by: Pamela Gibson
Series: Mission Belles
Genre: Historical Western Romance
Release Date: May 27, 2020
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Amazon | Goodreads
The year is 1847...
… Gabriel de la Vega, disgraced son of a Mexican ranchero, returns to his Alta California home when Americans take power to help his countrymen with the bewildering transition and make amends to the woman he once wronged.
Fiercely independent, Isabella Fuentes swore she’d never forgive Gabriel for abandoning her on the night they were to elope. Now he’s back, playing a dangerous game, pretending to be meek and repentant when she knows the handsome, former outlaw is anything but contrite.
When a series of accidents threaten Isabella’s safety, Gabriel offers an outrageous solution: the protection of a brief civil marriage. Isabella is tempted. But can she rely on a man who once betrayed her and can she trust her foolish heart to let him go when the danger has passed?
How could a man provoke her and excite her in the same conversation?
Isabella shook her head in exasperation. Gabriel was dangerous, a threat to her peace of mind.
She was not a lovesick maiden, hanging on his every word. She was a grown woman who knew who she was and what she wanted from life.
It could not be Gabriel de la Vega.
Isabella finished her meal and slanted a glance at her tormentor.
For all her bluster, when she reflected on the past few days, she knew without a doubt he could be important to her again. He was a trial, yes, but he was also her guardian angel. What would have happened to her if he had not thrown her out of the way of the bull?
She shuddered and let out a held breath. All those pent-up feelings from years ago were still lurking beneath the surface. She’d known it months ago when he strolled into his father’s parlor after a prolonged absence, like he’d just returned from a walk. His eyes still sparkled with mischief, and his perfect teeth still drew her when he smiled. For some reason, he seemed to believe he needed to hide his virility with well-chosen insipid words and dandified clothes.
Yet his strength was as much a part of him as his swagger. It tugged her like an invisible bond because she knew what it was like to be cherished by him.
Gabriel paused—fork in midair—both eyebrows raised. “Is something amiss?”
“No.” She dropped her napkin beside her plate and pushed back her chair.
“You were staring. Do I have food on my chin?”
“I’ve had enough.”
“Enough food, or enough of my company?”
“Señor Vega . . . I can never have too much of a man’s instructive conversation. Is that not true, Señora Garcia?”
The older woman nodded and stuffed a handful of olives into her mouth, more intent on her dining than talking.
Isabella smirked as Gabriel dabbed his chin. He did a good job portraying the dandified, petulant son of a rich ranchero, too accustomed to his comforts to pay attention to the rogues around him. Here he was, putting on a show for Señora Garcia. Or maybe it was for the servants hovering in the background.
“I believe I shall take my leave.” She stood, as did he, ever the gentleman.
Isabella shook her head in exasperation. Gabriel was dangerous, a threat to her peace of mind.
She was not a lovesick maiden, hanging on his every word. She was a grown woman who knew who she was and what she wanted from life.
It could not be Gabriel de la Vega.
Isabella finished her meal and slanted a glance at her tormentor.
For all her bluster, when she reflected on the past few days, she knew without a doubt he could be important to her again. He was a trial, yes, but he was also her guardian angel. What would have happened to her if he had not thrown her out of the way of the bull?
She shuddered and let out a held breath. All those pent-up feelings from years ago were still lurking beneath the surface. She’d known it months ago when he strolled into his father’s parlor after a prolonged absence, like he’d just returned from a walk. His eyes still sparkled with mischief, and his perfect teeth still drew her when he smiled. For some reason, he seemed to believe he needed to hide his virility with well-chosen insipid words and dandified clothes.
Yet his strength was as much a part of him as his swagger. It tugged her like an invisible bond because she knew what it was like to be cherished by him.
Gabriel paused—fork in midair—both eyebrows raised. “Is something amiss?”
“No.” She dropped her napkin beside her plate and pushed back her chair.
“You were staring. Do I have food on my chin?”
“I’ve had enough.”
“Enough food, or enough of my company?”
“Señor Vega . . . I can never have too much of a man’s instructive conversation. Is that not true, Señora Garcia?”
The older woman nodded and stuffed a handful of olives into her mouth, more intent on her dining than talking.
Isabella smirked as Gabriel dabbed his chin. He did a good job portraying the dandified, petulant son of a rich ranchero, too accustomed to his comforts to pay attention to the rogues around him. Here he was, putting on a show for Señora Garcia. Or maybe it was for the servants hovering in the background.
“I believe I shall take my leave.” She stood, as did he, ever the gentleman.
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Author of eight books on California history and thirteen romance novels, Pamela Gibson is a former City Manager who lives in the Nevada desert. Having spent the last three years messing about in boats, a hobby that included a five-thousand-mile trip in a 32-foot Nordic Tug, she now spends most of her time indoors happily reading, writing, cooking and keeping up with the antics of Ralph, the Rescue Cat.
Places to follow Pamela Gibson:
You can follow the Return of the Fox Blog Tour here.
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteDid you have input on the cover of the book?
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Bernie. The answer is no. The only input I had is to tell them I did not like the cover on the first Mission Belles book and hoped this one would be better. They changed both.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover, sounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie. It's a rather obscure subgenre, but I like that period history and I grew up in the places described (much changed, of course).
DeleteThanks for featuring my excerpt today, Kim. I'm always happy to be here.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thanks for stopping by. Happy release day!
DeleteGreat excerpt!
ReplyDeleteHi Victoria. Nice to hear from you again. Yes, it's one of my favorites. She wants to have him in her life, but doesn't want to give up her independence. When California was part of Mexico, women were allowed to own land. In the US, some states only permitted men to own land. Not knowing what will happen with the American take-over causes Isabella a bit of angst.
DeleteThanks so much for sharing a book description and giveaway also. Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt sounds wonderful. I love historical romances. This sounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteThank you James. Nice to have you drop by.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover. It has very nice artwork.
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It does. The colors stand out and the face of the model is perfect.
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ReplyDeleteThank you Sandy. I'm always happy to find people who love to read.
DeleteSounds like a great book. I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. It's a beautiful cover and the book is about an interesting time when the U.S. won a war with Mexico and took over California and a few other places. Many cultural changes occurred and then gold was discovered and everything changed.
DeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry. I love that small sliver of time in the west, just before the gold rush changed California forever.
DeleteI like the cover it's really eye catching and intriguing!
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the excerpt. It sounds like an interesting story.
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ReplyDeleteThe cover art is amazing and the storyline sounds like a great read. Best wishes to the author on the novel.
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ReplyDeleteThis looks like an awesome read! I hope the tour is going well.
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