On December 8th, I’ll be at Fort Reno signing copies of The Major’s Daughter, plus Serving Up Love and other titles. The Fort Reno grounds will be open and ready for visitors, including the house that Major Adams, Louisa and Caroline would’ve lived in. This home isn’t usually open to the public, but on that Sunday from 2:15 to 4:00, it will be decorated with scenes from the Fort Reno books. You might just get a glimpse of one of the characters while you are enjoying refreshments.

But that’s not all that’s going on at the fort. You can watch reenactors participate in the fort’s Christmas Firing of the Guns at 2:00 and visit with Santa in the chapel. There’ll be a flyer for a self-guided tour of the rest of the grounds, highlighting locations mentioned in my books. On top of that, the Historic Fort Reno Visitor Center and the U. S. Cavalry Association Museum will be open from noon until 4:00. As a special treat, admission to the fort and the museums is free.

Please come out and see this site that has grown to mean so much to me, and has always meant much to Oklahoma’s history.

The post Let’s Welcome The Major’s Daughter to the Fort appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

This period in American history is full of conflict and missteps by the U. S. government concerning the Indian tribes. Many policies were long debated, then enforced, then repealed and then enforced again as the government tried to cope with the challenges they’d created for themselves. The inspiration for The Lieutenant’s Bargain came from the laws pertaining to marriages between the two cultures. At this time, white settlers were not allowed on the vast lands of Indian Territory without a connection to the tribe. Unscrupulous men often courted and married Native American women for access to the tribal funds and land. All too often, these speculators would decide to seek easy money elsewhere and leave behind a wife and children, claiming that the Indian wedding ceremony wasn’t binding on them. Over time, the government enacted different policies trying to prevent the exploitation of the tribes, but it remained a problem for decades. The insistence that cavalry officers honor the Arapaho’s ceremonies is what gets Lieutenant Jack and Hattie into trouble when they unwittingly participate in a banquet.

Did you have a specific reader in mind when you wrote this?

Yes! Actually, this book was written for the late bloomers of the world—those of us who were awkward, nerdy, and maybe spent too much time with books to have much social acuity. Everyone feels like they’ve been underappreciated and there were times when people didn’t bother to notice them. This story is a salute to them. Although Jack Hennessey was a puny bookworm in his childhood, his years in the cavalry have rounded out his character and filled out his lanky frame. The only thing he hasn’t succeeded at is forgetting the girl from back home who never took any notice of him. Years later, when he rescues Hattie Walker after a stagecoach robbery, Jack can’t believe his luck. Now she’ll appreciate him and give him the respect he’s always deserved. If only he hadn’t ruined both of their lives with a colossal mistake.

Can you give us a brief preview of the story?

Sure! Hattie Walker dreams of painting the Rocky Mountains, but her parents want her to settle down and marry. They make an offer—she has two months in Denver to place her works in an exhibition. If she fails, she comes back home and gets married. But her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach and leaves her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho. Unfortunately, she’s too terrified to realize they’re friendly. Cavalry Officer Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has two passions—the girl back home who never gave him a chance and helping Arapaho children prepare for their changing world. When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to collect the victim and is stunned by who he finds.

Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart, needs his help. This is his chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril— and sets Jack’s two passions at odds.

So, if the heroine, Hattie Walker, is an accomplished artist, what is the extent of your artistic talents?

Hmmm…I would say my best work has been with the mediums of Shrinky Dinks and Etch A Sketches. My most recent attempts have occurred during games of Pictionary with the family, but they don’t appreciate my talent. Maybe I’ve found another way to be a very late bloomer.

The post Q & A with Regina Jennings – The Lieutenant’s Bargain appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

• Christmas Story set in 19th Century Indian Territory (Oklahoma)
• Lieutenant Jack’s life is upended when his childhood crush appears in danger on the reservation.
• Hattie Walker finds herself in debt to the awkward boy she’d ignored in school. When his critical mistake is uncovered, she learns that she’s bound by more than gratitude.
• Also available in Audiobook

Hattie Walker dreams of painting the Rocky Mountains, but her parents want her to settle down and marry. They make an offer—she has two months in Denver to place her works in an exhibition. If she fails, she comes back home and gets married. But her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach and leaves her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho. Unfortunately, she’s too terrified to realize they’re friendly.

Cavalry Officer Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has two passions—the girl back home who never gave him a chance and helping Arapaho children prepare for their changing world. When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to collect the victim and is stunned by who he finds.
Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart, needs his help. This is his chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril— and sets Jack’s two passions at odds.

Get your copy now!

The post Christmas Romance on the Prairie – Now Available appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Holding the Fort is just around the corner. It comes out DEC. 6th!!

And because anticipation is half of the fun, here’s a review from Publisher’s Weekly that I got just today!

Jennings introduces readers to an abundant cast in this first installment of The Fort Reno Series set in 1880s Oklahoma. Louisa “Lovely Lola” Bell is the featured singer at the Cat Eye Saloon until the owner replaces her with another performer. Out of a job and with no prospects in sight, Lola heads towards Fort Reno, an outpost in Indian territory where her brother is stationed. On the way there, Lola meets Mrs. Townsend, a Mennonite governess dispatched to the fort to educate Major Daniel Adams’s daughters. When Mrs. Townsend falls ill and can’t continue the trip, Louisa offers to deliver the girls’ textbooks. Arriving at the fort, Louisa is mistaken for the governess and falls into playing the part. Daniel and Louisa’s relationship deepens despite secrets, deceptions, and an Indian uprising. In this character-driven series launch, Jennings offers a powerful lesson on the freedom of truth and forgiveness wrapped in a delightful story of love against the odds.

Wasn’t that nice of them?

So, you know you want the book, but you’re afraid you might forget when the time comes? Well, here are some options to help you remember:

1. Write a reminder on your arm in Sharpie. Trace it once a week when it starts to fade.
2. Tell your child that you’ll take them to McDonald’s the day after Holding the Fort arrives (Dec. 6th). Then they will constantly ask you if you’ve got it yet.
3. Visit your local Christian Book Store and pre-order Holding the Fort. Tell them that you are a personal friend of the author. (Because, we probably are great friends, and if we haven’t met yet, we probably would be great friends!)
4. Go online and pre-order Holding the Fort at Amazon, B&N, iBooks, ChristianBook, or another trustworthy business. Post on Facebook telling everyone what you just did.
   

   Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

5. Tell your local library that you MUST READ THIS BOOK and have them order a copy for you!
6. Join my newsletter list. Then you’ll get reminders when the time comes! (December 6th)
7. Make a vow that you won’t wash your hair until you’ve read Holding the Fort. Your co-workers will all celebrate the release date (Dec. 6th) with you.

I know, I know. I go above and beyond trying to be helpful, but that’s just my heart for you, dear friends.

If you can’t tell, I’m a little excited about getting to write a series set in my home state. If you share my excitement, leave a comment letting me know what you’re doing to help you remember Dec. 6th, the day we can all be Holding the Fort together!! And as an added bonus, at least one commenter will get to be a part of my influencer team, which means a free copy of the book!   (Must comment before Oct. 20th.)

Counting the days!!

Love,

Regina

The post Let the Countdown Begin… appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.