#SaturdaySpotlight is on Lucy Naylor Kubash and Chance's Return

Good Moring Friends!

Today's guest is brand new to our blog, so please give Lucy Naylor Kubash a warm W-E-L-C-O-M-E.

So glad you could join us, Lucy, please tell us something about your book, Chance's Return...

Well, Pam, the story goes something like this... Once upon a time a little girl loved horses, westerns…and cowboys. The fascination started when she and her dad watched Saturday afternoon movies with heroes like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and the Lone Ranger. In those days, a lot of westerns filled the airwaves on TV, and as she grew older, the girl graduated to Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and the Virginian, where cowboy heroes and their horses were larger than life. Eventually, the girl grew up and read romance novels with—you guessed it—cowboy heroes, buying into the whole cowboy myth that has been a big part of American entertainment. Writing her own cowboy hero story just seemed a logical next step. And so, she did. 

I’m pleased to announce Chance’s Return, a contemporary western romance set near the Grand Tetons, was released on April 16 by The Wild Rose Press. It’s the first book in a trilogy, The North Star Legacy, after the McCord family’s ranch, the North Star. The books are full of family drama, people learning to live with and rise above past mistakes and tragedies, and of course, romance. I’m hoping readers will want to learn about my cowboy hero, the McCord family, and the woman who changes their lives.

Here is the blurb for Chance’s Return...

Widowed single mom Casey Girard hopes time in Wyoming will help her recover from a tragic loss. Working as a cook at the North Star ranch for the summer offers an opportunity to start life over near the beautiful Grand Teton Mountains.

 Ex-rodeo champ and prodigal son of the North Star, Chance McCord returns to face a family still divided by their own painful past. To overcome the estrangement, he needs to find a way to face his own haunting memories.

 When Chance and Casey meet, the attraction is undeniable and blooms like the blue lupine in the valley. But can they learn to put their pasts to rest and trust one another so love can grow?

And an Excerpt...

Clutching their packages, they sprinted to the café two doors down and hurried inside. Casey glanced about the bustling Hitching Post. A lot of other folks had the same idea. 

Dishes clattered and voices were raised as the overwhelmed servers filled orders for the mob of tourists that, with the advent of the storm, had descended on them. 

Casey didn’t see a single empty table or booth.

“Room only at the counter, honey.” A harried server jerked her head towards the lunch counter.

Casey saw the two empty seats, one on either side of a tall, broad-shouldered man. His hat and faded denim jacket said cowboy, and he looked intimidating, even with his back turned.

She was reluctant to ask him to move over, but being on her own had forced her to fend for herself and do things she never thought she’d have to do. With only a second’s hesitation, Casey marched up to the counter and smiled. “Could you please move down one? All the other seats are taken.”

For a minute, she didn’t think he’d heard. He remained hunched over the full-to-the-brim mug of coffee that sat steaming on the counter in front of him. He hadn’t made it to the café in time to avoid the downpour. Rain darkened the faded denim jacket, and his battered, equally wet, black cowboy hat tilted low over his forehead, shadowing his face. He seemed totally withdrawn from the bustle of the café around him.

Casey cleared her throat to speak again and found herself looking into eyes the same color as the moody sky above the mountains. With the chary gaze of a lone wolf, the man stared from beneath the hat brim. He needed a shave, and his dark hair curled just above the collar of his jacket. In one glance, he took her all in, from her pink running shoes and skinny jeans to her green-and-white college sweatshirt. His gaze lifted and dwelled on her face. She shifted from one foot to the other. A crazy rush of warmth flooded her from her toes to the roots of her ponytailed hair.

“Hey, can we sit down?” Jamie asked. “I’m really hungry.” 

The fact he’d eaten lunch only a few hours ago didn’t seem to matter. Lately, Jamie was hungry all the time. 

The boy’s remark did the trick. 

A smile crinkled the man’s tanned face. “Sure enough, partner.” He stood just long enough to hoist himself over to the next stool. 

Jamie scrambled up beside him.

The man pulled the brim of the boy’s hat down over his wavy blond hair.

Scrunching his nose, Jamie tipped his head back and gave the stranger the once-over. “You a cowboy, mister?”

Casey poked her son. “Jamie, hush. Don’t ask a bunch of questions now.” In three weeks’ time, Jamie had also lost a lot of his bashfulness. Simply too many people lived at the North Star ranch, and too much happened for him to remain shy for long. But no doubt this guy wouldn’t appreciate a kid’s questions. When it came to cowboys, Jamie was an avid fan, and anybody who dressed like one became instant hero material. In spite of his friendly gesture, this particular cowboy didn’t look interested in being a little boy’s hero.

“It’s okay, ma’am. I don’t mind.” He winked at her. 

That sort of masculine wink could do strange things to one’s equilibrium. Casey snatched  the plastic-covered menu and stared at it, although, unlike Jamie, she wasn’t a bit hungry.

Wonderful, Lucy! Tell us a little more about yourself...

Lucy Naylor Kubash has been writing for most of her life. She began her career writing short romance stories for Woman’s World magazine and now writes contemporary romance for The Wild Rose Press. Lucy has penned a column, The Pet Corner, for nearly 25 years, that advocates for homeless pets and animal rescue. She lives in Michigan with her husband of 53 years where they enjoy spending time with their two grown children, an assortment of pets, and traveling whenever possible. 

Find and follow Lucy at the following social mediat sites...

Website: http://lucynaylorkubash.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LucyNaylorKubash

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lucykubash_author

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/lkubash/

Amazon:  https://tinyurl.com/2t4k6x7j

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2966398.Lucy_Naylor_Kubash

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucy-naylor-kubash

Blue Sky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lucynaylorkubash.bsky.social

Thank You, SO much, Lucy for sharing with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your debut novel!

Hope you enjoyed Lucy's vist as much as I did, friends, and that you'll check back each week for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.

Until then, take care, God Bless and Happy Reading.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Dana Pratola & Wasn't Expecting That!

Hello and Welcome to another editon of Saturday Spotlight.

Today's guest is not new to the blog, per se, but it has been a while since she visited. So, without further ado, take it away Dana and tell us why you wrote Wasn't Expecting That...

Thanks Pam!

I started this book because I thought it would be nice to see a Pastor who doesn’t fill the typical role some Christians expect. Maddox Crew is single, has tattoos, temptations, and a past. I think it’s important to remember that pastors are men and, like anyone else, not immune to temptations. But they can also overcome and stay true to the Lord. Maddox is looking for a wife, and while he might technically be free to marry whomever he chooses, he only wants the one the Lord says is for him.

I also wanted to point out that in addition to the common problems many churches face—finances, squabbles among members, etc.—no church is immune to infiltration from the often subtle but very real and serious evil of witchcraft. It’s more prevalent than people realize and needs to be dealt with swiftly and decisively. 

Wonderful to know, Dana. I certainly enjoyed this book. You can read my review HERE. Please give us more.

Here you go...

Blurb: Luna Alexander is looking for a fun vacation adventure, and since her sister abandoned her, Maddox will have to substitute. He’s gorgeous and kind and doesn’t expect anything from her.

Maddox Crew isn’t looking for romance. The next woman he gets involved with will be his bride, but what’s wrong with hanging out with a beautiful girl for a few days? He's a Pastor ... what could happen? 

Still, something is going on at Cross Roads Church other than a not-quite romance. Unexplained hindrances, shadows, and accidents tell Maddox there’s more happening than what his eyes can see…

Excerpt: I groaned. With no one to hold my cone, I raised it up and carefully dropped to my stomach—flopped, like a fish on a boat deck—extended my legs out, and shoved my hand through again.

“Come on,” I grunted, pressing my shoulder into the metal grate rim, lengthening my fingertips as far as I could, and wiggling them as if to lure the key closer. “Come on….”

It wasn’t enough.

I took a deep breath and again plunged one hand deep into the underworld, the other lifting my cone higher, hips rocking, bare knees scraping on the cement, oblivious to all sounds around me except my labored breathing.

This was Lyric’s fault. She was supposed to be here with me, watching out for me, making sure I didn’t get into these situations. She’s my big sister and should be here on the agreed-upon two-week vacation that we’d saved all year for, instead of skipping off to who-knows-where with what’s-his-face.

Closing my eyes might help. If I could just harness the energy of sight and funnel it into my fingertips, it would make my fingers longer.

I shook my head, vowing to never confess to having that preposterous thought. It was something my mother would say.

Anyway, I was no closer. Not a single millimeter, which was so frustrating since I was almost there.

We all know how much almost counts.

A few sounds filtered in then, running footsteps, and a masculine voice.

“Hamster, no!” he yelled, in the same instant my cone hand was nudged, my fist suddenly emptied.

I snapped my head up, scraped my shoulder, and came face to drooling face with a hairy brown, black, and white beast. It swiped its mouth with its sloppy tongue and stood there smiling expectantly at me, tail wagging.

“What the…?”

“I’m so sorry,” came the male voice again. “Hamster, what is wrong with you today?”

I got to my feet and glared down at the Bernese Mountain Dog. They’d always been one of my favorite breeds. Right now … not so much.

“Hamster?” I asked, taking in the sheer size of the dog.

“Yeah, sorry. I just got him and … he’s a menace, I’m afraid.”

I took my first look at the man at the other end of the leash. He was very handsome—gorgeous, actually—with short, brown hair, light eyes, and a U of sweat, hugging his Alice Cooper tank top to his athletic, tattooed form.

Yes, gorgeous and apologetic.

GREAT excerpt! Thanks. Now please tell us a little more about you...

I'm passionate about Romance. I write about real people with real struggles, temptations, and desires. My characters often have difficult choices to make - and don't always make the right ones. My stories are not what you expect, and everything you want.

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and three dynamic children, all of whom are destined to make wide, colorful splashes in this world. We share our New Jersey home with two dogs. I have no hobbies to speak of unless you include writing. I don't.

You can find & follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

*Important: Please keep in mind that Reviews are so important to authors 😊

Thank You, Dana for sharing your book with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings for continued success!

Until next time, friends, check out Dana's previous visits HERE and get your copy of Wasn't Expecting That at Amazon.

Take care and God Bless.

PamT