Vivian Arend's Blog, page 24

Travel Picture: Grand Canyon

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It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to share another travel picture. Here is Vivian and her daughter on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon!

First Line Friday: Wolf Flight

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WOLF FLIGHT re-releases today. Curl up this weekend with a wolfie of your own!

Prologue

Five months ago, September

Whistler, British Columbia

The Whistler pack house was crowded after dinner, with small groups gathered around the room talking amongst themselves. Conversations quieted for a moment as laughter burst out from where the Alpha and his cronies sat in the prime seats before the huge stone fireplace.

An icy warning trickled up Missy Leason’s spine, and she gave up on the discussion in front of her. She rose from her chair and headed quietly toward the exit, weaving between the couches and recliners that filled the meeting and relaxation area for the pack.

Missy had no illusions about the precariousness of her position. As the widow of a high-ranking wolf, even one whose position had come from his family relationship instead of his power, she was an obvious target for any of the wolves looking to improve their standing in the pack.

Which would be, oh, pretty much everyone.

Only she wasn’t worried about all of them, just one very dangerous individual.

It could have been worse. It would have been worse if she hadn’t managed to keep her secret. Hidden her developing skills away not only from her late husband, but the rest of them.

Even now her Alpha’s gaze burned as she walked with her head down, attempting to remain small and unnoticeable as she slipped through the common area toward her apartment at the back of the complex.

“Missy,” Doug called. “Come here.”

She turned obediently toward him, the hair on the back of her neck standing upright as a shiver raced over her skin. She had hoped to avoid this summons for far longer.

Stopping a polite distance away placed her before the massive fireplace. Missy clutched her fingers together and averted her eyes at the last second.

“Jeff has been gone for a month now,” Doug noted, his long well-groomed fingers tapping on the arm of the overstuffed leather chair. His stylish business suit, clean-shaven chin and immaculately groomed hair sharply contrasted with what she knew of his personality.

She’d seen his wolf kill more often than necessary, even for an Alpha trying to maintain order in a large pack.

Missy rocked on her feet uneasily.

Doug rose from his seat to tower over her petite frame, close enough the heat from his body overwhelmed the fire’s warmth.

She stared away from him, looking over the heads of the wolves sprawled on the couch immediately in front of them. Don’t let him know how much you loathe him. But don’t show any sign of disrespect, either.

Others in the room looked on with curiosity for a minute before turning back to their own conversations. Only the wolf enforcers scattered inconspicuously throughout the room tensed, ready to spring into action if needed.

The level of paranoia her Alpha encouraged among his warriors shocked her. Did they really think she would challenge Doug?

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Travel Picture Wednesday: Granite Lake

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Since we are celebrating the re-release of WOLF TRACKS this week, I thought it’d be fun to share another inspiration picture from Granite Lake today! Isn’t that beautiful?

First Line Friday: ROCKY MOUNTAIN REBEL

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Do you love a sexy cowboy and the misunderstood girl next door? Then you must read ROCKY MOUNTAIN REBEL!

Chapter One

Playing connect the dots was his newest obsession.

Joel Coleman took another drink, the tepid coffee left in the bottom of his cup barely registering. He was too fascinated with the smooth, exposed line of Victoria Hansol’s neck as she stood one table over taking down an order. With her shining brown hair pulled into a ponytail, his contemplation lingered on the freckle he wanted to nibble. Leading up to the one on her jawline. Right before he tasted the one hovering to the side of her luscious-looking mouth.

He could play this game all day if his estimate of how far her freckles extended was accurate.

“You’re drooling.”

Joel dragged his gaze off the woman he’d been ogling, and focused across the table. His brother’s grin was familiar enough. Joel saw pretty much the same face every time he glanced in a mirror. Dark hair, square jaw. As identical twins, he and Jesse had their share of mistaken-for-each-other stories.

Jesse peeked over his shoulder, turning back with a laugh.

“Vicki Hansol? You’re not serious.” Jesse leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I mean, yeah, she’s hot. But—”

“Whoa, hold it.” Joel shook his head in denial. “Just because she’s built doesn’t mean I want to get involved with her. I’m admiring the view, that’s all.”

“View is rather tasty.” Jesse’s brow rose, and he hummed for a moment. “How come we’ve never gone out with her?”

Damn it. Joel’s stomach clenched. “We? Jesse, will you fucking stop that? There is no ‘we’ when it comes to dating, okay? There are girls you date, and girls I date.”

“Fine. No need to bite my head off.” Jesse flopped back in his seat, hands raised in mock surrender.

Joel fixed his twin with a firm glare until Jesse laughed and returned to his plate. This was not a matter Joel was willing to bend on. Not anymore. They’d gotten a reputation over the years, him and Jesse. Not as wild as the Hansol family, but that was probably because the oldest of their immediate Coleman kin were squeaky clean and respectable. As the youngest of the Six Pack clan—literally the youngest by all of thirty minutes after Jesse’s arrival—Joel was ready to move on.

He stared at Vicki’s legs as she stood at the far end of the café, topping up a customer’s coffee. He’d seen the woman around town for years. Gone to school with her, in fact, although he and Jesse had been a couple grades above her. He knew about the Hansol girls, or what the community gossiped about them. The rotating door on her oldest sister’s bedroom had been discussed during many a late-night drunken boast-session among the less-than-courteous males who’d taken Sarah up on her willingness to share.

The short skirt that was part of the waitress uniform swirled around Vicki’s limbs as she moved, and Joel fought to find something else to concentrate on. Because there was no way, no matter how attracted he was, no way was he going to get involved with one of the town’s bad girls.

This was the year he made some changes. He was done with college, back on the ranch, and ready to move forward. Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to have any fun, but he planned to watch his step a little more.

Which put Vicki Hansol on the drool over at a distance, but avoid list.

Suddenly, there she was, a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes pasted on her lips. “Either of you boys want dessert?”

Jesse shook his head. “Not for me, thanks.”

He pulled out his cellphone to answer it, talking quietly toward the window.

Joel gazed up at Vicki, working hard to focus on her face and not the amazing rack pushing the front of her uniform. “You bake today? Because, frankly, no one else here can beat your pies.”

Her smile came alive, brightening her entire face and making her brown eyes sparkle. “Made a dozen this morning. You want cherry or lemon meringue?”

Something inside twisted. Her obvious pleasure at the simple bit of praise struck him as odd. As if she didn’t receive many compliments. “A piece of each, please.”

Vicki nodded, reaching for the empty plates in front of them before retreating without a word, her skirt swaying over the rounds of her ass as she vanished into the back of the café.

Jesse hung up and pushed his phone into a pocket. “When you’re done lunch, Dad says to meet him at the seed store. He’s going to order for next year. Wants your opinion on some new strains.”

“No problem. Are you finishing the south fields this afternoon?”

Jesse wrinkled his nose. “Probably take all day tomorrow as well to get done. Blake took a break to hit some prenatal thing with Jaxi. Can’t fault our big bro for taking time off to do his family duty, but there’s more to finish than possible in one run.”

Joel nodded. “He should have said something earlier. I can give you and Blake a hand in the morning if the third tractor is running.”

“That would be great. Hey—did I tell you? We got an invite to a party in Red Deer this weekend. You want to head out Friday night or Saturday?”

Neither. But not for any reason Joel wanted to explain. “Whose place?”

“Some friends of friends of Travis. Boats, barbecues and bikinis.”

“Bikinis?” Joel laughed out loud. “It’s the first week of October. Are they crazy?”

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Travel Picture Wednesday: Hogwarts!

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This week’s travel picture is from Viv’s travels to Hogwarts.

First Line Friday: Wolf Signs

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Catch up with the wolfies! Wolf Signs is available once again today!

6450 calories stared up at Robyn.

She adjusted the lid on the apple box, closing it tightly over the cheesecake and the rest of her food supplies. Her gaze drifted over the gear spread all over her apartment. Her pack, her skis—all of it assembled for the annual trip with her brother to Granite Lake cabin.

A rush of anxiety and disappointment filled her as Tad made his announcement.

“I’m sorry, sis, but I have to take this request. Flying the climbing and research team to Mount Logan could end up being a regular booking. They’ll be working in Kluane National Park for the next five years, and if I can get on as their main pilot I’ll be set.” Tad slipped a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I hate to cancel the trip on you.”

Robyn paced a few steps away before facing him, her hands flowing smoothly as she spoke in American Sign Language. “I understand. You need to take the job. I’m still going to Granite Lake.”

“No way. You can’t go by yourself.”

“You have.”

“But that’s different, Robyn.”

“Don’t be a jerk. I don’t have a penis so I can’t go backcountry alone?”

Tad raised a brow. “It’s not the lack of plumbing, sis, and you know it. I seldom go bush alone, and if I do meet anyone, it’s not a big deal. I’m male, I’m strong and I’m not deaf. How do you plan to talk with strangers?”

She threw a pillow at him before lifting her hands to sign. “I’ll take some notepads. What are the chances of meeting anyone at Granite this time of year? We always go in February because no one else does. I’m packed, the food is packed, and I’ve got time off work from the bakery. You even booked a helicopter ride for me with your buddy Shaun. I’ve never gotten to fly in before.

“And wait a minute, what’s with that little dig saying you’re strong? Last time I checked, I out-skied, out-wrestled and out-gambled your sorry butt, big brother. Don’t give me that as an excuse.”

Tad narrowed his gaze. “Stop being stubborn.”

“What? Waste all those years of training? You told me once to stand up for myself and do what I need to do, in spite of not being able to hear. Are you saying that doesn’t apply anymore?”

“Of course not—”

“Good, because I’d hate to call you a hypocrite.” Annoyance aside, she really needed him to understand. “I need to go to Granite. I need to get out of the city for a while. I’ll be a good little girl and take the satellite phone along. I can check in with you Tuesday.”

Tad ran a hand through his hair before collapsing on the couch in resignation. “Fine, you win. But if you need anything you call me, or you call Shaun and he’ll fly you home. Understand? You don’t have to do the ski out if you don’t want.”

Robyn caught a glimpse of herself in the hall mirror. Shades of brown reflected back. Shoulder-length brown hair, big brown eyes with golden flecks, skin that showed her First Nations heritage.

She’d lived her whole life in the Yukon, and her solid body was more than capable of doing the ten-mile ski. She’d been completing it with the family since she was nine years old. Tad had skied the route with her and knew she loved every minute of the trip.

She counted to twenty.

Slowly.

“Tad, are you looking for pain? Because I can kick your butt if you need it.”

He blinked in shock. “What did I say?”

Robyn stomped up and glared in his face. Tad was her brother through adoption, and he and his parents were all darker in colouring than her. His short black hair stood in ragged spikes from his manhandling, and his dark eyes stared back with confusion.

She needed to make this clear, though. She signed, hands moving with great energy as she emphasized her points. “I like the ski across the lake. I like going to the Granite Lake cabin. I’m thrilled you got me the helicopter ride, but only because I want to take the ice auger to leave at the cabin.”

“But—”

“Don’t expect me to be some kind of baby because you can’t go with me this time.”

Tad grabbed her hands and pulled her in for a hug. He let her step back so she could read his lips. “I was out of line.”

She nodded.

“Sorry. Hell, you’ve got a temper on you. Glad you didn’t throw anything hard at me this time.”

“I thought about it but my ice axe is already packed.” She turned to tuck away a few more items, then grabbed her backpack and placed it beside the door.

He tugged on her arm to get her attention. “You need some space, don’t you? You seem really tense.”

Robyn returned to her skis. She fiddled with the bindings before glancing back at Tad. “Yeah. Feels like the walls are closing in. I’ll be okay if I can get some time away from the city.”

“There’s something…” Tad hesitated, looking everywhere around the room except at her. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before shaking his head. “Never mind.”

She sighed heavily. “Not again. You do this at least once a year. Whatever deep, dark secret you have, I wish you’d spit it out. Or stop bringing it up, because you just get me curious. Are you gay?”

Tad sat back on his heels, his jaw dropping open. “Robyn!”

“Well, you seem to turn twenty shades of red every time you start this, I thought maybe it had to do with sex. I don’t care if you are gay, you know. There’s this great guy down at the bakery—”

“Thanks, but I’m not gay. It’s nothing. Do you have your bear spray?”

She blew her bangs off her face with a sudden snort and pointed to the pocket of her ski overalls. “Stupidest thing I’ve ever carried. I’ve never seen a bear, not once in all our trips.”

“Someday you might be glad you have it, sis.”

“But I could carry at least five more chocolate bars. That reminds me, you do realize if I gain weight this trip it’s all your fault.”

“What?”

“We packed an entire Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake to eat this week. Now I’m going to have to suffer through and eat the whole damn thing myself.” She licked her lips and grinned.

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First Line Friday: Rocky Mountain Freedom

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Do you love reading menage and unconventional romances? Then you should pick up a copy of ROCKY MOUNTAIN FREEDOM.

Prologue

July, Red Deer, Alberta

Pain wrapped around his temples, the rush of blood through his veins echoing in his ears. Travis Coleman whipped his head up to track his attacker and stars danced before his eyes as chastisement for moving too fast after the recent blow to his head.

He raised his hands into a defensive position and waited with anticipation for the next bit of punishment to land. The dim lighting in the back alley wasn’t enough to show all the debris underfoot, and he stumbled before finding his footing.

“Stop.”

The order rang from Travis’s left, and both he and his opponent turned to see a powerfully built blond race toward them.

By the time Travis recognized his friend, there was no time to shout a warning. Cassidy’s forward momentum brought him between Travis and the other fighter, an agonized grunt exploding from the man’s lips as Cassidy’s fist sank deep into his gut. Cassidy slammed his free hand against the stranger’s shoulder, toppling him to the ground.

Shit.

Cassidy whirled to grab Travis, his green eyes bright as he examined the damage. “You okay?”

Travis tossed off the assisting arm, lurching around Cassidy’s bulk to offer a hand to the man he’d been fighting. His sparring partner had already scrambled crablike into the shadows and escaped.

“Dammit, what’d you go and do that for?” Travis spun toward his friend. The motion was too rapid after the hits he’d taken, and he staggered.

Cassidy caught him, pushing him against the nearest wall for support. “He was beating the shit out of you. I thought interrupting was a good idea.” He leaned in closer and grinned momentarily. “I arrived too soon. You’ve still got a pretty face.”

Travis shoved his friend’s hands away. “Next time ask before you butt in.”

“Too big a man to ask for help? Even to save yourself from being pummeled?” Cassidy pulled out a handkerchief and offered it. “Your nose is bleeding like you’re some kind of virgin sacrifice, and we both know how wrong that is.”

Travis took the faded blue fabric and held it tight to his nose to stop the flow. His grip covered his entire lower face and stopped him from having to respond. Silence was a fine thing because there wasn’t much he could say right now. Not without telling Cassidy more than he wanted to.

“Where the hell you been, anyway?” Cassidy folded his arms over his chest, biceps bulging the denim of his jean jacket. “We were supposed to meet at Traders. When you didn’t show up, I figured you’d found someone to fool around with, or you plain forgot.”

“I left a message,” Travis insisted. Not a very detailed one, true, but he had called.

Cassidy pulled out his phone and cursed, shoving it back into his pocket with a rueful sigh. “Dead.”

“Ha, see? I’m surprised you still have that thing. Isn’t it time you lost this one?” He needed to change tack—distract Cassidy from asking any more questions that had no answers.

Only his friend ignored the bait and narrowed his gaze, a glitter of brilliant green flashing out. “You called to tell me what? That instead of meeting to shoot some pool, you’d decided to drive an hour to the cheesiest dive we know so you could find some asshole to fight?”

Travis backed away as Cassidy crowded him, suddenly gone fierce with not a trace of humour left on his face.

“Shut up,” Travis snapped. “It’s not like that.”

“Looked a lot like that to me,” Cassidy snarled. “You got a death wish, T?”

The lingering rush of adrenaline, the sweet tease of forbidden pleasure that accompanied the pain…

Travis shook his head to rid himself of the sensations. He attempted to muscle past the solid body blocking him. “None of your damn business.”

Cassidy caught him by the shirtfront and shoved him into the wall again. He pinned Travis in place with a rock-solid forearm across the chest, leaning in with his full weight to create a trap.

It was all kinds of fucked up that Travis had to clench his teeth together to stop from moaning as lust roared through him.

Cassidy got right in Travis’s face. “I’m your friend, and that makes it my bloody business.”

Travis wanted to look away. Wanted to hide, but it was impossible. He was caught, mesmerized by the full force of Cassidy’s stare.

Eerie silence filled the air, nothing but their accelerated breathing and the distant sound of early-morning traffic.

“Son of a bitch.” Cassidy barely mouthed the words, easing the pressure on his left arm as he slid in closer. He planted his right hand on the wall to the side of Travis’s head as their chests brushed.

Travis didn’t dare breathe. Any movement might increase the contact between them.

The temptation was far, far too enticing.

Cassidy held him captive. Silent. Motionless except for that all-too-intuitive gaze, until Travis was ready to scream.

He dug deep to find the strength he needed to push away the longings he’d kept hidden for so many years. Shove them aside for yet another day. It was either that, or he was going to flip them around, slam Cassidy into the wall and start grinding their hips together. Put his teeth to the strong column of tanned flesh rising from the plain white T-shirt.

Maybe close the gap between their gasping mouths and cut off their rapid breathing as he kissed the goddamn daylights out of his best friend.

His dick hardened further at the thought until interrupted by the reality of what he was considering.

His best fucking friend.

Oh hell, what was he going to do?

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Travel Picture Wednesday: Viv’s Mountains

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It’s travel picture Wednesday, and time again for another picture from Viv’s Adventures. Today, we have a picture of the mountains behind Viv’s house. I love the views she has!!

Granite Lake Wolves: Northern Lights Edition Cover Reveal

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I am so excited to share the cover reveals for the 6 different Granite Lake Wolves books with you! But, to make it even more fun, I’ve come up with a fun read-along and blog tour event to coincide with the cover reveal and release of each book. It’s called Escape With the Wolfies!

For today, we have 6 amazing bloggers who have been long-time fans of mine. They are all revealing a different cover, so many sure you visit them all to see ALL the covers!

Wolf Signs – The Book Binge

Wolf Flight – Book Loving Pixies

Wolf Games – Red Hot + Blue Reads

Wolf Tracks – Smexy Books

Wolf Line – TBQ’s Book Palace

Wolf Nip – Feeling Fictional

The Northern Lights Edition is a revised and extended version of the original stories, HOWEVER, if you don’t want to purchase the new book, you can sign up for a special mailing list that will deliver the expanded content directly into your inbox! Sign up here.

 

First Line Friday: Turn it On

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Love to read about big and loud families mixed in with a little suspense? Then you must read TURN IT ON!

Chapter One

The scent of cinnamon and fresh coffee rushed to greet him as Ryan Claymore yanked the door open with more force than necessary. It might be the most talked-about coffee shop in the county, but it was hard to find, and only minutes remained until his meeting was scheduled to begin.

“What can I get you, darling? Other than a black coffee, dark and strong?” His attention swung to the petite package of a woman hovering behind the counter.

He smiled in spite of himself. “Do I seem the plain, dark-coffee type?”

She nodded, a bright smile crossing her face. “You don’t seem the fussy double-double soy-no-foam yada-yada-yada kind, that’s for sure.” She poured him a cup the size of a small soup tureen and winked at him. “I think today’s special might be your type as well.” She bustled off before he could stop her.

Ryan surveyed the room while he waited. Cozy little tables filled all the available space, and there were few empty chairs in the crowded room. He glanced around, searching for his appointment. There was a lone male in a business suit in the far corner who looked in his direction, and Ryan nodded briefly at him.

A redhead seated alone at the front of the shop caught his eye, her long legs stretched into the aisle as she sipped from a steaming cup and stared out the window. Hmm, now she was something he could go for. Something a little exotic, a little spicy. Her dark sweater hugged her full curves and he reluctantly pulled his gaze away.

Business first. Pleasure whenever he found time for it, which lately seemed to be never. Since returning stateside six months ago on emergency family leave, his life had turned upside down. Retiring his commission and setting up a security installation firm seemed the best way to regain some of the control that had been wrested from him, but the constant demands were beginning to drag him down. A cup of coffee, a quick discussion of his website and advertising needs with Max Turner, and there might be time to catch up on a few tasks at his apartment before heading to the nursing home to visit his brother.

He turned back to the counter to see the waitress holding out a pair of the largest cookies he’d seen in his life.

“Gingersnap? Today’s special. Sweet, crisp with just a touch of spice.” She pushed the plate at him and gave him little opportunity to refuse. “Go on, you know you want it.”

The spicy scent rose to his nose like a beacon. “Thank you. I’ll drop these off and come back to pay.”

She shook her head. “No need. You’re meeting Max Turner, aren’t you? Everything is taken care of, you go ahead and enjoy yourself.” She beamed at him for a moment before turning to greet the next customer.

Balancing his load carefully, he headed toward the empty chair by the single male. He extended a hand in greeting. “Ryan Claymore.”

The man looked around in confusion before answering. “Jim Mitchell. Do you need a place to sit?”

What the hell? Max had paid for the coffee, where was the man?

Ryan glanced back at the counter to see the waitress shake her head. She held up a hand and motioned in an exaggerated manner toward the front of the shop, silently mouthing “Max is there.” She pointed at the redhead, who stood to greet him, her laughing eyes showing her amusement.

Ryan hid his own grin. Bring it on. This was the best thing to happen to him in days.

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