Please welcome the lovely and talented Nancy Fraser! Ladies, she's brought with her a hunk. A hunk of major proportions! Right this way --->
Today I'm interviewing Evan Carver from HOME IS WHERE THE HUNK IS!
Q: Evan, I understand you own the Double C Ranch, just outside of Wharton, Montana. How many acres do you have and how did you decide on the name?
Evan: The Double C is named for the joined spreads of the Carver and Cain families. Lifelong friends, my parents and my late-wife’s parents had always dreamed of joining their lucrative ranches into one big conglomerate. After our marriage, and the passing of both sets of parents, it became important to us that we honor their dream. The ranch is a little over 5,000 acres, made up mostly of prime grazing land. We also have a number of streams, brooks and our own natural waterfall. The spread now belongs to me and my sister-in-law, Allison. Although, because of her successful career away from the ranch, the day-to-day decisions are mine.
Q: As a widower with a young son to raise, how do you balance work and family responsibilities?
Evan: (Chuckles) Very carefully. Ranching requires long days and great attention to detail. I’m blessed to have a wonderful network of long-time family friends to rely on. As well, my ranch staff are the best in the business. I do everything in my power to devote as much of my time to my five-year-old son, Cody.
Q: We hear that you’ve been dating? Is there another Mrs. Carver on the horizon?
Evan: Dating yes, ready to re-marry, not so much. Although, if the lovely ladies of Wharton are to be believed, I’ve got one foot on the altar and the other in a slippery pile of cow dung.
Q: You mentioned your sister-in-law earlier. We understand she’s on her way home for a vacation. How eager are you and your son to see her again?
Evan: Cody is over the moon. He loves his Aunt Ali very much. I’ve always considered Allison the little sister I never had. It will be great to have her home for an extended visit.
Q: You also mentioned her successful career. She’s a very in-demand photojournalist, correct?
Evan: Yes, very talented and sought after for many projects. Her constant traveling takes her all over the world. She just returned from six months in South America where she assisted in bringing some much needed relief to the poorer residents of a number of South American states.
Q: You must be very proud of her altruistic work. Does she have another assignment coming up?
Evan: Both Cody and I are very pleased she was able to share her photographs with the world and aide in making changes. As for another assignment, you’d have to ask her. All I can confirm is that she’s welcome to stay here with us for as long as she’d like.
Q: To get back to your status as a very handsome, successful and available man, what is it you’re looking for in a wife … assuming of course that you’re actively looking?
Evan: (Another chuckle) First of all, thank you for the glowing compliments. Of course I’d love to meet someone and fall in love again. A mother for my son, and possibly more children, is every sane man’s dream. If I had to pinpoint one or two attributes that I consider a must, it would be compassion and honesty. Any woman I would date, and consider marrying would have to be willingly open to loving and caring for my son. She’d have a kind heart and be a giving, loving person. She’d also have to be up front and honest. Her integrity must be beyond reproach.
Q: One final question. Where should all of these compassionate, honest women go to apply?
Evan: Applications are not necessary. If, and only if, I’m interested, I’m confidant fate will intervene and I’ll find them on my own.
Hmm...Fate may need to buy me a ticket to the Double C! Thanks for joining us. Now here's a little bit more about HOME IS WHERE THE HUNK IS ~
Blurb ~
When globe-trotting photographer Allison Cain comes home to her family ranch in Montana it’s to get to know her nephew and to make amends with the widowed brother-in-law she’s left alone to raise his young son.
Evan Carver could never deny his late wife’s younger sister anything, despite the fact she’s been conspicuously absent over the past three years since her sister’s death. Now she’s home again on what she’s called an extended vacation. Evan’s first concern is for his son, Cody, and how his aunt’s visit will affect the five year old when she decides to return to her high profile career.
Allison has no intention of going back to work. In addition to getting to know Cody, she needs to confess her biggest secret to Evan. How do you tell the man you’ve always loved that you’re not just his son’s aunt, but also his mother?
Slowly she raised her head. Unshed tears filled her eyes, making them glisten like liquid stars. Evan felt a lump form in his own throat. She blinked rapidly in what Evan suspected was a conscious effort to hide her emotions. A knot tightened his gut. He had the sudden urge to take Ali in his arms, as he’d done the day she arrived, and bury her face against his chest, preferably without the argument that followed.
In the very back of his over-used imagination, he could see her coming willingly into his arms. He could feel the heat of her tears against his chest. His reaction surprised and frightened him in equal measure. He didn’t want to feel this way about her, especially when he knew she wouldn’t stay.
“Me, too,” she admitted softly, drawing Evan’s attention from her teary eyes to her soft, pink lips. The tears she’d been fighting back so tenaciously now pearled on her lashes, threatening to spill forth at any second.
Evan moved away from the tree, inching his way around Cody and close to Allison’s side. Cautiously, he lifted his hand and caught the first tear on his thumb, uncertain of exactly what had made her cry, yet knowing he selfishly welcomed the chance to offer her comfort.
“When I left South America, the only thing I could think of was coming here. I wanted desperately to feel the lush grass beneath my bare feet and to smell the fresh, clean air.”
“I don’t care what made you decide to come home. You’re here now and welcome to stay as long as you like.” Drawing her into his arms, he held her close and tilted her chin up with his fingertips until their gazes met.
At the first touch of his lips to hers, Evan tasted the cinnamon and apple of the dessert they’d just consumed. He pressed his lips more firmly to hers. She hesitated only briefly before returning his kiss with one of her own. He barely had time to consider what they’d done when Ali’s trembling voice broke through his consciousness.
“Evan,” she whispered. “Don’t, please.” Pressing her hands to his chest, she pushed lightly. Yet, when he would have backed away, she clenched the front of his shirt tightly in her fists. “We can’t . . .” she warned, still seemingly unwilling to let him go.
“Ali, it was only a kiss.”
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes and Evan knew if he didn’t let her go he’d likely do something they’d both regret. Gently, he grasped her hands in his and pulled them from the death grip she’d taken on his shirt. With his thumb he wiped away a final spent tear then released her completely. A moment later he was on his feet and walking back toward the damaged fence. It would take every ounce of strength he possessed, he realized, to keep from turning around and taking her into his arms again.
Author Bio ~
Like most authors, Nancy Fraser began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five beautiful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people. She invites you to visit her website (www.nancyfraser.ca) and follow her on Twitter (@nfraserauthor). Or, more importantly, just enjoy what she writes.
You can find Nancy at:
Website: www.nancyfraser.ca
Blog: http://nancyfraser.ca/wordpress/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor @nfraserauthor Facebook: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Hunk-Nancy-Fraser-ebook/dp/B00OPJECVU/
You can buy HOME IS WHERE THE HUNK IS at:
Giveaway ~
Nancy has been kind enough to offer this giveaway, so be sure to enter!
MJ, thank you so much for hosting Evan and I on your blog today. I look forward to checking back later in the day.
ReplyDeleteMan! You all snuck on my blog before I did! I was up early, taking the kids' car in for an oil change before they got up and needed it, and just got home. Thank you for being with us, Nancy, and for sharing HOME IS WHERE THE HUNK IS!
DeleteYes! I love a good cowboy romance! I LOVED M. Leighton's The Wild Ones. YUM!
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a definite mystique about a cowboy. Now that I'm thinking about it, it is all of those professions where guys are in good shape--construction worker, fireman, rock star, athlete--that really draw us in. We're after guys for their bods! How shallow of us. ...well, I'm good with that. Thanks for joining us, Christina!
DeleteI just recently started reading contemporary cowboy romance books. I haven't read many yet, but I loved Broken by Laura Wright. I now want to read the other 2 books in The Cavanaugh Brothers series. Thanks for sharing the interview and an excerpt. I just added Home is Where the Hunk is to my TBR list on Goodreads.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, the dreaded TBR pile. I was just going through my Kindle and moving books to my Finished list and noticed I have so many great books by good friends...I'll never be able to decide who's up next. And I want to read ALL of them! Thank you for joining us, Rachael!
DeleteThanks again, MJ for having me. And thank you to everyone who posted. I agree ... there's nothing sexier than a cowboy unless it's a cowboy who not only loves his horse, but also his adorable son! If my hero doesn't steal your heart, I guarantee his five year old son will! Good luck to everyone in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful read. Love the interview.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Thanks for joining us today, Susan.
DeleteGreat post, Nancy. Here's wishing you many sales!
ReplyDelete-R.T. Wolfe
Thanks for stopping in, RT.
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