Howdy y'all! Crystal Barnes here and have I got a scoop for you. A brand new collection of stories by some wonderful, best-selling authors is coming your way.
Lone Star Love
officially releases on Monday. Five stories for only $0.99! To celebrate, Janice Thompson, Kathleen Y'Barbo, Vickie McDonough, Marcia Gruver, and myself will be kicking off the release with a
week-long party on Facebook. We'd love to have you join us. It's a come-n-go party with great giveaways each day.
So what's to be quiet about?
Well, we're having a soft launch of the 5-book set this weekend! :) You can
snag a copy before anyone else. :) Did I mention it was only $0.99?
Want a sneak peek at the first story? I thought you might. :) Here goes...
Signed, Sealed, & Delighted
by Crystal L Barnes
“Young man, this is normally when you say ‘I do.’”
Joseph Matthews shifted his focus from Sarah Asher to the silver-haired preacher who stood grinning at him. Swallowing, Joe resisted the urge to tug at his collar. He’d sealed his fate with those two words weeks ago just before digging her father’s grave, but today they threatened to crawl back down his throat and strangle him.
Allen Asher’s bloody but relieved face flashed through Joe’s mind. Shaking away the searing image, he wiped sweat from his forehead. That stampede had changed everything. That, and Allen’s dying wish. His mentor knew Joe had no luck with women. Why had he made such an outlandish request? Why did marrying Allen’s daughter have to be the only way to get the ranch he’d promised Joe, the ranch he’d put years of blood and sweat into?
“Son?” The old preacher shifted and placed a weathered hand on his Bible.
Twin lines formed between Sarah’s dark brows.
“Uh, sorry.” Joe rubbed at the tension building in his neck. “I do.”
With a tilt of her head, Sarah eyed him, then turned her attention to the preacher, who was posing the same question to her.
Joe let his gaze slide the length of his soon-to-be wife. Maybe marrying Sarah might not be so bad. After all, she was a mighty handsome woman. Even bathed in trail dust. And wearing a Stetson. A smile tugged at his lips. Did she realize she still wore her hat? Doubtful. What female in her right mind got married in a cowboy hat? Then again, who would confuse Sarah for most women? If her raven locks didn’t set her apart, her mouth would the minute she opened it.
“I…” Deep green eyes wide with uncertainty sought his, then shifted back toward the preacher. “Excuse us a moment, Reverend?”
“Uh, of course.”
Joe looked at the minister in stunned astonishment a split second before Sarah grabbed his arm and tugged him down the aisle of the small, stuffy church to within a foot of the exit.
“What’s the matter?” The words hissed through his lips. “I thought this is what we’d agreed upon?”
Sarah peeked at the preacher, then answered in the same hushed volume. “There are a few things I need to make sure of first.”
“You couldn’t have mentioned that a day ago? Or maybe even an hour? The preacher’s waiting.”
Welcome to the Weekly Windup! We have a winner to announce! 
