Let's Get To Know GHOST MOUNTAIN RANCH: DARBY ~ by #RomanceGems Author Jan Scarbrough

Welcome to Feature Friday where we have Jan Scarbrough in the spotlight with her book GHOST MOUNTAIN RANCH: DARBY. Let's talk to Jan about it...

DARBY is the second book in The Ghost Mountain Ranch series. Tell us about this series. What ties the books together?

Several years ago, I decided to give a story to Hank, the head wranglers at the Six Buckles Ranch in Montana. The story didn’t have such a happy ending, but it was a way for me to have Hank leave the Dawson family and go to Ghost Mountain Ranch where I knew he would meet his high school sweetheart Darby York.

The three books that I wrote after HANK tell the story of Darby and her two children Slade (named after her first love) and Kelsey. Darby is estranged from her father but comes home to the ranch at the urging of Hank and Kelsey. There she uncovers clues about her mother’s past. The next two stories in the series are complete romance, but they also reveal the mystery about what happened to Darby’s mother.


What's your inspiration for this series?

My husband and I visited a Montana dude ranch in 2016, so the Ghost Mountain Ranch is sort of a combination among several ranches. When I wanted to add a mystery to my new western series, my editor suggested doing something about the anti-war movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I read a few history books on the subject and came up with a complicated back story for Darby, her mother, and Darby’s family.


Tell us more about your heroine, Darby York. What in her past influenced her to be the woman we meet in the story?

Darby was very close to her mother. When her mother commits suicide, Darby feels guilty and thinks she’s somehow responsible. She flees the Montana dude ranch where she grew up and ends up working at a Kentucky horse farm where she meets and marries the wealthy owner. I wanted her life in Kentucky to be happy. She has children and a doting husband who indulges her passion for art. When the story starts, I wanted Darby to resist returning to Montana because of the guilt she’s never resolved.

What about Hank Slade, wrangler at Ghost Mountain Ranch? What's a wrangler? What kind of man is he?

A wrangler is someone who looks after horses or other animals on a ranch. On a dude ranch, a wrangler will get the horses ready and lead trail rides for the guests. Hank Slade is a loner. He’s been a wrangler at the Dawson’s ranch for years. Hank is unlucky in love. He had two loves—Darby and Liz Dawson, the wife of the ranch owner who has recently remarried. Taking the head job at Ghost Mountain Ranch gives Hank a new purpose in life. He doesn’t count on Darby coming back into it.


What inspired you to write about older protagonists?

I understand older protagonists better because I am older myself. I also like to give characters a second or third chance in life. We don’t get our lives right from the beginning. As Hank says, we learn from our mistakes.


Which character in the series is your favorite to write? Why?

I enjoyed writing about Darby and having her come to terms with her past. She runs away from her fears until she must confront the truth and her feelings.


Which character in the series is the hardest to write? Why?

I think Slade was the hardest to write. He’s unsure of himself but becomes a man working at the ranch. I hope I made his growth in self-confidence realistic.

Blurbs ~

HANK:

On Christmas Eve, Hank accepts the job of ranch foreman over the mountains in the Gallatin Canyon, Montana. But something dark is happening at the Ghost Mountain Ranch, where the past is reaching out in dangerous ways to haunt the living.


DARBY:

Thirty years ago, Darby Heston fled her family’s Montana dude ranch. Now she must return to help her father. Would the boyfriend she’d abandoned still be there? Hank Slade has never stopped loving Darby, but is he willing to risk his heart again? Secrets tore them apart once. Given a second chance at love, will more shocking secrets from the past destroy their hopes for the future?


SLADE:

Slade Heston is spending the summer as a hired hand at his grandfather’s dude ranch, trying to figure out life, not fall in love. Laurie Chastain is supposed to write promotions for the ranch, but she has a secret goal. What did a 1970s radical resistance group have to do with her grandfather? Laurie’s only clue leads her to Ghost Mountain Ranch. Will their growing attraction be enough to protect Slade and Laurie from the ghosts of the past?


KELSEY:

Kelsey Heston’s using the skills learned at her family’s Kentucky horse farm to improve tourism at her grandfather’s dude ranch. But what is her old college sweetheart doing here? Max Lee has come to Ghost Mountain Ranch searching for a missing woman. Instead, he finds Kelsey. But old secrets are stirring, secrets someone might be willing to kill to keep. Can they finally lay the old ghosts to rest, or will the echoes of a decades-old murder destroy their second chance at love?

Bio ~

Whether it is the Bluegrass of Kentucky, the mountains of Montana, or Medieval England, Jan Scarbrough brings you home with romances from the heart.

The author of two popular Bluegrass series, Jan writes heartwarming contemporary romances about home and family, single moms, and children, and if the plot allows, about another passion—horses. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, Southern charm to her books and the excitement of a Bluegrass horse race or a competitive horse show.

Jan leaves her contemporary voice behind with two paranormal gothic romances, Timeless and Tangled Memories, a Romance Writers of America (RWA) Golden Heart finalist. Her historical romance, My Lord Raven, is a medieval story of honor and betrayal.

A member of Novelist, Inc., Jan self-publishes her books with her husband’s help.

YOU CAN BUY THE GHOST MOUNTAIN STORIES HERE:

https://books2read.com/HankGhostMountain

https://books2read.com/Darby

https://books2read.com/SladeGhostMountain

https://books2read.com/Kelsey


YOU CAN FIND JAN HERE:

Website http://janscarbrough.com/

Blog http://janscarbrough.com/blog/

Newsletter http://janscarbrough.com/contact/

Amazon Author URL https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Scarbrough/e/B001K8768A

Bookbub Author URL https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-scarbrough

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Romancerider/

Twitter https://twitter.com/romancerider

AllAuthor https://allauthor.com/profile/romancerider/

Thank you, Jan, for joining us today and for sharing your Ghost Mountain Ranch series with us!

RETURN TO PIKE'S RUN AND LEARN ALL ABOUT THE EDITOR'S KISSES!

Good morning, all! Please help me welcome, Stephen Dawson, the editor with those kisses! Let's find out more about him...

Tell me about yourself? 

My name is Stephen Dawson, and I’m the owner and editor of my hometown’s newspaper, The Weekly Times. As a young boy, I always hungered for information about the world, and I collected newspapers from all over. This interest turned in to a profession, so I saved up for several years to buy a printing press and start my own paper.

What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now? 

For most of my childhood, my family suffered under the neglect of my mother and her distaste for my father. I often tried to be whatever my mother wanted in hopes that she would become the person our family needed. It didn’t work. However, despite that, my brothers and I managed to form a bond as strong as hickory. We also have a close relationship with our father and step-mother. Family is important to me, and I use my paper to support the needs of others. No sensationalism.

What tangible object would symbolize you? 

You might think it would be a newspaper, but it’s really a fishing pole. If I’m not writing, I’m fishing with my brothers and father.

How did you meet Constance? What was your first impression of her? 

Constance and I grew up together and attended school together. The first day I met her, she won the class spelling bee. She didn’t gloat about it, either. She gets the job done without fuss. No nonsense -- that was my first impression of her.

What do you like about Constance? 

Her tenacity. She is also bright, loving and loyal.

What is it that you want out of life? 

To spend the rest of it with Constance. To raise our children to be happy, successful and caring adults. To leave a mark on the world that helps others in the future.

Has life handed you any major disappointments? 

Yes. My mother passed away when I was seventeen. Despite her neglect, I loved her very much. We all did. She made amends before she died, which helped some. But there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her and wish for a second chance.

If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it? 

I’d go fishing.

Aside from Constance, tell me about your best friend. 

I have two. They are my brothers, Frank and Carl. Frank is older than me, and he’s the person I go to for advice. He’s calm, steady. He’s probably the backbone of our family. Carl is younger, and he’s the one who helps me lay down my burdens and enjoy life. I need both of them.

Thanks so much for joining us Stephen and Kara! Let's find out more about THE EDITOR'S KISSES...

Blurb ~

One kiss changes the whole game…

 

Constance Forrester is a suffragette determined to change society. When Stephen Dawson, her school chum, starts a newspaper, she asks Stephen to take a risk and employ her as a journalist.

Stephen immediately turns her down. But his interactions with Constance have made the town princess, Madeline Talbut, curious. Stephen has loved Madeline for years, and he concocts a plan: enter into a fake courtship with Constance, and in return, Constance can be a journalist for his newspaper.

It’s a chance Constance can't pass up. So what if she has to attend parties and withstand Stephen's heart-melting kisses? A suffragette must forge through barriers, but when Stephen changes the game, Constance finds herself the object of the editor's desire…

 

I am a huge fan of Kara's and I think 

after reading this excerpt you'll understand why.

A budding suffragette agrees to a fake courtship with the editor for a job…not love.

 

Excerpt ~

Setting: The Talbut Parlor

The Problem: An annoying parlor game

 

Madeline’s spinning of Constance was a little rough, but Stephen held his tongue. When their hostess let go, Constance fumbled for a moment before Stephen raised himself up and yanked her into his lap.

The shouts of excitement and delight that went around the room nearly deafened him. People playfully called out “cheater”, but Stephen didn’t care, especially when Constance whisked off her mask and looked immensely relieved to see he’d successfully caught her.

They headed to the closet without fuss. Constance almost looked as if she was dying to climb inside. She probably wanted to get the farce over with.

Once they were squeezed into the confining space, with their chests pressed together in a way Stephen had only fantasized about, she said, “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done—”

He covered her mouth with his hand, having dislodged it from his side. Then he leaned near her ear. “They might be able to hear us,” he whispered.

She flinched.

He lowered his arm, and she let out a slow breath. He wished he could see her face. For more reasons than to satisfy his worry she was all right.

He did everything he could to ignore the touch of her body along his front. He tried not to remember how she looked, how her eyes lit up, how her expression sharpened when she was interested in something. Why had he watched her all night?

But he knew. He knew very well. She was captivating. Intriguing. And so damned lovely.

Why was he having feelings for her? Wasn’t his love for Madeline strong enough to withstand attraction for another woman? But if it was, he would be in the closet with his hostess and not the lady he pretended to the world held his fancy.

He had to kiss her. He had to discover if this attachment was real. Besides, if he didn’t kiss her, everyone would wonder why. And for some strange reason, he needed every fellow out there to understand Constance Forrester was his. He closed his eyes and realized his attitude was no better than a caveman’s. But the need to possess and brand raced through him without pause, and he couldn’t fathom how to check it. Except to kiss her and get her out of his system once and for all.

“Constance,” he uttered. “I’m gonna kiss you.”

She flinched again.

“I won’t hurt you, I swear it. But if I don’t kiss you…they’ll all question us and our…attachment.” He was an ass. He was using their agreement to coax her into acquiescence, and while he knew it, and was ashamed of it, he continued. “It will only be for a second. I’ll just brush my lips with yours.”

In the darkness, he felt her slight nod against his chin. His heart pounded at her quiet surrender.

When she pulled back as far as the space would allow and lifted her head to his, heat slashed through him. He’d never needed a kiss as much as he needed hers.

 

Madeline had kissed him. Once. Behind the schoolhouse when they were sixteen. And that moment hadn’t caused nearly the anticipation this one did.

He lowered his head and swallowed her gasp. It wasn’t a brush, even though he only set his lips on hers. It was a fire. A shot of whiskey that whipped through him and pooled in his gut. He deepened the connection, and she let him, sighing and sinking into him despite already being as close to him as he could get her.

He melted. He needed to move to the ground and cover her, press her down and make her his. He used his tongue, tasting her. She capitulated instantly and opened her mouth under his. He took what she allowed without hesitation as his free hand came up to grip her waist.

The damn closet was too small. His left hand was wedged between her side and the slender door. But though he couldn’t get his arms around her, he didn’t stop the kiss. It went on and on, stealing his breath, tightening his chest and making him doubt everything he’d ever known about his heart.

Rapid footsteps had him surging backward, and he knocked his head on the wall.

The door flew open, and cool air blasted his cheeks. He and Constance fell out of the space, their limbs tangling as they tried to right themselves.

Peals of laughter rung around them as Stephen reached out a hand to balance her. She latched on as if she didn’t want to let go, and his muscles vibrated with hope she had enjoyed the moment as he had.

It had taken less than a few seconds for him to realize kissing her had been the wrong thing to do. But also the most right, most perfect, most sound judgement he’d ever made in his life.

As those who’d crowded around the entrance to the kitchen went roaring with laughter back into the parlor, he gazed at Constance. And his world tilted.

Her flushed cheeks and bright eyes made his heart constrict with an emotion he was too afraid to name at the moment. But he knew what it was. He knew.

How in the devil had it happened? Was he a fool? A fickle man?

He swallowed. “Do you want to leave?”

And before his eyes, he witnessed a transformation that set his blood on fire. Determination changed her expression, and she lifted her chin.

“Certainly not. I’m quite all right, I assure you.” She gave a shake to her skirts. “We’ve a job to do, Stephen Dawson, and I’ll not let you down.”

She exited the kitchen with a swirl of satin, and he followed with less sure steps. She wouldn’t let him down, he knew it. But he feared he might disappoint her, for if she knew the direction of his thoughts, she would never forgive him. Constance Forrester had no time for any man. She had plans. Plans that didn’t include caring for the heart of the newspaper editor.

 

Beautifully written and compelling! Thank you for sharing this, Kara!

To purchase THE EDITOR'S KISSES:

https://books2read.com/u/31Y1ya

Bio~

Born and raised in Texas, I had to make the state the setting for my first series. From the food to the fun, like floating the rivers, it is the fire in my blood that inspires me. My family and friends take center stage in my books. My sisters and best friends are my heroines, and my husband created my favorite hero. Love and family are the point of my stories, and I seek to entertain, relieve stress, and inspire people. Books can take one on a journey that one can relive over and over. I am extremely grateful to those authors who did that very thing for me. I learned and I fell in love with their words and characters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

 

To follow Kara:

Website –  www.karaoneal.com

Bookbub –  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kara-o-neal

Amazon –  http://www.amazon.com/Kara-ONeal/e/B00FL19TH8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1465007993&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble –  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kara+o'neal?_requestid=845025

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor

Pinterest –  https://www.pinterest.com/karaoneal7/

Goodreads –  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278350.Kara_O_Neal

Blog -- http://www.karaoneal.com/blog

Blog – The Story Continues -- http://www.karaoneal.com/the-story-continues

And catch these other wonderful reads!

 Thanks for joining us! Y'all come back now!

 

 

~ READ THIS AND YOU'LL BE INTERESTED IN RISKING IT ALL! ~

 Howdy folks! We are here today with Kyle Morgan from RISKING IT ALL, J.M. Stewart's newest contemporary romance. So, hi, Kyle. Nice to have you here. Let's dive right in, okay? 

Tell me about yourself? What is your occupation? Why? What are your strengths & weaknesses?


“My name is Kyle Morgan. I’m 30, my best friend is a woman, and I’ve pretty much decided to stay single. Yeah, I think that about sums it up. I’m a police officer by trade. Specifically, I’m a detective for a local department. Why did I become a cop?” *shrugs* “I wanted to help people. I currently work in Homicide, and as hard as it can be, I enjoy helping the families left behind find peace. The dead deserve to have someone speak for them. “Strengths and weaknesses?” *Rubs his chin, the corners of his mouth twitching.* “Let’s see…good-looking, charming, witty—”


*A small stuffed animal flies in from another room, hitting the back of his head.*


“Hey!” *Swivels around, his grin widening at the sight of the woman standing in the archway.* “My sister Becca. I’m willing to bet she has something to add to this discussion.”


*Becca strides into the room, plopping down onto the couch beside him.* “He’s not humble, that’s for sure.”


*Kyle laughs again.* “My oldest brother, Evan, would probably tell you I’m a jokester and not serious enough.”


*Becca rolls her eyes.* “Evan’s serious enough for all of us.”



*Kyle nods.* “True that. Okay, seriously…my strengths? I like to think I’m a nice guy.”



*Becca lets out a dramatic sigh.* “All right, I guess I’ll give him that one. He is a nice guy. Sometimes, too much.”



“I’m also not afraid to stand up for what I believe in. Weaknesses? I’m a pushover.” *Nudges Becca with an elbow.* “Just ask Becca.”



*Becca blushes.* “Goes with the nice guy thing he’s got going on.”



What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

“I’m third of four. Evan and Chase are older. Becca’s the youngest. Which puts me somewhere between the forgotten middle child and the spoiled baby.” *winks.*


*Becca purses her lips and shakes her head.* “Kyle’s the class clown. Evan is the one who makes us toe the line, the rule enforcer. Chase is the quiet one. Kyle has always been the one who made everyone laugh.”


*Kyle grins and glances at Becca.* “That makes you the spoiled brat.”



*Becca folds her arms, but her lips twitch.* “Darn straight.”


*Kyle turns back to me, expression sobering.* “We were raised by our mother. She’s a strong woman. She gave us a strong sense of family, taught us to rely on each other. We get together every chance we can and you’ll find we’re loud and boisterous. And as you can see, we tease each other as easily as we blink, but it’s because we’re all close. How does my upbringing affect me now? That’s easy. Family’s important. I rely on my siblings and their families. There’s what,” *darts a glance at Becca* “12 of us now? There isn’t any one of them I couldn’t call at a moment’s notice if I needed to.”


What is your earliest childhood memory?

*Rubs the back of his neck.* “Now you’re asking the hard questions.” *Sighs and sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees.* “That would probably be the day my father left. I think I was five at the time. I have a memory of the look on his face as he walked out the door. Like I was an annoying bug, a mosquito buzzing in his face. We haven’t heard from him since. That memory stuck with me over the years. I grew up bound and determined not to be anything like him. Which is partly why my family is so important to me, why we stick together.”



How did you two meet? What was your first impression of heroine?


“Ceci and I met eons ago. I was ten, she was seven. She and her grandmother had just moved into the property next to ours. I met her down on the riverbank that runs at the end of our properties. I was throwing stones if I’m not mistaken and wondering how far I’d make it if I tried to swim across.” *laughs.* “She wandered down there and found me. First impression? She was as tall as me, all legs and arms, and she looked scared. Like she wasn’t sure if she could trust me. So, I sat down, took off my shoes and socks and stuck my feet in the water. I tossed in rocks and talked to her. About everything. The river. The bugs. The trees I’d climbed that day and even my annoying little sister. Took me a long time to get her to relax around me. At least a year.”


What do you like about the heroine?

“She’s shy and quiet, humble. She’s stronger than she thinks, she doesn’t ask for much, and like the rest of my family, I can count on her in a pinch. My job isn’t easy. Sometimes the bad guys get away, and she’s like…a little piece of serenity at the end of the day. She centers me. And she’s always there for me when I need her. If I have a rough night, I call her. She’ll always pick up. She’s the first person to be happy for me, and the first person to cheer me on, but she isn’t afraid to stand up to me and tell me I’m wrong, either. That she’s soft and feminine doesn’t hurt either.” *winks*



If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

“Ah, an easy question. Spend it with Ceci. I don’t even care what we do. Something as simple as making dinner and renting a DVD is a really good night. Though, honestly, I like sitting on the riverbank with her, just watching the water.”



What CD is in your CD player right now?

“Led Zeppelin.”

Blurb ~ 

She’s everything he wants…


For years, Kyle Morgan has hidden his true feelings from the gorgeous girl next door that he grew up loving and protecting. But when she shows up at his apartment in the middle of the night, desperately needing comfort and support, his iron will begins to waver…



…and the only thing he can’t bear to lose.


Kyle was always the big brother Cecelia Anton never had, but suddenly her goofy best friend has become a sexy man she can’t keep her thoughts—or hands—off of. As their deep connection melts into uncontrollable desire, Ceci is willing to put it all on the line for a shot at true love. Only Kyle is keeping a terrible secret about Ceci’s past that could destroy not only their lifelong friendship but their happily-ever-after…



Buy link: Penguin

Bio ~

JM writes passionate, heartfelt contemporary romance. She’s a wife, a mother, a spiritualist, and lover of puppies, and happily addicted to coffee and chocolate. She lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. She’s a hopeless romantic who believes everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her obsession. 

You can find out more about JM or her books here: Website /Blog /Twitter /Facebook