Sunday, December 14, 2008

A COWBOY'S DREAM contest

CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF A COWBOY'S DREAM with me! Scroll below to see how to win a copy!

Author Leah Smith has fantasized about her neighbor, Houston’s pro baseball player Marcus Slade, for years, but thinks it’s unlikely she’d catch the cowboy’s interest since her IQ is bigger than her bra size. Having already been hurt by a man who wanted size over substance, she’s not in a hurry to play in that ball field again.

When an unexpected opportunity gets Marcus inside his favorite author’s apartment, he’s not about to let a second chance at love pass him by. Their attraction is quick and electric and has him instantly thinking about something more long-term. But when a woman from his past intrudes, his hopes of a cozy Christmas with Leah are buried beneath her cold shoulder. Risking a strikeout, Marcus has one chance left...go for the grand slam of his life and crash Leah's annual Christmas Eve party in hopes of convincing her she’s this Cowboy’s Dream.

Unedited Excerpt:

A Cowboy's Dream by Anna Kathryn Lanier
Release date: December 17, 2009

The mouthwatering scents of seared steak wafted around Leah as Marcus escorted her into the world famous Kemah Boardwalk Steak House. Her stomach grumbled, a reminder she hadn’t eaten since early morning.

The hostess greeted Marcus by name and smiled warmly at her. Leah glanced at him, wondering how often he came to the restaurant. Celebration dinners should be rare, not weekly—unless you found an excuse to celebrate every little thing. But what made them special then?

She slid into the booth and mentally shook her head. No matter what Marcus did in the past, this was her celebratory dinner. She smiled as he sat opposite her and determined to enjoy his company for as long as she had it.

The hostess handed them menus. “Would you like something from the bar, Mr. Slade?”
Marcus placed his Stetson beside him on the booth cushion and raised a brow at her.
“Whatever they have on tap will be fine,” she said.

He grinned and nodded. “Two beers, please.”

Glancing at his ‘celebration clothing,” she was glad she’d summed him up right. She’d nearly put on the $900 designer gown she planned to wear to next month’s charity fund raiser and made her look hot as hell, but at the last minute went over what she knew about pro ball player Marcus Slade. Celebrity though he may be, he was obviously still a cowboy at heart. Instead of the silk and satin confection, she pulled on blue jeans and simple blouse. She matched his jeans and western-styled shirt quite well.

Leah opened the menu and looked it over. “You’re a man after my own heart. There’s nothing better to celebrate with than a beer and a good steak.”

He jerked back as if surprised. “You mean to say you’ll actually order a steak?”

“Well, of course.” She laughed, brushing her hair behind her ear. “What’s the point of going to a steak house and not ordering a steak?”

He opened his mouth, but then shut it for a moment before uttering, “Truth be told, most of the women I know don’t eat much meat.”

That was no surprise. Most of the women she’d seen him with were the size of twigs—except in the bosom area—and probably ate weeds.

“Well, I hope you brought along your charge card, because I haven’t eaten much today and I’m starving. I plan to get a really big steak with all the fixings to celebrate.”

Marcus laughed. “Honey, the day I can’t afford to buy a pretty lady a steak is the day I’ll hang it up for good.”

Her heart fluttered at the endearment. Sure, it was common enough for Texans to drop honey and darling like hello and good-bye, but still, hearing it from Marcus made her insides quiver.

He wagged his brows, then glanced down to study his menu. She released a small sigh. Since she was a Roughrider’s fan and had held season tickets for years, she’d known who Marcus was before he moved into The Towers. To say she had a crush on him was probably an understatement, but she’d never suffered from delusions, either. Leah Smith, plain, average daughter of nomad archaeologists just wasn’t the type of woman the major league outfielder dated. As much as she wished she differently, she shouldn’t read more into this ‘date’ than what it was—a friendly, celebratory meal.

Leave a comment and tell me what Marcus ordered them to drink with their meals. On December 17th, I'll hold a drawing and the winner will receive a copy of A COWBOY'S DREAM and a $10 TWRP gift certificate.

Anna Kathryn Lanier
http://www.aklanier.com/

43 comments:

Skhye said...

2 beers! :) Don't you have another story coming out soon?

Susan Macatee said...

Two beers. Great excerpt and I just love the cover!

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Skhye,
Yes, next month I have the story of the hero's ancestors being released. SALVATION BRIDE will be released on Jan. 21st. Laura is a mailorder bride, David is a sheriff and rancher. You can learn more about them now by visiting my website: www.aklanier.com

Susan, I love the cover, too. Thanks. I know I should know who designed it, but I don't remember. I'll have to look that up and give her credit.

Anna Kathryn

Heather Redmond said...

Two beers! Congrats on the release, A.K! I've been enjoying TWRP Christmas stories this month.

Heather

kaisquared said...

He orders two beers on tap to go with their steaks. Nice excerpt and cover!

mamasand2 said...

2 beers, one for each of them. I love the sound AND the feel of this excerpt Anna Kathryn. I love finding new authors too.

Major Congrats on A cowboys Dream releasing this week.

Sandie

Anonymous said...

2 beers. I love stories with cowboys in them! :-)

Mary Ricksen said...

Yes two beers it is. On tap for her and him too I presume. I just love western romance novels!

Skhye said...

Great! I've read Salvation Bride. It's definitely for readers who love Westerns set in Texas. ;)

tigger9 said...

2 beers. Great excerpt, Iloved it.
Happy Holiday!
lexeetoste@sbcglobal.net

windycindy said...

Beer was his fedrink of choice! Great excerpt. I think I would be feeling the same she is! Please enter me in your delightful book drawing. Many thanks and Happy Holidays.....
Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Tami Winbush said...

He ordered them some beers! :)

JH said...

two beers on tap
Beautiful cover!

Booksrforever123 said...

A BEER FOR EACH OF THEM-CAN'T WAIT TO READ.

Anonymous said...

Two Beers please. The story sounds great. Thanks for the chance.

Cynthya said...

He ordered two beers--"whatever they have on tap." Second chance at love stories are always fun. Good luck with the new release!

Dina said...

“Two beers, please.”

Thanks and congrats!
Dina

dlsmilad(at)yahoo(dot)com

Eva said...

Two beers on tap.
Great excerpt and lovely cover!
Congrats and Merry Christmas!

Asylumgirl said...

Two beers, of course!

Deidre

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

I love my cover too, and the cover artist is Nicola Martinez. She's done my covers for The Priceless Gift and for Salvation Bride. I really like her desgings.

Anna Kathryn

Laurie B said...

two beers. Great excerpt!

Teri Wilson, Romancing the pet lover's soul said...

Two beers! Pick me!

Blessings,

Teri

www.teriwilson.net

Unknown said...

two beer. Sounds good!

Caffey said...

Yum, Cowboys! 2 Beers!! She's write this is a cowboy dream! I love his talk!! This is a great excerpt, thanks for the peek!

Penelope West said...

Two beers. (Yuk) Not my idea of a celebration drink, but each to his own. Enjoyed the excerpt. May you sell out the first day!! Penny

J K Maze said...

Intriguing. Makes me want to read the book, especially since I like cowboys.

He ordered two beers.

J. K. Maze

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Hi, Penny. Yeah, I don't drink beer either. In the original story, they're at an Italian resturant and drinking wine. But when I made Marcus a cowboy as well as a pro ball player, I had to change where they went to eat and what they drank....more down home than pasta and wine.

Thanks for all the comments. I really liked writing this story, both times.

Anna Kathryn

robynl said...

“Two beers, please.”
A big congrats on this week's release. I love cowboy stories and the cowboys in them.

squiresj said...

2 beers - I am on your newsletter. Enter to win. I am not looking forward to ice, snow and all the stuff they are forecasting.

squiresj said...

I forgot to leave my email - Jane Squires jrs362 (at) hotmail (dot) com
squires j on post

LJ White said...

Marcus orders two beers for them.

Congrats on the release. Cowboys make great Christmas gifts, oops I meant books make great Christmas gifts!

Happy Holidays!

Kim S. said...

Beers, two of them! Awesome cover and loved the excerpt!

Caroline Clemmons said...

Two on tap beers.

Looking forward to Salvation Bride. I love historicals. Glad to see you're seeing so much success with your novels. Congratulations!

Carolyn Smith aka Caroline Clemmons

Anne Carrole said...

Two Beers--love those cowboys!:)Great excerpt and looking forward to Salvation Bride too!

Anonymous said...

Two beers. The book sounds great.

Joan said...

2 Beers. Sounds like a great story. I love Cowboys and Christmas.

Kimberley said...

Two Beers! Loved the excerpt and the cover

lindseye said...

Two beers. I enjoyed the excerpt.

Nathalie said...

2 beers.

Congrats on your new release and happy holidays!

Mindy said...

Marcus orders 2 beers (On tap)
I LOVE the not perfect heroine!
Great excerpt:)
Mindy :)

Deb F. said...

He ordered two beers. Awesome cover and great excerpt!!!

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Congrats to JK Maze, who won my drawing for today. Please contact me, as I don't see a way of contacting you, to retrieve your prize - a copy of A COWBOY'S DREAM and a The Wild Rose Press Gift Certificate.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, read my blurb and commented.

Anna Kathyrn.

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Oh, yeah, you can send me an e-mail at annaklanier@aol.com.

A.K.