The Florida Wildlife Warriors

BEYOND RISK

"Heart-pounding excitement...left me sitting on the edge of my seat."—#1 New York Times bestselling author DEBBIE MACOMBER for Angel Falls

The river runs wild

Former Fish & Wildlife Officer Charlotte "Charlee" Tanner still carries the guilt of a tragic drowning accident that occurred on her watch. She hoped moving back home to the wilds of central Florida would provide a safe haven-until she learns the death was no accident, and she's the intended target.

But no wilder than their passion
Tough and decisive, Lieutenant Hunter Boudreau loves his new job as a law enforcement officer with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Charlee is his best friend, so when she comes under fire, he's not letting her out of his sight until the killer is caught. But Charlee won't sit by and let anyone else die for her.

As danger closes in and Charlee and Hunter's attraction threatens to consume them, Charlee has to decide if she can trust Hunter. And to save Charlee, Hunter will have to trust her, too.

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Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and loves writing romantic suspense stories set in Florida’s small towns and unspoiled wilderness. She is the author of Beyond Risk, (Florida Wildlife Warriors #1), the Safe Harbor series (Tangled Lies, Hidden Threat, Deadly Melody), as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this weather wimp has happily called central Florida home for more than twenty years.

When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on the Silver River, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families. Besides boating, she and her husband enjoy hanging out with their grown children and extended family and planning their next adventure.

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THE Q&A

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?

CONNIE: Whenever I get a spare minute—and often when I should be doing something else! I get twitchy if I don’t have a nice-sized stack of books on hand, and usually slip my Kindle into my bag so I always have options while waiting anywhere. I try to read at least 45 minutes every night before bed. Ahem, except for nights when I get lost in a great story and it’s 2:00 am before I look up. Then I’m totally unrepentant, but bleary-eyed and sucking down caffeine the next morning.

ANGI: What’s your favorite thing about your book’s hero?

CONNIE:  Only one? Hunter is everything you want in a hero. Former military, tough cop, hard body, slow Cajun drawl (be still my heart), but my favorite thing about him is the way he sees Charlee, the heroine. Of course, he likes the way she looks, but it’s his absolute confidence in her abilities and instincts—especially when she’s big-time doubting herself—that makes me love him all the more.

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

CONNIE: I think it will always be Dirty Dancing, hands down. The way Patrick Swayze looked at Jennifer Grey during some of those dance scenes…swoon. And I love the way he came back for her and made sure everyone saw her the way he did. “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” Such a great story.

ANGI: What’s your perfect day?

CONNIE: Since I’m a boat captain in my “other” life, my favorite days always involve water. Nothing beats the chance to spend time with family and friends on our small boat, either out in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Atlantic. (We live right in the middle of the state, so we can go either way.) If we also get to walk on the beach at either sunrise or sunset? Double bonus. There is nothing better in the world.

ANGI: Salad or soup?

CONNIE: Totally depends on the time of year. In the summer, I love great big salads, and I often throw fresh and dried fruit and nuts in there to jazz things up. In the winter, especially if I’ll be out on the water, I throw everything but the kitchen sink into my crockpot so I’ll have a hearty soup/stew ready when I get home.

ANGI: Would you put yourself in a Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

CONNIE:

Definitely Action Adventure. I would love to hunt for pirate treasure with the likes of Matthew McConaughey (Fool’s Gold) or run around searching for artifacts with Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones)—as long as there were no snakes. There absolutely cannot be snakes. Shudder.

ANGI: Favorite TV rerun you watch every time you channel surf? 

CONNIE: I’ll watch NCIS every time, no matter how often I’ve seen that episode. I love the dynamics between the team, though I will admit it’s not quite the same without Abby. The writing doesn’t seem to be quite as clear and hard-hitting as it used to be, in my opinion. But I still love the show.

ANGI: Favorite date night…fancy or at home? 

CONNIE: I can’t remember the last time we had a fancy night out, unless it was somebody’s wedding! We’re more pizza-and-a-movie-at-home kind of people, and we take turns choosing the movie. (I don’t want to watch blood and guts ALL the time, LOL!) In the winter, hubby builds a fire in the fireplace, which I love.

 

ANGI’s GOTTA ASK:  SHOW ME YOUR SHOES… Why are these your favorite?

CONNIE’S GOTTA ANSWER:  I love these little booties because they’re cute and sassy—and completely different from the sturdy (read: boring) work shoes I wear with my captain’s uniform. Since I can only wear them for a few days in Florida before it’s back to flip-flops, you’ll find me in them every chance I get. I’m probably breaking some fashion rule, but I don’t care.

   

  

UP NEXT for CONNIE:

#Florida Wildlife Warriors Book #2

I am hard at work on the edits for book 2, Josh Tanner and Delilah Atwood’s story. The daughter of an anti-government militia family will have to trust a government man in order to save her sister. Sign up for my newsletter so you won’t miss any of the updates and details on when the book will be released. 

PREVIOUSLY RELEASED by CONNIE:

TANGLED LIES

Safe Harbor Series Book #1

Some family secrets are best left buried at sea.  

Orphaned as a child in Russia, boat captain Sasha Petrov has spent most of her life adrift, anchored only by her loving foster family. So when they beg her to return to the family marina in Safe Harbor, Florida, for Mama’s sixtieth birthday, Sasha complies, hoping to put the past behind her. But Mama has other plans: she wants her three foster daughters to find Tony, the biological son who disappeared twenty years earlier.

Sasha agrees to try, but that’s easier said than done when bad boy Jesse Claybourne shows up, reigniting an old attraction. Back in Safe Harbor on a quest of his own, Jesse gets tangled up in Sasha’s search, and soon the two are close to uncovering an old town secret that some will stop at nothing to protect.

When Jesse is violently beaten and Sasha’s dog is poisoned, they realize the past is hiding something more sinister than they ever imagined. Can they uncover the truth without destroying Sasha’s family and breaking each other’s hearts, or are they sailing against the wind?

Read a little, Buy the book

HIDDEN THREAT

Safe Harbor Series Book #2

She’ll uncover who’s poisoning her hometown—at any cost.

An environmental crisis is the last thing clean-water crusader Eve Jackson expected in her hometown. She’s used to taking on powerful DC politicians in her fight, but when a baby in Safe Harbor, Florida, shows mysterious signs of possible poisoning, the danger hits painfully close to home, stirring memories of her own mother’s death.

Eve’s search leads her to the Sutton Ranch, now run by her high school crush, Cole. Focused on keeping the family ranch afloat as a series of deformed calves are born to his herd, Cole has no time for Eve’s crusade. But as her unwelcome questioning ostracizes her from locals, Cole’s irritation turns to intrigue—not only about the source of the poisoned water but also the tenacious, loyal, and passionate woman determined to help.

As Eve digs deeper into Cole’s operation, she sees her suspicions in Sutton Ranch may be misplaced. Yet she can’t shake the feeling that his ranch, and perhaps his past, hold the answers she seeks. When the sabotage escalates, the two must work together to uncover the culprit—if they can survive the investigation.

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CONNIE is giving away a signed print copy of BEYOND RISK .

International Giveaway.

 Your host, Angi Morgan

 Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot

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CONNIE WANTS TO KNOW:  How much does a book’s setting influence your decision to read a particular story? Does where a book takes place make a difference to you?

Get Lost with the Enigma Earl at Midnight.

It's going to take a beast to tame this beauty…

The Enigma Earl. The Lord Phantom. That's what the gossip pages call Lord Greenwich, a mysterious nobleman who doesn't show his face in London Society. With a reputation like that, it's no wonder that Lydia Montgomery is horrified to be dragged from bed and packed off to live with him to save her mother from penury.

While Lydia has received all of the training a lady should endure, she's decidedly un-ladylike. She despises her corset and isn't interested in marriage; in fact, she would prefer to remain unmarried so that she can spend her time improving her art. But if she wants a chance at happiness, she'll have to set aside her fear of Lord Greenwich and discover the man hiding behind the beast.


Buy Links: Amazon US    Amazon Canada   B&N    Kobo    iTunes     Google Play

Gina Conkle, a history nerd to the core, loves castles and museums. Her motto: “the older and moldier, the better.” When not enjoying relics, she lives in the present, dabbling in organic gardening.  Gina married her favorite alpha male, Brian. The two live with their boys in San Diego, CA.

Jillian: Lydia, since we know Lord Greenwich is a somewhat of a recluse, can you tell GLIAS readers how the moniker Lord Phantom came about...or the Enigma Earl?
Lydia: He’s covered from head to heel in leather...cloak, boots, and gloves. Long known as brilliant, the earl rarely goes about Town. When he does, his lordship wears a black tricorn pulled low and his collar flipped high. You might glimpse a sliver of topaz eyes and the top of a blade straight nose.
People whisper about his black carriage dashing about Town, the curtains drawn. You know it’s him because of the crest on the door. Some think he’s diseased. Others think he’s mad.

Jillian: Lord Greenwich, let’s play first impressions. What were yours of Lydia?
Lord Greenwich: Pretty, green-eyed brunette with corset issues...namely she didn’t wear one when we first met. Given that she was abruptly awakened at midnight, that can be overlooked. Not that I’m complaining…Lydia can be saucy for someone who needs to be in my good graces.

Jillian: And Lydia, what did you think about Lord Greenwich?
Lydia: At first I thought he was a highwayman, a well-educated one that is with his cultured voice. He was a tad arrogant, but surprisingly gentlemanly.

Jillian: Lord Greenwich, I can’t imagine it’s easy to romance a young woman who would rather remain unmarried. How exactly did the wooing get done?
Lord Greenwich: Now you’ve digging at my Achilles heel. But, I figured out a few things with Lydia.

1. A man must be ready to converse with a woman at all times and not have an explicit problem to solve or facts to debate. I think it’s called idle chatter. With Lydia, conversation was scintillating.
2. Court her with art, taking an interest in her talent.
3. Treat her as an equal because her mind is as fine as the rest of her.
4. Rescuing her mother helped.

Jillian: Lydia, did you steal that first kiss, or did he?
Lydia: He did.

Jillian: Lord Greenwhich, I have to ask: Did Lydia discover the man behind the beast?
Lord Greenwich: Yes. There was a lack of undergarments involved in the journey, but no one’s complaining.

Jillian: Thank you both for the interview. Your story is indeed, a fairy tale come true.


Gina has a question for commenters: The Midnight Meetings series is loosely based on fairy tales. What’s your favorite fairy tale?  For international commenters, Giina is happy to send an ARC. For Canada and US only, here’s a rafflecopter (Nook Glow Light) giveaway. Please remember to leave your contact information along with your comment to qualify for the giveaway.

How to stay in touch with Gina Conkle: 
Website: http://ginaconkle.com/      
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginaconkle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinaConkleWriter    
Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/gloveshistory/
Newsletter:  http://ginaconkle.com/contact/

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***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

If You Give a Rake A Ruby by Shana Galen

Get Lost in This Story…

 

If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen—in stores March 2013

 

HER MYSTERIOUS PAST IS THE BEST REVENGE . . .

Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.

 

ONLY HE CAN OFFER HER A DAZZLING FUTURE . . .

Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line . . .

 

To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what make her his heart’s desire . . .

 

Today I am so pleased to welcome back Shana Galen to the blog, this time to celebrate the release of the second of her Jewels of the Ton series! Shana not only writes fabulous books, but she’s mom to a toddler affectionately known across the internet as Baby Galen, is active on Facebook and Twitter, as well as is a contributor to blogs such as The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills and Peanut Butter on the Keyboard…in short, she exhausts me just thinking about all that she does (and does well)!

 

I’m so thrilled she’s found time to come visit us here today.

 

More about Shana:

 

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Her books are published all over the world and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

 

And now, the GLIAS interview…

 

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Shana:  Sliding Doors, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah. Gwyneth Paltrow’s character is fired and we see what happens if she’d caught the train and if she hadn’t. Love the parallel storylines.

 

Heather: I adore that movie! I knew I liked you for more than just your writing… Okay, next question: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Shana:  Not surprisingly, I most often get lost reading historicals. I love the language, the gowns, the balls, and the rules and manners. I also enjoy young adult literature. I read quite a bit of it when I was a middle school teacher.

 

Heather: What’s the first book you remember reading?

Shana:  It was The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. I was in first grade and on vacation with my parents. I couldn’t put it down, even to go swimming in the lake or play outside.

 

Heather: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Shana:  Definitely Beauty and the Beast. I love the idea of the heroine taming the beastly hero. Most of my heroes are beasts in one way or another. Some of my heroines need a little taming as well.

 

Heather: What turns you off like nothing else?

Shana:  Prejudice. I can’t stand it when someone stereotypes another race or ethnicity.

 

Heather: Where do you read and how often?

Shana:  I read in bed or while I’m sitting outside gymnastics or swimming or soccer class. I read every night before bed, if I can keep my eyes open.

 

Heather: What’s in your refrigerator right now?

Shana:  A lot of fruit and a lot of microwave meals. I am trying to cook more, but I hate cooking and only manage dinner three nights a week. And, of course, my daughter only likes three or four foods, so most of the time my efforts are an exercise in futility.

 

Heather: Dog person or cat person?

Shana:  I love all animals, but I have always had cats. Right now I have two kittens, Mickey and Maisy (my daughter named them after her favorite mice). They are incredibly sweet and very snuggly and extremely patient with my daughter.

 

Heather: How much money does it take to be happy?

Shana:  I need enough to buy a soy chai latte and get a pedicure. I’m perfectly happy with those two luxuries.

 

 

HEATHER’S GOTTA ASK – SHANA’S GOTTA ANSWER  J

 

Heather:  I noticed on your website that one of your first attempts at writing was a Star Wars story (with romantic elements, of course!). Is there a close science-fiction/fantasy lover in you?

 

Shana:  I am a huge Star Wars fan. I used to have all the action figures, and I played with them endlessly. I knew all the trivia and every minute detail. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Men I’ve Dated was about a geeky girl who loves Star Wars, but she falls for a hunky guy and tries to impress him by acting like someone she isn’t. You can guess what happens next…

 

 

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

 

Shana:  If You Give a Rake a Ruby is a book about a courtesan and a spy. The Prince Regent dubbed her the Marchioness of Mystery, while her glamorous Cyprian friends are the Duchess of Dalliance and the Countess of Charm. If you had a nickname, what would it be?

 

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?

Shana:  Yes.  I’d be happy to give away a copy of When You Give a Duke a Diamond to a random commenter (US and Canada only, please. Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

If you’d like to learn more about Shana, you can find her on the web at:

www.shanagalen.com

www.facebook.com/ShanaGalen

@shanagalen

www.jauntyquills.com

 

Thanks for being here with us today, Shana.  If you missed Shana’s first visit to GLIAS and would like to know even more about this fabulous author, you can find it here.

Little White Lies and Dirty Rotten Villains...what fun!

A Scoundrel drives a hard bargain...

Spirited and determined to protect her young brother at any cost, Lisette Lavigne is desperate to flee New Orleans. There’s only one ship sailing to England, though, and the rakish Captain Daniel Hillary will only allow Lisette’s family aboard for a steep price…

But a lady always gets the upper hand...

Daniel prides himself on running a tight ship, and he knows a lady will be nothing but trouble on a long voyage. Yet he can’t help but break his own ironclad rules when Lisette persuades him that being gentlemanly just this once is his wisest course of action…

Samantha Grace made her debut earlier this year with Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel. Her newest regency romance, Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie, received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, and she did a happy dance in her kitchen. Samantha lives with her husband, their two tenacious kids, and an endless parade of characters that inhabit her imagination. You can connect with Samantha at: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Lady Scribes | Website

How to Pick Your Dream Villain:

Who doesn’t enjoy a dirty, rotten villain? Whether his actions are chaotic and unpredictable or calculating and callous, there’s no question he’s a real bad boy at heart. But how do you know which villain is right for you? Well, worry no more. I’ve devised a simple quiz that will help you determine which memorable villain will make all your bad dreams come true.

How would you describe your dream villain?
a. Tall, dark and mysterious
b. Hot-tempered hottie
c. A foodie
d. A real clown

Your perfect bad boy’s idea of a romantic evening involves:
a. Stargazing and blowing up a planet or two
b. A night on the town. Just you, him, and his “little friend”
c. An impromptu flight to a tropical island for dinner
d. Staying home and doing each other’s make-up

Your villain wants some sexy time. How does he let you know?
a. He calls you unexpectedly and breathes heavily into the phone
b. He dons an extra shiny gold chain and low cut polyester shirt.
c. He compliments you with “You look scrumptious.”
d. He tells a ribald joke then laughs manically.

If you answered mostly…

A – Your perfect villain is Darth Vader. He tends to be a perfectionist, so beware. Disappoint him and you might find yourself in an invisible chokehold. Yet, despite his hard outer shell, he’s really a softie inside. May the force be with you.

B – You’ve chosen Scarface. This Latin lover can’t properly pronounce cockroach, but don’t let his comical accent and big brown eyes fool you. He’s trouble with a capital T.

C – Hannibal Lector has been known to play mind games on occasion. If you’ve chosen this bad boy, proceed with caution. His bite is much worse than his bark.

D – If you’ve been looking for a villain with an unusual sense of humor, The Joker is your man. His favorite things are bad jokes, cherry red lipstick, and rambling speeches. His obsession with taking over Gotham City may get tedious at times, but all good villains have their foibles. It could be worse.


One of the things that make Darth Vader, Scarface, Hannibal Lector, and The Joker so memorable is how over-the-top they are. They are eerie and frightening, but also a little laughable. I was thrilled to have a chance to create my own version of an over-the-top villain in MISS LAVIGNE’S LITTLE WHITE LIE. Louis Reynaud is Miss Lavigne’s betrothed, and he’s bad news. But aside from being rotten to the core, he has a few quirks that made him incredibly fun to write. One of those is his grandiosity and obsession with predatory animals. His grandfather was “something of a scholar” and studied animals, reptiles, and amphibians. When Louis was a boy, he poured over his grandfather’s logbooks, engrossed in his grandfather’s crude drawings and his own imagination.

Here is an example of how his obsession comes into play in the story:

Reynaud hovered in the darkened street, keeping watch on number 17 Curzon, as stealthily as the king of beasts hunting in the night. The almighty lion possessed brawn, agility, speed, and a nice head of hair. Reynaud swept a hand over his own slicked-back locks and smiled.
Very nice, indeed.
The lion’s prey stood little chance of survival once he set his sights on them. His domination was unavoidable.
The flickering lights from the upstairs windows extinguished. Tonight Lisette and Serafine burrowed under their covers, believing themselves to be safe. On the morrow, they would lose their protector. Captain Hillary hadn’t planned to take the women with him as Reynaud had feared when he’d learned the Cecily was preparing to set sail.
The ladies would be at the lion’s mercy.
A bolt of exhilaration flew through his limbs and left him trembling with agitated anticipation. Another known fact about the lion: he boasted superior sexual prowess, sometimes copulating as many as one hundred times in twenty-four hours. The dominant male got his fill of the females in his pride.
But first, he must seize his letters. After all, the threat of swinging from the gallows tended to interfere with one’s lustful urges.

Despite his tendency toward the ridiculous, he is a real threat to the hero and heroine, and he adds excitement to the story. Today one Get Lost in a Story reader will have a chance to win a print copy of MISS LAVIGNE’S LITTLE WHITE LIE and see how villainous Reynaud can be. (US and Canada only) Just answer this question: What memorable villain sticks out in your mind, and what makes him so dastardly? Remember to include your email address along with your comment.


***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

GET READY FOR COWBOYS

AND GET READY FOR  

CAROLYN BROWN

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than sixty books.

 

Brown's books have been translated into eleven foreign languages and fourteen have been reprinted in large print format. Her books have been reviewed in Library Journal, Booklist, Romantic Times, Romance Reviews Today, Publisher's Weekly, Cataromance, USA Today and Romance Reader At Heart. Two of her romances have been published as Japanese Manga books.

 

Brown writes cowboy romance for Sourcebooks: The Lucky Trilogy, the Honky Tonk Series and now the Spikes & Spurs Series.

 

She has also written more than forty sweet romances for Avalon which include several historical series as well as contemporary stand-alone romance novels.

 

Sourcebooks will publish her debut women's fiction novel, The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society Jubilee, in March, 2013.

 

MISTLETOE COWBOY

Spikes & Spurs

Sourcebooks, Casablanca

ISBN-10: 1402270151

 

'Tis the season for...

 

A matchmaking grandma on a long-distance mission.

Mistletoe temptation in every doorway.

A sexy cowboy with a killer smile.

 

When Gran Presely agrees to sell Creed Riley the Rockin' C Ranch for a song at Christmastime, he can hardly believe his good fortune. There's just one little catch-her tantalizing granddaughter Sage is part of the deal...

GET READY FOR CREED

“It’s about time you came in from the cold,” she said as she turned.

 

Her hand flew up to her pounding heart and she backed up against the cabinet.

 

The abominable snowman pushed his way into the house behind something that was either the ugliest dog on the face of the earth or an alien from a far away planet. The huge thing set a galvanized bucket of milk on the table and a basket of eggs right beside it before he stomped his feet on the rug under the coat rack. The dog stopped in the middle of the kitchen floor and shook from shoulder to tail, sending even more snow flying everywhere in her kitchen. When it melted there would be water everywhere and her socks would be soaked.

 

“Who the hell are you? Get out of here and take that miserable mutt with you,” Sage said.

 

Creed removed his old felt cowboy hat and pulled off the face mask. His nose was scarlet and his dark eyelashes dusted with snowflakes. And of all the crazy things, there was a spring of mistletoe stuck in the snow on his shoulder as if it had grown there.

 

“I’m Creed Riley, ma’am, and I reckon if you want to throw your dog out in the snow that’s your business, but I’m not that mean or cruel to animals. And I’m here to stay since I’m the cowboy who bought this ranch. I guess you’d be Sage Presley. I didn’t think you’d make it home in this blizzard. I heard the roads were closed off.”

 

He was well over six feet tall because Sage had to look up to him. His brown hair was a bit too long and his mossy green eyes were rimmed with black lashes topped with heavy dark brows. His deep voice held a definite Texas drawl.

 

She backed up to the cabinet and braced herself against it. “Where is Grand? Is she behind you?”

 

“No, left a day early since the storm was coming in. I expect she’s in Pennsylvania by now where it’s fifty degrees and sunshiny today. Crazy ain’t it? We get a blizzard and the east coast is downright pleasant. At least it was yesterday when she called to tell me that she’d made it fine and to tell you so when you got home. Guess her cell phone’s battery was dead and her sister didn’t have one so she called on a pay phone from the airport.”

 

Sage rolled her eyes. “You have got to be kiddin’ me!”

 

“No, ma’am! That’s the truth and that’s really not my dog. I’m bringing my two huntin’ dogs out here soon as we make this sale legal but this old boy just appeared out of nowhere this morning and rushed right in with me. I figured he belonged on the property. He wasn’t none too pretty when he was covered in snow but it was covering a multitude of ugly, wasn’t it?”

 

Sage crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

 

He ignored her and started peeling away layers of clothing, taking the time to hang them on a coat rack just inside the back door. He didn’t stop until he was down to jeans, socks and a red and black flannel shirt.

 

What have you done, Grand? She thought. 

 

The blizzard would end. The sun would come out and melt the snow. Electricity would be restored along with power lines and cell phone coverage. And Sage could have talked her out of the sale a hell of a lot easier face to face than over the telephone — if they ever got service back in the canyon.

 

This was Sage’s home and it wasn’t supposed to be sold to some rank stranger, even if his green eyes were sexy as hell with snow hanging on the lashes like that fake stuff out of a can that she and Grand sprayed on the windows when she was a little girl.

 

“Coffee smells good. Reckon it’s about ready?” he asked. “Thank goodness for a full propane tank. Miz Ada told me that she has a standing order with the propane company out of Claude. And you can wipe that mean look off your face, lady. We’re stuck here together until this ends. I’m not real happy about being holed up with you, either but it’s the way it is and we might as well make the best of it.”

 

Her eyes narrowed and her brow wrinkled.

 

You want your face to freeze with that nasty look on it? Her grandmother’s words came back to haunt her.

 

“Number one, Mr. Riley, you don’t tell me how to look or what to do. Number two, Mr. Riley, Grand won’t ever sell you this place, so don’t get too comfortable.”

 

“Rule number one, lady, I speak my mind so get used to it. Rule number two, I’m settling in and getting comfortable because I think she will sell the ranch to me. The deed will say that you get to live on the ranch as long as you want when the sale is sealed, signed and finished. And back to rule number one, darlin’, if you want your face to freeze like that, then just hold on to that nasty look,” Creed said.

 

Her face softened but she wasn’t ready to smile and welcome the damn cowboy. Not yet; probably not ever.

 

“She wasn’t supposed to leave until today.”

 

Maybe the blizzard was a blessing. He’d see right quick that life in the canyon was too hard and he’d be ready to get the hell out of the place as soon as he could. Sage didn’t mind doing chores. She hated milking a cow but she could do that, too, if the cowboy would ride on out of the canyon as soon as the roads were cleared. Hell, she’d call a helicopter and pay the bill out of her own money if he wanted to get out of the canyon before the snow plow arrived.

 

“What’s for breakfast?” he asked.

 

“Whatever you can scrounge up. I didn’t take you to raise,” she said shortly.

 

He smiled down at her. “Miz Ada said you’d be a hand full and you’d come in here mad as a wet hen after a tornado. She was dead on, but darlin’, I am buyin’ this place. You are welcome to live on it. We can be friends, barely acquaintances or enemies. Your choice and you don’t even have to make it today. But it’s going to be a long three weeks until she comes back and in this storm we’ve got no one but each other so it can be pleasant or pretty damn miserable. Remember as you drink your coffee that this house ain’t very big and we are stuck in it together.”

 

The arrogance of the man!

 

He went on. “She left because of the storm and because her sister needs her, not because she was a bit afraid of you. That woman gave me the impression that she could face down the devil and own half of hell before the fight was over. You wouldn’t pose much problem.”

 

“You got her right but you got me all wrong. I’m ever bit as mean as she is. She raised me,” Sage said.

 

Creed wiped the snow from his cheeks as it melted from his lashes. “I like my eggs scrambled.”

 

“I like mine easy over.”

 

Creed raised an eyebrow. “Who’s cookin’?”

 

“Not me,” she told him. She wasn’t about to start cooking for him or feeding that dog he’d brought in either.

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS Q&A?
ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
CAROLYN: Every single time I write one or every single time I read a book. If a book (writing or reading) can’t take the reader away into its world, be it Tara in Gone With the Wind or a snowstorm in the Palo Duro Canyon in Mistletoe Cowboy, then something is terribly wrong with it.

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading? 

CAROLYN: Oh, dear, I’ve been reading since I figured out what those squiggly lines under the pictures were all about but I can’t remember the very first book I read. But we didn’t have books in our house until I went to school and found the library there. So most likely the very first book I read was the Bible to my granny because she was blind. The first romance book I read was The Concubine, and then Lady Chatterly’s Lover. Believe me, if my momma had known what I was reading, I would have spent hours reading the Bible to Granny!

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?

CAROLYN: I believe in the three magic words, “I Love You.” But I believe they are worthless without the actions to back them up. Creed knows down deep in his heart that he’s fallen in love with Sage, but he makes sure before he says the words. And when he does, his previous actions have enough power to make her believe him.

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

CAROLYN: On a very personal level, that would be my husband. He’s lived with me for 46 years (did I mention that I got married very, very young) and that darlin’ takes hero qualities. Especially the last fourteen years when he’s been the husband of a writer. It takes a special person to live with an author! And I have to mention my grandson, Specialist Charles Brenton Brown, who is serving in Kuwait right now. The real heroes of today are our military personnel who do all they can to protect our freedoms to read, write and speak whatever and whenever we want.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

CAROLYN: Cinderella! Sometimes I feel just like her, only instead of going to the ball, I get to sign another contract for more books.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

CAROLYN: Betty Boop! Don’t you just love that tiny waistline and those big eyes?

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?

CAROLYN: Creed O’Riley is sexy as hell. He has a tender spot for ugly dogs and pregnant stray cats. He’s a romantic at heart. He can cook. He can dance. And did I mention that he’s sexy as hell?

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?

CAROLYN: Are you asking about the playlist for the music in the book? I’ve been accused of pimping country music in my books and my answer is, “Yes, ma’am, I surely do.” Country music goes with cowboys like Stetson hats and cowboy boots. There’s even dozens of country Christmas songs. So just put on some country music, Christmas or otherwise, and let it seep down into your soul before, during and after reading Mistletoe Cowboy!

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

CAROLYN: In the car. In the bathroom. In the tub. Curled up on the sofa. In the backyard. Anyplace I am is a good place to read a book. And not nearly often enough anymore but still every single chance I get. The last book I read was Joanne Kennedy’s Cowboy Crazy…mighty fine cowboy book!

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

CAROLYN: Birds singing in the early morning. The purr of my cat while he oversees my writing. But most of all I love country music. I cut my teeth on Patsy Cline, Porter Wagner, Jim Reeves and that era of artists. It was a good week when my momma could pick up the Grand Ole Opry all the way from Nashville, Tennessee in Tishomingo, Oklahoma on her little red radio. When I write, I listen to Floyd Cramer’s piano music and slow country ballads. I love Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Josh Turner, Brad Paisley and the list is never ending.

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

CAROLYN: Fairy tale for sure. I love happy endings!

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

CAROLYN: The title changed daily but I remember the story well. It was a tale about a family who got stranded on the highway out in the middle of nowhere and a motorcycle gang terrorized them. Not at all what I write today, is it?

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

CAROLYN: Steel Magnolias. I loved Gone With the Wind and still do but Steel Magnolias reached a level so deep inside me that it’s not describable with mere words. It taught me so many lessons about writing. I want to touch emotions—laughter, tears, anger…all if it like that movie touched in my heart.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

CAROLYN: Right now I’m working on the Christmas book for 2013 and the villain’s name is Sonia. She’s a real piece of work, let me tell you, so I’d have to say that she’s my favorite right now.

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

CAROLYN: Donuts with maple icing. I only get one when I’ve done something really big like meeting my deadlines or signing contracts.

ANGI: Is there a “Blooper” in your story (it may have been changed before printing)?

CAROLYN: I’m smiling. No, I’m giggling. Not in this story but in a previous Spikes & Spurs, the sex scene ended in something like a crashing crescendo. But, alas, I misspelled crescendo and in my haste when the spell checked it, I didn’t even look at the “corrected” word. So my hot and heavy sex scene ended with a crashing credenza! That became a joke between my editor, Deb Werksman, and me so in Mistletoe Cowboy I gave her a nice hot scene on the top of a credenza. Hope all you readers like that scene!

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?

CAROLYN: Fun, fun, fun! Until the pesky folks start waking me up at night and telling me that I’ve forgotten several details. Then we have a party in the office and get the story told right no matter what time of night it is.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Hi Carolyn, and congratulations on your RITA nomination. I love a good cowboy story, and man oh man do you have a lot of them. Who--out of all the cowboy heroes you’ve created--is your favorite?

CAROLYN’S GOTTA ANSWER:   Thank you. The RITA nomination was so exciting and even though I didn’t bring home the lovely lady, I felt like a queen the whole week!

A story: When my three children were teenagers I started getting the old thing about, “You love Lemar more than us girls because he gets to do more stuff.” (He was four and five years older than the girls) Or “You love those girls more than me because they never have to do anything.” (Read the sentence in parenthesis). So I told them that I had to work, keep up a house, make meals and sew their clothing (including three piece suits for Lemar and his father) so I did not have time to love all of them every day. From that day forth each kid got two days a week to be loved and Sunday belonged to their father. And I could change the days to fit my mood. So when one of them started the “You love better” line, I’d just say, “Suck it up, kid, it’s not your day.”

Now the reason I told that story:

My favorite cowboy today is Creed O’Riley but honey, it can change in a heartbeat when I start a brand new story. So bask in your glory, Creed, today IS your day!

ANGI: I sure do wish I’d thought of that when my kids were little. LOL

FINDING CAROLYN

Contact    Website   Facebook    Goodreads    Previous GLIAS features

 

WHAT’S NEXT for this non-stop author?

ANGI: So what does 2013 look like for you, Carolyn?
CAROLYN: I've just signed a four book contract for more cowboys so keep your boots on and your hat ready for more cowboys. The Cowboys & Brides series will debut in June 2013 with The Billion Dollar Cowboy. But the lineup looks like this: Mistletoe Cowboy (Oct. 2012), Hidden Secrets (Nov. 2012), Just A Cowboy and His Baby (Dec. 2012), Life After Wife (Jan. 2013), The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society Jubilee (Mar. 2013), Billion Dollar Cowboy (June 2013), The Cowboy Seeks a Wife (the finale of the Spikes & Spurs, Aug. 2013), and The Cowboy's Christmas Baby (Oct. 2013). There are two more Cowboys & Brides that will be published in 2014 but the titles aren't set in stone just yet and I'm working on a second woman's fiction book to follow The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society Jubilee! Life is good!

 

HIDDEN SECRETS
Montlake Romance
November 2012

JUST A COWBOY AND HIS BABY

December 2012
Sourcebooks Casablanca

LIFE AFTER WIFE

Three Magic Words #3
January 2013
Montlake Romance

CAROLYN HAS TOO MANY PREVIOUS RELEASES TO LIST, please visit her website for different genres and series information.

READY FOR TWO FREE BOOKS? NO? Let’s make it THREE!!!

Carolyn has TWO signed copies of MISTLETOE COWBOY to be given away for US residents only. But I’d like to give away an unsigned book from her backlist to International readers (a book available through BookDepository.com). Leave a comment to be eligible--and don’t forget to mention US or International and your email.   http://www.bookdepository.com/

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to USA addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join me next week when I host Robin Perini and her latest release. Be sure to come back tomorrow when Alexa hosts Vonda Sinclair.  ~Angi

What is it about a cowboy that makes you get lost in a book? Is it his drawl, his swagger or those tight fittin’ jeans and boots? Mistletoe Cowboy is my third Christmas book and I’m working on the fourth (The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby, 2013). I’m wondering if I should keep putting out one a year…give me your opinion, please.