08 April 2022

Claiming Her Legacy | Excerpt + Giveaway

JustRead Publicity Tours

ABOUT THE BOOK


With her family’s legacy on the line, a woman with everything to lose must rely on a man hiding from his past…

Oklahoma, 1890

Frontier women don’t ride off alone to track an outlaw—not even women as capable as tomboy spinster Willa Malone. But Willa desperately needs the bounty money offered for her father’s killer if she’s to keep their homestead and take care of her sisters. That means she needs an expert tracker’s help. Gideon Hartley has the skill, but the handsome trail guide also has a troubling secret…

Gideon has spent years trying to numb his pain with whiskey. Little by little, their quest—and Willa’s belief in him—is restoring the sense of purpose he thought he’d lost. Journeying into the heart of danger, they’ll have to face down the past together if they hope to protect their future…

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: April 26, 2022


EXCERPT

The man was a drunk.

In shocked dismay and with hope dwindling, Willa twisted her hands in her lap beneath the round parlor table. The guide and tracker she wanted to hire sat across from her, nursing a cup of coffee and a hangover.

Now she understood the sly warnings she’d received about Gideon Hartley.

Having taken only the time for that one drink of whiskey before stumbling down the stairs behind her, his longish black hair was mussed and his clothes badly rumpled. He had, however, tucked in his shirt, though Willa feared the courtesy had only added to his roguish appearance.

Her heart had ricocheted like a bullet on a boulder when she’d tromped into the hotel room and recognized Hartley as the man from the saloon. He was, she feared, every bit as handsome as she remembered.

A handsome rogue who drank too much.

While she fidgeted, afraid he’d refuse her request and even more afraid he wouldn’t, he took his slow, sweet time doctoring his coffee. First, a spoon of sugar, followed by a taste and a grimace. Then a dollop of cream followed by yet another sip.

Tapping her foot in impatience, Willa glanced around at the lovely rose-papered parlor furnished with a settee and a small table to accommodate the hotel’s guests. A man and woman occupied the settee, thankfully far enough away not to overhear her conversation with Gideon Hartley. If she ever got to have one.

He reached for more sugar.

“Mr. Hartley, while I appreciate the flavor of well-prepared coffee as much as anyone, I have an important matter to discuss with you.”

The spoon clinked against the saucer, leaving a dot of brown liquid on the white china.

“All right, then,” he said with a heavy sigh. “To what do I owe this disgustingly early morning visit?”

“It’s afternoon.”

He flinched and turned slowly to squint out the broad window. Afternoon shadows pointed toward the east.

“So it is.” His dark eyebrows drew together in a frown. “You seem familiar. Have we met?”

“You helped my sister a few days ago.”

“That doesn’t sound like me.”

With studied nonchalance, he poured more cream into his coffee. And stirred. Again.

Willa found his self-deprecation less than amusing.

“You weren’t drunk at the time,” she snapped. “Perhaps that’s why you don’t remember.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Such a viperous tongue from such an enchanting source.”

Willa struggled not to roll her eyes. The man was not only half-drunk, he was a slick liar. She knew her shortcomings as well as her strengths. Savannah was enchanting. Willa was merely determined.

“The man my sister tried to save was a bounty hunter. He was tracking the murderer who killed my father.”

“Ah. Now, I remember. The ladies in the saloon. One fighting with death while the other fought not to lose her breakfast.”

She’d had no breakfast to lose. “How chivalrous of you to mention it.”

He showed his teeth. “How else may I be of assistance?”

Though his tone indicated less than cooperation, Willa leaned forward, determined to forge on. He was her only hope.

“I’m told you’re a tracker and a guide. I want you to help me find my father’s murderer.”

ISBN-13: 978-1-335-41876-0

Claiming Her Legacy

Copyright © 2022 by Linda Goodnight

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at CustomerService@Harlequin.com.

Love Inspired
22 Adelaide St. West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.LoveInspired.com

Printed in U.S.A.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestseller Linda Goodnight fell in love with words as a young child when her mother took her to a tiny library and let her fill a cardboard box with books. The next week she was back again, forever hooked on the beauty and power of the written word. Her other passions are her faith and her blended family. A former nurse and teacher, she lives in Oklahoma with her husband where she enjoys baking and travel. Connect with Linda at www.lindagoodnight.com.


GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!


Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 5, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 12, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
TOUR SCHEDULE

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for being part of the blog tour for "Claiming Her Legacy".

    Enjoyed reading the excerpt. This book is on my TBR list and I can't wait for the opportunity to read it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great excerpt and cover.

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  3. I believe Willa is determined to do what she must with some reservations.

    ReplyDelete