Guest Author

The Most Fun You Can Have Doing Western Historical Research

by

Hi! Nancy Fraser here! I’m so pleased to return to Petticoats & Pistols for another visit. Just last week, I uploaded my final book for 2025 and now I’m going to take a much needed few week’s off before I begin again working on 2026. Hard to believe we’ve almost reached another year-end, isn’t it?

Today, though, I want to talk about western research. There is a definite skill required to organize the information needed to accurately portray the wild west in the 1800s. So much we take for granted now, or assume is correct, wasn’t even heard of in the 1880s or before.

My favorite searches revolve around the following:

• When did my story’s location ceased to become a territory and attain statehood?
• When did my location first get a railroad? Iceboxes? Dare I say it… electricity?
• How far is my fictitious location from a larger city? (Of course that’s my decision, but I like to find a similar real location and pretend it’s my fake town for distance purposes.)
• What was the population of the territory in 1885?

All of the above are fun and often necessary searches. By far my favorites are these:

• What’s the old west slang word for “a handsome man”? (Answer: Belvidere)
• How would my crusty character say, “the end” or “closed”? (Answer: Eventuate)

I keep an ongoing list of western slang that I’ve sorted three ways: alphabetically, by subject, and by first-used date. Yes, I sometimes over-organize. At the moment, my list is over 150 words long.

I thought it might be fun to share thirty of my favorites in a Word Search. Go ahead and give it a try. Feel free to share your results in the comments below.


OLD WEST SLANG WORD SEARCH

Clothing styles are another fun search. The array of references out there is sometimes overwhelming (and not always accurate). Given I write mostly small-town settings with everyday characters, it’s hard to go wrong with a simple skirt and plain blouse, or a calico dress. Trousers (not jeans) for the men and a gray or off-white shirt. Jeans (specifically Levis) are okay if we’re into the mid to late 1870s. Even though plaid/flannel was created by the Welsh in the 17th century, the fabric didn’t become popular in the western U.S. until the late 19th century.

Because I also create a lot of my own covers, as well as covers for several multi-author series books, one of my biggest frustrations is finding the perfect outfit, but realizing the model is wearing far too much makeup for the time period. I’ve become an expert in removing telltale signs of red lipstick and eyeliner. Still, making that cover perfect is all part of what I consider research.

In this final quarter of the year, I’ve released two sweet, historical romances. Both books required extensive research, and both include a few of those colorful slang words or phrases. (What’s a long list if you don’t use it?”)

I’d love to give you a peek at both of my accomplished and feisty heroines, and the men who fall in love with them.

Addie: Mackinac Bride (National Park Brides Series)

Other than two years of college in Big Rapids, Adelaide (Addie) MacDonald has spent her entire life on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. Just a child when President Grant designated Mackinac as a National Park in 1875, she and her family were at the dedication.

In the years since, many have left the island for bigger and better things, yet Addie stayed behind as one of the few civilian employees. It’s been her dream to someday leave the island and finish her degree in agriculture and one day own her own farm.

When Jonathan (Jon) Ferris first met Addie, she was only twelve, he was eighteen, and on his way to college. After graduation, his plan was to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the military. Now, ten years later, he’s returning to Mackinac to take over command of the fort and the park. When he first sees Addie again, he can’t believe his eyes. Gone are the freckles and bright red ponytail. In their place is a beautiful and confident young woman.

Will returning to the park be the permanence he wants for his career and for his life? Will verbally sparring with the opinionated Addie lead to something infinitely more interesting? More importantly, will Addie find a way to fulfil her dreams while keeping those she loves close?

You can find Addie and Jon’s story on #KindleUnlimited.



Dumplings by Daria (Old Timey Holiday Kitchen Series)

Doctor Daria Keller arrives in Whistler Falls Montana at the height of their first winter storm. With barely enough time to drop off her luggage, she finds herself whisked off to the clinic to help set broken arms and treat frostbite.

When Rancher Finn MacIsaac arrives at the clinic to claim his injured son, he mistakes Daria for a nurse and dismisses her instructions out of hand, preferring to wait for the doctor. When she informs him that she is a doctor, he still insists on waiting until he can speak to a man. Pegging him as a chauvinist, Daria rushes off to help other patients.

It’s inevitable that they’ll cross paths, especially when Daria and Finn’s housekeeper become fast friends. Daria settles into her new position as head of the town’s clinic and small hospital and earns the respect of all those around her. The only person she’s not become friends with is Finn.
As winter takes a firm hold on the area, Daria must make a house call north of town. A buggy accident causes her and Finn to be trapped in snowbound cabin with only their wits and Finn’s skill with an axe to keep them warm. They do their best to avoid one another until they realize they’re both hiding hurt from their past. Over a tin of beans, they finally open up and share their secrets.

Can two people who started off at odds make up for lost time? Or are they destined to be nothing more than friends?

Finn and Daria’s romance is also available on #KindleUnlimited.


With the holidays fast approaching, I’d love to know your go-to holiday side dish or your family’s favorite activity. I’m also giving away one eBook copy of each of my featured books. Just comment below for your chance to win.

Until next time, I wish you happiness, good health, time to read, and a joyous holiday season!

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 settings.

 

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

Goodreads

The Joy of Turning Christmas Pages Again and Again

by

Hello! MK McClintock here. As the air turns crisp and the scents of spices and pine fill the house, I am drawn every year to one of my favorite traditions — pulling out my “A Home for Christmas” story collection. It’s become as much a part of my holiday season as decorating the tree or baking delicious treats — sometimes old favorites that remind me of the stories, or from newly discovered recipes that someone else has thoughtfully shared. But for me, it’s not just a collection of stories — the stories are a piece of my heart.

When I first began writing Christmas stories, I had no idea how deeply I would come to feel about them. I simply wanted to capture the feelings of the season — the quiet hush of a snowy evening, the golden glow of lights against a dark sky, the simple warmth of love and belonging. I lost myself in the characters’ stories, as authors do, often with a mug of something hot by my side, trying to translate that sense of comfort and wonder onto the page.

Now, every December (sometimes sooner), when I pull the collection from the shelf, it is like a homecoming. Each story carries with it a little echo of the time in which it was written — the mood I was in, the people I loved, the memories I wanted to hold on to.

There’s something so special about rereading my own words year after year. I can see the journey I’ve taken as a writer — the early stories that are simple and sincere, and the later ones that weave in more depth, more reflection. But above all, I can feel the same heartbeat running through them all: a deep affection for the season and what it represents.

Christmas has always had a way of slowing me down and reminding me what really matters, going so far as to trade in abundant gift-giving for simple presents only given to the children in the family, to better remember what the season means (stockings are still fair game). Writing these stories helped me put that feeling into something lasting — something I could share. And every time a reader tells me one of my books has become part of their own holiday tradition, I am truly touched.

When I pull out all the Christmas books – mine and those of other authors’ I’ve come to love to read – and set them out on shelves, tables, and by my bedside, surrounded by twinkling lights and soft music, I am overcome with gratitude for the stories themselves, for the people who read them, and for the way writing them has deepened my love for this beautiful season.

As I wait to decorate the house and trim the tree in the days after Thanksgiving, I’ll once again pour a cup of tea, settle by the fire, and open those familiar pages. And just like that, Christmas will have arrived — in both the world outside and in my heart, where these stories first began.

How do you read your favorite Christmas stories? By the fire? In your favorite reading nook? Any special hot drinks to go with your reading? Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider? I’m giving away one copy of A Home for Christmas (ebook or print) to one lucky commenter. 

 

America Newton – Successful Western Businesswoman and a Giveaway!

by

This week, we’re so happy to welcome Tina Dee! She’s been here many times and her posts are always so interesting. Plus, we love her to death. 

In 1869, gold was discovered by an African American rancher and former slave, Fred Coleman in a creek on his property, which started Julian, California’s gold rush. The town became a tent city, practically overnight, with men and families moving in to stake their claims and strike it rich—or make money off those who hoped to. Quickly, this small gold mining town, located in the Cuyamaca mountains, rivaled the city of San Diego in number of residents. It also boasted up to eleven saloons, and only one small jail house featuring two small cells in the middle of town, no office, just the two cells, no frills.

During this rough and rowdy time, one woman, in particular, stood out. Her name was America Newton (1835 – 1917). An African American pioneer, she was one of the earliest Africa American settlers in the area and helped to found the former mining town of Julian. Formerly from Kansas, where she worked for James Cole, America came to California in 1872 with her daughter and ran a laundry service for miners and residents of Julian, though she could neither read nor write.

America, a former slave, operated her laundry business servicing Julian’s population during its gold rush days. She became of the first African American woman to operate a business in the area.

Water for the laundry was obtained by carrying buckets of water from a nearby creek. She heated her irons by the fireplace, which she kept burning by chopping and carrying her own wood. James Cole supplied her with a horse and buggy, which she drove around town to deliver the clean clothes to residents and gold miners. It’s said that she was right hospitable to those who picked up their laundry from her cabin, serving them a drink and a bit of local gossip, no extra charge. Folks enjoyed her friendly and talkative nature.

The Cole family helped America file to own a homestead of 80 acres outside of Julian. They also built her a cabin next to their home. America lived in Julian for 50 years. It’s said that she had a hearing problem and used an ear trumpet to hear.

She had moved to a small, wild, western gold mining town in the mountains, so very far from where she had gained her freedom. As a former slave, widow, and single mother—and with a little help from her friends—she rose to become an entrepreneur in a time when being a woman, and one with black skin, made it hard to just exist. But not only had she existed, she thrived in the Wild West and was successful in her business venture. And, she made people feel good, not just in the fresh, clean clothes they wore, but because she could make them laugh while living a tough life under harsh conditions.

I think about America Newton often. She has the gumption a lot of my heroines are made of.

Just for fun: Please share about someone who has inspired you (family member, friend, or someone from your life, or from history). A winner will be chosen by one of the Petticoats & Pistols Fillies to receive a pretty coffee tumbler with lid (approximately $20 value).

Thank you all for joining me today! It’s always a treat to spend time with Petticoats & Pistols readers. I’ve made two stories free today and tomorrow. One from each of my pen names, each with a heroine I believe has that same gumption America Newton had:  

Kaitlene Dee: Falling for Tallulah

Tina Dee: Keeper of my Heart

Kaitlene Dee, aka Tina Dee, spends time daydreaming about western romances with spunky heroines who insist on having their own stories written, and the swoony cowboys who love them. She often rescues stray dogs and can’t wait to give a forever home to her next dog or two…or five. Kaitlene enjoys gardening, traveling, writing, watercolor painting, and hanging out with reader friends in her Facebook readers group or with her newsletter readers. She’s an avid coffee drinker—and don’t even think about getting between her and a bear claw pastry. Follow her for updates on upcoming releases on Amazon or for many upcoming freebies, giveaways, and fun on her newsletter, here: Join Kaitlene & Tina Dee’s Newsletter

Welcome Guest Author Penny Zeller

by

Howdy, y’all!

Penny here.

I am so honored to be a guest again on Petticoats & Pistols. This time, I’m taking us on a “look” into the past regarding eyeglasses.

In my book Love on the Horizon, our hero, hunky farmer Timothy Shepherdson, discovers he needs spectacles—ones far better than those he purchased from a traveling peddler that only seem to blur things even more.

I researched spectacles in the late 1800s and discovered eyeglasses were not seen as a positive. Instead, for men, especially, they indicated one was elderly or frail. I expounded on that for Timothy, a handsome young farmer in his twenties who did all he could to avoid wearing his new Brazilian pebble spectacles.

Eyeglasses, just as today, were pricey. Today, we can expect to pay $200-$500 per pair. In the late 1800s, fourteen-karat gold eyeglasses ranged from $4.50 to $8 per pair. Timothy, as a poor farmer, could not afford such an extravagance. Thankfully, he was offered a pair of Brazilian pebble glasses for $2.50.

Lorgnette glasses were popular, especially for women. These include a handle to be held to the face with one hand. Because they were not “fixed” on your nose with handles wrapped around your ears, they could be discarded at any time. Would Timothy want such a pair?

Miss Tudor’s titter echoed in the small room. “Oh, Father, you know a man such as Timothy Shepherdson would not cotton to a pair of lorgnettes.”

Timothy had no idea what the doctor was talking about. “I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with that type.”

Dr. Tudor, who had joined his daughter in her amusement, temporarily sobered. “You may be aware of opera glasses.”

“I’m afraid I’ve never been to an opera.”

“Lorgnette spectacles possess a handle, and you hold them up to your face.”

Timothy could do nothing to hide his shock. He tugged on his collar, wishing it were looser around his neck. “My apologies, sir, but that will never do. I work long hours on my farm, and I need both of my arms.”

I found an interesting article regarding proper etiquette at a horse show from 1897. It mentioned that lorgnettes were available with a special design for the show, a design that included a “long silver handle formed of a miniature whip”. According to the article, “This lorgnette will be all the vogue at the Horse Show.” It’s priced at $7.50.

Traveling opticians were popular in those days. However, through my research, it seemed that these doctors felt the need to clarify that they were not fly-by-night snake oil salesmen who would sell you an expensive pair of eyewear, then disappear the next day, never to be seen again. Timothy had already been down that route with the unscrupulous peddler.

I found it interesting in an advertisement from 1894 that it must have been important for potential patients to know the optician’s age, as it is referenced that Professor Arnold is 59.

I’m super excited about the release of Love on the Horizon on October 28.

When Magnolia Davenport finally sets foot in the small town filled with friendly people and a slightly aggravating, but kind and handsome man who needs spectacles, will she find the new beginning her heart craves? I invite you to take a trip to Horizon, Idaho, in this tender romance that reminds us that God is the Author of new beginnings.

Go here to snag your copy of Love on the Horizon.

I’m giving one lucky winner their choice of a paperback or ebook of Love on the Horizon. (Limited to U.S. residents only). In Love on the Horizon, Magnolia, whose dream it has always been to open her own bakery, realizes that dream when she moves to Horizon.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in answer to this question: if you were living in the 1800s, what would be your profession?

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

Welcome Guest Author Lacy Williams

by

A Love Letter to the Several Movies That Made Me Swoon

Lacy Williams here today. Thanks for having me! I’ve always loved watching romantic movies. I’ve inherited this from my mom, who has always been a movie aficionado. The summers when I was fifteen and sixteen, we went to this movie theater close to our hour sooo many times. It was kinda our special thing.

I’ll never forget watching Titanic for the first time. When Jack looked at Rose and said “I see you,” something hit me hard inside. Here was this girl, trapped in a gilded cage, drowning in expectations—and this boy from steerage saw her. Really saw her. Not her family’s money or her position or the performance she put on for society. Just her.

Years later, on a date night with my newly-minted husband, that same bang! in my chest. When Mr. Darcy confessed in the rain that Elizabeth had “bewitched (him), body and soul,” despite their differences.

And not long after that, my mother-in-law introduced me to Maid in Manhattan. That moment when the senator sees Marisa in a fancy dress she wasn’t supposed to be wearing and the whole plot unravels… So good!

For me, these stories answered a question I think we all ask ourselves: What if someone saw past everything—my mistakes, my circumstances, my ordinariness—and chose me anyway?

That feeling is what I wanted to bring to HEART’S PERILOUS JOURNEY, my November release.

Imagine that same breathless feeling you had watching Jack and Rose, but set in the dust and danger of the Oregon Trail. I wanted to write a hero who would give up everything—his inheritance, his grandfather’s approval, his comfortable life—to follow the woman he loves across a continent. A hero who sees the maid, not the uniform. Who recognizes her worth when even her own brothers can’t.

Alice Spencer has spent her whole life being told she doesn’t matter, that her needs come last. But Rob Braddock? He sees her. And like Darcy pursuing Elizabeth or the Prince searching for Cinderella, he won’t give up—even when she pushes him away, even when her brothers threaten him, even when the trail itself tries to kill him.

This is book eight of nine in my Wagon Train Matches series and it was an adventure to write as I try to wrap up the Oregon Trail journey for all the characters that have a place in my heart. I can’t wait for you to read it.
If you’d like a sneak peek at Alice and Rob’s romance, you can read A TENDER DEVOTION, free at Amazon and on all major retailers. Then in November, come fall in love with Alice and Rob. You can pre-order HEART’S PERILOUS JOURNEY now and get ready to and experience that “I see you” magic all over again.

 HEART’S PERILOUS JOURNEY — Keeping secrets is nearly impossible on an Oregon-bound wagon train. But Alice Spencer has kept a whopper from her protective brothers for months: she once fancied herself in love with her wealthy boss’s grandson. Her brothers don’t know *she’s* the reason Rob Braddock came on this westward journey. Only that he’s part of the reason they had to leave their home and friends behind. Her brothers will never forgive Rob—and neither can she.
The company is still weeks away from the Willamette Valley when Rob injures himself saving the youngest Spencer brother’s life. Alice has no choice but to pay back the life-debt. She strikes a deal to help the injured Rob finish his journey to Oregon, at which point, they’ll go their separate ways. All she has to do is keep from falling in love with him. Again.

*second chance romance
*he never stopped loving her
*different stations
*maid/wealthy

I’m so glad to be here to chat with you today.

Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite rags-to-riches movie or book is and be entered to win a paperback copy of A TRAIL SO LONESOME (Book 1) and a $20 Amazon gift card.

With multiple hits on the USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestseller lists and more than 1 million copies sold, Lacy Williams has won the hearts of readers worldwide with her heartwarming romances set in the rugged beauty of the American West. A proud Oklahoman, she balances writing with the joyful chaos of raising four children and snuggling her fur babies. Find bonus content athttps://www.lacywilliams.net

Welcome Guest Author Lynne Lanning

by

It is said that “A picture paints a thousand words,” and it does. But pictures can’t capture the reality of seeing things for yourself, and I’m wondering how many words that’s worth!

Hello, everyone! I’m Lynne Lanning, and I am bursting at the seams to share my recent journey with you. My husband and I recently returned from a 39-day trip to the Western US. 8000 miles by car, and I have no idea how far on a cruise to Alaska. For my husband, (a history buff), it was fun and informative, but for me, it was all those things plus research.

I have at least 100 stories going around in my head right now, after all the amazing sights we saw. I brought home loads of pictures to remind me of the grandeur, and also stacks of books, brochures, and maps that will aid me in future stories.

Standing in the place where our ancestors stood gave me chills. I stood in wagon ruts on the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail. I witnessed intimidating, rugged terrain they once called home. I stood in awe at sights of the sun setting behind majestic mountains that they once gazed upon.

It didn’t take me long to appreciate their sacrifices. As soon as I stepped out of my air-conditioned car, I appreciated them, and by the time I huffed and puffed my way up a slight incline, I knew they were my heroes! Those people were tough, strong, and determined. Even in my younger days, I’m not sure I would have made it past the first mountain chain, through the first desert, or crossing the first river.

I could go on for days telling you about it, but there is nothing like seeing it for yourself. This nation has more of God’s amazing creation than you could explore in a lifetime, and I am honored that I was able to see as much as I did. From painted mountains to waterfalls, deep canyons to majestic mountains, wildlife to prairies filled with wildflowers…all breathtaking. I just hope I can do it justice in my writing.

One of the interesting places I visited was Mesa Verde National Park – the only US National Park dedicated to a culture of people instead of a natural wonder. I have researched this park and its native people who disappeared for unknown reasons, leaving behind unbelievable archaeological treasures.

I recently wrote a novel, Muriel Mesa Verde Bride, that takes place at Mesa Verde, which will be released on October 31st. It was exhilarating to imagine my characters walking right along with me on those paths. The story is filled with suspense and gets a bit darker than my normal stories, but has such a sweet romance that blossomed under a dark, dangerous cloud. If you like Historical Romantic Suspense, I hope you will pre-order your copy today. Muriel, Mesa Verde Bride, in the National Park Bride Series.

In case you aren’t familiar with me, let me share that I also write lighthearted Historical Romance filled with grins and giggles. My best one yet was just released on October 6th, 2025 – Loving An Untamed Wonder – Western Whirlwinds – Mischief, Mayhem & Mishaps.

Enjoy a good chuckle when this Pinkerton Agent’s ‘assignment’ arrives, in a power packed parcel of sweet innocence wrapped in red hair and full of spirit – along with mischief, mayhem and mishaps. His life was about to change forever, if she didn’t end up being the death of them.

For a chance to win an ebook of this sweet story guaranteed to make you smile … perhaps even laugh, tell me about the most wonderful place you have ever visited.

If you’re like me, you probably have more than one.
Thanks for visiting with me today!

Lynne Lanning has such an effortless way of evoking emotion from her readers. Her characters are so realistic that the reader can feel their pain during trials and their joy during triumphs.  Each story tells of true bonds of love and loyalty, mixed with tough times and decisions, with a twist of humor and sometimes devastation…the same is true in life. With a blend of her own family members and heritage along with lots of fiction, it’s hard to tell where reality stops and fantasy begins.

Find out more about Lynn online here.

Welcome Guest Author Nicole Flockton

by

Hi everyone! I’m Nicole Flockton and I’m excited to be with you all today.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I write contemporary romances set in cities and small towns. I also write steamy protector romances with heroes that will do anything to keep you safe. I love watching sports, with my kindle in my hand, throwing glitter around social media, tiaras and chocolate. I’ve got two adult children, one loving husband, a needy Pomeranian and two indulged cats.

If I’m a little slow in responding to your comments today, it’s because when this post goes live I shall be sleeping! Why is that you may ask? Well, it’s because I’m coming to you from the most isolated city in the world – Perth, Western Australia.

While Perth is a bustling metropolis, in terms of our location, we’re like those small country towns that don’t often get visited. Many people who live on the east coast of Australia grumble about coming to Perth because it’s so far away but for me it’s always been home and the best thing about Perth is we’re only a forty-minute ferry ride across the Indian Ocean to the cutest animals in the world – the Quokka! Now that’s worth the endless flight and losing a day from the USA to see. Or the five-hour flight from Sydney!

I should also mention that for 12 years I lived in Houston Texas. Houston definitely makes Perth look like a small town.

My latest book Headstrong Cowboy is set in Tule Publishing’s iconic small-town Marietta Montana and is part of a 4-book series centered around the annual Copper Mountain Rodeo. I was so excited to contribute to the legacy of Marietta and created the Bloom family, who run a flower farm in Marietta – something a little different than them running a ranch.

Chrysanthemum (Chrissy) Bloom, is the oldest daughter and she’s back at the farm after her divorce and the sad passing of her former husband. The farm is in financial difficulties and she feels it’s her responsibility to save it.

Ryder Chamberlain, is a bull rider who was forced to end his career earlier than planned due to injury. He’s landed in Marietta to fulfil a wish from his long-deceased mother, a wish he didn’t know about until recently. Only to do that, he’s going to have to go head-to-head with Chrissy.

The book is full of family love, secrets and two people who find out that what they thought they wanted is the opposite of what they actually need. Guaranteed happy ever after, it is a romance after all.

 

Headstrong Cowboy

When Chrysanthemum Bloom returns home to the family flower farm after her father’s death, she finds it on the brink of bankruptcy. Her mother is determined to sell it, but Chrissy believes she can turn the business around if given the chance. She enters the Copper Mountain Rodeo’s barrel racing competition in the hope of winning some prize money, never mind that she hasn’t competed in years.

Ryder Chamberlain’s bull riding career ended suddenly when he lost an argument with the bull he was riding. Following his late mother’s wishes, he arrives in Marietta, determined to reclaim what had been taken. The Bloom Flower farm sits on land once owned by his kin and is Ryder’s for the buying, until he meets Chrissy and discovers it’s not going to be an easy purchase after all.

Both Chrissy and Ryder are determined to win the fight for the farm, but the unexpected attraction that flares between them has them both wondering if, instead of fighting, becoming a team is the best outcome for all.

Learn more or purchase HERE

 

 

For a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, tell me what is the favorite thing about where you live?

About Nicole Flockton 

Award winning and USA Today Bestselling author Nicole Flockton writes steamy contemporary romances that sparkle and seduce you one kiss at a time. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight to find their true love. When she’s not busy writing she’s living life with her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, as well as her two fabulous kids and various fur babies. Her kindle is never far from her reach. She’s a tiara wearing certified chocoholic, Cinderella lover, major BTS fan, sports lover and a glitter aficionado. You can visit Nicole at her website .  Sign-up for her newsletter here. Join her reader group.  Follow her on Facebook , Bookbub, Amazon, Instagram.

 

Welcome Guest Author Teri Wilson

by

Howdy, everyone! I’m Teri Wilson, and I’m excited to be here and tell y’all about my latest book, The Perfect Pass.

First, just to share a little bit about myself, I write sweet romance as well as inspirational/Christian romance, and I’ve had five Hallmark Channel movie adaptations of my books. So, yes, I’m also very much a Hallmark girl! I’m also a lifelong Texan, and I’m a big dog lover. My Cavalier King Charles spaniel Charm is a therapy dog and a reading education assistance dog, and we love volunteering in our community to spread a little doggy comfort and joy.

The Perfect Pass is set in a fictional small town in my home state, so I thought it would be fun to talk about small town Texas settings and what makes them special. Like I said, I’ve lived in Texas my entire life, from big cities like Houston (where I grew up) and San Antonio (where I’ve lived for the past thirty-plus years), to tiny College Station, where I attended college at Texas A & M University. I love spending time in the Texas Hill Country, dotted with small towns situated among rolling hills, fields of bluebonnets and winding rivers. Each of those towns had its own special flavor, whether it’s a historic dance hall, a beloved barbecue joint or a bunch of wineries and vineyards, all in a row.

The Perfect Pass is the first book in my new Texas Forever After series, which came about when my editor asked me if I’d like to write a football romance. I immediately said yes, even though I’m not exactly a football expert. But I loved the television show Friday Night Lights, and I thought it would be a really fun challenge to write something in that same spirit. When my editor reached out to me, the first thing she mentioned was football, and then she followed it up with, “You’re from Texas, after all,” and I immediately knew we were on the same page.

The town I created for my series is called Bishop Falls, and I modeled it after a real Texas town called Gruene (pronounced like the color green), which has a historic steel water tower standing in the heart of the historic district. In my little fictional town, the water tower is an important landmark. The high school football team’s bulldog mascot is painted right on its side, and the water tower is a popular place for late night victory parties. I think it’s important for small town settings to have something unique to make them really come alive—special landmarks and quirks that set them apart from every other town on the map. Landmarks give readers something to picture, something that feels real and memorable. They’re the kind of details that make readers say, “I know this place. I’ve been here.” And in a way, they have. Because so many of us have our own versions of Bishop Falls tucked into our memories.

The other defining characteristic of Bishop Falls is its passion for football. In true Texas tradition, Friday nights revolve around the Bulldogs, and the whole town turns out to pack the stands, win or lose. You can see that love of the game everywhere you go, from the End Zone Bakery with its football-shaped cookies to Huddle Up Coffee, where the lattes are served in team-colored mugs. Even Main Street is called Bulldog Avenue, a reminder that in Bishop Falls, football isn’t just a sport. It’s part of the town’s identity, woven into everyday life in the quirkiest, most endearing ways.

And of course, no small Texas town would be complete without a big dose of Texas hospitality. In Bishop Falls, neighbors look out for one another, strangers are greeted with a smile (or, in my hero Jackson Knight’s case, a literal parade), and there’s always room for one more at the table. That welcoming spirit is part of what makes small towns so endearing, and the perfect setting for a heartfelt romance.

Still, even in a place as warm and welcoming as Bishop Falls, life isn’t always simple. The same closeness that makes the town so special can also stir up its share of challenges, especially for newcomers who aren’t quite sure if they belong. That mix of open-armed Texas hospitality and small-town scrutiny sets the stage for The Perfect Pass, where love takes the field right alongside football.

You can learn more or purchase HERE

Visit Teri’s website HERE

To celebrate the release of The Perfect Pass, I’m giving away a signed paperback of the book, along with a pair of J. Crew football socks featuring Bishop the Bulldog. One lucky winner will be sporting Bishop Falls pride while turning the pages!

To enter, simply answer this question in the comments below:

If you could invent one quirky business for a small Texas town like Bishop Falls, what would it be called and what would it sell? I can’t wait to read your creative ideas. Good luck, and here’s to the magic of small towns, both real and fictional!

Guest Author Sinclair Jayne – Rogue Cowboy

by

Petticoats and Pistols is proud to host guest author Sinclair Jayne:

Hello – Sinclair Jayne here. One of my favorite places to set a romance is in Marietta, Montana, which is a Tule Publishing and Tule author created town loosely based on Livingston, Montana. I’ve traveled to Montana many times, but never yet to Paradise Valley, where Marietta is, surrounded by two intensely gorgeous mountain ranges—Gallatin and Absaroka.

It’s a given that a Montana romance not only stars the hero and the heroine, but also the setting—the connection to the rugged and beautiful land, the traditions, the tight, smalltown community where people are fiercely independent, yet may need their neighbors, especially in a ranching community. And of course, there’s the spectacular scenery, along with the geology, geography, wildlife and of course weather.

Any time there is an opportunity to participate in a multi-author series at Marietta, Montana’s Copper Mountain Rodeo, my hand shoots up. “Me, me, me.” I live in a rural town in Oregon, and the annual rodeo and the fair are a must and a way for the community to reconnect to the ranching and agrarian roots. For my new book Rogue Cowboy, I wanted to dig into rodeo culture and embrace the healing power of family, small town, ties to the land and of course second chances.

Rogue Cowboy is a reunion romance along with a secret marriage of convenience. The love story features Riley Telford, a local horse trainer cowgirl and former Special Forces soldier, Cole Jameson, who grew up ranch in Texas, but has come to Montana to reclaim his secret bride. No one in his tightknit ranching family has ever divorced so he’s determined to win Riley’s heart so their marriage can be ‘real.’

Western Cowboy romances are my absolute favorite to write. Readers and writers love them for a reason. Cowboys are iconic. The cowboy code. The western hero might be morally grey, but they have their own code of honor and way of being in the world that feels both classic, but so necessary in our complicated present. There is no dialing in a cowboy hero. Readers have high expectations, and I lean into the challenge of meeting them. A Cowboy doesn’t need to swagger (but yum if he does). He does require confidence, goals, a can-do attitude and yes, even if he’s a bad boy, he needs to be kind in some way, take care of the heroine, even when she’s convinced he’s the last thing she needs. Cowboys commit.

Rogue Cowboy: Excerpt (after five-year separation)

 

Riley headed to the barn, needing time to rope her carefree, cowgirl persona snugly around her.

She drew in a deep breath and her heart leapt to her throat. What a gorgeous smell, teasingly familiar. It took her back to the before. She closed her eyes remembering. Bergamot, hint of cedar, sun-warmed leather and something exotic like sandalwood—not that she’d smelled actual sandalwood.

But it smelled heady. Taunted familiarity and safety. Miles out of reach.

Cole. If only. She inhaled again. Pretended she could go back in time to when she’d desperately crushed on him and wanted to show off. Before when life was simple, and the future was a sparkly gold and pink road she could run down, her head full of dreams.

How had she been so stupid and young?

She opened her eyes and through a crack in the door dandelion seeds floated in the shaft of light.

Make a wish.

From behind, a strong arm slipped around her shoulders and a hand anchored lightly on her hip, trapping her between a hard body and the cool metal of Cinnamon’s stall.

“Hello, Riley.”

 

Want to learn more? Here’s my website & newsletter sign up: https://sinclairjayne.com

About Jayne:

Sinclair has loved reading romance novels since she discovered Barbara Cartland historical romances when she was in sixth grade. By seventh grade, she was haunting the library shelves looking to fall in love over and over again with the heroes born from the imaginations of her favorite authors. After teaching writing classes and workshops to adults and teens for many years in Seattle and Portland, she returned to her first love of reading romances and became an editor for Tule Publishing last year. In addition, she’s published over 30 romances of her own.

Sinclair lives in Oregon’s wine country where she and her family own a small vineyard of Pinot Noir and where she dreams of being able to write at a desk like Jane Austen instead of in parking lots waiting for her kids to finish one of their 12,000 extracurricular activities.

 

 

Now it’s your turn – do you think a strong sense of setting enhances a story? Do you have a favorite setting? Share your thoughts in the comments and you’ll be entered in the drawing for the special prize package pictured below.

Kara O’Neal and His Feisty Firewheel

by

Hello, book friends! I’m Kara O’Neal and I’m so glad to be here with y’all today. I’m coming to you from East Texas, the piney woods region, and I’d like to share my newest release with y’all.

HIS FEISTY FIREWHEEL takes place in Austin, Texas, during the Edwardian period, my most favorite era for fashion.

There’s this scene in Anne of Avonlea, where the ladies are all wearing these beautiful, delicate, white dresses. I drooled over them, let me tell you.

Well, when I was writing HIS FEISTY FIREWHEEL, I wanted Laura, my heroine, to wear one of those dresses. So, I started hunting for them and discovered they were called Lingerie dresses. I found it so interesting. Women had to wear so much clothing sometimes, and the Edwardian period was the beginning of the “thinning”. I can see why they were called Lingerie dresses, because they do look like what women wore underneath their fashions from the 1800s.

Isn’t it just beautiful? I sure do wish we dressed like this more often.

What’s your favorite era for fashion? I’d like to give away a book to a lucky commenter!

Here’s a little more about HIS FEISTY FIREWHEEL:

Austin, Texas, 1908

Laura Davenport has done the unthinkable and fallen in love. With Owen Wagner. Her childhood champion. But he thinks of her as a sister and is trying to get her married off to one of his friends.

Owen Wagner has lost his heart. And that’s something he can’t handle. He’s got to convince Laura that it’s time to make decisions about her future, or he’s going to do something stupid and reckless. Like kiss her. Or propose to her.

But danger lurks. And before Owen can take a breath, he’s on the verge of losing everything that’s ever meant anything to him. Can he save his feisty firewheel before it’s too late?

 

Buy link(s):  https://books2read.com/u/meRKdZ

 

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!

 

 

Website: http://www.karaoneal.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/

X: https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kara-o-neal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveandletters7/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278350.Kara_O_Neal