Is he a monster or a saint? Or both? by Rhonda Lee Carver

 

Questions and Answer:

From Annie:

Hi Rhonda Lee! I love your western romances. I saw your upcoming book, Monster Saint. Is this a military romance or western romance?

Rhonda Lee: Hi, Annie. This is a perfect blend of military, western and action thriller romance.

From Gabby:

Love, love, love the cover. I can't wait to dig in.  This is right up my alley. I love your cowboys too!

Rhonda Lee: Hi, Gabby! Thank you so much. Glad you love the cover! It's one of my faves.

From Estelle R.

The second it hit my Kindle I was reading it. Are these characters based on real life people? Because if so, I want a Crayce for my birthday.

Rhonda Lee: Hi, Estelle R.! I'd gladly you give you a real-life Crayce if I could. He's a bit moody and grumpy, but he evolves through the book. Thanks to a strong female character. BTW, no, they're not based on real-life people...cough, cough :)

BLURB:

Monster Saint Enforcers are more than their badges or the law. They are a team of ex-military, country boys who work undercover to bring the worst of the worst criminals to justice…or to their graves. The only thing that might stand in their way is the last thing they need. A woman.

When a respected member of Monsters is killed while undercover, Crayson “Crayce” Noble goes rogue and is out for revenge. He’ll stop at nothing short of sending Salvatore, the leader of the notorious cartel, Los Reapers, to hell. His plan is thwarted by a mysterious woman wearing a wedding gown.

Runaway bride, Charmaine Meadows, sees her way out of Salvatore’s grip through the tall, scarred, brooding man who shows up right when she needed a distraction the most. He might be a walking four-letter-word, but she’ll take anything, anyone, over Salvatore. She’s become an expert at handling crude men, but this stranger isn’t like any man she’s ever met. He’s a challenge and sparks something within in her that is far more dangerous than the criminals she’s faced before.

The lady has caused Crayce nothing but trouble. Now they’re Salvatore’s prey and Crayce has always been a hunter. He realizes he should take the woman back to the villa and say good riddance because she’s going to get them both killed. And yet he can’t keep his eyes, and his hands, off her.

EXCERPT:

She didn’t care about her make up.

She didn’t care about the dress.

Well, yes, she did because it was beautiful, but it didn’t belong on her.

“I’d rather die than do this,” she cried out to the walls of the tiny stone church. This had become her place of solitude at the villa because no one had used it since Salvatore’s mother passed away. 

“Then do something about it.” A gravelly voice answered back.

She whipped her head around, searching through the semi-darkness until she saw him standing in the shadows. She had to squint her eyes to get a better look at him, thinking she might have been imagining him. She couldn’t make out his features, except that he was very tall and wide shouldered. Probably one of Salvatore’s guards who got lost.

“I-I was here first,” she said. “How rude of you to eavesdrop without making your presence known.”

“Lady, actually I was here first.”

Her tears went dry. So did her mouth. “The guards aren’t supposed to be here.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Then a thought crossed her mind. “Did Salvatore put you on my detail too?”

No answer.

He took a step then, into the sunlight flowing into the room. His hair was cut close, and his scraggly beard covered a large portion of his face. He scrubbed his whiskers and kept his gaze on her, brooking no tameness. A guard would never be so brazen to stare at her in such a way.

She’d never seen him before.

Maybe he was one of the newest guards.

“I want to be alone. Go away!” she demanded.

“I’m not a man who accepts being told what to do,” his voice was gruff, spiced with age, although he didn’t remind her of someone seasoned.

“If Salvatore found out—”

“Relax,” he said smoothly.

She saw something in him that she recognized, reflected in herself. A man who had seen a lot in his years, faced a lot, indulged in both pleasure and pain. The black leather jacket that looked as soft as a baby’s backside clung to his muscles. He was just like all of Salvatore’s men. Bulging muscles but no brain. Yet, she had a feeling she could be wrong. This man was different. He looked at her in a way that the other guards would not.

He wasn’t one of Salvatore’s men because she didn’t see this man being on anyone’s payroll.

Then what was he doing here?

“You were eavesdropping on me.”

His breath released with anguish. “If I’d known you’d be sobbing for so long I would have gladly made myself known, believe me.”

Definitely not one of Salvatore’s men. They wouldn’t dare speak to her in that tone. This was unique…different. Set apart. Monstrous. In body and attitude. A beast with a dangerous undercurrent inside him which spoke to her.

 Yet, he offended her. She should be angry.

“Obviously, emotion makes you uncomfortable.”

“Not emotion, but lack of willpower.” He took another step and now his entire face was caught by sun rays. He had an angular nose, a thin upper lip, a fleshy lower lip that bordered on being pouty. Making her wonder if it was d to his mood or was he always brooding? The thick, wiry beard made him appear warrior like, but his eyes…were they silver? Blue? Or a combination of both. They were intriguing, laced with desire. Lust. Confidence. Much like Salvatore, but different.

“Are you saying that I don’t have willpower?”

“Lady, it ain’t none of my business.”

“That’s the truth,” she muttered.

“But since I was privy to nearly ten minutes of your boo-hooing and self-pity, I feel like you could use a bit of advice from a stranger.”

Connect with Rhonda Lee Carver

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rhondaleecarver.author/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/RLCarver

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rhondaleecarver/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rhondaleecarver

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/rhondaleecarverauthor/

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Rhonda-Lee-Carver/e/B00CQLXKTO

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/rhonda-lee-carver

Street Team: www.facebook.com/groups/471259293018665/

Newsletter: Subscribe here

 

What’s cooking?

If you’ve read any of the Ridge Ranch, you know they like their food. From Liv’s wonderful muffins she serves in her cafe to Heather’s creations for the ranch hands, you can’t get through a day on the ranch without the proper cuisine. 

I’m a true believer that anything you cook at home, can be cooked over a campfire. Imagine after a long day of moving cattle, you stop, set up camp and enjoy a bowl of white bean chili and some cornbread around the campfire. It doesn’t get much better than that. 

While this calls for a crockpot, I highly recommend a cast iron dutch oven and some open flames. Enjoy

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-1/4-inch pieces

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 teaspoons dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 2 cans (15 ounces each) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, divided

• 2-1/2 cups chicken broth, divided

• 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

• Optional toppings: Sliced avocado, quartered cherry tomatoes and chopped cilantro

Directions

• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat; saute chicken until browned. Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker.

• In same skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat; saute onion until tender. Add jalapeno, garlic, oregano and cumin; cook and stir 2 minutes. Add to slow cooker.

• In a bowl, mash 1 cup beans; stir in 1/2 cup broth. Stir bean mixture and the remaining whole beans and broth into chicken mixture.

• Cook, covered, on low until chicken is tender, 3-3-1/2 hours. Stir before serving. Sprinkle with cheese; add toppings if desired.

From Taste of Home

The Pig War

In the annals of American history, few conflicts are as curious and bloodless as the Pig War. This peculiar dispute, centered around a wayward pig and the remote San Juan Island in Washington State.

On my trip to Washington in April, I stayed on San Juan Island for a few days. A beautiful place! And a different kind of history than my part of the country.

San Juan Island, is between Vancouver Island and the mainland of Washington State. In the mid-19th century, this idyllic location became the unlikely flashpoint for a territorial dispute between two powerful nations. The Untied States and Great Britain.

The Treaty of Oregon, signed in 1846, ostensibly resolved boundary issues between British North America and the United States. However, the treaty's language was vague, particularly concerning the boundary through the waterways around the San Juan Islands. As a result, both American and British settlers claimed the land, leading to a tense coexistence on the islands.

On June 15, 1859, tensions boiled over in the most unexpected way. Lyman Cutlar, an American farmer, found a large pig rooting through his garden eating his potatoes. This wasn't the first time the pig had caused trouble, and in a fit of frustration, Cutlar shot the animal for tresspassing. The pig's owner, Charles Griffin, was an Irishman working for the Hudson's Bay Company, which represented British interests in the region.

Griffin was understandably upset and demanded compensation from Cutlar. Accounts vary, but it is said that Griffin wanted Cutlar to pay for the pig. He refused because the pig was tresspassing. This disagreement escalated quickly, with British authorities threatening to arrest Cutlar, prompting him to seek protection from American military forces.

American Camp

In response to the incident, Brigadier General William S. Harney, the U.S. Army's commander of the Department of Oregon, deployed 66 American soldiers under Captain George Pickett to San Juan Island. Pickett's arrival and declaration that the island was American territory escalated tensions further.

Not to be outdone, the British dispatched three warships under the command of Captain Geoffrey Hornby to the island. 

The American camp was near the south end of San Juan. For a few tense weeks, British marines and American soldiers faced off, guns at the ready, over the fate of the island and, indirectly, over a dead pig.  

The situation contiued to escalate. By August, 461 Americans and soldiers with 14 cannons were opposed by five British ships mounting 70 guns and 2140 men. It had the potential to explode into a full-blown war between the United States and Britain.

British Camp

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. The leaders on both sides recognized the absurdity of going to war over a pig and sought a peaceful resolution. Negotiations commenced, and it was agreed that both nations would maintain a military presence on the island until a final boundary could be determined.

For the next 12 years, the island was jointly occupied by British and American forces. This period was marked by remarkable cooperation and camaraderie between the two camps. The soldiers celebrated holidays together, visited each other’s camps, and even formed joint social clubs. The joint occupation of San Juan Island is often remembered as a model of peaceful coexistence.

The Pig War officially ended in 1872 when the boundary dispute was settled in favor of America. British troops left the island in 1872. Both sides were sad to see friends leave. American soldiers left in 1874.

The Pig War is a reminder of the sometimes absurd nature of human conflicts. It highlights how miscommunications and minor incidents can escalate into major diplomatic disputes.

The sites of the American and British camps are preserved as part of the San Juan Island National Historical Park, serving as a testament to this unique episode in history.

Visitors can walk through the grounds of the camps, imagining the lives of soldiers who once faced each other across a potential battlefield, and who, instead, forged a bond of mutual respect and friendship. The story of the Pig War, with its blend of humor, absurdity, and diplomacy, continues to capture the imagination and offers timeless lessons in the importance of negotiation and understanding.

Western Saloons – More than just drinking dens

The flickering glow of oil lamps casts dim light on a long wooden bar and the faded advertisements hanging on the walls. Tobacco smoke forms crooked halos above the heads of men gathered around rough-hewn tables and mingles with the pungent odor of sweat and unwashed bodies. Ruggedness, camaraderie, and a hint of danger linger in the air.

That’s often what comes to mind when we picture a 19^th century saloon, but the ambiance and appearance of saloons in the Old West could vary widely, depending on factors such as location, clientele, and the preferences of the owner. That said, they generally fell into two broad categories: relatively upscale (and even luxurious) or plain and utilitarian.

In larger cities with affluent populations, some saloons aimed for a classy atmosphere. These establishments often featured elegant furnishings, such as polished wood bars, brass fixtures, and plush seating. Decor could include ornate mirrors, elaborate chandeliers, and decorative wall hangings. Upscale saloons often invested in finer glassware and serving vessels and may have employed well-dressed bartenders and waitstaff to cater to a more discerning clientele.

In smaller towns and rural areas, saloons tended to be simpler and rustic in appearance. They were often housed in basic wooden buildings with little in the way of decoration. The bar might be a simple wooden counter. Lighting was typically provided by oil lamps or candles, contributing to a dim and sometimes smoky interior. These saloons prioritized function over form.

Regardless of their level of fanciness, cleanliness and hygiene standards in 19th-century saloons could vary widely. Some saloon owners took pride in maintaining a sanitary establishment, while others were less diligent in this regard. Factors, such as the availability of clean water, played a role in determining the cleanliness of a saloon.

Despite their differences in appearance, saloons of all kinds shared certain common characteristics. They were typically loud, bustling places filled with the sounds of conversation, laughter, and occasionally music. Smoke from cigars and pipes often hung in the air, contributing to the distinctive ambiance of the Old West saloon. Regardless, saloons were important social hubs where people from all walks of life came together to drink, socialize, and unwind.

Even though the primary function of a saloon was to serve alcohol, 19th-century saloons offered a wide range of services beyond just that. Saloon owners stocked a variety of drinks to cater to different tastes and preferences. Many also served food, ranging from simple bar snacks to more substantial fare, such as sandwiches, stews, and chili. While the quality of the food varied depending on the establishment, it provided patrons with sustenance to accompany their drinks.

Some saloons offered rooms for rent upstairs or in adjoining buildings. These accommodations were often basic, with little more than a bed and a wash basin, but they provided travelers with a place to rest for the night.

In the absence of formal banks in many frontier towns, saloons sometimes acted as makeshift financial institutions. Patrons could cash checks, exchange currency, or even secure loans from the saloon owner. Some saloons also offered safe deposit boxes where patrons could store valuables. Some saloons served as informal post offices or communication centers. Travelers passing through town could leave or pick up messages, letters, or packages there. Additionally, telegraph lines were sometimes connected to saloons, allowing for long-distance communication.

Saloons often doubled as meeting spaces for various community groups, such as fraternal organizations, political clubs, or business associations. These gatherings provided opportunities for networking, organizing, and socializing outside of regular business hours. Many were lively entertainment venues. Piano and guitar music were common, as were stage performances of singing, dancing, and comedy acts. Games, such as Faro, billiards and darts, were popular forms of entertainment.

Some saloons crossed the line from lively to dangerous. Take the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas. According to the Legends of America website, it lived up to the Wild West image. “Back in the 1870’s [around the time the saloon was built], Dodge City began to acquire its infamous stamp of lawlessness and gun-slinging. Without local or military law enforcement, buffalo hunters, railroad workers, drifters, cowboys, and soldiers scrapped and fought, leading to the shootings where men died with their boots on.”

Overall, saloons in the 19th century were multifunctional establishments that provided a range of services to their patrons, catering to their social, recreational, and practical needs. And they were surprisingly plentiful. In 1883, though it had only 3,000 residents, Livingston, Montana had 33 saloons!

Some Wild West saloons are still open for business today. 

Have you ever visited one?

###

I revealed the cover of my next book last week! Did you miss it?

If you don't follow my author blog or subscribe to my newsletter (you get a free book when you do), you likely did.  

To see it, click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Eye of the Beholder

What Is Beauty?

 I recently received a comment from a reader who scolded me for always writing about beautiful heroines and handsome heroes. She said she couldn't relate to them because they were so gorgeous. She wished I would write about real, plain old people. I responded that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Since I get into my characters' viewpoints, I see what they see, and they happen to like what they see in the hero or heroine.

But it goes beyond that. I have studied human to human attraction and responses. People are predictable when it comes to the signals and reactions we have to each other when we are attracted or sexually stimulated. Men are more visually stimulated than women and are also more acutely aware of aromas. Women are also visually stimulated, but not as much as men. They listen more than men and respond more to what they hear and sense.

While some romance writers have gone against the grain and written books with central characters who have scars, eye patches, missing limbs, are in wheelchairs, etc. and those books are certainly interesting and worthy of publication, the fact remains that the majority of romance readers prefer to read about attractive people. More importantly, they want the main characters to be good, decent people.

I used to tell my writing students that most women really don't want to read about a hero who is balding, a bit over-weight, and burps in public because they are married to that guy. And while they might identify with an over-weight, middle-aged heroine, they don't particularly want to read about those women all the time. Romances must have an element of fantasy or they just don't live up to the genre.

Instead of creating physically flawed people I like to create emotionally flawed people. They are far more interesting and almost everyone can relate to them. No matter how they look.

Just remember that beauty is subjective. The man you think is gorgeous could turn off your best friend and your mother might think he is as homely as homemade soap. But if I'm writing in your point of view, he is going to be a hunka-hunka-burnin-love.

Those Unruly Characters

Post (C) by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

Have you ever had that character that just simply would not cooperate when you're trying to tell their story?

One of the first times I ran across that was a medieval short story I was writing. I had my character all figured out, I knew what their character arc was going to be, and who their love interest and antagonist were going to be. Do you think this character would cooperate? Of course not.

I started that story, then I started it again, then I started it again. My protagonist would not cooperate. I was under a deadline. So I slept on the issue for about three days. Then it hit me, I would simply kill him off.

Now I know what you're thinking, well at least I think I do, how could I write a story if my main character is dead. Aha! That is what I'm going to tell you.

I set my character in the present day. Since he was going to be a knight of sorts I had him in the military. He was getting ready to fire into the enemy when the world went blank.

He woke up nine hundred years earlier. Of course, he didn't know where he was, and the environment was completely different from what he had remembered. Then, of course, I had him run into his friends. Not his friends from the present day, no his friends who knew him as the person's body he took over.

Please don't panic, the body he took over was the body of a man who had just died. What ensued was a man who was feeling his way through a time he didn't know. I had great fun writing this character. He'd kept his memories from the past or should I say his future.

Now you would think that my characters would realize that if they didn't cooperate something horrible might happen to them.

I started a story that takes place in cripple Creek during the labor strikes of the late 1890s. Everything was going along swimmingly until I got to the end of the story. My protagonist got himself into a bit of a pickle. Unfortunately, he was left hanging over a hole in the ground with a noose around his neck. I think he got angry at me because I still haven't been able to finish the story.

So the next time you have an unruly character be careful with their egos and their story. I hope this short experience I've had will save you some headaches in the future.

Until then, I hope to get my Cripple Creek character back on track and out of the mine.

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

What book made you fall in love with reading? by Jan Scarbrough

 

Do you love to read? I do. I was a reader before I was a writer. So, you may not have become a writer, but if you love to read, you must have a book or books that created that love within you.

 

The books I loved were the Black Stallion Books. I must have read the complete series before the fifth grade.

 

First published in 1941, Walter Farley’s best-selling novel for young readers is the triumphant tale of a boy and a wild horse. From Alec Ramsay and the Black’s first meeting on an ill-fated ship to their adventures on a desert island and their eventual rescue, this beloved story will hold the rapt attention of readers new and old.

 

What about you? What book made you fall in love with reading?

Today I write romance novels. Check out my new website at https://janscarbrough.com/