Spotlight on His Kind of Cowgirl - Karen Rock

HIS KIND OF COWGIRL, released on 3/1/16, is my first western romance and will not be my last. Today, I thought I'd introduce you to my characters and share an excerpt that I hope you'll enjoy :)

First: If this book had a soundtrack-- and shouldn't all books come with music?!-- here are the songs I'd want for this second-chance, secret child love story:

Your Man- Josh Turner
Young Love- Kip Moore
Come a Little Closer- Dierks Bently
Over- Blake Shelton
About to Get Real- Easton Corbin
Bless the Broken Road- Rascal Flatts


Tanner Hayes is a three times PBR champion who was told, growing up, that he'd never amount to much. The only person who believed in him was his first love, Claire. Sadly, after a life threatening injury while barrel-racing, Claire couldn't handle rodeo anymore and when he was offered the chance to tour with the Elite bull-riding group, he had to leave her behind. Despite his success, it's a decision he's come to regret, and plans to make right now that he's back in Claire's life, ten years later, older, wiser, and determined not to lose her again. (And Tanner hates losing...) 









Claire is a bit of a hot-head, I'm sorry to say! She's says what's on her mind and fights for what she thinks is right and Tanner, waltzing back in her life as though he has any claim to it , or the child she had back when he chose fame rather than a family with her, gets her goat. She's especially fired up when Tanner announces, with his typical cocky attitude, that HE'S going to save HER family ranch. She's done just fine without him all these years... but having him around again is making her wonder if maybe she's been wrong all along. (And Claire hates to be wrong...)


Reunited again, Tanner and Claire can't deny that they still have feelings for each other in this scene (one of my favorites :)


“So,” he said softly, “Claire Elizabeth Shelton. Are you going to leave me here? Waste this moment?”

She studied his lower lip. 

“No,” she breathed and leaned closer. Laid her palm on the seat between them.

“Excellent answer.” He absorbed the feel of her hand against his hip. Felt suddenly joyous.

He dropped his head and kissed her. He kissed her, and it was a kiss of utter certainty. She tasted like fresh picked strawberries. Drove him just as wild. At her low whimper, he brushed his lips against hers again. Soft. Gentle. The barest of touches, yet everything else went still and static and there was only the rush of his heartbeat in his ears. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her harder so that she moaned in the back of her throat. Or was that him? He couldn’t tell. Lost his bearings. Lost himself in her as she arched against him.

He traced her delicate jaw with his fingertips, giving in to every impulse he’d held back these past few days. It’d been torture working out with her every day. Laboring close enough to touch her. Keeping himself in check.

No more. Now he unleashed his feelings and gave her a blistering kiss. And she kissed him back. Every bit the firebrand who’d turned him to dust in her arms ten years ago. No one made him feel this strange mix of power and powerlessness like Claire. They commanded each other.

He wanted all of her. More of her. Every bit that she could give he would take. She clutched his shoulders and fitted herself into the angles of his body tighter still, her lips leaving his to nibble on his ear. When her finger dragged across his chest, he caught fire.

He wove his fingers in her silky curls. At last. Claire. Touching. Tasting. Holding her. It felt like coming home. And he’d stayed away too long, he realized. Needed to make up for lost time.
When her head fell back, he pressed kisses from her temple down to the arch of her neck, stopping at the sweet spot at the base of her throat. When his mouth rose to recapture hers, he held her snug, her body soft and pliant. He never wanted to let her go and his heart beat so strongly it felt as if his entire body pulsed.

A long, keening bellow sounded in the pasture behind them and Claire stiffened. When she jerked away, he released her.

Her hands drifted to her hair and touched her lips. Her unfocused gaze settled on him, then sharpened.

“This was a mistake,” she gasped.

“God, I hope not,” he breathed.



I hope you liked this sneak peek. Be sure to stop by WattPad where I have uploaded the Prologue and Chapter One for you! If you'd like to check out the book, it's also on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, eHarlequin and Kobo. Thanks a bunch for stopping by :)

What song or songs are a "must" for the soundtrack of your life? Let's make a playlist...

Comments

  1. Well, that's a teaser not too many people will be a able to resist!

    Congratulations on your latest release, Karen!

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    1. Thanks, Kate! I got a little breathless just reading it again- lol. Tanner is a passionate cowboy for sure :)

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  2. Congratulations, Karen. Exciting excerpt!

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    1. Thank you, Liz! I love second chance couples getting their first, second chance, kiss :) Tanner wants this to work so badly, but he's got his work cut out for him in convincing Claire to give him another try.

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  3. Holy Cow! That was really a teaser! Good thing I have my copy so, I can keep reading. But frankly, my dear, you had me at Channing Tatum. I confess that I have to write in silence, edit in silence and create with just a tad of soft Debussy in the background. When I lived in Houston and went to all the shows with top Country Western singers and bands, my Ford Bronco blasted George Strait, Kenny Rogers Clint Black and anything by Alabama. Now I'm a little bit Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley to mention a few.
    SUPER POST!!

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    1. You gave me such a picture, Catherine, and I'm smiling just thinking about you blasting Alabama in your Ford Bronco :) I want to ride shotgun! xoxo

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    2. I'm bringing the sweet tea ;)

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  4. Love the excerpt Karen. The pictures are amazing too. Congrats on the new release. It sounds like a winner.
    These Three Words and All I Do by Stevie Wonder are musts for the soundtrack of my life. There are so many more, but these two came to my mind. One reminds me to tell my husband I love him, and the other reinforces how much I love him. ( :

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    1. I'm a HUGE Stevie Wonder fun, Laurie!! That man was blessed with golden vocal cords. I want to listen to the soundtrack of your life- it's sounds super romantic <3

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  5. Congratulations, Karen! Sounds like another winner for you. I love your soundtrack. I'm a huge country music fan. Some of my favorites are Tim McGraw, George Strait, Easton Corbin, Zac Brown Band, Carrie Underwood, and anything by Alabama...

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    1. I would hit the "play" button on that soundtrack, Carol :) Awesome! And thanks so much :)

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  6. What a beautiful excerpt... https://youtu.be/7a47fEuB9vo I heard this playing the whole time!! Congrats on the new release, Karen!

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    1. Thanks, Joanne :) Rascal Flatts is so perfect in that video and the song gives me goosebumps and chokes me up every time.

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  7. I love the photo of the girl kissing the horse. What a great cover that would be. Can't wait to read your book.

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    1. I love that pic, too :) It's funny you said that about the cover because I sent this with my art fact sheet to show how I envisioned Claire. I'm excited for you to read the book, too! Thanks, Roz <3

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  8. Congratulations, Karen! Thanks for sharing an excerpt...can't wait to read it. Boy, that Tanner in the beat-up truck...Yowza! John Denver's music fills much of my soundtrack, particularly Country Roads and Back Home Again.

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    1. Thanks, Jill :-) The guy in the pic needs to be one of our cover models for sure! And John Denver's voice is so effortless- love him!

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  9. You're so good, Karen. I love, "It was the kind of kiss during which monarchs die and whole continents fall without anyone even noticing." I work in quiet, but when I listen to music, I love all the artists Catherine mentioned - and was just listening to the soundtrack from Top Gun the other day. Not the right atmosphere, I guess, but Bill Medley makes me dissolve into a puddle.

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    1. Thanks, Muriel! I need quiet to write, too, but driving, cooking, showering... music is a must :) I love Top Gun and the soundtrack is awesome. I'm going to have to add some songs to my iPod so I can melt right along beside you <3

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  10. Love you visuals! All of them make me swoon. As for a life soundtrack, I think mine is constantly changing. I love music and often have to have it playing while I write. I need it to block out the other distractions (husband, kids, dog, etc). I don't know that I have a song that I live by but I love the song Love Remains the Same by Gavin Rossdale. I wish someone would write me a song like that!

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    1. Thanks, Amy! And you just named the dream... having a guy as talented and gorgeous as Gavin write us beautiful love songs. I had a YA hero write a love song to win the girl in a love triangle and it was so difficult. I don't know how musicians do it, but I'm so grateful to their artistry :)

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  11. Beautiful scene, Karen. Your book sounds like a great read and I'm looking forward to it. I can't think of any song that defines my life, but I do love to pick out songs for my characters.

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    1. Thanks so much, Linda! I'm almost at my deadline and then I'm looking forward to reading Her Summer Crush- it looks awesome. And I agree- thinking of songs your character would listen to helps with knowing who they are.

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  12. Karen, I hope I get to read all of this. For me, I'm a rock and roller when it comes to music. I can listen to anything from the Monkees to Meat Loaf, Kid Rock, Air Supply, Queen, Cher, Tina Turner to Oak Ridge Boy's, Johnny Cash, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum. I can handle some rap and some Siberian Orchestra just don't play blue grass!!! Pam is sitting on bended knee hoping to read this as soon as it's possible. I'd love to win it in a contest but so far no such luck!

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    1. You named so many groups I love, too! Hands down, Freddie Mercury has a once-in-a-generation voice and the stars lost some of their brilliance when he left us too soon. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a win xx

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  13. Whew! Dang, girl, you can write! <3
    One song impacting my life, which teaches a great lesson is by Lee Ann Womack, I Hope You Dance:
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-Z1YwaOiw

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    1. Ooooh, YES!! That song is incredible- beautiful lyric, haunting music- love!! It's one of those songs you hear and know is going to be a classic :)

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  14. Really enjoyed this book! <3

    I love the idea of a soundtrack for your life! Wow ... that's such a huge undertaking to choose though! :D

    I'd have to go with ....

    Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
    Jesus and Mama by Confederate Railroad
    Mama He's Crazy by The Judds
    Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups
    I'd Love You All Over Again by Alan Jackson
    I'm Gonna Love You Through It by Martina McBride

    To Be Continued ... as life continues :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Lynn! And the soundtrack for your life is awesome- I want to go on that journey with you :)

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  15. Awesome writing! I usually write to Kenny G and Jim Brickman...

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    1. Wow! Thank you, Patricia. Love your artists- boy have I done a lot of dancing to Kenny G :)

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