Liza interviews the book Brides of Black Mountain by D'Ann Lindun

Today, I'm interviewing two books in one: The Brides of Black Mountain by the always entertaining D'Ann Lindun.

Peep Rep: Two books in one? That means double the fun!

Liza: Yes, it does, so lets get to it. D'Ann said she's sending the book by...ah here it is.

Liza: Thank you for riding over. May I call you Brides?

Brides: I knew this day was going to be strange when D'Ann stuffed me into a horse saddle and wished me well. Can you actually hear me, because I'm telling you now, I'm a terrible mime.

Liza: No, I can hear you, and I understand you have lots to share, given there are two books beneath your covers.

Brides: Yes, I'm double the fun...but please don't chew gum around me.

Liza: I'm won't break out gum if you'll tell me about your two stories. Let's start with  Shiloh's Song. What's that about?

Brides: All Shiloh Jamieson wants is a chance to make it in the country music business. 

Liza: I'm of fan of the TV show Nashville, and breaking into the business is not easy.

Brides: True, and unfortunately, her mother—a bitter failure in the biz—stands in Shiloh’s way. 

Liza: Does Shiloh realize all the fat disgusting radio hosts she'll have so sleep with. 

Brides: Sleeping her way around Nashville—is not an option for Shiloh.

Liza: Then she better have the finest voice Country Music has ever heard. So tell me about the hero?

Brides: Country music superstar Dillon Travers left Nashville’s bright lights and fame for Black Mountain, Colorado, craving peace, solitude and to run his rescue horse ranch. His wife’s death has left him disillusioned with the career he once loved.

Liza: Well this doesn't sound like  a good match. One's coming and the other is going.

Brides: Exactly. Can a sassy newcomer and a jaded veteran each find their way together when one desperately wants what the other needs to forget? 

Peep Rep: Sorry, I should have warned you Liza hates being asked questions she doesn't know the answer to.

Liza: Well, if you've nothing better to do than ask me questions about yourself, at least let me peek beneath you covers so I might have a chance at answering you.

Brides: Be gentle please.

Shiloh went to work early, eager to share her plans with Starla. She found her sister stacking cases of beer in the cooler. Shiloh reached for one of the cases and put it on the growing pile. She took a deep breath. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to enter the competition.”

Starla whooped and threw her arms around Shiloh. “That’s fantastic!”

“I’m so nervous,” Shiloh confessed. “Mom isn’t exactly overjoyed.”

Starla let go and waved her hand in a dismissive arc. “So what? This is your life, not Racine’s. And it’s not her career. It’s the start of yours.”

“I wish Mom agreed.” Shiloh grinned at her sister. “You’re never going to believe what happened to me yesterday.”

“What?” Starla arched her thin brows.

“I had a flat and guess who stopped to help me.” Shiloh drew out the suspense, still unable to believe it herself.

“Who? Who?”

Shiloh giggled. “You sound like a hoot owl.”

With a fake frown, Starla growled. “Who?”

“Dillon Travers.”

It took a minute for the name to register, but when it did, Starla’s eyes grew round and her mouth opened and closed a couple times. “The superstar? So the rumors are true? He’s moved here?”

“Yes. The very one. And you’ll never believe what he did. After he changed my tire he had me perform for him. He said I can really sing.”

“Well, of course he did. I’ve been telling you that for years.” Starla hitched a hip onto the stack of beer. “You should have asked him to coach you.”

Shiloh grimaced. “I did.”

“And?”

“He said no. Very firmly.”

“Then you’ll just have to change his mind.”

“I don’t think so, Starla. He moved here for peace and quiet, not to mentor an unknown.” Shiloh’s heart sped up just thinking about the man. He’d been even more handsome in person than on his CDs and in pictures.

Peep Rep: Oh I loved that excerpt. I hope the second book is about Starla, she seems nice.

Brides: It is. Starla Jamieson owns a successful bar, and it’s enough for her.

Liza: Is it? Or is she just telling herself that? 

Brides: She’s never wanted a child of her own because between helping raise her younger brothers and a dozen half-sisters, Starla’s parented plenty. To avoid the motherhood trap, she walked away from the only man she ever wanted.

Liza: That's a bit drastic. Generally speaking, I don't advise anyone to walk away from true love. It's not that common.

Brides: You're right. Nobody else has ever been able to fill Trevor Lee’s boots.

Liza: So how about Trevor. Does he still hold a candle for Starla?

Brides: Trevor Lee has never forgiven Starla for the lie she told him. 

Liza: Oh that doesn't sound good.

Bride: He’s also never stopped loving her. His head tells him she’s not the right woman for him because he wants a traditional family… and that’s just not Starla. But his heart can’t forget her.

Liza: Still, sounds kind of hopeless...

Bride: It does until the unexpected consequences of a night of passion forces them to examine their past, they have to decide whether to forgive and forget …or to let love slip away again. 

Peep Rep: Oh look, you've made Liza smile. She likes the plot.

Liza: I do. May I take a peek at this story too?

 “Trevor, what are we going to do? I can’t have a baby.” Tears bubbled up and splashed down her face. She rubbed at them with one fist.

“Pull over.”

She pulled into an empty parking lot and turned off the engine. Sobs she’d been holding in wracked her body and she bent over the steering wheel, hiding her face. She heard the puppy’s paws land on the floorboard, then Trevor’s strong arms enfolded her, pulled her into his lap. Her nose, pressed against his damp shirt, smelled the wet mutt.

She cried harder.

He held her close, not saying anything until her tears ran out. Eventually she realized he ran a strong hand over her back. She hiccupped. “Sorry. I kinda lost it.”

“You’re entitled.”

She straightened. “I’m never a crybaby.”

“It’ll be okay.” He wiped her tears with his thumbs. “Whatever happens.”

At their feet, the pup howled. Starla sniffed. “I’ve made him cry, too.”

Trevor hugged her tight. “You didn’t make him sad. He’s hungry and he probably misses his mama.”

She wiggled out of Trevor’s embrace. He hadn’t given her any false platitudes or pretended like everything was hunky-dory, but she somehow felt a little better. “We better get this guy some food and a warm bed.”

“You okay to drive?”

She sniffed again and nodded. “Fine.”

Bending over to pick up the pup, Trevor said, “Go to my place first. I’ll get him settled in then I’ll run you home.”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath and started the engine. At least she wasn’t alone in this mess. If Trevor would go to so much trouble for an abandoned pup, she knew he’d be there for his child.

Liza: I'm thinking he'll want far more involvement than that. Peep Rep, go find the link for this.

Peep Rep: Found it. I may have bought it while I was there.

Liza: Not a problem, I planned to buy it as well.

Peep Rep: *wipes brow*  I've got D' Ann's  picture and bio too.

Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to her because there's just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. D’Ann’s particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because she draws inspiration from the area where she lives, Western Colorado, her husband of twenty-nine years and their daughter. Composites of their small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, two ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories!

I love to hear from readers! Please contact me at

dldauthor@frontier.net

http://dlindunauthor.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/DLindunAuthor

Liza: And we'd love a comment. It's candy to our souls.