MAIL ORDER: NOELLE by Author Kathleen Lawless **An Imposter for Christmas Series**

It's my pleasure to welcome friend and author, Kathleen Lawless, to Romance Sweet Reads to celebrate her Book Birthday for Mail Order Noelle, part of the An Imposter for Christmas series.

Free-thinking, ambitious Noelle looks to move West to improve her newspaper writing career. Wealthy cattle baron, Grant Chisholm has offered for her sister’s hand, but Merry has other ideas and the girls arrange a switch.

Grant seeks a woman to marry who won’t hamper his lifestyle, but will free him from his grandmother’s matchmaking efforts. His old school mate’s shy, reserved sister seems the ideal choice.

Noelle only needs to get established in the West before she tells Grant he married the wrong sister. Surely a reasonable and wealthy man will annul the marriage and turn her dowry over to her.

Being in Grant’s household provides Noelle interesting research. So does spending time with her husband. Before she can tell him the truth, her sister Merry arrives, and everything falls apart.

You can grab your copy of Mail Order Noelle on Kindle Unlimited

Grant was aware of the desk clerk’s eyes following him as he paced back and forth in the lobby of the hotel, pulling his timepiece from his pocket every few minutes before casting an eye toward the staircase. What was keeping the blasted woman?

Finally, a young woman appeared at the top of the stairs, a half-smile tugging at her full red lips as she rested one slim hand on the balustrade and made her descent. Grant couldn’t take his eyes off her. He felt the way he imagined a man drowning might feel. At the mercy of something beyond his control.

He gave himself a mental shake as she reached the bottom step. Two long strides took him to her side and he caught her hand in both of his. “Merry Russell. Look at you. All grown up.”

Her hand in his felt as if it had been made for him, and his grip tightened, reluctant to release her. Suddenly he was overcome with the urge to keep her safe.

A compelling half-smile played with her luscious lips. “I hope you find the end result of my awkward years pleasing to the eye.”

Grant nearly choked. Pleasing to the eye? The poor girl clearly had no idea the effect of her appearance on mere, mortal men. He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. “I am happy to see you do not favor your brother in the slightest. Now come. The preacher is waiting and grandmama is most anxious to meet you.”

“The same grandmother who threatened to choose a bride for you if you didn’t get on with the business of marriage?”

“Yes. Thank you for rescuing me from falling victim to my grandmother’s matchmaking efforts.”

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.

AMAZON | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB

Newsletter Sign Up

You can find all the books in the An Imposter for Christmas series on Kindle Unlimited.

~ ~ ~

Thank you so much for stopping by today to help Kathleen celebrate her Book Birthday. Please come back again soon for more great authors and books!

Nancy

ERIN'S PEACHY-KEEN CHRISTMAS by Author Nancy Fraser

It's always fun to celebrate a Book Birthday with my friends and fellow authors. However, it's even better with the Book Birthday is mine! I do have to admit, I am a day late with my celebration. The book actually released yesterday but, since I was already hosting another author, I didn't want her to have to share the spotlight!

Prohibition Era, Chicago

Caught in a raid at an illegal speakeasy, good girl Erin O'Mara loses everything: her job, her home, and her reputation. Handsome and so out of her league attorney Alexander Harrison, her best friend's brother, rescues her not once, but twice. He bails her out of jail and offers her a job as nanny for his son.

Alex has no intention of falling in love after the death of his wife. But despite his better judgment, he can't help being drawn to Erin's innocence. This Christmas, letting go of the past and embracing the future may be the greatest present of all.

Get Erin's Peachy-Keen Christmas exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

“Well, well, well, what have we here?” The desk sergeant stared down over the huge wooden barrier, his thick Irish brogue filled with amusement. “Miss Harrison, Mr. Packard.” Glancing in Erin’s direction, he added, “Don’t tell me these two have roped another of their Hyde Park friends into skirting the law?” He shook his head and rubbed a meaty hand across his whiskers. “What’s your name, girlie?”

“Erin. Erin O’Mara.”

“Saints be, they’ve drawn a fine Irish lass such as yourself into their sordid business.” The officer turned his attention to Abby. “I suppose you’ll be wanting to call that shyster brother of yours, now won’t you?”

Abby nodded. “Yes, Officer O’Malley, if you wouldn’t mind.”

O’Malley motioned toward the single phone on the table opposite the desk. “You can give him a call, but you’re going into the tank with the rest of the lawbreakers until he gets here. No more special treatment just ‘cause your father’s a councilman. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Abby said. She started toward the desk and then turned back to ask, “Did Mrs. O’Malley have that baby yet, Sergeant?”

“Not yet,” the man acknowledged, shaking his head. “You’d think after ten, they’d just walk out on their own.”

The “tank” as Officer O’Malley had called it was made up of three jail cells, side by side. Women were housed in the first, the middle one sat empty, and the men were placed in the third.

The young officer in charge of escorting them to their cells opened the door and motioned them forward. “Miss Abby,” the man said, “I’m surprised to see you back so soon.” Abby laid her hand against the officer’s smooth cheek.

“Oh, Tommy, you know I couldn’t possibly go more than a week or two without seeing your handsome face.”

The cell door had barely shut behind them when two women of questionable virtue began whistling and making wild moaning noises. The older of the two laughed heartily, her amusement ending in a rough-edged cough. “Oh, Tommy,” she whimpered, “I missed you so much.”

“Leave it alone, Kitty,” Officer Tommy warned. “And don’t you be trying to steal anything from these two young ladies.”

The woman called Kitty shook her head. “Don’t want nothing from these swells, Tommy-boy, ‘cept maybe a ciggy if they’ve got one.”

“Not us,” Erin said, shaking her head. “We don’t smoke.”

“Well, la-de-da, aren’t you a couple of good girlies?”

Nancy Fraser a Top 100 best-selling and award-winning author.

She's also the granddaughter of a Methodist minister known for his fire-and-brimstone approach to his faith. Nancy has brought some of his spirit into her Christian romances. And, her own off-beat sense of humor to her clean & wholesome books.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Erin's Peachy-Keen Christmas is the first book in my new Holding Out for a Hero series. What woman doesn't wish for a hero, whether it's a sheriff in the old west, a solicitor in the 1920s, or even a sexy professor in modern day.

Book number two, An Honorable Man for Katarina, comes out December 6, 2022.

Cold Creek, Colorado Territory ~ July, 1856

Katarina (Katy) Anderson has experienced more heartache in her twenty-two years than most know in a lifetime. Given to a man old enough to be her father, she has spent the past six years secluded from everyone except for her three young children. Her husband’s untimely death brings relief that... finally... she and her children are free.

When Sheriff Matthew Logan arrives at the Anderson homestead, he is moved by Katy’s sad circumstances and vows to right the wrongs done to her. He’s always shied away from marriage due to his dangerous profession, yet he quickly changes his mind when Katy and her children come into his life, and into his heart.

Once her faith in the Almighty had been restored, can Katy overcome her issues of trust and take a chance on true love?

You can preorder An Honorable Man for Katarina on Kindle Unlimited

~ ~ ~

Please come back again soon for more books, authors, and great company.

Blessings,

Nancy

PAUL'S SKEPTICAL BRIDE by Author Faith Blum

Welcome to Romance Sweet Reads. Today we're featuring author Faith Blum and her newest release, Paul's Skeptical Bride, part of the Matchmaker's Mix-Up Series.

When a cat causes a horrible mixup…

Pastor Paul Buchanan is told he needs a wife and soon or he would lose his church. After much prayer, he decides to look. With no eligible women in Austin, TX, he writes to a mail order bride matchmaker.

Ellie Simpson’s parents died five years ago and she has been struggling ever since. She needs to get out of Philadelphia, preferably to a small town. She writes to a mail order matchmaker with only three stipulations: he can’t be a drunk, a pastor, or too much older than her.

After they meet it soon comes out that they are not compatible in the least and they choose to be friends, but no more. When Paul’s cousin, Conrad, comes to town and appears to be exactly what Ellie is looking for, Paul has to deal with his jealousy and figure out why he is jealous.

Will Ellie find what she is looking for? Can Paul keep his church or will the elders throw him out?

Get your copy of Paul's Skeptical Bride HERE

Ellie Simpson leaned her arms on the counter and buried her head in her hands for a few seconds. Her head pounded and her heart ached to leave this place. The demanding customers and unreasonable boss didn’t help much.

Footsteps approached and Ellie quickly made herself look busy by wiping the counter down with a nearby rag.

“What do you think you’re doing, girl?” a portly man asked, coming out of the storeroom in back.

Ellie stiffened. “Working, Mr. Thomas.”

“Go straighten the shelves instead.”

Ellie grumbled under her breath as she skulked around the counter. “I did this an hour ago, you ungrateful man. There will be nothing to straighten over here. Especially since you insist on me gathering everything the customers want instead of letting them get it themselves.”

She skimmed the shelves. Everything seemed to be in place. There were a few things ever so slightly crooked, so she straightened them. For good measure, she wandered the store straightening anything that was out of place until she reached the counter again.

“Are you done already?” Mr. Thomas growled.

“Yes, sir.”

He glanced at the clock above the door. “It is close enough to closing. Go home. And come back in a better mood tomorrow.”

Ellie bit back her snide reply about changing his own mood and left the store. As soon as the door closed behind her, she took a deep breath to clear her head and choked on the fumes from the nearby factory. She needed to get away from this place—not just the store, but also the city. But how?

Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She has independently published over 30 books in over eight years. Most of her books are Christian Historical Fiction with an emphasis on Westerns. During an eBook sale, she was #2 overall in Kindle eBooks on Amazon.

Faith resides in Central Wisconsin with her husband, son, and their cat, Smokey. When not writing, you can find her cooking, doing dishes, sewing, reading, or spending time with her husband and son. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her website.

Faith's Website ~ Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub ~ Facebook

Follow the entire Matchmaker's Mix-Up Series, available on Amazon, and through Kindle Unlimited

~ ~ ~

Thank you for joining us today to celebrate another Book Birthday. We'll back again soon to feature more authors, books, and ongoing series.

Blessings,

Nancy

ROWENA'S CHOICE by Author Angela Lain **COURTING CHAOS SERIES**

Welcome to Romance Sweet Reads. Today our guest is author Angela Lain. Her new book, Rowena’s Choice is the fourth book in the exciting new western historical series, Courting Chaos.

Rowena Bradbury followed her father into the West after being banished from her Uncle’s home. To her dismay, her father had remarried, and there was no place for her in his new home. For the immediate future the town of Piney Ridge provided her with a job, but maybe marriage was the way forward?

There were many single men clamouring for her attention; how was a girl to choose? Should it be the young deputy who was so kind and considerate, but had no home of his own; the wealthy rancher with political aspirations, who was actively seeking a wife; or the handsome lawyer, who, in her opinion, had damaged her father’s position with his new wife?

All had good points and bad points, how could she avoid the wrong decision?

Get Rowena’s Choice on Kindle Unlimited

In his estimation, the young lady was alone, but one of the men appeared to be pushing his attentions on her. Maybe the man was being helpful, but the lady’s attitude said not. She had stepped back, and turned away, but the man still crowded her, closing the distance she was trying to put between them. This was why he was here, to moderate in such situations. As deputy sheriff he could offer any assistance she might need without her worrying about being compromised, his badge gave him that authority.

The man stepped closer once again as the young lady retreated. He caught sight of Charlie, approaching from behind her. He must have seen the badge, prominent on Charlie’s vest, because he stepped back, tipped his hat, and walked away. Charlie saw the young lady’s shoulders droop in relief.

“Good afternoon, miss. I see you are alone. Can I be of any assistance?” He caught the eye of Dillon Mason, the stage coach porter and clerk, who was heaving a trunk onto the sidewalk. Dillon gave him a curt nod, obviously he too had seen the byplay.

The young lady turned to eye him doubtfully, she relaxed again when she saw his badge.

“Thank you, Deputy. Possibly you can, I need to know where I can find Mr. Harry Bradbury.”

Charlie thought for a second, it wasn’t a name familiar to him, but new residents arrived weekly, and he may have missed a name.

“I am not sure…”

“He only arrived recently. He married a lady from this area, I believe her name was Holborn.”

“Mrs. Holborn, yes of course. She is now Mrs. Bradbury. Pardon me, I believe I only saw them the day they got off the stage. I don’t believe I was ever introduced.”

“I see, can you tell me where they are now living?”

Charlie was slightly taken aback at her question. How did she not know these things about her father?

“Mrs. Holborn, I mean Mrs. Bradbury, owns a farm some five miles out.”

“So my father has definitely become a farmer? He does not have a job here in town?”

“I am pretty certain he is not in town.”

Her shoulders drooped again, she seemed in despair.

“Look, come along to the sheriff’s office with me. I will see if I can get the buggy and take you out to see your father. I expect he will be thrilled to see you.”

She gave a rather dispirited nod and took his arm when he offered.

My name is Angela and I live in the countryside in Norfolk, UK, with my husband (an engineer) and my horse. I have two children and three grandchildren, son has a daughter and daughter has twins. I help my daughter with her horses and her whippets (and the twins!) I tend both house and garden, rather reluctantly, and I write and read.

For years I had woven stories in my head, I put the first one on paper while I sat through several endless nights when my young daughter was ill. The bug bit and I slaved long over a typewriter to have a single romance novel accepted and published back in 1990. Then I gave up, too much family life and a business to run. Finally I am less busy, and the availability of computers and self-publishing made it possible to do my own thing.

I write both historical and contemporary romance. I love historical; I enjoy the research, and I write stories set both in America and England. I write sweet stories in the Multi-author series, and others which are (in the words of one of my lovely reviewers) a little bit naughty. Here I don’t always leave at the bedroom door.

I like a bit of adventure, excitement and danger. My characters have been involved on the Oregon Trail, in Indian raids in the west, and in the Crimean war. They have been variously stranded in snow storms, caught in tornadoes, kidnapped by ruffians and trapped in cellars. Generally the heroes are tough and noble, and the heroines are feisty and independent. One thing they always get is their happy ending. I don’t like a book without a happy ending, so I really cannot write one.

Amazon Author Page ~ Facebook

The first four books in this exciting new series can be found on their Kindle Unlimited Series Page

~ ~ ~

Thank you for stopping by. Please come back again soon for more authors and their entertaining books.

Blessings,
Nancy

A CHRISTMAS COMFORT FOR ELSIE by Author Regina Walker **MAIL-ORDER BRIDES' FIRST CHRISTMAS SERIES**

Welcome to Romance Sweet Reads! Today, we’re featuring the sixth book in the exciting new series ~ Mail-Order Brides’ First Christmas ~ twenty-one wonderful happily-ever-afters, spread out over the next two-and-a-half months for your reading enjoyment!

Today’s featured story is A Christmas Comfort for Elsie by author Regina Walker.

Cover by Virginia McKevitt of Black Widow Books.

Orphaned at just one-year-old, with her newborn sister, Elsie has grown up scrubbing and cleaning the orphanage in exchange for room and board. Her eighteenth birthday comes with the shocking announcement that she has a husband waiting and she must board the train at once to go meet him.

The headmistress insists on sending Elsie away without allowing her to bid her sister, Eleanor, farewell. Riding the train to Colorado, Elsie’s stomach is in knots, and she wonders where Eleanor what will happen to her sister.

Dr. Clark has had his nose in books ever since he could read. Helping the sick and the injured has been his passion and it has held his focus over finding a wife or creating a family. In the booming Georgetown, Colorado there are plenty of miners but there are few, if any, marital prospects for the good doctor. When Elsie shows up, has no idea why she’s come to be his bride since he’d specifically told his nephew to find him an assistant for his medical practice.

Will the pulse of love start to beat between the doctor and Elsie, or will she run away to try to find her sister?

Get A Christmas Comfort for Elsie on Kindle Unlimited

August 1870

The words coming from the headmistress’ mouth were gibberish in Elsie’s mind. Sent away? To a waiting husband? In Colorado? She’d only ever known New York. The streets of New York. The orphanage. Begging. Doing odd jobs. Pulling her weight, as the headmistress would often say.

“What about my sister?’ Elsie asked when the short, dark haired woman stopped speaking.

“What about her?” Headmistress Hawthorne asked.

“Can she come with me?” Elsie steadied her gaze on the woman.

“That’s ridiculous. In so many ways you are still such a child.” The headmistress rolled her eyes and turned away from Elsie. “The gentleman didn’t place an ad for two wives.”

“Is she staying here, then?” Elsie studied the backside of the woman who’d been her caretaker for years.

“That’s none of your concern!” Headmistress Hawthorne shouted. She swiveled around and slapped her hands down on her desk. “Go pack your belongings and get ready for the train.”

Elsie wanted to protest, put up a fight, and demand that Eleanor be sent with her, but what good would it do? Her past arguments fell on deaf ears and often got her flogged. She just needed to find Eleanor and tell her where she was going...except the headmistress had left out exactly where in Colorado she was being sent.

“Before I go, can you tell me where I’m going?” Elsie used a softer tone than before.

“You’ll find out when you get to the train station. Now go pack.” Headmistress Hawthorne stared at Elsie with a commanding expression.

“And if I don’t go? If I don’t get on the train?” Elsie narrowed her gaze at the woman standing across the desk from her.

“Excuse me?” Headmistress Hawthorne wasted no time circling the desk and with her finger wagging in Elsie’s face, she said, “You will go pack this instant. And you will get on that train. I’ll see to it myself if I must. But know this, I’ll spare no effort in making your life, and Eleanor’s, miserable if you even attempt to disobey me.”

Regina Walker crafts compelling characters facing some of life's hardest challenges. Her heart's desire is to always point toward Jesus through the way her characters face challenges, relationships, and adversity.

Regina is an Oklahoma import, although she was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado. She likes to curl up on the couch and binge-watch crime shows with her hard-working husband. When she's not wrestling with a writing project, she can be found wrangling their children, riding their horses, or working around their small hobby farm.

Regina's Website ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter Sign Up

Just in time for the holiday season, wonderfully romantic books from some of your favorite authors. A whole stocking full of heartfelt happily-ever-afters!

You can find all twenty-one books listed on the Amazon Series Page

~ ~ ~

Thank you so much for joining us today. We invite you to come back every release day to get a sneak peak at the individual books, as well as the occasional exclusive excerpt available only here at Romance Sweet Reads.

Blessings,
Nancy

A CHRISTMAS KISS FOR KATE by Author Wren McCready **Mail-Order Brides' First Christmas**

Welcome to Romance Sweet Reads! Today, we’re featuring the fifth book in the exciting new series ~ Mail-Order Brides’ First Christmas ~ twenty-one wonderful happily-ever-afters, spread out over the next two-and-a-half months for your reading enjoyment!

Today’s featured story is A Christmas Kiss for Kate by author Wren McCready.

 

Cover by Virginia McKevitt of Black Widow Books.

From Chicago’s crowded slums to the bright Wyoming prairie...

Tortured with guilt over his first wife’s death, Chase Mayer closed his heart, leaving only a little room for his daughter Pearl. But Pearl is growing up, and even though Chase can’t imagine marrying for love, he knows Pearl needs a mother — even if it means buying a newspaper ad to find one.

Kate Doyle gave up any hope of having a family of her own when her mother died. When Kate’s brother plays matchmaker, she finds herself agreeing to marry a stranger. The expansive Wyoming Territory couldn’t be more different from her rough Chicago neighborhood, and the hardworking, generous Chase couldn’t be more different from her abusive father.

Despite a fresh start, the wounds of their past aren’t easily forgotten. Kate and Chase struggle to bring their two fragmented families together during the Christmas holiday and discover the healing power of love along the way.

Get A Christmas Kiss for Kate on Kindle Unlimited

“I let my wife die, alone. My daughter almost starved to death before I made it back.” His voice was low, as if he could barely force the words out.

“Does blaming yourself for that every day make you a better father? A better man? No, it makes you selfish!” Kate heard the words flying out of her mouth, but she didn’t know where they were coming from. Maybe it was all bound up in the words she wanted to scream at her father for so long after Ma’s death. “Lula’s misery was her choice. She had everything: a beautiful daughter, a comfortable home, and a good, strong, kind husband —”

Chase opened his mouth, but Kate was too full of fury to let him speak.

“ — just like you closing your heart to love is your choice!”
She was panting and her face was so hot, she wanted to unbutton her coat. Had she really just said those things? A tight knot of rebellion burned in her throat. Well, foot, what if she had? After they found Pearl and Mary, he could throw them all out in the snow if he wanted, but someone had to tell him the truth.

His expression was as blank as the snow at their feet as he looked at her. Was he angry? She couldn’t tell —

Somewhere nearby, a wolf’s howl and a little girl’s screams pierced the sky.

Wren received her degree in English lit. from Oral Roberts University, and has lived in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas. She now resides in a small, gold-rush era town in California's Sierra foothills. At one time, her great-great-grandfather owned the largest cattle ranch in Kansas, and she spent many happy hours with her grandparents at their home in Wichita, listening to tales of prairie life. The two greatest influences on her writing are Laura Ingalls Wilder and Jane Austen.

Wren has four children: Charlie, Maggie, Nora, and Jude, and two amazing granddaughters. She also has innumerable cats, most of who seem to know when she's writing, and demand to be pet at the same time. (Seriously, that is happening right now.)

She likes to quilt, is currently trying to teach herself to knit, and tries to keep things alive in her garden. She doesn't particularly like to cook, although she understands she must try, as food is essential to her family's continued existence on this planet.

Wren's Website

Just in time for the holiday season, wonderfully romantic books from some of your favorite authors. A whole stocking full of heartfelt happily-ever-afters!

You can find all twenty-one books listed on the Amazon Series Page

~ ~ ~

Thank you so much for joining us today. We invite you to come back every release day to get a sneak peak at the individual books, as well as the occasional exclusive excerpt available only here at Romance Sweet Reads.

Blessings,
Nancy