The Price is Right--Author, Rhonda Lee Carver

 

Scrolling through Amazon, you'll see books of all genres at all different prices. For my traditionally published books, I have no control over the prices, but for my self-published lot, I can name the price. I'm not exactly a control freak, but I like having my hand in the cookie jar, so to speak.

I posted a question on Facebook asking what prices readers are willing to pay for an ebook and if certain aspects, like whether the author is unknown or the book is in a series, makes a difference. I received lots of helpful feedback. After all, who better to ask than those who buy.

What I heard was, readers will spend in upwards of $7.00, but are comfy at $2.99-3.99. What are some considerations?

1. If the book is in a series

2. Word count

3. If one book in the series is free

What I learned most is readers love series.

Have you read my The Brothers of Dove Grey Series? All Cowboy and Pure Country is up for Pre-order.

Pre-order Here

Gianna Mosley has it all. As a top influencer engaged to a baseball star, Sunny Banks, what more could she want?

A faithful fiancé?

Her assistant announces on a radio talk show that she and Sunny are having an affair and they’re in love, and Gianna’s world comes crashing down. The media has a field day with the scandal and fans blame her. Fast forward two years, she’s moved on from Sunny, but when she reads that he’s engaged to her ex-assistant, Gianna can’t help but feel a slap in her face.

Carter Dawson is celebrating his birthday over a couple of drinks and chicken wings at the local honky-tonk when he thinks it’d be funny to text his old friend and ask her to marry him. After all, when they were kids, they’d made a pact that if they were still single at thirty, they’d marry each other. When he wakes up the next morning with a fiancée, the joke is no longer funny. His name is plastered all over social media as the new Mr. Mosley. What the hell?

She went about things a bit cockeyed. Now she’s fake engaged and needs to plan a staged break-up. However, she and Carter both warm up to the idea that a pretend relationship is more fun than the reality of being alone.

Love ain’t so bad either.

Both have some dragons to slay. Gianna hasn’t trusted anyone since her ex cheated. And Carter can’t live in the shadow of her past relationship. Will love triumph? Or are they doomed?

Unedited Excerpt:

Carter swiveled on the heel of his boot and his breath caught somewhere between his scorched lungs and his throat. Standing at the threshold was Gianna. A different Gianna than he remembered though. The girl he remembered always had wild, curly hair, and a splattering of freckles over honeyed cheeks. He never would have dreamed of seeing her in anything but dusty jeans and boots, but she wore a sort of billowy, see-through dress over a white bathing suit. She took several steps and the hem of the skirt flowed around her knees, bringing his attention to the long length of her toned legs. She’d transformed into a woman—a beautiful woman that made his muscles tense. He’d seen a couple pictures of her, but nothing could prepare him for just how stunning she was. Her smooth, glossy hair bounced around her shoulders in an ebony satin blanket. Her almond-shaped eyes settled on him, peering at him through a sweeping fringe of thick, dark lashes. Her tall heels added at least three inches to her height, but she still only came up to his chin.

She gave him a tight hug, and he returned it, inhaling her unescapable scent—one that reminded him of the honey Franny Maw used to harvest from the bee hives in the backyard.

Feeling a jerk below his belt, he pulled away and met her sparkling gaze. He cleared his throat and was quiet for several beats.

She took her own long perusal down his body, smiling. “I would hardly recognize you if it weren’t for the Dawson eyes. Those haven’t changed.”

“Is this what city life does to a county girl?”

“And what is that?” Her long lashes fluttered the tops of her cheeks.

“The curls and freckles are gone.” Although she could stop any man in his tracks, he felt a sliver of disappointment. He missed his best friend.

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What a Day

Post by Doris McCraw

writing as Angela Raines

Photo Property of the Author

April is National Poetry Month and April 12th is also: 

• Big Wind Day 
• D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything And Read) 

So how can you celebrate three different and seemingly unique ideas/days? First, let's take a look at what each is about.

National Poetry Month is probably one of my favorite concepts. I love poetry and always have. There is something intriguing, musical, and challenging about this art form. 

Big wind day is celebrated on April 12 of each year. It stems from April 12, 1934, when the Mount Washington Observatory recorded winds at 231 miles per hour. This high wind record stood until 1996 when a typhoon off the coast of Australia clocked winds at 256 miles per hour over a small island. I may enjoy a stiff breeze now and then, but...

After National Poetry Month, D.E.A.R. makes so much sense to me. The day was set up to encourage families to spend time with their children and read. I would say it is a good idea for everyone. I've always enjoyed reading, not just for research, but just for fun. If I'm stuck at a spot in my writing, and can't get outside, or even if I can, stopping and just reading a book for fun can reset my brain. It's amazing how much easier the words flow after taking that break.

After the last two years, it is good to be back at the stories that were set aside. The lives of those people have taken on a new luster. I look forward to offering them to the world.

Photo Property of the Author

For now, I leave you with a haiku.

Seasons by Doris McCraw

Wind blowing through trees

Raindrops watering the earth

Seasons always change

How about you? Do you love poetry, wind, or just sitting and reading? So on those windy days, grab a poetry book, novel, or magazine and sit back and enjoy. In case you can't find something to read, you might check out the offerings on my Amazon page. Angela Raines - Amazon

Until next time...

Doris

American Cowboy, the Legend by Jan Scarbrough

Why do we love the legendary American cowboy?

Answer: Because he (or she) is who we want to be

Real cowboys (and cowgirls like Annie Oakley) became romanticized in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, because the public admired the qualities they represented.

Duncan Emrich in a book entitled Folklore in the American Land claims that America has two original legends: Santa Claus and the cowboy.

In his book, Emrich lists these common attributes of an American cowboy.

• Individualism

• Independence

• Freedom

• Not given to bragging (I’ll insert “humble” here)

• Courage

• Cheerfulness

• Pride

• Loyalty

• True to his word

• Generosity

• Kindness

• Unbeatable

Women readers love a good cowboy tale because a true cowboy esteems women. Emrich writes, “One of the strictest code of the West was to respect women. No other class of men looked upon women with greater reverence.”

So when you see the hunky cowboys on the covers of modern romance novels, remember they represent the real men who embodied an American ideal.

***

In my latest book Ben: Dawsons of Montana, my hero Ben and the heroine Leigh are on the dance floor when her ex-husband shows up.

The other couple twirled around so Leigh could see them. Bill and Kiley!

“Just saying hello,” Bill slurred. “We wondered where you disappeared to.”

Leigh turned her head away. What was Bill doing here? He was obviously drunk. Was he following them?

“You two look mighty cozy. Leigh, I see you’ve got a new thing going.”

Kiley grabbed Bill’s arm and tried to pull him away. He was having none of it.

By now, the slow dance music had ended, and the DJ spun a faster song. Slow dance couples left the floor, and the line dancers were back. Frozen in Ben’s arms, Leigh forced herself to step away from their safety.

Ben turned and placed a hand on Leigh’s back to usher her off the floor. “Pull in your horns, Weston,” he said over his shoulder.

“Just so you know, she’s pretty good in bed. I’ve had better, but she’ll do.”

Ben stiffened at Bill’s crude remark. He hauled around, his expression dark, putting himself between Leigh and her ex-husband. “Take that back.”

“Why would I lie to you, bro?”

Leigh’s heart raced. No, they couldn’t fight. Bill was much bigger than Ben. Taller. Heavier. “Ben, it’s okay. Let’s go.”

Ben shook off her restraining hand. Making a fist, he moved back on his right foot and threw a hard right punch toward Bill’s jaw. The mayor stepped forward toward the oncoming fist and blocked the strike with his arm. But he still stumbled backwards. Regaining his balance, Bill came at Ben fists flying. Ben went down. In a second, he was back on his feet.

Someone in the crowd shouted, “Fight!”

The two men pummeled each other like an old-time movie saloon fight. Finally knocking each other down, they rolled around on the floor, grappling with each other. A crowd gathered, circled them, and yelled encouragement to both. Hands dangling limply by her side, Leigh held her breath. What a nightmare. What could she do to stop this?

And then the bouncer showed up and pulled them apart. “You two, out!” The brawl was over in seconds.

Character Interview with Hunter Barlow ~ Julie Lence

 

November 2021 saw the release of Hunter, Jackson Creek Series Book 3. A hunky army sergeant carrying out his last detail as supply clerk, Hunter is Slade and Landry Barlow’s younger brother. Raised alongside them in a brothel, Hunter isn’t quite the outlaw that Slade and Landry are. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a bit of larceny in him. He does, and he’s looking to settle a score with Slade and Landry for forgetting their promise to come back for him. They left him at their California childhood home with Ma. Maddie Barlow wasn’t much of a mother and the brothel wasn’t much of a home, and the house lent to him for army headquarters is little better than the captain’s tent, but Tawny’s there… 

From headquarter’s kitchen table, with a cup of coffee before him, Hunter clears his throat as the questions begin:     

Tell us a bit about Tawny. What did you think the 1^st time you saw her?

(A devilish grin spreads on his lips) She was standing behind the saloon next to the other working girl and emptying a bucket of water. When she swiveled around toward me, I think I forgot how to breathe. Most of Ma’s girls were pretty, but never had I seen eyes as blue as Tawny’s.    

What was your 2^nd thought?

That she most likely favors coins and brandy over what matters most in life. Ma’s girls did, and they weren’t shy about letting a man know that.  

Did you feel it was love at 1^st sight?

Reckon that punch to my gut was love, but at the time, the thinking part of me wouldn’t admit that, reminded me I wasn’t looking for a woman, especially a working girl. Not because I looked down on them, but because working girls weren’t interested in keeping time with me, same as my brothers. (Pauses a moment, takes a long swallow of coffee.) The thinking part of me just liked her eyes.   

What do you like most about Tawny?

The shyness behind her smile… how her nose twitches like a rabbit… how she fusses over me… (That wicked grin returns) How soft she feels lying against me. She’s feisty and has a good heart, and she loves me unconditionally. Ain’t a  luckier bastard than me. 

How would Tawny describe you?

Hmmm… (He scrubs a hand over his jaw.) She must see something good in me; she did agree to work for me that first night. And she likes my muscles. (His gaze clouds over with thoughtfulness as he takes another swallow of coffee.) Reckon she’d say I’m honest and a hard-worker, someone she depends upon… someone she trusts with her heart.   

What is your biggest fear?

Waking up to learn that everything I gained since coming to Jackson Creek was a dream; my brothers still don’t bother with me and Tawny took the coins I paid her for cooking and cleaning and left town.    

 How do you relax?

I don’t. There’s always something needing done. If I take a day off, it’s means double the work the following day.     

Who is your favorite fictional character?

(Laughs) You’re funny. With all of my chores and taking charge of Tawny’s happiness… my own happiness… do you honestly think I have time to read something other than a list of supplies?  

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

To know happiness, I must forgive my brothers. Tawny said that, and I’ve come to learn she’s a smart woman.

Thank you for sharing more of yourself with us today, Hunter. It was a pleasure getting to know you.

You’re welcome.

To learn if Hunter’s fear of waking up to discover everything he gained in Jackson Creek was a dream,  grab a copy of his story at Amazon and find out if he gets his happily-ever-after.  www.amazon.com/dp/B09KNL43X9  

   

Henley on board the Love Train

Next week, my sweet historical western romance Henley will release as part of the Love Train series.

The series will have ten books by ten authors, all connected by a one special train, with a conductor named Henry. And every heroine in the series has a secret!

Here's the list of books in the series and when they'll release.

 Christiana

Book 1 ~ Pam Crooks ~ April 1

 Henley

Book 2 ~ Shanna Hatfield ~ April 15

 Melita

Book 3 ~ Margaret Tanner ~ May 1

 Lula Mae

Book 4 ~ Charlene Raddon ~ May 15

Samantha

Book 5 ~ Caroline Clemmons ~ June 1

 Penelope

Book 6 ~ Heather Blanton ~ June 15

 Ivy

Book 7 ~ Kit Morgan ~ July 1

 Ainsley

Book 8 ~ Jo-Ann Roberts ~ July 15

 Talula

Book 9 ~ Winnie Griggs ~ August 1

 Fancy

Book 10 ~ Linda Broday ~ August 15

See all the Love Train Books on the Amazon Series Page:

Love Train Series

Today, I thought you might enjoy a look at the hero in the book. 

 Doctor Evan Holt  made a few brief appearances in Holiday Hope. But we don't know much about him, other than he's young and single. When I was kicking around ideas for Henley, like where the story should take place and who should be involved in it, it didn't take long to decide on my fictional town of Holiday as the perfect setting, and Evan as the perfect character to be Henley's love interest. 

 Evan thinks he's far too busy with his growing practice to have time for courting or relationships. But he does make time to return to his childhood home for his sister's wedding. And the train-ride home just happens to be how he meets Miss Henley Jones.

Here is Evan's introduction to the story: 

 “Enough! No more suffocating hugs, and definitely no more kisses. Your lips should be thoroughly chapped by now, so please cease slobbering on me.” Evan Holt laughed as his mother pulled his head down and noisily smooched his cheek three more times before she finally released her hold on him and took a step back. A mingling of tears and mirth glistened in her bright green eyes in a shade so similar to his own. 

 “Don’t begrudge me a little love, my wandering son. I’m just so glad to have you home, even if you’ll only be in Pennsylvania for a week,” his mother said, patting his arm as though she had to keep touching him to make certain he was real. 

 “It’s good to be here, Mam,” Evan said, grinning at her before he settled his arm around the shoulders of his youngest sister, Keeva. He’d barely set foot off the train in Altoona, before what appeared to be his entire family swarmed him, offering hugs, and slaps on the back. He’d been kissed by every female that had made the trip to the depot to welcome him, from his eighty-year-old grandmother to his six-month-old niece he’d been so pleased to finally meet. 

 “I think you’ve gotten even more handsome since you were here two years ago,” Keeva said, grinning up at him with the unveiled admiration of a sixteen-year-old. Although he was eleven years older than the baby of the family, he and Keeva had always been close. Perhaps it was because they were the most alike of the seven Holt siblings. 

 He glanced around at the unmistakable red hair of his brothers and sisters, inherited from Eira Walsh Holt, their effervescent mother. She had moved to Altoona with her family when she was nineteen. Her father and brothers acquired jobs on the railroad, building the famed Horseshoe Curve three-track railroad that helped advance westward travel. 

 Evan never tired of hearing the story of how his parents met. His father, Hiram Holt, was a young farmer and had just purchased several piglets that came in on railway car. He was loading them in his wagon when one escaped. Eira caught it and carried it over to him. It had been love at first glance, and they’d wed a month later. 

 Now, his parents had seven children, nine grandchildren, and were about to gain another son-in-law when his sister Fianna married her sweetheart Saturday afternoon. Evan had timed his arrival so he’d have a full week to spend with his family before he boarded the train and returned to his home in Holiday, Oregon, where he’d opened a medical practice three years ago.   

Love is a gamble, and heartbreak is a risk she’s willing to take. 

 Despite her dreams to set down roots, Henley Jones has never had a place to call home. She’s spent her life on riverboats and railroad cars, tagging along with her gambling father. A shoot-out during a card game results in his death, leaving Henley alone and nearly penniless. Out of luck and options, Henley agrees to travel across the country to the newly established town of Holiday, Oregon to marry a stranger. 

 A demanding practice in a town clawing its way to respectability keeps Doctor Evan Holt rushing at a hectic pace. He’s far too busy to see to pressing matters like hiring competent help, or finding a wife. When one of his patients orders a mail-order bride, Evan can’t decide if the man is crazy or brilliant.  From the moment he meets her, Evan battles an unreasonable attraction to the beautiful, charming woman who seems to be hiding something from her past. 

 In a town flush with possibilities, will taking a chance on love end with heartache or a winning hand? 

Find out in this sweet western romance full of the humor, hope, and love. 

  Henley is part of the Love Train sweet romance series and releases April 15. Look for more books set in Holiday in the heartwarming and wholesome Holiday Express  and Holiday Brides series.

   

 

History of the Handcuff

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

The term “handcuff” was derived from the term “handcop.” In the late 1800’s, a common slang expression for the police was “copper.” It came from “cop,” an ancient Anglo-Saxon term which meant to catch (cop) something. Handcop described a mechanical device that “catches the hands” and this eventually morphed into the term we use today—handcuff.

References to hand restraints can be found as far back as the 4^th Century BC when conquering Greek soldiers found vast numbers of them in wagons pulled by Carthaginian armies. Their use was to control and enslave prisoners of war.

Bango handcuffs

The first big manufacturer was the Hiatt Handcuff Company, founded in 1780, although more variety in the designs didn’t begin until 1850. Until that time, only two types were in use in England. Bango handcuffs didn’t allow prisoners any movement. They were adjustable and were effective on violent prisoners. The Flexible handcuff allowed prisoners to eat and perform other necessities but they took longer to size and apply, and they came in many different sizes to accommodate wrist thicknesses.

After 1850 there was a drive to invent a more universal handcuff—one that was secure, flexible and adjustable.

The Snap brand was the most popular in Europe and America, consisting of two loops, the smaller of which would snap over the suspect’s wrists while a larger loop was held by the officer.

 

Twister handcuffs

The Twister was popular because it was compact and could easily be carried by uniformed officers as well as detectives. It consisted of a chain connected to matching hand grips at both ends and was wrapped around a suspect’s wrist, with the officer holding the handles. Any struggling meant excruciating pain and the risk of breaking a wrist or arm. It was eventually banned in Britain since it contributed to police brutality.

 

Tower detective handcuffs

The next innovation was designed by Americans. John J. Tower produced a popular version of adjustable handcuffs that remained in use for over 80 years. Tower realized that single lock models had a weakness—a determined prisoner could escape them. Tower solved the problem with a “double lock” handcuff, which had a more sophisticated lock mechanism. However, these were also heavy. In 1887, Tower patented a new light-weight handcuff but these were easy from which to escape. This version was marketed as Tower detective handcuffs and are sometimes referred to as the Pinkerton model since it was supposedly used by the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

Modern handcuffs haven’t changed much in the last 100 years. Most have adopted the use of a universal key so officers can unlock cuffs on another officer’s prisoner, but this also means there’s a greater chance the prisoner could have his own key.

Pre-order now

Kate Ryan is on her first assignment as a Pinkerton agent—as fellow agent Henry Maguire's "wife."

The Father, The Son, and the Bottle of Rum ~ Raine Rochelle

Hi, it’s Raine Rochelle here again just dropping in for a chat. I’m not sure if you’ve come across my Sweet Cowboy Romances yet, but if not, and you’d like to get a feel for my writing (and my sense of humour), you can get a FREE copy of my novella, The Father, The Son, and the Bottle of Rum by signing up for my newsletter HERE. I’ll keep you informed of my upcoming projects, run Giveaways and Competitions, and generally keep you in the loop of my world. I really hope you’ll give my books a chance, and would love to keep in touch.

Here’s a little about it:

The wrong kind of spirit causes a massive headache for the Lamberts of Charity Creek

The Father…

John Lambert, pastor and founding member of the church of Charity Creek is a proud man, well-respected by his parishioners. But he hides a dark secret.

The Son…

Joe Lambert is a successful carpenter with his own business. When his mother asks him to come home to help mend the church roof he doesn’t hesitate. But should he?

The Bottle of Rum…

Homeless and destitute, Leah Bailey seeks shelter from a storm in the church of her hometown, Charity Creek. Warmed only by a couple of blankets, some hassocks and the dregs of a bottle of rum, she curls in the corner while the storm rages on. When a tree crashes through the roof of the building she escapes injury, but not the wrath of the pastor who finds her.

Just why is the old man so bitter? And what is the underlying problem between him and Joe?

Will Leah be the catalyst that heals father and son, or will she just widen their rift?

I really hope you enjoy my novella, and, if so, take a look at my series The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch. All of the books are available on Amazon, and FREE if you’re a member of Kindle Unlimited.

Until next month, take care,     

Raine Rochelle

Link for Raine Rochelle NL: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ghw7shi5rz

Link for The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NCHVJGQ