Vegas Has a Special Place in My Heart

 

Vegas Has a Special Place in My Heart

Last month I shared about why Ohio University became the setting for one of my stories, this time I'm talking about why Vegas has a special place in my heart. 

The best reason is that Vegas is where I married my husband. We were married at the same chapel that Jon Bon Jovi was married in. It was a whirlwind couple of days in Vegas but we had always planned to get married there. It was a perfect destination wedding for two people who were fans of the show CSI. 

We were finally able to walk the same streets we'd seen on TV and enjoyed the warm temps and amazing nightlife. We took in the inaugural musical Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian hotel. 

Vegas is larger than life with large hotels along the strip, all the lights, and the entertainment. Since people watching is one of my favorite past times, I enjoyed my time just walking around the most. The entire trip was sorta surreal but was the best time of my life. 

When it was time to set a cowboy story in the world of Vegas, I knew just how it would go! After all, the area also features some of the best rodeo events in the nation. My story- A Vegas Cowboy- features a sassy heroine and a cowboy turned restaurant owner who has always been a little outside the box. It's a fun read and one of my favorites. 

Cowboys, Whispers, and Kisses

The Cowboys of Whisper, Colorado: Books 7-9

By Melissa Keir

 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Whispers-Kisses-Whisper-Colorado-ebook/dp/B0842BT18P

Big city lights, old money, nor Olympic gold can stop heartache. Come along as three couples find romance in a small town in Colorado. Faced with vengeful ex’s, angry fathers and secrets, these couples seek out their dreams as they take a chance on love.

 

Redeeming Dreams

Jeannette Redding captured America’s hearts when she won gold with the US Women’s Olympic Swim Team, but no one knew the hidden past she couldn’t escape. Her dream of starting over in Whisper, Colorado might derail if her past comes to light.

Tanner Brock lost his passion for building when his vengeful ex-wife destroyed his company and career. He started over doing odd jobs for The Heartsong Ranch but never dreamed he’d work with his hands again.

As Jeannette and Tanner discover their passion, can they find a way to make their dreams come true, or will they lose out on love and a brighter future?

 

Bidding For the Cowboy’s Heart

Going once, going twice, sold…

Carlie Fulton, a former Broadway dancer, hightails it out of New York City as if her tail is on fire. Searching for a home with real friends, she escapes to Whisper and dreams of a life without her domineering father.

Marcus Wilson, a professional bull rider, enters a charity auction at the request of his best friend’s wife, never expecting to find the woman of his dreams.

When Carlie’s father shows up, Carlie enlists Marcus’s help in a scheme sure to tick off her father, but will it lead to a happily ever after?

 

A Vegas Cowboy

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…

Alicia Cortez turns failing businesses around and comes to Vegas to give the keynote speech at the National Restaurateurs’ Convention. Talented and opinionated, she knows what will work and what won’t, but she’s been unable to find love.

David “Daisy” MacKenzie reinvented his life after the death of his wife and daughter. He keeps their dreams of a family restaurant alive in small-town Whisper, Colorado. Now he’s in Vegas and up for an award when a beautiful woman literally falls into his arms.

When Alicia and Daisy wake up missing ten hours of memory and married, will they be able to compromise and see that love is what they both need…or will their marriage be lost like dollars in Vegas?

About the Author:

Growing up in a small town, Melissa created stories in her head and lived them out with her sisters. They climbed through the quarries, built forts among the leaves and pretended they were their favorite television heroines.

Always trying to spread joy and happiness, Melissa has written over 30+ stories of couples who eventually find their Happily Ever After. Her books are filled with broken heroes and heroines who overcome real-life obstacles and come out stronger than ever. Her children books (written under her childhood name- Missy Watling) feature endearing tales infused with important lessons about self-acceptance.

Escaping the cold Midwest winters, she and her husband, along with furbabies enjoy the beaches of South Carolina and can be found talking to the gators and turtles. She posts photos of her gator friends as well as other wildlife. After all, sometimes they have the best advice!

 

She’d love to hear from you!

www.melissakeir.com

http://www.facebook.com/melissakeir

www.twitter/melissa_keir

https://www.instagram.com/keirmelissa/

Why Ohio University?

 

Why Ohio University?

In my novella—A Pigskin Cowboy—in the box set Whisper to Me, Cowboy, my hero was a college football player who threw a game in order to help the Feds with a sting operation. While the story takes place in my fictional town of Whisper, Colorado, my hero is originally from Athens, Ohio where he attended Ohio University.

You may be asking, why I picked such a town and college? First rule of writing is to write what you know…I attended Ohio University and lived in Athens for a short time after I first got married. The campus’ beauty and history stayed with me to this day. So what better place for an amazing young man?

Ohio University is one of the United States’ oldest universities. Originally thought up in a Boston pub, the school was modeled after Yale and Harvard. Nestled among the hills of southern Ohio, OU’s 1,850-acre campus features some of the most beautiful buildings with some dating back to the original founding.

Ohio has been cited for academic quality and value by publications Fortune,[31] U.S. News and World Report,[32] BusinessWeek,[33] Forbes,[34] America's 100 Best College Buys, Princeton Review's Best Colleges, and Peterson's Guide to Competitive Colleges. (Wikipedia). It is also known as one of the first colleges to admit women, African American’s and international students to their programs.

Ohio University’s football team is a part of the MAC conference, playing against schools such as Miami of Ohio and Bowling Green University. Peden Stadium is the oldest football venue in the Mid-American Conference and is designated as a historic place. Athletics is a large part of OU’s campus life with home games drawing large crowds wearing green and white (OU’s colors).

Having lived on campus for a year, I loved the small town feel of this beautiful town and the spectacular colors of the changing seasons. Each step on the green feels like a walk back in time through history. Ohio University’s alumni are a who’s who of business, politicians, sports stars and entertainers. What better place to showcase a young man who took a chance to make things right, rather than allow cheating to continue?

Three couples must face challenges as they negotiate through their relationships toward their happy ending. The Cowboys of Whisper, Colorado book series entices readers with engaging characters, emotional stories and a happily ever after. Be sure to read them all.

 

A Pigskin Cowboy

It’s first and goal…

Kane Warner, the favorite tight end of his college football team, had everyone turned on him for throwing a game. Rather than explain why or face the scrutiny, he leaves town for his summer internship to regroup and get his head on straight.

Charley Ramsey works at Café French while going to college for accounting. Life in a small town has always suited her. No drama is her motto and she’ll do everything she can to avoid it.

Being financially secure is Charley’s biggest dream. Clearing his name is Kane’s. When the media comes looking for the big story, will Kane and Charley’s relationship survive the drama or will the football player run again?

 

Broken Dreams

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned….

Trey Arking was on his way to becoming TBC Pro-Rider of the Year until a bull named Brickhouse derailed his life, paralyzing him.

Sara Corday wore Trey’s engagement ring and dreamed of their life together. Her dreams altered when his life changed.

Trey is unable to see the wonderful future of his dreams from a wheelchair, but Sara is determined to help him see hers. Can these two stubborn people find a way to live again?

 

Broken Vows

For better or worse…

Rick and Julie Tyler are happily married ranchers who raise and train horses. When money becomes tight, Rick becomes a firefighter in order to make ends meet, but he’s forced to move out of state if he wants more money and a chance to become a station chief.

Distance causes problems for the happy couple and turns their world upside down. When Julie puts her foot down, will Rick decide to make the right choice, or will their vows break?

Amazon Buy Link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WG4DJYG

 

About the Author:

Growing up in a small town, Melissa created stories in her head and lived them out with her sisters. They climbed through the quarries, built forts among the leaves and pretended they were their favorite television heroines.

Always trying to spread joy and happiness, Melissa has written over 30+ stories of couples who eventually find their Happily Ever After. Her books are filled with broken heroes and heroines who overcome real-life obstacles and come out stronger than ever. Her children books (written under her childhood name- Missy Watling) feature endearing tales infused with important lessons about self-acceptance.

Escaping the cold Midwest winters, she and her husband, along with furbabies enjoy the beaches of South Carolina and can be found talking to the gators and turtles. She posts photos of her gator friends as well as other wildlife. After all, sometimes they have the best advice!

 

She’d love to hear from you!

www.melissakeir.com

http://www.facebook.com/melissakeir

www.twitter/melissa_keir

https://www.instagram.com/keirmelissa/ 

The Inspiration Behind The Heartsong Cowboy

 

The Inspiration Behind The Heartsong Cowboy

As a teacher for twenty plus years, children are a deep part of my heart. I would do anything for them and feel very strongly about protecting them. During my first year teaching, I was the assistant director at a college on-site childcare facility. The children would come to our center when their parents were in classes or studying on campus. These young children quickly wormed their way into my heart.

My own drive to work each day was through a not so nice town. Often I was frightened to sit too long at stoplights as I drove through broken down and destroyed neighborhoods. Scarier to me was the fact that my students came from these same neighborhoods and drove these same streets.

One day, a horrible event happened. One of my students was on her way to school when at a stoplight a man jumped into their car and held a knife at the child’s throat while demanding money from her mom. Luckily, her mom gave over her purse and the man left without physically harming the mother or daughter. But I’d always worried about the mental and emotional strain the incident caused the family.

Taking that small real-life incident, I wove in a more detailed story for my heroine in The Heartsong Cowboy. I could imagine how that trauma would have affected her daughter and the determination a parent would feel to try anything to “fix” her child.

Of course, I lost touch with the family and never got to see how things turned out for the little girl. But I’d like to think that she’s learned that not everyone is bad and scary…that she’s learned to trust and find her own happiness. Who knows, maybe she’s even reading this post.  J

A Cowboy’s Whisper is available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited. You can grab a copy for less than a cup of coffee!

BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Whisper-Colorado-Books-1-3-ebook/dp/B07W57SQD8

 

 

Blurb:

Join three amazing couples who look for love in a small town as they overcome obstacles and find their happily ever after.

 

The Heartsong Cowboy

Can two people, one horse and the power of love cure a little girl?

Angela French blames herself for her daughter’s lack of voice. Determined to do anything to correct the situation, she seeks out Jake Kyncade, the owner of The Heartsong Ranch.

Jake Kyncade hides his own sorrows behind his no-nonsense demeanor. Helping children becomes one way to correct his past. Using equine therapy, he sets out to make a difference.

Can Jake help Angela’s dreams come true or will Jake’s past bring more heartache? Will love save them all?

 

The Heartbroken Cowboy

Love isn’t found at the bottom of a bottle…

Johnson O’Neill joined The Heartsong Ranch to escape his addiction. One night at a friend’s wedding, stress causes him to fall off the wagon and into the arms of the woman of his dreams.

Debra Donahue lost her husband to alcohol then pulled herself up by her bootstraps becoming a million-dollar selling real estate agent. One night with a sexy cowboy and a bottle of whiskey, Debra falls hard.

Can an alcoholic cowboy and a brokenhearted woman find love despite their fears? Or will the bottom of a bottle claim another happily ever after?

 

Claiming a Cowboy’s Heart

Even broken souls deserve a second chance at love….

Elementary Teacher, Michelle Alt has faced untold trials in her life, yet she continues to do what’s right to make things better for the next generation.

Cowboy Veterinarian, Preston Hall has lost everything in order to follow his dreams and return to his grandfather’s small-town practice.

Recognizing each other’s pain, these two broken souls come together to heal, but fear and misunderstandings send their blossoming relationship into a tailspin. Will they be able to put aside their pain to find the love of a lifetime?

 

Excerpt from The Heartsong Cowboy:

With Taylor asleep on the couch, Angela snuck the magazine out of her daughter’s sleeping hands before carrying her to her bed. After making sure her baby was tucked in, she turned out the lights and went to the kitchen. She sat down at the table to study the article about the horse whisperer. The photos gave off a peaceful feeling—so much so, she longed to jump into the images. Along with the horses, there were shots of children laughing and petting the animals. The article mentioned a little boy with Down’s Syndrome whose language increased after a week of animal therapy. The Heartsong Ranch. Even the name sounds encouraging. Dare I get my hopes up?

One photo in particular captured her attention. The owner, Jake Kyncade, wore jeans and a cowboy hat as he stood next to the ranch sign. She took a deep breath as butterflies circled in her abdomen. He’s sexy. Very different from Mike. Mr. Kyncade has this wounded look in his eyes. I wonder what his trauma was. I’ve gotten better at noticing it in others. Still, he’s good looking. Probably married with his own children.

 

About the Author:

Growing up in a small town, Melissa created stories in her head and lived them out with her sisters. They climbed through the quarries, built forts among the leaves and pretended they were their favorite television heroines.

Always trying to spread joy and happiness, Melissa has written over 30+ stories of couples who eventually find their Happily Ever After. Her books are filled with broken heroes and heroines who overcome real-life obstacles and come out stronger than ever. Her children books (written under her childhood name- Missy Watling) feature endearing tales infused with important lessons about self-acceptance.

Escaping the cold Midwest winters, she and her husband, along with furbabies enjoy the beaches of South Carolina and can be found talking to the gators and turtles. She posts photos of her gator friends as well as other wildlife. After all, sometimes they have the best advice!

 

She’d love to hear from you!

www.melissakeir.com

http://www.facebook.com/melissakeir

www.twitter/melissa_keir

https://www.instagram.com/keirmelissa/