Get to know Krista Ames, author of 'Take Me Home, Cowboy'

Welcome!

Take a moment to get to know Krista Ames, author of 'Take Me Home, Cowboy.'

What was the inspiration behind 'Take Me Home, Cowboy'?  

I can’t actually say that there was any specific inspiration for this story other than I love western stories and one day an Idea came to me. Once I knew about the small fictional town of Freewill, I just adapted my story to fit and Take Me Home, Cowboy was born.

Which characters spoke to you the most during the writing process?  

It was definitely Matt (the hero) that had the louder voice but they both really had an equal share in the creation.

Which scene is your favorite? 

I really liked the whole story but my one of my favorite scenes would be when they first meet and Ally realizes that the person she’s meeting and the cowboy she talked to over the phone before she came for her visit are one in the same…… here’s a short excerpt of that scene 

“Ally-cat, this is Matt Gentry, my foreman.”

“Very nice to have you join us, ma’am,” he said and extended his hand.

She blanched, the smile fading from her eyes and her lips. She turned a glare on her father. “Foreman? Of this ranch?”

Matt tried to hide a smirk, a bit of satisfaction curling in his chest at her obvious discomfort. What the heck, why not make her squirm a little bit more? “Yes ma’am, that’s what he said. Foreman. Of this ranch.”

She seemed immobilized by shock as she looked between him and her father.

“Best damned foreman I’ve ever had, too!” Jesse chimed in, seeming not to even recognize her aggravation. “He could run this place without me.”

“Oh, well now, boss man, I wouldn’t go that far. This job wouldn’t be near as much fun without you.”

Anger burned red on her cheeks, and she turned to glare at Jesse. “Damn it, don’t you know—”

“Ally-cat, don’t you start on me. I run this ranch the way I see fit. I’ll always accept your business advice when it comes to the books, but it ends there.”

“But Daddy—”

“No. Don’t you ‘but Daddy’ me. I make the decisions on this ranch. I may be old but I’m not dead, not yet anyway.”

“Don’t talk like that. You won’t be going anywhere for a long time yet.” Ally’s voice softened and her shoulders sagged.

“Glad you think so, Ally-cat.” Jesse patted a spot next to him on the couch. ”Come sit with me while Maribella whips up something for us to eat.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Matt said, backing out of the room. “I’ll go clean up before dinner.”

He angled toward the hallway leading to his room, sensing her gaze following his movement, and assumed she would prefer if he cleaned up, ate, and slept in the bunkhouse with the other hands for the night. However, he wouldn’t be doing any of the sort. Jesse had given him a bedroom upstairs in the sprawling home, conveniently overlooking the barns, bunkhouse, and outbuildings, and he intended to use it same as always, especially if it pissed her off.

Do you have any other projects in the works?

Oh I do have a few  First and foremost, I’m working on a second book for the Western Escape line which will connect with this one. No further details at this time tho, sorry.

Where is the best place to find a cowboy?

That’s a very good question….I’m guessing anywhere in the Midwest is a prime spot. I’d love to travel there myself to see what I can find 

What is it about cowboys that lights our fires?

Hmmm, well besides the tight fitting wranglers they love to wear and those old worn out cowboy boots or the cowboy hat they pull down just far enough to make them look sinisterxy and s, they seem to be a rare breed…hard working, focused, loving and committed once they set their minds to it.

Michigan is a beautiful state. What are some of your recommended romantic destinations for visitors?

Michigan is definitely a beautiful state and besides the snow, I love living here. The best place for me at least for a romantic getaway is Mackinac Island. My husband and I make it a point once a year to go there without our kids to have that quality time! It’s beautiful there and quiet with no motorized transportation except an ambulance allowed on the island. You get there by boat or plane and once there, you either walk, ride a bike, take a horse drawn carriage or ride a horse. There is an endless amount to see including the beautiful immaculate homes. We are partial to the Inn at Stonecliff but there are many places to stay.

You are an avid reader. What do you recommend to readers, in addition to your own titles?

I do love to read and have an enormous amount of paperback books in my collection. Most of those are Linda Lael Miller, Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts and Diana Palmer and then some other of my favorites are Lora Leigh, Maya Banks, all of the Decadent authors and the list goes on and on.

My biggest recommendation would be any of the authors at Decadent Publishing. There is a massive array of romance there and so far not a single story I haven’t liked. They are all top notch !!!

What are some words of wisdom that you have received about writing that you find useful?

You know what, the best thing I was ever told was to not give up. In this business it’s so easy to take that road when you get frustrated with a manuscript or when you get a rejection from a publisher or even when you get a less than stellar review. No one ever said it was an easy busy but it can be very satisfying if you just keep an open mind and don’t give up !

What is something readers may be surprised to learn about you?

Hmmm, maybe that I’m a sucker for a man in a uniform(or chaps & cowboy boots), I’m addicted to Mt. Dew, hate coffee and function best on 3 or 4 hours of sleep…

Anything else you would like to share?

Just want your readers to know that I appreciate them visiting and would love to hear from them and if they are so inclined to pick up my book, I’d like to hear what they think of it, good or bad 

Thank you so much for your time! ~Andrea

Andrea, thanks so much for having me today, I had a really great time !!!

 

About the Author

Born and raised in Northern Indiana, Krista now resides in Northern Lower Michigan. She is married to a very supportive man, Chip, who allows her to follow her true passion of writing and never complains when she is pirated away on her computer for hours. He even helps with proof-reading and is her “in-house” editor and her idea sounding board. She is also a mother of 4 ornery children who keep her plenty busy. With an addition of 2 beautiful chocolate lab sisters and 2 playful cats, there is never a dull or spare moment in her household.

Krista has always loved to read and would often sit up for hours into the night not able to put down a book until she was finished. She still reads when she can but her main focus is creating her own stories to share with the world.

Connect with Krista Ames

Website: http://www.kristaames.com/

Blog: http://www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kristaames

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kristaames

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/kristaames

Weekend Writers: http://weekend-writers.blogspot.com

Blurb

Ally Kincaid returns to Freewill, Wyoming, to see her father after a two year absence. Anticipating a quiet family reunion, she finds herself butting heads with her father’s foreman instead. The man’s arrogance and sexy drawl push all her buttons, making her wonder what he’s hiding beneath his cowboy swagger.

Matt Gentry walked away from the past and shies from the future. No ties means no one gets hurt…until the boss’s daughter, a hot, green-eyed blonde, tempts him to break his own rules.

When tragedy strikes, will building tension and pride destroy their growing attraction or show them the way home?

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language which may be considered offensive to some readers.

Read an excerpt:

“I need to buy that man an answering machine.” Furious, Ally held the receiver away from her ear, eyes closed as the phone on the other end rang continuously. “Come on, Daddy, where are you?”

She was ready to hang up in frustration when the receiver was picked up and then—by the sound of the loud clanging on the other end—dropped.

“Circle K,” said the deep male voice rather breathlessly.

“Where in the world were you?”

“Excuse me?” the husky voice asked.

Oh crap, that’s definitely not Daddy. She’d been so surprised her call had finally been answered, she hadn’t realized there was nothing familiar about the voice at the end of the line “I’m sorry….” she cracked. Wow, where did that high-pitched squeak come from? “I’m sorry, who is this?”

“This is the Circle K Ranch. Who’s this?”

The man’s question held an impressive sexy drawl. Definitely not a voice she’d ever heard in New York City, and one she’d only be lucky enough to find in her dreams.

“I’d like to speak to Jesse Kincaid, please.” She did a mental inventory of all the ranch hands but couldn’t place the voice. And he obviously didn’t recognize hers either. Must be somebody new her father had hired since the last time she’d been there.

“Sorry, ma’am, he’s not here. What can I do for ya?”

“When will he be available, please?”

“Now, ma’am, I don’t guess I’m at liberty to say until I know exactly who it is I’m speaking at.”

God, men could be so arrogant. Why did he need to know who was calling? A simple answer would suffice.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but this is Ally Kincaid. Who exactly are you?”

“Well, well, isn’t this a nice surprise? Miss Ally Kincaid. Did your father know you’d be calling?

She gritted her teeth in frustration. Who does this cocky, know-it-all cowboy think he is?

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Giveaway Info:

Prize is 2 eBook copies of any DP Western Escape Series title (winners' choice; 1 each to 2 winners). Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Apr 10 . Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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