Author Jodi Thomas: Falling In Love And Wild Texas Rose

It’s always a pleasure to welcome New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jodi Thomas to Thoughts in Progress because it means she has a stunning new book out and a fun story to share.

Jodi’s latest release is WILD TEXAS ROSE, the sixth book in her Whispering Mountain series. 

Here’s a brief synopsis:
Twenty-five-year-old Rose McMurray may be beautiful, smart, and capable of running her family's ranch at Whispering Mountain, but she's backed away from marriage three times without giving anyone reasons. Everyone thinks she is a coward, afraid of any adventure, including falling in love. She's never done a single wild or reckless thing in her life...until now.

Duncan McMurray, like Rose, was adopted into the family. As a Texas Ranger, he swears he'll never settle down and marry. He's been Rose's guardian angel since they were kids but for the first time in their lives he's the one who has caused her to be in danger. 

Somehow, he has to protect her from an outlaw gang determined to kill her without letting Rose know of the danger she's in. He's convinced that her heart can't take the stress if she knows...the only question is can his heart take the nearness of her.

When opposites collide the adventure begins...

Jodi joins us today to talk about the different ways of falling in love. 

I’ve always wanted to write a book that shows the different ways people fall in love and I got my chance in WILD TEXAS ROSE. I found the story great fun to write and loved the humor of the characters as I wrote. I always think of my characters as real living, breathing people who are like all of us, not perfect, but trying. So, come along with me through Fort Worth, Texas in 1876 and enjoy the adventure. 

When I sat down in my study and traveled back to Texas in the 1800’s, I began with Rose McMurray. As a child she drove everyone crazy organizing her world and as an adult nothing has changed. She’s twenty-six and traveled from Whispering Mountain to Fort Worth to help a friend with her wedding plans.  

 
From the first, Rose knows something is very wrong and of course, she sets out to correct the problem. The adopted son of her uncle, Duncan McMurray, has his hands full with a gang of killers in Dallas, but he rides over to help Rose. 

As Rose builds her forces, not only the bride’s life falls in dangers but so does Rose and Duncan’s.  

 
In WILD TEXAS ROSE I loved writing about Rose and Duncan McMurray because I saw them as children in an earlier book called TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN. Though they were both adopted into the McMurray family, they grew up needing to know the other was near. Sometimes people fall in love and sometimes it grows slowly over time. In WILD TEXAS ROSE I had fun looking at all the ways love comes unexpectedly into one’s life. 

Come along with me and fall in love. 

 
Jodi, thanks so much for visiting with us again. I enjoyed your take on falling in love. Watching love bloom (even in a book) is always fun.

For those who haven’t gotten to know Jodi yet, let me share a bit of background with you. She is a fifth generation Texan and it’s only nature for her to set the majority of her novels in her home state. With a degree in Family Studies, she 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, Jodi 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, Jodi enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and "checking up" on their two grown sons. 

For more on Jodi and her writing, visit her website at www.jodithomas.com or find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jodithomas

What’s your take on falling in love? Do you think there are different ways of falling in love? Thanks so much for stopping by today and visiting with Jodi as she release WILD TEXAS ROSE.

Sunday Salon: Tall, Dark and Wolfish by Lydia Dare

TALL, DARK AND WOLFISH - Who could resist a title like that. When this book was offered for review, I was quickly drawn to it. It is the second installment in the Westfield Werewolf trilogy by Lydia Dare.

Even though at the time I had yet to read the first book (A CERTAIN WOLFISH CHARM), I thought this book sounded interesting. The cover and the blurb were catchy, mysterious, and had a bit of suspense to it.

Elspbeth Campbell is a fiery-red headed Scott with emerald eyes. She’s a bit of an outcast from most of the town due to the circumstances of her birth. Despite her lack of acceptance in certain circles, Elspbeth is sought after as the local healer.

Having a kind and gentle heart, Elspbeth never refuses to help anyone. She uses her healing power, along with other gifts inherited from her mother to help the people in her town. She has the aid of four close friends, each who have also inherited special gifts from their mothers.

Lord Benjamin Westfield is the youngest of three brothers. He is known for his womanizing-ways, as well as his sometimes rowdy moods. What isn’t known by many is that Ben and his brothers, like their father before them, are Lycans  - werewolves.

However, Ben has a bit of a problem he can’t bring himself to share with even his brothers. Seems the pull of the full moon has stopped pulling him to turn into a wolf.

Seeking help for his problem, Ben is sent to find the healer. But the healer he seeks (Elspbeth’s mother) is dead and he finds Elspbeth instead.

Through a series of twists, turns and out and out confusion, Elspbeth and Ben are soon fighting their attraction to one another. In addition, they carry a mysterious physical link neither can explain.

Though the description and actions of Ben would melt any female’s heart, Elspbeth is the character that steals the story. Her wit, charm and courage is spellbinding. I can’t help but compare Elspbeth and Ben to the characters Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne played in THE QUIET MAN.

To me the only way this story could have been any better is if it was an audio read by someone with a beautiful Scottish accent. The dialect and descriptions will transform you to Scotland before you finish the first chapter.

TALL, DARK AND WOLFISH is a stand alone book. There are some references, but no missing parts you need from the first book to appreciate this wonderful read. However, once you met Ben you’ll want to find out about his oldest brother, Simon. And soon you’ll be able to learn more about the middle brother, William, in THE WOLF NEXT DOOR due out next month.

Find a comfortable chair because once you start reading TALL, DARK AND WOLFISH, you won’t want to put it down until you finish the final paragraph.

Tall, Dark and Wolfish by Lydia Dare, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-4022-3695-2, Paperback, 416 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.