When I began PROMISE ME TEXAS, I thought about how some people are actors and some are reactors. Some, like my Beth McMurray, are tired of waiting and decide to make change happen, while others watch.
On a sudden impulse, she travels north, catching up to the train her fiancé is on. She plans to surprise him. Within hours, she realizes her mistake. He’s not the man she thought him to be. When a train wreck happens, she has only a moment to stand by the bum, or turn to a stranger and claim him as hers. As always, Beth jumps.
Andrew McLaughlin, on the other hand, has always been a reactor. He watches people, writes about places and daydreams. When the beautiful lady claims him as hers, he goes along, interested in the details of this story this pretty lady seems to be living in. When he first wakes up from the wreck, injured and disoriented, he finds they’re engaged. Second time, Beth claims they are married. Third time, he sees two kids in the picture. Confused, he doses off wondering what the grandkids will look like when he wakes again.
I loved the way the characters came together in PROMISE ME TEXAS. My hero is a watcher of people, afraid to ever get too close. Everyone he’s ever cared about in his life is gone and he’s alone.
My Beth leads with her heart and not her head. She’s a woman used to getting what she wants, no matter what stands in her way. When she sees someone who needs her, even having to interrupt a gunfight doesn’t pose a problem. Her bravery wins over the leader of an outlaw gang who is hunting her make-believe husband.
Since this book is set in 1879, a time of great change in Texas, I included a story of young love that flows along through the plot. Not all great love stories start with passion; some start with friendship. Cody wants to take care of Madie, but he doesn’t know how. Because he is two years older, he begins to give her advice.
I hope everyone enjoys PROMISE ME TEXAS. I promise I’ll take you on a great adventure that will make you smile and maybe just laugh out loud. It might even remind you of the day you took the path less traveled and ended up in a most delightful place.
Jodi Thomas
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To pre-order a copy of PROMISE ME TEXAS click here: www.jodithomas.com.
The official release date is November 5.
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 38 novels and 11 short story collections. A five-time RITA winner, Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
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