Here Comes Book #3!

by

 

Marshaling Her Heart, book #3 of the Wyoming Sunrise Series is coming October 17.

It seems ridiculous to start talking about it now but that’s only one more blog post until it’s here. So it’s time!

The heroine of book #3 Becky Pruitt is my favorite type of heroine. A feisty lady rancher.

I had all three of the women in this series have non-traditional jobs.

Forged in Love was a lady blacksmith.

Laws of Attraction is a lady Justice of the Peace.

Marshaling Her Heart is a lady rancher.

So, in the true western frontier, I’m sure a lady rancher was extremely non-traditional…except not for me. I write them all the time. In fact, I try to FIGHT IT or every single character I ever write would be a feisty lady rancher. I try and keep it down, I promise.

But when I do let one sneak into a series, it’s always fun for me.

The thing I did a little different in this book was the US Marshals. Historical US Marshals were sort of a nation-wide police force. They could cross state lines in pursuit of criminals. Otherwise a lawman really had no jurisdiction outside of his town.

I had to do some research on US Marshals and the truth was, as far as I could dig up, the rules were very loose. They couldn’t exactly be ‘called in’ like now a local lawman might call in the FBI.

So, I let the US Marshals call themselves in, which sort of sounds FBI-ish, right?

There has been a gang of stage coach robbers terrorizing the entire state of Wyoming for the whole series. They thought they’d stopped them at the end of book #1, Forged in Love…but nope.

They popped back up in book #2, Laws of Attraction and, at the end of that, it really looked like they’d gotten the ring-leaders.

Well, here they come again.

The US Marshals have been working behind the scenes and think they know who’s the big boss…and they need Becky’s ranch as a base of operation.

She’s not happy about it. But the pressure is immense, and the marshals know just how to apply it.

Meanwhile Becky’s nasty old Pa is furious at her for starting her own ranch and he’s not ever going to accept it.

And Becky’s foreman, Nate Paxton, is having trouble dealing with his attraction to his boss. he seems to be doing and saying all the wrong things. And Nate’s former career as a US Marshal is part of what brings the marshals to her ranch, which makes her all kinds of mad.

Marshaling Her Heart

coming October 17

Let’s talk historical careers for women. Even the school teachers and diner cooks were men back then mostly. Can you think of a character real or fiction, female with a job that made you smile?

Leave a comment to get your name in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card.

Will their lives and romance survive the trouble coming their way?

Becky Pruitt has always prided herself on knowing everything that’s happening on her successful ranch, so an unexpected admission from her foreman, Nate Paxton, comes as quite a surprise. With the notorious Deadeye Gang on the loose, Nate–a former U.S. Marshal–believes Becky’s ranch is the best spot for a group of Marshals to use as a base to hunt them down.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial for the town of Pine Valley, and Becky feels obligated to help. But after escaping the grasp of her harsh father, she’s never liked giving up control, of her life or her ranch. If there’s anyone she can trust with her ranch, and her heart, it might be Nate. But the outlaws won’t go away quietly, and as danger draws ever nearer, Becky and Nate are faced with impossible choices that will test their growing bond.

 

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Author of Romantic Comedy...with Cowboys including the bestselling Kincaid Brides Series
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109 thoughts on “Here Comes Book #3!”

  1. In the Civil War there were women soldiers, in disguise and some women were spies too. Looking forward to Becky’s story. I’ve enjoyed the rest.

    • Hi Kim. I’m slow getting here today. I’ve been running! My series Wild at Heart had women who’d fought in the Civil War disguised as men! I love researching that.

    • I just heard a story about a southern woman who was a spy for the north during the Civil War. She lived near a horrible prison called Libby Prison and acted as an underground railroad starting place to help men escape.

  3. I had found it very interesting that a lady became a Pinkerton agent back around the 1860’s time period. I enjoyed your post and will look forward to this latest book in the series.

  4. Any woman forced through circumstances to take on a role unexpected is a shero to me. Survival is a great motivator.

  6. So So So cool. I cant wait to read this series. Three very strong women doing things that just didnt happen in the old west. I love it. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

  8. I have a former female student that became a farrier. The career is unusual enough these days, much less a lady.

    • Janice, when I was talking to a historical blacksmith at a living history museum he talked about the hard work of being a farrier, and how farriers and blacksmiths were NOT the same.

  9. Hi, Congrats on book Three!
    Governess and Nanny jobs always make me smile. when the children are being little matchmakers, it’s so cute.

  11. I am looking forward to reading this book. The first two were really good. My favorite female character happens to be from one of your books. It is Belle Tanner. I just love that character.

  13. I can’t wait to read this series of yours. I have read the first book in this series, so I need to get the rest of them. I love your books and one of my favorite books or yours was The Husband Tree. I also think women can do about anything they put their heads to do.

  14. I can’t wait to read Becky’s story and I didn’t know Nate was a former US Marshall. That is great!! Were there any female US Marshall’s back during that time period since Wyoming was more progressive where women are concerned?

      • Mary, have you ever watched the TV series, Laramie? it takes place in Wyoming (it’s actually my favorite western series now, my 16 year old daughter introduced me to it) and their is at lease one episode on women’s suffrage and a group of ladies come to Laramie for a march (the lady in charge of the protest is the wicked witch of the west from Wizard of Oz).

  15. Interesting information in the article.
    I think women in the Old West were very resourceful-more so than the average woman of today.
    The book sounds like the kind I enjoy reading.

  16. This series is so good. Can’t tell you Mary how much enjoyment this series has been to read! I’m looking forward to Becky’s story. I will not part with the books in this series. They are rereads for sure!

  17. Thanks for your inspiring post of independent women Mary! I think a women power lineman is about the toughest career. Or a soldier or cop? Wow. That’s pretty tough!

    Oh man! These books sound wonderful! Wish I could read them! I mainly do Kindle Unlimited. If it wasn’t for KU I wouldn’t be able to read such wonderful authors that I enjoy! And I read a lot! LOL Best wishes on these! They sound wonderful!

  19. I was once a construction worker building homes. I thought I’d enjoy it more than I did. Was hard work and the weather brutal. You’d bundle up in the winter and end up sweating. The summer heat was brutal and the bugs made it worse. My boss was great; I learned alot and worked with my soon to be hubby so I’m really happy for the experience!

    • I’ll bet you know all kinds of useful skills, Lynn. I have a patch of warped wall in my ballroom and I want to chisel it out and re-drywall. Just a small spot. I just can’t work up the nerve.

  21. Many widows would open up their homes for boarding houses – therefore getting paid to make meals and keep the house clean

  22. The women back then were more resourceful and did whatever was necessary to survive and to take care of their families. I love your books.

  24. I lived next door to this amazing woman who was extremely capable. She would do heavy duty household jobs on her own. She transformed her entire house by herself. Her abilities – carpentry, plumbing and floor work was admirable.

  26. When I was younger during the summer we visited a rural area and an older woman ran the entire business on her own. The general store was her responsibility and she was dedicated to the success and helping others.

    • She’s very capable. And she knows she owes her skills to her father, who was never nice but he was a great cowboy. That she can’t have any loving relationship with him now causes her a lot of grief. But he’s so rigid. He won’t accept her as a capable, independent woman.

  29. I’ve read a couple of books that the lady was a stage coach driver. They also dealt with the would be robbers by outsmarting them.

  30. My sister is a custom cowboy bootmaker. She builds the boot completely, from the bottom up! She is one of very, very few female bootmakers. She is truly one of the BEST bootmakers in the business, male or female! Her boots are beautiful works of art!

    I’m really looking forward to your third book in this series. I enjoyed the first two & am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my pre-ordered Marshaling Her Heart!!! 🙂

  31. I know there are many women OTR truck drivers now. But I still have to smile and respect her when she gets out of the truck and only stands 5’5″ and weighs about 120 lbs. Big difference than seeing a big man get out!

  32. I read a book with a female ranch owner before… she had to deal with trying to find men that would work for a woman.

  33. Very interesting, Mary. I also like feisty women and enjoy the play with a man who is a very good man, but also will talk back. In the end he becomes the man she needs and he is a very loving and faithful partner.
    Gee, it sounds like my marriage!

  35. I LOVE all your books Mary!
    Keep writing please.
    I’ve read the first two in this series Looking forward to this new one!
    Ginny P

  36. there are so many things women are capable of doing that would make me smile like being in the military, doctor, rancher, farmer, bronc rider, first responder, chef, etc….

  37. Ladies in the Military and ladies that drive Semi trucks , Doctors , Professors , Conductors all make me smile. Your book sounds like a Great read and I love your book cover, it is Stunning!

  38. Oh, a feisty lady rancher? So a cattle rancher wrangles cattle and so a lady rancher must have an interesting job? How does one become a lady rancher? ?

    Sorry, I had to make the joke lest my ancestors haunt me for not saying it.

    I always like the story of Serena Hall, my great-great-grandmother who helped prove up the land and ruled the family. One did not want to upset her. She had her own log cabin on the ranch.

    • Hi David. Wow, great roots in your family. Lots of women homesteaders in the world. It was a truly fair system. Women could claim a homestead, and a man, too, then immediately marry and they had double the land!

    • I need to go find that Pinkerton TV show and rewatch it. I’m not even sure where it was on TV. Bet I could find it. Have your read the Pink Pistols Sisterhood series Petticoats and Pistols did?

  40. I know some women were restaurant owners or laundresses, but that was usually if their husbands had died, and they had no other prospects. I also think it would’ve been frustrating to be a female school teacher, and then have to give up your job if you ended up marrying.

    • I’m not sure it was frustrating back then Elizabeth. It was just so UNDERSTOOD that a married woman didn’t work, unless she worked alongside her husband. The women accepted it, too. That was a big factor in book #1 of this series, because my heroine was the town blacksmith and when marriage came up, she really challenged her husband-to-be…can you accept me continuing to work? This town needs a blacksmith and I’m it.

  41. Your question reminded me of a recent article in our local paper about a local construction and renovation crew that is all women. Only about 9% of construction workers in the US are females. Other developed countries have rates of 12% to 16%. It made me wonder how many were involved in the past. Studies show , the single largest contributor to women leaving the construction industry—and women failing to choose construction as a viable career—was the culture.” It was and still is an overtly masculine culture that consists of conflict and aggression.
    One woman who managed to shine in the industry, though not as a common laborer was Emily Roebline (1834-1903). From A History Of Powerful Women In Construction: The first woman field engineer is credited for her role in the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. She took on the project after her husband who was leading the project became bedridden from developing caisson disease. She was the supervisor and took over the planning. Upon completion, she was named the Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge. Her work in this highly technical engineering feat helped create empowerment that women could perform in areas outside the factories that were common in those days.

    • Patricia, this is so interesting. I might look up A History of Powerful Women in Construction. My daughter just had her basement remodeled and she had a woman contractor with a lot of men working for the woman. She’s got a great reputation and my daughter loved her. and she’s booked far in advance so she’s really successful.

  42. Back in the day, my best friend was a trick rider in a traveling rodeo show and did amazing things on the back of a running horse.and her husband was a knife thrower. She would stand against a big board and her would throw knives as an outline around her!!! (shivers…still don’t know how she did that!!!) Also during that time, I was the first female cop in a small city for a couple of years before the mayor of the city managed to get my position abolished because he thought I should be at home and taking care of the children.

  43. I was always fascinated by Ann Sullivan and how she taught Hellen Keller to communicate. I believe she helped influence me to become a special education teacher. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and can’t wait for Becky’s story!!

  44. Yea! A book about Becky!!! Since I was a teacher, I’m partial to teacher heroines!!! But I’ve also had cows, so a lady rancher is a favorite of mine, too!! ThYou, MC!! I just LOVE your books!!

  45. We are watching IceRoad Truckers and there are a few ladies that are super at their job. Also Swamp People, the alligator hunters has a few ladies who do a great job.
    Read books 1&2. Loved them.

  46. I love all your amazing female characters and their unusual jobs! Looking forward to this new one.

    This shows my age, but my sister and I were some of the first female flaggers on road construction. We got our pictures in the newspaper and even on the cover of a construction magazine. People were always commenting on how unusual it was to have lady flaggers. The company owner liked using ladies because he said there weren’t as many complaints about being stopped. We worked at the northeast entrance to Yellowstone Park and had to have a vehicle handy in case of bears strolling by. One of the guys on the construction crew taught us how to drive a road grader!

    • Wow Winnie. I can picture you leaping into the truck until the Bear wandered away. What a cool place to work. did you go into the park ever? Like use your proximity to get to know the place?

      • We definitely spent a lot of time in the park. We were already very familiar with it, as we grew up only 4 hours or so away from the south and west entrances. We were actually at Yellowstone when the earthquake of 1959 occurred. We weren’t in an area where there were deaths or a lot of damage, though, so we were safe. There weren’t any cellphones in those days, so we had to find a phone to call our relatives to let them know we were safe. We also went to Yellowstone during the big fires in 1988. They were only letting people into certain areas and certain times of the day. So when the floods happened there last year, we found it only fitting that we should go for that natural disaster, also!! LOL The park has gotten so crowded these past years that it’s not nearly as fun to go. We love going to Grand Teton National Park. It’s also getting crowded, but it’s so beautiful there. It’s only about 3 1/2 hours from us.

  47. I can’t think of a specific book, but I’ve always liked the ones that featured women cooks running their own cafes.

    • I did one called Fired Up with a woman running a diner…a woman who couldn’t cook. But there weren’t many women around and she was real pretty so the men came anyway. and she had children who started learning to cook and saved the day…and saved the bellies of the men of Broken Wheel, Texas

  48. Well, I just love Mary’s books and am so delighted and bursting happy that I’m one of her reviewers. No real women heroes in our family that I truly know of but….. my grandmother, “Carrie Priscilla,” was a “horse woman,” and she also taught my grand father enough numbers – adding & subtracting – and enough of his letters that he could run his father’s and his (later on) shoe repair shop. Grand father was an orphaned child in Louisanna and he ran away from the orphanage looking for his father who was in the US army. He found him in NC. Grandfather joined a wild west show that was touring the country. And then….. my son in law has traced our lady-folk line (my mother’s and my father’s sides) back to the Mayflower and to high ranking officials. Don’t know who dropped the ball through the years, but frankly we just didn’t have a lot going for us.

  50. In the Love Comes Softly series, Belinda becomes a doctor in a frontier town. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

  53. I’m so ready for Becky’s story!! I’ve oftentimes daydreamed about being her character! I love the western frontier and ranchers!

  54. You are one of my “auto-buy” authors. Meaning, I buy your books without reading the blurb, cuz I know I will like them. These covers are wonderful. I especially like Becky’s ensemble. Waiting semi-patiently for Becky’s story.

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