Osiyo~ 

I know this green is a bit of a WOW factor, but can you handle it for a week or two to celebrate Spring? It’s my favorite season (when tornadoes aren’t puffing down my neck) so I want to share my excitement of winter passing. It’s a time of new birth and renewed hope for me–plus dark green is my fave color. 🙂 If it’s too gawdy I’ll change it, though, because my ranch pals are more important than my fave color and season.  One more thing before I turn the round pen over to one of my all time favorite people, Vonnie Davis! My oldest granddaughter is seven years old today!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY, ANDEE!!!!

And now I’ll suck on my mocha and cheese danish and let Vonnie entertain us with her soon-to-be-released book, Those Violet Eyes.

When the submissions call went out for Honky Tonk Hearts, my antennae shot up. I knew I wanted to be a part of this series, but what storyline could I write that would be different? Could anything I’d write be good enough for the series? After all I’d never written “short” before. 

A few ideas flitted through my mind, but everyone seemed blasé and the typical fare. I might have to pass on this series, I thought. 

That night in bed, I’d just slipped from wakefulness into that fragile, fluttery state of twilight sleep when a man on a Harley roared into our bedroom. You see, the heroes of my stories come to me first before a storyline or a heroine. No doubt because I love men so much. Still, on that particular night, I was very tired and eager for sleep. I rolled over and ignored the man on the motorcycle. 

Within minutes, he rode into our bedroom again, his bike making that Harley patented “potato-potato-potato” sound. This time he got off his bike and removed his helmet. He adjusted his stance to accommodate his prosthesis which immediately got my attention. Somehow I knew he’d lost part of his leg in Iraq and suffered from PTSD. Simply put, the man captured my full attention.

[image deleted] 😦

He came to me and told me his name was Win, short for Sherwin. Would I tell his and Evie’s story? “I didn’t plan on falling in love, but who could resist those eyes? And that sassy attitude she’s got goin’ on. God, I love a woman with spirit.” He flashed me a slow, sexy smile, and I sighed—or drooled. “I wasn’t sure things would work out for us with me only having one full leg and some of my hearing gone. But I had to try. After all, that’s what I want to teach kids with amputee limbs. That they shouldn’t let it define them.” He shrugged a muscular shoulder. “I have to set the example. Right?” 

Well, well, well. A hero in war and at home. What a winning combination (honest, no pun intended). 

My youngest granddaughter was born with her right arm ending an inch below her elbow. If this imaginary man wanted to help children like her, well then I HAD to tell his story. I mean, what grandma wouldn’t? 

By the time I fell asleep I had a rough storyline for Those Violet Eyes.

Blurb: 

Evie Caldwell hoards every penny for her escape from the servitude life created by a worthless brother and the endless work on a ranch that will never be hers. The last thing she wants is a muscled man with a macho Marine attitude complicating her life. But, oh, how that man can make her insides do the twitchy thing. 

Wounded vet, Win Fairchild, returns to Texas to heal, find a piece of his soul and open a ranch for amputee children. Finding someone to love was not on his agenda. Nor was dealing with a wildcat, until she captures his heart with those violet eyes. 

But now that he knows what he wants, can Win convince Evie to stay in Texas—and his bed? 

Excerpt:

Evie charged through the swinging door to the kitchen and skidded to a stop. It couldn’t be. Although his back was toward her, there was no mistaking the height and the broad muscled shoulders. This mystery nephew of Gus’s was the guy who’d remarked on her eyes. Her stomach did a little twitchy dance, nerves no doubt. She ran her suddenly damp palms over her short skirt and cleared her throat. “Excuse me. Win?”

No answer.

She took a couple steps closer and noticed he was washing vegetables under a spray of water. “Win?”

No reply.

Evie rolled her eyes and stepped behind him, tapping him on the back. The man dropped the strainer, swung around and grabbed her forearms. In a flurry of movement, he snatched her off the floor and backed her against the stainless steel counter. Cold wet hands viced her arms. Her eyes snapped wide and the air whooshed from her lungs when his body slammed into hers.

“Don’t do that!” Win’s eyes were narrowed and his breathing rapid. His jaw was clenched and a vein bulged in his forehead. The man was every inch the warrior, every hard tensed inch. He held her mid-air, so close they were nearly eyeball to eyeball. As his gaze traveled over her face and awareness evidently crept in as to the sex of his attacker, several inches of his frame hardened even more.

Evie swallowed. Oh, good Lord.

He glared and his nostrils flared.

“I…I’m sorry. I called your name, but…but you didn’t answer. I was only trying to get your attention.” Her lips twitched at the humor in the situation. Hadn’t Keira told her the man lost part of his hearing? Evidently she’d startled him. Poor soul. She felt a portion of herself return. A portion she’d hidden for so long; that light-hearted part of her soul that teased and cajoled. “Honest, I wasn’t trying to attack you.” She placed an open palm on his defined pecs and patted. “You’re safe with me, big guy.” Just to rattle him some more, she winked.

Win’s hazel eyes flashed for a second. Then he slowly leaned in and whispered in her ear, “You’re not safe with me.” A shiver galloped pell-mell through her. He smelled of pine soap and musk. His short spiky straw-colored hair tickled her neck when he lowered his head a fraction. Her eyebrows furrowed in question. Had he just kissed her below the ear? It was so brief, so feather light her mind wasn’t sure. Her nipples, though, piped up in confirmation. Hell yeah, he kissed you! Me next, me next! 

*** The first story in the Honky Tonk Hearts series releases tomorrow — Honky Tonk Man by Sylvie Kaye. 

Two stories will release per month for the next few exciting months. Those Violet Eyes releases June 27^th. One lucky commenter today will receive a copy of my novella on release day in June.

Wow! I love the sound of Win and Evie! Can’t you just feel the tension and excitement thrumming through these two? And the artist did a fabulous job on that cover! She really looks like a longtime friend of mine named Cyndy. 

Hey, be sure to let Vonnie know what you think of her latest ‘baby,’ tell us what your favorite season is, or just let us know you stopped by with a ‘Hey ya’ll’ for a chance to get this book when it comes out! I’ll post the winner here and save your email for release day so Vonnie can send it to one lucky commenter. Thank you all in advance for taking time from your day to check in! 🙂 

Dodadagohvi~