UPDATE: The winner is…Ginger!

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Hello, Delilah fans!

My latest book, Cowboy Resurrection, is about a bullfighter and a city-slicker businesswoman who join forces to produce a rodeo in their tiny hometown. In between the bickering and the banter, these sexy opposites fall for each other…right into bed.

Cowboy Resurrection is set in rural California. Today I’m chatting with fellow author Genevieve Turner about what makes California—and California cowboys—so special.

I hope you enjoy our conversation. We’re also sponsoring a giveaway. Instructions are posted below.

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MH: We both write romance set in California. Why did you choose the Golden State as a setting for your work?

GT: A common piece of writing advice is to write what you know, and I’ve lived in California my entire life (my family’s been here since the late 1700s), so when it came to choosing a setting for my books, I never really considered any other option. I don’t think I could ever live anywhere else—I love it here too much. It also makes it easy, research wise, since I can just step outside to get ideas for descriptions and settings.

MH: California is home for me, too. I was born here, but in my twenties, I got the chance to travel and even live abroad. Being away gave me fresh perspective and a lot of appreciation for my home state. That appreciation lasted long after I moved back. In my stories, setting is a character—the beach, the inner city, the high desert, or the mountains.

GT: People also don’t realize that California has a huge agricultural and ranching industry, so it’s fun to write about places that someone familiar with only LA or San Francisco might not know exist.

MH: Exactly. As a child, I spent time on a grape farm near Delano. All of my cowboy stories are set in this region, the southern part of the Central Valley.

GT: The great thing about California cowboys is that while they’re still rough around the edges (like a cowboy should be), they’re also sophisticated. A California cowboy will work all day getting dirty on the ranch, but once he’s home and showered, he’s totally happy to go out for sushi. Or wine tasting. (Especially if he lives near one of our many wine countries!)

MH: Nothing like a cowboy who knows his chardonnay.

GT: And while he’ll be a total gentleman when he’s taking you to all these fancy spots, he’ll still be a total cowboy when he gets you home. That’s the California cowboy difference.

MH: I agree—that’s the heart of it. Are you working on any California cowboys at the moment?

GT: Right now I’m finishing up Her Cowboy Rival, the next book in my Cowboy of Her Own Series.  Ana has never much liked the charming and arrogant Luke, no matter how he makes her heart race. And since she stole away his best employee, Luke hasn’t liked Ana much either, no matter how she makes his head spin. When they’re forced to collaborate on a charity event, they’ll have to decide: Are they the worst of enemies? Or could they be the best of lovers?

MH: That sounds so juicy!

GT: It’s been so much fun writing this one, since it involves an obstacle race, lots of long runs together on lonely back roads (perfect for kissing), and two people who think they hate each other, but are secretly so hot for each other!

MH: My next project, Cowboy Player, is out in June. It’s the third book in my Cowboy Cocktail series. Rancher Clark MacKinnon is a prankster and a flirt who never takes anything too seriously…until his childhood crush Melody Santos moves back to town and gets a job helping him sell his family’s grass-fed beef. Sparks fly between them. Melody has trust issues following a horrendous breakup, and Clark is a player who’s never been in a serious relationship. Together, they’re a hot, sexy mess!

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ABOUT THE BOOKS

Rescued By Her Firefighter

Trapped together in the wilderness, a straight-laced scientist and an easy-going fireman will discover opposites don’t just attract—they ignite…

Available at: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google Play

Cowboy Resurrection

Ball-busting businesswoman meets no-holds-barred cowboy.
He’s gonna need a longer rope.

Available at: Amazon | Kobo | iTunes | B&N | Samhain | All Romance | Google Play | Books-A-Million

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Genevieve Turner writes romance fresh from the Golden State. In a previous life, she was a scientist studying the genetics of behavior, but now she’s a stay at home mom studying the intersection of nature and nurture in her own kids.  (So far, nature is winning!)  She lives in beautiful Southern California, where she manages her family and homestead in an indolent manner. For more information, please visit www.genturner.com.

Mia Hopkins writes lush romances starring fun, sexy characters who love to get down and dirty. She’s a sucker for working class heroes, brainy heroines and wisecracking best friends. When she’s not lost in a story, Mia spends her time cooking, gardening, traveling, volunteering and looking for her keys. She lives in the heart of Los Angeles with her roguish husband and two waggish dogs. For more information, please visit www.miahopkinsauthor.com.

GIVEAWAY

Answer this question in the comments below:

Where would your cowboy take you on date night?
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

One randomly chosen winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card, one ebook copy of Rescued By Her Firefighter, and one ebook copy of Cowboy Resurrection. Contest closes Sunday, March 20, 2016, at midnight PT. Good luck!