She needs an adventure -
He needs the warmth of her smile…
He needs the warmth of her smile…
A sweet romance that embraces the trials and triumphs of yesteryear, Bertie blends laugh-out-loud adventures with heartwarming moments.
Description:Release Date: April 7th, 2016
She needs an adventure -
He needs the warmth of her smile…
Bertie Hawkins survived a traumatic ordeal that stripped away her sunny outlook on life and left her afraid of every shadow. Terrorized and tired of reliving the past, she accepts an offer to change her situation. Although she only intends to work through the summer, the peace she finds at Nash’s Folly keeps her there every bit as much as her interest in a mysterious new ranch hand.
Desperate to escape his memories, Riley Walsh buys a run-down farm in Pendleton, Oregon. To pay for the many necessary repairs, he goes to work for his neighbor, never intending to fall in love with the effervescent girl who helps around the house.
Riley isn’t the only one enchanted with Bertie. His own crazy mule and the neighbor’s son both share his infatuation, driving him past the brink of jealousy.
A sweet romance that embraces the trials and triumphs of yesteryear, Bertie blends laugh-out-loud adventures with heartwarming moments.
EXCERPT
Involved in the unfolding story, she didn’t hear anyone approach until a warm hand caressed her bare foot.
Yanking her foot up, she gazed down into Riley’s face. The fiery look in his eyes made heat pool in her belly and her mouth go dry.
“I’ve seen a lot of birds perched in trees, but never one so lovely.”
Bertie’s cheeks flushed at his compliment. “You’ve suffered a heat stroke, Riley Walsh. Apparently, you’ve lost the ability to see properly, otherwise you’d know I’m a wilted mess.”
To emphasize her point, Bertie pushed at the damp curls that had fallen around her face hours ago. Her dress was limp and she felt about as fresh as a wrung-out dishrag.
“I can see just fine, Roberta Elizabeth.”
Much to her surprise, Riley grabbed hold of the limb and swung himself up into the tree, sitting in front of her. “What are you doing out here?”
“Reading.”
“I can see that.” Riley grinned and tapped the book with his finger. “I meant why did you come out here to read? You could do that at the house.”
“It’s miserably hot in the house and Aundy decided I needed a break. I’ve discovered arguing with her does no good at all, so I took the book she handed me and came out here.”
Bertie tried to adjust her skirts to hide her bare legs but Riley held the hem, keeping her from moving. “Riley…”
“If you’re trying to cover up those pretty ankles, you might as well not bother. I’ve already seen them. Enjoy the breeze while you can. I don’t know how you women survive on days like today, fastened into layers of petticoats with stockings and drawers and corsets and…”
Bertie leaned forward and clamped a hand over his mouth. “Riley! You shouldn’t speak of such things. It’s improper.”
He shrugged and kissed her hand, holding it in his instead of releasing it. “Never understood why it’s so improper to talk about what you wear. Why, didn’t I see a lacy pink…”
*****
“I, um…” Bertie stopped a few feet away and scuffed the toe of her shoe in the dirt, stirring up little puffs of dust. “I owe you an apology, Mr. Walsh.”
Riley stopped fussing with Mud’s saddle and turned to stare at Bertie. “For what?”
“It was completely inappropriate for me to throw eggs at you yesterday. In addition, I failed to thank you for coming to my rescue. Left to my own defenses, I might still be sitting in the pen, surrounded by demented chickens intent on inflicting harm.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I think you would have been just fine without my help.” His eyes trailed over her from head to toe then settled on her face. “I’m sorry I laughed, Miss Hawkins. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Bertie didn’t know what to say to his sincere apology. She could tell it was earnest by the humble look on his face and the kindness in his eyes. “You’re forgiven, this time.” Bertie smiled and held out a square of fabric to him. “Unless I’m mistaken, this belongs to you.”
As he took his neckerchief from her hand, his fingers brushed across her open palm. They both drew in a startled breath at the jolt the touch created. Bertie raised her gaze to his. Her eyes were wide and luminous as surprise and something Riley refused to acknowledge shined in their depths.
Hastily, he stuffed the square into his pocket and nodded his head. “Thank you for returning it. Did you find the flowers?”
“I did. Daisies are my favorite.” Bertie took a step back, too aware of her interest in Riley Walsh. Too unsettled by what his handsome features and resonant voice did to her sensibilities. Around him, she felt like a tongue-tied ninny. Yet, at the same time, her thoughts lingered on how much she’d like to be held in his arms, taste his kisses. It was positively… indecent how frequently he’d invaded her thoughts in the last week.
Yanking her foot up, she gazed down into Riley’s face. The fiery look in his eyes made heat pool in her belly and her mouth go dry.
“I’ve seen a lot of birds perched in trees, but never one so lovely.”
Bertie’s cheeks flushed at his compliment. “You’ve suffered a heat stroke, Riley Walsh. Apparently, you’ve lost the ability to see properly, otherwise you’d know I’m a wilted mess.”
To emphasize her point, Bertie pushed at the damp curls that had fallen around her face hours ago. Her dress was limp and she felt about as fresh as a wrung-out dishrag.
“I can see just fine, Roberta Elizabeth.”
Much to her surprise, Riley grabbed hold of the limb and swung himself up into the tree, sitting in front of her. “What are you doing out here?”
“Reading.”
“I can see that.” Riley grinned and tapped the book with his finger. “I meant why did you come out here to read? You could do that at the house.”
“It’s miserably hot in the house and Aundy decided I needed a break. I’ve discovered arguing with her does no good at all, so I took the book she handed me and came out here.”
Bertie tried to adjust her skirts to hide her bare legs but Riley held the hem, keeping her from moving. “Riley…”
“If you’re trying to cover up those pretty ankles, you might as well not bother. I’ve already seen them. Enjoy the breeze while you can. I don’t know how you women survive on days like today, fastened into layers of petticoats with stockings and drawers and corsets and…”
Bertie leaned forward and clamped a hand over his mouth. “Riley! You shouldn’t speak of such things. It’s improper.”
He shrugged and kissed her hand, holding it in his instead of releasing it. “Never understood why it’s so improper to talk about what you wear. Why, didn’t I see a lacy pink…”
*****
“I, um…” Bertie stopped a few feet away and scuffed the toe of her shoe in the dirt, stirring up little puffs of dust. “I owe you an apology, Mr. Walsh.”
Riley stopped fussing with Mud’s saddle and turned to stare at Bertie. “For what?”
“It was completely inappropriate for me to throw eggs at you yesterday. In addition, I failed to thank you for coming to my rescue. Left to my own defenses, I might still be sitting in the pen, surrounded by demented chickens intent on inflicting harm.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I think you would have been just fine without my help.” His eyes trailed over her from head to toe then settled on her face. “I’m sorry I laughed, Miss Hawkins. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Bertie didn’t know what to say to his sincere apology. She could tell it was earnest by the humble look on his face and the kindness in his eyes. “You’re forgiven, this time.” Bertie smiled and held out a square of fabric to him. “Unless I’m mistaken, this belongs to you.”
As he took his neckerchief from her hand, his fingers brushed across her open palm. They both drew in a startled breath at the jolt the touch created. Bertie raised her gaze to his. Her eyes were wide and luminous as surprise and something Riley refused to acknowledge shined in their depths.
Hastily, he stuffed the square into his pocket and nodded his head. “Thank you for returning it. Did you find the flowers?”
“I did. Daisies are my favorite.” Bertie took a step back, too aware of her interest in Riley Walsh. Too unsettled by what his handsome features and resonant voice did to her sensibilities. Around him, she felt like a tongue-tied ninny. Yet, at the same time, her thoughts lingered on how much she’d like to be held in his arms, taste his kisses. It was positively… indecent how frequently he’d invaded her thoughts in the last week.
Join the Facebook Party on April 7
Dust off your dancing shoes and choose your formal attire for the Petticoat Ball Party on Facebook April 7, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.(Pacific Time) Giveaways, games, and guest authors will make for a fun and memorable event as we celebrate the release of Bertie!
Dust off your dancing shoes and choose your formal attire for the Petticoat Ball Party on Facebook April 7, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.(Pacific Time) Giveaways, games, and guest authors will make for a fun and memorable event as we celebrate the release of Bertie!
Invite your friends to the second annual Petticoat Ball, and you could win a $25 Amazon Gift card. Just join the event, click on the "invite" button, invite your friends, then post how many you invited in the comments of this post:
One randomly drawn person will win, but you get additional entries for every 50 people you invite!
Also, ask your friends who join the party to share that you invited them in the comments in the post. Each friend who mentions your name, earns you another entry in the contest!
About the author:
USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
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Thank you for hosting me today! So appreciate it!
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