Series- Why We Like Them and prizes

First off- For every post I put up today if twenty people comment I’ll give away an ebook to one of the visitors who comments. So tell your friends and have them come by and leave a comment.  If forty people comment on one blog two people will receive an ebook.

Series- Why We Like Them

by 

Paty Jager

When I wrote the first book of the Halsey brother series, Marshal in Petticoats, it started out as a one book deal- then along came Gil’s brothers- four of them. Even after they were added, only a small niggling said this could be a series, then the first book was released and everyone wanted to know when another brother would have a book and the series emerged!

I’ve had a long standing relationship with series books. They have always been my favorite to read.  I enjoy becoming a family member as I read the stories. I like rooting for everyone and wondering who the next book will be about. And I’ve found so do many other readers.   

Readers like finding out more about the families, and in a sense, becoming part of the families as they read the stories. It’s amazing how deep some readers become engrossed in the character’s lives. But it is a rewarding thing for an author to have someone so excited about a next book- about the family. And that is what led me to the second book - Zeke’s book, Outlaw in Petticoats, the third book - Ethan’s book, Miner in Petticoats, the fourth – Doctor in Petticoats, and the fifth – Logger in Petticoats. Which is the final book, or is it? 

I’ve had so many readers ask for more that I’ve started researching for a trilogy with the young men who were brought into the Halsey family in each book: Jeremy, Colin, and Donny.

What started out as one idea, a young woman dressed like a boy made marshal by a corrupt mayor (Marshal in Petticoats) has ended up a five book series, and if all goes well two trilogies since after I finish the young boys trilogy, I’ll write a trilogy about the brothers of the heroine in Logger in Petticoats.

Are you a fan of series? If so, what is your favorite series and why?  If not, what about series don’t you like?

Blurb for Marshal in Petticoats

After accidentally shooting a bank robber, Darcy Duncan becomes marshal of a town as accident prone as herself.  Darcy's taken care of her younger brother the last five years, and she's not about to take orders from a corrupt mayor or a handsome drifter, whose curiosity could end her career as a marshal and take away their security.

Gil Halsey arrives in Galena looking for his boss's son turned outlaw. He discovers the town's new marshal is a passionate woman with high regard for family. Darcy reunites Gil with his estranged family as they romp through gold country dodging outlaws and clearing her name.

Excerpt:

“Sure you could.” He chucked her under the chin and started to move away.

Darcy grabbed Gil’s shirt, pulling him around to look at her. “I can take care of myself. I have been for several years.” She didn’t know why, but his comment and condescending attitude struck a chord of defiance in her.

“Now, don’t go getting all in a fluster. I’m sure you have been staying out of trouble by the skin of your teeth. But you were a kid then. You’ve become a woman.” He put a hand on her cheek. “A beautiful woman.” His gaze dropped to her exposed chest.

A scorching wave of heat started at her middle and flared out to her fingers and toes.

“You have no idea what these men around here would do to you if they had the chance.” His thumb moved slowly back and forth, caressing her cheek. 

 “W-W-What would they do to me?” She barely heard herself mumble the sentence. His gaze turned dark. Only this time a glimmer of something other than violence flickered in his intense stare.

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his long body. His head dipped, and his lips brushed hers.

Her body pressed against him, yearning to feel his strength. He bent closer, lifting her onto her toes. She wound her arms around his neck to keep from melting into the floor. His lips moved urgently over hers, sending waves of sensations through her eager body. He grasped her tighter. His hands moved up and down her back, then down over her hips, tracing the contours.

“That is not proper behavior for one of my girls.”

Darcy felt a stinging blow to her bare shoulder and turned from Gil, gasping for air.

Buy Links:

Windtree Press  

Kindle 

Nook 

Also starting this month I’m giving away gift cards to restaurants and book outlets. Stop in and see how you could win!

Award winning author Paty Jager is a member of national and local writing organizations. She not only writes the western lifestyle she lives it. With sixteen novels and several short stories published, she continues to have characters cavorting in her head. 

You can learn more about Paty at her blog; www.patyjager.blogspot.com  her website; http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager , Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1005334.Paty_Jager  and twitter;  @patyjag.

THE DOUBTING HEART - Excerpt 2 & Giveaway

Hi all,

I thought I'd share one more excerpt from my new romantic suspense, The Doubting Heart.

Anxious to escape the ghosts of the place, she rounded to Copper, set her right foot into the stirrup and pushed off to mount her. The stirrup seemed to slip as she raised her left leg over the horse.

Suddenly, Copper shied back and reared up. Shelby lost her balance and slid down the side of the horse. The reins slid from her hands. She clawed at the saddle. “Copper! Easy girl. Easy up,” she cried, but her voice was too panicked to have any effect.

Then Copper began to run.

Shelby managed to grab onto the horn, but without the stirrup for support she felt herself slipping. She clawed for purchase yet each movement pulled the saddle further down the horse’s side. She grasped at the mane with her left hand and wrapped her fingers tightly through the coarse hair. The rocky ground seemed only inches below her and she struggled to hold her body rigid. Her loose leg dangled precariously close to the horse’s scythe-like hooves.

She called to Copper, tried to calm her. The horse sped up and edged closer to the water. Shelby panicked. Not the river. Not again!

As she fought to raise herself higher, she caught a glimpse over Copper’s back of a dark form approaching from up the canyon wall.

Another horse and rider!

Relief flooded her. Thank God.

She held tighter to the saddle and mane, willing every fiber in her being to hang on until her rescue. She counted the seconds. Waiting.

It was taking too long. She was afraid to turn her head to look for them. Where are they?

Then she saw them, a shadow on the ground, easily matching Copper stride-for-stride. That wasn’t right. They should be passing. Grabbing Copper’s bit. Slowing the pace. Stopping her.

The dark shadow was edging closer to Copper.

Closer to her.

Suddenly, Shelby realized what they were doing. Her mind exploded into a blinding fury of panic and shock. She heard herself scream.

The other rider was deliberately driving her towards the deadly torrent.

You can find more information and the buy-links for The Doubting Heart at http://www.brendagayle.com/books/doubtingheart.php.

Thanks very much for stopping by to help me celebrate the release of The Doubting Heart. Don't forget, a randomly chosen commenter on one of my posts will receive a digital download of The Hungry Heart, book 1 in my Heart's Desire series. Check back next weekend when I'll announce the winner.

In the meantime, you can follow my blog tour for the chance to win even more prizes (including a $50 Amazon GC) and connect with me through my website, Facebook, Twitter & Goodreads.

THE DOUBTING HEART - The Story Behind the Story (with Giveaway)

Hi again. By far the question most common asked is how do I come up with the ideas for my stories. It would be great if an idea popped into my  head fully formed and I just began to write it start to finish. But that's not the way it happens at all. Writing a book can be pretty darn messy. Scenes are added, deleted, picked up and used elsewhere (sometimes in other books). Here's a bit of the background to how The Doubting Heart came about.

The Doubting Heart was originally called Wildhorse Pass, and the title came to me when I misread a sign while driving along a highway on the Bruce Peninsula, in Ontario. I thought “hey, that’s a neat name for a place,” and started to wonder about what type of place it would be and what would go on there. I don’t know what sort of mood I was in but I kept thinking about doubting your senses and mistaken identity, and slowly a plot formed.

After I had written the entire book, I felt  as if something was missing. I didn't have a sense of closure. My thoughts kept returning to the “other” stuff that influenced the characters but wasn’t fleshed out in the book—specifically the dynamics of the larger Graham family that had alienated both the hero, Chad, and his cousin, Michael, thus leading to the incidents around which the book was based.

I could see a larger story arc forming as I began to consider the stories of Chad’s two cousins—Hunter and Anna—who were still navigating their family’s minefield of expectation and responsibility. And the more I worked through an overarching plot, the more I realized book made most sense as the second installment in a series I named Heart’s Desire. I then wrote what became the first book in the series, The Hungry Heart, then significantly revised Wildhorse Pass and renamed it, The Doubting Heart.

Don't forget, in addition to Goddess Fish's $10 gift card to be awarded one commenter, I'll be giving away a digital download of The Hungry Heart, the first book in the series, to someone who comments on one of my posts.

I'm also doing a blog tour. You can check out the stops for a chance to win a download of my new short story, Father of the Bride? or a $50 Amazon GC.

I love to talk about books, writing, and life. You can connect with me via my website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

THE DOUBTING HEART - Excerpt & Giveaway

Hi again, I'm back to share an excerpt from my new romantic suspense, The Doubting Heart. 

My husband likes to say that he and I
are the models for the cover. It's true, we
do somewhat resemble Chad & Shelby--
at least we did many years ago!

Shelby didn’t slow down to appreciate the sights and smells of southern New Mexico’s late spring splendor. But the broad, naked back bent over the water trough? Surely she could spare a moment to stop and appreciate that.
She lowered her gaze, allowing it to linger on his hips, admiring the way the faded denim gently hugged the firm, rounded buttocks before falling over what she imagined were strong, powerful thighs. Then he raised his head and she was treated to a glorious view of glistening droplets of water coursing down his back, past where his waist narrowed, to disappear beneath the waistband of his jeans.

Wow! The word reverberated through her mind and her skin glowed warm at the sight. She smiled, bemused by her reaction to the unknown man.

Well, it has been a while and there’s nothing wrong with looking.

He shook his head and turned towards her. The shimmering spray momentarily impeded her view of his face, then the mist fell away and everything began to move in slow motion. Her gut twisted painfully and she gasped for air.

“Hello,” he said, moving towards her, not seeming the least bit self-conscious about finding himself the object of her stare.

It can’t be! Her mind tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

He was taller, heavier—in all the right places—younger. His hair was a darker brown and longer. He was unshaven, an affectation she generally abhorred, but on him the dark stubble added an unexpected measure of sensual intrigue. The line of his chin was stronger, too, and his mouth lacked the self-deprecating smile. But his eyes.… Dark swaths of eyebrow added to their intensity and she couldn’t look away from their penetrating gray stare.

Oh God, he has Michael’s eyes!

I'd love to know what you think. Don't forget, I'll be giving away a digital download of The Hungry Heart, the first book in the Heart's Desire series, to someone who comments on one of my posts.

You can pick up a copy of The Doubting Heart at many e-retailers and distributers.

You can also connect with me via my website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

THE DOUBTING HEART - Welcome & Giveaway

Hi all, I'm Brenda Gayle and I'm so glad you could stop by and help me celebrate the release of my romantaic suspense, The Doubting Heart.



Don't you just love the cover
done by the wonderful Debbie Taylor
at The Wild Rose Press?

The Doubting Heart is the second book in my Heart's Desire series. The series follows the trials and tribulations of three cousins as they try to navigate the minefield of their family's expectations to find their own path to love and happiness.
 

In book one, The Hungry Heart, a fourth cousin disappears during a research project on a ranch in southern New Mexico. This becomes the catalyst for The Doubting Heart.

 

Shelby Holt, knows she can’t trust her heart, but when she meets the new ranch hand she doubts she can trust her head either. He looks uncannily like her mentor and best-friend, a man she respected and adored—a man she believes was murdered.

Chad Graham, burned by love and war, is not quite what meets the eye. Posing as Chad Greene, he’s come to Wildhorse Pass, New Mexico, to investigate the woman making wild claims about the death of his cousin. Can the official reports be wrong? Or is Shelby trying to ingratiate herself with his wealthy family? He knows she’s hiding something. But then, so is he.

In close proximity, despite the danger, sensual attraction simmers and deception deepens. Because the closer Shelby and Chad get to one another, the closer they get to the answer...and the closer they get to danger—until Shelby herself becomes the target of a killer.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Doubting-Heart-ebook/dp/B009KELTAC

The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/YrBwNX

I'll pop back later with an excerpt and some fun stuff about the book. In the meantime, I'd love to know your thoughts about series romance? Do you like them? Do you have a favorite you can recommend? In addition to Goddess Fish's $10 gift card to be awarded one commenter today, I'll be giving away a digital download of The Hungry Heart, the first book in the series, to someone who comments on one of my posts.

I love to talk books. You can connect with me via website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

What's the Draw for Westerns?

I'd feel lower than a snake's belly if I didn't inform you all about the charm of western romance novels whether they're historical or contemporary.

We've all felt that visceral pull when a man in tight blue jeans, cowboy boots, T-shirt or a long sleeved work shirt, and a cowboy hat came into view. Before you even see the face, you sigh. We all watched Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and The Virginian growing up. Or the western movies with John Wayne, Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott… I could go on and on.

In our culture the cowboy means chivalry, honor, duty, loyalty. Traits we all cherish in a hero. That's why I like to write westerns- historical or contemporary. The cowboy way of life and spirit is embodied in the heroes I write.  My Halsey brothers while they're more miners than cowboys, they have the mentality to fight for what's right, treat a lady with respect, and love children and animals. The hero Brock in Perfectly Good Nanny owns a ranch.  And while he'd do anything to keep his family together, he won't compromise anyone to do it. He battles the land to keep his family fed and clothed and he battles his own demons while helping the heroine conquer her own.

And the great characters in the secondary western characters… Gabby Hayes, Tonto, Festus, Trampus.  I use the secondary characters I've loved in movies and TV shows to make my secondary characters in my books.  In the Halsey books, I have a widowed woman who takes the Halsey brothers under her wing when their parents die. She's a bit nosey but only because she cares. And though she's a tiny thing she doesn't think twice about taking one of the grown brothers by the ear and making them do what's right. And they listen to her because she is their elder and a woman. A cowboy trait.  In Perfectly Good Nanny the sidekick is an elderly Klamath Indian who helps the hero's daughter order a nanny online, sets the hero straight when he needs someone to vent to, and finds a way to disappear when trouble is brewing. A good secondary character gives levity to a story in my opinion.

Another reason I write westerns could be the fact I grew up riding horses on a 200 acre ranch and exploring the mountains around our house. The early 1900's ranch house we lived in had a wood cookstove, an outhouse, and a woodshed.  Also an earth cellar, we butchered chickens and rabbits, made butter and ice cream. I lived a life similar to the lives of the characters in my historical books. Owning 350 acres raising hay and cattle, I live the country life that I put into my contemporary westerns.

Western romance books whether they're historical or contemporary are about the lifestyle and the cowboy way of life that we all love: God, country, respect, honor, loyalty, and duty. And that's why I write westerns.

Why do you like westerns?  Who is your favorite western character either in a book, movie, or TV show? Why?

 You can read excerpts for all my westerns plus a free read at my website. 

www.patyjager.net

A Different kind of Hero...

It's not a topic you find all that often in romance novels. Cancer. But my hubby and personal hero's successful battle against testicular cancer helped inspire this story featuring the foreman of Hearts Crossing Ranch, Hooper Martin.

The highlight so far of Sanctuary's recent release has been a four-star Web exclusive review at Romantic Times.

I hope you'll give it a chance. It's truly a book of the heart, and full of hope, romance, and faith.

Blurb:
A beautiful plus-one at a wedding, a hunky cowboy..autumn leaves and rugged horse trails. The perfect setting to unite two healing souls…

Ranch foreman and single dad Hooper Martin is ready to put his health and life back on track after battling cancer…including re-entering ing the dating scene. His little girl sure could use a mother. Falling hard for wedding guest Malia Cameron makes perfect sense to him: she's a survivor, too.

Mallie has put her heart on hold, knowing she will never recover from her brain tumor struggle. She can't promise a future to anybody and vows never to fall in love. Letting Hooper Martin into her life would be a big mistake. But his good looks take her breath away, and his living faith starts to gentle her confusion about Who's really in charge.

Leave a comment and e-mail address for a drawing to win a copy.
Available at White Rose Publishing

Faithful Danger...my first suspense. Leave a Comment to win an e-copy

No matter, my heroes are always cowboys. Point rider, horse doctor, ranch foreman. Even Rhee Ryland, the hero of my latest release, Faithful Danger, from White Rose Publishing. Yeah, he might be a high -priced private investigator, but he's never forgotten his cowboy roots. Meeting mysterious widow Caffey Matthews in the beautiful ranch country of Santa Ynez, California, starts his pulse racing.

Leave a comment and your e-mail address for a chance to win a copy.

Blurb:

 Frightened and alone, Caffey Matthews leaves behind her wealthy Manhattan life after her husband's financial crimes and suicide…knowing his enemies are in pursuit. Finding succor in remote California ranch land helps her to reclaim her faith and trust in God. But the heart-stopping stranger Rhee Ryland frightens her even as she’s powerless to halt her deepening feelings for him…

Believing she's involved in her late husband's misdeeds, cowboy-turned high-priced private investigator Rhee Ryland arrives in Rancho Lorena on her tail ready to haul her back. Never expecting to fall in love with her, even more surprising is his return to his childhood Lord. 

Excerpt:

Locked in the trunk of the car!

Caffey battled to stay calm, to breathe normally, to hold down panic. To conserve air. The compartment wasn’t air tight, but heat and hyperventilation could kill. Lord, keep me safe, she begged. But even knowing He was at her side, she had to figure out what to do by herself.

 Breathe deep, slow. Breathe deep, slow. Amazingly, she did know what to do. Everett had borne a pathological fear that one day, either one of them might be kidnapped and held to ransom. Now, he was the abductor. Her lip quivered, and she swallowed tears.

            Scrunched into a bundle of bones and hot, tightened skin, she widened her eyes in the darkness to try to detect a glow-in-the-dark-handle. Spirits deflating, she understood the car wasn’t a late model with a required trunk release. Just in case, she groped with her fingers to try for a toggle switch or button.

             Nothing. Her heart flew into her throat, and she concentrated on easing the pain in her cramped shoulders. Maybe, just maybe the backseat would fold down. Doubtful she’d find a release in the trunk, she explored anyway with her fingertips, then unsuccessful, tried to unwind her legs enough to push the seat down. It didn’t give a centimeter.

           Panic started to roil, but she refused to let it. A Psalm of David dashed through her mind. Keep my soul and deliver me, for I put my trust in You. The words had saved her before, too many times to count, and a smidge of relief skittered through her. The Lord wouldn’t let her face this alone.

Available: http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Faithful-Danger