Guest Honky Tonk Hearts Guest Donna Michaels

Honky Tonk Hearts Guest by Lauri Robinson

www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com

Today I have one more author from The Wild Rose Press and their Honky Tonk Hearts Series. The books in this series are centered around the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk located near Amarillo, Texas ran by Gus Rankin, and come in all heat levels. Books released in the Honk Tonk Hearts Series so far include: 

Honky Tonk Man by Sylvie Kaye

Nothing but Trouble by Jannine Gallant

Sing to Me, Cowboy by Lauri Robinson

Those Violet Eyes by Vonnie Davis

The Morning After by Brenda Whiteside

 

Lauri: Today I welcome Donna Michaels. Thanks, Donna, for joining us today! Tell us a bit about you.

Donna: Hello, Laurie. Thanks so much for having me here today. This is a wonderful series. Okay, on to a little bit about me.  I’m happily married to a military man for over twenty-six years, and together we live in Northeastern PA with our four children (sometimes five, when my dil visits from law school…long story), several rescued cats, and my parents who moved in with us when the economy tanked a few years back.  Yes, we have a full house…you can’t make these things up! lol But I truly feel blessed.

I’m a multi published author of Romaginative Fiction. From short to epic, sweet to hot, I write all lengths and most romance genres—Contemporary, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Fantasy, Suspense and Action/Adventure. My works are in both Digital and Print and can be found at my website, Amazon, and B&N. To me, there is no better experience than to give and I hope my books give the reader an enjoyable escape.

www.donnamichaelsauthor.com

www.facebook.com/donna.michaels.31

Lauri: Now that sounds like a houseful, but also a blessing to all be together! Tell us a bit about your Honky Tonk Hearts story.  

Donna: Sometimes a practical joke is a gift...

That’s the tagline to COWBOY-SEXY to be released 01-02-13.

Finn Brennan is used to his brother playing practical jokes, but this time he's gone too far--sending Finn a woman as a ranch hand. And not just any woman, but a Marine. When 1st Lt. Camilla Walker's commanding officer asks her to help out at his family's dude ranch until he returns from deployment, she never expects to be thrust into a mistaken engagement to his sexy, cowboy twin--a former Navy SEAL who hates the Corps. But before long, Cammie is wishing their fake engagement could be real. The Corps took Finn's father, his girlfriend, and threatened his naval career. He's worked hard for another shot at getting back to active duty. The last thing he needs is a headstrong, unyielding, hot Marine who not only tempts his bed, but soon has him rethinking his goals.

Lauri: A brother with a sense of humor can cause trouble, that’s for sure, and it sounds like Finn’s does!  Tell us what you like best about your story.

Donna: That the characters took over and wrote the story themselves. I kid you not. When Stacy asked if I’d be interested in writing for the HTH series and Finn and Cammie popped into my mind, they immediately took over and wouldn’t shut up. lol Exactly how they are in the book. They have a great chemistry, are headstrong, love to help others and unknowingly help each other heal.

Lauri: Don’t you love it when characters do that? Just take over and give you their stories! Awesome. Give us an excerpts.

Donna: Here you go:

She straightened to her full height and stared him down, brown eyes flashing like fire water. “You’re not my C.O. You can’t order me around.”

“Wrong. Brett’s the only one who can order you to go home,” he corrected, lowering his voice when the two college stable hands entered the building. “But I am the one who can tell you where to work on this ranch.”

She softened her expression, then sauntered closer to finger his collar.

“And what would you have me do, Finn?” she asked in a quiet, sultry voice.

Her complete about-face had his heartbeats kicking the hell out of his ribcage. He stiffened. What was she up to?

Stifled snickers quickly enlightened him. She was keeping up appearance, playing the dutiful fiancée, you idiot. For a moment there he thought…

Didn’t matter what he thought.

Terry sent the boys a look. They grabbed pitchforks before disappearing into a nearby stall.

Cammie removed her hands from his chest and stepped back. “Well? Where do you want me to work? With you?”

“No.” The last thing he needed was her around, countermanding his orders as he guided guests on the horse trail. “Why don’t you help my mom and Aunt Lettie with the party details?”

She blinked, then smiled broadly, her gaze bouncing between him and Terry. “No, I mean really. What do you want me to do?”

“I told you, help my mother. Most women enjoy planning parties.”

She stiffened, every trace of amusement gone from her face. “I’m not most women, Navy. Don’t confuse me with your ex-girlfriend. I’m not Heather.”

He inhaled strong and swift. “No, you’re not.”

Heather was sweet and non-confrontational, not a willful control freak like the lieutenant in front of him.

He was the boss, not her, and it was high time he showed her just who was in charge.

Finn stepped forward, slowly stalking the woman, purposefully invading her personal space until she was forced to retreat. The Marine backed up until her incredible backside hit the wall, stopping her escape. Satisfaction warmed his blood. Chalk one up for Navy.

“Wh-what are you doing?” she whispered.

Brown eyes widened with a mixture of apprehension, and God help him, desire. He palmed the wall on either side of her head and smiled down, beginning to enjoy the situation.

“I’m showing those college boys, and you, who’s boss.”

The instant she opened her mouth to protest, he pressed into her delectable curves and captured those tempting, objectionable lips.

The Stetson fell off his head, but he didn’t care. Over and over, he nipped, drank and tasted, taking advantage of her surprised state. He was on a mission. A mission to teach the headstrong Marine a lesson.

Now was the time to pull away, to leave her staring after him, wanting more. Everything was perfect. He had an audience of three who could verify he had effectively shut the woman up.

But when her tense body unexpectedly softened, his goal became fuzzy. The hands on his chest, holding him at bay, suddenly snaked around his back and pulled him in closer. Her sweet, yielding mouth turned hot and demanding, and Finn had all he could do to hold back a groan.

She tasted incredible, and her lack of resistance fueled his hunger. He deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth to capture her essence for his very own. She trembled against him and his body responded with a slow, consuming burn.

Instead of drawing away, he dropped his hands to her waist and held tight as their tongues tangled and explored. Heaven help him, he never wanted any woman so bad or so fast in his life. She took him from zero to sixty inside of two seconds.

Lauri: Zero to sixty! Love it!  Please tell about reviews/what/where you’ll be next promoting your book or other books you have coming out.

Donna: COWBOY-SEXY will continue to hit the blog circuit this fall. I will post the dates on my website as I get them.

Currently, I am working on my first self-publication release—CAPTIVE HERO.

When Marine Corp test pilot, Major Samantha Sheppard accidentally flies back in time and inadvertently saves the life of a WWII VMF Black Sheep pilot, she changes history and makes a crack decision to abduct him back to the present. With her lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut for NASA now at risk, and determined to keep the timeline safe by not messing with history or the future, she hides the soldier at her secluded cabin in the Colorado wilderness. After a rocky start, she convinces him to remain in the present and eventually gives into the strong attraction pulsing between them. But when Sam discovers the man she’s fallen in love with isn’t the soldier she thought, and has now not only jeopardized history but her family’s very existence, she’s forced to choose between life and love. Can Sam find the strength to return him to WWII and certain death? Will their love survive the test of time?

I hope to have CAPTIVE HERO ready for release in September. Please keep an eye on my website and Amazon.

As always, thanks for reading,

~Donna

Lauri: Thanks, Donna, for being here today and congrats on the awesome addition to the Honky Tonk Hearts series!  

Honky Tonk Hearts Series

Honky Tonk Hearts Guests by Lauri Robinson

www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com

I’m back today with a couple more authors from The Wild Rose Press and their Honky Tonk Hearts Series. The books in this series are centered around the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk located near Amarillo, Texas ran by Gus Rankin, and come in all heat levels. Books released in the Honk Tonk Hearts Series so far include:

Honky Tonk Man by Sylvie Kaye

Nothing but Trouble by Jannine Gallant

Sing to Me, Cowboy by Lauri Robinson

Those Violet Eyes by Vonnie Davis

The Morning After by Brenda Whiteside

Lauri: Thanks, Vonnie and Sherri, for joining us today. Let’s start with you each sharing a bit about yourselves.

Vonnie: I’m a retired technical writer who’s exchanged her tailored clothes for the feathered boa of a romance writer. I’m married to another author whom I met online ten years ago. Two old fogies looking for love on match dot com. Can you dig it? His writing is more literary; mine is more sensual. Still, no wife has a more supportive spouse than I. He is my rock.

I write contemporary, historical and romantic suspense. Most of them have cowboy heroes, I must confess. Cowboys or French government agents. How’s that for a mixture? My debut book, Storm’s Interlude, takes place on a ranch in Texas. It was nominated for Book of the Year at Long and Short Reviews and received the HOLT Medallion Award of Excellence in two categories: Best Book by a Virginia Author and Best Mainstream/Single Title.

You can find me on the web at these locations:

www.vonniedavis.com

www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com

BUY LINK FOR Those Violet Eyes on Amazon:  http://amzn.to/TVEVonnieDavis

Lauri: Match dot com! Vonnie, that’s wonderful! And congrats on your past successes with Storm’s Interlude.   

Now for some background on Sherri.

Sherri: I have always been drawn to the county, but grew up in the city. A few years ago my husband and I moved our four children out to a small fourteen acre farm. I love waking in the morning to the sight of pasture and woods, chickens and horses, dogs and cats. Living here has been a dream come true and has definitely enhanced my experiences, which I hope shows in my writing. I started writing off and on about thirteen years ago but seriously about two years ago. Occasionally, you will find one of my beloved animals in my stories so watch for them.

www.facebook.com/sherrithomasromance
www.sherrithomas.blogspot.com
http://twittter.com/sherlynromance

Lauri: Your small farm does sound like a dream come true, Sherri! Best wishes on your writing career!

Vonnie, tell us a bit about your Honky Tonk Hearts story.  

Vonnie: My tag line is: Falling in love was not on his agenda, until he looked into those violet eyes.

THOSE VIOLET EYES released the end of June. My hero is a wounded vet who lost part of his leg and three of his team members when their Humvee ran over an IED in Iraq. Win’s come back to Texas to heal and find a part of his soul. He has a dream of opening a ranch for children with amputee limbs, but the rundown ranch he’s bought needs a lot of work. To earn a little extra coin and to keep his demons at bay, by staying super busy, he taken a job as a part-time cook at the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk. Evie hates her life. She wants to escape the work and the dirt of her brother’s ranch. To do so, she works evenings as a waitress at the honky tonk, squirreling away all of her tips. Initially, Win is pretty self-contained. He’s a mass of mangled war debris, but he’s drawn to this spitfire with the mesmerizing eyes. Evie is a keg of dynamite with a short fuse…and Win knows how to strike his match.

Lauri: Aw, a touch of a workplace romance! Nice.  

How about your book, Sherri?

Sherri: My book is LOST MEMORIES.

When your past is a blank, it’s hard to trust the future…

Darcy Brooks, the newest employee on The Matthews Dude Ranch, has amnesia. She woke up in the Northwest Texas Hospital with no family or friends around her, but is determined not to let life pass her by and sets out to create new memories.

Nick Matthews is the oldest of four boys and head of his family’s dude ranch. He takes his responsibilities very serious and blames himself when things go wrong.

Lauri:  Interesting! I recently met a man who had amnesia not once but twice. His wife said the second time it happened, he’d done nothing more than walk in the closet to get a shirt. When she found him standing there, she told me all she could think was, “Oh, no, here we go again.”

So, Vonnie and Sherri, tell us what you like best about your stories.

Vonnie: Besides the chemistry between Win and Evie? I’d have to say it’s the underlying theme of reaching for your dreams. It’s a rather personal theme for me. I knew at the age of eleven that I wanted to write books. Life and self-doubt got in the way, and it wasn’t until I turned 63 that I achieved my dream. So much time was wasted, ladies. So much time… Win wants to help kids, and he’s actively pursuing his dream. Evie’s dream of becoming a teacher was put on hold when her momma got cancer. She came home to care for her and thanks to a promise she made to her momma—to take care of her brother, Dooley—her dream has died. Until Win pushes her to go after it.

Sherri: The way Nick and Darcy are there for each other.  They have some trying times but through it all their friendship grows and becomes so much more.

Lauri: Dreams and friendships, I’d say both stories will tug at reader’s heart strings. Give us some excerpts! (They can include a cowboy kiss if you’d like.)

Vonnie: A brief intro: While Win takes a break from the cooking, a fight breaks out in the Lonesome Steer between two men. When one picks up a chair to throw it, Win steps into the line of fire to keep Evie safe. The chair hits him. Evie returns with ice in a towel and kisses the owner’s cheek, thanking him for being so goodhearted…

Win twisted from side to side and hoped his back muscles wouldn’t cramp up later. Hell, hadn’t he saved her? Hadn’t he moved her out of harm’s way? Where was his kiss? He sucked air when the coldness hit his skin. Win glared at her for a beat. “I’m goodhearted, too, you know.”

“Hunh! You’re more foolish than goodhearted. What made you rush to my rescue like that? I’ve handled fights before.”

“Not any more you don’t. Not as long as I’m around.”

“You’ve got a chauvinistic streak in you, Win Fairchild.” She moved the ice pack further up his back. “I can take care of myself, I’ll have you know.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Tell me, do you ever get tired of being Wonder Woman?”

“Every damn day.” Her violet eyes regarded him for a minute. A slow smile played at the corners of her lips before she leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, by the way.”

Win turned slightly and wrapped an arm around her waist. Her shocked expression when he pulled her close pleased him. “Surely you can do better than that.”

His eyes locked on hers and he lowered his head to give her a couple of feather-light kisses. Her lips were soft and responsive. She sighed against his lips, and he was a goner. One taste of her wouldn’t be enough. Hell, a thousand tastes would never be enough. He kissed her again, longer, deeper, fiercer.

Hoots and hollers finally broke through the sensual fog of his mind, and he pulled away.

Her hand went to his chest and curled into his shirt. Passion glazed eyes looked up at him. “I…ah…I have to get back to work.” She hurried off with her cute tush twitching in that denim skirt.

Wow, was all he could think. Evie packed one wow of a punch. And the most endearing thing about her was she didn’t have a clue that her punch anchored in the depths of his heart.

  Sherri: Lost Memories unedited excerpt:

Darcy rose onto her elbows. Yuck. Her jeans were caked with mud and who knew what else. Anxious to get out of the stench, she placed her hand in his. Palm to palm, her heart skipped a beat, and she forgot to breath.

He tugged on her arm, pulling her to her feet. Slamming into his torso, his arm went around her waist. The momentum made her step back into one of Horace’s holes, knocking them both off balance.  At the last moment, he twisted, bracing her on top of his hard chest as they landed back in the muck. Air whooshed from her lips. She stared at his mud splattered form in horror.

Oh, God, he’s sure to fire me now.

“I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you? Are you okay?” She yanked her foot to free it, catching her boot on the cuff of his jeans.

“I would be if you’d stop kicking me.”

Ceasing all movement, she stared at him in horror.

“No.”

She bit her bottom rim to keep from laughing as she wiped the specks of mud from his cheek, making the damage ten times worse. His skin was warm and bristly under her finger. She quickly withdrew her hand.

His chest rumbled beneath her.

A warm, tingling spread through her body. Startled, she levitated herself by placing her palms on his chest.

His lips lifted at the corners before he broke out in a full laugh.

A second later she joined him.

“You should see yourself.”

“Me? What about you?”

His thump wiped a clump of sludge off her check. Nick moved his leg. Every hard inch of him pressed into her flesh, branding her to him. He tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

A spark ignited in her toes and heat worked through her body. His chest rose and fell in a rapid pace beneath her palms, but her own air suspended in her lungs. She fought a wild urge to rake a fingernail over his unshaved jaw.

 She sucked in a breath. This was not right. The way her body succumbed to one touch of his hand was wrong. 

She pulled her knees up in an effort to get to her feet. Large hands encased the back of her thighs in a stilling motion, and she ending up straddling him as he rose to a sitting position. A helpless gasp robbed her of speech and pulled his eyes to her lips.

Her stomach fluttered. Ripples of anticipation churned deep inside and she forced herself to look away. The magnificent body was off limits. He's my employer for goodness sake.

She gave herself a mental shake and swallowed the moan rising in her throat.

 “I-I must look quite a sight,” she commented, trying to escape her own thoughts.

“We both do.” He smirked, revealing a devilish indentation in his left cheek.

When did he get a dimple? She didn’t remember seeing one before.

Muscles flexed under her and the heat of him seeped through her jeans. She glanced away, wondering how to talk her jelly filled muscles into getting up. Failing to persuade her body, her sights returned to his. Green specks highlighted his brown orbs—another new finding to keep the breath from my lungs.

“We, uh, should get cleaned up.”

His voice broke through her muddled brain. Nodding, one by one she convinced her limbs to move and scrambled to her feet before he attempted to help her again.

Lauri: Great excerpts!  Please tell about reviews/what/where you’ll be next promoting your book or other books you have coming out.

Vonnie: Those Violet Eyes has received some lovely reviews. I’m especially thrilled with remarks from a reviewer in Finland. The link to her review is http://bit.ly/QXwKFF .

I have a historical romance coming out October 31^st. Tumbleweed Letters is a novella set in 1879 in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Imagine a solemn widower’s reaction when his two-year-old son lays claim to a scrub woman for a local brothel.

Sherri: On August 22 I’ll be at  http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.ca/

And http://babettejames.com/posts/ on September 10^th.

Lauri: Thanks Vonnie and Sherri, so much for being here today, and congrats on the awesome additions to this series. I’ll be hosting another Honky Tonk Hearts author, Donna Michaels, here at Cowboy Kisses August 28^th.

Honky Tonk Hearts Guests by Lauri Robinson

www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com

In May I introduced you to a couple of author’s from The Wild Rose Press and their Honky Tonk Hearts Series. The books in this series are centered around the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk located near Amarillo, Texas ran by Gus Rankin, and come in all heat levels. Books released in the Honky TonkHearts Series so far include: 

Honky Tonk Man by Sylvie Kaye

Nothing but Trouble by Jannine Gallant

Sing to Me, Cowboy by Lauri Robinson

Those Violet Eyes by Vonnie Davis

The Morning After by Brenda Whiteside

Lauri: Today I welcome Stacy Dawn and Brenda Whiteside to Cowboy Kisses and there will be prizes, so be sure to leave a comment! Thanks for being here, Ladies. Let's start with you each sharing a bit about yourselves.

Stacy: I live out in the country in Southern Ontario Canada and can see Lake Ontario from my office window (very inspiring).  I’m excited to be currently writing the round up stories for the Honky Tonk Hearts series about the main characters of the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk.  I’ve been writing for many years and have over twenty published stories in both short and full lengths including my Noelle series about the eccentrically hilarious Christmas town.  You can find out more about my stories at www.stacydawn.com and I love hearing from readers and writers at stacy@stacydawn.com

Lauri: Wow, your view sounds very inspiring, Stacy. I’ve been to Canada a few times, and know how beautiful the countryside is.  

Now, we’ll hear from Brenda.

Brenda: Thanks so much for having me today, Lauri. I love the name of your blog – Cowboy Kisses! I grew up in Arizona so there were plenty of cowboys and dreams of their kisses.  I intended on becoming an artist and never took my love of writing seriously. Then one day, sometime after college, after marriage and after I had my son, I found more satisfaction filling a blank page with words than an empty canvas with color. After publishing several short stories, I turned to writing novels. My husband and I recently moved to prairie country in Arizona and are enjoying the wide-open spaces while tending fruit trees and veggie gardens. When I’m not at my laptop writing, I enjoy hiking, motorcycle riding and the company of good friends.

Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.

Or on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/brendawhitesid2

Group blogs on the 9^th and 24^th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com

Personal blog http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Lauri: Thanks to you, Brenda, for joining us. I was in Arizona last summer. I left with a sunburn. :)  Let’s have both of you tell us about your books in the series, and your characters.

Stacy: My first story is currently in edits and involves Marshall Dekes, one of the bartenders at the Lonesome Steer.  The story is titled, Lonesome Cowboy: With a title under his belt, a purse in the bank and a ring in his pocket, Marshall Dekes returned for the woman he loved...only to find her at the alter saying 'I do' to another man.

Lauri: Oh, my. I’ll be downloading that one for sure!

Brenda, I know your story was just released, on the 4^th of July no less!

Brenda: Yes, it was. I had a big bang of my own with that release date! My novella is The Morning After. Abigail’s biological clock is ticking. Bobby Stockwood has been married a couple of times but never found true love. I think my blurb does a good job of summing up the story and the characters:

Can there really be love at first sight?

Abigail Martin doesn’t think so. Unless the sexy redheaded stranger she wakes up with the morning after her best friend’s wedding is telling the truth.

Bobby Stockwood fell cowboy-hat-over-boot-heels for the brown-haired beauty, and married her in an impromptu wedding ceremony.  Now he just has to convince his new bride that the morning after can be the first day of the rest of their lives.

But just when Abigail starts believing the fairy-tale is real, she finds out exactly who Bobby is, and the walls of make-believe start crumbling down.

Lauri:  There’s nothing like a good love at first sight story! I’m so anxious to find the time to read The Morning After!

Stacy and Brenda, tell us what you like best about your stories.

Stacy: I love that Lonesome Cowboy is a second chance story.  So many people have that love that they can’t forget or that goes wrong but never goes away.  This was my chance to give a happy ending to two of those people.

Brenda: The Morning After is fun! And full of misunderstandings, which is all part of the fun, for the reader anyway. Abigail doesn’t always see the humor.

Lauri: Second chances and misunderstandings, I’d say both stories have what readers look for. Give us some excerpts! (They can include a cowboy kiss if you’d like.)

Stacy: A cowboy kiss…

“Then we wouldn't have known the truth; we would have continued to believe the untruths, the falsehoods.  You never would have come back…and I wouldn't have ever gotten another chance to do this.”

His hand wove beneath her hair at her nape, pulling her forward until his lips sealed his words.  It was if the earth dropped from beneath her feet, the memory of his lips so pure, so vivid, so all consuming he suspended her in time, as if she had been in a drought and he was the water of life. Two years closed together and she almost cried out for the need she had suppressed for so long. 

The warm lips, slow and sweet at first, became strong and demanding, as if he too needed her to survive.  The realization was empowering and she clasped his shirtfront, unwilling to let even a breath of air come between them.

 

Brenda: A cowboy kiss the night before resulted in the morning after:

A moan.

The man rolled to his back, kicking off covers.

Abigail gasped. Her gentleman visitor wore only a bow tie and black socks.

She crept to the edge of the bed. His face was turned away, further hidden by red curls hanging down the nape of his neck and onto his cheek. A visual sweep of the attractive body brought a smile to her face when she paused on his more than ample endowments. A true redhead. An encounter of this magnitude should be easy to remember.

Abigail smiled in spite of her throbbing temples. Inching closer, she nudged his boots aside with her foot and leaned over to see his face. Mmm. He smelled good, like rich leather and fresh cut wood. As she bent to get a closer look, Kirby, her sixteen-pound Siamese cat, entered her room and announced his hunger.

The visitor stirred, grasped her arm, drawing her down across his hips.

He rose up on his elbows and looked at her. “So, Abby, you’re a morning person, are you?”

Abigail launched off the bed, trying not to come into contact with anymore of the warm body than she already had. Tripping over the boots, she ended up sprawled on the floor. “Who…” She gulped. “Who the hell are you?”

Lauri: Fabulous excerpts!  Please tell what/where you’ll be next promoting your book or other books you have coming out.

Stacy: Next up to release before Lonesome Cowboy is One Starlit night coming out this September.  Another hot cowboy…this time with a guitar LOL.  Then after Marshall’s story comes out, I will be working on the closing story to the series involving the Rankins, owners of the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk. 

Thanks so much for having us today!  Again, readers can find me at www.stacydawn.com and most of my stories at www.thewildrosepress.com

Brenda: I’ve had quite a few blog stops already. All the books in the Honky Tonk Heart series are great reads, and we’ve all been making the rounds. Tomorrow I’m at Katherine Grey’s blog which is http://katherinegrey.blogspot.com. I’ve got some time coming up at The Romance Review and will have an interview at Coffee Time Romance and More in August. You can check out all my books on my web site, www.brendawhiteside.com.

Lauri: Thanks Brenda and Stacy, so much for being here today, and congrats on the awesome additions to this series. I’ll be hosting more Honky Tonk Hearts authors at Cowboy Kisses next month as well, August 7^th we’ll hear from Vonnie Davis and Sherri Thomas, and August 28^th Donna Michaels will be here.

Be sure to leave a comment to win an envelope full of Honky Tonk Hearts prizes!

Honky Tonk Hearts

www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com

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 25^th!

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 26^th and at Sherry Gloag’s blog on the 30^th. 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/.

Sylvie: I have an interview with Rachel Brimble posted at  http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.com/    

I’ll be at the Launch Party Wednesday May 9^th between 6 and 10pm EST!!!!  

I’ll be part of the Blog Tour at the following blogs and dates:

At http://www.wildwomanauthor.blogspot.com/ host Kat Henry Doran on April 29

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 10^th to visit with Brenda Whiteside and Stacy Dawn. August 7^th to hear from Vonnie Davis and Sherri Thomas, and August 28^th to meet Donna Michaels. 

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