Chatting with Anna Kathryn: Part II...

Today I’m sharing the recipe for the hub’s specialty in the kitchen at Anna Kathryn Lanier’s blog! Come on over and learn how you can make the yummy, western-themed “Jake’s Fried Rice” at Chatting with Anna Kathryn….

Check back in Friday for this weeks’ Cozy Guest Friday with historical author and friend Vanessa Kelly, Cozy correspondent Tink, Captain Jack, and the usual band of miscreants!

Chatting with Anna Kathryn: Part I....

My first guest post with author Anna Kathryn Lanier is available today! Learn more about rogue secondary characters and how I’ve dealt with them (or, perhaps, not dealt with them so well) in the past at Chatting with Anna Kathryn….

Wednesday I’ll also be chatting with Anna Kathryn about the hub’s specialty in the kitchen so be sure to check back in at A.K.L.’s blog later this week….  

Blog Hoppin' & Good Eatin'...

Next week I have the pleasure of being a guest of fellow western romance author Anna Kathryn Lanier on her blog, Chatting with Anna Kathryn – not just once, but twice!

Starting Monday, I’ll be blogging about rogue secondary characters! On Wednesdays, it’s the custom of Anna Kathryn and her guests to swap recipes. I’ll be sharing one of my all-time favorites.

Be sure to stop by Chatting with Anna Kathryn on Monday and Tuesday for all the festivities.

And stay tuned tomorrow for Tink’s next Cozy Guest Friday interview with author JenniferAnn Coffeen….

New Blog Opening

The Sweethearts of the West group blog opened officially the first day of this month and today I got the chance to blog there for the first time. This exciting new group is all about western romance - good news for you Wayback Ridge fans! In fact, I share an excerpt from the Ridge family saga as well as break down readers' love of the contemporary west with a special focus on rodeos!

Read it all here today and check back soon for posts from fellow Sweethearts Caroline Clemmons, Celia Yeary, Anna Jeffrey, Anna Kathryn Lanier, Ashley Kath-Bilsky, Cheryl Pierson, Jane Leopold Quinn, Jeanmarie Hamilton, Marin Thomas, Nicole McCaffrey, Paisley Kirkpatrick, Paty Jager, and Sandra Crowley!

BET IT ON MY HEART Audio Debut!

It's here! The final addition to the Wayback Ridge audio collection, Bet It On My Heart! Get it today at AudioLark for just $2.49 before it goes back to its regular $7.99 listing tomorrow....

ANTE UP! Keefe Ridge’s bronc-busting days are nearly over. Despite that and the fact that he is slowly making his dream business venture a reality, Wayback’s wildest cowboy doesn’t see any reason to settle down. He is even willing to bet that marriage isn’t in the cards at all for him.

Agent Calli Morlani came to Wayback on a mission: to bring Stella Ridge back to Hollywood. When Stella refuses, she dares Calli to take in some local color and see what Wayback has to offer. Whether that includes Stella’s devastatingly charming brother becomes irrevelant once Calli finds herself in bed with him – in more ways than one…

Will it take a tough city girl to make the Wayback playboy finally fall long and hard? Or will Keefe give Calli a reason to stay? Place your bet!

To hear an excerpt read by narrator Betsy Navilier, click here....

What People Are Saying About Bet It On My Heart...

Night Owl Romance: Keefe and Calli are two people definitely so opposite from each yet the same in so many ways. They may see from different sides of the world but Wayback has a way of bringing to soul mates together. Amber Leigh did a beautiful job in bringing other characters to life like Stella and Keefe’s brothers. This was definitely a great story and can’t wait for more from this talented author.

Long & Short Reviews: Fantastic writing, sizzling dialogue, and an unforgettable story make Bet It On My Heart a must read. Be sure to pencil this title onto your TBR list for some quality time in the reading chair. I can’t wait for more in this series, as well as anything from the library of Ms. Williams, who has become one of my must read authors. She wrings every single emotion possible from your heart, only to put the pieces back together again with a shiny red bow. It’s an emotional journey that leaves one heck of an impression, which is what every fantastic romance should strive for.

Fallen Angel Reviews: Tempers flare but hearts win out in Bet It on My Heart. Amber Leigh Williams does a fantastic job mixing former characters into this current storyline. They are all loveable and frustrating just like real family members. I enjoyed the chemistry and sexual tension between Calli and Keefe. This is an HEA read you can bet on.

Visit AudioLark to purchase the complete Ridge family saga in audio today, starting with 1st Place Novella Blackest Heart and its antipicated sequel, Bluest Heart!

And if you missed yesterday's exclusive excerpt from Bet It On My Heart at Chatting with Anna Kathryn, be sure to click on over...

Release Week Party & October Events

Tomorrow the Ridge family saga's final installment, Bet It On My Heart, will launch from AudioLark, completing the Wayback Ridge Trilogy audio book collection. What a month it's been with these three thrilling audio book launches! It's the last week of September and, fittingly, the last week to party Ridge book release style so I'm celebrating first and foremost with fellow western author Anna Kathryn Lanier. Read a steamy exclusive excerpt from Bet It On My Heart right now at Chatting with Anna Kathryn!

Today I'm also returning to regularly scheduled programming with The Roses of Prose with a Monday post on Book Promotion Ideas. I'm breaking down guest blogging tips as the TRoP guest coordinator and taking questions and additional tips so head on over to the sweet-smelling grog! And I'll be joining two of my favorite grog ladies, Lisa Lipkind Leibow and Laura Breck, as workshop presenters of the Muse It Up Conference on October 11-17. More information on this next week....

I'd like to take this time to announce that I will be joining another group blog this week. This month I was invited to be a part of the launch of Sweethearts of the West, a group of western romance authors, including TWRP Yellow Rose imprint buddies Celia Yeary and Caroline Clemmons. The Sweethearts will officially launch on October 1. Be there this Sunday for my first fun western romance topic!

Finally, believe it or not, the holidays are fast approaching and The Season is gearing up for its new Tis the Season Writing Contest! This week it was revealed that the editors and agent donating 25 page critiques are editor Grace Bradley (Ellora’s Cave), agent Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency), and editor Leis Pederson (Berkley, a division of Penguin Group). The top prize not only includes a professional critique but $100 Visa Gift Card. Read rules and further info at The Season Blog.

September might have been one heck of a ride but the busiest months of the year are yet to come! October promises to be an exciting month so keep checking back in, Cozies, for all the latest. And the release party will be here again tomorrow to celebrate Bet It On My Heart's audio debut! See you then!

Week 3 Giveaway Winners

It's time to announce giveaway winner from week 3, chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org....

The winner of Anna Kathryn Lanier's Salvation Bride and a $10 Gift Card for The Wild Rose Press is...COMMENTER #13 - LISA L. LEIBOW!

Congrats, Lisa - please send your mailing information to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to confirm your win!

For everyone else, there's still plenty of chances of win. Stacey Joy Netzel's giveaway for western romance Chasin' Mason is still open of entry. You can also still win Donna Marie Roger's Golden Opportunity.... And it isn't over until the 31st so keep checking in for more contests and cowboy-related fun through the week....

Week 2 Giveaway Winners

It's time to announce Week 2 giveaway winners, chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org...

The winner of Marie-Nicole Ryan's Sunday giveaway for either a Samhain or Amazon Gift Card is commenter #6: JULIE!

The winner of Marguerite Arotin's Friday giveaway for a Victoria's Secret Gift Card is commenter #2: AMY!

Congrats, ladies! Please email your mailing information to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to receive your prizes! For everyone else, Cowboy Lovin' might be halfway over but there are still two weeks to win prizes. Tune back in this week and next week for more giveaways from guest authors and more Cowboy Lovin' fun!

There's still time to enter Anna Kathryn Lanier's giveaway for a TWRP Gift Card and a free ebook...

Cowboy Lovin' Day 17: Anna Kathryn Lanier

To kick off Week 3 of Cowboy Lovin' I'm pleased to welcome western romance author Anna Kathryn Lanier....

Thanks, Amber, for having me here today! I’ve loved reading the posts of your other Cowboy Lovin’ guests. I write both contemporary and historical Westerns and really like writing about the sexy, strong, yet uncertain Cowboy. My heroes usually have something in their past that cloud their judgment toward women. In SALVATION BRIDE, my historical, Sheriff David Slade had a very rocky first marriage and he enters his second marriage, to a mail order bride he’s only known for a few hours, with trepidation. See below how to win a copy of SALVATION BRIDE.

Blurb: The hot dusty town of Salvation, Texas has more than its share of secrets in 1873 when Laura Ashton's stage rolls into town. Sheriff David Slade has no idea what baggage his mail-order bride is bringing into his life. Throw in the nightmares from his Civil War days and he's got more than courting to contend with. Laura's a woman ahead of her time, a woman trained in medicine. And she's got a will that could move mountains. Unfortunately, the only mountains in Salvation are in Sheriff Slade's memory. Can the determined doctor heal his pain, or will the dark secret in her past turn up to steal his Salvation Bride?

Unedited excerpt:

“Sheriff.”
“Miss Ashton, I’m sorry I had to leave before the stage left, but I was called away on business.”
Frankly, she’d been relieved not to see the sheriff standing on the porch when she escorted Mrs. McGuire back to the stage. It meant she’d have a while yet before she had to face him.
“I’m sorry, too, sir, for leaving you so abruptly after we met. I don’t know where my manners went.”
He smiled then, for the first time, and his eyes crinkled. “I image, ma’am, that you were just as nervous as I was about meeting.”
She smiled back. “True. One has to wonder about the wisdom of agreeing to marry a stranger.”
His smile faded and lead dropped into her stomach.
He turned his hat in his hand and stared at his feet. “Ma’am, I’d hoped it wouldn’t have to be like this, but there’s something we need to discuss.”
Laura’s breath caught in her lungs. He didn’t like her. He was going to send her away. She’d be alone in the world.
“I…Can I not change your mind, sir?” she whispered.
“I’m afraid not, ma’am. If I had an alternative, I’d suggest it, but the fact of the matter is the preacher changed his circuit route on us. I expected him to come in two months, giving us time to get to know each other. But he came early and he’s leaving tomorrow.” His hat made another complete turn in his hands. Blue eyes rose to meet hers. “The fact is, Miss Ashton, we have to get married tonight, before he leaves town.”
Her knees buckled. Strong arms gripped her and held her upright.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you and honest, ma’am, I wouldn’t force you into a marriage if it weren’t necessary. I don’t know when the preacher will be back and I learned last week that the Jacobs, they’re the people who have been taking care of Ginny and the ranch for me, are moving to Wyoming in a few days. That means I need to move out onto the Lazy S. I’ll need you there, too, so you can look after Ginny.”
His hands were strong, comforting. She wanted to lean into his solid form, forget the horror she’d barely escaped.
“It wouldn’t be proper for you to live there without benefit of marriage,” he said.
She licked her lips. Thoughts whirled through her mind. There was much she needed to tell him. She fisted her hands on his shirtsleeves. “I need—”
“Ma’am, I know you must be worried about the marriage bed, but I won’t take advantage of you in that way.” His fingers gripped her. “I need you only to care for my house and my daughter. I’ll expect nothing more of you.”
Intimacy between a man and his wife had been the furthest thing from her mind, but he must have taken her hesitation for fear.
She should tell him everything, but if he refused to marry her, what would she do? If the preacher wasn’t coming back to town for months she’d be alone. No friends, no family. No one. She swallowed to wet her throat. “I’d be honored to marry you this evening.”
His fingers dug into her arms. Had he expected she’d refuse his offer? She forced down a hysterical laugh. She was frantic to stay in Salvation, to have a family, to not be alone in the world.
He nodded and dropped his hands. “Fine. I’ll make the arrangements. We can be wed in the hotel parlor. Will seven o’clock be good for you?”
That would be just enough time to bathe and ready her dress.
She nodded.

Now here’s a fun game I’ve played on my own blog. How well do you know your cowboy lingo? The words and definitions came out of a great book I’ve found, WESTERN WORDS: A Dictionary of the Old West by Ramon F. Adams. Just match the Numbers (words) to the Letters (definitions). Example: 15 X, 16 Y, 17, U

Calico
Fannin' on her fat
Meat in the pot
Chopper
Gut-robber
Sheep-dipper
Fill your hand
Salty rider
Oklahoma rain
Yack


A. A rifle
B. One with guts
C. Stupid person
D. Slapping a horses side with a hat
E. A rustler's contemptuous name for a loyal cowboy
F. A dust storm
G. A cook
H. A pinto horse or woman
I. Draw a gun
J. A cowboy who cuts out cattle

Anyone who leaves a comment today will be eligible for the drawing I’ll do for an e-copy of SALVATION BRIDE.

Learn more about me and my stories (SALVATION BRIDE, A COWBOY’S DREAM and THE PRICELESS GIFT) at http://www.aklanier.com/ or http://www.annaklanier.blogspot.com/.

Anna Kathryn Lanier
Where Tumbleweeds Hang Their Hats

Thanks, Anna! Readers, you have until midnight EST January 21 to comment to this post and enter to win Salvation Bride. I will announce the winner the following Tuesday, January 26th. Chances of winning depend on the number of entries and you must be 18 years or older to enter.

Only two more days to enter Marguerite Arotin's drawing for a Victoria's Secret Gift Card so scroll on down to enter that giveaway too if you haven't already...