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A Texas Love Story...

2/3/2017

12 Comments

 
by Gwendolyn M Plano
PictureJan Sikes
In just a week, it will be Valentine’s Day. For Hallmark Cards, online and local flower stores, and all vendors of chocolate, this is the day for trumpeting Love – new love, old love, healed love, remembered love. It is a time when hopes and memories meet at the hearth of life, and emerge either invigorated or scorched.

For Jan Sikes, an award-winning author, screenwriter and songwriter, love is the heart of life. She learned this the hard way, after her fiancé was incarcerated for 15 years for a crime he did not commit. When he was finally released, they married and began the difficult journey of creating a life together. Music was integral to their relationship and livelihood, and remained so until her husband passed away in 2009.

Jan has written a four-book series about her one love, Rick Sikes. In the books, she refers to Rick as "Luke" and herself as "Darlena." It was easier for Jan to write about their love through fictional names.

​The books follow the stages of their relationship. Flowers and Stone is set in raucous Texas honkytonks where Rick sang and played his guitar. The Convict and the Rose chronicles the time behind bars in Leavenworth Penitentiary. Home at Last captures the years after Rick was released from prison, and Till Death Do Us Part brings the reader to Rick’s final goodbye.

Jan is a friend and fellow member of the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB. Because of Valentine's Day, she is offering a special promotion of Home at Last, during the week of February 12th through February 15th. It will be FREE on Amazon during that time. Having read the book myself, I can confidently say that you will thoroughly enjoy and be inspired by it. The hard-earned lessons, the bits and pieces of wisdom, and the deep and enduring love between the two will pull at your heartstrings. Jan and Rick are wonderful examples of love that has withstood the harshest challenges.

If you are looking for something to read this next week, I invite you to consider a real Texas love story. It will warm your heart and fill your senses. The YouTube trailer below features their music as well as offers a glimpse of the story - enjoy.  

Picture
Jan's contact information:
Website: http://www.jansikes.com/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jansmith.sikes  
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rijanjks   
Blog: http://www.rijanjks.wordpress.com

12 Comments
john howell link
2/4/2017 14:44:31

I'm reading The Convict and the Rose and am enjoying it. I would also recommend Home At Last and at that price Woo Woo! Thanks, Gwen for hosting.

Reply
Jan Sikes link
2/4/2017 18:27:00

Oh wow, John!!! Thank you you SO much!!!

Reply
Gwen Plano link
2/4/2017 17:53:00

Thank you for stopping by, John. You are right - you can't beat that price for Home At Last.

Reply
Jan Sikes link
2/4/2017 18:26:25

Thank you so much, Gwen! I appreciate your support and promotion SO much!!! And thank you, John for reading The Convict and the Rose!

Reply
Gwen Plano link
2/5/2017 03:30:39

You are most welcome, Jan. This is the perfect time to share love stories! ♥

Reply
Linda Broday link
2/4/2017 20:56:10

I was really happy to have taken this journey with Jan both in real life and in writing her series. Their love was 100% real and often they didn't realize other people were in the room.They got lost in each other and shut out the world. Rick was a special person who had the ability to speak from his heart, which he did in many different ways. Anyone who reads these stories will thoroughly enjoy the journey as I did.

Reply
Gwen Plano link
2/5/2017 03:33:28

Thank you, Linda, for visiting and sharing your experience of Jan and Rick's love. I gave read two books in the series and loved them both. ♥

Reply
Jan Sikes link
2/5/2017 19:54:04

Thank you so much for stopping by Gwen's blog, sister!! Love you!

Reply
John Fioravanti link
2/5/2017 09:38:37

Great post, Gwen! Looking forward to getting into Jan's books!

Reply
Jan Sikes link
2/5/2017 19:54:41

Thanks so much, John F. So glad you stopped by Gwen's blog.

Reply
Mae Clair link
2/6/2017 08:19:18

Fabulous post, Gwen, and how wonderful of Jan to offer Home at Last free in time for Valentine's Day. I just finished reading the entire series and found it riveting. What an amazing love story between Jan and Rick!

Reply
Gwen Plano link
2/8/2017 06:33:09

Thank you for visiting, Mae. It is an amazing love story!

Reply

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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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