Can't wait until release day?  The newest addition to The Friessens big family romance is coming soon, but you can grab a sneak peek of THE VISITOR today!

parents, who run a church mission in Africa and are portrayed as saints, with no mention of them ever having a daughter. Last, a courier arrives with an envelope addressed to her, with no return address, containing only three words: You owe me!

Laura believes this is Andy’s father’s pathetic attempt at revenge, at extracting what he believes he’s entitled to. She knows that if they let Todd Friessen through the door, he’ll attempt to manipulate not only Andy but also their children and grandchildren, who don’t know the man who now wants to be called Grandfather.

Unfortunately, what Laura doesn’t realize is that even though she has an amazing life, before she can move forward into her future, she has to confront her past.

THE VISITOR (The Friessens, Book 29) is available for pre-sale at:

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Chapter 1

The horses had been herded into the corral, and Laura could hear them nicker as she watched Jeremy and Tiffy come out of the barn, where they lived in the loft, which had been transformed into their apartment. There was something comforting about having her family close, something that had her breathing a little easier.

Tiffy was dressed in capris and a floral tee, her hair pulled high in a ponytail, evidently on her way to work. Laura’s three-year-old grandson, Brandon, was between them, jumping, running, reminding her so much of Jeremy at that age. Being called Grandma warmed her heart even though she wasn’t yet forty.

She took in her son with his gorgeous young wife. Jeremy was tall and handsome just like his father, dressed in blue jeans and a faded blue shirt. As she watched the kiss between the two, she was reminded of how much he still needed to learn about life, about marriage. Tiffy climbed into her small Subaru wagon, leaving Jeremy holding Brandon’s hand. They waved to her as she pulled away.

Laura lingered at the kitchen window, rinsing the last of the breakfast dishes from the fruit and granola she and Andy had shared. Zac had left a pile of toast crumbs before going back to bed, and she suspected Sara was still sleeping until she heard a creak from somewhere in the house. Obviously, Sara was up, and maybe Zac too, considering it was Saturday and Andy had insisted they help with the cattle.

She heard footsteps, voices, Andy and Jeremy laughing before they opened the door with a creak. She couldn’t have explained to anyone why having her family close gave her a sense of peace, one she had to remind herself every day that she was entitled to and deserved. It was the kind of life she never could have imagined for herself.

“Told you I need both you and Zac to help move the herd today,” Andy said to Jeremy as they strode into the kitchen. “Time to bring them into the north field. It’s an all-day job.”

His boots scraped the floor, just clean from the day before, and he reached for a mug in the cupboard. Why did no one seem to realize the time it took to keep this place clean?

Laura pulled at the tie of the silky green robe around her waist, her bare feet on the hardwood floor. She knew she should hop in the shower, but there was something she appreciated about lingering in the morning with another coffee and having a minute or two to herself.

“Grandma, I’m hungry. Can I have a cookie?” Brandon said. He had Jeremy’s dark wavy hair, and his eyes held that same smart mischievousness her son had been known for, always thinking he was pulling one over on them.

“You just ate breakfast, Brandon. No cookies…” Jeremy started, but Laura reached into the Cookie Monster jar and held out a peanut butter cookie to Brandon.

“Just one,” she said. Her grandson gave her a big smile, and she took in Jeremy’s frown and Andy shaking his head as she offered them both one of the batch she’d made just the day before.

“Mom, you’re not helping,” Jeremy said, though he grabbed three from the jar and shoved one in his mouth as he talked. Andy took a bite, made a sound of appreciation, and then leaned in and kissed her.

“He had breakfast, and it’s just one. You were worse,” Laura said. She settled the lid back on the cookie jar after taking one herself.

Jeremy made a rude noise. She knew he didn’t remember how he and his twin sister, Chelsea, had never given her a moment’s rest. From his first step, he had taken off at a run, getting into anything and everything. He turned back to Andy, who was staring down at Brandon.

“I have to work this afternoon at two, so we’d need to saddle the horses and start now,” Jeremy said. “I’ll have to cut out early if we don’t finish. I was going to take Brandon to Tiffy’s parents’ place to hang out for the day.”

Andy was shaking his head. “If everyone pitches in, we should be done before then. Brandon can stay here with your mom.”

She listened to what she knew was the bathroom door closing, likely Sara, as Zac wandered in. He was almost as tall as his dad and brother, but he had that lanky teenage build, his eyes glued to his cell phone, texting something as he walked. His hair was a mess as he reached for the loaf of bread and popped a few slices into the toaster, then pulled open the cupboard and reached for a box of cornflakes. He was a bottomless pit and could’ve eaten them out of house and home.

“Grandpa, I want to come to ride my horsey. I help too.” Brandon was jumping.

Andy lifted him up and kissed his cheek. “Nope, not this time. You’re too young, and it’s too dangerous. Grandpa will take you out on your pony tomorrow, but today you can stay here with Grandma. Zac, you need to shake a leg. We’re going to be moving the herd, and I need you out there.”

Zac had poured cereal into one of their large serving bowls and dumped milk over it, and he was shoving it in his mouth. “Fine,” he mumbled around a mouthful, milk dripping down his faded brown T-shirt.

Andy slid his gaze over to her. She wondered whether he had any idea how much she loved him, whether he knew that she felt as if this life she’d settled into with her family was just a dream that could be yanked away. “Sara up? I need her out there, too,” Andy said. He had poured more coffee and leaned against the counter to take a swallow.

“Likely just up, but Sara can look after Brandon while I have a shower and get dressed,” Laura said. She wasn’t sure what to make of Andy’s smile, but she knew he enjoyed the mornings they shared a shower. She did, too, even though it didn’t happen as often as she liked.

“Hey, Mom, aren’t these your parents?” Sara said as she walked into the kitchen, her long blond hair a tousled mess, wearing a white tank and sweatpants. She was holding her cell phone.

What was it about her kids and their never-ending need for their devices, their social media accounts, and texting everyone? She wondered at times if they saw anything that went on in the outside world. She didn’t move as Sara held up the Android screen, showing an article with a photo of her parents, whom she hadn’t seen in some twenty years. It was a punch to her gut, and for a second, she forgot to breathe.

“George and Sue Parnell, voted parents of the year by the Midwest Baptists. Their two grown sons are following in their father’s footsteps in the church, with their missionary work in Africa, and the people they’ve helped…”

Sara was reading the article aloud, but Laura just stared in horror at the smiling image of her parents, who were so much older now, and her brothers, whom she’d also lost touch with. They were the perfect image of the perfect family who loved and adored each other, and even to her, they looked like the kind of family people would see as role models.

As she scanned the article, which talked about how wonderful they were, all the sacrifices they’d made, and the fine sons they’d raised, their morals, their values, their principles, she realized there was no mention of her—just them and the perfect image of the family they were.

“Uh, yeah…” Her throat thickened, and she could feel Andy looking down, reading. He was pressed against her, so close.

“What is that?” Zac asked, or maybe it was Jeremy. She was only half listening as she stared at the article.

It had to be a mistake. She scanned it again, looking for some hint, some mention of a daughter, but there was nothing. It was as if she’d never existed to them, and she couldn’t explain to anyone how raw the ache still was. Weren’t all children supposed to be loved and supported by their parents?

Andy powered off the screen and pulled the phone away, handing it back to Sara. Of course, he knew. It was an ache that just didn’t go away. Andy had said to her time and again that they didn’t matter. She knew to them she was a disappointment, and her parents would never accept her, all because she’d gotten pregnant at fifteen. She pulled in another breath.

“You know what? It’s not worth reading,” Andy said. “They’re not family, and let’s just leave it at that. Sara, why don’t you give us a hand moving the cattle?”

Sara had that look on her face, one Laura knew well. She was curious and wanted the scoop, wanted to know all the dirt on her folks. Laura had never shared anything with her kids other than to confirm that yes, she had parents and brothers, but they were estranged. End of story.

“Not this time. Sorry, Dad,” Sara said. “I have to get ready to go out. I’m meeting Devon and have that appointment with school.” She lifted Brandon, who was always hanging off her. She was good with him—no, great.

Laura had to turn away, as the memory of that smiling image of her parents was like a knife stabbing her in the heart. Then the article, parents of the year…seriously? She wasn’t sure what Andy said to Sara, as she was only half listening, staring through the window above the sink.

Then Andy was right beside her, and she didn’t have to look over to know how he was watching her. There was his touch, his hand sliding over hers. He didn’t have to say a word. It was there. He did, though, lean down and kiss her cheek.

“Forget them. It means nothing,” he said.

She knew what he was saying, but at the same time, it hurt more than she knew was reasonable, that feeling of being unwanted. She and Andy had created the kind of family she’d never had, a family that was her everything. She nodded as her throat thickened. His touch said everything, and she could hear her kids talking in the background as Andy leaned in and kissed her again, as if it was just her and him.

“Go shower,” he said. “Sara will watch Brandon.” His voice was low, and his gaze lingered a second as his hand grazed her cheek. Then he stepped away, her hand sliding over his arm. “After your mom showers, Sara, you meet us out in the south field. Your life is on hold until the cattle are moved. Devon can wait, but the cattle won’t.”

She took in the stubborn yet angelic look her daughter always pulled with Andy before she rolled her eyes. “Fine, but not all day, Dad…”

Andy lifted his hand as Jeremy and Zac stepped out of the kitchen. “Yeah, I know, you have a life that’s not centered on this ranch or these cattle, and that’s far more exciting than following a bunch of noisy cows. You’ve made that clear. At the same time, this pays the bills and provides for this family, which you’re still a part of. Are we clear?” he said. She waited for Sara to add something, but Andy shook his head and made a face as he glanced at her. “Don’t be long.”

As he stepped out of the kitchen, she listened to the squeak of the screen door. Everything about her family was so chaotic, always butting heads, but they were perfect. Still, she couldn’t get the image of the family she’d grown up in out of her head. They were so alien to her, yet the image had brought with it a dreadful ache in her gut, as if someone had reached in and squeezed. It was a past she’d thought she’d closed the door on.

“So it’s just us now, and…” Sara said, putting Brandon down and glancing at him. He was standing there, watching her and Sara. Smart kid. “Hey, bud, go play, scram,” Sara said, and Laura watched as Brandon took off to the family room and pulled out his box of cars. “So, Mom, why is there an article about your parents, your brothers, and no mention of you?”

There it was. How could she explain to her daughter that not everyone had the kind of family that would stand by them through thick and thin?

“It’s just the way they are, Sara. I’m their disappointment.”

Her daughter’s eyes widened.

“It bothered me once and still does, even though it shouldn’t—but at the same time, you know what?” she said.

Her daughter didn’t pull her gaze from her. She said nothing as she waited, then shrugged.

“I have you guys and your dad,” Laura said. “We’re close and love each other, even though there are times I want to pull my hair out at some of the choices you make and the things you do. We’re all I need, so they don’t matter. They’re from another lifetime. As a kid, you can’t pick your family, but you can when you’re an adult. What happened to me is not the kind of thing a parent should be proud of. No, your dad is right, and he’s said this to me time and again. They’re the ones who should be ashamed, and maybe they are, since it’s evidently easier for them to pretend I don’t exist, to never mention me, than to explain how that image of a model family they’re putting out to the world is false. They’re hypocrites, but they’d never want to be labeled as such. Perfection is what they want—and to control how they’re seen by everyone.” She wondered how she hadn’t thought of that before, and she took in the smile that touched her daughter’s lips.

“You’re right, Mom. Though I have to say, I sometimes wondered what they were like and was curious to meet them and know them.”

Maybe the shock on her face was what had her daughter reaching over and rubbing her arm with a teasing smile.

“Relax, Mom. I said ‘wondered.’ We all have, but you know what? We’re awesome, and we really don’t need anyone like that in our lives, hypocrites who pretend to be something they’re not. I mean, look at us. Just how would they react if they met us?”

She stared at her daughter. When had she become so wise? At the same time, she did wonder what her parents would think of her kids. “Good point. Sara, they don’t deserve to know you.”

Sara winked. “You got it, Mom. So you have about twenty minutes to shower and get dressed, and then I need to get ready, because Dad is on the warpath, insisting I help move the herd even though he knows I need to get ready and have stuff to do.”

She took in her daughter, who was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Devon. “What stuff?”

Her daughter shrugged, smiled, and stretched. “Well, Devon’s coming over, or rather, he’s picking me up, and we’re heading into town today. I have a life too, Mom.” Then Sara’s phone dinged, and she pulled her gaze away, smiled, and answered.

Laura didn’t have to ask who it was. She knew it was Devon, the tall, dark, and handsome boyfriend who had saved her. That teenage love, which Laura knew well, was quickly turning into something serious.

She turned to look out the window again when she saw a minivan she didn’t recognize driving up the dirt road to the house. She was still wearing her housecoat, yet the way today was going, it seemed as if her peaceful, quiet morning was turning into anything but.

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of FRIENDLY FIRE!    

Receive your free audio code for Book 3 in The Wilde Brothers series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion.

If you have previously requested an Audible code, please be sure to redeem your code in a timely fashion (check your spam folder if you have not received your requested code) and kindly drop me an e-mail along with your reviewer name to direct me to your honest online review so that I can continue to receive complimentary codes to share with my fans!  A great big THANK YOU to all who continue to listen to my stories and post a review!  Please note that unfortunately additional code requests cannot be honored if previous codes have not been redeemed and your honest review posted; reviews for this title can be posted here.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening! 

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed FRIENDLY FIRE and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of HE CAME BACK!

Receive your free audio code for stand-alone novel HE CAME BACK in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion.

If you have previously requested an Audible code, please be sure to redeem your code in a timely fashion (check your spam folder if you have not received your requested code) and kindly drop me an e-mail along with your reviewer name to direct me to your honest online review so that I can continue to receive complimentary codes to share with my fans!  A great big THANK YOU to all who continue to listen to my stories and post a review!  Please note that unfortunately additional code requests cannot be honored if previous codes have not been redeemed and your honest review posted; reviews for this title can be posted here.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening! 

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed HE CAME BACK and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

Happy Monday, all!  To kick off a brand new week, I thought I'd give my newsletter subscribers an exclusive look at a brand new romantic suspense series that I'm working on--learn more about the O'Connells below!

The O’Connells of Livingston, Montana, are not your typical family. Follow them on their journey to the dark and dangerous side of love in a series of romantic thrillers you won’t want to miss. Raised by a single mother after their father’s mysterious death twenty years ago, the six grown siblings live in a small town with all kinds of hidden secrets, including unsettling disappearances at a rate much higher than the state average. The residents of Livingston know something strange is going on in their remote wooded area, which seems to breed deception, and for the O’Connells, their father’s death is just one of many similar unsolved murders. Much like the contemporary family romance series focusing on the Friessens, this romantic suspense series follows the lives of the O’Connell family as each of the siblings searches for love.

Book 1, THE NEIGHBOR, features park ranger Ryan.

After the devastating loss of her husband, Jenny Sweetgrass packs up her teenage daughter, Alison, and moves to Livingston, Montana, hoping for a fresh start—that is, until Ryan O’Connell knocks on her door.

Park ranger Ryan is one of the six O’Connell siblings in Livingston, raised by an independent mom who has been a rock to him. He has a career he loves, and up until six weeks ago, he lived a comfortable life. When a new neighbor moves in and disturbs the quiet peace of the area, bringing with her a daughter who’s walking trouble, Ryan is shocked to discover that the woman is a one-night stand he picked up at a bar years ago.

Right now, the gorgeous Jenny isn’t too interested in making friends, but despite her cool façade, as Ryan gets to know her, he can’t fight an idiotic need to try to ease the pain he sees her trying to hide. At the same time, he knows deep down that both mother and daughter have a secret, and if he were smart, he would listen to his brother’s warning and walk away.

When Alison goes missing, everyone in town believes she simply ran off or found her way into trouble, but nothing about her disappearance adds up. She simply set out on an afternoon hike into the park and never came back.

Jenny soon learns she’s not alone when Ryan takes matters into his own hands and sets off with her into the park to find her daughter. What he doesn’t know is that Alison is actually his daughter, too, and when he learns the truth and the real reason she left, the secret could end up dividing the O’Connell family and the community.

Are you ready for a new series?  Rest assured that it's in the works, but in the meantime...get your exclusive peek at Chapter 1 of THE NEIGHBOR here!

Chapter 1

More or less, Livingston was a quiet town—except for the person next door, the supreme a-hole he had yet to meet.

Ryan O’Connell’s scale of assholes went from your average pain in the ass, to the lying, cheating dirty dog, to the class A supreme asshole who didn’t give a fuck about anyone and conceivably embraced being said asshole, considering the intolerable noise from next door.

Ryan wasn’t in the mood to deal with yet another asshole today as he dragged on a pair of gray sweats after towelling off from a cool shower in the August Montana heat.

The stereo thumped from the Kunkels’ house next door. Actually, scratch that. Althea Kunkel had been a sweet old busybody, always trying to fix Ryan up. She had been the ideal neighbor, though she had always invaded his privacy and his peace of mind, waking him at seven a.m. on Sundays with freshly baked cinnamon rolls. At times, he’d been forced to sneak into his own house after parking up the street so she wouldn’t know he was home.

She was now six feet under, and Ryan missed her.

Good neighbors were hard to find.

He would’ve given anything to have that meddling busybody back instead of the unnamed scumbag who’d recently moved in. Every night for the past three weeks, his new neighbor had incessantly cranked the music so loud that the thump of the bass bounced the only piece of artwork, a painting of dogs smoking and playing poker, that he had on his vibrant white walls. It had been a joke from his sister Suzanne, one of Livingston’s three fulltime firefighters, and he swore she hadn’t expected him to hang it in such a prominent spot in the house.

That was just one of those things they did on their birthdays, really digging in and competing to find the perfect gift the other would hate. But Ryan was determined always to have the last laugh, and he’d hung the painting in the living room for everyone to see. He liked dogs and found humor in it, and he could see how much it annoyed his sister every time she stopped by.

“Goddamn asshole,” he said under his breath as he jogged down his stairs, barefoot and pissed, ready to lay out the dos and don’ts of being a good neighbor as the annoying thump continued.

He pulled open his front door, wanting only peace and quiet, a beer, and an hour or two in front of his idiot box to watch the episode of Survivor saved on his PVR. He stepped out onto the covered porch, the sky dark except for the streetlights, and strode across his overgrown grass, taking in the rusty Hyundai parked in his neighbor’s driveway.

Across the street, Ham Johnson, bald and fortyish, with three kids and a wife who visited her sister in Idaho every other week, which was when his girlfriend would stay over, was standing on his front porch and watching. Yeah, Ham was just another asshole, but he lifted his hand in a wave and walked back into his house.

Ryan’s neighbor’s two-story craftsman was identical to his, with now wilting daisies in the flower boxes. He took in the lit house, the closed door, and the noise, which was nearly deafening as he stepped onto the front porch and fisted his hand. He lifted it to the screen and yanked it open with a barely audible squeak, then pounded on the door. “Hey, shut it down!” he yelled. He could be loud when he wanted to, but he was having trouble hearing himself, considering the music was still thumping.

It was a tune he knew well, “Bad to the Bone.”

“Fucking asshole,” he said under his breath, then pounded the door again with his fist, louder. He kept pounding until the music suddenly stopped, and he could finally hear his heart thumping, the pull of his breath, and a noticeable ring in the air as the quiet of night was no longer disrupted.

One, two, three… He heard the footsteps and then nothing, forcing himself to listen, as he thought for sure the asshole had stopped on the other side of the door. He waited for it to open when the light suddenly flicked off, not just the inside light but the porch light too, leaving him standing in the dark. Like, what the fuck?

“Hey, open the damn door!” he said and pounded on the door again. The neighbors’ dogs were now barking and doors were opening, as if he was now the problem. “You think I don’t know you’re in there? Like, what are you, two years old? Open the damn door.”

He was positive his neighbor was standing just on the other side, the fucking little coward. Now he had no intention of walking away. “Look, I’m not leaving until we talk and set some ground rules…”

The light flicked on, and he heard the deadbolt click and watched as the doorknob turned and the door opened. He was staring into the deep brown eyes of a girl who was maybe sixteen, seventeen. She had shoulder-length black hair and wore black eye shadow, a low-cut green army tank, and cut-off shorts that left nothing to the imagination. She also had a nose ring.

For a second, he was speechless. She said nothing.

“I live next door,” he finally said. “I’m your neighbor. Do you have any idea how loud your music was? It was so loud I couldn’t hear myself think.” He gestured next door with his thumb and took in the way she stared at him, her eyes lingering on his naked chest. Shit, he’d just stepped out of the shower and pulled on a pair of sweats. He hadn’t bothered with anything else.

“Sorry,” was all she said as she moved to close the door.

He slapped his hand on it. “Whoa, hang on a second. You know, it’s not as if this is a first offence. This had been going on every night. Who all lives here? Is this, like, some frat house or something?” He took her in and could see the teenage attitude emerging. She was likely going to tell him to go fuck himself.

“What’s it to you?” she said. Her eyes went right to his hand pressed to the door, holding it so she couldn’t slam it in his face. In that moment, he realized how she could’ve taken it.

“Look, is your mom or dad here?” he said. She hadn’t told him anything about who lived there, not that he could remember seeing anyone.

“Nope, just me,” she said and didn’t pull her gaze from him.

He had to fight the urge to laugh. “So you live here by yourself? A little young, aren’t you?”

She slid her hand up the door frame and cocked her hip in a teasing motion that had him pulling his hand away and stepping back. “Depends on what you like,” she said.

He wondered if his eyes bugged out, and he glanced over his shoulder. “Cut the crap, kid. Don’t…” he started, but just as he did so, he heard a car and saw the flashing lights of a cruiser as it parked out front. “You called the cops?”

She just shrugged, and he thought he saw the hint of a smile. In that second, he knew what the teen, whose name he still didn’t know, had done. This was a girl who could cause him some serious trouble. He should’ve called the cops first!

“Oh, I’m so glad you got here when you did, officer,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do. My mom’s not here, and this man won’t leave. He threatened me and scared me, pounding on the door…”

Ryan couldn’t pull his eyes from what seemed like an actress pulling off the perfect scene, and even her expression seemed to be that of a truly scared girl. He heard the creak of the step and took only a second to glance to the deputy now standing beside him, his hands on his belt. The man had the same O’Connell blue eyes he did, his dark wavy hair in the same cop cut he always wore. It was none other than his younger brother, who placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Are you for real, kid?” Ryan snapped.

“Well, aren’t you going to arrest him?” the kid said accusingly, and he wondered for a second if this was a joke. The look on her face was all the reality check he needed.

“Care to explain, Ryan?” said Marcus O’Connell.

Just then, Ryan spotted the headlights of a small Jeep Patriot that was pulling in behind the rusty Hyundai.

“Wish I could,” he said. “Came over because of the damn noise, a stereo, and now you’re here. She called the cops?” He couldn’t figure out when, maybe while she was avoiding answering the door.

“What’s going on here?” said a woman emerging from the Jeep. She had dark hair and wore a baggy sweatshirt and a jean skirt that stopped at her knees, and she was carrying what looked like a grocery bag. Damn, she looked familiar. “Alison, what’s going on? What did you do now?”

She was pretty—no, cute, slender. She had one of those faces that wouldn’t get lost in a crowd, and he saw the spark of recognition when she saw him. Nothing friendly. He had to rack his brain to figure out where he knew her from.

“I’m Ryan O’Connell. I live next door,” he said, and he actually held out his hand to the woman, who was now on the first step. For a second, he didn’t think she’d shake it, but she did. Small hand, firm grip—and untrusting eyes. She said nothing, and he didn’t miss the glance to his brother.

“Your music was so loud I couldn’t hear myself think,” he explained. “I came over here because it’s been a nightly thing. I take it you’re one of her parents?”

The woman pulled her hand from his and flicked her gaze to the teen in the doorway. Yup, definitely the angry mom look. “I’m so sorry,” she said, then looked to the teen. “I told you no loud music! I apologize and can assure you it won’t happen again.”

“Well, I’m not here about the noise,” Marcus said. “This young lady called 911 and said there was an intruder trying to break in, that she was home alone… We were just trying to get to the bottom of it when you showed up. I take it you live here?”

Ryan moved back and leaned against the post to watch.

“Yes, sorry. I’m Jennifer—Jenny, and this is my daughter, Alison.” She handed off the paper bag to her daughter. “You called the cops? What were you thinking?” Her voice squeaked, and he wondered whether this was something her daughter did often.

He glanced to his brother, who only shook his head. He wondered how many times Marcus had to deal with this kind of thing.

“He was being a dick, pounding on the door,” Alison said. She didn’t even try to pretend that she hadn’t just made up a big lie. Ryan had heard of neighbors from hell, but he’d never expected to have one. He stood with his arms crossed over his naked chest, still trying to think of how he knew Jenny.

“You don’t call the cops!” she said. “Seriously, Alison… Go unpack the groceries.”

“Just hang on a second, here,” Marcus said. “Calling 911 for kicks is a serious offense. At the same time, if I’m called out here because of noise, for example, your music cranked too loud, I’m going to fine you, because that’s a problem.”

Alison was holding the grocery bag and dragged her gaze to her mom, who appeared barely old enough to have a teenage daughter.

“I can assure you it won’t happen again,” Jenny said. “I will have a talk with my daughter and see to it that she behaves herself.”

He noted the edge in her voice. That was the same tone his own mom had used on each of them when they misbehaved, pulling them aside alone at home for a talk they didn’t want to have. There was fun mom, and then there was angry grounded-for-life mom. He could see this teen was getting the latter.

“So, then, the music…” he started.

Jenny lifted her hands, shaking her head. “It will stop, like right now, and I’m sorry for the trouble my daughter caused.”

Alison had already walked away, seeming completely unaffected at having a cop call her out. She was trouble with a capital T. He wondered if he should also give Jenny a heads-up on how her daughter had been toying with him and offering herself up to him.

“Is that all?” she asked. So much for any friendly neighborly talk. He was still trying to figure out how they knew each other and when they’d met.

“Guess so,” he said. “Music’s off, so the neighborhood should be happy. Oh, and you may want to keep your daughter on a short leash,” he added as he stepped away from the post and down the steps. He stopped at the bottom, taking in the withering look his brother dragged over to him. Finally, Ryan said, “I’m trying to place it. Seems we’ve met. You look familiar.”

She actually made a rude noise and crossed her arms. “So you don’t remember?” she said.

He could feel his brother taking him in. “I’m great with faces, but I meet a lot of people in my line of work as a ranger. We meet on the trail or someplace in town or something?”

She seemed unimpressed. “Or something,” she replied, and the way she said it oozed with sarcasm. She gestured to him. “Is this how you always dress, half naked, flaunting that perfect chest?”

Damn, her eyes were the same dark brown as the girl’s, and he didn’t miss the anger simmering below the surface.

“Just got out of the shower, and this is all I managed to pull on,” he said. “Word of advice, Jenny: We’re neighbors. It would be better to get along, and so far, you’re not off to a great start.”

He just couldn’t help himself, and he wasn’t sure what the amused grin on his brother’s face was about as Jenny narrowed her eyes, lifted her middle finger to him, and then stepped into the house and shut the door.

“Wow, you really have a way with women,” Marcus said with a laugh.

Ryan just stepped down and took in the house a nice old woman had once lived in. God damn it, did he miss her. “It’s a gift,” he said, then lifted his hand to his brother as he cut across the grass, still barefoot. “See you at Mom’s tomorrow.”

“Hey, Ryan, word of advice?” Marcus called out.

He turned, resting his hands on his hips, not saying anything, knowing his brother had something on his mind.

“Next time, call me first,” Marcus said. “Seen this before, and it ain’t pretty. Remember, your territory’s the woods, the park. Mine is this town. If a young girl calls the cops and makes up a story, a stupid schmuck could walk right into it and land in jail. It never ends well for the stupid schmuck, so don’t let that be you.” Marcus let out a sigh and shook his head. “She’s trouble,” he added. “Steer clear—and it’s your turn to bring the beer tomorrow.”

Ryan watched as his brother climbed into his cruiser, flicked off the still flashing lights, and drove away. He wasn’t sure what made him look back to the house next door, but when he did, he was positive the girl was watching him from the upstairs window.

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of DON'T CATCH ME!  

Receive your free audio code for Book 2 in The McCabe Brothers series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion.

If you have previously requested an Audible code, please be sure to redeem your code in a timely fashion (check your spam folder if you have not received your requested code) and kindly drop me an e-mail along with your reviewer name to direct me to your honest online review so that I can continue to receive complimentary codes to share with my fans!  A great big THANK YOU to all who continue to listen to my stories and post a review!  Please note that unfortunately additional code requests cannot be honored if previous codes have not been redeemed and your honest review posted; reviews for this title can be posted here.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening! 

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed DON'T CATCH ME and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of DON'T STOP ME!  

Receive your free audio code for Book 1 in The McCabe Brothers series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion.

If you have previously requested an Audible code, please be sure to redeem your code in a timely fashion (check your spam folder if you have not received your requested code) and kindly drop me an e-mail along with your reviewer name to direct me to your honest online review so that I can continue to receive complimentary codes to share with my fans!  A great big THANK YOU to all who continue to listen to my stories and post a review!  Please note that unfortunately additional code requests cannot be honored if previous codes have not been redeemed and your honest review posted; reviews for this title can be posted here.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening! 

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed DON'T STOP ME and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of KATE & WALKER: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION!

Receive your free audio code for the Kate & Walker boxed set in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion.

If you have previously requested an Audible code, please be sure to redeem your code in a timely fashion (check your spam folder if you have not received your requested code) and kindly drop me an e-mail along with your reviewer name to direct me to your honest online review so that I can continue to receive complimentary codes to share with my fans!  A great big THANK YOU to all who continue to listen to my stories and post a review!  Please note that unfortunately additional code requests cannot be honored if previous codes have not been redeemed and your honest review posted; reviews for this title can be posted here.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening! 

"Two weeks of craziness!" ~Susan

"This is the easiest 5 stars I have ever given a book." ~Caroline

"Crazy plot twist." ~English Teacher

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed the Kate and Walker collection and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

My post today is about a behavior most everyone is aware of but may not realize they are actively participating in. Many may even argue there’s no way they would ever consider acting that way. This topic concerns the company we keep, the stories we tell, and the circle of privilege, which some may know as white male privilege.
 
Think about it. We all know friends or family or even other people in our lives, whether we are part of a team or otherwise working together, who see themselves as better than others—not everyone, but perhaps certain people. Remember, you create the world you live in with the stories you tell yourself, so even without realizing it, by keeping their company and listening to their stories, you’re participating in their behavior. At the same time, we’re all taught to be amiable and polite, to cooperate and fit in, so who would speak up when others experience social exclusion?
 
This past weekend, I was reminded of this type of behavior. It happens all around us every day, but many of us don’t even see it or recognize it’s happening when it’s not directed at us. We tend to ignore how people interact with the ones they’re putting down. Maybe we don’t want to make waves, or maybe we think it’s just a small slight and are told we shouldn’t let it get to us because it’s not socially acceptable to speak up.
 
This issue came up while I was away at a dragon boat racing event, one my local team had travelled to compete in. (By the way, we won gold in our division. Yay for us!) It was a happy event that we’re still patting ourselves on the back for, but at the same time, a few of us had an ah-ha moment when we experienced social profiling by a few other competitors. Were they strangers? No! In fact, they were people we knew, people who were liked by many.
 
What was illuminating was that the behavior of these individuals was ignored by the many while being directed at the few. This is nothing new. The same behavior has been ongoing for years, not in an overt and shocking way but rather subtly, which is likely why so few see it. It may be easier to speak up when someone openly degrades someone else, singling them out publicly and talking to them as if they’re a bug to be crushed underfoot, but how often does that happen?
 
It’s amazing what you notice when you socialize with a group of older well-liked white couples. These people are married and have professions that are deemed socially acceptable. They own property with a white picket fence and have 2.3 kids, a perfect car, and a summer cottage. They check all the boxes: They have the right skin color, ethnicity, and citizenship, are from the right area, and follow the rules embedded into them by their parents and grandparents regarding what makes people acceptable. But at the same time, even though each of these individuals will argue that they are good and decent and loving, they have no respect or kindness for people who don’t fit the mold.
 
What’s illuminating is to think about the generation this comes from. Many are repeating their parents’ words, their grandparents’ words, without even realizing it. They give respect to the elderly even when they openly degrade and slight others. What would you do if it was your mother, your father, who openly degraded, put down, slighted, or criticized those who were different? When such people are faced with someone who doesn’t fit their perfect mold, they think that person is unacceptable, which invites criticism and sarcastic rude comments. Even their tone often conveys that they feel the person they’re speaking to is beneath them—and that’s if they don’t completely overlook or ignore them.
 
What was troubling to me this past weekend was the sheer number of people who didn’t notice this behavior, because it was done so subtly and wasn’t directed at them, and it was done in polite conversation that was deemed socially acceptable. I am a single mother with three children—two teens and one autistic young man—and I definitely do not fit the mold of socially acceptable. As an author, I notice how people interact on a level many don’t recognize and don’t want to recognize. There is a difference, and I see it often. People see this behavior and think, Don’t rock the boat. Keep your nose down. Don’t cause trouble. Just ignore them or it’ll be you next. They don’t mean anything by it. Don’t let it bother you. Don’t speak up. You’ve thought it, and I’ve thought it. I’ve even been told it.
 
Last year, I was invited to an event where I met an older man through an acquaintance who had reached out, knowing what I had accomplished in my career, and asked if I could give him a hand because he was having trouble with online publishing. Of course, I said yes and took the time to meet with him, to help him get a handle on the business side of being an author. He was a very nice man, pleasant. Later at the event, I saw him at a table with three other men who were deep in conversation. I went over and said hi, and he stood up to have a few words with me, but never at any point was I introduced to the three others. Was I invited to sit? No. In fact, the other three completely ignored me. They had their male circle, and the slight was not lost on me.
 
They likely weren’t even aware of their exclusionary behavior, but that attitude seems to be embedded in many of the older generation and is ignored by many today. I find it troublesome that this kind of discord makes its way into our social circles just because of who these people are, because they’re the “right kind” of people.
 
Ask yourself this: Do you have people around you, friends, family members, or even your parents or grandparents, who openly criticize others and see themselves as better, more privileged? Perhaps you do this yourself, regardless of your skin color, race, or gender. When you see exclusionary behavior, do you ignore it or do you actually speak up? Take a second out of your day and look at your thoughts and words, and ask yourself where they came from, who taught them to you. Think about what the people around you say.
 
It really comes down to being a decent human being. Neither you nor I know anyone else’s story or why they act the way they do, but each of us has the ability to say something to someone we know when they do or say something that should bother each and every one of us. More than that, each of us has the ability to recognize the words that come out of our own mouths, our own actions, and fix ourselves.

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of LAST NIGHT!

Receive your free audio code for Book 3 in the Kate & Walker series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion.

If you have previously requested an Audible code, please be sure to redeem your code in a timely fashion (check your spam folder if you have not received your requested code) and kindly drop me an e-mail along with your reviewer name to direct me to your honest online review so that I can continue to receive complimentary codes to share with my fans!  A great big THANK YOU to all who continue to listen to my stories and post a review!  Please note that unfortunately additional code requests cannot be honored if previous codes have not been redeemed and your honest review posted; reviews for this title can be posted here.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening! 

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of EDGE OF NIGHT!

Receive your free audio code for Book 2 in the Kate & Walker series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion.

If you have previously requested an Audible code, please be sure to redeem your code in a timely fashion (check your spam folder if you have not received your requested code) and kindly drop me an e-mail along with your reviewer name to direct me to your honest online review so that I can continue to receive complimentary codes to share with my fans!  A great big THANK YOU to all who continue to listen to my stories and post a review!  Please note that unfortunately additional code requests cannot be honored if previous codes have not been redeemed and your honest review posted; reviews for this title can be posted here.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening! 

However, she refuses to pine away for him or call him even though he invades her thoughts and her dreams—that is, until he shows up to investigate a case of robbery at the hotel where she works. Once again, Kate is left to fight Walker’s charms, though she knows he can’t commit and she’s convinced he’ll eventually break her heart.

"Mix love, attraction, and a mystery case and you have the recipe for a fantastic book!" ★★★★★ Carol C., Amazon Reviewer

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed EDGE OF NIGHT and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often.