Tag: Historical Romance

The Texans Favor – #NewRelease @dk_deters #WesternRomance @NetGalley @WildRosePress

Published on by Jan Sikes22 Comments

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and Wild Rose Press. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

Purchase Link

Jake Fontaine, a Texas Ranger, is hot on the trail of the vicious outlaw, Grizzly Duvall, when everything goes wrong.

Kat Collins is hellbent on escaping from her abusive uncle when she witnesses the ambush that will end the lawman’s life. She makes a rash decision to fire at the attackers and her actions save him.

Now, Jake is obligated. But because she’s dressed like a boy, he doesn’t realize she’s a woman until her hat falls off and her braid tumbles out. His Texas code of ethics won’t allow him to leave a woman alone in the wilds of Kansas. Frustrated that this new turn of events causes him to lose the outlaw he is so determined to capture, he offers to accompany her to the ferry that will take her across the river to St. Louis.

Kat is strongly independent. She needs no one. She will make it to St. Louis and start a new life as a seamstress. So, when Jake insists on accompanying her, she makes it clear she does not need his help.

Thus begins a tumultuous relationship. Each struggles to deny any attraction they feel.

Things go sideways when Kat’s uncle catches up to the pair and forces Jake to marry her. After all her uncle is a judge and the marriage is legal and binding. For me, this part of the story was not believable. That a man would go to all the trouble to track down his niece, then not force her to return with him seemed a little far-fetched.

But now they’re married and when one night of passion brings them together, maybe they are going to work out their differences after all.

Not the case. While Jake is sleeping, Kat sneaks away, taking his horse with her.

Throughout the rest of the story, Kat is running and Jake is pursuing and each time they meet up, their relationship switches from cold to hot in seconds.

The story ramps up when Jake’s grandfather goes to St. Louis to find Kat and get her out of his grandson’s life forever. But instead, in five short weeks, he falls in love with the woman who has given birth to his great-granddaughter and on his dying bed, wills the ranch in Texas to her.

Now things get really complicated. Jake is betrothed to another. He has no idea he has a daughter.

He and Kat are like oil and water. I grew a little frustrated with both of them at different times during the story when they lied to each other and danced around the truth over and over.

However, the story does culminate into an action-filled shoot-out and happy ending.

If not for the frustration I felt while reading the story, and a couple of plot twists that were not believable, this would be a five-star read for me. However, I give it a four-star rating.

If you enjoy westerns, and tumultuous romances, you would enjoy this story.

#NewRelease! Rorik by @m_morganauthor #Medieval #Scotland #ClanoftheSutherlandWolves

Published on by Jan Sikes51 Comments

I am thrilled to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press author, Mary Morgan to my blog today! She is a wonderful writer and has a new release to tell you about.

Hello, Jan! I’m delighted to be visiting your lovely blog today and talking about my new release, Rorik, The Wolves of Clan Sutherland, Book 2. Let me share a wee bit of my journey to Orkney and Scotland which helped to inspire this series.

During our trip, several years ago to Northern Scotland and the Orkney Islands, my husband and I were fortunate to have a personal guide escort us. David Ladd was exceptional in his knowledge—from referencing the names of flowers in the most obscure places to the wildlife and history, especially during our travels on Orkney. He took us on an amazing adventure, oftentimes off the well-worn path, revealing spectacular vistas. I shall always treasure our time with him and for allowing me to crawl into the Tomb of the Eagles in South Ronaldsay, Orkney. For a few hazarding moments, I worried David and my husband when I had trouble getting out of the small tomb. Was I worried? No.

Before I entered, rain and wind pelted us on our mile walk up the hill. Once I crawled inside the small tomb, I stood and encountered utter silence—no howling wind and no rain leaked through the crevices of stone. It was as if I entered another time and place—literally. Here were my immediate reactions within this cairn: Peace. Stillness. I am not alone.

Let me explain further about the Tomb of Eagles…

Located above the dramatic South Ronaldsay cliffs, the Isbister Chambered Cairn—better known today as the ‘Tomb of the Eagles’—is one of Orkney’s top archaeological sites. Discovered by a local farmer Ronnie Simison in the 1950s, the Stone Age tomb revealed an amazing collection of bones and artifacts, placed here some 5,000 years ago. Among the human bones, there were many talons and bones of the white-tailed eagle.

The Tomb of Eagles played an important part in the book. I took my experience and wove it into the story and through the first book, Magnar.

For Rorik’s story, I brought the Seer of the Orkneyjar Isles (Orkney) to Scotland. Not only was Ragna a seer, but also a Völva—a wise woman. Seers held high status in Viking society. They were treated with great respect when they came to help a household or settlement in distress. Even the God Odin consulted the seers.

In my story, Ragna converses with the Goddess and has the ability to connect with the birds and animals. With her magical powers, she can become one with them. Then I had to consider the landscape in Northern Scotland which was vastly different than the Orkneyjar Isles.  

Here are Ragna’s first impressions as she steps onto Scottish soil…

Her body trembled. How Ragna loathed traveling across the wide-open water. She glanced to her left at the towering cliffs of dark stone. The waves crashed behind her, and she resumed her progress slowly.

Bending down, she dug two fingers deep within the gritty shore. Coldness seeped into her skin as she tried to get a sense of this country. Others whispered to her from the land—ancient and unfamiliar. Wild and strange this Scotland. Never had Ragna considered leaving the Orkneyjar Isles.

Until recently.

To this day, I continue to process all my emotions and experiences from my travels to Northern Scotland and the Orkney Islands. The land continually calls me to return home.  


Blurb:
The Dark Seducer is known throughout Scotland as a man who charms many women into his bed. Pleasure is his motto as he obtains information for his king. Yet Rorik MacNeil harbors one secret buried beneath his heart of steel. An unfulfilled conquest plagues both man and his inner wolf, and Rorik would rather suffer death’s sharp blade than confront his greatest fear.
 
As the Seer for the Orkneyjar Isles, Ragna Maddadsson confronts an unknown destiny when she travels across the North Sea to Scotland. In her quest to deliver a message from a powerful vision, she fears the warrior will not listen. If Rorik ignores her warning, Ragna must find a way to forestall his impending death. If unsuccessful, she risks having her heart cleaved in two. 
 
To unravel their true fates, Rorik and Ragna must trust in the power of the wolf.  

Excerpt:
 
If he could, Rorik would remain on this boulder by the river for the duration of the evening and into night. His stomach growled in protest, and he realized he had little food this day. He reached for his aleskin and took a sip.
 
Even the thought of entertaining Hallgerd left a hollow ache within. “For all I ken you might have the face of a goat.”
 
Rorik sensed the intruder’s approach behind him before the first footstep sounded. He lifted his left hand and rested it on the hilt of his sword by his side.
 
“I happen to cherish the faces of my goats, though they are stubborn creatures.”
 
The ale soured in his gut. “Seer.” He released his hand from his sword and continued to stare outward.
 
When silence greeted him, he dared to glance over his shoulder. Wariness from her all-knowing eyes reflected at Rorik, not the bitter coldness she often imparted to him. “Why have you come?”
 
Ragna lifted her chin. “I have a message you must hear fully.”
 
Shrugging, Rorik resumed his gaze outward. “Then speak your words.”
 
Again, the woman remained silent. Rorik pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
 
“Do you not deem it best to put on your tunic?” she suggested, stepping closer and brushing the garment against his arm.
 
Slowly, Rorik lifted his head to look at her. Even her words sounded different. They were almost a plea, not filled with terse venom. A rosy stain had blossomed on her ivory cheeks, and her breathing appeared labored. He pondered two things—either his naked form disgusted her or perchance appealed to her. Surely, she despises me, nothing more.
 
The barb he wanted to fling out at her became trapped on his tongue. He guzzled deeply from the aleskin. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he dropped the empty skin next to his sword and swiftly got off the boulder.
 
Ragna gasped and clutched his tunic to her breasts. Yet she did not avert her eyes.
 
He dared to move toward her.
 
Her eyes widened and she stumbled back, dropping his tunic.
 
Rorik reached out and grabbed her hand, preventing her from falling. The contact of her skin against his sent a tremor of warmth up his arm. This time, his breathing became labored while he stared into her gray eyes. He found no hatred there—only beauty within their depths. His gaze traveled down to her full red lips, partially open and begging to be kissed.

Buy Links:
 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093Y2FG9K/
 
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Rorik-Wolves-Clan-Sutherland-Book-ebook/dp/B093Y2FG9K/
 
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rorik-Wolves-Clan-Sutherland-Book-ebook/dp/B093Y2FG9K/
 
Amazon: AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Rorik-Wolves-Clan-Sutherland-Book-ebook/dp/B093Y2FG9K/
 
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rorik-mary-morgan/1139405450
 
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/rorik/id1566954806
 
 
Author, Mary Morgan

About Mary Morgan

Award-winning Celtic paranormal and fantasy romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

 
Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling by writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Connect with Mary at these places:

Website/Blog:  https://www.marymorganauthor.com/

Amazon Author:  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryMorganAuthor/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan

Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marymorgan2/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-morgan

Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Mary-Morgan/B00KPE3NWI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-morgan-2634a77a/

#NewRelease – The Betrayers – Parris Afton Bonds The Texican Series #historicalromance

Published on by Jan Sikes68 Comments

Love and hate combine to endanger the Paladíns and all they hold dear.

Designed by Motina Books

Parris Afton Bonds is my friend, but first and foremost, she is a storyteller. She is the author of nearly fifty novels and has been in the business of creating compelling and entertaining stories for over four decades.

Parris Afton Bonds

 She is co-founder and first vice president of Romance Writers of America, as well as, cofounder of Southwest Writers Workshop.

Declared by ABC’s NIGHTLINE as one of three best-selling authors of romantic fiction, the New York Times best seller Parris Afton Bonds has been featured in major newspapers and magazines, as well as, published in more than a dozen languages.

The Parris Award was established in her name by the Southwest Writers Workshop to honor a published writer who has given outstandingly of time and talent to other writers.  Prestigious recipients of the Parris Award include Tony Hillerman and the Pulitzer nominee Norman Zollinger.

And the latest series, The Texican Series, is a perfect example of her writing prowess. Before there was New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, or Utah, there was Texas. Molded by Old Mexico and a new rough and ready breed of hearty settlers from around the world, The Lone Star Republic was the thing of dreams—land, riches, liberty, home. And that is where this series begins with “The Brigands.”

And now Parris has released Book #4 in this series!

Designed by Motina Books

BLURB:

WHEN A LONGTIME family friend is wrongly accused of involvement in a Houston riot and mutiny, Drake Paladín vows to get the best attorney money can buy. That lawyer is none other than Roger Clarendon, known not only for his legal prowess but his insufferable arrogance as well. When the drunken attorney makes an aggressive pass at Drake’s wife, Angel, Drake breaks Roger open like a shotgun. The violent scuffle results in Roger’s father—the Honorable Brighton Clarendon, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court—delivering a none-to-subtle message to the Paladíns: politics is dirty business.

From hereon, the Paladíns are under the gun, suffering failures and even outright sabotage across their many business ventures. Eventually, even The Barony itself, the sprawling South Texas ranch the family fought and won the right to at the Battle of San Jacinto, is put in peril. Rallying together to save their ancestral home, the Paladíns finally put niceties and tolerance behind them. This is war.

But this battle to exterminate the Clarendons takes Preston Paladín all the way to the bowels of pre-war Nazi Germany—and the disarming charms of the beautiful Fabienne Allaman. But on whose side is she really? And dare he risk The Barony and the fate of his entire family for the love of a resistance fighter with nothing to lose?

In the penultimate volume of her riveting Texicans saga, New York Times bestselling author Parris Afton Bonds weaves the threads of loyalty, class, power, and politics into a single captivating tale of one family’s struggle to survive the fires of war and The Great Depression. Written with the authenticity of a historian, the color of a painter, and the grace of a choreographer, The Betrayers is Bonds at her finest.

https://videopress.com/v/1Zd7MwEG?preloadContent=metadata
Created by Motina Books

PURCHASE LINK – THE BETRAYERS

PURCHASE LINK – THE BARONS

PURCHASE LINK – THE BRAVADOS

PURCHASE LINK – THE BRIGANDS

Follow Parris:

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

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AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL

The Bravados – Parris Afton Bonds – New Book Release!

Published on by Jan Sikes26 Comments

Welcome to a guest post from the amazing and talented author, Parris Afton Bonds! She has a brand new book release in her Texican Series, and I’m thrilled to have her visit with us today! Take it away, Parris!

When Jan graciously said she would make room for me in one of her blogs to talk about the Paladin clan of The Texicans series, I was reminded of how the Paladin horde had commandeered every inch of room space from my office.

My writer’s cell is four-feet-wide, and here I stumble, fumble, and grumble through writing my novels ~ but here, also, is where I fulfill my soul’s passion. My spirit takes flight and soars.

Here, also, is where the phantasmic patriarch of a founding family of Texas, the English-born rogue, Lord Alexander Paladín, first leaned over my shoulder and whispered in his husky voice, “The Paladín’s and their Texican’s story needs to be told, mi quierda.”

Foolish me.  I nodded my assent.  Who could resist Alex Paladín?  I could tell his story, of The Brigands and how the penniless Baron Alejandro de la Torre y Stuart came to the Mexican colony of Tejas to claim his deceased older brother’s land grant in 1835 and ended up fighting alongside Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto for independence from tyrannical Mexico.

Little did I know that over the next 4-1/2 years, the increasing numbers of the Paladín clan would crowd into my miniscule office, each to tell their own story that clamored of heartbreak and triumph, of risks requiring all, of love that surpassed even death.

Here in my small office arrived the Irish traveler Niall Gorman, who confessed to falling in love with his best friend Alex’s bride.  Here, also, into my cubicle nudged for room the Baron Karl Von Hess Lippe, to remind me that the predominant language of Texas had once been German and his desire had always been predominantly for Niall Gorman’s wife, the lovely Spanish aristocrat Rafaela Carrera.

The Tejano Jew Moses Solomon reminded me how he had staked his interests in land and banking to provide vessels for a navy of Tejas’s newly formed Provisional Government.  Also, elbowed in Kerry Paladín, to reveal in Volume II of The Texicans, The Barons, how he would lose his left arm in a minor skirmish of the Civil War, lose his libido, and almost lose the love of his life.

If there weren’t enough Paladíns already, Drake the Rake cleared a path to my chair and proceeded to tell how in Volume III, The Bravados, he would clear a path of its debris of bodies, deposited by the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, to look for the young woman he could never forget.

By now I was feeling claustrophobic and wanted nothing more than to edge my way out of my tiny office.  But, oh no, another arrives, the lone wolf Preston Paladín, determinedly insinuating a path through to me.  “How can you neglect my cousin Hannah’s courage under Nazi torture, sweetheart?  That has to be the heart of Volume IV of  The Betrayers!”  And, naturally, he revealed how he, the lone wolf, would be no longer lonely.

The Paladíns are completely taking over my office and my life.  A horde of Paladíns now camp out in my four-foot-wide office, night and day.

Relentless, they hound me, insisting I must pen Volume V of The Texicans, The Banshees.  Byron Paladín faces a nuclear meltdown at Los Alamos, Jack Paladín faces a Russian cold-war torture as a captured U2 pilot, and Sam Paladín faces both a political betrayal and the presidential assassination in Dallas, Texas in 1963.

And, oh, there are so many more Paladín men and women with their both harrowing and happy stories occurring during the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, and the Viet Nam War.  Either I shall have to get a larger office ~ or stop the telling of the Paladíns story with Volume V, The Banshees.

“But, mi amor,” whispers still another intoxicating Paladín voice, as sensuous as sin, “you have yet to tell our own love story.”

eBook is available for only 99 cents!!!

PURCHASE LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NR7WV7J/

Hands on research at the battlegrounds of the Battle of San Jacinto!

About the Author:

Parris Afton Bonds is the mother of five sons and the author of nearly fifty published novels. She is co-founder and first vice president of Romance Writers of America, as well as, cofounder of Southwest Writers Workshop.

Declared by ABC’s Nightline as one of three best-selling authors of romantic fiction, the New York Times best seller Parris Afton Bonds has been featured in major newspapers and magazines and published in more than a dozen languages.

The Parris Award was established in her name by the Southwest Writers Workshop to honor a published writer who has given outstandingly of time and talent to other writers. Prestigious recipients of the Parris Award include Tony Hillerman and the Pulitzer nominee Norman Zollinger.

She donates spare time to teaching creative writing to both grade school children and female inmates, both whom she considers her captive audiences.

Follow Parris:

https://www.parrisaftonbonds.com

https://amazon.com/author/parrisaftonbonds

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parris_Afton_Bonds

Book #3 of the Men of Legend Series @LBroday

Published on by Jan Sikes14 Comments

MarryTexasOutlaw

TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 7TH!

Leave a comment on the author’s blog for a chance to win a copy. 

TO MARRY A TEXAS OUTLAW

I read this book chapter by chapter when my sister was writing it and I couldn’t wait to sit down and read it all the way through. Luke Weston was my favorite of the Legend brothers from the beginning of this series. I’ve always had a soft spot for the outlaws. 🙂

My heart aches as Luke searches for freedom – freedom from constantly looking over his shoulder, wearing a target on his back, and freedom to claim the Legend name and everything it stands for.

When Josie Morgan interrupts his search, he gets more than he bargains for. You’ll find lots of adventure, romance, surprises, heartache and gunfights in this last book of the MEN OF LEGEND series.

So, hop on over to Linda Broday’s blog and leave a comment to win a copy, OR pre-order from Amazon and get ready to hold on for a wild sexy ride with the outlaw, Luke Weston (Legend.)

Follow Linda:

TWITTER        FACEBOOK       WEBSITE

Knight On The Texas Plains – Linda Broday

Published on by Jan Sikes19 Comments

Knight On The Texas Plains has come full circle for USA Today and NY Times Bestselling author, Linda Broday.

Her first published book is being re-released by Sourcebooks Casablanca and is receiving early RAVE reviews!

Knight

Romantic Times 4 ½ Stars TOP PICK!

“The instant a sweet baby girl, an abused woman, a stray dog, and a reluctant hero meet, readers are drawn into a tender and tough love story that touches many emotions and will have them believing in the healing power of love. Beauty and warmth spring from the pages as the quiet strength and grace of the characters capture readers’ heart and bring that deep sigh they crave.”

Publishers Weekly loved the story!

In Broday’s strong first Texas Heroes historical romance, a marriage of necessity develops into genuine love in 19th-century Texas. Duel McClain has little to live for until he wins a baby girl in a poker game. The same night, a bloodied, bruised, frantic woman, Jessie Foltry, rushes into his camp and begs for help. Duel pledges his protection and offers to take her back home to his family’s ranch in Tranquility if she’ll help raise his unexpected daughter. Once settled, she admits to having killed her abusive husband. To help keep her past a secret, Jessie and Duel stage a quickie marriage, but hiding her crime gets more complicated when Duel’s younger brother, Texas Ranger, Luke, comes looking for the fugitive husband-killer. Broday has a knack for capturing the hesitations of both Duel and Jessie and unfurling a twisting plot without resorting to melodrama. Through carefully deployed flashbacks, she slowly exposes the horrors of Jessie’s marriage, culminating in a truly grisly image of depravity without overwhelming the tender love story. Fans of historical romances will be pleased.

AND Linda is having a GIVEAWAY ON GOODREADS! Here is the link: GOODREADS CONTEST

Knight_Bookcover  PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON!

EXCERPT:

Duel McClain lifted the whiskey glass and let the fiery elixir slide down his throat. The burning path brought an odd sort of relief, momentarily dulling the permanent ache in his belly. The dealer slapped three cards in front of him. Duel took his time picking them up. A baby, whimpering at the men’s feet, unraveled the tightly knit threads of his composure. How could he concentrate with that?

A glance at the first card revealed an ace of spades. He stuck it between the eight of hearts and the two of clubs in his hand. Then he turned over an eight of diamonds. A pair might take the hefty pot in the middle of the table—that is, if he cared enough to try. Shielding his last card from the curious eyes of his opponents, he lifted it slowly. An ace of clubs.

His blood turned to ice.

Aces and eights—the deadman’s hand.

A resigned calm welled up. If lady luck rode with Duel tonight, the only space he’d take up would be on Boot Hill.

Something brushed the leg of his trousers. An animal must have sneaked under the swinging batwing doors and beneath the table. The baby’s sniffling grew louder. Tiny hands gripped his leg getting his attention. What in blue blazes? He leaned down. The baby had crawled to him and now tugged, trying to pull itself upright. Thin and dirty, the child stared up at him and he fought against the protective urge that rose at the sight of tears glistening in the kid’s big brown eyes.

“Up the bet, mister, or fold.”

The dealer broke his trance. Duel pitched two bits onto the pile. He just wanted to get this over with and leave. One by one each opponent around the table tossed down their cards in defeat until just two remained in the game—him and the stranger. The baby gurgled and played with the fringe running the length of Duel’s leg.

He shifted in his seat, feeling as if a gang of horse thieves had staked him out in a red-ant bed. If he had a lick of sense he’d fold and get the hell out. Deadman’s hand be damned.

A smug expression drifted across the face of the babe’s father when Duel closed up his cards, intending to lay them down.

Revulsion made Duel ache to smash the stranger’s jaw. Instead, he reached into his pocket for six bits—all that he possessed. He hesitated for only a split second, glancing down at the filthy child who deserved more out of life than the sorry-assed father it had gotten. Then he shifted his gaze, savoring the look of surprise on his opponent’s face when he placed his bet.

The sour-faced weasel had been ready to reach for the pot, sure he’d won. His face colored. He was reduced to turning each of his pockets inside out for more coins. None came to light.

“Whatcha gonna do, Will? Either come up with more or Duel here wins.” The dealer’s impatience grew.

“Hold your horses.” The man named Will leaned down. “Gal, where’d you go? Git your useless hide over here to your pa. Don’t know why I didn’t drown you when you was born.”

So, the child was a girl. Duel reached down and drew her up.

The weasel snatched the girl by one fragile arm. “Tryin’ to steal my daughter?”

Ignoring the question and the loud wails that came from the child, Duel leaned forward to scoop up his winnings.

“Not so fast, mister.” Will sat the baby in the middle of the table. “I’m puttin’ up this here brat. She’s worth six bits, I reckon. You win an’ you got yourself a young’un.”

“I won’t gamble with a man’s flesh and blood,” Duel said.

The dealer frowned. “The bet’s proper, I say. Let’s get on with it. Show your cards, Will.”

Tears ran down the baby girl’s face leaving white trails amid the filth. For a split second, Duel wished he held more than the lousy two pair, wished he could alter the hands of fate. But he’d never been able to change it before. What made him think he could now? He’d spent a lifetime making choices, and most had turned out wrong.

“Quit your sniveling, you brat,” Will snapped at the child as he flipped his cards face up. Two pair also. Kings and deuces.

Quiet calm washed over Duel. He gave the group a wintry smile and revealed his hand.

“Aces n’ eights. Beats your pair, Will. Done in by the Deadman’s hand.” The dealer straightened his silk vest and poured himself a generous drink.

Duel stuffed the coins from the pot into his pockets. What on God’s earth did a man like him need with a babe? The girl had stuck a thumb in her mouth and sucked noisily on it between whimpers. He’d sooner grow wings and fly than take on the responsibility for another human being. The best thing would be to saunter out the door.

“Ain’t you forgettin’ something, mister?” Will’s nasty snarl whipped the stale air like a thin, razor-sharp piece of leather.

Much as he sympathized with the babe’s lot, he couldn’t accept her. “Take her home to her maw. Don’t have any need for a kid.”

Will grabbed his daughter’s sparse hair and pulled her small face next to his own. Ignoring her sharp cries, he yelled, “Ain’t got no maw. See there, Marley Rose. Ain’t no one wants you. You’re about as worthless as one of them Confederate greenbacks. Ain’t never goin’ to be any good for nothin’. Any o’ you cowpokes wanna buy a snot-nosed brat? Sell her cheap.”

Duel found himself reaching for the scared, helpless babe. “Changed my mind. Believe I’ll take what I won.” Tiny hands clung tightly to the neck of his collarless shirt as he strode for the door before he could backtrack.

Pre-Order KNIGHT ON THE TEXAS PLAINS and be ready for a tale that you won’t soon forget!

 

 

 

 

Release Day!

Published on by Jan Sikes13 Comments

There is nothing more exciting to an author than the day a new book releases to the world. And, today is that day for Linda Broday!

heart of a texas cowboy

Three Brothers. One Oath.
No Compromises.
The MEN of LEGEND

The Cowboy
One bullet is all it takes to shatter Houston Legend’s world. He swore he’d never love again, but with the future of the Lone Star Ranch on the line, he finds himself at the altar promising to love and cherish a woman he’s never met-a woman whose vulnerable beauty touches his heart.

All Lara Boone wants is a name for her baby. She never expected to fall in love with her own husband-or any man-after the heartache she’s endured. Yet when her troubled past catches up with them, Houston will move heaven and earth to protect his bride…and discover depths to a marriage of convenience neither realized could be theirs.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER!

Praise for Forever His Texas Bride:

“Broday’s Westerns always captivate.” -RT Book Reviews 4 stars

“Poignant, dramatic and packed with action and mystery.” —Addicted to Romance for Forever His Texas Bride

These Legend men are bigger than life! If you love historical western romance, you’ll love each book of this Legend series!!

See all of Linda Broday’s books here!

eBook Bargain .99!!

Published on by Jan Sikes11 Comments

I love supporting other authors and helping spread the word about promotions they have going on. So, today I’m supporting an amazing author of Western Historical Romance, who also happens to be my sister! I love all of the characters who make up the Men of Legend series.

They are blood. They are brothers.

They are LEGENDS…

Stoker Legend — Tough patriarch who runs the huge Lone Star Ranch and keeps his sons in line.

Houston — The one most like his father. He only wants to be a rancher.

Sam — A Texas Ranger who has no desire for ranch life.

Luke — An outlaw who never knew who his father’s name until his mother lay on her deathbed. 

Linda Broday’s first book in the Men of Legend series, To Love A Texas Ranger is filled with plenty of action and adventure. Unforgettable characters like rugged Texas Ranger, Sam Legend, and beautiful Sierra Hunt will steal your heart and set you on the course to follow this three-book series. And, it is only 99 cents!

texas-ranger-final

BLURB: 

Gravely injured on the trail of a notorious criminal, Texas Ranger Sam Legend boards a train bound for his family ranch to recuperate…only to find himself locked in battle to save a desperate woman on the run. Determined to rescue the beautiful Sierra, Sam recruits an unlikely ally. But can he trust the mysterious gunslinger to fight at his side?

Sam is shocked to discover his new ally is not only an outlaw, but his half-brother. Torn between loyalty to his job and love of his family, Sam goes reeling straight into Sierra’s arms. Yet just as the walls around his battered heart begin to crumble, Sierra is stolen away. Sam will risk anything to save her-his life, his badge, his very soul-knowing that some bonds are stronger than the law…and some legends were born to be told.

***

Here is what one reader had to say: “Linda Broday’s books are intriguing yet easy to read. She paints vivid pictures with words while maintaining historical accuracy. Her writing is richly romantic and vividly entertaining. I highly recommend any and all of her books. She is my favorite western romance author.”

Pick up To Love A Texas Ranger at the ridiculously low price of .99!!

Not one, Not two, but THREE!

Published on by Jan Sikes15 Comments

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Author Linda Broday has THREE books up for pre-order. She is one busy writer and she inspires me!

Linda Broday’s Line-up

This year has barely begun and I’m racing around like some crazy chicken, flopping its wings. I have four books available for preorder. YIKES! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is what I’ve worked so hard for and I’m going to savor every second. They’re all available for PREORDER.

Coming May 2, 2017

THE HEART OF A TEXAS COWBOY – #2 Men of Legend

Three Brothers. One Oath.

No Compromises.

The MEN of LEGEND

The Cowboy

One bullet is all it takes to shatter Houston Legend’s world. He swore he’d never love again, but with the future of the Lone Star Ranch on the line, he finds himself at the altar promising to love and cherish a woman he’s never met—a woman whose vulnerable beauty touches his heart.

 

All Lara Boone wants is a name for her baby. She never expected to fall in love with her own husband—or any man—after the heartache she’s endured. Yet when her troubled past catches up with them, Houston will move heaven and earth to protect his bride…and discover depths to a marriage of convenience neither realized could be theirs to claim.

AMAZON  |  B&N  |

Coming August 1, 2017

KNIGHT ON THE TEXAS PLAINS — (#1 Texas Heroes series) Reissue of a 2002 book

He’ll do whatever it takes

To keep them safe

Duel McClain has lost everything he’s ever loved: his wife, his son, his sense of self. But when a strange twist of fate—and a poker game he’ll never forget—leaves an innocent little girl in his care, Duel vows to defend his new family to his very last breath. If only he knew a single thing about taking care of babies…

Just as Duel swears his life can’t get any more complicated, a beautiful woman stumbles into the light of his campfire, desperate for help. Jessie Foltry is hungry, tired, and running for her life. She agrees to help Duel care for the child in exchange for his protection, even as she fights to guard her broken heart. But Duel will do whatever it takes to make Jessie see that the Texas plains have more than one kind of knight, and perhaps their salvation is closer than either of them could have dreamed…

AMAZON  |  B&N  |

Coming October 3, 2017

CHRISTMAS IN A COWBOY’S ARMS – anthology with Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas

Stay toasty this holiday season with heart-warming tales of the Wild West! This Western Christmas anthology features bestselling authors including: Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Anna Schmidt, Margaret Brownley, and Amy Sandas. Each story features rugged cowboys, the women who’ve lassoed their hearts…and the Christmas miracles that bring them together.

My story is: The Christmas Stranger

Sidalee King rescues a drifter from the snow and takes him home. She helps Hank Destry learn the meaning of Christmas and how to open his heart again.

A lonely old woman, Hank’s irrestible dog, and a collection of quirky characters celebrate Christmas with the Legend family on the Lone Star Ranch.

AMAZON  |  B&N  |

Coming November 7, 2017

(Sorry, No Cover Yet)

TO MARRY A TEXAS OUTLAW – #3 Men of Legend

Outlaw Luke Weston is surviving by his wits. On the run with a price on his head for a murder he didn’t commit, the last thing Luke needs is more trouble. But when he stumbles upon a young woman who has clearly been kidnapped, he’ll find he’s willing to face any odds if it means keeping the delicate beauty safe.

AMAZON   |   B&N   |

Author Linda Broday Featured on USA Today!

Published on by Jan Sikes27 Comments

Some of my readers may know and some may not know that Linda Broday is my sister. When she called and told me she was going to be a featured author on USA Today’s Happy Ever After, I jumped for joy!

She has a new release, Texas Redemption, which is a historical romance set in deep East Texas where Cypress trees grow so tall you can’t see the tops and where Alligator swish through the dark waters.

Originally released in 2005, Linda was thrilled when Sourcebooks chose to re-issue it.

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This book is special to me for two reasons. First and foremost, it’s a great story about two men (brothers) who both love the same woman. Secondly, she wrote it shortly after she was diagnosed with MS and then lost her husband.

She inspires me because she never gives up! When the doctors told her that she had MS, she quickly tagged it “Mighty Spirit,” and that truly describes her.

Here is the link to the USA Today feature.

Back Cover Blurb for Texas Redemption:

Desperate to escape her dark past, Laurel James agrees to wed the mayor of a small East Texas town. With him, life will be quiet, respectable. Safe. It should be everything she ever wanted.

And it is. Until Shenandoah rides back into town.

Shenandoah never thought he would find the woman he’s loved and lost…and he certainly never dreamed she’d be pledged to his brother. He knows he should step aside—he has nothing to offer a woman like Laurel James—but the moment their eyes meet, Shenandoah is lost. He can only find peace in her arms…but can redemption be more than a dream for a man who has known nothing but war?

Intrigued? Linda is doing a Goodreads Giveaway until February 19th. Click here to enter.

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