Wild Rose Pass by Karen Hulene Bartell
Give a warm welcome to Karen Hulene Bartell, author of Wild Rose Pass, just released. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Karen and Wild Rose Pass.
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog. It’s a pleasure to be here!
My pleasure. I see you’ve brought a guest along.
Yes, this is Ben the hero of Wild Rose Pass.
Great! Lets start with BEN, tell us about the real you—
Ben shakes his head with a reluctant laugh. “Not much to tell, ma’am. I just do the best I can. Someday, I hope to resign my commission, buy some land, settle down, marry, and raise a family, but for now, I follow my commanding officer’s orders and give an honest day’s work for a day’s wages.
Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed?
“You’d find my Jeff Davis boots, a shoe-shine kit, and my Springfield .45 caliber ‘Trapdoor’ rifle.”
……What makes you laugh out loud?
“I’m a quiet man by nature, ma’am. I keep my feeling to myself, except”—hiding a grin, he dimples—“when I dance. Then, sheer enjoyment prevails.”
……What makes you angry?
“Brutalization, ma’am. I’ve seen enough on the frontier. Seeing its effects in ‘civilized’ society rubs me the wrong way. One thing I can’t abide is a woman beater.”
……What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you?
“My earliest memory is watching the Comanches kill my father and brother.”
Ben speaks with disinterest—as if repeating a story he’s heard or keeping emotional distance.
“A roving band of Comanches raided my parents’ farm, burning the crops and torching the log cabin my pa had built with his own hands. Then using that same ax he’d used to cut the logs, they swung it into his back, breaking his spine and killing him. I never saw what happened to my mother, but as my brother ran away, they shot an arrow in his back. One Comanche slung me over his horse and rode back to camp, carrying me in front of him. At first, camp life was bad.”
Ben speaks in a slow monotone, as if the words conjure painful memories.
“The man beat me so often another Comanche took pity. He and his wife had three daughters but no son, so he traded me mula ensillada, for a mule and a saddle, and raised me as his own son.”
……What do you most value?
“Family, ma’am, because without family, what does a person have?”
……What do you sleep in at night?
“Long johns, ma’am. Being in the cavalry—especially now with the Indian Wars—I have to be ready to ride at a moment’s notice.”
……What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?
“A strong woman, ma’am—a lead mare, a trail blazer—someone who thinks for herself and makes her own decisions. Then once she makes up her mind, she pins back her ears and stands her ground.”
……What do you consider most important in life?
“I’ve already told you, ma’am, family. To me, it’s more important than anything else. A person can always earn money. Livestock and goods can be replaced, but to my way of thinking, neither wealth nor position measures up to family because, without it, what does a person have?”
……What is your biggest secret?
“I’m in love with the captain’s daughter, ma’am, but she’s out of my class. She’s cultured and been educated out East. Besides, she’s West’s woman. He’s a West Point graduate, while I’m just a battlefield-promoted mustang. He shares family connections with both sides of her family and, as First Lieutenant, he outranks me.”
****
Author, Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult?
Writing Wild Rose Pass was a stretch for me because I’d never written in the Frontier, Western, or Historical genres before—no ghosts and nothing paranormal. Adding to my dilemma, the timeline was 1880 Texas, so every phrase they spoke, every idiom they used, every food they ate, every dress and uniform they wore, as well as the roles they played, all had to be double-checked for historical accuracy. Writing it was slow going.
And although romance is always a part of my novels, I’d never written a true “Romance” before, so I had to learn how to write from two points of view and speak in both the heroine’s and hero’s voices.
Still, it was fun. I enjoyed getting into the Old West mindset. Guess it reminds me of the old Westerns I used to watch as a kid 😉
Do your characters always act as you expect?
Usually, but not always. My characters definitely have minds of their own!
Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
Hmmm…a little of both, I’d say, but mostly I fly by the seat of my pants. I write mini-plots on scraps of paper that lead to a scene’s conclusion, but I never know, from that scene to the next, what the next action will be until inspiration strikes.
Wild Rose Pass by Karen Hulene Bartell
Tell us a little about Wild Rose Pass.
Cadence McShane, free-spirited nonconformist, yearns to escape the rigid code, clothes, and sidesaddles of 1880s military society in Fort Davis, Texas. She finds the daring new lieutenant exhilarating, but as the daughter of the commanding officer, she is expected to keep with family tradition and marry West Point graduate James West.
Orphaned, Comanche-raised, and always the outsider looking in, Ben Williams yearns to belong. Cadence embodies everything he craves, but as a battlefield-commissioned officer with the Buffalo Soldiers instead of a West Point graduate, he is neither accepted into military society nor considered marriageable.
Can two people of different worlds, drawn together by conflicting needs, flout society and forge a life together on the frontier?
Sneak peek between the pages of Wild Rose Pass.
Reining his horse between catclaw and prickly-pear cactus, Ben Williams squinted at the late summer sun’s low angle. Though still midafternoon, shadows lengthened in the mountains. He clicked his tongue, urging his mare up the incline. “Show a little enthusiasm, Althea. If we’re not in Fort Davis by sunset, we’ll be bedding down with scorpions and rattlesnakes.”
As his detachment’s horses clambered up Wild Rose Pass, the only gap through west Texas’ rugged Davis Mountains, Ben kept alert for loose rocks or hidden roots, anything that might trip his mount. A thick layer of fallen leaves created a pastiche of color shrouding the trail from view. He glanced up at the lithe cottonwood trees lining the route, their limbs dancing in the breeze. More amber and persimmon leaves loosened, fell, and settled near the Indian pictographs on their tree trunks. When he saw the red- and yellow-ochre drawings, he smiled, recalling the canyon’s name—Painted Comanche Camp.
“How far to Fort Davis, lieutenant?” called McCurry, one of his recruits.
“Three hours.” If we keep a steady pace.
Without warning, the soldier’s horse whinnied. Spooking, it reared on its hind legs, threw its rider, and galloped off.
As he sat up, the man groaned, caught his breath, and stared into the eyes of a coiled rattler, poised to strike. “What the…?”
Flicking its tongue, hissing, tail rattling, the pit viper was inches from the man’s face.
A sheen of sweat appeared above the man’s lip. “Lieutenant—”
Buy Links:
About the Author:
Author of the Trans-Pecos, Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series, Karen is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories that lift the spirit. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually, Bartell found her earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night—reading feverishly. The paranormal was her passion. Westerns spurred her to write (pun intended). Wanderlust inherent, Karen enjoyed traveling, although loathed changing schools. Novels offered an imaginative escape. An only child, she began writing her first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating her own happy endings. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen resides in the Hill Country with her husband Peter and her “mews”—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.
Connect with Karen:
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Wild Rose Pass! This is the first of a two parter, Karen will be back on April 7th with more surprises and another special guest! So please check back.
Views: 658
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Historical Romance, Karen Hulene Bartell, Western, Wild Rose Pass by Tena Stetler with 17 comments.
Interview D.K. Deters Author of Christmas Once Again
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to D.K. Deters, author of Christmas Once Again. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets find out a little about D.K. and see what Christmas Once Again is all about. Thanks for joining us!
Hi Tena. Thanks for having me.
What inspired this particular story?
I was watching a news broadcast about ordinary people pitching together to save a stranger’s life. It got me to thinking about how one selfless act could be life-changing. Since I always get sentimental around the holidays, a Christmas romance felt right.
What makes you laugh out loud?
By far, those hilarious everyday events that we couldn’t have orchestrated even if we tried. Check out my favorite holiday memory below.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
It’s hard to pick just one, but we love it when our children and their families can make it home for Christmas.
Why did you choose the cover concept you did?
The cover artist asked me to pick two significant elements from the story. I chose a missing painting, which may or may not have special powers and a cabin in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Favorite holiday memory?
When my son was in kindergarten, he played Santa in a grade school holiday program. Classmates took on the roles of the reindeer, all decked out with cute little pipe cleaner antlers and connected with holiday garland.
At the back of the auditorium, they waited for their cue. My son held on to the reins (the garland) while standing inside Santa’s sleigh (a big box with a shoulder harness.) The eight tiny reindeer took off at a run with their sites on the stage. As Santa hustled along at top speed, his beard and pointy hat bouncing, the sleigh slid forward and tilted up as if could fly. Now Santa couldn’t see ahead, and he had to rely on his reindeer to get him past the audience. In a flurry, the children arrived center stage to laughter and applause.
I still chuckle when I think about it. (And thank goodness, no one was injured.)
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite Christmas movie: Serendipity
Favorite Christmas book: Elf
Last Christmas or holiday book read: Elf
Favorite color: Red
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: Flipflops
Coffee or tea or hot chocolate: Coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Ebook
Pencil or pen or candy cane: Pen
Favorite Christmas Carole or song: Mistletoe
All-time favorite Christmas present: Ring
Favorite dessert: Pie
Christmas Candy or Cake: Candy
Favorite thing to do to relax during the holidays Read
Champagne or gin or eggnog: Champagne
Paranormal or Historical: Historical
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Wonder Woman
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: Disney
Hot or cold: Hot
POV: Third
I’d die if I don’t have: Coffee
Review or Not: Review
Click on the cover to read more or purchase!
Tell us a little about Christmas Once Again.
She’s dead broke. And eviction looms. On Christmas Eve antique consultant Madison Knight takes a phone call from local rancher Zach Murdock. Through a mix-up at an estate sale, Madison’s company purchased his grandmother’s beloved painting. He offers double the money for its return.
Madison risks her job to track down the artwork, but success falls short when she’s stuck in a blizzard. Stranded, she seeks help from a frontier family. Are they living off the grid, or did she somehow travel through time?
Zach’s the only person who knows her plan. He also knows a secret about his gran’s painting. It’s up to him to rescue Madison, but maybe he’s not cut out to be a hero.
How about a sneak peek between the pages of Christmas Once Again?
“My grandmother had an estate sale last week, and she didn’t want it sold, unfortu—”
“Oh?” She should’ve kept quiet. Run-ins with greedy family members happened in the antique business, and a judging attitude didn’t increase revenues.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” he said. “The day was chaotic, and someone had shuffled around the artwork. We didn’t realize it was missing until a couple of days ago, and it took this long to sort out the mix-up and discover your shop bought it.”
She felt guilty for jumping to the wrong conclusion. “I see how that could happen. It’s obvious the piece is treasured by your grandmother. If it becomes necessary, we have the resources to find a similar style. Is there a specific artist or significance?”
Held hostage by the slow computer response and trying not to rush him, she picked up one of the hand weights, intending to fit in a few curls.
“Keep in mind Gran’s ninety-two, and she thinks…”
“Uh-huh.” With her free hand, she grabbed the latte and took a sip.
“Gran thinks it holds a special power.”
Madison chose that moment to swallow, and the creamy espresso went down the wrong pipe. A dry, hacking cough followed, and she dropped her hand weight, which thudded on the carpet. For heaven’s sake, he didn’t hear her, did he?
You can purchase Christmas Once Again at: Amazon The Wild Rose Press Barnes & Noble
About the Author:
D.K. Deters credits her parents, who grew up in southeastern Kansas, for inspiration to write about the Old West. From an early age, the likes of Jesse James and the Dalton Gang were often included in family lore. To this day, she’s not sure how much is true.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business, D. K. followed a profession in the telecommunications industry before turning to a writing career. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her adult children and their families.
D.K. loves to hear from readers and other authors!
Email: dkdetersauthor@hotmail.com
Social Media:
Website: www.dkdeters.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dk_deters
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dkdeterscom
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/d-k-deters
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18486948.D_K_Deters
Thank you for having me on your blog. Happy Holidays!
It was wonderful having you with us today. Enjoy your holidays and don’t drink too much egg nog. LOL Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Christmas Once Again!
Views: 425
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Christmas, Christmas Once Again, Contemporary, D.K. Deters, fantasy, Holiday, Paranormal, Time travel, Western by Tena Stetler with 20 comments.
Interview with Leslie Scott Author of Two Hearts, One Stone
Give a warm welcome to Leslie Scott, author of Two Hearts, One Stone, just released September 26, 2018!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Leslie and her Tow Hearts, One Stone.
Why should we read this book and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book unique?
With Two Hearts, One Stone I remember sitting in on a chat about Western romances and how publishers were looking for something different than Montana or Texas for contemporary novels. I live at the tail end of the Smokey Mountains and we have cowboys too! Down here we say farm not ranch (though most of us know farms grow food and ranches raise animals—but still it’s what we say) and don’t have thousands of acres of cow grazing pasture. We do have a strong horse culture though and raise some amazing animals. I wanted to show that and I think I did well.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
Well, most everyone who has known me my entire life, knows I write. It’s part of who I am. A few were surprised when my debut novel (The Finish Line) was published, but not many. My son is super proud—he’s eleven—and tells everyone we meet that I’m a writer. It’s cute.
One funny story though: I’ve known our church secretary for a few years (I met her at her previous job). I really like her, she’s one of my favorite people. I got a message from her not long ago about how she’d bought my book and read it, but didn’t want to tell me she had bought it until she finished (just in case she didn’t like it, or I ended up being a terrible writer, etc). Turns out she absolutely loved it and is now one of my ARC readers.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Not really, no. Is that bad? Each character I write is like living in someone else’s brain for a few months. They are all so different from me and I love that. I want them to be someone else, otherwise I think writing them would be pretty boring.
Raelynn in The Finish Line is subdued, which I am not. She internalizes a lot and I’m a complete extrovert. She has multiple handsome men vying for her affections—I do not (ha!).
Hadley (in the upcoming Hot Lap) is upbeat and positive in the face of difficulties and hardship. I am not. I cave, I get angry, I lash out. She smiles and dusts herself off.
Emmy in Two Hearts, One Stone is by far way more intelligent than I’d ever be. Thanks to be son’s pediatrician for her help with that one.
BUT… they all have a piece of my heart and I think that’s what matters the most.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
Joy and entertainment. I want readers to feel like each character is a friend, a part of their family or better—like they were a part of the character’s family. A novel is about escape, transporting yourself to somewhere else. I want that for everyone that reads my book.
Speed Round: (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: I have two: Legends of the Fall or Robinhood Prince of Thieves.
Favorite book: Far too many to count. But, John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War comes close to the top.
Last book read: I just finished Lisa Cron’s Wired for Story.
Favorite color: Pink.
Stilettos or flipflops: Flipflops, I’d break my face in stilettos.
Coffee or tea: Neither? Or a fancy sweet, iced coffee.
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: No audiobook.
Pencil or pen: Pens, of varying colors.
Favorite song: All of them (I’m not picky with music).
Streak or not: I joke that God made me fat so I wouldn’t run around naked. So, no. lol
Favorite dessert: All of them (I’m not picky with food). See what I did there?
Favorite junk food: See above.
Favorite thing to do to relax: Write.
Champagne or gin: Champagne. I got drunk on gin in highschool and it wasn’t pretty. Nope.
Paranormal or Historical: Steampunk! (Ha! Take that!)
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Dude… WW for sure.
Favorite TV show: Sons of Anarchy (I love hot biker dudes, I cannot help myself)
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: Gah! First is the reel that plays in my head. However, I’m learning to love third limited.
I’d die if I don’t have: My kid, my cats, my dogs, my laptop… the list goes on and on and on.
Review or Not: Review!
See I told you, writers just cant do it! LOL
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
So tell us a little about Two Hearts, One Stone. Interesting title.
Horse trainer Stone Dempsey’s life is all about the ride—with horses and women. He uses his equine talents to impress the country club set and earn money for Smoky Mountain Reining Horses. When his drug-addicted sister deposits her sick baby on his doorstep, he’s suddenly saddled with real responsibility.
Dr. Emmersyn Cole’s goal of starting a practice in her favorite place on earth is finally coming to fruition and she is not going to be sidetracked. Everything is going great until Stone swaggers into her life, half-dressed with a smile that could melt her insides. She’s determined to keep her distance…until he rushes into her grandfather’s home, clutching a feverish baby, terrified and vulnerable, and her heart’s hard shell begins to crack.
In only a few short weeks, Stone’s wayward heart suddenly relies on two women—one who needs him—and one that he might not be able to live without.
Can we have a sneak peak between the pages of Two Hearts, One Stone.
Sure.
He was spinning and dizzy because of Emmy. He hadn’t expected her to throw him for a loop like she had, have him waiting on her after work, cleaning up his cabin, and all the other silly things he’d done in the past few weeks.
Yet there he was, with a shoulder against the stall door, watching the sparkles of faded sunlight dance in her reddish, curling hair.
He was a goner.
“I feel naked when you look at me like that.” Her fingers trembled as she tucked a lock behind her ear.
“That’s not the way I look at you when you’re naked.”
Buy links:
About the author:
Leslie spends most days attempting to wrangle the voices in her head and often wishes she could clone herself so that their stories get told faster. She loves words, romance, and characters that feel like family and spends almost all of her free time with her own family; including a boisterous eleven year old that she homeschools and an assorted cast of rescue pets. She lives her own happily ever after with her soul mate and best friend in the northern part of Alabama and hopes you enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
Leslie Scott on the internet:
Website: http://lesliescottromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliescottwrites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leslieSwrites
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lesliescottwrites/
Youtube Playlists: http://bit.ly/2O6IDea
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Two Hearts, One Stone!
Views: 47
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Leslie Scott, One Stone, Two Hearts, Western by Tena Stetler with 8 comments.
Cat Dubie Author of The Queen of Paradise Valley
Give a warm welcome to Cat Dubie, author of The Queen of Paradise Valley!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Cat Dubie and Del and Dianna from The Queen of Paradise Valley.
Thanks, Tena, for hosting me and my characters on your blog today! Del and Diana are ready for their interviews –
Great lets start with this handsome hunk sitting next to you.
The name’s Delaney Russell, Del to my friends.
Tells us about the real you— What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you?
[short hesitation] When I was ten I watched my Pa die in a cold, lonely cave. He was sick, couldn’t work, so we packed up a wagon and headed to Colorado to see if his old partner would help us. He flat out refused. I spent a long time planning vengeance for Pa. But when I met the old partner’s daughter, everything changed. And not for the better, not for a long time.
What do you most value?
[Smiles] Well, my wife would say my property, my horses, then her. I’d say the reverse. [another smile] But I’ll add honesty and trust, two things worth fighting for.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?
I once loved the sweetest, kindest, truest woman I’d ever known. We planned a life together, but she died too soon. I later discovered it was a dream, never meant to be. Now I found a new reason to live and love with an unpredictable, exciting, passionate, stubborn, ornery-at-times woman who sure lives up to her royal nickname. It was a hell of a hard road getting where we are now. She almost killed me, but she also saved my life. And yeah, she’s my forever woman.
What do you consider most important in life?
Well, it’s different for everyone. Some say family, some say wealth, some say power. These days, I say it’s most important to be alive, to wake up every morning beside someone you love.
What is your biggest secret?
Most of my secrets were revealed in the book. Read it to find out. [winks]
Thank you Del, we appreciate your time. Now Diana, it’s your turn in the barrel, so to speak.
I’m Diana Rennie, now Mrs. Russell.
Who are you really? Who were the biggest role models in your life?
Ha! I didn’t have any growing up – when I was three my mother whisked me from the ranch where I was born to New York city. She wanted only to sit on the top rung of the Society ladder. Her frantic pace eventually killed her – liquor, morphine, belladonna. Could say my role models were my teachers, especially my piano teacher. Also the house servants, who took pity on me and were wonderfully kind. I didn’t have a real role model until I met my father again. [sighs] But he was far from perfect, as I sadly discovered.
What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with?
You know, in New York I never had an ideal man in mind. Mother groomed me to marry a wealthy man, even a titled European one. I had other plans. And when I went to Colorado to live with my father, I had no thoughts about spending my life with a man. I was happy to live there and learn all I could about him. Then I met – you could say butted heads with – the one man who completely changed my life. I disliked him at first, we argued about everything, and when I discovered he was my partner I was determined to get rid of him. But he saved me again and again, from outward forces, from myself! Even when I sure didn’t deserve his help. I could easily say he’s strong and handsome, but he’s so much more. And amazingly he loves me. I can’t bear to think of life without him.
What kind of man would you never choose?
I’d never choose a man whose life revolves around his belongings and riches, or who had no compassion for others.
What is most important to you in life?
At one time it was my ambition to become a world renowned pianist. Then it was my father, who I thought was the greatest man in the world until I discovered he was only human. Now it’s Del, the ranch, and the family we hope to have someday.
What is your biggest fear?
[laughs] I used to fear many things but had perfected a way of hiding it. It took some harrowing experiences and a special man to shrink those fears enough to kick them away. Now my biggest fear is probably waking up and finding the last years were only a dream. If it’s a dream, I never want to wake up.
Cat it your turn. Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
I wrote The Queen of Paradise Valley over several years. The first draft was over 200,000 words. I put it away for years, and dusted it off every now and then to do rewrites and editing. The writing part was fun, the editing was harder, as I had much to learn about the process. My biggest problem – I started the story too early, made complex [I thought interesting] lives for each main character. Several chapters later, the actual story began. I took out those early chapters [killed my darlings!] and it finally made cohesive sense. Each edit I made whittled the word count down until I had less than 100,000 words.
The characters go in the direction I lead them, but then insist on having the final word. They say and do things that alter the plot, but I don’t mind – that’s the fun part! And as I reread my story I sometimes get surprised. Did I write that? Hmm, I don’t remember that paragraph. Maybe I was in a fugue state and someone else was dictating the story? [The joy of writing!] A plotter or a pantster? I’d have to say both. I write scenes out of order as they come to me or as the characters dictate, but then I have a big timeline of events into which I fit the scenes I’ve written, and find which scenes I still need.
Tell us a little about The Queen of Paradise Valley:
Diana Rennie, daughter of a wealthy rancher, attempts to persuade mystery man Del Russell to leave his grievances behind and forgive her father for past mistakes. Her careful plan goes awry and results in a shotgun wedding and a prison sentence for Del.
Four years later, Del is back in her life with a vengeance—back for his rightful share of Diana’s ranch, back to prove he isn’t the criminal she thought he was, back to finish what the two of them started years ago in a passionate daze. And he isn’t going anywhere, no matter what beautiful, treacherous Diana does or says to try to get rid of him.
A Peek Between the Pages of The Queen of Paradise Valley:
“I don’t have much left to wager. I doubt you’d want my saddle, and I won’t part with my horses.” He again rubbed his jaw. “My share of the mine.”
The cards slipped from her hand. “Are you mad? For forty dollars and a pretty—”
“I had higher stakes in mind.”
“What stakes?” Now his eyes were like sunshine reflected on a rippling silver lake. She gathered the cards, and the stones skipped against her skin. Mouth dry, she repeated, “What stakes?”
“If I win, you’ll move into my bedroom, share my bed.”
Thrills snaked down her back, jumbled visions careened through her mind. She forced herself to concentrate on reshuffling the cards. Wind whistled down the chimney, and the flames flared, then sizzled and spit when sprayed by melting snow.
She met his gaze. “If I win, you’ll sign your entire share to me.” He nodded and she went on, “If you win, I’ll go to your bed, but for one night only. Is your share of the mine worth so little to you?”
“Is your pride worth so much to you?” A soft laugh. “Should we put it in writing? Deal the cards.
Maybe your luck will hold.”
You can find The Queen of Paradise Valley at most online retailers including:
The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Indigo, Kobo
About the Author:
Cat Dubie believes she was destined to write. Her love of words began early – she was making rhymes soon after learning to talk. With a crayon in hand she first drew stories, with a pencil she wrote them. As for reading, she was the girl who always had her nose in a book, the one who read with a flashlight under the covers or, when the moon was full, sat by a window for hours laughing, crying, loving characters whose adventurous lives wouldn’t let her sleep.
She has traveled the world in books. She has traveled back in time and into the future in books. Her keen interest in history determined the nature of her books, and the first Historical romance novel she read, settled the genre.
After working for various levels of government, she retired and now lives in the beautiful province of British Columbia, where she indulges in her need for creating stories about romance, adventure, passion, mystery, love …
Social media links:
My blog: https://catdubie.blogspot.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcat.dubie.7
twitter: https://twitter.com/catdubie
It was wonderful having you, Dell and Diana with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Queen of Paradise Valley.
Views: 36
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Cat Dubie, Contemporary, Ranch, Romance, The Queen of Paradise Valley, Western by Tena Stetler with 23 comments.
