Hi
GLIAS friends,
It’s
been a while since I’ve had the joy and fun of coming to you with a new
release. I’m so excited to share the birth of this story—it’s a saga in and of itself.
Betting on
Paradise is
the fourth book in my series “Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys.” For a little
while I wasn’t sure it would see its way to life much less pave the way for the
three books I planned to follow it. The
three books that started this series (The
Bride Wore Denim, The Bride Wore Red Boots, and The Bride Wore Starlight) have done well but, to be blunt, not
well enough for the bean counters at HarperCollins. Since indie-publishing was
NEVER on my bucket list, I nearly gave up on my seven book plan and went on to
a different kind of novel completely.
But
I LOVE this series. Plus, I actually had people who were not my mother begging
for the next book – and if you want to know a big truth about authors it’s that
one of the things that swells our heads the most is readers asking when the
next installment in a series is coming.
So
I took up the story and started attaching myself to very smart friends who know
a lot about the self-publishing world. Thank Heaven for them. I would have no
book without their help.
I
did all the things that needed to be done:
hired an editor, secured a copy editor, and found a cover designer. All
went well, and I had a lovely cover I adored, until just after I revealed said
cover, we discovered a nearly identical, duplicate cover already on a book for
sale on Amazon. NO WAY! The books are the same genre and would have shown up at
the same place. I had to change it.
Serendipity!
My glorious cover artist changed background colors, changed font colors, and
changed my heroine’s dress color—and the vote was unanimous. The new cover was
better than the first. Here’s the original photo we used. It’s stands out. It
pops. But it’s not nearly as pretty as the final product. It makes me happy
every time I see it. And it’s perfect for this spring release, for Easter, and
for standing out in a crowd!
Tomorrow
I’ll talk more about the story between the covers – come back for an interview
with my hero, Ty, and my heroine, Grace. Until then, here’s a little more about
Betting on Paradise. Welcome back to
Paradise Ranch, everyone!!
STORY BLURB
From
birth Grace Crockett has been part of an unbroken set: one-in a million
identical triplets. Twenty-six years later, however, feeling unappreciated in
her role as part owner of a successful Denver restaurant, Grace longs to break
away and fulfill her own dreams. But to do so she must learn to trust in her
own judgment.
Small-time
poker player Ty Garraway is determined to break his family’s legacy of abuse
and abandonment, and give his young daughter a hope for the future he’s never
had. But that means taking on the Crocketts—one of the most powerful ranching
families in Wyoming—and taking back a part of Paradise Ranch stolen from his
family eighty years ago in a poker game he believes was rigged.
Grace’s
relentless honesty and devotion to family—not to mention the way she turns him
on—has Ty thinking too much with his heart. Ty’s passionate love for his
daughter and his encouragement of Grace’s half-baked ideas—not to mention his
knee-weakening kisses—has Grace wondering if she’s found her unlikely match in
a rough-around-the-edges cowboy. But when Ty’s plans are exposed, can Grace
forgive the liar who manipulated her and her family and forgive herself for
being duped?
Love
has raised the stakes, requiring Ty to bet everything he has to win Grace and
his future, but will it be enough?
BUY BETTING ON PARADISE
EXCERPT
Ty
gave the corner of the sheetrock a pull and a chunk three feet square broke off
like limestone and powdered the floor. The space behind the hole was empty.
“Curiouser and curiouser,” said Grace.
“Yeah. What do you think, Alice, do you want to
see what’s behind here? A portal to Wonderland? Maybe a doorway to Narnia?”
“You know about Narnia?”
He
scowled. “I have a kid, remember?
Who reads already and likes to listen to books above her age level. I’ve probably
read more children’s stories than you have.”
She
nodded in concession. “That’s pretty likely
true. But I have read The
Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and Alice in Wonderland, so at least I got the references.”
He
smiled, warmed by the easy camaraderie they suddenly shared. It shouldn’t be that surprising, he supposed. They were
searching for treasure together after all. “Well, we’re more like the Goonies
than like Peter and Susan,” he said, turning back to the wall and grasping
another edge of sheet rock.
“Or Alice, for that matter,” she replied.
“Because I’m telling you, if we find something with a tag on it that reads ‘Drink
Me,’ it isn’t going to be me who tries it.”
“Why does that not surprise me in the least?” He
swiveled his head slightly to glance back and wrinkle his nose. “Grace Crockett,
try an unknown substance?”
“Unless it’s a good Scotch.”
A
grunting laugh burst from him as he won the battle with another chunk of
wallboard. “I think I like you,
Miss Grace. You don’t take yourself too seriously.”
This
time the snorting laughter came from her. “You’ll never ever convince my sisters of that. And, I admit, one
of the reasons I’m okay with pulling this down is that I could never leave that
hole in the wall. It would bother me in my sleep.”
“Seriously?”
Another
piece of sheetrock hit the floor.
“Think Big Bang Theory.”
“You’re telling me you’re that OCD?”
“I like no mess.”
“Aha. That totally explains why you want to
clean this place before you get bids on remodeling.”
“I guess.”
She
used her good hand to join him in the demolition. After fifteen minutes, they’d cleared a section of wall about ten feet
square. Ty held up his hand to stop them and stepped back.
“Look at that,” he said.
“A second fireplace!” Grace bent and craned her
neck to look into the brick firebox. “Somebody covered it up, and really
quickly, too.”
“A quick guess is that it was old and drafty,
and this was a stopgap to warm up the room.”
 |
They
both rocked forward at the same time and stuck their heads into the fireplace. As
if they’d choreographed it, Ty turned his head right and Grace turned hers left
so they could look up the flue. It was black as a well.
A
gentle waft of flowery scent filled his nostrils. Without warning his heartbeat
accelerated and he turned slowly back, shocked to meet her eyes just inches
from his. Her nose nearly brushed his cheek. He could have kissed her. She didn’t move.
“I think it’s blocked.” Her breath feathered his
lips. He couldn’t take his eyes off the action of her mouth as she swallowed.
“Yup.”
“What’s this, some kind of new voodoo ceremony?”
The
bright, southern-accented voice from behind them made Ty flinch as if he’d been stun gunned. When his forehead crashed
into Grace’s she collapsed onto her side, hit her elbow and let out a yelp that
ended in a choked sob.
“Grace!” Ty was out of the fireplace and had
Grace in his arms before he could even rub the sore spot on his own head. “I’m
sorry. So sorry. Your bad elbow—”
“I only bumped it. I’m fine, Ty.” Her forced
half smile couldn’t hide the pain in her eyes.
He
didn’t look toward the door;
he’d recognized the voice. Instead, he bent his head closer to Grace. “We
should go have it checked again.”
“Oh for crying out loud. No we should not.”
Grace
was first to look at their guests. Ty continued to hold her, unwilling to trust
her balance, not wanting to let her go. She felt right and safe in his embrace.
But
before he could ask once more if she really was okay, she gasped and wrenched
free of his arms.
“Lil!” she said.
In full-fledged annoyance, Ty turned, too, and
met a pair of sparkling brown eyes.
“That looked like it hurt, baby,” Lil said.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Ty shot
back.
Grace
popped him on the shoulder with a deep scowl and gave the slightest incline of
her head toward the door. He looked more carefully. Lucky stepped away from Lil’s side and gave a suspicious little wave.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Lucky?”
“You gave Miss Grace a bad bump. I think you
should kiss her owie.” She crossed her five-year-old arms and waited.
QUESTION
In this scene, Ty’s daughter, Lucky, an extremely precocious
five-year-old, ends up being the smartest person in the room – or at least the
most honest. I love including kids and animals in my stories. Just as they say
in the movies—they’re usually the ones who steal the limelight. I want to know
what baby, child, or animal steals the scenes in your life. Tell me all about
your favorite kids and/or pets. I have an e-copy of your choice of any one book
from my backlist for a commenter today.
Remember to come back tomorrow for more fun (Ty
and Grace answer GLIAS questions) and another giveaway!
Here’s how to contact me—I love hearing from
readers:
And I invite you to join my VIP Newsletter—be the first to get all the news!
See you tomorrow!
