A New Western Historical Anthology—Journey of the Heart

I'm pleased to share my new release, Journey of the Heart, an anthology with seven other authors—Jacqui Nelson, Anne Carrole, Stacey Marvin Coverstone, Debora Dennis, Tanya Hanson, Linda Smith LaRoque, Melissa Lynne Blue & Karen J. Hasley.

It is available now.

- Kindle US: amzn.com/B01MUX2M8F 
- Kindle UK: amzn.co.uk/dp/B01MUX2M8F 
- Kindle Canada: amazon.ca/dp/B01MUX2M8F 
- Kindle Australia: amazon.com.au/dp/B01MUX2M8F
- Print: amazon.com/dp/1542981484

Blurb:

From the Texas plains to the Canadian wilderness, up Missouri’s Big Muddy to Montana Territory, and from the California mountains to Colorado’s cattle country... JOURNEY OF THE HEART is a collection of eight sigh-worthy romances, all revolving around modes of transportation in the Old West. 

Award-winning and best-selling authors Melissa Lynne Blue, Anne Carrole, Stacey Coverstone, Debora Dennis, Tanya Hanson, Karen J. Hasley, Linda LaRoque, and Jacqui Nelson invite you to travel along on romantic adventures that will have you falling in love with the gamblers, marshals, ranchers, doctors, riverboat captains, rangers, preachermen, and warriors of the Wild West. 

Whether on a paddleboat or train, stagecoach or horse, buggy or bicycle, the journey to love for these rugged men and their feisty, independent ladies will delight fans of historical western romance.

All stories are rated Sweet.

My story is titled Quixie on the Draw. Quixie O'Connor boards the stage for San Antonio to look for her younger brother, but ends up with a hodgepodge of people and a quandary of problems. Tough, she manages to complete her assignment, but her mother is not pleased with her methods.

Excerpt:

Drat Jamie's hide. As his older sister, she'd dusted his britches often enough when he was a tyke. Now their mother expected Quixie to drag him home by the ear if necessary. Of course, if his job was an appropriate one, she was to check his lodgings and make sure the company he kept wasn't a bad influence. Quixie wondered what kind of job he could have to be able to send home ten dollars a month.

Oddly enough, Ma wasn't worried about Quixie's safety going off alone on this trip. In a sense, her mother's lack of concern hurt.

Thank you for stopping by and I'd be pleased if you'd leave a comment. Please sign up for my newsletter to be eligible for the drawing for the James Avery Charm bracelet for my March release A Touch of Texas Irish. The form is located in the right column of his page.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

www.lindalaroque.com

Birdie's Nest - My Western Historical Time Travel Is on Amazon for .99 May 1, 2013

I'm thrilled to announce Birdie's Nest is up for sale. Well, actually it's in review tonight but should be
on sale for .99 Thursday morning of May 1st. On the 2nd it will go back up to $4.99 so get your copy tomorrow!

http://www.amazon.com/Birdies-Nest-ebook/dp/B00CKM8GZ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367346536&sr=1-1

Blurb:

Texas Ranger, Birdie Braxton boards the Brazos Belle to attend a costume party, gets tossed into the Brazos and when she's pulled from the river she's told the year is 1890. She can't accept that fact… until she looks across the river to see Birdie’s Nest, her ancestral home, no longer exists.

Tad Lockhart is a content man—a prosperous rancher with a ladylove in Waco. He's not interested in marriage and family, yet… until he pulls an unconscious woman from the Brazos who insists she's a Texas Ranger from the year 2012.

As romance blooms between Tad and Birdie, she struggles to earn enough money to build Birdie’s Nest, and Tad strives to mold Birdie into a Victorian lady suitable to be his wife. Can Birdie give up dabbling in police work and other unladylike pursuits yet stay true to herself? When faced with an indiscretion from Tad's past, is Birdie's love strong enough to support her man and be the woman he needs?

Thank you for reading and writing! Please, if you're so inclined, leave a short review.

Linda

www.lindalaroque.com

A Short Story - Romance and the Texas Ranger, The Journey Home

This is the short story I wrote for the Saturday night campfire reading at the Texas Mountain Trail Writer's Retreat in April of 2009. It will be published in the Chaos, West of the Pecos, Volume 13, a publication of the Texas Mountain Trail Writers. Enjoy!

Texas Ranger Caleb Johnson slumped atop his horse, swaying to the pace of his sorrel mare. His head bobbed with the gait as he struggled to stay in the saddle and catch a few winks of sleep. It was a ritual he and Red were accustomed to. He’d ridden many miles while asleep and his horse hadn’t tossed him once. Some weeks it was the only sleep he got. Now wasn’t a good time not to be aware of his surroundings. He was alone, wounded, and weak. The pain from his shoulder injury screamed with each movement.

The captain ordered him to stay in camp until he could send him home with an escort. But, Caleb wouldn’t have it. Hell, he was shot, not dead. He’d stolen away in the middle of the night. All he wanted was to get home to Amy. It’d been five years since he’d seen her. Maybe he no longer had a wife. Rangers weren’t good marriage material and she’d not wanted him to join up. They’d had a terrible row. Her blue eyes flashed fire as she screamed, “I won’t be here when you decide to come home.”

Contrite over her scalding words, Amy wrote him faithfully at least once a month. It’d been a year now since he’d heard from her. Every time he thought he’d get home, his division was dispatched to another area and he couldn’t go. He shuddered. Was the tremor from his wound or fear? Something was wrong at home. He could feel it in his bones.

He struggled to stay awake, but fatigue, blood loss, and now with a raging fever, illness won out. His chin hit his chest and darkness clouded his consciousness. Dreams whirled through his mind—Amy on their wedding day, her shiny brown hair piled high on her head, ringlets curling around her face. Eyes spitting fire the day he left, her face red, almost as dark as the freckles that covered her pert nose. Oh, she was a corker. He loved her spit and vinegar.

Red kicked up her heels, sending him forward, jolting him awake. Like a drunk woken by the nudge of a boot, blurry eyed, he glanced around and noticed three Indian braves on the mesa top to the west, a half a mile away.

He wrapped the reins around the saddle horn, pulled his Winchester from its scabbard, and propped the butt on his thigh. He’d show them he was armed. Hell, he was so weak he couldn’t shoot a rabbit. Hopefully they hadn’t seen him swaying in the saddle like a drunk. His knees tightened around Red. She sprinted forward but didn’t break into a full gallop. Don’t let them think you’re afraid and running. They’ll be on you like ants.

War whoops echoed behind him. He raised the rifle with one arm, propping the butt at the juncture of his shoulder, turned and shot wild. A bullet slammed into his chest. He hit the packed earth. Red broke her stride and returned to him, nudging him with her nose and whinnying for him to get up.

Shouts of victory surrounded him. Red’s reins were grabbed by a young brave. She fought against the restriction but the Indian coaxed her forward, gently stroked her muzzle and whispered in her ear. Soon, she quieted and stopped struggling though she snorted and stamped her hooves in agitation at the smell of blood.

Vision fuzzy, Caleb spotted his valued star adorning the shirt of an older brave. Several men poked him with their rifles. He didn’t feel pain, only a roaring in his ears, and a calming sense of peace. The war party rode away in a flurry of triumphant shouts.

Bright light enclosed him. A form stepped out and knelt at his side. Pink lips, accompanied by a pert freckled nose and blue eyes, smiled. She leaned down and kissed him sweetly on the mouth. Her lilac scent filled his nostrils and joy filled his heart.

“It’s time, Caleb. Time for you to come home.” Amy helped him rise and took his hand. “Come, my love.” Together they walked into the light. The End

I hope you enjoyed my story. I've heard of many people who're visited by loved ones who've passed when they're near death. How about you? Leave a comment and share your experiences with us.

Linda
Linda LaRoque ~Western Romance with a Twist in Time~
www.lindalaroque.com/
http://wwww.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/

Looking for a Writer's Retreat in Texas?

Need a relaxing break in the Davis Mountains near Alpine, Texas? If so, check out the information below. I'm a member of Texas Mountain Trail Writers and have attended three of their retreats over the years. They're a wonderful, friendly group and though I no longer live in West Texas, I attend every opportunity I get. Not only do I enjoy the people, I love the area. I'm pleased to have been asked to be a presenter this year.

18th Annual
Texas Mountain Trail Writers Spring Retreat
Writing Round-Up
Paisano Encampment
April 24, 25, 26, 2009
Registration Form
Featuring
Dr. Barney Nelson—Author, Photographer, SRSU Writing Professor
Mike Cox—Author, Journalist, Texas Rangers’ Researcher
Linda LaRoque—Romance Novelist, Internet Marketing
Please return this form with your check, money order, or credit card information to:
Texas Mountain Trail Writers
Elaine Davenport, Registrar (credit card option, next page)
Texas Mountain Trail Writers
1300 W. Marfa Ave.
Alpine, TX 79830-1601
Please check your choices. The retreat fee covers the Friday night reception at Front Street
Books Reading Room, 201 E. Holland, in Alpine, all meals on Saturday and brunch on Sunday
morning at Camp Mitre Peak. Membership dues are separate from Retreat fees.
Conference Cost for TMTW Members: (Discounted fees in effect until March 31, 2009)
_____I am a member of Texas Mountain Trail Writers. Enclosed is $100 per person,
_____or $170 per couple (if both are members). Does not include membership dues.
If postmarked after March 31, non-member fees apply.
Conference Cost for non-members:
_____$110 conference fee if paid before March 31, 2009
_____$135 conference fee if paid after March 31, 2009
_____$180 conference fee for couples (if paid before March 31, 2009)
_____$195 conference fee for couples (if paid after March 31, 2009)
_____$15 Membership Dues for Texas Mountain Trail Writers (due every April); includes Log
of the Trail (monthly newsletter covering club business, events, and writings); one copy
of Chaos West of the Pecos (annual published collection of members’ works); and notices
about conferences, contests, and special writing events.
_____$20 couple Membership dues as described above
FORM CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE – BE SURE TO COMPLETE BOTH PAGES!
_____$12 Saturday night dinner with guest speaker (This applies only to people not registered
for the conference.) Spouses/guests are welcome, but must pay dinner fee and be named
on this form. My guest(s) will be____________________________________________.
Lodging at Paisano Encampment – Select your preference and number of nights.
1. Cabins:
$50 renovated cabin_____ Fri. Night _____ Sat. Night –Total # of Nights _____ x $50
$25 rustic cabin ________ Fri. Night _____ Sat. Night –Total # of Nights _____ x $25
Up to 4 people may stay in a cabin for $50 or $25. Names for reservation:
_____________________________ ________________________________
_____________________________ ________________________________
2.Bunkhouse: $10 per bed, plenty of space for luggage and shower and toilet stalls
_______ Fri. Night ________Sat. night—Total # of Nights _______ x $10
3. RV Space w/elec./water: _____Fri. Night-_____Sat. Night-Total # Nights _____ x $25.00
_________________Total Due ________________Check #
_____ I need table space to sell my books._____ ½ table ______ Whole table
There is no charge for table space for members who attend.
Cancellation Policy: Registered and paid conference participants who need to cancel MUST
contact TMTW Treasurer, Elaine Davenport, by April 10, 2009, to receive a refund. There will
be no refunds after April 10. To cancel, call 432-837-5489 or email birdlegs1943@yahoo.com.
NAME_________________________________________________________________
Address:________________________________________________________________
Phone:_______________________________Email:_____________________________
Please return both pages by snail mail to address on front of form, along with your check,
money order, or the following for credit card payment.
Credit Card Payment Option for conference payment:
Name on card:_________________________________________
Billing Address:_______________________________________
Card Name:________________________ Expiration Date:______________________
Card Number:_________________________________________
Signature:____________________________________________