Hi, there, fellow western romance lovers! Thank you for letting me visit y’all today to talk about the past.
I love history. I especially love how people lived. I enjoy learning about the tools they used, the recipes they made, the music they enjoyed, and the fun they had.
The Western saloon has always fascinated me. To me, it’s one of the symbols of the American West. Throughout the years I’ve learned a lot about saloons, and I love the variety of names. Some of them are funny, like the Holy Moses Saloon in Creede, Colorado. Or the White Elephant in, well, there were several saloons named White Elephant.
They were rowdy places, of course. Dangerous places. They were the settings for some deadly events.
One of the most famous happened in Deadwood, South Dakota, at Nuttal and Mann’s Saloon. Wild Bill Hickock was shot in the back by Jack McCall and killed. He was playing poker at the time, and the cards he was holding – a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights – became known as the “dead man’s hand”.
Saloons, though wild and dangerous, were a part of life in the American West, and I’ve set some scenes within their rowdy walls a few times. Including a wedding reception…
PRICKLY POPPY, the third book in my Wildflowers of Texas series, has quite the mischievous, swaggering, handsome hero. But he owns a saloon…
This is quite the problem for Hazel Rutherford.
Kit Kirby’s his name, and he’s got no problem sauntering about town, making all the ladies swoon over his looks, while irritating Hazel to no end.
And when he is the one charged with escorting Hazel to Brownwood to rescue her cousin from a terrible marriage, Hazel is livid.
Let me tell you…the sparks FLY in this book! I loved writing these two so much.
Yeah, Kit owns a saloon, but don’t you worry…he’s quite the gentleman.
I’d love to give away a copy – ebook or print – to three lucky readers! Just comment on the post and let us know your answer to the following question: Do you think a saloon can bring on the romance?
PRICKLY POPPY
Brownwood, Texas, 1883
Two years ago, Hazel Rutherford fled from her lying, greedy fiancé. Now, her young cousin is within his sights, and Hazel must return and rescue her. Which means facing a manipulative villain.
But her uncle won’t let her go alone…
Kit Kirby is the man tasked with escorting her and protecting her while she’s in Brownwood.
Kit Kirby. Saloon owner. Hell raiser. The man that all the ladies—from five to eighty—swoon over. All except Hazel, that is. Since the day she met him, they’ve done nothing but fight.
He calls her prudish. She calls him irresponsible. He calls her prickly. She calls him a conceited hell-trap. There’s no way she’ll make it to Brownwood with her sanity intact.
But when Kit changes the game and kisses her, she’ll be lucky if she gets through the ordeal still the owner of her heart.
Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.
When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.
Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night! Visit Kara O’Neal at http://www.karaoneal.com.
Any place can bring on romance.
Totally agree!
Romance can happen anywhere!
I agree!!!
It’s possible, but highly risky!
Absolutely! Never know what might happen in a saloon!
Thank you so much for having me today! Y’all are a whole lotta fun!
Not for me, thank you! A saloon is no place for a lady!
Hazel would agree with you!
Anything can happen anywhere, so the possibility is high.
When it comes to love, you never know!
I met my husband in a bar, today’s saloon, so I’d have to agree that they can be romantic! I will say I would never go looking for romance there, especially these days! Loved your post!
I concur. I wouldn’t be going there to find my hero!
I think a saloon could bring romance but it would be risky for a woman to be in one and not ruin her reputation. Romance can happen almost anywhere.
Very wise. Yes.
I love reading about saloons. I like the name Hazel, too!
I love her whole name….Hazel Rutherford. It just rolls off my tongue like music!
A saloon in the Old Wild West can certainly bring out the romance or allyship turned friendship to potential romance is also intriguing. There are a million possibilities to try out. I like the name of the book. Looking forward to seeing what you got in store.
Thank you so much! Hazel and Kit were a great and surprising couple!
I think romance could be found in a saloon. There are all kinds of circumstances that could happen.
You never know! I don’t rule it out, but there are certainly some things to be careful with.
Characters can take you all kinds of places. You never know what you’re gonna get.
A saloon is a unique and wild place and would be ideal for romance.
I think so, too! It has potential, at least.
I think it is possible. There are many situations that could work.
Totally agree!
I find saloon’s fascinating and have visited several in the West where I live.
Yes, romance can definitely bloom in a saloon.
I’ve been to a few in Texas, but I really want to go to Deadwood, South Dakota to Nuttal and Mann’s. We’ll see if I ever get there!
Back in the days of the Wild West, women weren’t even allowed in saloons, except for “sporting women” so it would be very hard for real romance to blossom.
You’re probably right about that!
It depends on the situation but it is possible to meet a good person in a saloon, not the villains of the area.
I’d say it would be hard to find romance in a saloon, from what I understand only “working women” were the only ones in there as polite ladies wouldn’t set foot in a saloon.
You’re right. Polite ladies didn’t go in, as a rule.
Saloon were also used as school houses and churches. They were the meeting places for the entire town. That is what they added to towns.
Yep! That’s one of the things I find so interesting. Similarly to a General Store that functioned as the post office, etc. Back then, they had to use what they had.
I have never thought of a saloon as a romantic spot. My heart breaks for any woman caught up in that life.
Mine, too. Hazel is not a woman who works in the saloon, so we don’t delve into that in her story.
Hi, yes, I think romance could bloom in a saloon. There are decent people and not so decent people all over and they work all over also. Some people because they have to and some people because they enjoy it. You never know where you will meet the right person that was meant just for you. Your book sounds like a great read. I enjoyed reading your post. Have a great weekend.
You are exactly right. All kinds of people can be found anywhere. Which is something that makes up Kit’s character, and something that Hazel learns about him. Thank you for visiting! You have a good weekend, as well!
Yep a romance can happen in a saloon. Romance can happen a anywhere.
I very much agree!
Yup, romance is possible in a saloon ;o)
Glad you think so!
No,I don’t.
Hazel certainly agrees with you!
Love can blossom anywhere two hearts connect. I enjoy reading how love can change even the hardest of hearts, so a saloon would definitely be a place where people need a heart change.
Yes! Exactly!
In Gunsmoke, Kitty owned a saloon. She loved Matt, the sheriff. No idea why he didn’t return the favor, or maybe he did.
I like to think a couple of saloon owners found love, safely, otherwise many towns wouldn’t have grown up, or am I being naive.
No, I think you’re right. It’s possible, because God always does the amazing. And people who patronize saloons need the amazing to happen!
yes
Yay!
I don’t know about the American West saloons but before all this internet dating and such a bar was one of the places people would go when looking for someone.
In your photo of a saloon, I had to do a double take. It looks just like a building in a quaint town by me. The building, or at least the downstairs, is now a bookstore. lol
Oh, cool! The idea of a saloon becoming a bookstore is awesome! Internet dating and the bar scene is something I would never do or trust, but my sister did find her husband on a dating site, so….it happens!
I really did like the romance between Marchall Dillon and Miss Kitty in “Gunsmoke” so many years ago. I thought she had a really nice saloon. So yeah, I do believe you can find romance anywhere, even in a ditch if the right one for you happens to be there. Your books sound really exciting and fun to read, can’t wait to get started, so I’m heading over the “buy” page and see what romance you have to read about.
I looooved “Gunsmoke”. One time a friend of mine told me I reminded him of Miss Kitty. Not sure why. I hope you enjoy the books and find something to read!
Romance can bloom anywhere. But, in the old West women of good reputations didn’t go into saloons unless the building was being used for some other purpose for the day or maybe they were protesting alcohol or had some other grievance.
Generally, you are correct. And Hazel is not one to step foot inside a saloon either!
I have read some books where romance did come in a saloon, but the characters didn’t continue there.
Romance can happen anywhere but most ladies wouldn’t go to a saloon. Loved your article.
You’re quite correct! And thank you so much. Appreciate your visit!
The best thing about being a writer is being able to name the places, people and things yourself. Sounds as if you have fun with your craft.
Oh, gosh! Yes. Sometimes I have a hard time naming things. I’m always astounded by the names JK Rowling had to come up with for Harry Potter. From people, to spells, to buildings, to curses. Sheesh! She did a good job.
I think a saloon could bring on the romance and maybe even true love
Sure would love to read a print book to review sounds like great read
You never know where love will be, or where it will grow. I hope you win!
Maybe, but it depends on the circumstances.
You are very correct. Depends on the heart of the person, definitely.
I am not so sure a saloon can bring on romance, but I can see the possibilities for it happening. I think most women who worked in them were there because they had no other option to survive. Not all saloon owners or patrons were bad people, just as the women working there weren’t all lost souls. I can see a patron and a working woman forming a relationship which could lead to something stronger. The man would have to be understanding and forgiving of her choices, but if love was a factor, it would be possible. She would have to believe there was something better for her in her life and be brave enough to reach for it. Depending on the hold the saloon owner had on the women who worked for him (or her), breaking free might or might not be difficult.
Congratulations on the release of Prickly Poppy. It sounds like an enjoyable read. Thank you for visiting.
Thank you for visiting and for commenting. I agree with your analysis. There are always possibilities, even in the darkest of places. I believe that because I believe with God, all things are possible.
Maybe, anything is possible right!?!
Yep! Absolutely!!!
A saloon is an unlikely place but probably a few romances started in them. In our culture it seems anything goes. Young people go to bars to meet possible partners now. In Poppy’s time, a saloon could’ve been the place!
I certainly believe it can happen, but I would think it would be harder.
Do you think a saloon can bring on the romance? Oh yes. Anyplace can bring on romance. It all really depends on the characters and how it is all handled. Same as any place can have those that do not bring on romance.
I absolutely agree with you. It does depend on the people, who they are, and what they have the courage to do.
I’m late to the party but wanted to stop by and Congratulate you, Kara and say “Hello” to Petticoats and Pistols friends!
Good luck and God’s blessing to you ALL!
Thank you for visiting!
Love the premise for this book! A western saloon is a great setting for romance.
Anything is possible in fiction
Sure! Anything is possible.