Jake’s Honor is the first book in my newest series–Romancing the West. The first four books feature the four Hooper cowboys.
Connie has always been the plain one. The responsible one. The dutiful one. She always stood in her beautiful cousin’s shadow, but now her cousin is dead. Connie is left to pick up the pieces and do right by her little niece, Megan, which means delivering the girl to her father. But nothing is as it seems. Jake denies being the father. Worse, the attraction Connie once felt for the enigmatic rancher still exists, though she has always been invisible to him.
Jake Hooper lost his mother, his father, and then his sweetheart, who left him without so much as a word of explanation. When Connie shows up with a child she claims is his, he knows it can’t be true.
Jake determines to take Connie and Megan to Fort Macleod. They aren’t his responsibility. And after all the loss he has suffered, he can’t bear to open his heart again.
But the more time they spend together, the more one charming little girl and her fiery aunt sneak into Jake’s heart. Will he be able to cut ties and leave them on their own? Or will his honor—and his heart—require a different answer? You can preorder the book now. It will go live Feb. 1. Here is a link that will take you there.
Here is a quote from the book.
I hope you will enjoy the newest series.
When the Heart Calls
| Have you ever been to a place that calls to your heart? I have and for me, it whispers of adventures, romances, families, overcoming…and so many things. In my newest series–Romancing The West–I listen to those whispers. The place that called was the Porcupine Hills of Southwestern Alberta. Below are some pictures of the hills.    The Porcupine Hills are an excellent setting for some ranch stories. Ranching history is long and interesting in this area. After 1874 the North-West Mounted Police provided the 2 essentials of an incipient range-cattle industry: a small local market and security for open grazing. Access to distant markets was assured when the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the prairies in the early 1880s, and interest in ranching grew dramatically. Stay tuned for more about this upcoming series that I am sure you will find exciting and entertaining. |
Happy New Year
We are about to enter a new year, a new decade. I might glance a little at the past but mostly, I want to look forward.
Resolutions? Yes, I make a few. The usual–more exercise, less snacking. I do set goals for the year. Deadlines for new stories, planned trips, etc. I always find facing a new year to be exciting. A clean slate. I get to make choices about what will be written on those blank pages. One of the hardest choices is how I will deal with the disappointments, the heartache, the losses that are sure to come my way.
Below are my New Year Wishes for everyone.
Do you make resolutions? Are you eager for the New Year?
A Favorite Christmas Song
I love this song even if it is an ear worm.
Enjoy the song. Enjoy Christmas preparations.
Count Down To Christmas
Count Down To Christmas.
I confess that I have mixed feelings about the season. I love the lights and decorations around town. I love Christmas music.And having the family here for a Christmas celebration is great.
But…
I am not a shopper. I am overwhelmed by all the selection, all the people crowding toward the checkouts…everything about shopping. And then there is the frustration of KNOWING exactly what I want and not being able to find it.
Thank goodness for on-line shopping and gift cards. It makes the process a little bit easier.
So tell me, what parts of the Christmas season do you enjoy? And which parts, not so much?
All that said…I love Christmas stories. Especially one with a happy ending. I currently have two books available that are feel-good Christmas stories. Check them out.
The Perils of Being Your Own Boss
I didn’t sleep well last night so I am tired and groggy. But then I am my own boss and don’t have to do anything if I don’t want to. Saying that, I learned that I am a demanding boss.
Tired me: I think I’ll do nothing today. Go to church but other than that, not much.
Bossy, workaholic me: I don’t think so. There are things to do. Newsletters to write. Blogs to write. And laundry. Have you forgotten the laundry?
Tired me: I wish I could. I’d throw in the towel but that would just mean more laundry.
Bossy, workaholic me: Oh come on. All you have to do is dump things in the washing machine. It isn’t like you have to scrub dirty jeans on a scrub board, after, I might point out, you have hauled in the water, heated it on the stove–
Tired me: Okay I get it. But right now, I’d really REALLY like to be on a lounge chair on a sunny beach.
BW Me: Oh right. You get on that this very minute.
Tired me: No need to be sarcastic.
BW me: Remember what you always say–You can’t control the world but you can control your attitude. Chose a good one.
Tired me:
Tired me:
BW Me; Look. Pull up your big girl panties and get on with your day.
Tired me: Sigh.
Downton Abbey and My Book
I didn’t watch Downton Abbey when it was appearing on TV mostly because I have a hard time keeping up with weekly serials. This fall, I bought the entire series and am really enjoying the story.
But what does it have to do with my book?
In the first season, the residents of Downton Abbey live through the First World War. We see very few scenes of the war itself, just enough to realize it was horrible beyond imagination. But we see those at Downton dealing with other aspects of the war. Downton became a rehabilitation hospital. Some went off to war. Some were injured. Some never returned at all. Life after the war was different than before and required people adapt. And that’s where my War Brides series is like them. It shows how a man and woman cope with life after the war.
Lizzie is finally able to reunite with the Canadian soldier she married back in England but so many things have changed, including him. And life in Canada is not what she had dreamed. She comes from a family that enjoys music and art. A happy fun-filled family. Her husband, Caleb, comes from a family that is sober and sadly lacking in fun in her opinion. But worse than that is the discovery that Caleb is not the man she remembers. In this new land can she find new hope? Can they find love to bring them together as man and wife? Or will she return home?
Lizzie–the first of the War Brides series–has been given a new cover. I hope you like it. It is available for purchase now at a reduced price.
Time for R&R
I recently returned from a trip to Colorado to visit my daughter and enjoy some of the sights. The area is full of history which, of course, I enjoy. From the Garden of the Gods (stunning scenery)
to Colorado Springs Pioneer museum (very well done) that is in the old courthouse building:
(click to enlarge if you want more detail)
We toured Glen Eyrie castle and had high tea.
The highlight of our time was the Claude Monet exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. It was very well done and so enjoyable. (Monet being my very favorite artist.)
I share only a few of the many, many pictures I took. You’re welcome. 🙂
It was good to get away, enjoy R&R with my daughter and refill my creative well.
Interviewing Me
I found an interview I had done some time ago and thought I would share it on my blog.
1. To start off, please tell us a bit about yourself.
I live in Alberta, Canada where I can see the Rocky Mountains. I have raised a family of 14 children (and am still surprisingly sane). For the most part, they are now on their own and blessing me with grandchildren.
2. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
I didn’t plan to be a writer. For complete details see my bio on the website. But I always made up stories in my head.
3. Do you find certain themes making recurring appearances in your stories?
More so than I care to admit. In fact, I used the recurring themes as the theme for my Website—faith, family and a forever love. I often use forgiveness or self-acceptance as a way to get to the happy ever after.
4. What is the most common question people ask you when they learn you’re a writer?
Where do you get your ideas? If they only knew that my brain seems to churn out constant ideas to the point where I have occasionally asked for a respite so I can work on my current project. Of course, the real difficulty is taking one (or many) of these ideas and shaping it into a story.
5. What is your typical writing day like?
A NORMAL (i.e. ideal) day sees me at my computer for most of the morning hours and often into the afternoon though I am often interrupted by other life demands. I share my life with my husband who is retired so at home—a lot. I have an adult son who lives at home. So I am often interrupted for ‘important’ things like where did I put…? Or what’s for dinner? I do a fair bit of child care. And then there are the crisis days when writing is just not going to happen as I take care of whatever the current crisis is.
6. Why did you pick the period you did to write about?
I mostly write about the pioneer era and love it. There are so many challenges for the characters to deal with which ultimately leads to strong heroes and heroines.
7. What’s your favorite part of research? What are some interesting experiences you’ve had doing research?
I love doing first-hand research at libraries and museums. I hear the best anecdotes, meet the most interesting people and history comes alive. One of my most interesting experience would be arriving at an historic ranch when there was no one there but myself and the two people I had with me. We got a personalized tour and heard lots of interesting facts. Nowadays research is so easy with the internet to go to but I still like to see places and get a feel for them.
8. If you had to go back and live in the time period you write about and could take one thing with you what would it be? Why?
I would take my computer so I could continue to write stories with the convenience it offers.
9. As a woman, if you lived in another time period and had to be armed for protection, what would be your weapon of choice?
I’d have to go with poison. I don’t think I could make myself use force enough to kill anyone or chase them off.
10. What ‘modern convenience’ would you miss most if you lived in the historical period you write about?
A shower—definitely.
11. If you had to choose a different time period in which to live (not your own) which would it be and why?
I can’t say as I’d choose another. I am quite happy where I am and with our conveniences though perhaps to be at the beginning of modern life yet without the criminal, political, and social problems we face—perhaps my parents’ era though aren’t I talking like an historical author and seeing the romance of that time while ignoring the problems?
12. Tell us about any upcoming projects.
I am currently releasing a 10-book series—Glory Montana series. The last book comes out Nov. 1. In it you will learn what has happened to the missing Kinsley son.
After that, there is a series set in the porcupine hills of SW Alberta. It’s a beautiful area where early ranchers settled so there are lots of cowboys involved. Here’s a glimpse of the Porcupine Hills.
13. And how can your readers contact you?
I love to hear from readers. I love to hear what they liked (so I can do it again) and what didn’t work (so I won’t do it again.)
My website is www.lindaford.org
My email is lindaford@airenet.com
Fall in Canada means Thanksgiving
And Thanksgiving means I am busy with company. So I thought I would share some fall pictures. Never mind that I had to go back a year (some are even older) because I cannot bring myself to post pictures of the snow we have this year. Enjoy the season.
