The Barman & The SEAL

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdD8MtJfKWDvnOKOqceNUE-3ohYxbCgn2bExpAYu_cH4F__qWnfk0Rb5A18SSR1uP7w77JyvVHp7-2ItOr_IQBP5BUdguAh0xGf2GN-Aazp0VsyGarzbsTg2PoGBO8Fb3EvQyPbIwQlA/s1600/thebarnmanandtheseal_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdD8MtJfKWDvnOKOqceNUE-3ohYxbCgn2bExpAYu_cH4F__qWnfk0Rb5A18SSR1uP7w77JyvVHp7-2ItOr_IQBP5BUdguAh0xGf2GN-Aazp0VsyGarzbsTg2PoGBO8Fb3EvQyPbIwQlA/s640/thebarnmanandtheseal_800.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ellery Mountain Series</span></b><br /><br />Book 1 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-fireman-and-cop.html">The Fireman and the Cop</a><br />Book 2 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-school-teacher-and-soldier.html">The Teacher and the Soldier</a><br />Book 3 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-carpenter-and-actor.html">The Carpenter and the Actor</a><br />Book 4 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-doctor-and-bad-boy.html">The Doctor and the Bad Boy</a><br />Book 5 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ParamedicWriter.html">The Paramedic and the Writer</a><br />Book 6 - The Barman and the SEAL<br />Book 7 - The Agent and the Model (Coming Soon) <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Book</span></b><br /><br /><b>A Navy SEAL with PTSD and a Barman starting a new life. Maybe they can find love in Ellery.</b><br /><br />Travis Baranski, Navy SEAL, is the first veteran to attend the Ellery Mountain Veteran Center. He is having a hard time coming to terms with what he had seen and what he has done. When he has a very public meltdown in Ellery stores it is Avery Gideon who steps up to the plate and helps him.<br /><br /><div>Avery Gideon, a man cut off from his family for being gay, runs the only bar in town - The Alibi - and listens to many a person's problems whilst trying to forget his own.<br /><br />He sees something in the wounded warrior who needs a friend and very soon finds himself falling in love with Travis.<br /><br />Nothing will deter him from helping Travis, or from making Travis see he's still capable of loving Avery in return. <br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy Links</b></span></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2322" target="_blank">Total E-Bound</a> | <span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span><span style="color: #666666;">A<span></span>vailable at all third party sales outlets - 27 September</span></span></i></span></span><br /><div><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviews</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/the-barman-and-the-seal-by-r-j-scott/">MM Good Book Reviews</a> - 4/5</b> - Ah hell, this has to be my favorite Ellery Mountain book so far with both Travis and Avery being incredible characters tugging at your heartstrings as their story unfolds. Avery is wonderful, so patient, and loving and he is the perfect man for Travis. Travis is a man torn by suffering, but he is incredible with his understanding of his own limitations but doesn’t let them rule him. Their relationship is slow but oh so powerful and the love they develop is especially strong because of the time they take as Travis begins to heal. While they fall in love, we see how well the Veteran Center is doing, we catch up with the characters from previous stories, and we see how Mikey is recovering from the brutal attack in The Paramedic and the Writer.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/716233800">GoodReads reader</a> 4.5/5</b> - "...the romance was beautiful. Travis get the anchor he needs in a partner. Avery is everything he needs him to be. And as with any good romance Travis is just want Avery never knew he needed..." (I shared this as it touched me... thank you Tina)<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPViDz2Aoe1wtPeBgJ2V7LCoxyXF8GaFTVtqIC65EY5wHPeUFdwExMFNnLqYUhPhpiyino3xyvxioK3JeouiMe52AuMgip3N2KjVVW06_z8hFioJKLwvO706VzBQ9FLvEyuBVYAI4EBvU/s1600/thebarmanandtheseal_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPViDz2Aoe1wtPeBgJ2V7LCoxyXF8GaFTVtqIC65EY5wHPeUFdwExMFNnLqYUhPhpiyino3xyvxioK3JeouiMe52AuMgip3N2KjVVW06_z8hFioJKLwvO706VzBQ9FLvEyuBVYAI4EBvU/s1600/thebarmanandtheseal_banner.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><b><a href="http://headouttheoven.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/advance-review-barman-and-seal-ellery.html?zx=f1b8a280b8003ecb">Multi-Tasking Momma</a> 4/5 </b>- Compared to the first five Ellery Mountain books, this was probably the darkest and most emotional. There were times when it was quite hard to digest what Travis had to go through. However, I see this as the beginning of the turn in this arc, when the Center finally gets to help those who need it most and plays a larger role. This means we will be getting more serious and complicated characters where in the beginning, we got the ordinary guys who had some problems but nothing as bad as those who will come into or out of the Center.<br /><br />This is a great sixth book for the series and I am glad to be following it.<br /><br /><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/the-barman-and-the-seal-by-r-j-scott/" target="_blank"><b>MM Good Book Reviews</b></a> - <b>4/5</b> - "....I really can’t tell you how much I love this series and the development of each and every character, and I can’t tell you how much I love the support that shines through the pages as we continue to discover more love in Ellery, but we also see a touch of bigotry coming through from the ignorant which makes you grit your teeth. <br /><br />I recommend this to those who love damaged men pushing through their demons, support and love, a slow romance, incredible characters and a great ending that has you wanting Mikey’s story in The Agent and the Model...."</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The cold was biting. The cutting wind carried ice and snow high up in the Salang Pass three thousand metres up in the Afghan Mountains northwest of the capital Kabul. Normally his captors covered him—they would tell him in their broken English they weren’t completely lost to conventions of how to look after prisoners. But tonight was different. From the vantage point in the centre of the camp, two feet off the ground in the small metal and wood cage, he could see them drinking and the campfire that warmed them was the only light in this small unsheltered area. Tents flapped in the wind and the raucous laughter was enough for him to know they’d probably stumble to their tents in drunken stupor. The SEAL wasn’t important. He called for help. No one heard him or brought over the tarpaulin that was his only protection against the night.<br /><br />He had curled over seven of his ten fingers when the sun rose this morning. Yesterday it had been six fingers to count the passing of time. Seven days in this place and the infections in his leg and arm were nothing to the rattling cough that had his chest squeezing in pain and his back in spasms. He shifted to find comfort and ended up twisted like a pretzel in the five-foot cube with his back to the worst of the snow. His cold weather gear, including his boots, had long ago been shared out to the rebels and he was left in combat pants, a tee and his thin under-jacket. Sneakers finished off the protection for his skin. He was fucked and he knew it. Even if someone got him out, even if any of his team had survived, he was broken in half by this place.<br /><br />The pain in his back increased and he heard the inhuman whimper that left his mouth. He needed antibiotics and pain meds. Little by little his humanity was being stripped from him. He was dying—an hour at a time the ice was burning his skin and he curled his hands and feet so he wouldn’t lose them to frostbite.<br /><br />Feebly he rocked in the cage, hoping the whole thing would topple on its side. Then if it crashed to the floor at least someone could possibly cover him from the snow and ice. A lethargy stole over him. He should be trying to get out, but there was no point. He’d seen the explosion, seen the mountain fall, crushing the team—he was lucky he’d been covering their six and his only open injury was the evil laceration from his knee to his ankle that now oozed pus and hurt like a bitch. All his equipment gone. Any hope gone.<br /><br />He was sweating and bile rose in him, but his stomach was empty. He didn’t fight the retching or the pain—if he concentrated hard enough on home, on the hills and valleys of Virginia, then he could at least escape in his mind. He stretched his legs and the extremities of the cage held him solid. Pinned.<br /><br />He cried…<br /><br />Then he woke up in a bed thousands of miles away. He couldn’t see the stars through the bars of a cage, or feel icy wind bite into his skin. He was safe.<br /><br />* * * *<br /><br />"Hey," Daniel said from the stove. Travis almost turned on his heel and left the kitchen. It was three a.m.—no one was supposed to be up. Especially not Daniel with his sensitive observations, his no-nonsense assessments and his damn understanding green-eyed gaze.<br /><br />"Hey," Travis said in reply. He felt like shit. The dream of being back in that place, with the pain—and the crying—had wrenched him from sleep. Again. He couldn’t remember the last full night of sleep he’d had.<br /><br />"You want hot chocolate?" Daniel asked. He shook the tin of chocolate powder in front of his face and smiled. "I can’t promise cream and marshmallows like Luke uses, but I can mix hot water and powder."<br /><br />Travis debated. Saying yes meant Daniel and he would probably have to talk. Travis didn’t want to talk. His throat was still clogged with tears and his head and shoulders ached with tension. Damned sleeping pills weren’t even working if the terror in his head could drag him so sharply out of sleep. Sickness rolled in his stomach as the thought of chocolate hit his mind. Can’t even drink fucking hot chocolate. For fuck’s sake.<br /><br />"I just came in for some water," Travis lied. "Need to take some pain pills." Why did he do that? Why did he even talk let alone elaborate. Yes, he could get water in his own room, but he could have got away with no more talking if Daniel had just accepted his excuse. But no—idiot—he had to go and mention pain. Daniel made that patented frowning face of his then nodded. The frown was so quick it was blink and you miss it, and though Travis may well be a fucked-up, washed-up ex-SEAL, he still had the ability to read expressions in a millisecond.<br /><br />"Cool" was all Daniel said. He didn’t push on the pain meds or the fact Travis was awake or that he probably looked like shit. He was soaked through with sweat and he knew from looking in the mirror that his face had a gaunt, haunted look. Five weeks he’d been here in the middle of freaking nowhere at this place and every single night he’d had these dreams. Afghanistan would never leave him—the scars on his body and in his mind a permanent reminder.<br /><br />Pathetic. You cry like a freaking girl.<br /><br />He crossed to the sink, pulled down a glass and filled it with water. Then quietly and with a soft goodnight he left the kitchen and made his way back to his room. A hot drink would have relaxed him maybe. His mom had this way of adding cinnamon to hot chocolate and he needed that connection. He’d talked himself out of his room on the promise of finding god damned cinnamon.<br /><br />Freak. </span><br /><br /><br /></div></div>

The Barman & The SEAL

Ellery Mountain Series Book 1 - The Fireman and the Cop Book 2 - The Teacher and the Soldier Book 3 - The Carpenter and the Actor Book 4 - T...

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The Paramedic and the Writer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56okZKxs1aJNLYUkx-j3fv2XBHT-lzJbldOFBl6Xg-a0dpIAsCz2v11M95vM4zQRqCThBXjkQBWoAGQw46b1nbZtV86cghykd3L55T9WccFxRCJ1WOBHMN7pmlHVXv3cwEGnX9ngli7M/s1600/ellery_paramedic_writer_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56okZKxs1aJNLYUkx-j3fv2XBHT-lzJbldOFBl6Xg-a0dpIAsCz2v11M95vM4zQRqCThBXjkQBWoAGQw46b1nbZtV86cghykd3L55T9WccFxRCJ1WOBHMN7pmlHVXv3cwEGnX9ngli7M/s640/ellery_paramedic_writer_800.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ellery Mountain Series</span></b><br /><br />Book 1 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-fireman-and-cop.html">The Fireman and the Cop</a><br />Book 2 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-school-teacher-and-soldier.html">The Teacher and the Soldier</a><br />Book 3 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-carpenter-and-actor.html">The Carpenter and the Actor</a><br />Book 4 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-doctor-and-bad-boy.html">The Doctor and the Bad Boy</a><br />Book 5 - The Paramedic and the Writer<br />Book 6 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-barman-seal.html">The Barman and the SEAL</a><br />Book 7 - The Agent and the Model (Coming Soon) <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Book</b></span><br /><br />Paramedic Jamie Llewelyn moves to Ellery to start a new life away from the City. Attached to the hospital and working for his friend Liam Wolfe he's happy—even if he has to keep coming up with excuses to miss the Friday meet ups. He had peace and he could finally make a difference in a community that needed him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9vd5bUqaW9zBx9AqgwRXFhw0rXW53B5SaBYmhfnP9RtZi3_ZaojFIRNpXrdUHDuSwywx0OnkSVMjCegQ0jvlhnZzpeuhG93G50UE9fpYJHqDtBvpBrgyn0OJFnpHrTquVBZE3PIEUs/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9vd5bUqaW9zBx9AqgwRXFhw0rXW53B5SaBYmhfnP9RtZi3_ZaojFIRNpXrdUHDuSwywx0OnkSVMjCegQ0jvlhnZzpeuhG93G50UE9fpYJHqDtBvpBrgyn0OJFnpHrTquVBZE3PIEUs/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" /></a>When he and Max rescue John Doe from a crashed car balanced on the edge of a ravine Jamie didn’t know but his life would never be the same again. John opens his startlingly violet eyes and suddenly Jamie is falling hard. If only John didn’t have a gun and could remember why he’d shot the passenger in the car. Then maybe passion could change into something else. Love.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy Links</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?P_ID=2249" target="_blank">Total E-Bound</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theparamedicandthewriter-1269885-149.html" target="_blank">All Romance EBooks</a><span style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="color: black;">|</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EQANHJ6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00EQANHJ6&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-21" target="_blank">Amazon (UK)</a> <span style="color: black;">|</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQANHJ6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EQANHJ6&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-20" target="_blank">Amazon (US)</a> <span style="color: black;">|</span> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-paramedic-and-the-writer-rj-scott/1116528489?ean=9781781844212" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> <span style="color: black;">|</span> <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-paramedic-and-the-writer" target="_blank">Kobo</a> <span style="color: black;">| <a href="https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/scott-rj/the-paramedic-and-the-writer/_/R-400000000000001102608" target="_blank">Sony</a> </span></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;">Reviews</b></div><br /><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/the-paramedic-and-the-writer-by-r-j-scott/">MM Good Book Reviews 4/5</a> - The development of the Ellery series is continuing and broadening its horizons, we learn how Daniel’s Veteran house is coming along and we have a new development of a homophobic attack in the usually gay friendly Ellery. I can’t wait for the next instalment of these sexy men, what may await us as the Veteran house is opened, and they get their first client in The Barman and the SEAL.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Excerpt</b></span><br /><br />Jamie Llewellyn didn’t do early mornings. He had never quite got used to waking up at the ass-crack of dawn for any reason, not even emergencies or early shifts.<br /><br />Unlike Daniel and Max, who thrived on the early mornings and were chatting about a TV room and exchanging sarcastic remarks while stretching, ready to go for a run.<br /><br />"I hate early mornings," Jamie muttered. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously when he caught Max grinning and Daniel reaching into his shorts pocket and handing over a five-dollar bill.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />"You should have known it was the first thing he’d say," Max said. He placed the note in his pocket and zipped it. "You’ll never win."<br /><br />"I thought he would at least say good morning," Daniel groused.<br /><br />"When has he ever done that?" Max crowed.<br /><br />"Guys. I’m right here," Jamie reminded them. "And given both of you fell asleep in your drinks last night at the planning meeting in The Alibi, then you can’t talk. Some of us work well in the morning, some of us normal people at night."<br /><br />Daniel glanced at Max and the two of them began laughing in earnest. Jamie turned his back on them so they didn’t see him smiling along with them. Instead he used the advantage to begin the run and get ahead. Max and Daniel were both really competitive—it didn’t take them long to realise he’d gone and within a minute they had caught up. The three men fell into a companionable rhythm. The direction took them out of the cabins where they had met and into the forest behind. Jamie didn’t need to think about the direction—it was so familiar to him now. Through to the road, over the road, across the bridge, down into Ellery, then back to the cabins with a punishing uphill finish.<br /><br />The time in the forest was more steeplechase than run—jumping fallen trees and small stream beds—and by the time the road was in sight, Jamie was feeling the warmth in his muscles. They crossed the road and made their way to the narrow bridge over the canyon between the two levels of Mercury Peak. Jostling for position, Jamie decided he’d let the other two go first and it was lucky he did. In holding back for those few seconds he glanced over the side of the bridge and saw the car.<br /><br />"Max! Daniel!" He slid to a stop as he shouted. Peering over the edge, he tried to make out what the hell had happened. But it was Max with the experience and Max who suddenly was on point with this.<br /><br />"Hell," he said with an added curse. "Car, off the road." He indicated back to the barrier on the corner. They hadn’t even seen the bent and buckled metal. Max leaned over the bridge and Daniel passed him his cell phone.<br /><br />"Car off the road under the bridge at Mercury Peak," he relayed to emergency services. "Through the barrier. We’ll need shoring… It’s right on the edge. No sign of passengers—"<br /><br />"Wait," Jamie said. He concentrated on the driver side where he thought he’d just seen movement. Then he saw it again. A hand gripping the open window covered in the scarlet of way too much blood. "There’s someone in there." Without conscious thought he was up and over the rail and scrambling down as far as he could get. He was about six feet away when the car slid from him. Only a few inches but it was enough to have him stop absolutely still.<br /><br />"Max, the car’s sliding!" he yelled up.<br /><br />"Stay where you are!" Max shouted. "I’m coming down."<br /><br />Jamie opened his mouth to protest. If the car had moved because of him, then adding Max to the equation was going to have the car falling over the edge. But Max knew what he was doing. Not everyone was like his ex-boyfriend, Zach.<br /><br />Not everyone wanted to put their life at risk, whatever the cost.<br /><br />He watched as Max carefully made his way towards the car. Instead of taking the direct route, as Jamie had, he moved slowly and tested the ground before each inch.<br /><br />"Help…" The word was faint but Jamie was attuned to small voices in difficult situations.<br /><br />"We’re here," he called to the driver. "Help is coming to you. Stay very still."<br /><br />There was no answer. He hoped to hell that meant the guy was still, and not unconscious. He concentrated on locating ingress. The driver’s door looked intact but the entire windshield was gone. Jamie’s inspection tracked the outside of the vehicle, a grey sedan, of which make Jamie couldn’t see. This close it was easy to see someone under the car. Little more than three or four feet away from where he was, Jamie found himself staring into sightless eyes and so much blood and damage that it was clear this guy was dead. His face was a mess, carved and bloody, and his neck looked broken from the unnatural angle of his head.<br /><br />"Passenger through the windshield and wedged under the car," he summarised for Max. The fireman wouldn’t be able to see the body from the side he was approaching the wreck. "He’s dead," he added. Max nodded and carried on to the trunk of a tree that grew at a crazy angle from the side of the peak. It had probably been that which had saved the car from going the whole distance into the ravine itself down the sharp drop. Max finally disappeared from sight and Jamie imagined the large man checking to see how unstable the car was.<br /><br />"Help…" The word was fainter.<br /><br />God, Jamie wanted to move. Every fibre of him needed to check the driver out, but he couldn’t—years of training and he was still like a statue until he got the all-clear. Finally, Max crawled back up.<br /><br />"We’re okay. It’s steady for now," he said, "but wait. I’m coming to you. I need to counter some of the weight."<br /><br />Max steadied himself by digging his feet into the mud and pushing back, then he gripped the underside of the car hard. He looked over at Jamie and nodded. They didn’t discuss what they were doing. Max was doing his thing, and Jamie hadn’t hesitated to climb down to help with injuries. It was what they did.<br /><br />"Help’s coming," Max said. In the distance Jamie could hear sirens. There would be lifting equipment, but who knew how hurt the guy in the car was? Time was a luxury they couldn’t afford. He slowly slid forward until finally he was right by the car. The driver’s door opened easily and Jamie got a clear look at the driver. One hell of a lot of blood, but he was still in his seatbelt.<br /><br />"Can you tell me your name?" Jamie asked as a matter of habit. Asking a name gave a first responder a level to work with. Was the patient aware?<br /><br />The man muttered something that sounded like ‘no’, but Jamie couldn’t make it out.<br /><br />"Where does it hurt, sir?" he asked quickly. He needed to get a feel for whether the guy was able to talk coherently.<br /><br />"O-o-over…" the man stuttered. "All…"<br /><br />Jamie got himself a better foothold and leaned in to check his pulse. He couldn’t see the main wound that had caused all this blood and considered that maybe it was from the dead passenger. Then when the driver shifted it became obvious—a slice out of his thigh, and he was losing too much of the red stuff.<br /><br />"He’s bleeding," Jamie called urgently. As he said it, the car shifted another inch and the metal groaned.<br /><br />Max cursed. "Pull him out."<br /><br />Jamie reached in and checked that there was nothing trapping the man’s legs. "What’s your name, sir? Can you hear me? We need to get you out of here." Jamie could smell petrol and knew that they had to get away.<br /><br />"Jus’…leg…" the victim said. He opened his eyes and stared right at Jamie with a gaze so deep blue it was near violet. Shakily, the injured man reached for the belt. "Help…" he said. His voice was raw. "Out." His hand slipped and Jamie caught it and instead assisted him to release the belt. Under his own steam, the driver moved towards Jamie who cautiously helped him free. The car shifted a little and he could hear Max cursing up a storm. With a final tug the victim was clear and lying half on Jamie. Something hard was between them and when Jamie shifted a little he could see a gun gripped in the driver’s hand.<br /><br />"Clear," Jamie called. Max must have let go as a ton of Toyota teetered for a second then crashed in three loud bangs down to the river at the bottom of the two-hundred-foot ravine. Jamie pulled the gun out of a loose grip and tossed it to where Max was, then held his patient tight. He realised immediately that they were sliding as the car had torn away mud and grass. Max grabbed them both and dug into the mud to stop the slide. Jamie cast a grateful look his way then focused entirely on John Doe. He rolled him off as soon as it was safe and realised he had an unconscious survivor in his hands.<br /><br />"He’s still bleeding," Jamie summarised. He ripped off his running top and pressed it on the open wound.<br /><br />"Take his weight, they’re sending down a gurney," Max said quickly. Jamie nodded and did as he was instructed.<br /><br />Max assisted the guys at the top with getting John Doe on the lifting apparatus and suddenly it was just Jamie and Max left alone.<br /><br />Jamie knew the guy would be whisked away. St Martin’s Hospital in Ellery could probably handle it.<br /><br />"Your turn," Max instructed. Jamie blanched as he saw the rope and the harness. He hated the feeling of those things. Stoically he allowed Max to truss him up and winced as the harness dug into him. Then before he knew it he was dangling from the bridge with the ground out from under him. Don’t look down. He looked down. The base of the ravine seemed way further than two hundred feet and he could see the mangled heap of car—he couldn’t see the body of the dead man, though. Max and the rest of the crew would have to take the old road that wound its way to the base to retrieve both man and car.<br /><br />Jamie gave a situation report as soon as he had his feet on the ground. They unbuckled him and he saw Finn and Daniel waiting to one side.<br /><br />"He’s fine," Jamie reported to Finn who immediately relaxed. It had to be hard having a boyfriend who was a first responder when you were one yourself and knew exactly what could happen. "He’s bringing up a gun that the driver was holding onto. Freaking Hercules held the car on the tree. Just to warn you, though, he’s cut his hands up."<br /><br />Finn frowned. Jamie could see the indecision in Finn’s face. As a lover he wanted to run over and see what injuries Max had. As a cop on scene, and with the chief also being here, he had to show restraint.<br /><br />"Talk to me," Chief Mayfield said to Jamie brusquely.<br /><br />"Two occupants in the car, sir. The driver, belted, alive, bleeding from a leg wound, contusions to the head and neck. Passenger, crushed under the car, pretty messy, looks like he went through the windscreen. He’s deceased on scene and at the bottom of the ravine with the car."<br /><br />"Did you get an ID on the driver?"<br /><br />"No names," Jamie reported. "I didn’t check for ID."<br /><br />Max clambered back over the bridge and looked in the assembled group for Finn immediately. They exchanged nods and Finn looked relieved.<br /><br />"Max, we have a full contingent of volunteers and the heavy lifting equipment cover from the city. You get your hands looked at."<br /><br />"There’s nothing wrong with my hands," Max defended. He closed them into loose fists. No one could fail to see the wince as he did this. "I’d like to be part of the team recovering the vehicle."<br /><br />Mayfield shook his head. Pointing at Max’s hands was enough to make it very clear Max was heading to have them looked at first. "Jamie already told us what you did and the extent of injuries," he said.<br /><br />Max frowned at Jamie. He didn’t debate the point but no one could fail to see the disappointment on Max’s face. Jamie felt for the big guy. He knew what it felt like. When you were first on a scene you wanted to follow the entire situation to the end. Get closure. Jamie understood that, but it was also his responsibility to make sure any injuries were covered. Sometimes you had to accept the hand you’d been dealt and not argue.<br /><br />"Sorry," he mouthed at Max. To Jamie’s relief Max shook his head and smiled.<br /><br />"Not your fault," he mouthed back.<br /><br />Finn huffed. "I’ll take you back to town." Finn began to walk to his car and Jamie followed with Max reluctantly trailing them. "Idiot wanted to stay. There could be tendon damage. Stubborn ass," Finn said under his breath to Jamie as they neared the car. Jamie felt uncomfortable being shown this glimpse into Finn and Max’s relationship.<br /><br />"I’ve seen worse," Jamie said. Finn glared back at him and Jamie ran his finger and thumb over his lips, pretending he was zipping them. When Max reached the car, he was clearly high on the adrenaline of the situation and he reached for Finn before dropping his hands. Finn was worried, Max was high. Finn was tense, Max grew quiet.<br /><br />Jamie didn’t want to be in the middle of that heated debate when it happened. Max should get his injuries treated, but at the same time Finn would not have wanted to be shipped off to hospital if he felt he had a job to do.<br /><br />The tension in the car was thick, and Jamie was pleased when they reached St Martin’s. He got out as quickly as he could and left Finn and Max to themselves in the quiet and private car park. He didn’t want to witness anything that the guys wouldn’t want him to see. An argument, stress or kissing—all of that was private.<br /><br />He glanced back to see Finn cradling Max’s hands and staring at his lover with an incredible look of tenderness on his face, before raising the hands to his lips and kissing each one.<br /><br />Jamie pushed aside the envy at such an easy gesture. Zach had never shown anything like affection, on or off the job. At times like this, Jamie could only imagine what it was like to be in love.<br /><br />Twenty-seven and his experience with proper, healthy relationships was limited. And no, Zach didn’t count. When he thought about it, he’d never really been in love<br /><br /></div>

The Paramedic and the Writer

Ellery Mountain Series Book 1 - The Fireman and the Cop Book 2 - The Teacher and the Soldier Book 3 - The Carpenter and the Actor Book 4 - T...

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The Fireman And The Cop

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZyUkecVdcgupRH9EHxpxNyHcduw6jHKbt3Hazeh3X5gYV5SnRwaSOqxWM0FLLydC9ztg4jVg6F0donIRZ_gpPakHmgb5Yb0hxOWEF4X9zzRBTF8kAufsl08rkR_ftk6n8dI20xldww/s1600/TheFiremanAndTheCop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZyUkecVdcgupRH9EHxpxNyHcduw6jHKbt3Hazeh3X5gYV5SnRwaSOqxWM0FLLydC9ztg4jVg6F0donIRZ_gpPakHmgb5Yb0hxOWEF4X9zzRBTF8kAufsl08rkR_ftk6n8dI20xldww/s640/TheFiremanAndTheCop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ellery Mountain Series</b></span><br /><br />Book 1 - <b>The Fireman and the Cop</b><br />Book 2 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-school-teacher-and-soldier.html">The Teacher and the Soldier</a><br />Book 3 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-carpenter-and-actor.html">The Carpenter and the Actor</a><br />Book 4 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-doctor-and-bad-boy.html">The Doctor and the Bad Boy</a><br />Book 5 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ParamedicWriter.html">The Paramedic and the Writer</a><br />Book 6 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-barman-seal.html">The Barman and the SEAL</a><br />Book 7 - The Agent and the Model (Coming Soon) <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Book</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Rescuing cop Finn Ryan from a burning precinct was easy; it's keeping him alive after that which fireman Max Harrison finds difficult.</i> </div><br />Ellery is a quiet town in the Smoky Mountains, at the base of Ellery Peak, and nothing ever happens. Max is escaping from his firefighting job in the city to take up a role as assistant to the Mayor whilst also holding the position of a volunteer fire fighter.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finn Ryan is one of only three cops in the small town and it soon seems to Max that someone is out to hurt the sexy cop. Rescuing Finn from a burning precinct was the easy part; it's keeping him alive after that which fireman Max Harrison finds difficult.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy Links</b></span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1979">Total e-Bound</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BEJ16GI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BEJ16GI&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-20" target="_blank">Amazon (US)</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BEJ16GI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00BEJ16GI&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-21" target="_blank">Amazon (UK)</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thefiremanandthecop-1057379-145.html">All Romance</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fireman-and-the-cop-r-j-scott/1114699614?ean=9781781842171">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Fireman-and-The-Cop/book-dRg43m5Lfk-Y3xlpASjPUw/page1.html?s=ip7mq9rKlUWrEV0m6dnkyg&r=1">Kobo</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Reviews</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><a href="http://www.darkdivasreviews.com/?p=9356">Dark Divas Reviews</a> - 4.5/5: </b>I fell in love with Matt and Finn as I read the story. Their personalities meshed so well and the humor and wit written into their characters was frank and thorough. Ms. Scott allowed for each man to personally develop as the story unfolded and their lives became our own. <br /><br /><b><a href="http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-fireman-and-cop-ellery-mountain-1.html?zx=685bf9d191a0c95d">Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews</a> - 4/5: </b>The romance and the investigation I felt were perfectly woven together and RJ Scott had me engrossed and unable to put the book down until it was finished…<br /><br /><b><a href="http://sensualreads.com/?p=12363">Sensual Reads</a> - 4/5:</b> R.J. Scott has penned a very exciting tale with The Fireman and the Cop. Hot love, exciting action with an intriguing plot all set in the beautiful Smoky Mountains makes The Fireman and the Cop by R.J. Scott a winner.<br /><div><br /><a name="more"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rn6WPpnK8Cg8A68mXvGPzXKzdvvGdMLeJPXo5WP2_7Oe7-mtcIC8DPx0Ktk-zmjdMnj0mQDdXXTCKQeKrZp89MgNkVslA65cZTQGGfZS0H6Jn7jUm8ETM7KQ-tloHVY3CopstyGaOw/s1600/rjscott_facebook_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rn6WPpnK8Cg8A68mXvGPzXKzdvvGdMLeJPXo5WP2_7Oe7-mtcIC8DPx0Ktk-zmjdMnj0mQDdXXTCKQeKrZp89MgNkVslA65cZTQGGfZS0H6Jn7jUm8ETM7KQ-tloHVY3CopstyGaOw/s1600/rjscott_facebook_cover.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Excerpt </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>"Ready for your first fire, probie?"<br /><br />Max Harrison sent the chief a narrow-eyed look and said nothing. He was focused on the call and they were only two minutes out. Parts of him wished to hell Chief Quinn would quit with the ‘probie’ shit. At thirty-two and with ten years of city fireman experience, he hadn’t been the new guy for a long while in the true sense of the word. He dismissed it most of the time as gentle teasing—in a small place like Ellery, with a fire team staffed by volunteers, he was the last one in. Unless someone else joined the half-permanent, half-volunteer fire team then he would always be the probie, just by virtue of the fact no one had joined after him.<br /><br />At least there was no malice or hate in Quinn’s ribbing, which was very different to what he had received back in the city. Didn’t matter that the whole crap about who he was or wasn’t dating had been dealt with, he couldn’t force himself to stay somewhere that his sexual identity was deemed a threat to the shift. Assholes.<br /><br />"The precinct is an old place and burning high," Duncan reported from the driver’s seat. They weren’t bothering with sirens, it was ass o’clock in the a.m. and there was little traffic on these windy back roads even in the daylight. "Fire inspections were cleared but I know for a fact no sprinklers." Duncan turned the heavy engine past the last turn, and finally downtown Ellery—if it could be called downtown—came into sight.<br /><br />A prickle of excitement started at the base of Max’s neck as adrenaline began to pump through his body. The glow of the fire could be seen over the mayor’s hall and beyond to where he knew the precinct was. He’d started work at the mayor’s office only yesterday. Immediately the rig stopped in front of the burning building, he was off and assessing what they had.<br /><br />Quinn was feeding instructions to the crew, but this was clearly a fire well past being contained. Turning in a rough one-eighty, Finn assessed the exposure issue. The precinct was part of an older area of town. A jumble of gift shops, a couple of restaurants and the mayor’s building. Luckily, the precinct itself—little more than a large two-storey building—was separated from other structures close by with fifty feet to spare. The only endangered structures that could be subsequently damaged by the initial fire travelling to them were first on the list to hose down.<br /><br />Like a well-oiled team the volunteer fighters stood next to the full-timers and began their work. A man fell out of the fire-ringed main door and onto his knees in front of Max. He stumbled about, dishevelled and coughing.<br /><br />Max was there in an instant, manhandling the guy away from danger, and guiding him to the paramedics who had arrived a few seconds after the engine.<br /><br />"Someone…" A coughing fit overtook the man. "Inside," he finished when he could get his breath. He was pointing back the way he had come out.<br /><br />Max stiffened. Someone was still inside? He focused on the chaos around him and on shouting.<br /><br />"Finn’s still in there," someone yelled. A tall man being held back by a group of onlookers was struggling to get free.<br /><br />No way was a freaking civilian getting anywhere near this scene and Max didn’t even think before crossing to the struggling men.<br /><br />"Where?" he snapped.<br /><br />The guy blinked but didn’t falter. "Straight in. To the back and left rear. The lockup. He went in to get Mike."<br /><br />"That’s Mike?" Max asked, pointing to the old man who had just walked out of the fire.<br /><br />"Yes."<br /><br />"Okay. Going in," Max confirmed into his mic.<br /><br />Quinn spun on his heel at the words to face Max and Max could see his chief’s expression of ‘what the fuck’ coupled with resignation. With a quick wave and no more thought than focusing on the job, Max ensured his face mask was secure and ran straight into the red and orange through the only space he had assessed as suitable ingress. The small area formed from an iron beam holding up the remains of the ceiling in the reception area.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>

The Fireman And The Cop

Ellery Mountain Series Book 1 - The Fireman and the Cop Book 2 - The Teacher and the Soldier Book 3 - The Carpenter and the Actor Book 4 - T...

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The Doctor and the Bad Boy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVD_codlQAMUvNy9v3ecFL5Tss2EXMTxUd1rjLaxRTqY_jopw8rFFCamq1nnM_ocV1-SOoR9f9JDmSMzDukJnZ8lP7Jqz7Kzd-Fm_moEkLJZncOFgljZr2M6CZ6bmkL2IQjJYgEUP3i4/s1600/thedoctorandthebadboy_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVD_codlQAMUvNy9v3ecFL5Tss2EXMTxUd1rjLaxRTqY_jopw8rFFCamq1nnM_ocV1-SOoR9f9JDmSMzDukJnZ8lP7Jqz7Kzd-Fm_moEkLJZncOFgljZr2M6CZ6bmkL2IQjJYgEUP3i4/s640/thedoctorandthebadboy_800.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ellery Mountain Series</b></span><br /><br />Book 1 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-fireman-and-cop.html">The Fireman and the Cop</a><br />Book 2 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-school-teacher-and-soldier.html">The Teacher and the Soldier</a><br />Book 3 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-carpenter-and-actor.html">The Carpenter and the Actor</a><br />Book 4 - <b>The Doctor and the Bad Boy</b><br />Book 5 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ParamedicWriter.html">The Paramedic and the Writer</a><br />Book 6 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-barman-seal.html">The Barman and the SEAL</a><br />Book 7 - The Agent and the Model (Coming Soon) <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Book</b></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKacWhteRmUMDpNagkNmLwSPgr-vjhAK9K7pF2nedzfhCw0WM1jjOX5b_oIuoQtedoa3ybHIaE9GFggUXSnWClVefF_1laxu8kf0lngozGu3POpoZYnhyphenhyphenMhUgBtvP1sdvCJwhb2AiiA/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKacWhteRmUMDpNagkNmLwSPgr-vjhAK9K7pF2nedzfhCw0WM1jjOX5b_oIuoQtedoa3ybHIaE9GFggUXSnWClVefF_1laxu8kf0lngozGu3POpoZYnhyphenhyphenMhUgBtvP1sdvCJwhb2AiiA/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" /></a>No one has every understood Mitchell Askett. The bad boy. The alcoholic. The loser. Buying into the Ellery Mountain resort and placing down roots in the community for himself, his sister and his niece puts him on the radar of the Fridays and Dr. Liam Wolfe.</div><br /><div>He realises he has friends in his new home that don’t judge him for what happened before and finally begins to escape his past. When he falls hard and fast for the Doctor he even sees a future for him in Ellery.<br /><br />When his new happiness is threatened by family and by disaster he begins to lose faith, until Liam shows him it’s okay to ask for help..<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy Links</b></span><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2198" target="_blank">Total E-Bound</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E1C8QUE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E1C8QUE&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-20" target="_blank">Amazon (US)</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E1C8QUE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00E1C8QUE&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-21" target="_blank">Amazon (UK)</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thrdoctorandthebadboy-1245834-149.html">All Romance</a> | <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Books/the-doctor-and-the-bad-boy" target="_blank">Kobo</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-doctor-and-the-bad-boy-rj-scott/1116092433?ean=9781781843772" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/scott-rj/the-doctor-and-the-bad-boy/_/R-400000000000001083783" target="_blank">Sony</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviews</b></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thejeepdiva.com/2013/07/review-the-doctor-and-the-bad-boy-ellery-mountain-4.html"><b>The Jeep Diva</b></a> <b>- 5/5:</b> R.J. Scott gave life to each of the Ellery Mountain books as each dealt with realistic issues that are attainably able to be solved. The Doctor and the Bad Boy delivered tenderheartedness and familial love that spoke of how the world should really be... R.J. Scott wrote a beautiful contemporary romance that never sugar coated the pitfalls of life, but delivered a well- crafted story of acceptance and love.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com/book-reviews/the-doctor-and-the-bad-boy-ellery-mountain-4-by-rj-scott-at-total-e-bound"><b>Rainbow Book Reviews</b></a>: If you like romantic love stories filled with wonderful, realistic, unselfish characters, then you will enjoy this book. Thanks, RJ, for another visit to Ellery Mountain and its lovely residents.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/the-doctor-and-the-bad-boy-by-r-j-scott/">MM Good Book Reviews</a> - 4/5: </b>I say if you love hot men finding love, some angst and drama with problem parents, great friends (who are all hot) and a great new relationship, then you have to read this story.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcJAYFw34sZ9MPIa0wTEAGhLH7-EyXBdD1ULpljNtYkf0OOVHha0VVKpJU_KccHFaPYOWBQw3DDLIINUl53ixTXUd9z0HhuAz6xjO3hxO2E6_DOWkprzYBdfpFoDuzkFY9fZRd7UfE5Y/s1600/thedoctorandthebadboy_bs_banner_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcJAYFw34sZ9MPIa0wTEAGhLH7-EyXBdD1ULpljNtYkf0OOVHha0VVKpJU_KccHFaPYOWBQw3DDLIINUl53ixTXUd9z0HhuAz6xjO3hxO2E6_DOWkprzYBdfpFoDuzkFY9fZRd7UfE5Y/s1600/thedoctorandthebadboy_bs_banner_logo.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Excerpt</b></span><br /><br /><b>Chapter 1</b><br />Mitchell Askett knocked firmly on the door then stepped back. After glancing down at the piece of paper with his hastily scribbled instructions, he again checked the cabin. There was no number on it or sign to indicate this was where Brenda Skylar lived, but the directions had led him this far.<br /><br />"Uncle Mitch," Bobbie called from the car. "It hurts. I feel sicker than before."<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />"I’ll be with you in a minute, sweetheart." Mitchell knocked on the door again. If there was no answer, at that point he would skip finding where he was supposed to be staying and meeting the other owners. He’d find the nearest hotel room and get his niece tucked up into bed. Maybe if he was really clever he could locate a shop in Ellery that sold dry crackers, or eggs. He always liked eggs when he had a hangover. Not that twelve-year-old Roberta was facing the awful post-alcoholic binge effects like he did. No, she just seemed to be suffering from car sickness. Or she had a bug. Or something.<br /><br />"I’m gonna be sick," she whined. Mitchell was torn. No one was answering. He should just go and find the hotel, or hell, maybe even a doctor, just to get her checked out.<br /><br />"I’ll be right with you," he called.<br /><br />To be fair, they’d been driving on and off for quite a few hours and their diet had consisted of whatever they could get from gas stations en route. At twelve, he would have jumped at the chance of a road trip fuelled entirely on chocolate and Doritos, but the normally buoyant Bobbie had refused everything he’d offered.<br /><br />The front door finally began to open.<br /><br />"Unca Mi—" he heard, then the sound of a car door opening and retching.<br /><br />Suddenly torn between what he had come here to do and what he needed to do, he threw a hurried "Sorry" to whoever had just answered the door then jumped the steps back down to the car. Sliding to a halt around the passenger side, which faced away from the cabin, he stared in horror for a second. Not only had Bobbie been violently sick, but she was curled in a ball and sobbing.<br /><br />Without further hesitation, Mitchell crouched down next to her and in a smooth move had her up in his arms.<br /><br />"Baby? Are you okay?" Stupid question, but all he wanted was for her to open her eyes.<br /><br />"What’s wrong?" a voice broke through his concern. Holding Bobbie protectively close to him, he swivelled to face the owner of the soft words. A short woman with grey hair and a concerned look on her face stood with her arms outstretched like she wanted to take Bobbie from him. He tightened his grip, only for Bobbie to whimper at the hold.<br /><br />"Does she need a doctor?" the woman asked in a rush.<br /><br />"I don’t know," he said. God, he felt worse than useless. What would Annabelle do? Not that he could remember his sister having to deal with a sick Bobbie, as Bobbie was usually one healthy child.<br /><br />"What’s wrong, sweetie?" She touched Bobbie’s head. "She’s very hot."<br /><br />"She complained of stomach ache, but it’s been getting worse."<br /><br />"Let’s get her to the hospital."<br /><br />Mitchell felt suddenly as sick as his niece. Hospital? That sounded like this was serious. He’d only been responsible for her for two days and he’d already fucked up.<br /><br />"Hospital?" he said.<br /><br />"Our doctors are there—we just need to get her looked at. Wait…" The woman ran up the steps then came back out almost instantly. In her hand she had wipes and some keys. She locked the door behind her then came and climbed into the back seat.<br /><br />"Give her to me," she ordered firmly. "You drive."<br /><br />"I’m not— I don’t…" he stammered. Bobbie was curled up in his arms, then her head lolled back and suddenly Mitchell’s instinct to get things done kicked in. In seconds, he had her laid with her head in the woman’s lap, and he pulled a blanket from behind the seat up and over her.<br /><br />"Where?" he asked quickly. Bobbie was crying quietly and the woman shushed her gently with soft words.<br /><br />"Left out of here and down into Ellery," she said.<br /><br />Forcing the car into gear, Mitchell wheel-spun on the loose gravel and the car lurched as it gripped and surged forward. In a few minutes, he was back at the road. Only when they were on the main route to town did he speak again.<br /><br />"Is she okay?"<br /><br />"She’s very hot, and listless," the woman said.<br /><br />Mitchell realised he couldn’t keep thinking of her as ‘the woman’.<br /><br />"I’m Mitchell Askett. Mitch."<br /><br />"I know who you are, Mr Askett. Brenda Skylar."<br /><br />"The little girl…my niece, Roberta—we call her Bobbie." Or Bobs when she was cute, or Roberta Jane when she caused mischief.<br /><br />Brenda had a cellphone in her hand, talking to someone, possibly the hospital, but Mitch had to watch the road. He came to a three-way stop and for a moment was confused, then realised which way he needed to go. Down. Into town. Where was the hospital? The last time he’d been in Ellery, he was only twelve or so, the same age as Bobbie. All he remembered was that the limousine he had been riding in had a mini bar and that he’d had his first taste of brandy. It hadn’t made him sick but it had taken the edges off the anxiety inside him.<br /><br />They hit town and he spotted the sign for hospital and in no time at all he was pulling up at the Emergency Room door. Maybe the doctor would be elsewhere, but Bobbie was shaking and crying and in pain. The ER was certainly the place to take her. He threw the car into park, jumped out and pulled Bobbie into his arms. She reached a hand up around his neck and gripped hard to his long hair. Just like she used to when she was a baby. Compassion, love and fear warred for dominance. A small group of people waited at the entrance, but Mitch saw none of it. Someone took Bobbie from him and in the next instant she was on a gurney and all Mitch could hear was shouted words like ‘ultrasound’ and ‘emergency’. He ran in after them, then stopped at the glass internal doors beyond which he could see two women and a man checking Bobbie out.<br /><br />"What is it?" he asked. He was so scared he could feel the acid of it eating away at him. He’d made Annabelle let him have her. He’d forced his sister to think Bobbie would be best off with him in Ellery while she was at her lowest point. And now Bobbie was in there, unconscious. Was she dying? What had he done?<br /><br />"Come and sit down," Brenda said gently. She had her hand on his arm and pulled him away, but he shook it off and refused to move. "I think it may be appendicitis," she said.<br /><br />Horror gripped Mitch. He’d read about that, seen it on TV shows, where being sick all of a sudden turned into a fight for life and poisoning in the body.<br /><br />"Fuck," he cursed. "No."<br /><br />"She’s in good hands," Brenda said firmly. "Doctor Wolfe and Jamie have it under control."<br /><br />The names were a blur—all he could see was his flesh and blood lying so still beyond the glass door.<br /><br />"Sir? Did you understand me? Can you sign consent?" someone asked. "Are you her father? Hello? Sir?"<br /><br />Mitch met green eyes that held so much compassion that it made his heart ache.<br /><br />"Uncle," he managed.<br /><br />"Can you sign for us to operate?" The green-eyed guy looked determined. What was he asking? What was Mitchell going to be signing?<br /><br />"Operate?"<br /><br />"Your niece has appendicitis, she’ll need to have it removed," Green-Eyes said patiently. He didn’t seem at all pissed off that Mitch had clearly not heard a word of what he guessed had been a lengthy explanation. Mitch glanced down at the guy’s badge. Paramedic. Jamie Llewellyn. Paramedics knew what they were doing. He should trust this Jamie.<br /><br />He signed consent where he was told and without another word Jamie moved back into the room where Bobbie lay. The other man in there looked up and over at Mitch and nodded. Then in a flurry of movement the two men disappeared out of another door with two nurses trailing them until all that Mitch was looking at was an empty room. Left suddenly bereft, he slumped and rested his head on the glass. What the holy hell had just happened?<br /><br />"She didn’t want her Doritos," he murmured. "I should have known. She never turns them down."<br /><br />Brenda pulled him gently and this time he allowed himself to be led until he could feel a chair at the backs of his knees and in one loud exhalation of breath he fell into the chair. He winced as the set of three joined plastic torture devices shifted under his sudden fall.<br /><br />Brenda sat next to him. "Do you want to call someone? The girl’s mother…your sister or sister-in-law?"<br /><br />Mitchell shook his head. They’d get a call in to his sister if it was an emergency, and God, this probably qualified on all levels. But putting a call in to the rehab switchboard didn’t mean she would take it, or if she would actually care at this moment in time. Depended on where in her cycle of depression she was—and two days ago she hadn’t looked good at all.<br /><br />"I’m Roberta’s guardian," Mitchell lied. He wasn’t officially a guardian in the eyes of the law. He was, however, Bobbie’s uncle—that had to count for something. He’d deal with the fallout later, but right now the last thing he needed was any kind of legal problems… Or, worse, for his parents to find out what he had done. They didn’t even know Annabelle was sick again, let alone that he had taken it upon himself to remove Bobbie from all the crap she was in the middle of.<br /><br />"Can I get you anything?"<br /><br />Mitchell blinked at her and shook his head. He felt spaced out and lightheaded. What I wouldn’t give for a Jack Daniel’s at this very moment. Something to settle me so I can think. Fuck. That thought had crept up on him. Cricking his neck, he stood.<br /><br />"I need to move the car," he said. "I’m blocking the entrance for emergencies."<br /><br />"I’m sure it will be fine, we don’t get a lot of them."<br /><br />Mitchell looked up to see Jamie standing in front of him.<br /><br />"Why aren’t you in with Bobbie?" Mitchell snapped the question. In small towns it was all hands on deck, right? If Jamie was a trained paramedic then he should be in there with Bobbie.<br /><br />"She’ll be fine," Jamie said softly. He had taken a step away and Mitchell wondered how much temper and anxiety he was carrying in his expression.<br /><br />Mitchell held out a hand to shake and Jamie accepted it. "Sorry, man," Mitch offered in apology. He needed to keep his infamous temper in check if he had a hope in hell of pulling off being a responsible guardian. May as well start with someone who was a damned expert who could help Bobbie.<br /><br />"No worries," Jamie replied with an understanding smile. "It’s only my third day here but I’ve known Doc Wolfe for years. Your daughter is being looked after by the best there is."<br /><br />"Niece," Mitchell corrected.<br /><br />"Niece. Anyway, as I was saying, emergencies aren’t as frequent here as they are in Knoxville. If you want, I’ll take your keys and move the car just in case, then come back and explain what’s happening."<br /><br />Mitchell didn’t argue. He handed over his keys and took the proffered coffee that Brenda returned with. He must have been in major panic shutdown mode to have not even seen her leave. He sipped at the disgusting black fluid but savoured the caffeine as it hit his system. Brenda didn’t talk at all and Mitchell welcomed the silence. He internalised his worry and all the random thoughts shooting through his head at this point.<br /><br />"All done. I put it out front in visitor parking." Jamie handed him the keys. "So. From what I saw it is appendicitis. Has she been poorly for long?"<br /><br />"She’s been off her food for a few days." Ever since I had her mom committed then dragged Bobbie on this insane journey to a new future. "She said she had tummy ache, and I asked her where the pain was, but she said it was all over, so I didn’t even consider appendicitis. Then on the journey here she was sick at the last gas station, then again outside the car when we got to Ellery. When I picked her up she was so hot. I didn’t notice before. I just assumed…" I should have noticed.<br /><br />"Don’t beat yourself up on that," Jamie offered quietly. "As parents, or uncles, we’re not infallible."<br /><br />"What are they doing to her now?"<br /><br />"I imagine they’re carrying out an appendectomy. I won’t bore you, but if appendicitis is the diagnosis then the appendix will need to come out."<br /><br />"What else could it be?"<br /><br />"I am fairly sure it’s appendicitis, but Doc will let you know when he’s done. They will want to get it out to avoid perforation, which can lead to an abscess or possible diffuse peritonitis."<br /><br />Mitch buried his head in his hands. None of that sounded good. "Fuck."<br /><br />"I’ll be at the emergency station, but if you come with me I’ll show you to the family room where you can wait."<br /><br />"Do you want me to come with you?" Brenda asked. Mitch glanced at her. A stranger by all accounts. He didn’t need anyone else in the room with him. He had plenty of ghosts in his past that provided all kinds of weird company in his head.<br /><br />"I’ll be fine," he began. "I need to come and find you again after…"<br /><br />"When you’re ready," she said. "I’ll check back later." She patted him on the shoulder then, with a smile and a goodbye for Jamie, she left.<br /><br />"This way," Jamie encouraged. In a daze Mitch followed and listened to words explaining where coffee was, where a phone was, even how long this could all potentially take. He left as well and Mitchell was suddenly in blissful peace in a silent, empty room. The walls painted a bright cheerful yellow were probably supposed to counteract the miserable colours in his thoughts. It didn’t work. Nor did the magazines that were all at least three months old. He picked up a copy of National Geographic and stared at the cover, which showed some kind of ancient temple against a blue sky. How long he focused on that he didn’t know but it was his cellphone vibrating in his pocket that snapped him back to the here and now.<br /><br />He checked the screen. Mom. That call he could ignore. She was used to that and he’d hate to disappoint her any more than he did already. There is no way she could know about Annabelle yet—he considered he had a couple of weeks before anyone would find out. The summer break was nearly over and, of course, Bobbie’s old school would query it when Bobbie didn’t turn up for her first day in the new school year. Given it was his mom that paid the other school, she would probably be contacted and informed. That would be the day Mitchell had to begin fighting to keep Bobbie with him until Annabelle was better.<br /><br />He stuffed the phone back in his pocket and slumped back in the chair. His hair had come loose from the tie it had been in when Bobbie had tugged at it and he cursed when the end of the length dipped into his cold coffee. The door marked 'Bathroom' was only a few steps away, but he hesitated to go out of the main room just in case someone came to find him. He pushed his hands into his jeans pockets, hoping to hell he could find a tie, or anything. Hell, he’d go with an elastic band at this point. The feel of soft leather against his fingers was a relief and he pulled out the length that had snapped last week.<br /><br />It took a few tries but eventually he had the hair pulled back from his face and tied with the strangely knotted twist of leather. The weight of it away from his neck was a sudden feeling of freedom. He stood up and under the air con until he was cooler. Then he sat. Then he stood. Then he just did what came best to him. He paced from one side of the room to the other and repeated every curse word he knew.<br /><br /></div></div>

The Doctor and the Bad Boy

Ellery Mountain Series Book 1 - The Fireman and the Cop Book 2 - The Teacher and the Soldier Book 3 - The Carpenter and the Actor Book 4 - T...

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The Agent And The Model (Ellery 7, An Ellery Christmas)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-h2lcCiFO_TK_SoUIaDLmkUKNJIFU6AWacz2XAPbWM9TPOghQkeDUtmtKTtu-wjnbg1h72mujlx36DRbGXeTceerp8k9YKspLeNlqTgPMWGYchl_O8p1Zi0srWe5okp3S7W9YMi-G6r0/s333/5738354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-h2lcCiFO_TK_SoUIaDLmkUKNJIFU6AWacz2XAPbWM9TPOghQkeDUtmtKTtu-wjnbg1h72mujlx36DRbGXeTceerp8k9YKspLeNlqTgPMWGYchl_O8p1Zi0srWe5okp3S7W9YMi-G6r0/s320/5738354.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Michael is receiving death threats and returns to Ellery the week before Christmas after six years away from family and friends.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">His infuriating agent, Alexander, tracks him down and he finds out the man is not all he seems. When danger threatens Michael and everyone he holds dear it is up to Alex to make things right.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Regrets, danger and love. Will Michael ever feel safe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Coming Christmas 2013 from TEB</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>More information to follow...</i></span></div>

The Agent And The Model (Ellery 7, An Ellery Christmas)

Michael is receiving death threats and returns to Ellery the week before Christmas after six years away from family and friends.   His infur...

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Competition to celebrate the release of The Doctor And The Bad Boy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyP59uDDJHARrCiCNZLUBsAGTk5K_BpFMXafDj1KY1rMT-L_3cEuZtvm1dPeeMM-Ybc6rpmvPKZozehN7cTwapDGLfcEKGBqcQvGHd7ydtTEA0Ja4p6lDV7ZQ70ee_YQ_ClDVz8TUQJQ/s1600/2013-06-18+12.38.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyP59uDDJHARrCiCNZLUBsAGTk5K_BpFMXafDj1KY1rMT-L_3cEuZtvm1dPeeMM-Ybc6rpmvPKZozehN7cTwapDGLfcEKGBqcQvGHd7ydtTEA0Ja4p6lDV7ZQ70ee_YQ_ClDVz8TUQJQ/s400/2013-06-18+12.38.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is on this website?</b></span><br /><br />News on book releases<br />Updates on works in progress<br />Cover Art releases<br />Reviews for my books<br />"Focus on a series" pages<br />Buy links to E-books and paperbacks<br />Contact Details for RJ Scott<br />Interviews with other authors<br />Posts about autism (something close to my heart!)<br />Shared inspirational photos<br />Reviews on books and films<br />Competitions<br />Special Offers<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVD_codlQAMUvNy9v3ecFL5Tss2EXMTxUd1rjLaxRTqY_jopw8rFFCamq1nnM_ocV1-SOoR9f9JDmSMzDukJnZ8lP7Jqz7Kzd-Fm_moEkLJZncOFgljZr2M6CZ6bmkL2IQjJYgEUP3i4/s1600/thedoctorandthebadboy_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVD_codlQAMUvNy9v3ecFL5Tss2EXMTxUd1rjLaxRTqY_jopw8rFFCamq1nnM_ocV1-SOoR9f9JDmSMzDukJnZ8lP7Jqz7Kzd-Fm_moEkLJZncOFgljZr2M6CZ6bmkL2IQjJYgEUP3i4/s320/thedoctorandthebadboy_800.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">COMPETITION</span></b><br /><br />To celebrate the release of The Doctor And The Bad Boy on Friday 21st, I am offering the chance for you to win three signed cover art postcards (6"x4") as shown in the picture and a $15 voucher for Amazon.<br /><br />All you have to do is sign up for email notifications of new content on the site - the link is in the top left hand corner.<br /><br />And don't worry... if you're already signed up then you are already included in the draw!<br /><br /><b>Competition closes Saturday 9pm, GMT (London)</b><br /><br />Mitchell Ryan, the recovering alcoholic bad boy, meets Doctor Liam Wolfe, the man who shows him it’s okay to love…<br /><br />No one has ever understood Mitchell Askett. The bad boy. The alcoholic. The loser. Buying into the Ellery Mountain resort and placing down roots in the community for himself, his sister and his niece puts him on the radar of the Fridays and Doctor Liam Wolfe.<br /><br />He soon realises he has friends in his new home who don’t judge him for what happened before and finally begins to escape his past. When he falls hard and fast for the doctor, he even sees a future for him in Ellery.<br /><br />But when his new happiness is first threatened by family interference then by disaster, he begins to lose faith, until Liam shows him it’s okay to ask for help.<br /><br /><b>BUY LINK - <a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2198">http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2198</a></b>

Competition to celebrate the release of The Doctor And The Bad Boy

What is on this website? News on book releases Updates on works in progress Cover Art releases Reviews for my books "Focus on a series...

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The Carpenter and the Actor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGFPGyhyphenhyphenK61i8FITx57qER7CqWbv0zn0W3TrKRFLX_HseudhcYZuNfw1RvX5HUuVoSJadgnC7jqw0vtQzmOy_HbFcHSST-PlKirVkzimdsqNv-9dC_x0uP8apfDjJN7jcNnLSsO2Yeyo/s1600/thecarpenterandtheactor_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGFPGyhyphenhyphenK61i8FITx57qER7CqWbv0zn0W3TrKRFLX_HseudhcYZuNfw1RvX5HUuVoSJadgnC7jqw0vtQzmOy_HbFcHSST-PlKirVkzimdsqNv-9dC_x0uP8apfDjJN7jcNnLSsO2Yeyo/s640/thecarpenterandtheactor_800.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ellery Mountain Series</b></span><br /><br />Book 1 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-fireman-and-cop.html">The Fireman and the Cop</a><br />Book 2 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-school-teacher-and-soldier.html">The Teacher and the Soldier</a><br />Book 3 - <b>The Carpenter and the Actor</b><br />Book 4 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-doctor-and-bad-boy.html">The Doctor and the Bad Boy</a><br />Book 5 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ParamedicWriter.html">The Paramedic and the Writer</a><br />Book 6 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-barman-seal.html">The Barman and the SEAL</a><br />Book 7 - The Agent and the Model (Coming Soon) <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Book</b></span><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9vd5bUqaW9zBx9AqgwRXFhw0rXW53B5SaBYmhfnP9RtZi3_ZaojFIRNpXrdUHDuSwywx0OnkSVMjCegQ0jvlhnZzpeuhG93G50UE9fpYJHqDtBvpBrgyn0OJFnpHrTquVBZE3PIEUs/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9vd5bUqaW9zBx9AqgwRXFhw0rXW53B5SaBYmhfnP9RtZi3_ZaojFIRNpXrdUHDuSwywx0OnkSVMjCegQ0jvlhnZzpeuhG93G50UE9fpYJHqDtBvpBrgyn0OJFnpHrTquVBZE3PIEUs/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" /></a>Jason McInnery, hounded by the paparazzi after his brother's death, runs to the one place where he hopes people will not sell him out. The place where he was born.<br /><br />Hiding in the tourist cabins at Ellery Mountain Resort out of season he thinks he finally has room to breathe. <br /><br />If only Kieran Dexter, a man ten years his junior, would stop fixing stuff and generally causing ripples in Jason's calm space.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy Links</b></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBk62CNsw8f6TaVkJD1yq84-I45HQ7h3hFx_FHUIEUJjt9yHwUt8dRgHB442OnzvNx1bfwAj92w6EyAVEwNskF9swth5ZLBkdmw_L2_RLsN6Qtv4iW69Y4oh3uM8yaHWec94CS5V0YLk/s1600/thecarpenterandtheactor_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2124" target="_blank">Total E-Bound</a>  |  <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CZDVPC2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CZDVPC2&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-20" target="_blank">Amazon (US)</a>  |  <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CZDVPC2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00CZDVPC2&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-21" target="_blank">Amazon (UK)</a>  |  <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-carpenter-and-the-actor-rj-scott/1115360439?ean=9781781843215" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>  |  <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thecarpenterandtheactor-1215839-149.html" target="_blank">All Romance E-Books</a>  |  <a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Carpenter-and-The-Actor/book-ryRVFZsP7E6xT3YqjwCUhw/page1.html?s=u1VT1A5fykGh3FCx_Whf2A&r=1" target="_blank">Kobo</a>  |  <span style="color: #666666;">Sony</span><br /><a name="more"></a><span style="color: #666666;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviews </b></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com/book-reviews/the-carpenter-and-the-actor-ellery-mountain-3-by-rj-scott-at-total-e-bound"><b>Rainbow Book Reviews</b></a> - This is my favorite story so far. Jason and Kieran are two very realistic characters who complement each other in a huge way. There isn't a great deal of angst, no separation to get back together, just two men facing issues as they arise, being able to acknowledge what's in their hearts, and come up with a reasonable solution as they burn their way through the mattress with their fiery passion for one another. I recommend this story to Ellery Mountain fans and to new readers as well who enjoy a strong, romantic story with descriptive, realistic characters who quickly get under your skin and in your heart. Thanks, RJ, for another great story. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.<br /><br /><a href="http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=20123"><b>Hearts on Fire Reviews 4/5 </b></a>- I especially enjoy how Ms Scott keeps the characters from the previous stories active in all of the books so that there is a smooth flow and continuity. The characters are well developed and the sex was hot. I recommend this book <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Excerpt</b></span><br /><br />Jason McInnery pulled another blanket from the pile at the bottom of his bed and used it to block up any small space around him that could let in the cold. When he’d gone for rustic he hadn’t realised he was getting the equivalent of sleeping in a tent. No heating that he could get to work, two in the morning and sleep had so far eluded him. The hot water bottle he’d found in the cupboard above the sink was still warm, but at this point it really needed to have the water replaced with steaming boiling heat. That would mean getting out of bed though and placing his feet on the icy cold wooden floor.<br /><br />"So not going there," he muttered to himself. The new blanket helped and finally he had a cocoon that at least meant he wasn’t shivering. No wonder the cabin had been cheap to rent if it didn’t come with working heat. He knew he should have stopped at the chain motel he’d seen just outside Ellery. But no, his idea of hiding was self-imposed isolation halfway up the mountain and twenty minutes’ drive from the town he’d been born in. He should have gone to his parents’ house in Las Vegas and got some of that desert sun.<br /><br />Freaking paparazzi. They knew where his parents lived, and would assume it was one of the places he would go. Hell, he was lucky they hadn’t followed him to Ellery, or had any inkling he would go back to the town he’d left before he was old enough to remember it. His cell phone sounded and he rooted around under the covers where he’d pushed his only link to his other life. The life where he was a popular, successful, openly gay actor who had charmed his way into millions of hearts on a successful TV comedy and in two kids’ films. The actor with the brother who had died. The screen lit brightly and the name wasn’t a surprise.<br /><br />"Hey, Mom," he answered. The cell was warm from where it had been wrapped in the quilt. Midnight at his mom’s place meant his dad snoring in bed and his night-owl mom watching recorded shows. "It’s two a.m., you know."<br /><br />"There was a show on, and I was thinking about you."<br /><br />"You need to stop watching those gossip shows, Mom," he said patiently.<br /><br />"I can’t help it, J. It’s everywhere."<br /><br />Jason shifted deeper under the covers and sighed inwardly. He’d grown a thicker skin now. Having his private life plastered over magazines and TV shows was part and parcel of the whole celebrity lifestyle. That didn’t mean it had got any easier over the last seven years since the small comedy show he starred in had gone ballistic. And hell, it wasn’t ever going to get any easier for his poor mom. Not only had Ben died with too many secrets and too many lies twisted around him, but Jason had been smacked around the face with the fallout of his brother’s actions and his own subsequent arrest.<br /><br />"I’m fine, Mom," he said gently.<br /><br />"I just wanted to…" She didn’t finish the sentence. Jason’s throat tightened with emotion. He didn’t call her on phoning him this late—she’d wanted to hear his voice. Losing Ben had destroyed his parents. Maybe he should have gone home to Vegas and forgotten the fact that doing so would have put his mom and dad in the spotlight. They were struggling as it was.<br /><br />"I can be home by tomorrow," Jason offered. He could get tickets and be on a plane in a few hours. Hell, it would probably be warmer on a plane anyway.<br /><br />"No, Jason, we talked about this. I love you—I just wanted to tell you."<br /><br />"I love you too, Mom."<br /><br />With the call finished, he clutched the cell to his chest and pulled the blankets up and over his head. Grief balled in his chest and not for the first time since he’d left LA, he wondered what the hell had made him come to Ellery. He may as well have stuck a pin in a map as a way of deciding where to hide out.<br /><br />He had three weeks. Three weeks until the next season started filming. Ellery was as good a place as any.<br /><br />* * * *<br /><br />Loud noises woke him to bright sunlight streaming through the large windows and he glanced at his cell phone. The screen showed it was just after seven a.m. He’d banked five hours’ sleep, but he still felt like complete shit. His dreams had been filled with Ben and a scene that was something like a film, with him and Ben running. He hated the running dream—it never failed to leave him frustrated and tired beyond reason and had occurred on too many occasions recently. Rolling onto his side, away from the window, he screwed his eyes tight shut and willed sleep to happen.<br /><br />The knocking on his door was part of a dream—it had to be. No one would be knocking on the door of this remote cabin at ass o’clock in the morning for any reason he could imagine.<br /><br />Groaning, he shifted until he could listen with both ears. The knocking wasn’t stopping. This wasn’t the short, sharp knock of someone at the door. This was repetitive and noisy and…hell, right outside his window. What the fuck was happening? Pulling the blankets back over his head, he attempted to sleep. When that didn’t block out the banging, he searched on his phone for an app that could produce white noise. When that didn’t work either, he gave up sleeping as a bad thing.<br /><br /></div>

The Carpenter and the Actor

Ellery Mountain Series Book 1 - The Fireman and the Cop Book 2 - The Teacher and the Soldier Book 3 - The Carpenter and the Actor Book 4 - T...

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The Teacher and the Soldier

<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxzdXeJupN8I4W3j1SzADm3qqPlUt5s38DwBd4eafrMe90s_T7-08-tD_O6jCfHUfBzJr2ZxXXoGM8ZQDGtlKZ49NUmbOopyDWQC9fCcUqu4OlH7IiGAfO-sRb8X7KNTd9rx78zBfs4g/s1600/theteacherandthesoldier_exlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxzdXeJupN8I4W3j1SzADm3qqPlUt5s38DwBd4eafrMe90s_T7-08-tD_O6jCfHUfBzJr2ZxXXoGM8ZQDGtlKZ49NUmbOopyDWQC9fCcUqu4OlH7IiGAfO-sRb8X7KNTd9rx78zBfs4g/s640/theteacherandthesoldier_exlarge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ellery Mountain Series</b></span><br /><br />Book 1 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-fireman-and-cop.html">The Fireman and the Cop</a><br />Book 2 - <b>The Teacher and the Soldier</b><br />Book 3 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-carpenter-and-actor.html">The Carpenter and the Actor</a><br />Book 4 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-doctor-and-bad-boy.html">The Doctor and the Bad Boy</a><br />Book 5 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ParamedicWriter.html">The Paramedic and the Writer</a><br />Book 6 - <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-barman-seal.html">The Barman and the SEAL</a><br />Book 7 - The Agent and the Model (Coming Soon) <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Book</b></span><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9vd5bUqaW9zBx9AqgwRXFhw0rXW53B5SaBYmhfnP9RtZi3_ZaojFIRNpXrdUHDuSwywx0OnkSVMjCegQ0jvlhnZzpeuhG93G50UE9fpYJHqDtBvpBrgyn0OJFnpHrTquVBZE3PIEUs/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9vd5bUqaW9zBx9AqgwRXFhw0rXW53B5SaBYmhfnP9RtZi3_ZaojFIRNpXrdUHDuSwywx0OnkSVMjCegQ0jvlhnZzpeuhG93G50UE9fpYJHqDtBvpBrgyn0OJFnpHrTquVBZE3PIEUs/s1600/64246_434678613281893_1653726542_n.jpg" /></a>Ex-soldier, Daniel Skylar, falls hard and heavy for school teacher Luke Fitzgerald. How can he make him stay in Ellery?<br /><br />Luke Fitzgerald left Ellery Mountain for college and vowed never to come back.<br /><div><br /></div><div>When his father is murdered he has no choice but to return. Luke only goes home to sell off his share of the Ellery Mountain Cabins, but everything changes when he meets the son of the other owner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Daniel Skylar is an ex-soldier who lives every day to the limit and sees a future in Luke.<br /><br />It doesn’t matter what Daniel says, or how much he needs Luke; Luke isn’t staying once everything is sold off. Surely Daniel can understand that?<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy Links - eBook</b></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2074" target="_blank">Total E-Bound</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CH143BM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CH143BM&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-20" target="_blank">Amazon (US)</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CH143BM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00CH143BM&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-21" target="_blank">Amazon (UK)</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theteacherandthesoldier-1169414-145.html" target="_blank">All Romance</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-teacher-and-the-soldier-rj-scott/1115267912?ean=9781781842836" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Books/the-teacher-and-the-soldier" target="_blank">Kobo</a> | <span style="color: #666666;">Sony</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviews</b></span><br /><br /><b><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/the-teacher-and-the-soldier-by-r-j-scott/" target="_blank">MM Good Book Reviews</a> 4/5 </b>- This story is really well written and it does tug at your heartstrings for what Luke had to face alone and also the effect it is still having on him. Daniel and Luke are an excellent pairing and are very hot together. They have a strong connection that goes further than a physical attraction and they make a great couple. The storyline is very good and I liked how Luke seemed to overcome his obstacles to accept the love he is offered and I liked how Daniel didn’t pressure Luke to recount his past. We see Max and Finn (from The Fireman and the Cop) again and Kieran and Liam and I can honestly say that I am looking forward to both their stories (The Carpenter and the Actor, and The Doctor and the Bad Boy) ... I will recommend this to those who love facing the past stories, fighting for love, hot sex, great characters, a good storyline and a happy ending.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_MCCpSVYiqanJzIgAOQyrqkPtvYUoMglryErspnMMO4Vli0QvrikjqeiiOhJhunfK3YQmpEj5aeEFUMFfhKIqj-SsHF7x-TaFLZUs-1lXX2AICsT5ETuta0FE4FU_Owffdw7c447UqM/s1600/theteacherandthesoldier_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_MCCpSVYiqanJzIgAOQyrqkPtvYUoMglryErspnMMO4Vli0QvrikjqeiiOhJhunfK3YQmpEj5aeEFUMFfhKIqj-SsHF7x-TaFLZUs-1lXX2AICsT5ETuta0FE4FU_Owffdw7c447UqM/s400/theteacherandthesoldier_flat.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><b><a href="http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=19214" target="_blank">Hearts On Fire Reviews</a> 4/5</b> - The books in this series focus on the quaint little town of Ellery where life is fairly idyllic and the lives of the four gay friends that grew up there. The characters are wonderful and well developed, there is plenty of the much loved angst and a slow build up to love. The stories have HEA endings with just enough twist to hold my interest. The Ellery Mountain series is definitely a worthwhile read.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com/book-reviews/the-teacher-and-the-soldier-ellery-mountain-2-by-rj-scott-at-total-e-bound" target="_blank"><b>Rainbow Book Reviews </b></a>- I liked this story although I wanted to knock Daniel and Luke's heads together more than once for their stubbornness. Fortunately they redeemed themselves in the end. The characters are strong, even some of the secondary ones like Luke's ex and best friend. As outrageous as he was, he gave Luke the support and the shove that he needed to get his life going. I also loved Daniel's friends who are introduced in the first book in the series. It's definitely a good follow-up story and I look forward to reading more about them. I recommend this story to fans of the 'Ellery Mountain' series and for new readers as well; although it can be read alone, reading the books in sequential order will give you a fuller, more meaningful experience. Thanks, RJ, for revisiting the mountain and introducing us to more fascinating characters.<br /><br /><a href="http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=9819" target="_blank"><b>The Romance Reviews 4/5</b></a> - I'm a sucker for troubled romance heroes and this novella has two. Daniel is further along in his recovery than Luke but they're both wrestling demons and still taking responsibility for their issues. I like their honest conversations with each other, especially with Daniel's willingness to be so emotionally vulnerable to Luke. Their romance is intense both sexually and emotionally, and I really liked watching their courtship.<br /><br /><a href="http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=12447" target="_blank"><b>Mrs Condit Reads Books 4/5 </b></a>- a simple love story that left me happy in the end. Luke deserved to find love and Daniel was the perfect one to give it.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJT-PVCwEISB9sgovHyWc90hLH-l_saQa6eKhspqLiJPFm8sOh8b62Otj37rl693gdE3N0vl1u5fUt8vdo-4ULOdd4cXZujs7yzdfPJvfnZiyvuvCqTSyWBg5YhZwPn-zRWyZ0VE8JGU/s1600/theteacherandthesoldier_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJT-PVCwEISB9sgovHyWc90hLH-l_saQa6eKhspqLiJPFm8sOh8b62Otj37rl693gdE3N0vl1u5fUt8vdo-4ULOdd4cXZujs7yzdfPJvfnZiyvuvCqTSyWBg5YhZwPn-zRWyZ0VE8JGU/s1600/theteacherandthesoldier_banner.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Excerpt </b></span><br /><br />Only the darkening sky told Luke Fitzgerald what time it was. His cell was in the car with a dead battery and he never wore a watch. The evening was drawing in, and with it the familiar coolness of a fall night in the mountains, and if he wasn’t careful he would get caught in the regular evening rain he remembered from his childhood. Coming here, to Ellery, to the place he’d called home for the first eighteen years of his life, was something he had never thought he would do. Not all the time his dad had been alive anyway.<br /><br />Leaning against the fence, he stared down at the town nestled in the V of the valley caused by Ellery Mountain and Mercury Peak. Where he had been able to see things clearly a few short minutes before, now everything was blurring in the deep grey-blue smudge of evening light. Luke tracked the car’s progress by its headlights as it left the town and made its way up into the mountain. There had been a few cars passing by today, but Luke was far enough away from the road that no one had stopped to ask him what the hell he was doing rooted to the same spot for hours.<br /><br />Shifting his stance, Luke pulled away from the fence and stretched tall. His back ached, his head hurt and he felt like shit. Driving straight through for eight hours was possibly the worst decision he had made since he’d decided to come back to Ellery. His chiropractor was going to have a cow when he assessed the damage Luke was doing to the already heavy tension he carried through his back muscles and up into his neck.<br /><br />The headlights shot momentarily through spaces in the fir trees on each bend. He identified it on the last bend as a cop car, the white standing out against the dark of the trees. When it pulled onto the shoulder next to his car, Luke wasn’t surprised. Cops were far more attuned to spotting cars parked off the main road. The lights of the car meant he didn’t get a good look at the cop until he was less than four paces away. The cop stood loose-hipped and with his hand resting on the weapon in his holster. Peering through the gloom to the cop’s face, Luke knew that fate was fucking with him. Not only had an Ellery cop found his hiding place, but that Ellery cop was Corporal Finn Ryan.<br /><br />Finn Ryan in the flesh. The man who was so closely involved in the death of Luke’s dad. Christ. Way to slap what Luke had hoped to avoid right up in his face.<br /><br />"Is there a problem, sir?" Finn asked firmly.<br /><br />Luke pushed his clenched fists into his pockets and stilled the rising anxiety in him.<br /><br />"No problem, officer," he said. "Just visiting town and spending a little time clearing my head after a long drive."<br /><br />Finn took another step closer and a look of recognition passed over his face. Luke remembered Finn as tall, dark and rangy as hell, although his memories were of a boy of fifteen, not one of…what would it be now? Twenty-four? He’d been five years younger than Luke if he remembered correctly. Luke really didn’t want to remember anything about Ellery.<br /><br />"Luke?" Finn looked momentarily taken aback before regaining his posture.<br /><br />"Hi, Finn."<br /><br />They’d not been friends in school, just people who knew each other by sight. Luke was at college whilst Finn was still a freshman. Of course Finn, being a resident, would have heard all the rumours about him and his dad. Hell, he probably knew everything that had happened. Familiar resentment built inside Luke. He was bigger than that, bigger than his dad’s abuse, or his mom’s abandonment, bigger than this town. He would not let this place drag him down again however hard they tried.<br /><br />"You missed the funeral," Finn offered. There was no accusation in his voice. He was simply making a statement and one that hung in the air with no possible answer Luke could give. Or at least not one that didn’t involve reiterating the contents of two years of counselling sessions and eight years of living his life.<br /><br />"Busy," was all Luke eventually offered in response. Finn didn’t call him on the excuse.<br /><br />"You’ve been up here a while, Luke. Widow Jenn called it in. Said a stranger had been standing here for hours and he was just staring down at town."<br /><br />Luke shrugged. He couldn’t deny the hours had passed as he’d gazed down at the town and the tiny distant shapes of gravestones in the far churchyard of St Jeremiahs. He had deliberately stayed up here until darkness had begun to creep over the mountain. Call it self-preservation but there was no way he was driving into Ellery in the daylight. He changed the subject.<br /><br />"Widow Jenn is still alive?" he said. Finn took the change of subject in his stride and nodded.<br /><br />"Ninety-eight and thriving on ten a day with a glass of whisky," he said.<br /><br />"She still has those binoculars?" Luke snorted a laugh. Widow Jenn was one of the more colourful characters in the town and when he was younger she’d had her fingers in so many pies—evidently that hadn’t changed.<br /><br /><br /></div></div>

The Teacher and the Soldier

Ellery Mountain Series Book 1 - The Fireman and the Cop Book 2 - The Teacher and the Soldier Book 3 - The Carpenter and the Actor Book 4 - T...

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Total-E-Bound - VIP and the new books!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHQqZoCHxefP6Q7rN7GHFCveyS3icWmhUoL2EwD1KR7JZgePHFsxuR3RlW3b-VP3m3fNB3mf_RMJ6qf9BZWeaFlR8v8D1DphID4-G9AaInUSYNXTje_ejt1uXLdrwIPNYEH7kzPcRGMM/s1600/TheFiremanAndTheCop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHQqZoCHxefP6Q7rN7GHFCveyS3icWmhUoL2EwD1KR7JZgePHFsxuR3RlW3b-VP3m3fNB3mf_RMJ6qf9BZWeaFlR8v8D1DphID4-G9AaInUSYNXTje_ejt1uXLdrwIPNYEH7kzPcRGMM/s400/TheFiremanAndTheCop.jpg" width="250" /></a><br />My first book with Total-E-Bound is out tomorrow for download to VIP members with TEB...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/customer_account.asp?strMessage=login" target="_blank"><b>TEB VIP Lounge is HERE</b></a></div><br />Did you know that to be a VIP member all you need to do is open an account with them? Simples... If you do that you can have The Fireman And The Cop on Monday 14 January... a FULL four weeks before it is available elsewhere!<br /><br /><b>The Fireman And The Cop</b><br /><br /><i>Book 1 in the new Ellery Mountain Series</i><br /><i><br /></i>Rescuing cop Finn Ryan from a burning precinct was one thing. <br /><br />Keeping him alive after that is a task fireman Max Harrison is faced with in more ways than one.<br /><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1979" target="_blank"><b>BUY LINK</b></a><br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br />Ellery is a quiet town in the Smoky Mountains, at the base of Ellery Peak, where nothing ever happens. Max Harrison escaped from his firefighting job in the city to take up a role as assistant to the mayor, whilst also holding the position of a volunteer firefighter.<br /><br />Finn Ryan is one of only three cops in the small town and it soon seems to Max that someone is out to hurt the sexy cop. Rescuing Finn from a burning precinct was the easy part—it’s keeping him alive after that that fireman Max Harrison finds difficult.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />* * * * * <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsWhw4FGiyP_yvkpyUP7OYRYr0UAbBSFpN-CswqGRkhSSP0OTV1Iv89fgOo_OFe5kDCSMxRD_jYLtYH54PG_dqKAqbhwAxwtMwb1LNEjSW2VXHs9Bqpnyg4iyzVkX13rKtfLZ1GxRS5k/s1600/TEB_big-banner_070113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsWhw4FGiyP_yvkpyUP7OYRYr0UAbBSFpN-CswqGRkhSSP0OTV1Iv89fgOo_OFe5kDCSMxRD_jYLtYH54PG_dqKAqbhwAxwtMwb1LNEjSW2VXHs9Bqpnyg4iyzVkX13rKtfLZ1GxRS5k/s640/TEB_big-banner_070113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Excerpt:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Ready for your first fire, probie?"<br /><br />Max Harrison sent the chief a narrow-eyed look and said nothing. He was focused on the call and they were only two minutes out. Parts of him wished to hell Chief Quinn would quit with the ‘probie’ shit. At thirty-two and with ten years of city fireman experience, he hadn’t been the new guy for a long while in the true sense of the word. He dismissed it most of the time as gentle teasing—in a small place like Ellery, with a fire team staffed by volunteers, he was the last one in. Unless someone else joined the half-permanent, half-volunteer fire team then he would always be the probie, just by virtue of the fact no one had joined after him.<br /><br />At least there was no malice or hate in Quinn’s ribbing, which was very different to what he had received back in the city. Didn’t matter that the whole crap about who he was or wasn’t dating had been dealt with, he couldn’t force himself to stay somewhere that his sexual identity was deemed a threat to the shift. Assholes.<br /><br />"The precinct is an old place and burning high," Duncan reported from the driver’s seat. They weren’t bothering with sirens, it was ass o’clock in the a.m. and there was little traffic on these windy back roads even in the daylight. "Fire inspections were cleared but I know for a fact no sprinklers." Duncan turned the heavy engine past the last turn, and finally downtown Ellery—if it could be called downtown—came into sight.<br /><br />A prickle of excitement started at the base of Max’s neck as adrenaline began to pump through his body. The glow of the fire could be seen over the mayor’s hall and beyond to where he knew the precinct was. He’d started work at the mayor’s office only yesterday. Immediately the rig stopped in front of the burning building, he was off and assessing what they had.<br /><br />Quinn was feeding instructions to the crew, but this was clearly a fire well past being contained. Turning in a rough one-eighty, Finn assessed the exposure issue. The precinct was part of an older area of town. A jumble of gift shops, a couple of restaurants and the mayor’s building. Luckily, the precinct itself—little more than a large two-storey building—was separated from other structures close by with fifty feet to spare. The only endangered structures that could be subsequently damaged by the initial fire travelling to them were first on the list to hose down.<br /><br />Like a well-oiled team the volunteer fighters stood next to the full-timers and began their work. A man fell out of the fire-ringed main door and onto his knees in front of Max. He stumbled about, dishevelled and coughing.<br /><br />Max was there in an instant, manhandling the guy away from danger, and guiding him to the paramedics who had arrived a few seconds after the engine.<br /><br />"Someone…" A coughing fit overtook the man. "Inside," he finished when he could get his breath. He was pointing back the way he had come out.<br /><br />Max stiffened. Someone was still inside? He focused on the chaos around him and on shouting.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxzdXeJupN8I4W3j1SzADm3qqPlUt5s38DwBd4eafrMe90s_T7-08-tD_O6jCfHUfBzJr2ZxXXoGM8ZQDGtlKZ49NUmbOopyDWQC9fCcUqu4OlH7IiGAfO-sRb8X7KNTd9rx78zBfs4g/s1600/theteacherandthesoldier_exlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxzdXeJupN8I4W3j1SzADm3qqPlUt5s38DwBd4eafrMe90s_T7-08-tD_O6jCfHUfBzJr2ZxXXoGM8ZQDGtlKZ49NUmbOopyDWQC9fCcUqu4OlH7IiGAfO-sRb8X7KNTd9rx78zBfs4g/s400/theteacherandthesoldier_exlarge.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Book 2 - March 2013</b></td></tr></tbody></table>"Finn’s still in there," someone yelled. A tall man being held back by a group of onlookers was struggling to get free.<br /><br />No way was a freaking civilian getting anywhere near this scene and Max didn’t even think before crossing to the struggling men.<br /><br />"Where?" he snapped.<br /><br />The guy blinked but didn’t falter. "Straight in. To the back and left rear. The lockup. He went in to get Mike."<br /><br />"That’s Mike?" Max asked, pointing to the old man who had just walked out of the fire.<br /><br />"Yes."<br /><br />"Okay. Going in," Max confirmed into his mic.<br /><br />Quinn spun on his heel at the words to face Max and Max could see his chief’s expression of ‘what the fuck’ coupled with resignation. With a quick wave and no more thought than focusing on the job, Max ensured his face mask was secure and ran straight into the red and orange through the only space he had assessed as suitable ingress. The small area formed from an iron beam holding up the remains of the ceiling in the reception area.<br /><br /></div>

Total-E-Bound - VIP and the new books!

My first book with Total-E-Bound is out tomorrow for download to VIP members with TEB... TEB VIP Lounge is HERE Did you know that to be a VI...

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