Category Archives: Must Love Books

A new Harts Of The Rodeo book plus Surprise Contest

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Another month, another exciting read from the Harts Of The Rodeo series! I hope you haven’t missed any of the books so far. You can find the complete list here. This month is all about Austin: Second-Chance Cowboy by Shelley Galloway. Earlier, Shelley shared an interview with her main characters so we could get to know them a little better. I think you’ll agree, these two are in for one heck of an adventure when they start falling in love!

Interviewer:  What is your greatest accomplishment?

Austin: Being a different man than my father.

Dinah:  Becoming Roundup’s sheriff.

 Interviewer: What trait is most important in a friend?

Austin:  Humor

Dinah: (looking a little uneasy) Trust and Patience, I suppose. I haven’t had too much time for friends lately.

Austin: Which is why, Dinah, everyone around you needs a sense of humor.

Dinah: Next question, please?

 Interviewer: What do you most enjoy about your job?

Austin: Owning my own business means I’m the boss of me. I like that.

Dinah:  Helping others, especially the kids in town.

Interviewer:  Who do you most admire and why?

Austin: My sister, Cheyenne. She’s raising her girls on her own-and they’re wonderful girls.

Dinah:  My mother.

Interviewer:  Name your biggest regret.

 Austin: Damn, these questions are getting pretty personal. (swallows) All right, here goes. My biggest regret is that I drink too much. I’m working on this though.

Dinah:  That my father didn’t see me become the sheriff. He would’ve really liked that.

 Interviewer: What makes you angry or upset?

Austin: When people think I’m just like my dad.

Dinah: When people underestimate me.

Interviewer:  What trait would you like to change about yourself?

Austin:  I hold grudges and keep everything inside. Shoot-is that two traits?

Dinah: Austin, I’m surprised you didn’t have a whole laundry list.

Austin: Just answer the question, D.

Dinah: All right, the trait I would most like to change is my insecurity. I kind of have a hard time seeing myself as a woman and a sheriff.

Austin: I don’t have any problem seeing you like that.

Dinah: Shut up, Austin.

Interviewer:  What is your most treasured possession?

Austin:  Can’t say that I have one. Yet.

Dinah:  One of my father’s old flannel shirts. If you close your eyes and hug it tight, it smells just like him.

Interviewer:  What makes you happy?

Austin: Coloring with my nieces.

Dinah: My mother’s home cooking.

Interviewer:  Of what are you most afraid?

Austin: Of losing everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Dinah: Of being alone for the rest of my life.

Interviewer:  If they made a movie of your life, what genre would it be?

Austin: Oh, heck…it would have to be just about everything…and just to let you know…my life ain’t even close to being over.

Dinah:  I think my movie would be an action-adventure. Being a sheriff gives me some pretty eventful days, you know…

 

CJ: Thanks for that Shelley! I can’t wait to read Austin: Second-Chance Cowboy!

Book Four in the Harts of the Rodeo Series from Harlequin American
For the chance to win an e-book copy of book 2 in the series, Colton: Rodeo Cowboy, please reply to the post with your e-mail address in case you win. I’ll pick a random winner a week from now! Until then, keep reading fun, heartwarming stories!

 

 

The Word On The Street is that…

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people in Lethbridge, Alberta love books! I was just at their second Word On The Street Festival this Sunday. Here I am with author Murray Pura at the panel on writing romance.

We spoke about the special demands of writing romance, and what ingredients make for a compelling love story.

Murray has written many things, but he spoke about the special challenges and joys of writing Amish Romance, which apparently is very popular these days.

 

 

Later I went to sign books and found the cutest signs had been made for the event…

The weather in Lethbridge was perfect. There was music, roaming performers, food, drink and best of all…lots of talk about books and reading.

 

 

 

 

I ran into talented YA author Janet Gurtler at the event. She’d done a reading from her RITA nominated book: I’m Not Her.

Word On The Street is that this is a really cool event and I was proud to be a part of it!

Say Hi to Duke and Angie

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What’s so great about September? It’s time for a new Harts of the Rodeo Book!

Duke: Deputy Cowboy by Roz Denny Fox is the third in the series and one you do not want to miss! To give you a taste for the story, here is an interview of the main characters:

Duke: Deputy Cowboy
Third book in Harts of Rodeo Series
Questions and Answers from Duke and Angie

1. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Duke: Working up the nerve to ask Angie for a date.

Angie: Deciding to leave Texas when I was pregnant and almost broke.

 

2. What trait is most important in a friend?

Duke: Loyalty

Angie: Trust

 

3. What do you most enjoy about your job?

Duke: Being a deputy is never boring, and it’s not all working at a desk.

Angie: I like making horse treats that are nutritious, but that horses love.

Part time at the school—I like the people I work with, and the kids.

 

4. Who do you most admire and why?

Duke: My cousin Ace, because he’s smart, easy-going, and accepts me as I am.

Angie: Sarah Hart, because she’s a strong woman and has held her family        together through hard times and with a deep faith.

 

5. Name your biggest regret.

Duke: Probably that I never knew my mother.

Angie: That work sometimes has to come before spending time with my son.

 

6.    What makes you angry or upset?

Duke: When my twin brother, Beau, nags at me to ride better in rodeos.

Angie: I get angry when people mistreat animals, or dump them like trash.

 

7. What trait would you like to change about yourself?

Duke: I worry too much about the family.  I don’t like squabbles.

Angie: Oh my…a too short nose, a too wide mouth, a tendency to eat too much.

 

8. What is your most treasured possession?

Duke: I’d have to say my dog, Zorro.

Angie: A silver cross on a thin chain that belonged to my grandmother.

 

9. What makes you happy?

Duke: Watching the sun rise on a clear day.

Angie: Seeing my son laugh.

 

 

10. Of what are you most afraid?

Duke:  A concern that something bad may happen to someone in my family;

my younger cousin, Tuf Hart, is in the military, you know.

Angie:  I worry most about my son’s safety.  I know you have to give a child

space, but it’s hard not to be over-protective.

 

11. If they made a movie of your life, what genre would it be?

Drama, tragedy, comedy, adventure, romance, or a combination thereof.

Duke:  You didn’t mention Western.  I grew up loving every John Wayne

spaghetti-western, which is why I’m nicknamed, Duke.

Angie:  If I go way back I’d have to say part drama, part adventure, with a

hope for romance.  (The last she says with a shy glance at Duke)

 

 

Say Hi to Colton and Leah…

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I’m so excited to announce that my contribution to the Harts of the Rodeo series is now available! To celebrate the launch of Colton: Rodeo Cowboy I decided to interview Leah and Colt so you could get a feel for these two awesome romantic leads. Here they are:

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Colt: Hell, there’ve been quite a few. Maybe qualifying for the world championships four years running. Then there was the year I took five all-arounds in just two months. No, wait, my greatest accomplishment has to be winning my Dodge Truck this spring at the National Circuit Finals. Have you seen my truck? It’s a real beauty.

Leah: My greatest accomplishment is helping Colt stuff his head inside his cowboy hat every morning.

What do you most enjoy about rodeo?

 Colt: Is there anything not to enjoy about rodeo?

Leah: What about rain, Colt?

Colt: You’re right, honey. Rain really sucks. You’re not too fond of it either, are you?

 Leah: Especially not flash floods. (She shudders)

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

 Colt: Pained silence.

Leah: I’d regret my first marriage, but if I hadn’t married Jackson then I wouldn’t have my incredible kids Jill and Davey.

Colt: I regret not stepping up to my responsibilities right from the get-go. There are lost years that I will never get back.

What is your most treasured possession?

 Colt: If we’re talking things and not people, I’d have to say my truck.

 Leah: I’m pretty fond of Colt’s truck, too. Just kidding! Jill and Davey’s baby pictures beat out that hunk of metal any day.

 What do you dream of?

 Colt: Building Leah a house where we can raise our children and grow old together.

Leah: Growing old with Colt. Being with him every day, if possible.

If you could change one thing about your family what would it be?

 Colt: It would sure be nice if my older brother Ace could become my younger brother. I’d like to try ordering him around for a decade or two.

Leah: I wish my Mom and I had talked more, about the things in life that really matter. On the other hand, I probably wasn’t ready to listen to her until I’d grown up and had children of my own.

What was the most serendipitous moment of your life?

 Colt: When I walked into the Open Range Saloon this spring and saw the love of my life sitting right there on the bar stool.

 Leah: Yes. That was a good moment, all right.

(They Kiss…)

 

 

Kick Off for Harts of the Rodeo Series!

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Love cowboys, romance and great stories? You’re in the right place. I’m excited to announce that the first book of the Harts of the Rodeo Series is now available! Consider this your official invitation to enter the world of Thunder Ranch set in Roundup Montana. Here you’ll experience Big Sky landscapes and  meet the heartwarming and diverse cast of character we like to call the Hart family.  And the best part is, you can start with a free read: Wyatt: Return of the Cowboy written by Cathy McDavid, one of Harlequin American’s top authors.

Free Read!
Once you’ve enjoyed Wyatt and Paige’s story, you’ll be ready to dip into the series with Aidan: Loyal Cowboy. Aidan is the oldest son in the Hart family and his challenge is juggling the demands of his vet practice, holding together the family ranch and falling in love. It isn’t easy, especially when certain family members (such as the hero of my story, his younger brother Colt) are not pulling their weight.

This has been such an exciting project to be a part of. We all took the research seriously, relying on Cathy McDavid’s horse know-how, the Internet, and, in my case, lots of cowboy magazines! Being a fan of the Calgary Stampede didn’t hurt either–I used a lot of those cowboys as inspiration for my own rodeo star: Colt Hart.

In addition to the research, we worked hard to come up with interesting characters and stories, all based on the creative inspiration of Harlequin American’s Senior Editor Kathleen Scheibling. If you want more background into the writing process please check out the Discussion on Harlequin’s website. I and the other authors who participated in this series, as well as our editors, will be chatting about our books all week long.

 

I’m Giving Away Books Tonight

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If you live in Calgary how about coming to the Chapters at 9631 MacLeod Trail tonight-Friday May 11? From 7 until 8:30 p.m. I’ll be speaking with six fellow authors (Lecia Cornwall, Pamela Yaye, Vivi Anna, Michelle Beattie and Lauren Hawkeye) about Surviving Today’s Publishing World. (Hint: it isn’t easy!) I’m bringing 25 books to give away as freebies. There will be other books available for purchase, refreshments and time for chatting and questions.

If you love books, writing, or just want a fun night out, come and visit! By the way, this gathering is in part due to our Chapter organizing for a big workshop on Saturday. We have Michael Hague speaking to our RWA Chapter and we’re all very excited.

What Would You Read…

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…if you had one week to laze around on a beach in Mexico?

My smart guy found a terrific, extraordinary, amazing deal on a week holiday to Manzanillo, and we couldn’t resist. Besides bathing suits and flip flops, I’m packing my next book in Louise Penny’s Three Pine series, The Cruellest Month, and also Jodi Picoult’s Sing You Home, which I started and am anxious to finish.

Of course I’ll be reading the next book in the Bandit Creek series, as well.  Any other recommendations on a good beach read? How about cocktails? (Warning, I’m partial to coconut and rum!)

Welcome to Bandit Creek

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A group from our local writing chapter, the Calgary Romance Writers of America, is launching a new series today.  The idea was to write and self-publish a series of connected stories. Some are contemporary, some historical. All genres are included, too, from mystery to romance to paranormal. The first story, Lost, by Viva Anna, Carla Roma, is available at Amazon right now!

Lost
Visit the website for more details about this innovative project. By the way, my book for the series will be available on December 15, 2011.

Beyond Her Book

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Receptionist Under Cover was recently reviewed in Barbara Vey’s Blog in Publishers Weekly: Beyond Her Book. It’s great to see that the Fox & Fisher Detective Agency books are still finding new readers. I love checking out the reviews in this blog–I’ve found many good books this way. Thanks Sheila for adding another one of mine to the list!

Million Dollar Dad

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Can you imagine a widower’s surprise when he discovers, a year after his beloved wife’s death, that she was the daughter of a multi-millionaire and now he is in line for a million dollar legacy?

A few years ago I wrote a novella with this premise. It was a prequel–something like a teaser–to introduce my Gray Brother’s trilogy. The novella was available as a free read on eharlequin…but now it’s in print, packaged as a bonus read along with Sarah Mayberry’s The Best Laid Plans and Nancy Robards Thompson’s Accidental Heiress. Check it out at Mills and Boon.

It’s fun to think this story I wrote several years ago is finding new readers today. A great way to start the New Year! I hope your New Year is off to a good start too. Thanks for dropping by…and don’t forget to enter my contest this month!

Cheers from CJ