Title: Trapped in Deepwater
Author: Sarah Lamb
Genre: Historical Romance (Sweet and clean)
Book Blurb:
Together, they are going to have to save themselves...and the town.
Laura Ashborne is convinced she’s a walking bad luck charm. Trying to make a fresh start, she sets out on a stagecoach to become a schoolteacher. However, the coach she’s on breaks down in the middle of nowhere a few days before Christmas, and she’s forced to spend the entire week in the tiny town of Deepwater.
Gabriel Sullivan wants to help the beautiful stranded traveler. He can tell her heart is heavy; he’s seen that look before. He used to wear it himself. Determined to help, he shares the secrets of his past, hoping she won’t judge him too harshly.
But when his past suddenly catches up to him, it threatens the peace he’d finally found and his fledgling friendship with Laura. The relationship they each are terrified of.
Can her desperate plan help him? Or will they let their past ruin their future?
Excerpt:
“Bad luck,” the driver of the stagecoach called. Laura looked up from where she’d just been contemplating a doze to make the journey pass by faster. Of course there was bad luck. It followed her everywhere she went. No matter she’d been traveling for nearly a week nonstop, it still caught up to her.
From the worm in her apple and the mold on her bread, to the hole in her shoe and now whatever this was. She’d never be able to escape the curse that wouldn’t leave her alone. Really, she shouldn’t be surprised. She’d had bad luck for as long as she could remember.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, finally finding her voice. As the only passenger on the stagecoach, it was obvious the driver was talking to her.
“Damaged axle,” he told her through the coach window. “And a lame horse. Never had this happen before.”
Laura pressed her lips together and gave a short nod. A traveling bad luck charm, that’s what she was. The poor horse. She hoped it wasn’t suffering too much. “Can we trade her out and fix the coach to keep going?” she asked.
The driver shook his head. “Don’t think so, miss. Not today, anyway. There’s a town ahead called Deepwater, and I think if we go real slow we’ll make it there before nightfall. But I’m not sure how long it will take to get you headed to your destination.”
Taking a deep breath filled with irritation, Laura nodded. It wasn’t the driver’s fault. She shouldn’t get upset. “Do I need to walk?” she asked.
“No, since it’s just you, sit, but don’t move a lot,” came the reply as the driver vanished. She felt the coach sway slightly as he climbed into the driver’s seat. With a shout to the horses, the coach jerked forward, then settled into a crawl.
If she walked, she’d get there faster. There wasn’t really a reason to hurry, though. What would be waiting for her? More bad luck, that’s likely what.
Laura looked through the small window as the landscape creeped by. It was almost Christmas. She was glad. Not for Christmas, because there wouldn’t be anyone to celebrate it with, but because that meant the end of the year. And perhaps the start of one that wasn’t filled with so many terrible things. One could hope, anyway.
Something seemed to press in Laura’s backside and she shifted, then shifted again. The thin cushion under her slid a little. As she moved to put it back in its place, it slid off. A long crack, revealing a compartment of some sort, stared at her.
Laura ran her finger over it. What is this? Extra access to the boot? Everyone knows that anything valuable is kept with the driver at his feet.
It wasn’t difficult to pry up the wood, and overcome with curiosity, Laura raised the lid of the compartment a crack, then a little more. This was the most interesting thing she’d done in days. What could be inside?
Peering into the hidden compartment, her breath caught. Silver bars shone in a fading ray of sunshine.
Swiftly, her heart pounding in fear, she replaced the lid, returned the cushion, and sat stock still. They were carrying silver. Worse than that, it was in her seat. No wonder the driver wanted to keep going. They were a target for highwaymen!
As the horses plodded forward, at a crawl any sturdy toddler could surpass, the thought of a short nap fled. Instead, tension filled Laura’s shoulders. No longer irritated at the idea of a stopover, she couldn’t wait to get out of the coach.
She’d heard of stagecoach hold-ups in the newspapers back east. It was not something she wanted to have on her list of experiences.
Impatiently, she stared out the window, willing the town to come sooner. She prayed they’d make it. Perhaps there would be a sheriff. Another coach. One without cargo that made them a target. It was Christmas…that was supposed to be a time of miracles, wasn’t it?
So far, this journey had been anything but.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/trapped-in-deepwater-christmas-bride-dilemma-book-4-by-sarah-lamb
What I love most about the holiday season:
There’s something special filling the air during the holiday season. Most of us feel a lighter. There’s a sparkle of hope and anticipation, and delight as we surprise others with special treats and little gifts, or even just a phone call or visit There’s a general feeling of goodwill, an increase of helping and thinking about one another, and hope that a Christmas miracle—our Christmas miracle—will happen. It’s a feeling that, if only we could keep it year long, would be so incredible to have. I’m an absolute sucker for the holidays, and those are my favorite books to read, year-round.
Why is your featured book a must-read to get you in the holiday mood?
In this story, a Christmas miracle does happen, but not in the way anyone expects. Don’t we all want to feel like we belong, are accepted, and find that place where we aren’t judged or treated harshly? Especially by ourselves. We are often our own worst critic, and learning forgiveness and love for ourselves can be difficult. But what if…what if there was a place where that could happen? Deepwater might be just the place for Laura, and perhaps the reverend will also learn a few lessons.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card:
Open internationally.
Runs July 1 – 31, 2023.
Drawing will be held on August 1, 2023.
Author Biography:
Sarah Lamb is the mother of two boys and wife to a teacher. She spends her days writing historical romance in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley
Social Media Links:
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(Reader community where giveaways are) https://www.facebook.com/groups/267880235688121
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