A Story Wrapped in Love and Justice
In 1869, San Francisco saloon owner Cera Cassidy offers redemption to any woman looking for honest work. At Cera’s Place, men can get a decent hot meal with a whiskey, but if they want anything more, they have to take their desires elsewhere. One summer night, a distraught Chinese girl bursts through the swinging doors with a shocking tale of murder, kidnapping, and prostitution. Outraged, Cera vows to set things right.
Jake Tanner, a scarred ex-soldier haunted by the horrors of the Civil War, is on a mission to fulfill a friend’s dying wish. The trail has brought him to Cera’s door. Captivated by her beauty, he wants to join her fight – but will she let him?
Elizabeth McKenna’s debut novel is a fast-paced adventure filled with memorable characters that will leave you wanting more. Get lost in a time gone by and fall in love today!
Chosen as Best Historical Romance 2012 by Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book!!
Praise for Cera’s Place
Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book – 5 stars (8/11/12)
The Book Burp – 5 stars (5/24/12)
Inside the Mind of Wenona – 5 stars (1/8/12)
Peace Love Books – 4 stars (1/16/12)
Once Upon a Chapter – 4 stars (2/13/12)
Clu’s Review – 4 stars (2/20/12)
Marissa’s Book Lounge – 4 stars (2/27/12)
Mrs. Condit Reads Books – 4 stars (3/23/12)
The Jeep Diva – 4 stars (6/7/12)
Romantic Historical Lovers – 4 stars (8/8/12)
Satin Sheets Romance – 4 stars (5/10/13)
MK McClintock Blog – 3.5 stars (6/30/12)
A Date with a Book – 3.5 stars (8/27/12)
Night Owl Reviews – 3.5 stars (9/3/12)
What others are saying about Cera’s Place on Amazon and Goodreads:
“The story is engaging and the characters are vividly portrayed in the book. As I was reading it, I felt transported back to those times, as if I was there witnessing the events firsthand as I was reading this novel. It was very enjoyable and engrossing, and hard to put down. It’s great for reading on summer vacation!” Ruth Anne on Amazon
“I loved this book, and I’m very glad I had the chance to read it. The author’s style of writing is really up my alley and I would read books by her again. The story was a good one and it was a compelling situation. I would recommend this book to everyone!” Natalie Kozaczka on Goodreads
“I started to read this book yesterday. At Chapter 16, I realized I wasn’t ready to part company with the many interesting and feisty characters. I clicked off my kindle and read the final four chapters today. The no-frills storytelling, natural character development, unexpected plot twists, and high level tension deserve five stars.” Gail M Baugniet on Amazon
“An awesome debut! A love story that will carry you back to a very exciting time. It turned out to be really different from what I was expecting…All the characters were very well developed and believable. The story was paced well and descriptions sent vivid pictures to my mind. This story is a romance but it is wrapped in a very suspenseful mystery. There are a few steamy moments too. A perfect story for me. I was unable to put it down. For a debut novel it is definitely worth 5 stars! I am looking to reading more by this author.” Lori Caswell on Goodreads
“I highly enjoyed reading the adventure of Jake and Cera.” Katherine on Goodreads
“The beginning grabbed me right up in its arms and didn’t want to put me down…I got emotionally involved with all of the characters in the book from the moment each hit the scene. The way that Elizabeth describes her characters makes you either love them or hate them right away…The love story between Jake and Cera is gradual leading up to some pretty awesome love scenes that left me tingling and wanting more…All in all this book was well worth the read. I will recommend this one to many people for a quick and great read.” Mindi on Amazon and Goodreads
“This is very well written. It takes a little bit to get into it but once you are in you just can’t get out until the end. I love all of the characters in the book. Each and every one of them really make the book pop. You will enjoy this book if you choose to purchase it.” Renee on Amazon
“Enjoyed very much! Great plot and a good read.” L. Kito on Amazon
“Elizabeth McKenna’s writing immersed me deeper and deeper into the story and she delivers a beautiful, intriguing tale…I loved Jake and Cera’s emotional journey for justice and love, they touched my heart and I was rooting for them. Elizabeth McKenna delivered a powerful and captivating read with Cera’s Place. Supported by a striking and witty cast of characters Cera’s Place is entertaining, it is a thrilling read that kept me riveted to my chair from start till finish!” Marissa on Goodreads / Amazon / Marissa’s Book Lounge
“This isn’t the typical historical romance I read, but it was definitely just as enjoyable! The reason this one was so different was because Cera, the main character, was the owner of a saloon and she was a hard-headed female instead of the normal damsel in distress girls that are normally in historical romances. It was also cool how this story took on a crime/mystery genre when Cera was trying to catch the bad guys in town who were selling Chinese girls…It was quick, but Cera’s Place still leaves you with a nice, romantic story you can’t help but get lost in.” Jessica on Goodreads
“This was an historical novel full of the suspense that is usually in a modern thriller/crime drama…From that point on I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more stories from the talented Ms McKenna.” Mrs. Condit Read’s Books on Goodreads/Amazon
“By the end of the second chapter, my heart was in my throat, and I cared about these characters and what they were doing. The characters are interesting and believable, the storyline is good…The plot moved along mostly believably, and there was lots of action.” Rhonda on Amazon
“The plot is interesting, even gripping, with some of the action sequences keeping you on the edge. The characters are alive, authentic, having distinct personalities and talking like real people. The scenery is beautifully described…” Dascalu on Amazon
“I expected this book to be full of steamy romance & captivating love scenes – I was not disappointed!” Kathleen on Amazon
“Elizabeth has done a wonderful job writing this book…This is not just a simple love story, it has a soul.” Aditi on Amazon and Goodreads
“I love historicals, and this definitely didn’t disappoint!…All in all, it was a great read with excellent characters!” Brea on Amazon and Goodreads
“The characters were very believable and the story moved along at a nice pace…I enjoyed the story very much and I look forward to Ms. McKenna’s next story.” Bridget on Goodreads
“Cera’s Place has a nice balance of character dialogue and descriptive language. L’amour is expressive (ahhh sigh). Like with most romance books, the author starts slow but once the action picks up, you can hardly put the book down. Relationships that did not exist in the beginning are well established by the end.” Chandra on Goodreads and Amazon
“Cera’s Place was unique. This was a really good book, full of suspense and drama and a little love. I highly recommend it to anyone that loves to read those kinds of books.” Book Lover on Amazon
Elizabeth McKenna 