Spotlight – Sam’s Legacy

22 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

Tags

MacLarens of Boundary Mountain series, Sam's Legacy

For lover’s of Western romances, Shirleen Davies brings another treat with the latest in her MacLaren historical series.

*****

Sam’s Legacy

Book Four, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Series

Historical Western Romance

by Shirleen Davies

Blurb:

Samuel Covington, ex-Pinkerton agent and deputy in the frontier town of Conviction, has come a long way from his upbringing in Baltimore. His job, and a particular woman, occupy his time and thoughts. His future is assured—until a message from home tears it all apart.

Jinny MacLaren loves the ranch, her family, and one particular deputy. Even though Sam’s never said the words, she’s certain of his feelings, envisioning a future as his wife—until the day he announces he’s leaving without a promise to return.

His future no longer belongs to him. Sam never anticipated the news awaiting him, or the consequences of a past he’d left far behind.

Shoving painful thoughts of Sam aside, Jinny focuses on a life without him, allowing a friendship to grow with someone else. He’s handsome, smart, and caring, yet in Jinny’s heart, he’ll never be Sam.

As both face an uncertain future without the other, neither anticipates the dangers stalking them.

Protecting what’s his is Sam’s calling. Reclaiming what he left behind may prove to be the biggest challenge of his life.

Sam’s Legacy, book four in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain historical western Romance Series, is a stand-alone, full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.

*****

Excerpt:

“Jinny, let me explain.” Sam tried to turn her toward him, feeling her resist. “There are reasons I must go.”

She refused to look at him, let him see how much his leaving hurt. She’d been a fool to dream about Sam, hoping someday he’d feel the same. “I’m certain there are, and I respect that you believe you must leave.”

Looking around, he eased her between two buildings, out of the range of prying eyes and ears. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he held steady, even as she twisted to leave.

“Look at me, Jinny.” He waited until she stopped squirming, her reluctant gaze meeting his. “I don’t want to leave. It’s something I have to do. You were the reason I stayed beyond the time I’d agreed to with Brodie.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t understand. Why must you go now?”

Letting his hands slip from Jinny’s shoulders to stroke her arms, he felt her shiver, his own body tightening. A life with her was what he wanted. He’d thought of little else the last few months, yet it may now be out of his control.

His resolve began to slip as she moved closer, her feelings for him clear on her face. Even as his hands moved to her back, he knew it was a mistake. Drawing her to him, he leaned down, brushing a soft kiss across her lips. Seeing the intensity in her eyes, feeling her hands tighten on his arms, he took her mouth again, letting passion take control.

A thrill rushed through him as he realized she knew little of what was happening. He doubted she’d been kissed before, yet her response was immediate. Moving his lips across her jaw, trailing kisses down her neck, he felt a shudder rush through her.

“Sam…”

Her soft plea brought an unwelcome flash of sanity. Placing one more kiss on her lips, he pulled Jinny close, tucking her head below his chin.

“There are things you don’t know about me. I wish it could be different. You know I’d stay if I could.”

Her body stiffened at his whispered words. Moving her hands to his chest, she pushed away. Clearing her throat, Jinny took another step back. “I should go.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

“Nae. It would be better if I go alone.” Taking a few hesitant steps, she stopped. “When will you be leaving?”

His throat worked as he sucked in a slow breath. “As soon as a decision has been made on the prisoners. I can’t leave Brodie with just two deputies.”

“A few days then.” Her voice was devoid of all emotion. “Then I won’t see you again.” She tried to smile, but couldn’t manage it. “I wish you the best, Sam. Always the best.” Without waiting for him to respond, she hurried away, leaving him feeling a loss greater than he’d ever known.

*****

Author Info:

Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Spotlight – Quinn’s Honor

24 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

MacLarens of Boundary Mountain series, Quinn's Honor, Shirleen Davies

We’ve seen this series before (with Brodie and Colin) and I think Shirleen Davies is one of my favs for historical western romances.

*****

Quinn’s Honor

Book Three of MacLarens of Boundary Mountain

by Shirleen Davies

Historical Western Romance Series

Blurb:

“Every book of Shirleen’s never fails to draw me in and make it impossible to put down until I devour it!”

Quinn MacLaren has one true love…Circle M, the family ranch. He makes it a habit of working hard and playing harder, spending time with experienced women who know he wants nothing more than their company. He buries the love he feels for one woman deep inside, knowing he’ll never be the man she needs.

Emma Pearce is a true ranch woman, working long hours to help keep the family ranch thriving. Feisty, funny, and reliable, she’s the girl all the single young men want—after they’ve sewn their wild oats. Few know Emma has her heart set on one man. A man who may never grow up enough to walk away from his wild ways and settle down.

When tragedy strikes, Quinn’s right where he doesn’t want to be—as temporary foreman of the Pearce ranch. Stepping in to fill Big Jim Pearce’s shoes isn’t easy. Neither is keeping his feelings for Emma hidden and his hands to himself. Honor-bound to do what is right, Quinn meets the challenge, losing Emma’s friendship in the process.

Adding to Quinn’s worries, something sinister is working its way through the thriving town of Conviction. Unforeseen forces are at work. Debt builds, families lose their ranches, and newcomers threaten to divide not only the land, but the people—including the Pearce family.

As events unfold, Quinn faces the difficult challenge of keeping his feelings for Emma hidden and his honor intact. Doing what he believes is right couldn’t feel more wrong.

After all, what’s a man without honor?

Quinn’s Honor, book three in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain historical western romance series, is a full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.

And Find it on Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

“I wondered if you’d decided to quit.”

Quinn spun around. Emma stood not six feet away, wrapped in a thin coat, her arms crossed. He took a couple steps toward her, surprised she’d gotten so close without him knowing.

“I didn’t hear you come in.”

She walked closer, closing the distance until they were a foot apart. She hadn’t seen the complete exhaustion on his face or the slump of his shoulders until now. He’d been working from dawn until late each night, doing what her pa hadn’t been able to do since Jimmy’s death. The ranch was in better shape than ever, the ranch hands having a competence they lacked before Quinn arrived. Even though she still felt some justification for her actions, all she’d done was make his life harder.

Reaching up, she swiped an errant strand of hair from his forehead. The rush of feelings when her fingers touched his skin, caused her face to heat. She licked her lips as a pulsing sensation rushed through her. Dropping her gaze to his eyes, her heart tripped at the intensity of his stare. His gray-blue eyes turned stormy, the color of the night sky when lightning ignited the heavens.

Her stomach fluttered and heart raced when he said nothing, continuing to study her. Before she could step away, Quinn’s hand came up, his fingers wrapping around her wrist, pulling her close.

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t try to pull away or break her gaze. Instead, she leaned forward, almost touching his chest.

“Emma…” He breathed her name out, almost as a prayer.

She could see the vein in his neck pulse, hear the almost desperate agony in his voice. Still, she didn’t move away.

“What is it, Quinn?”

Searching her face, he sucked in a shaky breath, seeing trust and so much more. Lowering his head, he stopped an inch from her mouth, wanting her to pull back, needing her to meet him.

Lifting her chin, she placed her other hand on his chest, splaying her fingers wide. Her lips parted an instant before Quinn’s touched them.

His actions were gentle, a mere caress before becoming more urgent. Letting go of her wrist, he wrapped his arms around her, aligning her body with his. Melting into him, she lifted her arms around his neck, drawing him down on a deep sigh.

*****

Author Info:

She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win a gift card and ebooks!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/80af10c268/

*****

Tour brought to you by Red Moon Book Tours. Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour.

Spotlight – Brodie’s Gamble

03 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Brodie's Gamble, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain series, Shirleen Davies

We met Colin, now it is time for the next MacLaren … come get to know Brodie everyone!

*****

Brodie’s Gamble

Book Two, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain

Historical Western Romance Series

by Shirleen Davies

Blurb:

“Every book of Shirleen’s never fails to draw me in and make it impossible to put down until I devour it!”

Brodie MacLaren has a dream. He yearns to wear the star—bring the guilty to justice and protect those who are innocent. In his mind, guilty means guilty, even when it includes a beautiful woman who sets his body on edge.

Maggie King lives a nightmare, wanting nothing more than to survive each day and recapture the life stolen from her. Each day she wakes and prays for escape. Taking the one chance she may ever have, Maggie lashes out, unprepared for the rising panic as the man people believe to be her husband lies motionless at her feet.

Deciding innocence and guilt isn’t his job.

Brodie’s orderly, black and white world spins as her story of kidnapping and abuse unfold. The fact nothing adds up as well as his growing attraction to Maggie cause doubts the stoic lawman can’t afford to embrace.

Can a lifetime of believing in absolute right and wrong change in a heartbeat?

Maggie has traded one form of captivity for another. Thoughts of escape consume her, even as feelings for the handsome, unyielding lawman grow.

As events unfold, Brodie must fight more than his attraction. Someone is after Maggie—a real threat who is out to silence her.

He’s challenged on all fronts—until he takes a gamble that could change his life or destroy his heart.

Brodie’s Gamble, book two in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain historical western romance series, is a full-length novel with an HEA.

*****

Excerpt:

“How old were you when you met Stoddard?” He hadn’t meant to ask the question, didn’t need to know more about her than he already did. Maggie’s age didn’t matter. It only mattered that he held her as a suspect in a murder.

“Eighteen. I’m twenty now.” She spoke with a staid calmness, as if detached, speaking of someone else. “I wish I could tell you the time flew by, but that would be a lie.” This time, her voice held the bitterness he expected. Closing her eyes to still the moisture beginning to pool, she sucked in a deep breath.

He didn’t know what triggered his quick response—her shaky voice, the tremble of her body, or the tears she couldn’t hide—but he reached out, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her close. Splaying his hands across her back, he rested his chin on top of her head as she settled her cheek against his chest.

“Shhh, lass. He can no longer hurt you.” Brodie’s heart pounded, his chest tightening at the same time he tried to provide her comfort. He couldn’t imagine the horrors she’d been through. If Arnie weren’t already dead, it would’ve taken all the strength Brodie possessed to not kill the man himself. Feeling the tears soak through his shirt, he drew back, lifting her chin with a finger.

“You must try to believe it will be all right, Maggie.”

Her glassy blue eyes stared up at him as the faintest sliver of hope crossed her face. A hope he could encourage or dash with a rash word or careless gesture.

“Do you truly think it will work out for me?”

Brodie didn’t know what more to say. Instead, he did the most foolish thing imaginable. Lowering his head, he brushed a gentle kiss across her lips, feeling her tense, then relax against him. He kissed her again, losing himself in the taste and feel of her.

Awareness of the colossal mistake he was making sliced through Brodie an instant before he tightened his hold, fitting Maggie snuggly to his body, his lips pressed against hers, claiming her mouth with fierce desire.

Her heart thundered and stomach churned as Brodie continued his gentle assault. The warmth of his body, the hardness of his chest and muscled arms sheltered her at the same time heat ripped through her, as if she were engulfed in a circle of flames.

Brodie couldn’t get her close enough. He wanted to lift her into his arms, carry her to his bed, and lay her down. Kiss every inch of her body, caress…

He pulled back, his abrupt departure causing her to whimper as she buried her face against his throat. They had to stop. He had to stop. The madness, which gripped him moments before, gave way to guilt and self-loathing. How could he have surrendered so completely to the charms of one woman? A woman who’d done nothing except look to him for help?

Setting her aside, he straightened, steeling his features. “We need to go back.” He could see the slight shiver of her body as she swayed toward him. “Now, Miss King. You need to get back in your cell, and I need to get back to my work.”

The hurt in her eyes did nothing to dispel the remorse he felt. He’d crossed a line, and he could blame it on no one except himself.

*****

Author Info:

*****

Tour Schedule:

July 19^th

CBY Book Club

http://www.cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk

July 20^th

Lola White

www.lola-white.com

July 22^nd

Hyper Ashley

http://www.hyperashley.com/

July 25^th

Romance Novel Giveaways

http://romancenovelgiveaways.blogspot.com/

Reading to Unwind

http://readingtounwind.blogspot.com/

July 26^th

CD Yess Writes

cdyesswritesblog.wordpress.com

July 27^th

Happy Tails and Tales

http://happytailsandtales.blogspot.com/

July 28^th

Deal Sharing Aunt

http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.hr/

August 1^st

Mel’s Shelves

http://www.melsshelves.blogspot.com

August 2^nd

Reading to Unwind

http://readingtounwind.blogspot.com/

August 3^rd

Romantic Reads

https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

August 4^th

Natural Bri

T: @natural_bri

FB: www.facebook.com/naturalbripage

August 5^th

Boom Baby Reviews

http://www.boombabyreviews.com/

August 8^th

Cafinated Reads

http://cafinatedreads.com/

August 9^th

Hollow Unrest

http://iqurae.blogspot.com/

August 10^th

A Passion for Romance

http://www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com/

August 11^th

Apocalipstick the Book

https://apocalipstickthebook.wordpress.com/

August 12^th

Books and Banter

http://locglin.blogspot.com

Spotlight – Colin’s Quest

10 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Colin's Quest, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain series, Shirleen Davies

I don’t see a lot of historical westerns any more but this one is definitely on my TBR list.

*****

Colin’s Quest

MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Book One

by Shirleen Davies

Historical Western Romance Series

Blurb:

For An Undying Love…

When Colin MacLaren headed west on a wagon train, he hoped to find adventure and perhaps a little danger in untamed California. He never expected to meet the girl he would love forever. He also never expected her to be the daughter of his family’s age-old enemy, but Sarah was a MacGregor and the anger he anticipated soon became a reality. Her father would not be swayed, vehemently refusing to allow marriage to a MacLaren.

Time Has No Effect…

Forced apart for five years, Sarah never forgot Colin—nor did she give up on his promise to come for her. Carrying the brooch he gave her as proof of their secret betrothal, she scans the trail from California, waiting for Colin to claim her. Unfortunately, her father has other plans.

And Enemies Hold No Power.

Nothing can stop Colin from locating Sarah. Not outlaws, runaways, or miles of difficult trails. However, reuniting is only the beginning. Together they must find the courage to fight the men who would keep them apart—and conquer the challenge of uniting two independent hearts.

*****

Excerpt:

“You’ve changed since I last saw you.” Colin tightened his grip on her hand.

“Oh?”

“You’re even more beautiful than I remember.” Turning her toward him, he stroked his knuckles down her cheek, watching as her eyes glowed. She didn’t resist when he moved his hand behind her neck to draw her close. “I want to kiss you, Sarah.”

“Aye, it’s been too long.” She sucked in a breath, waiting, as he lowered his head, brushing his lips across hers once, then twice before taking her mouth.

Pulling back, he rested his forehead against hers.

“How many boys have you kissed while you waited for me?” He knew asking wasn’t fair, yet he couldn’t stop the words.

“I’ve kissed only one boy. You. Is it so obvious?”

He made no answer other than to place a trail of kisses down her face, stopping at the corner of her mouth.

“More, Colin. I want more.”

Seconds turned to minutes as the kiss heated, their arms tightening around each other. His hands moved to her hair, threading silken strands through his fingers as he positioned her for better access. Tracing her lips with the tip of his tongue, he encouraged her to open as his hands moved to her hips.

An intense shudder heated her body, her heartbeat pounding in her ears as she squirmed to get closer. The force of the desire she felt shocked her.

Feeling his hands tighten on her hips, sending an involuntary tremor through her and a strange aching in her limbs, she moaned against his mouth.

Breaking the contact, Colin pulled back, his breath coming in deep gulps. “We need to stop, lassie. We cannot continue like this.”

Her grip on him tightened, confusion replacing the passion he saw moments before.

His strong hands cupped her face as his eyes locked on hers. “If we don’t stop, we may do something you’ll regret.”

Her flesh tingled as his warm breath fanned her face. “Do you not want me, Colin?”

He mumbled a soft curse, realizing she thought his actions were a lack of desire.

“Nae, lassie. I’ve never wanted anyone more.”

Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, her brows furrowing at his words. “I’ve waited five years for you, Colin MacLaren. I’ll not wait a minute longer.”

*****

Author Info: