A Husband for Christmas by Sarah J. McNeal in WISHING FOR A COWBOY #Christmas #historicalromance #western

A Husband for Christmas
by Sarah J. McNeal
a short story in
Wishing for a Cowboy
Prairie Rose Publications

RTW is pleased to host the authors of Wishing for a Cowboy, the debut offering of Prairie Rose Publications.  It's available in ebook at Amazon and Smashwords, and in print at Amazon.

RTW's guest today is Sarah J. McNeal.  Sarah is a multi-published author of several genres including time travel, paranormal, western, contemporary and historical fiction. She's a retired critical care/ER nurse who lives in North Carolina with her four-legged children, Lily and Liberty. Besides her devotion to writing, she also has a great love of music and plays several instruments including violin, bagpipes, guitar and harmonica. Her books and short stories may be found at Publishing by Rebecca Vickery, Victory Tales Press, Western Trail Blazer and Prairie Rose Publications. She welcomes you to visit her at her website or Facebook.

Her story in Wishing for a Cowboy is A Husband for Christmas — A haunting night of horror and a wish for a new life.

Jane Pierpont and her son, Robin, survived the Titanic, but her husband went down with the ship and the emotional scars of that night have kept her and her son locked into that frightening event years later . Robin is terrified of deep water and Jane has nightmares and survivor’s guilt. She yearns for a family, a loving husband and maybe another child, but she feels disloyal to Michael’s memory whenever Teekonka RedSky comes near her.

Teekonka RedSky loves Jane and her son, but all his efforts to help them past their painful memories of the night Michael Pierpont died have been unsuccessful. Unwilling to give up, can his Lakota beliefs help him bring peace to Robin and free Jane to love again?

RTW: How did Jane Pierpont and Teekonka Redsky come to you? Were they fully formed, or were they stubborn about telling you their stories?

Sarah J. McNeal

Sarah: Jane Pierpont and Teekonka Redsky first appear in the World War I novel, For Love of Banjo. Banjo rescued Jane and her son, Robin, from a factory fire in New York City and Maggie took them home with her and gave Jane a job at the ranch. Teekonka Redsky is Banjo’s uncle, a half Lakota shaman who, like Banjo, is uniquely gifted with a knowledge for mechanical things.

I knew from the first time Jane and Teekonka met they were attracted to one another. Each of them has just what the other one needs.  I had to write A Husband for Christmas included in the Wishing for a Cowboy anthology for Prairie Rose Publications.

RTW: What is it about Christmas that lends itself to romance? How is Gingerbread Boys incorporated into your story and is it a part of your own family lore?

Sarah: Christmas is about love, love of children, love of family and romantic love. It’s the perfect season for lovers to meet and express their love because it’s a time filled with soft lights, beautiful music, the smell of pine boughs and delicious food and a special magic that encourages the belief that anything is possible.

When Teekonka takes Robin to get a Christmas tree for Jane, she has nothing to decorate it with. Inventive Jane uses gingerbread boys, strings of popcorn and pieces of ribbon and cloth to decorate her tree. The smell of gingerbread just says home to me. When I married, my husband loved gingerbread. I could barely cook, but I taught myself to experiment making the things he liked with my McCalls and Betty Crocker Cookbooks that had been given to me as wedding presents. I made gingerbread boys and loved the way they filled the kitchen with their spicy aroma. So, starting with that first Christmas back in 1970, I started making gingerbread boys. Sometimes I actually hung some on the tree, but mostly, I just decorate them and give them as presents.

RTW: If you lived in Jane Pierpont’s house, how would you decorate it for Christmas?

Sarah: Just the way Jane did, I would place fragrant pine boughs in strategic places with lots of candles and I would decorate a tree with cookies and popcorn strings. I would add bows made from old ribbons and scraps of cloth and see if I could find some sparkly crystals from old chandeliers just the way Jane did.

RTW: What other books do you have for our readers to enjoy?

Sarah: The Wildings of Wyoming stories begin with a time travel book that has a ghost: Harmonica Joe’s Reluctant Bride.  Joe and Lola take in a homeless teenager, Banjo. I had to write about this brave boy all grown up and wrote For Love of Banjo.  I am presently working on a story about Lilith Wilding and Robin Pierpont, Fly Away Heart.

I write is other genres as well. In my paranormals, I just had the Legends of Winatuke series released. These stories are filled with monsters, adventure and, of course, undying love.  Dark Isle, Legends of Winatuke (Book 1), Lake of Sorrows, Legends of Winatuke (Book 2), and The Light of Valmora, Legends of Winatuke (Book 3).  I am presently writing a story about Pennytook, the Gypsy who appears in all these books.

Also just released in a single, is a scary love story, The Curse of the Amber Tomb.  Two other short stories are: Gifts From the Afterlife (a contemporary, paranormal Christmas story), and Heart Song (a contemporary, paranormal romance about a man who survives breast cancer).  I am revising Bitter Notes, a contemporary novella with a sexy Romanian hero and a baby grand piano left out to rot in the rain.

And my all time favorite story, a time travel, paranormal, written about a real family tragedy: The Violin.

♥ ♥ ♥

Cowboys, kisses, and love in the holiday air make for a special recipe in each of these wonderful new stories. Christmas miracles can happen when you're 

Wishing for a Cowboy! 

A Christmas Miracle by Phyliss Miranda 

Acceptance comes not through frosty eyes, but from the warmth of loving hearts. 

Outlaw's Kiss by Cheryl Pierson 

A long-ago schooldays crush is rekindled by an Outlaw's Kiss that sparks true love, and a new future for Jake Morgan and Talia Delano. 

A Husband for Christmas by Sarah J. McNeal 

A haunting night of horror and a wish for a new life. 

Peaches by Kathleen Rice Adams 

When a strong-willed schoolteacher invades an irascible rancher's Texas range, not even the spirit of Christmas may be able to prevent all-out war. 

A Gift for Rhoda by Jacquie Rogers 

A mail-order bride disaster! 

Her Christmas Wish by Tracy Garrett 

Her only wish for Christmas was the man who left her behind. 

Covenant by Tanya Hanson 

Can a Christmas blizzard ignite love gone cold? 

Charlie's Pie by Livia J. Washburn 

A wounded man, a desperate woman, a gang of ruthless outlaws... and the best pecan pie in Parker County!

Kindle | Smashwords | Print

Outlaw's Kiss by Cheryl Pierson in WISHING FOR A COWBOY #western #historicalromance #Christmas

Outlaw's Kiss
by Cheryl Pierson
a short story in
Wishing for a Cowboy
Prairie Rose Publications

RTW is pleased to host the authors of Wishing for a Cowboy, the debut offering of Prairie Rose Publications.  It's available in ebook at Amazon and Smashwords, and in print at Amazon.

RTW's guest today is Cheryl Pierson.  Cheryl is a native-born Oklahoman who writes award winning westerns and WHR novels and short stories. She is also co-owner of Prairie Rose Publications. She lives with her husband, Gary, and “granddog,” Embry, in Oklahoma City, OK.

Her story in Wishing for a Cowboy is Outlaw's Kiss — Can Talia resist the Outlaw's Kiss?

Talia Delano has been humiliated before the entire town of Rock Creek by Jake Morgan. A known gunman, Jake has bid an outrageous sum for Talia’s "boxed supper", a kiss, and the gift of her time for the rest of the Independence Day celebration. But, as always, Jake changes the rules and takes more than he should—especially with the whole town watching. Talia’s chance of happiness is dashed, along with her reputation, when Jake leaves Rock Creek suddenly.  When he shows up five months later at her farmhouse, wounded, and in the midst of a blinding snowstorm, she can’t turn him away — even though she knows being along with him will cause tongues to wag once more. But with Christmas only two days away, how can she harden her heart against the handsome outlaw who has no place else to go—even if he is being trailed by someone just as dangerous? Magic and danger are woven together in the Outlaw's Kiss.

Cheryl Pierson

RTW: How did Jake Morgan and Talia Delano come to you?  Were they fully formed, or were they stubborn about telling you their stories?

Cheryl: I actually wrote part of this story as a flash fiction piece — just one short scene of it. From there, the full blown story of their relationship evolved, and it just flowed. I knew Jake was going to be wounded — my heroes always are. (They all run for the hills when they find out they're going to be in one of my stories! LOL) Just wasn't sure what had happened to him at first. Then it all became very clear.

RTW: What is it about Christmas that lends itself to romance?  How is Talia's recipe for Parker House dinner rolls incorporated into your story and is it a part of your own family lore?

Cheryl: Christmas is always a time of evaluating, I think, with the coming year approaching. For my characters in this story, it's a chance of a true Christmas miracle happening, and a time for them to look for their own happiness, for a change.

My mom used to make some wonderful rolls from scratch. I'm not sure that this is the exact recipe, but it's close. I still remember how good they were!

RTW: If you lived in Talia's house, how would you decorate it for Christmas?

Cheryl: Talia inherited her house from her parents who both passed away five years earlier. She lives there with her little brother, Michael, whom she has cared for since he was seven. They don't have a lot of money, but they do have a home that's nicer than most for the area. Talia is very resourceful, so she knows how to bring the inner glow of things out with simple decorations — and while she would love the beauty of the more elaborate candles and so on, she would never spend money on them. So if I were decorating her house, I would buy some fragrant candles and put up a good-size tree in the corner of the front room.

RTW: What other books do you have for our readers to enjoy?

Cheryl: Gabriel's Law is my latest novel, published through Western Trail Blazer. Here's the blurb for it:

When Brandon Gabriel is hired by the citizens of Spring Branch to hunt down the notorious Clayton Gang, he doesn't suspect a double-cross. When Allison Taylor rides into town for supplies, she doesn't expect to be sickened by the sight of a man being beaten to death by a mob. When Spring Branch's upstanding citizens gather round to see a murder, nobody expects to hear the click of a gun in the hands of an angel bent on justice. Life is full of surprises. Brandon and Allie reconnect instantly, though it's been ten years since their last encounter. She's protected him before. As Brandon recovers at Allie's ranch, the memories flood back, and his heart is lost to her. He also knows staying with her will ruin everything. She's made a life for herself and her son. She's respectable. She has plans – plans that don't include him. But could they?

Trouble is never far away, and someone else wants Allison Taylor and her ranch. Danger looms large when a fire is set and a friend is abducted. Allie and Brandon discover they are battling someone they never suspected; someone who will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who stands in his way. As Brandon faces down the man who threatens to steal everything from him, he realizes he is desperately in love with Allie and this new life they are making for themselves. Has Brandon finally found everything he's ever wanted only to lose it all? Can Brandon and Allie confront the past, face down their demons, and forge their dreams into a future?

[RTW Note: Cheryl has lots more books.  For a complete listing, check her Amazon page.]

♥ ♥ ♥

Cowboys, kisses, and love in the holiday air make for a special recipe in each of these wonderful new stories. Christmas miracles can happen when you're 

Wishing for a Cowboy! 

A Christmas Miracle by Phyliss Miranda 

Acceptance comes not through frosty eyes, but from the warmth of loving hearts. 

Outlaw's Kiss by Cheryl Pierson 

A long-ago schooldays crush is rekindled by an Outlaw's Kiss that sparks true love, and a new future for Jake Morgan and Talia Delano. 

A Husband for Christmas by Sarah J. McNeal 

A haunting night of horror and a wish for a new life. 

Peaches by Kathleen Rice Adams 

When a strong-willed schoolteacher invades an irascible rancher's Texas range, not even the spirit of Christmas may be able to prevent all-out war. 

A Gift for Rhoda by Jacquie Rogers 

A mail-order bride disaster! 

Her Christmas Wish by Tracy Garrett 

Her only wish for Christmas was the man who left her behind. 

Covenant by Tanya Hanson 

Can a Christmas blizzard ignite love gone cold? 

Charlie's Pie by Livia J. Washburn 

A wounded man, a desperate woman, a gang of ruthless outlaws... and the best pecan pie in Parker County!

Kindle | Smashwords | Print

Covenant, by Tanya Hanson in WISHING FOR A COWBOY #western #christmas #romance

Covenant
by Tanya Hanson
a short story in
Wishing for a Cowboy
Prairie Rose Publications

RTW is pleased to host the authors of Wishing for a Cowboy, the debut offering of Prairie Rose Publications.  It's available in ebook at Amazon and Smashwords, and in print at Amazon.

RTW's guest today is Tanya Hanson.  A California beach girl, Tanya loves cowboys and American history, so she writes Western romance, both historical and contemporary, both sensual and inspirational. She’s even concocting a Young Adult romance set in the Donner party.

Her story in Wishing for a Cowboy is Covenant — Can a Christmas blizzard ignite love gone cold?

Alone, abandoned, struck with guilt and grief, mail order bride Ella Green refuses to celebrate their first wedding anniversary by herself on the Nebraska homestead.  Her fault Charlotte died.  Her fault her husband couldn't stick around.  So it's back to Pennsylvania.  Until the snow hits.  But do the springerle cookie molds depicting her life — Carsten's hand-carved courtship gifts to her across the miles — still have more story to tell?  Or is it truly The End?

Widower Carsten Green took on a bride merely to tend his little daughter.  Unbeknownst to Ella, he gave her his heart instantly.  Yet he believed she's got no reason to stay after the child's death.  So he's left her first.  How can the Christmas blizzard separating them warm their hearts, brighten their future, and ignite love gone cold?

RTW: How did Ella and Carsten come to you?  Were they fully formed, or were they stubborn about telling you their stories?

Tanya:  Ella is a family name, so that one was easy. Since the couple has a German heritage, I went to a list of German boys names on the internet. Carsten jumped right out! 

I have to admit, when I was invited to contribute to this anthology, the story... well, it didn’t write itself. It’s crazy when an author says that because writing is hard work. But the bones of the story formed quick inside my head.

Tanya Hanson

RTW: What is it about Christmas that lends itself to romance?  How is springerle incorporated into your story and is it a part of your own family lore?

Tanya: I am a Hallmark Christmas movie junkie. I even watch/DVR them during their Christmas in July month when they preview their new ornaments. I just love how everything in those movies fixes up on Christmas Eve, promising peace and hope. I know that’s not how real-life is, but we write romance, right? How we’d like things to be! So I wanted to write a story that really wrenches the heartstrings, but turns all warm and fuzzy at the end.

The springerle (anise cookies shaped by carved picture molds) popped into my head right away. Weird, I’m not a baker and my gram, who used to make them, has been gone from us a long, long time. So maybe she sent that inspiration down from heaven. I mean it sincerely.  Carsten, the carving scenes of Ella’s life during their courtship, and then their reconciliation, just gelled.

RTW: If you lived in the Green’s house, how would you decorate it for Christmas? 

Tanya:  You know, I almost put this in the story: a tree branch with white cotton batting (for snow) around each twig, each hung with a hand-made Christmas ornament.  Paper hearts and lace angels. Pinecones or nuts hung with calico ribbons. Popcorn and paper chains. Decorations made from punched tin...

A branch was a make-do Christmas tree on the prairie where pines didn’t grow. A branch like this would last from year to year. Carsten was proud to have a wood house for his mail-order bride instead of a soddy (we’re in Nebraska)... so I can see a Christmas branch as the real centerpiece of their holiday. But this year, they’re grieving the loss of a child. 

RTW: What other books do you have for our readers to enjoy? 

Tanya: I LOVE my Lawmen and Outlaws series going on at The Wild Rose Press — three novellas where a bad guy turns good because of a good woman’s love. Christmas for Ransom takes place, duh, at Christmas. It’s a short, heart-warming read all y’all just might like — Jack stole her granny’s horses and unbeknownst to either of them, the handsome outlaw hires lovely schoolmarm Eliza to teach him to read... of course they are In Love before he gets found out. Sigh.

(The second book is releasing right now, and the third one will be out next year. Doing edits on it just now, my editor suggested another story about one of the unseen characters so... there ya go!)

Better yet, my first-ever long, inspirational western historical, Claiming His Heart, will be released by Prairie Rose Publications this very month! I’m extra-thrilled... my mom just went into hospice care (she’s 93 and frail) so now I can give her a print copy for Christmas.  She’s never been able to Kindle e-books.

♥ ♥ ♥

Cowboys, kisses, and love in the holiday air make for a special recipe in each of these wonderful new stories. Christmas miracles can happen when you're 

Wishing for a Cowboy! 

A Christmas Miracle by Phyliss Miranda 

Acceptance comes not through frosty eyes, but from the warmth of loving hearts. 

Outlaw's Kiss by Cheryl Pierson 

A long-ago schooldays crush is rekindled by an Outlaw's Kiss that sparks true love, and a new future for Jake Morgan and Talia Delano. 

A Husband for Christmas by Sarah J. McNeal 

A haunting night of horror and a wish for a new life. 

Peaches by Kathleen Rice Adams 

When a strong-willed schoolteacher invades an irascible rancher's Texas range, not even the spirit of Christmas may be able to prevent all-out war. 

A Gift for Rhoda by Jacquie Rogers 

A mail-order bride disaster! 

Her Christmas Wish by Tracy Garrett 

Her only wish for Christmas was the man who left her behind. 

Covenant by Tanya Hanson 

Can a Christmas blizzard ignite love gone cold? 

Charlie's Pie by Livia J. Washburn 

A wounded man, a desperate woman, a gang of ruthless outlaws... and the best pecan pie in Parker County!

Kindle | Smashwords | Print

A Gift for Rhoda by Jacquie Rogers in WISHING FOR A COWBOY #romance #western

A Gift for Rhoda
by Jacquie Rogers
a short story in
Wishing for a Cowboy
Prairie Rose Publications

RTW is pleased to host the authors of Wishing for a Cowboy, the debut offering of Prairie Rose Publications.  It's available in ebook at Amazon and Smashwords, and in print at Amazon.

I'm my own guest today, actually, and what an honor to be included in this anthology! I’m a country girl at heart, raised on a dairy farm in Idaho — a great place to grow up.  My friend and I rode our horses all over the Owyhee Mountains and managed to get ourselves in just about every sort of pickle.  Now I live in the suburbs of Seattle with my husband who is also my cheerleader (sans pompoms) and proofreader.  I write in several genres including fantasy romance, and YA fantasy, but mostly western historical romance.  My latest release is Sleight of Heart.  The fourth book in my award-winning Hearts of Owyhee series, Much Ado About Miners, will be released later this month.

I love to hear from readers!  Please visit my website, sign up for my newsletter, or join the fun at the Pickle Barrel Bar & Books at Facebook.

My story in Wishing for a Cowboy is A Gift for Rhoda — A mail-order bride disaster!

Rhoda Johnson is stranded in a lonely cabin without a groom.  The townsfolk say she's better off without him, but her drunken groom sends a message that he'll claim her as his Christmas bride.  Gunman and ex-Confederate soldier Nate Harmon comes to Idaho to make peace with his abolitionist preacher father.  When half-frozen Nate reaches the cabin on a snowy Christmas Eve, instead of finding his folks, he's greeted by a pretty blonde with a shotgun who keeps calling him Mr. Snyder.  Will she shoot him, or melt his heart?

Jacquie Rogers

RTW: How did Nate and Rhoda come to you?  Were they fully formed, or were they stubborn about telling you their stories?

Jacquie: My first vision of this story was a huge bear of a man, Nate, huddled over from the cold, trudging up a mountain trail leading his tired horse.  What I didn’t know was why Nate would endure so much to get wherever he was going — but I knew his personality and how much he hurt inside.  I wrote the first scene and before I finished it, I saw Rhoda peeking through the cabin window.  She’s of mostly Swedish ancestry, a natural blond, but has had little available to eat so is thinner than she’d normally be.  Once I saw her, she jabbered in my ear to convince me she was the right woman for Nate — because I had my doubts.  She did sway me to her side, and I think Nate and Rhoda complement each other very well.

RTW: What is it about Christmas that lends itself to romance?  How is Rhoda’s Wedding Custard incorporated into your story and is it a part of your own family lore?

Jacquie: Christmas is the end of the year, the Winter Solstice, the dawn of new beginnings.  It’s a time where we practice the adage that it’s better to give than to receive.  Nate keeps giving but Rhoda doesn’t know what to make of either the gifts or the man.  

As for our own family food lore, it’s mostly based on delicious, down-home cooking.  When I was invited to participate in Wishing for a Cowboy, I panicked because our family doesn’t use recipes.  I cook and bake, but I come from a long line of “dumpers.”  A little of this, a handful of that, a dollop of that over there.  Stir until it feels right.  Oops, throw in a little more of that.  Stir again.  Now you know our family recipe for just about anything.  So I had to measure what I put in — which totally messes me up but luckily I’m married to an engineer.  He measured all my additions and subtractions and wrote up the recipe for Rhoda’s Wedding Custard printed in Wishing for a Cowboy.

RTW: If you lived in Rhoda’s house, how would you decorate it for Christmas?

Jacquie: I’d want that wonderful smell of Ponderosa Pine, so I’d decorate the sitting room with pine boughs and cones, maybe even berries if available, and ribbon would be pretty, too.  There might be room for a dinky Christmas tree in the corner.  I’d string anything I could find that’s colorful and make garlands for it.  Assuming I had string, of course.

RTW: What other books do you have for our readers to enjoy?

Jacquie:  My latest release is Sleight of Heart, the first in the High-Stakes Heroes series.  Next week, my traditional western short story, ’Twas the Fight Before Christmas, will be released in the Western Fictioneers anthology, Wolf Creek, Book 9: A Wolf Creek Christmas.  Later this month, the fourth book of the Hearts of Owyhee series will be released, Much Ado About Miners.

♥ Hearts of Owyhee ♥

Much Ado About Marshals

Much Ado About Madams

Much Ado About Mavericks

♥ ♥ ♥

Cowboys, kisses and love in the holiday air make for a special recipe in each of these wonderful new stories. Christmas miracles can happen when you're 

Wishing for a Cowboy! 

A Christmas Miracle by Phyliss Miranda 

Acceptance comes not through frosty eyes, but from the warmth of loving hearts. 

Outlaw's Kiss by Cheryl Pierson 

A long-ago schooldays crush is rekindled by an Outlaw's Kiss that sparks true love, and a new future for Jake Morgan and Talia Delano. 

A Husband for Christmas by Sarah J. McNeal 

A haunting night of horror and a wish for a new life. 

Peaches by Kathleen Rice Adams 

When a strong-willed schoolteacher invades an irascible rancher's Texas range, not even the spirit of Christmas may be able to prevent all-out war. 

A Gift for Rhoda by Jacquie Rogers 

A mail-order bride disaster! 

Her Christmas Wish by Tracy Garrett 

Her only wish for Christmas was the man who left her behind. 

Covenant by Tanya Hanson 

Can a Christmas blizzard ignite love gone cold? 

Charlie's Pie by Livia J. Washburn 

A wounded man, a desperate woman, a gang of ruthless outlaws... and the best pecan pie in Parker County!

Kindle | Smashwords | Print

Charlie's Pie by Livia J. Washburn in WISHING FOR A COWBOY

Charlie's Pie
by Livia J. Washburn
a short story in
Wishing for a Cowboy
Prairie Rose Publications

RTW is pleased to host the authors of Wishing for a Cowboy, the debut offering of Prairie Rose Publications.  It's available in ebook at Amazon and Smashwords, and in print at Amazon.

My special guest today is Livia J. Washburn, who's been writing award-winning, critically acclaimed western, romance, mystery, and historical novels for over thirty years. She's secretary and publisher at Western Fictioneers and co-owner of Prairie Rose Publications.

Livia's story in Wishing for a Cowboy is Charlie's Pie — Lauralee Brannam just wants to bake her son's favorite pie for his birthday, which happens to fall on Christmas Eve. But then a wounded stranger shows up on her Texas ranch, and his fateful visit leads to violence, tragedy, and redemption in this stirring Western tale.

RTW: How did Lauralee and Burke come to you?  Were they fully formed, or were they stubborn about telling you their stories?

Livia J. Washburn

Livia: They came to me almost fully formed. Both have secrets, or at least things about them that aren't immediately apparent, but I knew what those things were before I started the story. Because of the length, there isn't room for a great deal of history about either of them, but I was able to get in the important things, I think. Sometimes when I start a story I don't know that much about the characters and even less about what's going to happen, but that wasn't the case here. I have no idea why some stories are so much more developed in my head before I start writing, but it's a happy accident when it happens. Of course, I always allow myself the freedom to change my mind if something better occurs to me during the writing.

RTW: What is it about Christmas that lends itself to romance?  How is Charlie's Pecan Pie incorporated into your story and is it a part of your own family lore?

Livia: For me, Christmas lends itself to romance because it's a time of year when we take stock of our lives, a mile marker on another year nearly done, so to speak, a time to reflect on all the good things we have in our lives but also the things that we're missing. I had the heroine of "Charlie's Pie" bake a pecan pie because that's my youngest daughter's favorite type of pie, and I like it a lot, too. It's a central part of the story not only because it's the main catalyst for the action but also because of what it represents to Lauralee.

RTW: If you lived in Lauralee's house, how would you decorate it for Christmas?

Livia: If I lived in Lauralee's house, I would definitely have a Christmas tree. It's just not Christmas without a tree! I'd decorate it with colorful bows and ribbons and homemade ornaments carved from wood. If any holly plants grew in the area I'd put sprigs of holly on the fireplace mantle. I might have candles burning, too, but carefully. You don't want to be careless with candles when you live in a wooden cabin.

RTW: What other books do you have for our readers to enjoy?

Livia: I have a sweet romantic western that came out a few years ago, but is still available, Mending Fences. The eighth book in my Fresh Baked Mystery series, Wedding Cake Killer, was released in mass market paperback on November 5 (it's already available as a trade paperback or e-book), and #9, The Fatal Funnel Cake, was released in trade paperback and in e-book on the same day.

♥ ♥ ♥

Cowboys, kisses and love in the holiday air make for a special recipe in each of these wonderful new stories. Christmas miracles can happen when you're 

Wishing for a Cowboy! 

A Christmas Miracle by Phyliss Miranda 

Acceptance comes not through frosty eyes, but from the warmth of loving hearts. 

Outlaw's Kiss by Cheryl Pierson 

A long-ago schooldays crush is rekindled by an Outlaw's Kiss that sparks true love, and a new future for Jake Morgan and Talia Delano. 

A Husband for Christmas by Sarah J. McNeal 

A haunting night of horror and a wish for a new life. 

Peaches by Kathleen Rice Adams 

When a strong-willed schoolteacher invades an irascible rancher's Texas range, not even the spirit of Christmas may be able to prevent all-out war. 

A Gift for Rhoda by Jacquie Rogers 

A mail-order bride disaster! 

Her Christmas Wish by Tracy Garrett 

Her only wish for Christmas was the man who left her behind. 

Covenant by Tanya Hanson 

Can a Christmas blizzard ignite love gone cold? 

Charlie's Pie by Livia J. Washburn 

A wounded man, a desperate woman, a gang of ruthless outlaws... and the best pecan pie in Parker County!

Kindle | Smashwords | Print

Happy Reading in 2012!

Happy Holidays!

Did you get that ereader you wanted?  Have you figured out how to use it yet?  I was surprised how easy it was to get in the swing of things.

Mr R gave me a Kindle last spring.  I thought I wouldn't like it but after about fifteen minutes, I was a dyed-in-the-wool ebook fan.  The convenience, the adjustable font, the space savings, the easy reading--yes, I'm a convert for sure!  And I loved it so much, I gave my daughter one for her birthday, and now my grandson for his birthday--with a gift certificate for Christmas. :)

There are tons of great buys right now, so if you have a new ereader, you're in for a treat.  My books are on special, too!  So of course I'd love for you to try one.  These books are available in print, too.

Much Ado About Marshals

Like romance? Love stories about the old west? Want a dreamy cowboy to cuddle up and read about? Then this is the book for you.  ~~My Eclectic Bookshelf, 5 dragonflies

Daisy Gardner wants to be a detective just like dime novel heroine Honey Beaulieu.  To her delight, her sister shot a bank robber and he got away, so now she even has a crime to solve. But her parents insist she marry a man whose farm is miles from town.  She can't solve crimes stuck out there. What better solution than to marry the new marshal!

Rancher Cole Richards saves his friend from robbing a bank, but is shot for his efforts, and now is a wanted man.  His friend takes him to Oreana to see the doc, where Cole's mistaken for the new marshal.  Now he faces a dilemma few men have to face--tell the truth and hang, or live a lie and end up married. Either way could cost him his freedom.

Faery Merry Christmas

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Romance has gone awry in Faeryshire.Who would've thought Mr. and Mrs. Claus's daughter would be "on the shelf"? Yep, Cheshya's all a'flutter because her 2,000th birthday, the last day she's eligible to take a mate, is on Christmas, only four days away, but Liam of the Red Clan, the only man she has ever wanted is otherwise occupied . . .

Terra Humanus in 1956: carhops on roller skates, the submarine races, a pink Nash Metropolitan, Lucky Strikes, Little Richard, and the Shoreline Sharks Baseball Club starring ace pitcher Liam Stone.

For the past five years, Liam of the Red Clan has lived in Terra Humanus, pitching for the Shoreline Sharks and obsessed with signing as a major league pitcher with the Cincinnati Reds. The faery queen sends Cheshya to help him achieve his goal, but in signing with the Reds, will he lose out on his true heart's desire?

What will it take to make a Faery Merry Christmas?

"What faery fun! A winsome sprite's barely still-ticking time clock. Mayhem in the land of Claus. And the man who could wave just the right magic wand obsessed with baseball. A Christmas story to cuddle up with--and keep you really warm." Stella Cameron, NYT Best-selling Author

You can find my other award-winning books at my website:

http://www.jacquierogers.com/books.html

Happy Reading in 2012!

Winter Festivities in the Old West

by Jacquie Rogers

Yule Brings Celebration For All

The snow blows nearly sideways as it blankets the range. Ranch hands hunker down in their saddles, scarves over their ears and their Stetsons protecting them from the fierce wind. They dream of a warm fire and hot buttered rum. But they have livestock to save from freezing and starvation, so they ride on.

It's Christmas on the open range. Miserable for man and beast. But it isn't just another day at the office, so to speak. They whittle gifts for one another, sing a few carols as they sit around the campfire warming their hands and feet. Cook gives them a hot meal--the finest beans with maybe some meat thrown in. And with a little luck, Cook would bake an apple pie. Life couldn't be better and they thank their lucky stars for a sound horse and solid tack.

(Yes, I know these cattle are a modern breed and very fat, but it's the only picture I could find.)



Ahavath Beth Israel Congregation



Chanukkah in the mines

It's the 1860's in Silver City, Idaho. The Festival of Lights has been celebrated in the West since the beginning of frontier settlement, but not like their counterparts back East who have a warm and dry place to worship with their families. A menorah can be lit anywhere, and the Jewish silver miners do just that. They pray, play a little dreidel, and think a lot of home.

The picture to the left is the oldest continuously used synagogue west of the Mississippi. It's located in Boise, Idaho, and was built in 1896 by the Beth Israel congregation, now called the Ahavath Beth Israel congregation. Very beautiful.

Christmas on the farm

Everyone has chores to do every day. Cows needs milked, livestock needs watered and fed, eggs need gathered, and the barnyard needs to be tidied (to use a gentile term). So after the chores are done, the family can gather together and celebrate Christmas with what meager resources they have. If they don't have evergreen trees to spare, they might decorate a sagebrush with popcorn and berries. They make ornaments with precious bits of paper and scraps of cloth. Peach tins make nice ornaments, too, and they shine in the firelight.

1876 Christmas, Harper's Weekly

Their celebration might be more humble than those in the eastern cities, but they have a grand time, nevertheless. The women cook for days. They're resourceful and whatever they have available will do for a fine pie or stew. The Christmas feast could consist of chicken, venison, or maybe a ham, along with homemade rolls, freshly churned butter, potatoes and gravy, and pies--maybe one made with dried apples and a vinegar pie. Each family member has made modest gifts for the others and even the smallest child has labored over precious gifts--maybe a drawing or a doll made of sticks. They sing carols, maybe read the Bible, and if they're close enough to town, maybe even go to church.

For most Christian families, Christmas is a day for family togetherness and to show their love and appreciation for one another, as well as celebrating the religious aspect of the holy day.

Christmas for Outlaws, Gunslingers, and Cyprians

The saloon owner brings small gifts for the working ladies, the bartender, the resident gambler, and a few of the regulars. A few cowpunchers bring gifts for their favorite girl. They might have a nice meal together before they open for business, and even then, the customers are few. It's one night they can relax.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

My gift to you: send a message to jacquierogers @ gmail.com (no spaces) and let me know which book you'd like, Faery Merry Christmas or Much Ado About Marshals and I'll send you a Smashwords coupon for a free book.  Offer ends 10pm Pacific Time, December 19th.

Grandma's Guaranteed-to-put-you-in-a-sugar-coma Pumpkin Bread

Grandma's

Guaranteed-to-put-you-in-a-sugar-coma

Pumpkin Bread

Faery Merry Christmas

Oven: 350 degrees

3½ cups flour
3 cups sugar
1½ tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

4 eggs
2½ cups pumpkin
1 cup cooking oil
2/3 cup water

1 cup pecans

Grease and flour 2 loaf pans (I prefer parchment paper)

Sift dry ingredients and mix
Stir in liquid ingredients
Stir in nuts
Pour into loaf pans
Let sit 30 minutes

Bake for 60 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan (or it will fall apart)

Eat and enjoy! But be ready to dial 911 when your head buzzes off from the sugar rush. :)

Happy Holidays!

Looking Ahead

It's June. While the Northeast is cooking, it's cold June in the Pacific Northwest, the coldest since they started keeping records in 1894! My tomatoes haven't grown even a smidgen since I planted them a month ago. Nevertheless, summer is coming (we hope).

But I'm a writer, and everything writers do is for a project that won't come to fruition for months or sometimes years ahead. So what did I work on this week?


Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues--to be released this fall from Highland Press. Not only did my editor and I work on the manuscript, but I've been working on the book video. And good news--my niece's bf, who wrote the theme song for my book video, just signed a recording contract! Check out Justin Saragueta on myspace. He's awesome. (So's my niece!)

Faery Merry Christmas--yes, a Christmas novella featuring the faery princess and matchmaker, Keely.

Looking ahead to 2009:

I'm working on a pirate novella for Love on a Dead Man's Chest with Cynthia Breeding and Deborah MacGillivray. Here's a sneak peak at the cover:

Next project: Romancing the Dragon. I'm so looking forward to writing the pirate and the dragon novellas. :)

And, of course, there're the ongoing projects that I'm writing on spec. I really love these stories!



Jacquie




Faery Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Bebo *** Faery World

Coming soon: Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues

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