Thursday, March 12, 2015

THE OUTLAW TAKES A BRIDE - Susan Page Davis - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Susan Page Davis is a dear friend, and one of my favorite authors. I love her books. This book has a unique twist on a mail-order bride story. I love, love, love it. Her characters will grip you and not let go. There’s even a touch of mystery.

Welcome, Susan. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I write stories I would like to read. These are the stories in my heart. I write Christian novels, mostly romance, and a lot have elements of suspense or mystery. My books are split about half and half, contemporary and historical.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Marrying my husband Jim. That was a long time ago, but still one of the best memories!

How has being published changed your life?
It has allowed me to contribute to the family income while working at home. It has also introduced me to many incredible people.

What are you reading right now?
I just finished Terri Blackstock’s Truth-Stained Lies, and I’m reading Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution as a research book.

What is your current work in progress?
I just finished writing a novella called The Cowboy Poet for Barbour Publishing, and I’m working on a seafaring novel with my son Jim.

What would be your dream vacation?
Go to England again (I was there 40 years ago) and visit my daughter and son-in-law.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
I usually pick a place I feel would be best for the story to unfold in. Sometimes the town or the terrain are important parts of the story. For The Outlaw Takes a Bride, southern Texas seemed like the ideal place.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Harrison Ford—he seems like a very interesting person. I used to be a news reporter, and I’d love to have had the first interview after he crashed his plane.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I like needlework, family history, logic puzzles, and cryptography.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Finding time to do all the writing-related tasks and still have time to write new books.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Read a lot, across genres. Write something every day. And don’t publish before you are ready.

Tell us about the featured book.
In The Outlaw Takes a Bride, Johnny Paynter flees Denver to escape being hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. At his brother Mark’s ranch in Texas, where he thought he could take refuge, he finds his brother dead. Johnny strongly resembles his brother, and the people in town think he is Mark. Reluctantly at first, Johnny assumes Mark’s identity. But what will he do when he learns Mark has been corresponding with a widow in St. Louis? Sally Golding is en route to be a mail-order bride to Mark. Johnny must decide whether or not to go through with the wedding, posing as his brother. But Sally has secrets she's hiding, too. How will a marriage survive with so much deception?

Please give us the first page of the book.
Early May 1885, Colorado Plains
Johnny Paynter slung his saddle over his chestnut gelding’s back. He and Reckless would work alone today, repairing the ranch’s roundup pen. Johnny didn’t mind being up here at the line shack all alone—it was better than fighting for elbow room in the bunkhouse. Especially when he was on the foreman’s bad side. Still, he couldn’t help remembering that today should have been his day off.

Frantic hoofbeats pounded in the distance. Johnny dropped the girth ring and walked around his horse to stare down the trail. His friend Cam Combes was riding hard.

“What’s your hurry?” Johnny called as the other cowboy drew near.

“Get your gear. You’ve got to get out of here.” Cam pulled his horse to a stop.

“Why?” Johnny asked. “What’s happened?”

“It’s the foreman. Somebody shot him. And Johnny—they think you did it. You got to run for it!”

“What on earth?” Johnny stared at him. The Lone Pine foreman was known to be harsh and short tempered, but Johnny had mostly managed to stay on his good side—except for the words they’d exchanged right before Johnny came up here to the line shack, but that wasn’t serious. “Are you telling me that Red Howell is dead? How did it happen?”

“Nobody knows.” Cam swung down out of the saddle and dropped his pinto’s reins. “Ike found him this morning, on the trail about a half mile from the ranch. You were the only one unaccounted for when he rode in with the news. Red had told us he was riding up here to see you this mornin’. Wanted to know how you were doing with the roundup pen. Now I guess they think you ambushed him or something.”

“That’s crazy,” Johnny said.

“Some of the boys heard you the other night, when Red told you to come up here. They’re sayin’ you had a fight.”

Johnny shook his head in protest. “That wasn’t any fight. I told Red it was my Sunday off this week, and he said too bad, and I said I really needed a day off, and he said—”

“No time to argue. Get your stuff. You’ve got to go.”

“What, go down and talk to the boss?”

“No!” Cam frowned. “If you do that, they’ll turn you over to the law.”

“But I didn’t do anything.” Johnny glared at him. “I didn’t even know Red was coming up here. Don’t you think I should just go and tell them that?”

“No, I don’t. You need to lie low. Better yet, get out of Colorado. Before the sheriff rides up here to take you in.”

Johnny’s stomach felt hollow. “I’m not going to run. I didn’t do anything.” He went back to his horse and tightened the cinch strap.

“I believe you, but I’m not so sure they will. I heard some of the boys talking about a necktie party.”

Johnny froze. “Are you serious? You mean they’d string me up?”

“You know I always give it to you straight. Remember when Buck Higgins blamed you for lettin’ the remuda loose during the roundup?”

“Yeah.”

Cam nodded. “I told the boss you wouldn’t be that careless. Turned out Buck was to blame. I’ve got your back, Johnny, and I’m just saying you’ll be safer if you make a run for it now. Some of them are pretty hotheaded. If I were in your boots, I’d want to get out of here and not take the chance.”

Cam marched into the cabin, and Johnny followed, puzzling over what he had said. It wasn’t Cam’s fault. He was only delivering the news.

“I don’t know what to do—where I could go. . . .”

“There must be someplace you could hide out for a while, until things quiet down.” Cam grabbed Johnny’s extra shirt from a peg on the wall. He spotted Johnny’s saddlebag on the cot, picked it up, and stuffed the shirt into it. “What else you got here?”

His urgency ignited a flame under Johnny. He shoved the rest of his few belongings into the saddlebag, his mind racing as fast as his pulse. “I guess I could head down to Texas. My brother’s got a little spread there.”

“There you go.” Cam smiled. “That’s what you need—someplace where you can go and take it easy for a few weeks. When things quiet down, you can come back if you want to, and see if the boss will hire you on again. Give the sheriff time to sort out this shooting and find out who really did it.”

“I don’t know, Cam. Just take off without knowing—”

Cam shook his head. “They said the sheriff had gone to the other end of the county, and they don’t expect him back for a few days. Come on! I’ll ride with you. I admit, I’m worried about you. The fellows at the ranch are real riled. If you don’t get out of here soon, you’ll be dangling from the nearest cottonwood.”

“You’d go with me?” Johnny asked.

“Sure. You’re my friend.”

Relief at not having to go alone washed over Johnny, yet at the same time he hated to get Cam more involved than he already was. But that was Cam’s way, he supposed. It wasn’t just little things like the incident with the remuda. Johnny also recollected the time he’d been thrown from a green cow pony and landed on a barbed-wire fence. Cam had wrapped his cuts and ridden back to the ranch house with him, to make sure he got there without passing out, and he’d given up a night off to stay with him at the bunkhouse. He rubbed his forearm through his sleeve and could feel one of the jagged scars he still bore from that. Even though Cam could get a little wild sometimes, he had proven himself a true friend.

Cam rested a hand on his shoulder. “I’m not going to let them lynch you for something you didn’t do. Besides, I’ve never been to Texas. I wouldn’t mind seeing some new country.”
Three minutes later, the two men were riding hard down the trail away from the ranch. Johnny’s mind still whirled. His life was in danger. He could do nothing less than ride away, even though it went against every impulse.

“You said you have a brother in Texas?” Cam asked.

“Yeah. It’s a long ways. And I haven’t seen him for a couple of years.”

“Should be all right,” Cam said. “And it’s only for a little while.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?
www.susanpagedavis.com   On my website, you can see all my books, sign up for my newsletter, enter a monthly drawing, and read a short story on my “Romance” tab.

www.hhhistory.com is a history blog where I post on the 23rd of each month.

Thank you, Susan, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Outlaw Takes a Bride Christianbook.com
Outlaw Takes a Bride: - Amazon
The Outlaw Takes a Bride - Kindle.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

44 comments:

Susan Page Davis said...

Lena, it's great to be back here again!

Unknown said...

Sounds like an awesome novel, Susan. Thanks, Lena for featuring her and the chance to win her book! YOU GALLS ROCK!!

Susan Page Davis said...

Thanks for your kind words, Marianne.

Rebecca said...

Susan, I have enjoyed your past novels and am looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance to win!

Oregon

Susan Page Davis said...

Nice to hear from an Oregonian, Rebecca. My husband grew up out there, and we lived in Oregon for a while after we were married.

Anonymous said...

Ooohhh! Sounds thrilling!
J.C. -Indiana-

Unknown said...

This book looks great!! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy <3 Thanks so much for offering this chance to win one!!!

And, New York girl here. Though, not New York City. I live in Central New York state <3

Judy Cooper said...

I love anything about Cowboys I have one in Northeast Texas (son). I also always have enjoyed anything by this author. I was introduced to her novels on this blog. Thank you again.

Susan Page Davis said...

Judy, what a lovely compliment. Thank you--and also thank you, Lena, for introducing so many readers to new authors.

Mary Preston said...

A lovely interview thank you & a wonderful first page.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Sm said...

I am intrigued by the plot of a brother assuming his dead brother's identity including his girlfriend. Sm CA. Wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy W. said...

Would love to win a copy of Susan's book. Thank you for the chance.

I live in Indiana.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

Charlotte Kay said...

Oh, now this is my favorite state for a setting!!!!!!
Would be overjoyed to win the book!!!!!
Blessings and Smiles :)
Charlotte
Georgia

Unknown said...

I sawt his novel the other day, and right away added it to my TBR list!

Sierra
Indiana

Susan Page Davis said...

Nice to have readers from all over! I'm glad you all think the idea is a good one. Sometimes I get an idea and second guess myself, but this one seems like a winner.

Vera Godley said...

Oh, yummy! Another Susan Davis book. These are always good for "me time" enjoyment. Looking forward to this one. Ride 'em cowboys and all that good fun stuff.

I'm in NC (not a cowboy state, but we have mountains and beaches)

Susan Page Davis said...

Oh, yeah, Vera! You've got a great state too. I've been to Wrightsville Beach and to the NC mountains, too. Very cool stuff y'all have!

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in this awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.

Beth Gillihan said...

Love these kinds of books! Thanks for the chance to win!

Beth in Montana

Library Lady said...

We have all of Susan's books in the church library but this one.
Thanks for giving me the chance to win it.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

Melody said...

I'm out of the Nicaragua jungle and able to read blogs again! And to find Susan has a new book to read...woo hoo! I love a good western!

Melody from Donna, TX

Susan Page Davis said...

Thanks, Melody--and everybody!

Britney Adams said...

I enjoyed Susan's interview and am eager to read The Outlaw Takes A Bride. I know it is a wonderful story! Thank you for the opportunity to be a winner.

Britney Adams, TX

Patty said...

I loved your Prairie Dreams series Susan, and know I would love to read this book!

Patty in SC

Susan Page Davis said...

Thanks, Patty! That's one of my favorites too. Britney, nice to "see" you here.

kam110476 said...

Hi Susan & Lena! The Outlaw Takes a Bride sounds like another great novel of yours and I look forward to reading it soon!
Kristen in OK
kam110476 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

This sounds like a great book! Thanks so much for the giveaway! Sydney Harries GA

Anonymous said...


Sure enjoyed the interview. Sounds really good and I have loved Westerns for many,many years. Please put my name in the drawing. Thanks Lena.
Maxie from TX. > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

Anonymous said...

Sure enjoyed the interview. Sounds really good and I have loved Westerns for many,many years. Please put my name in the drawing. Thanks Lena.
Maxie from TX. > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

Karen G. said...

Sounds like a great book. New author to me. Would love to read this. Thank you for interview and a chance to win a copy of this book.

Karen G., NY
kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com

Melissa M. said...

I have a soft spot for Westerns & mail order bride stories, and this one sounds quite interesting.

-Melissa M. from TN

Danielle Hull said...

I love stories of the bad guy turning good! Danielle in Indiana

Brenda said...

I would love to win & read this book! Thanks for the opportunity! grandmama_brenda(at)yahoo(dot)com

Brenda said...

I'm in the State of MS! I didn't see that at first. We were suppose to put where we are from.

Donna B said...

Looking forward to reading this book! It sounds like a very interesting one! I'm from IL.

Pam Graber said...

I love Logic Puzzles, too! It's a major accomplishment to complete one and have the answers be correct. I love cowboy stories and would love to win your book!

Pam in Ohio

Susan Page Davis said...

Thanks, everybody! Brenda, my brother lives in your state. Pam, I'm just glad the puzzles come with the answers in the back in case I get stuck!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks so
much for the giveaway!! Sydney harries GA

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great book...
Rita N. from WI

Lane Hill House said...

I have the Texas Trails series. This new novel sounds fun! This is the third blog I have seen promoing The Outlaw Takes a Bride. I would love to win a print copy. I am wondering if Sally has a child. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Missouri

Susan Page Davis said...

Kathleen, you're right--I'm visiting a lot of blogs this month to promote The outlaw Takes a Bride. As to whether or not Sally has a child, well, what do you think? I always write happy endings!

Lane Hill House said...

Thank you for your comment, Susan. :D Kathleen

rubynreba said...

Oh, I want to know the secrets everyone has! I always enjoy mail order bride stories.
Beth from IA

Abigail Mitchell said...

Enter me!
Blanch, NC