Falling for the Mom-to-Be (Home in Heartlandia), by Lynne Marshall
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Falling for the Mom-to-Be (Home in Heartlandia), by Lynne Marshall
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KEEP CALM AND…HAVE A BABY?
Leif Andersen wants to be alone. Everyone in Heartlandia knows about his tragic past and they allow him to keep to himself. With his blue eyes and blond hair, the rugged workaholic contractor might be an "excellent catch." But he has zero interest in being caught…until Marta Hoyas moves into his house while she is working for him.
Marta wants to be alone. Her baby's father dumped her. The last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement with a gorgeous guy who can offer no promises.
Leif and Marta want each other. All that stands between them is the past…and the future. And a little baby who could give them both what they need most!
Falling for the Mom-to-Be (Home in Heartlandia), by Lynne Marshall- Amazon Sales Rank: #272194 in eBooks
- Published on: 2015-06-01
- Released on: 2015-06-01
- Format: Kindle eBook
About the Author Lynne used to worry she had a serious problem with daydreaming, then she discovered she was supposed to write those stories! A late bloomer, she came to fiction writing after her children were nearly grown. Now she battles the empty nest by writing stories which always include a romance and often medicne, but always stories straight from her heart. She is a Southern California native, a woman of faith, a dog lover, and a curious traveller.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. The last place Leif Andersen wanted to be was the Portland airport. An avowed loner, he didn't look forward to sharing his home—his sanctuary—with a stranger. But that was what he got for owning the biggest and emptiest house in Heartlandia, and it was the imposition he'd accepted on behalf of the town mural.The absolute last thing he expected to find was this woman sporting a female version of a bolero hat, black gaucho boots and a sunset-colored wrap waiting beside the baggage claim. That had to be her—who else could it be? In all honesty, what should he have expected from an artist from Sedona? She was probably dripping with turquoise underneath that poncho, too.Attitude adjustment, buddy. This is for the greater good. You volunteered.Approaching the conspicuous woman, he called out, "Marta Hoyas?"She turned her head and nodded demurely. All business, or plain old standoffish—he couldn't tell from here. Maybe she thought he was a chauffeur, but he worried about a long and awkward ride home in either case.He approached and, seeing her more closely, was taken aback by her appearance. The term striking came to mind. He offered his hand. "I'm Leif Andersen." She'd already been notified by Elke Norling that she'd be staying at his home for the duration of her mural painting.Marta had olive skin with black walnut eyes, the color of his favorite wood for woodworking projects. They tilted upward above her cheekbones, accented by black feathery arched brows. A straight, pointy-tipped nose led to her mauve-colored lips. Nice. Rather than smile she made a tense, tight line, jutting out a strong chin. Her raven hair was pulled back under the hat brim in a low ponytail that hung halfway down her back. She'd qualify for beautiful if she didn't look so damn stiff."Good to meet you." Marta said the words, but combined with her weak handshake, Leif had a hard time believing them. However, years in construction had left him unaware of his own power. Maybe he'd crunched her fingers too hard."Just point out your bags and I'll get them for you," he said, focusing back on the task at hand and not the unsettling woman to his right. Again, she nodded. Hmm, not much for conversation, and truth was, that suited him just fine. He wasn't looking for a friend or female company. Having lived alone for the past three years in his five-bedroom, three-thousand-plus square foot home that he'd built, well, having another person around was going to take major adjustment. So far, she seemed as much of a recluse as him, and she'd probably get lost in that great big house just like he did. They'd probably never even run into each other. Good.She pointed at a large purple—why wasn't he surprised?—suitcase rounding the corner on the carousel and he pulled it off. Then another. And another. Had she moved her entire wardrobe?"Let's take these to the curb, then you can wait while I bring the car around. Sound like a plan?""Fine. Thanks."He rolled two suitcases. She rolled the third, plus her carry-on bag to the curb. Then he strode off, vowing not to feel compelled to get this one to talk. She wasn't here to talk. She'd come to Heartlandia to paint a magnificent mural on the city college walls, one that would depict the city's history and live up to the beauty of her great-great-grandfather's beloved town monument.Making the trek to his car, he decided Marta wasn't exactly standoffish. He'd only just met her and shouldn't make a snap judgment. She was definitely distant and quiet, but something in the way she carried herself portrayed pride. Maybe taking a mural-painting job for a small town was a step down for her?He'd studied her website when the college had made their final decision. She had a solid reputation and did art shows across the country but mostly in her home state of Arizona. Some of her work hung in modern-art museums and at US universities. The kind of painting she did, as best as he could describe it, and he definitely wasn't an expert, was Postimpressionism. She liked large canvases and big subjects. The style seemed well suited for their historical mural needs.In a world of pop and abstract art, he appreciated her use of vivid colors and real-life subject matter. Hers were paintings where he knew what he was looking at without having to turn his head this way and that, squint to figure it out and then make a guess. What he liked most was her use of intense colors to make her point. In that way she was bold and unrestrained, unlike the quiet woman beneath the bold and unrestrained clothing he'd just met. Bottom line, this style would stand out on a wall at their local college, and that was all that was important.As he drove toward the curb to pick her up, it occurred to him that beneath her cool exterior, deep under the surface, maybe all was not right in Marta Hoyas's world. This was one of the traits he'd developed since he'd lost everything he loved—an uncanny ability to read people, especially in the pain and suffering department. He could spot sad people anywhere. Saw the same look on his own face every day when he shaved. Yep, he'd go easy on the woman, and maybe they'd work out a compromise for living under the same roof for God only knew how long it would take her to paint that mural. This, too, he would survive.He stopped at the passenger pickup curb. She got in while he put all three bags in the bed of his covered pickup truck. Being in construction since he was eighteen—he still couldn't believe it had been twenty-four years since he'd joined his father's business—there was just no point in driving a nice car."You ever been to Oregon?" he asked once he got back into the cab."Not in many years.""Ever see your great-great-grandfather's monument?"At last, a little sparkle of life in her dark eyes. "Yes. When I was fifteen. Beautiful."She removed her hat, and he was struck again by her beauty. An uneasy feeling, one he hadn't experienced in years, demanded his attention, and it rattled him.You 're a man, damn it. You've always loved women. Quit thinking like a priest.Too bad he was hell-bent on living with a dead heart. Didn't matter what this woman did to his pulse. Losing Ellen to cancer had left him devastated. The thought of ever again going through anything close to that—loving someone with all of his heart and soul and losing them—had shut him down. Never again.So how the hell could he explain the humming feeling under his ribs and down to his fingertips when he looked into her dark and mysterious gaze? She crossed one booted leg over the other and stretched forward to adjust the seat belt, jutting out her chest in the process."Can I help you with that?" he asked, trying his damnedest not to notice her breasts."I've got it. Thanks."He focused back on driving, vowing to only look straight ahead from that moment on.Typical of Oregon weather in late September, it drizzled as he exited the Portland airport and headed toward the freeway. Being three o'clock, it would be after five before they got back to Heartlandia this Saturday afternoon. And because she had yet to utter more than ten words, and he didn't exactly feel like playing twenty questions, Leif gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and hunkered down for what he'd expected since first laying eyes on her—an extralong drive home, punctuated by awkward and strained silence. Like right now.He swallowed. Fine with him.Marta stared out the window, struck by how green everything was. What should she expect from a place that got more than forty inches of rain a year? Compared to her red-rock desert home, anyplace would look green. She glanced at Leif's profile. If he ground his molars any tighter, he'd break through his jaw. His weathered fair complexion, darkened by his outdoor work—she'd been told his was the construction company that had built Heartlandia City College—made him look in his midforties…like Lawrence. She shook her head, trying to ward off any more thoughts about her benefactor, and wasn't that all he'd wound up being? Her ex-benefactor…and ex-lover.For five years she'd given up everything for him. Five years she'd traveled with him, met the people he thought she should meet for her career. Respected his boundaries and accepted his terms. Evidently Marta was only worthy of being his significant other. It had suited their relationship well for the first year. Hell, she'd even set up the rules. She'd rebelled against her parents' traditional marriage. Pooh-poohed her father's favorite saying: "A love like ours only comes once in a lifetime." Heck, she'd been through half a dozen boyfriends by the time she was twenty-two, and not a single one had been interested in anything beyond the here and now. That kind of love was passé. She hid behind her rebellious facade, the edgy artist, and tried to believe it didn't matter that no man had come close to loving her the way her father loved her mother. But they were so old-fashioned. Old school. She was a modern woman.It had worked well with Lawrence at first, what with her traveling and long hours in her art studio—the studio he'd financed and built for her. But surprise, surprise, she'd fallen for him anyway, and celebrating her thirtieth birthday had made her long for something permanent. Something that said he held her above all others, that she wasn't replaceable. For three more years she'd settled for focusing on her art and waiting, but then her mother died and put a whole new perspective on love, one Lawrence could never measure up to. By then their relationship seemed more like a habit than a love affair. Even now with her leaving him, he hadn't protested…much.Think it over, my dear, he'd said. Nothing needs to change.Wrong! Everything had changed eight weeks ago, and if he thought she'd hang around forever waiting for him to propose marriage, he'd been terribly mistaken.She attributed her change of heart to losing her mother so suddenly last year. They'd been estranged over Marta's chosen lifestyle when an aortic aneurysm had suddenly taken her life. She'd never even gotten to say goodbye. Losing her mother had cut to the core, and she'd been determined ever since to honor her mother's memory with Lawrence. He, however, wasn't on the same page—that was the phrase he'd used when she'd first brought up the subject.Even now, with the new situation and her world turned upside down, he hadn't budged in offering marriage.She glanced at Leif again. Dark blond hair cut short, the kind that stuck up any which way it wanted, not the carefully styled spikes of younger men. His crystal-blue eyes had nearly drilled a hole through her head when he'd introduced himself. The guy was intense and focused on one thing—getting her where she needed to be for the next couple of months. That was fine with her. She needed this break, and the job had popped up at an opportune time. She needed the money. Granted, she'd been quite sure she had an edge in the final decision, being the great-great-granddaughter of Edgardo Hoyas, the Heart-landia town monument artist. This job would allow her to get away from home and her problems and regroup, to put a little money in her bank account so she could focus on the only thing important to her right now, the…"You okay with staying at my house?" Leif broke into her thoughts.She'd been told she would have her own wing in a large and beautiful home."Oh, yes, um, that should be fine. Thank you for offering.""Normally my guesthouse in the back is available, but I'm remodeling a house and the homeowners needed to store some things, and well, the woman had been renting the cottage from me for a couple of months—""I understand." She cut him off, not needing to hear another word of his long and rambling explanation.He glanced at her, then quickly returned his gaze to the highway. "I work long hours, so I won't be around to bother you. And I keep to myself. So—"More explanations. "We'll work things out." She should give the guy a break, since she could feel the sliceable tension in the cab.She smiled, then noticed his poor excuse for a smile in return, but at least it softened his eyes. It also made a huge difference in his appearance. His wasn't a bad face. Not by far. He had a ruggedness that appealed to her artistic instincts. The kind of face she'd like to paint, especially when he grew older. Craggy with character. That was what it was—he had character. She suspected that something besides working outdoors had stamped those premature lines in place. Being near him made her wonder—how would I depict this man on canvas?The thought struck her. Even though Lawrence was profoundly handsome, she'd never desired to paint him. Photography was how she dealt with his classical good looks. The man belonged in pictures, not paintings, a subtle difference to most, but a deep divide in her rightdominant brain.Why did Leif live in a huge house by himself? He didn't wear a wedding ring. Was he yet another man unable to commit? But why the big house, then? A man wouldn't build a big house without the intention of filling it with family, would he?Quiet, brain. She'd been up since the crack of dawn to meet her driver to Flagstaff to catch her flight, then, because it seemed impossible to get a nonstop flight anywhere anymore, she'd spent more than six hours, including the layover, making her way to Portland. This highway was long and tedious, except for the lovely green pines. Her eyes grew heavy and she rested her head against the cool windowpane. She'd been far more tired than usual these past two months. Whirling emotions could do that to a person. And other things.The silence in the truck and the vibration of the road soothed her, and soon she drifted off to sleep.Leif pulled into his driveway and around the side of his house to the circular portion where he parked. Marta had slept contentedly for the past hour, which was fine with him. It gave him the opportunity to look at her without being obvious. She was hands-down beautiful, but even in sleep she tensed her brows. What was bothering her? Having to live with him? She'd said it wasn't a problem, and these days most thirty-four-year-old women, especially an independent artist like her, would be fine with that. He tilted his head, his hunch about all not being right with her world growing stronger by the moment.Stopping the car woke her up, which was just as well because any second now his dogs would come barreling around the corner making a happy racket."We're here."She stretched and shook her head to knock out the sleep. "Oh, thanks. Wow. This is lovely," she said, glancing across the yard toward the house.He opened his door and jumped outside, and just as expected, Chip and Dale, one blond and one black, came running full out to the fence, barking as if they'd seen a wild turkey. "Hi, guys. Hush now." They didn't listen, just kept tossing those loud Labrador barks into the wind.Marta crawled out of the cab, squinted and smiled. Good. She was okay with dogs. Because chances were they'd eventually break into her room and lick the living daylights out of her. Though he planned to keep them out of her studio. What a mess that would be.He pulled her baggage from the back and they made their way up to the back door. Entering through the kitchen, he asked, "Are you hungry or thirsty? I can make you a sandwich or something to hold you over until dinner, if you'd like.""Water would be great, thanks." She held her hat in her hand, and because the house was warm, she took off her poncho and folded it over her arm. Form-fitting black, straight-legged slacks hugged her curves with a simple white blouse tucked into the waistline. He'd been wrong—there wasn't a turquoise bobble in sight. As he filled a glass with filtered tap water, she pulled the clasp from her hair and down came thick black hair curtaining her shoulders. He looked away and swallowed quietly."Here you go," he said, handing her the water. "I'll take these bags upstairs to your suite." The sight of her standing in his kitchen made him need to put some distance between them.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good book By S. Frank Very good story of two people who learn to open themselves up to love after being hurt in the past. Leif has become a loner since the death of his wife. He never wants to feel that kind of pain again, so he immerses himself in work instead. Marta has come to Heartlandia to paint a mural of the town's history. She recently broke up with the man she'd been with for five years, after his less than enthusiastic response to her pregnancy. For the immediate future she plans to concentrate on her art and her baby, and avoid any entanglements with a guy.I really liked Leif. He's still grieving and has withdrawn from a lot of life, but he's a good man at heart. He loves his hometown and has used his wealth for the benefit of the town. He is paying for the town mural and also plans to house the artist in his own home. He doesn't expect her to be stunningly beautiful and to be attracted to her. He fights the attraction because he can't picture loving someone else. It was a losing battle from the start, as his plans to avoid her crumble in the face of his craving to be near her. When he finds out about her pregnancy, his protective instincts come out.Marta took the mural job because the idea fascinated her, and also because she needed a new start for her life. She had spent five years basically being supported by the man who was her benefactor as well as her lover. When she discovered she was pregnant, his response made her realize that they wanted different things from life. While she has not closed herself off to the idea of falling in love again, for now she wants to remain free. Her attraction to Leif is unwelcome because it reminds her too much of what she just ended. She was afraid of losing herself and her independence in a similar relationship.I loved the growing relationship between Leif and Marta. She comes to accept the attraction more quickly and tells herself that she can enjoy being with him while keeping her heart free. I liked the way that she saw past the loner exterior of Leif to the loving man inside. Leif's resistance folds gradually, as first he realizes he likes Marta's company and presence in his home, then that he wants her in a way that he hasn't wanted anyone since his wife. I liked the way they started out more as friends as they got to know each other. I liked seeing them appreciate the other's talents, their similarities and their differences. Once the attraction flared up, things really started to move along. Marta's feelings for Leif turned quickly to love, but she felt that she couldn't fight Leif's unwillingness to let go of his grief. Leif was surprised to find that his grief was growing less every day and that the idea of asking Marta to stay had greater and greater appeal. But their agreement had been no strings and he was reluctant to put his heart on the line when he had no indication that she wanted to stay. I loved seeing each of them have their "a-ha!" moment and realize what they were going to give up. Leif was especially sweet with his big moment.I also enjoyed the conclusion of the story about the pirate trunks and the effect they had on the town. I liked seeing how various people dealt with the news. The section dealing with the treasure and the Indian burial ground was really interesting and I loved how it was handled. I hope that there will be a story involving Elke and Ben, because it seemed like there was something going on there.*Copy received in exchange for an honest review.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Poignantly emotional with realistic predicaments By A. Richard A compelling romance and a wide range of emotions can always be found in a book by Lynne Marshall. Add in numerous characters with very real personalities, and the result is a story that is entertainingly believable. The Home in Heartlandia miniseries is especially interesting with its ongoing conflict about the history of a picturesque Oregon coastal town. In the third book, decisions must be made concerning what is learned and plenty of drama plays out from time to time, even potentially affecting the connection between two people who are actually not looking for love. There is something in each of their pasts which makes it difficult for them to jump right into a new relationship, and Ms. Marshall takes her hero and heroine on a very bumpy journey before either can commit to someone else once again. FALLING FOR THE MOM-TO-BE is poignantly emotional with realistic predicaments.Though he values his privacy when at home, contractor Leif Andersen agreed to let Marta Hoyas stay with him while she does a large outside mural at the local college. The painting will show moments in Heartlandia’s history, and he can easily afford to offer her a room in his home until she finishes. Marta seems like a rather quiet woman when he picks her up, making Leif happy as he is not interested in having long conversations. After losing his wife several years ago, being on his own has suited him just fine.The relationship Marta had with her longtime boyfriend worked until two events made her want more from him. Now on her own and with a baby on the way, she is looking forward to creating a mural for the town with which she has a personal link. Taking on the huge project will give her something positive to focus on while starting the next phase in her life. When Leif finds out she is pregnant, he is surprised at how protective he feels toward her. Life has not turned out the way these two individuals had hoped, and beginning a relationship is not something they are ready to attempt. Leif and Marta try to keep all between them professional, yet spending so much time in the same home every day causes feelings of strong desire to surface.Sometimes much soul-searching must be done before a mind can change, and Leif plus Marta definitely have several serious issues to overcome if they will ever have a future together. Though much has been altered since she became pregnant, some beliefs are not so easy to completely erase from her life. The “talks” Marta has with her deceased mother are very touching, as they show how the loss of someone can affect a person afterward. Leif has lived through heartache once, and he does not plan on letting anyone get close enough to cause him such suffering again. His situation is all too common, and letting himself be vulnerable one more time will takes much courage. I have always thought losing someone and then choosing whether to remain alone or look for another partner would be one of life’s most tough dilemmas. As Leif and Marta get to know each other, the challenges they face are convincingly depicted and are often heartrending. Although this couple is drawn together because of a powerful sexual attraction, any incidents that are only emotional are just as intense.How the town of Heartlandia is portrayed makes me want to visit such a place. Camaraderie between the residents is evident in the ways they take care of each other, and though disagreements do occur, they are handled in a civil manner. I hate saying goodbye to all these wonderful townsfolk, and I can only hope some of them may show up again in another series from this talented author. Lynne Marshall makes me believe in the power of love. The situations in FALLING FOR THE MOM-TO-BE are emotionally stirring, while the characters come across as particularly genuine.Received copy from author for a CataRomance review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. contemporary romance series is an entertaining blend of intrigues of the past and the cultural diversity of today's world... By Virginia Campbell When author Lynne Marshall tells a tale, she tells it well, and her "Home in Heartlandia" contemporary romance series is an entertaining blend of intrigues of the past and the cultural diversity of today's world. Leif Anderson is a rich widower, a successful builder whose personal life has become progressively reclusive. While he still maintains his active involvement in community affairs, his heart clings to the memory of his late wife, Ellen. He is thrown off-kilter when the artist hired to paint murals depicting the history of Heartlandia on the local college campus turns out to be an irresistible, spirited beauty. Marta Hoyas has made the trek from Sedona, Arizona to this unique coastal Oregon community to make a new start--both professionally and in her personal life. Her recent long-term involvement with a man who was also her mentor had ended with their differences over her unexpected pregnancy. Since she will be staying in Leif's home until the murals are completed, they can't help but spend time getting to know each other. Leif has been widowed for three years, and having beautiful, emotional, and forward-thinking Marta so close and so tempting is unlocking the gated enclosure of his heart. Marta is equally struck by this rugged, masculine, mannerly man with his Viking good looks and mesmerizing blue eyes. Both of them have many of their own personal issues to resolve, but the attraction between them has a mind of its own, and a sweetly sizzling involvement quickly ensues. The tenderness and temptation they experience is not without tension--questions from both of their pasts must be answered before they can hope for a future filled with happiness. Will Fate bow to the power of Love to heal and bind hearts together? Will the community of Heartlandia itself find its own happily-ever-after? If you love contemporary romance with compelling characterizations and involving storylines, then you will highly enjoy the "Home in Heartlandia" series from wonderfully-gifted writer Lynne Marshall.Review Copy Gratis Author
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