The Starlight Motel

 

 

THE STARLIGHT MOTEL

Amy Craig

GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

 

Experienced muralist Kada took charge of her family's Palm Springs motel to give her mother time to grieve. As a grant deadline approaches, Kada must convince her mother to manage the motel so she can return to her art. Late in December, Kada encounters a horseman approaching the property. Dane, the reserved son of a local farming family, is a loyal workaholic with limited spare time or experience outside the valley. When lightning startles his horse, he lingers at the motel and stirs up Kada's emotions about leaving the desert oasis. Wary of mixing business with pleasure, she struggles with her attraction. As New Year's Eve approaches, will the cowboy convince her to chart a new course?

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Kada’s cry of delight bounced off the casita walls. Looking up from the desert pavers, he watched her launch herself into an older woman’s arms. The pair grinned, and their smiles shone brighter than the swaying patio lights. Staying back, he leaned against an adobe wall and watched Kada and Mrs. Ritchie greet each other. The pair did the hug-shake mother-daughter thing he never understood. In twenty years, Kada would be just as beautiful as her mother. She soaked up her mother’s presence like a drought-stricken plant. He envied their connection. His mother gripped him hard, examined him, and spun him back into the world to do good work. 

“Just look at you, runnin’ around the desert like Pops.” Ms. Ritchie gripped Kada’s long, black hair and rubbed it between her fingers. “If I hadn’t seen you for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. I thought you would stay in Los Angeles, but here you are, the queen of the desert!”


He cocked his head and imagined Kada tearing into a sourdough loaf over drip coffee. She would look at home on the winding streets wearing a wrap-tie dress, but he preferred her stained jeans. 

“I thought I would stay in Los Angeles, too, but you needed me.” Reaching to the side, Kada shifted into her father’s arms. 

Lean by most standards, he sported the small belly that developed from a desk-bound lifestyle. 

“Hi, Daddy.” 

He kissed her forehead. “Princess. Good to see you.” 

Easing off the wall, Dane figured he could slip back into the cantina, take his salad to go, and sink into one of Walter’s tales. The old cowboy had plenty of stories about what went wrong when a man took his gaze off the land.

About the Author:

Amy Craig lives in Louisiana with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring intelligent heroines. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. Before writing, she worked as an oilfield engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress. For more information and giveaways, visit www.amy-craig.com or follow her on social media channels.

Q&A With the Author:

Who is your favorite author and why? 

Ali Hazelwood is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors because her witty, smart, and deeply engaging stories always teach me something new.

Hazelwood's protagonists are often strong, intelligent women in STEM fields. This unique focus brings diversity to the genre and creates relatable and inspiring characters. Women in science and academia see themselves reflected in heroines who are brilliant, multifaceted… and meet a surprising number of hunky, brilliant men?

Whether or not you think the set-ups are a bit too convenient or not, the dialogue in Hazelwood's books is sharp, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny. Her characters engage in banter that feels natural and authentic, making their relationships more believable and enjoyable. This conversational style pulls me into the story and shows up in my works like THE STARLIGHT MOTEL as well.

I write a little more upfront action in my novels, but Hazelwood crafts slow-burn romances with palpable chemistry. Her characters' relationships build gradually, allowing readers to savor each moment. Her themes of empowerment, self-discovery, and breaking stereotypes keep me engaged, but she also strikes a perfect balance between humor and heartfelt moments. I’m sure you’ve seen her books, but if you haven’t dipped your toe into her worlds, give them a shot!

What is something unique/quirky about you?

When I was an engineering student, I needed another class to stay full-time, so I took introductory Italian (I already spoke a decent amount of Spanish and didn’t want to read Spanish literature). The class was fun and easy. For the last assignment, we created advertisements in Italian. My instructor loved mine so much he suggested I should be a creative instead of an engineer. He was probably right, but I stuck with engineering long enough to become a kick-ass project manager. Then, babies. Their sweet, chubby cheeks lured me away from a well-paying job, but they gave me time to write and return to my creative side.

What was your inspiration for writing this book? 

When my husband and I relocated from California to Louisiana with our black lab/shepherd mix, we drove through Palm Springs, and the agricultural influences amazed me. I always thought of Palm Springs as a 1950s Hollywood resort, for its character goes deeper than Sinatra and desert sands. Don’t get me wrong, those aspects are part of its identity, too, but I wanted to explore the farms and single-story motels dotting the windswept highways.

Also, Kada has more than one identity. She’s a devoted daughter, a artist who needs to regroup, and a caring, compassionate woman who walks the line between responsibility and self-sacrifice. Dane’s not about to let anyone push him around, but what has he missed by being so hardcore?

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Banter between romantic leads is a staple in romance stories because it adds layers to the characters, enhances their chemistry, and makes their relationship more dynamic and engaging. Also, they always have the perfect comebacks! Don’t we wish we had them, too?

Here FIVE reasons I enjoy writing banter between characters:

1. Showcases Chemistry and Compatibility

Banter is a great way to demonstrate the chemistry and compatibility between the romantic leads. Quick, witty exchanges show characters are on the same wavelength and can match each other's intellect and humor. This helps readers see why the characters are drawn to each other and why they make a good pair. Dane keeps offering to buy the Starlight Motel, and Kada keeps shutting him down.

2. Builds Tension and Anticipation

Witty banter is also verbal foreplay. As characters spar with words, their underlying attraction simmers, creating an exciting buildup to the eventual romantic payoff. This slow burn can be immensely satisfying.

3. Reveals Character and Relationship Development

Banter also reveals important aspects of the characters' personalities and their evolving relationship. The teasing, jokes, and playful arguments between Kada and Dane provide insight into their insecurities, strengths, and growth. When the characters give their friends and relatives a little lip, too, you see where they draw their strength.

4. Adds Humor and Levity

Humor balances emotional intensity. Banter injects humor and lightness into the narrative, making the story more enjoyable and relatable. It shows that even in the midst of romantic tension, the characters can have fun and enjoy each other's company. Also, who hasn’t read a sexy scene in a random place and laughed at the juxtaposition between the two experiences? Subway and sexting? Café and marathon satisfaction? Kada and Dane find their thrills in random places, but they don’t have much time to dwell on “romance” before life makes them choose their paths forward.

5. Enhances Dialogue and Pacing

Novels shouldn’t read like screenplays. Well-crafted banter enhances dialogue and makes it more dynamic and engaging. It keeps the pacing lively and prevents conversations from becoming dull or overly sentimental. Snappy exchanges drive the plot forward and keep readers hooked.

In real-life relationships, banter is a common way people connect and show affection. Incorporating this element into romance stories makes the relationships feel more realistic and relatable. Readers recognize and appreciate the authenticity of characters who communicate in familiar ways. I can’t promise all my jokes will make you laugh, but I’m hoping for a smile!

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about? 

The third book in a mafia series, THE BROKEN BODYGUARD, comes out September 3, 2024. It’s the third novel in a Romantic Suspense/Mafia Romance/Corporate Romance series called the Sun Valley Mafia Series. Working with two publishers, The Wild Rose Press and Totally Bound, means release dates occasionally overlap! In THE BROKEN BODYGUARD, which can be read as a standalone novel, a corporate bodyguard finds himself protecting a stubborn cowgirl and untangling windswept land politics in Patagonia, Argentina. Every time I read it, I want to return to Patagonia!

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

My DM’s are open. Drop me a line and let me know what you think about my work! As always, leave a review and share your favorites with your book bestie! Happy reading!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/amycraig

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@authoramycraig

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_amy_craig/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmyCraig/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18011214

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-craig

Website: https://www.amy-craig.com/

https://linktr.ee/authoramycraig

GIVEAWAY

Amy Craig will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Please visit other tour participants for more opportunities to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway