Sit Down Saturday with Loree Lough

One of my favorite TV shows is the Discovery Channel’s “How It’s Made” series. Whether it’s Gummy Bears, alkaline batteries, or cowboy boots, I’m always fascinated by the behind the scenes stuff that happens before the products hit store shelves.

Today, I thought it might be fun to talk a bit about my latest Heartwarming release, Sweet Mountain Rancher, the second book in my “Those Marshall Boys” series…stories that feature the raised-like-brothers cousins. As young’uns, these blond, blue-eyed cowboys’ caused so much that the mere sight of them prompted friends and family to spout “Put up the good china…here come those Marshall boys again!” As grown men, however, it was the Marshall boys people turned to in times of trouble.



A LOT OF COMPONENTS go into the development of a soul-stirring, page-turning romance novel.

A ‘WISH I WAS THERE’ SETTING. This series is set on The Double M, a rambling ranch just outside of Denver. The ranch has been owned and run by the Marshalls since the 1880s, when the heroes’ twin great-grandfathers claimed a thousand sprawling acres in the shadow of the Rockies’ Front Range. Over the decades, the Marshalls survived brush fires, tornadoes, Anthrax, grizzly bear and cougar attacks, and with each incident, they grew stronger and more united—individually, and as a family. (Every one of my series novels stands on its own, so you never need to worry about reading the books in order!)

MEMORABLE CHARACTERS…believable, realistic people that readers can identify with.

IN BOOK ONE, Once a Marine, I introduced you to Zach, former Marine whose homecoming is tarnished when his sister is mugged and beaten. Knowing that a few simple self defense moves might have prevented the attack, he moves to Vail to care for her, and opens the self defense studio, because, well, that’s the way Marshall guys roll!


NATE MARSHALL IN SWEET MOUNTAIN RANCHER, you’ll meet Zach’s younger cousin NATE, whose fun-loving, easy-going personality made it tough to say no to kids who asked him to autograph baseballs—or the fiancé who insisted she could handle his fancy new sportscar on that awful, rainy night.

WE ALSO NEED EXCITEMENT AND ADVENTURE that’s woven seamlessly into the story so it doesn’t feel staged, episodic, or gratuitous. Like the fiery car crash that took Nate’s fiancé and ended his major league pitching career in one blinding flash…and changed him into a serious, never-say-yes man.




THEN, WE NEED A REASON TO HOPE … the kind of that makes us reach for the stars, and take chances that promise those sought-after happy endings…even though they could just as easily deliver more heartache and despair.

For Nate, hope comes in the form of child psychologist EDEN QUINN and the troubled boys in her care, who teach Nate that being agreeable doesn’t always come with a hefty price tag. Eden learns a few life-changing lessons, too: Part of being independent and self-sufficient is knowing when to accept a helping hand.



EDEN QUINN

Finally, we need an ending that satisfies readers’ happily ever after hopes. But a fulfilling ending isn’t as simple as a romantic proposal, a teary-eyed acceptance, and a whirlwind wedding. The most memorable stories prove that the hero and heroine were willing to change and grow and make a few sacrifices to prove “till death us do part” vows.

 I hope you’ll agree that Sweet Mountain Rancher delivers all that, and more, and that you’ll join “Those Marshall Boys” again in a few months, when I’ll introduce you to Zach and Nate’s youngest cousin, cowboy-turned-firefighter Nate, whose Nashville Dreams took him far from the family ranch…and into the arms of Finn Leary, who might just make his dreams come true…

Want to find out my dream Hollywood cast for Sweet Mountain Rancher? Then check back here on the Heartwarming blog this Friday when Cerella Sechrist (author of Harper's Wish) and I reveal the Red Carpet Edition of these two releases! We'll be hosting more giveaways, including signed copies of both Sweet Mountain Rancher and Harper's Wish!

And don't forget, there's only TWO DAYS LEFT to enter our Beach Reads giveaway for a chance to win a BRAND NEW KINDLE, cover, and all sorts of beach gear (including a beach tote, towel, water bottle, sunglasses, hat, and more!) You can enter to win right here at this link!

I look forward to seeing you back here on Friday when Cerella and I will be hosting the Red Carpet Edition of our monthly blog series, We Talk to Ourselves...a Lot!

***

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR LOREE LOUGH has nearly 6,000,000 4-and 5-star books in circulation, 7 book-to-movie options, and contracts for additional series slated to release by year-end 2018. Books 105 & 106 (Harlequin Heartwarming’s Sweet Mountain Rancher, #2 “Those Marshall Boys” series, and Guardians of the Heart, #2, “Secrets on Sterling Street” historical series from Whitaker) released this summer; the third book in each series will hit the shelves early in 2016. Loree loves interacting with readers on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and email (and answers every letter, personally). Keep up with all the latest at http://www.loreelough.com.

Comments

  1. I'm so excited to be sharing this release month with you, Loree! And it was awesome to get a hint at the next story in Those Marshall Boys with Nashville Dreams! I love these cowboys! :)

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    1. Me, too (but please, don't tell Larry)! LOL And don't tell him that I have a li'l crush on your handsome Irish hero from HARPER'S WISH!

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    2. NOTE TO ALL WHO VISIT... The above post was put in place by mistake. Yup. I hit SEND before running it through spell check, grammar check, or giving it a once-over for missing words.

      BUT...my "oops!" is your gain: List my goof-ups somewhere in a comment box, and I'll add your name to my trusty winners hat; the random drawing for a signed copy of SWEET MOUNTAIN RANCHER will take place on Monday, September 7th.

      See, there really ARE silver linings inside every cloud. In this case, it's the type of silver found on a cowboy's belt buckle! LOL

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  2. In a few short paragraphs, you've demonstrated that you have mastered creating memorable characters who are "believable, realistic people that readers can identify with." I would like to add to that: "whose stories we can hardly wait to read."

    Best wishes with your new release, Loree!

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    1. Thanks for the wishes, Kate! I'm looking forward to your next Heartwarming page-turner, too...and wishing you a happy holiday weekend!

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  3. I'm excited to jump into the series, Loree! It sounds great :) I finally got up the nerve to write my first "cowboy" story and it's coming out in March. I love the west (was born in California if that counts a little ;) but I was afraid to right one because I live in the east. Yet, there is something so inspiring about the west- an independent spirit, a survivalist instinct, an can-do sensibility that's always spoken to me. Reading your books brings home everything that is special about this part of our great country

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    1. This Midwest born 'n' bred, decades-on-the-East coast gal LOVES a good cowboy story (and not just 'cause of jeans, boots, Stetsons and the dudes who wear 'em, either)! :-) I visit the West every chance I get, and with every trip I fall a little more in love with the land, the people, and the way of life that is beyond appealing.

      Have a wonderful holiday weekend, Karen!

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  4. Good morning, Loree!

    How much fun is it to find you blogging on the Harlequin Hearwarming site!! Now I need to hop on line and check out those Marshall boys. Love the cover of Sweet Mountain rancher.

    Have a great weekend!

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  5. Good morning, Loree!

    How much fun is it to find you blogging on the Harlequin Hearwarming site!! Now I need to hop on line and check out those Marshall boys. Love the cover of Sweet Mountain rancher.

    Have a great weekend!

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  6. Good morning, Loree!

    How much fun is it to find you blogging on the Harlequin Hearwarming site!! Now I need to hop on line and check out those Marshall boys. Love the cover of Sweet Mountain rancher.

    Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thank you, Barb! I'm kinda partial to that cowboy on the cover, too. But then, ALL of the #Heartwarming covers are gorgeous! Have a safe and happy Labor Day!

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  7. Loree - congratulations on the release of the newest Marshall boy. The Marshalls do they seem like a family worth knowing. Love the sound of your historical books, too. I'm sure it took lots of hard work and strength of character to get you to 6,000,000 books in circulation, and yet you look like it was a piece of cake. Good for you! Can I Vulcan-mind-meld you? Happy Weekend.

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    1. LOL Muriel! I don't recommend mind-melding with me...people say I'm a bubble off plumb! LOL Hope your Labor Day is safe and happy!

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  8. Sounds like a wonderful read with a gorgeous cast of characters. Love your cover.

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    1. Thank you, Marion! Hope your weekend is wonderful!

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  9. Congrats on your release! I love those Marshall boys :) Your stories always have all the components to a soul-stirring novel!! xoxo

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  10. Thank you, Amy! And so do yours! XOXO

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  11. Love this post! Sweet Mountain Rancher sounds wonderful, as does the whole series. And seriously, love your models. So happy for your 6,000,000 books in circulation. WOW! Actually blows my mind--in a good way.

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  12. Thanks, Patricia! Hope you and yours enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend!

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  13. Thanks, Patricia! Hope you and yours enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend!

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  14. Those Marshall boys are irresistible and who can resist those story summaries?! Talking saddles...my kids and I love watching How it's Made too and one of the episodes I watched once was on saddle making :). Very cool!

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    1. Thanks, Rula! Your Heartwarming books will remain on my Keepers shelf! So are you enjoying the Labor Day weekend!

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  15. Loree, I love that "How it was made" show as well! I love the first book in your series and thought you did a fantastic job bringing the heroine around to trust again after being attacked. It was so real, so emotional, I kept thinking, what would I do in her shoes. So I can't wait to read this next one. Superb cover!! Best wishes!

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    1. Thank you, Catherine! Coming from a talented author like yourself, that's some compliment! Hope the next 2 in the series will be equally memorable, and that you're enjoying your Labor Day weekend! :-)

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  16. I'm a sucker for a cowboy!

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    1. Oh, me, too, @ouradvocate! Have been since childhood, will be when they scatter my ashes from a craggy mountain outcropping! Hope you're enjoying your Labor Day! :-)

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  17. ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE "FIND LOREE'S GOOF-UPS" CONTEST!

    Just to bring you up to speed, here's what happened...you'll find the winner's name at the end of this post:

    You know that feeling when you hit SEND on the rough draft of your unedited blog post, and now it's too late to make corrections? Yeah, that.

    But my OOPS! is good for you: Make a list of my goof-ups and I'll put your name in my trusty winners hat, and at NOON on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th, I'll choose a random winner who'll receive a signed copy of SWEET MOUNTAIN RANCHER (#2 in my "Those Marshall Boys" series from ‪#‎Harlequin‬ ‪#‎Heartwarming‬)...and a fun 'n' cute surprise.

    Leave your list here, or in the COMMENTS section of the blog...and while you're over there, be sure to sign up for the big BEACH READS GIVEAWAY, a prize package from Cerella Sechrist and me...a $200 value that includes a brand new Kindle Paperwhite! JUST HOURS LEFT TO ENTER!

    http://heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com/…/sit-down-saturday…?

    And now, without further ado, the winner: Molly Moody, will you send me your snail mail address, even if you think I already have it, so I can send your copy of the book? Congratulations! :-)

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    1. Congratulations, Molly!! Enjoy your copy of SWEET MOUNTAIN RANCHER!

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