Friday, November 6, 2020

Debby Grahl & Her Romance Mountain Blaze is Our Guest Today

 Please welcome author Debby Grahl. She has a new release—a delightful contemporary western romance. Won’t you tell us about it? What was your inspiration for Mountain Blaze?

 


Thank you for having me. You ask what inspired me to write Mountain Blaze?

My cousins live a few hours away in North Carolina near Asheville where they graciously took my husband and me sightseeing. It was Fall, and the spectacular display of color against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains was breathtaking. We decided to hike for a while and discovered a scenic overlook which revealed a stream winding through the valley below.

We came upon a small ranch which had cabins to rent and offered horseback riding. As we waited for the horses to be saddled for a trail ride, my writer’s imagination replaced the nice older man with a handsome cowboy. Now, what would be his story? As we rode through the lush woods, the air fragrant with the smell of pine, Dillon McCoy took shape in my mind.

Afterward, we drove down the mountain into Waynesville. This is a wonderful little town where I discovered Mast General. A fun, old-fashioned country store, this has become one of my favorite places to shop. We decided to stop in a cafĂ©, and while sipping a delicious cup of coffee, I noticed an attractive woman seated at an adjacent table. Her clothes were stylish. She looked as if she had just walked off Fifth Avenue. Once again, my writer’s imagination took over, and Diana Thompson was born. Now, what circumstances could bring the cowboy and the wealthy city girl together? I enjoyed creating their personalities, backgrounds, and tiny quirks that made them unique.

In all my books, I like to have some type of mystery. Not only do Diana and Dillon meet, there’s an outside force which is determined to keep them apart and endanger their lives.


North Carolina Barn


So what’s the story of Mountain Blaze?

Disillusioned by his wife’s betrayal, rodeo star Dillon McCoy comes home to the mountains of North Carolina to lick his wounds. When he agrees to take over the family ranch, the Lazy M, he’s unaware danger waits.

Diana Thompson is having doubts about her engagement to Trent Sawyer. She agrees to leave Chapel Hill and spend Thanksgiving with her friend Jenn at the Lazy M. When Diana and Dillon meet, neither can deny their attraction, but both must resolve past relationships while fighting their growing desire.

After Dillon turns down an anonymous offer to purchase the ranch, attempts are made on his life. When a body is found, Dillon sets out to discover who wants the McCoy land enough to commit murder.

How about an excerpt?

Diana nodded and Flora fell into step behind Flame. They passed the last cabin, and the meadow spread out before them. Dillon drew Flame to a halt and motioned for her to quietly come next to him. When she did so, he pointed to three deer standing near some pine trees, and in the distance were the snow-crested ridges of the Smoky Mountains.

Diana caught her breath. “It’s magnificent,” she whispered.

“I never get tired of this view. Because of this.” He indicated their surroundings. “The last cabin we passed is another favorite of our guests.”

“It all reminds me of a Christmas card.” Diana patted her pockets. “Damn,” she murmured. “I don’t have my phone to take a picture.”

Dillon gestured. “They’re leaving anyway.”

For a minute, the deer stared at them, their ears alert, then bounded off into the woods. “Oh, I must have made too much noise,” Diana exclaimed.

“You didn’t do anything. They could smell us. I’m surprised they stayed as long as they did. If it wasn’t so slippery, we could go out onto that outcropping of rocks.” Diana glanced to where he pointed and shuddered.

“It’s smooth on top, and you can see the stream that runs through the valley below,” he continued.

She shook her head. “I don’t mind heights if I’m a safe distance away. Out there, I’d go into a full-blown panic attack. In fact, that’s why I never learned to ski. You’d have to drag me kicking and screaming onto one of those chair lifts.”

Dillon smiled and Diana thought it the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. There was a slight cleft in his chin, and fine lines formed at the corners of his eyes. Diana inwardly groaned. The butterflies were back.

“I’d hold onto you. I wouldn’t let you fall,” he softly said.

With his slow southern accent, the words sounded like warm honey rolling off his tongue. The depth of his eyes and the sound of his voice mesmerized her.

The horses stood side by side. Her and Dillon’s legs touched. He leaned toward her, and the light aroma of wood smoke, hay, and his spicy cologne filled her nostrils. Diana knew what he was about to do but had no willpower to stop him. He cupped her cheek and their lips met.

Gentle at first, his lips glided over hers. He increased the pressure until she opened her mouth and his tongue slipped in. Diana moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms around her waist, he deepened the kiss. Before she realized what he was doing, without breaking their kiss Dillon lifted her from Flora and placed her across his lap.

Cradled in his arms, Diana clung to him, delicious sensations filling her. Her body came alive in a way that surprised her. The only thing that mattered was this man and this moment.

Flame moved, bringing her back to reality. Diana’s eyes fluttered open, and she stared into Dillon’s, deep with passion and need.

Oh, dear God, what was she doing? She barely knew Dillon, and there she lay sprawled across his lap. What would he think of her? “Dillon, I…”

He placed a gloved finger over her lips. When he spoke, his voice was low and husky. “It’s not your fault. You’re engaged, and I shouldn’t have done that.”

She swallowed hard and touched his cheek. “I’m just as guilty.” She should tell him about Trent, and why she was here, but now wasn’t the moment. She needed to be alone, where she could process what just happened.

“You don’t have to explain.” He glanced away, then back. “I should promise that won’t happen again, but I can’t. All I can promise is I’ll try to behave.”

She gave him a slight smile. “We’re adults. We should be able to control ourselves.”

Dillon cleared his throat and easily set her back on her saddle. “Whatever you say.”

As they made their way back through the woods, Diana’s guilt threatened to consume her. Not only did she enjoy every second of his kiss, she didn’t want him to stop. One terrible truth she had no doubt about—if they hadn’t been sitting on a horse, she’d be in his bed. What a complicated mess her life had become. If she had her own car, she’d make some excuse and leave, but she couldn’t do that to Jenn. Until she could make sense of her emotions, she’d try her best not to be alone with Dillon.

“Do other riders use this trail?”

“No. This is all McCoy land. Our closest neighbor, the Duffys’ property, is in that direction. They have a few cabins, and it’s possible one of their guests wandered over here by mistake.”

“Isn’t the ranch surrounded by fence?”

“No. Only the areas that border public land.” Still frowning, Dillon resumed riding toward the barn. When they were almost there, once again Dillon stopped. “There’s someone ahead of us.”

“Jenn?”

“I don’t think so. If it were her, she’d come to meet us.” He started forward. “Stay behind me.”

The trail widened, and in the distance a man in a parka stood. “I don’t think there’s a problem,” Dillon said. “But stay back a little way.”

Curious, Diana nodded. The snow muffled the sound of Flame’s hooves as Dillon pressed him forward. When he got within thirty feet of the man, he called, “Hello, can I help you?” 

 

Mountain Blaze

The Wild Rose Press; November 2, 2020

Contemporary Romance

306 pages

R-rated / Spicy

 

Buy Links and Book Pages:

Amazon

KOBO

Google Play

Barnes and Noble

ITunes

https://www.bookbub.com/books/mountain-blaze-the-carolina-series-by-debby-grahl

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55319289-mountain-blaze

 

Tell us about yourself.

Debby Grahl

Award-winning author, Debby Grahl, lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. His Magic Touch, a paranormal romance, was released by Wild Rose Press December 5, 2018. Her latest book, Mountain Blaze, was released November 2.

 Where can we find you?

 Website    Facebook   Bookbub   Twitter

Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

8 comments:

Debby Grahl said...

M. S. thank you so much for hosting me today! Best regards, Debby

M. S. Spencer said...

You're welcome! I'm sure readers will flock to buy your wonderful romance.

Ilona Fridl said...

Wonderful excerpt! Wishing you the best on the book!

Debby Grahl said...

Ilona, thank you so much!

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

Don't you just LOVE how characters and plots come to us?
GREAT blurb and excerpt
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT

Debby Grahl said...

Thanks Pam! I love creating my characters personalities.

Jan Sikes said...

Congrats on the new release, Debby! I am heading straight to Amazon to grab a copy. This is my kind of delicious read!

Debby Grahl said...

Wow, Jan thanks! You're the first one who actually said they were going to buy the book! LOL!