Pub date for A Law of Her Own

A Law of Her Own, a Minature Cactus Rose, will be out with The Wild Rose Press on August 27, 2008. Read the blurb below.

She won't let an innocent man hang—

When Charity Dawson resigns her father's corporate law firm to pursue a career as a trial lawyer she gets more of a change than she wanted. She finds herself transported to 1888 Texas in the middle of a murder trial.

Turner Reardon is on trial for the murder of his mistress. He's given up all hope when an oddly dressed young woman disrupts his trial claiming she's a lawyer and can prove his innocence. Her testimony is brilliant but, his optimism is short lived when she claims to be a lawyer.

Charity doesn't know how she arrived in Prairie, and no one believes she actually went to law school. Her evidence is tossed out and Turner is sentenced to hang. She has only one chance to save an innocent man's life and find the real killer.


***excerpt***

“Ruby, it’s not like me and the boys sat on that jury yesterday when they sentenced Turner. We’re just following the law,” said the sheriff.

“Elijah, you should be ashamed of yourself. You were Turner’s daddy’s best friend. If you were a true friend, you’d be gettin’ this boy out of here until the real killer could be caught.”

“Aunt Ruby, leave him alone. He’s just doing his job. Come here now and let me kiss your cheek one last time.”

Elijah stepped between them. “Can’t let you do that, Turner.”

“Why the hell not?”

“You know why, she could pass you something, a weapon.”

“Hell, she just passed me a whole pie”

Elijah had the grace to look embarrassed. “We sliced it for you to make sure there wasn’t anything planted inside.” He cleared his throat. “We didn’t want to search Ruby.”

Turner hid his smile at the expression of outrage on his aunt’s face. She poked Elijah in the chest with one of her bony fingers. It hurt. He aughta know because she’d done it to him enough times.
“It’s a good thing too, young man. I’m not a helpless old woman and can still take a plug outta your hide.”

“Yes, Ma’am, I know.” He put his arms around her shoulders and turned her toward the door. “Now it’s getting dark out, visitation is over. You can see Turner in the morning.”

She wailed, “Yeah, hanging by a rope.”


***Comments***

Question: What do you get when you cross a New York lawyer with an old fashioned cowboy?

Answer: A rollicking good read with sparks the size of Texas. Linda LaRoque hits the bulls eye dead on in this fast paced story that’s sure to please.

Elaine Cantrell
Author of Purple Heart
http://www.elainecantrell.com/


A Law of Her Own is a wonderful, fun read. It keeps moving and keeps you rooting for her engaging heroine and compelling hero. Another great tale from Linda LaRoque.

Kristin Lawrence ~ The Vicar's Vixen

A new contract!

I'm thrilled to have received a contract for my contemporary romance Investment of the Heart. Pub date is May 2009.

Here is a short blurb.

Taking a chance on love again is the most courageous investment a heart can make.

Widow Hallie Barron wants her daughter happily married to the young rancher she loves. When Simon Cole enters Hallie’s life she’s reminded she’s a woman with needs and desires. She yearns for a love like she once had, but fears risking her heart.

Rancher Simon Cole is prejudiced against city women and believes they don’t belong on a ranch. He’s set to prove his nephew’s fiancée is a mistake. Yet when he meets her mother, he finds himself wishing there was a place for Hallie in his life.

On a ranch in the Hill Country of Texas, love is recognized, lost, and found.

Check out my other novels at www.lindalaroque.com

Linda

Research on the Internet vs Being There

This past weekend was Memorial Day Weekend and my husband had three days off in a row. I’m working on a book that takes place in the oil fields of East Texas and wanted to visit the site, the museums, and take the scenic drives. But, as the cost of gas was $3.85 a gallon, I hedged. I’d obtained good information off the internet but seeing dioramas of the town during the oil boom would be priceless in actually experiencing what times were like back then. It’s only 170 miles away and my car gets 29 to 30 miles per gallon on the road. Plus the drive is a beautiful one. So I ask myself, “why not go?” Well, I had to figure out what to do with the dog. She’s not a great traveler and my son’s apartment complex has big dogs that would eat her like a snack. He could spend the night here, but I didn't want to impose. I had this summer cold, allergies, or something where I hacked all the time. Of course, I thought the pollen might be better there and I could get some relief.


As it turned out, our son volunteered to stay here with the dog. Sunday morning we set out and arrived in Kilgore in time for lunch, checked into our motel and were at the museum when it opened at 2:00. It was a step back in time and well worth the trip. The movie with footage taken back in the 1930's was informative as was the elevator ride down into a well. Here are a few pictures.



Thought I'd learned a lot on the Internet, I'm glad we made the drive. The Indian blankets and other wild flowers were in bloom. The pollen was as bad or worse but that's to be expected. We had a nice relaxing time.


Linda