Spotlight Feature of Sasha Summer’s Cowboys & Kisses

Cowboys & Kisses(Teens of Black Falls Texas, #1) 

By Sasha Summers
 
Blurb: 

Allie had big plans for the future. Falling for a cowboy wasn’t part of it.

1. Get out of Black Falls Texas – aka Redneck Hell

(Graduation was eight months away. After that, she was out of there.)

2. Avoid Wyatt Holcomb at all costs.

(Except he was everywhere and kind of hard to ignore since he was hot-and a really nice guy.)

3. Avoid her parents.

(Shouldn’t be too hard to do since her father hated her and her mother pretended nothing was wrong.)

4. Stop thinking about Wyatt.

(Which would be a lot easier if he wasn’t so sweet… and he’d keep his shirt on.)

5. Decide what she really wants.

(Instead of holding onto the past and the guilt.)

Available for purchase at
            
Excerpt
“I don’t feel right leaving you here alone.” His voice had
an edge to it.
I paused, trying to think of the right words. “I’m not
your problem.”
He smiled, his brows going up. “You’re nobody’s problem.”
“My parents would argue with that, but that’s not what I
meant and you know—”
He stood up suddenly. “You’re not my problem.”
He crossed to me. “But…Allie, I want you to be.”
I really like the
sound of that.
Which hurt. I’m the
last thing you need.
As hard as it was to
breathe, I managed to argue. “No, you really don’t.” I sidestepped him, needing
distance to keep fighting. “I’m one of those damaged goods on the quick-sale
table at the grocery store. Pretty packaging makes you curious, interested, but
then you get it home and open it up and realize you wasted your time and money
on trash.” I walked out of the kitchen as I spoke. More distance.
His hand caught my arm. “Jesus, Allie, that’s harsh.”

 

I very carefully pulled my arm out of his hold. “Sometimes the truth is.
My best friend taught me that.”

 



About the Author
 
Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.
You can stalk, I mean find Sasha here
          
Oh, Did you know that Sasha has a Street Team? She does! If you love/like her books and want to help support her join the Street Team. What would you have to do if you join? Let’s see…1.) Have Fun

2.) meet other people with common interest

3.) you get first dibs on info, snippets, excerpts and even get to review in advance!!

4.) your input! We might ask you to name her next cowboy! LOL

5.) there will be missions where we ask you to share links and information, but we provide you with all the info so it’s easy as pie. Or cake! What ever you prefer!

So if you want to support Sasha, ask to join her Street Team here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/456419371077920/


Giveaway

Jennifer reviews Somebody To Love by Lori Wilde

Somebody to LoveTITLE: Somebody To Love
SERIES #: Cupid, Texas #3
CHARACTERS: Jericho Chance, Zoey McCleary
AUTHOR: Lori Wilde
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Sexy cowboy-scholar Jericho Chance always knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. And after sauntering back home to Cupid, he’s shocked to discover that he wants Zoey McCleary. After years from home, he takes one new look at his bubbly best friend, with her lightning smarts and luscious body, and it hits him like a bolt: she’s his somebody to love and he’s not leaving town again without her.

Settling down always seemed like a time waster to Zoey, a man magnet with a trail of broken hearts behind her. She’s not meant to marry–but how can she resist someone as persuasive as Jericho? There’s no way they can ignore the explosive chemistry seething between them…even if it means risking their friendship….

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I’ve always loved Lori Wilde’s books and Somebody to Love is no exception. Zoey and Jericho have been best friends since childhood but each have been wanting their friendship to turn into something more. When Jericho comes back to Cupid for an opportunity of getting him dream job in Archaeology at the local college, it looks as though they finally have a chance to take things to the next level. The only problem is that Jericho will lose his dream job if he gets caught in relations with a student and Zoey just happens to be a student on his archaeological dig. They make a pact to keep their hands off each other until the end of the program, but being in close quarters is making it difficult to not give in to temptation.

I thought this was a great book and Zoey was an adorable character to me. She was such a free-spirit wild child that everyone believed had no direction in her life. When she finally committed to her archaeological studies, she finally felt that she found what she had been looking for and it would bring her closer to Jericho.

They had been best friends for ages and when Jericho arrived back in Cupid, he was surprised at how seeing Zoey would affect him romantically. He was always attracted to her, but never really knew how she truly felt even when she kissed him on her 21st birthday. Now, there was no denying the sexual chemistry between them but he had to stay away from her or he would lose his job. Easier said than done when they kept ending up situations that tempted them to break that pact.

Somebody to Love was a heart-warming friends to lovers romance that was hard to put down. I love every book in the Cupid, Texas series and Somebody to Love is a delightful addition to an already fabulous series. I can’t wait to read more from Lori Wilde and the residents of Cupid in her next book, Love With a Perfect Cowboy.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

“Caption this cover” Once Tasted by Laura Moore

Hello my lovely readers…..

I have  a wonderful cover to share with you today.

But I need your help.

I want to see how creative you all are…

So here is how it is going to work.

Please check out the McHottie cover below and think up a fun caption for him.

It can be fun, silly, sexy or anything you want (as long as it is nice.  Mean comments are not welcome) .

 

*****

Once Tasted: A Silver Creek Novel

Once Tasted cvr2

 AmazonBarnes & NobleIndiebound

Three siblings, an extraordinary family, a lasting heritage—in the irresistible Silver Creek Ranch trilogy, they’ll fight for the land and the people they love.

Everything has come easily to Reid Knowles, the middle son of a California ranching family. But his charmed life is suddenly complicated when his good friend and neighbor asks him to help run the winery next door. His neighbor’s niece, Mia Bodell, is in charge—and she has made it clear that she’d rather be roped to a steer than to Reid Knowles. Never one to back down from a challenge, Reid vows to win her trust.

In a life marked by loss, Mia knows that nothing comes easily—love included. In high school, her heart was crushed by Reid, and even though years have passed, the hurt lingers. Mia is achingly aware that the teen heartthrob has matured into a devastatingly handsome playboy, and the budding winemaker refuses to let down her guard. But one taste of unbridled passion changes things. From Reid’s first intoxicating kiss to his unexpectedly tender seduction, Mia is swept into a passionate affair that could tear her heart to pieces . . . or give her everything she has ever wanted.

Laura Moore_01-04-2013-53A little about Laura: 

Award-winning contemporary romance author Laura Moore began writing while pursuing a graduate degree in art education. Her first story filled an entire notebook before she realized that she might actually have penned a love story that others might want to read. Ride A Dark Horse, begun in a coffee-stained notebook, was published a year later.

An accomplished rider and animal lover, Laura lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her husband, two children, and their black Lab. Their cat Zevon keeps them all in line. Visit Laura at www.lauramoorebooks.com or follow her on Facebook.

GIVEAWAY TIME:

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Book Spotlight & Interview: Mystic Cowboy by Sarah M. Anderson

MysticCowboy72web

Today, I am excited to have Sarah here to talk about her new book, Mystic Cowboy.  Have you seen the cover?  All I have to say is that is Rebel is one hot, sexy man and I loved this book.

1. Tell me about your new release.

Mystic Cowboy is a new/old release. It’s been out in ebook for a while, but it’s out in print now and I’m so excited–the cover is even hotter in print than it was on the computer screen!

Mystic Cowboy is about a doctor named Madeline Mitchell who moves out to run a clinic on the White Sandy Lakota Indian reservation.  Once she gets there, she discovers the medicine man, Rebel Runs Fast, is seemingly out to foil her every move.  But before long, things begin to heat up–especially once they go skinny dipping!

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Mystic Cowboy?

It really did come down to an opposites attract situation.  I wanted people who were both trying to make the world a better place and take care of people, but they went about it in totally different ways that placed them in opposition at every turn. Rebel sends people to sweat lodges and Madeline sends them to clinical trials.  In many of the situations, there’s no one right answer–until they have to work together to solve a medical crisis.

Rebel’s name was inspired by a minor-league baseball game I went to.  Small-ball players often have a lot of fun and don’t take themselves too seriously. That night, every single player was introduced with some corny name–Cadillac, McScoochy–and their player headshot featured the same hilariously oversized pair of Elvis sunglasses.  One player had gone with the name Rebel and I thought, man–that’s a great character name! When I thought of the character of a medicine man who never does what people expect, the name was a perfect fit!

3. Do you have any influence on the models for your covers?

I do! Samhain is really wonderful about working with authors to make the cover just right.  I’ll be honest, the first cover looked a bit like Slash, the guitar player for Guns n’ Roses–remember him?–doing a Chippendales  strip tease.  This model was featured on the cover of Cynful by Dana Marie Bell and I said to my editor, why can’t we get a model like him?  And she went and got him. His image is a stock photo, so this exact picture has popped up on…four? Five? I’ve lost count–but a bunch of different romances.

4. Which authors do you feel have been a big influence on you becoming a writer?

I didn’t come from a family of romance readers, believe it or not.  I read Scott O’Dell and Judy Blume, then Stephen King and Dave Barry before I moved onto Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.  I got to the romance eventually! Basically, I just read a lot, across genres and devoured good books.

5. What are you working on now?

I’ve just started The Beaumonts #3,  A Beaumont Christmas Wedding.  It’ll be out in November 2014 from Harlequin Desire.  It’s a new series that kicks off in September 2014 and it’s about a family that owns a huge brewery in Denver, Colorado.  I’m really enjoying it!

Lightning Round:

1. Favorite Food?

Chocolate.  In every form except chocolate-covered espresso beans–I don’t like coffee!

2. TV Guilty Pleasure?

Magnum P.I. I looooove the mustache!!!

3. Most interesting thing that you had to research for a book?

Ohhhh–there are so many weird things–um–I do tend to wander around real estate but I’m also fascinated with historical things, like when modern underwear was invented or how tampons were marketed back in the 1930s.

Oh! I know! For my upcoming May book, Nobody (Men of the White Sandy #3), I had to research interiors to Airstream trailers and you know what? Airstream has the floor plan for every single trailer they’ve ever made digitized and online.  I wandered around there for hours!  You just never know when you’re going to fall down a research hole!

4. Favorite Candy?

You mean, besides chocolate?  Jelly beans or Gummi bears–something light and sweet and perfect for summer (that doesn’t melt all over your hands when it’s hot!)

About the Author:

SarahMAndersonhiresAward-winning author Sarah M. Anderson may live east of the Mississippi River, but her heart lies out west on the Great Plains.  With a lifelong love of horses and two history teachers for parents, it wasn’t long before her characters found themselves out in South Dakota among the Lakota Sioux.  She loves to put people from two different worlds into new situations and to see how their backgrounds and cultures take them someplace they never thought they’d go.

When not helping out at school or walking her rescue dogs, Sarah spends her days having conversations with imaginary cowboys and American Indians, all of which is surprisingly well-tolerated by her wonderful husband and son.  You can learn more about Sarah at www.sarahmanderson.com

 

mysticcowboy

The White Sandy Reservation needs a doctor, and Madeline Mitchell needs to do a little good in the world. It seems like a perfect fit, until she meets the medicine man, Rebel Runs Fast. As far as Madeline can tell, Rebel’s sole mission is to convince her patients that modern medicine can’t help them.  And the fact that he makes her heart race every time he looks at her only irritates her more.

Rebel swore off the white man’s world–and women–years ago. But he’s never met a woman like Dr. Mitchell. She doesn’t speak the language, understand the customs, or believe he’s anything more than a charlatan–but she stays, determined to help his people. He tries to convince himself that his tribe doesn’t need her, but when patients start getting sick with strange symptoms, he realizes that he needs her more than ever.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Mystic Cowboy

Review (4.5 Stars):  I loved Rebel and Madeline so much that I want a Rebel of my own!  Madeline moves to the White Sandy Reservation to operate their medical clinic, a clinic where previous doctors stayed less than five months.  Madeline is smart, sassy and ends up verbally sparing with Rebel every time that he enters her clinic.  Rebel is considered a medicine man by his community and is leery of the new doctor on the reservation.  But both of them can’t help but be attracted to one another and sparks fly when they finally get together.

I love the cover of Mystic Cowboy and I was drawn into the story within the first few pages.  Rebel was such an interesting character for me.  Handsome, sexy, artistic and he had given up on women before Madeline entered his life.  He took care of so many people in his community, both financially and spiritually, which makes him a hero in my eyes.  He deserved someone like Madeline who could finally be someone he could count on and wouldn’t see him as the poor man to feel sorry for because he lived on the reservation.

Mystic Cowboy was a hot, steamy romance that kept me up late into the night.  Loved Rebel and Madeline’s story and Ms. Anderson has created characters that you can fall in love with. Looking forward to reading Masked Cowboy which will be out in print later this year.

 

Interview & Giveaway with Leah Braemel

blog-hop-banner-horz

Books-n-Kisses  is please to welcome Leah Braemel to the blog today.

Leah, tell us a little about the premise of Slow Ride Home.Slow Ride Home

Two brothers, Ben and Jake Grady, have just inherited the family’s massive 71,000 acre ranch, Bull’s Hollow. But Jake’s taken his father’s death hard, and Ben feels that most of the work to keep the ranch running. He’s just learned that someone is claiming they own part of the ranch and has sold it to someone else, so in order to fight the claim and protect his ownership, his title insurance company sends in one of their claim investigators—who turns out to be Ben’s old high school flame, Allie O’Keefe. While Ben thinks Allie left him when her father was fired from Bull’s Hollow, Allie tells a different, darker story about the last day they spent together. While they’re unraveling the mystery of the ranch’s ownership, they discover the sparks that once flickered between them are still burning bright. But fifteen years is a long time to have been apart and Allie’s not the careful girl she used to be, and letting go of the anger and bitterness of the partner Ben’s family caused her isn’t easy to overcome, no matter how loveable Ben is.

How would you describe your main characters

Ben is stalwart. He’s always known where he belonged, and is ready to put in a long day’s work to keep the ranch going. He’s fair and firm with his hands, but he has some growing up to do too, which he quickly learns the longer Allie is around, and the more of his family’s secrets are revealed.

Allie is smart and smart-mouthed at times, but she’s also conflicted. All her life’s plans were changed by one act one afternoon so now she’s more cautious, but that inner adrenaline junkie she used to be yearns to come out and play. Preferably with Ben.

He cupped her jaw, the fierceness in his expression holding caught in his gaze. “Be strong. Don’t let anyone stop you from being who or what you want. Even me.”

Her breath hitched at his passionate reminder. It had been a long time since any one had believed in her like that. Fifteen years to be precise. Unable to deal with the emotions swirling inside her, she took his hand and dragged him down the path.

At the next pasture, three mares, one heavily pregnant, stopped their grazing to raise their heads and watch them pass. After ordering the dogs to sit beside Allie, Ben diverted from their path to call to one of them. “Hey, Miree, how you doin’, momma?”

The pregnant mare flicked her ears and wandered toward him. Allie never saw Ben reach into his pocket but he suddenly had a carrot stick in his hand.

“That’s my girl.” Once Miree had taken the treat, he lovingly stroked her neck.

Allie climbed onto the wooden fence and perched on the top rung. “I used to dream of them, you know.”

“Of who?”

“Of the horses. Especially the foals, with their big eyes and the way they look at you as if they can see right into your soul.” Rather like the way Ben’s had just seen into her subconscious.

“I used to think the same of you.” Ben’s voice turned husky. He stood behind her, resting his hands lightly on her waist. “I still do.”

“Don’t.” Don’t tempt me to want a relationship with you again unless you’re dead serious. And the idea that she wanted to be in another committed relationship scared the living daylights out of her.

What do you have on your desk?

A ton of sticky-notes, in a rainbow of colors. Seriously there are sticky notes on my monitors and my desk’s hutch with reminders like “the romance is the journey” and “sexual tension in every scene” to names of my characters — where they work, where they live, family trees, to-do lists, you name it. Usually at least one coffee cup, hand cream, note pads, my long-distance glasses (I wear a special pair of glasses set to the distance of my monitor), lip balms, and a theraband so I can do my physiotherapy while I’m sitting at my desk (I wrecked my rotator cuff from sitting typing too many hours a day)

5 Things you have to have to write?

The main thing I need is peace and quiet (as in no puppies whining at me the way our Shih Tzu Seamus is grumbling right now), oh and no cats climbing across my keyboard. I swear Turtle has changed programs with key combinations I didn’t know existed before. (And haven’t been able to set right since.) As for the writing itself, I need to know exactly where I’m going—what the scene needs to show—before I can settle in to writing. At least two cups of coffee in the morning (does that count as one item or two?), and a huge monitor – I use a 27 incher so I don’t have to squint.

Do you write with music on?

Sometimes when I’m writing a first draft — I’ve created several playlists to keep me in the country frame of mind while writing The Grady Legacy books. (You can find the songs that I listened to while writing since I created playlists for them: Ben’s playlist, and now Jake’s)

Plot or write by the seat of your pants?

I’m a die-hard plotter. Even though I have to know where I’m going with each scene, I write numerous drafts—as in at least 5 – 8. The first draft resembles more of an extended outline, with notes about what each scene needs to show, and snippets of conversation. Then in my second draft I’ll go through and fill out the detail, on third draft I fill in more detail and start layering in more emotion. Fourth draft, I start laying in more detail and even more emotion. Because usually I get partway through each draft, I discover a new fact about the hero or heroine that changes the slant of the whole story. Why my brain can’t figure these things out in the first draft, I have no idea, but it’s part of my process. Trouble is it makes me a much slower writer than some.

What’s next for you?

I’m finishing up Book 2 – Jake’s story which is called No Accounting for Cowboys. You get to see more into the secrets Jake’s been keeping and why—and he has more, very personal, family drama heaped on him that forces him to make some hard decisions. Then I’ll be diving straight into book 3—Wrangling the Past as the newest member of the Grady family wrestles with their new found family and identity.

Read more about Slow Ride Home, book 1 in The Grady Legacy trilogy on Leah’s website. Or buy the book from Amazon, B&N, or Carina Press. Or as an audio book from Audible

Slow Ride HomeSlow Ride Home
Author: Leah Braemel
Book 1 in The Grady Legacy trilogy
ISBN-13: 9781426897351
Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance
Publication date: 11/11/2013

 Amazon  | B&N Carina Press link iBooks

 

Losing his father was hard enough, but now Ben Grady must face the fact that he and his brother may not be sole owners of their beloved ranch. To protect his family’s legacy, he’s forced to rely on the legal prowess of the woman who stars in his erotic fantasies: Allie O’Keefe. Ben’s never forgotten the illicit encounter they shared fifteen years ago—or forgiven himself for letting her go.

Allie thought she’d moved beyond the scandal that cost her Ben in the past. But working so closely with the seductive rancher arouses the wild child within the cautious woman she’s become. Though she tries to keep business and pleasure separate, Allie soon gives in to temptation, and discovers Ben’s sensual skills surpass even her X-rated memories…

Allie has every intention of leaving Bull’s Hollow forever after her investigation is complete. But there are a few complications. Not the least of which is that while saving the ranch, Allie’s lost her heart.

LeahBraemel200x300About Leah 

The only woman in a houseful of men (even the cat and dog are male), Leah Braemel loves hiding away from all the dust bunnies while she writes sexy heroes and heroines finding true love. To read more about Slow Ride Home or any of Leah’s other books, you can visit her website, follow her on Twitter, or on Facebook.

**Leah is giving away a digital copy of her backlist to a lucky commenter.**

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Guest blog & giveaway with Cynthia D’Alba

May I Have This Dance?

Hi All! Cynthia D’Alba here. Thanks to Books-N-Kisses to having me here today to celebrate the release of my newest book, TEXAS TANGO. It’s the second book in the Texas Montgomery Mavericks Series. (It follows Texas Two Step released last year.)

I wrote a scene that takes place at a country club dance. Growing up, a “country club dance” was the height of social activities. It meant a fancy dress (preferably new!) and a date wearing a suit (instead of jeans (of questionable cleanliness) and a polo (instead of a T-shirt if you were a special date!) Writing the scene stirred up quite a few nice memories, like the time mom made me a full hoop skirt dress and if I didn’t sit down just right, the front of my dress would flip over my head! I think I might have been channeling Scarlet O’Hara at the time.

In TEXAS TANGO, the dance is being held at Whispering Springs Country Club as a fundraiser for the local high school football team. In the south (since I’m Southern, born and raised, I have no idea what it’s like in the rest of the country!), the combination of a country club dance with high school football is much like peanut butter and chocolate. They go together so well. Let me give you a taste of the scene…

Travis took Caroline’s hand, interrupting her conversation with KC’s brothers. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get my date on the dance floor before she finds someone else to dance with.”

“Nice to meet all of you,” Caroline said with a wave. “Get me on the dance floor?” she whispered.

“If we don’t move on, we’ll be there talking to them for hours. I know my uncle. He’ll talk ranching until my ears fall off my head.”

“Got it. So are we really headed to dance?”

“Sure.” He swung her around and caught her with a hand at her waist.

She put both hands on his strong shoulders. No padding needed in his jacket. All man and all muscle. And for tonight—and the next four months—he was all hers. A dangerous trill raced through her. She slipped her hands up and around his neck. As though of a mind of their own, her fingers stroked the back of his neck. Up and down and then around in a circle.

He hissed out a long breath. He tightened his hands at her waist. Jerking her snug against him, he whispered, “You are the sexiest woman in this entire room. And if you don’t stay close, everybody else will know exactly the effect you are having on me.”

The hard evidence of his arousal pressed firmly into her stomach. His chest vibrated against hers as he hummed along with the song. She found herself perversely pleased by how comfortable she felt in his arms.

But on the other hand, maybe she needed to get a hold on her feelings. They had no future beyond this fall. She had to keep telling herself that.

As the song came to its closing note, Travis hugged her before ending the dance with a deep dip. She laughed with delight. Travis grinned and then brushed her mouth with a quick kiss.

Curious about TEXAS TANGO? Here’s a little more:

Texas Montgomery Mavericks

Book 2

TexasTango72web

Dr. Caroline Graham is happy with her nomadic lifestyle fulfilling short-term medical contracts. No emotional commitments, no disappointments. She’s always the one to walk away, never the one left behind. But now her great-uncle is gone and her grandmother is on her deathbed, more concerned about Caroline’s lack of a husband than her own demise. What’s the harm in a little white lie? If a wedding will give her grandmother peace, then a wedding she shall have.

Travis Montgomery has one dream left—to build the ranch he and his wife planned before he lost her to cancer. There’s just one thing standing between him and the last bit of acreage he needs—a last living heir who has one traveling foot out the door…and an unusual request that challenges his determination to never again place his heart at risk. The land he wants in exchange for a faux marriage. Everyone wins. Until things start to snowball…and the hearts they stand to lose are their own.

Want more? Click HERE to read the opening to Texas Tango.

TEXAS TANGO is available at your favorite online bookstore or use one of the links below:

Amazon | Samhain  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

 

D'Alba RT BooksigningIs this your first time to come across me? Here’s a little more about Cynthia D’Alba: I was born and raised in a small Arkansas town. After being gone for a number of years, I’m thrilled to be making my home back in Arkansas living in a vine-covered cottage on the banks of an eight-thousand acre lake. I started writing on a challenge from my husband in 2006 and discovered having imaginary sex with lots of hunky men was fun.

My first book, Texas Two Step, released in 2012 to outstanding reviews, was a Samhain Publishing best seller. The second book in the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series, Texas Tango, released November 5, 2013, again from Samhain Publishing. In February, 2014, Texas Fandango, a Novella in the Texas Montgomery Series will be released by Samhain Publishing. I am currently at work on book 3 of the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series (Texas Twist).

I love love love to hear from readers and there are lots of ways to find me. Online, you can find me most days at my website or my group blog.

Follow me at Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Goodreads or Pinterest.

or email me at cynthia@cynthiadalba.com

To send me snail mail, write to: Cynthia D’Alba   PO Box 2116   Hot Springs, AR 71914

So now for the fun stuff! J

 

I want to know about the dances you went to as a teen. Are country club dances in your history? What about high school football…was it a big deal where you grew up? What’s your favorite dance or high school football memory?

In the spirit of Christmas sneaking up on us, I’ll pick among the comments for someone to take home a western-themed ornament. Here’s just a sample…

Christmas Ornaments

Plus, I doing a jewelry-themed For my TEXAS TANGO Jewelry-Themed Rafflecopter Giveaway. Be sure and look for the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post. Also check out my personal blog for other places you can enter! Here’s the loot you can win…

Prizess

AND I have freebies for the asking! But when it’s gone, it’s gone. Pens, jar openers, postcards, bookmarks, trading cards…just go by my contact page and send me a note.

Tour Freebies

Thanks for coming by! Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win one of the Christmas ornaments!

 

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Jennifer reviews All Out Of Love by Lori Wilde

All Out Of Love

TITLE: All Out of Love
SERIES #: A Cupid, Texas Novel #2
CHARACTERS: Lace Bettingfield and Pierce Hollister
AUTHOR: Lori Wilde
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/25/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Millie Greenway and her friends have tried for years to keep the Cupid legend alive in their hometown, but she’s not getting much help from her granddaughters. Lace Bettingfield knows the legend is bogus. As a teen, she left a letter at the Cupid statue and got nothing in return but humiliation. But now the guy she dreamed of is back in town, Lace begins to wonder if the tale might just prove to be true.

REVIEW:
This was the first book that I’ve read in the Cupid, Texas series and I enjoyed this book immensely. Lace Bettingfield was humiliated as a teenager because she left a letter at the Cupid Statue about Pierce Hollister, which was then broadcasted to her entire high school. Several years later, Lace has returned to Cupid after finishing her PhD and is working for the Cupid Botanical Gardens with the intent of putting her past behind her. At the same time, Pierce has returned home to recuperate after a football injury and help his ailing father. The two accidentally meet at the hospital and Pierce can’t believe that Lace is now this beautiful woman that used to follow him around as a teenager. Lace is determined to prove that she has gotten Pierce out of her system but every time he touches her, those old feelings come back, stronger than before. Pierce wants to prove to Lace that he has changed and that Lace is the only woman for him. But, Lace is afraid that she will be the laughing stock of Cupid all over again and her heart wants to believe that her and Pierce were meant to be together all along.

I absolutely loved Lace’s character in this book because I completely understood what she was going through. She took a chance by sending that letter out to Cupid and it backfired, but it made her a stronger person because of it. She was smart, sassy and I loved that she had curves compared to the other heroines that I’ve read. She wanted to prove that Pierce couldn’t get to her after all these years and he tried very hard to get her attention and make up for his past mistakes. I also liked the interactions between Lace and Pierce, because she had such a wicked sense of humor and she wouldn’t let Pierce be taken advantage of by others either. They were a very cute couple together and I’m glad to see that Pierce got his act together to prove that Lace was meant to be with him.

All Out of Love is a tender-hearted romance about second chances at love and I was impressed with the residents of Cupid, Texas. Lori Wilde has created a wonderful series that will pull at your heart-strings and will make you want to visit Cupid over and over again. I can’t read the next book in the series, Somebody to Love.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Kelly reviews Unforgettable by Alison Kent

Unforgettable

TITLE: Unforgettable
SERIES #: Dalton Gang #3
CHARACTERS: Boone Mitchell & Everly Grant
AUTHOR: Alison Kent
PUBLICATION DATE: August 6, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
THE DALTON BOYS TAKE THE REIGNS…

The infamous Dalton Gang was once known for riding—and playing—hard. Now, as owners of the Dalton Ranch in Crow Hill, Texas, they’re working from sunup to sundown. But one look from the right woman can tempt them back into the saddle…

When a walk on the wild side turned into a nightmare for Everly Grant, she escaped her abusive ex by taking a job with Crow Hill’s small newspaper. Now she’s assigned to write a human interest story on the return of the Dalton Gang, and she soon discovers that Boone Mitchell could give her plenty more than a good interview. As much as she craves safety, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to Boone’s dangerous streak. Before she takes the cowboy to bed, she lays down the law: There are no strings attached, and she’s the one in charge.

That’s fine for Boone. In fact, Everly teaches him things no other woman ever dared. Soon they find themselves wanting more than their simple arrangement will allow. But to get there, Everly will have to open up in ways she thought she never could…

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars This was my first Alison Kent book. I did enjoy this book. Although I think I would have liked to read book one and two in the series first. Not that I think it would have had a big impact on Unforgettable, but because I really wanted to know more about Boone’s pals.

While I enjoyed Boone & Evelyn’s story. It felt like there were too many thing unfinished at the end of the book. Yes there was a happy ending, but a lot of loose ends that were not tied off. We never got to see what Evelyn’s human interest story was. What did she write about the Dalton gang? Did she even write the story? Also what was up with Les Upton. This part of the story just feel short for me. I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen. But no. Nothing happened at all.

But over all Unforgettable was a good story and I am sure fans of The Dalton Gang will be happy with Boones’ story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

 

Kelly reviews Turn and Burn by Lorelei James

Turn and Burn

TITLE: Turn & Burn
SERIES #: Blacktop Cowboy #5
CHARACTERS: August Fletcher & Tanna Barker
AUTHOR: Lorelei James
PUBLICATION DATE: August 6th, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Tanna Barker is a world champion barrel racer. But her personal life has been less of a success, and she’s feeling adrift. After her mother’s unexpected death, her father has remarried, and sold the Texas ranch she called home. Now a rodeo injury has left the restless spitfire holed up in Muddy Gap, unsure what her next move should be.

Until she meets her match in a wild, wild cowboy

Veterinarian August Fletcher has always put his job first. He’s never found a woman who could handle his on-the-road lifestyle. But when sassy, sexy Tanna blows into town, he finally finds the woman of his fantasies. And there’s something between them, but she claims she’s been burned by love ’em and leave ’em road dogs before. How can Fletch prove that he’s in it for the long haul, and that their sizzling relationship is better than winning any rodeo medal? It’ll take some sweet persuasion to convince Tanna that Muddy Gap is where she belongs.

REVIEW:
This was just an okay book for me. Maybe I should have read the books before this one. I am not sure. I just never really connected with the characters, the world and the whole story in general. It was not a bad story and I like the cast of characters. It just didn’t grab me and suck me in.
I am sure that Lorelei fans will really enjoy this book and I hope that they do.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Jennifer reviews Unbuttoned by Maisey Yates

Unbuttoned

TITLE: Unbuttoned
SERIES #: A Silver Creek Novella
CHARACTERS: Carly Denton & Lucas Miller
AUTHOR: Maisey Yates
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/18/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Carly Denton has learned to keep her buttons and emotions firmly fastened. Her parents’ constant drama, and an unrequited crush on her brother’s best friend, taught her to keep her passion beneath the surface. But she can no longer avoid the one man with the ability to bring that passion to a boil…

Lucas remembers Carly as a freckle-faced tomboy–not a frosty woman who treats him like a burr under her saddle. But when they must work together on a charity project, Lucas is shocked to find their bickering melt into some serious mutual attraction. He’s determined to show Carly that he’s the man for her, if only she’d learn to let loose.

Lucas is the last man on earth Carly should give in to. The freedom she finds in his arms has her feeling happier than ever, but is it enough to make her realize that the greatest risk isn’t losing your heart, but losing the chance at happiness?

REVIEW:
I love small town romances and I was very excited to read one that was based here in Oregon. Carly Denton has her life completely mapped out when she becomes Councilwoman for Silver Creek and placed in charge of a charity project which forces her to work with her brother’s best friend, Lucas Miller. Carly has always had a crush on Lucas but can’t get past his philandering ways and Lucas can’t figure out why Carly is so temperamental whenever he is around. So one day, she decides to throw caution to the wind and experience one night of passion with the man she has always known to be off-limits.

I liked Carly because she was smart and didn’t want to get romantically involved with someone who she knew would eventually break her heart. Even though she had feelings for Lucas, she was basing her opinions on his past behavior without realizing that Lucas was finally becoming the man that he always wanted to be. Carly was also so determined to hold on to her “respectable” image in the eyes of the townspeople after the history of her parent’s notorious public fights in front of the entire town. She never wanted to be the type of person that would lose control when it came to love and her feelings for Lucas were so strong that she thought she would blow everything that she worked for if she pursued a relationship with him. Lucas, on the other hand, was tired of his love ‘em and leave ‘em ways of the past and wanted to finally have a true relationship with a woman and his heart was set on Carly.

When these two finally got together, they realized they had more in common than they originally thought and with a little trust, could have a great life together. The sexual chemistry between them was explosive and the sex scenes in this book were very hot and steamy. The book was also filled with humorous one-liners between Carly and Lucas that had me laughing out loud.

Maisey Yates is a very talented author and has created the perfect small-town romance about two people that found love once they learned to take a leap of faith. I was pleasantly surprised with this novella and I can’t wait to see what is in store for the residents of Silver Creek in the next book, Unexpected.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

5hearts-68-77

Day Three – REDNECK ROMEO RELEASE PARTY

Ten Tidbits About Dalton McKay

1) He’s eaten rattlesnake, bear, lizard, and grasshoppers–the last one not by choice thanks to his 3 older brothers who loved to trick him into eating weird stuff or held him down and force fed him
2) When Dalton sings…with that deep voice of his he sounds like Trace Adkins
3) He’s wrecked 3 dirt bikes but no cars
4) Dalton would rather do all ranch work on an ATV than a horse
5) The first song he learned all the words to –Driving My Life Away by Eddie Rabbitt
6) The blue heeler dog his brother Luke gave him for his 18th birthday was the best present he ever got
7) He cheated on a math test in 9th grade and felt so guilty he spent the summer relearning everything he’d missed during the school year
8) His favorite fruit are plums
9) Dalton hates wearing pajamas
10) Someday he’d like to create a piece of art using his chainsaw

Lorelei James is celebrating the release of REDNECK ROMEO with a SEVEN day party.  SEVEN great giveaways, SEVEN different posts.  Stop by all the amazing blogs participating in the party to increase your chances to win!!! Each blog will post a special REDNECK ROMEO post all seven days (no weekend posts)

Prize List:

1) Redneck Romeo charm bracelet

2) Kindle fire

3) Basket of goodies, including a McKay brand fleece blanket and other McKay branded stuff and conference trinkets

4) Full set of signed Rough Riders books

5) 1 of a kind handmade small Western purse

6) Arc of TURN AND BURN

7) $100 gift card to amazon.com

RR-Release-Party (1)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

bkredneckromeo (2)

Amazon  | B&N

The last McKay standing is knocked to his knees…

Three years ago, Dalton McKay looked across the altar and saw the woman he knew he’d love for the rest of his life…only it wasn’t his bride. That’s when he took the McKays’ love-’em-and-leave-’em reputation to new heights—fleeing the ceremony and Wyoming.

Now a family issue has brought Dalton back to Sundance, giving him a chance to prove to everyone—especially the woman he thought he lost—that he’s a changed man.

Aurora “Rory” Wetzler has fallen for cowboy hottie Dalton’s smooth-talkin’ ways too many times. So he’s determined to convince her he’s playing for keeps this go around? Fine. She’ll call that bluff—she can’t ignore their intense chemistry or resist smokin’ hot sex, but she’s not willing to gamble her heart again.

Dalton has plenty of fences to mend with the McKays, but his biggest fear is that Rory doesn’t believe they have a future. He’ll have to pull out all the stops to show her they belong together for the long haul.

Warning: Contains a sexy cowboy who tames his sassy lady love with his romantic and his kinky side. In explicit detail.

 

 

Participating Blogs

Lorelei James 
Lori Armstrong
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
Hesperia Loves Books
Romantic Book Affairs 
Tattooed Book Review
Regina May Ross’s
deal sharing aunt 
Fictional Candy
Heart Breaking Reviews
Mrs Condit & Friends Read Books 
Book Bitches Blog 
Books Books and More Books
My Fiction Nook
Queen of the Night Reviews
hea’s romances with a little kick 
Talk Supe 
Seawitch Reviews 
All Romance Reviews
Angie’s Dreamy Reads
Book-A-Holic Anon 
The Rambling Readerista
Nightstand Novels
Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
Book Obsessed Chicks 
herding cats & burning soup 
What’s On the Bookshelf 
Storm Goddess Book Reviews & More
Blackraven’s Erotic Cafe
Blackraven’s Reviews 
AJ’s Reading Nook 
The Readers Roundtable
Dark Divas Reviews
SnifferWalk Books
Harlie’s Books 
Dear Brighton 
Scorching Book Reviews
i love lady porn 
My Odd Little World 
Not Now…Mommy’s Reading
Readers Confession
A Little Fiction of Every Flavour 
Reading, Eating & Dreaming 
My Life Beyond Labels
Harlie Williams, Writer
The Risque Redhead Reads
Musings From An Addicted Reader
Reading Between the Wines
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy Too1 
For The Love of Reading
Reality Bites! Let’s Get Lost!! 
Read Your Writes Book Reviews 
Bookworm Brandee 
Delighted Reader
Books-n-Kisses
Seductive Musings 
Sugar and Spice Book Reviews 
Under the Covers
My Secret Romance Book Reviews 
A Dream Within A Dream
Redheads Review it Better 
My Life with Books and Boys
Simply Ali 

Day Two – REDNECK ROMEO RELEASE PARTY

Lorelei James is celebrating the release of REDNECK ROMEO with a SEVEN day party.  SEVEN great giveaways, SEVEN different posts.  Stop by all the amazing blogs participating in the party to increase your chances to win!!! Each blog will post a special REDNECK ROMEO post all seven days (no weekend posts)

bkredneckromeo (1)
Amazon  | B&N

The last McKay standing is knocked to his knees…

Three years ago, Dalton McKay looked across the altar and saw the woman he knew he’d love for the rest of his life…only it wasn’t his bride. That’s when he took the McKays’ love-’em-and-leave-’em reputation to new heights—fleeing the ceremony and Wyoming.

Now a family issue has brought Dalton back to Sundance, giving him a chance to prove to everyone—especially the woman he thought he lost—that he’s a changed man.

Aurora “Rory” Wetzler has fallen for cowboy hottie Dalton’s smooth-talkin’ ways too many times. So he’s determined to convince her he’s playing for keeps this go around? Fine. She’ll call that bluff—she can’t ignore their intense chemistry or resist smokin’ hot sex, but she’s not willing to gamble her heart again.

Dalton has plenty of fences to mend with the McKays, but his biggest fear is that Rory doesn’t believe they have a future. He’ll have to pull out all the stops to show her they belong together for the long haul.

Warning: Contains a sexy cowboy who tames his sassy lady love with his romantic and his kinky side. In explicit detail.

EXCERPT

REDNECK ROMEO – book 15 – Rough Riders sereis

Copyright © 2013 Lorelei James
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

Bang bang bang. “Dalton! Come on man, open up. I know you’re in there.”

Dalton cracked one eyelid and cast a bleary eye at the alarm clock. Seven a.m. He yanked the quilt over his head and mumbled “f*** off” to Boden Hicks, the idiot beating on his door.

“McKay. I’m not f***ing around. This is an emergency.”

That hauled Dalton’s ass out of bed. He unlatched the old-fashioned bolt and opened the door. “What’s the emergency?”

Boden hustled inside but a gust of snow followed before he slammed the heavy oak door shut. He stamped his feet. “Damn snowstorm came from out of nowhere.”

“You better not have tricked me out of bed to complain about the goddamned weather.”

Boden shuffled over to the woodstove to warm himself, but it’d been a good ten hours since Dalton had loaded it up. “It’s like a damn freezer in here.”

“That’s because I was sleeping. In my own bed, after roughing it on an elk hunt, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. I’m just glad the hunting party made it out before this storm hit.” Boden unzipped his parka and pulled out Dalton’s cell phone, still attached to the wall charger. “Normally I could give a crap if you stay in bed a week after a hunt, but you left your phone charging at the lodge last night. The thing’s been buzzing like crazy. When I unplugged it, I noticed you’ve got twenty-seven missed calls. So it’s gotta be something important.”

Dalton’s stomach knotted. Since he had little to no cell service in the mountains, he forgot he even had a cell phone most of the time. Few people had his number—just his brothers, his mother, his cousin Sierra McKay, his accountant, his banker and his investment guys.

“Gimme that.” Dalton scrolled through the missed calls. Twelve from Brandt, twelve from Tell, three from Sierra.

Had to be bad news if his family had reached out to him.

The family he hadn’t seen in three years.

“What’s going on?”

He glanced up at Boden. “No clue. I haven’t bothered to set up my voice mail on this phone so I’ll have to call to find out.”

Boden sighed. “Speaking of…I wanted to make sure your two-way is charged. Since you have an issue with technology that allows people to get in touch with you.”

“It’s charged. I laid in a store of food before the huntin’ trip so I can ride out the storm.”

“Good. We’re supposed to get a foot of snow today and maybe more tonight.” Boden crouched in front of the woodstove and chucked kindling in the cold embers before setting the torch to the pile. “Might be a couple days before you can get out, if you need to go home.”

Home. It didn’t have the same connotation it once did. When it was all he’d known. “I’ll let you know what’s goin’ on as soon as I know.”

Boden piled several small logs in the black box before he stood. “You worried?”

Dalton shrugged.

But Boden didn’t buy his act; he never had, which was why they’d become such good friends. “You want me to stick around?”

“Nah. I’ll put on a pot of coffee before I call my brother.” He smirked. “Get on back to the lodge. Bree would jam my nuts in a vise if you got snowed in with me instead of with her.”

“Your nuts ain’t ever gonna be anywhere near my wife’s hands, McKay.”

He laughed. “I know your kink doesn’t extend to sharing.”

“Damn straight.” Boden zipped up his parka and slipped on his gloves. “You need anything, buzz us. If we don’t answer right away—”

“I’ll assume you’re tied up. Or rather, you’re tying Bree up.”

As soon as Boden left, Dalton started coffee. Then he stripped off his long johns and took a cold shower. That ensured he’d be fully awake.

The main room of the three-room cabin had warmed up by the time he’d dressed. After downing two cups of coffee, Dalton stood by the window in the kitchen and called Brandt.

His oldest brother answered on the fourth ring. “’Bout damn time, Dalton. Where the hell have you been that you can’t return a phone call?”

No doubt Brandt thought he was f***ing off someplace. Little did he know how tiring it was leading a ten-day hunting party into the mountains. But Dalton no longer explained his life choices to anyone. “What’s goin’ on? I had twenty-four missed calls in the last twelve hours.” No one knew Sierra had his number. His brothers would be pissed if they knew Dalton kept in better contact with Sierra than with them.

“Dad had a stroke.”

Silence. Finally Dalton asked, “Is he okay?”

“He’s alive, if that’s what you mean. He’s havin’ difficulties talkin’. They’re not sure if it’s permanent. They’re not too sure of anything at this point. So we—me’n Tell—are asking you to come home.”

Dalton closed his eyes. He didn’t want to play nursemaid to the man who’d made his life hell. Especially not after the last conversation they’d had, which was the biggest reason Dalton had left Sundance for good—not that he’d told his brothers or anyone else about what’d gone down. “I don’t know if I can.”

“Can’t? Or won’t?” Brandt demanded.

“Why do you want me there?”

“Hey, bro. Brandt put you on speaker phone,” Tell said. “Look, we need you to help us make some decisions about Dad’s care.”

Dalton let his forehead rest against the frosted windowpane.

“We haven’t seen you in over three years. It sucks that something like this had to happen for you to even consider comin’ home. But we do need you here.”

He pictured his brothers, Tell leaning against the window in the cab of Brandt’s truck, his restless fingers tapping on his leg. Brandt seated behind the steering wheel, his posture stiff, arms crossed over his chest.

“When did this happen?” Dalton asked.

“Brandt got a call from the hospital in Spearfish yesterday morning. They wouldn’t let us see him until late afternoon. Soon as we had some information, we tried calling you.” Tell paused. “You ain’t gotten any better at returning calls.”

“But I did return it. Not fast enough for you?” he asked sharply. Jesus. Within two minutes of talking to his brothers he’d reverted to the defensive guy he’d left behind. He exhaled slowly. “Sorry. Cell service here is spotty.”

“Where are you?”

Don’t feel guilty they don’t know. “Alder, Montana. We’re in the midst of a blizzard so it might be a couple days before I can make it out of the mountains.”

Silence.

“Has the doctor given you a time frame on how long he’ll be in the hospital?”

“No,” Brandt said. “But when Dad is discharged, it’ll be to the rehab wing in a nursing home.”

That oughta make Casper even more the patient from hell. “Sounds like it won’t matter then if I’m not there for a couple of days. I’ll let you know when I’m on my way.”

“Sure. Will you be staying with one of us?” Tell asked.

“Nah. I’ve got it covered. Thanks though.”

Neither of his brothers asked where he’d be bunking down, although he sensed they wanted to.

“Okay, then. I guess we’ll see you when we see you.”

“Yep. Later.” Dalton hung up.

He stared out the window for the longest time, even though he couldn’t see sh** through the swirling snow.

But this storm wasn’t anything compared to the one he faced in Sundance.

The blizzard lasted two days. On the morning of the third day Dalton packed up his stuff, closed up his cabin and headed down the mountain.

Once he had a clear cell signal, he gave Brandt a heads up he was on his way. Brandt said they’d moved Casper to the rehab wing and to meet them there.

Then he placed a call to Sierra.

She answered with, “I swear every time I call you and I don’t hear back I live in mortal fear that you’ve disconnected from the world completely and you’re out in the forest running naked with woodchucks and sh**.”

“Not hardly. I returned the calls in order of importance.”

“So you’ve talked to your brothers?”

“Yeah. I’m on my way to Wyoming right now.”

“They giving you grief about…well, everything?”

“They both knew it wouldn’t take much for me to refuse to come back.” He flipped on the defroster. “How’d you find out about Casper’s stroke?”

“Keely. I knew your brothers would get a hold of you first, so my call isn’t about your father.”

“Then why did you call?” Dalton heard her take a deep breath and he went on full alert.

In a rush, Sierra said, “You’ve got to promise me that you won’t get mad at me for what I’m about to tell you.”

“No conversation ever ends well that starts that way.”

“True, but I want you to remember I was only following your parameters. And I kinda hoped someone else would tell you about this, so I didn’t have to. But then, you’d have to actually talk to someone who lives there, and we both know that’s a rarity, so I guess it falls to me.”

“You been drinkin’? ’Cause you ain’t making a lick of sense. Quit dancing around the subject, college girl, and spill it.”

“Rory is back in Sundance and working for Wyoming Natural Resource Council.”

Everything switched into slow motion. Dalton couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. He had to pull onto the shoulder so he didn’t wreck his truck.

“Dalton?”

“You said Rory is livin’ in Sundance.”

“Yes.”

“With her fiancé?”

“No. She, ah, broke off the engagement.”

“When?”

“Six months ago.”

This was not happening. Sierra had not kept this information from him about Rory for half a goddamned year.

“Dalton. I know your head is about to explode—”

“Jesus, Sierra, do you f***ing think? Why are you just telling me this now?” he roared. “Do you have any f***ing idea—”

“That you’ve been holed up in the middle of freakin’ nowhere moping because Rory got engaged to someone else? Why yes, I was completely aware of that little factoid, cuz.”

Silence.

“Besides, you were doing your lumberjack gig and completely off the grid when Rory ended the engagement. I’ll remind you of your zero tolerance policy—me not talking about Rory or sharing information about Rory’s life was your edict, Dalton. I was just following your parameters. And now the parameters have changed.”

“Seriously not f***ing amused. Will you just get to the point?”

“I really have to point out that you and Rory will actually be in the same place for the first time in over three years?”

“Three years? Try ten years since she’s lived there. I’da been in Sundance six months ago if I’d known she was there without some other asshole’s ring on her finger,” he snarled.

“Whoa. Take a step back, wolverine. I’m telling you now because maybe you’re smart enough to handle it the right way this time.”

“This time?” Dalton repeated sharply. “Don’t make this out to be my fault. I offered her—”

“Don’t snap at me or interrupt me again or I will hang up, understand?”

“Yeah, yeah, keep talkin’.”

“Rory is my sister. You’re my business partner and one of the few people I trust. I hate that I’m pulled between you two. It’s time you manned up, Dalton. And don’t remind me that you did that once three years ago after you walked out on your own wedding. Even you can admit it was piss poor timing on your part.”

“But that bad timing didn’t stop her from giving me an edict, did it?”

“Like I’ve told you ten thousand times, that wasn’t an edict. Two years was a time line for Rory to finish grad school and a frame of reference for you to understand how important that was to her. You shouldn’t have taken it as gospel.”

“Then she shouldn’t have given me false hope.”

“Then you shouldn’t have turned tail and run again,” Sierra retorted. “Especially after you gave her false hope that things might finally change between you two.”

Like he needed that reminder. “Does she know about Casper?”

“Doubtful. She’s been out of town and she stays out of McKay gossip completely.”

Then Rory wouldn’t suspect Dalton was on his way back to Sundance. The element of surprise might work in his favor. “What’s the best way to approach her?”

“She bartends at the Twin Pines on the side. She’s working tonight. Anything else I can do for you besides making your day with this news?” Sierra asked sweetly.

Making his day? Hell, she’d made his life, because now he had a shot at getting the life he wanted. “Where are the keys for the house in town?”

A pause. Then, “Why?”

“I need a place to stay.”

Sierra heaved a put-upon sigh. “They’re under the back deck on a key hook. But there are two conditions before I’ll let you stay there. First, you don’t tell anyone I own it. No one.”

“Deal. And FYI, that’s why we have a silent partnership.” He’d supplied Sierra with some capital to start her own business last year and he also wanted it kept on the down low. “What’s the second condition?”

“I need a handyman to do some things. Okay, a lot of things. You’re handy, you’re there and voila—you’re selected. I’ll FedEx my repair list today but anything else you see that needs fixed just go ahead.”

“I’ll do it but I want to be reimbursed once a week for whatever I buy. You don’t get to pull that sixty day wait for payment bull crap like you money people usually do.”

She laughed. “That’s how we become money people. We hold on to money as long as possible. Be warned, some of what needs done will be major costs.”

“I ain’t a carpet installer,” he warned. “Nor will I put in windows.”

Sierra sighed again. “You are a handy handyman, right?”

“Guess you’ll have to trust me, huh?”

“I’ll be keeping tabs on you.” Another pause. “I’m sorry about your dad. If you need to talk about anything—except for Rory—call me.”

By the time Dalton crossed into Crook County hours later, he had a plan in place.

Patience. Perseverance. He would not blow this chance.

Rory Wetzler was his. His. She always had been, she always would be.

And he’d do whatever it took to prove it.

 

RR-Release-Party (1)

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

Prize List:

1) Redneck Romeo charm bracelet

2) Kindle fire

3) Basket of goodies, including a McKay brand fleece blanket and other McKay branded stuff and conference trinkets

4) Full set of signed Rough Riders books

5) 1 of a kind handmade small Western purse

6) Arc of TURN AND BURN

7) $100 gift card to amazon.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Participating Blogs

Lorelei James 
Lori Armstrong
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
Hesperia Loves Books
Romantic Book Affairs 
Tattooed Book Review
Regina May Ross’s
deal sharing aunt 
Fictional Candy
Heart Breaking Reviews
Mrs Condit & Friends Read Books 
Book Bitches Blog 
Books Books and More Books
My Fiction Nook
Queen of the Night Reviews
hea’s romances with a little kick 
Talk Supe 
Seawitch Reviews 
All Romance Reviews
Angie’s Dreamy Reads
Book-A-Holic Anon 
The Rambling Readerista
Nightstand Novels
Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
Book Obsessed Chicks 
herding cats & burning soup 
What’s On the Bookshelf 
Storm Goddess Book Reviews & More
Blackraven’s Erotic Cafe
Blackraven’s Reviews 
AJ’s Reading Nook 
The Readers Roundtable
Dark Divas Reviews
SnifferWalk Books
Harlie’s Books 
Dear Brighton 
Scorching Book Reviews
i love lady porn 
My Odd Little World 
Not Now…Mommy’s Reading
Readers Confession
A Little Fiction of Every Flavour 
Reading, Eating & Dreaming 
My Life Beyond Labels
Harlie Williams, Writer
The Risque Redhead Reads
Musings From An Addicted Reader
Reading Between the Wines
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy Too1 
For The Love of Reading
Reality Bites! Let’s Get Lost!! 
Read Your Writes Book Reviews 
Bookworm Brandee 
Delighted Reader
Books-n-Kisses
Seductive Musings 
Sugar and Spice Book Reviews 
Under the Covers
My Secret Romance Book Reviews 
A Dream Within A Dream
Redheads Review it Better 
My Life with Books and Boys
Simply Ali