Lauri Robinson's Blog, page 14

Cover Reveal

Ta Da!
Isn’t it gorgeous? I think so. Those cover art folks over at Harlequin are so talented! 
Inheriting a Bride will be released in March of 2013. Here’s the blurb: 
He'll get beneath every delicious layer of her disguises...
Kit Becker travels to Nevadaville prepared to use any pretense necessary to discover why she must share her inheritance, and with whom.  
Clay Hoffman knows a thing or two about money-grabbing females, so when he finds one posing as his new ward, he's determined to get beneath every delicious layer of her disguises. Discovering she's telling the truth, Clay is torn--he should be protecting her, not thinking about making her his bride! All he knows for sure is that he's inherited a whole heap of trouble!
It can be pre-ordered here. 
Our Thanksgiving was downright wonderful! And I sincerely hope yours was, too. We ate, played games, ate some more, watched football, ate some more, played in the snow falling outside, ate some more… You get the picture. 
Friday was just as awesome. No, I didn’t go shopping, (I did order a few things on line). I wrote all day and finished the rough draft of the story for Harlequin’s 2013 Christmas Anthology. Yippee. 
Lots will be going on in December. I’ll try to bop in here and keep you updated. Until then, enjoy the season. Only you can make it the best ever!

Cards Anyone?

Here is our youngest granddaughter attempting to teach our granddog (her uncle’s dog) how to play cards. She also tried to teach him how to change her doll’s diaper. He humored her graciously throughout the evening, and let out a large sigh of what I interrupted as relief when her mommy and daddy came to pick her up. 
The weather is turning colder here, and I’m preparing myself for winter, which includes putting my Mustang in storage. I’m also prepping for the holidays. Last weekend our middle granddaughter sang in church. She was the littlest peanut up there, but sang at the top of her lungs. So very adorable! And today I attended a Thanksgiving dinner with the kindergarten class at our oldest granddaughter’s school. It was a lovely meal, made extra special by the company I was with. We will host dinner at our house next Thursday and I’m looking forward to the day of fun and family.
Oh, and guess what? I’ve completed my Christmas shopping. How I do love on line shopping! First time ever, but with the schedule I’m maintaining right now, click and ship is a blessing for sure. Of course, knowing what each the granddaughters needed/wanted made the shopping a snap. 
Last week I was asked to write a story for next year’s Western anthology for Harlequin. Of course I said I’d love to, and I am loving it. I will have both stories done by their January deadline. (If I keep saying it, it has to come true, right?)
Next releases…A Soldier for Christmas will be released the end of this month. His Wild West Bride (an UNDONE) will be released Feb. 1, 2013. Inheriting a Bride will be released March 1, 2012 and The Cowboy Who Caught Her Eye will be released July 1, 2013 (these are both full length historicals). Those are the only dates I know of right now, but I’ll keep you posted. I must give out a heartfelt thanks as well. To all of you who have purchased Unclaimed Bride , thank you, thank you, thank you! You kept it #1 on the best selling list for Harlequin Historicals at Amazon for over three weeks! (A dear friend keeps track of those things and updates me regularly. Bless her heart!)
That’s all for now. Count your blessings and enjoy each one!

Happy Halloween!

 Our oldest granddaughter will be a little bandito for Halloween. This is a family tradition. My husband’s father wore this suit when he was three, my husband (and all of his siblings) wore it when they were three or so and all three of our sons wore it. Now it’s the next generation’s turn. 
Goodness a lot has happened since my last post, which is why I haven’t been on line much. 
Besides being knocked-down by a long lasting cold, we had a wonderful celebration for my birthday on the 18th, a party at my niece’s house for her birthday, sleepovers with the granddaughters, a shopping trip where Papa bought me a lovely new winter coat (and himself a new tree stand), grandparents day at school, worked at my brother’s haunted house, and last weekend our children shocked us by throwing a surprise party for both Papa and I.  (His birthday was in September, and since we both hit the half-century mark, I guess the kids felt we needed a big bang.) We were totally surprised and had a wonderful time visiting with all the family and friends there.
The e-book version of Unclaimed Bride will be released on November 1st, and thank you to all who have already purchased this book. Your support is greatly appreciated and I sincerely hope you enjoy the story! 
I’m currently working on Marie and Stafford’s story. Set in the Dakota Territory, she arrives prepared to marry a cowboy who has ‘inherited’ the six children she’s in charge of, however Stafford isn’t that cowboy.  Yes, I’m having fun with this one!
I hope you all have a spooktacular Halloween, and to all of you dealing with Sandy, you are in my thoughts and prayers. 
I must also send out a plea to please vote. 
That’s all for now. Be good, stay safe, and love life.

Unclaimed Bride

Release day!

The paperback version of Unclaimed Bride was released today! The ebook version will be released on November 1st.

Running from the past…she bumps into her future!Mail-order bride Constance Jennings steps off the stage in Cottonwood, Wyoming, and waits for her husband-to-be. But he never shows up, and instead several other men are vying to take his place!
Single father Ellis Clayton must be the only man in town not looking for a bride. But his young daughter's habit of rescuing wounded critters means he ends up offering Constance a temporary shelter.
Having a woman around the house again is all too easy—especially seeing her bond with his daughter—but Ellis can't seem to let go of the past. Problem is, neither can Constance. And hers is about to catch up with her….
 
If you have a chance, stop over at Paty Jager's blog tomorrow. I'll be giving away an autographed copy of the book. 

KIDS!

If you have a child, I’m 99% sure you’ve experienced that blush of public embarrassment by something they’ve done. Some are worse than others. I have stories that go back thirty years, and have recently learned they aren’t over. How those kids of ours can embarrass us. 
Last week I had a day of running around to do, including volunteering at the local library. When I left the house, my youngest (who is now in his mid-twenties, but still loves to ‘get’ his mother) was all smiles as I drove out of the driveway. First clue. I should have known. Instead, I thought, he’s in a good mood today. I went through the bank, spent several hours at the library, then drove twenty some miles to pick up my granddaughter from her school. She was hungry so we drove through McDonalds, and then went to the store to pick up Papa’s birthday present. That was the first time I walked around the back side of my car. 
Isabelle had already gotten out on her side and she met me at the trunk, where I was standing, shaking my head, thinking of all the places I’d been.
“What’s that?” she asked. 
“Your Uncle Cody,” I answered, already dialing his number as I popped trunk to dispose of the sign.
He answered laughing.
I said, “Student driver?”
He laughed harder.
I haven’t paid him back yet, but I will. I’m brainstorming. 
Speaking of which, that is what I’m doing for my next story. Brainstorming. Writing down little bits and pieces of scenes and the characters coming to life in my head. I’m also putting the finishing touches on the UNDONE due to Harlequin by Oct. 15th.  In this one, Garret McCoy places a bet he can get Rory Boyle onto the dance floor, and discovers he’s in for more than he bargained for when she finally says yes. 
The e-book version of All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas will be released on Monday, and I want to say thank you so very much to all of you who have pre-ordered it, and/or purchased the paperback version.  I so appreciate your support and love your emails! 
Next up will be Unclaimed Bride in mid-October and November 1st and followed by A Solider for Christmasthe end of November. 
Be good, be kind, and if you have a practical joke you think would be a fitting response to my Student Driver incident, shoot me an email!

Princesses!

Our middle son’s family went to Disney World this past week. They had the most wonderful time, as we could tell from the text messages, phone calls, and photos! They made it to all the theme parks, had princesses make overs, attended the Not So Scary Halloween Party, had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with every character imaginable, and ride on enough rides I got dizzy just listening to them! My son and daughter-in-law now need a vacation! They also met my niece from Missouri and her family there, so it that made the trip even more special. 
One the home front, I sent off my ‘Cowboy and Baby’ manuscript four days before it’s deadline. YEAH! It was a very fun story to write and I do believe I fell a touch in love with Carter. He’s such a fabulous hero, and Molly is his true soul mate. Now I’m working on the story due by October 15th. Hero Garret makes a bet he can get heroine Rory on the dance floor. I’m already having a great time with these two!
All A Cowboy Wants forChristmas will be released this week! Very exciting. And I received my author copies of Unclaimed Bride. They are beautiful. As I’ve said before, cover artists amaze me!
I decided it was time to get rid of the carpet in my living room. With dogs, not to mention, people traffic in the living room, I didn’t want the work of hardwood floors, but do like the look, so I went with the vinyl version, and must say I already love it. While the ‘rug bug’ man was here, I decided to go ahead and do the bathroom, too. That should be completed by Tuesday.  It’s been a lot of work, moving everything out and back in, and it kept me off the computer since Friday. I’ll be playing catch up this week!
Make it a great week, you’ll be glad you did!

Remember

I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing that morning, and once again I'm humbled by all those who protect and serve.

Slacking off...

Nope, that’s not why I’m a bit late on the weekly blog. Just been busy. Wedding company stayed most of last week, which was very fun. My oldest brother is a real hoot, and I always love spending time with him and his wife. I’m still pushing hard to meet the Sept. 15th deadline, I received the galley for Inheriting a Bride (will be released in March), and I had a request for a full manuscript, so that meant a quick read through to make sure it was ready to go. Excuses, I know, but it all good and fun, and kept me from updating my blog. 
Sheriff McBride was re-released today from the Wild Rose Press! Yippee. As I’ve mentioned before, this story was originally part of the Lawmen and Outlaws anthology.  And Saturday, What a Cowboy Wants, will be released from Harlequin in their Undone line. 

Today was also my oldest granddaughter’s first day of Kindergarten! It was so exciting!
One last thing, I just have to share this picture from the wedding. It’s just so adorable!

Wedding Fun!

Here are the two flower girls and one of the bridesmaids.   Adorable!
Weddings are such fabulous affairs, aren’t they? My niece made a gorgeous bride, her new husband was utterly handsome, and the entire event was perfect. Of course there were a few hiccups, but all weddings need those. The white and blue sand for the sand ceremony was forgotten at the hotel, but we were on a golf course, so I sent my son to the sand trap with two plastic cups. (Don’t worry, he raked away his foot prints).  It worked, and then there was that moment when the bride’s father, my youngest brother, became a bit choked up during his father-of-the-bride speech, and my oldest brother stepped in for support. No one will ever forget it. I guarantee it! 
The wedding is over, and the bride and groom off on their honeymoon, but out of town family will be here for a few more days, so there is still more fun to be had. We will all attend my granddaughter’s gymnastics tomorrow night. She is overly thrilled!
Needless to say, not a lot of writing has happened the past few days, nor will it for the next couple, but I’ll make it up. I am fully committed to this September 15th deadline. The contracts are all signed and mailed back. As are the ones for the Japanese ebook and comic book adaptations for Mail Order Husband.  I received print copies of All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas last week! A day doesn’t go by when I don’t miss my mother, but when I opened that box, I wished she was here with all my heart. She read Harlequin romances her entire life. 
I’m off now to spend a little bit of time in the Dakota Territory with my Pinkerton agent and merchant before my bed calls. Have a wonderful week!

Corn on the cob, anyone?

Don’t you just love the wonderful foods of summer? With everything going on this year, we didn’t put in a garden, the time just got away from us. But we are blessed with some of the best neighbors in the world who share their bounty with us. 
The new book is coming along fabulously well, even with all the birthday parties and weddings filling up our weekends. I just wrote Chapter Seven. (The words not the chapter. LOL.) I am hoping to make it to the mid-way point on the word count before company shows up on Thursday for my niece’s wedding this weekend. In this story, Carter Buchanan is a Pinkerton agent who may have just came upon his hardest case ever. His actual assignment is to catch a train robber, but he’s a bit sidetracked at the moment by the unwed and pregnant Molly Thorson. 
We attended a friend’s birthday party this weekend that included skeet and target shooting. I shot my .22 rifle that Papa put a new scope on this spring, and it handles like a dream. It is one that I won at the Wild Turkey Federation banquet.  
With the wedding right around the corner, I’m getting my hair cut tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I’ll like it. I’m a wash and go type of person, so I’ve asked her to once again keep that in mind. I’ve also written the ‘reading’ that I’ll be reading at the wedding ceremony. I’m working on memorizing it, because I know I’ll get too teary-eyed to actually read it. 
That’s all for now. Life is good, let’s keep it that way.