Father's Day and Why Dads Make Perfect Heroes

Winner!  Cheryl, email me at christie(at)christie-craig.com  CONTEST!!  Today one lucky person who leaves a comment will win an ARC of Blame it on Texas.

I hope you guys enjoyed Father’s Day and celebrated all the great dads in your life.  My dad lives in Alabama, so I gave him a call early Sunday morning to wish him a Happy Father's Day.  As I've mentioned in previous blogs, my dad has been a great inspiration for me, both as a writer and as a person, and I love chatting with him. I love spending time with him, too.  As a matter of fact, at the end of this month, I’m heading to Alabama, to spend some time with him. However, this year as I think about great fathers, my hubby included, I’m also thinking about Blame it on Texas, aka book two in my Hotter in Texas series of humorous romantic suspense novels from Grand Central/Forever.  It debuts August 28^th.  So, why was I thinking about Blame it on Texas?  Well, mostly I was thinking how sometimes the greatest dads start out knowing absolutely nothing about being a father—like Rick Clark, the hunky cop who is the hero in the book's secondary love story.

Now, I love Tyler, the hero in the primary love story in Blame it on Texas.  While he's a great uncle to his nieces and nephews, and will no doubt be a great father to his own children when he and Zoe have them, Rick is already a dad . . . although a very insecure one.  I'm talking insecure as in "I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing here and can somebody please help me figure it out before I do something really stupid and end up hurting this little boy?"  The someone he chooses to ask is Ellen, who was the heroine's best friend in Only in Texas, book one of my series.  Ellen is a single mom and from Rick's viewpoint, she is a walking, talking encyclopedia of how to be a great parent. 

Plus, she's got a killer smile and a pair of lips he's just dying to taste. 

Rick is a cop for Miller PD and the partner of Tony O'Connor, the hero in the secondary love story in Only in Texas.  Rick likes to think of himself as a playboy and, yep, he is master at flirting and has little trouble with relationships.  But Rick isn't a playboy by choice; he is only one to protect his heart.  He keeps falling for the wrong woman and the last time he fell, his heart got shattered into pieces so he's sworn off commitment for good.  He'd done his best to help Candy, his ex and the mother of his son, Ricky.  But Candy likes to party a bit too much, and falls back into her old ways once she leaves Houston for New Orleans  She's been extorting cash from Rick with one sob story after another, although he knows in his soul she's not spending the money on their son but rather feeding her habit.  He's in the middle of suing her for custody when he learns his son isn’t even with her right now, but with Candy’s mother close to Houston, who doesn’t even want the boy. 

Ricky is a devastated little boy who feels abandoned.  Rick has never felt so out of his depth, both as a man and a dad, as he does when the teary-eyed Ricky arrives.  Lucky for Rick, though, he has Ellen to lean on.  Ellen who knows just which kind of books to read to a child, Ellen who knows just what kind of food to get a scared little boy to eat.  Rick has a lot to learn about being a good dad but he definitely gets there by the end of the book, and he more than earns his title as hero.

Now I'll be honest.  I love writing about bad boys who lose their hearts to a good woman and strive to become a better man.  However, before Rick loses his heart to Ellen, he loses it to his son, who makes him want to be a better dad . . . and a better man.  Ellen can't resist him and I don't blame her.  He darn near stole my heart, too, and I'm sure he’ll steal yours.

So, how was your Father's Day?  Any special dad stories to share?  What do you think of bad boys who transform into dads so great they melt your heart?  Hit the Comments section and let me know your thoughts.  I’ll be giving away another ARC of Blame it on Texas to one lucky person who leaves a comment.

C.C.