Creating Ruby, Wyoming from The Twisted Oak by Sarah Hadley Brook

Do you ever wonder how authors come up with the fictional towns in their books? It's a little bit more involved than you think, though it is a lot of fun to do. Today, author Sarah Hadley Brook tells us how she came up with her setting of Ruby, Wyoming. And she has an important question for you to answer! Be sure to do so in the comments area and then follow the tour to hear even more from here. There's even an excerpt for you to enjoy before you download your copy. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

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In The Twisted Oak, I wanted a small town readers could relate to. One filled with colorful characters—good and bad—and memorable places.

Once I came up with the details for Dwyer Ranch, I started researching Wyoming. I’m from Missouri, so I had a lot to learn about the state. And ranching!

I had a hard time coming up with the name of the fictional town until I was driving to my day job one morning and the name Ruby just popped into my head—I still don’t know where it came from! After confirming there wasn’t a real Ruby in Wyoming, I ran with it and began creating the various businesses and settings including the following:

• The Sheriff’s Office
• Ruby’s Diner: a classic-style diner that’s a staple on Main Street
• Matthews & Renfrow, Attorneys at Law
• Main Street in Downtown Ruby: filled with boutique shops and small businesses
• Ruby Nights Bar: the local bar where Wade’s younger brother, Landon, performs with his band
• Ruby’s Gems: the local jewelry store

So, hmmm, maybe I went a little overboard with Ruby, but after spending so much time working on this story and building up the town, I just couldn’t help myself! And if you enjoy The Twisted Oak, you can follow the characters—and new ones—in the sequel, which also takes place in Ruby.

I wanted the small town to be quaint, but modern, with a touch of nostalgia and I hope what I created reflects that to the readers. I am building on the town in the sequel.

If you were building a small town, what would you want to be present? A Starbucks? A McDonald’s? Maybe an Olive Garden? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Wade Dwyer's life is turned upside down when his father dies and he learns he must marry or he and his siblings will lose the ranch. One last jab of the knife from his father. On top of that, his father's only friend knows about the stipulation and is determined to own the property by any means necessary.

He's facing the very real possibility of being the reason his family loses their home when his brother's best friend, Lance Matthews, offers to walk down the aisle with him. A faux marriage to the man he's loved for years is a torture he isn't sure he can endure.

Can he keep the ranch ... and the man of his dreams, too?

Read an excerpt:

“This is nice,” Wade said as he moved closer to the pictures. Lots of family photos, some of his graduation. It was like a timeline of Lance’s life. When his eyes fell on one photo, he stopped, leaning in. It was a picture of Wade, Casey, and Lance on the sofa, playing video games. Probably one of the many nights Lance spent there as a teenager. But Lance wasn’t watching the game. He was staring at Wade.

“I remember that night,” Lance whispered, suddenly by Wade’s side.

“Brings back memories,” Wade admitted. “Who took the picture?”

Lance blushed. “Landon had been bugging us to let him join in on the video games, so I handed him my phone and let him play something on there so he’d leave us alone.”

“Ahh, the little brother bribe. I know it well,” Wade said, grinning.

Lance laughed. “Well, he must have been bored, because when I got the phone back, there were a lot of new pictures. He took some of his room, the barn, the horses, and this one of us playing video games.”

Wade’s chest tightened. “You kept this one…why?” There was nothing really remarkable about the picture. Other than Lance staring at him. But that could have been anything. He could have said something funny or they could have been talking.

Lance’s cheeks pinked. “I just liked the picture.”

He cocked his head and stood in front of Lance. “No reason?”

The man took a step back, and suddenly they were in the same position in which they’d found themselves this morning in the hallway. Lance looked into his eyes and Wade’s heart did a somersault. Lance’s eyes were dark with desire.

“Tell me,” Wade ordered. “Tell me why you kept the picture, Lance. Why were you looking at me instead of the game? Were we talking?”

Lance shook his head. “No,” he breathed out, his voice shaky. “God, I remember like it was yesterday, though. Casey and I were playing a game and you came in and joined us. When you sat next to me…I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t even breathe.” He looked to the side.

Wade cupped his chin and tilted his head to face him. “Why? Tell me, Lance.”

Lance licked his lips. “Because I was crazy about you, Wade. And I was scared of my feelings.”

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Sarah Hadley Brook lives smack-dab in the middle of the Heartland and is the mother of two wonderful young men, as well as two cats. During the day, she works in the non-profit world, but reserves evenings for her hobby-turned-passion of writing, letting the characters she conjures up in her mind take the lead and show her where the story will go. When not working or writing, she can be found reading, working on dollhouses, trying her hand at new recipes, or watching old movies and musicals. In her ideal world, Christmas would come at least twice a year, Rock Hudson and Doris Day would have co-starred in more than three movies, and chocolate would be a daily necessity to live. She dreams of traveling to Scotland some day and visiting the places her ancestors lived. Sarah believes in “Happily Ever After” and strives to ensure her characters find their own happiness in love and life.

Website: www.sarahhadleybrookwrites.com

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Sarah Hadley Brook will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.

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Arizona Caress by Bobbi Smith

Oh, western historical romance fans, I've got another one for you! Enjoy an excerpt from Arizona Caress by Bobbi Smith today. Follow the tour to check out even more from the book. Be sure to let Bobbi know what you think in the comments. And of course, be sure to enter the great giveaway!

Arizona Caress

A dashing man from back east meets an unconventional Native American woman and they join hearts against all odds in this spellbinding tale of passion and western adventure from New York Times bestselling author Bobbi Smith.

Chance Broderick has plenty of charm and more than enough wealth, and his life among the Boston Brahmins offers plenty of tempting distractions. But when he receives word that his brother is in grave danger in the Arizona Territory, Chance dutifully travels west to help. There he finds wild, vast lawless lands full of surprises. But his greatest shock on the frontier is when he discovers that the tracker he’s hired is not the brash young boy he assumed, but a beautiful young Native American woman, Rori.

Raised by her Native American grandfather after the death of her white father and her Pima mother, Rori is an expert tracker who knows how to fend for herself. Chance is fascinated but she takes an instant dislike to him and nothing will satisfy her more than showing the arrogant man from back east a thing or two about how things are done on the frontier out west. Nothing could satisfy her more, that is, except the pleasure of his searing touch, his soft kisses. For Rori can’t help craving Chance as fiercely as he desires her and as they overcome the worlds of indifference and hostility which threaten to separate them, they find true love is their one destiny.

Read an excerpt:

“Are you sure about this, Chance?” Doug asked his brother as they rode back to the Indian village.

“I’m sure. I made a promise to her grandfather to do my best for her, and I intend to do just that.”

A few villagers looked up as Chance and Doug rode back into the village and stopped in front of Rori’s lodge. Chance dismounted and strode forward to throw wide the door flap.


Rori was feeling sad and lonely. She was ready to pack up her few belongings and leave the Pima encampment, when she heard the sound of horses outside.


“Rori!” Chance called her name as he entered unannounced.

Rori never dreamed Chance would come back for her. His good-bye had been too final, too devastating. She stared at him in mute surprise, her defenses down.

Chance took one look around the lodge and knew he’d been right. She was unhappy and it was all his fault.

Rori was tired of fighting the loneliness that had haunted her since her grandfather’s death. For just that moment, she allowed herself to believe Chance had come back because he wanted her. She stared at him, her heart beating painfully. His next words to her were so callous and demanding that they jarred her from her young girl’s reverie.

“You’re coming with me,” he ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.

At his commanding attitude, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. As much as she would have loved to throw herself into his arms, she refused to give in to the desire. She knew Chance, and she didn’t trust him.

“I ain’t going anywhere with you, Broderick!”

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About Bobbi Smith

After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982.

Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and 6 novellas. To date, there are more than five million copies of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List, the USA Today Best Seller List and the Wal-Mart Best Seller List.

The rights to Ms. Smith’s books have been sold to China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Russia and Sweden. Bobbi has also written two faith-based contemporary novels – Haven and Miracles – using the pseudonym Julie Marshall.

Bobbi Smith will be awarding $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an excerpt from Nothing But Trouble by Lisa Mondello

I was compensated for this post via Fiverr. I only share those books that I feel may be of interest to my readers. Please note that affiliate links are also within this post. If you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no extra cost to you.

Nothing But Trouble

What's a girl to do all alone with a rodeo cowboy for 1 month in the Wyoming wilderness?

Melanie Summers has something to prove! Being a zoologist is her dream and the only thing standing in the way of her going on an African expedition is her father and his fear.

So she strikes a deal. She has to spend a full month in the Wyoming wilderness and show her father she can handle being in a remote area while managing her Type 1 diabetes before he'll agree to fund the expedition to Africa and allow her to go. But her daddy isn't the only one convinced she'll fail...


But she's not about to let any man underestimate what she can do. Especially not the sexy rodeo cowboy she's hired to help get her through the month in the wilderness.

Yes, he knows what he's doing. But so does she! Yes, he's ruggedly handsome...well, he can't help that, can he? But no sexy cowboy is going to keep her down!

Stoney Buxton needs to raise cash fast to save the family ranch after a barn fire injured his father and left the family finances in ruin. Re-entering the rodeo circuit seems like the best way to get the money he needs. That is until Melanie Summers shows up at his ranch flashing easy money. To everyone else, Melanie's offer seems like the answer to all his prayers. But one look at her long legs and pouting lips and Stoney knows this high society gal is going to be nothing but trouble...for his cowboy heart.

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Read an excerpt:

His jaw tightened. Yes, there was something definitely wrong here. And money had nothing to do with it. It had everything to do with this beauty standing in front of him, who was clueless about what she was getting her pretty little hide into. "No," he replied tersely. 

"Mr. Buxton, I need your help." 

"Tourist season is in full swing. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding someone else."

He turned his back to her and began walking along the fence toward the barn, almost forgetting... Abruptly, he glanced up and saw the charred remains of the barn. The place where all his troubles had started just one year ago. It hadn't taken but a second for him to hear her boots digging into the dusty gravel behind him, jarring him from his thoughts. 

"Then I'll do it myself," she said to his back. 

His whole body stiffened. He angled back to read her face, to see if she was just being a spoiled rotten rich kid, trying to get her way, or if she was actually serious. Seeing her head held high and her arms crossed in front of her, he realized she was dead serious.

And dead she'd be if she stepped one boot into those mountains alone. 

"You'll do no such thing."

Frustration flaring, he lifted his dusty hat and forced his fingers through the thick crop of black hair before returning the hat to his head.

"You just don't get it, do you? You're not asking me to take you on a theme park ride where you'll get to see the wonders of the world at a nice safe distance. This is God's country. The creatures that live up there don't know civilization, and you are no better than them. You could--probably will--get killed if you go out there alone." His lips twitched, taking a good long appraising look at the woman in front of him. "You might even chip a nail on that pretty hand of yours."

 99 cents on Kindle

About Lisa Mondello

New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Lisa Mondello, has held many jobs in her life but being a published author is the last job she'll ever have. She's not retiring! She blames the creation of the personal computer for her leap into writing novels. Otherwise, she'd still be penning stories with paper and pen. Her book The Knight and Maggie's Baby is a New York Times Bestseller. Her popular series includes TEXAS HEARTS, DAKOTA HEARTS, Fate with a Helping Hand and the new SUMMER HOUSE series. Writing as LA Mondello, her romantic suspense, MATERIAL WITNESS, book 1 of her Heroes of Providence series made the USA TODAY Bestsellers List and was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2012. You can find more information about Lisa Mondello at lisamondello.blogspot.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive new release information at http://eepurl.com/xhxO5

'Bring Me Home (Home Is Where the Heat Is Book 1)' by Candi Wall

Bring Me Home

by Candi Wall 

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BLURB:

Home is Where the Heat Is, Book 1

Miya Jackson always believed life had more to offer outside Dead End, Texas. So when circumstances turned her life upside down, she took her chance to break free. A few years—and some brutal doses of reality—later, her little sister’s wedding brings her back to the hometown she left behind.

The last place she expects is to end up is in the arms of the man she’s tried and failed to forget. One scalding, passionate night is all it takes to make her rethink her damn good reasons for leaving.

Shawn Dalton always hoped this day would come. Hell, he and Miya have a history, and any misunderstandings can be fixed if she’ll only stay in one spot long enough. Now that’s she’s back, he’s determined to make her see that she belongs in Dead End. With him.

Her obstinate nature is intact, but he can deal with that. It’s the cold, detached woman she’s become that worries him. Melting that wall—and reminding Miya of her roots—is going to take every hot, sinful moment he can wrangle.

Read an excerpt:

Years of holding him accountable withered under the desire drenching her veins. If she didn’t get ahold of her emotions, she was in trouble.

“Oh, please,” she muttered weakly. “Like you would have thought or believed anything different if the roles had been reversed.”

“I would have given you a chance to explain.”

“Spoken like someone who never had to deal with that kind of hurt.” She poked a finger against his chest. “I never would have let myself get in that situation. I would have known it wasn’t you. You don’t get to blame beer or Susan.”

“I blame myself.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I wish I could change the past.”

“But you can’t.” At least that was the truth. “Neither can I. So let’s leave it be.”

That should have been the end of it.

“No. I can’t.” He lowered his head, his lips only a breath away. “You must have hated me.”

He was so close. It didn’t matter what the past threw at them. She wouldn’t stop him if he pressed closer… How could she when she wanted his kiss—and so much more? He’d always been her weakness.

“I think I still hate you,” she managed. She’d spent so much time trying to forget… How could his simple touch make her want what she’d left behind?

“No. There could never be hate between us.”

Buy links

Amazon / Samhain Publishing / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Kobo

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Candi Wall is probably the only person whose real name is more epic than any pseudonym she could have come up with – even as an author! She writes because the voices in her head have to come out somehow. Animal rescue-ess, mother of four, and soccer mom by day, she spends her free time writing – often on napkins at kids’ games because she never knows when a juicy story will reveal its delicious self. She once wrote a sex scene at a wrestling meet. Shhhhhh!

You can find her on:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/candiwall

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/candi.wall

CandiWallBooks.com

Candi will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host. Follow along for more chances to win!

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Review of 'Riding Redemption (Redemption #2)' by Bonnie R. Paulson

 

Riding Redemption

Desperate to find her place in the world, Sara Beth dreams of applying for the Miss Wrangler Montana competition that tours with the rodeo circuit.

Riding horses has become her anchor until a near fatal accident takes more from her than she’d ever willingly sacrifice.

Determined to prove his business training, Johnny seeks out the Rourke family to call in an old favor. When he embroils himself in Sara Beth’s life, he has to prove they’re nothing more than friends. 

Seeking independence, both Sara Beth and Johnny lean on each other more and more, until love threatens their friendship. Will they seek out each other or be confused by their dreams?

Can either of them leave their past and embrace their future?

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**My thoughts**

I just love Bonnie R. Paulson. She has a knack for making genres I don't typically read into something I can devour in just a matter of hours. This series is no exception, as I don't typically read Western romance.

This book tells Sara Beth's story, several months after we leave her and her sister Rosie in the previous installment. Sara Beth is now an adult, and understandably wants to forge her own path in life. She feels stifled by Rosie and Michael. But her impulsivity creates a dangerous situation from which she is lucky to have survived.

There is that survival piece again. Sara Beth survived her accident. Now she must learn to survive her life as it is. She must learn to survive the new rules, to survive the expectations of Rosie and Michael, to survive her own thoughts and desires. Johnny is the perfect person to help her with this. I even ended up with a bit of a crush on him, myself. He has screwed up in his own past, but truly has a heart of gold. 

I love seeing Sara Beth come into her own, especially considering her past. I was disappointed with Rosie's behavior in this one, but also realize that her actions are being shown through the filter of a younger sister's eyes. Rosie still is learning a lot about life and shows a lot of growth in this book, in addition to everything she went through in the first installment.

There are also new characters introduced, who are going to change the sisters' lives forever, but in a good way. Each one of these is going to have her own story, and I look forward to learning more about each of them.

These books are a fast read, but a pleasurable way to pass the time, especially during this super cold winter. Like I said, even if you are not a fan of Western romance, I think you will enjoy this one. You don't necessarily have to read the first one, but you will want to, to better understand the girls' stories.

Available on Amazon

Romancing Redemption (Book #1)

Facing a life of prostitution or homelessness, Rosie Scott must make a choice centered on keeping her and her sister safe in the wilds of an unforgiving Montana land. With their background, the two girls need a fresh start.In Colby, Montana opportunities are as thick as needles on a pine tree. Savvy and independent, Rosie decides to take a chance and start a business, earning her the respect of many town residents.

She catches the eye of two men. One interested in exploiting her past and one interested in redeeming her heart.

But Rosie’s secrets and who she really is shadow her hopes for happiness. Can a man love her most when her past refuses to leave?

**My thoughts**
Western romance? Not my thing. Bonnie R. Paulson wrote it? Okay, I will give it a shot.

Hook, line, and sinker.

Paulson is one of my favorite authors, because she can always take a genre in which I am not highly interested and turn it into a book that I can't put down. 

I admit that at first, I thought this was also a historical romance, because Rosie and her sister are currently residing at a brothel, after being dumped there by their father who is part of a gang of thugs terrorizing the area. After a while, I did finally figure out that it was a pretty modern story.

I admire Rosie's determination to save herself and her sister, to prove to the world that they are good people. I understand her difficulty trusting anyone else. I admire her work ethic. And I have to love Michael, who seems to bring out the best in her.

Yet another story of survival, Rosie shows that you don't have to give in to the environment in which you were raised. You don't have to adhere to the genes raging through your body. You can find your own path in life and become your own person, if you CHOOSE to do so. You can fight hard to prove the naysayers wrong. It won't be an easy road, but it will happen. When you fight, the reward will be to your benefit.

Another fast, great read from Paulson, with more coming in this series. I look forward to them all.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Goodreads

Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane.

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FREE romances from bestselling author Lisa Mondello

Lisa Mondello is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, with over 20 romance novels. She now has a bunch of these available for free! Check them out, and get yourself hooked onto a new series!

She needed to risk the truth to get a second chance...

Poppy Erickson had spent the year wondering how all their lives might have been different after hearing the deathbed confession of her childhood friend. She'd left South Dakota years ago because she couldn't bear to watch the man she loved loving another woman. But now she knows the truth. She'll keep the promise she made to a friend, but will Logan understand when he learns the truth? More important, can they again recapture the passion that had been between them all those years ago?

He needed to face the past to get the love of a woman he thought he'd lost..

Everyone knows that the Dakotas didn't get the name Badlands for nothing. Harsh weather and rough living are a way of life. But single dad, Logan McKinnon, had seen more than his share of bad times after the death of his wife a year ago. The last thing he needs is Poppy Erickson, an old flame and his late wife's best friend, showing up unannounced to help after devastating floods nearly washed away their hometown. With no place to stay in town, he has no choice but to offer her a bed at his house. But can he live under the same roof with a woman he'd once loved passionately without feeling he's betraying his late wife?

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Allison Jones knows what it's like to want. Or rather, she did. She'd spent the first few years of her life being shifted from one foster home to another, never really finding that special place to make her feel home. When she finds a small envelope on the ground on a side street in Boston, and opens it, her heart plummets. She recognizes the description of the contents and knows what it will mean to the little girl if the promise of this gift is not fulfilled. But when the CEO of Holden Industries, Derek Holden, accuses her of stealing the money inside the envelope, she's determined to go the distance and not only fulfill the gift herself, but to prove to the dashingly handsome millionaire that there is more to life than just money.

The day his family lost their fortune and his world fell apart, Derek Holden swore he'd make his family fortune back. All good things in life came with sacrifice and hard work and he wasn't afraid of it. He'd built a financial empire all on his own and didn't need the simple conventions of life...until he met Allison Jones. The incredibly sweet designer with beautiful hair flowing down her back was much more than he'd originally thought when he'd accused her of stealing the money from the envelope he'd given the courier earlier that day. He'd intended the money to be a small donation to a local charity event. But he soon learned that a bank account full of money was no match for a heart full of love...and there was only one special woman who could teach him.

The Gift is a short story contemporary holiday romance prequel to THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT and THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY.

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Sometimes fate needs a little hand…

Santa Claus is going to have a rough season... Lauren Alexander is raising her daughter alone. Abandoned by her family for her decision to keep her daughter Kristen, she has done a pretty good job for the last six years. Or she thought she had. That's why she is crushed when little Kristen gives up her wish for a toy or goodie and instead asks Santa for a present for her mother. She wants Santa to bring a Daddy. Delivering Daddies isn't Santa's bag.

But this Santa has a plan...

Kyle Preston knows what it is like to be abandoned too. Luckily he found the support of loving adoptive parents and has turned himself into one of the most successful Real Estate developers in town.

Building a house is easy. Building someone's trust is a whole other story. But with a little helping hand, a little Christmas magic can make all the difference in the world.

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Mandy Morgan swore she’d never step foot in Texas again after Beau Gentry left her for life on the rodeo circuit eight years before. But now her uncle’s heart is failing and she has to convince him that surgery will save his life. She never dreamed the first thing she’d see when she stepped off the plane would be her biggest nightmare...the one man she’d never stopped loving.

Beau Gentry had the fever for two things: the rodeo and Mandy Morgan. But for Beau, loving Mandy was complicated by his father’s vendetta against her uncle. This led him to make the hardest decision of his life and he can still see the bitterness and hurt on Mandy’s face. All these years it has killed him to think Mandy had forgotten him and moved as far away as possible from him. But now they’re back in Texas, and he’s going to do all he can to win back her love. 

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Check out all of Lisa Mondello's books on Amazon.

Perma-Free! 'Her Heart For the Asking (Texas Hearts #1)' by Lisa Mondello

Blurb:

Mandy Morgan swore she’d never step foot in Texas again after Beau Gentry left her for life on the rodeo circuit eight years before. But now her uncle’s heart is failing and she has to convince him that surgery will save his life. She never dreamed the first thing she’d see when she stepped off the plane would be her biggest nightmare...the one man she’d never stopped loving.

Beau Gentry had the fever for two things: the rodeo and Mandy Morgan. But for Beau, loving Mandy was complicated by his father’s vendetta against her uncle. This led him to make the hardest decision of his life and he can still see the bitterness and hurt on Mandy’s face. All these years it has killed him to think Mandy had forgotten him and moved as far away as possible from him. But now they’re back in Texas, and he’s going to do all he can to win back her love.

Read an excerpt:

"What are you doing here?" Mandy Morgan asked, dropping her too-heavy overnight case on the sun-roasted tarmac. After a grueling forty-eight hour work stint and a five-hour flight from Philadelphia, she stood wilting under the brutal Texas sun, facing her biggest nightmare. 

Beau Gentry. 

She groaned inwardly, drinking Beau in with her eyes as if she hadn't had a drop of water in months. Eight years was more like it. If she were eight years smarter, she would be moving her aching feet as fast as she could in the opposite direction. But all she could do was stare at eyes so bright they rivaled the blazing sun. At lips so kissable she'd spent the better part of her adult life trying to wipe the memory clean from her mind.

She had expected Beau would have aged some. When she allowed herself to think about him at all, she reminded herself. The faint lines etched in the corners of his sleepy gray-blue eyes gave a hint of maturity, but most probably caused by long days in the cruel sun.

She fought the urge to take a closer look at his ruggedly handsome features, but failed. How could he have gotten better looking after being abused by every bronc-busting horse on the rodeo circuit? His angular jaw, strong and determined, was shaded with beard growth that was probably a day old, maybe more. Mandy suspected if Beau grew a full beard, it would grow in thick and be the smooth texture of his almost black head of hair. She forced aside past memories that gave her such knowledge with renewed irritation.

The man didn't even have the decency to have a crooked nose. What should have been bent and awkward from being broken a few too many times was instead long and straight, shaped perfectly between high cheek bones most women would swoon over, or kill to have themselves. But on Beau Gentry, it was just one thousand percent robust cowboy.

Damn him. 

"I'm your ride out to the Double T," Beau said, gripping the edge of his white straw cowboy hat and tipping it in a cordial gesture. 

She ground the heels of her low pumps into the soft tar to contain her growing irritation. Did he think she was an idiot? "No way." 

"'Fraid so," he said, his expression slightly askew. 

"Hank didn't mention anything about you coming to get me when I spoke to him on the phone."

"I suspect he thought you would have found some excuse not to come if you knew I was picking you up." 

"He would have been right. Why didn't one of the hands come get me?"

Settling his hand at the base of his neck, Beau replied, "You're looking at him. As of three weeks ago I am one of the ranch hands at the Double T."

Buy links

Amazon \ B&N \ iTunes \ Kobo \ Google Play \ Smashwords \ Audible

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Lisa Mondello, is an award winning author and has published over 20 romance novels. Her bestselling series includes TEXAS HEARTS, DAKOTA HEARTS and Fate with a Helping Hand. She’s held many jobs in her life including managing a Boston rock band, selling catering tools and working in special education. But writing novels in the last job she’ll ever have because she’s not retiring! For more information and to get news about upcoming books, visit her at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com

Free read! 'Learning to Love (Carson Hill Ranch #1)' by Amelia Rose

Blurb: 

For Miranda, Newark has nothing to offer except a dead-end job, a crummy apartment, and an abusive boyfriend. But when her younger sister signs her up for an online dating website to prove to her the kinds of guys who would be interested in her, she starts an online connection with the perfect guy. He's handsome, he's a real-life cowboy, and...he's in his seventies!

Miranda steps off the bus to find the man of her dreams waiting for her, only he doesn't know it. His elderly father, concerned that his six sons are isolated on their highly prosperous 800,000-acre ranch signed up one of his oldest boys and did a little matchmaking behind their backs.

Now Miranda and Casey have a choice to make, but will they be willing to put aside their mistrust and give this a shot, or go their separate ways?

Read an excerpt:

“Ah! There you are, boys!” Bernard called from his office as Carey and Casey passed by. “Come in here, I want to speak with you!” 

Casey dropped his shoulders in defeat, but Carey nudged him sharply with his elbow, reminding him to straighten up. It had been a long, hot day and the heat hadn’t let up in the slightest, even though the sun was nearly below the horizon. This is the time of day that even showering off in one of the dozen shower stalls in the washroom didn’t cool a man off any, no matter how cold the temperature of the natural spring-fed water. 

Casey straightened and put on a smile for his dad. 

“What is it, Dad?” Carey asked, always the polite one, the one who remembered to think of a lonely old man, even after a day of labor. 

“Come, come. Sit in here. I was thinking today about the ranch and we need to have a meeting.” Bernard stepped over to one of the wingback chairs near the fireplace, a fireplace that hadn’t needed to be warmed since last winter but that still served as an unofficial forum for conducting ranch business. Casey shot his brother a look, imploring him to get them out of this quickly.

Buy links

Amazon \ Barnes & Noble \ iTunes

**This book is forever FREE!** 

Read the reviews!

• “I had so much fun reading Learning To Love that I gladly will read Amelia Rose writings again. Thank you for such an enjoyable time Amelia. Good Luck in your future.”
• “Mail order bride of the now. Very cute and charming story. Had very good humor with a hint of danger. Loved the characters. “
• “The story made me feel as if I were there on the ranch. I liked the way the story went along in establishing a feeling of belonging to a family and to someone special. I can't wait to read the next book. “
• “The characters were endearing and you were pulling for them from the start. WARNING: Once started you will not put it down until you have finished the entire novella. Looking forward to the next installment!!”

Author Bio:

Amelia is a shameless romance addict with no intentions of ever kicking the habit. Growing up she dreamed of entertaining people and taking them on fantastical journeys with her acting abilities, until she came to the realization as a college sophomore that she had none to speak of. Another ten years would pass before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream: writing stories of love and passion for addicts just like herself. Amelia has always loved romance stories and she tries to tie all the elements she likes about them into her writing.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/ameliarosewriter
https://twitter.com/ameliarosetweet
https://plus.google.com/115074664494702397679/posts
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6942475.Amelia_Rose
http://www.ameliarose.info

'Pushin' Buttons: The Boot Knockers Ranch' by Em Petrova

Pushin’ Buttons by Em Petrova

What if 20 cowboys compete and you’re the prize?
Contemporary western romance

Blurb:

It’s all in her head. Until she falls into the hands—and hearts—of two cowboys.

The Boot Knockers Ranch, Book 1

Sexual dysfunction. The words make Sybill cringe, but after one too many failed relationships, she has to face reality. Her O-button is broken, big time. Sick of sitting on the sexual sidelines, she books a week at Boot Knockers Ranch. If a passel of rugged cowboys vying to bring her bliss can’t get her off, nothing will.

Hugh had planned to sit out this week’s rotation of sexual therapy, but when he spots sultry Sybill, he pulls rank. His bone-deep urge to possess her isn’t enough to coax elusive orgasms out of her body, though. And his resolve to give the lady whatever she needs wavers when she shyly makes a mind-blowing request.

Riggs stepped aside when Hugh muscled in to claim Sybill, but he jumps at the chance to fulfill her ultimate fantasy—a threesome. But once they come together, all barriers are stripped away, exposing his love for the one man—and woman—he’d break every last rule to make his own.

Warning: This ain’t your daddy’s ranch. Contains cowboys administering sexual therapy to frustrated ladies—and each other. Fresh batteries recommended. You’re gonna need ’em!

Read an excerpt:

“Remember, cowboys. Keep your hands in your laps and your peckers in your pants. At least until it’s time to play your part.” Hugh paced down the line of twenty cowboys and dropped a file in each man’s hands.

The manila folders held a profile sheet containing a different woman’s photo, personal information and everything that man needed to know to rock the lady’s world, Boot Knockers style.

Hugh stopped in front of Riggs Archer, his best friend and the only guy not to follow protocol in the past. “Keep your—”

Riggs tugged the brim of his hat lower to avoid Hugh’s gaze. “I know, I know. Hands in my lap. No pushing the button until my lady comes up.”

“And keep your—”

Riggs shot him a glare. “Pecker. In. Pants.”

“Thass right, Archer.” Hugh grinned and nudged his friend’s hat with his knuckles, shoving it back enough to see the smoldering sparks in Riggs’s dark eyes.

Hugh’s stomach clenched and he passed Riggs his folder to cover his reaction.

Once the information was all distributed, Hugh watched the guys flip through the paperwork. The twenty women were hand-selected by the female production manager, Isabel. She was great at matching the men’s sexual strengths to the women’s needs.

A virgin needing deflowered? Jack was her man. He’d singlehandedly popped over thirty cherries in the four years they’d been running the Boot Knockers Ranch.

Ty excelled at treating women with body dysmorphic disorder. The women who spent a week under his care—and under his muscled body—left with the confidence of a supermodel.

And Hugh…well, he wasn’t playing this hand. Twenty women. Twenty men. He only filled in when necessary. His balls clenched at the idea of a celibate week, but he could tough it out. Maybe some lady would get kinky and ask for a voyeur.

“They’re lined up backstage,” Isabel whispered, and he gave a nod of recognition.

“You heard her, boys. Get to your seats. Fight over them a little. The show’s only for the ladies, but give ’em a good one. Make them feel special, because they are.” Hugh waved his fellow Boot Knockers toward the front of the auditorium. In three minutes, the lights would dim. In five, the first woman would walk onto the stage.

She might carry scars inside or out. Either way, she was leaving the Boot Knockers Ranch as one satisfied lady. Their goal was to treat much more than sexual disorders. When the invitee left the two-hundred-acre Texas ranch, she’d be equipped to pick up where she’d just left off—embarking on new relationships and sexual journeys.

The thud of boot heels drifted away from Hugh as the guys practically ran to their seats. A new group of women…and the chase was the best part. The gals selected the cowboys they were attracted to from photographs. Though the guys were assigned to one lady, they still made it look as if they won her.

Yeah, only one woman each unless Riggs gets trigger-happy again and hits the button for a gal who wasn’t assigned to him.

Women paid to come and enjoy the Texas countryside and pampering the cowboys could provide. The Boot Knockers just happened to love helping women in a lot of ways, so they each took charge of a guest.

“Hugh, would you mind looking at this lineup?” Isabel caught his attention, and he focused on her. Petite and chestnut-haired, she did everything in her power to make him take her to bed. But it was against his personal rules. She’d had a few go’s with other cowboys, and he’d heard she was a wildcat.

He couldn’t stop the grin from twitching at the corner of his mouth. He pulled his hat lower to keep her from seeing too much. Such as how he knew she liked taking two guys at once while another plugged her mouth.

Clearing his throat, he scanned the list of women about to step onstage. Isabel had chosen well from the hundreds who applied to the Boot Knockers Ranch each year. “Looks good as always, Isabel.” He let his gaze drop low enough to make her face flush.

She waved her clipboard, fanning her warm brown hair off her round face. “Thanks, Hugh. I like to get your approval before the girls go on.”

She glanced at the stage door. Women huddled there. All shapes and sizes. Some were hurt physically, emotionally. Others fighting their way back from bloody divorces. One or two might be socially backward. And there was probably at least one virgin. Jack would be happy.

Hugh looked over the fresh group of females. “Let’s get started. Cue the first l’il lady.”

Buy links

Amazon \ Samhain Publishing

Bio: 

Em Petrova lives in Backwoods, Pennsylvania, where she raises 4 kids and a Labradoodle named Daisy Hasselhoff. Her heroes are hardworking--in bed and out--and she is known for panty-scorching erotic romance.

Links:

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/empetrova

FB: https://www.facebook.com/empetrovahardworkingheroes

'Her Heart for the Asking (Texas Hearts #1)' by Lisa Mondello

Her Heart for the Asking by Lisa Mondello
Book 1 of TEXAS HEARTS
Mandy Morgan swore she’d never step foot in Texas again after Beau Gentry left her for life on the rodeo circuit eight years before. But now her uncle’s heart is failing and she has to convince him that surgery will save his life. She never dreamed the first thing she’d see when she stepped off the plane would be her biggest nightmare...the one man she’d never stopped loving.

Beau Gentry had the fever for two things: the rodeo and Mandy Morgan. But for Beau, loving Mandy was complicated by his father’s vendetta against her uncle. This led him to make the hardest decision of his life and he can still see the bitterness and hurt on Mandy’s face. All these years it has killed him to think Mandy had forgotten him and moved as far away as possible from him. But now they’re back in Texas, and he’s going to do all he can to win back her love.

Read an excerpt:

"What are you doing here?" Mandy Morgan asked, dropping her too-heavy overnight case on the sun-roasted tarmac. After a grueling forty-eight hour work stint and a five-hour flight from Philadelphia, she stood wilting under the brutal Texas sun, facing her biggest nightmare. 

Beau Gentry. 

She groaned inwardly, drinking Beau in with her eyes as if she hadn't had a drop of water in months. Eight years was more like it. If she were eight years smarter, she would be moving her aching feet as fast as she could in the opposite direction. But all she could do was stare at eyes so bright they rivaled the blazing sun. At lips so kissable she'd spent the better part of her adult life trying to wipe the memory clean from her mind.

She had expected Beau would have aged some. When she allowed herself to think about him at all, she reminded herself. The faint lines etched in the corners of his sleepy gray-blue eyes gave a hint of maturity, but most probably caused by long days in the cruel sun.

She fought the urge to take a closer look at his ruggedly handsome features, but failed. How could he have gotten better looking after being abused by every bronc-busting horse on the rodeo circuit? His angular jaw, strong and determined, was shaded with beard growth that was probably a day old, maybe more. Mandy suspected if Beau grew a full beard, it would grow in thick and be the smooth texture of his almost black head of hair. She forced aside past memories that gave her such knowledge with renewed irritation.

The man didn't even have the decency to have a crooked nose. What should have been bent and awkward from being broken a few too many times was instead long and straight, shaped perfectly between high cheek bones most women would swoon over, or kill to have themselves. But on Beau Gentry, it was just one thousand percent robust cowboy. 

Damn him. 

"I'm your ride out to the Double T," Beau said, gripping the edge of his white straw cowboy hat and tipping it in a cordial gesture. 

She ground the heels of her low pumps into the soft tar to contain her growing irritation. Did he think she was an idiot? "No way." 

"'Fraid so," he said, his expression slightly askew. 

"Hank didn't mention anything about you coming to get me when I spoke to him on the phone."

"I suspect he thought you would have found some excuse not to come if you knew I was picking you up." 

"He would have been right. Why didn't one of the hands come get me?"

Settling his hand at the base of his neck, Beau replied, "You're looking at him. As of three weeks ago I am one of the ranch hands at the Double T."

Buy links

Amazon \ Barnes & Noble \ iTunes \ Kobo \ Google Play \ Smashwords \ Audible

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Lisa Mondello, is an award winning author and has published over 20 romance novels. Her bestselling series includes TEXAS HEARTS, DAKOTA HEARTS and Fate with a Helping Hand. She’s held many jobs in her life including managing a Boston rock band, selling catering tools and working in special education. But writing novels in the last job she’ll ever have because she’s not retiring! For more information and to get news about upcoming books, visit her at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com

'Deadlier Than the Rest (MacLarens of Fire Mountain)' by Shirleen Davies

Deadlier Than the Rest - Week Blitz

By Shirleen Davies

Historical Western Romance

Date Published: March 3, 2014

  

“A passionate, heartwarming story of the iconic MacLarens of Fire Mountain. This captivating historical western romance grabs your attention from the start with an engrossing story encompassing two romances set against the rugged backdrop of the burgeoning western frontier.”

Connor MacLaren’s search has already stolen eight years of his life. Now he close to finding what he seeks—Meggie, his missing sister. His quest leads him to the growing city of Salt Lake and an encounter with the most captivating woman he has ever met.

Grace is the third wife of a Mormon farmer, forced into a life far different from what she’d have chosen. Her independent spirit longs for choices governed only by her own heart and mind. To achieve her dreams, she must hide behind secrets and half-truths, even as her heart pulls her towards the ruggedly handsome Connor.

Known as cool and uncompromising, Connor MacLaren lives by a few, firm rules that have served him well and kept him alive. However, danger stalks Connor, even to the front range of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, threatening those he cares about and impacting his ability to find his sister.

Can Connor protect himself from those who seek his death? Will his eight year search lead him to his sister while unlocking the secrets he knows are held tight within Grace, the woman who has captured his heart?

Read this heartening story of duty, honor, passion, and love in book five of the MacLarens of Fire Mountain series.

EXCERPT

Connor followed her up the narrow steps to her place, carrying her small bag, and set it down on the floor inside. 

“You going to be okay here tonight?” 

She slipped off her coat and hung it on a nearby hook. Grace wanted to be alone but didn’t want him to leave. Her heart told her to walk up to him, lace her arms around his neck, and ask him to stay. She shouldn’t. She was still married and it would be wrong, even if her marriage was a mockery. She planned to obtain a divorce, which was simple to do in Utah. The laws were lenient and divorce common with people coming from other states to take advantage of the quick dissolution procedures. She simply hadn’t had time to do it with work and planning how she was going to free Meggie. 

Grace walked to a window and stared at the dark sky, deciding what to do. She needed to tell him about Moser but the words wouldn’t form. Say something tonight, or let him leave—she was conflicted. She continued to look out when she sensed him walk up behind her, felt his strong arms wrap around her waist, and draw her flush against his chest. 

He pulled loose strands of hair away from her neck, bending to place kisses up to the tender spot behind her ear. “Ask me to stay,” he whispered before tugging a sensitive earlobe with his lips. She sagged against him, letting her head fall back against his chest and giving him access to the soft column of her neck.

Buy Link

Amazon

Shirleen Davies

I have been writing most of my life, but only recently began the transition into fiction. Historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and short stories are what keep me reading, so that is the focus of my writing.

I was born in California, grew up between a growing beach town and a small town at the base of the San Bernardino mountains. My mother originally planned to name me Katherine, but she read an article in the paper about a woman named Shirleen shortly before my birth, so instead of having a cool nickname, like Kate, I am simply Shirleen. My mainstays growing up were all the Nancy Drew mystery books; I loved them. Eventually I moved on to mysteries, suspense stories, crime novels, and romance. Pride and Prejudice will always be one of my favorites.

Besides California, life changes have allowed me to live in Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona. Everywhere I have lived has been inspirational in one way or another, giving me the opportunity to meet remarkable people with their own stories to tell. I've sailed, skied, owned horses plus lots of other animals, and ridden various off-road vehicles. I enjoy dancing, fishing, hunting, being the back-seater on my husband's Harley, traveling and, of course, reading and writing.

Prior to transitioning to writing fiction, I worked for Fortune 500 and many smaller, start-up companies. Fortunately, I regained my sanity long enough to start my own consulting firm, which I still maintain today.

My husband and I spend most of our time at our main home in the mountains of Arizona and our second home in Southern California. Between us we have five boys with growing careers and families of their own. So, from my perspective, my life is a success and always an adventure. I wouldn't change a thing; well, except finding more time to write.

I love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me at shirleen@shirleendavies.com.

Author Links
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