Are our characters flawed enough? by Jannine Gallant

Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet? ~ L.M. Montgomery

This quote got me thinking about my characters--and the mistakes they've made. And the ones who haven't made a lot of mistakes. I don't know about you, but sometimes I have a hard time giving my characters flaws. Heaven knows I'm not perfect (just ask my daughters), but I want my heroes and heroines to be better than that. I have to make a conscious effort to give them less than stellar traits to overcome. In an ironic twist, looking back at the characters I've created, the most memorable of the bunch are the ones who have the most shortcomings. The hero who makes you think, "Seriously, dude? Did you really just say that?" The one who finally pulls it together in the end when you honestly doubt he's ever going to be worthy of the heroine's love.

In another ironic twist, I've realized the characters in my suspense books always have issues, but not nearly as many quirky hangups as the ones in my straight contemporaries. Maybe because they need more strength to overcome the bad guys? Maybe because there's more focus on the plot in these books? Solving a mystery and staying one step ahead of a crazy killer, along with working through emotional issues hindering the love story, may be enough conflict for one book. Adding major character flaws to the mix might just double the word count needed to get everything sorted out. And let's face it, publishers aren't looking for novels that top 100,000 words no matter how interesting our characters! But, in a straight contemporary with no mystery to solve, the reader expects more depth of character to keep the story moving. Which is why my two cowboy books win the contest for memorable heroes. These books don't have the most complicated plots, so the characters had to stand out to make the books shine.

In these excerpts, do you want to smack my heroes upside the head and tell them to get a clue? Yeah, me, too! Let's just say they've made a few mistakes...

From Nothing But Trouble... Chase loves women. All women. He's loved so many women, he doesn't recognize the real thing when it comes along...

     “Have you ever been in love?”
     His hands clenched around the steering wheel, but his tone was hesitant. “I suppose so.”
     “That’s a lukewarm response if ever I heard one.” She shifted in the seat and leaned toward him. “Is it always just physical for you? Have you ever tried engaging your emotions, your heart?”
     “Hell, Honor, I don’t know what to say. I’m not good at talking about that sort of stuff. I feel plenty. You twist me up like a pretzel.” Tossing his hat in the backseat, he ran a hand through his hair. “You make me question everything I’ve ever wanted. When I look at you, it seems like there should be more.”
     Tears burned behind her eyes at his admission. “Honestly? You’re not just saying that to get me into bed.”
     “I’m not sure what I’m saying.”
     “I suppose it’s a start.”
     He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
     “Yeah.” She gave him a weak smile, feeling her defenses crumble. “It may get you to second base. Possibly third.”
     “Hot damn! That definitely is a start.”

From Asking For Trouble... Cole lost Miranda once over their differences. Too bad he hasn't wised up any...

     He snorted. “Diaper changing isn’t a skill I’m going to need in the future. I don’t intend to have kids. And no offense, but I’d rather shovel horse shit for a living than set up a babysitting service.”
     A pulse throbbed painfully at her temples. “I haven’t forgotten. What was your charming comment on the subject?” She snapped her fingers. “That’s right. You said having kids was like wearing neckties. With little effort, they could choke the life out of a man.”
     “I said that?”
     She dropped the wet, gooey rag on the coffee table, not caring if it took the finish off the damn thing. After shrugging on her jacket, she turned to face him. “You did.”

     “Wow, I didn’t know I was so poetic.”

So, who are some of your most memorable heroes? Flawed or not so much? Curious minds want to know.

Website          Facebook          Twitter

Asking For Trouble--And Getting It! By Jannine Gallant

The long awaited sequel to Nothing But Trouble is finally here! Okay, long awaited by me--and maybe my mom, a couple of close friends... LOL Asking For Trouble released just after Christmas on Amazon, and it actually falls into our Forward and Backward theme.

Miranda and Cole have a past. He believes, if they put some effort into it, they could still look forward to a future together. She's afraid--terrified--to go backward. Everything she knows about Cole leads her to believe he'll just break her heart--again!

Here's the blurb:

Daycare owner, Miranda O’Neill isn’t looking for a miracle. But that’s what it’ll take to convince Cole Matheson the American Dream isn’t a trap designed to suck the life out of a man. She wants a house with a white picket fence. He wants adventure. She yearns for babies of her own. He’s perfectly content claiming his aging hound as his only dependent. The one thing they agree on—they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Six months before, they’d admitted love wasn’t enough and parted ways. But when Cole finds himself in charge of his nephew for the ten longest days of his life, only one person can save him.

Will Miranda put aside her heartache to jump into the fray? Can Cole find any redeeming qualities in a demon in a diaper? Either way, both know they’re just asking for trouble.

And now a snippet to show you just why going forward might not be such a smart move for these two...

   “I loved you, you know.”
   His words knocked the breath out of her. Tears burned behind her eyelids, and she blinked to keep them from falling. “I loved you, too. It’s why I ended things when I did.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Do you know how much it hurt to walk away?”
   “You didn’t have to.” Stepping forward, he brushed her cheek with his thumb.
   She backed away on trembling legs, knowing all those emotions she’d fought so hard to control were bubbling to the surface, ready to spill over. “You don’t want a family. I do.”
   “Having a family doesn’t need to be about kids.” The smile on his lips didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We could get a puppy or two, or maybe one of those cute little pot-bellied pigs if you want something to baby.”
   She sighed. “You’re all about having fun, being impulsive, letting nothing tie you down. And there isn’t anything wrong with that. But I need an actual grown-up for a life partner, not a guy who never outgrew boyhood.”
   His eyes flashed with a hint of anger. “Hey, I have responsibilities. When someone orders a bear or a moose or a freaking dinosaur, I deliver the finished product on schedule.”
   “But you accept only enough work to survive on, leaving yourself plenty of free time to play.” When he opened his mouth, she held up her hand. “More power to you. Your life is a good one. For you. But I want more than having the man I love drop a distracted kiss on my forehead before he takes off on a two week backpacking trip.” She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “That would be fine once in a while, but you’re gone as often as you’re home. Babies weren’t our only sticking point, Cole.”
   In the silence that followed her words, a scratch on the door grated down her spine like nails on a chalk board. Turning, she opened it and stepped back to let Tucker inside. His toenails clicked against the hardwood floor.
   “I’m going now.”
   He nodded, defeat dimming those compelling eyes. “Thanks for coming over.”
   “You’re welcome. I guess I’ll see you on Monday when you drop Jackson off at the daycare.”
   “Sure.”
   Crossing the porch, she tilted her face up to the cool night breeze. But it couldn’t dry the tears sliding down her cheeks.

Find Asking For Trouble HERE. Links to all my books are on my WEBSITE.

Happy New Year!

Do Hot Covers Sell Books? by Jannine Gallant

Hot summer nights bring to mind a wealth of images. Some straight out of a romance novel... A couple standing in silhouette on a back lawn, hands clasped as they gaze up at  a star studded sky. Young lovers swimming beneath the moon in a secluded pool, just their heads visible as they look into each other's eyes. Tangled sheets revealing sweat dampened bare legs twined together... Three completely different images. I can picture them all on a book cover. But which one would sell the story?

Call me boring, but I tend to be attracted to scenery covers. A glimpse into the setting of the book. I may be boring, but I am versatile. I'm equally drawn to sweeping landscapes with dramatic mountains or a windswept, wide open plain or a homey scene featuring a back porch complete with a rocking chair. Yawn.

When my first few books were published, this is the type of cover I requested. The artists did add the inset of floating heads in several cases, apparently their attempt to liven things up. I was somewhat unnerved at first, but I got used to them. When my books released, I sat back and waited for my babies to sell. Okay, maybe I didn't just sit. I promoted. I blogged. I tweeted. I bored my friends on Facebook. Still, sales were dismal.

Then something happened that made me rethink my love affair with gorgeous scenery covers. For my cowboy book, Nothing But Trouble, I requested a barnyard scene complete with a bull in the background. The cover artist completely ignored me. When I got my first look at the cover, I nearly had a heart attack. No red barn. No fenced in bull. Instead, a hot cowboy with bulging muscles in an embrace with a very pretty girl. Yikes!

As hot covers go, this one is actually pretty tame. Remember what our mothers called books with bare chested heroes and women in undone dresses? Bodice Rippers. What would my friends and relatives think of this new book? They'd think I write smut, that's what! With trepidation, I boldly set out to promote this new book. And what do you know, it started selling! Okay, maybe not like Nora Roberts sells books, but sales for this one double all my others combined.

Is the story any better? I don't think so. Did I do more promotion? I'm not sure. Maybe. But a year and a half later, I still see a sale or two each week. Not great, but it's something. So, could it be that hot cowboy cover is selling the book? I'm not sure, but when the sequel comes out sometime next year, you can bet I'm going to ask for a good looking man on the front--hold the shirt!

Alright, ladies, let's hear it. Do your books with hot covers sell better? Or is my experience a fluke? What do you want to see on a book cover?

Find all my books with their tame covers on my website, and enjoy the rest of your hot summer nights reading a good book!

Time Marches On by Jannine Gallant

Is March any more mad than any other month? Life, in general, tends to be a little crazy. For me, March is about change. The snow is starting to melt, and I wait with eager anticipation for the day I can dump my snowshoes back in the garage for good. That probably won't happen until April, though.

Tara running cross-country

My daughters put up their cross-country skis after the final State Championship race, and I switch from freezing at Nordic races to sweltering at track meets. Luckily, March also provides a nice easing in period of weather adjustment.

Kristen at last August's show

My youngest has her final ballet show of the season, and the hectic rehearsal schedule lets up as we close out the month. She also turns 14 in a few days. That means a sleepover birthday party with a bunch of loud, giggling girls. My oldest is 16 and has her learner's permit. Where did the time go? Wasn't it just yesterday they were the little, bitty girls in the ballet shows, so cute and awkward?

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. Maybe because I'm writing about babies. Another change of pace for me. My suspense trilogy is complete and awaiting the release of the 2nd book at the end of the month. And while I stress over sales and promo, I'm writing a fun, cowboy book that one of my editors requested. The aforementioned baby is a demon in a diaper. I'm amusing myself writing this one, a sequel to Nothing But Trouble to be titled Asking For Trouble.


So, has the onset of a new season brought change to your life? Do tell. Find links to all my books on my website. And have a happy spring!

Creating a Fictional Town by Jannine Gallant

I'm giving away a book, so keep reading for details!

If you’re an author, do you set your stories in real or fictional towns? I do a little of both, using real towns or areas as the larger backdrop but having the majority of the action take place in a fictional town of my creation. You don’t get into trouble by mentioning real places this way. And no one can tell you, “Hey, you got that detail wrong!” Also, it’s just plain fun creating a town. In my Class of ’85 books, the editor for the series gave us a starting point in the fictional town of Summerville, New York located on the shores of Lake Ontario where the 25 year reunion of the class of ’85 would be held. The authors who wrote for the series filled in the details, chatting with each other on a group loop to keep all the facts straight. It was a great collaborative effort, and I think we were all very proud of the results.

Nothing But Trouble is my contribution to the Honky Tonk Hearts series. For this series, the editor gave us the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk located on Route 66 on the outskirts of Amarillo, Texas and instructions to include at least one scene in the bar. That’s it. The rest was up to each individual author. I decided to create my own town on the Texas/New Mexico border, a forty-five minute drive from the honky tonk. Then, because I’d had so much fun collaborating on my first series, I put the word out that other authors were more than welcome to use my town of Redemption, Texas. Well, two took me up on the offer and started asking questions. Yikes! I actually needed to get organized beyond scribbled notes and handcrafted drawings. So, I made a list of all the businesses that would be included in my story and gave the town a history. Then, with the help of my daughter who thought I was incredibly lame, I made a map of my town using a paint file. The other authors gave me their input, and I added those businesses. I was able to send the files to them, and we all knew that the church was on Oak Street and the movie theatre on Main Street across from the Sunrise Café. Very, very cool.

 

Maybe you aren’t writing a story as part of a series with other authors, but you never know when you might want to create a sequel to your own book. Having all these details at your fingertips is a huge bonus. It saves time hunting through your original story to see if your heroine turned right or left to get to the store from her house. You may not remember, but trust me one of your readers will if you get it wrong! LOL

 

Today I’m giving away a PDF copy of Nothing But Trouble. Just leave a comment or send me an email at jannine @ janninegallant.com (without the spaces) to be eligible to win.

 

Website     Amazon Buy Link     Barnes & Noble Buy Link

 

Meet Honor Jackson from Nothing But Trouble by Jannine Gallant

Nothing But Trouble is my contribution to the Honky Tonk Hearts series with The Wild Rose Press. There are some great stories in this series, two of them by fellow Roses of Prose authors, Vonnie Davis and Brenda Whiteside. Check them out!

Today I thought it would be fun to post an interview with Honor Jackson, newly arrived in Redemption, Texas, conducted by a local news reporter. Take it away, Stan the Man…

Stan: Stan the Man here with a little filly just arrived in Redemption. (Smoothes back his thinning hair and smiles a big, toothy grin.) Honor Jackson is her name. Word has it, Honor, you’ve been seen hanging around the Sunrise Café. Want to tell us what brought you to Redemption?

Honor: Andee Matheson, the owner of the Sunrise Café, is my old college roommate. When she mentioned she could use a little help at the restaurant once her baby was born, I was more than happy to oblige. (Bites lip and looks down at the ground.) I was at a bit of a loose end after… Well, coming west was a good move for me.

Stan: I smell a story, Honor, or can I call you Honey?

Honor: (Eyes widen innocently.) Only my friends call me Honey, and I don’t know you well enough for that, Stan.

Stan: Ooh, a feisty one. Is it true you’re going to cater Jenna Paladin’s wedding?

Honor: Chase Paladin, Jenna’s brother, caught me at a weak moment, and I agreed. Jenna was in a bind, and, well, I didn’t have the heart to say no.

Stan: (Snickers.) I know all about Chase. We go way back. That man has been charming women since our days on the school playground. Doesn’t surprise me in the least you couldn’t say no. How did you meet Chase?

Honor: I ran into some trouble on my trip to Redemption, and Chase gave me a lift. I took one look at him and just knew he was going to be nothing but trouble.

Stan: (Slaps thigh and chortles.) You hit the nail on the head, there. Ask all his ex-girlfriends. Well, Honor, it’s been a real pleasure getting to know you better. I know I speak for all the good citizens of our town in welcoming you to Redemption.

Honor: Thanks, Stan, I appreciate that. I have a feeling my time in Redemption will be quite an adventure.

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?

You can find more information and buy links for Nothing But Trouble and all my other books on my website. I hope you enjoyed today's interview!

Dog Days of Summer (or Using Dogs to Enhance your Writing) by Jannine Gallant

Ginger - she looks sweet...

July… A sun baked beach with the smell of tropical tanning lotion wafting on the breeze… The whir of crickets on a sultry summer night… A sweat dampened shirt and aching muscles, the stillness of the forest in mid-afternoon, anticipating a hint of breeze at the summit of the climb… All images I associate with The Dog Days of Summer. Of course the Dog Days wouldn’t be complete without the all important dog.

Ginger the stick loving menace to squirrels!

A dog at the beach means throwing a ball, over and over and over… In the evening calm, man’s (or woman’s) faithful companion lies in the grass and rolls to her back, all four paws waving ludicrously, and moans. The stillness of the forest erupts in a frenzy of barking as a squirrel scampers across the trail. See how a dog changes up the scene, either enhancing (or destroying) a mood, or adding comedy and excitement. Maybe that’s why I put them in all my books.

The following is a scene from After All These Years where my heroine, Chantal, discovers a skeleton. A scene like that isn’t easy to write. It’s hard to get the drama without making it totally cliché or worthy of an eye roll. Ace the basset hound adds that extra something that makes this scene work. (At least I hope it works! LOL)

Covered by a mass of honeysuckle, she saw the shape of a wing attached to a fuselage. The sun glimmered off the tip of a rudder protruding from a clump of ferns. It appeared to be a small, single engine plane. Ace sniffed around what was undoubtedly the cockpit, half buried in the earth. He gave a long, low woof and dug furiously.

“Ace, the plane has been there for years, probably decades. I don’t know what you hope to find.”

Undeterred, he continued his excavation, and then disappeared completely into the rusted body of the plane. Chantal climbed across the broken wing after him. “If you get stuck in there, so help me—”

Empty eye sockets stared up at her as the skull rocked precariously and toppled from the skeleton. Ace gave a final tug on the humerus clamped in his jaws and came away with the grisly prize.

“Drop it, Ace! Drop it this minute!”

I’ve also used dogs to tell my readers something about a character. How a person reacts to a dog is generally indicative of the type of person they are. Are they timid, concerned about their appearance, overbearing, reluctant? The list goes on. In Nothing But Trouble, my hero, Chase, learns something about Honor’s temperament when she’s introduced to his hound dog, Bo.

            At the truck door, she came nose to nose with a long eared, soulful eyed hound dog. He put his oversized paws on the window frame and gave her a sniff. Reaching out a tentative hand, she scratched his head. Tongue lolling, he moaned in response.

            “Move it, Bo.” The dog retreated at Chase’s command, and she opened the door. “I can make him get in the back seat.” His words held more confidence than his tone.

            She squeezed inside. “It’s okay. I like dogs.”

            Starting the engine, he smiled at her over the recumbent dog who’d draped head and shoulders across her lap. “That’s good, because he seems to like you.”

Have you used dogs in your writing? If not, give it a try. Or choose a different animal. Cats are full of personality. I can only imagine what they’d add to a scene. Hmm, I may have to change it up one of these days…

My books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailer. Buy links are on my website.

Beginning with a Bang by Jannine Gallant

We're celebrating Creative Beginnings this month, so I thought I'd talk about the beginnings of books. How many of you agonize over the opening scene in your book and rewrite it countless times? It’s the hook that catches the reader’s attention, so it has to be perfect. At least that’s the way I look at it as I revise the first page of my WIP for the 120^th time, changing one word here and one word there… You get the picture, and those of you who write can probably relate. The opening scene does more than you think. It doesn’t just introduce your characters and setting. It sets the tone for the book. It shows off your style.

The first scene in Nothing But Trouble came to me in a flash of inspiration. I could see the setting, a dusty highway in Texas in front of a honky tonk bar. My heroine is stranded by the roadside. She takes one look at the cowboy offering her a ride and knows he’s nothing but trouble. But creating a picture isn’t enough to engage potential readers. As an author, it’s your job to show them what kind of book you’ve written. Is the stranded woman frightened, sad, or spitting mad? Do you get a feeling of danger or one of humor from the situation? By the end of that first page, the reader should have a good sense of your voice.

Now, take everything you want to convey in your opening scene, and condense it into one sentence. The oh so important first line of your book. A daunting task to be certain. I’ll admit I’ve written some less than stellar first lines. But I’ve read some true beauties, both in classic books and new favorites.

From Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.

From Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts: The air was raw with February the morning Bobby Lee Fuller found the first body.

From Try Just Once More by Kat Henry Doran: Maggie McGuire didn’t have time to die.

It took me several tries, but I finally wrote a first line for Nothing But Trouble that satisfied me. Chase Paladin slammed on the brakes and prayed.

It may not be the best first line ever written, but I hope it will hook readers and make them ask, “Then what happened?” So, let’s hear your favorite first lines, one’s you’ve read or written.

Opening scene from Nothing But Trouble:

            Chase Paladin slammed on the brakes and prayed. Momentum, and the heavy livestock trailer he was towing, sent his pickup careening toward the red sports car idling in the middle of Route 66. With tires smoking, he rocked to a stop inches from its rear bumper. He peeled his fingers from the steering wheel and spared a glance for Bo, who had slid off the seat onto the floor of the truck. The hound shook himself.

            “What kind of freaking idiot stops in the middle of the road!” he shouted. Pushing his hat to the back of his head with a shaking hand, he leaned out the open window. “Hey, buddy—” The passenger door of the Porsche swung open, and the complaint lodged in his throat.

Long, long tanned legs topped by a pair of frayed denim shorts shot out. He dragged his gaze upward as the woman stood. A green ribbed tank top hugged a slim waist, and thick brown braids dangled over each shoulder. Fists clenched on her hips, she yelled something Chase couldn’t quite hear at the driver.

A pink flowered duffle bag flew through the open door and landed at her feet. She kicked the door shut and flipped the driver the bird. With squealing tires, the car tore off down the highway.

            Bending, the woman grabbed the handle of the duffle. Faded denim cupped a world class ass. Chase let out a low whistle as his pulse picked up speed. She glanced in his direction before dragging the bag toward the side of the road. He edged his pickup forward a couple of yards and lowered the passenger window.

            “Need a ride?”

            Her eyes were hidden by oversized sunglasses with leopard spotted frames. They perched atop a short, straight nose covered with a sprinkling of freckles. Color tinged high cheekbones, and a pink mouth with a full bottom lip drew into a tight line. She bared an even row of white teeth.

            “Not a chance.”

            “You sure? Mornings, there isn’t much traffic along this stretch of highway.”

            Her fist clenched around the canvas handle of the bag. “I’m not in a hurry.”

            “Look, I’m harmless, I swear.”

            She eyed him for a long minute. A warm Texas breeze ruffled tendrils of loose hair, blowing it around her face. She pushed a strand off her cheek. “You look anything but harmless. If I had to guess, I’d say trouble is your middle name.”

Website
Blog
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

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.

A New Adventure

I’m thrilled to be a part of the revamped Roses of Prose! In the spirit of new beginnings, a little info about me. Probably more than you ever wanted to know! LOL

Jannine the Author
I write romantic suspense and contemporary romance with a bit of mystery thrown in. I can’t seem to write a story that doesn’t keep the reader guessing… My first novel, Victim of Desire, was published by The Wild Rose Press last spring. My current work in progress is a sequel starring the heroine’s sister, Grace.

I’ll admit it—I have a weakness for those submission calls tossed out by publishers. I can’t seem to resist, even if I’m hip deep in another story. When I saw the call for the Class of ’85 series about a 25 year high school reunion, I was hooked. I wrote Lonely Road to You, but could I stop there? Not a chance. I adored this series and the interaction with the other authors. After All These Years was my second offering, and Maybe This Time was my third. I really have to work on my powers of resistance! LOL

I’d just finished Maybe This Time when the call came for the new Honky Tonk Hearts series. I don’t write about cowboys, or do I? Apparently I do. I told you I’m a sucker for a submission call. Nothing But Trouble was an absolute blast to write. I don’t have a release date yet for this one. It’s currently in the editing stages, but I’ll keep you updated on its progress.

And finally, my first love. Historical romance. I double majored in history and creative writing, so you’d think I’d write historicals. I do—or did. I wrote three of them, long meandering sagas that gathered an impressive pile of rejections. I took a pair of pruning sheers to the final one and hacked away. The final result was a really wonderful story (if I do say so myself) set in rural Colorado in 1880. Bittersweet will be released by the Whiskey Creek Press in February of 2012.

Jannine when she isn’t glued to her computer!I live in gorgeous Lake Tahoe with my husband, two daughters, and dog, Ginger. When I’m not writing, I’m either hiking (or snowshoeing depending on the season) in the woods around our home with Ginger, chauffeuring my girls from one sporting event to another, trying to catch up on housework, or cooking. I do love to cook, and for those of you interested, I post recipes on my personal blog at http://janninegallant.blogspot.com/. I grew up in a small town, live in the mountains, and love being outdoors. You’ll find a big dose of small town life or outdoor adventure in all my books.

To all you readers out there, what are your favorite settings for a story?

Find buy links and blurbs for all my books on my website at www.janninegallant.com. Thanks for reading!

Jannine Gallant