TRAPPED IN APPLE VALLEY by Author ELISSA STRATI (Christmas Bride Dilemma ~ Book 6)

Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we're going to continue our Christmas in July celebration with the next book in a brand-new, eight book, multi-author series. Christmas Bride Dilemma is sure to put you in the mood and, if you're in the middle of a hot summer, we might cool you off a bit, too!

The sixth book in the series is Trapped in Apple Valley, by bestselling and award-winning author, Elissa Strati.

Can the miracle of Christmas bring together two lonely hearts?

Lovely heiress Grace Wyndam, fleeing an unwanted suitor in San Francisco, boards a train to visit her cousin in New Orleans. Perhaps she'll meet the right man there--someone who will care about her, and not her money.

Marcus Sheldon has had it with high society, false promises, and empty manners. Leaving the family business to his brother, he earns his medical degree, then heads to Apple Valley, where Dr. Sinclair is anxiously awaiting his new partner's arrival. But the train is late and the telegraph signal is down. What has happened?

Available on Kindle Unlimited

A Brief Introduction

Taking advantage of the opportunities in California as people flocked West with Gold Fever, Grace Catherine Wyndham's father had amassed quite a fortune. When his doctor suggested the stogies he insisted on smoking might be related to the hacking cough he had developed, Papa had gone to his attorney to ensure the comfort of his wife and daughter.

The loss of his son to a childhood disease had been heartbreaking; Jasper Francis Wyndham devoted all of his paternal love to his daughter, Grace. He also absolutely adored his sweet Catherine, and had pampered her and spoiled her relentlessly throughout their marriage. She had been just as devoted to him, and was utterly lost when he died.

Equally devastated, Grace, who had been a very successful debutante, was slow to resume her place in society, joining her mother in an extended half mourning. She had truly adored her father and still felt his loss acutely, even as she resumed wearing colors once her new stepfather, Sam, had brought the light back to Catherine’s eyes.

Samuel Bostock, Attorney at Law, the partner who had been handling Papa's affairs, fell madly in love with the distraught widow, but bided his time for a full two years before making it known that his interest lay beyond his guardianship of her and her daughter, who was a considerable heiress in her own right.

He had never married as there was a shortage of appropriate women in San Francisco and he was kept quite busy in his legal practice. Now, a considerable portion of his practice was devoted to managing the Wyndham estate, and he found himself making excuses to confer with Mrs. Wyndham, offering himself as an escort for whenever she wished to attend the opera or go for a ride in the park.

Grace had watched carefully as the relationship grew, and was satisfied with the match for her mother. Samuel Bostock was a very wealthy man in his own right, and had no designs on her mother’s portion. He had also made a point of ensuring Grace was fully knowledgeable of her own fortune and how to manage it.

During the preparations for her mother's wedding, although it was a subdued affair, she began to dream of her own. Most of her friends had already begun families, but Grace had only lately regained her interest in the joys of society, with its balls and teas and outings on horseback or in carriages.

I am an Army brat who has traveled extensively both at home (U.S.) and abroad (much of the world but not as much as I'd like!), seeing places, learning history, and, most importantly, meeting people. With all its travails, life is wonderful, God is good, and I am a Pollyanna. My clean, sweet romances, largely historical, western fiction, cross other genres with abandon as they spice and flavor my work. I am most easily reached, under my own name, on Facebook. (Truly, there is only one!) Hope to hear from you

Amazon Author Page ~ Facebook

You can find the entire Christmas Bride Dilemma series

on KINDLE UNLIMITED

~ ~ ~

A special thanks to Cheryl Wright for the use of her tagline graphics to go with our excerpt posts. It was so wonderful to see everyone here today. Please come back again on Wednesday, July  26th, when we'll take a peek at Book #7 of 8.

Blessings,

Nancy