Vivian Arend and cowboy quilts

While I love writing I also enjoy many crafts and outdoor activities. It’s really fun when I can mix some of the ‘other’ into my stories, and Rocky Mountain Desire was one book that had a perfect place to mix real life with storytelling.

 

In with all the other details causing mischief between the hero/heroine was the element of a fundraiser quilt raffle. Slipping the details of the event into the book made sense as the community got involved—I especially had fun thinking of what a group of mechanics would want to quilt!

 

But when it came to the Coleman family I knew there had to be some special components to the quilt that Matt strong-arms his father and brothers into helping sew. It became very real to me, so I even drew up a quilt pattern for them.

 

Here’s the scene: ———————————————

 

The only quilt missing when they’d set things up had been the Colemans’. Matt had called earlier in the week and promised it would be delivered by that morning. Hope had to wiggle through the crowds waiting and pointing upward, shuffling slowly along the line as they dropped their raffle tickets into the bags for the fundraiser. A whisper went ahead of her and the faces turning toward her were smile-filled—as if they all knew a secret she didn’t.

 

“She’s here…”

 

A path opened, and Hope wondered what was going on. “Don’t let me get in your way. I don’t need to do anything else for the raffle.”

 

Gramma Martin stood to the side and ushered her ahead. “Oh, there’s one more thing you need to take care of this morning.”

 

Shoot. Had one of the quilts fallen off? She hurried forward, gaze darting over the wall, but she couldn’t see anything wrong with the display. There was an extra quilt tacked up on the right edge—the space she’d left for the Colemans’ contribution. She looked eagerly to see what they’d managed to come up with.

 

They’d made a wall hanging. Smaller in size, maybe two feet along each side, a little rough in the finishing, but still a quilt by any definition of the word. A border filled with flying geese surrounded four different squares. A log-cabin patch on the bottom left, a lopsided star in the upper right, the brand for the SP Coleman ranch burnt straight onto a piece of fabric, and a…

 

Hope moved closer to examine the final square. Half triangles of icy blue contrasted against a buttery yellow. The occasional solid square strategically placed—it wasn’t the prettiest pattern she knew of, but she was swallowing hard as she reached to touch it.

 

Single wedding ring.

 

Did Matt know the symbolism of what he’d picked?

 

A long piece of thin twine was tacked directly in the middle of the patch, and something shiny flashed where it was nestled against the knot. Oh my God, maybe he did know.

 

~~

 

Matt later explains to her the meaning of each square, and who made it. For me this was another chance to show the individual aspects of the characters while pointing out one of what I think is the best part of the Six Pack Ranch books—they are family to the core. Different, but together they make something worthwhile and beautiful.

 

I hope you check out Matt and Hope’s HEA.

 

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Rocky Mountain Desire
Six Pack Ranch, Book 3

 

Nothing comes easy. You’ve gotta work for it.

 

Matt Coleman always figured at this point in his life, he’d be settled down with a family. Since his ex split for the big city, though, no way will he give anyone else the chance to drop-kick his heart. Physical pleasure? Hell, yeah, he’ll take—and give—with gusto, but nothing more.

 

Hope Meridan is working long hours to hold on to her new quilt shop, going it alone since her sister/business partner ran off. Sex? Right, like she’s got the time. Not that she doesn’t have the occasional dirty fantasy about Matt. Fat chance he’d dream of knocking boots with her—the younger sister of the woman who dumped him. Nope, she’ll just have to settle for the F-word.

 

Friends would be far easier if there wasn’t something combustible going on between them. And when casual interest starts to grow into something more, their tenuous bond strengthens in the heat of desire. But it may not survive the hurricane-force arrival of the last person either of them ever wanted to see again…

 

Warning: Small-town rivals, men in pursuit and family meddling—in good and bad ways. Look for a cowboy who knows how to rope, ride and rein in a hell of a lot more than eight seconds of sheer bliss.

 

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Digital:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble
 | Samhain | Kobo | Sony | Apple

Trade Paperback

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | 
Book Depository | Booksamillion
 | Powells | Samhain

 

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