Black Lion Tours: Crazy for Cowboy by Roxy Boroughs Excerpt, Interview and Giveaway!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to my stop on the Crazy for Cowboy Book tour! This stop features an excerpt, interview and a tour wide giveaway! Be sure to follow along with all the stops!

She’s through with cowboys. But this one’s the ‘reel’ deal.

Equine veterinarian, Emily Grant, has had her share of cowboys, and they always break her heart. After vowing to give them up forever, Brandon Hollister strides into her life.

He’s a different kind of cowboy, one that works on the silver screen. But is he just playing the part when it comes to love? Or can this sexy hunk get past a case of mistaken identity to become the man to win Emily’s heart.

PRAISE FOR "CRAZY FOR COWBOY":

"From the moment I started reading CRAZY FOR COWBOY I knew I was going to love it. There are tons of great one-liners, the characters are fun and engaging, and since I'm a sucker for a strong, sexy, vulnerable hero, I was cheering all the way for the "cowboy" to win his girl! I laughed out loud as I was reading, and found myself anxiously flipping the pages to see what would happen next. Kudos to Roxy Boroughs for spinning another winning tale. Job well done!"

– Pamela Yaye, multi-published Harlequin author.

Crazy for Cowboy Excerpt

Emily followed Houston’s line of vision down to the front of her wet blouse. Her white, cotton shirt was matted to her body, revealing her skimpy bra beneath. Even from her perspective she could see the pink tips of her breasts showing through the material. She imagined he had an even better view. In fact, she could guarantee it. His ragged breath might have been in response to their recent dash, but that fiery look in his eyes came from a more primal place.

He grasped her shoulders. A part of her prayed that he’d kiss her. The other more logical part ... well … it was kind of hopeful about it, too. She watched as he moved closer and closer, until his mouth brushed against hers.

Just say no to cowboys. Just say... “Mmmmmmm.”

His grip around her tightened as he traced a line of soft kisses along her cheek. “Emily, when can I see you again?”

“Oh, Houston,” she heard her breathless voice say, “I can’t.”

He pulled away. Slightly. “You’re not seeing someone else, are you?”

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

“Good. Then answer my question,” he whispered against her neck as he nibbled his way to her collarbone.

How could she answer? She couldn’t even think straight. “Houston,” she gasped, “we have a problem.”

He gave a low chuckle. “More than you know, darlin’, but let’s not get into that right now. We’ll approach this another way. If you weren’t going to see me again, when would be the best time to do it?”

It took her a while to figure out what he was aiming at. “I’ll be back at the ranch again this Friday, but I don’t think–”

“Friday is perfect. We can have dinner together.”

“But Houston, you don’t understand. I made a vow...” The rest of her sentence came out in a moan as his lips descended onto hers once more. This cowboy must have used liquor in his lip balm, because she was definitely getting tipsy. By the time he came up for air again, she was mush. If he hadn’t been holding onto her, she would have floated away.

“Now, I have only one question left,” he said, curling an arm around her and guiding her out of the pond. “How am I gonna get you back to your truck safely with you looking like that?”

Emily wrapped her outside arm across her chest. “Are you worried about protecting me from the other cowboys?”

“No, ma’am.” He smiled. “I’m worried about protecting you from me.

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The Interview:

Thanks for inviting me to muse with you Melissa. Though it’s not quite midnight, my time.

You started out acting, and then decided to write. Was there one specific event that decided this career change for you?

Good question! Although I still act from time to time, I started finding the theater scene disheartening. When I first moved to Calgary, there weren’t a lot of opportunities. And, if I’m really honest, I ended up working with some individuals who really sucked the joy out of the process. My bad for letting others affect me so, but I did. It took me a long time to get my acting confidence back and to enjoy it again. That’s thanks to Alison Whitley and her company Pegasus Performances, for which I write interactive murder mystery scripts and act whenever she needs an extra body. Pegasus has really been a wonderful haven for me.

Where did the inspiration for Crazy For Cowboy come from?

When I settled out west, I figured it was time to write a cowboy romance. But I knew nothing about cowboys. So I decided to write about an actor who is cast in a western movie. He meets Emily, a female veterinarian who’s been burned by cowboys and makes a vow never to date them again. When she first meets Brandon, he’s in his cowboy costume, playing the part of “Houston Savage”. Still, the attraction is instant. Brandon thinks she likes him because he’s a cowboy, but Emily likes him pretty much in spite of it. What follows is a comedy of mistaken identity and the chaos that happens when one little, white lie multiplies.

Who is your favorite author?

My all-time favorite book is TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD by Harper Lee. My star sign is Libra so I’m fascinated by the judicial system and I’m still very much in touch with my inner child, so it’s the perfect combination for me. And I loved, loved, loved ROOM by Emma Donoghue. Other than that, I devour J. R. Ward, I’ve read most of Lee Child, and everything by Joy Fielding. I like E.C. Sheedy, Wilkie Collins, Charlotte Bronte, Lecia Cornwall, Nicci French, Alyssa Lin Palmer, and I’m looking forward to reading a new release by Norah Wilson.

Do you have writing routine? A special pen, a certain type of music, time limits?

Gosh, I wish I did. I’d be far more productive. I generally have classical music on in the background. Heavy rock, if I’m working on something gritty. I used to have a desktop computer in my office but now I’m working on a laptop and I prefer it by far. It’s great to be portable. Oh, and I do like to have polish on my nails. Looks so pretty as my fingers fly over the keyboard.

Do you enjoy edits/rewrites, or not?

Rewrites are where the honey is. I’d love to be brilliant on the first draft, but I’m soooo not. I have to give myself permission to write dreck, which I can fix later.

What, for you, is the most difficult part of writing romances?

Let’s not say difficult. Let’s say the challenge of writing romance is to get the right balance—between sexual tension, and emotion, and description, and external plot, and everything else that goes in a book. Definitely balance.

Did you do any external research in the process of writing this book? If so, what's the most interesting thing you uncovered in your research?

The most external research I’ve ever done was for my romantic suspense novel, A STRANGER’S TOUCH. I wanted a setting that was unusual. Somewhere secluded. I decided on the Northwest Territories. But, there was little information I could find on the area. Fortunately, two of my writer friends, Suzanne Stengl and Brenda M. Collins, agreed to go on a girls’ road trip there with me. We had a great time, learned a lot, and I was able to use all that wonderful setting in my novel. For CRAZY FOR COWBOY, I interviewed a vet, had a tour of a working ranch and rode a horse bareback.

Which character was your favorite to write and why?

I love all my characters and always strive to be true to them. In CRAZY FOR COWBOY, one of the most fun characters to write was the hero’s five-year-old nephew. He shows up again in a short story anthology I put together with my buddy Brenda M. Collins called STORIES OF CHANCE ROMANCE, the proceeds of which go to support Breast Cancer research. It’s available here http://amzn.com/B009J2KCLM.

How do you come up with your character names?

Another great question! Sometimes, they just pop into my head. Most of the time, I go through baby name books. Sometimes, I search for names on the internet.

What is the hardest part of being a writer?

As in life, dealing with rejection. Believing in yourself.

What is the most fun part of being a writer?

Showing up in PJs. Giggling at your own funny bits. Crying along with your characters at the sad moments.

What is the main thought or feeling that you hope readers of the book will walk away with?

A belief that love is out there waiting for you. When I was a teenager, I figured I was destined to remain alone. Not because I was so horrible, but because I wasn’t willing to “settle.” I was quite happy with my own company and not interested in sharing it with someone unless I was passionate about him. I met that guy in university when I was nineteen. We’ve been together for 34 years and I’m even more in love with him now.

What made you decide to write romance, rather than other genres?

I’m living a romance. Why not share it?

When you're not writing, what are your other hobbies/passions?

My husband and I love the mountains. We’re about an hour away from the Rockies, which is divine. We’ll drive up, surrounded by spectacular scenery, while listening to some of our favorite classical music. Have lunch, chat, then head home, while on the look-out for Rocky Mountain sheep. It’s a little piece of heaven. We’re both readers so, spending a Sunday morning, sipping on tea and sharing our favorite passages with each other, is a regular occurrence. And, we like to experiment in the kitchen with new recipes.

Are you working on any new projects?

I’m finishing up a couple of manuscripts and planning a collective for next Christmas.

Quick Fire round:

Coke or Pepsi? Neither. I used to drink gallons of Coke. Daily. I stopped cold turkey. If I have a soda now, it’s root beer or ginger ale.

Chocolate or Vanilla? Mmmmm. Can I have vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce?

Rainy winter days or blazing hot summer days? I’ll take the rain. I love the sound of it on the roof.

Hard Copy or e-book? I rarely buy hard copy books any more. The portability of the e-reader wins my vote.

Favorite book? TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee.

Last book you read? PLAYING DOCTOR by Julie Rowe from the Bandit Creek Book series. It’s on my keeper shelf.

What's a quote that inspires you?  “There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” Written by the French novelist, George Sand.

What's your favorite comfort food? Oooooh, that’s a toughie. I drink decaf/herbal tea all day long. If I want a snack, it’ll be either popcorn or carrots with a hummus dip.

In fact, I just made some hummus last night and it’s calling to me. Thanks again, Melissa. It’s been great visiting with you.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, Roxy.

Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card to one randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour. 

Meet the Author

Roxy Boroughs got the acting bug in elementary school, creating skits at recess and performing them for the class, thanks to her very indulgent teacher. She went on to study theater in university, met the love of her life there, and spent many years performing in movies, commercials and on stages across Canada and the US. Soon, portraying one character wasn’t enough. She wanted to be them all. So she poured her years of drama experience into writing plays and novels.

Look for her award-winning romantic suspense A STRANGER’S TOUCH, as well as its sequel, A STRANGER’S KISS, along with a sweet, romantic comedy called CRAZY FOR COWBOY. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and her website http://www.roxyboroughs.com/.

  

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