Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Coal Black Lies
Author: Cindy K. Sproles
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Believing the bitter lies you tell yourself leaves little room for the sweetness of truth 

Coal miner Joshua Morgan managed to do the impossible--he broke away from the stranglehold of the iron-fisted Barton family and the Company Store, to whom all the miners in the Appalachian Mountains are indebted. But it cost him the life of his young daughter, who was run down by a posse led by Thomas Barton while coming to collect Joshua's payment to the store. 

Five years later, a sweet but slow-witted young girl lands on his doorstep, and Joshua's desire to protect her from the clutches of the Bartons increases his thirst for vengeance. Joshua sets out to discover where the girl came from in order to take down the Barton family once and for all. 

His journey leads him to the truth about the day his daughter died, a reality he finds hard to accept. But when confronted by Thomas Barton himself, Joshua is forced to rethink the dark lies brewing in his heart. If he broke away, could Thomas have also? Despite his misgivings, can Joshua join forces with a man he once despised to free the miners from the tyrannical Barton family and forge a future of peace for both the young girl and himself?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop

 

Guest Post from Author Cindy K. Sproles

I’d like to introduce you to Joshua Morgan, a freed miner once held hostage by the Barton Company Store. Indebted to the mine’s owners for ten times his pay, Joshua had had enough. He wanted his freedom. He wanted to live with his wife and daughter, tilling the land and working the fields. So, when Joshua finds a small emerald stone in the creek, he buys his freedom and tries to secure his and his family's safety by sealing the deal with a lie—a white lie that turns coal black and leads Joshua down a slippery path causing the death of his little girl and deteriorating his relationship with his wife.

Joshua is a good man and the choices he made, he made with the right heart. He just never imagined all the rights he was making would turn wrong. When he happens upon a little girl who doesn’t “seem just right in her mind,” Joshua befriends the child to help her, not realizing that he would end up full circle and facing down the Bartons once again.

Raney Morgan, Joshua’s wife, is broken-hearted after her daughter’s death. Her sweet nature forces her to keep her feelings inside and makes her mourn alone. She has always been Joshua’s true north until the accident when she begins to withdraw. Raney loves Joshua, but she harbors a great deal of anger toward him, blaming him for their daughter’s death and causing Joshua’s guilt to be intensified. She pushes Joshua farther away, trying to protect her heart until he brings home an orphaned child with a disability.

As Raney cares for the child, her joy begins to reignite. When she and Joshua are faced with the task of finding the girl’s relatives, Raney begins to believe her own little white lie—that the child is better with them than with her family.

The Morgan family is put to the test when they are forced to face the little lies they’ve told. They learn through their trials that a lie, regardless of the intention, is never going to pan out the way one hopes. Joshua and Rainy are good, God-fearing folks who slip into deception without realizing it. Their faith and the love of a “broken” child lead them back to a path that brings them healing and once again, happiness.

Also Available

 

---

About the Author

Cindy K. Sproles is the author of devotions published in newspapers across the country and a teacher at Christian writers conferences. She spent her formative years showing off her beloved Appalachian Mountains to others, and she and her family still live in the mountains of East Tennessee.

Connect with Cindy at cindysproles.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a print copy of Coal Black Lies plus book-related swag!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 17, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 24, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Takeover Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Way Back by Heidi Chiavaroli

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Way Back by Heidi Chiavaroli hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Way Back 

Series: Lights of Acadia #1 

Author: Heidi Chiavaroli 

Publisher: Hope Creek Publishers 

Release Date: June 18, 2024 

Genre: Dual Timeline Women's Fiction

Young love means everything . . . until it leaves you with nothing.

The summer before her senior year of high school, Laney Jacobs and her best friend jump from a six-story beachside cliff in an attempt to impress their boyfriends. Laney rose from the water. Her friend did not. 

Six years later, when Laney’s troubled mother’s memoir hits the bestseller list airing the family’s destructive secrets, Laney is forced to relive the trauma, this time in the public eye. To escape the scrutiny, she seeks shelter at her estranged grandmother’s seaside inn. But she can’t reconcile the loving woman with the heartless parent in her mother’s book. As she seeks answers, the boyfriend who once cost her a promising future reappears, stirring up both pain and hope. 

When her mother's vindictive fans threaten her grandmother's livelihood and the lighthouse Laney has come to love, she turns to the century-old words of a young lighthouse keeper to help her find the courage to move forward. But once truths from the past come to light and old love finds new beginnings, will Laney discover that forgiveness is the only way toward true healing?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

 

Excerpt

 
“Laney?”

The baritone voice sounds so familiar. Not one of the other servers, though.

“Laney.” It comes again, this time louder. The deepness of it probes and picks at the scarred places I’ve been trying to bury for the last six years. My blood turns to ice.

It can’t be.

I’m imagining things. No one from California is all the way out here except me. And even if one person from my old life happened to show up in Bar Harbor, of all people it wouldn’t be him, the person I tried so hard to escape.

The bartender slides one glass of wine toward me, and I clutch the stem of the glass with enough force to shatter it. I turn from the bar as if my feet are weighed down with wet cement.

A small intake of breath passes my lips at the sight of him.

I’m caught unawares by how good he looks in his khakis and polo shirt, the slight shadow of stubble across his chiseled chin. I try not to think of all he’s likely accomplished in the six years since high school, of all I haven’t—the too-old college drop-out.

My face burns and I attempt to swallow down my emotion. “Jason.”

“I can’t believe you’re actually here.” He places his hand on my arm, and I’m shocked by the instant heat that burns my skin. A foreign longing rushes through me, and I attempt to tamp it down.

I pull away from the fingers that scorch the skin beneath my blouse. “What—what are you doing here?”

---

About the Author

Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli...sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I'd Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn't until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys' nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn't stopped writing since! Heidi writes women's fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write both split time stories and contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, Freedom's Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Her second Carol Award-winning novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott's life and led her to write The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, a contemporary twist on Little Women. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and Wyatt, her standard poodle.

Connect with Heidi by visiting heidichiavaroli.com  to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Way Back, themed canvas tote bag, bath salts, 3 specialty teas, ocean-inspired candle, magnet, gel pen, notebook, and $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 19, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 26, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Amish Book Cellar by Tracy Fredrychowski

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Amish Book Cellar by Tracy Fredrychowski hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Amish Book Cellar
Series: Willow Springs Amish Mystery Romance #1
Author: Tracy Fredrychowski
Publisher: The Tracer Group, LLC
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Genre: Christian Fiction Amish Cozy Mystery

It will take everything she has to face her past. Can this wayward woman find her way back into the hearts of her Amish Community? 

When a mistake forces Lydia Troyer to leave her Amish roots in exchange for a new life as an Englischer, she finds herself running from more than her past as Wally Troyer's rebellious daughter. 

Upon her father's untimely death, she is called home to take over The Book Cellar, Willow Springs's favorite Amish bookstore. A series of strange happenings and whispers among her people lead her to suspect there are more than books hidden in the cellar. Will she chance getting her heart broken again if she leans on a longtime friend and carpenter, Aaron Shetler, to help her discover the truth? 

Widower Aaron Shetler has too much at stake to allow Lydia Troyer back into his life. Will it take his young daughter, Mattie Rose, to convince him what he yearns for the most is the one thing he's fighting against the hardest? 

 Together with their Labrador Yankee, Lydia, and Aaron help bring to light a century of mysteries waiting to be unearthed about some of Willow Springs's most upstanding citizens. 

Can this woman find the courage to stand up for what is right and find her place back among her people?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

 

Excerpt

 
The black abyss, a place she had known since childhood yet never fully explored, urged her on. The air grew denser as she ventured deeper into the back section of the unused space. With a flashlight in hand, she found the display case covered in dust. How she wished the electric lights the bishop approved for the bookshop included the cellar.

The eeriness of the night added to her apprehension. With gloved hands, she reached for a particularly weathered volume, and a strange sensation pricked at the back of her neck.

Faint whispers echoed through the walls. At first, she dismissed them as a figment of her imagination, the creaks and sighs of an old building playing tricks on her mind.

Yankee sat at her side. His fur bristled slightly, and Lydia couldn’t help but notice the hair standing up on his back. A low growl rumbled intensely within his chest, a guttural sound that hinted at an awareness beyond her own.

But then the whispers grew into distinct voices. They rose and fell unsettlingly, forcing her to hold her breath and turn off the flashlight. A chill settled over her as the voices carried through the musty air. Fear crept in as the voices seemed trapped in the walls, holding her captive to the darkness. Yankee’s stance reassured her, his loyalty a silent affirmation that she wasn’t alone.

When the sounds faded, she summoned the courage to make her way out of the back room. Ascending the narrow staircase with the ancient book clutched tightly in her hands, the whispers from the cellar still lingered in her mind. As she reached the upstairs apartment, a sudden compulsion prompted her to lock the door behind her.

 

Also Available

---

About the Author

Tracy Fredrychowski’s life closely mirrors the gentle, simple stories she crafts in her writing. With a passion for the simpler side of life, Tracy regularly shares tips on her website and blog at tracyfredrychowski.com

In northwestern Pennsylvania, Tracy grew up steeping in the virtues of country living. A pivotal moment in her life was the tragic murder of a young Amish woman in her community. This event profoundly influenced her, compelling her to dedicate her writing to the peaceful lives of the Amish people. Tracy aims to inspire her readers through her stories to embrace a life centered around faith, family, and community. 

For those intrigued by the Amish way of life, Tracy extends an invitation to connect with her on facebook.com/tracyfredrychowskiauthor. On her page and group, she shares captivating Amish photography by her friend Jim Fisher and recipes, short stories, and glimpses into her cherished Amish community nestled deep in the heart of northwestern Pennsylvania’s Amish County.

Connect with Tracy at tracyfredrychowski.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 18, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 25, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: There Goes the Groom by Esther Hatch

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

About the Book

Catching a husband has never been so complicated.

Matthew Harrison has only one task in life, to marry money. After failing miserably in London, his family takes matters into their own hands by arranging his marriage to the wealthy Lucy Bateman. But when he meets Lucy for the first time, his resolve to save his family from ruin crumbles. Lucy looks to be nothing more than a child, and he cannot fathom going through with the union. Without a thought for the consequences of his actions, he runs away.

Lucy Bateman didn’t like the idea of an arranged marriage, but she agreed to save her sister from suffering the same fate. However, when she played a trick on her groom-to-be by sending her younger sister to meet him in her place, he fled without a word. Now, three years later, Lucy stumbles upon her long-lost fiance working as a cart driver. Fate has given her a second chance and this time there will be no tricks… other than pretending to be someone else entirely in order to convince him to come home and marry her.

My Review

Oh, the tangled webs! A minor switcharoo prank drastically altered the lives of Matthew and Lucy. I love that she waits for him, and that when she discovers him and goes "undercover" they are able to get to know each other without the pressures of their families and society, where a true friendship blossoms. There is so much humor woven in with the complications of two hidden identities, sweet romance and amazing chemistry, and depth of feeling as Matthew and Lucy attempt to discover more about themselves, each other, and what the future holds. The very different lifestyle, the menial tasks of Matthew's job, the local villagers, and the goose bring a vibrant setting and cast of characters that were an absolute pleasure to read and the perfect place to fall in love! The author strikes such a wonderful balance in each book in this series with light-hearted humor, toe-curling romance, and deeper emotions. Highly recommend them all!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Romance of Rank series

 

 

Review: Betting on the Brainiac by Melanie Jacobson

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

About the Book

I have twenty million reasons to marry the nerdiest coder in Austin for a year…

When my roommate’s friend needs a place to work on his software startup, I’m happy to let him use the daytime hours to work in my night club. The guy is harmless--super sweet, a little nerdy. He might even be cute if not for his hoodie habit and the fact that he thinks I’m a party girl airhead.

But then he hears an explosive fight between my father and me, and all my family secrets come tumbling out--including the truth about our wealth and the inheritance I won’t get until I’m married. I know: welcome to the eighteenth century.

At first, I’m mortified. But then Oliver comes up with a plan to benefit us both. Unlock my enormous inheritance, right my parents’ wrongs, make my business dreams a reality, and save his company.

We just have to get married.

It’s a perfect plan. Until it turns out nerdy Oliver has charm, moves, and serious abs. When a kiss changes everything and blurs the boundaries in our marriage of convenience, can I trust his feelings? Or am I walking into a multimillion dollar trap?

USA Today bestselling author Melanie Jacobson delivers in this closed door/just kisses marriage of convenience romcom. It’s all swoon, no spice. Perfect for fans of Jenny Proctor banter, Emma St. Clair shenanigans, and Courtney Walsh heart.


My Review

Wow, talk about romantic tension! I loved the chemistry between Oliver and Madi as their seemingly simple relationship becomes more complicated with each page turn. They slowly discover things about each other as their proximity at the club and with friends reveals aspects that are hidden under first impressions. I love that they bond over rescued kittens, have a secret masquerade kiss that leaves Madi reeling- and guessing, and there is so much fun quirkiness like the 7-11 themed wedding of convenience. Madi's relationship with her family is dysfunctional, and I loved seeing how the dynamic with her sister shifted throughout the story. Oliver is just too good to be true, and he was such a sweetheart with his own struggles and desires. The roommates are in full force, especially Ruby the Matchmaker, and I enjoy the way they support each other and their variety of personalities.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Betting on Love series . . .

Review: Earning the Mountain Man's Trust by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

About the Book

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Naomi Wyatt has finally given up on the man who once promised to love her for the rest of his life—then disappeared after a business trip, never responding to her letters. She’s now alone with a beautiful baby to provide for, a daughter whose red hair reminds her daily of the man she gave her heart to. She has to move on, though, and she did, going west with her sister. When Jonah Coulter asks for her hand in marriage, she knows she would be hard-pressed to find a better father for her sweet child. He’s a Coulter, after all, and he’s proven to be a good friend during her darkest hours.

Eric LaGrange thought he’d lost Naomi forever. But when he finally gets word that she’s in the Montana Territory, he drops everything to go after her…and their daughter? How could Naomi have kept their beautiful child from him? And how could she move on so quickly that she’s already engaged to another man? He loves Naomi so much that he’ll accept whatever choice is best for her, but is that him…or this settled rancher who clearly cares for them? No matter what, he’s determined to know his daughter and become the father he always wanted to be.

With Eric’s sudden appearance, Naomi’s heart is shredded once again. She barely has time to catch her breath before a new threat appears on the horizon. This time she has far more at stake than her heart, and only a Divine hand can turn this disaster for their good.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with a second chance romance, love triangle, hidden treasure, and faith that heals wounded hearts.

My Review

I've enjoyed this series so far and love the premise of an isolated ranch of brothers (reminiscent of Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer), but I struggled with the love triangle in this book. I want to root for Jonah as a Coulter brother, but he really gets the short end of the stick. It was difficult for me to be sympathetic to Eric, and I didn't always relate to Naomi's attitude. I think it was the non-communication that contributed, and the secrets Naomi kept that prohibited those around her from giving the support she needed in the aftermath of her trauma. Her silence also caused some of the later danger and conflict, and speaking up would have given Eric vital information that would have protected him and helped him make safer choices. I was glad for her to have a happy ending and look forward to more in the series focusing on the Coulter brothers finding love.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series 

Review: The Fake Out Flex by Ash Kelly

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

He's a guarded pro hockey player. My brother's best friend. My high school crush. And now…my fake date to my ex's wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

After my breakup on live TV goes viral—yep, I'm Breakup Sneeze Girl, hi!—I cannot go to my ex's wedding alone.

So my totally non-meddling—cough, yeah right—brother ropes in his best friend as my date.

The only problem is, Fraser and I share a history. He was my high school crush…until he left without even saying goodbye.

But that was seven years ago, and I am completely, one thousand percent, over it.

One fake date with Fraser? No problem. I can handle that.
Until one date turns into me being his fake girlfriend.

The more time we spend together, the more I catch glimpses of the Fraser I knew back in high school. Under his gruff exterior, he's kind. Protective. Encouraging. He's also got the most intense blue eyes and cutest smile I've ever seen.

And yep, okay, my crush is back with a vengeance.

Only this time, it doesn't feel so one-sided. Fraser buys me my favorite flowers. He flies across the country just to check in on me. And when he gazes into my eyes, there's something simmering between us I can't deny.

But will Fraser leave again, or can our fake relationship turn into something real?

The Fake Out Flex is a closed-door pro hockey romance with plenty of banter, fast-talking friends, truth fries, the granddaddy of grand gestures, and a heartwarming happily-ever-after. It's the first book in the Hockeymances series and can be read as a standalone.

My Review

My love for hockey romances began early in the trend, and it still hasn't died out! This is a fun one with a charismatic narration full of banter and mid-level angst. I didn't relate to Evie's desire for vengeance by attending her ex's wedding- who does that? I did enjoy her reconnecting with Fraser and their fake dating turned real. Her meddling brother was funny, and the other side characters really added to the story. It was cool to have Evie be such an expert on hockey and the way Fraser trusted her analysis, even when it was harsh. I appreciated that they both have a goal to save intimacy for marriage, and think that is a wonderful perspective to include in books these days since it's not assumed anymore. I didn't think it needed to be a secret with an awkward reveal though- that made it seem less than normal, rather than destigmatizing the idea. Overall I enjoyed this book and plan to read more from the author!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming books in the Hockeymances series . . .

Book Tour & Excerpt: The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green

About the Book

Step into the beguiling world of 1926 New York and discover the power of resilience, friendship, and love from award-winning author Jocelyn Green.

Elsa Reisner's lifelong dream of working as an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History is fading as the job begins to drain her passion. But fate takes an unexpected turn when she is assigned to catalog the bequest of a recently deceased patron whose Gothic country mansion holds secrets and treasures waiting to be discovered.

As Elsa delves into her task, she forms an unlikely bond with the estate's delightful gardener and her daughter, as well as an architectural salvage dealer who still bears scars from the Great War. Together, they embark on a thrilling treasure hunt for a missing relic intended to safeguard the servants' futures before the estate is sold. At the same time, Elsa's body seems to betray her with new symptoms from a childhood disease that isn't through with her yet.

With the brooding veteran and her handsome colleague joining the search, Elsa must navigate the tangled web of secrets and hidden motives along with the changing state of her health. As her deadline looms ever closer, will she be able to secure a new life for her friends before the estate slips from their grasp?

Excerpt

When she reached the art gallery, she rested on a bench and stared at the stained-­glass windows, if only to anchor herself in the present time and place. She was no longer the child she’d been at boarding school, trying to keep up with the other girls and failing, laughter ringing in her ears. She had been playing hide-­and-­seek with her classmates, only to realize they’d broken the rules and left the agreed-­upon boundaries. They left her alone to wander in vain until her weak leg collapsed. The matron had sent her to bed, where she’d stayed for three days to recover. Three more days alone when she desperately longed for companionship. Her parents, who lived less than five miles from the school, did not come to visit her, either.

Elsa would search no more today. Drawing a fortifying breath, she stood and went back to the stairs. Going down would be easier.

Wind buffeted the stone tower. Beyond the windows, lightning forked. Thunder clapped, and she took the stairs a little faster.

“Mr. Dupont? Barney?” Boy, she must be really desperate to want to locate a dog. But having a friendly canine at her side had its charms right about now.

She tried a light switch, but nothing happened. Either the power had gone out from the storm, or Mr. Spalding had already had the electricity shut off. She normally enjoyed a good summer storm. But being here alone when she hadn’t expected to be . . . It was all too Gothic for her taste.

Her mind played tricks. Was that a person or the wind? Then the moaning stopped, and shouting took its place. The tone held not anger but fear. Urgency. Someone was in distress.

At the bottom of the tower, she hurried along the corridor as much as she dared, looking and finding no one. Then a flash of lightning illuminated the silhouettes of two men outside on the covered veranda. One smoked a cigarette between words frayed with shredded nerves. The other voice held steady. She’d heard him speak this morning, but barely. She must have been so preoccupied with the scars and the dog that she hadn’t noticed how rich the sound was.

She couldn’t see their faces with their backs turned to the window. But as Mr. Dupont soothed the other man, he didn’t sound scary. He sounded like . . . well, like someone you’d want by your side in a storm, whether it raged in the sky or in one’s soul. Clearly he’d weathered his own.

Thunder rolled, and rain blew sideways, spraying the windows. Baskets of ferns swung wildly from the veranda’s ceiling.

The man with the cigarette was shaking. “I want to go inside,” Elsa heard him say.

“That’s a good idea, but you can’t smoke in the house,” Mr. Dupont told him. “So you either stay out here and get wet or come inside out of the storm. It is just a storm, Tom. It’s 1926, this is New York, and we’re on a job. You’re safe now. You’re safe.”

“No.” Tom shook his head. Thunder boomed again, and he sank to the floor, covering his head with crossed arms.

In a flash of fur, Barney bounded onto the veranda, ran to Tom, and nudged under his arms to lick his face.

Mr. Dupont waited until Tom buried his fingers in Barney’s fur, returning the affection.

“Come on.” Mr. Dupont took the cigarette and smashed it in a planter. “You don’t need that.” With a hand to his elbow, he helped him up. Barney placed his head beneath Tom’s palm. This time, the dog’s tail wasn’t wagging.

Elsa backed away from the windows and watched the trio walk toward the door. When they came inside, she was waiting by one of the fireplaces in the library.

Both men stood straighter when they saw her. Barney pressed against Tom’s side.

“Hello again,” she said to Mr. Dupont. “I’m afraid we didn’t have a proper introduction this morning. I’m Elsa Reisner,” she added for Tom’s sake, then explained why she was here. “Mr. Spalding told me you’re salvaging some of the architecture for Dupont & Son, correct?”

“That’s right. I’m the son in that equation—­Luke Dupont—­and this is Tom Lightfoot, assisting me.” He rolled down sleeves that had been pushed to his elbows and buttoned the cuffs.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dupont, Mr. Lightfoot.”

“Oh, please, none of that for me. Tom’ll do fine.” A dimple appeared as a smile formed and then faded. Dark blond hair was pomaded back from a smooth face that would seem boyish if not for the sunken cheeks.

“And just Luke,” added the man whose voice ran deep. He was only an inch or so taller than Tom, but his presence felt far more solid. Tom held his shoulders slightly forward, creating a hollow in front of his chest.

Elsa smiled, happy to shed the stiff high-­society manners with which she’d grown up. “All right, then. Let’s dispense with formalities all around, or at least between the three of us.”

Excerpt from The Hudson Collection © 2024 Jocelyn Green, Bethany House Publishers

 

About the Author

Jocelyn Green (JocelynGreen.com) inspires faith and courage as the bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including the Christy Award-winning The Mark of the King and Drawn by the Current and her On Central Park series.