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Catherine Castle

~ Romance for the Ages

Catherine Castle

Tag Archives: Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Wednesday Writers—Coastal Christmas Charade by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

06 Wednesday Oct 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in Blog, Book excerpts, Christian fiction, Christmas Reads, clean romance, Giveaways, Guest Authors, Holiday Reads, Romance, romance author, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Beach Reads, book excerpt, Christian romance, Christmas Anthology, Christmas romance, Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today’s guest author is Shannon Taylor Vannatter. Shannon will be talking about her Inspirational Contemporary Romance novella Coastal Christmas Charade, which is part of the Christmas anthology Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams. She’ll be sharing a bit of background on the book, an excerpt, and a chance to win a copy of Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams to a lucky commenter who follows her blog tour. Information on the tour and the giveaway are at the bottom of the post. So, keep reading to learn more about this beach read Christmas extravaganza. Welcome, Shannon!

Thanks, Catherine.

This year, I wrote my first novella, which is also my first beach read. The novella collection, Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams, includes 5 different authors with stories set on 5 different beaches at Christmas. I chose Surfside Beach, Texas as my setting, since it has the best shelling in the Lonestar state. My characters knew each other as kids. But the heroine was a rich girl whose grandparents owned the fancy inn where all the snobby kids spent their summers. The hero was a local, the handyman’s son, who never felt like he measured up. In this excerpt, she’s back to spruce up her grandparent’s inn and sell it. She hires the hero to hang Christmas lights and a massive chandelier crashes down, like Phantom of the Opera. Of course, right after that, the bride/heroine’s high school nemesis arrives.

Do you like pretend romances? Leave me a comment and tell me, why or why not?

Coastal Christmas Charade by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Lark Pendleton is banking on a high-society wedding to make her grandparent’s inn at Surfside Beach, Texas the venue to attract buyers. Tasked with sprucing up the inn, she hires Jace Wilder, whose heart she once broke. When the bride and groom turn out to be Lark’s high school nemesis and ex-boyfriend, she and Jace embark on a pretend romance to save the wedding. But when real feelings emerge, can they overcome past hurts?

(Included in Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams – Five novellas, five authors, five beaches)

Excerpt:

Ever so, gently, he dabbed his thumb over her cheek.

The front door opened, and a brunette stepped inside behind Lark. Hillarie Chambers. Her mouth dropped open, then closed, and opened again.

Lark spun around. “Hillarie, what are you doing here?” She went to work trying to brush herself off. “I didn’t expect you until Friday.”

“What happened?” Hillarie’s high-pitched whine echoed through the massive space. “What about my wedding?”

“Don’t worry. We had a little chandelier mishap, but it’s a good thing we discovered the problem now. This could have happened in the middle of the wedding. Death by chandelier.”

Lark laughed.

But Hillarie didn’t. “Look at this mess. And there aren’t even any Christmas lights up outside.” She wailed in full meltdown mode. “You always did try to sabotage me, and now you’re after my wedding.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Hillarie. I hired Jace to have the lights done by Friday. He’s fixing this too. By Friday, right, Jace?” 

“Jace?” Hillarie focused on him, then squinted. “Tool Face Jace?”

“At your service.” Hillarie recognized him. But Lark hadn’t.

“Why are you here two days early?” Lark leaned on the staircase.

Hillarie tore her gaze away from the destruction. “Your grandmother said we could come early. I said no. But I’ve been stressed, so my fiancé talked me into it.”

“Technically, we’re closed.” Lark smiled. “To prepare for the wedding.”

The brunette splayed her hands. “I left a message on the machine late last night.”

“Is he with you?”

“Oh.” Hillarie’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” She grimaced. “Why are you here?”

Lark’s eyes narrowed. “Gran and Gramps had their name on a waiting list for a condo in Dallas. One became available. If they hadn’t jumped on it, they’d have had to wait at least six

months, so I offered to handle the wedding.”

“Great.” Hillarie’s fake smile looked more like a cringe. “Do you know who I’m marrying?”

The door opened again and a blond man with a suitcase in each hand entered. Familiar. One of the summer rich kids.

Lark’s ex-boyfriend. Thanks to Hillarie.

“Warren?” Lark frowned. “What are you doing here?” Her voice went up an octave. “Oh, you must be in the wedding party.”

“Right.” He shot her a million-watt smile, but it faded as he scanned the room. “What happened?”

“Just a little sprucing up before Hillarie’s big day.” Lark’s smile looked as fake as her nemesis’s. “Jace promised we’d be in ship shape by Friday.”

“Look, darling.” Hillarie sidled up against Warren. “It’s Tool Face Jace.”

“Nobody calls him that anymore.” Lark frowned. “They never should have.”

Lark defending him?

Her gaze narrowed, pinged back and forth between Hillarie and Warren. “Darling?”

“Um.” Hillarie’s baby blues bounced to the floor. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. Warren is my fiancé.”

Want to read more? You can find Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams – Amazon

About the Author:

Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.

She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. Shannon is Scrivenings Press Acquisitions/Content Editor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Social Media:

Shannon’s Website           Shannon’s Facebook           Shannon’s Bookbub

Sign up for Shannon’s Newsletter to get a free e-book, recipes, behind-the-scenes info, & enter exclusive giveaways!

Giveaway details:

Follow my blog tour to enter the drawing for a copy of Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams:

Sept 28th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/shannon-taylor-vannatter-story-behind-the-story-part-1-of-1/

Oct 1st – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

Oct 2nd – https://www.inspyromance.com/

Oct 5th – https://jenniferheeren.com/blog/

Oct 5th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

Oct 6th – https://pattishene.com/theover50writer

Oct 6th – https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/

Oct 8th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

Oct 12th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

I’ll pick a winner from blog tour comments and announce the winner on my blog on Oct 19th.

Tasty Tuesdays—Pink Stuff and a Book Giveaway from Shannon Taylor Vannatter

30 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by Catherine Castle in food, Recipes, Sweet romance, Tasty Tuesdays

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

asty Tuesdays, book giveaway, Christian romance, clean romance, cowboy romance, food blog, fruit salad, Jello, recipe, Shannon Taylor Vannatter, summer recipe, The Cowboy’s Missing Memory

Today Author Shannon Taylor Vannatter takes over the kitchen. In addition to her tasty summer recipes, she’s offering several  book giveaways so be sure to answer her question about your favorite summer recipe to be entered in the drawing.

Pink Stuff

 

1 24 oz Low Fat Cottage Cheese

1 16 oz Cool Whip

1 large box Cherry Jello (can use sugar free)

1 10 oz can Pineapple

1 10 oz can Mandarin Oranges

1 10 oz can Pears

Seedless green Grapes sliced in half

 

Mix cottage cheese and cool whip with mixer until curds are smoother. Stir in Jello with spoon. Drain all fruits and stir in.

Note: You can substitute different fruits and even different Jello flavors. I’m not a fan of cottage cheese, so I use cherry Jello because it has a strong flavor.

 

Question for Readers: What’s your favorite summertime recipe? All answers or comments will go in the drawing.

Giveaway

I’m giving away five copies of The Cowboy’s Missing Memory and five copies of my Western Collection two in one with Jill Lynn – Counting on the Cowboy and Her Texas Cowboy will be split among commentors. Winner’s will be revealed on Shannon’s Blog on July 15th. 

Follow my blog tour to enter:

June 2: Jennifer Heeren’s Blog: https://jenniferheeren.com/blog/

June 11: Joy Avery Melville’s Blog: https://www.journeystojoy.net/

June 13: Patti Shene’s Blog: https://pattishene.com/pattisporch

June 25: Laurie Wood’s Blog: https://www.lauriewoodauthor.com/author-my-blog

June 25: Reading is My Superpower Blog: https://readingismysuperpower.org

June 30: Catherine Castle’s Blog: https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/

July 3: Inkslinger Blog: https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

July 6: Amy Anguish’s Blog: https://abitofanguish.weebly.com/blog

July 7: Inkslinger Blog: https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

July 10: Linda Rondeau’s Blog: https://lindarondeau.com/snarksensibility

While you’re waiting for you Pink Stuff to cool check out Shannon’s book The Cowboy’s Missing Memory. And don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaways.

The Cowboy’s Missing Memory

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Can he reclaim his past…and build a future?

He needs to remember.

She’s his best hope…

After a rodeo accident took away Clint Rawlins’s mobility and two years’ worth of memories, occupational therapist Lexie Parker is his only shot at recovering and regaining independence. Lexie is drawn to Clint…but she’s wary of the amnesiac’s all-too-vulnerable feelings. And with the possibility of him returning to his dangerous bull-riding side job, she refuses to risk her heart. But resisting her charming patient may be harder than she expected…

(Available in Walmart mid-June through mid-July)

The Cowboy’s Missing Memory – Amazon

The Cowboy’s Missing Memory – Christian Book

About the Author:

Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.

She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Connect with her: Shannon’s Website, Shannon’s Blog, Shannon’s Facebook, Shannon’s Goodreads, Shannon’s Pinterest, Shannon’s Twitter, Newsletter Archives, Shannon’s Amazon Author Page and Shannon’s Bookbub. Sign up for her Newsletter to get a free e-book, recipes, behind the scenes info, & enter exclusive giveaways: Shannon’s Newsletter

 

 

Tasty Tuesdays–Pineapple Million Dollar Cake from Shannon Taylor Vannatter

07 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by Catherine Castle in food, Tasty Tuesdays

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

Cake, Dessert, food blog, giveaway, Pineapple Million Dollar Cake, Recipes, Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesdays

For ten years, I was a hairdresser. One of my long ago patrons gave me this recipe I used in my latest release, Hill Country Redemption. Larae Collins returns to her hometown to sell her childhood ranch since her dad recently died. Though the single mom has kept her daughter, Jayda, a secret for eight years, she soon learns her daughter’s father, Rance Shepherd lives right next door now.

Since Rance dumped her back in high school, Larae assumes he’s still irresponsible and wants to make a clean exit without him learning the truth. But Rance sees Jayda. At first he assumes she isn’t his since she’s small for her age. Until Jayda innocently tells him how old she is.

Both Christians now, Rance and Larae determine to work things out and do what’s best for their daughter. Larae invites him over for dinner to reveal who he is. Rance and Jayda end up putting the yummy (Eagle Brand and pineapples) in the million-dollar cake.

 

Pineapple Million Dollar Cake

 Ingredients

Yellow Cake Mix

Oil & Eggs (according to package directions)

1 can Eagle Brand Evaporated Milk

1 20 oz can Crushed Pineapple

1 8 oz Cool Whip

Shredded Coconut

Chopped Pecans (optional)

 

Directions

Prepare and bake a yellow cake mix according to package directions in a 9 x 13 pan. Let cool ten minutes. Poke holes all over cake with a straw about an inch apart. Pour the Eagle Brand over cake and into holes. Spread evenly with a spoon until the cake soaks up the milk. Pour the crushed pineapple over the cake. Spread evenly with spoon. Let cool completely. Top with cool whip. Sprinkle with coconut and pecans.

Question for Readers: What’s your favorite recipe you got from someone else and who gave it to you?

While you’re waiting for the cake to bake, check out Hill Country Redemption By Shannon Taylor Vannatter. Leave her a comment on the blog to be entered in her giveaway.

Giveaway Details: Ten copies of Hill Country Redemption will be split among commentors on Shannon’s blog tour. Winners will be revealed on Shannon’s Blog on April 13th. 

 

Hill Country Redemption

By Shannon Taylor Vannatter

This cowboy has one more chance to make it right…

He already lost her once…

Now he’s fighting for her—and their daughter.

When Rance Shepherd takes a job stocking cattle for a local rodeo, he’s shocked that his new client is his ex-sweetheart, Larae Collins. Now he’s determined to prove to the single mother that he isn’t the restless cowboy she remembers. But when he discovers her little girl is his, they both must forgive past mistakes for a second shot at a future together.

Get your copy:

Hill Country Redemption – Amazon

Hill Country Redemption – BarnesandNoble

(Available at Walmart from mid-March until mid-June)

 

About the Author:

Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.

She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas, where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad, and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Links: Shannon’s Website, Shannon’s Facebook. Sign up for her Newsletter to get a free e-book and behind the scenes info: Shannon’s Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Wedding Tales–Counting on the Cowboy by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

10 Tuesday Apr 2018

Posted by Catherine Castle in Sweet romance, Tuesday Wedding Tales

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Catherine Castle's Tuesday Wedding Tales blog series, Counting on the Cowboy, cowboy romance, excerpt from Counting on the Cowboy, inspy romance, Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Welcome to Tuesday Wedding Tales blog series,

where wedding-themed stories are the fare.

 Today’s guest is award-winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter who writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance. Who doesn’t love a guy in a cowboy hat and boots? I know I do. Shannon will be talking about her newest Inspirational Contemporary Romance book, Counting on the Cowboy.

She’s also offering a chance to win one of ten copies which will be split among names drawn during her blog tour from March 13 – April 10. Leave a comment on her post to be entered in the giveaway. Today she’s not only on Tuesday Wedding Tales, but at http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/ and http://www.gingersolomon.com/ More details about the giveaway are at the end of the post, so be sure to read through for that as well as a great excerpt. So, without further ado, here’s Shannon!

 Thanks, Catherine.

Devree Malone is a sought after Dallas wedding planner in my latest book, Counting on the Cowboy. At twelve years old, she attended her cousin’s nuptials and decided she wanted to spend her life creating stunning weddings. Her goal has been to put together perfect days for brides without breaking the bank.

Until six months before the book begins, when she met with a potential client bride only to discover her boyfriend was the potential groom. Soured on weddings, she decides to take her business in a new direction with event planning.

She ends up at a dude ranch in Bandera Texas owned by her sister and brother-in-law. With her sister in the last month of a high risk pregnancy, Devree agrees to stay and keep an eye on her. While at the ranch, she has to plan one last wedding booked there. The wedding is for a high-profile client and Devree hopes if she aces the ceremony, the bride’s father will hire her to plan his company retreat. But she doesn’t plan on having to count on the cowboy.

Brock McBride shows up at the dude ranch to apply for a job as the handyman. His dad was the handyman there when he was a kid and Brock was childhood friends with Devree’s brother-in-law. He moved away after his dad’s death when he was eight. With experience in building resort cabins, Brock gets hired to help with cabins being built on the dude ranch. But when he discovers someone from his past working at the ranch, he turns down the job. Until Devree begs him to stay so the cabins will get finished and her sister will remain stress-free.

She’s all city—afraid of fish hooks, doesn’t like getting dirty, isn’t outdoorsy, and isn’t fond of farm animals. She can’t wait to get this one last wedding over and for her sister to have a healthy baby so she can get back to her life in Dallas. Brock hates the city, loves everything country, and never wants to live anywhere else. But he’s just as anxious to get away from the dude ranch and that painful reminder from his past I mentioned.

In the midst of wedding planning, she’s tasked with readying an old cabin for the bride and groom’s honeymoon cottage. With Brock on hand to make repairs, they end up working in close proximity. Despite a growing attraction, they’re still on separate paths. Will Devree realize Brock’s a cowboy she can count on?

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Counting on the Cowboy

By Shannon Taylor Vannatter

 Ranching is his whole life… until he meets one special city girl
Texas Cowboy

Brock McBride knows better than to fall for a city girl. She’ll leave and break his heart—just like his ex-fiancée did. But his job at Chasing Eden Dude Ranch requires working alongside Dallas wedding planner Devree Malone. And despite fierce resistance, he’s falling hard. Yet with Devree’s business back in the city, can he convince her she’s found her home…with him?

Excerpt:

Devree was cutting it close with her wedding party arriving today and the rehearsal tonight. She wound tulle around the pillars on each side of the stage, draping it just so. She’d done it so many times, she could almost do it in her sleep. Next, the ivy-and-pearl garland.

The door to the chapel opened. “Heard you could use a hand.” Brock strode up the aisle.

“I thought you were busy with Chase and Landry’s house.”

“I did too. But Landry doesn’t want you climbing the ladder in here alone.”

“Well, you’re too late, I’ve already been up there and I’m none the worse for wear. She’s a worrier, but I’m fine.” Finished with the pillars, she started to move the ladder to the lattice archway behind where the preacher would stand.

His hands landed on hers. “I’ll get that.”

Warmth moved up her arms. Reluctantly, she pulled away. “Over here, then. Underneath the archway.”

He placed the ladder for her as she grabbed more tulle from a plastic bin and started up the rungs.

“I can do the climbing if you’ll tell me what to do.”

“I’m fine. And you don’t seem like a decorating guru.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Guess I’ll stand here and make sure you don’t fall, then.”

She climbed the ladder, wound the tulle through the lattice. “Can you hand me the ivy-and-pearl garland.”

“This?” He held up the greenery.

She took it from him, wound it among the tulle, then started down the ladder to do the sides. But her foot slipped. “Oh!” She teetered, lost her balance. Strong arms caught her, lowered her safely to her feet but didn’t let go.

“What are you thinking climbing a ladder barefoot?”

“It was either that or my heels.”

“Why do you always wear those ridiculous stilts?”

“The wedding party is arriving today. I wanted to look the part.”

His gaze held hers prisoner, then lowered to her mouth as he dipped his head.

Her breath hitched as his lips neared hers.

The chapel door opened and they sprang apart.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Want to read more? You can find Shannon’s book here.

 Now Shannon has a question for the readers: Have you ever changed careers?

About the Author:

Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.

She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad, and she married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Social Media: Shannon’s Website            Shannon’s Blog           Shannon’s Facebook

 

Giveaway details:

 

Comment to enter the drawing for a copy of Counting on the Cowboy. Ten copies will be split among names drawn during the blog tour from March 13 – April 10. One winner will get to pick the theme for a custom made memory board personally crafted by the author. Deadline April 20. Winners will be revealed on the author’s blog on April 21. Go to my website http://shannontaylorvannatter.com/ and sign up for my newsletter to enter more giveaways and get a free book download.

 

Follow my blog tour for more chances to win Counting on the Cowboy:

 

  • March 13 – http://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/
  • March 14 – http://theresalynnhall.com/blog
  • March 15 – http://www.castlegatepress.com/blog/
  • March 16 – http://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/
  • March 19 – http://sarahruut.com/category/interviews/
  • March 20 – http://http://brendaandersonbooks.com/blog/
  • March 26 – https://kimberlysmusings.wordpress.com/
  • March 30 – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-to-books/id1245507117?mt=2
  • April 2 – http://www.inspyromance.com/
  • April 10 – http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/
  • April 10 – https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com
  • April 10 – http://www.gingersolomon.com/

 

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