Welcome Guest – Kathleen Lawless

by

One of the many reasons I find the Wild West fun to write about is the opportunity afforded women during the time. With a ten-men-to-every-woman ratio in many of the territories, women were more concerned about suitability than availability. As someone who lives on an island where there are eight single women to every available man, I prefer those odds of 150 years ago.

Unlike the East, where a woman’s marriageability was more likely based on social standing, family background and financial prospects, things were different in the West. Even a woman of questionable background could marry a man of her choosing. If the union didn’t work out a divorce, in most places, was relatively easy to obtain.

In keeping with those times, I’m having a lot of fun writing about mail-order brides. Readers never tire of the idea of a woman traveling across the country to marry a stranger, win his affections, and start a new life. While such a life-changing trip is an adventure in itself, how about the addition of danger and excitement to up the odds of a happy outcome?

Since Lila is part of the Rescue Me Mail-Order Brides, I had to create a strong Alpha male character to rescue my heroine from imminent danger. I liked the idea of a Bounty Hunter, a man who makes his own rules and is his own boss, but that lifestyle meant a hero who is always on the move. Not exactly a happily-ever-after prospect for our bride.

Since Bolton settles down by the end of the book, I made him a retired bounty hunter. This gives him the necessary skills to keep our bride safe while pursuing his own agenda, which poor Lila is unwittingly tangled up in. Thus, the pair are stuck together until the mystery is solved and the danger has passed.

Did you know most bounty hunters in the Old West were actually lawmen of some persuasion? Apparently, we have Hollywood to thank for the romanticized image of the lone-wolf bounty hunter hero. In real life, I expect very few men on the trail of a wanted criminal for the reward on his head had a heroic bone in their body. That’s the fun of writing fiction.

Giveaway!

Comment below and tell me if you enjoy the addition of suspense and mystery in a Western Romance.

I’ll randomly choose one lucky reader to receive a copy of Lila.

Excerpt

Lila knotted her hands in her lap as the train car vibrated beneath her, carrying her away from the only home she’d ever known. And just when she felt like they’d never arrive, the conductor called her stop. Cheyenne. She gulped. Suddenly it felt too soon. She hadn’t finished her latest prayer that Mr. Gavin, soon to become her husband, would be a nice man. A kind gentleman who appreciated her homemaking skills. She patted her breastbone through her coarse traveling jacket, reassured by heavy weight of a silver key on a piece of twine around her neck. Then she stepped forward into her new life.

The station’s platform was bustling with activity as folks called out, pushing and shoving in all directions. Once again, she rued her short stature. For it was impossible to see over the heads of those around her.

A roughly-dressed, bandy-legged gentleman pushed his way impatiently through the crowd and gave a shifty, side-eyed look around. “Miss Sanders?”

Her eyes widened, hearing her name spoken in a nasally voice. She saw a gap where one or two teeth had been recently knocked out.

Surely this wasn’t Mr. Gavin! Perhaps her intended had sent someone in his stead?

Spittle dotted his lips as his eyes continued to dart from side to side. “You brought the key?”

Reluctantly she nodded.

“Give it to me!” A meaty hand was thrust her way but before she could move, a shot rang out. The crowd around her screamed and scattered as the man landed near her feet. She watched in horror as a fast-spreading pool of blood stained the ground below him.

Lila stood frozen, too shocked to move. Suddenly, her right elbow was grasped none-too-gently from behind. “Keep walking, head high. That’s it. Back onto the train.”

The stranger’s voice rang with authority, and a lifelong habit of doing as she was told saw her follow the newcomer’s directive. As she boarded the train, she looked over her shoulder to see two men bent over the lifeless body of the man who’d greeted her by name. They were going through his pockets.

Buy Lila Here

Puzzle the Cover

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. With nearly 50 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. Visit Kathleen’s website.

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54 thoughts on “Welcome Guest – Kathleen Lawless”

  4. Mystery and suspense, when done well and combined with a good romance, makes a book more intriguing. I love it.

  5. Yes, I like the added mystery and suspense to a storyline. Looking forward to reading this book -sounds fascinating!. Also thanks for the puzzle.

  10. I love to have mystery and intrigue added to a story. I do not care for lots of murder and mayhem. This story sounds like it will be very interesting and entertaining. I imagine I will shed a tear or two.

  11. Yes, adding suspense and mystery is a plus, but sometimes I have to not read it before bed because it will keep me awake.

  13. Welcome today. Yes I do like a little suspense or mystery in my romances. Gives it a depth that just plain romance doesnt have. Seems more real life. thanks for the puzzle. Fun. What a pretty cover. This sounds like a wonderful story.

  18. This is a book I will surely enjoy. Mail-order bride stories are a favorite. It took a great deal of fortitude or desperation, maybe both, to take that path. Mysteries and suspense were my favorites growing up and still are favorites. Adding suspense and a touch of danger to any story makes it all the more enjoyable for me. You are a new to me author and I will definitely be checking out your books.

  19. Thanks for the puzzle.
    Yes, I enjoy reading books with humor, suspense, mystery and believable characters. There were plenty to write about in the West

  21. I like! Probably mystery more than suspense– I find personal intrigue/ relationships more gripping than action scenes.
    Thanks for the excerpt! How exciting! I’m hooked.
    And the puzzle was fun! 3 min 17 sec

    • In that case, Cherie, you will really love this series. Although I’m okay when the biggest mystery is how they will work out their differences and get together by the end of the book.

  24. I enjoy a bit of mystery/suspense in a romance sometimes. I think it helps to add a bit of spice when sometimes a straight up romance can be too simple for the mood I’m in when reading.

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