What does Jen Cudmore's Western novel "Athena Creek" and Kelly Clarkson's "Before He Cheats" have in common?

“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.” William Congreve

I’ve always liked that song from Carrie Underwood “Before He Cheats.” I believe any woman (or man) can imagine what they would do to an unfaithful partner for revenge if there were no consequences.

Would we trash a vehicle, like in Carrie’s song? I think many of us would.

Slash the tires? Sure!

Scrape the side with a key? You bet!
Smash the headlights with a baseball bat? Bring it on!

I went through a phase where all I wanted to read was western and prairie stories. I think I read all of Lori Copland’s books in one year! Then one day as I was listening to Carrie’s song, I began to wonder what the same situation would look like back in the 1800’s.

Thus, the birth of a book. Which lead to a series of three stories set in the West right after the Great Migration over the Oregon Trail. I smushed fictitious Clayton County between Klickitat and Skamania counties in Washington state.

In Athena Creek, Lynette lives with her parents in a little community near the Columbia River. When her intended cheats on her, she comes to that cliché crisis of deciding her future. Unfortunately, her retaliation gets her into a bit of trouble. Find out what she does with chocolate cake, a Winchester Rifle, and a Mustang in The Lawmen of Clayton County: Athena Creek.

“Gunner was now preoccupied on the other side of the house. All thoughts of destroying his property vanished. She’d best get across the yard before he noticed her there.
“Then another idea formed I her mind, one that made her downright giddy.”
- Excerpt from The Lawmen of Clayton County: Athena Creek

Set in the rugged Oregon Territory of the 1850’s, the first of three fast-paced historical romances features a new marshal who remains determined to uphold the law—despite a feisty young woman who intrigues him. When Lynette Ellis’ hot temper lands her in jail on her first night in town, she attempts to repair her reputation in town, and with the marshal, Trace Ingram. The suspense builds as investigation of three mysterious deaths appears to point to Charles McCrae, the businessman who recruited Trace. Charles usually gets whatever he wants, except for beautiful saloon singer Niccola Canalis, who turned down both his marriage proposals. Niccola, desperate to escape her employer’s clutches, needs a man willing to stand up to Charles. As Trace digs deeper for the truth, he begins to realize just how powerful Charles really is. With the help of Niccola and her bodyguard, he believes he can bring Charles to justice, but then Lynette gets caught in the plot. Can Trace stop Charles before anyone else gets hurt?

Drop by Jen's Amazon Author Page to see all of her titles and much more: http://www.amazon.com/Jen-Cudmore/e/B00D9EMQ7Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4?qid=1432818859&sr=8-4