When her father drags her to a new life in Wyoming, Aspen Brand doesn’t expect to fall for a cowboy named Kyle Thacker—but she does. Aspen and Kyle share unexpected ground: guitar, running, physics. And guilt. Aspen blames herself for her mother’s car accident, while Kyle can’t find a way past his brother’s suicide.
On their first date they open up to each other, forging an unbreakable bond between them. But Kyle has spent two years living with a vicious secret—one his ex-girlfriend will do anything to protect—and sharing his truth with Aspen makes her a target. Now if Kyle is to be her love story, Aspen must first win the fight of her life.
On their first date they open up to each other, forging an unbreakable bond between them. But Kyle has spent two years living with a vicious secret—one his ex-girlfriend will do anything to protect—and sharing his truth with Aspen makes her a target. Now if Kyle is to be her love story, Aspen must first win the fight of her life.
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Excerpt:
“My parents had a great relationship,” I say. “They were always touching each other, like they’d never evolved beyond infatuation. I lost my mom, yeah. But my dad lost more. He lost his other half, his best friend, the girl he’d been with since he was sixteen years old. It’s like I don’t know him, since Mom died.”
“If your mom was anything like you,” Kyle says, “I guarantee your dad’s hurting.”
“It’s hard for me to see him without her. I still think of my parents the way they were—loving and physical and fun with each other, all the time.”
Kyle slides his hand beneath the hem of my tank top, resting his fingers on the bare curve of my waist. Goose bumps spread across my skin. He pulls at me until our bodies touch. “Any guy’d want that,” he says softly.
About the author:
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Interview:
What inspired you to write this book?
Painted Boots definitely grew from my teenaged ‘starting over’ days—I moved a lot as a kid and more than once, I was the awkward girl in second-hand clothes, braces and glasses just trying to fit in. But while I was writing the story my nephew committed suicide. My anguish over his death seeped into my plot, taking shape as the darker conflict some of the characters endure—yet that same anguish flickered into light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel, making way for what I think is a satisfying ending.
What characters do you connect with most?
On some level I am my characters; after all, I created them. While writing the story I became so emotionally entwined with Aspen that I would sometimes call my daughter by her name. It drove my daughter nuts!
What’s your favorite book turned movie?
Cold Mountain. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Brutal. Exquisite. Just thinking on the ending shatters me all over again.
If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?
I’ll admit, I become BFF with all my characters—even the nasty ones. I want to know them better than their mothers. But if I have to pick a Painted Boots soul-sister, it’s Aspen.
Can you tell us about any other books you’re writing?
Being is due out in February. It’s a cool twist on a ghost story, set in near-future France. I love Being . . . I can hardly wait to set it free!
What do you do in your spare time?
Is this a trick question? Most days I feel like a tennis ball caught between Federer and Rafael Nadal on the final day of Wimbledon.
Who’s your inspiration?
Anyone who embodies this phrase from an old Indigo Girls song: “If the world is night, shine my life like a light.” Think of the doctors who devote their lives to Doctors without Borders. Of the firefighters who rushed toward the crumbling Trade Center towers. Think of Malala.
If you were stranded on a desert island, which character do you want by your side?
From Painted Boots? Graydon Brand! I’d love one-on-one time with that man and his secrets. (Note to husband: Honey, I thought of you when I crafted Mr. Brand Honestly, I did.)
Team Edward or Jacob?
Ummmmmm. Okay. I’ll confess my shameful little secret. I haven’t read Twilight . . . yet.
Team Peeta or Gale?
GALE! I loved him from hello. Spoiler alert: As I type this I’m fuming over how things ended for him. In my next life I plan to hi-jack book three and re-write the ending.
What are you reading now?
Lucky Girl by Mei-Ling Hopgood. In between all my dystopian, fantasy and contemporary YA reading, and all the edgy NA I can find, I read at least one autobiography every year. Life is so much stranger than fiction!
**Mechelle will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a unique, hand-crafted bookmark to one randomly drawn commenter at each stop.
27 comments:
Hi Julianna, just stopping by to say thank you for hosting Painted Boots! I'd love to hear what everyone thinks of cowboys ...
sounds great :)
PAINTED BOOTS, love the title and cover, sounds like such a wonderful read.
LOVE cowboys!!!
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thank you for hosting
Painted Boots sounds like a really interesting read. From the excerpt, the characters come across as very deep and emotionally aware of their surroundings. Seeing people on more than face value, I like that.
I have to admit, I haven't read Twilight either. I do own collectors edition box set, audio books and the ebooks, but I've just never felt the pull to read it like I do so many other books. Maybe one day.
Painted Boots is making it onto my TBR list. Thanks for the introduction to it!
Sarah Fae - faebooks(at)gmail(dot)com
Painted Boots will definitely be on my TBR list.There appears to be a lot of real emotion in this book. Sometimes you don't find that. I thought the excerpt was quite good which made me want to read it all the more. Thanks
Gayle Pace bemiown(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love finding new to me authors! Put this book at top of my tbr list...It's great finding books that I can share with my daughter!
I love it!! Tormented souls are always the best to read about because they eventually find themselves and happiness. It's wonderful to watch:)
The cover is great and I also loved the excerpt!
Honestly, I think a lot of people feel the same way about the ending of the Hunger Games Trilogy...Everyone is upset about how something turned out...from Prim, to Gale/Peeta, to just...the ending...Not a fan of it myself...still an amazing series!
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
The book sounds great! The storyline overall, fabulous! I honeslty had not heard of this author or this particular title before..... love it and thanks for sharing the information on this amazing sounding book!
"Painted Boots" sounds like a great read! Loved the excerpt!
ChaoticKarma23 at gmail dot com
New Author For Me! Love it!!!
Ooh secrets... Sounds like an interesting book. I've gotta find out what the big secret is now. I will be adding to my TBR stack.
Thanks :)
Lori
lorih824 at yahoo dot com
Mechelle - Your life story sounds like it would make a good book, too!
acwa at netscape dot com
Sounds like a great book I can't wait to give it a go :)
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I hope to win! :)
Hi everyone! Thanks so much for your comments. My daughter wrote all your names on separate slips of paper, dropped them into her trick-or-treat pumpkin and for the bookmark giveaway selected ..... Holly Biggs! Here's my email Holly: info dot mechelle at gmail dot com. Please let me know where to mail your bookmark.
The gift certificate winner will be drawn on February 10th 2014!
Sounds like a great read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
This looks interesting! Thanks for sharing!
mestith at gmail dot com
I love learning about new authors. Enjoyed the interview and am looking forward to reading Painted Boots.
I would like to know more about how the share physics in common. That seems a little funny. Thanks.
like the cover and excerpt thanks for the giveaway! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
They have a physics class together in school :-)
Thank you for intro to Mechelle Morrison. Painted Boots sound to be a very good book that I want to read as soon as possible. I know that i will enjoy read the book
great interview thanks for the giveaway! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Nice interview
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
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