May I Have This Dance?

Hi All! Cynthia D’Alba here. Thanks to Books-N-Kisses to having me here today to celebrate the release of my newest book, TEXAS TANGO. It’s the second book in the Texas Montgomery Mavericks Series. (It follows Texas Two Step released last year.)

I wrote a scene that takes place at a country club dance. Growing up, a “country club dance” was the height of social activities. It meant a fancy dress (preferably new!) and a date wearing a suit (instead of jeans (of questionable cleanliness) and a polo (instead of a T-shirt if you were a special date!) Writing the scene stirred up quite a few nice memories, like the time mom made me a full hoop skirt dress and if I didn’t sit down just right, the front of my dress would flip over my head! I think I might have been channeling Scarlet O’Hara at the time.

In TEXAS TANGO, the dance is being held at Whispering Springs Country Club as a fundraiser for the local high school football team. In the south (since I’m Southern, born and raised, I have no idea what it’s like in the rest of the country!), the combination of a country club dance with high school football is much like peanut butter and chocolate. They go together so well. Let me give you a taste of the scene…

Travis took Caroline’s hand, interrupting her conversation with KC’s brothers. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get my date on the dance floor before she finds someone else to dance with.”

“Nice to meet all of you,” Caroline said with a wave. “Get me on the dance floor?” she whispered.

“If we don’t move on, we’ll be there talking to them for hours. I know my uncle. He’ll talk ranching until my ears fall off my head.”

“Got it. So are we really headed to dance?”

“Sure.” He swung her around and caught her with a hand at her waist.

She put both hands on his strong shoulders. No padding needed in his jacket. All man and all muscle. And for tonight—and the next four months—he was all hers. A dangerous trill raced through her. She slipped her hands up and around his neck. As though of a mind of their own, her fingers stroked the back of his neck. Up and down and then around in a circle.

He hissed out a long breath. He tightened his hands at her waist. Jerking her snug against him, he whispered, “You are the sexiest woman in this entire room. And if you don’t stay close, everybody else will know exactly the effect you are having on me.”

The hard evidence of his arousal pressed firmly into her stomach. His chest vibrated against hers as he hummed along with the song. She found herself perversely pleased by how comfortable she felt in his arms.

But on the other hand, maybe she needed to get a hold on her feelings. They had no future beyond this fall. She had to keep telling herself that.

As the song came to its closing note, Travis hugged her before ending the dance with a deep dip. She laughed with delight. Travis grinned and then brushed her mouth with a quick kiss.

Curious about TEXAS TANGO? Here’s a little more:

Texas Montgomery Mavericks

Book 2

Dr. Caroline Graham is happy with her nomadic lifestyle fulfilling short-term medical contracts. No emotional commitments, no disappointments. She’s always the one to walk away, never the one left behind. But now her great-uncle is gone and her grandmother is on her deathbed, more concerned about Caroline’s lack of a husband than her own demise. What’s the harm in a little white lie? If a wedding will give her grandmother peace, then a wedding she shall have.

Travis Montgomery has one dream left—to build the ranch he and his wife planned before he lost her to cancer. There’s just one thing standing between him and the last bit of acreage he needs—a last living heir who has one traveling foot out the door…and an unusual request that challenges his determination to never again place his heart at risk. The land he wants in exchange for a faux marriage. Everyone wins. Until things start to snowball…and the hearts they stand to lose are their own.

Want more? Click HERE to read the opening to Texas Tango.

TEXAS TANGO is available at your favorite online bookstore or use one of the links below:

Amazon | Samhain  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

Is this your first time to come across me? Here’s a little more about Cynthia D’Alba: I was born and raised in a small Arkansas town. After being gone for a number of years, I’m thrilled to be making my home back in Arkansas living in a vine-covered cottage on the banks of an eight-thousand acre lake. I started writing on a challenge from my husband in 2006 and discovered having imaginary sex with lots of hunky men was fun.

My first book, Texas Two Step, released in 2012 to outstanding reviews, was a Samhain Publishing best seller. The second book in the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series, Texas Tango, released November 5, 2013, again from Samhain Publishing. In February, 2014, Texas Fandango, a Novella in the Texas Montgomery Series will be released by Samhain Publishing. I am currently at work on book 3 of the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series (Texas Twist).

I love love love to hear from readers and there are lots of ways to find me. Online, you can find me most days at my website or my group blog.

Follow me at Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Goodreads or Pinterest.

or email me at cynthia@cynthiadalba.com

To send me snail mail, write to: Cynthia D’Alba   PO Box 2116   Hot Springs, AR 71914

So now for the fun stuff! J

I want to know about the dances you went to as a teen. Are country club dances in your history? What about high school football…was it a big deal where you grew up? What’s your favorite dance or high school football memory?

In the spirit of Christmas sneaking up on us, I’ll pick among the comments for someone to take home a western-themed ornament. Here’s just a sample…

Plus, I doing a jewelry-themed For my TEXAS TANGO Jewelry-Themed Rafflecopter Giveaway. Be sure and look for the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post. Also check out my personal blog for other places you can enter! Here’s the loot you can win…

AND I have freebies for the asking! But when it’s gone, it’s gone. Pens, jar openers, postcards, bookmarks, trading cards…just go by my contact page and send me a note.

Thanks for coming by! Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win one of the Christmas ornaments!

a Rafflecopter giveaway