JANIE (Widows of the Wild West) by Author Kathleen Lawless

I'm so pleased to welcome author Kathleen Lawless to the blog today to share the details on her new book, Janie from the Widows of the Wild West series.

Someone killed her husband. And now they’re after her!

Janie doesn’t know who or why, only that she can’t run forever and Bullet seems as good a place as any to start over. Ross’s protective instincts are instantly aroused by the beautiful widow, even as he senses she’s fleeing from something or someone in her past. Can he win her trust enough to ensure her safety? 

Will helping Janie redeem him from the mistakes in his past?

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Chapter 1

Janie’s heart sank as she stepped gingerly from the stagecoach to the dusty wooden sidewalk, her valise clutched in one hand. This had to be the smallest town she’d seen yet as she zig-zigged her way across the West by train. Was it even a town, or just a stagecoach stop? With trepidation she approached the coach’s driver. “Did I hear you say this is the end of the line?”

The driver spat a stream of tobacco, narrowly missing the toe of her boot. “Sure is.”

She wandered aimlessly for a bit, her valise growing heavier with each step she took. Eventually she stopped and set it down for a minute, flexing her fingers in relief. She straightened, only to be nearly knocked off her feet by a large man dressed in black as he rounded the corner.

In spite of herself, she gasped. Was he the one who had been following her? Was this the end?

“I’m so sorry,” the man said, then paused to give her a closer look. “Are you all right?”

She swallowed thickly and tried to nod. Heavens, she was acting like a deaf mute these days.

“You’re not. You’re shaking like a leaf.” His voice was kind, as were his dark gray eyes. He was nicely dressed and didn’t look like someone in pursuit of a helpless widow. She relaxed ever so slightly.

“I’ve been traveling,” she said. “I’ve not had much sleep lately.”

“I wondered if you were new here,” he said with a twinkle. “I’m fairly certain I would have remembered you had our paths crossed earlier.”

Janie stared at the ground. His words sounded flirty, almost a compliment. She pushed back a strand of honey blonde hair with a hand that wasn’t quite steady, noticing as she did so that her gloves were soiled from her journey. She looked up, not used to the unfamiliar sight of open admiration on a man’s face.

“You look tuckered,” he said. “May I escort you to the hotel?”

“The hotel?”

“I assume that’s where you’re staying?” His look grew cautious. “Unless of course you were expecting someone to meet you?”

“The hotel,” she said decisively. “Which way is it?”

He plucked her valise from the sidewalk. “I wouldn’t be much of a gentleman if I just pointed in that direction and left you on your own, now would I?”

Janie had no idea what a gentleman would do.

“The name’s Chasen,” he said. “Ross Chasen. The hotel is this way and I’m personally acquainted with the owner. She’ll vouch for me.”

Did he say she? As in the hotel was owned by a woman? How unusual.

“Are you planning to be in town for long, Miss—” He paused expectantly.

“It’s…Wood,” she said after a slight hesitation. “Janie Wood.” Wood seemed a safe assumed name. Everywhere she looked she saw wood.

Mr. Chasen crossed behind her to her other side so he was closest to the street. The thoughtful gesture smacked of good manners, and she didn’t even mind the light pressure of his hand against the small of her back. For the first time since she stumbled across her husband’s dead body back in New York, she felt safe.

Kathleen blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys. Historical or contemporary, cowboys continue to resonate with her today.

One of her heroes, Steele, is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was dating on-line and met a man called Steel— Well, he’s not a cowboy but his is an alpha male and her forever hero. Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After.

Not that she can ever stick to just one genre. So many stories to tell—never enough time.

With close to 30 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, erotic romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and stories for young adults.

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Thank so much for stopping by today. I hope to see you again soon.

Nancy

ONCE UPON AN ANGEL by Author Nancy Fraser **BOOK BIRTHDAY**

Welcome to my Book Birthday celebration for my newest release, Once Upon an Angel. This is a story that's been percolating in my brain for sometime. I've always loved stories of angels earning their wings, yet most are historical in nature. I thought ... what if I were to update the tried-and-true trope, add in a romance (or two), and set part of the book in Heaven?

Once Upon an Angel is a clean and wholesome romance that I hope you'll enjoy. I've been told it's two-tissue worthy, so be prepared.

Two heroine, two heroes, and a meddling arch-angel...what could possibly go wrong?

Novice angel-in-training, Ariel Pearce, needs to earn her wings. She’s had a few chances, but things haven’t worked out as planned. Now, she’s relegated to leading new orientation for the recently departed. When new arrival, Mark Moore, enters Heaven, Ariel sees a kindred spirit. Someone taken far too early, as she was, and under similar circumstances.

Given one last chance to earn her permanent wings, Ariel is sent back to earth to help her former fiancée get past her death so he can find true love. A task she’s had before and failed at miserably. When her mentor, Gabe (yes, the Arch Angel Gabriel), insists she take Mark with her, Ariel’s reluctant. However, nobody argues with Gabe.

Rick Norton is still grieving Ariel’s loss, even though it’s been five years, and he’s done his best to move on. Unfortunately, his attempts at finding another lasting relationship have all gone up in smoke. Until now. Could the cute barista at his favorite coffee shop be the one he’s waited for? There’s something about her that seems familiar, yet he can’t quite place it. Whatever it is, it’s drawing him to her like nothing he’s ever felt before. Or, at least not in the past five years.

Sabrina Baker longs to find happiness. Convinced no man could love a short, skinny girl, who comes with her own set of health problems, she goes about her daily routine believing she’s not good enough. That is, until handsome school Vice Principal, Rick Norton, enters her life.

Can Rick and Sabrina finally find what they both need on their own? Or, will it take a bit of angelic help to get them to see they’re perfect for one another? Once Ariel convinces Mark he’s right where he needs to be, will she finally get the beautiful white wings she’s always wanted? Will they both get a friendship that will last for eternity?

And, finally, what has Gabe done to hasten things along both on earth, and in Heaven?

Available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited

Exclusive to this post only!

Mark spun around, and met Ariel’s gaze. She looked exceptionally lovely today. Her long chestnut hair hung in waves around her heart-shaped face. Her hazel eyes sparkled. The only imperfection—as slight as it seemed—was the serious expression altering her usually angelic smile.

“We’re going where?” Mark asked, almost positive he’d heard her wrong.

“Back to Baltimore. Apparently, I’m getting another crack at my wings.”

“Same task? Get the fiancée to fall in love with another woman?”

She nodded. “We leave tomorrow afternoon and have two full days to complete the assignment.”

“Why am I going? I don’t even know—”

“Yes, you do. Or, at least you probably do. You both played in the teacher’s hockey league at the same time.”

“No sh—” He stopped short and shot her his best repentant grin. “What’s his name?”

“Rick Norton. He’s—”

“The highest scoring right wing in the league. Or, at least he was last season.”

“Really? That’s great,” she responded, her smile returning. “He was always very serious about his hockey.”

“What’s my part in all this? I mean, what do they expect of me?”

Ariel shrugged, the motion drawing his gaze to her fading smile. “I assume you’re there to make sure I don’t let my broken heart get in the way, like the other times.”

“So, you were jealous? Perfectly understandable.” When she didn’t respond, he asked, “What did you do? Sabotage the relationships?”

“No, of course not. At least not on purpose.”

“Then, why didn’t it work out?”

“The first time, the woman—Helena—called it off when she met some fancy-suited, high-profile lawyer.” Giving a quick wince, she admitted, “I may have had a hand in their meeting. I was watching from a nearby doorway and accidentally bumped into the server carrying a tray of drinks. He bumped into the lawyer, who tripped and dumped his drink on Helena. When their gazes met, it was like a bell went off for them both.”

“And, she ended up dumping Rick for the new fellow,” he guessed.

She gave a short, quick nod, and continued. “The second woman—her name was Bethany—wasn’t being honest with him. She wasn’t cheating on him or anything, but she had a gambling problem. A bad one.”

“I take it, Rick found out.”

“As you’ll quickly learn, our presence has a calming effect on people. It also tends to bring out their honesty, when they least expect it. One evening, he was at her place for dinner when the messenger app on her phone kept pinging. At first, she just blew it off as a girlfriend who was bugging her to meet up at the bar. Then, I did what I thought was best for all concerned.”

“Which was?”

“I went and stood behind her, placed my hands above her shoulders, and waited. The next time the phone pinged, she broke down and confessed that the message was from a man to whom she owed money. A lot of money. She also told Rick she’d been trying to work up the courage to ask him for a loan.”

“A loan? I hope he didn’t give it to her.”

“He told her he needed time to think, and he left. He was angry, so I followed him. By the time he got home, he’d calmed down. He went back the next day and offered to lend her the money, under certain conditions. She was to take a leave of absence from her job, check herself into rehab for her addiction and, once she was out, she’d have to pay him back.”

“Did she accept his terms?” Mark asked.

“I have no idea. I do know he told her that he’d remain her friend and support her emotionally until she was back on her feet, but that their relationship was over. Which meant, I’d failed again.”

“Wait a minute. Backtrack, please. You said something earlier about bumping into the server, which then snowballed into the end of Rick’s first post-you romance. Does that mean people will be able to see us when we’re there?”

“No, they can’t see us. We can, however, make things move when we need to. Or, in my case, by accident.”

“Cool!”

“Not ‘cool’ when it ends up costing me my wings.”

“How does getting us there actually work? Are we beamed down, or something?”

Her half smirk, half laugh drew his broad grin in return.

“It’s not Star Trek, Mark.” In a mocking voice, she teased, “Beam me up, Gabe.”

“Okay, if not Star Trek, how do they do it?”

“We walk through a door. On the other side, is our destination.”

“And we just know where to go, and what to do?”

“There’s actually an itinerary. It spells out Rick’s schedule and Sabrina’s routine so that we know where they’re going to be, and when we can ‘facilitate’ their relationship.”

“Sabrina, is it?”

“Yes. Sabrina Baker, twenty-eight, and in her last year of university. Apparently, her education was stalled. For personal reasons.”

“An ill parent maybe? Financial issues?”

Ariel gave another deep shrug of her slim shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out when we get there, won’t we?”

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.

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Thank you so much for stopping by today. Come back again soon. March will feature a look at a couple of new series coming in early April. April will be absolutely filled with wonderful clean and wholesome books and even a couple of giveaways!

Blessings,

Nancy