When Readers Demand More! by Kathleen Lawless

Like a lot of authors, I started out in traditional publishing and slowly made my way to the world of independent publishing.  I really like the direct contact with readers and the chance to respond to their requests.  I also like the ability to set my own publishing schedule and publish as many books a year as suits my writing speed and my lifestyle.

This freedom means I have the ability to listen to my readers and act on it in a timely fashion.  So when I wrapped up my popular western series, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and readers weren’t ready to say goodbye to this family and this town, I didn’t lose any time.  These are sweet books with characters I love, and it’s fun to bring them back for a second round in my new series Widows of the Wild West.  Readers took a liking to Percival Bloom, an interesting secondary character in the original series, and clamored for his HEA. 

HOPE, Percy’s love interest, kicks off the new series and is available for pre order here.    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DSL7Y8H

Snippet from HOPE 

         Hope found herself scrutinized by passersby from time to time and wondered if she stuck out like a sore thumb in a town where she expected most everyone knew everyone else.  If the rumors of ten men to every woman out West were to be believed, the men must be back at the ranch, while the few town ladies went about their errands.   

         Impossible to say what she had hoped to accomplish by her trip, but being here didn’t make her feel closer to Percy.  On the contrary . . .

         Disheartened, she returned to the hotel.  There was nothing for her here.  It had been a mistake to come. 

         As she approached the hotel, the faint sounds of piano music greeted her.  How wonderful!  Someone must be playing the grand piano she had seen in the lobby earlier; a welcome distraction from her thoughts. 

         Inside the lobby, she stopped short.  Even though his back was toward her, there was something familiar about the pianist.  As if on cue, the song ended, he ran his hand along the keys in a flamboyant finale, rose and turned her way. 

      Percy!

         “Hello, Hope.  Welcome to Bullet.”           

 There is a prequel with these two that is free to anyone who signs up for my newsletter. http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

If I’ve piqued your curious about the series, Book 1, BRODY’S BRIDE, is currently on sale for only 99 cents.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SRHCQK8

 

As a lover of both summer and the beach, I jumped at the chance when I was invited to join 13 other talented bestselling authors in a brand new summer box set, LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer’s End, currently available to preorder for only 99 cents.  https://amzn.to/3hJseeT

BLUE SKY SUMMER is part of the set, a classic second chance romance. 

Here’s a preview. 

To Alisha, the town looked different with Mark by her side, as he entertained her with a running monologue of the town’s history that she expected was at least half made up.  The sun shone brightly in a sky so blue it almost hurt her eyes.  Seated next to Mark, her heart overflowed with contentment.  The whole island looked different.  Brighter.  Special.

         She shifted to study Mark’s profile as he drove.  She’d always managed on her own, but she’d managed better with Mark.  He’d been the first one to truly believe in her. 

         Tentatively, she put a hand on Mark’s leg, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath his board shorts and the pull of his quad muscle as he accelerated. 

         “I’m sorry I hurt you,” she said in a small voice.

         She saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed thickly.  No quick grin this time.  No denial of the fact that she hurt him.

         “We were good together,” he said finally.   

         She nodded, blinking away the unwelcome sheen of tears behind her sunglasses.

         “Was that the problem?  You couldn’t handle good?”

         “I knew you would never leave me to attend med school, even after you’d been accepted,” she said finally, feeling it was time for the truth.

         He stomped on the brake and threw the Jeep into park so suddenly she was grateful for her seatbelt.  He turned to face her.  “That’s why you dumped me?”   

         She nodded.

         “So it was all a crock.  What you said about needing to concentrate on your career without the distraction of a boyfriend?”

         “I thought, if you weren’t feeling responsible for me, or committed to me, you’d look after yourself first.  Chase your dream.”

         “You never thought, maybe this was something we should have a conversation about?  Possibly even reach some sort of mutual agreement?”

         She pleated the hem of her shorts between her fingers.  “I see that now.  I see a lot of things I didn’t see back then.”

         Mark exhaled a long, pained sigh, put the Jeep back into drive and soon they left the town behind, following a narrow coastal roadway.  Alisha rested her head against the seatback.  She’d been sure she’d feel better after apologizing to Mark.  So why did she feel worse?

Join us at LAST CHANCE BEACH, SUMMER’S END, a full slate of favorite tropes and authors in one binge-worthy collection.  https://amzn.to/3hJseeT

Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her alpha male heroes.   

Not that she can ever stick to just one genre.  So many stories to tell—never enough time.

With close to 30 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and stories for young adults.        

Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Group to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers.    http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

 

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