The Black Rose, by Naomi Musch - FREE eBOOK

Tell us about your book.

Here's the cover blurb for THE BLACK ROSE ~ EMPIRE IN PINE BOOK 3:

Despite the panic of 1893, logging reaches its golden era in the growing state of Wisconsin, and twins Jesilyn and Corianne Beaumont enjoy a comfortable life with family in the bursting Great Lake city of Superior. But when jealousy incites Jesi to seduce Cori's fiance, a flight and fall from grace lands her in a boomtown brothel, where a fresh start is denied her.

Camp preacher Paul Winter longs to offer hope in the logging and mining towns of northern Wisconsin, but not in the way he expects when he meets a redhead he calls Pie Girl. He's never had to battle his own longings quite this way before.

Meanwhile, stung by Jesilyn's betrayal, Corianne's bitterness might separate her fom a second chance at happiness and peace. Only by Grace can both women begin new lives, and budding love can bloom in places neither of them expect.

Can you give us a sneak peek at your new release?

I'm delighted to share an excerpt. You should know, at this point in the story, Jesilyn, living under the alias "Jane" is being sheltered by logging camp preacher Paul Winter and his sister Marie. Jesilyn's landed in yet another predicament, which Paul wants to help her solve, so he turns their discussion in a new direction:

She looked perplexed, and if Paul had had a back leg, he'd have kicked himself with it.

"Jane," he almost reached for her hand, then constrained himself, grasping his hands together in his lap, "Jane, what about this, what if I were to ask you to marry me?"

The fire crackled. She seemed to be holding her breath while she stared at him.

Yes, she was. It escaped with a whoosh. "If you were to ask me? Is that what you're doing?"

He couldn't tell if she sounded more shocked, put out, or simply perplexed. Now he did take her hand. She let him, but it lay limp in his.

"I'm just trying to help you. If I married you, no one would think poorly of you staying."

"Such charity."

"Not necessarily."

Her eyes widened. "I don't love you."

He was unprepared for the sting of her words. "No... no, of course you don't. I'm not expecting that you do."

She frowned and pulled her hand away. Her eyes glinted suspiciously. "What is it that you do expect?"

He stood up, stepped closer to the fire, then turned to face her. "I don't expect anything. I don't even expect you to accept my proposal. I know it sounds crazy. It even sounded crazy to me when Marie suggested it."

Her mouth gaped a little bit. "Why even suggest it?" She let out a harsh laugh. "You're right. It's crazy." She jumped to her feet, the forgotten mending tumbling off her skirt to the floor. She almost spun away, but Paul caught her arm, forcing her to stop and look at him.

"It sounds crazy... but it also sounds like an answer. Look, Jane," he held his grip on her arm, "I don't know where else you can go. And I... well, I like having you here. We get along all right. You seem content with the things you have to do. I think we could get along fine."

"I don't... love you," she said again, whispering the words.

He let go of her arm.

She walked a few feet away, as if to go to the kitchen and leave the conversation alone, but then she stopped and looked back. "You really wouldn't expect anything from me? I mean, any... marital obligations?"

Her face looked pink even in the dim cabin. Paul's pulsed quickened. He knew what she meant all right. "No. Nothing like that. We'd just be a help to each other. I'd look out for you. You'd help me in the ministry."

She nodded and turned away. Paul's pulse kept up its frantic throbbing. Could she be considering it?

What inspired this book?

I was inspired by the history of the northern Wisconsin boomtowns in the late 1800s at the peak of the logging era. In the town Jesilyn lands in, there's a real-life time-worn saying: Hayward, Hurley, and Hell; the three hottest places on earth on a Saturday night. THE BLACK ROSE is a generational sequel to THE RED FURY and THE GREEN VEIL.

The entire series are available as e-books from

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/7m5a5ah

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3gelmzp

CBD: http://tinyurl.com/72auylb

Desert Breeze Publishing / Other Formats: http://tinyurl.com/43jbuvd

What was the first book you ever wrote?

The first book I ever wrote (not including the tragedy romances and Nancy Drew-esque stories of my childhood) was an unpublished, untitled prairie romance about a young woman captured off a wagon train by Indians, with whom she spends fifteen years, carrying the love of a mountain man with her. Hmm, thinking about it, I almost want to re-write it.

My first published work The Casket Girl was about an indentured French woman caught in the cross-fire of the French and Indian War.

What is your favorite character trait to write about?

I notice that I frequently write about contentment -- or more accurately -- the lack of it and what that really means to the choices characters make and where it leads.

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I hope readers will be taken away, first of all. My priority is to give readers the pleasure of a great story. But in the end, I want the deeper themes to resonate someplace inside them. In The Black Rose, identity, self-respect, and our worth in God's eyes became the emerging theme. I hope that some of the things the characters evolve through will reach a place of encouragement with readers who are sharing those kinds of struggles.

What is your favorite season?

Fall is my favorite season. Come to think of it, The Black Rose ends in the fall, with a very outdoorsy, romantic moment. But probably not the kind of moment you've read about before in an inspirational novel. *wink wink*

What project are you currently working on?

I currently a contemporary romance submitted for consideration, and I have another book ready to submit -- it's a fantasy -- a real genre shift for me. I'm also just beginning an historical set among the voyageurs and fur traders of the Great Lakes around the year 1806. I'm really excited to get into it.

What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

Research. It's so critical in writing layered, historical fiction. It's the hardest part, but I really enjoy it. I make new discoveries all the time, and they usually lead to new ideas.

What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?

I write a lot about rebellion and self-will, partly because I think most of sin can be wrapped up in that description. Rebellion toward God leads us to always vote for ourselves, our flesh, our own good, even when we don't realize that it's really to our detriment.

What are your hobbies (besides writing)?

I really love gardening and canning. My husband and I have raised a number of critters, and I miss raising beef cattle. There's nothing like seeing those little calves bouncing around in the pasture. I also enjoy hiking around the woods and swimming in the middle lakes where the weeds don't touch my feet.

Connect with Naomi here : http://www.naomimusch.com

In order for there to be a contest at least 10 people need to leave comments WITH email addresses OR email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "contest_black rose" in the subject line. Winner announced July 22nd.