By: D'Ann Lindun
Congratulations to "Taurus", the winner in D'Ann's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
One particular romance trope I use a lot is a man and woman alone in the mountains. I always find this setting especially suspenseful. I think the reason is because the conflict can come from not only the terrain, but also wild animals, and of course the bad guy. I can set a scene with rain, snow, sleet. Or completely change it up with a gorgeous sunny day for skinny dipping in a mountain lake or hot springs. It’s so easy to creep it up with a bad guy who might be lurking in the trees. Nightfall in the mountains also has a hundred possibilities. Not only the fear of what can happen if the bad guy is about, but the opportunity to put the hero and heroine in close contact. In my Crimson Romance, Shot Through the Heart Laramie and Derrick have not only a bad guy to contend with—her brother Lawrence is stalking them, and he’s also set a forest fire to try and kill them.
The trail into the valley wasn’t nearly as frightening as the Big Misty side, but it still wound down a narrow and steep path. Laramie’s sore body screamed to collapse by the time they reached the bottom. Derrick led the way to a copse of aspens on the higher western side, dismounted, and before she could get down, moved to lift her off the paint.
Legs shaking, Laramie held onto the horse’s mane determined not to show weakness. Derrick kept his hands on her middle, for which she was grateful. Her shirt had ridden up a little on her left side, and his palm warmed her bare skin.
He led her to a fallen log and helped her sit. “Rest while I unsaddle Apache. I’ll make camp in a bit.” Laramie wished she had the strength to help, but all she could manage was a nod.
He un-tacked the paint and laid their meager supplies near her. “Are you warm enough?”
She shook her head.
Rummaging through the stuff on the packsaddle, he found a denim shirt and helped her slip it on. “Wear this.”
Tears welled in her eyes at his kindness. He had to be bone-weary, too. Yet, he took time to tend to her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I need to block the trail. Don’t worry, I won’t be long.” He mounted the gray and rode back the way they’d come.
Laramie watched him ride through the valley like some hero out of an old western movie. But this was no movie, this was all too real. Clouds still obliterated the sun—although the rain had stopped—and a dark cloud of smoke blew across the valley. Just enough light filtered through so Laramie could see her surroundings.
As Derrick promised, the valley was about the size of two football fields, rimmed on all sides by sheer, red cliffs. Deep grass and white-barked aspens offered shelter along the west side. The valley made an ideal corral for the cattle. A waterfall filled a big lake.
A tranquil setting.
I will give one e-copy of Shot Through the Heart to a commenter!
Bio:
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, ten ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories!
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Feb. 10th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@justromanticsuspense.com with a subject title of JRS GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
Sounds like I found another author I would like to read. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIt looks like an exciting story.
ReplyDeletemce1011 AT aol DOT com
Thanks!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy! Another Author to be added to my TBR! ejstarr at satx dot rr dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGreat excerpt, D'Ann. I'd love to be able to write description as well as you do.
ReplyDeleteOh, I think you do! Thanks for the compliment!
DeleteBeautiful excerpt D'Ann...and your cover is perfect. I agree with you, you can really change things around with a mountain setting and it can be beautiful and romantic, or suspenseful and dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI love using the mts, Christine! Thanks!
DeleteI love to read and write romantic suspense! Congrats on your novel.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline Seewald
DEATH LEGACY--romantic suspense from Five Star/Gale and Thorndike Press
Me, too!
DeleteThanks for having me today!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite stories. Cheers D'Ann!
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Shawn! Thank you!
DeleteGreat excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margie!
Deletethis is one of my favorite books, D'Ann - great excerpt!! :)
ReplyDeleteMe, too! Thanks, Kristi!
DeleteI think I got to read a bit of this one. Great excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jerri!
DeleteI got the chills reading your excerpt! A must read for me.
ReplyDeletesherifredricks @ charter .net
Thank you!
DeleteGreat job D'Ann. I wrote a historical, my second attempt at writing, that I wanted mountains but I wanted Texas so I set it out in West Texas. It was fun researching it and seeing how things were different in the late 1800's compared to now. I also proved a point with my husband. He told me he'd "never ever heard of a silver mine in the entire state of Texas." I stumbled Googled and researched and Texas was a major producer of silver for many years even more than Colorado and some other spots. I was so proud I had to brag to him lol. Hope you aren't snowed in up there. We're getting light rain and cooler temps but thank goodness it is 58 out there so no snow.
ReplyDeleteNO, ck, no snow. Not here anyway. I didn't know there was silver in TX.
DeleteLoved the excerpt - can't imagine what it must feel like to have a relative who wants to kill you.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
I know, that must be very scary.
DeleteGreat excerpt, D'Ann, I love mountain settings, but the only one I've written, I took out lol. Must revisit methinks..
ReplyDeleteNice one!
I think you should def do one!
DeleteFantastic excerpt. Can't wait to read this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Daryl.
DeleteAgreed, the wilderness makes a great setting for a suspense novel. One of my own favorite locations.
ReplyDeleteI know it is! So thrilled to see you here. Thank you.
DeleteI like this kind of trope.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)Com
Me, too!!!
DeleteHi, D'Ann! Don't enter me this time--but it's a great read! The winner's a lucky one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz! That's nice of you to say.
DeleteI have this book on my Kindle to read next... Can't wait! I love the lost in the wilderness trope too. I'm actually thinking of writing a book set in the badlands of Texas for all the reasons you like the mountains--except for the winter weather of course...LOL
ReplyDeleteI think the weather can get pretty ugly out there, too.
DeleteA lot for the characters to contend with in SHOT THROUGH THE HEART and I wouldn't have it any other way.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thank you!
DeleteGreat excerpt, thank you for sharing and for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteelewkf1 at yahoo dot com
Thank you for coming by!
DeleteGreat excerpt. I tweeted.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAwesome excerpt.
ReplyDeleteTessa
Thank you!
DeleteFantastic excerpt, thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteJanet
jkbsfsd at msn dot com
Thank you!
Deletecomment comment comment. I want Shot in the Dark
ReplyDeleteZing!
Yikes, I didn't mean I wanted to be shot in the dark. I just want D'Ann's fab book.
D'Ann, that's not you shooting at me is it? It's probably just the LAPD. They'll shoot any and everything.
Well, if they are here, I should leave, and everyone, stay away from blue pickups. They will riddle it with books. They are scary dudes and I may have said some unflattering things about them on facebook.
Any chance Derrick would like to protect me?
crap, forgot to leave my email Liza2write at yahoo.com
Deleteyou are so funny!
DeleteI love those same tropes. Great excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI love finding new authors!! Your book sounds awesome. I love books with these settings! I loved the excerpt, thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Thanks so much!
DeleteLove D'Ann's books!!! This one is awesome!!!
ReplyDelete