Haven’t had a chance to play Bingo to celebrate Jo-Ann Robert’s
Her Rebel Heart?
You still can!
We’ve rounded up our Bingo clues to make it easy for you to play.
Choose your answers, submit your entry for each clue, and you’ll still have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!
But hurry! Only one day left!
Winner will be announced Monday in the Reader Group.
Book #6 in the Petticoats and Patriots Series
Coming Tuesday
Don’t forget to check out our Series Page to see all the books, too!
Veronica’s Secret Rescue: Building Homes and Hope in Mariposa
While writing Veronica’s Secret Rescue, I enjoyed learning more about the role lumber mills played in California’s growing communities during the late 1800s.
Before modern building supplies were readily available, local lumber mills were essential. They provided the wood needed to build homes, barns, churches, schools, stores, and nearly every other structure a growing town required. In many areas of California, especially near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, abundant pine forests made the lumber industry an important part of daily life.
Many mills were family-owned businesses passed down through generations. Families often worked together, with fathers teaching sons the trade and everyone contributing to the success of the operation. These businesses weren’t simply a source of income; they helped build the surrounding community. The lumber produced at local mills helped new settlers establish homes and create lasting roots.
The town of Mariposa, California, has a rich history dating back to the Gold Rush era. Founded in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Mariposa became an important center for miners, ranchers, merchants, and travelers. Its location near Yosemite made it a gateway for those heading into the mountains. By the late nineteenth century, the town had grown into a close-knit community where neighbors often depended on one another through both hardships and celebrations.
In Veronica’s Secret Rescue, Tucker Harper owns a family lumber mill and ranch near Mariposa. His mill reflects the hardworking spirit that helped shape many California communities during that time. The steady rhythm of the sawmill, the scent of fresh-cut pine, and the importance of honest labor all became part of Tucker’s character and the life he built.
For Veronica, however, the story is about much more than a lumber mill or a ranch. After a difficult journey filled with uncertainty, she discovers something she never expected. She isn’t simply finding a husband. She is finding a home, a family, a community, and a future. Most importantly, she learns that God often provides exactly what we need, even when His plans unfold in ways we never imagined.
Blessings,
Paulette D. Marshall
Today, I’m giving away a digital copy of my book MAIL-ORDER FREIGHTER. Be sure and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for this story! Here are a couple of questions I’m interested in hearing your answers to:
What makes a place feel like home to you? Is it the people, the location, the memories, or something else?
Or
If you could choose, would you rather live on a ranch, in a small mountain town, or near a bustling city? Why?
Thanks so much for being here today!
Howdy! Welcome, Welcome to another terrific Tuesday!As many of you already know, the Pettocoats & Patriots books have now launched! Yay! My book, #2 in the series, Freeing Miss Abagail, launched on the 23rd of June. Yay! So, I thought I’d post links to both of the terrific newsletters — given to us by wonderful Shanna Hatfield — which will give you not only excerpts of each book, but is filled with games and bits of information you might not be able to find elsewhere.
Here is a link to the Petticoats & Pistols Magazine #2: https://sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/assets-shanna/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Patriot-Magazine-2-digital.pdf
And here is the link to magtzine #1: https://petticoatsandpistols.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Petticoats-Patriots-Magazine-Volume-1-2026.pdf
Don’t miss the fun! There are interviews, excerpts, games (many games), recipes and more!
And for those of you who would like a hard copy of the first magazine, it is for sale at Lulu: https://www.lulu.com/shop/shanna-hatfield-and-karen-kay-and-kit-morgan-and-sarah-lamb/petticoats-patriots-volume-1/paperback/product-65k4g8k.html?page=1&pageSize=4
So, here are the eight books in this series:
Book 1
Philadelphia, 1776
As whispers of revolution turn swell into a roar for freedom, Lucy Carlson is no longer content to simply watch from behind the counter of her father’s jewelry shop. When a mysterious woman—none other than Martha Washington—leaves behind a locket, Lucy discovers the piece is more than a pretty keepsake. The necklace is a secret vessel for the revolution that carries the promise of love.
Drawn into a dangerous spy ring, Lucy begins crafting coded messages concealed within the locket’s clever design, living a secret double life and risking everything she holds dear in a time of sacrifice and war.
Continental soldier Branch Barton is a man defined by duty. Tasked with rooting out traitors, he moves through the shadowed world of deception and divided loyalties. He’s trained to trust no one, yet he finds himself drawn into a slow-burning connection with the jeweler’s spirited daughter.
But when Lucy begins to suspect Branch may be a Redcoat in disguise, their fragile bond is tested by mistaken identity, growing mistrust, and the threat of betrayal.
In a war where even allies can become enemies, Lucy and Branch must navigate a world of hidden truths and guarded hearts. With the fate of the colonies—and their hearts—hanging in the balance as Lucy delivers a message in enemy territory, will they find the courage to trust each other and choose love?
Book 2
Two hearts. Two worlds. Can love be the key to free the woman he loves?
Saratoga, 1777
Nineteen year old Indentured Servant, Abagail Densbury, is running for her life. Accused of stealing a necklace she didn’t take, and facing a beating that could claim her life, she has no choice but to take this one chance to run away, especially when Mr. Wilson, the proprietor of the Saratoga Inn, has told her “to get.” But Abagail has spent her life on the city streets of London, and she is a stranger to the forests of New York. Still, she might have survived on her own, if only Miss Stockenridge hadn’t sent the hounds after her.
Twenty-four year old Skenandoah is an Oneida Indian and a scout for the Patriots. When Mr. Wilson asks Skenan to help a girl to survive through the forests and to reach Fort Stanwix, Skenan doesn’t hesitate to act. What he didn’t count on is that the girl, though dressed in rags, is as beautiful as she is sweet and brave.
Closeness on the trail unites their hearts. But, when a coded message is found in a locket in Abagail’s apron, both Skenan and Abagail know they must reach Fort Stanwix as quickly as possible, even though it means they will be forced to part—she back to her world and he to his.
But, since the Patriots are fighting to throw off the chains of the English Father, is there a way Shenan can make them see that the woman he loves should be free, too?
Book 3
In a house filled with British officers, colonial spies, and dangerous secrets, falling in love may be the most reckless act of all.
Long Island, 1778
Anna Turner serves quietly at Pembrooke House, hiding her patriot loyalties beneath the careful routine of a household maid. But when cheerful messenger Nathaniel Reed begins delivering private correspondence to the British captain residing there, Anna becomes convinced he’s the enemy.
Nate, however, is hiding secrets of his own.
As two rival spy rings unknowingly move information through the same household, suspicion turns to uneasy partnership—and then something far more dangerous. Because in a city where spies are hanged in the streets, one wrong move could condemn them both.
And surrendering her heart to Nate Reed may prove deadlier than war itself.
Book 4
A traitor in the Continental Army. A raid that could end Virginia’s government. And one woman willing to risk everything for love.
Charlottesville, 1780
Anna Randolph has always believed women are capable of more than society allows. The daughter of a prominent military supplier in Revolutionary Virginia, she manages her father’s correspondence and longs to contribute meaningfully to the cause of independence. When she meets Major James Coleman at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, she’s drawn to the self-made officer who sees her as an equal—but in the uncertain spring of 1781, with war raging through Virginia, falling in love feels like both a gift and a gamble.
Major James Coleman earned his rank through merit, not birth. A Scots-Irish officer from the Shenandoah Valley, he’s gathering intelligence for the Marquis de Lafayette while avoiding romantic entanglements—his dangerous work is no life for a family man. But Anna Randolph is unlike any woman he’s ever known: intelligent, passionate, and brave. For the first time, James allows himself to imagine a future beyond the war. Until a routine visit to the Albemarle Barracks uncovers a deadly conspiracy threatening both Jefferson and the cause itself.
When whispered treason reveals plans for a devastating raid on Charlottesville and James is left for dead by a jealous rival, Anna must become the courier he never meant to send into danger. Racing thirty miles through enemy territory to reach Lafayette’s camp, she carries intelligence that could save Jefferson and alter the course of the war. In a world where women are meant to wait and worry, Anna Randolph will ride into the heart of danger to prove that sometimes the most perilous mission requires not just courage, but love.
Book 5
North and South. Yankee and Rebel. Union and Confederate.
In the midst of the Civil War, can two hearts come together?
Roswell, 1863
When the tide of war sweeps south and the Union Army invades and destroys the Georgia cotton mill where Kate Brodie is a nurse, not only is her livelihood destroyed but she’s branded a traitor and shipped northward with the other workers. Only the unlikely attention of a Yankee major makes the trip tolerable.
Union major, Griffin Fletcher loathes the part of his job that requires him to destroy homes, towns, and livelihoods of innocent civilians. But he’s sworn to uphold the Union at all costs. Yet, he vows to protect these women he’s been ordered to transport to Marietta. Especially the one whose fiery determination, proud stance, and soft heart draws him closer.
Determined to remain in the South, Kate makes a daring leap of faith to nurse wounded Yankee soldiers, never expecting Major Fletcher to be one of her patients. Along with his healing, they each faced the fears and prejudices that had brought them together.
With survival so tenuous, can faith help them find love in the midst of so much tragedy?
Book 6
She’s fighting to honor the past. He’s haunted by it.
Hawthorn, 1876
As Hawthorn, Texas, prepares for a grand celebration honoring America’s centennial and the town’s own fifty-year history, schoolteacher and archivist Mercy Owens is determined to see that every act of sacrifice and service is properly remembered. So when one local veteran refuses to take part in the festivities, she cannot simply let the matter rest.
Livery stable owner Wilson Porter has spent years quietly rebuilding his life after the Civil War left him carrying wounds no one can see. Respected by the town but haunted by the past, he wants no public recognition—especially not from a committee determined to call him a hero.
But as Mercy’s research draws her deeper into Wilson’s history, and a series of shared journeys begins to chip away at the walls between them, both must confront long-held beliefs about honor, sacrifice, and worth. Because sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is allow themselves to be truly seen.
Book 7
She’s lived with his name for three years. He’s never known hers. Until they meet.
Halsey, 1955
Jackie Sinclair is good at what she does–flying airplanes during the Korean War. But when she makes a mistake that will haunt her forever, she’s determined to build a new life of peace and freedom in Nebraska. Except she comes face-to-face with Beckett J. Archer, the soldier she had failed so terribly, and her hopes for a new future threaten to fall apart.
Beck has returned to heal at the one place that means more to him than anything else–his father’s ranch. The memories of war have left their mark, but the brave and beautiful woman who lands in his life–literally–stirs up feelings he never expects, especially when an old family legacy threatens to drive them apart.
As trouble closes in from every side, Beck and Jackie are drawn together by danger, duty, and a growing love neither of them can deny.
Book 8
Holiday, OR, Modern Day
Grady Guthry understands the weight of a promise. Years after returning from the Army to help his widowed sister and young nephew rebuild their lives, he’s created a solid life in Holiday, Oregon. With a thriving construction business and deep roots in his small town, Grady’s world is steady, dependable, and safe—just the way he needs it. The last thing he’s looking for is change, especially not in the form of the town’s new, temporary postmaster.
Kate Barton has always followed the horizon. An Air Force veteran who thrives on freedom and fresh starts, she moves from one assignment to the next, never staying long enough to put down roots. But when she arrives in Holiday, she carries more than just her bags. A cherished locket left behind by her father draws her into a legacy she never knew existed—and begins to stir a longing she can’t quite ignore.
As Holiday prepares for the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, an unexpected friendship between Grady and Kate deepens into an undeniable slow-burn romance. Grady offers Kate a sense of home she’s never known, while she reminds him there’s more to life than duty.
But with Kate’s departure date looming, the independence they’ve both fought to claim may become the very thing that keeps them apart.
In a season of healing, hope, and second chances, will they find the courage to let go of their plans—and choose a future together?
You’re gonna love these books from Petticoats & Patriots.
But wait I have some more news: Because I recently signed on with OHB Publishing (a small press publisher), I have four titles of my backlist newly edited and reissued, and there are some truly beautiful covers and so, if you’ll bear with me, I’ll show those covers below. A word about this series: it is a solid Historical Romance but with a paranormal element. Each hero in these four books is charged with a task of ending a centuries old curse. Each hero in the books must free his band of the tribe from the curse. Many before him have failed to free his people. Will he, too, fail?
Okay, so here’s the covers:
Book #1:
The Angel and the Warrior
Book #2
The Spirit of the Wolf
Book #3:
Red Hawk’s Woman
Book #4
The Last Warrior
Book #4
The Last Warrior
And now for the surprise: I will be doing a drawing on the day after this blog (tomorrow/Wednesday) of all those who left a post on this blog– day after this blog — and the winner of the drawing will get her choice of one of the e-books shown here on this page. Just please be aware that not all of the e-books are yet out. However, if the e-book you’d like is not yet out, on the day of its release (or perhaps if I can preorder the book before it is released), I will gift you the e-book you have chosen.
I look forward to all your posts.
Do Well!
Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here.
I’m so excited to announce that my next release, The Heart of Honor, is the sixth book in the Petticoats & Patriots series, and it will be released one week from tomorrow.
This book was truly a labor of love. The characters came alive for me in a way that surprised even me, and what a story they had to tell! It grew far beyond what I’d originally imagined, ultimately coming in at nearly twice my planned word count.
Here’s a sneak peek from the opening pages.
Hawthorne, Texas
Late May 1876
Mercy Owens shifted slightly in her chair. Her discomfort wasn’t just the unfamiliar vantage of sitting at a student desk instead of standing at the front of the room. It had more to do with the committee’s current debate that had circled back to its starting point.
“The veterans should lead the procession,” Colonel Briggs said, his tone firm and unyielding. “They’re not representing some ancestor—we’re speaking of men who served with their own lives.”
Mrs. Whitaker’s fan snapped open. “And I have already said, Colonel, that the founding families represent the very beginning of this town. It would be a poor sort of celebration that did not place them in proper precedence.” She inclined her head slightly. “We are, first and foremost, marking the golden anniversary of Hawthorn’s founding—as well as the centennial of our nation.”
Mercy lowered her gaze to the paper before her and let her pencil drift into a small, absent pattern along the margin.
Beside her, Reverend Fields spoke up. “If we are to mark the centennial with proper reverence, then those with Revolutionary patriot lineage ought to be given their due.”
Daniel Carter exhaled and leaned forward, all business. “We’re not arranging a history lecture—we’re organizing a parade. I asked for details so I can do my part. I need numbers and mode—how many mounted, how many in wagons or walking. We can sort the rest once we know what we’re working with.”
Practical. Direct. Necessary. And not wrong. Daniel was well-suited to being head of logistics.
But his point fell on deaf ears. They weren’t listening to one another, only waiting their turn to press the same point again.
Then it came—a brief lull. Not agreement, only the absence of someone speaking. Mercy drew a breath and stepped into the void before it closed again.
“As I noted earlier,” she said, lifting her head, “there are still several families whose records remain incomplete. Particularly those living outside town. Until those are verified, we won’t have a reliable count.”
A few heads turned—some in acknowledgment, others in mild impatience—and Mercy felt the familiar weight of both.
Daniel frowned slightly. “How many are we missing?”
“A small number,” Mercy said. “But not insignificant. Some of the outlying farms have been here since the early days of the settlement. Their contributions simply haven’t been recorded.”
Mrs. Whitaker tilted her head. “And you intend to gather this information?”
Mercy held her expression steady, though a quiet thought pressed forward—no one had shown this much interest when she’d presented her report earlier. “If I’m to vouch for the accuracy of the Roll of Honor, yes.”
There was a brief pause. Not disagreement, exactly. But not full support, either.
It was a familiar space to occupy, that narrow ground between being heard and being set aside. Her reports were accepted readily enough—but their full weight rarely seemed to land all at once.
Mayor Caldwell gave a measured nod. “See to it, Miss Owens. We need your findings before we can finalize the procession order.”
Mercy inclined her head. “I’ll begin calls on the outlying properties tomorrow.”
“Good,” Daniel said, already turning back to his notes. “The sooner we have a complete list, the better.”
Voices rose again—quicker this time, words overlapping where before they had waited their turn. Mercy felt a tightening in the room as patience wore thin.
At the front of the room, Mayor Caldwell finally straightened. “We’ll table the question of parade order for now,” he said, tapping the desk lightly to draw their attention. “Until Miss Owens completes her records and we can review the full list, we’ve no grounds for a final decision.”
A few reluctant nods followed. Colonel Briggs didn’t look satisfied, but he didn’t object.
Mercy wasn’t certain how a count would address everyone’s concerns but she held her peace—the discussion had already gone on longer than it should.
“One final report,” the mayor continued. “Colonel?”
Briggs shifted his stance. “I’ve spoken with each of the veterans. They were honored to be asked. David Mulligan can’t ride on account of paralysis, but I told him we’d see him included in a wagon.”
“How many will be riding?” Daniel asked.
“An even dozen.” The colonel glanced her way. “That includes the outlying farms and ranches, so I don’t expect that number to change.”
Mercy nodded.
“Just one more thing you should be aware of.” Colonel Briggs paused as if weighing his words. “One of the veterans, while expressing his thanks for the invitation, declined the honor.”
“Declined?” Daniel repeated.
Mrs. Whitaker’s brows lifted. “I can’t imagine why anyone would do such a thing.”
“He gave no reason,” Briggs said. “And I didn’t feel I should push for one.”
“Then we’ll account for it when we finalize the numbers,” the mayor said, already moving on to old business.
Voices shifted again, turning—almost too easily—to the proposed fireworks display. Mercy listened only in part, aware instead of how quickly the earlier moment was slipping away, thinning between one topic and the next before it could take hold.
But it didn’t sit easily with her.
A man who had served refused to be recognized, honored.
Something in that niggled at her—quiet but insistent—refusing to be shrugged off.
The meeting finally ended. Chairs scraped. Papers were gathered. Conversations broke into smaller threads as people rose to leave, the earlier tension thinning into practical motion.
Mercy’s thoughts circled to her upcoming tasks.
Outlying families. Unfinished histories. And below it all, this reluctant hero.
She waited until Colonel Briggs stepped away from the others before crossing the room.
“Colonel,” she said quietly, “for my records—may I have the name of the gentleman who declined?”
He looked at her for a moment, as though weighing the necessity of the question, then gave a short nod.
“Porter,” he said. “Wilson Porter.”
Mercy repeated the name silently. Porter.
Yes… she knew of him. Not in any personal way—but enough.
Enough to give her an idea of just how to approach him.
The Heart of Honor
She’s fighting to honor the past. He’s haunted by it.
As Hawthorn, Texas prepares for a grand celebration honoring America’s centennial and the town’s own fifty-year history, schoolteacher and archivist Mercy Owens is determined to see that every act of sacrifice and service is properly remembered. So when one local veteran refuses to take part in the festivities, she cannot simply let the matter rest.
Livery stable owner Wilson Porter has spent years quietly rebuilding his life after the Civil War left him carrying wounds no one can see. Respected by the town but haunted by the past, he wants no public recognition—especially not from a committee determined to call him a hero.
But as Mercy’s research draws her deeper into Wilson’s history, and a series of shared journeys begins to chip away at the walls between them, both must confront long-held beliefs about honor, sacrifice, and worth. Because sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is allow themselves to be truly seen.
Set against the backdrop of America’s 1876 centennial celebration, The Heart of Honor is a heartfelt historical romance about quiet courage, second chances, and a love strong enough to heal old wounds.
Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of any of my backlist paperback books.
Howdy, fellow western romance readers!
I’m so excited to be back with y’all to talk about books, the West, and history! I’ve learned so much from the posts on Petticoats and Pistols, and I’m glad I get to contribute to this blog.
When I was drafting Bluebonnet Fields, the final book in the Wildflower series, I got to visit the Hill Country in Texas, which is where the bluebonnets grow. It’s also where my grandma is from. And her mother, and her mother’s mother.
They were a family of cotton pickers. Migrant workers.
My grandma grew up running the roads of the Hill Country and picking furrow after furrow of cotton.
But, in between the work, they made time for fun, and dancing was often their favorite activity.
Gruene Hall, in Gruene, Texas, (pronounced “green”), is the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas. It was started in 1878, and it hasn’t changed much at all. The layout of the building is the same—bar at the front, dance floor in the middle, side-flaps for open-air dancing, tin roof, and a small stage opposite the bar. The outdoor garden, with the live oak trees and stone walk-ways are also still the same.
Oh, the fun this building has seen! The music it has heard!
Gruene Hall is one of my favorite places in Texas, and two-stepping or waltzing the night away at this establishment, as so many others have done, is a privilege and an honor.
And in Bluebonnet Fields, I was able to give that joy to Kenna and Levi. It’s where Kenna has her first dance, and where they share their first kiss. It’s truly magical.
And I can imagine my great-grandmothers there, having themselves a grand time, loving the music, dancing the night away, and maybe giving away a kiss or two!
Do you have a favorite historic spot or town that instantly transports you back in time? Please share and one commentor will win a copy of Bluebonnet Fields!
BLUEBONNET FIELDS
Texas, 1890
Kenna Ainsley has no use for love. It only brings betrayal and disappointment. She finds solace in her work as a Harvey Girl, and the independence that brings.
But one day a stranger sits down at her table. He’s a Deputy Sheriff, and before she can blink, he’s dragging her back to Galveston on an erroneous charge that she’s a runaway wife.
Kenna plots her escape. But even as she tries to free herself, her heart is working against her. She’s falling for the handsome Deputy Sheriff, which sends her fleeing to the one place she swore she would never go.
Deputy Sheriff Levi Brandt has plans, and Kenna is at the center of them. After one look at her, he knows there’s no way in hell she’s gonna end up hitched to anyone else but him. But he’s gonna have to do some heavy lifting to get her to trust him. Lucky for her, he welcomes the weight. No matter how far she runs, he’ll find her. Always.
Excerpt
When Kenna entered the hall on the arm of Levi, she took in her surroundings with an excited eye. The dance floor was in the direct center. A bar was at one end, near the main doors, and the stage where the band was playing was opposite it. The area was flanked by tables, and several rectangular windows that had flaps designed to draw in a breeze.
People were about, some at the bar with glasses of beer, some at the tables eating, while couples twirled to the lively reel being played by the band. Kenna knew the tune. She’d heard it once spilling forth from a saloon in Galveston. She’d stopped to listen outside the doors for a brief moment.
“You ready?” Levi asked, leaning down near her ear.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she announced. She looked at him, her pulse racing in anticipation of all that was going to occur and what might occur this night.
He grinned. “Then hang on to me, darlin’, because I don’t intend to let your feet touch the floor.”
And with that, he swept her up into his arms and twirled her onto the dance floor. With his gaze locked on hers, he took her through the lively steps, spinning and whirling her to the strains of the fiddle, guitar, drum, harmonica, and banjo.
Without a care, she put her trust in him, grateful not to have to worry for one night. She was going to forget her cares and let herself go.
When the first dance ended, there was barely a second to breathe before the next one was starting. He never relinquished his hold on her. His arm was tight around her waist, and he was keeping her deliciously close as he expertly slipped them into the waltz that was now being played.
As he turned her about the room, she basked in his intent attention and possessive hold. His gaze was gleaming with heat and promise, with want and delight. She fell into his eyes and hoped in hers he saw her own desire.
The waltz melted into a reel, then back into a waltz once more, and as the evening darkened into night, her heart soared to the Heavens and stayed there. Her head was spinning, her body was humming. She never wanted to let him go.
And when another fellow tapped him on the shoulder, making Levi pause, and indicating his want to cut in, her breath caught in fear that Levi would give her up.
“No,” Levi fairly growled at the man, an instant fury leaping from him.
The fellow raised his brow, then set his jaw and walked off.
Levi immediately began dancing with her again, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
He set his lips next to her ear. “I told you, Kenna, you’re mine for tonight. I’m not sharing.”
She squeezed his hand and curled her fingers more tightly about his arm. An involuntary reaction that showed her pleasure at his gruff vow.
His answer was to tighten his arm about her waist, pulling her even closer.
Book Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/bP2ewY
What about you? Do you like to dance? If so, what is your favorite kind and where? Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for one ebook copy of Bluebonnet Fields!
Author Bio
Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.
When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.
Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night! Visit Kara O’Neal at http://www.karaoneal.com.
Where to Find Kara
Website ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X ~ Pinterest ~ Newsletter ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon
Falconry is the ancient sport of hunting wild quarry with a trained bird of prey. The practice didn’t arise in the American West until the late 1800s and early 1900s, although the practice was sporadic.
Spanish conquistadors noted indigenous people and Aztecs using trained raptors during the 16th century, and Christopher Columbus had one falconer in his party who hunted with hawks in what is now Haiti.
“Falconer” has been traditionally used to describe someone who flies a falcon. Hunting with a conditioned falconry bird was also called hawking of “gamehawking,” but those terms have fallen out of favor.
Raptors used in falconry include broadwings (Buteos and Parabuteos, which include Harris’s hawks), shortwings (Asturs and Accipiters, including hawks, goshawks and sparrowhawks), and longwings (Falcos, including peregrine falcons, kestrels, gyrfalcons and saker falcons).
In my upcoming historical western romance, The Falcon, the heroine is raising an abandoned prairie falcon fledgling, but as she has no experience in such an endeavor, she seeks out the introduction of a falconer from Argentina.
Prairie falcons are medium-sized falcons similar to peregrines located in Western North America. They might be better called desert falcons from their need for open space and arid dry habitats. They’re scrappy survivalists, with females much larger than males, and when trained well, they’re impressive hunters—aggressive, agile, and determined.
Mexico
December 1899
Josie Ryan’s connection to Texas runs deep, from the land to an almost preternatural kinship with the animals in the wild. This bond has led her to the edge of life and death, from saving a boy caught in a fire when she was eleven years old to being struck by lightning to a mountain lion attack that almost ended her life. The discovery of an abandoned falcon chick leads to a fierce attachment, but with only intuition to guide her, Josie struggles to train the wildest creature she’s ever encountered. When she learns of a man who could help, she’s determined to gain an introduction.
Mateo Almirón, El Halconero—The Falconer—and Argentine gaucho, is tasked with delivering two prized purebred Criollo mares to Matt Ryan, a man whose reputation casts a long shadow. Years ago, Ryan saved the life of Mateo’s father, and the horses will settle the longstanding debt, but when the exchange goes wrong, Mateo is entrusted with protecting Ryan’s daughter, Josie. Now Mateo and Josie must hide in the mountains of Northern Mexico where stories abound of Josie’s mother, a woman who lived among the Comanche and rose from the dead.
But in a place alive with superstition, Josie and her untamed falcon will give rise to a new legend …
Josie is the youngest child of Matt and Molly from The Wren (Book 1).
The Falcon will be available 9/22/2026. Pre-order now at Apple Books and Nook. It will also be available at Amazon, Kobo, and Google Play books on release day.
Have you ever seen a falcon, hawk or eagle in the wild? Or maybe a zoo or rescue center? Leave a comment and be entered to win an e-copy of Book 11 in the Wings of the West series, The Swan.
In Oklahoma Territory Malcolm Hardy has created enough distance from his questionable family name to find a quiet purpose to his days, but then Dr. Anna Ryan walks back into his life, and his hard-won peace is in jeopardy.
Kristy McCaffrey writes award-winning historical western romances with grit and emotion, along with contemporary adventure stories packed with romance and suspense. Her work is filled with compelling heroes, determined heroines, and her trademark mysticism. She lives in the desert north of Phoenix with her husband and rescue bulldog, Jeb. Learn more about her books at her website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Graphics courtesy of Deposit Photos. Book covers by Earthly Charms.
The fillies are riding in with news fit for sharing!
Sarah Lamb
I’m riding in to share this brand new release! It’s the next to last in my historical romance series taking place in Red Ridge, but each book stands alone on it’s own just fine too!
Gus Malone has spent years watching younger folks find their happy endings while his own heart stayed silent. He’s loved Glinda Stover from afar for longer than he cares to admit, but what does an aging cowboy with calloused hands and an empty wallet have to offer a woman like her? He can barely choke out a “good morning.” Asking her to take a moonlit walk is far beyond him.
Glinda Stover is a woman who built her own life, nail by nail, and pretended she never needed a soul. Then a stranger rides into Red Ridge with a claim that could destroy everything she’s worked for. Too old to start over, Glinda faces an impossible choice, especially when a piece of her heart is here, and belongs to a man who’ll never know.
As Gus and Glinda try to stop the stranger, their race against time turns into something neither expected. But when the dust settles and the truth comes out, will Gus finally find the courage to speak what’s been locked in his heart for years? Or will fear of losing her keep him silent forever? And if he can’t say it, will she? Find it here to buy or read on Kindle Unlimited!
Karen Witemeyer
I’m excited to share that my Christmas novella – A Star in the West – with my nerdy mathematics professor hero is a finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Award! YeeHaw!
Shanna Hatfield
I’m thrilled to share I have a new wholesome western romance releasing this week!
Widower Jason Price isn’t looking for romance. As a trusted pickup man for the Rockin’ K Rodeo Company, part-owner of his family’s ranch, and a proud grandpa, his days—and his heart—are already full. Love is for younger folks with fewer scars and more time.
Photographer Lainey Collins traded corporate life for the open road, capturing the faces and stories of everyday people. Living out of her travel van, she’s built a life of freedom, purpose, and just enough distance to keep her heart safe.
But when a chance meeting at a rodeo puts her in Jason’s orbit, everything begins to shift.
As Lainey sets out to create a book featuring the faces of the rodeo, she finds herself returning again and again—to the arena… and to Jason. What begins as a project turns into something deeper as sparks fly, laughter comes easy, and two guarded hearts start to open.
Falling in love is one thing.
But trusting it—and daring to build a future—is another.
Can a cowboy who’s learned to live without love and a woman who’s always kept moving finally find a place to belong… together?
Coming June 4!
Cheryl Pierson
PROUD MAMA ALERT! I am so excited to let y’all know that my daughter Jessica just graduated from the Oklahoma City University School of Law two weeks ago on May 16th!
Jessica had a whole other career/life happening when COVID hit and completely shut down the acting/casting agencies (including the one she worked for here in OKC) back in 2020 or so. She went back to school and received her psychology degree, and then was offered a full ride scholarship to the OCU School of Law.
It has been a very tough time the last three years for her, with having to work AND go to school full time, but she made it and we are just so proud of her. Here are a few pictures of her graduation day!
Jessica and me outside the graduation venue there on campus, just after it was over–(Mama sure looks tired…) LOL
Family picture outside the graduation venue on campus–my d-i-l Kayla, daughter Jessica, husband Gary, me, and son Casey. Such a joyful day for all of us! Just wanted to share with my P&P family here! YEEEEEE-HAWWWWW!
Cathy McDavid
I got some fun news last week. My second ever Harlequin book about a cowboy veterinarian and woman construction company owner/former trick rider called “The Family Plan” was reissued, along with two other authors, in a German trade book edition. My book was retitled “Mein Herz will zurtick zu dir” – which translates to “My Heart Wants to go Back to You”.
Good morning, Fillies!
I’m thrilled to be with you. I’m going to take you on a tour of Aspen Creek, Colorado, today. So grab your sunglasses and a bottle of water. Off we go!
Book one of a brand new, six-book series launches on May 26th. The Sheriff’s Secret Past introduces the town of Aspen Creek. I’ve lived in a lot of places, but my time in Colorado was the longest stretch in one place (18 years), and I’m excited to return.
Aspen Creek is in southern Colorado, a mere four hours from the New Mexico border. It’s in the San Louis Valley, near the Rio Grande River. Located on the edge of the San Juan Mountains, the altitude is 7883. Remember, Denver is known as the Mile-High City at 5280 feet.
A delightful town full of quirky characters, Aspen Creek, is the cowboy version of Stars Hollow where the Gilmore Girls live. BTW, you can grab your own map on my website (HERE) and tour each shop on the aspen-lined streets.
There’s always room for new shops, and I’m thinking about a boot shop in town for a future book.
What do you know about cowboy boots? I thought a boot was a boot. Not true.
Here’s a list of varieties:
Now all I need is a name for the shop. What are your thoughts?
In honor of my new shop, I’m giving away a cowboy boot mug along with a print or ecopy of The Sheriff’s Secret Past to one reader who comments today. US only.
I’ll also throw in five (5) boot stickers to an additional five readers. US and International.
Now, let me introduce you to The Sheriff’s Secret Past.
To give his family the perfect future…
He must face his past
There are only two things on Sheriff Chase Everett’s mind: his upcoming reelection, and adopting his sweet niece after his sister’s death. The last thing he needs to worry about is the new editor of the local newspaper digging into his past. Newcomer Emily Taylor is eager for a juicy scoop for the Aspen Creek Journal, and the handsome sheriff is the perfect subject. But Chase has a dark secret that he’s desperate to hide. He needs to keep his distance from the feisty journalist, which should be easy, until a dog and a little girl bring them together…
Did you know that you can read the entire chapter one HERE?
Here’s where you can grab your own copy
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sheriffs-secret-past-tina-radcliffe/1148152406?
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-sheriff-s-secret-past
And more fun! Book 2 already has a cover. A K-9 Christmas Blessing.
Thanks for spending time with me. I’ll be scouring your comments to find the perfect name for Aspen Creek’s new boot shop.
Be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter, as I’ll announce the name chosen THERE.
Publishers Weekly bestselling author Tina Radcliffe is an American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll member. She is also a five-time nominee for the ACFW Carol Award and a four-time ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist. Besides her novel-length fiction for Love Inspired, Tina has sold over three dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. A former registered nurse and library cataloger, Tina is a frequent workshop presenter. She currently resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance.
Stay up to date on all her releases and fun giveaways by signing up for her newsletter here. Visit her on the web at http://www.tinaradcliffe.com.
Researching For Liberty and Love for our new Petticoats and Patriots Series transported me to the bustling streets of Philadelphia during the summer of 1776.
While I expected to uncover fascinating details about spies, patriots, and the fight for independence, I also stumbled across plenty of surprising little facts that brought that period of our history to life.
Here are five things that I learned while researching the story.
Can you imagine looking at a tomato and thinking, Absolutely not. That thing might kill me.
In 1776, many colonists avoided tomatoes because they believed them to be dangerous. Part of the fear came from wealthy Europeans who ate from pewter plates containing lead. The acid from tomatoes would leach lead from the plates, causing illness. Naturally, the tomatoes got blamed instead of the dishes.
So while modern kitchens are filled with tomato-based recipes, Lucy Carlson and Branch Barton (the main characters in my story) would likely never have a fresh sun-ripened tomato in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War.
When we picture the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it’s easy to imagine a grand and noble moment with patriotic music soaring in the background.
The reality? The summer of 1776 was oppressively hot.
Philadelphia streets were crowded, dusty, muddy, noisy, and filled with unpleasant smells from horses, refuse, and open gutters. The delegates meeting in the Pennsylvania State House endured the sticky July heat in layers of wool clothing, stockings, waistcoats, and coats.
John Adams, one of the delegates, frequently wrote to his wife, Abigail, complaining about Philadelphia’s “melting heats” and “fierce dog days.” He described the weather as exhausting and expressed profound dread over surviving the summer humidity while debating the Declaration of Independence.
“When the Weather is so extream, the Fatigue of even holding a Pen to write a Letter, is distressing,” Adams wrote.
As I wrote For Liberty and Love, I could feel that oppressive heat and wrinkled my nose at the thoughts of the odors it would have created in America’s largest city.
One of my favorite discoveries involved the public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Although Congress approved the Declaration on July 4, it wasn’t publicly read anywhere until July 8 in Philadelphia.
On that day, Colonel John Nixon stood in the yard (either on the steps or possibly a wooden platform) of the Pennsylvania State House and read the Declaration aloud to gathered crowds.
Bells began ringing to let people know to come to the State House. The reading was at noon. City and church bells “joyously tolled for most of the day and continued well into the night in celebration.”
I like to close my eyes and imagine hearing those bells echoing through the streets while realizing the colonies had officially declared independence from Britain. What a thrilling, terrifying, and unforgettable day that must have been.
This detail fascinated me because it says so much about daily life in 1776.
Men’s clothing often featured rows and rows of buttons. Coats, waistcoats, breeches, and shirts all relied heavily on them—not just for function, but for fashion and status.
Women’s gowns, however, usually pinned closed or laced rather than buttoned. Buttons were expensive and time-consuming to make, and women’s clothing construction worked differently than men’s tailored garments.
I can’t imagine having to pin my clothes together every day. With my luck, I’d turn into a human pincushion!
Since Martha Washington plays a small but important role in For Liberty and Love, I spent quite a bit of time researching her movements during that summer, wanting to be sure she would be in Philadelphia in July.
I was shocked to discover there really is little information about Martha’s whereabouts that summer, other than to say she was likely in Philadelphia from the end of June until some time in August. Also, I couldn’t believe how few images there were of her from her younger years. This image of a younger Martha is one I used for inspiration of her character in my story.
We know far more about George Washington’s military activities than Martha’s daily life, thoughts, or experiences. Women’s stories were often poorly documented during the Revolutionary era, even when those women played important roles behind the scenes.
It makes it even more important to me, as a writer, to include in my stories courageous women whose contributions to history are sometimes overlooked . I’m pretty sure Lucy (and Martha!) would approve!
Philadelphia, 1776
As whispers of revolution turn swell into a roar for freedom, Lucy Carlson is no longer content to simply watch from behind the counter of her father’s jewelry shop. When a mysterious woman—none other than Martha Washington—leaves behind a locket, Lucy discovers the piece is more than a pretty keepsake. The necklace is a secret vessel for the revolution that carries the promise of love.
Drawn into a dangerous spy ring, Lucy begins crafting coded messages concealed within the locket’s clever design, living a secret double life and risking everything she holds dear in a time of sacrifice and war.
Continental soldier Branch Barton is a man defined by duty. Tasked with rooting out traitors, he moves through the shadowed world of deception and divided loyalties. He’s trained to trust no one, yet he finds himself drawn into a slow-burning connection with the jeweler’s spirited daughter.
But when Lucy begins to suspect Branch may be a Redcoat in disguise, their fragile bond is tested by mistaken identity, growing mistrust, and the threat of betrayal.
In a war where even allies can become enemies, Lucy and Branch must navigate a world of hidden truths and guarded hearts. With the fate of the colonies—and their hearts—hanging in the balance as Lucy delivers a message in enemy territory, will they find the courage to trust each other and choose love?
Have you learned any interesting, odd, fun, or memorable facts recently?
Post your answer for a chance to win a mystery prize!
Howdy! And welcome to another awesome Tuesday!
Recently, I decided to redo the cover for Book #1 in the Medicine Man Series. I’d asked my cover artist if she might consider doing a cover with the image of the hairstyles of the American Iindians on the Plains in the 1830’s. Book #1 is set in the 1830’s (SHE STEALS MY BREATH) and so I thought I’d ask because my cover artist is really an artist and she often draws things on my covers by hand (with online tools).
So let me first take you back to the 1830’s in an area of the country known as INDIAN TERRITORY. George Catlin, as well as Karl Bodmer (accompanying Prince Maxmilian onto the Plains) made trips into the interior of the north country, and they left a record of their travels. What I had always noticed about these paintings was that the men often changed their hair styles, while the women generally wore their hair in braids. This doesn’t necessarily hold true for the more southern tribes, but when I look at the northern tribes, these men pretty much wore their hair in a similar manner
Here are two men from the Nez Perce tribe who lived on the western side of the Blackbone-of-the-world Mountains (the Rockies). Catlin met these two men when he was on a steamboat. Interestingly, both men were on a mission for their tribe to see out the “Black Robe” and ask him about his religion and invite him to come to their tribe.
To the right here is an Assiniboine Indian (the Assiniboine were located farther east and a little more north of Crow Indians in what we now know as Montana.
In the center here is a Lakota man and below that is a Cheyenne chief. The same hairstyle held true for most of the Northern tribes during this period: The Blackfeet, the Crow and the Cree.
And so, because my cover artist is a real artist and sometimes paints different images into a particular image she is working with, I asked her if she might be able to do a cover showing this particular men’s hairstyle.
Below is the result:
This is the cover that my cover artist created for me and I absolutely love it.
Many things I love about this cover, but outside of the image of the hero and the heroine, I love the sky and the mountains. Montana is often called The Big Sky Country and so I love that this image also highlights the sky.
This first book is currently on sale for $.99 and my newest book (Just released) in the Medicine Man series is sale for $3.59 at Amazon.
Note the difference in hair style between the 1830’s and the 1879’s. My newest book is set in the 1870’s and at this time we have a completely different hairstyle that the men are wearing…again, almost 
tribe to tribe a very similar hair style. Some differences, but many things that are similar about them. This fellow in the middle here is Blackfeet. Note the braids and the hair is now almost straight up and parted on the side.
The Picture below is of a Crow man: Note how similar the style is at this time period.
The same styles were seen in the Flathead and the Nez Perce tribes.
And so I now would like you to see how my cover artist showed this particular hair style on my newest cover.
I
think both of these covers (that are new to me) are so very well done and show the different hair styles at this time in history.
What do you think? Hope found this little bit of history interesting.
Both of these books are on sale:
SHE STEALS MY BREATH: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TNDS67H?tag=pettpist-20 — This book is on sale for $.99.
IF SHE WERE MINE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWY3P5KS?tag=pettpist-20 — This book is on sale at a 40% discount at $3.59.
Please come on in and leave a post. I’ll be giving away a free copy of the book, SHE STEALS MY BREATH.