When a different melody reaches Gracie’s ears from a guitar played by the new tenant living in her garage apartment, her tension vanishes. She listens unseen, cocooned in the shadows on her patio, and wonders who he’s longing for—and how it would feel for someone to crave her that much.
She can’t dwell on those thoughts, however. Problems of murder and missing prisoners abound. To say nothing of the ghosts. No one ever said being a law enforcement consultant would be easy.
Bluebonnet Ballerina follows Jalapeno Cupcake Wench and is the second book in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy.
“I don’t even know where to begin. Oh, yes I do! With this.” Gracie pulled out her phone and found Donovan’s photo. She handed it across.
A smile spread across Ariana’s face. “Look at those eyes. Does this sexy hunk have a name?”
“Donovan Beck.”
“Tell me you like him and he likes you and it’s not some kind of police thing.”
“I thought I liked him, but…”
“Gracie.” Ariana motioned with her fingers for Gracie to tell her more, but Gracie kept her mouth shut. “Come on, spit it out.”
“He’s a good kisser.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I met him on the job, but he wasn’t the reason I was on the job. Bastion sent me to a bakery—Jalapeno Cupcake—and Donovan was there helping his sister. She’s the owner and just had a baby.”
Ariana sipped her water. “Does he know what you do?”
“Sort of.”
“And?”
“He doesn’t like it.”
“Is that why you think you don’t like him?”
Gracie shook her head. “He’s controlling. We went out once—probably not again.”
“Is he really controlling, or is that an excuse?”
“No excuse. A combination of thinking he can tell me how to do my job, spend my time, and even unwarranted jealousy.”
Ariana leaned forward. “Who’s he jealous of?”
“The guy who came to look at your old apartment.”
“I see. Tell me about him.” She smiled again.
“My mother sent him.”
A smile spread across Ariana’s face. “Look at those eyes. Does this sexy hunk have a name?”
“Donovan Beck.”
“Tell me you like him and he likes you and it’s not some kind of police thing.”
“I thought I liked him, but…”
“Gracie.” Ariana motioned with her fingers for Gracie to tell her more, but Gracie kept her mouth shut. “Come on, spit it out.”
“He’s a good kisser.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I met him on the job, but he wasn’t the reason I was on the job. Bastion sent me to a bakery—Jalapeno Cupcake—and Donovan was there helping his sister. She’s the owner and just had a baby.”
Ariana sipped her water. “Does he know what you do?”
“Sort of.”
“And?”
“He doesn’t like it.”
“Is that why you think you don’t like him?”
Gracie shook her head. “He’s controlling. We went out once—probably not again.”
“Is he really controlling, or is that an excuse?”
“No excuse. A combination of thinking he can tell me how to do my job, spend my time, and even unwarranted jealousy.”
Ariana leaned forward. “Who’s he jealous of?”
“The guy who came to look at your old apartment.”
“I see. Tell me about him.” She smiled again.
“My mother sent him.”
Law enforcement consultant Gracie Hofner is assigned to a trendy San Antonio pastry shop to watch for a delivery. In addition to the intoxicating aromas of sugar and chocolate, she also has to fight her own attraction to the man working beside her, Donovan Beck. He’s a hunk and a half and perfect for a spring fling.
If she had more time, Donovan would rank higher on her to-do list. But the number one spot is occupied by her search for a missing little girl, the target of a killer. Gracie needs to find her pronto, and the odd super-instinct quirk that’s started plaguing her may help. If not, she can always see what happens if it tells her to buy a lottery ticket.
Jalapeno Cupcake Wench is the first book in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy, a story so big, it takes three books to tell it.
She and her husband live in San Antonio, the setting for the Amazing Gracie books, with two quirky herding dogs who still require help opening the food bin and the door.
You can learn more about Carol and be the first to know when the third book in the Amazing Gracie Trilogy will be released by visiting her website and subscribing to her newsletter at http://www.carolkilgore.net or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
Win a $50 Amazon or B&N gift card!
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting me and sharing news about BLUEBONNET BALLERINA with your readers. I'll be in and out to respond to comments.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed getting to know your book and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Lisa! Wishing you good luck :)
DeleteJust finished reading and LOVED the book! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jemi! So glad to hear ♥
DeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteCool :)
DeleteLove the premise!
ReplyDelete--Trix
Great! I hope you'll enjoy the story, too.
DeleteSounds like an interesting book, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteLooking forward to reading The Amazing Gracie books. Thank you
ReplyDeleteAww... thanks for sharing that. Makes my day while I'm doing the unglamorous work of scrubbing my kitchen today :)
DeleteCongrats on the release. I hope that your book is a success. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteThank you. I appreciate your good wishes :)
DeleteI love the cover artwork on the books it's very eye catching.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I love it, too. The cover designer is Ada Frost. She's wonderful ♥
DeleteLooking forward to reading your book! Thanks for the opportunity 💕
ReplyDeleteGreat! And you're most welcome.
DeleteBeautiful cover and this is my favorite genre.
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite genre to read, too. And to write - obviously :)
DeleteMy wonderful and talented cover designer is Ada Frost.
Ada did a great job!
Delete:)
DeleteAwesome excerpt! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandra.
DeleteWhat writers have inspired you?
ReplyDeleteProbably all I've ever read, in one way or another. But as to what I write, probably Lisa Scottoline and Linda Howard, for the most part.
DeleteDo you prefer e-books or print books?
ReplyDeleteFor reading, I prefer ebooks. It's much easier on my eyes to read from my Kindle than from ink on paper. Story wise, it makes no difference to me. I have many shelves of paper books that I love just the same as I love the ones on my Kindle. It's the characters and their stories I fall in love with, and I'll read them no matter how they're offered.
DeleteThis sounds like a great series! What was your inspiration for writing it?
ReplyDeleteAt the very beginning, I wanted to write a standalone about an undercover cop who couldn't cook but was assigned to a restaurant kitchen to watch for criminal activity. I had trouble, so stopped writing to figure out how to tell the story. The more I learned about the characters, the more I knew there the story was too big to tell in one book. At that point, I knew the focus needed to be more on the characters, especially Gracie, and her whole life - not just her current assignment.
DeleteI have a lot of fun learning more about her and writing it down. I hope readers have as much fun reading her story.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
ReplyDeleteNot soon enough!
DeleteI've always been an avid reader, even before I started kindergarten. I used to make up stories about everything and make my mother crazy. In trouble way more than once about this. So finally I just kept the stories in my head. I was in my 30s before I ever had any clue that maybe I was supposed to write them down.
What book(s) are you currently reading?
ReplyDeleteI'm currently rereading Lisa Scottoline's Rosato and Associates series. I'm currently on Book 3.
DeleteOh I love her books as well.
DeleteShe is one of my favorite authors.
DeleteWhat was the hardest part about writing this book?
ReplyDeleteThe ending was the most difficult. Bluebonnet Ballerina is the middle book in the trilogy, which is one big story. Each book is structured a little different, even though each could be read alone. With this one being the middle book, it is more open-ended than book one. The independent story in this book is complete, but the trilogy story offers a glimpse of what is to come in book three. I'm thankful to my editor for her guidance in how to accomplish this. I hope I've succeeded :)
DeleteWhat do you think of "trailers" for books?
ReplyDeleteI love watching book trailers, but I've never had one for any of my books. If I knew how to make one myself, I would've probably tried. Maybe one day :)
DeleteThanks for answering my questions Carol. I love finding out about authors.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! I love talking about books and writing. Nice to meet you.
DeleteWhat advice would you give to aspiring writers?
ReplyDeleteThis is the most difficult question you've asked :) I'm a horrible advice giver. We all write for different reasons, so there isn't a one-size-fits-all type of answer. I do think there are probably a few tidbits that apply to all of us, though, at one time or another.
DeleteFamily first, writing second. But it's a two-way street. They also need to respect your writing time. Both writer and family need to be flexible and adaptable when at all possible. Both emergencies and deadlines happen.
Remember that writing isn't glamorous. It's hard work, but the reward is totally worth the effort. That said, don't give up your day job. You still need to eat! Most of us don't get rich, but we still write. If you can't stop, you're a writer. If you can stop, you probably should and find something that makes you happier.
Learn to trust your instinct - or intuition - whatever you call that little voice that speaks to you. It's rarely incorrect.
I like the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim.
Deletesounds like a fun one
ReplyDeleteI hope readers think so!
DeleteDo you have a favorite series or characters in the book(s) you have written?
ReplyDeleteDoes writing energize or exhaust you?
ReplyDeleteBoth. It energizes me when I'm writing, especially on those days when the words flow well. But by the end of the day, I'm really tired... and ready for wine o'clock :)
DeleteWhat was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
ReplyDeleteHow many unpublished/half finished books do you have?
ReplyDeleteHow do you select the names of your characters?
ReplyDeleteDoes your family support your career as a writer?
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite movie?
ReplyDeleteHi, Becky. I'll just answer all your questions here.
ReplyDeleteBest money ever spent as a writer? Took my husband out to dinner ♥
Unpublished/half-finished books: 4
Names come from all sources. Sometimes a name comes to me with the character... I just know. Sometimes a name comes first and then the character. These are the ways most of the primary and secondary characters come to me. Other names come from place names, old family names, names I see online or hear in the grocery store. I keep a list and that's the first place I turn when I need a name.
My family is totally supportive. It would be extremely difficult to pursue this endeavor without their support. But there are limits :)
My favorite movie. That's as difficult as my favorite book. There are a few. The Book Thief - both book and movie, by the way. Pretty Woman. The Illusionist. The recent Wonder Woman. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. There are probably more, but those popped in my head right away.
I would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including Bluebonnet Ballerina. I wish the best in keeping up the good work in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jerry. I appreciate your kind words and good wishes.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome! Bluebonnet Ballerina is going to make a great read right before the upcoming holiday this month.
ReplyDelete