The Jaded Hero…

Hi everyone! I’m Nikki Lynn Barrett, author of Baby Stetson, and The Secret Santa Wishing Well. Today I’m giving away an ecopy of either Baby Stetson or The Secret Santa Wishing Well to one lucky commentor so be sure and leave me a comment to be entered.

I’ve noticed a bit of a trend with my books lately..I’ve written a jaded hero. In the beginning of each story, the heroes have a heavy heart, they feel a bit defeated, and it’s not until they meet their match that things begin to change.

For Jacob, the hero in The Secret Santa Wishing Well, he has no reason to be in the cheerful Christmas mood. His sister is very ill and she loved Christmas, so that’s taken a toll on Jacob. It’s not until he meets six year old Ben and his family that his feelings change. I loved writing Jacob’s story…and how he opened his mind to new possibilities. It seemed to have worked well, because the reviews that came in for it loved Jacob and his change.

Now Lucas, he’s a bit darker. And he’s harder to read. But he’s also had one heck of a past. Lucas doesn’t really have a family, and he doesn’t feel like he has a place in the world. He’s shut off his emotions, never allowing anyone in. His latest job takes him to a small town in Texas, and he’s about to meet his match. Avery and Lucas have a few things in common, they both had an abandonment in their life that affects them. Both of them have managed it differently. It’s a way that got them to connect on a deeper level, which is a strange feeling for Lucas. His unfolding story totally transformed him. In the beginning of Baby Stetson, he’s not at his best, but slowly, he comes around, and he learns quite about from being around Avery. Lucas and Avery were so fun to write. They had chemistry from the start, but adding in those deeper levels took a lot of thought.

I wrote Jacob and Lucas with people I’ve met in mind. I know a lot of guys I dated in the past had that jaded feel, and despite their guarded attitude, I always saw something more than that in them, and gave them a chance. That’s exactly what Avery did with Lucas, even though she didn’t understand completely what drew her to him, other than attraction.

What kind of heroes do you like? Are you like me, and love watching a jaded hero come alive when he meets the woman who can change everything?

Here’s an excerpt from Baby Stetson.

I’m going to show you a bit of a fun side to Lucas.

BLURB: In small Texas towns, strangers come and go…

Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she’s never lacked for love…only the knowledge of her past.

By day she works the Inn, but by night…Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good…stable, until new guests blew into town.

Some strangers come with secrets and lies

Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn’t matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony’s Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.

Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery’s ignited within, he’s intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn’t want Avery to know.

Each time they’re near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie.

But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.

Excerpt: She opened her mouth, about to argue with him. Lucas took that moment to kiss her on the lips. She reeled back, narrowing her eyes at him. “You can’t keep doing that.”

Lucas blinked innocently. “Doing what?”

Avery socked him on the arm. “Don’t play coy. You know what I mean. I get ready to say something to you and you just kiss me! Like you’re trying to make me forget what I was about to say to you!”

Lucas arched his brow at her. “Well, did it work?”

“No. I didn’t forget,” Avery fired back at him. But then a smile played at her lips. “Maybe a little.”

“So what if I kiss you again? Will that help make you forget?” Without waiting for an answer, he cupped her face and kissed her again, this time more passionately. Avery didn’t fight back. She kissed him back. When it ended, Avery looked at him with those gorgeous eyes. He had no idea what she would do next.

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