Fire on the Plains — Kate Wingo

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Benjamin Strong, a rugged Union veteran who is still haunted by those four years of horrific bloodshed, weds Lydia McCabe, a headstrong southern widow. No sooner are their marital vows exchanged than Ben discovers that his new wife still holds a torch for her first husband. The damning discovery instantly sours their relationship, and is the reason why the bride and groom's marriage remains unconsummated.

As the newlyweds embark on an arduous overland journey to Texas to claim Lydia's inheritance â€" a ten-thousand acre cattle ranch â€" the trip quickly turns perilous when they are first accosted by the infamous James Gang; and must later fight off a fierce band of Comanche Indians. Eventually, Ben and Lydia's tumultuous disputes give way to an unfettered desire. And that, in turn, incites the first fragile stirrings of love. But this new love is soon put to the ultimate test when Ben and Lydia become embroiled with a treacherous southern renegade intent on smuggling the lost Confederate treasury into Mexico.

A boldly sensual marriage-of-convenience story, Fire on the Plains is full of breathtaking adventure, vibrant historical detail and richly-drawn, unforgettable characters; and is the second book in a multi-generational family saga that spans the breadth of the untamed western frontier.

About the Writer: Kate Wingo is the pseudonym of a two-time Golden Heart finalist. Born in Washington D.C., she graduated from George Mason University with a degree in art history. Although Kate began her writing career in the romance genre, she switched gears several years ago, making the leap to thrillers. Having completed an esoteric thriller series for Penguin UK and previously Berkley Publishing under the pen name C.M. Palov, she has now happily returned to her romance roots (and her unabashed love of history). Kate lives and writes from her home in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.