I
write romance in many sub-genres because I’m a softy. I’m a romantic at heart
and want to give my characters Happily Ever Afters or at least Happily For
Nows. I’ve been married what seems like forever and have experienced many of
the phases of love and romance. Everything from the falling in love stage, to
the lusty stage of first married, to the sharing lives and raising a child. I’m
in the empty nest, just husband-and-me-again stage. I wouldn’t have wanted to
miss any of it.
How
exactly do my characters from For Ruby’s
Love think about “love and romance”?
Calhoun: I’ve never been what
women would see as overly “romantic.” I’m more of a show the person I’m with
how I feel in a straight-out manner. I don’t like games. I want honesty in
every aspect of my life, and I give it as well. It has been a struggle for me
to completely admit that I’m in love with another man: Daniel. But now that
I’ve done it, I can’t imagine my life without him in it. Now Ruby… well, she
has shaken up my life yet again.
Daniel: I’ve never been a give
candy and flowers kind of man, but then I’ve been gay for most of my life.
Could you see me giving Cal flowers? Or candy? Could you see him accepting
them? (Chuckles) We have our romantic moments, though. He just doesn’t
recognize them. And I love him, with all of his many faults. It’s a good thing
I’m perfect. (Chuckles again) But Ruby… I could see myself giving her chocolate
or flowers, and she would treasure them.
Ruby: I’m completely new to the
whole dating thing. I’ve devoured romance novels and have fantasized about love
and romance. I’ve dreamed of the kind of man who would sweep me off my feet and
show me his undying love. Not once did I see that man as a big, stubborn
cowboy. Or as a fancy, wealthy businessman far away from any man I’ve ever
known. But, dang it, that’s who has won my cowgirl heart…both of them.
For Ruby’s Love
Published by: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, erotic romance, LGBT/gay, western, ménage
Heat Level: 5
Word Count: 33,000
Blurb
Calhoun’s
a simple cowboy with more problems in his life than he can handle at the
moment. After nearly two years, he struggles to hang onto a relationship with
Daniel, his first male lover. Daniel is worried about him because of the fire,
his concern for his prized breeding mare, and because he is determined to buy
the neighboring ranch to expand. But Daniel isn’t a businessman without goals
of his own for expansion, a fact that frustrates Calhoun as well. He doesn’t
want to lose Daniel, but will their differences finally be too much?
Daniel
considers himself a lucky man to have met the rancher, someone almost his
opposite and someone who he doesn’t want to live without. Standing beside the moody
Calhoun has been difficult since the fire that burned down a horse barn, took
the lives of two valuable horses, and traumatized a favored mare. Along with
all of that, his harried friend is determined to expand his ranch holdings.
Daniel is against the purchase and would prefer to find a way to slow the man
down. Lately, he’s also begun worrying if maybe he isn’t enough to satisfy his
lover’s needs.
Complicating
everything even more, Ruby shows up later than expected at Calhoun’s ranch to
honor a job as a horse therapist that her father had agreed to before his
sudden death. She knows what happened to the mare and is certain she can help
her, if given the chance. But the stubborn rancher can’t get past the idea of
her being a woman, someone not strong enough to work with such a damaged horse.
They butt heads over the matter until she finds an ally in Daniel. He is
concerned and yet believes in her abilities. Another problem arises, though.
She and Calhoun have been skirting around an unwanted attraction, and then she
discovers another surprising interest between her and Daniel.
Buy Links:
About the Author:
Starla
Kaye wears many hats professionally and as a writer. She is the community
coordinator for a Midwestern accounting firm, a gerontologist who volunteers
with an active group of senior adults, a mentor/teacher of writing, and a
multi-published author. She dabbles in writing romances of many sub-genres:
contemporary, historical Western, medieval, sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, and
Regency. To date she has published 20 novels, 38 novellas, 8 anthologies, and
18 short stories.
Starla
writes for Decadent
Publishing, Black
Velvet Seductions, and Blushing
Books.
Thanks for letting me be here today talking about my characters.
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