Love Inspired Historicals discussion

Hi everyone! Just a heads-up that our December Q&A will take place this week, December 9th - 13th and we have an awesome line-up!

Monday, Dec 9: Lacy Williams, Return of the Cowboy Doctor

Tuesday Dec 10: Regina Scott, The Wife Campaign

Wednesday Dec 11: Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad, Mail-Order Mistletoe Brides: Christmas Hearts\Mistletoe Kiss in Dry Creek

Friday Dec 13: Jo Ann Brown, A Hero for Christmas

I'm really looking forward to hearing more about these great books! I hope you can join us.

sounds good cant wait

Great authors for this chat looking forward to each of them. thanks Deborah..

Good books from great authors!

you know I miss the like button here too

Jenny, just say, "LIKE!"

its to much to type like sometimes.

Welcome to our December Q & A, everyone! Jenny, I know exactly what you mean about the LIKE button!

There's plenty to like today because our guest author is Lacy Williams and her December book Return Of The Cowboy Doctor has already received some serious accolades from the writing and reviewing community. RT Book Review named it as a Top Pick and nominated it for a Reviewer's Choice Award. Publishers Weekly (which hardly ever reviews Harlequin series books) raved: "Williams delivers a smart, gentle, and uplifting fourth novel set in 1890s Wyoming (after Roping the Wrangler)...sweet, poetic Max is a lovable hero, and Hattie's desire to have both career and family will resonate strongly with readers."

In Return Of The Cowboy Doctor, Maxwell White and Hattie Powell both want the same thing - to become doctors. But both encounter obstacles to their ambitions. In Max's case, it is financial, while for Hattie, it is society's prejudice against the idea of female physicians. Much as Hattie is drawn to Max, she fears that her feelings for him might mean giving up on her dream.

Welcome Lacy and congratulations on the well-deserved praise you're receiving for this book! Can you tell us how Max and Hattie's story grew out of your previous books?

Good morning Lacy...I always like to read your books and this series seems to be about brothers,how many can we look forward to seeing their stories?
what is the reason other then they both want to be doctors that this couple seems to NOT hit it off at first sight. I take it they are attracted to one another but just sort of hang back from LIKING one another. I am off to the dr so will stop back later..have a fun day all

I love stories like this. She has a preconceived idea of what liking him will mean when God has a better idea. I remember an old saying "If you want to hear God laugh just tell him your plans" I am guessing from the title that he has been to school and had to drop out before. What book is that?

Hi, Deb, and thanks for hosting me! Maxwell has had a special place in my heart since THE HOMESTEADER'S SWEETHEART (his adoptive father's story). He was the quiet brother (second oldest) and reminded me a lot of Jonas, probably why I wanted to write his story!!

Paula,
I'm contracted for four more stories. THE WRANGLER'S INCONVENIENT WIFE (Edgar's story) comes out next August, then three more after that.

Great story questions. Maxwell has been burned by "love" before (or what he thought was love!) and is naturally shy to boot. He likes Hattie instantly but hesitates because of his past (his deeper past is that is mother was very unkind and made him believe he was unworthy of love). Hattie is very career-driven and afraid that if she starts a relationship with Maxwell that it will ruin her plans of becoming a doctor. Back in "those days", a woman had to really fight to be a doctor and faced a lot of prejudice.

Jan, thanks for your comment! Maxwell was away at medical school during COURTED BY A COWBOY (ebook) and ROPING THE WRANGLER (Aug 2013). Unfortunately his scholarship funds ran out and he's back home trying to make some money to get back to school!

Lacy, just saying hi! I've read your book, as you know, and loved it! You know that I adore Maxwell and love his story! For those of you who haven't read this book - you will LOVE it!!!

Thanks for stopping by, Valri. I'm glad you liked the book--I went back in looking for a scene to copy for a blog post and starting reading myself--love it when I can get lost in my own books!!

Hi Lacy! Hmm, a female marshal, a female doctor. What (or who!) inspired the theme of women pushing beyond societal norms?

Thanks for your comment, Robin! My parens have always encouraged (pushed) me to follow my dreams. I imagine there were a lot of young women who weren't happy with the roles society assigned them, whether they did anything about it or not. I think you know I loooove research. Believe it or not, both these characters were based on real scenarios although I did use some creative license. :)

I knew Miss Marshal was, but the doctor, too. What courageous women they must've been.

Lacy - I love this series. Can you tell us where you got the idea for The Homesteader's Sweetheart? Without it, we wouldn't have the chance to read all the other great books including Return of the Cowboy Doctor.

Yes some of the research I read was really interesting. Women docs would have a practice consisting of women and kids because men would refuse treatment--even if they were really sick or dying! Some men considered it a "heathen" thing for a woman to see a man in an exam (i.e. Naked) but not the other way around. Basically women had to work twice as hard or more to even be accepted.

Hi Lacy!, Hi Deborah!, I loved The Homesteader's Sweatheart it was my favorite book! Roping The Wrangler is right behind that one. Courted by a Cowboy was very cute so Return Of The Cowboy Doctor is going to be awesome!

Hi Lacy, congrats on your nomination! I haven't had much reading time lately but I'm determined to read this one. :) Are there specific sites you go to for research or do you just google your questions?

Well, I have Roping the Wrangler and Courted by a Cowboy waiting to be read!!! I need to get with the program and get them read because this whole series is sounding really good :-)

Congratulations for your book being nominated for a Reviewer's Choice Award.

Do you have a certain number of books planned for this series, or is this the last one?

Hi, Jennifer. Thanks for stopping by and for reading my books. I have had a lot of fun with this series. Jonas and Penny (Homesteader's) were my creations but when my editor suggested the spin-off of telling the brothers' stories, it created a whole 'nother monster!!

:)

Hi, Karen. Thank you! I love finding resources on Google Books, where you can do the Advanced Search and read inside the texts that are in the public domain. Speaking of medical practices, there were some home remedies you would NOT want to try!! It just depends on what I'm looking for. I started writing these westerns in 2008/2009 and have a ton of research from then and going forward. Now a lot of it has turned into a Series Bible for the series so I can keep stuff straight. I use Evernote to keep my research notes and I love it.

Hi, Brittany! Thanks for stopping by. There were 7 brothers and Breanna in HOMESTEADER'S SWEETHEART. I've been contracted for 6 books total (ROPING and COWBOY DOCTOR are the first two), so I'm going to get to write at least six of them.

Then... who knows? We'll see what God has planned.

I do have to say that secondary characters I've "met" through the first books have intrigued me as well! I've got ideas out my ears but not enough time in the day to write them. We'll see what happens. :)

That is great! I obviously need to get my hands on Homesteader's Sweetheart, as well. I love book series and am always happy when I hear about a series that others really like a lot(especially when there will be quite a few books in it).

I love series too. There have been many times I've found an author's book I like and then go back and get the rest because I have to read them!! Any favorites in particular? I love talking books.

Hi Lacy love the idea of a women pushing the boundries back then. I have read a few books with women wanting to be drs and also training but then struggling to get people to accept them including women. Seems women were often even more prejudice than men as to what they thought other women should do.
Was there any fun tibits you learnt in your research?

Lots of medical stuff. The book has to do with cholera so I researched the different things they did for it back then (and many doctors couldn't agree). The disease itself was quiet gruesome and I'm not one for gore so I grossed myself out a few times researching but prevailed. Note that it may be a long while before I make another hero a doctor!!

Not for this book but Edgar's book out next year I needed a snakebite remedy and one of the home remedies for it was to put cow manure on it. Yeah, don't think that really helped (but I had a cowboy suggest it!!).

I do the same thing. I try to read a series in order, but there are times that I don't. But I always go back and read the other books from earlier in the series if I really liked the book.

From the Love Inspired line, I am really enjoying Regina Scott's The Master Matchmakers series, Winnie Griggs' Texas Grooms series, Lyn Cote's Wilderness Brides series. I know there are others, but blanking out. Outside of Love Inspired, I love Joanne Bischof's Cadence of Grace Series, Beth Wiseman's Daughters of the Promise Series, Mary Connealy's Trouble in Texas series, Dani Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series. There are many more...I can talk books all day!!! Love Laura Hilton and Vannetta Chapman's various Amish series, too. I love all different kinds of genres. Sorry to be long winded.

So, should I go ahead and start with Courted by a Cowboy and then on to Roping the Wrangler? Or should I really read the Homesteader's Sweetheart first?

Homesteader's Sweetheart is about 10-12 yrs before the other books start so you're safe to start reading Courted. :)

I have really wanted to read Dani P's series but my time is very limited (I have three kids 4 and under), so my reading is limited too. I juggle read Susan May Warren's start of a new Deep Haven series about a family of siblings and can't wait for the next one to come out next year.

I keep forgetting how close to next year we are!!

Hello:) I just recently finished Roping the Wrangler & Return of the Cowboy Doctor and I just want to say I adored them. I especially loved Maxwell! He's so endearing and you can't help but love him. It was definitely hard to let that story go. So I was wondering...did you have any certain inspiration for his character? And how long are you thinking you Wyoming series will go?

Hi, Lacy. Your book sounds like one I would really enjoy. The medical practices of long ago intrigue me. Do you find it easier to write about the female characters, the male characters, or does it perhaps depend on the story? I am glad to hear there will be several books in the series!

Hi Barb! I miss you! Lacy's books are fantastic! If you haven't read the earlier books in this series, you should! They are really good :)

Sounds like a great book Lacy! I enjoyed the other books in the series so I will keep my eyes out.

Lacy -- I love hearing about your books. I like a medical side to things, too.

What a great day we had yesterday with Lacy and I know today will just as much fun with Regina Scott! Something Regina shares in common with Lacy is that she's also an RT Reviewer's Choice nominee - in fact, she's a double nominee for The Heiress's Homecoming and The Courting Campaign!!

Regina's December book The Wife Campaign continues her Master Matchmakers series, which has to be one of the most brilliant Regency series ideas ever: Wedding bells will ring when downstairs servants play Cupid for upstairs aristocracy!

In The Wife Campaign, Whitfield Calder, Earl of Danning is reluctantly persuaded by his valet that marriage is an important part of an earl's duty. He agrees to entertain three eligible ladies at a house party but has no intention of proposing to any of them. Then Miss Ruby Hollingsford, who has been tricked into attending the party, announces that she would never marry him anyway. Will a fortnight in the country prove sufficient time to change their minds and hearts?

This sounds like another winner, Regina! Would it be giving away too much to tell us how Ruby is tricked into attending Whit's house party?

I really enjoyed The Courting Campaign and The Wife Campaign. Looking forward to the next book in that series. I still have an Everard book or two to catch up on and a whole shelf of the older books. So much great stuff to read, so little time.

Yes, both of these books were so good! I really enjoyed all if these characters in The Wife Campaign. I also am looking forward to the next story.

Congrats Regina on this RT Reviewer's Choice nominee - in fact, a double nominee for The Heiress's Homecoming and The Courting Campaign!!

I can see this Earl toying with these young ladies not wanting to commit.. Why does the valet want to see him commit to marriage and settle down? I would think it would be parents. I have not read any of this series but will look into them, they sound like a great story.
I know when a woman and man say they don't want to marry and then the "Lovebug" hits them, they have no choice...its going to happen.

Thanks, Deborah, for the introduction and for hosting the Q&A! You are the hostess with the mostest. :-)

Ruby is the daughter of a Cit, a business man from London, in this case, a prosperous jeweler. He is determined to get a title into the family, by marrying Ruby to one. He's pushed her in front of one too many aristocrats, so when she receives the invitation to the house party, her father hides it from her and claims he needs her to come to Derbyshire with him on business. Only when they are within a mile of the party does he confess why they're really in the area. And then she jumps out of the coach. :-)

Thanks, Judy and Brittany! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. Love your reviews!

Thanks, Paula-O! I was stunned to receive not only one nomination, but two! And I'm in great company. We have such talent among our LIH ladies!

Whit Calder, Earl of Danning, isn't the toying kind. He's just too upright! That's part of the reason his valet felt he had to step in. Whit does everything--manage his many estates, help with various charities, support key acts in Parliament. He hasn't had time to look for a bride! Should anything happen to him, his feckless cousin will inherit, and none of the staff want to see that happen. Alas, both Whit's parents are dead, and he is an only child, so there truly aren't many around who would help him out, except his valet, who he's known since they were childhood chums.

Oh, and my apologies for not arriving sooner. I'm on the West Coast. :-)

Congrats Regina! I am happily catching up today. Looks like I stopped in at the right moment to comment to you today. Looks like a fabulous read! Jumping out of the coach? I like Ruby already! :)

And then she jumps out of the coach.

I love the sound of Ruby!

Haha Deborah! We had the same thought! ;)

Ruby was great. So is the valet. He invites some of those "mother's" as well. The kind who want their daughter to have the catch of the day. Pun intended but you'll have to read the book to know what I mean.

I loved writing Ruby. Because of the way she grew up, she isn't afraid to speak her mind or behave in ways that sometimes surprise the aristocracy. But she went to a fine finishing school as well, so she can hold her own in good Society.

And it was fun getting to write about "stage mothers" as well. Who wouldn't want her daughter to marry a handsome, wealthy, principled earl?