Ausjenny: Sherri Shackelford

Cowboy Creek Christmas

Love Inspired Historical

8 November 2016

Mistletoe Reunion by Cheryl St.John
When Marlys Boyd moves West hoping to find acceptance for her doctoring skills, she's surprised to find her former fiancé, Sam Mason, running the local newspaper. And with the ladies in town determined to make a match of the doctor and the single father, she's not sure she can resist building the family they once dreamed of.

Mistletoe Bride by Sherri Shackelford
Pregnant by a man who betrayed her trust, a mail-order marriage is Beatrix Haas's only hope. But when she arrives in Cowboy Creek and learns her intended groom has died, she needs a new daddy for the baby that's coming right away. Blacksmith Colton Werner offers the mother and child the protection of his name, but can their marriage of convenience ever lead to true love?

My Review.
This book is set in Cowboy Creek. It follows three books in a continuum all about mail order brides. These two novellas are stand alone stories but do include characters from previous books. Both novellas are written by authors who wrote in the original series. (I haven't read the previous three books yet but had no problem following the stories)

Mistletoe Reunion by Cheryl St John

This book is features Marlys who is a doctor of alternative medicine and a woman who has moved west hoping she will be accepted. Sam has also moved west to Cowboy creek to run the newspaper with his son. They knew each other previously where Marlys broke off an engagement. I enjoyed the story and how the characters interacted. Throw in a young son who is withdrawn and you have the making of a good story. In fact he stole the story at times. I enjoyed how the story was written and now want to read the first three books.

Mistletoe Bride by Sherri Shackleford

This story is about Beatrix who arrives from Austria heavily pregnant to meet her mail order groom only to find he has been killed and she is about to have her child. She is in a bad way and has trouble speaking English. Enter Colton who can speak German although slowly and is able to translate for her. He also offers to marry her when things are looking bad to give them both his name and protection. We learn Beatrix's story early on but Colton also has some issues he needs to deal with and has been dealing with. I can understand how he feels and why but at the same time wanted him to realise things were not all he thought they were. Sherri has done a good job showing how things that happen to us often affect our thinking and actions long after an incident happens.

If you enjoy Historical romance with a touch of Christmas these novellas are for you.

Please welcome debut author for Love Inspired Historical Sherri Shackelford to my blog today. I have enjoyed getting to know Sherri at the Love Inspired Historical Goodreads group.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I have three children and live in the Midwest. A place we affectionately call the ‘heartland’, but everyone else calls, ‘what we fly over to get to the other coast.’ I work part time in the afternoons, and write in the morning while the kids are in school.

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?

I liked The Little Princess and The Secret Garden. I guess I’ve been a ‘happily ever after’ kind of girl all my life!

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write?

I am rather narrow-minded in the book reading category. I read almost exclusively romance, although I do read across genres. I adored the Zebra Regencies, and I still campaign to bring back the regency book club. I like secular and Christian books. I have a soft spot for Julie Garwood. Of course Cheryl St.John is a favorite!

4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?

I really, really wanted to write sexy, sophisticated books like Lisa Kleypas and Gaelen Foley. I just didn’t have a very ‘sexy’ voice in my writing. Then I decided I wanted to write category regencies. Unfortunately, all the regency book clubs had shut down by the time I realized I had found my calling.

5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I was in my mid 30’s and I still didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew I loved to read, and decided I’d try my hand at writing a book. Once I started writing, I couldn’t stop! It became a compulsion. I knew I was a writer, because every time I became discouraged and quit, something drew me back in.

6. How did you go about becoming an author?

I worked and learned and worked and learned and got shot down, and worked some more, and then got rejected, then worked some more. I experimented with different genres, and developed my voice. I liked the Victorian Era, but I didn’t want to write about Lords and Ladies. I was brainstorming one night about how I could accomplish writing in the Victorian Era, but still have regular people as my characters. Then it hit me: Westerns.

7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

I would be independently wealthy – possibly a lottery winner or an heiress. (Jenny here, Heiress would be good although there are pressures with that maybe I can be an elusive heirless)

8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?

Eat and sleep. I really shine at both those activities. As a writer, I’m ho-hum, but when it comes to eating, I’m Olympic-level.

9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?

Venice, Italy. For a romance writer, I’m a remarkably unromantic, but I could fake romance in Venice. Especially if there’s wine.

10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?

Dog the Bounty Hunter. He’s a reality show bounty hunter with a PAST. I really want to apprehend a suspect, and then deliver the inspirational speech. That’s my favorite part of the show.

The Queen of England. I’m assuming we’re all having lunch together, and I think that Queen and Dog would have a lot more in common than you’d think.

Christine Lagarde. She’s the finance minister of France, and she seems like a really cool person. .

You can find Sherri on line at http://sherrishackelford.com/.

Sherrie's debut book is as follows, Dont you love the cover.

Winning the Widow's Heart

(June 2012, Harlequin Love Inspired Historical)

In the Care of the Lawman

When Texas Ranger Jack Elder stormed the isolated Kansas homestead, he expected to find a band of outlaws. Instead, the only occupant is a heavily pregnant woman-and she's just gone in to labor. A loner uneasy with emotion, Jack helps deliver widow Elizabeth Cole's baby girl and can't get back on the trail fast enough. The robber and murderer he's after killed one of Jack's own, and he vows to catch the man. But when he returns to check on Elizabeth and her little one, he discovers that she may hold the key to his unsettled past-and his hoped-for future.

GIVEAWAY

Sherri is giving away a copy of this book to one reader of my blog. To enter leave away to contact you. (You can still comment if you dont wish to enter just let me know) and you must leave a comment for Sherri about the interview, her book or a question. Entries close 6pm Australian time Thursday 21 June.