Molly Harper interviews Bonnie from Rhythm & Bluegrass

Books-n-Kisses is please to let Molly Harper (One of Kelly’s all time favorite authors) take over the blog today to interview Bonnie Turkle from Molly’s Rhythm & Bluegrass.  Take it away Molly.

Molly: So, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Bonnie:  I’m Bonnie Turkle.  I work for Sadie Hutchins, director of marketing for the highly fictionalized Kentucky Commission of Tourism.  You make us say highly fictionalized every time we discuss our setting because you’re afraid that the taxpayers in Kentucky will think that state employees are as irresponsible as your characters.  Good employees who make sound decisions rarely end up trapped together in supply closets with only PB&Js and vodka to sustain them.

Molly: Went off on a little bit of a tangent, didn’t you, sweetie?

Bonnie: I just think you tend to be a little mean to your human characters to make up for the lack of vampire angst in our undead-less universe.  It’s the only way I can rationalize you setting my car on fire in the first chapter of the book, and the tornado, and the thing with the possum –

Molly: Hey, hey, don’t give the whole thing away.  Now, let’s get back on track.  What is your position with the highly fictionalized KCT?

Bonnie: I am a multimedia historian.

Molly: And what does that mean?

Bonnie: No one really knows.

Molly: But what do you do?

Bonnie: I put together traveling displays from the marketing information Sadie gives me, usually related to the Kentucky Derby or the state’s significance in the Civil War.  I go to schools and do presentations on important figures and events in Kentucky history.  And when I’m lucky enough to get funding I get to travel to locations that haven’t been mined by other historians, collect artifacts and put together an entire exhibit on my own.  That’s what brings me to Mud Creek and the practically abandoned McBride’s Music Hall.  Before it closed, McBride’s was a stop on the country western performance circuit and the rhythm and blues circuit, putting it at a crossroads in American musical culture.  All the greats played there.  And they left behind all sorts of historical goodies that I need to snatch up before the site is bull-dozed to make room for an underwear plant.

Molly: You say ‘underwear plant’ with an unusual amount of disdain.  For you, I mean.  Could it be because the subject puts you at odds with Mud Creek’s mayor?  Mud Creek’s extremely handsome mayor?  Mud Creek’s extremely handsome mayor who also happens to be the grandson of the original owner of McBride’s?

Bonnie: You’re evil.

Molly: (shrugs innocently.)

Bonnie:  Yes, the subject puts me at odds with Will McBride.  I know that building the factory will bring much-needed jobs to Mud Creek’s economy, which is top priority for him.  I know the music hall brings up bad memories for Will.  But I can’t help but feel that preserving that priceless musical legacy is just an important as securing a man-panty manufacturer.

Molly: Is that why you overstep your bounds a little bit, filing papers to have the hall designated a protected historical site?

Bonnie: I’d rather not answer.  Will and I need to work through it, when we’re not dealing with his wacky neighbors, my cranky stripper-seamstress landlady and his loveable, but meddling, mama.  And the possums.

Molly: Fair enough.

Bonnie: Can we talk about the possum thing?  And why your characters keep tangling with them?

Molly: Yeah, I had no idea that possums would become a trademark thing with me.  My editor, Abby, loves them.  And since my books are based in Kentucky, where possums are plentiful, she has threatened to send back any marsupial-free manuscripts back to me unread… I’m not entirely sure she’s kidding.

Bonnie: You couldn’t have given me possum mace or something?

Molly: You wouldn’t have used it.  You’re too nice.

Bonnie: True enough.  So what’s next for our little troupe of characters?  I’d like to know what to expect.

Molly: I thought I was conducting this interview.

Bonnie:  Possums, Harper.  Angry possums.  Near my face.  You endangered my face.

Molly: Fine.  There will be a third as-yet-untitled book in the BLUEGRASS series, featuring your best gal pal, Kelsey, and her struggle to re-connect with the elusive Charlie Bennett as the whole staff heads to a remote lodge for a staff retreat.  And then there is an ice storm… trapping you in the lodge… without power.

Bonnie: Evil.

Molly: I do what I can. 

Learn more about Molly here Website | Facebook | Twitter  @mollyharperauth| Goodreads

Want to take a look at Molly’s Rhythm and Bluegrass and my review?   Keep reading…

TITLE: Rhythm and Bluegrass
SERIES #: Bludegrass #2
CHARACTERS: Will McBride & Bonnie Turkle
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: Oct. 7, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N  | Audible 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Bonnie Turkle, multimedia historian for the Kentucky Commission of Tourism, is dispatched to Mud Creek, a tiny eastern Kentucky town, with few prospects but many oddballs, to rescue important artifacts from McBride’s Music Hall. Now fallen beyond disrepair, McBride’s was once a jewel of the early American music scene, an intersection of the country-western and rhythm and blues circuits. The former owner’s grandson, Will McBride, who also happens to be Mud Creek’s esteemed mayor, would like nothing more than to see the place bull-dozed in favor of a factory that will provide much-needed jobs to his citizens. But Bonnie finds evidence of a legendary musical event at the music hall and her plans to turn it into a museum put Mud Creek’s economic future at risk – not to mention the growing flirtation between the two of them. If Will and Bonnie can’t find common ground, the town’s past and future will be lost.

REVIEW:
Any Molly Harper books is a good book. But let me tell you about my love hate relationship with Mr. Will McBride. At first I loved Mr. Roadside Cowboy, but as the book went on I started to hate Mr. McBride. He was a complete and udder asshat to Bonnie. I wanted to smack him around on her behalf. But I will say by the end Will redeemed himself.

I loved this book. As I said any Molly Harper books is a good book. I love that her characters are always witty, humorous and just like you and me. Will & Boonie and a fun couple even if they are at each others throat more often than not. But really it was all a big case of miscommunication.

If you love Molly’s first book My Bluegrass Baby, you will love Rhythm & Bluegrass. I can’t wait to see who is next in the Bluegrass series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts