Storm Riders (steam punk/western/time travel)
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- ISBN-10:
- ISBN-13:
- ASIN:B00PU0X7ZA
Pages: 140 (approx. 26867 words)
Rating:three flames (some violence)
Book Cover Artist: Karen Michelle Nutt
E-book:$2.99 Print: $8.95
Available in Print and eBook:
About the Book:
“Storm Riders is a tale of how the wild west would look if the future came for a visit.”
Three destinies, three paths for each decision a person makes, but if one of the roads becomes tangled, a Storm Rider must step in and repair the rift before the dimensions collide.
Samantha Skelley and Denny Randeli are sent to 1879 Bodie, California, one of the wildest towns of the west. It should have been an easy snatch and rescue, but Ace McTavish is determined to put himself in harm's way. Samantha and Denny are forced to help him with his plans before they take the next storm ride home.
Samantha and Ace’s attraction for each other sparks into forbidden territory, both knowing their relationship can never be. However, fate may surprise the star-crossed lovers and rewrite the passage of time.
Excerpt:
“I doonae believe I can afford yer services, lass.” Ace’s deep voice reminded her of a dram of whiskey, both rough and smooth. Rough in the way he rolled the guttural r’s off his tongue, but smooth in the way he articulated each word with meaning. A Scot by blood, born here, but his mother returned to Scotland after her husband, Sean McTavish died from an unfortunate snakebite. Ace had been ten years old at the time, the eldest of four brothers. She didn’t know much about his life in Scotland. Her primary had been to learn about Ace’s activities in Bodie.
The promise for a better life lured Ace back to the States. His brother, Brian had a stake with one of the mines and wanted to cut Ace in on the deal. It might have proved lucrative if death, kidnapping, and an impending hanging hadn’t waylaid the plan.
“I’m on the house, luv,” Samantha told him.
“Is that so?”
She could imagine his brows lifting in surprise. She strode forward to find out. He sat on a cot, lounging against the wall in a relaxed pose, but she knew by his keen gaze the pose was meant to distract.
He wore his hair long, the ends brushing his shoulders. His face needed a good shave, but it didn’t distract from his rugged good looks.
“I’m here to help you.” She kept her voice low.
He chuckled. “Well come here, darlin’, I dinnae realize takin’ ye to bed would make all my troubles go away.”
Her brow rose in irritation. “Don’t be stupid,” she snapped. Big mistake. She really needed to curb her temper, especially when she faced a desperate man.
His smile fell from his face and his hand snaked out before she could take a step back. He yanked her on top of him and she scrambled to sit up. His grip tightened on her left arm, forcing her to straddle him to keep her balance.
“Play nice, darlin’, remember I’m a condemned man.”
“Let me go or you’ll be walking to the hangman’s noose missing your privates.” To make her point, she palmed her knife from the sheath and pressed it beneath his chin.
His movements stilled and he glanced down at the weapon, letting his grip lessen on her arm, but he didn’t completely let her go. “I hope ye know my privates are a bit lower, aye?”
This made her lips twitch. A man with a sense of humor, now this she could deal with. She kept the weapon in her hand, but removed it from his chin. “Tomorrow you’re scheduled to hang.”
“I believe I was informed of the joyous event.”
She ignored his sarcasm. “My partner and I—”
“Is yer partner as pretty as ye are?”
“He’s much prettier.”
Harrumph.
“Now can we stop with the useless banter? I don’t have much time before Deputy El Stinko will be back to check on us.”
Ace’s lips twitched at the dubbed name she’d given the deputy. “Go on, I’m listenin’. If anythin’ it should prove entertainin’.”
“I want you prepared to make a run for it tomorrow. I’ll have a horse ready.”
“Ye do realize I’ll be a wee bit tied up…so to speak.”
“Don’t worry about that. My partner will take care of it.”
For a moment, hope registered in his eyes, but then they glazed with resigned acceptance of his fate. “It’s a lovely gesture. To be sure, ye have my gratitude.”
“Just be ready.”
He opened his mouth to make a comment, but something had caught his gaze over her shoulder and his muscles stiffened. Before she could turn around to find out what troubled him, his hands clasped her face, pulling her closer as his mouth covered hers. She struggled about half a second before the warmth of his lips melted her resolve and darn him if he didn’t use his tongue to finish the seducing.
The soft chuckle behind her told her why Ace chose this ploy. Within the shadows the deputy watched them.
Damn pervert.
Might as well put on a good show. She put her arms around Ace’s neck and kissed him back. She could do a little tongue action, too. She felt Ace stiffen and not just in surprise. The bulge in his pants pressed against her and she found it wasn’t all that unpleasant. If she moved…
His hands flew to her waist holding her still. He came up for air, leaning his forehead against hers. “Doonae move, unless ye plan on finishin’ this,” he whispered for her ears only. He glanced up and looked toward the cell door. “Some privacy, Roy Chester.”
The deputy huffed in disappointment, but his footsteps led away from the cell.
Ace’s gaze landed on her. “Ye should leave.”
Yes, she should. The kiss wasn’t supposed to happen. She could still feel his lips on hers—hot, sexy, and demanding. She wanted more. The thought startled her as much as the fluttering in her stomach did. Meeting his heated gaze, she realized his control was held by a thread of resolve to remain a gentleman. What do you know, an outlaw with a conscience. She slid off him and stood to straighten her dress.
“I’ll apologize now. I willnae be able to walk ye to the door,” he told her. His eyes shifted to his lap then back to her with meaning.
“I know my way out.” What a stupid remark. She fell victim to a damn kiss, but how could she not when Ace’s caress sent all her nerve endings on alert. Just went to show her it had been too long since she’d been with a man if her libido decided to kick in from one kiss. She backed away, bumping into the wall. “Tomorrow, be ready.”
He didn’t answer her, but his heated gaze followed her every move like a hunter observing his next prey. The image should have startled her out of her lustful stage, but the thought of Ace pursuing her sent a shiver of desire skittering down her spine. Good Lord. She spun around toward the door. “Deputy, I’m done here,” she called for Roy Chester to let her out. She’d have to deal with El Stinko, but she welcomed the distraction. Indulging in a quick tryst with Ace McTavish could not happen.
Reviews:
Storm Riders
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A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW | Reviewed by: Orangepeacock
“Storm Riders” by Karen Michelle Nutt isn’t your typical western. It is a western steampunk tale that takes the readers into a small town called Bodie, a town with a bad reputation. Ace McTavish is being accused of murdering his brother and niece. Samantha “Sammy” Skelley and her Storm Rider partner Denny Randeli, are in Bodie to fix a rift in time. The rift is the path that Ace is being pushed down by an outside force. With some out right bad guys and a little romance Mrs. Nutt takes the reader down a dangerous road that we might not ever come back from!
One of the many things that I loved about this book was the mythology behind the Storm Riders. They are a special breed of humans born to ride the storms and fix any problems that cause rifts in time. Now who doesn’t think that sound Amazing?!? Another reason I enjoyed this read was because of the sense of realism and truth to the characters. Ace and Sammy are chasing bad guys, feeling lust for each other, and dealing with an overprotective partner throughout the whole story. This of course made things interesting.
Now this was the first time travel romance that I have ever read, so I may be a little biased but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now don’t get me wrong I am NOT new to the romance genre. I have been reading romance for many years and “Storm Riders” has a talent that many of the romance novels I have read lately were lacking.
With history, and myth you can’t help but falling in love with everything about this book. It is a very creatively descriptive story with a humorous twist. Karen Michelle Nutt deserves a round of applause for her most recent Time Travel romance “Storm Riders”! This quote from the About the Author section conveys exactly what I’m trying to get across here.
“Whether your reading fancy is paranormal, historical or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human phenomena—falling in love.”
I fully recommend Storm Riders to anyone who loves a cute and heated romance with a suspenseful twist, which will leave you wanting more.
Feb 19, 2012 | B006HNPGHG
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FIVE HEARTS AMAZING MUST READ ASAP!
Storm Riders is a lighting fast ride. I enjoyed Samantha’s personality. She is prickly and confident and melts whenever she is near Ace. Who wouldn’t? Ace is smooth as Scottish whiskey. With a sense of humor and determination to right a wrong done, the mahogany haired hottie is a hero who wants to save a damsel in distress and is willing to accept the help offered to get the job done. Storm Riders is an enjoyable read with Sammy and Ace striking sparks off of each other at every turn. Adding in Denny, her partner, for great repartee and trying to keep the two grounded, I couldn’t put Storm Riders down.
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"Nutt's story, "Storm Riders" brims with creativity and imagination. Full of action and adventure, Nutt doesn't run short on the romance either. The chemistry between Ace and Samantha is combustible, but will time keep them apart? "Storm Riders" is a page turner." Stephanie Burkhart, author Victorian Scoundral
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