Author, author... Guest Alexa Bourne

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Carry Me Home

Alexa Bourne

When I started revising my very first book to submit to my epublisher, I never realized where it would lead me. From that book, that first romantic suspense novella, came the MacDougall siblings. They were secondary characters with lots of heart and opinions. Originally they were only meant to decorate the stories, to represent the friendly residents I’d run into on my trips to the Scottish Highlands. As I worked on a different story, they remained in the back of my mind, coaching me on life in their village and planting seeds for me to one day go back and share their own stories. When my senior editor asked me to join the talented authors launching the Decadent Tease line, I immediately knew it was time to share the MacDougall siblings' stories.

Jamie, the oldest of the 3, is the hero in Carry Me Home. He was so ready to have his story told. He’d been talking in my head for over a year, pleading with me to help save his marriage. (Of course, his heroine pleaded just as loudly for me to help convince him to let her go.) Meggie, the youngest and the only girl, is the heroine in Silent Surrender (which released July 10^th). Ewan, the middle child, will hopefully be coming to you later this year (if I can get him to cooperate).

It was a very odd experience writing siblings that I knew would eventually have their own stories. I had to make sure I understood the relationships between them as well as their places within the family. Since they are so close, they naturally play a part in each others’ stories and I had to write their personalities consistently in each book. This wasn’t difficult because my characters are like people to me. They have their own quirks, behaviors and attitudes just like the rest of us. But for the first time as a writer I did have to pay serious attention to what I was doing from book to book.

In the end, I’m so proud and I think I’ve done each of the stories justice. Will I write connected stories again? Absolutely! Creating the MacDougall family, understanding their history and each individual member of the family was so much fun. Also, I think because the stories are connected that in some ways they’re even richer than my not connected stories. And anything that makes me a better writer is definitely a plus!

Book Blurb:

After six months in the city, Mary MacDougall returns to the Scottish Highlands to finalize her divorce. Because of a past tragedy, she doubts her husband Jamie can possibly love her with the same unbridled passion as before and insists ending the marriage is best for both of them. But Jamie has other ideas….

Jamie MacDougall has no intention of letting his bonnie lass go. At least not without a fight. Aye, they’ve suffered heartache, and she may be ready to call it quits, but he refuses to throw away the partnership they’ve built since they were children. Instead, he’ll remind her they were meant to be together, forever.

Can this marriage survive pride and grief to allow love to carry them home?

Excerpt:

“What do you want, Jamie?” She’d not get caught up in his soulful amber eyes. No, she would not.

“You’ve had your bit of fun, but I want you to come home.” He tilted his head to one side and drifted his fingertips along her bare arm.

She yanked away. “I’ve come to get my papers from you, to say good-bye to those I love, and to move on with my life.” She stepped around him and continued down the path to the center of Glenhalish. “I’ll be at the Kierlain House until Sunday. Please bring the forms and leave them with the front office.”

“I don’t have them.” He nearly shouted with glee. “I tossed them out.”

“I thought you might say that.” Smiling on the heels of another small victory, she fished through her handbag and pulled out another copy of the divorce papers. She’d come armed with a half-dozen copies just in case he chose to be difficult. She strode back to him with her chin held high and slapped the papers against his chest. “Here.”

Jamie stared at the lass’s fine arse strutting away from him. Her hair had been cut, straightened and the summer dress with the flowery print accentuated all the curves he’d fallen for so many years ago, the curves he knew so intimately. And those heels, for the love of St. Bridget, Mary hadn’t worn high heels like that since she left school. They’d brought her closer to his height, yet she still only reached his shoulders.

She’d left Glenhalish in January, a cold, distant housewife, and come back this alluring woman. For a moment, panic set inside his gut. He’d intended to convince her to come home so they could face their grief and move on together, but seeing how much happier, sexier, and sophisticated she was, perhaps Edinburgh was good for her, better than he could be.

But he wanted her back, wanted to get through this rough patch they’d strayed onto after the lad’s death, and return to the partnership they’d shared since primary school. They had too many years left. She couldn’t leave him. He wouldn’t survive without her.

The lass may have plans to leave him forever, but Jamie MacDougall wouldn’t give her up without a fight.

Buy Links:

Amazon   Decadent Publishing   All Romance Ebooks   Barnes & Noble   Smashwords

Reviews:

"Deeply moving...this is a must read!"  ~ Jan Hudson

"This book was a short - sweet - happy ending type of book that was just perfect to read before bedtime !"  Cheryl Rae on Goodreads rated it 5 of 5 stars.

"The story came to life on the first page.  It tugged at my heart and never let go...If you want a story filled with passionate moments, a beautiful setting, and heartfelt emotion, Carry Me Home is a must read."  5 out of 5 stars - By Kathleen Gallagher

Author Bio:

Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romance writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance and is thrilled to have the chance to share her love of Great Britain with readers everywhere.

When she's not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. She loves to interact with readers, so visit her web page, hang out at her blog, follow her on Twitter or drop her a note at Alexa@alexabourne.com!

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