Shanna Hatfield

Cowgirls in the Kitchen – Shanna Hatfield

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Howdy!

I love to bake and often experiment with ideas to come up with new cookie recipes. Or try out unusual ingredients.

Root beer is a well-liked flavor at our house, so when I saw a recipe for Root Beer Cookies, I knew I had to give them a whirl!

Root Beer Cookies

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup butter

1 egg

¼ cup buttermilk

2 teaspoon root beer extract (or concentrate)

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375?.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add egg, beating well. Beat in buttermilk and root beer extract.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. (I like to line mine with parchment.)

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove to wire racks to cool.

Root Beer Frosting

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup butter (softened)

1 tablespoon root beer extract

Mix powdered sugar with softened butter, and root beer concentrate.

Frost cookies.

Store in airtight container up to five days.

Yield: approx. 24 cookies

NOTE: You can cut back the root beer extract to 1 teaspoon. We like ours with extra “pop!”

Have you ever baked with soda pop?

Giving a Series a Makeover

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From time to time, it is necessary to give book covers a fresh look.

I recently concluded my Pendleton Petticoats series (all 11 books) needed a makeover.

It wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do.

And it wasn’t the first time I’d given the books a new “face.”

I thought you might like to see the evolution of the first book, Aundy.

Back when I first published the book in 2013, I was working with zero budget for buying nice book covers. So I made my own despite my lack of experience with them.

The woman who appears to be running off the cover was me, wearing an outfit my mom had made for me years ago. I photoshopped in the background and the lamb.

That finished the book. And I wrote a few others in the series.

Then I decided Aundy and the other books REALLY needed an upgrade.

By then, I could afford to spend a little on book covers and used images I found on a stock photo website I subscribed to.

I’m not sure if this cover is better or worse!

 

The next cover was much, much better (my skills had improved and I had access to better images).

Yet, it was still time for an update.

I am so, so pleased with the way Aundy turned out. And I love that Garrett is now on the cover as well!

If you are unfamiliar with the series, Aundy is the first book.

A widowed mail-order bride.

A stubborn rancher.

An unexpected second chance.

Aundy Thorsen crossed the country to become a mail-order bride … only to find herself a widow days later. With nowhere to turn and no intention of going back to Chicago, Aundy sets out to build a life for herself in Eastern Oregon. But forging a future on a rustic homestead is harder than she imagined, especially when it means wrangling unruly chickens, tending sheep, and proving she can manage on her own. The last thing she wants is help from her infuriatingly handsome neighbor.

Garrett Nash has spent his life working the family ranch and understands just how unforgiving the frontier can be. When tragedy leaves Aundy alone, the steady, protective cowboy offers his help out of obligation. Admiration for the brave, determined woman soon turns into something far deeper and richer.

However, Aundy has already risked her heart once and paid the price. She refuses to make that mistake again. But Garrett isn’t offering to rescue her. He’s proposing a true partnership.

In this sweet and wholesome historical western romance, a slow-burn love story unfolds between a strong heroine and the rugged rancher next door. Filled with warmth, gentle humor, and hard-won hope, Aundy is a moving story of second chances, found family, and a love powerful enough to take root in the wild, untamed West.

Welcome to Pendleton, Oregon, where courageous women, steadfast cowboys, and a close-knit community build lives filled with hope, humor, and lasting love. Each story in the Pendleton Petticoats series delivers a heartfelt romance, rich western charm, and a deeply satisfying happily-ever-after.

Start the journey today—and discover the story that began it all.

And here is what all the covers (in order) look like.

Which book cover (or book) in the series is your favorite?

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

 

 

Eliza Barchus – The Oregon Artist

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Since it is Women in History Month, I thought I’d share about a woman who is no longer well-known, but her career added beauty to the world around her.

Eliza Barchus was an artist who eventually became known as “The Oregon Artist.”

Born in 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Eliza didn’t recall much about her father, other than that he died when she was young. When she was seventeen, she wed John Lansing. The couple had two children, one of whom died in infancy, before the marriage “failed” and they divorced. Eliza then wed John Barchus and the couple moved to Portland with her daughter Isabel in 1880. They had a daughter who died at birth, then a son, Harold, and another daughter, Agnes.

With an admiration for Western landscapes, Eliza began taking art lessons in 1884 from Will S. Parrott, who was known at the time as the “foremost artist” of  Portland.” Eliza sold her first painting of Mount Rainier for $1  a year later.

In 1887 she won a gold medal at the Portland Mechanics Fair Art Exhibition for a painting of Mount Hood.

In 1890, a large oil painting she’d made of Mount Hood was displayed in New York City at the National Academy of Design and was considered quite an honor. It was also that year that several of her paintings were displayed at the Portland Hotel at the cigar and souvenir concession area. Her husband, who suffered from ill health, went south in the winter and persuaded an art emporium in Los Angeles to sell her paintings as well.

To supplement the family income, Eliza began to barter paintings for work by carpenters, plumbers, and other tradesmen as well as professional services from a dentist and physician. Eliza also sold her paintings, but to create additional income she sold modestly priced color postcards and illustrated brochures with reproductions of her work. Those marketing techniques helped immensely when her husband passed in 1899 and Eliza became the sole supporter of her family.

She produced thousands of paintings in what was referred to as an “assembly line” style  of working on several canvases at once, doing similar parts on each canvas, that kept a roof over their heads, but was sometimes criticized. She advertised her paintings in catalogs and developed a good business through the mail.

In 1901, Eliza exhibited several paintings at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Four years later, she won a gold medal at the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland for a collection of her Pacific coast landscapes.

Through the 1920s, Eliza traveled the Western United States, painting everything from the Cascade Range volcanoes to the Columbia Gorge, Yellowstone Falls, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco Bay, and hundreds of other locations.

She worked primarily with oils through the 1930s. Her career ended in 1935 when arthritis and failing eyesight made it impossible for her to continue painting. She lived to the age of 102. Eleanor Roosevelt marked Eliza’s 100th birthday in her syndicated column. Eliza had a long career, sustained by her business intelligence and her talent and skill.

After her death, the Oregon Legislative Assembly declared her “The Oregon Artist.” Today, examples of her work may be found in art collections in Portland and around the country.

Do you have a favorite artist?

What do you love most about their artwork?

To stay up on our latest releases and have some fun, too, join our Facebook Reader Group HERE!

 

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!

Covering Christmas

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Covering Christmas is my last holiday release this year. It was such a fun story to write about a bareback rider trying to win a world championship title, the western lifestyle reporter who catches his eye and his heart, and Ella – the daughter he never knew he had until her mother dies and he suddenly finds himself in the role of single parent.

He wants a gold buckle. She needs a fresh start. But love—and a little girl—have other plans.

When the reigning world champion bareback rider retires, Keller Drake finally has a clear shot at claiming the title he’s chased for years, until an attorney corners him at a rodeo with life-altering news. Keller has a five-year-old daughter he never knew existed, and Ella’s late mother named him guardian in her will. Suddenly, the man who can ride the rankest broncs in the world is terrified of something far more dangerous—fatherhood.

 

 

In the book, Keller is a peanut butter addict. He loves anything made with peanut butter. His daughter, Ella is the same way.

Here’s a little excerpt from the story I thought might make you smile.

 

“My wife said to tell you that Ella is staying with us tonight, and you can pick her up after breakfast tomorrow.”

Keller turned to stare at Cooper as they stood in line at the hotel’s coffee shop. Cobie had knocked on their door and offered to style Ella’s hair, so Keller had volunteered to hustle downstairs to get breakfast. He’d run into Cooper in the elevator, and they’d made their way to the coffee shop. A line snaked out the door, but they weren’t overly concerned because the service on previous mornings had been fast and efficient.

“Is there any reason in particular your wife is kidnapping my daughter?”

Cooper grinned. “She said you and Cobie need some time together without a five-year-old chaperone. Buy tickets to a show and take Cobie out on the town after the rodeo tonight. You both deserve to have a little fun. Ella and Alex get along like two little peas in a pod, and it isn’t any trouble to keep her tonight. Just bring a bag with her jammies and whatever she’ll need to our room before you head over to the rodeo this afternoon.”

“Are you sure, Coop? I already feel like I’ve taken advantage of you and everyone else who has helped with Ella while I’m riding.”

Cooper looked insulted. “You aren’t taking advantage of us. We’re all glad to help, Keller. Paige and I know how hard it is to have a child and rodeo, and there are two of us working at it. You deserve a little time to enjoy life. You’re only what? Twenty-seven?”

“Just turned twenty-six, and I feel like I’m careening toward fifty.”

Cooper chuckled. “Exactly what I mean. Take Cobie somewhere fun and spend the evening being a young, not entirely ugly, single guy out for a great evening with a beautiful woman who clearly does not find him to be totally repulsive.”

“Ugly and repulsive. Guess I’m moving up in the world,” Keller quipped as the line inched forward. “Seriously, man, I appreciate it, and tell Paige I’ll gather Ella’s stuff and drop it off before we head out for the day. How about I reciprocate and keep Alex for you one evening so you and Paige can have some time alone?”

“I’d love that, but let’s make it during the day. We’re both too exhausted to do anything after the rodeo. I’m not as young as I used to be, you know.”

Keller shook his head in disbelief. “You’re going to be perpetually younger than us all, Coop. How about you leave Alex with me tomorrow morning? I can make sure he gets lunch, and you can reclaim him sometime in the afternoon before I need to head over to the rodeo.”

“I like it. It’s a deal,” Cooper said, shaking Keller’s hand.

“Any food allergies I should know about?” Keller asked as they got closer to the counter.

“Nope, and he’s usually a good eater. Takes after his dad.”

“I’m pretty sure a refined palate is more a trait from his mother, but what do I know?” Keller teased, then placed his order for breakfast. He got yogurt and an assortment of whole fruit, and could hardly believe his luck when he spied peanut butter muffins studded with chocolate chips in the pastry case.

“One of those muffins, please,” Keller said as the young woman behind the counter gathered his order.

“You and your peanut butter addiction,” Cooper pointed to the case of pastries. “I heard Ella has been known to eat it straight out of the jar.”

“What?” Keller asked, staring at Cooper. “Where did you hear that?”

“From Alex. He said they were hungry, and Ella got out a jar of peanut butter and ate it with a spoon. He went with a bag of fruit snacks. That was back when we were in Pendleton, or was it Walla Walla? Anyway, the gist of my story is that your daughter also has a predilection for peanut butter and eats it straight from the jar.”

Keller thought of all the peanut butter he’d eaten the last few months and wondered how much of it had five-year-old slobbers living in the jar. He would have been grossed out, but considering some of the things he’d cleaned up when Ella had the twenty-four-hour tummy flu, he decided slobber was the least of his worries.

Here’s an easy recipe for Peanut Butter Candy

Peanut Butter Drops

INGREDIENTS

1 11-ounce bag white chocolate chips

1 11-ounce bag peanut butter chips

1 cup cocktail peanuts

1 cup crushed pretzel pieces

DIRECTIONS

Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

In a microwave-safe bowl, stir together white chocolate chips and peanut butter chips, then melt in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chips are smooth (1-2 minutes).

Stir in peanuts and pretzels, then drop by spoonsful onto the parchment.

Let cool, then store in an airtight container up to a week.

What is your favorite must-have flavor or treat, or holiday indulgence? 

Mine would chocolate in various forms.

Cowboys & Mistletoe (Week 2) – Shanna Hatfield

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Howdy, friends! Happy Holidays to you!

I’m excited to be part of The Great Western Christmas Celebration. In fact, I have five new western Christmas books to share with you!

Covering Christmas by Shanna Hatfield

He wants a gold buckle. She needs a fresh start. But love—and a little girl—have other plans.

When the reigning world champion bareback rider retires, Keller Drake finally has a clear shot at claiming the title he’s chased for years, until an attorney corners him at a rodeo with life-altering news. Keller has a five-year-old daughter he never knew existed, and Ella’s late mother named him guardian in her will. Suddenly, the man who can ride the rankest broncs in the world is terrified of something far more dangerous—fatherhood.

As Keller fumbles his way through parenting, he discovers he’s not alone. Cobie Quinn, a sharp-witted reporter for All Things Rodeo, jumps in to help. What begins as a professional connection quickly deepens into a friendship filled with laughter, late-night talks, and a growing attraction Keller didn’t see coming.

After walking away from a broken engagement and a high-pressure job, Cobie thought covering rodeos across the Northwest would be nothing more than a temporary assignment. She didn’t expect to enjoy it—let alone lose her heart to a rugged cowboy and his sweet little girl. Then a new opportunity arises, forcing her to choose between long-held ambitions and a future she never imagined.

With the holidays approaching and Christmas joy in the air, Keller and Cobie must decide if they’re willing to take a chance on a future wrapped in faith, family, and the magic of the season.

Fall in love with Covering Christmas, a wholesome holiday romance sparkling with western charm, healing hearts, and Christmas cheer.

ORDER NOW

Silver Bell Sweethearts by Shanna Hatfield

Four generations of love. A legacy of craftsmanship.

Four stories of hearts finding joy as well as finding their way home.

Begin the legacy with A Joyful Ring– Enjoy the setting of 1876 Lovely, Oregon—a dusty little mining town where hearts are tender, snow is falling, and love is about to ring with Christmas joy. Gunder and Risa’s story will warm your heart faster than a mug of cocoa by the fire.

A Joyful Love  – A runaway woman and a hometown silver artisan discover that Christmas in a small Oregon town may hold more than snow and sleigh bells—it may hold the love they never knew they were searching for.

A Joyful Promise – Step back to 1957 and spend Christmas in the charming town of Lovely, Oregon—where a silver-crafting cowboy and a shy, artistic dreamer discover that the greatest gift may just be a promise of love.

A Joyful Home – Bo Birke’s silver artistry honors her family’s past—but horse trainer Rafe Judson may be her reason to dream about the future. Together, they might find a place to finally call home.

READ NOW

 

The Great Western Christmas Celebration

Now that we know what year it is, let’s talk about how Main Street might be decorated.

What do the storefronts look like? Are there any special window displays? Ribbons on the lamp posts? Again, anything goes, so long as it’s era-appropriate. Keep the year in mind so we don’t have electric lights in a Gold Rush era town or inflatables in the Roaring Twenties.

Everyone who leaves a response by Saturday 12/13 will get their name entered in the random drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.

Every entry will also be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize – a gorgeous quilt hand made by our very own Jo-Ann Roberts

 

NOTE: ALL winners will be announced on Sunday 12/14.

 

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.

The Bridge and a Farmer

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I have two new books out this month, and they are so different, yet both were so fun to write.

The first one (The Bridge) is a blend of high-stakes drama, found family, and a heartwarming holiday ending.

The second one (Favoring the Farmer) is a fun rom-com with a mop-wielding meet-cute, a meandering goat named Ethel, and a tiny community full of love.

The Bridge

 

Christmas Eve. One Man’s Choice. Five lives that will never be the same.

The fate of strangers intertwines when a man contemplating suicide commandeers a bridge on Christmas Eve, forcing everyone into an unexpected detour from their holiday plans.

Sergeant Archer Raines finds himself torn between duty and family as he negotiates with the distraught man.

Pregnant Rosalee goes into labor and navigates an expected trip to the hospital with the help of Nova, a compassionate nurse.

Carter, a seasoned tow truck operator with a romantic heart, winds up in the midst of the drama on the bridge.

Ian, a recent college graduate eager to pursue his career, finds love in the most unlikely of places.

Set against the backdrop of a busy holiday, this novel balances tension and warmth with the enduring strength of human connections.

It is entirely possible I got a little carried away with this book. There were definitely many firsts for me tied to it.

I decided the cover was too pretty not to put it into hardback, but I wanted the hardback to have a little something extra. So, it includes a bonus chapter not available in another of the other formats. Each chapter has a lovely illustration at the beginning, and there is an alternate  wintery cover beneath the dust jacket! You can watch an unboxing video here.

I also created a Book Club Kit. It’s free to download. If you have a book club, know someone who belongs to one, or just want to take a look, you can access it on my website.

 

The characters from the story have become so dear to my heart, I wanted to share them with you, so I created character cards. The front of each card has a watercolor illustration of the character, and the back has a description. You can purchase them directly from Shutterfly.

Archer

Rosalee

Nova

Carter

Ian and Kate

I also have bookmarks, two different stickers, and these gorgeous, tote bags that you can buy direct from Amazon. (I’ve been really impressed with the quality.)

If you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll check out The Bridge! It’s available in ebook, audio, paperback, or special hardback formats

Amazon  |  B&N   |  Apple   |  Kobo   |  Smashwords |  Audible

 

Favoring the Farmer

He’s a weary farmer. She’s a city designer with a rebellious teen in tow. Summer Creek might just be the fresh start they need.

Farmer Dane Becker feels like life has left him behind. With his father gone and the woman he loved like a grandmother now laid to rest, Dane is exhausted, lonely, and convinced his best days are buried in the middle of his wheat field. Then one evening, he spots lights in the house next door. His investigation ends with a mop-wielding beauty mistaking him for a burglar—while unexpectedly stealing his heart.

Bellamy Larken is used to designing one-of-a-kind apparel for Hollywood’s elite, not wielding cleaning supplies against handsome strangers. But when her younger sister Elise’s rebellion spirals out of control, Bellamy—as her guardian—knows something has to change. Inheriting her late aunt’s home in Summer Creek, Oregon, feels like the perfect fresh start. Hastily packing without warning her sister, she drags Elise from the city to small-town life, hoping the quiet community will give them both a chance to heal.

But the house is stuck in a disco-era time warp, Bellamy feels overwhelmed, and the rugged farmer next door is equal parts frustrating and irresistible. Dane insists he doesn’t need anyone, yet Bellamy’s determined heart might be exactly what he can’t live without.

Filled with small-town charm, laugh-out-loud moments, and a tender romance that blossoms under beautiful Oregon skies, Favoring the Farmer is a sweet and hopeful love story about finding where you truly belong.

Coming October 30!

 

One of my favorite parts of The Bridge is how strangers become something more.
Have you ever met someone by chance who changed your life?
Share your story below—I’d love to hear it.

One commentor will win an autographed copy of The Bridge and some fun swag!

It’s the Little Things

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As the summer quickly zooms by and the busyness of fall lingers in the near future, I’ve been thinking about taking a moment here and there to enjoy the little things that bring me joy.

For example, the other morning when I was watering my flowers, a dragonfly landed on a blossom and instead of hurrying on past it to complete the chore, I turned off the water, leaned closed and admired the way the sunlight glistened on its iridescent wings.

The little things.

I’m all too often guilty of not paying attention, or allowing myself the time to savor those precious little joys that come from the simplest places.

Like chocolate chip cookies warm from the oven.

A gorgeous summer sunset.

The horses in the pasture behind our house.

Summer flowers.

Or a refreshing glass of mint iced tea. I’ll even share the recipe with you!

Mint Iced Tea

3 mint tea bags (I’ve tried a variety but my favorite is Bigelow Perfectly Mint works the best)

4 cups boiling water

8 cups cool water

2/3 cup sugar

Mint sprigs

Stir sugar into the boiling water until it is dissolved. Add the tea bags and let steep for about 10 minutes. Discard tea bags and pour tea into a 12 cup pitcher. Add cool water and stir. Toss in a few fresh mint sprigs and serve over ice in chilled glasses.

In my new release, Sunrise Surf, the hero has learned to appreciate the little things in life, because he works a dangerous job as an undercover officer for the Oregon State Police.

 

What happens when a dedicated Oregon State Police officer (who grew up on a cattle ranch) goes undercover as a homeless surfer… and falls for a small-town doctor who has no idea who he really is?

Logan Wright’s latest assignment pulls him deep into a dangerous drug ring on the rugged Seaside coast. But nothing complicates his mission more than Laken Hayes—a beautiful, big-hearted doctor who stirs something in him he hasn’t felt in years.

She’s juggling a full life, raising her teenage nephew and holding down a demanding job. The last thing she expects is to be swept up by a charming surfer with a mysterious past and a heart full of secrets.

If you love slow-burn romance, high-stakes suspense, and coastal charm, Sunrise Surf delivers a heartfelt, page-turning journey where love just might be the biggest risk of all.

What about you?

What little things bring you joy or make you smile?

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

and a digital copy of Sunrise Surf.

Hometown Hoedown – Shanna Hatfield

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Howdy, friends!
It’s my turn to share a little about my hometown. I chose to write about the town that was my hometown all through my growing up years.

Vale, Oregon

Our farm was actually a dozen miles out of town, but  when I was a kid, getting to go to Vale was a much anticipated adventure. My family could be found there most every Sunday morning for church, and once I started piano lessons in first grade, Mom drove me once a week for my lesson. It gave her a chance to load up on groceries, and if time permitted, she’d go visit my aunt.

Vale is a small town (less than 2,000 population, although it was barely over 1,000 when I was in school), and like many old towns the two main streets through town are both one-way.  It’s the county seat, and I once performed with the school choir on the steps of the courthouse when the governor was visiting. It was spring and blustery, and I remember he asked me if I was cold after our performance. (I was playing the keyboard with the chilly breeze blowing up my skirt.)

Back when wagons were rumbling across the Oregon Trail, Vale was the first stop in Oregon for weary travelers. There was a natural hot spring there, and it was right on the banks of the river. It was a place travelers could stop and rest. A notable place then and now is Rinehart’s Stone House. In fact, many referred to the community as Stone House for years, until the town was incorporated as Vale. The house became a wayside stop for travelers until the early 1900s. It was a stage stop where travelers could wait to board. And during the Bannock Paiute uprising of 1878, it served as Field Headquarters to General O.O. Howard as well as a refuge for settlers on outlying ranches and farms. Amanda Rinehart was known as a gracious hostess, welcoming visitors to her home. When I was a child, the building was boarded up, but a group of enterprising individuals worked together to reopen it about thirty years ago. The museum is full of the town’s history, including an antique cook stove that belonged to my sister-in-law’s grandmother.

Just south of town is Keeney Pass, an interpretive site where you can see the deep groves worn into the hills by wagon wheels. It’s an incredible thing to stand there in the ruts and imagine what people must have felt when they passed through the desolate high-desert country before reaching the river and Vale.

Over the years, several murals have been painted around town to tell the story of the pioneers.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find opportunities for boating, fishing, waterskiing, hiking, and hunting in the area.

A few miles out of town is Malheur Butte, an inactive volcano that is a remnant of basalt lava floods that covered thousands of square miles in the Snake River Plain. It is a well-known landmark in the area.

One of my favorite events when I was growing up was the 4th of July rodeo. It was a PRCA-sanctioned event back then, and our little town burst at the seams during the four days of the rodeo as some of the most well-known cowboys rolled into town along with hundreds of spectators, eager to watch them compete. As part of the celebration, each year a parade was held on the 4th of July, and one evening would feature the Suicide Race just before the rodeo began.

The Suicide Race is a horseback event that lasts only a few minutes and has been a tradition in Vale since 1915. Riders travel up Rinehart’s Butte on the far side of the river while spectators, eager to observe the race, gather on the banks of the river and line fenced-off pathway into the rodeo arena. Once the riders are gathered at the top, a charge of dynamite goes off to signal those watching the race is about to begin. A rock outcropping keeps the contestants from view until they come out on the ridge. The race, at the start, is a straight drop from the rocky butte and then a dead run in soft, often-powdery soil, interspersed with sagebrush on a steep sideward angle. The horses hit the paved highway, then it’s another drop into the river, which the horses must cross, scramble up the muddy bank on the other side, and run into the arena. I am familiar with the race from my oldest brother and a few cousins competing when I was little. One year, Mom got so tense watching the race, she broke the heel off her shoe and spent the rest of the evening with an off-gait. Two of my oldest brother’s kids competed in the race and my niece became the very first female to win it. If you’d like to know what’s it like to race down the butte at breakneck speed, watch this video. The race starts at about the 2-minute mark.

 

The 4th of July parade was something I looked forward to all year (and it wasn’t just the candy  tossed out). It was fun to see the floats, and old cars, and entrants on horseback. One year, my brother’s stepson dressed up in bib overalls with a ratty straw hat and drove my dad’s old Johnny Popper tractor in the parade.

Back in 2014, on July 5, hundreds of people participated in a pickup-only parade in an attempt to break the worlds record for the longest pickup parade. It was part of the rodeo’s 100th celebration.

 

My dad drove Old Orange, a Chevy pickup he bought brand new when I was a baby.  (That’s Captain Cavedweller and my dad in it in the photo above.) There were a total of 438 pickups in the parade that did, indeed, break the Guinness World Record. Of course, it’s been broken many times over since then, but it was such a neat thing for my hometown to do!

Summer is definitely the best time to visit. If you do, drive around town and check out the murals. Make a stop at Keeney Pass to see the ruts on the Oregon Trail. Try your hand at fishing, or just splash in the water at Bully Creek Reservoir, and check out a cute little shop called Luzetta’s that has the most adorable mix of antiques, home decor, and flowers (along with really good chocolates!).

A few years ago, I wrote Romance at Rinehart’s Crossing. It’s a sweet and wholesome romance inspired by the early days of Vale. It includes three complete and intertwined stories.

Life on the Oregon Trail will never be the same . . .

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?

 

What is one of the things you like best about small towns?