Tag: small-town

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Small-Town Girl

ellenparkerwrites

Once upon a time…

Story after story in the books of my childhood started with the same line. However, they took me to many different places.

I went into the woods and into the minds of animals. Or far away and long ago to the King Arthur stories. Sometimes I sailed on ships, or lived in a treehouse, or roamed on a western ranch.

This girl may physically stay in one place — but her book can introduce her to everywhere. Do you have a book with you? She welcomes you to sit beside her and tell her the story between the covers.

Fictional Crystal Springs, Wisconsin, may be nestled in a narrow valley — but they are not isolated from the world. Pick up one of the sweet romances set here: Starr Tree Farm, Hiding Places, and Seed of Desire. You’ll find people of all ages and several occupations. And a few surprises as they go about daily life.

Here are links to the Kindle editions:

Starr Tree Farm: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw Hiding Places: https://amzn.to/2Jm26GQ and Seed of Desire: https://amzn.to/2RDFgxH

Happy Reading!

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Mobile Security System

ellenparkerwrites

When I was nearing the end of second grade, our family moved from village to farm. One item which was critical to my mother was security when my father was gone to his regular job and evening events.

I had never lived with a dog in the house — but I soon discovered I liked it. Dog and girl got along well. He knew he belonged to mother — she was his #1 protectee, but I was on the short list.

Decades later, when I started writing books, and a lady was inquiring about a security system for her new business, is was just logical that the answer “kennel south of town raises German shepherds” was the reply.

So when it came time to write about the young woman, and her two female cousins, who owned the farm with the kennel, I had my inspiration. Yes, details changed. After all, I’ve lived with and near dogs of several breeds through the years.

Meet Beth Cosgrove and her dog, Dancer, in the sweet romance Seed of Desire. She keeps her past quiet, will the new lawyer — and his shepherd puppy — change her attitude?

Here’s a link to the book’s Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/2RDFgxH

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Driving Lesson

ellenparkerwrites

One difference between the author and the heroine she wrote at the time of their first driving lesson was sixteen years. Another difference? Mona Smith, age 24, did not have trouble reaching the clutch. Somewhere in her additional years, her legs grew.

Fear not, motorist. Neither of these lessons (real or fictional) took place on a highway.

Note the padded seat. So very welcome when one hits a pocket gopher mound in the field. Simple enough for an eight-year-old. Left foot = clutch. Right foot = brakes. Adjust throttle with right hand. Pause to shift. Large hazard — jerking the clutch tends to dislodge passengers (either standing on drawbar or on attached wagon.)

Check out the sweet small-town romance, Hiding Places, for an account of Mona’s driving lesson. Plus many other things that make June a memorable month at the apple orchard. Follow the link for more details: https://amzn.to/2Jm26GQ

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Tell Me Again

ellenparkerwrites

Almost every farm I’ve set foot on has at least one dog. It does not matter if the primary product is milk, beef, pork, chickens, and soybeans. Somehow, dog and farm fit together.

Some of these dogs work. Yes, herding animals is a real thing. Guard duty, assigned to give the alarm when strangers turn in the drive, is also common. Others watch the human children and do their best to keep them from serious trouble and injury.

This individual of a herding breed never tires of hearing exploits of her distant cousins and ancestors.

The sweet romance, Starr Tree Farm, is set on a Christmas tree farm near a small fictional Wisconsin village. In addition to trees and pumpkins, the farm is home to several young beef cattle and two collie mix dogs. Check out the book for a story about the temporary human and her January adventure. It’s simple — click on the link: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw