Laura Drake grew up in the suburbs outside Detroit. She’s always loved the outdoors and adventure. In 1980 she and her sister packed everything they owned into Pintos and moved to California. There she met and married a motorcycling, bleed-maroon Texas Aggie and her love affair with the West began. In 2014, Laura realized a lifelong dream of becoming a Texan, and is currently working on her accent. She gave up the corporate CFO gig to write full time. She’s a wife, grandmother, and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours. For more on Laura and her books, visit LauraDrakeBooks.com.
My 5 Favorite Romances Featuring a Women’s Journey
One thing I love the most about writing romance is digging
deep and depicting real women with real problems.
In my upcoming release, Home
at Chestnut Creek, the main character, Nevada Sweet, is a snarky scrapper
who uses her wits (and her wit) to keep people at a distance. Throughout the
story there are hints of her tough upbringing, but it isn’t until the last
couple of chapters—when she lets her guard down—that readers get to really know
and understand her.
Writing Nevada made me remember so many other books I enjoy
that depict strong women on a journey to happiness. I’ve compiled a list of
some of my favorites:
The
Sleeping Night
by Barbara Samuel: It’s 1946, and Isaiah
is back from the war. Angel Corey and he were once childhood friends on the
poor side of Gideon, Texas. But now years have passed and they’re in love. The
problem is that they come from different backgrounds and their hometown is less
than accepting. This leads Angel to the ultimate decision: be with her soulmate
and risk his life or let him go in order to keep him safe.
This story is beautiful, and the courage of these two humble
me. I read it twenty years ago, but it still stays with me today.
Last
Woman Standing by
Thelma Adams: This Adams novel
is a fictional but historically accurate account of the life of a woman far
ahead of her time. It follows Josephine Earp’s and Wyatt’s romance, but it’s mostly
the amazing story of a woman learning to stand up for herself and breaking out
of the constraints of society.
Coyote
Dream
by Jessica Davis Stein: Sarah Friedman is
a sophisticated city woman who travels west to
buy jewelry for her family’s business—and to recover from failed romances. But
everything changes when she meets Ben Lonefeather. Ben in the city makes about
as much sense as her in the desert. She has a decision to make—go back to New
York or make a new life more than 1,000 miles away from her family.
One
Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus: I may be cheating a bit with this one, because you won’t find
it on the romance shelves, but I can’t help but include it. One Thousand White Women tells the story of a group of women
who, at the request of their government, are sent to intermarry among
Cheyenne Indians. It’s a story of growth—one of women fighting against cruelty
and for freedom. Fergus’ novel is a testament to the indefatigable female
spirit.
Louder
Than Love
by Jessica Topper: Widowed Librarian,
Katrina Lewis, returns to her hometown to raise her young daughter when
traveling musician, Adrian Graves, shows up looking for work. Soon, Adrian is
working as an kids’ entertainer at the
library. The pair have nothing in common but old pain, but they can’t help but
fall for each other. How can Kat trust Adrian with her heart and daughter when all
he’s ever done is run away from responsibilities?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tell us about one of your favorite books or movies featuring a woman's journey.
Three people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, July 3 will each receive a copy of The Last True Cowboy and Home at Chestnut Creek. (U.S. and Canada only)
First rule of life on the run: never get attached. Nevada Sweet knows that better than anyone-it's just too dangerous to stay put. And until now, she's never wanted to. But she gets more than she bargained for when she walks into the Chestnut Creek Café looking for a job. Despite the protective wall she's built, her coworker Joseph has her imagining a life she isn't yet convinced she deserves...
While Unforgiven, New Mexico has always been home, Joseph "Fishing Eagle" King still feels like an outsider-no matter how much he tries to give back to his Navajo community. Beneath Nevada's biting wit, he glimpses a similar vulnerability. Against all odds, Joseph finds himself falling for her, and it's clear she's not as unaffected as she pretends. When her past finally catches up with her, she'll have to decide whether to keep running, or fight for what's hers.
Includes the bonus novel Wild Cowboy Ways by Carolyn Brown!
Would love to read these books and love that Carolyn Brown books is a bonus.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite journey type movie would be Norma Rae (Sally Field).
The Strange ways of Providence in my Life. Heartbreaking and captivating.
ReplyDeleteFinding Myself in Puglia. Love this fascinating post and the feature.
ReplyDeleteEat pray love with Julia Roberts
ReplyDeleteThe closest one I can think of is This Heart of Mine by Brenda Novak, where a woman falsely accused of a crime she did not commit longs to get to know her teenage son after her release.
ReplyDeleteNatty's Mama (Karen T.)
This Heart of Mine by Brenda Novak.
ReplyDeleteThe Brighton Guest House Girls,3 young women who must make their way when that is neither expected nor acceptable. They are facing expectations about class and abilities. A really well done book by Leslie Eames.
ReplyDeleteHidden Figures and The Miracle Worker are my favorite movies.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of one right now, but your list of books intriqued me! I will have to put them on the to buy list!
ReplyDeleteFlirting with Forty by Jane Porter orThis Heart of Mine by Brenda Novak.
ReplyDeleteUnder the Tuscan Sun- movie
ReplyDeleteSacajawea-Anna J Waldo- book
johns lake at usa dot com
Loved the Under the Tuscan Sun book
ReplyDeletedenise