Check out Tina Leonard, author of 'Hotter Than Texas'

What was the inspiration behind this book?

My family had gone to Florida, and on our return, we had to take a side tour. There was a pecan farm in the middle of nowhere—I probably couldn’t find it again if I had to. That became the setting for this book. The ladies in the story came full-blown to me with their own stories to tell—writing them was probably the most fun I’ve had writing in a long time. They’re very layered and messy!

To which character do you best relate?

I relate best to Sugar—she’s strong, does what she has to do—but oddly enough, my daughter thought I’d written Lucy about her. ( I hadn’t, not one bit, she really thought I’d based Lucy on her. I think all three of the women have slivers of every-woman in them.

What is one of your favorite things about your book?

I loved the relationship between Jake and Sugar so much! I always knew he cared about her so much—despite his mother’s objections, the small-town interferences, and her past drama.

Why are we so drawn to Texan men?

Texas men can be very self-reliant, very independent, from the earliest settling of the State, we hear stories of that. The legend lives on.

What are the ingredients for a compelling, sexy romance?

For me, it’s hot, sexy attraction! A man who loves a woman and isn’t afraid to fight for her is my ultimate to-die-for!

You have made it onto the USA Today Bestseller List. Congratulations! What are some of your secrets to success?

I work, almost non-stop. I think eventually that work paid off. I love to write, I couldn’t NOT write. I recently had an illness that caused me to really re-define my schedule, and it really came home to me how much it would kill me if I couldn’t write!

Please tell us about your other books.

I have an upcoming series with Random House Loveswept that I’m super-excited about—the first book, Last of the Red-Hot Cowboys, is out next June 24 as an e-release! I really got excited about writing the Hell’s Outlaws series. Independent women, hot hunks—what’s not to love?

On what projects are you currently working?

I’m writing three series at this time: Pecan Creek—this book, Hotter than Texas, is the first of that series—the Hell’s Outlaws series for Loveswept, and then a short 4-book mini-series called Bridesmaids Creek, which begins next July!

What is the best writing advice you ever received?

Nora Roberts: Ass in chair. Stephen King: Come to the page seriously (probably poorly paraphrased). My grandmother: Stick with it. My husband: Keep going. My kids: You’re doing good, Mommy!

When not writing, what can you be found doing?

Tending an organic garden and I have a fern garden I’m building; reading; love hanging with my very large family; dragging my husband to the beach once a year!

What is something readers may be surprised to learn about you?

When I was an RA at my college, I allowed my darling hall to sneak two pretty well-known rock bands through the fire escape after curfew (which fell under some strict tampering with fire equipment code of which I didn’t know, and which I learned later in the university’s desire to try to find a scapegoat when word got around of our famous guests). I could have gotten in tons of trouble because the university was very anxious to find the culprit of who had allowed permission, but the girls never ratted me out. I loved those girls. I, on the other hand, never got to really see the famous guests. I was in my room watching tv, and entertaining an out-of-town guest.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to thank Books to Light Your Fire for hosting me—it’s fun getting to know readers!

Thank you so much for your time!

Hotter Than Texas
by Tina Leonard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Perfection takes time, but desire waits for no man. Or woman…

Pecan Creek, Book 1

With more than one skeleton rattling in her closet, Sugar Cassavechia hopes “The Most Honest Town in Texas” will be the perfect place to start an online business. As soon as her mother remembers the family recipe that’ll get hotterthanhellnuts.com off the ground.

In the meantime, no way is Sugar letting their new landlord get away with renting them a run-down house that’s decorated like a rich widow’s orgasm. Even if he’s the biggest hunk of hot she’s ever laid eyes on.

Jake Bentley would love to do nothing but sit back and be amused as the Cassavechia women unwittingly stir up trouble in his uptight town. But something about them thaws out his frozen rescue complex. Especially Sugar’s long, chestnut hair and sassy mouth.

Right about the time Sugar figures one steamy night in Jake’s bed won’t hurt, another skeleton joins the party in the form of a dead body in the “Belle Watling” room. And Sugar must decide if her family’s reputation—and her own heart—are safe with Jake.

Product Warnings

No sex in this book. Nope. None. Nada. Honest. Now, if you believe that, the author has an iceberg in Texas to sell you. Better hurry before there’s none left to cool the fevered dreams generated by this book.

Read an excerpt:

“Sugar,” Jake said, “I’ve wanted you since the first time you sassed me.”

“I wanted to punch you in the nose.”

He laughed and kissed her forehead. “My advertising skills left something to be desired.”

“You rooked three unsuspecting women.”

“I know.” He kissed her lips, taking his time. “I’m offering you a chance for payback.”

“And that payback is sex?” He smelled awesome, like a hot, sexy man who’d been in a kitchen trying to please her. Or maybe please himself. With Jake, you never knew.

He pulled her tighter against him, kissing her slowly, thoroughly. “I’d do my damnedest to make you a happy woman the second time I sold you something.”

Sugar looked into Jake’s eyes. He was too hot, too sexy, almost taking her breath away. “I think your gravy’s burning.”

“Nice try. I turned it off.” He tugged her hips against him, kissing her as if he’d never tasted anything as good as her mouth. Sugar moaned and let Jake hike her up on his waist. “If I’m moving too fast, say so. I’ll back off and feed you the best shrimp and steak dinner you’ve ever had. Just good friends breaking bread together.”

Sugar gasped as Jake sank his teeth gently into her lower lip. Heat and warmth filled her, stealing her desire to tell him no about anything. “I’m not really that hungry.”

His smile turned dangerous. “I am.”

Buy it on Amazon

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Tina Leonard has sold over 2.6 million copies of her titles. She has made the USA Today Bestseller, Waldenbooks, Bookscan, and Ingrambook lists, and has written and contracted seventy-one books and special projects. Her work has been published by Harlequin, Samhain Publishing, Robinson Scarlet, and most recently Random House Loveswept contracted for a single title trilogy project, Hell’s Outlaws. Leonard was chosen to be among the first authors published for Robinson’s Scarlet line, writing four single title novels for that imprint. Not long after, she sold on proposal to Harlequin American, where she has since written several popular series, most notably the Cowboys By The Dozen, Morgan Men, and Callahan Cowboys series. Her newest single title project, HOTTER THAN TEXAS, was published in March 2013. Leonard is known for her fun sense of humor, endearing communities, snappy dialogue, and memorable characters.

Join Tina at www.tinaleonard.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tinaleonardbooks
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Tina_Leonard

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