The Garden Collection
By Christina Thompson
Editor: Catherine Magill
Genre: Romance
Out June 30, 2015
A few words of
encouragement can stay with you for a lifetime. Robert and Brianna’s childhood
friendship grew into respect for each other and their ideas. Robert gave her
the confidence to stand up for herself. Brianna helped him see his artistic
potential and encouraged him to travel for his inspiration. He found it in the
letters she wrote.
After her mother
abandoned her at sixteen and her stepfather beat her at eighteen, Brianna
Carlson now struggles to care for her six-year-old half-sister, Chloe. The day
before her twenty-first birthday, Brianna receives news that her stepfather
will be released from prison. Half blind from a head injury and still limping
from a once broken leg, she’s terrified he’ll come back to hurt Chloe this
time. She decides to leave town.
Waiting for their
five-year age gap to diminish, Robert Donovan purposely stayed away. While
traveling for his family’s jewelry business, he designed The Garden Collection,
his newest line of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Returning home, he
discovers Brianna had lied in every letter she sent. She never received any of
his. Before he can demand answers, she disappears without Chloe.
As Robert learns
about Brianna’s life during his absence, he sets out to find her and convince
her to trust him again. He hopes the innocent love of their youth is strong
enough to heal her injured heart and fulfill his need for a home.
Brianna wanted to
tell Robert about her bleak situation but held back. Why bring him down? What
good would it do? He was leaving for an adventure tomorrow. Ignoring her
swollen eye, she retrieved a small tatty ring box from her purse. She handed it
to him.
He grinned. “Are
you proposing?”
“Certainly not, I’m
a mess. It’s a going-away present. Just promise to save it for the plane.”
“You’re not coming
to dinner tomorrow?” he asked as he slipped it into his tuxedo pocket. When she
shook her head, he held out a slightly larger sparkling red box. “Then Happy
Birthday.”
She gaped as he set
it in her cupped hands. The lovely box had a bright white bow on the top. The
tag read To Anna from Robert.
He laughed. “Anna,
it’s not a snake. It won’t bite.”
“Thank you,” she
whispered as she carefully lifted the top. She caught her breath. “Oh my, it’s
stunning but way too expensive. I can’t accept this.” She held out the box for
him.
“Of course, you
can,” he replied, taking the gold heart locket out of the box. Swirls of etched
ivy covered the front and back. A heart-shaped emerald gleamed in the center.
He placed the chain over her head and stood back to admire it. “It’ll match
your one green eye,” he said with a grin.
Her hand trembled
as she touched it. “It’s the nicest gift I’ve ever gotten.” It was actually the
only gift. Born to alcoholic parents on January first had its drawbacks. They
slept off the hangovers for the full day. “But it’s too much, Robert.”
“If you want to
make it even, you can write to me at the villa.”
“I can do that.”
“I’ll expect a
letter every few weeks that’s at least two pages long. You can fill me in on
Lucy’s antics,” he said, reaching for her hand. “This is my big chance to prove
myself. You understand, right?”
She nodded and held
her other hand over her locket. “Thank you,” she whispered again.
Taking a step
closer, he leaned down and kissed her. Her mind went numb, but her toes
tingled. She didn’t want him to stop. He gently pulled her against him. She
parted her lips letting him taste her. His tongue sent a wave of warmth
throughout her body. She didn’t realize kissing was a pain reliever. Her cold
body wanted to hide in the safety of his embrace.
“Robert. Please.
Don’t leave me, too,” she silently begged.
He let her go and
played with a long ringlet by her ear. “Oh, Anna, even with one eye, you’re
still the prettiest girl I know. I’ll miss you,” he said, before leaving.
Standing alone in
the middle of the room, she closed her eyes. A profound sadness settled over
her heart. She wept.
✯´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`✯••*´¨`*•.☆ *.*★
Their
Rigid Rules
Genre: Romance
Content warning: Adult Content
Taylor Valentine, a
senior at Western Michigan University, has had her life planned out since
kindergarten. After her parents died while she was still in high school, she
had perfected it to make them proud. Now with the help of her best friends, Joe
and Eva, she focuses on graduation and a career with romance in the far distant
future. However, when the visiting professor enters the lecture hall to a
four-weekend Civil War seminar, her perfect plan hits a snag.
As a handsome
history professor and former marine, Dr. Stuart Morgan has his own set of
strict rules especially with infatuated students. He enjoys his boring yet
pleasant life until he starts receiving death threats. With his unwanted
bodyguard in tow, Stuart is unnerved by his reaction to Taylor. Their rigid
rules discourage all but a flirtation.
As the death
threats become evident, the FBI believes Taylor’s the culprit, hindering their
budding romance. When Taylor inadvertently becomes the target, Joe and Stuart
whisk her away to protect her. Meanwhile, Joe struggles with his feelings for
Taylor. He’s loved her since grade school. He won’t let her go and stands in
Stuart’s way. The men push her to choose between the lifelong love of her best
friend and the true love of her new boyfriend.
With the threats
from family and foe pulling them apart, Stuart wonders if they can sustain the
stress. Trusting their love, he must somehow convince Taylor to break her rules
and embrace a new plan.
“You win.”
In shock, Stuart
stared through the crack. No! It was not supposed to go like this. Joe turned
to her. He questioned her statement, too.
She continued. “I
thought Stuart was my one. Maybe I’m wrong.”
No! You’re not
wrong! I am the one! Every cell in his body wanted to rush into the room. He gripped
the doorframe to stop himself. He didn’t want to hear anymore, but he couldn’t
move. Joe gaped as well.
“Are you supposed
to be my one, Joey? We’ve been through so much together. I’ve always thought of
you as my best friend and brother. Our love is deep and strong. It’s good and
pure. Nobody could ever break that. That’s why I’m wondering if you really are
my one. You’ve heard Mom’s stories about the chemistry of love and what it’s
supposed to be like. Is that us?”
Stuart couldn’t
breathe. He and Taylor had chemistry. She didn’t feel it, too?
“Maybe that is us.
I’ve loved you my whole life,” Joe replied.
Stuart felt a knife
slowly breach his ribs and pierce his heart as Taylor leaned over and kissed
Joe. It wasn’t a peck either. The pain froze him as if ice encased his body.
Still, he couldn’t turn away.
Christina Thompson,
a retired acupuncturist, enjoys writing about the physical science, the
emotional workings of our mind and heart, and the spiritual energy that taps
into our passions.
Her degree in
biology from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo gave her a love of science and a
background into the physical realm of the body. Her diploma in Traditional
Chinese acupuncture from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine taught her that
the mind and spirit affect the body in powerful ways.
She currently
resides with her husband, Kraig, in Michigan.
magicofbookspromo@gmail.com
Thanks for hosting me today. I appreciate your support. :-)
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