Monday, July 11, 2016

No One But You {+ Giveaway}


It’s my pleasure to be taking part in the Spotlight Tour for author Leigh Greenwood’s latest historical western romance release, NO ONE BUT YOU.

At first glance Leigh may not appear to be what is typically thought of as a romance writer, but don’t let that fool you. Leigh’s tantalizing book will hold you spellbound from beginning to end. As part of this tour, you can enter to win one of five print copies of NO ONE BUT YOU being given away. Please see the end of the post for more details on the tour-wide giveaway.

Title: No One But You
Author: Leigh Greenwood
Pubdate: July 5th, 2016
ISBN: 9781492608257

First Comes Marriage…

Alone in the world and struggling to make ends meet, Texas war widow Sarah Winborne will do anything to keep her two small children safe and her hard-won ranch from going under. She hasn’t fought for so long to lose everything… and if that means marrying a stranger to protect her family’s future, then so be it.
          She never expected anything but a business arrangement, but something about Benton Wheeler’s broad shoulders and kind eyes awakens emotions she’d long since buried. He makes her feel beautiful. He makes her feel desired. He makes her feel like a woman again. And even though their marriage was never intended to be more than a matter of convenience, as Benton stands between her small family and the wild and dangerous West, Sarah may just realize that the cowboy she married is the love she never dreamed she would find…

NO ONE BUT YOU is available to purchase at the following sites: Amazon, Apple, Books-A-Million, Chapters, and Indiebound.
Now here’s an excerpt from the book for your reading pleasure:

“Do you like Salty?” Jared asked.
The question punctured her thoughts. The unexpectedness of it was like a physical blow. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t have married him if I hadn’t.”
“You said you only married because you had to.”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t have married a man I didn’t like or didn’t trust.”
Jared had finished setting the table and putting out the bowls for the food, but he hadn’t put out the glasses. “Do you want him to stay after he fixes things so we won’t starve? He said he couldn’t get the land until you divorce him.”
Sarah didn’t know what had prompted Jared to ask these questions. She had always tried to be forthcoming with the children, but maybe she’d told them too much. “That’s a long way in the future.”
“Would you let him stay if he wants to?”
Sarah dragged her attention back to the stove. She moved the potatoes off the heat and checked the bottom of the cornbread to make sure it hadn’t burned. “Why are you asking this?”
“Because I want Salty to stay. Forever.”
Sarah forgot her potatoes and cornbread. She looked at her son. “Do you like him that much already?”
“I wish he could be my papa. Arnie said he wanted to be my papa, but I didn’t want him. I want Salty.”
Sarah pulled her son close and gave him a swift hug. “Honey, I know how important your crutch is to you, but anybody could have made you one.”
“But nobody did.”
And Salty had indeed made one, had made it a priority despite staying up all night. He’d taken them to eat in a restaurant, bought them a dog, and let them stay in a hotel. No wonder Jared wanted him to stay.
“He might decide to sell his land once he gets it,” she cautioned.
“He won’t.” It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t even an opinion. Jared spoke as though his belief were an established fact.
“Why do you think that?”
“He doesn’t like Mr. Wallace.”
“Did he say so?”
“No, but I can tell.”
And that apparently settled the question for Jared, because he started setting out glasses.
Sarah hadn’t let herself think about what Salty might do when it came time to sign over half of the ranch; not lately. He had become part of her plans nearly as quickly as he had done for Jared. She was more attracted to him than ever. But that’s not what worried her. She liked him. That wasn’t in her plans.
It was okay to like him as a co-worker. It was okay to like him as a friend. It was even okay for her to start to depend on him for physical labor, seeing as he was her husband. However, it was not okay to want him around all the time. It wasn’t okay to think of him touching her, holding her, even kissing her.
She’d been on edge so long she probably wasn’t thinking clearly. She was simply grateful to find someone who might actually solve her problems. As a result, she had started thinking she’d like him to stay around forever. But was she so grateful, so relieved, she’d forgotten what her father was like, or Roger? Had she forgotten the men who’d worked for her, who were more interested in getting into her bed than in doing the work they were paid to do? Rose Randolph might have found a man she could love in a fairy-tale way, but Sarah didn’t trust any man that much.
But, maybe she could take him as a lover?
The thought shocked her so much she nearly dropped the pan of cornbread she was taking off the stove. She’d never had such a thought in her life. What was wrong with her? But the thought of being held and kissed by Salty caused her temperature to rise. Something deep inside her longed for the physical contact, and it wasn’t just a sense of safety she might find in his arms. She sought something much more fundamental, something she hadn’t felt with Roger or any other man. It was as though she needed him. She could understand want, could even understand lust, but where had need come from? It wasn’t physical. She could take care of herself. It was an emotional need, one she’d never been able to fulfill, only deny.
“Hurry up with the cornbread, Mama. Ellen and Salty are almost here.”
Sarah’s impulse was to run to her bedroom. How could she face Salty with her thoughts in such disarray? She stood frozen while the pair entered the house. Then she did something she’d never done before. She fainted.


Author Leigh Greenwood
Leigh Greenwood is the USA Today bestselling author of the popular Seven Brides, Cowboys, and Night Riders series. The proud father of three grown children, Leigh resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Leigh never intended to be a writer, but he found it hard to ignore the people in his head, and the only way to get them out was to write. Visit him at www.leigh-greenwood.com.
 
This tour-wide giveaway is for five (5) print copies of NO ONE BUT YOU by Leigh Greenwood. The giveaway will end on July 18.

To enter the giveaway just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks for stopping by today. Do you think men can write romance just as well as women? When you read a romance book can you tell if it’s written by a male or female?


16 comments:

  1. Of course men can write romance. And feel romance. Which is lovely.

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  2. I haven't read many romance novels by a man but this sounds like a terrific story!

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  3. What a great post! I am a longtime Leigh Greenwood fan!!! I do think that men can write great romance stories--like Leigh Greenwood. Sometimes, I can tell the difference--it all depends on the skill of the writer. "Marriage of Convenience" is one of my favorite storylines. It's one that I reach for time and time again. The hero and heroine are often trying to overcome great hardship, or, in order to move forward with their lives for financial gain, they must marry. They discover much about themselves as they get to know each other and adapt to their new relationship.

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  4. Hey, that author lives in my neck of the woods.
    I would struggle with romance. Really struggle. Hat's off to you, Leigh.

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  5. Cool to see another Charlotte-area writer!

    I've tried romantic subplots for mysteries and it's tough for me, although I think I've improved (slightly). I do think men can write romance just as well as women and good to see them doing just that!

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  6. I like the setting and context for this one, Mason. Thanks for sharing. And I think the more we see different sorts of authors writing different sorts of books, the more quickly we'll get beyond the idea that 'men don't writer romance,' or 'women don't write sci-fi.' I don't think Those stereotypes are productive.

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  7. Sounds like a really cool story. Especially since it takes place in Texas :)

    Some people think men can't write romance and women can't write crime fiction. You rock, Leigh.

    Thanks for hosting him, Mason!

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  8. Thanks for this captivating giveaway. Men can write beautiful romance stories.

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  9. I think it would be interesting to read a man's take on romance.

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  10. Mr Greenwood is almost singlehandedly the reason why I write historical romances. And the Seven Brides series (from which this book is spun off) is one of my favorites. ^_^

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  11. I was just thinking when I saw the name, "Is that the male romance writer?" I thought it was. I believe he was president of RWA for a while?

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  12. I think a romance from a man's POV would be very revealing and probably highly educational. Now I'm wondering, are there others?

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  13. Of course men can write romance. Romance through a mans prospective!! Awesome!

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  14. I'm a little late commenting, but it has given me a chance to read these interesting comments. Men have to be romantic. Otherwise, women in search of romance would forever be doomed to disappointment. I know of too many successful marriages to doubt that. As for POV, men and women are definitely different, but I believe they look for the same things in romance. They just happen to view them from slightly different angles.

    I had always wanted to write a spinoff about one the characters from the Seven Brides series. It was years before my editor would agree, but when she did I knew the story had to be about Salty. I'd gotten many comments from readers about the twins, William Henry, Dodie, Jordy, and several others, but the most requests were for Salty. I hope you enjoy his story. As for a "marriage of convenience", I think this could be more accurately termed a "marriage of desperation."

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  15. I can't think of any specific Marriage of Convenience Books Thanks for the giveaway

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    1. Above I answered the question in The Rafflecopter The other questions I imagine they could write Romance just the same but I don't know of any

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.