Had She Learned Nothing? #MFRWHooks #MFRWAuthor #freebook

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This week’s hook is from my Western romance, Lily and the Gambler, currently free at Amazon through Saturday! Also available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Free Aug 23-27

Excerpt:

Callaway cocked an eyebrow. “What happened to your husband, Mrs. Albright?”

Lily bit her lip. She had revealed too much, but she hadn’t confided in anyone since leaving England, and her memories were eating away at her. It might help to talk about it, and she had a feeling King would understand.

“Nigel was on a winning streak. Another gentleman accused him of cheating. He was offended, of course. When the other man refused to apologize, Nigel challenged him to a duel. He was mortally wounded and died in my arms.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked back the tears welling in her eyes. She refused to cry for him anymore.

“How awful for you.” His voice sounded gruffer than usual. “No wonder you feel the way you do about gambling.”

She fumbled in her bag for her handkerchief, but he was faster. She took the linen handkerchief he offered and dabbed at her eyes. It smelled of starch and tobacco and man. Comforting scents. How many times had she snuffled into Nigel’s handkerchief?

When Callaway placed an arm around her shoulders, Lily was tempted—oh, how she was tempted—to lay her head on his shoulder and give vent to a good cry. Then she remembered it wasn’t proper to weep on a man’s shoulder in public, so she wiped her eyes, straightened her back and stared out the window.

You’re a respectable widow now. Behave like one. And no more breaking into tears in public, though she knew her vow was easier said than done. Sadness had a way of sneaking up on her at inconvenient times like this. But holding in her emotions was becoming a strain. She wanted the freedom to sob, to laugh out loud, to sing and dance again.

Maybe even to give her heart to another man.

The realization almost made her gasp. Her emotions must be thawing out in the California sunshine. What else could have brought that on? Or was it the presence of the man sitting next to her?

No. She was promised to another, and she would not succumb to Callaway just because he was charming and attentive. Had she learned nothing in the last five years?

She looked at his handsome face and felt an unwelcome thrill go through her. Apparently not.

Lily and the Gambler coverBlurb:

A mail order bride sets out for a new life only to be tempted by a charming gambler. Can he convince her to pass up a sober businessman for a foot-loose card sharp?

After the death of her lover, Lily Penhallow has learned the cost of flaunting convention. Reinventing herself as a widow, she travels to California as the mail order bride of a prosperous mine owner. But on the riverboat from San Francisco, she meets an irresistible gambler. Against her better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the handsome charmer.

King Callaway believes that since life is a gamble, there’s no point in planning for the future. After meeting Lily, he knows he has found his Queen of Hearts. But she’s engaged to his uncle, a man King respects.

Lily finds herself torn between two men and two ways of life. Will she choose respectability or love?

Lily and the Gambler is a Second Chance at Love western historical romance.

If you like mail order brides, charming scoundrels and sensual romance, why not take a chance on Lily and the Gambler while it’s free?

Available for purchase (or read free with Kindle Unlimited) at:

Amazon.com.
Amazon.au
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk

Add to your TBR list at Goodreads or BookBub.

As always, click on the Linky List below for more fabulous MFRW Book Hooks. Happy reading!

Linda

She could be faithful… #MFRWHooks #MFRWAuthor #freebook

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Lily and the Gambler coverThis week’s hook is from my Western romance, Lily and the Gambler, currently free today and tomorrow! Also available on Kindle Unlimited.

He held the door for her. Lily led the way inside. She should offer him a glass of lemonade, but hesitated to encourage him to call.

“Which room is yours?” He walked past her headed toward the stairs.

She hurried after him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He turned his head to grin at her. “Delivering your package.”

“Then bring it in here,” Lily said. She entered the dining room. “I need a large table to cut the material.”

He entered and laid the package on the table, then turned to stare at her.

Lily stood beside the doorway, hoping he would leave immediately. “Thank you, Mr. Callaway. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

“Are you really going to marry my uncle?”

She gasped. “Your uncle?” Oh, good Lord, no. “Hugh Ogilvie is your uncle?”

“Yep. If I’d had any idea…”

She closed her eyes. What a mess she’d gotten herself into. “I should have mentioned I was promised to someone.”

“But you didn’t.”

Lily opened her eyes and glared at him. “Had I known you actually lived in Grass Valley, I might have told you about Mr. Ogilvie. You weren’t entirely honest either.”

He sighed. “No, I wasn’t, but you flirted with me, led me to think… Uncle Hugh deserves to know what kind of woman he intends to marry.”

His words stung, but she knew they were not entirely undeserved. “What do you mean? I may have flirted with you, but…”

“Mrs. Albright, a woman like you should be careful who you flirt with.”

She ground her teeth. Being respectable was harder than she’d imagined. “Nigel never objected when I flirted with his friends.”

“Perhaps, but this isn’t England. So you never cheated on your husband?”

She stiffened in outrage. “Certainly not. And please keep your voice down.”

He advanced toward her, his intentions clear. “But are you going to be true to Uncle Hugh?” he murmured.

“Yes,” she said, backing away from him. She could be faithful. If only this man would stay away from her.

Blurb:

A mail order bride sets out for a new life only to be tempted by a charming gambler. Can he convince her to pass up a sober businessman for a foot-loose card sharp?

After the death of her lover, Lily Penhallow has learned the cost of flaunting convention. Reinventing herself as a widow, she travels to California as the mail order bride of a prosperous mine owner. But on the riverboat from San Francisco, she meets an irresistible gambler. Against her better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the handsome charmer.

King Callaway believes that since life is a gamble, there’s no point in planning for the future. After meeting Lily, he knows he has found his Queen of Hearts. But she’s engaged to his uncle, a man King respects.

Lily finds herself torn between two men and two ways of life. Will she choose respectability or love?

Lily and the Gambler is a Second Chance at Love western historical romance. If you like mail order brides, charming scoundrels and sensual romance, why not take a chance on Lily and the Gambler?

Available for purchase (or read free with Kindle Unlimited) at:

Amazon.com.
Amazon.au
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk

Add to your TBR list at Goodreads or BookBub.

As always, click on the Linky List below for more fabulous MFRW Book Hooks. Happy reading!

Linda