Book Feature and Interview with Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows

Young, adventurous and widowed in a new land, Cassandra Courtney Brooks finds her dream of raising a superior breed of saddle horse slipping away with the death of her husband. Left with four horses, living in a tavern attic, and her scant savings depleting, she resolves to see her vision through to fruition by accepting the scandalous position of steward at Varina Farms.

Born in the image of his native ancestry, Colton Rolfe’s savage blood runs through his veins. Scorned by his father, Colt grew into a man of ill temperament whose only interest is the wild equine beasts on his plantation. His desire to breed his horses with the superior Thoroughbreds of the newly widowed Cassandra Brooks leads him to abandon societal rules. Colt’s growing resentment toward the Crown and his assistance to Sons of Liberty missions is complicated by the discovery that Cassandra’s father is a titled English nobleman.

Cassandra is soon forced to question the wisdom of her decision when she finds herself enamored with her employer. As fiery passion grows between them, Cassandra realizes her own spirit of independence, love of the land, and the savage man who is so much a part of it.

As the threat of war comes ever closer, wills are tested through gunfire, treachery, danger, and kidnapping. Does Colt dare trust Cassandra with Sons of Liberty secrets? More importantly, can he trust her with his heart? And will Colt ever trust Cassandra enough to love her as she longs to be loved?

Sound like something you might enjoy?  Check out the excerpt below and then read my interview with the authors.

Excerpt from No Gentleman Is He

 

Jackson looked around and spotted a length of rope hanging on the wall at the opposite end of the stables. He went over and snatched it up. “Got a rope,” he said, holding it up.

“Good,” Colton murmured as he removed his coat and flung it, and his shirt, over the stall door. He took the rope from Jackson and laid it aside, knelt by the mare’s hindquarters and moved her tail aside.

Jackson followed suit, removing his coat but only loosening his shirt around his neck and rolling up his sleeves. “You will frighten the girl if you stay half naked, Colt.”

“If she is that delicate, she should not have horses. Where is the wench, anyway?”

“She has only been gone two minutes. Give her time.”

 

Just then, Cassandra rushed in, a bucket of water in one hand, its contents sloshing down her skirts, soaking them. She clutched a pail of grease in the other. “I could not find a rope,” she huffed, out of breath.

“We found one,” Jackson assured her.

Cassandra looked in the stall as the men worked. To Colton’s amusement, the woman suddenly flushed when she noticed the state of his undress. Apparently disturbed by her own reaction, she busied herself getting the soap from her apron pocket, almost dropping it from her noticeably shaking hand.

 

Book Available at:

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Interview with Lynette Willows and Carley Bauer

 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Carley: Sixth grade. I won a writing contest.

Lynette: A wonderful history teacher who encouraged me to continue writing, which I was doing since a young child to battle social and verbal awkwardness and shyness.

 

How long does it take you to write a book?
Carley: We wrote the equivalent of three to four books in 5 months. Add another couple of months for editing.

Lynette: Depending on what other projects I have on the go, anywhere from three months (as Carley mentioned) up to 5 years, which is the time I’ve taken for my thriller due to the intensive research.

 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Carol: I overdo the research and am never able to get it all in.

Lynette: I can’t listen to music since it’s too distracting, but instead put on headphones and listen to real time wildlife cameras, the sounds of nature inspiring me. Also, I often have the TV on for while noise.

 

What do you think is the best way of publishing a book these days?
Carley: I don't think there is a best way, although I love the far reach of an e-book.

Lynette: Both ebook and print simultaneously, so readers have the best possible choice out of a wide range of media.

 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Carley: Internet, Amazon e-books and Barnes and Noble print books.

Lynette: From my rather overactive imagination. I can’t keep up with it.

 

When did you write your first book?
Carley: Our first book was released in March of this year.

Lynette: Three years ago. It was finished but largely forgotten until I resurrected it a few months ago. I’m currently editing and changing the location, readying it for submission. I also have several novels in different genres that are almost finished.

 

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Carley: Lots of weekend traveling with my husband. We're empty nesters, so we now have the freedom to come and go as we please. Music, dancing, rigorous exercise and some of my best ideas come to me when I am in the throes of spring cleaning.

Lynette: Camping, fishing, chasing storms, gardening, reading of course, and taking walks with my recently retired husband before he rots on the couch and stinks the place up. We discovered we like holding hands while we explore with the dogs; I think he’s discovering he has a romantic side, late in life.

 

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Carley: This is our launch book! We're working on book two in the Sons of Liberty series.

Lynette: As Carley said, No Gentleman Is He is our debut novel. I have also completed one other romance, a Christmas story. Whatever I’m working on at the time tends to be my favorite.

 

Can you tell me and your readers something about your main characters?
Carley: Cassandra is adventurous, despite being raised in a lavish English estate. I love her ability to change with the circumstances, to have the courage to be who she is and chase her dreams. She adapts quickly to the colonies and it soon becomes home to her.

Lynette: Colton is embittered by his rejection by his father and his peers because of his Native American appearance. His only friend was Jackson Lee, his practical joke playing neighbor. He learned to be cautious around people and suspicious of his own emotions. He is sometimes socially awkward and is gruff to disguise his own perceived inadequacies. Cassandra not only accepts him for who he is, but prefers him that way, as he does her independence and strength. He realizes they make up an unusual couple for those times, and that perhaps he is worthy of love. He is also fiercely loyal if he feels the person has earned it.

 

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Carley: Surprisingly good things! Considering this is our launch book. Most believe we were raised on horse breeding farms, and mention the true to life scenes, the historical accuracy and realistic characters.

Lynette: We have a mixture, some saying they love the aura of the old fashioned romance books and others saying they love the research and the rather unorthodox inclusion of plot in a traditionally character driven genre.

 

What do you think makes a good story?
Carley: A combination of an intriguing plot and strong characters.

Lynette: Yes, agreed.

 

What are your favorite book genres in writing and reading? Why?
Carley: I love reading non-fiction, and I would cite my love of research. Doris Kearns Goodwin is an amazing author. I always learn so much from her unique perspective. Historical Fiction tends to grab me more than Historical Romance, only because it has so much more history in it. As much as I love writing Historical Romance, I suspect I'll scoot over to Historical Fiction in upcoming novels.

Lynette: Historical Biographies, thrillers, cozy mysteries, historical literature.

 

Who are you favorite authors to read?
Carley: John Jakes, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Margaret Mitchell and Lee Harper. Dan Brown, Charlene Raddon, Khalil Gibran, Mark Twain, Stephen King, John Grisham.

Lynette: Janice MacDonald, Pierre Burton, Harper Lee, Agatha Christie, James Herriot.

Want to learn more? Read on.

 

More About The Authors

 

I’m Lynette Willows. I live in rural Alberta, Canada. My debut novel, “No Gentleman Is He”, the first in the Sons of Liberty series, is co-written along with my partner in romance, Carley Bauer.

Some have mentioned I have a very interesting past. Not only was it unusual, but some would even say reckless. I’ve lived on an Indian reserve in a teepee with my young son for three months in the winter, I’ve chased storms, and worked as a social services aide on one of the most troubled and dangerous reserves in Canada, where I met great friends as well as made a few enemies.

I enjoy camping, movies, especially historical bio dramas, strange dogs, stranger cats, exclamation points, coffee mugs with stupid sayings, friends, the crazier the better, family, as long as they are crazier than I am, and I have a huge collection of shiny, outrageous earrings. Yes, I’m a magpie. I’ll only play chess with my husband because he’ll let me win.

If you’re curious about my favorite reading material, it’s very eclectic and varied. I’m extremely picky about what I read, so check out my “to read” list on Goodreads. You can also follow me and Carley, my talented, patient, and illustrious co-author at our fan page on Facebook at “Lynette Willows & Carley Bauer”. I’m also on Twitter under @LynetteWillows, as well as Pinterest, though I’m still figuring that out. You are welcome to also visit me and chat at “Lynette Willows, Author” at http://lynettewillows.blogspot.ca/.

“I have enormous respect for the reader. They are able to take symbols from a page that an author has invented, and turn them into images in their minds that create an enduring story. If that’s not artistry, I don’t know what is.”-Lynette Willows

You can find Lynette at the following links:

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

 

Carley Bauer

Carley Bauer enjoys life on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with her husband and their blue eyed feline, Noelle. After 30 years as a state contractor in a self employed capacity, she decided to try her hand at her first love, writing.

She loves being an empty nester, free to travel with her husband. Still involved with her children and grandchildren, Carley loves big family events. Some of her other hobbies are home decor, fashion, graphic arts, and the occasional bite of the Big Apple where the excitement feeds her natural love of city life.

You can find Carley at the following links:

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon Author Page

Blog

 

 

 

 Before you go be sure to leave a comment for the authors and be entered into the authors' giveaway.  There will be two winners drawn at the end of the tour. Winner 1 will receive a lovely pair of colonial era  earrings (U.S. only please due to shipping constraints); Winner 2 will receive a $100 Amazon GC.

 To increase your chances of winning visit the other stops on this tour.http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-tour-no-gentleman-is-he-by.html