Scattered Thoughts, Random Musings

A SWEET SURRENDER New York, 1777… Siaragowaeh of the Onyota’aka tribe has a love for all things living and when a fallen British soldier becomes severely wounded, Siara secretly nurtures the officer back to health, putting her own position in her tribe at risk.  Sergeant James Blake of His Majesty’s elite assault troops vaguely remembers the ambush that left him at the mercy of a beautiful native woman…a woman he isn’t yet certain he can trust. When a narrow escape from Siara’s village forces them on the trail together, desire soon flares even brighter between them.  Yet in a journey driven by duty and complicated by loyalty, Siara and James must determine if they will follow their predestined paths or surrender to their hearts and chart anew… Read it now! Want a signed copy of the cover illustrations? Leave a review and get free posters of all 3 cover art. Must post your review by July 15th of any of the 3 books in the Hearts at War series...

There's only one more week left before the official release of Daughters of a Nation!  My anthology sisters and I are excited to be sharing this anthology with the world and I'm especially thrilled to be sharing a bit about my story in the collection... IN THE MORNING SUN With the election of 1868 underway, Madeline Asher’s mission is clear: educate and enlist the freedmen of Nebraska to vote. After losing the man she loves to war—and a small piece of herself along the way—Madeline is determined to reclaim her life by making a difference in others. But when Union veteran James Blakemore III comes back into her life, Madeline must choose between a future she’s always wanted and the chance to shape a greater nation. (Photographs by William C Withers and Mathew Brady) For those of you who are familiar with my story AMAZING GRACE in our last anthology, The Brightest Day , you'll remember Madeline Asher as the mail-order bride being sent to Montana and who wa...

DAUGHTERS OF A NATION (November 2016) The fight for suffrage was long, hard, and carried out on many fronts. In this anthology, Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, and Piper Huguley (authors of THE BRIGHTEST DAY anthology) bring you four novellas full of spirit, hope, and, most importantly: LOVE. IN THE MORNING SUN, by Lena Hart With the election of 1868 underway, Madeline Asher’s mission is clear: educate and enlist the freedmen of Nebraska to vote. After losing the man she loved to war—and a small piece of herself along the way—Madeline leaves her life in Philadelphia behind, determined to reclaim her life’s purpose by making a difference in others. With America’s Southern Rebellion at an end, so are the efforts of Union veteran James Blakemore. Tired of the injustices still plaguing the young country, he sets his sights toward his Canadian roots—until fate guides him back to the love he thought he’d lost. Vowing never to leave her side again, James joins Madelin...

I'm excited to officially announce the upcoming release of our anthology, The Brightest Day: A Juneteenth Historical Romance Anthology with authors Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, and Piper Huguley, and includes a foreword by the pioneer of African American historical romance, Ms. Beverly Jenkins! The anthology (slated for release June 1st) features four novellas of love, hope, and freedom that span 100 years of American history after the end of slavery: Amazing Grace , by  Lena Hart : It’s the year 1866—the Civil War is over and slavery has ended. Life for 18-year-old Gracie Shaw takes an unexpected turn when she is “encouraged” to marry a man sight-unseen. Boarded on a train headed West—to lawless territory—she is faced with misfortune at every turn and must accept the help of former Confederate soldier, Logan Finley, while denying herself the one thing she wants most. Him. Drifting to You , by Kianna Alexander : During the sultry Carolina summer of 1875, baker ...

It's the last day of Black History Month and though this is late in coming, I didn't forget! I mentioned earlier in the month that would be featuring the fascinating black characters of the Old West and I have delivered: my top 5 rugged black cowhands, rodeo riders, pioneers, and businessmen of the Wild West. In my last post, I featured my top 5 women of the West  so if you missed that be sure to check it out! In the meantime, here is just a brief list of black frontiersmen of the Old West... Enjoy! 1. Bill Pickett (1870-1932): Born to Black Cherokees in the Midwest, Pickett was a cowhand who invented "bulldogging," one of the 8 rodeo sports performed and credited to an individual. In 1971, he was the first African American  to be voted into Oklahoma City's Cowboy Hall of Fame. 2. George Bonga (1802-1880): A fur trapper, trader, and negotiator from Minnesota, Bonga was of African American and Indian descent and was made legend for his ...

Last year, I featured some of my favorite poets and poetry in honor of Black History Month. This year, I want to continue that with black men and women of the Old West. As I prepare to write my historical western romance, I am in awe of the many black men and women who were just influential in the Western Expansion--those who had built a life for themselves out in the west and Midwest, but who are sadly very rarely mentioned in the history books or Hollywood. So each week this month, in honor of the 1860's set western romance I'm working on (which will be part of a historical romance anthology with authors Alyssa Cole, Piper Hughley, and Kianna Alexander) I will be featuring some of the fascinating stories I've discovered during my research. This week I want to feature the top 5 "badass" black women of the Old West: 1. Cathay Williams aka "William Cathay" (1842-1892), born to a slave woman in Missouri, served as a Buffalo Solider during the Ci...