Thursday, November 20, 2014

Today's Special - - Cowboys for Christmas




Who doesn't love a cowboy? I know, I do! Pair him with my favorite holiday in overlapping stories from three terrific contemporary authors and you have a winning combination. Today, we're delighted to welcome to the Dish, Terri Osburn, Kim Law, Liz Talley and their Cowboys for Christmas!








COWBOYS FOR CHRISTMAS is a holiday anthology crafted by Kim Law, Liz Talley, and myself, Terri Osburn. The initial idea to write a collection of overlapping stories that featured three best friends who fall in love with cowboys came from a conversation between Kim and Liz, and I was the lucky author they invited to join them.
First, let's meet the girls.
In Love Me, Cowboy, the first story, written by yours truly, Claire Campbell has been back in Holly Hills, Texas—her hometown where her family has a long tradition of running the place—dealing with her new job as elementary school teacher and dodging regular insults and judgment from her mother. She's also newly slim, having lost about forty pounds, and not yet adjusted to her new body.
And that's where her hero, Tyler Holly comes to the rescue. Actually, Tyler comes to the rescue more than once in this story, but the most important thing is that he helps Claire see how beautiful she is. And it doesn't hurt that Tyler always thought she was beautiful, regardless of her dress size.
Then we move onto Kiss Me, Cowboy by Liz Talley, where we meet Georgia Hightower. Talk about Claire's opposite. Georgia has an attitude that goes on for days, a giant chip on her shoulder, and, of course, a mushy inner core of demons and doubts. A hard edge with the perfect dose of vulnerability. Not that George would ever admit to a vulnerable moment.
But that soft side is what makes her both leery of and helplessly attracted to her veterinarian hero Reed McCormick. Georgia has sworn off cowboys, but Reed is technically a California boy in a hat and boots. He's challenging, stable, and sees the damaged woman lurking below the surface who wants nothing more than to be loved. And he's hot, but you probably guessed that.
Now we come to the bride, Mary Catherine Holly, aka MC. The head cheerleader and daughter of one of the founding families of the town, MC struggles throughout Marry Me, Cowboy to realize that what she wants is more important than pleasing an overbearing stepmother. She and her fiancé may be perfect on paper, but that doesn't mean he's the man she should marry.
Cue Jax Tipton, bad boy rancher, and MC's high school love. Jax is defensive, defiant, and deceptively cool. Though he tries to respect that MC is marrying another man, the chemistry between these one-time lovers is too strong to be ignored. Jax stirs memories of a time when MC knew who she was, and he's exactly what she needs to make a stand for her own happiness.
Writing these stories was a labor of love, and we hope readers will settle into Holly Hills, pour a warm drink, or maybe a shot of Tequila, and enjoy watching these deserving characters find their happily ever afters.

Now a question for you. Which heroine above do you think you'd most relate to, and if you had your pick, which hero would you chose?

One lucky commenter will win a $15 gift card to Amazon or B&N (winner's choice) along with a notebook featuring the drool-worthy cover of Cowboys For Christmas and a Holly Hills shot glass. (Gift card is international, but the notebook and shot glass are US only.)




Terri Osburn is the bestselling author of the Anchor Island series. She makes her home along the coast of Virginia with an eye-rolling teenager, three fat tabbies, and a hyper yorkiepoo.

Connect with Terri online at her website, Facebook and Twitter.











Liz Talley is a former English teacher who lives in North Louisiana with her high school sweetheart, two rough and tumble boys, and a gaggle of pets.

Connect with Liz online at her website, Facebook and Twitter










RITA-nominated and Golden Heart winner Kim Law is a former computer programmer, now spending her days writing happily ever afters. A native of Kentucky, she lives with her husband and a passel of animals in Middle Tennessee. 

Connect with Kim online at her website, Facebook and Twitter


94 comments:

  1. I love anthologies, especially when the stories are interconnected. Holiday anthologies have there own special feel. I think Claire Campbell in LOVE ME, COWBOY, is the heroine I most relate to. I'll go with Tyler Holly from the same story as the hero I would chose. Not much is said about him, but he sounds accepting and caring.
    All the stories sound enjoyable. I'll be looking for COWBOYS FOR CHRISTMAS.

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    1. I started reading this anthology last night and, so far, have only read Claire and Tyler's story in Love Me, Cowboy. Let's just say Reed and Jax have some mighty big boots to fill in this lady's heart! ;-)

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    2. Excellent choice, librarypat! Tyler is a bull rider who was recently injured pretty bad during a ride. He has a shy side, which I love. But he's very strong. And boy does he love, Claire.

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    3. As far as heroines, I would be most like Mary Catherine. Although I relate very easily to Claire Bear. I'm the kind of girl who forms a plan for herself and it's really, really hard to pull me away from it. I like to call it stickability. Most others around me call it being pig-headed. LOL. My heroine Georgia was fun to write. She's not like me at all, though I like to think she says the things I wish I could say to people. She's got, ahem, balls. And I like that about her. But MC and Claire love her because of her super squishy inside she rarely lets others see. They're all terrific heroines.

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  2. Kiss me cowboy, sound good opposites attract
    Great prize, thanks
    Kimh

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    1. Cowboys and Christmas. That's a win-win for me!

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    2. That's it, Kimh. Opposites attract. But these two fit together so well. Reed just had to help Georgia let down her walls a bit.

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  3. I think I relate most to Claire too.

    Cowboys & Christmas - nothing better.

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    1. Cowboys & Christmas - nothing better.

      Right there with you, Mary!

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    2. Mary, that's what we thought about that combination. :) And wait until you meet Claire's mother. I hope you don't relate in that area. That woman is hateful.

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  4. I would like a cowboy for Christmas too! Lol!! Cowboys for Christmas sounds really great so I'm going to add this one to my wish list. Out of the 3 heroines, I would be most like Claire since her issues seems very relatable. But it's hard to pick just one cowboy hero. If I really had to pick one, I would go with Reed. He works with animals so he's got to have a good heart and I hear he's hot to boot!

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    1. I'm just starting Reed's story, Ada. So far, he's pretty darn yummy! :)

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    2. Thanks for adding us, Ada. And yes, Reed is definitely hot. Her inspiration was George Strait. Sigh.

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    3. I hope you enjoy the book when you get it, Ada!

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  5. Love all three stories and put it on my TRL. I too am gokng to say Claire. All three heroes seem to have that inner goodness but I lean more toward Tyler. Thanks for the great giveaway.
    Carl L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. I finished Tyler and Claire's story just before bedtime. Thank you, Tyler for some lovely dreams last night. :)

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    2. To be fair, since I wrote this blog, I might have made Tyler sound like the really good one. But all three really are sigh-worthy. Reed is like a rock. So steady. As for Jax, who doesn't love a bad boy turned good by the right woman?

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    3. Oh, and PJ. Tyler says you're welcome. ;)

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    4. Terri, I'm getting a complex! Everyone wants to be your people!! ;)

      Hope you enjoy the book, Carol.

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  6. I love cowboy stories. Am sure I would enjoy all 3 - have only read Kim's books so far.
    Patoct

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    1. Patoct, you have some good reading ahead of you with both the anthology as well as Terri's and Liz's books. Hope you'll give them a try.

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    2. We do hope you'll give them a try. The response has been lovely so far. Thanks for dropping by.

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    3. Yes, will have to try both the other ladies' books. Thanks.
      Patoct

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  7. I can relate to Claire, as I have been a secretary all my life, most often working in the school setting.
    I can relate to Tyler too, as my husband has loved me/thought I was beautiful no matter what size I am (and I too have changed through the years) - plus he comes to my rescue all the time! Not too shabby after 33+ years of marriage later!

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    1. Not too shabby at all, Laney4. Sounds like you landed a keeper right there. Good for you!

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  8. I am captivated with this great feature. Claire is similar to me and someone whom I admire. Tyler is interesting and deep. A most thoughtful and great book.

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    1. Thank you, petite. The chubby friend who loves the boy she doesn't think loves her back was something I took to right away. :) Good luck in the drawing.

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  9. I can relate to Mary Catherine in MARRY ME, COWBOY. I always tried to please my parents. I was a cheerleader and my dad was the local GP. Everybody knew me. Scary! No privacy. Lucky I married a man I m t in college.

    I'd pick Jax also from MARRY ME, COWBOY . There's something about a reformed bad boy making the best husband. I do like outdoor life so a physically active, athletic rancher who lives in the country works for me.

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    1. Excellent choice, Laurie G. So many of us have the intense desire to please everyone, we lose track of what we want. Watching Mary Catherine figure this out is a lot of fun. You'll be rooting for her the whole time. And Jax. Well. You said it exactly.

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    2. Woohoo!! Someone finally picked my people :) Thank you, Laurie! And Mary Catherine was a cheerleader too!

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  10. Claire is the one with whom I can relate since she has a depth and character. I worked as a school secretary and loved it. Tyler would be a real man which is old fashioned and important.

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    1. Thanks, traveler. All of these heroes have the cowboy qualities we all love, but I admit to having a soft spot for Tyler. :)

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  11. I read all three stories yesterday and loved them all. Christmas and cowboys make a winning combination. With the teaching and the pudge, Claire is the heroine to whom I relate most closely. Now if I could just follow her example with the 40-pound loss, but holiday season makes that battle more difficult.

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    1. Right there with you, Janga. So happy to hear you liked them. Someday I'll shake this pudge. Maybe 2015 is our year.

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    2. So glad you enjoyed the stories, Janga! Thanks for stopping by :)

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    1. Good choice, jcp. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing.

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  13. I relate most to Claire and Tyler. Thanks for the post and giveaway. (US)

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    1. Thank you, LSUReader. (If that LSU is for the university, Liz will love you. That's her favorite.) Good luck!

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  14. I'm not sure I relate to any of the heroines but I like the idea of the cowboy/veterinarian. What's great about reading is I really don't have to see myself in any of the to really enjoy reading about them.

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    1. That's a good point, catslady. We women are a varied and complicated lot. Narrowing to three types is a bit limiting. :)

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  16. I think I can relate to Georgie in Kiss Me, Cowboy. I can be a bit stubborn on the outside, but I really have a soft heart...

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    1. Kathleen, you're going to love Georgia. She's a total spitfire.

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    2. I will second what Terri said. You will *love* Georgia. I think she kept all of us in line with her awesome no-crap-taking attitude! :D

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  17. I think I would love to have a cowboy for Christmas. Great post, thanks for sharing!

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    1. Quilt Lady, if only I could twinkle my nose and make it so. Thanks for stopping by.

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  18. Claire and Tyler, these stories sound fab, I live in the UK so we do not have proper cowboys over hear, so I love to read about them.

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    1. Susan, I've seen images of some of your Englishmen on their polo ponies. They cut a striking figure as well!

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  19. I hide a lot of self doubt & insecurities with my sarcasm & tough "shell", so I see myself relating more to Georgia. As for my choice of hero, Tyler is it! I started reading the anthology yesterday, and that man makes me swoon! Seriously, my daughter wanted to know why I had my "secret" grin on while I was reading.

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    1. Michelle, I love it! Tyler hooked me right away. He was so fun to write. And it gets better before the end. :)

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    2. Secret grins are awesome! Hope you enjoy the rest of the book too, Michelle. Thanks for reading!

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  20. I think I would identify with the heroine and hero in Marry Me, Cowboy, cause I kind of like a bad boy. I never saw my husband as a bad boy, but my parents did.

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    1. Linda, the bad boys are so popular. The ones who truly aren't so bad are the good ones. Sounds like you found one of those.

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  21. Anthologies ARE Cool - I, too, relate more to Georgia - hiding behind a shell of sarcasm, etc! What heroes, though - I love them ALL!

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    1. Felicia, we won't make you pick just one if you don't want to. The good news is, you get all three in one book. :)

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  22. Would have to be Claire that I would most relate to. Would love to read these stories :) Patty D

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Patty. Good luck and we hope you enjoy it if you give it a try.

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  23. Wow! What wonderful comment! Thank you all so much for the support and for snuggling up to our cowboys ;)

    I'm sorry I'm a bit late. Spent the morning writing at Starbucks (where I don't do internet) and then I couldn't comment on my phone for some reason. Home now and I can't wait to respond to all the awesome comments. Thanks, Romance Dish, for hosting us and thanks all of you for popping in to chat about Cowboys for Christmas!

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  24. Cowboys for Christmas sounds like a must read. I love anthologies. I relate to Claire the most, and Tyler sounds like a wonderful hero, as do Reed and Jax.

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    1. Thanks, Cathy. We're hoping readers fall in love with this one. Thanks for visiting.

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  25. I have this book on my wish list and looking forward to reading it closer to the holidays. I think I would most identify with Claire and Tyler's story. Cowboys and Christmas, sigh.

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    1. Sounds like a great plan for holiday reading, LauraL! ;) Hope you enjoy them. Thanks for stopping by today!

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  26. Just from the descriptions, I'd have to say I'd probably relate to Claire the most! Can't wait to read all 3!!

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    1. Looks like most of us would relate well to Claire. Well, she's a classy lady and a good friend :) We're excited you want to read the book. Let us know what you think when you get a chance. Thanks for coming by and commenting.

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  27. It's been busy in here! Welcome Kim, Terri and Liz! Great to have you with us today! Sorry I went MIA for a while. Had some errands to run and decided to pick up a few Christmas presents at stores that had good sales. Seems half the city had the same idea. Good thing I took my kindle with me so I could get to know Reed and Georgia while waiting in line. :)

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    1. Hey, PJ! Thanks for hosting us!!! And reading Reed and Georgia while waiting in the line is the best way to do it! I must have had the same idea as you, too, as I found myself Christmas shopping for a while this morning. I had to leave the house for another reason, and several hundred dollars later I finally made it back home. I was definitely in the giving mood!

      Hope you enjoy Mary Catherine and Jax when you get to them! :)

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  28. Hi Ladies!! Your new book sounds like it's right up my alley. Who wouldn't love to read about Cowboys AND Christmas??? Claire sounds like the one I would relate to the most, although I'm sure there's a little in each of the heroines that I could identify with. And picking a favorite hero...not a fair question!! LOL! While all three sounds positively drool-worthy, the description of Tyler just melts my heart! *sigh!!* I'm really looking forward to reading all their stories!

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    1. Hi Anita. YES! They're all drool worthy! LOL. Thanks for stopping by!

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  29. I don't have attitude and chip on my shoulder, but I'm similar to Georgia--A hard edge with the perfect dose of vulnerability. Not that George would ever admit to a vulnerable moment.

    Denise

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    1. I like the mystery behind a woman with a hard edge. She knows about life that things others don't. :)
      Good luck in the drawing!

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  30. I"d have to say LIz, but not as big of a chip on my shoulder :) Reed sounds yummy :) Congrats to all of the ladies on the new anthology and t hanks for sharing!

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    1. LOL.. whoops, got that wrong, I'd have to say Georgia, not real life Liz :)

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    2. LOL. You could be like Liz, too. She's pretty awesome!

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  31. I think I relate most to Reed and Claire from the above clips. You are a new author I am just starting to read and I cannot wait to read this anthology!

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    1. Hi, Lori! I hope you enjoy all three stories!! Thanks for stopping by, and good luck on the drawing!

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    2. Thanks, Lori. And now I'm wondering what Claire and Reed would have been like together. Nah. Tyler wouldn't let that happen. And neither would Georgia!

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  32. Claire and Tyler. I can't wait to read this book. All of the stories sound great!

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    1. They are a great couple, Kmannrn. I bet you'll love watching them fall back in love :)

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  33. I can most relate to Claire Campbell. My life is nothing like hers, but she would be the one that I would be friends with. For the hero I would pick Jax Tipton. I hope to read this book soon!

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    1. Claire is definitely a great friend to have. She's the calm one, the one who makes sure everyone is happy and easily puts her friends first. Jax, well, he's a bit dangerous...to the heart :) Hope you get to read it, too. It's a great one...if I do say so myself.

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  34. I have to say Mary Catherine. I almost married someone who wasn't for me and was saved by a man with whom I have wonderful chemistry! Of course, I wasn't quite so close to the wedding and the ex wasn't exactly a perfect guy...

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    1. Glenda, that sounds like a fun real-life story! Happy to hear the right one came along in time.

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    2. I absolutely hate to think what my life would be like if I hadn't met my husband! No joke, it could have been pretty grim especially compared to who and what I've got now. :-D

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  35. Mary Catherine wants so much to do the right thing...but she almost doesn't listen to her heart until it's too late. Glad you listened to yours, too. Thanks for popping by!

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  36. This has been a fabulous day. Thanks to everyone who stopped by, showed such enthusiasm for our stories, and embraced our characters. Here's to a wonderful holiday season for all.

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  37. I would relate most to Clare. I would probably go for Reed as my hero.

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    1. Reed is such a good guy. I don't blame you at all.

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  38. Many thanks to everyone who stopped by. Terri, Liz and Kim, wishing you all the best with your cowboys. Thanks for visiting with us today!

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  39. Winning combination !!! I identify mostly with Georgia.... even at my age...

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  40. I relate the most to Claire. And I LOVE Tyler!

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  41. I have just finished reading this AWESOME book. It is the BEST anthology I have ever read. I would definitely identify with Claire, her and I could be sisters. And sticking with her I would for sure go with Tyler, so cute, loving and hot. GREAT job on this book ladies, you rocked it out of the park!!!!

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  42. I probably identify with Mary Catherine Holly the most! I know what it's like to constantly try to do everything you can just to please a parent. My clothes, hair, looks, activities, even boyfriends - instead of just being me. It took me a long time to realize I'd rather be me than waste my life trying to please someone else!

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  43. none of the heroines; maybe Reed

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