Hello to everyone at Petticoats and Pistols! Thank you so much for inviting me to stop by to talk about my new book, Luckiest Cowboy of All, coming out next Tuesday.
This book has gotten rave reviews at both Publisher’s Weekly and RT Reviews and from my amazing readers on Goodreads. To say I’m excited about it would be an understatement.
The Luckiest Cowboy of All is the third and final book in the Happy, Texas trilogy, following Toughest Cowboy in Texas and Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas. Although it’s part of a series, it’s a stand alone book that can be read without reading the first two.
AND—I love that word because it means there’s more to come—this is a two-for-one book. After you read Luckiest Cowboy of All, you are only half finished with the book. My good friend, Sara Richardson’s book Hometown Cowboy, is included. It’s Jessa Mae and Lance Cortez’s story. She’s a small town veterinarian and he’s a big-time rodeo star.
Voices in my head….
Jace Dawson has waited patiently for his turn to tell me his story, and I loved having him sitting behind me in the recliner telling me all about his life while I wrote it. I have a plaque on the wall of my office that reads: I know the voices in my head are not real but they have really great ideas.
That saying became very real during the time I was privileged to spend with Jace. He’d fallen in love with Carlene back when they were in high school and had even entertained notions that someday they might be together forever. But after graduation her father got transferred and she went with him. She’d promised to keep in touch but she hadn’t and her old aunt, who still lived in Happy, wouldn’t give him a bit of information.
Now it’s almost a decade later and Carlene has taken a teaching job back in Happy at the elementary school. One look at her daughter and Jace knows immediately that the child is his and he’s pretty angry that Carlene didn’t even tell him that she was pregnant.
Secret Baby/Second Chance
The secret baby/second chance trope has been done so often that I knew when I started writing this story; it had to touch my readers emotions to keep their attention. I hope I’ve done that and that they travel with Jace through his battle with giving up his bachelorhood and doing what his heart is telling him. And that they experience Carlene’s reluctance in listening to her heart—when she fears that Jace is only doing “the right thing” in wanting a relationship with her. How could he love her after she deceived him?
Secondary Story Threads
There’s a secondary story thread that began in Toughest Cowboy in Texas and continued through Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas. It’s about the Dawsons’ grandmother, Hope, and a past love from her youth. It wraps up in Jace and Carlene’s story as this trilogy comes to an end.
I hope that when you finish Sara and my stories that you sigh and wish for more! If so, don’t put your reading glasses away and keep your cowboy boots close by because there are more cowboys on the way. Cowboy Bold debuts the first book in the Longhorn Canyon series in May. Cowboy Honor, the second book, will arrive in September and then Cowboy Brave will finish the series in January of 2019.
GIVEAWAY!
I’ll give away a signed copy of Luckiest Cowboy in Texas to one person who comments on today’s post. Tell me, what makes you go from merely taking a look at a book to putting it in your cart to take home? Cover? Back blurb? Those first few sentences on page one?
Carolyn Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a RITA finalist. The author of more than eighty published books, she’s also the three-time recipient of the National Reader’s Choice Award, a Bookseller’s Best Award, and a Montlake Diamond Award. Carolyn and her husband live in the small town of Davis, Oklahoma, where everyone knows everyone else, as well as what they’re doing and when—and they read the local newspaper on Wednesday to see who got caught. They have three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. When she’s not writing, Carolyn likes to sit in her gorgeous backyard with her two tomcats, Chester Fat Boy and Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw, and watch them protect the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, locusts, and spiders. Visit her at http://www.carolynbrownbooks.com.
Good Morning Carolyn, well naturally the cover will grab me and that will lead to picking the book up to skim the blurb. My cousin, Jerri Lynn Hill, praises your books and just recently told me about your wonderful writing. I have to give you a try. She said many of your books are set down close to where I grew up. In Stephenville, TX and you have some books set in Mingus, I’ve graced that town all of my life until in moved to Kansas. Your book sounds wonderful, I’m very curious and excited to give you a try. Have a great Friday!! Thank for the opportunity for a chance to win a book.
Good mornin’ to a fellow, Texan!
I was born in Texas and then Mama moved us across the Red River to Oklahoma. But my heart is still in that great state and I call it home. Tell Jerri Lynn thank you for reading my books!
Hello, Tonya! Thanks for stopping by and please tell Jerri Lynn thank you for reading and recommending my books. All of my books in the past decade have been set in Texas. I love the “big” feel of the state, and it’s my home state. It’s easy to write about where the heart loves to go!
Hugs, Carolyn
As you can see I’ve had a glitch in my computer this morning. It wouldn’t post and now it’s flooding the market! Oh, well, this time it’s “more is better” than “less is better”! LOL
You’re a hoot, Miss Carolyn! More of you is always better. 🙂
I pre-ordered your next great book. Yes I love your books. Tonya and I visit often. Linda Broday has become a dear friend. Love the cowboys.
The back blurb always clinches it for me. The cover or the author will have me picking it up.
Honestly I just started reading again a little over a year ago after not reading for decades so the majority of the books I’ve read I have been given, came highly recommended by a reader that we have the same taste or I won in one of these giveaways. I hear that some of the books are set in the Stephenville and Mingus Texas area so that alone has my attention. When I have been somewhere looking at books the cover is firs. When there is books, books everywhere my MS brain can’t grasp much so that cover has to jump out at me. Go to authors names grab my attention too so I’d love the opportunity to add you to my go to author list. Being a Texan is huge on my list so if the first few sentences let’s me know it’s about a cowboy and a ranch in Texas it’s just gained even more of my attention. The keeper is letting me know there’s a mystery or a murder in the story to try to solve before the conclusion let’s us know what happened and by who. As you can now tell Tonya Lucas and I are friends from Stephenville!
Tonya, Writing about Texas is a pure joy. I was born in that state and my soul is at peace when I’m there. It doesn’t matter which part of the state I’m in or writing about, I feel like I’ve gone home.
Debra, thank you for stopping by and commenting. I was so happy with the cover for Luckiest Cowboy of All that I actually squealed when I saw it the first time.
Stephanie, Hello from a fellow Texan. I love writing about Texas. Even if my book is set in a fake town like Burnt Boot, I usually have towns nearby that my readers can relate to!
Good morning I think several things make me want to read a book first and foremost is the author if I have read other books by that author and loved them I will read the next book. I also take into consideration recommendations from my friends as well as comments from other people. The cover doesn’t always come into play as much as the book blurb does but if the cover is eye catching I will stop and take a look. I love cowboy romance, historical romance, time travel as well as other mystery romance so those books usually call my name. I love reading books that have a slight mystery that makes you think about what the characters will do next but not enough to drive me crazy.
Good mornin’ Jenny! Thanks for your comments. This series has just a touch of “what’s going to happen next with Hope and Henry” so there is that little touch of mystery!
Good morning Carolyn. The first thing I look at in a book is the author. I haven’t been an avid ready since high school but ill tell u this much: your books got me through this last pregnancy. I always get excited when i see your books coming out.
Oh, Kylie, your comment just flat out made my day. If reading my books helps someone in any way then I feel like I’m a success!
I usually buy because I like the author.
Estella, we do tend to have our “go to” authors, don’t we! LaVyrle Spenser was that for me until she retired. I couldn’t wait until her book came out every spring.
Good mornin’. What a nice surprise to find so many of you have already joined this party. Glad to hear that you like to read books set in Texas! It’s my birth state and I love spending time there researching!
Good Morning, I cam looking forward to the Jace and Carlene saga.. Your books are a delight and I always find the characters strong and they find a way into your heart. I was introduced to Kari Lynn Dell by you and look forward to Sara Richardson. Thanks you for many hours of reading enjoyment.
Sarah, I’m so honored to have Sara Richardson’s book as an extra feature in Luckiest Cowboy of All. She is such a sweet person as well as an awesome author!
I read back cover, look at picture but also who wrote it. Love current western stories. Have learned about cows and ranching! I wish those little town were real. I already have it pre ordered but this is what I look for in a book. Like book series too.
Thank you, Gwen! I’ve been writing cowboy romance for nine years and I still love having cowboys, sassy women and ranchin’ life in my head! Thank you so much for pre-ordering the book.
I have already read the first two books in the happy Texas series, toughest cowboy in Texas, and a long tall Cowboy Christmas. I cannot wait for the newest book keep them coming. Since I have retired I find myself reading more and more books. Thank you again.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for reading the first two books in the series! In this final one you get a little more of Hope and Henry’s story, too!
I am so excited to read this book! Although Jace and Carlene’s story is going to be amazing, I am really excited to see how Hope’s ends. To answer your question, first thing that helps me choose a book would be because I am looking for it is from my favorite authors. If I want to try something new, the cover usually draws me in. Anything with a hunky cowboy on the front usually gets my attention. However, it is the blurb on the back that really makes me buy a book. If it promises a love story and a little humor, its probably going in the cart. I can’t wait to read this book and Sara’s is just icing on the cake!
Shay, Hope and Henry flat out stole my heart with their story through this series. It was amazing how the found their second chance as well as the other characters, proving that love knows no age!
I admit, I am a sucker for a good cover. That will get me to pick up a book and look at the blurb. The blurb will be what makes me decide if the book is one I want to read.
Janine, I’ve always thought that the blurb had to be strong and live up to its promise. But I have to admit, I’m a sucker for a good cover, too!
Carolyn, I have a “secret baby” story too. My heroine gets pregnant by the hero, who leaves because he has a price on his head. She doesn’t tell him, but marries his best friend to save her the shame, and grows to love the friend. But the baby dies, the first husband dies, and she finds herself impoverished and alone on the Oregon Trail, with guess who as the wagon master’s scout? Secret baby stories are cool because they lead to second chances. They can be emotionally wrenching, but are so good for the reader AND the author.
Thanks for the post.
Kathy Bailey
Kathy, your story sounds amazing! May the sales soar!
Not published yet, but I hope they soar when it is. Thank you, Carolyn.
cover always gets my attention, then the back blurb. LOVE ALL of Mz Carolyn’s Books and been reading them for many years – always buy a paperback so I have it!
Hello Teresa! Glad to see you’re here. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such an awesome fan!
I always love your cowboys!! Thanks for another great ono!
Kate, thanks goes to you for reading my books!
Good morning, Carolyn…..Thank you so much for coming to chat cowboys with us. I swear, lady, I think you get the best covers and the hunkiest men I’ve ever seen! I drool over them all. I have to love the cover before I buy any book. It has to grab me.
Thanks for brightening our day! You sure did that. 🙂 🙂
Good mornin’, Miz Linda! I love stopping by Petticoats & Pistols to talk to y’all. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for loving my covers as much as I do. My daughter says that they should have drool bibs attached to them! LOL
I totally agree with your daughter. And they all have their clothes on too! They don’t have to be half-naked to feel the heat. No, ma’am! 🙂
She right! Nothing like a sexy cowboy!
Love your two cat’s names… luv that they are duty bound home bodies !
Enjoy catching up when you guest visit Petticoats & Pistols and of course have a giveaway and an opportunity to get a book you are giving away … it makes it even more special !
Have a great day and month and a super 2018 ! hugs to your grandchildren.
A cover that gives off positive vibes for me … reflectives every totally oppositve to dark and negative, violent impressions. I love blue skies in particular. I also read the back cover and have to get the same positive vibes … the front cover and back synopsis should be linked and triggers my imagination of the image on the front cover. Love mention of small town life. Hope, happiness, should be suggested too…. which I believe the four books read does that for me.
Hello, Dixie! My Chester Fat Boy passed away a couple of weeks ago and now the only one that we have is a very spoiled Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw!
I love writing about small towns. They have a heartbeat and pulse all of their own and it appeals so much to me–maybe because I’ve lived in small towns my whole life and they are home to me.
Definitely the cover! It has to catch my eye for me to pick it up and read the first page or the back cover!
Hello, Miz Kim! Glad to see you hear. I’ve always thought that the first page should be strong enough to catch a reader’s attention for sure.
Hi Carolyn, if it is an unknown author to me, I first look at the cover, then read the blurb and if it has en HEA I probably read it.
Good morning, Annette! I do love an HEA but one of my first editors told me that the two characters have to work for the HEA–they can’t just sit down on a blanket and fall in love. They have to jump through hoops and be sure that they really are right for each other!
Hi Carolyn, for me it’s a combination of all, but even with a great cover, if the story on the back cover does not intrigue me, I usually don’t buy it. Of course that never happens with your books.
Good mornin’ Miz Kathleen! Thank you! I have some amazing editors who really understand my stories so they know how to write good blurbs!
The cover is important but what it says on the back cover is the grabber for me.
Melanie, I agree! The back cover is the teaser that either catches your eye or else you put the book back on the shelf and move on to the next one. My editors do a good job of my blurbs!
I mostly read authors I’m familiar with and because I have a TBR mountain. New authors I try have a theme I like, and have had a lot of buzz and good reader comments. Free ebooks on Amazon have introduced authors new to me (if I like the book blurb), and winning free books on sites such as this one have introduced me to new authors. In the end, it’s primarily the story blurb about the book that catches my eye to investigate further. Thank you for the chance at a giveaway.
Hello, Eliza. Those TBR mountains are sure nice when the weather keeps us inside for days on end! Thanks so much for stopping by and good luck on the giveaway!
A cover can grab my attention initially, but for me to buy a book, the blurb must really draw me in.
Good afternoon, Colleen. I’m glad that so many of you are answering the question about the blurb. It’s good to know that it is so important!
Hi Carolyn! Usually the cover catches me then the author. Since you are at the top of my author list and I love western romance I grab all of your books. I loved the other 2 books in this series and am impatiently waiting for this book too! Desperately needing an update on Henry!!!!
Hugs to you, Rita for putting me on the top of your author list. Hope and Henry were so much fun to write about!
Please don’t add me to entries. I just found Luckiest Cowboy of All at my Walmart! Yay me!!! This is my 70th Birthday present to me!!!!
its just the fact that the book says Carolyn Brown . Love all of your books. If i haven’t bought your books i go to the library so i can read them. I love all of your cowboys.. anyone would be lucky to win one of your books…
Thank you, Wendy! I love libraries and donate to our local ones every time I get a new book!
It’s great seeing you here Carolyn. I Love your books. I haven’t gotten around to reading this series yet but I will. A covet may catch my eye, but it’s the Author first if I’ve read them before and then the back blurb. Thank you for the giveaway .
Carol Luciano
Hello, Carol! I have authors that I love so much they could write their stories on Charmin’ and I’d gladly unroll it to read it!
Good Morning! Love your books!! When looking for new books-and new authors, the cover is what catches your eye, hot cowboy, something different-like red cowboy boots, I will then look at the blurb and see if it is something I would be interested in. Congrats on your new book!! The cover is eye catching!!
Angel, thank you so much for loving my books! I really loved that cover, too. And the fact that you get two cowboy books in one cover is a big bonus!
I love a good cowboy story and when I see one I automatically buy it
Thank you, Charlotte! Cowboys are so much fun to write about…and to have in my head for months on end.
It is a combinations of the cover, blurb, and author’s name that draw my attention. I love the cover because it helps me visualize what the cowboy looks like. (sigh . . . so dreamy) Of course the blurb helps me to decide which book to read when I have 2-3 Carolyn Brown’s books! I love every book I have read and plan to reread them again because they are so good. Each book is as good as the next one. It is hard to have one book I truly love. I love them all!
Karen, thank you so much! I love my dreamy cowboys, too. I’m hoping that you love Sara’s book, too, and that you’ll put her on your list for future books!
The Cover usually catches my eye first. I have read many of your books. My goal is to read all of your books. In 2017 I read all the stand alone books, my goal for 2018 I’m going to read all the series you have out. You are in my top 5 favorite Authors all your books are amazing. I know have my cousin and my sister n law reading your books also. I love the fact that they are based in mainly in Oklahoma and Texas. I’m an Okie myself. Keep writing your brilliant. So I know when I pick up a Carolyn Brown book it’s going to be a great book and will not be disappointed. Thank you, Happy writing. GOD BLESS YOU n YOURS.
Big old Texas sized hugs to you, Delcena! Your comment has truly made my day!
I start with authors I am familiar with and watch for their new releases. Our local library has a used book sale and store. I often try new to me authors this way. Then the cover pulls me in first, the cover blurb and testimonials.
What makes me take a book home? Well a lovely cover usually catches my eye, but I need more than a lovely cover, cause it’s what’s inside that counts, right? I will read the back, then flip through and scan parts of the inside.
If I “see” that it matches my preferences, I’m all in and it is mine. 🙂
I think it would be a combination of all the things you mentioned. I think the cover would attract me first and then I would go from there.
First of all the author AND I love your books. Second, the characters, setting and plot of the story. I love cowboys!
?
The covers grab my attention but do not always sell me the book.
Cover and blurb, and of course–the author
Blurb always.
I think both. The cover is what catches my attention then the blub is what decides if I purchase or not.
I will have to say the cover and the blurb makes me put it in the cart. Also sometime when I have heard good things about the book.
Hi Carolyn. The front cover grabs my attention first. If i am familiar with their books it may be the author’s name but most often it is the cover art. Then I go to the back cover to get the blurb. Your cover is beautiful and I would certainly puck it up!
Thank you & Blessings!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow, Carolyn I love your books. Since I discovered you I can’t pass one up I love the way you tell a story and the humor is laugh out loud.
When picking a book to read the cover of course grabs you but I always read the back over.
Again I love your stories.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday to visit with me! It was a wonderful day and I appreciate everyone of you and your input!
Hugs,
Carolyn (who is working on Cowboy Honor this morning)
Hello Carolyn! I’m drawn to the cover, the story line and the author.
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom