Book Six of "BETWEEN THE RIFLE AND THE SPEAR" Historical Series - THE LAST BLOOM

Book Six of “BETWEEN THE RIFLE AND THE SPEAR” Series:

THE LAST BLOOM:

Print: ISBN# 978-1-5092-1907-0

Digital: ISBN#978-1-5092-1978-7

Price on THE WILD ROSE PRESS: Print - $16.99

THERE COMES A TIME, IN SPITE OF PROTOCOL’S VOICE, WHEREBY A WOMAN MUST LISTEN TO THE CALLING OF HER HEART . . . AND FOLLOW IT!

      

      The year, 1919 – Eagle’s Landing, Arizona: Cassia Rose Holmes was born to Reverend Joshua Holmes and Amanda Eagle in 1896. The Apaches living in the town called her The Last Bloom . . . as she was unexpectedly conceived late in her parent’s life and truly a miracle. Since she was a little girl Cassia loved helping others, fascinated with both the mystic and medical practices of healing. At fifteen she embarked upon her midwifery and nursing studies in England. For eight years she lived with her Aunt Marrietta Cavendish, called to care for the wounded soldiers when war broke out. But her true hope was to return to her home town, Eagle’s Landing, in Arizona and practice medicine alongside her first love interest, Tucker O’Clarity. Unfortunately, Tucker had other ideas, dropping out of medical school to work on the railroad. Crushed by the decision, Cassia is left to work with Tucker’s father, Doctor Sean O’Clarity instead. But, when Sean suffers a heart attack, Cassia’s world is really turned upside down. Sean’s oldest son, Doctor Brodie O’Clarity is summoned home from Boston to help. Cassia always considered Brodie like an older brother, since he was six years her senior, and the one who looked out for both her and Tucker. A very natural and persistent attraction flares between them, suddenly complicating their working ethics. And just as Cassia finds herself falling in love with Brodie, Tucker returns.

Brodie O’Clarity never wanted to be a small town doctor, accepting food and livestock for his services, like his father. So when a position opened at a Boston hospital, Brodie left to pursue his career. His dedication caught the attention of the hospital’s Chief of Staff, Doctor Hemsley Malone, as well as his beautiful and spoiled, daughter, Dorothea. But when Brodie’s father suffered a heart attack, he discovered Dorothea wasn’t cut out to be a country doctor’s wife. Brodie couldn’t and wouldn’t ever be able to support her in the rich and luxurious manner to which she was accustomed. And Dorothea very quickly replaced Brodie with someone better fitting her lifestyle. Broken hearted Brodie left Boston, taking up his duties in Eagle’s Landing. He was partnered with Cassia Holmes, his brother’s childhood friend and sweetheart. She was the little blonde haired neighbor he looked out for, dried her tears and kept out of trouble. But something strange and wonderful happened . . . the little Cassia he once knew turned into a stunning, intelligent, strong, and beautiful woman, stirring every facet of his being. At twenty three she already knew what she wanted for her life, breaking with protocol, bobbing her long golden tresses, and wearing pink toenail polish. And as the two of them worked together his feelings for her grew. But just when he decided to profess his love, Tucker returned. His presence put a whole new spin on sibling rivalry. The chance of losing Cassia’s heart forever became a real possibility. Or would she be lost to them all by the hands of Becket Attwater, an escaped serial killer who terrorized the town and had Cassia in his clutches?

LOSING A BELOVED PET

I've loved many animals throughout my life. At the age of 66, I've had 6 dogs and 9 cats. All of them special in their own way. Five of the cats were rescue animals, as well as one dog. And that one dog just passed away at the age of 16 1/2 on August 5th, 2016.

Her name was Kitty Girl and she was a black lab/collie mix with the sweetest temperament any animal could have. She loved children and got along with all other animals brought into the household. She even saved my life once.

I miss Kitty, as she'd always sit beside my chair in the afternoon while I wrote. When her arthritis rendered her unable to walk, I brought my lap top to where she laid, and still worked beside her.

The house isn't and never will be the same without her. She is buried out back alongside other beloved pets who have gone on ahead of her. I know they all meet now on THE RAINBOW BRIDGE and are waiting for me.

WRITING PLAUSIBLE PLOTS

One writing tip I’ve heard over and over again from my editors is to write plausible plots. This is a hard task to accomplish when writing the paranormal or science fiction genre, because basically the content is far-fetched. However, even with that fact in mind, a writer of such works has to make the incredible, seem credible.

            My time travel novel, ALTERED JOURNEY (ZLS Publishing) is about a man going back in time to save his family from being murdered. While he ventures back, through an attic portal, I have his life (as it would have been if his family hadn’t been killed) flash through his mind so he’d be prepared to exist in the past, know his place in the family and those individuals he was never privileged to meet.

            My adult romantic fairy tale, A RIVER OF ORANGE (The Wild Rose Press) is about a young woman, ship-wrecked on an enchanted isle, falling in love with and inspiring a shape-shifting, young king to overcome his curse and reclaim his throne. To do this properly, the young woman had to do some soul-searching and reclaiming of her own.

            My paranormal mystery, COMA COAST (Wings Press) is about a woman, left in a coma from an auto accident, falling in love with a man she meets while unconscious. Her journey to find him when she awakens brings forth a past she never knew and the friendly haunting by a helpful ghost. Again, the character’s inner reflections upon her own life, and coming to grips with who she really is, made the plot believable.

            I do admire, though, the script writers of the classic horror film. They seem to get away with ignoring the “plausible” rule, effectively managing to scare the breath out of the viewer.

Let’s take apart the horror flick:

            THE FALL – In every horror film the woman, while running from the creature stalking her, falls. First of all, a zombie or a mummy (which have many times been the horror creatures) walk so slow, it’s a wonder they could catch anything . . . let alone a woman running for her life. The irony of this is, the woman could do fine running over uneven terrain – then will suddenly lose her footing on level ground, just as the creature becomes the closest. And why is it always the woman who falls?

            THE SEPARATION – I don’t know about you, but if I was being terrorized by something unexplainable frightening, the last thing in the world I’d do is separate from the other people in my group. What in heaven’s name do these characters think they can accomplish my diminishing their fighting unit to just one person?

            THE BASEMENT – Now, I hate the basement on a normal, sunny, afternoon. If you think I’d attempt going downstairs at night, when the power’s been cut, during a thunder and lightning storm, and after hearing unusual activity, then you have a brain the size of a pea. What person in their right mind would have the courage (or stupidity) to try this? You can bet your last dollar I’d high-tail out of my home as fast as my legs could carry me (making sure not to fall), go to a neighbor’s house and call the police. Or get into my car and drive as far away as I could to get help.

            THE CAR – And that brings us to the getaway vehicle . . . one that works perfectly fine throughout most of the movie, but suddenly develops ignition problems (after the character drops the key and takes time to find it) when its needed as an escape from harm’s way.

            And yet, as implausible as it might be, we sit at the edge of our seats in terror – hands over our eyes and peeking through finger slots, while watching a horror film. We let it scare the daylights out of us. We look in closets, check behind the shower curtain, and beneath our bed before we go to sleep. We contemplate keeping a light on, check the locks on the doors (especially the basement door), and sleep with a cell phone in our hand (just in case the phone lines are cut). So, as far-fetched as the movie script is, it can still frighten us. The writers have hooked you, gotten you to picture this scenario as really happening. And it all starts to become plausible because you’ve begun to believe.  It’s a hard job that’s well done . . . editors take note.      

HAPPY WRITING!

Roberta C.M. DeCaprio

Book Five of “BETWEEN THE RIFLE AND THE SPEAR” Series:

RETURN TO WILLOW CREEK – ISBN # 978-1-62830-485-5

The Wild Rose Press (www.thewildrosepress.com)

Amazon (www.amazon.com)

SYNOPSIS:

              

CAN A RESILIENT HEART FIND TRUE LOVE A SECOND TIME AROUND?

Broken-hearted after losing the only woman he ever truly loved to another man, Reverend Joshua Holmes returns to his homeland, England. But after thirty years, he’s summoned to Willow Creek, Arizona. His rival has died, and his deathbed request is for Josh to marry Amanda and keep her safe from harm. But Josh fears she still will not accept his steadfast love.

Fearing for her life, Amanda Gregory Eagle, or Golden Lady to the Apache amongst whom she has lived, is forced to flee the white agents infiltrating the reservation. Amanda seeks refuge until Joshua Holmes arrives from England. Once she sees him again, her heart is awakened and she believes true love could happen a second time around. But just as she becomes Joshua’s wife, she worries she will again be made a widow by the enemies from her past.

Book Four of “BETWEEN THE RIFLE AND THE SPEAR” Series:

BORN OF PROUD BLOOD – ISBN # 978-1-61217-544-7

The Wild Rose Press (www.thewildrosepress.com)

Amazon (www.amazon.com)

SYNOPSIS:

              

SOMETIMES TRUE LOVE HAD BEEN RIGHT BENEATH YOUR NOSE

When Apache warrior, Gabriel Golden Eagle escorts his sisters to England to live with his mother’s family, he only intends to see them safe and claim the family inheritance so he can free his village from the white man’s cruel tyranny. What he doesn’t count on is meeting Riley Flanders. Infatuated with another woman, Gabriel doesn’t pay much attention to Riley….until the day she’s kidnapped.

The minute Riley sets eyes on the handsome warrior, her heart is won. Though his interest lies with someone else, when Riley is kidnapped, Gabriel comes to her rescue. While fighting together to escape their enemies, a romance ignites. But will his heart remain hers? True love has been right beneath their noses all along….and Riley hopes Gabriel takes the time to notice.

Book Three of “BETWEEN THE RIFLE AND THE SPEAR” Series:

A ROSE IN AMBER – ISBN # 978-1-60154-926-6

The Wild Rose Press (www.thewildrosepress.com)

Amazon (www.amazon.com)

SYNOPSIS:

              

TRUE LOVE, LIKE A ROSE IN AMBER, LASTS FOREVER

Sunny Eagle is sent to Brighton, England to live with her great aunt, Kaylena Bentley. After growing up on a reservation with her white mother and Apache father, Sunny must adhere to Britain’s protocol and rules while coping with an overbearing aunt and the uncertainty of a missing sibling.

Captain Rafe Cavendish vowed never to fall in love again. Yet twice, when Sunny is in danger, he comes to her rescue and saves her life. Can he keep his distance from this beautiful, caring, and enchanting woman….or will he lose his heart and have it broken a second time?

Book Two of “BETWEEN THE RIFLE AND THE SPEAR” Series:

ONE PERFECT FLOWER –ISBN # 978-1-60154-741-5

The Wild Rose Press (www.thewildrosepress.com)

Amazon (www.amazon.com)

SYNOPSIS:

              

‘TIS THE SEED PLANTED WITH LOVE, FROM WHICH ONE PERFECT FLOWER GROWS,

                                                                          

AND LOVE ALWAYS FINDS A WAY.

Raven Eagle, compromised by a white agent invading her village, is sent to live in England with her mother’s people. Separated from her siblings, Raven accidentally boards a ship owned by the Lord of Limerick, bound for Ireland instead. To save her from the threat of the Sea Patrol, the young, handsome lord agrees to an arranged marriage.

Lord Braiton Shannon, suffering from an inherited illness forbidding intimacy, becomes tormented by his heart’s desire to love his beautiful young wife. Daily she captures his heart more and more. He admires her courage in the face of danger as she saves him from death, eventually risking her own life to release him from his curse.

Raven’s spirit and determination spans the globe from an Apache Reservation to an Irish Manor, and she learns if you are true to yourself, love always finds a way.