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In the heart of Ransom Canyon, sometimes the right match for a lonely soul is the one you least expect
Dan Brigman may not lead the most exciting life, but he’s proud of what he’s achieved: he’s a respected lawman, and he’s raised a bright, talented daughter on his own. But finding a lone, sparkly blue boot in the middle of a deserted highway gets him thinking maybe the cowgirl who lost it is exactly the shake-up he needs.
After losing her baby girl, Brandi Malone felt like her soul died along with her daughter. Now singing in small-town bars to make ends meet, she’s fine being a drifter until a handsome sheriff makes her believe that parking her boots under his bed is a better option.
College grad Lauren Brigman has just struck out on her own in downtown Dallas when a troubling phone call leads her back home to Crossroads. Her hometown represents her family, friends and deepest hopes, but also her first love, Lucas Reyes. Will Lauren’s homecoming be another heartbreak, or a second chance for her and Lucas?
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Excerpt
She glanced at the menu for a few seconds more, then ordered the lunch special when the waitress appeared. The girl looked tired, or maybe bored, and wasn’t overly concerned with the last two customers in the place.
When the waitress went back through the kitchen door before it stopped swinging from her arrival, Brandi was suddenly aware that she was alone with the sheriff.
When the waitress went back through the kitchen door before it stopped swinging from her arrival, Brandi was suddenly aware that she was alone with the sheriff.
“You look exactly like the woman I pictured would be wearing that boot,” he said, as if trying to start a conversation.
“How’s that?”
“Wild and free. Beautiful.” He glanced down, twirling a chip in the tiny bowl of hot sauce.
There was that shy smile again, she thought. Another hint that the sheriff might be one of the real people in this world of marionettes. “You don’t mind if I’m wild, do you? I’d think a thing like that might make a sheriff nervous.”
“Nope. I don’t mind. You’re the kind of beautiful that could haunt a man’s dreams, Brandi Malone. Being wild just adds spice to perfection.”
No one had said such a nice thing to her in years. He seemed to be seeing her as she wanted to be. Wild and free, she almost whispered aloud.
To prove him right, Brandi leaned over and kissed him on the mouth.
When she pulled away she whispered, “You taste like salsa, Sheriff.”
He just stared, and she swore she could be hypnotized by those steel-blue eyes.
Brandi ate one of his chips dipped in the hot sauce, then took a drink of his iced tea. He just kept watching her. No one had accused her of being wild and free for years, and she loved it. She loved the version of herself she saw in his eyes.
She glanced around the empty café. The lone waitress was probably in the back warming up the last two specials. “Aren’t you going to say something about me kissing you?”
He leaned back and spoke so low even if people had been at the next table they wouldn’t have heard. “I wouldn’t mind if you decided to do that again.”
Before she could decide, the waitress swung through the kitchen door with two plates of enchiladas.
“Maybe later.” She grinned like the wild woman he thought she was. “If I’m still around and you’re still available.” After all, how much harm could one more kiss do?
Follow the Tour
Tuesday, January 24th: The Romance Dish
Wednesday, January 25th: Susan Peterson
Thursday, January 26th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy – Excerpt
Friday, January 27th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Monday, January 30th: A Bookaholic Swede – Excerpt
Wednesday, February 1st: From the TBR Pile
Friday, February 3rd: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot
Wednesday, February 8th: The Sassy Bookster
Thursday, February 9th: Buried Under Romance – Excerpt and review
Friday, February 10th: A Chick Who Reads
Monday, February 13th: Books a la Mode – Excerpt
Monday, February 13th: Books and Spoons
Wednesday, February 15th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Thursday, February 16th: Bewitched Bookworms
Friday, February 17th: Stranded in Chaos
Monday, February 20th: Books and Bindings
Monday, February 20th: Pretty Little Book Reviews
Tuesday, February 21st: Romantic Reads and Such – Excerpt
Tuesday, February 21st: Becca the Bibliophile
Wednesday, February 22nd: Becky on Books
About Jodi Thomas
A fifth generation Texan, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state.
With a degree in Family Studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer In Residence.
When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and "checking up" on their two grown sons.
Thanks for featuring this excerpt for the tour!