Gunpowder Tea

I *heart* Margaret Brownley!!

Book Rating: Up All Night'er

There's no such thing as an unlikeable Brownley book. I see you nodding your head--you know what I'm talkin' about!

In this conclusion to her BRIDES OF LAST CHANCE RANCH series, Brownley orchestrates a truly fun and engaging story that is reeeaaallly hard to put down.

Seriously, this author knows how to do romance! I knew going into this that there would be plenty of kisses and romantic tension to keep me happy--love that!!

Miranda Hunt is a skilled detective and assumes the name Annie Beckman to try and catch the Phantom--a notorious train robber--who is believed to be somewhere near the Last Chance Ranch. Little does she know that the handsome Mr. Branch is also an undercover detective on the trail of the same outlaw. If only Miranda can keep her mind on her work, and away from the handsome, intriguing and ever-mysterious ranch hand...

What a great plot! Very unique and kept me interested throughout the story. Quick, wit-filled dialogue and excellent Christian theme. I recommend this highly! And the really fun part is that you get to see the other characters here and there as well, which I LOVE! The only problem is... I never read book two!! I gotta get on Amazon...

Everything is so well intertwined--I really can't say enough about it. When you read it, you'll have to let me know what you think!

Happy Reading!
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January's Author of the Month

Welcome to 2013, all you fantabulous HCR lovers out there!

I hope you enjoyed my post for last months author...I personally think that author is the best. *wink*

I am SO totally excited to be featuring a very talented (and might I add hilarious and very faithful) author. Everybody, give it up for Margaret Brownley!!!!

When I discovered Margaret's books, I literally couldn't put them down.

Just sayin'...if you haven't read them yet then you are missing some great stories. I have reviews for all her "inspy" romances, so make sure you check those out as well!!!

Margaret has answered some fun questions for me, so I hope that you enjoy getting to know more about her!!

Also! If you want to be entered to win her new book, follow my blog (if you don't already...) and post this link on FB! You will have to leave me your email if you want to be notified of winning!!! Believe you me, you will want to win this'un!! (As you will see at the end of this post, there is ANOTHER different contest Margaret is doing, so make sure you read all the details to enter BOTH contests!!)


Tell us about yourself!  

First, let me say thank you, Amber, for inviting me to visit with your readers.
As for me, I was always a storyteller and constantly in trouble as a child for making up stories. The writer part was harder to acknowledge, partly because English was my least favorite subject.  My eighth grade teacher told me not to even think about being a writer. Diagram a sentence?  You gotta be kidding?

I might have spent the rest of my life scribbling in notebooks and writing amusing notes to my kids’ teachers had I not “volunteered” to edit my church newsletter. After I made the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, my former preacher took me aside and said, “Maybe God’s calling you to write fiction.”  And so that’s what I did.  I now have more than 25 novels to my credit, plus my first non-fiction book Grieving God’s Way: The Lasting Path to Hope and Healing was published in July.

On the personal side: My husband and I have three grown children.  As for hobbies, I like to herd cattle, chase down bad guys, and rob stages.  Wait at minute. That’s not me; that’s my characters!


What is your favorite novel of all time and why?

I don’t know that this was my favorite of all time, but the one that made a lasting impression on me was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I was around nine when I read it and it was the first book that made me cry. I wanted to be a writer like Jo March.

What is your favorite scripture in the Bible?

I have to say Mark 10:27: “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”  I gave you the King James’ version because that’s the Bible that’s handy in this historical writer’s office.

Your stories, are fun and fast paced! Where do you get your inspiration for your stories?

I get my ideas mostly from reading: An article in the National Enquirer about Avon ladies selling to Amazon natives inspired an older historical novel of mine.  I looked up Avon and discovered that the first Avon “lady” was a door-to-door book salesman.  He gave out perfume hoping to entice women to buy his books, but the perfume proved more popular.  Not only did this give me a great idea for a story but some good advice about what not to give away when promoting a book.  

The idea for my current Brides of Last Chance Ranch series came from the N.Y. Times archives:
In 1861 fifty ladies of the first Church of Milford in New York formed a society of old maids. It cost five dollars to join the group and members had to vow never to marry. The interest earned from the money paid for the annual dinner, with the principal going to the woman who remained unmarried the longest.

According to an article in the New York Times thirty years later in 1891 all but fifteen of the original fifty had married.  By then the prize money had risen to a thousand dollars.  I’ve not been able to find the winner’s name—and being a romantic I sincerely hope there wasn’t one— but the best part of being a writer is where real life fails, inspiration takes over.

www.margaretbrownley.com


How to Enter the HONK IF YOU LOVE BOOKS contest:
In WAITING FOR MORNING set in the Arizona Territory in 1896, Dr. Caleb Fairbanks introduces the residents of the Last Chance Ranch to his beloved "horseless carriage" named Bertha.  When Caleb and his backfiring Bertha incite gunfire from former dance hall girl, Molly Hatfield, the handsome doctor knows he's in for an adventure with the intriguing woman and her spirited wheelchair bound kid brother, Donny.
Share your memory of a car that played an important role in your life's story for a chance to win a $100 gas card. Email your story (no more than a couple of paragraphs) to contests@nancyberland.com.  Contests ends January 31.

Margaret, thank you SO much for being my author of the month--this is a real treat and I KNOW people are going to love this new novel as much as all your others. Thank you for following God's path and blessing us all with your talents.

God Bless and Happy New Year!!

Dawn Comes Early

I was addicted to the Rocky Creek series by Brownley.  I thought they were just pure fun and a relaxing, easy read.  So, no doubt I was looking forward to DAWN COMES EARLY.  This book had a lot of great potential, but in the end, it didn’t rank up there with the Rocky Creek books.  I’ll explain…

Book Rating:  Here a little, there a little

First of all, the leading lady Kate Tenney (who is a disgraced dime novelist fleeing Boston to start a new lift on an Arizona ranch) was very lovable, but for some reason I had a hard time connecting with her.

The same also holds true for Luke Adams, the leading man.  I had a feeling I would like him a lot—his name is awesome, he owns a blacksmith shop (which reminds me of Levi Grant from TO WIN HER HEART and I loved that guy…) he comes to the rescue, and he teases her.  I love guys who tease!  Anyway, as amazing as he is, I didn't develop the connection with him (as a reader) as I'd hoped. There was a lot of good romantic tension though--so in that respect you won't be disappointed.

Brownly always includes wonderful Christian elements in her stories and this one was no different.

Her next book in this series comes out in Jan of 2013 and I can't wait!!!!  I do love Brownley as an author, and you may really like this book, even though it wasn't one of my favorites, so go ahead and give it a try!

Happy Reading!
Buy it!

A Lady Like Sarah

It was one of those nights.  I had gotten sucked into this book and there was no stopping me.  Even though I was deathly tired—my eyes were burning and blood-shot, and my head was pounding from what felt like the weight of two anvils.  Must……keep…..reading…..must………keep………reading.

The next day was a blur.  Was it worth it?  Oh yes it was.

Book rating:  Best of the Best

What a unique idea for a story!  Sarah Prescott comes from a family of outlaw brothers.  She has never known a “real” family, and believes she will never have one.  There is a price on her head and a hangman’s noose waiting for her in Rocky Creek.  Even though the charges against her are trumped-up, what chance does she have?  She’s a Prescott.

Justin Wells is a preacher en-route to Rocky Creek.  He’s looking to start-over after an embarrassing debacle in his hometown of Boston.  When he stumbles upon Sarah and a dying U.S. Marshall, his journey to Texas takes a very unexpected turn.  

Sarah is feisty, and knows how to take care of herself, but she secretly yearns for the love of someone like Justin.  He in turn, never would have expected this beautiful (and wanted!) young woman to steal his heart.

I love, LOVE this story.  What a great example of pure, childlike faith!  Sarah is essentially converted in this story, and I love how she trusts in God, literally, to the bitter end!  Beautiful!  I went away feeling like I need to show God that I can trust Him with that same faith.

The romance is wonderful and the story will melt your heart.  I can’t wait for you to read this!  It’s hard for me to say which of these books in this series is my favorite—they are all so different and inspiring.  Justin’s love for Sarah is magnificent!  That’s what love is all about, people!  So, just go read all the books and don’t do as I did...  Read them in order!

Be prepared for some sleepless nights, y'all!

Happy Reading!
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A Vision Of Lucy

This is the second book that I’ve read which focuses on photography as a budding art form.  (The first one being From a Distance…)  Of the two, I have to say I actually like A Vision of Lucy more.  I know, I know.  The former won a Christy Award.  That's great n'all, but it doesn’t change my opinion in the least.

Book Rating:  Best of the Best

This is the third book in a three-book series, and I read it first. (Don’t ask me why I keep doing that because I seriously don’t know.)  But you don’t have to read them in order for these books to make sense, so that’s the good part.

If you haven’t ever read a Brownley book you are in for a real treat!  Like a hot-fudge-Sunday-with-a-cherry-on-the-top kind of treat!!  Her style is descriptive and playful without being over the top or cheesy.  I smiled my way through this book, and I was sad to see it end.  And that goes for all the books in this series!  I’ve read several series from a few authors and so far, I like this series best.

Trouble seems to follow Lucy Fairbanks wherever she goes.  Not that she’s out looking for it, mind you.  She simply wants to take photos for the town newspaper so bad, she will do anything to get the perfect shot.  It’s on one of these quests that she’s nearly killed by a run away stage coach and is saved by the “wild man” that lives just out of town.  (Um, side note here…you know it’s gonna be a good book if there’s a kiss before you’ve even read 20 pages!  Boo-ya, baby!)

David Wolf is a man torn between two worlds.  (He is also a man that is exceedingly rugged and super-duper good looking!  Just wanted to clear that up in case you were wondering…)  He can’t seem to escape this young woman who brings disaster.  And despite his efforts against it, he finds he is falling in love with her.

All the books in the series are SO romantic, and have a perfect blend of action and just a dash of drama.  LOVE IT!

Happy Reading!
Buy it!

A Suitor For Jenny

This book was amazingly delicious!  I devoured it so fast you would have thought it was a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.  No, I’m serious.  I read it that fast.

Book Rating:  Best of the Best

I loved the premise of this story:  Girl goes to town looking for husbands for her sisters, but insists she doesn't need one herself.  (Of course you can imagine she ends up with one...teehee...)  I knew I had to read this!

Jenny Higgins is a very determined, hard working girl who comes to Rocky Creek because she read in a newspaper that this town had the highest number of eligible bachelors in Texas.  Too bad it was a misprint—but she doesn’t know that.  She has been caring for her sisters since their parents died many years ago and the responsibility has weighed very heavily on her.  In their dire circumstances it made her do things she never wanted to do, and now she believes no one will ever truly love her.  All she needs to do is find men who can care for her sisters financially so they will never starve again.

Rhett Armstrong (hel-LO!  His name alone is super hot!) is the town Marshall and when someone bursts into his office claiming the town is being taken-over by three women looking for husbands, he dismisses it.  But, over time he can’t believe how true that statement really was.  And little does he know how “Colonel Jenny” will change is life forever.

Now, as you know, I won’t divulge any more of the yummy details, so that’s why you just gotta go read it yourself.  But I will tell you, that I thought the romantic tension was magnificent, the characters were SO fun and the spiritual message was inspiring.  I loved it all.

I know you’re wondering.  Which would I rather choose: a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos or this book. Sorry, Doritos.  I would choose this book.

Happy Reading!
Buy it!