MUSK RAIN

A sexy martial artist. A conniving oil man. A ghost on a mission. And a young woman caught in the middle of it all.

Seven years ago Phoebe promised her dying Cherokee grandmother she would solve this riddle: "Take care of the land and the land will take care of you." Now she fights her former brother-in-law Jack for possession of her home and farm near Oklahoma City. Just as she is ready to give up, a sexy and mysterious Native American martial artist named Alex offers to help. Who is Alex and what is his connection to Jack? Why does Jack want the farm? Why has her grandmother's ghost appeared after all these years? Instead of one riddle to solve, Phoebe now has a fistful of them.

SALES & FORMATS

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Amazon Paperback [EAN 978-1-949187-02-1 | ISBN 1-949187-02-0] 6x9 (242 pages) | Retail Price: $12.99

Barnes & Noble Paperback [EAN 978-1-941278-75-8 | ISBN 1-941278-75-2] 6x9 library (242 pages) | Retail Price: $11.99

Lulu Paperback [EAN 978-0-9778651-6-1 | ISBN 0-9778651-6-9] 6x9 library (242 pages) | Retail Price: $9.99

Amazon Hardback [EAN 978-1-949187-03-8 | ISBN 1-949187-03-9] 6x9 (242 pages) | Retail Price: $19.99

Barnes & Noble Hardback [EAN 978-1-941278-57-4 | ISBN 1-941278-57-4] 6x9 library (242 pages) | Retail Price: $18.99

Lulu Hardback [EAN 978-0-9765786-4-2 | ISBN 0-9765786-4-6] 6x9 library (242 pages) | Retail Price: $16.99

eBook (all editions) [EAN 978-09817049-2-0 or ISBN 0-9817049-2-1] Available in standard EPUB and Kindle | Retail Price: $3.99

Paperback and hardback editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. Editions vary by vendor. Find ebooks at retailers, lending libraries, and subscription services, including: Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Blio, Everand, Kobo Books, Smashwords, and more.

READ AN EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1:

A sensual aroma warmed Phoebe's nostrils.
She looked over her shoulder and found a man watching her from the other end of the aisle.
Dressed all in black, from denim shirt to jeans to dusty sneakers, he made a striking appearance. Long limbs complimented a solid six-foot frame. Shoulder-length coal-black hair was woven into a sturdy single braid. A tan complexion and handsome features denoted Native American ancestry mixed with something else. Thick lashes framed intense gold eyes. His aroma was primal and exotic, as if nature had poured musk into the rain clouds and sprinkled in a few pheromones just for good measure.
Offering a smooth smile, he broke eye contact and ambled forward, like a panther stalking prey through the rain forest, his movements powerful yet agile. In fluid motion, he brushed her with a shoulder. Then a hip. And did not apologize for either.
Usually Phoebe objected to men intruding into her personal space, but this implied panther's kiss was nothing short of orgasmic. She took a deep breath to shake off a silly schoolgirl flush, and then turned. To her surprise, he was gone. Only the scent of him remained to coat the store. That black-haired panther was not like anything she had ever seen on the edge of the Oklahoma prairie.
After stuffing the old paperback into the nearest slot, Phoebe walked to the front of the store. The tiny brass bell hanging over the door had not rung. He should still be in the store somewhere. Forgoing any pretense of nonchalance, she stalked the length of the store and peered down straight aisles. In the far corner she found only Twyla.
"Where is he?" Phoebe demanded with an odd mixture of confusion and annoyance.
Setting down an armful of books, Twyla headed to the front and slipped behind the counter. "Where's who?"
"You didn't see him?" Phoebe followed, sliding up to the old counter and dropping her arms on its scuffed surface.
"What did you see? Another ghost?"
Phoebe shook her head in absolute certainty. That was no ghost. "A man, dressed all in black."
A small perfume bottle sitting on the countertop caught Twyla's eye. "Did you put that there?"
"No." Phoebe picked up the amber bottle and noticed it was from the small display box in the window. The label read: Musk Rain. "That's what I was just thinking, musk and rain. Are you sure you didn't leave it there?"
"Not me."
Curious, Phoebe unscrewed the bottle's cap and took a strategic sniff. It smelled like the panther, whoever or whatever he was...

[Copyright ©2023 Terri Branson | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]

READ REVIEWS

"Drawing deeply from the well of her knowledge of Native American mysticism, Terri Branson takes the reader of MUSK RAIN on a journey in which a spiritual tryst by a waterfall never seen with physical eyes is as real as a lazy summer afternoon on the banks of a farm pond." ~ reviewed by Modean Moon, author of A LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET [FIVE STARS]

NN Lights

"MUSK RAIN by Terri Branson will have you reading past your bedtime, barely able to turn the pages fast enough. Phoebe Henderson promised her Cherokee grandmother she’d hold until the family farm until she could solve the riddle her grandmother gave her. But when her husband, Danny, dies, and his brother Jack moves it, keeping that promise becomes harder to keep. Jack believes he has legal right to the land and the house Danny built. And he regularly pressures Phoebe to sell her portion to him. In addition to not being subtle about his requests, Jack can become physically abusive. She’s at her breaking point when a mysterious and handsome, panther-like martial arts instructor, Master Lin, befriends her and mystically visits her dreams in the most sensual manner. But can she trust him? The mysterious man’s appearance only angers Jack, who already has a deep-seated hatred for Native Americans, and puts Phoebe at greater risk. And not an inch closer to deciphering the riddle. The story’s unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the page. The characters were drawn with an expert hand. Branson showed Phoebe to be a strong and determined woman, but also gave us nuanced glimpses into her doubts and fears. When Phoebe first meets Master Lin, she thinks of him as a panther that smells of musk and rain. And throughout the story, Branson shows us his pantherlike manners and actions. Their relationship, sensual, steamy, and palpable gives a dimension to the story and amps up the tension. Even the secondary characters are filled with life, including the ghost of Grandma. For a woman who’s dead in the physical sense, she was every bit alive and well in the afterlife. The setting of the book — Oklahoma — is a every bit as much a character as the setting itself. You can feel Branson’s love of the country with every word she writes. In MUSK RAIN, Branson masterfully blends the spirituality and traditions of Native Americans with the mysticism of the East creating a one-of-kind story that you just can’t forget." ~ reviewed by N.N. Light's Book Heaven [FIVE STARS]

Coffee

"MUSK RAIN takes the reader on a wild ride through situations that occur through the illegal dealings of one man's greed for power. Phoebe has never fully trusted the decisions she has made but with Alex's help, she is finally able to understand that any judgments she makes for herself are hers alone. I like the story for the strong characters and subtle romance." ~ reviewed by CoffeeTime Romance [FIVE STARS]

"You're in for a treat with MUSK RAIN, a fascinating paranormal romance by Terri Branson. Recently-widowed Phoebe wants nothing more than to keep the house her late husband Danny built for her on his family's homestead land. Her husband’s brother Jack wants to take it from her, believing it is his rightful inheritance. When a stunning Native American stranger comes to town, Phoebe finds her dreams haunted by a magical lover, with her daily life tangled in dark secrets that threaten her, her family, her friends and more. Branson's lyrical descriptions and blazing hot love scenes keep the pages turning — I finished the whole book in a day. Don't miss this one!" ~ reviewed by Suzi Taylor [FIVE STARS]

Goodreads

"MUSK RAIN is a fantastic, intense, suspenseful novel with the added bonus of being set in Oklahoma. The characters and setting came alive. I loved Phoebe and despised Jack. The author made them seem so real that I actually experienced an emotional reaction. The Native American culture and mysticism was beautifully woven into the story. MUSK RAIN is an overall great and compelling read." ~ reviewed by T.P. Warren at Goodreads [FIVE STARS]

"MUSK RAIN is an intense and sensual read with a complex plot populated by believable characters. The story revolves around Phoebe, a young widow looking for love and answers. A hostile relationship with her brother-in-law Jack makes her life a lot harder than it has to be. Then a gorgeous and rather mysterious martial artist named Alex inserts himself into her life. As things heat up between Phoebe and Alex, Jack fights back. What Phoebe knows about Jack is not good, but maybe there is more to him. On the surface Alex looks like a godsend, but can looks be deceiving? As things heat up, her grandmother's ghost can be seen lurking the background. The story is set in the late 1990s, which gives the book a classic feel. MUSK RAIN is a fast-paced, sexy read worthy of 5-STARS. Don't miss it!" ~ reviewed by Harmony Byars [FIVE STARS]

"MUSK RAIN is a hypnotic page-turner with paranormal elements, an incredibly sexy hero, and a villain who personifies modern-day evil." ~ reviewed by Stacy Colonna for Parchment Symbols [FIVE STARS]

"MUSK RAIN is one story readers are bound to love!" ~ reviewed by Elena Channing for Escape to Romance [5-STARS]

"Ms. Branson has written a beautifully moving novel. MUSK RAIN is full of complex characters that draw you into their world. It even has a lovable ghost who happens to smell of gingersnaps. Definitely a five star read."~ reviewed by Mystic Visions Reviews [FIVE STARS]

"MUSK RAIN is a blend of wonderfully depicted characters with a traditionally Native American background. Branson's knowledge of Native American mysticism and culture was very enlightening. The secondary characters helped carry the story along and added genuine depth to the author's style. While Phoebe is very easy to identify and sympathize with, Alex is bound to leave readers breathless with pulses racing! Branson has shown exceptional talent for storytelling, enmeshing spirituality and suspense so well in a tale about a woman's fight to defy the odds and emerge victorious. The sensuality and sexual tension are practically sizzling and bound to keep the pages turning rapidly! I'd recommend this book to all fans of Ms. Branson's. This is one story readers are bound to love!" ~ reviewed by Midnight Scribe Reviews [FIVE STARS]

"I loved this book! Officially, the genre is paranormal romance, but as far as I'm concerned it's just plain fun. Sometimes explicit, but always sweetly done, the sex is HOT, a real turn-on. But the best thing about the book is the story. A plot line with fascinating, complicated characters and enough plot twists and surprises to keep even the most critical reader turning pages, MUSK RAIN delves into the Cherokee Indian heritage of the author with enough authenticity to make a reader want to learn more. It also touches on the martial arts and complicated family relationships. The book was written with love and a sensitive eye to the environment. Some of the descriptions make one wonder how the author can see the world with such clarity. Fast moving, always suspenseful, surprises around every corner. Definitely a five-star read!" ~ reviewed by Pat Kelley [FIVE STARS]

"MUSK RAIN by Terri Branson is full of wonderful things: good characters, an interesting plot, psychic phenomena, and insight into Native American life today. Not to mention the sexiest psychic phenomena I ever read! I highly recommend this sensuous, well-written book." ~ reviewed by June Calvin, author of THE LAST LEPRECHAUN [FIVE STARS]

"It was very hard to put down this book." ~ reviewed by Mary Marvel [FIVE STARS]

"MUSK RAIN offers an intense tale of native Americans living in the modern world while struggling to retain their ancestral values. The main character Phoebe is easy to identify with. The love interest Alex is luscious, but harboring some darker elements. Paranormal aspects are sprinkled throughout this intense tale, including a watchful ghost." ~ reviewed by Grandma's Reading Corner [FIVE STARS]

"What do mixed-blood Cherokees, martial artists, shady oil-men, and ghosts have in common in modern-day Oklahoma City? Read MUSK RAIN and find out! Although presented as a paranormal romance, MUSK RAIN is a sexy and suspenseful read for men and women alike." ~ reviewed by Chaos Arts Reviews [FIVE STARS]

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