Lily & the Gambler
By Linda McLaughlin
Sensual Western Historical Romance
Blurb:
Respectability is in the eye of the beholder. Or so Lily
Penhallow hopes when she assumes the guise of the widow Albright. She has
learned the price of flaunting convention and is determined to obey society's
rules from now on. After her lover, Nigel Albright, was killed in a duel over a
card game, Lily dons widow’s weeds and travels to Grass Valley, California
where she plans to marry the man her uncle works for, a respectable mine owner
named Hugh Ogilvie. Then, on the riverboat from San Francisco, she meets
Creighton 'King' Callaway, a professional gambler, just the kind of man she
should avoid.
King believes that since life is a gamble, there's no point
in planning for the future. You have to trust Lady Luck. After meeting Lily,
King knows he has found his Queen of Hearts. But can he convince her to pass up
a sober businessman for a foot-loose card sharp?
Only Lady Luck knows for sure...
(Previously published in a shortened version by Amber Quill
Press)
Buy links:
Coming Soon to Other Retailers
Excerpt:
Lily smiled at him. “That was quite a trick. Do you tell
fortunes, too?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Is the lady interested?”
“Perhaps,” she said, aware he was flirting with her again
and annoyed with herself because she was enjoying it. “There should be a deck
of cards here somewhere.”
“No cards required. Just let me see your palm.”
Unable to stop herself, Lily stripped off her gloves and let
him take her hand. He held it in his left hand, and with his right index
finger, traced the lines on her palm. Shivers ran up her arm at each caressing
touch. His scent, a mixture of bay rum, male musk, and a faint hint of tobacco,
overwhelmed her.
“What do you see?” she asked, her voice suddenly breathless.
“Health and long life.”
“What, no handsome stranger?” she joked.
He raised his head and stared into her eyes. “Oh, yes, I see
romance ahead for you. With a dark haired fellow. But he isn’t a stranger.”
For what seemed an age, she stared into his green-gold eyes
while her pulse quickened and warmth stole through her veins. It would be so
easy to surrender to the feelings he evoked.
“I also see a fork in the road ahead,” he added softly. “You
have a decision to make. A very important decision.”
She snatched her hand away, knowing she couldn’t afford to
be distracted by him. It wasn’t as if he had made her any promises. “I think
you need to practice your fortune-telling skills, Mr. Callaway.”
He chuckled. “There’s something else I’d like to practice.”
Cupping her chin, he stared at her, his eyes full of half promises. “Oh, hell,
I may get my face slapped for this, but…” His hand moved to the back of her
neck as he lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss that stole her
breath away.
For a moment, she closed her eyes and gave herself up to the
kiss. Then a door slammed somewhere in the house, reminding her of where they
were. She pushed him away. “How dare you?” she hissed.
He gave her a lazy grin. “What’s that old saying? Nothing
ventured, nothing gained?”
“I think you’d best be going.”
He paused at front door, turned and held her gaze for a
moment, then left.
She sighed and leaned against the doorjamb. What had she
been thinking to let him kiss her, however briefly?
Original Holiday
Recipe: Lyndi's Cranberry-Blueberry Delight
Ingredients:
1 14 oz. can of Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
1 package of fresh blueberries (about 4 oz.)
1 cup of golden raisins
Mix, chill and serve. That's it!
The recipe serves 8-10 ladies. (The attached photo doesn't
reflect the full recipe. It's what is left over after a couple of days of
snacking on it.) I’ve also spread it on turkey sandwiches in lieu of regular
cranberry sauce.
Since it's so simple, it's easy to experiment. Add nuts for
crunch or sweeten to taste, if it's too tart. I'm thinking about adding some of
those little marshmallows next time for color and sweetness.
Author bio:
Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of books and history,
so it's only natural she prefers writing historical romance. She loves
transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the
journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Linda also writes steamy to
erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont, and is one half of the writing team
of Lyn O'Farrell. A native of Pittsburgh, PA. she now lives in Southern
California.
Thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving,
Anita
