Cowboys Are Coming to Coconuts!

In my newest novel, COWBOYS AT COCONUTS, which releases in December, I got to write about cowboys! Yee-haw!

Creating cowboy characters was a first for me and I had great fun developing my western characters. I got to use terms like, “Howdy, ma’am” and “over yonder.” Don’t get me wrong. My cowboys aren’t cliche, but country boys and farm hands really do use those terms. And many drop their g’s. How would I know? I dated a cowboy from Oklahoma over twenty years ago, plus my dad grew up (and still lives on) a Missouri farm.

Most cowboys tip their hats, have dusty boots, tight jeans, oval belt buckles, and occasionally drive ancient pickups. They’re always tan, mannerly, and are hard-working guys. I had so much fun I’ve got to keep them  around in my next book, too!

If you've read my Coconuts series, you know I have cops, hippies, brides, bankers, a high school counselor, and a wedding planner. And now...cowboys complete with country music, ponds, country roads, cows, horses, hay bales, tire swings, diners, honky-tonks, and much more.

My main characters and their supporting cast will return, of course. BFFs Suzy, Alex, and Hope are, as usual, in the midst of constant chaos including a trip to Nashville, an undisclosed Eat, Drink, Chill trip for Alex, and all kinds of surprises for Suzy, the almost-forty pregnant wedding planner. After all, the New York socialite can’t have all of the fun.

Here's my blurb:

"Kiss me. I'll explain later."
Grinning, the cowboy tipped his hat. "Yes, ma'am."

Two worlds collide when a wealthy New York socialite plants a kiss on an unsuspecting cowboy. His ancient pickup is a far cry from her personal limo and Cheri Van Buren’s more accustomed to the Big Apple than Soggy Bottoms, his farm. Still, the caterer to the stars surprisingly adores the simple life—until keeping her notoriety, plus a scandalous secret, becomes a full-time job.

Blunt bank marketer Alex takes an undisclosed hiatus to go on a self-imposed Eat, Drink, Chill trip to decide once and for all if she’s going to end her disastrous relationship with a sexy cop. When someone begins to make the decision easy, a phone call changes everything.

Determined to put the pieces together after her adopted parents’ train-accident-turned-soap-opera nightmare, Hope heads to Nashville with her amnesia-laden hippie dad. Will he have a breakthrough or is it too late?

Pregnant with twins at nearly forty, Suzy juggles her wedding business while enduring morning sickness and embarrassing OB/GYN visits. The last thing she needs is unsettling news from her son, not to mention a shocker by her teen stepdaughter.

Maybe that old adage about opposites attracting is true. Maybe not. One thing’s for certain. A cocktail at Coconuts is always in order.

RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2019

NOTE: Even though this is the fourth book in my Coconuts series, all may be read as a standalone, but I wouldn’t recommend reading them out of order if you plan to read more than one!

THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS (Book 1)
CHAOS AT COCONUTS (Book 2)
BABIES AT COCONUTS (Book 3)
COWBOYS AT COCONUTS (Book 4)

Happily, there will be two more novels in this series in 2020!

I'd love to know how you feel about cowboys. Happy reading!

Top Twenty Reasons to Visit Coconuts

Before we get into the Top Twenty Reasons to visit Coconuts, the Happy Hour oasis in my Coconuts series, I want to thank my readers and reviewers for their incredible support of my new release, BABIES AT COCONUTS. Even though this is Book 3 in my series, never fear, it may be read as a standalone.

Happily, BABIES AT COCONUTS already has more reviews than its sister, CHAOS AT COCONUTS, which is a testament to my downfall (not promoting it enough last year) than to the second book in my series. :) Here's a sampling of the reviews for BABIES:

   

“OMGosh this book y’all. I am in love!” “I was hooked from the first page to the last.” “Found myself reaching for a hanky one minute, and laughing like a loon the next! The author’s characters are so realistic that I half expect one or all of them to wind up on Facebook!” “An amazing beautiful story of family, love & friendship at its best!” “Beautifully written.” “You don’t know what you’re missing if you haven’t read anything from this author yet!” “Has become one of my favorite series.” “At times it was hard to remember that I was reading a ROMcom and not watching a movie.” “Charming. Hilarious. Touching."

See why I'm giddy and hard at work on Coconuts #4?! Thank you, readers!! If you haven't read any of my Coconuts novels (gasp!) here's the order: 

THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS

CHAOS AT COCONUTS (Book 2)

BABIES AT COCONUTS (Book 3)

COCONUTS Books 4-6 - TBD in 2019 & 2020!

My characters LOVE going to their favorite hangout. They adore the get-away feel of  the island theme in land-locked Crystal City and appreciate the fact that their favorite server, Gus, knows what cocktail they want when they enter the room. Here are twenty more reasons to visit Coconuts.

 

TOP TWENTY REASONS TO VISIT COCONUTS

1. To overhear the juicy gossip of long-time best friends Suzy, Alex, and Hope, who go to Coconuts weekly (or more if there’s an emergency, which is often!)
2. Getting a glimpse of the gorgeous, wealthy New York socialite, Cheri Van Buren, and ask if you can borrow her incredible designer clothes or shoes.
3. Having the cute flip-flop wearing server, Gus, who always knows what cocktail everyone wants for Happy Hour, serve your favorite drink—or possibly serve him!
4. Hoping to be handcuffed by sexy, bad-boy cop Lt. Tony Montgomery. He may be a rascal at times, but he sure is sexy. Those arctic blue eyes…
5. Adding your initials (or painting something tropical) on the floor-to-ceiling beach mural.
6. To ask hunky, dark-sunglass-wearing Gage for a ride in his limo and hoping he remembers the chilled champagne!
7. Showing Alex she isn’t alone with her OCD tendencies by tying a paper straw holder into a knot in solidarity—and handing her some anti-bacterial gel after you touch her hand.
8. Hugging Suzy for all she has been through.
9. Ditto for Alex.
10. Double ditto for Hope.
11. Giving Alex advice on whether she should ditch the cop once and for all and pursue Gage, Cheri’s limo driver.
12. Giving Suzy advice on how to handle her surly teen stepdaughter, Izzy.
13. To discuss wedding themes with Suzy and hire her company, Weddings by Suzanne, for a wedding.
14. To share (or gather) Italian recipes with Fernando’s mom, Mama Gia, but scooting away before you offend her and she thumps you on the head!
15. Commiserating with Hope for everything she’s gone through with her hippie parents and telling her that her frizzy hair is beautiful and to stop worrying about her weight!
16. To see newlyweds Jon and Fernando and hope Fernando teaches you to dance the salsa.
17. Requesting the infamous zebra print menu and scouring it to order every item on the menu—or at least the crab cakes or truffle popcorn.
18. Hoping to catch a glimpse of either Nikki, Tony’s hateful, spiteful ex, OR Hannah, Alex’s bank marketing intern who is gunning for her job, and possibly trip them or spit in their drink. Trust me, they deserve it!
19. To find out about the unique, hilarious cocktail the New York socialite insists the women drink.
20. To tell the women you admire their unbreakable bonds of friendship and wish you had friends like them. Who knows? Maybe they’ll invite you to join them at their high-top table at Coconuts!

      Are you ready to visit Coconuts? Most of my readers want me to open an actual bar with this name, and I am sorely tempted!  Read all about the adventures of Suzy, Alex, Hope, and Cheri and their shenanigans here: https://www.amazon.com/author/bethcarter

      The Amazon link for my new release is: https://www.tinyurl.com/BabiesatCoconuts And it's free with Kindle Unlimited!

      P.S. The paperback version will be available on August 28, 2019, and is up for pre-order now. Thank you for your support.

Summer Fun Romance Giveaway: A Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite!

Oh, boy, I almost forgot to post this, and the giveaway ends tomorrow, June 20. Never fear, there's still plenty of time to enter!

Find your next favorite author (hopefully, I'm your first! lol). See all of the fabulous covers by award-winning and best selling authors. There's also a fun blurb contest. The giveaway is a waterproof Kindle Paperwhite by Night Owl Reviews!!! Hello? Waterproof? How perfect for the pool, lake, or beach.  This is for US only. BUT. Wait. There's more. There will also be 119 $5 Amazon gift cards given away worldwide. I hope you are one of the 120 winners. Good luck!

Here's the link to enter.

https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Summer-Fun-2019-by-Night-Owl-Romance

Pre-order Available for BABIES AT COCONUTS

I'm thrilled to announce the third book in my Coconuts series, BABIES AT COCONUTS, is now available for pre-order on Amazon! I had a blast writing this book, which is my most multi-cultural, head-butting yet, and there's even a trip to Paris, as well as a baby shocker!

The first two books in my series, THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS and CHAOS AT COCONUTS (Book 2) are romantic women's fiction. However, BABIES AT COCONUTS turned out to be a romantic comedy. Remember, I'm a pantser and my characters take over!

I adore the expressive cover and especially the violet hue and Bird of Paradise flowers. Both have special meaning in my book. You'll have to read it to find out why! Special thanks to my cover designer.

Here's the blurb:

For Fans of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Italian-style!)

A clash of cultures.

A chaotic wedding.

A surprise baby.

Just another day at Coconuts.

Coordinating the most joyous day of her son’s life should be easy. After all, Suzy is a wedding planner. But a meddling future mother-in-law wasn't on the checklist. A wacky rehearsal dinner, beach wedding, and a baby—not necessarily in that order—ensures bedlam, if not hilarity, among the two head-butting moms. The show must go on, with or without the wedding party.

Hope is adept at counseling students but has given up on dieting and having sleek hair. She has even gotten used to the fact that her adopted father no longer remembers her—until a surprise engagement and a newspaper article leave her in shambles.

Sexy banker Alex conveys totally in control while ignoring the simmering boil of her disastrous relationship. Her marketing rival is her kryptonite, but a disastrous bank event may spell her downfall.

Socialite Cheri Van Buren seems to have the perfect life. The New Yorker deftly juggles celebrity events but is growing concerned about her jet-setting parents’ strained marriage. After competing in a cake-decorating contest, another chef leaves her speechless.

More than a Happy Hour haven, Coconuts is the unknowing guardian of shared secrets, bombshell revelations, a few tears, and joy. Will the best friends ever find happiness? It doesn’t look good.

 
NOTE: Even though this is Book 3 of my Coconuts series, it may be read as a standalone. I sprinkle in enough backstory to ensure readers won't be lost.

Ready to preorder? Here's the link on Amazon, and as always, a huge thank you for your ongoing support. I love my readers!!!


Mybook.to/BabiesAtCoconuts