Louisa Cornell, ladydawgfan, KateS and Kelly Ryan are the winners of Fun Contest Saturday!
Lori Austin's (aka Lori Handeland) An Outlaw in Wonderland has been named one of Publisher Weekly's Best Summer Books of 2013!!
A big CONGRATULATIONS to Goddesses Lori Austin (Lori Handeland) and Sabrina Jeffries for being named as RITA finalists for their historical romances BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER and A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS!
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Time does fly, except when you’re eagerly awaiting something.
Remember when you were a kid–for some of us this is greater stretch than for others–and everything seemed to be so far away? Your next birthday. Christmas. Summer vacation. High school. Graduation. Being legal. Being on your own. All seemed to be so far out of reach. Until, suddenly, there they were.
As a young mother, I recall quite clearly thinking “They will NEVER both be in school all day. Never.” Then I blinked and they were in college.
For the past year and a half the release of BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER seemed forever away. I had waited years to be able to write a western again. Then I needed to finish other commitments before I could finish this book. Then I had to wait for it’s turn on the release schedule. Then, in a flurry of preparation, promo, finishing the second book and real life, suddenly the big day is today!!
I have written over 50 novels and novellas. I have loved them all. But this one . . . This one is special.
Here is short excerpt from BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER (writing as Lori Austin):
When the sun began to slant toward dusk, and the pile of coins on both sides of the table lay about even, Cat lifted her eyes. “Wanna make this interesting?”
”Khriso mou,” Alexi murmured. “When you say things like that . . . ” He moved a card from the right side of his hand to the left. “I get excited.”
”How about we raise the stakes to . . . ” She drew out the moment, and even though he knew exactly what she was doing, as he was the one who had taught her to do it, eventually his anticipation caused him to lean forward. Only then did Cat give him what he sought. “Anything.”
”Anything?” he repeated.
”Oui.” He cast her an exasperated glance as she purposely mangled one of his favorite words. “I win this hand, you give me anything I ask. You win–”
”I get anything I ask.”
”You’ve played this before.”
”Not with you.”
She doubted he’d played it with anyone. What moron would promise anything?
Only someone with little left to lose or . . .
Cat considered her cards without so much as a flicker of an eyelash. Someone with a hand like hers.
“All right,” he agreed. “Who am I to turn down anything?”
Not the man she knew and–
Cat brought up short. Not the man she knew and what?
Well, not the man she knew.
Alexi turned his cards face up. Cat kept her face blank as she placed hers face down.
”You win.”
What did you wait and wait for as a child and it always seemed so far away? What are you waiting for now? Have you gotten your copy of BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER yet?
55 Comments on “Beauty and the Bounty Hunter at Last!”
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I still wait for Christmas like I did as a child. Love it!!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 3:50 am.
I’m sure you always have a great holiday, Mary.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:36 am.
Hello Lori!
As a child, I waited for my real parent to turn up and take me to their palace – I always thought I was a princess… (Well, no wonder I had such thoughts, as one of my predecessors is Count Robert of Bethune, the Count of Flanders, and his forefathers were there already before the First Crusade, with links to most royal families in Europe)
Right now, I’m still waiting to win the lottery (lol) and for that one bestseller.
And no, I haven’t bought your book yet, but it’s on my to-do list!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 3:51 am.
Very cool history, Nickie. I’d get that tiara anyway. Best to be ready.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:37 am.
‘Scuse me, I’m a bit late, had to down load a new book.
I went to England for a brief exchange program when I was 17. Spent the whole year before fund raising for the trip. It was the longest year eeeeevvvvveeerrr.
I’m waiting for a surprise trip to drop in my former book group on their getaway weekend…. If I get around to booking it. Lucky for me they’re reading the book I just finished.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:03 am.
Big trips always seem to be forever away, don’t they?
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:38 am.
I have been waiting for March to arrive since… last March. Lover at Last by JR Ward is probably the highest on my anticipation list right now. I actually squee out loud when I start to think about it. Blay and Quinn are two of my all time favorite fictional characters. Obviously, it comes out in March. Squee!
I’m also really excited for Christmas. The holiday itself is fun, but Les Miserables comes out!!! This is the first time that I have ever been so excited about a movie musical. They did a phenomenal job casting, and for once I feel as if it will do justice to the stage production.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:10 am.
We always do a movie at Christmas too. I can’t wait for Django Unchained, though I’ll probably check out Les Miz too!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:42 am.
As a child I would eagerly await school going back. Mainly because my sister and I would fight like cats and dogs and school meant time being away from her. I also look forward to my birthday and am looking forward to moving and one day maybe getting married.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:37 am.
Birthdays were always big for me too. Now it’s my day off to shop for Christmas. Still fun but not quite the same ring.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:43 am.
Howdy Lori! I can’t believe it is Tuesday and the book shall be waiting when I get home – if I brought it to work I would be fired.
Still trying to wait until I get to Wisconsin to read it but it is looking more iffy all the time.
I anxiously await autumn and the colors, cooler mornings and sweaters. Halloween is the wrap up of all things wonderful that is autumn.
Happy release day!!!!!!!!!!! Squee…
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:00 am.
Thanks, Kez!
Autumn is here. The drought has made all the leaves change early. Chilly mornings. I can see my breath. I need to find my seaters.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:26 am.
I was always waiting for Christmas and my birthday. I think the birthday anticipation outweighed all others. I started the countdown in January for the big day in March. Now that I’m old that doesn’t happen. Now I try to get past that day without anyone knowing.
Now I am waiting for our house to sell. I know the state of the market, so it may be a while, but I’ve got my patience hat on!
Best of luck with Beauty and the Bounty Hunter! The excerpt had me wanting more, so I shall go get it!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:11 am.
Thanks, Kelly. And good luck with your house. Houses have been selling more quickly around here I’ve noticed. Fingers crossed for you.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:27 am.
Ok… I don’t usually read Westerns, but I will be downloading your book today. I want to know how that scene plays out! Good luck with the new release!
December always seemed so far away for me. It wasn’t just Christmas I was waiting for, but my birthday, as well. I had to wait and get my presents all in the same month. That was hard as a kid because I would see so much that I wanted, and then my mom would say ‘well maybe for Christmas or your birthday’… that was such a bummer as a kid. There was no in between. I always envied my BFF, her birthday was in May. It always seemed like the ideal birthday month to me.
Now, I am waiting for the day when hubby and I have enough money saved for our dream trip to England/Ireland/Scotland. We put it off 4 years ago because of baby #2 and a basement that needed finishing before she was born, but I get excited to see our savings grow because it means our trip isn’t too far away.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:15 am.
Yay, Amy!! Appreciate that.
I have a December birthday too so I know what you mean. Present month. At least when I was a kid. Not so much lately.
My dream trip is also England/Scotland/Ireland. Maybe when #2 baby is out of college.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:29 am.
That sounds absolutely delicious, Lori. I can’t wait!
I’m eagerly waiting for out trip to New Zealand, at the end of December. We’re touring North and South islandsand I can’t wait. I was there a few years ago, but didn’t make it to the south.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:41 am.
Thanks, Barbara.
New Zealand!! How exciting. My dad went there several times and took some fantastic photos. Such a beautiful place.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:47 am.
When I was a kid, I waited and waited for the aliens to contact me. I would put my belt out in the sunlight, and thought they would use the belt buckle as an antenna to contact me. Oh, yes, I was sure. I’m not positive they didn’t.
I am currently eagerly awaiting the end of my son’s play. The extra running around to take him to rehearsals is killing me. He is having so much fun though, and I am so incredibly proud of him. It’s his first play. He’s 9, and got a speaking part and a song solo! He’s so artistic and this is good for him. Now, if I can just get through the performances!
I have NOT gotten my copy. I also need Karen’s latest book. I don’t have time to read them before Thursday, and I *have* to wait to start reading them until then. My older boys and husband are all going out of town this weekend, so I should actually have some time to read!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:41 am.
Sounds like your son got his creativity from you! Congrats to him on the play and the solo. How exciting!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:48 am.
As a kid I was always waiting for school to be over and summer. Now I can not wait for February and a trip to Florida with DH. I can’t wait for one week out of the wintery Indiana weather.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:02 am.
Can I come?
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:09 am.
I can’t wait to read Beauty and the Bounty Hunter!
Right now, I cannot wait for the first Hobbit movie coming out in December. I am SO geeked about it!! The hub is excited too, but he just thinks I’m a little too nuts about it.
It really looks amazing and Peter Jackson did wonders with LOTR, and I know he will do The Hobbit justice as well.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:06 am.
Thanks, Julie!
Youngest son is very geeked about that movie too. I’m sure it’ll be gorgeous like the others.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:10 am.
Oooh, me too! We’re wildly anticipating the Hobbit!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 1:19 pm.
Ooh, what a great excerpt, Lori! I am forever eagerly anticipating writing “the end” on any book I am working on. I can’t wait for it to get here.
.
Can’t wait to read beauty and the bounty hunter! LOVE THAT COVER
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:30 am.
I am extraordinarily pleased with this cover!
And I just wrote the end on book #2, AN OUTLAW IN WONDERLAND.
Whopppeeeee!!!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:37 am.
It’s on my Kindle! I would usually buy the paperback, but I’m traveling and knew I’d only have room for the Kindle, so I’m one of your e-sales.
I can’t wait! I looooove your writing, this cover rocks, and it’s about time Westerns came back.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:40 am.
Smooches, Karen. Thanks so much!
I hope you’re on a fun trip and enjoying yourself.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:56 am.
Cannot wait to read your book. I love westerns, so it’ll find a cozy home on my Kindle Fire.
When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for school to start. Weird, I know, but we were in the hands of our wicked step-grandmother. That was a trial by fire. I loved school anyway, loved English, the book reports, the math… I only wish the classes today taught half the things we learned when I was in school.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:16 am.
Great, D! Thanks.
I once did so many book reports my teacher asked me to stop.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:25 am.
That is too funny, Lori. I’ll bet you got a lot of extra credit?
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 12:06 pm.
I can’t remember that part. Only my horror that I couldn’t do more, more, more!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 2:58 pm.
As a child, I waited for: Christmas, the end of the school year, the beginning of the school year, my birthday, the first day the swimming pool opened, getting old enough to be more independent.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:22 am.
I couldn’t wait to move out on my own. If I’d only known . . .
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:26 am.
I loved this book, Lori! So glad it’s finally out!!!
Christmas was always what I looked forward to the most. I’m just a spangly, twinkle-light, mistletoe kind of girl, I guess. *G*
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:24 am.
Thanks, Sabrina.
You are definitely a spangly-twinkle person all the way.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:26 am.
Big congrats on the release day! I am so glad that westerns are being published in romance more now. I’ll be downloading yours today.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:25 am.
Thank you!! I hope we see a lot more westerns too.
And pirates. I miss pirates.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:27 am.
I swear, waiting for each and every book to come out is like being pregnant and giving birth — mentally, anyway.
As a kid I used to love/hate the wait for Christmas. Love the anticipation. As an adult, it’s the same, only because I hate/love the wait to see if my nephews are going to like what I found for them.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 12:15 pm.
I’ve got that love/hate thing with Christmas too.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 1:09 pm.
Being an adult. I simply could not wait to be all grown up. I still like being a grown-up. Of course, once you grow up, then you grow old. Not such a fan of that.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 12:27 pm.
Wait, we’re getting old?
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 1:09 pm.
As a child I LOVED Christmas! I loved to decorate for it. On Christmas Eve I doubt that I got more than 4 hours of sleep. I’ve many fond memories of hanging out with my 4 younger siblings, waiting for 6 am to arrive because that’s when we were allowed to go out into the living room to the presents. Fortunately, my kids don’t get up that early. I would get excited to go to Wyoming to visit my grandparents, especially my maternal grandparents, and my cousins (all 2 of them) because we’d go to the roller rink every night during the summer.
Happy release day! I’ll be downloading it in just a minute because I need to have something to read while I get my allergy shots. I love cowboys, especially in books, but there was one that I dated in high school who was particularly delish. Most of the other ones had family who married family a little too often, lol.
I wish there were more pirate books, too. Love pirates!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 12:27 pm.
I’ve never dated a cowboy. Except in my mind.
Thanks Janae!
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 1:10 pm.
Happy release day! I am looking forward to this one, it has been a long time since I have read a western!
I have something I am looking forward to and it seems to be taking forever to get here. I know it is not THAT far away, but it feels like eons. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that it all goes as planned!
Christmas has always been one that I look forward to – I think it is mostly sparkly ornaments and decoration.. then all of a sudden it is time to take it all down
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 12:54 pm.
Yay, Sheridan!
I will keep my fingers crossed for this mystery event.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 1:11 pm.
Congrats, Lori! I love westerns! What am I waiting for…hmm… At the moment, a little fall weather here in SoCal. We broke records yesterday. I’m going to ignore the heat and get my copy of your book.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 2:28 pm.
Thanks, Christie!
Come this way–fall color, 50 degree temps, sunny and bright. The only good season in WI is fall.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 2:59 pm.
happy release day! I love westerns, although the ones I read with my grandad were never like this!LOL
I also am waiting for 90+ degree weather to go away. In October. sheesh.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 4:01 pm.
Nope, not your grandad’s western.
Sorry about the 90s. No thank you.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 4:20 pm.
I have been waiting for this one to come out! I am really looking forward to reading your brand new western!
I still look forward to Christmas morning at my Mom’s. Christmas is an awful season for those of us in retail. But from 8 PM Christmas Eve until 7 AM the day after Christmas I get to stay at my Mom’s and I am a kid again.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 10:16 pm.
Great, Louisa!
My mom’s in retail. She has a lot of day after Christmas horror stories.
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:34 am.
Congrats on the book! I waited for Christmas and I’m still waiting.
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:26 pm.
Thanks, BN. I’ve been hearing countdown to Christmas already. Isn’t long.
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:34 am.