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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, August 23, 2013

An Ol' fashioned Western bar-BQ in Honour of' Loveland' and author, Andrea Downing


The stagecoach races over the dirt path that passes for a street, leaving a cloud of red dust in its wake. The occupants inside the coach, dressed for a real, down home western barbecue, scramble for a seat next to the window, trying to catch a breeze. Dust settles on everything as the coach bumps along, jostling the seven hostesses and their sidekicks.

Mac nudges closer to AJ, trying to catch a breeze from the open window. "Scootch over!"

"Watch it! You're sitting on my Iphone!" AJ snatches her beloved phone out from under Mac. She caresses it, whispering under her breath. "My precious."


Mac rolls her eyes. "Hmph. Just be glad Lilly didn't sit on it. Her butt is much bigger than mine."

Lilly looks at her own butt and then Mac's. "Yeah, well, I still say we could have hired a limo. Just because Andrea's book is set in Victorian times doesn't mean we can't take advantage of modern technology and conveniences. I mean, if AJ can have a cellphone, why can't we take a car?"

"You know AJ and her phone are inseparable. And, we're trying to keep everything authentic," Vonnie replies. "They didn't have limos in the old west."

"They didn't have werebears either," Lilly grumbles as she strokes the top of TT's head.


"Creighton is helping Morena drive the stagecoach." Vonnie glares at TT. "Unlike TT, he's doing his part to help."

Lilly shifts sideways, hiding TT from Vonnie's view.

Lyn pouts. "Cuddles wanted to help too. He could have been lead horse, but instead he's forced to follow behind. The other horses were scared of him."

"You think that alicorn on top of Cuddles head might have something to do with it?" Mary asks. "And if TT can ride inside with Lilly, why can't Nibbles ride inside with me?"


"That demon dog is four times TT's size," Melissa says.

"Besides, who'd keep Cuddles company?" Lyn asks of her magical unicorn. "He can't be the only sidekick forced to follow us to the party."

"Foster is keeping Cuddles company," Mac says, defending the sometimes arrogant fairy.

"Foster keeps flitting back and forth between flirting with Morena and aggravating Cuddles," Lyn grumbles.

Melissa's eyes narrow. "Foster is too old for Morena."

"She's sixteen," Mac exclaims. "And she's a werewolf. I think she can handle little ole Foster."

"Ladies, please," Vonnie says as she fans herself. "This heat is making us all cranky."

"Look!" Mary leans over Mac and AJ to point out the window. "There's the town and the bar. Just around the corner is the turnoff to the ranch."

"Yee-ha!" Lyn says, sounding western despite her English accent.

Minutes later, a rattler slithers across the road, startling the horses. The coach lurches forward, tossing the hostesses about as it careens around a sharp turn before skidding to a sudden stop
between the ranch house and stable.
The door flies open and the hostess stumble out, shaking dust and wrinkles from their dresses. Some are wearing jeans and brush the dust from their bottoms.

Lilly clutches TT, shaking. "I take back what I said about Creighton. His firm grip on the reins kept the coach from overturning."

"After that bumpy ride, I need a drink!" Melissa stumbles from the coach and heads toward the stables.





Oliver greets her at the door and directs her to the bar set up at the back of the stable.

The horses have been moved and the stable has been transformed into a country and western bar.




Lilly sets TT on the ground and she and Vonnie race
after Melissa. A handsome cowboy is tending bar. He smiles at the hostesses as they skid to a jaw dropping, eye-bulging stop. "Jim and Ginger? Margarita? Jack Black or Jack and Coke? Pick your poison, ladies."
"Margarita," Lilly pants.

Mary nudges Lilly and Vonnie aside and sidles up to the bar. The "girls" nearly pop out of  her low decolletage as she leans forward, batting her eyes at the handsome bar tender. "Ooh, he's cute."


"Not as cute as Andrea's hero, Jesse. He's here." Lyn stares with gaping mouth at the handsome man who enters the stables with a woman on each arm. One is the lovely Lady Alex, the heroine from Andrea Downing's novel Loveland. The other is today's guest of honor, the lovely and talented author, Andrea "Andi" Downing.



"So glad you made it!" AJ rushes forward, her Iphone temporarily forgotten.




"Doesn't the food smell fabulous!" Mac says. "We're having a real old fashion earth roast and the beef smells divine."

"There's also a huge grill set up out back with chicken and real, old fashioned pork barbecue," Vonnie adds.






Lilly harrumphs. "It's not Eastern NC barbecue with a delicious vinegar based sauce. It's western barbecue. It has a tomato based sauce, but it still smells good."



"I bet it tastes good too," Melissa says. "And there's coleslaw and baked potatoes to go with it."






"We also have a few English dishes in honor of Lady Alex," Lyn adds.
"I hope the bread pudding and spotted dick don't make her homesick."


Vonnie wrinkles her nose. "I'm not eating anything called spotted dick."


"But there is also chocolate cake for desert," Mary reassures her. "And look! Cheesecake!"

"What are we waiting for?" AJ asks.

"Let's get this party started!"

"Yee-ha!"

Welcome Andrea and Happy Belated 1 year Anniversary to 'Loveland' for 12th August


LOVELAND by Andrea Downing


When Lady Alexandra Calthorpe returns to the Loveland, Colorado, ranch owned by her father, the Duke, she has little idea of how the experience will alter her future. Headstrong and willful, Alex tries to overcome a disastrous marriage in England and be free of the strictures of Victorian society --and become independent of men. That is, until Jesse Makepeace saunters back into her life...

Hot-tempered and hot-blooded cowpuncher Jesse Makepeace can't seem to accept that the child he once knew is now the ravishing yet determined woman before him. Fighting rustlers proves a whole lot easier than fighting Alex when he's got to keep more than his temper under control.
Arguments abound as Alex pursues her career as an artist and Jesse faces the prejudice of the English social order. The question is, will Loveland live up to its name?

 EXCERPT

As the round-up wound down, the Reps took their stock back to their outfits, and soon the men were back at headquarters or at the camps. Alex knew word had more or less got out and found the
punchers were gentler now around her, had a sort of quiet respect for her, and she hated it. She tried to bully them a bit to show them she was still the same girl, jolly them into joshing with her as they had before. It was slow work. At the same time, she yearned to see Jesse, to speak with him, to try to get life back to the way it was before the argument at the corral, and before he saw the scars. 

The opportunity didn’t present itself. She would see him from a distance some days, riding with the herd, sitting his horse with that peculiar grace he had, throwing his lariat out with an ease that reminded her of people on a dock waving their hankies in farewell. Hoping to just be near him, she slid into one of the corrals one evening to practice her roping. The light was failing and the birds were settling with their evening calls. Somewhere in the pasture a horse nickered. She sensed Jesse was there, watching, but she never turned as he stood at the fence. She heard him climb over and ease up behind her. He took the coiled rope from her in his left hand and slid his right hand over hers on the swing end, almost forcing her backward into his arms. She thought of paintings and statues she had seen, imagining his naked arms now, how the muscles would form them into long oblique curves, how he probably had soft downy fair hair on his forearms, how his muscle would slightly bulge as he bent his arm. His voice was soft in her ear, and she could feel his breath on her neck like a whispered secret.

“Gentle-like, right to left, right to left to widen the noose, keep your eye on the post—are you watchin’ where we’re goin’?”

He made the throw and pulled in the rope to tighten the noose. Alex stood there, his hand still
entwined with hers and, for a moment, she wished they could stand like that forever. Then she took her hand away and faced him. For a second he rested his chin on the top of her head, then straightened again and went to get the noose off the post while coiling in the rope. She looked up at him in the fading light and saw nothing but kindness in his face, simplicity and gentleness that was most inviting. A smile spread across her face as he handed her the coiled rope and sauntered away, turning once to look back at her before he opened the gate. Emptiness filled her like a poisoned vapor seeking every corner of her  being, and she stood with the rope in her hand listening to the ring of his spurs as his footsteps retreated.
PURCHASE ON AMAZON
or
THE WILD ROSE PRESS



Oliver dressed Just for Andrea!
Andrea Downing has spent most of her life in the UK where she developed a penchant for tea-drinking, a tolerance for rainy days, and a deep knowledge of the London Underground system .  In 2008 she returned to live in the city of her birth, NYC, but frequently exchanges the canyons of city streets for the wide open spaces of the West.  Her love of horses, ranches, rodeo and just about anything else western is reflected in her writing.  Loveland, a western historical romance published by The Wild Rose Press, was her first book. She has a story, Lawless Love, coming out later this year.  She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Women Writing the West.
ANDREA'S BLOG
CONTACT ANDREA ON FACEBOOK


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

70 comments:

  1. Hi Andrea, welcome to your Roasst. 'Loveland' sounds amazing, I love historical Westerns!

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  2. Howdy girls. I was wondering if I had to send Jess out to rope a steer for y'all but it sounds like everything is more or less under control here and there's plenty to eat. Thanks for celebrating with me. Let's put Tim McGraw on the iPod and get some two-step going!

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  3. Howdy Andrea, great to see you, andthat excerpt was really intriguing. Right, I'll just finish this bit of chicken and then we'll do-si-do with Tim McGraw!

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  4. Good morning, ladies. I'm feeling much abused after that stagecoach ride.

    Hi Andrea! How are Jesse and Lady Alex doing?

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  5. Lady Alex is absolutely delighted you remembered she doesn't eat beef ---oh, dear Jesse's making a face at this-- and that she loves chocolate cake. I'm looking forward to seeing Oliver in cowboy gear. He could pose for my next book perhaps?

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  6. I'm not the biggest country music fan in the world, but I love Tim McGraw and I do love to two step. I call dibs on dancing with Jesse next. He's an awesome dancer and Lady Alex is just going to have to share him on the dance floor!

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  7. Andrea, what's your next book about?

    *Sneezes* All of this dust, the heat, ugh. I left Arizona for a reason...

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  8. Hiya chickies! *shoves a big bite of cheesecake into her mouth to rid her mind of the idea of spotted dick*

    Love that excerpt, Andi. I'm totally dressed for a bit of roping in a corral with Jesse. Just sayin', in case you want me to play out a scene for you.

    *Lifts a brow at AJ and Lilly's scowl.* What? I'm sure Alex won't mind. It's all for the craft after all.

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  9. You are too funny, Mac. But I think Lady Alex is giving you the stink eye. lol! Better watch your back. Jesse is her man and I don't think she wants to share. But maybe Andrea will share another excerpt? One with a few sparks, perhaps?

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  10. Gosh, I'm always sorry to miss out on spotted dick but I've got to cut out on the party for a couple hours. I'm taking Miss Bear to the gym and then heading to The Boy's h.s. registration. I'm leaving Morena here in my stead. Shall check in later!

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  11. Group hug - Lyn hugs all the hostesses, and Andrea. Have fun Melissa, we'll take good care of Morena. Mac and Vonnie, as I think Andrea will agree, spotted dick is actually quite tasty, especially on a cold day. It's just sponge pudding,with currents and sultanas, usually served hot with custard!

    Andrea, I'm with Lady Alex. I don't really dislike a bit of steak,but I absolutely luuuurve barbecued chicken!

    Oh and *whisper* Andrea, Jesse can rope me a steer any time. Or perhaps a nice horseback ride across the purple sage? My feisty mare T'pau promises to be on her best behaviour! (Can't promise the same for myself of course!)

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  12. Whose spotted dick is it? Mary shoves her way to the food table, and don't let Vonnie eat all the chocolate cake. I want some too. And whose eyes stink? I can't imagine how. Mary grabs Nibbie before she snatches a side of beef from the table. I just sat on a phone, uh oh. Does it still work? Where's the sauce for the bread pudding? Takes a lot to keep the girls looking this good. What no mead, don't tell Lyn, she'll throw a hissy fit.

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  13. Mead - mead - you mean there's no mead? Grrrr, there's plenty of beer and whisky but I ain't a beer and whisky gal. Ah well I'll just have to join Lilly with the margaritas!

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  14. Oh gosh, you've done it now, Andrea, Oliver's gone to change out of his modern cowboy gear into his oldie Western outfit, blowing you kisses as he goes. Did you know he's already starred in two books? His creater, the late Sharon Donovan our much loved sister hostess used him as the lead in her last two books for the Wild Rose Press.

    While he's away let's flirt a little more with Jesse. I'm dyhing to find out more about him.

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  15. Hywela, you're in the wrong century methinks if you're huntin' down mead. You'd be laughed right out of Miss Bea's saloon for that one! I knew when I asked for spotted dick there'd be a few raised brows. And we didn't even invite any soiled doves to join us!
    Mac, hands off Jess! He's too dang well mannered to say NO to your advances. Go have a dance with Cal; he's all on his own over there.
    I think I better bring in Marshal Kane and Miss Lacey Everhart from my next book, Lawless Love. It's sort of getting lonely over here. You gals ought to consider moving your comment button from under that stack of hay. Folks jus' don't have the dang time to be pitching hay to find it!

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  16. I don't care what it is, Lyn. I'm not eating anything named spotted dick. I mean, spots usually mean some kind of allergic reaction or virus, right? Who gave it that name anyway? Why not spotted custard?

    Okay, all this dust is making me thirsty. I'll take a beer. STELLA!!!

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  17. What do you mean we didn't invite any soiled doves. We invited Mac didn't we? Hehehe. and I'm here too! Are there any guys here not taken? Don't make me invite the James Gang. We want men, we want men. Hey, is that Morena outside with a gang of guys? Isn't she only sixteen? I'll protect her. Hey, guys, she's underage, but we aren't Mary flaps her eyelashes, and trips over Lyn's feet as she rushes out to get first pick. Luckily she bounces off the ground, hey, these ain't just for lookin' at.

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  18. Dang! Is that what happened to the comment button. sister hostesses, I think we need to go round up some innocent bystanders and encourage 'em to comment! Maybe they're all having a siesta!

    I know mead was unheard of in the old West Andrea, it's just that it's my only weakness and I just love it - well that and chocolate cake!

    Oh, Oliver's ready and waiting for you at the end of your post, go check him out!

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  19. Hey Oliver, forget this two-step business; I'm all for waltzing with you, sweetheart. Ladies, please go an' ask Garth and Joe and Garrison to dance. You can even ask Tom Yost; I'm sure Annie won't mind lending him for a dance or two. And then there's the young Beastly...uh, I mean Beasley. Cowboy up!!!

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  20. Dang my butt hurts from that bumpy coach ride. I need a pillow to sit on. LOL. Mmmm does that food look good. Your book cover is beautiful. Sounds like a wonderful story. Enjoyed the excerpt.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. Sue, you don't have the cushion that some of us have. Who doesn't love chocolate cake. And why aren't there any plums in plum pudding. And for goodness sakes, who invented blood pudding. Just askin' Last one to the chocolate cake gets spotted dick only! And who thought of that name for goodness sakes???
    I say we get another excerpt, any one else agree? One is never enough, especially when we're talking cowboys. Mmmm. one of my favorites!

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  22. Hey! Soiled dove? Why I outta...

    *hip checks Mary into the pastry table. Wince!*

    No really, Mary. That chocolate frosting looks lovely in your hair. Ah, AJ. Call the caterer. We're gonna need more cake.

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  23. Oh I have lots of cushion on my behind it's just that was a plum crazy driver and he was tossing me all over the place. LOL. Mmmm I love chocolate cake!!! Would love to read another excerpt.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Mmmm, this cake is delicious. Would tart be a better word Mac? Mary flutters her lashes in innocence. Oliver brings out several large cakes to supplement things. Mary picks up a huge piece and tosses it at Mac, she ducks and OMG, I am so sorry...sir
    Mary runs behind the bar, cake in both hands. Ready or not!!! Look out oops got you that time Mac, and a bunch of others too! Should I hide???

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  25. Y'all keep asking for another excerpt and I just changed computers to get one of those new-fangled ones named after Miz Crowne. But here's one I jus' happened to have on my thumb thingie:

    The two men looked over at Jesse who was leading his own horse into the stable, anger etched in every muscle of his face. Joe nodded toward the chuck house and they followed the others in to leave Alex alone when Jesse came out.
    She was starting back to the main house when Jesse grabbed her arm and turned her around. “You ever do that again,” he said in a voice she had never heard, intense in its anger, rage just below its surface, “I swear to God, Alex, I’ll...I’ll take you over my knee and give you a lickin’ once and for all.”
    “How dare you!” She shook him off. “How dare you talk to me like that! How dare you! Who the hell do you think you are?”
    Jesse jabbed his finger at her to emphasize he meant what he was saying. “Who do I think I am?”he snarled back. “Who do I think I am? You ever, ever take a gun off me again and point it at someone, you’ll find out who the hell I think I am. You know that coulda gone off? You know you coulda killed someone? I told you—out there yonder—I told you, you never point that thing at anyone less’n you mean bus’ness.”
    “I did bloody well mean business! They were destroying that horse. Furthermore, I knew, and you knew, and they both knew, there wasn’t a shot under the hammer. You taught me that, didn’t you? So there was no chance of an accident!”
    “That don’t matter none. You coulda pulled the hammer back twice. Way you was, you were nothin’ better’n a loose cannon, Alex. You ever do a thing like that again—”
    “You’ll what?” She shook with her rage as tears pooled against her will. “I apologized to them both and they accepted my apologies. It’s none of your concern—”
    “None of my concern! You pulled my gun! You ever do that again— Don’t you walk away when I’m talkin’ to you!”
    She turned back to him after a few steps. “You’ll what? You’ll what, Jesse? What will you do? I want to hear it! Say it again. What will you do?” And she stood there in the evening darkness, facing him down, wearing him out like she’d faced down the stallion.

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  26. All right, now where are the Rocky Mt. Oysters?

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  27. He'd better be careful, we women only have so much patience! Love it!!

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  28. Well, Jess can have quite a temper I'm afraid.Don't mess with his...gun.

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  29. Andrea,
    Good lord. If I'd written that scene, the girl would've wound up over my hero's knee and gotten the whipping of her life. :D

    Back now. Worked out. The Boy is now registered for HS to start on Monday. Now I just need to figure out bus schedules.

    *Looks about*

    Where the heck is my teenage werewolf companion?

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  30. Oh flip, last I saw Morena she and Foster were over at the corrals, I thought he was looking after her!


    *Waves to Sue* Hi Sue, always great to have you at one of our parties.

    Andrea, that was a brilliant excerpt, loved it! I've a feeling it might be fun to be put across Jesse's knee and spanked. What? What did I say now?

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  31. YEEEE-HAW! I am all about the cowboy boots, so this party is perfect for me, Andrea! Thank you so much for letting us host your lovely story! Honestly, I really can't wait to read this one. The reviews have been fantastic! Whoot! You were nominated for a RONE, weren't you? Hmmm??? Tell us about that!

    Mac, I called the caterer...oh, look, there they are now. Whoo Hoo! *AJ wildly waves a hand* over here with that cake, boys!

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  32. Yeeks! Someone just wrote me they tried to come on over but were warned this party was a Trojan horse. Now there are a few things I could say about that, Trojan being the name of...well never mind. On the other hand, that would sort of be quite a mixture--Greeks and cowboys. Anyone here for writing that book with me?
    Yeah, thanks for mentioning the RONE, AJ. I didn't win but don't mind as it went to a really excellent book. Will be writing about my experience in Vegas (home of the Pro Bull Riders if nothing else) in a week or so. Stay tuned y'all!! And a refill of Jim and Ginger please....

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  33. Loved that excerpt too!
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  34. I met Andrea in Texas last fall. She is a delight and so interesting. Her book has won several awards and I'm not surprised. I need another drink to wet my whistle. I know I've been quiet, but these new meds I'm on are making me a little "wonky" until I get used to them. But now that I've had a drink or four, my tongue is loosened. Andi, tell us about the ranches you've visited.

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  35. Great party. Love the pictures and excerpts.
    Congratulations again on your one year anniversary.
    I'm looking forward to your next book.

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  36. Meds and alcohol Vonnie, wonky sounds okay to me. I was born to be wonky.
    Is that Morena dancing on the bar. No, it's just Lyn, she tried tequila and appears to like it. Watch out for her kicks!!

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  37. It always happens when there's no mead...
    Hey, who spiked the cake??

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  38. Oh, Vonnie--tell you about all 17 ranches????? LOL. All very different--I give them a mention in Sweethearts of the West on Monday so drop by then please ;-) I think the low down on all 17 ranches would be a book in itself!
    O heaven, I think I just spotted Alex leading Jess off towards the barns. Better go check on those 2. If you hear me hollerin' you'll know what I found...

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  39. *Hic* This tequila's not half bad - if you try not to look at the worm in the bottom of the bokkle, *hic* I mean bottle.

    Hi Jae, so glad you could join the party!

    Andrea - Cowboys and Greeks? What a combination. I did once write a story concerning a Greek muse and 5th Century Welsh Celts mixed in with the Arthurian legends, so cowboys wouldn't be a step too far...

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  40. *elbows Mac and whispers* I had some of the spotted dick. Don't look at me like that! It slid down rather smoothly. Oh, look, Mary's crawling over the bar to get to Jesse. Poor fellow looks positively petrified!

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  41. This is a great party! And Andrea, I have had Mountain oysters before. Loved them until I realized there are no oceans and therefore, no oysters in the mountains. lol! Lyn, have another margarita. I'm on my third!

    Great excerpts, btw, Andrea. You know I'm adding this book to my MRL. That's a MUST read list!

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  42. Made a quick trip to the grocery store a bit ago. Nowhere exotic. Just Kroger. I started laughing in the aisles when I saw a can of spotted dick on the shelf! No lie. They had spotted dick at Kroger! Couldn't help thinking of my friends here at the roast and couldn't wait to get back to the fun. But I'm still not tasting the spotted dick. lol! Unless....I can have another margarita. lol!

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  43. Lilly, I've got the recipe for Rocky Mt. oysters any time anytime you want to try them at home. First catch your calf...
    Lyn I'm thinking if they could do 'Cowboys and Aliens' we could do Cowboys and Greeks. Ow! Alex just gave me a smack! Watch it; She's pretty p.o.ed with everyone wanting Jesse and not her. Plus, of course, she's a purist. All this talk of alternative books, it's all Greek to her.

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  44. Lilly, you mean to tell me you didn't BUY THE SPOTTED DICK???!!! Cant't say as how I blame you if it was in a can but surely curiosity ALMOST overcame you?

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  45. LOL on Alex and it's 'all Greek!' I've often thought of doing a SF Western, not sure how a Greek one would work though, it would have to involve time travel, methinks!

    Lilly - I bet you;d enjoy spotted Dick if you tasted it! It's unfortunate about the name, I reckon it was named after a guy called Richard. I still prefer chocolate cake but SD us great with a spot of cream or custard. We used to have it for sweet at school dinners when I were a lass!

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  46. Howdy ladies and to Oliver looking dapper. Loved the excerpt Andrea. I just loved it all. Wonderful hospitality as always. Best luck!

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  47. Sorry I've been missing from your Friday antics (been deep in the editing cave!) but I see you're up to your usual high jinks, which I always enjoy.
    Love the sound of Loveland, Andrea. Great excerpt too, could just imagine it.

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  48. Hi Rose and Paula, lovely to see you both, and I hope the editing's been going well, Paula. Set awhile an' let your saddles cool, as The Duke used to say!

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  49. Thanks to Rose and Paula for suffering the stage coach and coming out to the party. But no one is leaving their email address except Miss katsrus. Now, my daughter and I have a firm called kittensrus--there's a coincidence. Which reminds me, there's a family of the wee critters in the barn I noticed. We can give them the spotted dick if no one else wants it, though I suspect they'd prefer the cream and custard.

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  50. LOL Andrea, I think you're right about the kitties preferring cream bless 'em.

    And thanks for the reminder Andrea - yes folks PLEASE leave your email addy, you can write it as 'dot com' or leave spaces if you want, as long as we can read it to send you your prize if you win. We promise we won't sell, loan or otherwise dispose of it to undesirables (or anyone!) We will always try to find a way to contact you, but honestly it takes a lot of work to put on a party so we would really appreciate not having extra! :)

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  51. Lamb fries, never!!! I'll eat the spotted dick any day. No body is gonna get me to eat no lamb thingees.
    Mary gets off the floor and brushes her girls off, while she wipes a last bit of frosting off her elbow.
    Can I pick out the raisins?
    Any cake left?
    Petrified that's how I like em, easier to control that way. Hehehe

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  52. I said petrified not dead Jesse, let's go, see y'all in the morning ladies. Mary grabs the ring through his nose and pulls. Whoops wrong nose. Watch out! Mad Bull!!! RUN!!

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  53. I am ready to sit down with a Margarita and read LOVELAND! No spotted dick for me, and mountain oysters, oh, no! I worked for a veterinarian and had to help with a horse one time. Once was enough.
    Thanks,
    Rebecca
    rbooth43 at yahoo dot com

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  54. Oh, Rebecca, but fried up in breadcrumbs with hot sauce....yummy!
    And Lyn, just remembered: it's not Tequila that has the worm, it's Mezcal sweetheart. Both made from Agave but , well, different. Come and visit me out west and I'll educate you some.
    Alex!!!! For heavens' sake!! You're a guest here! Behave yourself!!! Put down the whiskey...

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  55. Hi Rebecca, sounds like you're in for the perfect evening - a nice drink and a great book!

    Andrea - really? I always thought it was Tequila that had the worm - well live and learn! I would really love to visit you out west - I've always wanted to send time on a dude ranch, actually. Although I will be flying across the pond to Pennsylvania and Ohio in a couple of weeks time - and meeting up with our dear Mary - I won't manage the trip west I'm afraid. Looking forward to setting foot in the good ol' USA again though.

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  56. Well, it's 1 am in the morning over here, so I'll say goodnight all, catch you tomorrow morning. And I hope you can keep Alex and Jesse under control - there's a plentiful supply of whiskey and enough food for you and any other guests who turn up!

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  57. Gee. A bit too much of Welsh water or something I thing, Lyn. Naw, you're off to bed. Give my regards to Ynyslas and Borth. Dioch!

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  58. Rebecca, you will have to entertain me with that vet story soon. lol! As for the canned spotted dick, I was tempted to buy it, but it as $8.99 for a can no bigger than a tuna fish can. Either the stuff is awesome or they sell so little of it, they have to charge a fortune to pay for the spotting of the dick. lol! Love tequila, but mescal tastes like fermented cod liver oil! Ug! A friend gave me a bottle for my birthday in 2006. It's still over 3/4ths full. No one can take more than a shot. That worm in the bottom of the bottle has probably petrified into stone by now. lol!

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  59. Ah, Lilly, I'll have to buy you a drink sometime and sit you down for a long chat. Between the Dick and the Mezcal, you're really confused. Maybe you've spun too much in the barn dancing???

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  60. WHAT A PARTY!! Hitting the hay for now, ladies. Jess and I....I mean, whoops, I'm saying nighty night and thanks for a lovely day....

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  61. *Scratches back* Ug! I fell asleep in the barn and hay makes for an itchy bed. lol! Hope you've enjoyed your party, Andi. And I'd love to sit down for a drink some day. I might even try the mescal again. lol! You've led an interesting life and I'd love to hear some of your travel stories. For those who don't know, Andi speaks fluid French and was gracious enough to help me with the French phrases in my recent paranormal release. Merci beaucoup, Andi!

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  62. Geesh, I hate to be late to the party...I have spotty Internet here in the B.C. hinterlands...and no spotted dick, either, damn. Did eat a spotted ling cod the other day, does that count? Andi, well-deserved party for Loveland...happy anniversary! (Andi is my new bud after raucous times in Las Vegas. She knows how to party AND how to write a great book. Ask her about the bartender who flirted with her in Las Vegas...

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  63. Hi Rolynn - we spotted you sitting in the back with that hunky (but not spotty) cowpoke!

    Welcome to Andrea's party - don't worry, the party's not over until the fat lady sings (and we haven't seen any fat ladies yet!)

    Can't wait to hear about that bartender, Andi!

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  64. Wait a minute, just a cotton pickin' minute! Was I drunk when this bartender flirted with me?? Rolynn,I don't remember that at all!! I do remember leavin' Vegas $15 richer but you did even better than that--Rolynn's book got honorable mention, folks. Pass the whiskey so we can drink to her--the sun is over my horse's head, which is all I need--no yardarms on ranches, guys.

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  65. LOL, fancy not remembering being flirted with! Coingratulations to Rolynn, great achievement!

    Well, I'll have another Margarita, to toast her, can't drink whisky!

    Lyn begins to sing loudly. 'Home, home on the range, where the deer and the cowpokes all play...'

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  66. Surely, Lyn, it's "where there's beer, and the cowpokes all play?" Oh! Five Card Stud, anyone?

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  67. "What kind of a stud has five cards." Mary asks through the glossy eyes of her hangover. This has been a great party and Loveland, well even the title grabs me. I wouldn't mind finding Loveland myself. And I am definitely reading this one. Andrea, you have been incredible, and such a good sport. A last round for everyone on me! A bit of the hair of the dog eh? Jessie, where are you?? I've been stalking, I mean following, you for two days.
    Chocolate cake all around!!! Yee Hah!

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  68. Thank you Mary--and thanks to y'all. I had such a great time, it was worth having to sleep in a hay loft with a bunch of drunken, smelly--uh, I mean, delightful companions--with the rats running....uh, I mean, watching the cute little kitties run around--with no bathroom facilities....shucks, that river water sure was cool. I better saddle up my mount now and head back, hub? Jesse, you ready? Cal, Garth, Tom, Annie, ,Garrison...come on gang. And of course you, Lady Alex. Saddle Ranger and let's go. They've run out of chocolate cake and whiskey now. Yeeeehawwwwww (Hand me my guitar, I think I gotta sing?????)

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  69. As Andrea and her entourage (Try spelling that when you've had a few!:) ) ride into the sunset, singing "Home, home on the range, where the Beer and the cowpokes - yay-hey!" the hostesses wave and hiccup quietly.

    What a party! And what a wonderful guest of honour! Thank you for being so much fun, Andi, 'Loveland' is definitely on my reading list, and we wish you loads of success now and in the future!

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  70. Thanks Lyn! Adios, pals (slides from saddle but makes brilliant recovery just in time to jump 5 bar gate and head into a gallop, leaving behind nothing but dust and good memories...)xx

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