Nicole Flockton on Blind Dates, Puppy Love and Happy-Ever-Afters

Nicole Flockton’s new novel, Blind Date Bet, has so much going for it I’m jealous I didn’t write it! Blind date (hell-o, yes please!) – military hero with an uphill battle ahead of him to woo the woman of his dreams – plus a hot guy with dog on the cover! Since I didn’t write it, however, I’m delighted to welcome Nicole to Get Lost in a Story to tell us all about it.

About Nicole...

USA Today Bestselling author Nicole Flockton writes sexy contemporary romances, seducing you one kiss at a time as you turn the pages. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight to find their true love. 

Apart from writing Nicole is busy looking after her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, and two fabulous kids. She also enjoys watching sports and, of course, reading. You can visit Nicole at her website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon and Bookbub, and sign-up for her newsletter HERE.

Never say never… 

After loving and losing a soldier once, Isabella Knowles made a vow: No more military men. She’s rebuilt her life and has a classroom full of fifth graders to love, which is more than enough even though her father doesn’t agree. When he sets her up on a blind date, she only goes to humor him — never dreaming that the man she meets will tempt her to break her one rule.

In theory, Ethan Masters is not opposed to the wife, kids and house with a white picket fence. But he loves his career as a K-9 handler in the Air Force, and a dream promotion dangles before him like dog tags. While contemplating his future, he accepts a drunken bet for a blind date, never dreaming that the captivating woman fits perfectly into his ideal, all-American dream.

Only one problem. She’s gun-shy about all things military.

Can Ethan prove to Isabella love is worth the risk?

Read a little…

Ethan needed his head examined.

There was no other explanation as to why he was standing in front of a coffee shop, under the simmering Texas summer sun, wearing a bright red fedora. Never, on his grandfather’s grave would he partake in a slam-dunk shots contest with his buddy, Lincoln Forrest, who was in the army, ever again.

Sober, he never would’ve agreed to a blind date, not after the time Linc had talked him into meeting Kathy Birdland. Talk about disaster from the moment she opened her mouth. He shuddered now remembering the high-pitched twang she emitted and the tobacco-stained teeth that had greeted him when she smiled. He was surprised he hadn’t landed in the Guinness Book of World Records under the shortest date category. Later, he’d found out the real Kathy Birdland had chickened out and paid some random woman fifty bucks to go on the date with him.

And yet, here he waited, on the sidewalk in downtown San Antonio, about to repeat the same mistake.

What he needed to do was swear off tequila shots.

Tequila had led him to wearing a red fedora so school teacher Isabella Knowles would recognize him. He should’ve gone with the more obvious I’m-holding-a-red-rose-because-I’m-a-sucker-on-a-blind-date look. As it was, people were glancing warily at him as they passed, no doubt wondering if he was a pimp or a wannabe drug dealer. Ethan glanced at his watch again. Still another five minutes until his supposed date was due to turn up.

Linc had assured Ethan Isabella was hot. As in H-O-T, hot. She didn’t wear glasses. Wasn’t a spinster with fifty cats. Had all her teeth, which weren’t stained yellow. Didn’t need to dye the gray out of her hair.

He automatically reached down to scratch the back of Sam’s head, but he met fresh air. Of course, his dog wasn’t on this date. He’d left Sam at the base to enjoy her weekend. Although having his K-9 partner standing beside him would distract him from waiting to see if Isabella resembled the bride of Chucky or a Victoria Secret’s runway angel.

“Umm, I know this is going to sound really weird, but are you Ethan Masters?”

Buy the book HERE!

Let’s talk…

Avril: Where did you get the idea for Blind Date Bet?

Nicole: I met my husband on a blind date and I was trying to come up with a fun meet-cute for a new series, so I thought why not visit how I met my own hero. Ethan and Isabella are both wearing red fedoras to recognise each other. My husband and I didn’t wear hats or carry a rose when we first met, he arrived with the friends who set us up. I said I’d meet him if it they came along.

Avril: Blind Date Bet is book 1 in a series – what can we expect of the books yet to come?

Nicole: All the books have a matchmaker, dog, military theme to them. The second book has a cheeky Corgi who does her own little bit of matchmaking while healing the hero. The book is titled Next Door Knight and comes out in March. I swear when I wrote Willow the Corgi, she stole the scenes and I had so much fun writing it. I’m currently working on the third book in the series and the hero is Linc, the guy who bet Ethan to go on a blind date with Isabella. Linc’s life is up in the air after he makes a rash decision at the end of book two.

Avril: I know you have another book out this month – give us the lowdown on Guarding Antonia.

Nicole: Guarding Antonia is the sixth book in my Guardian Seals series. This series started out in Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha kindle world, so a few of her characters have guest spots in my books. When Amazon closed Kindle Worlds, Susan opened her own press so I was able to continue my series. This book features Brendan “Robot” Dean and Antonia Rocca. These two have been sparking off each other since they re-connected in Guarding Erin. A Vegas marriage they thought was over isn’t. Throw in witnessing a murder and Robot gets the second chance he’s been hoping for.

Avril: What’s the attraction of military heroes?

Nicole: Well it really all started when I started to write in Susan’s world. I read her books to familiarise myself with her characters, fell in love with sexy Navy SEALs and Deltas and I wanted to write my own team.

Avril: As a reader, what do you look for in a romance?

Nicole: A happy ever after ending – that’s a must for me. I want to finish the book and sigh with happiness. I want strong characters but not a-holey heroes. I love a good Alpha and to me a true Alpha is an immovable block when it comes to business but when it comes to his personal life, when he meets his match, he’s putty in her hands.

Nicole is giving away an e-book of her novel Guarding Antonia. To go into the draw, let us know if you prefer standalone or series books, and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

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