Bare Wires

The MacGrough Clan #1.5

by Cherime MacFarlane

BARE WIRES is the prequel to WIRED FOR SOUND, a MacGrough Clan novel

Lori Ann Reasor is about to get her big break, a gallery owner in Brighton likes her work. To celebrate she treats herself to tea in a posh establishment. What she discovers there puts her off men. She will stick with painting.

Hamish is trying to hold Bushmaster together long enough to get them signed to a contract. With a prima donna and a junky in the band, it’s not easy. Bushmaster is on the verge of blowing sky high. The two young people are converging as their dreams play out. Can they both keep it together?

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2017

About the author

Although born in New Orleans, I am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here for 37 years, I have survived -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and live in a cabin. I used a fish wheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and only roadie. I cut firewood on shares, worked as a cocktail waitress, then as a paralegal for over 26 years. I hold the #80 press card as a reporter for the Copper Valley Views newspaper which ceased publication in the 1980s. I've been writing stories since junior high. Retired now, I can devote my time to what I love.
I came to Alaska by way of Arizona and California. I experienced the building of the pipeline up close. Then my second husband and I moved to Wasilla to get warm. It hardly ever drops past -25 in South Central Alaska. I never thought I would love it so much I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. I lost my first husband to alcohol. My second husband, the love of my life died as a result of disease. We were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years . I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with.

Reviews

[Jane Ellyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the opening line of this book: ‘The receding wave causes the stones of the shingle beach to rattle’. This chapter set the scene for the disappointment experienced by one of the protagonists. Bare Wires starts as two journeys with two distinct voices. Lori is an artist while Hamish is a musician and band manager. Both face struggles in their life and by the time their paths finally cross, they are feeling more in control. An interesting love story and prequel to Wired for Sound.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hamish

This book will transport you right into the midst of this world like no other. The words will whisk you right into the thoughts and actions that they go through. I was thoroughly impressed by all of it.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining, well-written story this series...although, I haven't read them in order, so this one gave me further insight into the characters.

There are two main threads the story, that of Hamish and Lori. I don't give spoilers so I can't say much, but if you enjoy the drama of relationships with a whole lot more, then this is for you.

Some of the dialogue may be difficult to understand at first (Scottish brogue) but you get used to it, and there is a glossary to help.

This is a no-nonsense read with strong language and scenes of a sexual nature but nothing that doesn't suit the plot and unique characters.

Well done.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hamish's band, Bushmaster, is about to get its big break. That's if his band members can keep it together long enough not to screw this up for him.
Lori Ann's life appeared to be on the up, a gallery owner in Brighton is interested in her work. But just as things seemed to be on the right track, Lori Ann learns a startling truth about the man she loves — he is married.
With a fast and engaging plot, Bare Wires is almost impossible to put down. I read this book in one sitting. Both Hamish and Lori Ann are portrayed beautifully, and it was very easy to read about them and get lost in the story. A wonderful prequel to Wired For Sound — I Highly Recommend.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bare Wires” is not your usual love story. Lori, an artist from L.A., is trying to have it made in Brighton, UK, when she finds out that her boyfriend is actually a married man and has been using her for his own goals all this time. Hamish is a talented musician, who tries to hold his band together despite his fellow band members’ attitudes and drug problems. Both are artistic souls, who are trying to find not only their place in life, but also the soul-mate to share this life with.
Lori’s devastated state after her heartbreak and the loss of the best friend to AIDS was very saddening. I wanted her so badly to open up her heart again to someone, who will appreciate and cherish it for the rest of his life, but could Hamish, a giant of a man who Lori at first found intimidating, be that one? I’m not going to give away anything, but the end of the story left me with a huge smile. Great read!

[Jason Latshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally a big fan of romances because often the settings are glossy and fake, and the characters are one-dimensional. But with Bare Wires, MacFarlane treats us to a world so authentic that I feel like I bought a ticket to the UK! Introducing us to an LA artist and the music scene in Brighton, the author masterfully weaves a story where you can't help but root for the main character. It's full of conflict, twists, and expertly introduces the reader to the slang and pattern of speech used in the area. Don't miss this one.

[Kat Drennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cherime McFarland’s Wired for Sound is a lively read that kicks off her Wired for Sound series. Rich characters and a bawdy, Scotch dialect make this pure entertainment and quick page turning prose. Two unlikely characters find a way to make love work.