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STARGAZER
By
Jewel Adams
Romance Time Travel
Determined to be the Chicago Sun's top foreign
reporter, Cassandra Malone is on her way to Riyadh. Cassie's adventure turns
ugly when a group of terrorist highjack the jet. Gunfire fills the plane and
bullets rip through the hull, Cassie's only thought is to survive the
explosion.
Captain Blaine Sterling's last voyage on the Stargazer
is more profitable than he ever imagined when the ocean depths surrender a
beautiful woman! Once given the gift, Blaine refuses to let death take the
girl. The first time their gazes touch they both know their future is
sealed.
Together they face an adventure in love that takes them
on a journey through the American wilderness of 1784. Cassie's modern
knowledge might protect Blaine’s thriving new settlement from the British
allies, but can Blaine protect Cassie from the uncivilized frontier and the
dangers lurking in every shadow.
Stargazer is a
story of love that thrives despite all the diversities thrown in its path.
Don't miss this touching story of Cassie and Blaine's shared adventure in
time.
ISBN: 978-1-935048-15-2 1-935048-15-5
Word Count: 67,035
EBook $6.49
Trade Paperback
$12.49 plus shipping.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT
STARGAZER
Falling Angels reviewer—Alma gives Stargazer 5 Angles…found this
book endearing and the plot was filled with many great characters. The
plot is filled with great descriptions of Baltimore and the countryside
that will make you smile with wonder. The adventures that Cassie and
Blaine have will have you holding your breath in wonder.
Love
Romance Reviews—Gina gives Stargazer 4 … Jewel Adams is a total do not
miss author. Her time travels truly do take the reader to another time and
place.
EXCERPT
...“What is it Mr. Brunson?”
“An object sir, can’t quite
make it out.”
Running to the bow, Blaine
took up the glass and scanned the rolling waves. “There, I’ve a fix on it.
What the…” Bringing the glass down, he stared at the small object bobbing up
and over the waves. He could only shake his head over what he felt positive
he saw.
“Lower the longboat! Mr.
Brunson, cut the mainsail and bring her around.” Never releasing his sight
on the object, Blaine swore violently as a large swell washed over the
silvery piece of flotsam.
Pulling off his boots and
shirt with the urgency taking hold of his stomach, he went up, balanced upon
the rail. He took a final sighting before pushing off, his clear dive
slipped into the water.
“Captain’s gone over, Mr.
Brunson!”
“Toss out the floats, Mr.
Whitney!”
“Aye sir!”
A deep dive, his strong legs
propelled him through the cool waters. Breaking the surface with a rush,
Blaine saw it. He also saw the clinging object slowly sink beneath the
surface.
“Hold on, damn it!”
Powerful, long reaching strokes drove him forward, but when he looked again
the silver piece was clean. Diving deep he refused to give up. Searching the
sightless water, he was finally forced to surface. Filling his lungs, he
went down again. Come on where are you?
The depth he went to drove
the pressure hard against his ears. Blaine shook his head to clear it…there!
He couldn’t go back for air. No, he needed to reach her now! As shocking as
it may be, the floating dark wisp of hair could only belong to a woman.
Barely reaching her, he wrapped his fingers into the vanishing black lace.
Kicking upward he pulled them both to the surface.
Gasping as he broke the
surface his arms never stopped pulling her up. Like a babe bursting from the
womb that didn’t want to release its precious treasure, he flung her out of
the sucking depths. Holding her upon his chest to keep her out of the water,
he pulled the dark wet blanket of hair away from her face. The pale beauty
made him suck in the air he forgot to take.
“Breathe! Damn you, I’ll not
lose what I’ve just found. Breathe!” Kicking with every ounce of strength he
possessed Blaine struggled to reach the ship. Bumping into the hull, he
gripped the ropes. “Come on men, get her up!”
No one said a word. The
frantic tone of his voice was enough to tell them what he feared. Over and
over, Blaine willed her to breathe. The battle he waged against death’s hold
could now be witnessed in her graying pallor.
Following her up, he landed
on the deck just as they laid her out. Death by drowning wasn’t a new
experience, but he refused to accept this one. “No! You will breathe, even
if I have to force you!”
Stunned by the vehemence
that drove their captain, the crew watched as he carried out his threat
against the poor limp form. More than one man crossed himself against the
deed. Blowing into her mouth, Blaine covered her cold, purple lips with his
warm ones. Taking a deep breath, he repeated the process, refusing to give
up. As he cradled her head against him, he could feel her body’s heat
against his own. The evidence drove him on until first, only a small gag,
and then a wrenching revulsion of water poured from her mouth. Holding her
so she could expel the ocean, “Breathe! Now take in some air, my lady! Damn
it, I said breathe!”
A great, vibrating gasp came
as if she heard his command and was unable to refuse his order.
“Again, that’s the way.” She
sucked in the air and Blaine’s joy drove the laughter from him.
Coughing…Ugh, the pain!
It hurt so…Stop! It hurts. I don’t want to listen anymore. But she
couldn’t refuse the demanding voice in her head.
“That’s it, slow now, take
it slow.”
One of the men placed a
blanket over the woman. “Is she…?”
“She’s fine.”
“You brought her back. You
did Captain.” The man’s breathless exclamation made Blaine cringe.
“She’d barely gone under
when I reached her. She was just afraid to breathe, fearing she’d find only
water to suck in. She’s a strong willed lady.” Seamen were a superstitious
lot and after what happened he couldn’t blame their fear filled looks. But
neither could he allow it to take hold. The elation over the life in his
arms became too important. Aware of the seizing shivers taking hold of the
woman, Blaine lifted her up in his arms.
“Ugh!” Her sharp moan drew
his brows together. There, where the blanket slipped down, a crimson blotch
began to spread.
“Mr. Blackwell, bring the
medical chest! Mr. Brunson you have the bridge!”
“Aye, Captain!”
Entering his cabin he gently
lowered her into the bed. The woman was caught in the throes of a chill,
there was only one thing to be done.
“The medical kit Captain.” A
big man, Blackwell didn’t need any help to see the problem.
“Thank you, please leave us,
Mr. Blackwell.”
“Aye, Captain, I should get
some hot water, it might help to warm her.”
“Yes, thank you.”
His man shut the door.
Blaine heard him dismiss the few curious men away. Blackwell wasn’t a man to
argue with.
Taking a steadying breath,
Blaine started to rid the girl of the wet clothes. As much as he wanted her
conscious, he said a silent plea she would not wake until he’d finished.
Discarding the heavy boots
and soaked skirt, he was surprised she held on as long as she did under
their weight. The balance of her lower garments were too few, in ways that
made him blush for the first time in his life. “A strange mermaid the sea
has given to this mortal man.” But there was nothing at all wrong with what
laid beneath those garments.
Carefully easing the jacket
and blouse away from her shoulders, his eyes burned in fierce awareness over
the injury. There was only one instrument that made that kind of a mark.
“A bullet?” Whistling out in
disbelief, Blaine quickly finished with the remaining clothes. The burst of
questions were stored away in light of her injury. “Ach, lady, I can hardly
wait to hear your story.”
Rubbing her briskly with a
drying cloth, he slipped one of his shirts over her. Blackwell would have to
extract the bullet, still lodged inside. “You better have nine lives,
madam.”
That willpower he’d spoken
of to his crew, better be there as well. Taking a bullet from a man wasn’t a
pleasant experience. The pain she’d suffer made his own body shake. Doing
all he could for her, he called Blackwell back in.
Blaine stood over him as he
inspected her wound.
“That’s a bullet hole!”
“I know.”
“Who would shoot a woman? It
will have to come out.” Their gazes met in troubled understanding. “Waiting
won’t help her any. God sir, I hope she doesn’t come around, you’d best hold
her just in case.”
Silently, Blaine begged the
lady’s forgiveness. Madam, believe me when I say—this is painful for both
of us.
There was only one way
Blaine could insure the woman didn’t move. Easing himself over her, he
pinned her lower body down with his powerful thighs. Holding the uninjured
arm above her head he braced his other across her chest. The searing
awareness of the soft curves beneath him proved an uncomfortable position in
which to find himself. Telling himself she was gravely ill and it must be
done, didn’t blind his traitorous male senses, to the full swells and dips
of every feminine curve and mound within his possession. More than a little
angry with himself, he issued his harsh command. “Get on with it!”
“Don’t let her move, if she
jumps she might make me drive it deeper.”
“Alright, I’ve got her.”
“I
hope so sir. She’s waking up.”
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