United

by Karen Nappa

  The Club Indigo Series isn’t over but we’re taking a short hiatus from Kansas City for now. Soon we hope to be able to share information with you about The Quinn Quartet, four interconnected full-length stories about three brothers and one sister from the same family in rural Ohio. Subscribe to our newsletter and keep in the loop about new releases and future projects.

  If you enjoyed this book, please take a moment to leave a review for United on Amazon and/or Goodreads. If you read on, we have an excerpt from the prequel to The Quinn Quartet. This interracial second chance novella will be available in August.

  Healing Jacob’s Heart

  A prequel to The Quinn Quartet

  A small-town doctor left behind with three young boys. A compassionate woman who can help them heal. But is their town ready for an interracial relationship – and is he ready for her?

  Peaceful, Ohio, is a small village in the Appalachian hills. Amidst the scenery of stunning nature, the villagers don’t have much more entertainment than gossip. Local doctor Jacob is a respected member of the community. Coming from a family of farmers and miners, he put himself through college on scholarship. When he returned to take over old Doc Johnson’s practice, the town welcomed him like a hero – even though he brought home a city girl as his wife.

  When his wife abandons him and leaves him with three young sons, all the ladies smell blood. Circling him like vultures, Jacob tries to ignore them as best he can. He buries himself in his work because he has had enough of women for the rest of his life.

  Hester thought teaching young children would be her greatest challenge when she arrived in Peaceful. She isn't expecting to deal with a hostile village and a burned man.

  Author’s note: Healing Jacob’s Heart is a (historical) prequel to a brand-new series by Karen Nappa: The Quinn Quartet. It contains a spanking, explicit language, and a guaranteed HEA.

  Prologue

  Peaceful, Ohio, summer of 1969

  “The twins are getting so big.” His mother wiped her wet hands on her apron.

  Jacob turned his attention from her to the three boys on the meadow in front of the farmhouse. He hated his ex-wife with a passion, but at least she hadn’t only left sour memories.

  “I think the move here will do them good,” Jacob stated.

  “I agree, dear. Besides, how would you have managed a busy practice with raising three rambunctious boys?” His mother smiled, but she looked tired.

  Jacob sighed. It was probably for the best, and Lord knew there was enough space on his family land.

  His mother’s eyes turned dark. “I’m still pissed with Helen for up and leaving like that!”

  “Yeah.” Jacob heaved another breath. “I guess having twins was the final straw for her.”

  His mother tsk-ed. “What woman leaves her children?”

  The woman who leaves her husband abandons her kids. Jacob didn’t voice his thought. Like his thoughts held any power or truth. He thought he had a loving wife and a caring mother for his children. However, three weeks ago, he’d come home to two crying toddlers and a stressed Ross who complained they didn’t have bread.

  “Where’s mommy?” He crouched in front of his oldest.

  Jacob almost toppled when Mark and Ben flung themselves at him and clutched at his sides like baby monkeys. He wouldn’t get meaningful answers from the twins, but Ross might know.

  “Dunno.” Tears shimmered in Ross' eyes. “She went to the store this morning, but I don’t understand why she needed suitcases to get the bread.” His voice rose in pitch to the end of the sentence.

  “Suitcases?”

  Before Ross could answer his question, a small hand tugged at his sleeve.

  “Daddy? A three-year-old voice whined. “Mark berry ‘ungry,”

  Some people found it difficult to tell his identical twins apart, but although they looked eerily alike, they couldn’t differ more in personality. Mark always spoke his mind, but with Ben the words came like they were expensive.

  Jacob ruffled his son's mop of hair. “Well, if you are very hungry, so must your brothers be.” Jacob turned his attention to his other sons. Ben cocked his head, but Ross nodded. “How about we clean up a bit and go to Poppies’ Diner for French fries?”

  That won him a smile from Ben.

  Mark bobbed his head and wiped the snot off his face with his sleeve.

  Upstairs, in his bedroom, a letter sat on the nightstand. Jacob sank on the bed. He didn’t need to read it, but he did anyway

  Jacob,

  I’m sorry, but I’m not meant for this life.

  I’m taking the bus to Cincinnati, but I don’t think I’ll stay there for long. Life must have more in store for me than rotting in Peaceful. I need to get out of here, away from all this. Don’t try to find me!

  I wish you the best,

  Helen

  P.S.: My lawyer will send you the divorce papers.

  Typical! She used the grocery money he’d given her before he left for the practice to buy a bus ticket and left her children to go hungry for hours. She must have been well aware he wouldn’t be home before six. Selfish cow!

  Jacob rose from the bed and opened the closet door. Helen’s side was empty and two of their three suitcases were gone. He lifted the remaining one. It was the smallest of the set they’d bought right after their marriage. Helen had been so proud, but now she’d casually discarded the smallest valise like she’d thrown away her family, their life together – him.

  “Next week, the builders will start the renovation of the bunkhouse.” His mother’s words pulled him back into the here and now.

  “Sorry, mom. What was that? I zoned out for a moment.”

  She repeated her words with an indulgent expression – or was it pity? Jacob wasn’t sure.

  “Yeah… about that, Mom.” Jacob scratched the back of his neck. “Why don’t the boys and I live there and not you and Dad?”

  “Nonsense.” His petite mother threw herself upright like her height would impress him. “Your boys need the space, and this place has a bathtub. Very convenient with small children.”

  “But the bunkhouse is a mess, and it doesn’t have electricity or running water.”

  His mother tapped his head like he was the toddler and not his twins. “That’s what the construction crew is for.”

  “At least let me pay for the renovations.” They’d argued this topic more than once, and until now Jacob hadn’t won the argument.

  “Our house, our money.”

  Jacob ran a hand through his hair. “All right, but I’m going to pay rent.” He lifted his hand when his mother opened her mouth to protest. “Mother. This isn’t negotiable. If I stayed in town, I would have paid rent for the townhouse. I’m going to pay you and dad the same amount.”

  His mother didn’t look pleased, but Rachel Quinn knew when to choose her battles, and she switched topics with a speed that made his head spin. “Wanda Cockle told me to say hi to you.”

  Jacob closed his eyes in exasperation. “I have no idea why. Every morning when I walk past her shop, she’s doing something or other outside and tries to butter me up.”

  Wanda owned the Mom and Pop shop that catered to almost every need of the Peaceful residents. She was also a widow and determined to remarry.

  His mother chuckled. “Well, you’re an attractive, now single man with a good job. I can’t fault the woman for trying.”

  “She’s trying too damn hard,” he muttered.

  His mother scowled at his language, and he grinned, irritation about the pursuing woman forgotten. He wasn’t interested in females anymore other than in a professional capacity, especially not in pushy, opinionated women.

  About Karen Nappa

  Karen Nappa writes Seasoned BDSM Romance with HEA. Their growing library including TRAPPED (a D/s story), and CHERISHED (an age play story). Their latest release, UNITED, is the sixth book in the Club Indigo series.

  Immersed in the D/s lifestyle themselves, they write realistic a
lbeit romantic stories. When not dominated by their cats or their Master (in that order – even if it earns them a spanking!), they love going to Club Indigo and other places to discover the stories that are waiting to be written.

  If they are not texting, skyping or writing together the American half likes to spin yarn and make quilts, while the Dutch "partner in crime" prefers to go for a run while listening to heavy metal.

  April 11th, 2019 will be a date they will always remember. Not only was it the day their debut Trapped (Club Indigo 1) was released, it also was the day that the two halves of Karen Nappa met in person.

  Follow them and be the first to know about new releases:

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  Email us at authorkarennappa@gmail.com

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  Want to be informed about releases and get free content?

  Subscribe to the Karen Nappa Newsletter. As a welcome gift you’ll get Laura’s Surprise for free.

  Nothing lasts forever

  Six years ago, middle-aged computer programmer Laura had a chance meeting with a mysterious stranger and one year later he collared her as his submissive. When she became a mother, she thought her happiness was complete, but lately Laura’s been keeping secrets.

  She thought she had everything she could ever want – but she was in for a surprise.

  This Club Indigo Short Story contains elements of BDSM, explicit language and sex scenes. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as the author's advocating any non-consensual sexual activity.

  This exclusive free book is a gift from Karen Nappa to her newsletter subscribers.

  Club Indigo Series

  If you enjoy Seasoned BDSM Romance with HEA, be sure to check out the books in the Club Indigo Series by Karen Nappa. Be aware, these books contain elements of the BDSM lifestyle and can be disturbing to some readers. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as the author's advocating any non-consensual sexual activity.

  (Trapped (Club Indigo Book One)

  Neither is looking for love, much less for forever. But when a tornado traps them in a laundromat, one night together just isn’t enough.

  Hard-working Laura Turner dotes on her family, but she has little life of her own. After a loveless marriage and a bitter divorce, a dominant man is the last thing she wants.

  James Black has worked hard to establish his construction business. Divorced for three years, he knows what he wants, and it isn’t the too-young and too-demanding submissives who throw themselves at him at Club Indigo. When James introduces Laura to the pleasures of the lifestyle, he realizes he may have found what he has been looking for – an intelligent woman who can be his partner, as well as his submissive.

  A tornado brought them together, but a dark past keeps driving them apart. Can James coax Laura from the fear that won't let her get what she needs, or will she stay trapped by her memories?

  Publisher's Note: This hot contemporary romance contains elements of power exchange and is intended for mature readers.

  Trusted (Club Indigo Book Two)

  “She was supposed to trust him with her body and heart, but he didn't trust her with his past."

  Suzie Kaspar has been a widow for five years. She struggles with her responsibilities as a single mother, but she doesn’t accept help easily. Her late husband was sweet but not strong, and she was responsible for herself and their children even before he became ill and died. After she witnesses her sister’s collaring ceremony, she is both intrigued and intimidated by the lifestyle.

  Sadist Captain Connor is an enigma. He is well liked at Club Indigo, but nobody really knows him. Connor is looking for a submissive masochist in the bedroom and a strong and independent woman outside it, but his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq have left invisible scars he doesn’t share with anyone.

  While Connor and Suzie struggle with their relationship, they discover something alarming about Suzie’s son’s best friend. The devastating information will shake the foundations of their relationship and magnify the trust issues they’re already having.

  Can Connor show Suzie how wonderful it is to lean on a man and to discover there is pleasure to be found in pain? Can she trust him with her life and her heart, the way she trusts him with her body?

  Publisher's Note: This steamy contemporary romance contains elements of power exchange.

  Appreciated (Club Indigo Book Three)

  He dreams of a 24/7 relationship with her, but all she has to give is a one-night stand.

  Paula Stone is a decorated officer in the Kansas City Police Department. Succeeding in the testosterone-filled environment means everything to her. She married young, to a fellow police academy recruit, but has been divorced for several years because he couldn’t handle her success. Her marriage led her to prefer brief encounters to satisfy her physical needs and she’s decided she’ll never date another cop.

  Jim Cagney is one of the youngest detectives in the Drug Interdiction Unit. After five years in the military and two tours in Iraq, he’s been back in Kansas City for six years. During his recovery from the horrors of the war, he discovered the beauty of dominance and submission. Living in a 24/7 TPE relationship gave him back the control he lost on the battlefield. It’s been almost a year since he uncollared his submissive, and he’s ready to move on.

  As Paula gets to know Jim more and more, she starts to appreciate both him and the pleasures he gives. Will she ever be able to fully submit to the kind of lifestyle he represents, though?

  Publisher's Note: This steamy contemporary romance contains elements of power exchange. While it is part of the Club Indigo series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

  Cherished (Club Indigo Book Four)

  She grew up without parents. He wants to be her Daddy Dom. Can they build a future together?

  Sonja Madden is co-owner of a successful café and bakery. Being successful in business hasn't brought her happiness, though. Having grown up as an orphan, Sonja longs for something more in life. Attracted to dominant men, she joined Club Indigo to find her perfect partner, but in five years, she still hasn’t found anyone, and has a reputation as a brat.

  Derek Kiriakis comes from a Greek immigrant family and is an experienced social worker who works with abused children. Happy with his job and the influence he has on the children in his care, he’s looking for a special woman in his personal life, one who is strong enough to submit in the bedroom but who will also allow her inner child to be guided and cared for by a Daddy Dom.

  Their fragile bond is tested when someone from Derek's past appears and puts Sonja, her business, and their relationship in danger. Afraid for Sonja, Derek distances himself as he tries to sort out how to keep the woman he loves safe. Must Sonja lose Derek, or will she find her own happily ever after in being cherished as the little girl she never had a chance to be?

  Publisher's Note: This steamy contemporary romance contains elements of power exchange.

  Blinded (Club Indigo Book Five)

  Doctors make terrible patients, and this one will prove to be her biggest challenge – in every way possible!

  He is a talented, successful surgeon… and Sandra hates him from the moment they meet. Injured in a rock-climbing accident, the arrogant doctor fights her at every turn during his physical therapy sessions.

  It’s too bad all those hard muscles and hot-as-hell good looks are wasted on a man as domineering and controlling as GT Lewis. She is determined to keep him at arms-length… until he blind-sides her one night at Club Indigo.

  Now that he knows her secret desires, will Sandra submit to his ropes and ultimately to his love?

  Author’s Note: Karen Nappa brings you a full-length enemies-to-lovers medical romance with lots of rope and no cliff-hanger. Book five in the Club Indigo series includes BDSM, explicit language and sex scenes and is intended for a mature audience. Although the stories can be read and enjoyed independently, recurring
characters and events from previous novels are mentioned. One-click for a sexy alpha hero who wants to tie his woman in ropes and a feisty physical therapist with a warped vision of love.

  Copyright © 2020 Karen Nappa

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.

  Front cover image © Vitalik Radko.

  Published by Karen Nappa LLC

  authorkarennappa@gmail.com

  Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.