Four courageous women, an untamed land, and
the daring to embark on an unforgettable adventure.
Crooked Creek, Montana Territory—1865
"Emma of Crooked Creek"
Emma Hawkins is a dedicated doctor in the little town of Crooked Creek, Montana Territory. Casey Latimer is a wounded soldier in search of a new home and a new beginning. When Casey, battered and bruised, quite literally falls at Emma's feet, she is duty-bound to help him. What happens next is something Emma never expected.
"Hattie of Crooked Creek"
Married three months before the war and now a widow, Harriett McBride can either give up and sell her ranch or fight for the life she and her husband came west to build. With the help of a friend and a stranger,she must stop the one who threatens all she holds dear. When Hattie is faced with an unexpected choice, will she bury her heart on the battlefield forever or find a way to love again?
"Briley of Crooked Creek"
Far from home and with no family left, Briley Donaghue answers an advertisement from a rancher seeking a wife in Montana Territory. She arrives in Crooked Creek to find an empty cabin, a letter from her fiancé, and too many unanswered questions. Alone and uncertain, Briley forges a new life in an unfamiliar land.
"Clara of Crooked Creek"
No longer willing to allow society's opinion to influence her life, Clara Stowe sought a change, and what better place than the frontier. With her young daughter by her side, she embarks on an unexpected undertaking to the Montana Territory. With grit and determination, they arrive in Crooked Creek to shape the life Clara had always dreamed of and honor the memory of the one they lost.
The war is over between the North and the South, but the battles at home are just beginning. If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you'll enjoy The Women of Crooked Creek. MK McClintock delivers another extraordinary western series with more to come.
Special Deal
The
Women of Crooked Creek e-book is only $0.99 from January 9 – January 14 at
Amazon and Amazon UK.
Excerpt from “Emma of
Crooked Creek”
EMMA JERKED
AWAKE at the sound of riders coming toward the
cabin. One look told her that the morning sun had barely kissed the mountain
peaks. Her guest still slept. Emma slipped a coat over her nightgown and pulled
back the curtain covering the window. Two riders and that was one too many. She
could shoot what she aimed at but wouldn’t manage more than one before they got
her.
“Anybody home?”
The shout came from the taller of
the two men. Emma glanced down at Mr. Latimer. “Now would be a good time to
wake up.” She returned her attention to the men outside, hoping they would
simply go away, but the taller one dismounted. Colt in hand and ready, Emma
unbarred the door and opened it enough to look out but not enough for the men to
see inside.
“What do you want?”
The man’s eyes trailed her from
bare feet to loose hair, and Emma shuddered.
“Blacksmith in town said the doc
lived out here.”
She nodded once. “Is someone
hurt?”
“No, ma’am. We’re looking for a
fellow who might have ridden by here. He’ll be looking for a doctor.”
“Who is the man?”
“That’s not your concern, ma’am.
Has anyone come by?”
Emma bristled. “I may have helped
someone last night. Knife wound.”
“Did you fix him up?”
“I’m a doctor. I don’t choose who
I help.”
“Did he say where he was going?”
Emma smiled. “He didn’t say much
of anything.”
The man tipped his hat and stepped
forward. Emma raised the Colt. “Keep back. I’m not inviting you inside.”
He laughed. “You won’t have much
choice.” The stranger turned and called out to his friend. “Tie up the horses,
Jeb.”
“The lady said you weren’t
invited.”
Emma stilled as the door opened
wider. Her hand dropped to her side, but she managed to keep the Colt steady
and pointed toward the stranger.
“Latimer.” The man returned his
gaze to her. The noise he made sounded to Emma like the growl of a trapped
raccoon.
“Stay inside.”
Latimer, much like the grizzly
bear she witnessed from afar facing down a pack of wolves last winter, faced
the two men. Emma ignored his order and pushed past until she stood in front of
him. Latimer leaned heavily against the exterior wall while blood seeped
through his shirt. Emma held the Colt dead center at the man’s chest. “I don’t
know who you are or why you’re here, but you’ll leave now or die where you
stand.”
Meet MK
MK McClintock is an award-winning author who has written
several novels and short stories, including the popular "Montana
Gallagher" series, the "Crooked Creek" series set in post-Civil
War Montana, and the highly-acclaimed "British Agent" novels. She
spins tales of romance, adventure, and mystery set in bygone times. MK enjoys a
quiet life in the Rocky Mountains.
MK also writes contemporary romance and romantic thrillers as
McKenna Grey.
Q&A
What’s
your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
-
I can get lost simply in the presence of books!
Libraries and bookstores are my version of Disneyland. The books I enjoy most
all have the same things in common: Interesting and likeable characters, solid
writing, and great plots. I like a book that keeps me staying up past my
bedtime and takes me away to another time and place without me realizing it.
Right now I’m binging on historical romantic westerns by a couple of favorite
authors. I’m reading all of Jo Goodman’s and Johanna Lindsey’s books from the genre.
A couple of weeks ago I read only contemporary thrillers. Before that I opted
to read again Kathleen Woodiwiss’s books. Getting lost in a book is the easy
part. It’s finding my way back to reality that is the challenge.
If
you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and
specifically why?
-
1870s – 1880s Montana Territory. I would have loved
to have seen it back then, despite all the upheaval in the country at the time.
Montana is an incredible place to live in the present-day, but I’ve listened to
stories from people who have lived here 50+ years ago and can’t help but wish
I’d been alive to see it back then, and much earlier. I set most of my
historicals in Montana in part because I know the land, but also because it’s
my way of grasping that bit of history I’ll never have a chance to live except
through my imagination. Of course, if a time machine whisked me off to
eighteenth-century Scotland, I’d be okay with that, too.
What’s
the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?
-
I always take a week, sometimes two, off from
writing. My imagination is still in overdrive, but I know my brain needs a
break. I’ll spend one or two full days just reading and ignoring the world, and
I love to spend time in the kitchen. I tend to go overboard with the cooking
and baking, but then my freezer is always well-stocked!
Do
you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let
them influence your writing?
-
I did in the beginning but stopped after book
three. I’ll get emails from readers notifying me that they’ve reviewed my book
or a family member or friend letting me know about a review, and in those
instances I usually read them. I stopped in part because I felt like I was
hovering in a place that is meant just for the readers and not for authors.
It’s impossible to please every reader and I wanted to spend my time writing
rather than worry about reviews. It was liberating when I stopped paying
attention and just focused on interacting with readers in other ways.
Be honest, when
reading...do you put yourself in the heroine’s role?
-
Almost always! I’ve had the great pleasure of
playing the part of every one of the heroine’s I write and most of the ones I
read. When I connect with the characters, and especially when the heroine is
strong and has a great hero, it’s easy to slip into that role. If the heroine
is more on the immature or weak side, I sometimes add a new character, play
that part, and steal the hero. Either way, I’m happy!
What
sound or noise do you love?
-
The sound of a crackling fire while a
thunderstorm echoes through the sky outside. I often listen to a recording of
these sounds while I write.
What
are the next five books on your ‘to be read’ pile?
This is one of those rare times when
I’m reading from different genres.
-
Never Love
a Lawman by Jo Goodman (currently reading)
-
Someone to
Love by Mary Balough
-
The
Whistler by John Grisham
-
The Magdalen Girls by V.S. Alexander
-
Kissing
Comfort by Jo Goodman
MK is giving away two paperbacks: The Women of Crooked Creek and one of the Montana Gallagher series. (US shipping only). Comment and enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated
novel?
Thank you, for having me at Get Lost in a Story today!
ReplyDeleteThese sound like amazing reads. I'll probably be adding to my tbr list.
ReplyDeletejudytucker1947@gmail.com
Thank you, Judy! Good luck with the giveaway.
DeleteI love reading your books..!
DeleteThank you, Tonya!
DeleteFamily sins
ReplyDeleteActually, I have several authors that I just love, and I read everything they write, including you, Elisabeth. I have heard of you, MK McClintock, but have not had the pleasure of reading one of your novels yet. I enjoyed the excerpt and love that you write stories after the Civil War because I write TV scripts and that Era is my favorite. I am currently still working on an original TV Western pilot and series set in my hometown of Fort Worth after the Civil War when the Chisholm Trail started coming right down main street. I know I will read your other books now, especially the ones that take place after the war.
ReplyDeleteThere are many books by some great authors that don't get the recognition and praise they should. I really love the book series called, Gunslinger's Destiny Books, which has 10 books in it with, I think, 2 more to go by E.K. Kneff. The first book is To Whistle A Dark Horse. She writes in the style of Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour, but she adds a feminine POV which makes her books really fascinating. These stories and characters are addicting, and I would love for others to know about them.
I look forward to reading this book as well as your other books.
My email is c4kwhite(at)gmail(dot)com.
Thank you so much, Connie! How fun that you write western screenplays. That's a special talent all on its own. Thank you for the mention of the Gunslinger's Destiny Books. I haven't heard of them yet but will check them out.
DeleteConnie, thank you for the shout-out! I'm eager for some new shows set during the Civil War era or time of Western expansion. I'll have to check out the books you mentioned. They sound fascinating. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThe Choices We Make by Karma Brown.
ReplyDeleteOne I think people are going to read once the movie is out: The Handmaid's Tale
ReplyDeleteI recently read a Amish novel, "The Wish" by Beverly Lewis.I was very impressed by the factual knowledge included in this and the research that must have been done for so much of this. It also makes me glad to have these modern things in my own home.It was written in a way that it was woven into the story.
ReplyDeleteBeverly Lewis writes some wonderful books! I haven't read "The Wish" yet, but I'm still working my way through her stories. Thank you for visiting, Nancy!
DeleteCan't wait to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam! I hope you enjoy the stories, and good luck in the giveaway.
DeleteThese stories sound most interesting. This time period and part of the country are among my favorites to have as settings for stories.
ReplyDeleteAs for under appreciated authors, that is a hard one. Romance in general doesn't get the respect it deserves. I was a children's librarian and the one who ordered the romance collection. The other librarians wouldn't admit to reading romance even though they were all reading romantic suspense. Many people do not realize the educations many of the authors have or the extensive research done for books. That research gives us a look into lives and times we could not otherwise experience. Part of the problem is the covers on some books. It can be hard to get past half naked people and expect good writing.
Pat, thanks for sharing a librarian's point of view on romance. I can't tell you how often I've had people ask me what I write, and when I say "Romance," they dismiss it with "Oh, I don't read those..." The last time that happened, I gave the woman one of my books and said, "Here, if you've never tried Romance, give this a shot. If you don't like it, just pass it on or throw it away." She wrote back a week later to tell me how much she loved the book and had no idea that was what Romance was like, and said she planned on buying more (and not just my books). I hope more librarians like you will introduce readers to our genre and help bust some of the myths.
DeleteLet me add my thanks as well. It's always nice to have a librarian's perspective. I agree that half-naked people are tough to get past, though it's nice to see so many authors moving away from that. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteMK, you are new to me, but this collection looks terrific! Love me some brace Montana ladies, and historical romance is my favorite jam! Adding this to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Teri! They're my favorite jam, too. :)
Deletenone
ReplyDelete