Amber Carlton
Escape into the past.
Discover the future of romance.
Escape into the past.
Discover the future of romance.
Having lost their lust for life and holding secrets, Cutter Raines and Billy Marlow live for their mission as spies for Lincoln. Posing as bounty hunters in the divided state of Kentucky, they value only their friendship and trust no one. Jessie McGee has a secret of her own. She runs a way station for the underground railroad. When friends are abducted, Jessie wants to hire the bounty hunters to track her “property.”
Jessie offers a bargain they can’t refuse—sex in exchange for their skills. The problem is sex with a beautiful, feisty woman just might pull them back into life and give them something to lose. For men like Raines and Billy, that’s more dangerous than the hazards of war. And for Jessie, the danger lies in trusting men who stand against everything she believes in.
RT Book Reviews
"RT Book Reviews
This Civil War novel is laced with humor, packed with action and loaded with sex of the menage variety. Carlton's characters make the pages come alive and her plotting is impeccable.
Jessie McGee finds her home in a shambles and her father dead. Masquerading as a boy, she heads out with her younger brother to find the workers that disappeared from her farm, where she runs a stop for the Underground Railroad.
Cutter Raines and Billy Marlow are spies for Lincoln. Posing as bounty hunters, they run into Jessie and soon unmask her disguise. Using sex as currency, she hires them to retrieve her property. Unbeknownst to her, their destination is the same; they plan to use her as bait to retrieve possessions of their own. They help her restore her farm and run her way station, but what will happen when she learns of their deception?
Donna M. Brown
"5 Stars: "This is erotic romance taken to an all time high! During the Confederate war, the South was a battlefield for the passionate. This story manages to combine every element of the Confederate war into an exciting love story entwined in a web of lies, secrets, and happy ever after. I laughed, cried and celebrated every achievement with these characters. Jessie is a wonderful character. Strong, smart but vulnerable at times- she was very real and someone I would have been proud to call a friend. Cutter Raines and Billy Marlow will blow your mind! These two have such depth and so many layers to their characters that I found myself falling in love with them more and more throughout. Martin is twelve but I found him charming in his boyish ways. There were other characters, so many in fact I couldn't begin to name them all, but they made this story come to life. The sexual dynamics started as a bargain and ended up becoming the sweetest reward. Hot, heavy and sometimes a little kinky but always remained secondary to the storyline. By far, one of the best reads of the year! Add Kentucky Woman to your Christmas list, you won't be disappointed!" --Stefani Clayton, Just Erotic Romance"
"5 Stars: "Amber Carlton is a brilliant writer. She has captured a bit of history in her book Kentucky Woman. The plot is fascinating. I could not put this book down. Carlton successfully weaves the threads of history with drama, humor, and romance to create a tapestry sure to please fans of romantica. The characters are fascinating and come to life on the pages. The reader should be aware that this book contains m/f/m scenes. Don't miss this one." -- Anne Boling, Review Your Book"
"4 CHERRIES: "In this Civil War-Era historical, three spirited individuals find love and healing with each other amid danger and betrayal. This was a highly erotic and fascinating story about three people each with their own secrets who learn to love and trust one another. The author did a wonderful job of giving these characters each a distinct personality and motivation for pursuing this unconventional relationship. I enjoyed each new revelation about these fascinating characters and there is definitely more to each of them than what meets the eye. Although at first I had my doubts about the threesome and whether or not I could buy their relationship considering their initial bargain, I really enjoyed watching as it developed and became believable. In addition to the fascinating relationship, there is also an intricate plot involving murder, betrayal, and the slave trade. Each new revelation added to the story and helped keep the story interesting. There were a few twists that I never saw coming, but that really enhanced the story. It was obvious that the author did some research into the time period and the area in which the story is set. I enjoyed the little historical names and facts interspersed throughout the story. They gave the story an authentic feel and helped to make the setting and time period believable. Overall, Kentucky Woman is a fascinating erotic historical that I found very entertaining." -- Lilac, Whipped Cream Reviews"
Heart pounding and breathless, she swept open the door. She had no idea what to expect, but whatever happened, she knew it would be a new experience. Part of her looked forward to it. The other part felt pure terror.
Billy burst into the room and swept her up in his arms, swinging her around in a circle. He plunged his face into her neck and growled like a mountain lion. A curious fit of giggles burst from her mouth, shocking her. She’d never giggled in her entire life, not even when her father had tickled her as a child. Tickling annoyed her, and her father had received one or two kicks for trying to tickle her into a good mood. He learned fast that when Jessie Travers got into a bad mood, she stayed there until she was ready to come out.
“Oh, Jessie, I waited and waited, and you never came,” Billy crooned into her neck.
“I was just on—”
“And you smell heavenly. What is that glorious aroma?”
“Just me.”
“Just Me? Is that a new French perfume? It’s perfect for you.”
He dipped her downward, locked his lips on her throat and shook his head like a big cat with prey, growling and purring. She threw back her head and laughed and, from her upside-down vantage point, saw a very stoic Cutter Raines plodding over the threshold, holding his book.
Billy continued to prattle, dropping her feet to the ground and holding her at arm’s length. “And you look positively ravishing in that dress. Pink suits you. Doesn’t it, Cutter?” He lifted her arm above her head and twirled her around, as though they danced at a ball.
Raines grunted and tossed his book down on the table, throwing himself into a chair. He pulled off his hat and slammed it down. “The bastard woke me up. Had just drifted off.”
Billy reached out and ruffled the dark mat of hair on top of Raines’ head, making it stick up in black spikes. Raines swatted his hand away and raked his hands through the strands.
“Well, we had a rendezvous, Cutter. Wouldn’t want to miss the charming Mrs. McGee in this beautiful dress, now, would you?”
“No, wouldn’t want that.” Raines pulled the book toward him and flipped it open to a page. “You two play house or whatever it is you plan to do. If I doze off, leave me the fuck alone.”
Billy reached for his hair again, and Raines jerked away.
“Christ, Billy, lay off!”
Billy leaned down and whispered loudly in her ear. “He gets a might touchy when he’s tired. He’s worse than a child. But that doesn’t have to interfere with our fun. May I have this dance, Mrs. McGee?” He bowed, sweeping his arm across his waist and bending his leg.
Jessie laughed, spread out her dress, and curtsied. Billy began to hum and pulled her into his arms. He sang a rather complicated tune, complete with sweeping crescendos and low soft melodies, filling in words he didn’t remember with la-das and da-dums, guiding her around the room with a skill she’d never seen in any of the local men. He twirled her, spun her, moved her from corner to corner and around the table. She found herself caught in his enthusiasm and simply moved with him, enjoying his fluid grace. When he reached the end of his tune, he twirled her twice, making her dizzy, then gave her a little nudge. She dropped straight into Raines’ lap, draping across him like a rag doll.
He grunted, and the chair tilted backwards. His arms wrapped around her as he struggled to control his balance. Her head fell against his shoulder when he pushed the chair upright, and the legs thumped against the floor. He gave Billy a scathing look.
Billy winked. “You weren’t sleeping yet, Cutter. Just smell her.” He nodded at Jessie.
Playing along, Jessie swept the hair away from her neck and tilted her head. Raines leaned forward and sniffed tentatively.
