The Double D Ranch Tales

The Double D Ranch Tales ~ Fictional tales set on a fictional ranch and other locales in southern Nevada. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. ~ Happy Reading!

Monday, April 29, 2013

A Look At Stephanie Berget & 'Sugarwater Ranch' ( @StephanieBerget @evernightpub #MM )

Today we have author Stephanie Berget visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Stephanie Berget was born loving horses and found her way to rodeo when she married her own, hot cowboy. She and her husband traveled throughout the Northwest while she ran barrels and her cowboy rode bucking horses. She started writing to put a realistic view of rodeo and ranching into western romance. Stephanie and her husband live on a farm, located along the Oregon/Idaho border. They raise hay, horses and cattle, with the help of Dizzy Dottie, the Border Collie and Big Al, team roping horse extraordinaire.

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* Sugarwater Ranch. It’s the first in my Salt Creek Cowboys series.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* In the first story I ever wrote, the heroine’s brother had a bit part. He was a party animal and caused her no small amount of trouble. Sean intrigued me and made me laugh. I wanted to see what his story was, and if there was any way he could redeem himself.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Fun-loving, determined, reckless, authentic, straight-forward

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Reliable, kind, family-oriented, honest, conservative

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* My favorite character is Sean. He’s tough, parties a little too much (or a lot too much) and thinks he was put on this earth to ride bulls. He’s got his life all figured out until he meets Catherine. However, Junior, Catherine’s cousin comes in a close second. He’s not very book smart, but he’s got a second sense about people and sees things others don’t.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* There, in the buff, was one of the nicest butts she'd ever had the privilege of ogling.

A look into the story
~ Blurb ~
* Sean O’Connell’s life is perfect, or it was until his partying lifestyle affected his bull riding. Now he’s ended the season too broke to leave the Northwest for the warm southern rodeos. When a wild night with his buddies gets out of hand, he wakes up naked, staring into the angry eyes of a strange woman. His infallible O’Connell charm gets him nowhere with the dark-haired beauty. It’s obvious she’s not his usual good-time girl, so why can’t he forget her?
* Bar-manager Catherine Silvera finds a waterlogged, unconscious cowboy freezing to death in front of the Sugarwater Bar. She saves his life--then runs faster than a jackrabbit with a coyote on its tail. Any man who makes his living rodeoing is bad news, especially if he thinks partying is part of the competition. He’s everything she doesn’t want in a man, so why can’t she shake her attraction to the rugged cowboy?

~ Excerpt ~
* Catherine glanced at him. “You’re nice people. You just hide it well.” The giggle burst out of her.
* Sean had never heard her giggle. She didn’t seem like the giggling type of woman. Then he realized what she’d said.
* “I hide it well? And I suppose you can see right through me to the warm chocolaty core?” She giggled again then laughed outright. And laughter looked very good on Catherine Silvera.
* “Chocolaty core. Good description. I just need to lick through the hard sugar shell.”
* Oh hell, the mental image just about blew him out of his boots. He grabbed her and pulled her between the buildings to a private spot.
* “So you’re going to lick through the sugar shell?” It was his turn to laugh as he watched the blush spread up her neck and across her cheeks.
* “I didn’t mean... You dirty-minded old man.” Even though she was blushing, she smiled.
* “You’d better get started if you want to get to the chocolate tonight.” His mouth closed on hers. She pressed against him and slipped her tongue into his mouth. She’s taking me seriously was his last thought before his brain scrambled.

Buy Sugarwater Ranch here:
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Bookstrand | All Romance eBooks

Find Stephanie Berget here...
Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Thank you for joining us here today, Stephanie! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Andrew's ghostly experience ~ Find a #BookBoyfriend ( @rmsotera @evernightpub bl0g h0p )

Today I'm sharing a new, free short story from Andrew's POV that ties into a scene in Wild West Hauntings. You don't need to have read the book to follow this scene since it stands on its own. Enjoy!

* Hi all. Andrew Mathison here. The folks on the ranch call me Dru. I mentioned in an interview the other day that I’d have a bit of a story to tell in regards to the most interesting thing that’s ever happened to me. So here it is.
* I’d been on the ranch for a couple of weeks, and over the course of days after Christmas, everyone had slowly filled me in on the poltergeist activity that occurred right before my arrival. At first I didn’t believe one word. How could I? My upbringing and science education always taught me such things didn’t exist. Rachel had thought the same way as far as I knew, but after hearing her story I can understand how she changed her mind. This ranch is some place. I was also told there are still ghosts haunting the area. Up until the night I’m going to tell you about, all I wanted to say to that was ‘bupkis.’
* And, I haven’t told her (or anyone) yet, but when it comes to believing in ghosts and the paranormal…I’ve changed my mind, too.
* Sure, when Rachel first told me about her dreams and visits from the ghost and poltergeist, I figured maybe the stress of finishing her masters and all that had finally got to her. But her sweet face showed no signs of deception, so how could I not believe everything she was telling me? Of course, I never even hinted that for a moment I thought she was full of it. Then last night I had the strangest experience. At first I chalked it up to it being a strange dream. That was until… Well, let me just start from the beginning, and you’ll find out what happened.
* After a long day of working on the ranch, I decided to lie down for a while before dinner. The sun, in its process of setting, cast an amethyst hue with gold highlights in the room. I shucked my boots, put my hat on the table and lay on the bed on my back. Furniture shadows grew long and thin, stretching toward the bed and eventually claiming me. I drifted off into the land of slumber (or so I thought) and dreamt I was taking a walk along a moonlit path on the property. The packed dirt trail wound its way through the scraggly brush and short thorny trees. Several minutes later I strolled closer to an area that had a mound with upright, curved stones on it. I don’t know if the force I felt was due to what Rachel told me or not, but it seemed as if a hand laid upon my back guiding me toward what I now saw was a cemetery.
* A light mist, glowing silver in the moonlight, surrounded the area. A cold breeze blew over me, but the power directing me cloaked my body and shut out the chill. I stepped up onto the small hill, gazed upon the gravestones. A semitransparent, white-ish cloud figure sat on one of the larger markers. Its presence startled me and stopped me in my tracks.
* Come to me, a male voice commanded in my head.
* I didn’t want to move. Yet my feet involuntarily stepped forward as if the wispy character had taken over my body.
* I shouldn’t even be here, the wispy figure stated. It has taken most of my energy to return. Please do not fight me. I need to show you something.
* My curiosity got the better of me. What did this ghost have to tell me? And why me? With a nod of my head, the pulling sensation ended, and I strolled over to him without coercion. The features of his face came into view, but still weren’t defined enough for me to know who he might have been. He motioned me closer still. The moment I was mere inches from him, he rose, reached out and clutched my shoulder. The icy touch sent frigid knife-like sensations straight into my bones. The scene before me wavered, lightened until brightness overtook me and the area. I blinked then shielded my eyes. When I dropped my hand, it was to a sunlit, bright blue sky day. The ghost-man was gone.
* Yet deep inside me I knew I wasn’t alone. Somehow I understood I was him, and he was me. We were still on the ranch, but it wasn’t the exact place I’d arrived at several days ago. The main house on the ranch didn’t appear as old and built up as it had when I first stepped foot in it, nor were the stables and round ring that I stood in front of.
* Rae’s coming.
* Rae? I wasn’t sure who he spoke about, but inwardly nodded anyway and fed off his excitement as we waited, looking toward the house. Moments later, a beautiful woman with red hair tied in a thick braid walked down a stone path toward us. A full length blue and yellow calico dress adorned her body. Extra pounds padded her but not enough to call her overweight. She blushed as she neared. A milky-white, round face with almond-shaped green eyes stared at me…us. Her features seemed so familiar. As if I’d seen her before. But how? I was clearly no longer in my own time or body, so could not have met her previously.
* “Dalton. So where is my present?”
* “My dear Star. Aren’t you the impatient one.” A rumble of a laugh bubbled out of the man whose deep voice I finally heard. “Come. She’s in the ring behind the stables.”
* So, the man was Dalton. My ancestor. Interesting. That meant Rae was…
* My thoughts cut off at her squeal of pleasure. She entered the ring and headed toward a beautiful, dun colored Appaloosa. From the Triple C, stated Dalton. Rae is beautiful, too, is she not? She’s my star, my love.
* “Oh, Dalton, she is gorgeous. Thank you for buying her for me.” Rae hugged the horse then skipped over and threw her arms around us.
* “You are quite welcome, sugar.”
* When her soft lips touched ours, I felt at peace…at home.
* Yes. That’s it, Dalton agreed. You know her soul as well as I and are connected to her. You and I are linked. In your world, your lifetime, you have a chance with her again. Take it and don’t let her go.
* Rae broke the kiss, and all the sudden a loneliness I never experienced before filled me. Before I could process the full effect of what was going on, a sucking sensation pulled on me, reminding me of the ocean’s undertow. I didn’t want to leave the Rae’s embrace, miss a moment of the love emanating from her.
* You won’t.
* Before I knew it, I was back in the cold graveyard. Dalton’s cloudy figure sat in the same place as earlier.
* Go to her. To the soul who is now called Rachel. Be with her. Treat her well. Love her with all your being as I loved her when she was Rae.
* The ghost, who once was a man named Dalton Dougan, rose, walked toward then through me. A chill racked my body. I turned, searched the area, but he was gone. Closing my eyes, I rubbed a hand across them and my face. When I dropped my hand and opened my eyes, I found myself back in my room on my back on the bed.
* Dream? One would think so. I did at first. That was until I realized my boots were on and my hat was hanging on the post of the headboard. Not a dream, but a message. At that point I believed everything Rachel had told me and in the paranormal realm. I no longer wanted sleep.
* I wanted the woman of my dreams who was hanging out downstairs with her sister. I went to find her, to tell her I love her, and I planned to take Dalton’s advice and never let her go.

Book Boyfriends...
They can be strong and sexy, dark and dangerous, rebellious and reckless or cute and quirky. We love to fall in love with these irresistible heroes and Evernight Publishing has them all!
The authors of Evernight Publishing invite you to a Speed Date challenge. Their cowboys, Doms, detectives, millionaires, royalty, vampires, soldiers, shifters, even steam-powered heroes are waiting to meet you on each author website. 50 heroes in 7 days! Are you up for the challenge?
Pull up a chair and get to know every single one.
And get this – There are prizes to be had! What’s up for grabs?
** One lucky hopper will win a KINDLE PAPERWHITE eREADER sponsored by Evernight Publishing.
** Every book blogger/reviewer site is giving away one free eBook from Evernight Publishing (winner’s choice of any eBook from Evernight Publishing’s website).
** Plus, each author offers their own unique prize! So visit each blog hop stop for a host of fabulous prizes to win. RM and I are going to give one lucky winner their choice of one signed print copy of one of our books along with something special that’s a surprise! Print books to choose from include: Wild West Weekend by C.R. Moss & RM Sotera - or - Cassadaga Moon by RM Sotera - or - Tracked by Casey Moss - or - Fate’s Deal by C.R. Moss (Information on these print books can be found on our websites.) OR ~ Should the winner choose, s/he can be put on a wait list for when Wild West Hauntings is available in print, which should be sometime during the summer of 2013. Also, if you're attending Hot Mojave Knights let us know and we'll put you in a second drawing for an extra special intimate event with C.R. & RM.
How to enter?
** Answer this question: What would you like to see in a contemporary western story? Be sure you leave the answer, your name AND your email address in the comments below to be eligible to win a prize. For extra entries into our individual blog prize, feel free to follow this blog via google connect in the column to the left and/or share this post via the share buttons under this post and let us know you shared.
Now what?
** Keep hopping to the next author or blogger. After you’ve met each hero click here to vote for your favorite book boyfriend. You’ll earn an extra grand prize entry!
- and -
You’re one step closer to meeting your next Book Boyfriend... Visit the links at the bottom of the first day's post click here for list.

RM and I have 2 novellas and a third novel length story in the works for this series. We're also planning a special intimate event at Hot Mojave Knights ~ A Romance Readers' Event in Las Vegas regarding our Wild West series of books! So come out, meet us, enjoy the weekend and find out what we have planned for the series. And if you follow this blog and the C.R.'s Blog, keep an eye out for upcoming blog h0ps for prizes and an extra special HMK prize from me and RM Sotera. ;)

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

It's him ~ Hump Day H00k #HDH Find a #BookBoyfriend ( @rmsotera @evernightpub bl0g h0p )

Howdy all! I'm combining my post for Hump Day Hook with a bl0g h0p my publisher has put together. Info on it can be found below. Feel free to enter the challenge if you like or just comment as usual for the HDH. Actually it'd be great if you could vote for Andrew Mathison/Dalton Dougan RM's and my hero for the challenge via the voting link that's offered below. We'd appreciate it! :) This week's h00k is from Wild West Hauntings and is when Andrew first comes on the scene.
* The doors to the outside swung open. Bright morning light burst into the room, backlit the two large figures coming in.
* “Dakota,” Cassie called. “Come join the celebration. Marianne and Miguel are going to get married.”
* “Be right there. I need to settle a guest in.”
* Rachel’s gaze followed the two men as they sauntered over to the office. The shorter man’s stature stuck a chord of familiarity in her, but his head was covered with a cowboy hat and a shadow obscured his face.
* So much of the situation reminded her of how she used to see Dalton. Come on, dude. Turn around. Dakota went in and came out of the office with a key that he handed to the newcomer. Come on. Both men finally faced the group.
* Rachel gasped and tugged on her sister’s shirt.
* Marianne bent toward her. “What?”
* “It’s him,” Rachel whispered staring at the man’s profile as he continued to talk to Dakota.
* Her sister looked up at the guy. “Him who?”
* “The guy I dated in college. Andrew. He’s changed a bit, but I’m almost definite it’s him.” Different was an understatement. There seemed to be more muscular bulk to his body. His face had lost its roundness, was chiseled and highlighted with a scruffy five o’clock shadow. Tight jeans adorned his legs, accentuating a great looking ass.
* “How so?”
* Rachel didn’t want to go into all the nitty gritty details that she was noticing, so she offered a few basics. “Looks like he grew his hair out and went back to his natural color. He used to dye it blonde.”
* Miguel raised a brow. “A man dying his hair?”
* “Yeah,” Rachel replied. “He was a total metrosexual. We went together to have manicures and pedicures a couple of times. He was always clean shaven, very put together. He figured if he was going to be a psychiatrist in the city, he’d have an image that he’d have to maintain. Marianne, why didn’t you tell me he’d be here?”
* “I didn’t know.”
* “Folks,” Dakota announced walking over to them with the man at his side, who’d removed his hat. “I’d like to introduce a long lost cousin. Everyone, meet Andrew.”
* Andrew took turns shaking hands and greeting each person. An easy smile lit his face. The longer brown locks of his hair curled over his forehead and ears. Laugh lines creased around his eyes.
* Dalton. Rachel’s heart sped up as her stomach dropped. She flung her hand out to grasp onto her sister.
* “Are you all right?” Marianne inquired sotto voce.
* “Yeah, I’m just seeing a ghost.”

Book Boyfriends...
They can be strong and sexy, dark and dangerous, rebellious and reckless or cute and quirky. We love to fall in love with these irresistible heroes and Evernight Publishing has them all!
The authors of Evernight Publishing invite you to a Speed Date challenge. Their cowboys, Doms, detectives, millionaires, royalty, vampires, soldiers, shifters, even steam-powered heroes are waiting to meet you on each author website. 50 heroes in 7 days! Are you up for the challenge?
Pull up a chair and get to know every single one.
And get this – There are prizes to be had! What’s up for grabs?
** One lucky hopper will win a KINDLE PAPERWHITE eREADER sponsored by Evernight Publishing.
** Every book blogger/reviewer site is giving away one free eBook from Evernight Publishing (winner’s choice of any eBook from Evernight Publishing’s website).
** Plus, each author offers their own unique prize! So visit each blog hop stop for a host of fabulous prizes to win. RM and I are going to give one lucky winner their choice of one signed print copy of one of our books along with something special (bought at Adam & Eve and it ties into Wild West Hauntings) that’s a surprise! Print books to choose from include: Wild West Weekend by C.R. Moss & RM Sotera - or - Cassadaga Moon by RM Sotera - or - Tracked by Casey Moss - or - Fate’s Deal by C.R. Moss (Information on these print books can be found on our websites.) OR ~ Should the winner choose, s/he can be put on a wait list for when Wild West Hauntings is available in print, which should be sometime during the summer of 2013. Also, if you're attending Hot Mojave Knights let us know and we'll put you in a second drawing for an extra special intimate event with C.R. & RM.
How to enter?
** Answer this question: Why do you like cowboys and/or Western stories? Be sure you leave the answer, your name AND your email address in the comments below to be eligible to win a prize. For extra entries into our individual blog prize, feel free to follow this blog via google connect in the column to the left and/or share this post via the share buttons under this post and let us know you shared.
Now what?
** Keep hopping to the next author or blogger. After you’ve met each hero click here to vote for your favorite book boyfriend. You’ll earn an extra grand prize entry!
- and -
You’re one step closer to meeting your next Book Boyfriend... Visit the links at the bottom of the first day's post click here for list.

Please don't forget to stop by and read the other authors participating in this week's HDH ~ http://humpdayhook.blogspot.co.uk

RM and I have 2 novellas and a third novel length story in the works for this saga. We're also planning a special intimate event at Hot Mojave Knights ~ A Romance Readers' Event in Las Vegas regarding our Wild West series of books! So come out, meet us, enjoy the weekend and find out what we have planned for the series. And if you follow this blog and the C.R.'s Blog, keep an eye out for upcoming bl0g h0ps for prizes and an extra special HMK prize from me and RM Sotera. ;)

Monday, April 15, 2013

Speed Date Challenge! Find a #BookBoyfriend - Meet Andrew! ( @rmsotera @evernightpub bl0g h0p )

Book Boyfriends...
They can be strong and sexy, dark and dangerous, rebellious and reckless or cute and quirky. We love to fall in love with these irresistible heroes and Evernight Publishing has them all!
The authors of Evernight Publishing invite you to a Speed Date challenge. Their cowboys, Doms, detectives, millionaires, royalty, vampires, soldiers, shifters, even steam-powered heroes are waiting to meet you on each author website. 50 heroes in 7 days! Are you up for the challenge?
Pull up a chair and get to know every single one.

RM & I would love to introduce you to our hero...
Name: Andrew Mathison (Dalton Dougan)
Height: 6’1”
Eye Color: blue
Hair Color: dark brown
Celebrity look-a-like: Ryan Aloysius Lavery, a fictional character from the American daytime drama ‘All My Children’
* Meet Andrew Mathison, who hails from the east coast and holds a master’s degree in psychology. Once into the metrosexual scene, he gave it up in favor of blue jeans, a five o’clock shadow, adventure and hard work. The second name associated with him happens to be his ancestor. His girl claims he’s the spitting image of Dalton. He sometimes thinks he is Dalton.
*** What do you like to do for fun in Las Vegas & back home, Dru?
~ Anything outdoors. I used to be focused on my career and indoor activities, but after the issues with my mother I try to stay active outdoors as much as possible.
*** How do you stay in shape?
~ I used to work out in the gym, lots of running on a treadmill, some Pilates and yoga. Now that I’m living on the ranch, it’s a lot of riding and ranch chores.
*** What do you look for in a woman?
~ Intelligence. A good heart and sense of humor. A great smile.
*** What is the sexiest part of a woman?
~ Her eyes. I love gazing into a beautiful pair of eyes and seeing the love and life in them. Breasts aren’t bad either. ;)
*** Who do you admire the most?
~ My mom. She’s been through a lot in her life and has such a strong character. Her strength is admirable.
*** What do women say makes you attractive/appealing?
~ I have a quirky sense of humor, I can dance, and now they seem to love it when I take my shirt off and show my chiseled chest and abs.
*** What book can you be found in?
~ Wild West Hauntings – Book 2 in the Double D Ranch Tales series
*** Tell us a little more about yourself, i.e.: Where are you from? What brought you to the setting/point in the story where you come in? etc…
~ I’m from the east coast. I went to college in New York City and dated a great girl. Unfortunately, I had to leave due to family issues and left her without word and any closure. Once the issues resolved, I learned some interesting information which had me traveling to Nevada and the Double D Ranch.
*** Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
~ Yes and no. The yes… When I arrived at the ranch, I was brought into the family fold right away. The Dougans accepted me without question and automatically started calling me Dru. They sure do love their ‘D’ names! The no… And this isn’t really a big thing, just strange. After we all heard about what Rachel – that’s my girl – and Bristol went through, I sometimes catch people on the ranch looking at me, and I can’t help but think they see me as something peculiar. You see, I’m the spitting image of Dalton Dougan, an ancestor of mine. And from what Rachel said, Dalton brought her and me together.
*** What was the most interesting thing that has ever happened to you?
~ That’s a bit of a story which I’ll share later in the week. ;)
*** Where do you see yourself in the future? What do you hope to accomplish?
~ I see myself settling down with my girl, either on the Dougan ranch or on some land of our own, and supporting her in whatever she wants to do – whether it’s building her own psychology practice, raising a passel of kids or both. Me, I’d love to start breeding horses. Yeah, quite a ways from what my original plans were for my life.
*** If you could time travel and/or live anywhere in the world, where would you go and/or where would that be?
~ Once upon a time, I really wanted to go back to the Regency era in London. I also wanted to travel to Dubai and do some indoor skiing. Now, I’m exactly where I need and want to be, in the time I need and want to be in, with the girl of my dreams.
* Stay tuned for some more posts from me during the Book Boyfriend week!
And get this – There are prizes to be had! What’s up for grabs?
** One lucky hopper will win a KINDLE PAPERWHITE eREADER sponsored by Evernight Publishing.
** Every book blogger/reviewer site is giving away one free eBook from Evernight Publishing (winner’s choice of any eBook from Evernight Publishing’s website).
** Plus, each author offers their own unique prize! So visit each blog hop stop for a host of fabulous prizes to win. RM and C.R. are going to give one lucky winner their choice of one signed print copy of one of their books along with something special (bought at Adam & Eve and it ties into Wild West Hauntings) that’s a surprise! Print books to choose from include: Wild West Weekend by C.R. Moss & RM Sotera - or - Cassadaga Moon by RM Sotera - or - Tracked by Casey Moss - or - Fate’s Deal by C.R. Moss (Information on these print books can be found on our websites.) OR ~ Should the winner choose, s/he can be put on a wait list for when Wild West Hauntings is available in print, which should be sometime during the summer of 2013. Also, if you're attending Hot Mojave Knights let us know and we'll put you in a second drawing for an extra special intimate event with C.R. & RM.
How to enter?
** Answer this question: What makes a cowboy sexy? (Since I realized I'd like original answers, I changed the prize question from 'What would Andrew like to start doing in the future?' to the new one. Please answer the 'sexy' question to be entered. Those who have already commented are okay.) Be sure you leave the answer, your name AND your email address in the comments below to be eligible to win a prize. For extra entries into our individual blog prize, feel free to follow this blog via google connect in the column to the left and/or share this post via the share buttons under this post and let us know you shared.
Now what?
** Keep hopping to the next author or blogger. After you’ve met each hero click here to vote for your favorite book boyfriend. You’ll earn an extra grand prize entry!
- and -
You’re one step closer to meeting your next Book Boyfriend... Visit the links in this list:


RM and I have 2 novellas and a third novel length story in the works for this series. We're also planning a special intimate event at Hot Mojave Knights ~ A Romance Readers' Event in Las Vegas regarding our Wild West series of books! So come out, meet us, enjoy the weekend and find out what we have planned for the series. And if you follow this blog and the C.R.'s Blog, keep an eye out for upcoming bl0g h0ps for prizes and that extra special HMK prize from me and RM Sotera. ;)