THE HEART OF A
TEXAS COWBOY
Men of Legend, Book 2
By LINDA BRODAY
Genre: Western / Historical / Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: May 2, 2017
Number of Pages: 384
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Three Brothers. One Oath.
No Compromises.
The MEN of LEGEND
One bullet is all it takes to shatter Houston Legend’s world. He swore he’d never love again, but with the future of the Lone Star Ranch on the line, he finds himself at the altar promising to love and cherish a woman he’s never met—a woman whose vulnerable beauty touches his heart.
All Lara Boone wants is a name for her baby. The best she can hope for is kindness and acceptance. She never expected to fall in love with her own husband—or any man—after the heartache she’s endured.
In an effort to save the Lone Star Ranch, Houston decides to drive two thousand longhorns up the Great Western Trail to Dodge City. The day before he leaves, the cook quits. When he can’t find another on such short notice, Lara offers to go along and fill in. Over his best judgement, he lets her. Three days out, he notices riders trailing them. Things go from bad to worse and it’s an all-out fight to try to save themselves and the herd.
And when Lara’s troubled past catches up with them, Houston will move heaven and earth to protect his bride…and discover depths to a marriage of convenience neither realized could be theirs to claim.
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Praise for The Heart of a Texas Cowboy:
“Broday brilliantly captures Lara and Houston’s hesitations and growing love. The exciting plot, rich setting, and superb writing will delight fans of historical romances.” ~~Publisher’s Weekly *Starred Review
“This compassionate, poignant marriage-of-convenience love story demonstrates Broday’s ability to bring a wide range of emotions to her characters in a fast-paced plotline without losing a bit of the powerful love story. Add this to your Western romance collection!” ~~Romantic Times
“Ms. Broday’s conclusion of this phenomenal book is heart gripping, blood pounding drama at its finest. This one will keep readers revisiting again and again in years to come.” ~~ Tonya Lucas- Goodreads Review
“One of the best historical Western authors.” ~~ Fresh Fiction
“Broday will appeal to fans of such authors as Georgina Gentry, Leigh Greenwood, and Jodi Thomas.” ~~Booklist
Author Interview : Linda Broday
How has being a Texan influenced your writing?
Someone told me early on to write what I know. I know Texas. I know the plants, trees, landscape and more importantly—how we think. Texans are unique. Most scoff and say we’re nothing but braggers who talk big and carry a pistol on our hip. I beg to differ. We’re proud of our history. We know where we came from and we don’t mind sharing it. We’re all descendants of Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett—all those early men who fought for the right to live free and independent. Texans carry the torch for the rest of the world in a lot of ways which isn’t a bad thing. I love our people’s determination to survive and make things better for everyone. Those are the characters in my books. They have this pride and determination embedded deep in their souls. My characters are these early settlers who paved the way for us. They don’t give up. They work until they achieve their goals.
I love Texas and I’m so proud to live here. In what other state do people proudly display their state flag and hang symbols of it on their walls? I have reminders of Texas all over my house. I want my stories to have people with the same type of pride, to know who they are, where they belong, and what matters most.
What kind of writing do you do?
I write historical western romance. When I first started writing, I didn’t know where I fit. I tried various genres but they just didn’t feel right. Then I read several western romances and suddenly everything clicked. I immediately felt at home. And I’ve lived around cowboys most of my life, so it simply made sense to write about them.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?
I’m a full-time writer, and I approach it as a job. Most mornings, you’ll find me at my desk by 9:00 am. I stop for lunch, then write until around 6:00 pm. And that’s six days a week. I find that keeping that constant connection with my characters and story makes for a top-quality book, and that’s what I always strive for. Also, staying at it allows me to publish two 100k novels a year. I couldn’t do that if I was a part-time writer.
What is your favorite quote?
“Never compare yourself to other writers. Someone will always be better than you, and you’ll always be better than someone else.” Jodi Thomas
I’ve found this to always be true. It’s a waste of time and energy comparing yourself to others. Just be you and worry about how to make your books better. Saves a lot of angst.
How important are names to you in your books? How do you choose names?
Names are so important to me, and I can never begin a story until I have the main character’s name right. In this second book of my Men of Legend series – The Heart of a Texas Cowboy – the protagonist is Houston Legend. I named him and his brother Sam after Sam Houston. And I named the brother who died Travis. Their father fought in the Texas War for Independence, and he idolized those larger-than-life leaders, so it simply made sense.
I always give my characters names that were used during the time period I’m writing in, but I also keep in mind their ancestry as well as nationality. My #1 book to go to when I can’t think of a good one is The Character Naming Sourcebook by Sherrilynn Kenyon. It’s an excellent Writer’s Digest publication.
A name has to fit the character’s personality in addition to everything else. Often it pops into my head with no thought, and other times I may go through a dozen or more before I decide.
If you could time travel, what time period would you first visit?
I think that would have to be Texas in the 1830s. That was such an interesting time. The fight for independence was going on and the country was changing. I’d love to have met Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Travis and other notable figures. And it was when the Texas Rangers was beginning to get organized. I’d like to have seen that.
After I visited there, I would go to 1700s Ireland, which is where my ancestors lived.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Cloning myself, most definitely. In this business, writers have to wear such an assortment of hats and are often stretched beyond what is humanly possible. If I could clone myself, I’d put one of me to work doing nothing but social media. Another would answer these darn emails that I never seem to have time for. And another would run errands—grocery shop, go to the post office, etc. Then I’d do nothing but write, which is the part I love. That would be pure heaven.
What’s something interesting, fun, or funny that most people don’t know about you?
I believe in ghosts. Maybe that’s because I’ve seen quite a few. I don’t necessarily seek them out but neither do I shy away from where a ghostly presence is suspected to be. None have frightened me—so far. In fact, I got the feeling they were as curious about me as I was about them. Some ghosts have actually comforted me, and that was pretty darn cool.
Also, I know this sounds silly but…I can’t stand for a plastic shower curtain to touch my bare legs. I simply hate it. I tell myself that’s illogical but I just can’t stand the feeling. For one thing, it’s usually ice cold (and feels like bony fingers) and it just gives me the heebie-jeebies. So when I travel and stay in hotels, I often put the curtain on the outside of the tub then mop up the water once I’m done. What can I say? I’m weird.
What would you want your tombstone to say?
She wrote stories that speak to the soul and made the world a better place.
Linda Broday, Historical Western Romance Author
I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 8 full length historical western romance novels, with another set to release 2017, and 10 short stories. Watching TV westerns during my youth fed my love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. I reside in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian and Comancheros once roamed.
At times, I can feel their ghosts lurking around every corner. Texas’ rich history is one reason I set all my stories here. I love research and looking for little known tidbits to add realism to my stories. When I’m not writing, I collect old coins and I confess to being a rock hound. I’ve been accused (and quite unfairly I might add) of making a nuisance of myself at museums, libraries, and historical places.
I’m also a movie buff and love sitting in a dark theater, watching the magic on the screen. As long as I’m confessing…chocolate is my best friend. It just soothes my soul.
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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
5/15 Guest Post 1 Hall Ways Blog
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5/17 Character Interview Books in the Garden
5/18 Guest Post 2 Books and Broomsticks
5/19 Review Margie’s Must Reads
5/20 Excerpt Reading By Moonlight
5/22 Review CGB Blog Tours
5/23 Bonus Short StoreyBook Reviews
5/24 Review Missus Gonzo
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The Page Unbound 
Hi Haley……Thank you for hosting me. I’m so excited about my new release. Houston and Lara have such a great story to tell. Their marriage of convenience is a slow journey to love but once they open their hearts and trust, it’s a powerful thing. Readers are loving how these characters find their happily ever after despite everything being against them. They fight for every scrap of ground.
Book #3 of this Men of Legend series – To Marry a Texas Outlaw – will follow this November and bring everything to a conclusion.
Thanks again for having me. I love being here on this blog stop.
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I loved hearing about where you would like to go back to and why. You are doing what you know best writing about your state and in the era; that you love. I loved Houston’s book and can’t wait to see what book three takes us and who will be there. Thank you for the awesome books.
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I loved this… ghosts?? Well I’m with you on that one, I do believe in them and once lived in a haunted house. At the time I thought I was losing my mind until I mentioned all the shenanigans that were happening to my boss who at the time of my employment supplied our housing. Come to find out Charlie was a little boy who died years before on the property and actually has visited many of the homes. To quote my boss “Oh, I see Charlie has come to live with you, now.” But I wasn’t scared I just had a long talk with him about turning on my stove and opening windows, to please stop. I love all the great things you said about our awesome great state. Texas is special and we do decorate with our state symbols. Don’t know too many others that do that for their state. I live in Kansas but to walk in my home you would know I’m Texan through in through. I’m super excited and loved Sam & Houston’s books. They both were phenomenal and each book in this series just makes me crave for more. Have a great week and a great up and coming holiday.
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I love your interview just as I love your books! Your books are at the top of my favs list that I often read a second or more times. Your answers in your interview are so much in line with mine. When I had Texas History in 7th grade, my parents took us to the Alamo and several other places important to gaining our Independence. From that experience, I developed a true love for Texas and all history. In 8th grade US history, my parents took us on a 2 week vacation driving through the states between Texas and New York and back down to Washington DC and Virginia’s Williamsburg and Jamestown, etc. I won the best History student as a Senior in high school and went on the major in history and English and teach these subjects in high school for a total of ten years. I also loved to write and discovered scriptwriting which I was blessed to do get to do when I lived in LA in the mid-80’s to 90’s before coming back to Texas to marry and raise 3 children who all adore history. Since they are all almost grown, I have gone back to writing scripts. This time it is an originial TV Western pilot/series, something I was absolutely terrified to ever do. Though I set most of it in 1867 (with a flashback storyline running from 1853 through the Civil War, I managed to make my heroes of the Alamo a part of the story.)
Thank you for your dedication to excellence in your writing. You inspire me because one of my problems is writing everyday. It is somewhat difficult because I still have an 11th grader, but a large part is that I need to do as you do and treat it like a full-time job. I cannot wait for the next book in your Legends’ series. I definitely recommend your novels to all my friends.
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Very nice interview. Nice to know you aren’t intimidated by ghosts. Luckily you haven’t bumped into any “bad” ones. I am a believer as are our children. Unfortunately, one daughter did encounter a not so friendly one.
Your books do contain the essence of Texas for those of us not from “those parts.” We get the feel of the place and the character of the people through your stories.
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