Book picks similar to
Maria's Trail by John C. Horst
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The Threat
Jonas Saul - 2011
Things go bad fast. During the deal on the fourteenth floor of an apartment building, the dealer disappears, and Drake is stuck in the apartment with a dead woman.The police are at the door. He has nowhere to go.On the run from the police and the maniacal killers intent on framing Drake for murder, he must uncover the truth before it is too late.There is a reason behind the madness that has become his life. That information takes him back twelve years to when he was hospitalized with a concussion and his fiancée went missing.The only way out is to clean up someone else's mess. The only way out is murder.Drake Bellamy didn't want to break the law, but now he is out for blood.
Brides of Beckham: Books 8-10
Kirsten Osbourne - 2014
Included are: Mail Order Motherhood, Mail Order Matron, and Mail Order Meddler. Mail Order Motherhood: When Clara's husband dies and leaves her with two children and a farm she can't run on her own, the bank evicts her small family, and she needs to find a new home fast. She answers an advertisement to be a mail order bride, hoping that the agency will find a place where she can not only be useful, but her children can be loved. Recently widowed Montana rancher, Albert, can't raise his children alone, but won't risk loving another woman. Albert is convinced that he'll never love another woman like his deceased wife. When Clara shows up with two children, he's certain he’s made a mistake by taking another woman into his home. Can Clara convince him that together they can be a happy family? Mail Order Matron: After a life dedicated to her mother, Julia takes a chance and becomes a mail order bride. Edward, a lonely widower, has no hope that any woman will answer his advertisement. Will this unlikely couple find love together? Mail Order Meddler: Francis knew something needed to change immediately. He was only sixteen, but he understood that his family couldn’t keep living on bread and beef jerky. In town one day, he noticed an advertisement for a mail order bride, and sent off a letter…after signing his older brother’s name. He’d just make sure to tell Andrew that his fiance was coming before she arrived. What could go wrong? Tracy had lived in an orphanage since she was just a few months old. She only had a month before she turned eighteen and had to find a new place to live, complete with employment or a wedding ring. There were no jobs worth taking for a young woman, so she answered a letter requesting a mail order bride. Andrew sounded perfect. She’d meet him, and he’d be thrilled to see her, and they’d live
A Red, Red Rose
Susan Coryell - 2012
Their lives, loves and secrets. Especially their secrets. 20-year-old Ashby Overton is invited by her aunt and uncle to spend the summer at historic Overhome Estate as a companion to her young cousin. Ashby has ulterior motives: She hopes to unearth her ancestral roots and the cause of a mysterious family rift surrounding the horseback riding death of her Grandmother Lenore many years ago. Situated high above Moore Mountain Lake, Virginia, the imposing mansion is an idyllic setting for Ashby, the aspiring romance writer. From the moment she enters her room in the oldest wing, Ashby feels an invisible, enfolding presence. This was Rosabelle's room, the housekeeper tells Ashby. But no one is willing to talk about Rosabelle. As summer unfolds, so does the shroud of silence surrounding Overhome. Ever present is a force Ashby never sees, only feels. Candles light themselves, notes from an old lullaby fall from the ceiling, the radio tunes itself each day. And roses, always meant for Ashby, appear in the unlikeliest places. Are the roses a symbol of love, or do they represent something dark, something deep and evil? Full of heartbreak and adventure, fear and passion, the summer leads Ashby on a suspenseful, sometimes terrifying journey as she navigates centuries of family strife alongside the puzzling parameters of the spirit world. Ultimately she discovers that some secrets, even the most fiercely guarded, are destined to be revealed.
The Lady's Slipper
Deborah Swift - 2010
King Charles II has returned from exile, but memories of the English Civil War still rankle. There are old scores to settle, and religious differences threaten to overturn a fragile peace. When Alice Ibbetson discovers a rare orchid, the Lady’s Slipper, growing in a wood belonging to Richard Wheeler, she is captivated by its beauty— though Wheeler, a Quaker, is determined to keep the flower where God intended it to grow.
The Irish Flapper
Catherine Stack - 2012
Once in America she awakens to the stark difference between her dreams and the disillusioning reality of an immigrant’s life. It is her new friends, flamboyant cousin and her new found love that make life in the big city an unforgettable adventure. In America she encounters her wildly flamboyant cousin Isabelle who just happens to be the “IT” actress of the moment and the girlfriend of a notorious dangerous gangster. Isabelle introduces her to the enticing, glamorous but ultimately empty and deceptive world of fame and fortune. Annie falls deeply in love with Jack an extremely successful stockbroker haunted by the ghost of his past which threatens their future. In the end it is the knot that ties family and friends together that helps her through great adversity and devastating loss.
The Last Train Home
Tony Wilson - 2012
Their lives are worlds apart, yet inextricably linked. In this captivating twist on a seasonal tale, the three men are brought together on the last train home and given their chance at redemption. But will they take it? Always gripping, sometimes sad, yet ultimately uplifting, don’t miss your place on The Last Train Home.
Montana At Sunrise
Blaire Brand - 2014
Montana Territory 1875 For Ellie Sheridan, becoming a mail order bride for Sheriff Frank Patterson and travelling to a small town in Montana seems like the adventure of a lifetime. Now released from her lifetime job of looking after her sick mother in New Harbor, Ellie wants to settle down and become a bride. Love can come later. For now she is content to be a Sheriff's wife in the town of Broken Spur. But when she arrives to find Frank is a drunk and has no respect for her, Ellie writes to her sister asking for a ticket home. Her mind is set… even though she loves the West, she will return to Maine and try to forget her bad experience. Until one morning while out riding she comes across an injured Marshal lying on the trail. Taking him in and tending to his wounds, Ellie wonders if the reason she came out West was to meet Marshal Jack McQueen. Because now she's met him, she doesn't see how she can ever go home. Montana At Sunrise is a 20,000 word sweet, clean Western Romance novella.
How To Lasso A Cowboy
Lissa Larer - 2003
She was dedicated to making a go of the dusty ranch her late father inherited from a mysterious lady. Her future depended on it. That is until she literally bumped into the broad chest of a wickedly handsome cowboy—and she knew she was headed for big trouble! A Cowboy In Shining Spurs... Justin Chadwick came to Silver Falls, Oregon with a six-shooter at his side and a devilish glint in his eye. He's a drifter avenging his brother's murder and doesn't have time for distractions. He came to get some answers and then he'd be riding out of town—until he met the wild filly Miss Kate who sparked his interest. And when she wagered a bet—upping the stakes—he was willing to take a gamble.
John Yancey
Morris Fenris - 2014
John Yancey, Pinkerton agent. Right now John has been hired by Noah Harper to locate a thieving half-sister. According to Noah, Cecelia Powell made off with part of his inheritance after their father died unexpectedly in a carriage accident, and Noah wants it back. John’s acceptance of the case takes him from her connection with an exclusive boarding school in Switzerland to a Boston madam’s bawdy house to the 1860 gold fields of California. San Francisco, to be exact. But all is not as it seems. For one thing, pretty Miss Powell doesn’t fit anyone’s image of a criminal. For another, she is apparently living far too respectable a life, as owner and headmistress of an Academy for Girls. Just how much of what Noah has claimed is actually true? Still, delving into the young woman’s background reveals that she was, indeed, born in a bordello; and she has become the owner, whether legally or not, of controlling interest in a gold mining conglomerate. Further investigation finds that she is sharing residence with an older man, Gabriel Finnegan, while at the same time becoming betrothed to one of the city’s pillars of society, insipid and ineffectual Josiah Kingsley. Josiah is neither too insipid nor ineffectual, however, to demand complete financial and emotional control over his vacillating bride-to-be upon their marriage. The lady herself is proving to be an enigma. Finished with what he can, John sends his report, per arrangement, to Noah Harper via Pony Express. San Francisco’s attractions beckon, and he is able to explore the area, getting acquainted with townspeople and businesses. Nice enough, he decides. Maybe he’ll relocate here, settle down, start his own agency. Meanwhile, he has dealt with any complications arising from the Powell case and considers it closed. Until Noah Harper unexpectedly shows up, armed with all of John’s information and spoiling for a fight. That’s when the complications really begin. ***** Taking the High Road is a series of 10 books detailing the adventures and exploits of the Yancey Brothers.
Trouble in Paradise
Lyle Howard
How better to live out his dream then to open a peaceful little bar in the Florida Keys? Far from the madness of war, Mackey lives his life on his own terms, mixing umbrella drinks for his customers and maintaining his anonymity.But even in Paradise things change”...Out of the darkness a mysterious ship docks behind The Paradise Shack and patrons begin to disappear.What is the horrific secret that this vessel is carrying?Now Mackey must rely on the set of skills he so desperately has tried to disavow. The conspiracy he will uncover will have more profound ramifications than just a few missing tourists. The ship’s purpose is more complex than he could ever imagine. A mission that is so unprecedented that Mackey will end up doubting his own loyalties.No matter which side you find yourself rooting for, Trouble in Paradise will leave you wondering “what if?”
An Englishwoman's Guide to the Cowboy
June Kearns - 2012
Into this background, wanders a party of Englishwomen. Well-bred, bookish spinster, Annie Haddon - (product of mustn't take off your hat, mustn't take off your gloves, mustn't get hot or perspire Victorian society)- together with an aunt the last word in snobbery, and a spoiled and brittle cousin.After a stagecoach wreck, Annie is thrown into the company of Colt McCall - a man who lives by his own rules and hates the English.Can two people, moulded by their backgrounds and pasts, overcome that conditioning? Annie and McCall find out on their journey across the haunting, mystical landscape of the West.
Mail Order Bride: Susannah's Story
Ella Camsen - 2015
She soon learns that the ad was posted in error, and in fact Jared was not looking for a wife- but he could use a writer at his newspaper. Susannah takes off immediately for Montana, thrilled to embark on a new life and career. She does not anticipate the being in Jared's life- even as a writer, not a wife-comes with a dangerous price, and that falling love is not something you can necessarily control. Jared was definitely not planning to get married, and when he read Susannah's letter it took him a moment to realize it was his mother looking out for him that caused the mail-order bride ad to be printed. He saw an opportunity in the situation and decided to take a chance on Susannah- his newspaper could sure use a lady's touch! Not realizing that Susannah's move meant that she now became part of his close circle of family and friends threatened by an old rival of his, he felt a strong need to protect her from the danger she now faced. Unexpectedly falling in love with her did not make things any easier. Will Jared be able to keep Susannah safe and reveal his secret love for her?
With Full Malice
Brenda Hill - 2012
Since the night her parents were murdered, she’s haunted by the killer’s threat to return for her. But the murder of a paroled sex-offender plunges her world upside down. Asked to cover the story, Madison discovers links to a vast underground society where no one is who they seem and few can be trusted. When threats to stop the investigation turn deadly, Madison races for her life against an unseen enemy who'll stop at nothing to protect the Ruby Red Society's secrets.
Guns of the Waste Land: Departure: Volumes 1-2
Leverett Butts - 2016
Now featuring Volume Two, Diversion
Guns of the Waste Land is an epic retelling of Arthurian Legend in an American Western setting. In late 1800s just outside the Texas town of Bretton, four men wander the American desert. Percy Murratt seeks Sheriff Ardiss Drake to learn the fate of his late father. Meanwhile, Ardiss’ deputies, Gary Wayne Orkney and Boris Bennick, are in the pursuit of the outlaw Lancaster O'Loch flees, who has seduced and stolen Ardiss’ wife, Guernica. Featuring a host of familiar characters reminiscent of Gawain, the Green Knight, Lancelot, Merlin and, of course, King Arthur,
Guns of the Waste Land
is a timeless adventure of chivalry, revenge and honour. Now, in
Book Two: Diversion
, follow Percy and co. on their epic quest as they traverse the frontier of the American Waste Land, in pursuit of their own Holy Grail… Guns of the Waste Land “impressed the hell out of me with its inventiveness and wonderfully colorful dialogue, […] you may have a genuine classic on your hands.” –T.E.D. Klein, author of Dark Gods & The Ceremonies “Leverett Butts is a real talent. His Guns of the Waste Land is an original way to use a genre. I like a guy who has a mad literary streak and walks the wobbly tightrope: so far he's gotten across. This is the first installment in a longer narrative, and I can't wait to read the next if it's as good as the first or even close.”—Richard Monaco, author of the Parsival series “Guns of the Waste Land brings us back to a genre that has mostly been out of fashion for a time, but I believe this work has the power to bring us back to why we loved westerns. The western story is the story of America. In the western, the lines between good and evil are often vague, just as they are in real humanity. The western shows us the difficulty to survive and how it changes people for better or worse. Butts has explored these ideas and many more in a book that is unique and as well written as anything you'll read this year.” –Scott Thompson, author of Young Men Shall See & Eight Days Leverett Butts teaches composition and literature at the Gainesville campus of the University of North Georgia. His poetry and fiction have appeared in Eclectic and The Georgia State University Review. He is the recipient of several fiction prizes offered by the University of West Georgia and TAG Publishing. His first collection of short fiction, Emily's Stitches: The Confessions of Thomas Calloway and Other Stories, has been nominated for the 2013 Georgia Author of the Year Award in Short Fiction. He lives in Temple, Georgia, with his wife, son, their Jack Russell terrier, and a couple of antisocial cats. Venture Press is a science fiction and fantasy imprint of Endeavour Press, the UK’s leading independent digital publisher. We are committed to the discovery and rediscovery of immensely talented authors in the SFF genre, and continue to push boundaries in search of great literature. Join us as we venture across universes and unknown landscapes – past, present and future. Sign up to our newsletter: http://bit.ly/1LUVI4n Follow us on Twitter @venture_press Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1NnFow7
Pelican Bay
Jesse Giles Christiansen - 2013
The captain wants the past to remain buried, and he warns Ethan to stay away. But Ethan doesn't listen.Ethan's best friend and secret love interest, Morgan Olinsworth, joins in the investigation, unearthing intriguing secrets about the mysterious fisherman. When Captain Shelby is suspected of murder and disappears, a manhunt ensues, revealing a truth that unnerves everyone in Pelican Bay.