Monday, December 11, 2017

Treasure in the Montana mountains -- @ConstanceBretes #SmallTownRomance #Montana #rafflecopter


Montana mountains

By Constance Bretes (Guest Blogger)

My husband and I love to go sapphire digging, and gold panning up in the mountains behind our home. We brought property in Montana some years back, that had mining rights along the Missouri River, where we could dig for sapphires. The name of the place is Eldorado Heights Bar. There are several of these types of places in our area, there is the Spokane Bar, and The American Bar all nearby and along the Missouri River. Back in the early 1900s, miners searched for gold along the river, and as they dug, they kept finding these colored stones. Not knowing what they were, the miners cast them off to the side as the continued to dread the area for gold.

Later, it was learned that the colored stones, were indeed sapphires, rubies and garnets.

This was not the only place in Montana where you could find these gems and gold. Philipsburg, Alden, and a few other places have sapphires and gold. The town of Philipsburg was of great interest to us. It is a small, historical town and was used as a backdrop for my story, Blue As Sapphires. In the story, I changed Philipsburg to Frankenburg because I’ve added some things that Philipsburg did not have. But one area that my husband and I was very interested in was Gem Mountains. It had a mining operation there. The owners went into the mountains and dug a couple of truckloads of gravel and brought it to the base of the mountain for visitors who could either search through the gravel there or buy buckets of gravel, to dig for Sapphires. There are also claims along the Rock Creek River of gold. My love for these things found its way into my ebook, Blue As Sapphires

 

Blurb

Marissa's home was her haven, until Riley invaded her space.

Escaping from her abusive ex-husband, Marissa Simpson returns to her hometown to start over. She spends her days working at the local jewelry store, and the rest of her time is dedicated to mining along Red Rock River, searching for precious gems. Marissa has no intention of getting involved with another man, or with the community she left behind all those years ago. That is, until Riley McCade shows up.

Riley is the Sheriff of Quartz County. He loves his community and goes out of his way to protect and serve. When he meets up with Marissa, he's bound and determined to get to know her even though she insists she's not interested.

The more Riley learns about Marissa's past, the more he concludes that she may be in danger. When her ex-husband shows up, can Riley protect her? And can he earn her love in the process?

Excerpt

Hello, Sheriff. What can I do for you today?”

I thought you would have listened to me and reconsidered trying to make this place livable again.”

Nope, I’m going to try to make a go of it.”

Riley splayed his hand on the back of his neck and gave her a small smile. “You need to go to the county office and get an inspector to come out here and determine what needs to be taken care of before you make this your home. The house has to be up to code.”

And if I don’t?” she said evenly.

I’d have to serve you with a notice and remove you from the premises until the house meets the building code.”

Really,” she replied in a low voice, taut with anger. “I guess I’ll contact the inspector tomorrow and see when I can get someone out. Is that all, Sheriff?”

For now. Tell me, Marissa, how have you been?” Riley asked. “You haven’t been here
in a long time.”

I’m doing well. Thank you,” she replied icily. A suggestion of annoyance hovered in her eyes.

So, are you married? Do you have children?”

No, and no, and why?”

It seemed to Riley that Marissa was being evasive and noncommittal. She sure was an attractive woman, maybe a little too thin, but she had a lovely face and perfect rose-colored lips. Something about her piqued his interest.

I just wondered how you were. Is this the first time you’ve been back to Frankenburg since high school?”

Yes.”

What brings you back?”

I wanted to come back.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

He was aware of her annoyance, he tried to coax her into a better mood, but failed.

Marissa, if you’d like, I could make you an offer on the twenty acres of land. That would giveyou enough money to buy a nice home in town and live more comfortably than you would here.”

Why are you so bent on me leaving this house?” Marissa shot him a cold look, uncrossing her arms and squeezing her hands into fists.

I’m not bent on anything, but I told you before I think the house is dangerous to live in.”

Well, it’s my problem, so I’d appreciate it if you would mind your own business.”

Why are you so testy? We’re a tight community here in Frankenburg, you know that. We look out for each other and try to help when we can. I’m only trying to be neighborly and keep you safe.”

I’m not interested in you being neighborly and keeping me safe. I’m capable of taking care of myself, and I don’t need any help.”

All right, Marissa, but you get that inspector out here as soon as possible.” Riley’s voice was smooth, but insistent.

Yes, Sheriff.” She spat out the words contemptuously, did a mock salute, whirled around, walked into the house, and slammed the door in his face.

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About Me

I started writing contemporary romance and contemporary romance suspense fifteen years ago, and after multiple rejections, got my first contract for Delayed Justice, released in 2014. 
 
I lives in Basin, Montana, where three feline furballs own me and my husband, and a dog that lives next door named Sara, who thinks she also lives with the Bretes family. I love the mountains that surround my home, I love basket weaving, jewelry making, and just visiting all the folks in the small community we live in.

I currently have seven books published, and a number of other ones in various stages of edits. Right now, I’m working on a new book, called Roadside Love, a murder mystery/romance in a small town in Wyoming. I have two other books that are at the end of their editing days and now at critique partners, Elkhorn In The Moonlight and Rocky River Gold. Both are small town romances.

I can be reached through the following media.

Email: bretesc [at] gmail [dot] com

Be sure to visit my webpage, navigate to the News & Things, and enter the monthly rafflecopter at the bottom of the page. Join my newsletter mailing list also at that site, and you will get my newsletter, once a month and only occasionally, anytime the rest of the month, if I suddenly have something that has come up after the newsletter was sent out.

3 comments:

Connie Bretes said...

Thank you, Lisabet, for having me on your blog today.

Unknown said...

Love small town stories, and yours sounds wonderful! xx

Connie Bretes said...

Thank you, Anni. I think all the small towns here in Montana are really nice.

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