Years ago, when I first inquired about being a guest author on the Petticoats & Pistols blog, I had a fan-girl moment when Karen Witemeyer replied to me. I’ve been a fan of her books since I first discovered them!
She was so gracious and welcomed me with kindness. I admired the women who were part of this group and wished I could be one of their “Fillies” too.
Sometimes wishes do come true! In 2017, I was invited to join them as a regular author, and I’ve loved being one of the Fillies in their corral of western authors. So, when Pam and Karen started kicking around the idea of a legacy project for Petticoats & Pistols, something we could all participate in, I was excited at the prospect. Then the decision was made to tie the stories in our series to Annie Oakley, which made it even better.
In case you’ve missed all the announcements, our joint endeavor is called the Pink Pistol Sisterhood. Eleven of us have written sweet western romances, all tied to the journey of a pink-handled pistol that Annie passes on to the heroine in the first book, which just happens to be written by Karen. Make sure you read In Her Sights! It releases March 30!
Captain Cavedweller happened to be in an antique shop last fall and found a book about Annie Oakley that he knew I needed to have. Written in 1981 by Isabelle S. Sayers, Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West from Dover Publications features more than a hundred photos, illustrations, posters and advertisements. Being able to see so many visuals of Annie really helped not only clarify in my mind the hero she would be to Rena (my heroine), but also how her influence would help shape Rena’s character in my book (#2 in the series), Love on Target.
When I was thinking about my story and the characters, I knew I wanted it to be set in the town of Holiday, a place that exists only in my imagination, but it’s at the heart of several of my books, both historical and contemporary. (You can read the beginning of the town in Holiday Hope. )
My hero in Love on Target, Josh Gatlin, was a character who had a brief mention in my book Henley. I thought he’d be wonderful for the hero in this story. Since nine years had passed from then, though, I wanted him to have experienced love and loss, and it provided a perfect way to include the character of his five-year-old daughter, Gabi.
Rena is strong and courageous, but she’s also soft-hearted, and whether she admitted it or not, she really, really just wanted someone to accept her for who she was, scars and all, and love her.
Here’s one of my favorite scenes from the book!
~*~
“Laura has lost her mind if she believes all this romantic nonsense,” Rena groused as she returned the letter to the pocket in the case and set Laura’s letter aside to tuck into the packet of letters she’d kept from both of her cousins over the years.
“Of all the silly, pretentious …” A snort rolled out of her. “True love my foot. I’m more likely to lasso the moon than I am to fall in love because I held this gun. Although, it is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.”
She started to close the case, but changed her mind and lifted out the pistol. The thought that the gun had been in the possession of her hero, Annie Oakley, made her long to shoot it. Just once.
With a plan in mind, Rena set aside the case, tugged on her boots, and rushed down the ladder. She gathered a pocket full of cartridges and her pistol in the gun belt, which was the same caliber as the pink-handled weapon, and headed outside. She stopped by the woodpile and selected a large slab of bark that had fallen off a chunk of wood, then went to the barn where she painted a red heart on the bark, then added a white circle in the center of it.
She experienced an almost giddy sensation as she carried the bark and the pistols to what had once served as a corral. The whole thing needed to be rebuilt, which was on Theo’s long list of tasks he wanted to finish before summer arrived.
Rena knew he wouldn’t care if she practiced her shooting there since there was nothing behind the fence she could damage.
She used a nail to hang the bark on the fence, then retreated to the burn pile by the outhouse where she retrieved half a dozen tin cans that had once held peaches. It had been a while since she’d practiced shooting targets.
To make sure she hadn’t lost the skill, she lined up the cans on fence posts on either side of the heart she’d painted on the bark, took out her pistol, moved back several yards, and loaded rounds into the cylinder.
After widening her stance, she lined up her first shot, released a breath, and pulled the trigger.
The sound of the bullet pinging the target rang out as the can flew backward off the post. Rena shot the remaining cans, then smiled with satisfaction as she climbed over the fence to retrieve them. She set them back up on the posts, rested for a minute on the top pole of the fence, face turned to the sunshine as she soaked up the warmth. Then she hopped down and riddled the cans full of more holes before she stowed her gun in the gun belt and draped it over a fence post, then took the pistol with the delicate pink handle from where she’d set it on a stump.
“Promise of true love,” she whispered, rubbing her thumb over the handle before she loaded five shots in the revolver and took aim at the target she’d painted. “True love. What an absurd notion. Laura really should mind her own business and cease meddling in mine. If she thinks this gun will lead me to romance, she needs to have her thinker checked for defects. Instead of dreaming of true love, setting love on target seems like a much better idea.”
She blasted five holes in the middle of the white circle she’d painted inside the heart on the slab of bark, taking a great deal of satisfaction in blasting holes into something that represented romance and love, at least in her mind.
“Now that’s some fine shooting, Miss Burke.”
Rena yelped in surprise and spun around, pistol still in her hand as she pointed it at the intruder who dared to interrupt her target practice.
Will romance hit its mark when true love is the target?
Desperate for a fresh start, Rena Burke journeys from Texas to Oregon with only her father’s pistol and a plodding old mule for company. She takes a job working with explosives at a mine, spends her free time emulating her hero Annie Oakley, and secretly longs to be loved.
Saddle maker Josh Gatlin has one purpose in life and that is his daughter. Gabi is his joy and the sunshine in his days. Then he meets a trouser-wearing woman living life on her own terms. Rena is nothing like his perception of what he wants in a wife and mother for his child, but she might just prove to be everything he needs.
When tragedy strikes, will the two of them be able to release past wounds and embrace the possibilities tomorrow may bring? Find out in this sweet historical romance full of hope, humor, and love.
If you were in Rena’s shoes (or boots), what would you do?
Post your answer for a chance to win a digital copy of Holiday Hope and Henley –
to get you ready to read Love on Target when it releases April 10!
After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky western heroes.
When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.
I’d say trust needs to be earned, but give him a chance! This blurb is so very tempting!
Oh, thank you so much, Ami. And that is great advice for Rena!
Sounds like Rena can handle any challenge that comes her way! Might take her a few times to reload and shoot, but she isn’t one to give up, even on love! Can’t wait to start on this new series! Karen’s comes out on the Boss’s(my Cavedweller) birthday!
How fun about the day Karen’s book comes out. I hope the Boss has as grand birthday! And thank you. Rena was such a fun character to write!
Rena seems bold and perhaps a risktaker, so I think she gives him a chance.
She is bold and brave – and I think anyone who ventures off to start a new chapter in their life is a bit of a risk taker. Thank you so much for stopping in today, Janice!
I loved reading this book – Shanna hits it way out of the ballpark on this one – No one will be disappointed while reading this emotional story!
Oh, thank you so, so much, Teresa! <3 I’m so glad you loved it!
I love the preview, Shanna! Sounds amazing (as usual).
You are so sweet, Kari! Thank you! <3
Shanna – You have brought such a sweet spirit and huge talent to the Petticoats & Pistols family. I’ve learned so much from you! And that book your hubby found on Annie Oakley sounds fabulous! You’ve definitely got a keeper with that hero of yours. 🙂
Oh, Karen! You warm my heart with your kindness. It is such a blessing to be one of the fillies. And that book is amazing! I wish it was still in print. I do have a keeper, for sure! <3
It may be hard for Rena to let anyone in, but I’m sure she will handle it well.
She is a pretty tough cookie! Thank you for stopping in today, Desiree!
I love a strong independent heroine like Rena.
Me too, Kathleen! Thank you for popping in today!
Rena sounds bold and unafraid or at least comes across that way. I think she would give him a chance.
She is that way, for sure! Thank you for stopping in today!
I’d definitely give him a chance!
I would too, Trudy! Thank you for stopping in today!
welcome today. thanks for being a part of P&P. this series sounds wonderful. cant wait for it to start. it sounds like she is full of energy and passion. when trust is built, things can move along.
Thank you, Lori! It is such a joy to be part of P&P. I’m grateful you come and chat with us. Have a beautiful day!
Yes, I would give him a chance! Your blurb sounds really awesome!!
Thank you so much, Kathleen! Have a great day!
Hi Shanna, your book sounds really good! Thank you so much for sharing your excerpt, I love it! I think Rena should give him a chance, she sounds like she will make the right choice as she seems very brave, smart and strong willed.
Thank you so much, Alicia! Rena is pretty brave and very strong-willed. I so appreciate you stopping in today!
If I was in Rena’s shoes I’d continue to be independent. I’d enjoy life. I’d become friends with Josh and his daughter. I’d continue to scoff at the rumor about the pink pistol’s ties to love and romance. I’d be content but still hope to find someone who’d accept me the way I am. Hopefully eventually leading to love, a family and a HEA.
I can see Rena easily doing that. Thank you for stopping in Laurie!
I do not think I would be as strong as she sounds… starting over by herself, but if someone could worm their way past the walls she has… I think it starts with his daughter…
His daughter is able to charm anyone. Thanks, Colleen!
I’d give him a chance! He sounds like a good man. 🙂
He is one of the good guys! 🙂 Thanks for stopping in today!
What a way to end the excerpt!
denise
Thank you!
I think she will give him a chance. Even though she is strong willed and independent, sometimes having companionship, a little love, and a strong shoulder to lean on goes a long way for a gal.
give him a chance
Thank you! I appreciate you stopping in today!
Sorry I missed the giveaway. Thank you for the post and excerpt. Sounds good. Would I do what Rena did? I am not sure why she moved from Texas to Oregon, but I would have no problem doing just that. I have done so a few times and even at my age would do it again. Life is an adventure and I will explore all it has to offer to the end.
I’d give him a chance but proceed with caution
I’d be slow to trust him but I think I’d give him a chance.