Monday, January 5, 2015

Learnin' The Ropes - Teaser Tuesday and First Paragraph / First Chapter

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If you enjoy contemporary Western romance, then you'll love Learnin' The Ropes by Shanna Hatfield. It was fun to experience the hero's transition from city guy to cowboy, especially in the Oregon setting. I also liked the fact that the hero is an out-of-work mechanic--a nice change from the wealthy super-suave hero type. By the way, the book also includes a gigantic dog (named Baby) as an important character and for comic relief. 
I recommend Learnin' The Ropes as a fun light-hearted escape (rated G).


First Paragraph - Each chapter starts with a lesson and a quote:
Lesson One
Location, Location, Location
"Git yerself out of that durn city and into God's country."
     Tyler Lewis read through the classified ad a third time, trying to decide if he was desperate enough to apply for the open position.
     Leaning against his truck door with the paper propped on the steering wheel, cold seeping into his back from the rain-splattered window and hunger gnawing at his insides, he concluded he was, in fact, that desperate.

Teaser (from 6% on my Kindle):
"...Baby's a Kuvasz. A Hungarian dog bred to guard livestock. Baby weighs purt near a hundred and twenty-five pounds. She can take down a grown man if she's of a mind to...."

Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
Book's Length: 350 Pages
Amazon Link: Learnin' The Ropes
Author's Website: ShannaHatfield.com

Synopsis from Goodreads:
     Out of work mechanic Ty Lewis is homeless and desperate to find work. Answering a classified ad for a job in Harney County, Oregon, Ty accepts when he is offered the position. Saying goodbye to his sister and his life in Portland, he heads off to the tiny community of Riley to begin a new adventure, unsure about his boss Lex Ryan, a man he has yet to speak with or meet. 
     Lexi Ryan, known to her ranch hands and neighbors as Lex Jr., leaves a successful career in Portland to keep the Rockin’ R Ranch running smoothly after the untimely death of her father. It doesn’t take long to discover her father did a lot of crazy things during the last few months of his battle with cancer, including hiding half a million dollars that Lexi can’t find. 
     Ty and Lexi are both in for a multitude of surprises as he arrives at the Rockin’ R Ranch and begins learnin’ the ropes. 



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53 comments:

  1. This sounds like a fun book. I haven't read a western romance that I remember. I really should correct that.

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    1. Since I live in the Pacific Northwest and have been to Oregon many times, I especially enjoyed the story's setting as well as the plot and characters. It was a delightful book.

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  2. You do find a great selection of Western novels, that dog sounds quite something! Here is my TT https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/teaser-tuesday-january-6/

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    1. I usually enjoy books that include dogs in them, and this one wasn't an exception. "Baby" added so much!

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  3. That does sound like fun. Like you, I'm a little weary of the sexy billionaire heroes that are so popular these days.

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    1. It's hard to find a character that hasn't already been "done," but Shanna Hatfield did it in this story.

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  4. I'd like to read this. Been a bit since I read a good western romance and dogs are a big draw too.

    My TT - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/01/06/teaser-tuesdays-94-awol/

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  5. Sounds like an interesting twist...the mechanic turned cowboy! And who couldn't love a big dog named Baby!!!!

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  6. I think I would enjoy this. It sounds like a sweet romance. Have a great week.

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  7. I think I would enjoy the location as well.

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  8. Hmm, don't think I've ever read a western romance :)

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  9. I haven't read anything like this in a long while, but I am definitely intrigued. Love the dialogue in the excerpts...and you are right that it is better to have this out-of-work male character, rather than the rich ones we usually see in romance novels.

    Enjoy! And thanks for sharing. Here's mine: “CALL ME ZELDA”

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    1. I enjoyed the dialogue too, and the advice at the start of each chapter.

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  10. I had a feeling he would go with the job. Who could turn down working in "God's country" anyway? Makes me think of Montana.

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  11. Thank you so, so much, Sandy, for featuring Learnin' The Ropes. Ty is one of my favorite characters! Many, many thanks and Happy New Year to you!

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  12. What a great dog to have as a character.

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    1. I looked up "kuvasc" online and discovered that they're huge fluffy white dogs - about ten times as big as my little white pup.

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  13. Sounds great!

    http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com/2015/01/teaser-tuesdays.html

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  14. This actually sounds like a good read.

    mine: http://storytreasury.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/teaser-tuesday-the-ghost-bride/

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  15. I like the whole city guy to cowboy theme (similar to the theme of my pick this week)...I'd keep reading.

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  16. I don't read many western novels, but this one sounds like a lot of fun! Enjoy!

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  17. I much prefer the ordinary folk too, Sandra!

    Thanks for stopping by to see my TT on Fantômas at http://wp.me/pZnGI-h0

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  18. Wow! that took be by surprise... very western! I had to read it twice to understand what was being said...I am clearly not a cowgirl ;)

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  19. This looks fun! I'm adding it to my TBR list. Thanks for checking out my TT.

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  20. Remind me to stay out of that dogs way...lol!!! Great teaser and opening paragraph! I hope you're enjoying it!!

    Thanks stopping by my TT @ Addicted Readers! :)

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  21. Wow, big dog! Book sounds interesting too. My Golden is big. He weighs in at just under a hundred pounds. Thanks for sharing and for coming by Through Raspberry Colored Glasses.

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  22. I'm not really into Westerns, but I hope you enjoy. :)

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  23. I have never read a contemporary western romance but it sounds interesting, especially Baby! Thanks for visiting my post.

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  24. I would certainly read more. Who couldn't love a cowboy named Ty, a dog named Baby and a lady ranch owner? Sounds like a recipe for a great story.

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  25. Sounds like a cute read. Hope you are enjoying it! :)

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  26. I like the sounds of this one. I'd want to know more.

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  27. Oregon is only but 3 hours away from where I live! I can only imagine how fun and engaging it would be to witness the transition from a city guy to cowboy too; great post! Have a lovely week Sandra ;)

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  28. This one does sound like fun. Haven't heard "purt near" for quite a while!

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  29. This looks really promising. I like a novel with a good love story and a little bit of a mystery, and the characters look interesting. Thanks!

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  30. hmm, i don't think this one is for me. but thanks for sharing, Sandra! Enjoy your week!

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  31. I love a good romance and I like the light humor I got from the opener. I'm with you on the hero being someone else besides the rich super-guy.

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  32. Oooooh, BABY! That's adorable! Thanks for posting over at mine:

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  33. A desperate man and a giant dog. Sounds like a fun read. Great first paragraph and teaser.

    Happy reading

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  34. Woah, Baby definitely isn't baby-sized.

    Thanks for having stopped by my blog!

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  35. Whoa. That's one big dog. Sounds like a fun book!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  36. I thought I misread it first... a kuvasz :D It's strange to come across a Hungarian word in an English text (I'm Hungarian :)


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  37. Everyone can use an escape now and then. It sounds like a fun trip. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  38. Interesting Book! :)

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. Sorry, this is a few days late but I was having some Computer Difficulties.

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