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Thursday, May 26, 2016

New Release -- Home for the Heart by Sarah J. McNeal -- Giveaway!

Lucy Thoroughgood has gone and done it now—fallen in love with Hank Wilding, a man she’s known all her life. He’s content with friendship, but Lucy’s heart has flown the coop and she knows she’s in love with the determined bachelor. When she visits him with a proposition—to let the orphans she cares for learn to ride his horses during the summer—he surprises her with one of his own. She must accompany him to the dancing lessons he’s signed up for.

Secretly pleased, she hopes that perhaps this arrangement might lead to more than friendship. But Hank’s loved hard and lost, with his engagement to one of the popular town girls going south two years earlier. He’s sworn to never lose his heart to another—including Miss Lucy Thoroughgood.

A teenage orphan, Chayton, could be the key to thawing Hank’s heart—but danger follows the embittered boy. Will Hank be able to give Chayton the home he yearns for—or will the boy’s past bring only sorrow to those he cares for? When a Lakota premonition becomes reality, Lucy’s life hangs in the balance. Will Hank have the chance to let Lucy know how wrong he was?

EXCERPT

     In the quiet of the barn filled with the smell of fresh hay, horse manure, and leather tack, Hank sensed rather than heard someone enter the building. Ah, the smell of sunshine and roses. Must be Lucille Thoroughgood. Without turning to look at her, he set the pitchfork against the wall of Lonesome’s stall. “What do you want, Lucy?” he grumbled as a greeting.
     “Mr. Wilding, I have something I’d like to propose to you.” Her voice sounded tense. When he turned to face her, he saw those blue eyes dart away from his to peer at the straw on the floor. She promptly straightened her spine and must have forced herself to look him straight in the eye. Her starched manner made him want to mess with her.
     “A proposal?” He moved closer to her…maybe too close. He felt something shift in his chest like a warning bell. “Well now, I haven’t ever had a lady propose to me before,” he joked, badly, just to get her goat. Generally, women were not to be trusted. He’d learned that lesson the hard way. But Lucy was his old friend since grade school. Even though she must have been born straight-laced and proper, she spoke her truth, plain and simple. Beneath that barbed wire exterior beat a heart of gold.  
     Lucy propped her fists on her hips and he thought she looked like a charming sugar bowl all ruffled up in her pink flowered dress and her sweet, straw hat that sat askew on her gleaming brown hair. She knitted those brows together and narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not proposing marriage to you, Mr. Wilding. I’m proposing a business deal…sort of.”

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19 comments:

  1. Sarah, you know how I love the Wildings! This was just another great addition to their family saga. I really enjoyed the story--and Chayton was a great addition. I KNOW you are going to let him have his own tale one of these days! Congratulations on your new release!

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    1. You know me well, Cheryl. I do indeed have a story for Chayton on down the road. I'm working on Kit Wilding, Hank's twin, right now and I've outlined Kyle Red Sky's story to work on after that. So many Wildings, so little time. LOL
      I don't know how I missed my comments. Well, I'm going to stay up until I've answered them because I hate I missed them.

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  2. What a terrific story and heart-tugger, Sarah! Congrats!

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    1. Tanya, Thank you so much. This story has a BIG surprise in it. Not tellin' though. Thank you for dropping in. I'm sorry I didn't get over here sooner.

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  3. Sarah, this sounds wonderful! Can't wait to read it. Congratulations!!

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    1. Diana, thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it.

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  4. Another story in the life of a family I've grown to love as my own. Congratulations Sarah.
    Doris

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    1. Doris, I'm tellin' ya, I don't know how I can ever quit writing about the Wildings and their escapades. They have become like family to me, too. I am so happy you like them. Thank you so much for coming by.

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  5. Got it, Sarah! Unfortunately, it's in my reading queue, 4th down from the top. But when I do get to it, you'll know. I looks wonderful.

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    1. Celia, I am crossing my fingers that you like this one. Your good opinion means so much to me. I don't mind waiting, although I am anxious to know what you think of it. Thank you so much for all your support and kindness.

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  6. I am scooting in late, of course. :-|

    Sarah, I always wish you the best of everything, sweetheart -- and I'm so happy to see a new Wildings story! Love me some Wildings. :-)

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    1. If you think you're late, Kathleen, imagine how I feel that I'm this late responding to everyone. I've been off in the clouds today.
      Thank you so very much for all the things you do for all of us. You're so very kind. Thank you.

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  7. Wow! Looks like another winning Wilder story. Best of success, Sarah. I look forward to reading it.

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    1. Robyn, The Wildings are growing in numbers. Everyone is finding their true love and then their either having some kids, or taking in kids that need a home and some love. I hope I always have a Wilding story to tell.
      Thank you so much for coming by.

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  8. Looks like a great read, Sarah! Can't wait! Congratulations on the new release.

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    1. Kirsten, I so appreciate you coming by with some good wishes for my new release. I hope whoever reads it enjoys it thoroughly.
      Thank you so much for coming.

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  9. Now it's time to pick a winner for the digital copy of HOME FOR THE HEART. Get ready, here it comes...the winner is...Diana Tobin! Diana, please contact me through my email address: starcriter at yahoo dot com and I'll give you the magic code to get your book. I hope you really like this Wilding story.

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    1. Congratulations, Diana. I don't know why I want to call you Robin. I think I see your last name and get dyslexic. LOL I sent you an email with the code and link for Home for the Heart--and I think I called you Robin in the email. Just overlook me, I think it's the low pressure moving this way off the coast of South Carolina. It's as good an excuse as any.

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