JENNA (Always a Bridesmaid - Book 1) by Author NANCY FRASER **Book Birthday**

Welcome to Romance Sweet Reads. Today, we're featuring the first book in a new sweet contemporary romance series, Always a Bridesmaid. Fourteen inidividual books, all with feisty women who may... or may not... be looking for love.

The first book out of the gate is Jenna by Author Nancy Fraser. Join us for a sneak peek.

Another day, another invite to serve as Maid of Honor at one of her sorority sisters’ weddings. Who knew she had so many friends chomping at the bit to get married?

Professor Jenna Richardson is half-tempted to apply for a teaching position all the way across the country in an effort to get out of the bridesmaid spin cycle. The only things holding her back is the fact she slid haphazardly across the big 3-0 on her last birthday, and certain tenure is only months away.

Oh... and then there’s him. Elliott Maxwell, this year’s Writer-in-Residence. New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter, major pain in the rump who has all the department’s admins running around catering to his every whim.

Still, Jenna finds herself more than a little intrigued.

Elliott took this gig as Writer-in-Residence to—hopefully—jump start his writing mojo. The adage, ‘you’re only as good as your last’ is weighing heavily on his mind, and interrupting his muse. That, and the saucy, sexy English Professor in the office next door. She gets his ‘other’ mojo going with little more than a casual toss of her long, blonde hair. Or, the way she does her best to hide her beautiful smile.

Will their close proximity write them both a new chapter? Or, is their fledgling friendship destined for the bargain bin?

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

University of California Merced Campus
Spring Semester
Late January

Professor Jenna Richardson slid the portfolio into her briefcase, and reached for her jacket. She’d promised her sister they’d meet for pizza at the new spot a few blocks from Molly’s Koffee Klatch. Given she’d canceled twice in the past few weeks when she found herself buried in exams, Jenna was determined to keep their date.

She’d nearly made it halfway down the corridor, when the familiar voice of Minnie Dawson, her admin assistant, called out to her. “Jenna, are you coming to the reading? The students are filing in. We need to hurry if we’re going to get a good seat.”

Jenna gave a quick shake of her head, and halted her getaway long enough to say, “No, not tonight. I’ve got other plans.”

“I thought Dean Strothers made it mandatory,” Minnie reminded her. “You know, welcome the new Writer-in-Residence, and all that.”

“Believe me, I’m low on the Dean’s list of important people. I doubt he’ll even realize I’m missing.”

“What do you mean? You’re in line for tenure by the fall semester. I’m sure he’ll notice.”

“That’s a chance I’ll have to take,” Jenna insisted. “I’m not breaking another date.”

“Ooo,” Minnie cooed. “Anyone I know? More importantly... is he gorgeous?”

“Yes, you know her, and yes, she’s gorgeous.”

Minnie released an exaggerated sigh. “You’re going out with your sister again, aren’t you? I swear, you two are destined to grow old together, in a rickety old house, with two dozen cats, and not a viable man in sight.”

“Molly’s allergic,” Jenna stated simply before making her escape through the side door leading to the quad.

Thankfully, the drive to the Pizza Palace was short, giving her little time to dwell on her decision to skip tonight’s welcoming festivities. The lecture hall was sure to be full, and the wine and cheese reception following just as crowded. Nobody, other than Minnie, would realize she was MIA.

Nancy Fraser a Top 100 best-selling and award-winning author. She is the 2022 winner of the NEST (National Excellence in Story Telling) award for her western historical romance, An Honorable Man for Katarina.

She's also the granddaughter of a Methodist minister known for his fire-and-brimstone approach to his faith. Nancy has brought some of his spirit into her Christian romances. And, her own off-beat sense of humor to her clean & wholesome books.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Nancy's Sweet Reads ~ Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub

Nancy's Newsletter Sign-Up

You can find all 14 Bridesmaids exclusively on

Kindle Unlimited

Thank you for stopping by today. Please come back again soon.

Blessings,

Nancy

TREISE (RESCUE ME ~ MAIL~ORDER BRIDES - Book 14) by Author LINDA CARROLL-BRADD *BOOK BIRTHDAY*

Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we're going to continue with our feature of a new series of sweet/inspirational, western historical romances. The series, RESCUE ME (Mail-Order Brides) consists of twenty-five books, releasing once per week, every Monday. So, sit back and enjoy!

The fourteenth book in the Rescue Me (Mail Order Brides) series, is Treise, by Author Linda Carroll-Bradd. 

Printer’s assistant Treise O’Hara works with her father who runs a small-circulation newspaper but wishes she could be a reporter investigating stories. Her father, Mahon, publishes a controversial op-ed about an unscrupulous business owner in Chicago. The newspaper office is invaded, and equipment is broken. Mahon is beaten and carted away. Hiding, Treise witnesses the attack and recognizes the thugs and who their boss is. She overhears their intention to bury him so she’s forced to go into hiding across town and stays in her cousin, Eveleen’s, room where she works as a maid. The women make a plan to answer ads for mail-order brides in a small city. Thinking her father is dead, Treise is counting on disappearing behind a new last name.

Sheriff Paxon Waldemarr works hard to keep the lawless element in Laramie City, Wyoming Territory, under control. His brother and sis-in-law were killed in a robbery, leaving a five-year-old daughter in Paxon’s care. He runs an ad for a mail-order bride, hoping for someone to care for his niece and maintain a household. His work life is hectic, and he wants calm at home. What he doesn’t expect is a determined suffragette intent on securing the vote for women in the new government. If her actions reflect on his career, how will their marriage survive?

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

“Mister Waldemarr?” Was this handsome man who she’d come to marry?

“We’re past the formalities. Please call me Paxon.” He stepped forward, then leaned close to brush a kiss on her cheek.

The gesture shocked her into silence. For a moment, she smelled cold air and something herbal. But the brush of beard stubble felt intimate, somehow. “All right, Paxon. And I’m Treise.”

“How was your trip?” He bent over to collect the bags.

The man had eyes of crystal blue like a frozen lake. “Long. The last several hours were downright cold.”

“Right. Welcome to Wyoming Territory.” He straightened, and his jacket fell open, exposing a black tailored shirt with a short, stand-up collar and matching waistcoat.

A glint of light flashed from a metal star pinned to his shirt. “Yer a lawman?”

Other conversations ceased.

After a stare around the room, Paxon transferred the bags to his right hand and cupped her elbow with his left. “Let’s go through to the hotel.”

Planting her feet, she straightened her spine. “I beg yer pardon?” The moment the question was spoken, she realized how much hadn’t been discussed about this arrangement. He might be a handsome devil with his Black Irish looks, but she didn’t travel across the country to toss aside her morals.

“Miss O’Hara, I wish for us to have a private conversation. The hotel lobby or the restaurant offers such a place.”

His whispered words blew warm breath against her temple, and she wanted to lean closer. Tilting back her head, she met his gaze, looking for a sign he intended anything except what he said. “Right ye are.” After two steps, she pulled away and spun toward the exit. “Me crate. I’ve got to claim it.”

“Crate? Do you mean you have a trunk?”

“Nay. A wooden crate. ’Tis marked with yer name and address.” A broad hand landed on her shoulder.

“I’ll claim the crate.” Looking up, he crooked his fingers in a beckoning signal. “Deputy Petrov, here, will escort you inside the hotel.”

Treise glanced at the muscled man with blond-brown hair who stepped close. She nodded, then watched over her shoulder as Paxon strode from the depot. Lordy be, she had not counted on such a man as him needing to place an ad in a matrimonial newspaper. A thrill went through her body. Maybe this decision would turn into an adventure.

As a young girl, I spent lots of my free time lying on my bed reading about fascinating characters having exciting adventures in places far away and in other time periods. In later years, I discovered and devoured family saga stories and romance novels. At a certain point, I grew cocky enough to think I could write one of these stories. Then I learned what a balancing act writing a novel is, but I wasn’t deterred. Twelve years later, my first fiction sale was achieved--a confession story.

After reading Debra Holland’s “Montana Sky” series and Caroline Fyffe’s “Prairie Hearts” series, I wanted to try my hand at historicals. I was thrilled to be invited to contribute to Sweetwater Springs Christmas and continued writing in the Montana Sky world by developing my Entertainers of the West series.

Married with 4 adult children and 2 granddaughters, I now write heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor and a bit of sass from my home in the southern California mountains. Lots of my stories are set in Texas where I lived for a dozen years.

Linda's Website ~ Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads

Women on the run! But from what? Will they need rescuing? Or, will these intrepid heroines have the faith and the strength to rescue themselves while finding their ultimate reward? True love!

You can find the entire Rescue Me ~ Mail-Order Brides series exclusively on

KINDLE UNLIMITED

~ ~ ~'

Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you again soon.

Blessings,

Nancy

ELLEN ~RESCUE ME ~ MAIL~ORDER BRIDES - Book 10) by Author ELISSA STRATI *Book Birthday*

Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we're going to continue with our feature of a new series of sweet/inspirational, western historical romances. The series, RESCUE ME (Mail-Order Brides) consists of twenty-five books, releasing once per week, every Monday. So, sit back and enjoy!

The tenth book in the Rescue Me (Mail Order Brides) series, is Ellen, by Author Elissa Strati.

A flapper in a fix!

Ellen has been the family breadwinner while her men are off in Europe, making the world safe for democracy. But with the war over, Sydney, the man whose job she held, is back, and she is unemployed. And now Sydney is stalking her! At her mother's suggestion she becomes a mail-order bride. But has she fled far enough to be safe?

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Tatters, the Spencer family cat, lay sprawled across the front stoop as Sydney Greeley walked toward the house. It seemed the cat thought no better of Sydney than any other member of the family. He remained sprawled, but lifted his head and glared at the intruder.

As Sydney started up the steps, Tatters hissed loudly, then swiped at Sydney’s pants, grasping a little cloth and probably a bit of skin before pulling free and jumping up into a standing position, back arched and tail fluffed out.

Stumbling a bit, as he went back down the stairs, Sydney took a few more steps, arms flailing and then caught his heel on the edge of the sidewalk and fell down into the grass.

Never one to weather insults well, Sydney’s blood pressure skyrocketed as he turned red with fury. Shoving himself back on his feet he started for the cat, arms extended. He got another scratch for his trouble, this time on his hand, and then the cat leapt gracefully down the stairs and ran for the nearest tree. Spinning on his heel Sydney raced after the beast.

Tatters may well have been enjoying this game, as he only climbed up as far as the first overhanging limb, which was barely above Sydney’s head.

“I’ve got you now!” growled Sydney as he reached up. Sydney’s face was close enough for Tatters to slash him across the nose this time, before leaping up to a higher branch out of reach.

By now the sounds of the commotion had penetrated into the nearest houses, and heads were beginning to poke through windows.

Tatters was generally well liked by the neighbors, in part for his pest control services, although one or two had had issues with the haughty feline, who did not appreciate when his gifts were rejected. He was well enough fed that he generally did not dine on his prey, but delivered, to the door of the owner, the vole or gopher or whatever other rodent he may have eliminated from the yard.

Most of the neighbors were grateful, despite not being that fond of finding decaying corpses on their doormats, no matter how small. The topic was a neighborhood joke, and had replaced the weather as a conversation starter.

“What did Tatters bring you last night?”

One was almost embarrassed not to have been a recipient of his largess!

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

Women on the run! But from what? Will they need rescuing? Or, will these intrepid heroines have the faith and the strength to rescue themselves while finding their ultimate reward? True love!

You can find the entire Rescue Me ~ Mail-Order Brides series exclusively on

KINDLE UNLIMITED

~ ~ ~'

Thank you for stopping by. Please come back again next week for another feature on this wonderful series. Until then, stay happy, healthy, and safe.

Blessings,

Nancy

MATHILDA (RESCUE ME ~ MAIL~ORDER BRIDES - Book 7) by Author SARAH LAMB *BOOK BIRTHDAY*

 

Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we're going to continue with our feature of a new series of sweet/inspirational, western historical romances. The series, RESCUE ME (Mail-Order Brides) consists of twenty-five books, releasing once per week, every Monday. So, sit back and enjoy!

The seventh book in the Rescue Me (Mail Order Brides) series, is Mathilda, by Author Sarah Lamb.

The last thing Mathilda thought she’d be doing was boarding the Titanic to escape the danger hot on her heels. With knowledge of important papers that could get her killed and a wad of money, she’s trying to get as far away as she can with her older sister.

Fleeing for her life, she becomes a mail order bride. However, Mathilda discovers she might not be able to keep her past a secret. The man she’s supposed to marry is a policeman, with a sixth sense she’s hiding something. He’s also the kindest man she’s ever met, and she’s quickly falling in love with him.

By the time Mathilda decides to confess the truth and hope for the best, as well as his love in return, it may be too late, and lives may be lost.

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Also availabe in Print

Mathilda exited and turned, waving goodbye as the train moved on without her. Determined not to linger on her fears, she spun around and looked right into the eyes of the most handsome man she’d ever seen. He wore the uniform of a police officer.

His dirty blond hair was curling slightly under his hat, which he tipped. “Ma’am,” he said. “Welcome to Midway.”

“Thank you,” she said softly, feeling very shy. Mathilda looked quickly around, then bit her lip. “I…I wonder if you could help me. I’m afraid I’m a bit lost. I just arrived, and I’m looking for Logan Fitzwick. I’m here to be his mail-order bride.”

The man looked at her, stunned. “My what?”

“Mail-order bride,” Mathilda repeated, her cheeks flaming. “I wired, and…” she stopped. It was a mistake. She knew it was. “You are Mr. Fitzwick?”

The man shook his head. “I’m sorry. Yes. I’ve been expecting you. I just wasn’t expecting someone as pretty as you are.” He eyed her critically. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you a mail-order bride?”

Stunned, Mathilda froze. She was bursting with embarrassment, but somehow she channeled her sister’s practiced haughtiness. “I beg your pardon? I’ve had a long journey. Perhaps the question is what’s wrong with you, that you had to order a mail-order bride?”

Sarah Lamb is the mother of two boys and wife to a teacher. She spends her days writing and editing books in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub ~ Facebook

Women on the run! But from what? Will they need rescuing? Or, will these intrepid heroines have the faith and the strength to rescue themselves while finding their ultimate reward? True love!

You can find the entire Rescue Me ~ Mail-Order Brides series exclusively on

KINDLE UNLIMITED

~ ~ ~'

Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you again soon.

Blessings,

Nancy

BEATRICE (RESCUE ME ~ MAIL~ORDER BRIDES - Book 3) by Author CHERYL WRIGHT *BOOK BIRTHDAY*

Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we're going to continue with our feature of a new series of sweet/inspirational, western historical romances. The series, RESCUE ME (Mail-Order Brides) consists of twenty-five books, releasing once per week, every Monday. So, sit back and enjoy!

The third book in the Rescue Me (Mail Order Brides) series, is Beatrice, by Author Cheryl Wright.

Cornered and assaulted, Beatrice couldn’t take it anymore, and fought back with deadly consequences.

Beatrice Gaffney had been accosted one too many times, and had reached her limit. This time she fought back, but instead of disabling her assailant, she killed him. There would be dire consequences for her actions, but she wasn’t hanging around to find out what they might be.

Tyler Harris reluctantly sent for a mail-order bride. Being hounded by his mother to produce heirs had become tiresome. He expected a carefree wife who would cook and clean and relieve his mother of that burden. What he didn’t expect was a beautiful, haunted woman who jumped at her own shadow.

It was clear to Tyler, Beatrice was hiding a deep, dark secret. When the shocking truth was finally revealed, he reeled in disbelief.

Will she clear her name, or will their happy ever after, forever elude them?

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Chapter One

Crimson Point, Montana - 1884

Beatrice Gaffney glanced about before she stepped off the train. After all this time, she prayed
she was safe.

She’d changed trains three times, waiting overnight in some towns, simply to ensure the trailwent cold. Her trail. Until now, Beatrice did not know what it felt like to be wanted by the law.

Well, that was a bit of an overreach. She wasn’t wanted exactly, but she was certain she was
being pursued. Unless she could change her identity, they would hound her until the day she
died.

It was the very reason she gave in and became a mail-order bride. Only now she wasn’t
convinced it was the right thing to do. For one thing, she didn’t know her groom. Second, just
because she married and changed her name did not mean the people chasing her would stop
looking for her.

It wasn’t her fault, despite what she was certain everyone would be saying. Horace had tried to…
she didn’t even want to think about it. She had to defend herself, but how was she to know the
outcome?

She shuddered at the memory. She’d high-tailed it out of there and hurried to see her best friend.
Meg agreed the only option was for Beatrice to leave town. After all, she hadn’t meant to do it.
He might have been vulgar and disgusting, but he didn’t deserve what she did to him.

She hurried home and packed a few essentials, then headed to the railway station. And now here
she was, standing on the platform of the Crimson Point railway station. She was about to endure
a hasty marriage to a man she did not know.

The memory of that fateful day still haunted her, and Beatrice was convinced it would for the
rest of her days. Horace Thatcher was the most revolting man she’d ever met. He had groped at
her one too many times, and the last time, she was determined not to let it continue. Except this
time she killed him.

Cheryl Wright is a multi-award-winning and best-selling author of around 70 books. She has been published since 2003.

She writes both contemporary and historical western romance, and enjoys the research needed for the historical stories she writes.

Cheryl writes Christian stories without it dominating the story. Her books all come under the clean and wholesome banner. There is absolutely no on-page sex and no profanities - she writes the kind of stories she enjoys reading.

She focuses on relationships and family, as well as friendship. Her books are uplifting, leaving her readers with feelings of hope and happiness. All her books are small town romances, including her mail order bride stories.

Cheryl spent several years teaching writing to aspiring writers, and wrote several non-fiction books about writing, worked as an editor for publishers, coached writers one-on-one, and has appeared at writer's conferences in both Australia and New Zealand.


She was brought up around horses - her father's first job was at a rodeo. He later became a horse breaker. Her family spent a lot of time traveling to rodeos over many years.

She has been married to her own real-life hero for over 48 years. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. Their household would not be complete without their beautiful dog Bindy, who loves long, leisurely walks.

Cheryl's hobbies are tenpin bowling and papercrafts.

Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page

Women on the run! But from what? Will they need rescuing? Or, will these intrepid heroines have the faith and the strength to rescue themselves while finding their ultimate reward? True love!

You can find the entire Rescue Me ~ Mail-Order Brides series exclusively on

KINDLE UNLIMITED

~ ~ ~'

Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you again soon.

Blessings,

Nancy

CHOCOLATES FOR CATE (A Small-Town Valentine's Day Romance) by Author NANCY FRASER **Book Birthday**

Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we'll take a first peek at a brand-new, small-town, clean and wholesome contemporary romance series. This series is one of the most unique you'll see for the entire year. Collectively known as the "Seven Holidays", each of the featured holidays will have eight or nine books in the sub-series for that holiday.

We begin our 2023 holiday tour with Valentine's Day, and Chocolates for Cate, by Author Nancy Fraser. Each book will release on Monday, one week apart, beginning today.

When Cate Miller treats a man diagnosed with food poisoning, she has no idea he’s a business acquaintance of her younger sister, Alicia. She’s got no time for the flirtatious man, no matter how hunky he might be.

Jace Hamilton, third generation chocolatier, hates being sick and especially when he’s the cause of his own distress. Obviously, something in the new recipe didn’t agree with him. However, if getting the chance to talk to the beautiful ER nurse comes with the treatment, he’ll feign stomach cramps for as long as it takes to get her number.

When they meet again at a candymaker’s convention, Cate has to admit to herself the charming and witty former patient has worked his way past her usual defenses. They’re definitely opposites. She’s the serious type, he’s anything but.

Can he woo her with a box of his family’s best handmade chocolates? Or, will she shut him down before the ribbon’s been untied?

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Priced at just 99¢ for the first week of release!

Chapter One

Brant Mills Community Hospital

Emergency Department

Mid December

Cate Miller pulled up the list of triage assessments and took a cursory glance at the next patient’s information and initial diagnosis. Stomach pains?

“A thirty-six-year-old man with a tummy ache?” Cate said to nobody in particular. At her side, E.R. unit clerk, Sally Barton, snickered. “What did he do?” Cate asked. “Indulge in too many zany wings and pints of beer at the company Christmas party?”

“Nope. According to the triage clerk, he got it from eating candy.”

“Oh great,” Cate moaned. “It’s going to be one of those Saturday nights. I’m so glad I picked up an extra shift. I could be at the movies with one of my sisters.”

“Yeah, heaven knows you’d never waste your valuable time going out on an actual date. With a man,” Sally teased.

“All those years of nursing school wasted,” Cate responded sarcastically, “when all I had to do was date and marry myself a rich doctor, or lawyer, or circus clown.”

“Circus clown?” Sally repeated, laughing. “Maybe that’s where your patient got the candy.”

“At least this should be fast,” Cate concluded. “A bit of antacid and send him on his way.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Edith Crowley, triage nurse, offered. “His blood pressure was elevated, and he spit up blood while he was waiting to be seen.”

“I’ll run a full panel of tests,” Cate conceded. “Maybe there’s more to it than an extra handful of sugar.”

“Keep your wits about you,” Edith warned. “He’s a flirt.”

“Wonderful, a thirty-six-year-old man-child who’s binged on too much candy, and thinks he’s every woman’s fantasy.”

Edith snorted a laugh. “He is kind of dreamy.”

“Well then,” Cate concluded, “maybe he can dream his way out of his sore stomach.”

Cate pushed back the curtain surrounding cubical six and got her first look at...

“Finally. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me,” the man said.

“Mr. Jace Hamilton,” Cate responded while checking his wrist band to verify his identity. “We didn’t forget you. We just prioritized a few people ahead of you.” Rolling the necessary equipment closer to the gurney, she told him, “I’m going to take your blood pressure again to see if it’s gone down any.”

“Not likely,” he quipped before offering her his arm.

“Why? Because we’ve kept you waiting so long?”

“No. I think it’s going to skyrocket because you’re even prettier than the last nurse who strapped me into this awful contraption.”

“It’s nice to see your sore stomach hasn’t affected your flirtation gene.”

Nancy Fraser a Top 100 best-selling and award-winning author. She is the 2022 winner of the NEST (National Excellence in Story Telling) award for her western historical romance, An Honorable Man for Katarina.

She's also the granddaughter of a Methodist minister known for his fire-and-brimstone approach to his faith. Nancy has brought some of his spirit into her Christian romances. And, her own off-beat sense of humor to her clean & wholesome books.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Nancy's Sweet Reads ~ Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub

Nancy's Newsletter Sign-Up

Romance never had a better holiday then Valentine's Day. You can find all eight Valentine's Day-themed books on Kindle Unlimited.

Throughout the year, this same group of talented authors, along with others, will bring you stories for Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

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Thank you for stopping by. Please come back again next week when we'll feature Cupid Where Are You, by Author Farrah Lee.

Until then, stay happy, stay healthy, stay well read.

Blessings,

Nancy