Texas Love Song
by AlTonya Washington
 
From the author of the explosive Ramsey/Tesano series comes something new. Ross and Melendez: Two families from the Lone Star State who share a past as accomplished as it is contemptible.
Setha Melendez has stumbled across a threat to her family and a scandal involving the way her father Danilo Melendez crafted his fortune. In the midst of this, Khouri Ross learns that he and the reclusive Ms. Melendez will take over Melendez contract negotiations with the Ross Review, the Ross family’s well known and respected Houston paper. Negotiations had previously been handled by Khouri’s sister Avra and Setha’s brother Samson. Samson and Avra had reached an impasse with their talks and the hope was that Khouri’s and Setha’s cooler heads might prevail so that an agreement could be reached.
When Setha meets the strong, soft-spoken and seductive Khouri Ross, she re-gains a bit of the bubbly personality which had dimmed as she uncovered more clues about the brewing scandal involving her family. As the business acquaintance with Khouri grows more personal, Setha forgets her frustrations and almost everything else. That is, until she realizes that Khouri knows of the suspicions she’s hiding from her family. He proves more protective than her father and brothers had ever been. The man is irresistible, completely sexy and brooding in a way Setha finds unquestionably staggering.
As the second eldest and only son among three daughters, Khouri knows that in a family of women, a man can be strong or he can be run over. Not a problem for Khouri who can match his sisters play for play and who’s learned a lot about handling the opposite sex. Still, nothing prepares him for Setha. When they meet, he knows his fate is sealed. She’s his and he won’t stop until he’s found who’s set their sights on threatening her.
TEXAS LOVE EXCERPT
Khouri’s phone chimed just as he approached the black Rover bearing the personalized plates carrying his first name. There was a text from Niko Latham one of his poker buddies. The man had wasted no time boasting about his winnings from the night and thanked Khouri for his absence.
Smirking, Khouri opened the passenger door to the Rover. Dropping down to the leather champagne seat, he texted back telling Niko to enjoy his one and only win. He stood and was easing the phone into a side pocket when he lost his balance when something/someone brushed against him.
Lengthy hair and a gasping sound gave him pause but didn’t diminish his reflexes. He caught the woman’s forearm and held her fast.
“Calm down,” he whispered, tilting his head to get a look at her face partially covered by thick black tendrils. He could see that she was terrified. “I won’t hurt you,” he said.
Setha Melendez barely heard the voice and scarcely registered the hold on her arm. She struggled viciously and her gaze remained fixed on the alley she’d just run out of.
Soon, Khouri’s light eyes were trained in that direction as well. “Someone’s following you?”
“Let’s go inside.” Again, Khouri tilted his head to get a better look at her face- a beautiful one at that.
Setha shook her head frantically and slightly renewed her struggles against his hold.
Khouri opened the passenger door to the Rover. “At least have a seat in my car while I get some help.”
She tugged more insistently on the imprisoned arm. With her free hand, she kept a death grip on the clutch purse at her chest. Still, her eyes remained on the darkness filling the alley.
“Please?” It was Khouri’s turn to urge. He eased his grip on her wrist and motioned toward the passenger seat.
Eventually, Setha shifted her gaze. She didn’t appear any more trusting of the seat than she did of the faceless threat in the distance. When noise rose from the alleyway, she chose the lesser of two evils and took refuge in the SUV.
She’d slammed the door shut before Khouri could do the honors. She used the flaring sleeves of her mocha swing dress to cover the lower half of her face. Khouri watched her hunker down in the seat, appearing every bit the timid child. The windows were tinted a few shades above complete black, but she remained hunched low.
Khouri told himself to focus on the matter at hand and he reached for his phone. He was about to dial inside the club for someone to come outside, when the sound of a runner caught his ears. Eyes narrowed toward the dark alleyway beyond the club, he waited. He winced, feeling a dull pressure tighten his palms. He realized his hands were aching to reach out and instill the same fear the man running towards him had instilled in the woman who cowered in his car.
Somehow, he resisted the urge. The hooded pursuer raced by the other side of the Rover. Silence returned to the alley as the figure ran further off into the distance.
Khouri turned, intending to help the woman from his car. Again, Setha handled the door herself. Jumping out to the sidewalk, she sprinted off in the opposite direction from her tracker.
“You’re welcome.” Khouri said to her departing figure.
( Continued... )
© 2012 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, AlTonya Washington. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.
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Purchase Texas Love Song by AlTonya Washington
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Meet the Author
AlTonya Washington has been a romance novelist for 9 years. Her novel Finding Love Again won the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Multicultural Romance in 2004. She lives in North Carolina and recently received her Masters in Library Science. As T. Onyx, AlTonya released “Pleasure’s Powerhouse” in 2011. Her latest Harlequin/Kimani title is “Texas Love Song” first in the LoneStar Seduction Series. 2012 marks the release of the thirteenth title in her popular Ramsey Saga “A Lover’s Sin”.
Intimate Conversation with AlTonya Washington
AlTonya Washington has been a romance novelist for 9 years. Her novel Finding Love Again won the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Multicultural Romance in 2004. She lives in North Carolina and recently received her Masters in Library Science. As T. Onyx, AlTonya released “Pleasure’s Powerhouse” in 2011. Her latest Harlequin/Kimani title is “Texas Love Song” first in the LoneStar Seduction Series. 2012 marks the release of the thirteenth title in her popular Ramsey Saga “A Lover’s Sin”.
BPM: When did you get your first inkling to write, and how did you advance the call for writing? Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey?
My first inkling to write arrived in the Summer of 1994. Fresh out of college, I had no job prospects and had returned home to S.C. to plan my next move. I'd been an avid reader all my life and discovered the world of romance novels at age 13. Still, I had no wishes to become a novelist until after college. I still loved reading romance novels but I then craved reading about characters who looked more like me.
One afternoon, I was home and bored out of my mind. I had a fine at the library which left me with no new books to read, so I decided to write my own- ha ha. I didn't expect my efforts to produce much but I thought it'd be a fun way to spend 30 minutes to an hour. I wrote for 3 hours that first day. I had discovered my passion. I honestly had no 'success clues' to follow along the way to becoming a published novelist, but there was a pattern of behavior I adapted and I credit it to my acceptance into the writing world. Persistence. Following publishing house submission procedures is NOT enough. Following up is key. I believe it was my diligence in following up that got me noticed and got my manuscript off the dreaded slush pile.
BPM: Introduce us to your book and the main characters. What makes each one special? Do you have any favorites?
Texas Love Song is Book One in a two part series. It follows the unveiling of secrets that could destroy two prominent Houston families. The mystery begins with the heroine of Book One, Setha Melendez when her 'run-ins' with an enigma motivate her to uncover the reasons behind the threats she's receiving from this character. But she's got more to contend with than conducting an investigation into family secrets. She's agreed to assist with advertising contract re-negotiations between her family's company and the Ross Review, Houston's premier news magazine.When she meets the hero Khouri Ross, she's not sure how high re-negotiating contracts will be on her list. Khouri is nothing short of a dream.
The sexy, accomplished publishing magnate is equally captivated by Setha when he meets her. Her cool manner intrigues him as does her beauty and the fact that he first met her running out of a dark alley like the devil was at her back. Rounding out the cast are Khouri's and Setha's older siblings Samson Melendez and Avra Ross who prove to be sexy and amusing as well as complex and volatile. I really enjoyed creating the patriarchs of each family- Basil Ross and Danilo Melendez. Presenting them and their history into the story brought the book full circle for me and continually motivated the mystery element prevalent throughout the book.
BPM: Which character or topic in the book can you identify with the most? Why?
I think I most identified with Setha. She's hardworking with somewhat of a reclusive streak yet she's very devoted to her family. Things she should probably seek help for, she prefers to handle on her own which is the way I tend to handle most things.
BPM: Is this the book you intended on writing or did it take on a life of its own as you were writing? How do you stay focused?
Many times, the book an author starts writing isn't the one they actually write. Sometimes that can be a good thing-other times not so much. Because I was already aware that this was to be a two part story, I was more focused on my plotting of the romance and mystery. The mystery is continuous through both books while the romance begins with one couple and continues with another. It was an enjoyable challenge to fashion two stories in this manner.
BPM: Share with us a brief excerpt from one of the most powerful chapter.
She shook away the thought and conjured up a nicer one of Khouri Ross in her home. It was like he belonged there. She was so used to be home alone, but his presence there yesterday...he didn't feel like a guest at all. But business would be the last thing he'd want to discuss, remember?It didn't take much to decipher the meaning behind that. Was she ready to take it there if the opportunity presented itself?
That was a stupid question when only yesterday she was ready to beg him to do more than kiss her. And then what? Confess everything and have him put her under lock and key faster than her brothers ever would? She knew enough about Khouri Ross to know he'd certainly do exactly that.
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BPM: What are your goals as a writer? Do you set out to educate? Entertain? Illuminate? Inspire?
I think I set out to entertain first and foremost. I love the story telling process, the slow unfolding of the plot and the motives of the characters. Merging those elements into something that's suspenseful and captivating is what makes it all come alive for me. When that happens, so does the possibility for the reader to be enlightened and inspired.
BPM: We are here to shine the spotlight on your new book, but what's next? How may our readers follow you online?
I've just released the thirteenth title in the Ramsey series. The series has been going strong since 2006 and I've enjoyed every minute of crafting this saga. I'm blessed to be able to work in the traditional and self publishing realms. I'll be focusing on two self publishing projects to round out the year- the full length novel followup to my short story Layers which will be Layers of the Past as well as my next T. Onyx erotica title which will be the sequel to Ruler of Perfection. Part I released back in 2009. Readers can follow me online by visiting my website www.lovealtonya.com. On Facebook they can find me at: www.facebook.com/altonyaw. On Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/ramseysgirl. I also love sharing the books I read. Check me out on Goodreads and Shelfari and readers can always join my Yahoo webgroup LoveAlTonya.
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