Talisman: Historical Romance

The Talisman, an historical romance features love, suspense an alpha male who falls in love with a woman who is running from a marriage that lasted one night.

Fourth book in a series, The Talisman is by Christine Young.

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EXCERPT: THE TALISMAN

Buffalo Creek,

South Dakota

1895

Hot, dry air scorched the prairie grass. Sweat slid along his spine. Danger clung to every whisper; seemed to swirl and grow with each passing second. Ivan Civanovich watched the woman below. With deadly purpose, he studied the lady who had hired him–the woman who had bought his gun and perhaps death.

“Reckless courage,” Ivan mused.

“Si Senor, she does have what you call a great courage, but I don’t know about the reckless part. She is always so very careful,” Pedro said.

“I’m a dangerous man, Pedro.”

“This is why she hired you.”

“The lady has no business hiring men like me. She’s a woman. She is supposed to nurture lives.”

“She needs you to keep the bad men from taking the land away–our home,” Pedro said.

Ivan pushed the tip of his hat back from his brows. From his vantage point, he considered the woman while she hung the freshly laundered white sheets on the line. A strange shudder swept through him, his muscles tensing with the sudden feeling he knew this woman, had known her forever. The sensations were too strong, the feelings too acute, and it troubled him because knowing her was impossible.

Her hair, a wild mop of red curls, battled with the stiff, hot wind rising off the prairie. The breeze and her hair flowed in undulating currents between the lines, threatening to tangle themselves in the wire. She bent over at the waist, giving him a perfect view of her backside while she toyed with something on the ground. Seconds later she picked up the object of her curiosity, turned it over in her hands then tossed it aside.

He didn’t like to think about what could happen to her in the next few weeks. She’d advertised for a gun for a hire. She didn’t know what she bargained for, and he’d bet his inheritance she didn’t have any idea what kind of trouble she’d purchased.

When she looked up the hill, his grin widened. She couldn’t see him, but her shoulders tensed and she sucked air. Her hand touched her forehead, shielding her eyes from the blinding sunlight. She scanned the horizon, turning a complete circle before she stopped.

“Good,” he said, “she is cautious.”

“She knows someone is up here,” Pedro announced.

“She’s got more starch in her drawers and the stiffest backbone of any woman I’ve ever seen.” Ivan whistled through his teeth, his eyes intent and focused upon the woman.

“Si.” Pedro agreed. “She sure enough does but her heart is made of spun gold.”

Ivan wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. Beads of sweat dripped down his back. His gaze swept across the barren landscape then followed the line of trees that bordered the creek. He lifted the glasses to his eyes and turned his attention to a spot about a mile north of her ranch. The railroad wanted easement rights. So why wouldn’t she sell to them. “Spun gold, huh.” He dropped the binoculars, letting them dangle from their strap around his neck.

“Si, boss.”

“I see.” Ivan leaned forward, resting his forearm on the saddle horn.

Ivan wasn’t sure he understood. Women had a lot of fine qualities, many of which he didn’t want to live without but a soft, feminine heart shouldn’t be deciding life and death matters.

Spun gold. No, he’d never met a female with a heart of gold, spun or otherwise. He’d never known a woman who wouldn’t betray a man for a piece of gold. Save one, he amended, and his best friend had married her. Alexi Popov had his trials too. He had kidnapped Angela and spirited her away to his home in the Crimea. In the end though, he gave up his title, his land, and most of his wealth for Angela. He followed her back to America and married her.

REVIEW: THE TALISMAN

This is a wonderful tale, full of action, emotion and a bit mystical at times. Enjoy this one.

Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More 4 Cups

ALSO BY CHRISTINE YOUNG

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Struggling to come to terms with the part she played in Jacob St. John’s death, Etta Barringer resigns from Pinkerton Agency and seeks peace and solace in a Rocky Mountain Cabin.

Jacob has vowed to discover the reason Etta has betrayed him, sold him out to his enemy and left him for dead.

Isolated in their cabin, they discover their love for each other and learn to trust. But the trust is shattered when Jacob learns she is married to his sworn enemy; the man who left him in the desert to die.

CHECK OUT THE LOCKET: THIRD BOOK IN THIS SERIES

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The year is 1894. Seeking revenge for crimes against his family, Misha Petrovich follows a path that leads straight to Ariel Cameron’s boarding house in Mist Harbor, Oregon. A family heirloom in Ariel’s possession leads Misha to believe she is guilty. The locket has been handed down to the oldest girl in the Petrovich family for generations. Ariel is innocent of wrong doing, but her father is not. Misha is torn by his feelings for Ariel and his need for restitution against her father. Knowing that the relationship between them is fragile, Misha does everything in his power to protect Ariel’s father. His efforts are to no avail when her father is shot. Ariel comes to realize Misha’s steadfast courage and determination to protect her and her father despite what has happened to his family. Ariel’s love and devotion heals Misha’s heart.