Friday, April 19, 2013

Book Tour: To Have and To Hold by Charlene Raddon Excerpt & Giveaway



BLURB:  
A woman without a prayer…

A widow with two children, Tempest Whitney had to mortgage everything to repay the money her husband had stolen. But even as she struggles to hold onto her Utah homestead, a scheming rancher buys up her debts, demanding she either get off his land or marry him. Then a dark-haired stranger shows up, claiming to be her dead husband…

A man without a past….

Buck Maddux spent two years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Now a death bed promise has brought him to Tempest’s dugout. A man without roots, he doesn’t plan to stay—or to feel so fiercely protective of this feisty beauty he saves from a forced marriage. Suddenly, Buck yearns for a home, a family, a lasting love. But what can he offer Tempest? The surprising answer lies in the forbidden canyons of an ancient Anasazi tribe, where fortune and danger await—along with a passion more precious than gold…


EXCERPT:

Tempest stepped from the dugout, Ethan riding her hip. As if her entire being were tuned to his presence, her gaze went unerringly to the big man hunkered in front of her little girl, both of them wearing impish grins. As she watched his shirt stretch taut across his broad, muscular back, she wondered how his wife had died, and if that was what haunted his eyes. Morning sun glinted off his thick jet hair. Her pulse couldn't help but accelerate at the sight of him. But the warmth invading her body came from more than sensual awareness of a man. Life in the canyon was hard, forcing her little girl to grow up much too fast; feeding chickens, collecting eggs, watching over her brother, making beds . . . But, under the spell of Buck Maddux’s grin, Angel was a child again. Tempest could love him for that alone.

Jonas had gone to a great deal of trouble to track down and buy her mortgage, as well as getting her father indebted to him. How far would he go to get his way? Tempest had to find a solution before matters worsened and someone got hurt. Buck Maddux was as maddening and arrogant as he was handsome, but he didn't deserve to be shot for protecting her.


AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Charlene first serious writing attempt came in 1980 when she awoke one morning from an unusually vivid and compelling dream. Deciding that dream needed to be made into a book, she dug out an old portable typewriter and went to work. That book never sold, but her second one, Tender Touch, became a Golden Heart finalist and earned her an agent. Soon after, she signed a three book contract with Kensington Books. Five of Charlene's western historical romances were published between 1994 and 1999: Taming Jenna, Tender Touch (1994 Golden Heart Finalist under the title Brianna), Forever Mine (1996 Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice Award Nominee and Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll finalist), To Have and To Hold Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll finalist); and writing as Rachel Summers, The Scent of Roses. Forever Mine and Tender Touch are available as e-books and after January 24, To Have and To Hold will be as well. When not writing, Charlene loves to travel, crochet, needlepoint, research genealogy, scrapbook, and dye Ukrainian eggs.
Links:
Buy Link
To have and to Hold:

GIVEAWAY: 
Charlene will give away a free copy of one of her other books at each stop and, at the end of the tour, one randomly drawn commenter will win a $15 Amazon gift card.
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

19 comments:

  1. I love all the character names. Do you have a particular process?


    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Mary,thanks for stopping in today. Really I just use names that enter my head and sound right. For my heroes I always try to choose strong sounding names. I also like to look for names in historical books. Two of my heroes were named this way, Bartholomew Noon in Forever Mine and Columbus Nigh in Tender Touch. Both these men actually existed long, long ago. One has to be careful with this method, though, that you don't pick the names of anyone well known.

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  2. Have this book. Read this book. Love this book - and, others by you, Char. Your male leads are always so deliciously compelling. Are they based on someone you've known, or just wished you known;) - Thanks, Georgia

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    1. Just wished I'd known, Georgia. Hey, thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it. Always love hearing from readers.

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  3. Thanks for sharing! Sounds like a cute and fun historical romance. Right up my alley!

    andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

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    1. Hi Andra Lyn. Nice meeting you. Glad you like the sound of my book. Maybe you'll win a copy, huh? Are you an author yourself?

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  4. I want to thank Books and Spells for hosting me today, and Goddess Fish for arranging this great tour. You're fabulous.

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  5. I'm with Georgia. Love all your books. I love your way of pulling readers into the period in which you're writing. You create some wonderful characters. Especially those hunky heroes!

    I'm also with Mary wondering how you come up with such unique names. They seem to fit so well with the character. Maybe one day you'll write a blog about the new wave of names in the west. I've seen some distinctly western ones in my reading past . . . Cotton, Colt, Whip, Tweed . . . sign of the times I suppose. Would love to know more. I love names. The more unusual the better.

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    1. Thanks, Kem. You get five stars for loyalty. Love you. I'll have to consider your idea of a blog on names. Thanks for suggesting it.

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  6. Sounds like a great story. The book cover is lovely.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Hi Ingeborg, nice to see you here.

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  7. Wow, end of the first week of your tour. How quickly time passes when we're having fun. I'm with the others on the question of names. I would think that the most difficult part of a story is deciding on names, not only for all the characters, but places as well...then there's the title. Whew, I get exhausted just thinking about it. Glad my biggest job is just to read the book!

    Don't know if this question has been asked, but if it has been, forgive my senior moment: Are there other genres would you consider writing?

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

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  8. Hi Karen. Yes, the time passes quickly. Names are very important. Not only must they be appropriate to the time period and location, they need to be fairly easy to remember, pronounce and they should be inviting to the reader. The title is more difficult than character names because it's really crucial to choose one that gives an impression of what the story is all about and that entices the reader to pick up the book, check it out, and buy it. As for other genres I might write, I wouldn't mind trying my hand at a medieval someday. I have written a contemporary fantasy set in Wales which I hope to see published, and I have a couple of other contemporary romance novels started. But my first choice will always be western historical.

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  9. Hi Charlene I am trying to follow your tour. I can't wait to get started on your book. I have it loaded and trying to finish the book I am reading now. Will be out of town this weekend so want get much reading done. Going to visit my sisters for my birthday.

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  10. Oh, happy birthday,Quilt Lady. I hope you have a lovely day with your sisters. Do let me know how you like the book.

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  11. Nice blurb
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  12. I adore the name Tempest. It's a beautiful name. Have a great weekend!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  13. You too, Chelsea. Thanks for stopping by.

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  14. It's been a great day and now it's time to announce the winner of the giveaway -- TA DA!

    ANDRA LYN, you've won a copy of my e-book, To Have and To Hold. I'll be in touch with you privately for arrangements. Congratulations!

    So long, everyone. See you at the next stop and thanks so much for joining me here.

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