Gambler’s Choice
by Linda Nightingale
Blurb:
Becca McQuaid came to England to find the perfect
horse but instead met a darkly mysterious challenge in Austen Heath, Baron of
Hampton. She’s determined to buy Austen’s stallion Gambler’s Choice. He’s
determined not to sell, but the rivals are thrown together by an accident that
leaves Austen with a broken leg and the threat he’ll never ride again.
Austen Heath has the title, heritage and manor house…but not the fortune. Becca is wealthy. Her charms are irresistible, but he believes she’s shopping for a Ladyship to go with her money. He has another reason to hold the sexy blonde at arms’ length—the unexplained disappearance of an old friend everyone thinks was his lover. When her body is discovered on his property, he becomes a suspect in her murder.
Excerpt:
Rebecca McQuaid was in England for one
reason.
To find the perfect match.
Size was important. Becca was a tall
girl. Money was of no consequence whatsoever. Becca was a wealthy girl. Heart
mattered most. He must have the heart to go the distance. She dreamed of a
partnership that would last a lifetime. But looks did rank quite high on her
list of priorities.
“I simply can’t ride an ugly horse. That
would be like dating an ugly man.” Tossing her long blonde hair over her
shoulder, she laughed and winked at her friend.
Meg shot her a frown, her tone accusing
Becca of being an uncivilized colonist. “Rebecca McQuaid, you say the damnedest
things.”
An appreciative chuckle turned her
around to squint into the sun. A tall, elegant, dark figure of a man on a
magnificent horse caught her imagination mid-stride. She couldn’t see the
rider’s face, but she knew he’d overheard the exchange with her friend. He
saluted her with a tap of his whip to the brim of his hat as he rode past.
Excitement capered over her, and she smiled. The horse’s muscled, blood bay
rump glistened. The stallion was sixteen-two hands, fit and impeccably groomed.
“Nice buns. That one’s good-looking
enough for me.” She elbowed her friend. “Who is it?”
Meg shaded her eyes. “Gambler’s Choice
and Austen Heath. Both horse and rider satisfy your criteria, my dear girl.”
“The horse is handsome.” She wished she
had gotten a better look at the bay, but he was a mahogany blaze in the morning
sun. “Are you telling me the rider is?”
“That’s the general consensus, but
Austen hides in that rambling, dark mansion of his.” Meg studied the pair
picking up a trot along the arena. “Fierce competitors. Hard to beat at
Intermediate. We’ll see how they handle Advanced.”
“An Advanced horse?” Becca wriggled her
shoulders. “I’m in the market.”
“Look elsewhere.” Meg’s finger jutted at
Becca’s nose. “Austen won’t sell Gambler for love or money. Guaranteed. Not
even for the kind of money you’re willing to spend.”
“Meggie.” She linked arms with her
friend. “Everything has a price.”
Meg balked like a donkey. “You’re in a
different world, princess.”
“Well, not everything. Love doesn’t have
a price.” Pain wrenched her heart as a memory of the breakup with Daniel
flashed through her mind. The hurt was too fresh to even think of another man.
“But I’m not in the market for love.”
Becca had found that the best way to
protect her heart was to play spoiled little rich girl. She had that part down
pat, and, as Winston Churchill had said, There
is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.
She was looking for a horse to fall in love with and help mend her broken
heart.
Character Interview
1. Nickname: Becca (short for Rebecca) McQuaid
2. Currently residing in...Horse Country, Virginia, and a lovelier place you’ve never seen…except Somerset, England, perhaps
3. Favorite type of pet – I wouldn’t really call a horse a pet, more like a friend and partner, but hands down, the horse.
4. Most important goal – To own Gambler’s Choice, a beautiful bay stallion—a problematic dream, since his owner, the Baron of Hampton, refuses to sell—for any amount of money
5. Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between? I’m a rich girl, but that doesn’t guarantee I get everything I want...like Gambler’s Choice.
6. Secret desire or fantasy – To tuck the
Baron of Hampton between the sheets
About Linda:
Born in South Carolina, Linda
has lived in England, Canada, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and Houston.
She’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse
trailer, having bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years.
Linda has won several writing
awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, a
retired legal assistant, member of the Houston Symphony League, and enjoys
events with her car club. Among her
favorite things are her snazzy black convertible and her parlor grand piano. She loves to dress up and host formal dinner
parties.
Author links
Website
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Blog
- Lots of interesting guests & prizes
Book Video:
Oh, this sounds wonderful, and I love the cover. I just finished reading a book that included a horse owner and trainer. I love "horsey" books. Thanks for showcasing this, Carmen. My TBR continues to grow!
ReplyDeleteYou will surely enjoy it. I wrote a review for it some days ago.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Mae!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteWhat a wonderful cover and secret desire! Best of luck with this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful cover and secret desire! Best of luck with this!
ReplyDelete