Title: THE SHERIFF AND THE PSYCHIC
Author: PEGGY JAEGER
Genre: WESTERN ROMANCE, PNR, Surviving loss, later in life romance
Book Blurb:
Police Psychic Silvestra Coeltrain comes to Renewal, OK to visit with old friends and to heal. After a year in which she was tested physically, mentally, and psychically, all she wants to do is sleep, fish, and bask in the tranquility of the sleepy town.
Sheriff Caleb Blackbear doesn’t understand the feelings he’s quickly developing for Renewal’s newest visitor. She responds to his kisses with a passion that equals his own. But she’s an enigma, filled with secrets and evasions, and he’s an impatient man.
When several of the local ranches begin losing cattle to a mysterious illness, it’s Silvestra who claims the animals are being methodically targeted and killed. As Cal’s investigation zeros in on who and what could be slaying the animals, the murder of a prominent rancher’s daughter – and Cal’s former lover – complicates things. With Silvestra’s life now in danger, Cal is determined to keep her safe.
But can he?
Excerpt:
"My nieces were very impressed at meeting you," Cal said, remembering what the girls had told him. "I believe you're their favorite author."
He heard the ice tinkle into the glasses.
"I was impressed myself with the number of books you've written."
Perusing the quarters, Cal's eyes found one lone photograph atop the fireplace mantle. Crossing to it, he found Silvestra, smiling widely, her eyes dancing to some unknown merriment, along with a small boy of about four or five and an older man with graying hair. A rainbow-colored hot air balloon, grounded, sat in the distance. Cal picked up the frame and peered deeply at the three people. The boy bore a remarkable resemblance to Silvestra. The hair tint, the color, and shape of the eyes, even the smile were all hers.
"They're sweet. I'm glad they enjoy the books, they're fun to write. Here you go, Sheriff," she said, coming up behind him, the glass outstretched.
He nodded his thanks and took a long draught of the tart liquid. "More than enjoy. They hinted since I know you maybe I could wangle an autograph. The way Winter put it was 'all our friends would just die of pea-green envy if we had a real, honest to goodness, S.G.Coeltrain autograph.'"
The color that rose instantly to her cheeks knocked the wind from him.
"I'll see what I can do."
The moment stilled. Cal couldn't take his eyes from her face. Everything about it was perfect, from the way the small, loose tendrils of hair dangled about her cheeks, to the mole that peeked out from her mouth. A rocket exploded in Cal's blood when he watched her nervously lick her lips.
"Your family?" he asked, holding out the frame.
Silvestra took the photograph and lingered over it for a second. Cal noticed the subtle tremor he'd seen before when she gingerly placed it back on the mantle. "My husband and son."
Cal hid his surprise at the age of the man she called husband. He had to be a good twenty years older.
"The boy favors you."
The smile was quick, and yet, he saw the sadness floating in her eyes along with it.
"Yes. Actually, in this picture he looks unbelievably like my father did as a child. I have a photograph at home of my father when he was the same age as Giovanni. The resemblance is extraordinary."
"Giovanni? Unusual name. But then, so is Silvestra."
"It's the Italian form of John. My father's name also. Giovanni Geo."
Cal stared at her, watching the way her fingers laced and unlaced while she spoke. He wanted desperately to take them in his own, rub them, soothe away the nerves displayed within them.
"Fine looking family you make," he said after a moment. Then, unable to stop himself, he said, "Hard for me to imagine a man being away from a wife who looks like you for any amount of time."
There it was again, that veil crossing over her eyes. What is it? What is she hiding?
He stepped closer and was encouraged when she didn't retreat. The memory of their all too brief kiss was still implanted in his mind, on his lips. Cal needed to know if the pleasure he'd felt before had been real or an illusion. "If you were my wife, I couldn't stand to have you away from me even for a moment. Why does he allow it?"
"Allow it?" Golden sparks suddenly shot from her eyes. "I'm not a slave, Sheriff, nor am I your wife. I don't appreciate -"
With a will of its own, his outstretched hand ran up one arm, causing her speech to halt.
Their eyes stayed locked as he ignored her words. "And why is it every time I get close to you I have this incredible urge to touch you, to feel your skin against mine?" His other hand followed suit up the opposite arm until he circled both of them with his massive hands. Gently pulling her closer to him, their bodies were within a whisper of touching.
His gaze roamed over her face, memorizing every facet, every angle. "I haven't been able to think of much else but you these past few days," he murmured. His fingers cupped her chin, tilting her head to meet his gaze. "What is it about you holding me prisoner, Silvestra? Makes me forget everything but you? I thought at first it was your eyes. That you'd hypnotized me. Those flecks of gold shooting out to the edges could tantalize any man. But it's more than that, more than your beauty." His voice was soft, worshipful, as his fingers trailed down and across the line of her jaw, up to her mouth, stopping at the little imperfection he'd been dreaming about kissing. Bending his head down, he added, "I've been wanting to do this for days. I've been imagining it. Envisioning it."
This was surely madness, he told himself. But he had to know if what he'd tasted at the creek was as appetizing and delectable as he remembered.
"You've bewitched me, Silvestra Coeltrain," Cal whispered. "It's as if I've known and dreamed about you always. Even your name sounds like magic."
He couldn't stop, didn't want to, and wouldn't if he could have. This woman, this enchanting woman was in his arms, warm and pleasing to his touch, like an angel sprung from his imagination.
Beneath his hands, Cal could feel how truly real she was.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon/KU: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09W9T473G
What makes your featured book a must-read?
If you like western romances with strong alpha male heroes who live to protect those they love, and the women who can tame them, THE SHERIFF AND THE PSYCHIC is a must-read for you. Sheriff Cal Blackbear isn’t looking for love but when Silvestra Coeltrain accidentally drifts into his life, he realizes she’s what’s been missing in his life. Getting her on board with that idea is the fun part!
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $40 Amazon US or Amazon Canada gift card
Open Internationally. You must have an active Amazon US or CA account to win.
Runs April 19 – April 28, 2022.
Winner will be drawn on April 29, 2022.
Author Biography:
Peggy Jaeger writes contemporary romances and rom coms about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all aspects of life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness, and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
As a lifelong diarist, she caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she blogs daily about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!"
Social Media Links:
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peggyjaeger_author/