Category: Cowboy Romance

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Interview & giveaway with Carolyn Brown

Note from Carolyn to the BNK Readers: Thank you all so much for inviting me to stop by your site today and visit about Billion Dollar Cowboy, the debut book in my brand new cowboy romance series, Cowboys & Brides. It’s a delight to be interviewed here. A word of warning—I’m a writer and I love words so sometimes I do get a little carried away with answers!

Can you please share with us a little about yourself? 

CB: I’m a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Yes, I was a very young bride (17 years old) and I’ve been married 46 years. My first two books sold the same day in 1997 and Billion Dollar Cowboy is my 63rd book to be published. My goal is to see 100 books on the shelf with my name on them. I have other more immediate goals like finishing the rough draft of the work in progress but that’s one of my big goals.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

CB: Oh, yes, ma’am. Ever since I picked up one of those little fat pencils and a Big Chief tablet (that was in the days when a tablet was not a technical device) I wanted to write stories.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

CB: My typical writing day starts when I wake up. My characters and I plod across the hallway to my office and we get busy. I like to have a thousand words done before breakfast. Husband brings a cup of coffee, sits it on my desk, eases the door shut and leaves me alone for an hour. After that I don’t bite or cuss and we have a wonderful breakfast together (he is a retired English teacher so he’s home all day). Then I finish the chapter I’m working on, have lunch and write one more chapter before bedtime. My goal is 5000 words each day but sometimes the grandchildren or the birds singing in the back yard gets in the way of the goal

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

CB: The most challenging part has to be letting go of my natural controlling nature and letting my characters out of the box. I tend to want to tell them how the story goes but they were there and if I listen to them, my editor is far happier with my work.

(Shhh…don’t tell anyone that I have voices in my head!) The most rewarding part is when the book is finished and on the shelf and I get a note like this: I have always hated reading. But about one year ago I was walking through a book store and “Red’s hot cowboy” grabbed my arm. I fell in LOVE with the book and author. I’m buying your books like crazy and I’m loving reading. Keep writing Mrs. Carolyn Brown, you are one awesome lady!!!! Thank you for changing my life!!!…Carla Jones-Sawyer. To know that one of my cowboys turned a non-reader into a reader just puts a smile on my face for days and days.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

CB: Billion Dollar Cowboy is the story of Colton Nelson, a ranch hand who won the lottery and boom, he was a millionaire. His best friend, Andy, who was a financial genius invested well for him and turned him into a billionaire. But down deep in his heart, Colton just wanted to be a rancher. The women in the area were like the little kids in the Christmas story…only visions of dollars danced in their heads, not visions of sugar plums. Andy’s distant cousin, Laura Baker, has been getting her older sister out of gambling debt for years so it’s nothing new. But this time her sister has borrowed a lot of money and Laura has just lost her job. Andy offers her work on the ranch as his assistant until she can earn enough to get the sister out of debt. She’s there. Colton needs a fake girlfriend to keep the gold diggers at bay…and so the story begins.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

CB: Go back to #4 about those voices in my head. I had just finished the last book in the Spikes & Spurs series and these four cowboys popped up behind me. Colton said that he wanted his story told first and he introduced me to Laura and then to the secondary characters: his grandmother, Maudie, her foster child, Roxie, a sixteen year old girl that reminds Laura of herself at that age, and Rusty, the ranch foreman. I had no choice but to tell the story or else I was going to spend lots of sleepless nights fretting about just how things were going in Ambrose, Texas.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

CB: I’m writing the last chapters of the fourth book in this series this week. How to Marry a Cowboy. So how does one marry a cowboy? Rachel Green says that the first thing you do is put on a wedding dress and then fall asleep in the swing on his front porch. I’m very excited about this book because it has a set of twin girls that are so ornery that folks in the first three books of the series have declared that they could scale a glass wall on a rainy day.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

CB: LaVryle Spencer has always been a favorite but I’m a very eclectic reader. I also like Leon Uris, Carl Hiaason, Randy Wayne White, Sue Grafton, Joanne Kennedy, J. A. Jance and…how much room do we have for this interview. I can just get plumb carried away when I talk about my favorite authors. Oh, did I mention Mary Kay Andrews, Jill Mansill and Grace Burrowes?

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

CB: Every author I’ve ever read has inspired me in one way or the other. Maybe it was the way they wrote a tender love scene or a hot sex scene. Or maybe it was their way of presenting the story, or the way they made their characters come alive, or the way that their writing touched my emotions. I really believe that if a writer can touch their readers’ emotions then that reader will come back for the next book. We like to feel what we read; not just look at words.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.
CB: Page 81: Laura needs a dress to go to a fancy party with Colton and Maudie has taken her to an exclusive little shop in Sherman. Laura’s having no part of it, not with price tags with that many zeros. Excerpt:

“What if you had as much money as Colton? Would you spend that much on a one-of-a-kind dress,” Roxie asked.

(Laura’s answer) “I would not. But I’m not rich. And I won’t ever be rich. And I’m not impressed by rich people or money. There’s the Ross store, Maudie. That’s where I want to go.”

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

CB: Joanne Kennedy’s Cowboy Tough is on the top of the pile right along with Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews and Husband bought me a signed copy of one of Nora’s older books, High Noon.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

CB: I’d like to thank you again for letting me speechify about my books and I’d like to tell my readers to keep their boots on and their cowboy hats close by. There are three more books in the Cowboys & Brides series: The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby (Oct. 2013), The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride (Feb. 2014) and How to Marry a Cowboy (May, 2014) AND the final book in the Spikes & Spurs series, Cowboy Seeks Bride (Aug. 2013).


BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY

by CAROLYN BROWN

IN STORES JUNE 2013

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Chapters/Indigo | Discover a New Love | Sourcebooks

 Colton Nelson was 28 when he won the Texas Lottery and went from ranch hand to ranch owner overnight. When people started lining up wanting some of his millions, he hired a friend, Andy Joe, to handle his affairs and find him a bride and buy her, no matter what the cost.

Laura Baker and her sister, Emily, had been raised in foster homes. Though she was the younger of the two, Laura was always bailing Emily out of trouble. So when Andy Joe slid into her booth at a diner one night and made a proposition to Laura, it seemed the perfect solution…until Laura met Colton and realized she didn’t give a damn about his money and that her love was not for sale.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than 60 books published. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma. Carolyn’s first women’s fiction novel, The Blue Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee is now available, and you can look for her next cowboy romance, Cowboy Seeks Bride in August 2013! For more information, please visit: www.carolynlbrown.com.

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Kimberly reviews Under The Covers by Rebecca Zanetti

Under The Covers

TITLE: Under The Covers
SERIES #: Maverick, Montana #2
CHARACTERS: Juliet & Quinn
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/27/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Opposites don’t attract. They ignite.

The small Montana town near t

he Kooskia reserve seemed like the perfect place for Juliet Montgomery to hide from her not-so-law-abiding family. But when her peace is shattered by a break-in and threatening phone calls, it’s clear someone back in New York knows where she is. It’s time to plan her getaway, and fast—but first, she needs to tie up a few loose ends. Namely, finding out exactly what the town’s sexy cowboy sheriff is hiding in his holster…

Sheriff Quinn Lodge has enough demons of his own to know when someone’s hiding something. Clearly, he needs to do a thorough investigation to uncover what’s beneath Juliet’s uptight, city-girl exterior—preferably one piece of clothing at a time. But when their chemistry goes from fizzy to full-on explosive, things start getting complicated. How can Juliet stay beneath the covers with Quinn, when doing so means blowing her cover?

REVIEW:
I’m a fickle thing… Why do I say that? Well back in March when I read Against The Wall I fell in love with Jake but here I am with a whole knew love… Quinn. Quinn is the perfect guy as far as I am concerned. I thought I couldn’t love one of Zanetti’s books more than the last (and her paranormal series too) but I honestly think she has created the perfect man and ALL women will fall for Quinn and you know what they will love Juliet as well.

Quinn is protective, dominate and caring. Juliet is funny, loving and willing to put her trust in a man finally. She has a background that Quinn should not be connected with but somehow they work together.

I love the men of Maverick Montana. There is just something in the water there. And there is just something about Zanetti as well. She sucks you into her books within a page and you never want to leave. I love her Dark Protector series and I can not wait for her next book Forgotten Sins the first in a new series. You can not go wrong picking up a Rebecca Zanetti book!

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

5hearts-68-77

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Top 10 drink list with Quinn & Juliet from Rebecca Zanetti Under the Covers

Please welcome one of our favorite authors back to the blog!!! Here is a little about Rebecca before we let her take over the blog.

Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about vampires and science. She is a member of RWA and several of its chapters and has won awards for her works throughout the industry.
Her favorite movie is “Life with Father” and her favorite book is “Raise High the Roofbeams, Carpenters.” She has a journalism degree with a poly sci emphasis from Pepperdine and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho.
Please visit Rebecca at: http://www.rebeccazanetti.com/
Please drop by my facebook page and like:  http://www.facebook.com/RebeccaZanetti.Author.FanPage

 

 

Thank you to Kelly for having me over today to talk about UNDER THE COVERS!  As you probably already know, I’m a huge fan of Books n Kisses, and I’m so happy to be here talking about the newest book in the Maverick Montana series!  Under the Covers features a sexy sheriff who falls in love with a classy woman on the run.  Sparks fly, and foreplay even starts on a horse.  Honest!  So, I was asked about a top ten list of favorite drinks, and here they are:

1)       If we’re talking a relaxing summer day, then Quinn would have a beer, and Juliet would probably drink a glass of Chardonnay.  But, I can see her drinking a mimosa, too.

2)      Dinner party?  Well, Quinn’s known to have a bit of Scotch once in a while, and if we’re all drinking the hard stuff, Juliet would probably have a Vodka Cranberry.  Vodka because it’s vodka, and cranberry because hey, hydration is important if you’re drinking vodka.

3)      For a wild night out?  Quinn probably would drink a Coke, because he’s the sheriff, and if things are wild, he needs to be clear headed.  Juliet would drink Patron silver.  J

4)      For a holiday family gathering?  They’d both drink Tom and Jerry’s, because that’s what Loni Freeze (Quinn’s mom) would be serving.

5)      For a fun picnic?  I’m thinking they’d both sun tea because if they’re picnicking, it must be summer in Montana!

So, those are Quinn and Juliet’s drinking habits.  Here are mine:

1)      For most writing days:  I’ll have coffee with creamer or a Cool Lime Refresher from Starbucks.

2)      For days at the lake:  I’ll have a glass of wine, probably Chardonnay, unless my sister is there with Riesling.

3)      For wild nights at the lake:  If my friend Jessica is there, we’ll have Petron’.

4)      For winter snowmobiling:  Hot chocolate – of course!

5)      Always:  A glass of water.  I have one with me most of the time, to be honest!

Thanks again to Kelly for having me over today!  You know, I do have a mug and spiral notebook  of AGAINST THE WALL to give away to a commenter here.  ATW is the first book in the Maverick Montana series.

 

Under the Covers

Maverick Montana #2

Amazon | B&N

Opposites don’t attract. They ignite.

The small Montana town near the Kooskia reserve seemed like the perfect place for Juliet Montgomery to hide from her not-so-law-abiding family. But when her peace is shattered by a break-in and threatening phone calls, it’s clear someone back in New York knows where she is. It’s time to plan her getaway, and fast—but first, she needs to tie up a few loose ends. Namely, finding out exactly what the town’s sexy cowboy sheriff is hiding in his holster…Sheriff Quinn Lodge has enough demons of his own to know when someone’s hiding something. Clearly, he needs to do a thorough investigation to uncover what’s beneath Juliet’s uptight, city-girl exterior—preferably one piece of clothing at a time. But when their chemistry goes from fizzy to full-on explosive, things start getting complicated. How can Juliet stay be

Read an expert HERE

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Under The Covers by Rebecca Zanetti

Under the Covers 

Maverick Montana #2

Opposites don’t attract. They ignite.

The small Montana town near the Kooskia reserve seemed like the perfect place for Juliet Montgomery to hide from her not-so-law-abiding family. But when her peace is shattered by a break-in and threatening phone calls, it’s clear someone back in New York knows where she is. It’s time to plan her getaway, and fast—but first, she needs to tie up a few loose ends. Namely, finding out exactly what the town’s sexy cowboy sheriff is hiding in his holster… 

Sheriff Quinn Lodge has enough demons of his own to know when someone’s hiding something. Clearly, he needs to do a thorough investigation to uncover what’s beneath Juliet’s uptight, city-girl exterior—preferably one piece of clothing at a time. But when their chemistry goes from fizzy to full-on explosive, things start getting complicated. How can Juliet stay be

Read an expert HERE

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Interview & Tour Wide Giveaway with Susan Ardens

Books-n-Kisses is excited to have first time guest Susan Arden on the blog today.  

Susan, can you please share with us a little about yourself.

I’m not very interesting aside from having a vivid imagination. As a child it kept me company. Now as an adult, it’s like watching a free flowing movie that I have to shut off and attend to the world around me.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes. And no. I’m ADHD. To compensate I became a special ed teacher, and in the process learned how to help myself. Structure, structure, structure. But to your question, I was afraid of writing or editing really. I never thought I could write page after page. Now, it seems effortless to reach 60,000 words or 200 type-written pages.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

I wake up before five generally. Feed my LOUD cats, and patient dogs. My husband is still asleep so I write. I do my promos first thing when I’m fresh. Like checking in on tours, get a post up, respond to emails. Then later I’m doing something along the continuum of writing. It’s never just writing. Brainstorming, laying out scenes, the actual writing, researching, editing…some more editing. MORE EDITING.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Did I mention editing. LOL. I guess you can see I’ve quite the edit-challenged being.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Picture Perfect is releasing and it’s a secret baby troupe featuring Carolina (from Tempted by Trouble) cousin, Cynthia “Sam” Cainwright.  Chronologically, it the story precedes Tempted. But things do always work out linearly in the world of publishing.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

In NaNoWriMo I began with the idea of two crazy cousins from Miami. They’re best friends and suffer the loss of a parent.  They’re both half Cuban, half American, and very close. I’m from Miami, and went to bilingual schools. I adore the Cuban culture. Very similar in ways to the Western Romance premise of fierce loyalty and family values.  The heroes are friends, college buddies.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

There’s always something brewing. A new genre for instance. Erotica. A short series. Naughty Nights and the first book is Taken and will be available in May 2013.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Elizabeth Hoyt, Joyce Carol Oates, Gabriel Marquez, and David Sedaris is my absolute favorite for a laugh.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 

Definitely. All of them. I think each time a person reads, they are changed. Sometimes  remarkably, others infinitesimal. We see things from a different perspective. The joining together of words stretches the imagination. Reading is also seeing.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Just opened to page 119. Here’s the summary beginning with Carolina’s question to Matt.

“Yes. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking I want every part of you. Every inch of you. You’ll be mine. For one night. Mine. Without reservation. Mine to do with as I wish.”

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Yes. I’m happy to report the second book, Beautiful Stranger from the duo Christina Lauren who wrote Beautiful Bastard.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Only that this has been absolutely delightful being here with you and thank you so much for the invitation to share my inner world. XO

 

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Susan is offering up a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a SWAG Pack (T-Shirt, Notebooks & Pen) to one lucky winner that follows the tour.

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TEMPTED BY TROUBLE

Author: Susan Arden

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Release Date: April 1, 2013

When a woman is the magnet for the wrong man, it takes a bad boy to break old habits.

Carolina Rodriguez is a large animal veterinarian on a mission to escape South Florida and her overprotective family. Willing to do just about anything, she accepts a job in Annona, Texas over the Internet from a family connection.

At her cousin’s wedding, she runs into Matt, a handsome Texan in the church parking lot. Matthew McLemore is more than gorgeous, he’s Carolina’s new boss, and needs her help to determine why his cattle keep dying. Matt’s instantaneous attraction to Carolina sorely tempts him to push the boundaries of their work contract, but a roll in the hay may prove too volatile to handle. Until she arrives on his ranch and is too hot to resist.

Carolina refuses to admit Matt’s raw sexuality is more than overpowering or that she’s the least bit tempted by this smooth-talking bad boy. But by the time the pathology lab reports comes back, they’ve explored every inch of each other. All of a sudden, this fiery affair is more than just a fling. And when a past flame threatens to overwhelm their new found romance, Matt must find a way to stake his claim to Carolina’s heart before it’s too late.

Warning: Contains a smoking mess of scorching love scenes.

Ice may be needed for blazing imaginations.

Available Now at Amazon

BOOK TRAILER 

 

TEMPTED BY TROUBLE Excerpt

“Evermore Ranch,” she read aloud.

“I hope this won’t upset your plans?”

“Would it matter? I signed a service contract that included a non-disclosure agreement. Even if I had a problem, I couldn’t tell a soul and I’ve promised you two weeks of my time.”

He chuckled softly. “Yes, two weeks to do my bidding.”

She almost choked at the thought of doing his bidding. “What the heck have I gotten myself into with you, Mr. McLemore? Exactly what type of office do you run?”

His expression changed. Sharpened. “Strictly business. Look, Dr. Rodriguez, we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”

“Wrong foot … the whole body is a problem, sir,” she hissed.

He smiled broadly, reassuring her. “Let’s discuss this later. This isn’t the correct time or place. Don’t you have to help the bride or something?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I do. I don’t know what you think you’ve contracted, but I’ll only supply you with vet services. As long as you understand that fact, there’s nothing more to discuss.”

“Well, there is. In the service agreement, there’s a provision that we need to discuss before you’re allowed access to the ranch barn and stable sites. So, either we can do it later or when you arrive in Texas. But until you and I have a little sit-down and get a few things ironed out, there won’t be any work for you to do directly. I’ve got a ranch to run, and I don’t have time to play games. I’ve already spent enough time finding a vet.” His eyes glittered and dropped to her mouth. “If you think I’m about to waste more time because you’ve got second thoughts, Dr. Rodriguez, the next communication you’ll have from Evermore Ranch will be from my attorneys. Had I known who you were before, believe me, I wouldn’t have … I’d never let the situation get away from me.”

Oh, this was rich. “Away from you. I’d say it got out of control. But that’s on your side of the table. Fine. I’ll honor my service contract. You’re right about one thing. The only thing of interest to me is treating your cattle. Once the job is done, I’ll be only too happy to leave you in peace and we can go our separate ways.”

Up close, his eyes shone sherry-colored. A muscle flexed along his jaw. His masculine scent of leather, smoke, and wood filled her head. The hard set of his mouth didn’t resemble the man from before. He’d done just as he’d promised, shutting one door, and leaving in place a man who didn’t look as if he enjoyed playing games. No this version of Matt McLemore had a locking gaze and if looks could kill, she was a goner.

“I’m glad we understand one another then, Dr. Rodriguez. I expect to meet with you tomorrow at your convenience. Our relationship will be strictly business, if that’s what got you in such a dither.”

 

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan Arden is a third generation Floridian. She left the field of education in 2008 pursing her dream of writing romance fiction. Currently, she writes hot love stories within the romance genres of contemporary erotic, western, and fantasy/paranormal.  Susan also writes under the name of Susan D. Taylor.
Susan currently lives in TN along with husband, two cattle dogs, two crazy cats, a gecko and a corn snake. A mother, RYT200 Yoga Alliance (registered yoga teacher), and avid gardener. You can find her on the mat when she’s not writing her next hot romance novel.

CATCH SUSAN HERE:

Website | Twitter | FB | Playlist | Pinterest |Goodreads

 

TEMPTED BY TROUBLE

Blog Tour Schedule

 

4/29 – Reading Between The Wines

http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

 5/01 – Riverina Romantics

http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/

5/02 – My Reading Obsession

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com

5/04 – Urban Girl Reader

http://www.urbangirlreader.com/

5/05 – The Reading Café

 http://thereadingcafe.com/

5/06 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

5/07 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com

5/09 – Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

5/10 – Books-n-Kisses

https://books-n-kisses.com

5/11 – Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

5/12 – Manga Maniac Café

http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/

5/12 – Romancing The Book

http://romancing-the-book.com/

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Interview & Giveaway with Laura Moore

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have first time guest Laura Moore on the blog today to chat about life and her new book Once Tempted.

Laura, can you please share with us a little about yourself

LM: I’m a contemporary romance author, an animal lover, an avid gardener, and I love to cook. I’ll take any opportunity I can find to steal away and curl up with a book. I cry at movies embarrassingly easily, much to the amusement of my husband and two children. My dog is very understanding. Our cat stares at me as if I’m an alien. I like to work out and I have an astonishing ability to consume vast quantities of chocolate and coffee.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

LM: No. I bet I surprised you with that answer! But it’s true. I didn’t fill notebooks in third grade with juvenilia. I wanted to be a professional rider and trainer. Then I wanted to be a racecar driver. My next ambition was to be Jacques Cousteau–this was before I knew about Sylvia Earle. Then I dreamed of being a photographer and after that, an art restorer. I could go on for quite a while. You see, I have a fair number of writers in my family, so I knew what an unglamorous life it could be. Of course now I’m pretty happy that I one day did sit down and start filling up a notebook with an idea I had for a story. Now I have a job where I can daydream for hours and call it work.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

LM: I get up at 6:30 am, have breakfast, and walk Hardy, our dog. Upon my return I throw a load of laundry into the wash and run around straightening up the house. I’m kind of weird. There’s no way I can sit down to write if things aren’t basically organized around me. By 9:00 I’m at my computer. I try to work for three or four hours without wasting too much time checking and replying to emails, surfing the net in the name of ‘research’, or surfing the net simply because it’s there.

After lunch I’ll try to get a few more paragraphs onto the screen. If I’m lucky, another page or two. But my prime writing time is really that morning block of hours.

The one thing I can’t do without while writing is caffeine. It’s my drug of choice.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

LM: Writing for me is always a challenge. The delete button is my favorite key. But without hesitation I can say the most rewarding aspect of writing is having a reader tell me that one of my books is on her keeper shelf, its spine broken, its pages dog-eared.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

It’s called Once Tempted and it’s about a woman named Tess Casari. To escape the painful memories of a failed marriage, Tess leaves her life in New York City and the world she knows and sets out for California. A city girl, Tess would prefer to make a new life for herself in a place like L.A. or San Francisco, but Fate decrees otherwise, and Tess finds herself working at a guest ranch. Silver Creek Ranch is a sprawling operation that covers three thousand acres is home to more four-legged animals than she’s ever seen. But it’s a certain two-legged creature–a proud cowboy named Ward Knowles–that is the most worrisome thing about her new life…worrisome in the most delicious and distracting way.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I really wanted to write about a woman who has to leave her life behind and make a fresh start in a foreign place where she knows not a soul. That’s how Tess Casari came into my life. Then I had to find her a white knight–or my version of it–to come to her rescue and heal her wounds. Ward Knowles, though he bears his own heartbreak, seemed ready and willing. I really like how Tess and Ward come together in this book and have to deal with their fears as they find love again.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

LM: Once Tempted is the first book in my Silver Creek series. Now I’m working on the second story. It’s called Once Tasted and will be about Reid Knowles, Ward’s younger brother. Everybody loves Reid. He’s a handsome, blue-eyed cowboy who can charm just about any woman. Any woman but Mia Bodell, whose family owns the vineyard next to Silver Creek Ranch. Her youthful infatuation for Reid was killed years ago. For his part, Reid would as steer clear of Mia. Unfortunately, he’s made a promise to Mia’s uncle to watch out for her…I think it’s safe to say the sparks will fly between Mia and Reid.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

LM: The list is far too long. Why don’t I list my early favorites, the writers who made me fall in love with the romance genre? Those would be writers like Georgette Heyer, Nora Roberts, Lavryle Spencer, Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught, Catherine Coulter, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, Anne Stuart, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. And that was just my early years. I’ve kept my love of those writers and added on.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 

LM: Absolutely. I only wish I wrote as well they do!

Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.

LM: Oh, I like this idea! It’s kind of how I had my heroine, Tess Casari, choose her destination in California. Okay, so here goes:

“Can I have it back?” She held out her hand imperiously. The effect, however, was spoiled by the fine trembling that seized it.

“Certainly.” His free hand slipped beneath the chair and snagged a delicate ankle. He tugged a resisting limb up and toward him. It was no contest. He’d had a lifetime experience wrestling cattle and sheep. One feisty, squirming Italian beauty wasn’t going to deter him.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

LM: Robyn Carr’s The Wanderer; Julie James’s Love Irresistibly; Nora Roberts’s Whiskey Beach. Jesse Hayworth’s Summer at Mustang Ridge

Is there anything else you would like to add?

LM: Nothing but a huge thank you for inviting me to come and talk about my books and my writing. This has been such fun.

Oh, and one more thing! I’d like to offer a copy of Once Tempted to three readers who leave comments (U.S. and Canada only, please). Can you tell me what’s on your To-Be-Read Pile?

Happy Reading!

~Laura

Laura loves to hear from readers. You can contact her at: www.lauramoorebooks.com or follow her on Facebook

You can also find her on Goodreads

 

Once Tempted

Amazon  | B&N

Sweeping passions, family drama, and searing scandal play out at the magnificent Silver Creek Ranch as the heirs to a powerful dynasty seize their legacy of love.
 
Oldest son Ward Knowles feels the sprawling California ranch in his blood. And now that the family business has expanded to include a popular resort, he’s working harder than ever. Silver Creek is his legacy and his life, which is fine for the ruggedly sexy ladies’ man and committed bachelor. Love and trust don’t come easily for Ward since he lost his heart to a gold digger—until he meets a shy, unpretentious beauty whose sweet grace is about to turn his jaded heart into a hungry one.

Tess Casari has found sanctuary at Silver Creek, working as an assistant to Ward’s mother, Adele. Grateful for her busy new life running the ranch’s spa and resort, Tess can escape the heartbreak, humiliation, and secret shame of her failed marriage. The last thing she needs is temptation—especially from a man who reminds her so much of the husband who shattered her faith in love. But passion and destiny are about to change the rules for two people who have stopped believing in the healing power of love.

Praise for Once Tempted
 
“[Laura] Moore’s first in her new Silver Creek series is packed with plenty of great, realistic dialogue and features two main characters whose actions and choices are easy to sympathize with. The glimpses of the hero’s two siblings will leave readers eager for their stories.”—RT Book Reviews
 
“When I read [Moore’s] books, I’m transported to the peaceful countryside with ranch homes and barns dotting the landscape. Once Tempted has all that and more.”—USA Today
 
“Ward is the perfect cowboy hero for a twenty-first century romance.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers

“Moore is a fantastic storyteller ensnaring your interest from the first page.”—Fresh Fiction

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Kelly’s review of Once Tempted by Laura Moore

TITLE: Once Tempted
SERIES: Silver Creek #1
CHARACTERS: Tess Casari & Ward Knowles
AUTHOR: Laura Moore
PUBLICATION DATE: March 26, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sweeping passions, family drama, and searing scandal play out at the magnificent Silver Creek Ranch as the heirs to a powerful dynasty seize their legacy of love.

Oldest son Ward Knowles feels the sprawling California ranch in his blood. And now that the family business has expanded to include a popular resort, he’s working harder than ever. Silver Creek is his legacy and his life, which is fine for the ruggedly sexy ladies’ man and committed bachelor. Love and trust don’t come easily for Ward since he lost his heart to a gold digger—until he meets a shy, unpretentious beauty whose sweet grace is about to turn his jaded heart into a hungry one.

Tess Casari has found sanctuary at Silver Creek, working as an assistant to Ward’s mother, Adele. Grateful for her busy new life running the ranch’s spa and resort, Tess can escape the heartbreak, humiliation, and secret shame of her failed marriage. The last thing she needs is temptation—especially from a man who reminds her so much of the husband who shattered her faith in love. But passion and destiny are about to change the rules for two people who have stopped believing in the healing power of love.

REVIEW:
After a year from hell and a failed marriage Tess does what anyone would do. She lets her best friend blindfold her spin her around in circles and then play pin the finger on the map to her new future. What Tess never expected is that the random placement of her finger on a map will change everything for her. Her faith in people, her faith in love and her faith in herself.

Great story. I loved Tess & Ward. They are just so cute even when they are fighting and trying to act like they don’t like each other. But Erica…. Oh Erica I really wish someone would have pushed her into a pile of _ _ _ _. I can’t wait to see what the Silver Creek series has in store for us next.

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.

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Love & A Blue Eyed Cowboy by Sandra Chastain

TITLE: Love And A Blue-Eyed Cowboy
CHARACTERS: Fortune & Hunter
AUTHOR: Sandra Chastain
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/11/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Hunky cowboy Hunter Kincaid is bruised, broke, and brash enough to think that he can win the top prize in a motorcycle scavenger hunt through the backwoods of Georgia. What he doesn’t count on is being saddled with Fortune Dagosta as a partner. After locking horns with the back-seat driver, Hunter soon hopes to lock lips. Can a loner of the open road be a lover with an open heart?

Fortune has no idea how she’ll survive a week on the road with a smartass like Hunter. But she needs the money from the race to put a new roof on her halfway house for troubled kids—and Hunter’s her best shot at first place. Despite a few bumps on the way, Fortune finds herself lost in Hunter’s deep blue eyes. Neither expects the attraction to last, but Hunter and Fortune have embarked on the ride of their lives.

REVIEW:
This story is so adorable. First let me say some of the things are dated since it was originally released in 1992 apparently. There are references to talking to Minnie Pearl, Barbara Mandrell, etc but the names are either unknown to the modern reader (Mandrell) or the person has passed away (Pearl) so that was a little dated but the rest of the story is really cute.

Imagine the “Amazing Race” in the Carolinas & Georgia. That is what this book is about. Two strangers thrown together following clues to win the race and make money. But they have their own reasons for wanting the money. The journey with these characters is sweet. Hunter is just an all around good guy and Fortune is almost too sweet for words but something about her makes her human and not icky sweet.

This is an adorable book to have for that winter day curled up on the couch in front of the fire (that is what I did).

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

4 Hearts
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Jennifer’s review of Close Enough To Touch by Victoria Dahl

TITLE: Close Enough To Touch
AUTHOR: Victoria Dahl
PUBLICATION DATE:   8/28/12

ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: For makeup artist Grace Barrett, Hollywood isn’t the land of golden opportunity.  It’s the land of difficult divas, cheating boyfriends and unemployment.  So when her great-aunt offers her a free place to stay in Jackson Hole, Grace thinks she’ll spend a little time in the sticks to figure out her life, and then move somewhere exciting to live out her dreams.  But it turns out that there are a few more thrills in this small town than Grace was expecting….

Cole Rawlins is a rugged Wyoming cowboy born and bred. Yet he can’t help but be drawn to the fascinating big-city girl who moves in across from him. He wants to get close enough to Grace to see past her tough facade, but if he does, she might get to see the real Cole.  The one with a Hollywood history gone bad.  As they discover a sizzling attraction, it becomes harder for him to keep his demons at bay–and those fires from long ago may burn them both.

They’ll need more than scorching-hot passion to make this opposites-attract affair work. But if they can learn to trust one another enough to reveal their secrets, they just might have a chance at forever.

REVIEW: I adore Victoria Dahl’s books because she always seem to write these great romances in small towns with interesting characters.  I thought this book was good, but for me, it wasn’t as light-hearted as her previous novels.  Grace is a character that has a lot of emotional baggage to deal with when she first arrives at Jackson Hole.  She has no money, no job and no direction but is trying to find her place in life without depending on a man like her mother.  She acted very tough by not letting anyone get close to her and found it easier to lash out at people instead of letting her guards down because she was afraid of being hurt.  I liked her but I wanted her to open up more to people than just pretending to be this tough city chick.

Cole was dealing with emotional issues as well during the course of this novel.  He was slowly recovering from an injury that shattered his pelvis and he was scared that he wouldn’t be able to ride a horse again.  If he couldn’t ride a horse then he would be unable to run the ranch that he was hoping to buy from his boss when he retired.  To him, that was everything and he was guilty of lashing out at others as well. Grace and Cole were so much alike even though from the outside they looked like exact opposites.  The chemistry and sexual tension was extremely hot but that isn’t all there is to a relationship and it took some time for these characters to get past their own issues to try to build that relationship.

I liked this novel but I want others to be aware that this isn’t a light-hearted romance.  These characters have some real emotional issues from mistakes of their past and the romance between the two doesn’t start off easy.  I’m looking forward to reading Victoria’s next novel in the series “Too Hot to Handle” which stars Grace’s best friend, Merry.  Hopefully, her love story will go smoother than Grace’s did.

Disclaimer:
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of All Summer Long by Susan Mallery

TITLE: All Summer Long
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Can a summer fling turn into love that lasts a lifetime? Former underwear model turned entrepreneur Clay Stryker has loved, tragically lost and vowed that he’ll never risk his heart again. After making his fortune, the youngest of the rugged Stryker brothers returns to Fool’s Gold, California, to put down roots on a ranch of his own. But he’s frustrated to discover that even in his hometown, people see him only for his world-famous…assets.

Firefighter Chantal (Charlie) Dixon grew up an ugly duckling beside her delicately beautiful mother, a feeling reinforced long ago by a man who left soul-deep scars. Now she has good friends, a solid job and the itch to start a family-yet she can’t move toward the future while she’s haunted by painful memories.

Clay finds an unexpected ally, and unexpected temptation, in tomboyish Charlie, the only person who sees beyond his dazzling good looks to the real man beneath. But when Charlie comes to him with an indecent proposal, will they be able to overcome their pasts and find a love that lasts beyond one incredible summer?

REVIEW:
This is the ninth in the Fool’s Gold series. And the last of the Stryker Brother trilogy. And I think Mallery saved the best brother for last. This is the story of Clay and Charlie. We met Charlie a few books back. She is a Fool’s Gold firefighter and Clay is a NYC underwear model.

I will be honest, I could not imagine these two together. I imagined Charlie something like Kristen Johnston from “3rd Rock from the Sun” tv show. And Clay something like Matthew McConaughey. Just not a couple that would look good together but something about them just meshes really well once you start reading. Not only does Charlie believe she is far from feminine she was raped years ago and has never gotten beyond the trauma of the incident and trusting in a man. When she befriends Clay she feels he might be the one to help her get beyond her past. Clay just wants to move past his reputation of being a model and being dumb, spoiled and stand-offish. The interesting thing is both of them just want to be “normal”.

Any woman who has had trauma in her life, even if it was not a rape, can relate to Charlie. She is written so strong physically and will do anything for her friends but when it comes to men there is a vulnerability that any woman can relate to. Then Clay comes into her life. I loved the way he was written. He is so sensitive to her mind, body and heart. He is willing to take it slow with Charlie even when she doesn’t think that is what she wants. Every woman who has been through a trauma should have a man like Clay.

While I would suggest reading the entire series, this book really can stand alone. But I would strongly recommend the entire series. Mallery has a way of bringing you right into her world of Fool’s Gold and you never want to leave.

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

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Kimberly’s review of Summer Nights by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Summer Nights
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/26/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Horse whisperer Shane Stryker is done with passion. This time around, he’s determined to meet someone who will be content with the quiet life of a rancher’s wife. And the fiery, pint-size redhead who dazzles him at the local bar definitely does not fit the bill.

Small-town librarian Annabelle Weiss has always seen herself as more of a sweetheart than a siren, so she can’t understand why Shane keeps pushing her away. Shane has formed the totally wrong impression of her but only he can help her with a special event for the next Fool’s Gold festival. And maybe while he’s at it, she can convince him to teach her a few things about kissing on hot summer nights, too-some lessons, a girl shouldn’t learn from reading a book!

REVIEW:
Being back in Fool’s Gold is like coming home… Home to a city you wish really existed. This is the eighth in the Fool’s Gold series and the second regarding a Stryker Brothers.

Annabelle is a librarian who we met a few books ago. She decides to raise money for a bookmobile and will be a part of a parade and do a dance on horseback. However she has no idea how to ride a horse. That is where Shane comes in. Shane has been hurt before and after seeing Annabelle dancing on a bar he decides she is exactly what he does not need.

I have loved this series from book one and this book is no different. Mallery brings you right into her world of Fool’s Gold and makes you not want to leave. Mallery does not write Annabelle as the stereotypical librarian. There are no buns in her hair or glasses. And she does not write Shane as a typical cowboy. Yes he rides and teaches others to ride but he is not the lone cowboy. He wants to be in love and have a family but he wants to find someone reserved (like a librarian should be) but that is not Annabelle… well not exactly.

I was happy to see that Mallery brought back so many characters from the series. In the last book we did not get much of a glance of the previous characters but this book seemed to bring everyone back at some point. I loved the guys night out and would love to see more of that.

As with all of this series you can read it as a stand alone but I have no idea why you would want to and reading this one will just make you want to read the others so you might as well start at book one and enjoy your stay in Fool’s Gold.

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

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Consent To Love by Abby Wood

Consent To Love
AUTHOR: Abby Wood
PUBLICATION DATE:   04/02/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Twenty-four-year-old small-town girl Ana Reynold serves beer at the local bar, tries to keep her beater car running, and dreams of a better life as a painter. If she can learn to make a decent steak, she might get promoted to cook—and earn enough for her real heart’s desire. Right now, that doesn’t include romance.

But when she meets a tall, dark and sexy Native American man named Kane, Ana can’t take her eyes off him—or stop thinking about him. But she’d better. Everyone knows the proud Lakota who raises horses wants nothing to do with a townie barmaid who’ll bring shame to his people.

Except Kane can’t get Ana off his mind. He proposes a red-hot weekend in bed, a no-strings affair to end Monday morning. Yet once Kane brings the outsider onto Lakota land, everything changes…

REVIEW:
This novella is a quick read with only about 135 pages. The story is very well written. There were a few times while reading the dialogue of the characters that I thought to myself “this is not how a normal person would speak” but once you get into the swing of the story it is not as obvious (either that or the conversations get better). Ana seems somewhat naive for a twenty-four year old even one raised in a small town but she is a sweet character. Kane is hard to describe. At some points he seems loving and others like he is only out for sex. I was confused by his character but I liked him. There was a lot of talk in the storyline about how the outside world views “injuns” and would give Ana a hard time for being involved with Kane so I was disappointed that there was not a more intense moment of something that happens when Ana is off of reservation land. I enjoyed this story and think if you enjoy cowboy romance then this is one you will want to pick up and enjoy yourself. *Note* This apparently is the second in the “consent” series because in this book Daphne and Will (Consent to the Cowboy) make an appearance and while “Consent to Love” stands alone you do get the feeling that Daphne and Will had their own story before.