Love Inspired Books discussion

I grew up in the beautiful rural setting of the Cascade Mountain foothills in Washington State. That in itself was a blessing. I was surrounded by nature--wildflower meadows, pristine forests and lush hillsides. I grew up trekking through the woods, camping, building a fort on the remains of an enormous old-growth stump and raising cattle with my dad. Some of my best memories of my growing up years were spent in the barn and in the fields. It was hard work to unload a truckload of hay, to wake up at four-thirty every morning to clean stalls and feed cattle and to do the same every evening, but it was a wonderful way of life. As a teenager, I was anxious to rush off to college and move to a big city. I wanted to brush the rural off me like out-of-fashion clothes and live a more sophisticated life. But what they say it true. You can take the girl out of the country, but not the country out of the girl. I live in a suburb now, but I would be lying if I said I didn't miss those growing up years and the way of life I once knew. I miss cows mooing their greetings and offering their funny friendships. I miss riding a horse with the sun on my back and the wind in my face. I miss drifting the river on a hot summer day with no one for company for fish and birds and maybe a cow watching from the bank. I carry those experience with me through life and for a long time I have been wanting to write a series that draws on those memories.

That's how the Granger Family Ranch series came to be. It was created out of my love for raising cattle and built on the lessons I learned back then. Lessons of the rewards of hard work, of compassion and the ties binding families and small town communities. I have hidden so many memories on the pages of these books. In The Rancher's Promise, I have drawn on my real life. The rope swing into the river, Buttercup's personality is similar to my pet cow, Juice, riding horses to town, reading in the field with the animals, kamikaze humming birds (my mom to this day devotedly sets out hummingbird feeders), and small town festivals. The small town community, the ranching way of life and the pride of working cattlemen are some of the authentic pieces of what I value that I have incorporated into this story.

If you pick up a copy of The Rancher's Promise, I hope you enjoy the sweet reunion story of Rori Cornell and Justin Granger and their path to love. I hope you fall in love with the Grangers and feel like part of their family. Most of all I hope you are reminded that is it never to late for second chances and that love always leads you home.

I think I fell in love with Buttercup :-)

Read this book. It it great! Loved it. (By the way, I always hang out hummingbird feeders every year too!)

Judy wrote: "I think I fell in love with Buttercup :-)"

me too!

Got the book yesterday, will read it later.

Judy and Jennifer--I laughed every time I wrote her into a scene. So I decided to make Buttercup a recurring character in the series. : )

Patsy--hummingbirds are so cool. Do they come looking in your windows for you to fill up the feeders, too? : )

Terri--thanks. I hope you like Buttercup, too. : )

Jillian wrote: "Judy and Jennifer--I laughed every time I wrote her into a scene. So I decided to make Buttercup a recurring character in the series. : )

Patsy--hummingbirds are so cool. Do they come looking ..."

Yep Terri, the hummingbirds will come fly around the kitchen window. It's like they know where that food comes from. haha

Jillian wrote: "Judy and Jennifer--I laughed every time I wrote her into a scene. So I decided to make Buttercup a recurring character in the series. : )

Patsy--hummingbirds are so cool. Do they come looking ..."

Good! I busted out laughing when you first brought her onto the scene. I want a pet cow now!

I loved Buttercup too. I'm glad you're making her a recurring character!

Barbara--glad you loved Buttercup too. She is my favorite character to write about by far. : )

Jennifer--glad you thot Buttercup was so funny. Pet cows rock. I hope you get one, one day!

Patsy--re the hummingbirds. exactly! And they hover until you give in and fill the feeder. Funny. : )

I never seen hummingbirds in Illinois or Indiana but they are always out here in Arizona. I have seen how they act around those who put food out for them as well. They do hover very close and let them know they are hungry and want the feeders refilled.

My own buttercup was not a good story. We had a black angus and dad must have gotten her just to butcher :-(
Every time we had steak my brother teased me and he ended up with my steak. I always said it was a pet but truth be known I don't think ours was a friendly one.

Judy wrote: "I never seen hummingbirds in Illinois or Indiana but they are always out here in Arizona. I have seen how they act around those who put food out for them as well. They do hover very close and let t..."

My grandfather always had hummingbird feeders all over his yard. I loved watching them.

Judy--hugs on your pet cow story. Sad. I understand. I was a vegetarian for half my life, and I still try not to eat red meat.

I did not eat much meat but mostly ham. I think my brother tormented me just to get my steaks. When my hubby came along he got it and not my brother :-)

We had 5 acres of animals so I was very much use to death. Especially with lockjaw and the horses or having a horse I really liked and my dad would sell them. Too many sad stories. The best pet was a goat we had for awhile. One of those BIG guys. I have pics where I had put a hat and sunglasses on him. He was actually a pain though when you were carrying the buckets of feed. We had many exotics later on.

You're right, Judy, seeing the cycle of life and sadly death is part of raising livestock, too. Plus, those grain buckets are heavy, heavy when they are full! Oh, goats are cool, too! Love the hat and sunglasses. : )

I'll have to post the picture. Just got Klondike Hero in the mail today but I'm reading a book I won on Goodreads. Different then I thought it was and not an easy read for me. And THEN I can read Klondike Hero and think about snow while it's 111 outside

Ah, Arizona weather. I miss it...in the winter. : ) I hope you enjoy Klondike Hero--I had so much fun writing it!

I'm sure I will. I been busy getting books instead of reading the last few days!

Judy wrote: "I'll have to post the picture. Just got Klondike Hero in the mail today but I'm reading a book I won on Goodreads. Different then I thought it was and not an easy read for me. And THEN I can read ..."

I'm reading klondike hero right now! Halfway through and love it!

I've finished Klondike Hero now. You won't be disappointed!!

I can't wait. I been adding to my book collection from BookMooch more then I been reading :-P