Welcome with me author Carmen Peone as she shares about her love for research and her latest release. And read all the way through to find out how to enter a random drawing for a free copy of this book.

Disclaimer: This book includes child kidnapping and some domestic violence.

I love research!

Visiting the setting of a contemporary book I’m fixing to write makes all five senses come alive. It animates the pages of my books too.

To me, it’s important to drive the streets of the towns and landscapes that I include in my stories. So far, the towns, street names, lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, structures, and buildings have been genuine. 

Renewed Hope, Book 3 of the Seven Tine Ranch Romance, is set partially where I live on the Colville Indian Reservation in Eastern, WA, and Dillon, Montana, but it is mostly set around the Flat Head Indian Reserve in Northern Montana.

I first visited the Poulson and Pablo, Montana, regions when my husband worked for Bonneville Power Administration as a liaison between certain tribes and BPA. For several years he attended the “River Honoring” and helped teach 5^th and 6^th graders about power transmission. 

I knew one of my books had to be set amongst the majestic Mission Mountains, Hungry Horse Dam, Flat Head Reservation, and Flathead Lake and River.

We visited in May when the snow capped the Mission Mountains and the afternoons grew warm and inviting. Renewed Hope opens in May because the air is still clean and not riddled with smoke from area wildfires and flowers are starting to bloom. The scent of pine and juniper permeated the air.

You can visit my blog this month to see photos of Montana and more. 

In July of 2021, I took my husband on a research trip to fill in the story’s setting gaps. He did most of the driving while I took hundreds of photos. When I had almost everything I needed, I rewarded my husband with a trip to Hungry Horse Dam. He’s always wanted to see it, and the drive was a short hour and a half.

I still needed a place for the kidnapper to hold my heroine’s son. Could the area surrounding the dam or backwaters work?  

I guess you’ll have to read and find out!

About Renewed Hope

Can they find her son in time?
 
Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts.
 
Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything’s on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He’s not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch.
 
Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking her son with them.

About Carmen

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Inspirational Western Romantic Suspense and lives with her husband in Northeast Washington and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation. With the love of history and the Western woman's lifestyle, she weaves threads of healing, hope, and horses that lead to happily ever after.

Connect with Carmen

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Giveaway: I am giving away a signed copy of Renewed Hope and a few photo cards of the Montana setting. All you have to do is tell me what state you’d like to visit. Drop your answer in the comments, including your cleverly disguised email address. For example: donna AT livebytheword DOT com