THE CHISHOLM TRAIL BRIDE - Kathleen Y'Barbo - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I so glad my dear friend Kathleen Y’Barbo Turner is visiting my blog today. We have quite an extensive history. I was on the sidelines when Kathleen and Robert’s romance unfolded. I absolutely love her books. You will, too.

Kathleen Y’Barbo, Texas A and M Class of 1980, is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and bestselling author of more than 100 books with over two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A and M Association of Former Student and the Texas A and M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers. She would also be a member of the Daughters of the American Republic, Daughters of the Republic of Texas and a few others if she would just remember to fill out the paperwork that Great Aunt Mary Beth has sent her more than once.

When she’s not spinning modern day tales about her wacky Southern relatives, Kathleen inserts an ancestor or two into her historical and mystery novels as well. Recent book releases include bestselling The Pirate Bride set in 1700s New Orleans and Galveston, its sequel The Alamo Bride set in 1836 Texas, which feature a few well-placed folks from history and a family tale of adventure on the high seas and on the coast of Texas. She also writes (mostly) relative-free cozy mystery novels for Guideposts Books.

Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They now make their home just north of Houston, Texas, and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans (including Hannah ’13 and Jacob ’19), Okies, and one very adorable Londoner.

Welcome back, Kathleen. What kind of files takes up the most space on your computer?

Book files, followed close behind by research files.

Do you have plans to ever retire from writing? Why or why not?

Never! I love it too much. Although if the day comes when God says stop, then I will stop. But that would be His plan, not mine.

Are you a stay at home kind of person, or do you like to be on the road a lot?

Ironically, I like both. I have a day job, so I’m on the road weekdays, even during the quarantine because our office is considered essential. During my commute, I listen to e-books, which is fabulous. I’ve “read” more books that way than any other way. And if you follow me on social media, you know that my husband and I document our road trips using #TurnerTravels. However, there’s no place like home, and I do love my time there, too.

Please share a Bible verse or passage that has had the most impact on your life.

Ephesians 3:20! Any time I am tempted to think I know what God will do in any given situation, I remember this verse. He can do so much more than I can ever think or dream of!

I like that, too. Do you have a favorite Bible character? Who is it and why?

She’s never given a name, but I very much like the Proverbs 31 woman. That gal’s got it all together!

When we celebrated our 25^th anniversary with a renewal of our vows, James used Proverbs 31 to describe me. As you might imagine, I was crying when he finished. What has been your favorite time in your life? And why?

Now! Every day I grow closer to God, so tomorrow will be even better!

Do you have an e-reader? If so, what kind do you use?

I started with a Kindle years ago and loved it. However, now I read off my iPad.

Do you read mostly print books or e-books?

Other than my Bibles, I read only e-books.

Do you like to read books in the genres you write, or do you read only other genres … and why?

I love reading historical mysteries and contemporary cozies. I’ve got one coming out in August—The Black Midnight—but I mostly write cozy mysteries now.

I’d like to feature that book when it releases. Please tell us about the books we’re featuring today.

The Chisholm Trail Bride is the third book I’ve written for the Daughters of the Mayflower series. A Series for Lovers of History, Adventure, Romance, and Ancestry, Barbour Publishing offers a series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.
 

Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive

Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves?

Please give us a peek at the first page of the book.

March 1880
On the Chisholm Trail

The stars at night were big and bright. Eliza Gentry sighed. Was there any more beautiful sight? There couldn’t possibly be.

A wisp of cloud drifted lazily over a hazy fingernail of a moon while cattle lowed in the distance. Eliza lay back on the pile of quilts she’d made into the most comfortable bed in the entire encampment and stared up at those beautiful Texas stars.

Tonight they were the canopy beneath which she would sleep, and tomorrow the blazing sun would take its place. The cowboys would rise before dawn to complain about the coffee and each other, but never would they complain about riding all those miles under the big blue sky.

Much as they grumbled about other things, the men who drove cattle from the Gentry Ranch up toward the Red River lived the whole year for the spring drives. Chief among them was her father.

The fact that Mama had allowed her to go along with Papa and her brothers this year was a miracle in itself. She’d threatened to bundle Eliza off to New Orleans for the annual visit with the Gentry and LeBlanc cousins.

“The girl needs finishing,” she’d heard her mother say. “She needs the companionship of fine young ladies and the company of young gentlemen.”

Papa’s chair legs had scraped the kitchen floor at that statement, causing Eliza to gather closer into the shadows behind the kitchen door lest Papa come strolling past and find her.

“She’s got time for that,” he’d said gently.

“My mother would disagree. At twelve I already knew my place as a young lady. I had been taught how to carry myself in society and was already planning my trousseau. Meanwhile, our daughter is doing nothing of the sort.” Mama’s voice rose. “Do you know I caught her on the roof of the spring house again? When I asked her what on earth she was doing, she told me she’d only just determined that it might be possible to land in the saddle of her horse from that angle if she were to wait until the wind blew just right. Can you feature it?”

Papa’s chuckle drifted toward her. “Sounds like the work of her brothers, Pauline. Boys tease, especially their sisters.”

“I don’t find it funny at all,” her mother said. “And no, this time the culprit was that Creed boy. I know you like the elder Wyatt Creed, and I can find no fault with W.C. other than perhaps his background, but the younger Creed is trouble. You mark my words.”

Eliza’s lips twisted into a smile as she recalled the conversation and the dare that precipitated it. Mama spoke the truth when she told Papa that Wyatt Creed was involved, but what she did not know was that Eliza had never planned to try landing in that saddle.

As with every other conversation she had with Wyatt, if he thought she would do it, he’d have to do it, too. And better. Or faster.

Or whatever else it took to best her.

Sometimes he did and sometimes he didn’t. This time they would never know whether Wyatt might have landed that jump into the saddle thanks to Mama’s interruption of what would have been a perfectly good idea.

And of course that traitor Wyatt saw Mama heading for them and cut out for home before she spied him. That left Eliza on the roof with no good explanation other than the truth.

The reverend said the truth would set her free. This time the truth almost sent her into exile.

Only Papa and his insistence on taking her along with the purpose of talking sense into her kept her off the steamer that was currently heading east. For that she was eternally grateful.

Mama’s sister, Eugenie, had just given birth to a baby girl she’d named Justine. All Mama had done from the time the letter arrived until she’d left on the stage was to sew up dainty baby girl clothes for her new niece, all the while rattling on about how in no time it would be her turn to marry and have babies of her own.

As much as she loved Mama, she did not value her opinion on this subject. From what she could tell, growing up and marrying meant giving up riding alongside Papa on the trail and sleeping under the stars.

A life without that was no life at all. And babies? They cried and made messes and were a general source of disruption. She had Wyatt for that.

Thank you, Kathleen, for letting me share this new book with my blog readers. My copy arrived the other day. I’m eager to get to where I can read it. I want to know what happens next.  I’m working on getting a print copy of my latest book published on Amazon.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KathleenYBarbo

Website: www.kathleenybarbo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathturner/

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Chisholm Trail Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower) The Chisholm Trail Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower) The Chisholm Trail Bride (The Daughters of the Mayflower (12))

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