Behind the Book

Welcome Guest Linda Ford!

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I love historicals. There is a wider breadth of dramatic events to choose from. For instance, what in our present world compares to the scope of adventure in a wagon trek westward, the challenges of living in a sod shanty, or the sheer grit of surviving endless dust storms or  a vicious snowstorm?

I got a taste of real pioneer life as a child. My father did road maintenance work in remote areas. My parents—brave souls—gathered up us children and took us along. We lived in a VERY primitive bunkhouse. There were absolutely no modern conveniences (you have to remember this was about 200 years ago. lol) We experienced firsthand some of the tasks our pioneer forefathers did.

Of course, not everyone agrees. I had one reader write me and briskly inform me that there was nothing romantic about the  ‘good old days’. The hard work was numbing; the hardships devastating. Life simply wasn’t pleasant.

I have great admiration for these people, their hardy spirits and their absolute stubborn joy because it always hits me when I read their stories that few of them were bitter or complaining. They simply faced and accepted the challenges of their situation, striving to make things better and in the midst of it all, clinging to a sure faith. As many of these people say in their stories, God was their strength and their shield. In Him they found forbearance and hope. I’m convinced their lives have much to teach us.

In my new series—Stagecoach To Golden Valley—I strive to portray their grit and faith. In preparing to write my previous series, Montana Cowboys, I had done research on gold mining. I had visited Libby, Montana which experienced a gold rush in the 1860s. While in Libby, I poked through the museum, took pictures of cabins and equipment, browsed the local history section of the library, traipsed through the woods, and sat to admire the waterfalls. BTW, I am in love with waterfalls and have used them often in the new series.

The only thing I needed to complete my research was to learn about stagecoaches. I gleaned some interesting facts. The wagons were pulled by three matching pairs of horses. The interior was often crowded with three benches—one facing forward, one facing to the back and one in the middle. Each bench could hold three passengers—with barely room to breathe. A stagecoach traveled about 5 mph. The team of horses had to be changed every 12-15 miles so there were way stations at those points. The overnight stations were often referred to as Home Stations. Food, drink and a place to bed down were provided but not necessarily with much comfort accompanying them.

Riding a stagecoach lacked any hope of relaxation. The coach swayed and jerked and bounced. Elbows jabbed into ribs. Passengers were tossed against each other. Then there were the dangers associated with travel over rugged terrain—landslides, washed out roads, steep and narrow embankments. There was always the risk of robbers.

There are other reasons for making the treacherous journey across the mountains besides the hope of finding gold. Some travelers wanted escape. Some wanted shelter. Others wanted to start over or find missing family. Some even arrived under mysterious circumstances.

FROM THIS DAY

A past too dark to forgive…a love too powerful to deny.

Addie Stone has devoted her life to helping her adoptive parents care for the less fortunate. She and her mother are journeying to Golden Valley to continue this work and help the preacher. She lives a plain life believing it will protect her from criminals—and pain.

Nash Burns, a handsome young rancher, has strong ideals—hard work and honest gain. The last thing he wants is to be like his father.

The pair are stranded along with the other stagecoach passengers when heavy rains wash out the road. They are soon drawn to each other, finding similar goals and ideals. When the secrets of their past are revealed, they wonder if they can possibly forgive each other.

Will they find their way to forgiveness, healing and a love that satisfies the yearnings of their hearts?

The tropes of this book are:

  • stranded
  • guilty secrets
  • family saga
  • second chance

Which of these are your favorites? Or is your favorite something else? I’ll give away one ebook copy of From This Day so leave a comment.

Roped Into Paradise

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Sometimes the idea for a story catches me completely by surprise.

Such was the case for my wholesome rom-com that releases next week.

Last February, I was sitting at my desk, looking outside at the cold, wintery day, and wondering why we don’t plan vacations to sunny locales during the coldest months of the year, when an email popped into my inbox from my dad’s cousin, J/J.

J/J loves to go on cruises. In fact, at the time, he was on a multi-week, back-to-back series of cruises in the Caribbean.

When I saw an email from him, I thought, “Oh, fun! More news from someplace where it is warm and sunny and you don’t have to put on wool socks just to go get the mail.”

The email read:

“Is there any chance in the future I might see a book about romance on the high seas where a cowboy takes a cruise to some exotic location?”

After reading that question, I couldn’t help myself. My imagination shifted into high gear and I began brainstorming story ideas.

What if there was a cowboy from someplace cold, going to spend time with his grandmother who lived someplace warm, and the grandma—being an eccentric ol’ gal—drags him onto a cruise without giving him any warning or opinions on the matter? From there, the ideas kept rolling.

I’ve never been on a cruise, but, thankfully, J/J was so kind to answer my many questions and share day-to-day cruising details with me. For a week, I almost felt like I was right there on the cruise ship. J/J was also kind enough to save a bunch of information he received on the cruise, like their daily planners, and mail them to me when he returned home. There was so much great information that he shared, and I tried to work in as much as I could into the story.

A cowboy, a cruise, and a meddling grandma—what could go wrong?

JJ McKade expected to spend two weeks with his grandmother at her condo in sunny Florida, celebrating her birthday. Instead, he got shanghaied by his mischievous grandma on a Caribbean cruise—complete with hot pink luggage, a gaggle of giggling octogenarians, and a humiliating childhood nickname haunting his every move.

Between meddling matchmakers, unexpected friendships, and the endless chaos of cruise life, JJ can’t help being drawn to Kinsley Kline, the ship’s enchanting horticulturist. There’s just one catch: crew fraternizing with passengers is strictly forbidden.

With only a few months left in her contract aboard The Affinity, Kinsley can’t let anything rock her boat or derail her plans. Then the arrival of a hunky cowboy on the ship makes her question if some rules are meant to be broken, and a little boat rocking is a good thing.

From sun-drenched beaches to moonlit strolls, JJ and Kinsley must decide if an onboard romance can last on land, and if love is worth risking their hearts.

Packed with laughter, longing, and a grandmother who refuses to play by the rules, Roped Into Paradise is a heartwarming and wholesome romantic comedy about family, hope, and finding love where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of witty banter, unexpected romance, and cruise ship escapades that sweep you off your feet.

Here’s a little excerpt from the book:

JJ tugged on the only pair of clean jeans he’d packed in his bag and unrolled a green plaid western shirt, fastening the snaps with one hand while using the other to finger-comb his hair. In the adjoining bathroom, he splashed his face with cold water and brushed his teeth, then he moseyed into the kitchen, lured by the scent of coffee.

“Here,” Grams said, shoving a travel mug into his hand. “You can drink that on the way.”

“On the way to where?” he asked, taking a long, bracing sip of coffee so strong and black, he could feel it peeling away layers of tissue as it traveled down his throat.

“The store, JJ. Do try to keep up,” Grams said, snagging her car keys off a hook by the door that led into her garage. She gave him a look that clearly conveyed her thoughts that he was hopeless as he stumbled over the step into the garage. “I’ll drive.”

He thought about arguing, but refrained. Until the caffeine kicked in, he wasn’t sure he could find his way out to the end of the driveway.

Ten minutes later, Grams pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of a superstore that sold everything from fried chicken to pontoon boats. Hungry as he was, the fried chicken didn’t sound all that bad, even if it was a grease-soaked remnant from yesterday’s offerings.

Confused as to why they were at the store before most of the population was even awake, JJ took another long drink of coffee and then set the mug in the cupholder of the SUV.

“Why on earth are we here?” he asked as he got out of the vehicle and walked with his grandmother to the door.

“We can’t go on the boat ride until you are properly outfitted.”

“Boat ride? Outfitted?” JJ thought maybe he’d dreamed the part about Grams mentioning a boat ride last night. Did he really need new attire for a ride around the lake? Usually, they took a fishing charter cruise around the lake at some point during his visit. Cargo shorts, a T-shirt, and an old pair of sneakers would work just fine for that. “What are you talking about, Grams?”

“I told you I booked a boat ride, JJ. Aren’t you listening?” Grams asked as though he were five and incapable of paying attention.

He watched as his grandmother snagged a shopping cart from the row of them outside the door, set her purse inside, and grabbed his arm in one seemingly smooth motion as she marched inside the store.

“What kind of boat ride requires getting up this early in the morning to come shopping here, of all places, so I can be properly outfitted? Last I checked, you and Mom would both develop acute hives if you had to purchase your wardrobe here.”

Grams smiled at the greeter standing near the door and made a beeline for the men’s clothing. JJ hoped he could still move with as much agility as his grandmother had when he was her age. Then again, she attended a yoga class three times a week and took pride in walking at least a mile every day.

“It means, JJ, that we are boarding a cruise ship at half past ten this morning and setting sail for the Caribbean. You need clothes for an eleven-day trip. From the pathetic contents of your duffel bag, you’ll be forced to wash your undies in the bathroom sink every other day. You should have listened when your mother suggested you pack a suitcase with plenty of clothes, baby. Now, stop dawdling and get to shopping.” Grams pointed to a rack of cargo shorts.

Releasing January 29!

If you could snap your fingers and be on a dream vacation today, where would you go and what would you see?

Post your answer for a chance to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card!

Ambush of the Heart – Coming next month!

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Ambush of the Heart

Is releasing on February 3

And I’ve got my author’s copies so today I’ll draw a winner for one of them from anyone who leaves a comment.

Ambush of the Heart is Book #1 in the Rocky Mountain Marshals Series

I’ve been wanting to do US Marshals for a while now.

I’ve got an author friend, Sharee Stover, who writes US Marshals, but contemporary and when we’d talk, I realized how LITTLE I knew about what exactly a US Marshal does.

That led to research, including a trip to the US Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas…a place mentioned in True Grit. Yep, Rooster Cogburn was the only US Marshal I could think of.

I could do a lot worse than base my western romances on JOHN WAYNE.’

Mary Connealy

I did have three marshals as back up characters in the book Marshaling Her Heart. Even when I was writing that book, I knew those three marshals needed their own story. These were tough, solitary men…now how do I get them to open their hearts to love?

I, of course, had to find three women who were strong enough and soft enough to get past their hearts.

It was a fun challenge and we start with the leader of this band of marshals, Owen Riley. He’s transporting a prisoner…completely routine job. Five marshals, one prisoner. Until a woman and her brother ask if they can join their party. And why not? They are expecting no trouble.

Then there’s trouble. And they are driven into the front range of the Rocky Mountains, onto unknown trails, running, fighting, running again, deeper and deeper into a wilderness that they do NOT know how to get out of. Tough men that they are, they know how to survive. But what they want is to get this man, an escaped prisoner, back in jail.

It was a little hard to find time for love and comedy, but I managed it.

Leave a comment about a time you were in the mountains. I’ve had very few mountain experiences but I remember being struck by riding down a perfectly paved, 4-lane highway and thinking, what was it like when there was no road? How lost could I get?

I hope you enjoy a book that asks the question…just how lost can someone get in those massive, unknown mountains.

Ambush of the Heart

When bandits strike in the wilderness, can love and faith overcome the shadows of danger?

As Owen Riley and his fellow Marshals escort Delaney Bridger, her brother, and an escaped prisoner to Fort Russell, a gang of outlaws ambushes them, bringing death and devastation to their party. With their lives on the line and the outlaws in pursuit, Owen directs the rest of his battered group to seek hiding at a remote ranch. After the attack leaves her brother Boone seriously injured, Delaney helps Owen, nursing Boone and a wounded Marshal back to health while danger looms ever closer. Despite the threat at their heels, romance sparks between Owen and Delaney as they fight for survival on their perilous trek to the fort. Can they overcome the obstacles and find a future together? Mary Connealy presents a riveting historical Frontier series starter of adventure, love, and high jinks in the rugged wilderness of 1870s Colorado. This Western romance features a determined Marshal, a courageous woman, forced proximity romance, and a risky journey of survival.

 

 

The Spinsters Are Coming

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It’s always fun to start a new series, and I’m excited to welcome you to my latest – The Secret Society of Spinsters. I’ve always been drawn to the spinster trope and the idea that it’s never too late to fall in love. I also love feisty, independent heroines, and while not all spinsters fit that bill, most have some level of eccentricity that lends itself well to quirkiness, and I do enjoy quirky characters.

The heart of this series are the three friends who make up the core of the spinster society. Each of these ladies is well beyond the typical marriage age for the 1890’s (late 20’s, early 30’s), however, they each have their own reason for spinsterhood. The heroine of Book 2 is a shy, wallflower who gets hives ever time she has to talk to an unattached bachelor. Jane’s the local preacher’s daughter, and while she’s quiet, she’s fiercely loyal and the glue that holds the three friends together. She’s also very bookish. She carries a book wherever she goes. I do love a bookworm heroine. Book 3 features a career-focused heroine. She is the local schoolmarm and one of the most capable, driven women in town. In this time frame, teachers who married gave up their careers in order to tend their own husband and children at home. Martha wants none of that. Her place is in the classroom.

Noreen O’Sullivan is the heroine for Book 1. She’s a feisty reformer and a passionate temperance woman who is determined to shut down the saloon. She’s bold and brassy and not afraid to speak her mind. The men in town consider her a menace and want nothing to do with her. Suits her. She wants nothing to do with them, either. Not after growing up with a drunk for a father who made free with his temper and his fists. The last thing she wants is to sacrifice her freedom by tying herself to a man. However, when she finds an unlikely ally and friend in the local deputy, she dares to reconsider her spinsterhood.

If you enjoy reading print books, I highly recommend ordering from Baker Book House. They are cheaper than Amazon and they carefully wrap their books in brown paper before shipping so the book arrives in pristine condition. Plus – They are currently running an amazing preorder deal. Taming Lady Temperance releases on February 17, but if you order now, you get 40% off the cover price with free shipping, a signed bookplate, a custom Spinster Society sticker, a recipe card, AND an exclusive bonus epilogue not included in the book. (I’m currently writing that epilogue now!)

Preorder a print copy from Baker Book House here.

Preorder the ebook from Amazon here.

What kinds of strong heroines are you drawn to in fiction?

Welcome Guest Louise M. Gouge

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Thank you for inviting me back to Pistols and Petticoats. It’s been a full year since I last visited to promote my second contemporary Love Inspired book, A Faithful Guardian, and I’m so happy to visit you again. I never tire of talking about our favorite genre: western romances. At the risk of repeating myself, I’ll just say I love to cheer for our heroes and heroines as they work through conflicts and adversities on their way to earning their happily-ever-after. Today I want to talk about my brand new release, Feuding with the Cowboy, the third book in my series about the Mattson family of New Mexico cattle ranchers.

True confession: Sometimes I fear I’m committing cultural appropriation when I write about cowboys. Like Nan Reinhardt wrote on this blog the other day (January 6, 2026), I don’t know any real, actual cowboys. It doesn’t count that many, many years ago, I went to high school with some cowboys and cowgirls in my southern Colorado high school. Or that my late sister owned a small ranch in New Mexico that served as my original inspiration for this series. Still, like Nan, I have watched countless cowboy movies and television shows and rodeos. And several years ago, my granddaughter was a rodeo queen, Junior Miss Silver Spurs, in Kissimmee, Florida, and is still a champion horsewoman in college. Those are my only cowboy credentials.

Still, the allure of the cowboy mystique is strong, and I can’t resist visiting my imaginary ranches and creating fictional versions of those real life hardworking, rugged individuals who helped build this amazing country I’m blessed to live in.

Now, about Feuding with the Cowboy and my Mattson family of cowboys and ranchers. In the historical novels I wrote about the beginnings of this family dynasty, I included a feud with another family, one of the staples of Old West stories. Just for fun, I brought that feud forward to the modern day, which of course meant I had to create a Romeo and Juliet story. I mean, if two families have been feuding for over a hundred and fifty years, how could it fail to happen that two young people from those opposing families would fall in love? Here’s the story:

He once defied his family for love. Can he risk it again?
Despite the generations-old vendetta between their families, Sam Mattson fell for Juliet Sizemore in high school—only to have his heart broken and his trust betrayed. And now, ten years later and a single mom, she reappears, asking for his help to gain custody of her troubled half brother. Sam knows he’s wading into dangerous territory, but he can’t bring himself to turn his back on Juliet. Yet old emotions don’t always fade, and Sam’s fractured cowboy heart is already feeling more than it should. Especially when Juliet’s hiding a secret that will transform their lives forever…

Learn more on Amazon or Harlequin.

I’m delighted to share one print copy of Feuding with the Cowboy to a U. S. resident. Please leave a comment below and answer one of these questions: Do you know any cowboys? If so, what’s your connection to them? If not, why do you love cowboys?

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.

Join Louise on Facebook

Follow Louise on BookBub.

Silver, Bells, and a Town Named Lovely

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About a year ago, I started kicking around the idea for a new holiday series. The notion of it having something to do with silver bells got stuck in my head.

So I asked my hubby, Captain Cavedweller, to brainstorm some ideas with me.

By the time we’d finished, I had pages of notes, a fictional town named Lovely (that was going to be anything but lovely, at least in the first book), and the plans for a four-book series that followed a family of silversmiths.

I didn’t know anything about silversmith work, but I sure enjoyed learning enough to write the stories.

I knew even less what someone would do in 1876 when they wanted to work with silver but were too poor to acquire any that was “clean.”

In the first book, A Joyful Ring, Gunder Burke leaves behind the big city of Pittsburgh after finding an advertisement for a silver mine in the new town of Lovely, Oregon. He sets on out a journey, determined to build a good life for himself. A life that will allow him to move his parents and sisters to Oregon as well.

Gunder arrives and Lovely is nothing like it was advertised. He gets a job at the silver mine, but is still determined to turn silver into something more. His father’s ancestors were bell makers and his mother’s family were known for making jewelry in their home country of Sweden.

It was fascinating to learn how Gunder could scrape up the tiny bits of silver from beneath the wagons that transported it, clean it, then melt it. In the story, Gunder struggles to figure out how to get the fire hot enough to melt the silver.

Here’s a little scene from the story.

Gunder watched her go, then returned to pumping the bellows until the fire burned so hot that he couldn’t stand to sit there any longer.

He stood and moved back, waiting as the blaze dropped below the rock rim of the pit he’d built. Assured it wouldn’t burst back to roaring flames and catch anything on fire, he returned his box to the hiding spot beneath his cot, washed up at the pump by the cookshack, and joined the other mine employees for Jed’s supper of ham, potatoes, and soggy green beans. For dessert, they had slabs of apple cake that were actually tasty, and not a crumb of it remained when the meal was finished.

Gunder hurried back to his tent, full and content. Although the sun had set, there was still enough light remaining in the sky for him to see. When he scooted the coals off the pot in his pit and lifted the lid, he saw that the silver had melted.

It had finally melted!

“Hurrah!” Gunder shouted and raised both hands to the sky in victory.

“What happened?” Risa asked, suddenly appearing at his side. Her presence was so welcome, he didn’t bother to wonder why she was there.

“It melted! My silver finally melted!” he said, swinging her into his arms and dancing her in a lively jig around the fire pit until she was laughing so much she could hardly stand upright. Her hair slipped from her pins, and the shawl she wore was askew, but he thought she looked utterly enticing. He’d never seen her hair down, not that it all was now, but the strands that had escaped looked like shimmering ribbons of silk. His hands itched to reach out and finger one of the waves.

“Congratulations, Gunder.” She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek, then stepped back and looked at the silver that was already beginning to harden back into a solid form. “You can melt it again, can’t you?”

“I certainly can. I’m going to need more oak wood, though.”

Four generations of Birke family silversmiths find joy and love during the holidays.

A Joyful Ring

A rugged freighter, a hopeful dreamer, and a Christmas they’ll never forget.

In 1876, Gunder Birke leaves the daily struggle of Pittsburgh behind, determined to build a better life in the rough-and-tumble mining town of Lovely, Oregon. Hired as a freighter to haul dangerous explosives for the local mine, Gunder faces ongoing danger—but nothing as treacherous as the risk to his heart when he meets the beautiful and spirited Risa Hoffman.

After losing her mother and siblings, Risa has spent most of her life on the move with her father, never knowing what it means to have a real home. When she convinces him to settle in Lovely, the remote, uninviting town is far from the idyllic refuge she imagined. Still, Risa pours her hopes into building a future, working at the boardinghouse while dreaming of a finding a husband who can offer stability and comfort.

But when Gunder’s steady kindness and quiet strength awaken feelings she never expected, Risa must choose between the security she’s always longed for and the love that rings true in her heart.

As snow begins to fall across the rugged Oregon landscape, two souls discover that sometimes the most beautiful gifts come wrapped in hope, faith, and the promise of love.

A Joyful Ring is the first book in the wholesome holiday Silver Bell Sweethearts series.

A Joyful Love (releasing tomorrow!)

One spark of hope. One act of courage. One joyful love.

Caleb Birke once believed adventure waited somewhere beyond the horizon. But after wandering the world, he discovers the one place his heart longs to be is right where he began—home in Lovely, Oregon. Now devoted to preserving his family’s legacy of fine silverwork, Caleb lovingly crafts everything from heirloom sleigh bells to western saddle silver, each piece carrying stories of the past and hope for the future.

A routine delivery trip to Baker City becomes anything but ordinary when he meets Laramee Scott—a lively, sharp-witted horse trainer who steals his breath and quickly claims his heart.

After fleeing a scandal in Texas, Laramee is grateful to find refuge with her aunt and uncle in Eastern Oregon. The land, the horses she loves, and the freedom to rebuild her life are exactly what she needs—until one unexpected encounter with Caleb makes her wonder if she wasn’t running from her past, but being led toward her future.

As Christmas draws near and snow begins to fall on the high desert, Caleb and Laramee discover that love—like silver—can be shaped, refined, and polished into something lasting. But only if they are willing to trust their hearts… and believe that sometimes the greatest gift of all is the courage to love.

A tender, heartfelt holiday romance, A Joyful Love is filled with family legacies, jingling sleigh bells, and the timeless hope Christmas brings.

A Joyful Promise (November 27)

He crafts silver. She stitches dreams. Together, they discover a joyful promise that could last a lifetime.

Baylor Birke has always known where he belongs—at the silver bench in his family’s shop in Eastern Oregon, crafting Western heirlooms that honor a legacy that is generations strong. Spurs that jangle, bridles that shine, and saddle silver that elevates cowboys into kings makes his work feel both satisfying and meaningful as he labors in the place he loves. But when a shy, talented young woman arrives in Lovely, Baylor begins to wonder if life has more to offer than tradition… perhaps even a joyful promise he never expected.

Bonnie McClure has spent her life preparing to take over her family’s department store in Heppner, but the world of inventories and invoices has never stirred her passion. Her true calling is in the artistry of embroidery, turning simple cloth into something beautiful with every graceful stitch. Sent to Lovely to care for her injured aunt, Bonnie anticipates a quiet holiday season … until she crosses paths with the handsome cowboy who caught her eye in Pendleton at the rodeo.

As Christmas approaches and they are thrust into helping with the church program, Baylor and Bonnie find themselves caught between obligation and longing, expectations and dreams. The magic of the season whispers of possibility— but only if they dare to follow their hearts.

Will the holidays bring them a joyful promise of love and a future stitched together with hope?

Discover a wholesome holiday romance filled with small-town charm, heartfelt tradition, and the timeless magic of Christmas.

A Joyful Home (December 4)

A legacy rooted in silver. A future shaped by love. And two hearts searching for home.

Silver artist Bo Birke has crisscrossed the globe showcasing her award-winning work, but the only place that truly feels like hers is Lovely, Oregon—the quiet Eastern Oregon town where generations of Birkes have crafted heirloom treasures. Time with her beloved grandpa Baylor and her Birke cousins restores her spirit, while the call to protect her family’s legacy grows stronger every time she steps into her workshop. Bo thinks she knows exactly what her future holds… until a chance encounter introduces her to the one thing she didn’t realize she was missing.

Rafe Judson lives for the rhythm of working with horses. When his parents buy a ranch outside Lovely, they tempt him to move there with wide-open pastures and the freedom to train equines the way he prefers. He’s not convinced this small town is where he belongs—until he bumps into a gorgeous, spirited woman in the local convenience store. Suddenly, staying doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

As the holiday season arrives, Bo and Rafe are drawn together by shared dreams, unexpected laughter, and a growing sense that home isn’t a place—it’s a person.

Will they discover that the joyful home they’ve both been searching for is waiting for them to take a leap of faith?

A wholesome, holiday romance filled with hope and Christmas-kissed nights, A Joyful Home is perfect for readers who love heartfelt family legacies, tender love stories, and happily-ever-afters wrapped in the sparkle of the season.

 

 

Be sure you enter the big The Bridge giveaway! 

Then come back here and share if you’ve started reading Christmas stories yet, and if not, when you crack open that first book full of holiday magic.

Magic Cake and a Giveaway

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Four years ago today, I released Romance at Rinehart’s Crossing. 

If you haven’t read the book yet, it is actually three stories all woven together about the King siblings.

The setting of the story is in the town closest to the farm where I grew up. Way back then, the town was sometimes called Rinehart’s or Rinehart’s Crossing, and was a stop on the Oregon Trail. A hot springs and the river made it a popular stop, especially after the pioneers walked across the dusty, sagebrush-covered hills from Idaho.

It could be the familiarity of the setting, or the fact that I just dearly loved the King siblings (especially Tenner) that made this story such a pleasure to write.

Tenner King is determined to make his own way in the world far from the overbearing presence of his father and the ranch where he was raised in Rinehart’s Crossing, Oregon. Reluctantly, he returns home after his father’s death to find the ranch on its way to ruin and his siblings antsy to leave. Prepared to do whatever is necessary to save the ranch, Tenner isn’t about to let a little thing like love get in his way.

? Austen – After spending her entire life ruled by her father, Austen Rose King certainly isn’t going to allow her bossy older brother to take on the job. Desperate to leave the hard work and solitude of the Diamond K Ranch, she decides a husband would be the fastest means of escape. If only she could find a man she could tolerate for more than five minutes.

? Claire – Two thousand miles of travel. Two thousand miles of listening to her parents bicker about the best place in Oregon to settle. Two thousand miles of dusty trails, bumpy wagons, and things that slither and creep into her bedding at night. Claire Clemons would happily set down roots that very minute if someone would let her. What she needs is her own Prince Charming to give her a place to call home. When a broken wagon wheel strands her family miles from civilization, she wonders if handsome Worth King, the freighter who rescues them, might just be the answer to her prayers.

? Kendall – Anxious to escape her mother’s meddling interference, Kendall Arrington leaves her society life behind, intent on experiencing a Wild West adventure. Hired as the school teacher in a growing town on the Oregon Trail, Kendall hopes to bring a degree of civility and a joy of learning to the children of Rinehart’s Crossing. However, the last thing she expects to find is a cowboy with shaggy hair, dusty boots, and incredible blue eyes among her eager students.

Will love find the three King siblings as Romance arrives in Rinehart’s Crossing?

~*~

When I was searching for recipe ideas to include in the story, I came across one for a magic vanilla custard cake. I don’t know how old it is, but it’s good! And it made me think of the “impossible” pies my mom used to make.

 

Magic Vanilla Custard Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter-melted and slightly cooled

2 cups milk

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

4 eggs-separated

1 tablespoon water

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325°F

Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish, set aside

Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form, set aside.

Beat the egg yolks and powdered sugar until pale yellow.

Mix in melted butter and the tablespoon of water (for about 2 minutes) until evenly combined.

Mix in the flour until evenly incorporated.

Slowly beat in the milk and vanilla extract until well combined.

Gently stir in the egg whites (1/3 at a time, then repeat until all of the egg whites are folded in).

Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40-60 minutes (until the cake is barely jiggly in the center). Baking time might vary depending on your oven or pan you use, but start checking after 40 minutes. If the top browns too quickly before the minimum of 40 minutes, you can cover the cake with aluminum foil.

Cool the cake completely before dusting with powdered sugar.

Serve plain or with fresh berries or sliced peaches. You can also add a drizzle of caramel.

Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

NOTE: Even after it has cooled, it will be slightly jiggly because it has custard layer in the center.

 

For a chance to win a copy of the

book AND a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate,

click on the button below and enter,

then come back here and share a memory of something you

enjoyed eating when you were a child.

My mom used to make impossible coconut pie that was so good!

The Power of a Satisfying Ending

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Hi, Winnie Griggs here. Today I thought I’d spend a little time talking about giving stories a truly satisfying ending and a time when I got it wrong.

First, let’s discuss what makes for a truly satisfying ending in a romance?

It’s not just about getting the hero and heroine over their story hurdles and to their happily-ever-after. It’s about making sure we believe they earned that happiness, that it will last and that we have the chance to savor that ending.

As romance readers, we want to close a book with a contented sigh, confident that the couple has faced the hard stuff, worked through it together, and come out stronger for it. That emotional payoff is what lingers long after the last page is turned.

So what goes into building that kind of ending? Here are a few key ingredients I’ve learned over the years, as both a reader and a writer:

  • Emotional Resolution – Conflicts and obstacles between the couple should be convincingly resolved, not glossed over. If there’s been hurt, we need to see true remorse and believable forgiveness. If there’s been doubt or misunderstanding, we should see clarity.
  • Evidence of Growth – It should be clear that the hero and heroine have changed in meaningful ways. By the end of the book, they shouldn’t view the world—or their place in it—the same way they did at the beginning. And we should recognize this not just because the author says it’s so but through the character’s actions. We know they won’t make the same mistakes again, because they’ve learned from the journey.
  • A Glimpse of the Future – Whether it’s through words, gestures, or symbolic moments, we get to see that their love has staying power. It feels solid, not fragile.
  • Space to Feel It – Perhaps most important of all, the ending should carry enough story weight and breathing room to allow us to bask in the emotions. This big emotional payoff scene should never be rushed or perfunctory. The couple (and the reader!) should have time to savor the joy of hard-won love.

When I first wrote Sadie’s Reluctant Groom fifteen years ago (It was titled The Perfect Wife back then), I didn’t quite get this last one right. At the time, I was writing for a publisher and had wordcount restrictions to work within. By the time I neared the end of the book, I had already breezed right past the upper limit, so I knew I was going to have to do some significant trimming and tightening. With that in the back of my mind, I decided to keep the ending very tight. Unfortunately, I made it tighter than it should have been.

The result? An ending that I came to realize later felt too abrupt, one with not enough room for readers to fully soak in Sadie and Eli’s happily-ever-after.

Fast-forward to today, and I’ve learned a lot since then. I now know the importance of giving those payoff moments the emotional weight they deserve. If cutting or summarizing is needed, I do it elsewhere.

So when I got the rights back to this series, I had the chance to revisit Sadie’s and Eli’s story. Without those wordcount restrictions, I was able to rework the ending and I made sure to expand it, to let it breathe, allowing readers truly feel the resolution of Sadie and Eli’s journey. Hopefully I got it right this time.

You can check it out for yourself when Sadie’s Reluctant Groom releases on Sept 16th
Available for preorder now HERE

 

 

And just for fun I thought I’d share an excerpt from early in the book:

Sadie stared up from her less-than-dignified position as Mr. Reynolds knelt beside her, waiting for the inevitable censure. Instead, he met her gaze with a concern that took her completely by surprise. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

She blinked, not quite certain how to react to this softer side of the man. “Yes, I mean, there’s no need—”

Why in the world was she stammering? She took a deep breath then offered a self-mocking smile. “The only thing smarting at the moment is my pride.”

He studied her a moment longer, then offered a hand. “In that case, here, let me help you up.”

She allowed him to take her elbow, liking the feel of his strong, protective grip. When he placed his other hand at her back to steady her, she decided, that yes, she liked this very much indeed.

“You’re bleeding!”

Penny, her complexion ashen, was pointing to Sadie’s hand.

Sadie stared at the thin ribbon of blood running from her palm as if it belonged to someone else. Then she turned back to Penny. “It’s all right, princess. I must have put my hand on a bit of crockery when I fell. But it doesn’t hurt. Truly.”

Mr. Reynolds intervened. “Just to be certain, let’s clean it up and have a look.”

“Oh, that’s not necess—”

He caught her gaze and tilted his head ever so slightly toward Penny. “I think everyone will feel better if I do.”

Penny nodded. “You don’t have to worry, Aunt Sadie. Eli’s real good at making boo-boos feel better.”

She saw his brow go up at Penny’s use of ‘Aunt Sadie’ but he let it pass without comment. Warmed by the thought that he took time to address his sister’s ‘boo-boos’, she allowed him to steer her towards the sink.

Even as she followed docilely along, though, Sadie again tried to make light of her injury. “Truly, it’s just a little cut.”

“Best to be safe.” He carefully extended her hand over the sink, filled a dipper with water, then looked up. “Ready?”

Seeing reassurance instead of disapproval in those cool gray eyes of his was a new experience for Sadie, one she found she rather enjoyed. Then she realized he was waiting for her response. “Ready,” she answered.

He gave her an approving smile, then slowly poured the water over the cut.

It was strange to feel him holding her hand like this. His own hand was smoother than those of the ranch hands she was used to, but not soft in a namby-pamby way. She sensed strength there and an unexpected protectiveness.

“Looks like there’s a sliver embedded in your palm.” He glanced up and met her gaze again. “This might hurt a bit. I’ll make it quick.”

She nodded. Staring at his bent head, she noticed the way his hair tended to curl around his ear, how his brow wrinkled slightly when he was concentrating. His expression shifted and she saw the flicker of concern as he caught hold of the offending sliver, then the small spurt of triumph mixed with relief as he pulled it free.

“Sorry.”

She blinked and it took her moment to realize he was apologizing for any discomfort his actions had caused her. “I hardly felt a thing.” Which was the absolute truth as far as the cut was concerned.

Penny held out a bit of cloth.

Sadie had been so riveted by Eli that she hadn’t noticed Penny had crossed the room.

“You can use this for a bandage,” she said to her brother.

“Of course.” He took the cloth from her and again his touch was gentle and sure as he wrapped her palm in the makeshift bandage.

“Thank you.” Was that soft voice hers?

He cradled her hand a moment longer as his gaze caught on hers.

And held.

For several long, breath-stealing moments.

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into Sadie’s Reluctant Groom. You can learn more or pre-order HERE

About the Book

He’s looking for a proper wife. She’s determined to just be herself.

When independent Sadie and by-the-book Eli are thrown together to prevent a scandal, neither expects affection to bloom. But as trust grows and walls begin to crumble, they discover that love can come when it’s least expected—and sometimes, exactly when you need it.

Sadie’s Reluctant Groom releases September 16. Available for preorder now!

So what do you think?
Do you agree with my list of what goes into a memorable, satisfying ending? Is there anything you would add? Join the conversation and leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for your choice of any book from my backlist.

Harvesting Happiness: Corn Mazes, Farm Stands, and Everything Fall! By Guest Blogger Tanya Agler

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Thank you so much to the fillies of Petticoats and Pistols for having me back as a guest blogger, following the release of my latest Harlequin Heartwarming, A Family for the Cowboy Cop, set in Violet Ridge, Colorado. 

 

Autumn might be my favorite season. I love the cooler weather and the blaze of red, orange and gold on maple and oak trees. There’s something for everyone in fall as communities often come together at festivals, some of which celebrate harvesting like apple or pumpkin festivals, some center around arts and crafts while still others provide for an opportunity to take time to appreciate the natural beauty of the season ranging from hot air balloon festivals to farm tours. 

In A Family for the Cowboy Cop, Cassie O’Neal owns Thistle Brook Farm and is looking forward to her first year operating a corn maze, which are popular in many parts of the country, but especially so in the West. Colorado’s real-life longest running corn maze is located at Anderson Farms, a twenty-five acre attraction which offers three different adventures for families and groups visiting the maze. Other popular Western mazes include a thirteen-acre maze at the Lowe Family Farmstead in Idaho and a choice of two mazes at Cornbelly’s in Utah. 

 

Photo by Tom Fisk

Both farm stands and farmers markets are experiencing a boom in Colorado with over one hundred such sites popping up all over the state, allowing residents and tourists to experience the different offerings from fresh Rocky Ford melons to Pueblo Green chiles to Palisade peaches. Farmers markets have expanded over the years, and I was astounded this year over the variety and energetic environment when I attended two farmers markets in different states. There was music, artisan wares, pet treats, and so much more like sourdough bread and fresh vegetables. At one of the farmers markets, my daughter and I purchased earrings while my son and I ordered delicious churros. 

Photo by Erik Scheel

 

What I love about reading books set in the West, whether historical or contemporary, is the resilience and ingenuity of the heroines. I like to think Cassie follows in this tradition as she is thinking of ways to increase income at her family farm. In addition to her new corn maze, Cassie also runs a farm stand, selling fresh produce from her farm as well as her own special jam and hanging plants. This summer on my travels through seven states, my husband loved stopping at farm stands, and my family loved the juicy peaches and freshly picked corn that we purchased. There’s nothing like a peach fresh from the orchard.

In the midst of trying to get her corn maze operational and open to the public, selling her seasonal jams and fresh produce at her farm stand, and taking care of her two children and the animals living at Thistle Brook Farm, Cassie O’Neal finds herself opening her home to Denver detective Jase Virtue, who grew up in Violet Ridge and whose brother is the manager of the local Lazy River Dude Ranch. Jase wants to capture the escaped robber, who happens to be Cassie’s half-brother, and return home to Denver. The longer he stays at Thistle Brook Farm, the more he questions his theory that Cassie is the robber’s accomplice. 

 

Have you visited a farm stand or farmers market lately? What was your favorite part of the experience? If you haven’t, I hope you’ll leave a comment about your favorite fall activity. One commenter will be chosen to receive an e-copy of A Family for the Cowboy Cop and a $10.00 Amazon gift card. 

Fictional Wyoming Town in His New Companion

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My new book released today! His New Companion is the final book in my Wyoming Legacies series, and it’s a Love Inspired K-9 Companions novel, too. I’ve written six books set in the fictional Wyoming town of Jewel River.

The first book, The Cowboy’s Christmas Compromise, sets up the premise of the series. Jewel River has seen better days. Erica Black moves to town and wants to revitalize it. She asks locals to get together to discuss what the town needs and how they can make it vibrant again. Thus begins the Jewel River Legacy Club. Monthly meetings are held in the community center, and each book in the series features at least one meeting. Some of the residents have kooky ideas, and others are hard-nosed and against change. One thing is for sure–the meetings are never boring!

In His New Companion, Ty Moulten has never been to a meeting. His mother, Christy, has been trying to get him to attend one for years, and he never has. He’s hidden himself away on his ranch for five years. He didn’t intend to, but after his fiancée died, he got depressed and couldn’t handle people’s well-meaning sympathy. When the story begins, he’s finally getting out of his shell. He volunteers to foster a service-dog-in-training on weekends, but he gets more than he bargained for. He’s introduced to Fritz, a mini-dachshund, and Ashlinn, the new girl in town with a service dog of her own. And needless to say, he finally attends a meeting.

And as he spends time with Ashlinn, Ty comes to appreciate Jewel River and the community he’s avoided. He sees how generous and supportive the people at his church and his mother’s friends can be. Plus, his mother shocks him with a surprise announcement regarding one of the characters I loved writing–Clem Buckley, a wiry, tells-it-like-it-is retired rancher.

I’m going to miss Jewel River, but I already have a new fictional Wyoming town to enjoy! My next series with Love Inspired is called Wyoming Inheritance, and the first book releases in late October.

Read an excerpt of His New Companion

He would not get attached to the dog. After all, this was a temporary gig.

Ty Moulten stood outside the entrance of Howard Service Dogs in Jewel River, Wyoming, after five on Friday and wondered again if fostering a dog on the weekends was wise. Maybe he should wait until next year when he’d have more time to get used to the idea. Or he could try in a few months when the temperature cooled. July had been a scorcher so far, and they were only midway through it.

Either the sun was melting him or he’d worked himself into an actual fever. Why was he so sweaty? Probably didn’t help that after he’d finished checking cattle, he’d opted to change into a fresh pair of jeans instead of shorts.

Life made more sense in jeans, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. And being comfortable would help him keep his head on straight. His heart had been broken once. Shattered, really. Fostering a dog was nothing compared to what he’d had with Zoey, but it didn’t change the fact there wasn’t enough of his heart left for him to squander the little that remained.

He didn’t do love—or people in general—anymore.

***

 

His New Companion by Jill Kemerer cover. Mountain background, golden retriever service dog sitting on wooden deck

Healing from heartbreak
Can start with a four-legged friend.

Six years after losing his fiancée, rancher Ty Moulten still struggles with grief. Organizing a fundraiser in her honor and fostering a service dog feel like a step forward, and lead to meeting Ashlinn Burnier, the service dog training center’s new administrative assistant. As Ashlinn helps Ty plan the fundraiser, he finds himself falling for Fritz, the tiny dachshund in his care, and for Ashlinn—who has a service dog of her own. But Ashlinn worries her health challenges make her a burden, and Ty wonders if he can open his heart again. Will two hardworking pups help them choose love over holding on to fear?

Purchase His New Companion!

Do you enjoy fictional towns, or do you prefer stories set in real ones?

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Petticoats & Pistols