Cowboys – General

Riding Shotgun on the Express Stage and Mail + Giveaway

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We have a guest at the junction today! Let’s give a warm welcome to Tracy Garrett, author of Clint!

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Riding Shotgun on the Express Stage and Mail

For the safety of passengers and cargo—such as payroll for the Army stationed in remote forts across the Plains—stage coach companies began using hired guns. Referred to as Shotgun Riders, they road up top with the driver and a rifle, watching the land around them for the outlaws that were the scourge of the stage companies.

When I was invited to write a book in the multiple-author series “Gun for Hire,” my hero appeared fully formed in my mind. I had done research for a previous book, “Grace,” and found a shotgun rider hero for her. Only I latched onto Wells Fargo as the stage company.

It wasn’t until I was refreshing my mind on the job of the man with the gun that I discovered Wells Fargo never employed a shotgun rider—they never carried money or payroll, only mail and passengers. So, in spite of the name of the Hollywood TV series “Tales of Wells Fargo,” starring Dale Robertson, the setting was inaccurate.

Black and white photo of stagecoach and horses running

For “Clint” I chose another stagecoach company, then changed the name a bit to the Express Stage and Mail. You can check out the actual companies that covered the Santa Fe Trail at http://www.legendsofamerica.com/stagecoach/.

These stage lines could travel the 740 miles from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in fifteen days. The drivers and shotgun riders would have a section of the trail and ride it back and forth, handing off to other drivers and riders. I imagine they got to know the contours of the land they traveled very well: where there was water, where they could take shelter should it become necessary, and where the outlaws had enough cover to prepare an attack.

In “Clint” my shotgun rider was very good at his job—any outlaws crazy enough to attempt to rob a stage he rode never did so again.

“Clint” is the eighth book of ten in the Gun for Hire series and it will hit Kindles on June 30.

Cover for Clint by Tracy Garrett. Cowboy in front of old west building

 

Clint McGuire has always lived by his gun. Desperate to leave behind a past that haunts him, he becomes a deputy in a small Kansas town and vows to protect its citizens from all dangers—even those he brings with him.

Ophelia Walcott enjoys her job as a schoolteacher, but she wants a family of her own and a man who will love her. She finds herself intrigued by the elusive loner who courageously defends the place she calls home.

Clint knows all he can offer Ophelia is trouble and heartbreak, but he is unable to resist the charms of the beautiful schoolteacher. When his secrets threaten their blossoming love, Clint must choose between continuing to live a lie in order to make Ophelia’s dreams come true or facing the truth about his previous life and risk it destroying them both.

 

Excerpt from CLINT:

Chapter One

March 1876

Vinduska, Kansas

“Charlie Ingraham, what is wrong with you today?” Ophelia Dolores Walcott, Lea to all who knew her, joined the ten-year-old at the door to the schoolhouse and scanned the yard of the schoolhouse. She’d left the door open after the other children departed, opening windows on each side of the large room to air it out and clear out some of the chalk dust from her class’s vigorous cleaning of their slates. “You’re as jumpy as a flea in a pack of puppies.”

“I’m just excited. The Stage and Mail is late, Miss Walcott. The westbound stage is already gone, but the eastbound is late. Ma’s coming home today. She said. Her last letter said Grandma was doing fine and she’d be on the stage today. But it’s late and it’s never late. Maybe something bad happened!”

“I’m sure everything is fine, Charlie. Perhaps they were delayed leaving the last stop.” Although it was unusual for the Express Stage and Mail not to be on time. Well, nothing to be gained by speculation. “Come on, help me lay the fire for tomorrow morning, and close up the schoolhouse.” She patted his shoulder gently. “It’s time for you to be getting home.”

“Yes, Miss Walcott. Maybe Pa will know why the stage is late.”

Charlie’s father, Wilson, ran the mercantile and post office. If anyone had news to share, he would. “I bet he will. Let’s close up and go ask him.”

A crowd was gathering by the time she and the boy reached the mercantile, waiting for the stage to arrive. Though it came through on a regular schedule, it took on the excitement of a new adventure every time. Charlie spotted his friends and ran to them. As if on cue, the rattle of the coach wheels on the hard-packed soil sounded in the distance and approached fast.

As it rolled to a stop in front of the Express office, the doors were flung open on both sides and seven passengers spilled out. “That’s it, I don’t care if it costs more. Next time I’m taking the train.” The speaker stumbled off, obviously overwrought. Wilson reached in to help his wife out. Maybelle looked pale.

“Welcome, home, wife.” Wilson kissed her cheek, bringing a little color back.

“I’m glad to be home, Wilson. That was an experience I don’t care to repeat, I must say.”

Charlie came running up. “What happened, Ma?”

“A gang of riders tried to overtake the stage, apparently to rob us.”

Charlie’s eyes rounded. “Outlaws?”

Wilson tucked her closer to his side. “Are you alright, my dear? You weren’t injured?”

Her chin rose as dignity reasserted itself. “They were unsuccessful.” She turned to the driver. “Thank you, both of you,” she included the man on the roof, “for getting us here safely.”

Lea stayed out of the way as luggage was unloaded and the man the driver called his shotgunner sat down where he was and began cleaning his rifle. He was a tall man and lanky, but strong, as he’d hefted boxes and trunks as if they weighed nothing. His dark chestnut hair was a little long and the ends curled just past his collar. As he glanced at her, she was surprised to see eyes as brown as mahogany.

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“Well, Shotgun, we made it.” The driver slapped Clint on the back as he finally climbed down, and huffed out a relieved breath. “That was some fancy shootin’ back there, McGuire.”

They moved out of the way as fresh horses were put in the traces and the wheels of the coach were greased. Then the new driver and shotgun who would take the stage on east to the next stop climbed aboard. Luggage and freight were secured, passengers got in and with a shout and the crack of a whip, the stages began to move.

When the dust settled, Clint McGuire shoved his hat back with one finger. “Johnny, your driving made it easy as a turkey shoot.”

Johnny cackled. “I’ve seen my share of good shotgunners, but you beat all. Between you and that repeatin’ rifle, you made sure them outlaws couldn’t run us to ground, or the westbound, come to that.”

“They won’t be running anyone to ground anymore.” Clint’s expression was grim. It was his job to see that the stage got through and none of the passengers or cargo lost. And he’d done that job well for nearly seven years. Necessary though it was, he was tired of the killing.

The stationmaster, Howard Mills, hurried to where the driver stood stroking and calming the six lathered horses. “What happened? You’re late. I was getting concerned.”

“Howdy, Mr. Mills.” Clint greeted the stationmaster. “We ran into a bit of trouble a few miles out.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“The kind you’ll need the law for.” Johnny joined them. “And the undertaker. If not for Shotgun here, your perfect record of no passengers or cargo lost would have been ruined.”

Mills studied both men. “I’ll send for the sheriff.”

“Before you do, who was the lady standing there a minute ago? Pretty, blue eyes, with a pile of blond hair up on her head.”

“Little thing?” When Clint nodded, he smiled. “That would be our schoolteacher, Ophelia Walcott.”

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Order CLINT today! Available June 30 for Kindle from Amazon.

Haven’t started the series yet? Find our series page HERE.

Covers of all books in Gun For Hire series

Tracy is giving away one ebook of Clint to a commenter! The winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, June 22nd.

Would you be excited, afraid, or both to be a passenger on a stage coach in the Old West?

Leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway!

In the Market For Love

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I never intended to write the book.

The one that just released two weeks ago.

In the Market for Love is a story of redemption, hope, second chances, forgiveness, and listening to your heart. It’s just that the hero was originally the evil twin of the hero in my book Capturing Christmas.

Try as I might, I couldn’t think of Ransom Kressley in terms of hero material.

But my readers could.

In fact, over the years, you’ve requested his story more than any other.

After I received another flood of requests after Christmas for Ransom to please get a happily ever after, I surrendered to the inevitable and decided to try seeing him in a new light.

The result is In the Market for Love . It has laughter, love, heartache, and heartwarming moments, and I hope if you give it a chance, it will make you smile (and maybe sigh a little at the sweet ending).  You can even preview the first chapter here.

 

He’s never opened his heart to anyone. She wears her emotions on her sleeve. When romance blooms, will they realize love is what they both need?

Ransom Kressley possesses the gift of gab, striking good looks, and a blistering disdain for his family’s Idaho ranch where he resides with his father and identical twin brother. His genuine passion is football, but a knee injury shattered his dreams of an NFL career. After years of channeling his frustration and anger toward those who care about him most, Ransom resolves to change. He accepts a job in Portland as a promotions manager for an arena football team and eagerly steps into his new life. As he makes a fresh start, his past continues to plague him, interfering with his chance to get to know the woman who lingers in his thoughts.

Despite her sunny smile and tender spirit, Kelly Truman isn’t in the market for love or even a relationship when she agrees to have lunch with her best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law. Familiar only with Ransom Kressley’s notorious reputation, Kelly is determined to keep her guard up around him. However, Ransom proves to be nothing like she expected. Soon, she realizes she cherishes time spent with the man, but fears trusting him with her heart.

When their friendship evolves into something more, will Ransom’s charm and silver tongue split them apart or bind them together?

A sweet romance full of warmth and humor, In the Market for Love is a story of hope, forgiveness, and redemption.

In the story, Kelly’s favorite flowers are tulips. 

For a chance to win a mystery prize,

just share your favorite spring flower and why you like it. 

Bonus question: Do you like redemption stories?

What the Heck Are Wrist Cuffs?

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I had never heard the term wrist cuffs that cowboys wore until pretty recently. I’d seen pictures of them but didn’t know what they were called or why they wore them. Maybe you already did and are way ahead of me. That’s quite possible.

Definition: Wide soft leather bindings that cowboy wore on their wrists to protect them from barbed wire fencing, cattle kicking and causing injury and protecting shirt sleeves. They also protected against rope burns and branding irons. They are also called roping cuffs and sometimes gauntlets.

I’ve seen them on motorcycle riders quite a bit for protection on the road. These were very popular on cowboys until the turn of the century but you can still see them on some working cowboys today.

I admit, they’re pretty cool and make the wearer look tough.

When I started writing Creek, my sweet western romance, I wanted him to wear them but in his case it was partly to conceal an ink drawing on his wrist. My cover designer put them on him but they looked horrible so we took them off.

I have an eleven year old girl in my story. Willa July Calder was left orphaned when her mother dies but she was told to look for a man with a thunderbird drawing on his wrist. That would be her father. When she happens to see Creek’s, she’s convinced he’s her father and starts following him everywhere.

Thunderbirds were revered by Native Americans who believed the mythical birds carried magic and could protect the person.

I won’t give the plot away. The book is available for Preorder. This is Book 1 leading off a multi-author Gun For Hire series with two others of the books also available for preorder now. These are Sweet Western Romances and mine goes on sale March 15. Margaret’s will be available March 31 and Charlene’s April 15. There will be 10 altogether. Here’s the series link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTHVRM6K?tag=pettpist-20

Here are the rest of the series: Zane by Heather Blanton, Keith by Carra Copelin, Ash by our own Jo-Ann Roberts, Shad by Caroline Clemmons, Clint by Tracy Garrett, Landon by Cheryl Pierson, and Luke by another Filly Winnie Griggs.

We sure hope you’ll find these entertaining. Have you read a good western lately? If so, what is the title? Do you like westerns? Let’s talk. I don’t have any copies to give away yet but I will later on.

Mending Christmas: Blending Fact into Fiction by Shanna Hatfield

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Every time I see this saying, it makes me smile.

Mostly because it’s true. I’m always on the lookout for funny tidbits or crazy happenings to include in my stories.

In my newest release, Mending Christmas, I incorporated several details I gleaned from conversations with friends.

In the story, Beth, the heroine, has a best friend with three little ones. She and Billy (the hero) end up babysitting them a few times.

I love writing about kids. There is just something so sweet and special and innocent about them that comes out in the things they do and say.

One day, a friend told me about a little girl she knew offering “bless yous” to someone who sneezed. It’s what she calls facial tissue. How sweet is that? I just loved it and had to include it in this story.

Another time, I was visiting with friends who have a baby. Apparently while the mama was gone for a much-needed day out with her sister, the daddy was doing his best to keep their nine-month-old entertained. He said in the time it took him to turn around, the baby disappeared and he found him sitting on the bathroom floor, happily gnawing on the toilet brush. So funny – and gross! And now part of this story!

For a while, my nephew decided to refer to his baby brother as Tiny Little baby Olaf. If you called the baby by name, he would correct you and tell you the name was Tiny Little Baby Olaf. When he is all grown up, I fully intend to whip that memory out and share with him. For now, it’s what the toddler in this story calls his baby sister.

Even my own Captain Cavedweller unwittingly got in on the story sharing. When he was in elementary school, the students were supposed to perform the square dance they’d been practicing for weeks at the Parent Teacher Association meeting. The night of the performance, he was in his room, playing, and all of a sudden remembered he was supposed to be at the school. At the time, his family only lived a few blocks from the school, so without telling his parents where he was going or what he was doing, he dashed outside, ran to the school, did the performance in the T-shirt and sneakers he had on, and ran back home before anyone even knew he was gone. So I had Billy share that memory with Beth.

It’s so fun to take real life “facts” and work them into fiction.

I hope you’ll check out Mending Christmas. It’s a sweet, funny, feel-good, warm-your-heart romance.

He’s reckless.

She’s cautious.

When life throws them together, will love mend the broken pieces of their hearts?

Injuries are an inevitable part of the job for rodeo bullfighter Billy Clark. But when a feisty bull tosses him over the fence, Billy lands at the feet of a captivating woman. In that moment, he concludes the pain might be a small price to pay just to experience her gentle touch again. Having grown up as an orphan, Billy has struggled with loneliness his whole life. Yet, the way this woman gazes at him ignites a flicker of hope that he might one day find love.

After years of working in a bustling big city emergency room, Dr. Beth Moore desperately needs a break. She retreats to Twin Falls, Idaho, and settles into the house she recently inherited from her grandfather. When her best friend, Sierra, talks her into attending a local rodeo, Beth never expected to have an injured cowboy land at her feet much less to be so attracted to the charming man.

Concerned about Billy’s recovery, Beth travels with the rodeo stock company to keep an eye on him, while he unwittingly teaches her about the importance of embracing happiness. Will their budding friendship begin to mend the broken pieces of their hearts?

Mending Christmas is a wholesome holiday western filled with heartfelt moments, humor, and a tender romance.

What’s something silly, funny, or crazy you’ve experienced or heard about in real life?

Post your answer for a chance to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card and a digital copy of Mending Christmas!

The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love from Guest Tina Radcliffe

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Helps us give Tina Radcliffe a big, warm welcome today!

Hello, Fillies and Friends!

I’m Tina Radcliffe and I’m delighted to be here today.

It’s a bittersweet finale for me as my Love Inspired Lazy M Ranch series comes to an end. I’m grateful for support of readers as they read, reviewed and shared The Baby Inheritance, The Cowboy Bargain, The Cowboy’s Secret Past and my newest release, The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love.

I’m honored to share that three of these releases hit the Publisher’s Weekly bestseller list for mass market paperbacks. And one, The Cowboy Bargain, finaled in the 2024 Carole Awards.

The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love is Luc Morgan’s story. He’s the last of the four Morgan brothers. While it delivers the same humor you can expect from my books, it also shares a message of gratitude and trust.

Book 4 is a Cinderella themed book with a twist.

Here’s a sneak peek into Luc Morgan’s predicament.

Sam started laughing.

Lucas tucked the phone in his pocket and glared at Sam.

“What’s so funny?”

“It just hit me that this is exactly like the prince searching for his princess, getting women to try on glass slippers.” His brother grinned. “You know. Cinderella.”

“You’re comparing my life to a fairy tale? That’s not funny at all.”

“Come on, Luc. You hit your head, lost your memory, found an engagement ring in your gym bag. You have no idea who your intended is, and you’re launching a business without your knowledge.” Sam nodded. “Oh yeah. It is kind of funny, and it could only happen to you.”

Lucas cringed at the words. His brother was right. It could only happen to him.

In addition to ending the series, The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love provides a long-awaited recipe link.

Housekeeper and cook, Bess Lowder has teased us for two years with her delicious cinnamon rolls. Here’s a “taste” from The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love.

Lucas examined the pastries and chose a plump roll thick with cream cheese frosting dripping down the sides over ribbons of buttery cinnamon filling. The Lazy M Ranch housekeeper had a secret recipe for cinnamon rolls that brought grown men to their knees. That included him.

Finally, in Book 4, readers are privy to that secret recipe and a few more. Find them here: Recipes from The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love

I’m a big fan of making the recipes found in novels. What about you? If you do end up trying these cinnamon rolls, drop me a line on social media and let me know.

In the meantime, I’ve brought some goodies to share.

One reader will take home this fun ‘Hay Girl, Hay’ pouch and a print copy of The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love (US).

A second reader will take home an e-copy of The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love (US or International).

Leave a comment and tell me your favorite morning pastry

and let me know if you’d like to be entered to take home these giveaways.

 

If you’d like to find out more about me and keep up with my book news, consider signing up for my newsletter at https://www.tinaradcliffe.com/

Oh, and you can pick up your copy of The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love on Amazon or at Harlequin.

Tina Radcliffe is a Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll member, and a five-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Her Harlequin novels have won the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion and appeared on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list. A US Army Veteran, a former registered nurse, and library cataloger, Tina resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance and cozy mysteries.

Visit Redemption Ridge with Guest Liwen Y. Ho

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A big welcome to Liwen Y. Ho today as she shares about a fictional town you’ll want to get to know!

You’re Cordially Invited to Visit Redemption Ridge… 

 

Hello! I’m so honored and thrilled to have a chance to chat with you today. And what is it that I’m excited to share with you about? It’s the beloved town of Redemption Ridge in Colorado! 

 

Established in 2023 in the hearts and minds of six Christian romance authors, me included, Redemption Ridge is the home to some lovely and strong heroines and their dashing and respectable heroes. Located in the heart of this small town is Redemption Ridge Ranch, a bustling tourist spot that offers riding lessons, equine therapy, as well as resort-style accommodations. Our stories are set around the Christmas season and take place on the ranch and around town.  

 You might be wondering, how does it work to have six authors write their own books in a shared town? Well, there’s a lot of teamwork and coordination involved! 

 All the important information of our stories is recorded in spreadsheets so we can refer to them when needed. And I do mean everything! From details about our characters’ hair and eye colors to their personality traits and their passions, we’re all aware of one another’s plots and characters. 

 We also chat online regularly about each other’s stories and how we can make them connect. Readers can expect to see characters from one book make guest appearances in other books. There are also mentions of the same restaurants and stores, as well as holiday events like the annual Christmas barn dance, so there’s plenty of continuity and familiarity throughout the series. 

 What about tropes?

I’m glad you asked! We already published six books in the Christmas in Redemption Ridge series last year and six more will be available before the year is over. Marriage of convenience, fake relationship, and autumn romance (later-in-life stories) are just a few of the tropes that are covered. One of the books that was released last month, Marrying the Billboard Cowboy, is a fun take on a modern mail-order bride romance. Another one releasing next week, Matchmaking the Cowboy, is a second chance romance with a matchmaking twist. 

 

My book coming out next month will be Doting on His Best Friend. As you can tell from the title, this story features two best friends who have a reverse age gap romance (she’s nine years older). The leading lady is a therapist who specializes in equine therapy. Even with a background in counseling (something I did before becoming an author), I didn’t know much about this kind of therapy, so I had a lot of fun researching it.  

 

One thing I learned is that therapy horses require a special type of temperament, specifically one that enjoys attention, is tolerant of the environment and riders, and has great ground manners. In Doting on His Best Friend, you’ll meet such a horse, an American Quarter Horse named Sully. He is a sweet horse known for his soulful, dark brown eyes and patience. 

 Speaking of horses, I’d love to hear about your experience with them.

Do you ride? Have you ever tried equine therapy?

Share your answer for a chance to win an autographed copy of Doting on His Best Friend when it releases next month!

(Please note: A print copy will be provided if the winner is a U.S. resident, and a digital copy will be provided to an international winner.) 

 Thank you so much for taking a trip to Redemption Ridge, Colorado with me today! 

USA Today bestselling author Liwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and chef by day (AKA a stay at home mom) and a writer by night. Her strength is in creating character-driven, deep POV romance infused with faith, humor, and happy ever afters.

In her pre-author life, she received a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary, and she loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind.

She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children (AKA munchkins).

Looking for Love in Christmassy Places…

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We’re pleased to welcome special guest author, Valerie Comer, back to the junction!

Howdy Ladies of the Cowgirl Persuasion!

My name’s Eli. Eli Thornton. I’m not much of a cowboy for all I grew up on the Flying Horseshoe Ranch during the years my dad was foreman. I liked horses fine, don’t get me wrong, but engines have always been my thing. Still are.

Watching the boss’s headstrong daughter from afar was also my thing back then. Not in a creepy way, of course. I was a few years older, same age as her brother, my best friend, but Meg Carmichael always fascinated me.

Wow, she was something, and she knew it. All rebellion and sass. She never noticed me. I might as well have been one more tree in the forest. Just as well, really, all things considered.

Then came the fateful night when my dad’s carelessness caused a horrendous accident that nearly took Meg’s father’s life and ultimately cost him the use of his legs. Dad couldn’t face it — he packed Mom and me up and we ran. He should’ve known the Carmichaels would forgive him, but he couldn’t live with his guilt.

But Dad’s gone now, and I’ve returned to the Flying Horseshoe to make amends on his behalf, if such a thing were even possible. They welcomed me with open arms like the Christ-followers they are and offered me a job as the ranch mechanic.

Pretty safe, all things considered. Last I knew, Meg lived far away. She’d been whooping it up until her social media went dark about a year ago. Yeah, I’d been keeping an eye. I couldn’t help myself.

But her parents could not only forgive my father and me, but their Prodigal Daughter. Meg had returned, baby in tow, and found forgiveness and love in Jesus and her family.

How could I stay away when the new, improved Meg finally saw me for myself?

 

Blue sky, red barn, snow on ground and a cowboy tipping his cowboy hat. Text "The Cowboy's Forever Crush by Valerie Comer"

In this story, you’ll find:

  • A high school crush
  • A prodigal daughter
  • His best friend’s sister
  • A single mom
  • Cinnamon shortbread cookies
  • Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Aurora Borealis
  • Redemption and second chances
  • A faith-filled romance

Want to read The Cowboy’s Forever Crush? This complete romance novella is free for subscribers to Valerie Comer’s newsletter — that’s me!

Red barn with blue sky and snowy ground. Kindle with cover of The Cowboy’s Forever Crush by Valerie Comer

Some folks subscribe to a newsletter, download their freebie, then unsubscribe immediately. There’s no law against that! But why not hang around for a month or two and see if my emails might be something you enjoy? Give me a chance to prove I can keep on entertaining you!

FREE!!! Get your copy of The Cowboy’s Forever Crush here! 

Tell me, what keeps you subscribed to an author’s emails? What makes you hit the unsubscribe button faster than you can blink? Let’s talk!

***

Valerie shared her recipe for Cinnamon Shortbread! Yum!

About Valerie Comer ~

Author photo of Valerie Comer

Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner. She writes engaging characters, strong communities, and deep faith into her green clean romances.

Valerie’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary Christian romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie grows much of her own food and is active in the local foods movement as well as her church. She only hopes her imaginary friends enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable grandkids.

Learning to Write Westerns When I Had No Clue

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Please welcome special guest author Lisa Jordan to the Junction!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several years ago, I had a wonderful conversation with my editor at Love Inspired, asking her input about what I could do to increase my readership.

She said, “Write Amish or cowboy stories. That’s what’s really selling right now.”

At that time, my husband and I had started watching Heartland, too, and I fell in love with the family dynamic as they worked through the trials and triumphs of ranching and all things horses. I appreciated her advice, took it to the Lord, and determined that it was time to move away from my fictional town in PA and head to CO—at least, fictitiously.

The only problem was I’ve only been to a hotel in Colorado for the 2009 ACFW conference. Oh, yeah, I’ve never been on a ranch. And come to think of it, I haven’t ridden a horse since middle school…and Queenie was the gentlest pony on the planet.

So creating a fictional family on a fictional ranch in a fictional town shouldn’t be too hard, right?

How was I going to create a four-book series and make it realistic?

When it came time to decide where my fictional town was going to be located, I pulled up Google Maps and determined my fictional town of Aspen Ridge was going to be set about forty-five minutes outside of Durando, Colorado.

I learned to lean on my friends, who were able to help with some geographical aspects of the terrain, the weather, and even little things like what brands of ice cream were popular—I needed that info to write one sentence in my book coming out in April 2025. Another friend, Dalyn Weller, lives on a ranch in Washington and shared information pertaining to care, feeding, and tacking horses.

I’ve purchased books and magazines to help with research…and the other articles inspired new ideas.

YouTube is one of the best sources of information. I searched for videos for that part of the state for visuals to build storyworld into my scenes. I watched videos about ranching, tacking horses, growing strawberries in that area. I also took visual tours of the San Juan Mountains that overlook my fictional town.

In my book series, my fictional family expands their ranch to include a guest ranch. Instead of building cabins, which can be quite costly, I decided the Stone family was going to put yurts on their property. For the past three years, my husband and I have camped in a yurt for a week in July. Since nothing is wasted in a writer’s life, it was the perfect inspiration for a novel.

My husband and I visited a local rodeo where I spent the afternoon and evening taking lots of pictures and video to create a realistic bull rider in my series. Additionally, we watched a wonderful (and painfully-looking) documentary about bull riders, bull riding, and all that goes into the sport.

I’ve visited online forums like Reddit to get a real, down-to-earth view about different aspects from people who live out their days running ranches, caring and riding horses, and trying to make a living for their families.

And finally, one of my favorite ways to research my newly-released book, Bonding with the Cowboy’s Daughter, was to visit a nearby horse rescue. My new friend Nola, who has a huge heart for saving the beautiful animals, took me on a tour of her small non-profit horse farm and walked me through what she’s done to start and grow her organization. A couple of times, I was moved to tears as she shared a few stories of heartbreak in trying to save the animals.

I’ve learned to not be limited by what I know when it comes to writing new stories. It’s become an adventure to learn something new and use that knowledge to inspire readers.

I will be giving away a signed copy of Bonding with the Cowboy’s Daughter. Post a comment below and tell me what you love most about reading westerns.

Bonding with the Cowboy’s Daughter

She’s left her old life behind

…only to find a new love waiting

After a broken engagement, Callie Morgan decides to move to Aspen Ridge, Colorado, to fix up her late grandmother’s gift shop. But the shop is in bad shape and Callie runs out of money faster than expected. Old childhood friend and single dad Wyatt Stone comes to the rescue, offering her a job at his family’s ranch, Stone River Ranch. While their friendship is rekindled, will Callie ever risk loving again…even as Wyatt’s little girl is already stealing her heart?

 

AMAZON LINK

Turning My Hero into a Cowboy & A Giveaway

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When I first met my husband, he was very anti-cowboy. Except for the Dallas football team. 
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Got him to “try on” the cowboy look a couple years ago for our 30th anniversary.
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Despite being raised in Texas, he hated country music and wanted nothing to do with trucks. He preferred sporty cars and high tech gadgets. But after over 30 years of living with me, he’s slowly turning into my very own cowboy hero. I got him into a pair of Wrangler jeans a couple years ago, then he bought himself a pair of boots for my birthday this year.
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Here we are boot-to-boot during my birthday trip to Wildcatter Ranch.
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And this month he traded in his sporty car for a . . . truck!
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Now, there still won’t be any country music twanging from the speakers, and there is a whole host of high tech gadgets for him to play with, but it’s still a truck. A BIG truck. The side mirrors are taller than I am.
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His old car was starting to fall apart and we both want to get a travel trailer eventually, so we decided we’d take the first step by getting the truck that will pull the trailer whenever we can afford to buy that piece of the travel puzzle.
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But for now, I’m enjoying watching my man embrace the inner cowboy he never knew was there.
Giveaway!
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This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the American Christian Fiction Conference in New Orleans. While I was there I got to enjoy lunch with two of my P&P Filly Sisters – Winnie and Mary.
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Also, while I was there, I had the opportunity to pick up a couple of free books. I thought I’d share the fun with one of our P&P readers. Leave a comment for a chance to win these two romantic suspense books set in the west.
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Do you have cowboys/cowgirls in your family, or do most of your cowboy friends live inside books?

New Release! Training the K-9 Companion {Giveaway!}

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Meadow background, book cover Training the K-9 Companion by Jill Kemerer, text "New Release & Giveaway, Petticoats & Pistols"

The third book in my Wyoming Legacies series is in stores now! TRAINING THE K-9 COMPANION follows Cade Moulten, a rancher opening a high-end horse-boarding operation, and Mackenzie Howard, the new veterinarian in town, as they train little Tulip to be a therapy dog for his grandmother. This Love Inspired book takes place during the summer in fictional Jewel River, Wyoming.

I enjoyed learning how rural vets utilize mobile trailers to treat cattle and horses on ranches. I also love writing books with dogs in them. Talk about a win-win! Mackenzie’s trying to convince local ranchers to trust her with their cattle, but she’s terrified she’ll make a mistake and lose an animal. And Cade needs high-paying clients to offset the reduced rates he plans on charging the locals to board horses at his new stables. On top of that, Cade’s mother insists on training a therapy dog to comfort his beloved grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s. Poor Cade never knows what to expect when he visits Nana.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are terrible diseases. My father suffered from Parkinson’s and dementia, and I spent a lot of time at the nursing home with him before he passed away. I’m blessed with a supportive family who loves Jesus, and this story reflects it.

Don’t worry–the book isn’t all gloom and sadness! Cade’s mom is an unrelenting matchmaker. Add the warm, rowdy members of the Jewel River Legacy Club, and you won’t want to put the book down.

 

Book cover Training the K-9 Companion by Jill Kemerer. Mountain background, Pomeranian in meadow with daisies

Man’s best friend…
Could be the key to a second chance.

When rancher Cade Moulten decides to get a therapy dog for his ailing grandmother, he doesn’t expect a fluffy Pomeranian—or a pretty veterinarian trainer. But Cade will do anything to prove he’s a changed man, even train the small K-9 alongside Mackenzie Howard. Soon the weekly sessions with Mackenzie have Cade wishing for more. But will he risk revealing his shameful past for a chance at acceptance?

 

Purchase Training the K-9 Companion

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Read an excerpt!

As usual, the restlessness snuck up on him, and, too late, Cade Moulten realized his mistake. Offering to help his mother train a therapy dog was just another attempt to atone for his past.

He couldn’t back out now. He wouldn’t if he could. Cade had other reasons—good ones—for being here.

“It’s not much to look at, is it?” His mother, Christy Moulten, sat in the passenger seat of his truck and stared at the small industrial building with faded gray aluminum siding. Next to it, a matching structure roughly three times its size shared the parking lot. The early June sunshine began to fade as the day wound down.

Cade cut the engine, and his mom bent to pick up her purse. A few months shy of turning sixty-four, his mother hadn’t slowed a bit. Her stylish blond bob, subtle makeup and smile lines gave her the appearance of someone who enjoyed life, but she also had a stubborn streak wider than a country mile.

At thirty-five, he’d mellowed to the point of not minding driving her around town whenever her driver’s license was suspended—and that was often—nor did he mind living with her in the big house on the ranch. Kept her out of trouble.

Maybe they kept each other out of trouble.

He pocketed his keys. “What’s it supposed to look like? It’s a vet clinic, not a spa, Ma.”

Cade had personally taken a loss on this property by selling it to the new veterinarian and her father for pennies on the dollar. Anything to convince a vet to take a chance on moving to Jewel River. When Dr. Bill Banks, the only veterinarian within two hours of here, retired last fall, it had affected every rancher and pet owner in this swath of Wyoming.

Jewel River needed a veterinarian ASAP.

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Want to read more? Purchase Training the K-9 Companion!

You can find Training the K-9 Companion in Walmart and all stores that carry Love Inspired books!

To celebrate, I’m giving away one copy of  Training the K-9 Companion (US winner will receive a signed paperback, International winner will receive an ebook, void where prohibited by law.). Simply leave a comment below, and I’ll select a winner via random number generator. Giveaway ends on July 3, 2024 at noon EST, and winner will be announced in the comments of this post and in a separate post!

Do you love books with dogs and cowboys? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you for celebrating my new release with me!