Quote the Endling

 
by Velda Brotherton

Sometimes misconceptions of the past can twist perceptions of love, greed, and deception.

Unusual excitement kicks off in the small Ozark town of Cedarton when Deputy Dallas Starr spots a woman who could be his dead wife’s twin, tiger thieves strike at the animal farm, and a misplaced mouthy Texas Ranger shows up afoot in the wilderness while gunshots ring out nearby. To further distress lawmen and residents, the rumor has it that someone is opening a pub downtown in spite of being in a dry county.

These small upheavals are forgotten when Loren, the newspaper owner’s lover, is found murdered. She turns out to be a woman who was closely tied to Dal’s dead wife, Leanne. Stranger occurrences follow that drag Dal back to Dallas to investigate the murder. There he learns the truth about his wife’s death and how it threatens the citizens of Cedarton. All the while, Jessie uses her reporter instincts to get to the bottom of what is happening in her town, only to get caught up in more than she may be able handle. Will Dal be able to find all the clues before the same thing that happened to his wife happens to Jessie too?

Published:
Publisher: Radiance
Genres:
Romance, Thriller

About the Author

Velda Brotherton

Velda Brotherton enjoyed a long and accomplished career in historical writing, both fiction and nonfiction. Her love of the West and its stories drove the publication of more than twenty-five books across three decades.

Before turning to fiction, she worked as a journalist in Northwest Arkansas, a role that shaped her sharp eye for detail and deep respect for real places and real people. In 1988, she co-founded the Northwest Arkansas Writers Workshop with her friend and writing partner, the legendary Dusty Richards. The group became a cornerstone for regional writers, and Velda spent decades mentoring, teaching, and developing new talent.

Her own writing career crossed genres and publishers. She built early success as a New York–published romance author, then expanded into romantic suspense, upmarket fiction, hard-edged Westerns, and regional nonfiction that reflected her reporter’s instincts. No matter the category, her work carried the same trademarks: grit, heart, and a devotion to the history of the American West.

Velda passed away in 2023, leaving behind a diverse body of work, a loyal readership, and generations of writers whose careers she shaped. Her influence endures in the stories she told and the voices she helped bring into the world.

Other Books By Velda Brotherton

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