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
