Destiny's Secrets, Book 12 in Pike's Run series

          Andrew and Ben Lonnigan, brothers and private investigators, have accepted an important case—to reunite the long-lost DuBois daughters with their rightful inheritance. Abducted from their childhood home in New Orleans when they were three and two-years-old, Jo and Charlotte were adopted by separate families.

          Andrew heads north to find Josephine Tatum—a pants-wearing, spitfire veterinarian who challenges his mind and captures his heart. Ben travels south to find Charlotte Ryan—the financial mind behind her father’s ranch, with a sweet disposition and, unfortunately, a fiancé.

          As the sisters journey toward destiny, Charlotte must guard her heart against Ben, a man too daring to ever return her love. And Andrew must hide his feelings from Jo, a woman determined to carve her own path. While the foursome battle feelings, they must also war with a villain from the sisters’ past, one with the will and the means to destroy everything the DuBois daughters hold dear.

Wild Women Authors is delighted to welcome back Kara O'Neal who is celebrating the release of Destiny's Secrets, the latest in her Pike's Run series. With Kara is Ben Lonnigan. We'll start with him.

Where are you from? Texas. Born and bred.

Tell us a bit about Destiny’s Secrets. My twin brother and I own a private investigator’s business, and we were hired to find the DuBois sisters. They went missing seventeen years ago when they were 3 and 2 years old. On that journey, I fell in love with Charlotte, and my brother fell for her older sister, Josephine.

What did you think the first time you saw Charlotte Ryan? That she was beautiful and the most skittish and shy person I’d ever met.

What was your second thought? She was smart. Really smart.

Did you feel it was love at first sight? No.

What do you like most about her? She has more courage than she knows. She has these fears that can cause panic attacks, but she doesn’t let them stop her anymore. She confronts it all and does it with a smile on her face.

How would you describe Charlotte? Affectionate, caring, goodhearted. She’s a little too trusting, but that’s why she’s got me.

How would she describe you? Mischievous and a trouble-maker. I think she’d also say that I’m dependable.

What made you choose being a private investigator for a career? I like figuring out puzzles. I also enjoy tracking and finding things that are hard to find.

What is your biggest fear? Losing the people I love.

How do you relax? I spend time with Charlotte, and if she doesn’t mind, I usually bring along a bottle of whiskey.

Who is your favorite fictional character? I don’t read. I can’t sit still for that long. I’m sure Charlotte would appreciate it if I could relax more often, but I usually have to have something to do.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? My older brother told me once that there are no perfect people in this world. Only ones with perfect intentions.

Thanks, Ben. We appreciate your time. Now we'd like to chat with Kara.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Well, there are too many books to list them all here, but I must mention Nancy Drew, Little House, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables. I adored stories about girls who took control of their lives, but still loved and allowed themselves to be loved in return. As an adult, Jane Austen is a new love. I’ll never match her ability, but she is inspiring.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Nothing from my private life helped shape this story. However, I have a loving family, and I draw on our interactions to create all my characters.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? My original publisher went out of business, but my very first editor had started her own company, and I submitted to her. Thankfully, she was glad to have me! I am now with Supernova Indie Publishing, and I am loving it!

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Goodness. Here we go: The Velvet Hours; All God’s Dangers: The Life of Nate Shaw; The White Princess; Infidel; Katherine; If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t); and many more!

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I hope Mr. Pierce’s Hero – book 12 in the Pike’s Run Series – will be out before the summer.

To purchase Destiny’s Secrets, go to: https://amzn.to/2RJmwB4

Here's an excerpt from Destiny's Secrets:

     The moonlight shining through the window above the sink bathed the dark room in a silver glow. He wished he’d brought a lantern in order to better see her face. Quiet settled around them, and he cleared his throat. “Did…Did you have a good time?”

     “Yes.” She leaned against the counter, putting several feet of space between them.

     “You weren’t scared?”

     “I was.”

     His mouth tipped up at the corners. “But you went anyway?”

     “Yes.”

     He tried to imagine her sitting in a saloon and couldn’t wrap his mind around it. “What’d you do?”

     She pushed her hands behind her back. “Played cards.”

     “Poker?”

     “Yes. The owner found us spots, and we used some of Jo’s money. I only played two hands because I wasn’t comfortable betting.” She waited a beat. “That’s not a game someone should learn while using someone else’s coins.”

     He had no reply and ached to move closer to her. He wished he could gather her in his arms. The last several hours had been pure torture, and his pulse raced at finally being in the same room with her.

     “I also drank some whiskey.”

     Her statement had him gaping. “Really?”

     She didn’t expand and asked a question of her own. “Is this what you wanted to speak to me about?”

     “No, I…” How in the hell did he begin? Why bring this up when she so obviously wanted to avoid it? But he couldn’t handle a chasm in their friendship. Even though he might not see her after Tuesday, he had to fix the tension between them.

     “I’m sorry for what I did,” she blurted. “I shouldn’t have done it, especially without asking for permission.”

     Permission? Her sweetness punched him in the gut. Before he could respond, she went on. “I have feelings for you, Ben. Strong ones. I didn’t want you to know because I’m very aware I’m not a lady you’d ever be interested in, but I don’t want to hide my regard anymore.” She pushed away from the counter. “I love you.”

     His breath caught at her honesty. Her courage.

     “You’re probably confused because I was engaged only a short time ago, but…” She shook her head. “I didn’t love him. Not like I should have. I agreed to marry him to give my family some happiness after the death of my mother.”

     Her words came with authority, shocking him into further silence.

     “You came into my life, and you dazzled me. You’re so kind,” she said with reverence. “So caring. So…handsome. I’m glad I met you. I don’t regret losing my heart to you, but it’s going to take some work to get it back, and I need your help with that.”

     What did she want of him?

     “I need space. Distance.” She took a moment. “I’d appreciate it if we just said goodbye now.”

Already? Rebellion reared its head like a fire-breathing dragon.

     When she said no more, he realized she waited for his agreement. How could he give her what she wanted? But why would he hesitate? Her request should be easy to grant. He understood it. Respected it.

     “Ben?” she prodded.

     “Yes,” he rasped.

     “Yes? You’ll honor what I’m asking?”

     The hopeful, grateful note in her tone was like a knife to his heart. “Of course.”

     Even in the darkness, he easily detected the slump of her shoulders. “Thank you.”

     He couldn’t respond. It was impossible.

     She shuffled forward a few steps, and he sensed her looking at him expectantly.

     “So,” he uttered. “This is goodbye, then.”

     “Yes.”

     He heard her heartache, the tears she tried hard to hold back. He didn’t want this. He couldn’t lose her already.

     “Goodbye,” she said softly, her voice breaking.

     He swallowed. “Goodbye.”

     One second more, then she swept past him, and he quaked with the force it took to keep from yanking her into his arms. He didn’t turn as she walked out of his life.

Here's more about Kara O'Neal:

     Born and raised in Texas, the state had to be the setting for my first series. From the food to the fun, like floating the rivers, it is the fire in my blood that inspires me. My family and friends take center stage in my books. My sisters and best friends are my heroines, and my husband created my favorite hero. Love and family are the point of my stories, and I seek to entertain, relieve stress, and inspire people. Books can take one on a journey that one can relive over and over. I am extremely grateful to those authors who did that very thing for me. I learned and I fell in love with their words and characters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

To learn more about Kara O'Neal, go to:

Website: www.karaoneal.com.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karaoneal7/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kara-ONeal/e/B00FL19TH8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1465007993&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kara+o'neal?_requestid=845025

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278350.Kara_O_Neal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor