Interview with Talon Carlson from the Circle Bar Ranch novels, Give the Lady a Ride and The Final Ride ... And a Giveaway!!!!

Today I am very excited to have visiting my blog author Linda Yezek’s male lead from her new novel The Final Ride. I have nothing against Linda—she’s a very good friend—but if I can interview a bull rider, even a fictional one, I’ll take the bull rider. Hey, I’ve got my own bull rider story coming out in January.

I first met Talon and Patricia in Linda's first book of the Circle Bar Ranch series, Give the Lady a Ride. In fact, I hear the clink of his spurs as he approaches my door right now. Be right back with my guest!

Talon Carlson is one busy man. He’s the foreman of the Circle Bar Ranch, the preacher at the local cowboy church, and a regionally famous bull rider. 

I’ve always been curious, Talon, why just regionally? Did you ever want to pay your dues and go professional, like the PBR (Professional Bull Riders)?

Talon: No, not really. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sport, but I love ranching more. Whatever arena is closest to home is the one I want to ride in.

Pam: Well, the PBR does mean a lot of travel on weekends. I imagine Patricia Talbert has something to do with that decision.

Talon: Let’s just say she reinforced it. I’ve always preferred staying closer to the ranch, she’s just the newest and best reason why.

Pam: So you’re okay with her wish that you stop riding entirely?

Talon: You had to bring that up, didn’t you? Making the promise to stop riding was a whole lot easier when my arm was broken and always itching in its cast. But now that it’s good again, I’m suffering from a different kind of itch.

Pam: The itch to ride?

Talon: ’Fraid so. You’ve got to understand, I’ve been riding since I was a kid. Giving it up cold turkey isn’t easy–especially since my last ride ended with me in the hospital.

Pam: How do you think Patricia is going to respond to this itch?

Talon: I don’t know. I just don’t know. Let’s move on to another question, okay?

Pam: Sorry, didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Let’s switch to a happier topic. Have you and Patricia set a wedding date?

Talon: Not yet. She wants to take it slow–much slower than Chance and Marie did. Those two fell in love when they first laid eyes on each other and weren’t so hesitant to do something about it. Pat’s not willing to move that fast.

Pam: I remember those two from the first book, Give the Lady a Ride. But you and Patricia have been together for a while now, haven’t you?

Talon: Yes, ma’am, almost a year now. But you know her background, how her late husband had been cheating on her the entire time they were married. She’s hesitant to take that step again.

Pam: And you’re willing to wait for her?

Talon: For as long as it takes. She’s worth it.

Pam: You know if you ride again, you risk losing her.

Talon (squirms in his seat): . . . Let’s move on.

Pam: Okay, then. Moving on. I hear you got to meet Patricia’s aunt Adele. How is that going?

Talon: Adele is . . . a challenge. She has ideas in her head about what’s right for Pat that don’t fit my ideas of what’s right for her. And she’s not too subtle about letting me and the rest of the hands on the ranch know how she feels about us.

Pam: Such as?

Talon: Well, her first night there, she came between us and our dinner. Now, you have to understand, we put in a hard day’s work, and the noon meal doesn’t always survive the afternoon heat and exertion. So when we can finally quit for supper, we’re just short of starved. But Adele made us shower and change into our fancy duds before we could come in for supper. Frank didn’t mind too much–I think he’s a little sweet on her–but Buster was fit to be tied. Somehow, between the time she refused to let us into the house to eat and the time we came back dressed in our Sunday bests, she managed to get Consuela, our ranch cook, mad. Her very first day on the Circle Bar, Adele managed to turn everything top-side down.

Pam: All that on her first day?

Talon: Yes, ma’am. All that and more. It was mighty eventful.

Pam: Well, I’m looking forward to reading about it in Linda’s newest Circle Bar Ranch release, The Final Ride. Thanks for stopping by, Talon. 

He tips his Stetson then ambles out and back to the Circle Bar and his chores.

P.S. Talon didn’t know it, but I already had a sneak peek at The Final Ride and it’s a wonderful story. So good I couldn't put it down. HERE'S THE BIG NEWS!!! 

I’m doing a giveaway of The Final Ride and you can have your name thrown into the Stetson by making a comment on this blog and tell us about a time you made a promise you wished you hadn’t and what did you do about it. 

If that hasn’t happened to you, no worries, just leave your name and I’ll toss it in with the rest. I'll draw the winner's name on Thursday, July 21, 2016.

MEET LINDA YEZAK:

Twenty-five years ago, after a decade of life as a "single-again," author Linda W. Yezak rediscovered God's love and forgiveness when He allowed her a second chance at marital happiness. She is now living her greatest romance with her husband in a forest in East Texas. After such an amazing blessing, she chooses to trumpet God's gift of second chances in the books she writes. Linda's novels are heart-warming hallmarks of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

You can find Linda at these places:

Facebook Fan Page:  http://dld.bz/LWYFacebookPage  

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/

Twitter: @LindaYezak

Amazon Page: http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage

Goodreads: http://dld.bz/dSPmg

777 Peppermint Place: http://lindayezak.com

Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda 

Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade -- One of My Top Picks for 2014!

I read Becky Wade’s novel, Meant to be Mine, earlier this summer and loved it, and when I had read the last page, I was sad I had to say goodbye to Celia and Ty, and adorable little Addie, Celia’s daughter.

I posted right away on Facebook how much I loved the book, and emailed the author saying the same. But before I could write an official review, life got in the way and I’m only now reviewing this wonderful book. If you like a romance that digs beneath the surface of its characters, involves a serious subject but also injects humor at just the right time, and includes a cowboy hero, then this book is for you.

Celia Park’s first crush was Ty Porter. That was in high school when she was shy and too afraid to make her feelings known to the hunk. Fast forward a few years to when the story begins. She’s on a getaway to Vegas with a girlfriend, and they learn that Ty is in town at a rodeo event. On a whim, they go to the arena and reconnect with him after the rodeo. Next thing she knows she’s out on the town with him and, before the night is over, they get hitched in a cheesy chapel. The next morning Celia is in shock at her new married status but already enjoying the returned feelings of attraction to Ty. Then reality hits her. Ty says it was a mistake. He doesn’t want to be married. He travels a lot and he has someone at home he plans to marry whenever he settles down.

To quote the back of the book blurb. “Five and half years pass. Celia’s buried her dreams so she can raise her daughter. Ty’s achieved all his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again in the eyes of the woman he couldn’t forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.” What is going on? She still uses his last name and this child couldn’t be his!

The next pages of the story are as wild as taking a spin on a rank bull.

As a rodeo fan and a person who never passes up an opportunity to attend a Professional Bull Rider event, I offered to read the book for a review. And I came away a new Becky Wade fan and wanting more of Ty and Celia’s story. Ms. Wade has a knack of making the reader love her characters, even one like Celia and her stubborn ways. And to give her an endearing little girl like Addie who will charm any reader’s heart into loving children, even if they don’t.

There’s plenty of rodeo scenes to please the cowboy and rodeo enthusiasts, but there is also romance and a dose of women’s fiction as well. I highly recommend this book.

About the Author:

Becky makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband, three children, and one adoring (and adored) cavalier spaniel. Her CBA debut, My Stubborn Heart, was a finalist in both the RITA and INSPY awards.  Undeniably Yours kicked off her Texas-set Porter Family series.  Her newest contemporary romance, Meant to Be Mine, has just hit shelves!

I was given a complementary copy of this book by the publisher for purposes of review. All opinions are my own.