An Interview (and a Giveaway) With Kathy Douglass

Please welcome the fabulous Kathy Douglass to the blog today. We're talking about her new release, THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING. The paperback hit the shelves last week and the e-book is available May 1, 2019. We're talking 

Here's a little bit about the book:

Eight dogs, eight cats…and one ornery cowboy!

Megan Jennings just found the ideal temporary home for sixteen suddenly displaced pets. Too bad the farm’s owner isn’t giving the two-legged, former New York attorney the same warm welcome. A city girl broke Cade Battle’s heart and no way the gun-shy cowboy’s trusting in the feelings Megan awakens. But after being orphaned as a teenager, Megan knows she’s finally found her forever family. Can she make Cade believe it, too?

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK

https://aerbook.com/books/-212098.html?identifier=9781488041990

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1335573860/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-city-girls-homecoming-kathy-douglass/1129979153?ean=9781335573865

  

Nancy Robards Thompson: Welcome, Kathy! I’m so happy you’re here today. How often to you get lost in a story?

Kathy Douglas:  Hi Nancy. Thanks so much for having me.

I get lost in a story all the time. It’s my favorite thing to do. Sometimes I get lost in a story when I’m not supposed to. I tell myself that I’m going to just read for a minute or two. The next thing I know that two minutes has turned into twenty. And going from twenty to thirty is quite easy. I try to be disciplined, but it’s so easy to get swept up into the world of books.

NRT: Tell us about your current release.

KD: My latest book is THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING. It’s the fifth book in a multi-author continuity. The books revolve around a pet rescue in the fictional town of Spring Forest, North Carolina. Although it’s part of a series, my book stands alone.

THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING is about finding family and being willing to trust in love again. My heroine lost her family in a tragic accident as a teenager and longs to feel the love of a family again. She has an open heart whereas my hero has been burned and has closed his heart to love. He has to learn to trust again if he’s ever going to experience the joy of love again.

NRT: Why will readers fall in love with your hero?

KD: Because although Cade’s grumpy, he has a heart of gold. He’s a good guy. He’s the kind of man who cares for his neighbor. If someone is in need, he helps. He also loves his dad and is a great son. He tries to put up walls around his heart, but his true self always comes through.

NRT: Tell us something special about your heroine.

KD: Megan is a giving and loving woman. She’s a hopeful person and although life has dealt her some harsh blows, she hasn’t become bitter. She believes in family and love.

 NRT: How many books have you written? Is there a secret to writing books? Any favorite places to write?

KD: THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING is the sixth book that I’ve published. Before I was published, I filled many notebooks with stories that will never see the light of day. I recycled those notebooks and they’re now living happily as paper towels and paper cups.

If there’s a secret to writing books, I don’t know it. The only thing I know to do is to sit down and do the work. Some days are easier than others and the words just flow. Other days are more difficult and I’m lucky to get any words on the page. But little by little, the words find their way to the page until the entire story is told. I guess the closest thing to a secret I know is to keep writing. Keep showing up no matter how many or how few words you manage to write that day. Eventually you’ll get to type “THE END”.

I don’t have a favorite place to write. I have an office that I use early in the morning, about 5:00 a.m. or so while my husband is sleeping. Later in the day I might bring the laptop to my bedroom and work on the bed. Once the first draft is written, I print it out and put it in a purple three-ring binder. I tried other color binders, but they don’t work for me. Once I’m on the second draft, I can write anywhere. If the weather is good, I sit outside and work. If not, it’s the office or the bedroom.

NRT: Why do you write romance?

KD: I write romance because I love reading romance. I write the stories that I enjoy reading. This may sound a bit odd, but sometimes when I’m working on the first draft, I find myself thinking about the story and actually for a second think it’s a book I’m reading. Crazy, I know. But for that short period of time I want to pick up that book and finish reading it. Of course the only way to do that is to finish writing it.

NRT: When did you know you were a writer?

KD: Ooh. That’s a hard one. I spent many years writing and submitting before I finally sold my first book to Harlequin Special Edition. I guess I really knew I was a writer when I signed my first contract.

NRT: Are you an early bird writer or a night owl?  Do you try to keep a solid routine or is every day different?

KD:  I’m definitely not a night owl. I like to consider myself a middle of the day writer. In the early hours, I try and look at email, play around on social media, and reread the previous day’s words to kind of ease into the day. Occasionally I’m able to write good words, but most of the time not. But as the day progresses, I hit my stride. I’m generally done by late afternoon. If I’m on a roll, I might continue writing into the evening, but if not, I just shut it down. When I’m working on my second or third drafts, I might work later.

I try to keep a routine, but it might change from time to time, depending on where I am in the process. I don’t outline any more than is necessary for the proposal that’s required to sell the book, so the first draft is usually harder for me. There are times when I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen next. When that happens, I just stop writing for the day. But miraculously, the next day I know exactly what to do.

NRT: How do you celebrate when you finish a book?

KD:  I dance around the house. (I call it dancing even though others don’t agree.) Then I generally take a couple of days and clean up. The closer I get to the end of a book, the less inclined I am to clean or cook or anything. I am really focused on finishing. So, when the book is done, it’s laundry and cleaning. And I reward myself by reading.

NRT:   What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream (or whatever dessert you love)?

KD: I love Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. It is my favorite ice cream. My mother loved butter pecan ice cream and I like that, too. Whenever I eat it, I think of her.

NRT: I know exactly what you mean. Certain foods make me thing of people I love. Those are good memories. Are you ready for the Speed Round? Just say the first thing that comes to mind.

*          What’s the first book you remember reading?  I grew up in a house of readers. My mother and father were always reading. My siblings always had their noses in books as well. I recall having many books read to me before I could read. Hop on Pop, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, and Go Dog Go are some of the titles I remember. I don’t know which book is the first I read on my own, but the one that made the biggest impression on me as a kid was Frederick Douglass Freedom Fighter.

*           What's your favorite cartoon character? My favorite cartoon character is Snoopy. I am a big fan of Charlie Brown cartoons. I watch A Charlie Brown Christmas every year. And I love Snoopy, Come Home, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown.

*        Where’s your favorite place to read? My favorite place to read depends on the weather. If it’s a warm, sunny day, I like to read on the front porch. When it’s cold or late, I like to read in my bedroom. But to be honest, any place I have a book and time to read is a good place.

*        What sound or noise do you love?  I love the sound of a baby laughing. Baby’s laughter is just so sweet and filled with joy.

*         What’s your favorite movie of all time? My favorite movie is Wuthering Heights. I was very young when I saw it on television for the first time. I watch it every time it comes on TCM. My dad loved that movie and whenever I watch it, I think of him.

*        What’s your favorite season? My favorite season is summer. I love the warm weather and the longer days. And all that bright sunshine.

*         Coffee or tea? Tea

*         Beach or mountains? Beach

*        Cats or dogs? Dogs

*         Savory or sweet? Sweet

NRT: Kathy, this has been such fun! Congratulations on the new release and thanks so much for being here today.

1      CONNECT WITH KATHY DOUGLASS:

Contact: https://kathydouglassbooks.com/contact/

Website: https://kathydouglassbooks.com/

Facebook: Author Kathy Douglass

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathydouglass7

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathy-douglass

Goodreads:  Kathy Douglass

Newsletter Signup: https://kathydouglassbooks.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Douglass/e/B01LXACZUE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

UP NEXT :

My next book is A BABY BETWEEN FRIENDS. It’s my sixth Sweet Briar Sweethearts book and features Joni Danielson and Lex Devlin.

PREVIOUS RELEASES: (Provide a link to your book list, if possible):

https://kathydouglassbooks.com/books/

 

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy is offering a copy of her first Sweet Briar Sweethearts book, HOW TO STEAL THE LAWMAN’S HEART. The giveaway is open  to U. S. only.

Answer the following question in the in comments below to be eligible to win Kathy's prize:

What is your favorite book?

***********************************************************

Kathy Douglass came by her love of reading naturally - both of her parents were readers. She would finish one book and pick up another. Then she attended law school and traded romances for legal opinions.

After the birth of her two children, her love of reading turned into a love of writing. Kathy now spends her days writing the small town contemporary novels she enjoys reading.

Kathy loves to hear from her readers and can be found on Facebook or her website kathydouglassbooks.com.

New Release Alert! A FORTUNATE ARRANGEMENT by Nancy Robards Thompson

A FORTUNATE ARRANGEMENT
Paperback available now
E-Book available May 1, 2019

THE STORY BLURB:

From “Office Wife” To Love For Life

Landing a job as Austin Fortune’s assistant was a dream come true for Felicity Schafer—until she made the mistake of falling for her boss! But the brooding executive was nursing wounds from a nasty divorce, so she kept her distance. Now, after five years, Felicity seems no closer to a promotion—or to getting Austin to open up. Will giving notice finally get Austin to take notice?

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK  

Chapter 1

Austin Fortune almost missed the plain white envelope at the bottom of the stack of papers his assistant Felicity Schafer had set on his desk. After he’d read the letter, he wished he’d never seen it and for a moment, he considered pretending as if he hadn’t read it.

Maybe it would just disappear.

Instead, the reality of it danced around him like illuminated dust motes.

Felicity, his gatekeeper, his right hand, the person who kept him organized and on track ahead of the fray, had tendered her resignation.

“Is this a bad joke?” he muttered aloud, trying it on for size.

But no. Even though Felicity was good-natured, it would’ve been out of character for her to kid around about something like this.

“She’s leaving me.” Uttering the words out loud made it sound personal. It wasn’t personal—it was work, but it sure felt personal.

He looked up from the note and watched her through the glass wall of his office. She was engrossed in something on her computer. He didn’t know what. He could see her in profile. Her head was bowed over her keyboard, her dark blond hair a curtain hiding her face.

What the hell was he supposed to do without her? Every morning when he got to the office, she had a daily briefing typed up and waiting for him on his desk along with his coffee and a smoothie with energy booster. She remembered birthdays, anniversaries and the minutiae of family and client particulars that elevated and solidified his business relationships and could prove costly if forgotten.  She was always game for brainstorming new concepts and abstract business angles. Ultimately assisting with client presentations. 

Plain and simple, Felicity made him look good and was always there to help him succeed.

It wasn’t just a matter of hiring someone new. Felicity was a rare find. She had an uncanny ability to anticipate his every need—even before he knew what he needed. In all fairness, he paid her well and she seemed happy. So, why was she leaving him?

He skimmed the letter again looking for clues, but in true Felicity form, it was short and to the point:

Dear Austin,

Please accept this letter as notification that I am leaving my position with Fortune Investments at the end of the month.

I’ve left the date open, so I can be of assistance during the transition.

Sincerely,

Felicity Schafer

Austin reread the note twice more, making sure he’d read it right. Once he’d absorbed it, he had a good idea of how he might fix it. He pressed the button on the intercom.

“Felicity, could you come into my office, please?”

“Sure.”

A moment later, she was standing in his doorway.

“What do you need?” she asked.

“If you wanted a raise,” he said, “all you had to do was ask.”

She wrinkled her nose. “A raise?”

“Of course, you just had your half-year review and got a bump in salary, but if it wasn’t enough, if you want more money, we can talk about it.”

She gave her head a quick shake. “Who said anything about a raise?”

He picked up her letter. “I thought maybe that’s what this was about. I mean why else would you resign?”

Her cheeks flushed, and her mouth fell open before she snapped it shut, into a thin line and folded her arms across her chest. She looked at him as if he had insulted her.

How could offering someone more money be insulting?

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, mirroring her posture.

“Austin, you’ve always been generous when it comes to my salary. But I’m graduating with my MBA at the end of the month. I don’t need a graduate degree to be someone’s personal assistant. It’s time I moved on.”

“Do you have another job?”

“No, not yet. I’m going to start interviewing soon. I wanted to be up-front with you about it.”

“Thanks,” he said.

She flinched. He realized he might have sounded sarcastic. Maybe a very small part of him had meant it that way. Was he supposed to be happy he was losing her?

He raked his hand through his hair. This was not the way he wanted to start his Friday. It certainly wasn’t the way he wanted to end his week.

He gestured for her to sit down in one of the chairs on the other side of his desk.

She sat and folded her hands in her lap. “I’ve loved working for you and Fortune Investments, but I’ve worked hard to get this degree.”

He didn’t say anything because he was afraid what he wanted to say would sound wrong. He’d always prided himself on being fair.

“I hope you can understand that I want more than being someone’s secretary for the rest of my working life,” she went on. “Because that’s what I am. We can dress it up and call me your assistant, but when it comes down to it, I’m your secretary. It’s been a great job, but now I need more.”

He held up his hand.

“I get it,” he said. “I do. Congratulations on accomplishing this, Felicity. I’m happy for you. I know how hard you’ve worked. You’re smart and you’re creative and I understand that a person with an MBA is way overqualified to be a personal assistant. You’d be wasting your potential staying in this position. But that doesn’t make it any easier for me because I don’t want to lose you.”

He held her gaze and her expression softened.

“I mean did you expect me not to be upset about the prospect of losing you?” He held up his hand again to signal that the question was rhetorical. “But that’s me being selfish. This isn’t about me. It’s about you. What do you want to do with your degree?”

“My undergraduate degree is in advertising. I’ve always wanted to work in that field.”

“You’d be good at it,” he said. “You’d be good at anything you decided to do.”

Her cheeks turned pink again. She looked down and then back up at him.

“Is there anything I can do to convince you to stay with Fortune Investments?”

“I don’t know. Are there any opportunities here?”

“What if I talk to Miles and see if we can create a position for you? I’m not making any promises, but would you consider staying if we could come up with something?”

Felicity smiled. “It depends. Would it mean doing advertising work in addition to everything I do for you?”

Austin laughed. “You know me too well.”

“I know I do.”

“How am I supposed to get by without you, Felicity?”

She shrugged. “You did fine before I came on board. You’ll survive.”

No, he hadn’t been fine before she came onto the scene. His life had been a mess, a big tumbleweed of mistakes and misjudgments that had cost him dearly. It had taken him five years to get himself back on track after his disastrous marriage. Sure, he’d come through it intact and he’d learned a lot about himself and life. Yes, he would be fine on his own, but he didn’t want to lose her.

Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

WHAT’S UP NEXT FOR NANCY?

The first book in my brand new cozy mystery series, The Wedding Bell Mysteries, will launch in early October 2019.

In November 2019, the first book in my new Special Edition series, Savannah Sisters, will hit the shelves.

Please stay tuned for more information.

Now, back to A FORTUNATE ARRANGEMENT…

This book is part of Special Edition’s beloved Fortunes of Texas series.  It’s the fifth installment of the 2019 series, Fortunes of Texas: Destined to Meet. Even though it’s part of a series, my book stands alone. 

When I host other authors on the GLIAS blog, I interview them. I thought I’d answer some of the same questions I ask them.

What’s your favorite trait about you hero, Austin Fortune, in A FORTUNATE  ARRANGEMENT?  He’s tragically flawed, but he still has a great heart. He made a major mistake when he was just starting out in the business world. Since then, he’s been extra hard on himself trying to atone for what he did, and making sure that he doesn’t mess up again.   

If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

I majored in journalism and minored in art. I’d love to devote more time to my art…or I’d love to be a pastry chef – even though I’m not classically trained. I wouldn’t want to work in a restaurant kitchen, but maybe in a specialty bakery.

Is writing or story-telling easier for you? 

I see stories everywhere. In fact, to me all the world is a story. Coming up with the plots is the fun (and challenging) part.

Where do you read and how often?

I read every day. I love both print/e-book and audio books.

Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Always! However, I can’t listen to music with words when I write. I have an instrumental playlist that I listen to when I work, and it serves as a “call to write,” and it helps me get into the zone.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

I am so grateful for the gift of spending my days doing what I really love…. writing stories that make other people smile. 

Does your heroine, Felicity Schafer have any of your character traits?

A FORTUNATE ARRANGEMENT is absolutely a work of fiction. But Felicity is very focused on getting things done. I’m very much that way.  I have a schedule and I try very hard to stick to it.

I’m giving away a Kindle copy of my first Special Edition, ACCIDENTAL PRINCESS.

I WANT TO KNOW:  Tell me what you’re reading now.

Answer my question in the comments below to be entered for a chance to win.

Find me on the web:

| Website:  https://www.NancyRobardsThompson.com

| Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nancyrobardsthompsonbooks and https://www.facebook.com/nrobardsthompson

| Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IplJjN

| Twitter: https://twitter.com/NRTWrites  --   @NRTWrites

| BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-robards-thompson

| Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancyrthompson/  - @NancyRThompson 

| Newsletter Signup: https://www.nancyrobardsthompson.com/contact 

|

******************************************************************************

National bestselling author Nancy Robards Thompson lives and writes in Northeastern Tennessee, but her imagination transports her all over the world. She has found Nirvana doing what she loves most – writing romance and women's fiction full-time. After hanging up her press pass, this former journalist and two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart, struck gold in July 2002 when she won the award. Since then, she’s gone on to sell more than 40 books, which critics have deemed, “…funny, smart and observant.”

Caro Carson & a 16 Year Promise

THE COLONELS' TEXAS PROMISE

American Heroes

A marriage pact, sixteen years in the making.

The vow was simple. If they were single by the time they made lieutenant colonel, they’d marry. On the day of her promotion, Juliet Grayson is at Evan Stephens’s door to ask him to keep his promise. Juliet only needs a father figure for her son, but Evan hopes to be so much more. Can he convince a woman who’s been burned before to get close to the flame once again?

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK

Despite a no-nonsense background as a West Point graduate and U.S. Army officer, CARO CARSON has always treasured the happily-ever-after of a good romance novel. After her military service, she worked in the healthcare industry with a Fortune 100 company, talking science with doctors who were rarely handsome bachelor Texans like the doctors in her books. Now a USA Today bestselling author and RITA™ award winner, Caro is delighted to be living her own happily-ever-after with her husband (who actually is a handsome Texan) and their two children. They live in the great state of Florida, a location which has saved the coaster-loving theme park fanatics a fortune on plane tickets.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS:

| Website   | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter @TheCaroCarson | Goodreads

| Previous GLIAS interviews

THE Q&A

ANGI: Daffy Duck or Donald Duck?

CARO: Oh, both are relatable. They seem to be angry at the world all the time, but the world is not very kind to them. They have some justification! After all, if my beak got blown off regularly (Daffy) or chipmunks dropped logs on my head (Donald), I’d be ticked off, too. But I’ll go with Daffy, because he faces that unfair world with confidence, an eyeroll, and a snarky comment or two. You go, Daffy. You do you.

ANGI: What’s your favorite thing about your book’s hero?

CARO: His bear hugs! Evan and Juliet have a history together as best friends in college, and they used to be affectionate with one another the way good friends, even siblings, would be. She shoves him off the sidewalk when he jogs by, he kisses her cheek and says, “Good luck on the test,” that sort of thing. Reunited in their 30s, she is catching him up on the past 16 years of her life as they wash dishes together in his kitchen, and she seems confident—like she’s handled the disappointments and moved on from the heartbreaks. But Aiden knows her too well. He puts down the dishtowel and envelopes her in a bear hug. It’s not a sexy moment, but it is a moment of physical bonding that cuts through Juliet’s defenses and makes her realize just how much she needs Evan back in her life, this man who has always been on her side. (This is where I must point to the cover of this book. I love that my publisher’s cover artist chose to depict the bear hug. The models got it exactly right, too, with his strong arms holding her securely and that expression on her face—that expression! I want to live their life when I look at that cover.)

ANGI: High Heels or Hiking Boots?

CARO:  As a former army officer, I feel like I’m obliged to be practical and say “hiking boots,” and it was indeed very comfortable to wear combat boots in my 20s. That said…I like high heels better, because it means I’m dressed up and going out for a good time. Maybe to the theater or out to dinner. Maybe to a party—or a writers’ conference, where I love to spend time with other writers.

ANGI: What’s your favorite dessert of all time?

CARO:  That’s easy: my mother’s key lime pie. I grew up in the Miami area, and we had a key lime tree in our backyard. When Mom told you to go out and pick some key limes, you knew the best, most tart pie in the world was in your very near future.

ANGI: Surf or Turf?

CARO: I’ll take the perfectly grilled steak (with a bottle of good Shiraz, please). It doesn’t go with Key Lime Pie at all, though. You have to eat all your dinner and finish your wine before you can have dessert, or else you’ll have a taste bud disaster on your tongue.

ANGI: Biography or History?

CARO:  History lets you enjoy both. There is no history without the biographies of the people who lived it. My favorite part of any history textbook was always the portraits and photos that added color to the text. I remember studying the faces of the immigrant family working in the unsafe factories of the Industrial Revolution. I looked at the portrait of Pocahontas, with its strange blend of Native American and formal British fashions, and tried to imagine how she must have felt when she left everything she ever knew—people, language, food, even the very plants and animals she grew up with—to go on a dangerous voyage to a new world. She must have had an incredible lust for adventure. I think it would be like taking off in a UFO today, truly leaving your whole world behind.

Wait—what were we talking about? Oh, yes. History. I choose history, because it’s really a thousand biographies.

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

CARO:  Going to West Point against my family’s advice. I hadn’t been 18 for two weeks when I raised my right hand and committed myself to nine years of military service, nine years of defending the Constitution with my life, if called upon to do so. Looking back, it’s easy to see how little an 18-year-old can realize the impact of such a decision. But on the other hand, in a very real way, that 18-year-old knew exactly what she was doing, where she was, what her goals were. I was so aware that I was standing on a parade field that George Washington’s troops had stood on, that I was wearing the same uniform Blackjack Pershing wore, and that one doesn’t get to do those things without a major trade-off, like nine years of one’s life. I suppose it was my personal Pocahontas moment, my choice to have an adventure that nobody else in my world had chosen. I tried to capture some of those emotions in THE LIEUTENANTS’ ONLINE LOVE. It’s a lighthearted book in many ways—a pen-pal romance like “You’ve Got Mail”—but the heroine is a new lieutenant fresh out of West Point, so I put a lot of my experiences into her life.

ANGI: I LOVE THAT !!

ANGI’s GOTTA ASK:  SHOW ME YOUR SHOES and tell us why…

CARO’s GOTTA ANSWER:   Well, they ain’t high heels, so obviously, there is no glamorous evening in my near future. At least sneakers make me look like I’m going to get some exercise at any moment!

UP NEXT for CARO:

THE BOOKWORM AND THE BARTENDER

Harlequin Special Edition

On sale February 2020

PREVIOUSLY RELEASED by CARO:

THE LIEUTENANTS’ ONLINE LOVE

Harlequin Special Edition

What happens when your internet crush...Shows up in real life?

First Lieutenant Thane Carter has experienced great success as the senior platoon leader of a military police company at Fort Hood. But, given the demands of his career, his love life is nonexistent. Thane wishes the maddening--and off-limits--new platoon leader, Lieutenant Chloe Michaels, could be more like his online friend "BallerinaBaby." It's complicated, all right--especially when Thane learns that his workplace nemesis and his internet crush are one and the same!

Read a little, Buy the book

THE CAPTAIN’S VEGAS VOWS

American Heroes

Harlequin Special Edition

They gambled on a long shot
Will the bet pay off?

They have ninety days before the state of Texas will grant these strangers a divorce from their impetuous Vegas wedding. Captain Helen Pallas is certain she's not cut out for marriage. And Captain Tom Cross doesn't believe in love. Yet working in the same unit--and assigned to married quarters--Helen and Tom know the attraction is real. It's a long shot, but we're betting on happily-ever-after.

Read a little, Buy the book

Caro is giving away a box of books! 

Along with her military-set romance “The Colonels’ Texas Promise,” Caro is including “How to Train a Cowboy,” one of her western romances. Plus, since she’s had her books appear in 2-in-1 paperbacks with some stellar authors, she is also including Debbie Macomber’s “Yours and Mine,” which features Caro’s RITA-nominated “The Bachelor Doctor’s Bride.” There’s also Sherryl Woods’ “My Dearest Cal,” which includes Caro’s RITA winner, “A Texas Rescue Christmas.” And lastly, Linda Lael Miller’s “A Stone Creek Christmas,” which include Caro’s “A Cowboy’s Wish Upon a Star.”

That’s eight novels by four authors, all in one box, delivered to your door. Sounds like a good box! Good luck.   U.S. only

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your host, Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot

CARO WANTS TO KNOW:  Is there an adventure that sounds exciting in a book, but that you would never want to do in real life? (Mine would be living on a sailing ship in the 18^th century. I love to read about it. I’d hate to live it.)

A PUPPY IN MY CHRISTMAS STOCKING AND A CHANCE FOR YOU TO WIN BOOKS

Luna Belle on her way home.

Santa came early and brought us a corgi puppy. Meet Luna Belle, our sweet, red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

She’s such a blessing because we’ve wanted another corgi since we lost our girl, Samantha in October

2017.  Since late 2017 and 2018 was a time of great change – adapting to a new home in a new state (we moved from Florida to Tennessee) and getting in sync with my husband’s retirement – plus, we did a fair amount of traveling this year. With all that on our plate, we decided to wait until life settled down.

Then, it was a matter of locating a puppy and waiting for the pup to be old enough to be away from its mother. Everything finally came together last week.

In so many ways, having a puppy in the house is like having a newborn. It’s like childbirth, too. The joy of having this little being in our lives makes us forget the pains of puppyhood – the frequent trips outside on the journey to housetraining. The experts say a puppy can hold it one hour for each month she is old. Luna is two months old. You can do the math…that means we’re taking trips outside every two hours. I have to give her credit, after her “last call” at night, the little thing is making it through the night for about six hours. That’s such a blessing.

Our Samantha lived to be almost twelve years old. We got her when she was three months old. For the life of me, I can’t remember the

Samantha in her Christmas sweater

housetraining process. All I remember is that she was easy.  Granted, Sammy was a month older than Luna when we got her, but I swear, I don’t remember her having accidents in the house. Selective memory?

Not gonna lie, our first week with Luna has brought some challenges. I’ve had to rethink my writing routine. Where I used to have long stretches of uninterrupted time to do my pages, now, I have to work in sprints between puppy “outings.”

Also, northeast Tennessee experienced a winter storm the likes of which the area hadn’t seen in ages. Our neighbor, who was born and raised here, says he hasn’t seen this much snow since he was a boy. We got nine inches, which made that first week of house training…interesting.

But Luna is so worth it. She loves the snow. She’s already developed a personality that is a wonderful mix of sweet and cuddly and adventurous and playful.

Luna

Something my friends have asked is why we didn’t adopt a rescue. That’s a great question. We tried several times to adopt rescue corgis, but they were placed just as soon as we submitted our application (we were always behind a long line of applicants). It’s wonderful that so many people are open to bringing rescues into their families. Since that wasn’t our path this time, we will continue to donate to the ASPCA and support our local shelter.

Thank you, Santa, for bringing our little Luna to us. Dear readers, what is on your Christmas/holiday list? I’ll give a bundle of Christmas books to one reader who comments below.

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National bestselling author Nancy Robards Thompson lives and writes in Tennessee, but her imagination transports her all over the world. She has found Nirvana doing what she loves most – writing romance and women's fiction full-time. She's sold more than 40 books, which critics have deemed, “…funny, smart and observant.”

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