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Melissa's Musings

D'Ann Lindun Stops By to Talk about Cowboys....

12/3/2013

 
I love D'Ann's books. I'm putting that out there first. Yep, I have a fangirl crush! Her cowboys are men who know how to work hard and love fiercely. They are stand-up guys who protect their families and deeply love the women in their lives. She's stopping by my blog today to share her thoughts on cowboys and the hard work they do with the calves and herd. She's also going to share one of her wonderful books. I've written reviews for a few of them as well. You can check out my reviews here on Goodreads:


Now...grab a seat... here's D'Ann.
A few years ago, my dad was the cowboss on a large cattle ranch. I loved to tag along with him. There’s nothing about being around cattle that I don’t love. Okay, I don’t love branding. There. I admitted it. I’m a softie and I don’t like hurting the calves. I love baby bovines. Their soft hair, their big brown eyes. The way they buck and play and kick up their heels tickles me. They’re not pets. I understand that, but they are, to use my daughter’s favorite word, adorable. 
Picture

In A Cowboy To Keep, Cody is a World Champion bull rider, but he’s not been around calves much.

Excerpt: As they began to cross the field, Justin pointed. One of the heifers had calved during the night. He drove up close to her, and they saw the baby calf lying in the snow, shivering.

“He needs to get to the barn to get warmed up,” Justin said. “I’ll hand him up to you. His mama should follow if we drive slow.”

Cody took the shaking calf in his arms and cradled it against his chest as Justin turned the tractor around. The mother cow didn’t take her eyes off her baby and willingly followed them as Justin drove into the barn. Waiting until he stopped, Cody stepped off the trailer.

“Where do you want him?”

Justin pointed to an empty box stall. “There. I’ll fork the mama some hay if you’ll put baby inside.”

Cody did as instructed and moved out of the way when the Angus heifer came into the stall. He watched as she nuzzled her baby, checking him over, but she lost interest when she found the fragrant alfalfa Justin tossed into the manger. The calf continued to shiver in the corner.

“We need to warm him up or he’s not going to make it,” Justin said. He darted into the tack room at the end of the barn, returning in a minute with a few burlap bags. He slid the latch back. “If you’ll hold up the calf, I’ll rub him down.”

Cody nodded. He lifted the baby to his feet, steadying him as Justin vigorously rubbed its little body with the gunny sack. Cody’s arms ached just watching but, gradually, the little animal ceased shaking.

Justin dropped the sack on the floor. “I think he’s warm now. He needs something to eat.”

Taking the calf from Cody, the boy guided the animal to his mother’s flank and showed him where to nurse. No slow learner, the calf went right to work on his first meal.

Cody marveled at Justin’s ability. He didn’t make a show out of it but just did what needed done. This was probably the thousandth time he’d taken care of a newborn calf but, to Cody, Justin had done an impressive job. He said as much.

Blurb:  After Laney Ellis’ husband is killed by a bull, she is left to run their small cattle ranch and raise their son, Justin, on her own. Despite some of Laney’s worst fears, the dream Justin holds dearest is to be exactly like his dad, a champion bull rider. He finds his chance when world champion bull rider Cody Utah moves in next door.

Although attraction between Cody and Laney flares, neither act upon it. Laney refuses to get her family involved with another bull rider, and Cody has heard rumors Laney trapped Wyatt, her late husband, into a high school marriage by getting pregnant.The last thing Cody wants is children.

At a rodeo, Justin is thrown and knocked unconscious. As Justin lays in the hospital, Cody begs Laney to forgive him. He realizes he loves her enough to discourage Justin from the sport. Will Laney let Cody into their lives? Will Justin ride again?

Buy: http://tinyurl.com/mj5e6y5


Picture
Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to her because there's just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. 

D’Ann's particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because she draws inspiration from the area where she lives, Western Colorado, her husband of twenty-nine years and their daughter. Composites of their small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, two ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories!

I love to hear from readers! Please contact me at

[email protected]
http://dlindunauthor.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/DLindunAuthor
http://www.amazon.com/DAnn-Lindun/e/B008DKL9TU



Andrea link
12/3/2013 12:15:05 pm

Sounds like a great read. Tweeted :)

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:17:43 am

Thanks so much!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:26:48 am

Thanks for stopping by Andrea!

Dorothy Thompson link
12/3/2013 12:22:20 pm

Boy that's a title that just ooozes cowboy romance!

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:19:06 am

Thanks!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:27:22 am

It's a hot one! Who doesn't want a big hot cowboy!!

Karen Lopp
12/3/2013 02:30:10 pm

Hey D'Ann love your books. Can't wait to get this one.

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:19:55 am

Thank you!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:27:56 am

Thank you Karen. It is a part of a series! You will eat them up!

Gemma Juliana link
12/3/2013 04:18:58 pm

Your book sounds wonderful, D'Ann! Wishing you many sales!

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:21:00 am

Thanks, Gemma!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:28:16 am

Thanks for visiting Gemma!

Sandy link
12/4/2013 12:55:10 am

D'Ann, I grew up reading cowboy stories, and this one sounds as great and even better than the ones I read because they have romance. Smile!

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:22:02 am

Thanks, Sandy!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:29:03 am

Romance with a man who loves to take care of you....wow!!

Jennifer Kamptner link
12/4/2013 03:08:51 am

I think I would hate branding too! But I love your books!!

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:23:57 am

Thanks, Jenn!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:29:57 am

I know Jennifer. I wanted to be a vet but hurting the pets was too hard.

Ella Quinn
12/4/2013 03:43:32 am

Great post!! I tweeted.

D;Ann
12/4/2013 11:25:07 am

Thanks, Ella!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:30:36 am

Thank you Ella!

Kristina Knight link
12/4/2013 05:09:43 am

I think this is my favorite D'Ann story - and I love cowboys, too! Fun post!

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:26:48 am

Thanks, Kristi!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:31:17 am

Kristina...they are all so good. I don't know if I have a favorite yet!

Andrea link
12/4/2013 06:26:18 am

Tweeted

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:27:55 am

Thanks, Andrea!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:32:22 am

Thanks Andrea!

Jacqueline Seewald
12/4/2013 06:31:41 am

Good excerpt! Congrats on the new novel.

D'Ann
12/4/2013 11:29:01 am

Thanks, Jacqueline!

Melissa Keir
12/4/2013 11:33:08 am

All the Black Mountain Cowboys are hot!

D'Ann
12/4/2013 01:24:49 pm

Thanks so much, Melissa!

Sophia Ryan link
12/4/2013 12:15:27 pm

I like how in the excerpt you've made Justin the one who's knowledgable and Cody the one helping. So often the kid is there to illustrate the hero's knowledge and abilities. Justin seems like a great cowboy-in-training. I haven't read A Cowboy To Keep yet, so you may already have set something up in the book, but have you thought about writing a young adult novel with Justin as the hero? Love your work, D'Ann!

Sophia Ryan / She Likes It Irish

D'Ann
12/4/2013 01:26:15 pm

Thanks, Sophia! No, I have not ever considered making a YA book...hmmm....

Melissa Keir
12/5/2013 11:57:02 am

That would also be good to see Justin as an adult, in a second series of The Cowboys of Black Mountain!

Marianne Stephens
12/4/2013 01:45:08 pm

There's something about a cowboy that sets sparks flying!
Reading about how gentle and concerned he was about the calf is endearing. How could you not fall in love with the hero?
Nice excerpt.

D'Ann
12/4/2013 01:50:46 pm

Thanks, Marianne!

Melissa Keir
12/5/2013 11:58:11 am

I agree Marianne. There's something hot about cowboys!

Ana Morgan link
12/5/2013 12:07:42 am

I love baby calves, too. So soft and doe-eyed. Pulled my fair share when their mamas had trouble calving. Fascinating how fast their hooves go from opaque soft to hard beige--and then how soon they start to run races with their friends.

D'Ann
12/5/2013 06:58:13 am

Aren't they sweet, Ana?

Melissa Keir
12/5/2013 11:59:25 am

Awe Ana! I wish I had that experience!

Liza O'Connor link
12/5/2013 02:44:13 am

I never got to play with baby cows. Mama cows warned me off. Buffalo male protecting his herd warned me off too. Bovine seem to think I'm trouble. And when I road a horse for a week in Montana, he developed suicidal tendencies. The whole time we trekked up the side of the mountain, he kept looking over the edge..

That's why I adore D'Ann books. The welcome to come inside her world.

D'Ann
12/5/2013 06:59:04 am

Snort, Liza!

Liza O'Connor
12/5/2013 09:02:44 am

Truly, I can spell better than my comment suggests. It's just when I'm being funny half my brain shuts down.

Melissa Keir
12/5/2013 12:00:59 pm

Then it's a good thing that you are here to share your stories. I don't know if I'd trust another horse with that experience. I do love visiting D'Ann's life!


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