Tag Archives: Stepping Out Of Line

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Character Interview–Roxie from Stepping Out Of Line

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Meet Roxie, the heroine of Stepping Out Of Line, a contemporary western romance that’s one of my backlist titles.

How about you introduce yourself by providing the basics?

My birth name was Liberty Star Nolan but I got used to Roxie Starr, the stage name I used for a decade as a Las Vegas showgirl, and that’s what I still go by.

Where were you raised?

This small town in northern Texas named Wayback.

Family members?

Daddy lit out ages ago, chasing his rodeo dream. Mama Argie lives in the family house with my younger sister, Felicity, and my aunties Branwyn and Clarine. A whole lot of estrogen under one roof.

Did you attend college?

Nope, I couldn’t wait to see the city fade in my rearview mirror as soon as I graduated high school. I headed for Los Angeles because I knew I would be the next go-to actress.Turns out getting this Texas twang out of my voice was harder work than I’d imagined.

Are you athletic?

Being athletic became my profession when I started as a dancer in a chorus line in Vegas. Now I do yoga and love to swim in the summer.

What’s your favorite sport to watch?

I love watching ice dancing in the Olympics.

Did you always want to be a beautician?

Never had a thought about it until I’d been performing for several years. Then I realized I needed to learn skills that I could use after my body gave out. While in Vegas, I learned tips and styles from so many dancer and performer friends that opening a beauty salon seemed like a natural second career.

What do you like most about being a beautician?

Helping customers gain a style that boosts their self-confidence.

Are you a pet person?

I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs of all kinds, especially strays.

Where did you go for your most recent vacation?

Being a small-business owner doesn’t allow for many vacations but I did manage to attend the last ballroom dance championship. [shrugs] What can I say? Dancing’s in my blood.

Talk about your favorite setting for a date.

Now that I’ve seen the glitz and glamour of Vegas, I appreciate the specialness of laid-back events like the town’s Founder Day celebration, the lighting of the town square Christmas tree or the Fourth of July fireworks.

What attracts you first to a man?

His smile. And filling out a set of Wranglers just right doesn’t hurt.

Are you talking about a particular man?

[eyes gleaming] Oh, yeah.

BLURB

Two years ago Roxie Starr left behind her life as a Vegas showgirl and came home to Wayback, Texas to open a styling salon. She claims she’s there to help with her younger sister, but the truth is age was catching up to her body and the time had come to step out of the chorus line.

Fighting against a nagging injury, Dev Laredo is determined to finish one last rodeo. He won’t return to his Oklahoma ranch until he’s won enough to cover his brother’s college tuition. The sight of a sassy redhead sparks his interest, but her tender ministrations to his injury touch his lonely heart. Can two bruised souls put aside their differences and give love a fighting chance?

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Amazon

Barnes & Noble

The Wild Rose Press

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Romancing The Eight Blog Hop

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Story Inspiration for Stepping Out Of LineSteppingoutofLine_med

 

The dozen years I lived in San Antonio, Texas sparked a love of the cowboy myth and an appreciation for rodeo as a sport/lifestyle. Sure, many of the competitors at the local and regional rodeos work weekdays herding cattle, fixing fences, managing stud services, and worrying over the latest beef prices. But come Friday and Saturday nights, they transform into the heroes of the rodeo arena. They become the football quarterbacks (another Texas passion) who drive hard for the goal—be it roping a calf in the fastest time, or staying upright for the longest period on the back of a bucking bronc or bull.

Dev Laredo has lost track of how many bones he’s broken as a saddle bronc rider. Like Kevin Coster in Bull Durham (one of my favorites movies), Dev’s too old for this shit, he’s too old for the buckle bunnies. But he’s determined to finish out this season to earn money for his younger brother’s college tuition—he’ll fight through his latest injury to do it

Roxie Starr is an ex-Vegas showgirl who dismisses rodeo performers as being the same as Vegas guys—all flash and show, and no commitment. Since returning to Wayback, she’s refused to date anyone associated with the rodeo. She wants a real cowboy—solid, down to earth, one who will be there when the going gets tough.

Can two bruised souls overlook their differences and give love a fighting chance? Stepping Out Of Line, a contemporary western romance, is published by The Wild Rose Press.

BUY LINKS

All Romance ebooks

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

KOBO

GIVEAWAY

Anyone signing up for the soon-to-be-compiled inaugural issue of my quarterly newsletter is eligible for a drawing of an ebook of this title.

Click here to sign up.

Please visit the other authors participating in the Romancing The Eight Blog Hop follow:

Darlene Fredette – http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.ca/

Denyse Bridger – www.fantasypages.ca

Gini Rifkin – http://ginirifkin.blogspot.com/

Backlist promotion

Spotlight on Backlist Title–Stepping Out Of Line

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I don’t know exactly what draws me to dance scenes except that they are often the most sensual aspect of a sweet romance story. Here is an excerpt from a release from five years ago, Stepping Out Of Line, which was included as a title in the Wayback, Texas series released by The Wild Rose Press.

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EXCERPT

Dev knew he should pull his gaze from her slender throat but the graceful movements as she swallowed were hypnotic. What unique trait about this woman called to him? His fingers tightened on the beer bottle. Quit gawking and say something, dummy. “Band has a good sound. Are they local?”

She turned and nodded, a smile exposing even, white teeth. “Three are from Soledad, about thirty miles away. For this part of north Texas, that’s almost in our backyard.”

“I hear ya there.”

“So you know about rural towns.” She leaned an elbow on the bar and turned to face him, her gaze flicking over his face. “Your accent’s a bit different. You a native Texan?”

“Nope.” Perceptive, he liked that. “Raised in Chenoa, just a wide spot in the road in central Oklahoma. Got a few acres and some cattle there.”

Green eyes rounded and her lips tightened. With a sharp nod, she turned her attention to the mug in her hands. “So, you’re in Wayback for the rodeo.”

His gaze narrowed. What was that heavy note he caught in her voice? Even drawn into a tight line, her lips grabbed his attention. Made him want to make her smile again. “Might be.” If his body cooperated enough to allow him to compete in the upcoming rodeo. “You sound disappointed.”

“It shows?” She lifted her mug and sipped, but kept staring straight ahead. “Sorry. Knee-jerk reaction.”

Again, his gaze ran over her—the slender woman dressed like a native but didn’t like rodeos. Interesting twist. “From where I sit, the rodeo isn’t the only attraction in town.”

She ducked her head then took a deep breath.

Dev would have sworn he saw a flash of white teeth before her red hair swung forward and hid her face. Well, all right. The lady wasn’t immune to his manner—or his attention.

Roxie braced both hands on the bar and stood. “Nice meeting you, Dev, but I’ll be saying goodnight.”

Not so fast. Dev reached out a hand and covered hers. “Hey, don’t go.” Beneath his rough palm, her fingers were warm and soft. He couldn’t resist running a thumb along the top of her pinky.

She lifted her chin and met his gaze, eyebrow raised in question. “Because…?”

The first notes of a familiar Bob Seger song sounded from the jukebox.

“Because this is my favorite song.” He slid his mouth into his best cajoling grin. Keeping a solid hold on her hand, he stood and eased around the stool with deliberate moves. “Honor me with a dance?”

“Honor you?” Roxie tilted her head to the side and laughed. “Wow, I haven’t heard that phrase in years.”

“What can I say?” Dev moved close and slid an arm around her waist, urging her forward. “My grandma was a stickler for manners.” Within a few steps, he stopped and held out his free hand, palm up.

Roxie hesitated for just a second and then slid her hand up his arm to lie on his shoulder. “Manners are good.”

BUY LINKS

The Wild Rose Press

All Romance ebooks

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

KOBO Books

BLURB

Two years ago Roxie Starr left behind her life as a Vegas showgirl and came home to Wayback, Texas to open a styling salon. She claims she’s there to help with her younger sister, but the truth is age was catching up to her body and the time had come to step out of the chorus line.

Fighting against a nagging injury, Dev Laredo is determined to finish one last rodeo. He won’t return to his Oklahoma ranch until he’s won enough to cover his brother’s college tuition. The sight of a sassy redhead sparks his interest, but her tender ministrations to his injury touch his lonely heart. Can two bruised souls put aside their differences and give love a fighting chance?

If this little bit has sparked your interest in this contemporary rodeo story, please follow the link and add this to your “Want To Read” list on Goodreads.

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