again, Jacqui, with your beautiful cover for your newest release. I Can’t wait
to get it in my pudgy little fingers!!!
hosting me on your blog during the two-day reveal of my upcoming new release!
Yesterday, I shared the cover for my
newest Western historical romance available this June. Today it’s excerpt
time.
this never-before-seen excerpt from Between
Heaven & Hell. I hope you’ll leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the story that
earned me a Golden Heart® for Historical Romance.
Paden Callahan lifted his gaze skyward. High above
him, the pale blue arc didn’t even come close to rivaling the eyes of the woman
standing beside him. How on earth had she made that shot? He knew only a handful
of men capable of the feat she’d accomplished. Most of them were seasoned
Rangers. Men from a life he’d left far behind.
He shook his head. A woman couldn’t be a scout. The
job was chockfull of hazards. But the competition had been dangerous as well.
Why had he allowed her to stand off against a brute like Dawson? Why had he
behaved so impulsively?
Dawson looked none too pleased either. He clutched
his rifle against his chest in a white-knuckled grip. “If you hire her instead
of me, you’ll be sorry.” The scout’s voice was as close to a hiss as any Paden
had heard. The man wasn’t going to leave quietly.
Paden suppressed a growl of impatience. He hadn’t
shot anyone in years and meant to keep it that way. He strove for an even tone.
“I’ve got a whole saddle bag full of sorrys. Adding another won’t make much
difference.”
Dawson lowered his spent rifle until it hung by his
side. His free hand twitched, inching toward the loaded pistol strapped to his
hip.
Paden drew his revolver, cocking it on the upswing
and leveling it at Dawson. The feminine gasp close beside him made him freeze.
He suppressed the urge to tell her he wasn’t a killer. Why lie? He’d pulled the
trigger in the past, and Dawson needed to believe he’d do it again. “Keep the
supplies we advanced you. That’s more generous than I have to be. But this is
the last time I’ll tell you—leave.”
Dawson slunk off with his two cronies dogging his
heels. Paden released the hammer and shoved his revolver back into its holster.
Then he spun to face the woman.
This time she didn’t retreat, but
every bone in her slender body leaned away from him. He shouldn’t have reached
for her earlier when she swayed on her feet. Being almost grabbed by a lout
like himself had only added to the storm of emotions he sensed in her: caution
warred with curiosity…and something more.
Cover
Blurb
Hannah knows one thing the moment
she enters Fort Leavenworth—she’s arrived in Hell. But inside is the means to a
new life, a position as a scout on a wagon train bound for the Western
Territories. All she has to do is convince the wagon master, Paden Callahan,
she’s the right person for the job.
After his wife was murdered by
the Comanche, Paden let his work as a Texas Ranger consume him. Now he wants
nothing more than to disappear into the West. Unfortunately, the one man he
can’t refuse has asked him to guide a wagon train full of tenderfoots across
thousands of miles of Indian land. But Paden’s greatest challenge turns out to
be Hannah, a woman his heart won’t allow him to ignore even though she was
raised by an enemy he hates.
Release
Date
Author
Bio
romantic adventures set in the American West and Victorian London. Her love for
the Old West came from watching classic Western movies while growing up on a
cattle farm. Her passion for Victorian London wasn’t far behind and only
increased when she worked in England and explored the nooks and crannies of
London on her weekends. She now lives on the west coast of Canada where she
works in a bookstore. She is a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® winner
and three-time finalist.
Jacqui’s debut release was Adella’s Enemy, a novella featuring a
feisty female spy and an Irish railroad foreman. Adella’s Enemy can be read on its own or as part of the Passion’s Prize anthology inspired by
the hit Western TV series Hell on Wheels.
Jacqui’s Golden Heart® nominated novels—Between Heaven & Hell (set on the
Oregon Trail) and Between Love & Lies
(set in Dodge City during the heyday of the cattle drives)—will be released
this summer.
Awards
for Between Heaven & Hell
to the Best finalist and winner of the 2010 Golden Heart® for Historical
Romance.
Praise
for the previous work of Jacqui Nelson
saboteurs and sweet romance.” – Nora (Adella’s
Enemy on Amazon.com)
you turning the pages faster with every sentence.” – Lisa (Adella’s Enemy on Amazon.com)
Today’s
Giveaway
directly from the author! Leave a comment below (with your e-mail address) and
you’ll be entered in a draw to win a
free e-book (for your Kindle or your computer).
Thank you everyone who visited
yesterday and left comments!
To
learn more about Jacqui and her writing, please visit…
Good luck with this Jacqui. I remember reading the opening scene when you entered it in a VIC contest. It was wonderful then and it is now too.
Thanks, Alice! The VIC-RWA chapter contest & prep-group was instrumental in helping me hone my first pages and give me the best shot possible for the Golden Heart awards.
Looks like another awesome book Jacqui! I look forward to reading it!
Thanks, Gael! I cherish the lovely review you gave me for ADELLA'S ENMEY. Loved when you said "Pulled me into the American West faster than a shot of whiskey could be downed on a hot day." Still makes me smile when I read it 🙂
Great excerpt Jacqui!! You've got me hooked 🙂 It reminds me of Lonesome Dove.
Oh my! What a lovely comparison. I adore Lonesome Dove. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment!
I've been wanting to read this book ever since I read an excerpt on your website. Hooked me right away! So yes please enter me in the contest – I'm on the loop. 😉
Yay, Amanda! So happy to see you hear! I love posting excerpts on my website, and it's good to know that people actually read them 🙂 Thanks for dropping by and commenting!
Can't wait to read the rest, Jacqui! Way to go!
Thanks, Clare! Eating chocolate from England as I type this. Thank you for the gift 🙂
Great excerpt Jacqui. This novel sounds like a fascinating read.
Can't wait to see how the plot unfolds.
Well…they'll definitely be going down the Oregon Trail (until they reach Fort Bridger) that's as much of the plot as I'll give away 🙂 Thanks for dropping by, Jodie!
You've got me hooked Jacqui. I'm really wondering where she learned to shoot and if she's going to get the job! 😀
Hannah is my little Annie Oakley sharpshooter & horse rider extraordinaire. All skills she learned from… I'll have to share another excerpt and let you know 🙂 Thanks for visiting and commenting, T. Rae!
Thank you again Mimi for letting me hang out with you and your guests!
And day 2's winner of the free e-copy of BETWEEN HEAVEN & HELL is…Amanda Bidnall! Will be contacting you soon, Amanda, to coordinate sending you Paden and Hannah's story.
Come back anytime, Jacqui – especially when the next release is planned :-)))
Congratulations Amanda – you're in for a real treat 🙂
Well done, Jacqui,
The excerpt was great and the cover caught my eye right away. Good luck with it,
Sylvie