Resurrected

by Fran Shaff

"Resurrected" Book One of the historical romance "Tender Mysteries Series"His interference infuriates her.Her passion inspires him.July, 1895. Hope, Nebraska. For years Deborah Willet has been protecting her sisters without the interference (or aid) of any man. Though she’s often resented the responsibilities heaped on her after her parents and brothers are killed in a flood, she’s done her duty just fine on her own. When family treasures begin to disappear, she’s confident she can locate the nasty villain stealing from her family without the help of any outsiders--until Steven Paxton raises doubts about everything she’s always believed in.For months Steven has convinced the world he isn’t the least bit upset about the accident which put him in a wheelchair. Secretly, he spends most of his time wallowing in self pity, refusing to do the rehabilitation exercises the doctor has told him will restore the use of his legs. He believes he’s half a man now, and he simply must accept his fate--until Deborah makes him realize he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to doing.Except, perhaps, winning the heart of the beautiful woman who’s stolen his. “Resurrected” is the first book in Inspirational American Historical Romance “Tender Mysteries Series” from Award-Winning Author Fran Shaff.About the “Tender Mysteries ” After a flood annihilates a wagon train in 1888, eleven female survivors build a life in Hope, Nebraska.Reviewer Comments about Author Fran Time “I will be looking for more from this author.”The Romance “Ms. Shaff is a gifted writer that always delivers in her stories.” Deborah and Steven are at a social looking for a thief.A flash of red on her periphery caught Deborah’s attention, and she immediately turned to determine the source of the bright color. Seeing Albert, a possible thief, had put her senses on alert, and the presence of one suspect reminded her of the purpose of being at the social with Steven.Marcie Wilhelm, another suspect, dressed in a bright red, form-fitting dress, stood a few yards away gazing at Deborah. She nodded and twirled her red and white parasol when Deborah caught her eye. “It’s Marcie.”“Where?” Steven said.“There, near the man with the handlebar mustache, white shirt and black bow tie.”Steven glanced in the direction Deborah had indicated. “Do you mean that lovely blonde woman dressed in red is the despised Marcie Wilhelm Susan wants to torture?”Deborah touched Steven’s hand, and he looked at her. “She only wants to torture her if she’s taken our mother’s cameo.”“Yes, of course.” Steven glanced at Marcie again. “I hope she’s not the thief. I’d hate to see any harm come to her. She’s a very beautiful woman.”His complimentary declaration set Deborah’s stomach on fire. Humph, she thought as she recalled what he'd said earlier, I’m fetching, but she’s beautiful? “I suppose she is, if you like that kind of girl.”“What man wouldn’t?”“What did you say?” she asked indignantly.Ooh, she hadn’t meant to add such an annoying tone to her words. In fact, she hadn’t meant to say the words out loud at all.

Genres: Romance

175 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2012

About the author

Just about all of us want to get away from the demands of everyday life from time to time. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the luxury of being able to take off to some new, exciting place whenever we feel the urge--unless we like to read.

A book can take us anywhere we’d like to go. For readers who enjoy living vicariously in pastimes or in modern times Fran Shaff provides a great escape in the more than twenty novels she’s published over the years. Fran’s fictional books have won awards from readers, reviewers and fellow authors, and her non-fiction has been acknowledged in this way too.

Love is the main focus of all of Fran’s books, whether they’re contemporary or historical, serious or humorous, written for adults or teens. Love between men and women and among friends and families is featured in her books because there is nothing most of us want more than to love and be loved. Happy endings abound, but the journey to reaching that joyful final moment is always a rocky struggle, just the way we want our fiction (even though we could do without the drama in our real lives).

Look for new, full-length historical romance novels from Fran Shaff in the ten-book “Tender Mysteries Series,” available now and debuting throughout 2013 and 2014. The first novel in the series “Resurrected” is available as a free download at most Internet bookstores. The series is available in single e-book and two-pack paperback formats.

Reviewers say:

“Ms. Shaff is a gifted writer that always delivers in her stories.” (The Romance Studio)

“I have discovered a great new author in Fran Shaff. She writes with depth and understanding and digs deep into the emotional lives of her characters bringing the reader with her all the way.” (A Romance Review)

“Fran Shaff is a wonderful writer whose prose speak with passion from her heart.” (Fallen Angel Reviews)

“Ms. Shaff writes about characters that warm your heart and give you a good chuckle as well.” (Coffee Time Romance)

Reviews

[Dorothy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Written

I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the remainder of the series. Thank you for wring clean fiction.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, the beautiful potential.

For a Christian romance where people spend half their time in prayer or trying to figure out the Lord's will - there's a lot of religion, lots on forgiveness - I was put off by the scene in the bushes. So, giving into your primal urges if OK if it's with the person you eventually marry? They were outside! Just a few feet from the street. Not cool. Had to laugh that the heroine later had the nerve to be outraged by her mother's immoral behavior. Hello kettle.

Then the hero turns creepy and stalkery by not respecting her wishes and giving her the space she wanted. At least he acknowledged it later - when he sought her out for the purpose of telling her he was leaving her alone. Men.

The diary felt more like a commercial for the next book rather than an epilogue, then just ended.

Overall, cute, sweet, heart wrenching story. It was too short.

[Lisa C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was different, too unbelievable for me, but the writing is what I found a little strange. It took me a while to figure it out and I think it's because it sounded a lot like the script for a high school or college play.

It was laughable at times, like this, "'Yes... Frankly,' Susan said, touching the tip of her pencil to the side of her head, 'I think....might have taken it. His eyes are set a little close together. That's a definite mark of a thief.'"

There were too many descriptors about their clothes that I felt had no relevance to the story. For example, the waitress' dress was blue calico.

I had to force myself to finish and then in the end, some of the characters' stories were left open ended for the next books. I'd recommend you keep looking if you're trying to find a quality historical romance.

[Betty Melton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

I didn't feel this book was very well written. The characters were stilted and flat. The dialogue did not flow well and the story line not very believable. Glad it was free. It is book 1 in a series, but I have no desire to read more.