Monday, December 10, 2012

CBLS Promotions: "Chasing Clovers" by Kat Flannery Blog Barrage (ends 12/15) U.S.


Chasing Clovers
by Kat Flannery
Published by Imajin Books
Historical Western Romance/Romantic Suspense
Length: 75,000 words
Heat Level: Sweet

Available at:

Blurb:

Kat Flannery’s CHASING CLOVERS is the perfect mix of sweet romance and Wild West adventure, with a generous dash of emotion.

Mail order bride, Livy Green, is desperate to escape the memories of her past. John Taylor will never love another woman again, but his children need a mother. Will they learn to trust each other, or will their pasts interfere?

Longing to escape the awful memories and the saloon she once sang in, Livy Green lies about her past so she can be a wife to John Taylor and step mother to his two young children. Overwhelmed by the task, she struggles to put her resentment aside and love them as her own.

John loved his first wife and is still heartbroken over the loss, but he needs a mother for his children. When his distant and unfriendly mail order bride arrives, he begins to doubt his decision though one glance into Livy's terrified green eyes tells him he can't turn his back on her.

As Livy's past catches up with her and suspicious accidents begin to happen on the ranch, she is tempted to come clean and tell John the truth. But will he send her back if he does? Or will they forever be CHASING CLOVERS?

Reviews:
“...CHASING CLOVERS is a page turner from the first page to its last page. I couldn't stop reading it. High fives all around!”--Lillian Cauldwell, Passioniate World Radio USA

“...Clearly, CHASING CLOVERS is a realistic depiction of goodness and vileness of human nature and hope amid seemingly very helpless situations.”--Nancy Cudis, Simple Clockwork

“4 out of 5 Stars! CHASING CLOVERS was such a great sweet read. This really truly was a sweet story that was very well written and had just enough romance and action to keep you turning the pages and wanting more.”--Ali, My Guilty Obsession

“I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which had a lot of twists and turns. This author gets a big thumbs up from me, and I look forward to her next book.”--Amazon Review

EXCERPT

Angel curled her exhausted body into a tight ball on her bed. The pain in her abdomen was beginning to fade. Her long brown hair, loose from its braid, clung to the sweat on her temple. She had no energy left to wipe it away. She took a shaky breath once the ache had subsided, and let her head rest lightly on her pillow. It wasn't but a few minutes when another piercing spasm sliced through her stomach, jolting her upright. Angel moaned and clutched her midsection. Veins of throbbing torment snaked slowly around her back and seized her whole middle.

She bit her bottom lip to muffle the cry she knew would burst from her dry lips. But her efforts proved futile as a loud scream erupted and her eyes clouded with tears.     Her stomach felt as if it were about to explode. The hard, swollen mound protruded from the damp white cotton nightgown she was wearing. The door to her room opened, and Doctor Simms entered quietly and calmly. He placed his large hands on her stomach, and she nearly jumped off the bed from the pressure.

"It's almost time," he said to her, pushed up his sleeves to wash his hands at the basin on her dresser.

Angel's breaths came in short, quick puffs. Her hands instinctively searched out the sheet on either side of her, ready to tear it from the straw-filled mattress. Her crotch felt heavy and it pulsed with urgency. A gush of liquid burst from between her legs and soaked the bed beneath her. An uncontrollable urge to push took over. She sat up and pulled her legs inward. She drew in a deep breath, pressed her chapped lips together and pushed with all her might.

The doctor was in front of her now, and nudged her shaking legs farther apart. "A few more pushes and the baby will be out."

The agony of it all was too much. She didn't know if she could stand the pain any longer. Her tired body was hot and sticky, and her legs felt numb. Her stomach tightened again, and she couldn't help but push. Her crotch burned―the pressure from the baby's head unbearable.

The room blurred, and her head started to spin. She panicked, fearing she was going to die. Her life was ending, and she would never see her baby's face. Her middle was going to tear in two. She pushed again. Her body stretched and ripped, allowing the small life to come through. She ground her teeth together and groaned loudly.

 A baby's cry pierced the quiet night. she reached down, touching the baby girl that had slipped from her womb. Shiny and wet, she was the most beautiful thing Angel had ever laid eyes on. The pain gone, she examined her daughter, now cradled in her arms. Pink lips quivered as the baby mewled. Angel bent to brush a light kiss on her damp forehead.

 The doctor handed her an old yellow blanket. With shaky hands she began to clean her daughter.

 The room was lit by one lamp, casting the room in an orange glow. Calm and serene, Angel glanced out the window. All she could see were the white fluffy snowflakes that stuck to the glass. She snuggled closer to the bundle in her arms.  She was warm, and for the first time in her life, truly happy.

"I've got your money, Doc." Her voice was hoarse from the long labor. She rummaged under her pillow and grabbed a brown tin. Inside was the money she'd been saving. Not much there, she counted out a few coins and handed them to the doctor.

Shaking his head, Doctor Simms spoke clearly, "It's already been taken care of, Dear."

Angel glanced up confused.

"Sam."

The bartender and owner of the Saloon had paid for her delivery? Angel knew she shouldn't have been surprised. He'd felt guilty about what had happened to her and wanted to somehow make it right.

"Me and little Emma," she said her daughter's name for the first time, "we plan on getting out of here and starting fresh someplace else." She watched as the doctor's kind blue eyes moved around the tiny room. She owed him and Sam so much more than her thanks. They had both helped her when no one else had, or wanted to.

The room she rented upstairs at the saloon was a far cry from the white house the doctor called home. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment when she noticed the bawdy gowns that she had to wear scattered across the floor. Her life had no meaning before this day, and she was determined to give her daughter the life she never had. Emma whimpered, and Angel gazed down at her child. The love she felt for her daughter came instantly.

Doctor Simms shrugged into his coat, and said quietly, "You'll do right by her. Chances are he'll be passing through here again soon, and he'll come looking for you." He stared directly into Angel's eyes. She saw pity in their kind depths.

"When you leave here, don't ever come back." He gave her one last look, and left the room.

She heard the doctor's warning and her body shuddered. She knew the doctor was right. He'd come back. He said he would, and as sure as Monday followed Sunday, he'd come looking for her. Emma cried and she gently rocked her baby back and forth while humming the lullaby Sam had taught her.



About the Author:
Kat Flannery has had her writing published in numerous periodicals. She’s received her diploma for Creative, Freelance, and Business Writing. She is co-owner of Prairie Dog Publishing, where she devotes her spare time as head of Marketing and Communications. When not focusing on her creative passions, Kat is busy with her three boys and doting husband Chasing Clovers is Kat’s first published novel. While awaiting the release of her second book, she is currently writing the third.

Visit Kat online at:
Twitter – http://twitter.com/katflannery1

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Check out the rest of the blog tour, and look for my review to be posted within a couple days.

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