It’s Valentine’s Day, can’t you just feel the love in the air? On this day of love and romance I’m delighted to welcome an authority on the subject, author Carolyn Brown.
Carolyn joins us today to talk about her latest release, THE COWBOY’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE and answer some questions for me. To celebrate this day of love, Carolyn and the charming Danielle at Sourcebooks have an awesome giveaway for one lucky visitor to Thoughts in Progress. The giveaway includes a set of the 3 books in the Cowboys & Brides Series (Billion Dollar Cowboy, The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby and The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride), along with a cute cowboy charm gift from Carolyn herself! Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.
THE COWBOY’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE is a fun read that will have you smiling from beginning to end. You can read my thoughts on the book from my review earlier. Here’s a brief synopsis of the story:
She's Got Sass...
Emily Cooper promised her dying grandfather that she'd deliver a long-lost letter to a woman he once planned to wed. Little does adventurous Emily know that this simple task will propel her to places she never could have imagined...with a cowboy who's straight out of her dreams...
He's Got Mail...
When sexy rancher Greg Adams discovers his grandmother Clarice has installed Emily on their ranch as her assistant, he decides to humor the two ladies. He figures Emily will move on soon enough. In the meantime, he intends to keep a close eye on her—he doesn't quite buy her story of his grandmother as a mail-order bride.
A lost letter meant a lost love for Clarice, but two generations later, maybe it's not too late for that letter to work its magic.
I think I hear Carolyn coming through the door now. Welcome, Carolyn. Grab you some chocolate covered strawberries and a festive drink before I bombard you with questions.
Mason - Is there one resource tool you've used that you'd recommend to writers just beginning?
Carolyn:
Well, first, I just want to say Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! Have you picked out a pretty new outfit for the evening with your sweetheart? Emily wears a special pale blue dress to the Valentine party in The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride and it did have an effect on poor old Greg. He looked across the room and thought he was looking at an angel.
After the book is written and the beginning writer wants to know where to send it for consideration I would highly recommend “Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents.” Before the book is written, the Internet is an invaluable took for research. One thing that I always suggest, which I have learned from experience, is to go to the very spot you are writing about. Nothing beats seeing the area and getting a feel for it. The people in Ravenna, Texas probably thought I was casing their small town when I went there to get a good feel for the area before I wrote The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride.
Mason - What TV shows would your characters watch?
Carolyn:
My characters would like Justified or any good western movie but in The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride they watch CMT videos. However, I’m sure that Emily watches Justified on a regular basis.
Mason - Today is Valentine's Day, how would your cowboys impress their cowgirls on this special day?
Carolyn:
My cowboys aren’t conventional guys. They might take a woman to the river’s edge, sit under a shade tree on a blanket and bring along a basket of fried chicken. But they’d be sure to not only tell their cowgirl that she was special but to make her feel like she was a queen. He might even weave a crown of wild flowers and put them on her head for a crown to prove it. But in The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride, Greg and Natalie spend the evening flirting and bantering at a formal North Texas Angus Association Party at a country club. Believe me, by the evening’s end, Emily does feel like a queen!
Mason - What would you consider to be a perfect meal for a date night?
Carolyn:
The meal itself wouldn’t be as important as the location of the meal. It could be a bologna sandwich, potato chips straight from the bag and bought chocolate cookies—but a perfect date night would be a blanket on the sand bar of a river, the stars glittering as the waves slap the sand bar and the sexy feller’s eyes saying that he’s thinking of nothing or no one but his date.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Carolyn:
The line up for the rest of 2014 looks like this: The Red Hot Chili Cook-Off, April (the second women’s fiction book set in Cadillac, Texas); How to Marry a Cowboy, July (the final book in the Cowboy’s and Brides series); Long Hot Texas Summer, August (first book in the Red Dirt Road series); and Cowboy Boots for Christmas (Cowboy Not Included), October (first book in the Burnt Boot series).
Carolyn, thanks for joining us today and Happy Valentine’s Day to you. I have to agree with you about it’s not so much the food that makes the perfect meal, but the location.
For those not familiar with Carolyn, here’s a bit of background on her.
Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than sixty books published. She writes bestselling single title cowboy and country music mass market romances as well as women’s fiction.
Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma.
For more information on Carolyn and her writing, please visit www.CarolynLBrown.com.
THE COWBOY’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE is available at the following sites: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, iBookstore, IndieBound, Sourcebooks, and Discover a New Love.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for a set of the 3 books in the Cowboys & Brides Series (Billion Dollar Cowboy, The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby and The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride), along with a cute cowboy charm gift from Carolyn herself. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.
Once again to enter this giveaway, just answer the question below in the comments. Be sure to include a valid email address with your comment, if one is not available in your profile. If you want extra entries in the giveaway, share the giveaway information on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, then leave a new comment for each shout out you gave.
If you wish not to be entered in the contest, just say ‘Not entering’ and then comment all you’d like. I don’t want to discourage someone from commenting just because they don’t want to enter the contest.
The deadline for entering the contest will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Feb. 23. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.
Thanks so much for dropping by and spending a bit of Valentine’s Day with us. Remember, answer the following question for a chance to win the awesome giveaway prize package including THE COWBOY’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE. “What gift would you like to receive on Valentine’s Day or what would you consider to be the perfect Valentine’s Day date?”
Today I’m sharing my thoughts on new releases from two of my favorite authors in series I enjoy following.
Both books have a Christmas theme, but can be enjoyed anytime of the year. What better way to enjoy the holiday season than to give these delightful books as stocking stuffers.
Author Carolyn Brown’s books should come with a warning label. It should caution that once you begin reading, you’ll lose all track of time being absorbed into the story so you can’t put it down.
With each new book I have a general idea of how the story will end. However, it’s the fun of getting to the end of the story I enjoy. Plus, Brown has an amusing way of slipping twists and turns in along the way that I didn’t see coming.
Ranch owner Lucas Allen never expected to find a girlfriend while serving as a National Guardsman in Kuwait. But it turns out he did and she is the best friend of his buddy and they met over the internet. Despite the miles apart, Lucas knows there’s something extra special about Natalie Drew.
Lucas is returning home and Natalie is scheduled to visit. But when Lucas arrives home early, he finds Natalie already there and she has a surprise she forgot to mention to him during the year they’ve been dating online – she has a baby. It seems Lucas has a few surprises of his own that might not set too well with Natalie either.
As the two try to work through their problems, they have some help from family and friends. Love discovered online may not be strong enough to withstand the ups and downs of real life.
Brown’s characters are well-developed, likable and so realistic you’d swear some are based on people you know. Brown gives them strength and courage, but also flaws and problems readers can relate to.
The setting has a ‘down home country’ appeal. You feel the warmth of family and friendship through Brown’s words and the actions of her characters. For a well-blended story, Brown spices it up with a tantalizing romance and laugh out-loud humor.
THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BABY is the second installment in Brown’s Cowboys and Brides series, but can be read as a stand-alone. This is a light-hearted, feel-good romance that is a delight to read. Can’t wait to see what Brown has planned for the rest of the series.
Author Carolyn Brown’s website is www.carolynlbrown.com
The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby by Carolyn Brown, Book 2 in the Cowboys and Brides series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2013, ISBN: 978-1402280498, 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.
I know every time I pick up one of author Terry Spear’s books, I will soon be believing the unbelievable.
Spear has a magical way of weaving a tale of paranormal shape shifting werewolves that seems like the most normal thing. She blends her story with sizzling romance, suspense, military intrigue and touches of humor for a well-balanced read.
Featuring a group of Navy SEALs who can also shift into wolves, Spear adds in holiday cheer for a fun read. Navy SEAL Bjornolf Jorgenson and undercover operative Anna Johnson, both gray wolves, have to pretend to be newlyweds preparing for the holidays while investigating a fellow SEAL’s murder at a Christmas tree farm. Since both dread the holidays, Bjornolf and Anna don’t mind working. Appearing to be a happy couple, however may be more difficult than they anticipated.
While other couples are finding stolen kisses under the mistletoe, Bjornolf and Anna find danger. Their passion heats up and so does their mission.
The characters are likable and well-developed. The setting draws you in and holds you captivate until the end. This is the 12th installment in Spear’s Heart of the Wolf series, but can be read on its own.
Spear’s extensive research and eye for detail brings this tantalizing tale to life. Readers can escape to a world of amazing characters and intriguing adventure in A SEAL WOLF CHRISTMAS.
Author Terry Spear’s website is http://www.terryspear.com/
A SEAL Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear, Book 12 in the Heart of the Wolf series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2013, ISBN: 978-1402284083, Paperback, 320 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.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. What series are you currently following? Have you read a story recently that you wished was a series?
It’s always a hoot to welcome bestselling author Carolyn
Brown back to Thoughts in Progress because I know it means she has a new book out and lots of fun things to share with us. However, today’s return comes with a bit of sadness as her latest release, COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE, is the last installment in her tantalizing Spikes and Spurs series.
But with that sadness, Carolyn always brings joy. Thanks to her and the lovely Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have a giveaway to offer today to a lucky winner. Please see the end of the post for details.
First, let’s take a peak at what COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE is all about:
He's Tough as Nails and Ready to Ride... Rancher Dewar O'Donnell is just an old-fashioned cowboy at heart, and he can't wait to reenact the historic Chisholm Trail ride with his buddies. The trial-run cattle drive for a reality TV show sounds like a great time—until H.B. McKay pulls up in her slick red sports car...
She's Way Out of Her Element... Haley McKay is a feisty, high-powered businesswoman with the power suit and stiletto heels to prove it. She's keen to research her company's hot new idea for a reality TV show—but mount up with a bunch of modern-day cowboys? Are they kidding?
It's too late to back out now, so Haley sets out to prove that it will take more than snakes, storms, and stampedes to make her back down.
Besides, sleeping under the stars with Dewar O'Donnell could prove mighty interesting...
I hear Carolyn coming in, let’s see what she’s up to. I think she has a trip planned for us. Hi, there Carolyn, what’s up?
Y’all are cordially invited to come on over to my house today where we’ll be havin’ dinner…just to be clear, that would be the noon meal in this part of the world. It’ll be put on the bar at, you guessed it, twelve o’clock sharp and we’ll serve it up buffet style.
Menu includes sweet tea with lots of ice because it’s hotter than the devil’s spiky little tail, mashed potatoes, fried squash, fried chicken, a nice big garden fresh salad with endive and fresh tomatoes, black eyed peas and a choice of hot yeast rolls or cornbread—or both if you’d like cornbread with your peas and maybe a hot roll when you go back for a second plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. No one is counting how many plates you use up so don’t be shy. Dessert is your choice of pecan pie and/or fresh peach cobbler, with or without homemade ice cream.
While we’re eating we’ll gather around the ten foot dining room table and talk about COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE, the seventh and last book in the Spikes & Spurs series that started with LOVE DRUNK COWBOY in May, 2011.
Dewar and Haley’s story was such fun to write. Next 
time the O’Donnell’s gather up to sing out under the shade trees in Ringgold, Texas (population less than 100), they’ll have a wild tale to tell about herding those cattle all the way up through Oklahoma to Dodge City, Kansas.
What’s that? Someone has a question down at the end of the table.
What is it that I like about country living that makes me continue to write about it?
Well, darlin’ a few years ago I went to a little school auditorium up in Coleman, Oklahoma to see Jerry Clower. Some of y’all might not have ever heard of that fellow but he was one of my favorite comedians from the time I was just a teenager. Believe me, it was a big deal for me to get to sit up in the bleachers in the old gym and listen to him. I even bought a brand new pair of boots to wear that night.
After he’d entertained us with his stories about Marcel Ledbetter and Uncle Versy, he had a little time left before his car arrived to take him to the Dallas airport and on back to Mississippi where he lived. He opened up the floor for questions and someone asked him why he always talked about the country life and why he loved it more than city living.
His answer was that in the country folks know their neighbors and they take care of their friends. When his mama passed, the family all came home to her house and not one relative cooked so much as a biscuit during their time of mourning.
That kind of sums it up. In the country, folks might know everyone and get into their business and offer up advice when it’s not even asked for. But when babies are born, when folks pass on, when there’s sickness or joy, folks are there with food and a helping hand. And believe me not a dime passes hands for what’s done, either. Friendship is a priceless commodity like love. Country living has a heart beat and a pulse of its own and once you partake of it, you will come back for a second helping sometime. It might just to be for a visit, but you’ll get to cravin’ the slow simple lifestyle and nothing else will satisfy that itch but a day or two in the country.
That’s the way things are done in the Spikes & Spurs series down in Ringgold, Texas. Cash and Maddie O’Donnell are that kind of folks and they’ve raised their kids that way.
So it’s no wonder that Dewar has trouble wrapping his mind around falling for a city girl. And it’s no wonder that it’s difficult for Haley, being a city girl, to admit that she could fall for a country boy with values and a lifestyle so very different from hers. But the heart wants what it wants, and it don’t give a damn whether the body that houses it lives in the country or in the city.
What is it that appeals to y’all about country living? Or maybe we can take it a step on up the ladder and ask what is it about country living and cowboys that makes reading about them exciting to you?
While you’re thinkin’ on that, does anyone need a refill on their sweet tea while I’m up and checkin’ on the ice cream freezer?
Carolyn, thanks for the invite and dinner. Fine as always, but like your books. I have to agree with you and Jerry Clower (a funny man) about country living. It can’t be beat.
Now, for those who don’t know Carolyn let me share a bit of background. She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than sixty books published. She writes bestselling single title cowboy and country music mass market romances, as well as women’s fiction.
Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma. Look for THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BABY in stores this October!
For more information on Carolyn and her writing, please visit www.CarolynLBrown.com.
Here’s what some others have to say about Carolyn:
"Lazy drawls and pointy-toed boots are at the heart of Brown's Texas-set romance...the couple's relationship is hot as the Texan sun." — RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
"Funny, frank, and full of heart...One more welcome example of Brown's Texas-size talent for storytelling." — USA Today Happily Ever After
"Alive with humor...Another page-turning joy of a book by an engaging author." — Fresh Fiction
COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE can be found at these locations: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo/Chapters, IndieBound, Discover a New Love, and Sourcebooks.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Now for the giveaway, thanks to Carolyn and Danielle. I have 1 copy of JUST A COWBOY AND HIS BABY (the book directly preceding COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE in the Spikes & Spurs series) to giveaway. The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only.
To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win JUST A COWBOY.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. 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 JUST A COWBOY AND HIS BABY will be 8 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Thanks for stopping by today. Well, what’s your thoughts on country living?
