Thank you so much for having me on the Fresh Fiction blog. I’m thrilled to be
here to talk to readers about the first book, A FAMILY FOR THE RANCHER,
in my new series,
Cowboys to Grooms, with Harlequin Western Romance.
I love cowboys—specifically the horse-riding, boot-wearing, yeehawing type, not
the football-playing type. So when I had a dream a couple of years ago about
five brothers who worked a ranch in Montana with their dad, I knew I had to turn
it into a story. Or actually, into five stories, since of course I had to focus
on one brother per book. *GRIN*
How do I love cowboys? Let me count the ways.
They evoke a sense of honor, a code of ethics, that no one else has. Book
one, A FAMILY FOR THE RANCHER, introduces the oldest brother, Nash. Home from
the military, and a lot worse for wear, he has a code of ethics that saw him
through battles that nearly broke him. He’s struggling to find his place again,
with the family and on the ranch.
They love the land they live, work, and play on. In book two,
FALLING FOR THE REBEL COWBOY, Wyatt Sullivan comes home after
ten long years away because he never felt at home anywhere else. He may have
done jobs he loved on other ranches across the country, but he missed Montana,
the place he felt the strongest connection to his homeland and his family.
They know how to wear a pair of jeans and fill them out to perfection.
That’s Hunter all the way in book three. He’s a flirt, a charmer on the outside,
but inside he’s just as connected to land and family as the others.
Cowboys look out for their own. In book four, Kade, broken by his
ex-wife’s betrayal, still gets up every day and takes care of his son, his
brothers, and father, but most of all the ranch he loves.
Cowboys care about their animals, and make sure they’re taken care of
before they themselves sit down to supper. Book five will introduce Luke, the
veterinarian. He’s happiest taking care of the animals in his charge, but will
do anything for anyone in his family and the community.
With each book I write, I fall a little in love with these men of the Sullivan
Ranch. They aren’t expecting to meet the women of their dreams, but when they
do, they fall hard and fast.
And just to prove I’m not the only one who loves cowboys, here’s a little
snippet from A FAMILY FOR
THE RANCHER, a scene between my heroine Kelsey Summers and her mother.
But she’d let it slip to her mom while they were moving into the big cabin by
the lake the day before that Mr. Sullivan had invited them to the barbecue.
Nothing could keep Bunny Randolph from a social gathering.
“You ready, pumpkin? We need to get going so we aren’t late.”
She turned around as her mom walked in the door. Bound and determined to remain
youthful looking, her freshly blond hair was curled to perfection.
“Kelsey Anne, is that what you’re wearing? Why don’t you put on a dress?” The
words were punctuated with a swirl of her mother’s flowered skirt.
“Mom, it’s a barbecue. It’ll be outside. In the dirt.”
“But men will be there, honey. Cowboys.”
Her mom’s eyes gleamed, and Kelsey fought not to roll her eyes.
How about you? Do you love cowboys, and if so, what’s your favorite thing about
them?
Award winning author Allison B. Collins is a fifth generation Texan, so
it’s natural for her to love all things Western. It’s a tough job to spend
evenings writing about cowboys, rodeos, and precocious children, but Allison is
willing to do it to bring them all to life. She lives in Dallas with her
hero-husband of almost thirty years, who takes great care of her and their four
rambunctious cats.
Hi, Colleen. Thanks for stopping by and reading about my book! (Allison Collins 10:17am February 7, 2018)
Thank you for stopping by, Virat! (Allison Collins 10:18am February 7, 2018)
The values you wrote of are what the cowboys ow are examples of. Thanks. (Kathleen Bylsma 6:32pm February 7, 2018)
I love cowboys! What's my favorite "cowboy" characteristic or trait? I love the slow, meandering way they walk and talk! (Amy Morgan 11:35am February 8, 2018)
Yes, I love the cowboys, the quiet, shtrong type, with a little compansion and humor. (Nancy Luebke 8:34pm February 8, 2018)
Love cowboys! Since I love horses, too, there's nothing sexier than a cowboy interacting with my favorite animal. Can't think of anything more romantic than going riding together. (Nancy Marcho 8:39am February 9, 2018)
Yes, I love cowboys and have since I was a small child. You included a list that gives the reasons why cowboys are special. (Anna Speed 12:49pm February 9, 2018)