ICE CREAM COMES TO THE OLD WEST By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless

Many different eras and cultures claim credit for the earliest form of ice cream, which appears to date back to China’s T’ang period, or ancient Persia. Creating this frozen treat must certainly have been a labor of love before the invention of ice houses, ice boxes, and finally, modern-day refrigeration. Eventually the recipe for this frozen confection made its way to the New World by way of the Quaker Colonists where, before long, it was sold in shops in New York and other large cities. Small-scale hand-cranked ice cream freezers were invented in the 1840’s although it was still an expensive, labor intensive treat before commercial manufacturing got underway in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In my Western series, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Georgina, a spinster who owns the town’s café, is introduced to this yummy treat in a different town. It was important Georgina do something to ensure the café’s popularity and planned expansion, so I had her start making her own ice cream to sell in her café. Thank goodness, the time period made this a credible undertaking for this heroine, who eventually becomes one of the brides for the seven Mason brothers.

If you’ve not yet read this series, Book 1, Brody’s Bride, is on sale during Black Friday and Cyber Monday for only 99 cents, starting November 25th.



I’m not sure who first had the genius idea to dip a homemade cookie in ice cream, but if cookies and ice cream are your go-to dessert pairing, here’s a free cookie recipe book to download at your favorite online book store. target="_blank">https://books2read.com/dickens-cookie

USA Today Bestselling author, Kathleen Lawless, blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her many alpha male heroes. Her hero, Steele, in HER UNDERCOVER COWBOY, is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was wooed by a man called Steel— while he’s not a cowboy, he is an alpha male and her forever hero. Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After. Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Newsletter to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers. http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1 AMAZON | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB

KEEPING PROSPERITY ALIVE By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless

Mining has always been a dangerous occupation, but for Western Pioneers life presented so many dangers that one more hardly seemed relevant if it meant prosperity.  Gold and silver lured prospectors West, after which they discovered the value of copper, lead and zinc.  Boom towns flourished and fell as the mines prospered or petered out.

Trying to prevent such an occurrence and foster the longevity and prosperity of Bullet is top-of-mind for my hero Brody, the senior Mason brother in the series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  Unfortunately, Brody made a death bed promise to his dying uncle to keep the presence of copper on their ranch a secret.  But some things, like valuable minerals, can only stay buried for so long.  Especially as the demand for copper grew in the late 19^th century with advancements in the electrical and telecommunication age.

This is how I picture the crew of miners who arrive in Bullet to work the mine.

For a limited few days, you can download BRODY'S BRIDE for Free from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SRHCQK8

 

Meanwhile, I am super excited for everyone to meet Shane and Lacey from the Proxy Brides series.  A BRIDE FOR SHANE is brand new today.

Tuesday Teaser: 

“I’m not afraid of dying,” Shane told Jones, the smartly-dressed lawyer who had been a frequent visitor to his jail cell lately. 

   “Only a foolish man would die for something he didn’t do,” Jones said.  “And I don’t consider you a foolish man.”

  “Just unlucky,” Shane muttered.

  “Whoever stole those horses deserves to be the one staring down the hangman’s noose, not you.  The true thief will keep right on thieving, and get away with it because you took the fall.”

  “I don’t need to be rehabilitated,” Shane said stubbornly.  “I’ve got no truck with a bunch of stuffy church ladies going all preachy on me and minding my business.”

  “Taking on a wife will help prove to society that you’ve reformed,” the lawyer said.

  Shane half-snorted, half-laughed.  “Who’d marry me?”

  “Apparently, Lacey Collins has agreed to that honor,” Jones said drily.

  Shane straightened.  “Lacey Collins!  Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”

  “So, you agree?”

  “Heck, no.”  He tamped down the image of Lacey that drifted into the recesses of his memory.  A cascade of wavy dark auburn hair and a temper to match.  Beautiful, willful, and used to getting what she wanted.  As his best friend’s twin sister, Lacey was out of his league and completely off limits!

  “She’s agreed to save your sorry hide, allowing me time to find the real perpetrator and get you pardoned,” Jones continued.  “As long as the union isn’t consummated, it can be annulled later.”  The man gave him a closer look.  “Judging by your reaction, that doesn’t seem like it should be an issue.”

  Shane eyed him straight back.  Clearly, the lawyer had never met Lacey. 

Claim your copy here.   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WRNS4P7

 

If you love Mail Order Bride stories, you won’t want to miss A BRIDE FOR RILEY on May 28^th, one of the Mistaken Identity Brides Series.  Notice how plain my heroine looks, on her way to become a nun.    

She was headed for the convent.  How did she wind up married instead?

You can pre-order Riley here  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YXZY8CQ

And check out the entire series here  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YYZSHYQ