USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy has written more than fifty romances, including her newest title, The Devil in Blue Jeans. Her books are about real people with real-life problems, searching for that special thing we call love . . . in a very sexy way.
We are thrilled to have Stacey join us here on Write for Harlequin to talk about Afterglow Books, writing strong female characters, spicy romance, and more!
Give us the broad strokes of the story without giving any surprises away!
SK: Charly Henwood has a plan to leave behind her cheating fiancé and start anew in Montana with her best friends. Together, they purchase a run-down dive bar in a charming small mountain town. But their plans hit a snag when the locals resist their ideas for change. Especially Jaxon Reed, the former owner of the Naked Moose, who becomes an unexpected rival standing in their way. In a last-ditch effort to secure success, Charly proposes an unconventional solution—using Jaxon—a notorious ladies man—as the main prize in a charity auction. However, her clever idea quickly turns into a heated battle of wills with the alluring cowboy, jeopardizing not only the success of the bar but also Charly’s vow to avoid love at all costs.
Afterglow Books focuses on the characters’ path toward leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. When writing, how did you balance Charly’s personal journey with the romantic conflict with Jaxon?
SK: Creating a character who has been betrayed in love and is not looking for a new relationship is a challenging task. But as a writer, this provides a super fun conflict. Jaxon is the complete opposite of what Charly needs in her life right now—he has a history of failed relationships and a questionable reputation. So, I had to find a way to make their relationship develop slowly, while also allowing Charly room to heal from her experience of betrayal. Essentially, Jaxon had to prove himself worthy of Charly’s trust and heart—and that made for an exciting storyline.
Charly buys a cowboy dive bar and knows how she wants to run her business. How did you approach writing a Western romance with a strong element of female empowerment?
SK: Strong women have always been a source of inspiration for me, especially when they come together as a close-knit group of friends. What can I say, I adore my besties! That’s why I wanted to capture the essence of women supporting and uplifting each other in The Naked Moose series. From the beginning, I knew that I wanted to highlight the fierce heroines in the story, rather than just focusing on the rugged cowboys and ranch life. Although the plot involves a group of tough cowboys facing their own challenges at Timber Falls Ranch, my main goal was to showcase the resiliency of these remarkable women as they confront their inner struggles and strive for a brighter future. Each woman must pick up the pieces of her shattered life and slowly rebuild it into one filled with endless possibilities and joy—all while empowering the women in Timber Falls at their cocktail lounge.
This is a spicy romance. What is your advice for writing a sizzling romance?
SK: Chemistry is everything when it comes to writing steamy romance. It’s all about the buildup, creating tension and anticipation before those heated moments. Once you nail that chemistry between characters, the rest of the steaminess falls into place effortlessly. Then it’s all about immersing yourself fully into the moment to bring the passion to life on the page.
This book’s cover is giving Retro Western bar. In your eyes, how does the cover bring the story into focus for readers?
SK: A rough-and-tumble cowboy wearing a pair of worn Levi’s – need I say more? Add in the neon lights of the cocktail bar, and I think the cover tells everything you need to know about the story—The Devil in Blue Jeans is not an old-fashioned western romance. This is a fun romance about three best friends on a journey of emotional healing, self-discovery and finding their footing again after life knocked them down. But this story is also about a devastatingly handsome cowboy who sets out to shake things up for a woman hell-bent on keeping her guard up. And that is what I feel the cover represents. It’s a western romance at heart, but this one has a rom-com twist, and no one is more determined than a cowboy who knows what—or who—he wants!
The Devil in Blue Jeans – Available Now!
A sharp, emotional novel about a tough-minded bar owner who makes a deal with a devil of a cowboy—and might just get burned…
Moving to Montana to buy a dive bar with her two best friends sounds like a can’t-miss idea to Charly Henwood. The scenery is breathtaking, and the cowboys aren’t bad-looking either. Not that Charly’s interested. Her heart is as unmovable as the surrounding mountains. After her cheating ex-boyfriend destroyed their relationship and their nightclub, she’s determined to take care of herself, her friends and their bar.
But it turns out the regulars resent newcomers swapping their craft beer for an extensive cocktail menu. One is particularly not happy—The Naked Moose’s previous owner, Jaxon Reed. The last thing Charly needs is a cocky cowboy telling her how to run her bar, or her life. But maybe she can use Jaxon to her advantage. If he’ll agree to be the prize in a charity auction, Charly will make the bar a little more cowboy-friendly.
When that plan backfires, Charly finds herself doing battle with the biggest temptation in Timber Falls. A man who has made it his mission to win her over, using every infernal means at his disposal. And if her resolve goes up in flames, her heart is sure to follow…
