“Because
it’s everywhere! Don’t worry about it. This is so fun!” Lyn adjusts her ten
gallon cowboy hat. “Do you think this is a little too much?”
“Not
at all,” Patsy chuckles. “Y’all look just like cowboys to me. Jeans, checked
shirts and cowboy boots! Lyn, you’re a natural. Just tone down the English
accent and nobody’ll know the difference!”
“Will
you look at that!” Mary’s eyes fairly pop as she follows. A row of tight male
butts clad in Levis
line the makeshift bar.
“Omygawd!”
Patsy’s mouth drops open. “Nothing like a cowboy in Levis to
start the day off right.”
“I’m
having a heat flash!” Lyn fans herself as she peers at the male buffet. “I
think I need a drink.”
“This
is certainly the place,” Dawn Luedecke rushes in. “Did you get a chance to check out the
dance floor and there’s a rodeo going on over yonder.” She points northwest.
A
muscular cowboy turns around, leans against the bar and grins as he pushes back
his black Stetson. Blue eyes sparkle above straight white teeth shining from
the deeply tanned skin. “Well, hello ladies! Y’all by yourselves?”
“I
won’t tell if you won’t.” His dark brows waggle suggestively.
“Jake,” Dawn shakes her finger. “Mind your manners. These are ladies, not the kind you
hang with.”
“I
can change my ways.” He tips his hat. “Any of y’all know the Texas Two Step?”
“Good idea!” Dawn motions them to follow. “Grab your beers and let’s check out the dancing. I heard the band tuning up a few minutes ago. They should be playing by now.”
The dance floor is huge, shaped like an old-time pavilion complete with Chinese lanterns strung around the area for lighting. On the stage, a teenage girl croons to a song made popular by LeAnn Rimes.
“She’s doing a good job on that song.” Lyn taps her foot to the music. “Makes me want to dance.”
Dark, handsome Jake offers his arm. “Lead the way, little lady.”
“Lyn always draws the good ones,” Mary sighs.
Dawn elbows Mary. “Uh, don’t look now but there’s more headed this way.”
Sure enough, a throng of cowboys stampede in their direction, pushing and shoving to be first in line.
“Oh my,” gasps Mary. “Should we or shouldn’t we?”
“We should!” Patsy exclaims. “I came to have fun and this is a great start.”
Blond, gorgeous cowboy offers Patsy his arm. “Care to dance?”
A brawny steer wrestler reaches for Mary’s hand. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse and you look lonely. How about we check out the vittles.”
Dawn pushes Mary forward. “Go! Have some fun.”
Hesitantly, Mary trails after the big guy, but the scent of outdoor cooking is too hard to resist.
“Y’all ever tried
Mary sniffs, checking out the fare. “Can’t say that I have. I didn’t know there were oysters in the
He laughs uproariously, slapping his hat against his knee. “That’s a good ‘un.
“Calf fries?”
He looks incredulous. “You don’t know what calf fries are?”
“They’re…um… how do I put this delicately. They’re what’s cut off when a calf is turned into a steer!”
“Oh!” Mary’s face pinks.
Lyn joins them with Patsy close behind. “I danced so hard and now I’m starving and look at all this wonderful food!”
barbequed chicken, green beans and bacon—and chili! The best of the best from the chili cook-off held earlier that morning.
For dessert, hand cranked ice cream, apple pies, fried scones with strawberries and real whipped cream! A westerner’s delight!
Blurb: Running from a past of privilege, deceit, and danger, Travis Simms is ready to settle down. What better place to forget all he left behind than the quiet little Montana town of Lolo Hot Springs? His goal is clear — build a hotel and his own destiny without complications —until one of the town’s most troublesome women captures his attention.
Dusty Larson is hell bent on independence, helping her sister run the Triple D Ranch. She can do anything a man can, and do it better, so she certainly doesn’t need one in her life. The only problem is she seems to attract bad luck and danger...and Travis. Can he tame her wild ways and keep his bachelor status intact — or does he risk losing his heart?
The excerpt: She watched him with care. “I don’t know if I love you. I like you, a lot, but I don’t have the slightest idea what love feels like.” Travis’ smile grew slowly across his face. “I understand. I’m not sure if I love you or not, but I also don’t think I could live without you. So you will always have that.” His voice was almost a whisper when he said the last.
“Truly?” Her voice cracked and she had to force herself to breathe easy. “Truly.” She inclined her head and took two brisk steps toward him. She leaned over and kissed him with all the fever of a thousand fires. He reached up and intertwined his hand through her hair to hold her still as he plundered her mouth. She released him with a shaky breath and jumped back to turn on her heels.
“Put something nice on. I’ll be back with a preacher man.” “You know, I heard you only have to say ‘I marry you’ three times and then you’re hitched.” She threw him a sassy look and slammed the door shut.
***GIVEAWAY***
Contest ends tomorrow and everyone who comments is eligible.
Hi Dawn
ReplyDeleteWelcome to your Roast. Oh, I just love the western scene, the horses, the food - the cowboys!
Your books sounds wonderful, what a great excerpt!
Thank you so much, Hywela Lyn! Thanks for hosting me! I had a blast writing 'To Tame a Montana Heart', and love the western scene as well. Cowboys are as delicious as my great grandmother’s special (slow roasted) cowboy beans! Thank you again for hosting me and I can't wait to hear from the party goers!
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn! I haven't done a Texas-two-step in years. The food smells great and the cowboys...what can I say? Good luck with To Tame A Montana Heart. And have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteSandy
sandy4lee@yahoo.com
Hi Sandy, thanks so much for coming to Dawn's 'Roast'.
ReplyDeleteOh Westerns are great, aren't they Dawn. I have put your book on my wish list!
Thank you, Hywela, for putting it on your wish list. And thank you, Sandra, for stopping by! I love westerns! At least half of my personal book collection consists of westerns!
ReplyDeleteI'm mad about Westerns myself, Dawn. (Even though I write futuristic). I used to belong to a UK American West society, and the Western Horsemen's Associatio. (Both my horses are ridden Western style.) One of the first 'adult' novels I ever read was 'Riders Of The Purple Sage', by Zane Grey. That got me hooked!
ReplyDeleteWell, again it's been WAY too long since I've popped into the roast. Dawn, your book sounds great! Typically, I'm a fantasy/paranormal gal but you grabbed my attention with To Tame A Montana Heart! Wishing you tons and tons of sales! :-)
ReplyDeleteLyn, Mary & Patsy, hugs and much love! xo
Thank you: Lyn, Mary, and Patsy. I'm editing a paranormal right now. Very excited about it. :)
ReplyDeleteHello sky, dear friend, thanks so much for stopping by - always great to see you! Dawn, that's so interesting about your paranormal, We'd love to hear more abour it!
ReplyDeleteLyn gallops up in a cloud of dust, with Cuddles and Nibby close behind, Hampy riding on Nibby's back.
ReplyDeleteWell I rounded up some of the guests, now to see if I can find the rest. And Mary - where's Mary? Bet she's gone off to find the James Gang and the Duke!
I'm riding a bull - er - internet wave, think it is from the next camp so don't know how long I can hang in here - hopefully for more than an 8 second ride :) Love the excerpt Dawn and welcome to the roast!
ReplyDeleteSorry to be so late. Oliver has made me take it easy. Though I look great today don't I. Welcome Dawn, what a great excerpt indeed. Makes me wanna go get it right away!
ReplyDeleteI sent an invite to the James Gang, hey I see dust in the distance. Oh gosh masked riders with guns. What's with the masks. Maybe it ain't the James Gang!
Congrats, Dawn. Good luck! Glad I could be part if your journey.
ReplyDeleteOf*
ReplyDeleteGrab your guns and hide - no! Not behind that cactus - ooouuuuuchhhhh!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGuns, we're supposed to have guns!
ReplyDeleteLet's see their faces, (etc), before we make rash judgements. Follow me, we'll hide behind those rocks over there and see who they be!! Mary grabs Patsy and calls out to Lyn. "
Here ladies, I've brought rifles! Hey Patsy, well ridden, did you see me cheering you on!
ReplyDelete\Hello Aloha, welcome to Dawn's Roast!
AACCK *Patsy hobbles bowlegged to the fence* I almost made 8 seconds. My patutie hurts!
ReplyDeleteWho are those masked riders? Lyn, they are coming over to you. ???(Jessie is mine).
ReplyDeletePatsy, you did it!! I couldn't stay on for a second!
GUNS, I have trouble with my tazer!!
Dawn's Montana Heart looks delicious. There's little doubt that whoever wins it is certainly going to enjoy
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleene, welcome, you're right, Dawn's book certainly sounds like a winner!
ReplyDeleteWe know Dawn's book is a winner. It's AR&T supported!
ReplyDeleteWe do that the best!
How about another excerpt Dawn! Leave 'em hanging!!
ReplyDeleteMmmmm, mmmmm cowboys and BBQ!!! Save me one of those shortcakes too. You I think I found one of those horse pies too. LOL. I love your book cover. And the story sounds wonderful. Will have to add this to my reading.
ReplyDeleteSue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Hey ladies. Sorry it took me so long to get here. My horse came up lame and I had to find a livery. Thanks for checking out my party, and be careful...them bull riders can't be trusted. They're the love 'em and leave 'em type.
ReplyDeleteTravis reached over and plucked the key from
ReplyDeleteher hands. “I know you are immune to the effects of
alcohol, but this is my room. This”—he turned her by
the shoulders—“is your room.”
Travis inserted the key and turned it without
effort. The door swung open, and Dusty sauntered
unsteadily inside. “All right, maybe I am sort of
drunk, but since I have never done this before, I
think I would like to be more drunk. So can we
please go back to a saloon?” She touched her lips
with her index finger. “Preferably one with a
waitress in a red dress with her bosoms showing.”
“I don’t think so. You’ve had enough.”
Dusty shook her head with a jerky movement
that made her slightly dizzy. “No, I haven’t. Don’t be
a stick in the mud. Let’s have a bit more. Let’s go see
the lady with the red dress and the bosoms.”
Travis frowned for a moment as he caressed his
chin in thought. “Fine, but I must warn you, you’ll
regret it in the morning.”
He turned to the door and, in the hallway,
glanced back. “Why don’t you put on a red dress with
your bosoms showing, and I will be right back.” He
grinned, turned, and disappeared into his room.
Confused, she plopped down on her bed and
bounced once before settling. The pins in her hair
slipped out with the slightest pull, and her hair fell
down from its confines.
Within a minute, he was back with his hands
around an object she couldn’t quite see. He frowned
when he saw her on the bed. “No red dress? Too bad.
I was looking forward to it.”Dusty watched him set a bottle and two glasses
on her desk. “What ya got there?”
He lifted the bottle in the air. “This here is
whisky. Would you like some?”
“Whisky?”
“Yes, whisky. It’s a man’s drink.” Travis tilted
his head in thought. “On second thought, maybe you
shouldn’t have any. I don’t think you are quite man
enough for this particular poison. Not everyone can
handle it, especially after drinking a few beers.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want any. Give me
Hi Dawn,
ReplyDeleteNice Roast and Toast, I am quite partial to a man in Levi's myself, even if I am an old gal. No harmn in looking is there?
Great excerpt.
cheers
Margaret
Im like a giddy school girl:) it is soo fun to see what great things you are writing:) miss you and hugs from Idaho! !! Mspiggy381@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun book. Read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Congrats on the release:)
ReplyDeleteChris Karlsen
Wow, that was quite a night with the James Gang!
ReplyDeleteLyn staggers from behind a giant cactus and sniffs the air, still fragrant with the aromas of the all night barbeque. Bacon, beans, burgers 'n' griddled eggs for breakfast folks. Let's keep this party moving.
Welcome, Sue, Margaret, Andrea and Chris! Ooops sorry about getting your name wrong Karleene, I may have been a little ine- inib- eneebria - tipsy!
Fantastic excerpt Dawn, really drew me into the book!
Good morning. Love that excerpt.
ReplyDeleteSue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Good luck Dawn! Knock those sales numbers through the roof. Next time no oysters of any kind!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a fantastic spread. Ain't never tried those oyster thingys, so it would have to be them for me!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with Montana Heart, Dawn.
I love barbecue and think I'll like To Tame a Monatana Heart thanks to more of the 'guy perspective' that puts a nice spin on things. And whiskey IS a man's drink! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Howard, great to see you here!
ReplyDeleteSit a spell and let your saddle cool while you drik your whiskey down!
Hic - I meant dwink, I mean drink!
ReplyDeleteOh Nancy! You're a gutsy lady! My sister goes every year to the 'testy festy' where Rocky Mountain Oysters are the reason for the celebration. I choose not to eat them out of sheer gag reflex. Good luck with them oysters. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank everyone for coming to my party! The winner of the book (randomly chosen by my husband) is Andrea Paulsen. Andrea, I'll email you soon with instructions. Thanks for participating everyone!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dawn, and congratulations Andrea, you're in for a treat!
ReplyDeleteDawn, you've been a wonderful guest of honour, it's been a pleasure to have you with us and we wish you much success in the future.