BTS Book Reviews Issue 18 | Page 50

The Virgin Madam by Shiloh Saddler After inheriting a brothel, Laura’s determined to hide her lust for women behind conservative skirts and a businesswoman’s facade. When a mysterious softspoken stranger requests a room, Laura must confront both her secret desires and her father’s murderer or face a lonely future as the virgin madam. A Featured Insider’s View Why as an author you chose to write this book? What was your inspiration for it? I am a diverse reader with a soft spot for GLBT. After reading many romances I decided it was time to write my own novella. I knew it had to be historical – my favorite genre. I was shocked to find how few F/F historical romances were out there compared to M/M. There is definitely a need for more F/F historical romance. I wanted to help fill that need and took it as a challenge. Why did I choose the Old West for my time period? I grew up watching western movies with John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. I also watched all the good western TV shows like Gunsmoke and Bonanza. The idea for The Virgin Mada m came to me after trying to imagine what women would do if they were thrown into some of the dangerous situations the heroes in these TV shows and movies faced. I always loved when a western included a strong female like a woman running a ranch after her husband’s death or a mail order bride willing to move into the wilderness to start a new life. The Virgin Madam is set in Bitterroot Flats, California a town run by the Fletcher gang. After Laura’s papa is murdered she inherits his brothel and becomes the madam. She is similar to Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke only a little more innocent. She thinks she’s cursed to remain alone because she lusts after her working girls. She has two goals: get out of this desert town and get revenge for her papa’s death. 50 | www.BTSeMag.com Joe Bascum stumbles into Bitterroot Flats looking for a place to hide from a gunman out for blood. When Laura offers a bed and bath, Josephine “Joe” Bascum accepts hoping to show the buttoned-up beauty just how right forbidden desire can feel. In my mind Joe is the female version of Marshal Dillon only without the badge. The Virgin Madam has everything I love about westerns: outlaws, saloon girls, shootouts, and steamy love scenes! Shiloh Saddler likes to do research for her steamy romances first hand. She has invented a time machine and travels back to the 19th century on a regular basis. There are experimental settings on her time machine which could propel her into the future and even other worlds. She believes love and a good book makes anything possible. Shilohsaddler.blogspot.com