Can't wait till release day?  The newest addition to The Friessens big family romance series is coming soon, but you can grab a sneak peek of STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER today! 

That is until one night when a mysterious handsome stranger comes to her rescue. He’s bold and strong, just the kind of man she never expected could be real or that she would ever possibly meet—but she soon uncovers a hidden truth and the cold, ruthless side of the dark world he belongs to.
 
Even though he tells her to stay away from him and that no good can come from getting involved with the likes of him, Sara’s heart has different ideas, and she’s determined to show him that true love is all they could ever need.

STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER (The Friessens, Book 24) is available for pre-sale at:

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CHAPTER 1

Her phone was ringing again, a ridiculous squawking rooster, a.k.a. the ringtone she’d assigned for her dad, and it echoed as she walked across the dimly lit parking lot of the college campus, which was half empty.

Sara Friessen was tempted once again not to answer.

She could do that. She had done that.

What would she pretend when her dad asked her why she hadn’t answered her phone, which he paid for? Would she say she hadn’t heard it, or would she tell the truth, which was that she was feeling as though she were on a tight leash and didn’t want to have to face yet another inquisition?

Yeah, the latter definitely wouldn’t go over well, considering how overprotective her dad was of his family. Scratch that—he was obsessively overprotective of his youngest daughter. His sons were a different story, a fact she’d pointed out to him was the pure definition of sexism. He’d told her to deal with it, because it was a man’s role to protect his daughter, his wife, his family, and if that meant he was sexist, well, then he happily would take the title.

That was an argument she wasn’t going to win with her dad.

She was pretty sure her dad had also put a tracking app on his phone so that he would know where she was every minute of the day. She wondered, truth be told, of the legality of that. It was a gray area of the law, considering she was his daughter, but her dad wouldn’t take kindly to having that pointed out to him.

Her thumb hovered over the green and red buttons. Answer or decline? Andy Friessen was not a man she could keep blowing off, especially considering how late it was.

“I’m seriously on my way home,” she answered and said, putting all the annoyance she could into her tone and letting out a frustrated sigh as she kept walking to her black pickup. Well, it was her dad’s older model, which he’d insisted she drive, a fully loaded crew cab with leather seats—and yet another way to control what she was doing. He’d bought a newer version, also black. She’d have preferred to pick up a practical starter car for a few hundred bucks, something that would be entirely hers, not handed to her by her father. Just once, she’d like to be able to manage everything about her own life.

“Your father has called you twice, Sara,” her mother said. “You were supposed to be home already. It’s after ten.”

She dug in her purse for the truck keys. It was looped over her shoulder with her laptop bag, and she could feel the tension that pulled across her shoulders as she felt the tightening of the leash around her neck. It was a joke between Sara and her mom, but at times like this, she swore she could feel the leather biting into her skin. It felt very real.

“Would it do any good to say I lost track of time? Seriously, Mom, I’m eighteen and would really appreciate it if you and Dad would ease up. Maybe you could remind him, since I’m pretty sure he’s tracking me, that I’m capable of taking care of myself. I need some space. Stuff happens, and I’m going to get sidetracked when I’m studying. I thought you were going to talk to Dad about backing off. It’s getting really fricking embarrassing when I’m studying with my friends and my phone keeps ringing, and there’s Dad’s name on my screen. Even my friends are starting to wonder about this incessant need to set a ridiculously early curfew and continually check in…”

“Are you done?” Her mom cut her off, and she could hear impatience and sternness, which she’d never heard in her mom’s tone before. “Sara, you said you would be home at nine, and it’s now eight after ten, to be exact. When you tell us you’ll be home at a certain time and you don’t show up, we worry, and then you don’t answer your phone, so what are we to think?”

Something about the way her mom was talking let her know clearly that she’d gone too far and there was no talking her way out of this. She didn’t have to be standing in front of Laura Friessen to realize how mad she really was.

“Where are you, exactly, right now?” Laura said. “Because you said you were going to meet friends to study and do homework at the coffeeshop. Let me remind you, Sara, if you lie to me, it will be the last thing you ever do, and even your father isn’t going to step in and save you from such a fate. You go on and on about wanting to have freedom to date, to make your own decisions and be treated like an adult, but being eighteen means only that you’re eighteen. You’re still very much my daughter, and you’re acting like a spoiled, inconsiderate brat. That makes you anything but a responsible adult, because responsible adults don’t cause unneeded worry to their parents. This just confirms that you can’t be trusted, and the short leash your father has you on is necessary, because you can’t even pick up the damn phone and call us to say you’re going to be late and tell us where you are. Then we wouldn’t be sitting here, worrying and thinking you’ve been in an accident and are lying half dead on the side of the road!”

Holy shit! She’d never received this kind of scolding from her mom before, and she could feel the reprimand, realizing she should have picked up the phone instead of letting her friends goad her into not answering. The fact was that she’d been hanging out in the dorm party area on the comfy stained sofas, passing around a bottle of tequila, not doing homework in the coffeeshop. “Okay, I get it,” she said, about to hang up. “I’m on my way home. Ten minutes and I’ll be there.”

“Twenty, Sara, because ten is what it takes if you’re speeding, which is exactly what you’re not going to do. And you didn’t answer me about where you were. You said you were at the coffeeshop, but to our surprise, when we phoned the coffeeshop because we were thinking the worst, you want to know what they said?”

She pulled her phone away. “Fuck,” she said under her breath. Of course she should have known. She and her friends had walked in and then right out of the empty coffeehouse. Tonight, everyone was hanging in the dorm, drinking, partying, and doing what every normal college kid did—nothing her parents should ever know about.

“I heard that, Sara,” Laura said. “You want to tell me where you were, or do you need those twenty minutes to come up with a story? Let me remind you we already know the truth.”

Oh, shit! Maybe her dad was having her followed. She wouldn’t put it past him, and she felt the hair on the back of her neck spike. It was a creepy feeling, and she found herself looking around the basically deserted lot, with just a few other cars. She could hear the faint noise of someone’s music coming from the dorm she’d just left.

“It’s not a big deal. We really did go into the coffeehouse but ended up in the dorm instead, where it was more comfortable on the sofas and less noisy.” She winced, wondering if her nose grew, because the music blasting in the dorm had been anything but quiet. “Okay, Mom, I’m at the truck.” She pressed the fob and heard the lock click. “Just unlocked it and am getting in, so I’ll be home in twenty. You don’t have to wait up…”

“We’re waiting up, Sara,” her mom said, and then the line went dead. Her mom had hung up on her.

She was seriously in deep shit. She stared at the phone, knowing her parents were likely going to give her an earful when she got home, and maybe it wasn’t her dad she needed to be worried about. Would they be able to smell the two shots of tequila she’d had? She stopped at the truck after opening the door and held her hand up to her mouth, taking a whiff. Yeah, maybe some gum would help.

“Hey there, great party.”

She glanced over her shoulder to the guy walking across the lot: light hair, blue jeans, and a green and white jersey.

“Sure,” was all she said as she pulled open the back door of the truck and rested her computer bag on the seat. Then the guy was there in front of her as she tried to close the back door.

“So this is your truck? Fancy,” he said with a smile. His wavy hair and face weren’t familiar, but she could see the interest for her in his expression.

“Yeah, it is. Excuse me.” She stepped back, but he moved in front of her and was now standing between her and the open driver’s door.

“So how about giving a guy a ride home? Maybe we can continue the party,” he said.

She went to step around him, but he moved in front of her. He had about three, four inches on her in height and a solid build, too. She could smell the cigarette smoke on him.

“Sorry, not interested. My dad would kill me. I don’t know you, and I’m kind of late, so no.”

He didn’t move, so she stepped back, taking in the darkened parking lot and wondering who this guy was.

“Well, that’s not how it seemed in there.” He gestured with his thumb to the dorm, which was still lit up, the party going strong. “I guess I’m confused. You were drinking with everyone, passing the bottle around, there for a good time. I noticed the looks.” His hand was on her arm, his grip strong.

What the fuck? She pulled her arm away. “Hey, back off. I seriously think not. I was hanging with my friends, and if you think I was eyeing you up, you’re delusional. I don’t even remember seeing you. You’re dreaming, buddy.” She went to step around him again, but he took a step closer to her, right in her space, right in front of her. He was so quick, and she shrugged off his hand as it touched her shoulder again. He was so close she could smell the liquor, the lingering nicotine. That smell alone made her want to gag.

“I know you were interested.” He leaned in, and it happened so fast, the hard kiss he pressed to her. She could taste the stink of beer, booze, a dirty ashtray, and she stepped back, pushed him hard with both her hands, pissed off.

“What the hell is your problem?” she snapped. “Stop…”

But he was in her face again so quick, and he grabbed her, his hand around her, pulling her against him. He was so damn strong, and she could feel the panic rising, the anger at the fact that he wouldn’t back off.

“What the hell are you doing? Stop! Get your damn hands off me!” she yelled, and she fought against him as he held her tight.

He slapped his hand over her mouth. “Shut up,” he hissed.

She fought like a wildcat, kicking, clawing, and she somehow managed to get his hand from her mouth and screamed, but he grabbed her hard and slammed her to the pavement.

It happened so fast. She could smell nicotine, his fingers pressed so hard over her mouth as she fought at the hand digging into her face, clawing with her fingers and kicking with the heels of her sneakers, using everything she had.

She bit on his hand hard, and he yelled. When he pulled his hand away, she screamed as loud as she could again, considering she was still struggling for breath. Then she felt the punch to her face and was slammed to the concrete again, hitting her jaw, scraping her cheek on the cement. The sting of the ground barely registered as she struggled with the weight of him on top of her. His hand was back around her mouth, and somehow he’d pinned one of her arms behind her back, the weight of his body pulling so hard that she thought he’d wrench her arm from its socket.

She couldn’t pull her arm out, and he was working the button of her jeans, the zipper. She could feel the tug as he pushed her into the concrete, and she could hear him fumbling with his own belt, feeling his weight grinding her into the ground. She fought and squirmed and struggled to breathe, because now he was choking her, his hand squeezing her throat.

This couldn’t be happening, but he was strong—brutally strong. He overpowered her, and his large hand squeezed so hard she couldn’t breathe, knowing that she was going to pass out. She couldn’t get air, and he was going to rape her, hurt her, maybe kill her. She was getting weaker, struggling for a breath and then another. She couldn’t pass out, not like this, but even though she fought, she couldn’t get his hand off her throat.

It couldn’t end like this. This wasn’t fair. She just needed a breath, but she couldn’t move.

She vaguely heard someone yell, and then suddenly all the weight on her was gone. His hand was gone.

She gasped, dragging in a breath, her throat aching. She was gasping on her hands and knees, coughing and fighting to fill her lungs as she crawled to the side of the truck. Her jeans were undone.

She heard a man yell again, then the impact of a fist, a scuffle, fighting. Someone was slammed against the truck. She felt the rumble. She lifted her hand to her throat, and then she struggled to get up. The two men barely registered, one hitting the other. She was on her knees again, gasping.

The truck door was still open, and a guy was punching her assailant over and over. Then somehow he was gone, running, and the other one started after him but turned back and took her in. A fear she’d never felt before had paralyzed her. Somehow, her hands shaking, she righted her jeans and buttoned them up.

Then her rescuer was there in front of her, and she felt gravel digging into the palms of her hands as she tried to push herself up. He had a strong jaw and shaved dark hair, deep brown eyes, and two diamond studs in his ears.

“You okay?” he said. His voice was deep, and he watched her, waiting for her to answer, but she couldn’t get her brain to register. She knew he was the one who had saved her, but she couldn’t get her tongue to move. She clutched at her throat, which still ached.

He didn’t come any closer, and she instinctively backed away, scooting on her butt, feeling the hard wall of a tire at her back. She couldn’t move any farther. What was wrong with her?

He didn’t touch her or move closer, as he was now squatting down, holding his large hand out, and she just stared at it. There was no way in hell she could touch him.

“You’re hurt,” he said. “Your face. I’m going to call the police right now. Did you know him?” He had a cell phone out and was now standing, and he moved back, giving her space.

She couldn’t move as she took him in. He was talking to someone now, but what he was saying didn’t register. She still couldn’t get her head around the fact that she’d just been attacked, how fast it had happened. She was feeling catatonic. It was dark except for the lights in the parking lot, and then she heard the siren.

He was there again, squatting down in front of her, but she just sat, frozen, staring at her purse, which was lying on the ground—her keys too, and her wallet. “Can I help you up?” he said. “The police and help are on the way.” He still didn’t move closer.

What could she say? She took in her purse and then crawled on her knees over to it to stuff everything back inside. He didn’t touch her, and now she took in his face, the hint of mocha to his skin. She just shook her head, as she couldn’t get her tongue to move. Why was she so stuck on his large hands?

“You’re hurt, your face, your neck.” He gestured toward her.

“I’m fine, it’s okay. Who was he?” she said. Her voice sounded so odd, and she was shaking—not just shaking, trembling. It had started inside her and moved outside. He didn’t try to touch her, but he didn’t pull his gaze from her. She should feel safe, but she was worried about the other guy. What if he came back?

“You’re not fine, and it wasn’t okay,” he said. “Don’t be so polite. He assaulted you. I don’t know him, sorry. I was going to go after him, but I wasn’t sure how badly you were hurt. So you didn’t know him?”

She pressed her hand to the side of the truck and went on her knees again. She could see her hand shaking. The back of it was scraped, and beads of blood welled as she stood up. He did too as if getting ready to catch her, the way he watched her. He was damn tall, wearing a red and white jacket and what looked like a gold class ring on his finger. Just then, the sheriff’s car pulled up.

“I should go home,” she said. “I’m late. I was supposed to be home already. My dad, my parents…they’re going to be so mad at me. I said I was on my way home…” She stopped talking because she couldn’t make sense of what she was saying.

He glanced only once to the cop car and back to her, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Look, I can tell how shaken up you are. Some guy messed with you. You’re not okay. The police are here. You need to talk to them so they can catch that guy. You should go to the hospital too, get checked out. And you shouldn’t be driving now.”

The lights of the cop car were still flashing, and she was stuck on how kind his eyes were. He was tall, solid. She didn’t remember ever seeing him before.

A deputy climbed out of the cruiser, wearing a tan uniform, and he walked over to her, glancing sternly at the man who’d saved her. She didn’t know what to say. Her throat ached, her face hurt, and she just wanted to get in the truck and drive away. She couldn’t make sense of what had just happened.

She just shook her head as she held her keys and clutched her purse against her chest, then touched the door of her open truck. She was in a fog and just going through the motions.

“Whoa, whoa, hang on a second, here,” said the deputy, who grabbed the open truck door. “You can’t go anywhere. I need you to tell me what happened here. A call came in about an assault…”

She took him in. He had light hair, and she wondered for a minute if he’d touch her. She had to step back, shifting her glance to the other guy. The way he took in the cop, she wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“She was attacked,” the guy said. “He was trying to rape her. I heard her scream, and I pulled the guy off. We fought, but he got away. He took off between the buildings.” This stranger who had saved her didn’t pull his gaze from her.

The cop was now saying something into a walkie-talkie attached to his shirt. “There’s an ambulance on the way. How about we start with your names? Did either of you know the assailant?”

“My name’s Sara, Sara Friessen. I did nothing wrong. I just want to go home. I don’t know him, even though he said I was flirting with him. I don’t remember seeing him. He said he was in the dorm, at the party. I just don’t recall. There were so many people there. I don’t know everyone. I have to go. I was supposed to be home already. My parents are waiting,” she said, feeling the emotion squeeze her chest. Although she’d lied before to her mom and dad, she realized that as angry as they had been, now they were going to be furious. She’d really screwed up this time.

“Okay, Sara, let’s call your parents,” the deputy said. “And then I need to ask you if you’ve been drinking.”

GET YOUR AUDIO ON!  

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** As always, your reviews are appreciated and welcomed--
I'd love to hear your thoughts! **

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 
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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 brand new 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 over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Thanks to all of you who have e-mailed me to ask for some assistance in keeping the ever-growing Friessen family straight--so, by popular request, I'm pleased to provide you with the Friessen family tree!  Now you can easily identify parents, children, siblings and cousins in the Friessen clan with this handy chart--simply click here to download this helpful guide to everyone's favorite family!  Soon to be found in the front of all Friessens eBooks, too.

RECENTLY RELEASED

Did you miss these recent Spring releases?  Catch up with the Friessens in A REASON TO BREATHE, YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING and THE HOMECOMING plus bonus novellas not for sale anywhere!  

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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!

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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.

"What a beautiful story and so cleverly written. You can feel so much emotion from these very strong characters." ★★★★★ Samanthagirl, Amazon Reviewer

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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 brand new 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 over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Are you looking to become an inspiring leader or to manipulate others?
 
Now, some of you may be saying that of course you would never want to manipulate others, but unfortunately, a lot of people out there end up doing exactly that, most without even being aware of it. I see it every day in my community. Let’s just say for argument’s sake that everyone wants to make an impact on the world for the better, and in chasing your goals, you want to improve your life, your community, the world. What you do not need to do is go out and manipulate people while chasing your goals. Instead, by inspiring them, you can make a huge impact and actually move mountains.
 
Does that make sense, or are you still confused by the fine line between being an inspiring leader and manipulating others? Some of you may still be saying you would never intentionally manipulate others, so let me deep dive into this a little further. An inspiring leader is a role everyone can play—you know, as a boss, as a parent, in your career, and in your quest for financial security and wealth. Unfortunately, certain actions are deeply ingrained in us to the extent that when leaders find themselves overwhelmed by all their responsibilities, they take the wrong steps, the wrong actions. They believe and may even say directly to those around them that they have to be able to get others to do what the leader wants them to do. That alone is very ego driven, and this is in fact manipulation. You’ve likely known a few people like this, and maybe you even work for one and see the power trip they are on daily. You may have also done this yourself without realizing, all because you were taught this is how you have to do things. However, trying to figure out how to manipulate people is not being an inspiring leader.
 
Becoming an inspiring leader is in fact not a goal anyone should aspire to. If you want to become an inspiring leader, then give up all hopes, dreams, thoughts of becoming an inspiring leader and instead be inspired by a vision, your vision, your goal, which brings a greater good to your family, to you, to your workplace, to your employees, to your community. Whatever it is you want to achieve, remember you will always have incredible flexibility in defining your vision. Not everyone is going to become an inspiring leader, but if you achieve your goal, your vision, and you learn how to communicate it, then you become that inspiring leader by default, because the people in your life, whom you work with, your friends, family, neighbors, and customers, will be inspired by what you’re doing.
 
So how do you live in your inspiration and also benefit from it? First, be inspired by your goal or your vision for your future, and come up with that idea. Then learn to communicate that idea, and it starts from that moment. Every single day, when you first get up in the morning, when your feet first hit the floor, you can recognize that no one wants to live a mediocre life of just getting by, living paycheck to paycheck. Then take another step back and ask yourself, have you been chasing an outcome without thinking about the process? Can you still reach high positions by manipulation? Of course, it happens all the time with many people who are driven by pure ambition or greed in business, in governments, in communities, and yes, in families too. These people are so focused on just reaching the top that they don’t care what it takes or who they step on, or crush, or take advantage of, or destroy. But that doesn’t make you a true leader, and it doesn’t make you a good person, either. The moment you lose your position as an inspiring leader and become yet another scumbag, no one wants to spend any time with you, and you drop off the radar, because what has happened is a huge disconnect.
 
A lot of people come up with this idea that they need to be able to manipulate the people around them, the people who work for them, getting them to do things they might not necessarily want to do, because manipulation is their responsibility as the boss. Some even believe that if they become inspiring enough, it will be easier to get everyone around them to think the way they think and do what they want them to do—and that is a majorly bullshit, crappy way to lead. If you want to be inspiring, don’t set this as your objective.
 
When you let go of this idea, you’ll notice you suddenly have a different energy in any action you take in your work, in your life, in your family, in your community. You will naturally draw the right opportunities. If you’re chasing the wrong things, in the end, those things probably will not give you the kind of answers you’re looking for. Remember that most people don’t even realize they’re manipulating people; they just think this is what they have to do to be a leader. If there’s something you’re trying to achieve, if there’s something you’re trying to do, if there’s a wrong you’re trying to fix or a change you’re advocating for, then take action yourself. It isn’t about manipulating others to think the way you do. It’s about taking action yourself, not getting others to take action for you.

NEWLY RELEASED

Catch up with your favorite family, the Friessens, as four generations come together for what they anticipate to be a fun-filled weekend with babies and children, loads of love, and laughter. You can expect all the drama of young love, from the secrets to the hidden truths in a seemingly perfect marriage.
 
However, one fateful moment changes everything in this unforgettable story. When three lives are put in danger, the fallout could ultimately shatter the deep love and trust in this family, dividing them forever—and the cost could be something far greater than any of them could have imagined.

Grab THE HOMECOMING with your link to the free novella WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG at:

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GET YOUR AUDIO ON!  Listen to any or all for FREE with the Audible Romance Package.

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 brand new 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 over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Are you in a situation that you believe is so bad that you can’t see your way out of it, so bad that you think it’ll take a piece of you and leave you scarred for life?

What I’m talking about today is the capacity to recover from adversity. This is called extreme resilience. You’ve all heard people talk about it, but how many of you actually practice it? First, let’s talk about what resilience is. It goes something like this: You’re hit with a situation that could bring you to your knees, but you bounce back so quickly that everyone you know can’t see that you were brought down in the first place. Resilience is about getting hit over and over by a situation or problem, but what you do is immediately bounce back. This is totally possible. It’s just a matter of cultivating your determination to do so. As you go through life, you will experience setbacks in all areas. Most of us allow circumstances to take us down emotionally, and some people even spiral down into depression. Resilience will permit you to take any bad situation and rise up smiling—but is it that easy?

Here’s an example of a situation I faced, one that could have crushed my dreams if I allowed it to bring me down. I wrote a book, my first book, after my daughter was born. That was the busiest time of my life, with all my kids under five, a newborn, my eldest just having been diagnosed with autism, and my marriage being all but over, yet I wanted to get published. This dream was so strong that I could not ignore it. What was standing between me and my dreams of getting published was the publishing industry. I queried every literary agent, and while some offered genuine feedback and a few were even interested and dangled my hopes in front of me, they all ultimately said no.

Did I let that stop me? No! I didn’t crawl into a hole and cry and pity myself. I took the feedback and revised and changed my manuscript, and I also applied some relevant advice that a friend had given about a different situation. No one fixed things for me. I had to take a step back, re-evaluate the obstacles, and come at them from a different direction. I didn’t get mad or angry at the literary agents who wouldn’t consider me. They were just an obstacle. Instead, taking my friend’s advice, I looked at the entire terrain, the publishing industry, the ins and outs, and found a different direction. I started going directly to the publishers and revising accordingly, and it was nearly three years later that a publisher was interested and my first book was published. Was this the easy route? Good grief, no. It was so much work, tons, and so much research and studying and learning. I could go on and on, but I was determined.

If you think of it this way, my circumstance was much like building a road. Sometimes the terrain has mountains and forests and bogs, but instead of getting angry at them, you find a way around. If you think of it that way, all of this really has no impact on your emotions. When you are confronted with and subjected to irritating and toxic people, think of them like the forests and mountains and mud pits that you can’t go through. For me, those obstacles were literary agents and publishing professionals. Don’t get mad at them; just find a way to build your road despite your obstacles. Keep this in mind. You alone are building this road of yours, so figure out your steps, because that is completely within your control.

I did it, and so can you.

The next installment in The Friessens series will be released tomorrow, but you can pre-order your copy today!

THE HOMECOMING (The Friessens, Book 23) is available for pre-sale at:

AMAZON, NOOK, iBOOKS, KOBO, GOOGLE PLAY

All pre-ordered copies will include a special link to a free novella!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON!  Listen to any or all for FREE with the Audible Romance Package.

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 brand new 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 over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Here's your final peek at my upcoming Friessens release!  THE HOMECOMING will be released in just a few days, but here's an exclusive look at Chapter 5!

THE HOMECOMING (The Friessens, Book 22) is available for pre-sale at:

AMAZON, NOOK, iBOOKS, KOBO, GOOGLE PLAY

All pre-ordered copies will include a special link to a free novella!

Did you miss your sneak peek of Chapter 4?  If so, click here.

****

Chapter 5

Jed was still feeling a little bit of a buzz from the two beers he’d had with Andy. Add in the hot sun, and he hadn’t expected to be doing anything more than hopping into the pool for another swim, some fun, and then dinner later with the family, along with more beer and a chance to catch up with his brothers.

Instead, here he was in the back of a minivan cab, with three rows of seating. Xander was in the front seat, a spot he noted he had been quick to claim, Tom was beside Jed in the second row, and Steven was in the third row alone as they drove through Cancun to where his mom and dad’s estate was.

The funny thing was the fact that they had to drive all the way around even though the estate was practically next door. They could have walked along the beach and down the long driveway if there had been a gated entry, but the problem was that Neil had made sure when building the resort to cut off public access to his parents’ estate from the beach.

“Still no answer,” Xander said and glanced back to him. “I can tell you this is very unlike Neil. I’m not liking this.”

Tom hadn’t said anything. He leaned forward in his seat, forearms resting on his knees, still in blue jeans. He was on edge. Jed had opted for shorts, khakis, and sandals only after Diana had stepped into the room while he was pulling on his cowboy boots and told him to take them off. Mexico meant the beach, the pool, and shorts—no cowboy boots. He was feeling out of his element.

“Well, I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. Relax,” he said to Tom as he reached out and patted his shoulder. When he glanced over, Steven tossed him a brooding look as if he didn’t buy it, so he decided to change the subject and said, “Steven, are you, Fletcher, and Katy still living at the ranch with Brad and Emily?”

They turned down the tree-lined road, and he knew they weren’t far from his mom and dad’s. He wasn’t sure what to make of the expression on Steven’s face, a wince or a smile. He was leaning more toward a wince.

Tom said nothing but pulled his hand over his face, scraping day-old whiskers. Xander was saying something to the driver, likely where to turn.

“Unfortunately, it’s more for Fletcher,” Steven replied. “He doesn’t want to leave. He’s grown up there, and, well, it’s home, as Brad said. Corinne, my ex, you know, ex-fiancée, is still living in the townhouse I bought when we were together. She managed to get her name on the title after I moved out. I screwed up and am paying the price. She won’t leave, and…long story, but the ranch is now home. It’s over-crowded, but who knows when we’ll leave. Katy’s happy, Fletcher’s happy, so I suppose that makes me happy.”

Jed wasn’t sure whether to laugh or what, but he’d suspected Steven had a sarcastic side, and this was it. “And, Tom, how are you and Becky liking Hoquiam? You’re still there and didn’t head back to London after the baby?”

Tom leaned back against the seat, and he could see how on edge he was. “It’s okay, nice working back in the States, at the hospital. I’m the head of trauma now, which has its perks. It’s where I started out. Not sure if Becky’s happy, though. She was miserable in London after she finished school. Not sure there’s anything I can do that’s going to make her happy—go, stay…”

Jed didn’t miss the way Steven stared long and hard at Tom. Maybe he knew something he didn’t, and he picked up an edge of something that wasn’t quite right.

“Is Becky working or home with Gilly?” Steven said.

Tom pulled in a breath, and Steven didn’t pull his gaze from him. “She’s still home with Gilly. That’s her choice, no matter what she says. I told her I’d support her decision, whatever it is, if she wants to work or not, but it seems as if that’s something I’m meant to figure out, as she won’t tell me. You know that fucking guessing game women do? She wants me to read her mind. I’m supposed to know what she’s thinking and feeling. Sometimes it’s that she doesn’t want to be a mother, and then it’s that I work too much, I’m never home, she’s alone all the time, I’m not spending time with Gilly… Then there’s this jealousy that comes out of nowhere.” Tom let out a frustrated sigh, and even Xander glanced back with that dark brooding look he had.

“Well,” Xander started, “while you’re here in Mexico, you have a built-in family of babysitters, so you can have uninterrupted time with Becky, like a honeymoon of sorts—but with her entire extended family here, all butting in and sticking their noses in your business.”

Jed dragged his gaze over to Xander, who jabbed his finger at the driveway and told the driver where to turn. “You know what?” he said. “All of you seem to have forgotten that you’ve married some pretty terrific women—ones I’m rather partial to, considering they’re family. Tom, I’m sure your problem can be solved with nothing more than you giving your wife the attention she evidently needs and evidently is missing. Xander, afraid there’s not much I can do about Neil, but marrying Cat meant you got him too. Steven, glad you and Katy are together, and there are worse places to raise Fletcher. The ranch is big enough. You’ll figure it out.”

All this young love… Jed didn’t think he and Diana had ever gone at each other like this. Then there were his boys. Mark was just finishing school, and Jed didn’t have a clue what direction he was leaning toward or where his head was. Chris and Danny still had spots to carve out on his land for their wives and his grandbabies, but all either had done was mark out the spot to build more than two years earlier. Maybe here, away from home, he could sit down with all of them and get a sense of where their heads were.

The driver pulled up to the front of the house and parked. The driveway was empty, and everything looked quiet.

“You know, they could be gone,” Jed said as Tom pulled open the side door and stepped out.

Xander tossed Jed a look over his shoulder as he opened his door. “We could have passed them, too,” he said.

“Maybe,” Jed said. “Only one way to find out.” He climbed out after Steven and then poked his head back in to address the driver. “Hey, just hang tight. We don’t expect to be long. You can leave the meter running, and one of these three will pay the extra tip.”

“Si, senor, I’ll wait,” the driver said and flashed a smile, all white teeth, as he turned off the van.

“Hey, it’s locked,” Tom called out. He was pressing the bell, and they could hear the ringing from outside. It was quite the echo. He’d expected to hear something, but he took in how quiet the place was. Tom pounded with his fist on the door. “Becky!” he shouted.

Yeah, he was pissed and evidently hadn’t heard a word Jed had said. Apparently, he intended to continue butting heads with his wife. Great! Jed considered whether he should give Brad a heads-up about that.

“You know what? I think they may be gone,” he called out as he strode to the front door.

Then he thought he heard something. Xander and Steven were talking, and Tom stepped away from the front door, shaking his head. Jed cocked his head, stepping over to the french doors, which were closed. The heavy curtains were drawn, something he’d never seen before. Whatever he’d heard had come from there.

“What is it?” Xander asked as he moved closer to him. He just turned his head and took in how quiet the place was. It was odd, was all he could think.

“Nothing,” Jed said. “I guess I thought I heard something. Just don’t ever remember it being so quiet, so closed up.”

Steven and Tom were already walking back to the minivan, where the driver was waiting for them. The windows were all down, and the heat and humidity had beads of sweat running down Jed’s back, under his arms. He couldn’t wait to get back to the pool.

“They’re probably already back at the resort, by the pool, where we should be right now,” he said and rested his hand on Xander’s shoulder to pat it before taking a step to the van.

“Tom, help…!”

He heard the scream—Becky, he thought. The group turned and froze just as a shot fired, and then all hell broke loose.

Xander grabbed him and had him running. Tom turned to the house and was fighting off Steven, who was trying to tackle him and take cover. There was another pop, and glass shattered. Jed felt the bite of it piercing his cheek, and somehow, he grabbed Tom along with Steven and Xander, and they were around the van on the ground.

All he could do was wonder what the hell they had just walked into.

AMAZON, NOOK, iBOOKS, KOBO, GOOGLE PLAY

All pre-ordered copies will include a special link to a free novella!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON!  Listen to any or all for FREE with the Audible Romance Package.

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 brand new 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 over the next month, so be sure to check back often.