Heidi Reads...: Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Her Surprise Cowboy by Claire McEwen #HSCPrism

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Her Surprise Cowboy by Claire McEwen #HSCPrism

Her Surprise Cowboy
(Heroes of Shelter Creek #3)
By Claire McEwen
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
April 1st 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Looking for redemption…

Finding a future

Rancher Liam Dale is in Shelter Creek to make amends for his troubled past. He had no idea vet assistant Trisha Gilbert would be there, too—and he’s even more shocked to discover he’s a daddy! Trisha has good reasons not to trust him and a baby boy to protect. But now that he knows he’s a father, Liam longs to transform this unexpected reunion into a true family.

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Excerpt

Liam talks with Monique, local hairdresser and member of Shelter Creek’s Book Biddies, about the baby son he’s just learned about the night before.

Liam was petting Ranger’s head and pondering a tree when the unfamiliar woman sat herself right down on his tailgate.

“That’s a pretty nice tree,” the bleached-blonde lady said as she sat down. “A coast live oak. I love their twisting silver trunks. This one must be a few hundred years old.

Startled by her presence, Liam scooted over to make more space for her. “I was just thinking that. How much it’s seen. All the weather and people’s lives...” Liam realized he was revealing his inner thoughts to a total stranger. “I’m sorry, I guess you caught me in a strange mood. What can I do for you?”

“I’m Monique. A friend of Trisha’s. I was just leaving her house and I saw you sitting out here.”

Liam tipped his hat and turned his body to see her a little better. It was weird sitting in such close proximity to someone he didn’t know. “Nice to meet you, Monique.” His mama, rest her soul, would be proud that her boy was keeping up the manners he’d been taught, even when his mind was reeling.

“I’m sure it’s a shock to find out you have a child.” Monique’s voice was matter-of-fact, as if they were still chatting about the tree.

“Yes. No disrespect intended, ma’am, but that’s kind of personal.”

“I’m one of Henry’s honorary aunties, so it’s personal to me, too.”

“Ah. Okay.” This town had more meddling ladies per square foot than any place he’d ever been.

“I want Trisha and Henry to be happy. I want Henry to know his father. As long as his father is a good man.” She gave Liam a long, assessing glance. “You look like a good man.”

“Looks are deceptive.” As soon as he said it, he regretted it. What was it with this woman, getting him to be so honest? Maybe because she was so blunt, it made him that way, too.

“So that’s why you’re not inside with your son right now.”

“It might have something to do with it.” He’d woken up this morning thinking about his addiction. All that he’d done wrong as a result. What type of father did that make him?

“Did you kill anyone? Injure them? Commit any other major crimes?”

“Not really, no.”

“Are you a danger to women or children?”

“No!” This lady was one of a kind. Perfectly dressed and made up on a Sunday morning, like she was going to some fancy event, yet here she was, getting her white slacks dirty sitting on his tailgate, giving him the third degree.

“And clearly animals like you. That dog seems devoted and I even heard that a horse aptly named Wild Bill has taken a liking to you.”

“How do you know about that?” Liam had a weird feeling that Monique was some kind of fairy godmother, descending on him to put everything to rights.

“News travels fast in this town.”

Other Books in the Series

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About the Author

Claire McEwen writes romance set in quirky small towns and beautiful western settings. Her strong heroes and heroines take big emotional journeys to find their happily-ever-afters. Claire’s books have been published by Harlequin’s Superromance and Heartwarming lines, and have won various awards, including The Golden Quill, the Book Buyers Best, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Claire lives by the ocean in Northern California with her family and a scruffy, mischievous terrier. When not dreaming up new stories, she’s a busy mom who enjoys gardening, hiking, discovering flea-market treasures and wandering on the beach. A life-long bookworm, she always has her Kindle close by.