There’s only one rancher for Rosie Duggan, but the course of true love never did run smooth.
It is springtime, 1871, and Rosie Duggan is in love with Joshua Hampton, a handsome rancher’s son. Joshua is seven years her junior, but they have fallen hard and hope to marry.
Joshua’s parents have other ideas. Firstly, they believe that Rosie is too old for their son. Secondly, they do not want Joshua marrying into the Duggan family. They believe that the Duggans are tainted by their association with Catherine Montgomery and her mysterious past.
Rosie only wants the best for everyone she loves, so she makes several difficult decisions, preparing to sacrifice her own happiness to protect those around her.
But sometimes the people we love are prepared to make sacrifices, too, so Rosie could well find the happiness she craves with her gorgeous rancher.
General Release Date: 4th August 2015
“Oh Rosie…it hurts so much.”
Catherine’s clenched teeth and ashen face made Rosie’s stomach churn. She had never helped a woman in labor before and she didn’t have any personal experience to draw upon.
Though at my age a woman would hope to have delivered a few babes of her own.
She shook her head. No sense dwelling on that now. She had a job to do. She had to help her sister-in-law through this.
“Rosie, I’m certain it’s too soon. I thought the little one wasn’t due until April.”
Rosie placed a hand on Catherine’s shoulder. “I’m sure it will be fine. The whore I spoke with in town told me that sometimes a woman can get her dates muddled and sometimes a babe is ready earlier than expected.”
Rosie’s cheeks grew hot as Catherine stared hard at her. Catherine was no fool, and Rosie knew that her twin brother’s wife could see right through her attempts at reassurance. But Rosie could also sense Catherine’s desire to be comforted and her need to be supported in the absence of her husband or a more qualified birthing partner.
Right now, Rosie was all Catherine had.
Poor girl!
Rosie fluttered like a nervous butterfly as Catherine shuffled around the small homestead. Catherine had stripped down to her shift as her body had overheated with the pains that had increased in intensity by the hour. At intervals, she grabbed the nearest piece of furniture and held on tightly as she rode the waves that shook her petite frame. Rosie trembled along with Catherine as the laboring woman’s knuckles grew white with the force of her grip on table edge or bench. The color only returned to Catherine’s skin when the agony receded. But Rosie had learned quickly that the routine would begin all over again. Soon. And she could do nothing to help.
She longed to rush out to the stable, saddle a horse and gallop straight into town to find Matthew but she feared leaving Catherine alone. What if something happened while she was gone? But what if something happens while you tarry here afraid?
Oh, Matthew, hurry up with help!
And, Joshua, please bring Kenan home soon.
Joshua—sweet, handsome Joshua Hampton, who had the power to lift Rosie’s heart up to the clouds. Just the thought of his handsome face with its bright blue eyes and full, sensual mouth made her heart beat faster. The thought of running her hands though his thick, sandy blond hair as he pressed his lips to hers made her body tighten in a way she had never experienced before their first embrace. He made Rosie feel beautiful, desirable and safe. And she wished with all of her heart that he was here.
“Come now, Catherine. Why don’t you lie down? This could take a while and you should rest. You need to save your strength.”
Catherine nodded and waddled toward the rear of the house. She opened the door that led to a short corridor and four bedrooms then went into her own. Rosie helped her to climb onto the bed and tucked the blankets around her.
“Try to sleep now, Catherine.”
Catherine eased herself out of the blankets. “I’m too warm to lie beneath these and I doubt that the pains will allow me to sleep, Rosie.”
“I know, dear heart, but you must try. At least rest between them. I’m sure that Matthew will be back soon.”
Catherine offered a wan smile before closing her eyes and sinking into the feather-stuffed pillow.
Rosie paused for a moment, wondering whether to take the chair in the corner of the room. But she realized that her presence might disturb Catherine, so she decided she would leave the doors ajar and listen instead. She tiptoed out of the room and headed back into the kitchen area, where she slumped into a fireside chair.
Matthew had headed out at first light when it seemed that the pains afflicting Catherine were not false signs of labor—as they had hoped—but real ones. It was now almost four in the afternoon. Where is he? Rosie’s shoulders ached with tension, her head hurt from worrying and her heart ached for another reason.
She leaned forward and rested her forehead on her arms.
Will Joshua ever ask me to marry him?
Molly Ann Wishlade has always been an avid reader and writer of stories. Her lifetime of reading has taken her from the magical worlds of The Faraway Tree and The Borrowers, to the Greek myths and legends, to Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume's Forever, to Asimov's science fiction, Jane Eyre's torment and Stephen King's masterpieces. More recently she has wandered through the vivid historicals of Philippa Gregory; the bubbly, gritty delights of Adele Parks and the fast paced thrillers of James Patterson. She loves getting lost in a novel and often regrets finishing one as the characters are usually missed like old friends. She regularly indulges her insatiable hunger for romance and passion in the delicious worlds created by romantic novelists and is working on several of her own!
What precious spare time she has is spent with her family (one gorgeous husband and two bright and beautiful children), taking long walks around the beautiful Welsh countryside (although she's still waiting for the rescue greyhound she wants to accompany her), cooking her own secret recipe curries, drinking Earl Grey (in copious amounts) and discovering delicious wines. Oh, and she also loves to ski and can't wait to go again! And buying shoes!
She wants to take readers on the rollercoaster that is life through the creation of her own characters, relationships and worlds.
She appreciates feedback, recipes and wine recommendations.
Reviewed by Coffeeholic Bookworm
This isn’t a contemporary romance, but rather a sweet old western love story. Of course, the book also had its really intimate and carnal scenes, making the reader appreciate how intimate encounters were...
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Reviewed by Xsquisite Reads
This was an innovative read. I enjoyed this romantic story; most of all I loved Rosie’s attempt to sacrifice their love to allow Joshua’s happiness and beyond that his ultimate fight to keep h...
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