Status Updates From Courtships and Carriages

"Melvin pushed the camera's lever once more then ducked. The rock missed him and plunked into a puddle spurting up water as it landed. Undaunted, the horses thundered down the road ... Turning to his apprentice, he grinned. Roy smiled. Examining his camera, Melvin swept his hand across its lens. A scratch scraped his fingers. ... hoping this would not prevent them from developing good photos."

"She [Gwen] returned the smile then closed the door after him. ... A teardrop dripped down her cheek. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her eyes. Right now, she needed to be alone before someone came in and saw her crying so she climbed the stairs to her room."

"He caressed her lips for several moments and stepped back from her. She frowned. He chuckled. 'I wanted to see you once more from a distance. Did you know your hair glows in the moonlight? It reminds me of that song, Roll on! Silver Moon.' ..."

"Breathless, her eyes locked his. Trying to control her racing heart, she glanced away to compose herself. 'Do you have a penny?' 'Well, yes.' ... Touching his warm palm, she grasped it from him then raised her head toward the fountain. 'Oh Lord, could Nolan be the one for me?'"

I cannot rate this book since I wrote it, but I will say if you like romance mixed with suspense then this is the book for you. Character Gwen Ward's quandary. "Oh my!  What should I do?  Should I marry Russ, my dear childhood friend, who's always been humble and kind?  Or should I marry Nolan, a gallant gentleman who whisks me off to secret rendezvous?"

"I told you to stop fraternizing with the enemy. You know how I feel about this," he said, his voice rising.
Yes, but I don't consider her the enemy. Nolan stiffened in his seat.
"Son, we talked about how dangerous this is. She is too close to those who want to find the truth." ...

Gwen's hair blew in the wind. She smiled at Nolan, who sat beside her. "i love this carriage." What did you call it again?" "The phaeton." She stroked the vehicle's side wall. "it's nice."