250th Year Anniversary of our Country Book, FREEING MISS ABAGAIL — And a Surprise

by
  • Howdy!  Welcome, Welcome to another terrific Tuesday!

As many of you already know, the Pettocoats & Patriots books have now launched!  Yay!  My book, #2 in the series, Freeing Miss Abagail, launched on the 23rd of June.  Yay!  So, I thought I’d post links to both of the terrific newsletters — given to us by wonderful Shanna Hatfield — which will give you not only excerpts of each book, but is filled with games and bits of information you might not be able to find elsewhere.

Here is a link to the Petticoats & Pistols Magazine #2:  https://sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/assets-shanna/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Patriot-Magazine-2-digital.pdf

And here is the link to magtzine #1:  https://petticoatsandpistols.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Petticoats-Patriots-Magazine-Volume-1-2026.pdf

Don’t miss the fun!  There are interviews, excerpts, games (many games), recipes and more!

And for those of you who would like a hard copy of the first magazine, it is for sale at Lulu:  https://www.lulu.com/shop/shanna-hatfield-and-karen-kay-and-kit-morgan-and-sarah-lamb/petticoats-patriots-volume-1/paperback/product-65k4g8k.html?page=1&pageSize=4

So, here are the eight books in this series:

Book 1

She never intended to become a spy … or fall for one.

Philadelphia, 1776

As whispers of revolution turn swell into a roar for freedom, Lucy Carlson is no longer content to simply watch from behind the counter of her father’s jewelry shop. When a mysterious woman—none other than Martha Washington—leaves behind a locket, Lucy discovers the piece is more than a pretty keepsake. The necklace is a secret vessel for the revolution that carries the promise of love.

Drawn into a dangerous spy ring, Lucy begins crafting coded messages concealed within the locket’s clever design, living a secret double life and risking everything she holds dear in a time of sacrifice and war.

Continental soldier Branch Barton is a man defined by duty. Tasked with rooting out traitors, he moves through the shadowed world of deception and divided loyalties. He’s trained to trust no one, yet he finds himself drawn into a slow-burning connection with the jeweler’s spirited daughter.

But when Lucy begins to suspect Branch may be a Redcoat in disguise, their fragile bond is tested by mistaken identity, growing mistrust, and the threat of betrayal.

In a war where even allies can become enemies, Lucy and Branch must navigate a world of hidden truths and guarded hearts. With the fate of the colonies—and their hearts—hanging in the balance as Lucy delivers a message in enemy territory, will they find the courage to trust each other and choose love?

BUY ON AMAZON

Book 2

Two hearts. Two worlds. Can love be the key to free the woman he loves?

Saratoga, 1777

Nineteen year old Indentured Servant, Abagail Densbury, is running for her life. Accused of stealing a necklace she didn’t take, and facing a beating that could claim her life, she has no choice but to take this one chance to run away, especially when Mr. Wilson, the proprietor of the Saratoga Inn, has told her “to get.” But Abagail has spent her life on the city streets of London, and she is a stranger to the forests of New York. Still, she might have survived on her own, if only Miss Stockenridge hadn’t sent the hounds after her.

Twenty-four year old Skenandoah is an Oneida Indian and a scout for the Patriots. When Mr. Wilson asks Skenan to help a girl to survive through the forests and to reach Fort Stanwix, Skenan doesn’t hesitate to act. What he didn’t count on is that the girl, though dressed in rags, is as beautiful as she is sweet and brave.

Closeness on the trail unites their hearts. But, when a coded message is found in a locket in Abagail’s apron, both Skenan and Abagail know they must reach Fort Stanwix as quickly as possible, even though it means they will be forced to part—she back to her world and he to his.

But, since the Patriots are fighting to throw off the chains of the English Father, is there a way Shenan can make them see that the woman he loves should be free, too?

BUY ON AMAZON

Book 3

In a house filled with British officers, colonial spies, and dangerous secrets, falling in love may be the most reckless act of all.

Long Island, 1778

Anna Turner serves quietly at Pembrooke House, hiding her patriot loyalties beneath the careful routine of a household maid. But when cheerful messenger Nathaniel Reed begins delivering private correspondence to the British captain residing there, Anna becomes convinced he’s the enemy.

Nate, however, is hiding secrets of his own.

As two rival spy rings unknowingly move information through the same household, suspicion turns to uneasy partnership—and then something far more dangerous. Because in a city where spies are hanged in the streets, one wrong move could condemn them both.

And surrendering her heart to Nate Reed may prove deadlier than war itself.

BUY ON AMAZON

Book 4

A traitor in the Continental Army. A raid that could end Virginia’s government. And one woman willing to risk everything for love.

Charlottesville, 1780

Anna Randolph has always believed women are capable of more than society allows. The daughter of a prominent military supplier in Revolutionary Virginia, she manages her father’s correspondence and longs to contribute meaningfully to the cause of independence. When she meets Major James Coleman at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, she’s drawn to the self-made officer who sees her as an equal—but in the uncertain spring of 1781, with war raging through Virginia, falling in love feels like both a gift and a gamble.

Major James Coleman earned his rank through merit, not birth. A Scots-Irish officer from the Shenandoah Valley, he’s gathering intelligence for the Marquis de Lafayette while avoiding romantic entanglements—his dangerous work is no life for a family man. But Anna Randolph is unlike any woman he’s ever known: intelligent, passionate, and brave. For the first time, James allows himself to imagine a future beyond the war. Until a routine visit to the Albemarle Barracks uncovers a deadly conspiracy threatening both Jefferson and the cause itself.

When whispered treason reveals plans for a devastating raid on Charlottesville and James is left for dead by a jealous rival, Anna must become the courier he never meant to send into danger. Racing thirty miles through enemy territory to reach Lafayette’s camp, she carries intelligence that could save Jefferson and alter the course of the war. In a world where women are meant to wait and worry, Anna Randolph will ride into the heart of danger to prove that sometimes the most perilous mission requires not just courage, but love.

BUY ON AMAZON

Book 5

North and South. Yankee and Rebel. Union and Confederate.
In the midst of the Civil War, can two hearts come together?

Roswell, 1863

When the tide of war sweeps south and the Union Army invades and destroys the Georgia cotton mill where Kate Brodie is a nurse, not only is her livelihood destroyed but she’s branded a traitor and shipped northward with the other workers. Only the unlikely attention of a Yankee major makes the trip tolerable.

Union major, Griffin Fletcher loathes the part of his job that requires him to destroy homes, towns, and livelihoods of innocent civilians. But he’s sworn to uphold the Union at all costs. Yet, he vows to protect these women he’s been ordered to transport to Marietta. Especially the one whose fiery determination, proud stance, and soft heart draws him closer.

Determined to remain in the South, Kate makes a daring leap of faith to nurse wounded Yankee soldiers, never expecting Major Fletcher to be one of her patients. Along with his healing, they each faced the fears and prejudices that had brought them together.

With survival so tenuous, can faith help them find love in the midst of so much tragedy?

BUY ON AMAZON

Book 6

She’s fighting to honor the past. He’s haunted by it.

Hawthorn, 1876

As Hawthorn, Texas, prepares for a grand celebration honoring America’s centennial and the town’s own fifty-year history, schoolteacher and archivist Mercy Owens is determined to see that every act of sacrifice and service is properly remembered. So when one local veteran refuses to take part in the festivities, she cannot simply let the matter rest.

Livery stable owner Wilson Porter has spent years quietly rebuilding his life after the Civil War left him carrying wounds no one can see. Respected by the town but haunted by the past, he wants no public recognition—especially not from a committee determined to call him a hero.

But as Mercy’s research draws her deeper into Wilson’s history, and a series of shared journeys begins to chip away at the walls between them, both must confront long-held beliefs about honor, sacrifice, and worth. Because sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is allow themselves to be truly seen.

BUY ON AMAZON

Book 7

She’s lived with his name for three years. He’s never known hers. Until they meet.

Halsey, 1955

Jackie Sinclair is good at what she does–flying airplanes during the Korean War. But when she makes a mistake that will haunt her forever, she’s determined to build a new life of peace and freedom in Nebraska. Except she comes face-to-face with Beckett J. Archer, the soldier she had failed so terribly, and her hopes for a new future threaten to fall apart.

Beck has returned to heal at the one place that means more to him than anything else–his father’s ranch. The memories of war have left their mark, but the brave and beautiful woman who lands in his life–literally–stirs up feelings he never expects, especially when an old family legacy threatens to drive them apart.

As trouble closes in from every side, Beck and Jackie are drawn together by danger, duty, and a growing love neither of them can deny.

BUY ON AMAZON

Book 8

In a season of fireworks and freedom, can two independent hearts make a declaration of love?

Holiday, OR, Modern Day

Grady Guthry understands the weight of a promise. Years after returning from the Army to help his widowed sister and young nephew rebuild their lives, he’s created a solid life in Holiday, Oregon. With a thriving construction business and deep roots in his small town, Grady’s world is steady, dependable, and safe—just the way he needs it. The last thing he’s looking for is change, especially not in the form of the town’s new, temporary postmaster.

Kate Barton has always followed the horizon. An Air Force veteran who thrives on freedom and fresh starts, she moves from one assignment to the next, never staying long enough to put down roots. But when she arrives in Holiday, she carries more than just her bags. A cherished locket left behind by her father draws her into a legacy she never knew existed—and begins to stir a longing she can’t quite ignore.

As Holiday prepares for the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, an unexpected friendship between Grady and Kate deepens into an undeniable slow-burn romance. Grady offers Kate a sense of home she’s never known, while she reminds him there’s more to life than duty.

But with Kate’s departure date looming, the independence they’ve both fought to claim may become the very thing that keeps them apart.

In a season of healing, hope, and second chances, will they find the courage to let go of their plans—and choose a future together?

BUY ON AMAZON

You’re gonna love these books from Petticoats & Patriots.

But wait I have some more news:  Because I recently signed on with OHB Publishing (a small press publisher), I have four titles of my backlist newly edited and reissued, and there are some truly beautiful covers and so, if you’ll bear with me, I’ll show those covers below.  A word about this series: it is a solid Historical Romance but with a paranormal element.  Each hero in these four books is charged with a task of ending a centuries old curse.  Each hero in the books must free his band of the tribe from the curse.  Many before him have failed to free his people.  Will he, too, fail?

Okay, so here’s the covers:

Book #1:

The Angel and the Warrior

 

Book #2

The Spirit of the Wolf

Book #3: 

Red Hawk’s Woman

 

Book #4

The Last Warrior

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book #4

The Last Warrior

And now for the surprise: I will be doing a drawing on the day after this blog (tomorrow/Wednesday) of all those who left a post on this blog– day after this blog — and the winner of the drawing will get her choice of one of the e-books shown here on this page.  Just please be aware that not all of the e-books are yet out.  However, if the e-book you’d like is not yet out, on the day of its release (or perhaps if I can preorder the book before it is released), I will gift you the e-book you have chosen.

I look forward to all your posts.

Do Well!

 

The Heart of Honor

by

Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here.

I’m so excited to announce that my next release, The Heart of Honor, is the sixth book in the Petticoats & Patriots series, and it will be released one week from tomorrow.

This book was truly a labor of love. The characters came alive for me in a way that surprised even me, and what a story they had to tell! It grew far beyond what I’d originally imagined, ultimately coming in at nearly twice my planned word count.

Here’s a sneak peek from the opening pages.
Hawthorne, Texas
Late May 1876

Mercy Owens shifted slightly in her chair. Her discomfort wasn’t just the unfamiliar vantage of sitting at a student desk instead of standing at the front of the room. It had more to do with the committee’s current debate that had circled back to its starting point.

“The veterans should lead the procession,” Colonel Briggs said, his tone firm and unyielding. “They’re not representing some ancestor—we’re speaking of men who served with their own lives.”

Mrs. Whitaker’s fan snapped open. “And I have already said, Colonel, that the founding families represent the very beginning of this town. It would be a poor sort of celebration that did not place them in proper precedence.” She inclined her head slightly. “We are, first and foremost, marking the golden anniversary of Hawthorn’s founding—as well as the centennial of our nation.”

Mercy lowered her gaze to the paper before her and let her pencil drift into a small, absent pattern along the margin.

Beside her, Reverend Fields spoke up. “If we are to mark the centennial with proper reverence, then those with Revolutionary patriot lineage ought to be given their due.”

Daniel Carter exhaled and leaned forward, all business. “We’re not arranging a history lecture—we’re organizing a parade. I asked for details so I can do my part. I need numbers and mode—how many mounted, how many in wagons or walking. We can sort the rest once we know what we’re working with.”

Practical. Direct. Necessary. And not wrong. Daniel was well-suited to being head of logistics.

But his point fell on deaf ears. They weren’t listening to one another, only waiting their turn to press the same point again.

Then it came—a brief lull. Not agreement, only the absence of someone speaking. Mercy drew a breath and stepped into the void before it closed again.

“As I noted earlier,” she said, lifting her head, “there are still several families whose records remain incomplete. Particularly those living outside town. Until those are verified, we won’t have a reliable count.”

A few heads turned—some in acknowledgment, others in mild impatience—and Mercy felt the familiar weight of both.

Daniel frowned slightly. “How many are we missing?”

“A small number,” Mercy said. “But not insignificant. Some of the outlying farms have been here since the early days of the settlement. Their contributions simply haven’t been recorded.”

Mrs. Whitaker tilted her head. “And you intend to gather this information?”

Mercy held her expression steady, though a quiet thought pressed forward—no one had shown this much interest when she’d presented her report earlier. “If I’m to vouch for the accuracy of the Roll of Honor, yes.”

There was a brief pause. Not disagreement, exactly. But not full support, either.

It was a familiar space to occupy, that narrow ground between being heard and being set aside. Her reports were accepted readily enough—but their full weight rarely seemed to land all at once.

Mayor Caldwell gave a measured nod. “See to it, Miss Owens. We need your findings before we can finalize the procession order.”

Mercy inclined her head. “I’ll begin calls on the outlying properties tomorrow.”

“Good,” Daniel said, already turning back to his notes. “The sooner we have a complete list, the better.”

Voices rose again—quicker this time, words overlapping where before they had waited their turn. Mercy felt a tightening in the room as patience wore thin.

At the front of the room, Mayor Caldwell finally straightened. “We’ll table the question of parade order for now,” he said, tapping the desk lightly to draw their attention. “Until Miss Owens completes her records and we can review the full list, we’ve no grounds for a final decision.”

A few reluctant nods followed. Colonel Briggs didn’t look satisfied, but he didn’t object.

Mercy wasn’t certain how a count would address everyone’s concerns but she held her peace—the discussion had already gone on longer than it should.

“One final report,” the mayor continued. “Colonel?”

Briggs shifted his stance. “I’ve spoken with each of the veterans. They were honored to be asked. David Mulligan can’t ride on account of paralysis, but I told him we’d see him included in a wagon.”

“How many will be riding?” Daniel asked.

“An even dozen.” The colonel glanced her way. “That includes the outlying farms and ranches, so I don’t expect that number to change.”

Mercy nodded.

“Just one more thing you should be aware of.” Colonel Briggs paused as if weighing his words. “One of the veterans, while expressing his thanks for the invitation, declined the honor.”

“Declined?” Daniel repeated.

Mrs. Whitaker’s brows lifted. “I can’t imagine why anyone would do such a thing.”

“He gave no reason,” Briggs said. “And I didn’t feel I should push for one.”

“Then we’ll account for it when we finalize the numbers,” the mayor said, already moving on to old business.

Voices shifted again, turning—almost too easily—to the proposed fireworks display. Mercy listened only in part, aware instead of how quickly the earlier moment was slipping away, thinning between one topic and the next before it could take hold.

But it didn’t sit easily with her.

A man who had served refused to be recognized, honored.

Something in that niggled at her—quiet but insistent—refusing to be shrugged off.

The meeting finally ended. Chairs scraped. Papers were gathered. Conversations broke into smaller threads as people rose to leave, the earlier tension thinning into practical motion.

Mercy’s thoughts circled to her upcoming tasks.

Outlying families. Unfinished histories. And below it all, this reluctant hero.

She waited until Colonel Briggs stepped away from the others before crossing the room.

“Colonel,” she said quietly, “for my records—may I have the name of the gentleman who declined?”

He looked at her for a moment, as though weighing the necessity of the question, then gave a short nod.

“Porter,” he said. “Wilson Porter.”

Mercy repeated the name silently. Porter.

Yes… she knew of him. Not in any personal way—but enough.

Enough to give her an idea of just how to approach him.

The Heart of Honor

She’s fighting to honor the past. He’s haunted by it.

As Hawthorn, Texas prepares for a grand celebration honoring America’s centennial and the town’s own fifty-year history, schoolteacher and archivist Mercy Owens is determined to see that every act of sacrifice and service is properly remembered. So when one local veteran refuses to take part in the festivities, she cannot simply let the matter rest.

Livery stable owner Wilson Porter has spent years quietly rebuilding his life after the Civil War left him carrying wounds no one can see. Respected by the town but haunted by the past, he wants no public recognition—especially not from a committee determined to call him a hero.

But as Mercy’s research draws her deeper into Wilson’s history, and a series of shared journeys begins to chip away at the walls between them, both must confront long-held beliefs about honor, sacrifice, and worth. Because sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is allow themselves to be truly seen.

Set against the backdrop of America’s 1876 centennial celebration, The Heart of Honor is a heartfelt historical romance about quiet courage, second chances, and a love strong enough to heal old wounds.

PREORDER LINK

Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of any of my backlist paperback books.

Bingo Round-Up – Week 4!

by

It’s not too late to play Bingo to celebrate Sarah Lamb’s

Whispers of Treason!

We’re rounding up our Bingo clues to make it even easier to play.

Choose your answers, submit your entry for each clue, and you’ll still have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!

But hurry!  Only one day left!

Winner will be announced Monday in the Reader Group.  

 

Submit Entry

Submit Entry

Submit Entry

Submit Entry

Book #5 in the Petticoats and Patriots Series

Coming Tuesday

PREORDER ON AMAZON

Join us Tuesday in the Reader Group on Facebook as we play a new Bingo game to celebrate.

You could win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Don’t forget to check out our Series Page to see all the books, too!  

Kara O’Neal Has a Winner!

by

Thank you for visiting, Kara. We enjoyed discussing our experiences dancing and hope you return soon.

It’s Time for the Drawing!

One commenter will win a copy of Bluebonnet Fields.

And the winner is………………

ELISSA

Yippee! We’re dancing a jig for you, Elissa. Now keep your eyes peeled for Miss Kara’s email! Check Spam if you don’t see it.

BLUEBONNET FIELDS (AND A GIVEAWAY!) by Kara O’Neal

by

 

Howdy, fellow western romance readers!

I’m so excited to be back with y’all to talk about books, the West, and history! I’ve learned so much from the posts on Petticoats and Pistols, and I’m glad I get to contribute to this blog.

When I was drafting Bluebonnet Fields, the final book in the Wildflower series, I got to visit the Hill Country in Texas, which is where the bluebonnets grow. It’s also where my grandma is from. And her mother, and her mother’s mother.

They were a family of cotton pickers. Migrant workers.

My grandma grew up running the roads of the Hill Country and picking furrow after furrow of cotton.

But, in between the work, they made time for fun, and dancing was often their favorite activity.

 

Gruene Hall, in Gruene, Texas, (pronounced “green”), is the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas. It was started in 1878, and it hasn’t changed much at all. The layout of the building is the same—bar at the front, dance floor in the middle, side-flaps for open-air dancing, tin roof, and a small stage opposite the bar. The outdoor garden, with the live oak trees and stone walk-ways are also still the same.

Oh, the fun this building has seen! The music it has heard!

Gruene Hall is one of my favorite places in Texas, and two-stepping or waltzing the night away at this establishment, as so many others have done, is a privilege and an honor.

And in Bluebonnet Fields, I was able to give that joy to Kenna and Levi. It’s where Kenna has her first dance, and where they share their first kiss. It’s truly magical.

And I can imagine my great-grandmothers there, having themselves a grand time, loving the music, dancing the night away, and maybe giving away a kiss or two!

Do you have a favorite historic spot or town that instantly transports you back in time? Please share and one commentor will win a copy of Bluebonnet Fields!

 BLUEBONNET FIELDS

Texas, 1890

Kenna Ainsley has no use for love. It only brings betrayal and disappointment. She finds solace in her work as a Harvey Girl, and the independence that brings.

But one day a stranger sits down at her table. He’s a Deputy Sheriff, and before she can blink, he’s dragging her back to Galveston on an erroneous charge that she’s a runaway wife.

Kenna plots her escape. But even as she tries to free herself, her heart is working against her. She’s falling for the handsome Deputy Sheriff, which sends her fleeing to the one place she swore she would never go.

Deputy Sheriff Levi Brandt has plans, and Kenna is at the center of them. After one look at her, he knows there’s no way in hell she’s gonna end up hitched to anyone else but him. But he’s gonna have to do some heavy lifting to get her to trust him. Lucky for her, he welcomes the weight. No matter how far she runs, he’ll find her. Always.

 

Excerpt

When Kenna entered the hall on the arm of Levi, she took in her surroundings with an excited eye. The dance floor was in the direct center. A bar was at one end, near the main doors, and the stage where the band was playing was opposite it. The area was flanked by tables, and several rectangular windows that had flaps designed to draw in a breeze.

People were about, some at the bar with glasses of beer, some at the tables eating, while couples twirled to the lively reel being played by the band. Kenna knew the tune. She’d heard it once spilling forth from a saloon in Galveston. She’d stopped to listen outside the doors for a brief moment.

“You ready?” Levi asked, leaning down near her ear.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she announced. She looked at him, her pulse racing in anticipation of all that was going to occur and what might occur this night.

He grinned. “Then hang on to me, darlin’, because I don’t intend to let your feet touch the floor.”

And with that, he swept her up into his arms and twirled her onto the dance floor. With his gaze locked on hers, he took her through the lively steps, spinning and whirling her to the strains of the fiddle, guitar, drum, harmonica, and banjo.

Without a care, she put her trust in him, grateful not to have to worry for one night. She was going to forget her cares and let herself go.

When the first dance ended, there was barely a second to breathe before the next one was starting. He never relinquished his hold on her. His arm was tight around her waist, and he was keeping her deliciously close as he expertly slipped them into the waltz that was now being played.

As he turned her about the room, she basked in his intent attention and possessive hold. His gaze was gleaming with heat and promise, with want and delight. She fell into his eyes and hoped in hers he saw her own desire.

The waltz melted into a reel, then back into a waltz once more, and as the evening darkened into night, her heart soared to the Heavens and stayed there. Her head was spinning, her body was humming. She never wanted to let him go.

And when another fellow tapped him on the shoulder, making Levi pause, and indicating his want to cut in, her breath caught in fear that Levi would give her up.

“No,” Levi fairly growled at the man, an instant fury leaping from him.

The fellow raised his brow, then set his jaw and walked off.

Levi immediately began dancing with her again, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

He set his lips next to her ear. “I told you, Kenna, you’re mine for tonight. I’m not sharing.”

She squeezed his hand and curled her fingers more tightly about his arm. An involuntary reaction that showed her pleasure at his gruff vow.

His answer was to tighten his arm about her waist, pulling her even closer.

 Book Purchase Link:  https://books2read.com/u/bP2ewY

What about you? Do you like to dance? If so, what is your favorite kind and where? Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for one ebook copy of Bluebonnet Fields!

 

Author Bio

Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.

When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.

Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night! Visit Kara O’Neal at http://www.karaoneal.com.

Where to Find Kara

Website ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X ~ Pinterest ~ Newsletter ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon

The WASP – Brave Women with Wings by Pam Crooks

by

If you’ve been hanging around here lately, you’ll know our beloved sweet romance series, “Petticoats & Patriots,” is in full swing.

While I helped my sister filly, Shanna Hatfield, develop the series, she gets full credit, and it was her idea to name our heroines off real-life patriots. We decided to include a Patriot Page with every book and include a brief biography of the patriot we had chosen. We came up with a list of names and time periods from our country’s birth in 1776 all the way up to modern day and invited the fillies to choose.

As soon as I saw Jacqueline Cochran’s name on the list, I knew I had my patriot. Not only have I always loved the name, I was fascinated that she was a female pilot, something I’d never written before. Even better, her patriotism took root in the 1940s–which worked out perfectly because the six books before mine were set in the late 1700s and mid-1800s. We definitely needed to bump up the locket’s journey to the 20th century!

Let me tell you a bit about her and how she proved to be inspiration for my heroine, Jackie Sinclair.

In 1942, Nancy Harkness Love formed and commanded a group of experienced women pilots who ferried military planes. Jacqueline Cochran was appointed to lead their flight training, and in August, 1943, when World War II was raging, the two organizations merged into the Women Airforce Service Pilots, more commonly known as WASP. Cochran served as director.

Jacqueline Cochran with WASP trainees

She was certainly qualified, having earned a reputation as one of America’s most accomplished aviators and a pioneering woman in flight, regaled for her speed, skill, and courage in flying.  She was the first woman to break the sound barrier and set numerous aviation records for altitude, distance, and speed.

During World War II, with the WASP organization under her belt, she was determined to prove that women could serve their country in the cockpit. She insisted on strict training, standards, and discipline, hoping their performance would prove women belonged in military aviation instead of being ranked as civilian employees.

More than 25,000 women applied to serve as WASP, but only about 1,830 were accepted for training, and of those, just 1,074 earned their wings. These female pilots flew a whopping 60 million miles during the war in almost every kind of military aircraft. They ferried planes, transported personnel, towed targets for live-fire training, and performed other domestic flying duties.

Some even trained male pilots to fly particular aircraft. Interestingly, one of the main purposes of the WASP program was to take over essential flying jobs so that 1,100 male pilots could be sent overseas for combat duty.

But even though these women couldn’t serve in the military, their work proved dangerous stateside. As I mentioned before, they towed targets for live-fire training, which meant male gunners fired live ammunition at targets behind their planes. Ferrying unfamiliar aircraft could also be risky, especially in bad weather or with mechanical problems.

Thirty-eight WASP gave their lives in service to their country. Because they were classified as civilians, those who died did not receive the same military honors or benefits at the time. Their families often had to pay to bring their daughter’s body home.

In 1944, Jacqueline supported a bill introduced in Congress, H.R. 4219, designed to give the WASP full military status, including benefits such as medical care, insurance, hospitalization, and burial rights. The bill failed in the House on June 21, 1944.

The WASP program was disbanded six months later, less than a year before World War II ended. Despite their skills and service, and all the lobbying Jacqueline did on their behalf, they were still denied veteran status and benefits. What a shame!

They finally received veteran recognition in 1977, more than three decades later. In 2009, they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Former WASPs or WASP-inspired pilots lived in a world that praised women for wartime service, then expected many of them to step aside afterward.

In my book, THE SKY BETWEEN US, #7 in the Petticoats & Patriots series, Jackie Sinclair refuses to give up flying, and she was so much fun to write.  Especially when she meets Beckett Archer, an officer in the United States Army during the Korean War. Except she doesn’t really “meet” him until several years later, when he’s a cowboy in the sandhills of Nebraska, of all places, and since she’d all but presumed him dead in Korea, you can only imagine how her world turns upside down when she learns he is very much alive.

PREORDER ON AMAZON

She’s lived with his name for three years. He’s never known hers. Until they meet.

Jackie Sinclair is good at what she does–flying airplanes during the Korean War. But when she makes a mistake that will haunt her forever, she’s determined to build a new life of peace and freedom in Nebraska. Except she comes face-to-face with Beckett J. Archer, the soldier she had failed so terribly, and her hopes for a new future threaten to fall apart.

Beck has returned to heal at the one place that means more to him than anything else–his father’s ranch. The memories of war have left their mark, but the brave and beautiful woman who lands in his life–literally–stirs up feelings he never expects, especially when an old family legacy threatens to drive them apart.

As trouble closes in from every side, Beck and Jackie are drawn together by danger, duty, and a growing love neither of them can deny.

Coming July 28th!

 

Had you heard of the WASP before, or is their story new to you?

Would you have had the courage to fly a plane in the 1930s and 1940s when female pilots were both admired and criticized?

When was a time you had to show real courage? 

Kara O’Neal Joins Us Friday!

by

Historical Western Romance author Kara O’Neal will ride into Wildflower Junction on Friday, July 10, 2026!

Have you heard of Gruene Hall in the the Texas Hill Country? Miss Kara will talk a little about that and a few precious family stories. If you like to dance and/or read, drop by on Friday.

Leave a comment to be entered in her giveaway of one ebook copy of Bluebonnet Fields!

We’d love to see you and hear your stories.

Cover Reveal!

by

Seeing a cover for the first time is like meeting a blind date. You hope for attraction to strike. You look for something to spark your interest and inspire a positive impression. When I get the email from my publisher or my indie cover designer, I’m filled with a mix of excitement, hope, and anxiety. A picture is worth a thousand words (or 90,000 in the case of my novels), and this one image needs to convey my main character’s personality and hint at story elements in a way that compels a reader to click to learn more.

Early in my career, I had little to no say over my covers after they were designed, but with more experience and a proven track record (and my agent’s great contract negotiation skills) I now have a chance to give feedback before a cover is finalized. This is such a boon. This particular cover went through several iterations before we landed on a final product that made everyone happy. The designers are absolutely amazing at what they do and were able to implement my suggestions admirably.

Just from this little glimpse, you can learn that my heroine is a bookish lady. Exactly the impression I wanted to leave. Jane Cowan is a shy parson’s daughter who much rather be reading than interacting with others, unless those others were under the age of 10.

Jane meets a pair of adorable young runaways at the Albany train station – runaways who just happen to have a very single father. Since the train station plays a pivotal role in this initial meeting, we chose to feature that setting on the cover.

Drum roll please . . .

What do you think?

Wooing the Wallflower is Book 2 in the Secret Society of Spinster’s series, and it will be releasing next February. It’s up for preorder now.

Here is an early version of the cover that I decided to change.

I didn’t particularly care for this model. I did like her updo and glasses, but everything else just felt slightly off. Also, while she is a parson’s daughter and the church plays a major role in the story, I was afraid having the church as the backdrop made her seem too pious or holier-than-thou. My agent actually worried that the image might portray the opposite, that she was skipping church to read her novel. The book she is holding felt wrong too. Even though this was a stock photo, it felt a bit fake somehow.

Anyway, one of the other designs that they had already been working with included the train station, so we had a great starting place for a new vision, and I’m so happy with the way it turned out in the end.

What attracts you to a book cover?

Nan Reinhardt Has Three Winners!

by

I have three winners of an e-book copy of Help Wanted, Cowboy! Ann Stewart, Sarah Axsom, and Barbara Raymond, watch your email boxes for your free e-book!  Have fun at Juniper Falls Ranch with Millie and Rory!

Help Wanted, Cowboy

by

I am generally loath to crow about my own books, which is sorta silly when you think about it. I mean, who else is going to crow about my books if not me? I’m not good at look at me, though, and if it were possible in this day and age to simply write a book, hand it to my publisher, and then crawl back into my writing cave and start a new one, without ever having to think about said book again, I would do it that way. But publishing doesn’t work like that these days. Maybe it never did.

Although I’ve been writing since I was a child and starting working as a book editor in 1996, I came into publishing as an author in 2012—on the cusp of digital first and e-books. I joined Facebook about that time and Instagram shortly after, but it took me awhile to figure out how to make those platforms work for me as an author. I’m not sure I’ve mastered it yet, you know, because it means being present when what I really want to do is stay tucked in my little writing space. My fictional worlds are so much safer than the real world of social media and promotion.

All that said, I’m here today to be Nan Reinhardt author (<– over there) promoting a brand-new release — out today, as a matter of fact. If you love romance and Montana and spunky heroines and handsome cowboys with big hearts, Help Wanted, Cowboy might just be the book for you. Rory and Millie’s story is book 3 in my Juniper Falls Ranch series, so if you’ve read books 1 and 2, you’ll recognize Beth and Del Foster, who own Juniper Falls Ranch, Gus, their grizzled ranch hand, Bo Kennedy, the former rodeo cowboy turned ranch foreman, and others, as well as the little Montana town of Marietta. Sage’s Chocolate Shop, the Graff Hotel, Copper Mountain—all the places in Marietta that you already know and love are part of the story, too, as Rory and Millie feel their way to their own happily-ever-after. Because of course, there’s always an HEA in a Nan Reinhardt novel.

I confess, the theme—Millie wants a little favor from Rory—was a tricky one to do in a sweet romance, but we pulled it off, and there is even a treasure hunt up in an old mine in the foothills to add to the fun. I hope you enjoy reading Help Wanted, Cowboy as much as I enjoyed creating it.

GIVEAWAY: To celebrate this book release—#17 with the fabulous Tule Publishing—I’m giving away three e-book copies of Help Wanted, Cowboy to three lucky commenters. Just tell me what attracts you to a cowboy romance—the cover? The blurb? The author? Inquiring minds want to know…

Help Wanted, Cowboy

A Montana bull rider temporarily working as a ranch hand. An OB nurse who wants “a favor.” Two opposites thrown together. A treasure hunt adds to autumn magic. 

When a family emergency brings cowboy Rory Pearson home to Marietta, he hires on to Juniper Falls Ranch for seasonal work. He’s hoping to explore an intriguing family legend. Armed with research and his grandfather’s stories, Rory thinks he’s ready, but nothing goes as planned. Then a sweetly sexy nurse propositions him.

Nurse Millie Sparks is tired of playing it safe. She’s been too focused on her education and career and romance and adventure have passed her by. Staying on the ranch to care for a patient with a tricky pregnancy, Millie’s interest in Rory is immediate. He offers to teach her to ride, and she wonders if the lessons could extend to something else she’s been hiding.

It’s a game of flirtation and fun. Feelings can’t be serious. But as the clock ticks down, hearts interfere, and saying goodbye just got way more complicated.

Amazon | B&N Nook | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play

Oh, oh, P.S.: If you haven’t been to Juniper Falls Ranch yet, here’s a great opportunity for a first visit–Forever Cowboy, book 1 in the JFR series is just 99 cents right now! So race over to your favorite book retailer and nab it at that discount before it goes back to regular price.

Petticoats & Pistols