Tuesday, June 19, 2012

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 28th.  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.





20 comments:

krisgils33 said...

Looking forward to getting caught up with your books. My husband and daughter spent the weekend camping with a bunch of other dads and daughters. Seems a bit disjointed...but I had a great time NOT camping!!!

Cheryl said...

Primary love story...Secondary love story...? Sounds like Rick could have a book all his own.
Waiting anxiously and may have to reread #1 to remind myself who's who..that book was several dozen ago.

meghan said...

I really want to read this! <3

Sarah S. said...

Father's day for us was spent at a baseball game, and since we don't have children yet it was fairly peaceful. :) I can't wait to read this. Thanks for the contests.

Unknown said...

I love your books and can't wait to read your latest!

Mandi Tillotson Williams (Author/Illustrator) said...

Love her books. :o) Would love this one too.

Philippa Lodge said...

It feels like I had to wait a long time for this book! Really looking forward to it! Oh, there was a question? What was the question? ;)

Father's Day.... was much like every other Sunday. DH slept very late. I did make the effort to make him steak. I don't think the kids got around to giving him the cards they had made. I'm going to have to check on that...

Refhater said...

My gift to my dad for Father's day was $36 worth of scratch off lotto tickets. ($1 for each year he's been my daddy.) I think he's one in a million and I wanted to give him the chance to win one. He ended up winning $52, not quite the million I had hoped for him, but he was delighted with it.

As for the question of the bad boys who transform into dads, I LOVE them!

gds said...

Oh, man, it sounds great! I'm a sucker for the little kids, and the big guys who love 'em, too. No great dad stories -- my dad's been gone for two years now and since we are currently "pet-less", my hubby has lost his dad status, too. :>) Soon, though, as he misses the dickens outta his little furry girl. Although one of my best "dad" stories is when my father [back in the early 70's] was the very first letter carrier to wear shorts! I know, it's pretty common-place now but then? They had to be uniform shorts worn with knee socks. He had THE tannest knees in the state of RI! He was even interviewed by the newspaper; made the front page. What a hoot. Can't wait for book 2!

Brandie said...

I love the idea of bad boys transforming into dads :-) Sexy in a cute kinda way.

I don't have any dad stories. It wasn't so great growing up in my home, but my husband is an awesome dad. My kids are sort of young so I ended up cooking a lot for Father's Day. My husband loves food :-)

Oh, and congratulations Christie :-)

Brandie

Alison said...

So looking forward to this book!

Corrie said...

My Dad is unfortunately in another state, but we always do a father/daughter backpacking trip over the summer, so we will celebrate late. I love these books, can't wait for the next one!!!

lizzerd87 said...

i have read all your books and am counting down the days till this one is released.... keep them coming...

Shelly Leatham said...

This looks sooo good! We spent Father's Day afternoon with my cousins, laughing, bowling and talking. We have all lost our Dads within 4 months!

L. Julia said...

Memories of Father's Days long ago. Year after year, poor Daddy opened a hand wrapped gift of shoe laces...always acted surprised. Wish he was here.

Looking forward to a new Christie book...have read and loved them all.

Quilt Lady said...

We really didn't do anything special on father's day both of our fathers are gone now. My husband lost his father back in Dec of last year. My father has been gone since 98. We just spent the day watching TV and reading.

Barbara E. said...

I don't really have anyone to celebrate Father's Day with, so it was just a nice Sunday for me. I like bad boys who become wonderful dads and husbands as well. It sounds like Blame it on Texas has lots of great relationships going on, including Rick's relationship with his son. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Christie Craig said...

Hey...

Loving all these stories. Aren't dads great!! Thank you everyone for stopping by. Make sure you come back tomorrow to see who won. It will be posted on top of the blog.

CC

Christie Craig said...

Hey...

Loving all these stories. Aren't dads great!! Thank you everyone for stopping by. Make sure you come back tomorrow to see who won. It will be posted on top of the blog.

CC

Kristi said...

I am so excited, I can't wait to read it.

My 25 yr old daughter calls me every year to wish ME a happy fathers day instead of her father. It makes me cry every time.