PRAIRIE FIRE

Can a spark of love survive danger and intrigue in wild Oklahoma Territory?

Chloe plans to stay only a short time at her brother Joe's ranch in 1893 Oklahoma Territory. Despite her efforts to avoid Joe's matchmaking schemes, she is soon entangled in them. At the same time, she catches the interest of a nosy and possibly dangerous ghost called Fire Horse. All Max McKee wants is to buy a few horses. Before he realizes it, he becomes part of Joe's scheme to marry off the rich and lovely Chloe, who happens to be the owner of those horses. Max is a man with many secrets. Despite the risks, he finds Chloe irresistible. When a series of strange fires spooks the local ranchers, Chloe and Max must work together to discover who is setting those fires and try not to get themselves killed in the process.

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PAPERBACK (Amazon) [EAN 978-1-949187-04-5 | ISBN 1-949187-04-7] 6x9 Library (260 pages) | Retail Price: $12.99

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READ AN EXCERPT

SOMETHING lodged in the back of Chloe's throat. She wasn't sure if it was dust or fear or maybe a mixture of both.
The tall rider reined around that strawberry roan and headed straight for the depot. From what she could see of his demeanor, he did not appear to be pleased.
As the distance closed between them, Chloe got a better look at this stranger who had been arguing with Billy. He sat easy in a well-worn saddle, a tall, long-legged rider with wide shoulders and a soft touch on the reins. His cream-colored duster flapped in the sporadic wind and slapped at the haunches of the big roan. A sweat-stained hat remained steady on his head. Sunlight glinted off the pistol holstered on his left hip and skittered along the polished wooden stock of the rifle sheathed near the back of the saddle.
He reached the depot and dismounted, his boots stirring up a cloud of dust. After tying leather reins to a hitching ring, he vaulted onto the platform. Well-worn boots made rhythmic progress across creaky wooden planks.
Stopping in front of Chloe, he nudged his hat upward just enough to reveal an unusually handsome face. A day's growth of whiskers was dark but not particularly thick for a man of his age, which Chloe guessed was somewhere in the early to mid-thirties. His nose was fairly straight and not too long. Gray eyes held curious speckles of green. Dark brown hair, long and thick, was tied back with a strip of leather. Canvas jeans molded to long legs and hugged the ankles of dusty riding boots. His right hand cupped over a trim hip, while his left hand fingered the handle of a holstered pistol she now recognized as a .45-caliber Peacemaker.
Chloe had never seen anything look so good and so dangerous at the same time. An embarrassing throb settled deep in her lap and she felt her cheeks tingle from a tell-tale flush. The mere presence of a man had never moved her like this.
"Are you Chloe?" His voice was husky, his words rife with western tones.
"Yes," she choked out, cringing just a little beneath the brim of her hat.
"The name's Max McKee. Your brother owns the spread west of mine." He adjusted his hat in a gesture that suggested nervousness, and one boot pawed at the rough wood platform. "I think we have a little misunderstanding."
Joe hadn't bothered to mention that Maxwell McKee was as handsome as the day was long. She hoped Frank Hilden wasn't this attractive, else her resolve might desert her and she would never make it to San Francisco.
Realizing she had been staring at the man for more than a polite amount of time, Chloe blinked dry eyes and rolled her gloved fists in her lap. "I'm sorry, Mr. McKee. Did you say something about a misunderstanding?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Max cleared his throat and ran tanned fingers along the handle of that intimidating pistol. "I just spoke with Billy Compton. Ma'am, there's something we need to get straight."
Chloe winced at the angry clip of his words. "And what would that be, Mr. McKee?"
"To be blunt, Ma'am, I wasn't expecting you."
"Nor I you," Chloe said...

[Copyright ©2024 Terri Branson | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]

READ REVIEWS

NN Light

PRAIRIE FIRE by Terri Branson can be described in one word: unputdownable.
Chloe Talley-Marsh, a young widow, arrives at her brother Joe's ranch in the Oklahoma Territory. It’s 1893. Women are seen as little more than extensions of men. But Chloe has newfound freedom. Her late husband left her money enough to see the world. And she intends to start with San Francisco.
Her brother, however, has other plans. He hopes she and his neighbor, Max McKee, will fall in love and marry. Despite Chloe's resistance, she finds Max intriguing. But the road to lasting love is as bumpy as the Oregon Trail — and includes a ghost called Fire Horse.
Branson has authentically recreated the world of the Oklahoma Territory on the cusp of the twentieth century, a blend of burgeoning technology and deeply rooted superstitions.
The sexual tension between Max and Chloe is palpable from the start. And the banter between them had me chuckling several times. When they first meet, Max tells her to call him by his first name. "I don't think I want to know you that well, Mr. McKee."
The author has created well-developed characters, breathed life into them, and gave them the freedom to tell the story. With a few words here and a few words there, Branson gives us a vivid picture of Max McKee — handsome and witty with just the right amount of mystery about him to be sensually alluring.
Chloe is just as gorgeous in jeans and a flannel shirt as in a proper dress — maybe even more so. She's guarding her freedom fiercely and isn't afraid to tell her brother and Max that. And you can't help but feel for her as men try to write her destiny.
But it's the secondary characters you need to watch closely. Not only are these individuals vividly portrayed, they're also not at all what they seem to be. And the increasing tensions building as the story continues has the reader wondering who Chloe can trust.
But wait. There's the ghost. Fire Horse deserves special recognition as a character and as part of the territory's setting. Created from the folklore of the Native Americans, this apparition plays a subtle, yet tangible role in the story.
PRAIRIE FIRE has it all — relatable characters, sexual tension, romance, and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat. ~ reviewed by N.N. Light's Book Heaven [FIVE STARS]

Readers Favorite Five Stars

"PRAIRIE FIRE by Terri Branson is a compelling paranormal historical romance. In 1893, Chloe Talley-Marsh travels to the newly formed Lincoln County. She is returning home to stay with her brother after the premature death of her husband, leaving her a bereft young widow. Part Cherokee and part white, Chloe and her brother, Joe, walk a dangerous path as it was illegal at the time for American Indians to own land. Upon her arrival in Lincoln, Chloe is met not by her brother, but a neighboring rancher, Max McKee. It is lust at first sight for these two, but both are harboring secrets that could either make or break their relationship. Thrown into the mix is a series of inexplicable fires devastating the county. Can Max win over the headstrong Chloe and will Chloe be able to accept Max completely, secrets and all? Miss Branson does an exceptional job of capturing the time period as well as realistically portraying the characters. The added paranormal aspect of an old American Indian ghost made the story even more interesting. Branson has done her research and that is to be admired. I found myself relating to Chloe's desires to escape the constraints of her gender and her need to travel to places unknown. I was rooting for Max, though, the minute that he brought Chloe back to his ranch — as if he needed any help! PRAIRIE FIRE is a very well-written story, giving just the right dose of steamy romance. Miss Branson has woven together the perfect read for a lazy weekend at home." ~ reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite Reviews [FIVE STARS]

Coffee

"PRAIRIE FIRE is a thrilling story of danger, jealousy, passion, and the mysterious workings of love. Chloe intends to make her own life but had not anticipated meeting Max. He is a man strong in nature and goes after things he wants, and he wants Chloe. Together they form a formidable team. I found this an inspiring and entertaining book to read that I utterly liked." ~ reviewed by Brenda McCoy for CoffeeTime Romance [FIVE STARS]

Goodreads

"PRAIRIE FIRE is a fantastic western romance. I think being an Okie made me love the book even more. The setting was rich and vivid and authentic. And I got a history lesson as a bonus. The passion between Chloe and Max burns hotter than the prairie fire and practically leapt off the page. I love the paranormal element woven into the plot. Just a fabulous read overall." ~ T.P. Warren at Goodreads [FIVE STARS]

"PRAIRIE FIRE may refer to the mysterious fires that keep popping up in this story of the late 19th century Oklahoma Territory, but there is certainly a burning heat of passion between heroine Chloe Talley Marsh and hero Max McKee, almost from the moment they meet. Despite the rules of conventional society that purport to discourage their union, the driving force of love takes them uncontrollably near the point of no return. Only one thing can stop them — the secrets that each of them hold that could detonate any chance of happiness. That, and a mysterious ghost of flame that threatens every life in Lincoln County. A great story that kept the pages turning faster and faster until the spectacular end." ~ reviewed by Suzi Taylor [FIVE STARS]

"PRAIRIE FIRE offers a good old-fashioned western romp set in 1890s Oklahoma Territory. Recently widowed Chloe visits her brother's ranch, but does not intend to stay. Max, who owns a nearby ranch, takes one whiff of Chloe and decides that she IS going to stay. However, there are more players afoot in this tale. Another rancher has his eyes on the rich, beautiful young widow, and someone is burning down homesteads. With outlaws in the mix and a mysterious ghost called Fire Horse, it takes a full cast of memorable characters to parse the good guys from the bad guys. Oh, and there's a bit of steam to spice things along the way. PRAIRIE FIRE is a good western read with underlying romantic element. I recommend it for men and women." ~ reviewed by Allen Dale [FIVE STARS]

"PRAIRIE FIRE is a truly fascinating read with vivid characters and storyline. Ms. Branson is a superb author, managing to make her characters sparkle and revel in their heritage no matter what the costs. I was genuinely surprised and delighted with this novel and look forward to reading more of Ms. Branson's work. Don't miss this one." ~ reviewed by Sharon McGinty for Sime~Gen [FIVE STARS]

"PRAIRIE FIRE is an exciting and vivid portrayal of life in a small county in Oklahoma Territory in the late 1890's. The author brought the characters to life, and I couldn't put it down!" ~ reviewed by Crown Reviews [FIVE STARS]

"From beginning to end, PRAIRIE FIRE is an engaging and entertaining western romance. The interplay between characters is fantastic. The overall tone has an authentic feel. It even includes a bit of the paranormal with a native ghost named Fire Horse. This is one of those books that you just cannot put down until you finish it." ~ reviewed by Amber Sparks [FIVE STARS]

"PRAIRIE FIRE is another of author Terri Branson's wonderful, eminently readable romances with a paranormal twist. In PRAIRIE FIRE, recently widowed Chloe is tired of being controlled by her brother Joe. Out of love and concern for his sister, Joe arranged Chloe's marriage to rich a banker twenty-two years her senior. After Phillip dies, Chloe heads for San Francisco, focused on a new life only she will control. But when she stops by Joe's ranch in western Oklahoma, Indian Territory, she loses her heart and subsequently all control of her life. Surrounded by bigotry, deliberately set prairie fires, and a mysterious ghost, Chloe faces down her enemies, male and female, and struggles to come to terms with this new world. This novel contains plenty of lust and sweet romance, and some hot sex, but should be suitable for ages 13+." ~ reviewed by Pat Kelley for Roserock Reviews [FIVE STARS]

"Although PRAIRIE FIRE is fiction, the author accurately shows the landscape and living conditions of 1890's Lincoln County, Oklahoma. This well-written book is filled with interesting characters and lots of fun plot twists." ~ reviewed by Chaos Arts Reviews [FIVE STARS]

"PRAIRIE FIRE is a delightful romp through 1890s Oklahoma Territory with a feisty heroine who will not be restrained, a scrumptous cowboy with secrets, outlaws, bad guys, and a mysterious ghost tossed into the mix. This is a well-written, fast-paced western tale equally enjoyable for women and men. I highly recommend this book. Definitely a 5-STAR read!" ~ reviewed by Grandma's Reading Corner [FIVE STARS]

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