Oh, The Waiting! by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to write Pete's story and now it's finally here! MAGGIE'S SONG released yesterday, and I adore the cover. (My husband designs all of my covers.)

Pete has been a character in my series since my first book. He owns the livery, and he's also the town's blacksmith. When his likeness and demeanor grew in my mind over a decade ago, it was the famous hero, John Henry, that I saw. I've always loved John Henry, and writing a romance for a hard-working, giant of a man was something I couldn't wait to do. 

I hope I did him justice. In MAGGIE'S SONG, not only is he leading his community through a new endeavor, but he's slowly earning the trust of Maggie, a woman who has reasons to be wary of men. I love their story, but the best thing is Maggie's daughter, Iris. She's five and is all kinds of sweetness. 

You know, authors live with their characters for so long, that they become quite real. That's either crazy or dedicated. Not sure. Hopefully, the latter.

By the end of the story, Maggie becomes the bride she always wanted to be, but it takes a lot of courage on her part to get her there. (Takes a lot of Pete's courage, as well.)

I could ramble on forever about these characters, but, instead, I'll give you an excerpt.....

“You go on and see Pete, while I head over to Forrester’s to find Esther. You can ask him about the cupboards.”

Maggie froze. “But I don’t know where his shop is.”

Aletta laughed lightly. “Oh, child.” She pointed down the road. “It’s right there. Just past the sheriff’s office.”

Maggie turned and caught the shingle sporting black lettering proclaiming “Jerkin’s Livery and Blacksmith Services”. She gulped.

“I’ll fetch you in ten minutes,” her aunt said, leaving Maggie gaping on the boardwalk.

Ten minutes. Ten. With Pete. Whose eyes held nothing but warmth. Who looked fondly at Iris. Who’d kissed Maggie as if she were precious and all things to him. Oh, my.

She drew in a deep breath and forced herself to move. It took no time to reach the building that looked quite similar to a large barn. The double doors were propped open, and she could hear the pound of a hammer against steel. With her heart in her throat, she entered and found him immediately.

He bent over an anvil, his attention on whatever metal he shaped. His giant frame took up the area, his leather apron emphasizing the breadth of his chest and the power in his shoulders. She couldn’t take her eyes from him.

Something must have alerted him to her presence, because he looked up in mid-swing. “Maggie,” he breathed, sounding as if the sun had visited him and not just her lowly self. He put down his hammer. “Maggie,” he said again, coming around his anvil and breaking into a blissful smile.

“Hello, Pete.” She stayed where she was, unable to move, because all she wanted to do was fling her arms around his neck and spill all her secrets.

He stopped an arm’s length from her as he ran his gaze over her. “Are you well? Why are you in town?”

“We’re fine. Aletta, Esther and I needed a few items from Miller’s and Forrester’s.” When she kept her voice from trembling at his nearness, she realized she possessed a strength she didn’t know she had.

“You decided to stop by and see me, though? How nice.”

She felt her cheeks heat. “Oh, well, not exactly. Aletta wanted me to ask you a question.”

While his happiness at seeing her didn’t diminish, she sensed a change in his demeanor. She wouldn’t call it disappointment, though. Acceptance, maybe? But what was there to reconcile himself to? She gave herself a mental shake and continued. “She thinks the lower cupboards in the kitchen of the meeting house ought to be raised to four feet. George disagrees. What do you say?”

Pete’s brow furrowed in thought. “I wouldn’t want to raise them. Too many women wouldn’t appreciate that height. And if it’s really a problem, we could have a worktable for taller people.”

Surprise at his compromise distracted her from the tension inside her, and she breathed easier. “That’s a perfect solution. I’m sure Aletta will see the merits.”

He nodded once then a look she could only describe as pleasure came into his gaze. “I sure am glad to see you.”

“And I, you,” she rasped.

“Wanna help me shape a horseshoe?”

Bashful, she lowered her lashes. “I don’t know, I—”

“Come on.” He reached for her hand and pulled her forward. “It’s easy. I’ll be right there.”

She had no choice but to follow, and now the strain of being close to him resurfaced with a vengeance. She clammed up and allowed him to maneuver her in front of his anvil while he stood behind her. He took her basket from her and set it on the ground.

“Here.” He gave her the hammer. “Hold this.”

She took the handle and gasped at its weight. “I didn’t expect it to be so heavy.” She could carry it, but it was much more substantial than any cast iron pot.

“It’s got to be, in order to shape metal.” Using the tongs, he picked up the shoe he’d been working on when she’d walked in and put it back in the fire. After half a minute, he withdrew the iron, and it glowed red.

“All right,” he said, setting the metal on the anvil. “Here we go.”

He put his large hand over hers and helped her hit the shoe in the right place. The bang resonated up her arm. “Oh, goodness,” she exclaimed, but it was more from the feel of being surrounded by him. As she stood in the well of his arms, with his fingers wrapped around hers, desire shot through her like a cannon blast.

“Hit it a little harder this time,” he instructed.

She lifted the hammer, and with his guidance with aim, she pounded the metal with as much force as she could. This time the reverberations moved through her whole body. She gasped.

He laughed. “That’s the way. Give it another go.”

BUY MAGGIE'S SONG

Pike’s Run, Texas, 1883

In the dead of night, Maggie Nelson flees New Orleans with her five-year old daughter, Iris. Maggie can’t live with her abusive husband any longer and seeks safety in the home and arms of her aunt, Aletta Williamson in Bordersville, near Pike’s Run, Texas. When she arrives, surprising her dear aunt, Maggie tells her Haywood died. She is too ashamed to tell the truth about her marriage.

 Pete Jerkin, the town blacksmith and livery operator, is a leader in Bordersville. He is taken by Maggie and Iris, especially since the child doesn’t fear him. With his large stature, he usually puts off females and children. As Iris tugs on his heartstrings, his gaze strays to the lovely Maggie. But he’s promised himself he wouldn’t ever court a woman. Not again.

However, love is sneaky, and Pete can’t help himself. Neither can Maggie. As the weeks pass, she grows more scared each day that Pete will learn the truth about her husband, that Haywood will come knocking. And ruin everything.

If you're looking for more books to read over the summer, click here and you can enjoy many Historical Romances for FREE!!!! 

My "Big Idea" Lady by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

My mother can sing. Really, really well. She has a voice like Kathryn Grayson. They have similar looks, too. My mother is timeless and classic. She reminds me a lot of Jackie Kennedy. And, well, she was raised in that era, so....

She's good at a lot of things. Cooking, sewing, gardening, leading, directing, caring for others....

The list is endless. She worked for the American Heart Association for 20 years in Houston. Which means she worked with some VERY smart doctors, and they ended up nicknaming her the "velvet hammer". (I think I know why, but I've never actually asked.)

I call her the "Big Idea" lady because she was always making me do things. Sometimes these things were actually worthy, but other times.....UGH. Piano lessons? Really? No. (But I had to take them for FIVE years.)

Before my mother graduated from college, she was invited to attend the conservatory in Paris. I'm not really sure what that is, but she chose not to because she wanted a family.

She's been an amazing mother. There's no way I could tell y'all everything, but I have one example of her commitment.

My brother had seizures as a baby, and there were many appointments as doctors tried to figure out what was wrong. And, of course, there were many scary moments. One of those occurred either right before or right after church -- I can't remember because I was six. They had to take my brother to the hospital, and the only way my brother would sleep was on my mother's chest. So she stretched out on a gurney in her dress, slip, and hose and laid there for several hours so my brother could get a decent sleep. She couldn't move or she'd wake him.

"Mother" means so much that I doubt Webster accurately defines the word. "Father" means just as much, but this month is for the mothers. And they deserve ALL the roses.

It's quite fitting for me as my current release, MAGGIE'S SONG, which is available for pre-order, is about a mother who's risking so much to save her child. And not only that, the heroine can sing. Maybe not as well as my mother, but certainly well enough! Ha!

MAGGIE'S SONG

Pike’s Run, Texas, 1883

In the dead of night, Maggie Nelson flees New Orleans with her five-year old daughter, Iris. Maggie can’t live with her abusive husband any longer and seeks safety in the home and arms of her aunt, Aletta Williamson in Bordersville, near Pike’s Run, Texas. When she arrives, surprise her dear aunt, Maggie tells her Haywood died. She is too ashamed to tell the truth about her marriage.

Pete Jerkin, the town blacksmith and livery operator, is a leader in Bordersville. He is taken by Maggie and Iris, especially since the child doesn’t fear him. With his large stature, he usually puts off females and children. As Iris tugs on his heartstrings, his gaze strays to the lovely Maggie. But he’s promised himself he wouldn’t ever court a woman. Not again.

However, love is sneaky, and Pete can’t help himself. Neither can Maggie. As the weeks pass, she grows more scared each day that Pete will learn the truth about her husband, that Haywood will come knocking. And ruin everything.

BUY MAGGIE'S SONG

I was able to write this story because I had the best inspiration and role model for it. I've learned so much from my mom, and there isn't a way to properly thank her. Perhaps this blog post will do it. (I bet she's crying. Should I see that as success?)

I love you, Mama. Thank you.

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Bring Me Flowers by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

Our theme for the month is April Showers, and I adore the rain. Especially early in the morning on days when I can sleep in. That's a blessing I always treasure. But showers, storms, whatever you want to call them, bring much more and they are some of my favorite things...

Flowers.

I don't care what kind they are, or what color, or how cheap, I love them ALL. And as long as my husband gets me flowers on Valentine's Day, I couldn't care less what else he gives me. There's something about them that just makes my heart sigh.

My favorites are Texas wildflowers. God bless my state and what happens in the Spring, because nothing else equals it. Not in my opinion anyway. My absolute favorite flower is the Bluebonnet.

Growing up, we'd go on "bluebonnet hunts". We'd search for the best fields that showcased all of the beauty God had to offer and got to tour Texas at the same time.

One of the coolest places to visit is the Antique Rose Emporium. They've been a nursery for over a hundred years and have centuries old roses. I can wander the Emporium's meandering paths for hours, and I'm not even a gardener. (My mother is and if I could, I'd show you her backyard, but the freeze took it.)

And all of this gorgeousness inspired the talent of the heroine in the book I'm releasing on May 7th. It's available for pre-order right now...

MR. PIERCE'S HERO  

Corinne Taylor has a secret. And it must be protected. If her mother discovers what Corinne has been hiding, Hell will not describe the place in which she will find herself. Beulah, Corinne’s mother, has proclaimed herself “queen” of Pike’s Run, and no one crosses her, especially not her daughter.

And while Corinne does what she can to guard her secret, her best efforts aren’t enough. War comes to Pike’s Run and the Taylor household when Beulah learns of her daughter’s betrayal. The battle that ensues forces Corinne to seek help from a new arrival.

Jonathan Pierce, a successful lawyer, has come to Pike’s Run looking to find solace from his past. When Corinne asks for his support, her innocence and bravery call to the needs within his broken spirit, and he can’t turn her down. She is capturing his heart, but if she ever learns of his cowardice, she will reject him, killing any hope he has left of finding love.

Excerpt

Once Jonathan had crossed the bridge over the stream, he caught sight of a figure walking down the road, heading toward him. His senses came alive when he recognized Miss Taylor. He gritted his teeth and tried to foster indifference to her appearance.

She faltered in her steps when she saw him, but then picked up the pace. “Mr. Pierce,” she hailed.

Hadn’t he given her permission to call him Jonathan? He stopped in the road near a copse of maple and sprawling live oak and waited for her to reach him. Perhaps she didn’t remember that he’d asked her to use his given name. Until she did, he wouldn’t use hers. It was too intimate, and by the way his body reacted to her swaying hips and smooth complexion, he needed distance. “Afternoon, Miss Taylor.”

She halted five feet from him. Her gaze searched his face, scanned the area around them.

She looked confused. Or uncertain.

“Is something wrong?”

He saw her swallow, and the need to shield her and knock the teeth out of the person who dared upset her came over him. How anyone could torture this lovely creature escaped his reason. He took a deep breath and tried to rein in his fury on her behalf. Her fight was not his.

“My m-mother intends to use my garden tomorrow.” Her eyes went wide with fear.

Her gaze pleaded with him, but what did she want him to say? He’d already advised her on what to do. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know how else to respond.

“I have to tell her she has no right to,” she rasped.

He inclined his head once, easily detecting the tremble in her, and he wanted to slay her dragon for her. He would have no problem telling the woman any interference would be considered trespassing, but…this was not his war.

Miss Taylor’s shoulders slumped, and she pressed two fingers into each temple. “I can do it. I can stand up to her.”

The words sounded like a litany she repeated to herself. They weren’t an assurance for him. “Of course, you can,” he offered, but he really had no idea of the stuff of which she was made.

She let out a slow breath then drew in another deeply. After a few moments, she lowered her arms to her sides and lifted her chin. “Would you like to see it?”

“Your roses?”

She nodded.

“Of course.”

Aware she gave him an opportunity only a handful of others had experienced, he didn’t dare turn down her offer. He should, though. In fact, he should be going on his way, putting distance between himself and a woman who tugged at his basic needs and protective side.

But instead of heeding good sense, he followed her. She headed into the lush trees to his right, and he lifted his brow in surprise. He’d stopped near the path that hid her handiwork? He hadn’t even realized it. Stunned with how well disguised the trail was, he checked his surroundings in case he needed to get his bearings on the walk back.

He had to duck under sprawling branches, and if he hadn’t had the owner leading him, he would have missed the footpath buried under fern and ivy. They wound among the trees, the forest thick enough that they had to walk single file.

When hedgerows appeared, she unlatched a gate and let him in. He hadn’t gone two steps before amazement struck him. He stopped in his tracks and stared at the beauty.

Was it acceptable to even breathe amidst this labor of love? The blooms were open to the five o’clock sun streaming in. The bright orange light danced off of shades of purple, pink and red. Yellow dazzled the eye, along with peach and white.

He felt a nudge at his elbow. He looked down, and the smile directed up at him put the flowers to shame.

“You can walk around. You won’t hurt them.”

The teasing glint in her eyes made his mouth tip up at the corners. He couldn’t stop himself from glancing at the luscious curve of her lips. Warmth spread through him, but he turned away, avoiding the lust curling inside. Instead of a reply, he went down the stone walk, allowing the glory of her handiwork to delight his eye.

He paused at different varieties, noting the shape of the petals or how they lay against each other. Their fragrance wafted around him, making him want to sit and soak up their loveliness. Which was odd.

When he reached the center, he turned and found her several paces behind him. She hadn’t said a word as he’d explored. He could only describe the expression on her face as one of pleasure. She seemed glad she’d shared her haven with him.

“You did all this?”

She nodded, a blush staining her cheeks.

Even standing amidst the evidence of her talent, modesty enveloped her. He couldn’t help the slight smile that formed. “It’s magnificent.”

“Thank you.”

Should he venture into her world and help her? If he did, he feared the safety of his heart. Still, he couldn’t hold back. “And you can’t let your mother do…whatever it is you suspect she will do.”

His words made dismay flit across her lovely features. He wished he could recall what he’d said, but it was the truth.

“I know,” she replied, her voice hoarse with feeling. 

BUY MR. PIERCE'S HERO

And you can enjoy the first eleven books in the series, as well! Visit Pike's Run, Texas, and you'll get a bit of Little House, a dash of Anne of Green Gables and tons of romance!

TEXAS BRIDES OF PIKE'S RUN SERIES

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April Showers—when it rains it pours by Jan Scarbrough

When I heard the theme for April, I immediately thought of my book Kentucky Rain. After all, showers are on the cover!

I-64 between Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky

Sheets of rain pummeled the windshield, the steady flap-flap-flap of the wiper blades filling the silence of the SUV. Kate Lawrence gripped the steering wheel, unsure whether her blurred vision came from the glare of oncoming headlights reflecting off the rain or from the tears welling in her eyes.

It had been a month since her divorce was final, and tonight was the first time Jerry had taken their daughter. Visitation was an ugly, ugly word.

For the first time since my divorce years earlier, I was ready to write about it in Kentucky Rain. “Exchanging children” had been a staple of many Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Kentucky Rain is the last book in an eight-book series called Bluegrass Reunions. Each book is set in Kentucky and most stories deal with a reunion or second chance at love. Most books have a single mom, but she is a mom for various reasons. Not until Kentucky Rain did, I write about the aftermath of divorce.

When I received my rights back from the initial publisher of the series, I was able to revise each book. My editor looked at each one. I bought new covers to consistently rebrand them. Then my husband published the series on eBook sites for me. Being able to publish these books myself allowed me great freedom. They were better books after another review and edit.

That’s the joy of self-publishing. It’s plenty of work, but it’s worth it because I can write what I want to write. And when something doesn’t work out, I can make a change.

That’s what’s happening to another series of mine. My first three western romances are getting a new series title. I’ve revised each one of the three books. My editor has done her redlining. I have new covers. I’m ready to rebrand the stories of Brody, Mercer, and Liz into The Dawsons of Montana. Who knows? There may be a fourth book in the works. Big happy face.

All three books are on Kindle Unlimited for a limited time.

Mischief Makers by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

I love the boys who make mischief. The ones who try to make you laugh, who smile with a twinkle in their eye. I love it when they look at life as something to be enjoyed instead of endured. 

But best of all, I love it when they treat you like a lady, when they protect you with their broad shoulders and don't ask for anything in return.

Texas boys are often like this. Always ready with a quip, a wink, and a wildflower they picked just for you.

Let me tell you, chivalry is not dead. And even better, it comes with jokes and dimples.

My latest release, DESTINY'S SECRETS, has heroes who make mischief and hold the world on their shoulders. They are brothers, twins, who set out to return long-lost sisters to their rightful place.

The inspiration for Andrew and Ben's personalities came from pretty much all the men I've ever known. I dedicated this book to the ones who were closest to me, who were true to themselves and became gentlemen with kind hearts and strong hands.

And so...an excerpt for you...

“I can hear you thinking,” a deep voice called out.

She gasped and opened her eyes. “Ben?”

He laughed. “Who else?”

Oh, dear. How had he known she couldn’t sleep? “I’m sorry. I’m just having a little trouble.”

“Like last night.”

It wasn’t a question. He’d realized she hadn’t slept then, either? “You’re very observant.”

“That’s why I’m an investigator.”

Of course. She cleared her throat. “But you can’t really hear my thoughts.”

“Are you telling me or asking me?”

She considered his query. “I’m not sure.”

Some shuffling happened on his side, and she imagined he’d rolled over. “I promise I don’t know what’s going through your head.”

How absurd it would be if she truly believed he could read minds, but she definitely saw him as someone who could accomplish just about anything.

“Want me to tell you another story?”

If it didn’t help her sleep, it would certainly distract her. “I’d appreciate it, thank you.”

“All right.” The wind blew, then his voice rose above the lonely sound. “Andrew and I spent some time in boarding school.”

The revelation made her frown, but before she could ask about it, he continued.

“Our housemaster was hard of hearing. Not sure why they employed him to watch over twenty-five fourteen-year-olds at night, but it made it easy when we wanted to sneak out. And one night we decided it would be fun to create a scavenger hunt for our classmates.”

She anticipated the outcome and smiled at the darkness.

“We got into the classroom without a problem, I’d learned how to pick locks by then, and we moved our supplies, like our books and slates, and left clues on how to find them.

“The next morning, no one noticed right off, and we were a little disappointed. But when Mr. Pederson tried to give us a lesson in mathematics and he realized the shelf was empty, he turned beet red. The other fellows snickered.”

“The poor man,” Charlotte interjected. “How could y’all torment him so?”

“You forget we left hints on how to get everything back,” he reminded her.

“And did that make him feel better?”

“I’m not sure, but we had fun helping him search.”

She sucked air through her teeth. “You hid them.”

“But we were real good at pretending we didn’t know where they were, and we spent the rest of the day picking apart Andrew’s clues.”

Ben and his twin must have given their mother all kinds of fits. She couldn’t imagine having to discipline mischief-makers like them. “Y’all were little imps. And you know, just like you could hear me thinking, I can feel you grinning.”

DESTINY'S SECRETS

Andrew and Ben Lonnigan, brothers and private investigators, have accepted an important case—to reunite the long-lost DuBois daughters with their rightful inheritance. Abducted from their childhood home in New Orleans when they were three and two-years-old, Jo and Charlotte were adopted by separate families.

Andrew heads north to find Josephine Tatum—a pants-wearing, spitfire veterinarian who challenges his mind and captures his heart. Ben travels south to find Charlotte Ryan—the financial mind behind her father’s ranch, with a sweet disposition and, unfortunately, a fiancé.

As the sisters journey toward destiny, Charlotte must guard her heart against Ben, a man too daring to ever return her love. And Andrew must hide his feelings from Jo, a woman determined to carve her own path. While the foursome battle feelings, they must also war with a villain from the sisters’ past, one with the will and the means to destroy everything the DuBois daughters hold dear.

BUY DESTINY'S SECRETS

Take a bit of Little House on the Prairie, a dash of Anne of Green Gables, add a touch of romance, and you've got the TEXAS BRIDES OF PIKE'S RUN series!

And as a special offer to celebrate Spring, WELCOME HOME, book 1 in the series is on sale for $0.99! I hope y'all enjoy it!

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Needles and Thread by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

My husband's mother, sister and aunts are quilters.

Ok, that doesn't accurately describe them. They are masters. I've never seen such talent. They've placed in national contests and have won multiple awards. They teach classes, go on retreats and visit quilt stores in the smallest of towns.

They love their craft and thank goodness they do. It's wonderful that they have so much passion for an art that is hundreds of years old. Especially when there are machines that'll make quilts for you.

My family benefits from their talent as we have a ton of quilts. When Texas froze, we sure as heck didn't! Some of the quilts they've made for me hang on my wall because they're just too beautiful to fold up and put in a trunk.

Here's one of the first ones my mother-in-law made for me. It's a Log Cabin quilt. The colors are gorgeous, but the piecing around the star is amazing.

This next one my sister-in-law made. (Can you figure out that I like my state?) This one has such intricate quilting. You might be able to see the blue thread on the white part of the flag. She's won awards for her quilting.

And this last one is another that my sister-in-law made for me. I'm sharing it because all the fabrics she used were fabrics that were popular during the Civil War era. This one I fold up and lay across the end of my bed.

These are pieces of art, but more importantly, they have stories. And while they are stitched together, stories are told around them. I think one of the most lovely activities from the past are quilting bees. I'm so glad my family keeps this tradition alive.

I had to put this custom into one of my books, and my most current release, THE COWBOY'S EMBRACE, had the perfect moment. I've shared an excerpt below and an image of the square the heroine, Lily Spero, sews into the quilt.

It's so wonderful that these stitches, made by loving hands over countless hours, will carry on through the generations after me.

THE COWBOY'S EMBRACE

Lily Spero is searching for her stolen heritage, for a place in the world that is all her own. Sixteen years ago, she lost her parents and siblings to a villain on a white horse. Since, she's hungered for family, for that love she'd once known. When she visits the Swinging A Ranch, her past collides with her present, opening wounds long buried and shockingly creating hope where none had been before.

Deacon Tolbert is the foreman and a contributing partner to the Swinging A Ranch. He's carved a niche in the world all his own, finally feeling worthy of the goodness he's found for himself. But when Lily Spero arrives, the girl he abandoned years ago, he's forced to face the most gut-wrenching moment of his life.

Despite the pain, love surprises them and blossoms, bringing hope for the future. But the villain from the past comes to haunt them, to steal what they're trying to build. Deacon and Lily must brave vile evil in order to stay together, and fight with all they have to keep the promises they made to each other.

THE COWBOY'S EMBRACE: AN EXCERPT

Deacon cupped Lily's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze before continuing. “One of the ladies, Esther Epperson, asked if you’d have time to help sew a square onto a quilt the ladies are making, and I fear if you choose to listen to me speak to the men, you might cause a rift with the women.”

Lily wouldn’t dare slight the feelings of people she’d just met. "Of course. I'd love to help." She had hoped to be a help to Deacon, to assist him in finding words that would inspire the men of Bordersville to take the necessary steps for their race. But it was more important to make a connection with folks before she started blazing trails. “Besides, I’d like to contribute to the project. We ladies tell stories through our sewing.”

He ran his hand down her arm and looked at her with love.

“None of that now.” Esther marched toward them, her strides that of a general with a mission. Lily had a feeling she organized the neighborhood events and led the families of Bordersville through daily life.

“We don’t show our affection in public here,” the woman continued. “Least of all in front of the Sister Aunts.”

Hazel sucked air through her teeth and rolled her eyes. “You’re too young for that attitude. He could kiss her all he wants.”

The gleam in the older woman’s eyes made Lily chuckle and Deacon to take her up on her offer. He planted his lips on hers for a brief second then lifted his head and winked at the ladies. They tittered while he tipped his hat and sauntered away.

Esther harrumphed and muttered under her breath that his behavior was unfitting then took Lily by the elbow. “Come on in to my house,” she commanded, though not rudely. “I have tea and the quilt already set up.”

All the women followed her to a home in the center of the first row where some females already sewed. After making more introductions, Lily found a seat between Pixie and Ruth. The chances Lily would remember everyone’s name were slim, but she would try hard.

When Claire, a young girl around the age of fifteen, gave her a set of fabric squares, Lily took the offering. She ran her hands over the cream, purple and goldenrod colored material. As talk swirled around her, she thought about what she would make, what emotion she wanted to evoke. She recalled the times she’d sewn with her mother, and an idea formed that made love swell and not grief. Struck, she could only sit and soak up the feeling.

She took in the women around her, observed their closeness and happy expressions, and she let out an exhale.

“Are you all right, honey?” Miss Ruth asked her.

With contentment in her tone, Lily replied, “Yes, ma’am. I am.”

A knowing light entered the woman’s eyes, and she nodded once.

Lily then bent her head to her task, taking up a pair of scissors in order to cut a dove from the cream fabric square. The only detail her mother had ever shared with Lily about their escape from Mississippi had been that a dove, in one of Hannah and Matthew’s darkest hours, had led them to freedom. While Lily had wanted her to elaborate, her mother had chosen not to for reasons Lily believed she understood as an adult.

She could create her own version of the symbol. Because now she’d found peace and love. And belonging. Her heart quaked with the beauty of it.

BUY THE COWBOY'S EMBRACE

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My Top 5 Favorite TV Friendships by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

THE RANGER'S VOW will be up for pre-order soon, and while I have many things I love about this story:

1) A bad-boy Texas Ranger

2) A feisty heroine who can pick locks

3) A hero who vows never to fall in love and a heroine who declares she will never marry

4) And....a garter thief

One of the best aspects of this book are the friendships between Sherry -- she's the spunky heroine who picks locks -- and her four sisters. They are Sherry's voices of reason, her champions, her secret-keepers. They hold Sherry accountable, but also would walk through fire for her, even if she was wrong.

I loved writing the scenes Sherry had with her sisters. And it got me to thinking about other friendships. Now I've already counted down my favorite book friendships, so I thought I'd share those from TV. Please tell me yours! 

1) Dorothy and Sophia from The Golden Girls. You gotta love how honest they are with each other.

2) Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson and Sergeant David Gabriel from The Closer. He stands by her when no one else would, and she does everything she can to protect him, as well.

3) Joey and Chandler from Friends. They are hilarious and so sweet with each other.

4) Captain Killian "Hook" Jones and Princess Sheriff Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time. They made each other better and never gave up on each other even though they faced extremely tough situations -- including death.

5) Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute from The Office. It's wonderful to watch these guys go from enemies to friends. 

Friendship is so important. And you don't need many. Just one that is honest. A person who will love you no matter what, who will tell you when you have spinach in your teeth and defend you even when they know you're wrong. And then they tell you that you're wrong in private.

THE RANGER'S VOW is a romance that gives you that closeness, that honesty. I adore Sherry and her four sisters. They are a noisy mass of risk-takers and lovers, seamstresses and party-planners. And here's a little snippet:

Sherry held onto the footboard while Mary pulled her corset tight. “We have to convince Julia to go,” Sherry muttered. “She’ll just sit in y’all’s room weeping over Alex. We have to help her.”

“Her loyal heart won’t let him go despite his four month absence and his non-existent responses to her letters.” Mary sighed as she tied the strings. “I don’t know what else we can say to her.”

While Sherry checked her reflection in the mirror, she smoothed down her petticoat. “Tonight is just what she needs. Andrew and Ben will make sure she has a good time.”

Mary cocked her head, her nut brown, corkscrew curls swaying with the motion. “That’s not gonna help. Andrew and Ben are Alex’s cousins. They’ll only remind her of him.”

Sherry checked her soft bun with its artfully escaping tendrils then reached for her dress of lavender muslin. “But they’ve already agreed to help.”

“You asked?”

“They offered." Sherry slipped into her dress. "No one can help seeing her sad face and moping attitude.” She glanced toward the door, her mind’s eye picturing the room across the hall, and wondered if Amanda had had any luck talking Julia into getting dressed.

“And we need to brighten up because our sadness is only going to make her feel worse,” Mary added.

Sherry nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Let’s go see her.”

She followed Mary out of the room and across the wood-floored corridor covered with a green and gold carpet runner to the room Mary shared with Julia. When they were inside, they gasped.

“Oh, Julia!” Mary exclaimed.

“You’re going?” Sherry asked in relief and delight as she hurried forward to take her sister’s hands.

Julia pressed her lips together, her blue eyes shining with gratefulness beneath her becoming, red bangs. She swept her gaze over her olive-colored muslin dress. “I can’t keep feeling sorry for myself. It’s only going to wear down my sweet sisters, and I can’t have that.”

Sherry squeezed Julia’s hands then brought them to her chest. “We’ll make sure you have fun tonight.”

Julia shook her head. “I appreciate that, but I’ll manage on my own. I won’t trespass on my sisters’ good natures anymore.”

Sherry reached up and smoothed Julia’s bangs. “Well, we won’t be far, and Andrew and Ben plan on twirling you to every song.”

Julia forced a smile. “I’m glad I’m wearing my most comfortable dancing slippers.”

THE RANGER'S VOW

Sherry Forrester has her life just as she wants it. No attachments. No pressure from her parents to marry. A little bit of money and the freedom to be the lady she desires. When a stranger rolls into town, mysterious and gorgeous, her interest is piqued. Sherry swore she wouldn't give away her heart, but she longs for one night of passion, and the newcomer is perfectly capable of supplying that.

Texas Ranger Luke "Rip" Calhoun is hoping for a few diverting weeks in Pike’s Run. Along with promising to help the local sheriff catch a wily garter thief, he looks for challenging card games, good whiskey and a willing woman. When Sherry Forrester catches his eye—who wouldn't want her after stumbling upon her skinny dipping?—he does the hardest thing ever and waits for her to choose him to warm her sheets for a night. And only one night. For Luke made a long-ago vow never to let love ensnare him.

But what neither plans on is the hand of fate changing their paths…

Cowboys, lawmen, and soldiers, oh my! You can enjoy several other books in the Texas Brides of Pike's Run Series! Click HERE to see the rest!

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My Favorite True Love Moments by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

One of my favorite moments in a story is when the hero or heroine kisses his or her true love and the curse breaks. It's such a wonderful thought, that love is strong enough to cure any ill.

For me, it's more than a thought, though. It's a belief. Love has the ability to soothe any villain, comfort the grieving, and liberate the oppressed.

And, of course, I have a few favorite true love moments....

1) When Emma Swan kisses Henry, her son, and wakes him from the sleeping curse in Once Upon A Time.

2) When Prince Philip kisses Sleeping Beauty and wakes her from the sleeping curse.

3) When Wesley and Buttercup kiss at the end of The Princess Bride.

4) When Emma Swan and Captain Killian "Hook" Jones triumph in the ultimate true love test in Once Upon A Time.

5) When Stephen Dawson kisses Constance Forrester for the first time in The Editor's Kisses. (Unfortunately, I don't have a video clip of this. Because this is from one of my books!)

Yes, #5 is one of my own, and while there isn't anything literally magical about it, it does wake up Stephen and he's able to unchain himself from the toxic control another woman had over him. It was absolutely beautiful how it worked out, and even though you can't watch it happen, you can read it...

Scene: The parlor of the Talbut home

Problem #1: An embarrassing parlor game – being locked in a broom closet with a member of the opposite sex

Problem #2: Stephen and Constance are in a fake courtship – Stephen is trying to make someone jealous and Constance gets to be a reporter for his paper

Madeline’s spinning of Constance was a little rough, but Stephen held his tongue. When their hostess let go, Constance fumbled for a moment before Stephen raised himself up and yanked her into his lap.

The shouts of excitement and delight that went around the room nearly deafened him. People playfully called out “cheater”, but Stephen didn’t care, especially when Constance whisked off her mask and looked immensely relieved to see he’d successfully caught her.

They headed to the closet without fuss. Constance almost looked as if she was dying to climb inside. She probably wanted to get the farce over with.

Once they were squeezed into the confining space, with their chests pressed together in a way Stephen had only fantasized about, she said, “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done—”

He covered her mouth with his hand, having dislodged it from his side. Then he leaned near her ear. “They might be able to hear us,” he whispered.

She flinched.

He lowered his arm, and she let out a slow breath. He wished he could see her face. For more reasons than to satisfy his worry she was all right.

He did everything he could to ignore the touch of her body along his front. He tried not to remember how she looked, how her eyes lit up, how her expression sharpened when she was interested in something. Why had he watched her all night?

But he knew. He knew very well. She was captivating. Intriguing. And so damned lovely.

Why was he having feelings for her? Wasn’t his love for Madeline strong enough to withstand attraction for another woman? But if it was, he would be in the closet with his hostess and not the lady he pretended to the world held his fancy.

He had to kiss her. He had to discover if this attachment was real. Besides, if he didn’t kiss her, everyone would wonder why. And for some strange reason, he needed every fellow out there to understand Constance Forrester was his. He closed his eyes and realized his attitude was no better than a caveman’s. But the need to possess and brand raced through him without pause, and he couldn’t fathom how to check it. Except to kiss her and get her out of his system once and for all.

“Constance,” he uttered. “I’m gonna kiss you.”

She flinched again.

“I won’t hurt you, I swear it. But if I don’t kiss you…they’ll all question us and our…attachment.” He was an ass. He was using their agreement to coax her into acquiescence, and while he knew it, and was ashamed of it, he continued. “It will only be for a second. I’ll just brush my lips with yours.”

In the darkness, he felt her slight nod against his chin. His heart pounded at her quiet surrender.

When she pulled back as far as the space would allow and lifted her head to his, heat slashed through him. He’d never needed a kiss as much as he needed hers.

 Madeline had kissed him. Once. Behind the schoolhouse when they were sixteen. And that moment hadn’t caused nearly the anticipation this one did.

He lowered his head and swallowed her gasp. It wasn’t a brush, even though he only set his lips on hers. It was a fire. A shot of whiskey that whipped through him and pooled in his gut. He deepened the connection, and she let him, sighing and sinking into him despite already being as close to him as he could get her.

He melted. He needed to move to the ground and cover her, press her down and make her his. He used his tongue, tasting her. She capitulated instantly and opened her mouth under his. He took what she allowed without hesitation as his free hand came up to grip her waist.

The damn closet was too small. His left hand was wedged between her side and the slender door. But though he couldn’t get his arms around her, he didn’t stop the kiss. It went on and on, stealing his breath, tightening his chest and making him doubt everything he’d ever known about his heart.

Rapid footsteps had him surging backward, and he knocked his head on the wall.

The door flew open, and cool air blasted his cheeks. He and Constance fell out of the space, their limbs tangling as they tried to right themselves.

Peals of laughter rung around them as Stephen reached out a hand to balance her. She latched on as if she didn’t want to let go, and his muscles vibrated with hope she had enjoyed the moment as he had.

It had taken less than a few seconds for him to realize kissing her had been the wrong thing to do. But also the most right, most perfect, most sound judgement he’d ever made in his life.

As those who’d crowded around the entrance to the kitchen went roaring with laughter back into the parlor, he gazed at Constance. And his world tilted.

Her flushed cheeks and bright eyes made his heart constrict with an emotion he was too afraid to name at the moment. But he knew what it was. He knew.

How in the devil had it happened? Was he a fool? A fickle man?

He swallowed. “Do you want to leave?”

And before his eyes, he witnessed a transformation that set his blood on fire. Determination changed her expression, and she lifted her chin.

“Certainly not. I’m quite all right, I assure you.” She gave a shake to her skirts. “We’ve a job to do, Stephen Dawson, and I’ll not let you down.”

She exited the kitchen with a swirl of satin, and he followed with less sure steps. She wouldn’t let him down, he knew it. But he feared he might disappoint her, for if she knew the direction of his thoughts, she would never forgive him. Constance Forrester had no time for any man. She had plans. Plans that didn’t include caring for the heart of the newspaper editor.

Pre-Order THE EDITOR'S KISSES

The Editor's Kisses

Constance Forrester has no intention of getting married. She is a suffragette and determined to change society. When Stephen Dawson, her school chum, starts a newspaper in their sleepy little town, Constance discovers an opportunity. With confidence and an unflinching will, she asks Stephen to take a risk and employ her as a journalist.

Stephen is stunned by Constance's impossible proposal and immediately turns her down. But the small moments he's spent with Constance have peeked someone's curiosity, and Stephen finds himself sought after by the town princess, Madeline Talbut. Stephen has loved Madeline for years, and when the young lady finally shows an interest in him, he concocts a plan: enter into a fake courtship with Constance in order to make Madeline love him, and in return, Constance can be a journalist for his newspaper. Anonymously, of course.

It’s a chance Constance can't pass up. So what if she has to attend parties and withstand Stephen's heart-melting kisses? A suffragette must forge through barriers, break down walls and risk all for the sake of freedom. But Stephen changes the game, and Constance finds herself the object of the editor's desire…

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Top Five Favorite Friendships by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

While I write romance novels, I find that I love good friendships as much as I adore true love. When the hero and heroine are best friends, that's even better.

There's something about the care, humor and truth in a solid, lasting friendship. They are hard to come by and hard to discern. What makes a good friend?

You think you know, then drama ensues, and you discover you were wrong. The playground and sleepovers can teach you so much. And...so can books.

So, here are my top five friendships.

1. Anne and Marilla from Anne of Green Gables -- There's nothing like a hopeful-eyed child and a stern, older woman trying to live together. These two grabbed my heart from the beginning of the story and did NOT let go. This is an honest relationship that developed beautifully through the series.

2. Captain Woodrow Call and "Gus" McCrae from Lonesome Dove -- Talk about oil and water. One guy is so serious and the other is such an annoying prankster that you wonder how they managed to stick together. Well, they are both highly stubborn, so that probably helped. And I think they were too cranky to find the time to befriend anyone else.

3. Jo March and Beth March from Little Women -- One is adventurous and seems to know how best to live life, while the other is shy and lets the world pass her by. These two taught each other so much and it was done without arguing and without belittling the other's choice. I read this book when I was very young. I think I was seven. Beth and Jo taught me a lot.

4. William Marshal and Isabelle de Clare from The Scarlet Lion -- William and Isabelle are real people. They were married and lived during the time of Richard the Lionheart and his brother, Prince John. These two were a force. They were both fighters -- one on the battlefield and one in the grandest castle in Ireland. They shared everything. When he died, supposedly his last words were, "My bon ami." He said this to Isabelle, which translated means, essentially, "My beautiful friend." I adored their relationship.

5. Anne and Gilbert of Anne of Green Gables -- There is no better story, in my opinion, of friends who become lovers. Of course, Gilbert was always in love. Was Anne always in love? I think so, but she was so gosh-darn stubborn. Their friendship was honest, true, competitive, feisty and so very caring. They are the perfect examples of how a man and woman in love are each other's best friend. Truly beautiful.

I have others, of course, but these are the pinnacle for me.

My fifth book, The Soldier's Love, releases on October 7th. Frank and Jane are the main characters, and they are best friends. They also love each other, but her dreams and his stubborn pride pull them apart. When they find each other again, it is not easy. They fight more than I would have liked them to, but Frank turned out to be really, really stubborn. I didn't see that coming. But he comes by it honestly, because in my fourth book, The Miller Brides, we learn how hard-nosed his mother was.

Of course, Jane and Frank find their way back to each other but it's not without its trials. I loved returning them to what they had always hoped to be. I'm definitely a "happily-ever-after" girl.

I would love to hear your favorite friendships! Please share in the comments!

And be sure to pick up my next book, The Soldier's Love, which is available for pre-order!

The Soldier's Love

When Jane Lonnigan refused to marry him, Frank Dawson got the hell out of Pike’s Run and joined the army. As he took risk after risk, hoping someone would put him out of his misery, he consequently rose in ranks. Now he’s a First Lieutenant stationed at Fort Robertson, a crack shot, and the main communicator to the Chipsa tribe.

Frank broke Jane's heart when he refused to wait for her to complete her education. Still, as she embarked on her journey to becoming a teacher, she couldn't stop loving him. Her first teaching post is for the children of Riley Creek, the town Fort Robertson protects.

When Frank realizes Jane has become a fixture of the settlement he is a part of, he sets out to guard himself from being twice a fool. But as life swirls around them, Frank can't help but return to her again and again.

A mistake causes Frank to hurt Jane and make her believe all hope is lost. She runs home, needing the welcoming arms of her family. When Frank learns what he's done, he realizes he's been a fool. He races after her, intent on winning her back. Can he mend her heart and have her as his wife? Or has he ruined everything?

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Homage to the City of Bath by Cheryl Bolen

 

I first visited Bath, England, in 1996. I didn’t know then how important it would become to me. I had wanted to see it because it had been immortalized by my all-time favorite author, Jane Austen (1775-1817). She not only set her Persuasion there, but she also spent a great deal of time residing in Bath.

During the Georgian era, people flocked to this city for the baths, first established by the Roman occupation nearly two-thousand years previously. It was thought that “taking the waters” and even drinking the city’s water could restore good health to the infirm. Invalid chairs—what we now call wheelchairs—were a common sight in eighteenth and nineteenth century Bath.

It was also the era of the sedan chairs which were borne by strapping young men, front and back. The city even regulated the fares for these “chair men,” many of whom were Irish immigrants.

Bath rivaled London for social offerings, too. There was a Theatre Royal, assembly rooms for weekly balls, and the famed Pump Room, where the finely dressed would gather daily for a cup of the supposed medicinal waters. While at the Pump Room, newcomers to the city would sign the guest book which was eagerly examined by all.

No city could rival Bath for its aesthetically pleasing architecture.  Almost all the buildings were constructed in the Georgian era by the Woods, father and son architects. Not only do the structures all  display the classical features that characterize Georgian architecture, but they are also built of golden Bath stone.  To provide relief from the grids of most cities are built upon,  Bath features a Royal Crescent of a couple of dozen upscale townhouses that face a huge park, Crescent Fields. There’s also a round street of townhouses known as the Circus. 

Bath Cathedral is a central feature of this watering city, and the lovely River Avon winds through the imminently walkable town. The Pulteney Bridge, lined on either side with shops, is another of Bath’s distinctive features.

Today's visitors can view the Assembly Rooms that have been restored to their eighteenth-century grandeur, and the magnificent Pump Room has become a lovely restaurant where we always take high tea to the accompaniment of chamber music. (My husband loves eating there as much as I do.) All that was attractive in the eighteenth century remains today, and museums have been added--housed in those wonderful Georgian buildings.

My Brides of Bath Series

In 2000, I came up with a proposal for a series of Regency romances to be called Brides of Bath, and my editor at Kensington bought it. The first of my seven Brides of Bath books, The Bride Wore Blue, was published in paperback in 2002. It wasn’t available in eBook until 2011!

My original contract was for a trilogy. The year after the trilogy was published my editor asked for a fourth book. Those four books eventually went out of print, and I got my rights back to republish them. in 2011 and 2012. In 2014 the fifth book, Love in the Library, was published, and that Christmas saw the publication of the series' Christmas novella, A Christmas in Bath. 

I’ve been back to the city two more times since that initial visit, and the last time I had the opportunity to stay at the luxury Royal Crescent Hotel. It was an incredible experience. The Regent’s brother, the Duke of York, once stayed in the same place.

Worldwide, the series has sold about half a million copies. I’m so grateful to the  thousands of fans who’ve read my Brides of Bath, and I’ve listened to their requests for the bachelor known as Appleton to get his own story. Preorders are now being taken at all retailers for his  story, Once Upon a Time in Bath, the seventh Brides of Bath book. 

I eagerly await a vaccine for COVID-19 so I can return to Bath. Its pull is strong.

Enter our August giveaway here. 

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