The Fascinating 1920's with Lauri Robinson

The Roaring Twenties was a fascinating time for America. A time of great change around the world. Economies were thriving, cities were booming, and industries were blossoming.

Cars: People from coast to coast had access to the same merchandise thanks to chain stores, and new transportation opportunities allowed long distance traveling. Ford vowed to build a car that all Americans could afford—a Model T cost $260 in 1924—and dozens of other car manufactures grew from the demand for more options. By 1929 there was one car on the road for every five Americans and new business, gas stations and motels, lined the roadways.

BOOK 1

Women: The 19^th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote, opportunities to attend colleges, and to pursue careers, paved the way for younger women to embrace who they were, and fashion and beauty products allowed them to showcase their individuality like never before. The increased availability of birth control made it possible to plan for children, and new technology brought freedom from the drudgeries of house work with electric refrigerators, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners.

Whiskey: Prohibition—the 18^th Amendment had been ratified in 1919 and on January 16, 1920 at 12:00 AM the federal Volstead Act closed every saloon, bar, and tavern in the United States. The act made it illegal to manufacture and sell any alcoholic beverage. However, consumption of alcohol was not illegal. The liquor trade went underground and bootleggers, gangsters, and racketeers soon battled amongst themselves to control the wealth gained by this enterprising opportunity. Speakeasies were born and embraced.

BOOK 2

Entertainment: Radios became a must have and radio stations popped up across the nation bringing the news as it happened and entertainment into homes. Movie theatres and amusement parks became popular businesses in large cities and small towns alike.  Americans had more leisure time than ever before and quickly fell in love with going to the movies. Stars of black and white films, and singers, became household names as theatres popped up across the nation. Hollywood hosted over 20 film studios that produced an average of 800 movies a year.

The roaring twenties is one of my favorite time periods. The glitz and glamour of entertainment, the dangers and underworlds of gangsters, the liberty and revolution of women, the freedom and travel of fast cars and airplanes, all gives way for never-ending opportunities for exciting settings and compelling men and women to fall in love and find their happily-ever-after.

This year, Brides of the Roaring Twenties, my two-book series, will be released. These books are about two women, Helen and Shirley, who are looking for fresh starts and head to where the bright lights beckon—Hollywood—where they find adventures amongst the speakeasies, starlets and the silver screen! Though they weren’t looking, they each find a handsome Hollywood bachelor to guide them through the dazzling new world they’ve entered and eventually down the aisle! 

Baby on his Hollywood Doorstep was released in May.

Stolen Kiss with the Hollywood Starlet will be released in September.

Lauri with fan at B&N book signing

Currently, I’m working on another series set in the twenties and again in Hollywood, this time about sisters who are wealthy heiresses by day, and flappers by night! They too find adventures, scandal, and handsome Hollywood bachelors.

Lauri Robinson has written a variety of historical romance novels. She lives in lives in Minnesota where she and her husband spend every spare moment with their three grown sons and their families—spoiling the grandchildren.

You can learn more about Lauri and her books at www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com, http://www.amazon.com/author/laurirobinson 

and connect with her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lauri.robinson1 https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurirobinson/

or Twitter https://twitter.com/LauriR

And Onward To Nine!

First, the Blog Queens and all the Genre-istas want to Thank You for your support of Romancing The Genres for 8 years.

Here’s what you can look forward to in the coming months!

As you’ll see we have a Guest Theme and a Genre-ista Topic for each month. We invite you to recommend authors who write in our Guest Themes as Sarah and Judith are always looking for new-to-us authors.

June our guests are 20^th Century Historical Romance authors: Maggie Robinson, Anna Brentwood, Margaret Tanner, Lauri Robinson and Eleri Grace. And the Genre-istas will be sharing Wedding Stories. Judith already has her June 7^th post up “Say Yes To The Dress” but you’ll have already read posts by Paty Jager, Luanna Stewart, Robin Weaver and Dora Bramden before Judith’s day.

July our guests are Emerging Romance Authors. What’s an Emerging Romance Author? One who has at least 3 books published but not yet seven. In other words, fairly new to the wide, wonderful world of publishing. At the writing of this blog post we’ve got Kerry Blaisdell, Kathy Coatney and Andra Ashe signed up. And Genre-istas will post about the one thing they would change about their past and why. That should be an interesting month.

And in August we’ll share an “Adventure in Traveling.” Hmm, Judith’s had several including ending up on a list of suspicious international travelers. Wonder if she’ll expand on that one. While you read about our travel adventures, our guests will be Authors of Historical Romance From Around The World.

September our Topic and Theme center around The Craft of Writing. As a reader let us know what you’d like to learn from us.

October we celebrate Superhero/heroine Romance and the Genre-istas will be talking about Their Own Superhero/heroine.

Over the years we’ve settled into our November and December topics so there’s nothing new here: November: Holiday Reads is the Genre-ista topic and Holiday Romance Authors is our guest theme.

December is our What’s New In Publishing theme. Our guests have included folks from Draft2Digital, Findaway Voices, Alli, as well as a couple of people who stay on top of the publishing trends.

As the calendar shifts from 2019 to 2020, we head in to the last four months before our 9^th Blog-O-Versary. We’d love to have your thoughts on topics and themes you’d like to see. After coming up with topics and themes for 96 months, you can imagine how grateful the Blog Queens are for ideas.

And to sweeten the request, leave your ideas and contact information in the Comments. Those who do will be entered in a drawing for a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Enjoy these Christmas Reads

This month is about holiday romance reads and to be honest with you, I haven't had time to read a new holiday story.  I've been on a deadline to get a book written and haven't had time to read for pleasure.

I do have author friends with holiday books out, but I've not read them. I do know these ladies write terrific books so I'm confident in sharing them with you.

You can't miss with a book from Lauri Robinson. In Western Christmas Brides: A Bride and Baby for Christmas\Miss Christina's Christmas Wish\A Kiss from the Cowboy You not only get a great read from Lauri but also two other Harlequin historical authors, Lynna Banning and Carol Arens.

Three heartwarming stories of Christmas in the Wild West.

A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson

Pregnant Hannah Olsen has made a list of Oak Grove’s eligible men. A list that Teddy White sees—and he’s not on it! Time for him to act so that both their Christmas wishes can come true.

Miss Christina’s Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning

Dedicated new teacher Christina Marnell feels her heart race as she watches Ivan Panovsky chop wood for the school. She had ruled marriage out, but Christmas is a time when miracles can happen…

A Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens

Kitson James and Livy York both have secrets, but can their love overcome the lies they’ve told? A Christmas kiss might help…

Another great author is Caroline Clemmons. she has  the Christmas book of Mistletoe Mistake that is available: 

Shannon Callahan worked hard to become a physician. In New York, she meets resistance to a woman doctor and feels she is no more than a midwife. When the opportunity arises for her to go to Montana and be the only doctor in the town of Mistletoe, she grabs the chance.

Riley McCallister is sheriff of Mistletoe. When he learns the new doctor is a woman, he is shocked and vows never to let her treat him—no matter how beautiful she is. Slowly, Shannon’s skill wins his respect—and more. Shannon’s expertise and dedication during a measles epidemic convinces the town she is a good doctor—but does their acceptance come too late? 

Shanna Hatfield who writes both contemporary and historical westerns had a Christmas book out. Chasing Christmas 

He certainly didn't ask Santa for a bride. . .

Dragged into a crazy publicity stunt, one handsome cowboy has no idea how he ended up accidentally married.

Professional bull rider Chase Jarrett has the world on a string. The only blight in his idyllic existence is his nosy cousin’s nonstop nagging about his need for more publicity. Tired of listening to her suggestions, he gives her free rein when she hatches a plan to skyrocket his popularity. All he has to do is show up for a phony wedding in Las Vegas. Then Chase discovers the wedding was real, the surprise bride is beautiful, and his sponsors are demanding he remain married.

Shy and introverted, the last thing Jessie Pierce wants is to find herself in the spotlight. But thanks to a meddling so-called best friend, that’s exactly where she’s at. The promise of an all-expenses paid vacation to Las Vegas lures her on an adventure that ends with her unexpectedly married to a hunky bull rider who would draw her out of her shell if she’d let him. 

A business proposal leaves the two of them committed to a year of marriage. How hard could it be to remain wed in name only? 

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 6 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”


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