he'd left there, he'd slept in no-tell motels, lived out of tour buses and trucks and, eventually, spent time in luxury hotels. Didn't matter where you went, you could always tell the folks who took pride in ownership from the ones who didn't give a damn.

Even here, you could spot the evidence. Not a ritzy neighborhood, not a small community, just a collection of ramshackle houses and tarpaper shacks. A few had shiny windows and spindly flowers in terra-cotta pots. Some had no windowpanes at all. Here and there, he noted a metal-sided prefab home with too many coats of paint on it and weeds poking through the cinder blocks holding it up.

And somewhere, beyond all that, he knew he'd find a handful of sun-bleached trailers, their only decoration the cheap curtains hanging inside. The fabric blocked the view into the units through the rusty holes eaten into their sides.

Sometimes, the curtains blocked sights no kid should see, of mamas doing things no mama should do.

Swallowing hard, he retreated a pace, as if he'd felt the pull of one rust-corroded hulk in particular. It wouldn't still be there. It couldn't. But he had no intention of going over there to make sure.

Across the way, a gang of kids hung out near a sagging wire fence and a pile of cast-off truck tires. Still quiet, but soon their laughter and loud conversations would start, followed by the shouts from inside the houses. Some of the houses, anyway.

The rough edges of his ignition key bit into his palm.

In all the years he'd been gone from this town and with all the miles he'd logged, he should have shoved away everything that bothered him about this place.

He hadn't forgotten a single one of them.

The gang of kids had moved out of sight behind one of the shacks. A lone boy, eight or nine years old, stayed behind and stood watching him. Dark hair, a dirty face. Torn T-shirt and skinned knees. Could have been Caleb, twenty years ago.

The kid made his way across the road. "Hey," he said, "whatcha doing?"

"Just looking around."

"What's wrong with your leg?"

The boy must have noticed his awkward gait, the stiffness that always hit him after he sat in one position for a while. "I hurt my knee. Getting off a bull."

"Thought you were supposed to stay on 'em."

He shrugged. "That one had other ideas." Not too bad—in those three quick sentences, he'd managed to bypass two years' worth of rehab and pain.

The kid looked away and then quickly back again, shuffled his feet and jerked his chin up high. Caleb recognized the mix of pride and false bravado.

"Hey, mister…got a dollar?"

"Sure." How many times had he asked that question himself? How many times had he sworn he'd never ask it again? He reached into his pocket for his wallet, thumbed it open and plucked out a bill without looking at it. "Here you go."

"Wow. Gee, thanks. Thanks a lot."

Caleb grinned. The boy's grubby fingers clutched a hundred-dollar bill. He turned and raced across the road as if fearing Caleb would change his mind. He wouldn't. He had plenty of money now.

Folks in town would sure be surprised to see him again, especially when he started spending that cash. When he started showing them just how far he'd come. Maybe then they'd look at him differently than they had years ago.

His grin fading, he shoved the wallet into his pocket and nodded.

Yeah. He'd show them, all right.

~*~

Barbara’s note to readers:

Hi!  I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of A RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER.  I'm currently on a blog tour to celebrate the release of the book.  You can find full details at my website.  Meanwhile, please leave a comment or question for me here at Sunday Share, and your name will be entered in a drawing for an autographed copy of A RANCHER'S PRIDE, the first book set in Flagman's Folly.

Website:  www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Who is Barbara?

Originally from the East Coast, award-winning author Barbara White Daille now lives with her husband in the warm, sunny Southwest, where they love the lizards in the front yard but could do without the scorpions in the bathroom.

From the time she was a toddler, Barbara found herself fascinated by those things her mom called "books."  Once she learned the words between the covers held the magic of storytelling, she wanted to see her words in print so she could weave that spell for others.

Barbara hopes you will enjoy reading her stories and will find your own storytelling magic in them!

~*~

Leave a comment or question (and contact email, please) for Barbara and you could win an autographed copy of A RANCHER’S PRIDE. She will pick a winner on Wednesday.

Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Barbara.  Have a great week everyone!

Stacey Joy Netzel

Launch Day at RG2E!

It's launch day at the brand new Reader's Guide to Epublishing!

Click here to visit

From their site:

The Reader’s Guide to Epublishing!
Here at The RG2E it’s all about bringing you the Best in Ereading!
We’ll feature the Best Ebooks, the Best Indie Epub Authors, and the Best News, Technology and Giveaways regarding all-things Ereading.
And for those of you who are both Readers and Writers, check out our sister site The WG2E – The Writer’s Guide to Epublishing – your destination site for all-things Indie Epublishing.

Head on over for fabulous ebook features and bargains in up to ten different genres every day!

(Includes Anthologies, Boxed Sets, Historical Fiction, Romance, Nonfiction, Humor, Mysteries/Thrillers, Paranormal/Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Poetry and Young Adult)

 Plus, they have daily ebook giveaways (up to 50 per day) and monthly ereader contests.

You definitely want to check this site out! 

(Side note: I'm featured in the section Story Behind the Stories if you want to haven't yet heard how I got the idea for LOST IN ITALY.)

Enjoy filling your ereaders!

Stacey Joy Netzel