Today I bring to my site a book that offers non-stop action and a cowboy to die for. Ruby Vines' My Little Texas Tornado jumps from one life-altering event to the next and offers up some steamy interludes along the way. So let's welcome Ruby and hear what she has to say about her newest release as well as giving you the chance to win a digital copy of this book just by commenting.......
Colt Daniels' Cowboy Steaks
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup brewed Columbian Coffee (THE SECRET INGREDIENT)
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon cumin
Good grinding black pepper (or crushed chili to taste)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a non-metallic bowl. Spoon marinade over steaks. Cover and refrigerate several hours or preferably overnight (but even 1/2 hour will do). Grill over hickory wood for best cowboy flavor!
Goes Great with Savannah Moon’s Red Wine!!
Enjoy your sexy Colt Daniels’ Steak and Savannah Moon’s wine by candlelight and the song by Tracy Lawrence that inspired me to write the book!
Thing is, he ain't cut out to train someone he can't stand, even if Mr. Moon was like a grandfather to him. But there's no denying it, the Moons know how to grow 'em...wine and women. Savannah isn't a woman he can easily forget. Bitchy or not, he finds reasons to teach her about grapes, among other things. And while he's finding reasons to stomp the grapes with his new neighbor, a plan is brewing to bring the wine heiress down.
EXCERPT:
“Shoot! What am I going to do now?” Savannah Moon asked herself as she slapped the steering wheel with two bare palms.
The two carat diamond on her left hand sparkled when the lightning ripped through the sky, coming within inches of the sleek jaguar. Savannah jumped at the bright flash of electricity. Hail came in droves, pummeling the car, bouncing off the silver, motionless cat that sprang from the car hood.
“Holy Cow!” Savannah said out loud to no one. She’d never seen hail the size of baseballs. She hoped this type of weather was rare. She’d been much too worried about the heat to think of super cell storms popping up out of nowhere. She’d been in Texas two whole days and most of it so far had been spent holed up in an attorney’s office, signing papers. She’d rented the luxury car at the airport, the exact model she drove in California. What on earth could be wrong with it, she thought? Now she was stuck on the side of the road in one hell of a thunderstorm. What was that saying she’d heard her attorney say? Something about if you don’t like the weather in Texas, stick around, it’ll change.
She found some napkins in the glove box and wiped at the fog developing on the windshield.
“Oh no!” she groaned.
Good thing she’d purchased the rental insurance. The hail damage was going to be significant. She stared at the sky and looked down the lone road ahead of her. According to the map in her lap, the winery she had inherited upon her uncle’s passing was only half a mile up the road. She wondered if she should just hike it. If only this darn hail would let up. She tried the ignition again. The key merely clicked. The engine wouldn’t even turn over.
“Great!” she muttered.
She fished around her purse and found her cell phone. Who on earth can I call, she wondered. I know no one here. I’ve only met the attorney and I barely know him, she thought. She found the number to the rental company and dialed. The line rang once and then died. She tried again. She stared at the icon of a phone with a slash through it. “Great. No signal. Don’t cowboys use cell phones?”
She wiped at the windshield again with the dirty napkin and peered out. The hail had let up some but the sky seemed to darken even more. She studied the map in her lap and decided to go for it. It couldn’t be far and besides, her bags had already been delivered there. She could shower and change upon arrival and tomorrow she’d get down to business. Why didn’t these damn rental companies include umbrellas with their outrageous fees, she thought as she fished around the floorboard, hoping one would magically poke itself out at her.
She sighed, tucked her thin purse under her arm and opened the atlas she found tucked under the seat. This would have to do, she thought. She held it over her head, pulled the keys out of the ignition and exited the warm car. The hail stung as it struck her bare arms. She grimaced and pulled her arms to the front of her body. After locking the car, she started down the long, black road, looking for her new home. A home she had never seen.
Within seconds, her pale yellow sundress was drenched, soaking her to the bone. Her tidy bun was flattened on her head. Long, red strands fell over the sides of her face and into her eyes. She swiped at them. The atlas was absolutely no use. The hail had knocked it out of her hands twice and when she’d tried to reposition it over her head again, it had folded over into one big, wet mess. She tucked it under her arm, alongside her purse and trudged forward. Lightning struck the bare ground on the side of the road, a mere two feet from where she stood. She glanced back at the car. She was making good time. Once she passed over the top of this hill, she wouldn’t be able to see it at all.
“Keep going,” she said out loud, as her teeth chattered against frozen lips. She heard mooing and glanced over to the pasture at her left. A herd of cattle huddled beneath a giant oak tree. She felt the wind pick up behind her. Even the short hair on the cattle was laid flat in the strong wind. She walked faster. It can’t be much further, she thought. The wind at her back pushed her forward and for half a second she’d felt as though it had lifted her off the black, tar road. The rain picked up and shot sideways, making it impossible for her to see as she blinked and blinked. Any trace of make-up was washed clean off. She shook from the cold as another piece of hail thunked off her skull. Groaning, she walked faster. She was nearly jogging now in high heeled sandals when she heard a train approaching. She glanced to the right and saw an open pasture, dotted with sunflowers and bales of hay. She looked to the left where she saw another herd of cattle taking refuge under a massive oak. Where is the damn train, she thought to herself. She never heard the truck pull up alongside her, nor did she see the big man who ran toward her and threw himself onto her and into the ditch alongside the road just as the tornado bounced over them both and twirled across the winding road.
The two carat diamond on her left hand sparkled when the lightning ripped through the sky, coming within inches of the sleek jaguar. Savannah jumped at the bright flash of electricity. Hail came in droves, pummeling the car, bouncing off the silver, motionless cat that sprang from the car hood.
“Holy Cow!” Savannah said out loud to no one. She’d never seen hail the size of baseballs. She hoped this type of weather was rare. She’d been much too worried about the heat to think of super cell storms popping up out of nowhere. She’d been in Texas two whole days and most of it so far had been spent holed up in an attorney’s office, signing papers. She’d rented the luxury car at the airport, the exact model she drove in California. What on earth could be wrong with it, she thought? Now she was stuck on the side of the road in one hell of a thunderstorm. What was that saying she’d heard her attorney say? Something about if you don’t like the weather in Texas, stick around, it’ll change.
She found some napkins in the glove box and wiped at the fog developing on the windshield.
“Oh no!” she groaned.
Good thing she’d purchased the rental insurance. The hail damage was going to be significant. She stared at the sky and looked down the lone road ahead of her. According to the map in her lap, the winery she had inherited upon her uncle’s passing was only half a mile up the road. She wondered if she should just hike it. If only this darn hail would let up. She tried the ignition again. The key merely clicked. The engine wouldn’t even turn over.
“Great!” she muttered.
She fished around her purse and found her cell phone. Who on earth can I call, she wondered. I know no one here. I’ve only met the attorney and I barely know him, she thought. She found the number to the rental company and dialed. The line rang once and then died. She tried again. She stared at the icon of a phone with a slash through it. “Great. No signal. Don’t cowboys use cell phones?”
She wiped at the windshield again with the dirty napkin and peered out. The hail had let up some but the sky seemed to darken even more. She studied the map in her lap and decided to go for it. It couldn’t be far and besides, her bags had already been delivered there. She could shower and change upon arrival and tomorrow she’d get down to business. Why didn’t these damn rental companies include umbrellas with their outrageous fees, she thought as she fished around the floorboard, hoping one would magically poke itself out at her.
She sighed, tucked her thin purse under her arm and opened the atlas she found tucked under the seat. This would have to do, she thought. She held it over her head, pulled the keys out of the ignition and exited the warm car. The hail stung as it struck her bare arms. She grimaced and pulled her arms to the front of her body. After locking the car, she started down the long, black road, looking for her new home. A home she had never seen.
Within seconds, her pale yellow sundress was drenched, soaking her to the bone. Her tidy bun was flattened on her head. Long, red strands fell over the sides of her face and into her eyes. She swiped at them. The atlas was absolutely no use. The hail had knocked it out of her hands twice and when she’d tried to reposition it over her head again, it had folded over into one big, wet mess. She tucked it under her arm, alongside her purse and trudged forward. Lightning struck the bare ground on the side of the road, a mere two feet from where she stood. She glanced back at the car. She was making good time. Once she passed over the top of this hill, she wouldn’t be able to see it at all.
“Keep going,” she said out loud, as her teeth chattered against frozen lips. She heard mooing and glanced over to the pasture at her left. A herd of cattle huddled beneath a giant oak tree. She felt the wind pick up behind her. Even the short hair on the cattle was laid flat in the strong wind. She walked faster. It can’t be much further, she thought. The wind at her back pushed her forward and for half a second she’d felt as though it had lifted her off the black, tar road. The rain picked up and shot sideways, making it impossible for her to see as she blinked and blinked. Any trace of make-up was washed clean off. She shook from the cold as another piece of hail thunked off her skull. Groaning, she walked faster. She was nearly jogging now in high heeled sandals when she heard a train approaching. She glanced to the right and saw an open pasture, dotted with sunflowers and bales of hay. She looked to the left where she saw another herd of cattle taking refuge under a massive oak. Where is the damn train, she thought to herself. She never heard the truck pull up alongside her, nor did she see the big man who ran toward her and threw himself onto her and into the ditch alongside the road just as the tornado bounced over them both and twirled across the winding road.
MY IMPRESIIONS OF THIS BOOK:
I always thought my life was just one unlucky event after another, but Savannah Moon puts me to shame in the unlucky department. From the moment she came to Texas to claim her heritage of being a winemaking heiress Fate has conspired against her and thrown one crazy event after another in her path. From recurring tornadoes, to kidnappers, to crazed BDSM fanatics Savannah manages to keep pushing forward and never lets these roadblocks keep her from attaining the goal she set for herself. I admired her fortitude even as her overall attitude had me pulling out my hair. She was snobbish from the beginning and I didn't see her mature beyond that even after so many life or death events. Along with snobbery came a wishy-washy nature when it came to the men in her life. There were times I felt she was leading men on when at other times she'd pout by dumping one and going back to the other. She constantly picked fights and was abrasive to other characters with quirks she didn't like. The impression was given that she was being playful but I found it mean and it added to her snobbiness.
While the heroine was a disappointment, sexy cowboy Colt Daniels kept me reading as his aw-shucks nature was utterly charming. He saves her from the first moment they meet and continues to save her throughout the story. He's the perfect gentleman and a real man's man in his ruggedness. I'm never sure what he sees in her but the only times I found Savannah tolerable was in his presence. He made her a better person and it made me like him all the more.
There's a large cast of secondary characters that sometimes get lost in the repeated over the top events. Most of them seemed shady and I kept waiting for them to do something nefarious. From the overbearing fiancée, to the horrible father coming back from the past, to an inappropriately hands-on vintner, Savannah has a group surrounding her that add to her problems. The only likable secondary character is her new stepmother Lolly Pop who's truly sweet natured with her stuttering and sunny disposition. There were times I wanted to grab her and get her away from the craziness but I greatly appreciated the normalcy and quietness she brought to the story.
This story had my emotions all over the place. There were many things that bothered me but there were some bright spots too courtesy of Colt and Lolly. The numerous over the top life-altering events became silly after awhile but I applaud the author's creativity and ability to keep the reader on the edge of their seat never guessing what will happen next. Even though this story didn't work for me on every level Ms. Vines' refreshing storytelling has me intrigued for what she plans next and I'll definitely keep an eye out for her in the future.
My rating for this is a C/C+.
*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
BUY LINKS: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ruby Vines (AKA Alisha Paige) was born and raised in the South.
Her debut novel, Canyon Wolf Bride, published under the pen name, Alisha Paige, was awarded Reviewer Top Pick Award and nominated as best Ebook Paranormal Romance by Night Owl Romance Reviews for the 2007 Fall NOR Awards, and awarded Recommended Read by My Book Cravings Reviews.
Ruby loves to mingle real history and true life events within her romance novels and enjoys people watching and people listening when creating new characters and blending genres. She writes dark paranormal romance, fantasy romance, time travel romance and vintage romance under the pen name, Alisha Paige. All of contemporary romance titles are written under the pen name, Ruby Vines.
Ruby writes on her red porch while her kids play in the water sprinkler. She loves to read at the park, the beach in the summer, by the fire in the winter and in bed when it rains.
Her favorite things in life are the sound of her children laughing, her kitty cat curled at her feet, girls’ night out, hazelnut coffee, candle light, thunderstorms, good books, nostalgic music, dark chocolate and red wine.
Ruby loves to mingle real history and true life events within her romance novels and enjoys people watching and people listening when creating new characters and blending genres. She writes dark paranormal romance, fantasy romance, time travel romance and vintage romance under the pen name, Alisha Paige. All of contemporary romance titles are written under the pen name, Ruby Vines.
Ruby writes on her red porch while her kids play in the water sprinkler. She loves to read at the park, the beach in the summer, by the fire in the winter and in bed when it rains.
Her favorite things in life are the sound of her children laughing, her kitty cat curled at her feet, girls’ night out, hazelnut coffee, candle light, thunderstorms, good books, nostalgic music, dark chocolate and red wine.
Website: http://www.
Twitter: @Alishawriter
Goodreads: http://www.
**********GIVEAWAY**********
Prize is a digital copy of My Little Texas Tornado.
-To be entered, leave a comment, ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDY.
-A winner will be chosen using random.org
-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 2/17.
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today and for reviewing MY LITTLE TEXAS TORNADO. Have a wonderful week! ~ Ruby Vines
ReplyDeleteSounds really good!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by, Natasha! Have a great week! :) ~ Ruby Vines
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new release. This book sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it to see more of Colt and Savannah. Thanks for the great review, recipe, and excerpt.
ReplyDeletee.balinski(at)att(dot)net