THE GREAT WESTERN DRIVE - FINAL DAY

Read A Western; They ALL Need Love

Prizes and Pleadings!!

Hang onto your hats - the is is going to be a long one!

And - as the sun slowly sinks into the West, we come to the end of The Great Western Ride.

But!!

Not Really.

For it is just the beginning.


I mentioned at the beginning of the week, that one of the main reasons I came up with the idea of featuring Westerns - and with much, MUCH help from my Cowgirls Sybil and Wendy, who both posted more this week then either of them had for ages - if ever - was the lower votes the Western got (and more one that in a moment).

But there was another reason too! One of the books I've been anticipating more then most is Never Love a Lawman by Jo Goodman. To me she is an author of such richness and depth you can't rush through her books. They are to be read slowly, so as to savour them. I wanted readers not to see that this book was a Western and think 'b'ah, not gonna bother. I was hoping by having The Great Western Drive, when readers see this one come out on the shelves in September, those in blogland who have been visiting the three of our blogs - or any of the other wonderful ladies who have picked up the torch and blogged about Westerns - will think to themselves, not "'b'ah", but instead, "hmmm, I think I will just give this one a go" . Judging by the response at Dear Author when they offered up free copies, there are a lot of readers who will do just that!

The Prizes

So in order to keep this one front and centre in your thoughts, Sybil scored some copies from Kensington and is sharing with Wendy and me. So! I have a copy to give away to one lucky reader.
The is the Grand Prize - but not the only one. Sybil and Wendy both have other contests running for books so how could I do any less?? In addition to the Grand Prize here at Ramblings, I have me some other Westerns to give away too.


Touch of Texas by Tracy Garrett

Who can resist that cover? And the story inside is pretty good too!







Dear Penelope by Sharon Ihle

She didn't get a mention this week, only because of the vast numbers already, but if you like your stories on the light and humorous side, then she's an author to look for





Rachel and the Hired Gun by Elaine Levine

This is great book and one I mentioned in the interview at Petticoats and Pistols







Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller

I'll be finding out along with whoever wins this one since it's a new release and I haven't read it. I got 2 copies of this one - one to give away and one for me - not only 'cause I love Westerns, but oh mama do I love this cover!!





The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne.

Now Maggie is Wendy's girl, but I've read this one too and really enjoyed it.







The Scotsman Wore Spurs by Patricia Potter

Now Patricia Potter is my home girl. She is the creme de la creme of Westerns so I have two by her. Leslie back's me up on this one!






Wanted by Patricia Potter

Another Most Excellent Potter Western. Whoever gets this one is one lucky reader







A Texan's Luck by Jodi Thomas.

Now I'm behind in reading her newer books, but this one is an older book I've read and can easily recommend!

The Pleadings

The short version - The Western genre - please read one.

The longer version because that's always more fun. I've said a few times I've no pride and no shame when urging readers to try something I've read and loved (or watched and loved) and the Western certainly fits into that category. From many of the comments I've read between our three blogs and at other blogs who have taken up the Ride, many reader used to read Westerns and loved them and then they kind of slipped their minds. We aim to remind those readers what they've been missing. To them I beg "Come Back. Come Back. Wendy, Sybil and I are desperate. We want more Westerns. We want the choices we used to have for this neglected genre". But the publishers are saying they aren't selling. So we need you to help us!

And for those who haven't tried a Western - put aside your Paranormals, your Vampires, your Shapeshifters, your Dukes, Viscounts and Earls - just for a short time (because I love them too!) and try a Western! Sybil, Wendy and I have offered up a lot of our choices but you can be like Lea and Amy and try one not on our list. Barbara has promised to read my all time fave. And Nath has mentioned us too. Samhain publishes a lot of Westerns - I have three Beth Williamson books I'm dying to dive into.

We long to see a resurgence in this genre. I mentioned the site Love Western Romance and the poll they had. Well this seems to be an ongoing poll and they have the results as of July 31/09. Visit the site - they have a whole passel of Westerns.

And Petticoats and Pistols is also a Must Visit blog. And I'm not just say thing because THE Cheryl St. John interviewed ME!! They have some great authors posting, most of whom I've read or at least own books of - and those who don't I plan to! And at this point I'll mention that they donated a great prize themselves - details at The Good, The Bad, The Unread - though only open to US residents so you don't have to worry about me winning all the loot *g*. And a reminder Sybil also has the Sarah McCarty contest open to all

And read Wendy's post today. She's pretty good at pleading and begging herself and also has a contest to win Never Love a Lawman as well as the previously announced Maureen McKade book. And dang - but I forgot to link yet another post at TGTBTU wherein Sybil, Wendy and I also answer more questions about what is is about the Western.

By now you may be thinking - enough with the pleading - just tell me how to win! Well, I'm going to give away the books alphabetically by author last name unless you specifically say there's one you don't want (like you already have that copy of such and such a book but would like a chance to win another one) What YOU have to do, is commit to reading a Western and name the book. They are so easy to find at bookstores, UBS's, the library, an e-copy - where ever you can find one.

And! You will be added to the list on the sidebar for The Great Western Drive. You can see I've already added Sybil and Wendy and I know there are already more but I didn't put them up yet so they can drop by here for a chance to win. I want to get that list going down the entire sidebar!! And then! You can add the icon to your own sidebar if you have a blog.

So - what do you say? Will you take pity on the three of us and Ride a Cowboy; Read A Western? Is there one book that is calling your name? Let me know in the comments for a chance to WIN!!

And I figure a week is enough time to pick on out to read. So the winners will be announced one week from today.

I hope to do a revisit down the line and find out what you all thought of the one (or ones) you read.

And smack me on the head and call me stupid! I almost forgot to mention I issued myself my own challenge - which I answered and that was to get an Inspirational Western. While at the book store the other day I picked up a copy of The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist.