Wind In the Wires

Inspirational Books Wind in the Wires Excerpt:

He reached into his pocket and handed her a slip of paper.
Keep it, Reba was tempted to scream. She wanted nothing to do with her mother. No matter what, she wouldn’t change her mind. She refused to take a slow boat to anywhere. Or a snail’s pace Model T car trip to the desert. She gaped at the folded note, not much larger than a man’s thumb, as though torn from a scratch pad. Whatever the words, they could not begin to make up for years of silence. Of abandonment.
Why bother? Why deepen the wound?

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COWGIRL LIT

This inspirational books novel considered a Cowgirl Lit adventure set in 1991. Reba Cahill loves ranching with Grandma Pearl in north central Idaho. But there’s a lot of work and only two of them. Can she find a man worthy of her attentions and strong enough to help her run the ranch? She finds few prospects in the small town of Road’s End.

But Reba misses something else: her mother. Deserted by her at three-years-old and never knowing her dad, she feels a sense of longing and loss. And bitterness.

When quirky Road’s End citizen Maidie Fortress dies, Uncle Seth presents Reba Cahill with an expensive piece of jewelry that turns Reba’s world upside down. Then Seth thrusts her into a journey that exposes dark family secrets and two cold case murders.

The evidence leads her down unexpected paths and towards unsuspected admirers. Will the truth also ruin all hope for romance?

Excerpt #2

Reba snickered as she peered into her bedroom mirror at the tangle of pine needles and cobwebs in her auburn hair. Bloody dung streaked her face. No wonder you’re still single at age twenty-five. 
Reba knocked and scooted the guest room door open. Ginny had changed into a brown suede skirt with brown velvet blazer and brown heels with crisscross straps. “The hug stained my black. This will have to do.” She looked Reba over and pulled button pearl earrings, a single-strand pearl necklace and a black cream scarf from her suitcase. “Simple and classy. You’ll look great. And it’s nothing garish, so don’t fuss at me.”
Reba smiled. “I wouldn’t think of it. Put them on. Dress me up like a doll, just like you used to.”
Ginny snapped the necklace and earrings on and draped the scarf straight without a tie. Reba touched her ears and the pearls. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Ginny admired her touches with a twirl around her. “You’re good Let’s go!”
Reba picked her guitar case as she and Ginny hiked the half-mile to the barn. “You going to sing?”
“Grandma insisted. I often sang for Maidie when she had one of her spells. Seemed to calm her down. Do you ever get a chance to play your harp?”
“Not really. I’ve got it in storage. Takes up too much room in our apartment. Seth must feel so alone without Maidie, after all these years taking care of her. Such dedication for his special needs niece.”
“Grandma and I will look in on him as often as we can. He’s going to speak at the service and he’s real nervous. I promised to provide him support.”
“We still have the toys Seth carved for me and my brothers back when we lived in Road’s End.”
“Most everyone in town has something Seth made for them.” They passed Seth Stroud’s Ford Model T. and assorted pickups, SUVs, and motorcycles cluttered around the Cahill Ranch pasture. Reba pushed into the barn and gasped.

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About the Author

Janet Chester Bly is the widow of award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Together they authored and co-authored 120 inspirational fiction and nonfiction books for adults, teens, and kids (8-12 years old). Her books include Awakening Your Sense of Wonder, Managing Your Restless Search, and Grace Spilling Over/True Stories of God’s Tender Mercies.

Wind in the Wires is Janet’s first solo adult novel, a contemporary western mystery, a road adventure with a touch of romance. Includes Reader’s Guide for discussion. She and her three sons finished Stephen’s last novel for him, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, a Selah Award Finalist. The family’s story is told on her website blog, including this interview: https://www.blybooks.com/2016/11/author-interview/

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Comments from readers of this inspirational books novel:

“I love your voice! I love the setting … Wind in the Wires is a great story!” Inspirational Books Author Rachel Hauck, The Wedding Dress, The Royal Wedding Series

“Bly navigates this story Wind in the Wires with grace and sweetness, never pulling punches on how hard life can be, but with a charm I found surprisingly reminiscent of what I loved most in her husband Stephen Bly’s stories. I can’t wait for Book 2!” Inspirational Books Author Shannon McNear, The Most Eligible Bachelor Collection, The Pioneer Christmas Collection

“Wind in the Wires is a story with lots of heart about characters who mattered to me. I really loved the sense of kinship and community.” Inspirational Books Author Janalyn Voigt, DawnSinger, Wayfarer

“Bly’s likeable characters drew me in, the unique story line of Wind in the Wires enchanted me, and the fast pace action kept me glued.” Author Sandy Sieber, The Flying Banana & Other Pennsylvania Transportation

“Wind in the Wires kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more when it was finished. It was exciting, enlightening, and just a delightful and inspirational read.” Jan Grueter

LOVED THE INSPIRATIONAL ENDING

“The ending almost took my breath away … exciting, inspiring, and captivating …” Trinity Rose

“…twists and turns I never expected … favorite part of Wind in the Wires is how Bly paints her setting. I can feel the hot desert wind and see the painted desert floor.” A. E. Arndt

“…a wonderful job of painting word pictures of the various settings … I’m ready to head out west to visit the Cahill and Runcie Ranches right now.” Grandaddy A, Amazon Reviewer

“Really appreciate all the little details you expound on. Makes me feel like I can see every scene. Captures by the first sentence … could not have guessed how this would end … all the sought after pieces of intrigue, laughter, sadness, secrets that need to be told and all the consequences that come with them.” Connie Sue Larson

“I thought I might have to miss out on my slice of western life when Stephen passed away, but it is clear that the legacy lives on.” Andi

“This book prompted so many reflections and made me realize how easy it is to just assume about people and their choices without knowing what circumstances have led them to where they are … I am so excited to see what Reba learns next …” Dawn L. Ailor

***** 5-star full review by Ruthie Jones at her Reading By Moonlight blog. See it here: 5-STAR REVIEW

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Check out these Blogs:

Interview with Reba Mae Cahill, heroine of The Trails of Reba Cahill Series, on Shannon Taylor Vannator blog: REBA CAHILL INTERVIEW

Recipes by characters, Reba Cahill and Pearl Cahill, at Buzzing About Books blog: REBA & PEARL CAHILL RECIPES

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Janet Chester Bly
Photo by Ridinger’s, Lewiston ID

Janet Chester Bly is the widow of award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Together–his, hers, theirs–they authored and co-authored over 120 fiction and nonfiction books. She and her three sons finished Stephen’s last novel for him, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, a Selah Award Finalist. The family’s story is told here: https://www.blybooks.com/category/finishing-dads-novel/.

Wind in the Wires is Janet’s first solo adult novel, a contemporary western mystery, a road adventure with a touch of romance. It’s Cowgirl Lit.

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Now Available!

~~ Down Squash Blossom Road, Book 2, Trails of Reba Cahill Series DOWN SQUASH BLOSSOM ROAD

~~ Beneath a Camperdown Elm, Book 3, Trails of Reba Cahill Series BENEATH A CAMPERDOWN ELM

NOTE: Beneath a Camperdown Elm, Book 3, received the AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Association) Golden Scroll Award, 2020 Best Western Novel, First Place Winner.