Eden Summers's Blog

Bam! How's that for a visual introduction of HUNTER?


Thanks to the fabulous photography skills of Stas Vokman, the brilliant design work from RBA Designs and the utter gorgeousness of Konstantin Kamynin, the cover for HUNTER turned out to be pure perfection.
And SURPRISE, I've brought the release day forward to the 27th of February. So you can get your hands on this sexy contemporary suspense a lot sooner.


Please remember - HUNTER will be released exclusively to Amazon. So your only chance to purchase on other retailers is via pre-order.

Pre-order before it's too late...
iBook        Barnes & Noble     Kobo

The hunter has become the hunted.
I’ve been running for ten years—fleeing my past and clawing my way toward an inescapable act of vengeance. Finally, I can taste revenge on the tip of my tongue.
Until he walks into my life, sure and strong and full of secrets.
He dilutes my thirst for retribution with his touch. He obliterates my need for solitude with his kiss. But it’s his hidden agenda that makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle.
He wants something. Something that doesn’t revolve around sweaty skin and tangled silk sheets like he’d have me believe.
I have to stop falling for him, otherwise the last ten years will all be for nothing. I need to keep running, keep fighting for vengeance, even though I know he will track me down.
But trying to escape him is just another problem. Because now I crave the hunt.
Let's Celebrate
I have three separate giveaways happening on Facebook at the moment. You can find them all at the links below.

WIN a HUNTER ARC
WIN a $10 Amazon GC
WIN your choice of $15 worth of Amazon ebooks

If you're not a Facebook users, don't worry there will be more separate giveaways once Hunter is released.

So far I've been BLOWN AWAY by the advanced reviews for this bad boy. They're seriously the best reviews I've ever received before release. Want to see them? Check out what readers are saying on Goodreads.

Bryan and Pamela are here!

Let the brutal love begin.

If you aren't already familiar with the hunks of the Vault, they're a threesome of entirely different men. Leo is the stubborn smart-ass (A Shot of Sin). T.J. is the sweet, honorable husband (Union of Sin). And Bryan is the brutally honest, emotionless bastard who everyone hates to love... Or at least that's what you've seen of him so far.

When I originally set out to write a hollow, loveless hero, I thought it would be fun. Something different. Something challenging. Bryan was all of the above and much more.

I never expected he would be the hero readers would be most drawn to. He isn't charming or kind. He isn't seductive. He's a dick. And everyone fell in love with him.
​
I hope his story exceeds your expectations. Falling in love will be brutal.

Bryan is ruthless, heartless, and more than a little proud of his notorious reputation, until his bad attitude threatens to strip him of the one place he can’t live without. His sanctuary. The Vault. The exclusive club is the only place he feels at home, and he’ll do whatever it takes to reclaim what is his. Even if it means asking for help from the woman who landed him in trouble in the first place.

Pamela may have become weak-kneed over Bryan’s talented hands once before, but this self-empowered widow isn’t stupid enough to want more from the sanctimonious ass. Nope. At least that’s what she tells herself before he turns up at her café, offering to refresh her memory on his skilled fingers and filthy words in exchange for a favor.

He needs her to set things straight in the Vault. She needs him to satisfy the cravings of fulfillment she’s been missing. It’s a match made in hedonistic heaven, until hostility turns to lust, and lust into passion, capturing them both in an emotional web neither one of them want to be ensnared in.

Warning: This is an exhibitionist’s playfield and a voyeur’s delight, but dominance always rules. Throw in teasing, torture, and a gag or two, and you’ve got yourself another night of debauchery within the carnal walls of the Vault of Sin.
Universal Buy LinkGiveaway I have two print giveaways for Brutal Sin. The first you can enter below via the Rafflecopter form. The second is on Goodreads - here .a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's finally here.
The end.
The final installment of the Reckless Beat series.
*Sobs uncontrollably*

I'm not going to get all blubbery and emotional. *sniffle* I promise.

This story was a long time coming. Ryan and Leah have loved each other from the start. Originally as best friends, but we all knew there was more.

Now the wait is over and you get to read how their story unfolds.

I hope you enjoy.Undeniable Temptation (Reckless Beat #5)

Haunted by a kiss.

With his destructive marriage behind him, Ryan Bennett can no longer deny his insatiable attraction to the one woman in control of his future. He needs her. Craves her. She’s the only glimpse of happiness through the building drama in his life and yet one drunken kiss has pushed her further away.

Tormented by what’s at stake.

Leah Gorman’s management contract states she can never act on her feelings for any members of the Reckless Beat band but Ryan has always owned her heart. No matter how long he’s held her captive with his deep soul and easy friendship, he’s off limits. End of story. If only her heart would get the memo. She can’t resist him. Even when their attraction gets in the way of her job.

The price of love is high. Is it worth the cost?

With Leah’s career on the line and Ryan’s reputation in tatters, ignoring their attraction may prove safer than risking everything they hold dear. They have to decide what matters most—their years of friendship, or a chance at love that will destroy them both if they can’t make it work.
One-click Undeniable Temptation here.

OR read the prologue and the first two chapters *FREE*


If you haven't started the Reckless journey, you can download the first book for free. Or upgrade to audio for $1.99.

Click here.
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I had a moment today.
It wasn't a life-flashing-before-my-eyes moment, but it was certainly an I-might-need-a-change-of-underwear event.

Today, we packed the family - two boys, hubby, and two dogs - into the car and headed out for the hour drive to my in laws for a fun-filled day catching yabbies.

Everything was going swimmingly. My seven year old made it to pop's house without spraying the car in vomit, my ten year old was excited with the responsibility of opening the farm gates, and we were lucky enough to score a good haul of yabbies at the very first dam.

The weather had even decided to play nice.

After a crappy week where we had to see one of our fur babies over the rainbow bridge, we were actually having a great time. "Were" being the operative word.

For a bit of background information, I enjoy being in the country. Spending time on the farm, dropping pots, watching the dogs run, and being immersed in silence is my jam. I also love the animals. Especially cows. Cows have always been big, dopey animals that I want to hug.

So today, we're dropping pots in dams and pulling out yabbies. The kids are yelling with delight, the dogs have energy to kill, and I'm kicking back after a hard week.

When we reach our third dam and I can see the forth within walking distance in the next paddock, I tell everyone I'm going to walk instead of getting in the dual cab. "I'll let the dogs have a bit of a run."

Great idea, right?

Then the kids decide to join me. They wanted to release some energy, too.

Even better, right?

So we watch hubby and the father in law drive to the next paddock and we start our leisurely stroll.
Then it happened. Those words that I will one day be laughing about...but I'm not quite there yet - "Mum, all those cows are coming toward us."

My seven year old had spotted a herd at the far end of the paddock. Far, far away. Maybe 600 meters. Maybe more.

"It's okay. They're too far to worry about."

We keep walking. Strolling. We have roughly 400 meters to reach the open gates to the next paddock and the other damn where my husband and father in law are.

"Mum... they're still coming."

Yep. They were. A large herd of black cows heading in our direction. "It's fine. They'd be curious about the car.  They're probably looking for food. I bet they follow us into the next paddock."

We walk a little faster, because, ya know, big, dopey animals are in the same paddock and we really should steer clear. Also, my older dog is a blue heeler - a cattle dog - and I don't want her to chase after them.

"MUM. They're RUNNING!"
My heart jumps as I look to see if my sensitive seven year old is being over dramatic.
He's isn't. Those cows are definitely running.
"They'll go toward dad and the car. They think they're being fed."

I stop to watch my prophecy take place, knowing that the cows will cut off our path to the next paddock when they use the same gate we plan to walk through.

But the don't.

"Mum? They're coming for us."
Yes, yes they are.
"MUM?"

This very large herd of cows are now trotting directly toward us and I'm starting to rethink how much I love these gorgeous creatures. But don't panic, right? I got this.
"Cows are scared of us. And the dogs. Don't worry, they'll stop."
My seven year old nestles close, trying to climb under my skin, and my usually lippy ten year old is dead silent.
"It's all good," I say as my stomach does Olympic back flips. "If they get any closer the dogs will bark and scare them off."

The cows keep trotting, now one hundred meters away and approaching fast. The pup starts to whimper. The blue heeler - A CATTLE DOG - is trembling and her tail is stuck so tight between her legs she's flossing her lady bits.

"Mum. I'm scared.  What do we do?" My seven year old starts to hyperventilate, tears form in his eyes, his hands cling to my clothes. "MUM. ARE WE GOING TO DIE? OH GOD. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

Okay... I got this. I really do. I love cows. I really, really love cows. They won't hurt me. They'll stop running soon. My son will stop screaming soon. My husband will surely come save us. SOON.

I pick up the pup, clutching it to my chest, and hold my youngest at my side. "STOP panicking."

The cows are still approaching. A BIG FUCKING BLACK WALL OF MUSCLE AND BONE descending on me and my 50 kilo frame, my skinny ten year old, and my seven year old that would look like a midget standing beside a pygmy. "If they get any closer I'll wave my arms and scare them. They'll run away. They're more scared of us than we are of them," I lied. I lied so fucking hard.

The herd is now fifty metres away.
Thirty.

"I'M GOING TO DIE. I'M GOING TO DIE" - the seven year old.
"Mum? MUM? MUUUMMM?" - the ten year old.
*Dead silence* - the dogs.
"JUST CALM DOWN" - Me, NOT calming down.

The cows are now twenty metres away, slowing, but with no sign of stopping.
I step away from the kids, toward the herd, and wave my dog-free arm in the arm, stomping my foot and yelling, "Yah! Yah!"

Those fuckers just look at me like I'm a hay stack ripe for devouring.

What the hell do I do?

The seven year old is bawling, the ten year old is quiet for the first time in his life, and the cattle dog is searching the field, looking like she's about to bark, "Fuck you guys, I'm outta here."
My heart isn't merely in my throat. It's in my mouth, about to come out in a stream of vomit.

I try again. "YAH! YAH! YAH!"

Nothing. Not a GOD DAMN THING will stop these monsters.

"WE'RE GOING TO DIE. OH MY GOD, WE'RE GOING TO DIE. MUUUUUMMMM. WE'RE GOING TO DIE." My seven year old has settled into his first panic attack. He's inconsolable. He's delirious. "OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. MUUMMMM."

"They're just cows!" I yell over the screeching. "They're scared of us!"
WHY THE FUCK AREN'T THEY SCARED OF US?

I look over at the next paddock. The entire path between me and my husband is covered in cattle half coming right for us, the other half for the car. What the fuck do I do? I love cows. Surely, my love of cows will save me.

"YAHHHHHH! YAHHHH! YAHHHH!" I keep waving my arms, stopping the smart ones, only slowing the dumbest of the dumb who still approach. "YAHHHHHH!"

From the corner of my eye, I see the car in the next paddock start to move. But instead of being happy it's coming toward us, I'm freaking out because if a seasoned farmer like my father in law thinks we need to be rescued then we must be in big shit. Will the car get to us in time? Will it push more cows in our direction and have us trampled?

"WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE" - seven year old.
"MUM?" - ten year old.
"YAH! YAH! YAH!" - scarecrow flapping in the wind.

The cows keep walking, the closest now four or five metres away as the car barrels for us. I bundle the kids together, still waving my arms, still yelling over the top of my screaming kid.

The meat monsters stand in place as the vehicle approaches. Then finally, fucking finally, it's right beside us and my father in law is jumping from the cab, waving his arms as we lunge for the doors. The cattle dog scrambles in before us, no love for his owners what so ever, followed by my wailing seven year old, then the ten year old now bouncing with excitement because he survived his first near-death experience. And I'm in the rear, wondering if I'm totally through the woods because my chest is pounding like a heart attack could be on the cards.

My father in law gets in last and drives us away, remaining quiet while the car explodes into more hysteria about the killer cows.

And where is my loving husband? Still at the next dam, dropping yabbie pots and oblivious to the end of the world event I just went through.

The final book in the Reckless Beat series is almost here. *Sigh* Leah and Ryan have been a long time coming. From book one their attraction has been evident. More so in book two. But now it's book five and it's their turn.

Do you remember the craziness that erupted at the end of Sultry Groove (Reckless Beat #4) when Ryan admitted to the band that he'd drunkenly kissed Leah? And how she completely flipped out, escaping to Vegas in Reckless Rendezvous (Reckless Beat #4.5) ?

Well, now you get to read all about their kiss in a preview file I've created. You can download the prologue, along with the first two chapters, directly to your ereader, and get a taste before the release day on the 16th of January.

I hope you love the glimpse into their story.

Download the Undeniable Temptation Preview

I'm going to try really hard not to inundate you with my nerves and excitement... BUT Inarticulate is here!! The early reviews have been phenomenal. The private messages and emails have been mind-blowing. And, in all, the support for my silent hero has left me a delirious mess of gratitude.
Instead of slamming you with a heap of content, I'm just going to drop some links to information you may be interested in.

Buy Links
Amazon - B & N - iBooks - Kobo

Praise for Inarticulate -
"Inarticulate combines masterful storytelling with raw passion and gut-wrenching emotion. Savannah and Keenan's story will have you hooked from page one. Bravo Eden Summers, this story is an absolute winner!" USA Today Bestselling Author, Stefanie London

"The blurb for Inarticulate intrigued me, and once I started reading it, through to when I reached the end, I was in love with Keenan and Savannah (Savvy)." Give Me Books

"The witty banter was plentiful. The suspense was exciting. And as always,the passion and chemistry between the main characters was intoxicating." Rosa, iScream Books

Giveaways -
2 Print Copies of Inarticulate available on Goodreads.
An Inarticulate Necklace & Bracelet - scroll down to enter.
I will also be giving away prizes in my private FB Group.
Before I leave you with one final giveaway, I wanted to let you know you can get an exclusive ebook by signing up to my newsletter. Dirty Strategy is a sexy menage short story that isn't available to download anywhere else.

To claim your free book, click here.
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It's less than four weeks until Inarticulate is here and brilliant reviews are already pouring in on Goodreads.

I can't wait for you to read about Savannah and Keenan. Reviewers are saying -
"My first book by this author, what rock have I been under because this was sensational!" Books Laid Bare
"I was floored by this book and was anxious to find out what would happen next! It's that intense!" The Book Obsessed Momma.
"Keenan Black is the epitome of mystery." Late Night Books and Reviews Excerpt This is an excerpt from Inarticulate (a standalone contemporary romance) when Savannah and Keenan first meet.
 
She swung around to the house to hide her smile and bounced up the three stairs toward the front door. Movement nudged her periphery and she slowed, taking in the sight of a man standing in the shadows at the far end of the porch. His hip was cocked against the bannister, his eyes hooded.
Her concentration latched on to him, unmoving as the world around her dulled to a faint hum in her mind. She wasn’t sure what intrigued her. It could be his narrowed stare, the way he didn’t greet her with warmth or kindness. Only sterile appraisal. Or maybe it was the package his arrogance came in—the tense expression, stubbled jaw, and lush lips pressed in a tight line.
Her tongue tingled. Mouth salivated. She would’ve liked to think it was due to the heavenly aroma of her aunt’s cooking drifting in the air. Would’ve liked to…but that was a load of bull.
“Hi.” She gave him a friendly finger wave as Dominic came up behind her.
The man continued to stare, his face still unwelcoming in the shadows.
“Keenan, don’t be a prick.” Dominic tugged on her arm, stealing her attention. “Come on. I’ll introduce you later.”
She kept her focus on the stranger, their gazes entwined, hers soft and inquisitive, his harsh and fierce, as her cousin dragged her inside, the door slamming shut behind them. “Who was—”
“Oh, my sweet Savannah!” Aunt Michelle hustled up the hall, wiping her hands on an old apron tied around her waist. “It’s so good to see you.”
The familiar face held more wrinkles than Savannah remembered, her aunt’s long blonde hair now gray and thinning. But the beautiful blue eyes were still the same—loving and gentle.
“It’s good to see you, too.” She ignored the strangers poking their heads into the hall from different doorways and fell into a comforting embrace. “Thank you for the dinner invitation.”
“Oh, please,” her aunt chastised. “You don’t need an invitation. Come around any time.”
There was a whirlwind of introductions. Her aunt took position on her right, gushing with affection and compliments, while Dominic remained on her left, muttering snide comments that threatened to make her laugh.
A timer dinged from the kitchen, a welcome reprieve as her aunt excused herself and left Savannah to take a breath. There had to be twenty people crammed into the small house. All of them smiling and friendly, unlike the man outside who still lingered in her thoughts.
“You want a drink?” Dominic nudged her elbow.
Hell yes. “Please.” She followed him to the back of the house, into the laundry, and toward a fridge stocked full of beer, wine, and pre-mixed drinks.
“Help yourself.”
He held the door open while she grabbed a small bottle of something red and no doubt comatosingly sweet. “Thanks.”
“I’m gonna hit the bathroom.” He closed the fridge door and looked at her in concern. “Can you survive for a few minutes without me?”
“I guess I’ll have to. I’m not going to follow you to the toilet.”
“Obviously,” he drawled. “You gave up that opportunity when we were eight.”
“Twelve.”
“Ten.” He chuckled and walked from the room, leaving her alone with the hovering threat of chatter from the other end of the house.
It was time to go incognito. She didn’t have the energy to smile at strangers. Alcohol would help, but for now, she needed cool fresh air…and maybe another glimpse at the menacing eyes of the man she’d met on the porch.
She shoved the bottle into her coat pocket and sauntered down the hall, measuring her steps to lessen the clap of her heels. She reached the front door without notice and pulled it open, slipping into the darkness of twilight without a word.
The man was still at the end of the porch, a beer bottle now visible in his hand as he leaned over, resting his elbows on the bannister. He didn’t acknowledge her presence. She supposed a man with arrogance ebbing off him in waves didn’t have to. His dismissal gave her the opportunity to appreciate his ass stretched in well-worn jeans and the perfection of how his black jacket rested at his hips to give her an unhindered view.
“Hi,” she offered for a second time.
He didn’t move, didn’t even spare her a glance as she approached the bannister. He continued staring straight ahead as he lifted the beer bottle to his lips and took a long pull.
“It’s a lovely night for a family dinner.” Was he a distant relative? God, she hoped not, otherwise Dominic’s inbred tendencies were rubbing off on her.
He replied with a jut of his chin. A jut of his God. Damn. Chin.
What an asshole. And wasn’t she just the stupidest set of ovaries to walk the earth, because it only made her itch to push his blatant need for solitude, to poke at him with questions until he acknowledged her with the respect she deserved. The respect any human deserved.
“So… you like beer…” she drawled, glib as hell.
The corner of his mouth twitched as he continued to focus on the street. But still, no answer.
She could smell him, could practically taste his delicious aftershave on her tongue with each inhalation. He was a taunt to all her senses…well, except her ears because the pretentious ass wouldn’t say a word.
He took another swig from his bottle and straightened to face her. She could see his eyes now, the steely silver, almost blue, that made her shiver with their ferocity. He was tall, too. At least an inch above her even with her heels.
She pulled the pre-mix bottle from her jacket pocket and twisted the lid to keep her hands busy. She could see two outcomes eventuating. Either he would smile, knocking her off her feet with the brilliance of his appeal. Or he was going to pull a gun from the inside of his jacket and blow her brains out.
Player or gangster. He could totally pull off both.
“I’m usually a wine drinker myself.” She raised the bottle of bubbly red liquid in her hand, slowly tilting it to her mouth. She took a sip, licked the alcohol from her lips in a deliberately seductive provocation, then lowered the bottle again.
Still, he gave her nothing. Noth-ing. He was the most accomplished jerk she’d ever come across, and yet she still couldn’t ditch the intrigue and walk away. Without a word, he had her tied around his little finger, begging for attention.
“I like your jeans.” She ogled his crotch, wanting to return the discomfort of how humiliating this one-sided conversation was becoming. “They’re snug.”
His lips quirked, giving her a glimpse of straight white teeth. Asshole. Asshole. Ass-hole! He was gorgeous, the faintest hint of humor turning his dangerous eyes playful. She lifted the bottle to her mouth again, this time ignoring any pretense of seduction as she gulped at the liquid.
“Are you always this charm—”
The front door creaked open and she turned to find Dominic eying them both skeptically. “What’s going on?”
She smiled, the biggest, fakest smile she had in her arsenal. “I’m having an in-depth conversation with this lovely gentleman.”
“Really?” Dominic frowned, his brows pulling deeper with every passing second.
“Yep.” There was gushing amounts of sarcasm in her tone. “First we conversed about our drinking habits, then fashion. I was about to bring up the topic of politics and world peace when you rudely interrupted.”
She glanced at the man in the corner, an arrogant smirk now curving those sensuous lips. He wasn’t the only one capable of being a jerk.
“Well, that’s strange…” Dominic came closer. “Because Keenan doesn’t talk.”
 

**Don't forget Inarticulate is discounted to $2.99 while on pre-order. The regular price will be $4.99**

Amazon - http://amzn.to/29ElLlx
B & N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1124084319…
iBooks - https://goo.gl/jMx9qu
Kobo - https://goo.gl/BAz7P6
Goodreads - http://bit.ly/2aXaVaz

**~INARTICULATE NEWS ~**
I caved. I was getting a lot of comments and emails about Inarticulate not being available to pre-order on other vendors, so I've ditched the iBooks exclusive and uploaded to all sites. It's ON SALE for $2.99 (release price $4.99)

Amazon - B & N - iBooks - Kobo

If you haven't already heard, my next release will be something a little different. For starters, my hero doesn't talk. Yep, you read that right. Keenan is silent. But you'll find out more about him later. The most important thing right now is sharing the absolutely fabulous cover.
I wanted something unique yet sexy and Letitia from R.B.A. Designs NAILED IT! I couldn't be happier. I hope you like your first glimpse at Keenan and Savannah.
Inarticulate

He’s silent—but his touch speaks louder than words.

At first sight, Savannah is drawn to the harsh appeal of a man who refuses to talk to her. Keenan’s hard stare is arrogant and unapologetic. The quirk of his sensuous lips is cocky and in control.

But there’s more. There’s something deeper he’s trying to hide behind those steely grey eyes—a slight hint of vulnerability which captures her intrigue.

She’d been warned, told that his silence hides a myriad of lies capable of affecting her career and relationships with loved ones. Only she can't help herself. Testing Keenan's defenses is an addiction she can't deny.

Falling in lust is easy. Learning his secrets comes with a price. The cost? Her broken heart.

Inarticulate is currently exclusively available to pre-order on iBooks. It's also at a discounted price so snap it up while you can. Don’t use iBooks? Don’t worry, you can sign up to my newsletter to be informed when Inarticulate will be available at other vendors. You’ll also receive a FREE copy of the first book in my bestselling Reckless Beat series - Blind Attraction, for subscribing. SIGN UP HERE
If you’re not a blogger and would love to get your hands on Inarticulate early, the newsletter is also the perfect opportunity. I will be allowing a select number of subscribers the opportunity to read Keenan and Savannah’s story before release in exchange for an honest review. 

Attention Bloggers:  Would you like to sign up for other Inarticulate Promotions?
Inarticulate Promotion Sign Ups


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So what do you think? Do you love it as much as I do?

It comes with regret that I formally acknowledge the unstable future of #winewalkers. For those of you unfamiliar with the awesomeness that is Wine Walkers, you can read my post below that was posted on the book of Face.
Since then, my husband and I experienced the maiden #winewalkers voyage - click here for my inspiring video (that has a horrible freeze frame at the start) - https://www.facebook.com/eden.summers...

You'd think a walk with a relaxing alcoholic beverage couldn't go wrong, right?
Wrong. :) I totally had fun writing that... anyway... We started strong and hard. The hubby and I were cocky and maybe a little optimistic in the assumption we could bring our two young boys and our two dogs, while also enjoying a leisurely stroll.

First, the kids would NOT stop fighting. They were nag, nag, nagging. Snap, snap, snapping. And push, push, pushing my last nerve. Hubby and I had to walk ahead ten meters so the leisurely stroll didn't turn into a yelling match between adults and kids.

So, drinks in hand, we're walking the dogs well in front of the kids, when a young gentleman walks by with his own dog. Our dogs sniff, get excited, then our Blue Heeler decides she doesn't like the other dog and gets all snappy. No big deal. We move on, all classy and sh*t because we've still got our alcoholic beverages in hand.

Ten minutes later, we reach a point where we need to turn around to save us moving from the lovely nature walk to a busy street, and we head back the way we came. Without fail, hubby has to take a business call (classy alcoholic beverage in hand) and I take control of the dogs.

No big deal. Our dogs are medium in size and share a lead so they walk side by side. They could pull a mountain if they wanted to, but I'm currently in control, even with my classy drink in hand.
 
Moving on, hubby is on the phone, the kids are walking way behind and this young gentleman (who is really around forty-five but I'm being nice) steps out from a rough track and asks me how to get back onto the road. Being the lovely person I am, I give him directions, while holding my classy drink, and pretending my dogs aren't trying to detach my hand from my arm with their aggressive pull because they really don't like his dog.

Then...*SNAP*

The dog lead breaks and both dogs run free. My normally friendly Blue Heeler sprints at this man, all up in his dog's face, growling and being an absolute trollop. I'm panicking because I've never seen my dog like this before, and my husband is on the damn phone, and I don't know where my kids are... and I still have my classy drink in my hand.

So I run. I run my little legs toward this man who has one of my dogs around his left ankle, another around the right, and the lead between them, almost tripping him over while he tries to calm all the canine antics. I rush for his legs, my face all up in his crotch as I'm grappling to grab my Blue Heeler, classy drink STILL in hand.

Finally, hubby rushes to my aid, HIS classy drink still in hand, and latches onto the broken lead to pull our dogs away.

I'm hyperventilating and this poor man is staring at me while I start to blabber apologies like they're sins in confession. I feel horrible. I'm embarrassed. But yet, I still have my classy drink in hand, and he's now staring at it like he feels obliged to call the local AA chapter, or maybe give me a speech on healthy drinking habits.

BUT he leaves, waving cheerio and not even batting an eyelid over the whole dog situation that has me convinced I'm a horrible dog mum.

Anyway, we continue walking, hubby creating a makeshift hand grip with the broken lead while the fighting kids keep strolling meters behind us. The dog incident hasn't deterred their bickering. NOPE, they're still in major I-wanna-kill-my-brother mode as we approach a part of the path that has a massive clump of trees on either side. Immediately my seven year old remarks on the creepy vibe. The scenery is like a horror flick but it doesn't pause the fighting. In fact, it now adds whinging to the mix because now my little man wants to go home.

My husband, being the brainy man he is, suggests I hide behind a nearby tree and scare them as they approach. And being the cool mum I am, I decide why the hell not. They've been trolls during the entire walk, and I deserved a little catharsis. So I hide, I even video tape myself as they approach and I jump out from behind that tree with a massive yell.

You'd think the moment would end with a returned scream or yell, then good-natured ribbing and calls for retribution. Well, that's what I envisaged anyway. But no, that's not how it turned out. My youngest screams - expected. Then he begins to cry - not expected. Then he begins to hyperventilate, sobbing so hard his lips turn blue and I think he's going to pass out.
That moment in time shot me straight to pole position on the Worst Mum in the World list. I had to stand there consoling my child, classy drink STILL in hand, as he came down from the pinnacle of hysteria.

The rest of the Wine Walkers expedition was spent at my son's side, trying to beg forgiveness as I dragged my feet home.

Wine Walkers may never happen again.