The Double Cross (The Spanish Brand Series Book 1)

The Double Cross (The Spanish Brand Series Book 1)

The year is 1780, and Marco Mondragon is a brand inspector in the royal Spanish colony of New Mexico. A widower and rancher, Marco lives on the edge of Comancheria, the domain of the fierce Comanche. Each autumn, he takes cattle and wool, and his district's records of livestock transactions to the governor in Santa Fe. he is dedicated, conscientious and lonely. This year, he is looking for a little dog to keep his feet warm through cold winter nights. He finds a yellow dog but also meets a young, blue-eyed beauty named Paloma Vega. Paloma is under the thumb of relatives who might have stolen a brand belonging to Paloma's parents, dead in a Comanche raid. As a brand inspector, Marco has every right to be suspicious of brand thieves. If Marco has anything to do with it, Paloma's fortunes are about to change. Meanwhile, Marco has other challenges to contend with. An elderly ranchero named Joaquin Munoz has set in motion events that involve the ever-dangerous Comanches and threaten the uneasy peace of Marco's jurisdiction. Set against the mountains and high plains of northeastern New Mexico during the decline of Spanish power in the New World, The Double Cross is a story of loss and love regained, at a time when honor went hand in glove with bravery, and danger was never far away. Carla Kelly's vivid storytelling plunges the reader into a tense, hypnotic tale of love and courage in The Double Cross . A dangerous land filled with memorable characters springs to life and stays with you long after the final paragraphs." -- --Diane Farr, bestselling author, Regency Romance and Young Adult fiction Engaging and highly entertaining, The Double Cross is Carla Kelly at her best. I can't wait for the next book in what promises to be an amazing series. -- --Carla Neggers, New York Times bestselling author of Saint's Gate Engaging and highly entertaining, The Double Cross is Carla Kelly at her best. I can't wait for the next book in what promises to be an amazing series. -- --Carla Neggers, New York Times bestselling author of Saint's Gate The year is 1780, and Marco Mondragon is a brand inspector in the royal Spanish colony of New Mexico. A widower and rancher, Marco lives on the edge of Comancheria, the domain of the fierce Comanche. Each autumn, he takes cattle and wool, and his district's records of livestock transactions to the governor in Santa Fe. He is dedicated, conscientious and lonely. This year, he is looking for a little dog to keep his feet warm through cold winter nights. He finds a yellow dog but also meets a young, blue-eyed beauty named Paloma Vega. Paloma is under the thumb of relatives who might have stolen a brand belonging to Paloma's parents, dead in a Comanche raid. As a brand inspector, Marco has every right to be suspicious of brand thieves. If Marco has anything to do with it, Paloma's fortunes are about to change. Meanwhile, Marco has other challenges to contend with. An elderly ranchero named Joaquin Munoz has set in motion events that involve the ever-dangerous Comanches and threaten the uneasy peace of Marco's jurisdiction. Set against the mountains and high plains of northeastern New Mexico during the decline of Spanish power in the New World, The Double Cross is a story of loss and love regained, at a time when honor went hand in glove with bravery, and danger was never far away. A well-known veteran of romance writing, Carla Kelly is the author of thirty-five novels, numerous short stories, and four non-fiction works. She has been writing for years. Her first novel was a three-sentence, typed mystery titled, "The Old Mill," written when she was six years old. Her novels are considerably longer now. Carla is the recipient of two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America for Best Regency of the Year; two Spur Awards from Western Writers of America for Best Short Fiction; and two Whitney Awards, one for Best Romance, 2011, and another for Best Historical Fiction, 2012. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times. Carla enjoys writing historical fiction, which she sees as a byproduct of her study of history. In addition to her works centered on the American West, she has written many books featuring the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Carla and Martin Kelly live in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Look her up on carlakellyauthor.com.