Author Interview: Christmas Wishes by Carmen Peone

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Christmas Wishes by Carmen Peone, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Christmas Wishes 
Series: Seven Tine Ranch Romance 
Author: Carmen Peone 
Publisher: Iron Stream Media 
Release Date: December 2, 2025 
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Western Romance

One dream wedding. Two uncertain futures. A season of decisions that could change everything…. 

At Seven Tine Guest Ranch, Mandie Sellars serves guests as a cook, but her aspiration is to be the ranch’s event planner. When a surprise Christmas Eve wedding lands in her lap, Mandie sees this as her chance to shine—if she can handle the pressure. 

Her fiancé, Hudson Piccolo, just took the call of his his dream legal job. There’s just one catch—the job is in Seattle, clear across the state. Accepting it means leaving the ranch and upending Mandie’s and her daughter’s lives. 

Can their love withstand the tension between their ambitions and their commitment?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Iron Stream Media | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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Book Excerpt

“The electrician should be here any time.” Trey gazed at her. “Why don’t you go to the lodge, and I’ll let you know when everything’s fixed.”

“You think an hour? Or two? What are we looking at?” With his headlamp aimed past Mandie, she squinted at her to-do lists. Good gracious. What else could go wrong? Without any lights, this would be the darkest Winter Wonderland ever.

Trey dropped the cords and turned his head, erasing her light. “I’m not sure. It might only take an hour, but there are no guarantees.”

Mandie sighed, then gathered a box containing her notebooks and Holly’s party favors. Her cell phone rang. The time read 11 a.m., and the bright screen revealed Holly’s DJ’s name and number. Oh good. She welcomed his confirmation and appreciated his timeliness. She answered the call.

“Hey. I hate to do this, but I have to cancel working Holly’s wedding. We have a family emergency.” Shock choked the air out of her. She blinked several times. Had she heard him correctly?

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More in This Series

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About the Author

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Inspirational Western Romantic Suspense. With the love of history and the Western woman’s lifestyle, she weaves healing, hope, and horses into her stories. With a thread of romance. She lives with her husband in Northeast Washington on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation.

Connect with Carmen by visiting carmenpeone.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write Christmas Wishes? 

Carmen: A reader friend wanted Mandie to have her own story. Great idea! She’s the spunky guest ranch cook in the Seven Tine Ranch Romance series who has a Christmas wish.


Q: How long did it take to write this book? 

Carmen: It took me about a month. Then, of course, another one for rewrites, because all writing is rewriting. 😊

Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel? 

Carmen: What surprised me the most was Mandie’s transition from broken woman to one who gets it all together. I love her desire to be the ranch's event planner. She’d got talent! She’s a go-getter. And her love for her culture is inspiring.


Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Christmas Wishes? 

Carmen: My favorite quote is “No matter where we live, I want to feel this way for the rest of my life.” ~ Mandie Sellars. I took this quote and made a postcard that readers can color. On the back is info about the book and where to buy it.





Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author? 

Carmen: When I moved to my husband’s reservation, and wrote my first book as a young mother. I wrote historical YA adventure stories featuring Native American characters before I added contemporary Western romance to the mix.


Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Carmen: I struggle with food allergies and have to bring my own food when I travel. It’s a pain, but I am pretty healthy because I have to eat very clean, limited food. I carry Benadryl and an EpiPen wherever I go. Thankfully, I’ve never had to use the EpiPen, but I have to use the Benadryl roll-on often.


Q: What are you currently reading?

Carmen: Meet Me on Blueberry Hill by Lisa Jordan. It’s a super cute book. Tropes include: A grumpy/sunshine, boy-next-door, wounded hero, small town romance.


Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Carmen: Contemporary romance, but I do like a good historical now and then.

Q: What is your favorite hobby? 

Carmen:I love to ride horses, play with my grandkids, and take photos.


Q: What is your favorite season and why? 

Carmen: I love the season of June. It’s the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Everything is green, flowers are blooming, and the temperatures in my area are in the low to mid-80s.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Christmas Wishes and some other Christmas-related goodies!

(3) additional winners will each receive a signed copy of Christmas Wishes!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 8, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 15, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Book Spotlight: Renewed Hope by Carmen Peone

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Renewed Hope by Carmen Peone, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Renewed Hope
Series: Seven Tine Ranch Romance #3
Author: Carmen Peone
Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Can they find her son in time? 

Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts. Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything’s on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He’s not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch. Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking her son with them. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

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Excerpt

Emotionally. It all hit home with Sophie. Her insides had been tied up for years now, the abuse always on the edge of her mind.

“So, I stuffed her brochure in a drawer and continued to live my life in fear. After one of his violent episodes, I found the Seven Tine brochure and my notes. I’d jotted down her invitation for any women in need to come. Anytime. Without calling first. To just show up. She promised to always keep a room open. I packed a bag and came.”

“Anytime. Without calling first. To just show up.” The words soothed her like a sweet-scented balm. Her mouth parched, she took a sip of water. She got the feeling God had set up this conversation. His doing warmed her insides.

“When I arrived, Sydney wasn’t here. Feeling a bit helpless and terrified after my ex found me and threatened to bring me back home, I ended up going on the road with Robert. He was a bronc rider. I hated bronc riders. They were all arrogant. Cocky. Womanizers. Or so I’d experienced before meeting the love of my life.” Rita laughed.

Sophie chuckled too. But hers had come out edgy from the mutual understanding of the fear of men. Of terror turning into hate. No, she wasn’t laughing at the hate. She laughed because she wasn’t alone. She laughed because it felt good to find relief.

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About the Author

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense and lives with her husband in Northeast Washington and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation. She weaves threads of healing, hope, and horses into her stories that lead to happily ever after.

Connect with Carmen by visiting carmenpeone.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a signed copy of Renewed Hope, a $25 Amazon gift card, and a story-related postcard!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 5, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 12, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Book Spotlight: Broken Bondage by Carmen Peone

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Broken Bondage by Carmen Peone, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Broken Bondage
Series: Seven Tine Ranch #2
Author: Carmen Peone
Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: Clean/Christian Contemporary Western Romance

A Road Trip to Redemption 

Rita Runninghorse is about to marry the wrong guy. She has to get away from him. Now. She flees to a guest ranch in Eastern Washington State that offers a safe haven for women in need only to find the owner on a month-long speaking tour. 

Robert Elliot has one thing on his mind: bronc riding. The Indian National Finals Rodeo is within reach, and he’s not about to let anything ruin his chances of going pro. Not even the woman he finds asleep in the stall of their rankest horse. 

When Rita’s fiancé discovers where she’s hiding out, she takes Robert’s offer to go with him on the road and prays her fiancé gives up the hunt. Saddled together, Rita and Robert must rely on each other as they go on the road to keep her alive.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

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More in This Series

 

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Excerpt from Broken Bondage

Rita waved her phone in the air. “It’s him!” She followed Robert back into the office, and when he closed the door, she handed him her cell.

He peered at the text.

Almost there.

His gaze darted to hers. “Do you know where he’s at?”

She shook her head. “Don’t have a clue. And I’m not sure if he’s bluffing or not.” Oh, how she hoped his text was a sham. But he’d always lived up to what he said.

Robert pointed to her backpack. “Those your things?”

“Yeah, they are.”

“Good. Let’s get out of here.” He led Rita to the foyer, plucked his Stetson off a hat hook, took hold of her arm, and led her out into the soggy outdoors.

Robert’s touch was kind. Gentle. Secure. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had handled her in such a protective manner, and it felt good.

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About the Author

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Inspirational Contemporary Western Romantic. She worked with a Tribal Elder, Marguerite Ensminger, for three years learning the Arrow Lakes Language and various cultural traditions, which led to her writing career. With the love of history and the Western woman's lifestyle, she weaves threads of healing, hope, and horses into her stories that lead to happily ever after. She lives with her husband in northeast Washington and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation.

Connect with Carmen by visiting carmenpeone.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win a signed copy of Broken Bondage, an $25 Amazon gift card, and photo cards that pertain to the series!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 10, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 17, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for prize as described. Winners outside of the US will receive an ebook of Broken Bondage only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Book Spotlight: Captured Secrets

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Captured Secrets by Carmen Peone, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Captured Secrets 
Series: Seven Tine Ranch Romance #1
Author: Carmen Peone
Publisher: Iron Stream Media
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Genre: Christian Contemporary Western Romance

"Brimming with suspense and adventure, Captured Secrets, is a love story I'll not soon forget. An engrossing tale with all the twists and turns that make a contemporary Western so hard to put down." Debra Whiting Alexander, award-winning author of Zetty

After her parents die in a horrific car accident, Sydney Moomaw is thrust into running their guest ranch in eastern Washington. She soon discovers that her parents were keeping secrets. Why is the ranch in serious debt? Why did her parents allow the insurance to lapse? Why didn’t they tell her about it? And where are their wills? Sydney needs to figure out a way to save the ranch she loves before her sister sells it. 

Photographer Trey Hardy arrives at the ranch the same day Sydney’s parents are killed. His working-vacation plans change when he decides to help Sydney save her ranch. But, his offers to help are met with resistance. Her stubbornness and independence are both maddening and alluring. 

Amid the tangle of finances, tensions with her sister, and her own grief and anger, Sydney begins receiving threatening notes. They must be from her abusive ex-husband, but he’s in jail. Isn’t he? When a teenager appears at the ranch insisting she is Sydney’s daughter, Sydney finally realizes she’s going to have to start trusting people to help her. Will Trey’s plan work? Can they save her beloved ranch? Can she really have the life she’s dreamed of? 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | ChristianBook | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

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Excerpt

Sydney thumbed through the growing pile of mail before her sister was due to arrive. Most of the stack was unpaid bills. She opened an envelope and pulled out a photo of her and Trey dancing at the powwow. A note accompanied the print.

You look cozy in his arms. I’ve missed you.
Remember, you’re mine.

Her belly clenched. The envelope offered no return address, but the postmark was from Spokane. She swallowed. Could Cooper be out? It’s too soon. He had to be toying with her, having someone else send the notes.

With trembling hands, she stuffed the print and note back in the envelope and hid them in the top drawer as Glenda pulled up. She’d have to decide later if it was wise to share the picture and notes with Trey or not. He was in the photo, after all.

She felt helpless. No way would she get a restraining order against Cooper. They were useless. Besides, there was no proof he was the one sending the notes.

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About the Author

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult Adventure and Contemporary Western Romance and lives in northeast Washington state and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation with her husband. She had worked with a Tribal Elder, Marguerite Ensminger, for three years learning the Arrow Lakes Language and various cultural traditions, which led to her writing career. With a degree in abnormal psychology, the thought of writing never entered her mind, until she married her husband and they moved to the reservation after college. With the love of history and the western woman’s lifestyle, she weaves threads of hope, family, relationships, love, and faith into her stories. Sign up for her newsletter and receive her novella, Gentling the Cowboy for Free.

Connect with Carmen by visiting carmenpeone.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a signed (or Amazon ebook) copy of Captured Secrets (winner's choice), a $15 Amazon gift card, and a photo greeting card related to the book and taken by the author!

 

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 7, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 14, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!