A WHOLE 'NOTHER KIND OF FIREWORKS!

MUSE MONDAY
Is anyone really reading blogs on the 4th of July? This is one of those holidays people are out and about...on the lake, camping, having droves of friends and family over for barbecue, and heading to that one place you can see the best fireworks.

But if you are spending a little time on the computer and looking for a blog that doesn't tax your mind too much, I thought I'd throw out some one liners (or two) from my books that speak to a different kind of fireworks.

My books are about much more than fireworks, but I combed through and found a few for this 4th of July Muse Monday.

The Art of Love and Murder
1) She climbed on behind him, settled her legs along side his. He adjusted his position, pushing back against her ever so slightly. She fidgeted against the leather seat, low-slung tremors made her smile. Her hands rested at the junction of his hips and legs as the engine roared to life. The hum vibrated through her, she hugged her legs against his hips and her hands felt the taut muscles along his sides as they pulled onto Route 66.

2) “My kind of early morning woman.” He moaned as she took him in without comment. 

She fell forward and rocked, her mouth next to his ear. “Shh!” she whispered. “Don’t talk, Sheriff, you might wake me up.”

Southwest of Love and Murder

1) “Have you ever done it on the saddle?” Her cobalt blue eyes sparkled in spite of her pallor.

“Jesus, Phoebe.” He gripped her bottom tighter. If ever he’d had a fantasy, she’d hit on the one.

“No.” His voice rasped and he cleared his throat. “Not yet.”

2) “I’m not sure how being a woman-starved cowpoke and smelling like his horse would make a man more virile.” He rubbed his chin and feigned a serious expression. “I can tell you this naked rancher is pretty damn full of raw nature…” He flipped the corner of the blanket off his hips. “And he’d be happy to demonstrate his stamina to a certain bohemian author. Several times over.”

A Legacy of Love and Murder

1) The pause was long enough to see the deep brown of her eyes with a curious green rim and to feel the warmth of the hot-blooded American woman whose body brushed his as she passed.

When she lifted her chin higher, bringing her lips to his, the message her kiss sent matched the desire he’d been fighting.

2) The door closed. The kiss grew intense, and she had the sensation of being tasted. She was dessert.

Sleeping with the Lights On

1) “Sandra, when a gal’s figure fills in the spaces to make it a woman’s

body, a man can lose all common sense just lookin'."

2) The mere touch from  him was so lethal he may as well have been walking his fingertips up my legs and under my skirt, dancing across my panties, causing me to squeeze my thighs together in defense or arousal or both.

The Morning After

1) A moan. The man rolled to his back, kicking off covers. Abigail gasped. Her gentleman visitor wore only a bow tie and black socks.

2) The heat of his body mapped the identical heat of hers. Her breasts tingled with the contact, and she rubbed against him to spike the sensation.

Now, go enjoy some fireworks!

The Morning After with a Redheaded Cowboy

MUSE MONDAY

I’m in a western state of mind today. We sat around a campfire last night with friends, some of which might be mistaken for cowboys. We are in Arizona after all where cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and a certain southwest accent peppers the conversation. Since it’s Muse Monday, I thought I’d revisit my contemporary western.

When I wrote The Morning After, I was in a western state of mind all day long. And I have to say, I had a lot of fun writing this novella.

I’m a desert rat, born and raised in Arizona. Texas isn’t far away, and the country music I listened to while growing up in the west always had a nice Texan twang. Cowboys and the life they live hold a special place in my heart – even the contemporary ones who run their ranches like a corporation.

When I grew up in Phoenix, Rodeo Days were anticipated all year long. At school, we were allowed to wear western garb during rodeo week. This was back when girls had to wear dresses so slipping into tight jeans or western pants was a treat. We’d go shopping for a new western outfit every year to wear on the day of the parade and to the rodeo. At the end of the week, a school holiday, the Jaycee’s Rodeo of Rodeos Parade marched down Central Avenue. The parade would be led by the Arizona State Sun Devil band. We oohed and ahhed at the Rodeo Queen and the hunky television cowboy who would ride next to her on the float. For a city girl like me, cowboys were the ultimate fantasy prince charming, with the right amount of rugged that a prince didn’t possess.

If you have a hankering for some western fun, you’re going to love The Morning After. By the way, The Morning After is also part of a boxed set of books written by other Wild Rose Press authors. Honky Tonk Hearts has many stories for your contemporary western entertaining read.

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?”

There is only one word to describe this novella — adorable! RT Book Reviews

If you like contemporary, down home western romances blended with laugh-out-loud humor, you simply must check out THE MORNING AFTER by Brenda Whiteside. – Coffee Time Romance

The Morning After is a story this reader absolutely enjoyed. I immediately fell in love with Abby and Bobby. – The Romance Reviews

Buy Link for The Morning After: Amazon

Buy Link for Honky Tonk Hearts Box Set: Amazon 

The Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk Win Fest

Hey, Readers, you're in for a treat! You can experience a taste of ten of the stories from the extremely popular Honky Tonk Hearts series and be eligible to win, win, win!

This is a blog hop you are certain to enjoy. Gus Rankin himself has provided the instructions so read below.

Ladies, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking old Gus, owner of The Lonesome Steer honky tonk couldn’t have brought together all the lonely, broken hearts that he did. But I’m here to tell you I have. Not only do I have the pictures of these couples in my office to prove it, but there’s been a whole series of romances written about the men and women who found love at The Lonesome Steer. And just like every one of my couples, each of these romances is a keeper.

The authors of these books have put together a Valentine Honky Tonk Blog Hop, an easy way for you to get a sneak peak at every story. And there are prizes to put a bounce in your Texan Two-Step. To be eligible, visit each blog link below and leave a comment. The more hop stops you visit and comment on, the more chances YOU have to win a $50 gift card to The Wild Rose Press. In addition, the publisher has provided a second grand prize of a $25 gift card to The Wild Rose Press and a TWRP Mug for a random commenter (Sorry, US visitors only for the mug prize). Some of the ladies will also be giving away their own personal prizes. So whatcha waitin’ for? Happy hoppin’! 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE ON MY BLOG AND AT THE BLOGS BELOW FOR MORE CHANCES TO WIN!

Nothing But Trouble by Jannine Gallant 

Sing to Me, Cowboy by Lauri Robinson

Honky Tonk Man by Sylvie Kay 

A Song for Sophie by Mackenzie Crowne

Those Violet Eyes by Vonnie Davis 

Cowboy-sexy by Donna Michaels

Lonesome Cowboy by Stacy Dawn 

Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis   

Lost Memories by Sherri Thomas

Just for leaving a comment on my blog, you'll have a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press. So leave me a comment and then hop on over to all the other blogs for more prizes. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.

My story is entitled, The Morning After, the tale of Abigail who wakes up with a redheaded cowboy named Bobby next to her in bed - a cowboy she's never seen - who believes in love at first site. Below is an excerpt from a scene that takes place a the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk - the bar Gus owns.

THE MORNING AFTER

Knees shaking, Abigail concentrated on the door of the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk, but as she came next to Bobby her heart hammered faster. Her neck stiffened, and in her peripheral vision, his glare seared her. Once she passed, rigidity turned to jelly; her chin dropped. The crunch of gravel beneath her boots echoed in the night, mingling with the muffled music inside the bar. She glanced at the boots of the man who strode beside her, boots that rightfully labeled Tex a shit-kicker.

“I guess you need a little more time,” Bobby called across the parking lot. “I’ll be in touch.”

She rolled her eyes. His lady friend must be so drunk he wasn’t concerned with her hearing him.

The tall cowpoke opened the door, and music and laughter poured out. Abigail stole a glance back. Bobby’s fancy red truck remained parked, lights on, but the flashing sign atop the building reflected off the windshield obscuring the people within.

Tex urged her forward toward the bar. The band covered Garth Brooks’s song, Mr. Right, sending Abigail’s mood into a downward spiral—one thing she did remember from her marriage night was two-stepping with her redheaded hunk to that song.

Her new friend waited for her to take a stool and sat on the one next to her. She propped an elbow on the bar and rested her head in her hand. After a few minutes, time enough for Bobby and his woman to leave, she’d head out.

Down the bar, Kiera Rankin waved in her direction while her father, Gus, stepped toward them.

 “We’d like a couple of Longnecks, Gus,” Tex drawled. Gus raised a brow when he looked at Abigail’s companion and darted a questioning look her way as he reached in the cooler for the beer. 

Now get on outa here and leave comments at all those blogs!