A year after their family was brutally torn apart, the Graham siblings begin to put their lives back together at their ranch in East Texas. With their parents gone, their bonds will truly be tested…
Olivia Graham has worked hard to take care of her family at the Circle Eight Ranch. But their family circle was broken when their young brother Benjy disappeared. Liv can’t shake the feeling that he must be out there, somewhere.
Brody Armstrong, a handsome but rough-around-the-edges Texas Ranger, has been working on their case for months, and now he has a promising lead.
As Liv follows him across the rugged Texas landscape and into Mexico, she’ll begin to find the answers she needs—as Brody finds a passion he didn’t know he wanted…
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A spine of steel, a heart of gold. I tend to have strong-willed heroines in my books, sometimes they are more than stubborn, they can come across as rough around the edges. Sometimes really rough, like a diamond waiting to be tumbled around until it shines. Yet they are all women with integrity, honor and a heart of gold.
The heroine in my newest release, CIRCLE EIGHT: BRODY, is definitely one of those gems. Olivia Graham has suffered through some tragedies in her life, not the least of which was losing her parents to murder, her brother to kidnappers and her fiancee because he was a lousy jackass. It’s made her somewhat hard, the wall she’s built up around herself is nearly impossible to breach. She fires on anyone who tries. Yet Ranger Brody Armstrong doesn’t want to scale her walls or be subjected to her sharp tongue. Yet she sticks to him like a cockleburr, determined to find young Benjy Graham.
Thus begins a road romance that brings back fond memories of THE BOUNTY, my first book and road romance between Nicky and Tyler. Yet Olivia and Brody’s story is darker, more violent and much hotter. Olivia doesn’t give in or melt into a puddle. Oh no, she takes what she wants, never giving an inch but taking a mile. Brody is as strong as she is, but he isn’t prepared for the force of nature called Olivia.
I know it was atypical for women to be so strong-willed in the 19th century, but I’d like to think there were ladies like mine. Those who led the suffragette movement, argued for women’s rights and pushed their way into the “men’s club” of medicine and law. While Olivia isn’t a famous woman, she is stronger than steel, made to survive the harsh realities of life in the Republic of Texas. Made to be a fitting mate for a Texas Ranger like Brody Armstrong. My favorite strong woman in history has to be Eleanor Roosevelt. What about y’all? Who is your favorite?
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To find out more about Emma Lang, visit www.bethwilliamson.com.
One lucky reader will win both MATTHEW and BRODY in paperback. To be entered, leave a comment answering Emma’s question. The winner will be drawn on Sunday. Good luck!
Honorary Mention of Book Sluts 'R' Us Blogger Awards by 
RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 
One of my favorite women in history is St. Joan of Arc. Many women wonaways should be more determined as she was…
I like tough heroines and one of my favorite real life tough heroines is Amelia Earhart.
Nothing like a good Western!. This one sounds like it fits the bill.
There are a couple of women that come to my mind. Women like Rosa Parks and Sally Ride did so much for women in their own way. After watching John Adams mini series you have to hand it to his wife Abigail.
I like your choice of strong women, Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a timid and shy young girl who fell in love with her cousin. He was outgoing, ambitious, and very determined. The life that he chose must have been uncomfortable for her and yet, she bloomed. No matter what challenges were thrown at her, she remained true to herself, her family, and her country. She became a role model for many and accomplished much.
Queen Victoria always struck me as a very strong independent woman. She had to fight for her crown. Her’s was also such a great love with Prince Albert.
I loved Queen Boudica. You have to be a strong woman to lead a revolt against the Roman Empire, and almost get them to stand down.
My vote goes to Jacqueline Kennedy. She faced the adversity in her life with strength, dignity and grace. She was a real lady.
I think there have been a lot of strong women through the ages. I guess I admire Susan B. Anthony the most for her work in the women’s suffrage movement. She saw an injustice towards her gender and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
My answer would be Clara Barton.She got involved with treating injured Union soldiers on the battlefield during the Civil War. She later was the founder and first president of the American Red Cross.
These books sound fantastic. Can’t wait to read them.
Fun reading others’ comments. I would have to agree with Boudica, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Susan B. Anthony. And I would add Eleanor of Aquitaine and Dolley Madison. Thanks for the giveaway.
My answer would be Clara Barton and I can’t wait to read Brody:)
Thanks for the guestpost, I prefer strong heroines in my books, so I have put this series on my wishlist. My vote goes to Queen Elizabeth 1. So many men wanted her to marry and share her power, but she never did, and ruled with a firm hand. Although I certainly don’t approve of her having Mary, Queen of Scots, killed.
I would have to say Amelia Earhart. She was ahead of her time and an amazing woman.
Sandra Day O’Connor is a great example. She is the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. She paved the way for all the women behind her.
My favorite is Joan of Arc. Please enter me in contest. I really want these books.
Hi
Great post. I have read Matthew and loved it.
I think Queen Elizabeth is a great women – she took over the throne early and has had to deal with many difficult things during her lifetime.
Thanks for the chance.
Pam
I like la Malinche – she gets a bad rap in Mexico because she was the native woman who translated for Hernan Cortes, but she must have been pretty amazing to live through what she did!
I have to agree– Eleanor Roosevelt! 🙂
I think have been strong women all thru history. Just to survive took a lot of strength. Elizabeth I must have been a very strong personality not to have been controlled by all those scheming men of her time.
For me, Queen Victoria has always been a very good example of one of the most powerful women . Even though she had to ahre her power with the British Parliament she contributed to massive political and social reforms in the United Kingdom as well as in the British Empire.
Thank you for the interview!
For me, my hero is homegrown. My 6th great-grandmother’s family was scalped by Indians, and she was kidnapped for two years. She was eventually ransomed for 273 deerskins. She went on to be a wife and mother of six children who eventually helped settle what is now Tennessee. For someone who lived literally on the edge of civilization as they knew it, she eventually made a powerful impact on our family. I think often we overlook the heroes that existed that are close to us. I dug up this story on her about 7-8 years ago. Ever since then, anytime I feel overwhelmed or down, I remember her strength that flows through my veins. She is the one I admire most! All I have is her story.
For me it has to be my state hero, Amelia Earhart. She had faith in herself even when everybody was telling her she couldn’t do it. That flying and working was a man’s job not a woman’s. No one supported her. But she did it anyways. We may not know the truth of what happened to her, but she was a strong will’d woman to of tried to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
Western are my favorite read. Lets face it you just can’t beat a good cowboy book. Love me some cowboys.
Such great choices… Eleanor Roosevelt gets my vote…
I would have to say Catherine the Great. She had so much to overcome in a man’s world, but made it her own.
So many to choose from and one of my top choices is Harriet Tubman.
That’s courage, trust, and strategy at its finest.
Mother Teresa was one seriously strong woman. I am not Catholic but I really hope she is Sainted soon. I think she was amazing.
My favorite strong woman is Queen Elizabeth I, I’ve always admired her strength.
There are so many, but I would have to go with Queen Elizabeth II, She has reigned with such dignity and grace..
My favorite strong woman in history has to be Mother Teresa.
Princess Grace has always struck me as a courageous lady, changing her religion and marring someone(the prince) she hardly knew and moving to a foreign country leaving everything behind. There are lots of other women in history but also my mother comes to mind. Born at the end of WW2 she has held so many jobs in her lifetime from selling tickets as a young girl at the carnival, a clerk at Coronets, blackjack dealer at Harvey’s Casino, travel agent and secretary at AAA, photographer and furniture sales, she has been a Jill of all trades to help support us kids as a single parent and then with my step-da.
Z
My favorite strong woman in history is Joan of Arc
Love western story.
I just know a few strong woman in history.
Madame Curie, a scientist despite her husband (A scientist) getting the credit for her work… one of so many women in a man’s world doing good in the world despite always climbing an uphill battle.
The other is Beatrix Potter, her Uncle took her scientific research on mycology putting his name on it because women were never allowed to submit to the National Science review. Beatrix was happy to give her Uncle the credit for her work as she felt it was important and disproved previous theories by men in the field. I admire women in the Science world then and now. It is still a mans world – fighting to get funds for research when you are a woman is still an issue and uphill battle I am amazed at all these women accomplished in their lives. Of course, Beatrix used her drawing and writing skills in a completely different vain and has made generation of children fall in love with Peter Rabbit and company for generation after generation as well.
I think my favourite would be Joan of Arc.
How about Queen Elizabeth who married Prince Albert thinking she would always be a princess. Then her b-i-l abdicates and she becomes Queen of England and raising the future queen.
I’d say Hillary Clinton.