Tag: Readers Favorite

  • Prickle Forrest Chronicles by Chrissy Hartmann January 2025 Well butter my biscuit and call me speechless…

    [custom-line-break]

    Prickle Forrest Chronicles

    Chrissy Hartmann

    January 2025

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    🤠 Dear Prickles,

    Well butter my biscuit and call me speechless – I’ve got more news than a cattle rustler’s got excuses! Grab your coffee and settle in for this here roundup.

    First off, my cookbook, : Heartfelt Grapeseed Oil Recipes with Benefits is now available and is out there on the trail as of today, January 31st, which just happens to be this cowpoke’s birthday. And you all can wrangle yourself a copy faster than a tumbleweed in a tornado. If you’ve already got yours reserved, bless your heart – and if you’re feeling particularly neighborly, a review would be more appreciated than rain in a drought.

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    I’d like to extend my most sincere apologies to those who live out of the good old USA, as the cookbook is not available in print. It, however, can be herded into your digital shopping cart internationally from most retailers. I sure wish you all could get it, it’s a mighty beautiful book!

    But hold onto your hats, cause that’s just the beginning. I’ve got not one, but two more books on the horizon. One’s an anthology of short stories, written by this here cowboy and the other’s another anthology where our good old friend Luke Tyler from Whiskey will be featured. And if your wondering, he’s cousin to Kaleb, Kash, and Kaden Tyler.

    Keep your eyes peeled for the GLFW anthology coming out in late June, which should have Lukes short story in it where he’s met the love of his life, Cora Krebs a vintner on Kellyes Island on Lake Erie, plus it’ll have a whole boot scooting variety of other short stories you won’t want to miss.

    Still got a hold of your hat? cause this next bit’s got me more excited than a kid at their first rodeo – I’m getting myself one of them fancy Tandem Mobi insulin pumps! This little beauty works right off an iPhone and is friendlier to us blind folk than a well-trained horse. Yours truly will be learning the ropes in the next couple weeks, and I reckon it’ll be smoother than a prairie sunrise.

    Speaking of hitting the trail, I’ll be moseying on down to three book festivals in March and April — Orrville Book Festival March 1st and Akron Book Festival March 8th and Stark Library Book Fest April 12th — with my sights set on two more roundups in October and November — Canal Town Book Fest October 4th and Buckeye Book Fair November 2nd —. The Grub Wrangler will be riding shotgun at every last one of ’em. And here’s where it gets interesting, pardners – anyone who stops by my table and picks up The Grub Wrangler or any other book gets entered into a special prize drawing. And don’t you fret if you can’t make it. I’ll rustle up a signup for those of you here on the e-mail list already. Now, I’m not spilling all the beans just yet, but come November’s newsletter, two lucky buckaroos will be riding off into the sunset with a mighty fine prize. Keep your eyes peeled for more details in February’s dispatch of the Prickle Forrest Chronicles.

    And if that’s not enough to make you holler "yeehaw," the Seeing Eye dog guide school’s done reached out about setting up a Juno walk next week. Looks like this cowpoke might be getting a new four-legged partner sooner than expected! At least that’s what we here on the ranch hope. I’ve requested a male shepherd and they’re sometimes harder to get than lassoing your favorite cowboy to do a two-step with you at the local square dance.

    Now, since we’re talking all things cowboy, let me tell you something about how us ranch hands have been participating in democracy since the early days. Them original cowboys were about as diverse as the wild frontier itself – Black, Hispanic, Native American, and white folks all working the same trails. And when it came to voting, well, cowboys historically weren’t too partial to either side of the political fence. They tended to vote based on what affected their livelihood most – land rights, cattle prices, and water access. Even today, you’ll find cowboys across these United States voting every which way, proving we’re about as independent as they come. And let’s not forget the inauguration either. These here cowboys like to celebrate a good win so they might cut loose sipping on a whiskey, firing off a few rounds of ammo, and eating a hearty meal before shut eye. If they’re lucky enough to be holding up at the bunk house, they might have an impromptu two-step with the local cowgirls. But for the most part, sunrise comes early for these hard working boys in the saddle and they’re back to work mending fences and tending the herd.

    Speaking of the inauguration, how did you celebrate it this year? Did you two-step at any inaugural balls or did you settle in and watch this here author’s Buckeyes win the National College Football Championship? Me? Started with mimosas at 12:02 pm danced a jig or two then settled in on the couch with the cowboys to watch my scarlet and gray win. Woohoo! Woohoo! Did manage to munch on a few of my savory starters that The Grub Wrangler managed to rustle up in-between plays. One such favorites were chipotle hummus with veggies and chicken cranberry salad with pecans on pepper crackers. Woohoo! Woohoo!

    Until next time, stay prickly, my friend, 🌵

    Now kick off your boots, grab a Whiskey, and settle in for some romance!

    Chrissy Hartmann

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Prickle Forrest Books LLC Copyright©2025 All Rights Reserved

  • Prickle Forrest Chronicles by Chrissy Hartmann – December 2024 – here’s to the highs, the lows, and everything in between…end of the year wrap up.

    Prickle Forrest Chronicles

    Chrissy Hartmann

    December 2024

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Dear Pricklers,

    Howdy, all! 🤠

    I’m wrangling the Year’s End Like a Wild Steer!

    Well, buckle up, cowpokes, because this year was a real rodeo! Some days were a straight-up bronc ride, others felt like herding kittens in a thunderstorm, but we made it to the end of 2024! So, pour yourself a stiff drink (or a strong cup of coffee) and settle in, because I’m dishing out the highlights, the lowlights, and a whole heap of thanks.

    Let’s Start With a Big Old Thank You!

    You all stuck with me through thick and thin, and for that, I’m downright grateful. Special thanks to everyone who saddled up for the Dangerously Dark Darlings Secret Santa Giveaway and the Tina Hogan Grant holiday Giveaway too. You all really brought the holiday cheer! And guess what? There’s more where that came from—next year, I’ll be tossing more goodies your way, so keep those spurs handy!

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    On a side note, my winner from Tina Hogan Grant’s holiday giveaway has not contacted me. You know who you are, so please send me your e-mail so I can send you your digital copy of Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation. Thanks!

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    And to my one winner, Lisa J. your copy of Make Christmas Great Again is in the mail. Unfortunately, the printer had shipping delays and we weren’t able to get it out to you before Christmas, so to make up for it, I’ve sent you something extra with it. Hopefully the Pony Express will get it to you soon, they promised you’d receive it by Monday, January 6th, keep watch for it!! Enjoy!

    Another big thanks to you all who left me a book review—good, bad, or just plain weird. Every single one is appreciated, even if some made me side-eye my coffee cup, wondering what you all were drinking! Hahaha!

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    The Year in Review… Wrangling Life’s thrown horseshoe

    Now, let’s not sugarcoat it—2024 came at me like a bronco with a burr under its saddle:

    – Hubby got laid off. Yep, the old paycheck train derailed, but we’re hoping to be back on track in 2025.

    – The furnace kicked the bucket. Yep, belly up. Ever try cowboying up in the middle of winter with no heat? Fun times Ha!.

    – M-I-L had a heart attack. Scared the daylights outta us, but she’s tougher than a cactus in a drought.

    – And let’s not even talk about my holiday treat binge. Let’s just say the treadmill and I have a hot date starting now. No waiting for the New Year—this gal needs to outrun the gingerbread men. Any of you all need to do the same?

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Big Wins and Woohoos!

    It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though. I’m over here tipping my hat to these wins:

    Large prints of Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation and Cherishing Whiskey’s Salvation hit the shelves. They look mighty fine, if I do say so myself.

    Published Make Christmas Great Again short story and even managed to snag a shiny 5-star review for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation from Readers’ Favorite. Woohoo! Woohoo!

    Love on the Lakefront: Romantic Tales from the Great Lakes was a big hit at Buckeye Book Fair. You all really showed up for me there—thank you kindly.

    And let’s not forget—Ohio State University made it to the college football playoffs! Here’s to chasing that championship in January. Go Buckeyes! O! H! I! O! Buckeyes! Buckeyes! Buckeyes!

    Holiday Treats and Tales

    Yours truly got a bit experimental in the kitchen and whipped up a new Christmas cookie! Y’all will see the recipe in my 2025 Christmas anthology, but trust me—it’s worth the wait.

    Here’s a hint… and not to be cheesy, but the mint in this here cookie will hook you all from the first bite!

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    On the writing front…

    I penned a Whiskey Salvation Christmas Novella that’s headed your way in 2025. Book cover’s in the works and it’s about as fun as riding a mule backward.

    The WNG Christmas short story I wrote for our 2025 anthology is also wrapped up and ready to go.

    Speaking of short stories, my tale "Tacking of Hearts" is in the GLFW anthology "Love on the Lakefront: Romantic Tales from the Great Lakes, but I’ll be releasing it as a standalone soon. Plus, the second story in that series will hit the WNG Christmas anthology in July 2025 as part of the Wayne Novelist Guilds winter holiday collection of Ohio short stories.

    Still with me? Good, because I’ve got more:

    Tales from the Prickle Forrest is in the editing corral, aiming for a spring release.

    The Grub Wrangler: Heartfelt Grapeseed Oil Recipes with Benefits, a Whiskey Salvation cookbook is hitting the trail in January (once the LCCN is assigned).

    Mark Your Calendars!

    Here’s where you can find me in 2025:

    January: The Grub Wrangler launches.

    March: Akron Book Festival on the 3rd and Orrville Book Festival on the 8th.

    July: WNG Christmas Anthology launches.

    October: Canal Town Book Festival.

    – Oh, and I’m gonna be doing some author giveaways on Goodreads, so saddle up and join the fun!

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Cowboys and December celebrations… A Little History

    Did you all know cowboys have been celebrating Christmas since the days of cattle drives? Back then, a cowboy’s Christmas was simple—think hand-carved trinkets, campfire songs, and a hearty meal if they were lucky. Nowadays, you’ll find cowboys hosting rodeos, lighting up ranch houses with enough lights to rival the North Star, and even swapping secret Santa gifts.

    New Year’s Eve? That’s a time for storytelling, music, and maybe a shot of whiskey to toast the year ahead.

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    So, here’s to the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Thanks for riding this wild trail with me, and here’s to making 2025 a rootin’-tootin’ good year!

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    I hope you all enjoyed this update. Remember, kick off your boots, grab a Whiskey, and settle in for some romance!”

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Stay prickly my friends, Happy New Year, and go Buckeyes!

    Chrissy Hartmann

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    ChrissyHartmann.com

    Prickle Forrest Chronicles

    Newsletter Sign-Up

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Follow Me:

    X

    Facebook

    Instagram

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Find my books and other books you will enjoy on:

    • Clean Romance Books

    • Hartmann’s Book Shop

    • Chrissy’s General Store

    🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

    Don’t miss out on Chrissys 5-star Readers Favorite debut novel now available on digital, paperback, and large print…

    RESCUING WHISKEY’S SALVATION

    What could possibly bring a cosmetic heiress and a land developing cowboy together, yet at the same time… destroy them?

    A “dead” uncle? A closed shelter? Maybe an unruly troupe of clowns? Or all three?

    Only one way to find out…

    Find Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation here!

    And don’t forget Chrissy’s new novella to the Whiskey Salvation Series…

    CHERISHING WHISKEY’S SALVATION

    After thirty plus years, this retired Army Colonel and cattle rancher realizes there’s only one thing he cherishes the most. And that’s the one person who roped his heart. But stubbornness, duty, coffee, and even an unruly troupe of clowns battle to loosen that hold. What’s it going to take for love to brand him forever?

    Only one way to find out.

    Find Cherishing Whiskey’s Salvation here!

    And to those who love short stories…

    Out now in the Great Lakes Fiction Writers anthology

    Love on the Lakefront: Romantic Tales from the Great Lakes

    Contains Chrissy’s latest short story…

    Tacking of Hearts: A Whiskey Salvation Short Story

    Falling for the cowboy of her heart, author Olivia Masters never imagined writing him into her island life. But when a storm hits, she discovers he’s not the cowboy she thought. What tack of the heart will set their sails for a happily ever after?

    Find Love on the Lakefront here!

    ChrissyHartmann.com

    Prickle Forrest Books LLC Copyright ©2021-2025 All Rights Reserved