Vivian Arend's Blog, page 16

Travel Picture: Cajas National Park

Nicole here, it’s Wednesday and time for another of Vivian’s Travel Pictures. This is Vivian and her daughter at the Cajas National Park.

Travel Picture: Bugaboos

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for another travel picture from Vivian’s many adventures. Here she is in Bugaboos: where you need to protect your tires from the porcupines who will eat the rubber to get at the salt.

Heart Falls Backlist Feature

With the release of A RANCHER’S SONG on the horizon, it’s time to catch up on the Heart Falls series. 

Before reading A RANCHER’S SONG, be sure to read A RANCHER’S HEART, the first in the Heart Falls series. 

This cowboy has given up on love, but the new nanny might just make him change his mind. The first in a brand-new series from New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.

Caleb Stone is wearing too many hats and it’s making him crankier than usual. He’s a cowboy, a father, and the head of his large family—and has been since tragedy claimed his parents over ten years ago. The ranch is struggling, but it’s the title of single dad that’s got him tangled up in knots. He needs a full-time, live-in nanny at the Silver Stone homestead in Heart Falls, Alberta, to help with his two little girls, but the woman about to arrive on his doorstep? Tantalizing, tempting, and trouble with capital T’s.

Tamara Coleman doesn’t regret the choices that led to losing her job, but she definitely needs a fresh start. When a friend recommends her for a nanny position in a new town, she swears this time it’ll be different. No more acting on impulse—except sexy, gruff Caleb is exactly the kind of man who pushes all her buttons. And what’s more, it’s so much fun to push his in return. Sparks fly between Tamara and her gorgeous boss, but she can’t risk her position, and he doesn’t dare risk his heart.

With two people fighting their true natures, something’s going to give. Luckily, there’s more than one way to capture a rancher’s heart.

“A RANCHER’S HEART is a thoroughly charming and sexy story about two people who find their perfect match.” ~Fresh Fiction

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Excerpt:

 

Considering voyeurism wasn’t one of Tamara’s kinks, she’d had more run-ins with nudity than the average woman. Even now as she sat minding her own business, she had to admit the surprise show was proving spectacular.

Shadows cast by the towering pines to the west were playing peekaboo with his face, and he was mostly in profile, but even if the man had been in full sun she was far enough away she wouldn’t have been able to spot details like facial features. She had no idea who he was, which meant she didn’t know if she should feel guilty for ogling him.

He could be a married man, or the Heart Falls Community Church pastor communing with nature—although if that was the local man of the cloth, she was about to have a religious experience.

Ignorance was one benefit of being new to town.

It was also a downfall as she’d have all sorts of new to contend with over the next days and weeks. She was mostly looking forward to it. After twenty-nine years in one spot, the idea of a fresh start appealed to her. She was going to miss her family, most of them, but a change had been needed.

Her mystery man was now naked from the waist up, his face hidden in shadows. Solid muscles flexed in his biceps and chest as he shoved his jeans and the rest to the ground. She wished her observation spot on the trail was a little closer to the pool, because while the view was lovely, it was too far away to offer details beyond generalities. Trim hips, strong thighs. Not an inch of fat on him.

She pushed her glasses into place and sighed happily.

Yes, this new beginning was going to work just fine if this was how they did things in Heart Falls.

The star of her floor show stepped to the edge of the rocks and paused long enough for Tamara to take a final, sweet mental snapshot. In appreciation of the human form, like anyone in the medical field would have—

As the man threw himself silently into the water, a bitter taste hit her tongue. She wasn’t part of the medical community anymore.

Fired. Out of a job, and what’s worse, her nursing certification had been revoked. One well-meant but slightly illegal decision years ago, and it was all over. Illegal, not immoral, she reminded herself. Even knowing the consequences, she’d do it again in a flash.

She watched her current mood-booster take strong strokes across the pool, headed toward the waterfall, as she considered what had really gotten her into the mess. Her impulsive nature, yes. And being too interested in other people’s business. She didn’t think she was a busybody, and she always meant well.

Only when meaning well went bad, it soured over everyone. Bottom-line, she needed to change her habits. And this was as good a time as any, considering Heart Falls was a clean slate, and all.

Tamara leaned against the rock behind her, hands resting on her knees. She’d been told about the lookout by her cousin’s fiancée, Dare, who used to live in the area. The same friend who’d gotten her the job she was about to start.

The trip to Heart Falls passed quicker than expected, and it was too early to show up at the ranch. From what her friend had told her about the lookout, it had sounded like the perfect place to pause for a final get her head on straight opportunity.

I will change, she swore. No matter how tempted she was to act impulsively in the future, she needed to—

Down in the pool, the swimming man had lasted longer than Tamara expected. Hypothermia wasn’t something to fool around with, and the water had to be bitterly cold.

He was headed for the rocks, and she breathed a sigh of relief as he placed a hand on an outcropping and pulled himself up.

Her sigh turned into a gasp, and she shot to her feet as the man fell backwards and disappeared beneath the surface. She hesitated for a couple of seconds before heading farther down the path, one eye on her footing and the other on the water surface.

He didn’t come up.

By the time she got to the bottom of the trail, Tamara was full-out sprinting, racing around the perimeter of the pool to the rocks he’d originally jumped off. She peered into the water, but couldn’t see anything.

Swear words echoed in her head as panic tried to take control.

There. Oh my God, there—the hazy shape of an arm.

Tamara shouted for help as loudly as she could as she stepped out of her runners. She dropped her glasses on top of them then took a deep breath, moving to the edge of the rocks.

No hesitation. She threw herself off.

Icy-cold water compressed her chest in a vise. Her face went numb, bare skin tingling as if she were being chewed on by millions of tiny fish with razor-sharp teeth. Panic hovered.

Had she been worried about hypothermia? Forget that—someone would cut their bodies from the ice years from now like preserved wooly mammoths.

She peered around quickly, grateful she’d landed close enough to her target to see him. She snatched at the nearby limb, wrapping her fingers around a thick, solid calf, ready to pull him to safety.

The foot shot out of her grasp straight toward her, connecting with her gut and hip hard enough all the air she’d been holding escaped in a sudden rush. An instant later, stars formed in front of her eyes.

Her only goal was to get to the surface as quickly as possible, but her arms wouldn’t move. The only thing keeping her from dragging in a lungful of water was she’d been winded hard enough nothing seemed to work.

The stars were fading from bright white points to dark black holes before she summoned every remaining bit of strength, kicking frantically toward the shimmering surface of the water.

Her head broke free. She hauled in a breath through the pain. Gasping sounds echoed in her ears even as other noises registered. Someone else was coughing and sputtering.

Tamara twisted to the right to discover her missing man had made it to the surface. Thank God. She was grateful and cautious. Panicky stranger close by in the water? Not what she wanted to deal with when she could barely breathe herself.

She lay back and floated, keeping a watchful eye on the dark-haired blur. He was far enough away she could fend him off if he headed her way and tried to take her down.

It hurt to take a deep enough breath to speak. “You okay?” she forced out shakily.

A string of growled curses mixed with spitting and sputtering floated back to her.

Well, then.

Maybe he was embarrassed at having to be saved, but it was too cold to stay in the pool and deal with the jackass. She headed toward the shore where it would be an easy walk out of the water instead of a climb. No way was she attempting that rock face without her glasses.

“What the hell were you doing?” His question came from a few feet away as she stumbled to vertical, the water up to her waist.

Tamara turned to face him, hands rising to her hips. “Saving your ass? By the way, you’re welcome.”

“Hauling me under water when I don’t expect it is saving my ass?” He took a step closer, his voice going even softer.

Screw this. Tamara retreated farther up the shore. “You’re hypothermic enough to be delusional. You fell and didn’t come up. You were stuck in the rocks, and I pulled you out.”

She slowed her pace, squinting toward the ground to follow the smoothest path to keep from stumbling. Dammit, why didn’t she wear contacts instead of glasses?

The grumpy bastard didn’t respond, just stepped past her. That wasn’t as much fun as it might’ve been considering she was nearsighted enough that once he’d moved more than a few paces ahead of her, his naked butt was nothing but a spectacular blur.

By the time she made it to the top of the rock, he had his jeans on and was jamming his feet into his boots. They still hadn’t exchanged more than a dozen angry words.

Fine. She’d put on her glasses and take a good look at the guy so she’d know which ungrateful jerk to avoid in the future.

“Your shoes are over here,” he grumbled, stepping toward the edge of the rocks.

“Be careful. My—”

She couldn’t see it happen, but there was nothing wrong with her ears. Breaking glass had a distinctive sound.

He swore again. “Why the hell did you leave your glasses on the ground?”

That was the last straw. Tamara saw red.

All her resolutions to watch her temper, and all her great intentions to keep a new slate shiny clean here in Heart Falls, burned away under the weight of instant pissed-off.

“You ever say thank you for anything? Also, you ever consider that when things go wrong, maybe it’s not someone else’s fault?” As she spoke she stepped toward him, anger shoving away the cold. She snatched the tangled remains of her glasses from his fingers, and took one final step so she was close enough to look him in the face as she delivered her closing retort. “Maybe it’s you.”

His dark eyes burned as he stared back, square jaw set in stone. A trickle of water ran from his hair down his cheek, catching on the rough stubble on his chin. Straight nose, far too sensual lips for a man. It was a familiar face, and not one she could possibly avoid in the future.

Because it was him. Caleb Stone, him.

AKA, her new boss.

Fuck my life.

Travel Picture: Redwoods

It’s Wednesday and time for another Vivian Arend travel picture. Here is an amazing shot of the Redwoods!

Feature Friday: ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEVIL

Have you read Rafe and Laurel yet? These childhood best friends get a second chance.

 

The sweetest part of temptation is giving in…

Raphael (Angel) Coleman and Laurel Sitko were thick as thieves throughout their school years. The unlikely friendship between the rancher’s son and the preacher’s daughter might have gone unnoticed by most, but their shared laughter and connection were the best parts of Rafe’s life growing up. Now that she’s returned to Rocky, he’s eager to move from friend to something far more intimate.

After three years away, Laurel’s ready to start over with the gorgeous cowboy who’s always owned a piece of her heart. But when her college ex shows up in town, she’s got a lot more to deal with than expected, including one suddenly possessive cowboy determined to protect her even as he tutors her through every sexual lesson in the book.

Desire flares hotter and hotter through stolen moments and willing seduction. But when tragedy strikes, Rafe’s left on shaky ground, his biggest fear now a reality that could tear them apart and rip forever from their grasp.

Will the connection forged by time be strong enough to see them through to the other side?

Warning: Friends to lovers equals sweet kisses heating to earth-shaking passion, mixed with laughter and tears. Get ready for hellos, farewells and goodbyes…some forever. Because everyone knows the only real secrets in a small town are the ones you’re willing to take to the grave.

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Travel Picture Wednesday: Las Vegas

Back in December, Vivian and Nicole went to the Chute Out Rodeo and got to see everything up front!

Walker Stone is a bull rider, just like this cowboy! 

Feature Friday: ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAVEN

#FeatureFriday for ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAVEN. If you don’t have a copy of Beth and Daniel, not only can you get it for free, but you can fall in love with the calm, quiet cowboy and the single mom!

 

“What do you mean I can’t get keys to the apartment? I’ve got one week to settle in before school starts. I need the key.”

The owner of her rental complex leaned back on his beat-up truck and shrugged in slow motion. Beth wanted to scream. She wanted to kick something. Most of all she wanted to start unloading the boxes she’d brought with her from Calgary before she completely ran out of steam. Her boys had crawled into the front seat of the moving van, three sets of eyes gazing down as they waited in silence.

“Sorry, ma’am, but see, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. There was a fire a couple of nights ago. Far end of the complex, but the fire marshal shut down the whole place until the wiring can be inspected.”

She tapped her good foot. If he would talk a little faster, the conversation might be done by the end of the weekend. “Are there any other apartments for rent in town?”

A slow shift of the shoulders. “There were. Until yesterday. All the other occupants of the apartment house had to find alternative arrangements too. I think just about everything available got snapped up.”

The throbbing in her temples couldn’t be good. She rubbed her fingers against her forehead. Now what? Head back to Calgary and beg her parents to let her stay with them again? Drive three hours twice every day to get to school once her teaching position began?

“I’ll have to check into a hotel or motel.” She couldn’t afford it, but… “Do you know which one would be the cheapest for a long-term stay?”

The old codger raised a brow. “Well, you could try the motel, but if you give me a minute, I bet we can do you one better. Since it’s partly my fault you’re in this mess.” He gestured at the U-Haul. “You need a place to dump all that anyway. Won’t fit at a motel, I’m guessing.”

He hauled out a cell phone, and she turned her back to stop the hysterical giggles that wanted to rise up and overtake her. The incongruity of his worn overalls and the shiny new phone was too much to handle when she stood on the verge of a breakdown.

“Mommy. Are we lost?”

She smiled at Nathan, his blond head poking out from the window of the truck. “No, we’re in the right spot, only there’s a mix-up. We’ll get it figured out.”

Lance popped up beside him. “Are we still going to live here? It smells.”

Oh Lord. “Yes, we’re moving here. You’re going to school here. I’m teaching here. Nothing has changed since the last time you asked, twenty minutes ago. And it doesn’t smell any worse than your bedroom before we cleaned it up to get ready to move.”

Nathan laughed at him and Lance stuck out his tongue. Robbie forced his way between his brothers, all three of them hanging precariously from the window. “I have to go pee.”

Beth sighed. She glanced at her erstwhile landlord who was still talking on the phone. He laughed at something then motioned at her, flashing a thumbs-up while he continued to yatter. A 7-Eleven across the street caught her eye, and she motioned for the boys to back up.

“Bathroom break for everyone. I’ll buy you a Slurpee, then I expect you to stay quiet until I get this little issue solved. We’ll hit a park as soon as we can, okay?”

They clambered down, and she pulled them in tight for a hug. Life had been hellishly tough at times lately, but these dirty, smiling faces made it all worthwhile. She waved a hand at Mr. Jordon then pointed across the street. He never broke stride in his discussion, which now seemed to be about feeding tomato plants with fish fertilizer to get the best yield. She really hoped somewhere in the conversation he had managed to find them a temporary home.

They recrossed the street ten minutes later, three contented boys clinging to sweet frosty drinks. Didn’t take much to make her crew happy.

Mr. Jordon grinned, pride filling his face. “I talked to my friend, Mike. He said there were no troubles with you taking possession of Grampa Peter’s homestead for a bit. His oldest sons have been living in it, but there’s plenty of room at home for them temporarily like. You’re even welcome to rent the place with the furniture if you need it. Six months sound good? I’ll promise you space back here at the end of that time since we weren’t ready when we promised.”

“A house?” Hope brightened her weary load. What she wouldn’t give for a house to live in, instead of an apartment. It would be so much better for the boys, but she knew exactly what her expenses were going to be, and the cost for a house was probably out of reach. “How much does he want for rent?”

Mr. Jordon snorted. “He didn’t want a damn thing, but since I figured you’d have issues with that, he said to tell you he’d take what you were going to pay me. No first and last. Just get him the money when you can. Any furniture you want to use, you use. Anything you don’t want, there’s an outbuilding to store things in.” He eyed her leg brace. “Who’s helping you unload the truck?”

“We are.” Lance spoke up. He’d been hanging back politely but marched forward to stand wide-legged in front of her, his fists resting on his hips. Her heart ached at the sight. Only eight, and he was already trying to take care of her. “We’re Mommy’s helpers.”

Mr. Jordon nodded sagely. “And mighty fine ones too, I bet. But you see, I know a few other young men, strapping strong fellows like yourself. Perhaps I can get them to help as well. You know, so you can show them how it’s done.”

Lance’s face lit up and Beth breathed out slowly. It looked as if her insane idea to take her family to a place with a quieter pace of life might work after all.

She smiled at the older man. “I’d like to see the house before I make any commitments, but I really do appreciate your help.”

He laughed, peeling himself off his truck and yanking the door open. “Didn’t do nothing. Tell you what, you follow me. We’ll take a spin out to the Peter’s place. The Colemans are all working right now, so we won’t be disturbing anyone. If you’re happy with the place, we’ll come back and get you put up for the night at the hotel. That’ll give the boys time to clear out their things, and tomorrow I’ll get my grandsons to help your fine moving team get you settled.”

 

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Heroine Feature: Ivy Fields

Ivy Fields, the heroine of A RANCHER’S SONG will hit the bookshelves on May 15th, but we wanted you to get the chance to know more about her now!

Ivy Fields is the oldest of the Fields girls. She is a second grade teacher at the local elementary school, and loves her job working with the little kids. Ivy has a form of albinism that impacts her ability to fight off the simplest of infections and germs. But she wouldn’t change her dream of working with kids for anything. 

In honor of Ivy’s dedication to the kids in her school, both Vivian and Nicole are sharing memories of their favorite teachers in elementary school. 

Vivian:

In Grade two I remember our teacher read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with the entire class. She’d sit with us in the corner of the room, using different voices for each character and hold us spellbound while she shared the adventure.

We also had to draw our favourite scenes from the book, and she turned them into a slide show (the old, old way with REAL slides! Lol!) I remember distinctly my picture was of the Turkish Delight that had so enthralled Edmund—I’d never heard of that candy before. Discovering it was a real thing—that was a defining moment in my world.

Stories could be pretend AND real at the same time!

Nicole:

My favorite teacher from elementary school was Ms. Vezenia. She taught my kindergarten class, and had been teaching for decades at that point. She taught my uncle, two of my cousins, and me. She was so kind and understanding, and she used to love to joke with the parents that she wouldn’t believe the stories that the kids shared in school as long as the parents agreed to take all the stories from school with a grain of salt as well. She was the best teacher, and a wonderful teacher to introduce me to my educational career and inspire a love of learning.

 

Share your stories and memories of your favorite elementary school teacher!

Travel Picture: Ecuador Coffee Shop

Look at this incredible Coffee Stop in Ecuador!

Feature Friday: Pacific Passion

This week we are featuring the Pacific Passion Box Set, which includes all three novellas in the series: STORMCHILD, STORMY SEDUCTION, and SILENT STORM. 

 

Somewhere between the ocean depths and the mountaintops, there’s a love strong enough to call them both home.

Stormchild: Traveling doctor and shaman Matthew Jentry has his hands full curing for his water-shifter clan. There’s something far too enticing, though, about mysterious Laurin Marshall. Laurin thought leaving her next teaching assignment would keep her identity as an air shifter a secret. Until she finds Matt is on the same boat, and their sexual fireworks ignite…

Stormy Seduction: Before Laurin and Matt can begin to explore their mystical bond, the People of the Air challenge her right to choose a water shifter as her mate. Fending off Laurin’s would-be suitors is easy for Matt. But what will happen when she encounters his playful, lusty Otter clan? Especially since they’ll be the main attraction at the solstice fertility ritual.

Silent Storm: Despite their deepening emotional connection, Laurin still wonders how she and Matt can find permanent common ground. Matt waits patiently for Laurin. He has no desire to change her sky-borne nature. Until a giant golden eagle touches down on the Stormchild and tips the delicate balance of more than just the boat.

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