Robinson, Lauri, The Rebel Daughter

Robinson, Lauri, The Rebel Daughter (Daughters of the Roaring Twenties, Book 3), (Richmond, Surrey:  Harlequin (UK) Limited, 2015).

Title:  The Rebel Daughter (Daughters of the Roaring Twenties, Book 3)

Author:  Lauri Robinson

Imprint:  Historical

Issues:  Bereavement; Gendered Expectations (Women); Guilt; Loss; Prison

Blurb:

For every wild child…

No more watching from the sidelines for Twyla Nightingale: her feet are firmly on the dance floor! She won’t let anyone sour the delicious taste of freedom—especially not Forrest Reynolds, back in town after all this time.

…there’s a guy who thinks she’s the bee’s knees.

Forrest didn’t expect a warm welcome from the Nightingale sisters, not after their lives had been so dramatically upturned. But seeing the challenge in Twyla’s eyes, Forrest takes this rebel for a wild dance she won’t forget!

Author Note,

Welcome to the Roaring Twenties!  A time in America when almost every citizen broke the law and new freedoms were discovered.

The Twenties were a period of change.  Cars became more affordable to all classes of life, motorcycles grew increasingly popular, and flyboys – those who had learned to fly during the war – brought that skill home.  All of this, along with electricity, telephones and Hollywood, created new lifestyles and attitudes.

Welcome to the third book in my Daughters of the Roaring Twenties mini-series!  The Rebel Daughter is Twyla’s story.  She embraces all changes to society wholeheartedly; however, being the daughter of a well-known bootlegger restricts her freedom.

A rebel at heart, Twyla has grown tired of living in the state’s largest speakeasy and not being allowed to attend the lavish parties.  When the opportunity to step out of the shadows arrives she takes it – but discovers going up against mobsters might be more than she can handle.

Good thing Forrest Reynolds has returned home.  Twyla needs someone to catch her when she falls.

I hope you enjoy Twyla and Forrest.  They are two of a kind.

Happy reading!

Robinson, Lauri, The Forgotten Daughter

Robinson, Lauri, The Forgotten Daughter (Daughters of the Roaring Twenties, Book 4), (Richmond, Surrey:  Harlequin (UK) Limited, 2015).

Title:  The Forgotten Daughter (Daughters of the Roaring Twenties, Book 4)

Author:  Lauri Robinson

Imprint:  Historical

Issues:  Human Trafficking; Gendered Expectations (Women); Prison; Prostitution

Blurb:

Often the quietest people…

Josie Nightingale has always been the odd girl out. While her sisters swoon over guys, she’s busy trying to change the world! Which isn’t easy with Eric “Scooter” Wilson watching her every move.

…have the biggest secrets!

She may be out of his league, but the day Scooter rescued Josie from jail and discovered her secret, he vowed he’d do anything to protect her. And if keeping Josie safe means not letting this stubborn dame out of his sight—then so be it!

Author Note,

Welcome to the Roaring Twenties!  A time in America when almost every citizen broke the law and new freedoms were discovered.

Significant change during this time period was the catalyst to bring about a new breed of women.  The right to vote, and opportunities to attend college and to pursue careers paved the way for younger women to embrace who they were.  They flaunted the liberation of their generation and emphasised the separation of past rigid lifestyles with newfound hairstyles, fashion and actions.

Josie Nightingale is The Forgotten Daughter in this, the fourth book in my Daughters of the Roaring Twenties mini-series.  Unlike her sisters, Josie doesn’t concern herself with fashion, make-up or fancy parties.  She embraces the concealment living that the resort provides.  It’s allowed her to pursue another interest – that of helping others.  Under the ruse of attending ladies’ aid meetings she sneaks north once a week to pass out condoms to women working the docks in Duluth.  All goes well until she’s arrested and has to call Scooter Wilson to get her out of the hoosegow.

My heart went out to Scooter from the get-go.  He has his hands full with Josie, but he’s the right man for the task.

I think this was the hardest book for me to write in his series.  I knew it was the end of my visits with the Nightingales – for now.

Winters, Rebecca, Beneath a Texas Sky

Winters, Rebecca, Beneath a Texas Sky,  (Richmond, Surrey:  Harlequin (UK) Limited, 2002).

Title:  Beneath a Texas Sky

Author:  Rebecca Winters

Imprint:  Superromance

Issues:  Convict; Murder; Prison

Blurb:

Dana Turner is an astronomer; she’s also an ex-convict. Deliberately framed for a murder she didn’t commit, she spent seven months in prison. On her release, she came to Texas to work at an isolated little observatory in the Davis Mountains. She has no interest in people—only in stars.

That changes when she meets Jace Riley. For the first time in a long time, she’s attracted to someone. More than attracted. But, despite her feelings, she has some questions about Jace, a man who shows up in her life with astonishing frequency.

Jace has questions about her, too. He’s a Texas Ranger working undercover, searching for two cop-killers. He’s traced them this far, to the town of Cloud Rim, where they simply disappeared. He finds himself wondering whether the beautiful and mysterious Dana Turner has anything to do with his case. And hoping she doesn’t…

Dear Reader,

I’ve heard people say, “There aren’t any mountains in Texas!”  Well…I’m here to tell you that statement couldn’t be further from the truth.  The Rocky Mountains definitely run through the western part of Texas.  In fact, the Davis Mountains of the Lone Star State have been nicknamed “The Texas Alps”.

On top of Mt. Locke at 6800 feet where the air is dry and clear sits the McDonald Observatory owned by the University of Texas at Austin.  This area is renowned for having one of darkest skies in North America and is therefore perfect for viewing the heavens.  I’ve modeled my own fictitious setting after this one.

My hero, Captain Jace Riley of the Texas Rangers, is truly a hero.  Rangers have a heritage that can be traced to the earliest days of Anglo settlement in Texas.  They’ve often been compared to four other world famous law-enforcement agencies:  the FBI, Scotland Yard, Interpol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Prior to the Civil War, there was a real Texas Ranger with the first name Jace and another whose last name was Riley.  I liked both names so much, I put them together to create my hero.  Former Captain Bob Crowder has described the Rangers this way:  “A Ranger is an officer who is able to handle any given situation without definite instructions from his commanding officer or higher authority.  This ability must be proven before a man becomes a Ranger.”  I think you’ll agree that Jace Riley is a perfect example of that.

I hope you’ll enjoy Jace’s story-and his romance with Dana Turner, first introduced in My Private Detective.

Rebecca Winters

P.S.  If you have access to the internet, please check out my website at http://www.rebeccawinters-author.com

Johnson, Janice Kay, Between Love and Duty

Johnson, Janice Kay, Between Love and Duty (A Brother’s Word, Book 1),  (Richmond, Surrey:  Mills & Boon, 2013).

Title:  Between Love and Duty (A Brother’s Word, Book 1)

Author:  Janice Kay Johnson

Imprint:  Superromance

Issues:  Child Protection; Prison

Blurb:

There’s a right way, then there’s the wrong way

Nobody knows that better than police captain Duncan MacLachlan. He has served and protected for years without bending to a middle ground he doesn’t believe in. And he’s not about to change. Certainly not for stubborn and sexy court advocate Jane Brooks. Her shades-of-gray view of the world clashes with his black-and-white one.

Then a mission to save an at-risk teen has Jane’s life on the line. Now she and Duncan must join forces despite their differences and the flaring attraction that’s too hot to ignore. It’s Duncan’s toughest challenge yet. Because keeping Jane safe is one thing…and keeping her out of his arms is another.

Dear Reader,

Stories grow from surprising moments.  This trilogy came from an image that lurked in my mind.  I live in a small town where people know how to celebrate the Fourth of July.  Our parade is a big deal, and bagpipers play while marching in kilts.  One particular piper has lingered in my memory.  He was tall, striking, auburn-headed and solemn, a hero if I’ve ever seen one.  One day that not-so-important memory sent up shoots.  I imagined three brothers walking shoulder to shoulder, all playing the bagpipes that are their heritage.

Alas, heroes have minds of their own.  Duncan MacLachlan, the oldest son, declined to play the bagpipe.  He was taught by his father, whom he bitterly resents, and he chooses to reject everything that came from a man he despises.  And, darn him, Conall, the youngest son, feels the same.  Only Niall, the hero of the upcoming book From Father to Son, embraces his Scottish heritage.

Despite his defiance, I fell for Duncan.  He’s a man to whom duty is all.  He sacrificed his dreams when his brothers needed him.  Romantic love is a foreign concept to him, and not one he intends to embrace.  But aren’t responsibility and duty rooted in a deep sense of caring?  And what is caring but a kind o love?  Oh, yes, it turns out that Duncan is quite capable of loving…once he meets a woman strong and fierce enough to defy him, command his respect and gain his trust.  He might have been able to ignore her, if only she didn’t need his protection.  Naturally, Duncan feels it’s his duty to provide it.  And love has everything to do with it.

These brothers, damaged by a painful childhood, are some of my favourite heroes.

Enjoy!

Janice Kay Johnson