Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Tricia McGill #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Romance #Architect #Scotland #Time Travel

 

The Laird (Wild Heather Book 1)

Andrew, a wealthy Australian architect, takes life too seriously, whereas his PA Elizabeth is outgoing and fun-loving; a perfect foil for her sombre boss. She is passionate about Celtic lore and language. With great reluctance Andrew answers a plea from his two elderly aunts to travel to Scotland before his uncle dies. He has no desire to visit the land his father left under a cloud many years ago, but Liz persuades him to take her along.

In the draughty and dilapidated castle, while exploring a disused attic, the pair set off a course of events that propel them back in time to 1050 where they meet Travis, coincidentally Andrew's double.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/The-Laird

Travis (Wild Heather Book 2)

Beth Anderson travels to Scotland to help her Australian friends, Liz and Andrew, renovate the dilapidated castle he inherited from his uncle. Beth shares Liz’s passion for all things Celtic and knows the ancient language well. Liz tells her an unbelievable story of how she and Andrew were swept back in time to 1050, to a hostile world, where Andrew saved the life of Travis, his ancestor, a lovable rogue.

Beth decides to explore the castle attics and unwittingly discovers their method of time-travel. But the Travis she meets is a changed man, now driven by revenge and set on annihilating all his enemies. He has too much violence and bloodshed to contend with and has no time in his life for another woman from the future. Despite this a great love grows, a love that must overcome many obstacles before reaching its conclusion. In Book 1, The Laird, we met Travis, his family, and his clansmen, in Book 2, Travis, we are reunited with them.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/Travis-

Powerful Destiny

Can love span time?

It is 850AD and Norse warrior Rolf lands on the shores of East Anglia determined to take revenge on a Celtic clan. Following a fierce battle, where the Celts are savagely killed, Rolf comes face to face with the daughter of the slain Celtic leader. So stunned by the beauty, along with the courage of Brigid, he is convinced that his Three Fates of Destiny brought them together. Resolved to make this woman his own, he spares the lives of the captured Celtic women and children and takes them back to his homeland across the ocean.

Strangely drawn to the Norseman who is so sure they are destined to be together, Brigid must fight against succumbing to the wishes of the man who killed her father. Nevertheless, to save her fellow Celtic captives from slavery or worse, Brigid must keep a bargain with the Norse leader—a bargain that will see her tied to him forever.

In present day Cornwall, naturally shy Rolf shares his secluded lighthouse with his wolfhound. An artist, he delights in the rugged scenery and ever-changing weather. While in the nearest bookshop one day, he meets a newcomer to town. Brigid’s unusual personality strikes a chord with him. Not only are both convinced they have met before, but their fascination for Viking and Celtic history forges an unusual bond between them. Outspoken and forthright, Brigid sets out to break down the barrier of reserve and caution Rolf has erected over the years. Is it simply whimsy or can lovers across centuries be reunited?

Buy link: http://books2read.com/Powerful-Destiny

Saturday Books by Tricia McGill are featured on Saturday's Blurbs #MFRWAuthor #BWLAurthor #Historical #Romance #Australia

Mystic Mountains (Settlers Book 1):

In the early 1800s the penal colony of Botany Bay was an unforgiving and harsh place. Isabella O'Shea is transported to New South Wales for wounding a member of the British aristocracy who raped her, so it is understandable that she loathes members of the upper class and the system that punished her; sentenced her to seven years transportation.

Tiger Carstairs is rich, ambitious and English-so is it any wonder she is determined to hate her new master. Tiger dreams of making a new life beyond the aptly named Blue Mountains, so called because of the perpetual haze of blue surrounding them.

Mystic Mountains is a story of courage and persistence-traits that were essential for the settlers who carved out a new life in a raw land where suffering and heartbreak were commonplace.

Isabella and Tiger face tragedy and many hardships in their quest for a new life in this untamed land.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/Mystic-Mountains

Distant Mountains (Settlers Book 2):

Even in the prospering colony of New South Wales, it would be far-fetched to think a convicted man could consider marrying the daughter of a wealthy property owner.

But Remy has larger problems to contend with than Sara’s bigoted father. Forced to leave the woman he loves behind, Remy faces overwhelming odds and an ordeal that threatens to strip him of everything; his pride, his strength, his health—even his life.

Sara has many struggles of her own and when Remy finally thinks he has a future with Sara within his grasp, he is sent to a place where pain and suffering are everyday occurrences. Will the lovers ever find true happiness?

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/Distant-Mountains

Challenging Mountains (Settlers Book 3):

By 1840 the colony of New South Wales was expanding. Transportation of convicts to the east coast ended, and many free squatters set out to settle on lands to the south. In 1836, the Government in London authorised Governor Bourke to establish a settlement in The Port Philip District of New South Wales, and an Association was formed to make the district a separate colony.

Timothy, Tiger and Bella Carstairs’ eldest son has turned 21. Bored with his Government job and intent on seeking adventure and a new life away from Sydney, Tim decides to journey south in an endeavour to find this adventure, accompanied by his Uncle Carlos. Where else to find it, but in a newly formed settlement. 

In the 1840s the road south might not be as hazardous as the one across the mountains travelled by his parents when he was a child, but the month long journey overland holds many dangers and challenges to be faced. Escaped and ex-convicts seek the easy life by forming gangs to take what they can where they can. Forced to fight off the intruders who take claim to the land they have cared for over many, many generations, the Indigenous people are faced with many trials and battles of their own.

Not the least of Tim’s personal challenges is a young headstrong woman who, uninvited, takes it upon herself to join him on his travels.  When they reach their destination, their troubles have only just begun.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/Challenging-Mountains

Friday Tricia McGill is visiting and talking about her latest book #MFRWAuthor #BWLAuthor #Writing #Genre

1.      Tell me about your latest release? Genre?

Thanks so much for having me on your blog again, Janet. It is always a pleasure to be here. Challenging Mountains, Book 3 in my Settlers series, traces the lives and adventures of members of a family. Set in the early 1840s in Australia, Tim, eldest son of Bella and Tiger Carstairs, is fed up with his Government job in Sydney, and decides to set out on a month long trek to the budding settlement of Port Philip in the south. Accompanied by his uncle Carlos, and Josephine, a headstrong young woman who decides to join them, they encounter many setbacks along the way in the mostly untamed land.

2.      Where did the idea arise?

Book 3 in this series had been brewing in my head for a long time. My dilemma was who to set in the lead role, as Bella and Tiger had a large family. Once I began to plan the story, I realised that the main character was always meant to be Timothy Carstairs, their eldest son. Tim was born in tumultuous times and was a small child when his father, Tiger, decided to head west to greener pastures. The road across the mountains was barely defined in those early days and so Tim was no stranger to dangerous journeys.

3.      How much research was involved? Did you stay on point or be distracted by wanting to look at just one more thing?

There was still an immense amount of research to do to keep the facts correct, even though it is set in the 1800s as were book 1 and 2. The trip the travellers undertook covered many miles and the landscape was changing constantly as new towns sprang up along the way in those early days of discovery. They covered many miles on horseback or wagon. There were numerous rivers and creeks to be crossed, some hazardous, and in those days once Sydney was left behind, the bridges were few. There was little in the way of law; few churches and even less schools, so it was a fact that the children of squatters ran wild and as untamed as the land. When the travellers reached their destination there was another set of problems coping in a barely settled town, where bushrangers sought an easy life and were a constant threat. This was supposed to be the last in this series, but now Tim’s sister Annie is pestering me to write her story so that is in its early stages, while I wait for her to tell me exactly which direction she wants to go.

4.      How long did you take to write the book?

I’m not really sure as I have no record of when I began, but think it was something like 8 to 10 months from when the idea started keeping me awake at night to when I typed ‘the end’.

5.      Now a bit about you. How long have you been writing? What is your Sun Sign?

I guess my short answer to that is, always, but I began writing in earnest about 30 years ago. Most writers, like me, started scribbling stories from the moment we discovered how to put words together. My first published book was Mystic Mountains (Settlers Book 1) then published under another title. Readers seem fascinated by the early days of Australia.  I am a Scorpio.

6.      Do you write in a number of genres or stick to one?

I have written Historicals, Time-Travels, Contemporaries, Family Sagas, and had a crack at a Fantasy/Sci-Fi, but all have romance at their heart, so I am most definitely a romance writer. Only one of my books strays from the Romance genre and that is Crying is for Babies, which is based on the life of one of my sisters.

7.      Where can you be found?

Find me and my books here on my Books We Love author page:

http://bookswelove.net/authors/mcgill-tricia-romance-historical-australia/

            Or here on my Web page: http://www.triciamcgill.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorTriciaMcGill

My Blog: http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authortriciamcg/

Friday's Guest Tricia McGill - Talking about Writing #MFRWAuthor #BWLPublishing #Writing #Genres

1. What's your genre or do you write in more than one?

First up, I would like to thank you, Janet, for having me again as guest on your blog. I write in several sub-genres: Time-Travel, Historical, and Contemporary, but all are romances. I wrote one Sci-Fi, but that was just a side step from my favoured genres. Nevertheless Amid the Stars was strictly a Romance, albeit between a woman from Earth and an alien.

 
2. Did you choose your genre or did it choose you?

All chose me. I’ve always written whatever took my fancy at any given time.

3.  Is there any genre you'd like to try?  Or is there one you wouldn't?

Well, so far I haven’t come across one I would like to try, but that doesn’t mean that along the line I might get an idea and take off on a tangent. I like all my stories to have romance in them, and a touch of humour. For this reason, I could never tackle horror or even mystery. I steer clear of erotica, I guess because I do not like to read it. To each his own, and I have no argument with people who like to read or write it, but it is not for me. On thinking more about this question, I often think I would like to write Young Adult, but have never tried it, for having no idea what goes on in the minds of the young these days, I fear I would be severely out of my depth.

4.  What fiction do you read for pleasure?

I’ve always loved reading Time-Travels, and Historicals, and these are my preferred genres, but I read contemporaries by my favourite authors. I do love any story featuring animals, especially dogs, cats or horses, as they often play a big part in my own books.

5.  Tell me a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing.

I suppose you could say I have been writing forever, but my first published book came out in 2000. This book began life with another title, but is now Mystic Mountains, and remains one of my best sellers at Books We Love.

I still have a school report dated from way back, and the best comment came from my English teacher, Miss Steggall, who gave me high marks for Composition and Literature. She said, “Highly satisfactory progress, and very good promise for the future.” The only higher mark I received that year was for Art, my second favourite subject. I can recall my siblings telling me how good my stories were while I was still in primary school, so I obviously always loved telling tales.

6.  Which of your characters is your favorite?

Oh dear, I find it hard to pick a favourite. I fall in love with most of my heroes while creating them. Perhaps my number one would be Tiger, from Mystic Mountains. I always pictured him as a young Matthew Mcconaughey. But, I do rather like Jack from When Fate Decides, mainly because he falls for an older woman and couldn’t care less what the world thinks about this situation. As for the females, Leah from Leah in Love is my all-time favourite as she took me on a roller coaster ride of fun and mayhem as she told me her story.

7.  Are there villains in your books and how were they created?

There just has to be a villain. Perhaps not always an absolutely nasty character intent on death and destruction, but perhaps someone who wishes to upset the romance happening between the main characters. My Settlers Series contains more than one villain, the main one in both books being the military who were in charge of the poor unfortunate souls transported across the seas to serve out their sentences, and often their lives, in what was in the 1800s a mostly unchartered and hostile land. Being a romantic at heart, my villains must always lose.

 
8.  What are you working on now?

My work in progress is probably the hardest task I have ever tackled. Crying is for Babies traces a woman’s life through the trials of a childhood in the 1930s ruined by callous surgeons, to her lifetime of struggles coping with a disability brought about by this treatment. Part of her story takes us through WW11, and shows how an ordinary family coped with the devastation suffered in London. Having a loving family to support her, she overcame all obstacles in her path to become a marvellous, talented adult, loved by everyone. This story comes from my heart and relates the life of one of my dear sisters. This is why it has been so difficult to write, as there have been many hiccups along the way while I pause to take a few deep breaths.

9.  What's your latest release and how did the idea arrive?

Powerful Destiny is a historical with a twist for it is also a story of reincarnation. The idea first came to me actually from a friend who shares my interest in Vikings. It started life as a short story then grew like Pinocchio’s nose into a novella and finally into a novel. I loved writing this one because it covers two of my keen interests, Vikings and reincarnation. I touched on reincarnation in my Time-Travel, A Call Through Time also as the lovers were reunited in the present. I believe that we meet up with those who have the most impact on us and firmly believe I have lived before, so it comes easily for me to weave the premise into my stories.

Saturday - Blurbs - Books by Tricia McGill #MFRWauthor

Amid the Stars.

Blurb: 

Terrified, and in fear for her life after her husband, an undercover cop, is killed, Melanie Ross has nowhere to hide. 

A squadron from a far planet visiting Earth on a reconnaissance survey prepares to leave, without one of their members who is dying of a virus. Irena must remain on Earth, so seeks a replacement to take her craft back to the other side of the Universe. Seeing Melanie’s predicament she offers her an escape. Reluctantly Melanie agrees. Conquering her fears, she must learn to live among a superior race on Qindaga.

Reve, commander of the star ship circling their planet, bears an inexplicable resemblance to her dead husband. Passion flares amid the stars, but can love with an alien flourish?
http://store.payloadz.com/details/2417377

Remnants of Dreams.

Blurb:

            Remnants of Dreams begins in North London with Alicia's story. It is 1914, just at the beginning of WW1. Alicia is left with a child when her first love is killed. She eventually marries Matt and they have another nine children. Part two is the story of Sara, Alicia's headstrong daughter.  Sara marries the wrong man because the one she loves is married to her sister. But following her mother's example she finds the strength and courage to face many trials and setbacks before building a new life for her and her daughters, and in due course finding true love.

This is the story of a changing world, and takes us through two world wars, following the loves and heartaches of a large family battling extreme poverty. But despite this they are rich in the things that matter--love and pride.

http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=2387518

Distant Mountains Settlers Book 2

Even in the prospering colony of New South Wales, it would be far-fetched to think a convicted man could consider marrying the daughter of a wealthy property owner.

But Remy has larger problems to contend with than Sara’s bigoted father. Forced to leave the woman he loves behind, Remy faces overwhelming odds and an ordeal that threatens to strip him of everything; his pride, his strength, his health—even his life.

Sara has many struggles of her own and when Remy finally thinks he has a future with Sara within his grasp, he is sent to a place where pain and suffering are everyday occurrences. Will the lovers ever find true happiness?

http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=2387517

Friday - What She Was Before - Tricia McGill #MFRWauthor

1. What were you in your life before you became a writer? Did this influence your writing?

I worked in the fashion industry for 30 years. I was more or less pushed into this trade as all the females in my family, including our mother, were involved in sewing or fashion in one way or another. I fought against it for a year after I left high school, but when the opportunity came along to up my wages and my opportunities considerably I agreed to give it a go. I never regretted it as I loved my work. But always that yearning to write was simmering, and so when I was forced to retire with spinal problems the chance came to write full time. So, obviously my profession had no influence on my writing at all--except in that working amongst many different types of people who came from varying walks of life, in an environment where people exchange confidences and stories with each other, gave me many ideas for my futures stories.

2 Are you genre specific or general? Why? I don't mean genres like romance, mystery, fantasy etc. There are many subgenres of the above.

I guess I am general, as I have written Time-Travels, Historical, Mainstream, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, but all have romance at their heart. I'm a romantic and can't seem to write anything but a happy ending. I tend to look at life through rose-tinted glasses, although I do have a few villains in my stories. There are a few genres I could never tackle, including erotica, horror and mystery. Perhaps it has something to do with my love of delving back into the past, hence my love of time-travels and historicals. I hope I'm still around when someone invents a time machine.

3. Did your reading choices have anything to do with your choice of a genre or genres?

Oh yes. I've read time-travels since I was a child, and have always loved historical movies and books set in the past. I can recall wanting to go to bed early (weird for a child, I know) to escape anything creepy that was about to begin on the radio. I am a total cissy when it comes to anything scary so don't read horror or stories containing brutal violence.

4. What's your latest release?

Amid the Stars was released in November. As the title suggests this book is set way off on another planet on the far side of the universe. This is my only venture into the world of Sci-Fi, and is one of those books that I have no idea where the idea came from. I thoroughly enjoyed writing it as I could let my imagination go wild. Who could challenge me on the facts? I had a heap of fun creating my aliens, especially Reve, commander of the star ship. 

5. What are you working on now?

My next book out is a contemporary romance set in Australia, Second Chances (Challenge The Heart Book 1) sets out to prove that love has no barriers, especially where age is concerned. After all, it's just a number and has nothing to do with physical attraction. This one is for all the women who fall in love with a younger man. I have never understood why this causes people to criticize, and question, while nobody quibbles when the age difference is reversed.

6. Where can we find you?

  

My web page: www.triciamcgill.com

My Blog: http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

MY Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/authorTriciaMcGill

MY Books We Love page: http://bookswelove.net/authors/mcgill-tricia/

Saturday - Blurbs of Books by Tricia McGill #MFRWauthor #paranormal #romance #historical

Maddie and the Norseman

Blurb:

Madeline (Maddie to her friends), an Australian history teacher, travels to York, England, to visit her friend Amber who is working there with a team of archaeologists unearthing Viking relics. They share a passion for the Viking Age, and both studied the Old Norse language.

            About to take part in a re-enactment at the Viking village and wearing typical clothes worn by a Viking woman, they are swept back in time to the town of Jorvik, a thriving trading town, as York was in the year 879 AD. Maddie meets Norse trader Erik and is stunned by his uncanny resemblance to the Viking she has been dreaming of.

            When Amber is kidnapped, Maddie persuades Erik to help her find her friend. Their journey takes them across to France and to Rouen, then further inland. They encounter misadventures on their perilous journey. Erik risks everything to aid Madeline in her quest. And the fear is always there; will she stay in the past to share her hero’s life, or be snatched back to her own time?

http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=2357252

Leah in Love (and trouble) Beneath Southern Skies Book 3

Blurb:

Violet Amelia Connor, known to all as Leah, is a landscape designer who inherited her love of gardening from the eccentric aunt she lives with. Leah is contracted to work on the garden of Private Investigator Sean Russel and unwittingly becomes embroiled in the handsome PI’s cases. A series of unpleasant experiences land her in real trouble where she is kidnapped, bashed, bound and altogether becomes a party to such mayhem she is forced to wonder how she ever got mixed up in this mess. But her indomitable spirit, obstinate nature, and incurable sense of humor enable her to override all obstacles. And of course there is her overwhelming attraction for Sean Russel that started it all.

Previously published as Shrinking Violet this book was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of The Year in 2006. http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=2357300

Mystic Mountains Settlers Book 1

Blurb:

In the early 1800s the penal colony of Botany Bay was an unforgiving and harsh place. Isabella O'Shea is transported to New South Wales for wounding a member of the British aristocracy who raped her, so it is understandable that she loathes members of the upper class and the system that punished her; sentenced her to seven years transportation.

Tiger Carstairs is rich, ambitious and English-so is it any wonder she is determined to hate her new master. Tiger dreams of making a new life beyond the aptly named Blue Mountains, so called because of the perpetual haze of blue surrounding them.

Mystic Mountains is a story of courage and persistence-traits that were essential for the settlers who carved out a new life in a raw land where suffering and heartbreak were commonplace.

Isabella and Tiger face tragedy and many hardships in their quest for a new life in this untamed land.

http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=2387516

Friday -Tricia McGill is Talking About Heroes, Heroines and Villains #MFRWauthor #amwriting

1. What were you in your life before you became a writer? Did this influence your writing?

I was a pattern cutter/designer in the clothing industry (specifically women’s & children’s wear) for all my working life until I retired early due to a back problem. This had no influence on my writing at all, except in so far as once retired I then had the time to concentrate on a long-held desire to write full length novels. And luckily I had a husband who encouraged me to go ahead with my dream.

2. Are you genre specific or general? Why? I don't mean genres like romance, mystery, fantasy etc. There are many subgenres of the above.

No, I have written Time-Travels, Contemporaries, Mainstream, Historical, and my next one out will be a Futuristic. Although warned early on in my writing career that this was not the way to go if I wished to be successful, unfortunately my Muse had other ideas. She has always taken over and insisted I write whatever I fancy tackling at that moment in time, hence the mixture of sub-genres. My books all have a strong romance at their heart though. I could never tackle mystery or horror, but admire writers who do. I’ve written one short horror story and it scared me so much that I can barely bring myself to look at it. I would never sleep at all if I had horror whizzing around in my head instead of romance.

3. Did your reading choices have anything to do with your choice of a genre or genres?

Definitely. I’ve always read Time-Travels, even as a child. I love that magic of passing through dimensions into another time or place. One of the early books I read involved a pony-loving girl (I was horse-mad) who passed into another world every time she went into her pony’s stable—so this love has been with me a long time. And (as mentioned above) I can’t read or watch creepy stuff as it gives me nightmares. I like to inject a touch of humor into my stories and love reading Romance that makes me laugh along with the characters.

4. What's your latest release?

My latest release is Maddie and the Norseman, a Time-Travel. I’ve had this fascination for the Vikings for a long time and so it seemed natural to go back there. Maddie is in England visiting her archaeologist friend. They are about to take part in a re-enactment at the Viking village in York when they are swept back in time to Jorvik, a thriving trading town, as York was in the year 879 AD. Here Maddie meets her dream Viking.

5. What are you working on now?

I’m almost finished re-working Amid the Stars, a futuristic. This book was originally published as Amaryllis and as the title hints is set on a far planet. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this one as it was so much fun to create an alien, especially one who could read minds, and was a terrific lover as well. Not your average ET, my Reve. I could let my imagination go wild on this one as who would challenge me on the facts.

6. Where can we find you?

My web page: www.triciamcgill.com

My Blog: http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

MY Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/authorTriciaMcGill

MY Books We Love page: http://bookswelove.net/authors/mcgill-tricia/

Saturday's Blurbs featuring books by Tricia McGill #MFRWauthor

Tricia McGill Blurbs:

Mystic Mountains, Settlers Book 1:     http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFE5UL6

In the early 1800s the penal colony of Botany Bay was an unforgiving and harsh place. Isabella O'Shea is transported to New South Wales for wounding a member of the British aristocracy who raped her, so it is understandable that she loathes members of the upper class and the system that punished her; sentenced her to seven years transportation.

Tiger Carstairs is rich, ambitious and English-so is it any wonder she is determined to hate her new master. Tiger dreams of making a new life beyond the aptly named Blue Mountains, so called because of the perpetual haze of blue surrounding them.

Mystic Mountains is a story of courage and persistence-traits that were essential for the settlers who carved out a new life in a raw land where suffering and heartbreak were commonplace. Isabella and Tiger face tragedy and many hardships in their quest for a new life in this untamed land.

Distant Mountains, Settlers Book 2: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M28249I

Even in the prospering colony of New South Wales, it would be far-fetched to think a convicted man could consider marrying the daughter of a wealthy property owner.

But Remy has larger problems to contend with than Sara’s bigoted father. Forced to leave the woman he loves behind, Remy faces overwhelming odds and an ordeal that threatens to strip him of everything; his pride, his strength, his health—even his life.

Sara has many struggles of her own and when Remy finally thinks he has a future with Sara within his grasp, he is sent to a place where pain and suffering are everyday occurrences. Will the lovers ever find true happiness?

Remnants of Dreams: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA1XZ94

Remnants of Dreams moves from the horrors of the 1914-1918 war to the 1990s, and paints an unforgettable picture of a changing world and of working class people in North London whose only riches are love and the knowledge that they did their best.

Alicia’s indomitable spirit sustains her and her large family through two wars, illness, death and loss. From her mother’s example Sara finds the courage to escape an intolerable situation and forge a new life in a new country.

Lonely Pride, Beneath Southern Skies Book 1 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXKAXLK/

Sam fell in love with Mac at first sight when she was still a child and he a teenage boy, almost but not quite a man. A special bond formed between them, fuelled by their mutual love of animals—especially horses. As each matured, that bond threatened to move beyond the limits of friendship. By the time Sam reached her 17th birthday she was desperately in love with him, her shining hero. But one awful night Mac betrayed that love and Sam was unable to find it in her heart to forgive him. By the time the truth was revealed they had both moved on with their lives, and Sam’s pride prevented her from forgiving Mac; threatened to ensure her a lonely future.

Just A Few Lines from Mystic Mountain by Tricia McGill

A few lines from Mystic Mountains by Tricia McGill

"So, you're filling out a bit, I see." He tightened his grip just below
her breasts. "A full belly hasn't improved your temper though. Now, be
still, little bundle. I'm your master an' I have the right to do as I
like with you."

"Do as you like?" Isabella squirmed away from him. With violently
shaking hands she straightened her skirt. Her cheeks flamed when she
looked up to see he watched her every movement closely, as if it was his
right. The twinkle in his eyes made her temper rise. "I'll kill myself
if you take what you see as your rights. Anyway, what would you want
with the likes of me when you have so many other women chasing after you?"

"Oho, so you've heard the tales of my exploits with the fair sex, have
you? I feel I must set you straight on that account. There aren't that
many. But you're right on one thing. I wouldn't fancy you in a fit. I
prefer my women to be amenable." He placed his hands on his hips,
returning her stare with the arrogance that set her teeth on edge.

"Then I'm saved from a fate worse than death, for amenable I'll never
be." Isabella stepped out of his reach. But to her horror he made a grab
for her, grasping her hand. She tugged but he refused to release it.

"Now then, which fruit did you want?" he asked, his tone now quite
pleasant. "Perhaps I can reach it without resorting to climbing the tree."

Isabella stared at him, then pointed to a bunch within easy
reach for him. "That one, and those there." She breathed a small sigh of
relief when he finally let her go then reached up to pluck them.

"Hold out your apron," he ordered, dropping the apples in. "There, will
that satisfy Thelma?"

Pulling free the cloth tied round his neck, he used it to wipe his brow.
As he retied it he watched her like a cat stares at a cornered mouse.

"I ... I think so." Isabella gathered her apron to her chest and turned
to flee, but he caught her by the arm again.

"Bella. Satisfy my curiosity, will you?"

His soft tone made her suspicious. She watched him cautiously. "How?"

"Are you happy here in my household?" he asked softly, those strange
eyes of his searching hers.

"As happy as any woman can be working for an Englishman." That was a
dreadful lie, for she'd seldom been happier.

"You're not yet a woman, Bella. You have a lot to learn about how real
women behave."

She disagreed, but wasn't about to go into that argument now.

Mystic Mountains is available here:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFE5UL6
< http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFE5UL6>