Spotlight & Giveaway: The Rancher’s Homecoming by Anna J Stewart

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Anna J Stewart to HJ!

Hi Anna and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Rancher’s Homecoming!

 
Hi everyone! Happy holidays and thanks for having me back!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

The Rancher’s Homecoming tells the story of Chance Blackwell, the “baby” of the family, the one brother who never quite fit in with the rest of his ranching brood. As soon as he could, he left Falcon Creek, eloped with the foreman’s oldest daughter and set his sights on fame and fortune in the music business. Now a widower single father to little Rosie, Chance has been brought back to the family ranch to help decide whether to sell the family business or not, only to discover his late sister’s wife, Katie Montgomery and ranch fore-woman, is all grown up.

Katie’s always been everyone’s second choice. Her father’s, her boss’s, and now Chance. Not that she can even think about him that way, but she can’t help but feel the spark the second he and Rosie return to Falcon Creek. The last thing she needs is another complication in her life, but that’s Chance in a nutshell. A complication. Katie’s determined to stay focused on the task at hand: making sure she keeps her job so her ailing, alcoholic father will be able to stay in the only place he’s ever called home. But with Chance and Rosie being back, there’s not much chance of that happening.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

This is going to be one of those books where it’s really difficult to choose. Ironically, I think this line, spoken by Ty, Chance’s twin brother, really gets to the heart of the story:

“Might be smart of you to remember that while you lost your wife, Katie lost her sister. Pictures and videos aren’t any substitute for holding that little girl in her arms.”

And I like this one, too.

For Chance, he’d always felt like a banjo in an orchestra. How many times had his brothers and
grandfather teased him that he was, in fact, the worst cowboy to ever saddle a horse?

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• I absolutely LOVED writing this book. I always enjoy the story more I think when there are kids involved and little Rosie was so much fun; but she’s not perfect. The kid can throw a tantrum better than anyone else.
• This is actually the fifth book in The Return of the Blackwell Brothers mini-series from Harlequin Heartwarming. Each book, including this one, is a complete stand-alone, but I think the reading experience is probably enhanced if you’ve read the others. Don’t worry–I wrote it as if it was the only one that was going to be read.
• The other four authors are my four best writing friends. You know how you just get a group together one day and everything just clicks? That’s me, Melinda, Cari, Carol, and Amy. Every year we meet up at an annual writers’ conference and get our fix in. We are inseparable for that time (we travel in packs, LOL). It’s the best week of the year for me (and hopefully for them). So when Melinda came up with this idea for a mini-series, it honestly didn’t take any convincing. I knew I was in good hands with these amazing women. And I think that comes through on the page. As close as the brothers are (or become), that’s us.
• Another fun fact? I know zip about ranching. So much so that the only caveat I had for agreeing to write in the series was that I wanted the brother who couldn’t ranch to save his life, LOL. Funny thing is, since then I’ve written another rancher so I’m guessing Karma got her say, too.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

For me, the idea of a single father utterly and completely in love with their kid just melts my heart. I knew from the get-go that Chance was that kind of hero. No doubt that stems from my own personal issues, but showcasing a hero like that, who will and has done anything and everything he could for his little girl? What heroine wouldn’t fall for him?

For Katie, as with all the heroines I write, that streak of independence and self-sufficiency always becomes an integral part of who they are. Katie grew up hard in a lot of ways, in a man’s world, and while there is still some reticence when it comes to giving her her due, I don’t think there’s anyone working on that ranch who doesn’t respect her. And she doesn’t command it; she’s earned it. For all my books, my heroines never need a man; but when they find the one they want they’re going to move the earth itself to get him.

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would you use for the audition of the main characters and why?

Because a lot of the story deals with the entirety of the Blackwell family, I think I’d choose a scene that includes all of the brothers, along with Katie. She’s always been a part of the ranch, a part of their lives, so there’s a lot of big-brothering going on even though she’s actually the boss. It was a fun interplay for sure, especially when there’s really only one way to put Katie off her guard: and that’s to sic all five brothers on her, which is what happens after Katie and Chance have had an accident which leaves Katie injured with a broken leg and a concussion (FYI, Hip is her dog, an Australian Shepard whose fully name is Hippolyta).

Panic of an entirely different sort set her heart to pounding. “I don’t want to see—hey, Chance.” She clutched the exam robe closed at her throat. Her jeans were toast and sat shredded in the corner. Her shirt was covered in blood, which meant all she had to wear was the awful saggy faded gown that was way too big. “I’m fine,” she said when she caught the concerned look in
his eye. “Nothing for you to worry about. Any of you to worry about,” she added when four other male faces popped into view behind him. Hip nosed her way through and sat in front of them, an imperious expression on her fuzzy face.

Katie had to admit, seeing all the Blackwell brothers together for the first time in a decade made for a pretty impressive sight. Put that picture on a brochure and they’d have to start hosting singles weekends at the ranch. Geez, she was starting to sound like Ty’s fiancée, Hadley. “Seriously, Doc, I’m feeling better. Just let me out of here.”

“Not until we get some things straight.” Dr. Grey sat down on a stool. “This is your second concussion, which means playtime is over.”

“Second? What happened with the first?” Chance demanded, as if Katie wasn’t in the room.

Katie set her jaw and narrowed her eyes, something she wished she hadn’t done with her head throbbing. “Nothing worth talking about.”

“She was kicked in the head by one of her problem children,” Dr. Grey said. “What was his name? Faustus?”

“It was just a graze,” Katie grumbled. “And he didn’t mean it. He got spooked and I was standing in the wrong place.”

Readers should read this book….

If they love small-town westerns and/or single fathers as the heroes. If they like independent heroines who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. If they like large family casts with lots of interaction and growing relationships. I always write books about family or about groups of friends who are family. Why? One, because I like the idea of having spin-off book ideas and two, I just love writing scenes with the interplay isn’t only between the hero and the heroine, but also with friendships, or sibling relationships. It gives me more to do with them than just play off one another.

And of course readers should read this book if they’ve been reading the Return of the Blackwell Brother series because they’re going to want to find out how it all ends! Other than happily of course.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m currently writing the fourth book in my Honor Bound series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. This is Jack McTavish’s story, a character I fell in love with in MORE THAN A LAWMAN. He’s really one of my faves and I’m so excited about his book. I’m calling this my Rear Window story as it has a bit of Hitchcock inspiration (right down to some of the character names). Which is actually pretty funny since I’m not a huge Hitchcock fan. It’s 8 months after GONE IN THE NIGHT and Jack is just coming back to work after being shot and almost killed at the end of that book. He’s got a lot of proving to do–both to his bosses and to himself.

After I’m done with that, I think I’m going to be starting a new paranormal novella trilogy to follow up on my Tome Warden series (I left some characters back in the magical world who need a few happily ever afters). And then I’m back to Butterfly Harbor! I recently sold the final six books in the series and first up will be Frankie Bettencourt, Butterfly Harbor’s only female firefighter. Readers will get their first look at Frankie in Kendall’s story, coming out late next year. I’ve definitely got enough to keep me busy for a while.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: 2 digital collections of the first 4 Butterfly Harbor Heartwarmings: The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor; Recipe for Redemption; A Dad for Charlie; and Always the Hero. Open Internationally.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: I’ve told you how much I love writing single fathers. I’d love to know what your favorite type of hero is to read! I’m always looking for new stories to tell so chime in below.

 
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Excerpt from The Rancher’s Homecoming:

The land stared back at him, accusing. He didn’t want the memories. Not of his brothers, or the parents he barely remembered, not to mention his grandfather, who had only berated or ignored Chance’s interest in music. He certainly didn’t want to think of Maura and how she was as ingrained here as much as she was in his heart.

But it was the thought of his late wife that loosened the tension in his jaw. For an instant, he could all but see her, red hair flowing behind her, as she rode Fairweather, her favorite horse, across the rolling hills, her laughter ringing in the air like wind chimes in a summer storm. Huh.

Chance blinked and pulled out the notebook he kept close at hand. He scribbled down the thoughts, on the off chance they might lead to something productive. Something that would ease Felix’s doom-and-gloom protestations that Chance’s career might never resurge.

“Daddy, look!” Rosie’s cry shot him out of his reverie. He looked up to find Rosie pointing to a horse and rider in the distance headed toward them. A smaller animal trotted alongside in a scene straight out of a Zane Grey novel.

Chance joined Rosie at the fence, his pulse hammering as he debated which brother would be the first to welcome him home. Not that he expected much of a welcome. Jon had his own organic spread, the JB Bar Ranch, nearby. Ethan was just getting his veterinary practice off the ground. Ben was currently lawyering with his new wife, Rachel, and living at the Double T, and Ty…well, Ty knew better than to be the welcoming committee.

As the horse drew closer, the pounding of hoofbeats vibrated across the land. If he squinted, he could make out the rider’s features. Along the edges of the worn tan hat, a flash of red caught the sun. His mouth went dry as the rider came to a halt on the other side of the fence. For a long moment, they stared at one another, Chance nearly falling into the bottomless green eyes so
reminiscent of Rosie’s and Maura’s. But while the color was the same, the independent, determined spark could only belong to one person.

“Hello, Katie.” Chance rested his hand on Rosie’s curl-topped head as his heart skipped a beat.

“Chance.” Her smile seemed a bit strained, her freckled face a bit pale, and her hands gripped the reins hard enough that her knuckles had gone white.

Apparently he wasn’t the only one apprehensive about his homecoming. The black-and-white Australian cattle dog woofed and quirked its head as if suggesting introductions were in order.

“Aunt Katie?” Rosie looked up at him.

Chance nodded and drew Rosie against him as Katie Montgomery bounded off her horse and removed her leather gloves. She stuffed them in the back pocket of her snug, worn jeans and walked toward them. “Well, who do we have here?” She narrowed her eyes and leaned over to peer closer at Rosie, the trepidation on her face fading as she looked at her niece in person
for the first time.

“It’s us, Aunt Katie!” Rosie broke free of Chance’s hold and darted forward. “It’s me, Rosie and Daddy!”

“Careful, Little Miss!” Katie chided as Rosie wedged herself under the bottom line of wire.

Katie gave Chance a quick glance before she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms tight around his daughter. “Oh, Rosie.” Katie dropped kisses on both of Rosie’s cheeks before hugging her again. “I’m so happy to see you. I’m so glad you’re here. Careful, Hip.” She brushed a quick hand over the dog’s back in reassurance.

Chance saw the tears in Katie’s eyes before she squeezed them shut. She may have had her older sister’s eyes and the same fire-red hair, but the resemblance ended there. Where Maura had been soft around the edges, girly,

flirty, tall and willowy, Katie was compact, edgy, curvy and all cowgirl. Maura’s dreams had been focused on being anywhere but Montana, while Katie had been firmly situated on Blackwell land, working alongside her father for as far back as Chance could remember. She loved this place just as much—and probably more—than any Blackwell brother ever had. She’d
bled, sweated and worked for it. When they sold the place, he hoped the new owners would realize the prize they had in her and keep her on.

But for now, all he could do was watch as Katie and Rosie giggled and hugged and giggled some more. To see his daughter this giddy made the excruciating drive worth it.

“You’re as beautiful as you are in your pictures.” Katie rocked Rosie back and forth until the little girl squirmed. Rosie knocked Katie’s hat off her head as Katie got to her feet and swung Rosie around in a circle. Katie’s dog barked and hopped along with them.

“Daddy said you’d be happy to see me.” Rosie looked back at Chance when she was back on her feet. “You said so, right, Daddy?”

“I did.” Chance barely recognized his own voice. Seeing them together, he couldn’t help but imagine the same scene with Maura. Maura, who had died just before Rosie turned three. Maura, who, once the chemo had taken its talon-sharp hold, hadn’t been able to swing her daughter in her arms or smother a giggling little girl with kisses. But Katie wasn’t Maura. As his lips pulled into a wide, genuine smile, the regret melted away. She wasn’t Maura. No one ever would be. And that, he realized, was okay.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Chance Blackwell’s return could cost her everything!

Ten years after he eloped with Katie Montgomery’s sister, Chance Blackwell is back in Montana to sell his family ranch. Katie could lose her job and the only home she’s known. But the loyal cowgirl is keeping a secret that could shatter trust and jeopardize her future with the widowed musician and her toddler niece. Unless Chance’s growing affection for her and all things Blackwell can earn Katie his forgiveness—and his love.
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Meet the Author:

USA Today and national bestselling hybrid author Anna J. Stewart writes sweet to sexy romance for Harlequin’s Heartwarming and Romantic Suspense lines. Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek, and Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating fun, funny, and family-centric romances with happily ever afters for her independent heroines. A former RWA Golden Heart nominee and 2018 Daphne DuMaurier finalist, Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious Supernatural , Sherlock, and Jason Momoa addiction and surrounds herself with friends and family. When she’s not writing, you can find her at fan conventions, at her local movie theater, or building her client list for her content editing services. You can read more about Anna and her books at www.authorannastewart.com.
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