My upcoming release Henley is part of the new Love Train series of sweet, historical western romances.
Ten authors are participating in this series. Each sweet romance features a heroine with a secret, and a common thread of riding on the same train with a conductor named Henry, a baggage handler named Willie, and Willie's adorable dog.
The books can be read in any order. Henley is book two in the series. Pam Crooks' Christiana released April 1. Henley releases tomorrow - April 15!
One thing that's fun about Henley is that the story is connected to my two Holiday (Oregon) series!
I first wrote about the fictional town of Holiday in a contemporary romance called Valentine Bride. At the time I wrote the story, I wasn’t very specific about the location, other than it was in Eastern Oregon and located a few hours from Pendleton, and a few hours from Boise, Idaho. As I wrote more books in the Holiday Brides series, I added more detail about the the town.
But it wasn’t until I landed on the idea of writing a multi-generational series set in Holiday with my Holiday Express series that I dialed in an exact location. If you were to look at a map of Oregon, you’d see Highway 203 that runs into the mountains between Union and Baker City. I picture Holiday being on that highway, located somewhere in the middle between the two towns.
The first book in the Holiday Brides series, Holiday Hope, ends with Jace Coleman marrying Cora Lee, a mail-order bride who came to marry his wayward brother in 1884.
Henley begins a few months later. By the time Henley Jones and Doctor Evan Holt step foot off the Holiday Express train into Holiday, it’s spring and love is definitely in the air.
I absolutely adore writing about the town of Holiday and the people who live there!
In this scene, Evan and Henley have just arrived in Holiday.
“Holiday, folks! Welcome to Holiday!” the conductor called as he strode through their car.
Evan quickly gathered his things and stood the moment the train came to a stop. Henley stuffed her purchases from Baker City into her bag, then took the hand Evan held out to her. He didn’t let go until she stood on the train platform, looking around with interest.
“We made it,” Evan said, taking a deep breath, then another. “That smells like home.”
Henley breathed in the fragrance of the trees that put her in mind of Christmas, along with the aroma of roasting meat in the air mingling with the odors produced by the train.
“Did Mr. Johnson plan to meet you here or at his store?” Evan questioned.
“The telegram I received just before I left indicated he’d meet me here. Do you see him?”
Evan appeared to scan the crowd, then shook his head. “No. I don’t. It will be easy enough to walk over to his store, though. Do you have many trunks?”
Henley pointed to the growing stack being unloaded from the baggage car.
Evan’s eyes widened; then he grinned at her. “Traveling light?”
The tension she’d been holding in her shoulders released, and she laughed, so grateful for Evan and his sense of humor. She had no idea what she’d do in a few very short moments when she had to bid him goodbye and step into her future with a man she may or may not even like.
Love is a gamble, and heartbreak is a risk she’s willing to take.
Despite her dreams to set down roots, Henley Jones has never had a place to call home. She’s spent her life on riverboats and railroad cars, tagging along with her gambling father. A shoot-out during a card game results in his death, leaving Henley alone and nearly penniless. Out of luck and options, Henley agrees to travel across the country to the newly established town of Holiday, Oregon to marry a stranger.
A demanding practice in a town clawing its way to respectability keeps Doctor Evan Holt rushing at a hectic pace. He’s far too busy to see to pressing matters like hiring competent help, or finding a wife. When one of his patients orders a mail-order bride, Evan can’t decide if the man is crazy or brilliant. From the moment he meets her, Evan battles an unreasonable attraction to the beautiful, charming woman who seems to be hiding something from her past.
In a town flush with possibilities, will taking a chance on love end with heartache or a winning hand? Find out in this sweet western romance full of the humor, hope, and love.
Henley is part of the Love Train sweet romance series and releases April 15. Look for more books set in Holiday in the heartwarming and wholesome Holiday Express and Holiday Brides series.
Connect with Shanna on her website at ShannaHatfield.com
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