| Missy Morgan has lived by a rigid set of rules for so long she knows no other way. Life has dealt her more losing hands than she cares to remember. But she has Lady Luck and her family. For them she'll remain strong, until a handsome cowboy enters her life and challenges the way she lives. Against her will, she's drawn to Lucas' blue eyes and honesty. Would it be so terrible if she put her trust in him? The odds say yes, but something else says no. But that horrible night has hung over her head for so long only a fool would gamble on Lucas' goodness. And she's not a fool. Or is she?
Reviews for Lady Luck
"Ms. Julie Lence was a new author to me. I haven't, therefore, had the pleasure of reading book one in this series. It did not take away from the plot in book two. It did convince me, however, that I needed to get the other and read it also. These two characters were strong individuals with scarred pasts. How they dealt with the problems made this storyline one terrific read.
The supporting characters were many. Each provided additional information into the background of these two main personalities. The book was full of action and there was never a dull moment. I never wanted to put the book down. The writing style of Ms. Lence was fabulous. It created a book that made me feel as if I were personally involved.
This book by Julie Lence is one of the best I've read in a long while. I have another author to add to my must-read list. I highly recommend this book." - 5 Hearts, Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio
"This is probably one of the most well written romance novels that I have read. The western and coastal scenes are vivid, the characters are so lively they seem to jump off of the page, and the storyline is quite interesting. This is one of those books where you hope all will turn out well in the end, but you do not mind seeing the struggle to get there. Why? Because you know in the end, you will get exactly what you hoped for…or even better… something you could not have imagined." - 4 Cups, Shannon, Coffee Time Romance & More
Read an excerpt from Lady Luck
Visit Julie Lence's web site
About Julie Lence I grew up in an average-size city in upstate New York. All through school I enjoyed writing as long as I could choose the topic. I even tried to write a novel length story in middle school, but since I was young I didn't stick with it all that long.
I met my husband during the latter part of 12th grade and married him two years later. He had already enlisted in the Air Force and I enjoyed accompanying him on his twenty years of service. By marrying young and entering the work force full-time, the writing bug didn't bite me again until the early 90's when I read Double Standards by Judith McNaught. I was already hooked on the romance genre and the little critter of a muse dug his teeth in deep; having gained a wealth of inspiration from Ms. McNaught's heart-warming story.
Lady Luck is my second work to be published. It's also the second book in the Weston Family Series. Someone once told me to write what I know or to write what I love, and that's what I've done with Lady Luck; combined my respect for horses, cowboys and life in the 1800's.
Currently, I'm working on another series involving Outlaws as heroes. I enjoy taking care of my family, reading and anything to do with the American West. I also enjoy meeting other fans of western historical romance. If you've got the time, say hello at: unwound@falconbroadband.net.
Back list
Luck of the Draw, the 1st book in the Weston Family Series and available at Amazon.com in the Kindle store.
Coming soon!
Coming soon to the Amazon Kindle store: No Luck At All, the 3rd book in the Westom Family Series.
An Interview with Julie Lence
By Holly Hewson for The Romance StudioHH: Your featured book is Lady Luck and it's the second in your Weston Family Series. Where did the idea for the series come from? JL: Many years ago, I read the first 3 books in Johanna Lindsey's Malory Family Series. Each book in the series is a stand alone story, but what I really liked was how she kept bringing back the characters from previous books. She continues to do this today. The Malory family is large and Ms. Lindsey keeps the readers up-to-date with the numerous brothers, sisters, cousins and children. Sometimes past characters, such as James and Tony, have large roles in the latest story and sometimes they don't.
Since family is important to me, and I love a saga with lots of characters, I knew I wanted three brothers and three books when I originally began work on the first story. I started with Luck of the Draw and Royce Weston, because I had him perfectly envisioned in my mind. His heroine, Paige, was another perfect vision and the series was born from them and my fondness for the west and big, sprawling ranches.
HH: Tell us about Lady Luck. JL: Lady Luck is a gambling hall and Missy's home. The idea for the gambling hall came about when I was flushing out characters in Luck of the Draw and came to Missy, who is Paige's sister. Missy has been missing from Paige's life for seven years. I had to find out where Missy had been and what she had been doing all this time, and Lady Luck was born.
Lady Luck is important to the story because this is one of the few places where Missy feels safe. She considers the other people who reside in the gambling hall family. She hasn't had a 'real' family in years and these people help to fill the void in her heart. They are the reason for her strength, and why she hasn't succumbed to the rotten hand fate dealt her as a child.
HH: What can you tell us about the other books in the series? JL: Luck of the Draw is the first book. Royce Weston has little use for women, because in his experience they are nothing more than liars and cheaters. Enter Paige Morgan who swindled him at the poker table and is now on his doorstep claiming amnesia. Royce doesn't belive she has memory loss, is certain she's after his family's fortune, but his family has taken her into their good graces and given her a place in their home. Royce is set on exposing her for the liar he believes she is, but when he realizes he is the cause for her amnesia -- which is real -- the hardness around his heart begins to ease and he finds himself wanting to help and protect her.
No Luck At All is the third book in the series. Creel Weston has just earned his medicial degree from a Boston college and is marrying his professor's daughter when the story opens. Creel loves Racine and thought she loved him, too. That is, until her father blackmailed him into marrying her. Now Creel isn't sure if his wife loves him, or if she's a spoiled socialite like his ma had been. Returning to his home in Colorado Territory with Racine, Creel hopes to find some semblance of happiness with her; she can't be as devious as ma had been. Racine proves to be the sweet-natured girl he fell in love with, but what he doesn't know is that she harbors scars his doctoring skills might not be able to heal.
HH: What do you like best about Missy and why will readers relate to her? JL: Missy had a fairly happy childhood, until her ma died. Her pa sold the family farm, loaded her and her siblings into a covered wagon and set them on a course for cheating at the poker tables. That was only the beginning of the cruelties life threw at her. Some people would dig a hole and crawl in if they'd endured the things she did, but Missy is strong. She finds a way to keep going. Sometimes that incudes drinking too much whiskey, and sometimes that includes reaching deep down into her soul and finding the courage to take another chance on life. She's not a quitter, and that's what I like best about her.
HH: What do you like best about Lucas and why will readers love him? JL: First, Lucas is tall, dark and hansome; many a woman's dream of the perfect man. But there is more to Lucas' good looks. Like Missy, life has not been kind to him. He harbors emotional hurts deep in his heart, hurts he's taken steps to ensure will never happen to him again. You just want to hug him and take away his pain. But also like Missy, Lucas keeps going. He doesn't give up, and when he loves, he loves whole-heartedly and for eternity.
HH: What draws todays readers to the romance genre in your opinion? JL: Happy endings. Love conquers all. Good triumphs over evil. Like a daytime soap opera, people read to escape their own lives, especially in today's society with high unemployment rates and worries over providing for their families. Readers want characters with problems they can relate to, locations they might never have visited, or places that seem as familiar as their childhood homes. Honor, respect and maybe even a good old-fashioned argument; todays romances offer compelling characters, solid plots and a happy-ever-after that leaves the reader with a good feeling.
Or, I could be wrong in that people read romance because they just like to read <w>.
HH: What else do you have in store for lucky readers? JL: Like the Weston Family Series, I'm currently working on another series with reoccuring characters. This series takes place in fictional Revolving Point, Texas and features outlaws turning toward the right side of the law for heroes. Buck Grayson from Lady Luck kicks off the series, and as usual, he's ornery.
HH: What are you reading at the moment? JL: Nothing. I did a lot of reading over the summer; romance, mystery and my first paranormal. All were great stories. My overall favorite was The Help. Since I don't like sitting in movie theaters any more, I'm patiently waiting for the movie to come out on DVD.
HH: Where is your favorite place to shop for books? JL: Walmart, Target, Barnes and Noble, Bethanne's Book Corner, small publishers on the internet; it doesn't matter to me. Some authors I read, like Linda Lael Miller, I'll grab her latest book at whatever store I'm in. Other authors' books I can only get from the Internet, so I visit their publisher's websites. And if I'm looking for backlist books, I go to Bethanne's. But all that might change -- I'm hoping for a Kindle (I know, an ebook author without one) for Christmas, so Amazon just might become my favorite store.
HH: Any special plans for the holidays this year? JL: The hubby, kiddo and I are staying home, like we've done for the past 8 years. We're miles away from family, but that's okay. We've made some of our own Christmas traditions and look forward to them every year. Plus, it's quiet and this is the one day of the year that my son can stay in his jammies. The television airs A Christmas Story all day, and I just love watching Ralphie, and Randy. And the aroma of turkey roasting in the oven is a gift from heaven.
HH: Thank you!
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