#New Release -- HER SANCTUARY

#NewRelease...  

It never ceases to be exciting to see those words and know I wrote that story!  HER SANCTUARY--that's the new release--is the next in my River's Bend series. I challenged my heroine and hero, Maggie & Kris, to work their way through a lot of difficulties before they found that Happy Ever After at the end.

Abandoned in River’s Bend, Missouri, by the members of an uncharitable wagon train headed west, Maggie Flanaghan finds herself in trouble with nowhere to turn. But in the citizens of the small town, she discovers friends and acceptance upon the death of her dear father—and catches the attention of the town’s most eligible bachelor. When her past threatens to destroy her happiness, she must choose to flee or fight for the sanctuary of a good man’s love.
Kristoph Oltmann hadn’t planned on still being alone with no wife and partner to share his life.  He thought Maggie Flanaghan was the answer to his prayers, but her secret past makes her unsuitable as a preacher’s wife. Can he believe Maggie has been heaven-sent in spite of her predicament? Can he be HER SANCTUARY, even as she is exactly what he longs for—a haven for his heart?

I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I did writing it. To whet your appetite, here's a short excerpt:


“Witch! Witch! Witch!”

Maggie stumbled, righting herself before Jones could grab her arm. “I’m not a witch!” An icy wind whistled between the buildings on either side of the narrow street. Leaves, left behind by the winds of winter, skittered and rolled across her dusty shoes.

The street narrowed and climbed slightly, civilization fading behind the flickering flames of lanterns and torches. Her hip threatened to buckle beneath her. Frantic, she tried to get her bearings. She’d explored River’s Bend the first afternoon they’d made camp north of the little town, but that was two weeks ago and, in the darkness, she was confused. The moon was nearly full, but it was hidden in clouds. If this hill turned out to be the natural rise overlooking the river, she would not survive the night, for she couldn’t swim.

The mob’s chanting continued, growing louder and more frenzied. “Why are you doing this?” she cried. All she wanted was to make her father well so they could continue their journey to her aunt in Denver. Knowing the plants, their uses both good and evil, came naturally to her. She’d not been trained, but had somehow always understood their purposes. But the superstitious settlers thought her knowledge was demon-spawned. “Please,” she begged. I’m no witch. I only want my father to—”

She screamed when a rough hand grasped her cloak. Spinning away, she yanked free. “Don’t touch me!” They kept coming, forcing her backward in the darkness, another step, another, still another, as the crowd gained ground. When she slammed into someone, tall, broad, and obviously strong, and he didn’t sway at the impact, her terror stole even her voice. She was trapped.

#Giveaway   Oh, heck!  Let's give away a copy, ebook, your choice of format.  Just leave a comment. Or...

You may purchase your copy of HER SANCTUARY at Amazon Kindle, Amazon Print, or Smashwords.  Enjoy!

#NewRelease - HER SANCTUARY by TRACY GARRETT - #Giveaway

Abandoned in River’s Bend, Missouri, by the members of an uncharitable wagon train headed west, Maggie Flanaghan finds herself in trouble with nowhere to turn. But in the citizens of the small town, she discovers friends and acceptance upon the death of her dear father—and catches the attention of the town’s most eligible bachelor. When her past threatens to destroy her happiness, she must choose to flee or fight for the sanctuary of a good man’s love.

Kristoph Oltmann hadn’t planned on still being alone with no wife and partner to share his life.  He thought Maggie Flanaghan was the answer to his prayers, but her secret past makes her unsuitable as a preacher’s wife. Can he believe Maggie has been heaven-sent in spite of her predicament? Can he be HER SANCTUARY, even as she is exactly what he longs for—a haven for his heart?

EXCERPT

River’s Bend, Missouri, early March, 1855

     The mob harassed Margaret Flanaghan ahead of them, their zeal washing over her in a wave of prejudice and hatred. “I was only gathering medicines for my father.” Her rising terror drained the conviction from her voice, leaving her with nothing, not even a defense. Sharp pains stabbed her bad hip, increasing her limp until she was having trouble staying ahead of them.

     “Medicine?” Mr. Jones swung his lantern at her face, forcing her back another step. “Is that what you call that potion over your fire, witch?”

     “It wasn’t a potion. It was tea. I was only steeping willow bark tea. For his pain.”

     “You were practicing the devil’s arts, witch!”

     The crowd of men and women, even a few of the precious children, people with whom she’d traveled from St. Louis, had thought were friends, took up the chant.

     “Witch! Witch! Witch!”

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Mother's Day and Therapeutic Writing by Sarah J. McNeal

I dread Mother’s Day. It’s not that I don’t wish for those of you who are mothers or have mothers living to have a miserable day or something, it’s just me and what the day brings to me.

Me and Mom...the Steinbeck Grapes of Wrath version

I loved the way we celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom. Most often, we served her breakfast in bed and later, we had a special dinner to celebrate her. Most often, if the weather prevailed, we had the dinner outdoors in the orchard. Rainy days it was the screened-in porch. Living in the south, Mother’s Day generally fell on a warm day, sometimes even hot. With no air conditioning, we usually opted for an outdoor celebration. I can still remember the sun shining down on us, the smell of Mom’s roses, and the warm breeze blowing through the Pear and Apple trees. No matter what we gave her, Mom always seemed to love our presents.

My mother spent most of my growing up years fighting rheumatic heart disease. I never really understood how brave she was or what she endured for our sakes. I didn’t know until she died. She spent her last days on Earth in a room across from the nurses’ station on the unit where I worked at Mercy Hospital. At least I got to spend time with her while I was at work. On Thanksgiving Day in 1974 I tried to get her to eat, but she was too sick. By the next evening, she had left this earthly plane. She was only fifty-four. I was twenty-seven. I wasn’t ready. Even though she’d been steadily losing her health, I was unprepared to let her go.

Mom in the 1950's With Her Pop Bead Necklace

Even now, as Mother’s Day approaches, I feel the dread of it bearing down like a dark cloud.

The good thing is, I can use my writer's therapy. When I write about mothers in my Wildings stories, I find it’s uplifting. I give them great husbands, loving children, and good health. I do have my favorites. Lola Wilding is everything I ever wished for my mother. She is healthy, witty, and knows things because she’s actually come from the future. I love Lola’s sarcasm and nonchalance when she’s faced with a challenge. And I love the way Harmonica Joe loves her.

I give the Wildings plenty of years to spend with their parents. Wilding Moms have a way of being involved and show their love for their children, even when their children are adults. Whenever I write about these moms, I get to celebrate my mother and what I would have loved to have shared with her as I grew into my older years.

For those of you who are mothers or have living mothers, I wish you a splendid Mother’s Day this Sunday. I hope you treasure your moms and your children as much as you can in the time you have with them. Mothers are quiet champions.

Sarah J. McNeal is a multi-published author of several genres including time travel, paranormal, western and historical fiction. She is a retired ER and Critical Care nurse who lives in North Carolina with her four-legged children, Lily, the Golden Retriever and Liberty, the cat. 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 Prairie Rose Publications and its imprints Painted Pony Books, and Fire Star Press. Some of her fantasy and paranormal books may also be found at Publishing by Rebecca Vickery and Victory Tales Press. She welcomes you to her website and social media:

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It's RODEO Time in Scott Valley ............. Gail L. Jenner

It's Rodeo Time in our valley -- Scott Valley -- just a hop, skip and jump across the state line into California from Oregon. This year will have marked the 69th annual Pleasure Park Rodeo and it's an event that not only attracts locals from all over the area, it attracts visitors from around the north state and the West. It takes place every first Sunday in May, hence the big day will have occurred just "yesterday!"

P.S. I'm sure I'm dirty and exhausted and hopefully am fast asleep after a LONG day of fun and sun and dirt and dust! Horses put away.....?  Kids in bed....? Laundry piled up in the laundry room or on the back porch....?

You bet......

Although the Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo started out as an entirely local activity back in the 1940s -- when a group of young men, looking for something exciting to do, were approached by an old cowboy who thought he could help them out. One of the young men had been playing horse polo at West Point and when he came home, he had gathered his friends together and introduced them to the wild sport. From there, it was only a matter of time that an arena was built!

From that auspicious beginning grew the roots of our county's most famous rodeo. At first it was only local cowboys and local "stock" but in a few years, the sport drew larger and larger crowds. It eventually became a professionally sanctioned rodeo. And now we have our May rodeo and the "Old Timers' Rodeo" in July....which is even more of a family affair. If you haven't enjoyed a rodeo, slip on your boots and grab your hat. We have a ton of fun...and everyone gets into the act.

Our oldest son and Doug -- saddle cow race just a couple years ago!

My husband Doug became an active participant; for more than 12 years, he rode bulls (he joined the college rodeo team for a time, as well). All in all, he emerged as a 3-time "All - Around Cowboy." In all that time, he was never thrown from a bull -- although at least twice he did "touch his hat" (and replaced it on his head), which disqualified him. I attribute his success to his amazing upper-body strength, developed while hauling hay (3-wire bales = 120 lbs each), sometimes as many as 1000 bales in a day.

He also participated in a number of raucous and entertaining "local" events, including the Packer's Race, Wild Cow Contest, Wild Cow Milking Contest, Cowhide Race, and even the Wild Horse Race. These events are some of the most popular on rodeo day -- always full of action and "mis-adventure!" Thankfully, he's "retired" now from bull riding, but he still enjoys getting into the action occasionally. But our sons and our daughter all have spent time in the arena, in the dirt, riding calves and steers, horses, and more. From drill team to competition, they've grown up around rodeo.

The annual May weekend begins with Saturday's junior rodeo, followed by a BBQ and dance downtown, and on Sunday, the annual Etna Parade. Everyone loves to see the Junior Pleasure Park horse drill team, the floats, the old cars, the kids, and horses, the Back Country Horsemen and Mountain Men Re-enactors (with their black powder shotguns that when they go off, everyone jumps!)....and more. 

The kids ride a manure spreader!

Re-enactors keep it lively when their black powder guns go "bang!"

Our family is often in the parade -- either with a vintage car or on horseback. The last couple years we've entered some of the Jenner grandkids (the two boys in front, on the left, are two of our grandkids): Mark and Collin. The others are grand nieces and nephews (but only a handful of them....there are plenty more!).

Granddaughter Morgan and friend -- running in high gear!

The rodeo begins with the "Kids'" events, including Mutton Bustin' -- which most of our grandkids have participated in at one time or another...

Dressed for riding his mutton!

Hang on, Buddy, okay????

A long - standing tradition, here is our youngest son Matt, when he was 6 years old young (23 years ago), wearing Doug's chaps from childhood. These chaps have gone through all of the kids so they are nearing 65 years old! Matt is also married now and is a father of two young kids. 

Mutton Bustin' -- for anyone who doesn't know -- is when kids get to ride sheep. They hang on, any which a'way, and try to last for as long as possible. Our grandson (above) won the winning buckle for TWO rodeos this year -- quite a feat for a six-year old...Our older son Nick and his wife Jenny visit with their younger son (6 years old) -- giving him some sage advice before slipping down into the chute?!

But the rodeo is made for little kids... what better place to get dirty and run around without fear?!

 

And, of course, the main events are the traditional ones: bareback riding, bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping, calf roping, and bull riding. Even now, when I hear the music start, and the announcer call out, "Bareback riders get ready; bull riders, pull down and start pukin'," I think of the number of rodeos I sat threw anxiously watching Doug behind the chutes, getting ready for his turn, grateful that in all those years, he never got hurt!

RODEO

It's a great time celebrated by our multi-generational farm and ranching family, and it's a community event that we all look forward to twice a year.

This photo, taken by a friend, is of a cousin -- not a professional cowboy, but certainly could be!

===========================

Gail Jenner is the wife of a cowboy-rancher- and former rodeo bull rider. Writing about life in the West and on a cattle ranch that has been in the family for 5 generations now (over 140 years) only adds greater inspiration to her stories. Author, educator, rancher's wife, she loves riding and gardening and spending days on the ranch with her husband of 45 years. She is proud that her children and grandchildren find this life as satisfying as she does! In addition, she and 6 of the Jenner "girls" have joined together to establish a retail sales business of 100% All Natural Angus (ranch-bred and raised) premium beef, called Jenner Family Beef!

For more about her, check out: www.gailjenner.com  or

http://www.amazon.com/Gail-Fiorini-Jenner/e/B005GHR47O
or Visit her on Facebook at Author Gail Jenner
or check out Jenner Family Beef!

WANTED MATRIMONY: MAIL ORDER BRIDES & Grooms

Post by Doris McCraw/Angela Raines-author

With Winter and Spring discussing who will be in charge, the weather has not been conducive to being outdoors, or for major traveling. (As of this weekend, winter is winning as you can see by the photo I took on Saturday April 30, 2016). Taking a break from the Medieval short story I'm finishing, this post is a result of some library and online quick research. The subject: Matrimony and the mail order spouse business. The need of people to find love. I start you with this piece from the

Daily Alta California, Volume 25, Number 8439, 6 May 1873, from the California Digital Newspaper Collection.

A quick look at 19th Century Newspapers and Newspaper Archive under Wanted-Matrimony and Mail Order Brides gave some additional information on this 'business' of finding a spouse and putting loneliness to rest.

The New York World in 1885 had the following ads:

A GENTLEMAN of 30 desires the acquaintance of a lady from 16 to 20, petite and blonde;driving,theatres and matrimony; enclose photograph and give full particulars.D'Enclos, box 18U World Office.

A GENTLEMAN, aged 32, desires the acquaintance of a lady about 20, brunette and tall; theatres and matrimony; Enclose photo and full particulars. Address

Myron, Uptown World Branch Office, 1238 Broadway.

A GENTLEMAN, 30 years of age, wishes to meet a well-to-do widow. A, B. C., box H3 World Office.

A GENTLEMAN of means desires a lady correspondent; one living out of town preferred. Address Cirayson, box 34 New York World Office.

And the ads were not just men looking for women. In the same issue these two ads appeared.

A REFINED WIDOW, aged 33 desires the acquaintance of a refined gentleman, suitable age, with means, matrimonially inclined; no triflers need answer. Address box 4,4Th Ave

A LADY desires acquaintance with wealthy gentleman; view, matrimony, B. A., World Office, 554 3rd Ave

So you can see, there was no end to ways men and women tried to find each other. Chris Enss wrote a book called "Pioneer Hearts: True stories of Mail Order Brides on the Frontier.” While I enjoyed her book, what caught my eye were her resources. Three pages, front and back listing books, newspapers, private letters in University Libraries. The researcher in me wanted to spend the rest of the year hunting them down. But I stayed put.

But not everything was bliss, as I'm sure you all know. Even as late as 1922 there was still businesses trying to answer the need of finding wedded bliss. Here in part is a piece of that news.

Hamnimonton, N.J. Aug 18.Hamnionton's "'cupid court" blew up with a bang today and 2,000 persons who applied to the Co-perative Lovers Union for mates will have to go out in the open market.

So the next time you think you have a hard time finding love, just look to the past. Until the next First Sunday of the Month, I'll be writing, researching, and hopefully finishing up the Medieval, The Twins and the paper on Colorado Women Doctors. Have a wonderful Spring!

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris also writes haiku posted five days a week at - http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com and has now passed one thousand haiku and photos posted on this blog. Check out her other work or like her Amazon author page:  http://amzn.to/1I0YoeL

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One Christmas Knight

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"A COWBOY CELEBRATION"
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HOME FOR HIS HEART
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Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Ohio 1970 Kent State University

#NewRelease -- ART OF LOVE by Keena Kincaid -- #Giveaway!

Abigail d'Alene has been sinfully in love with learning all her life, and she now  has the means and freedom to indulge in her passion. Disguised as a boy, she heads to the Latin Quarter of Paris and the abbey schools that will one day change the world.

Shocked by the ineptitude of her masquerade, Alain of Huntly Woods takes Abigail under his protection until she recovers her sense and goes home. But her audacity and intelligence spark enough friction between them to burn through his cold logic and carefully laid plans.

In 1159 Paris as a spy for Henry II, Alain has sold his soul to the Angevin devil in exchange for the king's promise of an heiress, land and power. As his good intentions bring him unexpected passion, he struggles to find a way to have it all. Then he discovers Abigail's uncle, confessor to King Louis VII of France, plots against the English king, and Alain must choose between protecting his king or the woman he loves.

EXCERPT

     Watching her, Alain realized he knew two facts about her: one, she was well educated; two, whatever her name was, it was not Abelard.

     Well, maybe three facts, he decided when she pushed a curl out of her eyes for the third time.      Her haircut was new. The repeated gesture indicated she hadn’t known which way it grew.      Otherwise, she would have cut it shorter or not at all. That meant this charade was new, no more than a day or two old.

     On the morrow, he would seek out rumors of robbery or maybe murder in the finer neighborhoods. He could imagine nothing less than murder would drive a woman like her to don a scholar’s robe and come to the Quarter. Abelard didn’t look like a murderer, although he knew better than most that looks meant nothing.

     Everyone was capable of murder.

     And women were rarely what they seemed.

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