Posted in American Civil War, American Victorian romance, book reviews, Friday News and Reviews, historical romance, The Wild Rose Press, tagged book reviews, Cassidys War, Slip Into Something Victorian, The Wild Rose Press, Victorian American romance on August 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Found a new review for my January American historical romance release, 
Cassidy’s War at Let’s Talk Romance Reviews ~ 4 sighs
In part: “A very good read.Written well and a good plot! I recommend it to any who love this genre of book ! I enjoyed reading this a lot!”
Read full review at: http://letstalkromancereviews.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/cassidys-war-by-susan-macatee/
And I’m over at Slip Into Something Victorian today with my Civil War timeline post about the Battle of Nueces in Texas.
Posted in American Victorian romance, book release, historical romance, The Wild Rose Press, Wednesday Excerpts, tagged book excerpt, paranormal romance, past lives, reincarnation, The Wild Rose Press, Thoroughly Modern Amanda, time travel romance, Victorian American romance on August 8, 2012| 2 Comments »
Since I now have a release date for my newest time travel romance, Thoroughly Modern Amanda, thought I’d share an excerpt today on my ‘Wednesday Excerpt’ post.
Excerpt:
Her footsteps sounded hollow on the unfinished wood floor as she paced. He lifted his gaze to study her. Her skirts nearly touched the freshly sanded floor as she braced her hands on either side of her hips. Her brow furrowed, lips twisted into an expression of anxiety.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She turned and faced him. “Sorry?”
“For putting you to all this trouble.” He realized he didn’t even know his rescuer’s name. “I’m Jack Lawton, by the way and you are…?”
She pursed her full lips. “Miss Montgomery.”
“You don’t have a first name?” he asked.
“Sir, we are strangers to one another.” Her face reddened.
“But I gave you my first name.” He spread his hands.
She propped her hands on her hips. “My father would have a conniption fit if I gave my Christian name to a strange man. On the other hand, my step-mother…” Her lips curved into the hint of a smile. “…always introduces herself by her first name to the consternation of my father.” She lifted her chin as if appraising Jack. “I’m Amanda.”
Jack smiled but winced as a shot of pain sliced through his skull. “Amanda Montgomery. I’ll be sure to remember that name.” He lifted his hand. “Now, if you could assist me to the front door.”
She stretched her arm down toward him, and he used the wall to hoist himself so he wouldn’t put all his weight on her.
A brief wave of dizziness halted his progress, but he steadied himself. “Lead on.”
By the time they reached the door, he realized how eerily familiar this house looked. Almost as if the house he’d been in had traveled back in time. Could the new owner have changed his mind and decided to rebuild the place?
Amanda threw open the door.
Jack’s mouth gaped. Not only was his car gone, but the entire block was transformed. What had been a paved walk and blacktop street was now packed dirt.
Heat rose to his cheeks. “Where’s my car? Did they tow it away to tear up the street?” He couldn’t have been unconscious long enough.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Amanda’s gaze scanned the road.
Jack froze in the doorway, not sure what to do. This was insane. He had no car, no cell phone or ID. If he made it to his house, would it even be there? For one chilling moment, he wasn’t sure.
Amanda glanced at him, then back at the road, not saying anything for a long moment. “Mr. Lawton, if you’re able to walk a short distance, I’ll take you to my home. My step-mother may know how to help you.”
Thoroughly Modern Amanda coming December 19, 2012 to The Wild Rose Press.
Posted in historical romance, Monday Inspiration, writing, tagged Monday Inspiration, Victorian physicians, writing on August 6, 2012| 4 Comments »
In my new work-in-progress, the hero is a late nineteenth century physician. This character originally appeared as a minor character, a friend of the hero, in my 2009 Civil War romance, Confederate Rose. In that novel, he served as a physician in the Union army, but now practices at home in a small Pennsylvania town in a rural setting.
In the story, he travels to his patients’ homes to treat illnesses and wounds caused by accidents.
The late eighteen-hundreds saw many advances in both medical knowledge and technology. As a result, the medical profession itself went through drastic changes. The acceptance of germs causing diseases, unheard of before the nineteenth century, along with research of the human body and development of specialized tools, caused a revolution in treatments of illness. The practice of hygiene, put into use during the American Civil War, aided patients and improved outcomes for recovery.
Late nineteenth century physicians visited patients’ homes or occasionally worked out of an office in their own home. Doctors in rural areas needed to be able to travel in a wide area. Doctors would travel by foot or horseback and needed to carry tools and drugs they could pack into a small case or saddlebag.
During the Industrial Revolution, hospitals in big cities were looked on as being dirty, breeding grounds for disease and infection. Because doctors didn’t practice methods for keeping germs from spreading from patient to patient, a hospital stay would likely cause a person to contract a new disease, so people avoided them.
Because most doctors worked in large geographic areas, they were expected to treat such ailments as toothaches, stomach aches, fevers and even sick livestock. It wasn’t until later in the century that doctors developed specialties in medicine.
Even surgical procedures would be carried out in a patient’s home. Anesthesia was not widely in use until the end of the century, so complex surgeries weren’t usually performed. And the types of anesthesia available, ether or chloroform, could asphyxiate a patient. Antiseptic practices also weren’t common until the turn of the century, so a surgical risk of infection after the fact ran high.
To learn more about nineteenth century physicians and advances in medicine, visit these sites:
http://rosemelnickmuseum.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/19th-century-doctors-in-the-us/
http://suite101.com/article/19th-century-advances-in-medicine-a172276
Posted in book release, Friday News and Reviews, historical romance, The Wild Rose Press, tagged book reviews, new book release, reincarnation, The Wild Rose Press, time travel romance on August 3, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The release date has been scheduled for my time travel ebook, Thoroughly Modern Amanda from The Wild Rose Press on December 19, 2012.
Believing anything is possible, magazine reporter Amanda Montgomery dreams about being a modern woman in a nineteenth century world, much like her exceptional step-mother. But society expects well-off young ladies to focus on finding a suitable husband and raising a family. And then Jack appears—with no past and unconventional ideas. Does he hold the key to another century as well as her heart, or is she destined to stay in her own time?
Construction worker Jack Lawton wants to preserve an old home that’s scheduled for demolition. But when he sneaks inside for a final look, a loose beam falls on his head, and upon waking, he finds himself in the arms of a beautiful woman. His only problem—he’s no longer in the twenty-first century. Can he find his way back home? Does he really want to?
And the first review has come in on Smashwords for my paranormal romance, Dreaming Josie. Five stars! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/177360
Also available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Posted in American Victorian romance, historical romance, The Wild Rose Press, Wednesday Excerpts, tagged book excerpt, Cassidys War, The Wild Rose Press on August 1, 2012| 1 Comment »
He watched her tread down the hall, then retreated into the formal parlor. Two chairs and a settee set around an ivory trimmed fireplace, upholstered in a combination of blue and gold. The wool carpet beneath his feet was a red, blue, and black blend. Burgundy drapes covered the windows, but gold tasseled sashes held them open to the sunshine. As he moved through the room, he studied family photos. One of Cassidy’s father seated in a chair, with her mother’s hand resting on his broad shoulder. Two other photos, Quinn and Josh, both standing tall and proud in their army uniforms. Another photo contained all the Stuart children. Cassidy and Sarah sat while their brothers, Quinn, Josh and Matt, a small boy at the time, stood around the girls.
He lifted the photo of Josh in uniform. The day his best friend had died on the battlefield at Gettysburg flooded back. The last time George had ever cried. Josh had meant everything to him. So much so, he’d followed him into the army. And then lost him forever.
Movement in the hall startled him. He turned, the photo still clutched in his hand. Cassidy stood in the open doorway watching him.
He flushed and cleared his throat, as he placed the photo on the table. “I sure do miss old Josh.”
Cassidy nodded, gazing at the photo. “We all do, but I know how much he meant to you.”
George blew out a breath. “Josh was the one real friend I had in town. Well, so much for old memories.” He motioned her to take a seat.
She gathered her skirts and settled onto the chair. George sat across on the settee, not wanting to be too close right now. He might not be able to keep his hands, lips, tongue off her, and if her mother returned, there’d be hell to pay.
“George, I was thinking…” She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, her brow furrowed.
“Thinking what?”
“Well, if Miss Baker won’t tell us anything, there may be another way we can get the goods on Madison.”
“And what might that be?”
She ran her tongue over her lip, enticing him to move close, but he steeled himself to concentrate on what she said. “In town just now as I was on my way to see Miss Baker, Madison offered me a position as his assistant.”
“He what?” George’s bile rose.
“He told me since my practice was practically non-existent, I could work alongside him as I did with Pa.”
George’s blood chilled. “You told him no, I hope.”
“Of course. Why would I want to work for that arrogant ass? But now…” She clasped her hands as if in prayer. “…if I did take the position, I could get close to him. Bait him.”
“Absolutely not!” George rose to his feet. “You are not to go anywhere near him. That’s an order.”
Cassidy’s War available from The Wild Rose Press http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_135&products_id=4729
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cassidys-war-susan-macatee/1108210226?ean=2940013754980&itm=1&usri=cassidy%27s+war
and All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cassidy039swar-672840-158.html
Read opening chapters at my website http://susanmacatee.com
About the Author
Susan Macatee writes American Civil War romance, some with a paranormal twist. From time travels to vampire tales, her stories are always full of love and adventure.
She’s spent many years as a Civil War civilian reenactor with the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. She's a wife, mother of three grown sons, and has recently become a grandmother. She spends her free time inhaling books, watching baseball games and favorite old movies.
Susan Macatee Romance Writer 