Yard Sale at Eharlequin

Eharlequin is having a 50% off summer sale of some of the recent titles.

These include Nicola Cornick's Last Rake in London and well as the Western Weddings Anthology with Kate Bridges, Charlene Sands and Jillian Hart.

HH July 08 Release: The Gunslinger's Untamed Bride by Stacey Kayne

She's come for his life…Feisty Lily Carrington wants revenge for the murder of her father. She's finally tracked down the killer—and she's going to make him pay….He'll fight to keep it…Juniper Barns has done everything he can to escape his violent past. Now a hardworking sheriff, he protects the lives of those in need. But he can't outrun his destiny anymore. It's time to stand and fight. Only, this time, his opponent is beautiful Lily—the vulnerable girl who came looking for vengeance, but who's in danger of losing her heart to the one man she's forbidden from loving….

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The Gunslinger's Untamed Bride

June HH release: Kidnapped by the Cowboy by Pam Crooks

TAKEN!Callie Mae Lockett had once trusted TJ Grier, cared for him even, but then her brother was killed and TJ took the blame. Now he wants a chance to clear his name, even if that means kidnapping Callie Mae….REDEEMED?Alone in the wilderness with TJ, Callie Mae should feel afraid. Instead, she is attracted to this rugged cowboy and begins to believe in his innocence. But the truth will be dangerous for both of them and, with time running out, can TJ clear his name and claim his woman?

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Kidnapped by the Cowboy

HH May release: Western Weddings Anthology

Rocky Mountain Bride by Jillian Hart

Savannah Knowles arrives in Montana expecting to marry Nate Brooks, but he has never heard of her! Can this quiet man find room in his heart for lonely Savannah?

Shotgun Vows by Kate Bridges

Milly Thornbottom has a crush on Mountie Weston Williams, and one stolen kiss changes their lives! After they're marched straight to the altar, can her crush possibly develop into more?

Springville Wife by Charlene Sands

Grace Lander returns to Springville to pick up the pieces of her life and become the town's schoolmarm. Single father Caleb Matlock's kiss may be just what Grace needs to mend her heart and make a home!

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Western Weddings

HH May Release: Cooper's Woman by Carol Finch

Alexa Quinn wanted much more from life than a society wedding. She was determined to make her busy father see her true worth. So when secrets and lies threatened the good work he was doing, Alexa seized her chance to save not only her father, but herself as well.

Enter Wyatt Cooper—ex-lawman, legendary gunslinger and a fine-looking man! He was the best in the West for stopping trouble in its tracks, but for Alexa he meant excitement, adventure and danger. Just what she was looking for….

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Cooper's Woman

HH April Release: Klondike Fever by Kate Bridges

Sexy Mountie Dylan Wayburn is having a bad day. Disguised as a drifter, he fetches up in the same stagecoach as Lily Cromwell, a beautiful redhead who was once a family servant. She could blow his cover sky-high. Then their stagecoach is held up at gunpoint—because everyone knows that Lily has struck gold. Pretending to be married to search for the gang who've stolen Klondike Lily's fortune leaves Dylan very, very close to the woman he should protect. He'll try and fight the flames of his desire...but how can he ignore the full lips begging to be kissed?

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Klondike Fever


Available as an ebook. Part of e-harlequin's It's raining men promotion.

March HH release: Taming theTexan by Charlene Sands

Clint Hayworth had returned to the Double H to find his father's too-young, too-attractive widow in charge. The woman had to be a gold digger—so why couldn't Clint stop thinking about her? Tess Morgan-Hayworth couldn't sit by and watch the ranch be destroyed. It was the only place she'd ever felt safe. So she would have to face up to this stubborn, hardheaded, gorgeous Texan, and tame him….But Tess wasn't sure she could hold out against the sexy cowboy for long!
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Taming the Texan

HH February Release: Outlaw Bride by Jenna Kernan

Breaking him out of prison was the easy part…Bridget Callaghan was willing to do anything to save her family, stranded in the Cascade Mountains. The only man who could attempt such a treacherous rescue mission was Cole Ellis, but he was behind bars—and condemned to hang!Bridget's boldness in breaking him out of jail was the jolt Cole needed to give his life purpose again. But with a posse at their heels and the mountain looming, she couldn't help but wonder if putting her trust in this tough, life-hardened man wasn't the biggest danger of all….
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Outlaw Bride

Januaray HH release: Maverick Wild by Stacey Kayne

Chance Morgan had locked away his heart. Until Cora Mae Tindale crossed half the country to find him. The beguiling creature who insisted on turning his serviceable ranch into a home was hiding something—and Chance was hell-bent on finding out her secrets!Cora Mae only wanted a place to hide, but her youthful protector had grown into a war-hardened rancher with looks that could tempt a saint. Yet his dark glances were filled with distrust…and unmistakable desire. Cora Mae's childhood crush was rapidly becoming a much more adult craving!

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Maverick Wild

HH December Release: The Angel and the Outlaw by Kathryn Albright

No one asks the dark, brooding stranger about his past. People gossip, but daren't question. He and his young daughter live alone—and that's the way Stuart Taylor wants…needs it to stay. When the spirited new schoolteacher, Rachel Houston, is touched by Stuart's shy little girl, who's never uttered a word, everything starts to change. Stuart's surly manner doesn't worry Rachel—she can see the vulnerability hidden in the depths of his blue eyes. She's convinced there's more to the rugged, handsome stranger's story. But when the truth comes out, has Rachel the courage to stand by her man?

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Introducing Harlequin Historical December Debut Author: Kathryn Albright

Kathryn Albright comes from a unique family—her father, a Navy “fly-boy,” built two of his own planes in the garage of their San Diego home. Her mother is a world-renowned doll restoration artist. (She corrected Kathryn when she called her a “doll doctor.”) So you see, her writing career is really quite tame.
Her dreams of becoming a published writer took root when her children were young and she entered a national magazine contest and placed with a short story. Since then she has had non-fiction articles published in the field of nursing and writing along with several fiction contest finals. When she sent The Light Keeper, her first completed full-length manuscript, to the 2005 Golden Heart Contest, it made it to the finals in the short historical category and was picked up by Harlequin Historicals for publication. The title? The Angel and the Outlaw.
Along with her fiction writing career, she works as an obstetrical nurse and sonographer for high risk pregnancies.
Currently, she lives in the Midwest with her husband and sons. And she has granted Harlequin Historical Authors this interview, giving insight into her writing, and her plans for the future.
Although many writers know they want to be a writer from an early age, was there something in particular that made you decide to pursue your dream?
For the longest time I didn’t think I had enough life experience to create a story that would resonate with readers. Good stories always captured me and drew me into their “alternate universe,” and I yearned to be able to do that. I remember reading Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer and thinking “if only I could write like this.” Slowly the desire evolved into learning the craft and then trying.
When I did put pen to paper I started writing contemporary stories, but found it wasn’t my “voice.” Then Stuart’s ship sequence in The Angel and the Outlaw came to me full-blown one day and I just had to get it down on paper to keep if from rattling around in my head. From there, the rest of the story emerged in fits and starts.
How long after you first started submitting did it take for you to have your first book accepted?
This is the first book I ever submitted, and although it did well in several smaller contests, I never sent it to a publisher until it made the finals in the 2005 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Contest for unpublished writers. It took about eighteen months for it to be accepted after that.
Can you share a special recipe? Either one that your characters make in your latest book, or one that you often make?
Rachel and Hannah do bake chocolate chip cookies at the light house, however, here is a different recipe that my husband and I enjoy frequently. We both love soups, especially now that the weather is cooling off toward winter and this is so easy and quick. It goes well with a hearty slice of Italian or French bread.

TOMATO-CHEESE TORTELLINI SOUP
1 can stewed tomatoes (with Italian seasonings)
2 cans chicken broth.
12-16oz bag frozen cheese tortellini
2 small zucchini, sliced.
¼ tsp. pepper
Combine first two ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil. Add tortellini, zucchini and pepper and bring again to boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 7-8 minutes until pasta and zucchini are tender. Enjoy!

What attracts you to your time period?
It was a time that bred such individuality in people. Life was tougher and rougher. It took strong men and women to get through it. So much was happening in this country as people pushed from the east coast to the west in pursuit of their dreams.

Writers often use photos of movie or tv stars for inspiration. Who has been the inspiration for some of your heroes?
Rene Lavan, Gerard Butler, Antonio Banderas, Kurt Russell, Brad Pitt.

Who are some of your favorite romance authors?
LaVyrle Spencer, Kathleen Woodiwiess. More currently, I’ve enjoyed Cindy Gerard, Lisa Plumley, Elizabeth Lane and Stacey Kayne.

When you are not writing, what do you do?
I enjoy traveling to see family. They are scattered all over the United States and I love visiting them and learning about the history of their locale. I also enjoy going to movies and doing cross-stitch. I’m currently working madly on a Christmas stocking that I hope to get done before December 25th.

What are some of your favourite movies?
The Man From Snowy River, Pride and Prejudice (2006), The Outsider (HBO movie of Penelope Williamson’s book), Underworld, The 13th Warrior, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and on a lighter note, Just Like Heaven and Hairspray.


What does your writing cave look like? I write at a desk in my bedroom. It is my sanctuary—the one room I can shut the door and keep out the noise and chaos of a growing family (and dog and cats—although they do sit right on the other side of the door waiting for me to emerge.) Over my desk, I have a painting of the lighthouse that was the setting of this first book and a quote by Annie Danielson: Home is where your story begins. It’s true on so many levels.

What is it about the heroes from that time period that excites you?
What’s not to like about a man in jeans and a hat? (Shirt optional, but if on preferably stretched over broad shoulders ) Western heroes have their own brand of “mysterious.” Tall and brooding—they have an inner strength, intelligence and self-awareness—and usually a few secrets they can’t completely resolve which makes them richer characters, not completely good and not completely bad. They are protectors, champions, and when finally brought to love, they commit completely.
I tend to like the underdog or the anti-hero—the man that suddenly rises to do what is necessary. I think you can find men like that in any time period—even fantasy such as Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in the original X-Men movie. It is harder for them. They must draw from deep inside themselves to meet the challenge—and I think that makes them more heroic in the end.

What is the worst thing about being a writer?
Nothing! It is all good!

What is the biggest challenge you face when you are writing a book? The beginning, middle or end?
The beginning and end quickly come into focus for me, but it is the middle that I have trouble corralling into place. It either wants to go off on a tangent because of an interesting subplot, or it wants to drag. And I always get lost in the fascinating research—a hazard for many writers.

Can you tell us about your future books?
Sure. I have several that are “lurking” in my mind, begging to be written. Currently, I am working on a story that takes place in Texas. I really like my hero and heroine –I’m picturing Catherine Zeta Jones and Gerard Butler. I don’t want to say too much about the plot just yet, but it will be a wilder, more passionate tale than my first book.

Many thanks for visiting Kathryn. You can read an extract from The Angel and the Outlaw here. It can be purchased from e-harlequin in both print and ebook versions and will be available in all good retail stores in December. Amazon will also have it in the Kindle version of ebooks in December.

HH October Release: A Western Winter Wonderland

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St.John
Marvel Henley thought she was content until the new handsome doctor Seth Paxton and his adorable kids crashed into her life! Suddenly she began to yearn for things she had long stopped wishing for....
Fallen Angel by Jenna Kernan
When Abby March is accidentally shot she and her young boy are taken into a rugged stranger’s care. Dark and mysterious, Ford Statler hides a softer side and offers much more than just a Christmas to remember....
One Magic Eve by Pam Crooks
Chet Lattimer is attracted to Sonja Kaplan despite local gossip, and he finds himself asking Sonja for help with his motherless little boy. With Christmas on the horizon and magic in the air, their lives may just change...forever!

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A Western Winter Wonderland

HH September Release: Klondike Wedding by Kate Bridges

WRONG GROOM...
All Genevieve Summerville wants is a good life for herself in the wild Klondike. She agrees to take handsome Canadian Mountie Luke Hunter as a stand-in groom while her fiancé satisfies his gold-fever. But the best-laid plans go awry—and Genevieve and Luke find themselves legally bound together!
RIGHT HUSBAND?
Living in close quarters, Genevieve is surprised by Luke's gentleness. And as his kisses awaken her most secret desires, Genevieve must choose between the life she wanted and the longings of her heart....

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Klondike Wedding

HHAugust release: Whirlwind Baby by Debra Cowan

Jake Ross's life changes in a day when he finds a baby on his doorstep! Then he's thrown into a spin by the quiet beauty who hires on to look after his unexpected delivery.
On the wild Texas frontier, everyone has something to hide—and Emma York is no exception. Jake can see that she has secrets, but the sexy rancher's sure he can take care of her…if he can only find out what she needs protection from!
When her past shows up in Whirlwind, guns blazing, Emma must learn a hard lesson. Can she trust Jake…and trust her own heart?

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Whirlwind Baby

Pam Crooks on The Cattle Drive

There are few things that smack of the Old West as much as a cattle drive and all that one entailed--cowboys, drovers, rowdy cowtowns. Remudas of horses and thousands of head of longhorn cattle. Dust and sweat--and fortunes made at the end of the line.
But one lesser known facet of the era is the cattle queen, that rare and intriguing breed of woman who owned her own ranch and herd. A hard life made harder without a man at her side.
I had long wanted to build a story combining those parts of America’s history, and UNTAMED COWBOY was born.
But once I had the plot in mind, my creativity stalled. What did I know about cattle drives--besides almost nothing? So I hit the Internet and found some lovely rare book sites. Along the way, I uncovered some intriguing tidbits of information. I’ll share a few with you:

1. The horns on longhorn cattle had a spread of up to seven feet wide and were strong enough to rip bark off a tree.

2. The average size herd during the peak of the cattle drive era was 3,000 head. It took a remuda of 75 horses and 7 - 10 cowboys to drive the herds. Trail bosses were paid $100/month, the cook $50/month and each cowboy, $30/month. Minimal expenses for herds that when sold netted their owners $100,000 for a trip that took anywhere from several weeks to several months. Do the math. That’s a hefty profit for the time.

3. The usual fare for cowboys was beans, bacon, hard biscuits and strong coffee. Ironically, though they were surrounded by beef, the outfits rarely killed a beef on the trail because only a smart part of the meat could be eaten before it spoiled.

4. In dry country, thirsty cattle could smell water ten miles away.

5. Lightning was the most common cause of death on the trail. During a storm, the cowboys would hide their silver (metal spurs, knives, even six-shooters) to avoid being struck.

For those rare times when beef was available, the camp cook would make his own version of “Sonofabitch Stew.” Here’s one yummy-sounding recipe:

2 lbs. lean beef
Half a calf heart
1 ½ pounds calf liver
1 set sweetbreads (thymus gland)
1 set brains
1 set marrow gut
Salt, Pepper
Louisiana hot sauce

Kill off a young steer and cut up beef, liver and heart into 1 inch cubes. Slice the marrow gut into small rings. Place in a Dutch oven or deep casserole. Cover meat with water and simmer 2 - 3 hours.

Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Take sweetbreads and brains and cut in small pieces. Add to stew. Simmer another hour, never boiling.

I’m writing the sequel to UNTAMED COWBOY now, and it should be out next spring. Stop by my website to learn about my upcoming book, a Christmas anthology, out in October. While you’re there, sign up for my newsletter, too. It’s free!
www.pamcrooks.com/

July HHRelease: Untamed Cowboy by Pam Crooks

Carina Lockett is tough—she lives only for her ranch and daughter. So when her girl is kidnapped and the cattle demanded as ransom, Carina stands to lose everything! She needs the best there is to help her, and that's Penn McClure—a mysterious, darkly handsome cowboy….

Penn is hell-bent on revenge, and Carina's cattle will lead him to it. As they ride the trail together, they share more than a passion for justice—Penn has made Carina feel like a woman again. But with all that's at stake, can she save her legacy and tame his heart?

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July HH Release: The Stranger by Elizabeth Lane

A terrifying encounter with a band of desperados left Laura Shafton a fearful widow and a scarred beauty. So when a tall, dark stranger came knocking on her door, she greeted him with a rifle—cocked and loaded.

Every instinct told her to turn Caleb McCurdy away—except she needed a man's help. Soon Laura discovered his hard body hid a warm heart that melted all her fears away. But the dark places in Caleb's past would divide them, unless Laura could learn a tough lesson about forgiveness.

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HH June Release: The Peacher's Daughter by Cheryl St John

Lorabeth Holdridge longed for life and experience! Cloistered by her strict father, her world was confined to chores and prayer. Her chance of escape came when she took a job as housekeeper to a boisterous family. Lorabeth reveled in her newfound freedom. And when Benjamin Chaney visited, she felt the stirrings of her first crush.
Jaded and cynical, Ben found it hard to trust, though Lorabeth's sweetness soothed his battered soul and taught him joy. But he would have to face the demons of his past to find a glorious future in Lorabeth's arms.

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HH June Release: McCavett's Bride by Carol Finch

Unable to tolerate the controlling expectations of her upper-class family, Pru Perkins shipped herself to Paradise, Oklahoma, as a mail-order bride. She was destined to make Jack's dreams of a peaceful life a distant memory!
Ex-lawman Jack McCavett was done with excitement, glad to have his days of adventure behind him. Now he wanted to enjoy his quiet ranch with a restful, respectable woman at his side. But his special delivery was Pru, heiress, suffragette and all-round firebrand. Soon his desire for calm would be left far behind—and his need for Pru would be irresistible!

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An Interview with....Kate Bridges

Growing up in rural Canada, Kate Bridges developed a love for wide-open spaces, country sunshine and the Rocky Mountains.

Prior to being a full-time writer, Kate worked for years as a pediatric intensive care nurse. She often includes medical adventure in her stories. Later, she studied architecture and interior design, landing a job as a researcher for a television design program. Booking guests from around the world and coming up with topics of interest to viewers, Kate now uses those research skills to pen her own novels.

Kate has been published since 2002. Her first Mountie novel, The Surgeon, was nominated for Best Western of the Year by Romantic Times magazine, and The Engagement was short-listed for Best Hero of the Year. Some of her novels have been honored as Top Picks on reader websites. Frontier Christmas hit the U.S.A. Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into nine languages and are sold worldwide. In Canada, her novels are being studied in over a dozen colleges in their commercial fiction writing courses.

What attracts you to your chosen time period?

Everything. The wild frontier. The beauty of the Rocky Mountains. The guts it took for men and women to leave behind everything and everyone they loved to pursue a dream and go West. Specifically, I write Canadian and American Westerns set 100-125 years ago. I’m currently writing about the Canadian Mounties. What woman can resist? He’s a man in scarlet uniform with a wide brown Stetson, galloping across the prairies, in control of the land and himself. Except he doesn’t have the control he thinks he does when the heroine comes along. Ha.

This was also a time when women started attending colleges and universities. New laws allowed them to own property. Often in my stories, the heroine is pushing against the hero’s preconceived ideas about women, as well as trying to find her place in society. There’s natural friction!

What is about the heroes from that time period that excites you?

The combination of mystery and danger that swirls about the Mounties. The North-West Mounted Police were formed in 1873. They were highly trained officers. Charming, powerful, sexy!


What is the worst thing about being a writer?

Loneliness. Very little contact with people on a daily basis. These days when it does happen, it’s usually through email. I make a point to take classes and attend theatre groups and get out into the creative world in person. Sometimes just going to the mall for Chinese food is an energy boost, and I can people-watch.

Although many writers know they want to be a writer from an early age,
was there something in particular that made you decide to pursue your dream?

I’d always wanted to write a novel from an early age, but thought it was something only ‘old’ people did. I based this assumption from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl looking at photos of authors on book jackets. I was so naive. When my daughter was born, I wanted to stay home with her, so decided maybe I was ‘old’ enough to try my hand at a novel. So, the birth of my daughter was my catalyst.


How long after you first started submitting, did it take for you to have
your first book accepted?

One year. Many sleepless nights.

What is the biggest challenge you face when you are writing a book? The
beginning, middle or end?

Every book is different in that way, but the biggest challenge for me is always the outline stage. Until I get a good grasp on the characters and what it is that really grabs me and makes me want to write their love story, I’m lost. Once I find that spark that thrills me, whether it’s a scene that comes to life in my head, a crazy opening, unique plotline, or a fascinating piece of research that I build everything on, it gets easier.

When you are not writing, what do you do?

I love to travel. North America, the Caribbean, Europe. I love meeting people and taking classes. I’m into comedy—taking courses, reading books, going to Comedy Clubs. It’s something that has always fascinated me.

What are some of your favourite movies?

When I was growing up – John Wayne and Clint Eastwood Westerns. Cary Grant. Doris Day. Alfred Hitchcock. Now – Something’s Gotta Give, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Working Girl, Shirley Valentine, high-brow and low-brow comedies, James Bond, thrillers, historical epics like Gladiator.

Who are some of your favourite romance authors?

Jennifer Crusie, Stephanie Bond, Julie Garwood, Susan Wiggs, Bronwyn Williams, Linda Howard. Harlequin Historicals have a lot of fantastic authors. When I’m immersed in deadlines, I usually read something completely different to get a break -- Pierre Berton, political biographies, nonfiction magazines, CNN news, Sophie Kinsella, Maeve Binchy, John Steinbeck, Jerry Seinfeld scripts, Elmore Leonard.

What does your writing cave look like?

Nice and neat. Everything in its place. NOT! What a mess – research books, papers a foot deep on my six-foot counter. I’m typing this on an L-shaped desk with stacks of copy edits to my left, calendars, due dates, proposals I’m awaiting approval. On my right are publicity files, dictionaries, textbooks opened to history pages. There’s an interview waiting for a foreign magazine, and website photos that need to be uploaded. Oh, and did I mention my humongous stack of papers for tax time?

Can you tell us about your future books?

The next few will be set in the Yukon and Alaska. For photos of my recent research trip, check out my website http://www.katebridges.com/