The Engagement Gamble by Nancy Fraser 💕 Behind the Scenes, Book Tour & Gift Card Giveaway 💕 (Historical Romance)

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Marshal Zack McAlister has made it his mission to protect the good citizens of Greenville, MS. In particular, one very opinionated and independent lady doctor. The only hinderance to his professional obligations are the dozen or so single women vying for his attention.

Suzanne Martindale, M.D., has quickly become a fixture in Greenville since taking over for her semi-retired predecessor. And, like Marshal McAlister, she’s been inundated with unwanted suitors.

When Zack proposes a fake engagement, Suzanne is reluctant at first and claims in order for anyone to believe they’re actually courting and in love, there has to be chemistry between them.

Zack sets out to prove they can easily fool the people of Greenville into believing their ruse. Will his smooth Cajun charm and steamy-hot kisses do the trick? Or, are they destined to be victims of their own charade?

When outside forces threaten the entire McAlister clan, can Zack keep his family, and his faux fiancé, safe? And, will a life-threatening accident show them anything, even love, is possible if you have trust?

~ ~ ~

The McAlister family welcomes you back to Mississippi with a third adventure, and maybe a sneak peek at yet another devastating seductive McAlister man!

The Intricate Process of Creating the Multi-Book, Family Saga

What’s Needed?

Organization. It's a darned good thing it's one of my strengths. Creating a six-book series, in a fictitious setting where each book leads into the next, and the characters recur in each subsequent book, requires a few intricate spreadsheets.

First, the family tree. To know where you're going, you have to know where you come from.

A timeline, so that every story falls into the right time period. If book one starts in spring of 1865, and the story goes six months, and the heroine is two months pregnant at the end of the story ... well, let's just say ... when she gives birth in book two, it better be the correct number of months later! The same goes for each subsequent story, picking up the "family" activities where they left off the time before.

A town directory. Or, in the case of my Love's a Gamble series, three towns. Each with their own sheriff or marshal, hotel, saloon, storekeeper, banker, and assorted recurring citizens.

Developing the setting required research of the area post-Civil War. My collection of materials probably rivals what you'd find in library. Creating my own little world has been both a challenge and blessing. I've come to know these people, developed respect for my strong heroines, fallen in love with my heroes (who doesn't). I've cried with them, laughed at their inside jokes, rejoiced in the extension of the family legacy, and fretted over how I'm going to handle the most challenging aspect of bringing the series to a close.

I can't imagine not becoming involved in their fictitious lives to the point that a goodbye will bittersweet. Which is probably why I took the original three stories and threw in enough compelling secondary characters to create three more books. Who knows? Maybe I'll slide in a few more along the way.

“It’s been quiet around town lately. Not much for a decorated marshal to defend.”

“You trying to get rid of me, Doc?”

“Now why would I do that? If you were to leave, who else would I have to argue with?”

“We don’t argue,” he said, his gaze meeting hers in challenge. “We discuss…heatedly.”

“It only gets ‘heated’ when I’m winning.”

He shook his head and leaned back against the side of the desk. “If you say so, Cher.”

“As to your offer of an escort, I can see myself home, Marshal. There’s no need to wait.”

“I’d feel better if you let me escort you.”

She sighed deeply, and Zack waited for her to launch into another of her ‘independent woman’ speeches. Or, at the very least, remind him that he was being over-protective.

“I’ll only be a minute or two, if you insist on waiting.”

“I insist.”

She could have said she needed another hour and Zack would have gladly stayed. Despite what he’d said to Pete Bailey earlier that evening, Suzanne Martindale was a breath of fresh air among the over-zealous horde of ladies hounding his every move.

She was beautiful, well-educated, independent, and beautiful. Zack shook his head, trying to shake the repeating thought free. Obviously, no matter what her many assets, her beauty was the one thing tying him up in knots. Or, maybe, it was the fact she didn’t use it to her advantage, as some of the other ladies did. Instead, Suzanne relied on her brains and taunting sense of humor to get her where she wanted to go.

“All set,” she said, drawing Zack from his mental inventory of what made Suzanne Martindale the most desirable woman he’d ever met. And, at the same time, not at all what he was looking for in a wife.

Once she’d locked the door to the clinic, Zack offered his arm. Nodding toward the hospital next door, he asked, “Do you need to stop?”

“No, the night nurse is there, and our only patients are the new mother and babe. They’re in good hands.”

They strolled along in comfortable silence until they’d reached the walkway leading to the small stone cottage where Suzanne lived. She stopped just short of the gate.

“Shall I walk you to the door?”

“This is fine, thank you, Marshal.”

“Marshal? I thought we’d agreed on Zack?’

She met his gaze, rolling her eyes for exaggerated emphasis, he supposed. When she shook her head, a small lock of blonde curls fell free of its pins. Zack’s hand itched to take the silky strands in his fingers and tuck them back where they belonged.

“You suggested Zack and Suzanne. I don’t remember agreeing. I’d much prefer Dr. Martindale, or just ‘doc’.”

Her continued attempts at formality amused him and he asked, “Tell me something, Cher, do you ever let your hair down and just relax?” Before she could answer, he added, “Have any of your friends ever been tempted to call you Suzie?”

She paused briefly before saying, “Only those who wished to be soundly kicked in the shins.”

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When Matthew McAlister pulls a nearly-drowned woman from the mucky waters of the Mississippi, he has no idea what's in store for him. Or, how easily he'll willingly give up his carefree, love-em-and-leave-em lifestyle for a chance at real happiness.

Kathryn (Kate) Lowell can't believe her bad luck. Or the fact she's somehow been transported from the twenty-first century back to the post Civil War south. Worse yet, into the arms of the one man she grew up hating. The man she blames for her father's recent demise.

Can these two off-kilter and infinitely stubborn individuals fight their mutual attraction? Or, will they give in to the inevitable? And, when the time comes, will Kate choose to stay with Matt in the past, or return to her former life?

Felicity Beaumont, the rebellious daughter of Louisiana elite devises a plan to move her father’s illegally owned slaves north to safety using the gambling river boat known as the Lucky Lady. Dressed as a young farm boy, she attempts to sell family heirlooms to raise the funds she needs. Short the full amount, she continues her ruse and bargains her way aboard the boat as their chaperone.

Charismatic owner of the Lucky Lady, Jake McAlister doesn’t trust women, and when he discovers Felicity’s subterfuge, he remembers exactly why.

While they find themselves in agreement about helping the free men and women, they are at odds over everything else, including their quickly escalating feelings for one another. When caught between Felicity’s powerful father and the ire of a local judge, they’re forced into a marriage neither wanted.

Can they make the best of a bad situation? And, will gambling on love be a bust or reap them both a happily ever after?

NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Nancy has published over thirty-five books in full-length, novella, and short format.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.