Kristy McCaffrey's Blog: Author Kristy McCaffrey - Posts Tagged "romance"
The Wren by Kristy McCaffrey
North Texas 1877
Ten years have passed since her ranch was attacked, her folks murdered, and Molly Hart was abducted. Now, at nineteen, she's finally returning home to north Texas after spending the remainder of her childhood with a tribe of Kwahadi Comanche. What she finds is a deserted home coated with dust and the passage of time, the chilling discovery of her own gravesite, and the presence of a man she thought never to see again.
Matt Ryan is pushed by a restless wind to the broken-down remains of the Hart ranch. Recently recovered from an imprisonment that nearly ended his life, the drive for truth and fairness has all but abandoned him. For ten years he faithfully served the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, seeking justice for the brutal murder of a little girl, only to find closure and healing beyond his grasp. Returning to the place where it all began, he's surprised to stumble across a woman with the same blue eyes as the child he can't put out of his mind.
To purchase visit http://www.kristymccaffrey.com
Ten years have passed since her ranch was attacked, her folks murdered, and Molly Hart was abducted. Now, at nineteen, she's finally returning home to north Texas after spending the remainder of her childhood with a tribe of Kwahadi Comanche. What she finds is a deserted home coated with dust and the passage of time, the chilling discovery of her own gravesite, and the presence of a man she thought never to see again.
Matt Ryan is pushed by a restless wind to the broken-down remains of the Hart ranch. Recently recovered from an imprisonment that nearly ended his life, the drive for truth and fairness has all but abandoned him. For ten years he faithfully served the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, seeking justice for the brutal murder of a little girl, only to find closure and healing beyond his grasp. Returning to the place where it all began, he's surprised to stumble across a woman with the same blue eyes as the child he can't put out of his mind.
To purchase visit http://www.kristymccaffrey.com
THE NEXT BIG THING
I was tagged for this event by Charlene Raddon.
I'm tagging J.D. Wylde, Jamie Denton, Linda Ciletti, Tara Manderino and Celia Yeary. They'll find 5 authors and so on and so on...
THE NEXT BIG THING...WE CAN ONLY HOPE!
What is the working title of your book?
Into the Land of Shadows
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I can't quite remember since I wrote an early draft years ago, but the heroine is based on my feisty older daughter Kate who was probably about 7 years old at the time.
What genre does your book fall under?
Historical Western Romance
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
That's tough because I don't usually envision actors when I'm writing.
...Thinking...
Can't come up with a good match, sorry.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Rancher Ethan Barstow is weary of the years-long estrangement from his brother Charley. Deciding to track him down is easy; riding in the company of Kate Kinsella, Charley's fiancee, proves to be anything but.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It will, hopefully, be epublished with an online publisher.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I wrote an early draft many years ago. This year I pulled it out and began reworking it, so the total time for the first draft has probably been 2 years (plus 8)!
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
It's a typical Old West romance with a handsome hero and a spunky heroine.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The song I liked at the time that helped with the initial creation of the hero and heroine's relationship was "I Drove All Night" by Celine Dion.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
There's a wolf named Bart who shadows Ethan and an elder Navajo named Joe Leaphorn who may or may not be of this world.
I'm tagging J.D. Wylde, Jamie Denton, Linda Ciletti, Tara Manderino and Celia Yeary. They'll find 5 authors and so on and so on...
THE NEXT BIG THING...WE CAN ONLY HOPE!
What is the working title of your book?
Into the Land of Shadows
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I can't quite remember since I wrote an early draft years ago, but the heroine is based on my feisty older daughter Kate who was probably about 7 years old at the time.
What genre does your book fall under?
Historical Western Romance
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
That's tough because I don't usually envision actors when I'm writing.
...Thinking...
Can't come up with a good match, sorry.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Rancher Ethan Barstow is weary of the years-long estrangement from his brother Charley. Deciding to track him down is easy; riding in the company of Kate Kinsella, Charley's fiancee, proves to be anything but.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It will, hopefully, be epublished with an online publisher.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I wrote an early draft many years ago. This year I pulled it out and began reworking it, so the total time for the first draft has probably been 2 years (plus 8)!
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
It's a typical Old West romance with a handsome hero and a spunky heroine.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The song I liked at the time that helped with the initial creation of the hero and heroine's relationship was "I Drove All Night" by Celine Dion.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
There's a wolf named Bart who shadows Ethan and an elder Navajo named Joe Leaphorn who may or may not be of this world.
Native Americans: The Comanche
New Blog Post
http://kristymccaffrey.blogspot.com/
This fearsome tribe featured in my first book THE WREN.
http://kristymccaffrey.blogspot.com/
This fearsome tribe featured in my first book THE WREN.
My Latest Release~Steamy Historical Western Anthology
If you're looking for something shorter to read this summer and you like a little spice in your Old West tales, then this is the book for you.
Craving a cowboy on these hot summer nights? Here are four stories that are sure to turn up the heat! If you love tall, dark, and handsome cowboys with a touch of danger thrown in, and the ladies that show them they've met their match, Cowboy Cravings is a must-have. Fast guns, smooth action, and hot love sizzle in one delicious recipe for these spicy stories. The summer has never been hotter in the Old West than it is when you have to satisfy those COWBOY CRAVINGS!
HEARTS AND DIAMONDS—Cheryl Pierson
Revenge sets Nick Diamond after a bride, and nothing will stand in his way. But when that bride happens to be outspoken firebrand Liberty Blankenship, all bets are off. Anything can happen when Hearts and Diamonds collide!
STARR BRIGHT—Celia Yeary
A stubborn rancher, a Spanish beauty…and the Texas summer heats up.
LILY AND MESQUITE JOE—Kristy McCaffrey
Lily Kingston has long loved Mesquite Joe Riordan. Facing the truth of his past will test her resolve, but only her stubbornness can win his heart.
MAKING PEACE—Kathleen Rice Adams
A confederate soldier. A Jayhawker’s widow. An accidental passion that could mend the wounds of war.
~Now Available~
KINDLE
NOOK
SMASHWORDS
TRADE PAPERBACK
Craving a cowboy on these hot summer nights? Here are four stories that are sure to turn up the heat! If you love tall, dark, and handsome cowboys with a touch of danger thrown in, and the ladies that show them they've met their match, Cowboy Cravings is a must-have. Fast guns, smooth action, and hot love sizzle in one delicious recipe for these spicy stories. The summer has never been hotter in the Old West than it is when you have to satisfy those COWBOY CRAVINGS!
HEARTS AND DIAMONDS—Cheryl Pierson
Revenge sets Nick Diamond after a bride, and nothing will stand in his way. But when that bride happens to be outspoken firebrand Liberty Blankenship, all bets are off. Anything can happen when Hearts and Diamonds collide!
STARR BRIGHT—Celia Yeary
A stubborn rancher, a Spanish beauty…and the Texas summer heats up.
LILY AND MESQUITE JOE—Kristy McCaffrey
Lily Kingston has long loved Mesquite Joe Riordan. Facing the truth of his past will test her resolve, but only her stubbornness can win his heart.
MAKING PEACE—Kathleen Rice Adams
A confederate soldier. A Jayhawker’s widow. An accidental passion that could mend the wounds of war.
~Now Available~
KINDLE
NOOK
SMASHWORDS
TRADE PAPERBACK
New Release ~ Alice: Bride of Rhode Island
Alice: Bride of Rhode Island is now available exclusively at Amazon and in the Kindle Unlimited program.
Read it today!!
50 brides, 50 states, 50 books...released in 50 consecutive days.
Don't miss this groundbreaking collaboration between 45 authors.
Learn more about each book, as well as the free prequel, here.
Join us at the American Mail-Order Brides Facebook page for release updates and exclusive giveaways.
Sign-up for Kristy's newsletter to stay updated.
* * * *
American Mail-Order Brides Series
Alice: Bride of Rhode Island
Book 13
Fleeing her stepfather and an arranged marriage in Newport, Alice Endicott finds work as a seamstress at the Brown Textile Mill near Boston. When a devastating fire destroys the factory, she and all the girls face dire unemployment circumstances. But hope arrives when their manager, Roberta McDaniel, shares the Grooms’ Gazette with them. Each woman will choose a husband and become a mail-order bride. As Alice’s friends—Lottie, Leora, Judith, Beth, Lessie and Josie—embrace the idea, she too becomes caught up in the excitement of a grand new adventure.
When fisherman Frank Martel contacts her, Alice can’t pass up the opportunity to return to Rhode Island despite her stepfather’s presence. Upon arriving at the train station in Tiverton, however, Frank neglects to meet her.
James Martel is shocked to find a woman at the rail depot claiming to be his brother’s fiancée. Even more surprising is her connection to a man who ruined James’ father years before. When Frank confesses that he can no longer wed Alice, James steps forward to fill the role since the beautiful young woman holds the key to avenging the Martel name.
Can Alice convince her new husband that their marriage is worth saving once she discovers his subterfuge? And will James learn that love is more important than revenge?
A sweet romance set in 1890 America.
* * * *
Excerpt
As soon as Alice had arrived at the office of Martel Fishing Enterprises, the older Mr. Martel had sequestered himself away with Frank, her betrothed. Frank—with the same dark hair as James but shorter in stature—hadn’t appeared too happy to see her, barely shaking her hand. She had a sinking feeling she’d soon be headed back to the train station.
She ruminated over what she should now do. She didn’t have enough money for a return ticket. Besides, she had nothing to return to. All her good friends from the factory were in the process of departing for their own new husbands and lives. And besides, Massachusetts wasn’t really her home.
She exited the stifling atmosphere of the office and wandered down to the stone pier, holding her bonnet in her hand and enjoying the crisp breeze upon her face. In the distance lay the Atlantic Ocean. The Sakonnet River must be more of a tidal inlet than a true river.
She stopped and closed her eyes; for the briefest moment the weight of the past several weeks left her. Seagulls squawked, and a breeze blew wisps of blonde tendrils that had escaped her bun across her cheeks. The odor of fish—thankfully not as pungent as at the rail station—and briny air accosted her, and tears burned her eyes as she thought of her father. Gavin Harrington had truly loved the sea, maybe even more than his wife and daughter.
Into each life some rain must fall. The words of her papa’s favorite poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, filled her mind. Well, it would seem her life was drenched at this point.
Alice decided that whatever the Martel brothers had in store for her, she wouldn’t leave Rhode Island. She would simply have to find work...somewhere. Somehow she’d get by. She would never return to the home of Daniel Endicott.
Footsteps from behind signaled the approach of, she guessed, Frank Martel, but she was surprised when his older brother James stood beside her and leaned forearms on the railing. In the distance, a steamship called the Queen City slowly approached.
“Do you like the sea, Miss Endicott?”
She nodded. “If I’d been a man, I would’ve worked on a ship. I can think of nothing more liberating than being at sea, sailing to some unknown land. It must be terribly exciting.” She glanced at the elder Martel and was taken aback by the contemplative gaze he bestowed on her. The frock coat was gone; the cuffs of his white tailored shirt were rolled to his elbows, revealing muscled forearms. With his hat also discarded, the breeze lifted his tresses with the gentlest of caresses, putting her in mind of a pirate from her school books.
Unsettled, she returned to staring straight ahead before continuing. “Let me save you the trouble of an uncomfortable conversation. I’m not completely witless. I’ve gathered that I’m not as welcome here as Frank’s letters had conveyed. I’ll just be on my way, but if it wouldn’t trouble you, I’d like to watch the water for a bit longer.”
“We’ve not been acquainted for long, but witless is hardly a description I’d apply to you.” He took a deep breath. “It’s true. Frank isn’t in a position to marry you. He’s promised himself to another.”
“I see.” Humiliation engulfed her. Beth had been right—she should’ve waited for Mr. Hughes of Iowa to respond. Now, she was left with nothing.
The man beside her shifted, reminding her she wasn’t alone. From the corner of her eye, James Martel appeared...nervous. But that couldn’t be. He was imposing, stalwart, and remote. A man who seemed shaken by very little in life.
“I’d like to offer you an alternative.” He cleared his throat and faced forward. “I’ll marry you.”
Shocked, Alice faced him. “I beg your pardon.”
His eyes met hers. “If you’ll have me,” he added.
Panic threaded through her. She’d been prepared to wed Frank. His letters had shown an earnestness towards her, along with a good dose of humor. James appeared to be the furthest creature from whimsical. Then again, Frank had obviously not been truthful. Perhaps wittiness wasn’t a good measure of a suitable husband.
“I’m no charity case, sir. You don’t have to do this. I’ll figure something out.”
“As I understand, you left a situation in Massachusetts that was somewhat...desperate. Do you have family here that would help you?”
She considered her stepfather and his mansion in Newport. “No, I don’t.”
James watched her intently. “You couldn’t go back to your father?”
“My father is deceased.”
James raised an eyebrow. “He is?”
“My stepfather is still living, but he and I are distant.”
“And why is that?”
Alice stared at this man who had offered to become her husband. He was a stranger. Becoming a mail-order bride was more difficult than she’d imagined. She truly was in over her head. “I’d rather not say, sir. I don’t know you.”
His response was silence.
“May I ask why you would want to take a woman you don’t know to be your wife?” she blurted. “You’re very handsome. Surely there’s a woman you fancy.”
His piercing gaze had her shuffling uncomfortably from foot to foot.
Then, he smiled and her breath caught. He had certainly been handsome in the stoic stance she’d only ever seen of him, but when he grinned, a boyish, rakish appeal snagged her as if he’d reeled her in on a fishing line.
“I accept your compliment,” he said. “The truth is, I wasn’t planning to marry. Running our fishing fleet keeps me busy, but Frank was irresponsible in how he handled this situation, and I feel compelled to rectify it.”
“You sound like a knight in shining armor.”
She wished he would stop grinning, as she was swiftly losing her train of thought.
“I like that,” he said. “Will you let me rescue you, Miss Endicott?”
Alice didn’t know what to say. She knew the correct answer was no. But looking into Mr. Martel’s eyes, more deep blue than green, much like the ocean beside them, fate tugged at her, whispering in her ear. Life is a grand adventure. Her papa had told her such when she was young.
James Martel represented a new beginning, and perhaps it wasn’t altogether a bad one.
“Yes, Mr. Martel,” she answered quietly. “I’ll marry you.”
Copyright © 2015 K. McCaffrey LLC
Read it today!!
50 brides, 50 states, 50 books...released in 50 consecutive days.
Don't miss this groundbreaking collaboration between 45 authors.
Learn more about each book, as well as the free prequel, here.
Join us at the American Mail-Order Brides Facebook page for release updates and exclusive giveaways.
Sign-up for Kristy's newsletter to stay updated.
* * * *
American Mail-Order Brides Series
Alice: Bride of Rhode Island
Book 13
Fleeing her stepfather and an arranged marriage in Newport, Alice Endicott finds work as a seamstress at the Brown Textile Mill near Boston. When a devastating fire destroys the factory, she and all the girls face dire unemployment circumstances. But hope arrives when their manager, Roberta McDaniel, shares the Grooms’ Gazette with them. Each woman will choose a husband and become a mail-order bride. As Alice’s friends—Lottie, Leora, Judith, Beth, Lessie and Josie—embrace the idea, she too becomes caught up in the excitement of a grand new adventure.
When fisherman Frank Martel contacts her, Alice can’t pass up the opportunity to return to Rhode Island despite her stepfather’s presence. Upon arriving at the train station in Tiverton, however, Frank neglects to meet her.
James Martel is shocked to find a woman at the rail depot claiming to be his brother’s fiancée. Even more surprising is her connection to a man who ruined James’ father years before. When Frank confesses that he can no longer wed Alice, James steps forward to fill the role since the beautiful young woman holds the key to avenging the Martel name.
Can Alice convince her new husband that their marriage is worth saving once she discovers his subterfuge? And will James learn that love is more important than revenge?
A sweet romance set in 1890 America.
* * * *
Excerpt
As soon as Alice had arrived at the office of Martel Fishing Enterprises, the older Mr. Martel had sequestered himself away with Frank, her betrothed. Frank—with the same dark hair as James but shorter in stature—hadn’t appeared too happy to see her, barely shaking her hand. She had a sinking feeling she’d soon be headed back to the train station.
She ruminated over what she should now do. She didn’t have enough money for a return ticket. Besides, she had nothing to return to. All her good friends from the factory were in the process of departing for their own new husbands and lives. And besides, Massachusetts wasn’t really her home.
She exited the stifling atmosphere of the office and wandered down to the stone pier, holding her bonnet in her hand and enjoying the crisp breeze upon her face. In the distance lay the Atlantic Ocean. The Sakonnet River must be more of a tidal inlet than a true river.
She stopped and closed her eyes; for the briefest moment the weight of the past several weeks left her. Seagulls squawked, and a breeze blew wisps of blonde tendrils that had escaped her bun across her cheeks. The odor of fish—thankfully not as pungent as at the rail station—and briny air accosted her, and tears burned her eyes as she thought of her father. Gavin Harrington had truly loved the sea, maybe even more than his wife and daughter.
Into each life some rain must fall. The words of her papa’s favorite poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, filled her mind. Well, it would seem her life was drenched at this point.
Alice decided that whatever the Martel brothers had in store for her, she wouldn’t leave Rhode Island. She would simply have to find work...somewhere. Somehow she’d get by. She would never return to the home of Daniel Endicott.
Footsteps from behind signaled the approach of, she guessed, Frank Martel, but she was surprised when his older brother James stood beside her and leaned forearms on the railing. In the distance, a steamship called the Queen City slowly approached.
“Do you like the sea, Miss Endicott?”
She nodded. “If I’d been a man, I would’ve worked on a ship. I can think of nothing more liberating than being at sea, sailing to some unknown land. It must be terribly exciting.” She glanced at the elder Martel and was taken aback by the contemplative gaze he bestowed on her. The frock coat was gone; the cuffs of his white tailored shirt were rolled to his elbows, revealing muscled forearms. With his hat also discarded, the breeze lifted his tresses with the gentlest of caresses, putting her in mind of a pirate from her school books.
Unsettled, she returned to staring straight ahead before continuing. “Let me save you the trouble of an uncomfortable conversation. I’m not completely witless. I’ve gathered that I’m not as welcome here as Frank’s letters had conveyed. I’ll just be on my way, but if it wouldn’t trouble you, I’d like to watch the water for a bit longer.”
“We’ve not been acquainted for long, but witless is hardly a description I’d apply to you.” He took a deep breath. “It’s true. Frank isn’t in a position to marry you. He’s promised himself to another.”
“I see.” Humiliation engulfed her. Beth had been right—she should’ve waited for Mr. Hughes of Iowa to respond. Now, she was left with nothing.
The man beside her shifted, reminding her she wasn’t alone. From the corner of her eye, James Martel appeared...nervous. But that couldn’t be. He was imposing, stalwart, and remote. A man who seemed shaken by very little in life.
“I’d like to offer you an alternative.” He cleared his throat and faced forward. “I’ll marry you.”
Shocked, Alice faced him. “I beg your pardon.”
His eyes met hers. “If you’ll have me,” he added.
Panic threaded through her. She’d been prepared to wed Frank. His letters had shown an earnestness towards her, along with a good dose of humor. James appeared to be the furthest creature from whimsical. Then again, Frank had obviously not been truthful. Perhaps wittiness wasn’t a good measure of a suitable husband.
“I’m no charity case, sir. You don’t have to do this. I’ll figure something out.”
“As I understand, you left a situation in Massachusetts that was somewhat...desperate. Do you have family here that would help you?”
She considered her stepfather and his mansion in Newport. “No, I don’t.”
James watched her intently. “You couldn’t go back to your father?”
“My father is deceased.”
James raised an eyebrow. “He is?”
“My stepfather is still living, but he and I are distant.”
“And why is that?”
Alice stared at this man who had offered to become her husband. He was a stranger. Becoming a mail-order bride was more difficult than she’d imagined. She truly was in over her head. “I’d rather not say, sir. I don’t know you.”
His response was silence.
“May I ask why you would want to take a woman you don’t know to be your wife?” she blurted. “You’re very handsome. Surely there’s a woman you fancy.”
His piercing gaze had her shuffling uncomfortably from foot to foot.
Then, he smiled and her breath caught. He had certainly been handsome in the stoic stance she’d only ever seen of him, but when he grinned, a boyish, rakish appeal snagged her as if he’d reeled her in on a fishing line.
“I accept your compliment,” he said. “The truth is, I wasn’t planning to marry. Running our fishing fleet keeps me busy, but Frank was irresponsible in how he handled this situation, and I feel compelled to rectify it.”
“You sound like a knight in shining armor.”
She wished he would stop grinning, as she was swiftly losing her train of thought.
“I like that,” he said. “Will you let me rescue you, Miss Endicott?”
Alice didn’t know what to say. She knew the correct answer was no. But looking into Mr. Martel’s eyes, more deep blue than green, much like the ocean beside them, fate tugged at her, whispering in her ear. Life is a grand adventure. Her papa had told her such when she was young.
James Martel represented a new beginning, and perhaps it wasn’t altogether a bad one.
“Yes, Mr. Martel,” she answered quietly. “I’ll marry you.”
Copyright © 2015 K. McCaffrey LLC
The Wings of the West Series
By Kristy McCaffrey
I’d like to share background on the formation of my historical western romance series, the Wings of the West. When I began developing characters and ideas, the titles intuitively came to me—The Wren, The Dove, The Sparrow, The Blackbird, and the forthcoming final installment, The Bluebird. How I would tie the birds into the storylines was a great unknown as I began each tale, but one thing emerged rather quickly—an underlying psychological theme of the journey of the feminine psyche.
In The Wren (Book One), the heroine Molly has been abducted by Comanche when she is nine years old. At nineteen, she finally finds the means to return home to Texas, to search for the life she’d lost so abruptly. We must all leave the safety of ‘home’ at some point in our lives to grow, whether physically or metaphorically, and the lesson is always that home isn’t a place outside of us but an internal sanctuary that we must nurture within ourselves. Molly’s journey comes full circle when she makes a home with the hero, Matt.
In The Dove (Book Two), Claire lives in a saloon run by her mama. While Claire herself isn't a soiled dove, she still faces the decisions many women face—does she live a life for herself or for others? How many times do women prostitute themselves because they don't feel they're worthy, or they perceive they have no choice? How do we 'use' others to gain our own ends? Claire also yearns to become a doctor, and this addresses the idea of healing through outside, external means. These can be effective, but only to a point. This leads to the next book.
In The Sparrow (Book Three), the heroine Emma undergoes a shamanic journey of initiation while traversing the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. During this process, she is helped by her power animal, Sparrow. Life causes wounds—we all have them—and while mending these are often sought through medicine, at some point an internal journey will be required. It’s the only way to truly heal the soul. While today we might seek the counsel of a trained psychologist, many indigenous people used the medicine man or shaman. The techniques of both are strikingly similar.
In The Blackbird (Book Four), Tess is a storyteller, A Keeper of the Old Ways; this is, and always has been, connected with imparting wisdom and magic to listeners through the telling of tales. She meets a hero who nurtures and protects this side of her, as any true life-partner should. Stories have the power to heal. It is yet the next step in mending the heart and the soul.
In The Bluebird (Book Five ~ coming October 31st), the heroine Molly Rose (niece to the Molly in the first book) yearns to travel and see the world. She connects with a man who can help her achieve these goals. The final step in the psychological journey—once healing has been undertaken and a new, better version of oneself is achieved—is to take all that’s been learned and go forth in the world. Life is an adventure and is meant to be experienced as such.
To learn more about Kristy’s work, visit her website at www.kristymccaffrey.com or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.kristymccaffrey.com/Newsle...
I’d like to share background on the formation of my historical western romance series, the Wings of the West. When I began developing characters and ideas, the titles intuitively came to me—The Wren, The Dove, The Sparrow, The Blackbird, and the forthcoming final installment, The Bluebird. How I would tie the birds into the storylines was a great unknown as I began each tale, but one thing emerged rather quickly—an underlying psychological theme of the journey of the feminine psyche.
In The Wren (Book One), the heroine Molly has been abducted by Comanche when she is nine years old. At nineteen, she finally finds the means to return home to Texas, to search for the life she’d lost so abruptly. We must all leave the safety of ‘home’ at some point in our lives to grow, whether physically or metaphorically, and the lesson is always that home isn’t a place outside of us but an internal sanctuary that we must nurture within ourselves. Molly’s journey comes full circle when she makes a home with the hero, Matt.
In The Dove (Book Two), Claire lives in a saloon run by her mama. While Claire herself isn't a soiled dove, she still faces the decisions many women face—does she live a life for herself or for others? How many times do women prostitute themselves because they don't feel they're worthy, or they perceive they have no choice? How do we 'use' others to gain our own ends? Claire also yearns to become a doctor, and this addresses the idea of healing through outside, external means. These can be effective, but only to a point. This leads to the next book.
In The Sparrow (Book Three), the heroine Emma undergoes a shamanic journey of initiation while traversing the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. During this process, she is helped by her power animal, Sparrow. Life causes wounds—we all have them—and while mending these are often sought through medicine, at some point an internal journey will be required. It’s the only way to truly heal the soul. While today we might seek the counsel of a trained psychologist, many indigenous people used the medicine man or shaman. The techniques of both are strikingly similar.
In The Blackbird (Book Four), Tess is a storyteller, A Keeper of the Old Ways; this is, and always has been, connected with imparting wisdom and magic to listeners through the telling of tales. She meets a hero who nurtures and protects this side of her, as any true life-partner should. Stories have the power to heal. It is yet the next step in mending the heart and the soul.
In The Bluebird (Book Five ~ coming October 31st), the heroine Molly Rose (niece to the Molly in the first book) yearns to travel and see the world. She connects with a man who can help her achieve these goals. The final step in the psychological journey—once healing has been undertaken and a new, better version of oneself is achieved—is to take all that’s been learned and go forth in the world. Life is an adventure and is meant to be experienced as such.
To learn more about Kristy’s work, visit her website at www.kristymccaffrey.com or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.kristymccaffrey.com/Newsle...
First in Series FREE Books
Author Tanya Anne Crosby has put together a collection of First in Series FREE books by a bevy of wonderful writers. I was very excited that she included THE WREN in the November selections. If you’re looking for a new read, I can almost guarantee that you’ll find something here you like (almost 60 novels are listed), so what are you waiting for? Check it out today!!
The selections are updated each month, so it’s worth bookmarking the link below.
First In Series FREE BOOKS
Do you subscribe to BookBub?
BookBub is a wonderful FREE email service that will alert you to bargain books each day. You pick your favorite genres and each day you receive an email with sale books. If you’re so inclined, I’d appreciate a ‘follow’ on my author page. You can find it here. Whenever I have a new release or a book on sale, they’ll let you know right in your inbox. And I do have an ulterior motive for asking. I need 1000 followers for BookBub to send out a notice on any pre-order I might have. I currently have 909 followers. Thanks in advance for your help!!
Labor Day Sale!! @McCaffreyKristy #romancebooks
I've got two books on sale this holiday weekend.
Blue Sage by Kristy McCaffrey
What do you do when a woman literally lands at your feet?
Braden Delaney has taken over the family cattle business after the death of his father, but faced with difficult financial decisions, he contemplates selling a portion of the massive Delaney ranch holdings known as Whisper Rock, a place of unusual occurrences. The sudden appearance of a pretty relic-hunter while he’s collecting his livestock, however, is about to change his mind.
Archaeologist Audrey Driggs arrives in the remote wilderness of Northern Arizona for clues to a life-altering experience from her childhood. When she rolls off a mountain and lands at the feet of rugged cowboy Braden Delaney, it’s clear she needs his knowledge of the area to complete her quest. But if she tells him the truth, will he think she’s crazy?
Together, they’ll uncover a long-lost secret.
This long novella was previously published in the anthology A COWBOY TO KEEP.
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* * * * * *
Book 4 in the Wings of the West Series.
Can be read as a standalone novel.
The Blackbird by Kristy McCaffrey
Bounty hunter Cale Walker arrives in Tucson to search for J. Howard “Hank” Carlisle at the request of his daughter, Tess. Hank mentored Cale before a falling out divided them and a mountain lion attack left Cale nearly dead. Rescued by a band of Nednai Apache, his wounds were considered a powerful omen and he was taught the ways of a di-yin, or a medicine man. To locate Hank, Cale must enter the Dragoon Mountains, straddling two worlds that no longer fit. But he has an even bigger problem—finding a way into the heart of a young woman determined to live life as a bystander.
For two years, Tess Carlisle has tried to heal the mental and physical wounds of a deadly assault by one of her papá’s men. Continuing the traditions of her Mexican heritage, she has honed her skills as a cuentista, a storyteller and a Keeper of the Old Ways. But with no contact from her father since the attack, she fears the worst. Tess knows that to reenter Hank Carlisle’s world is a dangerous endeavor, and her only hope is Cale Walker, a man unlike any she has ever known. Determined to make a journey that could lead straight into the path of her attacker, she hardens her resolve along with her heart. But Cale makes her yearn for something she vowed she never would—love.
A steamy historical western romance set in 1877 Arizona Territory.
2015 Laramie Award ~ BEST in Western Romantic Fiction
Don’t miss all the books in the series~
The Wren: Book 1
The Dove: Book 2
The Sparrow: Book 3
The Blackbird: Book 4
The Shiny Penny: Short Story, Book 4.1 (available exclusively to newsletter subscribers)
Song Of The Wren: Short Novella, Book 4.2 (available exclusively to newsletter subscribers)
The Bluebird: Book 5
Echo of the Plains: Short Novella, Book 5.5
AMAZON
NOOK
iBOOKS
KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
Blue Sage by Kristy McCaffrey
What do you do when a woman literally lands at your feet?
Braden Delaney has taken over the family cattle business after the death of his father, but faced with difficult financial decisions, he contemplates selling a portion of the massive Delaney ranch holdings known as Whisper Rock, a place of unusual occurrences. The sudden appearance of a pretty relic-hunter while he’s collecting his livestock, however, is about to change his mind.
Archaeologist Audrey Driggs arrives in the remote wilderness of Northern Arizona for clues to a life-altering experience from her childhood. When she rolls off a mountain and lands at the feet of rugged cowboy Braden Delaney, it’s clear she needs his knowledge of the area to complete her quest. But if she tells him the truth, will he think she’s crazy?
Together, they’ll uncover a long-lost secret.
This long novella was previously published in the anthology A COWBOY TO KEEP.
AMAZON
NOOK
iBOOKS
KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
* * * * * *
Book 4 in the Wings of the West Series.
Can be read as a standalone novel.
The Blackbird by Kristy McCaffrey
Bounty hunter Cale Walker arrives in Tucson to search for J. Howard “Hank” Carlisle at the request of his daughter, Tess. Hank mentored Cale before a falling out divided them and a mountain lion attack left Cale nearly dead. Rescued by a band of Nednai Apache, his wounds were considered a powerful omen and he was taught the ways of a di-yin, or a medicine man. To locate Hank, Cale must enter the Dragoon Mountains, straddling two worlds that no longer fit. But he has an even bigger problem—finding a way into the heart of a young woman determined to live life as a bystander.
For two years, Tess Carlisle has tried to heal the mental and physical wounds of a deadly assault by one of her papá’s men. Continuing the traditions of her Mexican heritage, she has honed her skills as a cuentista, a storyteller and a Keeper of the Old Ways. But with no contact from her father since the attack, she fears the worst. Tess knows that to reenter Hank Carlisle’s world is a dangerous endeavor, and her only hope is Cale Walker, a man unlike any she has ever known. Determined to make a journey that could lead straight into the path of her attacker, she hardens her resolve along with her heart. But Cale makes her yearn for something she vowed she never would—love.
A steamy historical western romance set in 1877 Arizona Territory.
2015 Laramie Award ~ BEST in Western Romantic Fiction
Don’t miss all the books in the series~
The Wren: Book 1
The Dove: Book 2
The Sparrow: Book 3
The Blackbird: Book 4
The Shiny Penny: Short Story, Book 4.1 (available exclusively to newsletter subscribers)
Song Of The Wren: Short Novella, Book 4.2 (available exclusively to newsletter subscribers)
The Bluebird: Book 5
Echo of the Plains: Short Novella, Book 5.5
AMAZON
NOOK
iBOOKS
KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
Author Kristy McCaffrey
Kristy McCaffrey writes western historical and contemporary romances. She and her husband live in Arizona with their two dogs. Visit her online at kristymccaffrey.com.
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