Lily Graison's Blog, page 7

Time Is Running Out…

There are only 3 days left until the book launch of WILD HORSES! Have you pre-ordered your copy yet? Grab it now for $2.99….the book price will go to $4.99 on April 11th so take advantage of this special offer before it’s too late.

US links below…

 

Wild Horses 

Book #7 in The Willow Creek Series

Hiding from a future she doesn’t want…

When the new blacksmith in town announces they are to be married, Alexandra Avery does what any bride with cold feet would do. She disobeys her father, dresses in mens clothing, and sneaks away with the cattle drive he just sent east to avoid the inevitable. Little does she know, Jesse Samuels, the annoying boy who made her childhood nearly unbearable is the new trail boss and calling the shots. How will she ever survive being bossed around by him for the next two months?

Handed what he’s coveted the most…

Entrusted with over seeing a cattle drive for the Avery Ranch is exactly what Jesse Samuels needed, especially after hearing Alexandra Avery, the girl he spent the last ten years of his life planning a future with is now engaged. He regrets not staying and fighting for her until he finds her stowed away pretending to be one of the crew. When the other cowboys realize there’s a woman amongst them, his protective instincts kick in. His plan to send her home is thwarted at every turn so he does the only thing he can to ensure her safety. He drags her kicking and screaming to the altar and marries her.

Will love be enough to bind them…

Alexandra and Jesse have always had a love-hate relationship but when the dangers of the open trail take a turn that could cost them their lives, they have to put aside their differences to keep everyone safe. Will the truce be enough to show them what everyone else has always known? Or will they lose each other forever?

 

 

WILD HORSES releases on April 11th. PRE-ODER your copy for $2.99. The price will go up to $4.99 on release day!

Friday First Kiss #109 :: His Brother’s Wife by Lily Graison-Historical Western Romance

The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.

Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.

This week’s Friday First Kiss comes from,

His Brother’s Wife by Lily Graison

“You can’t leave.”

Grace blinked her tears away and swallowed to dislodge the lump in her throat. “Why?”

“Because…” He stuttered, his mouth opening and closing several times. He looked as if he were about to say something then thought better of it before he shook his head. “You’ll break Jesse’s heart if you do.”

“As if you care about Jesse’s feelings,” she scoffed. “If you did, you’d treat him as he wished to be treated and not as a child who is underfoot all the time.”

“I do not.”

“You do!” Grace took a deep breath after yelling and tried to get her temper under control. “Rafe, you can not order that boy around. He told me on our way into town how he lived alone after your father died. He had no one to take care of him. Only himself. In his eyes, he’s a man, whether you or anyone else in this town sees it or not. Having you come in and boss him around is eating at what little pride he has left. Why can’t you see that?”

“Because he isn’t a man, Grace. He’s a child, regardless of how you see him. He only survived as long as he did because Morgan Avery and his brother’s made sure he was all right.”

“Fine. It’s obvious you’ll not see him as anything but a child so why aren’t you treating him like one? Why isn’t he in school? Why is he here, doing your bidding instead of out playing with every other kid in town?”

“He told me he didn’t want to go.”

“And you just accepted that answer and let him stay at home?”

Rafe growled and jerked his hat off, running a hand threw his hair before slamming the weathered leather back on his head. “What the hell was I supposed to do, Grace? The kid hated me the moment he clapped eyes on me. It took him three weeks before he’d even acknowledge I was in the house, another two before he uttered his first words to me, which, by the way, was to tell me to go to hell. I couldn’t very well march in here and order him to school, now could I?”

“And what about now?”

“What about now?”

Grace tried to rein in her temper and lowered her voice. “He speaks to you now. Have you asked him what he wants?”

“If you haven’t noticed, every time I speak to him he lashes out. I avoid speaking to him at all if I can.”

“And how long do you expect to live that way? Until he is old enough to marry and leave?”

“Oh, so you’re not marrying him, then?” he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.

“I’ve told you I’m not.”

“So why are you still here? To torture me with your presence on a daily basis?

“Torture you?” Grace was shocked by his choice of words. He was being tortured? How so? She took a step closer to him and jabbed a finger into his chest. “If anyone is being tortured here, Rafe Samuels, its me. I’m the one cooking and cleaning for you with nothing in return other than a bed to sleep in. A simple thank you would suffice most days but you’re too pig headed for even that.” She gritted her teeth, raised her head to try to look him in the eye and shook her head is disgust when she failed. “I can’t believe for a second I even harbored the notion of marrying you, but trust me when I say you’d be the last man in Montana I’d marry!”

The moment the words were out of her mouth, Grace froze. Rafe tilted his head a fraction, enough for her to see the fire in his eyes change so quick, she gulped in a breath of air moments before he reached for her, dragging her to him and kissing her like his life depended on it.

Her knees went weak, dizziness befalling her when he forced his tongue into her mouth. She moaned, reached up with both hands, placing them on his wide shoulders to steady herself and closed her eyes the moment her heart slammed against her ribcage.

It was the kind of kiss she’d always dreamed of. Forceful, full of passion and unrestrained need. His free arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. The desire she’d seen in his eyes earlier wasn’t the only place she noticed it. It was there on her thigh, hard and digging into her flesh.

She tilted her hips a fraction, rubbing herself against him and felt completely wanton as she did. He moaned, his hold on her tightening, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to draw him nearer.

His lips were firm and warm, his breath hot as it washed across her lips. Heat engulfed her body when his hand roamed down her back to her bottom. He cupped her flesh in his hand, pulled her tight against him, the hard length of him pressed more firmly against her leg.

He held her in a vise-like grip, his mouth hungry and demanding and for the first time in her life, Grace would have given herself to a man without a single regret. Her body ached in places she wasn’t even aware could ache, her heart was pounding against her ribcage and no matter how close they were, it wasn’t close enough.

She gasped and broke the kiss, dragging in lungs full of air as Rafe found the soft skin under her ear. His tongue lapped at the flesh of her neck and goose bumps pimpled her skin. Her breasts ached, her nipples hardening and begging for his touch. “Rafe.”

Grace was so caught up in the moment, she barely heard Jesse call her name. The sound of footsteps hitting the wooden steps at the back of the house caught her attention seconds before her name was carried to her on the breeze.

She gasped, pulled away from Rafe, and stared at him while trying to catch her breath. She scrambled to straighten her hair and turned, running the remaining distance to the house.

 

 

 

His Brother’s Wife by Lily Graison

The Willow Creek Series, Book 5

When Grace Kingston accepts a wedding proposal through a mail-order bride agency and travels across country to be married, she has no idea her bridegroom is a fourteen-year-old boy. There’s no way she can accept his offer but with depleted funds, and winter coming on, Grace has little choice but to stay. Things go from bad to worse when she meets Jesse’s older brother, Rafe. The attraction is immediate. He’s surly, rude and downright pig-headed but he makes her pulse race with a single glance.

Rafe Samuels thought to teach his brother a lesson by making him take responsibility for his rash behavior but one look at Grace and his plans go up in smoke. She isn’t the dowdy spinster he imagined and having her live in his house and not be able to have her is the worst kind of torment. But putting her out of his mind is impossible.

As fall turns to winter, Grace finds that living with the two brothers isn’t as simple a thing as she once thought. Jesse still thinks marriage is in the cards, and Rafe is a devilishly handsome distraction she doesn’t need. She can’t decide if he hates her or wants to kiss her. And how does she avoid breaking Jess’s heart when it becomes clear that the attraction between her and Rafe is mutual?

Read an excerpt from this book!

 

Get This Book at the following Retailers

 

 

 

About Lily Graison

Lily Graison is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical western romances. Her Willow Creek Series introduced readers to a small Montana town where the west is wild and the cowboys are wilder. Lily also dabbles in contemporary and paranormal romance when the mood strikes and all of her stories range from sweet to spicy with strong female leads and heroes who tend to always get what they want.

She lives in Hickory, North Carolina and on occasion can be found at her sewing machine creating 1800’s period clothing or participating in civil war reenactments and area living history events. When not portraying a southern belle, you can find her at a nearby store feeding her obsession for all things resembling office supplies.

To see the dresses and hats Lily has created, visit her Pinterest page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+  | Instagram

 

 

The post Friday First Kiss #109 :: His Brother’s Wife by Lily Graison-Historical Western Romance appeared first on Author Lily Graison.

Friday First Kiss #108 :: The Rancher by Lily Graison – Historical Western Romance

The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.

Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.

This week’s Friday First Kiss comes from,

The Rancher by Lily Graison

Holden was half way down the street before he stopped, turned around, and walked back to the school house.

Since the moment Laurel had slammed her door in his face, he’d gone over everything Morgan had learned about her, and told him about, and every piece of information he was able to get from Laurel himself and none of it explained why she was so stand-offish at times.

Or why he got the impression her surly attitude was all an act.

She confused him more often than not and tonight was no exception. It had been a long time since he’d courted a woman and from what he remembered, there were certain things one hoped he got at the end of the evening. A kiss goodnight being one of them. A kiss he’d been anticipating until Laurel shouted goodnight to him and slammed the door in his face.

He’d seen her gaze linger on his mouth as they reached the room behind the schoolhouse and that was all it took for his cock to take notice and jump alive as if a hot coal had been shoved into his pants. He hadn’t made his intentions of courting her be known yet, but by the time he left town tonight, Laurel would know it.

Rounding the school house, he didn’t stop until he was on the little stoop by her door. He knocked, the sound loud in the surrounding stillness and when Laurel opened the door, her shocked gaze landing on him, he was near shaking with the need to have her.

She’d let her hair down, all those glorious curls dangling down her back and framing her face so perfectly, and he almost forgot why he’d turned back around and banged on her door as he stared at her.

“Holden? Did you forget something?”

He forgot something all right. His manners. “Yes Ma’am. I do believe I did.” He reached for her, weaving his fingers into her hair and pulling her toward him, kissing her without another word, her shocked gasp giving him the entrance into her mouth within seconds. Her hands clutched his shirt and it only took a few seconds to realize she wasn’t fighting him like he thought she might, but was clinging to him, her tongue tangling with his own, little mewling noises escaping her throat and making the incessant throbbing in his groin more profound.

She pulled away after long moments, panting for breath, and those amber eyes he’d admired the first time he saw her were shining with something he hadn’t seen directed at him since the night he’d spent with her in Missoula.

Lust. Desire.

Her arms were around his neck in the next instant, her mouth so hot and wet against his own. Holden wrapped her in his arms, pulled her into his body and took everything he wanted from that kiss. Deepened it until he had trouble breathing past his need for her.

She took a step backwards and pulled him into her room, the door kicked shut without ever breaking contact with his mouth.

He turned her, braced her back against the door, his fingers moving into those luscious locks of hair and he was hard and aching by the time she pulled back for air. Her eyes glistened. Her lips wet and swollen and it took everything in him not to guide her to the bed and have his way with her.

Laurel inhaled a few deep breaths and blinked lazily at him. “I didn’t want anyone to see us on the stoop.” Her hands slid away from his shoulders to rest on his chest. “If anyone caught you in here, I would lose my job.”

“I won’t let that happen.” She blinked up lazily at him, licked her lips and sent his thoughts racing in directions they shouldn’t have. “I didn’t come back to invite myself to your bed so your position as school teacher is safe.”

She nodded, her gaze lowering to his chest briefly. “And why did you come back?”

He grinned and put a finger under her chin, lifting her head so he could see her. “Because I wanted a kiss. I thought that was obvious.” Even though the room was bathed in shadows, he could see her cheeks redden.

“Is that all you wanted?”

He laughed. “Not by a long shot, darlin’, but I’m a patient man. I can wait.”

She smiled up at him, lifted up on her toes and kissed him again, this time without the frenzy of hurried motions. It was soft, lingering and he cursed his neglected groin for demanding so much attention and distracting him. When she broke the kiss, her lips swollen from his kiss, he knew being a gentleman would be harder than he thought it would. Especially when she whispered, “Make love to me.”

 

 

 

The Rancher by Lily Graison

The Willow Creek Series, Book 4

Laurel Montgomery wanted a new life, one that didn’t include a man. She’d had enough of their pretty lies and broken promises but one night of reckless abandon weeks before taking a job as the new schoolteacher in Willow Creek would come back to haunt her. The man she thought to never see again turns out to be the father of one of her new students. A man so handsome and rugged he takes her breath away. Too bad she’s sworn off men forever. If only the stubborn man would take no for an answer.

Holden Avery was love-struck the moment he saw Laurel Montgomery and cursed himself for a fool every waking minute since letting her walk out of his life. When she turns up in Willow Creek he’s handed the second chance he didn’t think he’d ever get but thoughts of pursuing Laurel are cut short when a stranger shows up in town. A man who claims to be Laurel’s husband.

The happily ever after Holden thought to finally have is plagued with obstacles but he sets off to prove he’s the man Laurel wants. Convincing her to give him a chance is nearly impossible but he’s waited too long to find her to give up now. One way or the other, Laurel Montgomery would be his wife.

Read an excerpt from this book!

 

Get This Book at the following Retailers

 

 

 

About Lily Graison

Lily Graison is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical western romances. Her Willow Creek Series introduced readers to a small Montana town where the west is wild and the cowboys are wilder. Lily also dabbles in contemporary and paranormal romance when the mood strikes and all of her stories range from sweet to spicy with strong female leads and heroes who tend to always get what they want.

She lives in Hickory, North Carolina and on occasion can be found at her sewing machine creating 1800’s period clothing or participating in civil war reenactments and area living history events. When not portraying a southern belle, you can find her at a nearby store feeding her obsession for all things resembling office supplies.

To see the dresses and hats Lily has created, visit her Pinterest page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+  | Instagram

 

 

The post Friday First Kiss #108 :: The Rancher by Lily Graison – Historical Western Romance appeared first on Author Lily Graison.

Wild Horses (Willow Creek Book #7) Full Chapter Excerpt

We’re 17 days away from the book launch of WILD HORSES! I’m not sure about the rest of you but I get more excited by the day.

This book was a long time coming. I started it just as my medical issues started so it rode the entire year and a half battle with me. Completing this will be freeing for me and a welcome addition to the Willow Creek series.

Last week I shared an excerpt of WILD HORSES in my Angels & Outlaws Reader Group over on Facebook. One of the perks of the group is getting to see everything book related first. If you haven’t joined yet, click the link above and do so. I’ll be sharing a new excerpt over there very soon. Today, I have the entire first chapter of the book for you to see along with links to the pre-order where you can get the book half price! Once released, the price will go back to normal at $4.99 so grab it early if you can.

Now…without further ado!

 

Wild Horses 

Book #7 in The Willow Creek Series

Hiding from a future she doesn’t want…

When the new blacksmith in town announces they are to be married, Alexandra Avery does what any bride with cold feet would do. She disobeys her father, dresses in mens clothing, and sneaks away with the cattle drive he just sent east to avoid the inevitable. Little does she know, Jesse Samuels, the annoying boy who made her childhood nearly unbearable is the new trail boss and calling the shots. How will she ever survive being bossed around by him for the next two months?

Handed what he’s coveted the most…

Entrusted with over seeing a cattle drive for the Avery Ranch is exactly what Jesse Samuels needed, especially after hearing Alexandra Avery, the girl he spent the last ten years of his life planning a future with is now engaged. He regrets not staying and fighting for her until he finds her stowed away pretending to be one of the crew. When the other cowboys realize there’s a woman amongst them, his protective instincts kick in. His plan to send her home is thwarted at every turn so he does the only thing he can to ensure her safety. He drags her kicking and screaming to the altar and marries her.

Will love be enough to bind them…

Alexandra and Jesse have always had a love-hate relationship but when the dangers of the open trail take a turn that could cost them their lives, they have to put aside their differences to keep everyone safe. Will the truce be enough to show them what everyone else has always known? Or will they lose each other forever?

 

 

 

Chapter One

 

Alexandra Avery’s body flew from the seat, her head slamming into the wall of the stagecoach so hard bright flashes of light blinked before her eyes. She shook her head, then cursed under her breath when she bounced again, closing her eyes as the other passengers screamed. The sound echoed in the small space, the noise—along with the head-jarring impact with the wall—caused streaks of white-hot searing pain to crawl inside her skull. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth as she bit her tongue and she turned to the window, leaned out the opening and spit. She could only imagine what her pa would say to that unladylike display.

Pete, the stagecoach driver yelled a string of words no lady should be subjected to. Growing up around cowpokes and saddle-bums on the Avery Ranch, she’d heard worse and leaned further out the window to see what they hit. “You getting too old to drive this thing, Pete?”

He barked out a few rude words, then jumped to the ground. “Mind your manners, missy.” He gave her a cheeky grin before walking to the back of the stagecoach. “Damn,” he said. “I knew that wheel wasn’t going to make it.”

Alex opened the door and climbed down, regretting the decision the moment her feet touched the ground. The fancy silk boots her stepmother insisted she wears sank in two inches of mud, the hem of her dress dragging through the murky water before she could snatch it up. “Damnation. A week’s worth of washing won’t get that out.” She blew out a breath and looked at Pete. He was staring at the wagon wheel, shaking his head.

She’d spent the entire trip from Missoula so wrapped up in despair her stomach had begun to churn. This little reprieve was just what she needed. A minute to regroup, get her thoughts into order, and to steel her nerves. When the imagine of her father popped back into her head, she groaned.

Her fingernails had been chewed to the quick just imagining his angry face when he realized she not only went out of town without his knowledge but went behind his back to undo all the hard work he’d put in to set right the mistakes she’d made.

The uproar her hasty decision caused would be the talk of the town for sure.

Her internal misery was put aside as Pete cursed again and jerked the hat off his head, slapping it against his leg and dislodging the dust riding along the brim. “I told Frank that wheel wouldn’t last.” He glanced her way. “It’ll take a while to get this fixed.” He straightened and walked her way, his hand outstretched. Alex took it and let him help her from the mud. “We’re not far from Willow Creek,” he said, addressing everyone inside the coach. “Half hours walk, I’d imagine. You want to wait it out here until I get back with someone to fix this or walk in with me?”

There was a moment of silence, then everyone started talking at once. The ladies in the stagecoach were indignant at the thought of walking but the warm spring day had left the stagecoach stifling. A cool breeze would be a welcome comfort after the hours they’d spent cramped inside the coach and Alex didn’t wait for the others to decide before she started for town.

Pete and her traveling companions followed a few moments later. Alex cast a few glances across the prairie as their small party of travelers headed toward Willow Creek. It wasn’t uncommon for an occasional Indian to be spotted in the area and seeing them first would be the difference between getting out alive or being taken. Her aunt Sarah barely survived an Indian attack. Her uncle Colt gave them everything he had on him to keep her, even his horse and best boots.

The walk into town was uneventful unless you counted the complaining of the others in the group. Alex listened to every moan and whimpered complaint with half an ear, her attention on how her family would react when they found out her news.

By the time they reached town, sweat was running in small trickles down her neck to soak the front of her dress. This particular traveling frock had been a mistake. The material clung to her skin and the once pristine lilac silk was now wet, the fabric turning dark purple under her arms and breasts. Her hair was coming unpinned as well and she smelled worse than a cowpoke on a three-day ride.

As usual, the street and wooden sidewalks were filled with people, the hustle and bustle of everyone going about their day filled the air with noise. The squeak of wagon wheels, the heavy sharp ting of the blacksmith’s hammer hitting metal and the voices and laughter she heard were only a small hum compared to that of Missoula. Even though the town had grown over the years, it was nothing compared to the larger communities that surrounded Willow Creek. Two days in Missoula was enough for her to long for the slow shuffle of home.

She glanced toward the school and sighed. The new building was large enough to seat most of the town and doubled as a church on Sunday, but seeing it at the end of town was a constant reminder of how spectacular her past mistakes were. Mistakes she’d never live down if certain people in town had anything to do with it. One such person was looking down her nose at her now. Edna Pierce was marching across the sidewalk, her gate a bouncing clop as she barreled her way forward.

Alex acted as if she didn’t see her and headed across the dirt road that ran through town, ducking behind a wagon when she reached the other side as Edna continued to yell her name. Hiding was undignified but Edna was overbearing on an average day. Now that school was set to start in less than a month, she was even more so.

She took a peak across the street, blowing out a relieved breath when she saw Edna talking with Ellie, the stagecoach station owner. Disaster avoided, she grabbed her skirts and she jumped back onto the sidewalk, realizing her quick escape from Edna only landed her right in front of calamity number two. Hugh Jacobs, the town’s new blacksmith—and, apparently her beau, according to her father—was headed her way. By the look on his face, he’d spotted her.

He smiled as he stopped, his gaze scanning her from head to toe and lingering in certain places longer than she liked. “Run into a bit of trouble?”

She sighed. “You could say that.”

His kind brown eyes shined with amusement. “Well, I hate to bring you more but Edna has been looking for you. She came by the shop earlier asking if I’d seen you.”

Alex glanced across the street to where Edna stood. “I’ve seen her. I managed to get away but I’m sure it won’t be for long.” She turned back to face him and smiled. “Not to be rude but I’d rather her not see me like this so I really need to go.”

“Of course. I didn’t mean to keep you.” He took a step to the left so she could pass and said, “Are you free this evening?”

Her stomach clenched tight. One look at the expectant expression on his face and she knew her father had been right. Hugh was actively courting her. How had she not seen it before now?

He’d caught the eye of more than one young lady since he’d taken up residence in Willow Creek and set up his blacksmith shop. He took notice to her the day she lassoed a runaway pig in the middle of town. He’d been impressed, and amused, and wasted no time approaching her. She’d been flattered and accepted his dinner invitation out of curiosity. He’d always wanted to learn to rope and ride so she’d took it upon herself to teach him. The dinner invitations kept coming after that and she’d kept on accepting. She considered him a friend, after all, and the occasional bouquet of flowers was a sweet gesture but it didn’t mean anything.

Or so she’d thought.

Now that her father had pointed out the obvious, she’d found herself nervous around him. Being courted by Hugh Jacobs wasn’t all that bad a prospect. He was nice looking and kind and he made her laugh on occasion but was she ready to marry and start a family? She was only twenty-three. She had plenty of time yet, didn’t she?

The way Hugh showed up at her door so often told her he may have other plans.

He was still staring at her, waiting for an answer to his invitation. She needed to make a decision where he was concerned. Either she was a willing participant in this courtship or she wasn’t. It wasn’t fair to keep him hanging on if nothing would ever come of it.

She had other things to worry about at the moment and courting and marriage wasn’t one of them. “I need to speak to my father about something so I’m sorry, I’m not free this evening.”

He smiled again but disappointment shadowed his eyes. “All right then. Maybe some other time.”

“Yes. I’ll let you know.” She walked away before he could say more. She breathed a sigh of relief the moment she’d put some distance between them.

What would her life be like married to him? The images her mind conjured weren’t terrible but something seemed—off. The happy feelings she should have felt at having a handsome man as her husband just weren’t there.

Maybe settling down was too new of an idea to embrace. She’d never really thought of it. Well, that wasn’t true. Like most young girls, dreams of a wedding, babies, and a house to call her own filled her childhood fantasies but there was always a problem when it came to the groom so she’d locked those wishes away. Now that she was a grown woman, maybe it was time to think about it again.

Hugh was handsome, had a decent size home, was liked by everyone who knew him and his business was one everyone in town showed up in eventually, even her pa and uncles. As far as marriageable men went, he was on the top of the list for many.

So why was she so reluctant to give in?

She caught her reflection in the storefront window of the mercantile. She stopped and straightened her waistcoat and raised a hand to tuck a few stray curls back into her bonnet.

Her reflection revealed a woman she barely recognized most days. She certainly wasn’t the same girl who ran away from home ten years ago, mad at the world and swearing to anyone who would listen that she wouldn’t be caught dead wearing some prissy dress and carrying on like some giggling debutant. But here she was, primping in front of a store window, worried she looked a mess after traveling all day.

Ten years ago she wouldn’t have cared what people thought but now she was Alexandra Avery, schoolmarm in Willow Creek, and if Hugh Jacobs courting her was any indication of things to come, the future wife of the local blacksmith.

She sneered at her reflection and her thoughts. She hated titles more than being told what to do and marriage wasn’t something she even wanted to think about yet.

Turning away from the window she headed to the school to change her clothes. Not that it mattered much. Once her pa found out what she’d done, her appearance would be the least of her problems.

She mumbled the speech she planned to give him under her breath again. She’d memorized it line for line on the trip back from Missoula. Hopefully, it would be enough to convince him to see things her way for once. She just hoped her nerves held out as she told him what she had to say.

The piano music from the saloon distracted her as she neared it. A few of the girls who worked the rooms upstairs were leaning against the front of the building, smiling and calling out to the men who passed by. That was a new practice that had Edna and the rest of the town council in an uproar. The girls from the saloon never ventured outside when she was younger, preferring instead to linger by the upstairs windows and talk to those on the street from there but like everything else, things change.

She straightened her spine as she passed the first girl. She was young, her blond curls nearly the same color as her own. Her face was painted. Blue above her eyes and pink on her cheeks. The girl looked her over from head to toe then looked away as if bored. Alex did the same.

The noise inside the building was loud as usual. Shouting and boisterous laughter filled the air and she turned her head to take a look inside when she crossed in front of the swinging doors. Her eyes widened the moment she saw a man hurtling toward those same doors, the wood panels swinging open as he stumbled out onto the sidewalk to crash into her. His momentum was enough to carry them both to the edge of the sidewalk.

Alex squealed as she fell backward, the air knocked from her lungs upon impact with the ground. She gasped, staring up at a cloudless blue sky as the voices around her grew louder. When she regained her senses, she was flat on her back on the street with something warm underneath her seeping into her dress and the man who slammed into her sprawled on top of her.

She gritted her teeth and tried pushing him away. “Get off of me,” she said. The words came out in a raspy whisper, the weight of him stealing what little air she managed to fill her lungs with.

Bunching the material of his shirt into her hands, she pushed again, trying to get his attention and realized he was laughing. His heated breath tickled the side of her neck, the rasp of chin whiskers scratched against her skin and when he lifted his head and looked down at her, the smile on his face was familiar.

Recognition came in slow degrees. It did for him too. His green, bloodshot eyes widened in surprise, the smile on his face disappearing before he squinted at her.

“Alex?” He leaned up a fraction, then looked down the length of her body. His left eyebrow rose, that irritating smirk she was sure to never forget curved his lips again and when he looked back at her face, her blood was boiling.

“Get off of me, you scraggly headed goat!”

“Yep, it’s you all right.” The timber of his voice was deeper than she remembered. The smokey richness of the sound caused gooseflesh to prickle her skin.

He crawled off of her and stood, holding a hand out to help her up. She refused the offer and got to her feet herself.

She scowled as she took in the multitude of changes he’d been through over the past ten years and stared in disbelief at the fact Jesse Samuels, the bane of her existence, was back in town.

He looked nothing like she remembered. Where was the tall, lanky red-head kid she used to fight with? This wide-shouldered, auburn haired man looking down at her was too handsome to be Jesse Samuels. He tilted his head to one side and smirked at her. That, she remembered. It was Jesse all right. “I should have known it was you,” she said. “No one else is as clumsy and oafish.”

“Ah, there’s the girl I know.” He laughed and righted his hat. “I’ve missed the way you talk down to me. Nothing like hearing the contempt in someone’s voice as they address you.”

Alex took in his smile but something in his eyes said her words weren’t being laughed off as he would have her think. She bit back the retort she had ready to let fly and tried to form some sort of coherent sentence that wasn’t scathing but nothing seemed to come to mind.

She’d never been civil around Jesse. It was odd trying to be. It had to be the shock of seeing him again after ten years that left her so tongue-tied. It certainly had nothing to do with the fact he resembled nothing of the boy she remembered. The man he’d grown into was causing her heart to skip wildly in her chest while her pulse beat frantically along her veins. Why was he back? Was he staying?

A crowd had formed. The sidewalk was full, people staring, some pointing and snickering and a look down showed her why. The muddy hem of her dress was nothing compared to the dark green and brown sludge now covering her from shoulder to foot. The smell hit her when the breeze shifted and those laughs coming from the sidewalk caused her ire at Jesse to multiply by the second.

Less than ten minutes in town and she’d been humiliated, made into a spectacle for anyone looking by ending up flat on her back in a pile of horse manure big enough to fill a wagon.

Heat flushed her skin as the laughter rose, her face burning as she looked up at the man standing in front of her. Seeing him again wasn’t as shocking as the sight of him was. He’d changed so much in the years he’d been gone. He was taller, the top of her head barely reaching his chin now. He’d put muscle on his once thin frame and his red hair had darkened and was longer, the ends brushing his shoulders. The look in his eyes was the same, though. Amusement shined as bright as always. The sight only made her anger burn hotter.

“I was wondering when I’d run into you.” He chuckled, the sound as irritating now as it was the day he left town. Alex gritted her teeth when he said, “I didn’t think it would be literally, though.”

He gave her another look from head to toe, a low whistle filling the air as he did. “Look at you. All grown up and wearing girl clothes.” He met her gaze again and grinned. “I guess your pa’s plan to turn you into a lady worked. Not many thought it would but here you stand looking like a girl instead of the ugliest boy I’ve ever seen.”

She didn’t think beyond the insult he’d been throwing at her since she was old enough to pick her own clothes out. Old instincts kicked in, her fingers curling into her palm, and she hit him on that arrogant chin, the force enough to rock him on his feet and for the first time in ten years, she felt alive.

He was slow to turn his head back toward her and when he did, she hit him again for old times sake. “You’re right, Jesse Samuels, I did grow up, but you’re the same immature horse’s ass you’ve always been.”

“Now is that any way to talk to a friend?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “We were never friends.” She left him there on the street and pushed her way through the throng of people still standing around gawking. She headed to the livery stable, barely acknowledging Percy when he greeted her. “I need my horse.”

He gave her a glance from head to toe, his brows lowering in concern. “What in the world happened to you?”

She ignored his question. “My horse, Percy.”

He straightened, a look of surprise covering his face when he looked her in the eye. “Is everything all right?”

“No,” she said, blinking to force unwelcome tears from her eyes. “I need my horse, please.”

He nodded, her obvious distress enough to get him moving without any more questions but every second that ticked by was one second too long.

Alex looked out the door and saw Hugh walking her way. She didn’t wait for him to reach her, or for Percy to get her horse ready to ride. She grabbed the reins of a chestnut gelding that stood in front of the stable, hiked up her skirts and hoisted herself into the saddle.

Leaning down over his back, she gave him a slight nudge with the heel of her boot to get him moving and rode away from the livery stable without a backward glance.

She passed Hugh without slowing and flew past the saloon and the crowd that was still gathered at a fast clip. She didn’t look to see if Jesse was still there. Nor did she admit the tears burning her eyes had nothing to do with embarrassment.

 

* * * *

She blew by the saloon in a billow of lilac lace. If the look on her face was any indication of her mood, she was furious with him. Jesse grinned. It was as if he’d never left. He turned back to the saloon and paused when his oldest friend, Ben Atwater blocked his path.

“What the hell was that all about?”

Jesse stepped around him and jumped back onto the wooden sidewalk, pushing the swinging doors to the saloon open. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a crumpled bill and slapped it on the bar. “Here you go, Vernon. This should cover my tab.” He didn’t wait for a reply and bumped into Ben when he turned back to the door. “Gotta go.”

“Go? But we just got here.”

Jesse hit the sidewalk at a fast jog and jumped to the ground and headed straight for his horse, untying the reins from the hitching post. “I know but I can’t let her get away.”

“Her who?”

“Alex.” He tossed the reins over the horse’s neck and looked up. “It’s been ten years. I’m not willing to let our first meeting be nothing more than a few hateful words.”

Ben scratched the side of his head, his eyebrows lowered as if thinking. “What about your welcome home party? Aaron should be here any minute now.”

Jesse climbed into the saddle, shifted his weight until he was comfortable and grinned down at Ben. “Start without me. I’ll be back before that songbird Vernon hired starts singing.”

Jesse maneuvered the horse away from the others, replaying his first meeting with Alexandra Avery in his mind’s eye again. Ten years and she was as feisty as he remembered.

He nodded his head to Ben and left, barreling out of town as fast as his horse would carry him.

Ben Atwater was one of the best friends he had. They’d been inseparable as kids and knew everything there was to know about each other. Well, almost. There was one piece of information he’d managed to keep to himself since the moment he’d realized it and that was what he really thought of Alexandra Avery.

There hadn’t been a day in the past ten years that he hadn’t thought about her. Total pain in the ass she was, he’d missed her and he wasn’t going to let her get away with nothing more than a few spiteful words and her dainty fist upside his head.

He leaned down over the neck of his horse, prodded him to go faster and kept his eye on the horizon. He spotted her a few minutes later a good distance ahead of him. He closed the gap between them and smiled when she turned her head to look at him, scowling before shouting, “Go back to where ever you’ve been for the last ten years, Jesse Samuels, and stay away from me.”

“Not a chance, darlin’.”

“I still hate you.”

He laughed. “I figured as much. Kind of hard to forget with you telling me once a week for years.”

She sat up straighter but ignored him for the most part. He ran a quick glance over her, smiling to himself at her straddling a horse in her too fancy dress. Her hair had come unpinned, those blonde curls he’d had trouble forgetting bouncing against her back.

Her dress was wrinkled, covered in Lord only knew what, but the sight of her caused his heart to race and for silly notions he’d had in his youth to come flooding back. “I’m sorry.”

She threw him an incredulous look.

“You’re apologizing?”

“Yes.”

The unbelieving look on her face didn’t last long. “Apology not accepted.” Stoney anger darkened her blue eyes. “Now stay away from me.”

She prodded her horse again and he let her get ahead of him. He followed in silence, feeling a sense of dread when she rode under the arched entryway to the Avery ranch.

She passed her aunt and uncle, Tristan and Emmaline’s house without so much as a glimpse in their direction and kept going, past the barn and straight toward the house.

Jesse stopped a short distance from her, lingering in the background as she jumped from her horse and stomped toward the house.

The front door opened before she reached the steps. Holden Avery stepped out onto the porch and stumbled to a stop. He frowned in their direction and stared down at Alex for long minutes before glancing up at him. “What’s going on?”

“Hey, pa.” Alex shifted her weight, straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I came to talk to you.”

To Jesse’s surprise, Holden didn’t look happy to see her. The reasons why puzzled him. He’d definitely been gone too long. He didn’t know half of what was going on anymore.

Alex took the stairs slowly, her gaze leveled on her father and it wasn’t until Laurel, Alex’s stepmother stepped out onto the porch that the tension that had been building dissipated. In an instant, the quiet, tense stares were gone and replaced by questions.

Laurel gave Alex a look from head to toe. Her eyes widened when she got a good look at her. “What in the world happened to you?”

Alex turned her head and shot him a glare. “Nothing worth mentioning.”

Jesse looked toward the barn to keep from smiling. Their confrontation in front of the saloon was still fresh on his mind. The chatter of voices grew louder as two younger boys—Alex’s brother’s if he had to guess—joined them on the porch. He was about to head back to town when the noise suddenly stopped.

He glanced back at the house just as the front door swung shut. Everyone was gone. Well, everyone but Holden. He was still there with a strange look covering his face. The corner of the man’s lip raised into what Jesse assumed may have been a smile before he straightened and nodded his head toward him. “Did you find a fight you weren’t expecting?”

He raised a hand to his jaw. “Something like that.”

“How did Rafe and Grace take the surprise of you showing up on their door?”

Jesse lifted his hat, ran his fingers through his hair. “As to be expected. Happy at first.” He grinned. “Then I had to endure an entire evening of scolding for staying gone so long.”

Holden laughed. “I’m sure you did.” He studied him for long moments, then let out a breath. “Thanks for seeing Alex home, Jesse. She’s more independent than most her age but that doesn’t mean I want her traipsing across the prairie by herself. Especially now that so many people are being assaulted by whoever it is out there causing so much trouble.”

“Don’t mention it.” Jesse shifted in the saddle, his thoughts running rampant at the possibility of Alex being accosted by that gang of thieves he’d heard were prowling around the countryside. Their being in the area hadn’t even crossed his mind when he took off after Alex. All he’d been thinking was, there’s Alex. After ten long years, he was in the same vicinity as she was. “She hasn’t changed much,” he said, raising a hand to rub his jaw. “Still has a wicked right hook.”

Holden laughed. “That she does. Good to see you again, Jesse.”

When he turned and went back inside, Jesse glanced up at the window in the front of the house, Alex’s bedroom, and was surprised to see her staring down at him. He smiled and tipped the front of his hat up in her direction, then laughed as she made a face at him.

Pulling the horse’s reins, he clicked his tongue and got the horse turned back toward the main road and tried to put Alex out of his mind. Lord knew having her occupy his thoughts again would eat up more of his time than it should.

He’d left the best friends he’d ever had back in town and as much as he hated not going back, he knew he wouldn’t be much fun. Not tonight. Not after seeing Alex again. He’d been dreaming about her since the day he left town and now that he’d seen her again, there wasn’t any distraction in the world big enough to take his mind off of her.

He glanced back up at Alex’s window. She was still there, watching him. He’d never get her out of his head now. He hadn’t managed it in the ten years he’d been gone. He didn’t see it happening now that she was full grown and more beautiful than she’d ever been.

 

 

WILD HORSES releases on April 11th. PRE-ODER your copy for $2.99. The price will go up to $4.99 on release day!

Friday First Kiss #107 :: The Gambler by Lily Graison – Historical Western Romance

The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.

Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.

This week’s Friday First Kiss comes from,

The Gambler by Lily Graison

“You’re determined to seduce me, aren’t you?”

Her eyes widened. “I’m not trying to seduce you.”

He chuckled and relaxed the grip he had on her wrist. “Really? Because from where I’m lying, it sure feels like it.”

Humiliation burned like flames across her face and Emmaline was glad it was so dark. She stared at his chest, her thoughts running wild inside her head.

Tristan released her wrist and raised his hand, cupping his fingers under her chin to lift her head up. She avoided looking at him and it wasn’t until his thumb ran across her bottom lip that she did. “What is it you’re doing, Emmaline?” She didn’t answer and avoided eye contact. “I don’t need to be thanked, if that’s why you’re doing this, but if you want me, then by all means, help yourself.” His fingers tangled into her hair. He pulled her head back, forcing her to look at him. “I won’t complain nor refuse.”

He didn’t want her but he did? Emmaline was so confused; she wasn’t sure what to do. He was staring down at her, waiting, and the silence in the room was unnerving. Was she trying to seduce him? And was she doing it because, like most men, they’d want to be thanked? Or was it more?

She stared at him, the scent of his skin tickling her senses. His flesh was so warm against her own, it felt as if she was bathed in soft satin. If she were honest with herself, she’d know she wanted him for purely selfish reasons. He was a handsome devil, strongly built with wide shoulders and a solid chest. She wasn’t a virgin by any man’s standards but not once had she ever been more to a man than a warm, some-what willing woman in their bed. She’d never felt anything with those she’d been with. No miniscule hint of pleasure they all seemed to find. The loathing she always felt during and after the act, left her feeling dirty and naked for the entire world to see.

But she didn’t feel like that now. Not with Tristan. Her pulse was racing and an incessant throb was beating between her legs. The way he’d looked at her earlier when she’d stood naked before him left her feeling almost pretty, like the kind of woman a man would want for something other than to just bang into the mattress then leave. She knew without asking he’d probably been with more saloon whores than she could count and the thought of having a man love her and actually mean it was tempting. Would he kiss her first or just climb on top of her and do his business? For some reason, she didn’t think he’d be so selfish. He’d kiss her like he meant it and not leave bruises on her when he was finished taking what he wanted.

Her cheeks flamed hotter when she realized she wanted him to take her but would die before saying so. She averted her gaze, pulled her hand away from him and tried to scoot away, her back hitting the wall and sending another chill through her body. “Just forget it.” She drew the blankets back up to her chin. “I’m not used to people doing things for me without wanting something in return. I just assumed…” She peeked a glance up at him. The intense look on his face caused her to feel a bit loathsome. Why would a man like Tristan Avery want her?

His hand was still in her hair, his fingers combing the strands over her shoulder. He was staring at her, the look in his eyes unmistakable. He did want her. She could see it in his eyes and the knowledge nearly knocked the breath out of her. She licked her lips, her heart slamming against her rib cage and she inhaled a deep breath when he leaned toward her.

His mouth was soft, his lips brushing against her own so gently she wasn’t even sure it could be considered a kiss. He did it again, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and Emmaline closed her eyes as jolts of pleasure rippled through her body.

“Are you not offering anymore?”

She looked up at him, his warm breath washing across her lips. “I thought you didn’t want me?”

“Never said I didn’t want you, darling. I’m just making sure you want this for the right reason.”

“And what’s the right reason?”

He smiled, the whiteness of his teeth shining in the darkness. “Because it feels good.”

She wasn’t sure about that but something in the way he was looking at her made her think with him, it might just be pleasurable. He kissed her again, long, wet brushes of his mouth against her own before his tongue teased her lips apart. The first taste of him and her body jolted.

He pulled her to him, angled his head and kissed her the way she’d always wanted to be kissed. His mouth was hot, hungry and his tongue dipped into her mouth again and again, her pulse racing with every stroke until she fought for breath.

 

 

 

The Gamber by Lily Graison

The Willow Creek Series, Book 2

Emmaline Hunt only had one thing she could call her own. A piece of land that held a secret not even her drunken stepfather knew about. When he gambles it away in a high stakes poker game, Emmaline does the only thing she can. She tries to steal the land deed back.

Tristan Avery has seen his share of bloodshed while sitting at a gaming table and knows its time to lay low when he wins a wad of cash and a piece of land. Especially after his opponent ends up dead at his feet. High tailing it out of town is his only option but things take a drastic turn when he finds a woman in his hotel room trying to rob him blind.

The botched robbery attempt is only the start of his troubles when Tristan finds his new land occupied by the same girl who tried to rob him. When he realizes he’s left her homeless, and killed her stepfather, his conscience forces him to do the right thing. Taking her to his hometown and setting her up with a new life will make up for all he’s taken from her.

But Emmaline has other plans. She wants her land, and Tristan’s money, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get them. All she has to do is convince him she’s there to stay, outwit him, find a way back home and not let a single soul know she has a gold mine bursting at the seems with untapped wealth.

Read an excerpt from this book!

 

Get This Book at the following Retailers

 

 

 

About Lily Graison

Lily Graison is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical western romances. Her Willow Creek Series introduced readers to a small Montana town where the west is wild and the cowboys are wilder. Lily also dabbles in contemporary and paranormal romance when the mood strikes and all of her stories range from sweet to spicy with strong female leads and heroes who tend to always get what they want.

She lives in Hickory, North Carolina and on occasion can be found at her sewing machine creating 1800’s period clothing or participating in civil war reenactments and area living history events. When not portraying a southern belle, you can find her at a nearby store feeding her obsession for all things resembling office supplies.

To see the dresses and hats Lily has created, visit her Pinterest page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+  | Instagram

 

 

The post Friday First Kiss #107 :: The Gambler by Lily Graison – Historical Western Romance appeared first on Author Lily Graison.

Friday First Kiss #106 – The Outlaw by Lily Graison

The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.

Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.

This week’s Friday First Kiss comes from,

The Outlaw by Lily Graison

Hearing a noise behind him, he turned his head to find Sarah standing at the edge of the woods looking at him. Damn if she wasn’t the finest looking woman he’d set eyes on in ages. He’d seen his fair share of them, too. Had more than he could count in his bed a time or two but none had compared to this one.

The others had been too easy. He flashed them a smile and it took less than a minute to get them to drop their drawers. He didn’t think it would be that easy with her, though. She was different. More refined than the women he associated with. A real lady. And more spirited than any other woman he’d ever met. This one wouldn’t lay down and let a man have his way. No, she’d want things done her way and wouldn’t be afraid to tell him how to do it. He held back a smile at the thought. He’d love to find out.

He groaned inwardly. Thinking like that was what got him in his current state. He needed to get this girl out of his system and fast. Maybe he should just let her know what he wanted. For all he knew she wasn’t as chaste as he imagined her to be. She may actually be as easy as all the others were. Somehow he doubted it but one never knew until they asked, right?

 

* * * *

Sarah started to ask him if anything was wrong but he turned and started walking back to where she stood. His gaze roamed her body from head to toe before he stopped in front of her. The look on his face made her nervous. His expression was lustful and hungry. Her pulse leaped, butterflies danced in her stomach, and she licked her lips as her mouth became suddenly dry. He groaned when she did, mumbled a curse under his breath and reached up, cupping her face in his hands, and kissed her. Her shocked gasp offered him entrance into her mouth and he wasted no time slipping his tongue in to taste her.

She went limp at the first flick of his tongue against her own, her body swaying toward him, and Colt wrapped his arms around her, angled his head and took everything he wanted. She was slow to reciprocate but when she did, sliding her tongue against his, his hold on her tightened, his mouth harder and more urgent.

The one kiss she’d had from William had been all lips, wet and messy, and she’d prayed the entire time it lasted that it would end sooner rather than later. This kiss… she never imagined it would be like this.

Colt tasted faintly of whiskey, his scent tickled her senses and she inhaled it, memorizing it before tentatively placing her hands at his waist. His hold on her tightened, that wicked tongue teasing and dipping until tingles raced down her limbs, causing tiny zaps of pleasure that left her weak and light headed. Small sounds escaped her throat, her breaths panted out as he fisted her hair in his hand, angling her head the way he wanted. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, teased it with his teeth before his tongue once again invaded her mouth with rapid plunges, the whiskers from his growing beard rasping against the flesh around her mouth until her face felt lit with fire.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaned against him and mimicked him, kissing him with a growing hunger that left her dazed and pleasantly warm.

He let her go suddenly, holding her at arms length. They were both breathing heavily and Sarah was stunned when he turned and walked away, back to where the horse was, without saying a word. He stood there for long moments before turning his head to look over his shoulder. “Let’s go, sweetheart. We need to keep going.”

It took her longer than it should have to catch her breath, even longer to make her body react. She crossed the distance, staring at his back, and stopped when he turned to face her. The lustful look was still on his face and something she couldn’t even put a name on lurked in his eyes. It caused those butterflies to dance again. His gaze roamed her face, stopping on her kiss swollen lips before rising to her eyes. Sarah blinked at him and shook her head. “Why did you kiss me?”

He gave her a sudden, lazy smile. “So I’d stop thinking about doing it.” He reached for her, wrapping his hands around her waist and lifted her to the horse. He put her in the saddle this time and climbed in behind her. She wiggled her bottom to give him more room and gasped when his arm clamped around her waist and he pulled her back into his chest, his head lowering until his breath was warm against her ear. “And if you don’t stop wiggling that ass around on me I’m going to do everything else I can’t stop thinking about, too.”

 

 

 

The Outlaw by Lily Graison

The Willow Creek Series, Book 2

Sarah Hartford always dreamed of a grand adventure. She just never expected to find it in the arms of an outlaw.

When her father’s bank is robbed, Sarah doesn’t make the gunslingers’ escape easy. Putting her own safety behind those she hopes to protect backfires when she’s kidnapped by one of the escaping men. Now her only hope for survival lies with the same arrogant man who laughed at her while staring down the barrel of her gun.

Colton Avery spent months planning the perfect heist, every detail fine tuned and executed with precise timing. Nothing could go wrong. That is until he comes face to face with a determined woman holding a shotgun. She aimed at his head and never flinched when she took a shot at him. He wanted her the moment the smoke cleared and he saw her face.

Robbing the bank, and handing over the gang of notorious outlaws to US Marshals would be routine and boring. Sarah Hartford made it anything but. Taming the woman who stole his heart the instant he saw her was a challenge he was more than willing to take on. All he has to do now is escape the gang of outlaws he just double-crossed, hideout from an Indian raiding party and elude the town marshal who just happens to be his little hellion’s new fiancé.

 

Get This Book at the following Retailers

 

 

 

About Lily Graison

Lily Graison is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical western romances. Her Willow Creek Series introduced readers to a small Montana town where the west is wild and the cowboys are wilder. Lily also dabbles in contemporary and paranormal romance when the mood strikes and all of her stories range from sweet to spicy with strong female leads and heroes who tend to always get what they want.

She lives in Hickory, North Carolina and on occasion can be found at her sewing machine creating 1800’s period clothing or participating in civil war reenactments and area living history events. When not portraying a southern belle, you can find her at a nearby store feeding her obsession for all things resembling office supplies.

To see the dresses and hats Lily has created, visit her Pinterest page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+  | Instagram

 

 

The post Friday First Kiss #106 – The Outlaw by Lily Graison appeared first on Author Lily Graison.

Friday First Kiss #105 – The Lawman by Lily Graison (Get Your Free Copy!)

The moment I crack open a new book, I always rush through the beginning, the budding relationship between the hero and heroine, and anticipate that spontaneous moment when one of them makes their move. The First Kiss. The first turning point in every story.

Every week here on the blog, I’ll be sharing First Kisses from my books and those of other authors.

This week’s Friday First Kiss comes from,

The Lawman by Lily Graison

When he stood and crossed the room to her, leaning close to her back, she sucked in a quiet breath. She hadn’t lied when she said a woman had needs. She did. She missed having a man in her bed and having Morgan so close to her sent shivers racing up her spine.

He leaned in, trapping her body against the cabinet by placing both hands on either side of her. She could smell the soap on his skin and buried under what she knew was distinctly him, the faint hint of gun oil. Morgan Avery was every bit the kind of man she’d fancy. Strong, arrogant and just a little bit demanding. Turning her head to look at him, she was taken aback by the smile on his face.

“Anytime you fancy crawling into my bed Miss Thornton, feel more than welcome to do so. Hell, I’ll marry you myself if that’s what it takes. I’ve done worse things in life and a rash decision usually ends up working out in the long run. Crawling between your thighs every night would be no burden whatsoever.”

Abigail was stunned when he leaned closer and she felt the proof of his claim stabbing at her backside. He was aroused and the look on his face confused her. Was he serious about the marriage? When he leaned toward her, angling his head to kiss her, she realized he must have been.

The kiss shocked her for more reasons than one. What she thought would be a light teasing play of lips turned out to be so soul stealing, she had to grip the cabinet edge to keep from falling. Morgan Avery kissed like his world was ending. He devoured with a single-mindedness, his tongue forced into her mouth to dominate and claim possession.

His arms banded around her waist, his body flush against her back and at the odd angle, Abigail couldn’t seem to get close enough. She tried to turn but he pulled away, her bottom lip caught between his teeth for a brief second before he let go of her.

Dazed, she watched him turn and walk out of the room, his footsteps creaking on the stairs moments later. What the hell had just happened? 

 

 

 

The Lawman by Lily Graison

The Willow Creek Series, Book 1

On the run from her ex-lover…

Jilted by a no-show husband…

And now mistaken for a whore in the Diamond Back Saloon…

Abigail Thornton doesn’t think things can get any worse. That is until a single slap to a man’s face starts a barroom brawl that lands her in the last place she expected to be.

Town Marshal Morgan Avery wants nothing more than to wash away the trail-dust and sleep for a week, preferably with a soft, willing woman by his side. Instead, he gets Abigail Thornton – all one hundred pounds of her thrust at him seconds before a fist connects with his face. Breaking up the fight takes more effort than he wants to admit and when the last man falls he finds Abigail still standing and not looking the least bit contrite.

Throwing her into the town jail for the night would salve his wounded pride and then he will let her go. Or that was the plan. When morning comes he finds himself oddly reluctant to do so. Miss Thornton is hiding something and he aims to find out what, even if he has to bed her to do so. But will one night in her bed be enough?

 

Get This Book FREE at the following Retailers

 

 

 

About Lily Graison

Lily Graison is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical western romances. Her Willow Creek Series introduced readers to a small Montana town where the west is wild and the cowboys are wilder. Lily also dabbles in contemporary and paranormal romance when the mood strikes and all of her stories range from sweet to spicy with strong female leads and heroes who tend to always get what they want.

She lives in Hickory, North Carolina and on occasion can be found at her sewing machine creating 1800’s period clothing or participating in civil war reenactments and area living history events. When not portraying a southern belle, you can find her at a nearby store feeding her obsession for all things resembling office supplies.

To see the dresses and hats Lily has created, visit her Pinterest page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+  | Instagram

 

 

The post Friday First Kiss #105 – The Lawman by Lily Graison (Get Your Free Copy!) appeared first on Author Lily Graison.

FREE Valentine’s Day Romance

Once upon a time…..I wrote a love story about a Billionaire who falls for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. It was titled Destined Hearts and it was the first romance novel I ever wrote. It’s also a FREEBIE for every member of my Newsletter. If you’d like to read it, then head over and sign up to my list here: http://bit.ly/LilyNewsletter

Here’s a sneak-peek of the story for this week’s #TeaserTuesday.

 Destined Hearts ©Lily Graison 2008

Her last thought as she left the office that morning was premature. It was now a little past noon and the office looked like a mini florist shop.

Roses in every color imaginable sat on any available surface Caitlyn could find. She had even resorted to placing them out front at the main desk.

She was overwhelmed with each new bouquet and she’d picked up the phone more than once to call him. She never made it past the first couple of digits before hanging up. Maggie’s taunting voice prickled at the back of her mind every time she tried.

She stood in the aroma filled office and looked at the sea of color, inhaling their scent when she heard Jewel let out a tiny squeal.

“Damn girl! You weren’t kidding were you?” Jewel laughed as she entered the office.

“Nope,” Caitlyn grinned. “Just when I think there can’t be any other color left, he surprises me again.”

“Please tell me you’re going to call him?” Jewel said, as she leaned down to smell the pale lavender roses sitting on the table the coffee pot usually sat.

“If I call, then he’ll want an answer about dinner and I don’t have one.”

“Why don’t you?” Jewel asked. “You want to go out with him, don’t you?”

Caitlyn glanced at her feet before looking up and shrugging her shoulder. “I don’t know.”

“You’re lying, Caitie,” Jewel said. “I’ve been your friend since fifth grade and I can tell when you’re lying.”

Caitlyn sighed and leaned back against the wall. “Maggie thinks it’s a bad idea.”

Jewel rolled her eyes and walked to the desk, sitting on top of it. “And what reason did she give?”

“She said,” Caitlyn thought hard as to Maggie’s reasons and all she could really recall was Maggie saying she just didn’t like him.

“I’m waiting.”

“She doesn’t like him,” Caitlyn told her.

“She thinks he’s arrogant and too rich for his own good.”

Jewel made a “pfth” sound before laughing. “Girl, if that’s the only reason you’re saying no then, you’re crazy.”

“So you think I should then?”

“Look, I know I said play hard to get but William apparently isn’t your typical guy. I’ve yet to meet a man who would go to this much trouble for one date. I say call him.”

Caitlyn grinned and stuck her hands in her pockets. “What will Maggie think?”

“Is Maggie going to spend her life making you happy?”

“No.”

“Well then I suggest you get off your ass and make the call,” Jewel told her. “And if you don’t I’m going to find out if he likes blondes…er, redheads or whatever color my hair is today.”

Caitlyn laughed before seeing something out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to the door and saw an arm sticking through the doorway.

Someone held a single daisy and she grinned before looking back at Jewel. “Jesse has felt left out all day.” She pushed off the wall and walked to the door. Her smile waned as she looked up and saw William standing there.

“I have sent you every rose I can possibly find in Boston and since you haven’t called me yet I figured I was doing something wrong,” he said. “It’s not much but its beauty is in its simplicity.”

Caitlyn’s body raced with tingles as she looked at the daisy before reaching out to take it from him. It was pale pink in color and she inhaled its scent. She looked up at him and said, “It’s beautiful. They’re all beautiful.”

William glanced around the room, taking in the sight of the roses and nodding his head. “They’re nice,” he said. “But they pale in comparison to you.”

 

————————-

 

Get your FREE copy here: http://bit.ly/LilyNewsletter

The post FREE Valentine’s Day Romance appeared first on Lily Graison | USA Today Bestselling Author.

Website Giveaway Winner’s

I have winners in my website giveaway that took place this week! The original giveaway was posted HERE.

There were (5) prizes up for grabs. Congratulations to the winners!

(2) $10.00 Amazon Gift Cards  –  April Janvrin and Alice Robbins

(2) Winner’s Choice eBooks  –  Christina Albertson and Tammy Payne

(1) Winners Choice Paperback  –  Betty Finch

Check your email ladies for instructions on how to claim your prize!

The post Website Giveaway Winner’s appeared first on USA Today Bestselling Author Lily Graison.

Goodbye 2016 & Giveaway

I’ve never done a “year in review” post and I’d really hate to bore you with one this year but so much has happened over the course of the year, and so many unanswered questions still dangle in the air, I think one is needed. It’ll be brief, I promise, then we’ll get to the year-end giveaway.

As some of you know, I’ve had health issues going back to the beginning of 2015. You can read all about that in this post if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Long story short, most of 2015 and 2016 were filled with medications and more sleep than any one body needs and my writing suffered for it. I’ve not had a new release in ages and Wild Horses has been promised for months now and it’s still not quite ready, which is why I decided to come off my meds. It’s been an eye-opener. Medications are meant to help but when they’re prescribed to hurry you out of the office, which I think they were in my case because no one EVER got to the bottom of my problem…just kept shoving pills at me…then they’re very harmful. I went from being depressed but functional to laying in bed in so much pain I could barely move and all the doctors and specialist could tell me was…sometimes our bodies just hurt for no reason.

I’m sorry, but I don’t buy that so I just stopped going to those doctors and made the decision to come off the meds. I’d rather “live” with the pain than waste away in bed a shell of a person. I did research and found herbal supplements that might help and started weening myself off the drugs. I’ve been drug-free (except for the herbal supplements) for two months now and you know what I discovered? The depression isn’t as severe as it once was and the pain is gone.

I’m  not a doctor but I’ve read enough to know that some people with depression suffer from pain, yet not one of the doctors I saw mentioned it. So, after countless doctors and hundreds of dollars of money spent, all it took to get better was….get off those addicting (mind-altering) drugs, invest in herbal alternatives and get smart about my health.

Of course, now that I’m “awake” I can finally see how far behind I am and it’s taking me a while to get back into the groove of things. I’m working on Wild Horses (Alexandra Avery and Jesse Samuels story) every chance I get and I had hoped to have it out by Christmas but that didn’t happen. After two years of no releases, you start doubting everything you write so you delete a lot, rewrite things that were fine and spend countless hours just fiddling with things because you think readers are going to hate it when at the end of the day, the story is what it is…good or bad. Readers will love it or hate it and there’s nothing I can do to change that.

So I hope to announce a release date soon so be sure you’re on my Newsletter list to be notified of that. Also, this year, I’ll be holding a $25.00 amazon gift card giveaway every month for my newsletter subscribers and answering readers questions so be sure you’re all signed up for that. You can join the newsletter list here. If you’d like to get “your” question in the newsletter, then follow this link to the Ask Lily page to submit it. Your question and answers will appear in the newsletter and later archived here on the website the following month.

Now, on to that giveaway!

2016 has been rough for everyone and I want you all to know how very much I appreciate each and every one of you. Without you, I’d have no one to share my stories with and you’ve been beyond patient waiting for a new one so I’m giving back with a giveaway.

I have 5 prizes up for grabs…(2) $10.00 amazon gift cards, (2) winner’s choice eBooks and (1) winner’s choice signed paperback. All you have to do to enter is comment below and tell me something you’re thankful for and mark that you’ve commented on the Rafflecopter form.

Once you’ve done that, other options will open up on the form. Those are not required (only the comment is) but the more options you do, the more entries you gain so, click off all those tasks for 10 entries into the giveaway. The contest will run for a week to give everyone a chance to enter. I’ll announce the winner’s on Jan. 9th 2017.

I hope your New Year is blessed and filled with happiness. Good luck on the giveaway and Happy New Year!!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Goodbye 2016 & Giveaway appeared first on USA Today Bestselling Author Lily Graison.