Memorial Day

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

Welcome to the Secret Cravings Publishing Contemporary Blog Hop, featuring the wonderful SCP authors and their contemporary novels. I feel very fortunate to have signed with Secret Cravings a few years ago and hope to stay with them for a long time. The book I'm featuring today is my contemporary romantic suspense, Saved by the Sheriff.

New York City writer, Jaime Wilson wants the Assistant Editor job at Real Mystery Magazine. In order to get it, she has to write a kick-ass story, and what could be better than a 30-year old unsolved murder in a small town.

When Jaime visits Royal, Indiana to investigate, she soon finds that someone in the town doesn't want the mystery solved and she becomes a target. After an arrest for trespassing and an attempt on her life, Sheriff Ben Hunter lets her stay at his place where he can keep an eye on her while she continues to work on her story.

She didn't count on falling in love with the sheriff and he didn't think he would have to work so hard to keep her safe. Finally, when she finishes her story, she has to make her choice whether to stay with Ben or go back to New York.

Excerpt:
Jaime carefully walked up to the old house that stood near a newer home with a barn between the two. She took a few pictures through the windows. The inside of the house looked like no one had been there in years. Perhaps left just the way it was when the Murdock's had last been there. She stood at the front door and couldn't resist trying the knob. The door opened.

"I don't think that's a good idea," he warned.

"I'll just take one picture of the inside and then we'll go." She took one step into the house.

"I don't think that's a good idea," he related again.

"You should listen to the boy," a deep voice echoed from behind them.
She knew that voice.

"Come on out."

Jaime turned to see Ben standing at the corner of the old house, handcuffing Bobby behind his back. "What are you doing?" she asked, walking over to them.

"Arresting him for trespassing. You're next."

"What!"

"Didn't you see the No Trespassing sign?" Ben asked.

"Yes, but..."

"Then you should have turned back. Now, turn around."

Jaime put her camera on the porch and turned around for Ben to handcuff her. "This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I thought of you handcuffing me," she mumbled to him.

He didn't answer, but instead picked up her camera and led them through the trees to his police car that was parked in front of the other house. She assumed it belonged to the Cook family. A woman in a housedress stood on the front porch.

"They won't be back out here again, Mrs. Cook," Ben called to the lady.

"Thanks, Sheriff."

He opened the back door of his car and Bobby got in. Before Jaime got in, she looked up at Ben. "I'm sorry."

He didn't answer, but put his hand on top of her head so she wouldn't bump it as he guided her into the car.

You can find Saved by the Sheriff in several different e-book formats on the SCP web site at http://bit.ly/ScpPre or in paperback and for Kindles at http://amzn.to/dMglpd or for your Nook at http://bit.ly/y72Po8

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to visit the other SCP authors. You can start at the Secret Cravings Publishing Blog.

Carol

Contest Winner

Congratulations to Shadow, who won a pdf copy of my book, "Spring Forward, Fall Back in Love" in my Caliente Blog Hop post below.

Shadow, I'll be emailing your prize to you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered.

Carol

Caliente Cowboys!

Welcome to my post for the Caliente Blog Hop, where all things are hot. The host for this blog hop is giving away a great prize, so make sure you click on the link above and see what to do to enter. For my blog, I'm giving away a pdf copy of my e-book "Spring Forward, Fall Back in Love." Leave a comment, along with your email address and you'll be entered.

The last person Grace Taylor wanted to see was her old boyfriend, Andy Granger, but that's exactly who was standing in front of her on the porch of the ranch. To make matters worse, he was her trail guide. When an unexpected spring storm strands them in a secluded mountain cabin, memories and old feelings emerge. Can Grace keep the secret she'd kept for eight years while at the same time keep Andy at a distance?

Since my book is about a hot, sexy cowboy in Colorado, I wanted to list my favorite caliente cowboys from television and movies. 

1. Tom Selleck and 2. Sam Elliott. Both played brothers in The Shadow Riders, a 1982 television movie. I don't think there is any cowboy any sexier than those two in that movie. The third brother in the movie was played by Jeff Osterhage. The Shadow Riders was based upon the Louis L'Amour book of the same name. Prior to The Shadow Riders, Selleck, Elliott and Osterhage played brothers in The Sacketts, based on two of L'Amour's books called "The Daybreakers" and "Sackett."

3. Bruce Campbell in The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. Airing on television in 1993-1994, Brisco was a western with just a touch of science fiction. Set in 1893, Brisco County Jr was hired by the members of the Westerfield Club to track and re-capture the notorious John Bly, who killed Brisco's father, Brisco County Sr. The show was full of the traditional train robberies and gunfights, but with a mix of fantasy and technology. Campbell went through five auditions before being hired to play Brisco. I can't imagine anyone else playing the quirky cowboy other than Bruce Campbell.

4. Clint Eastwood. How can you talk about hot cowboys and not include Clint Eastwood. I think he's made around fourteen westerns and was great in everyone of them, but my favorite is Pale Rider. Made in 1985, the title Pale Rider referenced the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from the book of Revelation, "I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death."

5. James Garner as Bret Maverick. I'm dating myself, but I remember the TV series, Maverick when it was in black and white. The series ran from 1957 through 1962 and let me preface this by saying I was not even born yet when this show started so maybe I remember the reruns in black and white. Maverick was a gambler from Texas that traveled all over the American west and Mississippi riverboats seeking his fortune, but usually getting into trouble. Maverick loved to compare his situations with old saying from his "pappy." In 1994, James Garner appeared in the movie remake of Maverick by playing Marshal Zane Cooper to Mel Gibson's Bret Maverick.

6. Robert Conrad as Secret Service Agent James West. The Wild Wild West aired on CBS for four seasons starting in 1965. It was one of the first steampunk shows, although I don't think anyone knew what steampunk was back then. Who could forget Robert Conrad in all of those fights scenes where those tight pants. That was definitely caliente back in those times. West lived in a railroad car and traveled all over the west solving crimes for the government with his partner, Artimus Gordon, played by Ross Martin. I watch reruns of The Wild Wild West on Saturday afternoons.

7. Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds. Firefly is considered a space western and Mal is the sexiest captain on this side of the star system. Mal and his crew traveled the galaxy in the spaceship, Serenity. Firefly lasted only one season on the FOX network and was cancelled after only eleven episodes. Due to it's cult following, sales of the series DVD have done very well and Nathan Fillion's appearances at Comic-Con have an increased attendance every year.

So, there you have my list of favorite sexy, Caliente Cowboys. Now, it's your turn. Tell me who your favorite cowboys are and why. Don't forget, leaving a comment and email address will enter you into my contest for a pdf copy of my novella, "Spring Forward, Fall Back in Love." I'll announce the winner on May 12 here on the blog.

Carol

Excerpt from "Spring Forward, Fall Back in Love"

The cover is posted all over this blog, so I'll not post it again. Here is an excerpt from my current release, "Spring Forward, Fall Back in Love." You can find the e-book novella on my publisher's web site in several formats at http://ow.ly/kcWYH  It should be available within the next few weeks on Amazon and Barnes & Noble sites.

Thanks,
Carol

"Tell us about your boyfriend, Grace," Maria teased. "You did have a high school sweetheart, didn't you?"

"Well, yes."

"What did he look like?" Silvia inquired.

"He was just an average guy."

Lucy's drink was served and she took a gulp. "Next question, how old were you when you lost your virginity?"

As Grace opened her mouth, someone behind her spoke. "She was sixteen."

She recognized that voice and turned to find Andy standing behind her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Grace, aren't you going to introduce us?" Lucy said, standing.

"He's not worth an introduction." She turned back to the table.

"I'm Lucy Marlow and you are?" She extended her hand and took his.

"Andy Granger, Grace's high school sweetheart."

"And, apparently the man she lost her virginity to," Lucy said, still holding his hand. "Would you like to join us? We'd love to hear stories about our Grace."

"No, he wouldn't." Grace stared at Andy.

He apparently got the message. "No, I can't. I just wanted to stop by and say hello." He pulled away from Lucy's grasp and walked back to the bar where he joined his buddies.

"Pity," Lucy said, watching him walk away. "Grace, he's hot as hell. Was he that good-looking as a teenager?"

"We parted on bad terms, so I'd just as soon not talk about him."

"We understand," Silvia said.

"Now wait a minute. So, you have no interest in him?" Lucy asked.

"None."

"Then, you wouldn't mind if I went over and talked to him?"

Grace knew that meant Lucy would do everything she could to get him into bed tonight. But, what could she do? She had no claim to him, and, as soon as this weekend was over, she didn't plan on ever seeing him again. "Not at all. Talk to him all you want."

That's all Lucy needed to hear. She jumped up and sauntered over to the bar where Andy sat with his buddies.

"I can't believe you let her do that," Maria said. "You know what she has in mind."

"I have no feelings for him."

"That's not how it looked when you heard his voice behind you just now."

Grace looked over at Andy. Lucy already had her paws on him, rubbing his thigh, and his buddies looked like they were ready to pounce on her if given the chance. As she was turning her attention back to the table, she glanced at the door. "Look, James is here."

Now Available!

 

"Spring Forward, Fall Back in Love" is now available on the Secret Cravings Publishing web site in several e-book formats. 

The last person Grace Taylor wanted to see was her old boyfriend, Andy Granger, but that's exactly who was standing in front of her on the porch of the ranch. To make matters worse, he was her trail guide. When an unexpected spring storm strands them in a secluded mountain cabin, memories and old feelings emerge. Can Grace keep the secret she'd kept for eight years while at the same time keep Andy at a distance?

 

Release Date April 19

My next book, "Spring Forward, Fall Back in Love" is scheduled for an April 19, 2013 release in e-book format on the Secret Cravings Publishing web site. This is my first novella and I'm excited that it will soon be out.

Carol