Baby Stetson
Love and Music in Texas
Nikki Lynn Barrett
Genre: contemporary romance/ suspense elements
ASIN: B00BWIE1GI
Number of pages: 455
Word Count: 103k
Cover Artist: Robert Barrett
Book Description
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 at 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.Excerpt
“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.
The Melody In My Head
Love and Music in Texas
Book 2
Nikki Lynn Barrett
Genre: contemporary romance/ suspense elements
Book Description
Welcome back to Harmony's Echo, Texas..... Melody Roland is on the run from the one person she trusted completely. One who hid a dark past she could never have imagined. When a pregnant woman on the bus she's fleeing on goes into labor, Melody rushes to her aide. Now she finds herself stranded in a tiny remote town just off the highway, with no way to her original destination. She's alone, on edge, and unsure who to trust. Her instincts scream to get far away and fast. But how and where? Jameson Grant struggles through the roughest year of his life. Suffering from the loss of his father, one grief stricken night, he made a mistake. One which cost him the only woman he's ever loved. Each lonely day he's faced with the constant reminders of how quick things can change. Throwing himself into the one thing he has left, his music, helps dull the pain he fights to keep hidden. His last salvation begins to crumble as things spiral out of control and he has no choice but to face the 'music' of his past. The last thing he needs or wants in his life is a woman with more trouble on her heels than the best of country music lyrics. But Melody sings a sirens call within him that can't be ignored. Jameson and Melody bond in ways stronger than either could have imagined, but one dangerous person from her past may threaten it all... If she doesn't flee before he can convince her to stay, and that some love songs last an eternity.
Excerpt
What had she been thinking when she made the offer to accompany Jameson? He looked like he
needed someone, and it wasn't like she had anything else she could do at the moment. It would be nice to get
away for awhile, think, and get to know Jameson a little bit. What little she knew of him, she liked the man.
She could get away from the tension between Avery and Lucas. They seemed okay this morning, but
Melody knew her presence there caused trouble.
She didn't have any idea what was wrong with Jameson's mom, but whatever it was, it affected
Jameson. A lot. Her heart went out to him, and suddenly, her own problems faded away. Just slightly, but enough
for her to realize she wasn't the only one battling demons.
For the first fifteen minutes, Jameson said nothing. He focused on the road, his hands gripped the
steering wheel. Melody noticed a slight tremble in them.
If only she had the right words to say to him. She had a feeling no one did. Even Avery, who seemed to
know so much about Jameson, couldn't reach him.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jameson turned his gaze to her, just for a moment. “I'm sorry I'm not
better company. I bet you're regretting the ride.”
Why did people take it upon themselves to guess what someone else could be thinking? Not that she
didn't do it herself, but that habit needed to be broken.
“I didn't come along expecting tons of conversation and happy times.” Melody chose her words carefully.
The silence didn't bother her that much. She actually enjoyed it. Gave her plenty of time to think. Not that she
really needed extra thinking time. She'd been doing plenty of that recently.
“Today is supposed to be about helping you, and now you're driving off with me. I feel bad about that.”
“You shouldn't, Jameson. This is going to sound weird, and I don't mean it as crass as it may come out,
but I'm glad to not be the focus right now. It's nice to just be normal for a second.”
Jameson chuckled. “I know how you meant that, and believe me, I understand.”
He had a nice laugh. Sexy.
He had nice hands, especially when they strummed the guitar.
And he had gorgeous, get-lost-in-me-eyes.
She had no business thinking about those things. What had gotten into her? Other the obvious, and
some not so obvious.
“I have to warn you, I'm not quite sure what my mother's mental state is going to be when we get there.”
Jameson drummed his fingers on the wheel. He was one of those guys that always had to be moving, it seemed.
Even if it were just the movement of his hands.
“Can I ask what happened? I don't want to pry.”
“It's a fair question.” Jameson glanced at her again. “She's having a hard time. My dad died a little more
than a year ago, and my mom just hasn't handled it well. At all. She's gone down a depressing path. Drinking,
shutting everyone out, including me. She decided last night to take off with my truck after I came home from
work.”
The sound of anger and hurt in his voice made Melody ache inside. This man's family was falling apart,
one by one. How terrible.
It made her think of her family, and how she didn't have a clue as to whether they were okay or not. She
never should have run. She shouldn't have let Chris give her the fake identity. Why should her family have to
suffer because she met and dated the wrong man? If only she hadn't been there that night, seen what she had.
She would have loved to undo that night.
But it meant she would still be there with him, oblivious to the wrongdoings. Then, who knows what?
“I'm so sorry, Jameson. I can't imagine.” She trailed her voice off. “Is it just you? No siblings?”
“I have a sister. Blaine. She won't come back. She came for Dad's funeral, but bolted right after that. My
mom and Blaine, they went through a rough patch for awhile. Now I can't get her to help me at all.”
Melody's eyes brimmed with tears. He was carrying this burden by himself. But why? He had friends that
cared about him.
She had no room to talk, really. Back home, she'd shut almost everyone out. If her family didn't know her
so well, she probably would have kept things from them too. She should have done that, instead of getting them
involved, and then maybe she wouldn't be running, wondering if they were okay. It was her problem, not theirs. If
only she hadn't been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
About the Author
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.
www.nikkilynnbarrett.com
www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor
@Stormgoddess925
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett
Giveaway
Tour Wide Giveaway
$20 gift card (Amazon or B&N)
Genre: contemporary romance/ suspense elements
Book Description
Welcome back to Harmony's Echo, Texas..... Melody Roland is on the run from the one person she trusted completely. One who hid a dark past she could never have imagined. When a pregnant woman on the bus she's fleeing on goes into labor, Melody rushes to her aide. Now she finds herself stranded in a tiny remote town just off the highway, with no way to her original destination. She's alone, on edge, and unsure who to trust. Her instincts scream to get far away and fast. But how and where? Jameson Grant struggles through the roughest year of his life. Suffering from the loss of his father, one grief stricken night, he made a mistake. One which cost him the only woman he's ever loved. Each lonely day he's faced with the constant reminders of how quick things can change. Throwing himself into the one thing he has left, his music, helps dull the pain he fights to keep hidden. His last salvation begins to crumble as things spiral out of control and he has no choice but to face the 'music' of his past. The last thing he needs or wants in his life is a woman with more trouble on her heels than the best of country music lyrics. But Melody sings a sirens call within him that can't be ignored. Jameson and Melody bond in ways stronger than either could have imagined, but one dangerous person from her past may threaten it all... If she doesn't flee before he can convince her to stay, and that some love songs last an eternity.
Excerpt
What had she been thinking when she made the offer to accompany Jameson? He looked like he
needed someone, and it wasn't like she had anything else she could do at the moment. It would be nice to get
away for awhile, think, and get to know Jameson a little bit. What little she knew of him, she liked the man.
She could get away from the tension between Avery and Lucas. They seemed okay this morning, but
Melody knew her presence there caused trouble.
She didn't have any idea what was wrong with Jameson's mom, but whatever it was, it affected
Jameson. A lot. Her heart went out to him, and suddenly, her own problems faded away. Just slightly, but enough
for her to realize she wasn't the only one battling demons.
For the first fifteen minutes, Jameson said nothing. He focused on the road, his hands gripped the
steering wheel. Melody noticed a slight tremble in them.
If only she had the right words to say to him. She had a feeling no one did. Even Avery, who seemed to
know so much about Jameson, couldn't reach him.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jameson turned his gaze to her, just for a moment. “I'm sorry I'm not
better company. I bet you're regretting the ride.”
Why did people take it upon themselves to guess what someone else could be thinking? Not that she
didn't do it herself, but that habit needed to be broken.
“I didn't come along expecting tons of conversation and happy times.” Melody chose her words carefully.
The silence didn't bother her that much. She actually enjoyed it. Gave her plenty of time to think. Not that she
really needed extra thinking time. She'd been doing plenty of that recently.
“Today is supposed to be about helping you, and now you're driving off with me. I feel bad about that.”
“You shouldn't, Jameson. This is going to sound weird, and I don't mean it as crass as it may come out,
but I'm glad to not be the focus right now. It's nice to just be normal for a second.”
Jameson chuckled. “I know how you meant that, and believe me, I understand.”
He had a nice laugh. Sexy.
He had nice hands, especially when they strummed the guitar.
And he had gorgeous, get-lost-in-me-eyes.
She had no business thinking about those things. What had gotten into her? Other the obvious, and
some not so obvious.
“I have to warn you, I'm not quite sure what my mother's mental state is going to be when we get there.”
Jameson drummed his fingers on the wheel. He was one of those guys that always had to be moving, it seemed.
Even if it were just the movement of his hands.
“Can I ask what happened? I don't want to pry.”
“It's a fair question.” Jameson glanced at her again. “She's having a hard time. My dad died a little more
than a year ago, and my mom just hasn't handled it well. At all. She's gone down a depressing path. Drinking,
shutting everyone out, including me. She decided last night to take off with my truck after I came home from
work.”
The sound of anger and hurt in his voice made Melody ache inside. This man's family was falling apart,
one by one. How terrible.
It made her think of her family, and how she didn't have a clue as to whether they were okay or not. She
never should have run. She shouldn't have let Chris give her the fake identity. Why should her family have to
suffer because she met and dated the wrong man? If only she hadn't been there that night, seen what she had.
She would have loved to undo that night.
But it meant she would still be there with him, oblivious to the wrongdoings. Then, who knows what?
“I'm so sorry, Jameson. I can't imagine.” She trailed her voice off. “Is it just you? No siblings?”
“I have a sister. Blaine. She won't come back. She came for Dad's funeral, but bolted right after that. My
mom and Blaine, they went through a rough patch for awhile. Now I can't get her to help me at all.”
Melody's eyes brimmed with tears. He was carrying this burden by himself. But why? He had friends that
cared about him.
She had no room to talk, really. Back home, she'd shut almost everyone out. If her family didn't know her
so well, she probably would have kept things from them too. She should have done that, instead of getting them
involved, and then maybe she wouldn't be running, wondering if they were okay. It was her problem, not theirs. If
only she hadn't been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
About the Author
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.
www.nikkilynnbarrett.com
www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor
@Stormgoddess925
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett
Giveaway
Tour Wide Giveaway
$20 gift card (Amazon or B&N)
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