Today, author Elsa Winckler is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release A Family With the Cowboy, book one in The Westons of Montana, a small-town, contemporary romance. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.
“When a single dad and his son’s teacher clash, sparks fly and it’s not only because his son is neglecting his chores to read.”
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I have always been fascinated by the unexplained and by ordinary people who see and experience the world differently – those with a sixth sense, those who feel things deeply, the empaths, the animal whisperers, the healers.
When planning the series on The Westons of Montana, some of these ideas slipped into the story and before I knew it, I was researching all things animal whisperers. What a fascinating and okay, yes, “weird” field. Once you open your mind and heart though, you realize it’s extraordinary and surprising rather than “strange”.
We meet Hayden Weston, the oldest brother in the first of four stories, A family with the Cowboy. As the oldest brother, he feels responsibility for the ranch, his two brothers, his sister and his mother. Ranching is in his blood, he loves what he does and is determined to manage the farm in a responsible, sustainable way while trying to be a dad and a mom to his eight-year-old son, Luke after his wife passed away.
His son’s new teacher in Marietta is an unexpected challenge, though. Not only because he blames her when he finds his son reading a book instead of doing his chores, but also because of the immediate attraction he feels towards her.
With a sister who knows things and can read his mind, a brother who clearly has some kind of problem but who doesn’t discuss it with him and another one who talks to animals, he has enough trouble. He doesn’t need more complications.
His path keeps crossing with that of the blue-eyed teacher though, and staying away from her becomes more and more difficult with every meeting.
Will he be brave enough to give love another chance?
I hope you enjoy Hayden’s and Laura’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you for stopping by and thank you for all the support!
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Title: A Family With the Cowboy
Series: The Westons of Montana, Book 1
Author: Elsa Winckler
Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance
Blurb: Widowed rancher Hayden Weston knows what it means to be responsible for his siblings, his eight-year-old son, and the running of the huge family cattle ranch. Some even call him a stern and grumpy taskmaster and they’re not exactly wrong. So when Hayden discovers his son reading a storybook instead of doing chores, he calls on Luke’s teacher to talk about priorities.
School teacher Laura Anderson is new to Marietta, Montana, and has never—until now—been reprimanded for encouraging a child to read. It doesn’t help that sweet Luke’s father is the handsome cowboy with the amber eyes that she met in Grey’s Saloon, or that she’s wildly attracted to him.
Sparks keep flying as their paths keep crossing, but Hayden is determined not to give in to his incomprehensible need to have, hold, and protect Laura from any type of harm. He’s the one who’ll hurt her if he lets her stray too close. He’s not ready to admit his feelings or commit to sharing his life with her.
Even if love comes tumbling in.
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Grabbing her coat again, she rushed to the door, and while looking down at the buttons of her coat, she flung it open, already moving toward her car. But instead of moving forward, she was abruptly stopped by an unmoving object. She reached out to steady herself and her hands landed on a warm body. Familiar earthy tones of man and musk penetrated her befuddled brain.
Before she could figure out what had happened, big hands closed around her upper arms.
“What the hell?” the same voice rumbled.
Still stunned, she looked up, and up, not wanting to see what she already knew she would see. It was the cowboy from the previous Friday night.
A frown appeared between his eyes as recognition slowly dawned on him.
Eventually, she registered her hands were still spread out over his muscled upper body. Quickly dropping them, she stepped back. “May I help you?” she asked, trying not to look as flustered as she was feeling.
Still frowning, he looked up at the number above the door. “You…you were in Grey’s Saloon last Friday night?”
Nodding briefly, she lifted her chin. “May I help you?”
she asked again.
“Isn’t this Mrs. Denton’s classroom?”
“Mrs. Denton retired at the end of January. I’m the new second-grade teacher.”
His mouth opened and closed a few times. “Why the hell didn’t I know that?”
“Is there a reason you should know?”
“Hell, yes!” he said through clenched teeth. “My son is in this class.”
“Your son?”
“Luke. Luke Weston.”
Ah. Finally, many things made sense. “Well, Mr. Weston, if you or your wife had taken the time to read the letters I sent you last week, you would know that, one”—she ticked on her fingers—“your son has a new teacher, and, two, I would like to make an appointment to see both of you to talk about Luke.”
He frowned. “Why?”
“I would prefer it if your wife…”
“My wife, Miss Whoever-you-are, is dead. If you want to talk about Luke, you talk to me.”
It was her turn to open and close her mouth a few times. Inhaling deeply, she put out a hand. “I’m sorry, Mr. Weston. I’m Laura Anderson and I’m your son’s new teacher. Do you have a few minutes?”
He ignored her hand. “No, I don’t have a few minutes. I have a ranch to run. I’m here to tell you not to give Luke more books to read. He’s neglected his chores, something he’s never done before. I caught him in the barn yesterday afternoon, reading a damn book!”
The way the big man was carrying on, you’d think his son was committing a federal crime. No wonder poor Luke looked so unhappy.
“You should be pleased about that, not mad.”
“I’m not…” he bellowed before he caught himself. Rubbing his face, he turned on his heel. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Mr. Weston,” she called out. “We really should talk.”
He stopped and glared at her over his shoulder. “You wanna talk to me? You come and see me.” And off he stomped.
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I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during my Honours studies, I was hooked for life.
I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and after 47 years, 3 interesting and wonderful children and 4 beautiful grandchildren, he still makes me weak in the knees. We are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty’s Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us. And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exciting and interesting one!
I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong. And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous! My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.
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Maggie Blackbird 
This sounds perfect for me to read. thanks for the great post.
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