Spotlight #NewRelease and #Giveaway "Saddled Hearts" by Jan Sikes
Please make welcome to the Tavern my dear friend and sister rose from The Wild Rose Press, Jan Sikes! We're celebrating her new book release, Saddled Hearts! I'm eager to start reading another one of Jan's fabulous stories. And as a special treat, don't forget to enter her Scavenger Hunt below for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card!
Grab a mug of ale or apple cider and let's hear what Jan has to say about her new book...
A Message from Jan Sikes
I am deeply grateful, Mary, for your generous hospitality. It’s a pleasure to share my new book release with your followers.
Today, I want to talk about characters – my main protagonist, to be exact.
Colt Layne grew up around horses. When he was twelve, his mother passed away from cancer, and as a result, his father dove into a bottle and never surfaced. So, Colt was sent to live with his grandfather, Buck Layne.
As five-time world-champion bull rider, Buck had a long rodeo career. So, it was only natural that Colt would follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. Except Colt didn’t ride bulls. He preferred bucking broncs. By the time he was fifteen, he was competing in local rodeos.
When I create characters, one of the most fun things to do is find photos that look like I picture them. This is how I picture Colt. Add a cowboy hat, and it’s perfect.
Here is a short excerpt from Colt explaining his life to Sage:
“If I’m not being too personal, how old are you?” Sage sipped a fresh glass of wine.
“Nope. Not too personal. I’m twenty-eight. I lived here on this ranch with my grandfather after my mother died.” He stared into the fire. “My father disappeared, and I haven’t seen him since.”
At thirty, she was two years older. “I’m sorry, Colt. That must have been hard. What happened to him?”
“He couldn’t handle my mother’s death. He became a severe alcoholic, then moved overseas to work. We lost track of him after that. When I turned fifteen, I started rodeoing. I rode broncs and got serious about going after the big purses when I turned eighteen. I took a few years out to go to college but still rodeoed in the summers. I figured I needed to learn something I could use to make a living when I got too busted up to compete.”
“And did you?” Her soft gaze seemed to see right through to his soul.
“Did I what? Learn something or get busted up?”
“Either. Or both.”
“The best way I know to describe rodeo is that it’s between almost happens and broken bones. In college, I majored in business. It’s been helpful in running this ranch and especially with the non-profit status of the horse sanctuary.”
“And the busted-up part?” She half smiled and snuggled deeper into the blanket.
“Yeah. That, too. The last time pretty much did it for me. I spent six weeks in a cast that went from my thigh down to my foot, then another six weeks in physical therapy. I had to be done. I miss it, but that’s a whole other story.”
***
Have you ever had any experience with a rodeo? I used to love to go watch and haven’t been in a long time. I may have to remedy that next season.
Colt Layne owns the Layne Horse Sanctuary. He lives an idyllic life between caring for the animals and playing music with his band. That is until a stranger appears with unreasonable demands. When someone murders the man, Colt is arrested. He’s been framed, but by whom and why?
He needs to talk with his deceased grandfather. But that’s impossible. Or is it?
Sage Coventry is gifted with the ability to communicate with the deceased. Skeptical but desperate, when Colt consults with her, he gets more than messages from beyond the grave as she breezes into his heart with sweet patchouli fragrance and tempting lips he longs to kiss.
The race against time to clear his name and save the ranch launches them on a mission that brings shocking revelations.
Universal Purchase Link HERE!
Let’s go on a scavenger hunt! Hidden within the blog posts are clues you will need to look for.
The theme is “Things You’d Find On A Ranch.”
When you find these clues, email your answers to me at
With CONTEST
In the subject line.
The person with the most correct entries will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
The runner-up will receive an eBook of Saddled Hearts!
It Pays To Play!
Meet the Author
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