Cowboy Marvin has learned humans resolve issues differently especially those romantically involved. His curiosity sparked, he has invited authors to stop by on Fridays and share the first fight out of their latest book.
Téa Cooper
is here for ...
First Fight Friday
with a scene from
Lily’s Leap
Lily’s Leap
Propriety is all well and good, but it’s in the way of Lilibeth restoring the family fortune and reputation. So there’s no way she’s going to let some bushranger with delusions of grandeur and his ragtag gang derail her plans.
firstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfri
Tom clapped his hat back onto his sweat-soaked head. ‘Miss Dungarven, we’re leaving.’
Pulling a coil of rope from his saddlebag, he caught the bridle of her horse and managed to slip it through the bit ring before she sprang into her saddle. As he glanced up at her he caught the flash of defiance in her eyes and his breath hitched. She tensed and pulled her elbows tight against her sides and then yanked on the reins.
His head jerked back and he stared wide-eyed as time skewed and the massive black stallion lifted onto its hind legs and reared in front of him. Raising his arms he covered his head. A cold sweat broke out on his face and he ducked below the flailing forelegs. Cradled beneath the steaming belly of the stallion, he glimpsed the blue sky between the muscled hindquarters and the silhouette of its mighty testicles. The bulging veins on its haunches throbbed and pulsated to the rhythm of his shallow gasps, and the overpowering musty smell of horse sweat enveloped him.
The roar of blood in his ears deafened him, and as suddenly as it had begun, the shadow lifted and the stallion retreated, step by practiced step. Tom struggled to his feet, his legs rubbery from shock. A moist rush of air from the beast’s cavernous nostril swept his cheek.
Miss Dungarven stared down at him, her shoulders straight and her proud haughty face striking in the harsh sunlight. ‘I assure you I am quite capable of riding without a lead rope.’
Forcing a tight-lipped smile he let his breathing settle before he spoke, praying his voice wouldn’t crack. ‘I have no doubt, madam, after that display. It’s for that very reason I’ve attached the lead rope. I have no intention of losing you.’
His head jerked back and he stared wide-eyed as time skewed and the massive black stallion lifted onto its hind legs and reared in front of him. Raising his arms he covered his head. A cold sweat broke out on his face and he ducked below the flailing forelegs. Cradled beneath the steaming belly of the stallion, he glimpsed the blue sky between the muscled hindquarters and the silhouette of its mighty testicles. The bulging veins on its haunches throbbed and pulsated to the rhythm of his shallow gasps, and the overpowering musty smell of horse sweat enveloped him.
The roar of blood in his ears deafened him, and as suddenly as it had begun, the shadow lifted and the stallion retreated, step by practiced step. Tom struggled to his feet, his legs rubbery from shock. A moist rush of air from the beast’s cavernous nostril swept his cheek.
Miss Dungarven stared down at him, her shoulders straight and her proud haughty face striking in the harsh sunlight. ‘I assure you I am quite capable of riding without a lead rope.’
Forcing a tight-lipped smile he let his breathing settle before he spoke, praying his voice wouldn’t crack. ‘I have no doubt, madam, after that display. It’s for that very reason I’ve attached the lead rope. I have no intention of losing you.’
Copyright © Téa Cooper
firstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfri
From Escape's Queen of Australian historical romance comes a story about a privileged member of Australian's squattocracy, a bushranger, and a very special horse.
Born into the rough, but privileged society of the Australian colonial landowners, Lilibeth Dungarven finds herself married, widowed, and, much to her distress, back under her father’s thumb, all before her twenty-first birthday. Determined not to forgo her dream of breeding the perfect racehorse, Lilibeth ignores propriety and sets out to restore
the family’s flagging fortunes.
the family’s flagging fortunes.
When Captain Tom and his mismatched band of bushrangers stumble across a mob of the best horses they’ve ever seen, and the daughter of the famed Dungarven horse stud, they know their fortunes have changed. Their catch is worth a king’s ransom.
All they have to do is hold her for seven days.
How hard can it be to control
the pampered daughter of a colonial upstart?
All they have to do is hold her for seven days.
How hard can it be to control
the pampered daughter of a colonial upstart?
Reviews for
Lily's Leap
From Amazon
and Goodreads:
A fabulous read by a very talented Aussie author …
I have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending Lily’s Leap.”
If you enjoy historical romance, and you are hungry for a tale with an real Australian flavour, Lily’s Leap is definitely one to look out for. - My Written Romance
I thoroughly enjoyed this truly beautifully written Australian story.- Sharon's Reviews on Goodreads
Tea Cooper is not yet a household name but with more solid work like this, she is certain to be in time. A great read and recommended to anyone who loves Australian historicals.
- A Reader's Heaven
This book had plenty of action and adventure, which is something I’d like to see more of in the genre, too. - Sonya's Stuff
This book had plenty of action and adventure, which is something I’d like to see more of in the genre, too. - Sonya's Stuff
Téa Cooper lives in a stone cottage on one hundred acres of bushland, just outside the nineteenth century village of Wollombi, NSW Australia. When she isn't writing, Téa can be found haunting the local museum or chatting to the locals, who offer a never-ending source of inspiration. Both Lily’s Leap and Matilda’s Freedom are set in and around Wollombi.
In October, Jazz Baby, a 1920s rags to riches story set in Sydney will be released and in February, Forgotten Fragrance, Book I of a family saga entitled From the Ocean to the Outback. At the moment she is working on a parallel time-line series entitled The Adventures of Miss Abigail Wynter. She has also written three contemporary romances.
No comments:
Post a Comment