Guest Author: Zoe Archer & Giveaway!

I’m really pleased to have fellow Kensington author Zoe Archer return to the blog.  From historical paranormal adventure, to steampunk, to sci-fi, to historical romance, Zoe’s award-winning books feature confident heroines and sexy heroes in waistcoats and tall boots.  Like many authors, Zoe also is moving into the indie publishing realm, with a rewrite and re-release of her historical romance, Lady X’s Cowboy.

Let’s turn things over to Zoe to find out about her latest book.

When Worlds Collide

Some of the best stories happen when worlds collide.  What happens when people from vastly different circumstances find themselves thrown together?  Think of the educated, wealthy Professor Henry Higgins and the Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle.  Or member of Alderaan royalty and member of the Imperial Senate, Princess Leia and scoundrel smuggler Han Solo (yum!).

There might be tension between these disparate characters, but one thing’s for certain: sparks are going to fly!

In my historical romance, LADY X’S COWBOY, the heroine is a London Society widow.  Lady Olivia Xavier’s late husband may have purchased his title, but she’s still part of the social elite.  She goes to dinner parties, social teas, and has been trained since birth to be a proper lady.  However, Olivia isn’t exactly the model of high society perfection.  When her husband died, he left her a brewery, with the intent that the managers would run the business and she’d simply collect the profits.  But Olivia isn’t content with this arrangement.  She actually involves herself in the running of the brewery, making suggestions for improvements, and increasing profits.  Society’s stunned by her unconventional behavior, but she’s still accepted among their ranks because of her wealth and title.

Who could be more opposite from a titled London lady?  Why, a Colorado cowboy, of course!  Will Coffin was orphaned as a small child, and grew up in the rough and tumble towns of the Rocky Mountains.  The only family he’s ever known was the Jewish miner who raised him.  Will’s more familiar with life on the back of a saddle than he is with hearth and home.  He’s not even a farmer who’s put down roots, but a cattle puncher who’s lived his life on the trail.

Will comes to London in search of his long lost family, and that’s where he and Olivia meet.  He agrees to defend her brewery from someone who wants to take it over, and in exchange, she’ll help him find his family.  A Society widow and a Colorado cowboy couldn’t be more dissimilar—yet they’re both unique people, and that uniqueness draws them together.  I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises, but suffice it to say that there’s a lot more to Will than meets the eye.  And he sees a vivid, powerful strength and energy in Olivia—something no one else from her world recognizes.

Two extremely disparate people.  Two different worlds.  But sometimes the heart doesn’t pay attention to difference—it knows what it wants, rules and expectations be damned.

So, what are some of your favorite “worlds collide” stories?  It could be from books, television, or films.  Leave a comment, and I’ll pick one winner to receive a digital copy of LADY X’S COWBOY.  Open internationally.

LADY X’S COWBOY

Constrained by her life as a Society widow, Lady Olivia Xavier finds escape in two unusual ways: as the owner of a successful brewery, and as a secret reader of penny dreadful Western novels. But Olivia’s beloved brewery is being threatened, and she has no ally in her fight. Until a mysterious cowboy steps out from the London fog, saving her from a terrifying brawl. Suddenly, Olivia isn’t just reading about the Wild West, she’s living it.

Colorado cowboy Will Coffin has made the long journey from his Rocky Mountain home to discover his birthright. While searching for his family, he encounters the beguiling Olivia. Will’s never met a real English lady before—certainly not one as lovely and courageous as Olivia—and he can’t resist coming to her rescue.

Olivia is powerfully drawn to the rough but honorable cowboy. She proposes a most scandalous arrangement: in exchange for helping protect her brewery, she’ll help Will find his family. Even more scandalous is that he’ll be sleeping under her roof. The entire arrangement sets Society’s tongues wagging. Meanwhile, the danger to the brewery, and Olivia herself, keeps escalating. But nothing’s as dangerous, or seductive, as the growing desire between the lady and the cowboy…

Lady X’s Cowboy was originally published by Dorchester in 2006 and is newly revised by the author.

Zoë Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there’s nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master’s degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE series and the paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. She and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, created the steampunk world of THE ETHER CHRONICLES together.  Her steampunk romance, SKIES OF FIRE, is now available from Avon Impulse, and Nico’s steampunk Western, NIGHT OF FIRE, is also available now. Zoë and Nico live in Los Angeles.

Excerpt

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