My guest today is the lovely Kara O'Neal. We met through that wonderfully supportive group Authors Helping Authors. Here's Kara to tell us about her newest release, The Ranger’s Vow (Book 9 in the Pikes Run Series).
Why
I Wrote This Book
I wrote The Ranger’s Vow to showcase Sherry
Forrester. She is a risk-taker and unapologetic about it. She is caring, kind,
feisty and intelligent. I first met her in Book 2 – The Sheriff’s Gift – and I
had to know more. I couldn’t help but delve into her personality – a woman who
is unafraid to take what she wants – and put her in a situation where she was
challenged. For, while she is fearless when it comes to being exactly who she
wants to be, she is terrified of heartbreak and trusting someone not to cage
her.
So, I had to write a hero who matched her, a man she
could depend on, trust and someone she would fight for if needed. Enter Luke
Calhoun, Texas Ranger – a man who abhors love for solid reasons. Sherry is
almost too much for him to handle, which was a lot of fun to write.
I adore honest characters, ones who have flaws and
try hard to fix them. Sherry and Luke are a bold couple, who defy the bounds of
society in the 1880s and grab life with both hands. I enjoyed getting to know
them and I hope you will too.
Blurb:
Sherry Forrester has her life just as she wants it.
No attachments. No pressure from her parents to marry. A little bit of money
and the freedom to be the lady she desires. When a stranger rolls into town,
mysterious and gorgeous, her interest is piqued. Sherry swore she wouldn't give
away her heart, but she longs for one night of passion, and the newcomer is
perfectly capable of supplying that.
Texas Ranger Luke "Rip" Calhoun is hoping for a few diverting weeks
in Pikes Run. Along with promising to help the local sheriff catch a wily
garter thief, he looks for challenging card games, good whiskey and a willing
woman. When Sherry Forrester catches his eye—who wouldn't want her after
stumbling upon her skinny dipping?—he does the hardest thing ever and waits for
her to choose him to warm her sheets for a night. And only one night. For Luke
made a long-ago vow never to let love ensnare him.
But what neither plans on is the hand of fate changing their paths…
Excerpt:
Luke caught a flash of pale skin as someone arced
beneath the water. His breath stilled when the figure broke the surface,
revealing a woman about twenty yards from him swimming to the opposite bank.
Luke froze, careful not to move a single muscle lest this be a dream and he
woke.
All he could see of the woman was her head as she
glided away from his side of the creek. Was she naked? He glanced toward the
other side and discovered clothes folded on a rock. He could determine the
colors, and white peeked between light blue fabric. He knew plenty about
women’s garments, and most of their underthings were white pieces of angelic
sweetness. Which meant the lady enjoying the water was as bare as could be.
A smile tugged the corners of his lips, but before
he could be accused of peeking more than he already had, he dismounted and used
his horse to hide her from his view. At the moment, he couldn’t pull Zeus away
for anything, so Luke was stuck until the animal decided he was finished. Of
course, Luke didn’t want to leave. While he couldn’t see, and hadn’t seen a
damn thing, it was nice being near a woman who courted risk and went skinny
dipping.
Hell, there was nothing between her and that water.
Not one stitch. His mind conjured all sorts of images as the sounds of her body
cutting through the stream reached him.
When a screech met his ears, he knew she’d caught
sight of the drinking horse and perhaps its owner’s legs. He let out an exhale
and waited for the outburst.
“Who’s there?” she cried. “You get out of here.”
He should, but he wouldn’t. He was never more
grateful for his stubborn mount. “I can’t, ma’am. My horse has a mind of his
own.”
“Ha! A gentleman would find a way.”
He used his bandana to wipe his brow as he remained
hunched over in order to keep hidden. “A man has to take care of his horse,
ma’am. Can’t survive without him.”
There was a splash. Had she left the creek—or hit
the surface with an irritated hand?
“A convenient excuse so you can spy on me.”
He chuckled. “Ma’am, I can’t see, and didn’t see,
one thing, I assure you.”
“You assure me? And what good is that? I don’t even
know who you are.”
Damn, but he wished he could look at her. “Nope, you
don’t.”
A silent moment, then, “That’s it? You aren’t gonna
tell me your name?”
“You gonna tell me yours?”
“Not on your life. Why would I let some drifter know
who I am?”
“Drifter? Is that what I am?” He’d been called
worse.
“Well, how would I know?”
“Then why’d you call me that?”
Zeus lifted his head, looking toward the lady who
shared his creek. Luke kept himself from pushing the horse’s nose back to the
water in order to prolong this moment normally only possible in nighttime
fantasies. Of course, in his dream the lady usually invited him in.
“Would a gentleman spy on a woman as she bathed?”
“If he’s smart, he would.”
“Ha! So you did peek.”
He grinned and watched a grasshopper jump over the
toe of his boot. “I admit I looked, but it’s just my luck I couldn’t see
anything. You’re too far away.”
Zeus snuffled then turned his head toward his
master. He blinked at Luke as if he wondered what the hell the woman was doing
skinny dipping in his drinking water. Luke stroked the black then exhaled. He’d
have to leave this sprite.
“I feel sorry for you that you didn’t manage to see
anything,” she continued, her tone without an ounce of pity. “I don’t mind
telling you I’m as pretty as a picture.”
He laughed outright. “I’ve no doubt of that, ma’am,
and I can promise you my mind paints a perfect image, so don’t you fret.” He
tugged on Zeus’ reins.
She made a noise that was half-laugh,
half-disbelief.
He left the idyllic setting, Zeus following behind
him. A smile stayed on his lips as he mounted up once he was out of her line of
sight. What a damn fine welcome.
Bio:
Born and raised in Texas, the state had to be the
setting for my first series. From the food to the fun, like floating the
rivers, it is the fire in my blood that inspires me. My family and friends take
center stage in my books. My sisters and best friends are my heroines, and my
husband created my favorite hero. Love and family are the point of my stories,
and I seek to entertain, relieve stress, and inspire people. Books can take one
on a journey that one can relive over and over. I am extremely grateful to those
authors who did that very thing for me. I learned and I fell in love with their
words and characters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Please visit me
at www.karaoneal.com.
Links,
etc:
Thanks, Kara, for sharing The Ranger's Vow. Best wishes.
