E.E. Burke's BEST OF THE WEST: New Release from Award-Winning Author Jacqui Nelson

We're in for a real treat today. An exclusive look at a brand new series from multi-award winning author Jacqui Nelson.

"Thank you Elisabeth and Get Lost in a Story for inviting me back to your blog! The last time I was here I shared an upcoming release that I believed would be ready very soon (in a month or two). Well, it’s almost a year later and finally that book is ready! Between Love & Lies released yesterday, August 30th."

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In a town ruled by sin, will he earn her love or her lies?

Sadie Sullivan lost everything when a herd of longhorn cattle bound for Dodge City trampled and destroyed her farm. Now she works in Dodge—one of the most wicked and lawless towns in the West—at the Northern Star Saloon. But her survival in this new world of sin and violence depends on maintaining a lie so deadly it could end her life before the town of Dodge can.

The one man capable of unraveling all of Sadie's secrets is Noah Ballantyne, the Texan rancher whose herd destroyed her home. Back in town and taking up the role of deputy alongside legendary lawman Bat Masterson, Noah vows he won't leave until he's made things right. But with the saloon’s madam unwilling to release Sadie and a rich cattle baron wanting her as well, the odds aren’t good for finding love…or leaving town alive.

Here's a never-before-seen excerpt:

     Noah swore under his breath. “I’m getting you out of Dodge if I have to carry you out.”

     “The first chance I got, I’d leave you and come back.”      

     The silence that followed gnawed at Sadie’s resolve not to give in to him in any way. But it was her dread of what she might see if she looked at him that kept her gaze pinned on the door.

     “You’d rather stay here than leave with me?” he asked in a much too quiet voice.

     “I’d rather say goodbye to Dodge on my own terms. That way I won’t be a whore—to you or anyone else.”

     “It’s too late for that.”

     His words hit her like a slap in the face, rocking her on her heels. She squeezed shut her eyes to hide her pain from him.

     “Damn it, Sadie.” His breath left him in hiss. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t think of you as a—”

     She forced herself to cut him off. “I work in a saloon with a brothel above it. Don’t lie to yourself. I’m a whore. But right now my illness saves me from those duties. The doctor, Gertie, Cora— If I do what they say, they leave me alone, and so do the men. If you had control over one thing in your life, would you give it up?”

     “Sadie, you can’t go on like this. Whatever happened when you first came to work at the Star, it doesn’t have to be like that. Let me show you.”

     Disbelief made her gaze careen back to his. He couldn’t mean—

     “Will you listen to reason?” he asked.

     “You haven’t said anything reasonable.”

     “You’re right. I was never good with words, but I’ll listen. Tell me to stop and I will.”

     For every stride he moved closer, she took one back until the wall against her spine halted her. He planted one palm on the faded wallpaper next to her head. She waited for him to raise his other hand and hem her in. He didn’t. He’d given her a chance to escape.

     She didn’t take it. She was too busy trying to stop herself from leaning into his strength. “I was fine before you came along, last week and a year ago on my farm.” Her growing anticipation made her thoughts tumble out uncensored. “Every time you show up, you kick the foundation from under everything I’ve struggled to build.”

     He leaned down until his lips hovered over hers. “Let me make it up to you. Let me in, Sadie.” 

Meet Jacqui

Jacqui Nelson writes historical romantic adventures set in the American West. Her stories include an Oregon Trail scout, an ex-Rebel spy turned government rabble rouser, and a Dodge City cardsharp gambling with life and death. Those are her heroines. Wait till you meet her heroes! Her love for the Old West came from watching classic Western movies while growing up on a cattle farm. She’s been nominated for over 20 awards and won the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® for historical romance & the Laramie® for western romance drama.

Here's where you can find her and her books:

www.JacquiNelson.com

www.amazon.com/author/jacquinelson

www.goodreads.com/JacquiNelson

www.facebook.com/JacquiNelsonBooks

www.facebook.com/JacquiNelsonAuthor 

www.twitter.com/Jacqui_Nelson

www.pinterest.com/JacquiAuthor

www.youtube.com/channel/UCJzflK0f4sh2JCEADZC7ARw

www.JacquiNelson.com/Newsletter.html

Q&A

E.E.: What is your hero and heroine’s “kryptonite”? What will bring them instantly to their knees?

Jacqui: Last time I shared my hero, Noah’s kryptonite—the guilt he carries and can’t ignore. This time I’ll add my heroine, Sadie’s—she’s determined to keep her vow to her friend, but unfortunately doing so might be the quick route to a grave in Boot Hill.

E.E.: Who’s your favorite villain?

Jacqui: My favorite villain is Al Swearengen (played by Ian McShane) in the Old West TV series Deadwood. Sometimes cutthroat, other times compassionate, Al is one complex individual and the fact that he has an equally complex right-hand man named Dan...well, that makes things even better.

E.E.: Which of your characters would you most like to invite to dinner?

Jacqui: A year ago, I chose legendary lawman Bat Masterson because he was the most fun to write. His meddling ways and sharp wit really had me smiling.

This time around, I’ll choose my villain’s right-hand man. Handsome John works for the madam who owns the Northern Star Saloon and all the girls working there—including Sadie. Sadie describes John as a “box herder” who keeps the girls inline if they get any ideas of independence. John’s full of surprises though. He also has his fair share of scars. I added the Handsome to his name because he’s the opposite of that. The same way Little John (in Robin Hood) isn’t little.

E.E.: Describe an absolutely perfect day.

Jacqui: Sleep in and then write all day in my pajamas. Start with coffee (to get me going) and end with a glass of wine (to celebrate being one day closer to finishing another story).

E.E.: If you could interview one person, who would it be?

Jacqui: Annie Oakley because I’m planning to make my heroine (in Book 2 of my Gambling Hearts series) a sharpshooter who joins a Wild West show and then comes home to the quiet life where she grew up—the land around Noah and Lewis’ ranches. My “little sure shot” heroine thinks Lewis’ land is hers. Who will win? Maybe they both will :)

E.E.: Were there any last minute changes to Between Love & Lies?

Jacqui: In the last hour of editing, I changed the name of my doctor (who will be the hero of Book 3 in my Gambling Hearts series). He went from Isaac Ingram to Doctor Rhodes. I don’t know why, but he just did. I don’t mention Doctor Rhodes’ first name in Book 1, but I’ll tell you here...it’s Theodore, or Theo.

E.E.: You’ve written a novella in the Steam! Romance and Rails series. Does your new story have any trains?

Jacqui: Yes! There’s a scene where Sadie decides she can no longer stay in Dodge, and she executes a well-planned escape via a cattle train bound for the Union Stockyards in Chicago. The best laid plans usually go wrong, and they do for Sadie.

E.E.: Complete this sentence. When I want to relax, I. . .

Jacqui: Go to my mom’s house and have a beer with her in her beautiful garden. Chances are high that if you’re following me on Facebook, you’ll have seen one of my drinking-in-the-garden photos.

E.E.: Does you hero or heroine have a trusty horse?

Jacqui: Noah has a faithful gray named Pepper. He’s called Pepper because he had a lot of sass and spice when he was young, but now he’s older and steadfast, just like Noah. They’ve been together so long they can sense each other’s wishes. Noah’s riding Pepper when his herd of longhorns destroys Sadie’s farm. And a year later, Pepper carries Noah back up the hundreds of miles between Texas and Dodge in search of Sadie.

Today, Jacqui is giving away a FREE ebook, Between Love and Lies, Book 1 of the Gambling Hearts series. Share your favorite Western book, movie, TV series or actor—John Wayne, Client Eastwood, Anson Mount—or just say hello!

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