Trust with Hearts: An Inside Look
Hi folks,
Today I’m sharing an inside look at my 10th Amber Heat romance. Trust with Hearts was released on April 25 and already received a 4.5 star review from singletitle.com:
“Trust with Hearts is beautifully written. You struggle with Sherrie as she tries to regain her footing, and Curtis’s charm is intoxicating as it flows off the pages.” http://singletitles.com/?p=4087
People ask me, how did this book come about? Trust with Hearts is different from my other Amber Heat romances in that it has a more “traditional” romance novel feel – but still plenty of heat! Although Sherrie & Curtis are attracted to each other, they’re total strangers and are hesitant about getting involved in a relationship. Trust with Hearts gives them the whole summer to get to know each other. Readers are given a look into their pasts and follow along as Curtis & Sherrie heal their hearts, love, and learn to trust again.
The idea for the book came to me before a country music concert. I was sitting in the front row before the show started, when all of a sudden the whole plot and all the characters jumped into my head. Naturally, I started scribbling down notes before the house lights went down. Although inspired by real-life, the character of Curtis isn’t based on that one particular country music singer – rather he’s a blend of three or four cowboy-hat-wearing singer/songwriters. Elements of the “inspirational” singer are there, but I used my imagination to fill in background details and invented whatever else I needed to make the story work.
The subplot of the book – Sherrie’s devotion to save Kitty Corner – was crucial because I wanted to give her a purpose, something to build her self-esteem. Sherrie’s cat adoption project lets her help unfortunate cats who need rescuing and good homes. It parallels how Dave takes Sherrie in (aka “rescues” her) and gives her a second chance at a new life. And, on a more personal note, giving Sherrie the “job” of helping cats allowed me to make a social/personal statement. I’m a “cat person” and I’ve written three cat care books. I always advocate adopting pets (of all kinds) from shelters and giving them a real home. (Would you want to live out the rest of your life in a wire cage?) June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, and I hope everyone who is thinking about adding a furry friend to their family visits a shelter and saves a life.
Back on topic: Knowing how I often write sequels, a reader asked if there will be another book following up Trust with Hearts. Will Dave get his own story? I do have an idea for a sequel in mind. What if Curtis’s cousin Jen suddenly had to move in with Dave? Hmmm… I already have a plot brewing in the back of my mind, so if readers would like to see another book (or novella) let me know!
And here’s a little-known fact: Once upon a time, Trust with Hearts had a different ending that picked up right after the funeral. Curtis & Sherrie were driving back to Dave’s house when they got into a car accident. The Ventura was demolished, Sherrie was thrown clear, but had to go back into the burning car and rescue Curtis. I’m happy to say that despite their injuries, everyone lived happily-ever-after. The “car wreck” chapters were deleted after several people (contest judges, among others) told me it felt too “tacked on” and was depressing. Maybe. Maybe not. But I opted to delete it for the final version.
Here’s a steamy excerpt from Trust with Hearts:
Sherrie stopped weeding the flowerbed as the cottage door banged closed. She sighed. Something was definitely wrong. Curtis had been sitting on the porch, strumming his guitar for the last half hour, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept grumbling to himself and playing the same notes over and over. Suddenly, he had stood and hurried into the cabin, letting the screen door slam behind him.
For the last two days, she'd given Curtis space and hoped he'd let her know where they stood in their relationship, but so far he hadn't said anything about it. Maybe he regretted sleeping with her, or maybe she really was terrible in bed.
She moved down the row of petunias and wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand. No matter what the future held, she would always have the memory of a wild, passionate night and knowing what sex should be like.
She recalled the tantalizing thrill of Curtis's hands caressing her body and the solid fullness of him as he'd entered her. Just thinking about having sex with him sent a rush of desire through her. After so many years of being denied true passion, her body was hungry for Curtis's expert touch again.
The screen door banged closed, and she opened her eyes in time to see Curtis vault the porch railing. He landed two feet from her, startling her from her lust-filled memory.
"Curtis? What's--"
"I can't take it anymore. You're drivin' me crazy."
She squealed as Curtis yanked her to her feet and pulled her to his chest. He kissed her and pressed their lower bodies close together. She felt a familiar hardness in the front of his bulging jeans.
Their tongues entwined, and she melted against him, as helpless as a kitten. She was all his, ready and willing to do whatever he wanted.
He broke the kiss. "I've been sittin' up there tryin' to play my guitar and all I can think about is you, your legs, and this sexy little butt you got." He cupped her buttocks through her denim shorts and pulled her hips to his. His rock-hard erection pressed against her, and she moaned.
Curtis groped and squeezed her as he backed them away from the porch. "And there's only one thing to do about it." His words came out in a sexy growl. "I gotta have ya, right now."
Her heart pounded faster as Curtis eased her down onto the cool grass. Seeing this forceful side to him drove her wild.
A deep-rooted hunger stirred her blood, and she lifted her shirt so he could massage her breasts through her bra. Instead, he pulled up her bra and suckled her. The feel of his hot mouth against her skin sent her head reeling.
He knelt over her and gestured at her shorts. "Git them off."
She stripped out of her shorts and panties in the blink of an eye. The freshly cut lawn felt sinfully refreshing on her bare ass. She sat up and ran her hands along the front of Curtis's jeans. She could feel his penis through the denim--stiff, long and hot. She wanted it--hell, she needed it. After fumbling with the button, she slid the zipper down, freeing his cock. Impulsively, she bent forward and sucked him.
"Lordy, girl! I thought I was bad. What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing yet. That's my problem." She licked the head of his penis and gazed into his eyes. "What brought all this on?"
"You did. I was watchin' you crawling around in the dirt on all-fours gettin' all sweaty. I nearly lost it on the porch." Curtis took a condom out of his back pocket and handed it to her. "Here, put this on me. That's what I ran into the cabin for."
She ripped the foil wrapper open and rolled the rubber onto Curtis's rigid sex. Her lower body pulsed in anticipation of what would come next.
"Ever do it outside before?"
"No."
"Well, get ready. You're about to."
Today I’m sharing an inside look at my 10th Amber Heat romance. Trust with Hearts was released on April 25 and already received a 4.5 star review from singletitle.com:
“Trust with Hearts is beautifully written. You struggle with Sherrie as she tries to regain her footing, and Curtis’s charm is intoxicating as it flows off the pages.” http://singletitles.com/?p=4087
People ask me, how did this book come about? Trust with Hearts is different from my other Amber Heat romances in that it has a more “traditional” romance novel feel – but still plenty of heat! Although Sherrie & Curtis are attracted to each other, they’re total strangers and are hesitant about getting involved in a relationship. Trust with Hearts gives them the whole summer to get to know each other. Readers are given a look into their pasts and follow along as Curtis & Sherrie heal their hearts, love, and learn to trust again.
The idea for the book came to me before a country music concert. I was sitting in the front row before the show started, when all of a sudden the whole plot and all the characters jumped into my head. Naturally, I started scribbling down notes before the house lights went down. Although inspired by real-life, the character of Curtis isn’t based on that one particular country music singer – rather he’s a blend of three or four cowboy-hat-wearing singer/songwriters. Elements of the “inspirational” singer are there, but I used my imagination to fill in background details and invented whatever else I needed to make the story work.
The subplot of the book – Sherrie’s devotion to save Kitty Corner – was crucial because I wanted to give her a purpose, something to build her self-esteem. Sherrie’s cat adoption project lets her help unfortunate cats who need rescuing and good homes. It parallels how Dave takes Sherrie in (aka “rescues” her) and gives her a second chance at a new life. And, on a more personal note, giving Sherrie the “job” of helping cats allowed me to make a social/personal statement. I’m a “cat person” and I’ve written three cat care books. I always advocate adopting pets (of all kinds) from shelters and giving them a real home. (Would you want to live out the rest of your life in a wire cage?) June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, and I hope everyone who is thinking about adding a furry friend to their family visits a shelter and saves a life.
Back on topic: Knowing how I often write sequels, a reader asked if there will be another book following up Trust with Hearts. Will Dave get his own story? I do have an idea for a sequel in mind. What if Curtis’s cousin Jen suddenly had to move in with Dave? Hmmm… I already have a plot brewing in the back of my mind, so if readers would like to see another book (or novella) let me know!
And here’s a little-known fact: Once upon a time, Trust with Hearts had a different ending that picked up right after the funeral. Curtis & Sherrie were driving back to Dave’s house when they got into a car accident. The Ventura was demolished, Sherrie was thrown clear, but had to go back into the burning car and rescue Curtis. I’m happy to say that despite their injuries, everyone lived happily-ever-after. The “car wreck” chapters were deleted after several people (contest judges, among others) told me it felt too “tacked on” and was depressing. Maybe. Maybe not. But I opted to delete it for the final version.
Here’s a steamy excerpt from Trust with Hearts:
Sherrie stopped weeding the flowerbed as the cottage door banged closed. She sighed. Something was definitely wrong. Curtis had been sitting on the porch, strumming his guitar for the last half hour, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept grumbling to himself and playing the same notes over and over. Suddenly, he had stood and hurried into the cabin, letting the screen door slam behind him.
For the last two days, she'd given Curtis space and hoped he'd let her know where they stood in their relationship, but so far he hadn't said anything about it. Maybe he regretted sleeping with her, or maybe she really was terrible in bed.
She moved down the row of petunias and wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand. No matter what the future held, she would always have the memory of a wild, passionate night and knowing what sex should be like.
She recalled the tantalizing thrill of Curtis's hands caressing her body and the solid fullness of him as he'd entered her. Just thinking about having sex with him sent a rush of desire through her. After so many years of being denied true passion, her body was hungry for Curtis's expert touch again.
The screen door banged closed, and she opened her eyes in time to see Curtis vault the porch railing. He landed two feet from her, startling her from her lust-filled memory.
"Curtis? What's--"
"I can't take it anymore. You're drivin' me crazy."
She squealed as Curtis yanked her to her feet and pulled her to his chest. He kissed her and pressed their lower bodies close together. She felt a familiar hardness in the front of his bulging jeans.
Their tongues entwined, and she melted against him, as helpless as a kitten. She was all his, ready and willing to do whatever he wanted.
He broke the kiss. "I've been sittin' up there tryin' to play my guitar and all I can think about is you, your legs, and this sexy little butt you got." He cupped her buttocks through her denim shorts and pulled her hips to his. His rock-hard erection pressed against her, and she moaned.
Curtis groped and squeezed her as he backed them away from the porch. "And there's only one thing to do about it." His words came out in a sexy growl. "I gotta have ya, right now."
Her heart pounded faster as Curtis eased her down onto the cool grass. Seeing this forceful side to him drove her wild.
A deep-rooted hunger stirred her blood, and she lifted her shirt so he could massage her breasts through her bra. Instead, he pulled up her bra and suckled her. The feel of his hot mouth against her skin sent her head reeling.
He knelt over her and gestured at her shorts. "Git them off."
She stripped out of her shorts and panties in the blink of an eye. The freshly cut lawn felt sinfully refreshing on her bare ass. She sat up and ran her hands along the front of Curtis's jeans. She could feel his penis through the denim--stiff, long and hot. She wanted it--hell, she needed it. After fumbling with the button, she slid the zipper down, freeing his cock. Impulsively, she bent forward and sucked him.
"Lordy, girl! I thought I was bad. What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing yet. That's my problem." She licked the head of his penis and gazed into his eyes. "What brought all this on?"
"You did. I was watchin' you crawling around in the dirt on all-fours gettin' all sweaty. I nearly lost it on the porch." Curtis took a condom out of his back pocket and handed it to her. "Here, put this on me. That's what I ran into the cabin for."
She ripped the foil wrapper open and rolled the rubber onto Curtis's rigid sex. Her lower body pulsed in anticipation of what would come next.
"Ever do it outside before?"
"No."
"Well, get ready. You're about to."
As always, I love hearing from readers. Want to share opinions or ask questions? You can contact me via a form on the News page on my website: www.KelliWilkins.com
Happy Reading!
Kelli
Labels: contemporary romance, cowboy, erotic excerpts, erotic romance, Kelli Wilkins, trust with hearts
posted by Kelli Wilkins at 3:27 AM
1 Comments:
Hey Kelli! Congrats on your 10th release! A cowboy/country singer is a perfect 10! Congrats on that review! I love hearing what inspires a story and can imagine you had to write right there and then to get those notes down! I have two cats and my daughter has two. She got me hooked on their comfort! I love when she has her two come to visit and they come directly to me and its too a great feeling that we get in that attention from our pets! I so hope you do the sequel! I know that I often end up asking for more! Gosh I'm in love with Curtis already from that excerpt! Loved it! Congrats again Kelli!!
cathiecaffey(at)gmail.com
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