Tag Archives: leah vale

Finding love through Grit and Grace…and maybe the encouragingly strong words of a dear editor.

“A group of women succeeding in a man’s world.”

That single phrase, uttered by my dear editor, Sinclair Sawhney, was the seed from which grew my new Tule series, Grit and Grace. Admittedly, an Aperol Spritzer might have fueled some of my inspiration on that lovely day last summer, but the rest was pure magic.

Peyton Halliday, my heroine in The Cowboy Doctor, the last book of my previous series, Rodeo Romeos, sort of kicked things off by introducing us to her friends. Sammie Abel, Emma Barrett, Beth Dawson, Laura Senske, and Meira Ware along with Peyton all bonded while riding ranch saddle broncs competitively and being filmed for a made-up reality TV show called Buckin’ Babes.

But the friends were destined for something more. They left the world of reality TV and competitive bronc riding behind to take a crack at rodeo rough stock contracting, specializing in, you guessed it, bucking broncs. Thanks to Peyton’s wealthy family, specifically her oldest brother, the newly formed Grit and Grace Rodeo Roughstock Company find a home on a ranch outside of Last Stand, Texas, to raise and train the animals used in professional rodeos.

All’s Fair in Love and Rodeo is Sammie Abel and Alec Neisson’s story, where they see if they can come together while going after the same rodeo rough stock contract. And more than just success in the rodeo world is at stake…

Sammie waited until the group was well past them before turning to him. “Alec! Seriously, what are you doing here?” she hissed.

“Why haven’t you answered my calls or texts?”

“Stalker much?”

“Come on, Sammie. You didn’t even say goodbye. Did I do something?”

“No. Well, yes. I mean, we did something.”

The very clear memory of all the things they’d done together that night raised his temperature faster than the Texas summer sun on pavement. “Damn straight we did something. We did a lot of something.”

She shifted away from him, looking everywhere but at him. “That’s not what I mean. But it is why I didn’t say goodbye. I never expected spending a night with you to be so . . . so . . .”

“Good?”

She met his gaze. “Yes.”

Alec softened his tone. “So you freaked out and ghosted me.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I freaked out a little and just left. But now . . . I have been meaning to call you. Really.”

“Because?”

The blue of her eyes swam beneath the sheen of tears. “Because I’m pregnant, Alec.”

The women of Grit and Grace are determined to make it in a man’s world, but unexpectedly find love along the way. I hope you enjoy their stories!


About the Author.

Having never met an unhappy ending she couldn’t mentally “fix,” Leah Vale believes writing romance novels is the perfect job for her. A Pacific Northwest native with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington, she lives in Central Oregon, with a huge golden retriever who thinks he’s a lap dog. While having the chance to share her “happy endings from scratch” is a dream come true, dinner generally has to come premade from the store.

August releases are heating up at Tule! Check out our August romance release line up. (Plus, enter a giveaway!)

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the August romance releases. Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!


Check out our new romance releases for August!

The Maverick’s Surprise Family by Roxanne Snopek
The Malones of Grand, Montana, Book 3
August 1, 2024

Make it Real by Nan Reinhardt
The Walkers of River’s Edge, book 2
August 6, 2024

All’s Fair in Love and Rodeo by Leah Vale
Grit and Grace, book 1
August 8, 2024

The Wrong Brother by Eve Gaddy
Montana Made, book 1
August 20, 2024

Her Missing Pieces by Susan Sands
Moonshine, book 1
August 27, 2024

Small Town Christmas Anthology by Jane Porter
August 20, 2024

Tule Author Q&A: Leah Vale shares on happy endings, her pup, and her influencers!

Leah Vale stopped by the Tule blog to do a rapid Q&A for our Tule readers!

With her newest series for Tule, Grit and Grace, coming out in the 2024 release schedule, readers will be thrilled to read more happy endings from her strong cowboys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You mentioned that you’ve never met an unhappy ending you couldn’t mentally “fix.” Can you share a memorable instance where you reimagined an ending to create a happier outcome?

The easiest and most obvious answer is the movie Titanic. I mean, come on, just get on the door, Jack! There was room for both of them. At the very least take turns! As a child, I mentally rewrote Black Beauty so no horses died. 

As a native of the Pacific Northwest now living in Central Oregon, how do these locations influence the settings and atmosphere in your romance novels?

I have found getting into a cowboy/cowgirl state of mind far easier while living on the high desert of Central Oregon. Plus, the often heavy snow fall in the winter is great inspiration for writing Christmas stories. 

How did your B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington prepare you for a career in writing romance novels?

Learning how to write in all those Journalism classes was a big help. Granted, I’d graduated with the hope of writing advertising copy. The shorter, the better. But it turns out I have a lot more words in me, and fictional stories in my head, than expected. 

Your golden retriever sounds like quite the character. Does your dog inspire any characters or scenes in your books?

I one hundred percent base any dog I write into a book on my dog. Any creature with such a massive capacity for love, loyalty, and all-around happiness deserves to be represented in a book. And despite how creative I try to be, I simply can’t make up some of the goofy things a dog will do. The same is true of horses. The quarter horse mare I grew up on inspires all the horses I write.

Creating “happy endings from scratch” is a dream come true for you. What do you find most rewarding about writing romance novels?

I love conquering the challenge of bringing two people who are in opposition, often bearing wounds from their pasts, together in a deeply satisfying way. Especially when I can find a way for them to help each other grow beyond their past hurts to be the best versions of themselves, together.

With a busy writing schedule, you mentioned that dinner often comes premade from the store. How do you manage your time between writing and daily life responsibilities?

I love me a good meal delivery service. It’s so nice to have either the completed meal or at least all the ingredients left right on my door step. Though, I have to admit that even with the luxury of food delivery, the closer I am to a deadline, the more my house resembles a fraternity, over-flowing with energy drink cans and pizza boxes, and the more in need I am of a consistent exercise routine. I’m working on it.

What is your process for developing characters who resonate with readers and drive the story towards a happy ending?

I have always been a huge fan of character and conflict charts that help me build my characters and the journey they will need to take to find happiness. Whether or not I actually use them is another matter. Also, my long-time critique partner, Terri Reed, has introduced me to Enneagrams. It’s really fun to use the test to discover which of the nine personality types, or what combination of them, the characters in my head fit into. Sometimes, though, nothing beats a good game of “What if?”

Can you share a particularly heartwarming piece of feedback you’ve received from a reader and how it impacted you?

I will never forget one actual letter I received from a reader who shared with me that one of my books had made her laugh and brought her happiness during a particularly low time in her life. I have never felt so honored.

What inspired you to pursue a career in romance writing, and who are some of your biggest influences in the genre?

Like many writers and readers of the genre, I grew up reading romance. Starting with my mom’s Harlequins then moving on to thick historical romances. They are the type of stories I’ve always had in my head. And when life gets hard, I really appreciate a happy ending. 

In the beginning of my writing career, I was influenced by greats such as Johanna Lindsey, Betina Krahn, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Susan Wiggs. All wildly talented authors who crafted characters with such life and depth. Now I want to be Kristin Hannah when I grow up.

What advice would you give to aspiring romance authors who are passionate about creating happy endings in their stories?

The advice I give the most is the one I prescribe to myself—take any opportunity to learn the art of telling stories. Learning how to structure a story that will transport the reader into the world you create is an ongoing process for me. I’ve even delved into screenwriting to help me develop stories that will keep readers turning the page. 

Another piece of advice is simply you’ll never know until you try. Then try again. Each book you write teaches you something and furthers you on your journey.

BONUS: What is one book that you would consider to be your comfort read that you will always reach for?

Anything by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. 

 

Summer Romance Releases for Hot July Summertime Reads (Plus a Giveaway!).

GIVEAWAY: We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the July romance releases. Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Check out our new romance releases for July!

Summer Heat: A Sexy, Steamy Summer Romance Anthology
Texas Forged by Eve Gaddy | Hot Mess by Amy Andrews | Nursing the Flame by Shelli Stevens | Her Texas Ex by Katherine Garbera |Strictly Off Limits by Stella Holt | Catch Me by Michele Arris
Release Date: July 2, 2024

Rumors, Ruin and the Duke by Karla Kratovil
The Lost Lords, Book 1
July 11, 2024

Forgiving Her First Love by Dani Collins
Raven’s Cove, Book 2
July 16, 2024

One Lucky Cowboy by Kristine Lynn
Marshall Brothers Ranching, Book 2
July 23, 2024

Hot, Hard and Impossible Cowboys: Anthology
Most Dangerous Cowboy by Megan Crane, A Doctor for the Cowboy by Amy Andrews, The Cowboy’s Redemption by Paula Altenburg, The Rebel and the Cowboy by Sarah Mayberry, Her Cowboy Baby Daddy by Jeannie Watt, The Cowboy Doctor by Leah Vale
July 29, 2024

Sworn to Defend by Charlee James
Sworn Navy SEALs, Book 3
July 30, 2024

Bear’s Heart by Jane Porter
The Calhouns & Campbells of Cold Canyon Ranch, book 2
July 31

Tule Author Q&A: Leah Vale loves opposites attract romances!

Leah Vale stopped by the Tule blog to discuss the fourth book in her Rodeo Romeos series, The Cowboy Doctor!

 

Where did you get the inspiration for The Cowboy Doctor?

I wanted to explore how siblings, based on their birth order, might react to a parent’s severe injury and ultimate passing when they were younger. Drew, as a middle child, might find it easy to go unseen, slipping into his mother’s sick room unnoticed to watch the homecare doctors and nurses tending to her. I imagined he’d grow to want to be like them so he’d be able to better care for his family. And the best/worst person for him to fall in love with would be a woman who’d had her fill of being cared for, especially by a doctor.

 

This is a fun opposites attract, forced proximity romance. What drew you to this trope? What’s your favorite trope to write?

I love the opposites attract, forced proximity trope because it absolutely oozes with opportunities for conflict, not to mention sparks! Especially when the characters have strong motivation for being the way they are. My favorite trope to write is the wounded hero/heroine. Successfully figuring out how to heal them through the power of love is so satisfying and gives me all the squishy feels.

 

If you could spend the day with Drew or Peyton, who would you choose and what would you do?

Obviously, the thrill-seeking, fun-loving Peyton would be a ton of fun to spend a day with. But I have a tendency to hurt myself (case in point, I wrote this book with a broken arm) so hanging out with a sports medicine doc would be the smart call. Then there’s the fact that Drew is a cowboy, through and through. I do so like cowboys. Going for a horseback ride, then watching the sun set on a blanket spread in a grassy field while the horses graze nearby… Wait, what was the question? ;)

How is Drew different from his family members, Caitlin, Liam, and Ian? How is he the same?

All of the Neisson children were shaped differently by their mother’s injury and subsequent death. Caitlin became protective, Liam grew angry, Ian became a fixer, and Alec just wants to seize the day. Drew saw firsthand the comfort and aid the medical professionals who cared for his mother provided. He wanted to be able to do the same, not just for his own family, but also for the Pineville rodeo community as a whole. He is the same as his siblings when it comes to his devotion to his family and his courage to do what is right, despite the cost.

 

What are you currently reading?

I am currently obsessed with the Grishaverse Series by Leigh Bardugo. After binging the Shadow and Bone series on Netflix, I raced to buy the books and am now on book seven, Rule of Wolves. Next on my TBR pile is The Four Winds by one of my all-time favorite authors, Kristin Hannah.

 

About the Author

Having never met an unhappy ending she couldn’t mentally “fix,” Leah Vale believes writing romance novels is the perfect job for her. A Pacific Northwest native with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington, she lives in Central Oregon, with a huge golden retriever who thinks he’s a lap dog. While having the chance to share her “happy endings from scratch” is a dream come true, dinner generally has to come premade from the store.

THE COWBOY’S VOW: Release day blog post featuring Leah Vale

I am thrilled to be able to celebrate the release day of The Cowboy’s Vow, book three in my Rodeo Romeos series, here on the Tule Blog. 

I am so excited to share Ian Neisson’s story with readers. I have been looking forward to the opportunity ever since I first came up with the concept for the Rodeo Romeos series. As the eldest Neisson sibling, Ian carries a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, and I couldn’t wait for the chance to give him the Happily Ever After he deserves. 

And it’s always fun to return to a world worth escaping to. The Rodeo Romeo series not only includes the thrills and chills found at a rodeo, but also my personal fantasy of life on a legacy ranch like the one owned by Ian’s family. 

I also wanted to include an overarching mystery that would conclude in Ian’s book, and when I learned that the FBI investigates livestock theft when state lines are crossed, I knew I had Ian’s perfect match. 

One of the themes I drew on while writing The Cowboy’s Vow was the old adage of Never Say Never. FBI Special Agent Jessie Martin has sworn “never again” when it comes to cowboys. Ian, a cowboy to the core, has sworn to never again open himself up the pain of loss. Needless to say, it was fun putting them together and watching the fireworks fly.

I hope you enjoy reading The Cowboy’s Vow as much as I enjoyed writing it. And don’t forget to check out the first two books in the series, The Bull Rider’s Second Chance and Wrangling The Cowboy’s Heart.

 

Having never met an unhappy ending she couldn’t mentally “fix,” Leah Vale believes writing romance novels is the perfect job for her. A Pacific Northwest native with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington, she lives in Central Oregon, with a huge golden retriever who thinks he’s a lap dog. While having the chance to share her “happy endings from scratch” is a dream come true, dinner generally has to come premade from the store.