Monday 30 November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015 -

Humorous Spanking Tales: Omnibus Edition

by Lucy Appleby
Published: Sep 24, 2015
Words: 52,822
Category: humour
Orientation: M/F (mainly)
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Muriel and the Pig

He looked up from the newspaper. He recognised that wheedling tone. She wanted something.

"Yes?"

She flashed him a big smile. "Can we have a pig?"

"A what?"

"A pig." She smiled again and came over to perch on his lap. "I really, really want a pig." She nuzzled his neck.

"Well you can't have one."

"But Jim - I haven't even told you about them yet. These aren't just ordinary pigs - they're miniature pigs - really tiny and so cute! You'd love them."

"No I wouldn't. I don't like pigs - except in bacon sandwiches."

"Don't be mean, Jim. It would be good if we could get two - then they'd be company for each other when we're out at work."

"Muriel, there will be no pigs in this house! Imagine it - dirty smelly things pooping all over the place!"

"That's where you are wrong - pigs are very clean animals. They use a litter tray. If we can't have two, I suppose I'd have to settle for just the one."

"I said no and I mean no."

"But I've done all the research. Hear me out Jim, these miniature pigs are the size of a tea cup. And even at two years when fully grown, they are only fourteen inches high - just perfect for the house. Come on Jimmy-poo's, say yes."

"NO," glowered Jim. "And don't call me Jimmy-poo's."

---oOo---

Muriel wasn't the sort to give up without a fight. She fixed dinner - Jim's favourite, and served it with a bottle of claret she'd been saving for a special occasion. She drank very little herself, and sneakily refilled Jim's glass when he wasn't looking.

"That was lovely," said Jim as he put down his knife and fork. "What's for dessert?"

"Something extra special." She straddled his lap. "Me. And I'm not wearing any knickers," she whispered seductively in his ear.

"You decadent wench!" said Jim approvingly. "Let me see for myself." He pulled her into a standing position and flipped up her skirt. Her large round bottom beamed invitingly. "Oh - bare bottom - my favourite." His hand began to itch to spank those delectable curves.

"Mmm," said Muriel, giving her bottom a tantalising little wiggle - I thought maybe we could play spanky games?"

"Yeah? I thought you weren't interested in all that." His eyes gleamed in anticipation.

"I'm sure you can convince me," said Muriel, bending right over and sticking out her arse, giving him a full uncensored view.

"Come here."

She stood before him and pouted coquettishly, and then draped herself over his lap. "I'm just showing my appreciation."

"Eh?"

"My appreciation - because you said I could have a pig."

"I didn't say that!"

"You did!

"I did? No I didn't!"

"Yes you did."

"Did I?" Jim was bemused. "I can't remember saying that."

Sunday 29 November 2015

Sunday, November 29, 2015 -

Women who Spank Men: Volume 14

domestic F/M femdom stories
by LSF Publications
Published: Sep 19, 2015
Words: 25,799
Category: femdom
Orientation: F/M
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Five Years Later
by Anthony Alba

"It's not changed a bit," James remarked with some surprise as he gazed around the old classroom.

"It has only been five years," his guide for the day, Julia Styles, remarked.

James nodded slowly. He was not sure what he had expected coming back to his old school. It might only have been five years since he was a student here but in those years he had gone on to college, got his degree. He'd even done a stint as a trainee teacher at Kings Landing Secondary. And then fate had brought him back full circle to start here as the new geography teacher.

He had been nervous about coming back. Last night he had tossed and turned well into the small hours before finally managing some sleep. He was not sure what he had expected but Willow Wood School was just how he remembered it. It was still looking for the extension that had been first requested long before he had been a first year. The games pitch was still too soggy when it rained. Even old Hughes the caretaker was still pottering around.

For the moment the halls and corridors were quiet. Term began tomorrow and come nine o'clock the place would be full of the hustle and bustle of children coming and going: first years, lost and confused and trying to make sense of their new timetables and find this room or that; friends meeting up after the summer break; and the upper sixth form would be lording over everyone, or at least trying to now that they had finally reached the top of the student food chain.

Suddenly he began to frown. The layout of the school had not changed. He had taken Maths in this very room. Looking around he could see the desk where he had liked to sit near the front. He turned to Julia, puzzled now.

"I thought this was your room?"

Julia smiled and it lit up her face just the way he recalled. "You remembered. I was wondering if you would."

James felt a flush of colour creep into his cheeks. As if anyone would forget Miss Julia Styles. He could still recall the first day she had appeared in class. It had been her first assignment not that anyone would have known it by the sure way she took charge of the class. She had an air about her, a steely confidence in her stance. She had surveyed her class with a quiet authority and they had all fallen into a respectful silence without having to be told to be quiet.

Back then he had been a tad shocked that someone who looked so young could be a teacher. There had been girls in the class who had looked older than Miss Styles. With shoulder length ash blond hair and pale blue eyes she looked drop dead gorgeous, like a model or film star, or so his younger self had thought.

Friday 27 November 2015

Friday, November 27, 2015 -

Fantasy Spanking Tales: Volume 1

by LSF Publications
Published: Sep 17, 2015
Words: 24,708
Category: fantasy
Orientation: M/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Possessed
by Sam Stewart

Twins, Sue and Jill Harris, had a bond that could not be broken, a bond that gave them an almost telepathic connection; this was a bond that would transcend death itself. In appearance, the girls were identical but their personalities were strikingly different. Jill was adventurous, exciting, outgoing, a risk taker. Sue was quiet, studious and cautious.

True love came first to Sue. While Jill was out enjoying the wild life, Sue was studying at university and there she met John, the man who would become the love of her life. John was caring and thoughtful, a perfect match for Sue. Within days they were going steady, within weeks they were inseparable, and shortly after graduation they were married.

It was good that Sue had met her soul mate because he was there to comfort her when at only 22 years old Jill was tragically killed in a car accident. Sue was, of course, distraught at the loss of her sister and she knew she should feel, as twins do, that a piece of her soul had been ripped away. But somehow, she felt that Jill was still around, watching her and looking after her. The feeling surprised her. It contradicted her sense of reason. But Sue's confusion was nothing compared to that of Jill, who now found herself wandering through Sue and John's house, invisible, silent and ghostly.

The bond that had been so strong between the girls in life now bound them together in death. Jill found she could sense her sister's feelings and could surround her in comforting thoughts and emotions. But the biggest surprise of all came one day by accident when she found she could not only influence her sister, she could take over her body completely. To Jill it felt as though she was momentarily alive again. For Sue it felt only as though she had briefly become a little adventurous and performed some surprising and ill-considered action. She reasoned that it must be happening because she missed her sister so much, with her zany schemes and carefree appetite for life.

Jill loved her sister far too much to take advantage of this extraordinary power. She only wanted to do what was best for Sue. But there were times when she knew her sister's actions were just too cautious and the temptation to give her a little push in the right direction was just irresistible.

Jill knew that Sue and John were deeply in love, but she could see that John was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Sue's reluctance to try anything adventurous in the bedroom. Jill feared that this was a problem that could eventually wreck her sister's happiness. She knew she was going to have to take matters into her own hands and sprinkle a little pepper into the couple's bland love life.

One night, when Sue was working late, John took the opportunity to enjoy a little private time on the internet.

Monday 23 November 2015

Monday, November 23, 2015 -

Spanking Adventures: Omnibus Edition

by Lucy Appleby
Published: Sep 13, 2015
Words: 53,459
Category: adventure, fantasy
Orientation: M/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Chapter 1 - Lusting for Leather

The crisp dried detritus of leaves and twigs crackled invitingly beneath Stephanie's feet as she trod the thickness of the forest floor. It was pleasantly cool here - a welcome dappled shade from the earlier blistering heat of the day. Emerging into a small glade, she walked over a thick carpet of soft grass decorated here and there with moss-strewn rocks. The air was sweet, enlivened by birdsong.

The light was beautiful at this time of day, with the late afternoon sun spinning a magical web of amber through the surrounding trees. She paused and tilted her face upwards, eyes closed, feeling the fading golden warmth of the sun and listening to the sounds of small woodland creatures scurrying in the undergrowth.

These walks usually brought her a sense of quiet contentment; but today was different. Why? She mused, burrowing into the secret places of her mind, and realised that there was something missing from her life. But what? She was happy in her work, had plenty of money, a nice house, good friends and a string of ardent admirers. So what was it, this elusive thing, and how could she possibly find it if she didn't know what it was?

So deep was she in her thoughts that the first drops of rain passed by without notice. When she suddenly realised her clothes were damp and small rivulets of water were trickling down her face, she paused and looked around her. The light had changed and dimmed, and the earlier clear blue skies had vanished as the grey rain clouds descended. A wind sprang up from the west, making the tree branches sway.

Sighing, she turned and rejoined the woodland path, shivering a little now as the sky had darkened considerably. The splats of rain fell hard and fast and the wind chilled her to the bone. Now the heavens truly opened, releasing a torrent of water. Stephanie quickened her pace, cursing at her lack of foresight to check the weather forecast before setting out, or at least to have worn suitable clothing. Her waterlogged open-toed sandals squelched with every step, and her toes were icy cold.

The whole atmosphere of the wood had changed. What had been light and welcoming was now ominously dark and threatening. Water pooled beneath her feet as she waded through mud and teeming water. The rain bounced down from a leaden sky, obscuring her vision. In the distance could be heard the first low rumble of thunder. In her haste to get home, she half-walked and half-ran the last half mile. Once out of the wood, her progress was a little quicker. Puffing and panting and completely drenched, her feet sploshed through the giant puddles rapidly accumulating on the pavement. Her house was in sight. Almost home.

A sleek black car purred softly to a halt close to her front gate. The driver switched off the headlamps and windscreen wipers, opened the door, and stepped out into the teeming rain.

Friday 20 November 2015

Friday, November 20, 2015 -

The Graduate Spanking Assistant

by Quentin Quillis
Published: Sep 11, 2015
Words: 25,303
Category: general
Orientation: M/F, F/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
I had just moved to a new college for an advanced degree, and since my funds were limited I gratefully leapt at a job as a graduate research assistant. My first meeting with Dr. White was slightly embarrassing since I was ten minutes late. My flimsy excuse was that her office was deep in a maze of storage rooms in one of the outlying buildings, and it took forever to find the stairway to the sub-basement. As I was nervously trying to justify my tardiness she held up a hand to silence me.

"No need to explain, young man. Consider this your first challenge and you succeeded. Most people don't even know this floor exists. I found this space a few years ago and while I keep a small office in the department for student problems, this is where I do my most interesting work and the remote location suits me just fine. It took some doing to get it the way I want it but it was worth it, don't you think?"

I had to agree with her. After the trip through the dark and dingy hallways it was an oasis. It was actually a suite of sorts with beautiful wood paneling and marvelous oak furniture throughout. The front room had a nice desk, a couch for waiting visitors and a door leading to a storage closet. The main office was a true marvel. The desk was massive and had a large easy chair. Along one wall was a sofa that dwarfed the rest of the furniture. Not only was it long enough for a basketball player to stretch out and not hang off either end, but it was wider than any similar piece I had ever seen. If you sat on it and rested against the back, your knees would not reach the edge. It could easily be a very comfortable bed and I wondered how many times Dr. White had spent the night here. A door off to one side opened into a small lavatory complete with a shower. I was impressed. It was more like what you would expect for the president of a large company. The only thing missing was a penthouse view.

As I sat there in awe of my surroundings, she reviewed my application and asked me a few questions. There were the expected inquiries regarding my previous studies and experience but there were a few that surprised me. Was I married? (No); did I have a steady girlfriend? (Sadly, No again); did I work out on a regular basis? (Yes); and the one that really got me asked if I was a heterosexual. For a moment I wondered if she was planning on making a pass at me. I guess I should describe Dr. White at this point. She was in her late forties and attractive in an older woman sort of way. Not my idea of a dream date, but if I had to make love to her as part of the job it wouldn't be too great a sacrifice.

Saturday 14 November 2015

Saturday, November 14, 2015 -

Scenes of Domestic Discipline: Book 3

by Susan Thomas
Published: Sep 11, 2015
Words: 23,076
Category: domestic discipline
Orientation: M/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Fantasies

Emma visited the Ladies' before leaving the dinner dance. There in the privacy of a cubicle she removed her knickers and squeezed them into her small clutch bag. Tom met her in the foyer and as they walked to the taxi she whispered, "I haven't got any knickers on."

Tom was as predictable as most men and she knew that would excite him; once they were in the front door he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her. Unless their babysitter Melissa was still downstairs, he'd probably have her there in the hall on that beautiful rug in the centre. Emma found that very exciting and an added frisson was the possibility that Melissa might hear them come in and come to the top of the stairs. Emma imagined the girl standing at the top of the stairs looking down and seeing her with her dress right up, her legs spread wide and Tom rutting away like some stallion.

She knew it was fantasy but delicious fantasy; the chances of Melissa hearing them, or coming out of her room if she did, were slim. Melissa was hyper alert to the children but oblivious to all else as she engaged in her Internet socialisation. What were they going to do when the girl went off to university? She was already eighteen and the children adored her; she would be hard to replace.

Emma felt Tom's hands on her and she reached out to him. Yes, he was hard already, a large solid bulge in his trousers that promised much for her. She giggled and Tom squeezed her breast gently. She went back to her fantasies. There was more to her fantasy than just that, it extended into something that made Emma tingle all over and always added to their sex life, even though Tom had no idea what she was fantasising about. Melissa would come to the top of the stairs and for a minute or two watch their love making then she would return to her room. Tom would finish up and then stomp up the stairs (followed by her) and tell Melissa off for standing watching. Then yanking down those short, skimpy pyjama bottoms the girl wore whenever she stayed over, place her across his knee before spanking her bare bottom hard. Emma would protest that he mustn't do it but he would take no notice.

Emma had never seen Melissa's bare bottom, but based on her general figure and attractiveness imagined it to be have a beautiful smooth skin-texture and to be round, shapely and firm. In her fantasy, Tom would finish spanking the sobbing apologetic girl and then, turning to his wife, march her off to the bedroom for a spanking because she had tried to stop him exercising his manly rights as head of the household. She knew it was all nonsense of course, but that fantasy and others of a similar nature made her feel extremely randy.

Friday 13 November 2015

Friday, November 13, 2015 -

The Spank Shop: Book 9

by Frank Limadere
Published: Sep 7, 2015
Words: 34,485
Category: femdom
Orientation: F/F, F/M
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Ryan

Kimberley Kennedy accepted payment from Clarkstown's Spank Shop's most recent satisfied customer and watched the still sniffling client mince his way out of the shop, his hand tightly held by his mother. The adolescent receptionist smiled to herself and then sent a nervous young lady into her mother's parlour, where Gabrielle Kennedy no doubt had a blistering spanking waiting for the unfortunate girl.

---oOo---

The blonde girl entered the details of the recent punishment into her meticulously kept spreadsheets and kept one ear listening to the muffled sounds of smacking and howling coming from the room Gabrielle occupied and similar noises emanating from the shop's owner, 'Aunty' Andrea Mahoney, and had the other on the conversation that three of the ladies in the shop's waiting room were engaged in.

All three were known to Kimberley. Her family were long time residents of Clarkstown, and very little happened in the community that she and her mother did not know about.

The recently married Millicent Campbell was here to see Andrea. Kimberley did the books so she knew that the young bride was going to have her bottom smacked by the experienced and accomplished disciplinarian, but she didn't press for details, as it wouldn't be the first time she had taken a trip over Andrea's knees for being too inquisitive. Desiree Price was the mother of the young man over Andrea's lap at present, and twenty-two year old Misty Kendall was having her situpon warmed by Gabrielle while her mother Fiona waited to escort her no doubt distraught daughter home again.

"More tea, ladies?" Kimberley asked brightly.

"No thank you, Kimberley," Millicent said in a weak voice, she was obviously rather nervous about her upcoming appointment with Andrea.

"I will, Kimmy," Fiona said brightly, holding her empty cup up.

"As Tony's likely to be a while," Desiree murmured. "I'd like a freshen up too, dear."

Kimberley nodded, and as she got up to fill the orders asked the women, "Can you please keep an eye on the two in the corners and if they try anything let me know and I'll reheat them."

---oOo---

When Kimberley returned with fresh hot tea for Fiona and Desiree the three ladies were talking in hushed voices. "They were taken right off the line, Desiree?" Fiona asked the buxom brunette.

Desiree accepted a cup of tea and nodded.

"Mine, too," Millicent said glumly. "Not every pair, but two of them definitely went missing."

"That's extraordinary," Fiona marvelled, sipping her tea gently.

Kimberley sighed as she returned to her desk. She knew what the three women were discussing. Not a lot happened in the sleepy hamlet of Clarkstown ordinarily, but of late a curious phenomenon had taken place. Underwear, ladies underwear to be precise, had been disappearing from clotheslines all over the town. Even from the line of the wealthy and aristocratic Veronica Dixon-Thompson, who lived on a fenced property out of town itself.

Sunday 8 November 2015

Sunday, November 08, 2015 -

Magic

a spanking fiction epic
by DJ Black
Published: Sep 2, 2015
Words: 213,800
Category: fantasy
Orientation: M/F, F/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Introduction

In the summer of 2011 a curious scene was conceived: a dark tale of a young ambitious woman and an old man who knew more about her and her world than he would ever let on. Romance screamed from the shadows, but our hero had yet to make an appearance, so who were these people now taking on a life of their own? Somehow directly or indirectly, the fate of a world hung in the balance. The spell of Magic had begun to weave its way into the author's mind.

Perhaps fittingly for such a perilous story, for a while it might not have been written at all. And even if it had been it may have gone the way of many such mercurial shorts and become a 'here today, gone tomorrow' disposable curio on a page. However, the author had long entertained the idea of a romance between a sinister young mage and his beautiful apprentice, but had been unable to put any depth into the characters or find a convincing storyline.

Then the author saw how an ambitious and powerful man might be distracted by love and a power-seeking woman by an older mysterious man. Of course social conventions, stalking demons, stern instructors and war might intervene first. But could love triumph?

So armed with one scene and a romantic concept, the author began to research and develop a backstory for an extensive new world with its own rules of magic, cities and cultures. The result might be described as the Wizard of Earthsea meets 50 Shades of Grey, but more than that, it encompasses not only demons and dragons, but a drawn out world with its own lore and customs where young apprentices wrestle with their newfound power and a hidden desire to surrender it.

Originally, the story was intended to focus almost entirely upon the noble Katrin De Lacy and her master, Arlon Fear, the young magus assigned to teach her on the path of knowledge and to becoming a mage herself. But it soon became apparent that the other characters would not easily roll over. So in addition to Katrin and Fear, personalities such as Tabitha with her love-hate-love relationships with anyone who would spank her; Amber Sage, the sexually ambiguous wise young student teacher and witch; and above all the mysterious and uncompromising wizard Dniester who had first inspired this tale, began to show that they would not be so easily vanquished.

It is an epic adventure amounting to over 200,000 words and set over several years. So for the reader it is quite an investment and for those looking for a routine spanking romance, then this plot and characterisation-heavy story may not be for you.

But along the way the adventure combines sex and spanking, love and betrayal as well as wars, quests and demonic possession. Of course not everything and everyone are what they seem in this exploration of power and transformation.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Saturday, November 07, 2015 - ,

Really, Really Spanked

a collection of F/F femdom stories
by John Benson
Published: Sep 1, 2015
Words: 52,861
Category: femdom
Orientation: F/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
A Certain Kind of Girl

The door said 'Housefellow' and it was open. Helen had this open door policy so we felt free to come in and talk. She's a grad student, Helen is, and cute and athletic, and I was a little in awe of her, even before I heard the rumors. That's why I was lurking just outside her door. Because of the rumors, and I was afraid they weren't true, or she would turn me down, but I was also afraid that she'd say 'yes.' Finally I just couldn't stand the indecision any more, and knocked on her door jam. She looked up and put her book down. Some Latin poet or something.

"Cathy. Hi. Is there something I can do for you? Come on in and sit down."

I came in, feeling little and embarrassed. I did not sit down. I felt like looking down and mumbling, but I forced myself to look at Helen. She was so pretty and so nice but didn't take shit from anybody. Reminded me of someone from my past, I think.

"I heard these rumors," I said, and yeah, I felt about as lame as that just sounded.

Helen waved her hand and went, "So? It's a dorm full of girls. Gossip is what they do. What do you expect?"

Did I want it to be false so my heart would calm back down, or did I really want it to be true? I was all bent out of shape about it, that's for sure. "Um, you know those two brats, Jill and Lisa? The rumor is they've stopped being a pain in the butt because they're getting one. The rumor is you spank them."

Helen shrugged, serene. "Which, even if it were true, would be something private, and absolutely none of your business."

I'd already asked both the brats, and they'd denied it, but when they did, Jill blushed and Lisa squirmed, and that kind of gave me hope. "I'm not trying to get them in trouble, Helen, and I'm not trying to get you in trouble either. I need to know for personal reasons."

"Well," Helen said. She sighed. "Speaking hypothetically ..."

Oh. Sure. Give her an out. "Yeah?"

"Well, all right. Let's say hypothetically that there's a certain kind of girl who needs discipline in her life and if she doesn't get it from a trusted person in authority, she'd have to get it from her boyfriend, and she fears that might risk getting pregnant and dropping out of school, or at least getting all messed up emotionally. Then maybe you could see how someone in authority could see her way clear to bend the rules, because there'd be more good than harm?"

Helen was saying it was true. I felt this heady mix of fear and joy. "Well, while we're speaking hypothetically, what if I've known that's what I've needed for quite a while. Could you see yourself clear to discipline me, too?"

Friday 6 November 2015

Friday, November 06, 2015 -

Sex, Slave & Spanking Games

by Quentin Quillis
Published: Sep 1, 2015
Words: 54,113
Category: bdsm
Orientation: M/F, F/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
My name is Carla. I was raised by parents who were strong believers in corporal punishment. It's fair to say that I was spanked on a fairly regular basis and usually by my mother. Many a time I was over her lap while she applied the business end of a wooden spoon to my rear end. Of course, they were delivered to my bare bottom and she was very thorough. There was no such thing as a few swats and then being sent to my room.

That hard object would have connected many, many times by the time she considered the spanking over. However, as bad as they were, the ones I really feared were from Dad. I hated it when she would say the dreaded words, "We'll see what your father has to say about this when he gets home."

She may have thought it was a cute euphemism for saying that I was in for another spanking later that evening, but I never saw the humor in it, and as I said, it was going to be a second spanking for the same offense. I was usually over her lap when she let me know the spanking she was about to give me was not going to clear the slate. Rather, it was just the beginning of my penance, and she never felt it necessary to go easy on me just because I was due for an extra long and very painful session with Dad that evening.

If anything, I think she would spank me harder so I would be exceptionally well prepared for the first kiss of the brush on my backside. That was his choice as the most effective implement. He would use my own well loved and very expensive hairbrush.

I got it as a present when I was very young and at first I was thrilled. It felt so grown up to brush my hair with it. However, it wasn't long before I found out it had other functions, and no matter how mature I thought I was, it could reduce me to a little girl getting a well earned spanking when it was wielded by Dad.

I still have it, and it feels so luxurious as it runs through my hair, but to this day I can't pick it up without remembering how many times it was in other hands and being used very effectively for its other purpose. I also have to chuckle when I think of yet a third method of utilizing my old friend, but I'll get to that later.

It wasn't only at home that my bottom and I would be on the receiving end of an attitude adjustment conference. I quite often stayed at my Aunt Joan's house when my parents went out of town. She wasn't really related, but was an old friend of the family and I always enjoyed myself when we visited her.

Monday 2 November 2015

Monday, November 02, 2015 -

The Doctor and Her Rancher

by Leigh Smith
Published: Aug 29, 2015
Words: 35,665
Category: western, romance
Orientation: M/F
Click HERE for further details and purchase options.
OPENING EXTRACT
Chapter One

Dr. Lauren Bancroft drove into Carsonville on a Tuesday afternoon in mid-September. Overwhelmed with the beauty surrounding her, she knew she would be at home here. Carsonville, Montana was as picturesque a town as one could ever expect to see. She felt as if she was driving onto a movie set back in Los Angeles instead of her new home. Main Street boasted a general store, a small Mom and Pop Grocery store, a café, an old-fashioned looking drug store, nothing like Walgreen's or CVS, the local bank, and a post office. Driving further down Main Street she saw the town hall, the Fire Department, a local grain and feed store and at the end stood a white church with a tall steeple. Following directions on her GPS, she turned at the only light in town onto Madison Avenue. She drove past a Laundromat, the sheriff's office and found what she was looking for - a square of buildings marked Medical Center. There were four wooden structures surrounding a courtyard. One housed a dentist, a veterinarian office, an emergency clinic and next to that her new office. Dr. Dedham's sign still hung above the door. There was a sign in the window that announced Dr. Lauren Bancroft, the new town doctor, would be arriving soon and until then call 406 555 4468 for emergencies only. She smiled to herself.

Lauren was born and raised in a small town outside of Ketchum, Idaho. Her dad was a pharmacist and her mom taught high school science. So it didn't come as a surprise when, at seven years old, Lauren announced that when she grew up she wanted to be a doctor. She remained steadfast in that wish and started researching the best colleges when she was only a high school junior. She received a partial scholarship to UCLA and then went on to David Geffen UCLA Medical School. She had completed an internship and residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center before she joined a private practice where she became one of fifty other doctors. She hated it. There was no time to actually get to know a patient - you knew the chart and nothing else. It wasn't why she went into medicine, but it paid down some of the debt hanging over her head so she toiled there until the death of her parents freed her. If she had her druthers, she would rather have had her parents for a few more years, but a helicopter crash during a tour of the Grand Canyon shattered that possibility.

At thirty-five and debt free, she'd began looking for a better place to live and practice the kind of medicine she'd dreamed of while watching Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as a young girl. She'd been leafing through the New England Journal of Medicine when an ad had caught her eye. Carsonville was looking for a town doctor.