E.E. Burke's Best of the West featuring Penny Estelle

Welcome to Best of the West! Today my guest is Penny Estelle with her contribution to a multi-author anthology, UNDER A MULBERRY MOON. I'll let her tell you all about it.

I am honored to be part of a new anthology with some terrific authors writing sweet historical romances! 

UNDER A MULBERRY MOON

Adventure! Mystery! Romance!  
Nine award-winning and bestselling authors present sweet western historical stories to ignite your imagination and feed your passion for reading. Let us sweep you away from your daily cares and entertain you with our sigh-worthy novellas set between 1865 and 1900. What a line-up we have for you!  UNDER A MULBERRY MOON anthology is a bargain at only 99 cents.

Stories in Under a Mulberry Moon ~

Millwright's Daughter – Zina Abbott
Worth the Wait – Patricia PacJac Carroll
A Family For Merry – Caroline Clemmons
Ada and the Texas Cavalryman, Brides of Texas Code – Carra Copelin
Comes A Specter – Keta Diablo
The Widow Buys A Groom - P.A. Estelle
Matthew's Freedom – Cissie Patterson
The Lady Lassoes An Outlaw – Charlene Raddon
A Family For Polly – Jacqueline Rogers

Better hurry—this anthology is available for a limited time only. Order your copy!

The Widow Buys A Groom

The year is 1868. In every state in America the Civil War has taken its toll. Mass casualties leave women to survive on their own, raise children without fathers, and run ranches, homes and businesses without help. Meadow Creek, Kansas is no different.

Reverend Strong strives to find a solution for his town. He contacts clergymen in other states and discovers women aren’t the only ones devastated by war. The men fortunate enough to make it home soon realize they've lost everything and must start new lives. 

  

Katherine Parnell owns Maggie’s Baked Goods. Ever since her husband was forced to fight for the Confederacy, she and her son, Timmy, have been fighting their own battles. She might need a man, but has no intention of marrying again. She informs the good Reverend of that in no uncertain terms.

Jim Sutton has demons of his own and comes to Meadow Creek to start over. He has no desire to get married either. On more than one occasion, he comes to Katherine’s aid and finds himself smiling around her and the boy, something he hasn’t done in years. When Jim lands in jail, the woman whose green eyes haunt his dreams at night is the only one who can help him.

Can Katherine and Jim find love again or will ghosts from their pasts keep happiness at bay?

Excerpt

     “Am I gonna get any vittles or are you two just gonna keep exercising your jaws?”

     “Who are your guests?” Becky asked getting the food out of the basket.

     “Don’t know the one in the far cell.  Says his name is Jim Sutton. Kinda hated to arrest him cause he beat the tar out of my other guest.”  Nathan’s smile faded. “Huck Parnell’s brother, Chester.” 

     Every ounce of playfulness disappeared when Becky slowly turned to look at the cells.  Jim was laying down on the cot with his hat over his face.  Chester stood at the front of the cell with his arms through the bars.  One of his eyes was almost swollen shut and his lip was cut.  Dried blood was on his filthy shirt.  Becky picked up the tin bowl that she used to serve prisoners and slowly walked  to stand a foot away from him.  “Bout time,” he grumbled.

     Becky took that bowl and with as much muscle as she could, threw that bowl at the bars.  Grits covered Chester’s face.  Globs of the mush clung to his greasy hair, dropping onto his shoulders.

     Chester jumped back in surprise, his bloodshot eyes wide.  Snarling he pushed his arms threw the bars again, trying to reach her. She didn’t flinch even though his fingers were inches from her face. He called her every name he could think. 

     “That’s enough, Parnell,” Nathan said. “You shut your mouth, or I’ll shut it for you.”  Chester glared at the marshal, his chest pumping hard. “Hopefully it will take some of the stink off of you.”

     Becky’s eyes were glued on Chester. Hate dripping from her voice, she asked, “Do you think nobody knew what happened to my friend, while visiting your place outside of Cottonwood Falls? Did you simple minded men think Katherine wouldn’t tell her closest friends about her little vacation with you?”

A little something about Penny Estelle

My name is Penny Estelle.  I was a school secretary for 21 years and retired in 2009.  My husband and I moved to our retirement home in Kingman, AZ, where we lived off the grid on 54 acres in a very rural area.  A real adjustment for a city girl.  I must say – I loved it.  Nothing like looking out your window in the early morning and see a wave of quail running across the property, or walking out your front door at night and hear coyotes howling in the distance and seeing a sky bursting with stars.  It is breathtaking!

When I lost the love of my life I moved to Sun City, AZ.  Now when I’m not writing, I’m playing water volleyball and pickleball with the “old” folks.  I also hike every morning.  I’m thinking at trying my hand a tap dancing! We older folks are a gutsy group!  LOL

About my writing - I started writing for tween kiddos right before I retired.  There is always material when kids are involved.  These stories range from fantasies to time travel to puppy love stories.  I also have several picture books out for the beginning readers

Under P. A. Estelle I write for the older “young at heart” crowd.  Romances in every genre.  I must admit historical western romances are my favorite – at least for now, but I have found one never knows what tomorrow will bring!

For more information about myself and my stories, check out the following links!  Stop by anytime!

www.pennystales.com

http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY

https://twitter.com/Pennystales

http://www.facebook.com/pennystales

http://www.pinterest.com/pennyestelle

I have a newsletter that goes out for new releases or sales.  If you would like to be notified, please sign up @ http://eepurl.com/388Xr

E.E.: What’s the first book you remember reading?  

Penny: I was NEVER a reader as a kid.  I had so many other things to do.  I didn’t start reading until I had my first child.  When you are up 24/7, what else is there to do?  I remember picking up a book by Rosemary Rogers called Sweet Savage Love.  Phew!!!!!  Heat level – 100!  I was a hooked reader at that point!

E.E.: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

Penny: This is a no-brainer for me – action adventure.

E.E.: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Penny: This is so sad!  Other than most John Wayne movies, I will watch – GULP – Tremors every time it comes on!!!

E.E.: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

Penny: A jig-saw puzzle.  I love those things.  They relax me and I won’t do one if I’m in the middle of a story!

E.E.: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

Penny: Coffee, with caramel/vanilla creamer.  I actually hate the taste of tea – BUT, that being said, one of my favorite drinks is an Arnie Palmer – iced tea and lemonade!  Go figure!

E.E.: What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

Penny: The song Sun Daze by Florida Georgia Line

E.E.: What would you say is your most interesting quirk?

Penny: I have several but I have two equally weird.  1) When I see a door that is pushed shut most of the way but doesn’t click, I have to shut it all the way.  I have to hear it click.  2) Since I started driving, 100 years ago, when I go through a yellow light, I tap the dashboard.  Keeps the cop spirits away!!!!

E.E.: What has been your most rewarding publishing moment? 

Penny: It was my very first book that had been picked up.  It was a middle grade fantasy titled Hike Up Devil’s Mountain.  I remember looking at my husband and saying, “My story has been picked up.  They’ve sent me a contract.  We hopped around and screamed and yelled.  It was awesome!

Thank you for being my guest, Penny! 

Penny will be giving away a copy of her American Mail-Order Bride classic, Hannah, Bride of Iowa. Just enter the Rafflecopter and leave a comment.

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