Love’s Curse by Janis McCurry

Luke Bennett’s all-consuming goal is revenge on the man he believes took everything from his family. Even meeting the man’s lovely, spirited daughter will not sway him from his path … until he’s visited by a pair of determined spirits. Cori Tremaine can’t run her family Kentucky horse farm while pursuing her career as a globetrotting photojournalist. The first person she meets when she returns home to sell it is a brooding, magnetic man whose touch ignites a vision of ghostly lovers … and a longing for more. Will Luke allow his family’s ancient curse to lead him to a life without Cori or can he break the curse and save their love? Originally published as Lilianna’s Curse

Give us the one to two sentence tagline for your book.

Long ago, a G***y maid and an English lord fell in love, only to be tragically cursed. Now their spirits must show an embittered American descendant that the love of his lady is worth far more than vengeance.

What is your favorite scene/moment in your book?

When the ghosts finally can touch each other.

How do you use magic in your book?

Ghosts materialize in the present and they can inhabit the H/H to keep them from making mistakes.

Would your hero enjoy pumpkin spice lattes, candy corn, or apple bobbing?

Absolutely not!

What costume would your heroine wear to a halloween party?

She’d be an equestrian and he’d be a pirate.

What scene did you adore writing in this book?

When the hero finally believes in his ghostly ancestors and saves the heroine.

Is this book a spooky/scary PNR, or a cozy/snuggling with a monster PNR?

I call it PNR light because this is about family …with helpful ghosts.

What is your favorite monster to write?

If I did write another PNR, I’d go with vampires.

If you had to pick, would you rather have fangs, claws, or wings?

fangs

Halloween’s coming. Do you do anything special to celebrate?

Just enjoy seeing the kiddies in their costumes.

England 1644

The waxing moon cast its calming light over the paddock adjoining the Wentworth barn. Lilianna crept from her hiding place behind the thief’s wagon and dashed across the pathway toward the barn. If she were caught, she’d be beaten or worse. Her brother would be furious she’d attempted such idiocy, but she dared not turn back. She yanked open the barn door, freezing for a moment when the creaking sounded to her like thunder in the silent night. She looked around. No one came for her with guns ready to kill. She stole inside, pausing until her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Restless horses shifted, moving and snorting within their stalls, the air rich with the sweet smell of hay. She surveyed the rows of stalls facing each other within the large one-room structure. Humming a comforting tune to calm her nerves, she began walking down the center aisle. Through the open windows, the moonlight danced across the minor puffs of dust her footsteps raised from the packed earth floors. She took her time, stopping at each stall to soothe the more excitable horses with a pat and a word or two.

The barn was clean and well kept. At least this thief cared for the horses he stole. At the end stall, she found what she’d been seeking. She chirruped “Shavo” and heard an answering whinny. The big bay swung his head over the half-door, his ears pricked forward. Her brother would be so happy when she brought his horse back. Smiling, Lilianna withdrew an apple from the pocket of her skirt and offered it. With a snort, he took the fruit in his teeth, his velvety lips tickling her skin.

She chuckled. “Greedy, aren’t you, sweet boy.” She opened the door and slipped inside the stall. Moonlight filtering through the open-air windows lit up his coat like a dark red flame. He tossed his head, the black mane swirling in the small enclosure.

“Showing off, Shavo? Yes, you are a beauty.” She quickly ran her hands over his barrel and withers. His groomed coat and legs showed no sign of ill use. The man, Wentworth, was lucky. She’d not be responsible for her brother’s actions should his horse be harmed. She slipped the rope she’d brought around the horse’s neck and fashioned a loop over his nose.

“I’ll check on the horses. They sound restless tonight.” At the man’s deep voice, Lilianna’s heart raced in a staccato beat.

A figure loomed in the entrance to the barn. Moonlight framed the man, casting frightening shadows across the hay-strewn dirt floor.

Akòosh! Fear flooded through her. Surely she would be found out. Lilianna drew back into the shadow of the stall and hid behind the bay. Hopefully, the Gadjo wouldn’t conceive the possibility that a Roma would dare to set foot on his property. Her pulse raced and her heart pounded, drowning out her shaky breaths.

I was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, nestled in the beautiful Treasure Valley. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else. We have four distinct seasons, mountains, lakes and deserts.

My sisters and I were close growing up and we all still live in Boise. We keep in constant contact and that family-style love comes out in all my books. I treasure my son and daughter-in-law and couldn’t be prouder of them.

I write contemporary romance because I believe in happy endings, whether with a first-time love or a second chance love. An inveterate reader and moviegoer, I like romantic comedies, drama, and adventure themes.

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