Merry Cowboy Christmas {+ Giveaway+}

Even though Fall just began last week visions of Christmas are dancing in my head as I’m excited to be participating in author Carolyn Brown’s MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS Release Week Blitz.

As part of the blitz, Carolyn is sharing her Top Five Favorite Christmas Carols (and why) and I’m sharing my thoughts on this delightful tale. There’s also a tour-wide giveaway where you have the opportunity to win one of 10 copies of MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS being given away. Please see the end of the post for more giveaway details.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS

Author:  Carolyn Brown

Series: Lucky Penny Ranch, #3

On Sale: September 27, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Mass Market: $7.99 USD

eBook:  7.99 USD

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"Jud with his slow, Texas drawl is one sexy cowboy who will have readers falling in love with him. His romantic connection with Fiona sizzles. Brown's modern storytelling and fun-filled plot will engage readers and wrap them up in this sweet, Southern holiday romance." –RT Book Reviews

THIS CHRISTMAS, SANTA'S WEARING A STETSON

          'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the house is the presence of one wickedly hot cowboy who's come to stay for the holiday. Fiona Logan is downright shocked to return to her childhood home and find that the tall blond stranger who came to her rescue on an icy road will be sleeping just across the hall from her bedroom. Talk about temptation . . .

          Jud Dawson never believed the Lucky Penny Ranch would live up to its name until now. Fiona is gorgeous, smart, funny, and everything he thought he'd never find. Now all he has to do is convince her to stick around town instead of hightailing it back to Houston. But with wild weather, nosy neighbors, and a new baby in the family, getting her to admit that she's falling in love might just take a Christmas miracle.

MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS is available at the following sites:

Walmart

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Google Play

iBooks

Indiebound

Kobo

THE LUCKY PENNY RANCH SERIES

WILD COWBOY WAYS, #1

HOT COWBOY NIGHTS, #2

MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS, #3

WICKED COWBOY CHARM, #4

Series Page on Goodreads

Top 5 favorite Christmas Carols:

1.      Christmas Cookies by George Strait. There’s banter between Fiona and Jud about this song. It talks about having fifteen minutes for kisses while each batch bakes. He tells her that he got gypped because he didn’t get in on the baking time.

2.     Jingle Bells by any of the country artists. That Christmas carol will put some energy in the room or the pickup truck. It sure did for Fiona and Jud when they were driving home.

3.     Jingle Bell Rock. Jud and Fiona danced to this song in the bar. It wasn’t a date but it was a night of magic between them.

4.    White Christmas. When Jud pulled her into his arms for this song, Fiona admitted how much she’d missed being home. A little bit of White Christmas sure puts a woman into the mood for the holidays.

5.     I’ll Be Home for Christmas. It fits the whole book right there. Fiona comes home in time for the holidays and finds that her heart is really at home this time.

Author Carolyn Brown Photo Credit Charles C. Brown

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than seventy-five books. She presently writes both women's fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title and contemporary series.

She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young.

For more on Carolyn and her writing, visit her website connect with her on Facebook and Goodreads.

To keep up with your favorite authors and series, follow FOREVER online. To learn more visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

I had the good fortune to read the print copy of the book and listen to the audio version. I highly recommend both.

Author Carolyn Brown has a wonderful way of creating characters you feel like you’ve known forever or you wish were your best friends.

Narrator Chelsea Hatfield is spot on in her accents and mannerisms for these delightful characters. Her cadence enhances the emotions of the characters and adds depth to this enticing story.

The author has captured the essence of small town life where family and friends pull together when times get tough and don’t mind sharing their thoughts on any subject. The setting comes to life through rich descriptions making you almost feel you need to reach for a throw to guard against the elements facing the characters.

The characters are well-developed, realistic and extremely likable (even the grumpy ones). The characters have traits and issues readers/listeners can relate to. The bantering and gossip swapping fit squarely with the small town atmosphere.

The story moves at a good pace and is filled with handsome cowboys and spunky cowgirls. Even the snow doesn’t cool off the steamy romance of this tantalizing couple.

MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS is a heartwarming, feel-good read that will steam up your glasses when it’s not causing you to laugh out loud.

Merry Cowboy Christmas by Carolyn Brown, Lucky Penny Ranch series (Book #3), Narrated by Chelsea Hatfield, Hachette Audio, @2016, ASIN: BO1LWU1DZR, Unabridged, Audible Audio, Run Time: 9 Hours and 5 Minutes - ISBN: 978-1455534944, Mass Market Paperback, 336 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

This tour-wide giveaway is for ten (10) mass market paperback copies of MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS by Carolyn Brown.

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 so much for stopping by during Carolyn’s visit. Are you ready to start reading Christmas-theme stories or have you already started? Have you read or listened to any of the books in this series?

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A Cowboy Christmas Miracle {+ Giveaway}

It’s always a pleasure to welcome author Carolyn Brown back to Thoughts in Progress because it means she has a new exciting book featuring a sexy cowboy and a feisty cowgirl.

Carolyn’s latest release is A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE, the fourth and final installment in her Burnt Boot Series. As part of her tour-wide tour for this release, Carolyn is sharing an excerpt from her new book. In addition, you can win a copy of ONE TEXAS COWBOY TOO MANY, the third book in the Burnt Boot Series. Please see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway.

It will take a miracle bigger than the state of Texas for these two feuding families to survive the holidays!

          Opposites might attract…

The Brennans and the Gallaghers put aside their one-hundred-year feud every Tuesday for their weekly poker game. This week, the stakes are sky-high. Goaded to recklessness, Declan Brennan bets one thousand dollars that he can woo the next woman to walk into the saloon. A minute later, fiery-haired Betsy Gallagher pushes through the doors. If Declan can tame this wild Gallagher, he’ll have earned every penny.

          If they don’t kill each other first…

Betsy can outshoot anybody in Burnt Boot and loves ranching more than anything—until she falls for Declan. He’s fallen for her too. But when she discovers what sparked their courtship, Declan will need a Christmas miracle to save his hide—and his heart.

A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE is available at the following sites:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Now here’s an excerpt from A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE for your reading pleasure.

      “You cowboys are free to play poker here, but you’d best remember my rules. This is neutral territory, and by damn, I can—and will—drag that shotgun out from under the counter to enforce them. So keep it civil. Understand?” Rosalie shook her finger at the lot of them.

      She hadn’t owned the bar very long, but she didn’t take crap off anyone. The wrinkles around her eyes testified that she was somewhere in her fifties. The strawberry-blond hair worn in a ponytail sticking out the back of her Dallas Cowboys ball cap didn’t have a single gray strand shining in it. Neither Brennans nor Gallaghers wanted to face off with those cold, gray eyes when she was angry.

      “Yes, ma’am,” Quaid said respectfully.

      “Then play cards or gather up your poker chips and get on out of here.” Rosalie turned back toward the poker table. “Where’s your O’Donnell buddies? I thought this crappy feud might be on its way out when Leah Brennan married Rhett O’Donnell a few weeks ago.”

      “Never!” Eli said. “As long as a Gallagher is alive, we’ll keep the feud alive to show these Brennans who’s boss.”

      “That’s crazy. Why do you play poker with them?” Rosalie headed toward the jukebox. “It’s all insane anyway. Y’all go to the same church, and nowadays, your kids go to the same school. You’re all ranchers, and both families have a granny who runs things. Sounds to me like you are more alike than different.”

      “It’s so sweet to beat them.” Quaid laughed. “They whine like little girls when they lose to us Brennans.”

      “Y’all need to end the feud. A hundred years is long enough for folks to carry a grudge.” Rosie plugged the money into the jukebox and chose a few country tunes.

      Eli chuckled. “Like that’s gonna happen in my lifetime.”

      Declan glanced over at Eli. “Lay out the rules if there are any. If not, let’s finish this game and wait for some old gal to come through the door so Tanner can get on with the business of falling in love with her.”

      Eli nodded. “Rule number one: you have a month to make her fall in love with you and get her into bed. It can’t be a one-night stand. I’ll even give you a few extra days since Thanksgiving is next week and you’ll be busy on the ranch.”

      Declan held up a palm. “Whoa, hoss! You’re already talking like I’ve lost this game. The rules are supposed to be for both of us.”

      Eli flashed a go-to-hell look across the table. “You have until the week before Christmas. Tanner will want to take his winnings and do some shopping with them. And I’m the one making the rules, so don’t be yelling at me. Rule number two: it has to be a woman you’ve never dated before. Rule number three: just to make it interesting, it really does have to be the next woman who walks into this bar so that all four of us know who it is, and you can’t lie to us about having never dated her.”

      “So.” Declan checked the calendar on his phone. “Friday, December 18, one of us has to be dating, have slept with, and made the next woman who comes through the doors fall in love with him. And how does Tanner prove to you that he did all that? He could just lie and take my money. After all, that’s what a Gallagher would do.”

      “She has to tell it all over town,” Tanner said.

      “What if she doesn’t kiss and tell?” Declan asked.

      “If you are that irresistible, she’ll be bragging all over town that she’s snagged you,” Tanner said through clenched teeth.

      “Okay, you’re on. If you win this hand, I’ll take that bet. And not a one of us around this table can tell anyone about the bet. It has to be a secret, and if it gets out, then all bets are off.”

      Quaid threw up his palms. “You’re all crazy. What if the woman who comes through those doors is fifty years old and chews tobacco?”

      Tanner shrugged. “A bet is a bet. Hope you like older women, Declan. Thursday night’s pickin’s are pretty slim here.”

      There was no way a Gallagher was going to beat a Brennan in poker. “I’ll be glad to take your money tonight and at Christmas. I heard the crunch of wheels out there in the parking lot, so get ready to meet your woman, Gallagher.”

      Tanner fanned out a royal flush. “I reckon at Christmas you’ll have to shell out more, but this pot is right fine for now. And I just heard that truck door slam out there in the parking lot, so get ready to meet your date, Declan Brennan. Remember, it’s a secret, Eli and Quaid. Anyone tells, and this town will see the feud fire up hotter than it’s been since your family started it.”

      “We didn’t start anything. Y’all did.” Declan said a prayer as he glanced toward the door.

      Tanner’s cocky little grin faded, and his face looked like someone had smeared ashes all over it when the door opened. Eli’s eyes came close to popping out of his head and rolling across the floor, and Quaid sucked all the oxygen out of the air in one big gulp. Declan felt as if he’d just been struck by lightning straight from God’s hand.

      “You are a dead man, Tanner,” Eli whispered.

      Quaid exhaled so hard that it whistled through his teeth. “And so are you, Declan. Granny Mavis will kill you if you go after her.”

      “A bet is a bet. And a Brennan does not run from a fight,” Declan said.

      Sweet Jesus in heaven. Declan had been in love with Betsy since they were kids in the same Sunday school class. He might have lost the poker match, but here was his chance, and the Gallaghers couldn’t do jack shit about it. Poor old Tanner had just set the whole thing up on a silver platter and handed him the rights to the whole thing. Talk about luck—Declan had lost the money on the table, but he’d been given the rights to Betsy Gallagher.

      “Let’s call it off,” Eli said. “Just pretend it never happened and walk out of here.”

      All eyes went to Tanner.

      “Gallaghers don’t run either,” he murmured.

Author Carolyn Brown

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author and RITA Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than seventy books. These days she is concentrating on her two loves: women’s fiction and contemporary cowboy romance.

She and her husband, a retired English teacher, make their home in southern Oklahoma.

For more on Carolyn and her writing, visit her website.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This tour-wide giveaway is for a copy of ONE TEXAS COWBOY TOO MANY by Carolyn Brown. To enter, 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 so much for dropping by today during Carolyn’s tour stop. Why do you think cowboys and cowgirls are such popular themes for books? Do you have a favorite cowboy hero?

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What Happens in Texas {+ Giveaway}

I’m delighted to be participating in the Spotlight Tour for WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS by Carolyn Brown.

In celebration of Carolyn’s release today, she’s offering a tour-wide giveaway for 10 copies of WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS. The giveaway will run through June 22. Please see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway.

Title: What Happens in Texas

Author: Carolyn Brown

On Sale: June 6, 2016

Formats: Mass Market & eBook

ISBN: 978-1492638742

Carolyn Brown brings her unique voice to this tale of twin sisters finding love in a small Texas town

Cathy Andrews’s biological clock has passed the ticking stage and is dangerously close to “blown plumb up”. While her twin sister Marty thinks settling down with one man is just a waste of good cowboys, Cathy wants it all: the perfect husband, the baby, and a little house right there in Cadillac. But even as the town is laying bets on whose wedding will be next, Cathy doesn’t see happily-ever-after happening anytime soon.

Fortunately, Cathy and Marty have best friends who aren’t afraid to stir up a ruckus—and if it means Cathy’s got to bust out and set the town on its ear they’ll back her up—no matter how hot things get.

WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS is available at the following sites: Amazon, Apple, BAM, Barnes and Noble, Chapters, Indiebound, and Kobo.

An excerpt for your reading pleasure:

If Prissy Parnell hadn’t married Buster Jones and left Cadillac, Texas, for Pasadena, California, Marty wouldn’t have gotten the speeding ticket. It was all Prissy’s damn fault that Marty was in such a hurry to get to the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society monthly meeting that night, so Prissy ought to have to shell out the almost two hundred dollars for that ticket.

They were already passing around the crystal bowl to take up the voting ballots when Marty slung open the door to Violet Prescott’s sunroom and yelled, “Don’t count ’em without my vote.”

Twenty faces turned to look at her and not a one of them, not even her twin sister, Cathy, was smiling. Hell’s bells, who had done pissed on their cucumber sandwiches before she got there, anyway? A person didn’t drop dead from lack of punctuality, did they?

One wall of the sunroom was glass and looked out over lush green lawns and flower gardens. The other three were covered with shadow boxes housing the blue ribbons that the members had won at the Texas State Fair for their jalapeño pepper entries. More than forty shadow boxes all reminding the members of their history and their responsibility for the upcoming year. Bless Cathy’s heart for doing her part. She had a little garden of jalapeños on the east side of the lawn and nurtured them like children. The newest shadow box held ribbons that she’d earned for the club with her pepper jelly and picante. It was the soil, or maybe she told them bedtime stories, but she, like her mamma and grandma, grew the hottest jalapeños in the state.

“It appears that Martha has decided to grace us with her presence once again when it is time to vote for someone to take our dear Prissy’s place in the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society. We really should amend our charter to state that a member has to attend more than one meeting every two years. You could appreciate the fact that we did amend it once to include you in the membership with your sister, who, by the way, has a spotless attendance record,” Violet said.

Violet, the queen of the club, as most of the members called it, was up near eighty years old, built like SpongeBob SquarePants, and had stovepipe jet-black hair right out of the bottle. Few people had the balls or the nerve to cross her, and those who did were put on her shit list right under Martha, aka Marty, Andrews’ name, which was always on the top.

Back in the beginning of the club days, before Marty was even born, the mayor’s wife held the top position on the shit list. When they’d formed the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society, Loretta Massey and Violet almost went to war over the name of the new club. Loretta insisted that it be called a society, and Violet wanted it to be called a club. Belonging to a club just sounded so much fancier than saying that one belonged to a society. Loretta won when the vote came in, but Violet called it a club anyway and that’s what stuck. Rumor had it that Violet was instrumental in getting the mayor ousted just so they’d have to leave Grayson County and Loretta would have to quit the club.

Marty hated it when people called her Martha. It sounded like an old woman’s name. What was her mother thinking anyway when she looked down at two little identical twin baby daughters and named them after her mother and aunt—Martha and Catherine? Thank God she’d at least shortened their names to Marty and Cathy.

Marty shrugged, and Violet snorted. Granted, it was a ladylike snort, but it still went right along with her round face and three-layered neck. Hell, if they wanted to write forty amendments to the charter, Marty would still do only the bare necessities to keep her in voting standing. She hadn’t even wanted to be in the damned club and had only done it because if she didn’t, then Cathy couldn’t.

Marty slid into a seat beside her sister and held up her ballot.

Beulah had the bowl in hand and was ready to hand it off to Violet to read off the votes. But she passed it to the lady on the other side of her and it went back around the circle to Marty, who tossed in her folded piece of paper. If she’d done her homework and gotten the numbers right, that one vote should swing the favor for Anna Ruth to be the new member of the club. She didn’t like Anna Ruth, especially since she’d broken up her best friend’s marriage. But hey, Marty had made a deathbed promise to her mamma, and that carried more weight than the name of a hussy on a piece of paper.

The bowl went back to Violet and she put it in her lap like the coveted jeweled crown of a reigning queen. “Our amended charter states that only twenty-one women can belong to the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society at any one time, and the only time we vote a new member in is when someone moves or dies. Since Prissy Parnell got married this past week and moved away from Grayson County, we are open for one new member. The four names on the ballet are: Agnes Flynn, Trixie Matthews, Anna Ruth Williams, and Gloria Rawlings.”

Even though it wasn’t in the fine print, everyone knew that when attending a meeting, the members should dress for the occasion, which meant panty hose and heels. Marty could feel nineteen pairs of eyes on her. It would have been twenty, but Violet was busy fishing the first ballot from the fancy bowl.

Marty threw one long leg over the other and let the bright red, three-inch-heeled shoe dangle on her toe. They could frown all they wanted. She was wearing a dress, even if it only reached midthigh, and had black spandex leggings under it. If they wanted her to wear panty hose, they’d better put a second amendment on that charter and make it in big print.

God Almighty, but she’d be glad when her great-aunt died and she could quit the club. But it looked like Agnes was going to last forever, which was no surprise. God sure didn’t want her in heaven, and the devil wouldn’t have her in hell.

“One vote for Agnes,” Violet said aloud.

Beulah marked that down on the minutes and waited.

Violet enjoyed her role as president of the club and took her own sweet time with each ballot. Too bad she hadn’t dropped dead or at least moved to California so Cathy could be president. Marty would bet her sister would get those votes counted a hell of a lot faster.

There was one piece of paper in the candy dish when Beulah held up a hand. “We’ve got six each for Agnes, Trixie, Anna Ruth, and two for Gloria. Unless this last vote is for Agnes, Trixie, or Anna Ruth, we have a tie, and we’ll have to have a runoff election.”

“Shit!” Marty mumbled.

Cathy shot her a dirty look.

“Anna Ruth,” Violet said and let out a whoosh of air.

A smile tickled the corner of Marty’s mouth.

Saved, by damn!

Agnes was saved from prison.

Violet was saved from attending her own funeral.

The speeding ticket was worth every penny.

Author Carolyn Brown

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than sixty books. Carolyn presently writes both women's fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title and contemporary series.

She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young.

For a complete listing of her books (series in order) check out her website. You can also connect with Carolyn on Facebook. 

This tour-wide giveaway is for 10 copies of WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS. To enter for your chance to win one of the copies, 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 have a favorite setting you like to read about? How do you feel about small town settings?

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Hot Cowboy Nights by Carolyn Brown

◊ HOT COWBOY NIGHTS by Carolyn Brown

◊ Series: Lucky Penny Ranch Series (Book #2)

◊ Narrator: Chelsea Hatfield

◊ Audible Audio Edition

◊ Listening Length: 9 hours and 30 minutes

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Romance, Western, Contemporary

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Hachette Audio

◊ Audible.com Release Date: May 31, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ASIN: BO1FTOEOHE

SYNOPSIS:

Let's give 'em something to talk about....

If gossip is the lifeblood of a small town, then Lizzy Logan has been its beating heart. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, she could have decided to crawl under a rock. But no, she'd rather really set tongues wagging by "moving on" with one of the hottest cowboys in Texas, who happens to live next door at the Lucky Penny Ranch. Those busybodies don't have to know it's actually all pretend. And just because Lizzy has no aim to tame her wild, blue-eyed neighbor doesn't mean she can't enjoy the ride of her life.

Toby Dawson never was and never will be the settling-down type. But what harm could there be in agreeing to be Lizzy's pretend boyfriend? They'll put on a show for a few weeks and be done. Yet the more he gets to know Lizzy - really know her - the harder it is for him to keep his hands off of her in private. Soon this rough-and-ready cowboy is hoping to heal Lizzy's bruised heart and turn their fake affair into a true romance..

Every time I begin a book by author Carolyn Brown, I know I’m in for a rip-roaring good time with characters that are a hoot with hearts of gold.

Narrator Chelsea Hatfield does an excellent job bringing the warmth and strength of Brown’s characters to life. Her accents and cadence enhances this already entertaining tale. Her timing and interruption of the actions is spot on.

Brown has developed characters that are realistic, likable and easy to relate to. Their bantering adds depth, while their antics will remind you of people you really know.

The small town setting has the perfect feel-good atmosphere about it, even though everyone knows everyone’s business two seconds after it happens. Brown shows communities, as well as families, may bicker but come together in a crisis.

Filled with hunky cowboys, feisty country girls, steamy romance and grumbling townsfolks, HOW COWBOY NIGHTS is a tantalizing tale. This story can be read/listened to on its own even though it brings back characters from the first installment in the series.

Grab a cold glass of sweet tea or a cold beer, settle back and be ready to be thoroughly regaled by the group from the Lucky Penny Ranch series. Steamy, sexy, strong, and supportive make for a perfect combination in this latest release by Brown.

Hot Cowboy Nights by Carolyn Brown, Lucky Penny Ranch Series (Book #2), Narrated by Chelsea Hatfield, Hachette Audio, @2016, ASIN: BO1FTOEOHE, Unabridged, Audible Audio Edition, Run Time: 9 Hours and 30 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks for stopping by today, I so appreciate it. If you’re not into listening to audio books, HOT COWBOY NIGHTS is also available in print and eBook formats. Stories that bring opposites together are always interesting. Do you find those type stories plausible? Do you like stories that have bad boys really being good at heart?

Hot Cowboy Nights {+ Giveaway}

It’s a thrill to be participating in author Carolyn Brown’s Release Week Blitz for her latest book, HOT COWBOY NIGHTS, the second installment in her Lucky Penny Ranch series.

As part of the blitz, Carolyn is sharing an excerpt from her book. In addition, you have the chance to win one of 10 print copies of the book in a tour-wide giveaway. Please see the end of the post for more details.

Title: Hot Cowboy Nights

Author: Carolyn Brown

Series: Lucky Penny Ranch, #2

On Sale: May 31, 2016

Formats: Mass Market & eBook

Price: $7.99 USD

Goodreads

Here’s what it’s all about:

Let’s give ‘em something to talk about…

          If gossip is the lifeblood of a small town, then Lizzy Logan has been its beating heart. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, she could have decided to crawl under a rock. But no, she'd rather really set tongues wagging by "moving on" with one of the hottest cowboys in Texas, who happens to live next door at the Lucky Penny Ranch. Those busybodies don't have to know it's actually all pretend. And just because Lizzy has no aim to tame her wild, blue-eyed neighbor doesn't mean she can't enjoy the ride of her life.

          Toby Dawson never was and never will be the settling-down type. But what harm could there be in agreeing to be Lizzy's pretend boyfriend? They'll put on a show for a few weeks and be done. Yet the more he gets to know Lizzy-really know her-the harder it is for him to keep his hands off of her in private. Soon this rough-and-ready cowboy is hoping to heal Lizzy's bruised heart and turn their fake affair into a true romance…

HOT COWBOY NIGHTS is available at the following sites: Walmart – Special Edition, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, iBooks, Google Play, and Kobo.

THE LUCKY PENNY RANCH SERIES

Wild Cowboy Ways, #1

Hot Cowboy Nights, #2

Merry Cowboy Christmas, #3 (September 2016)

Wicked Cowboy Charm, #4 (January 2017)

Author Carolyn Brown

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than sixty books. Carolyn presently writes both women's fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title and contemporary series.

She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young.

For a complete listing of her books (series in order) check out her website. You can also connect with Carolyn on Facebook. 

Here’s an excerpt from HOT COWBOY NIGHTS for your reading pleasure:

Lizzy let herself into the house quietly and went straight to her room. She heard the rattle of glass as her mother unloaded the dishwasher, but Lizzy didn’t want to talk to or see anyone that night. Especially her mother. Mama would’ve immediately sniffed out the lie, and the house would have exploded if Lizzy had admitted that she’d been screwing around with Toby Dawson almost every day for three weeks.

It was nothing short of a miracle that they hadn’t gotten caught.

Already the rumors were hovering like buzzards waiting for roadkill. From day one the Lucky Penny couldn’t buy an ounce of good luck, and everything that happened on the ranch was fodder for the gossip mill. Half the folks in Dry Creek, Texas, were hoping that Blake and his family joined the long list of owners who failed at trying to make the Lucky Penny a profitable ranch. The other half was rooting for the three Dawsons—Blake, Toby, and their cousin, Jud, who would be joining them in the fall.

Lizzy pulled off her boots, kicked them somewhere close to the closet door, and changed into a faded nightshirt that she pulled from last week’s laundry still tossed in the rocking chair in the corner. Cleanliness was a virtue, according to the Good Book, but neatness was not mentioned. Unlike her sisters, Allie and Fiona, Lizzy must have been out chasing butterflies or playing with baby lambs when they passed out neatness because she didn’t get a bit of it.

She fell back on the bed, legs dangling off the side and her head nowhere near a pillow. Staring at the ceiling with nothing but the small bedside lamp to light the room, she let the past run through her mind again for the hundredth time since Mitch had called to tell her he loved another woman. He and the preacher’s daughter had decided to become missionaries, and he would preach at the little church they’d gone to Mexico to build.

Her world had shattered. And then Toby had taken her in his arms at Blake and Allie’s wedding and she realized maybe all wasn’t over for her after all. He’d charmed her and made her feel alive again—like a woman to be desired. It hadn’t ended with the dance but they’d talked on the phone, exchanged text messages, and when he moved to town they were both primed and ready for a hot little affair. But that night when Allie told them she was having a girl, Lizzy knew it was time to end the secretive, wild nights.

Lizzy crawled under the covers and turned out the light.

So which was she? A sweet little preacher’s-wife type who would let her husband lead her around by his every whim, like she’d been with Mitch? Or a brazen hussy, like the loose women who’d founded Audrey’s Place, who took what she wanted from life and didn’t have any regrets?

She’d far rather be the latter if she had to choose. She’d come out of the Mitch experience a stronger woman than ever, and she’d been honest when she told Toby that it hadn’t made her shy away from guys in general. And it damn sure hadn’t made her feel sorry for herself. It had taught her to be brutally honest and not let anyone try to change her into something she wasn’t.

She picked up her phone to check for a sexy text message from Toby, but there was nothing. Nada. Nil. Zilch. Not a single missed message. Finally, she wrote one to him: Changed my mind. See you tomorrow at six at Mama’s store.

            With one thumb on the delete button and the other on the send button, she sat there in the darkness, her body telling her to send the message and her heart telling her that she was in for misery if she didn’t press delete.

ABOUT FOREVER:

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