TEXAS TIMBERS by Author Caryl McAdoo

It gives me great pleasure to welcome author Caryl McAdoo to the blog today to talk about her latest book in the Cross Timbers Family Saga, Texas Timbers.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains the Lord’s favor . . . is the reverse true?

Can a romance born of prophecy thrive? Autumn Hope knows for a fact that the man she’s to marry cuts timber in the Sulphur River bottoms. She’s seen him in her dreams—exactly where he’s working and goes so far as to buy that block. Of course, she convinces her father she must travel the hundred and fifty miles to meet the man of her dreams. If he isn’t to be her husband, why would she kiss him in her night vision?

The lady’s sudden appearance baffles Sean. Craziness needs a keeper, but how did she ever find him or know his crosscut saw would break? Wounded by lost love, he cannot believe the tall tale the pretty lady is spinning. It has to be a scam, right? God doesn’t work that way . . . or does He?

Find Texas Timbers exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Read all the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga series!

GONE TO TEXAS, book one, 1840

TEXAS MY TEXAS, book two, 1841

TEXAS TEARS, book three, 1845

LEAVING TEXAS, book four, 1850

TEXAS TROUBLES, book five, 1860

TEXAS TRAILS, book six, 1869

TEXAS TIMBERS, book seven, 1873

                                  

Dallas, Texas September 1873

Business boomed at The Lowell House. Tate had never seen the hotel slow since it opened back in ’53 though. He eased up to the front desk and tapped the bell. A not-so-young lady—he’d seen her before but couldn’t call her name—emerged from a back room. Thin as a runny pancake, but with nice enough features.

It sure would be great if the staff wore their names on their blouse or shirt so a body could remember them proper. He might suggest that to Morgan or Charity.

“Deputy McCarthy! Good morning to you! Need to speak with Mister Lowell?”

“No. Well, not yet anyway.” So many remembered him and knew his name because of his public service. He looked around the lobby. “Is Mis’ess Lowell handy?”

“As pockets on a skirt!” The clerk giggled at her own humor then ducked her head a bit and batted her lashes. “Sure thing, Deputy. I believe she is free. Would you like me to fetch her for you?” She grinned and gave him a wink.

Was the woman flirting?

“Please, ma’am. I’d appreciate that.” He turned around, hoping Miss Friendly was just that, only being friendly. He loved his wife and would never be looking for a side lady.

Shortly, the hotel’s matron tapped him on the shoulder. She’d caught him window shopping the ladies’ boutique right there in the hotel’s lobby. What a great idea that wife of Enoch’s had, a stroke of genius.

“Hey, Tate! What brings you to our humble abode?”

Could anyone dazzle like Charity Lowell? And the better part of her razzle was that she didn’t even try to be the belle of any ball.

“Oh, thought I’d stop by, see if you’d heard anything about that murder over in Fort Worth?”

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Complete the Jigsaw Puzzle of Caryl’s Covers

54Framed

Award-winning, Christian author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory. Of her best-selling novels, readers love her historical Christian romance family sagas most, but also enjoy her Christian contemporary romances, Biblical fiction stories, new mystery series, and tales for young adults and mid-grade booklovers. The majority of reviewers award her stories five-stars and praise Caryl’s writing style and the depth of her characters, feeling as though they get to know them well.

The prolific writer loves singing the new songs God gives her almost as much as penning new novels—hear a few at YouTube! She’s been married to Ron fifty-three years, and they share four children and twenty-one grandsugars. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.

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It's been a pleasure having you visit today. Please come back again soon. October through the end of the year promises to be a blessed time for sweet, clean, and inspirational romance with four new series joining all of the wonderful books already available.

Blessings,

Nancy

LUCY'S CHOICE by Author Marianne Spitzer *Courting Chaos Series*

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart is thrilled to host author Marianne Spitzer and her new release, Lucy’s Choice, Book 2 in the Courting Chaos series.

Lucy’s employer expects more from her than she is willing to give. When he tells her that he will ruin her reputation regardless of her answer, she knows she needs to leave town.
Lucy answers an advert for an employment agency offering nanny jobs out West. It seems to be the answer to her problem. Arriving in Wyoming, Lucy expects to care for two children.

In her wildest dreams, she never expected to have three men pursue her, each with marriage intentions.

Will Lucy find someone to spend her life with, or will she have to run again from three men who don’t want to take no for an answer.

 Get Lucy’s Choice exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

 

When Lucy stopped in front of Missus Auberon’s Employment Agency, she drew in a deep breath before opening the door and stepping into the small office.

A young lady of no more than twenty years greeted Lucy: “Good morning, what can I do for you?”

“I’ve come about the ad in the paper for openings in the West,” Lucy answered.

“Lovely,” the young woman said. “My name is Grace, and I’ll be happy to help you. Please, have a seat. Missus Auberon requires a form be filled out before she interviews possible candidates.”

Lucy took the offered chair next to a small table and thanked Grace for the form and pencil. The form was simple. She needed to write down her name, address, employment history, education, and the reason why she wanted to head West. Lucy hesitated at the last question before simply answering, “Personal reasons.” She could explain those reasons to Missus Auberon in person if needed.

Grace smiled and accepted the completed form. “Please, wait a moment,” she said before disappearing through a door at the opposite end of the office.

A few minutes later, Grace opened the door and announced, “Missus Auberon will see you now, Miss Brennon.”

Lucy thanked Grace, entered the larger brightly lit office, and greeted the matronly woman—her dark brown hair liberally streaked with gray and pulled into a tight bun—who was sitting behind an ornate oak desk.  “Good morning, Missus Auberon. Thank you for seeing me,” Lucy said.

Missus Auberon gestured to an overstuffed burgundy floral chair in front of her desk. “Please, be seated. I prefer to be comfortable, don’t you? I detest hard wooden chairs.”

Lucy smiled her agreement. She liked the woman immediately and said a silent prayer that she would fare well and find employment quickly.

Missus Auberon read the form and frowned. “The personal reason you have for wanting to leave town isn’t any trouble, is it Miss Brennon. You aren’t with child or involved in some sort of investigation with the authorities?”

Lucy shook her head before lowering her eyes. Her voice quiet, Lucy explained her situation at the Carstairs home.

“I see,” Missus Auberon said. “Yes, that could be quite the problem; however, with your qualifications, I believe I can offer you immediate employment with the mayor of a small town in Wyoming called Snowdrop. His wife was injured in a riding accident, and they need a nanny. He has paid for the train and stage fare, and you could leave as soon as tomorrow if you wish.”

A short discussion informed Lucy that her charges would be a girl of six and a boy of five. She would have a private room and not be expected to perform any household duties except caring for the children. The mayor had a maid and cook.

Missus Auberon handed Lucy two letters. One was from the local sheriff and the other from the town’s pastor, attesting to the good standing and character of the mayor, his ailing wife, and their need for a nanny for their two well-behaved children.

Lucy found herself agreeing to the employment opportunity before she thought it through completely, wishing to get out of town as soon as possible.

Missus Auberon said, “I can have your tickets and the trip details to your hotel this afternoon. Mayor Powell has included some funds in case of an emergency. They will be in the envelope delivered to you. I believe you will do nicely. Will leaving tomorrow give you enough time to say your goodbyes to family and friends?”

Lucy gave a small shrug of one shoulder. “I’m an orphan, and I was too busy at the Carstairs and didn’t have time to make friends.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, but perhaps things will change in Wyoming. Life is more laid back out West. I do wish you the best, and if you have difficulty, please don’t hesitate to send a telegram. We will assist you as quickly as possible,” Missus Auberon assured.

Lucy wished Missus Auberon a good day and thanked her for the help before leaving. She strolled back to the hotel, both excited and a bit scared. What would her new life bring?

 

My passion is writing. When I am not writing, I am reading or watching sunsets. I have been writing short stories since I was in elementary school. Most were in the form of essays relating real-life events. Many were purely imaginary trips to magical places and times. I enjoy making up stories about people I meet or see on the street. My imagination runs wild and free. Besides my novels and companion short stories, I have self-published a book of children’s stories I used to tell to my granddaughter, Brittney, and two books of supernatural short stories.

I have been reading and loving supernatural stories and mysteries since I picked up my first Nancy Drew book. I also read all the Hardy Boy books I could find. I am a fan of Stephen King, Wendy Corsi Staub, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie. I also have a romantic side that is drawn to the mail-order bride stories of the 1800s.

I write cozy mystery, supernatural mystery, and Western Historical romance.

I love spring, summer, and starlight, but ice and snow make my dislike list. I have two children and two grandchildren who are the joys of my life. 

Marianne's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon Author Page

 

You might think it would be easy to find a man when the odds are forty to one. You might be wrong.

Join the authors of this brand-new series as their heroines fend off the advances of not just one man, but three. Can you figure out which one she’ll choose before the end of the book? Will it be the man you hoped it would be?

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It’s been my pleasure hosting Marianne today. I look forward to featuring more books in this great series.

Nancy

ACE'S TENACIOUS BRIDE by Author Kimberly Grist

It is my pleasure to welcome Author Kimberly Grist to Romance Sweet Reads and to help her celebrate her Book Birthday! Kimberly’s book, Ace’s Tenacious Bride is the 13th book in the Matchmaker’s Mix-Up series.

Can a spirited pastor’s daughter up the ante, causing a card-playing, cigar-smoking workaholic to wager his heart?

Mercy Fairchild, a pastor’s daughter, is ready for adventure. She’ll comply with her late father’s last wish—to obtain the help of a matchmaking service and find her a young pastor out west to marry. Yes, she wants God’s perfect plan for her future, but she hopes it will be an exciting plan. Perhaps a missionary in a new territory?

Widower Ace Caldwell’s unruly children make keeping a housekeeper impossible. The last one left in less than a week! If he could only be as good a father as he is a card player! But with his job as a railroad detective, he can’t be home more than a day or two each week. At least a wife would be legally and morally vested to remain. Wouldn’t she?

Get your copy of Ace's Tenacious Bride exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Prologue
Chicago, 1870

Standing with her hands on her hips, eighteen-year-old Maggie Shoemaker gasped at the sight of the ordinarily tidy den. Newspaper ads and letters from clients for her grandmother’s successful matchmaking business lay in disarray from one end to the other.

The family cat meowed, jumped from his perch, then circled her skirt in greeting. “You needn’t look so pleased with yourself, Cleo. If you hadn’t made this huge mess, Grandmother would not be upstairs in bed suffering from apoplexy.”

Tapping her finger on her cheek, she circled the room dodging the papers, and murmured, “I can’t let Grandmother down or the people who have already paid for the service. How hard can this be? I’ll start by reviewing the questionnaires. Fortunately for me, Grandmother makes meticulous notes.”

Cleo followed, leaping onto the mahogany desk, then settled in for another nap. Maggie pulled open the center drawer but found it empty. Her shoulders slumped. “If I can find them, that is.”

Chapter 1

“My ideal wife will love children and give me a wide berth—and the wider, the better.” 

Agent Ace Caldwell – Railroad Detective

“Tell me again, Hiram, why my kids spent the night in a jail cell?” Thirty-year-old, Ace Caldwell posted both hands on his hips and took in the scene of his children playing happily, seemingly oblivious to the fact they were behind metal bars. Seven-year-old Jack and six-year-old David took turns tossing a deck of cards into a bucket. His five-year-old daughter, Athena, squealed and clapped with every attempt.

“Because no one else will take them.” His brother-in-law, Sheriff Hiram Hartman, looked up from a stack of wanted posters and met his gaze. “I’m a single man like you. What else was I supposed to do with them? Locking them in was the only way I could make sure the boys stayed put. Thank goodness, your former housekeeper dropped them off here before she hightailed it out of town.”

“This is the third resignation in two months. I pay triple the going rate for housekeepers.” Ace rattled the letter of resignation in the air. “What is so difficult about taking care of three children?”

“Maybe if you weren’t ball and chained to your job as a railroad detective and spent more than an hour or two a week in their presence, you might find out.” Hiram rubbed a hand across his unshaven face. For the first time, Ace noticed the dark circles underscoring the man’s red-rimmed eyes.

“Spare me your lecture. What would you have me do, stay in town babysitting while the Holton gang is running loose? Somebody has to bring those outlaws to justice.” Ace pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll send a telegram to the agency and see if they can send a replacement soon.”

“Maybe it’s time to consider another agency.”

“If you have one to recommend, tell me. Several of the companies I’ve utilized in the past don’t respond to my inquiries anymore for some reason.”

“Forget the housekeeper. You need a wife.” Hiram opened a drawer and removed a notepad. “There is an agency in Chicago with an excellent reputation. But Heaven help the poor woman who responds to an ad from you.”

“A wife? No, thank you. I learned my lesson the first time,” he snarled.

Kimberly Grist is married to her high school sweetheart, Nelson, a former teacher and coach, now a pastor. They have three adult sons, one with Down syndrome, and they have a passion for encouraging others with family members with special needs.

As a young girl, I enjoyed making up stories to make people laugh. But in reality, I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. The problem is I was born in the wrong century. My stories are designed to entertain, refresh, and encourage you, the reader. They combine History, Humor, and Romance, emphasizing Faith, Friends, and Good Clean Fun.

Kim's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub

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Follow the entire Matchmaker’s Mix-Up Series on Kindle Unlimited

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Thank you so much for stopping by today. Please come back again soon for more Romance Sweet Reads.

Nancy