Aloha to Jodi Thomas and WILD TEXAS ROSE

Last week, I reintroduced myself to romance legend Jodi Thomas.  It was a squee moment!   Jodi is my guest today with a special blog!

Jodi with her RITA at RWA/2011.

I love climbing back into Historical Romance. I think from the day I saw GONE WITH THE WIND, I’ve always loved love stories set in the past. In my new book WILD TEXAS ROSE, I returned to a time period I know well, Texas in the 1870’s. Only now after twenty-five years of writing historical novels as well as contemporaries, I decided to write in a slightly different style I think all my readers will enjoy. So, come along with me on a fast-paced, laughter filled ride across Texas.

WILD TEXAS ROSE is set in Fort Worth in 1876, just after the Texas &Pacific Railroad connected the town to the rest of the world. It deals with two men who were friends as boys and who both came back scarred from the Civil War. Neither believes they will ever find love.

One, Abe Henderson walks with a limp, thinks he wouldn’t know how to love a woman even if he did find one who would give him a second look and has lived with his loneliness so long it feels normal to him. His only real friend, Killian O’Toole, lost the last of his family in the war and cannot turn loose of his brother. He often talks to Shawn as if his brother were still alive and standing next to him. Their lives change as Killian tries to help Abe by telling him suggestions that he claims Shawn, the ghost, has told them.

Both men learn about loving during a crisis involving a runaway bride and a murder threat on a Texas Ranger.

When I look back at the writing of this book, I feel like I’m surrounded by dear friends. These were the stories of a group of people living their lives, falling in love, standing up for what’s right. Many nights while I worked away in my study, I would laugh as things they said and for me they all became, not characters in a book, but real.

I hope they well be as real to you. Enjoy WILD TEXAS ROSE. Come along with me. I promise, I’ll keep you up reading late into the night.

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas presents her latest Whispering Mountain novel WILD TEXAS ROSE, about a woman who’s cursed when it comes to love—and the man determined to save her.

Twenty-five-year-old Rose McMurray may be beautiful, smart, and capable of running her adopted family’s ranch at Whispering Mountain, but she’s backed away from marriage three times without giving any reasons. Everyone thinks Rose 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.

“At the top of everyone’s favorites list.”
—Romance Junkies

“Wonderfully written, romantic, and delightful.”
—The Romance Reader

“Exceptional...Packs a powerful emotional punch.”
—Booklist

WILD TEXAS ROSE
Release date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 978-0-425-25037-2
Retail Price: USA$7.99

Jodi and Sarah Wendell at RT/2012

Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 35 novels and 11 short story

collections. A RITA winning author, Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

To learn more about Jodi, check out her social media at:

www.jodithomas.com
Twitter.com/jodithomas
www.facebook.com/ JodiThomasAuthor

I am currently reading WILD TEXAS ROSE and I would like to share this heartwarming experience with you! I am giving away a print copy of WILD TEXAS ROSE to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about your favorite flower - rose? tulip? hibiscus?

2. This giveaway is open to all readers.


3. Comments are open through Saturday, August 4, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 5.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Jodi and Sally MacKenzie at RT/2012.