It’s four days into a new year. It’s a time to reflect, reimagine what we want in life and make plans to achieve our goals. Not unlike those who traveled across the great plains of this continent in the 1800s. Their resolutions ad real teeth.
This day marks the release of the first story in a new wagon train series.
Faith White needs to get safely to California. She’s desperate for a fresh start after being jilted by the man she’d planned to marry. There’s nothing left for her but memories and disappointments and a lost love.
For years Gideon Holder slaved away in a coal mine to save his father from going to jail. He earned his father’s freedom but lost everything else that mattered–including the woman he loved. Now Gideon plans to make up for lost time by searching for gold.
Gideon and Faith are shocked and dismayed to discover they’re both on the same wagon train to California. Gideon doesn’t want Faith to know about his father’s secret shame. Faith only wants to avoid the man who broke her heart. They vow to stay far away from each other, but that turns out to be impossible when they are assigned to travel as part of the same unit.
Can the adventures and challenges of the journey make them realize that their love is still alive?
You can read Faith and Gideon’s story in Renewed Love.
I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I enjoyed researching for them and writing them.
Starting Over
It seems I am always starting over. I remember the day we all left for Canada. Me, my husband and my parents. Our hopes were high. New life. New land. New hope. I remember being in Hamburg and the excitement. Gerhard and I couldn’t stop gawking and pinching ourselves to see if it was real. The warehouses along the wharf. The huge ships. The tall church steeples. And so many people. It was all so exciting. We both knew we would have a baby shortly after we arrived on the new land. I still remember the feeling of joy that filled my heart. We were naively full of hope and joy as the ship sailed. I knew a twinge at knowing I was saying goodbye to everything that was dear and familiar.
I started over again in Willow Creek. With the help of my friends, I began a bakery and dining room. But there was a fire. How can I rebuild when every bit of money I’d saved was destroyed in the fire? Who is this man who claims to be looking for his father? Who is this part-Native boy who rides into town on such a fine horse? People are sure he has stolen the horse. Will these complications make it easier for me to restore my business or will they force me to, once again, start over?
Read A Heart’s Promise to learn how Hilda copes.
Kidnapped
Two wounded hearts, two children in danger…
She must do everything possible to protect her niece and nephew
Their uncle wants them. But only to sell them. He’s kidnapped them once. She doesn’t trust him not to do it again. Delcie flees west with her friends to protect them from his schemes. Fearing for the children’s safety, she is suspicious of every stranger.
Ryder Remington is also fleeing his past. His wife and child are dead. His brother has narrowly missed being hung for a murder he didn’t commit. All he wants is to be left alone so he can forget the past.
When the children are snatched, it is as if the past is repeating itself. Can Delcie and Ryder change the future and earn lasting love?
Book #2 in Hearts Of Willow Creek. Available now at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BZX82YR
Runaways from Love
Four young women move west to Willow Creek wanting to start a business that will give them independence. None of them want to count on a man to take care of them. Their experience has taught them that has a very high cost. A bakery and dining room soon prove to be profitable. But four lovely young women attract the attention of single young men. Can any of them win the heart of one of these young women? Find out in the new series–Hearts of Willow Creek.
The first book is out Aug. 1, 2020–A Heart’s Yearning.
A pretty young woman, and a reclusive mountain man. What can these two have in common? This is a tender story full of surprises.
Available here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089WJQ39N
It’s Time for Levi’s Story
Levi is tired of being the kid brother and not being taken seriously. Zola has escaped a controlling relationship and doesn’t intend to take life–or men–seriously.
This story was fun to write as these two characters took over with their enjoying-life attitude.
Despite that attitude, there are many serious and poignant moments. One of my favorites is when Levi remembers a blessing his mother used to say and shares it with Zola.
This is the blessing Levi remembers.
You can get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083V4D3T7 I hope you enjoy it.
Woo Hoo. My 75th book is out.
Emma came West to find peace after the death of her parents. As she begins to heal and rediscover herself, she realizes how much of her real self she has hidden to try to please others. No more.
When Blaze Hooper sees Emma for the first time all grown up, it’s as if he’s struck by lightning. The wild, tagalong young girl he remembered is gone. In her place is a woman grown. When her former fiancé shows up and threatens her safety, Blaze is there to protect her. He just wasn’t expecting to find out that she’s now a wealthy woman—a woman far out of his reach.
Emma desires the things money can’t buy: a home and a family. She thought she might find them with Blaze, but his distance confuses her. Is there hope for their future?
Join this pair as they discover what really matters to each of them.
Blaze’s Hope: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083V4K7G5
Were They The Good Old Days?
The good old days had their challenges. Life could be challenging. Downright difficult.
Theresa learned the hard way that life in the west could be very different than her dreams. A mail-order bride, now widowed with a baby on the way very soon, she is alone in a dark, small soddie.
Cash Hooper finds her and promises to help. But she trusted a man’s promises once before. That’s what got her in this position. She’s not ready to do so again.
However, she discovers her heart does not necessarily follow her mind. Can she ever learn to trust again?
Mail-order bride? Try mail-order disaster. Theresa’s late husband was a liar and abuser. Now that he’s dead, she’s alone and very pregnant. The last thing she wants is another man in her life.
Cash Hooper has known his share of loss. After being rejected by a former sweetheart, he has no interest in risking his heart again. When searching for his missing horse, he discovers Theresa on her own and dangerously injured. He can’t leave, not when she needs so much help. He determines to stay long enough for her to recover, then he’ll take her to Willow Creek so she can start a new, independent life.
Theresa’s baby arrives early and Cash’s tenderness and kindness stir emotions she thought long dead. After what she’s been through, she knows how men can pretend to be one thing while hiding their true nature. She isn’t about to trust her fate to anyone but herself and God.
Cash starts to fall for Theresa and her little one. But past rejection haunts him. How can he be worthy of Theresa’s love and trust when his past tells him otherwise?
Can Cash and Theresa let go of the past to embrace the future?
A real good way to enjoy self-isolation. Available here:
A STORY ABOUT AN ORPHANED CHILD
Certain things call to each of us. Some are rather universal. Some are individual.
For instance, does the plight of those killed needlessly wrench at your heartstrings? It does mine and there have been so many recently. So much unnecessary pain. Doesn’t it make you want to do what you can to first, of all, stop this senselessness, and secondly, reach out to help those who are hurting?
One thing that has always called to my heart is hurting and lonely children who are needing home and love.
You will see that theme repeated over and over in my books and JAKE’S HONOR is no exception.
Connie is determined to take her orphaned niece to the child’s father. Except Jake knows he isn’t the father. What is to happen to little Megan? What would you do if you were Connie?
I can’t help but think of a little boy we adopted. He was but a baby. But we knew it was right for us to take him. We found encouragement and direction in these words, Exodus 2:9. “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee wages.” We didn’t want wages, as in money, but we have many times received an unexpected payment. That boy is now a big, strong man. A gentle man. A man who can help us, especially with heavy chores. We have been repaid over and over for anything it might have cost us. Which, incidentally, was nothing worth counting.
In Jake’s Honor Connie’s journey has taken her half way across North America by train and by stagecoach. But the last leg of the journey is by wagon across a rickety bridge. Finally, she will reach her destination, achieve her goal and then figure out what she will do next.
It could be that her carefully laid plans are about to encounter a mighty big barrier.
A story of adventure, perseverance, commitment, and love.
The first in the Cowboys Of Coulee Crossing series. And it costs lest than a cup of Starbucks coffee. You can get it by following this link.
FIRE DEVASTATION
When I was in grade three, the school I attended burned down
to the ground. It was bitterly cold day in February. The children escaped into the frigid temperatures without coats and stood shivering as the building was quickly consumed in flames. The water hoses froze so there was little that could be done to stop the fire. By nightfall, all that remained was the brick chimney and a pile of debris.
It was a frightening time for parents and children alike.
In my story Temporary Bride the heroine, widowed Lena, watched her home burn to the ground. She has a little son to protect but now no home, no shelter.
Her only recourse is to accept the offer of help from her neighbor and she does so reluctantly. She has so much to learn about love, independence and facing the future.
For a limited time the book is free. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079Z9RCHJ
Or get the whole series in a boxed set.
Four brides long for love and find it in unconventional ways.
These young women fight overwhelming odds on the North Dakota prairies as they strive to create new lives for themselves. Can failed plans lead them to something better than they anticipated?
You can get the boxed set here. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZFWQW86
Loving a Rebel is first in the Glory, Montana Series.
This book is free as well. For a limited time.
Flora Kinsley has always been a red-headed rebel who delights to ride madly across the country. But when her wild riding leads her into trouble, she finds herself lost and stranded in a snowstorm. She takes shelter in the home of a bachelor rancher.
The last thing Kade Thomas needs is to be involved with a wild rebel. But being stranded unchaperoned with Flora for two nights gives her preacher father plenty of reason to insist they marry. Knowing that if he forces Flora into marriage against her wishes, it would make for a miserable situation, he begs for a chance to persuade Flora she wants to marry him.
Will this pair find that love is awaiting them? Or will the truth destroy any chance of love?
Available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9WBY9Q
Enjoy. And if you do, feel free to leave a review on Amazon. Thanks.
From Jake’s Honor
Jake’s Honor is available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083TP3DL9