Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Where Wild Roses Bloom by Angela K. Couch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
ALSO AVAILABLE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K. Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after five munchkins.
CONNECT WITH ANGELA: Website | Facebook | TwitterEXCERPT
This was all
Channing’s fault. And still his words taunted.
You belong to me now.
Lenora
Perry’s steps faltered. What if he was right? What if leaving had been in vain?
“No.”
She said it aloud, needing to hear it, to feel it as strongly as when she’d
snuck away from The Pot O’ Gold Saloon over three weeks ago.
Deep
in her handbag, the last of her funds huddled beneath her derringer. Seventeen
cents remained to her name. That and her grandmother’s ruby ring. Lenora pulled
the small ring from its nest in a handkerchief. She would rather not part with
her last family tie, but what choice did she have? Maybe she should have taken
the train from Cheyenne all the way to Oregon.
Home.
And
defeat.
Would
Papa even let her back in the house? Surely not if he knew how far she’d
fallen.
“Out
of the way, miss!”
Lenora
jumped aside as a large man barreled past her with a sack over his shoulder.
She tucked her grandmother’s ring away and straightened the hideous green skirt
she’d exchanged her satin one for—the shade of sickly moss, or the cud that
cattle chewed. She’d rather wear a sack and ashes, but as far as penance went,
this gown shrieked poetic justice.
“Now
what?” she murmured under the ruckus of the jostling crowds and wagons rolling
past. She’d spent weeks seeking employment and watching her resources dwindle.
But always the same answer. No one had work she was suited for. She wasn’t
quick enough at washing dishes to please most and had never been talented
enough with a needle to survive as a seamstress. The one thing she was good at
was the thing she couldn’t turn to. Not here, where only saloons and businesses of ill repute
sought singers.
With no other direction to turn, Lenora
started back toward the hotel. She could easily curl up under the bedcovers for
the rest of the day. Her head hurt enough to justify lounging … if she knew
where her next meal was coming from. Never mind money for her room when payment
came due in a couple of days. Perhaps it was time to look beyond Helena and try
another town for employment.
A
man stepped from the doors of the hotel as she reached the corner of the large
brick building. He pressed his hat over sun-bleached hair while looking about.
Lenora
lunged out of sight. Heart thudding against her ribs, she stole another glance
at the hotel doors. A large mustache curled down around the man’s mouth. Fred
Anderson. Channing’s lackey. She had heard he’d once worked for Pinkerton’s
detective agency, but hadn’t put much stock in the rumors. Men talked all the
time, and few of their stories were true.
What now?
He’d
probably already learned of her residency at the hotel. She hadn’t thought to
use an assumed name—had thought herself out of Channing’s grasp.
You can’t ever leave …
His
words sank deep and clutched her insides. She couldn’t return to the hotel for
her few belongings. Too risky and hardly worth it.
Unless
all this was for naught.
Lenora
sank against the ridged bricks and glanced heavenward. She was at the end of
her means and had no prospects, but to return to Channing and the stage.
Perhaps she was already too lost to be saved.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 14, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 21, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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I like the book cover, it looks pretty
ReplyDeleteSounds good. Beautiful cover.
ReplyDeleteGreat spotlight, Where the Wild Roses Bloom sounds like an excellent read! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a fantastic week!
ReplyDeleteThis is my kind of book.
ReplyDeleteMarion
thanks so much for being part of the tour :)
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt, Where Wild Roses Bloom sounds like an excellent read for me to enjoy! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteLovely cover
ReplyDeleteLiked the blurb.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover. And wild roses.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.