With: Kelsey Browning
When
I originally wrote Running the Red Light (Texas Nights #2), I had no idea
the story’s antagonist, Ashton Davenport, would end up earning a book of her
own. Because neither Ashton nor Napoleon, her shih-poo mix, were particularly
nice characters.
Still,
Ashton grew on me, and I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I put her under
the microscope. So when it came time for her own happy-ever-after, I knew I had
to reform her and her dog from their trouble-making ways. And honestly, it was
sometimes easier to reform Ashton than it was her wily little dog! Because
Napoleon’s been known to growl, run across a restaurant table spilling beer in
his wake, and even choke on a pair of ben-wa balls.
I
mean, how does a writer redeem a little hellion like that?
Well,
I gave Napoleon a human nemesis, Mac McLaughlin. Who—yep, you guessed it—is
Ashton’s love interest. And her dog is anything but happy about the situation.
I
won’t spoil Designed for Love by telling you all the ways
Napoleon subtly or not-so-subtly lets Mac know he’s not good enough for Ashton.
(Okay, fine, so there’s this one incident with Napoleon and Mac’s jockstrap,
but that’s all I’m sharing. ;-) ) Suffice it to say, Mac knows he’ll never win
over Ashton if he can’t first woo her dog. Lucky for him, he hits on a solution
that even snobby Napoleon can’t resist—SPAM. Yes, Ashton’s pup has an obsession
with canned meat. Mac and Napoleon actually have their own relationship arc in Designed
for Love. And this tickles me to death because it casts Ashton’s dog as an
actual character rather than merely a sidekick pet.
So
many authors do an amazing job representing pets in their stories. Of course,
Kristan Higgins comes to mind as does Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Pooh from It
Had to Be You is one of my all-time faves.) My critique partner, Jamie
Farrell, is also
an ace at crafting quirky pets (look for the menagerie in her January novella
release, Smittened!).
If
you pick up Designed for Love (or one of the other Texas Nights books),
I certainly hope that Napoleon (or Voltaire from Problems in Paradise) cuddle their way into your
heart!
---
So share your favorite animal
characters and which authors—in your opinion—do a great job in crafting them!
DESIGNED FOR LOVE
Ashton Davenport: Hot blonde. Old Money. Off-limits.
That’s how Mac McLaughlin sees her, anyway. And now that he’s enduring a temporary self-imposed exile in tiny Shelbyville, Texas, he’s seeing her way too often. Mac only wants to succeed as the contractor for the Lily Lake development in order to rebuild his reputation and return to Dallas, pronto. A sexy distraction like Ashton was not in the plans.
Mac McLaughlin: Hot builder. Cash poor. Hands-on.
Ashton kissed her trust fund goodbye and left her life as a society princess to prove she could make it on her own. Developing Lily Lake is her big chance, but it’s hard to stay focused working side-by-side with bossy, rough-around-the-edges Mac. Especially when he pulls off his shirt.
When the discovery of an endangered species derails the project, Mac can’t afford to stick around for a stalled job. His and Ashton’s explosive chemistry aside, he’s outta there…unless she can convince him that they just might be able to build something together.
About
the Author
Kelsey Browning writes sass
kickin’ love stories and co-authors Southern cozy mysteries. She’s also a
co-founder of Romance University blog, one of Writer’s Digest 101 Best
Websites for Writers. Originally from a Texas town smaller than the ones she
writes about, Kelsey has also lived in the Middle East and Los Angeles, proving
she’s either adventurous or downright nuts. These days, she hangs out in
northeast Georgia with Tech Guy, Smarty Boy, Bad Dog and Pharaoh,
a (fingers crossed) future therapy dog.
Facebook
Party
Kelsey
is hosting a Thankful for Romance
Facebook Party from Friday, November 21 – Monday, November 24 and will be
featuring the following authors each day.
Friday, November 21 - Celebrating
Romance Series
Awesome Authors include: Angi Morgan, Adrienne Giordano Author Page,Tamara Morgan, Shauna Allen, Alison Packard, Terri Osburn, & Tracey Devlyn
Saturday, November 22 - Celebrating Sexy Romance
Awesome Authors include: Avery Flynn, Robin Covington, Kimberly Kincaid, Kelsey Browning - Author, and a special Amazon gift card giveaway from Liliana Hart.
Sunday, November 23 - Celebrating Southern Sass Romance
Awesome authors include: Christine Glover Author, Jodi Linton, Sharla Lovelace, Nancy Naigle & Cynthia D'Alba.
Monday, November 24 - Celebrating Contemporary Romance & the release of Kelsey Browning's Designed for Love.
Awesome authors include: Jamie Farrell, Dianna Love, Kat Latham, Kim Law, Caro Carson, Wendy S. Marcus, & Sonali Dev
Awesome Authors include: Angi Morgan, Adrienne Giordano Author Page,Tamara Morgan, Shauna Allen, Alison Packard, Terri Osburn, & Tracey Devlyn
Saturday, November 22 - Celebrating Sexy Romance
Awesome Authors include: Avery Flynn, Robin Covington, Kimberly Kincaid, Kelsey Browning - Author, and a special Amazon gift card giveaway from Liliana Hart.
Sunday, November 23 - Celebrating Southern Sass Romance
Awesome authors include: Christine Glover Author, Jodi Linton, Sharla Lovelace, Nancy Naigle & Cynthia D'Alba.
Monday, November 24 - Celebrating Contemporary Romance & the release of Kelsey Browning's Designed for Love.
Awesome authors include: Jamie Farrell, Dianna Love, Kat Latham, Kim Law, Caro Carson, Wendy S. Marcus, & Sonali Dev
Link
to Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/832158273473413
Blog Tour Stops
November 17 – Excerpt One
Brain Candy
http://www.kelseybrowning.com/brain-candy/
November 18 – Excerpt Two
Just Contemporary Romance
http://www.justcontemporaryromance.com
November 18 – Excerpt Three
Ramblings From This Chick
http://www.ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com
November 19 – Excerpt Four
Brooke Blogs
http://brookeblogs.com
November 20 – Excerpt Five
Romance Junkies
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com
November 21 – Excerpt Six
Herding Cats and Burning Soup
http://herdingcats-burningsoup.blogspot.com
November 22 – Excerpt Seven
TBQ’s Book Palace
http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com
November 23 – Excerpt Eight
Doing Some Reading
http://doingsomereading.wordpress.com
November 24 – Excerpt Nine
Gonna Need More Books
http://gonnaneedmorebooks.wordpress.com
Blog Tour Stops
November 17 – Excerpt One
Brain Candy
http://www.kelseybrowning.com/brain-candy/
November 18 – Excerpt Two
Just Contemporary Romance
http://www.justcontemporaryromance.com
November 18 – Excerpt Three
Ramblings From This Chick
http://www.ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com
November 19 – Excerpt Four
Brooke Blogs
http://brookeblogs.com
November 20 – Excerpt Five
Romance Junkies
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com
November 21 – Excerpt Six
Herding Cats and Burning Soup
http://herdingcats-burningsoup.blogspot.com
November 22 – Excerpt Seven
TBQ’s Book Palace
http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com
November 23 – Excerpt Eight
Doing Some Reading
http://doingsomereading.wordpress.com
November 24 – Excerpt Nine
Gonna Need More Books
http://gonnaneedmorebooks.wordpress.com
Maureen - I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for having me at JCR this week!
ReplyDeleteKelsey
I love having our furry friends in stories. My favorite is The Search by Nora Roberts but Myrtle from Maggie Shayne's Brown and de Luca series is quickly catching up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and I'll be checking out your series.
Oh - I haven't read that Maggie Shayne series - I'll have to check it out. And if I remember correctly, The Search is about the rescue dogs, right? I loved that one!
DeleteThanks so much for popping in today, Jonetta!
Kelsey
The Colonel in Cathc of the Day by Kristan Higgins. Love that dog - he steals every scene he is in,
DeleteMake that Catch of the Day
DeleteTammy - oh, it's been a while since I read that book, and now I want to go back and read it again. If I remember correctly, Malone is the hero of that one, right??
ReplyDeleteKelsey