Diagnosed with a chronic, debilitating illness, Lanae Petersen vows to pursue life to its fullest. When she discovers mysterious love letters hidden within an antique desk, she begins a quest to discover who the young lovers were. Little does she realize that in trying to bring closure to their lives, hers will be turned upside-down.
After the death of his wife, cowboy Sage Diamond wants to be left alone on his acreage in peace and anonymity. When Lanae approaches him with letters to a family member, she not only threatens to expose his family secrets, but also stirs something inside him that he neither expects, nor welcomes. Sage fights his attraction, determined not to fall for a woman whose health is so fragile. Can Sage trust God's guiding hand, or will his fear of losing another love crush his chance for a future with Lanae?
Excerpt:
The sky was clear and enormous where it met the horizon. The whinny of horses carried up from a pasture on the other side of the barn. The acreage represented everything she loved about being outside the city limits. Expanse, horses, a sprinkling of trees in the distance…God’s country.
When she caught sight of the cowboy, the vision was complete.
She sighed. Home. How crazy. She felt like she’d come home.
The cowboy rounded the corner of the wood-sided barn that she guessed to be sixty feet long. He loped in the loose way of a man comfortable on the back of a horse.
And she enjoyed every step as he approached.
He even tipped the brim of his hat. “Mornin’. You Lanae?”
Wow was the only thing she could think to say. But she kept it to herself.
Her mouth went dry.
His nose was bent, just off to the right of center. He had a full bottom lip, thinner upper, all accented by what she supposed was a year-round tan. Myriad facial lines gave testimony to a life lived outdoors.
She cleared her throat, mustered up some moisture for her vocal chords in order to answer, “That I am.”
“Sage Diamond.”
When he drew close enough, Lanae was dumbfounded at the impact of his eyes. They were an unbelievable piercing blue with a hint of lavender.
“Did you have any trouble finding the place?” Sage spoke in an unhurried manner.
Lanae wondered if he felt rushed about anything. She started to open the door.
“You always leave your car running?” A hint of amusement tugged at his mouth.
Oops. She turned the key. Great first impression.
He held the door.
Still caught in the lavender blue of his eyes, shadowed now from his hat, Lanae swallowed what felt like the chaff of an August hayfield.
No more singles ads for me.
Great excerpt, isn't it? Readers, look for Sage and Sweetgrass on 2/24 with White Rose Publishing.
Meet LoRee Peery:
A Nebraska country girl most of her life, LoRee Peery feels she would be stifled surrounded by concrete instead of open spaces. LoRee and her husband live in a home built with their own hands.
LoRee clings to the word overcomer and the knowledge she has victory in Jesus. When she considers being set apart as a child of God, she is humbled. She believes in redeeming grace, and if we open our eyes, we will see the hand of God every day, no matter where we are.
