Christina Rhoads
What’s your favorite thing to do to relax? Be by water. Kayaking, swimming, even walking along the edge of a lake or on the beach is the best way for me to relax and connect to a calmer version of myself.
For what are you grateful? I’m most grateful for my family, friends and four-legged animals. They enrich all aspects of my life. Gratitude is a funny thing, I’ve noticed, it seems like the more I express it, the more I have to be grateful for!
What is the number one lie you tell yourself? How is that working out? I’m a big believer in the “fake-it-til-you-make-it” theory. So, yeah I lie to myself all the time! Mostly though I lie to trick myself into taking a big step that scares me. I’ll let you know how it works out in a few years ;)
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? I love Kathleen Eagle. She’s brilliant and her prose always move me.
Do you have a common theme or item that appears in each of your books? Horses. I’m a hopeless horse lover and those four-legged beauties appear in nearly everything I write.
Tell us about your latest release:
Wild Horse, Wild Heart is my latest release.
“Elsie?” the dust settled, and she took a deep breath, gathering her anger around her. Carefully, trying not to let her limp show, she turned toward the now famous natural horsemanship trainer. The Lakota cowboy, Corbin Darkhorse, and the very first man she had ever loved, stood watching her. He was even more handsome than she remembered: dark hair, dark eyes, with long-fingered hands weathered by the sun and wind. She swallowed a mouthful of dirty words and wondered why he had to be here, on this day, as she picked up her mustang for the competition.
Forgiveness had never been one of Elsie Rosewood’s strengths, and Corbin could see she hadn’t changed over the last ten years. In fact, she looked as wild, angry and stubborn as the mustang pacing in the corral behind her. His mind filled abruptly with the old image of Elsie’s face bloodied, as a previous wild horse threw her to the ground and trampled her limp body. Ten years was a long time to run, and Corbin knew if he ever wanted to have peace, and the trust of the only woman he’d ever loved, then he would have to prove how much he had changed.
The only thing standing in the way of a once- in-a-lifetime love is a Mustang Training Competition, $100,000, and a past neither forgotten nor forgiven.
Excerpt:
The wild horse reared and then lunged toward Elsie. She stepped back just as the mustang crashed into the steel stock panels. A cloud of dust enveloped her and the horse; for several long moments, they were alone in a world of golden haze.
The mustang stood perfectly still, breathing hard. She could see fear and anger in his eyes; she felt her own heart beating with similar anguish. Very slowly, she reached out her hand, hoping the horse would sniff her damp fingers.
“You always draw the crazy ones,” she heard from behind her. The golden moment disappeared as the dust settled and the noise of the stockyard rushed to flood her ears. The mustang spun away from Elsie and she pulled her hand back.
She didn’t want to turn and see the man standing behind her. At the sound of his voice, she was again seventeen, and falling in love for the first time.
A trickle of sweat made its way down her back and she forced her fisted hands to open at her sides.
Finally, she did turn, but only after straightening her shoulders and smoothing her face of any emotion. Corbin Darkhorse stood taller and broader than she remembered. There was a smug smile on his expressive lips. “You look good, Elsie,” Corbin said. “You’re training horses again?” He stared at her with his dark eyes and that slow, suggestive smile she remembered all too well. For a long moment, Elsie looked into his eyes, then her mind switched on and she jerked away, swallowing a mouthful of dirty words.
How did you decide on your story plot? In part the plot is informed by own experiences with love. I feel like forgiveness (which is a recurring theme in Wild Horse, Wild Heart) is a very valuable tool to master for success in relationships. Now, I’m not talking about forgiving people and then letting them treat us badly again and again, instead I’m referring to the ability to forgive the mistakes that those who love us will inevitably make. I know that I can be proud, hard-headed and very stubborn and so the more I learn to forgive those around me, the more my relationships (both romantic and otherwise) grow and develop. Of course I'm human and so I fail in this department all the time!!
Do you have a favorite scene? Why? My favorite scene is probably the one where Elsie and Corbin and are riding and looking for her escaped wild mustang. There’s a so much history between these two characters, and yet ten years have elapsed, and so they have to re-learn each other. There’s also so much hurt and anger and guilt and I wanted to laugh and also cry as I wrote this scene. They’re out in the beautiful Montana mountains, riding Corbin’s dark gelding and the chemistry is so intense between them….I found myself biting my nails at times! I just kept wanted to tell them to stop blaming each other and makeout!! They do eventually give in to my advice but you'll have to read the book to get to the juicy parts!
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why? I love Elsie, she’s the heroine in Wild Horse, Wild Heart. Her stubborn nature, drive to succeed and passion for horses remind me of me! I, like her, was in a terrible accident when I was 19 years old and was in a wheelchair for a while and had to have several surgeries. I can remember the fear that I wouldn’t be able to ride horses again or live the life of my dreams. I admire her strength and desire to fight for what she wants. Actually, I wish that I had a bit more of her bravery and fire, she’s an incredibly passionate person!
For what are you grateful? I’m most grateful for my family, friends and four-legged animals. They enrich all aspects of my life. Gratitude is a funny thing, I’ve noticed, it seems like the more I express it, the more I have to be grateful for!
What is the number one lie you tell yourself? How is that working out? I’m a big believer in the “fake-it-til-you-make-it” theory. So, yeah I lie to myself all the time! Mostly though I lie to trick myself into taking a big step that scares me. I’ll let you know how it works out in a few years ;)
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? I love Kathleen Eagle. She’s brilliant and her prose always move me.
Do you have a common theme or item that appears in each of your books? Horses. I’m a hopeless horse lover and those four-legged beauties appear in nearly everything I write.
Tell us about your latest release:
Wild Horse, Wild Heart is my latest release.
“Elsie?” the dust settled, and she took a deep breath, gathering her anger around her. Carefully, trying not to let her limp show, she turned toward the now famous natural horsemanship trainer. The Lakota cowboy, Corbin Darkhorse, and the very first man she had ever loved, stood watching her. He was even more handsome than she remembered: dark hair, dark eyes, with long-fingered hands weathered by the sun and wind. She swallowed a mouthful of dirty words and wondered why he had to be here, on this day, as she picked up her mustang for the competition.
Forgiveness had never been one of Elsie Rosewood’s strengths, and Corbin could see she hadn’t changed over the last ten years. In fact, she looked as wild, angry and stubborn as the mustang pacing in the corral behind her. His mind filled abruptly with the old image of Elsie’s face bloodied, as a previous wild horse threw her to the ground and trampled her limp body. Ten years was a long time to run, and Corbin knew if he ever wanted to have peace, and the trust of the only woman he’d ever loved, then he would have to prove how much he had changed.
The only thing standing in the way of a once- in-a-lifetime love is a Mustang Training Competition, $100,000, and a past neither forgotten nor forgiven.
Excerpt:
The wild horse reared and then lunged toward Elsie. She stepped back just as the mustang crashed into the steel stock panels. A cloud of dust enveloped her and the horse; for several long moments, they were alone in a world of golden haze.
The mustang stood perfectly still, breathing hard. She could see fear and anger in his eyes; she felt her own heart beating with similar anguish. Very slowly, she reached out her hand, hoping the horse would sniff her damp fingers.
“You always draw the crazy ones,” she heard from behind her. The golden moment disappeared as the dust settled and the noise of the stockyard rushed to flood her ears. The mustang spun away from Elsie and she pulled her hand back.
She didn’t want to turn and see the man standing behind her. At the sound of his voice, she was again seventeen, and falling in love for the first time.
A trickle of sweat made its way down her back and she forced her fisted hands to open at her sides.
Finally, she did turn, but only after straightening her shoulders and smoothing her face of any emotion. Corbin Darkhorse stood taller and broader than she remembered. There was a smug smile on his expressive lips. “You look good, Elsie,” Corbin said. “You’re training horses again?” He stared at her with his dark eyes and that slow, suggestive smile she remembered all too well. For a long moment, Elsie looked into his eyes, then her mind switched on and she jerked away, swallowing a mouthful of dirty words.
How did you decide on your story plot? In part the plot is informed by own experiences with love. I feel like forgiveness (which is a recurring theme in Wild Horse, Wild Heart) is a very valuable tool to master for success in relationships. Now, I’m not talking about forgiving people and then letting them treat us badly again and again, instead I’m referring to the ability to forgive the mistakes that those who love us will inevitably make. I know that I can be proud, hard-headed and very stubborn and so the more I learn to forgive those around me, the more my relationships (both romantic and otherwise) grow and develop. Of course I'm human and so I fail in this department all the time!!
Do you have a favorite scene? Why? My favorite scene is probably the one where Elsie and Corbin and are riding and looking for her escaped wild mustang. There’s a so much history between these two characters, and yet ten years have elapsed, and so they have to re-learn each other. There’s also so much hurt and anger and guilt and I wanted to laugh and also cry as I wrote this scene. They’re out in the beautiful Montana mountains, riding Corbin’s dark gelding and the chemistry is so intense between them….I found myself biting my nails at times! I just kept wanted to tell them to stop blaming each other and makeout!! They do eventually give in to my advice but you'll have to read the book to get to the juicy parts!
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why? I love Elsie, she’s the heroine in Wild Horse, Wild Heart. Her stubborn nature, drive to succeed and passion for horses remind me of me! I, like her, was in a terrible accident when I was 19 years old and was in a wheelchair for a while and had to have several surgeries. I can remember the fear that I wouldn’t be able to ride horses again or live the life of my dreams. I admire her strength and desire to fight for what she wants. Actually, I wish that I had a bit more of her bravery and fire, she’s an incredibly passionate person!
