Shannon here: Louise M. Gouge shares insight into her Contemporary Romance, Feuding with the Cowboy with a romantic excerpt plus a chance to win a copy. Comment or answer the question on any post dated Dec 2nd – 13th to enter the drawing for Louise’s book plus 3 other titles. Deadline: Dec 20th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Louise:
Thank you for hosting me again so I can tell your readers about my upcoming release, Feuding with the Cowboy. If you love a Romeo and Juliet story, you’ll enjoy Juliet and Sam’s heartwarming but rocky romance. Despite their families’ conflicted past, with a little bit of help from friends and a lot of help from the Lord, will this star-crossed couple find their happily ever after?
Excerpt from Feuding with the Cowboy by Louise M. Gouge:
Chapter One
“Hi, Sam.”
Sam Mattson looked up from the adoption forms on his desk to see a familiar face from his past.
“Juliet Sizemore.” Even as he said her name, his pulse kicked into overdrive. He swallowed hard and stared down at his desk again. His first and only love, who’d betrayed him and broken his heart. Even after ten years, he still could feel the pain she’d caused him. It tainted every relationship he’d ever tried to have with a woman.
When he could speak without choking, he muttered, “What brings you here?”
“Well, actually, I was looking for your Cousin Will. Is he around?” Her voice as flippant as in her teens—one of the reasons he’d fallen for her in his own season of rebellion—she glanced out the door of Sam’s small office as though Will might walk past in the hallway.
“He’s out of town.” Sam couldn’t keep his gaze from her pretty face. At twenty-eight, she had blossomed into an adult beauty.
“Oh.” Her posture slumped, and she let out a sigh. “Well, maybe you can help me.” A hint of doubt colored her tone.
Sam grunted. “You want my help?” They locked gazes for several seconds until she finally broke it off. “The last I heard about you, other than when you stood me up at the crossroads, was when you lied to my Cousin Rob about the woman who rescued his border collie.”
“Yeah. Well.” Years ago, she would have laughed. Today, she had the grace to blush, the first time he’d ever seen any form of shame on her face. “I was caught off guard when Mr. Mattson bragged about who he was. ‘Robert Mattson of the Double Bar M Ranch.’” She did a fairly good job of faking Rob’s deep voice. “As you may recall, our families have never gotten along. I guess I just wanted to—”
“Wanted to cause pain where you could.” He sat back in his desk chair and crossed his arms. “Sounds as reasonable as any excuse…for a Sizemore.”
To his surprise, her eyes took on a sheen. Was she faking those tears? Probably, because she’d obviously come here needing something.
Reader Question: So, how about you? Do you have a funny story about your own or maybe your
parents’ romance? Please share! I will be giving away a print copy of Feuding with the Cowboy to one commenter, so be sure to leave a brief story here.
Dec Book Bundle #1
Every Voice Heard by Sarah Hanks, 3 author Contemporary Novella collection, e-book
No Plan at All by Denise M. Colby, Historical Romance, e-book
Failed Protocol by Cindy Bonds, Romantic Suspense, print
Feuding with the Cowboy by Louise M. Gouge, Contemporary Romance, print
About Louise: South Carolina author Louise M. Gouge writes contemporary and historical romance fiction, winning the prestigious IRCA in 2006 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She was also a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards in 2005, 2007, and 2008, and placed in the Laurel Wreath contest in 2012. Most recently, she was a finalist in the 2023 and 2024 Selah Awards. Married for fifty-four happy years to her husband, David, Louise is now widowed and spends her days researching and writing her next novel. Learn more and connect:
Louise’s Website Louise’s Facebook Louise’s Bookbub
About the book – Feuding with the Cowboy:
He once defied his family for love. Can he risk it again?
Despite the generations-old vendetta between their families, Sam Mattson fell for Juliet Sizemore in high school—only to have his heart broken and his trust betrayed. And now, ten years later and a single mom, she reappears, asking for his help to gain custody of her troubled half brother. Sam knows he’s wading into dangerous territory, but he can’t bring himself to turn his back on Juliet. Yet old emotions don’t always fade, and Sam’s fractured cowboy heart is already feeling more than it should. Especially when Juliet’s hiding a secret that will transform their lives forever…
Now that you know a little about Sam and Juliet’s bumpy road to love, let me tell you a funny story about my own romance. I grew up with a red-haired father and red-haired brother, both of whom had the proverbial tempers legendary for that particular hair color. Therefore, I always vowed I would never marry a man with red hair. I also decided I didn’t want to marry somebody with an unusual last name. And you know what happens when you say “never will I ever.” That’s right. I married a redhead with an odd, hard-to-pronounce last name. But when my roommate introduced me to David for a blind date, I quickly saw he was the most laid back, gentle, funny man I’d ever known. So, despite his odd last name, Gouge (pronounced gooj) I knew he was the man for me. We had fifty-four wonderful years together before he went to be with Jesus, and I look forward to seeing him again one day.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Louise’s other titles?
Need multiple copies for gifts? Get your copy/copies now!
Feuding with the Cowboy – Amazon Feuding with the Cowboy – Harlequin
Come back Dec 13th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
Thanks again for hosting me, Shannon. I hope lots of our readers leave comments!
The story of how my hubby and I met is actually pretty funny—I always say I’m his birthday present. I moved to the U.S. on his birthday, after all!
Thank you for sharing this book sounds amazing I met my late husband at my cousin’s house and he had got a loan to buy a car but he decided to ask me to Marry him instead and so we got married that year on Dec.18th I hope you have a Merry Christmas
I don’t have any funny stories, but this book sounds wonderful.
I have a winner! Natalya Lakhno won the drawing. I appreciate Louise for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.