Today’s Friday Feature is a guest blog by author Vivian Arend. Her guest post gives some fascinating insights into her wildly popular Six Pack Ranch series.
HOW BIG IS YOUR POOL?
Heading into writing the Six Pack Ranch, I had things all figured out. Six brothers would make for a lovely series. Balancing all those personalities would keep me busy, and keep them in trouble, which makes writing books much easier—having characters who enjoy getting into trouble.
I had the perfect place for them to ranch—Rocky Mountain House is a beautiful setting up against the Alberta foothills/ Canadian Rockies. It’s a Canadian location, which is something I simply love being able to bring to readers—those of us who are Canadian thrill to see a ‘local’ setting, and I hoped others would enjoy a trip to a new part of the world.
The one thing I’d never imagined would be an issue? The dating pool. In book 3, Rocky Mountain Desire, that issue seems to have come to a head.
Full disclosure—I didn’t grow up in a small town. But I did meet my husband while both of us were working in a very small town (400 people), and facts are facts. In a place where each graduating class is maybe twelve to twenty students? That dating pool can seem very shallow!
It’s not unusual to date more than one person from the same family. If you want to date, sometimes it’s the only choice! It can be awkward, especially if break-ups were volatile or recent, but it’s just one of those things.
I suppose if I’d never experienced the situation myself it might have hit me with more impact. Because in the Six Pack series, with the small town setting, there are times that the only right person is someone who might be considered the wrong person. Although…well, let me allow Daniel, hero of book 2, Rocky Mountain Haven, to talk. He’s chatting with his brother Matt, hero of Rocky Mountain Desire:
Daniel pulled himself upright. “But she’s gone. And now there’s this other woman you’re feeling interested in, and I’m wondering why you aren’t going after her with the same enthusiasm you put into everything else you do.”
Bloody hell. “You’re not listening. This is Hope who I’m…”
“You’re what? Attracted to? Great. Then ask her out.”
Fuck a duck. “That easy?”
“That easy.” Daniel sighed. “One of the biggest blessings of our family—the whole crazy horde of us—is that there’s always someone around, right? Someone to talk to, someone to tease. When we were growing up and needed to let off some steam, there was always someone to fight.”
Matt chuckled. “Usually more than one.”
“The downside? There was always someone around that we got compared to. Poor twins—by the time they hit high school the teachers didn’t give them a chance to muck around. They were already tagged and branded Six Pack Colemans, and all the sins of Blake down to Travis were sitting right there waiting to be dumped on their heads.”
“They still got away with murder.”
Daniel grinned. “Yeah, they did, but you know why? Because they’re damn charismatic. Butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths. They charmed their way out of more bad situations than you or I ever could have.”
“Charmed their way into more girls’ pants than us too.” Matt shook his head. “Fine. So the twins, in spite of being Six Pack boys did things their own way.”
“And…” Daniel threw a cushion at him. “And…connect the damn dots and don’t make me say it for you, numb nuts.”
Matt sighed. “And Hope is not Helen.”
We don’t pick and choose our birth family, and people being people, that means there’s plenty of times for frustration and happiness. Somewhere along the way, though, it always comes back to the individuals. Who a person chooses to be in spite of their family background.
If you’re familiar with a small town dating pool, you know what I’m talking about. If your graduating class was bigger than that 400 people in my small town, I hope you’ll give a second thought to the idea of people being people—family is a part of us, but ultimately it’s not who we are. It’s a lesson that Matt and Hope have to learn to get to their Happily-ever-after, and in the end, I think a worthwhile one.
Title: Rocky Mountain Desire by Vivian Arend
Six Pack Ranch, Book Three
Publisher: Samhhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Red Hots!
Length: Novel
Summary:
Nothing comes easy. You’ve gotta work for it.
Six Pack Ranch, Book 3
Matt Coleman always figured at this point in his life, he’d be settled down with a family. Since his ex split for the big city, though, no way will he give anyone else the chance to drop-kick his heart. Physical pleasure? Hell, yeah, he’ll take—and give—with gusto, but nothing more.
Hope Meridan is working long hours to hold on to her new quilt shop, going it alone since her sister/business partner ran off. Sex? Right, like she’s got the time. Not that she doesn’t have the occasional dirty fantasy about Matt. Fat chance he’d dream of knocking boots with her—the younger sister of the woman who dumped him. Nope, she’ll just have to settle for the F-word.
Friends would be far easier if there wasn’t something combustible going on between them. And when casual interest starts to grow into something more, their tenuous bond strengthens in the heat of desire. But it may not survive the hurricane-force arrival of the last person either of them ever wanted to see again…
Warning: Small-town rivals, men in pursuit and family meddling—in good and bad ways. Look for a cowboy who knows how to rope, ride and rein in a hell of a lot more than eight seconds of sheer bliss.
First Chapter: Excerpt
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Samhain
If you’d like to try a taste of the Six Pack Ranch, I have an ebook copy of winner’s choice—either book 1 in the series, Rocky Mountain Heat, or book 2, Rocky Mountain Haven. Leave a comment for your chance to win:
Title: Rocky Mountain Heat by Viv Arend
Six Pack Ranch, Book One
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Red Hots!
Length: Novel
Summary:
He’s the one who taught her to ride. Now all he wants is to ride her.
Six Pack Ranch, Book 1
Blake Coleman is old enough to know that acting on impulse causes nothing but a heap of trouble. But when trouble’s a western-hat-wearing blonde with slim legs that go on forever, what’s a man to do? Wanting the sweet girl next door is just wrong. The responsible thing to do is keep his hands off.
Jaxi has other plans for Blake’s hands, and his heart. She may have once considered him a big brother, but that was a long time ago. She’s all grown up now and ready to convince him that she’s perfect for him. Except he can’t seem to see past the big “don’t touch” sign that’s apparently still hanging around her neck.
When Jaxi ends up living right under Blake’s nose, the undeniable heat between them slides off simmer and leaps up to barn-burning levels. However, a few of the younger six-pack Colemans have decided Jaxi’s brand of trouble is worth risking a few busted bones.
That is, if Blake’s finally ready to let go the reins and fight for what he wants…
This book has been previously published and has been revised and expanded from its original release.
Product Warnings: Sexy cowboys seducing and being seduced in trucks, pool halls and barns. Droolworthy country charm, a little double-teaming, a few secrets and a whole lot of brothers to look forward to. Anyone wanna go for a ride?
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Samhain | Kobo
Title: Rocky Mountain Haven by Vivian Arend
Six Pack Ranch, Book Two
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Red Hots!
Length: Novel
Summary:
It’s the quiet ones that take you by surprise.
Six Pack Ranch, Book 2
Beth Danube’s emotionally abusive husband is dead and buried. So is her heart. It’s no big deal, she has all she wants: her three little boys and a fresh start in a small Alberta town. What she doesn’t want is another man in her life—not now, maybe not ever.
After ten years of unsatisfactory, missionary-position sex, she never expected her libido to reawaken. One look at sex-in-boots Daniel Coleman in a Calgary bar, though, blows the dust off her sexuality.
Sensing an edge of desperation, even fear, beneath Beth’s come-on, Daniel finds himself giving in to the powerful urge to let his normally subdued desires run wild. The lady wants non-judgmental, non-vanilla sex? She’s got it—in and out of the bedroom.
At first, friends with blazing-hot benefits is more than enough. Then she realizes Daniel is burning away the protective fortress around her heart…and the guilty secret she dare not reveal.
This book has been expanded and revised from previous publication.
Product Warnings: One woman determined to retake control of her life, a man with the single-minded purpose of offering her—and her body—everything she needs. Inappropriate behavior in barns, change rooms, and oh-my-gawd phone sex with a cowboy.
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Samhain | Kobo
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Vivian Arend: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Title: One Sexy Ride by Vivian Arend