Guest Author Monday

Please welcome our guest author today — Linda Carroll-Bradd

I’m supplying a character interview with Wade Pallaton, the hero of my latest novella, When Lonely Hearts Meet.

How about you introduce yourself by providing the basics? Native Texan, divorced father of two grown sons

Where were you raised? Born and raised right outside of Dorado. My ranch has been in the family for five generations.

Did you attend college? Only the school of hard knocks.

Are you athletic? Being a rancher and horse breeder keeps me active. I have been known to do some cross-country skiing when this area of Texas gets any snow that sticks.

What’s your favorite sport to watch? That’s a toss-up between high-school football and regional rodeo. When my boys were in their teens, they kept me busy carting them around to practices, games and events. Sure am glad they’ve grown out of those activities.

Did you always want to be a rancher? Never was a question about the matter. My daddy put me in a saddle before I was two and I did the same with my boys. Had my first pony at age six and Bucky was my responsibility.

What do you like most about ranching? Being outside on horseback every day and matching wits with what nature brings.

Are you a pet person? Always have a dog or two around the ranch. My sons had pigs, calves, goats and sheep for 4-H projects. Animals on a ranch need to serve a purpose.

Do you have any hobbies? When I can sneak away, I enjoy a few hours of bass fishing.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you? Something called online dating where you put up a profile that points out your highlights, like I’m gonna be strutted around an auction ring. But I’ve got my reasons for posting.

What attracts you first to a woman? I’m a real sucker for a natural smile and a giving heart.

Are you talking about a particular woman? If I answered that, I would not be a gentleman.

BLURB:

Clover Damone travels to Dorado, Texas to handle a family member’s estate. A trip to the Sugar & Spice Bakery involves a mysterious gift—a cowboy gingerbread man cookie. The farmhouse is filled with items that display her aunt & uncle’s enduring love. If only she could find a love like that…

Rancher Wade Pallaton comes to the rescue of an attractive woman in distress…in the paint aisle of a home improvement store. One look sparks his interest, one he thought had died a decade earlier. Divorce made them gun shy about relationships but can Lasso-A-Heart online dating emails entice them to reveal the secrets of their lonely hearts?

EXCERPT:

The older woman’s voice was pitched low but the throaty tone carried. What caught his eye was the sight of shapely calves encased in skinny jeans. The trio of brass bracelets and the long sweater that almost reached her knees clued him in that the lady was new in town. Not normal attire for this rural Texas town. He’d automatically registered the fact her left hand was ring-free. The sight of the key making station informed him he’d walked halfway down the aisle in his perusal of the interesting stranger.

Wade glanced forward and jerked when he spotted a narrowed gaze shooting daggers from the thin face of a woman close to his younger son’s age. Busted.

“Eavesdrop much?” The younger woman jammed a hand onto her angled hip.

Better tread lightly around this suspicious one. “Beg pardon, miss.” Wade tipped a forefinger against the brim of his Stetson as he dipped his chin. “Ma’am, I heard the call for assistance and thought I’d see if I could answer a question.”

“You work here?” Eyebrow raised, she gave him the once-over with a dark-eyed gaze. “Dressed like that?”

“Hayley.” The older woman gave a sharp wave, glanced at his length then stepped closer. “Do you know about paints?”

“Done my share of painting. And I’m a fair-to-middlin’ handyman.” He gazed at her, recording the details of her easy smile, her hazel eyes and the waves of light brown hair framing her face. A combination that piqued his interest, an occurrence that hadn’t happened in a very long time. “I’m not an employee here…” he shifted his gaze to the young lady and again, dipped his chin, “but I can be neighborly and try to answer your questions.”

“I’m clearing out my great-aunt’s house and it needs a bit of work.”

Just visiting. A niggle of disappointment ran through him. But he still intended to see if he could offer assistance, and maybe even volunteer to help. “First things first. Name’s Wade Pallaton, ma’am.” He extended his hand in a friendly greeting.

A moment passed as she glanced at his hand and then back at his face before sliding hers into his. The edges of her lips flashed a brief smile. “Of course, I’m sorry.”

Warmth built between their palms and he tightened his fingers. Ten years had passed since his divorce, and this was the first honest-to-goodness spark of attraction he’d felt. Her skin was soft and her bones delicate within his grasp.

“I-I’m Clover Damone.” She stared down at their clasped hands, sucked in her lower lip and then jerked her gaze back to his, eyes widening.

A raspy throat clearing sounded from just a few feet away.

“Oh.” Clover broke the handclasp, wiggled her fingers and then pointed over her shoulder. “And this is my daughter, Hayley.”

“Do you live around here?” Hayley tilted her head and a ponytail a shade darker than her mother’s hair swung to the side.

“Sure do. Got a ranch twenty miles outside of Dorado.”

“So, you’d know if mold is a problem in ancient houses. Cuz the smell that rolled out of that old farmhouse made me wonder about mold. That ugly black stuff.”She shuddered and moved her hands through the air as she talked. “Like maybe we’ll get sick if we stay there.”

Shaking her head, Clover frowned and pressed her lips into a straight line. “I told you that the house just needs airing. We’re staying there.”

“Fine.” Hayley jerked her head and pushed an ear bud into each ear, tapping the screen of her phone. “Pick me up in the magazine section when you’re done.” She flashed a glare his way and spun then headed toward the front of the store.

Unsure of the conversation’s undercurrent, Wade just waited, which gave him a few more moments to enjoy the sight of this intriguing woman. Not having raised a daughter, he’d always admired people who maintained a rational tone around sassy attitudes.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON   http://amzn.com/B00INLCWUY

SMASHWORDS   https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/412736

BIO:

As a young girl, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about fascinating characters having exciting adventures in places far away and in other time periods. In later years, she read and then started writing romances and achieved her first publication–a confession story. Married with 4 adult children and 2 granddaughters, Linda now writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor from her home in the southern California mountains.

Where to contact Linda online:

Website   www.lindacarroll-bradd.com

Blog    http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com

Facebook    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Carroll-Bradd-author/440814942635289

Goodreads   http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806413.Linda_Carroll_Bradd

Twitter    http://www.twitter.com/lcarrollbradd

 

I’m giving away a free copy of the novella to a name drawn from those who leave comments.

Thanks Linda for joining us today and for your generosity of a give-away to my readers!