Thursday, June 07, 2012

Thursday's Title: Forever His by Christine Young


Blurb

Struggling to come to terms with the part she played in Jacob St. John's death, Etta Barringer resigns from the Pinkerton Agency and seeks peace and solace in a Rocky Mountain cabin. 

Jacob has vowed to discover the reason Etta has betrayed him, sold him out to his enemy and left him for dead.

Isolated in their cabin, they discover their love for each other and learn to trust. But the trust is shattered when Jacob learns she is married to his sworn enemy, the man who left him in the desert to die.



Forever His by Chrsitine Young
Excerpt Heat Level: 3
Book Heat Level: 4

Buy at:  www.roguephoenixpress.com 
This is the 4th book in the Lakota/Pinkerton series
Dakota's Bride, My Angel, The Locket, The Talisman, and Forever His

August 30, 1895
Near Buffalo Creek,
South Dakota


The sun beat down. Searing heat waves hit the hard packed earth, blistering, charring everything, even the dry prairie grass. Jacob St. John, his arms stretched overhead and bound to a whipping post, no longer counted the lashes tearing into his back, no longer felt the horrific agony.

More than a half-dozen men and one woman were gathered in the sage-patched backyard of the run-down shack. So far not one person made a sound as they watched Chavez wield the whip, stripping the flesh off his back.

If Chavez weren't so angry and seeking revenge of his own, he would probably have just had him shot. Revenge was a powerful motive. Chavez wanted Jacob to suffer, to yell before he died. It seemed Etta Barringer did too. So far Chavez was toying with him, taunting and teasing him, cutting an inch here, ripping an inch there, not doing much damage but making mincemeat out of his back.

Jacob hadn't made a sound yet, not even a sharp, indrawn breath. He wasn't about to even though he knew Chavez would get impatient and start slashing. There was no hurry. Chavez had as long as he wanted. No one save Etta knew where he was, no one would come looking for him, at least not until the sun went down. By then Chavez would be done with him, and he would either be dead or buzzard-bait. For the life of him, he couldn't figure why Etta would hand him over to Chavez. She had always been Pinkerton to the core, yet she had betrayed him once before. If he survived this, he meant to have answers. He'd move heaven and earth to search out the lying Etta Barringer and find out exactly what she had against him.

The pain of betrayal at the forefront of his mind, and vows of revenge against the instigator of this kept him going. He focused on the woman's laughter and the scent of lemons that permeated his soul.

He had been taken by surprise. Still, he didn't go down easily. It took all of Chavez's men to get him bound securely to the post in back of the shack. And of those men, not one came away from the encounter without a scratch. Blood from the multitude of small cuts Chavez had inflicted ran in rivulets from his back, pooling on the parched thirsty ground, soaking into the dirt, staining it.

He stood, his head proudly erect and that seemed to draw anger from Chavez. The grip of his fingers curled around the top of the post, the only sign of Jacob's pain--and fury.

The first real stroke of the whip felt like a red-hot branding iron searing across his back. Jacob didn't flinch, nor would he as long as he could hear her laughter or smell lemons floating languidly on the breeze. He wished he could see her, stare into her beguiling, green eyes until she knew he'd never stop hunting for her. Fury at his own weakness rose, and the anger he felt deep inside simmered, because she'd always attracted him. Ever since she showed up in a small town in Oregon, seduced him then drugged him and left him to sleep off the opium-laced whiskey, she'd fascinated him.

Concentrate on her--on what you're going to do when you find her again . . .

Reviews

Christine Young Website 
Genre(s): Historical 
Review Date: Oct 27, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9820025
Print Book Price: 
E-Book Price: $4.99
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Score:  (5 out of 5)



Etta Barringer has made tons of mistakes and one big one is back to torment her. Not in a bad way but a very delicious way. The thing is the man who she betrayed months ago wants more than revenge from her. She saw Jacob St. John go through hell and pain in one day by a ruthless man. Etta knows this man, Chavez, wouldn’t stop looking for them until they’re both dead. As a Pinkerton Agent she is the first woman in her field and must do everything she can to prove that she can do anything. This is hard to do when she is supposed to work with Jacob. Something about him makes her doubt her work and ethics. Etta knows she’s good but she wants to be more than an agent she wants to be the woman he loves. She knows Jacob can never forgive her for her deceit but she wants his love. Can she be safe in his arms knowing that he still hates her? Or does he?

Jacob St. John is a Pinkerton agent determined to get Chavez. He is a bandit, ruthless and will not stop until he’s dead. Jacob has come close to death’s door because of one woman, Etta. He knew her as Fanny and Ginny but she is the same woman who captured his heart. She thinks he hates her but that is far from the truth. Something about Etta ignites his passion for her each day and her courage makes him love her more. Etta is determined to prove to him that she can survive anything even a blizzard. The days are cold and are meant for survival but the nights are when his seduction plans are set in motion. Seduction that he knows Etta cannot refuse. Just like the snow melting she melts towards him. Each night with her is one day closer to her leaving him. This is something he cannot stand and will do everything to prevent. He just needs to prove they belong together.

Christine Young has done it again in this historical romance. I applaud her for creating a passionate man like Jacob St. John and a heroine like Etta. I enjoyed how Etta was a strong-minded female, one that was working hard to prove that she could be tough and sweet as well. The Old West comes to life in this beautiful tale. The blizzards, betrayal, deceit and a ruthless bandito like Chavez made this a great romance. I can’t wait for more of Christine Young’s books. This definitely a recommended read!



Forever His - Book Excerpt

Book Blurb & Info for Forever His


Heat Level: 4
Page Count: 262

Struggling to come to terms with the part she played in Jacob St. John's death, Etta Barringer resigns from Pinkerton Agency and seeks peace and solace in a Rocky Mountain Cabin. Jacob has vowed to discover the reason Etta has betrayed him, sold him out to his enemy and left him for dead.   Isolated in there cabin, they discover their love for each other and learn to trust. But the trust is shattered when Jacob learns she is married to his sworn enemy; the man who left him in the desert to die.

Buy now at: http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/


Melinda for Night Owl Romance     5 out of 5

Review
Forever His by Christine Young
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full (261 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4 Books
Reviewed by Oleander

Struggling to come to terms with the part she played in Jacob St. John’s death, Etta Barringer resigns from Pinkerton Agency and seeks peace and solace in a Rocky Mountain Cabin. Jacob has vowed to discover the reason Etta has betrayed him, sold him out to his enemy and left him for dead. Isolated in their cabin, they discover their love for each other and learn to trust. But the trust is shattered when Jacob learns she is married to his sworn enemy; the man who left him in the desert to die.

Twice betrayed by the woman he secretly loved, Jacob St. John vowed not to let the sexually alluring, but life threateningly dangerous Etta Barringer get away. She was going to pay and Jacob was planning on surprising the deceptive beauty and making sure she knew just how fiercely exasperated he really was. Problem being, Etta was convinced that Jacob was dead.

Watching Jacob die by the hand of Chavez broke Etta’s heart and you immediately feel compassion for her while she tries to forget the blurry memories of his confusing death. Blurry because Chavez has drugged her and you know in your heart that Etta would have never double crossed Jacob….. again. Both times were accidental and almost comical in how they played out. Jacob had no clue and is determined to get his own taste of revenge. If only he could get those lustful thoughts out of his head!

Etta is charming, pure and simple, and you can’t help but feel her grief at her hand in Jacob’s murder. She determines to quit her job with the Pinkerton’s, feeling she is no longer worthy of the position.

I sympathized with Jacob as he plotted his revenge on Etta. Despite how cruel he planned to be to her, he just couldn’t get past the feeling that maybe, just maybe she was telling the truth. That perhaps she didn’t want him dead and wasn’t a conspirator with Chavez.
A romantic and passionate love story developed between Etta and Jacob, but both will have to put the past aside if they plan on a future together. Watching the two overcome lies and begins to trust and believe in each other, I was simply swept away into their world and cheered them on hoping that through all the mistakes and lies they could find their happy ending.

A captivating and intriguing story that sucks you in and takes you back into 1895 with a timeless tale filled with high drama, a ruthless criminal and two lovers who are intended to be together. If you want to keep on the edge of your seat , turning pages and wondering what will happen next or if Etta and Jacob will make it through all of their troubles, then this is the book for you.




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