Book 1 in the Series Steam! Romance and Rails
An unredeemable man. An unstoppable woman. Will love be powerful enough to save them?
As a wanted man, Buck O'Connor must guard his secrets when he returns to Kansas to see his brand of justice served. Then Fate—or a darker force—puts him in the path of a wealthy widow at an opportune moment. In the middle of a cutthroat railroad construction race to reach the Kansas border.
For investor Amy Langford, the contest isn’t about riches. She’s driven by her father’s dreams and haunted by his death. Now, someone wants her dead. Is it rioting settlers? Underhanded competitors? She needs a protector who isn’t involved in the race, but is stronger than her enemies...and more cunning.
Buck agrees to be her bodyguard, yet he hides his real purpose for getting close to her. A purpose that could destroy the remarkable woman who is destined to redeem him.
A thrilling Western romance set against the backdrop of a no-holds-barred railroad race across Kansas in 1870. With twists and turns that raise the stakes all the way to the end.
Why did you release a new edition of this series? And this book, in particular?
Seriously, that cover...right? No (ha ha) It's not just that awesome cover. I also went back and tweaked and revised to make it a more compelling read. The story is essentially the same.
Would you call this a Western romance?
Technically, historical Western romance. The story is based on true events and even features numerous historical characters. It has a strong suspense element, there's plenty of action, and the passion that ignites between Buck and Amy produces enough steam to power a train.
What is the historical setting?
A great construction race between two railroads in 1870 that sparked settlers’ riots across Kansas. When I first started researching, I found surprisingly little written about this fascinating event that involved equally fascinating characters, many of whom make an appearance in my books. One, in particular, is Octave Chanute, a brilliant French-born engineer who built the first railroad bridge over the Missouri River, then went on to help the Wright Brothers learn to fly.
The actual race had all the makings of a great epic: crooked politics, underhanded investors, angry mobs, liars, cheats and killers. It wasn’t difficult to craft a tale around the colorful characters who appeared in historical accounts. My challenge was developing primary characters as compelling as the supporting cast. Once again, I dove into the history books. The fiercely independent Kansas women who championed suffrage and equal rights served as models for Amy. The tough-as-nails, troubled survivors of Missouri’s guerrilla war gave me inspiration for Buck.
I hope readers enjoy this glimpse into an exciting era in America’s history. Although that time is far behind us, it left an indelible mark that helped shape our country into who and what we are today.
Come back next Tuesday to learn more about Book Three and the man who built the Katy Railroad. He was my inspiration for the main character, who could be a villain, a hero--or both.
At its heart, Her Bodyguard is a redemption story. Can you think of any books you’ve read recently that featured a hero who needed redeeming? What it is about these characters that draws you to them?
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