Meet Hero & Rancher Chance Blackwell

THE BLACKWELL BROTHERS ARE COMING HOME…

…whether they want to or not.

THE RANCHER'S HOMECOMING

Chance Blackwell’s return—
Could cost her everything!

Ten years after he eloped with Katie Montgomery’s sister, Chance Blackwell is back in Montana to sell his family ranch. Katie could lose her job and the only home she’s known. But the loyal cowgirl is keeping a secret that could shatter trust and jeopardize her future with the widowed musician and her toddler niece. Unless Chance’s growing affection for her and all things Blackwell can earn Katie his forgiveness—and his love.

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A geek at heart, USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J Stewart writes sweet to spicy romance across the genre. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious SUPERNATURAL, STAR TREK, and SHERLOCK addiction. 

When she's not writing, you can usually find her at fan conventions, at her local movie theater, or building up her content editing services for writers. 

           

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THE Q&A

ANGI:  Writing a continuity series takes a lot of work and cross-referencing with your co-authors. Is there any back story you needed for your characters that either didn’t make it into the book (no spoilers) or that you needed to brainstorm from a co-author?

ANNA: We actually brainstormed over all our characters. Thank goodness for Skype, since we’re from all over the country. We kept an online spreadsheet with salient details, but when it came to hashing out who the characters really were, what had happened to them, and more importantly, how each of them saw the others (speaking of the brothers of course), yeah, there was a lot of consultation. One of the reasons I chose the runaway brother (Chance Blackwell) was because it really freed me up to not being tied down to a lot of the details of what had happened in previous stories. Except that Katie Montgomery was my heroine, who, as the acting ranch foreman (fore-woman?), was in each of the other books. I’d get the occasional text message saying “Are you good with Katie doing this?” or “Can she be okay with this?”. The bonus to that is it really kept me in the story before I even began writing it.

ANGI: What’s special about Chance Blackwell, the hero of your book?

ANNA: He’s the reluctant rancher. He just wasn’t born for it in the same way his brothers have a natural affinity. Even Ty, who went a completely different route, too. He’s also the baby of the family (granted only by a few minutes). He’s also the one who followed his dream, the dream he had from the time he was a boy, and he kept at it despite the adversity. He’s also a single father to a precocious little girl, Rosie. I so love that all the brothers have only had girls. One of those added humorous elements I think we needed. Also, he will always stand up for what’s right and sometimes that just gets him into all kinds of trouble. He’s a good foil for Katie, who is used to taking care of herself, but things are getting unmanageable for her and Chance can’t just stand by and do nothing. He’s just a really good guy who’s been hit with a lot of real, harsh life events.

ANGI: What do you love about a rancher or a rancher’s life?

ANNA: Um, who doesn’t love a cowboy? LOL. And horses are pretty! And so is land. But that’s about the extent of my love for ranching and ranchers, LOL. One of the caveats I had when I jumped on board was I wanted the inept brother when it came to ranching; the brother who wanted nothing to do with it. I thought that would make my lack of knowledge about ranching easier. Until I remembered my heroine was Katie who was even more of a rancher than most of the brothers! That’s writing Karma for you.

ANGI: Would Chance take Katie to a fancy restaurant or a picnic? 

ANNA: Oh, a picnic. He might have had a mildly successful run as a musician, but he’s still a simple guy at heart. He’s comfortable enough at a fancy restaurant, but Katie wouldn’t be, and he’d take her where she’d be comfortable. I’m not sure his desires or wants would enter into the decision.

ANGI: Favorite TV rerun you watch every time you channel surf? 

ANNA: Supernatural. Second would be Elementary. I’m more likely to be binging on Netflix or watching my DVDs though, LOL.

ANGI: Worst thing about ranching (according to you or your hero)?

ANNA: According to Chance the answer would be everything. He completely got gipped out of that gene in his DNA. The fact he’s horrible riding a horse is an ongoing joke through the series. One I got to play with even more in my story.

ANGI: The most daring thing you’ve ever done… Care to share?

ANNA: As someone who’s always had a fear of water, the day I went snorkeling in Hawaii was a huge accomplishment. So for me, that’s the most daring. And I can’t wait to do it again!

ANGI’s GOTTA ASK:  Where did you write THE RANCHER’S HOMECOMING?

ANNA’S GOTTA ANSWER:  In the same place I write all my books, in my kitchen, on an ancient laptop with no virus protection so I can’t go online, LOL. I’m easily distracted, so I like all the white noise available in that room (gardeners and their tools, dishwasher, or my go-to CD of ocean waves and instrumental music). As you can see, my space is completely decked out with a selection of obsessions from Supernatural to Wonder Woman to Aquaman and Barbie (I’m a lifelong collector).

UP NEXT for ANNA:

My next release will be Holiday Kisses, the fifth book in my Butterfly Harbor small-town romance series for Harlequin Heartwarming. This one features Calliope Jones, one of my all-time favorite characters. I like to call her Butterfly Harbor’s answer to the Good Witch (LOVE those movies and that series).

HOLIDAY KISSES

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His family’s honor is at stake…
And she holds the key

Calliope Jones, Butterfly Harbor’s free-spirited organic farmer, is the most vocal objector to Xander Costas and his design for the butterfly sanctuary that he hopes will save his family’s architectural firm. Strangely, it’s Calliope who shows him what the town, and he, really need. Calliope makes Xander listen with his heart. And soon his heart may be telling him to stay with this extraordinary woman!  

GET LOST WITH ALL THE BLACKWELLBROTHERS

JON | ETHAN | BEN | TYLER | CHANCE

PURCHASE:   JON | ETHAN | BEN | TYLER | CHANCE

Melinda, Carol, Anna, Cari Lynn & Amy

 ANNA is giving away a digital set of the first four books in the Butterfly Harbor series (THE BAD BOY OF BUTTERFLY HARBOR, RECIPE FOR REDEMPTION, A DAD FOR CHARLIE, and ALWAYS THE HERO).

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Your host, Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot 

ANNA WANTS TO KNOW: 

WHAT IS IT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT CONNECTED BOOKS?

Meet Hero & Rancher Tyler Blackwell

THE BLACKWELL BROTHERS ARE COMING HOME…

…whether they want to or not.

THE RANCHER'S FAKE FIANCÉE

“I’m coming home…
With my bride-to-be.”

Tyler Blackwell just announced that he and Hadley Sullivan are getting married. And they’ve never even dated! Now she and her boss are in Montana so Tyler can sell his family ranch. Hadley only agreed to continue the deception in exchange for a promotion. But moving up the corporate ladder pales beside her growing feelings for Tyler. Will his past and Blackwell family secrets sabotage what Hadley wants more than anything—a real wedding?

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AMY VASTINE has been plotting stories in her head for as long as she can remember. An eternal optimist, she studied social work, hoping to teach others how to find their silver lining. Now, she enjoys creating happily ever afters for all to read. Amy lives outside Chicago with her high school sweetheart husband, three teenagers who keep her on her toes, and their two sweet but mischievous pups.

           

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THE Q&A

ANGI:  Writing a continuity series takes a lot of work and cross-referencing with your co-authors. Is there any backstory you needed for your characters that either didn’t make it into the book (no spoilers) or that you needed to brainstorm from a co-author?

AMY: My fellow Blackwell authors and I did multiple brainstorming session. We talked a lot about what the boys were like when they were younger. I remember sending someone a list of things Tyler would have been into as a kid because her character was going to be digging around the attic. I imagined Tyler was into superheroes and had decks of playing cards because the boys used to play cards, pretending they were like their dad and grandpa who played poker with some of the ranch hands.

ANGI: What’s special about Tyler Blackwell, the hero of your book?

AMY: What makes Tyler special is that he’s driven to be the best but vulnerable at the same time. He spent most of his life feeling like there was nothing about him that made him stand out amongst his brothers. He makes a concerted effort to right his wrongs and not make the same mistake twice. Instead of holding him down, his insecurities drive him to better himself.

ANGI: What do you love about a rancher or a rancher’s life?

AMY: I am a city girl through and through. I am not a big fan of all the work that has to be done on a ranch. I don’t even like mowing my lawn! But the one thing that appeals to me about ranch life is the horses. I think horses are gorgeous creatures. I would love to be able to go riding whenever I wanted.

ANGI: Would Tyler take Hadley to a fancy restaurant or a picnic? 

AMY: This is a great question because I think that Tyler in the beginning of the story would take Hadley out for a fancy dinner because he would have thought he needed to wine and dine or show off a bit. In the end, though, he would have preferred the simple intimacy of a picnic. Tyler learns that being flashy isn’t as important as being genuine.

ANGI: Favorite TV rerun you watch every time you channel surf? 

AMY: There’s something about Friends that always makes me stop. I think I know I don’t have to watch long before I am chuckling. It was such a funny show!

ANGI: Worst thing about ranching (according to you or your hero)?

AMY: The absolute worst for me is the early morning work schedule. Ranchers have to get up and start working at first light. I am not a morning person. Sleeping in is my favorite thing to do!

ANGI: The most daring thing you’ve ever done… Care to share?

AMY: I am known for being one of the most cautious people around. I have always been that person who thinks about all the possible consequences of my actions before I do something. This leads to me not being very “daring”. I would say that deciding to put myself out there, entering Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest, and getting my first book published at the age of 40 was probably the most daring thing I have ever done. Sending my first book (which is very much like a child) out into the world to judged and possibly rejected was terrifying!

ANGI’s GOTTA ASK:  Where did you write THE RANCHER'S FAKE FIANCÉE?

AMY’S GOTTA ANSWER: I don’t really have a set spot for writing. I take my laptop wherever I want. Sometimes I write at the kitchen table. Sometimes I sit on the couch. Sometimes I write while snuggled under the covers of my bed. No matter where I write, I need music playing in the background or the television on. I cannot write in silence. It’s actually more distracting to me for some reason.

  

UP NEXT for AMY:

THE GUARDIAN

Grace Note Records Series Book #4

I just signed the contract for Book 4 in the Grace Note Records series. I don’t have a release date yet but am excited to continue this series! Leave a comment and enter the Rafflecopter for 3 chances to win the first book in the Grace Note Records.

GET LOST WITH ALL THE BLACKWELLBROTHERS

JON | ETHAN | BEN | TYLER

Coming next month… CHANCE

PURCHASE:   JON | ETHAN | BEN | TYLER | CHANCE

Melinda, Carol, Anna, Cari Lynn & Amy

AMY is giving away three (3) signed copies of The Girl He Used to Love. book #1 in the Grace Note Records series. (Paperback US only, ebook internationally)

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You host, Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot

AMY WANTS TO KNOW: Tyler and Hadley are opposites when it comes to neatness. Hadley is kind of a slob and Tyler is very organized. Which one are you like - tidy like Tyler or messy like Hadley?

Meet Hero and Rancher Ben Blackwell

THE BLACKWELL BROTHERS ARE COMING HOME…

…whether they want to or not.

THE RANCHER’S REDEMPTION

His family committed a terrible wrong
Ben Blackwell wants to make it right

The last time Ben saw Rachel Thompson was when her best friend left him at the altar. Now Rachel’s suing the Blackwells over river water rights. Rachel’s a triple threat—rancher, fellow attorney and single mom—and Ben’s plan to win in court hits a snag when mutual attraction blooms. If he divulges a long-held secret, will his family forgive him? Will Rachel?

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Prior to writing romance, Melinda was a junior manager for a Fortune 500 company, which meant when she flew on the private jet she was relegated to the jump seat—otherwise known as the potty. After grabbing her pen (and a parachute) she made the jump to full-time writer, focusing on sweet romance for Harlequin and indie-pubbed sweet romantic comedy. She recently came to grips with the fact that she’s an empty nester and a grandma, concepts easier to grasp than jet-setting on a potty. 

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THE Q&A

ANGI:  Writing a continuity series takes a lot of work and cross-referencing with your co-authors. Is there any back story you needed for your characters that either didn’t make it into the book (no spoilers) or that you needed to brainstorm from a co-author?

MELINDA: Yes! It was my idea to have Ben jilted at the altar just after he graduated from law school because his grandfather had eloped with his bride. I wanted about 7 years to have passed (the 7 year itch, right?) but our editor wanted it to be five years. This impacted how many years Ben had been at a law firm in New York City (I had wanted him to be partner or junior partner, but that’s way too short at most firms).

ANGI: What’s special about Ben Blackwell, the hero of your book?

MELINDA: Ben left town and never looked back, because if he looked back, he felt a little guilty about what he’d left behind. His actions in court were influenced by his grandfather (before he got jilted) and essentially robbed the ranch next door of their water supply (but legally, in court).

ANGI: What do you love about a rancher or a rancher’s life?

MELINDA: I grew up on a sheep farm – which isn’t what Ben would consider a true ranch – but what I loved was the wide open spaces. When Mr. Curtis and I were shopping for a house the first time, I kept telling him the neighbors were too close. We ended up buying a house that backs up to undeveloped land.

ANGI: Would Ben take Rachel to a fancy restaurant or a picnic? 

MELINDA: Oh, Ben is a fancy restaurant dude. In fact, he laments the fact that he can’t get a good salad or quinoa bowl delivered to the ranch. Canned food? (shiver)

ANGI: Favorite TV rerun you watch every time you channel surf? 

MELINDA: I am not the rerun type of woman (that would be Anna Stewart). I watch it once and move along.

ANGI: Worst thing about ranching (according to you or your hero)?

MELINDA: Barbed wire. I can say from experience there is nothing scarier to me than trying to unloop barbed wire to put on a fence. I even mentioned it in the book.

ANGI: The most daring thing you’ve ever done… Care to share?

MELINDA: When I was in college, I dressed up as Carmen Miranda for Halloween – swimsuit top, flimsy flowery skirt, and a pile of fruit wrapped around my head. Guys were swiping my fruit and then the rest fell upon me. I don’t dress up for Halloween anymore.

ANGI’s GOTTA ASK:  Where did you write THE RANCHER’S REDEMPTION?

MELINDA’S GOTTA ANSWER:  I wrote this book mostly at my desk. Notice the two dogs. One is usually in my lap. The other at my feet trying to get me to play tug of war with a two foot headless gator (that used to squeak).

  

UP NEXT for MELINDA:

SANTA SCHOOL

Heartwarming Days of Christmas #12

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GET LOST WITH ALL 
THE BLACKWELL BROTHERS

JON | ETHAN | BEN

Coming next month… TYLER

And in December… CHANCE

PURCHASE:   JON | ETHAN | BEN | TYLER | CHANCE

Melinda, Carol, Anna, Cari Lynn & Amy

MELINDA is giving away Four commenters will each receive a copy of Marrying the Wedding Crasher (autographed in the U.S., digital for international), a Harlequin Heartwarming clean romance in Melinda’s Harmony Valley series.

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your host, Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot

MELINDA WANTS TO KNOW: I used to own a horse that was a bit spirited (understatement). One time, she tossed her head while we were riding through a neighbor’s vineyard, broke her chin strap (what makes a horse stop), realized she had literal free rein, and raced down the hill directly at a barbed wire fence (did you catch my confession earlier about hating barbed wire?). I bailed, she swerved, and we both lived to ride another day. So now for your questions. Have you ever ridden a horse? If so, have things ever gone south?