The Hawaiian word of the day is
ahupua'a.
It is a land division from the mountain top to the shore below. The ahupua'a provided fresh water and food source for the families who live on the ahupua'a. Many of the ahupua'a transformed into ranches. The Kualoa Ranch is a personal favorite for its romantic views.
Romantic views are aplenty in Emma Cane's Valentine Valley series:
Valentine Valley, Colorado, a historic, picturesque ranching village in the Roaring Fork Valley northwest of Aspen, has become known as the Love Boat in dry dock. People come to marry here, to propose, to renew their vows, to find or resurrect love. Everyone wants the postal stamp “Valentine Valley CO” on their wedding invitations. The villagers themselves take advantage of these superstitions, creating businesses that cater to tourists, even as longtime ranchers are uneasy with the changes.It all began during the 1880s silver mining boom. Someone had to feed all those miners coming down from the high mountains, so the ranching community of Valentine Valley was born. When the silver boom went bust, the farms and ranches kept the valley going. Once Aspen and its famous ski resorts splashed onto the international scene, Valentine Valley became a cozy village for Aspen visitors to explore.
Although the Valentine Valley books are a series, each book will stand alone, and won't need to be read in any order. Keep reading to find out all about the wonderful inhabitants you'll meet in A Town Called Valentine and True Love at Silver Creek Ranch.
I am giving away a print copy of TRUE LOVE AT SILVER CREEK RANCH:
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where tongues are wagging now that the town bad boy is back—and rumor has it the lean, mean ex-Marine is about to lose his heart! But like it or not, in a town like Valentine, love happens . . .
Adam Desantis is back—bruised, battle-weary and sexier than ever! Not that Brooke Thalberg is in the market. The beautiful cowgirl of Silver Creek Ranch needs a cowboy for hire, not a boyfriend—though the gaggle of grandmas at the Widows' Boardinghouse thinks otherwise. But from the moment she finds herself in Adam's arms, she's shocked to discover she may just want more.
Adam knows it's crazy to tangle with Brooke, especially with the memories that still haunt him, and the warm welcome her family has given him. But he finds himself in a fix, because tender-loving Brooke is so much more woman than he ever imagined. Can a soldier battling demons give her the love she clearly deserves?
Just about everybody in Valentine thinks so!
The Avon Affair continues with ...
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| True love on horseback .... McGarrett from H50! cbs.com |
I am giving away a print copy of TRUE LOVE AT SILVER CREEK RANCH:
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where tongues are wagging now that the town bad boy is back—and rumor has it the lean, mean ex-Marine is about to lose his heart! But like it or not, in a town like Valentine, love happens . . .
Adam Desantis is back—bruised, battle-weary and sexier than ever! Not that Brooke Thalberg is in the market. The beautiful cowgirl of Silver Creek Ranch needs a cowboy for hire, not a boyfriend—though the gaggle of grandmas at the Widows' Boardinghouse thinks otherwise. But from the moment she finds herself in Adam's arms, she's shocked to discover she may just want more.
Adam knows it's crazy to tangle with Brooke, especially with the memories that still haunt him, and the warm welcome her family has given him. But he finds himself in a fix, because tender-loving Brooke is so much more woman than he ever imagined. Can a soldier battling demons give her the love she clearly deserves?
Just about everybody in Valentine thinks so!
To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about ranches - have you stayed at one?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, March 23, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 24.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Emma and her books, check out her website at emmacane.com.
The Avon Affair continues with ...
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| Horses grazing under palm trees ... only in Hawaii! |
I've never stayed at any kind of ranch. My friends family farm had horses that we would 'ride' - me sitting & horse walking.
ReplyDeleteI have never stayed at a ranch. However, I have been horse back riding a few times. The most memorable times were either with my kids or my sisters. The most beautiful ride was in Jamaica were we rode through a mountain pass to get to the ocean. We took the saddles off and went right into the ocean on horseback. What a great time that was!
ReplyDeleteI have been to several Dude Ranches. They can be so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI have stayed a couple of dude ranches years ago but never a working ranch.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately no. Would love to though!
ReplyDeleteBeen to lots of farms, some of which would qualify as ranches.
ReplyDeleteI have never stayed at a ranch, but I think it would be fun to do so. I'd like to go horse back riding on it.
ReplyDeleteI've never stayed at a ranch, but I think it would probably be fun to do so.
ReplyDeleteI've read and enjoyed this one, so don't enter me in the contest. The view of ranch life was interesting. I've never stayed at one, but I'm game!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I never have but it is something that I think would be fun. Love that last pic of the horses!
ReplyDeleteAlex O'Laughlin is hot and even more sexy on a horse. I have never lived on a Ranch but live in Iowa so have been on farms. I think a horse ranch would be cool to visit. I would love to go and vacation on one. One that caters to families and vacations. This book sounds great. Love cowboy stories. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletechristinebails at yahoo dot com
Haven't stayed at a Ranch But SO WANT TO...
ReplyDeleteI have been reading a lot of Small town stories this sound amazing making a note of all of Emma's books .
Thank you Kim for sharing our sexy man on horseback....
Have a good one Ann/alba
When I was living in NY, I stayed at a dude ranch. Have not been to a ranch while living in Texas, though. Strange.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim!
ReplyDeleteI've never visited a ranch but my husband went and stayed two winters with his sister in her family in Baggs, Wyoming and did construction work in one of the gas fields.
My brother-in-law grew up on a ranch that was partly in Wyoming and party in Colorado that was on Bureau of Land Management land. His father was even featured in a PBS special called The Last Cowboys. When he was growing up his father would send his brothers and him out to "round up the herd" and they would drive a truck pulling a horse trailer as far as the could go and then ride their horses to finally reach the herd and then vice versa. They'd be gone for several days before coming back to the truck and then finish driving the herd home.
My niece is graduating from High School this year and started driving the tractor when she was about 4 years old and has raised cattle that have numerous awards at the county and state fairs. Some of her classmates still ride their horses to school! Not exactly the same type of life we have here on the East Coast!
I complain when I have to drive 15 minutes in traffic to get to the grocery store but my sister-in-law has to travel over an hour to reach one. If you want to make a phone call you'd better have forget trying to get through on a cell phone - unless you want to climb a mountain first to be able to call!
I'll never forget the time my husband called when he was out there. He had just gotten home from work and said it wasn't a bad day although it was 20 degrees below zero because it was a "dry" cold! I don't like it when it goes down to 30 degrees here in Rhode Island!
It really is a totally different life than in the East but just like they use to say on Cheers - everyone knows your name!
I have never been to a ranch, but love reading about them in romance novels. They seem like the perfect setting for sparks to fly :)
ReplyDeleteI'd really love the opportunity to stay at a ranch. I think it would really interesting, and being as I love horses, I could riding.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've never stayed at a ranch, when I was a pre-teen and vacationing with my folks, we did a trail ride in Wyoming. It was complete with a cookout dinner and a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI've never had the opportunity to stay at a Ranch but would sure love it. I love hirses and would love to spend a few days being on a Ranch. I love the sound of this series and look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
No - I've never stayed at or even been to a real ranch. I have been on a few trail rides - the most memorable was thru Bryce Canyon in Utah.
ReplyDeleteNo but I think I'd be fun :)
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't
ReplyDeleteI have never stayed at a ranch, but it sounds like it might be a fun vacation.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it counts, but my dad had a friend in Colorado that was a rancher and we used to camp on his ranch when we went there on vacations. It was fascinating, especially because he had several sons that were about my age. Lol!
ReplyDeleteI haven't - but I sure would love to!! Thanks for the chance to win this book, it sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI have never stayed at a ranch but would love to some day.
ReplyDelete