Sweet Inspiration

By Linda Carroll-Bradd

Dependable Cadence Wills yearns for excitement. The owner of a yarn business, she is pulled in every direction by her demanding family. Haunting dulcimer notes draw her to a practice session where she spies an intriguing stranger.

Musician Rafe Frasco is a rover, bouncing between musical competitions. Interest ignites at his first glance at a woman enthralled by his music, who he learns has a heart big enough to encompass everyone within her reach.

A fantastic opportunity for Rafe presents Cadence with a dilemma—is she strong enough to negotiate the business deal that will take him away…maybe forever?

• Language: Unknown
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Jun 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781509237456

Linda Carroll-Bradd

After years spent in the administrative support field, Linda decided to exercise another part of her brain and write a novel. She loved reading romance and figured that's what she'd write. Easier said than done. After years of workshops and RWA chapter meetings, she finally saw her manuscripts place in contests. Twelve years after her first writing class, she sold a confession story. From that point on, she couldn't be stopped and is always pleased when her sweet contemporary and historical stories find homes. With interests as widespread as baking, crocheting, watching dog agility matches, and reading thrillers by Swedish authors, Linda is the mother to 4 adult children and grandmother to 2 granddaughters. She currently lives in the southern California mountains with her husband of almost 34 years and their two spoiled dogs.

Book preview

How did the man make a crisp, white tailored shirt and black jeans look like evening wear? Sure, I’d like that. She slipped her hand around his biceps and almost jumped when he tucked it against his ribs. Tingles ran up her arm.

For just a moment, she worried about what impression their entrance would make. Then a spark of rebellion ignited deep inside. How many times in life did a mysterious stranger appear? She tossed her head and stepped through the archway. But you don’t need to worry—everyone here is real friendly. In no time, you’ll be pulled into a conversation about instruments or songs.

Is that what you’ll be discussing? Rafe leaned close and spoke in a low, rumbling tone.

Warm breath tickled her neck, and the scent of herbs mixed with musk teased her nostrils. Her steps faltered, and her hip bumped a chair. He wanted to stick close?

Careful. His arm slipped around her waist, supporting her back. Must be an uneven spot on the floor.

At the intimate gesture, she stiffened. What was wrong with her? Trustworthy Cadence didn’t jump without thinking through decisions. All she knew about this man was that he was a competitor in the festival. And that his dulcimer playing melted her heart. Through her clothes, she felt the strength of firm muscles in his lean frame. Intriguing, but he was still a stranger in town…and a musician.

Praise for Linda Carroll-Bradd

About ON WITH THE SHOW

Who doesn't yearn for a second chance with the one that got away? This is a lovely reunion story with a great cast of characters. A great read for getting that warm and tingly feeling as winter closes in.

~Brenda H.

~*~

About TEN FANTASY WISHES

...definitely lives up to its title even though it's a short story. Linda Carroll-Bradd brings out an average woman just trying to make ends meet and learn to live on her own and introduces her to a man who just wants to win her love forever. I loved it, just wished it were a little longer.

~4 Angels, Lena at Fallen Angel Reviews

~*~

LONE STAR ANGEL is a short but very satisfying historical fiction read. Linda Carroll-Bradd's writing allowed me to easily visualize the story unfolding, and even provided a few laughs. She has a unique way of expressing her characters' feelings giving enough description to allow us to understand what is going on but also leaving something for the reader's imagination, which is wonderful for someone who enjoys a clean read.

~5 stars by Brenda C.

of Readers’ Favorite Reviews

Sweet Inspiration

by

Linda Carroll-Bradd

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Sweet Inspiration

COPYRIGHT © 2021 by Linda Carroll-Bradd

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Diana Carlile

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Edition, 2021

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-3745-6

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

To the adventurer in us all

Acknowledgments

The Ozark Folk Center in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is a real state park. I used it for the basic layout of the shops, but all of the characters in the story are of my own creation.

I thank my friends Deloris Lynders and Sheila King for the fun weekend we spent researching the site and plotting the stories.

Chapter One

Thanks, sis. What would I do if you weren’t so reliable?

Reliable, yech. Glad her expression wouldn’t be seen, Cadence Wills grimaced at her younger sister’s innuendo. How many times in her life had she heard those exact words? Too many to count. But what was a middle child to do? She stiffened and looked through the window at the cloudless sky. Sure, no problem. Bye, Espe. Heat burned her cheeks, and she tapped the disconnect button on her phone’s headset before setting it on a nearby table.

Shifting on her stool, she faced the floor loom in the weaving shop. Thumps of the foot pedal and the resulting thuds of the changing harnesses soothed her irritation. Running her fingers over the nubby yarns of the loom threads connected her with her favorite activity. Weaving—the steady rhythm of the pedal, the whispered swish of the shuttle running between taut yarn strands, the beater’s pull tightening the new row on the warp—normally provided a calm attitude.

Just once couldn’t another family member plan the monthly dinner get-together?

Thump-thump.

Just once couldn’t either of her sisters figure out a theme and coordinate the menu?

Thump-thump.

Just once couldn’t her extended family allow her to work through a single morning without making a request that ate into her free time?

Thump-thump.

This morning, repetitive motions meant to calm her took longer to work their magic. With a sigh, she glanced down at her pendant watch. Fifteen minutes