Book Spotlight: Cherry Creek by Linda Griffin

About Author Linda Griffin…

Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as she learned to read and wrote her first story at six. Her passion for the printed word also led her to a career with the San Diego Public Library. She retired to spend more time on her writing and has had work published in numerous literary journals, eleven books published by The Wild Rose Press, and a short story collection released by Main Street Rag. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—she enjoys travel, movies, and Scrabble.

This is a spotlight on “Cherry Creek” by Linda Griffin

Cherry Creek Blurb

When her fiancé died, Eileen said, “Then I’m free,” words that her younger sister Molly didn’t understand and never forgot. In 1850s Ohio, a girl doesn’t have that many options, and marrying Andrew MacLeith may be the best she can hope for. He promises to cherish her, but they have to live with his parents, and he can’t even protect her from his mother’s sharp tongue. After a quarrel, Molly impulsively joins his gambler brother Hugh on a journey to the Pike’s Peak gold region. Perhaps the romance and freedom she longs for lie elsewhere. Or were they right under her nose all along?

What Readers can expect from Cherry Creek

Genre: Historical Romance.

Themes: Runaway Bride, Adventure.

***Cherry Creek*Purchase Links**

**An excerpt from Cherry Creek…**

“When I get to Pike’s Peak,” he assured me, “I’ll send back more money than this to Ma and Pa and anybody I owe money to. But not to Andrew. He wouldn’t know how to spend it. You would, though, wouldn’t you, Molly?” he teased.

“Yes,” I said wistfully. My prospects were even more dismal than before. If he ran off to Kansas, he wouldn’t return for a long time, if he ever did. I was on the verge of tears again.

“Hey now, cheer up. Aren’t you glad of my good fortune?”

“Yes,” I said, although I wasn’t. I was envious.

“Do you mean to say it’s serious between you and Andrew?” he asked, frowning.

“I hate living here,” I burst out, as I had to Andrew. Complaining to his brother was wrong, but I was too unhappy to contain myself.

Hugh was briefly taken aback before he said, with his usual charming insouciance, “Come to Pike’s Peak with me, then.”

I didn’t think he meant it, and I was only half serious when I said, “I wish I could.” Decamping to Kansas would be an adventure and an escape, and it would teach Andrew a thing or two.

“Why can’t you?” he asked, making it sound almost logical. “If you don’t like it here, what’s keeping you? Pike’s Peak is the future, the new Eldorado. Don’t you want a piece of it?”

“I couldn’t dig for gold,” I said. “And I don’t have any money.”

“I do,” he said. He fanned out his winnings. “Come on, Molly. It will be fun.”

I began to believe he was serious. “When are you leaving?” I asked.

“Right now,” he said. Again, his hand groped toward his watch pocket, and then he shrugged and grinned, perhaps imagining the fine chronometer he would buy with his Kansas riches. “Go on and get what you need. Not too much. We’ll take the train to Leavenworth…”

“Leavenworth?” Even that was intimidatingly far away, and Pike’s Peak was far beyond. Hugh was untrustworthy, an easy liar. Why was I listening to him? Was I so desperately unhappy that I would consider this insane suggestion?

“You can’t leave tonight,” I reasoned, “without saying goodbye.”

“I’ll leave Ma a note,” he said carelessly. “She’d only fuss. Come on, Molly, take your chance while you can. Ten minutes.” He didn’t wait for an answer but slipped out to his own room.