Title: Willie, My Love
Author: Judy Ann Davis
Genre: Historical Romantic Mystery
Book Blurb:
Finalist in the American Fiction Awards
and the National Excellence in Storytelling -NEST Awards.
The year is 1856. White pine is king of the forest.
The last thing Jonathan Wain wants to do is ride miles through Pennsylvania’s wilderness to help his father’s logging partner in the small settlement of Clearfield. But his family owns clipper ships in the Chesapeake Bay that carry the coveted logs to the markets each spring, and they can’t afford a loss.
The last thing Wilhelmina Wydcliffe wants is a handsome sea captain from Maryland meddling in her father’s logging operations under attack by unknown enemies. A feisty tomboy and better known as Willie to her crews, she has a dream to be the largest logging operator east of the Mississippi River.
When both Willie’s and Jonathan’s lives are threatened, they are forced to work together to find their enemies before both of their companies are in shambles. But as their attraction to each other escalates, can they set aside their differences, unearth the truth, and discover contentment in each other’s arms?
Excerpt:
Jonathan’s jaw dropped unable to hide his astonishment. All day the picture of the hoyden had plagued his thoughts. He finally vowed to himself he would make it a point to discover who she was before he left the area, hoping for a chance to see her, hoping that she wasn't spoken for. And now, like a careless breeze, she had swept in. Elizabeth Wilhelmina Wydcliffe was Willie from their encounter in the forest.
“I'm sorry, Papa. It won't happen again, I promise.” She turned from her father toward Raven and Jonathan. When she spied him, her mouth flew open, and then clamped shut like a trap door. Suppressed anger flitted across her face. She glared at him.
He returned her stare and felt a ripple of excitement in his chest. So the spunky little enchantress, the golden spitfire, now standing just yards from him was Wydcliffe's youngest daughter. Stunningly beautiful in a powder blue dress, she appeared almost angelic. An errant thought hit him like a ton of bricks. This sharp-tongued, little hoyden was by far no angel, but rather his business partner instead.
Big buzzard. Oaf. He recalled her string of warm compliments. His brow arched in ironic amusement as he offered her the first move in an obviously tricky situation. To her credit, she recovered with grace and charm. Squaring her shoulders, she crossed the distance, placed her hand in his, and shook it.
“Why, Mr. Wain, how delightful, at long last, to be able to meet you.”
“Big buzzard, at your service,” he whispered, still holding her hand. Aloud, he said, “Yes, what a delight. This may sound outlandish, but you remind me of someone I've recently met.”
She yanked her hand away. “Highly doubtful.” Lowering her voice, she whispered, “Let’s not overdo the theatrics. You realize you weren’t expected for two days?”
“I have an excellent horse.”
“Yes, you do. You must be sure to give him an extra ration of oats as a reward for your swift arrival. We are so blessed.”
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Willie, My Love is the love story and struggle of a young woman who owned three sawmills along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, during 1856. My fictional romantic mystery draws on much research and gives a glimpse into the logging operations of the 1880s when white pine was king of the forest and lumbering was the main livelihood of early settlers. Trees were cut in the fall, taken from the forest by horses and sleds during the winter, and stacked on the riverbanks. In the spring, during flood season, the logs were floated down to the Chesapeake Bay and sent by clipper ships up the eastern seaboard or as far away as Europe. It’s an award-winning finalist in the Best Book Awards and the National Excellence in Storytelling (NEST) Awards.
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Author Biography:
Multi-Award-Winning Author Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications and has written for industry and education throughout her career.
Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines and anthologies. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction and is best known for “writing romance with a touch of mystery.”
Along with Willie, My Love, six of her other novels and novellas have won numerous awards including the Book Excellence Award, American Fiction Awards, Georgia Romance Writer’s Maggie Award, and National Excellence in StoryTelling (NEST) Awards.
When Judy Ann is not behind a computer, you can find her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are few.
She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc. and former member of Romance Writers of America. She divides her time between Central Pennsylvania and locations where the sun shines when the northern snows fly.
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