Spotlight & Giveaway: The Sheriff’s Little Matchmaker by Carrie Nichols

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Carrie Nichols to HJ!

Hi Carrie and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Sheriff’s Little Matchmaker!

Tell us about the book with this fun little challenge using the title of the book:

M is for Mischief
A is for Auction (as in Bachelor)
T is for Texas
C is for Cowboy
H is for Horseback
M is for Marriage
A is for Attraction
K is for that Kiss!
E is for Entertaining
R is for Ruler (you need to read to it!!!).
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

“I’ve got money riding on this, so you better make it good,” Sasha Honeycutt boldly cautioned the man in the black cowboy boots. He wore dark jeans with a classic white oxford shirt and black sport coat, but those boots coupled with the silver star belt buckle gave her goose bumps. Good Lord, he was even more gorgeous up close than he’d been from across the crowded French Quarter piano bar.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• Sheriff Remy is the sexiest hero I’ve written so far—and the most fun!
• Henry the cat surprised me and took on a personality once I started writing him into the story.
• Remy showed me his hidden romantic side when he planned his date with Sasha after she placed the winning bid at the bachelor auction.
• The method Sasha uses when she reheats leftover pizza for Remy really is the best way to avoid a soggy crust.
• I didn’t kiss a hot stranger but I did experience the revelry of Bourbon Street at night.

Was there a scene in this book that was harder to write than others?  

I guess that would be the scene where my heroine is on a date and the hero shows up. It needed to be light and fun but uncomfortable at the same time.

Here’s an excerpt:
Sasha thought she heard someone call her name. Distracted, she glanced over Ethan’s shoulder, her stomach plummeted, and she missed a step, landing on his poor foot. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. Are you…?” He looked down at her and frowned before loosening his hold to turn around.
She blinked, but Evie Fontenot was still standing on the edge of the dance floor, and wouldn’t you know it, her sexy-as-sin father was crossing the restaurant, closing the distance between them like some avenging angel. Ha, devil is more like it. A devil dressed in a white button-down shirt that contrasted with his olive complexion and dark jeans that showcased his slim hips and long legs. And, oh God, he was wearing those black cowboy boots that made her stomach tingle.
What were father and daughter doing here? It had to be a coincidence. From what she’d heard from fellow teachers, Gator’s Cajun Grill was a popular Friday night spot. Remy Fontenot had no way of knowing where she’d be tonight or that she had a date. She hadn’t lived in Rose Creek long enough for everyone to know her business. No, that would come later. A definite downside to small-town life. Too bad she couldn’t see herself as a big city person.
Before Sasha’s stomach could settle back to its usual spot, Evie had planted herself in front of her and Ethan.
Evie put her hands on her hips. “Uncle Ethan, what are you doing here with Miz Honeycutt?”
Uncle? Sasha groaned. Seriously? Even in a small town like Rose Creek, what were the odds?
“Hello to you, too, Evangeline,” Ethan said in a stern tone, then grinned and ruffled the little girl’s hair. “Sasha is my date. You know what that means, right?”
Evie scowled. “But—”
“Date?” Remy had joined them, and his scowl matched his daughter’s, a line forming in the middle of his forehead. He looked at Sasha, and the groove deepened. “You’re dating my baby brother?”
“Brothers? But…but…Ethan said…” You’ve got to be kidding me. Sasha gulped back a sudden wave of nausea. Oh good Lord, this just got better and better.
Ethan clapped Remy on the back, rather hard from the sound of it. “Remy’s my much older brother…more like a father really…since he practically raised my sister and me. Isn’t that right?”
Was Remy growling? Good grief, had she wandered onto the set of a Fellini movie?
Say something, Sasha. “I didn’t…I don’t…I mean, you two have—”
“Different last names?” Remy put his arm on Ethan’s shoulder and squeezed, making the other man grunt. “We’re half brothers.”
Side by side, Sasha could see similarities. They were the same height and general body type, but Ethan didn’t have Remy’s thick black hair or bittersweet chocolate eyes or deep silky voice. Ethan Dent was handsome and pleasant, but she had to admit he didn’t make her heart beat erratically the way Remy did. Oh, Sasha, you are in so much trouble.
“How do you two know each other?” Ethan’s gaze bounced between her and Remy.
“Miz Honeycutt’s my new teacher.” Evie sidled closer to Sasha, smiling broadly.
Ethan’s head jerked back, and his gaze landed on Remy. “She’s your cat lady?”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

Despite the fragility of life, it’s important to remain optimistic because we all need to feel connected to others.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: I’d love to gift someone with a digital copy of The Sheriff’s Little Matchmaker

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Book Info:

When teacher Sasha Honeycutt kisses a handsome cowboy in a bar on a dare, she never expects to see him again. To her surprise, though, he walks through the door of her classroom for a parent-teacher conference. Sheriff Remy Fontenot might be sexy as sin, but Sasha has no interest in falling for another police officer. Rose Creek, Texas is her fresh start after being “that poor widow.” Only, Remy’s precocious daughter has big plans for the two of them…

After their stolen kiss, Remy knows there’s a sexy woman hiding under that school marm charm. When fate—aka his seven-year-old—keeps putting her in his path, he decides to take it as a sign. His daughter needs a mom, and the intriguing, beautiful Sasha is perfect for the role. Not to mention their chemistry is off the charts. Unfortunately, he’s set his sights on the one woman in town who has no interest in falling for another man with a badge.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Carrie’s 2016 RWA® Golden Heart® winning short contemporary, THE MARINE’S SECRET DAUGHTER, is a February 2018 release from Harlequin Special Edition. The first in her Small-Town Sweethearts series.

Carrie Nichols, is a hardy New Englander who traded snow for central AC when she moved to the Deep South. She loves to travel, is addicted to British crime dramas and knows a Seinfeld quote appropriate for every occasion.

Carrie has one tolerant husband, two grown sons and two critical cats. To her dismay, Carrie’s characters, much like her family, often ignore the wisdom and guidance she lovingly offers.
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