Meet and Greet: Laurie Kingery

Book Giveaway Drawing!

Read the details later in this post.

Laurie Kingery is a central Ohio author and veteran E.R. RN who has written twenty-two  historical romances, first as Laurie Grant and now writing Christian historicals under her own name for Love Inspired Historicals. She won the Reader's Choice for short historicals in 1994 and was a finalist in the 2010 Carol Awards in short historicals by the American Christian Fiction Writers for The Outlaw's Lady. Her next release from Love Inspired Historicals is The Rancher's Courtship in November 2011. 

Dear Reader,

I want to thank Janalyn Voigt for allowing me to come visit you today. I'd like to tell you how the Brides of Simpson Creek series came about, particularly the fourth book in the series, The Rancher's Courtship.

I am a transplanted Texan living in the north. I get back to Texas as often as I can. When I was looking around for a good place in Texas' Hill Country to site a series about mail-order grooms set in the post-Civil War period, I chose as its place-name a creek that ran into the San Saba River called Simpson Creek and named my town for it. I was fortunate enough to be able to go research the town while I was still writing the first book in the series, Mail Order Cowboy, (Nov. 2010, LIH) and was thrilled to find out that there actually was a community called Simpson Creek there in the 1800's. The creek is beautiful, but it looks nothing like the body of water on the cover of the second book, The Doctor Takes a Wife (Jan. 2011, LIH)—The former looks more like a lake, but artists will take liberties for the sake of beauty—more on that in a moment!

While in San Saba County, my husband and I went to see a huge, historic live oak tree called the "Wedding Oak." It had been used since before the arrival of the Spanish in Texas as a site for Indian weddings, and later by the settlers for the same purpose. Naturally, this fired my imagination and I titled the third book in my "Brides of Simpson Creek" series The Wedding Tree. But the title is now The Rancher's Courtship—my publisher wants to anchor my titles firmly in the west, so they've included Cowboy, Doctor and now Rancher in the title.

Remember how I said artists take liberties? The tree on my book cover is as beautiful as the rest of the cover, but anyone familiar with live oak trees can tell this isn't one, so I've included a picture of the real wedding oak of San Saba, Texas.

 

But I have to say the hero and heroine on the cover, and the little dog, more than make up for the liberty taken with the tree, in my opinion.

I hope you enjoy The Rancher's Courtship as much as I did writing it. Readers, I look forward to seeing your comments.

Blessings, 

Laurie Kingery

Posted by Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

Share |


Book Giveaway Drawing:

Laurie Kingery will give away a free copy of The Sheriff's Sweetheart. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in a separate comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win. 

Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this coming Sunday at midnight (Pacific Time/US).

I'll announce the winner on Book Readers Central next Monday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.


Note: Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "The Dawn of a Dream" by Ann Shorey

After betrayal ruins her reputation, Luellen O'Connell revives a dream she discarded, the opportunity to earn a teacher's certificate. Financial difficulties, family opposition, sickness and even prospects of romance challenge her determination to finish her schooling. As each crisis comes, Luellen draws upon a reserve of strength instilled in her by a wholesome upbringing. 

Can anything make her surrender her dream?

The Dawn of a Dream is a gentle story of courage in a time gone by. With fine historic detail, Ann Shorey weaves a vivid tapestry of mid-19th-Century life in America. This novel is written in an excellent style, well-plotted, and provides intimate glimpses into the lives of its characters. I highly recommend The Dawn of a Dream by Ann Shorey to readers who enjoy historical fiction and historical romance set in America.

  

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

Share |


My thanks to the publisher and author for a complimentary copy of this book, provided for purposes of reveiw.

Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Meet and Greet: Lena Nelson Dooley

Lena Nelson Dooley

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 650,000 books in print. She is a member of ACFW and president of the local chapter.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not at the same time. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat. And the high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially her fans. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

BRC: Welcome, Lena. I'm with you on the dark chocolate, by the way.

Thank you, Janalyn for inviting me to this wonderful site. I'd love to connect with readers here.

BRC: Great! What type of books do you write?

I have quite a back list consisting of both historical and contemporary stories. Some are novella collections, some are short novels, and one is a long novel. 

BRC: That does sound interesting. Tell me, why do you write?

Actually, God told me to become a professional writer. You can read how that happened by going to this page on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

BRC: Interesting! Thanks for that glimpse into your faith. How would you describe your newest release?

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, is my Heroine-in-peril, Mail-order-bride gone awry story. It's a story of unmerited forgiveness, and understanding the love God has for us.

BRC: Which is your favorite character from your book?

This book is peopled with interesting characters, but I think my favorite is Jeremiah Denison, the hero, or maybe it's Maddy Mercer, the heroine, or . . .

BRC: I can see how it might be hard to choose. Do you have a funny or touching story that relates to your book?

I'm what's called a seat-of-the-pants writer. And because I am, God often leads my writing in a direction that I hadn't even imagined. That happened with this book, and it became a much stronger story for the changes. 

BRC: Intriguing. Tell us about your writing process.

I let a story percolate or stew in my head for a while before I start putting it down on paper. A lot of the story develops during this time. But then when I start writing, I start at the beginning and write straight to the end.

BRC: What will you write next?

Since this book released, I've signed a three-book contract with another publisher. I have written the first book in the McKenna's Daughters series, and I'm working on the second book right now.

BRC: Which books do you recommend to readers?

This depends entirely on what the person likes to read. Pirate's Prize is good for people who like adventure and pirates. If the reader likes mysteries, I suggest Double Deception or Wild Prairie Roses.  For romantic suspense, Cranberry Hearts. Historical romance, Minnesota Brothers and of course, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. 

BRC: Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Say, wWhere can readers find you online?

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Facebook - Lenanelsondooley

Twitter - lenandooley

Website - www.lenanelsondooley.com

A regular contributor to: http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/

Shoutlife  - lenanelsondooley

Posted by Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

Share |

Whistlestop Book Review: "More Than Words" by Judith Miller

Gretchen Kohler likes to write in her journal. She never imagines her words will travel further than her home in the Amana Colonies, at least not until a traveling salesman takes an interest in her writing. With a jealous childhood sweetheart, a wandering grandmother, a younger brother drawn to visiting gypsies, and a father changed for the worse since her mother's death, Gretchen has her hands full. She finds it difficult to bear  the weight of a guilty conscience, too. Should she confess her secrets and risk losing her job, her reputation and the respect of the man she loves?

More Than Words by Judith Miller, book two in the Daughters of Amana series, delivers a sweet and entertaining love story for those who enjoy reading about life in communal colonies.

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

Share |


*My thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this title, given for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "Keeper of My Heart" by Therese Travis

Should they let themselves fall in love? Reeling from a broken heart, Rebecca shies away from her attraction to her employer, handsome veterinarian Adam McCormack. And while Adam can't ignore his feelings for Rebecca, he can't overlook her distance from the God he loves.

Set in 1930's Virginia, Keeper of My Heart is a heart-warming love story between a man and a woman but also between God and his children. Available from White Rose Publishing in e-book format, this novella-length book is quick to read but rich in detail. Author Therese Travis does a fine job of providing intimate characterizations in an economy of words. The plot is simple and straightforward, but believable.

Readers who enjoy romance will like Keeper of My Heart by Therese Travis. This book is teen-approved because it models an appropriate response to attraction between two people at different places in their relationship to God.

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

Share |


Be sure and catch my interview with Therese Travis, the author of this book, here on Book Readers Central.


*Thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this title for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico" by Lena Nelson Dooley

When rough old miner Phillip Smith advertises for a mail-order bride, Jeremiah Dennison thinks his friend has gone off his rocker. He plans to send back any applicant he doesn't approve of before Phillip can even meet her. But when a vision named Madeleine Mercer steps off the train, Jeremiah forgets his intentions.

With a strong sense of place, sensitive characterizations and a sweet romance, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico takes the reader back in time to the days when the West was young. This book stands above many others in its genre because of its historical details and authentic depiction of life on the Western frontier. The reader won't find glossed-over modern lingo or any pandering to today's cultural mores.

A theme of unmerited grace propels the story to an unexpected conclusion that examines the very nature of forgiveness and love. Just like the vinegar pie Jeremiah samples in the story, this story's tartness tastes sweet.

I recommend Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico to women who enjoy historical romances set in the Old West.

©2010 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books


Emeril Lagasse's Vinegar Pie Recipe

*Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Share |

Whistlestop Book Review: "Head in the Clouds" by Karen Witemeyer

Adelaide Proctor lands herself in a fix when she seeks a proposal from a reluctant beaux. Dislocated and unemployed, she accepts a job as a governess on a sheep ranch in the wilds of Texas. Her young charge, Isabella, soon captures her heart. When Isabella's father, Gideon Westcott, stirs her admiration, Addie reins in her romantic tendencies. She doesn't need another humiliation, and besides, Gideon seems to prefer it that way.

When life-threatening events loom, the two face a choice that will impact many lives.

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer gives a compassionate analysis of the question: Why does God let bad things happen to good people? I highly recommend it to women who enjoy historical fiction set in the West and especially for those grieving a loss.

©2010 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books.

Purchase through Bethany House

*Thank you, Bethany House, for providing a complimentary copy of this title for purposes of review.

**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon affiliate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central. 

Whistlestop Book Review: "In the Manor of the Ghost" by Tina Pinson

Tina Pinson’s gift for storytelling drew me in and held my attention throughout her In the Manor of the Ghost, a gothic mystery.  

Kaitlin, a widow who lost her husband and infant in a fire, enters into a marriage-of-convenience with  Devlon, owner of a reportedly haunted manor.  But the manor seems to be haunted by more than a ghost. Allegations of murder, a traumatized child, domestic violence and shadows that walk the halls at night all intrude into the peace Kaitlin tries to weave around those she comes to love. As events unfold, the past reaches from beyond the grave to involve the living.

In the Manor of the Ghost will appeal to women who enjoy gothic love stories.

©2010 Janalyn Voigt

*Many thanks to Tina Pinson for providing me a complimentary copy of this book for purposes of review.

**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon affiliate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central.

Meet and Greet Monday: Shawna K. Williams

Book Giveaway Drawing! Win a pearl bracelet!

Read the Details Later in this Post.

Thank you for hosting me today Janalyn.

I'd like to tell your followers a little about myself and my new book. My name is Shawna Williams. I'm a Christian, rancher's wife, homeschooling mother of three, and a writer. I currently have two inspirational historical novels published by Desert Breeze Publishing, and a third due to release next month.

My latest release, In All Things, is the sequel to my debut novel, No Other. Both books were originally inspired by a dream I had over eight years ago. Before that dream I had never intended to be a writer. The dream was a story, though, told in bits and pieces, and I obsessed over it for six months as I tried to fill in all the details until I finally had to write it down. At first it was to satisfy my own curiosity, but over the course of years (yes years) as I pulled it out and put it away, I fell so in love with the characters and their journey that I felt I owed it to them to at least try to get their story published. The two books, No Other and In All Things, have gone through multiple critiques and rewrites, and have changed in many ways from the original, but the core story that originated with that dream remains the same.

In All Things picks up ten years after No Other, in the late 1950s. Jakob and Meri have both thrown themselves into achieving success for different reasons, and they've both succeeded. What they've found, though, is that the dreams they once believed would heal old wounds have fallen short. The strain of disillusion sets in, and when they return to their hometown for the holidays they are forced to reface old issues they both had attempted to bury.

My hope is that readers will take away the message of God's sovereignty in our lives, and that we are never beyond His sight or His Grace. I know that in my own life stories of Grace have had a tremendous impact. Francine Rivers is my favorite author for this reason. I had a hard time connecting with a lot of Christian fiction before I encountered her books. There are people, like me, who need to be reminded that God's Grace is for them too. I want my books to do that.

If you enjoy No Other and In All Things, I have a Christmas story coming out on Dec 1^st with the same publisher, Desert Breeze. It's called Orphaned Hearts, and it's inspired by my grandparents. My grandfather was raised in an orphanage, and my grandmother's father ran the orphanage's dairy. This was how my grandparents met. Their own experiences motivated them to become foster parents, and over the course of many years they touched many lives through their love and their faith.

If you'd like to know a little more about me and my books, you can visit my website, http://shawnakwilliams.com/, or my blog, My Father's Oldsmobile, at http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/. You can follow me on twitter, http://twitter.com/shawnakwilliams, or like my fb fanpage, Shawna K. Williams.

I have free sample pdf files of the first three chapters of No Other, my debut novel, and its sequel, In All Things. If you'd like these contact me at shawnawilliams@allegiance.tv.

Here's the blurb to In All Things, and a link to a short excerpt on the publisher's site:

Jakob and Meri's story continues...

Meredith Louis's Hollywood career is at a point of transition. No longer under Majestic Studios' control, Meri is free to broaden her appeal as an actress and finally earn the recognition she desires. 

Meri and Jakob return to their hometown for the holidays where Meri hopes to reconcile with her parents after a decade of silence. But after a disastrous encounter, Meri is plunged into turmoil as old fears resurface in unexpected ways. 

Jakob, already dealing with unresolved family issues of his own, is further burdened by his inability to help his wife. Can he learn to step aside and trust God's plan. Will Meri recognize what she already has? 

In All Things is a story of faith and restoration, cemented in the belief, "...that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Purchase at Desert Breeze Publishing

Also available at the Amazon Kindle Store, B&N Nook, and iPad through iBookstore. Soon to be available at Christianbooks.com.

Book Giveaway Drawing: Shawna K. Williams will give away a free ebook copy of  In All Things to a reader of this blog. To tie into the theme of grace within her book, Shawna will also mail a freshwater pearl bracelet to the winner of the drawing. To enter, leave a comment to this post. Please include a way to reach you or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this Wednesday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). The winner will be announced on Book Readers Central on Friday. If a winners fails to respond within a week of notification, the winner will be reassigned. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central on this blog are located in the footer of this blog.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central.

Meet and Greet Monday: Margaret Brownley

Book Giveaway Drawing! (Details below)

When bestselling author Margaret Brownley isn’t crawling through dusty museums she writes. She has more than 20 books to her credit and has been published in 15 languages. The third book in her Rocky Creek series A Vision of Lucy is scheduled for publication June 2011. Currently working on a new series. Margaret and her husband live in Southern California and have three grown children.

Dear Reader:


I’ll let you in on a little secret. As a schoolgirl I hated history. Nothing seemed more torturous than memorizing dates and battles. It wasn’t until my teens when I read Gone With the Wind that I discovered historical novels. That’s when I came to realize that history wasn’t about dates or even war; it was about people and how they reacted to the ever changing world around them.

I especially like the nineteenth century as it mirrors so much of what is happening in our lives today. The 1800s had its share of depressions, recessions, bank failures, and political scandals. Even back then they were talking about health reform. That’s not all; almost every household was bombarded with scams, advertisements, and foreign princes asking for money.

Sound like your e-mail? You’re close. Only back then it was called the telegraph and it changed the way Victorians lived, did business, and yes, even fell in love. Wire romances bloomed and one couple even married by telegraph. In 1886, The Electrical World magazine ran an article titled The Dangers of Wired Romances. That same article would no doubt be just as timely today.

So now that you know a little bit about why I write historical novels, let me tell you about my latest book, A SUITOR FOR JENNY. This is the 2nd book in my Rocky Creek Romance series and I have a special place in my heart for it.

The idea for the book came to me in a dusty Kansas museum. While rifling through old newspaper clippings I came across a meeting notice for “The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Male Independence.” I have no idea what happened to the group or even if they ever succeeded in their goal to remain single, but I know a book idea when I see it and I pounced.

From that clipping came the idea to have my heroine Jenny Higgins breeze into a town of confirmed (and yes, even unsuitable bachelors) to seek husbands for her two unwilling sisters. Fireworks, anyone?

History may not be a laughing matter but I guarantee you’ll laugh at this battle of the sexes—and you won’t have to memorize a single date.

Blessings,

Margaret

 

Visit me at: www.margaretbrownley.com

Resident blogger: www.petticoatsandpistols.com

Advice for landing a husband from A Suitor for Jenny


• When looking for a husband it’s best to go where the odds are in your favor.

• A good man is like a good corset. He will always be supportive and never leave you hanging.

• Charm and composure must prevail at all times. If a gunfight erupts, exit the scene with grace and serenity.



Book Giveaway Drawing: To enter, leave a comment to this post and include your contact information. Entries will be accepted until this Wednesday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). The winner will be announced on this blog on Friday. Detailed rules of giveaways on this blog are located in the footer of this blog.

Please consider becoming a follower of this blog's feed or signing up to receive blog posts by email.

Note: Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits from purchases made through links from this blog.

Meet and Greet Monday: Darlene Franklin

Book Giveaway Drawing! See details, below.

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin recently returned to cowboy country—Oklahoma—to be near family. She recently signed the contract for her twelfth book. This fall she celebrates the repacking of her Rhode Island romance in Seaside Romance and her third novella anthology, Face of Mary in A Woodland Christmas.

Dear Reader,

I am so glad we can chat together together about books, reading and writing. There’s nothing better than meeting a fellow enthusiast and settling in for a good chat.

I’m delighted to be able to offer a copy of my Christmas novella, A Woodland Christmas, to one of your readers. Interwoven through four novellas, an itinerant woodcarver moves from town to town in the piney woods of East Texas, delivering “sawdust sermons.” In my story, The Face of Mary, he’s carving life-size manger figures for a church. The hero paints the finished carvings and he is looking for the right woman to be the “face of Mary.”

Both The Face of Mary and a novella I’m writing for next year (in Christmas at Barncastle Inn) are based on the biblical account of the first Christmas. My hope is that a novella with echoes of the familiar story will bring home some truths in a new way. I know it’s been good for me! Especially since Barbour Publishing contracts the novellas in time for us to write them during the Christmas season. We don’t have to get in the holiday spirit in the middle of summer.

Since I began writing full time a year ago, God has blessed me abundantly. This year I’ve written a three-book set of historical romances set in Vermont. The first volume, The Prodigal Patriot, came out in July. Next I’m working on sequels to accompany my first ever book (Romanian Rhapsody, 2005); Plainsong and Knight Music should both be published in 2011. I’m excited to see what God has next for me.

As a writer, I read all the time. Some time it’s heavy plodding through historical research books. I also usually read a “serious” Christian living book during my quiet times. Other times I’m reading books by my fellow Christian authors—I read a lot of historical romance, since that’s what I write. But for pure escapism, my default genre is mystery/suspense.

Or I could tell you my books by location. My quiet time book: Breathing Grace by Harry Strauss. My bathroom book: Rocky Mountain Match by Pamela Nissen. My purse book: Love Finds You in Calico, California by Lisa Ludwig. My mystery (which I read before bed and when I wake up and in between): I just finished Die For You by Lisa Unger.

If you would like to learn more about my life and work, check out my blog at http://darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com/. Monthly book giveaways feature both my books and books from guest authors. My books are available for purchase at Amazon and from Barbour Books.

Janalyn Voigt benefits when books are purchased on Amazon.com through
links from Book Readers Central.

Barbour Book Link to Purchase A Woodland Christmas

Darlene Franklin's Blogs:

http://darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com/ ~ http://thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com/

Book Giveaway Drawing: Leave a comment to this post to be entered in the drawing for a free copy of M

A Woodland Christmas. Please include a way to reach you online or your entry will be ineligible. Entries will be accepted until this Wednesday at midnight (Pacific Coast time/United States). The winner will be posted Friday. A link to detailed giveaway rules is located in this blog's footer.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Hope's Promise" by Tammy Barley

Newly wedded ranchers, Jake and Jessica Bennett face drought, prejudice against the Indians they befriend and anti-Southerner sentiment in the West during the Civil War. Besides these hazards, someone with a personal vendetta wants Jess dead. Jake's efforts to protect Jess succeed only in raising her ire. Unconfided heartaches and the pain of loss drive a wedge between the couple. Can they find their way to harmony? Can they escape an unknown enemy?

In Hope's Promise, book two of The Sierra Chronicles, author Tammy Barley continues the romance and adventure that began in book one, Love's Rescue. Deep characterizations and riveting action scenes as well as tender romance and a touch of humor enliven this well-plotted story. Occasionally the author explained a point she'd already illustrated and thus diluted its impact. Nevertheless I don't hesitate to recommend Hope's Promise for women who enjoy Western Romance.

©2010 Janalyn Voigt

*The author provided a complimentary copy of this book to me for purposes of review.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Surrender the Wind" by Rita Gerlach

As the American Revolution draws to a close, Seth Braxton finds himself in a quandary. Should he return to England, the land of the enemy he just fought, at his sister's plea? Brotherly responsibility turns to sharp concern when Seth arrives in Devonshire to discover his widowed sister grieving the loss of her only son. Seth wants little to do with Ten Width, his new inheritance. He plans to return to America as soon as possible, but finds his heart ensnared by his sister's friend, Juleah. Treachery threatens as a sinister plot unfolds.

Rita Gerlach writes with fine skill and a touch of lyricism. Surrender the Wind gives us romance and adventure couched in history. Although the main character is male, I recommend this book for women who enjoy historical romance and historical fiction.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Prisoner of Versailles" by Golden Keyes Parson

In A Prisoner of Versailles, part two of the Darkness to Light series, we follow the story of Madeleine, forced to flee France because of her Huguenot beliefs. The "Sun King" pursues and imprisons her, however. Can the man she loves help her gain freedom? Caught in a velvet prison and with the welfare of her children at stake, Madeleine is forced to decide whether she will hold true to her faith or give in to a vain and seductive lifestyle.

Golden Keyes Parsons' vivid writing style brings the Court of King Louis XIV alive. The quick pace and well-plotted story draws the reader, and the intimate characterizations ring true. Women who enjoy historical fiction will appreciate A Prisoner of Versailles.

Meet and Greet Monday: Susan Page Davis

Book Giveaway Drawing (details below)

Susan Page Davis is the author of thirty novels. She and her husband Jim, an editor, live in western Kentucky with the two youngest of their six children. She enjoys reading, travel, needlework, and genealogy. She has homeschooled all her children and is the grandmother of six.


Hi, I’m Susan Page Davis, and I’m happy to be here. I just moved from Maine (where I was born and lived more than 50 years) to western Kentucky, so I’m still amid piles of boxes and culture shock. But so far, I love my new home!

I’ve lived both east and west of the Mississippi, having married a man from Oregon. Jim and I have six children and six grandchildren. The Lord has blessed me with thirty published novels.


My new book is Gunsmith’s Gallantry, book 2 in The Ladies’ Shooting Club series. I loved writing this story about Hiram Dooley, the shy gunsmith (brother to Gert, the heroine of the first book, The Sheriff’s Surrender).

Hiram is a quiet man whose wife died ten years ago. He’s happy to be left alone to do his solitary work. There is one woman in town he admires greatly, but she’s a savvy, beautiful businesswoman who probably would never think twice about the likes of him. Still, he gets all mushy inside whenever he enters her store.

Hiram’s life is disrupted when his sister-in-law, Rose, arrives in town (that’s Fergus, Idaho, a small mountain town you won’t find on any map). Rose has the notion that since they are both widowed, Hiram should marry her. That’s the last thing he wants to do.

Meanwhile, schoolmarm Isabel is shocked when an uncle she never knew existed shows up at her door. Later that night, she sees her father digging a mysterious hole behind their barn, and the uncle is nowhere to be seen. She confides in Libby, the woman Hiram adores.

Soon Hiram finds himself up to his ears in woman problems—and that’s not even counting his sister and her slow-moving beau. Hiram steps up to help his friend Ethan, the sheriff, and shocks the town by clocking a rowdy cowboy. It seems Hiram’s quiet life has become tumult.

Writing this series was an adventure. Stepping into an 1880s mountain town was hard work and tremendous fun. I was able to visit my daughter in Idaho and make an exploratory trip with her. We visited the ghost town at Silver City and other historic places in southwest Idaho.

The research continued as I worked my way through the series. I wanted to put a player piano in the Nugget saloon in the first book, and to my disappointment learned my story was a few years too early for that. Who’d have thought it? Seems every saloon in every western movie has a player piano! But in checking out facts like that, I learned new things that led to other interesting details in my books.

An important part of each book in the series is the Ladies’ Shooting Club of Fergus. Each woman uses the gun she has available. They meet to practice, and Hiram’s sister teaches them to use their weapons safely and effectively. In the first book, this nearly caused a riot among the town’s men. In The Gunsmith’s Gallantry, the club helps rescue one of its beloved members.

This series is about the community of women, their support for each other, and their faith journey. It’s also about adventure and old-fashioned Wild West action.

You can purchase this book through retail stores, Christian Book Distributors, or Amazon.com
My future books will include the third in this series—The Blacksmith’s Bravery, coming your way in December; a 1915 historical suspense novel called The Crimson Cipher—releasing July 1; and a novella in the collection Christmas Mail Order Brides, coming in September. My story is called “Mrs. Mayberry Meets Her Match.” Visit me at my personal website: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/

Enter to win a free copy of Gunsmith’s Gallantry by leaving a comment to this post. Please include a way to contact you online or your entry will become ineligible. A link to detailed rules for Book Readers Central book giveaway drawings is located in this blog's footnotes. Entries will be accepted until this Wednesday at midnight (Pacific Coast time/United States). The winner will be posted on Book Readers Central this Friday.

Please consider following Book Readers Central to keep informed of future giveaways and for more great interviews and book reviews. An email sign-up form is located in the sidebar if you prefer to receive posts by email.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Highland Blessings" by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Bryce McPherson kidnaps Akira McKenzie on her wedding day to keep a promise made to his dying father.The fact that the McKenzie and the McPherson clans are sworn enemies won't save Akira from marrying the McPherson Chiefton. But can such a marriage bring peace, especially when a series of murders seems to indicate otherwise? And can Bryce and Akira find love in the midst of hatred?

With fine prose and deft skill, Jennifer Hudson Taylor takes us to the highlands of Scotland at a time when men lived and died by the sword. But the struggles woven into this book's plot are not of the flesh alone. Akira needs to make peace with both her earthly and heavenly fathers, and Bryce must learn to trust an enemy.  But a greater threat waits in the shadows...

I recommend Highland Blessings for readers who enjoy historical fiction and historical romance.

~ Review by Janalyn Voigt

* A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by the author for purposes of review.