Moms and Cowboys

A few days ago, Jannine and our guest Sylvie Kaye gave you a taste of what is coming in the Honky Tonk Hearts series. Their books, Nothing But Trouble and The Honky Tonk Man shouldn't be missed. In fact, 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.The Wild Rose Press is the publisher, and they have some fun planned for this series. Today, not only can you get another two excerpts but there's a launch party you'll not want to miss. More on that later.
 
Our guest today is Laurie Robinson. Her book, Sing to Me, Cowboy, releases May 23rd. My book for the series, The Morning After, releases July 4th. We're continuing what Jannine and Sylvie started - talking about the mother's in our books. Laurie is up first.

Mother’s Day is a holiday I’ve grown to look upon differently over the years. The significance and appreciation of those I’ve honored on that day grew from my own mother and grandmothers to include my in-laws and now my daughters-in-law and good friends. And I must admit a card I received last year still sits proudly upon the old wood stove in my dining room. The cover has a picture of a yellow lab puppy, and it says: Grandma, As I get older, I realize that you’ve been right about so many things…  Inside the card, it continues: I am adorable, for example. And talented, and quite possible a genius. You were so insightful to see that. Happy Mother’s Day. It’s signed with two paw prints from “THE BOYS” Bear and Gander, (my granddogs). 

 Heather Gibson, the heroine of Sing to Me, Cowboy is a mother. One who had been devastated in a way only a mother understands and she’ll do everything within her power to keep custody of her children. As soon as she entered my head, I knew I had to tell her story. She’d been through so much and yet she loves with all her heart, as mother’s do. Her only goal is to create a stable, loving home for her children, and nothing, not even her own happiness, will stop her. I have to say, I’m so glad her story has a happily ever after ending. She so deserves it. 

Blurb:

Heather Gibson's past catches up with her one dark Texas night. 

Locked in a custody battle with an ex-husband who's looking for any excuse to take her children, Heather doesn't need any more trouble. But when a broken-down car and a dead cell phone leave her stranded at the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk, she comes face-to-face with the one man who could jeopardize everything—including her heart. 

Country-singing sensation Lance Dugan is back in Amarillo for his grandfather's birthday and to take care of a bit of unfinished business—apologize to Heather for leaving ten years ago. Lance has fought hard and won big the last few years, but seeing Heather again makes him wonder if he's been fighting for the right things.

Finding each other again may seem like fate, but one horrible secret, buried deep, could divide them forever.

Here’s a short excerpt from when Heather and Lance first meet—again after ten years.

“Hey? Are you all right?”

The shiver that zipped up her spine caught in her throat with the power to strangle the life out of her. There are certain voices one never forgets—and a first love ranked very near number one.

Heather fought for air. It couldn’t possibly be him. He was in Nashville, where all the famous singers hung out.

“Excuse me, Miss?”

Her hands trembled as air finally entered her lungs. Could this night get any worse? Could her life get any worse?

Pushing off her knees, she straightened her spine, and wasn’t surprised the strangling sensation came back full force. Her heart—as if it wasn’t already racing—shifted into overdrive.

It was him.

Lance Dugan. From his George Strait-out-of-the-box-hat to his un-scuffed Justin boots.

The last person she’d ever expected to see. The last person she’d want to see in the shape she was right now.

Inhaling until her lungs threatened to burst, she squared her shoulders and wished she was back in her car, sweating to death, being eaten by wild beasts, anything but standing face to face with him.

Lance grabbed the fender of the pickup truck next to him just to stay upright. It was if the ground was rising up to meet him. Few things shocked him, but this did.

“Heather? Heather Childs?”

Her smile could still knock his socks off, even though tonight, in the muted light of the parking lot, her grin appeared strained. The rest of her on the other hand, looked just as good as if they’d graduated yesterday instead of ten years ago. Bits of light caught in her golden-brown hair, making it shine and sparkle as brightly as it had when she’d been cheering the football team on. The shorts that hugged her thighs proved her legs were as long and limber as they had been when she’d worn her tiny cheerleading skirt, which had never failed to catch his eye.

“Yes, Lance,” she answered, with the voice that still haunted him at times. “It’s me. But if you recall, it’s Heather Gibson.”

The name hit him like a cold shower. Needing to keep that reaction well-hidden, he let go of the truck and bent down to pick up the leather bag that sat by her feet. Handing it over, Lance admitted, “Yes, I do recall. How’s Matt?”

The Wild Rose Press http://www.thewildrosepress.com/lauri-robinson-m-175.html

Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Lauri%20Robinson

Blog http://www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com/

Okay, I'm in love! What's really fun about this series is seeing the connections from book to book. In my book, The Morning After, my hero Bobby Stockwood, keeps singing lines from one of Lance Dugan's songs.


The mother in my book is Abigail Martin's mom. Abigail's biological clock is ticking louder in Mom's head than in Abigail's. She gets excited when her daughter meets a handsome redheaded stranger at a wedding. 

“You don’t have to tell your mother anything. Why would you tell your mother anything? But I know weddings are a good place to meet new people. New male people. Wouldn’t hurt for you to meet someone new. Going to a wedding can put you in the mood.” She chuckled. “In all kinds of moods.”

I had fun with Abigail's mom. Have to admit, a bit of my mother's personality seeped in there. But I'm guessing she has a bit in common with most moms.

Blurb:

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.

Excerpt:

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?”

Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.

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

She blogs about prairie life on her personal blog http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

And as I mentioned above, today is the kick off celebration for the Honky Tonk Hearts series. So now please pop over, win some prizes and take part in all the fun.  

Join the authors of Honky Tonk Hearts on
the main reader loop of The Wild Rose Press http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheWildRosePress
May 9th between 6pm and 10pm EST
to celebrate this wonderful new series full of the cowboys you love!