Sophie Dawson is back with a new book! Just published on November 16th! It's all about music and a marriage forced on them by circumstances. Can Red and Gema make things work?
About the Book
Red Dickerson is shocked to see a young woman running
through the woods in the freezing rain. He’d gone to the far end of Hawk’s Wing
Ranch to think after his engagement was broken by the woman he planned to
marry. Recognizing her as Gema Volkovichna, one of the women from Sanctuary
House, he spurs his horse to go after her. Finding she’s escaped after being
kidnapped by the infamous King Gang, he vows to keep her safe.
Gema Volkovichna is one of the newest women to come to
Sanctuary House in Stones Creek, Colorado. She came to find work and possibly a
husband. When a spring blizzard forces them to spend three days alone in a line
shack, there’s only one conclusion. She and Red must marry to salvage her
reputation.
Can Gema and Red learn to be husband and wife? Will love
grow from this forced marriage? Will the King Gang return to reclaim what they
lost? Can Red and Gema learn to dance together to the MUSIC of HER HEART?
Buy on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.comdp/B076MBLXMJ
About the Author
Sophie Dawson has made up stories in her head all her life.
It wasn’t until 2011 that she began writing typing them out.
Her first books were all historical fiction romance. They’ve
won multiple awards and garnered rave reviews. Now, Sophie has branched out
into contemporary romance though she plans to continue writing historical and
hopes to add more books in her popular Cottonwood and Stones Creek series.
Sophie lives with her husband and very old cat on a farm in
western Illinois. She’s an avid seamstress and was a professional quilter for a
number of years before the writing bug bit. She’s just thankful it’s not fatal.
Excerpt
Red didn’t know what hit him. All he’d said
was that he’d take Gema to Jeb and see if she could play his fiddle. Now, he
had her in his arms, and she was crying on his shoulder as she held him
tightly. He looked at Cookie who smiled at him.
When she quieted, Red
escorted her to where the cowboys were gathered. “Jeb.” Red waited until all
the cowboys were looking at him with Gema who was standing slightly behind him,
gripping his hand tightly. “Seems my wife can play the fiddle. Would you be of
a mind to let her use yours to show us?”
Jeb who was sitting on a
log stool jumped to his feet. “Sure enough, Red. Be glad to. My arm’s gettin’ a
might tired.” He held the violin out, and Red took it.
“Here you go, honey. Give
it a whirl.”
Gema took the instrument
and bow. He watched as she stroked the wood, her face held an expression of
love and joy. Tucking it under her chin, Gema touched the bow to the strings.
Several minutes were spent tuning them to her satisfaction. Then she stepped back,
centering herself within the semi-circle of seated and standing cowboys.
At first, Gema ran
through several sets of scales, pausing to start over when her fingers
stumbled. Then, she began a haunting, sad tune that brought echoes of the past
to Red’s thoughts. He glanced at the other cowboys. They were feeling the
effects of the music, too.
Once the strains of the
song faded, Gema picked up the tempo with a lively folk song that had the men
all smiling. Red could tell she missed some notes, but that she had a natural
talent was obvious.
She played two more songs
he wasn’t familiar with. Then, she played another piece evoking emotions of joy
and sorrow, love and loss. Her eyes were closed, and tears streamed down her
face. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Gema seemed one with the violin and
bow. They were extensions of her body. When Gema lifted the bow from the
strings and bowed her head, Red looked at the cowboys. They were opened-mouthed
at the wonder of the music they’d just heard.
Gema stepped up to Jeb.
“Thank you for opportunity to play.” She held out the violin and bow so he
could take them back. She turned away and walked to Red. “Thank you. Can’t know
how much a gift you gave me.” She hadn’t bothered to wipe the tears away.
Red watched as she walked
away, heading toward their house.
“She’s mighty talented
with that thing. Much more than Jeb,” Cookie said from his spot leaning against
the bunkhouse. Several of the cowboys voiced their agreement. Others were
teasing Jeb about how much better Gema played than he did. He was nodding.
Red glanced at the men.
“Thanks, Jeb. It seems to have meant a lot to her.”
“Any time she wants to
play, you tell her she can, even if I’m out on the range and she wants to
practice. I’ll show Cookie where I keep it. He can get it for her.”
“Much obliged to you,
Jeb.” Red tipped his hat and walked away, following in his wife’s footsteps.
He found her lying on
their bed, weeping into her pillow. “Gema, Honey, are you okay?” He sat beside
her and stroked her back.
She turned her head.
“Yes, fine. So lovely to play again. It been so long. Miss it so. Memories,
good memories. My grandmother, my babushka. She teach me. From very little girl
I play. Then she die. Papa want move to America. Sell my violin. No can play
then.”
“You truly love to play,
don’t you?” Red asked.
Gema rolled onto her
side. “Yes, the music, it in here.” She touched her chest. “It wants come out
but no can. Hum, not enough. Sing, not enough. Not know words America songs.
Russia songs no others know.”
Red realized then that
Gema hummed often. While she cleaned, cooked, did laundry, any of the
activities of daily life. She hadn’t at the shack, but she’d been under a great
deal of stress.
He’d stayed close this
past week, not riding out on the range. He wanted to be sure she settled in
well. She and Juanita were becoming friends even with their limited
communication skills. Cookie was keeping a careful, fatherly, eye on her, also.
Tomorrow, Red was going
to have to head out with the cowboys. He’d been gone longer than he’d
anticipated when he went to the line shack.
“Jeb said you can play
his fiddle whenever you want. Just ask Cookie if he’s not around.”
Tears glistened in Gema’s
eyes. She wiped them away and chuckled. “I water pot today. No more tear. I
plan special thank you for cowboys for let me play violin.” She kissed him.
“Special thank to you for let me.” She kissed him again.
“Honey, any time you want
to thank me like that you go right ahead.”
Gema’s face turned bright red.
Over the next two weeks,
Red spent most of his time away from the homestead with the cowboys as they
rode the range. There were many nights he spent out under the stars wishing he
was home in bed with Gema. Not that they had progressed in their relationship
in a physical way. They still slept curled around each other, but never went
further than snuggling.
As attracted to Gema as
Red was, he didn’t want to push her. He was so much older than she was, and
that held him back.
Giveaway
In honor of the Music of Her Heart Blog Tour, Sophie is
giving away one print copy of Music of
Her Heart along with an autographed tote bag. Also, two Kindle copies will
be awarded. Winners will be notified by email – keep your eyes open for an
email from Sophie Dawson. You can enter here: http://sophiesgiveaways.com/giveaways/music-of-her-heart-giveaway/
Tour Schedule
November 16
Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post
Perpetual Indie Perspective – Book Spotlight
November 17
Reveries Reviews – Review
God's Peculiar Treasure Rae – Book Spotlight
November 18
November 19
November 20
Bookish Orchestrations –
Winner Announcement
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