Free Online Read!
I’m super excited to let you guys know about my new series for Love Inspired. Set in Colorado, the books feature a mountain ranch that’s a haven for struggling veterans and senior dogs. Here are some things I love about the series:
Colorado! Although I’m from Ohio, I spent most of my twenties living in Colorado. It’s an amazing place! I remember setting up a bank account on my first day in Boulder, looking out the bank window, and saying “wow” really loudly. Everyone laughed! But the gorgeous red rocks of the Front Range, set against that Colorado blue sky, were breathtaking to this Midwestern girl. That crisp, dry air, scented with pine and sage; the herds of elk taking their own sweet time to cross a mountain road; the laid-back, outdoorsy people… it’s a different world. I really enjoyed going back there in my mind to create Redemption Ranch.
Dogs! Yes, I’m a huge dog lover. I loved my senior Maltese mix through a lot of issues before we lost him earlier this year. And when I see a grey-muzzled senior dog at the shelter where I volunteer, my heart turns over. It’s sad how many older dogs end up in shelters, and so great when someone steps up to adopt them and give them a home for their golden years.
Angst! If you’ve read my books, you know they’re very emotional. I like to give my characters big problems, and then show how, with the help of caring communities and God, they can overcome their issues and find lasting love. You can imagine that a ranch for struggling veterans offers lots of opportunities for characters to face big, difficult issues. I did a lot of research on PTSD, facial scarring and limb injuries, and even suicide rates so that I could be as accurate as possible portraying some of the problems our veterans face.
Humor! When I started writing book one, I had my dramatic, angsty situation set up, but the book wasn’t moving along. It was only when two humorous characters came to me that the book started to flow. Long John and Willie are two Vietnam veterans who have a permanent home at the ranch. They play guitar and banjo, give sage advice, and act as matchmakers. They’re a part of every book. I’m even considering having them find love by the end of the series!
If any of this sounds intriguing, good news: there’s a free online read that introduces the series right here. It’s a serial; new chapters come out every Monday. You have to sign up at Harlequin.com to read it, but it’s quick and free to do that.
And if you want to dive right into the full length books, you can preorder the first one, The Soldier’s Redemption, wherever you buy books. It’ll be on shelves June 19th, and available as an ebook July 1.
Comment today about which of the above features appeals to you most–Colorado, dogs, angst, or humor–and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
I love all four!
Humor grabs me most right now! :D
Very interesting that you chose this subject. We have a friend suffering from PDST. It as caused him so many physical problems on top of the emotional side. He’s had a hard year, but is doing a little better. By the way, he was in the Vietnam war.
Then, just recently, we had to buy a new refrigerator. The guy who delivered it was a veteran. He was in the army for ten years. I asked him why he didn’t make it a career and he said he was tired of getting blown up. What was really interesting, he told us he had PTSD and he has a service dog and when he is having any symptoms, the dog will come and lay on his chest and comfort him. It really helps with depression. I thought that was amazing.
So, thank you for writing stories around this subject. I think people really have no idea how real PDST really is and how much it affects a person for most of their life.
I really enjoy your books. Look forward to the series.
Blessings
Hi Lee, your new series sounds great, thanks for sharing. Hmmm, I love the element of humour injected into the angst- without it, a story could become a little too much!! Colorado sounds beautiful- I’m trying to think of a place here in Australia that sounds similar to your description (without the elk)…maybe parts of South Australia…
Blessings:)
Hi Lee! Congratulations on your new Love Inspired series. The series sounds insightful with a beautiful setting. Our senior Sheltie is celebrating her 16 birthday today. Definitely heart breaking that so many older dogs end in shelters. There are days when I understand why. Some days our deaf Penny paces in circles, so I have to take her into my room and close the door. I feel I am held hostage. Or the times she darts in front of us unexpectedly. As seniors ourselves we are afraid she will trip us and we will fall. We are still amazed at how well she is doing. She is a good little sheep dog and dots on her two little charges, our granddaughters ages 4 and 16 months. Always enjoy having humor in a story to contour balance the Angst. Best wishes.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. It’s really something what veterans go through, and you’re right, it can be a lifelong thing. Which makes their sacrifice even more amazing.
thanks for commenting, MJSH and Sabrina!
I’m so glad to hear from one of our international readers… it’s a good reminder to give clear descriptions since not everyone has been to Colorado! One of my goals is to come to Australia and see what it’s really like there.
I love comedy in a book, but without the angst that’s not real life. I have 2 dogs and they are so comforting. When my husband became disabled and stopped working our dog Storm who is a chocolate lab mix was such a comfort for my husband. Now Colorado, that’s on my list of places to go.
Oh Renate, happy birthday to your dear old dog. I know that feeling of being held hostage and also of tripping over a small, oblivious dog. Bless you for giving her a good home and good care.
Wow, Lee, this sounds like a great story! I love how you have dealt with the tough issues in your other books, so I am looking forward to this one!
Thanks, Paula!
Humor and Dogs.
All, but humor is important to make our hearts merry. Blessings
I grew up in Colorado until I was 11, we lived in Black Forest on five acres of land which was just 11 miles outside of Colorado Springs…could see Pike’s Peak from our house through the trees. I still miss my home state and it’s incredible beauty though my last visit was 17 years ago.
Humor… And dogs!
Storm is a great name! So glad your lab was a comfort to your husband.
I’ve spent some time in Colorado Springs… a gorgeous area.
Kim and Lucy–humor seems to be the winner so far!
Humor! I love little but “big” characters that add the humor to stories. Those always make me smile.
I like to read about all four. And individually depend on my mood at the time. I always like to read about Angst – big problems that they lean on/learn how to handle with Gods help. I love dogs, they are such a healer for humans. I love humor – if we dont have humor in our lives we become sour pusses. And Colorado is such a gorgeous place. So much can happen this this place. congratulations and thank you
Interesting Cassandra. Had to reread your blog. I did not know that there is a Black Forest in Colorado. As a German, the Black Forest in in Germany. Always learn something new. Best wishes.
Humor appeals to me the most, but if the book is well-written, I love when authors can draw me into their stories and make me feel the characters’ angst or other feelings. I love all the research that you did for this book.
Can I pick two? Because Colorado and humor are definitely a tie. I am okay with a little bit of angst and a tiny little role for non homo sapiens characters… (horses prefered).
I’m more of a cat person but I like dogs too. I think your humor characters will be the deciding factor for me to read your book. I like to laugh and enjoy books that do that for me. Veterans are near and dear to my heart also.
Humor and Colorado for sure. Angst and dogs help develop the story though. I’m severely allergic to dogs but not in books fortunately.
I love all four I’ve been reading the online chapters, but I think I’ll have to buy the book and read it all at once ??
I love all four!
It’s always fun to see the CO mountains. And, of course, humor is good, also. Laurel
Hey, girl, I’m in Colorado. Give me a holler for research questions!
I always LOVE any LI books……so inspiring! I am trying to collect the books in your series Rescue River….have 3 so far…therefore, I would use the A card giveaway for rest of those books! LOL
If I have to choose, I’ll choose Colorado and humor. Throw in a hunky, swoony hero and I’m all set! :-D
Hey Lee, I went to Colorado once for a writer’s conference. I saw the mountains from the car and the hotel and didn’t even find time to leave the hotel. Dogs and angst and humor make for good books set anywhere. But Colorado is beautiful from what I saw.
Dogs! I love dogs. But I’d love to visit Colorado.
Humor can help one get through the hard times and I’m always grateful for that.
jennydtipton at gmail dot com
Angst…and humor to get you through it! Can’t wait to read!
All four appeal to me.
I’ve been to Colorado and would love to go back.
I’m highly allergic to dogs.
God made us with feelings so that we can accept His Son, Jesus.
I would rather laugh tears of happiness than tears of sorrow.
Out of those topics, dogs appeal to me the most. I love animals in stories!
This sounds like an absolutely fabulous series! As a veteran myself, getting my medical care through the VA, I see a lot of veterans dealing with some very serious issues. Add the dogs and the humor and I’m even more interested. I also visited Colorado every other summer growing up because my dad’s family lives in Denver.
I’m hooked and heading over to Amazon to pre-order book 1 right now.
Let’s see – Colorado, dogs, humor… all sound good!
I love all three. I love animals, throw in some humor and touch my emotions – all in one book I’m hooked. Anytime an author touches my emotions, makes me keep turning pages or just writes an outstanding book then its an automatic 5 star review from me. If I laugh, cry, sniffle a little, bite my nails then I have to leave a 5 star review. To make even better when the author combines the characters’ faith into the story line I like it even more. I’ve been praying about something and be reading a Christian fiction and so many times I will see the answer in the story line. Only God can do that.
Dogs always make a story better! These sound great. :)
I enjoy all four. I like all you write.
All four, but humor tops the list for me.
I love all 4 of them.
I have to go with humor but Colorado is a close second. I’ve never been there but would like to visit someday.