Title: Aimee’s Locket
Author: P.L. Parker
Genre: Time Travel/Western Romance
Book Blurb:
An antique ivory locket catapults Aimee Reynolds back to the year 1847. Alone in St. Louis, Missouri, she has to find a way to get home to present day Seattle. She needs a suitable male willing to marry her or be left behind when the emigrant train departs for the Oregon Territory. Jake Marshall, scout for the Markham Party, is the perfect, if unwilling choice. Undaunted by his overt rudeness, Aimee entices Jake to the alter, promising her diamond earrings as payment for a marriage of convenience. Properly wed, she secures passage on the wagon train, and discovers her future may be in the past.
Excerpt:
The Preacher’s voice broke through her reverie. “I said, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” He peered over his spectacles.
“Oh! Yah! I mean, I do.” She blurted.
Turning to Jake, he repeated the vows. “Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
He cleared his throat, hesitated and then answered in a firm voice. “I do.”
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Beaming, the Preacher nodded to Jake.
She tilted her face, her cheek lifted in the direction of Jake’s lips, hoping he would take the hint - which he didn’t. Not only did he kiss her, but she almost choked as his tongue slipped uninvited into her mouth. Stunned, she jerked back, amazed that he had the temerity to even try such a disgusting trick and in front of the Preacher! Jake’s laughing eyes danced. A sneaky glance in the Preacher’s direction confirmed her humiliation.
Gaping at the exhibition before him, the Preacher’s mouth hung open, his eyes bugging out. At the same time, the Preacher’s wife got her first good look at Aimee, recognition surfacing in the depths of her toad-popping eyes. Whirling around, Aimee ran from the church, cursing Jake to whatever hell she hoped would materialize in the next few minutes. Things just seemed to go from bad to worse.
Jake with Molly in tow, hurried out of the church. The deed was done! Whether he planned it or not, he was now a husband. Grinning, he listened to Molly's rantings with half an ear.
“Why, I never saw such a thing,” Molly's stern voice scolded. “Where are your manners? What were you thinking?”
Jake laughed, the taste of his new bride still on his lips. “I was thinking it was about the best chance I'd get to kiss her for awhile.” Taking note of Aimee’s stiff form waiting for them across the street, he walked over. “Why’d you run out?”
Red-faced, she snapped. “Why do you think I ran out? Every time I’m around you, you go out of your way to embarrass me.”
His eyes narrowed. “I sealed our vows with a kiss – a real kiss, the kind of kiss every man should give his wife on their wedding day.” Her mouth tasted like the finest wine, velvety and smooth. Hell, given the chance, he do it again – and again!
“It’s not like we’re really married,” she said, lips pursed in a pout.
“We are really married, whether you want to admit it or not.” He took her arm, pulling her along. Damn if she didn't get his dander up! If she'd just act agreeable one time! “And now we’re going to have a nice dinner at a nice restaurant, and you’re going to act like you’re maybe happy about it.”
“And if I don’t?” she sulked, dragging her feet.
“Then I might have to change our wedding night to an earlier date.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she cried. “We have an agreement!”
“You’re my wife now. The law says I can do pretty much what I want with you.”
Wrenching her arm away, she stomped her feet. “I hate you!” she grated through clenched teeth.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon:
The Wild Rose Press:
Goodreads:
Bookbub:
What makes your featured book a must-read?
Who doesn’t love a time travel Western romance, with the addition of cowboys, Indians, the Oregon Trail and happy endings? No one that I know. Aimee is a modern girl thrown back into the past and the only way she thinks she can get home is to make it to Seattle where the adventure began. Big problem. Seattle isn’t yet on the map in 1847. Love and the promise of a future, that’s what Aimee wants.
Giveaway –
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Author Biography:
I write stories with alpha males and strong, determined women. I am a dreamer, an avid reader of fiction, a sometimes gardener and an inept crafter. I live in Idaho. I have three sons, two daughters-in-law, a granddaughter and little grandson. Over the years, I taught and performed dance but as time passed, I decided to try my hand at a new endeavor - writing. I enjoy life and all its promises.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.plparker.net/
Blogspot: http://plparker.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PLParker