Karen Michelle Nutt's Blog, page 17
July 4, 2019
Coming soon! #audio #audible #theaterfortheears
End of the Road will soon be available at Audible. In production now, so stay tuned.
New Release — Hot Western Nights @KMNbooks #romance #lovestories #kindle
What’s hotter than a two-dollar pistol and 4th of July fireworks? This wonderful collection of western historical romance novellas! HOT WESTERN NIGHTS is a set of six exciting stories of the old west and sizzling romance all stirred together with the sexy heat of summer!
Will true love take Nash and Jewel by surprise after all in Karen Michelle Nutt’s FAKE MARRIAGE WITH A DASH OF DESIRE?
J. Arlene Culiner’s THE LADY PIANO PLAYER is a story of a woman’s escape from a loveless marriage and the talent that brings a new love into her life.
Will Dan Loomis’s search for a dangerous deserter lead him to the love of a lifetime? In Angela Raines’s story, DUTY, helping a beautiful young woman fight off neighboring thugs could keep Dan from going after the man he’s vowed to bring in.
Angela Summers has cared for her grandfather in the mining camp for many years. But when danger strikes, saloon owner Jack Williams must try to protect the woman he loves in DIAMOND JACK’S ANGEL by Elizabeth Clements.
In Julie Lence’s story, a misunderstanding has caused a serious rift in Amy and Ryan Jansen’s marriage. Can they find a way to mend their love and make this A SUMMER TO REMEMBER?
A deputy U. S. marshal comes upon a dying man and finds unexpected love when he carries out the man’s last request in GIVE MY LOVE TO ROSE by Kaye Spencer.
Just in time for summer, this fabulous collection of six sure-fire western love stories are the perfect remedy for “what should I read next” on those HOT WESTERN NIGHTS!
Purchase your copy today!
Here's a sneak peek at
Fake Marriage with a Dash of Romance.
He removed his shirt and tossed it to the floor before reaching to lower Lulu's straps and give those breasts of hers a proper hello, but his hand froze as the door to the room swung open, banging against the wall with a thud. Nash had his gun drawn just as fast.
A pint-size woman came flying inside, her mahogany hair a blur of color. She didn't seem to notice he almost blew her head clean off. Her hand reached for the door and closed it enough so she could peek out into the hall. Her round behind pointed in his direction like an invitation, but Nash was downright irked with the interruption and felt like shooting her just for the heck of it.
The woman finally turned, and he caught sight of her beautiful, sea-green eyes all fringed with the darkest, longest lashes he'd ever seen. His nasty retort lodged in the back of his throat and threatened to choke him.
Her hand flipped her thick tresses over her shoulder as though she was annoyed about her hair being in the way. Her gaze met his, and she gave him a curt nod. "Sorry, mister, for the intrusion. I'll be on my way in just a moment." She all but dismissed him as she turned her attention toward the gal sprawled on his lap. "Oh, hello, Lulu," she said to her as if they were long lost friends.
"How's it going?" Lulu smiled as if this situation was all part of the evening's festivities.
"Oh, it's going." She gave Lulu a big grin and winked.
Lulu shook her head and removed herself from his lap. "Little Miss, you are going to be in a fix of trouble if Maribel finds you up here!"
"Hell-nation, I'm more worried about Mr. Stanfield."
"You gone and done it again, haven't you?" Lulu shook her head. "He's going to kill you good this time."
"Yeah? Well, he has to find me first." Little Miss turned her attention to the door she had kept slightly ajar and peeked out when she heard a man bellowing at the top of his lungs.
"Where is that cheating little snipe? I'll throttle her with my bare hands." The doors down the hall were being opened and slammed shut again as the man did his search.
Nash's brow lifted. He could only assume that the pretty pixie that flew into his room was the cheating little snipe the man wanted to throttle.
Nash kept his gun close.
She closed the door slowly so not to make a sound then looked around the room as if trying to decide what dark corner would suit her best to hide. Then, without so much as a howdy-do, she started taking off her clothes. He sat up straighter in bed. He almost wanted to pinch himself to make sure he was, indeed, awake.
"What are you doing, Little Miss?" Lulu's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. He was glad he wasn't the only one seeing this.
"What does it look like?" She continued to throw off each article of clothing without a care that a half-clad man sat on the bed watching her.
Nash concluded the gal must not be one of Maribel's girls by the way Lulu fussed, though she definitely had potential. She couldn't be more than 5' 4" in height, but she sure had some long, graceful limbs. He didn't mind one bit that she wasn't shy in showing them off.
"What do you have in mind?" Lulu had seemingly forgotten he was there, too, and strode over to the woman. The pixie turned and looked right at Nash, as brazen as any saloon
girl would gander. "No, no, Little Miss." Lulu grabbed at her arm. "You ain't going to climb in bed with Nash. I won't let you."
Her laughter rang like bells, sweet and charming. "Don't worry, I'll leave the pleasing part up to you. I'm just going to pretend, and hopefully convince Stanfield I'm just one of the girls so I can escape without a hassle. You know, give him time to settle down. Now, put these somewhere." She shoved her clothes at Lulu.
She stalked right over to Nash with only her chemise and drawers as though it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be parading around in such attire. "Move over darlin'," she drawled in a deep, whiskey-worn voice. A voice that didn't quite match the pixie features with her looking innocent and mischievous at the same time.
He could barely resist the temptation of making her his just for the inconvenience she caused him. She must have read the look in his eyes,for she gave him a reprimanding shake of her head and clicked her tongue. "This is just for show, honey. So don't get any ideas."
Lordy, she was gorgeous. She crawled into bed with barely a stitch of clothing, and she told him not to get any ideas. She definitely had a wicked sense of humor.
June 29, 2019
Meet and Greet #8sunday #snippetsunday
July 4th Release Day for WESTERN HOT NIGHTS! Fake Marriage with a Dash of Desire, my western novella, will be featured in the collection. (Fireworks will commence at sunset. Happy dancing optional. :)) And guess what? There's still time to Pre-order your copy. Details below.
I thought I'd share a snippet of how the hero and heroine meet for the first time.
This is in Nash's point of view. I skipped a few paragraphs for the meet and greet. 
June 22, 2019
Calling it a Night. Heart and Soul #8sunday #snippetsunday
Keep in mind Heart and Soul is a WIP.
This is in Maverick's POV.
***
"The owner's nephew conducts the tours though I'm not at all sure his uncle knows about them."
"Out of curiosity, why is the park considered haunted?"
"There are a few stories and theories. There was an incident where a teen drowned. She had some kind of seizure, but before anyone realized what had happened, she was already gone. Supposedly, she is one of the haunts, but some have claimed they'd seen other ghost as well. As far as I know, there haven't been any other deaths on the property. You know how it is with old creepy places. They get a reputation even if nothing is really going on there."
"Creepy places earn those reputations." Her lips curved and he took that as a good sign.
(This is the end of the 10 sentences for Weekend Warriors. Continue for Snippet Sunday 300 words or less, if you wish. :))
"Would you like to take one of the tours?" She hesitated for a mere second but enough for him to take note, but she finally nodded.
"Sure, I'm game."
"Great. It's a date." Her startled glance made him realize what he said. "I mean, it's not a real date." He should shut up now. "I'll get the tickets and see if Katie wants to go, too."
She seemed to relax at the mention of Katie going with them. "Sounds like an adventure," she voiced with ease. "I'll see you tomorrow." She turned, unlocked her door, and entered her apartment.
"Good night," he said even though she couldn't hear him. He headed for his door. "It's a date," he mimicked. Why had he said that? Probably because he'd like it to be a date and to hell with it being the right thing to do or not. When he played in the band, he didn't have to worry about such matters. Sometimes, being the boss really sucked.
***
About Heart and Soul...
80s rock star, Haley Rose went missing without a trace on October 31 1988 and was eventually presumed dead. Three decades later, a thirty-year-old woman, Rowan Beckett recalls things only Haley Rose would know and she can belt out songs in the same fashion as the missing 80s star. However, Rowan couldn't be the missing rock star since the woman would now be in her fifties. Could Haley Rose have come back reincarnated as Rowan Beckett?
Hashtags: #8sunday #snippetsunday
Participating Authors are listed at these sites:
Weekend Writing Warriors
Snippet Sunday Facebook Group
June 15, 2019
I’ll walk you to your door. Heart and Soul #8sunday #snippetsunday
Keep in mind Heart and Soul is a WIP.
This is in Maverick's POV.
***
"I've locked up everything
back there," Rowan said as she headed up front to the coffeehouse.
"Is there anything else I could help with?"
"I was just about to ask
you if you needed any help. We're finished up here too."
"Night, boss," Ryan
said. He'd cut his ginger-colored locks and colored the strands with black
streaks.
"Good night," he called back as his cook headed out the back door. He turned to Rowan. "I'll walk you to your door if you're heading upstairs." He didn't know if she had other plans for the night.
(This is the end of 10 sentences. for Weekend Warriors. Continue for Snippet Sunday 300 words or less, if you wish. :))
In his early twenties, he'd just be heading out to start his night. Some of the clubs didn't get started until after ten. Maybe she was a night owl and the evening was still young for her.
"I'm beat," she said on
a sigh. "I'm calling it a night."
He almost smiled but didn't
want to reveal how much her statement thrilled him. They headed for the stairs
at the side of the building, and he wished he could prolong their walk, but
living above the place you worked proved to hamper such things. He wanted to
know Rowan better but a minute walk every night would take a lifetime to get to
know someone. They hadn't chatted much tonight at work, and the conversation
they began earlier with Katie about ghosts had been interrupted, though the
topic gave him an idea to pursue. "You weren't freaked out earlier when we
were talking about ghosts were you?"
"Not at all. The subject
fascinates me."
As they reached the top of the
stairs and he glanced at her. "If you're interested, there are unofficial
ghost tours at the Moor Lake Water Park during October."
"Unofficial tours?"
she questioned with amusement lacing her words.
***
About Heart and Soul...
80s rock star, Haley Rose went missing without a trace on October 31
1988 and was eventually presumed dead. Three decades later, a
thirty-year old woman, Rowan Beckett recalls things only Haley Rose
would know and she can belt out songs in the same fashion as the missing
80s star. However, Rowan couldn't be the missing rock star since the
woman would now be in her fifties. Could Haley Rose have came back
reincarnated as Rowan Beckett?
Hashtags: #8sunday #snippetsunday
Participating Authors are listed at these sites:
Weekend Writing Warriors
Snippet Sunday Facebook Group
June 8, 2019
Live in the now… Heart and Soul
Keep in mind Heart and Soul is a WIP.
This is in Maverick's POV.
***
Maverick couldn't be happier with Rowan and the way she'd taken charge tonight. She was a hard worker and knew how to handle the bands with finesse. When he overheard one the bouncer say Rowan had stepped on stage to save the lead singer from making a fool out of himself, he had to see it for himself. Stage fright was no laughing matter and could prove disastrous, but Rowan came to the rescue, took the microphone, and sang. Her voice mesmerized him, and for a moment, he felt he'd seen her on stage before, singing that very song but then Jesse stepped up and joined in on the chorus, and the image slipped away. Her voice could mesmerize a crowd. It certainly had captured his attention.
She'd only been a part of his life for days, and yet he felt he knew her much longer. He still couldn't shake the feeling he'd known her in the past. He shook his head to rid himself of thinking about it further.
(This is the end of 10 sentences. for Weekend Warriors. Continue for Snippet Sunday 300 words or less, if you wish. :))
He was a true believer in leaving the past behind and live in the now. Now, he had one hell of a stage manager. What he could bank on was that Rowan knew how to handle a bit of stage fright with finesse. Love 'em and Leave 'em really shone after her save. Vocals from Jesse proved iconic when he belted out a Journey's song. His energy could be compared to a ball of fire once he began to enjoy the gig. Tristan Barnes ripped off a few guitar solos that added a touch of depth to songs too. His ability on the fretboard nearly stole the show tonight.
Rowan was right. They'd be perfect for Merry Mayhem.
***
About Heart and Soul...
80s rock star, Haley Rose went missing without a trace on October 31
1988 and was eventually presumed dead. Three decades later, a
thirty-year old woman, Rowan Beckett recalls things only Haley Rose
would know and she can belt out songs in the same fashion as the missing
80s star. However, Rowan couldn't be the missing rock star since the
woman would now be in her fifties. Could Haley Rose have came back
reincarnated as Rowan Beckett?
Hashtags: #8sunday #snippetsunday
Participating Authors are listed at these sites:
Weekend Writing Warriors
Snippet Sunday Facebook Group
June 4, 2019
June 2, 2019
Zippin & Sippin-VIP Experience #zipling #winetasting @KMNbooks
Established as part of Father Junipero Serra's Mission Trail in the late 1700s, the Santa Margarita Ranch is one of the oldest operated cattle ranches in California. While we drove to our first zipline destination, Colin, our driver, entertained us the history of the place.
We had to gear up for our flying adventure with gloves, helmets, and straps. The staff was friendly and made you feel safe as they strapped us onto the lines. For me, the first jump was a bit scary since I was volunteering to jump off a cliff to fly over a 2,800-foot valley crossing! Yikes!
You know that old saying: Will you jump off a cliff if your friends do? I guess my answer is yes.
June 1, 2019
Stage Fright… Heart and Soul #8sunday #snippetsunday
Keep in mind Heart and Soul is a WIP.
This is in Rowan's POV. Last week: The band finished their set without a hitch after Rowan paved the way for them.
***
After the final set, Jesse
strode over to her, while the rest of the band started to pack up the equipment
away. "I want to thank you," he said shyly. "You know about me
losing my sh– I mean..."
She placed a hand on his arm.
"You did fine." She grinned. "The audience loved you guys."
"Yeah." He ran a hand over his hair as if his locks were out of place. "The way I froze...that's never happened to me before."
(This is the end of 10 sentences. for Weekend Warriors. Continue for Snippet Sunday 300 words or less, if you wish. :))
"Stage fright can hit
anytime. Don't sweat it."
"The thing is I wasn't
scared. I just couldn't move. It was like something was preventing me from
singing."
Her heart skipped a beat.
Something had prevented Jesse from singing? He was okay after she began to sing
with him. When she sang like Haley Rose as if she'd taken over the spotlight.
"That sounds crazy, doesn't it?" he stated with a nervous chuckle.
You have no idea, she thought
to herself. "It was just stage fright," she said again because she
couldn't explain what had happened any other way without truly sounding nuts.
His brows furrowed as if he
still didn't believe that, but he finally nodded before he met her gaze.
"Did I ruin our chances to perform at the Christmas Mayhem event?"
She shook her head. "Nope.
I've already added the band to the lineup."
This won her a wide toothy
grin. "Cool." He turned and headed over to his bandmates to give them
the good news. Tristan fist-pumped the air. The others all started talking at
once with exciting chatter.
She had one band slotted for
the event, only seven more to go.
***
About Heart and Soul...
80s rock star, Haley Rose went missing without a trace on October 31
1988 and was eventually presumed dead. Three decades later, a
thirty-year old woman, Rowan Beckett recalls things only Haley Rose
would know and she can belt out songs in the same fashion as the missing
80s star. However, Rowan couldn't be the missing rock star since the
woman would now be in her fifties. Could Haley Rose have came back
reincarnated as Rowan Beckett?
Hashtags: #8sunday #snippetsunday
Participating Authors are listed at these sites:
Weekend Writing Warriors
Snippet Sunday Facebook Group
May 18, 2019
The show must go on. Heart and Soul #8sunday #snippetsunday
Keep in mind Heart and Soul is a WIP.
This is in Rowan's POV. Last week: Rowan was a little rattled after singing with band.
***
"Rowan?"
She jumped at the sound of her
voice and turned to find Katie had walked over to her.
"Is everything okay?"
Katie asked.
She nodded, even though it was
a lie. "I need a glass of water." She'd like something stronger, but
when coffee was the drink of choice in the joint, she'd stick with something
that wouldn't make her jittery.
She followed Katie to the bar,
and she went around to the other side to fill a glass for her. She added ice
and lemon too.
She indulged, letting the cold liquid slide down her throat. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
(This is the end of 10 sentences. for Weekend Warriors. Continue for Snippet Sunday 300 words or less, if you wish. :))
"Are you sure you're
okay?" Katie asked again, and clearly, she didn't believe it the first
time she answered.
"I'm fine." She gave
her a weak smile. "We almost had a meltdown in there." She nodded
toward the back room. "No one told me the lead singer had stage
fright."
"Yikes. Poor Jesse. Will
he make it through the night?"
She took another generous sip
of her water. "I think so. I hope so," she said on a chuckle. "I
don't want to go up there and sing another song. Thanks for the water,"
she added as she placed it on the counter.
"Wait," Katie said.
"You sang with the band?"
"Yep, gotta get back there." She turned away before Katie could question further and headed for the stageroom.
Jesse hammed it up after he
relaxed and found his groove, and the audience loved them. The guy had moves
too, and on that small stage, it proved impressive. Travis could put Elvis to
shame with the way his hips moved to the beat. Phoenix flipped his drumsticks
as if he were a performer in a circus, juggling bowling pins.
***
About Heart and Soul...
80s rock star, Haley Rose went missing without a trace on October 31
1988 and was eventually presumed dead. Three decades later, a
thirty-year old woman, Rowan Beckett recalls things only Haley Rose
would know and she can belt out songs in the same fashion as the missing
80s star. However, Rowan couldn't be the missing rock star since the
woman would now be in her fifties. Could Haley Rose have came back
reincarnated as Rowan Beckett?
Hashtags: #8sunday #snippetsunday
Participating Authors are listed at these sites:
Weekend Writing Warriors
Snippet Sunday Facebook Group
