Maggie Blackbird

Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers can jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published books.

For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, I give you a teaser from Sanctified, book three in The Matawapit Family series, an enemies-to-lovers, contemporary romance. Be sure to check out the other book hooks from participating authors here.

In the midst of a battle for leadership at their Ojibway community, two enemies of opposing families fall in love…​

After suffering a humiliating divorce, infuriated Catholic Jude Matawapit bolts to his family’s Ojibway community to begin a new job—but finds himself thrown into a battle for chief as his brother-in-law’s campaign manager. The radical Kabatay clan, with their extreme ideas about traditional Ojibway life, will stop at nothing to claim the leadership position and rid the reserve of Western culture and its religion once and for all, which threatens not only the non-traditional people of the community, but Jude’s chance at a brand-new life he’s creating for his children.

Recovering addict Raven Kabatay will do anything to win the respect and trust of her older siblings and mother after falling deep into drug addiction that brought shame and anger to her family. Not only does she have the opportunity to redeem herself by becoming her brother’s campaign manager for chief—if he wins, she’ll have the reserve’s backing to purchase the gold-mine diner where she works, finally making something of herself. But falling in love with the family’s sworn enemy—the deacon’s eldest son, Jude—will not just betray the Kabatay clan. It could destroy everything Raven believes in and has worked so hard for.

Genre(s):  Multicultural, Contemporary Romance, First Nations Romance, Adult, Inspirational.
Heat Rating:  Level 3
Publication Date:  September 20, 2019
Publisher:  eXtasy Books

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Raven clicked her nails against the table. She sipped more coffee.

“Y’see why we have to take back the Traditionalists Society?” Fawn murmured. “I can’t believe Sadie and Basil nominated Emery. It’s bad enough the biggest traitor to his culture and people, Darryl, is now a part of them and running for chief. If they get in, the reserve’s finished. The community will become a bunch of apples—white on the inside and red on the outside.”

The diner would be in full swing tomorrow with everyone arriving for coffee to gossip about tonight’s nominations.

“Maybe he won’t accept?” Raven tilted her cup to take another sip. She kept peeking at Jude over the rim. He was huddled with Roy, Jenny, his dad, and other people from the church.

“This means they have four from the church running for band council.” Fawn held up four fingers. “Roy from Airplane, Jenny from Old Main, Emery’s Grassy, and Darryl’s Long River.”

“Well, Grassy is full of Catholics. If the deacon could run, I bet he would. They had no choice but to nominate Emery.” Mom sniffed.

Raven’s family had nominated those they wanted from the different areas at the leadership table. She checked her sheet Clayton had provided. She had to make sure people voted for the seven councilors they’d chosen.

“She’s no elder.” Mom almost spit out her words while narrowing her eyes at Sadie. “She’s just old. No true elder would do what she did—nominate a man who studied to become a priest, and who’s loyal to a church that did its best to try and wipe us out.”

Queasiness invaded Raven’s stomach. But Jude had proven to her his family wasn’t the enemy.

“Basil. Bah.” Mom waved her hand. “He’s no elder either. Not if he seconded the nomination. He had it in him to be a wise man. Now…he’s nothing but senile.”

If the venom kept dripping from Mom’s mouth, she’d turn into a snake.

Raven checked her phone. She still had to answer Jude’s text. This might get her into trouble, but Friday night kept pounding through her head.

Coffee sounds good. Geoff’s Camp?

The message popped up.

Geoff’s sounds good. I’ll let Mom know I’m working late. See you tomorrow night.

No bantering. No teasing. From either of them. Already the politics Jude had insisted they steer clear of was beginning to interfere. He probably felt the pinch, too, since Raven’s entire family seemed to pinch her backside.

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