Hi
lovelies! It gives me great pleasure
today to host Laurie LeClair and her new book, “The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride”!
Be
sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!! See below for more details. Also, come back daily to interact with Laurie
and to increase your chances of winning!
The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride
Laurie LeClair
(The McCall Brothers, #3)
Published by: Tule Publishing
Publication date: August 24th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance
When Dallas society bride Elizabeth Eve Barrington discovers her intended’s financial ulterior motives for marriage, she hightails it out of the church in her wedding gown and hops in the back of a parked and beat-up pickup truck.
Happy to leave the big city, sexy cowboy Connor McCall jumps in his truck, revs up his engine, and then heads home to Honor, Texas with the goal of saving his family’s failing ranch. Hours later and miles down country roads, Connor discovers the stowaway bride, and he’s pretty sure she’s feigning amnesia.
What’s a cowboy to do? Cowboy up, of course. He takes Eve home, determined to solve her mystery. What he discovers is a lot of smoke–and where there’s smoke, there’s fire, with the heat generating between them hot enough to burn. Will Connor be damned if he falls for the beautiful runaway bride or will he be damned if he doesn’t?
EXCERPT:
He nodded to the long line of sleek, black limos clogging the opposite side of the lane as they inched down the busy city street.
Horns honked at the entourage taking up nearly a block and not allowing anyone to pull in or out. A few colorful shouts peppered the warm, summer air. People on the sidewalks stopped and stared.
“Pretty fancy stuff, if you ask me.” Gramps, with one hand securely on his sleeping pet miniature horse, Sweet Potato, craned his neck to see. “Maybe that will be you soon. Following in the footsteps of Cody and Caleb.”
“Oh, no. My brothers may have succumbed, but not me. Not yet. I have a long, long way to go before I settle down.” If ever. “First, we make it through this season and then we get the McCall ranch secure for the future.”
“From your lips to God’s ears. About the ol’ homestead, that is. But, you. I want for you what your Grams and I had and what your brothers found.”
“Not likely.” Conner had strong doubts their small town of Honor, Texas could provide the love of his life. Most likely he’d never find her. A little pang hit his ribs.
How many girls did he know who wanted to work and toil away on a ranch for decades to come? None he knew. And you can’t separate a cowboy from his horse, either. Not this one, at least.
Some had tried. None had succeeded. And never would.
He’d come dang close once, though, three years ago. Somewhere along the line, Conner finally figured out he’d always be her second best. Not getting stomped on again by some girl who fancies herself a cowboy for a rebound romance.
Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be for him. The love part. Somewhere deep inside, he worried he’d end up falling head over heels and losing her—like Gramps did with Grams. Conner didn’t think he could stand the crushing pain. Better to not even go there…
“Miss Peaches is single.”
His grandfather’s suggestion made him laugh. “She’s older than you, Gramps.”
“Her sister Clementine?”
Conner shook his head at his grandfather’s antics. “Not of child bearing age, may I remind you. No great-grands there.”
They shared a chuckle.
“Scratch them off the list.” Gramps grabbed an invisible pencil from behind his ear and made a horizontal line in the air.
“No matchmaking, understand?”
“Me? Why I let Cody and Caleb make up their minds, didn’t I?”
“Not that you didn’t help their romances along.”
“Now, I didn’t say that.” He admitted what they’d all known.
“Gramps, you’re a romantic at heart. Do me a favor and don’t butt in when it comes to me.” Pestering him about finding someone might just be on the top of Gramps’s list now that Conner’s brothers had tied the knot recently.
“If you say so, Conn.” Gramps sighed.
“We’ve got better things to concentrate on. I think we need to get an in with the biggest grocery store chain in Texas. We get a contract and a decent price, we can hold on to the ranch. It’s a guaranteed future income. Maybe even stop talking and start doing that more resilient breed of cattle you’ve always wanted.”
“You’re talking my language there. I like that. No exclusives, though. We need some options open. Plus, we don’t want to stop supplying the local restaurants in our own hometown. That breeding thing will take some time, though.”
The heat of the early afternoon drifted in through the open windows. And the heavy scent of fumes came with the breeze. Give Conner the country any day. “I’ve got the time and I can learn.”
“Son, hurt me something fierce when you had to drop out of college when Grams got sick.”
“Don’t dwell, Gramps. I’m working right where I want to be. The McCall ranch.” Taking care of his beloved grandfather, too, was right where Conner wanted to be.
“Light changed. They’re on the move. Uh, lookee there, must be the bride’s veil peeking out the window of the first one.”
Conner glanced in the side mirror. A gust of wind caught the sheer, white veil and sent it flying. He watched it float in the air. It landed in the crook between his truck and mirror. The lace-edged, delicate fabric fluttered and lifted.
Without thinking, he reached out, snatched it up, and then rolled it in a loose ball.
“Good catch, son.”
“I guess she’ll be wanting this back.” Conner shoved the gear in park and then undid his seat belt. “Be right back.”
In seconds, he popped open the door and then half ran down the street to catch the vehicle. His boots hit the asphalt with heavy thuds. The veil unfurled, streaming behind him. He gripped the bunched-up fabric he still held tighter. The red tail lights came on, sending a shot of relief through him.
This cowboy isn’t about to trot a mile though Dallas trailing her limo. That would be a sight to see.
He caught up to the shiny car and shoved the delicate material through the half open rear window. A feminine hand appeared at the same time, grabbed for it, and accidentally brushed her fingers along his wrist.
A current of electricity rushed through him.
Conner heard her loud gasp. She withdrew her hand instantly, along with the veil, reeling in the long fabric.
“Thank you.” Her soft voice whispered over him.
Low. Seductive. Or was the last just his imagination?
He could barely make out several shadowy figures in the dark interior before the power window rose. It shut with a smooth click.
Now, he only saw his wide eyes and slack jaw staring back at him in the reflection. He tipped his cowboy hat back and stepped away. The limo took off. The others followed.
Whoa! What the hell was that? He’d run into an electric fence with less charge than that and that was saying something.
The sound of his horn beeping over and over brought Conner back to the realization he stood in the middle of the street with moving cars charging by in front of him. Turning, he rushed back to Gramps and his truck, hopped in, slammed the door shut, and then shoved it into drive to keep up with the moving traffic.
His hand burned. He shook it, trying to rid himself of that feeling.
“You okay, Conn? About gave me a heart attack when they started up again.” Gramps calmed Sweet Potato, coming awake and rearing his head up. “Easy, little fella.”
Blowing out a breath, Conner shot his grandfather a grin, trying to smooth out the fresh worry lines gathered on the older man’s face. “Harder than dodging our charging cattle, Gramps. City folks. Never mind that, let’s get us some good barbecue before heading back home.”
“Now you’re talking. Just up ahead two blocks.” He smacked his lips. “Don’t tell your Uncle Jeb this place’s brisket is almost as good as his.”
“Not on your life. Aunt Sissy would have both our hides.”
Gramps chuckled along with him. “I appreciate you letting me ride along, son. Gives me some more time with you before you head out to the base camp tomorrow.”
“Good company. Long drive in the early hours. Picked up the part we needed—a little later and a little more than we wanted.” Conner cringed inwardly at that.
The ranch barely survived at the moment. If this season didn’t go well, they’d lose it all. Dread sat deep in his belly every time he thought about how they lived on the edge this last year. With his Grams dying, it rocked their world, especially Gramps, who kept too much from his three grandsons until it was almost too late.
Now, Caleb, Cody and he were doing everything in their power to save the family homestead and their legacy.
“Thought we’d have some daylight left to start fixing the trannie on the old rust bucket.” Conner shrugged and then quickly checked on the loose corner rope holding down the tarp covering the transmission. Tighten that baby up before we head out.
The last-minute repair on the ranch truck took more than a little coaxing this time. No, the part needed replacing and the closest place they could find the vintage model in Texas was Dallas.
Conner had volunteered since his two older brothers and their new brides either had second jobs outside the McCall ranch or were out on the range helping with the cattle. And their foreman and crew were too busy this time of year. Single, biding his time with packing up the last of the supplies to ride out on his horse tomorrow, he’d been the obvious choice.
“Should be home in time tonight to tuck in this little fella, though.” His voice held a smile. Gramps treated the miniature horse like a pet instead of a ranch animal.
“Don’t you be going and making wisecracks, too, Conn. I get enough of that from the others. He adopted me, not the other way around. You hear?”
“Loud and clear.”
“Just so we’re square and all.”
“Got it.”
The cars ahead stopped at the quick light. Connor braked. He glanced to the side mirror, half hoping to catch a glimpse of that limo and the mystery bride. No such luck. Nothing but trucks, cars, and SUVs chugged along—brakes squealing and exhaust coughing out the tail pipes.
She was gone.
A tiny rope of disappointment went through him.
You’re sick, McCall. She’s a bride on her wedding day. Her groom is waiting for her. Or she may have even gotten married already and he’s sitting beside her.
But he couldn’t forget the sound of her sharp intake of breath.
And the current that rushed through him…
PLAYLIST:
1) I Met A Girl by William Michael Morgan
2) You’re The One I Want by Thomas Payne
3) I Don’t Dance by Lee Brice
4) Cowboys And Angels by Dustin Lynch
5) The Fighter by Keith Urban with Carrie
Underwood
6) Ladies Love Country Boys by Trace Adkins
7) Beautiful Mess by Diamond Rio
8) Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum
9) Who I Am With You by Chris Young
10) Craving You by Thomas Rhett with Maren Morris
INTERVIEW:
Good morning Laurie!
Welcome to Fabulous and Brunette!
We are thrilled to have you here and can’t wait to learn more about you
and your new book, “The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride.”
How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always loved to read.
I’d get swept away in the stories and didn’t want to let the characters go.
Most kids saved up for toys. I saved my allowance for books. Also, school bored
me, but, thankfully, I did well. I daydreamed—a lot! Somewhere along the way,
writing wasn’t just an unreachable dream any longer and I finally pursued it.
Reading and daydreaming went hand in hand and finally led me to the path of
writing.
Describe the hero in 3 words.
Connor McCall is honorable,
noble, and loyal.
Describe the heroine in 3 words.
Eve Barrington is naive,
tenacious, and determined.
Was it difficult to plan out a series?
Actually, the three McCall
brothers came to me quickly—who they were and what they stood for—and they were
persistent in letting me know they weren’t going away anytime soon. (You’ve
heard that writers hear voices. Yeah, that really happens!) The McCall brothers
wanted their stories told, sooner rather than later. Also, their small hometown
of Honor, Texas and the people who love and live there wouldn’t let me go!
What is your writing process like?
My writing process has
changed drastically over time. I think I’ve tried almost everything under the
sun. I can’t outline because I get bored with the story. (Can you tell boredom
is a theme for me?) I have a huge write-on wipe-off board in my office where I
list the characters, who they are, what they want, what they need, the lie they
believe, and what they must learn. Usually, I know the beginning—I love to
introduce the characters—and where the story ends (always with a happily ever
after or a happily right now). I “see” scenes in my head and “hear” characters
speak to each other and then write. Lately, I tend to marathon write instead of
write daily. Some days I write for twelve or more hours. It’s exhilarating and
exhausting at the same time! But my characters and their stories call to me, so
I write and then write more. The best advice I can give any aspiring writer is
to find what works for them and go for it.
What can we expect in your upcoming Christmas release?
In The Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Cassidy James McCall is a rising country music star who is in jeopardy of
losing her budding career after she injures her vocal chords. Fleeing from the
mob of tabloid reporters hounding her, she accepts her cousins’ invitation to
spend Christmas with them in their small hometown of Honor, Texas. Once there,
she reunites with her old flame, Ryder, who is struggling to be the best single
dad he can be while building a permanent home. Cassidy’s dream of singing,
songwriting, and touring around the world clash with Ryder’s need for providing
a secure, stable environment for his precious little girl who has ideas of her
own of what she wants Santa to bring her and her daddy for the holidays.
Which of your three heroines do you most relate to?
I think there’s a little
bit of me in all the heroines in the McCall Brothers Series; however, I relate
to Jenny Wentworth in The Cowboy’s Renegade Bride the most. She’s been knocked
down in life, but she knows what she wants and she’ll find a way to make her
dreams come true.
What do you love to see in a hero?
I love when a hero needs
redeeming. Also, that honorable cowboy gets me every time. Sigh!
Thank you so much for
spending time with Fabulous and Brunette readers and sharing your exciting new
book with us! We wish you all the best
on your book tour!
AUTHOR BIO:
Bestselling author Laurie LeClair writes romantic comedies, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. Laurie has a not-so-secret love for characters who make her laugh, cry, and who linger in her mind long after the story ends. Laurie’s habit of daydreaming has gotten her into a few scrapes and launched her to take up her dream of writing. Finally, she can put all those stories in her head to rest as she brings them to life on the page.
Laurie loves to write, read, bake, travel, and discover new adventures. She considers herself a New Texan (New England born and raised and now living in Texas). She lives in Central Texas with her husband, Jim. Laurie loves to hear from her readers.
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