I’m so excited to announce the release of Book 1 in my new Gold Country series: HER GOLD COUNTRY VALENTINE. This book started life as a novella in last year’s Cupid to the Rescue box set. But I loved the story so much I knew I had to make it the lead off book in my new series set in a small, Gold Rush-era town in the Sierra Mountains of California. I went back to the drawing board to learn more about my characters and add all the fun elements romance readers who love connected series treasure. With a new title, new town name (thanks to my newsletter readers for their help), and more words, I hope even though of you who read the novella version will scoop up this full-length version.
Here’s a little peek at the infamous “kiss” scene mentioned above:
The kiss was butterfly soft. Tentative. Timid.
Still half asleep, Paige’s conscious mind argued the pros and cons of kissing TJ Huey back. When she’d move his sleeping bag, she’d expected more of an exchange than she remembered—the kinds of questions and answers you’d never think of sharing in the harsh light of day, but in the dim, cozy intimacy of a stall in a barn in the middle of nowhere… However, that conversation never came. She’d closed her eyes for a moment and the next thing she heard from TJ Huey was a soft, muffled snore.
And, strangely, that combined with the heater’s hum, made for the best night’s sleep in too long to remember.
But it was morning, now. She could sense the light even if she was loath to open her eyes and ruin this perfect fantasy. Being kissed by the sexiest man she’d ever met, let alone slept beside. A cowboy. A classic figure that appeared on the covers of romance novels—even a few she’d picked up over the years.
His lips brushed hers again and a tingle passed through her body, winding up exactly where it was supposed to go. Her glutes tightened. Her hips moved on their own accord. She licked her lips as she opened her eyes.
“Erp.”
The face touching hers wasn’t human. The lips on the face pulled back to reveal domino-shaped, mostly yellow teeth and a tongue about a mile long.
“Oh. Oh. No. Not. Wait. Oh. TJ.” The last came out as a panicked cry as Paige launched herself—still completely wrapped in the mummy coffin sleeping bag—on top of his somnambulant body. Luckily, his arms were free, and apparently acting on instinct, he rolled them over so he was on top of her—heroic rescuer that he was.
“Well, good morning, beautiful. This is a surprise.”
She blinked as his mouth touched hers.
Oh, yes. Much better. Definitely. Yes. No.
She managed to get her hands under his shoulders and bench-press his torso upward. His look of horny happiness turned to one of confusion, then sudden awareness. “What just happened?”
She glanced over his shoulder to find the little donkey watching them curiously. “I was kissed by an ass.”
His eyebrows practically knocked together above his nose. “I believe you tackled me first.”
“Yes. After, she kissed me.” Paige nodded.
His head swung about. “Well, hullo, darlin’. Look at you.”
He somehow levitated off Paige—shedding his body bag as he rose. He held out a hand to help her up. Apparently, his feelings weren’t as bruised as she thought. “Look at our girl, Paige. I believe she’s going to make it.”
Paige was happy. Also sad. She didn’t have time to figure out why.
HER GOLD COUNTRY VALENTINE © Loner Llama Press
Happy reading, my friends. I’m hard at work on Book 2…and traveling…
Deb
SHOP HERE: books2read.com/u/47Q1KL
