Texas Girls by Kara O'Neal #RomanceGems

The beach. A forever getaway. A place that has something for everyone. A place that provides endless fun and pleasure.

Well, for people who like the ocean and the sand and the seaweed and the sharks, that is.

I am no such person. But, I always go when my family or friends want to. I don't complain. I put on sunscreen and a swimsuit...ugh. (I promise I don't whine.)

I haven't always disliked the beach. When I was younger I ran up and down the banks along the Gulf of Mexico, from Galveston to South Padre Island. I collected seashells. I built sandcastles. I rode waves. I caught fish.

I also loved the band The Beach Boys. I adored them so much, and so did my friends. We had a special dance to California Girls. And this song was so important to our history that it was played during my wedding reception and at my sister's. And even then we danced to it with much laughter and silliness, just like when we were kids.

Of course, we're really Texas Girls, and we've run all over this state together. We've known each other since we were little. And I mean really little. We were four-years-old and younger when we met. We've been in each others weddings. We've taken family vacations together. We've spent every Easter together. We go to church together.

They lift me up when I can't do it myself. They set me straight when I'm being stupid. They help me raise my children. They've made me laugh so hard I've fallen out of my chair.

We're different from each other. We don't demand that we have the same interests in order for us to get along. Some of us like wine, while some of us don't drink. Some of us work out, while others prefer their pjs and the couch and their Netflix account.

But it doesn't matter. We're friends forever. We're more than besties -- we're sisties.

And many of them are heroines in my stories, and I've dedicated books to each of them.

Most recently, The Ranger's Vow. In this romance, the heroine, Sherry, ends up in a very difficult situation. Luckily, she has four sisters who carry her through tough times. Yes, four. And they each have their own personality. Sherry is quite feisty. I'm pretty sure she would LOVE the beach. She would adore its wildness and raw beauty. In fact, she'd probably swim in it buck naked because she has no problem skinny dipping in the river near her house. And, as luck would have it, the hero of the story gets to witness this first hand. (But he's a gentleman about it. I promise!)

I dedicated The Ranger's Vow to the girls who have helped me over the years. There are so many to mention. Pictured to the right are the ones who have been there the longest. And, wouldn't you know it, we're in Galveston and have just come from the beach.

I couldn't have written The Ranger's Vow without the experiences I've had with my Texas Girls, my sisties. They've given me memories I hold close and there are many more to come. I love them. So much.

The dedication:

For Becky, Catie, Annie, Mary Kay, Jen, Alice, Kathleen, Stefani, Shannon, Leigh, Rebecca, Michelle, Jean, Shelli, Mandy, Amanda, Kristen and Kendra…

Your friendship means the world to me.

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