Sleigh Bell Serenade

 

Even though the holidays are behind us, I still enjoy wintery romances, which is why I started the Winter Wishes series that center around a January festival in the fictional town of Pinehill, Oregon.

The second book in the series, Sleigh Bell Serenade, recently released. I hope you'll take a look! It's available on Amazon in digital and paperback formats, or you can read it through Kindle Unlimited.

 

Bo's biggest worry is how empty the house will be when his sister heads off to college in the fall. He took over raising her and she's been the center of his world the past few years. 

Juniper has recently had an epiphany that her life and friends or shallow, and she wants what her sister has with a peaceful home, an adoring husband, and friends who are more like family. 

 Will one chance encounter change everything for Bo and Juniper?

   

  He keeps his heart heavily guarded.

She meets everyone with a friendly smile. 

  Will the attraction sizzling between them pull them into the space between their two worlds? 

 Burdened by too many responsibilities, Bowen Jensen struggles beneath their overwhelming weight. Between raising his teenage sister, running their family ranch, and managing Sleigh Bell Tours, he barely has time to sleep let alone do something just for himself. He can’t even recall his last date. Then a chance encounter with a beguiling woman leaves him pondering if there isn’t more to life than trudging through one lonely day after another. 

 Juniper Haynes appears to have it all with a successful real estate career and a picture-perfect life. In reality, she’s tired of dealing with demanding clients, wary of her so-called friends, and secretly longs for the peace she finds at her sister’s mountain home. After a magical New Year’s Eve kiss with a cowboy she barely knows, she realizes true happiness might only be found outside her comfort zone. 

 Can Bo and Juniper find the courage to embrace change and explore the possibility of a future together? 

 Find out in this sweet winter romance full of small-town charm, memorable characters, laughter, hope, and love.

  Annoyed by his infatuation with Juniper, he took a step back, uncertain what to say. Words had never easily come to him. He was more of a doer than a talker.

 In his younger years, his best friend, Ky, had always filled the gap since he could talk to anyone, anytime, about anything. Ky had received the gift of gab, while Bo had been given the gift of brawn and endurance. 

 But at that moment, an idea or two of something witty to say would have been helpful. 

 “Do you live around here?” Sassy asked as Bo stood there like one of the snow carvings that would fill the town next month at the Winter Fest. 

 “Cedar lives in Faraday with her husband. I live in Portland,” Juniper said. “I’m just visiting through the holidays.” 

 “So you’ll be around for New Year’s Eve?” Sassy asked. Heaven help him if the girl decided to take it upon herself to ask Juniper to go out with him to ring in the new year. Juniper nodded uncertainly.

 “We’re hosting a little gathering of friends that night. Would you like to join us?” Cedar asked, smiling at Bo and then Sassy in invitation. “It’s very casual and informal. We’ll have finger foods and things like pizza and jalapeno poppers, and family-friendly games.” 

 “Why is this the …” Juniper started to speak, but Cedar gave her a quelling look that made her snap her mouth shut. 

 Bo might have laughed if he hadn’t been certain there was matchmaking afoot. Under normal circumstances, he would have run in the opposite direction as fast as possible, but he really wanted to see Juniper again. A party with her sister and friends seemed harmless enough. 

 “We’d love to come,” Sassy said with enthusiasm before he could respond. “Thank you for inviting us.”

Also, to celebrate my 13 anniversary of beginning my journey of writing sweet romances, you can enter to win a mystery box full of fun surprises. Just click on this link: ENTRY FORM

USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes. When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at: shannahatfield.com

Free The Writer

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

While not everyone is set on writing the next great western novel, we all want to tell our stories. A wonderful book to help get you started, or to reignite a passion that may have become stagnant, is Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg. First published in 1986 and rooted in Zen methodology, her advice is simple: trust in what you love, trust in your own mind, and everything else will follow.

“Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate.”

Goldberg points out that people often write from a mentality of poverty, thinking they need a teacher to tell them what to do or how to do it. The opposite is generally true. We learn writing by doing it. And to write well one must read a lot, listen well and deeply, and write a lot.

 

We live in a society that rewards being busy, but that often isn’t fruitful or soul-fulfilling. Beware of monkey mind, says Goldberg, since it likes to create busyness that can keep us from our true heart. She believes that everyone has talent, but it’s obviously easier for some to tap into it than others. Human effort is necessary, so don’t shy away from doing the work. But it’s also more than just the work, it’s allowing and recognizing that the effort has awakened us. This lets a writer become aware and mindful, to shape the talent into something useful, something that resonates.

“Finally, one just has to shut up, sit down, and write. That is painful. Writing is so simple, basic, and austere.”

Develop a writing practice, a writing workout each day. A runner doesn’t improve without consistent running. The same is true for a writer. So, carve out this space, but know that it’s okay to write without a destination. Expectation can freeze the process. It also takes time to reflect on certain ideas, certain experiences, before they can be put down on paper. Goldberg refers to this as composting. These things can’t be rushed, so best to cultivate patience and acceptance. It can make the writing life less anxiety-provoking.

 

She offers techniques to stop fighting yourself (and the endless distractions that keep you from writing) such as: give yourself free time in the morning to do whatever, but at 10 a.m. you must sit down and write something; or you must fill at least one notebook a month, not with quality but quantity; or, as soon as you wake up, go directly to your desk and write (eating and teeth brushing can wait). Another technique is timed writing and first thoughts. This can remove the critic filter than often shoots down an idea before it can be fully crafted.

Need a writing prompt? Take five minutes to write down your deep dreams. And then? Don’t ignore what you wrote. Actually, it will likely be difficult to avoid your thoughts now that they’re laid out before you. Simply said, it will change your life.

This book can be read straight through, or sporadically when needed. I guarantee that at least one of Goldberg’s many suggestions and insights will spark something inside yourself and may just lead you to write down the bones.

 

Kristy McCaffrey is the author of the award-winning historical western romance series, Wings of the West. Learn more at her website.

New Release ~ Raine Rochelle

 As promised, Heartstrings, The Johnsons of Junova Book One, has just been released, and I’m pleased to say I’m already working on the next book in the series.

Heartstrings is Tyler Johnson’s story, the eldest brother and lead guitarist of the group. He finds his heart pulled in all directions as he tries to build a name for the band, restore the fortunes of the family ranch, and keep his family as well as his relationship with Sasha from falling apart.

Here’s a little about it:

If only heartstrings were made of elastic!

What should have been great news about The Johnson Brothers seems set to tear the family apart - as well as the band.

Tyler’s been working really hard to raise his brothers’ group’s profile and fortunes but it seems another local band, The Kennedy Cowboys, has other ideas. The rival band also has their sights set on the headline position at Countryfest, the largest country music festival in the area. Would the Kennedy’s really resort to underhand tactics to land the gig for themselves, or is it someone much closer to home that’s trying to ruin their chances?

When Mick Johnson becomes dangerously ill, the dire state of the Johnson Ranch suddenly becomes apparent. The only people who can help are the Devereaux brothers, billionaire cousins to the Johnson boys, but Dad would never agree to accept anything from them. In his absence, is it right to do whatever they can to save the ranch, or would Mick see it as a betrayal, and disloyal of his sons?

And when Tyler’s girl, Sasha, gets a visit from her ex, are his hopes of a happy future with her about to be shattered?

With so many factors tugging at his heartstrings, Tyler doesn’t know which way to turn. But when Dad doesn’t seem to be improving, he realizes he needs to figure it out—fast.

 

Heartstrings is available HERE.

I hope you check it out and would love to know what you think.

Take care,

Raine

Don’t forget that The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch series is currently FREE in Kindle Unlimited

More of those Vintage Valentine's Day Cards ~ Julie Lence

Last year I shared with you some vintage Valentine’s Day cards that were most likely handed out during school parties. There were so many cute ones that I couldn’t fit all of them into one blog, so I’m sharing more with you this year. It’s always fun to take a look and remember our childhoods!

Who can resist a cute puppy or kitten?

     

 

 Then again, these girl and boy characters always strike a chord with me. 

Overall, I'm partial to cute couples! 

And not to be forgotten, candy was always a favorite at class parties! 

19th Century UPRR Special Agents by Zina Abbott

 

As railroads were built across the eastern United States until there were thousands of miles of track, crime followed. Criminals became adept at stealing luggage, freight, and livestock. There was no railroad police at the time. Often local law enforcement was inadequate, or missing altogether. Sometimes, vigilante groups stepped in, but they proved unable to stop railroad crime.

UPRR Special Agents-Note special car for horses

Chief Engineer Benjamin Latrobe of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad established the first known railroad police for in 1849. However, most railroads began to hire agents from the agency created by Allen Pinkerton, who specialized in investigation by placing his agents undercover as both passengers and railroad employees. It was his work with the railroads that drew the attention of the government and Union Army during the Civil War era. However, Pinkerton’s agency continued their work with railroad investigations after the end of the war.

As displaced and disgruntled former soldiers from both sides of the Civil War turned to crime, the outlaw era in the 1860s began to ramp up. The first known train robbery with three masked bandits boarding a train occurred in October 1866. Soon, many railroads realized the need for their own police and investigative forces.

Union Station, Omaha, Nebraska

The Union Pacific Railroad began building their half of the Transcontinental Railroad shortly after the American Civil War. They were building tracks into largely unsettled states and territories where, in many places, no law enforcement jurisdiction had responsibility. They decided from the start to follow the pattern being set by some of the larger railroads in the east. They hired and trained their own railroad police and special agents for investigating railroad crime. In some areas, they were the only law enforcement around to defend their trains, employees, and passengers from outlaws, Indians, and others.

UPRR "Bulls"

Today, and starting more around the time of the 1930s Great Depression, railroad police who monitor and protect the trains, equipment, buildings, and tracks around the stations are known as “railroad bulls.” However, early in the days of special agents more involved in investigating railroad crime and tracking down criminals, that nickname was applied to them. As opposed to the railroad detectives in the East, the railroad special agents in the West were more inclined to work with sheriffs and U.S. marshals. Unlike uniformed railroad police in the East, who wore uniforms, special agents in the West often worked undercover. They dressed in plainclothes, usually suits.

 

They carried a shield to identify their position.

 

 Special agents for the Union Pacific encountered such bandits as “Gentlemen” Bill Carlisle, the Jones Brothers, Charlie Manning, and George “Big Nose” Parrott. 

 

“Big Nose George receives a cameo role in my most recently published book, Lauren, since he was part of the gang that attempted to derail the Union Pacific train near the Medicine Bow River bridge crossing. The Union Pacific Special Agent who investigated this attempted robbery was Henry C. “Tip” Vincents, who also played a cameo role in my book. He, along with Carbon County Deputy Sheriff, Robert Widdowfield, lost his life while investigating this crime.

 

Blown up express car

The Wild Bunch, the gang headed by Butch Cassidy, is credited with having robbed four trains between 1896 and 1901. On June 2, 1899, the gang flagged down a Union Pacific Limited near Wilcox, Wyoming—not far from where “Big Nose” George and his gang attempted their train robbery in 1878. Using dynamite to blast the doors open to the express car, they escaped with $30,000. 

 

Posse of UPRR Special Agents who pursued Wild Bunch

Unfortunately, most of the money disintegrated in the blast and floated away in the wind. Their next robbery in Tipton, Wyoming, was also a Union Pacific train.

Another Union Pacific Special Agent was Chief Agent William T. Canada. He was appointed chief of the Secret Services on June 1, 1891 by Union Pacific President, E.H. Harriman. He was assigned to work under the direction of General Manager, Edward Dickinson. By that time, holdups often involved murders of employees, passengers, and law enforcement officers. He had responsibility for overseeing all the police operations for all roads owned by Union Pacific which, by that time, included many more lines than the original stretch that formed part of the first Transcontinental Railroad. 

 

Ed Dickinson

This was the same Ed Dickinson who, as a superintendent and dispatcher stationed in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1878, also played a small role in my book, Lauren. 

According to the historical accounts, Ed Dickinson, along with Sheriff Nottage of Albany County traveled by train to where the railroad tracks by the Medicine Bow River had been tampered with. Once the sheriff determined the crime took place in Carbon County, Dickinson notified Sheriff Lawry, who sent out his deputy and Special Agent, "Tip" Vincents, to investigate.

 

 

Bill Canada

The two men—Canada and Dickinson—organized the Union Pacific Bandit Hunters. Chief Canada recruited only the best horsemen and shooters. Stationed out of Cheyenne, Wyoming, they were armed with the newest weapons and fastest horses. They were often found on a train made up of a sleeping car, a dining car, and a specially constructed baggage car to house their horses. Each team also had a telegrapher assigned to them, and an engine ready to take them at top speed to the site of any train robbery, including those hundreds of miles from Cheyenne. They successfully tracked down their quarries, made arrests, and were involved in several shootouts. Canada retired in 1914 due to his age. He died a year later at the age of 66 or 67.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed writing Lauren, Book 2 in the Rescue Me (Mail-order Brides) series, largely due to my decision to include real historical people as some of the characters. Their positions in real life I used as part of the plot. My main characters, Lauren Brower and Jeb Carter/Johnson are strictly fictional. However, as part of my character being a special agent for the Union Pacific Railroad, I heavily used the information I found on both the real people who lived and worked in that position, and the incidents that took place in Wyoming Territory during the last half of 1878.

To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37066665/edward-dickinson#

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110242580/william-t-canada

https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/safety/special_agents/index.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Police_Department

https://www.odmp.org/officer/13669-special-agent-henry-vincents

http://www.therailroadpolice.com/history