Welcome to Hearts of Oklahoma!
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Happy Valentine’s Day, readers! |
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I’m delighted to be with Jasmine today at Tell Tale Book Reviews to share the upcoming release of the first book in the Hearts of Oklahoma series, Finding the Road Home.
This series is set in Pawhuska County (also home of The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond). I’m excited to share this book with you for many reasons. First, I love Oklahoma and I love this sweet story of second chances. And, I have to say that I am partial to the amazing cover for this book. Be sure to read all about the book, including the excerpt and tell me what you think in the comments and then enter the fun giveaway at the bottom of this post.
This series is set in Pawhuska County (also home of The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond). I’m excited to share this book with you for many reasons. First, I love Oklahoma and I love this sweet story of second chances. And, I have to say that I am partial to the amazing cover for this book. Be sure to read all about the book, including the excerpt and tell me what you think in the comments and then enter the fun giveaway at the bottom of this post.
All four books have the lovely setting of the fictional town of Rebel Ranch near the fictional town of Rebel, Oklahoma.
Once a working cattle ranch, Rebel Ranch is now a guest ranch owned by the Rainbolt siblings, Mitchell, Reece, Tucker and Kate.
The series follows four siblings who inherit their grandfather’s ranch, work to overcome the tragedy of their past and in the process, find the forever healing power of love.
“The first thing you do when you get up in the morning is thank the good Lord and put on your Stetson.” –The Rainbolt Family Motto
Once a working cattle ranch, Rebel Ranch is now a guest ranch owned by the Rainbolt siblings, Mitchell, Reece, Tucker and Kate.
The series follows four siblings who inherit their grandfather’s ranch, work to overcome the tragedy of their past and in the process, find the forever healing power of love.
“The first thing you do when you get up in the morning is thank the good Lord and put on your Stetson.” –The Rainbolt Family Motto
Some paths need courage to follow…
Can they find their fresh start with roadblocks around every corner?
Can they find their fresh start with roadblocks around every corner?
To care for her orphaned nieces and nephews, Daisy Anderson moved to a small town for a new deputy position—but now her job could be eliminated. With potential budget cuts looming, her only hope is to work with police chief Mitch Rainbolt to save their department’s funds. But can their fight for her job lead to something neither dared wish for: a future together?
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An Excerpt from Finding the Road Home.
Chapter One
Police chief Mitchell Rainbolt shook his head as he slid into the front seat of his departmental SUV and tried to remember why he was still in Rebel, Oklahoma, running a department with less staff than the Arrowhead Diner across the street.
With a glance at the clock, he confirmed the time. Ten o’clock on a Friday morning and he was off to check out a report of trespassers because his next in command was MIA.
Again.
Ever since Roscoe McFarland announced he was retiring in a year, he’d caught a serious case of don’t know, don’t care.
Mitch put the key in the ignition. The only thing saving his sanity was that his new hire, one Daisy Anderson, would start on Monday.
The Kendall property was five miles outside of town. Empty for years, the two-story home had fallen into disrepair. A shame, because when Mitch was just a kid and doing his best to keep track of his younger siblings, the Kendalls had provided a haven he could count on during the long months while his widowed father disappeared on the rodeo circuit.
He made the turnoff to the property and stared at a do-it-yourself moving truck in the gravel drive and a minivan parked closer to the house. He couldn’t help but notice the flower bumper sticker on the mom-mobile. A bright yellow daisy.
Not trespassers. Someone was moving in. Mitch slowly drove around both vehicles, assessing the situation.
The yard showed evidence of a recent mow, and the branches of the ancient redbuds that lined the drive had been pruned. Even the hedges around the pale gray clapboard home had been trimmed back. The place showed a glimmer of its old self though it needed a good paint job.
When a football sailed over the hood of his patrol vehicle, Mitch’s foot automatically hit the brake. He glanced left and then right. A dark-haired boy about eight years old stood off to the right, eyes rounded, and a girl of similar age and coloring stood to the left, her expression wary.
Mitch turned off the engine and unfolded himself from the vehicle. He closed the door and scanned the perimeter a little more closely. Two more children, boys he’d guess to be around four and six, played on the grass beneath a big oak tree.
“Morning,” he said to the oldest children. “I’m Chief Rainbolt.”
“I...I...I’m Seth and this is my sister Grace.”
“Pleased to meet you. Are your parents here?”
The children exchanged looks that Mitch couldn’t decipher before the boy spoke up.
“Aunt D is inside.”
“Aunt D. Got it.”
Crossing the yard, Mitch stopped to further assess the house. Though the old place held a special spot in his heart, plenty had changed in twenty years. The reliability of the porch steps for starters. They seemed dubious at best. He tapped his boot on each step before putting his weight on them. When he got to the landing, a scream echoed out to him from inside the house. The screen door flew open, banged against the clapboard and a whirlwind of strawberry-blond hair and blue jeans burst across the porch and straight into his arms.
“Whoa, there.” Mitch stumbled back down the steps to the concrete walk, managing to keep both himself and the woman upright as he grabbed the rail with one hand while his other wrapped around her waist. She smelled like sunshine, cinnamon and apples, an alluring scent that had him captivated.
“I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “I saw a mouse.” The woman blinked and disentangled herself from his arms. She blinked again, her jaw sagging and her face paling. “Chief Rainbolt?” she sputtered, blue eyes wide. Red splotches of embarrassment covered her cheeks as she stepped back.
Mitch did a double take. “Officer Anderson?” She looked the same as in the Skype interview except...well, different. During the interview, her hair had been tamed and pulled back severely. Now it floated long, loose and curly around an oval face. A scattering of freckles stretched across her cheeks.
He found himself staring at the beauty before him.
“Are you here on official business?” she asked.
“Your neighbor up the road called in a report of trespassers.”
“What?” Daisy’s blue eyes rounded. “I bought this house.”
“No worries. Mrs. Shupe doesn’t see too well.” Mitch raised a hand. “She uses a set of fancy binoculars, but it can’t be easy looking across the field with those redbud trees in her line of sight.”
Daisy’s mouth dropped open, and then she began to laugh. It was a sweet sound that warmed him from the inside out.
With a glance at the clock, he confirmed the time. Ten o’clock on a Friday morning and he was off to check out a report of trespassers because his next in command was MIA.
Again.
Ever since Roscoe McFarland announced he was retiring in a year, he’d caught a serious case of don’t know, don’t care.
Mitch put the key in the ignition. The only thing saving his sanity was that his new hire, one Daisy Anderson, would start on Monday.
The Kendall property was five miles outside of town. Empty for years, the two-story home had fallen into disrepair. A shame, because when Mitch was just a kid and doing his best to keep track of his younger siblings, the Kendalls had provided a haven he could count on during the long months while his widowed father disappeared on the rodeo circuit.
He made the turnoff to the property and stared at a do-it-yourself moving truck in the gravel drive and a minivan parked closer to the house. He couldn’t help but notice the flower bumper sticker on the mom-mobile. A bright yellow daisy.
Not trespassers. Someone was moving in. Mitch slowly drove around both vehicles, assessing the situation.
The yard showed evidence of a recent mow, and the branches of the ancient redbuds that lined the drive had been pruned. Even the hedges around the pale gray clapboard home had been trimmed back. The place showed a glimmer of its old self though it needed a good paint job.
When a football sailed over the hood of his patrol vehicle, Mitch’s foot automatically hit the brake. He glanced left and then right. A dark-haired boy about eight years old stood off to the right, eyes rounded, and a girl of similar age and coloring stood to the left, her expression wary.
Mitch turned off the engine and unfolded himself from the vehicle. He closed the door and scanned the perimeter a little more closely. Two more children, boys he’d guess to be around four and six, played on the grass beneath a big oak tree.
“Morning,” he said to the oldest children. “I’m Chief Rainbolt.”
“I...I...I’m Seth and this is my sister Grace.”
“Pleased to meet you. Are your parents here?”
The children exchanged looks that Mitch couldn’t decipher before the boy spoke up.
“Aunt D is inside.”
“Aunt D. Got it.”
Crossing the yard, Mitch stopped to further assess the house. Though the old place held a special spot in his heart, plenty had changed in twenty years. The reliability of the porch steps for starters. They seemed dubious at best. He tapped his boot on each step before putting his weight on them. When he got to the landing, a scream echoed out to him from inside the house. The screen door flew open, banged against the clapboard and a whirlwind of strawberry-blond hair and blue jeans burst across the porch and straight into his arms.
“Whoa, there.” Mitch stumbled back down the steps to the concrete walk, managing to keep both himself and the woman upright as he grabbed the rail with one hand while his other wrapped around her waist. She smelled like sunshine, cinnamon and apples, an alluring scent that had him captivated.
“I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “I saw a mouse.” The woman blinked and disentangled herself from his arms. She blinked again, her jaw sagging and her face paling. “Chief Rainbolt?” she sputtered, blue eyes wide. Red splotches of embarrassment covered her cheeks as she stepped back.
Mitch did a double take. “Officer Anderson?” She looked the same as in the Skype interview except...well, different. During the interview, her hair had been tamed and pulled back severely. Now it floated long, loose and curly around an oval face. A scattering of freckles stretched across her cheeks.
He found himself staring at the beauty before him.
“Are you here on official business?” she asked.
“Your neighbor up the road called in a report of trespassers.”
“What?” Daisy’s blue eyes rounded. “I bought this house.”
“No worries. Mrs. Shupe doesn’t see too well.” Mitch raised a hand. “She uses a set of fancy binoculars, but it can’t be easy looking across the field with those redbud trees in her line of sight.”
Daisy’s mouth dropped open, and then she began to laugh. It was a sweet sound that warmed him from the inside out.
Tina Radcliffe
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A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tina Radcliffe is a Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, and an American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll member. She is also a four-time ACFW Carol Award finalist and a three-time ACFW Mentor of the Year Finalist. In 2014 she won the ACFW Carol Award and in 2018 she was an ACFW Mentor of the Year recipient. Besides her novel-length fiction for Love Inspired, Tina has sold over three dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. A former registered nurse and library cataloger, Tina is a frequent workshop presenter. She currently resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance.
Visit her on the web at www.tinaradcliffe.com.
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It's Time For A Giveaway!
Enter the Rafflecopter for the opportunity to win a print copy of
Finding the Road Home and a blue library card tote from Out of Print.
Finding the Road Home and a blue library card tote from Out of Print.
Giveaway limited to USA and Canada.
Giveaway ends on February 21st at 11:59 pm MST.
Winner will be contacted by email.
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