Release Day with Julie Benson!

I love making a big, strong cowboy sweat because a woman who is as tough and determined as he is stands up to him. The more uncomfortable, the more out of his comfort zone he is, the better.

In Forbidden to the Texas Soldier a portion of the conflict between Dash Lange and Lainey Gallagher arises from the bro code. As I delved into the topic, I discovered many men and women held contradictory views. Kind of a Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus thing, if you’re old enough to remember that book.

Maybe the fact that a lot of men subscribed to the bro code failed to surprise me is because growing up with only one female cousin a distance away, I often played baseball or football, went canoeing or fishing with my dad, brother, uncles and male cousins. Probably for reason, too, discovering a lot of women believe the concept is ridiculous threw me. However, as I read blogs and posts both sides made sense to me.

But what if I didn’t get the male point of view, and I was attracted to my brother’s friend? (A completely what if scenario since my brother is three years younger.) That got my mind churning, and I turned to Dash and Lainey. I soon realized Lainey could drive my already tortured widower-survived-terrorist-bombing hero Dash crazy with that juxtaposition.

When Lainey’s deployed brother asks Dash to check on his family, they somewhat jokingly discuss the bro code with Dash insisting he’s not interested in dating anyone. Then his friend says, “So, if you meet her, no offense, pal, but don’t get any ideas. LJ needs a man who’s not fighting demons and can take care of her.”

Being a man who takes a promise seriously, though he’s attracted to Lainey, when they meet Dash informs her there can be nothing but friendship between them. He even explains his reasoning. Her brother could feel betrayed, especially by him since he agreed Lainey was off limits. Dash continues, claiming it’s tough to balance both relationships without someone feeling slighted and the guy being forced to take sides between siblings. Lastly, he says when dating a friend’s sister, he can’t confide any dating woes in his friend. Lainey tells him she thinks it’s a crock and asserts who she dates isn’t her brother’s decision. Then she vows to get Dash to throw the bro code out the window. She purposely pushes his buttons, stretching Dash’s self his self-control as tight as a woman who’s had too many facelifts. But bless his Texas cowboy heart and honor, Dash tries his best to keep his vow and his hold onto his virtue.

What’re your thoughts on the bro code? Have you ever had to deal with it because you had a crush on a brother’s friend? I’d love to hear your views and stories.

Dash and Lainey took me on an interesting ride while writing Forbidden to the Texas Soldier. I hope you enjoy their adventure, too.

About the Author

An avid daydreamer, Julie Benson doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t creating stories. After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Sociology, she worked as case manager for a social services agency before having her children. Three boys, and many years later, she started actively pursuing a writing career to challenge her mind and save her sanity. Now she writes full time in Dallas, where she lives with her husband, their three sons, two lovable black dogs, a mischievous brown one and a turtle. Julie says, while her house is never quiet or predictable, it is full of heroes.