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This blog post contains affiliate links. Click Here for details. Tamara Barton had lusted after Connor Dunbar ever since she was old enough to know what those stirrings meant whenever he was near. Connor’s refusal to see her as anything but the young girl he’d befriended and protected for years soon drives them apart, but not before she catches an up-close, personal glimpse of him exerting the dominant control she’d heard rumors about. Connor regretted the harsh words he’d spoken to Tamara when he caught her spying on him as much as his lustful response to the look of need reflected on her face. He’d been looking after the neighbor girl since the moment he saw her falling off her first horse at the age of ten and didn’t plan on stopping now that she was a grown woman who thought she wanted their relationship to go in a different direction. He knew his sexual proclivities were not for the young, sweet kid he was so fond of, and wouldn’t jeopardize their special bond by giving in to her desires. But Tamara always had a way of getting what she wanted and when he saw she was serious about becoming a member of the private BDSM club he owned with his brother and best friend, Connor discovered he didn’t want her submitting to anyone but him. When he learns she’d kept things from him that could have impacted her welfare, would he allow his failure to protect her to drive another wedge between them or finally embrace a life with her at his side as more than just a cherished friend? This is book three in the Cowboy Doms series but reads as a standalone. Publisher’s Note: This contemporary western romance contains elements of mystery, suspense, adult themes, power exchange and sensual scenes. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase. Connor followed his friend and now business partner into the parking lot of The Barn with little enthusiasm for socializing. Working out a deal with Greg on the purchase of several horses for trail rides at his and Devin’s ski resort added to the perk of having Tam back in his life, even if he was unsure about how to define their relationship now. That one uncertainty had a lot to do with his lack of interest in coming out to the club tonight. He’d been itching to see her again, just to spend time with her and catch up on everything she’d been doing the past few years but didn’t want to push his luck since their relationship remained tenuous. She’d always had a way of keeping him tied up in knots, but in the past, he figured those knots were due to the scrapes he’d been around to help her out of. Now, his only explanation for what was causing them was the uncertainty of where he stood with her. Greg beat him to the front door and pulled it open, raising a brow in inquiry as he said, “That frown is going to keep the subs at bay.” “No it won’t. They like me no matter what my mood is,” he replied with a wry grin as he entered before Greg. Faint strains of edgy music seeped through the closed doors to the playroom, along with the hum of low voices. His pulse kicked up a notch as the two of them stepped into the cavernous space and he could now catch the high-pitched cries coming from happily tormented subs. “Christ, I love this place,” Greg murmured on a deep inhale that lifted his wide shoulders. “I think I’ll track down my partner and see who’s willing to turn themselves over to the two of us.” Connor’s grin widened. Greg and his longtime friend, Devin were new to The Barn but already enjoyed their reputation of preferring ménages. “Go on,” he encouraged with a nod. “I want to start with a drink.” With a slap on Connor’s back, Greg sauntered off and Connor headed toward the bar. He spotted Caden bar tending and decided to take over for his brother early instead of waiting for his assigned time slot. He wasn’t in the mood yet to hook up with anyone. But his intended offer slid to the backburner as his roaming gaze landed on a spanking bench at the back of the room and he went rigid in disbelief. Slamming to a stunned halt as he reached the bar, he took a moment to confirm it was Tam’s slender, toned body draped over the apparatus, her long black braid hanging over her shoulder and her smooth limbs bound in leather cuffs. Disbelief morphed into anger, his defense against the kernel of lust that gripped him, just like when he’d caught her spying on him. Wrong, that’s just plain wrong, he couldn’t help thinking. Tam, his Tam had no business being in his club. This was the young girl he’d taught to ride, the teenager he’d given driving lessons to and stood up for against her randy prom date. The same young woman he had cheered on at jumping competitions and praised for earning a college scholarship. The echo of her laughter reaching his ears from across the fields as she rode with carefree abandonment resonated in his head. That innocent, exuberant girl had no business bending over a spanking bench with her tight black skirt hiked up enough to reveal the sweet under curve of her buttocks. Connor took two steps forward, intending to lay into both her and Devin and stop them before either could take whatever they were doing one step further, but found his path blocked by his brother’s large frame and scowl. “Get out of my way,” he snapped, his jaw tightening with frustration. “Take a deep breath and think, Connor. She’s here as Nan’s guest and isn’t complaining. I should know as I’ve been keeping a close eye on her. Devin is just showing her the ropes.” Caden’s gaze turned sympathetic. “She’s not a kid any more. Didn’t you learn that when she took off?” Sydney finds more than she bargained for when she gets lost on her way to report for a new job and finds herself at a lifestyle club. Peering in through the window, her attention – and libido – are both snagged by a man delivering some old-fashioned discipline to a young blonde. After he runs Sydney off, both are surprised to discover she is the new chef he’s hired for his ranch. Caden wanted to turn away the cheeky woman he’d caught spying on his club without remorse, but desperation for a chef forced his hand. Sydney proves to be a definite asset to his employees, and a royal pain in his butt. Somehow, her penchant for getting lost and landing in trouble, along with her determination to return to the club as a guest, soon slide past his resistance. It takes a threat to Sydney and unearthing the truth about what made her flee her home in Missouri to force them both to admit their feelings and get her to stay as more than his chef. Publisher’s Note: This contemporary Western romance contains themes of mystery, suspense, power exchange, and ménage elements. Chapter One Why now and, more importantly, why me? The headlights of Sydney Baker’s Mustang offered just enough illumination driving down the tree-lined road to cut through the pitch darkness of late evening. Her tires crunched over gravel and dirt, the narrow lane a vast difference from the smooth, four-lane highway she exited five minutes ago. Gripping the steering wheel, she squinted her eyes, peering ahead when she spotted a small glow of light. “Thank God,” she muttered. Wasn’t it bad enough she’d taken a wrong turn out of Billings that had resulted in her missing the three-o’clock report time for her new job by three hours? By then, hunger had forced her to take the time to eat something. Then she had to get a different set of directions to the Dunbar Ranch than her GPS spewed out and pray her poor sense of direction wouldn’t steer her wrong before it became too late to meet her new boss, and that he wouldn’t fire her on the spot for being tardy. She possessed two vices her family despaired of her ever getting under control: a penchant for always getting lost and getting herself into difficult situations. Okay, in her defense, she’d tried to learn the art of following maps and directions from her phone or the GPS coordinates, of acquainting herself with the directions of east, west, north and south no matter where she was, but finally had to admit defeat by the time she’d hit her mid-twenties and still hadn’t mastered the skill others found so easy. “So I can’t find my way around sometimes. Sue me,” she grumbled to no one. The worst part of being alone and away from her family the past six weeks was having no one around to gripe to. If nothing else, her beloved grandmother and sympathetic cousins were always available to lend an ear. Sydney breathed a sigh of relief when the road ended at a gravel parking lot filled with vehicles parked in front of a lit-up barn. The large window set above the wide double doors was too high to see inside, but from the number of trucks and cars, there had to be a substantial crowd inside the well-kept barn. Maybe it was a barn dance, or some kind of fund-raising ho-down. What the heck did she know about what went on in the boonies of Big Sky Country? Cutting the engine, she pondered what to do now because it was obvious this was not the sprawling ranch house where she’d accepted a job as the new chef for a crew of twenty cowhands. Checking the time, she swore. If she didn’t find her new employer soon, it would be too late tonight to show up, jeopardizing her position that much more. After working the last five years as the star chef in St. Louis’ top restaurant, throwing together a pot of chili or batch of spaghetti to appease a group of hungry cowboys wasn’t a position she craved to jump into. But, as the saying went, beggars couldn’t be choosers, and since she was down to her last hundred bucks, she couldn’t give up on the position yet, and didn’t dare attempt to access her savings. Getting out of the car, Sydney hugged her light jacket against the cold breeze. Early October in Montana blew as brisk as January in Missouri, just another reason to bemoan the circumstances that forced her to flee her home and family a few weeks ago. With any luck, someone inside would tell her she was only a ten-minute drive from the ranch and would give her detailed directions. Grabbing the front door’s frigid metal handle, she pulled and damn near fell backward when it didn’t budge. Stomping around the side, looking for another entrance, she came across a lower, wide window first. Feeling like a Peeping Tom, or Thomasina, she stood to the side and peeked around to see what she might be dealing with. Shaking her head, Sydney blinked, the scene inside catching her completely off guard and unlike anything near what she’d expected. Oh, wow, just… wow. Crouching under the window, she hugged her jacket around her and tried to get a better view of the cavernous room that resembled nothing like the inside of a normal barn. It wasn’t the circular bar centered in the middle of the wood-planked floor that left her agape, but the naked woman sitting on top of it. Leaning back on her hands, the woman’s eyes widened, along with Sydney’s, when the man standing at her side poured his beer between her bent, splayed legs and then dipped his head to lap up the spilled, tangy brew. Swallowing past her suddenly dry throat, Sydney shifted her gaze, taking in the round tables and chairs then the gyrating bodies on a dance floor, the women wearing little to nothing. A staircase in the far corner caught her eye and she looked up into the loft to see another woman bound on a padded, wooden X, her sweat-glistening body pink-striped from the wicked looking flogger dangling from a tall man’s hand. Damn, did they make all the men in this state that big? Sydney wasn’t a prude by any means. She’d read her share of smutty romances and drooled over every explicit, erotic word. She enjoyed sex as much as anyone, and since she’d tipped the scales over thirty three months ago, she’d discovered the truth to women reaching their sexual prime in this decade of their lives. Heck, she’d even asked a few of her lovers to slap her butt during sex. Only one granted her request, just a light tap that didn’t even sting. But she could still recall how the slight burn that lingered afterward spread, surprising her by fueling her lust. It never entered her mind she might be into voyeurism, but the longer she crouched at that window and the more she saw, the longer she wanted to stay and the more she wanted to take in. Suddenly, the night air didn’t feel as cold. From what she could tell, the upper level held all the bondage equipment, and from her limited viewing position, those apparatus were being put to good use by willing women and some of the sexiest men Sydney had ever set eyes on. Then her breath lodged in her throat when she clapped eyes on a tall man whose scowl at something his attractive partner said drew Sydney’s nipples into tight puckers. And that was before he yanked the short blonde over a bar stool, shoved down her shorts and peppered her upturned buttocks with a volley of ass reddening swats. A shiver racked Sydney’s body, one that had nothing to do with the cool temperature. Would she lie there and take such a punishment, and respond with a wiggle of her hips for more as the other woman just did, or would she blast the son-of-a bitch and stomp off in a fit of pique? God help her, she believed her response would be a hell of a lot closer to the former than the latter, if the warm gush between her legs was any indication. Then her heart rolled over as the stern cowboy lifted the blonde with large, gentle hands, sat on the stool and pulled her onto his lap. Cuddling her to his massive chest, he ran his hand up and down her quivering back in a soothing caress, his head bent to whisper in her ear. Whatever he said calmed the woman, and she shifted on his lap before slowly spreading her thighs as far as her lowered shorts allowed. The pleased, tender look on the man’s sun-leathered face as he drove two fingers inside the blonde cut Sydney to the quick. No one, not one man who had come and gone from her bed ever gazed at her like that, not even the few she’d grown closest to and most fond of. Is that what had been lacking in her relationships that kept her from responding with the blatant enthusiasm the young woman exhibited as he drove her toward climax? She blew out the breath she’d been holding as the woman climaxed, and then the man patted her labia, the proud look crossing his rough-hewn face setting off a series of butterfly flutters that tickled her lower abdomen. What Sydney would give to have him gaze upon her like that after being driven mad with lust through pain induced pleasure. His tall frame had to top her own five-foot-six height by at least eight or nine inches, which she loved, and his thick, wavy mahogany hair curled around his nape in the most enticing, finger-itching way. She couldn’t detect the color of his much lighter eyes, but the way his rugged face and previously stern mouth softened spoke volumes. Sydney knew she needed to get going and at least find the closest town to book a room for the night since it’d become too late to arrive at her destination. But this was the most fun she’d indulged in since fleeing St. Louis, and the first time she’d been able to relax and shove aside her worries long enough to enjoy herself. With effort, she tore her eyes away from the compelling man who got her fired up on all cylinders just from eying him and took a few moments to spy on the other goings on. By the time she worked her way around the room and back to the bar where she’d left her jaw-dropping, panty-dampening hunk, he was nowhere to be seen. With a sigh, she started to stand but the deep, irritated voice coming from behind her wiped away Sydney’s disappointment and sent a frisson of heated awareness down her spine. Before she even turned around and looked up, she knew who stood there. “You’re trespassing on private property and snooping where you don’t belong.” *** Caden did not appreciate having the first hours of relaxation away from the grueling task of running his thirty-thousand-acre ranch all week interrupted by an encroaching Peeping Tom. Mindy had been a soft lapful of teary-eyed submission he’d been looking forward to relieving his lust with when his brother, Connor had pointed toward the pale face peering in the window with wide eyes that didn’t shy away from the BDSM activities going on in their private club. Those big eyes rounded even more when she stood to face him, her red head tilting back to gaze up without flinching. Hell, he had to admire her for that. “Sorry.” Her small shrug signaled she wasn’t too sorry, and he found himself fighting back an urge to smile. “I’m lost, and this is the first place I came to. Your front door is locked.” The accusation in her tone erased the brief flare of humor. “For good reason. Like I said, this is private property, and this,” he waved toward the barn, “is a private club.” In the dim, outdoor lighting, he barely caught the quirk of her soft lips. “I noticed,” she drawled. “Most people,” he stated, clasping her elbow and steering her toward the front, “would be shocked and apologize, and wouldn’t take the time to stare in the window.” “I don’t know what you’re so peeved about,” she returned calmly. “From what I saw, nobody inside minded an audience, including you.” Caden blew out a frustrated breath. There was no talking to the woman. “Where’s your car?” She pointed to a small sporty vehicle that must’ve given her a bumpy ride from the highway. “Right there, but I need directions.” He opened the driver’s side door and the interior light lit up her long, bright red hair as she folded her lean frame behind the steering wheel. Bracing his arm above the door, he looked down when she gazed up at him with vivid, moss green eyes and added, “Explicit instructions.” “Get lost a lot, do you?” He nodded toward the only road that led to the club, the one she had to come in on. “Just follow the same road back to the highway. A left will take you into Willow Springs, the closest town. Turn right if you’re headed to Billings, but that will be a much longer drive, close to an hour at night.” Those pretty eyes lingered on his face for a moment, as if memorizing every detail, the look filled with interest he appreciated but refused to acknowledge. The girl had trouble written all over her attractive face with its smattering of freckles across her small nose, and he possessed neither the time nor the patience to deal with her further. He’d had a hell of a week and the weekend looked to be just as busy and aggravating. “Thank you… Sir.” Shutting the door on her cheeky grin, Caden shook his head as he watched her turn around and disappear down the road. The hint of sarcasm she attached to sir had carried a thread of humor with it, telling him she didn’t take him, or the activities she’d stumbled upon inside seriously. Too bad. If she were a member, he would’ve enjoyed spanking that insolent smirk off her face. Heading back inside, he saw Connor manning the bar and strode over looking for Mindy. He spotted her climbing the stairs, already hooked up with someone else, but that didn’t bother him other than now he’d have to spend time seeking another willing partner to join him for the rest of the evening. Sliding a tall, foamy brew across the sleek bar top toward him, his brother eyed him with a raised brow. “What did our interloper have to say for herself?” “How do you know her gender?” He hadn’t been sure from the quick glimpse he’d gotten at the window before tromping outside. Connor’s blue eyes, identical to Caden’s own, twinkled with humor. “Too pretty to be otherwise. At least, I’d hoped so. Why didn’t you invite her in? She didn’t appear shy about what she was seeing.” Caden snorted. “She wasn’t.” Taking a hefty swallow, he relished the tingling, cold glide down his throat as his mind filled with the image of laughing green eyes and a smart mouth. “Said she was lost, and I didn’t see any reason not to believe her. She’s not from around here or we would’ve either seen or heard about her. Where’s Annie tonight?” His brother and Annie had been together long enough to make him wonder if his younger sibling would be the first to settle down until Connor’s jaw went rigid and he looked away before uttering an evasive reply. “She’s busy tonight. I’ll see her tomorrow, if I have time after we bring the herd down from the north pasture.” Connor busied himself wiping non-existent dampness off the counter but Caden wasn’t fooled. “She was busy last weekend, both Friday and Saturday night as well,” Caden pointed out. “Anything you want to talk about?” The two of them were close, but when it came to personal issues, they took after their father and tended to hold things in. “No.” Connor looked back at him with a shrug. “Not yet anyway.” Caden nodded, sipped his beer and then offered, “I’m here whenever.” “Good to know. Since Mindy has ditched you, maybe you should give sweet Nan some attention.” Swiveling his head, Caden spotted the nicely curved brunette who enjoyed long sessions with a flogger or cane followed by rough fucking. “You know, I think she would be perfect to end the night with. Later.” Connor’s low chuckle followed him as he walked over to the table where the experienced sub and long-time member sat nursing an Amaretto Sour, her favorite drink. “You interested in accompanying me up to the loft tonight, darlin’?” No sense beating around the bush, not with her. They’d played together often enough to know what the other wanted. “Yes, sir, I would.” Her brown eyes lit with excitement when she took his hand, but it was a pair of twinkling green eyes he thought about as Nan followed him toward the stairs. *** Sydney pulled into the one motel in the town of Willow Springs thirty minutes later, grateful it was right there on the outskirts where her GPS said it would be. She ached with exhaustion, her nerves frazzled over missing the arrival time for her new job. The only thing keeping her going now was the adrenaline high that started the second she stood so close to the hunky cowboy Dom. He’d been just as tall and big as he’d looked from the window, his massive body emitting enough heat to defuse the chill of the cold night air. His chiseled jaw and cobalt blue gaze had drawn shivers of awareness that had nothing to do with the temperature outside and everything to do with the growing warmth inside her body. “I just miss sex, that’s all this is,” she mumbled, opening the car door and sliding out. “Orgasm deprivation and stress would make anyone react in such a way to that deep, commanding voice.” She figured a quick finger job ought to do the trick in getting both the man and the activities he liked to indulge in out of her mind so she could concentrate on a job and making it through another week or two while she struggled with her dilemma. But when she slid naked between the cool, clean sheets on the motel’s double bed twenty minutes later and ran her hands over her breasts, all she could think about was how a pair of larger hands, likely with calluses, would feel kneading her small plumpness, and imagining rough fingers plucking at the sensitive tips of her nipples. With a groan of frustration, she slid one palm over her abdomen, recalling the little flutters that tickled her insides as she’d watched him spank the other woman and the way her own buttocks clenched in response, as they did now just thinking about him tossing her over those hard thighs. Hell, she didn’t even know the man’s name and still couldn’t quit thinking about him, fantasizing about him. Tracing over the thin line of hair on her mons pubis, the only strip she opted to leave from her last wax job, she wondered if he preferred a bare mound and labia. It had been her last boyfriend who had talked her into waxing, and she loved it as much as he professed to, but when she ran her fingers over the damp, bare flesh now, the sensations weren’t as strong as usual. Swearing in frustration, she spread her legs and plunged two fingers knuckle deep between her slick folds, aiming for her clit and a quick release. A few strokes over the swollen bud sent her hips bucking against her pumping hand, the pinch to her nipple an extra boost just as her climax erupted with strong grips around her fingers. Breathing heavy, she rode through the pleasurable sensations, but it wasn’t until she pictured a dark, rugged face with bright blue eyes watching her every thrust and jerk that the pleasure skyrocketed her into orgasmic orbit. “Holy shit, what a look can do,” Sydney whispered in the dark, waiting for her body to cease trembling. A coyote howled, and she shuddered from the lonely sound that reminded her of her circumstances. Sitting up, she snatched her nightshirt and panties from the foot of the bed and donned them, wishing she had someone to hold her, to tell her everything would be all right, that she could return home soon without fear. She drifted asleep thinking with regret of a man she would never see again, and a tucked away barn filled with all kinds of naughty indulgences she’d never get to try with him. *** “There’s nothing for it, I have to give it a shot,” Sydney told her reflection in the bathroom mirror the next morning. Odds were, the cook’s job on the Dunbar ranch was no longer hers, but maybe they were desperate enough to give her a second chance, if she could find the damn place. She’d come across the job opening when she stopped in a computer café on her way through Boise, Idaho last week and filled out the application using her grandmother’s maiden name instead of Greenbriar. She’d traveled a long way from the Midwest where her family name was synonymous with their chain of all-natural grocery stores but wouldn’t take the chance of her Uncle Mike finding her, not until she found a way to defuse his intentions without letting her beloved grandmother know just how low her youngest child had sunk. Thirty minutes after sending the application, she’d gotten a call from Jase Wiggins, the ranch manager, who told her she was hired, and they needed her to arrive Friday by three p.m. The salary was more than she’d imagined and included room and board. It would be the perfect place to lie low until she figured out a way to keep her uncle’s greedy hands off her shares of the company and her grandmother, as well as her other two uncles, in the dark about Mike’s nefarious deeds that would break their hearts. Sydney checked out of the motel thinking with optimism and followed the clerk’s directions back down the highway. “Everyone knows where the Dunbar Ranch is. You can’t miss it,” he said, rubbing salt into the wound from yesterday’s mishap. Only, it turned out he was correct. She came upon the turnoff just a mile past the one she was sure she’d taken the night before. This road was wider and a little smoother, although not by much. There weren’t as many trees lining the way, and the glimpses of wide-open range she caught in between them spread as far as she could see. Dotted with cattle and a few horses, the vastness of the ranch stunned her until she rounded a bend and the house came into view. Pulling into the circular drive and stopping in front of the sprawling ranch home, she took a moment to admire the wrap around porch, cute rocking chairs facing several barns surrounded by neat, white-fenced corrals and a garden that made her hands itch to explore. Just as she slid out of the car, the front door swung open and a tall man wearing a Stetson pulled low over his eyes stepped outside. It took only a second to recognize the imposing height and broad shoulders, the curl of dark brown hair around the collar of a blue, long-sleeved work shirt tucked into a pair of snug, thigh molding jeans and a voice that haunted her dreams last night. “Don’t tell me. You’re lost again,” he drawled, coming down the steps toward her with a swagger that spiked Sydney’s pulse into racing. Stopping in front of her, he tipped back his hat, those enigmatic blue eyes holding a hint of pleasure even though he frowned down at her. Running sweaty palms down her thighs, Sydney sucked in a fortifying breath to calm her rapidly thudding heart, the open car door between them doing little to block the heat generated from his nearness. “Nope, not this time.” Holding out her hand over the door, she introduced herself for the first time. “I’m Sydney Baker and I apologize for being so late, but as you know, I got a little turned around last night, and then,” she flipped him a sassy grin, “I got a little distracted.” After overhearing two crooked Chicago cops plotting against her, Avery Pierce goes on the run, not knowing who she can trust. When her low finances force her to take a job as a sex phone operator, she struggles with her inexperience. When a caller senses her desperation and inexperience and offers assistance, she’s tempted to agree. As soon as Sheriff Grayson Monroe meets the new waitress at his favorite diner, something about her strikes a familiar chord. When he sees her enter The Barn, his BDSM club, the desire to get to the bottom of her evasive eyes and answers to his probing questions takes hold. He’s determined to find out who she really is and what is troubling her. After an icy mishap, Master Grayson has finally run out of patience. One way or another, Avery will tell him the truth. But is it too late? Has danger already found her? Can Grayson come to her rescue or will she lose everything she has just gained? Publisher’s Note: This is book two in the Cowboy Doms series but can be read as a standalone. This contemporary western romance is intended for adults only and contains elements of power exchange, adult language, sensual scenes, danger, mystery and suspense. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase. Chapter One: Something was wrong but Lia could not put a finger on it as she glanced around the long dining table at her in-laws. Her ever-silent father-in-law, Jonathan was nursing his third brandy since their arrival. Nothing new there. The residual smells of Grace’s famous matzo ball soup, with its swirling rainbow of grease reflecting the chandelier lights, intermingled with the fresh yeasty challa rolls her mother-in-law had baked, as she did every Friday night for Sabbath. What I wouldn’t give for a bowl of curry at this moment. Maybe tomorrow she would order it with her girlfriends at their bi-weekly lunch date. But tonight routine and tradition ruled this ritual Friday night dinner in London’s suburban Oakwood. Watching her two silent children Lia concentrated on being in the moment. The only sounds in the slightly oppressive, antique furnished dining room were the delicate clatter of cutlery against the plates and her husband’s response to his mother’s probing questions about his latest problems with his business partner. As usual, mother and son were the two centre stage entertainers, while the rest of them were their audience. Lia observed Howard. Tonight he seemed even more distracted, obsessed, as always searching for bigger ways to promote his cosmetic-surgery practice, and still waiting to be recognized for his genius. Nothing new here, either. Studying his roast chicken breast through his designer glasses, Howard said, “Of course I want him out, mother. My solicitors agree that Tom’s got too unrealistic expectations of me, but I have a busy clinic to run.” Grace expelled one of her loaded sighs. More questions and reluctant answers ping-ponged between them. Lia was tired of these conversations, but at least no one expected her to contribute. Most of the time she felt invisible, but that freed her to observe everyone. She had a busy, uncomplicated life, with a beautiful home and great friends. Her parents-in-law tolerated her well enough. Her children were healthy and for the most part happy. If she had not pursued her art, it was her own choice, and she had made peace with it. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and reminded herself to be more grateful. Her husband of nineteen years may not be the perfect mate, but he was a good provider and, mostly, an indulgent father to their children. Swaying her attention back to their children, Lia glanced at her ever silent thirteen-year-old son, Gabriel—nicknamed Gabe and sometimes Gaby—sat slouching beside her. Then Lia regarded Danielle who sat across from her. Lia’s spine went rigid. This was where something was definitely wrong. Her eighteen-year-old had hardly eaten much in the past few weeks. Tonight Danielle seemed extra moody and withdrawn. What was going through the med student’s mind, sitting with her head downcast? Medicine seemed to be her passion, but she was not the talkative type if she did have any issues with her studies. At least Danielle had not gone through with the tattoo or belly-piercing rebellion, Lia thanked God. Where was her funny, vivacious little girl who could not wait to spill her every adventure the moment she burst through the doors after school? And would she ever resurface? How could she help her daughter’s sombre demeanor, while the teen appeared to act like a caged animal, yet again wearing those dark, tight fitting clothes Howard disliked? Lia realized she was again twisting her tight engagement and wedding bands around her ring finger as if they were a double noose. She picked up her fork. Guilt seeped through her. Were her children noticing her growing discontentment? The English spring weather always brought it on, along with the memories of a lost love. Danielle broke the momentary silence between her grandmother and father. “Daddy, I have something to tell you.” Those wide shining eyes were a warmer shade of her father’s blue eyes. Electricity seemed to crackle in the air around Danielle. “What, sugar-plum?” Howard asked just as Gabe reached across the table for another roll. “Where are your manners, Gabe?” Howard did not raise his voice, but just glared through arctic-blue eyes. “Ask if you want something.” “S-s-sorry, D-dad.” Lia’s heart squeezed hard. Gabe’s stutter never bothered him when mother and son were alone. These days he spent almost all his hours in his room with his books and computer. Picking up the basket, she held it out to him. He shook his head. Putting down the basket, she discreetly patted his knee. He did not pull away, but his expression made her question why she never stood up for him, or took his father to task. Oh, she had, after both children had gone to bed—or in the privacy of their bedroom when they had still shared one—arguing, reasoning with Howard, until she was emotionally exhausted talking to a human equivalent of a brick wall. “Daddy, will you please listen?” Danielle’s voice broke through her thoughts. Ever patient with his daughter, Howard glanced at her, resuming cutting his chicken with the precision of a perfectionist surgeon. “I’ve met my Mr. Right. I’ve been seeing him for a year and I love him. I’d like you to meet him.” Danielle’s honey-gold bob framed her pale face. She sat reed-straight as if expecting an explosion or at least a rare shouting match. “Sanjay is of a different culture—” At the mention of this familiar name, Lia’s airways seemed stuffed with hardening cement, choking the breath out of her. Someone’s cutlery clanged loudly against a plate. “Sanjay?” Both Grace and Howard pronounced the name as if smelling something disgusting. A warped sense of déjà vu settled over Lia, heat prickling under her arms, neck and up her face. Danielle stared back at her father. “He’s of Indian background, but—” “Danielle, are you out of your mind?” Grace demanded in her haughty over-British voice. “Let me handle this, mother.” Howard continued glaring at their daughter. Wiping his mouth on his damask napkin, he stood up to his full height of five feet seven inches. Lia could not move. “You’ve been seeing him for a whole year.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Why now? I thought we talked about everything.” Lia heard the tinge of betrayal. “We do, but at first we were just friends, then it became more important and . . . I didn’t think you’d accept him because he’s not Jewish—” “Glad you know your father so well.” He looked at Grace. “That was tasty, mother.” He thanked her as he thanked Lia after every meal. He squinted back at Danielle through his glasses, his thinning oatmeal hair shone on his pinkish scalp under the chandelier lights. “This was in very poor taste, to come out with this nonsense at your grandmother’s Friday night table. Now you’ve ruined everyone’s dessert with this rubbish. I won’t get angry, but you’ll never see this person again. Or mention him. It stops now! End of conversation.” Although his voice was firm, he gave Danielle one of the smiles he reserved for his female patients, their best friend and beauty god promising to make them look younger, more beautiful or desirable again. But as Danielle stared up at him with that brave expression, Lia knew it was far from the end. “No, Daddy. If you won’t meet him, we’ll elope.” Lia needed water to help her constricting throat, but she could not trust her fingers to pick up the crystal water goblet. Had she not said almost the same words to her grandfather nearly two decades ago, about an intense yet fun loving—Indian—young man? “If you promise to see Sanjay then I’ll continue my studies after—” “Like your mother did after I married her?” He sneered. “At least that was only art, no loss to the world. But medicine’s not to be taken lightly, young lady.” “I don’t care about medicine, never have, and I don’t want a marriage like yours.” Danielle almost shuddered. “I want a real marriage, real love, and I will get it.” Fists by his sides, lips even thinner, Howard turned to Lia. For the first time in years, he glared right at her, not through her. “Do you know anything about this, considering the background of this . . . this . . . ?” “No, but the boy may be—” She started. “He’s nearly twenty-one, Mom. He’s hardly a boy.” Without glancing at her, daughter and father dueled with each other with the same challenging eyes. “Sanjay’s smart and kind and such a hard worker, Daddy. He’s doing his MBA, and then plans to join his uncle’s business—” Howard’s hand shot up in front of him. “Spare me the details.” Watching, Lia’s sense of déjà vu grew stronger and her chest felt overtaxed from ineffective, too-shallow breathing. Devraj had also been subtly groomed for his family business empire. Her memories were torture enough, almost distracting her from the crisis at hand. “Why have you let this go on, Lia?” Grace asked, blinking profusely while holding her hand against her pearl-clad neck and cream cashmere sweater. I live in the Midwest with my husband and our dog, a lovable Great Pyrenees/Standard Poodle. I love dogs, enjoy spending time with my daughter, babysitting dogs and kids, reading and working puzzles. We have traveled extensively throughout the states, Canada and just once overseas, but I now prefer being a homebody. I worked for a while writing articles for a local magazine but soon found my interest in writing for myself peaking. My first book was strictly spanking erotica, but I slowly evolved to writing erotic spanking romance with a touch of suspense. My favorite genre to read is suspense. Win a $25 Amazon gift card! a Rafflecopter giveaway Can't see the giveaway? Click Here! This blog post contains affiliate links. Click Here for details. 💕 Below is a third-party ad. Click it if you like it, ignore it if you don't! 💕

I love finding new ways to practice using grammar in a fun and interactive way. This little game entitles each group to a card - they will fill in their responses and read them out to the class. They will lose 1 point for each error - the winning team gets an early mark, bag of lollies etc... (any prize of your choice). Click on any picture to take you to the blog post where you could download it! :)

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author MaryJanice Davidson to HJ! The New York Times bestselling author of the Undead Novels takes on reincarnation in this unforgettable Insighter Novel about the p

Our Sweepstakes list is updated DAILY and has produced MILLIONS of dollars in wins!

Our Sweepstakes list is updated DAILY and has produced MILLIONS of dollars in wins!

I'm not sure why I am surprised that it is Saturday ALREADY! I say it every time I have a week off... "where did the time go??" At the beginning of the week I think I have all the time in the world and then POOF... gone. Today we have an egg hunt and egg decorating on the agenda .. my husband has been prepping my son to find the "golden" egg. I'll hopefully have some pics to share next time. :) I wanted to quick share two "new" products. I put new in quotes because the first one I had on my blog as an idea and now it is all ready to go as a product! :) I've used this in my classroom all year and my students LOVE them! Plus it just looks super cute any time of the year! If you don't have brain breaks in your classroom yet, this little diddy would be perfect for you! It's easy to make, the breaks are SUPER QUICK to do, and it will get you out of the last 2 month rut! :) This is only $2 AND it is on sale right now! :) See it HERE Next up... This little pack is full of surprises! It even surprised me!! hehe... It has math, reading, writing (common core aligned) and some "fun" sheets too! Here is a look at some of the pages: Addition facts and money coloring Money match with alike and unlike coins- you can mix and match! There are 3 non-fiction reading passages! I love this one! :) And some FUN too! I can't wait to start using everything in this one Check it out HERE:) Oh and it is on sale too!! :) Which leads me to.... Sale ends tomorrow night! EVERYTHING is on sale... even all the new stuff! I also have a freebie for you that I hope you can use... This would make a super cute spring center or just a fun cut and paste activity (I have this in grayscale too!) Click HERE to get it. (if you do grab a copy pretty please leave me some feedback love!) Remember that gigantic sale I had a few posts ago? Well it ends TONIGHT!! Time to get in those last minute entries!! Finally, I will be giving away TWO of my new products- it will be your choice of either the brain breaks OR the Spring Surprises Pack!! Just leave a comment, tell me which you would like to win, and add your email! I will choose someone TONIGHT (10 pm central time- sorry to my email readers but this is a quick giveaway!). Have a GREAT day today and Happy Easter! Future posts: Huge giveaway winner and FUN with FLUENCY!! This will be several posts and lots of ideas!! :)

A completely free prize draw open to UK residents. This is the Bloggers Holiday Giveaway where someone will win all these prizes.

On FlashbackFridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released that have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read

First, I need to thank every one of you who left a comment or sent an email to me this week. You lifted my spirits, let me know I was not alone, and most importantly – completely normal. I know the blog world is full of incredible classrooms, cute children and fabulous ideas on a ... Read More about Adjective Antics, Games, a FREEBIE, and a GIVEAWAY!

It’s been a great summer so far and I’ve enjoyed being outdoors up in the mountains. Hopefully you’re having a relaxing time too by the pool or at the mall–hopefully at your happy place. One thing I’ve been working on is upgrading all of my products whether graphics, sound files, or both. Those of you […]

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Joanne Rock to HJ! Hi Joanne and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Little Secrets: His Pregnant Secretary! Hello fell

Teaching students phonetic combinations like digraphs and diphthongs can be difficult. These word chunks help students learn phonics combinations and apply them in their reading and writing. There's a free, printable reference sheet to help you use them in your classroom.

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Kelly Elliott to HJ! Hi Kelly and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Always Enough! Please summarize the book for the readers here: Always Enough is a book about letting go of your […]

A post from author Elizabeth Goddard with behind the scenes facts about her new romantic suspense Present Danger. Giveaway. Revell Books.

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Terri Reed to HJ! Hi Terri and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Classified K-9 Unit Christmas! Hello, I’m super exci

Pronouns can be so tricky to teach and learn! I shared a photo of an anchor chart I made on Instagram for helping students to understand the concept of a pronoun. With help from TeacherspayTeachers - it received a little bit of l-o-v-e! I received some requests for a printable poster, and I am pleased to say you can download it from TpT HERE for FREE! I hope your students like it. I have started a little packet of printables that would be useful to accompany this and hope to have it finished next week. In other news, I have some new charts that will help your students track their progress towards 100 days at school! You can add a sticker to them each day and count forwards and back from 100. Once you get to the 100 days with your students, use this fun free activity to practice counting to 100 by tens! Thanks so much for stopping by today friends!

I have to start out with a little disclaimer--------- I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS (not even close, really!) Which is why I'm making this a linky so you can link up with what you do in your own classrooms =) So, I am writing this post, not to TELL you how to teach phonics, but to EXPLORE how to teach phonics. If I did have all the answers, as if there was only ONE way to teach phonics, then I'd be very famous. But... sigh... I don't, and I'm not. And as far as I know, there are a variety of different approaches and theories about how children learn to read. Teaching phonics isn't necessarily included in some of those theories. But for me, my own theories, and the district I teach in - we teach phonics. Even looking at the Common Core Standards, I think a teacher would almost have to teach phonics (and phonemic awareness) in order to reach those standards. (Again, I could be wrong because remember I don't have all the answers). So where does one start when trying to teach children how to read. Hmmm - this could take a while. I think I'll skip ahead --- past letter recognition and past phonemic awareness where children learn about the sounds our letters make, or the phonemes. Hold on - I already went too far. I think I need to briefly talk about phonemic awareness. Obviously, children need to be able to recognize their letters in order to read, but more importantly, children need to realize that letters have sounds, those sounds come together to make words, and those words make sentences. Phonemic awareness is all about children HEARING the sounds and being able to segment the sounds. You can practice this with children by segmenting sounds out loud for them and with them. For example, what sounds do you hear in cat? /c/ /a/ /t/ What if I change the /c/ to /h/ - what word would that make? And so on. These activities can be very difficult for pre-readers, but the modeling and guided practice is oh so important. After they can hear the sounds, they need to represent the sounds and manipulate the sounds. Here is a quick video from YouTube that shows some things you can do when teaching phonemic awareness. Love the hand movements! This is where I would say the phonics instruction comes in - linking the sounds they hear to the letter or letters that make those sounds. And of course, the English language has to make things extremely difficult for us by having rules and rule breakers and ifs and only whens. It can be confusing for sure. But as the teacher, you need to provide direct teaching and then multiple opportunities for students to practice. With almost any learning, the way to get better is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!! So here is a list, in no particular order, of some ways to practice: Show students the letters that make the sounds-using flashcards or something visual Give students examples of words with those letters/sounds. Think of other words with those sounds and chart them. Give nonsense words as well, but identify them as such. Keep the charts up if you can. Displaying word families is one to do this. Make words using tiles, playdoh, Wiki stix, magnetic letters, stamps, etc. Elkonin Sound boxes are helpful when doing this. Read the words in context - using decodable readers when possible so there is multiple exposure. This is an example of a decodable reader that comes in our reading program - Treasures. There are many others out there - Reading A-Z is a great online resource with printable books. Practice writing the words - alone and in sentences Sort the words Be a detective and find the words - either in your reading or write the room activities Make it kinesthetic and/or musical and use movements or music to reinforce the sounds And so much more! I KNOW there are many other activities that you can do, but this is a list of what I work hard to do in my own classroom. Here's the MOST IMPORTANT THING about all of those activities . . . MAKE IT FUN!!! Remember I said how important it is to practice, practice, practice? Well, when it comes to many things, repetitive practice can get *yawn* boring. It's the teacher's job to make it interesting! Spice it up! Find something fun and go with it....and then after a while, find something new. Of course you want routines in there, but you also need to keep things interesting and keep your students on their toes. Children become machines if they are doing the same activities day in and day out. They need something shiny to make it new again - which could be as simple as using a witch's finger pointer around Halloween to point to words on a chart. Especially for younger children, little changes make a big difference. Here's why I think it's important to make it fun: One day, as I was using yet another worksheet from our Treasures program this past year, and looked around the class at my children practically falling out of their chairs from boredom, I decided I wanted to make something that was going to make this more fun and exciting - both for my students and for me. I get bored teaching with worksheets too! That night, as I was sitting at home, after my kids went to bed, my Phonics "Ph"riends were born. I thought, wouldn't it be so much more fun to tie each sound to a character? And have each character have its own story? We could connect to the character and not just the sounds. So here is what came from that late night brainstorming. These pictures are from my R-Blend Pack, but is representative of the other Phonics "Ph"riends packs as well. I use these reference posters to display when we are doing whole group activities like making anchor charts and sorting words in pocket charts. I like to keep these up for reference. Of course you still need some practice pages, but these are way more interesting than just a worksheet. These pages have your kids cutting and pasting, highlighting, and drawing. And of course, probably the most important of all, are the literacy centers where students can work together in groups to practice their new sounds independently. You can find my Blends packets by clicking on the picture below. I also have a Digraphs pack in my store right now. You can click on this picture to go to my store. I added a few pictures of my students' work from last year below. I will end off with another quick video from the amazing Teacher Tipster where he explains a cute center you can make with your students' photos. Love it!!! I'd love if you link up your own blog posts below to share some ideas and activities you use to teach phonics and things you do for word work in your classroom. Just grab the picture at the beginning of this post and link it back here. Can't wait to read about what you're doing in your classroom! If you don't have a blog, you can tell me about it in the comments.

Best Captions Get a Free Flag

What brought you in? The solids and nets part of the title or the GIVEAWAY {imagine that in flashing neon lights}. Either way, I'm glad you are here. But, first, I'd like to back up a few days {and if you are interested, keep reading...otherwise...it's OK to scroll all the way to the bottom for the freebie...} Wait! No it's not. You're gonna wanna hear this. {maybe} So, remember last week when I told you we were going to go on a fabulous, highly educational field trip to see the reenacting of the Battle of Aiken? I know. You were dying to know how it all went, right? Well. It's a pretty big deal {this wittle ol' battle}, at least for us that live here. It's a battle from the Civil War, people. We are deep here in the south. Scratch that. It's a big deal for the fourth grade teachers in this area 'cause it means: FIELD TRIP! And, one of the best, really. Here's why...it's kinda like the releasing on the hounds. Literally. We divvy up our kiddos and have parent chaperones drive out there. The teachers wander around all day checking in on groups completely ignoring the fact that we are teachers throughout the day. It's AWESOME. Well, not this year. {sigh} We got the kiddos all loaded up in about thirty or so cars...and off they went. That is, we were on our way after my speech to the parents about how these extra students are like their own kids today and to keep them in line, not lose them, and have fun. {By the way...I volunteered to be the speech giver again this year...I hate talking in front of a bunch of adults...what was I thinking? I seem to always be the one that is stuck doing the talking....more on that later.} Anyway- Loaded up. Check. Drive out to the battle field. Check. Weather not looking good. Dang. The drive is about 45 minutes. Oh, and the best part...the teachers all ride together in two different cars. {I told you it was an AWESOME field trip} We get there and what do we notice? Cars going in the opposite direction. OPPOSITE DIRECTION, people. Dang. Canceled! Due to a tornado watch in the area. Crap. What are we going to do ALL day back at school? We don't have anything planned. Time to pull it out of thin air {or out of somewhere else...}. Co-worker says from the back seat: "Hey, I know...can't we just put in "Gone with the Wind"? It's from the Civil War, right?" We must have laughed for 3 minutes straight. If only, oh, if only :) Instead, we find some streamline videos, have a picnic in the pod, and spend the rest of the day goofing off and cleaning the room. The cat was away...not that she'd care, I think. I cleaned out a whole cabinet/shelf area. I'll be posting pictures later this week. It looks pretty good. OK- NOW FOR THE SOLIDS AND NETS part of my blog post. We started geometrical solids and nets this week. The solids, for the most part, are mastered by fourth grade. It's the nets of these solids that's the kicker. So, last night, after a wonderful weekend in Atlanta with family, I whipped up a foldable for my students to make to give them a reference guide. It's free in my TpT AND my TN store...finally, something there, too :) OH- and the second part of that title? GIVEAWAY {click and link to that post}

Bonus Draw - Enter to Win one of two Kindle Paperwhite eReaders! by BookDoggy. Hosted by KingSumo Giveaways

Edgar Allan Poe. The mere mention of his name is enough to send shivers up the spine. But who was he, when did he live, and what types of literature did

If you are new to homeschooling and are still doing some research, you may be a little confused by the different "styles" and methods of homeschooling. There is no right or wrong way to homeschool, but it is nice to learn about the different styles which and help you as you are choosing curriculum and what would be a best fit for the style that you feel is right for your family and your homeschool.

Happy Thursday Friends, Today I found a great linky about teaching phonics from Melissa over at First Grade Smiles . Teaching phoni...

I love this Maria Montessori quote about the child's sensitive period: “It comes for a moment but its benefits last for a lifetime.' Today, I've created a word art freebie to go along with that beautiful quote. You can read more about sensitive periods in this post at my Living Montessori Now blog: 'Encourage Your Child's Sensitive Periods.' 'The Sensitive Period' Montessori Word Art Freebie For printing, feel free to download the word art freebie without watermark. If you’d like to share the image online, please use the image with the watermark. Of course, I always appreciate when you link

These free resources about the telegraph and telephone inventions will help your students learn about the evolution of communication.

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Teach your children critical thinking from a Biblical worldview with engaging courses, writing exercises, and more.

Here is an offer from Pixotine where you can enter their free Nicotine Toothpick giveaway where they are giving out 500 packs of their Toothpicks! Entering is simple on their Facebook page, and while I have never heard of this company they are definitely thinking outside of the box on things! Let me know ifView Deal

Happy Thursday Friends, Today I found a great linky about teaching phonics from Melissa over at First Grade Smiles . Teaching phoni...

Get ready to spark conversations with the "Teach Me or Repeat Me --History" coffee mug. Perfect for anyone with a passion for history, whether they're students, educators, or avid history buffs. History awaits. Go explore it. 💙This mug comes is 11 ounces. 💙This mug is safe for the dishwasher or microwave. • Ceramic • Height: 3.85″ (9.8 cm) • Diameter: 3.35″ (8.5 cm) • White print area • Color rim, inside, and handle 💙Sign up to receive notifications about special offers, freebies & giveaways! Copy and paste into your browser: bit.ly/2ZbInmM Parshall Clothing is a women and black owned shop.

A book review for Her Inconvenient Christmas Reunion by Nina Singh. Contemporary Romance. Christmas. Harelquin. #ICRPrism

The Middle Ages and Medieval time period is so fascinating and kids really enjoy learning about it in history studies.

Your kids are probably familiar with who invented the telephone or the incandescent light bulb. They might remember who invented the sewing machine or the printing press.

It's Five for Friday on a Saturday!! :) Time to link up with Kacey from Doodle Bugs Teaching. :) This week we finally got to teaching GCF/LCM within word problems. The students theoretically learned GCF/LCM in 4th grade, but applying it to word problems was a challenge. We started off by reviewing LCM/GCF. I shared with the students how I DISLIKE factor rainbows. In my opinion they are not as easy to use as a table, so that is why I taught them to make a table if the numbers are smaller. However, for the larger numbers I would like them to use prime factorization to help them: I also made a LCM anchor chart, but I made a mistake on it, and had to scribble it out, so it wasn't picture-worthy. :) We then played Showdown with my GCF/ LCM word problems for older students. They had to identify whether the problem was a LCM problem or a GCF one. This was really good practice, because it is a hard concept for them to pick up on. You can find my GCF/LCM task cards HERE. I also created this to reinforce what we were doing for my fall line-up in my classroom: On Friday my teammate and I as part of our Fun Friday Enrichment time for the students who have not struck out with our behavior system got to participate in the Save Fred Challenge!!! I found a great resource on TPT from Smart Chick Teaching Resources. It was great! I gave my homeroom either a diamond or club suited card, and my partner gave his homeroom a heart or spade. We then split the kids up. I sent all the black suited cards to his room, and he sent all of the red suited cards to my room. The students then partnered with the student who had the matching number and color of the other ones card. It was a GREAT way to have the students mix and mingle! :) If you have never done this activity before--it's GREAT!!!!! They had a ball! This week over on Facebook, my fellow NC teachers and I are participating in a blog hop!! There is something for ALL grade levels to be had!! FOR FREE!!! Here are all of the starting points for each grade level: PK-2 https://www.facebook.com/MyKindergardenBlooms 3-5 https://www.facebook.com/mrelementarymath?ref=bookmarks 6-8 https://www.facebook.com/NorthCarolinaHistoryGal My freebie is a great one for older students to practice reflecting points over the y-axis to create a picture! Snag it on my FB page and be sure to check out all of the other freebies available!!! :) Also, in the spirit of fall and Halloween, this week I will be participating in a Halloween themed giveaway contest with The Teaching 2 Step: I will be giving away this product: The contest starts next week, so be sure to head on over for your chance to win!! :) This week as a whole again was great. I am still very much enjoying my decision to be in middle school...LOVE IT actually. :) At the end of October we are having a "Scare the Bear" costume/dance party during the school day. My teaching partner and I want to dress up as something that goes together, but we are struggling with an idea, so if any of you all have an idea out there, let me know, please!!! :)

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Stefanie London to HJ! Hi Stefanie and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Her Aussie Holiday! Hi, thanks for h…

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Welcome! Our freebies were made to give you a taste of our work. You’re welcome to download as many free offerings as you like. After subscribing, you’ll receive your free workbooks, audio files and/or ebooks in your inbox. (Don’t forget to check the spam folder just in case they get lost!) Click here to access premium content from our shop. Spiritual Awakening Course (Free!) Within everyone lies the potential to experience Spiritual Illumination. Put simply, the spiritual awakening process marks the beginning of your initiation into the spiritual path. If you're going through a spiritual awakening you might be experiencing

Does your class love to play "I have ___, Who has ___?" I've got two new bundles of wintery games, and I'm giving away one of each. Silent e is usually the first long vowel spelling pattern students learn. Here's a video I like to use. You can find more on my phonics playlist. When introducing silent e using a systematic approach, students first learn the a_e spelling pattern. The first game in my set focuses on this spelling pattern and emphasizes the contrast between the short a and long a sounds. The following 3 games introduce i_e, o_e, and u_e. Once a spelling pattern is learned, it is included in the next game for comparison and review. I have a free sample of the final game on my FB fan page. Each set has a title card and a word list for teacher reference. In a systematic phonics sequence, students learn the vowel teams right after they learn about silent e. Have you downloaded my most popular freebie? TPT T N My Wintery Vowel Team games introduce ee, ea, ai, and oa. Like the silent e games, previously learned skills are reviewed in each game. I'm so excited to have my very first giveaway! Enter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway

by Kathleen CostaIt's literally been two years since Emma Lee Raines last saw the ghostly appearance of a recent murder victim. She has been relishing in her "ghost-free" existence, building a pre-need funeral business, and making Eternal Slumber the go-to place to send loved ones off to the next wo

{Shameless plug for my GIVEAWAY} Sorry! But, here's a freebie for enduring it. My team and I had to teach "Sequence in Research" last week. Really? How do you do that? Remember funny co-worker {the Gone With the Wind one}, she suggested that we complete research on famous African Americans for Black History month. Then, we could use this to help them sequence their report. Brilliant! We began our research by going to several websites including Biography.com and Factmonster.com. Both were very valuable resources. Especially Factmonster. This week, we are using the information we gathered to create a three paragraph biography. The information has been great. I wanted a culminating activity that we can hang in the room {and take down the Conversation Heart stories...those pieces of candy are starting to look gross...}. So, this afternoon I created this poster so that my students can complete it while I'm gone {AGAIN} at another in-service tomorrow. The document on TpT and TN does not have a gray background. I only did that to be able to show you on here. I took a screen capture of it. Is that the best way to do this? If you are loading documents, how do you load a picture? Do you have another method? I'd love advice, so comment below everyone!

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