Sweet Romance

From Lambs to Lilies – Eight Symbols of Easter

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Happy Spring! Happy April!

Here in our neck of the woods, the vernal equinox (Spring) is in full bloom…literally. Along with the Bradford pear trees, Eastern Redbud, daffodils, and tulips, a sticky, hazy green pollen sticks to everything!

However, that aside, Easter will arrive in seventeen days. While many people list Christmas and Thanksgiving as their favorite holidays, Easter has always been my favorite. There’s the traditional ham or lamb dinner, chocolate bunnies, and Easter baskets for the little ones, of course. The holiday is low-key, giving folks time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

And for many, Easter has been observed since the 2nd century as a way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As it turns out, there is so much that makes this holiday what it is today — religious and otherwise.

Easter Lily

The Easter lily is both a pagan and Christian symbol, closely connected to Easter from either side. In the pre-Christian Roman tradition, the white lily was also associated with Hera, the Queen of Heaven. According to her myth, the white lily came from Hera’s milk.

Likely from there, the lily later became associated with Mary in the Roman Church. Lilies were also often mentioned in the Bible, although the wild Middle Eastern lilies at the time weren’t exactly the same flowers as the modern Lilium Longiflorum white lilies we often use on Easter.

Easter Eggs

Throughout most of Christian Europe, the pagan symbols of the spring hare, the egg, and chick were quickly adopted as symbols for the Christian Easter. The colorful ritual of decorating eggs also has an intriguing origin. As part of the Lenten season leading up to Easter, early Christians abstained from eating food from animals as the Lenten fast. Yet chickens continued to lay eggs, so eggs were hard-boiled, then decorated to celebrate the Easter season but were not eaten until Easter.

Easter egg decorating became a high art in Europe, especially in eastern Europe and Russia, that immigrants brought to America. The name of these Easter eggs contains part of their story. Pysanky (or pysanka in the singular form) is rooted in the Ukrainian verb “to write.” In this case, that refers to the pretty patterns you would scrawl across the eggs. Ukrainian Easter eggs often feature intricate designs and symbols, such as flowers, animals, and geometric shapes, each with its own significance.

There are a few different origin stories for how this cultural tradition began. According to Pysanky for Peace, the practice comes from ancient Ukrainian peoples who worshiped the sun as the source of life on earth. During pre-Christian times, they believed birds were the sun God’s chosen creations, so eggs decorated with nature symbols became integral to spring rituals. With the acceptance of Christianity, the egg took on new meaning as the rebirth of man.

The Easter Lamb

As the Bible calls Jesus “the Lamb of God”, it’s no surprise that the Easter lamb is a major sign of Easter. This Paschal Lamb symbolizes Jesus Christ himself and his sacrifice for all humanity on Easter.

Many Easter traditions from Eastern Europe to the US celebrate Easter with a lamb-based dish on Easter Sunday evening, after the end of Lent.

Easter Bunny

Like many Easter traditions, the Easter Bunny evolved out of ancient fertility and spring celebrations. Rabbits breed like, well, rabbits, and give birth in the spring. So, in places where the fields became overrun with baby bunnies, it was natural to incorporate the rabbit as a symbol for spring and, eventually, Easter.

Another legend tells of a poor German woman who loved children. She would hide brightly colored eggs in her garden as Easter treats. One year, while the children searched for them, they noticed a hare hopping past and believed that the animal had left the eggs.

Easter Egg Rolling

Given the egg’s symbolic significance representing the rock before the tomb, egg rolling became a popular children’s Easter activity in America in the 1800s, recreating the rolling away of the rock in front of Christ’s tomb. According to the White House Historical Association, some historians credit First Lady Dolley Madison (yes, her name is spelled correctly!)with first proposing the idea of a public egg roll around 1810. There are also accounts of informal egg rolls staged by the children of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson on the White House lawn. The 1878 event hosted by President Rutherford B. Hayes on the South Lawn, however, stands as the first official White House Easter Egg Roll.

Easter Outfits

How many of us remember dressing up to the nines on Easter Sunday? Girls in frilly spring dresses with little gloves and purses? Boys in pastel suit jackets and bow ties? Purchasing a new holiday outfit may seem like a 20th-century commercial invention, but even early Christians followed the practice of wearing new clothes for Easter.  It was the one time of year when, if you had new clothes, you wore them. You dressed in your finest to go to church as a manner of honoring the resurrected Savior. In America, stores soon latched onto the idea that creating Easter outfits and sales during the season would help them sell fancy bonnets or suits.

     

Fueled by the popularity of Irving Berlin’s song, Easter Parade, as well as the resulting movie featuring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, locals and visitors alike descended on New York’s Fifth Avenue to show off their new attire, eventually leading to the creation of the famous Easter Parade.  

Easter Egg Trees

It’s only in recent years that miniature Easter trees have become popular in North America. This Easter tradition from Germany is a favorite. Beautifully decorated Easter eggs are hung on branches in a vase in the home or on trees outside, adding a splash of color to spring’s palette.

Until this research, I never knew I was ahead of the curve on this tradition. From the time my children were babies, I’ve decorated a tree outside our home. Using plastic eggs (to endure the elements, e.g. ice/snow/wind/rain…you get the picture!), I would thread a ribbon through a hole in one end of the egg then loop them over the bare branches. Here is this year’s masterpiece!!!

Easter Bread

Easter bread comes in dozens of different shapes, types, and sizes – some sweet, some salty, some large, and others – bite-sized.

Hot cross buns, soft pretzels, Eastern European kozunak bread, and various other types of bread are all very much associated with the different Easter traditions.

Here is my Easter Bread made with the recipe handed down from my grandmother.

As with Santa Claus—who came first from the pagan Father Winter, then morphed into the Christian St. Nicholas—the Easter bunny and Easter chick had pagan origins that then became symbolic to the Christian faith. But the Christian symbolism associated with all three and the historical context behind them is, sadly, little known by most in modern America. It is worth remembering that all three are associated with birth and rebirth, sharing gifts and bringing joy, and peace and good will.

Happy Easter!

******** A Giveaway! ********

For a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, leave a comment below.

What is your favorite Easter memory or tradition?

 

An Upcoming Release…

An outlaw looking for a fresh start.
A schoolteacher who might hold the key to the entire town’s salvation.
Ash “Shotgun” McCrae can never make up for all the wrong he’s done. After leaving a notorious outlaw gang, he thought he’d discovered the peaceful existence he’d been looking for when he found work laying tracks for the railroad in Rivers Bend. Yet, when trouble shows up in town, he fears he may never free himself from the burden of his past.

Schoolteacher Kate Cummings stands as the one bright light in contrast to the curious looks and behind-the-glove whispers blowing through the town. The arrival of Padraic “Patch” Rooney and his gang challenges the small-town serenity she holds dear. Still, her steadfast trust in Ash awakens the strength of courage within them all, giving rise to the collective defiance against the approaching danger.

In a deadly game of dangerous outlaws and secret schemes, Kate and Ash must decide whether they are willing to risk everything for their love, including their lives.

Pre-Order Link

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

 

 

Paulette D Marshall and a Giveaway!

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Hello, dear readers!

I’m beyond excited to visit with my Petticoats and Pistols family! Today, I want to share a little about my latest book, The Railroad Tycoon Rescue, a story filled with romance, secrets, and a touch of suspense.

One of the things I absolutely love about writing historical romance is the research that goes into each book. For this story, I spent time studying medicinal plants their healing properties, their dangers, and the fascinating ways they were used in the past. That research led me to incorporate one particularly potent plant into my novel in a rather…unexpected way. But I won’t spoil it for you! You’ll have to read it to find out how it changes everything for my heroine, Etta.

I have a deep admiration for strong, independent women, especially those who faced hardships in the Old West. Etta is a perfect example of such a woman. Living in the South after the war, she’s been doing everything she can to survive on her own. But survival isn’t always enough when someone else wants what you have.

Etta’s knowledge of plants becomes her shield and her weapon when she’s faced with an unwelcome suitor who refuses to take no for an answer. With a little creativity (and some well-timed botanical assistance), she manages to make him leave earlier than planned. But escaping one problem only leads her to another…

On the other side of the country, Cornelius-Cory, as he’s known, has all the wealth he could ever need. What he doesn’t have is a wife. And according to his grandfather’s will, if he doesn’t marry before his 23rd birthday, he stands to lose his inheritance. Tired of being pursued for his money, Cory takes matters into his own hands and applies for a mail-order bride, keeping his fortune a secret.

When fate and a tragic train derailment throw Etta and Cory together, neither of them is fully prepared for the secrets that threaten to pull them apart. With unexpected visitors, accusations, and the past closing in, will they find the happy ending they so desperately seek?

If you love stories of resilience, faith and romance wrapped in the charm of historical settings, The Railroad Tycoon Rescue is a book you won’t want to miss!

I pray you enjoy it.

A Giveaway!!!

Tired of only being wanted for his money, and with an urgent need to marry to keep his inheritance, Cory applies for a mail-order bride through his cousin’s agency. He tells himself he’ll let her know before their wedding that he’s actually wealthy. After all, he doesn’t want to start their marriage with a lie.

After her parents’ death, Etta has sold nearly everything she owns just to survive. Now, the man who owns the mortgage has made it clear, marry him, or else. Desperate, she fills out a mail-order bride application, and sneaks away under false pretenses. She plans to tell her intended about her situation before they marry. But fate has other plans when the train she’s traveling on derails, leaving her injured and vulnerable.

With danger lurking, secrets unraveling, time is running out, will Cory and Etta overcome their past to build a future together?

I’d love to hear from you! What do you love about historical romance? One winner will be picked from the comments left below. The winner will receive an eBook of The Railroad Tycoon Rescue.

About the Author:

Paulette D. Marshall

Residing in Northern California with her husband, where she weaves stories of love and faith, and adventure, capturing the charm of small-town life and the excitement of historical settings. She has a passion for blending romance with a touch of mystery, all while celebrating strong heroines who defy expectations.

When she’s not writing, Paulette enjoys gardening, crafting, drawing cooking, and spending time with her beloved Shih Tzu pups. She finds joy watching the changing seasons, observing wildlife, and harvesting homegrown produce. An avid reader herself, she delights in both creating new worlds and escaping into the pages of a good book.

Despite facing health challenges, Paulette’s passion for writing and historical research has only deepened, enriching her novels with heart, faith, and resilience. She is blessed with four children, two wonderful sons-in-law, and five precious grandchildren.

 

Guest Author MK McClintock & A Giveaway!

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How Writing Historical Western Romance Transports Me to a Simpler Time

As the sun dips behind the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, my mind wanders, as it often does, back in time, envisioning a world where adventurers, seekers, and settlers roamed the vast landscapes and frontier towns bustled with life.

(And yes, I’m ignoring the realities of poor hygiene and a dearth of men who look like my characters, but I write fiction, so go with it.)

Growing up, tales of the Wild West—of fearless outlaws, resilient pioneers, and rugged cowboys—always captivated me. (Again, I’m okay with the fiction versions.) These stories painted a picture of an untamed world where every sunset brought new adventures and every thunderstorm whispered secrets of the land. The captivation was fueled by summer vacations in Colorado, where horse rides on mountain trails awaited, and sitting by campfires was the way to unwind after a busy day. The thrills continued when, from an early age, my family made the Rocky Mountains our home and still do today.

In my writing, I strive to capture the essence of the American West—the raw beauty of the untamed wilderness, the code of honor that defined interactions, and the unshakeable spirit of those who braved the unknown. Each character is a testament to the resilience and courage of the people who shaped the history of the American frontier, accepting the bad with the good. If authors play up the fiction quite a bit with romance, adventure, and mystery, all the better!

Every day, I feel the crisp mountain air on my skin and hear the whisper of the wind through the pines, allowing me to transport myself to a time long before the mountains became overcrowded with modern-day developments, hikers on cell phones, and so much traffic heading to some mountains that you wonder if you’ll ever reach the peaks.

With each word, we can be drawn deeper into an era where time moved a little slower and the vast expanse of the frontier held endless possibilities. The rugged beauty of Montana serves as the ideal backdrop for many of my tales of love, courage, and adventure, allowing me to escape into a world where the untamed spirit of the frontier still triggers dreams of what was and could have been had we had allowed it to remain wild.

As a fellow Western romance enthusiast, likely seeking a respite from modern life, I invite you to join me on a journey through pages where love knows no bounds and the spirit of the frontier beckons us to explore its untold wonders.

Thankfully, books allow us to escape to these times and places whenever we want.

I’m happy to give away either a paperback set of the three Crooked Creek books or an e-book set (1 winner, US only, reader’s choice on format). What do you do to escape life when it starts to wear on you? What brings solace and peace?

Everyday heroes who find the courage to believe in extraordinary love.

Two years after the devastations of war left their mark on a country torn apart, Wesley Davenport, a former soldier haunted by his experiences on the battlefield crosses paths with Leah Tennyson, a teacher who helps him heal his emotional wounds—and discovers unexpected love in the most unlikely place.

The Trail to Crooked Creek, a novella, is a tale of resilience, compassion, and the triumph of the human spirit set in the breathtaking and sometimes unforgiving landscape of post-Civil War Montana Territory.

 

BUY LINK

What is That I Smell?

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Did you know that our sense of smell was the first thing to develop when humans appeared on earth? Our “smellers” are very old and very complex. It was not only vital to locating food but also finding a mate. Our nose can sense 1 trillion odors, both good and bad.

So when I’m writing stories, I need to implement the sense of smell far more than I do.

Fragrances and odors are closely entwined with memories. A sniff of Pond’s loose body powder for women instantly reminds me to my mom. And Old Spice always brings back times with my dad.

I remember so often coming home from school and Mom would have red beans cooking on the stove or she’d have a cake baking in the oven. If I smell those, it instantly sends me back to my childhood. Also, in my childhood, if a certain food gave off what to me was a bad smell, it wasn’t going in my mouth. I watch my great grandson who’s almost three. He always smells things before he puts them in his mouth. It think that’s very interesting. A dog often does the same thing.

Courtesy of Jade87 on Pixabay

My husband never wore any after shave much because he had asthma and smells would sure send on an attack. But I loved the natural smell of just the soap after he showered. Smells are so powerful.

We camped a lot and I still remember the smell of an open fire and my mom frying bacon or making coffee. There’s nothing like it.

Did you know our sense of smell is strongest in the evening? Smell is directly related to the sleep hormone. In man’s early days on earth, smell helped us not only find food but to discern danger. It came in mighty handy.

And then there’s the fragrance of rain in the air. The official word is petrichor. It’s the release of organic compounds in the soil into the air during and after a rain event. I don’t know about you, but that’s one of my favorite smells. I love to stand outside just smelling the fresh air. It refreshes my soul.

Smells are closely associated to romance. I once dated a guy for a short time that gave off a scent that I could not get past. He was clean and didn’t have body odor but I hated the scent of him. Later, I learned that he was not the person he presented to people and was thankful I dodged a bullet, thanks to my discerning nose!

Now it’s your turn. How has your sense of smell helped you in life? Do certain things spark memories? I can’t wait to hear your responses.

Also, don’t forget that Creek is available for preorder. It’ll be in ebook and paperback. The paperback should show up on Amazon in a few days.

This leads off the multi-author Gun For Hire series. I can’t wait for you all to see these fabulous covers that the Charlene Raddon made. Here’s a list of the authors: Margaret Tanner, Charlene Raddon, Heather Blanton, Carra Copelin, Jo-Ann Roberts, Caroline Clemmons, Tracy Garrett, Cheryl Pierson, and Winnie Griggs.

Here are the three of the series that are already up.

Next month, I’ll have some giveaways of Creek as well as an awesome book trailer.

Don’t forget about our Petticoats and Pistols Reader Group on Facebook! CLICK HERE

Wishing you all a blessed day and week.

Linda Broday 

A Legacy of Preservation by Robin Lee Hatcher

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The last time I visited with Petticoats & Pistols, I shared about “The British Are Coming” series and my latest release in that series, To Marry an English Lord. When I planned to return in December, I thought the next book in the series would be out. However, the writing of another biblical novel for Guideposts and a contemporary Christmas romance pushed back my schedule a bit. While that next book, To Capture a Mountain Man, won’t release until February, I am pleased to say it is written and on its way through the editorial and publishing process.

Isaiah, the hero of To Capture a Mountain Man, is a game scout in Yellowstone National Park in 1895, and he and my British heroine, Lady Amanda, meet after she is shot at by poachers in the park. Thus, I thought I would share a little information about the first national park in the world.

Yellowstone National Park’s story is one of awe-inspiring natural beauty, scientific discovery, and a pioneering spirit of conservation that shaped the future of protected lands globally.

Long before Yellowstone was known to explorers or tourists, it was home to Native American tribes who lived in and around the area for thousands of years. Tribes such as the Shoshone, Crow, and Nez Perce recognized the land’s unique geothermal features and its abundance of wildlife. They considered it a sacred space, rich in resources and spiritual significance.

The first written accounts of Yellowstone’s wonders came from mountain men and trappers in the early 1800s. Tales of “boiling mud,” “fire and brimstone,” and geysers were initially dismissed as exaggerated. It wasn’t until organized expeditions in the mid-19th century that the true scope of Yellowstone’s geothermal phenomena and scenic beauty was documented.

On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law, designating Yellowstone as the world’s first national park. This groundbreaking legislation aimed to preserve its unique features “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” It marked the beginning of a global movement to protect natural spaces from exploitation.

In its early years, Yellowstone faced significant challenges. Poaching, illegal mining, and logging threatened its fragile ecosystems. Lacking a formal management structure, the park struggled to enforce its protection policies. In 1886, the U.S. Army stepped in to manage Yellowstone, building infrastructure and curbing illegal activities. The military’s stewardship laid the groundwork for the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, which took over management and continues to oversee Yellowstone today.

The park is a haven for wildlife, home to bison, elk, grizzly bears, wolves, and numerous bird species. Efforts to reintroduce wolves in the 1990s successfully restored balance to the ecosystem, a testament to the park’s ongoing commitment to conservation. Note: At the time of To Capture a Mountain Man, the buffalo had been reduced from the tens of millions to less than 1,000. There is something grand about seeing the herds of American Bison in the park today. But don’t get out of your car. They are a wild animal!!


Yellowstone National Park is more than a protected area; it is a symbol of the human capacity to recognize and safeguard the extraordinary. Its history reminds us of our responsibility to cherish and preserve the natural world.

 

 

 


If you want to be ready for To Capture a Mountain Man, here are the links to the first books in the series:

To Enchant a Lady’s Heart 
To Marry an English Lord 

Since it’s December, I’m giving away an autographed copy of my new release, a contemporary Christmas romance,

Wishing for Mistletoe.

AMAZON

To be entered into the drawing, just tell me

what Christmas books are in your TBR this year?

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts with Pam Crooks!

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Book #2!

JOY TO THE COWBOY is the only story in our series with a guy on the cover, and I love the looks of him.  He’s just how I envisioned my cowboy (even though he is a little grumpy at first!)  Trust me, you’ll love him in the end as much as I do!

She was sunshine. He was clouds.  Until a sprig of mistletoe changed everything.

Griff Marcello must live with the shame of the crime he once committed for his mobster father.  As he grows into a man, he’s found security as a cowboy living in Glory Hill, Nebraska, but the memory of his sin never leaves him.

Joyanna Hollinger is devoted to the community of Glory Hill, and with Christmas approaching, her plans for a special Christmas Eve service consumes her. All her efforts are falling into place–until she loses a key part of the celebration.

When Griff receives an unexpected gift from his former piano teacher, he never thinks her kindness will fill him with the spirit of Christmas, even when Joyanna needs him most.

Could the simplicity of a hand-stitched stocking and the Christmas carol tucked within chase away the clouds in his heart and warm him from the sunshine of Joyanna’s love?

AMAZON

Also Available in Audiobook!

Yes, we know. It’s that time of year when we sometimes feel less kind than we should.

Re-write the sentence in red to something less naughty and more nice.  For example:

NAUGHTY:  “Grandma’s eggnog is too thick and chunky.”

NICE: “Isn’t it wonderful Grandma is still with us to make her eggnog?”

THE ELECTRIC BILL HAS GONE UP.

You might win this musical piano ornament, new this year from Hallmark!  

(I love how it looks just like the one on my cover. Even better, it plays “Joy to the World,” the carol I’d already chosen for JOY TO THE COWBOY!)

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA Winners only, please.)

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts with Winnie Griggs!

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Hello, everyone, and welcome to our Cowboys & Mistletoes celebration! This year, we’re doing things a little differently—spreading our celebration over two weeks instead of one. For this first week, we’re thrilled to introduce a fun new Christmas series, Christmas Stocking Sweethearts, which we wrote specifically for this event. The connecting thread for the series is that the hero or heroine of each book is a former student of the same piano teacher, Melody Nightingale. At the opening of each book, the hero or heroine receives a package from Melody containing a very personal, handcrafted Christmas stocking and a letter written on the back of the sheet music for a Christmas carol.

Once we had our premise, we realized it would be helpful to explain a bit of the backstory about who Melody Nightingale was and why she would send these gifts to her former students. That’s how this first story came to be. I’m very pleased to present to you Melody’s story.

CHRISTMAS STOCKING SWEETHEARTS Book #1!

CHRISTMAS MELODY kicks things off with a story that not only introduces Melody, but gives us a peek into who the characters in the other books were as children

Stitching melodies of love, one stocking at a time…

In 1854 Nightingale, Texas, nineteen-year-old Melody Nightingale feels trapped by her family’s expectations. As the only daughter of the town’s founding family, she’s expected to make an advantageous marriage and take her place in society. Instead of attending the endless round of tea parties, Melody longs to share her love of music with others. She also has no interest in the eligible suitors her mother parades before her, she’d much rather discuss her favorite books with shopkeeper John Hartley.

When she discovers her housekeeper’s daughter secretly playing the piano, Melody makes an impulsive decision to give the child lessons—a choice that defies the strict social boundaries of her time. And in doing so she helps shy young Zoe find her confidence through music.

Melody realizes she’s finally found her own path, one that leads far from her family’s carefully laid plans. Ignoring her parents’ disapproval, she becomes the town’s piano teacher. It’s a calling that she pursues with great enjoyment and passion, eventually touching the lives of hundreds of students. And perhaps even that kind-hearted shopkeeper…

This heartwarming story of love, music, and finding one’s true path launches the Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series, introducing readers to the remarkable woman whose handmade gifts will touch lives for decades to come.

From now through the end of the year, this book will be available for only 99 cents!
PURCHASE HERE

 

Yes, we know. It’s that time of year when we sometimes feel less kind than we should.

Re-write the sentence in red to something less naughty and more nice.  For example:

NAUGHTY:  “Grandma’s eggnog is too thick and chunky.”

NICE: “Isn’t it wonderful Grandma is still with us to make her eggnog?”

THE TREE IS LOSING NEEDLES.

You might win this piano ornament that plays
Hark The Herald Angels Sing!

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA Winners only, please.)

How My Love for the Wild West Started … And How It’s Going! by Tanya Agler

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Hello! I’m Tanya Agler, and this is my first guest blog post on Petticoats & Pistols. It’s an honor to be here and thank you so much for the opportunity to sit back and spend some time with you.

Growing up, my love for stories with a Western setting began by listening to my grandmother talk about visiting the nickelodeon whenever her favorite cowboy, Tom Mix, starred in the movies. Grandma Jinx would watch him on the silver screen and then go home and recreate those scenes in her backyard. Not only was my grandmother a huge fan of cowboy movies, so was my father, who loved John Ford movies. Dad always made it a point to watch The Searchers with John Wayne and Natalie Wood whenever it was on television, and he’d treat me to an afternoon at the movies whenever a new Clint Eastwood film was released. I spent many summer vacations reading historical pioneer romances with stoic cowboys and strong heroines. The stories captivated me with their Western settings and interesting plots.

So, I was thrilled when I found out I had a chance to write a Western romance for Harlequin Heartwarming. There’s something about the West with its independent spirit and wide-open vistas that calls out for stories to be written about it. No sooner than I started the proposal than the idea for the town of Violet Ridge was born. While I spent time fashioning stories around the three rodeo friends who became a family and the cornerstone of the Rodeo Stars of Violet Ridge series, I also researched small towns in Colorado and fashioned a backstory for Violet Ridge. Soon, the town’s history came alive to me with pioneer settler Linus Irwin naming the town after his beloved wife Tilly’s favorite flower: violets. Linus and Tilly were energetic visionaries who built a town around a small ranching community and purchased land for what would become the Double I Ranch. In my mind, this young couple struggled against the elements and prospered. Soon after Linus and Tilly founded Violet Ridge, the Sullivans, a family of dreamers and schemers, settled nearby and staked a claim for the Silver Horseshoe Ranch, which has now been in their family for generations. Through the years, the Irwin and Sullivan families have been neighbors as their descendants continued their legacy of ranching. The Double I Ranch is the setting for my latest book, Her Temporary Cowgirl, in which rancher Elizabeth Irwin wants to build bunkhouses for female employees and introduce a new breed of cattle to the ranch while preparing for her father’s wedding to a world-famous bluegrass singer. Linus and Tilly would be proud knowing their love of the land continues in Elizabeth.

Recently, my love for all things Western has come full circle when my family traveled to Colorado for vacation. We visited state parks, hiked to red rock formations and waterfalls, and explored various areas. Someday I hope to return there and vacation at a dude ranch like the fictional Lazy River Dude Ranch owned by the Virtue family in my upcoming series revolving around four siblings, whose grandparents own and operate the facility.

 

What is your favorite Western town, fictional or real? I’d love to chat in the comments about some of your favorite places out West. I’ll be giving away one e-copy of Caught by the Cowgirl (the first in the Rodeo Stars of Violet Ridge) series to one commenter!

The Gypsy Life – Then and Now ~ by Pam Crooks

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When I wrote LADY GYPSY a number of years ago, I–as always–surrounded myself with a pile of research books. It’s always been important to me to write a book as historically accurate as possible, not only to give the story realism but to teach my readers a little something, too. After all, if one reads historical romance, one can assume they love the history, too, right?

I read those research books cover to cover, and by the time I immersed myself in Liza and Reese’s story, I had a good feel for Liza as a character. It was easy to weave in tidbits of Gypsy information that helped Liza be as different from Reese (a non-Gypsy, of course) as she could be, shaping the conflict that is important to any well-written storyline. Every book that I write, I hope to make my readers wonder “How will these two ever overcome the obstacles that are keeping them apart? How can they reach their happy-ever-after?”

Trust me, Liza and Reese do. 🙂

It’s believed by some that the Gypsies first originated in Egypt centuries ago, hence their name, though others claim India even earlier than that. Regardless, this nomadic ethnic group came to America in the 1500s as slaves, then eventually migrated across the country living their itinerant lifestyle, becoming such a curiosity that they were often feared and mostly despised. They disdained formal education and community rules, shunned foreigners in their midst, often got into trouble with the law from their thievery and drinking, and generally made nuisances of themselves upon their arrival.

Interestingly, the Gypsies are still alive and thriving today, although some prefer to be called ‘Romani’ instead of Gypsy. They cling to their old traditions, embrace strong family ties, and still travel in large ‘kumpanias‘ or family groups. The high-wheeled wagons have been replaced by campers pulled by pickup trucks and sedans. They snap selfies of themselves and have embraced much of the American and European lifestyles. They believe in God but also believe in ghosts and evil spells. Upon reaching their destinations, they live in Gypsy camps located in the periphery of the city and stay for days at a time, much to the dismay of the local police and city leaders.

The modern-day Gypsy has certainly evolved from the way they lived in the 1800s, as I’ve depicted them. They are better educated, more affluent, less transient.  They labor at jobs like roofing, laying blacktop, or training horses. The older generation insist that the younger marry Gypsies to protect their race. Of course, as is inevitable, the youth follow their own minds, and the bloodlines have become diluted from inter-marrying.

Still, they have a fascinating history that time will never take away.

Until next time . . . Baxt hai sastimos tiri patragi – Romani for “Wishing luck and good health”

Have you ever met a Gypsy?

(My mother has told how they would come to her family’s farm for food, and my grandmother always gave them something to eat.)

Do you or your family have any quirks the rest of us would think a bit strange?

99¢ 

AMAZON

Sale extended for this blog!

Liza was born to roam the land with her mother’s people, but she is shamed by the sin that made her forever different.

Reese has set down roots deep in the Nebraska prairie.  His dreams are sure to come true with a new railroad and a proper wife and child.

But Liza is accused unfairly by Reese’s people, and she is forced to flee the security of her world to see safety in his.  When Reese’s careful plans for success are threatened, he must fight to save all he’s ever worked for.

Will it cost him the love he’s found with the beautiful, black-eyed woman with red-gold hair?  His Lady Gypsy?

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Wanted: Homes for Orphan Children – by Pam Crooks

by

Perhaps it’s the mother in me, but the story of the orphan trains has always captivated and dug into my innermost sympathies.  Images of dirty-faced, solemn-eyed children huddling together in the streets without parents to care for them would tug at anyone’s heartstrings.

Back in the 1850s, when New York was being flooded with immigrants, cheap housing became scarce. Poverty raged, and parents, either due to illness, death, or lack of jobs, compelled their children to fend for themselves on the streets.  These desperate children sold matches, rags, or newspapers to survive. As one would think inevitable, they fell victim to gangs and crimes. Overwhelmed police would capture the vagrant children and lock them up in jail with adults.

The Reverence Charles Brace, himself from an affluent family, took pity on the children and founded the Children’s Aid Society in 1853. He raised money for schools, lodging, and education.  Yet even with all this, the illiteracy and truancy was rampant, and the reverend’s solution was to get them out of the deplorable living conditions in New York and give them a new start by finding them fresh homes in the west, with good Christian families who would love and care for them.

Using funds donated by wealthy New Yorkers, the children were given new clothes and sturdy shoes, then put onto trains. With no formal social welfare system in place, parents signed agreements allowing the children to be taken to new homes, but with the caveat that they could return if the adoption didn’t work out.

Some children were pre-placed into homes and went directly to their new families upon arriving to the appropriate town.

For the others, however, handbills announced their impending arrival.  The public gathered in front of makeshift stages to check the children out. Reverend Brace’s intention was to place them in the country where they could work in farm families.

And this is what inspired my book, WYOMING WILDFLOWER. Here’s the scene where my hero, Lance Harmon, finally gets chosen:

The wind howled and whistled outside Omaha’s Old Opera House, but the men and women crowded inside had long ago forgotten the snow-driven cold. Children occupied their full attention, orphan children newly arrived on the train from New York.

Already, under the scrutinizing eyes of the adults, they’d paraded through the aisles before standing in a semicircle on the stage, and already most of them had been picked.

Only Lance remained. Unchosen. Alone.

Humiliation seared him. He stared straight ahead. So what if no one wanted him? So what if no one cared enough to take him in for a little while? He was fifteen, the oldest of the orphans here. Only two more years and he’d be on his own.

So what?

He’d survived nearly five years at the Children’s Aid Society. Nearly five years without Ma, of selling matches and newspapers and helping the Reverend Brace take care of the younger boys.

He could survive a couple more.

The western agent in charge would simply take him to the next scheduled stop. And there, as now, he’d stand perfectly still while everyone gawked at him in his stupid orphan uniform and tried to decide whether or not to take him.

Alone. He would survive.

Lance dragged his gaze to a burly-chested man waiting expectantly before him. Snow dusted the shoulders of his thick sheepskin coat and collected on the brim of his big hat. He moved closer, emanating an obscure vapor of cool, fresh air.

After a long moment, the man reached out and poked Lance’s biceps, then tilted his chin upward as if to inspect his coloring.

“A little scrawny,” he murmured. Offended, Lance stiffened and pulled away. The man smiled. “But nothing honest work and square meals won’t cure. You got a good appetite?”

Lance didn’t tell him he couldn’t get his fill at the orphanage, that there always seemed to be someone younger and hungrier than himself at the table. He tried to ignore the glimmer of hope flickering within him.

The man stroked his pencil-thin mustache. Lance, growing uneasy from the silence, shifted from one foot to the other.

“So you’re looking for a home, eh?” the man asked finally.

Lance swallowed his pride. “Yes, sir.”

“And I’m looking for a son.” His features softened, and he nodded in approval. He extended his hand. “Name’s Mancuso. Vince Mancuso.”

The Children’s Aid Society had many success stories of children placed in loving homes, notably Andrew Burke and John Brady who once lived on the streets, but were adopted out and grew up to become governors of North Dakota and of Alaska.  Other stories weren’t so happy and speak of abuse or rejection by adoptive parents, children used only as cheap labor who eventually just ran away.

All in all, the Reverend Brace’s vision endured until 1929. By then, 250,000 children had been placed on those trains and chugged down the tracks toward new homes.  After 75 years, his efforts were the forerunner of modern foster care.

Buy on AMAZON

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(Only 99¢ but this sale is ending VERY soon!)

WYOMING WILDFLOWER is one of my earlier releases that I have given significant edits to fit the sweet romance genre.  This book has once again come alive for me in a new market, and yet still depicts the grittiness of the Old West as well as plenty of romance between a hero and a heroine who couldn’t be more different.

The Reverence Brace is to be commended for his vision and passion to help orphaned children. If you could raise the money and resources, what passion or vision do YOU have that you could use those resources for?

You could win an ebook copy of WYOMING WILDFLOWER!