Hi, everyone! I’m still hearing “Happy (Book) Birthday” playing
in my mind. Last Chance Cowboy, the
second book in my Kansas Cowboys series, came out on May 1st and I’m
still celebrating. Champagne, anyone?
I do adore this cover (thanks, Harlequin!), and I have to
admit Grey Wilson is one of my favorite heroes. I hated to give him such
trouble in this story, but then conflict is, always, king. So not only does
Grey need to clear himself of any wrongdoing in the long-ago death of the
heroine’s brother; he also needs to save his family ranch—Grey’s heritage. He
doesn’t expect Shadow Moran, the love of his life, to return to Barren, Kansas
after ten years, especially now when he fears losing everything he has. To make
matters even worse, Shadow has a secret to reveal…one that will change Grey’s
life again.
Here’s a brief excerpt:
Grey took her in his
arms. “You had a rougher time than I might have imagined. That was my fault
too, Shadow. I should have been there. I should have known, somehow.”
“I don’t blame you,
Grey.”
“Not for that,” he
said, but he drew her closer.
Shadow’s head dropped like a wilted flower
onto his shoulder as if she couldn’t hold herself upright any longer. She
couldn’t move. All the years of being alone, of caring for Ava without him,
seemed to condense into this moment, Grey’s lips on her hair. He brushed it
aside, his other hand on her shoulder then slowly, sweetly, he kissed his way
down her cheek to the line of her jaw and then to the corner of her mouth.
“I’m sorry,” he
whispered. “You shouldn’t have had full responsibility for Ava—struggled like
that—but you did a great job, Shadow. She’s a wonderful little girl. And
somehow, we’ll make this work. For her,” he murmured. “And for us.”
Shadow wanted to make
it work, too. But there was still [her brother] Jared’s death [between them].
And, in that moment, she hoped Grey did find proof that he was not to blame.
That he could finally prove his innocence. Then, in the next instant, she stopped
thinking at all.
Grey’s mouth took hers, not light and quick
this time. He kissed her with the gulf of years breached between them at last,
with that intense, soul-searching passion she had never forgotten. Neither had
he, she knew, as she let him take her deeper, then farther still, as if in the
joining of their mouths they might find forgiveness. For each other. Find love
again.
If you haven’t already visited this small town, The Reluctant Rancher, Book #1, kicked
off the series last October and is still available. It’s all about Logan Hunter, Grey's friend and neighbor, who’d rather be flying jets than be a cowboy again, but Logan’s injured
grandfather needs him to run the ranch. Logan’s plan to hire a temporary
caregiver to help at the house doesn’t work out—and pretty Blossom Kennedy, a
woman on the run, soon turns his life upside down. Or has she stumbled into the
exact place where she’s supposed to be…by Logan’s side.
Book #3, Cowboy on
Call, will be released in October. Cover reveal soon! In this one, Logan’s
estranged brother, Sawyer McCord, comes home at last. After making a tragic
mistake in his medical career overseas, he needs a place to heal, to find a way
to atone and decide about his future. Instead, he runs straight into Olivia,
his brother’s ex-wife and the only woman Sawyer has ever loved. Are they both
willing to take a second chance?
I hope you enjoy Last
Chance Cowboy. Congratulations to the other May authors: Patricia Forsythe,
Laurie Tomlinson and T.R. McClure. Great company to be in…
Buy links for Last
Chance Cowboy and The Reluctant
Rancher and social media links are on my website, http://www.leighriker.com(where you can also
sign up for my newsletter).
Happy reading!
Leigh
That really is a great cover, Leigh. I look forward to reading Grey's story. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI know, Jill. I've had a lot of great response to this cover. I hope you enjoy the story.
DeleteCongratulations on the release of Last Chance Cowboy, Leigh. It promises to be another excellent story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kate! I'm having such fun with this series.
DeleteHi Leigh, I agree with you. The cover is wonderful. And congrats on your release. Isn't it thrilling to see your books out there? Yay.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Sandra. It is an ongoing thrill to see my books out there. Happy reading!
DeleteCongrats on your release, Leigh and great covers, too! And an enticing excerpt - all the best!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janice. Harlequin really does such great covers. Enjoy!
DeleteLeigh, love the excerpt! Sounds like these two have some issues and some chemistry and what could be better than that? Happy book birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. I'm glad you liked the excerpt. Grey and Shadow were lovely to work with and I think they deserve their happy ending.
DeleteCongrats on the new release. Loved the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tara! And a big hi to you from me. Glad you liked the excerpt.
DeleteSounds like a great read! And I love that cover, too. :) Happy new release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia!
DeleteIt sounds terrific. Can't wait to read it. I preordered on Kindle, but was away from wifi until today. Tonight I get to start the 4-pack.
ReplyDeleteYippee!!! Don't you just love getting to dig in to a whole bunch of stories? Sounds divine to me, Beth.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: I've learned that Cowboy On Call will be a November release (not October).
ReplyDeleteVery appealing cover, and I love your characters' names! All the best with it and with book 3.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Virginia. Funny story: My editor pointed out that Shadow and Grey certainly have a connection via their names--which hadn't occurred to me--so I wrote a line of dialogue in which he says, "Even our names go together."
DeleteA great cover and a lovely excerpt. Good luck, Leigh!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz! Waving hi to you from here.
DeleteCongratulations on the new release!! The covers are so great. Can't wait to see the cover for Cowboy on Call later this year. Thank you for sharing the excerpt with us. ( :
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting too--with bated breath--to see that third book cover. Don't see how it could get better than this second one...fingers crossed.
DeleteLOVE the excerpt! Congratulations on the new release, Leigh! I wish you a ton of sales!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the good wishes, Stephanie. And I'm happy that you like the excerpt.
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