The Duchess and the Highwayman by Beverley Oakley (spotlight, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) RBC

The Duchess and the Highwayman

By Beverley Oakley

 

Beverley is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate and an ebook, "The Mysterious Governess" to randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here. 

BLURB: 

A duchess disguised as a lady’s maid; a gentleman parading as a highwayman. She’s on the run from a murderer, he’s in pursuit of one… In a remote Norfolk manor, Phoebe, Lady Cavanaugh is wrongfully accused by her servants of her brutal husband’s murder. There’s little sympathy in the district for the duchess who’s taken a lover and made clear she despised her husband. The local magistrate has also vowed revenge since Lady Cavanaugh rebuffed his advances. When Phoebe is discovered in the forest wearing only a chemise stained with the blood of her murdered husband, she persuades the noble ‘highwayman’ who rescues her that she is Lady Cavanaugh’s maidservant. Hugh Redding has his own reasons for hunting down the man who would have Phoebe tried and hanged for murder. He plans to turn ‘the maidservant with aspirations above her station' into the 'lady' who might testify against the very villain who would see Phoebe dead. But despite the fierce attraction between Phoebe and the 'highwayman', Phoebe is not in a position to admit she's the 'murderous duchess' hunted across the land. Seizing an opportunity to strike at the social and financial standing of the man who has profited by her distress, Phoebe is drawn into a dangerous intrigue. But when disaster strikes, she fears Hugh will lack the sympathy or understanding of her unusual predicament to even want to save her a second time. Buy


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Excerpt: 


  “Sir, your sister’s just being admitted through the front door. I wanted to warn you now so’s you could get this… piece out of her way.” She raked Phoebe with narrowed eyes and curled lip. 

“Where am I to go, sir? Downstairs?” 

Guilt surged through him. If he didn’t know better she could pass for a lady except for the ghastly gown, another of the miller’s wives’ which had been retrieved from an old trunk. Clearly it was not even one that she wore any longer for even he could see the fashion was years out of date. “You can go and find yourself something fitting to wear, Phoebe.” He tried to modulate his tone so as to inflame neither Phoebe nor Mrs Withins though he knew that was an impossible task. The housekeeper looked like a trussed up turkey growing even more purple in the face as Phoebe looked smugly between them. 

“How very kind, sir? So I might wear it to take tea with your sister?” 

“No!” He’d not meant to sound so panicked. 

She, clearly, didn’t take kindly to it for with a toss of her head she picked up her thick, cumbersome skirts and swept to the door. “I must be quick if I’m to avoid embarrassing you, sir, however I cannot do your bidding on thin air.” 

Embarrassed, Hugh thought quickly. “That’ll be all, Mrs Withins. Please see my sister into the parlour. Phoebe, come with me now.” He led her hurriedly down a short corridor to the room where the miller did his book work, closing the door behind him. “How much do you want, Phoebe?” When he glanced up he was nearly scorched by her fulminating look. 

“I am not a… whore!” she hissed. 

He blinked. 

“Five minutes ago you were taking your pleasure, despite my protests that the timing could be better-” 

“I did not force you, Phoebe. And you were more than ready for me.” 

“And immediately you’d had your pleasure you banished me downstairs because I’m not good enough to see your sister and then ask me what payment I require.” 

“You’re being too sensitive, Phoebe-” 

She cut him off. “Half a crown will do for the moment to amuse me with bibs and bobs. I shall see what else I need in the way of suitable attire and then you can arrange payment later.” 

“Oh, so you’re well accustomed to transactions like this, yet you speak to me as if I’ve insulted you.” Hugh wasn’t sure if he was more needled by her accusations of insensitivity on his part or the fact that Phoebe appeared used to having protectors shell out money for her charms. He’d been going to reassure her before Mrs Withins entered the room of his honourable intentions with regard to setting her up nicely. He wanted her much more than he wanted a wife and Phoebe, with her looks and prowess in the bedroom department would be quick to look elsewhere unless Hugh got himself in order. 


Links:  Amazon | All other buy links 

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Author Info: 

Beverley Oakley was seventeen when she bundled up her first her 500+ page romance and sent it to a publisher. Unfortunately drowning her heroine on the last page was apparently not in line with the expectations of romance readers so Beverley became a journalist.

Twenty-six years later Beverley was delighted to receive her first publishing contract from Robert Hale (UK) for a romance in which she ensured her heroine was saved from drowning in the icy North Sea.

Since 2009 Beverley has written more than thirteen historical romances, mostly set in England during the early nineteenth century. Mystery, intrigue and adventure spill from their pages and if she can pull off a thrilling race to save someone’s honour – or a worthy damsel from the noose – it’s time to celebrate with a good single malt Scotch.

Beverley lives with her husband, two daughters and a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy the size of a pony opposite a picturesque nineteenth century lunatic asylum. She also writes Africa-set adventure-filled romances tarring handsome bush pilot heroes, and historical romances with less steam and more sexual tension, as Beverley Eikli.

You can get in contact with Beverley at:

website | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads

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Somewhere My Lady by Beth Trissel (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Somewhere My Lady

by Beth Trissel

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GENRE:   Paranormal romance/time travel

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BLURB:

Lorna Randolph is hired for the summer at Harrison Hall in Virginia, where Revolutionary-War reenactors provide guided tours of the elegant old home. She doesn't expect to receive a note and a kiss from the handsome young man who then vanishes into mist.
Harrison Hall itself has plans for Lorna – and for Hart Harrison, her momentary suitor and its 18th century heir. Past and present are bound by pledges of love, and modern science melds with old skills and history as Harrison Hall takes Lorna and Hart through time in a race to solve a mystery and save Hart's life before the Midsummer Ball.

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EXCERPT

Something about him held her spellbound…the tilt of his head, arch of his brow, glimpse of his profile… She followed his every move with the fixity of an owl.

He turned blue-gray eyes toward her and sensuous lips curved into a smile on his handsome face. Hands down. No contest. He was the hottest guy ever. Her heart beat a thrilling new rhythm.

He circled closer to where she stood rooted in the foyer, not moving a toe, scarcely drawing breath. Did he truly see her backed tremulously against the wall, or did it only feel that way?

Unlike the others in the ghostly assembly, his eyes didn’t skirt past her. He paused in the dance. Bending at the shoulders, he tipped his hand to her in a genteel flourish.

He’d freakin’ bowed. Her jaw dropped. He most definitely saw her. And she sure as heck saw him.

A sparking sizzle jumped between them, awakening her as she’d never been roused before. Even more than when the house charged through her at her arrival. It was as if she were plugged in—to him.

How that could be, she had no idea, but when he gazed into her eyes, time seemed to stop. She spiraled into moonless stars, and back again to this dizzying realm. To him. Even if she were dreaming, she’d never forget this moment.

Amazon

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Married to her high school sweetheart, Beth Trissel lives on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by her human family and furbabies. An avid gardener, her love of herbs and heirloom plants figures into her work. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans, and the people who journeyed here from far beyond her borders are at the heart of her inspiration. She's especially drawn to colonial America and the drama of the American Revolution. And she loves a good ghost story. In addition to Young Adult and New Adult fantasy romance, she also writes historical, time travel, and paranormal romance, plus nonfiction.

For more on Beth visit her blog, One Writer’s Way.

Connect with Beth on Facebook

At Twitter

Visit Beth’s AmazonAuthor Page where all her books reside

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The tour dates can be found here

Starting Over by Sheri Levy (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY)

It is my pleasure to share a guest post by author Sheri Levy, who gives us a glimpse of her hobby...

It is pretty easy to tell you about my favorite hobby. I grew up with a   brown, miniature Dachshund, Heidi. She roamed from room to room at night. My canopy bed was higher off the ground than Mom and Dad’s or my brother’s. When Heidi ventured to my room, she stretched her short legs as far as she could and whined. She’d wake me, and I’d lean over to lift her on to my bed. She immediately burrowed under my covers and warmed my feet.

After I married, my husband rescued the neighbor’s five-year-old German shepherd, Charlie. When she passed on, my husband was lost. While he traveled for his job, my two children and I plotted a surprise for his birthday. We discovered an eight-week-old, White shepherd and brought her home. I had never had a puppy, and I learned how much attention puppies needed.

I found a small wooden playpen in our attic and strung sheets through the slats to keep her small body inside. She used her paws to push the sheet down and would squeeze herself out. Of course, as soon as she was free, she peed on the carpet.

When Murphy arrived home, we had kept the puppy hidden and told him to go sit on the couch. He did as we commanded. My two children made Dad keep his eyes shut. I plopped the puppy on his lap, and she preceded to lick his face. His eyes popped open in shock. We let Dad choose her name. Since our four-year-old daughter couldn’t say Gretchen or Gretel and mixed the two words, we named her Gretchel.

This started my trek on training dogs. We didn’t have a fence, and Gretchel learned to stay in our yard. She loved to fill her mouth with rocks as we walked. When she couldn’t add another in her mouth, she’d drop all of the rocks on the street, and rearrange them in her mouth to fit one more.

After Gretchel, our children were gone, and we chose our first Aussie, Sydney. Aussie’s can learn words like a two to three-year-old child. I was teaching special education and became fixated on teaching Sydney as many words as I could. He knew the names of each of his toys, the colors, and many commands.

A black Lab blew into our yard during a snow storm when Sydney was six-months-old. The dog’s ribs were visible, and he had three puncture wounds. Once the snow melted, we took Jake to the vet and adopted him. Jake was full of mischief. He uprooted plants, chewed on electrical wires, tree trunks, and ate the tongues out to Murphy’s work boots. He needed a lot of positive attention!

Sydney and Jake enjoyed Edisto Beach. They learned about boating, and not drinking salt water, When I decided to write, I wanted to use my dog experiences and our days with close friends on Edisto Beach. Both Sydney and Jake had moved on to the Rainbow Bridge. But I continued learning new dog skills. I trained my next Aussies in Rally and in Agility. I researched service dogs and learned from PAALS.org how they handled and trained their service puppies.

At graduation services, the dog’s new forever companion shares how their lives have been made better because of their service dog. Their stories make me tear up.

Seven Days to Goodbye was published and my memories are on paper. The sequel, Starting Over, encompasses other memories from teaching many types of children. You cannot teach a child without getting involved in their life.

My multi-handicapped classroom became an oasis for troubled children. The minute they walked into my room, they knew they were safe and loved. My students understood about positive reinforcement. If they did what I asked, they received rewards.  During the summer, I enjoyed bringing a needy child to my home for a few hours. They had a chance to go swimming, picnic, and see movies. My children were young and they enjoyed having older playmates.

The Trina Ryan Novel series, has a new service puppy, teen issues, tough choices, family dynamics, changing relationships, horseback riding, and a fun first-time romance.

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Starting Over

by Sheri Levy

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GENRE:   Contemporary Young Adult

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BLURB:

Trina Ryan’s challenging summer starts off with puppy-fueled energy burst as she takes on another service dog for training-an eight-week-old black Labrador named Colton. And to help explore another dream, she’s taken a job at the barn next door in exchange for riding lessons with the barn’s schooling horse. It doesn’t take long for Trina to butt heads with Morgan Hart, an award winning rider with a gorgeous thoroughbred named Knight- and a demanding, nasty demeanor with both people and her horse.

Adding to the list of frustrations is the difficulty in maintaining a long distance relationship with Chase, her first boyfriend from last summer, while trying to deal with unwanted attention from a new boy in her puppy training class.

At least best friend Sarah still has her back, but Trina wearies of Morgan’s constant insults and her heartless treatment of Knight, she decides to use her dog training skills to look underneath Morgan’s hostile attitude and develop a sense of trust.

Slowly, Morgan’s angry shield cracks enough to where she’s able to share a troubling family secret. Can Trina help Morgan confront her family problems and make a fresh start?

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EXCERPT

At three o’clock in the morning, I sat with my butt squished against the wall on the hard tile floor, my forehead resting on bent knees. I’d given up going back to bed and waited for Colton’s next outburst.

Seconds later he whined. I lifted my head as his nose poked out of the crate, sniffing. He tilted his head and toddled toward me. His tail beat back and forth. After a quick pee on the clean newspapers, he crawled onto my lap.

He put his front paws on my shoulders, and his dark eyes flirted mischief.

I smiled. “Ms. Jennifer and Mom warned me you’d be waking up all night.”

Colton’s ears drooped, and I stroked his velvety fur. Cradling his plump body, I buried my face in his fuzz. I inhaled his toasty puppy smell, trying hard not to think about Sydney, the first service dog I trained.

Sydney had come to me when his family moved away from South Carolina. At six-months-old, he was trained in his basic needs. He even slept through the night.

During our beach vacation, Sydney had worked his special magic with Logan, a young boy with autism. My best friend Sarah and I had met his cute older brothers, Peyton and Chase.

Sydney and I had snuggled on our last night and I’d told him about my memories of our year together.

In the morning, I’d clenched my teeth behind a fake smile and returned him to be matched to his forever companion.

Minutes before leaving the facility empty-handed, large, brown puppy eyes from the nursery had connected with mine. I’d decided to train another.

Eight-week-old Colton was a blank slate. I would be his first and only foster momma until he turned eighteen months old.

Colton nosed me again. He lifted his chocolate brown eyes to mine, and warmed the achy parts of my heart.

Starting Over will be published August 1^st, 2017.  Please pre-order with FictionAddiction

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sheri S. Levy is the author of an award-winning debut novel in her series, Trina Ryan’s Dogs in Training. Seven Days to Goodbye, won in 2015, and her magazine article, Scent with Love, won in 2011, with the Dog Writers Association in the Special Interest category. She is an active member of SCBWI and SIBA.

After a twenty-five-year teaching career in special needs, Sheri remains active with tutoring teens in reading and writing. PAALS, (Palmetto Animal Assisted Living Services), has helped with her research on writing about service dogs and how they change lives. Sheri, in turn, shares her book proceeds to support PAALS.org.

Sheri enjoys doing author visits and teaching writing workshops. When she is not writing, she reads, plays with her two dogs, listens to music, and hangs out with her husband and family. 

You can find more information on her website; and Facebook, Sherislevyauthor; Twitter, @SheriSLevy

Fiction addiction

Amazon author page

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All Signs Point to Murder by Connie di Marco (VBT, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

All Signs Point to Murder

by Connie di Marco

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GENRE: Mystery

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BLURB:

The stars predict a wedding-day disaster, but San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti never expected murder

Julia Bonatti is alarmed by the astrological signs looming over Geneva Leary’s wedding day, but nobody asked Julia’s opinion and being a bridesmaid means supporting the bride no matter what. Even with the foreboding Moon-Mars-Pluto lineup in the heavens, no one’s prepared for the catastrophes that strike: a no-show sister, a passed-out wedding planner, and a lethal shooting in the dead of night.

With anger and grief threatening to tear the Leary family part, Julia is determined to understand how such a terrible tragedy could occur. As she digs deeper into the family’s secrets, her astrological insights will lead her to the truth about a criminal enterprise that stretches far beyond the California coast.

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EXCERPT

Celia’s house was set back from the wide boulevard on a street that never seemed to be busy with traffic.  I pulled up in front and climbed the stairs.  After her husband died, Celia was fortunate.  She could still afford to live in her home.  The front lawn was perfect, a postage stamp of lush brilliant green bordered with hydrangeas.  No leaf would dare be out of place in Celia’s garden. 

I lugged the shopping bag up the stairs, forcing myself not to think about the remnants of Michael’s life that I had packed away.  After all, the very least she could do would be to open the door and say thank you.  When I reached the top of the stairway, I rang the bell and waited.  I waited a few minutes more and then rang the doorbell again.  She was home.  I was sure of it.  She simply refused to have anything to do with me.  That old familiar ache rose in my chest.  The orphan with her nose pressed against the window looking in on a life she couldn’t hope to have.  Angry at my automatic reaction, I rang the bell a third time.  Finally, I gave up.  Okay, Celia, you win.  I placed the bag at the front door and returned down the steps.  As I was opening my car door, someone called my name.  I turned back.  It was Maggie, Michael’s sister. 

“Julia.  Wait.”  She rushed down the stairs, out of breath when she reached me.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the bell.  I was upstairs.”  She gave me a warm hug. 

“Hi Maggie.”  I smiled.  “It’s great to see you.”  I had always liked Michael’s younger sister.  I had never known their father, but they both must have taken after him.  There certainly was no spiritual resemblance between them and their mother. 

“How are you?”  I responded. 

“I’m fine.  I was just visiting at Mom’s.”  Her smiled faded.  “Julia, I’m sorry she’s treating you this way.  She’s home.  She just won’t answer the door.” 

“Maggie, I gave up a year ago, wondering what she held against me.” 

“It’s not just you I’m afraid.  She won’t talk to anybody in the family.  Doesn’t see her old friends.  She rattles around that big old house day and night.  She’s made a shrine of my brother’s room.  I think she spends most of her time there.”  Maggie shrugged.  “I’m really worried about her but I just don’t know what to do.  That’s why I try to stop by whenever I can.” 

“I wish I could help, but I’m likely the last person she wants to see.  You don’t have to apologize for her.” 

“I know that.  I just don’t think you need to be treated like that.  We all hurt.  It doesn’t help to be cruel to you.  Michael really loved you.  I just hope you always remember that.  Don’t let my mother’s behavior color your feelings about him and what you had together.” 

Tears sprang to my eyes.  I hadn’t expected this greeting and hadn’t thought it would strike such a chord.  “Thanks, Maggie.  I do appreciate that.”  Her eyes were Michael’s eyes, the same green flecks in the brown that gave them a hazel tinge. 

“You can call me anytime.” 

I glanced up at the front door.  Maggie had left it wide open.  I spotted Harry, Michael’s dog.  When Michael and I first started seeing each other, we went bicycling in the park whenever we could.  One day, I spotted something moving under a bush and halted.  We investigated and found a beautiful white poodle, half starved, smelling very badly, and suffering from infections.  He had obviously been abandoned and someone had beaten him severely.  Michael left me to watch over him, and hurried back to retrieve his car.  We loaded the bikes on the back and I held Harry on my lap all the way to the emergency vet.  Michael paid for all his treatments and then adopted him.  His budget as a student was tight, but he didn’t hesitate to help a wounded creature.  I think that was when I fell in love with him. 

“Harry’s with you?” 

Maggie followed my gaze.  “Harry!  What are you doing?”  Harry had knocked over the shopping bag and was sniffing it.  When he heard his name called, he raised his head, one of Michael’s gloves in his mouth.  He whimpered and looked at us. 

“Oh, God.”  Maggie said.  “He knows that’s Michael’s glove.  Poor guy.  Come here, Harry,” she called.  Harry dropped the glove and bounded down the stairs.  He came straight at me and leaped towards my face.  “He remembers you.”  Maggie said. 

“Of course, he does.”  I bent down and hugged him as Harry left slippery kisses on my face.  I looked up at Maggie.  “I’m so glad you’ve kept him.” 

“Of course, I’d never let him go.  I just love Harry to death.  It’s like having a part of my brother to hold on to.” 

Seeing Harry had brought a rush of memories.  I had to get out of there before I turned into a blubbering idiot.  I hugged Maggie and thanked her.  As I started the engine, Maggie leaned in the window.  “Just remember, Julia – it’s not you.  It’s nothing you’ve done.” 

Amazon

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries from Midnight Ink, featuring San Francisco astrologer, Julia Bonatti, who never thought murder would be part of her practice.  Book 2 in the Zodiac Mysteries is All Signs Point to Murder, to be released on August 8, 2017. 

Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the national bestselling author of the Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Penguin Random House (Berkley Prime Crime), set in the village of Snowflake, Vermont.  Her recently released A Clue in the Stew is the fifth in this series.  Some of her favorite recipes can also be found in The Cozy Cookbook  and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. 

Connie is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. 

Website

Facebook(author)

Twitter:  @askzodia

Goodreads

Book 2:  All Signs Point to Murder

Book 1:  The Madness of Mercury

Website

Facebook

Twitter:  @SnowflakeVT

Goodreads

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The tour dates can be found here


  

Weddings at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Weddings at Promise Lodge

by Charlotte Hubbard

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GENRE: Inspirational (romance)

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BLURB:

When Bishop Monroe is forced to confess the truth about his relationship with young Leola before the entire congregation, he can only pray that open hearts and minds will allow him a future at Promise Lodge—with Christine.

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EXCERPT

“You look lovely in that deep red dress, Christine. It was all I could do to keep my mind on marrying Amos and your sister.”

When Christine turned, Bishop Monroe was standing so close she nearly bumped into him. She smiled up at him a little nervously, for he was tall and broad and extraordinarily handsome—and his dimples had come out to play. “Mattie wanted Rosetta and me to have new dresses with some color to them,” she explained. “And since Christmas was only a couple of weeks ago, we decided this red would be more cheerful than, say, the usual dark blue or gray or teal.”

“Mattie’s a wise woman—with admirable taste in color and husband material, as well,” he added. He held her gaze with his glowing green eyes. “May I have the honor of sitting with you at dinner, Christine? And spending the rest of the day with you, as well? Once we’re alone, I’d like to discuss some important decisions.”

Christine wondered if Monroe could hear how rapidly her heart was beating. Was her face as red as her dress? “I’d like that a lot, Monroe,” she said breathlessly.

The crowd around them seemed to disappear as he offered her his elbow. All Christine could see was Monroe’s attractive face, framed by wavy brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard—and those deep green eyes that focused so intently on her. What decisions could he possibly want to discuss with her? Did she dare hope he wanted her to become a permanent part of his new home, his new life at Promise Lodge?

 Amazon link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Many moons ago—like, in 1983 while she was still a school librarian—Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. This launched her into writing around seventy of those “true confessions” stories over the years, and she’s been a slave to her overactive imagination ever since. Over the course of her writing career, she has sold nearly 50 books—most recently, Amish romance series she’s written as Charlotte Hubbard or Naomi King.

Charlotte lived in Missouri for most of her life, so her Amish stories are set in imaginary Missouri towns. These days she lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Vera.

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The tour dates can be found here