This book was another great Texas romance (seems to be a theme around here this week). Stick around after the review for a guest post directly from Ms. Barrett. Also, check out the earlier post from today all about a new release from one of my FAVORITE author(ess)es.
In small Texas towns, strangers come and go...
Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she's never lacked for love...only the knowledge of her past.
By day she works the Inn, but by night...Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good...stable, until new guests blew into town.
Some strangers come with secrets and lies.
Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn't matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony's Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.
Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery's ignited within, he's intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn't want Avery to know. Each time they're near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie. But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.
Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she's never lacked for love...only the knowledge of her past.
By day she works the Inn, but by night...Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good...stable, until new guests blew into town.
Some strangers come with secrets and lies.
Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn't matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony's Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.
Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery's ignited within, he's intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn't want Avery to know. Each time they're near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie. But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.
Add this book to your goodreads list!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17341981-baby-stetson
Baby Stetson is another book that features a couple you just want to cheer for, despite all the obstacles in the way. Avery is an adopted Texas girl, singing in her country band, working in her parents inn and dreaming of a life on the Nashville stages.
Avery also struggles with a past full of holes. She earns the nickname, Baby Stetson because she was an abandoned baby discovered in a cowboy hat. She longs to know the world from which she came, but fears hurting her adoptive parents. Her parents have a heart of gold, and want to see Avery fly, even though she's afraid.
Suddenly, quiet, quaint Harmony's Echo is full of drama. A mysterious man named Lucas threatens to run away with Avery's heart. A man named Rodney shows up claiming to be her father. Avery begins to recieve anonymous messages asking her to be safe and warning her against Rodney. Also, her sister shows up with a basket full of issues. If that weren't enough, her mom starts showing signs of an illness.
Avery and Lucas have it packed in against them, but the sparks are undeniable. It was fun to watch them untangle their web and take a chance on love. One of the things I loved most about Barrett's work was that her book felt so real. At times, it felt more like reading Avery's journal than a novel. I loved all the insight into their life.
Besides, haven't we all had one of those weeks that was just beyond terrible?
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| Baby Stetson earns 4/5 Paw Prints |
“Wow. This is a nice kitchen,” Lucas said, closing the door behind him.
Avery faced him. “You like to cook?”
“Oh yeah. I learned at a young age that I had to take care of myself, so I taught myself to cook. Now it’s something I enjoy.”
“Are you good at it?”
“I’m good at a lot of things, Avery.” Lucas closed the gap between them.
Too close, too close!
She couldn’t back up anymore, though. Behind her was the counter. Her back was already pressed up against it. Lucas looked at her like he wanted to devour her.
“Lucas...”
“I know I need to stay away from you, Avery. All I want is one kiss. I’ve got to taste you. Tell me no, right now, and I’ll back away.”
Lucas pressed his body to hers. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. His face, only inches from hers, lowered. “Tell me now, Avery. Because if you don’t, I’m going to kiss you.”
Don’t! No! Yes! Do it! No!
She couldn’t get the words out. All she could think about were Lucas’s lips, mere inches from hers, sexy, tempting, inviting. Avery opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
“I’m not supposed to be so attracted to you, Avery,” Lucas whispered, then his lips crashed down on hers.
He cupped her face, pulling her into his kiss. She didn’t even have time to decipher what that comment meant. Avery tilted her head upward, responding to his kiss. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders as her fingers dug into them. Holy hell, this man could kiss. The deep urgency of his kisses drove her mad.
“Lucas,” she muttered against his lips. His touch was lethal. It wasn’t supposed to feel this good. Or amazing. Or sensational. Avery wasn’t supposed to react to him this way. She didn’t even know this man! Oh, but she knew his gaze, so intent on her, and she was fixated on him.
“Yes, Avery?”
He trailed kisses along her neck now. Desire burned within, igniting quickly. His lips were back on hers now. He darted his tongue out, touching the corners of Avery’s lips, pushing his way in gently. Avery opened for him, needing another taste. Lucas’s erection pressed into her, only making her want him more. She lost all senses, other than to kiss him. Lucas hoisted her up, still pressing her against the counter. Avery squealed and wrapped her legs around him. More fiery kisses came next. His tongue was gentle, daring, inquiring.
“Avery.” He moaned against her lips, nipping lightly. “I want to take you to-”
They broke apart as the sound of loud voices neared. Lucas put her down quickly and backed away from her.
Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She's an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. The Secret Santa Wishing Well is her debut book. You can visit Nikki's site at: www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at nikkilynnbarrett@yahoo.com
You can also connect with her on the web:
Website
Goodreads
Other books by Nikki Lynn Barrett
And now for a peak inside Ms. Barrett's brain....
There's realism in my fiction romance!
Before I get into my post, I want to say thank you for having me here today. I appreciate this opportunity so much!
Often times, I see a lot of comments from people about why they chose or don't chose to read a certain book. I hear “I read for a fantasy, for an escape.”
I get that! I totally do!
With more options for authors to go with small presses, epublishers, and self publishing, the kind of books and the subjects authors touch on have become more real.
Where am I going with this? I'm talking about realism in romance. Situations that are so true to every day life that it smacks you in the face. Okay, not quite in the face, but come on, you know what I mean :)
I love to read a variety of stories. Whether the plot has a lot of contemporary real world issues that are addressed, or something that is nothing like that, and really does take a reader on an escape, makes them wish for that kind of world, or life. If I can relate to the characters or plot, no matter the type of book, I'm happy.
What I find great about realism in romance is that I connect to the characters better. I can envision their situation and my emotions go all over the place, depending on what that is.
So when I started writing, I created characters that have a lot of realism in them, but the one thing I knew was that there would be a happily ever after for them, no matter how much they go through beforehand.
Here's an example of it in The Secret Santa Wishing Well, my debut book. Cheyenne, the heroine, is a struggling single mom. She's got two great kids, and her ex husband doesn't really do much other than add drama to her life. Cheyenne has a lot of strength, but she's got a lot of doubts and fears, too. There's a lot of realism there. How many times do you hear about single parents doing all they can for their kids? Cheyenne would put her line on the line before letting anything or anyone messed with her kids. And I got a lot of compliments about the realistic feel of the book, and how touching it was.
For Baby Stetson, I put plenty of it there, too. Avery, the heroine, has a lot going on in her world. She struggles with her feelings about her best friend, Jameson, who she'd been dating for the past few years. Now, Jameson made a mistake and I wasn't sure how readers were going to react to him. When I first wrote him, honestly, I didn't realize how much I would come to love him. Sure, he did something that to some, might not be forgivable, and to others, he would. Lucas, the hero, has a few bonding moments with Jameson. Yes, the current and the ex can be friends.
I've read some books that tackle on some difficult, controversial, and and taboo subjects. While they aren't for everyone, I find it to be very rewarding to read a story like that, to understand, feel the emotions, and have a deep connection.
My question to you? Do you like a lot of realism in your romance? I'd love to hear your responses!
