THE GATHERING STORM MUSIC PLAYLIST  Click Here

This music is an integral part of the story as you shall see. Listen before or after you read. Enjoy!

Gathering Stom as #1 Indie Read of 2013 by Book Haven

BOOK HAVEN’S REVIEW (by Leah Barbush)

You don’t read Victoria’s books, you experience them. The tapestry that Victoria has woven with these stories and people is so stunningly brilliant and at the same time rich with deep undertones that you cannot help but fall in love.

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 1. (This excerpt from Chapter 1 was included at the end of Moonlight.)

“‘Tis a good thing that Stormy and I are the bad asses that put the bad in Bad Company, else the two of us might be intimidated by unhappy wives standin’ over us with mean faces and hands on delectably curvy hips.”

“I concur,” added Storm.

“You can concur until the cows come home Sir Storm, but you are still NOT playing in the Jefferson Unit Annual Rugby Match.” Litha’s voice was loud enough to make the babies get quiet and listen.

“Yeah. What she said.” Elora couldn’t really see what more could be added.

“We’re playin’.”

“We are.”

“You. Are. Retired!” Elora countered.

“Retired is no’ dead.”

“And I’d like to add that we retired early. Lots of active duty hunters are older than we are and they’ll be playing. There’s never been a match that didn’t have B Team represented and there’s not going to be one this year either.”

Elora huffed. “Since they retired B Team as a commendation to you…”

“And you,” Storm added.

“Thank you for the thought, but not really and I don’t think any of you would enjoy having me play. Stop trying to distract me. I’m in the middle of asking if you plan to still be repping for B Team when you’re ninety.”

The husbands looked at each other. They both sat on the sofa in Ram’s and Elora’s Jefferson Unit apartment with their arms crossed and looking like they had dug in to be stubborn.

“She might have a point,” Storm said to Ram.

“We’re no’ givin’ any points or any ground. With them ’tis always a slippery slope slidin’ toward capitulation.”

Storm looked at Elora. “We’re not ninety now. We’ll torch that bridge when we come to it. We’re not even nearing thirty. And we’re playing.”

“Aye. We are.”

Ram and Storm uncrossed their arms long enough to give each other a fist bump.

“Look,” Elora began, “you’re both young, strong, still in your prime and tough as they come.”

“We’re no’ fallin’ for the flattery approach.”

“I’m just saying that you’re also husbands and fathers with bones that can be broken and organs that can be ruptured.” Elora left out the part about how she also hated overhearing the female spectators objectifying her husband. She already knew that he was the stuff of nocturnal fantasy and didn’t need to have that driven home by listening to women talk about imagining him when they’re with somebody else. Ugh!

They were silent and resolute. Resolutely silent.

Litha whispered something in Elora’s ear and they withdrew to the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

“What do you think they’re doin’ in there?”

“I think they are saying that they will have better luck with a divide-and-conquer strategy.”

“Aye. ‘Tis my thought as well.”

“Pact?”

“Indeed.”

“Lust to dust.”

“Sperm to worm.”

“Womb to tomb.”

Elora whispered to Litha. “Quiet. Ram’s ears are amazing.”

“Then let’s duck out for a coffee. Or cocoa,” she corrected.

When Elora nodded, Litha closed her fingers around her fellow conspirator’s wrist and they popped into the lounge downstairs. The trip wasn’t far enough to disturb equilibrium. It was no worse than a fast elevator drop.

“It won’t hurt them to watch the babies for a little while.”

Elora chuckled. “Neat trick.”

They picked out two of the comfiest chairs, the ones that made sitting feel like a hug, and sat facing each other.

“Hmmm. Well, I’m thinking that we’re not going to get anywhere as long as they’re together. They’re feeding off of each other and ratcheting up the resolve. We need to interrupt that feed.”

“Brilliant. Let us have yummy drinks and then go to our separate bedrooms to see if we can’t get their arms uncrossed.”

Litha smiled knowingly and initiated a soft five.

“Does it strike you that they’re bein’ too quiet?”

“It’s your bedroom. You go check.”

Ram opened the door and said. “Great Paddy loves a fuck. They’re gone.”

“What?” Storm got up.

“Gone. G.O.N.E. As in your wife always brin’s an unknown factor to the mix. Great Paddy, I’m glad we were never assigned to hunt somebody like her.” Ram ran a hand through his hair and looked at Storm. “So. Guess who’s babysittin’?”