Blog hops, cowboys, and golf courses…oh my!

UPDATE:  CONGRATS to Mel Joe Laney for winning the cup and notebook.  Thanks to all who entered!

Hello all!  Welcome to the blog hop!  You know, I had a fun one with this because in my newest release, the hero fights the heroine about a golf-course design in order to preserve land.  So, I thought a quick excerpt from AGAINST THE WALL would be a good way to celebrate this earth friendly blog hop!  (BTW, there’s a giveaway at the bottom.  WHOO HOO!)

This wasn’t happening. Sophie shut her mouth on a scream as the powerful animal gracefully leaped over a fallen log and her captor pulled her into his solid body. He moved as one with the animal. Her hands fisted the silky mane like it was a lifeline to reality.

Maybe it was.

Screw this. She threw back an elbow and twisted to the side, fear and anger finally galvanizing her into action.

“Stop.” A deep voice issued the command as warm breath brushed her cheekbone.

With a mere tightening of his thighs on the great animal, they skidded to a stop. The arm trapping her shifted so she slid easily to the ground and stayed around her waist until she regained her footing. With a sound that was more growl than gasp, she backed away from man and mount until she collapsed against the bark of a towering tree. The horse tossed his head and snorted at her retreat.

The man sat straight and tall on the animal, dark and curious eyes considering her.

The smell of wet moss surrounded her. She gulped in air and studied him. He was huge—and packed hard. Scuffed cowboy boots pressed down on the stirrups while a dark T-shirt outlined impressive muscles. Long lashes framed incredible eyes, and she could swear a dark eyebrow lifted in amusement.

Two more horses charged suddenly through the meadow, sliding to a swift stop behind her captor. One animal was a pretty white, the other a spotted paint, and both held powerful cowboys complete with boots, jeans, and Stetsons. All wore black hats—like the villains in every Western movie ever filmed.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath.

At her voice, her captor jumped gracefully off his mount and stepped toward her.

“What should we do with her?” the man on the white horse asked. His gravelly voice contrasted oddly with the glint of humor in his tawny eyes. Filtered sunlight illuminated the gold, brown, and even black hair flowing unchecked around his shoulders. He was a symphony of twilight, where the other men wore the ominous tone of midnight.

“I caught her. I get to keep her,” her captor said, his eyes intent as he took another step toward her, firm muscles bunching in his upper arms.

“Another step, and you get to land on your ass.” Sophie readied herself to target his knees as fear uncoiled in her stomach. He stood at least a foot taller than her own five foot four.

His grin was quick and unexpected.

So, in addition to the overall bloghop prizes, I’d love to give away an AGAINST THE WALL coffee mug and spiral notebook to one commenter on my blog here.  I’ll draw a name when the blog ends.  So…do you think opposites attract?