Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Cowboys and Lawmen Blog Hop



Who doesn't love a cowboy? I certainly do. When I was 18, I fell in love with a country boy. My mother was mortified. She wanted me to find someone in my own (middle) "class," but love doesn't see class. It sees only the heart.

I never understood her bias, especially since she married a west Texas farm boy herself. But my dad was an engineering student at Texas Tech, bound for bigger and better things. From the time I was six, we lived in big cities like NYC, San Diego, and a Dallas suburb. But I'd grown up with those city boys and I wasn't impressed. When I met my future husband, I was hooked from the first moment by his sincere eyes and his sweet unassuming smile. He had manners, something city boys had abandoned long ago. He had morals, which most of the boys I knew either never had much of or didn't worry much about.

Some of my books are about big-city guys, but they're more down-home types, guys with tough exteriors and soft hearts. But it wasn't until I wrote my first contemporary western romance that I felt like I'd found my place. I drew on memories of my cousins who grew up in west Texas, within minutes of my grandparents' place. The sense of family and community they all shared, which my busy city family never had. I drew on yearnings I didn't even realize I had, to return to the simple life in the country.

My husband and I tried the city life for the first 23 years of our marriage. He hated it, and I wasn't loving it. So in 1996 he moved the family to the country, not far from where his parents and his brothers lived. We raised the two youngest there, along with a slew of animals. We built our house with our own two (four?) hands. And now that the kids are gone, and quiet and peace has settled upon us, I'm reminded how much I love it here. Traffic is when the train comes through town and cars back up 6 or 7 deep at the crossing. The nearest Walmart is 25 minutes away, the nearest hospital 30 minutes away. I don't hear many sirens or cars honking or neighbors yelling. If I do, there's something major happening.

What I do hear is birds singing, cows mooing, the occasional braying donkey or barking dog. And the sound of a relaxed and happy spouse who knows he's where he's supposed to be and who he is supposed to be. When I walk out my door, I see trees and squirrels and cute little rabbits. I see roadrunners and cardinals and hummingbirds. I see the occasional snake. Mostly, I see peace.

Maybe that's why we love cowboys? The sense of peace they carry with them, never in a hurry, always willing to stop and chew the fat for a bit, always with a story to tell. We love the "yes, ma'am" and "no ma'am" and the touch of humility. The clear, direct gazes that have nothing to hide. The muscles that come from hard work and not from the gym.

If you put two pictures, side by side--one of a cowboy in Wranglers and a real cowboy hat (not one of those cheap imitations), the other of a clean-cut guy in a suit--I'm going to go for the cowboy every single time.

What about you? What is it you love about Cowboys?



Blame it on Texas is Book One of the Lone Star Cowboys series and right now, through May 3rd, it's on sale for just 99 cents. Check it out and see if the men of Morris Springs, Texas, tickle your fancy.



I also have Lone Star Justice on sale for 99 cents for the same dates. Set in East Texas, Sheriff Rand McCade is pure western heart and soul.


Leave a comment on the blog for a chance to win a copy of your choice of either Blame it on Texas or Lone Star Justice plus a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Don't forget to leave your email address, too, so I can contact you if you win.

28 comments:

Unknown said...

Tori, I love your blog. This was wonderful about the peace of the country and what a real cowboy is. Look forward to more of your posts.

Tori Scott said...

Thanks Lori! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Unknown said...

Tori there is nothing like cowboys buns in Wranglers. A like I said in my last review I love how the town stands behind and protects their own and cowboys have a code of honor. Love the books and I thank Layla Darnell for recommending them to me can't wait for the new one to come out

Email sew4fun2@cox.net

Tori Scott said...

Hey Ginny! Thanks for stopping by. I love Layla. She's helped introduce so many new readers to my books. I really appreciate the reviews you've left for my books.

I love writing about Morris Springs. The town is loosely based on my grandparents' home town, though their town wasn't as pretty as I picture Morris Springs. :) West Texas isn't always pretty, but it is a place where you have to be strong to survive.

J.D. Faver said...

Sending a big Yee-Haw from south east Texas. Yes, those Stetson topped cowboys roam Texas, from the miles and miles of miles to the big cities like Dallas and Houston. Cowboys? We got 'em. Thanks for sharing. All your books are fabulous :-)
*hugs*
JD

Anonymous said...

Wranglers.... ;)

oncerfan@yahoo.com

Tori Scott said...

Thanks JD! Yep, those cowboy hats and Wranglers are one of the main reasons I don't think I could even leave Texas for more than a vacation trip. Love seeing them everywhere I go. :)

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the blog. Nice to meet a new western author too.

Tori Scott said...

Thanks for stopping by, Charlene!

Angela Drake said...

I love that cowboys have respect... for themselves and for everyone they come in contact with. They know hard work is it's own reward. And they appreciate the simple pleasures. Country Blessings! Angela

AngelaDrake(at)webname(dot)com

Jan Hougland said...

Hello Tori! Thanks for the blog participation. I'm not sure what it is I like about cowboys and Western Romance...but I know I favor it in my reading and movies. I still get all the old western TV shows and movies via Netflix to revisit them! :-) I think because I grew up with hard working ranchers and farmers I just am drawn to hard working heroes too. I understand that work ethic. I also prefer men who are the strong, silent type...more on action rather than words. Cowboys certainly fit that profile! Thanks for asking, Tori. jdh2690@gmail.com

Nancy Crocker said...

Hey Tori, loved the blog ... and love me a Cowboy romance. Thanks for the invite to come visit. Good Luck Everyone ;)

Tori Scott said...

Thanks for stopping by Nancy, Janice, and Angela. Tell your friends. The hop goes on for a few more days!

bn100 said...

like their loyalty

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

JeanMP said...

Love reading about cowboys, they have such a great code they live by. And of course they look great in those jeans.

skpetal at hotmail dot com

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

Wow you and your husband built your house. I'm impressed. Lovely blog!

kmnbooks at yahoo dot com

Nay Nay said...

I love my Alpha Males. And lawmen who are also cowboys are the ultimate alpha male. They are strong, independent, and fiercely protective; while on the inside they are nothing but big ol’ teddy bears! I love the way their mouths talk dirty, but their eyes show their vulnerability. They can be rough and tough in the bedroom, but still have the gentle caress of an attentive and protective lover. It's all in the heart. They are the best!

Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win. <^_^>
reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Great blog. Love the country type. They don't have to prove anything. They know what they can do.

Rita Wray said...

Love cowboy books.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Tamara Hoffa said...

Wrangler butts!
sugerlady@aol.com

Tori Scott said...

Yes, Cowboy butts says it all, doesn't it? :)

Sherry said...

I love seeing a man in cowboy hats and Wranglers (what Wranglers can do for a butt). I enjoyed your post.
sstrode at scrtc dot com

CBarton said...

Hi there. I would like Lone Star Justice if I won because I will be buying the first one shortly. I love cowboys because they do what they do and are sexy because of it.

Anonymous said...

Great post and beautiful cover. Can't go wrong with Jimmy Thomas.

~~Emmly Jane
ej (at) emmly jane (dot) com

Shadow said...

I love the jeans, boots and assless chaps! :D Thank you for sharing and for the awesome hop!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

JackieW said...

I love that cowboys are "of the earth" type of people...they like nature, animals, and doing the right thing. All the things I like in a guy.
JFWisherd(at)aol(dot)com

JOYE said...

What's not to like about a cowboy? Guys in suits are o k too but arn't as much fun.
JWIsley at aol dot com

Tori Scott said...

Our winner for this part of the blog hop is Janice Hougland! Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by.

Janice, I'll be sending you an email to find out which book you want.

Tori