Welcome to the Blog Tour for the first three books of the Colter Sons series by Karen Baney, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Books
Title: The Reluctant Cattleman
Series: Colter Sons #1
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: August 19, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
A Love at First Sight Christian Historical Cowboy Romance. Coming of age story set in Prescott, Arizona in 1887.
As Sam Colter takes on more responsibilities at the family ranch, he believes he is a disappointment to his father. He feels like the misfit of the family. When a journalist shows up to interview his mother, secrets from the past threaten his fledging sense of security. Can he overcome his fear and doubts to accept his role as a cattleman and rancher? Will he allow himself to love the woman who turned his life upside down?
Ellie Mae Thatcher moves to Prescott to start her career as a writer. When she misleads the Colters about her identity, she hurts the man she is falling in love with. Can she win back his trust and his heart?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Title: The Roaming Adventurer
Series: Colter Sons #2
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: October 21, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
A Shotgun Wedding, Main Character Disguise Christian Historical Cowboy Romance. Set in Prescott, Arizona Territory in 1890 – 1891.
Boisterous Boone Colter settled into his career as a surveyor when his older brother approached him to survey a route for a new railroad. When Boone hires Jack Bennett, he never expected to be forced to choose between his desire for independence and protecting Jack. Will he rise to the occasion? Can he find a way to strike a balance?
Jaclyn “Jack” Bennett spent the last six years apprenticing as an assistant surveyor under her father. When her father asks her to give up her dreams, settle down, and get married, Jaclyn disguises herself as a man and flees to Prescott, Arizona. Except she never thought through how her choice would destroy the lives of those around her. Will she find a way to reconcile broken relationships?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Title: The Railroad Magnate
Series: Colter Sons #3
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: December 2, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
A Love at First Sight Christian Historical Cowboy Romance. Set in Prescott, Arizona Territory in 1891 – 1893.
James Colter was a successful entrepreneur and businessman in the railroad industry. As he watches his younger brothers marry and start their families, his loneliness deepens. He has everything, except the one thing he longs for the most: a wife and family of his own. When he dances with the daughter of an older friend, was it love at first sight, or will he put his personal dream on hold again to pursue his professional aspirations?
Keri Glassman wants to follow in her parents’ footsteps. She dreams of becoming a contract attorney. When a handsome suitor invites her on a train ride, the course of her life is rewritten. Like her mother, she wants it all, a career, a loving husband, and a family. Can she find her own way or will her desire to please her parents threaten to destroy her hope for a lasting love?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
More Books in This Series
About the Author
Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona in the late 1990s, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.
Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.
Connect with Karen by visiting karenbaney.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Author Interview
Q: What was the inspiration behind The Colter Sons series?
Karen: My first series, the Prescott Pioneers Series, introduced the parents, Will and Hannah Colter. Then in my second series, I brought back one of Hannah’s suitors, Joshua. There’s a scene in Joshua’s story where he meets Will and Hannah for the first time after eight years. To drive home the point that the Colters had everything Joshua longed for, I gave them five sons. A few simple, strategically placed sentences sparked the idea for the Colter Sons Series, which follows the story of Will and Hannah’s five sons and one surprise daughter.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to read any of my other books to enjoy the Colter Sons Series. It stands on its own and I fill in any important things the read needs to know.
Q: Do these books work as standalones or must the series be read in order?
Karen: Each book does stand on its own and can be read in any order. However, I think readers will enjoy reading them in order as many of the siblings appear in the other books where they aren’t the main characters.
The books don’t follow their birth order either. Part of the timeline of the first three books follows the development of two railroad lines in the late 1880s – 1890s near Prescott, Arizona.
Q: Do you have a favorite book of this series?
Karen: I’m probably not supposed to, but I do. I love a good prodigal son story and book 5, The Restless Wrangler is just that. Though, I really do love each story. It was a lot of fun to write about a very diverse set of brothers and their surprise sister.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from The Colter Sons series?
Karen: Besides enjoying sweet love stories, I hope readers will take away a glimpse of the Christian life with its ups and downs. No Christian’s life is free from trials. Yet, how we lean into God when life throws us curveballs can make all the difference. I pray each book I write encourages readers in their own faith.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers would not know?
Karen: I remember my mother used to make up stories and tell them to me and my siblings as kids. She was also an avid reader. Sadly, she passed on many years ago. All three of these things about my mom have strongly influenced my writing. The fun storytelling mom inspired me to keep writing through the tough times. The voracious reader inspired me to water my passion for reading and writing. And the loss of this amazing woman—that pain is in every heart ache for every character I write.
Q: How many bookcases are in your home?
Karen: Ooo. Much to my dad’s dismay, I only have two. (He has an entire room filled floor to ceiling with books). One bookcase is filled with resources for the mechanics of writing. It sits next to my desk so I can reference them as I write. The other is filled with historical research references and inventory. All the other gobs of books that I read are on my ereader. My goal is to read 100 books this year and I’m already 65% of the way there. My wallet and my house aren’t big enough for that kind of reading addiction. 😊
Q: How long ago did you start writing?
Karen: My first novel was released in 2010. From 2010 – 2014, I released 5 historical novels and one contemporary novel. Then I wrote several unpublished Bible studies for my local women’s ministry from 2016 – 2020. The gaps in time were spent dealing with some difficult health issues. Then in 2021, I dusted off a few partially written manuscripts and have been writing as much as humanly possible around my day job. My husband deserves the most supportive husband of the year award, as he always encourages me to keep writing.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
Karen: Um. EVERYTHING! I love creating characters and getting to know them. I love researching things to make the stories feel more real. I love the creative process. I love dreaming big and sharing the resulting stories with readers everywhere. I even like the business side of writing.
The thing I like least is writer’s block. And I deal with that by having several manuscripts in process at a time. If one is giving me fits, I move on to another.
Q: What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Karen: I have a full-time career as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry. Most of my evenings and weekends I spend a few hours writing. The rest of my time is split between church, time with my hubby and dogs, and reading. In 2022, I completely gave up TV in favor of reading, so that’s how I unwind these days.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each win all 6 books in the Colter Sons series (winner picks paperback or ebook)!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 3, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 10, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Enter Giveaway
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