Guest Blogger: Anne Rainey
Writers find ideas everywhere. At the supermarket, while watching commercials, even when we’re doing laundry. It can be the littlest thing to spark off a plot for a book. Or even people in our life that we decide would make great characters in a book.
This time, I got an idea for a series while listening to my daughter tell me about some kids she knew at school. Katilyn, my oldest, came home one day talking about a couple of guys in her math class. As she started to explain about these five brothers that were all adopted, I couldn’t help but become intrigued. I had to wonder what sort of person or persons would take on five boys to raise. I mean, one boy is a lot to handle, much less five! I just knew that anyone with that much love to give would be someone very special. I needed to write about that, you know? That wonderful couple who would take five boys into their home and give them something they never knew before, unconditional love.
That was how the Blackwater series came about. The idea took root and I realized I had a rather emotional start to a series here. Thus, the Jennings brothers were created.
You have Sam, the oldest. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He feels responsible for his brothers and an overwhelming protectiveness for Wanda, the woman who gave him his first taste of what it’s like to be a family.
Next up is Vance. He’s been burned by a woman once and swears to never get that close to anyone again. He’s tough on the outside, but all warm and gooey on the inside.
Brodix is the brainy one. He likes order and numbers. In his mind, every problem has a solution—you just need to crunch the right figures.
Reilly and River are the youngest, and twins. These two have had a bit more than their fair share of hard knocks and they have the emotional scars to prove it too.
Anyway, in Blackwater, Ohio, when the Jennings brothers come home for Thanksgiving to find the family business heading toward bankruptcy, they all step in to make things right. Along the way, their slightly meddlesome mom Wanda starts playing matchmaker. She wants to see her boys happy, and Wanda can be pretty fierce when she wants something! 
As you can imagine with a family like the Jennings nothing is simple and things are definitely not perfect. They argue and fight, but that’s all part of the fun, right? I grew up with three brothers and we had our ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change a single second of it!
What about you? Do you have brothers and sisters?
For a look at the first book in the series, Sam’s Promise, check out this page. And you can read more about Vance’s Rules, book two, here.
Now, onto the newest release in the series, Breaking Brodix. In this scene you get a taste of Wanda as she attempts to play matchmaker.
She wants to get all up in his business? She’ll have to get real personal.
Blackwater, Book 3
Brodix Jennings has a head for business, but his skills are put to the test when his brothers call on him to bring the family restaurant back into the black. With the grand reopening only days away, it’ll damn near take a miracle to keep the doors from closing for good.
Reporter Sarah Greer knows exactly what Brodix needs—free publicity on the front page of the town’s only newspaper. All she wants in exchange is the Jennings brothers’ rags-to-riches story. Except none of them are talking. And Brodix, who cuts a blazing path through her body with just a smile, is the most tight-lipped of the lot.
Brodix wouldn’t think twice about seducing prissy, buttoned-up Sarah into his bed, if her lousy profession didn’t leave him cold to the bone. A second look at the bar’s books, though, makes him think twice about saying no. But if he’s going to open the floodgates, it’ll be on his terms.
When Brodix asks her out, Sarah agrees, confident she can keep personal at arm’s length from professional. Until physical attraction melts their emotional barriers…and Sarah gets way more than she bargained for.
Product Warnings
Expect an annoying ex-husband, a slightly pushy reporter, a fiercely protective hero, and some meddling family members. Of course there’s also a whole lot of naughty sex, and in numerous positions too. Possible overheating of various electronic devices could occur.
“Look who I ran into at the supermarket!” his mother exclaimed. “Sarah Greer from the Gazette. Can you believe it?” The way his mom stared at Sarah, one would think they were in the presence of a celebrity.
It was Brodix’s bad luck that after spending the last several minutes convincing his brothers Sarah wouldn’t be a nuisance, the woman showed up carrying his mom’s groceries. Jesus H.
“I thought we agreed to meet at your place at seven, or was I mistaken?” he asked as he moved to take the bag from her. When he put it on the counter, he saw River moving closer to their mom. River took the grocery bag from her, but he never took his gaze from Sarah, as if she were a big bad wolf about to have lunch. Brodix wanted his brother to move past his reservations about reporters, to see that Sarah wasn’t cut from the same cloth as Larry. But wanting something didn’t necessarily mean it was going to happen. He was at least grateful that River hadn’t picked her up and tossed her out onto the front lawn. Judging by Reilly’s expression, the jury was still out on the possibility of that happening.
“Thank you,” Sarah replied when Brodix pulled a chair out for her at the table. As she looked up at him, her cheeks turned rosy. God, she was cute when she blushed. “I hope I’m not intruding. I told Wanda I didn’t really have to have a slice of her peach pie, but she insisted.”
“I did sort of twist her arm, Brodix,” his mom said, completely oblivious to the turmoil brewing in the room because of Sarah’s presence. “When I spied her checking out the frozen dinners, I couldn’t resist introducing myself.” His mom looked at Sarah, a sparkle in her eyes. “I’m such a fan of your news stories, it’s not even funny.”
Sarah waved the words away. “Oh, please. I’m a small-town reporter. Most of what I write gets buried so deep that you’d have to have a magnifying glass to find it.” She shrugged. “Every once in a while, I write something that people want to read.”
Brodix stayed standing, not sure if he should usher her out of the house, or wait and see what she was up to. When Vance propped an elbow on the table and smiled at Sarah, Brodix was shocked to see Sarah smiling right back. He decided to hang back and watch the show unfold. If she thought charming her way into their lives would work, then she definitely hadn’t done her research as thoroughly as she thought she had.
“I read your articles too,” Vance said. “I like them.”
“Thank you,” she replied as she cocked her head to the side. “You’re Vance, right?”
“Yep.”
“Oh lordy,” his mom muttered as she slapped a palm against her forehead. “I didn’t even think to introduce you. Where are my manners?” She pointed to Sammy first and smiled. “That’s Sam; he’s my oldest. He recently found the love of his life, Julie.” His mom winked at Sarah. “You’ll meet her at the grand opening. She’s a terrific woman. You two are going to get along great.” His mom’s words had Brodix smelling a setup. Was the woman attempting to play matchmaker with him and Sarah? Scary thought, considering how tenacious his mother could be when she set her sights on something. As she moved closer to Reilly and patted him on the shoulder, Brodix braced himself for battle. “As you can see, these are my twins. This is Reilly, and the quiet one there is River.”
“We’ve met,” Reilly bit out, clearly irritated.
“Yes, it’s nice to see you again, Reilly,” Sarah said, her smile a little stiffer than before. Brodix noticed the way she kept darting nervous glances at River, then back at Reilly. She definitely wasn’t feeling the love, Brodix thought. Hell, the tension in the room was thick enough to cut.
Brodix stiffened when he saw Sarah slowly get to her feet, then scoot her chair in. “I think I’ll take a rain check on the pie, Wanda.” She made a point to check her watch before adding, “I really do need to be getting home.”
That same protective instinct that he’d felt earlier came rushing to the surface again. Brodix moved up beside Sarah and smiled down at her. “You should stay for Mom’s peach pie.” He placed a hand at the small of her back and said, “You won’t regret it, I promise.” When he looked over her head, he noticed Reilly frowning at him. Brodix narrowed his eyes and kept his hand on Sarah. A silent battle ensued as they stared at each other, neither of them backing down. When Sarah took a step toward the doorway to leave, Brodix saw Reilly’s lips curve upward, clearly satisfied.
“Maybe you can bring me a slice when you pick me up tonight,” Sarah said, reminding him they’d be seeing each other in a few hours. His blood heated at the thought.
“Let me walk you out,” he said as he caught up to her. “I forgot to give you my cell phone number anyway.”
When they reached Sarah’s little silver coupe, Brodix flattened a hand against the door to prevent her from leaving. “Why’d you really come here, Sarah?”
She sighed. “Your mom wasn’t lying. She saw me at the supermarket and invited me over.” She flung her hands up in the air. “It’s honestly as simple as that.”
“So, you’re totally innocent?”
Sarah looked away.
