Love in the Kingdom-
Somerset, Vermont and the People Who Love There
Precedent for Passion-Book #1 (Revised 2024)
Abby's imagination hadn't been playing tricks with her memory. Fifteen years after their first meeting, Glen Plankey still makes her toes curl. And that voice! Deep and authoritative, she practically melts into a puddle at the sound of it. She can't wait to see more of him.
Glen can't get away fast enough. Everything about Abby Wilson reminds him of the worst day of his life, yet his brain turns to adolescent mush at her curves and his heart skips a beat every time she smiles.
Soon undeniable attraction leads to scorching passion and grows into a true love affair. But is it strong enough to survive when he thinks she has played him for a fool?
Getyour copy at: https://books2read.com/u/4jE07k
Abby's imagination hadn't been playing tricks with her memory. Fifteen years after their first meeting, Glen Plankey still makes her toes curl. And that voice! Deep and authoritative, she practically melts into a puddle at the sound of it. She can't wait to see more of him.
Glen can't get away fast enough. Everything about Abby Wilson reminds him of the worst day of his life, yet his brain turns to adolescent mush at her curves and his heart skips a beat every time she smiles.
Soon undeniable attraction leads to scorching passion and grows into a true love affair. But is it strong enough to survive when he thinks she has played him for a fool?
Getyour copy at: https://books2read.com/u/4jE07k
Excerpt from Precedent for Passion:
“I’m going to kiss you, Abby.”
“Uh-huh.”
He loved the way she didn’t hesitate with her response, though her face flushed, and the pulse at the side of her neck started racing.
It was a hard, dry kiss. Not satisfying by a long shot, but he didn’t want to presume any more than he already had. He could still remember the shock in her eyes fifteen years ago when his ex-wife made him sound like an animal. He didn’t want to scare her away.
So his heart skipped a beat when she whispered, “More. Please.”
Nothing turned him on quite like a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to ask for it. Except maybe this woman. Everything about her excited him. Grasping her shoulders and pulling her close, he slid his tongue along the seam of her lips until they opened, then delved into the warm recesses of her mouth.
She held nothing back. Meeting him with equal passion, she poured herself into the kiss, and when she slid her fingers beneath the brim of his hat, scraping the sides of his skull with her nails, a sizzle raced up his spine. He was a teenage boy again. On fire with lust for her like it was the first time he ever held a woman, he was ready to put the car seats back and fog up the windows.
“I’m going to kiss you, Abby.”
“Uh-huh.”
He loved the way she didn’t hesitate with her response, though her face flushed, and the pulse at the side of her neck started racing.
It was a hard, dry kiss. Not satisfying by a long shot, but he didn’t want to presume any more than he already had. He could still remember the shock in her eyes fifteen years ago when his ex-wife made him sound like an animal. He didn’t want to scare her away.
So his heart skipped a beat when she whispered, “More. Please.”
Nothing turned him on quite like a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to ask for it. Except maybe this woman. Everything about her excited him. Grasping her shoulders and pulling her close, he slid his tongue along the seam of her lips until they opened, then delved into the warm recesses of her mouth.
She held nothing back. Meeting him with equal passion, she poured herself into the kiss, and when she slid her fingers beneath the brim of his hat, scraping the sides of his skull with her nails, a sizzle raced up his spine. He was a teenage boy again. On fire with lust for her like it was the first time he ever held a woman, he was ready to put the car seats back and fog up the windows.
Tender Possession - Book #2
The only way to conquer her heart is through a tender possession...
Emmeline Charbonneau spent most of her life protecting others from her father's violent mood swings and erratic behavior. Now that he's gone she isn't so much relieved as cast adrift. She desperately needs an anchor.
Romney Wilson is his mother's second son and his father's second child. Success may take him all over the world, but he is still that youngest sibling trying to find his place in it. Quite simply, he needs to be needed.
The connection between them is immediate and strong. But can she trust this impulsive and spontaneous charmer to stick around? And will he get past her wall of self-preservation only to scare her away?
The only way to conquer her heart is through a tender possession...
Emmeline Charbonneau spent most of her life protecting others from her father's violent mood swings and erratic behavior. Now that he's gone she isn't so much relieved as cast adrift. She desperately needs an anchor.
Romney Wilson is his mother's second son and his father's second child. Success may take him all over the world, but he is still that youngest sibling trying to find his place in it. Quite simply, he needs to be needed.
The connection between them is immediate and strong. But can she trust this impulsive and spontaneous charmer to stick around? And will he get past her wall of self-preservation only to scare her away?
Excerpt from Tender Possession:
"You’ll be coming to Andros, then?”
Unsnapping her coat, she brushed by him and hung it up, buying time. “I think we need to get some things straight first. Some boundaries.”
“Oh?”
She stepped back a few feet to look directly at him.“I don’t want to sleep with you.”
“Yes, you do.”
His arrogance momentarily left her at a loss for words. Recovering quickly, she said, “I mean I’m not going to sleep with you.”
“Is there something wrong with me?” He cocked his head to the side and ran his gaze down the length of his body, then up again. “Something I should know about?”
Nonplussed, she said, “No, there’s nothing wrong with you.”
His smile was blinding. Deep grooves formed on either side of his mouth, and his dark eyes lit with humor. She had to admit she fell right into that one even before he said, “Then you do want to sleep with me.”
"You’ll be coming to Andros, then?”
Unsnapping her coat, she brushed by him and hung it up, buying time. “I think we need to get some things straight first. Some boundaries.”
“Oh?”
She stepped back a few feet to look directly at him.“I don’t want to sleep with you.”
“Yes, you do.”
His arrogance momentarily left her at a loss for words. Recovering quickly, she said, “I mean I’m not going to sleep with you.”
“Is there something wrong with me?” He cocked his head to the side and ran his gaze down the length of his body, then up again. “Something I should know about?”
Nonplussed, she said, “No, there’s nothing wrong with you.”
His smile was blinding. Deep grooves formed on either side of his mouth, and his dark eyes lit with humor. She had to admit she fell right into that one even before he said, “Then you do want to sleep with me.”
Open Door to Love - Book #3
Jonnie Moulton's chance for a fresh start as Somerset's marketing consultant might be over before it begins unless she can convince David Wang she knows what she's doing and isn't the desperate woman he met three years ago.
This confident new Jonnie makes David's blood sizzle. He plans to keep her close and not just because she's living in one of his resort cabins. He "gets" her like no one else. She excites him more every day.
But is this simply passion, or have they found an open door to love?
Jonnie Moulton's chance for a fresh start as Somerset's marketing consultant might be over before it begins unless she can convince David Wang she knows what she's doing and isn't the desperate woman he met three years ago.
This confident new Jonnie makes David's blood sizzle. He plans to keep her close and not just because she's living in one of his resort cabins. He "gets" her like no one else. She excites him more every day.
But is this simply passion, or have they found an open door to love?
Excerpt from Open Door to Love:
Excitement sang through her bloodstream. She was running. In the cold. With a man whose every movement, every word fascinated her more than the previous one.
“It’s going to get tricky.”
He wasn’t kidding. This was no leisurely run on a school track but mountain running. The trail wound around trees, over frozen brooks, and through snow-covered gullies. Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs, and her body temperature rose. Her base layer shirt clung to her torso.
They neared a strip of beach on the back side of the lake, and the path opened up. David moved over so she could run next to him, and he slowed the pace. She flipped the top on her water bottle and sipped while his dark gaze took in the condition of her footwear.
“If they’re chafing, we can stop and walk.”
“I’m good.”
“If you get blisters, you won’t be able to run with me again on Wednesday.”
“Is that an invitation?”
“It is if you want it to be.”
Excitement sang through her bloodstream. She was running. In the cold. With a man whose every movement, every word fascinated her more than the previous one.
“It’s going to get tricky.”
He wasn’t kidding. This was no leisurely run on a school track but mountain running. The trail wound around trees, over frozen brooks, and through snow-covered gullies. Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs, and her body temperature rose. Her base layer shirt clung to her torso.
They neared a strip of beach on the back side of the lake, and the path opened up. David moved over so she could run next to him, and he slowed the pace. She flipped the top on her water bottle and sipped while his dark gaze took in the condition of her footwear.
“If they’re chafing, we can stop and walk.”
“I’m good.”
“If you get blisters, you won’t be able to run with me again on Wednesday.”
“Is that an invitation?”
“It is if you want it to be.”
A Full-Bodied Love - Book #4 (award winner!)
Lisa Kirkpatrick is stubborn, but she’s not stupid. If this guy needs a cover date to evade an unwanted admirer, who is she to object? It’s not as if handsome men fall all over themselves to ask her out. Most don’t even see her. Sure, they know there’s a woman in the wheelchair, but it would never occur to them that there’s a woman in the wheelchair. He notices. This solid, fun, straight shooting guy ticks off every box on her ideal man list. But why do they call him Slick?
Roger Plankey didn’t know what he was missing. Health, prosperity, friends, and family, he thought his life was full until he walked into the town clerk’s office and laid eyes on the woman behind the counter. A spunky, independent woman with a dash of humor and just enough sass to keep him on his toes. She fills that unknown void in his life like she was made for him. But is there such a thing as too perfect?
Lisa Kirkpatrick is stubborn, but she’s not stupid. If this guy needs a cover date to evade an unwanted admirer, who is she to object? It’s not as if handsome men fall all over themselves to ask her out. Most don’t even see her. Sure, they know there’s a woman in the wheelchair, but it would never occur to them that there’s a woman in the wheelchair. He notices. This solid, fun, straight shooting guy ticks off every box on her ideal man list. But why do they call him Slick?
Roger Plankey didn’t know what he was missing. Health, prosperity, friends, and family, he thought his life was full until he walked into the town clerk’s office and laid eyes on the woman behind the counter. A spunky, independent woman with a dash of humor and just enough sass to keep him on his toes. She fills that unknown void in his life like she was made for him. But is there such a thing as too perfect?
Excerpt from A Full-Bodied Love:
“I don’t want you to think I’m fast or anything,” she clarified, kicking off her clogs. They dropped to the carpet with muted thuds.
“Everything about this is fast.” He hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but he’d only met the woman a month ago.
“Does it scare you?”
The uncertainty in her gaze cut him to the quick.
“More like excites me,” he said. Kissing her lips, her cheek, her neck, he added, “I mean, I should probably be worried about whether or not you leave the toilet seat up or hog the remote control, but we’ll figure it out.”
She did laugh then, the full-throated sound he loved, cut short when he pulled her earlobe between his teeth and laved the soft cartilage.
“Tell me more.”
“Hmm. You’ll probably leave half a cup of coffee in the pot.” Shifting his weight to one side, he snagged the zipper of her pullover top and slowly worked it down the center of her torso.
“Or drink orange juice directly from the carton.” He spread the sides of her shirt apart and kissed her bare shoulder.
“You might not understand how hard it is for a man to work all day and still look this good.”
She muffled a laugh against his throat.
“I don’t want you to think I’m fast or anything,” she clarified, kicking off her clogs. They dropped to the carpet with muted thuds.
“Everything about this is fast.” He hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but he’d only met the woman a month ago.
“Does it scare you?”
The uncertainty in her gaze cut him to the quick.
“More like excites me,” he said. Kissing her lips, her cheek, her neck, he added, “I mean, I should probably be worried about whether or not you leave the toilet seat up or hog the remote control, but we’ll figure it out.”
She did laugh then, the full-throated sound he loved, cut short when he pulled her earlobe between his teeth and laved the soft cartilage.
“Tell me more.”
“Hmm. You’ll probably leave half a cup of coffee in the pot.” Shifting his weight to one side, he snagged the zipper of her pullover top and slowly worked it down the center of her torso.
“Or drink orange juice directly from the carton.” He spread the sides of her shirt apart and kissed her bare shoulder.
“You might not understand how hard it is for a man to work all day and still look this good.”
She muffled a laugh against his throat.
Family Trees
Wilson/Wang Plankey/Charbonneau
David contemplating his run with Jonnie. ----- Roger thinking about Lisa's latest surprise
Abby - the oldest Roger - the oldest
Daughter to an Irish American activist and a A widower with two grown sons, Roger is happy with
Bahamian artist of black and white parents, his life as a dairy farmer. At the end of the day, he
Abby is a brilliant lawyer and judge, enjoys a glass of red wine while watching a
devoted to her career but always there. television documentary or reading a good biography.
for her younger brothers. Potluck suppers and card parties keep him busy on
David-the stepbrother Saturday nights, Sunday morning hockey keeps him fit.
Having lost his Chinese father as an infant, Glen - the middle child
he was the only child to a Chinese American. The genius in the family, Glen works as a cybersecurity
fashion designer until she fell in love with. expert in New York City, but he returns home to
a Bahamian artist. David became the middle child, Somerset every chance he gets. His teenagers have
a successful businessman and dutiful son. dubbed it, "the best place on earth," and he couldn't
who can be counted on to take care of everyone. agree more.
Romney-the half brother Emmeline - the younger cousin
Born to a Chinese American mother and Bahamian father, From the time she was a little girl, Emmeline
Romney inherits the best of both cultures. Charbonneau wanted nothing more than to be a
He is quick witted, spontaneous, charming, nurse at Somerset General Hospital. She is wonderful
and highly intelligent. As a master programmer, with patients, cautious with everyone else, and
he is sought after by clients around the globe, doing her best to make a good life from a troubled
and he is always on the move. childhood.
Kirkpatrick
Lisa - the best friend
Growing up with spina bifida in a household of ministers might subdue another person; not Lisa. She lives every day in full color and celebration mode. As hospital HR director and part-time town clerk, she gets to spread that cheer far and wide.
Daughter to an Irish American activist and a A widower with two grown sons, Roger is happy with
Bahamian artist of black and white parents, his life as a dairy farmer. At the end of the day, he
Abby is a brilliant lawyer and judge, enjoys a glass of red wine while watching a
devoted to her career but always there. television documentary or reading a good biography.
for her younger brothers. Potluck suppers and card parties keep him busy on
David-the stepbrother Saturday nights, Sunday morning hockey keeps him fit.
Having lost his Chinese father as an infant, Glen - the middle child
he was the only child to a Chinese American. The genius in the family, Glen works as a cybersecurity
fashion designer until she fell in love with. expert in New York City, but he returns home to
a Bahamian artist. David became the middle child, Somerset every chance he gets. His teenagers have
a successful businessman and dutiful son. dubbed it, "the best place on earth," and he couldn't
who can be counted on to take care of everyone. agree more.
Romney-the half brother Emmeline - the younger cousin
Born to a Chinese American mother and Bahamian father, From the time she was a little girl, Emmeline
Romney inherits the best of both cultures. Charbonneau wanted nothing more than to be a
He is quick witted, spontaneous, charming, nurse at Somerset General Hospital. She is wonderful
and highly intelligent. As a master programmer, with patients, cautious with everyone else, and
he is sought after by clients around the globe, doing her best to make a good life from a troubled
and he is always on the move. childhood.
Kirkpatrick
Lisa - the best friend
Growing up with spina bifida in a household of ministers might subdue another person; not Lisa. She lives every day in full color and celebration mode. As hospital HR director and part-time town clerk, she gets to spread that cheer far and wide.
Somerset
Where the people are rural by choice, not backwards in nature
Foggy Morning in the Kingdom
