The book Honky Tonk Hellion was so fun to write. Andi is very like me, unable to see the logic in old-fashioned, made-up society rules. She’s willing to experiment so she can live the life she chooses on her own terms. Also like me, she has to learn some lessons the hard way…
Because I wrote Hellion as a companion, a sequel, to My Cowboy Promises, I wonder if I really gave either Andi or Ryder their due. So much of Andi’s story was dependent on Ryder and Declan’s story. It’s best to read both.
In Honky Tonk Hellion, I gave Andi a new friend, Laureen Braedon, a woman in a similar situation to hers–married to a man with a male romantic partner who is equally important to him. But theirs is not any kind of true menage, because Kevin Braedon’s the only one who is happy with the arrangement.
Kevin isn’t necessarily always honest with himself, or with Laureen. He has anger management issues, and those things only escalate when Truman, his lover, leaves him. Y’all can read ALL about Truman and the HOT new man in his life, contractor Vanraj Desai, available for pre-order at Amazon now. Built To Love, available Sept 18.
Laureen’s marriage is doomed, and in the beginning of Hellion In The Making, she’s forced to accept this fact. So as I write Laureen’s story, it feels more like the first true “Hellion” book and not a sequel.
Laureen is a stay-at-home mom now, but she used to be a highly sought-after event planner and caterer. She knows all about great wine pairings, and she can accomplish a sit down dinner for dozens with very little notice. She expects a lot of herself and has few illusions.
Laureen views marriage as a partnership. And she treats hers the same way she treated her business partnerships. She’s thoughtful, consistent, hardworking and quick to forgive. She firmly believes nobody’s perfect, and she’s prepared to accept a lot of compromise in her marriage. In fact, she’s so determined to be rational about love, she almost misses out on it entirely.
Laureen is a character I am enjoying writing very much. From her lemon-themed kitchen, to her determination to be the best mother ever, to her ability to run a pristine household. When Laureen cracks wide open and her hellion emerges, I know I will love her even more.
As I write, I’m creating her love interest for her. Laureen is thirty two and her kids, Quintana and Daisy are 6 and 3. I want her to meet someone younger, someone hot as ever-loving f*ck, who wants to be the “anchor and not the ship” as Malcolm says in Honky Tonk Hellion. So here’s the idea…
Laureen Braedon sold her successful business to settle down and raise a family. She finds herself catastrophically, freshly single at thirty two. She has an optimistic nature, a willingness to work her fingers to the bone, and the determination to succeed. When Booker comes along, he’ll have the fight of his life convincing her to take him seriously.
Booker might be young, but he knows what he wants. It killed him to watch Laureen and her adorable kids with her godawful husband. When Kevin Braedon is arrested, Booker takes it as a sign Somebody Up There likes him and vows to win the woman he loves…
To Be Continued…
