A Legacy of Preservation by Robin Lee Hatcher

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The last time I visited with Petticoats & Pistols, I shared about “The British Are Coming” series and my latest release in that series, To Marry an English Lord. When I planned to return in December, I thought the next book in the series would be out. However, the writing of another biblical novel for Guideposts and a contemporary Christmas romance pushed back my schedule a bit. While that next book, To Capture a Mountain Man, won’t release until February, I am pleased to say it is written and on its way through the editorial and publishing process.

Isaiah, the hero of To Capture a Mountain Man, is a game scout in Yellowstone National Park in 1895, and he and my British heroine, Lady Amanda, meet after she is shot at by poachers in the park. Thus, I thought I would share a little information about the first national park in the world.

Yellowstone National Park’s story is one of awe-inspiring natural beauty, scientific discovery, and a pioneering spirit of conservation that shaped the future of protected lands globally.

Long before Yellowstone was known to explorers or tourists, it was home to Native American tribes who lived in and around the area for thousands of years. Tribes such as the Shoshone, Crow, and Nez Perce recognized the land’s unique geothermal features and its abundance of wildlife. They considered it a sacred space, rich in resources and spiritual significance.

The first written accounts of Yellowstone’s wonders came from mountain men and trappers in the early 1800s. Tales of “boiling mud,” “fire and brimstone,” and geysers were initially dismissed as exaggerated. It wasn’t until organized expeditions in the mid-19th century that the true scope of Yellowstone’s geothermal phenomena and scenic beauty was documented.

On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law, designating Yellowstone as the world’s first national park. This groundbreaking legislation aimed to preserve its unique features “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” It marked the beginning of a global movement to protect natural spaces from exploitation.

In its early years, Yellowstone faced significant challenges. Poaching, illegal mining, and logging threatened its fragile ecosystems. Lacking a formal management structure, the park struggled to enforce its protection policies. In 1886, the U.S. Army stepped in to manage Yellowstone, building infrastructure and curbing illegal activities. The military’s stewardship laid the groundwork for the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, which took over management and continues to oversee Yellowstone today.

The park is a haven for wildlife, home to bison, elk, grizzly bears, wolves, and numerous bird species. Efforts to reintroduce wolves in the 1990s successfully restored balance to the ecosystem, a testament to the park’s ongoing commitment to conservation. Note: At the time of To Capture a Mountain Man, the buffalo had been reduced from the tens of millions to less than 1,000. There is something grand about seeing the herds of American Bison in the park today. But don’t get out of your car. They are a wild animal!!


Yellowstone National Park is more than a protected area; it is a symbol of the human capacity to recognize and safeguard the extraordinary. Its history reminds us of our responsibility to cherish and preserve the natural world.

 

 

 


If you want to be ready for To Capture a Mountain Man, here are the links to the first books in the series:

To Enchant a Lady’s Heart 
To Marry an English Lord 

Since it’s December, I’m giving away an autographed copy of my new release, a contemporary Christmas romance,

Wishing for Mistletoe.

AMAZON

To be entered into the drawing, just tell me

what Christmas books are in your TBR this year?

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106 thoughts on “A Legacy of Preservation by Robin Lee Hatcher”

  1. Thank you for sharing the history of Yellowstone.

    I’ve read quite a mishmash of holiday books over the year and have moved on to non-holiday books. I just finished a Jane Austen variation.

  2. A Christmas Promise by Nora Roberts, Comfort & Joy by Kristen Hannah and a Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber.

  3. I’m quibbling with myself about buying Tamie Dearen’s “St. Nick and Me are Mint to Be” (the e-book’s inexpensive but I really prefer reading physical books). These books (thank you authors – they were all e-freebies) are waiting in my eTBR:
    The Heart of Christmas / Jeanne Gehret
    Making Christmas Magical / Jessica James
    Gingerbread Wishes / Linda C. Bradd
    First Christmas Ornament / Diana Rock
    Mr. Totton’s Christmas Miracle / Kate Pearce
    Rebel Without a Claus / Zara Keane
    Crisis at the Christmas Market / Cheryl Dougan

  4. Welcome back Robin! I enjoyed both books in your series and looking forward to the next one! I try to read a few Christmas books over the holidays. I’ve already out done myself this year! LOL I’ve read the P&P Christmas Stockings series and Shanna Hatfield’s Hudson House Holiday series. I’m reading a combo Christmas Kisses by Rose Pearson now. Looks like I’m getting close to 20 holiday books! Wow! I usually only read a couple of them.

    Many blessings to you!

  5. I ordered a Christmas Amish book box for Christmas for myself
    The included Christmas ? novel is my next TBR

  8. “Amish Christmas at North Star” 4 stories of love & family -5 authors … Plus any Shanna Hatfield books that I can squeeze into my days ( and nights, lol)

  9. I haven’t found the time this holiday season to slow down enough to read let alone have a list. Hopefully when I am at my parent’s house the week of Christmas I will read some of their books. I usually read one a day while there. I am sure they will have a few Christmas ones to enjoy.

  10. Several of Clara Pines and Love Inspired & Love Inspired Suspense plus a lot more and not enough time because I’ma going to have to put a pause on reading and really bake to get it done in time.

  11. Love the Christmas book cover. I have several books on my TBR list. 2 of them are The Christmas Cowboy by Shanna Hatfield and The Christmas Promise by Gabrielle Meyer. Loved learning the history of Yellowstone. Would love to see if someday.

  12. Merry Christmas, Robin!

    I have an early copy of The Abandoned Bride coming, a Christmas release by Karen Kirst. I’ve already read five for Shanna Hatfield – the Hudson House Holiday series and Mending Christmas.

  13. I’m going to read The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. Also, I hope to finish The Hudson House series by Shanna Hatfield. And then, Winnie Griggs has a new Amish book out and I would like to read that too. Thanks for coming to blog today. I enjoyed reading about your new releases.

  14. Wow. You asked for a hard task for me because I have over 50 books on my TBR list this year. I start in November and read Christmas books through January. I read one a day for many of them up to one every three days. Some are: Dear Mr. Frost – Shanna Hatfield, The Christmas Challenge – Jo Ann Durgin, Christmas Cover-Up – Lynette Eason, Her Christmas Protector – Terri Reed, and Christmas at the Dumpster Corral – Irene Onorato.

  16. Quite a few were! I started reading Christmas books back in May!! One of the sets I just finished was a gift from several authors, Winter Wishes.

  17. I am so late this year. Normally I start reading Christmas books first day of November. This year I havent read one yet. Will have to start tomorrow. There are a number of Amanda Flower books on my TBR for next year.

  18. Some of the Yellowstone history I know but most I didn’t. Thank you for sharing. You pictures are amazing!!!!

  19. I read Christmas books off and on throughout the year. I enjoyed the history of Yellowstone National Park, most of which I didn’t know.

  20. We love the national parks and visiting the western US. Yellowstone is a favorite, particularly for my husband as his hobby is landscape photography. Such a fascinating mix of geology, geography, wildlife, museums, and historic buildings (so much relatively inexpensive fun to just stop by the Old Faithful Inn for a cup of coffee and to enjoy the second-floor balcony viewing the geysers). Can’t wait for your next book in that setting. My reading isn’t really seasonally planned, but I do try to enjoy a Christmas book (or a few) during the season. My next on the list is a collection, When Treetops Glisten. I have also enjoyed Karen Witemeyer’s A Texas Christmas Carol.

  22. Loved learning more about the history of Yellowstone, Robin! I visited the park once as a child, but I remember very little. Mostly I remember the Indian doll my mom let me pick out from the gift shop. Ha! Last year, I visited Wyoming and South Dakota, and while I didn’t actually go to Yellowstone, I skirted its edges and visited Custer State Park where I had the honor of seeing a herd of bison. Loved that!

    For my Christmas reads this year, I just finished the Mistletoe Season novella collection (had to get my Pepper Basham fix!) and I’m a few chapters into Roseanna White’s Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor. It’s wonderful so far! 🙂

  24. I have Shanna Hatfield’s new releases, I am reading Guarding Her Christmas Secret by Jill Weatherholt and several others, including a box set.

  25. I have The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on my list. I have never read that book or series.

    My son went to Yellowstone on his honeymoon this summer and they really like it.

    • Oh, my goodness. Yes, you must read all the Chronicles of Narnia books. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is my second favorite in the series. A Bible teacher who I love, Kristi McLelland, reads the series every December as a treat to herself.

  26. I am looking forward to reading Clara Pine’s and Tess Thompson’s new series, Sugarville grove series

  27. I’m in the process of reading “Joy to the World” by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barrett & Erica Vetsch. I’m also planning to read a few more Christmas books, but haven’t decided which ones yet. 🙂

  29. I have already read many Christmas books including A Wish and a Prayer, as well as a charming story called A Wishbook Christmas by Lynn Austin. I have Love Comes to Christmas by Linda Broday on my TBR list.

  32. I have already read several Christmas stories and am currently rereading Jeannie Watt’s “A Marvell Country Christmas “. I’m hoping my daughter gives me one of Shanna Hatfield’s for a Christmas gift.

  33. I have read A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber. I am reading an online story by Susanne Ash. I cannot remember the name of the story. Thank you so much for being here and sharing about Yellowstone. God bless you. Merry Christmas.

  34. If I can find the time to read it before Christmas, Roseanna M. White’s book Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor. 🙂

    Merry Christmas!

  37. Love Yellowstone, have been four times which consider a lot since we live in Alabama. It is an absolutely amazing place, one of God’s mighty creations.

    I have several Christmas books on my to be read list, providing I have a chance to read before then. lol At this point it doesn’t look hopeful. I am planning to read Shanna Hatfield’s, A Christmas Spark: A Wholesome Holiday Romance and Christmas in Nutfield by Robin Patchen. Even if it’s after Christmas I will enoy them.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  39. Hello Robin One on my TBR list is Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M.White! I Love reading Christmas books anytime Hope You have a Very Merry Christmas!

  41. Way too many to count. I did however just got an ARC for You Feta Watch Out by Linda Reilly that I need to read and review, so that’s at the top of my TBR.

  43. The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne, Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne, Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah

  44. We are overwhelmed this year (helping in the area in TN flooded by Helene, so there hasn’t been much reading. My TBR pile has the P&P Christmas Stockings series (still on wish list), Dear Mr. Frost – Shanna Hatfield, The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts, and Mistletoe Season anthology. I will try to fit in a reread of Christmas Moon by Elizabeth Lane. It came out in 2014 but is a favorite.
    We have visited Yellow stone a couple of times and it is always an enjoyable experience. We would like to go back to explore some areas we haven’t seen yet.
    Have an enjoyable Christmas and a wonderful 2025.

  45. I have a stack of Christmas themed books I am trying to read through this month. I am currently reading An Amish Christmas Match by Winnie Griggs and really enjoying it.

  50. The one book that us at the tippy-top of my TBR is The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen. My second one is “Of Gold and Shadows” by Michelle Griep.

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