Well, as much as I love reading historical westerns as much as y’all – the polite, alpha cowboy on his white horse and the town’s school marm with loads of gumption getting their HEA, but I also love reading contemporary westerns – that same polite, alpha cowboy who’s been raised right by his mama in today’s world and a more world-wise, modern heroine who can now be anything she wants other than a school marm.

I’ve not read huge amounts of contemp westerns, but I have my favorite authors who I go back to time and again, plus others I still have in the TBR mountain and know I’ll enjoy just as much when I finally read them.

1. Lorelei James is the first to come to mind. I have the best time with her Rough Riders and Wild West Boys series. The books center around the McKay and West families, and while they are definitely erotic stories, the way she weaves family with tragedy and fun and emotion with all the lovin’ going on behind closed doors, her books are always at the top of my list. Her cowboys walk and talk like they should too. No ugly western speak on any of her pages. My faves are Cowgirl Up and Ride, Tied Up Tied, and Branded as Trouble — all for three very different reasons. You can see my reviews of these three books and others of Ms. James here.

2. I discovered Catherine Anderson from the ladies at an historical romance chat group I’m in, and with her first book in her Kendrick/Coulter series, Baby Love, she hooked me not only with her storytelling and characters, but the emotion she wrings from with every book. I’m sorry to say I’ve only read a couple of Ms. Anderson’s books so far, but I know when I do pick up another, it’s going to be one terrific ride. My favorite of those few I’ve read to date is Phantom Waltz. Lordamercy, the emotion in that book will set you back a few days.

3. As good as Linda Lael Miller’s historical westerns are, her contemporaries are just as good. I loved her Montana Creeds trilogy released just recently (see my DDS review on the Creeds here) and still have her McKettrick follow-up books to read, which I know I will love as much as the original books.

4. Anna Jeffrey nee Sadie Callahan nee Dixie Cash is a one-woman force when it comes to contemp westerns. I have read her Jeffrey and Callahan books but have yet to sample her Cash stories. The few I have read so far have turned out to be pleasant surprises, especially Lone Star Woman under the Callahan pseudonym (see my review here). I have plenty more Jeffrey books to read and look forward to getting to them.

5. Though I really love her paranormals, Lisa Renee Jonesgave readers a look at another side of her writing with Lone Star Surrender last year. This is her only contemp western, but I’m hoping she’ll write more down the road.  Lisa is one of those authors who knows how to put the sizzle in love scenes whether it’s in the western or paranormal style, so more of her cowboy lovin’ would be a treat.

6. As for contemp western authors whose books I have but have not yet had the pleasure to read, there’s a few that come to mind: Jodi Thomas, Mackenzie McKade, Joan Johnston, Patrice Michelle, and if you’re in need of a guilty pleasure, Diana Palmer.

So. Have you read any of these authors? What’s your take on their books in the modern western world? Who else do you love/hate when it comes to contemporary westerns? I know I’ve not thought of a lot. Hit me with it, pardner!

The Ducks are chatting once again. Welcome!

Today erotic author Lorelei James joins us to talk about her hot and sexy cowboys that her fans adore. If you love reading about cowboys, you should be reading this series. You’ll never look at those Levi-wearin’, bronc-bustin’ men the same way again. Lorelei lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, so all things western are in her blood. She portrays a very authentic cowboys in speech as well as deed, and she writes them steamin’ hot like nobody’s business.

The sixth book in the series was just released and already those adoring fans are looking ahead to the next book. Long Hard Ride started it all just a little more than a year ago and the Rough Riders series, featuring the McKay family, was born. Just seven months later, Rode Hard, Put Up Wet followed and Lorelei’s books here a hit. A year later, to the day, Cowgirl Up and Ride hit the shelves, followed by Tied Up, Tied Down, Rough, Raw and Ready, and just last week Branded as Trouble. In between all this, her Wild West Boys, sexy cousins to the McKays, saw the beginning of their series in Mistress Christmas. On top of all this, Lorelei also writes contemporary romances which she talks about in the interview. She’s one busy lady, but she’s taken a few minutes to chew the fat with us today.  Lorelei will drop in to say hello throughout the day, so drop her a hi or a question or any comment you’d like, because she’s giving away a download for any book from her backlist and a Rough Riders T-shirt.

Be sure to check out my review of Branded as Trouble!

So let’s chat!

Duck Chat: I discovered your books late 2007 and have enjoyed every one released since then. What I didn’t know if all this time and just found out is you write mysteries under your real name of Lori G. Armstrong. Yes, I’m behind the times. Tell our readers about the mystery books you’ve written.

Lorelei James: Since 2005 I’ve written four books in mass market paperback for Medallion Press in the Julie Collins series, Blood Ties, Hallowed Ground, Shallow Grave, and Snow Blind. These “medium-boiled” contemporary mysteries are set in western South Dakota. My female lead is a private investigator, a real tough chick who smokes too much, drinks too much, and has lousy taste in men. She’s still grieving over the unsolved death of her Lakota half-brother, and righting that wrong is part of what drives her to right other wrongs, personally and professionally. Despite her tough outer shell, Julie is way more vulnerable than she wants to admit. These books are pretty much “pure” mystery, not romantic suspense, although a shady male love interest is introduced in book two. The series has been well received (Shamus nominations for Blood Ties and Hallowed Ground, a Willa Cather Literary Award for Hallowed Ground and a nomination for Shallow Grave, a High Plains Literary Award nomination for Shallow Grave, and Daphne du Maurier Award nominations for Hallowed Ground and Shallow Grave). Julie was a great character to write, but Snow Blind is the last book in the series. I have the first book in a new mystery series coming out in hardcover from Touchstone/Fireside (Simon & Schuster) in January 2010, entitled No Mercy.

DC: What made you decide to become an erotic author?

LJ: I love to read erotic romance. There’s just something about taking the sexual relationship to the edge that appeals to me.

DC: And why use a different name for your erotic romances?

LJ: Honestly? Because of shelving issues in bookstores and libraries. Since I’ve always written both romance and mystery, I decided whichever genre published me first would get my “real” name. There might be a misconception I took a different name because I’m hiding something or embarrassed about penning naughty tales. Not true. I’m very open and proud about what I write in both genres, but I’m also aware of the dividing line in genre readership: the steamy sex scenes in the Lorelei James books aren’t appealing to most mystery readers, and there isn’t enough romance/sex in the mysteries for erotic romance readers…although, I do get more crossover readership than I ever believed possible!

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

LJ: Where do I get my ideas from? Easy. I buy them at Wal-Mart.

DC: Your cowboys in your McKay/West family series are some hot and smokin’ men, but they’re also sensitive and loving. How did the idea for the series come about?

LJ: I’ve always loved western romances, but I grew frustrated at the lack of erotic contemporary single title western romances. And if I did find a contemporary western, it never had enough sex in it to satisfy the erotic reader in me. So I decided to write my own story, an old-fashioned saga with a new twist, featuring a family of hot cowboys and the women who love them. Instead of the wink wink, nudge nudge closing the bedroom door at the pivotal moment, I kicked that sucker wide open…and it seems to have struck a chord with those readers like me who were looking for a little more kink to their modern day westerns. Although, John Wayne probably would have run my guys out of town on a rail for their wild behavior!

I love writing contemporary erotic westerns, but I also love writing just contemporary romances, as I’ve done with my non-series books, Dirty Deeds, Wicked Garden, and Babe in the Woods. That’s where the idea for the Wild West Boys series, the West family—the McKay cousins—came about. Not everyone stays in their hometown, especially out here. In fact, most people can’t wait to move away so I wanted to write stories about men who have roots here but aren’t necessarily cowboys. Mistress Christmas is the first book in that series, and my hero, Nick West is a detective in Denver. Miss Firecracker, out in July, features Blake West, who is filling in as a bartender for his buddy, and it is set in Nebraska. Hopefully there will be more.

DC: The sixth book in the series, Branded as Trouble, was just released this last week. Would you introduce us those characters and tell us a little about them?

LJ: This is my first friends-to-lovers story.

Colt McKay has had some issues in previous books. Drinking. Drugging. Sleeping around. Pissing off his family. Shirking his duties at the family ranch. Colt sobered up (with help) at the tail end of Cowgirl Up and Ride, and he’s stayed sober for three years. He’s the black sheep of his family, and, even though it appears he’s got a handle on his substance abuse issues, his family seems to be waiting for the other boot to drop and for him to revert to his bad boy ways. India Ellison, Colt’s best friend, has been clean for eight years, and they met through A.A. Not only is India pierced, heavily tattooed, and the type to openly speak her mind, she owns a tattoo shop, which makes her a bit of an anomaly in Sundance, WY. The theme of the story is two black sheep falling in love, because, really, who to better understand you and accept who you are now? Instead of who you used to be? And it was great fun finding redeemable qualities in characters who at first glance may seem beyond redemption.

Excerpt from BaT:

Early the next morning, Colt stumbled out of his room. Despite his intent to crawl in his truck and head home, a shower was a necessity.

As he crossed the living area, he noticed India’s bedroom door was ajar. He peered through the crack and saw India sprawled in the middle of the bed. Alone. Alone and apparently buck-assed nekkid. Red satin sheets were twisted around her long legs and long arms, covering her torso, but hinting at the curves beneath.

Colt didn’t gawk at her body to see if she was, in fact, pierced everywhere she’d hinted at being pierced. A man could only stand so much temptation. He backtracked to the bathroom.

The hot water lasted all of five minutes. And did the woman own every blasted lotion and potion known to mankind? He counted fourteen different health and beauty product bottles—after he’d knocked them all into the tub. Twice.

Still, he felt a million times better after an ice shower. His injury itched, so he took that as a sign of recovery.

He needed his caffeine fix and didn’t want to stop at the Conoco and chance running into a member of his family. He plugged in India’s fancy coffeemaker and dumped a capful of coffee beans into the grinder. While that machine whirred, he washed the glass coffee pot and the plastic filter basket. It took four cupboards before he found where India had moved the box of paper coffee filters. He filled the water reservoir, reassembled the various parts and hit start.

Colt picked up the trash in his prison room while he waited for the coffee to brew. When he returned to the kitchen, India stormed out of her bedroom.

Pity she’d put on a robe.

“The one day I get to sleep in and you’re up at the butt crack of dawn making enough noise to wake the dead?”

“Oh, I see. It’s different when you’re disturbed out of your beauty sleep. Sucks, huh?”

“Funny.”

“Besides, all I did was make coffee.”

“Then explain what you were doing in the shower? ’Cause it sure as hell sounded like you were throwing rocks.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think your poor head was hurtin’ and it was a hangover talkin’.” Colt clucked his tongue. “Maybe you oughta get to bed earlier if you’re so cranky in the mornin’.”

“How do you know what time I went to bed?”

“I dunno, maybe it was the slamming door at midnight that tipped me off. Or maybe it was your headboard banging against my wall until the wee hours. I got tired of it around one a.m. and listened to my iPod.”

“But Blake finished—”

“Huh-uh. I don’t wanna know about Blake’s big finish because I had enough of the pre-game.” Colt sidestepped her.

“You think I slept with him.”

He shrugged, determined not to let it show how much her horizontal mattress mambo with his cousin bothered him.

“Hey.” Her hand circled his wrist and India yanked him around to face her.

Colt looked into her angry eyes. “What?”

“You are a judgmental jerk, Colt McKay.”

“Me? I didn’t pass judgment. I just pointed out the obvious.”

“Obvious?”

“Hell, I didn’t even mention the candles and soft music and the laughter that preceded all the bedroom noises.”

“Magnanimous of you.”

“I thought so.”

“Hah! You thought wrong.” India’s finger drilled him in the chest. “And it pisses me off that you think so…lowly of me.”

“What else am I supposed to think?”

“That there’s a logical explanation.”

He laughed. “For havin’ a man in your bedroom? After midnight? With the bed slamming against the wall? Sugar, sex isn’t the logical answer, it’s the only answer.”

“Not all men have sex on the brain twenty-four hours a day.”

Tired of her baiting him, Colt crowded her. “Any man with half a fucking brain, who is lucky enough to be in your bedroom at any time, ain’t thinkin’ about nothin’ but how perfect it’d feel to have your hot little body under his. Or on top of his. Or in front of his. Over and over. And if it’d been me? Twenty-four hours would be the minimum amount of time I’d keep you in my bed.”

India stared at him. “Is that what you were thinking about, Colt? Us having sex?”

Yes. Goddammit, that was all he could think about. Why in the hell couldn’t she see it?

DC: How many more books are planned in the series?

LJ: ONE BILLION. Seriously…I don’t know. There’s a whole branch of the McKays I’ve scarcely mentioned, yet some characters’ storylines aren’t conducive to a full-length novel. I’m working through ideas for both the West and McKay cousins. I’ll probably keep writing them as long as my editor and readers are buying!

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions or that dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

LJ: I think it’d get boring if everything I envisioned for a character/storyline came to pass exactly the way I’d planned it. Sometimes I veer completely off the synopsis. It’s what makes writing exciting for me; my best laid plans oftentimes are shot all to hell—and usually for the better.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

LJ: Yes. The characters almost always win. If I’m trying to force a character to do or be something and it isn’t working, most times it stops my writing flow. So I’ve learned to listen and let them take me where they want to go–sounds crazy to non-writers I’m sure, as we’re not talking about real people but figments of my imagination.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

LJ: Usually if I have a really great book I’m dying to read.

DC: Does your husband read your hot and steamy books? How’s he feel about them? Has he been some inspiration for writing your heroes?

JL: Yes, he reads them, but not until they’re available for sale. He is NOT my critique partner. He’s proud of me, and the books, and always says he’s the luckiest man in the world. He’s an inspiration in my real life, rather than in my fictional world.

DC: Do you think you write differently now than you did when you started?

LJ: God, I hope so. I hope I’m getting better with every book. It’s scary to contemplate that readers will always compare your most recent book to the one that got them reading you in the first place—and somehow find it lacking.

DC: When you have the time, what genre do you normally read?

LJ: Paranormal romance because it seems like the only genre I’m not writing in, so it’s purely fun. I keep up with mystery and erotic romance too.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled in your writing but would like to try?

LJ: Young adult. I’ve been kicking around an idea for a couple of years, every once in a while I’ll bring it up with my daughters…it’s the only time I ask their advice on what they’d like to read in a book.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

LJ: Study harder. Knowing how to tap a keg really won’t get you very far in life.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

LJ: Probably still working in my husband’s family’s firearms business, where I toiled for a decade as the bookkeeper before I got back into writing.

DC: Favorite author:

LJ: Mystery: Sue Grafton; Romance: J.D. Robb

DC: Favorite book:

LJ: Of all time? Gone With the Wind

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?
milk
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?
smooth
- heels or flats?
flats
- coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning, iced tea in the afternoon
- summer or winter?
summer
- mountains or beach?
I love the beach, but I live in the mountains
- mustard or mayonnaise?
mayonnaise
- flowers or candy?
Is this a trick question? Flowers…unless the candy is chocolate
- pockets or purse?
Purse, a huge purse that carries everything
- Pepsi or Coke?
Diet Pepsi
ebook or print?
Both – the Sprint “whispernet” feature for amazon kindle isn’t available out here in the Wild West, hence, I returned my Kindle…but I know if I had one, my cyber TBR piles would be catching up with the piles of books in my library. I have an ebookwise that I use, but getting the titles in their preferred format is a pain…and limited without converting the files…which is a pain.

And just for some extra fun:

1. What is your favorite word?
*see answer #7
2. What is your least favorite word?
Grimace or padded
3. What turns you on creatively?
Depends on the day. What I have for deadlines and/or family commitments is usually the deciding factor of what I work on–for me there is no waiting for the muse. I put my butt in the chair and get to work even if I don’t feel like it
4. What turns you off creatively?
Sometimes what turns you off personally is great for inspiring creativity
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The bell ringing on the front door when my kids and my husband come home
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
The new neighbors’ stupid barking dogs and the wild turkeys constant gobbling, clucking and screeching during mating season—which is right now
7. What is your favorite curse word?
*Fuck. It can be a verb, a noun, an adjective, an adverb when used properly (or improperly?) I get in trouble for using it too much in real life…and sometimes in fiction
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
As long as we’re pretending…I’d love to be an international spy like Sydney Bristow on “Alias”—cool disguises, hot men, and that air of mystery
9. What profession would you not like to do?
I wouldn’t like to be the person from the state highway department who has to pick up dead animal carcasses from the roads and ditches. Lots of dead critters on the roads here in South Dakota, and in the summertime, I can’t imagine the smell
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Wow. We must’ve really lowered our standards.”

Thanks so much, Lorelei, for being with us today!

Sandy M’s review of Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders, Book 6) by Lorelei James
Contemporary Western Erotic Romance eBook released by Samhain 3 Mar 09

I know the big draw to the Rough Riders series for Lorelei James fans is the erotic.  Her heroes and heroines steam up the pages something fierce. Ms. James never runs out of ideas for her love scenes. That’s a big draw for me too, but what I like just as much is the sense of family that has run throughout this series. It’s secondary to the romance and the sizzle, of course, but it’s there in every book and sometimes just as powerful as all that lovin’ that’s goin’ on.

Colt McKay has been sober for three and a half years, a huge milestone for him considering his wild and crazy days of booze and sex that went on for a good eighteen months before he realized he needed help. But no one even acknowledges his sobriety or the effort it takes to maintain it. His brothers are just waiting for him to fall off the wagon. Then he finds out his parents feel the same. Colt keeps right on plugging along, however, enduring Sunday supper with his family, doing his work on the ranch and other community activities his family knows nothing about.

The only one who can even come close to understanding him and really knowing him is India Ellison, sister to his cousin’s wife and a fellow AA member. Indy always feels the outsider with her body tattoos and piercings, though she does a steady business in her tattoo shop. She’s been Colt’s sponsor for the time he’s been attending meetings, but lately she’s been wanting something more with him. They have so much in common thanks to their pasts. She’s not sure if they have a future, but she’d definitely like to find out.

Little does India know that Colt’s been in love with her for the past three years. When they decide to take their relationship to the next level, it’s Colt who wants to take it slow. Though he can’t remember much during his year-and-a-half bender, he knows none of it was good. So he wants to date India, show her his gentlemanly side. So they take it easy and nearly drive each other nuts with wanting before their two-week deadline is up. And though things sizzled between them with all the sexual teasing, the world shakes, rattles, and rolls when they finally let loose. Their love scenes are intense, demanding, and oh-so-hot.

In between all this, Colt is still struggling with his family. It’s his youngest brother Cam who gives the family what-for, how they’re not helping Colt by doubting his every move and expecting him to return to his former ways. That was a terrific scene and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. Ms. James took her sweet time getting there!  She made me wait a while, but it was worth it. Colt’s brothers come to him, hat in hand, to apologize for their behavior and to let Colt know they’re behind him.  And while that was a nice scene, it’s the scene with his father later that tore at my heart. The McKay men don’t cry, but they do tear up as Colt does when talking to his father. I was hoping for a tad more emotion between them, a quick hug at the least, but what’s there works wonderfully.

India and Colt have their misunderstandings along the way, but I really enjoyed how they went to each other and talked things out. They may have yelled and thrown things, but in the end they did the right thing to make sure their relationship worked. They are both so tortured by the past, and the present and future give them fits too, push them to take another drink, waiting to see how they’ll survive. They may be branded as trouble because of their past, the future is bright for them, even if they have to work extra hard for it. That just makes it all the sweeter.

Grade: A

Summary:
.
It’s hard to trust the future when you’ve been branded by the past
.
As a walking advertisement for the tattoo shop she’s set up in a small Wyoming town, India Ellison is well acquainted with preconceived notions. Despite the odd looks and off-color comments about her off-color hair, life is good. She’s clean and sober, dotes on her sister’s kids and, best of all, spends most of her free time with her best buddy, cowboy Colt McKay.
.
Reformed bad boy Colt never expected three years of sobriety to lead to three years of abstinence. Curbing his craving for booze and random sexual encounters is nothing compared to the ever-increasing craving for his hot-tempered, hot-bodied best friend, India. Too bad she’s his A.A. sponsor. Too bad she hasn’t a clue that Colt’s been head-over-bootheels in love with her from day one.
.
After an unexpected, steamy interlude, all India can think about is riding the sexy cowboy instead of her motorcycle, even when Colt is determined to show her a slower ride is worth the wait.
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Or are they risking their friendship for a fling that could burn them both?
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series (print releases linked below, go here for eBook releases):