THE COWBOY’S MARRIAGE BARGAIN by Deborah Clack–AND A GIVEAWAY!

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A big, hot-in-the-sun hello to everyone! I’m super excited to be here today with you. Thank you for having me.

Because I’m a native Texan, one might think I set my debut Love Inspired novel The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain on the lovely plains of the Lone Star State. But my characters needed big skies, wide open spaces, and (sorry, Texas) my hero needed snow-capped mountains for his storyline. So we’re headed to the fictional town of Elk Run, Wyoming to meet the folks at Four Cross Ranch.

Nothing pairs better with the Great American West like strong family values. Years before the opening pages of the book, the four Cross siblings circled the wagons to take care of each other and the family ranch when their parents died. The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain showcases the oldest of the three brothers and sister.

From the back cover: “To pull his ranch out of a downward spiral, widowed cowboy Chase Cross will do anything—even if it means making a deal with the woman he can’t stand. Because Lexi Gardner’s about to inherit a fortune…if she marries in thirty days. A marriage of convenience is the answer to both their problems. But when their bargain begins to feel real, will they put aside their differences for a future together?”

I had the most fun writing the banter between Chase and Lexi. Despite their disagreements, they both held deep respect for the other which created a wonderful internal conflict as they each drew closer.

But that banter wasn’t just for Chase and Lexi. Chase has a twin, Hunter. “The twins resembled two trucks of the same model, only wired differently under the hood. Both ruggedly handsome, they had brute mountain man appeal, six foot two inches of height and a daring look behind their hazel eyes, the weight of the family ranch on their shoulders. But Hunter believed everything would work out fine, whereas Chase wanted all the details nailed down and pursued accordingly.” While Chase grapples with whether or not to marry Lexi, he doesn’t always appreciate Hunter’s sage words.

And let’s not forget the two younger siblings. Sister Cora’s midwifery brilliance is sprinkled in this story, along with whispers of the wayward youngest bull-riding brother, Ryder.

And I’m so glad I set these stories in Wyoming because snow plays a huge part in the second book, which I’m about to send my editor for consideration. Not a lot of snow here in my home state, and when it does try to hit the ground, we scare it away almost immediately with our unskilled winter-driving and non-committal low temperatures.

Today, I brought a fun giveaway for readers. Due to postage costs, this giveaway is for continental US addresses only.

One reader will take home a signed print copy of The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain along with two items taken straight from the pages of the book, a Four Cross Ranch coffee mug and a fun pair of socks.

To be entered, simply leave a comment letting me know about your family and siblings. Where are you in the birth order? Do you all banter like the Cross family? Are you an only child? I’d love to hear from you.

 

Thanks for spending the day with me! Head on over to my website at deborahclack.com and sign up for my newsletter to get updates on Hunter’s, Cora’s and Ryder’s stories. I also have a FREE novella to tide you over until our next visit to Wyoming.

You can find your copy of The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain at your favorite retailer:

Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Marriage-Bargain-Uplifting-Inspirational/dp/1335597492/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZPDMEOYBY712&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3Xy5_-i5c8xiHH_dbKqyTg.chbBjjmqoQwfIbHcGAH7DVt3QeMQg3fsXcESurvhKNE&dib_tag=se&keywords=deborah+clack+the+cowboy%27s+marriage+bargain&qid=1713412887&sprefix=%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1&tag=pettpist-20

Harlequin https://bit.ly/3VDS2zE

Kobo https://bit.ly/4eh5AZb

The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain is a standalone book.

 

Award-winning author Deborah Clack is a native Texan who believes in the power of fiction, the lost art of lip synching, and that chocolate should be eaten without nuts. A high school AP history teacher for 10 years, Deborah earned a Master’s Degree in Education and was awarded Teacher of the Year for Arts in Education. Now she creates stories of her own filled with endearing characters and a hard-fought romance.

 

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96 thoughts on “THE COWBOY’S MARRIAGE BARGAIN by Deborah Clack–AND A GIVEAWAY!”

  5. Welcome! Love the sound of your book! Sounds like much dry humor, which I love! I was raised on a farm near a small town, Live Oak, Florida. I am the oldest, and only daughter, with two younger brothers. One is 20 months behind me and the other, is exactly three years to the day, younger than him! Yes, many shenanigans to be told during my growing up years. And lots of teasing. We learned that from our father!

    • Tracy, this sounds like you have lots of fun stories to tell! Love it! And thank you for your kind words about my book – you and your siblings would fit right in. : )

  6. My twin brother and I are the oldest, followed by a sister 15 months younger than us. Nine years later my youngest brother was born. Our dad was a pastor and our mom was a musician who shared in ministry. We had a wonderful upbringing. Wyoming holds my heart. We enjoy ATVing in the Big Horn Mountains in the summer. The mountain flowers, wildlife, and majestic peaks brings peace to me. Your book series sounds great! Since you are a new author to me, I’ll be looking forward to getting to know you. Thanks for coming to Petticoats and Pistols. Great to get acquainted.

    • Kathy, it’s so nice to meet you! Your upbringing sounds so special and like you have a lot of stories to tell. And I love that Wyoming holds your heart. Thank you for the lovely welcome to Petticoats and Pistols.

  7. There were three of us an older brother by 4 years and then me and my identical twin sister, I was the older twin by seven minutes. I don’t know how twins work in the birth order. I lost my twin three and a half years ago to breast cancer, so I guess I am twin less now by definition. I thank God every day for the years we had together.

  10. This sounds like a fun book to read. I am the older of 2 sisters. She lives in Florida most of the year and I live in upstate New York, so we don’t spend much time together. We get along much better now that we are older.e

  12. I am the second oldest. We all get along really well and love to go back and forth. My hubby didn’t know what that was like when we got married. His family didn’t have a lot of fun with each other, so when we got married, he didn’t know what to think at first. Now he can be the life of the party.

  14. Welcome Deborah. I am 2nd of six, 3 girls and 3 boys, a super mix. We got along pretty well except my older sister and I. I recall a wrestling match on our dining room floor one time when we were very ago. I grew up on a farm where each one of us had our particular job to do daily. Dad farmed approximately 300 acres and invented farm equipment. It was a busy home with mom’s huge garden which we had the pleasure of helping weed and pick the food when it was ready. I got plenty of sun back then. We also got lots of fresh air. There were always some horses on our farm, mainly for pleasure as dad had the tractors, combine and bailer for the farm work.

  15. I’m the youngest of four girls. I’m a Native Floridian, and have never seen snow. A good friend lives in Amarillo, and the first year they were there they had a white Christmas. The next year, I spent Christmas with them, and they didn’t get any snow until late January or early February. We were hoping I’d get to see snow. We’re planning that I’ll be there for Christmas this year, and possibly (finally!) get to see snow.

  16. I am 2 of 4, 3 girls and a boy! Hubs is 4 of 7 and he has 3 brothers and 3 sisters! Yes lots of banter – my younger sister married his younger brother!!

  18. I am the middle girl of an older brother and younger sister. My bother and I were always at odds and do not communicate. My sister and I were closer but are estranged.

  19. A sister who is younger and wished all my life to be closer to and have a real relationship. I tried hard but have not succeeded. It is disappointing but that is life.

  20. I am a twin and we finish each other’s sentences.
    One year for Christmas, we got each other the same gift except they were different colors.

  21. I have one older brother. When we were young, we would have our fights but we also hung too so just typical sibling stuff. I live in Maine and he lives in North Carolina now so we don’t really see each other anymore(I can’t travel). On top of that, he was in a car accident a couple years ago and had head trauma and now he has bad memory problems. He knows he has nieces(my daughters) but doesn’t remember them and he had been up here for Christmas the year before his accident. I don’t even want to ask if he really remember me but I do wonder because he doesn’t remember his childhood or school years or working on cars and he did that for years. He even had to learn how to change a lightbulb.

  22. I am the second child. I have an older brother and a younger sister. As kids me and my sister fought more than me and my brother but we all get along fine.

  23. There were 4 of us. Older sister, brother, and then me, and a younger sister that came along 10 year later. Both older sister and brother has passed away and all that is left in me and younger sister. My younger sister an I didn’t get along at all growing up but now we are fine. As far as older sister and brother we had our ups and downs growing up.

  24. welcome today. oh but this sounds like so much fun. I am the oldest of five. my three brothers are right after myself and my sister is nine years younger than I. We lived on a ranch and we all had responsibilities. the four oldest of us were in 4-H. I was in cattle, horses, pigs, sewing. yup that was just me. we kept mom hopping for sure. yes we had our in-fighting but mom taught us how to work them out. but she taught all of us kids about hard work, fun, church and family commitments. would love to read your book. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

  25. Welcome, Deborah! We’re so thrilled to have you. In my family, my parents actually had two separate groups of kids. My first three siblings came first–two sisters and a brother. Then seven years later, I came along and my little sister after me. So in many ways, I seem like the oldest in birth order, not the fourth as I actually was. I can’t remember my two oldest sisters living with us and they never really felt like sisters, just some women we knew. Although my brother was seven, I still don’t remember him too clearly as a boy. I do boss like an older sibling and since my little sister was a big spender, I finally became the bank for us and I only gave her money if she really needed something. I don’t remember how old we were before I stopped being the banker. Enjoy your visit and lots of success with you new book!

  26. I have a twin sister who is a few minutes younger. After all these many years she is still my best friend.

  27. I am the oldest of 3 siblings… My middle sister and I tolerate each other… my youngest sister and I are close… get along great.

  28. I grew up with one older sister. My family always liked to banter and tease each other. We still have certain sayings, most of them taken from songs or movies, that no one understands except us (and a few close friends).

  29. I am a twin, and I was born one minute ahead of my twin sister, so I am technically the oldest sibling. We also have a brother that is nine years younger than us. My twin and I are best friends since we understand each other best. When we were kids, we found our little brother annoying but once we became adults age no longer mattered and the three of us became a lot closer.

  30. I’m the youngest, with one older brother. My brother and I like to trade movie quotes back and forth between us when we get together.

  31. I am the youngest of 2! I only have an older sister we disagree to agree on some things Your books sounds like such a graet story

  32. I have a sister who is 4-1/2 years older. It’s just the two of us. We are as different in looks & personality as daylight & dark. Growing up we were never very close.. she liked books & sewing; I liked dolls & climbing trees… but after I “grew up,” we became close in spite of our differences. ?

  33. I’m the middle of seven children, with an older sister, two older brothers, and three younger brothers. Of course, we all have our differences, but when we’re all together we get along well and banter with the best of them. 😀

  34. I am an only child. I always wanted a sibling. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

  35. I am the oldest. My only full brother passed in 2011 from brain cancer. I have 1 half brother from sad’s second marriage and 3 from his third. Ironically the youngest and I have the most in common.

  36. I’m the oldest in both of my families. After my parents divorced, they both remarried. My mother had me, my sister, then a 2 boys and an another girl. My father had after my sister and I, 2 more girls and a boy. I’m closer to my mother’s children as she raised my sister and me.

  38. My dad was 17 years old when his father died and 20 years old when his mother died. He took care of his younger siblings still living at home and then the husband of one of his sisters died and she came back home to live with him with her infant son (Mack) who was 3 months old. This sister died when her son (Mack) was 11 months old. Now my dad had an infant to raise as well. After his younger siblings married, he met and married my mom, and they began their family. I am the fourth daughter born to them and then after me came my two brothers. I was 12 years old before I found out that Mack was actually my cousin and not my brother. In my heart he has always been my brother. Biologically, he is my first cousin. But when someone asks me how many brothers and sisters I have, I always answer, 3 older sisters, 2 younger brothers and one older “Brosin”, because he is a brother/cousin!!!

    I just want to say “The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain” is one of the best reading books I have read in a while. The story unfolds in a way that makes you want to read one more page before stopping and before you know it you are half-way through the book. Then you don’t want the story to end. LOL I can hardly stand the wait for the next Four Cross Ranch book. Some books I read and then pass on to shut-ins or nursing homes for others to enjoy and some I keep……….this book I will definitely keep because I have so many pages turned down that had quotes that spoke to me. I’m sure if the future books flow like this one……..I’ll probably keep them all. LOL

    • Peggy, thank you so much for sharing your family history – it is inspiring. I love that you have a “brosin” – that is perfect! And I am smiling big from Texas at your encouraging words about “The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain.” Thank you.

  39. Hi Deborah, Your book sounds like a Awesome read, will add it to my TBR list. I, am the second oldest of 5 children. Yes, we did fight a lot, but; we also had LOTS of fun growing up on a farm. Older sister is now deceased & a older brother from COVID.

    • Lois, it sounds like you had a special upbringing with your siblings. I’m so sorry for your losses. And thank you for your kind words about my new release, I am grateful.

  41. This sounds like it will be an enjoyable book. Good banter adds so much to a story, and the examples here are good.
    I am the oldest of six siblings. I don’t know how my mother did it. The first 4 were born in just 5 years with fe years’ a gap and 2 more in 1 1/2 years. I was at least 2 years ahead of the second child in school. Part of that was birthdays, his was in Feb., and mine was in January. I started a year early when I was 4. I think my mother begged the school to take me early so she could get a bit of a break. With so many little ones at home and living far from family, she needed all the help she could get.
    When my mom went to work outside the home, as oldest I was “put in charge.” Since we were all so close in age, it didn’t go over well. The second oldest, a brother, still complains today. Even his wife has called him on it, reminding him it was my parents who put me in charge, not me. After all, we are in our 70’s now and he really should be over it.
    When I was in 7th grade, we moved to the country. We all loved it. We had room to run and places to explore. On many weekends our cousins would come up for the day or the whole weekend. There were many time we had 15 kids in the house. We had an apple orchard across the street and had permission to keep the drops (those that fell off the tree) and to pick from the trees of a few varieties they did not pick and sell commercially. We enjoyed the apples and what we made from them. Luckily, we had a closet on an exterior wall that was cool enough to keep several bushel boxes of apples through the winter.
    We got involved with 4-H, though not as farmers. One brother did raise chickens two years. Dairy farmers that lived about 2 miles away by road and rented the fields near us became friends. It was a husband and wife and a brother, none of them very young (although my perspective on their age would be very different now). They had no children and hadn’t any hired help. We helped with the haying. I learned to drive the tractor and we rode the combine, bagging oats. I used to cut cross lots through the orchard and pastures (it cut off about half the distance to the farm. I and some of my siblings would go over occasionally to “help” with the milking and the feeding. I’m not sure how much help we were, but we enjoyed it. When my brother was old enough, he was hired to help officially with the chores on a regular basis.
    I headed off to college when the others were in school and went overseas before the youngest were in high school. I’ve never lived very close to my old hometown, so don’t see family more than once a year or so. There is banter when we all get together, but it is mostly between the other siblings.

  42. I am the youngest of three but feel like an only child since we all live in different towns. My brother lives in Grand Prairie, Texas and I used to live in Arlington, Texas. I claim honorary citizenship of that state.

  44. I’m a younger sister! I have one sibling, in Colorado. I was born in Texas, and I love Texas! I’ve tried living in other states and they’re all beautiful, but I keep coming back to Texas. Right now I’m down in southeast Texas–on Galveston Island! I love living near the beach.

  46. I’m the oldest of 10 siblings; the banter sounded authentic. And it sounds like you had fun writing this book; I’m sure I’d enjoy reading it.

  47. I am in the middle of 5, four girls and one boy. My brother was 3 1/2 years younger and youngest sister 13 years younger so for several years I was the youngest. We also had many cousins who lived not far from us so we often had more than five boisterous kids in the house. Lots of family fun growing up.

    Wow, so many twins responding.

  48. Oldest of two girls & two boys. Sis and I still argue like Dad and Grandma used to, but mostly get along. One brother doesn’t speak with us since he married a selfish woman, but we still manage to socialize with our niece and nephew ;o)

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