Comfort Parker Bailey Quince wears her string of names with pride. Before she married Owen Bailey, she was a Parker, from Perry County, Alabama. She wasnโt one of the highfalutin branch. Comfort belonged to the scrabble in the dust, do anything to survive including sell herself for food, poorer side of the Parker clan. But, she dreams of being rich someday and studies a copy of Godeyโs Ladyโs Book, determined to learn the mannerisms of her more affluent kin.
Though her tall, curvaceous figure, creamy skin, and thick wavy hair might be considered an advantage by some, her beauty often proves more of a curse when sheโs forced to outwit men in order to survive. After Comfortโs abusive husband is killed, Hamilton Quince, sweeps her into a second marriage with the assurance heโll always love and protect her.
Comfortโs plan to continue as a business woman residing in town, abruptly comes to a halt. Hamilton produces a ready-made family and expects her to move from her Eclipse boardinghouse to his VERY rustic cabin on the Double-Q ranch.Sheโs tempted to end the marriage and say goodbye.But leaving her husband isnโt that easy. Comfortโs finally discovered a love more precious than gold.
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From the Author
All books in the Eclipse Heat series can be read as stand-alone titles. Here is the publishing order.
- Quincy's Woman
- Intimate Strangers
- Wolf's Tender
- Tupelo Gold
- Five Card Stud
- Trouble in Disguise
- Breed True
- Whispering Grace
From the Inside Flap
While Comfort gorged her senses on this gruff man who treated her so gently, Hamilton pulled a handkerchief from his shirt pocket and carefully unfolded it.
"Thought of you when I ran across this in a Wichita mercantile." He handed her a vial of amber liquid with a wooden stopper sealing it closed.
"What is it?" she asked, tilting the glass container to watch the viscous gold flow from one end of the tube to the other. She didn't really care if it had any purpose more than being lovely. He'd thought of her while he was gone. Relief warmed her cold bones, assuring her she wasn't completely without friends.
"Open it," he urged.
She removed the stopper and discovered beads of amber clinging to the wooden dipper attached to the underside of the lid.
"Take a taste."
When Comfort looked at him doubtfully, he took the dipper from her and dabbed a drop on her mouth. Tentatively she touched her tongue to the bead, then licked it from her lips, closing her eyes to better analyze the flavor.
She inhaled, amazed at how the subtle essence carried a delicate fragrance as well as a hint of cinnamon. The underlying tang made her think of fecund forests with exotic flowers perfuming the air.
"Is it honey?" she asked.
"It's called Tupelo Gold. Honeybees in the swamps along the Apalachicola River valley produce it. It's sweeter than regular honey, and more precious than gold."
He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand and added in a low growl, "Like you."