Series Spotlight - Haley Whitehall's Moonlight Romances
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If you've been following this blog, then you must know by now that Haley Whitehall is a talented author who loves writing about 19th Century U.S.A. Midnight Kiss, her latest release from Liquid Silver Books, is an interracial romance set during the Civil War. Since it's the third book in her Moonlight Romances series, I thought it best to show them all off. But before we get to those gorgeous covers, here's a quick word from Haley.
Hi Tara,
Thank you for letting me visit today to celebrate the release of my new book Midnight Kiss – Moonlight Romance, Book 3.
Matt has a broken heart but it is as big as the Mississippi River. Having his voice and strong character already established in Midnight Heat allowed his story to come to me easily. In fact, I knew after writing the end of Midnight Heat exactly how Matt was going to find love again.
He faces many post-Civil War challenges; however I’d like to think that readers can still relate to them today.
~Haley
Life without love is painful, but in 1865 forbidden fruit can be deadly. When a wealthy widow decides to enjoy her new-found freedom, she puts more than her reputation on the line. An unwanted suitor means to have her, or no one will. From sizzling sex to life-threatening danger, the intrigue will keep you turning the pages ofMidnight Caller, Haley Whitehall’s sizzling new romance.
As a slave, Allison has been abused her entire life. She can only see one way out. But fate steps in and brings a handsome young man to the rescue. Can a woman with a painful past learn to trust the man who saved her from a fiery death? Haley Whitehall brings the 1800’s alive inMidnight Heat, Book 2 of her historical romance series, Moonlight Romance.
Midnight Kiss
Unjustly accused of stealing, nanny April Windmire is turned out on the streets without pay. With no place to go and no friends, she stows away on a Mississippi River steamboat. Her hopes to hide through the journey to St. Louis are dashed when a handsome white officer finds her. But instead of turning her in, he takes her to his private quarters where she fights her growing attraction to a man she cannot have.
Matt Seever’s wife died four year ago, leaving him alone with two small mulatto children. But his job as an officer on the Queen Bee isn’t family friendly. He knows he needs a new wife, but no southern white woman will marry him. When April lands in his lap, his prayers are answered. Or are they? April’s not the trusting type and racial prejudice runs deep in post-Civil War Missouri. Just when Matt convinces April he loves her, his new family becomes a target and there’s no backing down from this fight.
Together, April and Matt must brave heinous race prejudice crimes to find an enduring love.
Excerpt
“What are you doing in my room?” she asked, steel coating her words.
He exhaled loudly and lit the lamp on the table. In the soft light she found the same white man who had showed her to the room.
He eyed her with an appraising gaze. It donned on her she was standing in the middle of the room in nothing, but her nightgown. Oh Lord, the lamplight so close to her made the thin material see-through. She dove under the covers, but he’d already gotten an eyeful.
Mr. Seever rubbed his neck, his skin turning red. He cleared his throat. “Actually, miss, you are in my room.”
“What?”
“You wouldn’t be safe on the main deck even if I paid your passage. A good-looking woman like yourself would be asking for trouble.”
She put a hand on her chest. Each thump of her heart echoed through her body. He’d given a compliment cloaked in lust. The man had seen her nearly naked. The more she thought about it the faster her pulse sped.
Mr. Seever looked like he wanted to help her, but didn’t know what to do.
Leave. Just leave. The words screamed in her head but did not reach her mouth. His speech and logic finally sunk into her tired brain. This was his room—he had every right to be here. She was the stowaway.
“I won’t hurt you, ma’am,” he said, his posture slightly bowed.
Humph. Having a man imagining her naked was bad enough.
“Ma’am, can I get you something? A glass of water?”
She didn’t respond.
He must have taken her silence as agreement. He moved to the washstand and picked up a porcelain pitcher, filling her a glass of water. “Here. Please try to relax. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Actually she’d startled him. Well, they both gave each other quite a scare. She sipped the water, the whole time giving him a pointed stare.
He didn’t seem too taken aback by her unfriendly exterior.
“If you don’t mind, ma’am, I’d like to get some more sleep. I have to work again in a few hours.”
“Oh.”
“I’m staying on the floor if that’s worrying you.” He lay on his makeshift pallet of clothes. It didn’t look very comfortable, but she wasn’t about to invite him to sleep next to her.
“How many days does it take to get to St. Louis, sir?”
“If we’re going to be rooming together you can at least call me, Mr. Seever,” he said, an undertone of laughter to his voice. “From here it will take about a week.”
She’d spend seven days in this man’s room?
She pushed herself up, resting on her elbows, and peered down at him. Equal parts rugged and refined, he embodied her version of handsome. She wanted to run her fingers through his already tousled sandy brown hair. His lips were sunburned. She could soothe them with kisses.
White men had never stirred such feelings before. Her instant attraction unsettled her stomach. A fantasy. Yes, it was just a fantasy because she had been alone too long, and he’d treated her kindly. She reached over to the lamp and blew out the light. She did not need to see his features any more. Still, in the darkness her forbidden thoughts remained.
About Haley Whitehall
Haley Whitehall lives in Washington State where she enjoys all four seasons and the surrounding wildlife. She writes historical romance set in the 19th century U.S. When she is not researching or writing, she plays with her cats, watches the Western and History Channels, and goes antiquing. She is hoping to build a time machine so she can go in search of her prince charming. A good book, a cup of coffee, and a view of the mountains make her happy.
