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The Wild Rose Press has recently released the first book in their Honky Tonk Hearts Series. I’m excited my story in this series, Sing to Me Cowboy, will be released in May, and today I’m sharing information from special guests Senior Editor Stacy Holmes and two authors, Jannine Gallant and Sylvie Kaye. There’s prizes, too, so, without further ado, let’s get started.
Lauri: Thank you ladies, for visiting Cowboy Kisses today! Stacy, let’s start with you. Can you tell us how this series came to be?
Stacy: The Wild Rose Press is a blooming publisher of fine romance in both electronic and print format in many different genres. I’m the Senior Editor on the Yellow Rose line—yes, I get to work with those hunky contemporary cowboys.
In wanting to create a new series for my line, and wanting it to be different from the well received Wayback series, I came up with the idea of a honky tonk and having all the stories at some point, cross the threshold of the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk.
Lauri: Working with so many hunky cowboys has to be fun, and thanks for your creative mind in coming up with this series! Now, let’s hear from Jannine and Sylvie. Tell us a bit about yourselves, Ladies.
Jannine: First, I’d like to thank Lauri for inviting us to Cowboy Kisses today. What a great name for a blog! And now for a little about me.
Write about what you know. I’ve taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors. I grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently live in beautiful Lake Tahoe with my husband and two daughters. When I’m not busy writing or being a full time mom, I hike or snowshoe in the woods around our home with my dog, Ginger.
Whether I’m writing contemporary, historical, or romantic suspense, I try to bring the beauty of nature to my stories. To find out more about me and my books, visit my website at www.janninegallant.com. Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JannineGallant.Author. Or follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/JannineGallant.
Sylvie: My bio is: Born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the shadows of the Pocono Mountains and its honeymoon havens, Sylvie Kaye breathes the air of romance daily. After getting one short story published in 1994, she went from hooked on reading romances to hooked on writing them.
I write contemporary romances set in the places I’ve visited. A list of the books I’ve written, and the covers, blurb, and buy links are on my website at http://www.sylviekaye.com/Books.htm
Lauri: Thanks, Ladies, and welcome! Stacy, can you give us a bit more background on the series?
Stacy: Sure! Ultimately, each story has one pivotal point that takes place at the Lonesome Steer, a Honky Tonk located a few miles outside Amarillo off historical Route 66. The large wood-paneled structure boasts a large neon star with a single flashing steer riding away from it. Owner and bartender, Gus Rankin, has seen his share of the wandering souls cross his bar and dance floor over the years—lonely hearts seem to gravitate to his establishment—and he likes to think he’s helped a few find true love along the way.
Lauri: Sound like fun times in Texas! Let’s get to the stories. Jannine and Sylvie, what are the titles of your stories? And tell us a bit about the books and your characters.
Jannine: Nothing But Trouble releases tomorrow, April 25th!
Can a wary southern beauty find love with a commitment shy cowboy before trouble finds her?
Chase Paladin is an easy-going Texas charmer. He’s dated most of the women in Redemption and has no intention of settling down anytime soon. With broad shoulders, green eyes, and a killer smile, he’s a walking temptation. Picture Josh Holloway, Sawyer from Lost, and you can understand why Honey has trouble resisting him.
Honor (Honey to her friends) Jackson is broke, homeless, and looking to get back on her feet. Burned by her ex-fiancé, she knows better than to trust a smooth talking cowboy. Honey is just plain skittish when it comes to charming men, but Chase tests all her convictions.
Sylvie: Honky Tonk Man is Available Now at: The Wild Rose Press
He has rules for a reason.
Pool shooting, guitar playing, honky tonk singer, Jace Monroe, has a knack for hooking up with the wrong kind of women, rich ones who don't take him or his music seriously. So when he meets a down-to-earth, honey-haired waitress at the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk, he thinks his luck has finally changed.
Rules have never been her strong suit.
The last place Sunny Brooks wants to be is on her daddy's thriving ranch, but her mother needs her. To escape the constant concern for her mother's health and stay out of her father's overbearing presence, she spends most nights out at the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk and eventually in the arms of Jace.
But when misconceptions come to light, the sweet music they make together might be silenced forever unless she can show her honky tonk man that some rules are meant to be broken.
Lauri: Awesome sounding stories! I can’t wait to read them. Stacy, are these stories, spicy or sweet, or something in between?
Stacy: Yes, to all of the above! I love this series because there is something for everyone. There are sweet romances and others with spicy love scenes. There are funny stories about Muffin named bulls and waking up beside a stranger to deep, heartfelt stories of the pain of war and finding strength in themselves to change their lives. Each one is unique and endearing in their own unique way.
Lauri: Something for everyone sounds like the perfect series! Jannine and Sylvie, can you tell us what you like best about your stories?
Jannine: What I like best, that’s a tough one. I’d have to say I like Honor’s vulnerability, but she also has an inner strength that comes to the fore. She’s faced adversity and survived, battered but not beaten. Chase respects her and doesn’t want to hurt her, but he’s torn by his belief that relationships don’t last. I also like the humor in this book. There’s a bull named Stud Muffin – enough said. LOL
Sylvie: Aside from the romance, the music, and the setting, I like the characters who are brought together through the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk. Jace is not just a sexy, down on his luck musician, he has a code of ethics he tries to live by and has a strong sense of family. Sunny tries to do the best she can to help her family, friends, and the man she desires under conditions less than desirable.
I admire both characters’ loyalty.
Lauri: A bull named Stud Muffin! That does sound wonderful! And a sexy musician….Be still my heart. Stacy, there’s a lot of promo going on with this series, fill us in on it, please!
Stacy: Yes, there is, and I am so excited! We are having the official series launch party coming up on May 9th on the main Wild Rose Press loop. Over the course of the night all the authors will be there and we have a great Honky Tonk Hearts prize package to give away plus other random draws throughout the night. Should be lots of fun! Before and after, all the authors are hitting the blog circuit to talk about the series and the wonderful characters they have created. You can find all the details here: http://thewildrosepress.blogspot.ca/2012/04/launch-party.html We would love for you all to join us!
Lauri: Yee Haw! Sounds like a party for sure! Well, Jannine and Sylvie, since this is the Cowboy Kisses blog, can you give us a short excerpt or tell us about a ‘cowboy kiss’?
Jannine: Got to love those cowboy kisses! This excerpt is Chase and Honey’s first kiss –
Moths fluttered around the bulb shining over their heads. As the silence lengthened, his green eyes darkened and took on a sensual glint. Her breath caught when he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The safety of her apartment lay steps away, but her feet remained rooted to the doorstep.
His face lowered slowly, so slowly she could see the individual whiskers in the stubble along his hard jaw, the tiny lines radiating from the corners of his eyes, the shades of gold in the hair brushing his collar. His lips touched hers, gentle at first, then with intention. Cupping her face in his hands, he teased her mouth open and lay claim. Her head spun as she gripped his wrists and kissed him back, nearly melting at the utter eroticism of his thrusting tongue. When he released her, she staggered against the door and raised her hand to her lips.
He let out a shuddering breath. “Go to bed, Honey. We’ll finish this sometime when you’re not so vulnerable.”
The clattering of his boots down the stairs echoed the pounding of her heart.
Sylvie: Here’s Jace and Sunny:
Her mouth opened with laughter, lush and pink and seducing, until he couldn’t think of anything else. Backing her up against the porch railing, he trapped her with his hands on either side.
He leaned into her so close the curves of her body hugged him. “You have a beautiful mouth.”
From the heat of her stare, she wanted what he wanted. His groin tightened.
Lowering his head, he touched his lips to hers. When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss. Her mouth was moist and willing, and she kissed him back with a hunger that matched his own.
Her arms circled his waist and pulled him even closer. Instinctively, he ground his hips into hers. It had been months since he’d been this way with a woman, and he got hard, fast.
Delicate fingers crept beneath his shirt and gripped him tight at the waist, nails dug into his
naked flesh. It felt good, real good, to finally have her hands on his body.
They devoured each other. Their mouths nipping and sucking, their tongues probing until
their breathing came in uneven pants.
Jace teased her bottom lip with his tongue. Her tremble and sigh rocked him.
“I might not be able to stop myself if we don’t quit now.” He gave her fair warning.
Lauri: Oooh, la, la! Great excerpts! Stacy, what stories are up next in this series?
Stacy: Next up in the series will be a great story about a country music star in Sing to Me, Cowboy and another heartfelt story about the strength of a wounded marine coming back home in Those Violet Eyes.
Thank you so much Lauri and Cowboy Kisses for hosting us today and more of our authors soon. And to thank you and your readers, I will be randomly drawing a name from all the commenters today to win a special Honky Tonk Hearts envelope filled with a special coupon, bookmarks, magnets and other fun stuff from the authors of the series.
Lauri: Fun stuff for sure! Thank you, Stacy, for visiting and hosting a drawing today! Jannine and Sylvie, tell us where you’re promoting next.
Jannine: Since Nothing But Trouble releases tomorrow, I’m promoting all over the place! I’m also over at Sharon Buchbinder’s blog today talking about opening scenes and first lines. I’ll be at Clair Ashgrove’s blog on April 26th and at Sherry Gloag’s blog on the 30th. And that’s just April. I have 8 blog appearances scheduled in May, as well. For a full list with links included, please stop by my blog at http://janninegallant.blogspot.com/.
I’ll be at the Launch Party Wednesday May 9th between 6 and 10pm EST!!!!
I’ll be part of the Blog Tour at the following blogs and dates:
At http://karenkatchur.blogspot.com/ host Karen Katchur on April 30
At http://www.rosesofprose.blogspot.com/ with Jannine Gallant on May 2
At http://wildandwickedcowboys.wordpress.com/ host Randi Alexander May 14
At http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com with Brenda Whiteside June 6
At http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.ca/ host Celia Yeary on August 10
Lauri: Amazing promo, Ladies! Congrats and best wishes with this series. I’ll be hosting more Honky Tonk Hearts authors here at Cowboy Kisses the next few months. Be sure to stop by on July 10th to visit with Brenda Whiteside and Stacy Dawn. August 7th to hear from Vonnie Davis and Sherri Thomas, and August 28th to meet Donna Michaels.
Don’t forget to leave a comment!