Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Lucy Gilmore | Exclusive Excerpt: PUPPY KISSES
Author Guest / June 30, 2020

If Dawn hadn’t already succumbed to Adam’s sexual allure, the sight that greeted her as she entered the barn would have sealed the deal right then and there. He wasn’t, as Phoebe had said, putting Gigi through her paces. On the contrary, he was lying on his back with his hands behind his head, allowing the puppy to crawl all over him. Gigi explored and licked and tugged at the buttons of his shirt, as sure of her reception as any adorable ball of fur had a right to be. And on the hay, too, straw itch mites be damned. Dawn paused to watch, unwilling to draw too close for fear Adam would hear her and ruin the moment. I want that, she thought. Not just to crawl all over Adam as her mood and desires demanded—which, admittedly, she wanted a lot—but to elicit that relaxed look on his face, the expression of easy enjoyment. They enjoyed each other’s bodies, obviously, but they were never relaxed together. Never easy. Now that she thought about it, few men were with her. What is it about me that makes it so impossible? “I know you’re there,” he said, not bothering to raise…

Leah Vale| WRANGLING THE COWBOY’S HEART + Giveaway!
Author Guest / June 23, 2020

Writing this book was especially fun for me because I pretty much grew up on the back of the sweetest little barrel racer, a quarter horse mare named Duchess. So I really identified with my heroine, Amanda, and her love for her barrel racers. And just like Amanda, I found myself eating dirt a time or two. Before I fully comprehended that most barrel racers have two speeds–full stop and eye-watering gallop–I once found myself hanging upside down and fully stuck on a barbed wire fence after flying over my horse’s head. Thankfully, I wasn’t hurt at all, but I also learned the perils of wearing a puffy coat while riding a barrel racer that day, because I hung stuck there until a neighbor happened by and peeled me off. While competing at the level Amanda does in Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart is pure fantasy for me, as is the dream ranch and the hunky cowboy, I do enjoy watching rodeo events such as barrel racing–and bull riding, of course–whenever I can. I am also excited to have the chance to give away a copy of my first book in the Rodeo Romeos series, The Bull Rider’s Second Chance, as…

SUMMER BBQ RECIPE ROUNDUP | The Cowboy Says I Do by Dylann Crush
Author Guest , Giveaways / June 16, 2020

The Summer BBQ Recipe Roundup continues with the main course, provided by contemporary romance author, Dylann Crush and her new book, THE COWBOY SAYS I DO. And don’t forget to check out yesterday’s post. . .  and come back tomorrow for more delicious fun! Day 1, an appetizer with Lynn Austin: https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=10708 Thanks so much to Fresh Fiction for inviting me to share a little bit about the first book in my new Tying the Knot in Texas series. . .  The Cowboy Says I Do. Like my heroine, Lacey, I grew up in Texas where everything seems bigger, including the cowboys’ appetites. There were plenty of backyard cookouts and gatherings with family and friends. But it was always so hot out that no one wanted to stand in front of a blazing grill. Lacey knows how to throw a party, so when she’s feeding a crowd she likes to toss together a batch of this Perfect Pulled Pork. Not only does it take just a few minutes of prep work, but it can be cooked the night before so a cowgirl doesn’t have to miss out on the party. There’s no such thing as a small get together in…

Margaret Brownley | Exclusive Excerpt: THE OUTLAW’S DAUGHTER
Author Guest / May 26, 2020

The Feedbag Cafe was empty when Matt took a corner seat early that morning and perused the bill of fare. Breakfast was served at the hotel where he was staying, but the out-of-town guests had no personal knowledge of Neal Blackwell. Matt counted on the café to serve up a generous heap of local gossip along with his cackleberries and bacon. What he hadn’t counted on was coming face-to-face with Blackwell’s widow. No sooner had his eggs and bacon arrived than he spotted her storming into the restaurant. She paused for the briefest of moments at the doorway. Even from a distance, he could see the fire in her eyes. Whoever had earned her ire this time deserved his sympathy, that was for sure. At least she wasn’t packing iron. Picking up his fork, he was just about to dive into his breakfast when her gaze zeroed in on him. As a Ranger, he’d been the target of angry men and blazing guns, but he’d never been as tempted to hide as he was at that moment. Unfortunately, there was no time to follow through with his cowardly wish. For before he could move, she dashed toward him like a…

B.J. Daniels | Exclusive Excerpt: AMBUSH BEFORE SUNRISE
Author Guest / May 18, 2020

“I’M CURIOUS,” JINX SAID, her voice sounding strange even to her. “How did you get that scar?” She watched Angus swallow, then seem to relax, his blue eyes bright with humor. “Well, it’s kind of an amusing story.” He smiled. “I got pushed out of a barn loft when I was eleven.” “That’s awful.” He sat up straighter until they were eye to eye. “It was my fault. I asked for it.” “You asked to be pushed out of a barn loft?” “I was teasing her. She warned me that if I didn’t stop she would knock me into tomorrow.” “She?” Jinx felt goose bumps break out over her skin and for a moment she could smell the fresh hay in the barn, feel the breeze on her face, remember that cute cowboy who’d taunted her. Her heart began to pound. His smile broadened. “She was a spitfire, as fiery as her hair back then.” Jinx felt heat rush to her cheeks. “Tell me her name wasn’t JoRay McCallahan.” “Sorry, I’m afraid so,” he said and laughed. “I wondered if you would remember.” “When I saw you, I thought I’d met you before, but I couldn’t think of when that…

Amy Andrews | The One Where I Joined Tinder…
Author Guest / April 28, 2020

When setting a book in a world that involves the heroine going on Tinder, it was important to me to try and understand how dating apps work. I mean. . . I haven’t been on a date in 35 years so I needed the skinny. What’s involved in the sign-up process, what’s the lingo, what are the dos and don’ts? Do I swipe left or right? And what kind of people are really on these apps anyway? So, what’s an author to do? Yes, you guessed it, I joined Tinder. Me – a happily married 49 (at the time) year old woman! Never let it be said I don’t go above and beyond for my books. Now. . . Let me explain. I didn’t start off intending to join Tinder at all. I started off just Googling around and reading a bunch of articles about the platform. Then I pumped my kids and their friends for information and even sat with a couple of young women as they perused their app to show me the lay of the land. But I found as I was writing there was still so much info I wasn’t sure of and I felt like…

Lea Hart | My Writer/Introvert Life Hacks That Have Kept Me (mostly) Sane
Author Guest / April 14, 2020

We are hip-deep in a pandemic as I write this, and my youngest daughter is currently singing/shouting Beauty and the Beast for the fifth time today. I don’t hate it. She squeezed into an old costume, pulled out her “makeup” and asked for extra glitter. I complied of course and decided to paint her nails and curl her hair, too. ‘Cause getting on your glam is never a bad idea. I might even pull out the good china for lunch and serve the grilled cheese and grapes properly. These are unprecedented times and I’m doing everything I can to focus on the many positive ways we humans are pulling together. And not the news updates, I check obsessively. Some days are better than others, and today thankfully, has been a good one. Glitter and all. And it is with that spirit that I’d like to offer my writer/introvert life hacks that have kept me (mostly) sane. Make a plan. A loosy-goosy (yes, that’s a technical term) agenda will only make you feel unaccomplished at day’s end. May happen anyway but at least putting the right foot forward gives you a fighting chance of winning the war of laundry. I usually…

Victoria James | How to Stay Creative (and Productive!) During Stressful Times
Author Guest / April 3, 2020

I’m writing this post as the back door swings open for the tenth time in about three minutes. Kids are in and out. Forgetting gloves, hats, and soccer balls. The husband is on speakerphone in the other room on a work call. My elderly parents are calling with another item to add to the grocery list and I’m…staring at the word count goal on my writing calendar-and realize I’m thousands of words behind on my current work in progress. And I’m tempted to check for a news update. Time to take a deep breath and remember that it’s all going to be okay. The most important thing is that we’re all okay. But despite being grateful for SO many things, how does a person go about clearing all their worries and find the ability to be creative? Trial and error. I don’t think that there is one right answer for anyone and it may even change from day to day. I think that’s key though-be flexible. Here are five things that are working for me right now: Waking up before my kids. I always liked doing this, but now that we’re all home together it’s even more important. It’s UNINTERRUPTED…

Soraya Lane | MY ONE TRUE COWBOY
Author Guest / March 31, 2020

One of the hardest parts of creating a series is writing the last book. In My One True Cowboy, the fourth and final book in my River Ranch series, it was sad to say goodbye to the Ford family, but it was also incredibly satisfying writing Angelina Ford’s story! I certainly feel as if I left the best for last… Angelina is everything I love in a woman. She’s ambitious, she’s made it on her own, she doesn’t need a man and she’s strong. It made writing her so satisfying, because for her to fall for a man, he had to be someone very special. In writing her, I put her in the incredibly difficult position of facing a huge life change, which made her much more vulnerable than the strong, nothing-can-knock-me-down woman in the previous books. But it gave me a lot to work with, because I was able to show her grow and change, and also, fall in love. In the modern world we live in, I find it really inspiring reading about a woman who doesn’t need the money or love of a man to make her whole, because it makes the romance that much more satisfying….

Linda Broday | 20 Questions: THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE’S SECRET + Giveaway!
Author Guest / January 29, 2020

1–What’s the name of your latest release? THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE’S SECRET 2–What is it about? An outlaw with a large bounty on his head becomes sole guardian of twin nephews and a niece. He quickly sends for a mail order bride to help with the kids only she’s come looking to find his loot and facilitate his arrest. 3–What word best describes your heroine? Desperate 4–What makes your hero irresistible? The love he shows these kids who have no one else. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help? Friends in the outlaw town of Hope’s Crossing. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book? It’s wild and desolate—the perfect place for outlaws 7–Are you a plotter or a pantster? I’m a true panster. I don’t outline at all and want my story to unfold through the characters as I go and not through any preconceived plan. 8–What is an ideal writing day for you? An ideal day is when the story flows through my fingertips and I can easily get 5k words. 9–Do you listen to music while you write, need total silence, or have the TV on? I need total…