Benson, CA, represents all that Tess Cole doesn't want. So she intends to keep her business trip there brief. Too bad her idea to quickly change the mayor's mind about some planning issues dissolves the moment she recognizes him! That one night with Slaid Jacobs remains a personal favorite for Tess—and for him, too, it seems.
Even though he's gorgeous and hot, it's clear to Tess that the single dad wants a commitment—something she avoids. It's also clear Slaid is bent on convincing her they can build a future out of their passionate past. And that's a very tempting offer…
“Sexy Cowboys Trump All Dating Rules.”
Getting to Know Tess Cole,
Heroine of Convincing the Rancher.
Thank you for inviting me to visit Romance Novel Giveaways. I’m so happy to be here to celebrate the release of my new book, Convincing the Rancher!
The heroine of this book, Tess Cole, made several memorable appearances in my two previous books. With her cool exterior, worldly ways and sarcastic comments, she got me laughing many times. At the same time, her promiscuous activities had some readers worried. “You need to write Tess’s story and get her settled down before she catches some terrible disease!” one reader wrote to me.
Now that Convincing the Rancher is out, Tess is home safe with her happy ending and we can all relax. But let’s take a moment to look back at some of her finest moments as a single woman in her beloved San Francisco. And if you haven’t read my two previous books, this is a good way to get to know a little about Tess Cole.
* * *
Tess isn’t afraid to ask for what she wants:
But sometimes she asks the wrong person!
In my second book, More Than a Rancher, Tess propositions the hero, Sandro, not realizing he is her friend Jenna’s date. Here are Sandro’s thoughts on Tess.
A lot of things about this party worried him. Like Jenna’s friend Tess, for one. He’d shown up here later than planned, eager to see Jenna. Instead he’d encountered a sexy blonde who had pressed herself against him and whispered suggestions that involved a bed upstairs and her complete lack of underwear.
Tess encourages her friends to get what they want too:
Samantha giggled incredulously. “You mean, just show up on his doorstep?”
“In a beautiful trenchcoat, with nothing underneath. It works every time,” Tess informed her casually.
“What?” Jenna and Samantha shrieked in unison.
“And you’ve done this?” Samantha asked, looking at her friend with newfound awe.
“What, and you haven’t? Ladies, what kind of dull lives have you been leading?”
Tess is honest and blunt:
“I never liked Mark anyway. I can be honest about that now, can’t I? He’s too boring for you, Sam. Cute, Smart and successful, it’s true, but boring.”
“Is Sandro the studly guy who was looking for you at Marlene’s party? You know I made a pass at him, right? I’m sorry. If I’d known he was your date, I never would have done it.”
“I generally just avoid the guys I sleep with. Then I don’t have to worry about any awkward questions…”
Tess tries to be helpful and solve all of her friends’ problems:
Many of her solutions involve scotch…
Tess motioned to a passing waiter. “Another round, please. No, wait. Just bring the whole bottle. It will save trouble later on.”
The waiter set down a brand new bottle of Macallan, eying Tess with a sort of awe as she took the bottle and promptly cracked the label, pulled the cork out and started pouring.
Tess grabbed her glass and took a gulp, praying that the rare Bowmore really did have the magical powers that Mack promised it did.
Or violence…
“I’ll kill him.” Tess’s eyes took on a savage gleam. “What do you think, Jenna? Should we wait for him in a dark alley somewhere? Castrate him? Break his kneecaps?”
Or sex…
“Well, maybe you could find a nice cabana boy…”
“Hey, if he’s been around, maybe he’s totally amazing in bed or something. It might be worth it.”
“Go for it. Sexy cowboys trump all dating rules.”
As Tess’s story unfolds in my new book, she finds herself following that last bit of advice. Sexy cowboys do trump all dating rules. She learns that life with the right guy isn’t dull at all, and that maybe there is something to be said for sticking around and facing a few of those awkward questions. I hope you’ve enjoyed her journey through my first two books, and that you love her adventures in happily-ever-after when you read Convincing the Rancher.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
Tess froze. She was at a disadvantage. Something she absolutely hated. She scanned her brain for some situation where she might have met the mayor before. Then it hit her, and tension turned to relief. “Oh, yes! It was when Samantha married Jack, right?” The mayor looked puzzled, so she tried again. “Samantha Rylant? She married Jack Baron about six months ago. She’s a good friend and they live in Benson. We must have met at their wedding.”
The mayor gave a short laugh, studying her face with an expression of disbelief on his own. “I know them pretty well. But I was out of town for that happy occasion. I...” He paused as if catching himself. “I’m sorry, why don’t you have a seat.” He indicated the chair opposite his desk and she sat down reluctantly. He sat down as well, moving with surprising grace for such a big man. He leaned back and regarded her bemusedly over the vast mahogany expanse. “I guess I would have hoped our previous meeting was a little more memorable for you.”
Now she really was at a loss. “I’m really not...”
“Phoenix, Arizona? The Fairway Resort?”
She’d been there, as a guest speaker at a convention a couple years ago. “Oh, were you attending the PR conference?”
“No, I wasn’t.” He watched her carefully.
“Then where did we...” The realization hit her in the stomach and chest, and her heart started pounding. This couldn’t really be happening. Tess kept her work life and personal life separate—completely separate—until now. A one-night stand. She’d had a one-night stand with the mayor of Benson.
Claire McEwen lives by the ocean in Northern California with her family and a scruffy, mischievous terrier. When not dreaming up new stories, she can be found digging in her garden with a lot of enthusiasm but, unfortunately, no green thumb. She loves discovering flea-market treasures, walking on the beach, dancing, traveling and reading, of course! Convincing the Rancher is her third book for Harlequin Superromance.Tess froze. She was at a disadvantage. Something she absolutely hated. She scanned her brain for some situation where she might have met the mayor before. Then it hit her, and tension turned to relief. “Oh, yes! It was when Samantha married Jack, right?” The mayor looked puzzled, so she tried again. “Samantha Rylant? She married Jack Baron about six months ago. She’s a good friend and they live in Benson. We must have met at their wedding.”
The mayor gave a short laugh, studying her face with an expression of disbelief on his own. “I know them pretty well. But I was out of town for that happy occasion. I...” He paused as if catching himself. “I’m sorry, why don’t you have a seat.” He indicated the chair opposite his desk and she sat down reluctantly. He sat down as well, moving with surprising grace for such a big man. He leaned back and regarded her bemusedly over the vast mahogany expanse. “I guess I would have hoped our previous meeting was a little more memorable for you.”
Now she really was at a loss. “I’m really not...”
“Phoenix, Arizona? The Fairway Resort?”
She’d been there, as a guest speaker at a convention a couple years ago. “Oh, were you attending the PR conference?”
“No, I wasn’t.” He watched her carefully.
“Then where did we...” The realization hit her in the stomach and chest, and her heart started pounding. This couldn’t really be happening. Tess kept her work life and personal life separate—completely separate—until now. A one-night stand. She’d had a one-night stand with the mayor of Benson.
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ReplyDeleteI likes the excerpt
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt. I really liked it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for inviting me to visit Romance Novel Giveaways today! I had so much fun writing this post... it made me smile to see all of these Tess quotes together. And Curtis and MomJane, I am really thrilled that you enjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI like reading the book excerpt, Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading the fun facts and the excerpt
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever had a friend like Tess? I haven't really… there were a few, slightly outrageous people that I hung around with in college, but no one quite as brazen as she is!
ReplyDeleteinformative post
ReplyDeleteI like the excerpt; thanks for the giveaway. ;)
ReplyDeleteI liked the synopsis, thx for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely written from the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt best. This book sounds like a fun and interesting read. I will totally have to add this book to my "to-read" list.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book, put it on my must read list.
ReplyDeleteloved the excerpt
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt!
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