Fort Smith - Last "Civilization" West of the Mississippi by Guest, Sandra Jones

I grew up on historical romances and loved watching westerns on TV such as The Wild, Wild West, Maverick, Grizzly Adams, and Little House on the Prairie. Frontiersmen—the more rugged the better—really intrigued me. The characters in my River Rogues series were born from that inspiration.

When contemplating the second book in the series, HIS MOST WANTED (Available on Tuesday, Nov. 17), I knew the hero would be Kit Wainwright, a secondary character from the first book. Kit is a sharpshooting gambler, raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, and his uncle is an aging mountaineer who once traded furs in Oklahoma Territory.

After a personal trip to Fort Smith, Arkansas, I knew this would be just the sort of place the Wainwrights would’ve visited as well.

Most people know Fort Smith as the home of “Hanging” Judge Parker and the setting of the book and m
ovie True Grit. It was also the trading post for fur traders, a thriving river port, and the district for famous U.S. Marshals such as Bass Reeves. During my tour of the town, I discovered another point of interest, the historic Miss Laura’s Bordello in the former red light district known as the Row.

Miss Laura’s is now the city’s visitor center and is well worth the stop. Free, guided tours offer a delicious peek at the bedrooms of the business and a closer glimpse at the lives of the ladies who worked there. Photographs of the establishment’s residents line the walls, along with period antiques and artifacts. I was delighted to find that Belle Starr and her daughter Pearl once did business on the Row, too.

When I left Fort Smith, I knew the heroine of HIS MOST WANTED would be a bordello madam. I hope you’ll find yourself sympathetic to Cora Reilly as I was. She’s a strong woman who only wants what’s best for the unfortunate girls who depend on her.

Thank you for allowing me to visit with you today. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share Kit and Cora’s love story!


Drawing:
Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in a drawing for an ebook copy of HIS MOST WANTED!

HIS MOST WANTED’s Blurb:
It’ll take more than a badge to get her to confess her secrets.

Kit Wainwright only meant to stop the thief making off with his beloved uncle’s ashes. He wants to hang up his gun, become a law-abiding citizen and leave his violent past behind. But the mayor takes notice of his sharpshooting skills, slaps a badge on his chest and puts him in charge of cleaning up this lawless town. Starting with tracking down the notorious Velvet Grace.

Bordello owner Cora Reilly never meant to become a crusader. But after shooting the last corrupt sheriff in self-defense, she’s spent the last few months turning her hastily donned disguise into a local legend to defend the girls in her town from riff-raff.

There’s no way Cora can trust the handsome new sheriff. Yet Kit’s kisses leave her wanting to open her arms—and her bedroom—to soothe his grief. Even if it brings him too close to the truth that could send her to the gallows.

Warning: Contains a reluctant sheriff with a keen eye for a moving target, and a take-no-crap madam who isn’t about to let him get close. Okay, maybe just a little bit closer. Just this once…

About Sandra Jones

A high school librarian, former bookseller, and an author of several historical romances, Sandra Jones has always had her nose in a book. She’s also the wife to her husband of more than twenty-five years, a proud mother to two grown sons, and a collector of old
books. Sandra makes her home in a cabin on the river where she enjoys watching birds and listening to wildlife.

Sandra also loves chatting with her readers. Visit her website to sign-up for her newsletter with exclusive giveaways, excerpts, and news: www.sandrajonesromance.com

Find Sandra’s books at:
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P.S.  Today is Ginger's birthday and I have it on good authority that she's realllllly olllldddd.