By
Debra Parmley

Delta Force K9 handler Ricky “Rock” Trumbull is on a mission with his German Shephard K9 Hercules “Herc” when a bomb goes off burying him in rubble. He comes to and feels Herc’s cold nose trying to wake him. After he gets out on a medical Hank Patterson invites him to join the Brotherhood Protectors.

When Rock gets a call that Herc is being retired from the military, he works to be reunited with the wonderful K9 who saved his life. Soon they’re both in Eagle Rock, Montana working for the team.

Actress Marilyn Mae Teals goes to see her boyfriend, Tony Santoro, to surprise him with her new hairdo. He’s out by the pool with his man Cleo, and another man. Tony never allows anyone to take photos of him, but she has to sneak just one. Suddenly Tony and Cleo shoot the other man and she jumps, taking more photos. Now she has to run. He can’t know she was there and saw them. He can’t know she has those pictures.

On the run, she tries to reach her friend Sadie Patterson in Eagle Rock. But Tony has put a hit out on her, and men are after her. She will have to escape more than one of them if she’s to reach the safety of the Patterson ranch.

Rock and Hercules will have to use their skills when Marilyn goes missing in the Crazy Mountains. Can they find her before Tony does?

Ricky “Rock” Trumbull was medically discharged from Delta Force and subsequently hired by Hank Peterson. Now a Brotherhood Protector, he receives word Hercules the K9 he was working with and saved his life is now also retired and ready for adoption. Rick snaps up the chance to have his partner back.

Marilyn Mae Teals was going to surprise her boyfriend Tony Santos by being early, unfortunately she witnesses something that ends the relationship for her. The problem is what she saw could also be her death sentence. She plans a way to leave and calls her friend and fellow actress Sadie McClain for help.

Now all she has to do is get to Montana alive. Unfortunately, that’s not going to be easy as Tony is tracking her.

After a couple of incidents, Marilyn hitches a ride in the back of a truck heading to Eagle Rock without the driver’s knowledge.

When she jumps off the truck she knows she’s close, but where she is looks abandoned. It’s here that Rick and Hercules find her.

This is a favorite scene.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” his low deep voice spoke. “Calm down.”

She gasped, “No!” An almost automatic reaction as she got breath back into her lungs so she could speak.

“Calm down,” he repeated.

“I can’t calm down when somebody is trying to kill me!” She shouted at him and twisted as hard as she could from side to side trying to break out of his grasp.

He was as immovable as a rock and his hands allowed her no escape.

Who is this guy, the incredible Hulk?

“No one is here trying to kill you,” he said. “There’s nobody here but you, me, and my dog Hercules. Calm down.”

The third time he spoke she stopped struggling since it was futile. He wasn’t going to let her go anywhere.

She stood panting and looked at the dog, a German Shephard who sat watching them.

Though he sat, still and calm, he looked to her like an attack dog.

“He looks like an attack dog,” she said.

“He won’t attack you unless you try to kill me,” the man said.

“Me?” she squeaked. “I don’t want to kill anybody.”

“Neither do we,” he said. “Not tonight. Unless we have no choice. We’d much rather talk to pretty women instead.”

“Pretty women?”

Is he kidding?

“Are you trying to hit on me?” Her jaw nearly dropped; his response was so unexpected.

“Just paying you a well-deserved compliment,” he winked.

Men. She rolled her eyes.

“Well, thank you,” she said, sarcastically. “Think you can unhand me now?”

“Sure,” he said. “After you tell me why you were running.”

“I told you,” she said, in exasperation. “Someone is trying to kill me, and I thought you were one of them.”

“So, there’s more than one guy trying to kill you?”

“God only knows how many,” she said and rolled her eyes again. “I can’t keep up. There was the first guy who followed me and then the second guy who tried to run me off the road and got out with a gun to shoot me. Then the third guy who followed me to the truck stop. That’s at least three since I started counting. In just the one day. Today. Who knows how many more there are? The day is not over yet. So, I’ve probably got a contract on my head or something.”

“Yesterday is over. So, the day you are talking about is over. Today is just starting as you will note by the sunrise.”

The sun was indeed rising, making it easier to see him and his huge muscles. Just as she was noticing in an intense manner how strong and muscular he really was, and how sexy he was, he tipped his head and looked at her with an odd expression. “You wouldn’t happen to be Marilyn Mae Teals, would you?”

Her jaw dropped. “How did you know?” She shook her head. “Unless you’re messing with me and you’re after me to kill me too. If so, just kill me now and get it over with. Don’t toy with my head like this.”

“The last thing I would ever do is toy with your head,” he said. “Straight up, no bullshit. That’s all I serve. But listen. You ought to know you’re in Brotherhood Protectors territory now.” He winked. “And Herc and me, we’re part of the brotherhood.”

Her jaw dropped and she stared at him, unable to believe her ears and her eyes.

He chose that moment to release her. “Now, how about we call Hank and Sadie. We’ve all been worried about you. Then I will take you to their place.”

“Finally, some good luck,” she murmured. “I thought I had completely run out.”

“I’m Rock,” he said and then he noted how she was eying his dog. “Herc won’t bite, I promise. He only does that on command when we need to take down a bad guy.”

“So,” she said. “He’s friendly?”

“Very,” he said. “But he’s a working dog. There is friendly time and then there is working time. Civilians sometimes get confused about it. When he’s working, stand aside and let him do his work. Then you two will do just fine.”

“Got it,” she said.

They walked to his SUV, and he touched his ear. “Hank, Rock here. Guess who I just found?”

“Our missing lady,” Hank said.

“Affirmative,” Rock replied. “Unharmed and ready to head your way. Is Sadie nearby to vouch for me? Since Marilyn just met Herc and me.”

“She sure is,” Hank said. “I’ll put her on. Oh, and Rock? Great job.”

“We sort of just ran into each other,” Rock said. “I didn’t do much. Here’s Marilyn.” He took his phone from his SUV, handed it to her and turned off his earpiece. Then he went to put Hercules in the back.

Watching him, Marilyn took the phone and put it to her ear. “Sadie?”

It took another few seconds but then Sadie was on the line. “Marilyn! I tried to call you so many times!”

“My phone is gone. Lost in the rental car they ran off the road!” Marilyn said.

“Ran off the road?” Sadie sounded horrified.

“Oh my God, Sadie, I was so scared!” Marilyn exclaimed.

“You’re safe now, honey,” Sadie said. “It’s going to be all right. Rock will keep you safe and bring you to us. We are all so glad you’re all right!” her relief was evident in her voice. Sadie really did care.

Marilyn released a huge exhale. “You won’t believe what all I’ve been through since I left town.”

“I want to hear all about it,” Sadie said. “Your room is ready, and the vegetable soup is still warm in the crock pot if you’re hungry. I’ll bet you’re ready for a hot shower too. It’s a long drive from California.”

“It is,” Marilyn agreed. “And I have a lot to tell you.”

“Ready?” Rock held the passenger door open for her.

He was a gentleman. But then Tony had been too.

That wasn’t something she could put much stock in anymore. Clearly her judgement in men needed some fine tuning.

She nodded to him. “We’re heading your way now,” she told Sadie. “The soup sounds delicious. Thanks Sadie.”

“You’re welcome,” Sadie said. “Try to relax now. Rock will have you here soon. See you then.”
Debra Parmley. Montana Delta Rescue – Debra Parmley (Kindle Locations 706-758). Kindle Edition.

Of course, getting to Eagle Rock isn’t going to be the end. Tony is dangerous and now has to find her.

I love the way this plays out and Hercules is really the hero in this one. I’m not sure who I loved more, Rick or Herc.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Debra Parmley writes military romantic suspense, contemporary romance, western historical romance, holiday romance, fairy tale romance, and 1920’s romance. She has 28 romance books out. She also writes fantasy, young adult, and children’s books as Debra Bishop. A Gemini, she thrives on writing more than one genre.

She lives in a motorhome full-time with her husband as they travel the U.S. and shares her adventures on her Beautiful Day Traveler blog. Debra has sold travel, walked the plank of a pirate ship off the coast of Grand Cayman, swum with dolphins in Moorea, and set foot in 13 countries. Debra is the founder of Shimmy Mob Memphis which raises funds for the local domestic abuse shelter. She was the host of Book Lights on Blog Talk Radio and interviews cover models on Cover Model Corner. Debra believes that “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day. “

Triple C Ranch
Brotherhood Protectors World Book 2

By
Debra Parmley

Nestled in the Mountains of Montana, in Eagle Rock, is the western branch of the Courage and Confidence Center for Women, aka the Three C’s Ranch, where women who’ve been attacked go to learn skills to survive and thrive. Barrett Williams, former Green Beret and Brotherhood Protector, is lead self-defense instructor at the center. He doesn’t intend to fall for the delicate beauty in his class who fights hard to be as strong in body as she is in spirit.

Chyna Taylor rides the bus line from Cincinnati to Eagle Rock, changing her appearance to avoid being recognized. She wishes she wasn’t small boned and easily overpowered. Before her ex lost it and put her in the hospital, she’d never fought. She swore never to be a victim again. Determined to learn to thrive at the center, she doesn’t plan to fall for the big, strong man who is her instructor. Neither realizes they have little time to get her ready for the fight of her life.

Chyna Lacey was very lucky to get accepted into the program at Triple C Ranch. In spite of everything she’s done to cover her tracks, she’s convinced her ex is going to find her. When that day comes, she wants to be ready to escape him.

Barrett Williams volunteered right away to be the defensive instructor for Triple C Ranch. He wants nothing more than to help these women learn to protect themselves. What he didn’t expect is the attraction he feels for one of the women. Chyna is a very attractive, petite blonde and his instincts are to protect her, but that’s not why they’re here.

As we learn more about Chyna and the other women here at the Triple C, we also get to see how Barrett will lead the training. As Chyna learns, she also finds herself attracted to Barrett, something she never expected to feel again. She knows it’s not the time or place and she struggles not to show it.

The training is targeted to meet the needs of the women without triggering them.

This is a favorite scene.

The second week, the guys brought in training bags and set them up along with boxing gloves. Today, the women were going to learn kickboxing moves, for conditioning and so they could add another skill in their self-defense skill bag.

Chyna eyed the equipment and winced. Oh, I don’t think I’ll do so well with this, she thought. My wrists. She glanced down at her small wrists, which had never been strong. In fact, if anyone grabbed her wrist, she’d freeze.

Barrett, noticing her expression said, “Questions? Chyna, what do you think?”

“I think I’m not strong enough to box,” she said. “That’s for strong men or women who have muscles. I’m not strong like that. I’m small boned.”

“You’re stronger than you think. Don’t give up on it. Give it a try, and let’s see how you do.”

“I can’t give up.” She shook her head. “When I leave here, I have to be ready to defend myself when Phineas or his cousins or anyone from his family comes looking for me.”

“Phineas is your ex?”

She nodded. “Yes, but he goes by the name of Finn usually.”

“You said when, not if,” Barrett said. “What makes you so sure they’ll come looking?”

“It’s not something I can explain. I just know him, and I know his family. None of them is happy about me walking around, able to share family secrets. They’re real big on keeping those family secrets locked up.”

“I’ll prepare you the best I can for any kind of attacker, ones who know you and ones who don’t.”

“I know things I can’t tell anyone, ever. Two of his cousins have been in prison, and his brother boasted he knew how to dispose of a body. I know they do some pretty bad things when they’re off supposedly hunting, but I have no real proof and didn’t see them do anything.”

She was sharing again, and he wasn’t supposed to get close to her or any of the other students. He could only be a concerned instructor.

Don’t get drawn in, he told himself. Keep your focus.

After they did PT to warm up, Barrett started the class. First he had them put on the boxing gloves, and then he demonstrated the moves they’d be doing.

Right jab. Left jab. Right hook. Left hook.

That was the pattern he was teaching them first. They’d add kicks later. He wanted them to get the upper body movements down, and he’d learn which of the women had a hard time hitting someone. These were just boxing bags, not people, so it should get them used to hitting.

He was pleased to see none of them had problems hitting the bags. In fact, some of them were really getting into it. Working out their frustrations.

“Yeah,” Red said. “Now we’re talking. He comes at me again, I’m gonna bam the side of his head. Knock his ass out.”

“I know that’s right,” Neecy said.

They gave each other a high-five. Even Chyna seemed pleased to learn she could hit something. Though she didn’t hit hard or know how to drive through yet, it was a starting point, and he was glad to see it.

Now they could move on to punching each other. Taking the pads the ones playing bad guys would wear; he had them line up in pairs and showed them what to do next. The same one, two, right hook they’d done before, now without gloves, became the base of the palm to the chest in a one, two, then elbow to the left side of the bad guy’s head, then a knee up into the groin.

“Begin,” he said, then moved about the room, watching and making corrections if they showed bad form. He watched the other women in turn before coming back to where Red and Chyna were practicing the moves.

“Come on, Chyna. You ain’t gonna break,” Red said. “I’m gonna start calling you broken Chyna. Get mad, girl. Hey, broken Chyna,” she jeered. “Let me have it.”

Chyna punched with her right fist and barely moved Red.

Red countered with a punch.

Flinching and ducking, China backed away a step instead of moving forward.

“You’re the slow mo backwards girl, and he’s gonna Speedy Gonzalez pound on your ass,” Red said.

“Again,” Barrett said loud enough behind them to cut Red off. “Go again, and Chyna, try to move forward this time, not back. And you need your head to be like a turtle, down with shoulders up to protect, instead of ducking. Notice how when you’re ducking, you’re off balance, and how when you’re down, your opponent is up over you. These aren’t good defensive positions to be in.”

She nodded, trying to take it all in while her body was wired for flight. Freeze, hide or flight, that’s what her body wanted her to do. She had to retrain it. She had to work hard to absorb Barrett’s words when her body was still on the edge of running.

Listen, she told herself. Listen.

He was watching her closely. “You okay?”

She nodded.

“Okay.” He turned back to Red and then said, “Again.” They tried again and again until Chyna was frustrated with herself and tired of the exercise, and just when she’d thought she’d never, ever move through it, she took a tiny step forward.

“That’s it,” Barrett called. “Do that again.”

It felt totally different. Off, but nothing bad happened from that tiny step.

“Again,” he said.

The second time, she didn’t hesitate to take a step forward, and the step was bigger.

“Yes,” Barrett said. “That’s it.”

Elation filled her. “I did it!”

“You did,” he said.

“Kick my ass next time,” Red said with a grin.

“I just might.” Chyna grinned.

That grin felt larger than her face.

“Again,” Barrett said.

The women went through the moves again, and this time it was Red’s turn to defend against an attacker. Red, unlike Chyna, had no trouble moving in and hitting with force and speed. He watched as Chyna had trouble holding the pad, the way Red pounded on it, driving Chyna backwards.

“Ha. Broke ya,” Red said. “He would’ve smashed ya by -”

Barrett had been watching them closely, seeing Chyna’s reaction to Red’s aggression. Her body posture had gotten smaller the more she moved back. Time to stop that.

“Again,” Barrett said, quickly interrupting Red before she could say more. “Chyna’s turn.”

Chyna looked at him in surprise. “Again,” he told her.

She looked back at Red. Putting her right foot back, her hands up and ducking her head, Chyna moved. Making all the hits just right, and though not strong and through like they needed to be, her form was right.

“That’s it,” he said. “Perfect. You’ve got this.”

“Yes!” She turned and pumped her fist in the air. “I did it!” Her grin was from ear to ear.

Barrett knew this was a turning point for Chyna. Though he, himself, didn’t flinch or duck and had only learned to duck while boxing, he understood enough about training the brain to move from one mode of reaction to another, to know what a big step forward this was for her. These auto reflexes were instinctual, and they were working with more than thought processes here; they were working with gut reactions and the flood of adrenalin that took over the body when faced with a threat. It was a matter of redirection and retraining.

What most people didn’t realize was that freezing, ducking and hiding were responses the brain and body did to stay alive in a threatening situation. When it worked, once or more than once, what was learned was, those reactions had kept the person alive. Leah had explained that moving from that instinctive pattern, which was now automatic and proven to work, to move to another untried reaction was asking the person to risk that it might not work when there was already a pattern that had. This made it a big hurdle to get over.

Chyna’s small step had been a reach to bring her up and over that hurdle, and it was the complete opposite of what her body had told her to do. Enough reaches, and that would become the new proven pattern.

Once a student learned instinctively to fight instead of freeze, hide or run, everything would change. Confidence, combined with different escape or fight moves, and the opponent would no longer have the advantage of time on their side while the victim tried to move over that hurdle to come back at him.

This was monumental, and he could see it in her grin.

That beautiful, glorious grin. I’m proud of you. He wanted to shout those words. He wanted to raise her up in the air and kiss her. This was huge.

He’d like to see more of that grin. It was time to end on a high note so she could hold on to that feeling and what she’d accomplished this morning.

“That’s it for today,” Barrett told the class. “Good job, everyone. Now that you have the form down, next time we’ll work on driving through and flanking your opponent.”

Chyna turned her grin to him again, and he grinned back.
Debra Parmley. Defensive Instructor_ Brotherhood – Debra Parmley (Kindle Locations 997-1070). Kindle Edition.

While Chyna has always been sure her ex would find her, she didn’t expect it to be here in Montana.

The thing is the center didn’t expect any issues either, since they are so remote. and certain security updates were put off or denied.

I love the whole concept of the Triple C Ranch and how these women put their all into learning to be safe.

The romance while forbidden by the rules, is stronger than those involved and made me laugh out loud when they give in.

Plenty of suspense, some action and the perfect amount of sizzle.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Debra Parmley writes military romantic suspense, contemporary romance, western historical romance, holiday romance, fairy tale romance, and 1920’s romance. She has 28 romance books out. She also writes fantasy, young adult, and children’s books as Debra Bishop. A Gemini, she thrives on writing more than one genre.

She lives in a motorhome full-time with her husband as they travel the U.S. and shares her adventures on her Beautiful Day Traveler blog. Debra has sold travel, walked the plank of a pirate ship off the coast of Grand Cayman, swum with dolphins in Moorea, and set foot in 13 countries. Debra is the founder of Shimmy Mob Memphis which raises funds for the local domestic abuse shelter. She was the host of Book Lights on Blog Talk Radio and interviews cover models on Cover Model Corner. Debra believes that “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day. “

By
Debra Parmley

Suki aka Susan Chesterfield, is finally being asked to dinner by Frank Omato, one of Al Capone’s enforcers, after finishing her dance number at the Green Mill in Chicago, when gunmen enter the club with their Thompson submachine guns, ready to take out Al and anyone else in his gang or in their way. Frank saves Suki’s life, pushing her out of the way and she escapes down the secret stairs behind the bar only to fall and break her foot. Everyone who knows how is escaping down the tunnels underneath Chicago’s streets which were used to deliver hootch to all the speakeasies on the route. But Suki can’t make her way out alone. She needs someone to help her and to get her to a doctor who can look at her foot. Frank comes to the rescue once again, making sure a doctor looks at her foot. She’s broken her talus bone in half and it will be weeks until the cast can come off and she’s able to dance again. How is she going to pay the rent? Frank comes to the rescue more than once, but there’s a catch. There always is, when a gangster is involved and wants you to be his moll. There is safety in being a gangsters moll. No one messes with Frank’s woman. But will she still be free and independent now that she’s Frank’s girl?

Falling for Frank, it is oh so easy to say yes. But the life of a moll isn’t an easy one. How will independent Suki handle being Frank’s moll? She’s itching to dance again and to break out of that cast and be free. But she knows she has to wait and to “live in the now.” “The right now.”

A rival gang paid for a hit on Al and the shooting at The Green Mill is one of several attempts against Al and his men. After four weeks of being cooped up in her apartment leaves Suki feeling restless, Frank surprises her by telling her he’s sending her to Miami, Florida on the train. Al and his men are going to Miami so Al can see the horse races at the new Miami Jockey Club in Hialeah. Knowing she is restless, Frank sends Suki down early on the train so she can recouperate at The Flamingo Hotel, the first grand hotel in Miami. She travels by train to Miami, first class all the way, courtesy of Frank, who will join her when he comes down with Al and his men.

But train travel isn’t without dangers. Something happens she can’t tell Frank about. How can she when she had three rules to follow and broke the first two even before she’d been gone twenty four hours?

The rules are harder for a flapper to keep than she’d thought they’d be. She wasn’t supposed to leave her compartment until she reached her final destination. That was the first rule she broke and kept on breaking. He’d be angry if he knew she’d been exploring the Jacksonville Florida train station instead of heeding his words She doesn’t dare tell him what happened to her, or about meeting Phillip in the dining car.

Phillip, is traveling on the same train as Suki and is seated at her table in the dining car when there are no other open seats. He recently moved to Miami from Barcelona, Spain and enjoys telling Suki all about his new home. Suki, who has never traveled anywhere until now, is fascinated by the well traveled and educated gentleman who seems to see right into her, noticing things few do. He promises to introduce her to his twin sister, Phyllis, who he believes will be a good friend to Suki.

Once she reaches Miami, her restlessness is even worse. She can’t wait to get the cast off and to be free of Enzo, Franks man, who Frank assigned to meet her at the train station and to help her with whatever needs.

We met Suki in ‘Trapping the Butterfly’ this is her story.

Suki is a dancer in Chicago at The Green Mill a club Al Capone likes to frequent. On this particular night she’s hoping to meet one of his men. She’s had her eye on him for a while and she knows he’s been watching her too.

She’s even wearing her lucky earrings that night until one flies off her ear.

This is a favorite scene.

When her earring flew off and skidded across the floor to eventually stop at his feet, he bent to pick it up with satisfaction. The earring was important to her; he’d seen that while watching her expressions change as the earring had been passed around the floor like a hockey puck. He’d seen how relieved she was that it was safe. Holding the delicate jewelry in his palm, he watched her dance.

Good. She’d be coming for the earring now palmed in his hand. He’d positioned himself at the end of the bar where he could see the entrance, as watching the entrances and exits were part of his job. But he’d still be near the hidden stairs behind the bar, which led to the green room for entertainers as well as the private rooms below. She’d have to walk past him to go downstairs to the green room where her coat and hat would be, if she planned to leave after her set.

Finishing her set, Suki gave a little bow to her applause; she then thanked the jazz band players, and then moved out of the limelight so the next hoofer could go on.

He watched her walk toward him across the floor; those toned dancer’s legs moving smoothly, her dark hair and the fringe on her white dress swinging as her blue eyes met his and held. Not breaking that gaze, he gazed right back and she barely blinked. This was no shy dancer, and she was headed straight for what she wanted. Which was the earring in his palm. He’d like to see her heading toward him wanting something else. He’d be more than happy to give it to her. Then she was standing in front of him, cool and breathy. Not afraid. Not shy.

“We haven’t been introduced.” Her words came out fast and low.

He leaned closer to hear her. “No, we haven’t,” he said.

“I’m Suki.”

“Nice to meet ya, Suki.” He said her name slowly and watched her reaction. There was a glimmer of something in her eyes. Attraction. He knew how to read the signs. “Frank Omato.” He reached for her hand, the soft, pale skin of her hand now in his. He kissed the back, watching the color in her cheeks rise. So, she liked that.

“Nice to meet you, Frank.”

“Suki, short for Susan?” Frank asked.

“Yes.” She nodded. “Susan Chesterfield.”

He didn’t comment on the last name and kept his eyes from glancing down to her chest, to her pert nipples beneath her white beaded dress. Instead he focused on her eyes, avoiding her red lips and the way they’d parted as she breathed out to answer him. “You prefer Suki?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes.”

Frank’s voice was doing something to her, something that she’d never felt before, as his tones reached deep down inside of her. Her body responded to those tones, making her want to lean in closer. Softening her approach to him. Making her want to touch him.

The moment Frank took her hand and his hand touched hers, she felt a connection, stronger than the typical, oh you look good, attraction she usually had with good-looking men. Her skin warmed beneath his and she felt the connection all the way up her arm. Then Frank kissed the back of her hand and goose bumps pebbled across her shoulders and neck.

This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things, this connection. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did.

He asked for her real name and she gave it. “Yes,” she said. “Susan Chesterfield.” Heat rose in her cheeks as she blushed, something she hadn’t done since she was thirteen and Johnny Scarlatti teased her on the playground.

And that was what Johnny had teased her about so long ago. Her budding breasts, which all the boys had noticed, while her mother was too busy drinking and entertaining the next “uncle”, who always noticed them. Her mother stayed too busy pleasing the latest man, too busy to buy Suki proper undergarments or to teach her anything about being a woman, or sex.

Suki had learned about sex all on her own. By being observant and, later, with the help of one of those “uncles” who noticed everything and knew just how to do everything. She’d quickly learned how to please a man and lost any shyness she’d had as a girl.

Tonight, this was a whole different kind of blush, for she wasn’t shy. Frank was a gentleman treating her like a lady, while her body warmed from being so near to him. Those breasts she’d been teased about now sported pert nipples; the show dress didn’t hide them since she wore nothing but silk stockings and silk panties underneath. She was fairly certain he’d noticed, though he’d been gentleman enough not to look directly at her chest.

He turned her palm over, creating more delicate shock waves along her body at his touch. “I have something of yours,” he said.

“Yes,” she breathed as the chemistry arced between them like an electrical storm she’d once watched, the light show crackling across the treetops.

Frank was a strong and dangerous man, an enforcer in Al’s gang. This attraction between them, like an electrical storm, was dangerous to play with and impossible to ignore. Just like Frank Omato.

He placed the earring in her hand, and then with a light caress of her palm pulled his fingers away, making her catch her breath. She glanced down at the earring. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He closed her fingers back around the earring and then released her hand again.

She felt the loss of his touch immediately, and with a shock stepped back, her gaze flying back up to meet his. She wanted him to touch her again and knew he’d read that in her eyes.

“Dinner after,” he asked with such assurance it almost wasn’t a question. “If you’re free tonight.”

“Yes,” she breathed again, almost a whisper. “I’ll have dinner with you.”

Suddenly he turned his gaze away from her with a frown as his full attention focused on something near the front door. She glanced there, too, wondering what was important enough to break the intimate connection forming between them.

His right hand moved swiftly toward his heart, beneath his jacket, at the same time as his left hand wrapped firm around her left arm, moving her behind him. He stepped forward in front of her to shoot. “Go,” he said. “Get downstairs!”

Crouching down behind him she moved behind the bar, where Tony, the bartender, had crouched down, holding the door in the floor behind the bar open for everyone to escape. “Come on, hurry!”
Parmley, Debra. Dancing Butterfly (Butterflies Fly Free Series Book 2) Kindle Locations (135-182). Belo Dia Publishing Incorporated. Kindle Edition.

In her flight to get away Suki, injures her ankle and Frank rescues her. Getting her away from the club through the tunnels and then to a doctor.

In a cast for six weeks, she can’t dance and make money. That’s when Frank steps up and takes care of everything, her rent, heat, food all paid for.

When she gets restless, he sends her to Miami ahead of the rest of them. He gives her rules to follow and of course she’s going to break them.

She meets Phillip on the train, and he arranges for her to meet his sister once they’re in Florida.

Talk about complicated.

I love the way this plays out as I really felt bad for Suki feeling so confined by Frank’s attention.

There’s laughter, romance, tears, sizzle and that all important Happily Ever After.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Debra Parmley writes military romantic suspense, contemporary romance, western historical romance, holiday romance, fairy tale romance, and 1920’s romance. She has 28 romance books out. She also writes fantasy, young adult, and children’s books as Debra Bishop. A Gemini, she thrives on writing more than one genre.

She lives in a motorhome full-time with her husband as they travel the U.S. and shares her adventures on her Beautiful Day Traveler blog. Debra has sold travel, walked the plank of a pirate ship off the coast of Grand Cayman, swum with dolphins in Moorea, and set foot in 13 countries. Debra is the founder of Shimmy Mob Memphis which raises funds for the local domestic abuse shelter. She was the host of Book Lights on Blog Talk Radio and interviews cover models on Cover Model Corner. Debra believes that “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day. “

By
Debra Parmley

Marine Recon Gunnery Sergeant Jack “Gunny” Barr has retired and returned to Texas when he’s hired by The Brotherhood Protectors bodyguard service in Montana. His job is to protect the volatile actress Angelica Glory. She’s a bombshell and an obsessive stalker has fixated on her as a target. Lucy Wood, her shy assistant, has her hands full watching out for her. When the women are sent to Montana to lay low until the stalker is caught, Angelica has nothing to do but lay by the pool drinking rum and cola while trying to seduce the hunky bodyguard set to protect them or die trying. Jack and Lucy are drawn to each other, but working for Angelia leaves little time to see where their desires might lead. A dangerous stalker with a love obsession is determined to have the woman of his dreams.

Axel ‘Swede’ Svenson calls his friend Jack “Gunny” Barr with a job offer when the Brotherhood Protectors need more men. The job is protection for Angelica Glory, a Hollywood star who’s being stalked.

Although Swede had sent everything he had, Gunny did some searching of his own to get a feel for the situation. He found her assistant Lucy Woods to be intriguing and apparently doesn’t like cameras from what he can see of her posture around them.

Lucy had discovered the stalking, but it was very subtle at first. Roses daily for almost a month, but then there was the lingerie. It was then that she called Angelica’s agent Monroe to report it. There were also things happening with Angelica’s schedule that had Lucy documenting everything she does. Cancelled appointments that made it look like Lucy wasn’t doing her job.

Thanks to Monroe they were now on their way to Montana and Angelica isn’t pleased. Especially when she sees how remote they are. Then there’s the persistent guy who wants a date with Lucy she’s just been ignoring his calls and texts, Angelica is all she can handle.

When Jack interviewed Angelica he decides to interview Lucy separate. Angelica liked to be the center of all attention and he needs facts. As Jack and Lucy are going through the box where she has all the notes with the documentation of when and where they appeared, she gets another text from Grant. He just doesn’t take no for an answer.

Jack wants to know what upset her but doesn’t push. He also arranges for them to go riding when he’s off duty to give her a break from Angelica and to get to know her better.

This is a favorite scene.

“It’s safer to be back before dark.” Jack remained serious. “Because I’ve been on this trail already while you’ve never even been on a horse. And everything is more dangerous in the dark.”

Her smile dropped. “Will I be in the way of your work?” she asked quietly, worried.

“No, not at all.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t have invited you if I thought there’d be a problem.” He held up a bag. “I had the cook fix us a picnic dinner. We’ll find a good spot, eat, and then ride back. Just an easy ride for your first time.” He stowed the bag on the horse’s saddle.

“That sounds like fun. Thank you, Jack.”

He gave her a warm smile. “You’re welcome, Lucy. Are you ready to ride?”

Jack’s question and the smile he gave her were impossible to turn down. “Oh yes.” She smiled back at him.

“Then let’s get you up on that horse.”

“Okay. What do I do?”

“Step over here, on her left, and take the reins in your right hand. Now, don’t pull them too hard or she’ll back up on you. Step up on the mounting block, grab the saddle horn with your left hand, and put your left foot in the stirrup. Then swing your right leg over.”

She followed Jack’s directions, and then she was up on the horse looking down on him, wondering what to do next.

“You good?”

She nodded. He mounted his horse and moved over next to her. “These horses know the trails so well, they could find their way back here in a storm. So don’t worry about the trail. Just enjoy the ride.”

“How am I going to get back on after our picnic? Will there be a mounting block at the picnic place?”

“No, but you have me to help you.”

“All right. Lead on, then.” “I’ll be riding beside you the first little way until I know you’re comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

The horses moved with a slow and steady gait. So slow, Lucy might have dozed in the saddle if not for her nervousness. All the newness of horseback riding, along with a first date with Jack, had her in a state of excitement.

Moving along the trail through the tall pine trees, she noticed everything at a different level than if they’d been walking. She was up higher now and sunlight came between the tree limbs. Birds sang as they passed and headed up the trail toward the mountain.

They reached a place that seemed perfect for a picnic. There was a stretch of grass in between several trees and a large rock to sit and eat on. They stopped their horses, and then Jack reached up to help her down.

His warm hands went around her waist as he lifted her to help her down, and then she was on the ground, face to face with him, her eyes wide with the nearness of him and the way he’d just touched her.

“Hungry?” His eyes searched hers as he spoke.

“Oh yes. Very.”

“Good.” He took the horses reins and turned away to find a tree to tie them to. “Don’t want them deciding to head back without us.”

“Do you think they’d do that?”

“If spooked and if they ran, yes.”

“Oh,” she said as he gathered the bag of food.

They both sat on the rock and he opened the bag. ”Let’s see what she fixed for us.” He pulled out two roast beef sandwiches on hard rolls, cheese cubes, carrot sticks and celery sticks, two apples, and two oatmeal cookies. “Looks good.”

“Yes, it does,” Lucy agreed. She picked up a sandwich. “I’m surprised she used rolls instead of bread.”

“Can you imagine how that soft bread would have held up with all the bouncing? Notice that nothing got smashed from the ride.”

“I do feel quite… bounced.” ​

He laughed, and she laughed with him.

​“It’s beautiful here,” she said with a sigh. ​

“Yes it is.”

“Have you been riding a long time? I know you said you’re from Houston, Texas. But that’s a big city. Did you grow up around horses?”

“Yep. We lived on the outskirts of Houston, not inside the city. Had my first pony when I was five.”

“Oh wow. You were hardly even in school yet.”

“Cherokee was his name. I rode him bareback, rode him so much, I used to sleep on him.”

“Wow. So you’re a Marine and a cowboy.”

He grinned. “Yes ma’am.”

“I thought you seemed to fit here. Kind of like you belonged. Do you have horses?”

“No. I do good to keep a house. Away on deployments for so many years didn’t leave room for horses or a dog or any other kind of animal back home.”

“Have you thought about it since you got out?”

He looked through the trees and down the hill, through to the field where two horses were grazing. “I could settle here in Montana.”

“It really is beautiful. And it’s so peaceful here.”

“You needed to get away.”

“Yes, I did.”

Both of them knew how much Lucy needed a bit of peacefulness and a break from Angelica.

They ate, drank water from the canteen, and enjoyed each other’s company and the quiet surroundings.

“We’ll have to head back soon. So you don’t turn into a pumpkin.” He winked at her.

She laughed. “Yes, we wouldn’t want that. Unless you like pumpkin.”

“I like the taste of pumpkin, and I’m sure you would be delicious.”

She blushed, realizing he was talking about more than food. “Well, I hope I am.”

He leaned forward and kissed her lips, a soft, sweet brush of the lips as she closed her eyes, and then he sat back.

She opened her eyes and gazed into his.

“Sweet,” he said. “Very tasty.”

Smiling from ear to ear, inside she was full of joy and wanted to jump up and down shouting, “He kissed me! He kissed me!” Instead, she just smiled that happy smile and let the joy flow through her.

He got up and held out his hand. “Ready to head back?”

“Yes.” She placed her hand in his, ready to go, though she wished they didn’t have to. It would be nice to stay out under the stars, watching the night sky with him. But maybe they could do that another time.
Parmley, Debra. Montana Marine Brotherhood Protectors World. Kindle Locations (805-867) Kindle Edition.

I love the way this story develops, even with Angelica’s demands. The way Jack handle her is perfect and Lucy could certainly learn from that.

There’s definitely a big twist in this one, and I should have seen it coming a mile away, but I didn’t.

I ‘ve missed a couple of books of Debra’s in this world, I’m going to have to catch up.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Debra Parmley writes military romantic suspense, contemporary romance, western historical romance, holiday romance, fairy tale romance, and 1920’s romance. She has 28 romance books out. She also writes fantasy, young adult, and children’s books as Debra Bishop. A Gemini, she thrives on writing more than one genre.

She lives in a motorhome full-time with her husband as they travel the U.S. and shares her adventures on her Beautiful Day Traveler blog. Debra has sold travel, walked the plank of a pirate ship off the coast of Grand Cayman, swum with dolphins in Moorea, and set foot in 13 countries. Debra is the founder of Shimmy Mob Memphis which raises funds for the local domestic abuse shelter. She was the host of Book Lights on Blog Talk Radio and interviews cover models on Cover Model Corner. Debra believes that “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day. “

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Debra Parmley

Kindergarten teacher Ellen Young has a stalker with a love obsession who has followed her since college. When he attacks her in the school parking lot, she struggles to get away. He is winning when a man sees them and yells, the distraction just enough for her to break free. Now she is at the Three C’s Ranch in Eagle Rock Montana learning self-defense.

Travis “Ballistic” Bannerman, SEAL vet, widower, and father of a five-year-old son, leaves the teams to come home to take care of his son when Hank Patterson offers him a job with the Brotherhood Protectors. He’s more than happy to teach Ellen to get over her fear of guns and would like to date her. But there’s a no fraternizing rule and he’s focused on taking care of his son.

When Ellen graduates from the program and takes a job teaching Kindergarten in Eagle Rock, his son is one of her students. She’d love to date the handsome SEAL, but that would be conflict of interest and she doesn’t want to lose her job.

He makes her want to break all the rules to be with him. They’re dating when her stalker finds her and succeeds in kidnapping her. He doesn’t realize he’s become the enemy of a Navy SEAL determined to hunt him down, retrieve his woman, and exact vengeance.

Ellen Young has come to the Triple C Ranch to learn self-defense. She would also get a new identity and life to keep her hidden from her stalker who got away. She really didn’t want to start over but hopefully things will work out.

Travis “Ballistic” Bannerman has joined the Brotherhood Protectors after leaving the SEALs. His ex-wife died and his son, Scotty, needs his attention now more than ever. He’s only doing day assignments so he can spend quality time with Scotty. One of these assignments is the gun training at the Triple C Ranch.

When Ellen sees Travis at that first session, she’s immediately attracted to him. Of course, she knows the rules don’t allow for any fraternizing, but she could look. Travis notices her as well and the fact she really is afraid of the guns. He wants to help her get over that, so he arranges a private lesson.

This is just one of many favorite scenes.

She watched him take the bullets out. He laid them on a plastic tray on the table. The range had a white plastic bucket on the ground for “used rounds” as Hank had explained. She supposed that made less work for George, the maintenance man.

And people should pick up after themselves. Even in kindergarten she tried to teach the children to put their things away.

Some children would just drop things when they were done playing with them, or anything they were done using. She would tell them, “We don’t have any school elves or house elves from your home to clean up after us, so we must each put our own things away.”

Travis was taking the gun apart now, naming each part and explaining what it did and how they worked together to fire the gun. Then he stopped. “Pick them up, handle them,” he said. “they’re just parts.”

She reached for one and lifted it, feeling the weight of it in her hand. Then she did this with each part.

This isn’t so bad. I like to know how things work and their history.

“The 1911 has been around a long time,” he said. “Though modern guns have improved upon it, a lot of guys still carry one. It’s still one of the favored guns to carry. Some of us carry more than one gun.”

Ellen’s eyes widened in surprise. “More than one?”

Why would anyone ever need more than one gun on their person at a time?

“Guns are machines,” Travis explained, “made by man, and anything on Earth made by man is flawed, somehow. There’s no such thing as mechanical perfection. Someday, somewhere, no matter how much attention to detail, cleaning, or sweet nothings I whisper to it at night, some part of this gun is going to break.”

Travis shrugged as Ellen wrestled with the distraction of the thought of Travis whispering sweet nothings in her ear late at night.

The idea of listening to his voice all night, as he whispered into her ears, was whispering into her mind in a deliciously enticing way which made it hard to pay attention.

Focus. On. The gun.

She forced her gaze to the gun, away from his eyes. As if that would help.

“Of course, when it does happen, it’ll probably be on the practice range,” he said. “At least, I hope that’s where it’ll be, but if it isn’t, I might like to have another weapon on me. Or heck, there have been times when I’m out with a buddy who isn’t carrying, and I like to offer him his own weapon for the night or something.”

“Do guns break often?” Ellen asked, forcing herself to focus on the lesson.

Travis waved a hand. “Nah, not the good ones. Most quality guns will outlast our grandchildren, especially when properly cared for.”

Ellen’s breath caught at the mention of grandchildren, particularly his use of “our.”

Had he meant it intentionally?

The thought of having grandchildren with him dove deep as his voice and his words went swirling into her ears, and then her thoughts, before reaching down to her deepest longing for a family of her own complete with children and grandchildren.

Travis picked up the re-assembled 1911 bringing her back to reality with a crash.

She blinked.

Gun. Right.

“Now, one of the hallmarks of a 1911 is its weight,” he said. “This gun is much heavier than these other two here.”

“Is that a good thing?” She tilted her head, watching him and the gun. There were so many kinds of guns, and she had no idea what was good.

Travis nodded. “It can be. I like a heavy gun. The heavier a gun is, the more recoil it absorbs. Let me see you shoot it. See how you like it.”

Ellen put on her eye and ear protection, and then followed Travis’s instructions on how to load the gun before getting both hands on it so that she could shoot it.

It felt so heavy in her hand, but he’d warned her it would be heavy, so that was less shocking than the first time she’d shot guns yesterday.

Travis smiled at her. “I tell you what, ain’t nothin’ like a girl with a gun in her hands! But let me make a suggestion.”

Ellen was in the act of grinning herself, at his sudden southern like speech, when Travis stepped up behind her, his chest against her back.

Oh my.

She hadn’t expected this, and he’d moved fast.

His chest was strong and warm. His hands went out to hers on the gun, gently guiding them into different spots so that she could have better control of the gun.

As she let him guide her hands, she relished the way his fingers felt upon her hands, and the way his arms around her made her feel protected and warm.

“There now. Feel better?” his voice came, very near to her ear.

Goosebumps raced down the back of her neck even though his body was warm around hers, and she almost shivered. But she didn’t, couldn’t let him know the reaction being this near to him did to her.

“Mm-hmm!” She nodded quickly, not trusting herself to say more. His scent also came to her with him being so close. She could have closed her eyes just to breathe his scent in, but she didn’t close them, wouldn’t let herself. She couldn’t let him know how she was reacting to him.

“Good! Take a shot or two,” he said.

Ellen laughed. “At what? There’s no target!”

“Don’t worry about that just yet,” he replied. “Just concentrate on how the gun feels when you shoot it. We’ll get to accuracy later.”

Now this was different. Without a paper target in front of her, Ellen had no choice but to put her thought into what she and the gun were doing, instead of where bullets were going.

It also forced her mind away from the direction all her senses were currently racing while he was so near. A good thing because she was struggling to do that on her own. Never in her life had she been so distracted during a lesson. She was a good student, loved learning, and always focused on her lessons.

Now her mind was directed exactly where he’d pointed it.

On the one hand, it was frustrating not to know whether she was doing things correctly, but then, she supposed that if she wasn’t, Travis would’ve said something. On the other hand, if she hadn’t been shooting well on paper, her competitive drive would have taken over, and the whole lesson could have been compromised.

She didn’t know whether to feel frustrated or thankful, though with Travis standing so close behind her, his hands now resting gently on her hips, it was slightly easier to concentrate on the good things, rather than the bad. And his hands felt good upon her hips, grounding her, and reminding her to keep her hips still.

After the 1911, they shot the Smith and Wesson Shield. Oddly, though this gun shot a smaller bullet, the recoil on it felt a lot like the 1911, since it was so much lighter.

Ellen pouted. “This one felt so much better than the 1911 before I shot it! It seems so much easier to carry.”

“Honestly, carry comfort depends much more on the holster and belt combination than anything else,” Travis said, always upbeat. “You’d be really surprised to learn how big a gun you can carry and conceal.”

Travis picked up the last gun on the table, the Glock, and smiled. “I think you’ll find that this one combines the best of both worlds. Same small caliber as the Shield, but heavier, like the 1911.”

After she gave it a try, she agreed with him. Shooting the Glock was much more comfortable than the other two had been.

Their thirty minutes together went so fast, her private lesson was over before she realized it. The others had started coming onto the range for their class.
Debra Parmley. Montana SEAL Protector: Brotherhood Protectors World (Kindle Locations 677-741). Twisted Page Press, LLC. Kindle Edition.

Now the lesson went well and Ellen learns to be proficient through the rest of the course. With only a few days left Ellen needs to decide on a career, but she loves teaching Kindergarten and doesn’t want to do anything else. That’s when the opportunity of a lifetime comes up. Eagle Falls needs a Kindergarten teacher and moving quickly Ellen gets the position.

This is where things will get interesting, as Travis’ son Scotty will be in her class.

This story is so much fun and mostly lighthearted. Of course, there is still the issue of the stalker who’s on the loose to be dealt with.

I loved the slow and steady growth of this relationship and the circumstances that brought them together.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Debra Parmley writes military romantic suspense, contemporary romance, western historical romance, holiday romance, fairy tale romance, and 1920’s romance. She has 28 romance books out. She also writes fantasy, young adult, and children’s books as Debra Bishop. A Gemini, she thrives on writing more than one genre.

She lives in a motorhome full-time with her husband as they travel the U.S. and shares her adventures on her Beautiful Day Traveler blog. Debra has sold travel, walked the plank of a pirate ship off the coast of Grand Cayman, swum with dolphins in Moorea, and set foot in 13 countries. Debra is the founder of Shimmy Mob Memphis which raises funds for the local domestic abuse shelter. She was the host of Book Lights on Blog Talk Radio and interviews cover models on Cover Model Corner. Debra believes that “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day. “

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Amazon Author Page

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Debra Parmley

Blinded by a bad date, Cecelia lives and works on a ranch that helps victims of domestic abuse. All she wants is to stay on the ranch, a place where she can find her way around in her perpetual darkness. She has no intention of dating again, especially not Marine Force Recon veteran, Brian “Barbie” Ken, even if his voice is so sexy it makes her knees weak.

Assigned to protect the patrons and workers at the ranch, Brian is fascinated by everything about Cecelia and has made it his life’s mission to take her out on a date. She might be the biggest challenge of his life. Convincing her to leave the ranch will take more than smooth talking after an ill-fated date robbed her of her eyesight. It will take Blind Trust on her part to go out again.

When her cousin ends up in the hospital in San Diego, Cecelia is desperate to visit. Brian offers to drive her. Cecelia agrees to go, taking a leap of faith to leave her familiar surroundings. When a sex trafficker kidnaps Cecelia from the hospital, Brian crosses the border into Mexico to rescue her and bring her home.

When Brian ‘Barbie’ Ken first sees Cecelia he is struck by her beauty, her silver hair is unusual and striking. When Hank calls to her as she’s walking directly toward a broom blocking the way, he realizes she’s blind.

When they’re introduced there’s none of the typical fawning that some women do over a man who’s single and built and Brian finds that more than a little attractive.

His job here at the Courage and Confidence Center for Women, aka Triple C Ranch or The Three C’s Ranch will be part of the round-the-clock security provided by Hank’s Brotherhood Protectors. The personal security is needed at least until the rebuild from an attack is completed and a state of the art security system is installed.

As Brian falls into the routine he also finds himself trying to get to know Cecelia better, he also wants to ask her out.

This is a favorite scene.

Brian had been working security at the ranch for over a week when he asked Cecelia out. He waited until it was break time and she’d gone into the ranch kitchen for a glass of lemonade and an oatmeal raisin cookie.

She looked up at him as he entered the room. “Would you like a cookie, Brian?” she asked.

Somehow, she always seemed to know when he entered the room, despite the quiet way he moved.

“How do you always know it’s me?” he asked.

“Your scent,” she said. “It’s unique.”

“In a good way, I hope,” he drawled.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “A very good way.” She smiled and held the plate of cookies out to him.

“Thanks,” he said. “They look delicious.”

“Lemonade?”

“I’m not much into lemonade,” he said.

“Milk then,” she said. “Cookies are always good with milk.” She laid her cookie down and moved toward the fridge.

“I can get it,” he said. “Go on and enjoy your cookie. You don’t need to wait on me.”

“Okay.” She gave in with no argument and moved back to her own cookie to take another bite.

He went to the fridge, removed the milk, and then found a glass to pour it in.

“Emma makes the best cookies,” Cecelia said.

“She does,” he agreed. “I could get spoiled, working here.”

“I’ll bet you don’t get many cookies on your jobs,” she said.

“This is the first job I’ve had where I’ve received even one cookie,” he said, with a laugh. “My jobs have been chasing down bad guys, or guarding somebody, or something.”

“What, they never handed out cookies? As a reward?” She laughed. “Someone needs to renegotiate your compensation.”

“The bonuses were good. No cookies though.” He dunked his cookie into the glass of milk and took a bite.

“Her oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorite,” she said.

“They are really good,” he said, still munching on a bite.

When they’d finished the cookies, he seized the moment. “This has been fun,” he said.

“It has,” she agreed.

“Let’s do this again,” he said. “How about dinner in Bozeman this weekend?”

“You don’t want to go out with a blind girl,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yes, I do,” he said. “But not with just any blind girl. I want to go out with you.”

She laughed. “I’m nothing special. And anyway, I don’t date, I don’t do friends with benefits, and I’m done with relationships. But even if I did date, a relationship with me would be a lot of work. Men don’t handle that well.”

“I’m a Marine,” he said. “We’re used to a lot of work, overcoming obstacles, and succeeding at our goals.”

“Maybe so, but I’m not ready to go out,” she said. “I’m safe here, and I know where everything is.”

“You’d be safe with me, and I’d make sure you knew where things are,” he said.

“You’re going to keep trying to convince me, aren’t you?” She tilted her head toward him, looking upward, with an exasperated look on her face.

“Yes, ma’am, I am.” He nodded, then caught himself, realizing she wouldn’t see him nod. “What will it take to get you to say yes?”

“You don’t understand.” She shook her head. “I’m not going to get my sight back. This is how things will always be. And I don’t date. You should just give up now.”

“Give up?” He laughed. “You’re trying to convince a Marine to give up? Now that is funny.”
Debra Parmely. Blind Trust: Brotherhood Protectors World (Kindle Locations 151-182). Twisted Page Press, LLC.

While he’s unsuccessful in getting a date off the property, he does manage to have lunch with Cecelia and tries to come up with other date like activities to do with her on the property. Then fate steps in and lend him a hand, Cecelia needs to go to San Diego, to see her cousin is in the hospital.

Brian offers to take her as he has some business to attend to on the base at Coronado.

I love this relationship and how it progresses, the gift Brian gives her before they start the trip, the meals, the absolute understanding that she is independent even though she can’t see melted my heart.

Of course there had to be something that went FUBAR and I held my breath and sniffled through all of that.

I couldn’t put this book down, I love the way Debra has added this Ranch into the Brotherhood Protector’s world I have to go back and read her other books in this world. I really hope she plans on writing more.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Fascinated by fairy tales and folktales ever since she was young, Debra Parmley has always ended her stories with a happy ever after. Every story she writes has an element of romance. She started out writing gritty western historical romance and damsel in distress stories. Her first book, A Desperate Journey, was traditionally published in 2008, after competing in the American Title II contest. A hybrid author, she went on to write for five publishers before branching out with her own Indie press, Belo Dia Publishing Inc. Belo Dia is Portuguese for Beautiful Day.

Debra writes historical romance, contemporary romance and romantic suspense. An Air Force veteran’s wife, she writes military heroes in the present and in the future. Debra’s work as a travel consultant gave her the opportunity to visit many countries. Her luggage often carried home folk tales from the countries visited.

Her three favorite things are dark chocolate, visiting the beach and ocean, and hearing from her readers. Each card, letter and email is a treasured gift, like finding a perfect shell upon the beach. For more information about Debra, please visit her website, links below.

By
Debra Parmley & Robert Arrow

Ensorcelled and enslaved by her evil uncle, Carolennea has lost her sweet voice and sews the impossibly beautiful clothing he sells in his tailor shop. But this yuletide season will bring a new customer: a handsome knight for whom she will brave her uncle’s wrath—and who in return will help break the spell. Sir Ardin will set free her fingers, her voice…and her heart.

A handsome knight and true love are the recipe for breaking the evil spell that enslaves Carolennea, all in time for Christmas.

Carolennea’s uncle gained custody of her after her mother died. Her father had gone off to war years before and never returned. The disgruntled man who now was responsible for her was doing something strange in the clearing. The results of which didn’t entirely please him.

As a result when he discovers the hiding Carolennea, he forces the potion down her throat. The entity who provided it on seeing the event, sends another spell weaving around the girl.

It’s years later, and Carolennea is sixteen when a knight in need of a repair of his cloak comes to her uncle’s shop.

This is a favorite scene.

He’d reached the tailor’s shop just as the shopkeepers in the village were closing up for the night. Tying the palomino to the tree in the front yard, he hurried to the door. Giving a short two raps and hearing no answer, he pushed on the door, opening it. “Hello?”

Dim light inside from flickering candles showed him a girl. A slim, blonde girl in a white nightgown bent down to the ground picking something up.

Long blonde hair covered her face until she raised her head to look straight into his eyes, her green eyes gazing at him though the strands of her long, silky hair. Like some skittish forest creature, she froze.

Their gazes locked onto each other and held.

A girl with green eyes. A beautiful girl. He leaned toward her, excitement and interest filling him as a large smile spread across his face.

Her eyes lit in return. He glimpsed a matching flash of excitement and interest, before she blushed and glanced back down, once again hidden behind her hair.

“Wench, who told you to open the door? I told you never to go out.” A broad-shouldered man with a large belly hurried down the back stairs, bellowing. Seeing Ardin, his expression quickly changed. “Milord, beg pardon. Please come in.” He hurried over to Ardin. “How may we serve you?”

To the girl, Trad pointed a silent, angry arm, telling her to get back. He stepped in front of her as she skittered backward.

Ardin tried to see the girl past the tailor’s shoulders, but the portly man’s body blocked her from view.

“Don’t mind her, she is simple minded. Crawling about on her knees. Searching the floor for what?” He shook his head. “Tsk.” Then he beamed a large smile. “Now what can I interest you in today? A new cloak?”

“Nay, simply the repair of this one.”

“We have many mighty fine cloaks here and we can custom fit one to you, unique among all others.”

Ardin removed his cloak and handed it to the man. “Just repair this one. When can it be ready?”

“On the morrow, good sir. We work fast.”

Carolennea, listening from behind her blankets, had a moment of anger, the first she’d had in many years.

Uncle Trad doesn’t work fast. I do. He hasn’t sewn a thing since the day he made me drink the green poison. He’s lying. Uncle’s good at lying. Everyone always believes him.

A deep yearning for the handsome knight to know who really did the sewing for the shop, who really would be mending his cloak, filled her. Pressing her hands to her lips a tear slipped out and down her cheek as she thought of her ruined throat. She could never tell him. Never even attempt to, for then he would hear her noises and turn away.

She longed so deeply for him to stay and not turn away. Never in her life had she had a longing like this one. Wanting to speak to him, yearning for something she knew not what; she was drawn to the handsome knight like moth to a flame.

His eyes had searched hers, as if he wanted to know more.

He did want to know more. She felt it within her bones.

She would have spoken to him if she could, but she mustn’t, mustn’t even try.

No one would listen to her, repelled by the goosey sounds coming from her throat when she tried to speak. There was no one she could tell. Her story stayed locked inside these six years. It would stay locked for another six. She dared not hope any more.

The light in his eyes, which had searched hers, wanting to know more, that light would fade and he would turn away. Like all the others. None would ask about her, let alone ask her. It had been so long since any in the village had seen her and none even knew her name.

She curled into a ball as she always did before going to sleep and would hide there in her comfort spot until the man left.

Uncle will be angry. The biggest rule, to stay out of sight, had been broken.

She stayed very still, knowing she would soon be punished.

The men finished speaking and she heard the handsome knight leave.

“Get to work,” her uncle said. “Only eleven days ’til Christmas.”

The handsome knight would be here on the morrow. She would finish his cloak tonight. Never had the thought of sewing filled her with more pleasure. Each stitch, though driven by the magic, would carry her heartfelt blessings upon it.

If I must be cursed then I shall bless as well.
Debra Parmley; Robert Arrow. The Twelve Stitches of Christmas (Kindle Locations 160-196). Belo Dia Publishing Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Ah the rules of magic, there is a difference now that Carolennea is no longer a child and Ardin is just the knight to complete that change.

A lovely Christmas fairy tale, with a perfect Happily Ever After.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Fascinated by fairy tales and folktales ever since she was young, Debra Parmley has always ended her stories with a happy ever after. Every story she writes has an element of romance. She started out writing gritty western historical romance and damsel in distress stories. Her first book, A Desperate Journey, was traditionally published in 2008, after competing in the American Title II contest. A hybrid author, she went on to write for five publishers before branching out with her own Indie press, Belo Dia Publishing Inc. Belo Dia is Portuguese for Beautiful Day.

Debra writes historical romance, contemporary romance and romantic suspense. An Air Force veteran’s wife, she writes military heroes in the present and in the future. Debra’s work as a travel consultant gave her the opportunity to visit many countries. Her luggage often carried home folk tales from the countries visited.

Her three favorite things are dark chocolate, visiting the beach and ocean, and hearing from her readers. Each card, letter and email is a treasured gift, like finding a perfect shell upon the beach. For more information about Debra, please visit her website, links below.

By
Debra Parmley

Santa, if there’s one thing I want for Christmas more than anything, it’s someone to spend Christmas with, not as an after thought invitation because they feel sorry for me, but someone who really wants me to be there.

Full of loss and sadness after the death of her mother, romance author Jenna Heart travels to a December writer’s retreat quite a distance from her home at the other end of the state. The snow covered mountains of East Tennessee are a welcome change from the city lights of Memphis, TN and she looks forward to meeting new people. She’s determined not to explain her loss, to avoid sympathy and to enjoy the retreat for what it is.

Jenna has one wish: she doesn’t want to spend Christmas alone.

Meeting Nicolo Maldini, cover model and actor, could make more than Jenna’s Christmas wish come true. Nicolo is attracted to Jenna’s kind nature and she is attracted to his good looks and big heart. But does their budding romance stand a chance?

Advice from Chyna, Jenna’s book critique partner, makes Jenna second guess whether Nicolo could truly be interested in her. Nicolo is attending the writers weekend with his mother. He’s younger than Jenna, and in his career, is surrounded by beautiful women.

Then there’s Morten, Nicolo’s crazy ex girlfriend, who will do anything to stop Jenna and Nicolo from being together. Will Jenna get her Christmas Wish or have to listen to I’ll Be Home for Christmas all alone?

Romance Author Jenna Heart has been out of the game for a while. Taking care of her mother and then dealing with her grief has left her insecure and floundering a bit. Going to a signing is the best medicine.

One of the attendees is cover model Nicolo Maldini. A pleasant surprise is he is attending with his mother Angela, a breast cancer survivor. Both Nicolo and his mother are lovely people and Jenna enjoyed the time with them, the wolf sanctuary dinner, the signing and the dinner hosted by the sponsor of the event.

This is a favorite scene.

Though she did want to meet Nicolo. Something in the depths of his eyes called to something deep within her.That longing must have shown in her face because Amy said, “Come on, I’ll go up with you.”

“All right.”

She had to get over this thing from the past. This wasn’t high school.

Amy kept her talking until they were in front of Nicolo and then he was looking at Jenna with those deep brown eyes which made her want to melt and she had to say something, anything before the silence stretched too long.

“Hello, Nicolo. I’m Jenna Heart.”

He gave her a warm welcoming smile as his firm, warm hand reached for and now held hers. “Pleased to meet you Jenna Heart.”

Everything about him spoke of warmth and heat. The kind of heat only an adult male, fit and in his prime, could exude.

“Nice to meet you.” she replied, decidedly warm and wondering if her face was bright pink.

“This is my mother, Angela.”

“Pleased to meet you.” She gave his mother a smile and then heard Nicolo speak and turned her attention back to him.

“Are you going to dinner with us?” His gaze, focused entirely on her, made her feel giddy and shy all at once.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

Two other women pressed forward and Jenna moved back before he could say anything more. It all happened so fast. There was no time for a photo with him now. Everyone was pairing up to carpool to the Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium where they’d hear a program about the wolves while they ate dinner.

She rode up to Bays Mountain with another author named Dora. They found their way by following the car in front of them through a light drizzle of rain up to a large log building in a heavily wooded area. Gray and drizzly, the area was dark and calm. Not one sound gave away the location of the wolves though they had to be near.

Once inside, everyone seemed to have already made plans to sit together in groups as they went to the tables and filled them.

Many of these women already know each other. Amy and Brett’s table is full.

Jenna took a seat on the other side of the room. Too far to see Nicolo. She learned her table mates weren’t with the author reader weekend and had only come to hear the talk on the wolves. Jenna felt isolated, though the people at her table were nice enough. They only wanted to talk about wolves, which Jenna knew little about.

Dinner was delicious and the wolf specialist and park naturabout the wolves on the mountain. Wolves could be solitary creatures, but they mated for life. Fascinated, she listened and ate. Desert was sweeter than she was used to and her head buzzed from the sugar.

After dinner, the park naturalist invited everyone to walk over to edge of the wolf sanctuary to hear the wolves. Though he warned the rain might make the wolves quieter than usual.

She followed the group down the path until they all stood waiting and listening. Drizzling rain colored everything silver dark and shiny as it came down. The cold began to chill her, along with the drizzle, which had dampened her scarf, and everything it touched beyond her raincoat.

One lone wolf howled. The sound was one of the most lonesome and eerie things she’d ever heard.

Another wolf joined in, their howls sending a cold chill into her bones. She shivered. Goose bumps covered her skin. Rain was running down her face past her hood and she could hardly see. She had the primitive urge to run, brought on by the sound of wolves howling in the dark night. She shivered again, wrapping her arms closer about herself.

The rain stopped running down her face and nose as an umbrella appeared over her head. She turned to look up.

Nicolo.
Debra Parmley. Jenna’s Christmas Wish (Kindle Locations 176-206). Belo Dia Publishing Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Let me say here, her friend Chyna is no friend. Every time Jenna speaks with her it’s all about how Jenna isn’t as beautiful or as worldly as the women seen with Nicolo. He’s an actor and model, way out of her league. My immediate feeling was ‘Jealous Much’? This one needs to be kicked to the curb for good.

Nicolo on the other hand is sweet, attentive and has a problem of his own.

I loved the way this relationship develops in spite of the the negative friend, and Nicolo’s problem. This book is a delightful, romantic Christmas read.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

Debra Parmley

Fascinated by fairy tales and folktales ever since she was young, Debra Parmley has always ended her stories with a happy ever after. Every story she writes has an element of romance. She started out writing gritty western historical romance and damsel in distress stories. Her first book, A Desperate Journey, was traditionally published in 2008, after competing in the American Title II contest. A hybrid author, she went on to write for five publishers before branching out with her own Indie press, Belo Dia Publishing Inc. Belo Dia is Portuguese for Beautiful Day.

Debra writes historical romance, contemporary romance and romantic suspense. An Air Force veteran’s wife, she writes military heroes in the present and in the future. Debra’s work as a travel consultant gave her the opportunity to visit many countries. Her luggage often carried home folk tales from the countries visited.

Her three favorite things are dark chocolate, visiting the beach and ocean, and hearing from her readers. Each card, letter and email is a treasured gift, like finding a perfect shell upon the beach. For more information about Debra, please visit her website, links below.