Title: Three Sisters
Author: Susan Payne
Genre: Women’s Fiction – Historical Western
Book Blurb:
Three lovely sisters and three lawmen enter a bar – from there it only gets more interesting.
Excerpt:
Devlin walked into the casino as usual and as usual it was quiet, the patrons behaving in a civilized manner, taking their losses quietly and their wins with much more enthusiasm. His gaze moved around the room, searching for anyone who may be cheating the unsuspecting townspeople, someone used to dealing from the bottom of the deck.
Feeling like he got kicked in the gut, he watched her come out of the back room. She was tantalizingly beautiful emerging from the office where they counted the winnings for the night, the office where the owner entertained his most profitable customers with Brandy, Cognac and willing women.
The woman walked to her station by the roulette table and pasted on the come-hither smile of her trade. He went to her, like iron to a magnet. Once beside her she glanced at him, her brows rose in a question then returned her focus on the players and their bets, ignoring the man with the federal marshals’ badge.
“Place your bets, gentlemen, last call to place your bets,” she said in a husky voice, like a woman just waking up after a night of lovemaking.
Devlin watched her, his nether regions raising hell every time her well-modulated voice gave the last call for bets. He shifted, a little uncomfortable in his city suit, but that was what he had on when the wire came to order him to this one-cow town. A town that swelled to double its size during cattle drives.
He was glad though. He would look his best for this woman who had unquestionably grabbed his attention and refused to give it up. Of course, she wasn’t there to tempt him any more than any of the other men hypnotized by her. Placing bets they never meant to make just so they could stay within the sound of her voice.
He was mesmerized by the enticing woman in a green gown with a scooped neck low enough to be interesting, tight enough to make sure everything interesting remained hidden. There was a fascinating crisscross of ties ending at her waist, forming the material to her ribcage until it flared with the help of a sturdy corset and several petticoats. His fingers itched to unlace them. A bustle frame or maybe padding of which she had no need emphasized her womanly curves. Her figure was exquisite and womanly enough for any man. Her smooth alabaster arms were bare so she could deal without hindrance. No jewelry broke the lovely expanse of her neck and shoulders, just a dusting of intriguing freckles and small gold studs in her ears.
As the croupier raked the bets off the orange baize, the green-eyed goddess again gazed questioningly at him, but Devlin still had nothing to say, merely watched as she returned her attention to her work.
Her attention wasn’t completely on her work as it should be due to the tall handsome man standing next to her. His dark eyes taking in her every move. It wasn’t due to his attractiveness or intentness but the fact he was wearing a federal marshals’ badge that she found so disconcerting. The rugged appearance of a man who spent a lot of time in the sun belied his clothing and manner. He didn’t seem to notice the other women plying their trade on the customers. She also couldn’t ignore the intriguing cleft in his chin and the way he could raise one eyebrow, speaking without making a sound. That eyebrow indicating a question, an answer and everything in between.
Finally, the casino owner, Maurice, wearing the de rigueur evening suit with tails, came to relieve her from the table. The handsome marshal followed her into the back area where the employees took their breaks. She had no option since she knew watching people place bets for too long made employees get sloppy. Besides, she needed to rest her feet and appreciated slipping out of the heels she wore working the floor. As usual, there were more men than women in the room.
A woman talented enough and beautiful enough to run any of the table games was rare, but then Beatrice Taylor knew she was a rare woman. She would rid herself of this man’s attention and continue doing her job.
“Tell me, what’s your name?” His deep timbered voice rumbled.
“What’s yours?”
“Devlin, Marshal Devlin.”
“Ah-h-h, the Devil. Well, I have heard of you, Marshal Devil. Aren’t you out of your usual territory? I mean, I was told you only show up where there’s trouble or is it that trouble shows up where you are?” She sipped the cup of coffee she poured for herself without offering him one. After all, he wasn’t an invited guest. At least she hadn’t invited him. She would be better off without his attentions, able to do what she was really there to do without the Devil getting in the way.
“Come on, give me a name at least,” he coaxed.
Hoping he would go away if she appeased him, she replied, “Call me, Ginger, everybody else does. Ginger Taylor.”
“Hmmm, with those eyes and that hair, I’d think an ‘O’ should go in front of your last name, like O’Riley, or O’Brian.” He twirled a ginger-colored curl around his finger at her left temple.
Ginger smiled and replied, “Anything you say, Marshal, but I have to get back to the floor or Maurice will be yelling for me.”
“Tell Maurice you have a private game upstairs. I can make it well worth your while,” Devlin offered watching her reaction.
He didn’t need to wait long. She was up and pushing the door open into the casino before realizing she was going to move.
Calling back, she said, “I don’t work above the main floor. If you want a game upstairs, Marshal, it will have to be solitaire.” She left him standing in a room of laughing men.
Buy Links:
What makes your featured book a must-read?
Romance was at the center of this novel, but in an unusual way. A true romance focuses on a single central couple and rarely leaves their point of view. This story is done in the omniscient with everyone having a fair chance at telling their thoughts and reacting to other characters. It has a strong female lead and women who think for themselves quickly in difficult situations. The males they attract are intelligent and passionate with most things in their lives. Having multiple characters, not all characters partnered-off, there are multiple points of view, covers a period of time and has a strong story-line outside of the romance makes it more than a romance story.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $45 Amazon (US) gift card
Open Internationally.
Runs April 20 – April 28, 2021.
Winner will be drawn on April 29, 2021.
Author Biography:
A voracious reader her whole life, author Susan Payne loves the written word. When reading wasn’t enough, she decided to allow her mind to take flight and write all the many stories that kept intruding in her life. She blended her love of history and her love of words to create over eighty stories. All historical and centering on couples finding love and a happy ever after together.
Social Media Links: