western romance – Barbara Edwards Comments

Meet my guest Judy Ann Davis with “Under Starry Skies”

I had the pleasure of writing a review for Under Starry Skies and am happy to welcome Judy Ann Davis as my guest.

Tell us more about this wonderful story.

UNDER STARRY SKIES

by Judy Ann Davis

Romance happens under Colorado’s starry skies.

How did “Under Starry Skies” by Judy Ann Davis come about? Since the author had worked in adult education and understood the value of reading and writing for all adults, the story of school teacher Maria O’Donnell teaching Indian Two Bears to read and write in 1875 seemed plausible for a storyline. Two Bears was a minor but favorite and humorous character in her first book, “Red Fox Woman.” She felt she had to bring him back in the sequel because her readers fell in love with him and his humorous and wily disposition. They also fell in love with the youngest Ashmore brother, Tydall, who’s the story’s hero.

Amazon Kindle: http://a.co/fWfrw43

Blurb:

Hired as the town’s school teacher, Maria O’Donnell and her sister Abigail arrive in the Colorado Territory in 1875, only to find the uncle they were to stay with has been murdered.

Rancher Tye Ashmore is content with life until he meets quiet and beautiful Maria. He falls in love at first sight, but her reluctance to jeopardize her teaching position by accepting his marriage proposal only makes him more determined to make her part of his life.

When their lives are threatened by gunshots and a gunnysack of dangerous wildlife, Tye believes he is the target of an unknown enemy. Not until Maria receives written threats urging her to leave does she realize she might be the target instead of the handsome rancher.

With the help of Tye, Abigail, and a wily Indian called Two Bears, Maria works to uncover her uncle’s killer and put aside her fears. But will she discover happiness and true love under Colorado’s starry skies?

Snippet:

Two Bears reached out and laid a hand on her trembling ones to still her. “Listen closely. You must tell Tye Ashmore and those you trust. You must always carry a weapon with you. Do not take chances. Do not be foolish. Foolish men are the first to die. Take a different path to the school each morning. We need to find your enemy.”

“I don’t know how.” Maria gave a choked, desperate laugh. She watched Two Bears stare with a hawklike gaze at the forest leading to the stable of the manse, then let his eyes encircle the entire wooded area at the edge of the yard.

Finally he spoke in a calm steady voice. “Enemies are not always wise enemies. They get careless. Then we will find him. . .or he will reveal himself.”

You Can Find Judy Ann Davis on:

Website: www.judyanndavis.com

Blog: www.judyanndavis.blogspot.com

Twitter: JudyAnnDavis4 https://twitter.com/JudyAnnDavis4

Facebook: Judy Ann Davis

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Judy-Ann-Davis/561285450554606?ref=hl

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4353662.Judy_Ann_Davis

A Word About The Author (Optional)

Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, PA. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications and has written for industry and education throughout her career.

Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines, and anthologies, and have received numerous awards.

When Judy Ann is not behind a computer, you can find her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are

few.

She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc. and Romance Writers of America, and lives in Central Pennsylvania.

#Review: The Sheriff’s Gift by Kara O’Neal (Pike’s Run Series, Book Two)

Review: The Sheriff’s Gift by Kara O’Neal (Pike’s Run Series, Book Two)

Alice Parker has dreamed of being a teacher and it looks like her dream is coming true. She’s been hired by Pike’s Run to educate their children. But not everything is going smoothly. Her strong will and independent attitude have her clashing with the town leader. Her attraction to Sheriff Conner Lonnigan has her questioning her goals.

Conner falls for Alice from their first meeting, but he can’t ask her to marry him. He’s responsible for his panic attack prone mother, two brothers and his duties as sheriff fill his days.

He pursues her anyway.

After night of passion Alice is willing to give up her dream until she finds Conner won’t offer marriage. Betrayed, she refuses his apology. Conner must solve his problems if Alice is to be part of his life.

An absorbing tangle of conflict kept me reading this adventure until the end.

Link: http://amzn.com/B00HET7ZEE

Quick Silver Ranch: Saddle Up by Marie Truhart

Please welcome my guest today, Marie Tuhart
She’s eager to tell us about her new release Quick Silver Ranch: Saddle Up
is Available: 6/24/11 from The Wild Rose Press

Hopefully, visitors have already read your bio, so I’m not going to ask you to tell us about yourself. Instead, what do you find the most difficult about being a writer?Conveying emotion to the reader, that has always been my biggest challenge.

What is your hero’s biggest challenge?
Knowing he’s losing his heart to the heroine and afraid of her rejection

What is your heroine’s biggest flaw?
Her inability to believe in herself as a woman.

What prompted you to write this story?
My editor asking me to, I’d written Quick Silver Ranch: Roped & Ready first, and my editor asked me to give the secondary characters their own book.

What is your least favorite genre?
Hard one, I’m not much one for Horror.

Would you ever consider writing it?
No

Who has helped you the most?
My critique group and my editor, I’ve learned so much from my editor over the last year.

Do you have a favorite theme? Eg: love conquers all; good vs evil; How do you
use it?

Usually my theme is love conquers all, but I use it so it ties into the emotional conflict the hero and heroine have.

What have you learned about yourself from your writing?
That while writing is hard work, I enjoy it.

Why will your reader think your book is different?
Because it is a fantasy, we all want to find a man who is willing to take us to our limits and then push us a bit.

Excerpt

Angie drank in the feeling of his body against hers. His hardness to her softness,
and part of her wanted to melt in a puddle at his feet, another part wanted to
be bold and daring.
“Becca mentioned that you’re closing down theranch for a while.” Maybe a little flirting would work.
“Two weeks. There needs to be some renovations done, and the staff needs some downtime. It was a good time to do it with Tyler gone.”
“How much can be done in two weeks?” She thought back to when they were renovating the offices she now worked in, it seemed like it took months and with every little problem the workmen came to her.
“A lot, if you know how to motivate people.”
“Really?” Angie tilted her head up and fluttered her eyelashes. “And how would you do that?”
The corners of Jared’s lips tilted up. “Lots of money.”
Okay, subtle flirting wasn’t working with him. Her fingers trailed over his broad shoulder, to his neck, where she stroked his dark brown hair. His hand tightened on her lower back, bringing their hips together. And Angie swore she could feel his hard erection. Good, he wasn’t immune to her.
She let her fingers skim from his neck, down over his shoulder blade, down his spine, over his well-defined ass, until she could rest her palm over his butt cheek. Then she squeezed it.
“Behave.” His breath brushed her ear and he swatted her ass.
“You hit me.” She couldn’t believe it; he actually smacked her on the ass. Not that it hurt, but heat flowed through her body making her nipples grow harder. She’d never realized a little swat could make her so hot.
“I’ll do worse if you don’t behave yourself, Angie.”
“Promise?” The word was out of her mouth before she even realized it. The music ended, Jared escorted her back to the table and pulled out her chair.
His palms cupped her cheeks, tilting her face up to his. “We’ll talk later.” He dropped a hard brief kiss on her lips before striding away.
Angie’s heart skipped several beats while she observed Jared cross the room. She put her fingers to her lips and sank down onto the chair with her core pulsing with need and her panties wet. If he met her later, they wouldn’t be talking if she had anything to say about it.
Marie’s Website: www.mairetuhart.com