ABOUT THE BOOK
Hattie McGillicuddy might not look like your typical matchmaker, but Hattie makes things happen in the little town of Second Chance, South Dakota. With the arrival of the railroad and official statehood, Hattie’s determined to bring brides west, and not just any brides. Brides who need the wide open prairie as much as the prairie- and the prairie men- need them! Three pioneer stories of unlikely love are woven around a little town full of homespun characters that take us back to another place and another time but with the same faith, hope and love we cherish today.
Macy can’t sew a lick, and she’s come to town with a sacrifice and a secret, but when Hattie’s first apprentice is attracted to the pastor of the only church in town—the man raising her illegitimate son— will the truth set her free? Or make her leave the town and her son behind?
Unjustly accused, Nellie comes west to escape the law. She has a way with tucks and gathers, and every Western town could use more tucks and gathers. She’s determined to improve the drab look of the prairie and manages to brighten hearts as well. But will her quick speech and firm ideas of women’s suffrage draw Levi Eichas closer or send the somber carriage maker running?
Grief has robbed Ann Hazel, but when her aunt pushes her to go west and help an ailing Hattie McGillicuddy turn hems, Ann’s shamed into it. She’s managed to avoid life for awhile, but when Sol Eichas’s nanny comes down sick, Ann reluctantly agrees to help. As she winds her way around Sol’s heart and home, can the two troubled souls leave the past behind to embrace a future together?
Release Date: January 22, 2019
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES
A Most Inconvenient Love (coming March 2019)
EXCERPT FROM THE PASTOR TAKES A WIFE
It was now or never, Macy Evers realized as she faced the dust-covered store-front of Hattie’s Shirt Shop, Fine Goods Available by Order. Tucked north of Main Street in Second Chance, South Dakota, the small porch offered a covered entrance to the shop, but even the cornice work lay thick with dust above her. This town could use a good rain, but if it got one, the unimproved streets would be awash in mud.
Dust was better, she decided as she climbed the two steps.
Palms damp, she faced the door, half scared to death and Macy hadn’t been afraid of much for a long time, but lying on paper to a potential benefactor— then repeating the sin in person— were reasons enough, she reckoned. And if Hattie McGillicuddy figured out she could barely thread a needle, much less sew men’s shirts, all her careful planning might be for naught.
“Going in, Miss?”
The man’s voice surprised her. She turned too fast and banged his left knee with her worn satchel. He rocked off balance, then pitched down the two narrow steps to the street below.
“Pa!” A school-age girl with a head full of golden brown ringlet curls hurried to the man’s side. “I’ll help you, Pa. No worries.” And then the child made a great show out of helping her father up, as if the tall, square-shouldered, gentle-eyed man needed assistance. He didn’t but he played along, letting her think she was helping, and oh! The joy on that little girl’s face…
EXCERPT FROM SECOND CHANCE CHRISTMAS
He swept her plain dress a look and frowned. “I’d still like to pay for your ruined gown, Miss.”
“Not if it makes you grumpy.”
To her surprise, he smiled softly. “Well, there’s that.” He lifted his shoulders. “I should try and do better, there’s no joy in grouchiness. Whereas in our brief meetings, you seem well-equipped to turn things around as needed.”
“I cannot fret about what can’t be changed, but in my head I see ways to change so much, and that’s reason enough to be happy.”
“A simplistic reasoning for a complicated woman.”
His words struck her, and then she followed his gaze to her plain dress and understood the comparison. “Liking pretty clothing doesn’t make me complicated. It makes me feel good about being me. And when your work is with fabric and trim and lace, the best advertising is to wear something that looks good. Something I made.”
“You don’t see that as showing off?”
She laughed and pointed out the door. “You have a spit-polished buckboard in the bay of your shop. Does it do you well to make it plainer than it needs to be, or does it speak well of your work for it to gleam in the sunlight? For the leather seat to be soft, and cushioned?”
“I almost don’t like that you make sense.” He glanced down the street, then back to her. “Of course a wagon must deal with a great deal of stress.”
“As does every woman I know.”
EXCERPT FROM SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE
There was nothing perfect about this timing, nor anything that could remotely be called good, but Ann swallowed her fear and followed Sol Eichas and his kids out the door.
She could make a run for it. She mentally measured the distance between the mercantile and the depot, but just as her feet felt ready to fly, five little fingers reached up and threaded themselves with hers. “I fink it will be fun to be wiff you, Miss Ann.”
Those fingers, so small.
The voice, like a breath of fresh spring air, bright and light and full of life.
Sarah clutched hold and fairly danced down the outside steps. “It feels good to be outside, Pa! I don’t wike being all cooped up wike Aunt Iby’s chickens!”
“But sometimes you need to be indoors and mind a grown-up, Sarah Joy. Children need to mind and be watched.”
“I don’t need so much watchin’,” declared Ethan. “Opa said I’m ‘bout sized for workin’, and that’s what I aim to do.”
“Did he, now?” Sol asked the question mildly, but Ann heard something fiercer in the question. “I think you’ll be fine helping me out on the farm, Ethan. But not on your own, not for a while. Right now you’ll be working with your father.”
“But Opa—”
“Opa isn’t here and it’s my job to keep you safe.” Sol squatted and looked carefully into each small face with an expression of such love that Ann could almost cry, seeing it. But what didn’t make her cry these days?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
She lives on a pumpkin farm in Western New York where they grow all kinds of cool things for fall from sumptuous squashes and veggies to gorgeous stacking pumpkins. Ruthy’s farm is quickly becoming the place to be every September and October!
GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will win a ‘books and chocolate’ prize pack from the author (US only), including at least:
(1) print copy of The Sewing Sisters’ Society
(1) print copy of Christmas on the Frontier
chocolate!
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight February 6, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm February 13, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
TOUR SCHEDULE
REally looking forward to reading this book.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet excerpt! I love stories that have a cute little kid as a character.
ReplyDeleteSounds so good.
ReplyDelete