Kadie Scott's Blog, page 4
December 18, 2019
2019 Accomplishments | 2020 Goals
It’s coming up on the end of the old year and beginning of the new, and you know what that means… Goals.
Look at how you did on the old ones and set some new ones to keep that forward momentum. I do this every year for personal and professional goals. Let’s take a look at those author ones.
2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
I had a wonderful 2019 with new releases, new contracts, time with wonderful friends, fun at conferences, and growing my skill set. Here are some of the highlights:
PUBLICATION
I hit all my publication goals for 2019 and added a novella into the mix as well as several anthologies!
7 novels/novellas & 3 anthologies released!Taming the Troublemaker (Hills of Texas #3) as Kadie ScottThe Rookie (Fire’s Edge #2) as Abigail OwenThe Rogue King (Inferno Rising #1) as Abigail OwenClaiming the Cowboy for Christmas (Hills of Texas #4) as Kadie ScottThe Wolf I Want for Christmas as Abigail OwenThe Enforcer (Fire’s Edge #3) as Abigail Owen3 Anthologies as Abigail OwenMy Paranormal Valentine (with Her Demigod Complex)Sexy Supernatural Summer (with Her Demigod Complex)Christmas After Dark (with The Wolf I Want for Christmas)
WRITE BOOKS
I hit all my writing goals for the year and then some. Contracts to fulfill means a ton of words written and books edited…
400k+ words written4 novels written, 1 novella written2 novels completed from 20183 novellas/novels added toedits on 11 novels/novellas3 proposals written and submitted (and 2 contracted)
CONTRACTS
Contracts were my big, wonderful surprise of 2019. My agent and I had put 3-4 proposals out there. But I’ve had proposals out before that took a year or more to go back and forth on before getting rejected, so I was hopefully pessimistic. But this year wowed me! Especially toward the end of the year. I have new editors and books now with new publishers, and my current publishers want more. A dream come true and I’m still reeling!
14 books contractedSnowball’s Christmas (2 books) as Kadie Scott – KensingtonUnexpected Gifts (3 books) as Kadie Scott – Berkley Fire’s Edge 5th book as Abigail Owen – EntangledDevil’s Advocate (4 books) – redo of Legendary Consultants as Abigail Owen – EntangledUnnamed Paranormal Spinoff Series (4 books) as Abigail Owen – Entangled
FUN & FRIENDS
My goal every year is to spend time with people I enjoy and make sure I’m doing my best because my team does their best for me.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this a great year. Especially those who really believe in my books and AOAD! In particular:
My awesome readers. Your words of enjoyment and encouragement mean more than I can express. xoxoMy husband & kidsMy familyEvan Marshall, my agentHeather Howland, my Entangled editorSinclair Sawhney, my Tule editorJohn Scognamiglio, my Kensington editorKristine Swartz, my Berkley editorThe awesome teams of folks who make me a better author in so many ways @ Entangled Publishing, Tule Publishing, Kensignton, Berkley, and Wild Rose Press.Every author I get the opportunity to share my love of writing with throughout the year, because y’all are my people, my friends.The fantastic bloggers/reviewers who took the time to read my books an post reviews. You rock!The fantastic groups I’m a part of (RWA, Austin RWA, Paranormal Romance Guild, FF&P, & Contemporary Romance Writers)This year I was the Secretary for Austin RWAThe awesome team at Wild Rose Press who I do covers for under AOADThe contractors who I get to work with for AOADThe clients we get to do business for at AOAD (we hope we were a small part of your success this year!)
TRAVEL & EVENTS
I started the year with very few plans, so these were all just gravy!
Romance Readers Social, Pflugerville, TXBook Lovers Con, New Orleans, LARWA Nationals & Signing, New York, NYB&N Bookstore Signing, Austin, TXHeart of Texas Reading Salon, Boerne, TXTexas Book Festival, Austin, TXNYC Trip with Entangled/MacmillanILVN Gathering, online2 awesome retreats with bestie NicoleSeveral Facebook parties, online
AWARDS & HONORS
Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice Awards | The Boss | 3rd place in Vampire/Shifter booksTaming the Troublemaker named as a Fresh Fiction Fresh PickThe Rogue King listed in Ezvid Wiki’s Fiery Fantasy Novels For Dragon LoversThe Rogue King named in SyfyWire FANGRRLS Pick for SFF Romance Reads July 2019The Rogue King named as a Fresh Fiction Fresh PickThe Prism Awards | The Boss | 1st place in Dark Paranormal RomanceThe Rogue King named a Harelquin Junkie Top PickThe Enforcer named in SyfyWire FANGRRLS Pick for SFF Romance Reads December 2019Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Contest | The Boss | 2nd place in Paranormal/SciFi/Fantasy
AOAD – Authors On A Dime
Loved every second of working as Alyssa Day’s VPA.A ton of covers completed for The Wild Rose Press.Due to my writing commitments, this is where I had to pull back a bit, but still loving it!
EDUCATION & BUSINESS
My goal every year: Improve as an author by attending workshops. Between conferences, my awesome local RWA chapter, and online chapters, I took a ton this year. Feel like I learned a lot!While this is a dream, so it seems crass to talk about $, it’s still a business that helps feed my family (about time too). This is the FIRST YEAR I have been in the black since I started in 2012! Last year I broke even. Before that I was always red. I was thrilled to see my gross income close to double for the year. What a huge blessing!
2020 GOALS
Like last year, my goals this year surround completing contracts already signed and releasing several books that have been ready for a while.
PUBLISH BOOKS8 releases this year and I can’t wait for each and every one!including all the marketing shenanigansWRITE BOOKS – Contracts to fulfill means a ton of words to write as well as go through the editing process on…Expected word count will be around…550,000 wordsFinish editing process and/or rewrites…Inferno Rising #3 as Abigail OwenSnowball’s Christmas as Kristen McKanaghThe Worse for Were (Devil’s Advocate #2) as Abigail OwenBait N’ Witch (Devil’s Adovcate #3) as Abigail OwenA Ghost of a Chance (Devil’s Advocate Short Story) as Abigail OwenAll the books below except the last one…Write and submitA Gift of Hope (Unexpected Gifts #1) as Kristen McKanaghThe Defender (Fire’s Edge #4) as Abigail OwenFire’s Edge #5 as Abigail OwenTry As I Smite (Devil’s Advocate #4) as Abigail OwenUntitled Snowball’s Christmas #2 as Kristen McKanaghInferno Rising #4 as Abigail OwenUntitled Paranormal Spinoff Series #1 as Abigail Owen (submitting in Jan 2021)CONTRACTSNot this year. I am booked solid through about mid 2021 with contracts and projects. Probably early 2021 I’ll start sending out proposals again.
December 1, 2019
My Parents’ Happiest Place
This past Thanksgiving week, my family took a fantastical vacation to Disney World and Universal Studios to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary!
Disney is definitely my happiest place on earth. Between Disney fairy tales and Star Wars, my childhood imagination was formed. If you look closely enough, you can probably see that in my books.
In addition, I’m a ride junkie. Especially roller coasters. And Orlando has plenty of those. Between the 2 multi-parks, my favorite rides include… Everest, Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Kong. And, despite it not being one of my favorite movies, my all-time favorite ride is Peter Pan.
I also LOVE the immersive worlds these theme parks have started creating. Getting lost in the worlds of Harry Potter, Avatar, and now Star Wars is incredible. I could spend days just looking at all the details.
But this trip, what I loved most above all was watching my parents!
They hadn’t been to Disney since they took me when I was 8 (so a decade or 2…or 3). At that time, Epcot was still fairly new and Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios didn’t yet exist (at least as part of Disney). Seeing them enjoy the rides and, in particular, enjoy the time with family, was fantastic. Watching them light up when we all sang them “happy anniversary” to the tune of “happy birthday” was even better.
My parents met in high school in Venezuela. Their parents were ex-pats working in country. Mom & Dad were the prom king and queen. When they went off to college, their parents happened to move relatively close together in the US, near where Mom went to school, and Dad decided then and there, when visiting for Christmas, that she was meant to be his. He proposed in Central Park.
50 years together.
Amazing isn’t it? I only hope that my husband and I can be as lucky. It’s practically a miracle that we both grew up with parents who made it to 50 years. Both sets of my grandparents also celebrated 50 years together. What an example to follow!
Here’s to celebrating true love, soul mates.
My Parents' Happiest Place
This past Thanksgiving week, my family took a fantastical vacation to Disney World and Universal Studios to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary!
Disney is definitely my happiest place on earth. Between Disney fairy tales and Star Wars, my childhood imagination was formed. If you look closely enough, you can probably see that in my books.
In addition, I’m a ride junkie. Especially roller coasters. And Orlando has plenty of those. Between the 2 multi-parks, my favorite rides include… Everest, Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Kong. And, despite it not being one of my favorite movies, my all-time favorite ride is Peter Pan.
I also LOVE the immersive worlds these theme parks have started creating. Getting lost in the worlds of Harry Potter, Avatar, and now Star Wars is incredible. I could spend days just looking at all the details.
But this trip, what I loved most above all was watching my parents!
They hadn’t been to Disney since they took me when I was 8 (so a decade or 2…or 3). At that time, Epcot was still fairly new and Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios didn’t yet exist (at least as part of Disney). Seeing them enjoy the rides and, in particular, enjoy the time with family, was fantastic. Watching them light up when we all sang them “happy anniversary” to the tune of “happy birthday” was even better.
My parents met in high school in Venezuela. Their parents were ex-pats working in country. Mom & Dad were the prom king and queen. When they went off to college, their parents happened to move relatively close together in the US, near where Mom went to school, and Dad decided then and there, when visiting for Christmas, that she was meant to be his. He proposed in Central Park.
50 years together.
Amazing isn’t it? I only hope that my husband and I can be as lucky. It’s practically a miracle that we both grew up with parents who made it to 50 years. Both sets of my grandparents also celebrated 50 years together. What an example to follow!
Here’s to celebrating true love, soul mates.
October 30, 2019
Halloween Decorating Obsession
So, after maxing out the way I decorate for Christmas, I’ve moved on to my other favorite holiday, Halloween. I’m a paranormal romance author as one of my other pen names, y’all. Are you really that surprised?
I LOVE the colors, and the themes, and the funny signs, and all the different things you can do to decorate for Halloween. I don’t tend to go for spooky. More colorful. But I thought I’d share some of my best Halloween interior decorating tips.
Biggest Bang for the Buck
Glittery cheap boas from grocery stores. I have ones with pumpkins, one with ghosts, and one with witches. They take up a space so nicely. You can see parts of this one behind other decorations on the mantle. They’re also good for long tables, entertainment hutches, and wrapping around banisters.
Wall Signs
The biggest impact to holiday decorations I’ve found (for every holiday) are wall signs. Something about taking down the usual stuff to put up something seasonal and unique really stands out.
Combine Smaller Items on a Larger Item
I love to put some of my smaller items together on a runner or tablecloth.
Trees Aren’t Just for Christmas
Hey, they were a pagan hold over for the jolly holiday to begin with (sorry! I know that’s a hard truth). I find that a Halloween version adds some sparkle. Thinking of doing a life sized kind.
Table Clothes Are My Jam
Tablecloths decorate a very large/long space quickly and easily. I love this tablecloth (and finding fun ones for each holiday actually. I also loved finding the pieces to make the centerpiece!
Things That Light Up
A must at Halloween. After all, the actual celebration is held in the dark.
What about you? Are you a Halloween decorating nut like me? What are some of your favorite holiday decorating tricks?
October 28, 2019
Cover Reveal + Preorder | Landing the Lawman
Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this series is coming to an end. I wrote the first book, Saving the Sheriff, in 2014. Now, Carter’s story, book 5, is coming in 2020. Check out this beautiful cover!!! And preorder is now available…
COMING JANUARY 14!!!
He thought he was in control until she snuck into his heart…
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Carter Hill walked away from a perfectly fine life and relationship…all for a career she’s chased since she was fourteen. Years and a PhD later, she loves her job as a water rights consultant. At the same time, now that all her brothers are happily married, she’s lonely and wanting more. But the only man in her life is Logan–super serious, no sense of humor, and friend-zoned. Or is he? Perhaps a sexy, no-strings affair with a man more driven than she is could help her move on.
Logan Cartez doesn’t date, do relationships, or worry about commitment. He’s married to his job – making sure what destroyed his family ranch and their legacy doesn’t happen to others. When Carter propositions him, what began as a passionate and unforgettable night soon develops into more. Logan finds himself doing things he swore he never would, and the feisty, brilliant, blue-eyed rancher’s daughter has him thinking about so much more than work.
PREORDER NOW!
AMAZON | B&N | APPLE | KOBO | Google Coming Soon
* All books in this series can be read as stand alone and out of order.
October 19, 2019
My Awesome Nerds
JOIN THE AWESOME NERDS
For my superfans who want to interact with me more and don’t want to miss a thing, I have a Facebook fan group. This group is for readers who share a love for romance novels, happily ever afters, and, in particular, my books (under the following pen names / genres)!
Abigail Owenparanormal romancehttp://www.abigailowen.comKadie Scottsteamy contemporary romancecowboys & romantic comedieshttp://www.kadie-scott.comKristen McKanaghsweet contemporary romancehttp://www.kristenmckanagh.com
AWESOME NERDS RULES:To make sure this is a welcoming, inclusive, lovely place to be in a social media world that seems to be getting increasingly nasty, please be aware of the following group rules:
YOU ARE AWESOME! 
Heart of ATX Romance Reading Salon
Y’all, I had the best dang time last night!
Granted, I always have a good time when I get to hang with fellow authors and with readers and friends, and that’s exactly what I got to do Friday night in Buda, TX.
Cathy Maxwell (not enough raves can I give this woman) organizes these fantastic reading salons, and I was lucky enough to be one of the authors invited this year. Located at the beautiful Assmemblage, this fantastic gallery in Buda, 50+ folks who preordered tickets came out to enjoy wine, cookies, and hear readings from the authors!
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Donations and all book sales went to benefit the local YMCA and, in particular, Camp Goody, a new 85 acre location for YMCA camps, local swim meets, and more.
I joined authors Kharma Kelley, Teri Wilson, and Tessa Dare (oh what fabulous, aspirational company to keep) in reading short excerpts from our most recent books, and then spent time signing copies for folks and getting to say hello.
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I apologize now for attendees about my ultra-fast, nervous reading style, and hoped you enjoyed the excerpt from The Rogue King. I was definitely the straight man in the group of ladies who had the room rolling with laughs (in a good way).
And if you’ve interacted on social media with me and I didn’t recognize you, I am sending you extra hugs. I’ve realized that most of us post book covers and memes and not images of ourselves. Lol. Mental note to go look at the tiny personal photo on Instagram before these events.
October 13, 2019
Which Hero is the Best Kisser?
Can you judge a man by the way he kisses?
A kiss is a personal thing, made even more so by how a man feels about the person he is kissing. As a reader looking for the next great book boyfriend, what kind of kisses peak your interest? Soft and slow? Hard an demanding? Tension filled and fierce? Tender and loving?
With my newest cowboy romance—Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas—out now, I thought I’d let you vote for which of the heroes in my Hills of Texas series you would want most for a book boyfriend…based on the way he kisses.
Here are the first kisses between each hero and heroine in each book. Vote below. Which is your fav?
Cash & Holly – Saving the Sheriff
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As if compelled, he brushed the pad of his thumb over her high cheekbone and registered the silky-smooth texture of her skin, the warmth. He dropped his gaze to the lush curves of her lips, which were slightly parted. Needing to see her eyes, he moved his hand and tipped her chin up.
“You can talk to me, Holly. If you ever need anything. Okay?”
Silently, she nodded.
Cash should have pulled his hand away. Should have led her back inside. But he didn’t. Couldn’t.
The feelings that’d been building all night, hell since she’d come back to town, demanded action. As if compelled, he brushed the pad of his thumb over her high cheekbone and registered the silky-smooth texture of her skin, the warmth. He dropped his gaze to the lush curves of her lips, which were slightly parted. Needing to see her eyes, he moved his hand and tipped her chin up.
Slowly, giving her enough time to pull away or say no, he lowered his head toward her. So softly it was barely a whisper of a touch, he brushed his lips over hers.
Her small intake of breath made him shudder. “Cash,” she sighed.
Satisfaction burned through him. He liked the sound of his name on her lips. He took the kiss deeper, knowing she was right there with him. Still soft and slow, but now he opened his mouth, his tongue asking for and receiving entry to her mouth. Their tongues tangled, igniting fire in his veins, a slow burn of need that was stoked by every touch.
God she felt good.
A loud burst of laughter coming from the open door to the hall brought Cash to his senses. He gave her one last lingering kiss then pulled back. She still had her eyes closed. Gently, he brushed a loose tendril of hair back from her face, and she opened them, her green eyes sparkling at him in the dim lighting.
“We should go back inside,” he murmured.
She blinked slowly, then her gaze cleared. “What was that for?” she asked in a husky voice that had his already raging libido sitting up and taking even more notice.
But Cash couldn’t answer her. He’d sound like an idiot or a hormone-ridden teenager if he told her that he just couldn’t stop himself.
He gave her a lopsided smile. “Ask me again sometime.”
Will & Rusty – Resisting the Rancher
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“Sorry I’m late, baby,” the newcomer murmured.
Rusty only had time to register the new player in the scene was that Will guy with the blue, blue eyes before he leaned forward and kissed her.
She gave a little squeak of protest and he released her lips immediately. The sudden absence of warmth left her feeling slightly bereft, which was crazy since he’d barley brushed his lips across hers.
Before she could process what just happened, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Follow along and we’ll get rid of this guy.”
Realizing he was now standing between her legs, she hid the shiver sliding down her spine by giving him a tiny nod. He pulled back and smiled down into her eyes. The blue of his eyes, up close like this, was nothing short of startling. The irises were rimmed in black which somehow made the blue even bluer. She could drown in those depths, like falling into the sky, or the deepest of oceans. She had the strangest urge to trace the cleft in his chin.
“Miss me?” he asked, loud enough for the ass on the other stool to hear.
“Of course,” she purred.
Some small part of her brain registered that wasn’t exactly a lie. She’d spent a ridiculous amount of time thinking about him given their two extremely brief shared moments. They hadn’t even been properly introduced or exchanged more than a handful of words.
“Me too,” he said as he lowered his lips to hers again.
The moment their lips touched, she was a goner. Sensation rushed through her body, fizzing through her blood with little sparks. She was so attuned to him, she felt every shift, every breath. With a sigh, she lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck and drawing him in closer. His lips moved over hers in a lazy exploration that left her breathless, and suddenly she was wishing he’d meant it—that he really had missed her.
His tongue darted out, asking for and receiving entrance to her mouth. The second she granted it, he deepened the kiss, swirling his tongue with hers, nipping at her lips. Rusty gave a little moan. She vaguely registered the jerk behind her swear at them before he sloped off, but she was too wrapped up in Will and didn’t give a damn.
She held on to enough of her wits to keep herself from wrapping her legs around him or rubbing against him like a cat in heat. They were in a very public place. The kiss alone was likely to get back to her father—especially with her watch dogs right there. And, although her sense of self-preservation seemed to have abandoned her for the moment, it was still engrained enough to keep her from making a complete fool of herself.
Autry & Beth – Taming the Troublemaker
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But then the dimples that had teased him as a youth came out to play, her eyes lighting with mischief. “I didn’t figure you for someone who gave up so easily. Guess I won this one.”
With a wiggle that had certain parts of him perking back up, she turned to her truck.
Autry stared at her back for all of two seconds, assimilating her words. Oh, hell no. This slip of a woman was not winning anything… whatever that meant.
He was around the truck to her driver’s side in a few quick strides. Beth squealed when he spun her around by the waist.
“I always win,” Autry said.
He took her lips not harshly, but firmly and chastely, the scent of something light and alluring swirling around him as she gasped.
He was tempted as sin to dip his tongue inside the warm recess of her mouth to tease hers, but he wouldn’t push it that far. With more effort than it should’ve taken, he forced himself to stop at the one peck, pulling back to gaze down into wide, bemused eyes. God, he wouldn’t mind continuing though, his body vibrating like a tuning fork.
With Beth Cooper of all people.
Then he went rigid with shock as Beth went up on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck and putting the first kiss to shame as she showed him what kissing should always be like—her lips pliant and soft against his. He hardened in an instant, pushing painfully against the zipper of his jeans as she pressed her petite body to his, her tongue tangling boldly with his. She nipped at his lower lip, then soothed it with her tongue. With a sexy hum, she dropped back, her dimples in evidence yet again. “See. You may always win, Autry Hill, but I never lose.”
Autry stared down at her, his chest tight. Hell, his entire body was tight, and everything primal inside of him took over.
Scooping her up by the ass, he pinned her against her truck and tangled one hand in her silky hair so he could show her sassy mouth what kissing could really be. Beth moaned against him, wrapping her legs around his waist and giving as good as she got. Autry broke the kiss, dragging his mouth over her jaw and to her ear sucking the lobe into his mouth and enjoying how she shuddered against him, a satisfying hitch in her breathing.
A wolf whistle split the air and Autry froze.
Jennings & Ashley – Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas
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“Oh, honey.” He’d yanked her close, wrapping her in those big, strong arms, the heat of his body warming her chilled skin. The warmth of his caring had thawed her equally frozen insides.
He’d kissed the top of her head, and her heart had kicked up in an erratic rhythm. “I didn’t want to be right, you know. For your sake. If he made you happy.”
Rather than push him away, Ashley had laid her cheek against his chest and absorbed the comfort he offered. In a weird twist of fate, Jennings Hill happened to be the only person on the planet who understood.
With a gentle hand under her chin, he’d tipped her face up to his. “You’re going to be okay, Ashley Hughes. This is the start of the best years of your life, not the end. Do you hear me?”
The tears that had been threatening had spilled over, steaking down her cheeks in cold, wet rivulets, and her lips had wobbled as she tried to hold her reaction in.
Alarm had lit those shadowed blue eyes. “Don’t cry.”
If a hullabaloo of emotions hadn’t overwhelmed her, she might’ve laughed at the panic in his gaze. She’d cried in front of him only once before, when they were thirteen and she’d fallen out of a tree and broken her arm, and he’d reacted the same way, like a printer with a paper jam that brought it to a screeching halt. It had been funny to think of a big, capable man like Jennings being brought to his knees at the sight of a woman’s tears.
“Please, honey,” he’d begged.
Need—for comfort, for connection—had pulsed through her, and she’d quieted, her tears slowing as she’d stared at Jennings, taking in the strong line of his jaw shadowed with bristle, and firm but eminently kissable lips. When had Jennings Hill gotten so stinking sexy? With a hitch to her breath, she’d gone up on tiptoe and laid her lips over his. A quick peck, but her need had burned hotter even as she pulled back. Rather than release her, Jennings had wrapped his arms around her, holding her body against the lean power of his. After a long, unreadable stare, he’d groaned low and took her lips in the most profoundly gentle kiss she’d ever experienced.
Surprise had parted her lips, which he’d taken as an invitation—and maybe it had been unconsciously given—and he’d deepened the kiss. The man could seriously kiss too. In an instant, she’d moved from black despair to white fire in his arms. Every stroke of his tongue against hers, every sweet movement of his lips as they’d clung to her own, the spicy scent of his aftershave, the heat of his body. She hadn’t been able to get enough, wanting to climb into his lap and stay there forever as deep-seated longing bloomed in her chest.
A gasp of awareness and realization had hissed out of her, and Ashley had jerked back, startling Jennings enough to break his hold. She’d raised a trembling hand to her mouth, which still tingled from his kisses. What had she done?
October 8, 2019
New Release | Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas
Her thermostat was set to frosty, until her Christmas cowboy cranks up the heat.
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Ashley Hughes would love to cancel Christmas this year. Instead of holiday plans, she’s back in her Texas hometown planning her twin sister’s wedding — to her ex! Nothing like small town speculation to make her life cheery and bright. No one believes that she’s over the groom, until a certain cowboy secret crush steps in to be her plus one. Ashley’s tried to friend zone Jennings since high school, because she’s always known kissing the casual charmer would lead to a love she’d never forget.
Jennings Hill would be the first to admit that his feelings for his ex-best friend are more likely to land him on the naughty list. When he sees Ashley again, he only wants to help but then a rumor links them romantically and that’s when their lives get complicated.
The more time they spend together, the more Jennings worries she’s not over her ex, but Ashley starts wishing Jennings was her present wrapped under the Christmas tree.
AMAZON | B&N | APPLE | KOBO | GOOGLE
Tule Publishing | 10.8.19
* All books in this series can be read as stand alone and out of order.
EXCERPT
In short order, they downed their shots and men appeared and took each girl away for a dance. After pretending to enjoy a turn around the floor with one of them, Ashley checked their booth, which stood empty, their shot glasses littering the tabletop. Rather than sit there by herself as cowboy bait, she headed to the bar. “Hey, Bud. Can I have an IPA?”
“You got it.”
“Ashley Hughes?” a female voice squealed from her right.
Here it comes. “Mandy Walker!” Ashley could do the bubbly girl thing when required. “It’s been ages. How are you?”
The blonde valedictorian of their senior class held up her left hand sporting an obnoxiously large diamond. “Married.”
“Let me guess? Jason Hubbard?” The two had been high school sweethearts, so figuring that one out didn’t exactly require a PhD.
Mandy laughed. “Who else?”
“You look fantastic. Marriage must agree with you.”
“You look great, too.” Mandy sobered and Ashley braced herself for what she suspected was coming. “Although I expected this to be your bachelorette party.” A concerned light dulled Mandy’s green eyes and her pouty pink lips turned down. “How are you handling Taylor marrying Eric?”
I’m fine with the marriage thing. It’s the rest of my life thing that’s still a mystery.
Ashley pretended not to notice the downshift in mood, holding on to her bubbly facade. “I’m thrilled for them. They make each other so happy.” Both were true statements. The problem was no one seemed inclined to believe her about the first bit, likely made worse by her conspicuous absence all this time. Her own fault. That and a nasty bout of bronchitis.
Mandy, sweet but not the brightest bulb in the box with social cues, didn’t take the hint. “But you must be disappointed. Everyone expected you and Eric to marry. When they announced their engagement last summer, it was such a shock.”
To everyone except Ashley.
“Things were over between me and Eric long before then.” A glance across the room revealed a glowing Taylor. She’d never seen her sister so incandescently happy.
Mandy patted her arm. “Of course, honey. Way to stay strong.”
Ashley idly wondered if a bullhorn might get the message through. But, while the mental image of blowing back Mandy’s over-teased hairdo with the sound filled Ashley with wicked satisfaction, she decided against it.
Where would she find a bullhorn in a bar anyway?
Besides, a long time ago, she’d come to the conclusion that the louder one defended themselves against small-town gossip, the more people talked. Luckily, Bud chose that moment to hand her an ice-cold glass of beer. She tipped it toward the other woman. “See you around, Mandy.”
Seeking a quick escape, she spun away only to smack into a wall of muscle, her beer sloshing all over her hand.
“Sorry.” Ashley stumbled back into the bar. Muttering, she shook off her hand, and checked her outfit hadn’t suffered any damage. Satisfied she’d survived, she directed her gaze up, way up, into amused instantly recognizable blue eyes bracketed by laugh lines. Familiar eyes. The Hill family were practically identified by their eyes.
“Oh, no. Not you.” She groaned. Apparently, Lady Luck had completely abandoned her tonight.
She could deal with the stares, the pretend sympathy, and the unavoidable small-town speculation from nearly everyone else, but not from Jennings Hill. He saw too much and pushed too hard, and she wasn’t ready for that.
If anything, his teasing grin grew, casting her a careless kind of challenge she’d always found irresistible, even when they were kids. “Nice to see you too, Hughes.”
August 28, 2019
Cover Reveal + Preorder | Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas
You guys, check out this GORGEOUS new cover for my upcoming release, Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas!!!! I love this like chocolate and hope you will too.
COMING OCTOBER 8TH!!!
Her thermostat was set to frosty, until her Christmas cowboy cranks up the heat.
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Ashley Hughes would love to cancel Christmas this year. Instead of holiday plans, she’s back in her Texas hometown planning her twin sister’s wedding — to her ex! Nothing like small town speculation to make her life cheery and bright. No one believes that she’s over the groom, until a certain cowboy secret crush steps in to be her plus one. Ashley’s tried to friend zone Jennings since high school, because she’s always known kissing the casual charmer would lead to a love she’d never forget.
Jennings Hill would be the first to admit that his feelings for his ex-best friend are more likely to land him on the naughty list. When he sees Ashley again, he only wants to help but then a rumor links them romantically and that’s when their lives get complicated.
The more time they spend together, the more Jennings worries she’s not over her ex, but Ashley starts wishing Jennings was her present wrapped under the Christmas tree.
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* All books in this series can be read as stand alone and out of order.
