New Release Spotlight - Sunflowers for Her by Kara O'Neal

I'm pleased to shine the SlingWords Spotlight on Kara O'Neal who has a lovely new historical romance for you.

 SUNFLOWERS FOR HER is Book 4 of Wildflowers of Texas series

KARA, WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR SUNFLOWERS FOR HER? 

My husband and I always go on a trip for our anniversary. I went hunting for our next getaway – I wanted a small town with antique shops – and I found Jefferson, Texas. 

This small town sits in the northeast corner of Texas, just a hop and a skip away from Louisiana.

When I discovered all the historic houses in this town, I flipped with excitement. I can’t even begin to tell you how many gorgeous homes have been turned into B&Bs. We ended up just strolling the streets to see them all.

Jefferson is small. Not a lot of people live there. But, at one time, it was a happening place. Reason being, there was this natural log jam, called a raft, on the Red River. It clogged up waterways, which forced all the steamboats to use Jefferson as a port.

Well, in 1873, the US Corp of Engineers said the raft was a hazard and cleared it up. That forced other waterways to open and the great steamboats started passing by Jefferson for other cities. (Like Houston.)

This caused Jefferson, once a very booming city, to become almost a ghost town. In an instant, people’s lives were changed.

And that got me to thinking…

What would a town do if their city was threatened with extinction?

Enter Millie Stewart, the heroine of SUNFLOWERS FOR HER. A young lady who isn’t used to carrying heavy burdens and discovers that an entire town is depending on her to get things right. And because she loves her neighbors, she’s going to do everything she can to be what they need.

Of course, she needs help. And John Fletcher, a mysterious, reserved, intelligent, grizzly bear of a man, is just the person she needs.

Read more about Jefferson, Texas, here: https://visitjeffersontexas.com/history .

BLURBING THE BOOK

Buckshot, Texas, 1885

After a horrific storm rips through her hometown, Millie Stewart finds that her neighbors are in dire need of help. She sets out to do everything she can, but when her brother leaves her high and dry, she has to operate Stewart Mercantile on her own. The town is depending on her.

John Fletcher—smart, reserved, and mysterious—comes to town, sets up shop, and brings with him the knowledge needed to clear the log jam on the river, giving everyone a chance at survival.

John is a tad scary in Millie’s opinion. Never mind that he’s handsome. Never mind that he’s generous. He makes her feel things. He makes her heart skip a beat, and suddenly, with barely a warning, she’s in love. Only he doesn’t seem to return the sentiment.

Her brother returns, but only to rob her blind. A little too mad and a whole lot tougher, Millie sets out to find him and give him what-for. Little does she know, someone is chasing her.

John won’t let Millie go to battle alone, especially since she’s the reason his heart is beating again. Can he get to Millie in time? Or will her ne’er-do-well brother’s villainy take everything John holds dear?

EXCERPT

As Millie gathered her thoughts and tried to manage the hard pound of her heart, she studied John. He didn’t appear as if he’d also been tormented by their kiss throughout the day. But it didn’t matter. She had to know, or she was going to lose her mind like she’d already lost her heart. “I have some questions,” she stated succinctly.

“All right.”

“Actually, I have two questions.”

“Two?”

“Yes.” She took in a deep breath, then said, “There was a painting of a field of sunflowers in the auction.”

He stilled and an arrested expression came over his face.

Hope surged within her. He had painted it! “Are you the artist?”

He didn’t immediately answer and swallowed hard.

She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, but she had to know.

“Yes,” he said gruffly. “How’d you figure that out?”

Her cheeks flamed with heat, and she nibbled on her bottom lip. Her heart was pounding so hard. Why do I keep doing all of these scary things?

Before she could lose her nerve, she closed her eyes and said in a rush, “I was curious about your other desk and saw your drawings on it the night you tried to give back the bandages and medicine.”

After her confession, there was silence.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and found him rubbing his jaw.

“I’m sorry,” she said hastily.

He waved her off. “It’s all right.”

“I invaded your privacy.”

“Millie, it’s all right.” He lowered his arm. “What’s your other question?”

Oh, dear. Knots were forming in her stomach. What was she doing? She was being too forward. She was not herself. She was—

Enough! All of her anxiety and agonizing had to end. She lifted her chin. “You titled the painting “For Her”. Am I ‘her’?”

The lines of his face went instantly unreadable, and he blinked at her. “No.”

GET TO KNOW KARA O'NEAL

Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.

When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.

Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night!

Visit Kara at these popular websites:

Website: www.karaoneal.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/

X: https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kara-o-neal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveandletters7/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278350.Kara_O_Neal

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

The weekend is here, and SUNFLOWERS FOR HER sounds like a great weekend escape. It's available in ebook and print at most ebook retailers. Why not get a copy today?

Oh, for you "Amazon only" readers, just click here for SUNFLOWERS FOR HER.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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