Vivian Arend's Blog, page 13

The Cowgirl’s Secret Love releases today!

Every book I write becomes special for some reason. This one—there are deep truths that became clear as the story progressed. Some universal lessons about family that made me think hard and long about what’s truly important, and how discovering them would guide people to try to become better in the future.

While the story is about Finn and Karen learning how to be rock-solid for each other as a couple, it’s also about looking within and deciding what would make them into who they need to be for themselves.

And if that sounds too woo-woo and emo, don’t worry. There are also wild horses, foals, and Dandelion Fluff, the kitten. Duck races and human CLUE games and a lot of time spent by a bonfire.

Throw in sisters, laughter, and tons of sparks of joy, and you’ll have the not-so-very-secret anymore love affair of Karen and Finn. I hope you enjoy this second chance at love.

Here’s a short excerpt so you can meet Dandy!

 

It was barely two o’clock, and he was done.

As Finn made his way slowly across the yard and up to the cottage, parts of his body screamed in pain that he hadn’t expected.

He made it as far as the living room before a little ball of white fluff attacked the sock covering his uninjured foot. The next moment, the demonic creature had all four claws dug into the thick knit fabric, limbs splayed wide to keep his balance as Finn’s leg swung freely.

It was like an elephant getting attacked by a mouse, and in spite of his pain and exhaustion, Finn discovered laughter bubbling up.

“Beast.”

He pulled out a kitchen chair and leveraged himself into it. Once his foot was resting on the ground, the kitten made his way upward, climbing Finn like a scratching post.

“Oh, hell no. None of that.” Finn grabbed the thing by the scruff of the neck before he could dig his claws into Finn’s crotch. He held the kitten in the air in front of his face.

The beast swung teeny paws and offered adorable growling meows.

Finn snickered. “Should’ve called you Marshmallow Fluff. You’re sweet enough to make a man go into shock.”

He scratched the little thing under his furry chin then tucked the kitten against his chest. He kept one hand over Dandy’s body, cradling him close, and the next thing Finn knew, the kitten was purring, nuzzling his shirt.

“Now there’s a sight.” Karen stood in the doorway, a soft smile on her lips. “I wondered where you’d gotten to, but now it all makes sense. You knew Dandy needed cuddles.”

“Can’t have him getting lonely,” Finn said gruffly.

Welcome to Heart Falls—a place for family, friends, and a second chance to fall in love.
 
A stand alone novel in a new trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.
 

Wealthy rancher Finn Marlette’s move to Heart Falls to fix what went wrong between him and Karen Coleman just got complicated. Suddenly he’s got five months to get his new dude ranch up and running, or lose the place to a hated rival.

New agenda: Show up on Karen’s porch, tell her they belong together, and offer her a job.

After a lifetime of following the rules and other’s dreams, Karen’s determined to find her own path. The last thing she needs is to get involved with Finn again—it was only a secret fling, and she still fell hard.

But the summer job he offers is tempting—it’s a chance to work with men who truly appreciate her ranching skills. Finn’s determined to tempt her into remembering all the delicious sexual appreciation between them as well.

Wild horses can’t keep them apart, but sabotage and too many secrets might…

The Cowgirl’s Secret Love is coming soon!

Get ready!

I know it’s taken a long while to get here, but it’s finally time for Karen Coleman to find her happily-ever-after.

One of the things I loved the most as this story developed was the chance to spend time with the Whiskey Creek Coleman sisters. The entire Colemans of Heart Falls is about finding family—not just their youngest sister, Julia, but the a deeper connection between the already close older women.

There’s also some dealing with baggage, because family isn’t always perfect…and that’s part of life as well.

But for now, I hope you enjoy the visit with Karen, Lisa, Julia and Tamara as the oldest of them heads into a new adventure with Finn Marlette. This time their fling isn’t going to be secret, and he’s going to do everything he can to convince Karen they belong together.

And he might just get a little help along the way from the sisters who already approve…

 

Enjoy a little taste of some time with the girls:

 

Karen pointed at Lisa. “Finn Marlette. Start talking.”

Tamara snickered then wiped a hand over her mouth as she patted baby Tyler’s butt with the other. He wiggled in her chest carrier.

Karen shifted her finger to point in a new direction. “You’re next on the hit list. Both of you knew he was in town. Why didn’t you say something?”

“Because there was no reason to tell you at first,” Lisa said. She lifted one brow high. “Are you seriously telling me you never heard a word about him being around?”

Tamara leaned forward toward Julia, who was obviously at a loss. “Finn and his two brothers came to Whiskey Creek ranch a number of years ago to help out. Something intriguing went on between Finn and Karen during that time that they managed to keep all of us from finding out about until recently.” She glanced at Lisa.

“Could have knocked me over with a feather.” Lisa laid a hand over her chest with dramatic flair. Then she leaned forward as well, speaking softer as if Karen weren’t right there listening to the whole thing. “Obviously secret shenanigans were taking place. And so, when one part of the shenanigarians decided he wanted to move to our fair town and then began asking questions about the other part of the shenanigarian duo, it piqued our interest.”

Julia frowned. She turned to Karen. “We’ll just push aside the fact that Lisa makes up strange words way too easily. Is this Finn guy creeping on you? Because if he is, I will put a stop to it like, yesterday.”

A rush of emotion shot upward, and Karen threw caution to the wind. She wrapped her arms around her newfound sister and squeezed tight. “I like you. You’re good people.”

Julia patted her on the back. “Thanks. But I mean it.”

Karen let her go and stared at Lisa and Tamara, who were watching closely. “You guys are turkeys. And you’re both kind of assholes for not warning me, but no” —Karen faced Julia— “he’s not a stalker. It’s just really complicated, and as much as I love my sisters, they like to meddle.”

Welcome to Heart Falls—a place for family, friends, and a second chance to fall in love.

 

A stand alone novel in a new trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.

 

Wealthy rancher Finn Marlette’s move to Heart Falls to fix what went wrong between him and Karen Coleman just got complicated. Suddenly he’s got five months to get his new dude ranch up and running, or lose the place to a hated rival.

New agenda: Show up on Karen’s porch, tell her they belong together, and offer her a job.

After a lifetime of following the rules and other’s dreams, Karen’s determined to find her own path. The last thing she needs is to get involved with Finn again—it was only a secret fling, and she still fell hard.

But the summer job he offers is tempting—it’s a chance to work with men who truly appreciate her ranching skills. Finn’s determined to tempt her into remembering all the delicious sexual appreciation between them as well.

Wild horses can’t keep them apart, but sabotage and too many secrets might…

The final book in the Borealis Bears Trilogy is out today!

And now, the final Borealis brother will fall.

Cooper has So Many Plans in place, and all of them are about to be side-swiped by the mating fever and some far too clever mischief-match-making efforts. Amber is more than happy to speed things up between them, and she’ll prove herself the perfect mate to Cooper, and his bear, before the story is done.

I hope you enjoy this venture into the northern wilderness!

He’s got the perfect mate in mind, for five years from now…

The final title in a light-hearted shifter trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.

Cooper Borealis is fully onboard with the concept of fated mates. Except mating the woman he wants—his tempting, complicated, human secretary—is not an option. Or not yet anyway. So he’ll use a loophole to keep the vow he made to his brothers, mating fever be damned.. He’ll be with Amber Myawayan at the place and time of his choosing.

Amber has spent the past two years in the north looking for her missing brother—and falling in love with the big, growly polar bear at the helm of Borealis Gems. More than once, she’s caught him looking at her with hungry shifter eyes. But getting him to admit it? Ha! Luckily, mating fever is a thing, and she’s happy to get involved as nature forces the issue to the forefront.

But when their mating bond is unexpectedly blocked, Amber and Cooper find themselves in a race against time. She needs to track down her brother while somehow proving she’s tough enough to be with her favourite bear. Cooper plans to protect her at all costs, even if it means secretly stifling his stubborn shifter side.

Somewhere in the wilderness they’ll find the answer…or lose their chance at forever.

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New Polar Bears Coming Soon!

Book three in the Borealis Bears will be here soon!

It’s been a delight to get to go from start to finish on this series in under a year, and I will be doing this more in the future because it’s so much FUN for me (as well as you!) to get to the happily-ever-afters quicker.

This time, you’ll be able to enjoy reading about some wintery activities in Cooper and Amber’s story, like sledding and skidoos and lots of northern lights. The preorder is ready to drop in February, so if you haven’t read book 1 & 2 yet, there’s time. Escape for a bit of light-hearted happiness!

What else to look forward to? Well, more mischief from Grandfather Giles, that’s for sure…

Here’s a taste of THE BEAR’S FOREVER MATE!

 

Personal Journal, Giles Borealis, Sr.

And so one remains.

Of course, it makes sense that he’d be the final one to follow my instructions and find himself a mate. Stubborn as the day is long, just like his father.

Like every male member of this family, if we’re being honest.

Cooper’s probably the most like me when it comes down to it. Protective, caring—he’s a solid rock for the rest of the family. The lad’s always got one of his brothers coming to him for advice, and in any group, everyone seems to gravitate in his direction.

He strives to do the right thing for everyone else. Damn well time he did the right thing for himself for a change.

Stubborn boy would argue about that, I’m sure. Legal training never goes amiss except when the young varmints try to use it to wiggle their way out of losing a discussion with me.

Don’t know why he thinks he can continue to get away with being so perverse. He got that character trait from some other side of the family. Possibly from my beloved mate, although I’d never tell Laureen my suspicions.

Anyway, I know the type of woman Cooper needs. She’s got to have a soft touch to slip in under that protective instinct of his, but a spine of steel to force his hand when he gets all unreasonable. Amber is definitely the one for him, and between her and the mating fever, there’s no way Cooper will get away.

So, yes, my oldest grandson will fall as well, no matter how firmly he believes the contrary. I set the wheels in motion for this match so long ago, he’ll never see it coming. Won’t know that I was involved at all.

Which is right, I suppose. I don’t have to get the credit for making fine matches for my grandsons. I just want the grandbabies for me and Laureen to cuddle, and if I read the signs right, this last match might end up being the perfect beginning to the next generation.

Getting older means I have the time to watch their stories unfold. I can hardly wait to see what Christmas brings to the Borealis family, and most especially to Cooper and Amber.

I won’t gloat until everything is completed, but it’s coming—

I can tell!

 

 

He’s got the perfect mate in mind, for five years from now…

The final title in a light-hearted shifter trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.

Cooper Borealis is fully onboard with the concept of fated mates. Except mating the woman he wants—his tempting, complicated, human secretary—is not an option. Or not yet anyway. So he’ll use a loophole to keep the vow he made to his brothers, mating fever be damned.. He’ll be with Amber Myawayan at the place and time of his choosing.

Amber has spent the past two years in the north looking for her missing brother—and falling in love with the big, growly polar bear at the helm of Borealis Gems. More than once, she’s caught him looking at her with hungry shifter eyes. But getting him to admit it? Ha! Luckily, mating fever is a thing, and she’s happy to get involved as nature forces the issue to the forefront.

But when their mating bond is unexpectedly blocked, Amber and Cooper find themselves in a race against time. She needs to track down her brother while somehow proving she’s tough enough to be with her favourite bear. Cooper plans to protect her at all costs, even if it means secretly stifling his stubborn shifter side.

Somewhere in the wilderness they’ll find the answer…or lose their chance at forever.

    

Release Date: The Bear’s Fated Mate

It’s time for the second Borealis brother to fall.

Alex is about to discover there’s no fighting the combined pressure of the mating fever and the meddlesome ways of Grandfather Giles. Don’t worry, though. Lara is the perfect woman for Alex, once they stop trying to kill each other!

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Don’t forget to preorder the final book in the series so you won’t miss a single moment of these sexy shifters.

 

 

More Polar Bears are Coming Soon!

The time is drawing near for book two in the Borealis Bears!

It’s been so much fun to return to the paranormal realm and play with a world that runs off imaginary rules. Which still means having characters that I’d like to be friends with, or who I admire for what they accomplish. Our hero Alex is determined and outwardly gruff, yet hides a sweet marshmallow core. Lara is kick-ass strong, yet tender-hearted as she cares for her wolf pack and the rough-hewn man who’s destined to be her mate.

Grandfather Giles, though…I’m not sure if I admire him or if he scares me. He’s one determined old shifter, and definitely up to mischief! Here’s a peek at his very own thoughts as THE BEAR’S FATED MATE begins…

 

Personal Journal, Giles Borealis, Sr.

 

I’m not sending my grandsons another note, because I already warned their stubborn bear asses what the rules were, and I don’t repeat myself.

I do, however, find as I get older that it’s necessary to jot down a few notes to make sure I keep track of all the threads I’ve got in play. Growing old is a privilege, and a pain—I don’t like the alternative one bit, but that’s neither here nor there.

For now, I’m going to gloat for a moment, although at my age it’s called pride and we’ll leave it at that. Tonight was a delight. Never dreamed young James would be the first to get his act together and step up to the plate. Mated at twenty-six! That’s the same age I was when I met my Laureen, and it’s been fifty-eight years of mated bliss ever since.

James’s mate—Kaylee—is a perfect match to his enthusiasm with her quiet, resourceful ways. Knew those two belonged to each other the first time I saw them gravitate toward each other years ago. Friends-first make for the best lovers, or so Laureen has told me over and over again. Who am I to argue with my heart of hearts?

I also know there’s another type of partnership that blooms fast and grows strong. If you can’t start out friends, good solid enemies are an acceptable alternative.

Alex might disagree with me—

Who am I kidding? Of course, he’d disagree with me because he’s a Borealis bear. But I know best. He’s not the type to accept a woman who’s less than he is. She needs to have brains, brawn, and superior bullshitting abilities.

He needs a woman who’s a challenge, and the one I’ve got in mind fits the bill perfectly…

**

To find out the rest of the story, pick up your copy of THE BEAR’S FATED MATE, coming November 19th!

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Happy Book Birthday to A Soldier’s Christmas Wish!

It’s time! I hope you enjoy Brooke and Mack’s trip to forever!

On a different note, there are a LOT of treats mentioned in this book. A lot. So many, I was getting hungry while writing it. Let me know which treats you spot, which you’ve never had and which are your favourites!

Happy Holidays to you!

 Pick up your copy today!

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*Print copies will start showing up on all retailers soon!. Will be available at Amazon, Book Depository, Books a Million, and more of your favorite print retailers!*

A Soldier’s Christmas Wish Insider Information!

Here’s a fun story for you. I’ve mentioned before that I use dictation to help write my books. It saves the wear and tear on my wrists, and I quite enjoy having a variety of ways to work on creating stories. I dictate, then read through on my ereader and make notes. I do adjusts and polish in Word, and I have all sorts of tricks that I use at different times and places to keep things rolling smoothly.

And they all work…until they don’t.

For example, when a spelling attempt fails, and not even Word can figure out what I mean, I hop onto Google and try typing it there. Google seems to understand my typo-laden attempts the best of any spelling helper.

Dictating helps solve some of those problems. In A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS WISH, you’ll meet a new friend to the community, Yvette.

Yes, my Dragon Dictate program, who I affectionately call Duckie, is a huge help.

But not even Duckie can help when I simply stall out and can’t think of the right word.

I’ve never been one who fights to pick complicated words over simple ones. I feel as if descriptions can be very vivid without being excessively florid. But when I was writing the cookie baking scene in Hanna’s kitchen, where Brooke and the little girls Crissy and Talia are getting ready to make sweet treats—I came to an absolute stall.

I couldn’t remember what the things were called that you hang around your neck, tie around your waist, and use to protect your clothing. I was in mid-sentence and simply could not go on. Short of actually saying “the thing you hang around your neck and etc. etc.,” which I didn’t want to do, my mind was blank.

So, I improvised. I didn’t want to stop the story from developing, so I did the next best thing and used another description. I figured I’d fix it later.

Which is how the phrase “cooking vest” ended up in the first draft of the book. Three times in one paragraph.

It’s not there anymore, but now every time I see the word “apron”, I laugh a little.

 

I hope you enjoy Brooke and Mack’s trip to forever, full of cooking vests, hotwired classic-snowplows, and slippers.

 Pre-Order your copy today!

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*Coming soon in Print. Will be available at Amazon, Book Depository, Books a Million, and more of your favorite print retailers!*

Who is ready for more Holidays in Heart Falls?

When A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift released last year, I was so excited. It was the chance to do something I’d looked forward to for a long time—start a series of sweet and sexy feel-good stories for my readers to enjoy over the holiday season and beyond.

Hanna and Brad’s book was not only a delight to write, but people enjoyed it, and it was a chance to have something special happening in Heart Falls outside the main trilogy that was currently unfolding for the Stone family. It was perfect!

…until it wasn’t.

See, getting to tell all sorts of stories in Heart Falls is something I’m enjoying. And I like being able to step into the lives of people in town who might be less mentioned in the main trilogies.

But I forgot that Holidays in Heart Falls is a series on its own, not just a random bunch of stories that take place between the other trilogies.

Long opening to reach this point: I’m about to tangle things up two ways.

 

First tangle:

If you read A Cowgirl’s Forever Love that came out in May (book 1 in the new Colemans of Heart Falls trilogy), you’re probably waiting for Karen and Julia’s stories. I didn’t write fast enough to get their books out before this holiday book. It’s not a huge thing because it will all make sense down the road. Those two books will be out in 2020 and everything will fall into place.

All you really need to know for now is that A Soldier’s Christmas Wish takes place in December, a year after Hanna and Brad’s story.

 

Second Tangle:

Here’s the tangled part—I didn’t let you know last year who the heroine and hero would be! In this story, you’ll follow Brooke Silver (Hanna’s friend and a local mechanic) and Mack Klassen (a retired soldier/firefighter who works with Brad at the fire station) in their search for the perfect old-fashioned Christmas, and incidentally, their happily-ever-after. Neither have huge unsurmountable pasts to fight. Their problems are pretty ordinary, which means they’re familiar to most of us—things like dealing with limited finances and trying to impress the people important to the ones they love. Pushing past the emotional limits they were taught while growing up to learn what’s right for them…

Surviving the snowstorm of the decade. You know, the usual.

I’m delighted for you to read A Soldier’s Christmas Wish and find forever along with them.

 

 Pre-Order your copy today!

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*Coming soon in Print. Will be available at Amazon, Book Depository, Books a Million, and more of your favorite print retailers!*

Favorite Tropes – Out of Print

The favorite tropes collection was a project that I was so excited about, sharing my love of tropes and new books with all of you. However, the time has come to pull these books from circulation. 

If you still want to get the stories, I’ve included a list of the books, and where you can find them.

His Convenient Bride: Includes Issued to the Bride: One Airman by Cora Seton and Rocky Mountain Angel by Vivian Arend.

Her Tempting Protector: Includes Whiskey Secrets by Carrie Ann Ryan and Turn It On by Vivian Arend. 

His Rebel Heart: Includes Zack by M. Malone and Rocky Mountain Rebel by Vivian Arend. 

Her Second Chance Love: Includes Prom Queen by Katee Robert and Rocky Mountain Romance by Vivian Arend. 

Snowed In with a Cowboy: Includes The Cowboy Rescues a Bride by Cora Seton and Rocky Mountain Retreat by Vivian Arend. 

Her Geeky Hero: Includes Written in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan and Turn it Up by Vivian Arend

Protecting His Heroine: Includes Montana D-Force by Elle James and Rocky Mountain Shelter by Vivian Arend. 

Her Best Friend’s Big Brother: Includes Yearning Hearts by Dee Tenorio and One Sexy Ride by Vivian Arend. 

Having His Secret Baby: Includes A SEAL’s Consent by Cora Seton and Ride Baby Ride by Vivian Arend. 

Her Red Hot Bad Boy: Includes Getting Hotter by Elle Kennedy and Rocky Ride by Vivian Arend. 

Her Friends to Lovers: Includes Boots and Roses by Myla Jackson and Falling Freestyle by Vivian Arend. 

Coming Back to Them: Includes Ink Enduring by Carrie Ann Ryan and Rocky Mountain Freedom by Vivian Arend.