To Catch a Shadow

Book #3 in the Shadow Series
To Catch a Shadow 
is now available.

Matthew braved the war and the trail to be with her, and has finally uncovered Rebekah's secret and won her heart. Now, Anthony Friedmont, Caroline's husband, has returned and taken his wife, and Rebekah has gone out to find her. Putting them both in danger.

Matthew and his cousin Clay track the women to a camp and find several dead men but no women, and no Anthony among the dead. Following the tracks and the clues, Matthew learns that Rebekah and Caroline are now captives of Chief Gray Eagle of the Sioux and Anthony is back at Fort Laramie. For he and Rebekah to have a future, Matthew will have to win the women's freedom from the Chief, but first he has to face Anthony, and hopefully, lay Rebekah's past to rest.

Excerpt-- 

            Standing Water smiled as he sat back down outside the tepee where he could hear and understand everything they said.

So Golden Hair's name was Rebekah. Courageous woman. Beautiful woman. Stubborn woman. She reminded him of the wife he once had. The wife he'd lost. The wife whose death he still wanted to avenge.

She was as dark as Rebekah was light. She too was a white woman, but that didn't stop her own people from violently taking her life and that of his baby son. He'd found her when he'd gone to live in his father's world. He'd learned much in the white world; so much he actually believed he could live there forever. But the untimely death of his wife and son taught him just how bigoted people could be.

In hatred, he had since turned his back on all he'd learned, but the lessons never left completely. They continued to haunt him. Mystic beliefs and old traditions warred with the new belief in the white man's God. He held them at bay, but now, because of Rebekah the tempest was unleashed and rising.

If he were the warrior of his people, he would not wait. He would take her. Make her his woman. It would make no difference whether she was Cavanaugh's or not. But the missionary's words of God rang in his ears. He had accepted this God, known this God, turned his back on this God in anger.

Now, just when he thought he could make something of his life again, that same God had returned to wage war for his soul. How could he live among his people again if he wasn't the warrior he should be? It drove him to distraction. The Golden Warrior did the same. He held his head in his hands and listened.

Also look for:

When Shadows Fall 

 As the Civil War rages, Rebekah fights to keep her world intact. But loss and sorrow has seeped into her heart and mind. She sets her sights on Oregon, praying this new Eden will allow her a place of peace and a place to put her life, and that of her son's, back together again. She travels to Independence, Missouri ready to take the train west, but is denied the opportunity to join the train because she is woman alone. 

Matthew battles his way through one fight after another, all the while thinking of Rebekah. The woman who holds his heart. He longs to help her west, but fears his biggest battle lies ahead of him. Will Rebekah open up her heart to him and allow him to be the one to hold her When the Shadows Fall?

Shadowed Dreams 

Matthew has braved the war and near death with one thought in mind… Rebekah. He won her hand in marriage, and now he has a few short months to make her see how much he loves her. How much he needs her. Given the wall she's put up between them, he prays he'll have enough time. 

After fleeing the war, Rebekah is determined to go west to Oregon, only to be turned down when she tries to join the train. Matthew's proposal of marriage, in name only to help her west, becomes the miracle she needs. Loving him as she does, she dreads the idea of letting him go once they reach Oregon, but how can she ask him to stay with her, to love her? How could he love her once he's found out her secret? She must guard her heart and his.

The Civil War—eerie similarities then and now

By Kathleen Maher

Many of us have seen the movie Lincoln, and some of us may have even rooted for Daniel Day Lewis to win the Oscar for his portrayal of history’s favorite president. The timing of this movie is interesting, as is the White House’s presentation of the award for Movie of the Year, presumably in case Spielberg’s biopic won. Coincidence? Perhaps. And why might that be?

I’m glad you asked. If desperate times call for desperate measures, then the orchestrators of controversial measures are less likely to be questioned if the attention of the people is diverted. Parties are a perfectly suitable distraction, and Mary Todd Lincoln sure knew how to throw a soiree. She is the first of the presidents’ wives to go all out decorating and entertaining in the White House. She recognized and capitalized on the power of social networking to advance her husband’s agendas long before there was a twitter to tweet or a facebook to read.

 Controversial measures are not new in the presidency. Lincoln suspended the writ of Habeus Corpus under the threat of Confederate spying. That means he could detain anyone he felt was a threat to national security with absolutely no body of evidence. Sound familiar? It should. Under the current president, drones and a national security force have been declared a viable option against US citizens deemed a threat—with no evidence necessary. And then there are the expansions of executive power. 

Like our current president, Lincoln was a master at stretching the constitution, such as in declaring the first draft.

My new novella, Bachelor Buttons is a look at what happened in New York City when Lincoln’s Conscription Act was enforced. In some ways, the New York City draft riots are reminiscent of the Occupy Wall street movement. Targeting wealthy republican presses and business owners, thousands of Irish immigrants took to the streets to protest the draft in July 1863. Class warfare, racial prejudice and employment were central issues then, as they are now among the 99%. An element of Tea Party disgruntlement with government thrown in, the Irish felt that the expansion of government and cronyism tainted this unfair legislation, favoring those who could buy their way out of the draft, and exempting freed blacks who were not yet citizens. The struggling Irish felt targeted, new to the country and competing for the most basic jobs with the freedmen.

Exceeding the anarchy of Occupiers and the rhetoric of Tea Partiers, the Civil War draft protest turned violent. Hundreds were killed, mainly peaceful blacks. Dozens of buildings were destroyed, including a black orphanage. The Irish community had much to account for. But there were also instances of heroism, such as an Irish firefighter who fought for hours to save the orphanage, and other Irish who defended black neighbors and friends. Bachelor Buttons is based on these heroes, with some of my family history thrown in.

I am offering a copy of Bachelor Buttons, plus some Irish and Civil War goodies to one lucky commenter. Follow Tina’s blog, and my blog http://kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com for extra entries. Winner selected Wednesday the 22nd.  Good luck!

You can purchase the novella at Amazon

Review of Bachelor Buttons

by Kathleen Maher

Bachelor Buttons is set amid the US Civil War in 1863. It tells the story of William Lee and Rose Meehan and is somewhat based on Kathleen Maher's own family history.

It may be a short novella but it has a lot of story to tell. William Lee, a poor Irishman, gives violin lessons while he waits for his chance to shine on stage and works to win the heart of Rose Meehan. Hoping all the while that his name won't appear on the lists for the draft.

With tickets in hand for a concert, he hopes to take his intended, Rose out for a date, only to find that she has another suitor and he must win Rose's affections through a footrace and by winning her father's approval as well. A hard task, when Rose's father is set on marrying her off to Dr. Ian McGuiness, because he feels the doctor can give her a better life.

Rich with romance and laughter, Bachelor Buttons also gives the reader a poignant view of life for the Irish in New York City of 1863. It shows how the poor, usually Irish, were called to duty through the draft and how the rich of the day managed to pay their way out of the draft. This led the Irish to riot against wealthy business owners in New York and caused a great deal of unrest between the Irish and the Blacks of the day, because free Blacks didn’t have to go to war.

If you're looking for a story filled with history and a romance besides pick up Bachelor Buttons and take a trip to the past.

Available at Amazon for $2.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CLJD4JW/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

In the Manor of the Ghost

Available Now in Paperback

It's the 1870's. The Civil War has long since been fought and laid to rest, settlers are still joining the wagon trains and heading west to the New Eden. The land is changing. But those who dwell in Clayborne Manor seem trapped in time.

Trapped amid the whispers of failure and sorrow, whispers of longing and defeat. Kaitlin hears them clearly at night. But who haunts Clayborne Manor? The ghost that restlessly walks the halls in the night? Or the ones that plague the minds and spirits of those residing there? Though not inclined to believe the dead can walk the night laden corridors, Kaitlin can see them clearly in the eyes of her husband Devlin, and hear them in the deafening silence of her son, Derrick.

Does she have the courage to search the past and face the ghosts? Does she have the faith to stay and direct all those who dwell In the Manor of the Ghost to the one who sets the captive free?

Enjoy this Excerpt

     Kaitlin hid behind her menu, her shroud, trying to catch her breath. All she wanted to do was stare at her husband. But her face was heated, so she studied her menu and fought to keep her eyes from wandering to Devlin. When she could read no more she turned her attention to Derrick and was struck by the similarities between father and son.

     Derrick would be a lady-killer when he grew up, Kaitlin was certain. All one had to do was look at his father to know. And Kaitlin eyes, lord help them, were intent on looking.

     Her heart thundered in her chest when she realized he looked back.

     Kaitlin was never so happy to see anyone as she was to see Tilly, their waitress for the evening. It gave her an excuse to tear her eyes away from Devlin, and the girl looked so much better. Kaitlin felt the tears well in her eyes.

     Devlin studied the girl then met his wife's gaze. "Those look familiar?" he said of the clothes Tilly wore.

     "They were in the trunk. Maybe they're your mother's."

     He nodded slowly as if he recalled the gown. Then he turned his attention to Tilly. "Good evening, Tilly," he said with a soft grin. "I'm glad to see you're up and about."

     Kaitlin was warmed by his words.
"Sir, thank you, sir." Tilly curtsied and turned beet red.
Kaitlin covered her grin. She knew exactly how Tilly felt under Devlin's gaze. He would be the topic of conversation in the kitchen once Tilly was able to get back and tell Louisa. Perhaps that explained her stammering when she tried to take their order?

     Kaitlin thought to remind Tilly that it was easier to write when one looked at the paper, but she had her own problems. How did she order, even speak, with Devlin there?

     Did the man know what a hazard he was?

     Kaitlin took a deep breath and made her order.

     Devlin laughed. "You're right, your German is atrocious," he replied after hearing her annihilate the language. "Why don't I order?" he suggested then proceeded to do so with such flawless diction, Kaitlin wondered if he'd been talking German since birth.

     "Why, Mr. Clayborne, you are a man of mystery."

     Too many mysteries.

     "Is that good or bad?" He winked.

     "I'd say it's good," she said then turned to study the room so she wouldn't have to look in those deep dark and very beautiful eyes.

Available at:

Desert Breeze Publishing:

In the Manor of the Ghost

Amazon:

In the Manor of the Ghost

  

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In the Manor of the Ghost

  

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In the Manor of the Ghost