Friday, January 31, 2020

LONE STAR RANGER - Renae Brumbaugh Green - ONe Free Book


Bio: Renae Brumbaugh Green is a city-girl-turned-country-diva. She’s married to a handsome country boy named Rick, and she’s mom to four nearly-perfect, nearly-grown children, two rowdy dogs, and some ducks. They live in rural Texas where Renae wears overalls, western boots, and bubblegum pink nail polish. She’s a bestselling author of over 30 books, an award-winning humor columnist, and an online English teacher. In her free time, she can be found leaping tall buildings and rescuing kittens from trees. Or, she’d like to do those things, if she had free time.

Welcome, Renae. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I feel like there’s a bit of Renae in all my heroines, though I do try to mix it up some with each of them. I try to vary the personality types, physical descriptions, etc., but when it comes to writing relationships and emotions, writers need to fall back on what we know. When writing a broken heart, when writing frustration, when writing that giddy falling-in-love feeling, I rely on my own life experiences.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I feel like I’m so quirky, nothing really stands out. My entire life is one continuous quirky thing after another. I did once capture a giant hissing dinosaur turtle with a broom, under a plastic tub, because it was eating the fish out of my pond. I also scratched off the front and back to the car on a McDonald’s scratch-off game, only the card was two years past the expiration date. I found it when I cleaned out a desk drawer.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
In fourth grade, I wrote a sassy poem complaining that I had school on my birthday and gave it to my teacher. She published it in the school newspaper.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
My go-to pleasure read is historical romance. I also enjoy sweet young adult and coming-of-age stories.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Easy. I bury my head in the sand, or in a book. I actually tend to move through life a little slower than most people around me.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
My characters often go through many names before I settle on one. I have to write them a while and get a feel for their personalities. Then I do a search for popular names during that time period, and find one that seems to fit his or her personality.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I’m most proud of my two children. They are magnificent; they are kind and compassionate and fun, and I’m so proud of them.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
I think I’d be a butterfly, because I’ve gone through a lot of changes in my life, and I feel like each difficult phase I’ve gone through has made me more beautiful in spirit. Plus, I like the idea of flitting from flower to flower and drinking nectar.

What is your favorite food?
I pretty much like all food. Lasagna and cheesecake are at the top of the list though. And peppermint ice cream.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I sometimes become paralyzed with anxiety and fear of failure, and I just stop writing. Then I remember that it’s okay to write something bad, something laughable, something absurdly awful. I can always revise and revise and revise, to make it better. But I can’t fix a blank page.

Tell us about the featured book.
Elizabeth Covington will get her man.

And she has just a week to prove her brother isn't the murderer Texas Ranger Rett Smith accuses him of being. She'll show the good-looking lawman he's wrong, even if it means setting out on a risky race across Texas to catch the real killer.

Rett doesn't want to convict an innocent man. But he can't let the Boston beauty sway his senses to set a guilty man free. When Elizabeth follows him on a dangerous trek, the Ranger vows to keep her safe. But who will protect him from the woman whose conviction and courage leave him doubting everything—even his heart?

Please give us the first page of the book.
August, 1877
Elizabeth Covington inhaled the scent of freshly baked bread as the hansom driver pulled into Houston’s Market Square. Before, when her brother Evan had suggested breakfast, she’d turned her nose up. But now, with that robust aroma wafting through her senses…now she was hungry. “Let’s eat over there, in the Kennedy Trading Center. I heard someone on the train say their restaurant and bakery is worthwhile.”

“Finally,” Evan answered. “I’m famished.”

“You’re always famished,” she countered as Evan assisted her from the carriage.

As she climbed down, Elizabeth noticed the hansom driver staring, though he seemed more focused on Evan than on her. Odd. Most people noticed her height. At five  foot  eleven,  she  knew  she  was  a  spectacle,  but she’d long since passed the time when she cared.

The ogling and whispering continued as they made their way through the restaurant. Funny how much attention  her  height  drew,  as  if  she  were  a  circus exhibit. She looked people in the eye and smiled, part challenge, part mischief. She secretly relished the looks of  embarrassment  on  their  faces  when  they  knew they’d been caught gawking. Served them right.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers, here are links to the book.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

14 comments:

Renae said...

Thanks so much, Lena! What an honor to be featured here. :-) I hope you enjoy the book!

--Renae Brumbaugh Green

Melanie Backus said...

Renae, your book sounds like a must read!
Melanie Backus, TX

Robin in NC said...

Such a pretty cover! Thanks for sharing!
Robin in NC

Kay Garrett said...

Thank you for the interview with Renae Brumbaugh Green. I was right there with her until she said peppermint ice cream. :)

Can't wait for the opportunity to read "LONE STAR RANGER". Sounds like a wonderful story and is now on my TBR list. Love the cover! It makes me think of one of our recent vacations.

Appreciate the chance to win a copy!
Kay Garrett of Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net

Renae said...

Thanks for stopping by, Melanie, Robin, and Kay! I hope you enjoy the book. And Kay, my kids say peppermint ice cream tastes like toothpaste. HA! But it's one of my favorite things ever, especially the peppermint mocha Blizzard from Dairy Queen!

--Renae

Wendy Newcomb said...

Yea, another new author to me and the book sounds great. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

Wendy in Nebraska

wfnren at aol dot com

Abigail Mitchell said...

This book looks so good!
Abigail in VA

Lucy Reynolds said...

Thank you for sharing. I absolutely love this cover. Blessings from rainy WV.

Renae said...

Hi Wendy, Abigail and Lucy! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the book! :-) I had a lot of fun writing it.

--Renae Brumbaugh Green

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Great interview & first page!
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

rubynreba said...

I enjoyed the interview. Would love to read this!
Beth from IA

Holly Ison said...

What a captivating book, can't wait to read it! Thanks for the opportunity! Holly from KY

Renae said...

Hi Connie, Sharon, Holly, and Ruby & Reba! Thanks so much for stopping by. Best wishes in the contest, and I hope you enjoy the book!

--Renae Brumbaugh Green