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As many of you may know, our beloved sister hostess SHARON DONOVAN, tragically passed away on 11th April 2012. We who knew her, loved her, and were inspired by her courage and determination to face head on whatever life threw at her. When she could no longer see to paint she turned to writing and showed her amazing talent in the Inspirational Romance and Romantic Suspense genres, and her story 'Charade Of Hearts' was awarded the coveted Predators and Editors Award in January 2011.

This Blog was a source of great delight to her, she was one of the founder hostesses and she contributed to the fun and silliness in her own original way, and was kind enough to let her unique creation, the hunky butler 'Oliver' join us for our Friday romp and prepare 'virtual breakfast' for the guests on the following morning. It's beyond hard to have to go on without her, but we know that she would have been the first to insist that 'the show must go on.' She is, and will always be with us in spirit.
Sharon, dear friend, we will never forget you.
The Author Roast and Toast is part of the legacy you left us. Let's raise a Toast to you as well as all our guests.
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Friday, July 27, 2012

A'Wild West' barbeque to celebrate 'To Tame A Montana Heart'

    
It is a perfect evening. Dusk is covering the scenery with a golden glow. A light breeze stirs the tents lining the grass walkway. The women stroll through the booths, admiring the food, drinks, western gear, and keepsakes.
“I just love western barbecues!” Mary inhales, smiling as the succulent smell of beef ribs wafts on the evening breeze. She steps back, her foot sinks into a pile of horse poop!  “Oh yuk!” She lifts her boot clad foot. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

            “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!”

            Patsy heads toward a sign indicating beer. “I’m thirsty. We all look pretty good in these outfits. Nothing like a pair of jeans to bring out the best in a person.” She pulls of her hat as she enters the tent.

            “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?”

            “Uh…ah…,” Mary gulps. “We…uh…we’re together—and we’re married,” she hurries to say.

            “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.”
          
  Mary and Patsy look on wistfully.
           
 “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?”
         
   “Most certainly!” Patsy grins. “I love line dancing.”
            
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 Rocky Mountain oysters?” The cowboy points to a plate of fried tidbits.
         
  Mary sniffs, checking out the fare. “Can’t say that I have. I didn’t know there were oysters in the Rocky Mountains!”
            
He laughs uproariously, slapping his hat against his knee. “That’s a good ‘un. Rocky Mountain oysters are calf fries.”
            
“Calf fries?”
      
     He looks incredulous. “You don’t know what calf fries are?” Mary shakes her head.
           
“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!”
        
    “Oh Yum!” Patsy takes a deep breath savoring the delicious smells.

         
   Baked beans, corn on the cob, fried potatoes, barbecued pork ribs, barbecued beef ribs,
 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!        
“Everybody eat!” Dawn yells. “And then we’ll head off to the rodeo. WAHOOOO!”
           
            







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.

Bio A country girl born and bred, Dawn Luedecke has spent most of her life surrounded by horses, country folk, and the wild terrain of Nevada, Idaho and Montana. As a child she would spend many afternoons reading books, watching western classics, and Rogers and Hammerstein movies. When she grew up she decided to leave the quiet country life for a chance to find adventure by serving a successful tour in the United States Coast Guard. During that time she found her soul mate (and alpha male) and started a family and writing career. She enjoys writing historical and paranormal romance and spends as much time as she can working on her current manuscript. For more information visit www.dawnluedecke.com


***GIVEAWAY***
To win a copy of Dawn's book, all you have to do is just leave a comment and your e-mail address.
Contest ends tomorrow and everyone who comments is eligible.

39 comments:

  1. Hi Dawn

    Welcome to your Roast. Oh, I just love the western scene, the horses, the food - the cowboys!

    Your books sounds wonderful, what a great excerpt!

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  2. 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!

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  3. Hi 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.
    Sandy
    sandy4lee@yahoo.com

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  4. Hi Sandy, thanks so much for coming to Dawn's 'Roast'.

    Oh Westerns are great, aren't they Dawn. I have put your book on my wish list!

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  5. 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!

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  6. I'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!

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  7. Well, 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! :-)

    Lyn, Mary & Patsy, hugs and much love! xo

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  8. Thank you: Lyn, Mary, and Patsy. I'm editing a paranormal right now. Very excited about it. :)

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  9. Hello 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!

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  10. Lyn gallops up in a cloud of dust, with Cuddles and Nibby close behind, Hampy riding on Nibby's back.

    Well 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!

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  11. 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!

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  12. Sorry 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!
    I 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!

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  13. Congrats, Dawn. Good luck! Glad I could be part if your journey.

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  14. Grab your guns and hide - no! Not behind that cactus - ooouuuuuchhhhh!!!!!!

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  15. Guns, we're supposed to have guns!
    Let'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. "

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  16. Here ladies, I've brought rifles! Hey Patsy, well ridden, did you see me cheering you on!

    \Hello Aloha, welcome to Dawn's Roast!

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  17. AACCK *Patsy hobbles bowlegged to the fence* I almost made 8 seconds. My patutie hurts!

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  18. Who are those masked riders? Lyn, they are coming over to you. ???(Jessie is mine).
    Patsy, you did it!! I couldn't stay on for a second!
    GUNS, I have trouble with my tazer!!

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  19. Dawn's Montana Heart looks delicious. There's little doubt that whoever wins it is certainly going to enjoy

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  20. Hi Kathleene, welcome, you're right, Dawn's book certainly sounds like a winner!

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  21. We know Dawn's book is a winner. It's AR&T supported!
    We do that the best!

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  22. How about another excerpt Dawn! Leave 'em hanging!!

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  23. Mmmmm, 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.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. 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.

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  25. Travis reached over and plucked the key from
    her 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

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  26. Hi Dawn,
    Nice 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

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  27. 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

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  28. Such a fun book. Read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Congrats on the release:)
    Chris Karlsen

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  29. Wow, that was quite a night with the James Gang!

    Lyn 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!

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  30. Good morning. Love that excerpt.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  31. Good luck Dawn! Knock those sales numbers through the roof. Next time no oysters of any kind!

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  32. Oh my goodness, what a fantastic spread. Ain't never tried those oyster thingys, so it would have to be them for me!

    Good luck with Montana Heart, Dawn.

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  33. 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! :)

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  34. Hi Howard, great to see you here!
    Sit a spell and let your saddle cool while you drik your whiskey down!

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  35. Hic - I meant dwink, I mean drink!

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  36. Oh 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.

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  37. I 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!!!!

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  38. Thanks Dawn, and congratulations Andrea, you're in for a treat!

    Dawn, 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.

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