Recent Read

Do Not Forsake Me by Rosanne Bittner

 

Why This One: I’ve just been waiting for it for-evah it seems

Genre: Western

Steam Level: Hot, hot hot!

Outline: Miranda Hayes' life was changed the day she faced down infamous gunslinger Jake Harkner...and walked away with his heart. Their fates have been intertwined ever since. Hunted by the law, fleeing across a savage land, their desperate love flourished despite countless sorrows. Now, twenty-six years later, their family has finally found some measure of peace...balanced on the knife's edge of danger.

Jake has spent his years as a U.S. Marshal atoning for sins, bringing law to the land he once terrorized. But no matter how hard he fights the demons of his brutal past, the old darkness still threatens to consume him. Only Miranda keeps the shadows at bay. But when outlaws looking for revenge strike a fatal blow, Jake risks losing the one woman who saw past his hard exterior and to the man inside.

He always knew there'd be the devil to pay. He just never realized he might not be the one to bear the ultimate price.

 

My Thoughts: I’ve been waiting for this one for a long time.  I’ve been simple mad for Jake and Randy from Outlaw Heats ever since I first read it twenty years ago and I was beyond delighted when I heard there was a sequel planned and preordered it the first moment I could.  When it came I set aside time to get back into the amazing love these two have for each other.  I finished it in about a day and a half.  So now the big question is what did I think?

Hmmm.  I am so glad that I read it but it’s not going to get quite as high of marks as Outlaw Hearts did.  The central love story was Amazing.  It’s so refreshing to see that Jake and Randy are just as much in love and passionate love at that as they were when they first met twenty six years earlier.  Their need for each other hasn’t dimmed not even one candle’s worth and I love that about them. Here’s a brief outline for those who haven’t read Outlaw Hearts – first piece of advice, READ IT!  Not because you have to have read it to read and understand this one, I don’t think you necessarily do, but Outlaw Hearts is such a wonderful book and the love story between outlaw Jake Harkner and widow Miranda Hayes is so compelling and so beautiful it would be a shame NOT to read it.

Jake Harkner was an outlaw, a bad guy who did bad things.  He and Miranda meet when he gets into a shootout in a general store and Miranda inadvertently shoots him.  He rides out of town and somehow ends up at her farmstead and when she gets home, she nurses him back to health.  She has plans to go west and once she gets to know the good and tender side of Jake that he keeps hidden, she asks him to take her.  He refuses and she sets off on her own but when Jake has second thoughts and worries about her, he follows and finds her in desperate circumstances.  He takes care of her and the love they share deepens and grows and much against his better judgement, they marry.  But his outlaw past comes back to haunt them again and again.  He spends time in jail and at the end of Outlaw Hearts, he has been released an ordered to become a deputy marshal and put the bad guys, of whom he used to be one.

Do Not Forsake Me starts a year or so later and Jake is now a full-fledged marshal and he and his son Lloyd are just headed back into a town in Montana with some bad guys.  During the arrest, they had to kill some of the outlaws and now they have become a target for revenge.  This is nothing new for Jake; he was a lot in Outlaw Heats too.  But Jake is getting older, he’s in his 50’s and he’s really starting to feel some of the injuries that he has suffered in his violent past.  He’s worried about his son Lloyd and his daughter Evie, along with his beloved wife Randy will be targets for those looking for revenge against him.  And he is right to be worried as one of them does become a victim.  Saying too much would be spoilers and I don’t want to do that so I won’t give any more away about the story.  Instead I’ll say what worked and what didn’t quite so well.

Jake and Randy.  I loved them both just as much in this book.  While Jake is still very much a gray character, he still kills without remorse those who deserve to die, Randy is his touchstone.  She keeps him from completely going to the dark side and he knows she does.  He needs her and he tells her that though out the story in so many tender and romantic ways.  Though tough on the outside, he’s so soft when it comes to his family.

Jeff Trubridge.  This is a character who has decided to write a book about the infamous Jake Harkner.  At first we don’t if he is shady or a good kind of writer.  But thankfully he’s a good kind of writer and he and Jake develop a very nice rapport.  Jake decided to bring him along with he and Lloyd so Jeff can get a personal and close up view of what they deal with as US marshals.  Jake likes him and there some humorous moments in times of great tension.  And I love Jeff’s observations on the complex man that Jake is.

The story itself.  It’s nice to follow up with characters years later and see where they are at.  As a sequel this works great.

Now for the things that didn’t work quite as well

Lloyd.  I just couldn’t warm up to him at all.  He did a few things I really didn’t like, one in particular that sent him to the dark side and will have repercussions I do believe in the next book, yes, Ms. Bittner has plans for another one in this series *fist pump of joy*.  I just couldn’t connect with his character.

Jakes smoking.  Now I realize that this was the old west and long before we knew the dangers of smoking, and I’m an ex smoker myself and I have no issues with a character smoking.  But it seems like he was constantly smoking  -  All.  The. Time.  I just wish she (the author) hadn’t written so much about it.

And that’s about it for what didn’t work so well for me.  A very short list isn’t it.  But there was nothing in Outlaw Hearts that bothered me at all, thus the reason that Do Not Forsake Me is graded slightly lower.  But I have no problems whatsoever recommending this book to those who love a good Western and even though who don’t, who just love a story about enduring love and a wickedly delicious gray hero.

 

Grade: 4.5 out of 4

Will I read it again: Oh yes, yes, yes

 

Happily - a hearty thumbs ups

 

Recent Movie

 

I don’t do a lot of these ‘cause I don’t go to the movies very often, only about once or twice a year.  It’s not so much the price of the movie that keeps me from seeing more –it’s the cost of the pop and popcorn.  One simply can not go to a movie without getting them and when the charge more for the popcorn than they do for the movie – POPCORN for pete’s sake – well, I boycott the movies unless it’s a special occasion or a movie I can’t wait to come out on DVD (notice I don’t say Neflix – I’ve no idea how that works really)

Such was the case yesterday, my day off from working the weekend,  when I went to see The Longest Ride – it was both.  A neighbor took me as a long delayed birthday present and – hello – Scott Eastwood.

 

So about this

 I may be old but I’m surely not dead.  Scott Eastwood – hello – (sorry – I just can’t type his name without the hello added to it)plays the role of Luke Collins a cowboy and bull rider.  He suffered a deadly injury and shouldn’t be bull riding anymore but he’s a stubborn one and is mounting a comeback on the bull riding circuit.  He meets Sophia Danko an art student at the local college when she and a bunch of her sorority sisters head to the local rodeo even though initially she doesn’t really want to go.  Their eyes meet when he’s bucked off a bull and his hat is knocked off and she hands it to him and he tells her to keep it.  They meet up again at the local watering hole and can we say – SPARKS FLY.  Heck, even I thought her gorgeous and sweet and wished we could hang together.  The only thing keeping me from developing a deeper girl crush was hello- Scott Eastwood.  Sophia is reluctant to get involved though as she has her life planned out and that means she is leaving the college in a couple of months to take an internship in New York City and any potential relationship would be so hard to maintain.  But she does agree to go out with him and can I just say that EVERY GIRL should have that kind of first date.  Talk about romantic.  And when this really hot cowboy – hello – Scott Eastwood –

is walking across this university campus – well, my heart went pitty pat.

There is such a real connection but again – timing sucks.  They are on their home from the date and it’s pouring rain when Luke spies something on the side of the road and discovers there was an accident.  Ira Levinson, played brilliantly by Alan Alda is rescued by Luke and Sophia but he also wants a box saved.  When he gets to the hospital, Sophia wants to stay to make sure he’s OK (see – girl crush).  When he wakes she shows him the box of letters she’s saved but he’s too old and his sight too bad to read them so she begins reading them and thus begins a series of flashbacks of a young Ira and his love Ruth and their story set in the 1940’s.  The actors who played a young Ira and a young Ruth were perfectly cast, especially I think Oona Chaplin who played Ruth.   It was sweet and tender and sad and it really added a lot to the movie.  I didn’t realize it going it, but this is actually a two story movie, half of it between Luke and Sophia and who they can overcome their difficulties and half between Ira and Ruth and overcoming their difficulties.  It’s sad in places, real sad in a couple, but it does have a very good happy ending.  A coworker had seen it and recommended it to me.  I asked her if it had a happy ending – not how it ended or that I wouldn’t see it if it didn’t –just that if it wasn’t a happy ending I needed to brace myself.  And myself didn’t need bracing so that’s a good thing for the romance lover in me.  The love scenes in this movie *sigh* well – I have a mood calendar at my desk that I change every day depending on how I’m feeling when I come into work.  Today I chose Addled and showed my coworker who recommended the movie.  Even though she’s just newly married, she got it – heh, heh, heh.

This is another Nicolas Sparks movie.  I’ve never read his books – and don’t intend to start, but I’ve seen some of his movies and they can be quite wonderful.  I liked the Notebook, have Safe Harbor downloaded in my Ipad though I haven’t watched it yet and LOOVVEDD The Lucky One – very romantic and who doesn’t find Zac Ephron easy on the eyes – though not as easy as- hello- Scott Eastwood.

I think part of my fascination with Scott is he‘s the son of Clint Eastwood and my oh my did I have a crush on him when I was just a young thing and he played Rowdy Yates, the strong silent type cowboy on Rawhide.  Combined with the awesomeness of the theme song, it was a great show for its time and helped lead me to my lifelong love of Westerns.  And after a brief sojourn into other genres, I’m back with the westerns.  Back in the days of Rawhide, believe it or not you young’uns, TV was black and white so we didn’t get to see the piercing blue eyes of the Eastwood men, but oh my stars were they on full display in The Longest Ride (and let’s not even get started on the PERFECT chest with PERFECT manly chest hair.)

For me, this was the PERFECT romance movie and I’ll be getting a copy as soon as I can when it comes out.  I think it’s almost finished it’s run with all the summer movies coming out, but if not, I urge the romantic in everyone to check this movie out.  It gets a very, very well deserved and hearty thumbs up from me.

 

 

And one more for the road – hello- Scott Eastwood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

'til later

Recent Read

Harper's Bride by Alexis Harrington

Genre: Western

Why this one:  I've been on such a role with this author

Steam Level: very warm, but not boiling

My Thoughts:

It’s kind of odd rereading a book years after reading it the first time.  Back in the 90’s when I originally read these books, this was my favourite book.  But now, so far anyway, this one has been replaced by Desperate Hearts, the Homeward Hearts.  That’s not to say that I’m not thoroughly enjoying this one – I am – it’s just not at the top now.

This book takes place somewhere towards the end of the Yukon Gold Rush.  Dylan Harper and Melissa Logan meet when Melissa’s good for nothing husband tries to trade her to store owner Dylan to pay off a debt owed to him by her husband.  Dylan is naturally horrified as such a suggestion, but it’s pointed out to him by his friend, a witness to the whole thing, that this useless excuse for a human being will only try the same thing again sometime, putting Melissa and her daughter Jenny, at possible greater risk than him.

So Dylan agrees to this ludicrous plan and takes on this drab and colourless young woman.  He agrees she can stay and cook and clean for him.  As he lives in a tiny apartment above his trading store, this doesn’t take up much time for her, and determined never to be helpless again, Melissa comes up with the idea of taking in washing to make some money so she can leave this sad and desolate locale.

Melissa slowly starts coming back to life as she is being treated with respect for the first time in her young life.  And Dylan does respect her.  He’s nursing deep pain himself.  He’s been rejected by his family all his life and the final cut was when his fiancé marries his brother.  He didn’t know where he was headed, he just knew he had to get away and ended up somehow in Dawson City, Yukon.  He had realized early that panning for gold was a no-win situation.  Most of the claims had been panned out already.  So instead he’d become a successful trader.

The author does an excellent job of showing the hopeless and desperateness of the effects of the gold rush.  Broken families, lonely people, squalor and loneliness are all well described.

Where it’s not so much the favourite as is was previously is a misunderstanding/big stupid error by Logan causing hurt to Melissa.  I wanted to smack him and tell him to grow up!  He was too hung up on past hurts which seemed to me anyway, leading to disrespectful treatment to Melissa who I loved to pieces.  He came across as kind of selfish and self-centered towards the end and wasn’t redeemed quite enough for me.  Melissa gave in a tad to easily.

But, despite these issues, I’m still loving Ms. Harringtons books and just ordered two more today.

Grade: 4 out of 5



'til later

Recent Reads

Dancing on Coals by Ellen O’Connell

Why this one: Adoration for her previous books

Steam Level: Just about perfect

Blurb: After escaping robbers intent on murder, Katherine Grant says, "I jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Before long I'll be dancing on the coals." The highwaymen were the frying pan; the handsome young Apache who saved her from them was the fire; and the coals? Gaetan.

Rage against the enemies of his people has consumed Gaetan from boyhood. The only use he ever found for any white was to test the sharpness of his knife. Forced by his brother to endure Katherine's company, Gaetan tries to deny what he sees - the white woman has a man's temper and a lion's courage. She has an Apache heart.

In spite of hate, distrust and fear, surviving in the rugged country of southern Arizona and northern Mexico forges a strange bond between Katherine and Gaetan. When the bond turns to love, can they admit it? Can they bear the consequences?

My Thoughts: One of my very best discoveries last year (or was it the year before? Hmmm – aging is a bitch) was Ellen O’Connell. I loved Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold and Sing My Name. I’ve read both 3 times now. She is a self-published author so she doesn’t come up when I check Fiction DB for upcoming releases, but thank goodness someone at AAR posted that she has a new book out now. The same day I read that, I visited my local coffee shop, since my Wi-Fi doesn’t work with my IPad at home and any e-book purchases have to be done somewhere else, which at the rate I’m buying them is for the best. I bought the book that day and started it last night.

I probably said it about EOS, EOG and Sing My Name, but wow this author awes me. She is self-published and more technical type readers may find errors, or others who read it may not be entirely happy that the story takes a while to get going, but once it does, my goodness does it pack an emotional wallop for an emotional type reader. And since I am, it did.

A bit of a note to begin with. This is an ‘Indian Romance.” Now this particular genre has gotten a bad rap in many ways because of some of the truly horrendous books written. Cassie Edwards comes immediately to mind. There are other authors who do a bad job in this job, very bad. There are also authors who write wonderful of cross cultural love stories. Of those authors, I think Kathleen Eagle and Roseanne Bittner are the best. Pamela Clare also does wonderful portrayals in her historical romances I think.

So I wasn’t quite sure where this book would fit it. I didn’t have many worries though as she had done such excellent writing previously. And I was RIGHT! This book is such another true winner. It’s everything I love in a romance.

I adored Katherine. She behaved just as a heroine should when faced with the kind of situation she was faced with. First her stage coach was robbed, then she taken hostage by an Apache raiding party, one of whom was particularly hostile to her. She’s justifiably scared but never acts stupid about it. She gives in when she needs to and stands up for herself when she can. She really is a wonderfully written character.

Gaetan, the hero is an equally richly written character. He hates whites with good reason. He and his younger brother were taken away from their people and raised in a missionary where they were looked down on and scorned. Although he does know both English and Spanish somewhat, he refuses to speak the language of the people he hates and for much of the first part of the book, until Katherine learns to speak Apache, there isn’t much verbal communication between them. But there is PLENTY of communication going on non-verbally wise. Despite the fact that Gaetan hates the white man, Katherine is different. He admires and respects her courage. And he is forced to follow up on a promise in regards to taking care of her.

This book is outstanding, outstanding, outstanding. The author doesn’t make a caricature of Gaetan, which often happens with less talented authors. He is a stoic kind of guy and stays in that character throughout the entire book. But although he keeps many of his feelings to himself, he expresses how he feels towards Katherine through his actions, even if they are misinterpreted at times.

At times this isn’t an easy book to read. It’s very realistic and true to the times. Something happens to one character in particular that almost had me in tears. But I highly recommend this book to all who are even the slightest bit curious about this often poorly written genre. At only $2.99 at Amazon or same price at Smash words, it’s a great opportunity.

Although most of me wants to give this a 5 out of 5 and in some ways I am, it gets a 4.99 only because the interaction between Katherine and Gaetan takes so long to get going, though I could understand why. It’s my own personal impatience waiting for their poignant love story to begin that got in the way. In fact, after having written up this review, I started reading it again even though it wasn't that long ago that I read it.

Grade: 4.99 out of 5

Wrapping things up

Well - I took a bit of a powder there didn't I? I didn't really mean too - except I was concentrating on reading and it's so tough to do both. And I left a few things outstanding.


Highland Rebel Winners

Don't you just hate when someone says they are going to have a draw on a certain day and then they don't do it? I find it most annoying so you can be annoyed with me 'cause *gulp* that's what I did.

So - I'm late but I haven't forgotten. The winners of the two copies I have for Highland Rebel when Judith James answered my questions are:

quiltingreader

and

Jessica

Congratulations to both of you!! I will let the people at Source books know and have then get in touch with you!!

And for the one that I'm giving away - the winner is:

Kwana

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Great Western Drive

And in further contest news, there are still a few winners I haven't heard from in The Great Western Drive. I have books so drop me an email if you are a winner and I haven't heard from you :-)

And if you've noticed, I've started adding names to the sidebar. As my middle name is Procrastination (not really - it's actually Kristie - yes - I go by my middle name) I didn't get everyone at the time. So drop me a comment on the Western you are trying (and a link if applicable) and I'll add your name. And be sure to get your own icon for the side bar.

THE GREAT WESTERN DRIVE - WINNERS

Now They Can Love You Back

And since it's Saturday and this is the day to announce who won what in The Great Western Drive......








A Texan's Luck by Jodi Thomas
JennJ




Wanted by Patricia Potter
Mary G




The Scotsman Wore Spurs by Patricia Potter
Aztec Lady




The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne
Marg




The Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller
Leslie




Rachel and the Hired Gun
Karen W




Bride of Shadow Canyon by Stacey Kayne (didn't know I had 2 copies so I added it too)
Maered




Dear Penelope by Sharon Ihle
Keira




Touch of Texas by Tracy Garrett
Mari

AND THE GRAND PRIZE

Never Love A Lawman by Jo Goodman

Throughthehaze









So - to all the winners Congratulations and send my your address - email in my profile - and Westerns shall be coming your way

THE GREAT WESTERN DRIVE - Backtracking

I had to leave town on the last day of The Great Western Drive and was mostly MIA for the past few days. I'm just trying to get caught up now.

Although I'm late - and she did her post on Sunday, Leslie of Leslie's Psyche asked a good question!

For those who love Westerns, which author would you love to see write one. She suggested Lisa Kleypas and I would be SO on board with that author.

Just in case you are wondering

What the hell happened to me, my si ster from the US is up for a visit and I'm out here in the country with both Lisa and Nance - have been since Saturday afternoon. Internet connection in the country isn't nearly what it is in the city so I haven't been on all that much - but when I am, I've been checking in to see how things are going with the Great Western Drive. I'll be here until Wednesday.

I'm BEYOND thrilled that so many are willing to try a Western and will be checking in one a day until I'm once again a 'city' girl and can be here for a much longer time

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.

THE GREAT WESTERN DRIVE DAY 5

Read a Western; Calvary Officers Need Love Too

I'm keepin' it simple with this post. I'm on the afternoon shift this week and too many late nights planning things out and the flurry of excited emails with Sybil and Wendy. I was going to go all out - but now I think I'll save that for Saturday - cause I am tired.

So instead you get a




Recent Read


Mountain Wild by Stacey Kayne

Why This One: I've only recently discovered her and I'm lovin' her books And - heh - it's a Western

Steam Level: Makes for a very nice drink

Author Website Blurb:

In the midst of a range war, Garret Daines is dead-set on keeping his ranch from greedy local cattle barons. An attempt on his life during a winter storm lands him in the healing hands of a mountain recluse. He can hardly believe the youthful beauty he discovers hidden beneath her mountain woman attire or the passion unleashed by her tender touch.

When "Mad Mag" pulls the handsome rancher from the snow she has no idea he'll be the man to thaw her wounded heart. But Maggie is hiding a mess of secrets in her mountain sanctuary, none of which she’s willing to share. Murderous cattlemen threaten their fragile bond and Maggie has to face the fears of her past or risk losing her hope for the future. Garret will defend his wild woman at any cost, but can he convince her their love is worth the risk?

My Thoughts: When I went to Washington, I took two books; Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh and Mountain Wild by Stacey Kayne. Now as anyone who has been to a RWA conference knows, reading time is severely limited and the little bit of reading I did get done was Branded by Fire. I had barely started Mountain Wild and was distracted by other books when I got back. But as luck would have it, this one started calling to me. The only problem - I couldn't remember where I put it. While searching in my luggage that is STILL not totally unpacked, this one was in a seldom used pocket of my luggage and what with it being The Great Western Ride, what better time to settle down in what little time I seem to have and give it a read.

This one is the third in a trilogy. I read the second one, Maverick Wild (and yes - part of the appeal was the cover) and quite enjoyed it. So it was a no brainer when Mountain Wild came out that I would get it. The heroine of this one made a brief appearance in MW and to be honest, I was kind of leery. See - I don't really care for Westerns where the heroine wears pants so to speak and Maggie - or Mad Maggie as she is called seemed to be more then most.

But you know - a funny thing happened while reading this book. I liked her, a liked her quite a bit!! She had a sad story as to how she came to be the loner she was and I really bought into it. And while she was tough, it wasn't in a tough kind of way. She didn't chew tobacco or swear or any of those things. Instead her persona was more of a disguise and a way to hide from the villain and I totally bought it. She made for a strong on the outside but tender on the inside heroine and I really warmed up to her!

And what are 'my thoughts' without mentioning the hero? Garrett was an equally enjoyable hero. He had been unlucky in love - but wasn't bitter about it. He was totally accepting of Maggie and her 'different' ways. Gotta love that in a hero.

And in a nice change of pace, it was Maggie who saved Garrett - more then once. That's two books in a row where the heroine does the saving and I like it.

For those wondering if this can be read on it's own without having read the first two - the answer is yes!! The previous characters are in this one, but not in a way that makes you regret not reading the first two. The 'unlucky in love' situation with Garrett happened between Maverick Wild and Mountain Wild so nothing was missed there.

So the fact that this one surprised and delighted me is a Very Good Thing. I kind of expect I told you so from Wendy, who also read and reviewed this on TGTBTU.

Now I'm going to be sure to get the first one - though I'm pretty sure I already do!

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

And because this is The Great Western Ride - I really have to hand it Harlequin. I love the fact that they publish Westerns every month; good quality Westerns. I don't always purchase all the Harlequin Historical line - but I do buy just about every Western I see!! So they too get the

THE GREAT WESTERN DRIVE DAY 4 POST 2

Read A Western; Preachers Need Love Too

I know I already did today's post but since I really did it yesterday and set it post today, in real time, today is today's post. It will be a short one though.

Today's topic - Linkage. Make sure you follow them or I may have to face you at High Noon.




Already other bloggers have joined in the fun at The Great Western Drive. Emily at Dreaming on the Job has listed her favourite Movies, Actors, Authors, Romances and Television Series. Do drop in and add to the fun!!

Erotic Romance Author Victoria Jenssen has also joined in the fun and listed her favourite song, novel, television, romance, erotic romance, movie and cowboy and horse (she names Roy Rogers and Trigger but I think The Lone Ranger and Silver could give them a run for their money). She's asking for yours, so let her know!!

Dear Author has also joined the Round-Up with a couple of posts! First where they pimp The Great Western Drive and then a review of a book I'm looking forward to. Never one to say in 10 words what can be said in 100, I had to add my 2¢ worth

When I heard some months ago now that Jo Goodman’s next book was going to be a Western, I was so tempted to dance naked in the moonlight!! In fact, the fact this one is being released soon is the motivating factor in The Great Western Drive this week.

I’ve loved Westerns for a very long time now and feel that they are currently under-represented so the whole idea of the week long celebration of the Western was to get readers to try one – at least one. And with Never Love a Lawman coming out soon, what better time?

I’ve loved Jo Goodman for years now and it’s wonderful to see her finally starting to get the recognition she has deserved for so long.
A Jo Goodman book + A Western = something I’m looking forward to more than many can imagine!!

I urge everyone who is interested in trying a Western before this one comes out or after or during, to stop by and see what they are all about. As many who may know me, when I get on a mission I lose all pride and have no shame *g*

I only quickly skimmed your review as I hope to read this one myself asap – and when I do, I’ll come back and revel in it. In the meantime, I feel like dancing nude in the moonlight that you enjoyed it so much. The only thing stopping me is the fact that it’s not a full moon tonight prevents me from doing just that!

And here's a site I found while surfing the net looking for all things Western - Love Western Romances . com. They have a survey!! I LOVE doing surveys.

Wendy, our own SuperLibrarian, has her next post up where she gives more choices. And! She has a contest - the prize? A copy of A Reason To Live by Maureen McKade. I've read this book and loved it!! It got top marks from me. So Go and visit Wendy and comment to enter. This is truly a book worth reading.

Sybil, the third of us cowgirls has a wonderful interview with Cheryl St. John on Inspirational Westerns. At this point I'm offering a challenge to myself - READ ONE KRISTIE - OK - I will.

Sandy M, also of The Good, The Bad, The Unread and the ar-tiste of these great Icons (of which one can be yours - details coming) has a review of a Western I haven't heard of - until now!! Where The Wind Blows by Caroline Fyfe is a book I'll be tracking down. Damn it all but Chapters doesn't stock a lot of Dorchester books (and am I het up under the collar about that situation - have been for years - so it's in my shopping cart). And a bit of a side rant/ kudo's. I've always admired Dorchester as they have consistently been putting out Westerns. When other publishers were cutting back or eliminating them altogether (Avon - I'm talking about YOU), Dorchester has helped keep the genre going. For that you get a



But I digress.

And I've saved the most exciting link for last. Be sure to cover your ears for this but.....

SQUEEEEEEAAAAAAALLLLLLL

As in this week hasn't proved it enough - one of my favourite authors - Cheryl St. John inteviewed ME *doin' the happy cha-cha* over at Petticoats & Pistols, a wonderful blog for Western lovers, chock full of great authors. And if you don't want to check it out for what I have to say, I had me a tough ole time looking for the eye candy of who I think is a Very Fine Western type looking hero. So go for the eye candy alone - heh heh heh heh.


And because it's The Great Western Drive and the less sleep I get, the more excited I get, I leave you with this

LOVE THIS SONG

And More

Sybil's been having blog issues - don't we all hate those, but she has her post up on with her recommended Westerns. And they be good ones!!

UPDATE READ FURTHER!

Oooohhh - I LIKE this link day!! Tumperkin of Isn't it Romance has joined The Great Western Drive and has a very thoughtful post on despite why she leery of Westerns, she's going to give one a try. And she has an excellent perspective on the Western hero versus the English hero. And if that isn't enough to visit - go and watch the video she's posted - it's hilarious and sure to make you laugh.

One more - that's it - just one more!

For Sybil - she knows why



**************

Do you remember when I said just one more?? Well - it seems I lied. In honour of The Great Western Drive, Sybil came through again and has something Very, Very Special for all those Sarah McCarty fans. And I know there are a lot of them. Go Forth And Visit.