O is for Outlaw

Today, we have Renee Rose in the house! Renee is one of the fantastic team of writers behind the bestselling Sons of Johnny Hastings boxset. I absolutely love her book, The Outlaw’s Bride which tells the story of spunky, independent ranchwoman, Mabelle and the strong, sexy outlaw who fate throws in her path. I’ll let Renee tell you all about him…

O is for Outlaw.  Who in this case, happens to be named Sam Pride. Thank you, Etta, for letting him visit you today!

There’s something about the bad boys as romance heroes that makes my heart go thump-thump.  Add in spankings and a cowboy, and I’ve turned to mush. The trick with the bad boy, though, is to still make him likeable. In Sam Pride’s case, he’s Wanted for killing four men, but it was in self-defense.  Here’s how he tells the story:

“You were right when you called me a bastard,” he said with a twisted grin. “I never knew my father. My mother ran a saloon in Central City during the Colorado Gold Rush. I grew up in it, watching gunfights and hearing stories about the quickest draws in the West.

“The sheriff there took me under his wing. Taught me to shoot before I could stand tall enough to serve behind the bar, and I practiced every chance I got.”

“How many men have you killed?”

His jaw hardened. “Enough.”

“Is that why you’re Wanted?”

He exhaled. “Yes. I killed four men back in Colorado Territory. I had a ranch there—sheep, mostly.”

“I’m sorry,” Mabelle said. He could feel her looking at him, but he didn’t turn.

“I had a fine homestead—access to water and old trees. But the cattle men couldn’t stand the homesteaders fencing off what they considered their land. They cut my fences and killed my sheep. When I caught them at it, there was a gunfight.”

He looked out at the horizon, the blue sky dotted with a few fluffy clouds. Mabelle’s eyes still bore a hole on the side of his face. He turned to face her. “I never shot a man who didn’t draw on me first. Never in my life, I swear it on my mother’s grave.”

Her eyes were round and she blinked at him. “I believe you,” she said softly.

He snatched up one of her hands, pulling it to his lips to kiss. Realizing the inappropriateness, he dropped it again and cleared his throat. “I will drive now,” he said gruffly, looking away.

Synopsis:

Mabelle Lawson had been managing her dead sister’s ranch without help for three months. The last thing she needs is a band of outlaws showing up and pushing her around. The Curly James gang members have no patience for her sass, and when their leader attempts to strike her with his fist, one of his men volunteers to spank her instead. She wants to hate the good-looking outlaw, but he seems to have her well-being at heart, even risking his life to protect her from the other men.

Unjustly accused of murder, Sam Pride is on the run and his luck worsens when he tangles with the Curly James gang. The only bright spot is the little spitfire rancher who steals his heart with her courage and spunk. When the two set off together for Cheyenne and then Denver, sparks fly and their magnetic connection grows.

Still, Mabelle is not sure if Sam will commit and even if he does, can he clear his name before a bounty hunter shoots him or brings him in?

The Outlaw’s Bride is available at Amazon, Amazon UK and Blushing Books