Monday, May 11, 2015

Character Interview & Giveaway - Twice a Texas Bride (Bachelors of Battle Creek, Book 2) by Linda Broday

Twice a Texas Bride
Bachelors of Battle Creek, Book 2

By Linda Broday 

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Historical Western Romance

May 5, 2015

ISBN: 9781492602842

$7.99 Mass Market Paperback

 

About the Book: 

“Linda Broday’s books always take me back to a west that feels true. Her love stories run deep with emotion. A delightful read.” —Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Promise Me Texas
 

Callie leaned into him, borrowing his strength. “I’m so tired of being scared, Rand.”

“Running away won’t change that. Trust me with your secrets. There’s no reason to hold back any longer.”

She knew he was right. It was time to come clean.

“Start with your name,” he said.
 

Left with emotional scars from his time in an orphanage, Rand Sinclair has vowed never to marry. But when he discovers Callie Quinn and a small orphan boy hiding on his ranch, he can’t help but open his home to the desperate runaways. 

Callie has been betrayed by every man she’s ever known. While she’s grateful for Rand’s incredible kindness, she knows it’s only a matter of time before he shows his true colors. But she needs this safe haven—maybe the outlaw on her trail won’t find them here. Yet as Rand slowly uncovers her secret fears, they each come to realize that the only way to keep her safe is for Rand to risk everything to offer her the protection of his name…and his heart.

 

Where to Buy:

TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE (Book 1)
 
TWICE A TEXAS BRIDE (Book 2)

 


Excerpt: 

Toby barreled out the kitchen door, trailed by Biscuit. “What’cha doin’?”

“Hi, pardner.” Brett ruffled Toby’s dark hair. “I brought you something.”

“What is it?”

“Your very own tepee.”

“To keep?” Toby’s eyes widened and his big grin spread.

“Maybe. We’ll see how it goes. If you mind your elders, you can keep it. If not, I’ll have to take it back.”

“I’m the best boy in the whole world.”

Brett’s grunt seemed to say that time would tell as he arranged twelve long poles on the ground and began tying the tops of three together with a length of rawhide. “Where do you want to put this, Rand?”

“Let’s move it over by the woodpile, where it’s out of the way.” He was going to be the only white man with an Indian tepee on his ranch. How had this sorry state of affairs come to pass? But he wouldn’t say no. It meant too much to Brett and to Toby.

Callie came from the house looking fit to be tied. “Hello, Brett. I hope this isn’t what it looks like.”

“Miss Callie, I wanted something special for Toby to play in, that’s all. If you draw the line at him sleeping out here, that’s all right. It’s up to you to decide when and how often you want the boy to use it.” Brett gave her a smile. “I’d never undermine you.”

“This could be very magical to a child,” Rand said gently.

“Please, ma’am?” Toby begged. “I wanna be an Indian.”

Biscuit gave a loud whine and spun around in a circle as though she too was adding her two cents’ worth.

“Please?” Toby persisted.

When she lifted her eyes to Rand, he gave her a lopsided grin and a wink. Getting tangled up in her warm whiskey gaze could be quite pleasurable, he found.

“Oh, all right.” Callie threw up her hands. “But I won’t have you sleeping out here, young man. You’ll play in it only when I give you permission. And you’ll have chores to do each day before you can play. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“It’s too dangerous out here at night anyway, with that mountain lion hanging around,” Rand said. “I’ll keep an eye on him during the day. I don’t want you to worry.”

Toby hugged Callie, then threw his arms around Brett’s waist. “Thank you. I’m glad we came here.”

Brett returned Toby’s hug, then knelt to rub Biscuit’s head. “Now tell me where you got such a fine-looking animal.”

Rand stood watching the pint-sized squirt relay what little facts he knew. He already loved this little kid. Whatever had happened to them, it made him happy that he could help bring a light to the boy’s eyes. He remembered how dull they’d been when he’d first found them in the run-down bunkhouse last week. His mind turned back time to the days following his, Cooper’s, and Brett’s escape from the orphan train. To avoid detection, they’d slept during the day and traveled by the light of the moon, eating food whenever they found some or managed to kill a rabbit or squirrel. Cooper was always the one to watch over them and fight when things called for it. He’d once tried to kill Tolbert Early in a bathhouse for attacking Brett.

Toby had that same protective instinct. Rand only prayed he could help the boy stay a boy a while longer. Once you became a man, you could never go back.

“Where are you, brother?” Brett asked.

“Just thinking that you’d best explain what we need to do.”

With Biscuit supervising and pretty much getting in the way, they all pitched in erecting the tepee, which was made from buffalo hide.

Working side by side with Callie proved the best part. Each time their hands touched, a current ran up Rand’s arm. He couldn’t imagine what might happen if the touching involved a bed and the scent of night around them. He’d probably just explode faster than a load of nitroglycerin. Likely find pieces of him three states over.

The haunted look had begun to fade from her eyes a little, and she wasn’t as tense and anxious as when they first arrived.

Maybe, just maybe, the fear would be gone soon.

And then he intended to kiss the daylights out of her.

Of course he’d go slow. He closed his eyes and watched it play out in his head.

He’d start by kissing each eyelid, then move to her shell-like ears and trail kisses down her long slender throat.

Tiny nibbles at the corners of her mouth.

Trace the seam with his tongue.

Breathe her fragrance.

Whisper tender words.

Only then would he press his lips fully against hers and take all that she wanted to give.

And then…

“Rand!”

It took a minute to sink in that someone was trying to get his attention. “What?”

“Where did you go?” Brett asked. “I need you to help me get these sewn buffalo hides around this tripod and cone I’ve made. Of course, if you’d rather take a nap—”

“Just show me what to do,” Rand snapped.

As they worked, Rand’s gaze kept straying to Callie’s soft, round curves. The woman was going to be the death of him yet.

Even so, he was realizing he’d die a happy man if he could only get a taste of her lips.
 

**************
 
An Interview with one of the Bachelors of Battle Creek!
 
Howdy, ma’am. I’m Rand Sinclair the middle brother in the Bachelors of Battle Creek series – Twice a Texas Bride. 
Booklover Sue: Complete the sentence: Not many people know it, but I’m really good at _____. 
I’m really good at changing diapers. I have this three-month-old adopted daughter named Wren. Prettiest baby you ever saw. Callie and I took her in after her parents died. I love everything about being a father—even changing smelly diapers. I just take care of it. I have to admit that first time was rough. Wren was kicking and screaming and smeared that stuff from one to the other. I started gagging and came near to throwing up. Now, I’m an old hand at it.
 
Booklover Sue: What is the best gift you’ve ever received? 
That would be the first time I heard Toby, a six-year-old that Callie and I also adopted, call me Papa. That little boy sure made me proud. I never thought I’d be a father. I’d closed my heart to the notion. But Toby knocked down the door and stormed past the barriers anyway. He’s my son in every way that matters.
 
Booklover Sue: What is the oddest location you’ve shared a kiss? 
It was in a tepee that my brother Brett set up on my ranch for little Toby to play in. The kiss happened right after we got back from town where Callie ran into the outlaw Nate Fleming. Lord, she was scared that he’d found her. She told me she was going to get her things and run. My heart broke right in two. With the rain beating against the tepee, I took Callie in my arms and gave her a kiss that I made sure she’d never forget. It was like standing in the middle of lightning storm. I never felt more alive or surer of my love for her.


**************

About the Author:

Linda Broday now resides in the panhandle of Texas on the Llano Estacado. At a young age, she discovered a love for storytelling, history, and anything pertaining to the Old West. Cowboys fascinate her. There’s something about Stetsons, boots, and tall rugged cowboys that get her fired up! A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Linda has won many awards, including the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award and the Texas Gold Award. She blogs regularly at www.PetticoatsandPistols.com 

Connect with Linda Broday:

Website – www.LindaBroday.com




 

Praise for Linda Broday:

“Broday understands the West and its lure. Without stinting on the gritty reality of a rough Texas life, she brings strong characters and deep emotions into a very realistic western romance that pulls no punches.”—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars, on Redemption

“Linda Broday is a wonderfully talented author, who has a knack for bringing the west to life.”—Roundtable Reviews

“Broday’s style of storytelling is captivating; readers become emotionally involved in her stories, and are not disappointed with the outcomes.”—The Best Reviews

“A compelling tale... sure to touch western romance fans seeking a sentimental love story.”—RT Book Reviews, 3 stars, on The Cowboy Who Came Calling
 
 
Rafflecopter Giveaway:
3 copies of TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE (Book 1)
Open 4/27 – 6/1

2 comments:

  1. Hi Booklover Sue! Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to share my book with readers. Rand Sinclair and Callie Quinn were such wounded characters. I knew when I wrote Rand into the first book of this series that he would have a powerful story to tell. I just didn't know how fiercely he'd fight for the woman who stole his heart. He risked everything for her. I love these two book people who are so real to me. Their love story came from deep in my heart. Sometimes during the writing of it I ached so strongly for them that I broke down in sobs. It's truly a special one to me. I hope readers like it and will look for the final one of this series in December.

    Thanks again for having me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This looks great. A cowboy who can change diapers? YES!I 'm getting in on this contest.

    ReplyDelete