by Jane Graves
From the desk of Nina Rowan
Dear Reader,
“I want to write about Victorian robots,” Fanciful Nina said as she ate another chocolate bon-bon.
“Huh?” Serious Nina looked up from alphabetizing the spice rack. “You’re writing a historical romance. Not a paranormal. Not steampunk.”
“But look at this,” Fanciful Nina persisted, clicking on the website of the Franklin Institute. “Here’s a robot… okay, an automaton, to use the historically correct term, called the Draughtsman-Writer. It was an actual invention by the eighteenth-century Swiss engineer Henri Maillardet, and it can produce four drawings and three poems in both French and English. Look, you can watch a video of it! How cool is that?”
“You can’t just write about something because it’s cool.” Serious Nina arranged the paprika, parsley, and peppercorn bottles. “You have to have a reason.”
“Coolness is a reason.”
“Coolness is a reason for a teenager to wear ear-cuffs. You are writing a historical romance novel. You need much more than coolness as a basis for your story. You need intense conflict, sexual attraction, danger, and agonizing goals that tear your characters apart before they overcome all obstacles and live happily ever after.”
“But—”
Serious Nina frowned. “Focus and figure it out. Conflict. Emotions. Anguish. Happy ending. No robots.”
“Okay, there’s a war going on, right?” Fanciful Nina pushed aside her bon-bons and hauled out her research books. “Rich with possibilities for conflict and emotion. Did you know that in 1854, scientist Charles Wheatstone invented a machine that transmitted messages in cipher? It drew the attention of Baron Playfair, who thought encoded messages would be useful during the Crimean War, and they submitted the machine to the British Foreign Office. How cool is…”
“No,” Serious Nina said firmly. “No cool.”
“How interesting is that?” Fanciful Nina amended.
“May I remind you that you’re writing about Sebastian Hall?” Serious Nina put a bottle of rosemary before the sage. “Sebastian is a musician, a free spirit, a gregarious, talented fellow who loves to perform and enjoy himself. He doesn’t care about robots or cipher machines. His brother Darius, on the other hand…”
“But what if Sebastian has to care about a cipher machine?” Fanciful Nina reached for another bon-bon. “What if something happens that makes him lose his fun-loving attitude? Omigod, what if something happens that makes him lose his career?”
Serious Nina blinked. “You would make Sebastian lose his career?”
“You’re the one who said ‘anguish.’ What if his right hand is permanently injured?”
“But… but Sebastian is so dreamy. So devilishly handsome. Why would you do that to him?”
“So that he’s forced to find a new purpose.” Fanciful Nina jumped up and started pacing. “What if Sebastian has to stop focusing on himself for once in his life in order to help someone who needs him? Like his brother? Or Clara? Or his brother and Clara?”
“Well…”
Fanciful Nina clapped her hands. “What if Darius knows something is wrong? Being a mechanical-minded fellow, he’s seeking secret plans for a machine that could be used in wartime. And because encoding machines and automata often have similar mechanisms, the plans are hidden in the Museum of Automata where Clara lives. So Sebastian has to approach Clara because he promised to help Darius, only he can’t tell her what he needs. And he doesn’t yet know that Clara has a desperate, heart-wrenching goal of her own. And Sebastian is the only person who can help her attain it!”
Fanciful Nina raised her arms in victory. “Conflict. Anguish. Strong goals. Very hot, sexy attraction. I’ll figure out the happy ending later.”
Serious Nina was silent. She picked at the label of a turmeric bottle.
“What?” Fanciful Nina frowned. “It’s good.”
“But does Sebastian have to lose his career?”
“He’ll find his way back to music,” Fanciful Nina said reassuringly. “I promise.”
“With Clara.”
“Of course! Their love is so powerful that they create a new and exhilarating future together. With lots of steamy lovemaking.”
Serious Nina put the turmeric bottle back into place on the rack.
“Okay,” she finally agreed. “That’s cool.”
Happy Reading!
From the desk of Jane Graves
Dear Reader,
Our cat, Isabel, is a rescue kitty. She had it rough her first few years, but after living with her foster mom for several months, she was ready to be adopted. She was so sweet and engaging in spite of what had happened to her that we bonded instantly. Her foster mom was delighted that I was a writer, which meant someone was home all day every day to cater to Isabel's every whim. As she put it, “She hit the jackpot!”
As an animal lover, I’m always on the lookout for romance novels that feature pets. So when I was deciding what to write next, I wanted to include pets in a big way. Then I read a popular legend that revolves around pets—the Legend of the Rainbow Bridge—and I knew I’d found the basis for my new series. According to the legend, there’s a spirit world tied to earth, inhabited by beloved pets who’ve passed to the other side. With all earthly age and disease erased, they wait in this transitional paradise for their human companions to join them. After a joyful reunion, together they cross the Rainbow Bridge to heaven.
From there, I created Rainbow Valley, a small town deep in the Texas Hill Country, which is considered to be the home of the mythical Rainbow Bridge and bills itself as the most pet-friendly town in America. The first book, COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY, revolves around the Rainbow Valley Animal Shelter, a place where animals like Isabel get a second chance to find a loving home.
As I write this, Isabel is asleep in my lap. She weighs approximately a thousand pounds these days and makes my legs fall asleep, but how can I tell her to move? We’re here to make her life better than the life she knew before. I don’t know if the legend is true or not. But I do know that the spirit of the legend—that of enduring love—couldn’t be more appropriate for a romance novel. And I like the idea that someday, when I leave this world, she just might be waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
I hope you enjoy COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY!
Happy reading!
janegraves.com
Facebook.com
Twitter@janegraves
Also by Jane Graves
Hot Wheels and High Heels
Tall Tales and Wedding Veils
Black Ties and Lullabies
Heartstrings and Diamond Rings
Get Hitched with
Heartstrings and Diamond Rings
“There are so many things I love about this book…Bottom line: Heartstrings and Diamond Rings is one of those rare books in which the author manages to align all the stars: Likable, appealing characters; a creative twist (the hero’s a matchmaker); lots of laughs; fantastic writing.”
—USA Today
“A fun romance with a hero who discovers hidden talents and what is really important in his life, and a heroine who finds her own self-worth through love and a good relationship with her dad.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Heartstrings and Diamond Rings not only has a fabulous romance, but there is a lot of great humor in this book, too! Jane Graves writes some very witty and laugh-out-loud funny dialogue that helps to capture the personalities of her characters. This is a contemporary romance not to be missed! It is a book that you will want to pick up again and again.”
—ARomanceReview.com
“A delightful romance that will tug at your heart…Alison’s dating adventures will make you smile and feel grateful it’s not you.”
—FreshFiction.com
Suit Up for Black Ties and Lullabies
“Graves’s words flow on the page with ease and the pages turn effortlessly. Featuring characters that are unique yet very easy to relate to, Black Ties
and Lullabies is simply a very well-written story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Filled with humor, wit, and sizzle…This book starts out fast, the author’s descriptions draw you in completely…[keep] you turning the page to see what will happen next!”
—GoodReads.com
“Jane Graves definitely tugs on the heartstrings with this book…a believable romance.”
—ARomanceReview.com
Believe in Happily Ever After
Tall Tales and Wedding Veils
“I can’t recommend Tall Tales highly enough…funny and touching with wonderful characters and great love scenes.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Opposites do attract in this fast-paced, diverting romantic comedy with more than its share of lively fun.”
—Library Journal
“A fresh throwback contemporary romance between two likeable characters.”
—Midwest Book Review
“4½ Stars! A breath of pure romance, this book is a real charmer. You will laugh, cringe, and cheer…I sure did.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A blast right from the start. If you like your romances filled with humor, heart, and a healthy dose of sexual heat, don’t miss Tall Tales and Wedding Veils.”
—RomRevToday.com
“You can’t help but root for these two mismatched people and hope they discover what a great couple they could be.”
—FreshFiction.com
“A romantic comedy romp, this book has fun, endearing characters…Graves writes fun, sassy, and sharp characters that may be opposites, but definitely attract!”
—Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Buckle Up for Sexy Fun with
Hot Wheels and High Heels
“A delightful, funny read with a unique twist as a former trophy wife discovers herself, and true love, in the most unexpected place. A total winner!”
—Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author
“Jane Graves is a pro at blending romance and comedy…Hot Wheels and High Heels is a delightful story packed with heated romantic tension, colorful characters, and a fast-paced story line that keeps the reader hooked.”
—RoundtableReviews.com
“Sassy and smart!”
—Susan Andersen, New York Times
bestselling author
“Absolutely hilarious! Jane Graves has done an outstanding job with this book.”
—RomanceReaderatHeart.com
“An interesting and fun novel with plenty of fascinating characters, this story starts fast and doesn’t lose momentum.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Hot Wheels and High Heels draws you in, then blasts off! Fasten your seat belt for a fun, rollicking ride!”
—Stephanie Bond, author of the Body Movers series
“[Jane] Graves writes with charming wit. Her characters make you smile and the situations her heroine, Darcy, faces will make you howl with laughter…an entertaining and delightful read.”
—ArmchairInterviews.com
“Funny as can be and I had a blast reading it…it’s on my short list of best romances for 2007.”
—LikesBooks.com
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Contents
Title Page
Welcome
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
A Preview of Title TK
The Dish
Also by Jane Graves
Praise for Jane Graves
Newsletters
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Jane Graves
Excerpt from the next Rainbow Valley novel copyright © 2013 by Jane Graves
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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First Ebook Edition: April 2013
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ISBN 978-1-4555-1520-2
