Title: The Unwilling Husband Author: Tera Shanley Genre: Historical Western Romance Release Date: May 5, 2014 Cover Art: Renee Rocco Publisher: Lyrical Press - A Kensington Imprint Synopsis
For adventurous Margaret Flemming, arrived from Boston to be with her father, the Old West town of her childhood is a far cry from the drawing rooms and balls of the high society life she’s used to. Her fancy gowns and proper manners have no place in the dusty, cruel land inhabited by Indians and rough cowboys.And her fiercely independent streak constantly gets her in trouble. When tragedy strikes, there’s only one person she can turn to--her childhood friend, Garret Shaw--but he’s disgusted with her Society ways.
With his ranch under attack from the land-grabbing Jennings, the last thing Garret needs is to be saddled with a high-falutin’ lady. Even if she is his friend’s daughter and her kind ways tug at his hardened heart. Duty to her father forces them to wed, but he knows sure as anything, when the chance comes along, she’ll go back to Boston. No matter how much he wants her, loving her is not a risk he can take.
Excerpt
Garret rode around
the side of the house with the confidence of a man who knew his place in the
world. He was powerful and alluring, with the masculine
fluidity of some deliciously dangerous, half tamed predator. And those
brilliant eyes! They could trap a woman’s spirit with their intensity.
Roy appeared
behind him on the gray, and Maggie made a conscious effort to clack her mouth
closed. Cookie waved, then he and Lenny headed down the dirt road. Garret
turned to leave but must have changed his mind because he wheeled around to the
porch so unexpectedly, his horse rolled its eyes until the whites shone. The
disappointment that he would leave so soon was replaced by a fluttering in
Maggie’s stomach.
“Roy, I don’t know
who she is, but you and I, of all people, know a lady don’t belong out here.”
Garret kicked the skittish mount under him and gave her a fiery glare, turned
his mount and took off after the rest of his party. He left a trail of dust in
his wake.
He didn’t remember
her. Not only that, but he had, in so many words, told her to leave. Why did
those words, coming from someone she hadn’t seen since childhood, sting so
badly? His anger echoed through her bones. Aunt Margaret had said worse on a
daily basis, but the power of her insults didn’t hold a candle to the careless
reprimand that had come from his lips. It was hard to breathe.
As they
disappeared, Roy’s eyes softened with sympathy. “He’s had a hard life, Magpie.
After his momma died everything went south and stayed that way.”
“In your last
letter you said he was still away at school.”
“He was, but his
pa passed a few months ago. And as mean as that old b***ard was, he did do one
thing right, and that was Garret Shaw. He came back from Georgetown determined
to get the Lazy S back up and runnin’ again. His pa nearly laid that ranch in
the ground with his drinking, so Garret has his work cut out for him, but if
anyone can save that place, it’s him.” Roy sighed and worried at a rusty porch
nail with the toe of his boot. “Maggie, I know you’ve thought fondly of Garret
since you were knee high to a grasshopper, but he’s different now. Hard living
and too much responsibility have made him a calloused man. A good man, but not
the marrying kind, you hear? Best you get him out of your head before you get
hurt.”
Sound advice, but
these things were always easier said.
“I daresay he
certainly has changed. And for the worse, if you want my opinion.” The dust had
settled enough to reveal Garret’s tall form in the distance. “Don’t worry about
me, old chap. I’ll not waste my thoughts a minute longer.”
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About the Author
Tera Shanley writes in sub-genres that stretch from Paranormal Romance, to Historic Western Romance, to Apocalyptic (zombie) Romance. The common theme? She loves love! A self-proclaimed bookworm, she was raised in small town Texas and could often be found decorating a table at the local library. She currently lives in Dallas with her husband and two young children and when she isn’t busy running around after her family, she’s writing a new story or devouring a good book.Any spare time is dedicated to chocolate licking, rifle slinging, friend hugging, and the great outdoors. For more information about Tera and her work, visit www.terashanley.com.
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