Kindle Edition Amazon Julie Lence Amazon Category:  Romance Publisher: Amazon Kindle ISBN-10:  B0064R6NVI Type: Fiction Copyright: June 16, 2011 Creel Weston is returning home with a medical degree and a wife. He knows what to do with the degree. His wife he isn't so sure about. The youngest son of a wealthy rancher, Creel Weston spent his childhood breaking wild mustangs and dreaming of becoming a doctor. Being blackmailed into marrying a spoiled socialite wasn't part of his plans, especially when he loved her. He'd take Racine back home with him and find a comfortable ground with her. Trouble was, she wasn't as spoiled as he'd been led to believe, and harbored scars that would take more than his doctoring skills to heal. Boston socialite Racine Somerfield had an unbearable childhood. Mama despised her, and although he said he loved her, Papa couldn't wait to get rid of her. Marrying Creel and accompanying him back to his home in Colorado Territory, Racine hoped to find some semblance of peace and happiness at Wooded Acres, and in Creel's arms. She didn't expect to add another wound to those she already carried.           Excerpt Chapter 1; Scene 1 Boston, May 1874 "Smile, darlin'," Creel Weston sneered in his wife’s ear as he waltzed her around the floor. "This farce is everything you wanted." She paled and stumbled. He smiled, tightened his arm at her waist and kept them moving. Two hundred guests had gathered in the ballroom to celebrate their marriage and watch them dance for the first time as man and wife. Not one of them suspected he wished he was back home at Wooded Acres instead of the Somerfield's opulent mansion partaking in this sham of a wedding. "I-I don't understand." Racine lifted her gaze. "Isn't the party to your liking?" “The party’s fine,” he said, glancing around the room. “But you are an entirely different matter.” He applied more pressure to the small of her back and felt her shiver. "Bat those pretty eyes in another man's direction and you'll regret this day ever happened." "Pardon?" She swallowed hard. "You're the devil's daughter, Racine. And now you're my problem." She stared at him, eyes wide and lips trembling. "It's time to get the rest of this nightmare over," he gritted as the music ended. Tucking her hand inside his elbow, he led her to a round table covered with a velvet cloth. A five tier cake iced in white and trimmed with peach roses awaited them. He went through the motions of cutting the delicacy and sharing the first piece with her then made a quick escape to the bar. "Give me a double shot of whiskey," he said to the bartender. "The best you've got." The man behind the counter nodded and poured the drink. Creel took the glass, turned and leaned his back against the bar. He spotted his bride across the room talking with her papa and his gaze narrowed dangerously. They were two of a kind, Racine and the 'good' Dr. Somerfield. Both felt no remorse in secretly plotting a man's demise and then delivering the devastating blow with a sugary-sweet smile. Sometimes he wished he'd bowed out of the fancy supper the Doctor had held for his interns last fall. If he had, he'd never have been smitten and then hogtied by the elegant and seemingly innocent Miss Somerfield. But he'd gone, and in less than an hour, his future had been altered. "Creel, my boy." Donald Somerfield wrapped his arm around Creel's shoulder. "I'd like you to meet my daughter, Racine." Creel allowed his mentor to lead him across the parlor's thick carpet to where two women stood by an upholstered chair, their gazes lowered as if they examined the fabric. Creel recognized the taller of the two women as Dr. Somerfield's wife. Dressed in a fine gown of blue silk, her auburn hair perfectly coiffed atop her head, Creel had seen Mrs. Somerfield at some of the social gatherings at Massachusetts General Hospital. The younger woman, dressed in a gown of emerald green, he didn't know. She had the same thick auburn hair and long eye lashes, which, lowered as they were, cast shadows across her delicate cheekbones. When he came within two feet of her, she looked up and he felt the air swoosh out of his lungs. A kick from one of the mustangs back home wouldn't have been this overpowering. Stunning. Beautiful. Breathtaking. Words didn't do her justice. A heart shaped face, the palest blue eyes and a shapely figure… If she didn't favor him with some of her dances, he just might walk straight into Boston's harbor and let the salty water swallow him whole. "Creel." Dr. Somerfield's voice gained his attention. "This is my daughter. Racine, this is Creel Weston, the best intern with whom I've had the pleasure of working." "Mr. Weston." She greeted him with a shy smile. "Miss Somerfield." Creel found his voice, took her hand and kissed the backs of her knuckles. Soft skin, a smile to brighten the bleakest winter day, his heart took a plummet. His pulse came to a standstill and the room spun. Damn, if she didn't agree to marry him, he would walk straight into that harbor. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," Creel murmured as the memory faded. He'd come to Boston seven years ago to get his medical degree, not a wife. Now he had both. He knew what to do with the degree. But his wife... He'd been dumbstruck and stupid in love that night, and still was. He'd thought she'd felt the same, but anymore, he didn't know what to think. With the way she'd stood at the altar, tears in her eyes as she'd spoken her vows, part of him felt she did love him. But then, she'd betrayed him, cut him to the bone, and the other part of him felt he meant nothing more to her than the latest bauble Papa had purchased for her enjoyment. He growled in frustration, raised his glass slightly and toasted her. "To you, Racine. Let the marriage begin."

Stacey Coverstone, Western Romance Author
“No Luck at All” is a western historical romance that takes place in Colorado Territory in 1874. Although it’s the third book in the Weston Family Series, this captivating story can be read as a stand-alone. It stars Creel Weston, a doctor and the youngest of three brothers of a wealthy rancher, and Racine, the woman he marries in Boston and takes home to Wooded Acres to live among his family. Both Creel and Racy have carried scars since childhood. His are emotional due to his mother’s abandonment of the family. Hers are physical, having been attacked by a dog as a young girl.

Author Julie Lence has penned a gripping story of two characters who start off misunderstanding each other’s intentions, but slowly learn to trust and love. Those misunderstandings are the catalyst for more than one conflict, but in the end, both hero and heroine grow and learn from their experiences.

A variety of secondary characters, including Creel’s big brothers, sisters-in-law and niece, ranch cowboys, and a saucy temptress play essential roles in keeping the juicy and fast-paced plot exciting. The descriptions of the town of Coyote, Wooded Acres, and Creel and Racy’s home jump off the page, allowing this reader to feel the sun on her skin, taste the dust in her mouth, and hear the soft nickers of horses in her ears. The author’s flowing writing style and attention to detail allows the reader to feel she or he is right in the thick of the action.

I have read all three of the Weston books and can highly recommend them all. “No Luck at All” will draw you in from the first page and keep you turning the pages until the satisfying conclusion. Good job, Ms. Lence!



Saundra Krause, Avid Reader of Western Historical Romance
I just finished reading, No Luck At All, by Julie Lence. This is the third book in the Weston Family Series and was outstanding. It definitely kept my interest. No Luck At All has everything from blackmail to dishonesty to a bit of humor, and Creel and Racine are very believable in their quest to find true love. Even though this story takes place in 1800's Colorado Territory, the plot deals with issues people of today's world can relate to.
I admired how Ms. Lence brought back all of the characters from the first two books. She did this in a way where the reader isn't required to read Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck to know who the secondary characters are and how they relate to this story. Though, I highly recommend you read Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck, as well.
Ms. Lence definitely knows how to write em’. Her descriptions are so vivid they make you feel like you’re a part of the story. Keep the books coming, Ms. Lence. I can't wait to read what you write next.


Dawn C. Petry
I have read all of the Weston Family Series and have really enjoyed them. I like the character development and enjoy the settings of the books. I think readers who enjoy a little romance and cowboys, will enjoy these books tremendously! I highly recommend these. I've passed them on to friends to read as well.