It was everything and more
A short story and some books
Hi Dear Reader,
How are you? I hope this finds you well. This week is a little different. I don’t have much to talk about in life. I had several lacerations to deal with this week. Some were sutured, some weren’t, some were minor, and a few were really bad. I didn’t have much time for reading so I don’t have any reading recommendations. I’ve been working on my next story a little every night.
So instead of my usual updates. I have some options for your reading enjoyment. Plus, I have a short story for you at the end!
First off, we are fast approaching Read an Ebook Week on Smashwords. It isa week that encourages readers to pick up the digital device of their choice and download a new book to read. If you haven’t tried Smashwords, there is so many titles and this is a great opportunity to try out the platform.
I'm excited to announce that my books will be 25% off as part of a promotion on Smashwords to celebrate 2025 Read an Ebook Week! This is a chance to get any of my books, along with books from many other great authors, at a discount so you can get right to reading. It starts today!
If you wouldn't mind taking part in promoting this celebration of Ebooks and reading, please feel free to share this promo with your friends and family. Just forward this email to anyone who would love a chance to find their next favorite book and, as the name suggests, read an ebook!
Thank you for checking it out!
Next I have a book that is on sale for $0.99. It looks adorable.
Book Blurb:
Christmas spontaneity hits Emma Carter when she decides to drop everything to spend the festive season with her friend, Alice, in her home town in Wales. Ditching hot and sunny LA, she is seduced by the idea of a family shindig out in the country where the rain is so constant it keeps toes close to the hearth.
Charmed by the quaint village, Emma soon senses hostile undercurrents and secrets no one is willing to disclose. Within hours of her meeting Alice's childhood friends the murders begin. Emma's detective instincts kick in when she becomes embroiled in the case of the serial killings, working alongside the most infuriating man she's ever met.
She has no badge here, she has no jurisdiction, but the murders are definitely linked to Alice's inner circle. It never occurs to her that Alice's friends are dying and she could be next, focused as she is on finding the perpetrator before Alice's farm is targeted. Emma should have been the first suspect, seeing as she is the only outsider in town. It becomes bloody and brutal, racing against the clock to save the final victim. If she didn't have Owen Johnson to keep her sane she'd have had the worst Christmas of her life.
Join Emma in this thrilling first cliffhanger instalment of 'Heartbeats and Whispers: A Farmhouse Affair Book 1', as she races to uncover the terrible secret buried in this quaint Welsh town, discover who she is, and perhaps find her soulmate along the way.
Then I also have a couple of books in a promotion. There are a few other cowboy romances and lots of other romance in it.
Now on to the short story I wrote for you. Libby is a cowgirl and once a year she takes her ranch horse to the local rodeo to run barrels. Barrel racing is where the cowgirl rides her horse in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. Whoever has the fastest time and doesn’t knock any barrels over wins. Libby took her horse for fun.
Here is a video of Round 1 at the NFR to get an idea. Most cowgirls at the local rodeos aren’t running that fast.
Libby clicked her tongue at her gelding and led him up the ramp into her horse trailer. The big bay gelding blew out a sigh and followed her on to the trailer. The sky grew dark and the stars twinkled in the distance.
“You did really good tonight, Simon.” She tied his lead rope to the ring in the front of the trailer. “I know barrel racing isn’t your thing.”
Simon stomped a black leg and tossed his head.
She laughed. “You’d rather be working back home on the ranch.” Simon pawed the ground again. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to chase barrels again until next year.”
He nudged her in the arm before turning to his hay. Libby secured the bar behind him and exited the trailer. She closed the ramp, making sure all the wiring was working before climbing into the driver’s side of her ancient ranch truck.
“Please start tonight.” She inserted the key into the ignition and twisted. Some lights flashed on her dashboard and then nothing. “Come on.” She tried again.
Still nothing.
She reached down and popped the hood.
She was staring at the battery terminals when a familiar voice said,“Hi Libby, what’s going on?” Zeke, her older brother’s best friend, stood next to her.
Libby sucked in a breath as her cheeks heated. Tonight wasn’t a night she wanted to see Zeke. She had crush on him for years and he was the best mechanic in town. Oh why, did her beater of a truck have to act up tonight? She gave him a wobbly smile. “I put the key in and nothing happens.”
“Hmmm.” Zeke leaned into the engine. “Try the key again.”
Libby twisted the key in the ignition.
Nothing.
She felt tears stinging in her eyes. She was alone and she just wanted to get safely home.
“It looks like it is your alternator. It isn’t charging your battery. I could probably jump you but I don’t want you driving it with a horse in the trailer.” Zeke wiped his hands on his pants.
Tears leaked out of the corners of Libby’s eyes. This was bad.
“Hey,don’t cry.” Zeke wrapped her in a hug, his hand rubbing circles on her back. “You know I don’t do good with your tears.”
She leaned back in the embrace to give him a watery smile. “Sorry.”
“No need.” His expression was gentle as he brushed her tears away with his thumb.
Her skin tingled under his touch and her heart raced. Why wouldn’t this man fall for her? She watched him date all sorts of women, but he never asked her out.
“Do you want me to call anyone to come pick you up?” He dug his cell phone out of the pocket of his jeans.
Libby shook her head. “No. They are all out of state at that big cattle sale. I don’t know what to do.”
Zeke slammed the hood shut. “I’ll take you home. I’ve got an empty slot in my trailer.”
“You don’t mind?”
He smiled at her. “Never.” He walked to the back of her trailer. “You brought Simon?”
Libby nodded.
“Good. He gets along with my gelding. I’ll take care of your truck in the morning.”
A few minutes later, Simon was loaded into Zeke’s trailer and they were heading to Libby’s family ranch. Awkward silence filled the cab for the first few minutes of the drive. Libby wracked her brain to think of a topic of conversation, but ended up frustrated that she couldn’t come up with anything.
A country song came on the radio. She reached for the volume knob the same time Zeke did. Their finger tips brushed and Libby blushed in the darkness of the cab.
“I love this song,” she said, looking at the toes of her boots.
“I do, too.” Zeke smiled at her when she glanced his way.
After that, the rest of the drive was filled with lively conversation. They had known each other forever. This was the first time they had been together without her brother.
The drive was over before Libby knew it. Her face fell when she realized that Zeke had pulled into her driveway.
“Thank you for giving me a ride home,” she said as he turned his truck and trailer around. Her hand rested on the door handle waiting for him to put his truck into park.
“My pleasure.” He slid his truck into park. “Let me help you get Simon out of the trailer.”
He opened the back of the trailer. Libby ducked in and backed Simon out. Zeke closed the trailer.
“Thanks again.” Libby twisted the end of her lead rope in her hands.
Zeke removed his cowboy hat and ran his hand through his hair. “Um, I had a nice time driving you home.”
“I had a nice time, too.” Libby’s skin heated.
“I was wondering if…I could take you out for dinner sometime.”
“Really? I’d love that.” Inside, Libby was jumping for joy. He finally asked her out. She couldn’t believe it.
“Great. I’ll text you tomorrow.” Zeke leaned toward her.
Simon pushed Libby with his head in the middle of her back, throwing her forward into Zeke’s arms.
He smiled down on her. “Looks like Simon has an opinion.”
“He always does.” Libby wrapped her arms around Zeke’s neck.
“Wouldn’t want to disappoint the old boy, now would we?” Zeke lowered his lips to inches from hers.
Her breath caught and her heart pounded. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for. She shook her head before closing the distance between her lips and Zeke’s.
The kiss was everything she dreamed of and more.
That’s all for this week! Hugs,
Allie