The last place city girl Desiree Burke expected to find herself was living at and working on a ranch, much less butting heads with the ranch’s sexy cowboy owner, Zach Gamble. But that’s exactly where she ends up after an incident at work leads her to her best friend Rory’s doorstep. Desiree is a gifted physical therapist, and Rory knows exactly where her brand of tough love is needed the most. Zach’s been through hell and back. A devastating car crash left his brother gone, his father paralyzed, and him with mental scars a mile wide. His survivor guilt alone makes him sure he doesn’t deserve to find love. But as Des works her way into his ranch, his family, and his life, suddenly the last person who belonged there is the only one he believes belongs…with him.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
I like it when I can put faces to the voices in my head. I know that sounds a little crazy, but oh well.
Carson Granger, from Three River Ranch, was easy: Josh Holloway, who played Sawyer on Lost.
Zachary Gamble, the hero of my latest book, His Reluctant Rancher, is a wounded (of course) and environmentally-conscious Montana beef producer. Zach is tough, rugged and gorgeous… but that’s as far as I got. I knew his character immediately. I knew he was tall, dark and handsome. But that’s as far as I got.
So tonight, while watching The Walking Dead, my daughter was texting me photos of actors she thought might work. Tough job, right?
Eric Bana? Very nice. But a little too civilized.
Jake Gyllenhaal? Also very nice, but he’s got blue eyes. Zach’s definitely brown and brown.
Then The Talking Dead came on… AND JOE MANGANIELLO was a guest!
“Mom, it’s Zach!” yelled my daughter. “Isn’t it?”
(She doesn’t read my books, so she was going by my description of Zach. We have a mutually agreeable policy involving immaculate conception and “don’t ask, don’t tell.” It works for us. When you’ve raised three daughters, you can judge me.)
Anyway. “Yes!” I yelled back.
“He looks a little fat,” said my husband, then ducked to avoid the flying remote control.
So, Cowboy Joe. What do you think?
What do you think about cowboys in general? Are you a fan? Is it the chaps? Is it the horses? Why do you think cowboys have such enduring popularity in romance novels?
Drop us a line. All comments will be entered to win a prize. I can’t remember for sure what it is… but probably a $20 Amazon gift certificate.
Honorary Mention of Book Sluts 'R' Us Blogger Awards by 
RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 