The Prince and The Cowgirl

A first meet, royalty and the nanny romance between a self-exiled prince with a royal chip on his shoulders and the local rancher’s daughter who rails against any man who tries to tell her what to do. When she tries to tell the prince how to raise his son, tempers flare and sparks fly.

          Ari Orula, a prince with a royal chip on his shoulders, has sworn off women. Carla Peters, the rancher’s daughter, has big dreams and it doesn’t include listening to her dad, big brothers, or the new prince in town.

          When the prince finds himself in dire straits and must find a nanny pronto, the last person he wants is his son’s know-it-all ski teacher who insinuates he has a lot to learn about fatherhood.

          The money the prince offers Carla for two weeks as a nanny will put a big dent in the cost of renovations for her new school, her life’s dream. Does she dare risk working for the rancher her brothers think is trying to destroy their livelihood?

          Despite best laid plans, two people at odds are brought together to rescue a child. At risk of alienating her family, Carla accepts the position. At risk of melting

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature The Prince's Son, a contemporary western romance by Delsora Lowe. Ms. Lowe company is Prince Ari Orula whom we'll speak with first.

Welcome, Your Highness. Tell us a bit about yourself. Though my formal and official name is Artilio Jaime Arnaldo Otavio Eugenio Orula, I go by Prince Ari Orula. I am the eighth son of the Crown Prince of Portega, an island country off the shores of Portugal and Spain.

Tell us a bit about The Prince’s Son, book one in the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series. I moved to Mineral Springs, Colorado, in part to get over my wife’s tragic death and to start a horse breeding facility. I found it necessary to get away from the constraints of the palace and my father, and raise my son away from the restrictive atmosphere. I wish to prove to the people of my country that I am able to make a difference for the commerce of my country, raising and training Lusitanos horses. When my son’s nanny must nurse her mother back to health, I am forced to rely on the horrid American cowgirl who challenges my ability to be a good father. Add to the misery, her brothers and father have great distain for me. As you can imagine oil and water. But I won’t bore you with the details of our relationship, nor the strange turn of events that draw us together.

What did you think the first time you saw Carla Peters? Most certainly a know-it-all, interfering cowgirl who doesn’t know her place. Although, she does have luscious curves and fire in her eyes, but still, she has no right to question me about my son. I do learn she is passionate and caring. Still, we are not meant to be together…ever. My older brother and confidant strongly disagrees with my assessment. Additionally, I have neither patience for defiance nor need for passion. And I most certainly have no need for a woman who dares to betray my trust.

Interesting. And your second thought? That I must remove my son from this ski class that this, this, this…woman teaches. She has no understanding of my son.

Was it love at first sight? Absolutely not. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Granted, she is attractive. But she defies rules and defers to no one. That I cannot abide.

What do you like most about Carla? At first, Ms.Peters was the most aggravating woman I had ever come across, always having to have the last word, and digging into things that should have been of no concern to her. I suppose that now I must admit, I do honor Carla’s astuteness about my son. Her gentleness with and caring for my son. But still, she insists on pushing and pushing until she finds answers I do not wish to share.

How would you describe her? A fiery temper and passion for whatever she sets her mind to accomplish. Beautiful, with knowing hazel eyes that flash with sparks of emerald when she is mad or…well…never mind. She has curves in all the right places, not one of those painfully thin women who never eats. She does enjoy her steak and whisky. And she appears to believe she is right…always. I must now admit, she has a knack for getting most things right.

How would she describe you? Arrogant. Stubborn. Also, one who knows he is always right. But I know for a fact she thinks me handsome and interesting, and I might add, a good father, now that I have allowed her to get close. But not close enough for her to know my secrets. I cannot allow anyone that close.

What made you choose a career in horse breeding? I have always loved and valued horses. My country, Portega, breeds and raises Lusitanos, the native horse of both Portugal and Spain. My goal is to make a name for myself by developing breeding practices that will help my country stand out as a premier provider of these beautiful creatures.

What is your biggest fear? Being betrayed, lied to. I will not tolerate dishonesty. Being able to trust someone is paramount. If they betray my trust, they are nothing to me.

How do you relax? I rarely relax. There is too much work to be done. I once loved photography. But I have been guided to believe aiming for a profession in photography is a trivial pursuit, so I no longer take photos. When I do relax, it is to play chess with my six-year old son. He is becoming a worthy adversary and determined to someday beat his father. And he will succeed…soon. I have no doubt.

Who is your favorite fictional character? I have little time for fiction or fantasy. However, I do enjoy watching my son’s eyes grow wide when I read him Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight Moon. He has more imagination then I. I hope by living in Colorado, and not under the thumb of the Crown Prince, he will have more reason to seek out adventure than I did.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? From my father, several pieces of advice that affect every action I take. Although at times, I know this advice has led me to not trust or be as open as I would wish. Don’t let your enemy see anything they can use against you. Vulnerability is a weakness. You are royalty. You must take action. And you must be resolute in your decision and accept the consequences. All this advice has been the creed by which I live, since I was a boy.

Thank you, Highness, for this interesting conversation and for the excerpt from Delsora's book:

Squinting, Carla nudged her sunglasses back in place. The tall man she’d watched emerge from the vehicle and help Jaime alight from the back seat was yummy. Who was he? Certainly not the nanny. His black Stetson had bobbed above the roofline of the vehicle. Now, with his back to her, his black shearling jacket did nothing to hide the breadth of his shoulders. The gray lamb’s wool collar lay wide, accentuating both the jacket stretched tight across his back and ebony hair brushing his collar. Faded jeans hugged strong thighs.

Whoa. Now that's some view. That cowboy had the nicest hindquarters she’d laid eyes on in a long while. The heat flamed up her cheeks, despite the whistling wind. She hauled in a deep breath.

Get your head on straight, girl.

The cowboy turned. The profile of a regal nose added to the mystique of who he could be. He clutched Jaime’s hand and walked toward her, his boots crunching on the gravel pathway. Carla homed in on an angular jaw covered in a few days’ growth.

She couldn’t help the grin as she grabbed her fill of cowboy scenery. But a tiny pang of sadness wove into her enjoyment as she watched the man gently hold Jaime's hand and memories of the child she'd lost rose from the past.

She shook off the twinge of melancholy and strode the thirty yards to meet the man and boy halfway. The black Stetson, shading half his face, gave him a dangerous look. Between that and the black vehicle with tinted windows… She shivered. Way too rich for her blood. Even if the Peters Valley Ranch had extra dough floating around, she couldn’t see her dad and brothers turning in their faithful beater trucks, for useless luxury.

The man tipped his hat back just enough to lift the shadows. She didn't recognize him, but he had a determined set to his mouth. Why the grim expression?

Carla glanced down at Jaime with his beautiful ebony hair and bright red coat. “Hey, kid.”

Jaime’s mouth tweaked up in a half-grin.

“You will refer to the boy by his given name.”

She straightened her back, ready to take on the imported cowboy. Judging by his accent, he must be from Jaime’s native country. She removed her sunglasses. Slowly, she scanned the tall body. From his hand-tooled leather cowboy boots planted wide, up the faded jean-covered muscled thighs, pausing briefly at the strategically placed worn spot along the zipper, and on to the leather jacket, detailed in intricate stitching, that screamed pricey. No run-of-the-mill cowboy. Must be one of the prince’s higher-ups.

A bit about our feature author:

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

          Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine. Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I’ll admit, I am a sucker for anything romantic, whether books or movies. Each book I read influences me in some way. There are many authors who have influenced me and still do. The two authors I read religiously before I started writing were Hannah Howell and Judith Arnold. When I finally met them as a new and aspiring author, I was starry-eyed. I now know authors all over the country, including Hannah and Judith, who advise me. I am externally grateful to have made such great friends and colleagues. Not only does reading their books help me learn the many styles and art of writing, but romance authors are a generous and giving community.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? My daughter lives in Colorado. When I visited, she drove me up to Aspen, through windy mountain roads along the Roaring Fork River. She pointed out horse farms, a prince’s mansion, organic cattle farms, and the various ski mountains and trails. She taught youngsters of wealthy visitors how to ski when she first moved to the mountains. Seeing for myself the terrain, and experiencing the feel of that part of the country have all added ambiance to this book and the other three books already written in this series (but yet to be published). And, the mannerisms of all three of my grandsons show up in Jaime’s character, as well as the characters of children in my other books.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? Although I did receive a contract to publish this book, I opted to decline the offer and self-publish, under the name Beach Plum Publishing. I have a great team with whom I work closely, including two editors, a formatter, and a cover artist. I also have critique partners who I meet with weekly, and who are more than generous in giving me advice in between.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? This is an ever changing pile, as I read many books a week. Right now, I just finished reading Annette Blair’s, rerelease of “The Kitchen Witch”; Jill Shalvis’ “Playing for Keeps,” Donna Alward’s two latest Harlequin books, “Best Man for the Wedding Planner,” and “Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate.” Others waiting in the wings are; the latest in the McGavin Brothers series, “A Cowboy’s Choice,” by Vicki Lewis Thompson, “Two if by Sea,” by Michelle Libby, “Lavender Blue,” by Donna Kaufman, “Fancy Pants,” by Susan Elizabeth Phillips,” and three books by Jaime Beck, “Secretly Hers,” Unexpectedly Hers,” and “Joyfully Hers.” I have Marianne Rice’s latest book, and Luanna Stewart’s latest just popped up in my Kindle. Right now I am reading “Second Act,” a Second Chances book by Nancy Herkness. As you can see, I could go on and on and on. It is not a good thing for my pocketbook that I have a long list of favorite authors ��, but all these authors, and many more, are inspiration to me.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? “The Prince’s Son” was just released on April 10. I hope to have the first in the Galway Cove novella series out later in the fall, and maybe a sweet Christmas story about a Vermont Inn. And I am working on editing the second book in Cowboys of Mineral Springs, The Rancher Needs A Wife, to be released in the spring of 2020.

To purchase The Prince’s Son go to:

Amazon E-book link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PZD3FNC/ref=sr_1_2?crid=32PO3EI3KDLQI&keywords=delsora+lowe&qid=1553611414&s=digital-text&sprefix=dels%2Cdigital-text%2C196&sr=1-2-catcorr

Amazon Print Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1091276862?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Books2read link, includes Barnes and Noble and iBooks: books2read.com/u/b6xzr6

To learn more about Delsora and her stories, go to:

Author FB Page: fb.me/delsoraloweauthor

Author Website: www.delsoralowe.com

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe

BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2nRx1Bs

Books2Read Author Page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe