Welcome Back to Apple Grove and a Giveaway

Note: The winner of this giveaway is Glenda M. Congratulations, Glenda and thanks to all that enter the giveaway.

I’m delighted to welcome author C.H. Admirand back to Thoughts in Progress as she tours blogdom with her new release, WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE.

Thanks to C.H. and the lovely Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have one copy of WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.


Here’s a brief synopsis of WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE……

There's No Place Like Home...
      Grace Mulcahy thought she'd finally gotten Apple Grove, Ohio, out of her system. Then she's lured back for a family barbecue and spies a broad-shouldered hottie hanging out at the grill. He somehow seems utterly at ease, whether flipping burgers or horsing around with her hellion nephews. Why didn't her brother-in-law tell her he had such gorgeous friends? Suddenly her mouth is watering for more than her best friend's famous pie.
Some fires aren't meant to be fought…
      When firefighter Pat Garahan sees Grace, it's like a five-alarm bell goes off and he's the one ablaze. She says she wants to leave Apple Grove, but he will do whatever it takes to keep her around. The life of a firefighter isn't an easy one though, and he'll have to prove their immediate spark can have a lasting chance at love…

C.H. joins now and has graciously answered some questions for me about her new release and her writing.

Mason - What drew you to write about small town life in the beginning and did you realize it would be a series as those first few pages began to come together? 

C.H.:
My editor, Deb Werksman, asked how I’d feel about writing a small town contemporary series for them. At the time I was in LA for the RT Booklover’s Convention and working on edits for the second book in my contemporary cowboy series. I jumped at the chance because I had this idea about three sisters who were taking over the family business—a handyman business. I always think in terms of family, so it’s either: brothers, sisters, cousins, or close friends.

Mason - Do you do anything special to put yourself in the mood to write and release your muse?
 
C.H.:
Actually, I’m working on a new routine since I’ve been spending a big chunk of my time babysitting our grandson. I haven’t really worked that out yet, but I am on deadline with my new series, so I guess I’d better start figuring one out! LOL

Mason - Since writers also enjoy reading, what were the last two books you read?

C.H.:
I just finished reading DARK WITCH by Nora Roberts and loved it! It takes place over in Ireland and is about cousins…it’s that family thing, draws me in every time. DANGEROUS REFUGE by Elizabeth Lowell and loved this one too. It takes place out West—I’m a sucker for that locale in books.
 
Mason - The cover of WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE is charming and inviting. Are you able to have an input into the cover design of your books?
 
C.H.:
Not with my previous and current covers, but I will in my new series. I’m excited about that.

Mason - If I were looking to visit a real town that would be similar to Apple Grove, could you recommend a town that you feel has the same atmosphere?
 
C.H.:
That’s a tough one because Apple Grove was created from bits and pieces from my childhood neighborhood, the neighborhood we’ve raised our children in, and some of my favorite TV shows as a kid: Petticoat Junction, the Andy Griffith Show, Green Acres, Gunsmoke, Cheyenne and Bonanza.

Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?

C.H.:
I’m going to be re-releasing the first book in my Regency-era Historical series, THE THREE VICES: PATIENCE in the next month or so. Books 2 and 3: CHARITY and PRUDENCE are wips that I plan to have ready for 2014. Then there is the exciting new Historical Irish Western series that I’ll be writing for Sourcebooks, due to release in 2015. It’s going to be a busy around here for the next little while

C.H., thanks for visiting with us again. It’s fun learning how this series came to be.
For those not familiar with C.H., let me give you some background.

C.H. was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but grew up in New Jersey. She has been delighting readers with her Secret Life of Cowboys Series, featuring three cowboy brothers with Irish charm, as well as the Small Town USA Series, with the quirky characters of Apple Grove, OH. 

She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ best traits, in New Jersey. For more information on C.H. and her writing, please visit www.CHAdmirand.com. 

WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE is available at the following locations: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, Chapters/Indigo, IndieBound, iBookstore, Sourcebooks, and Discover a New Love.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one copy of WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Welcome Back to Apple Grove.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE is 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Dec. 23.

Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Do you know a small town that would be similar to Apple Grove?

Author C.H. Admirand: One Day in Apple Grove

It’s my pleasure to welcome author C.H. Admirand back to Thoughts in Progress today. She joins us to talk about the latest release in her contemporary small town series, ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE.

Thanks to C.H. and the lovely Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have a copy of ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE to giveaway to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details. Here’s a brief synopsis of the book:

    Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (pop. 597), a small town with a big heart.
    Caitlin Mulcahy loves her family. She really does. But sometimes they can drive her to her last shred of sanity—from her dad ("I'm not meddling, I just want what's best for you") to her eight-months-pregnant older sister to her younger sister, who will do just about anything to avoid real work. Cait just needs to get away, even if for only an hour.
    When she sees someone in need of help on the side of the road, of course she's going to pull over. She might even be able to fix his engine—after all, the Mulcahy family is a handy bunch. She's not expecting that former Navy medic Jack Gannon and a little black puppy named Jameson will be the ones who end up rescuing in her.

C.H. has graciously answered some questions about her new release and her writing.

Mason - What drew you to write about happenings and people in a small town?

C.H.:
Having grown up in a small neighborhood of 20 – 25 homes with a bunch of dead-end streets, it felt as if we were a tiny town all our own. We moved 25 minutes north of where my husband and I grew up and raised our family in a tiny lake community that had everything we were looking for. A safe place for our kids to play and grow while experiencing the tight-knit community we loved. It was my former editor’s idea to write a series set in a small town, and I jumped at the chance to try something new.
 
Mason - With the book’s release, as you look back what was the biggest surprise that occurred in writing the story?

C.H.:
I really had no idea the little black ball of fuzz—stray puppy Jameson—would run out in front of Jack or straight into Caitlin’s arms, bringing those two together.
 
Mason - What would you recommend visitors to your hometown do that they wouldn’t find noted in any tourist brochures?

C.H.:
I’d tell them to take a walk and experience the wildlife that lives in and around our town. There are woods all around us and a large part of our town is watershed property, so it can never be developed. I really like that. There are so many different types of birds, animals, and creatures that crawl and slither… I’ve got this great idea for a children’s series based on the abundance of nature surrounding us here.

Mason - As a published author, has your perspective of authors in general changed?

C.H.:
I suppose it has—having just turned in the copyedits for my 15th book, I wonder how my favorite authors have had the staying power to keep writing while dealing with all of the things that life tosses in our paths as roadblocks now and again. I have great respect for these women who have balanced life, family, writing, and the business side of being an author.

Mason - Has anything strange or unusual ever happened to you at a book signing, author event or literary festival?

C.H.:
Hmmm…I don’t think it’s especially unusual, but I have been asked where the bathroom is more than once at book signings. What I find delightful, and never tire of hearing, is when readers come up to me and tell me how much they’ve enjoyed reading my books.
 
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?

C.H.:
The second book in my contemporary small town series: ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE released on June 4th and the third book: WELCOME BACK TO APPLE GROVE releases on December 3rd. In between, I’ve re-released the first two books in my historical Irish Western Series: THE MARSHALS’ DESTINY and THE RANCHER’S HEART, and will be releasing the 3rd and 4th books soon. I’m working on a proposal for a new Historical Western Romance series…so keep your fingers crossed!

C.H., thanks for visiting with us again. Your love of the small town atmosphere comes through in your books, making it a place readers wants to visit.

C.H. was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but grew up in New Jersey. She has been delighting readers with her Secret Life of Cowboys Series, featuring three cowboy brothers with Irish charm, and is now working on the next book in her small town contemporary romance series, featuring the town and quirky characters of Apple Grove, OH. 

She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ best traits, in New Jersey. For more information on C.H. and her writing, visit her at www.CHAdmirand.com  

Here’s what one reviewer had to say about ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE:
    “The talented Admirand is able to write about these serious issues realistically but in a way that makes this book still feel light and fun.” — RT Book Reviews, 4½ Stars

ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE is available at the following locations:
Amazon  *  Barnes and Noble  *  Books-a-Million  *  IndieBound  *  Chapters/Indigo  *  Discover a New Love  *  Sourcebooks

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
    To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win One Day In Apple Grove.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of ONE DAY IN APPLE GROVE is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, July 3.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Which do you prefer - small town life or big city lights?

Author C.H. Admirand: A New Series, Writing And A Giveaway

It’s always a pleasure to have author C.H. Admirand stop by Thoughts during a blog tour. Today she’s here to answer writing questions, talk about her latest release, JESSE, and offer a giveaway.

JESSE is the third and final installment in C.H.’s Secrets Life of Cowboys series. Thanks to C.H. and the delightful Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have 1 copy of JESSE to giveaway to a lucky visitor who comments on today’s post by 8 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, July 24. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Be sure to include your email address with your comment, if it’s not included in your profile.

Now C.H. joins us to answer some questions.

Mason - Do you plot out your story or does it come together as you begin writing with a certain theme?

C.H. - I usually plot out my stories from start to finish, but the interesting part of that is my characters often decide to go off in a different direction. The one time I didn’t pay attention to them, the story just didn’t ring true, so from then on, I made sure to pay attention and make adjustments along the way. :-)

Mason - What is the most useful writing advice you've been given?

C.H. - Keep writing and attending workshops and conferences to hone your craft. The more you write, the better you become. My advice is to NEVER give up, you never know just how close you are to achieving your goal of being published if you do!

Mason - How did you come to be a writer?

C.H. - I’ve always loved writing, but my 7th Grade English teacher, Mrs. Smith, sparked the need to write. I started with poetry, and short stories before penning my first full length novel: THE KEY TO THE BRIAR KEEP…which is still in a box under my bed! :-)

Mason - For new fans, what other books do you have available?

C.H. - For historical fans, check out my Medieval Trilogy and historical Irish Western Series on my website: http://www.chadmirand.com and my other titles, too.

Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?

C.H. - My Small Town USA series, coming from Sourcebooks in November: Welcome to Apple Grove! The first book, A WEDDING IN APPLE GROVE releases on November 3rd. The Mulcahy sisters: Megan, Caitlin, and Grace have been running the family’s handyman business since their father retired. Love is always in the air in Apple Grove, Ohio…the proof is painted on the town’s yellow water tower in John Deere Green. And then in March 2013, my first digital comic…BRING ‘EM BACK ALIVE will be released from Sea Lion Books…and if you are attending RT’s Book Lovers Convention in Kansas City, MO, you can get your limited edition copy at the E-Book & Graphic Expo!

C.H., as always thanks for stopping by. It sounds like we readers have a lot to look forward to with a new series and a digital comic.

For those who don’t know C.H., here’s a bit of background on her. She was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but grew up in New Jersey. She has been delighting readers with her Secret Life of Cowboys Series, featuring three cowboy brothers with Irish charm, and is now working on her new small town contemporary romance series, featuring the town and quirky characters of Apple Grove, OH. The first book, A WEDDING IN APPLE GROVE, hits stores this November. 

She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ best traits, in New Jersey. For more information about C.H. and her writing, visit her website at www.CHAdmirand.com and follow her on Twitter, @CHAdmirand. 

Here’s what RT Book Reviews had to say about JESSE “Get swept away with C.H. Admirand…A storyteller with "amazing flair...Readers will be left panting." 4 ½ Stars

Here’s a brief synopsis of JESSE:
Loneliness Will Take a Man Places...
Jesse Garahan has plenty of Irish charm, but having had his heart demolished twice, he's sworn off women forever. Until the fateful day he meets Danielle Brockway and her tiny daughter on their way to their new home in Pleasure, Texas.

But There May Be Places He Doesn't Want To Go...
Fiercely protective of her little girl, Danielle isn't about to let Jesse get anywhere close enough to hurt either of them, no matter how much longing she sees in his eyes...

Do you like to get swept away by a good book forgetting all of life’s problems for just a little while? Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting with C.H. Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of JESSE.

Jesse by C.H. Admirand

Good wholesome stories that focus on family, friends, love and caring are always fun and uplifting to read.

Author C.H. Admirand has such stories in her The Secret Life of Cowboys series with her latest release, JESSE, being a great example.

Admirand makes her characters realistic people you’d really like to know. She sprinkles in a little mystery, some steamy romance and a delightful sense of humor for a well-balanced story.

Jesse Garahan is a sexy and charming cowboy who has given up on love after being hurt twice by the same woman. Being a true cowboy though, Jesse stops to give a stranded motorist help and finds more than he bargained for.

Danielle Brockway doesn’t much care for cowboys anymore thanks to her ex, a bull rider. She’s just trying to get to her uncle’s with her little girl to start a new life. When Jesse stops to help, life takes an unexpected turn.

The easy flowing conversational-style writing moves the story along while holding your attention. It will have you shaking your head and laughing. It may even pull on your heart strings a bit and have you turning up the AC as things heat up between Jesse and Danielle. You won’t be able to resist Lacy either.

JESSE is the third and final installment in The Secret Life of Cowboys series but is a stand alone read. Readers will be treated to characters from the previous installments - TYLER and DYLAN - but won’t be at a loss as to what is going on.

For a fun-filled afternoon of pleasant, steamy reading, be sure to include JESSE in your list of books.

Author C.H. Admirand’s website is http://chadmirand.com/

 
Jesse by C.H. Admirand, The Secret Life of Cowboys, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402265198, Paperback, 352 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

Do you enjoy books with a cowboy theme where family comes first? Be sure to stop by tomorrow when author C.H. Admirand joins us. She will answer some questions about her writing and tell us about her new series.

Sunday Salon: Romance Comes In Many Flavors

Sunday Salon - Gather around my friends, refill your cups and let’s talk books!

When it comes to placing books in genres, I’m amazed at how many sub-genres there are and just how many ways a book can be listed.

Romance is one of those genres that can cover a vast array of sub-listing. I have only 3 examples of that today and they fall into paranormal, western and historical sub-categories of romance. May we always find a little romance in everything we do.

A DEMON DOES IT BETTER by Linda Wisdom

Doctor Lili Carter is a witch healer extraordinaire with a cat familiar named Cleo. After more than a century, Lili returns to San Francisco and has taken a job at Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum, well-known to the supernatural world.

As of late, however, there is something peculiar and wicked happening at Crying Souls. Patients are disappearing and being the curious witch she is, Lili wants to know why.

In a short time, Lili finds herself undeniably attracted to perhaps the most mysterious patient of all — a demented but seriously sexy demon named Jared. What’s behind the gorgeous chameleon demon’s late-night escapades? Before long, Lili and Jared are investigating each other—and creating a whole new kind of magic. But what other dangers are around the corner for both Lili and Jared? Who has the strongest magic?

Author Linda Wisdom has a way of creating a world filled with witches and demons that seems normal and ordinary. Her characters are realistic despite their unique abilities. While her characters may be zany and a bit ‘different,’ they are filled with love, caring, loyalty and friendship (except for the evil ones, of course).

The storyline flows smoothly and quickly. Wisdom combines steamy, sexy characters with humor, adds in a dose of danger and intrigue, stirs in a few surprises and a measure of history for a spellbinding story you can’t put down.

Author Linda Wisdom’s website is www.LindaWisdom.com. 

A Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom, A Demon Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402236723, Paperback, 352 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

DYLAN by C.H. Admirand

Earn some extra cash and helping out the club owner, Dylan Garahan is working as a dancer at the Lucky Star club. When he’s asked to lasso a brunette as a birthday surprise, he’s the one gets surprised. This time even his formidable strength can’t tame this filly. 

She’s wily and beautiful… and she soon becomes his new boss. Dylan’s had his heart broken before, but even an honest cowpoke has to wrestle with temptation. 

Ronnie DelVecchio had recently purchased the Guilty Pleasure store and was attempting to make a go of it when vandals struck not once but twice. Now her store needs some major repairs and a Garahan brother is suppose to be the carpenter.

While she might be fresh off the bus from New Jersey, Ronnie is a hard-edged businesswoman and has had her fill of men she can’t trust. Should she consider getting off her high horse for that big handsome rancher with a Texas drawl?

You know from the moment these two meet that it’s going to be a bumpy road to the end filled with humor and enough twists and turns to make you want to ring both of their necks while loving it all the way. Author C.H. Admirand has created characters that you feel you’ve known all your life and ones you want to get to know more.

DYLAN is the second installment in the Secret Life of Cowboys series, but is a stand alone read. There are references to the prior book (TYLER), but not so that new readers are lost. If you’re looking for a sexy cowboy to swept you off your feet as you read of ranch life, you’ve come to the right book. Looking forward to seeing what the youngest Garahan brother (JESSE) gets into next.

Author C.H. Admirand’s website is www.chadmirand.com

Dylan by C.H. Admirand, The Secret Life of Cowboys Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402258077, Paperback, 384 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

IRISH LADY by Jeanette Baker

Born in the slums of Belfast, Meghann McCarthy thought she had left that life far behind. Now a successful and brilliant barriester, Meghann is a woman who has made all her childhood dreams come true - becoming a rich and living in London’s classiest district. 

Yet Meghann can never quite banish Ireland from her heart, or forget Michael Devlin, the boy from the slums she once loved with a passion that nearly tore her apart. Now Michael needs her help.

Because she has never forgotten, Meghann agrees to defend Michael — a notorious Irish nationalist — when he becomes involved in a vicious court case. She’ll risk everything to save him and she’s not the first of her family to do for a man she loves. As Meghann delves further into Michael’s case, further into the history that binds them so irrevocably, she slips into the unfolding drama of centuries before…of another woman’s desperate fight to free her rebel husband from the clutches of Queen Elizabeth.

But even as she jeopardizes her hard-won success, she at last finds the true power and spirit of the Irish heritage she has too long denied…and the courage to face her love for Michael Devlin. 

This is a tale of love and turmoil weaving with the past and present. Author Jeanette Baker places the reader in the setting with her vivid descriptions and wonderful dialect. The love and loyalty will tug at your heartstrings.

Baker beautifully transitions between the present and past making the story flow smoothly as you are caught up in the adventure. The story will captivate you and not let go until the end.

Author Jeanette Baker’s website is www.jeanettebaker.com.

Irish Lady by Jeanette Baker, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402255922, Paperback, 336 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

Do you enjoy a little romance in what you read? Do you like finding other genres – history, paranormal, western, etc. – in with your romance stories? Thanks for stopping by and have a safe and wonderful Sunday.

Author C.H. Admirand: Cowboy Tidbits And A Giveaway

It’s always fun when author C.H. Admirand drops by to talk about her latest cowboy-themed release or discuss writing in general.

Today, C.H. joins us to answers some questions about her characters and their likes from her current release, DYLAN. In addition, thanks to C.H. and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have 2 copies of DYLAN to giveaway to 2 lucky visitors who comment on this post by 8 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Be sure to leave your e-mail address in the comments, if it’s not included in your profile. 

Here’s a brief synopsis of DYLAN:
There was nothing he couldn’t tame…
Dylan Garahan might be an old hand at lassoing fillies, but one night at the Lucky Star club, and he ends up wrapping his rope around someone that even his formidable strength can’t tame. She’s wily and beautiful… and she’s his new boss. Dylan’s had his heart broken bfore, but even an honest cowpoke has to wrestle with temptation… 

Until he got his lasso around her…
Ronnie DelVecchio might be fresh off the bus from New Jersey, but she’s a hard-edged businesswoman and has had her fill of men she can’t trust—although she might consider getting off her high horse for that big handsome rancher with a Texas drawl.

Now for the questions. 

Mason - Do your main 2 characters have a library or a collection of books? What would be their favorite genres to read?

C.H. - There are a couple of shelves in the living room at the Circle G filled an eclectic mix of books and magazines that the Garahans have collected over the years. Classics—American and British, murder mysteries, science fiction, back issues of National Geographic, The Cattleman Magazine, The Texas Longhorn Journal, and their family treasure: a set of Encyclopaedia Brittanica from 1880. When Ronnie married Dylan she brought her collection of romance novels with her.

Mason - List 5 of their favorite books.

C.H. - Dylan’s favorites are: To Kill a Mockingbird and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Ronnie’s are: The Last Honest Woman, Falling for Rachel, and Born in Fire.

Mason - Tell us one thing about each of the 2 main characters that even their friends don't know.

C.H. - Dylan is a romantic at heart. Ronnie always wanted a big family.

Mason - How did these main 2 characters first come to you?

C.H. - Dylan and Jesse came to me almost immediately while writing their older brother Tyler’s story. Once I began Dylan’s story, I knew he needed a strong, feisty woman to give him a run for his money while teaching him how to love. Ronnie was right there as soon as I started plotting Dylan’s story.

Mason - Do you try to include some type of meaning or message (such as enjoy life) in your story or does it just develop on its own?

C.H. - Because of the strengths, weaknesses, faults, and virtues that I’ve given each of my characters, there is always a meaning/message in my stories. Life isn’t for the faint of heart and everyone deserves to be treated well and loved for who and what they are. As my characters grow and develop their particular message becomes clearer to the reader so that they’ll be cheering for my characters as they struggle through adversity to reach their happily ever after.

C.H., thanks so much for guest blogging today. I enjoyed learning more about Dylan’s taste and how Ronnie’s character came about.

Here’s a bit of background on C.H. She was born in Aiken, South Carolina, and has published 9 bestselling novels for the library market. Her Secret Life of Cowboy series, published by Sourcebooks Casablanca includes TYLER (available now), DYLAN (in stores January 2012) and JESSE (in stores July 2012).

She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ very best traits, in northern New Jersey. For more information on C.H. and her writing, please visit http://www.chadmirand.com/ or follower her on twitter, @chadmirand.

 

What are your thoughts on cowboys/cowgirls and their books? Remember to leave a comment by 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, for a chance to win 1 of 2 copies of DYLAN. Thanks so much for stopping by today.

 

Tyler by C.H. Admirand

It's always fun to read about cowboys and their problems, but the latest book by author C.H. Admirand puts a new spin on the story.

TYLER, THE SECRET LIFE OF COWBOYS by C.H. Admirand

Family and land mean an awful lot to a cowboy and he’ll do just about anything to save either one.

When Tyler Garaham, the eldest of the three brothers, is faced with losing the family’s ranch he goes looking for extra work in town. He never expected to land the kind of job he did nor did he plan on falling head over heels for a fiery redhead.

Emily Langley wasn’t looking for a man and she especially wasn’t looking to fall in love with a cowboy. Emily and her cousin have always had each other’s back. When the new headliner her cousin hires has Emily daydreaming about night things at all hours, she starts to wonder could there be more.

TYLER is most definitely a love story with enough heat and passion that it would be a good idea to keep a cold drink handy just so you can cool down before the next chapter.

However, author C.H. Admirand has also created a story filled with loyalty, honor, friendship, endurance, hope and some values from a simpler time. She has even thrown in a few characters you’d like to see horsewhipped for their lying ways.

The author touches on the hard times many people are facing and what lengths some will go to hold on to what they can.

Tyler has turned to taking his clothes off to save the family ranch. What will happen when his brothers find out? How will Emily feel when she learns he’s a real cowboy down on his luck with not much to offer her?

Meanwhile, the ladies of The Lucky Star are having to deal with threatening phones calls and someone taking shots at their business. Seems it’s also happening to two other businesses in town operated by women. To add to the problems, Tyler also has his hands full when his ex-girlfriend decides to stir up trouble.

TYLER is an entertaining and enjoyable read from beginning to end. There are sprinkles of humor throughout while making you consider what you’d do in the same situation. This is not your typical cowboy rides to the rescue book.

Author C.H. Admirand’s website is http://www.chadmirand.com/

Tyler by C.H. Admirand, The Secret Life of Cowboys Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2011, ISBN: 978-1-4022-4375-2, Paperback, 352 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Author C.H. Admirand, Guest Blogger

Please join me in welcoming author C.H. Admirand to Thoughts in Progress today as the special guest blogger. C.H. makes a stop on her virtual book tour.

C.H.’s latest book, TYLER (THE SECRET LIFE OF COWBOYS), was just released. Thanks to C.H. and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have 2 copies of TYLER to giveaway to those commenting on C.H.’s post. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Visitors have until 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, March 11, to comment on this post. Be sure to include your e-mail with your comments if it isn’t included in your profile.

Here’s a brief synopsis of TYLER: “Desperate times call for desperate measures…
When Tyler Garahan said he’d do anything to save his family’s ranch, he never thought that would include taking a job as a stripper at a local ladies’ club. But the club’s fiery redheaded bookkeeper captures Tyler’s attention, and for her, he’ll swallow his pride…

And one good turn deserves another…
Emily Langley feels for the gorgeous cowboy. It’s obvious that he’s the real deal and wouldn’t be caught dead in a ladies’ revue if he wasn’t in big trouble. And when he looks at her like that, she’ll do anything to help…

Working days on the ranch and nights at the ladies’ club, Tyler is plumb exhausted. But could it be that his beautiful boss needs him just as much as he needs her …”

C.H. stops by today to answer some questions for me about her writing.

Mason - What would you say to someone who has never read western contemporary to encourage them to give it a try?

C.H. - Lovers of contemporary romance, isn’t it time you read a romance starring the quintessential American hero…the cowboy? Cowboys are the perfect hero. He is a man of the land; one who has an innate kindness and love of animals that enables him to care for his herd, whether he raises cattle or horses. He depends on his physical strength and works with his hands every day. His core set of values are what keep him going when times are hard and the Mother Nature is against him. The women who fall in love with these men are every bit as strong, perhaps stronger, because it takes a special women to want to stand beside her cowboy through thick and thin, but it’ll be worth every moment, because a man who is that strong and dedicated to making his living off the land, knows how to value the love of a good woman.

Mason - Where did the inspiration to write about a cowboy turn stripper come from?

C.H. - It was during RT in Houston a couple of years back. One of my author friends suggested we go to a local club to support her publisher and the Ellora’s Cave models. I had no idea what I was getting in to, but used my embarrassment to get my creative juices flowing. I started to wonder (since we were in Texas) what would it be like for a cowboy to be up on stage. Not one who dressed up like one, but the real deal, a man of the land, one used to working hard for a living. Economic times are hard all over, and I wondered what would it be like for someone who only knew and understood ranching to have to look for a job and not be able to find one that would utilize his particular skills? It was the furthest thing from ranching that I could think of to test my cowboy and his love of his family ranch.

Mason - What type of research did you do for this book?

C.H. - I’ve been to Texas a couple of times, including a trip across the country with my family when I was a teenager. Life out West, and the majestic sites we visited, left a huge impact on me. I’ve been going to the Sussex County Farm & Horse Show for years…actually since it was the Branchville Fair back when I was a kid. The events range from Dressage to exhibiting horses, cows, etc. We had a pony for a few years and I learned the hard way not to tether her wearing sandals! But in my defense, I was twelve and knew everything! I grew up watching westerns on Saturday mornings: Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and silver screen legends: John Wayne and Gary Cooper, instilling a love for one of my favorite heroes: Cowboys.

Mason - What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

C.H. - Toning down the relationship between Emily and her cousin Jolene. They kept trying to take over the story.

Mason - If you could change places with any of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?

C.H. - I’d like to change places with Tyler Garahan, and spend the day living at the Circle G Ranch, working with the cattle and horses, pitting myself against the land and Mother Nature. I really hope I’d last longer than a couple of hours!

Mason - What do you want readers to come away with after reading TYLER - is there a message or just fun reading?

C.H. - I do hope that it is a fun read, but hope the readers will take a moment to be thankful for their jobs and their homes, if they have them. Many people across the US have been hit hard by these economic times and are struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. We’ve been blessed in our house; all five of us are employed—my husband and I, and our three grown children—yes, they still live with us. I have friends and siblings who have not been as lucky.

Mason - What can readers look for next from you?

C.H. - DYLAN, Book 2 in The Secret Life of Cowboys will be released in January 2012 and I’m working on the youngest brother, Jesse’s story right now.

C.H., thanks for guest blogging here today. The idea of putting a cowboy in a most unusual job just to keep things going on the ranch is a fun and unique twist.

Now, let me give you a little background on C.H. She was born in Aiken, South Carolina and has published 9 bestselling novels for the library market. TYLER is her tenth book and her first mass market release. She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ very best traits, in northern New Jersey. For more information, visit her website at http://www.chadmirand.com/.

What are your thoughts on unusual jobs? Can you see your favorite cowboy handling this problem?