Counting down to Valentine's Day with 3 Free eBooks

By Jacqui Nelson

Valentine's Day is only one day but writing a series can take years in an author's life—and in their characters' lives as well. 

Book 1 in my Lonesome Hearts series was the first book I wrote. It took years to write and revise and polish. The other four books in the series each took less than six months to write. 

Crossing the Oregon Trail (the setting for book 1 in my Lonesome Hearts series) could take four to five months. 

If one was lucky enough to survive that journey, then one's life might change in a single day on horseback (the premise for book 2 in my Lonesome Hearts series). 

If one was lucky enough to (at the end of that ride) find a forever family and (over the years following) grow strong and brave, then one might save the life of their soulmate during two very challenging days on a remote mountain (the premise for book 3 in my Lonesome Hearts series). 

Counting Down to Valentine's Day—with 3 Free eBooks

To celebrate the countdown to Valentine's Day, I've made books 1 to 3 in my Lonesome Hearts FREE on Amazon Kindle from Feb 11 to 15. The other book in this series, Rescuing Raven, is always free for my newsletter subscribers. 

BETWEEN HEAVEN & HELL (Book 1 chronologically)

Oregon Trail – 1850

The scout & the ex-Ranger wagon boss

On a trail full of danger, will he guide her to heaven or hell?

** Steam Level: Spicy **

Free Feb 11 - 15 on Amazon Kindle US | UK | Canada | Australia 

Free every day with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

FOLLOWING FAITH (Book 2 chronologically)

Oregon Territory – 1852

The schoolmistress & the Osage warrior

Can a single day together on horseback change your life forever?

** Steam Level: Sweet **

Free Feb 11 - 15 on Amazon Kindle US | UK | Canada | Australia 

Free every day with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

CHOOSING BRAVERY (Book 3 chronologically)

The Cascade Mountains, Oregon – 1868

The wilderness guide & the fugitive tracker

When legends collide, will the sparks ignite their love or drive them apart?

** Steam Level: Sweet **

Free Feb 11 - 15 on Amazon Kindle US | UK | Canada | Australia 

Free every day with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

RESCUING RAVEN (book 4 chronologically, but also a series prequel in concept)

Deadwood, Dakota Territory – 1876

The Lakota savior & the shotgun messenger

In a gold rush storm, can an unlikely pair rescue each other?

** Steam Level: Sweet **

Free every day for my newsletter subscribers or for $0.99 on Amazon. 

~ * ~

Wishing you all a happy countdown to Valentine's Day ❤️ 

Download my FREE STORY Rescuing Raven

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Pinterest, my Website,
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Read my Wild Women of the West blog posts 

My Story Inspiration for Between Heaven & Hell

By Jacqui Nelson

I've included a Story Inspiration page in the back of each of my books, but today I thought...why not share them everywhere and start with Cowboy Kisses? And why not start with my first book as well? 

So here we go! 

 

BETWEEN HEAVEN & HELL 

Story Inspiration page ~ from the back of the book

Between Heaven & Hell was the first novel I wrote (and the second I published), so you can imagine how honored I was when it won both the 2010 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® for Historical Romance and the 2014 Laramie® for Western Romance Drama.

The inspiration for Hannah and Paden’s story came from many directions. First was the astounding idea of traveling 2,170 miles (3,490 km) on foot, wagon, or horseback but also leaving behind everything you knew—family, friends, the familiarity of home, the disappointments of the past. All for the hope of a better future. Few people crossed the trail more than once as Paden did. From the 1830s the Oregon Trail and its many offshoots were used by over 400,000 travelers. To put that into perspective, America’s population was 23 million in 1850, the year of my story.

Attack by anyone including Native Americans (whose land was being taken and abused) was my initial worry for my travelers. It was an eye-opener to learn that disease posed the most danger. Cholera killed 3% of all travelers in the epidemic years from 1849 to 1855. Other common causes of death included hypothermia, drowning in river crossings, being run over by wagons, and accidental shootings.

So how to protect yourself? From the early days, Native tribes believed tattoos held protective powers. Symbols were tribe and individual specific because if everyone’s life story is unique, then a tattoo (and its guardian spirit) should be unique as well.

BETWEEN HEAVEN & HELL 

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas – 1850

Hannah knows one thing the moment she enters Fort Leavenworth—she’s arrived in Hell. But inside the fort is the means to a new life, a position as a scout on a wagon train bound for the Western Territories. All Hannah has to do is convince the wagon master, Paden Callahan, she’s the right person for the job.

After his wife was murdered by the Comanche, Paden let his work as a Texas Ranger consume him. Now he wants nothing more than to forget his past and disappear into the West. Unfortunately, the one man he can’t refuse has asked him to guide a wagon train full of tenderfoots across thousands of miles of Indian land. But Paden’s greatest challenge turns out to be Hannah, a woman his heart won’t allow him to ignore even though she’s been raised by an enemy he hates.

On a trail full of danger, will he guide her to heaven or hell?

Click here to read an excerpt on my website.

~ * ~

THE LONESOME HEARTS SERIES 

Between Heaven & Hell is book 1 in my Lonesome Hearts series, which follows the frontiersmen and women who meet on the Oregon Trail and afterward. Each story includes one or more of the characters from the other books but is also a standalone read.

Click here to see a summary of all of my books on one page.

Hope you enjoyed my writing inspiration and that you all have a very happy Friday! 

~ * ~

Download my FREE STORY Rescuing Raven

Join me on 

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Pinterest, my Website,
my Cowboy Kisses page 

Follow me on 

Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads 

Read my Wild Women of the West blog posts