It’s FINALLY here! Today is the official release of TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE and I’m giving away 4 copies–winners’ choice of either print or e-book!
When dark-haired, gray-eyed Cooper Thorne sauntered onto the page with his swagger and dogged determination, I knew he was a special kind of hero. He was rough around the edges and filled with a gritty hardness that came from watching his father beat his mother to death when he was seven years old. He would require a very special woman with a lot of heart who could give as good as she got. Someone who challenged him at every turn.
Enter Delta Dandridge who learned the hard way that no one was going to look out for her. She was on her own. One feisty and tough lady! When she dug in her heels, you’d better watch out. I knew she would be a perfect match for Cooper.
I was thrilled when they arrived on my doorstep with baggage in hand.
Sparks fly from the moment they meet. He’s furious that she would think he sent for her. If he can find the person who played the joke, he’ll wring his neck. He’s a bachelor and will die a bachelor and that’s the way it is. Then for her to refuse to go back where she came…well, let’s say it makes Cooper mad enough to spit. Delta reminds him of everything he’s trying to forget.
The depth of Cooper’s loyalty and caring for the people in his life goes bone-deep. When a man suddenly shows up that he thought he killed, Cooper becomes a fearless fighter. He will protect those he loves to the bitter end. The stripes on his back prove that he may bend, but he will never break.
Magic happened in a big way. Maybe a lot had to do with the fact that Cooper had such a larger-than-life persona. Or maybe it was Delta’s fierce need to matter to someone and be accepted. When she saw the dying town and people of Battle Creek, Texas, she knew they needed her as much as she desperately needed them.
So when Cooper throws down the gauntlet by saying that he isn’t in a market for a wife and never will be, she simply has to make him eat his words.
Or die trying.
Whatever the magic ingredient was, the story all came together in a fantastic fashion and I’m very proud of it. It’s a story of love and hope and finding a way to trust again.
TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE is the first book of my Bachelors of Battle Creek series. I hope you enjoy it and look for book two, TWICE A TEXAS BRIDE, in May 2015.
Have you ever captured the magic that sometimes happens when everything comes together be it in life, love or the pursuit of happiness?
Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing!
And finally, here’s a trailer just for you.
Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules/
Isn’t it wonderful when things fall into place.
We love to travel and have had many wonderful trips. A trip we took in 2001 turned into a special trip. We had made no reservations, for once, we were going to just drive and stop when we felt like it. We visited family in New England and headed to northern Maine. Stayed in a lovely motel on the coast and had a wonderful seafood dinner. Next day, we crossed into Canada and went to Prince Edward Island. It was early September, so was off season. We stayed in an old farm house converted to a B&B. We were close to Green Gables, and enjoyed leisurely touring the island. Since it was off season, there were few visitors and nothing was crowded. The pace of life was slow, people were friendly, and we weren’t rushed. It was a lot like turning the clock back to the 1950s. We were on the East end of the island visiting the lighthouse, when we overheard two ladies talking about a bomb in NYC. It was already 1 or 2 in the afternoon and it was the first we heard of the 9/11 disaster. We turned our radio on and headed back to the room to see the TV news about it. The people were wonderful. We were in the capital the next day, just walking around and going to the cathedral. There was a banner hung on the fence of a war memorial in front of the American consulate. People were stopping by signing it, expressing their shock and wishes. How people in the street knew we were Americans, I will never know, but they would come up to us telling us how sorry they were. They were sincere expressions by a lovely people.
Our children were fine, the back up at the border to get back into the States was 20+ miles long the first few days, and we saw no reason to go home. We continued on to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It was very different from PEI, and we loved it. You come up the west side and it is very Scottish. You reach the top and head down the east coast and you are in french canadian territory. It is an area rich in natural beauty and cultural history. We didn’t do much on the large souther island of the province. Flights were being diverted from NY to Halifax and at one point they had 8,000 people staying in the convention center shelter.
As much as the trip was marred by the tragedy of 9/11, it was relaxing. We never felt rushed and went at our own pace doing what we pleased. We explored nature, history, culture, and experienced the goodness of people. To this day, it is still my husband and my favorite trip.
Congratulations on the release of TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE. The mail order bride trope is a favorite. I always enjoy your books.
Good Morning, Pat……..I loved your post and how your magical trip came about amid such heartbreaking tragedy. The outpouring of love can truly make sad times brighter. I think all nations came together in those days because they realized maybe that the attack could’ve happened in their country very easily. It thrills my heart when people unite.
Thanks for the congrats! And good luck in the drawing. I hope you enjoy the book.
Stay warm and have a wonderful day!
Hi Linda. Congratulations on the release of Texas Mail Order Bride. I love mail order bride stories.
I have captured the ‘magic’ when things fall together. God brought my husband and I together after 32 years. We had gone to high school together, neither of us had married and through God’s touch He had my husband scour the the country (via telephone) looking for me. It took him several months but he found me, we got married, and every need we had at the time was fulfilled with pin point timing. It was a truly a God thing. We have now been married over 14 years.
I would love to win a copy of your book.
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
Good Morning, Cindy! My your’re up early. You really did have a magical moment. I’m so happy that you found your soul mate. I agree that it was a God moment and something to celebrate and cherish. May you and your husband have a lifetime of happiness together.
Thanks for the congrats on the the book. I’m just so proud of this book and the depth of heart of Cooper and Delta. I hope you’ll like it. Good luck!
Have a great day celebrating your love!
I think any new baby is a miracle. Last year my daughter went through a high risk pregnancy. Luckily last March after 6 months of several highs and lows, we were gifted with a precious grandson. My daughter and grandson’s delivery had no major complications. We are blessed. Everett’s almost walking and smiles almost all of the time. He is such a gift.
I do like marriage of convenience stories. Delta sounds like an exciting, intelligent woman who won’t put up with being ignored by Cooper. Sounds like he needs someone to shake him up and out of his rut.
Your release sounds like a wonderful way to start 2015.
johnslake at usa dot com
Good Morning, Laurie! I’ll bet it’s awfully cold up where you are. Hope you stay warm! Thank you for your comment. A new baby is always such a miracle. So many things have to come together in order to welcome a bundle of joy. I’m glad your grandson is healthy and happy and that your daughter is okay.
Yes, Cooper does need his world shaken and Delta does just that.She is the strongest woman I’ve seen. Give her some lemons and she’ll make you a tall glass of sweet lemonade and serve it with a smile. I hope you enjoy the story. Good Luck!
Wishing you a wonderful day. Stay warm!
I can’t say I have ever experienced any kind of magic like this. Hopefully I’m not too blind to realize it when it actually happens.
Hi Janine! Thanks for coming by and commenting. I’m sure something will pop into your head before the day is out. I certainly don’t think you’re too blind to see magic. 🙂
I hope you enjoyed learning about Cooper Thorne and my bachelors and will give the series a try.
Good luck in the drawing!
Your new book has launched on my nieces’ Birthday. I was just thinking about the happenings of this day 31 yrs ago and the joy and love she brought to our family. She was the first niece and grandchild born into our family and has been the star jewel in our crown.
Congrats on the release of your book..
Hi Kathleen O! Thanks for your comment. Wow, how neat to have magic happen 31 years ago on the same day as my blog. Amazing!
Thanks for your congrats on the book. I’m really proud of this story and I hope you’ll give it a try.
Good luck and have a great day!
Linda, congratulations on the new release and the entire series. I love stories of hope and trust and redemption…toss in a mail order bride and I’m hooked. I know I’m gonna love spending time with Delta and Cooper! I wish you lots of success, my friend! And let the magic continue. Love…
Hi Tanya! Thanks for the congrats. I’m glad the story caught your interest and hoping you’ll enjoy it. We all have magic and you have certainly had it in your stories. Yes, may the magic continue for all of us.
Wishing you much success and a great 2015!
Congrats on the new release! Mail order bride stories are a personal favorite of mine. In my life, God has blessed me many times with the “magic” of things coming together just right. I have been blessed by meeting my husband when I was actually dating a guy who would have been so wrong for me. I was also blessed by the perfect coming-together of right job and right place.
Hi Cheryl! It’s music to my ears that mail order bride stories are your favorites. YAY! Maybe you’ll give this one a try.
Sounds like you’ve had plenty of magic in your life. God does some pretty wonderful things. I’m so glad you have a good husband and have a happy marriage. That’s truly a miracle in this day and age.
Good luck and have a glorious day that is filled with magic!
Congratulations! what a lovely cover & my kind of story too! Wish you much success 🙂
Hi Deanna! Thank you for your comment. Your compliment on my cover makes me happy. I was thrilled from the moment I first saw it. The Sourcebooks art department is outstanding. But I think they’ve topped this in the one they’ve done for the next book TWICE A TEXAS BRIDE. I’ll be sharing that before too long.
Good luck and have a great day that’s full of magic!
What a great day! Congratulations on that wonderful book of yours. Would love to read it!
Hi Melanie! Thank you so much for coming by for this little party. It’s been a great celebration. I’m glad that you’re interested in reading it. Maybe you’ll win a copy. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Enjoy the day and look for the magic!
Looking forward to reading Texas Mail Order Bride! I love this type of story.
Hi Connie! Thank you for your comment and for coming to the celebration. I do hope I’ve tempted you and that you’ll give my bachelor series a try. Cooper and Delta created a lot of magic on those pages.
Good luck and have a beautiful day!
Oh those two characters sound really interesting! Happy Release Day for TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE Linda! What a beautiful cover!
Hi Colleen! Thank you, thank you! I’m tickled to death that you want to read Cooper’s and Delta’s special love story. Cooper was such a stubborn man. Thank goodness Delta was such a determined woman! Thank you for the compliment on my cover. It is one of the prettiest I’ve seen but I think the Sourcebooks Art Department outdid themselves on the one coming up next, Twice a Texas Bride. It’s truly amazing. I’ll share that with you before long.
Good luck and enjoy your sunshine! Some of the country would give their eye-teeth to be where you are.
Yay for your new book!!! It sounds wonderful!!! I think I have experienced a little magic through out my life but one of our most recent loving magic moments is that we found out we’re pregnant with our technically 5th child. We lost two last year to miscarriages, one very early in the pregnancy and one to far into my pregnancy. We are hopeful and will live in fear for this new year!
Hi Cori! Thanks for coming by and joining the celebration. Glad I could tempt you into trying my book.
Oh Wow! You have certainly had a miracle and I’m just thrilled for you! I’ll be sending lots of prayers and good thoughts your way that God will send you a healthy son or daughter. Bless your heart.
Good luck and keep the magic going in your life!
Congratulations on the release of TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Linda! It sounds like an exciting story and one I would love! Thank you so much for the generous giveaway. Wishing you much success!!
Hi Britney! Thanks for the congrats and for stopping by. I’m glad you liked my post about TMOB and the magic I found in the relationship between Cooper and Delta. They were something else, but I got them to the altar in spite of everything.
Good luck in winning a copy! You never know. Maybe you have magic.
Your books are magic, Linda!
Hi Sherri! Thanks so much. So you do yours, lady. I still remember Winning the Widow’s Heart. Oh man, that was a good story. Hope you enjoy your day.
Oops, forgot to answer your questions! I have been blessed to enjoy that magical feeling; it started when I met my husband and still continues!
Hi again, Britney! Glad you have the magic of love. It takes some doing to find the right man to spend the rest of your life with but it takes even more magic to endure the test of time. That’s great!
yes, it has happened to me. Thank you for the giveaway!
Hi Anon! It’s wonderful to see you. I’m glad you stopped by. I’m also glad that you found magic in your life. Magic is wonderful and exciting and lifts us from the ruts.
Good luck in the drawing!
I can’t say I have had anything like this happen to me but its not over yet. I loved your book trailer and I can’t wait to read the book. I love mail order bride stories, they are my favorite type or read, so I will be looking for this one.
Hi Quilt Lady! Thank you for coming by and commenting. I appreciate it. I think magic is all around us and sometimes its so quiet we can’t see it. Like in the beauty of a baby’s smile or a snow-topped mountain. Some times I’m amazed at the magic I see.
I’m so glad you loved my book trailer! That was fun to put together. I’m also very glad that you like mail order bride stories. I hope you like this one and maybe look for the rest of the series that’ll be out this year.
Have a wonderful evening!
OH CONGRATULATIONS, LINDA! This looks so good–I can’t wait to get my hands on it–and I’m getting it in print–I want to be able to hold it in my hot little hands. LOL
Another winner, for sure, and one I am sure I’ll be up into the night reading.
Hugs,
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl P! Thanks for the congrats. I’m thrilled to FINALLY have this book out! It seems I’ve been talking about it for at least 6 months. But, it’s here now and people can buy it. I do hope you like the story. Cooper and Delta were like family to me. They really burrowed deep into my heart.
Happy Reading!
Love your books. Can’t wait
Hi Sherry! Thank you for coming by. It’s wonderful to have you. I’m glad you like my stories and glad I could bring them to you, especially this one.
Have a good night!
Hi Linda. Congrats on your book. I know I would love it. Love cowboys and also mail order brides. Liked your post and would love to be a winner. Glad I’m not still in the Panhandle. Brrr! Stay in and stay safe. One night that turned magical for me was on a Christmas Eve night about four years ago. I hardly ever go out to stores at night and for sure not Christmas Eve. Well that night I did go for a forgotten item. When I came out into the parking lot it was really snowing, almost unbelieveable for our area. I looked up and with the tall lights in the parking lot, it was just magical. So sparkly. A wonderful gift from GOD. I couldn’t quit looking up at it. Saw a man standing by his car watching the beauty too, so unexpected and yet some people didn’t even act like they noticed. The next morning my porch and car was covered, but it didn’t take long in our weather and it melted fast. BUT, it was a magical night to me. A gift from GOD. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Hi Maxie! Thank you for coming and telling me about your magical night. I would love to have seen that! I can imagine the beauty of the snow in the parking lot lights against the blackness of the night. Yes, it was magical. It’s going to be very cold here in the Panhandle tonight and all day tomorrow. Wind chill way below zero.
I’m glad you like cowboys and mail order brides since that’s what I have. I think you will enjoy this story.
You keep warm also. This cold front is supposed to get down there where you are too. My brother lives in Katy, Texas which is a suburb of Houston and he was telling me how cold it was going to get.
Wishing you the best!
Congratulations Linda!!!!!
This book is going on my TBR list!!
Hi Charlene! Big thanks. I hope you like the story. Cooper and Delta sure did their best not to fall in love.
Wishing you the best!
Congratulations on your new release! I LOVE books set in that time in Texas and this story caught my attention. No better read than one about a strong Texas cowboy and an equally strong and feisty woman! Looking forward to reading it!
Hi Bonnie! Thank you so much for coming by. I enjoyed your comment. I’m thrilled that my book caught your attention. If you love strong characters this one will definitely fit the bill. Cooper and Delta both rose the occasion over and over. But I think how Delta galvanized the women and formed the club Women of Vision was the most heartwarming thing. I do hope you enjoy the story.
Have a great day!
Hi,
I can’t wait to read this book! It sounds fantastic and definitely one that I won’t want to put down.
To answer the question, no I have not found the magic. I am working on finding it and if plans come together I will be able to answer differently soon. Just as your heroine is stubborn,so am I. My magic will be coming along!
Thanks and looking forward to hearing more!
Melissa
Hi Melissa! Thank you for stopping by. Never give up on finding the magic. It’s there and you only have to grab it. I’m pulling for you. I’m glad my book interests you. I do hope you like it.
I hope your day is full of special things!
Congrats on the new release! Looks like another great one!
I had been job hunting for a few months and had been praying that I would find the right job that was meant for me. when I randomly & unexpectedly ran into a former colleague at the grocery store. She said they had a job opening. Two days later I had an interview and by the end of the week I had the job. It all just fell into place. That’s a great feeling!
Hi Dali! Thank you so much for coming by and sharing your magic. How wonderful that your job came about because of something that seemed so random. God or destiny or whatever you want to call it was at work in your life and set all these things into motion. I firmly believe that.
I appreciate the congrats on the book. I hope you’ll give it a try and maybe follow the series.
Best wishes and more magic!
I had my eye on my husband, who worked for the same company, but no longer in the same building. I was introduced to him at a happy hour, but he was talking to another girl. The very next day, I saw him at my gym for the first time. We started talking on the bikes & the rest is history!It turns out, we were both renting apartments in the same town, about a mile apart!
Hi Sharlene! You definitely have the magic, girl! How wonderful that everything came together in such a fantastic way for you and your husband! And I hope you keep that magic alive every single day.
I hope you have a very special day that’s full of fun and lots of nice surprises!