Love Inspired Historicals discussion

Good Afternoon,

We have not forgotten about this month's Q&A, but due to unforseen circumstances we will be holding it next week, April 10th.

I look forward to introducing our April authors and their wonderful stories to you.

See you next week!

Christina

I was wondering. Thanks for letting us know. See you then.

Thanks for the update...

Thank you for letting us know. Unforeseen circumstances are always upsetting. I hope everything is okay.

Thanks for the update!

Thanks for letting us know. I have missed the last few do to tax season and remembered to check in today. Hope everyone is doing ok.

Hello!!! I want to thank you for your patience. Louise M Gouge was to be your hostess this month and I know you all will miss her as she always does a fabulous job. She's had a family issue come up and I know she would appreciate your prayers for her and her husband.

Today, I wanted to do something fun, and then tomorrow we'll get started on introducing our authors and their books.

Like ice cream, we all have our preferred flavors. As an Love Inspired Historical reader I have favorite types story lines, heroes, and heroines. I love hard won happily ever afters, usually with a reunion story, wounded heroes, and tormented, yet strong and nurturing, heroines.

What are your favorites?

Tomorrow, I will introduce Louise and her story. She won't be able to join us, but we'll try and have some fun.

I can't wait to hear about your favorites.

Christina

Thank you for taking over hosting duties, Christina.
I think we have the same taste in heroes and heroines.

Thanks for taking over as host Christina, I hope everything is alright with Louise.

As to favorite type of hero and heroines that is kinda hard. I think it depends on my mood. Mail order brides & Marriage of convenience are always a favorite cause the heroine is typically trying to escape something or someone and discovers a hero who shows her she is stronger than she thought. Meanwhile the hero is trying to rescue the heroine and thinks nothing about his life will change and instead his life gets totally turned upside. :)

I think it also depends on my mood! I like different kinds of heroes and heroines. Variety is the spice of life! A one-size-fits-all would be boring! I am partial to the Old West, however! It just happens to be my favorite time period for a book setting! I do read other time settings though. My favorite type of hero is the type that needs a loving heroine to bring out his softer side though - sigh!

Oh My, wishing all safe and sound with Louise whatever she needs.

I like reading the little LIH books and have to say mail order brides or grooms are ones I like best, seeing someone find their happiness in an unusual way. Another would be the prairie books, hard times and folks working together to make life better.
Thanks Christine for helping out with the Q&A days.

I love what Laura said about what's going on with the characters, both female and male, in the stories. Those oblivious guys! 😀

My favorite thing about LIH is that they aren't just one era or even one continent. Just when I start thinking I've almost had enough mail-order bride, or cowboy, or pony express, along comes one about a duke, lord or viscount. Notice I said "almost enough." One can never get enough. 😄. Looking forward to this months Q&A.

Thanks for doing the hosting, Christina.
I agree with Laura and June. I am influenced by my mood but I always like the heroes to be like a white knight but he thinks he just rescues and life goes on as before. The guys really get a shock when their life changes.
It took away but I have grown to like the stories with marriage of convenience because both the heroine and hero have stories.

June wrote: "I love what Laura said about what's going on with the characters, both female and male, in the stories. Those oblivious guys! 😀

My favorite thing about LIH is that they aren't just one era or even..."


I agree June

this is hard. what I don't like is secret baby storylines or weak heroines who need someone to do everything for them. Like the pampered princess style heroines who even need someone to dress them. I do like the ones who are put in a situation and thrive.

I do like mail order brides too and the western books. I also like other settings and countries but I really don't like regency era because I struggle with the aristocratic system and how pompous they are. While saying this I do like navel books set in this era. (think hornblower but with a romance in it).

Hi everyone. I've enjoyed reading about your likes and dislikes. I like strong heroes with a tender side that keeps peeking out of their tough exterior in spite of their effort to keep it hidden. And I like heroines who find out they are stronger than they knew.

Remind your friends to stop by and make a comment. I am taking down names to enter in the drawing for the books this month's authors are giving away.

We're off to a good start, Christina. Thanks for taking over the hosting duties this month.

Dorothy wrote: "Hi everyone. I've enjoyed reading about your likes and dislikes. I like strong heroes with a tender side that keeps peeking out of their tough exterior in spite of their effort to keep it hidden. A..."

Dorothy,
I like your type of hero also.

My favorite types of heroes are strong, good hearted people who have a few flaws and work thru them and live happily ever after. I don't really like it when the biggest part of the book is the main characters arguing. I like reading Westerns set in the 1800's. And in the eastern half of the USA in that time period.

Thank you, Christina, for hosting this month. I'm adding my prayers for Louise and her husband.

Self-sacrificing heros are my favorite. I enjoy all the various types of historicals as others have mentioned.

Looking forward to joining this month's author chats as I'm able to with this busy week.

Hmmm...Christina, your comment about ice cream varieties has me dreaming of coffee/toffee flavor. :)

Good morning! Thank you for leaving your responses yesterday. I had to work and was unable to respond, but I enjoyed reading them, especially as an author.

Today we'll be talking about Louise's new book, Cowboy Homecoming. And I have to say, I love reunion stories. Probably because something in the past kept the hero and heroine apart and now they have to over come that obstacle as well as several others.

Here's the back cover blurb for Cowboy Homecoming.

After two years, Tolley Northam returns home, transformed from a mischievous youth into an ambitious lawyer confident of winning his father's approval at last. But he soon begins to wonder if the only way to do so is to marry family friend Laurie Eberly—a woman his father has always liked. If only she weren't so adamant about refusing Tolley's proposal…

Laurie's childhood friend is now a handsome, accomplished lawyer with undeniable charm. But she can't accept Tolley's proposal; she believes it's just to earn his father's praise. First he'll have to prove to her that he wants her for a wife not because his father thinks she's the perfect match, but because he does.

Since Louise is unable to join us today, I would like to have some fun. If you've read, Louise's story, please don't give any spoilers away. Laurie and Tolley were childhood friends and no doubt, the mischievous young man played tricks on sweet Laurie. I'd like to know what sort of antics Laurie may come up with to torment this new lawyerish Tolley. Things to make this serious man smile, and maybe even laugh. Perhaps, even some things Tolley had done to her when they were children, like the frog in her hair sort of thing.

I'll be around throughout the day and look forward to reading your ideas.

Be sure to leave a comment and tell your friends about the fun we're having. Dorothy Clark will be taking names down to enter in for a drawing for this month's books.

Louise M. Gouge is an award-winning Florida author who writes historical romance and women’s fiction. She's been married to David Gouge for 48 years, she is mother of four amazing adult children and grandmother of eight absolutely perfect grandchildren. With a BA in Creative Writing and a master's degree in Liberal Studies, Louise teaches composition and humanities at Valencia College in Kissimmee, Florida.

This sounds like such a cute story.
I think Laurie could leave little notes for Tolley, reminding him of some of his antics. Maybe not put his or her name on them but leave them where someone else might read them in front of Tolley, where he would have to laugh or smile at the remembrance.

What if the notes were tongue-in-cheek love notes purporting to be from him to her, but were obvious parodies? Like "no other woman would still be speaking to me if I had tied their braids to a desk in third grade" sort of stuff. Or doodling on the page edges of his legal briefs with scenes from childhood, just before he has a big case to argue?

Since she doesn't take him seriously, she might also pretend not to take his profession seriously, or pretend to not like his looks. Things like "you were nicer as a child"...she could also pull a few real pranks to try to tarnish his new dignity. How about swapping out his inkwell with some sort of perfume concoction dyed black? Or swapping his handkerchiefs with a lady's?

Andrea wrote: "This sounds like such a cute story.
I think Laurie could leave little notes for Tolley, reminding him of some of his antics. Maybe not put his or her name on them but leave them where someone else..."

The notes are a cute idea.

Hannah wrote: "What if the notes were tongue-in-cheek love notes purporting to be from him to her, but were obvious parodies? Like "no other woman would still be speaking to me if I had tied their braids to a des..."

Hannah, I love the swapping of ink with dyed perfume. Can you imagine needing to write a brief to a judge and it smelling like flowers, or maybe like a woman from a house of ill-repute, making the judge question Tolley's character?

I have not read this story but sounds like a fun one, suppose he could try to get attention by casually popping up in places wherever she happens to be...as if here I am -see me.
I have won several books in this group so leave me out this time...more for others.

Laurie could test Tolley's true love for her by offering him a batch of somewhat burnt cookies. "I made these especially for you, Tolley. I love to cook, so I do hope you like my cooking." If he could choke them down with a smile on his, he truly cares about her feelings.

Laurie could, when with him and other folks like after church or in a restaurant ask him if he remembered certain tricks he pulled on her when they were school age. New people would likely be surprised at the things he did as a kid.

Sherida wrote: "Laurie could test Tolley's true love for her by offering him a batch of somewhat burnt cookies. "I made these especially for you, Tolley. I love to cook, so I do hope you like my cooking." If he co..."
LOL! Or heavily salted cake.

Keli wrote: "Thanks again for filling in for Louise, Christina. Love the fun discussion starters you've come up with and the great ideas our wonderful readers have for ways Laurie could torment poor Tolley.

Th..."
Keli, thank you for adding the cover.

Brenda- wrote: "Laurie could, when with him and other folks like after church or in a restaurant ask him if he remembered certain tricks he pulled on her when they were school age. New people would likely be surpr..."

Sounds like a plan.

I've enjoyed reading everyone else's suggestions. It will be fun to see what tricks Laurie came up with!

Cute story idea! Ah, childhood pranks come back to haunt.....

All of your suggestions for Laurie sound interesting.

on the salt in the cake idea.

Maybe they have a social where you bid for a basket, he knows which will be hers so they will have to have a meal together. Maybe she spikes his sandwiches with pepper, Then instead of water she has salted the water,

I'm about halfway through the story and loving it. Having read what I have I can see Tolley and Laurie working together to prank their older siblings. You're heart strings will get tugged with this one! I have to go read more now and see how it turns out.

Here is one for all of you marriage of convenience readers, Victoria Austin's Family of Convenience.

Mail-Order Mother

Recently widowed and pregnant, Millie Steele needs a husband to help provide for her unborn child, and becoming a mailorder bride is her only option. Thankfully, her new husband, Kansas farmer Adam Beale, only wants a mother for his two young children—not romance. Everything is going according to plan…until Millie begins to fall for Adam.

Adam had reservations about wedding another city dweller—his late wife never took to life on the prairie. But now he can't imagine his family being complete without Millie and her unborn baby. Though they agreed to a strictly platonic partnership, can real love be blooming in Adam and Millie's marriage of convenience?

Victoria Austin Victoria Austin is an inspirational romance novelist living in the American Midwest with her husband, children, and dogs.

Due to Victoria's hectic work schedule this week, I am posting tonight so she has a chance to join us for discussion. Make sure to leave a comment and invite your friends to do so for a chance at Family of Convenience.

First, I want to say, I love the pregnant widow character. My question, is Adam a widower too?

Both books sound like a lot of fun. What are you working on now?

Congratulations on your LIH debut, Victoria! Please tell us what your experience has been like. I was a Manuscript Matchmaker entrant and found the opportunity to be amazing. Your publication happened so quickly from the announcement to your book on the shelf. How were you and Harlequin able to publish your novel so fast? Again, congratulations and many blessings on the beginning of your publishing career!

Congrats on publication, Victoia!

How much of the book's setting was influenced by your own life in the Midwest?

Victoria,
I love the combination of mail-order bride, widow and widower plus children. How much research did you need to do for the city vs. Kansas rancher? How long does it take for you to write a story? Thanks for participating in the Q & a>

Congrats on your new release! I LOVE the cover, and the story sounds really good, so I look forward to reading it. I have really enjoyed reading LIH stories!

Wow! You adopted 3 children AT ONCE! And I love that your husband knew you could write a great book! Thanks for the link! It was fun to read.

Victoria wrote: "I know everyone says three kids at once is crazy, but since we never knew any different it didn't seem crazy. I mean, it seemed insane and I've been tired for almost a decade, but I think it would ..."

Congrats on reaching out to kids that needed a home, too. Adoption is close to my heart, and I know lots of people who are in fostering and adoption ministry. A lady in my Sunday School class adopted five brothers at once!

How much do you think your journey as an adoptive parent came through in your story as your heroine adjusts to being a stepmom?

I think it's amazing! We have 6 kids, and are thankful for each one. But I can't imagine the changes to have 3 at once, although I always wanted to have twins or triplets.

Victoria wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Victoria wrote: "I know everyone says three kids at once is crazy, but since we never knew any different it didn't seem crazy. I mean, it seemed insane and I've been tired for almost..."

That sounds so sweet! I'm really looking forward to reading it.

This book sounds great! Congrats on your debut and welcome to the family! I love books with children in them so this one absolutely jumps out at me! How long did it take you to write a book?

New author to me Victoria but this story is just the kind I like to read so will be looking forward to it. thanks for sharing today with us. Have you written other books and how long have you wanted to be a writer?

Victoria, thanks for sharing your call story link. Very fun! I love that you include your real life experiences in the book. I'm looking forward to reading your debut.

Congratulations Victoria! I'm looking forward to reading your book.

Dorothy, don't add my name to the giveaways this month. I won last month and I purchased the Kindle boxed set for this month. I'm just enjoying the conversations.

Oh yes, same with me Dorothy. I won last month and have finals coming up so you can leave me out of the drawing =)