Norman Rockwell.

Just read his name, and many people instantly recall a favorite picture drawn by this artist. The family gatherings, little boys and puppies—his art isn’t full of extraordinarily beautiful people or settings, but the images themselves are incredible because in them, the ordinary has become extra.

We can relate. We laugh, or cry, and see ourselves in that situation, for better or worse.

There’s a part of that approach to creating something for public consumption that is very important to me. I want to write books that first and foremost have characters that readers can relate to. That you could image sitting down and having a cup of coffee with. That you could meet on the street, or walk into their shop, and it would be real.

Which leads me to cowboys and quilts. Not necessarily the first combination that might come to mind, but at the same time, it’s real. Historically there would have been a lot of quilts hand made by rancher’s wives, and since a huge part of quilting is storytelling, and cowboys always have a tale or two to spin…

In Rocky Mountain Desire the heroine, Hope, owns a quilting shop. I figured that like often in a story, her occupation would become a part of her background and not much more in the story, but that wasn’t the case. As the story progressed there were more threads (ha!) that appeared that would tie (ha!) together the layers (ha!) and work to make the entire design (ha!) fit.

Okay, enough quilting jokes.

But it was interesting to see how the very nature of storytelling through fabric, the community history of quilts, and the coming together of Hope and Matt ended up revolving around…quilts. Because it’s something that would be real in this community. Real to these people, and I hope, real to you, the readers. Cowboys and quilts—a fine way to a happily-ever-after.

I hope you enjoy Matt and Hope’s story.

(Oh, btw—the Norman Rockwell I always picture first? The little boy at the doctor’s office leaning in close to check out the doctor’s certificate as he waits to get a needle. “Is this guy REALLY qualified?”)

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If you’d like to try a taste of the Six Pack Ranch, I have an ebook copy of winner’s choice—either book 1 in the series, Rocky Mountain Heat, or book 2, Rocky Mountain Haven. Leave a comment for your chance to win:

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Rocky Mountain Desire
Six Pack Ranch, Book 3

Nothing comes easy. You’ve gotta work for it.

Matt Coleman always figured at this point in his life, he’d be settled down with a family. Since his ex split for the big city, though, no way will he give anyone else the chance to drop-kick his heart. Physical pleasure? Hell, yeah, he’ll take—and give—with gusto, but nothing more.

Hope Meridan is working long hours to hold on to her new quilt shop, going it alone since her sister/business partner ran off. Sex? Right, like she’s got the time. Not that she doesn’t have the occasional dirty fantasy about Matt. Fat chance he’d dream of knocking boots with her—the younger sister of the woman who dumped him. Nope, she’ll just have to settle for the F-word.

Friends would be far easier if there wasn’t something combustible going on between them. And when casual interest starts to grow into something more, their tenuous bond strengthens in the heat of desire. But it may not survive the hurricane-force arrival of the last person either of them ever wanted to see again…

Warning: Small-town rivals, men in pursuit and family meddling—in good and bad ways. Look for a cowboy who knows how to rope, ride and rein in a hell of a lot more than eight seconds of sheer bliss.

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First Chapter: Excerpt

Buy links:

Rocky Mountain Heat: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Samhain | Kobo
Rocky Mountain Haven: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Samhain | Kobo

Rocky Mountain Desire: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Vivian Arend: Website | Blog | Twitter