The-Ground-Beneath-by-Missouri-VaunThe Ground Beneath by Missouri Vaun is a short story set in the same time as her first novel, All Things Rise. Jessica Walker, one of the side characters from All Things Rise is a main character in this novel and we meet Samantha Casey, a gruff farmer who had her heart broken when her long time partner up and left with the male farmhand.

Samantha is determined not to fall in love again and she lives a solitary existence until one day Jessica strikes a barter deal with Samantha. Jessica will cook dinner every night in return for one of Samantha’s hope chests.

The women are instantly attracted and when a storm comes in Jessica takes the opportunity to stay the night. Unable to resist their feelings any longer, Jessica and Samantha have a passionate night together.

Little do they know, one of the local men is determined to make Jessica his wife and will go to any lengths to do so.

The Characters

I enjoyed Samantha’s depth of character. She messed up, she was flawed, she worried and had insecurities.

Jessica is a little too perfect. She is gorgeous, smart and sexy. More flaws would have been interesting. I get the feeling that Vaun is a hopeless romantic and the perfect femmes in her books are based on her ideal women (I am guessing it’s her wife).

The Writing Style

One of my favourite things about Missouri Vaun’s writing is her ability to write the attraction between two women. Somehow she manages to get that twinkle in the stomach just right and she makes me feel it as if I am falling in love with my wife all over again.

She and I obviously have similar tastes in what is sexy about a woman because her love scenes are spot on.

The Pros

I really enjoyed this book and if I compare it to All Things Rise I can see great growth in her as a writer. This excites me, I can’t wait to see what she has in store next.

The cover on this book is striking.

The Cons

I would have liked to see just a little more of the characters from All Things Rise. I fell in love with them and want to know that they are happy now with little babies running around, or something equally smooshy.

The Conclusion

A lovely read. Well worth it if you want a short story that is not a typical romance, but still has your heart beating a little faster when the main characters finally get together.

Excerpt from The Ground Beneath by Missouri Vaun

Sam was at least a little dry under the heavy coat, but Jessica was soaked to the skin. Her thin cotton shirt clung to her chest and torso, revealing everything underneath. Sam pulled Jessica under one side of the coat, tucked an arm around her, and tugged her towards the house. With her jacket front open, by the time they reached the porch, Sam was also sopping wet. The night had been on the warm side earlier, but the rain had cooled everything and Jessica shivered as she stood dripping in the center of the kitchen.

“Come on, we need to get you out of those wet clothes.” Sam made a monumental effort not to notice Jessica’s nipples pressed against the clinging fabric, but it was hopeless. After all, she was only human, and her libido hadn’t completely atrophied, at least not yet.

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