Author of Promised to Another Book 3
Her publishing credits include Hot Chocolate and Shadows
of the Past from Treble Heart Books; a devotional in a compilation from
Zondervan; and three books in the Amish
of Seymour series from Whitaker House:
Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Healing Love will
begin the Amish of Webster County series
in September 2012. Laura has a business degree from Ozarka and is a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for
the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various
online review sites.
Blurb
Enjoy an Excerpt
“May I take you home from Singing?”
Annie Beiler’s breath hitched and her
gaze shot from the dusty tips of her powder blue tennis shoes to the drop-dead
gorgeous man standing not three feet in front of her. Unfortunately, his
tentative smile wasn’t aimed in her direction.
Nein, Joshua Esh’s hazel eyes were
locked on Rachel Lapp. Though Annie had to admit Rachel was cute with her
strawberry blond hair and the green dress that perfectly matched her green
eyes.
He was what her Englisch friends
called a player, for sure. Everyone talked about how he never took the same
girl home from Singing twice. But maybe that meant he would eventually make his
way to Annie.
Rachel’s face lit up. “Danki, Joshua.
I’d love a ride.”
Annie scowled. And when he did get
around to asking her, she’d reject him. Seems someone should have the willpower
to. Even though Rachel had talked about him and his ways earlier that evening,
it appeared that she had only been suffering from jealousy since Joshua hadn’t
asked her first.
Okay, to be honest, Annie did feel a
bit envious too. Make that more than a bit. Not mainly because of Joshua,
although he played a huge part of it. But partially because none of the men
swapped from Pennsylvania had ever offered to give her a ride. Not a single
one.
She didn’t think she was that
unfortunate looking.
Annie brushed past Joshua and Rachel
and left the barn. Maybe she shouldn’t have gone outside, because she did need
a way home unless she planned to ride with another couple. But she didn’t think
she could stand there alone by the barn doors, hopeful, when all the buwe she
noticed didn’t seem to know she was alive.
Like Joshua Esh.
Especially Joshua Esh.
Annie kicked at a rock and winced
when it didn’t budge.
“Annie? Is that you?” A male voice came
from the darkness in front of her.
She jumped. She recognized that
voice. Just hadn’t expected to hear it. Not in a month of Singings. She
frowned. “Luke?”
“Jah.” He moved enough to come into
the circle of light from the lanterns hanging around the barn.
Annie planted her fists on her hips.
She wouldn’t make the mistake of falling for Luke Schwartz twice. Not that
she’d fallen for him the first time. It was just—he’d asked. And a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush. Right? Okay, he wasn’t what she wanted, wouldn’t
make her top ten list of dreamy Amish men, but he was better than nothing. She
pulled in a deep breath, steeling herself. “What are you doing here?”
“Ach, that’s a wonderful way to
welcome me. I’m home.”
She stilled, hope building, despite
her internal warnings. “For how long?” She didn’t want to spend her life alone.
Didn’t want to rely on the kindness of other couples for rides. Didn’t want to
be the only girl left unattached, unaccepted, unwanted.
Unloved.
But then again, she didn’t want to
settle for just anyone either.
Luke didn’t quite meet her eyes. “You
wound me.”
Ach. Not for gut, then. The pencil fell from behind her ear and she stooped to pick
it up, careful not to glance at him as she rose.
“Never without that ever present
pencil, I see.”
She winced, hating that he mocked
her. Okay, she probably shouldn’t take a pencil to Singing, but what if she
wanted to write something down? The name of a book she’d like to read, or
something she wanted to mention to the scholars. Maybe even the initials of her
number one dream guy. One who stood somewhere nearby, but didn’t pay any
attention to her. One who didn’t know she was alive. She didn’t dare glance
away from Luke. “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
He sighed. “May I give you a ride home?
Looks like things are breaking up.”
“I’m sorry, but I already have a
ride. Maybe another time?”
Luke laughed. “Right. I heard how
popular you are. Having to beat the buwe off with a stick, ain’t so?”
Annie stiffened. “So, you couldn’t
pay rent on that run down trailer and ran home to your parents, jah?”
Someone moved up beside her, and she
glanced that way. Whoever it was didn’t register. What she did notice was that
everyone had gathered around her and Luke, watching their exchange.
She was in enough trouble, only
allowed to continue teaching on probation. All she needed was for one of these
eavesdroppers to go home and tell their folks. She’d be out of a job so fast a
racing horse and buggy wouldn’t be able to keep pace. She searched for something
to say, something to diffuse the situation.
Luke’s glance slid from her to
whoever offered wordless support. He sneered, then backed up a space. “Well,
since you have a ride, I’ll just see you later then. Good to see ya, Annie.”
She forced a smile. “Glad you’re
back, Luke.”
He turned and disappeared into the
darkness.
***
Joshua stood beside Annie for a moment.
Silent. Wishing he could say something that would be a salve to her hurt. He
felt the pain radiating from her as she watched the red-headed man walk away.
That whole situation confused him. He’d
been attracted to Annie since the moment he met her, but when he fished for
more information about her, he’d been told she was taken. Off limits. All but
engaged to Luke Schwartz. And that Luke had vowed to return for her again
someday. Apparently that day was now.
Annie hadn’t been waiting with baited
breath.
Joshua didn’t know exactly what that meant.
4 comments:
Wow, I definately want to get this book to read.
Hello, Unknown,
and thank you for coming by to visit. As an author who is always looking for readership myself, I can say with certainty, that Laura would be honored if you selected her book to read.
I had the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. I recommend it highly and Laura's skill to weave a compelling tale.
that is lovely to say, June. Thank you so much for coming by.
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