Guest Author

Not So Luxurious Transportation of the 1850s (And a Giveaway)–by Jill Dewhurst

by

Not-So-Luxury Transportation of the 1850s

Would you want to experience travel from San Francisco to Springfield, Missouri, on a stagecoach in 1860?  After my research for Clara’s Courage, I might forgo the adventure.  Modern cinematography of that time period tends to give us a romanticized image of stagecoach travel.

For travelers departing San Francisco for the Oklahoma Territory during the winter months, the Butterfield Stage Line was the only one of the three primary stage routes that dipped southward enough to avoid blizzards and Rocky Mountain crossings.  Because it prioritized mail over passengers, the accommodations were far from luxurious.  Unlike the Overland Stage Company that traversed the country further north, the Butterfield Line did not have coach houses along the route, for the stage kept going day and night.  Instead, the only stops were at way stations every two hours or so to change horses.  That fifteen-minute window gave passengers just enough time to stretch their legs, visit the outhouse, or purchase a light meal.

The twenty-eight-day trip was partitioned into nine divisions.  The First Division from San Francisco to Los Angeles most often used the Concord coach, the design we envision when we think of a stagecoach.  (The Overland Stage Line and Wells Fargo Company used the Concord.)  Los Angeles was a primary hub, and the town even had one choice for overnight accommodations.  The Bella Union Hotel in 1858 was a single-story building that housed the courthouse, a tavern, a mercantile, and the printing press for the Los Angeles Star.  Along the north side of the building ran a series of six-by-nine-foot spaces nicknamed “dog kennels.”  These rooms had a short door, walls, dirt floors, and a canvas roof.  No bed.  No washstand.  Just walls and a muddy floor.  Trip Advisor rating: zero stars.

From Los Angeles, the Butterfield vehicle switched from the Concord coach to the Celerity wagon.  The latter was commissioned by John Butterfield to be lighter and faster than the Concord.  The result resembled a flat-bottomed buckboard wagon with rectangular vertical framing, a canvas roof and windows, and a boot (trunk) for the luggage.  Think of it as a cross between a coach and a Conestoga wagon.  Some of these had an extra bench in the middle and could carry up to twelve passengers if their legs dove-tailed for the journey.  The only concession for comfort was that the back of the seats could be laid flat for sleeping.  Next to strangers.  Bouncing along rutted roads.  Lying on unpadded wood.  Doesn’t that sound like fun?

photo credit:  National Park Service

The Butterfield trail skirted the border of Mexico and the Gadsden Purchase (now southern Arizona and New Mexico) before heading across Texas to Fort Smith, Arkansas.  The route traversed desert, Comanche land (one of the more war-like tribes of the day), and low mountains.  Dotted along the way were a few military forts, the Butterfield’s primary resource for a blacksmith, physician, and protection against attacks.  Once the stage reached Fort Smith, Arkansas (the next major hub), travelers heading to Oklahoma Territory (also called “Indian Territory”) would secure their own transportation and head west to Fort Gibson and pick up the Shawnee Trail (known as the “Texas Road”) heading north.  This final stretch was a welcome respite for travelers, for the road was well-maintained and sported several coach houses (single night boardinghouses) along the route through the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations.

The primary setting of Clara’s Courage and the Rugged Cross Ranch series is the fictional town of Prairie Hills in northeast Oklahoma, but circumstances beyond Josiah Collins’ and Clara McClintock’s control send them on the journey described above.  How do they get to San Francisco in the first place?  That’s a story worth telling.

Meet Josiah and Clara in Clara’s Courage, a faith-filled story complete with an awkward meet-cute, a marriage of convenience, and a sweet western romance.  Check out the description below, and preorder Clara’s Courage to have it automatically delivered to your Kindle on release day ~ September 22, 2026.  Preorder pricing will only last for a limited time.

~~Giveaway~~

Have you ever visited a museum with a stagecoach?  Was it a Concord coach or a Celerity wagon?  Do you have a favorite novel, movie, or television show that features stagecoaches?  My favorite would be the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart inspired by Janette Oke’s novel.

Anyone who comments below will be entered into the drawing for an autographed copy of Clara’s Courage.  Be sure to chime in!  I’d love to meet you!

~*~*~*~

Clara’s Courage

A PRICELESS RING, A PERILOUS JOURNEY, AND A PROMISE THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING

She vanished without a trace. He never stopped believing she was alive.
Three years after an awkward first meeting, Clara McClintock’s unexpected visit to the Rugged Cross Ranch forges a friendship with Josiah Collins that whispers the promise of something more. Receiving permission from her father to become her suitor, Josiah courts Clara via letters until she disappears with no clues leading to her whereabouts. One by one, the people in Josiah’s life succumb to the belief that Clara has perished, but Josiah never surrenders hope.
Far from home, Clara finds herself trapped with no hope of freedom or a future with the man she was beginning to love, yet she determines to hold onto her faith–a faith tested when a promise made to a dying young woman places her in the crosshairs of a dangerous man.
When an unexpected reunion brings Josiah and Clara together, their journey across the frontier is fraught with danger as a relentless pursuer closes in. With every mile testing their growing love and their faith, Clara must find the courage to trust God’s providence when the path before them seems impossible.
Sometimes the longest road home is the one that leads straight to the heart.

Clara’s Courage on Amazon

~*~*~*~

A Selah Award Bronze Medalist, Christian Author Award Winner, Will Rogers Medallion Award Gold Medal Winner, and bestselling author of historical Christian fiction, Jill Dewhurst writes novels that seamlessly weave a page-turning story with the truth of God’s unconditional love. With her varied experience as an RN, a musician, and a homeschool mom, Jill creatively weaves a part of herself into each story.  When not writing, she enjoys playing her flute and thanking God for the hubby who lassoed her heart for keeps. Publishing her Rugged Cross Ranch series has been a dream come true.

 

I Thought I Was Writing for Men. My Readers Had Other Ideas–by R.J. Sloane

by

I Thought I Was Writing for Men. My Readers Had Other Ideas.

By R.J. Sloane

I’ll be honest with you. When I sat down to write The Rustler Hunter, I figured I knew exactly who would pick it up.

Men. Specifically, men who grew up on Louis L’Amour and still reread Hondo every few years. Guys who like their westerns lean and mean with action-packed gunfights, manhunts, wide-open Arizona Territory, and not a lot of fussing about feelings.

So, imagine my surprise when the emails started coming in, and most of them were from women.

Not just a few. Most of my reader mail comes from women. Women who write things like, “I don’t usually read westerns, but I couldn’t put this down.” Women who tell me the Harper brothers remind them of the honorable men in their own families. Quiet protectors who show up when it’s important. Men who don’t make a speech about it. Women who say the family oath in the series—Proverbs 21:15 CSB, when justice is executed, it is a joy to the righteous but a terror to evildoers—impacted them profoundly.

I had to think hard about why my writing resonates so strongly with women.

This is what I think: women have always understood what justice costs. They’ve watched the men they love carry the weight of protecting others. They’ve been the ones keeping families intact while that work got done. They know, maybe better than anyone, what it means to hold a code when the world makes it inconvenient. I finally realized that’s not a masculine theme. That’s a human one.

The Harper siblings, children of a violent outlaw, aren’t compelling because they’re tough. They’re compelling because they chose to be something better than the man who raised them. And that kind of story resonates with anyone who’s ever had to rebuild their life or overcome a tough past.

Hayley Harper, the Pinkerton agent at the center of The Rustler Hunter, is probably part of the answer too. I write women who are competent, stubborn, and fiercely loyal. Women who carry the same moral code as the men beside them but fight their battles with their strengths. Women who don’t need rescuing but aren’t too proud to accept backup. I believe readers appreciate that kind of woman.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that she spends most of the book striking sparks off a certain legendary manhunter who didn’t see her coming either. J.J. Westin met his match in Hayley Harper, and I think readers enjoy watching two people who are equally stubborn and equally principled figure that out—one dusty Arizona canyon at a time.

What is it about action-driven western fiction that keeps you coming back or brought you to it in the first place?

I have a feeling you’ll teach me something, partner.

Giveaway

I’m delighted to offer a signed copy of The Rustler Hunter to one lucky winner. Just tell me in the comments below, what is it about action-driven western fiction that keeps you coming back or brought you to it in the first place?

The Rustler Hunter: Harper’s Justice Book 1

When forty-one successful manhunts make you a legend, there’s only one way left to go—down.

J.J. Westin, the infamous Rustler Hunter, goes undercover at Arizona Territory’s largest cattle ranch to expose the rustlers bleeding it dry. The thieves aren’t just stealing cattle. They’re trusted cowboys operating from inside the bunkhouse.

What he doesn’t expect is Hayley Harper, the tough-as-nails cook with secrets of her own. She’s a Pinkerton agent working the same case and the daughter of notorious outlaw Galen Harper.

When their covers are blown, they uncover something far deadlier than rustling. A corruption network spanning three territories. With enemies closing in and bullets flying, the legendary manhunter and the outlaw’s daughter must survive the badlands of 1898 Arizona, where trust is deadly and justice comes at gunpoint.

R.J. Sloane writes gritty Western adventures where justice rides hard across the untamed Southwest. Inspired by Longmire, Yellowstone, and a childhood of classic westerns watched with his dad, R.J. brings authentic frontier spirit to every page. His Harper’s Justice series follows territorial lawmen where doing right often means defying the law.

When he’s not writing fiction, R.J. releases original dark country music—outlaw Americana cut from the same cloth as his stories.

Find R.J. on his site: https://rjsloanewesterns.com and at all major retailers

 

Location, Location, Location (And a Fun Giveaway!)-by Nancy Fraser

by

Location, Location, Location

Nancy Fraser

As dedicated as most authors are to the authenticity of our characters, their professions, and the historical details of the time period we’ve chosen, we get a small amount of latitude from… you guessed it… our latitude and longitude! Our location, to be exact.

While some authors choose to set their stories in real-life towns with the location’s history already built in, a good majority of western romance authors create their own small pieces of eventual paradise. I say “eventual” because it’s not uncommon for one or both of our main characters to be thrust into a place or situation not of their choosing.

As an author with over sixty sweet, western romances under my belt, I’ve gone in both directions. The three books I wrote for the popular Christmas Quilt series were all set in the real town of Castle Rock, Oregon. I chose Castle Rock because of it’s interesting history. From the early Native American Yakima tribe who drove their horses across the Columbia River, to the thirteen-family wagon train campsite in 1847 who were subject to a livestock stampede initiated by a number of tribes from the surrounding area, the early going was difficult.

Eventually though, Castle Rock was settled. By 1881 they had a train station, a steamboat landing, warehouses for wheat and wool, and a general store. They got their first post office in 1883 (a fact I used when I made my heroine’s father the postmaster). And, while some dreamed of leaving Castle Rock for bigger and better things, that didn’t always happen. My heroines, Audrey, Sarah, and Raine, were destined to find their HEA so I’ve bundled all three stories into A Castle Rock Christmas and the ladies seem right at home.

While bringing history to life is a worthy endeavor, creating a fictitious town is also a lot of fun. In one of my earliest sweet western historical romances, A Christmas Baby for Beatrice, I created White Mountain, Washington. Designed as a somewhat remote location, my hero’s home sat on the side of a mountain, surrounded by trees. Given my hero is an author and a professor of horticulture with his own university-funded greenhouse, the location made sense… even to a city girl like my widowed heroine.

All these exciting locations (real and made up) aside, I’m about to embark on my biggest location challenge. On September 25, I’ll release Agnes: Cape Breton Highland Bride. Set in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia in the early 1900s, it’s part of the National Park Brides series that began a couple of years ago and is still going strong today with it’s third set of books scheduled for this fall.

It’s not just the location that’s going to be a challenge. I’ve been to Cape Breton Highlands National Park a number of times. The story I’m planning is a homage to my late mother-in-law and father-in-law. It’s their love story and, while I may bend a few of the details to fit the book, the locations and romance are all true. I’m excited and nervous in equal measure.

However, before I get myself off to Cape Breton, I still have to deal with one of my favorite twice-used locations, the fictitious town of Santa Rosa, Montana. My latest release, Their Marriage Bargain, is the second book set in the small town not far from Bozeman.

Their Marriage Bargain

Julia Wilson is tired of life in Baltimore, and of her mother’s incessant attempts to marry her off despite having a career of her own. When the opportunity to travel to Montana and work with her doctor cousin presents itself, she jumps at the chance.

Lucas Palmer is the sheriff of Santa Rosa, Montana, a growing town surrounded by large cattle ranches and mining concerns. He’s also a recently jilted groom, his intended shunning the cold winters of Montana in favor of the warmer western coastline. Determined to remain single rather than face another failure, he must delicately sidestep the young women looking to snag a husband.

When Julia arrives, it’s attraction at first sight for both her and the handsome lawman. Yet, she’s determined to settle in with her new job and new home before she even entertains being courted. Frustrated by the unwanted advances of the town’s men, she’s at her wits end when Lucas suggests they strike a bargain.

A pre-marriage, engagement bargain. While they’re both immediately taken off the market, their ruse is anything but convenient with each passing day making them long for a real arrangement, rather than make believe.

Which one will crack first and admit their feelings? Or are they destined to suffer in companionable silence?

You can find Julia’s and Lucas’s adventure on Kindle Unlimited HERE.

GIVEAWAY

I’d love to hear from the followers of Petticoats & Pistols. Do you have a favorite book location? It can be either real or a figment of the author’s imagination. Did they sell their make-believe town so well, that you fell in love?

For all those who comment, I’ll be giving away a few prizes as follows:

Two e-book copies of my latest release, Their Marriage Bargain

Two e-book copies of A Castle Rock Christmas anthology, and

I’ll reserve one e-book copy of Agnes: Cape Breton Highland Bride to be sent on release day.

BONUS! In addition to the above giveaways, Nancy has a free copy of A Christmas Baby for Beatrice for everyone! You can download your free copy Available today through the weekend only.

Thank you so much for allowing me to spend some time here on the blog. I look forward to your comments.

Blessings,

Nancy

~*~*~*~

NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Her preferred genres are sweet western historical and sweet small-town contemporary. However, she has been known to dabble in the most unusual genres.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

You can follow Nancy here:

Amazon Author Page ~ Bookbub ~ BlueSky Social  ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

 

Quanah Wins a Bride (And a Giveaway!) –by Sherry Shindelar

by

 

Quanah Wins a Bride

Cynthia Ann Parker

Quanah Parker, the son of a Comanche war chief and Cynthia Ann Parker (the most famous captive of the 19th century) fell in love with a young Comanche maiden named Weckeah, but his prospects were dim. Weckeah returned his affection, but her father, Old Bear, didn’t favor Quanah. Quanah only owned one horse, and he was an orphan (His mother had been recaptured by the whites and died of a broken heart. His war chief father had died, as well—when and how he died is disputed. But by the time Quanah reached adulthood, he had no family connections), and he was half-white. Horses were the currency of choice amongst the Comanche, and Quanah’s rival for the young lady’s hand was the son of a prominent chief, Eckitoacup. The chief’s son, Tannap, offered ten horses.

But Quanah had a gift for leadership and persuasion. He convinced his friends to give him some of their horses. However, when he led the ten horses to Weckeah’s teepee with expectations of triumph, he discovered that his rival had upped his offer to twenty horses.

Not one to accept defeat, Quanah asked Weckeah if she would elope with him. In Comanche culture, this was a last resort when a parent would not approve a marriage, but it was risky. It brought dishonor to the bride’s family, and a young man could only hope to make amends through many horses, something Quanah didn’t have. With his rival being the son of a powerful chief, it was more likely that Weckeah’s father would send a war party after Quanah.

Quanah had a plan. He convinced twenty-one young warriors to accompany him and his bride. They rode hard and fast for hours, and then traveled by night, dividing into smaller groups to elude pursuers, reuniting in west Texas at the North Concho River. This would be their new home. From there, they did what Comanches had been doing for centuries in Texas: raid and steal horses.

For over a year, they lived along the river and prospered. Some of the braves traveled back to the tribe’s main encampment to retrieve their wives and sweethearts, convincing other warriors to join in the adventures of riding with Quanah.

At last, Eckitoacup determined to make the upstart, rebel pay for his audacious disregard for tribal hierarchy and customs. He gathered a war party and headed south to attack Quanah’s camp. But he was taken aback by the hundreds of Quanah’s warriors who rode out to confront him in battle. The old chief decided it’d be better to negotiate instead of fight. For the price of nineteen ponies, Quanah was allowed to return to the main tribe with his men and his bride in peace and was awarded the honor of becoming the new war chief.


The heroine in Wichita Path Sacrifice, one of the novellas in Freed by the Frontier, is inspired by the real life experiences of Quanah’s mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, and to a lesser extent, Cynthia’s cousin Rachel Plummer, who were both Comanche captives.

GIVEAWAY!

I love to hear from my readers. For a chance at a signed print copy of Freed by the Frontier, tell me, what is a situation in your life that was a very difficult time, but the Lord worked it out for the good?

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. A romantic at heart, she is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she isn’t busy writing, she is an English professor, working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is a multi-award-winning writer. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of forty-one years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren.

Visit Sherry’s website here: http://www.sherryshindelar.com

DIFFICULT TO SAY GOODBYE (AND A GIVEAWAY!) — by Robin Lee Hatcher

by

 

In the fall of 2009, when I came up with the idea for a three-book series and named it The British Are Coming series, I didn’t know that it would be contracted by two different publishers over the next seven years but, for different reasons, wait another six years before I actually wrote the first book as an indie release. Nor did I know that it would grow from the three initial novels to a series of one novella and five novels.

Over the course of these books, I have loved writing about the American bison, about Yellowstone National Park, about the cattle on Eden’s Gate Ranch, about the Palouse horse (we now call them Appaloosa). And I’ve loved watching the town of Gibeon come to life.

It was a bittersweet moment when I wrote the ending to To Fall in Love at Christmas, the sixth and final book. I had half-hoped another character would raise his or her hand and say, “Excuse me, but you need to write my story.” That’s what happened with books five and six. I was willing to add a seventh. But no one demanded their own story, and I finally had to accept that the series was done.

I confess that I loved ending the series with a Christmas romance. And who better to experience a Christmas romance than a frontier pastor.

When I introduced Reverend Truman Blankenship in To Marry an English Lord (book #2), I expected him to be a minor character. But over the course of the next books (To Capture a Mountain Man, To Reveal a Reckless Love, and To Find Where She Belongs), he proved himself an important part of the community and a truly good friend to the heroes and heroines of the earlier books. Not to mention, his one obvious attempt to find a wife had failed because she was already in love with someone else. I felt I owed him a happy ending.

In keeping with the “British coming to America” theme of the series, I decided to bring a Scottish-Canadian nurse into Truman’s life (Canada was, after all, part of the British Empire in the 1890s). Alice MacPherson was raised on a religion of rules, so very different from the joyful faith of Truman Blankenship. And so began an unexpected courtship.

To Fall in Love at Christmas (set in eastern Idaho in 1897) released earlier this month, and I have delighted in the feedback from readers who are loving this final book as much as I do. And if it is as hot where you live as it is where I live, spending some time with the cold, snowy days in Gibeon, Idaho just might be the treat you need.

Giveaway

I’m offering a giveaway of To Fall in Love at Christmas to one lucky reader, so please, everyone, don’t forget to comment!

My question is, do you love to travel at Christmas, or are you a homebody during the holiday? If you travel, where do you like to go? And if you stay home, what’s your favorite tradition?


PS  I am more than halfway through the writing of my next book, the first of a planned seven-book series. If you’d like to stay up-to-date on my releases, please take a moment to subscribe to my newsletter.

THE COWBOY’S LAST RODEO (AND A GIVEAWAY!) — by Louise M. Gouge

by

Thank you for inviting me back to Petticoats and Pistols. I was here last January to promote my Love Inspired book Feuding with the Cowboy. Today, I want to introduce you to my brand new sequel, The Cowboy’s Last Rodeo. This story continues my series about the Mattson family of New Mexico cattle ranchers. As always with Love Inspired, my heroine and hero work through their unique conflicts and adversities on the way to earning their happily-ever-after.

 

Before I get into the specifics about the book, I want to jump on the bandwagon with other on P&P writers in celebrating the United States’ 250 anniversary. Quick question you don’t have to answer: How much did you have to practice to say “Semi-Quincentennial”? In May, I gave a patriotic talk to a ladies’ meeting, and I sure did have to pause and think each time I said the word. LOL! Also, to celebrate this remarkable anniversary, I brought a colorful ornament, some cute juice glasses, two tee shirts, a welcome mat, a yard flag, and a brand new Stars and Stripes flag to fly by our front porch. There was so much more I wanted to buy, but I had to stop someplace. BTW, I took all of these pictures with my iPhone, so they’re mine.

 

I’ve always been very patriotic. When I was in high school in 1962, I was honored to be chosen as the soloist when my choir introduced a new song titled “I’m just a flag-waving American.” Back then, everybody in this country would have made that same proclamation. If you click on the link, you won’t see me singing because, sad to say, my performance wasn’t recorded. Instead, you’ll hear a wonderful high school group singing the song in a 1976 celebration of our Bicentennial. Now, as we are about to celebrate the Semi-Quincentennial, it’s so inspiring to listen to the words of this song. Let me know what you think.

Thinking of patriotic people, I’m always impressed by the patriotism of the cowboy and rodeo community. These hardworking, down-to-earth folks get it. This is the greatest country in the world, and they are thankful to be here where we’re free to be whoever God wants us to be. Knowing The Cowboy’s Last Rodeo would be released in July, I made sure to include a scene in which my hero and heroine attend a community Independence Day celebration, complete with patriotic music, hot dogs, and fireworks. Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls are especially faith-filled and patriotic folks. You can always count on hearing an opening prayer and singing the National Anthem before every rodeo. And if the event happens on Sunday, they always attend Cowboy Church right there in the rodeo arena.

Here’s the story:

He’s risking it all for one last ride…After a near-fatal fall, former bull rider Raeder Westfall is determined to prove he’s no quitter, especially to his five-year-old son, Peanut. But rodeo queen June Mattson knows the price of chasing glory, and as Peanut’s Sunday school teacher, she worries Raeder is risking too much. Yet when the Riverton Stampede loses its star, June surprises them both by tossing Raeder’s name into the ring. As they work to save the town’s biggest event, friendship turns to something deeper. Can they overcome fear and pride to build the family they both long for?

So, what did you do to celebrate our Semi-Quincentennial? I’m partial to barbecue pork, baked beans, coleslaw, and corn on the cob for my July Fourth menu. Leave comments to enter my drawing for one print copy of The Cowboy’s Last Rodeo to a U. S. resident.

 

 

South Carolina author Louise M. Gouge writes contemporary and historical romance fiction, winning the prestigious IRCA in 2006 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She was also a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards in 2005, 2007, and 2008, and placed in the Laurel Wreath contest in 2012. Most recently, she was a finalist in the 2023 and 2024 Selah Awards. A former college English and humanities professor, Louise is a 25 year member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. Married for fifty-four happy years to her beloved husband, David, Louise is now widowed and spends her days researching and writing her next novel.

 

You can find her complete Booklist and more info about her writing at her website: https://louisemgougeauthor.blogspot.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMGougeAuthor

Follow me on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/louise-m-gouge

VERONICA’S SECRET RESCUE (AND A GIVEAWAY!) by Paulette D. Marshall

by

Veronica’s Secret Rescue: Building Homes and Hope in Mariposa

While writing Veronica’s Secret Rescue, I enjoyed learning more about the role lumber mills played in California’s growing communities during the late 1800s.

Before modern building supplies were readily available, local lumber mills were essential. They provided the wood needed to build homes, barns, churches, schools, stores, and nearly every other structure a growing town required. In many areas of California, especially near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, abundant pine forests made the lumber industry an important part of daily life.

Many mills were family-owned businesses passed down through generations. Families often worked together, with fathers teaching sons the trade and everyone contributing to the success of the operation. These businesses weren’t simply a source of income; they helped build the surrounding community. The lumber produced at local mills helped new settlers establish homes and create lasting roots.

The town of Mariposa, California, has a rich history dating back to the Gold Rush era. Founded in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Mariposa became an important center for miners, ranchers, merchants, and travelers. Its location near Yosemite made it a gateway for those heading into the mountains. By the late nineteenth century, the town had grown into a close-knit community where neighbors often depended on one another through both hardships and celebrations.

In Veronica’s Secret Rescue, Tucker Harper owns a family lumber mill and ranch near Mariposa. His mill reflects the hardworking spirit that helped shape many California communities during that time. The steady rhythm of the sawmill, the scent of fresh-cut pine, and the importance of honest labor all became part of Tucker’s character and the life he built.

For Veronica, however, the story is about much more than a lumber mill or a ranch. After a difficult journey filled with uncertainty, she discovers something she never expected. She isn’t simply finding a husband. She is finding a home, a family, a community, and a future. Most importantly, she learns that God often provides exactly what we need, even when His plans unfold in ways we never imagined.

 

Blessings,

Paulette D. Marshall

Today, I’m giving away a digital copy of my book MAIL-ORDER FREIGHTER. Be sure and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for this story! Here are a couple of questions I’m interested in hearing your answers to:

What makes a place feel like home to you? Is it the people, the location, the memories, or something else?

Or

If you could choose, would you rather live on a ranch, in a small mountain town, or near a bustling city? Why?

Thanks so much for being here today!

 

BLUEBONNET FIELDS (AND A GIVEAWAY!) by Kara O’Neal

by

 

Howdy, fellow western romance readers!

I’m so excited to be back with y’all to talk about books, the West, and history! I’ve learned so much from the posts on Petticoats and Pistols, and I’m glad I get to contribute to this blog.

When I was drafting Bluebonnet Fields, the final book in the Wildflower series, I got to visit the Hill Country in Texas, which is where the bluebonnets grow. It’s also where my grandma is from. And her mother, and her mother’s mother.

They were a family of cotton pickers. Migrant workers.

My grandma grew up running the roads of the Hill Country and picking furrow after furrow of cotton.

But, in between the work, they made time for fun, and dancing was often their favorite activity.

 

Gruene Hall, in Gruene, Texas, (pronounced “green”), is the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas. It was started in 1878, and it hasn’t changed much at all. The layout of the building is the same—bar at the front, dance floor in the middle, side-flaps for open-air dancing, tin roof, and a small stage opposite the bar. The outdoor garden, with the live oak trees and stone walk-ways are also still the same.

Oh, the fun this building has seen! The music it has heard!

Gruene Hall is one of my favorite places in Texas, and two-stepping or waltzing the night away at this establishment, as so many others have done, is a privilege and an honor.

And in Bluebonnet Fields, I was able to give that joy to Kenna and Levi. It’s where Kenna has her first dance, and where they share their first kiss. It’s truly magical.

And I can imagine my great-grandmothers there, having themselves a grand time, loving the music, dancing the night away, and maybe giving away a kiss or two!

Do you have a favorite historic spot or town that instantly transports you back in time? Please share and one commentor will win a copy of Bluebonnet Fields!

 BLUEBONNET FIELDS

Texas, 1890

Kenna Ainsley has no use for love. It only brings betrayal and disappointment. She finds solace in her work as a Harvey Girl, and the independence that brings.

But one day a stranger sits down at her table. He’s a Deputy Sheriff, and before she can blink, he’s dragging her back to Galveston on an erroneous charge that she’s a runaway wife.

Kenna plots her escape. But even as she tries to free herself, her heart is working against her. She’s falling for the handsome Deputy Sheriff, which sends her fleeing to the one place she swore she would never go.

Deputy Sheriff Levi Brandt has plans, and Kenna is at the center of them. After one look at her, he knows there’s no way in hell she’s gonna end up hitched to anyone else but him. But he’s gonna have to do some heavy lifting to get her to trust him. Lucky for her, he welcomes the weight. No matter how far she runs, he’ll find her. Always.

 

Excerpt

When Kenna entered the hall on the arm of Levi, she took in her surroundings with an excited eye. The dance floor was in the direct center. A bar was at one end, near the main doors, and the stage where the band was playing was opposite it. The area was flanked by tables, and several rectangular windows that had flaps designed to draw in a breeze.

People were about, some at the bar with glasses of beer, some at the tables eating, while couples twirled to the lively reel being played by the band. Kenna knew the tune. She’d heard it once spilling forth from a saloon in Galveston. She’d stopped to listen outside the doors for a brief moment.

“You ready?” Levi asked, leaning down near her ear.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she announced. She looked at him, her pulse racing in anticipation of all that was going to occur and what might occur this night.

He grinned. “Then hang on to me, darlin’, because I don’t intend to let your feet touch the floor.”

And with that, he swept her up into his arms and twirled her onto the dance floor. With his gaze locked on hers, he took her through the lively steps, spinning and whirling her to the strains of the fiddle, guitar, drum, harmonica, and banjo.

Without a care, she put her trust in him, grateful not to have to worry for one night. She was going to forget her cares and let herself go.

When the first dance ended, there was barely a second to breathe before the next one was starting. He never relinquished his hold on her. His arm was tight around her waist, and he was keeping her deliciously close as he expertly slipped them into the waltz that was now being played.

As he turned her about the room, she basked in his intent attention and possessive hold. His gaze was gleaming with heat and promise, with want and delight. She fell into his eyes and hoped in hers he saw her own desire.

The waltz melted into a reel, then back into a waltz once more, and as the evening darkened into night, her heart soared to the Heavens and stayed there. Her head was spinning, her body was humming. She never wanted to let him go.

And when another fellow tapped him on the shoulder, making Levi pause, and indicating his want to cut in, her breath caught in fear that Levi would give her up.

“No,” Levi fairly growled at the man, an instant fury leaping from him.

The fellow raised his brow, then set his jaw and walked off.

Levi immediately began dancing with her again, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

He set his lips next to her ear. “I told you, Kenna, you’re mine for tonight. I’m not sharing.”

She squeezed his hand and curled her fingers more tightly about his arm. An involuntary reaction that showed her pleasure at his gruff vow.

His answer was to tighten his arm about her waist, pulling her even closer.

 Book Purchase Link:  https://books2read.com/u/bP2ewY

What about you? Do you like to dance? If so, what is your favorite kind and where? Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for one ebook copy of Bluebonnet Fields!

 

Author Bio

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.

Where to Find Kara

Website ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X ~ Pinterest ~ Newsletter ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon

FALCONRY (AND A GIVEAWAY!) by Kristy McCaffrey

by

Falconry is the ancient sport of hunting wild quarry with a trained bird of prey. The practice didn’t arise in the American West until the late 1800s and early 1900s, although the practice was sporadic.

Spanish conquistadors noted indigenous people and Aztecs using trained raptors during the 16th century, and Christopher Columbus had one falconer in his party who hunted with hawks in what is now Haiti.

“Falconer” has been traditionally used to describe someone who flies a falcon. Hunting with a conditioned falconry bird was also called hawking of “gamehawking,” but those terms have fallen out of favor.

Raptors used in falconry include broadwings (Buteos and Parabuteos, which include Harris’s hawks), shortwings (Asturs and Accipiters, including hawks, goshawks and sparrowhawks), and longwings (Falcos, including peregrine falcons, kestrels, gyrfalcons and saker falcons).

In my upcoming historical western romance, The Falcon, the heroine is raising an abandoned prairie falcon fledgling, but as she has no experience in such an endeavor, she seeks out the introduction of a falconer from Argentina.

Prairie falcons are medium-sized falcons similar to peregrines located in Western North America. They might be better called desert falcons from their need for open space and arid dry habitats. They’re scrappy survivalists, with females much larger than males, and when trained well, they’re impressive hunters—aggressive, agile, and determined.

 

Mexico

December 1899

Josie Ryan’s connection to Texas runs deep, from the land to an almost preternatural kinship with the animals in the wild. This bond has led her to the edge of life and death, from saving a boy caught in a fire when she was eleven years old to being struck by lightning to a mountain lion attack that almost ended her life. The discovery of an abandoned falcon chick leads to a fierce attachment, but with only intuition to guide her, Josie struggles to train the wildest creature she’s ever encountered. When she learns of a man who could help, she’s determined to gain an introduction.

Mateo Almirón, El Halconero—The Falconer—and Argentine gaucho, is tasked with delivering two prized purebred Criollo mares to Matt Ryan, a man whose reputation casts a long shadow. Years ago, Ryan saved the life of Mateo’s father, and the horses will settle the longstanding debt, but when the exchange goes wrong, Mateo is entrusted with protecting Ryan’s daughter, Josie. Now Mateo and Josie must hide in the mountains of Northern Mexico where stories abound of Josie’s mother, a woman who lived among the Comanche and rose from the dead.

But in a place alive with superstition, Josie and her untamed falcon will give rise to a new legend …

Josie is the youngest child of Matt and Molly from The Wren (Book 1).

 The Falcon will be available 9/22/2026. Pre-order now at Apple Books and Nook. It will also be available at Amazon, Kobo, and Google Play books on release day.

Have you ever seen a falcon, hawk or eagle in the wild? Or maybe a zoo or rescue center? Leave a comment and be entered to win an e-copy of Book 11 in the Wings of the West series, The Swan.

 

In Oklahoma Territory Malcolm Hardy has created enough distance from his questionable family name to find a quiet purpose to his days, but then Dr. Anna Ryan walks back into his life, and his hard-won peace is in jeopardy.

 

Kristy McCaffrey writes award-winning historical western romances with grit and emotion, along with contemporary adventure stories packed with romance and suspense. Her work is filled with compelling heroes, determined heroines, and her trademark mysticism. She lives in the desert north of Phoenix with her husband and rescue bulldog, Jeb. Learn more about her books at her website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

 

Graphics courtesy of Deposit Photos. Book covers by Earthly Charms.

Welcome Back – Penny Zeller!

by

A Sneak Peek of What’s Next…

Howdy, y’all! Penny here. I am so honored to be a guest again on Petticoats & Pistols. This time, I’m giving a sneak peek into my upcoming Christian historical romance. A Heart’s Prayer is the second book in the Montana Hearts Series and takes place in the late 1800s in the Montana Territory. There are plans for six books total, and this one continues the heartwarming, faith-filled series that began with A Heart’s Hope. Enjoy the excerpt!

How had Darius found her?

His voice echoed through her mind. “I had you fooled, didn’t I? You’re a foolish woman, Kaydie. Ain’t no way I’m gonna die and let you go free! When you said ‘I do,’ it meant that you were bound to me forever.”

Kaydie flung her eyes open and jerked upright. She stared into the darkness. Shadows bounced off the walls, creating looming outlines. Sweat soaked Kaydie’s nightgown, and her heart pounded so loudly in her ears she could scarcely hear anything else. “No, he can’t be here.” Her words were more akin to gasps.

Had she thought she would be safe on the Sawyer Ranch? Safe with her sister, McKenzie, and McKenzie’s new husband, Noah? Safe, far, far away from the town in the Montana Territory where Darius had lost his life while robbing a bank?

Safe, or so it had seemed.

Kaydie’s legs shook, and for a minute, she was frozen in place. Finally, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. Grabbing the bedpost to steady herself, Kaydie paused momentarily. He wasn’t in the room, was he?

Lord, please, please don’t let him be here. Please let me be free of him.

A shiver trilled through her. Groping in the dark, she made her way to the window and shoved the curtains aside. She peered into the darkness, the moon and the stars illuminating the immediate area around the house. She pressed her face against the window and scanned the area once more just to be sure her eyes hadn’t deceived her.

A past that won’t let go, a heart that dares to hope. A Heart’s Prayer releases in November and reminds us that God is the Author of second chances. It can be read as a standalone but is better enjoyed after reading A Heart’s Hope. Go here to preorder your copy of A Heart’s Prayer at the special preorder price.

I’m giving one lucky winner an ebook copy of A Heart’s Hope. (Limited to U.S. residents only. The ebook will be ordered directly from Kindle and gifted to you with a redemption code).

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in answer to this question: Pretend you live in the late 1800s. Would you choose to reside in a small Wild West town or in a large, established city?

Thank you for joining me today.

As a special gift, be sure to snag An Unexpected Arrival, a Wyoming Sunrise novelette, for free by going here.

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page. She is a multi-published author of over three dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at her website at http://www.pennyzeller.com.

Petticoats & Pistols