It's my great pleasure to welcome author Kara O'Neal to the blog today to talk about her new release, Sunshine's Welcome, Book 10 in the Pike's Run Bride Series.
Delilah Davis has all she could want—a loving family and freedom to do as she pleases. Nothing has ever disrupted her world. That is, not until a tall, dark and stand-offish wrangler is hired to work on her family’s ranch. Killian Blake irritates Delilah’s sunshine life, and she’s determined to show him that she’s more than capable of handling herself.
Detective Killian Blake of the Pinkerton Agency must go undercover on the Swinging A ranch to solve a thirteen-year-old murder. Once hired, he expected to be dealing with cowboys. He hadn’t counted on investigating a family with bonds thicker than frozen molasses. And to make matters worse, there’s a beautiful, wild and headstrong female dogging his steps, and cracking the ice around his heart. The closer he gets to Delilah Davis, the more he wants to keep the family secrets. But fate has other ideas…
Killian Blake trotted down Main Street early Tuesday morning,
looking straight ahead, senses alert and aware of his surroundings. A variety
of shops stood on either side of the road, along with the Royal Hotel that rose
two stories and had an upper balcony. The shingle for the sheriff’s office
swung in the chill breeze. Not many people strolled the walks, the colder
temperature keeping them inside where fires burned, as evidenced by the smoke
wisping out of chimneys.
A quiet place. A small town. Not even on his map. But here he
was, on assignment. Who knew for how long, but hopefully the stint allowed him
to rest for a few weeks. After chasing Sasha Parker, The Debonair Kid, and his
gang of train robbers across five states for six months, Killian was ready for
a breather. Even if that reprieve put him back in the corral.
But he’d handle it. After eight years, it might be good to work
with horses again. Of course, he still had to get the job with the Swinging A
ranch. If he didn’t, Detective Irwin wouldn’t be happy.
The solitary ride out to the ranch allowed him the chance to
survey his surroundings even more. He went past pasture and forests of pine
before a homestead came into view on his left. A sign proclaiming “J. Lonnigan,
Veterinarian” stood at the gate. A one-story cabin about fifty feet in length
sat on a gentle rise, while a variety of stables, paddocks, pens and corrals
were on the side and behind the dwelling. Someone worked with a mule in one of
the paddocks, and children darted around, some carrying out chores while others
played.
Though the last name was the same as the owners of the ranch,
Killian didn’t stop. He had the advertisement for the needed wrangler folded in
his shirt pocket. It indicated that more information could be found at
Callahan’s in Pike’s Run, Texas. The bartender at the saloon had told Killian
to whom he should apply— J.T. Davis, Kyle Lonnigan or Deacon Tolbert—and that
their spread was two miles south of town on the right. It shouldn’t be much
farther and once he arrived, he just had to be hired.
When the gate to the Swinging A appeared, black iron against a
chill, blue sky, he turned his horse down a path with deep wagon ruts going
under the arched entrance. To his right rose a three-story, grand Victorian
home, while a dog-run cabin stood to his left. About two hundred yards of
freshly plowed land separated the dwellings. Probably for cotton, he surmised.
He trotted toward the cabin as the bartender had directed him
to do, but when he knocked on the kitchen door, no one answered. Frowning,
Killian headed out of the dog-run and scanned the field. A barn had been a
little behind the cabin. Perhaps the owner of the home was inside. Leaving his
horse tethered to the hitching post outside the house, Killian walked toward
the larger structure.
As he did so, movement in a tall oak grabbed his attention. He
slowed his steps as bits of yellow peeked through the branches that, despite
the season, still held leaves. Someone was up in the tree.
He moved closer, ducking down to try to get a better view of
who sat on one of the higher branches. Petticoats peeked out beneath a yellow
linen dress. Struck, Killian barked, “What the hell?”
A feminine squeak and gasp accompanied a crash.
The bright yellow bundle tumbled down, and Killian’s heart flew
up into his throat. He shot forward, stretching out his arms, and caught her
just in time. He stumbled under the blow but kept his feet, jostling her close
against his chest.
Breathing heavily, his pulse beating wildly, he gazed into the
bluest eyes he’d ever seen. Auburn hair framed an angelic face that blinked in
astonishment. Her full lips parted as she clutched the front of his shirt with
one hand and held tight to his shoulders with the other arm.
Oh…what the hell…
He’d just caught a beauty.
Hi, ladies! I love your covers, Kara!
ReplyDeleteThe Pike's Run series has very real characters that you feel like you know, with real problems, not ones with easy solutions the characters should see. It takes a lot of talent to pull that off, and Kara O'Neal has it in spades! Here's wishing for lots of success for all your Pike's Run Texas Bride books and for your new Gamblers and Gunslingers series! Can't wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteThank you sooo much, Nancy! I just love your blog. It's so pretty and always fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat an enticing excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThank you, M.J., Kathleen and Liz! I appreciate the kind words and the time you took to read the post. I love my covers, too! My husband designed each one of them!
DeleteCongratulations on the new release!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read this book. Sounds wonderful. Congrats and best wishes!
ReplyDelete