[Blog Tour] Excerpt + Giveaway + Guest Post: Wildfire Creek (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance #2) by Shirleen Davies ~ Musings In Fiction Alley

Book Description

“A passionate story of rebuilding lives and working to
find a place in the wild frontier during the years following the American Civil
War. A rugged, heartwarming story of choices and love in the continuing saga of
Redemption Mountain.”

Luke Pelletier is
settling into his new life as a rancher and occasional Pinkerton Agent, leaving
his past as an ex-Confederate major and Texas Ranger far behind. He wants
nothing more than to work the ranch, charm the ladies, and live a life of
carefree bachelorhood.

Ginny Sorensen
has accepted her responsibility as the sole provider for herself and her
younger sister. The desire to continue their journey to Oregon is crushed when
the need for food and shelter keeps them in the growing frontier town of
Splendor, Montana, forcing Ginny to accept work as a server in the local
saloon.

Luke has never met a woman as lovely and unspoiled as Ginny.
He longs to know her, yet fears his wild ways and unsettled nature aren’t what
she deserves. She’s a girl you marry, but that is nowhere in Luke’s plans.

Complicating
their tenuous friendship, a twist in circumstances forces Ginny closer to the man she most wants to avoid—the
man who can destroy her dreams, and who’s captured her heart.

Believing his bachelor status firm, Luke moves from danger
to adventure, never dreaming each step he takes brings him closer to his true
destiny and a life much different from what he imagines.

~ EXCERPT ~

“Hold it right there.”

Ginny froze, not recognizing the deep growl coming from behind
her.

“Put your hands up and turn around.”

She did as he asked, her heart pounding, wondering if someone had
slipped by Hank to come in the front door. Slowly she turned, raising her eyes
to meet those of the man holding a gun on her. Her breath caught at the sight
of Luke, his face hard, his mouth in a thin line. She could see the instant
recognition dawned. He lowered the gun in a quick motion and slammed it into
the holster.

“What the hell are you doing here? And why are you dressed like
that?”

She swallowed the hard lump in her throat and took in a shuttering
breath, anger replacing the fear she’d felt.

“You scared the daylights out of me,” she hissed and pulled the
hat off her head, exposing soft brown wisps of hair which had escaped the loose
bun.

He held his ground, taking in the sight of her in men’s trousers,
a too big shirt haphazardly tucked inside and held together by a wide leather
belt. The coat he’d given her covered the ridiculous outfit. He let his gaze
wander over her, his eyes softening at the same time his body tightened—a
reaction he was powerless to control.

“I asked what you’re doing here, sneaking around the house.
Stealing?”

“I am not stealing,” she
threw back at him. “I work here.”

“What?” His voice took on a hard edge as his eyes narrowed,
signaling his disbelief.

“Dax and Rachel hired me to take on Bernice’s job.”

He took a step forward, then thought better of it, crossing his
arms over his chest, planting his feet shoulder width apart. Frustration warred
with the desire he felt toward her. This was not what he’d expected to come
home to—Ginny living at the ranch. It slammed into him that he’d see her every
day, obliged to be around her, and forced to fight his constant attraction
toward her. His jaw hardened as he processed the implication of her new
position. He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“We’ll see about that.” He turned and stormed from the room,
walking into the study, slamming the door behind him.

~ GUEST POST ~

Why I Write Western Romance

By Shirleen Davies

I was more or less fated to write about the American west long before I ever set out to write my first book—you could say it’s in my blood. I grew up in Southern California between the beach and the mountains, and most of my childhood was spent camping, hiking, and swimming at the beach. My extended family (on both sides) had farms and ranches, stocked with horses, cattle, sheep, and chickens. I’ve also lived in Oregon and Colorado and have never been far from places with major ties to ranching and farming. I hold these experiences close to my heart, and know they were a major part of making me who I am today.

In college, I originally majored in American History (I would eventually complete a degree in business), which fascinated me and provided the context and hard knowledge that forms the foundation of my writing work. Even after I switched majors, my curiosity was not quieted. Obviously, I never outgrew my fascination with the past, and with the American west in particular.

One of the things I have come to especially love about writing in that setting is the values and virtues of the people. What can be dismissed on one hand as “old-fashioned” can be defended on the other as prioritizing honor, integrity, and discipline, all of which I would say are inarguably positive. Positive though they may be, I often look around and feel those values are tragically overlooked and undervalued in recent years. Writing about people who follow a basic code of honor and espouse a strong set of guiding principles is a way of getting a taste of “what once was,” and of sharing an intimate glimpse of it with others.

It’s close to my heart and deep in my brain, and in some ways, it’s an escape to a simpler, honorable time.

Bio

Shirleen Davies writes
romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in
Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San
Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she
provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real
passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find
redemption through love and acceptance.
She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.

Web links

Tsu

Buy Links