Category: Uncategorized

AnneMarie Brear & Where the Rainbows End

  By Uncategorized



My latest novel is titled, Where Rainbows End, and is set in 1850s Australia. 
I set the novel in an area of the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, where I used to live.
Pippa, the main character of the story, creates a home in a valley in the middle of the wilderness, or as Australians call it ‘The Bush’.
The inspiration to place her in this area was easy for me to do as several villages of the Southern Highlands still have a lot of historical buildings still standing. 
One village, used a lot in the book, is Berrima. This town was once a bustling place in the 19th century, but unfortunately it was overlooked when the railways came to the district. Without the railway, the industry fell away and so did the population. 
What remains is a quaint snapshot of a bygone era, and the perfect place to set my book.
I did a lot of research at the local historical society to help with getting the information I needed and poured over many old photos.
Berrima 1912
19th century Berrima
A slab hut – something similar to what Pippa would have lived in when first building the stud in the valley.

The White Horse Inn – still standing since Victorian times, and the same inn Pippa visited.
To learn more about Berrima visit this link; http://berrimavillage.com.au/historic-berrima/
Where Rainbows End:
Where Rainbows End
Blurb
“I’m not a man, but that won’t stop me. Just you wait and see.”
It’s 1850 and the Noble family have arrived in Australia to start a new life after scandal drove them from their native England. Headstrong Pippa Noble is determined to reclaim their honour by making her father’s plans for a successful stud farm a reality.
Pippa is immediately spellbound by the untamed outback landscape, although she learns the hard way about the unforgiving nature of the bush – sometimes with devastating consequences. When circumstance leads to Pippa tending the new farm alone, it is the steadfast friendship of neighbouring country estate owner Gil Ashford-Smith that helps her through.
Then an unexpected visitor from England arrives, putting Pippa’s dreams in jeopardy. But she refuses to let go. She will hold onto her family’s land and make her mark, even if it means losing everything else …
Excerpt:
‘Miss Noble!’
She whipped around at the urgency in Robson’s voice and blanched at the strain on his face. He skidded to a stop in front of her and pointed to the ridge. ‘Bushfire. From the west. I’ve sent Colin to saddle a horse and ride up to the road to see how far away it is. But we must prepare.’
Pippa’s mouth went dry. ‘Bush … Bushfire?’
Esther hurried back to them, her hand clasped against her chest. ‘Oh, my dear lord. What will we do?’
Robson took off his hat and scratched his head, his expression revealing his concern. ‘We must fill every bucket and wet down the buildings, starting with the grain store. I’ve already got Peter and Barney digging a hole to bury feed and harnesses. The water in the creek is too low to last for long. We’ll need to put valuables in the sawpit and cover it with wet sacking.’
Pippa’s mind went blank. He talked too fast for her to absorb his meaning. ‘Robson, please, what are you saying?’
He took a deep breath and then glanced away sharply as Colin galloped across the valley floor, the hoof beats thundering. ‘Miss, try to understand. If the fire gets into the valley, it’ll wipe out everything in its path. We must bury what we can. Once the fire reaches, if it reaches the valley ridge, we’ll all have to escape from the other side, and there’s no track there, so we can’t take the wagon. I’ll get the horses saddled. The ladies must pack only lightly.’
‘Escape?’ Esther swayed just as Hilary and Davy joined them.
Running his hands through his hair, Robson’s eyes implored Pippa to take action.
But she couldn’t move or think clearly. Bushfire. Escape. ‘It … it may not even come this way, Robson.’
‘I hope to God it doesn’t, miss.’
She swallowed, but her throat was suddenly dry. ‘But you think it will?’
He looked up at the large gum trees, their top branches swaying in the warm breeze. ‘If the wind doesn’t change, the fire will sweep over that ridge and head straight for us.’
‘But it’s not summer yet. You said bushfires came in January or February.’
‘Miss, we’ve had very little rain, and dead grass will burn whether it be the middle of winter or summer. We were spared fires last year, but all it takes is one spark to set the bush alight, and this wind will not help us.’ He shifted from foot to foot. ‘Please, miss, we cannot waste time talking. We must prepare—’
‘What of the horses? The mares are due to foal within weeks, they mustn’t be scared into bolting.’
‘I’ll get Peter to take them to the far side of the valley. If the fire breaks the ridge, he’ll take them out and head towards Mittagong.’ He gave another nervous glance at the widening plume of smoke on the horizon. ‘Please, Miss Noble, we need to act now.’
‘Yes, go. Do what must be done.’ Pippa waved him away and turned to her family. On seeing their scared and worried expressions, she hid her fear and straightened her shoulders. ‘Come, we must do as Robson says. Pack lightly or bury what you cannot carry. Quickly, now!’
As the others turned and ran back to the house, her mother stepped forward and gripped Pippa’s arm. ‘This valley, the stud, is all we have, Pippa.’
‘Yes, Mother.’ Distracted, Pippa nodded, looking beyond her towards the scurrying men.
Esther’s hand clenched Pippa’s arm like a vice. ‘No, listen to me!’
Pippa stared at her, shocked.
‘You must not let all that we have slip from our grasp. Not now we are finally finding our way out of the depths of despair. I’d not survive another disappointment.’
‘I promise I won’t let that happen.’
Her mother’s gaze remained fixed on hers. ‘If we lose the stud, that will be the end of us. The Nobles will be finished forever.’
‘I know. I’ll do everything I can to prevent it. Trust me.’ She kissed her mother’s cheek and gently pushed her in towards the house. ‘Go help pack. Take only the most important things and hurry!’
Robson, bless him, sprang into action. He ran about issuing orders that everyone instantly obeyed; even her mother showed extreme courage and did as she was told without complaint.
Pippa knew all kinds of fear. The fear of being turned out of their house when her father squandered their money, the fear of being unloved and rejected by Grant, the fear of being in the middle of a vast ocean on an insignificant ship. Yet nothing eclipsed the fear she was experiencing now.
The terror seemed tangible, as though she could taste it, reach out and touch it. She wasn’t one to panic and hated being vulnerable, but as the wind carried the smell of smoke and the sound of crackling wood, her throat closed up through pure dread.
Astounded by the enormity of losing everything she’d worked for and dreamed of, Pippa stood trance-like, unable to move or think. The noise and confusion around her dimmed.
‘Pip.’ Davy tugged at her skirts, his face pale.
For a long moment she stared at him. She didn’t realise she was frightening him until his bottom lip quivered.
‘Will we die, Pip?’
Wrenched out of her daze, she blinked as his words sank in. ‘No … No, darling.’ His hand inched into hers and she squeezed it tight. ‘We’ll be fine. I’ll take care of you.’
A shout made her jump. Colin rode like the devil towards them, waving his hat in the air. Everyone stilled and then quickly joined Pippa and Davy near the creek as Colin pulled up his horse to a skittering halt before them.
‘Well?’ Robson demanded, his body tense as he ran towards them.
Colin winced as he swallowed, his lips dry and face coated with dust. ‘It’s heading this way about four or five miles from here, maybe a mile more, but that’s all.’ He sagged in the saddle. ‘It’s coming from the direction of the Merediths’ property.’
Time froze for a second and then everyone started talking at once.
Millie stared in horror at Pippa. ‘Oh, no. Amelia and the baby, and Douglas.’
‘They might be safe. Don’t worry.’ Pippa patted her arm and then looked to Robson for direction.
‘It’s closer than I thought.’ He frowned, rubbing his fingertips across his forehead. ‘Right, we’ve got to leave the valley now. Colin, bring the work horses here for the ladies to ride.’
‘Can we not fight the fire, Robson?’ Pippa felt her heart would explode from the pain of losing it all. ‘I mean, we’ve got water at our feet. Can we not—’
‘Miss, a few buckets of water will not stand up to a bushfire. You’ve never seen one before. It’s a wild beast feasting and growing in front of your very eyes. There’s no stopping it.’
Her frustration burst into anger. ‘I will not lose this place! I will stay and fight.’
‘Don’t be silly, Pippa,’ Millie scoffed, returning to her side with a large canvas bag bulging with clothes. She took Davy’s hand. ‘We’ll do as Robson says. We must get out of harm’s way. Nothing is worth putting yourself in danger.’
A rifle shot echoed across the valley, sending birds screeching from the trees.
Pippa wheeled around to stare at their entrance into the valley, but no vehicle or horseman came dashing out of the trees at the base.
Robson scanned the slopes, shading his eyes with his hand as the sun burnt down relentlessly. ‘Someone needs help. It’s a signal.’
A shiver of trepidation ran down Pippa’s back. ‘Father,’ she whispered.
‘No!’ Esther jerked. ‘He’s in Berrima.’
Hilary, eyes wide, stepped closer to her mother. ‘But what if he had started to journey home?’

Buy links for ebook:
All Amazon Kindle sites; myBook.to/WhereRainbowsEnd


Australian born AnneMarie Brear writes historical novels and modern romances. Her passions, apart from writing, are reading, researching, genealogy, roaming historical sites, buying books and gardening. She is an author of historical women’s fiction, contemporary romance and several short stories and is currently living in England.
AnneMarie Brear on the web:
http://www.annemariebrear.com
http://annemariebrear.blogspot.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/annemariebrear

Twitter @annemariebrear.

AnneMarie Brear & Where the Rainbows End

  By Uncategorized



My
latest novel is titled, Where Rainbows End, and is set in 1850s
Australia. 
I
set the novel in an area of the Southern Highlands of New South
Wales, where I used to live.
Pippa,
the main character of the story, creates a home in a valley in the
middle of the wilderness, or as Australians call it ‘The Bush’.
The
inspiration to place her in this area was easy for me to do as
several villages of the Southern Highlands still have a lot of
historical buildings still standing. 
One
village, used a lot in the book, is Berrima. This town was once a
bustling place in the 19th century, but unfortunately it was
overlooked when the railways came to the district. Without the
railway, the industry fell away and so did the population. 
What
remains is a quaint snapshot of a bygone era, and the perfect place
to set my book.
I
did a lot of research at the local historical society to help with
getting the information I needed and poured over many old photos.
Berrima
1912
19th
century Berrima
A
slab hut – something similar to what Pippa would have lived in when
first building the stud in the valley.

The
White Horse Inn – still standing since Victorian times, and the same
inn Pippa visited.
To
learn more about Berrima visit this
link; http://berrimavillage.com.au/historic-berrima/
Where
Rainbows End:
Where
Rainbows End
Blurb
“I’m
not a man, but that won’t stop me. Just you wait and see.”
It’s
1850 and the Noble family have arrived in Australia to start a new
life after scandal drove them from their native England. Headstrong
Pippa Noble is determined to reclaim their honour by making her
father’s plans for a successful stud farm a reality.
Pippa
is immediately spellbound by the untamed outback landscape, although
she learns the hard way about the unforgiving nature of the bush –
sometimes with devastating consequences. When circumstance leads to
Pippa tending the new farm alone, it is the steadfast friendship of
neighbouring country estate owner Gil Ashford-Smith that helps her
through.
Then
an unexpected visitor from England arrives, putting Pippa’s dreams
in jeopardy. But she refuses to let go. She will hold onto her
family’s land and make her mark, even if it means losing everything
else …
Excerpt:
‘Miss
Noble!’
She
whipped around at the urgency in Robson’s voice and blanched at the
strain on his face. He skidded to a stop in front of her and pointed
to the ridge. ‘Bushfire. From the west. I’ve sent Colin to saddle
a horse and ride up to the road to see how far away it is. But we
must prepare.’
Pippa’s
mouth went dry. ‘Bush … Bushfire?’
Esther
hurried back to them, her hand clasped against her chest. ‘Oh, my
dear lord. What will we do?’
Robson
took off his hat and scratched his head, his expression revealing his
concern. ‘We must fill every bucket and wet down the buildings,
starting with the grain store. I’ve already got Peter and Barney
digging a hole to bury feed and harnesses. The water in the creek is
too low to last for long. We’ll need to put valuables in the sawpit
and cover it with wet sacking.’
Pippa’s
mind went blank. He talked too fast for her to absorb his meaning.
‘Robson, please, what are you saying?’
He
took a deep breath and then glanced away sharply as Colin galloped
across the valley floor, the hoof beats thundering. ‘Miss, try to
understand. If the fire gets into the valley, it’ll wipe out
everything in its path. We must bury what we can. Once the fire
reaches, if it
reaches the valley ridge, we’ll all have to escape from the other
side, and there’s no track there, so we can’t take the wagon.
I’ll get the horses saddled. The ladies must pack only lightly.’
‘Escape?’
Esther swayed just as Hilary and Davy joined them.
Running
his hands through his hair, Robson’s eyes implored Pippa to take
action.
But
she couldn’t move or think clearly. Bushfire. Escape. ‘It … it
may not even come this way, Robson.’
‘I
hope to God it doesn’t, miss.’
She
swallowed, but her throat was suddenly dry. ‘But you think it
will?’
He
looked up at the large gum trees, their top branches swaying in the
warm breeze. ‘If the wind doesn’t change, the fire will sweep
over that ridge and head straight for us.’
‘But
it’s not summer yet. You said bushfires came in January or
February.’
‘Miss,
we’ve had very little rain, and dead grass will burn whether it be
the middle of winter or summer. We were spared fires last year, but
all it takes is one spark to set the bush alight, and this wind will
not help us.’ He shifted from foot to foot. ‘Please, miss, we
cannot waste time talking. We must prepare—’
‘What
of the horses? The mares are due to foal within weeks, they mustn’t
be scared into bolting.’
‘I’ll
get Peter to take them to the far side of the valley. If the fire
breaks the ridge, he’ll take them out and head towards Mittagong.’
He gave another nervous glance at the widening plume of smoke on the
horizon. ‘Please, Miss Noble, we need to act now.’
‘Yes,
go. Do what must be done.’ Pippa waved him away and turned to her
family. On seeing their scared and worried expressions, she hid her
fear and straightened her shoulders. ‘Come, we must do as Robson
says. Pack lightly or bury what you cannot carry. Quickly, now!’
As
the others turned and ran back to the house, her mother stepped
forward and gripped Pippa’s arm. ‘This valley, the stud, is all
we have, Pippa.’
‘Yes,
Mother.’ Distracted, Pippa nodded, looking beyond her towards the
scurrying men.
Esther’s
hand clenched Pippa’s arm like a vice. ‘No, listen to me!’
Pippa
stared at her, shocked.
‘You
must not let all that we have slip from our grasp. Not now we are
finally finding our way out of the depths of despair. I’d not
survive another disappointment.’
‘I
promise I won’t let that happen.’
Her
mother’s gaze remained fixed on hers. ‘If we lose the stud, that
will be the end of us. The Nobles will be finished forever.’
‘I
know. I’ll do everything I can to prevent it. Trust me.’ She
kissed her mother’s cheek and gently pushed her in towards the
house. ‘Go help pack. Take only the most important things and
hurry!’
Robson,
bless him, sprang into action. He ran about issuing orders that
everyone instantly obeyed; even her mother showed extreme courage and
did as she was told without complaint.
Pippa
knew all kinds of fear. The fear of being turned out of their house
when her father squandered their money, the fear of being unloved and
rejected by Grant, the fear of being in the middle of a vast ocean on
an insignificant ship. Yet nothing eclipsed the fear she was
experiencing now.
The
terror seemed tangible, as though she could taste it, reach out and
touch it. She wasn’t one to panic and hated being vulnerable, but
as the wind carried the smell of smoke and the sound of crackling
wood, her throat closed up through pure dread.
Astounded
by the enormity of losing everything she’d worked for and dreamed
of, Pippa stood trance-like, unable to move or think. The noise and
confusion around her dimmed.
‘Pip.’
Davy tugged at her skirts, his face pale.
For
a long moment she stared at him. She didn’t realise she was
frightening him until his bottom lip quivered.
‘Will
we die, Pip?’
Wrenched
out of her daze, she blinked as his words sank in. ‘No … No,
darling.’ His hand inched into hers and she squeezed it tight.
‘We’ll be fine. I’ll take care of you.’
A
shout made her jump. Colin rode like the devil towards them, waving
his hat in the air. Everyone stilled and then quickly joined Pippa
and Davy near the creek as Colin pulled up his horse to a skittering
halt before them.
‘Well?’
Robson demanded, his body tense as he ran towards them.
Colin
winced as he swallowed, his lips dry and face coated with dust. ‘It’s
heading this way about four or five miles from here, maybe a mile
more, but that’s all.’ He sagged in the saddle. ‘It’s coming
from the direction of the Merediths’ property.’
Time
froze for a second and then everyone started talking at once.
Millie
stared in horror at Pippa. ‘Oh, no. Amelia and the baby, and
Douglas.’
‘They
might be safe. Don’t worry.’ Pippa patted her arm and then looked
to Robson for direction.
‘It’s
closer than I thought.’ He frowned, rubbing his fingertips across
his forehead. ‘Right, we’ve got to leave the valley now. Colin,
bring the work horses here for the ladies to ride.’
‘Can
we not fight the fire, Robson?’ Pippa felt her heart would explode
from the pain of losing it all. ‘I mean, we’ve got water at our
feet. Can we not—’
‘Miss,
a few buckets of water will not stand up to a bushfire. You’ve
never seen one before. It’s a wild beast feasting and growing in
front of your very eyes. There’s no stopping it.’
Her
frustration burst into anger. ‘I will not lose this place! I will
stay and fight.’
‘Don’t
be silly, Pippa,’ Millie scoffed, returning to her side with a
large canvas bag bulging with clothes. She took Davy’s hand. ‘We’ll
do as Robson says. We must get out of harm’s way. Nothing is worth
putting yourself in danger.’
A
rifle shot echoed across the valley, sending birds screeching from
the trees.
Pippa
wheeled around to stare at their entrance into the valley, but no
vehicle or horseman came dashing out of the trees at the base.
Robson
scanned the slopes, shading his eyes with his hand as the sun burnt
down relentlessly. ‘Someone needs help. It’s a signal.’
A
shiver of trepidation ran down Pippa’s back. ‘Father,’ she
whispered.
‘No!’
Esther jerked. ‘He’s in Berrima.’
Hilary,
eyes wide, stepped closer to her mother. ‘But what if he had
started to journey home?’

Buy
links for ebook:
All
Amazon Kindle sites; myBook.to/WhereRainbowsEnd



Australian born AnneMarie Brear writes historical novels and modern romances. Her passions, apart from writing, are reading, researching, genealogy, roaming historical sites, buying books and gardening. She is an author of historical women’s fiction, contemporary romance and several short stories and is currently living in England.
AnneMarie Brear on the web:
http://www.annemariebrear.com
http://annemariebrear.blogspot.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/annemariebrear

Twitter @annemariebrear.

Motto for Life—#OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

I discovered my motto in the past six months. Don’t ask me why it took so long to find it, but  it fits my life perfectly.

“Screws fall out all the time…the world’s an imperfect place.”

It comes from the movie “The Breakfast Club.” But I like it better swapped around: “The world’s n imperfect place, screws fall out all the time.” It’s a better version of my earlier version: “Life happens.”

You know that feeling. You’ve worked hard and made all the right plans and all the right preparations when ‘BOOM’ something breaks. And there’s not a darn thing you can do about it.

It’s the 4th of July and you decided to take a trip to the mountains? Boom and it’s snowing. The roads aren’t closed but the picnic tables are coated with the white stuff. Yep, that was the sound of a screw falling.

Or for months you’ve planned to go to the beach. You checked the weather reports and made your reservations for a nice little cottage on the shore. You bought flip-flops and and new bathing suit. Heck, you even remembered to buy suntan lotion. What could go wrong?

You guessed it.That rare April tropical storm moves in and the cottage is flooded. BOOM! There went another screw.

But sometimes they are just tiny screws. The roast you were cooking needed a few more minutes but the rest of dinner was ready. Your favorite pair of pants loses their button when you put them on. Someone didn’t replace the empty roll of toilet paper.

And some days multiple screws fall out. Maybe not all at once, but one here and one there. Those are the days you want to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head and shut out the rest of the world. Not that it will do any good, the world will still be there when you emerge from your fortress.

So what do you do? My best advice is to learn to roll with the punches and meet challenges with a sense of humor. And don’t forget to carry a screwdriver wherever you go.

What’s your motto? Let us know in the comments. And let’s go find out what the other authors’ words of wisdom are by following the links below.

May 29, 2017 – What’s Your Motto For Life?
What words of wisdom do you live by? Use those as inspiration for sections and flesh out a post that shares your philosophy.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
WordPress:



Custom Blog:


An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Motto for Life—#OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

I discovered my motto in the past six months. Don’t ask me why it took so long to find it, but  it fits my life perfectly.

“Screws fall out all the time…the world’s an imperfect place.”

It comes from the movie “The Breakfast Club.” But I like it better swapped around: “The world’s n imperfect place, screws fall out all the time.” It’s a better version of my earlier version: “Life happens.”

You know that feeling. You’ve worked hard and made all the right plans and all the right preparations when ‘BOOM’ something breaks. And there’s not a darn thing you can do about it.

It’s the 4th of July and you decided to take a trip to the mountains? Boom and it’s snowing. The roads aren’t closed but the picnic tables are coated with the white stuff. Yep, that was the sound of a screw falling.

Or for months you’ve planned to go to the beach. You checked the weather reports and made your reservations for a nice little cottage on the shore. You bought flip-flops and and new bathing suit. Heck, you even remembered to buy suntan lotion. What could go wrong?

You guessed it.That rare April tropical storm moves in and the cottage is flooded. BOOM! There went another screw.

But sometimes they are just tiny screws. The roast you were cooking needed a few more minutes but the rest of dinner was ready. Your favorite pair of pants loses their button when you put them on. Someone didn’t replace the empty roll of toilet paper.

And some days multiple screws fall out. Maybe not all at once, but one here and one there. Those are the days you want to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head and shut out the rest of the world. Not that it will do any good, the world will still be there when you emerge from your fortress.

So what do you do? My best advice is to learn to roll with the punches and meet challenges with a sense of humor. And don’t forget to carry a screwdriver wherever you go.

What’s your motto? Let us know in the comments. And let’s go find out what the other authors’ words of wisdom are by following the links below.

May 29, 2017 – What’s Your Motto For Life?
What words of wisdom do you live by? Use those as inspiration for sections and flesh out a post that shares your philosophy.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Clare Dargin—Joy to His World

  By Uncategorized

I’m tickled to welcome Clare Dargin and her new book, Joy to His World

PRE-ORDER!
AVAILABLE: Tuesday, May 23rd
[Siren Menage Amour: Erotic Consensual BDSM Menage a Trois Paranormal Romantic Suspense, M/M/F, HEA]
Chris Spinell, Jilly Reimers, and Chris ‘Nate’ Poole are happily married. Now, living in a small town run by The Love Play Matchmaking Service, Chris Spinell hopes his family is safely away from the possible dangers that come from living in a big city.
Jilly and Nate cherish the life they have with Chris. They even love the fact that he is their Dom. BDSM gives them the structure and sense of belonging they’ve always wanted. However, life in Minaqua doesn’t give Chris the peace of mind he needs in order to quell his anxieties. The scars from his time in Afghanistan run so deep, Chris’ PTSD will not allow him to escape the fears that his family is at constant risk for harm.
When a stranger comes to town seeking to harm Jilly and Nate, Chris’ protective instincts are put to the test. Will he deal with this reasonably, or will he do whatever it takes to defend his family, including breaking a solemn oath?
A Siren Erotic Romance
STORY EXCERPT
He thought about how far his life had come in such a short time. In less than ten years, he’d gone from an ex-Special Forces soldier searching for his place in the world, to an MIT graduate, to owning the second largest independently owned and operated software integration firm in Michigan. But all of that was nothing compared to the real change that happened when his sister had recommended that he join a dating service to cure his less-than-stellar love life. And Love Play had done that and much more. In their own mysterious way, they’d managed to look into his heart and find the man and woman of his dreams. Literally. The images of Jilly and Nate had haunted his dreams after he returned from Afghanistan. During that time, he didn’t know it was them, but after he met them and they spent the night together, he knew they were the ones.
How his Eros, his matchmaker at Love Play, had known baffled him. Nevertheless, he was profoundly grateful that the man or woman, or whoever his Eros was, had put the three of them together. Now, they were married, and he was happier than he’d ever been in his life. Add to it that their love had become so deep that it had blossomed into a beautiful dominant-submissive relationship with them.
The car’s internal phone rang. It was Jilly. He pressed the icon on the car’s dashboard screen and answered.
“Hi, honey, what’s up?” he asked. He was always glad to hear Jilly’s voice.
He grasped his chest, hoping the ache would fade as he longed to see her.
“I was going over the arrangements for the party,” she said. Her sweet voice was a dulcet tone that calmed him.
“I’m thinking about how people should dress,” she said, “and the basic rules for the party.”
Jilly had the great idea to plan a Christmas party for them and their BDSM friends to be held at Love Play’s mansion. When she’d mentioned it in August, he hadn’t been wild about the idea. But after a lot of cajoling from her and Nate, they’d convinced him, and he’d given her the permission to go for it, which meant they were going to attend, too.
“High protocol is not something we do, but there’s no reason that should stop other Doms from having that with their submissives. As for clothing, you know my rules for you, too. You aren’t allowed to wear anything too revealing. The only person allowed to see your ass is me and Nate, and that’s when he’s not in trouble.”
It wasn’t as if he made them walk around with bolts of fabric hanging off their bodies, but their sexuality belonged to him.
“Dueño, that was a long time ago,” Nate said, pouting.
“It won’t happen again.”
Right after Chris had collared them, Nate bought Jilly a pair of tight jeans, high heels, and a shirt that was so form fitting it showed everything the Lord had blessed her with in the chest and told her to wear his prized choker collar. Chris had damn near had a heart attack when they came home from a late lunch in Cutlerville.
“Dueño, I know what your rules are for us. What about the party? Kink for everyone?”
He had no appetite for that yet. He cared for his friends, especially his army buddies, the Propietarios who were into BDSM, but he wasn’t ready to see them go all out.
“This is casual, vanilla only. Leather is permitted but please do not go all out,” Chris said.
“All right, got it.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked, worried. “Still feeling worn down?”
She was at home trying to get over the remnants of a cold that lingered, giving her all sorts of problems like a fever and upset stomach. She’d feel good one moment, and then, wham, she’d have to rest because she’d be too tired to move. Despite his protests, she refused to go to the doctor again.
“Somewhat.”
He sighed. “Don’t wear yourself out today. Get some rest. That’s an order. If you aren’t better by tomorrow, we’re going downtown.”
The DMC, Detroit Medical Center, was the major medical complex in the area. It was over an hour away, and he would gladly drive her to find out what was wrong. He was not willing to risk her well-being for her selfish pride or a dumb party. He hated when she was not feeling well or was in pain. He wanted to be able to shield her from the worst the world could give so she’d be able to live a life of love and happiness. She deserved that much and more. To say he loved her would be an understatement. Heck, it wouldn’t even describe the depths of his intense feelings for them. They owned him as much as he owned them. It didn’t feel right if they weren’t healthy and safe.
“I will take it easy.”
“Okay. I love you,” Chris said.
“Love you, too,” she replied. “Love you, too, Nate.”
“I’ll call you later on to see how you are doing,” Nate said.
Chris ended the call.
“Do you think she’ll obey?” Nate asked.
—
Blog Links-
Clare’s Blog 2: The Haven- https://claresblog2thehaven.blogspot.com
The Embraced: Scribal Love- https://theembraced.blogspot.com
Social Media Links-
Google Plus- https://plus.google.com/u/0/104105806378510076277

Clare Dargin—Joy to His World

  By Uncategorized

I’m tickled to welcome Clare Dargin and her new book, Joy to His World

PRE-ORDER!

AVAILABLE: Tuesday, May
23rd

[Siren Menage Amour:
Erotic Consensual BDSM Menage a Trois Paranormal Romantic Suspense,
M/M/F, HEA]

Chris Spinell, Jilly
Reimers, and Chris ‘Nate’ Poole are happily married. Now, living in a
small town run by The Love Play Matchmaking Service, Chris Spinell
hopes his family is safely away from the possible dangers that come
from living in a big city.

Jilly and Nate cherish
the life they have with Chris. They even love the fact that he is
their Dom. BDSM gives them the structure and sense of belonging
they’ve always wanted. However, life in Minaqua doesn’t give Chris
the peace of mind he needs in order to quell his anxieties. The scars
from his time in Afghanistan run so deep, Chris’ PTSD will not allow
him to escape the fears that his family is at constant risk for harm.

When a stranger comes
to town seeking to harm Jilly and Nate, Chris’ protective instincts
are put to the test. Will he deal with this reasonably, or will he do
whatever it takes to defend his family, including breaking a solemn
oath?

A Siren Erotic Romance

STORY EXCERPT

He thought about how
far his life had come in such a short time. In less than ten years,
he’d gone from an ex-Special Forces soldier searching for his place
in the world, to an MIT graduate, to owning the second largest
independently owned and operated software integration firm in
Michigan. But all of that was nothing compared to the real change
that happened when his sister had recommended that he join a dating
service to cure his less-than-stellar love life. And Love Play had
done that and much more. In their own mysterious way, they’d
managed to look into his heart and find the man and woman of his
dreams. Literally. The images of Jilly and Nate had haunted his
dreams after he returned from Afghanistan. During that time, he
didn’t know it was them, but after he met them and they spent the
night together, he knew they were the ones.

How his Eros, his
matchmaker at Love Play, had known baffled him. Nevertheless, he was
profoundly grateful that the man or woman, or whoever his Eros was,
had put the three of them together. Now, they were married, and he
was happier than he’d ever been in his life. Add to it that their
love had become so deep that it had blossomed into a beautiful
dominant-submissive relationship with them.

The car’s internal
phone rang. It was Jilly. He pressed the icon on the car’s
dashboard screen and answered.

“Hi, honey, what’s
up?” he asked. He was always glad to hear Jilly’s voice.

He grasped his chest,
hoping the ache would fade as he longed to see her.

“I was going over the
arrangements for the party,” she said. Her sweet voice was a dulcet
tone that calmed him.

“I’m thinking about
how people should dress,” she said, “and the basic rules for the
party.”

Jilly had the great
idea to plan a Christmas party for them and their BDSM friends to be
held at Love Play’s mansion. When she’d mentioned it in August,
he hadn’t been wild about the idea. But after a lot of cajoling
from her and Nate, they’d convinced him, and he’d given her the
permission to go for it, which meant they were going to attend, too.

“High protocol is not
something we do, but there’s no reason that should stop other Doms
from having that with their submissives. As for clothing, you know my
rules for you, too. You aren’t allowed to wear anything too
revealing. The only person allowed to see your ass is me and Nate,
and that’s when he’s not in trouble.”

It wasn’t as if he
made them walk around with bolts of fabric hanging off their bodies,
but their sexuality belonged to him.

“Dueño, that was a
long time ago,” Nate said, pouting.

“It won’t happen
again.”

Right after Chris had
collared them, Nate bought Jilly a pair of tight jeans, high heels,
and a shirt that was so form fitting it showed everything the Lord
had blessed her with in the chest and told her to wear his prized
choker collar. Chris had damn near had a heart attack when they came
home from a late lunch in Cutlerville.

“Dueño, I know what
your rules are for us. What about the party? Kink for everyone?”

He had no appetite for
that yet. He cared for his friends, especially his army buddies, the
Propietarios who were into BDSM, but he wasn’t ready to see them go
all out.

“This is casual,
vanilla only. Leather is permitted but please do not go all out,”
Chris said.

“All right, got it.”

“How are you
feeling?” he asked, worried. “Still feeling worn down?”

She was at home trying
to get over the remnants of a cold that lingered, giving her all
sorts of problems like a fever and upset stomach. She’d feel good
one moment, and then, wham, she’d have to rest because she’d be
too tired to move. Despite his protests, she refused to go to the
doctor again.

“Somewhat.”

He sighed. “Don’t
wear yourself out today. Get some rest. That’s an order. If you
aren’t better by tomorrow, we’re going downtown.”

The DMC, Detroit
Medical Center, was the major medical complex in the area. It was
over an hour away, and he would gladly drive her to find out what was
wrong. He was not willing to risk her well-being for her selfish
pride or a dumb party. He hated when she was not feeling well or was
in pain. He wanted to be able to shield her from the worst the world
could give so she’d be able to live a life of love and happiness.
She deserved that much and more. To say he loved her would be an
understatement. Heck, it wouldn’t even describe the depths of his
intense feelings for them. They owned him as much as he owned them.
It didn’t feel right if they weren’t healthy and safe.

“I will take it
easy.”

“Okay. I love you,”
Chris said.

“Love you, too,”
she replied. “Love you, too, Nate.”

“I’ll call you
later on to see how you are doing,” Nate said.

Chris ended the call.

“Do you think she’ll
obey?” Nate asked.

—

Buy Link-
http://www.bookstrand.com/book/joy-to-his-world

Blog Links-
Clare’s Blog 2: The
Haven- https://claresblog2thehaven.blogspot.com
The Embraced: Scribal
Love- https://theembraced.blogspot.com

Social Media Links-

Facebook-
http://www.facebook.com/clare.dargin
Twitter-
http://www.twitter.com/claredargin
Google Plus-
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104105806378510076277

Bucket List— #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

If you’ve hung out with me for any length of time, you already know I don’t have a bucket list. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a list of things I’d like to do before I die.

The first few should come as no surprise.

I’d like to visit the John Denver Sanctuary in Aspen. Seems like a fitting way to pay tribute to the man, his music and his legacy.

I’d also like to go on a guided trail ride deep into the heart of the Rocky Mountains, somewhere you can only get to by horse or on foot.  Maybe sit beside a mountain lake and write for a week or so. I wonder how many notebooks and pens I’d have to to take along?

What else? I’ve already done so many things. I’ve wandered the redwoods, played in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, driven the US from coast to coast. But a trip back to the redwoods sounds appealing. So I’ll add it to the list.

I want to have have enough money to help the many young people I see struggling.

I want to watch my grandchildren grow up and grow strong.

I’d like to learn a martial art. I might not be any good at it, but I’d like to try. I’ve wanted to do this ever since the TV show back in the 70’s.

And one more—I’d like to make a best seller’s list. I keep trying, but I haven’t made it yet. Not even close. Maybe the next book.

What’s on your bucket list? You can share in the comments. And now I’m off to see what the other authors on this loop are wanting to do.

May 22, 2017 – What Is Your Bucket List?
What kinds of things do you want to do before you kick the bucket? Dream big. Life is full of exciting things to do.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Bucket List— #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

If you’ve hung out with me for any length of time, you already know I don’t have a bucket list. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a list of things I’d like to do before I die.

The first few should come as no surprise.

I’d like to visit the John Denver Sanctuary in Aspen. Seems like a fitting way to pay tribute to the man, his music and his legacy.

I’d also like to go on a guided trail ride deep into the heart of the Rocky Mountains, somewhere you can only get to by horse or on foot.  Maybe sit beside a mountain lake and write for a week or so. I wonder how many notebooks and pens I’d have to to take along?

What else? I’ve already done so many things. I’ve wandered the redwoods, played in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, driven the US from coast to coast. But a trip back to the redwoods sounds appealing. So I’ll add it to the list.

I want to have have enough money to help the many young people I see struggling.

I want to watch my grandchildren grow up and grow strong.

I’d like to learn a martial art. I might not be any good at it, but I’d like to try. I’ve wanted to do this ever since the TV show back in the 70’s.

And one more—I’d like to make a best seller’s list. I keep trying, but I haven’t made it yet. Not even close. Maybe the next book.

What’s on your bucket list? You can share in the comments. And now I’m off to see what the other authors on this loop are wanting to do.

May 22, 2017 – What Is Your Bucket List?
What kinds of things do you want to do before you kick the bucket? Dream big. Life is full of exciting things to do.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
WordPress:



Custom Blog:


An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

What Inspires Me- #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

What inspires me?

I bet you think you know the answer. And I’m betting you’re right. I can answer in one word.

Nature.

If you said the mountains, that’s close enough. I’ll give you full credit. But it’s so much more than the mountains. It’s the flowers and trees and sky and wind. It’s the grass beneath my feet and the birds flying overhead. It’s sunshine and rain and snow, creeks and rivers and lakes and oceans.
It’s sand between my toes at the beach and the dirt stuck under my fingernails after I’ve been gardening.

It’s the redwoods stretching into eternity and the aspens quaking in the breeze. It’s dandelions in the spring and black-eyed susans in the summer. It’s the robins chirping early in the morning and crows calling in the heat of the afternoon. It’s the thunder rumbling from miles away and far-off lightening flashing in the darkness.

It’s the smell of freshly-cut hay and the subtle scent of apple blossoms. It’s the sweet-sharp flavor of  just-picked wild strawberries and the tang of spearmint plucked in the shadow of old oak. It’s the prick of the thorn on a rose stem and the soft, velvet-like petals on the rose itself.

And yes, it’s the mountains. The peaks covered in snow in the dead of winter and glistening with thousands of beams of reflected sunlight or in the height of summer, swathed in green. It’s the rugged tops calling to me from the distance and the welcoming meadows up close.

And that’s what inspires me. Nature feeds my soul and makes me who I am. How about you?

May 15, 2017 – What Inspires You?
This is an easy question that opens up for some awesome creative post ideas. And why do those things inspire you?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

What Inspires Me- #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

What inspires me?

I bet you think you know the answer. And I’m betting you’re right. I can answer in one word.

Nature.

If you said the mountains, that’s close enough. I’ll give you full credit. But it’s so much more than the mountains. It’s the flowers and trees and sky and wind. It’s the grass beneath my feet and the birds flying overhead. It’s sunshine and rain and snow, creeks and rivers and lakes and oceans.
It’s sand between my toes at the beach and the dirt stuck under my fingernails after I’ve been gardening.

It’s the redwoods stretching into eternity and the aspens quaking in the breeze. It’s dandelions in the spring and black-eyed susans in the summer. It’s the robins chirping early in the morning and crows calling in the heat of the afternoon. It’s the thunder rumbling from miles away and far-off lightening flashing in the darkness.

It’s the smell of freshly-cut hay and the subtle scent of apple blossoms. It’s the sweet-sharp flavor of  just-picked wild strawberries and the tang of spearmint plucked in the shadow of old oak. It’s the prick of the thorn on a rose stem and the soft, velvet-like petals on the rose itself.

And yes, it’s the mountains. The peaks covered in snow in the dead of winter and glistening with thousands of beams of reflected sunlight or in the height of summer, swathed in green. It’s the rugged tops calling to me from the distance and the welcoming meadows up close.

And that’s what inspires me. Nature feeds my soul and makes me who I am. How about you?

May 15, 2017 – What Inspires You?
This is an easy question that opens up for some awesome creative post ideas. And why do those things inspire you?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
WordPress:



Custom Blog:


An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code