The Birthday Fantasy (9 page)

A part of her wanted to give in to him, but a larger part wanted to punish him. Let him take her to court; she’d make sure the world knew what kind of jerk Seth Kendall really was.

She gritted her teeth and fisted her hands by her sides. “I’ll let you have tonight, Seth. But don’t ask for more.”

She turned away and strode through the French doors.

What People Are Saying...

“This was indeed a well written, well edited book. In the end, it was worth all the anxiety, the surprises, The pleasure, the sadness, the joy, the disappointment and the anger I felt as I read. This is not just a book for cowboy lovers like me. This is a book for anyone who has loved someone and hoped and prayed for a second chance to be the person they want to be. What else can I tell you but you need to read this book and let it play on your heartstrings.
5/5 Stars (I’d give it more if I could!) and 4/5 Flames!
…”
Read the entire review at
Sniffer Walk Books

**

“Great Scandal…Great Romance…GREAT “Ahem” ….and a whole lot more to enjoy. HEARTSTRINGS is like your favorite TV Series…you just want more more more! I encourage you all to give it a read…especially my NASHVILLE Fans out there!!”
Read this
4 Star
review at
A Tasty Read Book Reviews

**

“Heartstrings is full of emotion, heartbreak, lies, and deception. The characters were well rounded and I fell in love with Seth, Abby, and Emily. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and this story took me on a wild ride that tugged on my own heartsrings. I couldn’t put it down! Heartsrings is highly recommended from this reviewer! Who doesn’t love a good second chance story filled with music, laughter, and love?…”
Read this
5 Star
review at
Storm Goddess Book Reviews and More

To find out more about
Heartstrings
, click
HERE
.

****

The Colton Gamblers
Series

Gambling on love and bringing back the bond of family...

Gambling On A Secret

Book 1

When Charli bets everything on a secret, will she find the deck stacked against her?

Former runaway-turned heiress Charli Monroe is hiding her sordid past and planning a future in Colton, Texas.
Attending the local college for a degree in social work, she intends to raise cattle on her newly purchased ranch, which she plans to open as a home for troubled teens. Only a few glitches--the Victorian mansion is crumbling, the barn needs a roof, and her oilman neighbor wants more than friendship. When she meets Dylan Quinn, Charli is willing to take a chance on the town drunk to help her rebuild the rundown ranch.

Dylan has his demons, too. The former Special Forces commander can’t get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and the botched mission that left him with much more than a bad limp. Certain the greedy oilman next door to Charli wants much more than just her heart, Dylan’s even willing to stop drinking in order to protect her.

When things get dangerous and secrets of the past are revealed, is he only looking out for his new employer, or is she the new start he so desperately needs?

CONTENT WARNING: Details abuse of a minor, drug abuse, alcoholism, swearing, spicy sex, murder.

COVER QUOTE:
“Full of intrigue, tangled pasts, and raw emotions, this one is guaranteed to keep you turning pages from start to finish and then wishing for one more chapter!”
Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of
Just a Cowboy and His Baby
.

Ms. Brown
also named
Gambling On A Secret
as one of her favorite romance reads in 2012 in the
Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today
.

Excerpt:

“Ferguson, what are you doing here?” Dylan barked.

Leon ambled toward them on the stone path. “I’m saving a young maiden from torment. What are you doing here, playing the part of the devil?”

“I’m Miss Monroe’s new manager.” The deadly edge of his voice matched the flintiness of his eyes. “If there’s anyone to save the young maiden from, it’s you.”

“Mr. Quinn, please.” She turned to Leon. “Leon, is there something I can do for you?”

He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth in a face handsome enough to belong to an actor. “I was just passing by on my way home and decided to stop. How are the boys working out?”

Dylan’s stance widened and his hands flexed at his slides. “What boys?”

“Charli and I have entered into a business arrangement.”

She lost the battle with the urge to wrap her arms around herself. As much as she appreciated Leon’s kindness, respected him, and was even a little attracted to him, something about him didn’t sit right with her. He represented her peers in the community. According to Mrs. Pratt, besides the Cartwrights, she and Leon were undoubtedly the wealthiest residents in the county. No one in Colton could learn about her past. It would ruin her, and Leon, no doubt, had the means to dig up the dirt.

“Really?” Dylan stepped closer to her in a protective manner. Whiskey tainted his breath as the warmth of the exhalations tickled her cheek. “What kind of business arrangement?”

She could protect herself. Dylan Quinn wasn’t any safer than Leon Ferguson. Stepping away from him, she forced her arms to her sides. “Mr. Quinn, I can handle this.”

She faced Leon. “I’m amazed by how much the men got done since starting on Monday. The foreman told me last evening they’d be reseeding another fifty acres for hay this morning. And they have the corrals fixed and started on the fencing in the north pasture.”

“Good, good.” He glanced at Dylan. “I’ll be going, unless you need a more reliable exterminator. I couldn’t help but overhear about your snake infestation. I can give you the name of the company that has gotten rid of the snakes in our lakes over on Oak Springs for years.”

Although he presented the perfect solution, she didn’t the like way Leon had looked at Dylan as he said the word
exterminator
. “No, Mr. Quinn is quite capable of getting rid of the snake.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is.” Leon tipped his hat. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, Charli.” Dylan’s jaw tightened as his uncle glanced at him. “It’s good to see you up among the living again.”

Leon headed back to his Porsche. With no pretense of lowering his voice, Dylan said, “Now, there’s a snake no one wants in their garden.”

Upon hearing the jibe, Leon’s shoulders jerked in mid-stride.

Rattled by Leon’s attention and the snake fiasco, she turned on Dylan. “You aren’t off the hook. I want those snakes gone.”

“We’ll see.”

“I hate snakes.” She shuddered and put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should have asked him who the exterminator is.”

What People Are Saying...

"HONESTLY this was a FABULOUS read. Gambling on a Secret is a gripping, entertaining and an absolutely delightful romantic read which is set in the town of Colton located in Texas. Sarah Walter Ellwood has scored with this book. This has been one of my favourite reads for 2013. The story held my interest from the beginning. I had a real hard time putting it down. I was so disappointed when it ended. I deliberately took my time reading it so I could savour every minute. I was pulled into the story from the very first page and just could not let go..."

Read the rest of this
5 Star
review at
Satin Sheets Romance
**

"Gambling on a Secret is a definite keeper in my book. It is still not a story for the under 18 crowd but if you are a fan of western romance, love your cowboys tender-hearted and completely dependable, your heroines strong and supportive with some spice thrown into their relationship and a dash of suspense add, you will love this book..."
Read the entire
TOP PICK 4 1/2 Star
Review at
Night Owl Reviews

**

“Another hit from Sara Walter Ellwood, GAMBLING ON A SECRET was everything that I like about a romance, a tortured/broody hero, a strong heroine, a little bit of mystery, a whole lotta sexual chemistry, and a cast of characters who help bring the story alive... GAMBLING ON A SECRET, the plotline has many twists and turns, which you will find out bits and pieces of throughout the read, which I enjoyed. I like my tidbits, they keep me holding on, not that the smokin’ hot sex won't have you turning page after page, but Sara did a wonderful job at keeping the readers’ attention. Dylan...very swoonworthy...who doesn't love a hero, no a literal hero, who needs the love of a good woman to help him make the decision to clean himself up. This is the story of two seriously LOST SOULS who have happened upon each other and find something in each other that they never thought they'd find...Seriously tugs on those heartstrings!”
This
4 Star
review posted at
A Tasty Read Book Reviews

To find out more about
Gambling On A Secret
, click
HERE
.

****

Gambling On A Heart

Book 2

She once lost his heart on a bluff. Will she risk everything to win it back?

Beautician Tracy Quinn spends her days making the women of Colton, Texas beautiful,
while living down the nickname of Olive Oyl, given to her by the only man she has ever loved--Zack Cartwright. She spends her nights alone, despite what her ex husband wants their friends and neighbors to think.

Ex-rodeo cowboy. Ex-bad-boy. Ex-Marine. Widower and single dad Sheriff Zack
Cartwright can describe his life in exes. One ex in particular reminds him of what’s missing in his workaholic life: Tracy Quinn. For years since she broke his heart, he’s practically made avoiding her a second job. He still wants her, but can never go after her.

When cattle rustlers target her brother’s ranch, Tracy and Zack are stuck working
together. Her son could use a positive male role model, and his daughter is wild for a chance at a “substitute” mom. But Tracy’s ex threatens to sue if she lets Zack near her son, and the Colton grapevine is abuzz with rumors about their past relationship. Is it worth the gamble to see if what they have is more than lust?

CONTENT WARNING: Spicy sex

Excerpt:

“I was hoping you could keep me company this afternoon.” He skimmed his fingers over her cheek.

Her insides, heating up like lava under the surface of the earth, pooled in her low belly. Her lips parted.

Against her lips, he whispered, “Tracy, I want you.”

She had thought of little else since he’d left her standing on her porch Friday night. He was asking her to enter into a sexual relationship without any hope of a future--without love.

But she was already in love with Zack.

Both of their kids would benefit from them being together. Hadn’t that been what she’d decided while she tossed and turned in her big, empty bed?

With her gaze locked on his, she murmured, “I want you, too, but I have a stipulation.”

He leaned back. “What is it?”

“I’m no one’s bed-buddy, Zack. I know what my reputation is in this town, but it’s all wrong.” She swallowed her rapidly thumping heart back into place. “I’ll only go through with this, if you promise to treat me as a serious girlfriend. That means we date, we visit with our families and we share our kids.” When his expression hardened, she quickly added, “Mandy likes me. And I adore her. I’d like to bring her here, to the shop, for a few hours and play. And take her shopping. I know your mom tries, but she’s busy with her foundations and charities she does for the Junior League.”

The breath she sucked in was full of Zack’s scent of sage and leather. “Meanwhile, you can teach Bobby how to ride and maybe take him to the sheriff’s department and show him around. Jake won’t like it, but I’ll deal with him.” Having laid her demands out on the proverbial table, she held her breath, waiting for him to tell her what she could do with herself. After all, a man of Zack’s caliber could have any damned woman he wanted. Tracy was just handy, and according to the gossip of her ex-husband and mother-in-law, she was easy.

He studied her for a few moments. “That’s more than one stipulation.”

“Take it or leave it.”

“Tracy, it won’t change what I told you Friday night. I’m never getting married again.”

His words stung as much now as they had the other night, but she didn’t show him how much. She kept her face determined, as if she were haggling over one of his horses, rather than her body and soul.

“Fine. But I’m not a floozy. Yes, I’ve made mistakes. But I have my son to consider. And I’d hope you’d feel the same about Mandy. They’re bound to see us together. What do you plan on telling your six-year-old daughter when she asks about me? That I’m your friend with benefits? I know that
isn’t
what I want to be teaching my son.” Moreover, she didn’t want to give credence to Jake’s claim that she had no sexual morals.