Honky Tonk Hearts by Jannine Gallant

I am so excited to tell everyone about a new series published by The Wild Rose Press. If you love sexy cowboys and the women who tame them, then the Honky Tonk Hearts books should be at the top of your TBR list. Our guest today is Sylvie Kaye, who launched the series in April with her book, Honky Tonk Man. I’ve read it and can tell you it’s a winner. My book for the series, Nothing But Trouble, is also available. For more info on future Honky Tonk Hearts releases, Brenda and Vonnie will give you the scoop on May 9th and 12^th, so be sure to check back.

Since we’re celebrating Mother’s Day this month, Sylvie and I thought it would be fun to talk about the mothers in our books. Take it away, Sylvie!

Mother’s Day is about honoring mothers, and Jace is all about honor.  His mama taught him to open doors for women and take a woman’s arm. Wasn’t right for a woman to chauffeur a man. Should always be the other way around. Over the years he’s added to those rules, formed a moral code he lives by. Unlike his own deadbeat father, he believes a man should be there for his family. When his brother gets into trouble he sells whatever he has to send his mother the money to help them out.

Sunny comes home when her mother’s confronted with a life or death health crisis.  When Sunny was a teenager banished to her room, Ma would often sneak in.  Mostly to try to make her see reason—reason in their house being Pa’s point of view.  Nothing much has changed.  He wants to take care of everyone and thinks he knows what’s best.  And maybe he does, for the ranch and the cattle and the hands, but he doesn’t understand about women.  That’s why her Ma needs her here, and that’s why she aims to stay.

Sounds to me like the mothers in Honky Tonk Man have a lot more character than the mothers in my book!

Though neither my hero nor heroine’s mother actually puts in an appearance in Nothing But Trouble, they both play a pivotal roll in the plot. Can you say Mothers from Hell! LOL

Chase Paladin is a charmer who loves women. All women. He just doesn’t have a whole lot of faith in them, and he doesn’t believe relationships last. The reason—his mother left her husband and two young children for another man. His father, the strong, silent type, never said much about it, but he never remarried, either. Chase is determined he won’t be a victim of that kind of heartache. And the easiest way to prevent it is a love ’em and leave ’em attitude. Until he meets Honor Jackson.

Honor has her own mommy issues. Her mother is currently on husband number five. Her relationship with men resembles a tornado in the Midwest, and Honor was too often in the path of the destruction. As a result, her views on marriage are a tad jaded. Trusting a man like Chase, with a posse of ex-girlfriends looking for revenge, doesn’t come easy.

Honky Tonk Man

Blurb: 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.

Excerpt:

© Copyright, Sylvie Kaye

“Mind if I cut in?”

The familiar voice made her insides hot and quivery.

With a nod from her, Tommy Lee stepped aside and Jace took her in his arms. Sigh.

She stared at his throat and Adam’s apple and inhaled his unique scent of soap and man. Until his large hand cradled the back of her head and pulled her closer.

Her face rested in the crook of his neck, her temple against his jaw. After a minute, she closed her eyes and relaxed into the intimacy of his hold. She felt the rise and fall of his chest, the heat from his body. The hand clasping hers was firm and warm. The same hand that strummed the guitar and made such beautiful music. Could he do that to her body? Strum it, make her hum?

His thighs felt muscled and the bulge between them hard. She smiled, liking that he wanted her. But to what end? Was he looking for a booty call or a relationship? Did she even know which one she wanted? It had been awhile since she’d been with a man; that might explain her shameless fascination with him.

Sunny wished he’d say something. Maybe then she’d stop analyzing and wondering. She tried not to think and concentrated on the music and moving to its rhythm. Which didn’t help at all. His hips moving in time with hers only made her hotter.

Visit Sylvie at her website.

Buy Honky Tonk Man at TWRP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble.

Nothing But Trouble

Blurb:

Chase Paladin avoids commitment like a patch of stinging nettles. He's seen how love can trample a man, and he doesn’t plan to get hitched—ever. But when Honor Jackson walks into his life, hell-bent on keeping her distance, she turns his convictions inside out.

One look at the too-handsome cowboy with laughing green eyes and a killer smile, and Honor knows he's nothing but trouble. She's come to Redemption, Texas to help an old friend, not to let another man charm her into certain heartache.

But every time she turns around, Chase is there, and the closer they get, the more she fears he’ll break her heart. So when anonymous threats make it clear that someone in Redemption wants her gone, Honor is ready to oblige. Only now Chase isn’t certain he can live without her.

Will two wary hearts take a chance on love before it's too late?

Excerpt:

Chase reached over and gave her arm a squeeze. The imprint of his fingers on her bare skin tingled like a brand.

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Soon as word gets out, you’ll draw the locals like bees to honey.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve never heard that line before.”

“I can see I have an uphill battle ahead. Charming you won’t be an easy task.”

Leaning her head against the high vinyl seatback, she avoided his smiling eyes. “More like impossible, so don’t bother trying.”

His lips firmed. “Is it me in particular, or are you always this friendly?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Stroking the dog’s silky coat, she spent a moment composing her thoughts. “I’m sure you’re a whole lot of fun. You’re handsome and entertaining.” She let out a breath. “You’re probably a firecracker in bed to boot.”

He coughed and shot her a wide-eyed glance.

“But I’m not in the market for a fling with a good-looking cowboy.”

“Why not?”

“Huh?”

“What happened to put you off men?”

“Life happened. I plan to work for Andee for a couple of months and get my ducks in a row before moving on. I’m pretty sure—make that one hundred percent positive—getting involved with you would complicate the equation, and I’m no math whiz.”

“What are you a whiz at, besides putting men in their place?”

Visit Jannine at her website.

Buy Nothing But Trouble at TWRP, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

Honky Tonk Hearts is putting on a release party with lots of prizes on May 9^th. Details here. We hope you’ll stop by.