Kathleen Lawless on the Significance of Family

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Throughout history, the existence of the family unit has played a significant role, continuing to have a huge impact on most of our lives. Because of the opportunity to improve one’s fortune, and the types of employment available, never mind plain old gender inequality, the early settling of the West drew more men than women. As more communities were created a settled, the result was a disproportionate percentage men and women of marrying age.

The early settlers who struck out in search of new opportunity and the chance to settle new lands soon realized that when people compete for the same land and resources, success and failure often depended how prolifically one is able to reproduce. Extra sets of hands are imperative to work the farm or the ranch. One way men chose to attract a woman partner was to advertise for a bride.

I’ve written many mail order bride romances, but I wanted to do a different type of series with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Thus, I set out to create a family of seven brothers; a series where each man eventually meets and marries his soul mate.

As I started creating my leading men, developing their personalities, interests, skills, and goals, I quickly realized that having my heroes be biological brothers didn’t lend itself to the types of conflicts and storylines that would make interesting reading. I didn’t want them to all come from the same background and parents.

I felt the series would have far more appeal if each man was a loner, a product of his individual background and baggage. It’s difficult to be a loner if you grow up in a large family. Thus, I brought together seven young men from a diversity of backgrounds, circumstances, fortunes and talents. Swearing a loyalty to each other, this new family united in a single cause. Revenge.

For fun, I included a set of identical twins, but the others were as different from each other as they could possibly be. My newly-formed ‘found family’ banded together over a stretch of years at different times for different reasons. Having been knocking about on their own, none of them were accustomed to being part of a family dynamic, let alone the cooperation and compromise required to ensure a family functions and thrives.

One of the rabbit holes my research into families throughout history led me to was the ‘birth order theory’, where the eldest is perceived as the leader, the most responsible and conscientious. Middle children are thought to be more adaptable, diplomatic, and good at keeping the peace. The youngest is often seen as more playful, sometimes having a rebellious streak, or being irresponsible.

With seven brothers in my fictional family, did that mean there were five middle-children? Or two that were more irresponsible, while two who clashed for the leadership role. Numerous possibilities presented themselves. Maybe the elders were the first ones who formed this rag-tag family, while the late-comers were viewed as the youngsters, regardless of biological age.

Along the way, I couldn’t resist a quick analysis of my own siblings and my own children to test out the birth order theory.

Meanwhile, the series progressed with varying levels of commitment from the ‘brothers’ some intending to leave once the need for revenge had been fulfilled, others resenting the changes that befell their family, as one-by-one each brother claimed a bride. The remaining bachelors weren’t always happy about the intrusion of a woman, let alone several women into their male-dominated lives.

The end result was tons of fun, with lots of conflict. Not unlike every family I have ever known, including my own. But one thing is for sure. Differences aside, family is and always will be, the backbone of society as we know it today.

What do you think about the birth order theory as it applies to your own family?  Do you think a found-family, together by choice rather than birth, can share the same loyalties as one that shares blood? What about children who are adopted? Or an only child? I don’t always see eye-to-eye with my siblings, but when we lost a parent recently, I was very grateful not to be an ‘only’.

Leave a comment below, sharing some of your thoughts and theories regarding family for one of three chances to win a free copy of Book 1, Brody’s Bride. If you’ve already read the series, I’ll gift you a different title from my back list.

Meanwhile the series prequel, Before the Brides is available to everyone who signs up to join my VIP readers list. http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

You can learn about the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers series, tagline: “Bridgerton meets Yellowstone.” CLICK HERE

About Kathleen:

USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her many alpha male heroes. Blaze in One Fantasy Fall is a movie stuntman, who rides a Harley instead of a horse.

With over 60 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction.

She makes her home in the Pacific Northwest and loves to hear from her readers.  http://www.kathleenlawless.com

Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Newsletter to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers.    http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

AMAZON | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK |  BOOKBUB

New Book Coming up–and a giveaway

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Coming in June

Legends of Gold

Book #2 in the Golden State Treasure Series

Legends of Gold

On a risky treasure hunt in the rugged wilderness, can love trump all odds?

After years of solitude, Tilda Muirhead’s life takes an unexpected twist when she accepts a teaching position at Two Harts Ranch following her cross-country pursuit of two brothers obsessed with a treasure map left by their grandfather. Tilda is now tasked with educating those mischievous MacKenzie boys, who are bent on remaining out west with the rest of their family until they find the hoped-for treasure. Then a man named Ben arrives, claiming to be her own long-lost brother. Raised as an orphan with no memory of her past, Tilda is both fascinated and wary of Ben’s sudden interest in finding her.

When Ben’s motives grow increasingly suspect, rancher Josh Hart suggests Tilda and the young MacKenzies set off on a quest with him that aims to protect Tilda while unearthing the map’s secrets. As they explore the wilderness, Tilda becomes captivated by the history behind the map, though she doubts it leads to anything more than old artifacts. Yet danger looms ever closer, and Tilda and Josh must rely on faith and their blossoming love to navigate the treacherous path ahead.

A witty, action-packed Western romance highlighting the bonds of family and the quest to belong. Fans of cowboy heroes, frontier romances, and hijinks adventure will be captivated.

Leave a comment to get your name in a drawing for the FIRST EVER IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE GIVEAWAY OF A SIGNED COPY OF

Kathleen Lawless Comes to Visit!

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Miss Kathleen Lawless will arrive here Friday, May 16, 2025 to chat with us.

And what a good time we will have. She plans to talk about family and what exactly constitutes one. This is a subject we all have opinions about so we’ll have no shortage of comments.

She’s bringing three copies of Brody’s Bride to give away and that’s a big Yee-Haw!

Be sure and put your chatting britches on and come over to join the fun and get your name in the drawing.

We’ll save you a seat!

To Love a Beast Coming Soon!

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My next western fairy tale releases in less than a month. WooHoo! I can’t wait to share this one with you. Beauty & the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. How could it not be with a bookish heroine and a wounded hero? Add some forced proximity, a quirky supporting cast, and a vain villain seeking vengeance, and you know we’re going to have loads of fun!

 

 

Allow me to introduce you to our cast of characters.

Everett Griffin – Once known among New York’s elite as the American Adonis, he hides away in the wilds of Texas after being horribly disfigured by an outraged woman. Seeking to avoid public interactions, he embraces his beastly persona, frightening away anyone who steps on his land uninvited. (Everett means “wild boar” and Griffin is a mystical beast with a lion’s body and a bird’s head.

Callista Rosenfeld – Callista helps her father run a struggling book bindery. When her father injures his hand after taking on a large commission that would save their business, Callista takes the job upon herself, determined to complete the project no matter how many obstacles are thrown into her path. Including a beastly employer, his giant, man-eating dog, and a gloomy house that looks to be straight out of a gothic novel. Gargoyles included. (Callista means “most beautiful” and Rosenfeld pays homage to the rose that plays such a vital role in the fairy tale.)

 

Spartacus  – The giant Mastiff who roams Manticore Manor.

 

Mrs. Potter – The motherly housekeeper and collector of teacups. (Obviously a play on Mrs. Potts.)

Mr. Lightfoot – Mr. Griffin’s valet, man of business, and best friend. (“Light”foot pays homage to a certain dancing candelabra.)

Mr. Timens – The stuffy butler, local trivia expert, and a tinkerer of watches and clocks. (After all, “Time” is in his name.)

Yes, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast played a significant inspirational role in this story; however, the plot is completely new. Here’s a sneak peek at how the hero and heroine meet:

 

Courage, Callista. Just because you can’t see any evidence of his presence doesn’t mean that God isn’t with you. We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.

Even as that scriptural assurance moved through her mind, something unseen made its presence known. Something with a deep bass bark that rumbled over her like the thunder of an approaching storm.

Her head spun to the right. Her gaze scoured the shadows for the guard dog whose territory she’d invaded. She saw nothing.

Heart thumping, she rushed ahead, praying the manor would be around the next bend. But before she could reach the bend in question, the barking shifted direction, now coming from in front of her. She stumbled to a halt. Leaves rustled nearby. The low-pitched barks grew closer. Nearly upon her. She’d never be able to outrun the beast.

Callista squeezed her eyes shut, wrapped her arms around her middle, and prayed for a miracle.

Gruff barks echoed with a percussive depth so near, she could feel them like tremors in the earth. Instinct urged her to flee, but reason glued her feet to the ground. He hadn’t attacked yet. She’d not give him reason to think of her as prey. Perhaps if she imitated a tree long enough, he’d grow bored and search for entertainment elsewhere.

However, the barks grew increasingly insistent. Apparently, her tree act wasn’t as convincing as she’d hoped. Or perhaps she was too convincing, for the beast decided to fell her. He rammed his head into her ribcage and threw her backwards. Callista let out a startled yelp as she stumbled and landed on her backside. Eyes wide open now, she stared into the face of the massive beast who stood over her. Even her imagination could not have conjured a dog like this. On all fours, he towered over her, his fur the tawny gold of a lion, contrasting with the dark brown of his face and eyes.

He barked again, and she flinched, bringing up an arm to fend him off.

“Spartacus. Heel!”

The dog’s countenance cleared as he turned toward the voice. A heartbeat later, he loped off the path and into the mesquite.

Callista scrambled to her feet, dusted off her rump, and turned in the direction the dog had gone. “Thank you, sir.” She lifted her voice to be sure the man could hear her. She strained for a glimpse of him but saw nothing. “My name is—”

“I don’t care what your name is. You’re not welcome here.” The harshness of the man’s tone took her aback. “I want you off my property. Now!”

Callista fisted her hands. She had not come all this way to be bullied into leaving before she’d made it to the front door. “I have an appointment with Mr. Lightfoot.”

“Mr. Lightfoot takes his orders from me, and I want you gone. End of discussion.”

End of discussion? Not likely. This boorish excuse of a human being needed a lesson in manners.

Swallowing her mounting frustration, Callista called forth the conciliatory tone she used on the rare occasion she had to deal with a difficult client. “I’m sorry if there has been some miscommunication.” She stepped off the path and began wending her way through the mesquite, hoping to have a civilized discussion face-to-face instead of yelling at one another across the vegetation. “I’ve been hired—”

“Stop right there!”

Did she detect a note of fear beneath the dominating anger? She took another step.

“Come any closer and I’ll sic Spartacus on you.”

She didn’t believe him. He might be rude and overbearing, but he’d called off his dog earlier. Intuition told her he wasn’t the type to harm an innocent woman. Scare her, yes. But not harm her.

Callista dared another step. “Please, sir. If you’ll just listen to what I have to say. . .”

“I’m done listening. Be gone!”

Hurried footsteps echoed from within the brush, and a moment later Callista caught a glimpse of the back of a man clad in a reddish-brown greatcoat darting between the trees, a giant dog at his side.

He had fled from her. Interesting.

With the threat of the Mastiff no longer looming, renewed determination bolstered Callista’s courage. She returned to the path and marched forward with purpose. The master of Manticore Manor would soon learn that she did not surrender so easily.

Preorder To Love a Beast Here.

What do you like best about the Beauty & the Beast tale?

The Romance
The Redemption of the Hero
The Bookish Heroine
The Library
The Supporting Cast
Other?

To Tame a Wild Horse — New Novella — Plus Giveaway

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Howdy!  Welcome to another terrific Tuesday!  Hope y’all are doing well!

Have just released a new Young Adult, Novella #2 in the Untamed Frontier Series.  The title of the book is To Tame a Wild Horse.  It’s written under one of my pen names, Genny Cothern.

First let me tell you a little about the series and then the story of book #2.  The series is about two teenagers from completely different cultures, Good Eagle and Miss Starling.  When they first meet, he is eighteen and she is sixteen and they spark off of one another from the start.  But gradually, they become friends, though it’s a long, hard road.

 

Book #2 takes place about a year later and together they herd the horses for the Fort (where Starling’s uncle is the Factor), they hunt for the fort and they roam the prairies when they can.  They’ve become good friends.  And so, with this in mind, this is the back blurb for the book:

 

TO TAME A WILD HORSE

Montana, 1848

 

Can Friends Ever Fall In Love?

I have only been at Fort Lewis for a year, but my friendship with Good Eagle has blossomed and has brought me a kind of happiness like nothing I have ever known.  Daily I ride over the prairies and mountains with Good Eagle, and, I’ve now learned to herd horses, to hunt wild game and to aim at a target and bring it down.  But, when a grizzly threatens both Good Eagle and me, and, when Good Eagle commands me to hide from it while he faces the grizzly alone, I refuse.  Desert my best friend?  Never.

But, after we rescue some stolen horses, I begin to believe my friendship with Good Eagle might have been love from the very start.

This is not good.  Not only has Good Eagle given my Uncle Jed a promise to treat me like an almost-sister, we share nothing in common except our friendship.  Nothing.  And, when I slyly bring up the subject of love, Good Eagle reminds me of his vow to my uncle.

And yet, when we track and bring down the wild, black stallion we are seeking, Good Eagle gives me an unexpected gift.

Is falling in love really impossible, or are we merely too young to know our own hearts?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F89HQKVZ?tag=pettpist-20

This fictional story is inspired by the true adventures of Thomas Fox and Pitamakan, as written by James Willard Schultz from Thomas Fox’s handwritten legacy — and from Thomas relating the adventures of he and Pitamakan, while sitting around an evening’s cozy fire.

Pitamakan went on to become a great chief, but a quick search doesn’t pull up many results about him because Pitamakan means Running Eagle in Blackfeet and there was another Running Eagle, a girl warrior, and most accounts I’ve been able to find about Pitamakan are about the girl warrior, who, by the way had many adventures, as well, as told by her lifetime friend, Ap’ah, who was born on the same day as she.

 

Must admit I love telling these stories about friendship and honor, and about two people from completely opposing cultures who somehow manage to become friends.  And, I love learning about a history I had no knowledge of prior to doing this research.

Now, I’ll be giving away this new story to four (4) bloggers today.  So come on in and leave a comment.  And, May your week be filled with happiness and love!

 

 

Winnie’s Winners

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Thanks to everyone who came by to leave a comment on my Monday post. The winners of my giveaway are

Rhonda Pierce

Rhonda McDermitt

Congratulations to the Rhondas! You’ve won your choice of a signed copy of any one of my published books. Once you make your selection (you can see a list here https://winniegriggs.com/booklist.html ) send me the title and your mailing info and I’ll get it on out to you

A Walk Through History: The Wheeled Chair

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Hello, Winnie Griggs here. I hope all of you are having a lovely May.

A few years ago, I found myself rolling through life in a way I never expected—literally. After a series of foot surgeries, I spent several weeks where I had strict doctor’s orders not to let my foot touch the floor.   During that time I made use of a wheelchair and a knee scooter.  And while I was grateful for the mobility, I quickly discovered how those devices shaped not just how I moved, but how I experienced the world.

Simple things—like going outside, feeling the breeze or warm sunshine on my face—became things to be carefully organized and usually involved the help of others.

That experience stayed with me.

So when I sat down to write Luke, my upcoming July release, I found myself drawing on those memories in a very personal way. Luke Dawson, my wounded Texas Ranger hero, suffers a serious injury early in the book—three broken ribs, thanks to an ambush gone wrong. His path to recovery is slow, painful, and not something he’s thrilled about. But helping him along that road is Hattie Brooks, the heroine—his former sweetheart and now the quietly capable assistant to her uncle, the town doctor.

Hattie isn’t just administering medicine and checking his bandages. She’s taking him out into her herb garden. Letting him soak up the Texas sun. Offering fresh air and green things and the quiet rhythm of growing life as part of his healing.

And yes, she’s doing it with the help of a wheeled chair. But I couldn’t just draw on my own experience, I had to research what wheelchairs were like in the late 19th century and what their availability was. Here is a little of what I found.

A Bit of History:

I used to think of wheelchairs as a modern invention, but the truth is, humans have been building ways to move the injured and infirm for centuries.

The earliest known mobility chairs date back to ancient China and Greece. Fast-forward to the 1500s, and I learned that King Philip II of Spain used an ornate chair with footrests and wheels—though it required someone to push him. In 18th-century England, the “Bath Chair” became a common sight, named for the spa town where invalids were rolled out to take in the healing waters or sea air.

. 19th Century Bath Chair

Of course, these early chairs looked more like rickshaws or high-backed baby strollers than what we know today. But their purpose was the same: to give an individual a bit of independence, to give them some form of mobility, however limited, during their convalescence—or at least provide comfort.

In 19th-century America, especially in rural towns like my fictional town of Tucker’s Gap, Texas, wheeled chairs weren’t exactly common. But they existed. A resourceful doctor or carpenter might fashion one out of wagon wheels or rocker frames. Or, as I imagine in Luke, a progressive or enterprising doctor might acquire one for their clinic to help their patients.

Interesting Facts & Trivia About Wheelchairs

  • The first recorded wheelchair dates back to 6th-century China. Although rudimentary wheeled furniture existed earlier, an image from around 525 A.D. shows a device clearly designed for mobility assistance.
  • Early wheelchairs were symbols of status as well as necessity. They were often custom-made, ornate, and considered a luxury—used by wealthier invalids who could afford attendants to push them.
  • Self-propelling wheelchairs didn’t become common until the 20th century. Before that, most designs required a caregiver to push from behind. The first modern self-propelling model appeared in the 1930s, changing mobility and independence dramatically.
  • Wheelchair racing has been part of the Paralympics since 1960. Since their introduction in the first Paralympic Games in Rome, racing wheelchairs have become marvels of speed, engineering, and athleticism.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt used a wheelchair—but the public rarely saw it. Due to stigma at the time and press cooperation, very few photos exist of the U.S. president in his wheelchair. His disability was widely known but visually hidden.
  • The world’s fastest motorized wheelchair hit a jaw-dropping 61.18 mph (98.3 km/h). Inventor Jason Liversidge set the record in the UK in 2020.
  • Hein Wagner, a blind adventurer, completed 1,000 km (621 miles) across South Africa in a manual wheelchair alongside adventurer Jaco van Gass. This currently holds the record for the Longest Distance Traveled in a Manual Wheelchair
  • The Most Ornate Historical Wheelchair: A mid-1800s Victorian invalid carriage designed for British nobility featured velvet upholstery, brass trim, lace curtains, and a parasol. These weren’t just for comfort—they were a status symbol!
  • Created by artist Tommy Hollenstein, the smallest functioning wheelchair (used for a doll as art) measures just 4.5 inches tall and includes tiny rubber wheels that actually turn.
  • The oldest preserved wheelchair is an elegant wood and iron rolling chair from the 18th century. It is displayed at the Museum of the History of Medicine in Paris. It belonged to a French noblewoman and has a surprisingly modern silhouette.
  • The Longest Use of a Personal Wheelchair is difficult to track officially, but many veterans from WWI and WWII used the same personally fitted wheelchairs for decades, often retrofitting them with homemade parts—a testament to both durability and limited access to medical tech in early 20th-century rural areas.

 

Back to my story:

Luke might be stubborn and hurting, but Hattie knows something he doesn’t yet: recovery isn’t just about the body—it’s about the spirit. And sometimes, a slow ride through a garden can work more wonders than any medicine.

Looking Ahead

Luke releases at the end of July, and I can’t wait to share more with you about these two characters who have unfinished business, unspoken feelings, and one last chance to get it right.

Until then, I’d love to know—have you ever had a season where your mobility was limited? What made you feel most yourself during that time? Or have you ever used the simple power of nature—sunlight, herbs, fresh air—to help someone you love heal?

 

And to check out all of the books in this great new series, go to the Amazon Series page HERE

Let’s chat. Leave a comment to entered in a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books.

Heidi Gray McGill Has a Winner!

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Thank you for coming to visit, Miss Heidi. We sure did enjoy having you and hope you come back soon.

Now for the Drawing………

One person will win a copy of Written on my Heart!

And the Winner is………….

BONNIE

Yippee! Huge congrats, Bonnie! Now watch for Miss Heidi’s email and check Spam if you don’t see it.