horse racing

This month we’re giving away one autographed print copy of Detour Ahead. The giveaway lasts all month – of course, you can always read it free at Kindle Unlimited! Contest details after our Sunday Snippet.

Book Four in our Riders Up series is the story of Cassie’s best friend, Tracy Steele. Mourning the recent death of her father and unable to concentrate in her job as a top county prosecutor in Chicago, Tracy gives in to Cassie’s pressure to take a break—for two months, in a time share north of San Diego.

Today’s except follows last week’s, in the resort barns…

EXCERPT

Becoming slightly steadier on her feet, Traci continued her search for McCord. She heard a male voice and slowed her approach. The voice was coming from the end stall.

“You’re gonna be okay, girl.”

Traci warmed at the man’s soothing tone.

“You just took a bad step, that’s all. Don’t know who was more startled, you or the bobcat. This wrap will help keep the swelling down. I’ll check on you later.”

Traci knew immediately when Scott McCord saw her standing there staring wide-eyed like some kid on her first visit to a zoo. His eyes narrowed and then grew cold.

BLURB

Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help their rancher friend as a private investigator. 

Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler Scott McCord much prefers working with the racehorses he trains at his ranch, and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with horse troubles.

The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her – like he does his horses – before she flees in panic? 

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick This is a story about letting go of your past so you can move on to your future…Add into this touching story of recovery a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end, and you’ve got a story you won’t be able to put down. Angi

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This month we’re giving away one autographed print copy of Detour Ahead. The giveaway lasts all month – of course, you can always read it free at Kindle Unlimited! Contest details after our Sunday Snippet.

Book Four in our Riders Up series is the story of Cassie’s best friend, Tracy Steele. Mourning the recent death of her father and unable to concentrate in her job as a top county prosecutor in Chicago, Tracy gives in to Cassie’s pressure to take a break—for two months, in a time share north of San Diego.

Having decided she’s put off long enough meeting the man Cassie wants her to help, Traci heads for the resort horse barns…

EXCERPT

Carefully placing one foot directly in front of the other like a fox, Traci entered the stable.

The pungent odors of horse manure and leather greeting her weren’t totally unpleasant, but she preferred those of the Arboretum, or Lake Michigan. Traci stepped down the middle of the stable avoiding the outstretched heads of horses seeking attention and treats.

How could she appear casual when every animal in here wanted a piece of her? Where the hell was McCord? He popped up when she didn’t want to see him and vanished when she did.

Traci glanced down at her white tennis shoes. They were the best she could do; she didn’t own a pair of boots, and tennis shoes had to be better than sandals or heels. She frowned—her shoes were not going to come out of this adventure untarnished. At least she’d had sense enough to put on a pair of jeans, and the light sweater helped with the chill.

Coming to the end of one barn, Traci saw an imposing sign at the entrance to another declaring that resort guests were not allowed beyond that point. She paused and lifted her chin. Although she was a resort guest, she was here on business—and she might be a city girl, but she knew better than to shout in front of a barn full of horses to get McCord’s attention.

BLURB

Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help their rancher friend as a private investigator. 

Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler Scott McCord much prefers working with the racehorses he trains at his ranch, and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with horse troubles.

The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her – like he does his horses – before she flees in panic? 

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick This is a story about letting go of your past so you can move on to your future…Add into this touching story of recovery a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end, and you’ve got a story you won’t be able to put down. Angi

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This month we’re giving away one autographed print copy of Detour Ahead. The giveaway lasts all month – of course, you can always read it free at Kindle Unlimited! Contest details after our Sunday Snippet.

Book Four in our Riders Up series is the story of Cassie’s best friend, Tracy Steele. Mourning the recent death of her father and unable to concentrate in her job as a top county prosecutor in Chicago, Tracy gives in to Cassie’s pressure to take a break—for two months, in a time share north of San Diego. Following a harrowing drive on a winding detour, Tracy finally pulls in at the resort.

When Traci wakes the next morning, she dons her robe and heads out to the balcony to sit with her coffee, her banana, and a book…

EXCERPT

Cocking her head to the left, Traci was puzzled by sounds coming from up the street—a steady bop, bop, bop. Curious, she stared as the noise came closer and closer.

“Oh, damn,” she muttered. Below her balcony, not fifty feet away, came the wrangler she’d seen the afternoon before, only now he was astride a black horse followed by three other horses and riders. The sound of horse hooves rhythmically hitting the pavement was steady and loud.

Quickly, before he could notice her staring at him, Traci ducked her chin and focused on her book while watching him out of the corner of her eye. Up close, he was more than she’d imagined. Many women would think he was a heartthrob for sure. His body displayed that natural toned and muscled look, a product of hard work rather than the often exaggerated look acquired in a gym. She swore his full brown mustache twitched when he passed by. He moved with the horse as if they were of the same body.

BLURB

Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help their rancher friend as a private investigator. 

Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler Scott McCord much prefers working with the racehorses he trains at his ranch, and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with horse troubles.

The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her – like he does his horses – before she flees in panic? 

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick This is a story about letting go of your past so you can move on to your future…Add into this touching story of recovery a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end, and you’ve got a story you won’t be able to put down. Angi

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This month we’re giving away one autographed print copy of Detour Ahead. The giveaway starts tomorrow, February 2, and lasts all month – of course, you can always read it free at Kindle Unlimited! Contest details after our Sunday Snippet.

Book Four in our Riders Up series is the story of Cassie’s best friend, Tracy Steele. Mourning the recent death of her father and unable to concentrate in her job as a top county prosecutor in Chicago, Tracy gives in to Cassie’s pressure to take a break—for two months, in a time share north of San Diego. Following a harrowing drive on a winding detour, Tracy finally pulls in at the resort, unaware that Scott McCord—the man Cassie wants her to help—is watching her.

Here’s Scott’s reaction:

EXCERPT

No doubt the woman was Traci Steele. She fit Cassie Travers’s description. Hair as black as night falling below her shoulders, and tall.

She might only be a few inches shorter than him, and he was six one even. And there weren’t a lot of single women in and out of Live Oak. It was a nice enough resort, but it wasn’t Club Med.

The Chicagoan was a looker, all right. Very nicely proportioned. Yep, Traci Steele looked as attractive as Cassie had bragged her up to be.

But he wasn’t interested in a woman—no matter how attractive or how intriguing. And he definitely was not interested in a lawyer. It could be fatal to trust a woman, and it damn near just about had to be fatal to trust a female lawyer.

BLURB

Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help their rancher friend as a private investigator. 

Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler Scott McCord much prefers working with the racehorses he trains at his ranch, and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with horse troubles.

The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her – like he does his horses – before she flees in panic? 

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick This is a story about letting go of your past so you can move on to your future…Add into this touching story of recovery a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end, and you’ve got a story you won’t be able to put down. Angi

a Rafflecopter giveaway