Book review: Every Girl's Dream by Cheryl Pierson

Blurb:

Forced to leave home, after being shamed, Sheena McTavish is surprised by the kindness of a stranger. Callen Chandler, a U.S. Army scout, is unexpectedly stricken with compassion for the lonely, green-eyed young woman he discovers being sick behind the stage office.

After Indians attack the stagecoach carrying Sheena west, an injured Cal and a terrified, but determined, Sheena find themselves thrown together in a struggle for survival.

My Review:

I adored this short and sweet story!! Of course, it was so good, I would loved to have had it be longer, but then it wouldn't have been the short story I was needing, either!

Sheena impressed me with her grace and softness and accepting nature. She carried a heavy burden, and yes, she struggled with it, as anyone would, but she also wouldn't let it fully define and control her, either. Her spirit matched Cal's perfectly and she was able to give him what he needed: empathy, acceptance, and love.

Cal didn't shy away when he saw a woman in need, or from the hard stuff. He kept being her rescuerer every time she needed it, and the way he claimed Sheena melted my heart!

There was so much in the book that I love to experience in my stories: low drama, high on connection/spark, fun and dangerous adventures, swoony heroes and charming heroines. Definitely loved my time with Cal and Sheena!

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Book review: Rescue Trail by Darrel Sparkman

Blurb:

Jake Rawlings was broken. One senseless killing and the loss of his wife left him without an anchor. Guilt and bitterness pushed him to turn in his badge. When he decides to follow the trail of a lone woman on the prairie, he’s led to a feisty widow and her daughter fighting for their lives. Saving them was easy. Can he save himself?

My Review:
I quickly fell in love with this story from first page to last!! Rescue Trail is a charming little escape that gives you heart, laughter, and a touch of bad@ss excitement.

Jake is kinda lost and wandering around after losing his wife years ago and hasn't really figured out what to do next. Then he runs into a lady who needs a bit of help, but there's some sparks and attitude she's dishing out. Watching them play off the other and breathe some life back into Jake is a charming hoot.

If you want a quick little story to set up some fun daydreams (because really, I'd've loved to see this become a longer novella or even a full length novel.. Seeing Lady and Jake partner up and take on the world together would be awesome!!) or just to fully entertain when you don't got alot of time for an escape, this story would be perfect!

This part made me giggle probably more than it should have, but it's still so true.

“Lady, there’s only one rule in a gunfight.”
She looked at him with moist eyes. “Which is?”
He leaned toward her. “Don’t get shot.” 


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Book Review: Valentine Angel by Gail L Jenner

Blurb:

Jake Morris is a lawman, but—wounded and near dead—his survival depends upon Mary Hastings who discovers him half-hidden in her family’s woodshed. Practical, determined Mary nurses him back to health. But danger is not far off; the outlaw who wounded him has continued to pursue him, and now threatens both Mary and her sister, as well. More than just an intriguing and attractive woman, Mary becomes the Valentine Angel who not only helped heal Jake’s body, but also helped heal his heart.

My review:

Mary and her sister, Sarah, have their hands full when they discover a wounded man in their shed. Mary quickly shows the strength and resourcefulness of her character by taking charge and taking care of the wounded sherrif. She's definitely no nonsense, and hasn't fully given up on her dream of her own hea.

Jake was wounded by a outlaw he was tracking, and somehow managed to make it to a safe spot where he could find help and healing. And not just help and healing for recovering from the gunshots, but he also found healing for his heart. He was man enough to accept help, and man enough to claim his woman! Who wouldn't want to be his angel?

This is a cute little valentine story to spend an hour getting lost in.

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Book Review: The Bank Robber's Lament by Sara Barnard

Blurb:

With his troubled past never far from his mind, the once-handsome Smith heads out to lose himself in the anonymity offered by the American West. When he arrives in Gabriel's Settlement, Texas he succumbs to the lifestyle of quick money and adventuresome living offered by a gang of wily bank robbers. It isn't until he crosses paths with Johanna Johannsen and her daughter Sadie that Smith discovers he isn't the only person in Texas with a looming past, and some people's devils are much closer to home than his own. When he learns of the Dalton Gang's plans to stick up the bank in Gabriel's Settlement, Smith must make a choice. But is he strong enough to face his past and be the man his own father couldn't be? **SWEET**

My Review:

This is a cute (very) short story with alot of sweet. A troubled, lost man and a hurting woman find their way to a start of a hea through a precious child and a few bad choices turned surprisingly not so bad.


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Book review: A Westward Adventure by Kristy McCaffrey

Blurb:

Aspiring novelist Amelia Mercer travels from New York City to Colorado to help her injured aunt recover. When the stage is robbed and her luggage stolen, bounty hunter Ned Waymire comes to her aid, acquainted with the harmless culprit and wanting to spare the boy. But Ned also seeks to impress the independent young woman. Amelia's wish to never marry, however, clashes with Ned's desire to keep her reputation intact. When a final bounty from Ned's past threatens their future, she knows that A Westward Adventure isn’t just the title of her novel, but the new course of her life.

My Review:

What a cute cute cute story!!

I was looking for something short and sweet just for an hour or so escape and this totally fit the ticket! Amelia was spunky and sassy. Ned was laid back and funny and quite the gentleman for being a rough and tumble bounty hunter. Together they were adorable!

If you are looking for a easy going sweet read, this is one to pick up!

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Book review: Guarding Her Heart by Livia J. Washburn

Blurb:

Julia Courtland was on her way west to marry a man she had never met. Henry Everett, the marshal of Flat Rock, Texas, was the grandson of her uncle's best friend. It seemed like a good match for both of them, and the wedding was scheduled to take place on Valentine's Day.

Grant Stafford thought the young woman who got on the stagecoach at Buffalo Springs was the prettiest thing he had seen in a long time. She wasn't too friendly, mind you, but she was sure easy on the eyes. Not that Grant had time to worry much about such things. He was the shotgun guard on this run, but more than that, he was an undercover Texas Ranger on the trail of the vicious outlaw gang responsible for a string of stagecoach robberies.

Fate threw Julia Courtland and Grant Stafford together on a cold February day in West Texas, but it also threw deadly obstacles in their path. A runaway team, a terrible crash, and bullets flying through the air threaten to steal not only their lives but also any chance they have for happiness. If they're going to survive, they will have to learn to trust each other . . . and maybe steal their hearts back from fate.

My Review:

Guarding Her Heart is an adventurously charming fast-movin' little story that keeps you smiling from beginning to end.  Provin' how captivating a Texas Ranger can be, Grant doesn't lack in the sweepin' me off my feet department... er... sweeping Julia off her feet.  haha!  Julia owns a essence that will serve her well in her future as Grant's wife.  I love how despite her need to be protected, she can surprise you with her spirit - exactly what a man like Grant needs and wants in his life.
If you're looking for an hour or less read to fully experience, grab this story!!

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Mail-Order Bride Valentine's Day-themed Short Story by Kaye Spencer

My contribution to the new Valentine's Day-themed western romance anthology—Lariats, Letters, and Lace—from Prairie Rose Publications is Mail-Order Mix Up.

Mail-Order Mix Up is set in the fictional town of Platte River City, Colorado, which is located on the South Platte River about 100 miles east of Denver. Another of my stories with Prairie Rose Publications, A Permanent Woman, is also set in this town, and several characters have cameos on Mail-Order Mix Up.

The gist of Mail-Order Mix Up is this:

Remarrying isn’t on widower Dale Forbes’ mind, but his three young granddaughters want a grandma. Widow Irene Maxon yearns for something more than the disappointments life has handed her. A mail-order bride catalog, a secret letter, and a blizzard combine to set the scene for match-making between Dale and Irene. However, another man expects Irene to fulfill their marriage agreement, and he isn’t going to take no as her answer.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Forgive me for intruding unannounced, especially during your festivities. I’m here to return—”

“Oh, there you are, Dale, Violet,” Eloy broke in. “This is Irene Maxon from St. Louis.”

Irene followed Eloy’s wave and recognized the man and the girl coming along the hallway from the photograph she’d received with the letter. She also noted with more than passing interest that the photograph had not adequately captured Dale’s handsome maturity, strong chin, and fine, broad-shouldered physique. Before she could greet them, movement at the top of the stairs drew her attention, and she looked up to see a girl descending one slow stair at a time, her hand trailing lightly along the banister. The girl stopped midway down and looked right at Irene, the little satisfied smirk on her lips as pleasant as the sparkle in her eyes. So this was Meredith—the instigator of the marriage invitation.

Then a wisp of a child with braids flying burst through the midst of the group with a shriek of squealing delight. When she leaped, Irene instinctively caught her, staggering backwards a few steps under the child’s momentum. The girl clamped her arms around Irene’s neck with a grip so tight Irene couldn’t turn her head.

“Grandma! You’re here. You’re really here. I knew you’d come. I just knew it!”

Lydia’s face broke into a bright smile. Clara Jean clapped her hands and blurted, “It worked! She really got Meredith’s letter!”

All attention swung to Clara Jean who realized too late what she’d said as she ducked for cover behind the coat tree.

The few seconds of solemn, stunned silence shattered into echoes when Dale’s booming voice rebounded off the walls. “Meredith Margaret Forbes! What have you been up to now?”

But Meredith was nowhere in sight.

Lariats, Letters, and Lace - available at Amazon.com

Until next time

Kaye

Writing the West one romance at a time
www.kayespencer.com

A Westward Adventure

By Kristy McCaffrey

I'm pleased to share that my short story, A Westward Adventure, is now available as a single sell for 99 cents. (It previously appeared in the COWBOY KISSES anthology.)

Aspiring novelist Amelia Mercer travels from New York City to Colorado to aid an injured aunt. When the stage is robbed and her luggage stolen, bounty hunter Ned Waymire comes to her aid, acquainted with the harmless culprit and wanting to spare the boy. But Ned also seeks to impress the independent young woman. Amelia's wish to never marry, however, clashes with Ned's desire to keep her reputation intact. When a final bounty from Ned's past threatens their future, she knows that A Westward Adventure isn’t just the title of her novel but the new course of her life.

Rating: Sweet

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords

Excerpt

The front door opened and shut, and in the next instant Ned Waymire filled the parlor entryway. As soon as Amelia locked eyes with him, he froze.

“Ned, I’d like you to meet my niece, Amelia Mercer.” Teddy waved him into the room. “Amelia, this is Ned Waymire. He boards here. There’s also another gentleman, but he’s been away recently.”

Mister Waymire removed his hat, revealing dark hair, and cleared his throat. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, miss.” He stepped forward to take her hand.

The touch was warm and his sun-darkened fingers overwhelmed her pale ones. As she smiled and nodded, she tried to ignore the tingling sensation that crept up her arm. Up close, he exuded even more strength than was apparent in the marshal’s office.

A man who spent his days outdoors.

A man who called the earth his home.

Vivid blue eyes stood out on a sun- and whisker-darkened face.

He was the perfect western hero.

“I just saw you,” she said, glad her voice sounded calm considering how her insides quivered.

“That’s right.”

He stepped back from her.

“You’re not married, are you, Amelia?” Teddy asked.

“No, ma’am.”

“Why, neither is Ned.”

Heat suffused Amelia’s cheeks. “I don’t believe in marriage, much like you Aunt Teddy.” The words rushed out of Amelia. “Women don’t need men to make their way in the world. Why, look at you? You’ve done quite well on your own.”

“I’ve never been placed on a pillar,” Teddy said. “What do you think of that, Ned? I’m a woman of example.”

“I won’t argue with that,” Ned replied.

“Did you get Billings?” Teddy asked.

“Yep. You were right. He was in Old Man Hill’s abandoned mine.”

“I knew it.” Teddy chuckled under her breath.

“Are you a bounty hunter, too?” Amelia asked.

Teddy cackled. “No, but I could be. Don’t you think, Ned?”

“You’d outgun us all, Teddy.”

Amelia sensed an affection between the two, and it warmed her heart, although this entire reunion with her aunt was far different than anything she imagined. She knew she had the first chapter of her new novel.

“I’ll just be turning in now, ladies,” Ned said.

Amelia, her cheeks still warm from being in the same room with him, met his eyes briefly then looked away in embarrassment.

What if he thinks I like him?

She imagined the type of woman he fancied was far from the likes of her. Why, he probably thought her a silly city girl. And he’d be right. But her mama had long taught her to be an independent thinker, to believe that a woman’s mind was equal to a man’s. Most of Amelia’s writings had been social commentaries, addressing important issues such as the educational welfare of children, the plight of the homeless and less fortunate, and the lack of voice the average woman had within marriage. But in her heart, she longed to pen an adventurous tale of a woman who not only sees the world, but tames a man in the process, who finds love with an equal, inciting passion in her partner.

She hadn’t told her mother she planned to write such a novel—she’d likely think it beneath Amelia—but her heart burned with the desire to share the story singing in her heart. Coming to visit Aunt Theodora had offered the perfect blend of adventure and inspiration.

Ned Waymire departed the room and his footsteps could be heard climbing the staircase.

That man was the epitome of adventure and inspiration.

Copyright © 2015 K. McCaffrey LLC

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Canyon Crossing

By Kristy McCaffrey

Last month Prairie Rose Publications celebrated ‘Christmas in July’ with a collection of short story releases. Included in this promotion was my tale, Canyon Crossing.

The idea for the story came from a hike I took in the Grand Canyon a few years ago with my husband and my dad. Grandview Trail, from the South Rim, is an access route from the rim to the Colorado River that’s been in use since 1890 when miner Pete Berry began working the Last Chance Mine. Before that, Hopi Indians gathered mineral paints in the area (Horseshoe Mesa) long before Berry arrived, creating early pathways.

The view from Grandview Trail.

Day hiking in Grand Canyon doesn’t require a permit, so on a chilly morning in March we set out to descend and climb back out before the sun set. Grandview Trail isn’t a beginner’s hike: the uppermost sections are steep, grueling switchbacks, and because long stretches were covered with ice and snow, very dangerous. One slip could easily lead to a plunge over the side. So, having my heroine tumble into the canyon was very realistic.

Me on one of the more precarious passages.

We spent three hours dropping 2500 feet in elevation. The scenery was breathtaking and I was amazed at the sheer cliffs we descended. We were forced to cling to the rocks like mountain goats in some parts, aided by micro-spikes attached to our hiking boots to tackle the icy patches.

My husband.

We made it as far as Horseshoe Mesa, a total of 3.2 miles. Several old copper mines are located in the area and the paths are fairly well-marked, along with signs warning of radiation. (Excessive amounts of radon are present.) We had hoped to continue out onto the Mesa and enjoy a view of the Colorado River, but were forced to turn around and head back to the top so we wouldn’t get caught on the trail after dark.

My dad and I close to Horseshoe Mesa.

A section of the trail.

Some of the trail was on rock.

In search of her brother, Annabel Cross enters Grand Canyon with a guide and a mule. When circumstances have her hanging from a cliff side, her rescue at the hands of U.S. Deputy Marshal Angus Docherty is fortuitous in more ways than one. He’s chasing the notorious Red Bandit, and it soon becomes clear that Annabel’s brother is mixed up with the criminal as well. While the marshal believes she may be in on a double-cross, she has a more pressing secret to hide. She can talk to deceased spirits, and she wonders whether to tell Angus about the old Apache ever near to him.

(This story previously appeared in the LASSOING A GROOM anthology.)

Only 99 cents

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Upcoming Christmas in July event: 'A Gift of Christmas Hope' video by Kaye Spencer

With the Prairie Rose Pubications' Christmas in July event right around the corner (24th), I'm sharing my brand spanking new book video for my story contribution to the festivities. My story, A Gift of Christmas Hope, is from the 2014 Wild Texas Christmas anthology.

Until next time,

Kaye

A little flower magic by Kaye Spencer

[NOTE: This post is a variation of the original one I wrote for another blog a couple of months ago. I'm re-sharing it here because it is timely to the current Halloween-themed anthology releases from Prairie Rose Publications.]


My story contribution to the Cowboys, Creatures, and Calico Anthology, Volume 2—For Love of a Brystile Witch—involves a hereditary witch for whom fate brings the last living male descendant of the judge who condemned her grandmother, of 10 generations in the past, to hang as a witch. In creating the heroine’s home, I drew upon three of my personal interests, which are paganism, witchcraft, and medicinal herbal lore. I have an extensive collection of resources on these subjects and, some of what I know, I learned first-hand from my maternal grandfather. Although it was never said outright, as I look back on my childhood and teen years, I realize my grandfather was probably a solitary practitioner of 'pagan' beliefs. As a youngster, I knew the community thought he was odd and eccentric, but they seemed to accept his oddness with amused acceptance.

But back to my heroine’s story…

Since she supports herself by selling the tinctures, salves, oils, powders, etc. that she makes from the plants she grows, I managed to work in a line about how she uses the essential oil from the orange cosmos flower.

While cosmos flowers have no particular herbal or medicinal attributes other than attracting certain insects that prey on 'worse' insects, the flower does attract fairies (I didn't include that in the story.) The main reason to grow cosmos in your yard or garden is for their powerful influence in sorting out life's confusions and for helping to put everyday 'things' in order. These flowers offer the 'gift' of integrating body and spirit to keep them in sync with each other, while also assisting with a person's clarity of thinking (as in keeping a sharp focus).

Although the flowers have a light, barely discernible scent, cosmos are not for picking or confining in a vase in the middle of the dining room table on display. These flowers are free spirits meant to be treasured in their natural environment. They are a silent flower, meaning they make no sound in the wind when they rub against each other—they keep your secrets.

Cosmos are low-maintenance perennials that thrive in adverse conditions of poor soil and little water, but they do need a lot of sunlight. They bloom in late June to mid-July and will continue to bloom through frost. Once the flowers dry up, the seeds are available for hand-harvesting. Store the harvested seeds in such a way that they can dry out before putting them in a paper sack until ready to plant. You don't want them to mold. Stored seeds are still viable after several years of dormancy. If you plant a new bed of cosmos, just scratch them into the ground, and lightly cover with dirt to keep birds from eating the seeds.


The word 'cosmos' derives from the Greek 'kosmos', which means order and harmony and also 'the world'. Cosmos are considered group flowers because each individual flower grows close to its neighbor to offer the strength of community effort to withstand the onslaught of the wind. To take this farther, cosmos flowers embody a balance of the magical elements of Air, Fire, Earth, and Water, in that order, and here is why...

AIR
At its heart, the cosmos is a flower of the wind. It thrives in windy conditions, which makes it a perfect prairie flower, which is where I live. It is a tall plant that reaches toward the sky and will often grow to chest high, especially the pastels of the pink, purple, red, and white varieties. The orange variety, which is my favorite, has a different leaf structure from the pastels and does not grow as tall. All colors of flower heads sway in a graceful dance in the tiniest of breezes. The stalks are flexible, yet strong enough to withstand even strong winds. The foliage is fernlike, which gives it an airy quality. The blossoms, though delicate, flutter with the wind rather than take succumb to the wind's battering. The seeds are well-adapted to blowing in the wind for distribution.


FIRE
Cosmos thrive in hot, sun-beaten conditions with little shade or even a lack of shade. It seems they 'look' for places to grow that expose them to the heat and light of the sun without even the tiniest hope respite from the heat. In the wild, cosmos choose to thrive in dry and sunbaked, ground, and they prosper during the hottest, driest time of the year, which is during the height of the summer and into early autumn. The blossoms expand up and then outwards in the manner of the sun's rays. The centers of each flower are dark to flame-yellow, and the blossoms tend to orient their faces towards the sun. When the woody stems dry after frost, they can be used as fire-starter material.


EARTH
The main stem of the cosmos flower appears spindly and willowy, but are actually thick, tough, and woody. They have a strong connection to the Earth element because of their expansive root system, which is in counterbalance to their tall, branching stems, thus allowing the plant to resist uprooting by wind.


WATER
Because the cosmos plant is made up of thin, flat, dry-to-the-feel leaves with stems that offer minimal area for transpiration or moisture retention, and that the plant physically needs little water to thrive, the element of Water is the lesser of the elemental attributes. However, when water is available, the cosmos takes full advantage and does not waste a drop. Since the cosmos is in full bloom in the late summer/early autumn and is considered an autumn flower, the Water element is actually strong in it because the ancient Celtic calendar associates autumn with the element of Water.


Sadly, my cosmos patches have all but dried up as we move farther into the autumn season. I'll wait until spring arrives to pull up the old stalks to make way for the new sprouts, because many 'critters' find shelter throughout the winter in the dense midst of the flower beds.


Until next month,


Kaye


Fall in love...faster, harder, deeper with Kaye Spencer romances
www.kayespencer.com
Twitter - @kayespencer


**Pictures from Kaye's back yard**
Note - for more information about Cosmos flowers, visit: http://www.americanmeadows.com/wildflower-folklore and http://www.flowersociety.org/Cosmos-plant-study.htm

Cowboys, Creatures, and Calico, Volumes 1 & 2

available on Amazon and other on-line book distributors

Vol. 1: http://amzn.com/B00NVX5Y2C

Vol. 2: http://amzn.com/B00NVXNT5G