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Review and Author Interview featuring Barb Han’s Rancher Rescue! Giveaway, too!

Rancher Rescue - Barb Han - Banner

 

RANCHER RESCUE

BARB HAN

Blurb:  When a little boy goes missing, rancher Caleb Snow steps in to help…and winds up falling for the child’s beautiful—but mysterious—aunt in Barb Han’s Rancher Rescue. 

Getting tangled up with another woman in crisis is the last thing rancher Caleb Snow needs. The handsome cowboy has been badly burned too many times. But this one feels different—Katherine Harper is injured and reeling after an ambush in which her nephew was kidnapped. Caleb wants nothing more than to protect the beautiful, headstrong woman and help her find the missing child. If only he could ignore the feelings she stirs in him.

But as they search together, it’s clear someone wants Katherine dead. Soon the two are running for their lives, dodging bullets, not knowing who to trust…or if they’ll survive long enough to bring a little boy home.

 

authorinterview

Top ten things you don’t know about me:

 

First of all, thank you so much for having me here today.

1.  Cotton or Silk?

I’m a comfort girl, so cotton.

 

 

2.  Champagne/beer/wine?

Does champagne taste on a beer budget count?

Depends on what I’m doing. Champagne for New Year’s is a must. I like a cold beer on a hot day while watching sports. And you can’t beat a great wine with a good meal.

 

 

3.  Plotter/pantser

Harlequin needs a synopsis in order to make a buying decision, so I plot out my stories now. The good part is that they don’t hold me to it. My stories always change and evolve as I write them. I do like to have an idea of where the story might go when I sit down to write it. Definitely shrinks the amount of time it takes me to write a story.  Harlie here:  I actually write my snyposis after the first 3 chapters.  And yes, I don’t mind writing them.  Of course, Harlequin is my dream publisher.  Maybe one day…

 

 

4.  Describe your workspace

When we moved, I got to move out of a bedroom and into my own corner of the house I call an office. There’s a wall of books to my right. Two comfy chairs in front of me. And a piano on the back wall. Best move I ever made was placing the piano in here because when my kids are home for summer break, they’ll pop in and play while I work. Such a bonus.

 

5.  Sports fan or just tolerate it?

Fan. Most people don’t know that I covered the Sports beat for my college newspaper as part of a journalism class. I have always loved sports.

 

6.  Who is your biggest influence on writing?

Oh, great question. I have so many influences on my writing, it’s hard to pick just one. I’d have to go with Stephen J. Cannell. He’s the reason I used to get up at four o’clock in the morning to write when my youngest was in preschool. His work ethic has influenced me the most in my career.

 

7.  Favorite food –

Hmmm. Another hard question because I love to cook. I make the best spaghetti and it’s one of my all-time favorites.
8.  When did you start writing?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer, so my start came early. Of course, it took a long time to figure out what I wanted to write. I stumbled around with poetry, song writing, news features. I did volunteer work so I could write while working my way through college. I was most drawn to fiction, but also the most scared of trying to make a go of it.

 

9.  If money were no object, where would you like to live?

I’d live exactly where I do now in Texas. But, hey, if money were no object, I’d have a few vacation homes—a ski chalet, a lake house, and a beach bungalow.

 

 

10.  What’s next for you?

Thanks for asking. I’m writing the last book in a series for Harlequin Intrigue that’s scheduled to come out back-to-back months starting in December. My Campbell brothers series is so close to my heart. Their father left them broke when they were young. They banded together to form a tight-knit group. I can’t wait to share their stories with readers.

 

bookreview

Let me say a few things before I actually get to the review.  I personally know Barb Han.  She is one fun and sweet lady.  When it was announced at our chapter meeting that she had sold to Harlequin, I nearly cried.  As most know, Harlequin is my dream publisher to write for.  Unfortunately, every contest that they have sponsored I’ve lost but maybe one day…Anyway, the Intrigue line is by far my favorite line that Harlequin has.  The books are intense, thought-provoking and their camp of authors are some of the best in the business.  I have a few that I stalk and they know who they are.  Julie Miller, BJ McCall, Rebecca York are my top three.  In fact, I’ve exchanged emails with Ms. Miller and do yourself a favor…read her.  Her Kansas City series of books are AWESOME.  Okay back on topic…when reading an Intrigue also keep in mind that this line doesn’t have the steam that Harlequin’s Romantic Suspense has in sexual content.  Sure, it’s there but the crux of the book are the characters, plot and intense action.  Plus, an Intrigue is all about the clues that fit into a puzzle.  And you NEVER know whose on what side into the very end.  They make me think and just when I have figured it out…BAM…a twist I never saw coming.

Which brings me to Ms. Han’s book.  I grew up in Dallas and this book is basically set in the Dallas area.  The places that Ms. Han describes and puts Caleb and Katherine in, I felt like I was right beside them dodging bullets, riding the train…and OMG, The Katy Trail.  Plus, the sculptures at North Park Mall.  If you have ever lived in Dallas, you will recognize the setting and she describes them to perfection.  *sniffs*  I miss Dallas after reading this book.  What really got me was how she was able to make the setting part of the plot.  It was almost like the settings were characters themselves.  I love when authors do that.  Especially if I have a clue about the place.  Score!

Caleb and Katherine were interesting characters.  Katherine came off as clueless in the beginning but once her story started to unfold, her confusion and cluelessness made perfect sense.  All she knew was that she had to find her nephew and the “why” anyone would want her and Noah (nephew).  Enter Caleb, juvenile delinquent at one time, rancher and still getting over a broken heart hero.  He had all the qualities that embody an Intrigue hero.  Not an ass, an all around good guy that had some baggage to deal with.  What really broke my heart was finding out why his heart-broken so badly.  Women can be so cruel and selfish.  Ugh!

Katherine on the other hand, her baggage came in the form of not knowing her sister in the end.  What was going on with her?  Why all of a sudden was she to take care of Noah?  Considering that Katherine had only had a week before the abduction…you can understand why she was a basket case.  Plus, trying to figure out her sister’s life leading up to her death?  That’s a lot to put on a girl and I don’t care who you are.  Ms. Han handles her back story, fears and cluelessness with deft.  Some writers would have written her as a TSTL heroine but not Ms. Han.  Katherine is a strong woman who is an equal with Caleb; whether he likes it or not.

The dialogue between Caleb and Katherine is palpable and realistic.  One particular scene stands out for me and that’s at the Katy Trail.  Read it and you will understand.  Plus, Caleb treated her as an equal.  Didn’t go all Alpha on her and make her feel like “the little woman that needs to be saved” in the story.  The one that needed saving was Noah and figuring out who was behind it and why.  The action sequences are intense and real.  Trust me, when the bullets start flying, I was actually ducking on the couch.  🙂

Oh and did I mention that there is a dog in the book?  Oh yes, there is and Max is one cute dog.  But how they get the dog is so sad.  I could go on and on about Rancher Rescue but you truly need to read it for yourself.  The hero and heroine aren’t damaged, just have a bit of baggage to deal with but the most important thing was finding Noah.  For me, the plot, action sequences and making me miss living in Dallas are the biggest pluses in the book.  If I had a minus…finding out about Jimmy’s daughter.  🙂

5harlies

recommend-harlies- new

 

 

Author Bio:

Barb Han is the author of romance novels and romantic suspense. Her debut romantic thriller, GONE, was released January, 2013, and features a desperate woman who wakes in a mental institution determined to find the son she’s told never existed.

Her novella, Seducing Avery, was released early this year, and has received much acclaim due to her unique storyline that features an Asian hero. Another Asian hero romance, The Billionaire Bargain, released early this summer exclusively for Kindle. The wide release is scheduled for late August. Her romantic suspense, Caught In The Crosshair, features a determined sister and an ex-military sniper on a tropical island with a hurricane brewing and dangerous men closing in. This story is now available exclusively for Kindle.

Barb is under contract with Harlequin Intrigue. Her first book featuring a rancher from North Texas will be published in early 2014.

Barb belongs to Romance Writers of America, DARA, KOD, and NTRWA where she volunteers as often as she can. She graduated from The University of North Texas with a bachelor degree in journalism.

She lives in North Texas with her own Asian-hero husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle mix, and too many books in her ‘to read’ pile. In her down time, she plays video games and spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She’s passionate about travel, and many of the places she visits end up in her books.

She loves interacting with readers and is grateful for their support.

Please visit me at: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.  My newsletter subscribers are first to find out about new releases.

 

giveaway

During the tour, Ms. Han is giving away one $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.
At the end of her tour on February 1st, Sizzling PR will be hosting a release party on our Facebook Page from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. (CST) During the party, Ms. Han will give away three autographed books, another $25.00 Amazon Gift Card and a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card.

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17 thoughts on “Review and Author Interview featuring Barb Han’s Rancher Rescue! Giveaway, too!

  1. Sold! Because there’s a dog in this book 🙂 And because I think Barb Han is an awesome writer and storyteller. Thank you, Harlie, for spreading the word! ~Donnell Ann Bell

    1. Awe, thank you, Donnell. Right back at you!! I did love writing a dog into this book. Even though tragedy strikes, as it does sometimes in real life, fur babies deserve a happily ever after, too. 🙂

  2. Great interview!! I already have my copy of Rancher Rescue. I totally agree with the review. The book is awesome, the action intense and who doesn’t like a hot cowboy with a heart? Congrats. Barb. You aced this one.

    1. Awe, thank you so much, Jerrie. And thank you for stopping by. I’m so glad you enjoyed Caleb and Katherine’s story. Oh, yeah, I’m a total sucker for a hot cowboy with a heart. 🙂

  3. Hey, Harlie–thanks for the shout out for my books! Very cool. 🙂 And I have to say the Barb Han was a delight to meet in person this past summer at the RWA conference in Atlanta. I’m so excited to read RANCHER RESCUE when it pops up on my Kindle February 1st! Great review, too. Now I’m doubly intrigued to read it!

      1. I don’t know, Julie. I kind of like being ‘the Barb Han’. Makes me sound all 007, or something. 🙂 I absolutely adore your books. Thank you for stopping by!

    1. I tell people all the time about your books. 🙂 As fast as you write them, I read them. The book was AWESOME!

      Harlie

  4. I adore you, Harlie. Thank you for such a wonderful review. I’m so glad you especially enjoyed the Dallas setting. It’s the city of my heart, too! And I totally agree, everyone should be reading Julie Miller. I’ll add Delores Fossen and Carla Cassidy to the the list as well. 🙂

    1. *slaps forehead* Delores and Carla…how could I forget. For me, the Intrigue line is the best and I’m still just tickled pink that you are now on their roster of authors. 🙂 I miss Dallas. Not the traffic but the things to do there and what it has to offer. Plus, we rode the train all the time. Only way to get downtown, to the State Fair and hockey games.

      Harlie

      1. You made me laugh out loud, Harlie. I love Intrigue, too. The first one I read was a Linda Castillo, remember hers? Someone sent it to me, and when I closed that book, I felt like I’d come home. I’m so honored to get to write for them!

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