Harlequin Desire Author, Lauren Canan!

ONE NIGHT WITH THE TEXAN

For wealthy real estate CEO Cole Masters, a weekend in New Orleans means meeting a beautiful woman and blowing off some steam. No names. No strings. So, months later when the same woman shows up on his doorstep, it’s a shocker. Even worse, she’s an anthropologist with a court order to access his property and temporarily shut down his current project.

For Tallie Finley, this mission is both professional and personal and Cole could prove too tempting a distraction. Will her efforts to uncover her family legacy be derailed? Especially when she discovers she’s expecting his child?

**GIVEAWAY BELOW**

One Night With The Texan is part of the Masters of Texas series.

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Lauren Canan has always loved the written word. Her first stories about dragons and puppies will never see a bookstore shelf, but writing has been a life-long love affair. Add in a great romance and she's hooked. She can’t really see herself doing anything else.

Lauren lives in Texas with her hubby, Terry, her Tennessee Walker, Tobias (Toby), two Wire Fox Terriers and a mouthy parrot named Bird.

Jan Schliesman: Do you ever get lost in your own stories?

Lauren Canan: Yes, I do! I don’t think I could write the story otherwise. I have to get in the character’s head, become part of their life and experience the emotions they feel as the story develops. Happiness, sadness, completely in love, the devastating grief when they can’t be together and the emotional swell when the miracle happens and they work it out – I’m right there with them every step of the way!

Jan: Name three things on your desk right now.

Lauren: My cell, a picture of my horse, and dust bunnies growing in one corner.

Jan: Do you struggle to find fresh ideas or do they come naturally?

Lauren: It does take quite a bit of thinking to create the basics of a story. Once I have an idea and get the first few chapters down on paper I generally let the characters tell me the rest. It’s just a matter of keeping up!

Jan: What do you love most about your latest release?

Lauren: The heroine is an anthropologist who believes she may find proof of her family’s heritage on the hero’s land. I’ve always loved things from the past. I’ve found razors, compasses and belt buckles from the Civil War era. American history intrigues me. It always has. Then, of course, there is the hero…  J

Jan: What are you currently reading?

Lauren: A manual on how to put ink in a new printer! It isn’t very romantic.

Jan: Do you believe in love at first sight?

Lauren: Absolutely.

Jan: If you had the skills to be in any other profession, what would it be?

Lauren: Oh gosh. This is a tough one. I’m doing what I’ve always dreamed of doing. I guess maybe a pilot. A bush pilot in Alaska. I love the mountains and I love to fly!

Jan: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Lauren: Back packing around Europe one summer. Met some great people and saw some wondrous things.  

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: My hubby works for Tombstone/DiGiorno. What do you like on your pizza?

Lauren’s GOTTA ANSWER: Anything and everything EXCEPT those little fish. J

Find LAUREN CANAN:

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THANKS SO MUCH, Lauren, for sharing your writing world with us. Check out the Rafflecopter below for you chance to WIN a copy of One Night With A Texan!

PREVIOUS RELEASES: Terms of a Texas Marriage 

                                                Lone Star Baby Bombshell

                                                Redeeming the Billionaire SEAL

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Texas Billionaires and Babies

REDEEMING THE BILLIONAIRE SEAL

Harlequin Desire

Can a billionaire SEAL find love in the arms of a hometown girl?

When Navy SEAL Chance Masters returns to his Texas Ranch, he can’t wait for his next deployment. Civilian life doesn’t suit him anymore. But then he runs into Holly Anderson. The young girl he remembers is all grown up and raising her orphaned niece.

Soon Chance gets close to Holly and the baby- too close. The situation sends up red flags. It feels like family.  After what he’s seen in the line of duty, Chance can’t let himself get attached. 

But can Holly teach him that you can come home again?

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How she wanted to kiss him. Right here. Right now. Right or wrong.

She couldn’t think of a better place for something she’d waited a lifetime to do. Moving closer to him, her focus dropped to his mouth.

“Holly.” He shook his head.  “This is not a good idea.” His voice was rough.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her focus remained on his lips which had haunted her for over a decade, now a mere breath away.

“Yeah. You do.” But despite his hesitation, he reached out and smoothed some strands of hair back from her face. He caught the back of her head in his hand and gently pulled her toward him. His lips touched hers, gently, tentatively. But then he drew back making her heart cry out. He watched her, carefully, intently.

It’s just a kiss,” she whispered.  She could hear the pleading in her own voice.

“We both know it’s a hell of a lot more than that.”

MEET LAUREN

JAN: You were on the blog a year ago with your first release. How has your “writing life” changed?

LAUREN:  Busier than I ever imagined I could be and I see this as a good thing. I’m doing what I love and meeting some fantastic people along the way who share my love for the written word.

JAN: What are you reading?

LAUREN:  When I get the chance to read I select mostly the books of my friends and other Desire authors.  

JAN: Plan to travel anywhere this year?

LAUREN:  Maybe short trips inside the US.  I’ve never seen the Great Smokey Mountains. That would be a wonderful trip. And I’ll be headed to San Diego for RWA Nationals this year. That’s always fun.

JAN:  What is your least favorite housekeeping duty?

LAUREN:  Folding and putting away clothes.  We’ve dubbed an extra bedroom as the Pile & Pick room.  So far it’s working pretty good.

JAN: Does your heroine have any of your character traits?

LAUREN:  Absolutely.  Let’s see…stubborn, mouthy, tenacious…to name a few!

JAN: Most writers have to find their zone before the words start flowing. Describe your ideal writing day.

LAUREN:    Terrible weather outside, Hubby gone to friend’s house, dogs are asleep and parrot finally shuts up.  Usually the best time to write around my house is ten to four am.

JAN: What’s the best part of living in Texas?

LAUREN:  Friendly people who will always jump in to help without waiting to be asked. Sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico and plenty of wide open spaces.

JAN: What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

LAUREN:  Chocolate.  Any size, shape, form or fashion.  Being diabetic, getting chocolate on occasion is really a very big deal.

LAUREN CANAN 

has always been in love with love. When she began to write, stories of romance and unbridled passion flowed through her fingers onto the page. Today Lauren is a multi-award-winning author, including winner of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award. She lives in Texas with her own real-life hero, four dogs and a mouthy parrot named Bird.  

FIND LAUREN

Contact     Website    Amazon   Facebook      Goodreads
Twitter  @Lauren Canan1     Previously on GLIAS

LONE STAR BABY BOMBSHELL

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Her baby's father isn't the cowboy he claimed to be—he's a Hollywood hotshot in hiding! 

Kelly Michaels was fooled once—when a sexy stranger seduced the socks off her. It wasn't until the rancher left her Texas town that she discovered he was Hollywood heartthrob Jace Compton—and she was pregnant with his baby. Now he's back, and Kelly won't be fooled twice. 
Jace bought a local ranch to escape the rat race. But when he runs into Kelly and finds out she's had his child—that settles it. He's ready to make Kelly his, no matter how many demons from the past are standing in his way…
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TERMS OF A TEXAS MARRIAGE

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The contract says she must marry if she wants to save her ranch… 

Because of a two-hundred-year-old deed, modern Texas rancher Shea Hardin must wed wealthy landowner Alec Morreston to save her family home. She says yes—and swears this marriage will be in name only. 

But she underestimates Alec. One look at this suave billionaire and Shea knows staying out of Alec's bed will be the toughest challenge of her life. His hungry lips and skilled touch may seal the deal—and her fate. Will he take her heart and her land? Or, on the brink of losing it all, will Shea gain everything?

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Lauren Wants To Know: What makes the perfect story?

Lauren Canan--Debut Author

I'm so excited to introduce my friend, Lauren Canan!  Lauren and I have been writing buddies for several years and last year she SOLD her first book to Harlequin Desire. She also won the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Contest for Short Contemporary romance. And if that's not enough, Romantic Times Magazine gave 4 Stars to Lauren's February debut, Terms of a Texas Marriage.

Read an excerpt and buy the book.

 “What's the matter?” Alec asked, tilting his head in mock innocence.  “Wedding night jitters?”

            “No.”  Shea shook her head.  “No.  It's just that...well, we ah...we don't know each other.  I mean—” She took a step back from him, placing her just inside the bedroom.  

            “I think I know a way we can remedy that problem.”  He began to unbutton his shirt.  With his other hand, he reached out and flipped off the bedroom light leaving only the soft beams of moonlight streaming through the window to challenge the darkness that now surrounded them.  Through the dim glow, he watched her, his eyes focused on her lips.

            Shea slowly backed away but Alec advanced toward her, matching step for step.  With the last button released, his shirt fell open to reveal the muscular wall of his chest.  She hadn't realized he was so powerfully built; so solid.  Definitely not the body of a man who sat behind a desk every day.    

            “You surprise me, Mrs. Morreston.  I had expected you to come down the stairs wearing boots and jeans.  Instead, you walked into the room in that gown.”  The deep, velvety texture of his voice reached her through the dim radiance in the room.  “If that was for my benefit, to ensure I knew what a beautiful and desirable woman I was about to marry, you can rest assured, it worked.”  

            “No.  I mean...it...it was my mother's.”  

            “It's very nice.  Very elegant.”  He continued to advance toward her.  “But now it's time to take it off.”

            “No.”  

            “No?” he mocked her.  “Why Mrs. Morreston, are you saying you intend to deny your husband on your wedding night?”

            “I...I just think we need time to—”

            “Don't worry, sweetheart,” he cut in. “We have all night, and I certainly intend to take my time.”

            “No!”

            “No?  Might I remind you, Mrs. Morreston, I paid a very high price for the...pleasure...of your company.  You’re now a very wealthy woman.  Why don’t you show me if this entire fiasco was worth it.”

            “No.”

            “Ah...there's that word again.”  Alec didn't even bother concealing his devious smile.  “Are you saying you want to have our marriage annulled and give up so soon?  I honestly believed your resolve to keep this place, no matter what, would last longer than the wedding night.”

            “And I hoped, as a gentleman, you would afford me an opportunity to get to know you before...before...”

            “Who said I was a gentleman?”

Biography:  Lauren Canan was born and raised in Texas, where her love of horses and propensity for telling stories came at an early age.  She credits her dad who regaled her mind with tales of the old west and Brothers Grim and encouraged her to let her imagination soar.  When she isn't writing sexy, modern day romantic stories for Harlequin Desire, Lauren enjoys jamming on the guitar, piano or dulcimer and grooming/showing her Wire Fox Terriers.  

Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Lauren Canan: Every chance I get.  I’m an avid reader and end most every day propped up in bed reading a good book.  I read when I travel, when I stop to eat… I can think of very few things I enjoy more than getting lost in a great book.

Jan: Terms of a Texas Marriage has an interesting premise: The heroine can’t be single or the land rights revert to the hero. How did you go about researching this?

Lauren: I love history and this area is rich with it.  They are still finding arrowheads and pottery from Native American villages; relics from Civil War encampments.  A tiny community named Tulip was the one of the first trading posts on the Red River.  Land was claimed and had to be protected.  It was life 200 years ago. The outlaw John Wesley Hardin was born and raised here.  So…it all just kinda came together.

Jan: Do you remember the first romance novel you ever read?

Lauren: Yes!  I 'discovered’ Linda Howard.  By the time I’d read four of her books, my dream was formed.  I knew what I ultimately wanted to do in this life.

Jan: As a new Harlequin author, can you share a word or two of advice about what finally helped you make that first sale?

Lauren: Don’t give up.  No matter how long you've been writing, no matter how frustrated you might feel at times- do not stop.  A wise person once told me- the only writers who don’t get published are those who give up.  Believe in yourself and your abilities.  Know you can do it.  Focus on your goal and keep writing.

Jan: I know you love your dogs and used to show Fox Terriers. Any chance that future books might include more furry friends?

Lauren: What a great idea!  Wish I’d thought of it!  Definitely a future consideration!

Jan: What other careers have you had?  Did any of them steer you toward writing?  Anything you would have done differently?

Lauren: I worked in the medical field, reading when I got a break and desperately wishing I could stay home and write!  With 2 kids, a barn full of horses, 3 cats, 2 dogs and a parrot named Casey- it just wasn’t gonna happen.  All I could do is get here as fast as I could!  But honestly, I don’t think I would have changed a thing.

Jan: Are you a neat freak or does your office look like a tornado went through? (Not that I have any clue what that would look likeJ)

Lauren: Two tornadoes and a hurricane would more adequately describe the appearance of my office.  What’s funny is all the mess has formed this weird kind of clutter system.  Usually I can go straight to any document I need.  Bizarre but true.

Jan: What has surprised you the most about being published?

Lauren: Everything.  Seriously.  I never realized how much my life would change and in so many different directions.  For me, it’s absolutely the best thrill ride one could ever hope for and one I hope never ends.

Jan’s GOTTA ASK:  

Lauren’s GOTTA ANSWER:  I love ice cream.  Any flavor that’s sugar free.

Lauren's next book, Lone Star Baby Bombshell, is a July 2015 release for Harlequin Desire.

Huge thanks to Lauren for sharing a bit of her world with us! Lauren is giving away a copy of TERMS OF A TEXAS MARRIAGE so be sure to scroll down and leave an answer in the comments section, along with your email:

Sunshine or Snow in your part of the world?

FIND Lauren Canan:

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Twitter  @Lauren Canan1