RABT: “Winter’s Embrace” by Kathleen Ball Book Tour/Giveaway (Ends 6/7) WW

By Ruth on May 27, 2014 in blog tour, book, giveaway, guest post, promo
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Western Romance
Published: April 29, 2014
Ten years ago Winter’s heart was broken beyond repair by Stone McCoy. Now she is a travel agent ready to lead an Alaskan Cruise and to her surprise Stone McCoy is on her tour.  A long ago phone call shattered her trust and her self-confidence. She never planned to see Stone again.
While at college, Stone McCoy woke up, after a fraternity party, to find a girl in his bed. Weeks later she told him she’s pregnant. Calling Winter to break things off was the worst night of his life. Now he’s hoping for a second chance at happiness.
The chemistry is electrifying but old issues lead these two on a merry chase. Can they put old hurts aside and begin again? Join Rancher Stone McCoy and Winter Gavin as they try to find happiness from Alaska to Texas and finally on his Montana Ranch.
Ten years ago Rancher Stone McCoy broke Winter Gavin’s heart. Now he turns up hoping for another chance. Will one too many surprises shy Winter away?

EXCERPT

Snow, glistening snow, blinding snow, blizzard, or flurries; Winter didn’t care. It was still cold and in abundance. It’d been a long week since Christmas and Stone hadn’t given her one kind word. He acted as though he was mad at the world and every time she tried to talk to him, he’d invent a reason why it wasn’t a good time to talk. Perhaps it was payback for her refusal to talk things out with him before Christmas. It hurt that he didn’t completely trust her with Rachael anymore, for whatever reason.
It was time to move into the foreman’s house, her house. It was for the best. All the tension between her and Stone wasn’t good for Rachael and maybe it would improve his disposition.
Reluctantly she turned away from the window when she heard Stone clear his throat. Why did he still have to be so damn sexy? “I was just about to pack.”
“Where is Rachael?” Stone stared at her intently, making her uncomfortable.
“Building a snowman with Crabby. You do know he’s anything but crabby don’t you?”
Stone gave her a boyish grin. “That’s the fun of it. Besides he likes his name.”
“I’ll go out and help them. I wasn’t sure if she was allowed to be alone with Crabby, but he insisted that it was fine. I should have asked you but—”
“It’s fine, Winter.” He walked toward her slowly, leaving her nowhere to run.
“All the same, I think—”
“That’s the problem. You think too much. I want you to smile, and I want to see your beautiful eyes light up when you see me. You don’t do that anymore.”
“What? You hardly have time to say hello to me. Why should I smile at you? I don’t understand why you would say it’s fine. Nothing is fine around here. You don’t trust me with Rachael—”
“I’m sorry about that whole conversation. I was in a mood and I didn’t mean it.”
“Well, thank you for that.”
He reached for her hand. “That’s it? The coldness in your voice surprises me. You know I love you.”
Pulling her hand away, she shook her head. “My coldness surprises you? You haven’t talked to me in a week and I don’t know what to think.”
“You’re just running away from me, from us. How can you not know that I love you?”
Her jaw dropped and she instantly closed it. “Love isn’t just words, it’s actions, too. If you’ll excuse me I want to make sure Rachael is warm enough.”
Stone frowned as she scooted around him.
She didn’t know what to say. Thinking too much? He wasn’t trying to understand her at all. She started to put on her boots when the door opened, letting in a blast of winter cold. There stood Rachael, her cheeks apple red and her clothes caked with snow.
“Oh my, did Crabby make you into a snowman?”
“The bad snow did this.” Rachael laughed.
“Here, let me help you.” Winter closed the door and started with Rachael’s snow stiffened hat. It took a while as she worked her way downward until finally Rachael’s frozen socks were off. She ushered her daughter toward the fireplace.
“Sit here and I’ll make you some hot chocolate.”
Rachael sat in the big chair by the fireplace and smiled when Winter put a quilt over her. “I like hot chocolate and pie.”
“Me too, with pie.” Stone grinned at the two of them.
“Well I guess I can make some for you too.” Winter walked toward the kitchen. Damn her traitorous heart. She longed for that man, but every time she saw him was one more lash against her heart. A reluctant apology and declaration of love didn’t erase his behavior toward her all week. Trust wasn’t just telling the truth, it was being able to know that every argument wasn’t Armageddon.
She searched the cabinets and couldn’t find the hot chocolate. “I don’t see the mix for the hot cocoa.”
Rachael rolled her eyes and laughed. “You scratch it with milk.”
“Here, let me help you.” Stone stood at her side before she had a chance to respond. He reached around her, trapping her against the counter. He gave her a long look, swooped down, and kissed her.
Winter tried to jump back but there was no place for her to go. He smelled of leather and pine. He smelled of horses and pure, white snow. His full lips looked inviting and before she knew it, she had her tongue in his mouth, exploring it, and enjoying it too much. Pushing against his chest, she broke the kiss.
Her body trembled and when she looked up at him, he gave her a sexy, knowing smile. Her body betrayed her and she knew the sooner she got out of this house the better. Most of all she needed to get a hold of herself.
Stone stepped back a bit, though not far enough and she could feel his heat wash over her, but she tried to pretend he had no effect. “How…how do you make it? Milk of course but what else?”
Watching, she tried to concentrate on what Stone was teaching her, but she couldn’t focus. The tingling of her body put her on high alert.
“I’m going to move into the other house today.”
Stone stopped stirring the milk. He frowned and opened his mouth as if to say something. Instead, he closed it and shrugged. He poured the hot chocolate into mugs and left hers on the counter.
Regret flowed through her as she watched Rachael and Stone laugh together. She’d still be within shouting distance if Rachael needed her, she reasoned. It was for the best wasn’t it?
“Mama, do you like Daddy’s choc-o-late?”
Winter nodded and grabbed her mug. She walked over to them and sat on the couch. It would have been easy to pretend they were a family, but it wasn’t true.
Kathleen Ball

Sexy Cowboys and the women that love them…Finalist in the 2012 RONE Awards. Top pick, 5 star series from the Romance Review. Kathleen Ball writes contemporary western romance with great emotion and memorable characters. Her books are award winners and have appeared on best sellers lists including Amazon’s Best Sellers List. There’s something about a cowboy.

Dawson Ranch Series— Alice’s Story, Texas Haven, Ryelee’s Cowboy

Lasso Springs Series- – Callie’s Heart, Lone Star Joy and Stetson’s Storm

Cowboy Season’s Series — Summer’s Desire, Autumn’s Hope, Winter’s Embrace

Website: www.kathleenballromance.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathleen-Ball-Western-Romance/121300767916947

Twitter:@kballauthor

Blog: www.kathleenballromance/apps/blog

Practical Advice for Beginning Fiction Writers

(Guest post by the author)

Know the rules of your genre especially point of view rules. Some Genres are better in first person- romance is generally written in the third person. Also big issues are head hopping and telling vs showing. They are big buzzwords with publishers, and they can be make or break problems. There is a ton of info on the internet about both.

Start you network as soon as possible. I noticed a few publishers asking about your website and marketing plan along with your submission. Your website, facebook, goodreads, and twitter are your marketing plan. Make accounts and start following people, friending people, retweeting tweets. This is a long process so take it slow. I had to retweet for a year before someone retweeted me. You will also want to create an author/fan page on Facebook. One thing to remember is quality is better than quantity- you want the people in your network to actually like your genre, or have an interest in you. Otherwise, your posts, tweets etc. go to empty air and won’t be read. Facebook is only sharing your posts to 7-10% of your followers. Make the followers count.

Surround yourself with other authors at your level. People you can exchange information and ideas. These will be the people you will need to share your posts, exchange blog posts with and will be there when that first bad review comes in.

You have to give to receive in the author world and you have to work hard. There are no short cuts. Do not like a page and insist the page owner like you back. Do not expect others to answer all your questions. Do your research and share what you find with other aspiring authors. Please don’t ask authors to read, edit or get you published. The author community can be very small and word gets around. Authors have worked for years to gain every like, friend and follower. It takes patience so start early.
If you have questions about a publisher please ask any author before signing anything. There are too many places willing to take advantage of your desire to be published. You do not pay to be published. These are vanity publishers and in many cases, they will take your payment, never edit your book and put it on amazon for a higher price than other books. Publishers and Self-published authors can reach the same distributors, the vanity presses claim they can get your book to, for free.
Please do your research once signed they have the rights to your book and no one can help you. So, build your network, make friends with other aspiring authors and do your research. You’ll get there and the feeling of accomplishment is wonderful.

 

BUY LINKS
Amazon – http://amzn.com/B00JZXK60M
My review will be up soon, but until that time, be sure to enter the giveaway below via the rafflecopter.

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About the Author

RuthView all posts by Ruth
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka Ruth is an inspirational entertainment journalist who instinctively sees the best in all and seeks to share universal beauty, love and positivity. She is an artist who leads with her heart and gives readers a glimpse of the best of this world through the masterful use of the written word. Ruth was born in Tacoma, Washington but now calls Yelm, Washington her home. She lives on five acres with her parents, a dog, two miniature goats, cats and a teenage daughter who is a dynamic visual artist herself. Ruth interviews fellow artists both inside and outside of the film/television industry. At the core of all she does is the strength of her faith.
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9 Comments

  1. Sky Evans June 7, 2014 Reply

    The pretty cover and name are most intriguing to me! Love it.

  2. kathleen ball May 30, 2014 Reply

    Thank you so much for hosting me

  4. Filia Oktarina May 29, 2014 Reply

    The stories!! Love the excerpt, thanks for sharing 🙂

  6. Anita Yancey May 27, 2014 Reply

    I loved the excerpt. Thanks for having the giveaway.

  8. Angie D May 27, 2014 Reply

    The excerpt intrigues me about this book!!

  9. Mary G Loki May 27, 2014 Reply

    Honestly I loved that the setting is in Texas! 😀 I have only read a couple of books staged here!

  10. Lisa Ehrman May 27, 2014 Reply

    A love story always intrigues me, so this one sounds very good.
    Lisa Ehrman recently posted…Content To DownsizeMy Profile

  11. Sarah Elyce May 27, 2014 Reply

    Being pregnant, I would say the pregnancy. LoL

  12. Rita Wray May 27, 2014 Reply

    I enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.

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