Liliana Rose and Grand Parade #Giveaway

Liliana Rose is the author of ten books. Her eleventh, Grand Parade an Australian cowboy romance billed as a steamy contemporary, comes out on January 25th 

Blurb

Megan is a young photographer with her first real job at the Royal Adelaide Show, where she has to capture the agricultural event. As a city girl, she is clueless, and when she gets too close to a grumpy bull, she is kicked in the head.
Guilty that his bull hurt someone and aware of the painful side effects of head injuries due to the loss of his sister, Jackson takes care of Megan.
Megan is determined that she will be all right and continues photographing during the day before collapsing. Jackson is there to make sure she is taken to hospital and cared for.

Recovering, Megan finds herself drawn to Jackson, but she’s not sure that she can be anything than a city girl, even for love. Can Jackson, in his quiet, strong, country-boy style, convince her to take life in a new direction, with him?
Excerpt

“Look out!”

Megan saw a blur of cream through her lens, and was about to put down the camera when something connected with the side of her skull. She screamed, the only reaction she could manage. An explosion went off in her head. Tiny sparks flashed on the edge of her vision as she fell backward. Her mind filled with something like a night sky, black with tiny lights that crept further into her vision every time she blinked. It fascinated and distracted her from the pain that throbbed in her head.

She thudded on her backside on the concrete. A new wave of pain swept through her body. Air escaped from her lungs and Megan gasped. She managed to piece together that she’d been hit in the head, though by what exactly she wasn’t sure. People rushed towards her.

Embarrassment flooded into her cheeks. The last thing she wanted to be was the center of attention. That’s why she was a photographer. She could hide behind the camera. My camera? She reached for it, and sighed with relief when her fingers wrapped around it. She looked down at her SLR digital Canon camera, and it appeared to be in one piece. It was hard to tell because of the pounding in her head.

More stars flashed. She noticed they twinkled in time with the bursts of pain.

“They don’t have points.” Megan knew she had spoken, but her voice sounded faraway, and not at all like her own.

“Are you okay?” A man knelt beside her. He was one of the men she’d been distracted by. She tried to look at him, but could only see the flashing stars now retreating to the edge of her vision. A fog seeped into her mind and she struggled to think clearly.

“No points,” she said again with disappointment. She’d never had a serious injury before, never broken any bones, nothing like today’s accident. So, this is what it’s like to see stars. The expression used didn’t describe the experience at all. Megan touched the side of her head, to make sure it was still there. She hadn’t blanked out which she figured was a good thing.

“What are you talking about?” The man touched her shoulder.

“The stars I can see,” said Megan, not totally processing what he had said. She looked at him. He was young, mid- twenties, about her age. His broad-rimmed hat hid most of his blond hair, and his blue eyes were crystal sharp. Light stubble edged his broad jawline. He was hot. She was rather impressed she had managed to work that out through the haze flooding her mind.

“Shit.” He rested his hand on her shoulder. “My Bruce hit your head, more like grazed it along the side from the looks of the mark, but still I’m sorry he was such a shit.”

“Bruce?” Megan looked at him, trying to understand. “Is that your name?”

“No. My bull. His hoof struck your head. Lucky it was only a half jump he made, and it wasn’t a full on blow.”

“Oh, so that’s what happened.” She wasn’t sure it was a half kick from the way her head felt. The adrenalin was dissipating and a heavy thudding took hold in her head. Megan tried to smile at the man by her side. This wasn’t the time to flirt, but heck, she couldn’t help it. 

Liliana, please tell us a little about yourself.

Hi. I’m Lilliana Rose, and I live in Australia. It’s currently summer and it’s hot right now (about 100 degrees) and I’m very grateful for my air conditioner and living close to the beach. I grew up on a farm, then I came to the city to study science at University (quite a few years ago now!) and I’ve stayed in the city since. I’ve spent some time doing scientific research, then teaching science, and now I write. I love taking my two dogs for walks along the beach, and my favourite places to write are in cafes around my town.

How did you come up with the idea for Grand parade? 

As part of growing up on a farm, my family would come down to the Royal Adelaide Show every year to exhibit sheep. This was my introduction to city life (which I’ve now embraced by living in the city). Recently, when I became inspired to write romance stories, the idea of setting the story at the Royal Adelaide Show came quickly. I could use my experience of country and city life to draw on for inspiration, especially as I had so many memories from the Show. I remember how noisy it was at the show with the rides, the music and there were thousands of people when I was only used to a few. There were the smells of Dagwood Dogs, fairy floss, donuts and hot chips. Fireworks went off every night, which I would go and see with my family. It was such a different world to living on a farm where there was a lot of space, peace, and quiet, and the smells were only of soil and animals. It made for rich soil to grown my story in and a chance to have fun as I remembered life at the show (which was very PG rated compared to my characters!). By setting the story at the Royal Adelaide Show I could also explore some of the differences between country and city life and what the characters, Megan and Jackson, might feel as they were introduced to the other’s world (like how do you tell the difference between a bull and a cow, which Megan naively asks country boy Jackson in Grand Parade which leads to a very funny conversation) and how vulnerable they would be, all while slowly falling in love.

How do you motivate yourself when inspiration takes a vacation?

I stop writing and give myself a break. I go for walks on the beach, catch up with friends, and watch movies and TV series, as well as reading books. That usually works, if not I have fun with friends, and losing myself in other stories.

Any advice for new writers just starting out?

     Don’t give up! Also, you need to get the story down, which is hard work the first time, but once you have a first draft you can edit (the first draft isn’t going to be perfect so just get writing, you can change things later).

Grand Parade is billed as a Steamy Contemporary. Do you also write other genres?

I write contemporary romance, but also steampunk romance, and fantasy romance. I also write poetry, and perform at local groups which is fun.

What’s your current WIP?

Currently, I’m writing a historical novel, which is slow going because of the research I need to do. I am also plotting out a third novel in a similar style (but different) to Grande Parade, which I hope to write this year.

And finally, where can we find you?

Connect with me at these links, www.lillianarose.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Instagram.

Thank you for being here. Liliana is giving away an eBook copy of Grand Parade.
If you want to be entered to win, please leave a comment including your email, so Liliana can contact you, Happy reading.

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Linda Lael Miller's Always a Cowboy. Review and Giveaway

Always A Cowboy is the second book in Linda's newest series, The Carson's of Mustang Creek. And I have a copy to give away.

Slater, Mace and Drake Carson may be brothers, but that doesn’t mean they are alike. While all three of them can handle a horse, Slater’s interests lie in documentary film-making, Drake runs the ranch and Mace runs the family winery.
Book two follows Drake.
Drake has always know what he wanted. Running the family ranch suits him to a T. The only flies in his ointment are a big cat attacking his cattle, a wild stallion who keeps making off with his best horses and a pesky graduate student who's come to the ranch to study wild horses. And him. It doesn't take long for the graduate student to become his biggest problem.

Luce Hale has her life planned out. She's going to write her thesis on the interaction between wild horses, domesticated animals, and ranchers, and take up her dream job in California, making her mark in the world of Ecology. Being invited by Drake's mother to stay at the ranch is a plus.  The horses draw her, but studying Drake is even more intriguing.

And it's hard to fight their mutual attraction when everyone in the household decides to take up matchmaking.

The dialogue's and the interaction between characters is great. The scenery is beautiful. I would have preferred a little more onstage action with the capture of the wild horses and the cougar. That aside, I enjoyed the read.

This book has a bonus feature - a personal essay by Linda Growing Up Western. The essay had some wonderful stories and I loved reading it. There is also an excerpt from the next book in the series. Forever a Hero.

If you would like a paperback copy of Always a Cowboy. please leave a comment with your email. If you don't leave your email, I won't know how to read you if you win.
Have a happy week. It's September. My favorite month of the year.

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Linda Lael Miller. New series and giveaway.

For all you cowboy-romance lovers, meet Linda Lael Miller. Linda has written Time Travel and Vampire books, but her heart is in the West. The “First Lady of the West” writes contemporary and historical stories that have earned her awards and placements on all the national bestsellers lists.
 And this month Linda is giving away a $100 gift card to the winner's favorite spa in her monthly contest because her newest heroine, Grace Emory, runs the high-end resort and spa in Carson Creek.  Hop on over and enter. I already did. http://www.lindalaelmiller.com/news/april-2016/

Linda's new series is The Carsons of Mustang Creek AND I have a copy of Once a Rancher to give away. 
The series is set in the same area as her Bliss County series, so you’ll meet some old friends. I love series with a connection.
 The Carsons of Mustang Creek have the kind of wealth that makes you think of Dallas and Dynasty, but they are way nicer people. Am I love their mom. I hope she gets her own story.
Slater, Mace and Drake Carson may be brothers, but that doesn’t mean they are alike. While all three of them are born cowboys, Slater’s interests lie in documentary film-making, Drake's interest in protecting the wild mustang herd that's been raiding their ranch's mares, and Mace runs the family winery. In the first book of the series, you get to meet all three of them, but Once a Rancher follows Slater.

 Here's the blurb.

Slater Carson might be a businessman by trade, but he’s a cowboy at heart—and he knows the value of a hard day’s work under the hot Wyoming sun. So when he sees troubled teen Ryder heading down a dangerous path, he offers the boy a job on the ranch he shares with his two younger brothers. And since Ryder’s temporary guardian is the gorgeous new resort manager, Grace Emery, Slater figures it can’t hurt to keep a closer eye on her as well… Grace Emery doesn’t have time for romance. Between settling into her new job and caring for her ex-husband’s rebellious son, her attraction to larger-than-life Slater is a distraction she can’t afford. But when the past catches up to her in Mustang Creek, she’ll discover just how far Slater will go to protect what matters most—and that love is always worth fighting for.

I love all the characters I met in Once a Rancher. Grace is a former cop recently divorced from career military man who never invested any time in his family. Before Grace, his parents took care of his son. Grace took on the responsibility of teenage Ryder and divorce didn't change that. She's determined to make a stable life for them both.
Slater's career is documentary film making and that doesn't leave him much time for a family life. He's attracted against his will to the feisty Spa Manager. He's not ready to get married. And neither is Grace. But there's something drawing them together that won't be ignored.
The give and take between the members of the Carson family and the way they reach out to Grace and her troubled stepson make for great reading.    
I'm giving away an ARC of Once A Rancher.  And I have a question for you. I do giveaways every week. Is it easier for you to enter with a Rafflecopter? Or, by simply leaving a comment?    This week please leave a comment to enter. Read on!

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