Patty Smith Hall

Chapter One      Rain pelted the ceiling-to-floor windows of the family room. The grayness of the evening invaded Louisa Copeland’s mind and home. The oversize chair she snuggled in helped hide her surroundings. The thick romance in her hand further darkened her mood as she read how the hero whisked away the heroine for a surprise dinner on some pier. Were there relationships like that? She didn’t know of any.      “Give it to him!” Joey, her five-year-old son, joined the fray as Madison, her twelve-year-old daughter, dangled a plastic horse over the head of Tim, her youngest son, just out of his reach.      Jolted from the fantasy world into the real one, where  rainy days turned children into caged animals, Louisa gripped the book tight and took five deep breaths. “Madison, if you don’t give it back to Tim now, I will take your phone away for the rest of the day.”      Madison’s eyes narrowed. “Daddy won’...

Chapter 1 What a lousy night to get lost. Moira Harrison peered through the April rain slashing across her windshield. Even at full speed, the wipers were no match for the torrential onslaught. The faint line bisecting the narrow strip of pavement—the only thing keeping her on the road and out of the ditch filled with churning runoff immediately to her right—faded in and out with alarming frequency. Tightening her grip on the wheel with one hand, she cranked up the defroster with the other. Fogged-up windows were the last thing she needed. As it was, the high-intensity xenon headlights of her trusty Camry were barely denting the dense darkness of the woods-rimmed rural Missouri road. Nor were they penetrating the shrouding downpour. So much for the premium she’d paid to upgrade from standard halogen. She spared a quick look left and right. No light from house or farm broke the desolate blackness. Nor were there any road signs to indicate her location. Maybe a St. Lo...

Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, October 1886 Amanda Cabot I t was only the wind. Charlotte Harding wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to convince herself there was no reason to tremble like  a cottonwood leaf in a storm. The creaks that had wakened her were simply the building shuddering from the force of the wind. That was all. No one had broken in. No one had found her. She and David were safe. But the brave thoughts had no effect. They never did. With a sigh, she fumbled to light the lamp. As the soft yellow flame chased away the darkness, she slid her feet into slippers and padded across the room. Perhaps it was foolish. She could see that the intruder had been nothing more than a figment of her imagination, the product of her fears. Her bedchamber was empty, except for David. Sweet David. The love of her life Charlotte stood at the side of his crib, looking down at the red hair so like his father’s. Other than his eyes, which were the same shade of br...

I always love getting a peek at a new book ready to hit the bookstore! When I decided to revive my blog, I wanted to post more than my thoughts of the writing life or the craft--I mean, you can only talk plot and motivation, character development and story lines so much! So on Wednesdays (and some Fridays,) I'm showcasing great books getting ready to debut on the shelves of your local bookstore--by it online or brick and mortar. Today, I'm featuring Ramona Cecil's wonderful new historical release, Heart's Heritage--so sit back and enjoy! Indiana Territory, April, 1812 Annie aimed the musket's barrel at the center of the deer hide shirt covering the stranger's broad chest and prayed she wouldn't be required to pull the trigger. At the same time, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks for the presence of her late husband's Irish wolfhound, Cap'n Brody. The big dog—whose muzzle easily reached the shoulder of the man's horse—appeared to have t...

A couple of weeks ago, I was overjoyed to find the November selection of Heartsong Presents at my local Walmart. If you're not familiar with these books, they're romance novels, both contemporary and historical, that can be compared to the Love Inspired line. So today, for your reading pleasure, I'm featuring the first chapter of  The Carpenter's Inheritance,  a November release from Laurie Alice Eakes. If you're not familiar with Laurie Alice's work, you're in for a real treat! The Carpenter's Inheritance by Laurie Alice Eakes Loveland, Massachusetts October 1893 Miss Trudy Perry, Attorney at Law, would not, after all, be joining Miss Lucinda Bell, Attorney at Law, in practice in Loveland, Massachusetts. She had decided to follow her brother to San Francisco and practice law out on the West Coast. "Follow her brother indeed." Lucinda folded the flimsy yellow telegram and glanced around her office. "Follow her heart is mo...