From Maureen:
It seems like only yesterday that I met Cheryl and she asked me, a wide-eyed newbie, to join her critique group. Under her mentoring, I wrote my first historical western romance "Winter Hearts." Since that time, I've written seven more western romances, two romantic suspense, one time travel, and one novella. And this month, my ninth historical western, "A Reason to Believe" will be out. This is the second book of my Forrester brothers trilogy and it is about the youngest brother Rye. The oldest brother Creede was the hero in "A Reason to Live," which was released last year. The third and final Forrester brothers book, "A Reason to Sin", will be out in March 2008.
In "A Reason to Believe", Rye Forrester is a man looking for atonement. After losing his wife and baby, he thinks he has nothing else to lose. However, a bad decision leads to the death of a friend and the loss of his army career. Now he must somehow make it up to the man's widow and daughter.
Dulcie McDaniel grew up with an alcoholic father and married a soldier who ended up being even worse than her father. She's made bad choices in her life and when she's left with her father's rundown farm, she's determined to provide her daughter with a home without relying on a man. But Dulcie's passionate nature can't be denied and she turns to whiskey to cope with her loneliness.
When Rye Forrester shows up and agrees to work for room and board, Dulcie is wary. However, Rye is like no other man she's ever met--gentle, kind, and courteous--and she can't help but be attracted to him. But Rye and Dulcie must each learn to forgive one another and themselves before they'll be free to love.
You might want to keep a hanky handy for this one. :::sniffle:::
To order A Reason to Believe click on this link to amazon.
Please visit Maureen's website and learn about her other books.
From Cheryl:
And as if learning about this new western isn't exciting enough, you have a chance to win an autographed copy! Every comment to this blog will be entered into a drawing. On the 7th, which is the official release date, Maureen and I will draw the name of a winner.
So post here! Ask Maureen questions and she'll be delighted to chat.
I can't wait to read this one. I love the outfit, you look like you are having a good time living there.
ReplyDeleteMaureen, Congratulations on your new book. Is this book a stand alone story or do you need to read the first book in the series?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of your books yet but plan to remedy that soon! I've read some good reviews of past works and I'm always looking for a good Western romance (there are not enough of them!). Keep writing, please!
ReplyDeleteDon't enter me in the drawing because I'm running out and buying this book on the 7th. I cannot tell you how excited I am get my hands on A Reason To Believe! I adored love A Reason to Live - one of the best books I read last year. And I'm really happy we only have to wait until March to get the third book in the trilogy.
ReplyDeleteA Reason to Believe sounds great. I love western romance. I like how the hero and heroine must learn to forgive themselves for their past to move on to a new life.
ReplyDeleteI must say that I LOVE Maureen's books. A Reason to Live is one of my favorite books and a book I highly recommend. I have been looking forward to this one and can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
ReplyDeleteMaureen I LOVE your books-- I stumbled on you late last year and now have all your books-- they are all in my keeper pile! Cheryl, thanks for having Maureen as your guest-- I knew I knew that man-- I have been staring at that cover for months before it came out and was looking at the cover in real life for about a week now (BN delivered it), you think I would have recognized it-- LOL
ReplyDeleteTOO funny, Katrina! So, have you read it yet? I wondeer how it is that the release date is next Tues, but you have your copy already. ?? Like Wendy, I am plnning on running out on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that outfit great, Mickey? My critique group took me to a Victorian tea house for my going away when hubby retired from the military. We all had fun dressing in the old Victorian outfits, although I have to admit I was glad I didn't have to don the appropriate undergarments. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maureen. :) You can read "A Reason to Believe" as a standalone. Creede and Laurel from "A Reason to Live" will be in the book, but they'll play minor roles.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your ninth historical western, Maureen! A Reason to Believe sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteI always love to ask authors how they reacted when they sold their first manuscript! I'm sure it's something you will never forget!
Hey Elsandra, hope you enjoy my westerns. And I plan to write them for as long as I can!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you again, Wendy! Yes, I, too, was excited to learn the third book, "A Reason to Sin," would be released in March. Hope you enjoy "A Reason to Believe"--it doesn't pack quite the emotional punch of "A Reason to Live" but Rye and Dulcie's story is still tender and touching.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Crystal. Yes, forgiveness of self and others is a definite theme of this book. Long live the western romance!
ReplyDeleteThat's so great to hear, Jennifer! I think "A Reason to Live" touched people on many different levels. Because of what Creede and especially Laurel were dealing with, it had a lot of emotional impact on readers.
ReplyDeleteThat is funny, Katrina! I'm so impressed that you were able to gather all my books since last year! And I'm very glad you stumbled across me! :) Hope "A Reason to Believe" finds a home on your keeper pile, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. I've been very fortunate to have sold so many western romances in a climate of declining popularity of that genre. In answer to your question, "the" phone call for my first book sale came on Halloween in 1995. Even now I can remember that spike of adrenaline, followed closely by disbelief ("they must've made a mistake") but it was real. It's been an amazing rollercoaster ride since that point, but I wouldn't change it for anything.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I went out to Walmart and sure enough found my very own copy of A REASON TO BELIEVE. I had Elijah take my picture with it, but I don't want it to go above this 'cause I want Maureen's post the first thing here this week, so scroll down a couple to see it.
ReplyDeleteWendy, Jennifer, Katrina, PLEASE ADVISE! I haven't read A Reason to Live yet. It's sitting right here. Shall I read it first?
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen,
ReplyDeleteNice to meet a new fellow western author online. I love the cover and great title! GO Westerns - I have a good feeling they are coming back strong!
Charlene Sands
WOW! I think I need to make my own trip to Walmart tonight and see if I can find "A Reason to Believe". Everyone sounds really excited about the first book so I'll have to see if I can find it too. Congratulations Maureen!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see you here, Maureen! I enjoy your books, and I *loved* A REASON TO LIVE! I can't wait to get my hands on A REASON TO BELIEVE. (An autographed copy would be even better! :-)
ReplyDeleteDiappointment reigns supreme! No "A Reason to Believe" at my local Walmart here in Spokane so I guess I'll have to wait a few days. I'm with Karen though, an autographed copy would be better.:)
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen! Thank you for posting on this blog!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to read your new book! "A Reason To Live" was a wonderful book to read!!I recommended it to ALL of my friends. And of course made them get their own copies b/c I am NOT giving my copy away!
It is so exciting that these book are part of a series. It is always fun to read about new characters but also find out about what is happening or has happened in the lives of previously talked about characters.
Thanks again for blogging with us! Congratulations on the release of your new book!
I take any recommendation from this group seriously! I know I have several of Maureen's so will have to pull them together soon, just like my shelf of signed CSJ and boxes of other favs. I LOVE the challenge of searching for back copies!! However, I usually wait to read triologies til the 3rd one is out because my short-term memory seems to be faltering. LOL However, I did read a CSJ out of order recently so may try it.
ReplyDeleteMo,
ReplyDeleteIt's so great you're writing westerns--your first love. You've come a long way, baby!
I find it very gratifying to hear such enthusiasm for them. I'd love for you to guest blog for us at www.petticoatsandpistols.com.
Congrats on the new release!
Pam
<< Diappointment reigns supreme! No "A Reason to Believe" at my local Walmart here in Spokane >.
ReplyDeleteOH NO, Betsy! Bummer. Distribution is a fickle lady.
Maureen, I'm so looking forward to reading you new book! And all the others! I just love finding a "new"
ReplyDeleteauthor... then the hunt begins, to find all the back issues!
My WalMart doesn't stock the Historical westerns much, I have to got to other cities or order them, *sigh.... I sure do hope they Are making a comeback!
Fabulous picture!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you found a copy at your local Wal-Mart already, Cheryl! My editor told me it had an August 7th release but I guess they aren't as strict as they are on the Harry Potter official release dates. :) So sorry your Wal-Mart in Spokane didn't have it, Betsy. It wasn't in my Wal-Mart yesterday either. :( For some reason, I didn't hear of any Wal-Marts that carried "A Reason to Live" last year. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you're right, Charlene! Wouldn't it be great to see a whole row of new western romances in the bookstores? I think there are too many western romance lovers for the genre to die out completely, but it's always hovering near the endangered list.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen W.! Maybe your name will be pulled from the hat for the autographed copy... ;)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Kathleen! I'm just so happy Cheryl asked me to guest on her blog! I have to admit I'm not very blog-savvy, and don't spend that much time on the internet, but I'm having a blast here!
ReplyDeleteI completely understand, Lucky Lou. I like to read the books in a series one right after another, too. I just hate to let the characters go at "The End" of the book. Recently I read "Rekindled" by Tamera Alexander, which is the first of a trilogy. The second book is with my mom in another state so I'm having to wait for it while I sit here with the third on my TBR pile--I won't read them out of order. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's been 14 years since I met you and Cheryl in Omaha, Pam! Time sure does fly! It's amazing and wonderful that we're all writing the westerns! I'd love to guest blog at Petticoats and Pistols--just have to lead this blog-challenged person in the right direction. :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Georgia. I do hope you can find my backlist. Yes, I wish all the Wal-Marts would carry the western romances. I know there are many people in my rural area who shop mainly at the Wal-Mart and keep asking me why my books aren't there. Gosh, I wish I had an answer. BTW, thank you for signing my Guestbook! :)
ReplyDelete<< For some reason, I didn't hear of any Wal-Marts that carried "A Reason to Live" last year. >>
ReplyDeleteWell, they obviously figured out who they're dealing with and ordered a bunch!
<< I can't believe it's been 14 years since I met you and Cheryl in Omaha, Pam! >>
ReplyDeleteWell, the jig is up. My readers thought I was 29!
Of course, you were only 15 when I met you, Cheryl. ;) I was only 13 myself... :p
ReplyDeleteI am also a fan of reading books in order that are in a series! I really enjoy the continuation of story lines and relationships of different characters! And it is really fun to find out when a secondary character, I want to know more about, gets their own book! :) :)
ReplyDeleteMo,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Pam, a western (sigh)
Mom is tickled too, she loves your westerns.
Is it a bigger tear jerker than Dylan and that "damn dog"? :)
love ya!
I love western romance. Looking forward to reading all of Maureen's.
ReplyDeleteShall I tell how long I've known you Cheryl!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteGo ahead, Betsy, my cover is blown. LOL
ReplyDeleteAs great as an autographed copy would be, you can take me out of the drawing because I was able to get my hot little hands on a copy of REASON TO BELIVE today! Yippee! :-)
ReplyDeleteCheryl-- I would read A Reason to Live first but that is just me-- I like to read books in order, KWIM? :)
ReplyDeleteBarb!!! Great to see you here! You might need a hanky for this one, but it isn't the huge tearjerker "Winter Hearts" was. ;) If you want a real heart-tugger, read "A Reason to Live"--I pulled out all the stops on that one. Even made myself cry...more than once.
ReplyDeleteKaren W., where did you find your copy? I spoke with the manager of the local bookstore yesterday and she was saying she hasn't received her copies yet.
ReplyDeleteOm goodness I got my postcard today-- thanks Maureen! I teared up reading A Reason To Live (a couple of times) Such a great read!
ReplyDeleteHi, Maureen,
ReplyDeleteI'm a bookseller at Waldenbooks (south Florida), and we got our copies in our big shipment that came Thursday.
I just started reading your books. Please enter me in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excerpt. I love to read westerns or those set in the West and you just can't find many out there unless the tall, dark and handsome cowboy just happens to also be a vampire!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely read Maureen's book
I want to thank you all for your wonderful comments and for making me feel welcome here at Cheryl's blog. And I want to give Cheryl a huge cyberhug for inviting me to guest on her blog! When I first started writing, she encouraged me and believed in me and she's been a good friend ever since. Thank you, Cheryl!! {{{Cher}}}
ReplyDeleteWe'll be announcing the winner later today so stay tuned...
God Bless!